YOU HAVE BEEN CHOPPED!

Haha, I am watching Chopped on Food Network and just marveling at how talented all the chefs are! This is a holiday episode so the first basket includes:

• rainbow chared
• Oysters
• Gingerbread cookie dough
• Pomegranate juice

I wonder what they'll do...this show is so awesome! I love watching the cooks hurry around :) I also love seeing which judges are judging in each episode. MY three favorite judges are Aaron Sanchez, Alex Guarnechelli, and Scott Conant

I AM GOING TO GO WATCH THE NEW EPISODE, TOODLESSSSSS!

Martyr's Song

Go and read this book. Right now! This book is such a powerful story, the lessons in it are so clear. This is a book by Ted Dekker (author of Thr3e and The Bride Collector) and even though I didn't particularly enjoy Thr3e, I loved loved LOVED this one.

The story opens with an elderly lady watching a young girl at school. The young girl is plain, homely, and alone. The lady (Eve) offers to make the girl (Marci) beautiful. Once together, Eve tells Marci a story and instructs her to find one character that Marci can be. So the story begins in World War II with (I think) Russian soldiers invading a very small camp. With all the men off to war, the women and children of the village are led by their Father (the priest). The captain is a bitter, hateful, evil man who kicks down concrete crosses (tombstones) and forces the women to take up their crosses, "If you truly do love Christ, carry his cross! Whoever drops the cross is lying and does not love him!" The priest gets beaten for speaking against the solidiers, and a small girl named Nadia steps up and talks to the captain, convincing him to stop, exclaiming "Dont kill him, take me!" The priest oddly hears small children singing a sweet song. (Hence the title of the book)
(*Since I don't want to spoil the book for you, I shall stop there*)

The song mentioned was recorded by Todd Agnew and a children's choir. I adore the song and recommend everyone clicking the link and listening to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_vNPhrMuRo

Makes me cry...truly inspirational story that will show great faith and a child's heart of gold.

Wow, Ronnie...

I look over at Ronnie and he is drinking something from a little dish.
Me: Are you *shudder* drinking pickle juice?
Ronnie: Umm, yeah! *grinning*
Me: Ugh, thats disgusting!
Ronnie (5 minutes later): ya know, it kinda tastes like cheese when its in your mouth for a while...

LIttle brothers are so much fun...