7 Quick Takes Friday

1.

This weekend is "convention" at our church. I've never been here for one of these, but best I can figure is that it's sort of what we call "revivals" in the South, except there's a lot more food involved.

I offered to go to the church and help set up this morning while Lauren was at preschool. I didn't really know what would be needed, but it seemed like a lot of people were doing stuff, and I like to be helpful, so up I showed.

I walked in and was handed rolls of white plastic material, scissors, and tape. If you know me, you know the only thing that could have been worse would have been if they'd handed me a hot glue gun. (Right, Jawan?) I don't do crafts; they frighten me and make me hyperventilate. Stores like Michael's and A.C. Moore cause me to become tense and anxious and have horror-filled daymares (you know, like a daydream that's a nightmare - there should really be a word for those, or am I the only one who has them?) that someone's going to ask me to, gasp, make something.

I realize that most people would not have been intimidated by being asked to wrap a white plastic sheeting around the bottom of the tables as a table skirt. Alas, I am not most people. I think I need a nap now.

2.

I got the boys' hair cut last week. This haircut should last us a while!

3.

I have been needing to get my own hair done for quite some time now but was a little nervous about finding someone here to cut it. And color it. I haven't highlighted my hair in over six years, but I've been really annoyed with its mousy brown color lately and with the way the bottom appeared a lot lighter than the top. But, who in tiny-town, Pennsylvania was I going to trust to cut and color my hair?

Well, R.J., that's who. Turns out a man in our church use to work in the Redken laboratory and was a professional colorist for them for years. Who'da thunk? And, wait, it gets even better. Know how much it cost to get my hair washed, cut, colored, and styled (and my eyebrows waxed) in tiny-town, Pennsylvania?

$47.50. Sometimes I love small towns.

4.

David's cousin had a baby Tuesday, and now I have serious baby fever. Oh my goodness, he's so cute and cuddly and soft and shiny and new. I want a shiny new baby. I suspect that David and I having been spayed and neutered will be a hindrance to obtaining one. Maybe I'll just borrow Rachel's.

5.

Several people have asked recently, so I've decided to share one of my holy-grail of recipes. Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I tell you, these things are like a little piece of Fall heaven in your mouth. Enjoy.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 c sugar
1/2 c oil
1 c pureed pumpkin
1 tsp milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla

2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon

1 c chocolate chips

Mix first six ingredients in mixer. In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients; then, blend into wet mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.

The consistency of these is not like ordinary cookies. It's sort of halfway between cookie and cake. Like I said . . . heaven.

6.

Today is "Pirate Day" for the first graders at the elementary school here. (Don't ask me why; I have no idea.) Joshua, of course, came home and started planning his costume the moment he heard about it. He practically lives in dress-up clothes, so the opportunity to wear a costume to school is nothing short of thrilling.

But, he's always been more self-conscious than my other kids and getting more so as he gets older. This morning he said, "What if nobody else wears a costume?" I told him that was okay, and he should wear it if he wants to because the note home specifically said they could. I told him I would stick some jeans in his backpack in case at some point he wanted to change. He decided to go ahead and wear it, but he asked if David or I would drive him to school today so he wouldn't have to wear it on the bus. So, David drove them this morning, and I have been slightly worrying in the back of my mind all morning whether other kids dressed up, too. I don't think there are many more painful things than your child being made fun of, having his feelings hurt, for doing something he loves so much.

Please let other kids have dressed up, too.

7.

Pops, Lauren wants to know when you're coming.

Check out more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.