Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Updated photos

For those of you that follow MackEveryday in photobucket, I have uploaded the last 2 weeks of pictures.  I had gotten behind as this little bundle of joy keeps me quite busy, of course I still take lots of pictures. Wish I could post them all but I try to pick the best for each day (occasionally there's a few that I just can't resist).

Hope you enjoy watching him grow up!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

This too

I read a devotional a few days ago that has lingered in my mind... I've titled my blog "Seasons of Life" for those that follow me to get a glimpse into the Season of Life I'm in.  Currently I'm in the season of figuring out how to juggle my time between being a homemaker, wife, mommy and most importantly child of God.  Here's the deal though, I'm a creature of habit, a structured "freak" if you will.  I've even got my 10 month old on a regimented schedule of his own and he does quite well.  However, I've found that my perfect little schedule doesn't work with every season of life.  That brings me to the devotion I read:


This too

What activities in life are holy? Webster defines holy as, “exalted, divine, devoted entirely to deity or the work of deity.”
What activities in life qualify as worship? Webster defines worship as, “reverence offered a divine being.”
Is being a pastor more holy than being a parent? Is singing more worshipful than serving?
I do not think so.
Our motivations can make the simplest task holy or the most impressive deed dead. Our attitudes can make the smallest act worship or the grandest offering bankrupt.
This is cause for celebration for the sincere in heart: every season of life is overflowing with potential to live a holy, worshipful existence.
When I was single, solitude was holy.
When newly married, two-now-one was worship.
When I became a mother, life together was both.
Even this morning, I was reminded of how pleased Father God is when we offer him our ordinary moments. Baby Louie is our family alarm clock. He wakes up, rain or shine, at 6:30 a.m. Eventually, all three children climb in bed with us.
Keona normally comes in first, carrying her pillow and wedging herself between Barry and me. She snuggles close, and I breathe in the refreshing scent of her peppermint hair cream. Then Jonathan emerges sleepily from his room, says “Morning!” and goes to the restroom. Crawling into our bed, he closes his eyes as I kiss his warm porcelain cheek and shake my head remembering how he used to fit in my hands.
The next ten to thirty minutes are filled with quiet cuddles and questions about life. When wiggly baby Louie joins us, we all become fences around the queen bed’s perimeter to keep him from bouncing off.
Before entering parenthood, Barry and I would always get up and offer the first part of our day to God through songs, walks, extended readings, and quiet times. Today I gazed into the eyes of my loving kids, touched their soft faces, and smiled as I looked at the clock.
My Bible, journal, piano would still be waiting for me later in the day. But I knew that Father God was smiling over these morning moments as well. I could almost hear God whisper as I hugged and loved on his kids:
“Ah, this too is holy. This too is worship.”


It made me realize that although my house is not always as clean as I'd like it, my prayer time isn't as long as I want it to be, my day is not as structured as I wished that it was, it's in those moments of playing with Mack, singing and being silly, reading a book, teaching him about God and life that God says, "Ah, this too is holy.  This too is worship."

Mack - 10 Months

Another month has come and gone, and just 2 months shy of being a year old!


Mack's Growing Curiosity
My little scientist is eager to discover how the world around him works. Now at 10 months, his physical skills are catching up with his desire to experiment. He can pick up a ball and toss it or roll it, he can use his pincer grasp and examine a minuscule crumb. Now that he's able to get himself where he wants to go, either by crawling or cruising he can check out almost anything he wants to.  
Checking out the drawer under the stove
He is constantly coming up to us ad grabbing our hands to walk around with him.  His favorite is holding our hand with one hand and walking around the ottoman with the other hand.  
Walking around the ottoman
We've done some baby-proofing-- such as outlets, toilets, and cabinet latches but we're still working very hard to teach him safety as well as obedience.  He obviously learns a lot by watching and imitating us. It was so cute the other day, he was watching me fold laundry and decided he could help...
Helping mommy with the laundry

Increasing Vocabulary
Just as he imitates what we do, he might also start to imitate how we communicate, blurting out exclamations like "Uh-oh!" or shaking his head no, for instance. He says dada, mum-mum and understand the word "no" although he often looks at us with a mischievous grin as he does something we've told him no to anyway. I've read that to him, it's less about rebelling or even getting his hands on the forbidden item than it is about getting our attention and getting a rise out of us. I've been trying to redirect his attention instead of constantly scolding or disciplining him.  That tends to work better anyway.  However, sometimes he just throws himself on the floor with his head on his hands and pouts... oh, it begins! 
This is also the stage when a baby learns to point. That's their way of asking you what he's looking at so he can further expand his vocabulary.  Mack loves to point at our faces so we've begun to teach him what things are.  Anything we do, we try explain to him what's going on.  For instance when we walk into his room I ask him to turn on the light and he points at it to turn it on.  Or I say you want a bottle and he knows it's time to eat.  
A few others...
I'll let the pictures tell the story
A weekend at Grammy and Grandpa's while mommy and daddy got away for a couple of days.  I like to play outside when I'm there.
Playing in daddy's wagon with his old toys (about 23 years old).
Trying to get in the stove, mom is watching me though.
Playing in the church nursery.

Boxes are fun toys.

I like to sit backwards in the grocery cart so I can see where we're going.


My parents always find me in the funniest positions when I sleep.

I think I need one of these toys at home.

And crawling...



Well until next month anyway, I'm hoping to be walking by then, we'll see!

Friday, September 17, 2010

MC in 3: God speaks through chocolate cake

MC in 3: God speaks through chocolate cake: "Things have been a little tight in the money department around the Crump household. We are fine and are going to make it. I do trust God e..."

Sunday, September 12, 2010

August in Review

August was here and gone before I could blink my eyes yet looking back so much happened...


Family
We started the month off by taking our first official family pictures.


Micah's grandma, Ruby Crews, passed away at the age of 93.  Although I did not have the privilege of knowing her well, I am so thankful for the rich legacy she has passed down and I am honored to be named among her family.  She was a devoted woman of God, sewing quilts even at the age of 92 for less fortunate children in El Salvador.  She will be dearly missed by many.


Axis
Between junior high and high school we took over 200 students to camp.  Lives were touched, friendships were made and results are evident.  Two weeks later we baptized 22 high school students. Baptism isn't something that saves you.  Baptism is an outward sign of something that God has done in you.  It is a public declaration that you are going to follow God for the rest of your life!  That is what these students did in front of the whole church; they let everyone know that this is serious stuff and they are serious about following God.


Micah with the high school students that got baptized.
Went bowling with my Connect girls (it's always hard to get everyone together at the same time).


PVC
Progress is being made on the new building - hoping to move into offices sometime in September and the the goal is to be in the sanctuary before Christmas.





Micah and all the student ministries took a little retreat to San Antonio where much brainstorming and planing took place as well as a little R&R.  


Mack's Moments 
Mack had his 9 month check up.  We got a healthy boy at 18.13 pounds.  He's officially got 2 teeth now and crawling all over the house.  






And to wrap up this month... Micah and I cleaned, organized and decorated our friends apartment while they were on their honeymoon.  
Before
After

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Chicken with Lemon Sage Sauce

On the menu with cooking at the Crumps was Chicken with Lemon Sage Sauce (recipe compliments of Olive Garden), asparagus with cashews and mashed potatoes.  It was one of the best meals I think I've ever had. If you're up for it this is definitely one you should try.  

Chicken with Lemon Sage Sauce 
Prep Time:
45 minutes
Cook Time:
45 minutes
Serving Size: 8

Ingredients
PICCATTA BATTER
12 eggs, whole
1/2 cup fresh parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup fresh Romano cheese, grated
4 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 4 tsp dry)
4 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped (or 4 tsp dry)

CHICKEN
8 ea 6oz. chicken breasts, boneless/skinless, split
2 cups flour, seasoned with salt and black pepper
1 cup olive oil (or as needed)

LEMON SAGE SAUCE
1/2 cup shallots, finely chopped
2 Tbsp garlic, chopped
4 Tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
4 Tbsp parsley, chopped (or 4 tsp dry)
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbsp lemon zest
1 cup white wine (we omitted this ingredient)
2 cups heavy cream
12 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold
Salt and pepper to taste
Procedures
Pre-heat oven to 350ºF.

PICCATTA BATTER
  1. COMBINE eggs, cheeses, parsley and basil together in a large mixing bowl.

CHICKEN
  1. POUND chicken breasts until ¼” thick. Dredge chicken in the flour mixture and dip it in the Piccata batter; coat evenly on both sides.
  2. HEAT olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Place chicken in the skillet and fry until edges are golden brown on each side. Transfer chicken from skillet into a baking pan.
  3. BAKE in a 350ºF oven for 5-6 minutes, until juices run clear.

SAUCE
  1. DRAIN 3/4 of the oil from skillet and add the shallots, garlic and herbs. Saute over medium heat until shallots are transparent. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, white wine and reduce liquid by 1/2. Add heavy cream and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly.
  2. REMOVE pan from heat and whip in the cold butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

SERVE
  1. POUR ¼ cup of sauce on plate and place chicken on top. Serve immediately.