burns all the way down....

Fall-ish weather here has really gotten me in the mood for soup. Like, for every meal (minus breakfast...I'm on a greek yogurt kick there).....It's a bonus on the soup since Progresso was on sale this week and with a coupon I was able to score cans of it for about 75c each.   They won't last long with my habitual soup eating, though.  My problem is I can't wait for it to cool down a bit before I eat it.  I have to eat it right away so that my lips, my tongue, my esophagus, and my stomach are all blistered by the time I'm finished. Ridiculous.  I have no patience.  Of course, homemade soup is always better, but the same problem exists with that.  But bring on the colder weather-- it's time for chicken and noodles, chicken and dumplins, chicken/lime/cilantro soup, good ol' fashioned stew, baked potato soup, broccoli cheese soup...chicken and rice soup....gosh there are so many. my poor blistered digestive system.

In other news, we are going to try to get Ridge a flu shot this year.  We were pretty gung-ho about the flumist, which is what sawyer and I will get, but there are a couple of red flags on it for Ridge, so perhaps the flu shot is in order....We haven't done any vaccinations since he turned 1 year old, so I'm a little freaked out...In the past, vaccines have caused him to bleed. Please pray that if that happens, it will be minimal.  We have not had to STAY in the hospital in 9 months or so, and I am more than okay with that.  Ridge had a blood transfusion in March, and another in June, and that is it in the last six months.  Oh how I like this so much better than the other! That life was hard...every day it was hard. 

What else...Ridge can take his own diaper off now. That's funny...and inconvenient. I sent the kids outside to play the other day and BDawg looks out and says, "um...look out there."  and there's my naked two year old...diaper under the picnic table...he's just playing in the dirt.  He's funny. 

Sawyer's so smart (I mean, we all think that about our kids...so it's okay if I say it.  Your kid is so smart, too.).  He can write his numbers at least to 50, probably higher, I just haven't asked him to do so, yet.  He can count to 100.  He can add almost anything (as long as it doesn't require carrying a 1 or something) you ask him to, as long as you give him an example of how to do it if it's a bit trickier (like 51+23+12).  He is reading really well and spelling things by sound, even if the actual spelling isn't spot on.  We are very much the same, so time at home can be difficult, but most days it is wonderful and we get a lot accomplished.  He has started going to Wednesday night class at church, and when he came home last week he said, "that's the most fun i've had in my whole life!" :)  He is getting so big....

I gave my first exam in one of our classes this week- it was amazing how I had all of the exams graded and all grades posted/averaged in about an hour's time...the program we use is so excellent, much less work on the educator's part...and the tests graded SO quickly.  I am still not quite adjusted to a schedule of being gone two nights a week and Saturday mornings, but once I get there, it is fantastic.

I have picked up David Platt's book, Radical.  If you've read it, feel free to weigh in here...Don't spoil any of it- I'm only a couple chapters in.  But it's like kick you in the face good.  I'm sure many of you have read it or are familiar with it, but aaaaaah-- it's all about what truly following Jesus means-- and it will totally uproot your thoughts/comforts of living the American Dream.  Pretty much every page makes you want to be real, be devoted, and stop playing around.  I mean, we're talking legit stuff here.  The true cost of following Christ....something so many of us are unwilling to do even though we claim we are believers.  The dedication required would actually cause some to stop and think, logically, if it was really worth it.... you know,are you really willing to really be a follower of Christ or not if THIS (whatever THIS is) is what He asks of you?  Not just someone who says you are a follwer, but really...you aren't at all.  I mean, totally slams you in the face.  In a good way, I promise.   I don't have a lot of time to read, but this is one that I won't be able to put down....one that I even ordered on CD so my husband would "read" it too! :)  But it's another thing that "burns all the way down" like the soup....instead of through my esophagus, though, this time, straight through the very core of who we are....not just am I a good person...but am I DOING anything to show that I am WHO I say I am?  Are any of us?  I could ramble about it forever, but I'd say instead, read the book! Totally!

Well...I'm going to take a Saturday nap. yes. I am.