The Bottle Talks

Adoption Rocks Final Sale

2011-01-26T10:37:00.001-08:00

Meet my gorgeous (and oh so kissable) niece, Lydia and my good friend's adorable son, Grady.
Their mamas bought these shirts for them before they were born and they now FIT! Are they not the most amazing little models ever?!?!

In honor of their cuteness and my limited stock, I am hosting a BLOW OUT SALE!
Men's XL - $10 each
Youth Sizes - $8 each
Infant Sizes - $7 each

I have a small amount of shirts left and I want to sell them! Every penny you pay for the shirts go toward helping us bring our daughter Harper home!
Please go on and SHOP!

** P.S. I will not be reordering these shirts. I have a very limited stock and will try to
keep on top of all orders. I have a couple of sizes that have ONE shirt left so please be patient
with me if I run out before I can change the button. **

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!

I Saw What I Saw

2010-11-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

Today is Orphan Sunday... an event hoping to bring awareness to the fact that there are millions of children without a mama and dada to care for them. These kids are living all over the world and also right there in your own town. There is a HUGE need for loving people to step in and care for these kids through adoption, through foster parenting, child sponsorship or by you supporting a family that is or has adopted.

Jesse and I found out this week that we are now #53 on the waiting list to bring home our baby girl from Ethiopia. We started this process in January and are quickly closing in on the end of the 2010. Each step forward makes her feel all the more tangible and real and like bringing her home might be a real possibility. I simply can't wait. My heart might explode.

People often ask why our family was compelled to adopt a child when we have two biological children. There are a ton of reasons but here is one of them. You can't travel to 3rd world countries and not be changed in some way. You can't serve people that are struggling in ways you never imagined possible without leaving a different person. It just changes you. Something inside shifts when you go beyond reading about them and instead see it with your own eyes. You can't visit an orphanage and not think about how much LOVE you have to offer. You do not forget those little crusty eyes or their wet behinds that soaked your shirt while you held them. You do not forget their faces or their tears when you have to put them down and leave. You cannot forget what you know they are up against if they are going to make it. You can't help but think about all of the kids that are still trying to just survive on the streets.

There is a song that I love by a musician that I adore. She is a poet with an angelic voice. I often feel like she is writing what I wish that I could so perfectly communicate. I was going to figure out how to attach her song when I came across this video. Enjoy and be moved.

"I Saw What I Saw" by Sara Groves

#63

2010-10-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

We found out that we are officially #63 on the Waiting List to bring our baby girl home from Ethiopia! We are BEYOND excited to have moved up 20 spots in 2 months! Amazing...

The Playground

2010-09-17T13:51:00.001-07:00

If you live in the Seattle area, get tickets for this movie RIGHT AWAY. If you do not live in Seattle, find out where you can go for a viewing. This movie is about the sexual exploitation of young girls throughout the US and needs to be seen.

Follow this link below and buy your ticket.
Click on the Trailer Link if you would like to watch a preview of the movie.
(This has some mature content so please watch who you are viewing this with.)

If in Seattle, BUY YOUR TICKETS here:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/122618

(Let me know if you would like to carpool with a group of us!)

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
(Mature subject matter. Watch on your own before deciding whether to show your kids.)

I CANNOT DO IT ALL.

2010-09-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

Tis the season... BOTH of my boys are now is school for a 1/2 day. Soccer season has started. Bible Study is back on. Eastside Women of Purpose is gearing back up for another fundraiser. Jesse's job is keeping him very busy. The boys have a few misc. activities. The HOLIDAYS are fast approaching. (Christmas has already arrived at Costco.) It can all start to feel a bit overwhelming... or a lot. I may be hyperventilating right now.

I so appreciated the post by Emily at Jones Design Company. She recently blogged about "Time" and how she runs her own business, has four kids, home schools, etc. Click HERE to read her entry and then take some time to explore her website. SUPER fun stuff. Check it out.

Super Fast and Easy Dinner Ideas

2010-08-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

I am NOT a good cook. I am not exaggerating my lack of ability. I don't like to cook either. This can be a bit of a family bummer on so many levels. I LOVE food - just not making it. I am always in awe of people that can know what ingredients go well together, whip it up, time it perfectly and serve it without ever breaking a sweat.

I have always wanted to find (or write) a cookbook that is truly easy, has a short ingredient list and has been tested by ME, a truly lame cook. I am tired of buying cookbooks that say a meal will only take 30 min. or less. What they really mean is that they take 30 min. if you have assistants that have pre-chopped and prepared everything for you. My little assistants are short, slow, are prone to cutting themselves and have short attention spans.

Real Simple Magazine's most recent issue had a 3 ingredient meal idea list that I've been wanting to try out. I had some serious doubts. Can anything be that great when it's only 3 ingredients? I decided to try three of the recipes last night... They involved grilling, so Jesse got involved.

The ingredients were few and in season (or growing in your backyard) making the meal pretty affordable... Jesse enjoyed his time at the grill with a beer in hand... I enjoyed the ease of three, 3-ingredient meals... My kids RAVED about my cooking (they might have been in shock) and asked for more "chicken." They ate all of their food. Liam complained that the watermelon was weird after his 5th bite. :)

Here are the recipes. Thanks Real Simple!

Brown Sugar-Glazed Pork

Buttery Grilled Corn

Minted Watermelon Salad
(Ignore the Steak Kabobs. Haven't tried those yet.)

Enjoy!

The #76 SALE!!!

2010-08-10T21:18:00.001-07:00

We just found out that we have moved up on the Waiting Family List! We have moved from #83 to #76! We still have a long wait before we are able to bring our Baby Girl home from Ethiopia, but I'm encouraged and excited to be in the 70's.

In honor of our jump into the 70's, I am hosting an Adoption Rocks Gear SALE through Friday evening! All T-Shirts have been marked down by $3!!! Sizes have become more limited but I am sure that you can find something. :) Please note that the Tote Bags are NOT on sale at this time.

If you live in Seattle, comment and we can figure out how to get you your gear without paying for shipping.

SPREAD THE WORD! These make great gifts and shows your support to all the adoptive families out there. Our little family appreciates your help and I ship anywhere in the US!

My (Super Random) Favorites List

2010-08-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

I love reading and hearing about new products/food/websites/music that people are listening too. This leads me to believe that someone might possibly care about what mine are. This is super random so bear with me...

Cleaning Products:

Method Laundry Detergent
I tried this on whim... I adore most Method products and loved how tiny the bottle was and the idea of only pumping the detergent into the washer. I have had bad luck with "natural" detergent but thought that I could take the chance as the price was fairly reasonable. Needless to say, I LOVE it. I've tried the Peony Blossom and Fresh Air but prefer Fresh Air's scent. It really cleans the boys clothes (this is verging on a miracle) and they come out smelling divine. I will never go back to pouring my detergent. Six squirts and I'm DONE! I'm in love.

If you haven't used Method products before, try them!

Blog:

The winner for time spent checking out a site is... Jones Design Company! I just discovered this site via facebook. It turns out that a girl that I went to college with started this company and her blog is FULL of treasures. You will start out by reading and softly sobbing over your lack of general creativity. Things will start to feel a little bit better when you see how easy she makes her projects look. I have yet to try one but actually feel inspired to try. PLUS, her online shop is super fun and very reasonably priced. Definitely worth checking out and adding to your blog roll!

Food:

I recently came across a delish food combo that can double as a breakfast or dessert. It's full of protein, feels like a special sweet treat and fills me up. I found the cereal at Trader Joes but I'm sure that you could find something comparable elsewhere.

1) 1/2 c. of nonfat, vanilla Greek Yogurt (I buy mine at Trader Joes)
2) 1 c. of berries of your choice (I prefer blueberries but put whatever fruit I have on hand in there.)
3) 2/3 c. (one serving) of Trader Joes High Fiber Fruit & Nut Medley cereal
(2.5 WW Points)

Mmm... Tell me if you try it.

Music:

I am an unashamed fan of the Twilight series (books, movies and music). Mock me if you must. I loved the first album. I liked the second album. I LOVE the 3rd album. My fave song has to be "Heavy in Your Arms" by Florence and the Machine followed by "Atlas" by Fanfario and "My Love" by Sia. I love the rest of the album though and you just can't say that about many soundtracks. Download the Eclipse soundtrack and feel a little cooler than you really are.

You also really need to download "Songs from This" and "Songs from That" by Joy Williams and then download her band's (The Civil Wars) EP entitled "Poison and Wine." You've probably heard her music on your fave tv show or maybe even an Oscar Meyer commercial (ha ha ha) and never knew it. She is a ridiculously talented singer and songwriter and her music just makes me feel good about the journey of life. Her band, The Civil Wars has a similar feel but adds another layer in that it is a duo. Their harmonies are hauntingly beautiful and there songs are beautifully crafted and catchy. Enjoy.

(Find any of these suggestions on iTunes.)

Well, that's it for now! Humor me and let me know if you try anything! :)

Who doesn't love a contest and giveaway!?!

2010-07-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is SUPER talented and has started her own design company. I am in fact feeling like my entire house needs a makeover by her. Her designs are ADORABLE and super reasonable. (I just ordered some personalized notecards that I'm super excited about.)

She decided to do a giveaway for the summer. Check out all of the fun items that you could win?!?! SO fun!

Simply click on the "a just for fun Summer giveaway" logo below and enter to win!!

LUCKY # 83

2010-07-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

83!!!!!!!

We just found out that we are officially on the Waiting Family List with our adoption agency, All God's Children, International! It is a little bit bittersweet to be #83. We've been working so hard to get on the list but 83 sounds a little bit daunting and like a REALLY long wait. Our timeline for our baby girl has been pushed back even further. BUT, I am clinging to God's perfect timing and trying to relinquish my strong desire to micromanage and control (because I have none).

In the meantime, please join us in praying for our daughter. She is most likely still in her mother's womb. Please pray for her birth mother, for nourishment and care. Pray for her mama as she does her best to care for her. It is incredibly emotional to think about the painful future that they have in store that will eventually lead to our adopting her daughter. It feels like I know something that they don't. I am sure that sounds weird...

And PLEASE pray that we move up the list FAST!!!!

Upcoming Garage Sale to Benefit Our Adoption!!

2010-07-06T15:03:00.001-07:00

We are having a MASSIVE Garage Sale to help us with our daughter's adoption fees!!

Mark your calendars for Friday, July 23rd and Saturday, July 24th and STOP BY (and make sure to BUY something)!

This sale will be huge because of the generous donations of many. There is still time to drop by YOUR stuff! Comment if you would like to donate!

I hope to see you there!

Waiting to join the Waiting Parents

2010-06-06T20:52:00.000-07:00

Adoption Update:

Jesse and I are ALMOST done with our Home Study! We finished meeting with our Social Worker (who was absolutely wonderful and will be such a wonderful resource once we bring our baby girl home) and we are now waiting for her to write her report. After she finishes her report, we will add it to the rest of our Home Study documents and then add the Home Study to our Dossier (yikes - that's a lot) and we will then be added to the Waiting Parents List!

Once we are added to the list, there will be A LOT of waiting. Waiting and waiting and waiting. We will be waiting for about 8-12 months. Whew. I can hardly take it....

I hope that one day, our daughter will be able to absorb how very much we want and already love her. Please hurry home.

My Mamaform

2010-06-02T14:13:00.001-07:00

I just realized that I wear the same outfit almost every day. It's like a uniform but I have renamed it the "Mamaform." It's my go-to outfit.

(On my way to Thailand.)

I live in a Hoodie/Sweatshirt, jeans and converse. Please give me a tiny bit of credit right now - I don't wear the exact same combo every day. I mix and match. When I say mix and match you should know that I wear the same three sweatshirts all week with different t-shirts underneath. I am modeling them here.

(At a friends house for dinner.)

Is this weird? I guess that it could be worse... Do you have a Momaform that gets you through the week?

(On a Memorial Day walk.)

Girls Night Out for a Purpose

2010-05-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT AN EVENT TO BENEFIT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

THAT IS RIDICULOUSLY FUN AND VERY UNIQUE

(and playing host to a Freedom Stones Jewelry Table)

WE OFTEN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND TRAINING EVENTS, BUT NOT AN EVENT THAT PAIRS A FUN GIRLS NIGHT OUT WITH RAISING AWARENESS AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

Have you been trying to get your friends to an event to support Human Trafficking and failed miserably? This might be a great opportunity to get them involved.

EVENT DETAILS

SATC2: Girls Night Out for a Purpose
Downtown Bellevue
Thursday, May 27th

$55 per person

Join us for the ultimate girls night out in downtown Bellevue! Lindeman Weddings & Events is hosting a SATC2 Premiere Party and Private Showing. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to help aid in the fight against human trafficking and forced prostitution.

Ticket Price Includes:

Private SATC2 Premiere Party at Pearl Bar & Dining in Bellevue
Nibbles and 1 Drink Ticket for a Signature Cocktail
SWAG BAG for every guest including giveaways from David Barton Gym, Nordstrom and Seven Salon to name a few!
Photobooth will be onsite at Pearl Restaurant
Admission to our Private Showing of SATC2 at Lincoln Square Cinemas
Additional surprises throughout the night!

The Festivities Begin at Pearl Bar and Dining:
7:00pm
Private Showing of SATC2 @ Lincoln Square Cinemas to Follow

$55 per person (with all proceeds going to the fight against human trafficking)

There will be a raffle held at our private party where you can purchase tickets onsite. We have some incredible raffle prizes, including a pair of Manolo Blahniks

that we are giving away! All raffle ticket proceeds will go to charity.

Catch the latest SATC2 buzz on Facebook! We will be sharing more info about the cause we are fighting for as well as showcasing all of our fabulous sponsors and raffle donations!

For more info or if you are local business who would like to donate to our raffle, please contact: events@lindemanweddings.com

Need a Room? The Bellevue Westin is offering discounted room rates for this event! To reserve your room please click here!

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN PURCHASING TICKETS?
Click THIS LINK and it will direct you to the ticketing page. Space is limited so act fast!

Your Tips to Healthier Eating and Buying

2010-04-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to those who commented! I learned a ton and look forward to researching your suggestions! Here's what y'all said:

"We've joined a CSA, we buy our cow from a man in the country (grass fed, organic, etc.), but the rest is so hard to work around..."

"There are meat CSAs, but they're a little out of our budget. Groupon and LivingSocial have both had a daily deal in the last couple of months on organic food delivery-which includes meat and they were for 50% off the cost. While the delivery option is generally more than Bill the Butcher, it was cheaper with the groupon deal! Bill the Butcher is less expensive than whole foods though. Not sure what you guys like to eat, but this website: www.101cookbooks.com has been a great resource for us! We're big fans of quinoa and well, we're on a pretty heavy legume diet too (I'm soy sensitive so it's not an option for us as a meat alternative). Our faves on 101 cookbooks are: lemon-scented quinoa, matchstick pasta, ravioli pasta salad, and the almost cheeseless pasta casserole. Oh, and the root connection is a great CSA for veggies! You can pick kale until late in the autumn if you're willing to wear some boots!
Oh and this blog: http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/ is kind of fantastic. Mark Bittman also has a book "How to cook everything vegetarian" that is great!
Here are some links to some of our other favorites:
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chickpea-apple-curry
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/brazilian-black-beans
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Polenta-and-Vegetables-with-Roasted-Red-Pepper-Sauce-241484"

"We've been looking into some of the plethora of organic/local/free-range food around here a lot. We just joined a CSA and will be getting our first veggie/fruit/herb box soon, but meat has been a trickier thing. I'm hoping I can start buying most of it at one of the fantastic local year-round Farmer's Markets, but I need to do some more research so I'm not just getting the same thing I would in a grocery store but paying more."

"So for us, I shop at Trader Joe's, farmer's market, get eggs from friends, & occasionally Whole Foods. I am couponing a lot of our household items, trying to save money in other ways so I can put it towards the good stuff."

"Have you read Michael Pollen's books? Absolutely eye-opening! I buy most food at Whole Foods, but it is expensive. We've cut out a lot of meat. Did you know Calvin Klein gets an F from the Free2Work.org website?"

"We haven't made huge leaps yet but so far we have started growing a garden. We don't eat a lot of meat to begin with but we are looking for an affordable way to buy organic meat without buying in bulk (we don't have the room to store extra meat). I would think with all the farmers around here we would be able to find an affordable meat source.
It's hard buying organic because the only whole food store here is TINY and VERY expensive. Other than that we have Safeway and Walmart. Since watching Food, Inc. we only buy free range eggs and try to buy organic whatever from the stores mentioned.
It's small, but it's a start."

"We have been gradually "making the switch" over the last couple years. We've done most of the things mentioned, bought a "cow", joined a CSA, grew a garden. But as far as the grocery shopping, I make a point to pick out thick skinned fruits from the non organic section, ( bananas, oranges, melons, etc. ) and then buy a bag of organic apples, or whatever is on sale that week ( at Publix ). I kind of know where to go now for what I want... Costco has my organic oatmeal, my WalMart is now carrying organic milk, Publix has the best produce. We don't have any of the "whole foods" type stores, but stock up on staples when we visit family in the "big city"!! My husband is more dedicated than me, but I do all the shopping and cooking, so it's a tricky balance! Not sure I'm brave enough to watch the movie. Will I ever be able to eat at my beloved Chick fil A again??"

"I offer a small solution for eating real food at a smaller cost and MUCH less work..umm, hello, it takes TIME to make food from scratch?
It's called a meal swap or co-op cooking. Just started doing it here and it is rocking my world!"

"We've been trying different kinds of food habits, beginning with Andrew Weils, Optimum Health. Getting rid of all foods that have artificial food coloring and flavoring and moving to eliminating anything with trans fats... next adding omegas, broccoli and garlic.... we started that about 8 yrs ago. We (not really me, but my hubby) have been lessening the amounts of carbs - b/c of the increase in insulin that the body needs to break down the carbs, we're watching that.

My husband likes the primal diet. I eat what ever he makes..... primal totally supports eat what's in season, and real food.

We did join a CSA and are looking forward to the weekly produce.

We've been a part of a food coop, ordering in bulk, getting decent prices and the coop truck is the same one that delivers to whole foods... I love the discount prices. Just takes a little planning. We've found a US brand of frozen food, Stalhbush, that tastes good. We ran out and purchased birdseye... birdseye tasted like it had a coating of oil on it, uck!

I was really saddened by the actions of the big M company that made the little guy pay them off b/c their seeds blew over into the little guys crops.... sad. Not eating soybeans anymore.
The biggest thing I learned from the film was that I'm voting every time I purchase something at the groc store. And if we look hard enough we can find good food at reasonable prices without compromising."

A Sustainable, Ethical Meat Alternative

2010-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

As greater focus has turned to sustainable, ethical meat, unicorns are starting to make sense as a protein source for humans. Unlike other meats, unicorns become more tender as they reach the end of their natural lifespan, so the meat is harvested only after they’ve died of natural causes. Guilt free meat full of sparkles, giggles, rainbows.

Thanks for this "Lost at E Minor" and my very funny sister in law!

Food Crisis!

2010-04-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

I watched something that I don't regret but kinda wish that I hadn't seen. How's that for a ridiculous comment?!?! You see... I have a bit of an issue. When I see injustice, I have to respond. I get pissed. I vow to DO SOMETHING. I am not someone that can just rationalize why it shouldn't/doesn't affect me. This is why I should/shouldn't have watched Food, Inc.

I should/shouldn't have watched this movie a long time ago but I didn't feel like watching a movie with an agenda. I assumed that it would tell me that I needed to become a vegetarian. I assumed that it would offend me. I knew that this is why I needed to make myself watch it.

Last week, I felt brave enough to turn it on. As I felt my fears of agenda melt away, a feeling of nausea swept over me after seeing where our meat comes from. I felt disgusted after seeing how the animals we eat are treated and killed. Don't get me wrong - I still want to eat meat - I just didn't realize how disgusting a MASS animal murder could be. As simple as it may sound, I believe that an animal deserves the right to graze free in a grassy field and I believe that there are more ethical ways to raise them and kill them. The movie does NOT endorse NOT eating meat and this surprised me.

I also didn't realize how many injustices are happening to farmers in the US and around the world. I didn't know that they had been forced to sell themselves to big business. I didn't realize that the BIG FOOD BUSINESSES are trafficking Mexican farmers in for cheap labor and then turning them over to the immigration department as illegals at the rate of 15 people a day (an easily replaceable amount that doesn't affect production). I didn't realize that the FDA was being run by the very people that were formerly running these BIG FOOD BUSINESSES.

After watching the movie, I turned to my equally as stunned husband and said, "Well, crap (after viewing the movie, I mean this quite literally). Now I'm gonna have to change our food buying habits." We already receive all of our grass fed, free roaming beef from my father (thanks Dad!!). We are a part of a gleaning group and consider ourselves to be primarily "freegans." (If you don't know what gleaning is, google it.) But we still purchase a lot of our chicken and cereals, etc. from the grocery store/Costco.

This is where we meet our crisis. Where I would normally go to Costco to stock up on Cheerios for my boys, I will now be headed to PCC or Whole Foods where there is a significant price difference in the long term. Where I would normally head to Safeway to buy our meat and other various items NOT gleaned, I will now be headed to "Bill the Butcher." If you live in the Seattle area, check him out. He's watched Food, Inc. :) A lot of the food items that I would have purchased in bulk now need to be purchased from a local food source. As you can see, this means that shopping will be a little trickier, take a lot longer and be more expensive. My youngest, Finn, is NOT a good shopper and a Houdini in the cart so it feels pretty daunting. This will also elimate some of my shortcut cooking tactics used to make meal prep faster and easier. Darn.

Well, if you are still tracking with me and my early morning rant, I'm impressed and will end it here. I would like to urge you to watch this movie despite the fact that you might live to simultaneously regret it and it feel like it might be the best thing that you've done for your family in a long time. I KNOW for a fact that things CAN change if we all get involved. We just actually have to DO it.

I will be researching ways to make these changes without breaking our food budget. Will you help? Have you already made changes to how you buy and eat because of Food, Inc.? Share your secrets here and I'll repost them at a later date!

Adoption's Rockin It in Texas

2010-04-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Our Adoption Rocks gear is popping up all over the country! Here are some cute shots of a sweet family from Texas. Check out how cute these little guys are!!

Interested in winning a FREE Adoption Rocks Tee? Head to THIS BLOG and enter a comment to win!

Thanks for all your support, Chambers Fam!! :)

Are you or your family sporting Adoption Rocks gear? Send me a picture!

We are SO close!!!

2010-04-12T13:33:00.000-07:00

We are almost finished with the paperwork side of our Home Study and Dossier! We are waiting on a letter from our bank and our FBI background check. After this, we will be paid a visit by a Social Worker. Once we pass that, our Dossier and Home Study will be FINISHED and we will be added to the Waiting Parent list!! I am clinging to that today as it feels difficult to wait on others to do their job.

I also may or may not have purchased our sweet daughter these shoes. Yes, they are pink patent leather and they have a bow. I couldn't help myself! I needed a little "this is for real" boost in the midst of paperwork.

The Adoption Rocks TOTES are BACK!!

2010-04-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

I decided to print totes and wasn't sure that they would be very popular. It turns out that people LOVE them! I sold out in a few days! Well.... they are BACK!

The totes are natural colored canvas bags and they are SUPER durable. They are perfect for grocery shopping, carrying around odds and ends, or heading to the beach (a girl can dream)!

PLUS, when you purchase an Adoption Rocks bag, you help bring home our Baby Girl from Ethiopia! I can't think of anything better! :) Order yours now!

(PS. Don't forget to order some t-shirts too.)

Photos Courtesy of Amy Cheng Photography

Liam's Latest

2010-04-07T19:28:00.001-07:00

Liam's teacher passed this special piece of artwork to me
and asked if I saw what was wrong with it.

How can you miss those puppies!?!?

On the way home from school, I asked Liam to tell me about everything on his picture.
He informed me that these were in fact Ninja Warriors and that one is bad (on the bottom) and that one is good (on the top).

I also learned that they have super sweet ninja costumes complete with a flap in the front...
not a 3rd leg - not a super long ding dong.

Crisis averted - this time. :)

Happy Easter from the Butterworths!

2010-04-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Blazer Game, Fishing and Salamander John

2010-04-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

Liam had a big week at my parent's house and topped it off with a Blazer Game with his Papa and a last minute fishing trip. Pure - boy - heaven.

Papa took Liam to get his face painted in Blazer style.
We are calling it his Rip City Chimney Sweep Look

Liam caught three HUGE fish this morning.
He brought them home for me to cook (yeah, right).
He also brought home his new "pet" named,
Salamander John.
Liam was more than happy to show us his new smile face. Nice...

Salamander John being kept company by four worms.
Salamander John really loved Liam.
He didn't run away when Liam put him down.
He would just stand there and let Liam pet him.
We left Salamander John behind in Oregon.
We are a house in mourning.

Bathtime at Gaga's House

2010-03-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

Finn has been REFUSING to bathe while we've been at their Gaga and Papa's house. The problem is that as of today, he is officially STINKY! Gaga took things into her own hands and bribed him with a bath in the sink. It worked. :)

I am pretty sure that this is only cute to me, but I'll share it will you anyway.

Oh Sweet Lord He's Cute

2010-03-28T07:26:00.000-07:00

ADOPTION ROCKS

Rock Star in Training

2010-03-27T18:39:00.001-07:00

ADOPTION ROCKS

Our Adoption Rocks Shirts are IN!!

2010-03-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Jesse and I are EXPECTING!! We are adopting a baby girl (between the age of 5 months and 18 months) from Ethiopia and hope to bring her home sometime within the next 18 months. The agency, government and travel costs are VERY overwhelming so we have started FUNDRAISING to bring little Baby Girl Butterworth HOME!!

We have decided to start selling ADOPTION ROCKS gear as our first shot at fundraising! We would LOVE your support.

We have MEN'S shirts, WOMEN'S shirts, YOUTH sized shirts, INFANT/TODDLER sized shirts and TOTE BAGS (these have already sold out but we will be re-ordering more right away).

Ordering is EASY! Look to my blog's sidebar - you can order gear, choose your size and color, and pay for the gear and shipping through your Paypal account or a credit card. After you place your order, I will get your order in the mail and to your doorstep within 7-10 days.

Thanks to my dear friend, photographer Amy Cheng, and some wonderful models, we have some pictures to show how cute the shirts are. (Pictures of the infant shirts and shots of MY kids in the shirts are coming soon.) If you are curious about sizing and shrinkage, check out my sidebar.

Additional Questions? Feel free to email me at: mrssyrup@gmail.com.

Stress Eating!!

2010-03-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

I have been stress eating for the past two days and I am convinced that I am not stopping because I don't have anything truly bad for me in the house.

If only I had a movie theater sized Junior Mints.

AWAKE 2010

2010-03-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Friday Evening / April 30 - Saturday / May 1

YOU were created to live a life of deep significance and meaning.

You were created to make a difference. At AWAKE 2010, we’ll going hard
after what it looks like to use our lives to positively impact both our personal relationships and the world.

Join us as we learn how to become whole, healthy, women of God, empowered to change the world and live out loud. Guest speaker Ronna Detrick and OCC’s Jodie Howerton will be speaking on Living Significantly...AND there are six workshops led by other women from which to choose:

AWAKE strives to be a different kind of women’s event, one that addresses the life stages of women of all ages and backgrounds (check out where Ronna's going to take us during her Saturday morning session)! Come take a break and connect with other incredible women!

AWAKE is held at Overlake Christian Church with the option to stay overnight at Redmond's brand new Hotel Sierra (STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!).

After Friday night's AWAKE session, Late Night Options will be held at Hotel Sierra for ALL conference attendees.

Early bird $55 through Monday, March 22
$65 after March 22

Cost includes Saturday Lunch

COMING SOON

2010-03-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON TO A T-SHIRT AND TOTE BAG
NEAR YOU!!

BE PREPARED TO ORDER A SHIRT FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY
(yes, I will use extreme measures to ensure this)
SO THAT WE CAN BRING HOME BABY GIRL BUTTERWORTH!!

"James, The Musical" Extended Cut

2010-03-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

James the Musical (Extended Version) from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

Enjoy watching my husband and BOTH of my sons in this instant classic! This is my youngest's acting debut. Pure genius!!

Decompressing

2010-03-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

I am been overwhelmed with my life lately. Jesse and I have entered into the process of adoption and there is A LOT of paperwork. I have had friends go through this process but you don't know how much there is to do until you jump in yourself. (I consequently have a lot of respect for the families that have gone before me.) I run a non-profit group and for lack of a better term, I am "managing/overseeing" a golf tournament in addition to regular group tasks. I am also on a Planning Team and have a lot to do to prepare for a Women's Event at our church. On top of all of that, I am trying to be a pretty good (I've let go of being great for this season) mom and wife. I believe some women would probably thrive with all of this, but I am not.

I made myself take a break from a few things over the weekend. (I say this loosely because I did send a few emails and finished filling out one teesy piece of paperwork for our Home Study.) I instead cleaned the house and folded clothing and sorted thousands of tiny socks for what seemed like an eternity. I hung out with my boys and husband and did a little cooking on the side. I went to dinner and a movie with some friends.

I never really felt like I let myself relax though. If I wasn't thinking of all I needed to do during the day, I was dreaming about it at night.

So I am putting this out there to you, my two readers... How do you turn your mind off? How do you relax? Do you take a weekend? Is that possible when you are a mother? I would love to hear your thoughts or advice if you have any!

My kids are cuter than yours... wink wink

2010-03-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

But seriously - they just might be....

Liam's "scary face"

Finn's "scary" face. Sweet Lord, he's CUTE!

My FAVE Weight Watcher Friendly Hot Chocolate

2010-03-06T13:37:00.000-08:00

I am a BIG chocolate fan - I mean REALLY big. I LOVE all things chocolate and have it in some form just about every day. My mouth is seriously watering right now. I have problems.

One of my favorite comfort drinks is real hot chocolate (click HERE to buy my favorite, slave-free kind). I do let myself occasionally indulge these days but have found a suitable alternative for those ever frequent, "I ate myself out of points" days. This recipe is a variation on a Hungry Girl recipe. (If you don't know who Hungry Girl is, you should check her out).

INGREDIENTS:
* 1 Package of Swiss Miss "Sensible Sweets" Diet Hot Cocoa Mix (Pretty great on its own but not chocolaty enough for me).
* 2 Teaspoons of Cocoa Powder (Go Fair Trade or Organic if you can help it!!)
* 2 Teaspoons of Sugar Free, French Vanilla, Non-dairy Powdered Creamer
* 1 Teaspoon of chocolate chips (I use mini chocolate chips)
(Go Fair Trade or Organic if you can help it!!)
* Fat Free Redi-Whip (Only 5 calories per 2 Tablespoons and pure heaven)
* 20 Marshmallows

1) Boil Water
2) Grab a mug and pour the first four ingredients into mug.
3) Pour water into mug and stir. (I would suggest waiting for a few seconds to let the chocolate chips melt, and then give it a good stir again).
4) Cover in Redi-Whip and your 20 marshmallows and ENJOY!!

On another note... I am really passionate about STOPPING Human Trafficking. Did you know that at least 50% of your cocoa is produced by slaves and that 70% of all cocoa beans bought by the US are grown on the Ivory Coast of West Africa and harvested by slaves? Interested in learning how to make a difference? Check THIS site out or visit my friend Amy's BLOG to read more about it.

99 THINGS

2010-03-02T17:02:00.000-08:00

I saw this on my sister in law's blog and thought Id post it to do something a little more fun and upbeat!

Instructions:

Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.
You apparently can't bold on my blog so I'm making all of my bolding, RED. :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - in process :)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (does a calf count?)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - fish
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Basic Human Trafficking Statistics

2010-03-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.

It is estimated that at least 27 million people are currently enslaved around the world; many have been enslaved through being trafficked.

Approximately 800,000 people annually are trafficked across national borders. Around 80 percent of these victims are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors. The majority of females are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation. (2007 Trafficking in Persons Report, U.S. State Department)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) now believes that the number of children trafficked each year is around 1.2 million. (2006)

That's two children per minute trafficked for sexual exploitation/slavery.

45,000-50,000 persons are trafficked into the U.S. each year; 15,000 of them are children. (ECPAT-USA)

The U.N. and other experts estimate the total market value of illicit human trafficking at $32 billion. (UNODC)

These numbers make trafficking in persons the second most lucrative crime in the world, second only to the sale of drugs. (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2006).

About $28 billion of this is generated from commercial sexual exploitation. (International Labor Organization)

Photo Courtesy of Amy Cheng Photography

Adoption Update/My Journal of Lameness

2010-02-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

I spent most of Friday as an anxious ball of mess. Our next step in our adoption process was to come up with a considerable amount of cash and as usual, I quickly turned to a doubtful mindset. I insist on tormenting myself and making mental lists of all the reasons that we are unworthy of help. (It's really quite long). I am ridiculously quick to put aside all of the times we have miraculously been provided for. (But if you need a pep talk, I can totally give you a great one!)

Without boring you with all the details, I will let you know what transpired!

We got a LOAN! We even got a decent interest rate :)
My heart rate slowed.... I let myself breathe again.
The same bank that gave us the loan notarized all of our documentation for FREE! Nice.
My boys didn't demolish the bank... Yes, Liam had the NASTIEST gas EVER. Yes, Finn pooped in his diaper while we were waiting and smelled up their tiny office. Yes, my boys almost ate them out of lollypops. Yes, they harrassed other bankers. It could have been WAY worse...
We mailed the packet off and now await our notebook full of all of the Home Study/Dossier info.
I realize how great it is that I am NOT in control of this process and once again try to turn things over to the God who is...

Don't Miss Out on the FUN!!!

2010-02-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

The BAG O FUN, that is!!

Our good friends, the Howertons (check out their blog HERE), just found out that they were approved to go and pick up their son in Africa! Their court date is in ONE MONTH!! They need help fundraising so our other good friends, the McQueen's (their blog) have put together a Bag O Fun to raffle on the behalf.

Here’s the Bag O’Fun:

Does it look like fun? Don’t be deceived- here is what’s inside:

PF Chang -$50 + Nordstrom - $50 + Itunes - $15 + Cold Stone- $15 + Jamba Juice- $15+ AMC Entertainment -$25+ Barnes & Noble - $25 =$175 OF FUN!!

Here’s how this will go:

Raffle tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 8 for $20.

Go HERE to buy the raffle tickets. Leave a comment here about how many raffle tickets you purchased. And Thursday at 11pm (PST) we’ll randomly select a lucky raffle ticket and announce the winner on Friday morning!

Now go get your raffle ticket because it will be FUN and because soon a boy who has no one will be part of a very amazing family…forever!

I've missed you...

2010-02-16T15:47:00.000-08:00

I go in for the "Roto Rooter" Sinus Surgery this Friday and I have never been more excited for surgery. I feel this way for a couple of reasons...

1) I have been having sinus problems/feverish/achy/in pain on and off (mainly on) for the past year. The thought of having my sinuses cleared out actually sounds heavenly and I am feeling like I am kind of lucky to be able to have a go at relief.

2) I get to SLEEP and take prescribed PAIN MEDICATION for a couple of days. I have to rest and recover. Don't get me wrong, I know that I will be in some pain and discomfort. But being FORCED to rest is just what I need.

3) The last time I was in the hospital was to push a watermelon sized baby out of my you know where. "Recovery" included nursing every couple of hours, not sleeping, getting screamed at (by my dear Finny) and getting back to work as a mom. This seems gloriously different and I'm down right hopeful!

Sleep, glorious sleep. Oh how I have missed you, my dear friend.

** Disclaimer: I KNOW that there are moms out there in need of WAY more sleep than me. I am friends with these hard working women. Many of them have more children and have jobs too. I love them and know how lucky I am to be sleeping through the night right now. I am not whining about being tired. I am excited to get to sleep! :)

It's Back!!!

2010-02-15T08:33:00.001-08:00

Registration is UP and space is limited!
Visit www.TeeOffAgainstTrafficking.com

You can register to participate as a Golfer and
join us for a beautiful Luncheon and Silent & Live Auction
OR you can sign up to participate in our Luncheon and Auction Only.

Our location has changed this year and it is REALLY amazing. Check it out.
The Golf Club at Echo Falls

Get a group together or sign up on your own and help us
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING!!

Fighting Off Fear

2010-02-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Jesse and I just received our first packet of paperwork for the adoption and I am having a hard time not feeling a little bit overwhelmed. I knew that we would be dealing with a LOT of paperwork and that we need to fundraise a LOT of money but seeing it all on paper threw me just a little bit.

I am now giving myself the necessary pep talk. I will be:

1) Taking it one step at a time.
2) Trusting God with our finances and fundraising.
3) Remembering all of the reasons we started this process.
4) Dreaming and praying about our daughter.

I am still pretty nervous but I can't WAIT to meet our DAUGHTER!

Good News!

2010-02-09T14:57:00.000-08:00

I am fairly positive that only two to three people read my blog, but if you do, you now know that Jesse and I have been APPROVED to adopt through Ethiopia!! We were told by a wonderfully sarcastic friend that this proves that they will approve just about anyone. :) ha ha ha.

I can't stop smiling. I LOVE how real it all feels. We cannot wait!!!

Alrighty - there is the update. :)

We Are Expecting!!!

2010-02-05T14:15:00.000-08:00

Jesse and I have officially mailed in our adoption application! We are planning on adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia within the next 12-18 months. We are BEYOND excited to have finally been able to take this step.

Baby Girl! You have a family that cannot WAIT to meet you and we all already love you!
PS. Your big brothers are especially excited.

I LOVE OUR CHURCH!!

2009-09-27T20:29:00.001-07:00

Still Waiting...Forever from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

Emma Thompson speaks about Human Trafficking

2009-09-25T12:38:00.001-07:00

Freedom Stones

2009-09-20T08:13:00.000-07:00

A quick Get-a-way to the Oregon Coast

2009-09-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

We came down for a spur of the moment/short/last chance before school starts/daddy is recording & gone all weekend trip to my parents. We had a chance to make a run for the coast yesterday. It was socked in with fog but gorgeous and the boys had a blast. We went with my brother and sister in law and Cousin Landon. Here are a few shots that Jenna took. (She is a super talented photographer and one of the photographers for Pictures for a Purpose.)

I don't know about you but I can just feel myself relaxing at the beach...

Little Boy Paradise

2009-09-11T13:41:00.001-07:00

We decided to take a last minute trip down to Gaga and Papa's (my parents) House before Pre-School starts back up. My kids LOVE IT HERE. Let me say it again. My kids LOVE IT HERE. They have been begging to come back down since we left 1 1/2 months ago. Here is what a typical day looks like:

- Wake up and eat Cocoa Krispies with Papa.
- Go feed the cows and horses with Papa on the Four Wheeler.
- Play with "Miss Kretta," my parent's chocolate lab. (Her name is Greta.)
- Ride down the driveway on John Deere Baby Gator and John Deere Baby Digger.
- Ride bikes.
- Come in for a snack.
- Cousin Landon "Lando" comes up to play.
- Go for a horse back ride.
- Go swimming at Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's House.
- Go fishing with Uncle Koo Koo (my brother), Papa and Great Grandpa.
- Come home and ride around on the John Deere toys again.
- Take our smaller digging toys outside to dig in the dirt.

I am thinking that this might be a better home for them but my parents don't seem willing.

Pictures for a Purpose Video

2009-08-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Here's another video for you... This just kind of tells what we do and why we have this event.

Many thanks to Joy Williams for the soundtrack.

Videos from Thailand...

2009-08-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Sneaky, sneaky me...

2009-08-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

We are not technically announcing this until next week, but I thought that I would leak it to you, my reader...

Eastside Women of Purpose's Pictures for a Purpose Event is on October 10th and you can register NOW (and receive an Early Bird Discount as well as a prime time slot with the photographer of your choice.)

The website is not completely updated yet, but you can feel free to check it out and register. Registration is all online this year and will only take you a few minutes! www.picsforapurpose.com

This event is for children of all ages... (and while we are not announcing it, we will let you do your family pics for Christmas too).

All of the Sitting Fees and a majority of the cost of prints go DIRECTLY towards STOPPING child trafficking. Pretty cool that six, amazing local NW photographers would donate their whole day, time, talent and equipment...

Hawaii, Summer Fun and Birthday Parties

2009-08-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

We have had a great summer filled with a lot of playing, travelling and being with family. I am going to try to control the amount of pictures I put on here... This is just a sampling... enough to leave you wanting more. ha.

I had the chance to watch the McQueen boys and my boys for a few hours and we had a blast. (shockingly.) We went on a walk to the library and visited the grocery store for emergency cookies at the bakery. The boys were great and SO CUTE.
(Yes, Liam IS wearing a tie and bow tie. He has his own personal sense of fashion).

A little backyard baseball with Dada.

Fun on the skateboard. Again... strainer by Liam.

We had SO much fun in Hawaii. Here are a few shots of the boys and their cousin Landon (they call him "Lando"... adorable!

Whoa... It's been a while!

2009-08-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

I'm back. It has been months... I've got too much to say in one entry so I will space things out. But here is a little.

* We've been BUSY. Life is really good. I feel fully engaged in my life. I have hard moments but feel good to be engaged in those too.
* My trip to Thailand at the end of May was life altering. The group of women I travelled with are incredible and will be life long friends. We are telling our stories from the trip and showing our pictures (three of the women are SUPER talented, professional photographers) THIS Thursday, August 13th at 7pm at Overlake Christian Church. I would personally be honored if you would be there. We also have a new website up and running. Check it out.
* We went to Kauai with my whole side of the family. It was amazing and the kids LOVED it. I hope to be able to do that again someday. SO FUN!
* We went down to Santa Cruz for a work/vacation. Jesse led worship at an amazing camp called Mt. Hermon. We LOVE it there... I mean REALLY LOVE it. It was great.
* I am still doing Weight Watchers! Miracle. Seriously. I have lost 35 lbs.+ (I go in to weigh today.) I still have a ways to go but I am feeling really good and have SO MUCH ENERGY which I need to....
* .... take care of my cutie pie sons and super hot husband. Finn has turned 2, Liam is coming up on his 5th birthday and Jesse is headed towards 32. Whoa. I LOVE MY FAMILY and feel very blessed.
* We have started the adoption process. By starting, I mean we are filling out an application. We have decided to adopt a baby girl from Ethiopia. My daughter could be in the womb right now! Crazy. My heart aches to meet her.

There is a little! More to follow...

Bid on our Tee Off eBay Auction!!

2009-04-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

The Eastside Women of Purpose 2009 Tee Off Against Trafficking online auction is now LIVE on eBay!

If you aren't a golfer but have been looking for a practical way to get involved with the cause of STOPPING Human Trafficking, check it out and place a bid!

We have a TON of amazing items this year, and you don't want to miss out!

100% of the proceeds go towards the fight to STOP Human TRAFFICKING throughout SE Asia. By slowing trafficking in SE Asia, we drastically reduce the number of children and women trafficked into the US.

Now how is that for smart shopping!?!

Just click HERE to start bidding and change lives.

For more information and about our cause, click HERE.

If you win an eBay auction item, please considered all money bid over the value of the item, tax deductible.

Finn's Guest Appearance on SNL

2009-04-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

My friend Amy is an AMAZING photographer and caught this shot of Finn the other day.
I LOVE it.
For those of you that are trusting of others, Finn is NOT appearing on SNL.
Amy just put that because it looked super cute.
Isn't my baby a cutie pie?!?! Look at those lips! Those eyes... That button nose!
(Note the scratch on his chin. Never has a scratch been so cute.)

My 10% Goal

2009-03-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

I made my 10% Goal at Weight Watchers today! I've lost 19 lbs.!! It is the 2nd major goal that to achieve and I have REALLY wanted to get there. I honestly can't believe that I've made it this far. Plus, I got my awesome 10% Key Chain. ha ha. (I am really totally excited about it.)

WW Update.

2009-03-21T14:51:00.000-07:00

I am still going on Weight Watchers! It's a minor miracle. Seriously. Haven't you been dying to know?!? ha ha.

I actually just started week 12 and have lost 17.6 lbs... this will mean that I have been doing it for three months. Three months means something to me. I have really wanted to give up a total of one time (and kind of wanted to take a break for a day a few times) but I didn't. I've been asking myself why I haven't stopped yet. There ISN'T any instant gratification and while I've lost a considerable amount, I haven't even hit a half way point. I am down one size but I kind of thought that I would be close to being down two sizes by now. But something in me wants to keep going. Here's what I've got at this point...

1) Accountability. My husband is doing WW and I try to attend meetings with a friend. We can talk each other through ups and downs and encourage each other to keep going. (It also helps that she threatens to un-friend me if I stop. How's that for motivation.) Read my friend Jodie's blog entry on "The Case for Accountability."

2) Energy. I'm starting to have more energy. This is coming from eating foods that are great for me, taking my vitamins and EXERCISE. I have realized from past attempts and regular exercise that I get BORED really easily. So this time I am mixing it up. I am taking new classes. I don't go to the same class every time. I am trying to challenge myself. This is leading to a few more Advil but more energy!

3) Fit. My clothes are starting to fit a little bit better. I am down a size. I am starting to look like I'm only a few months pregnant verses 7-8 months prego with twins. I have a long way to go but things are looking up. (To clarify... some parts aren't looking up but that is thanks to nursing and I am trying to get past it.)

I've really been enjoying a couple of new found foods lately.

I LOVE Oroweat's Double Fiber English Muffins. They are packed with fiber and only ONE point for the whole thing. I have also been getting Laughing Cow's Light Creamy Swiss Cheese Wedges (1 pt. per wedge) on top. Soooo creamy and delish. The Laughing Cow cheese can be pretty spendy at certain stores ($5.99) but I found a four pack at Costco for around $8. GREAT deal!

100 Calorie Packs as a treat. ANYTHING with chocolate. (Mint Milano's and Chocolate Covered Pretzels are my faves.)

Homemade Smoothies... 1 c. of fat free, plain yogurt; 1 c. of frozen berries; 1/2 banana; 1/4 c. or light vanilla soy; sweetener of your choice (been using two packs of Truvia). Blend until smooth. Delish! 4.5 pts. and VERY filling. Keeps me full and satisfied for a good 2-3 hours.

Eastside Women of Purpose Video

2009-03-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

They did this video at church... I can't get past my crazy eyes and the super close shots but thought I would stick it on here! Enjoy!

Marisa Butterworth Interview from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

WAKE UP!! Join us!

2009-02-25T19:06:00.001-08:00

It's that time again! I would like to personally invite you to be a part of OCC's 2nd Annual Women's Event, AWAKE 2009, "Dangerous Faith!" Mark your calendars for March 6th and 7th!

Come get connected to the OCC community and learn how to begin living out a Dangerous Faith. If you have been a follower of Jesus for a long time or are just beginning the process of investigating faith, this is the event for you!

Although we are all women, we are a diverse bunch! Single, married, divorced, widowed, mother, career focused, young, old, strong, quiet, hurting. There is amazing strength in our diversity and when we come together to celebrate our uniqueness, amazing things happen!

Join me Jodie Howerton, speaker/missionary/Human Trafficking Warrior Leah Cypert, author/speaker Linda Vujnov, OCC's Lynne Ellis, and the AWAKE Worship Band (led by me - scary, I know) for a weekend of fun and challenge as we take a look at what living a life fully awake and completely tuned in to God's call looks like! We have 3 main sessions, a beautiful (non boxed) luncheon and six different workshops to choose from!

Here is a list of the workshops...

SEX in Sixty Minutes
Life Hurts, God Heals
Discovering my Purpose – Exploring and Developing Spiritual Gifts
Practical Compassion: How can I change the world?
Learning to Live Dangerously
Parenting under Pressure

Invite a friend or neighbor! There is still room left! Register online today!! www.occfamily.org/events/events.asp

Kicking Boxes

2009-02-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

I have taken a couple of Kick Boxing classes thanks to my friend Sadie generously letting me join her as a guest at her gym. They kick my butt.

Jesse and his brother Bo came home last week to join us for dinner and relieve me of my motherly duties so that I could attend my class. After I left, Liam informed Jesse and Bo that his mama was going to kick boxes.

Could he be any cuter? I doubt it.

Down 13 lbs (and hopefully counting!)

Valentines Day Chocolate

2009-02-10T14:43:00.000-08:00

Just heard about a great event taking place this Saturday, February 14th near Union Square in Manhattan, organized by a newly formed network called the Global Giving Circle. They support innovative solutions to alleviate poverty. Cool, huh?

It is a Valentine’s Day chocolate tasting fundraiser benefiting Project Hope & Fairness, an organization which supports African cocoa farmers and their families. The event funds will specifically go towards helping the farmers purchase weighing scales, as well as towards building a well in their village. I’m really excited about this because, of course, I LOVE Project Hope & Fairness, and I really love when people realize the extreme poverty that chocolate farmers are in AND care to do something about it. The poverty is one reason why there is slavery and human trafficking in the chocolate industry. This has to be stopped people!

It sounds like a cool event, so if you are in NYC, please GO! You won’t miss out on your sweet Valentine’s dinner because it’s from 3-5pm in the afternoon. Good planning, Global Giving Circle.

It’s being sponsored by some great chocolatiers, including Seattle’s own Theo Chocolate. To see more sponsors, details, and buy tickets, click here.

So, since Valentine’s Day is coming up, and if this wasn’t enough of a reminder, PLEASE buy fair-trade certified chocolate, or at the very least, organic, to ensure that it is slave-free. If you need some help on which companies are good, (and bad), click here. There is a list at the bottom of the post. (Keep in mind, the list is not all inclusive.)

For my info on WHY THIS MATTERS, please visit my friend Amy's blog.

A Few Great Recipes!

2009-02-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still on Weight Watchers. I am one of those people that LOVE food (is there anyone that doesn't) and have been on a quest to find low fat, high fiber, veggie rich foods these past 5 weeks. Here's what I've been enjoying...

I've been loving salads! Here is what I hate about salads... 1) I don't like all the chopping. 2) I don't like eating the same salad over and over again. 3) Sometimes salads seem too much like I'm eating a bush. So here is what I've done to help myself...

I have been food processing my salads to a chop (not a mush) so that it is roughly the texture of a chunky salsa. I throw all the veggies (minus the lettuce) in the processor so that I don't have to do much cutting. I throw lunch meat or chicken in there after the veggies. I throw berries or apples in there. Whatever I have in the house goes in the salad. I put the lettuce on a plate and pour the veggies and meat over the top and voila! It's delish and you hardly need any dressing because of the texture of the veggies. These salads haven't ever topped 3.5 points and I get at least 3 servings of veggies in one sitting!

I LOVE the following recipe for Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies from WW.

2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup(s) packed brown sugar, dark-variety
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp table salt
1 large egg white(s)
3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
3 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips (make sure that they are organic to ensure that they are "slave free", about 1/2 cup or cut up dark chocolate pieces.

YES!! Two mini cookies for 1 point!!! Glorious!!

I have a total sweet tooth and feel deprived if I don't have something for dessert so here comes another GREAT recipe for a "Peanut Butter Cup Milkshake" from "The Hungry Girl Cookbook." It is REALLY good and totally satisfied my ice cream/sweet craving. Plus, it took me 2 minutes to make it. It is 4 pts. per serving but worth every point.

1/2 cup light chocolate soymilk
1 Jello Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding Snack
2 teaspoons reduced-fat peanut butter
3 no-calorie sweetener packets
11 ice cubes or 1 cup crushed ice
Optional: Fat Free Reddi-Wip (note: totally worth it and 5 calories for every 2 tablespoons)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend at high speed for 45 to 60 seconds (until smooth). Pour into a tall glass and enjoy!
(MAKES 1 SERVING)

So there it is. I have more faves... but not enough time to post them! Enjoy!

Awake 2009!!

2009-01-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! I would like to personally invite you to be a part of OCC's 2nd Annual Women's Event, AWAKE 2009, "Dangerous Faith!" Mark your calendars for March 6th and 7th!

Come get connected to the OCC community and learn how to begin living out a Dangerous Faith. If you have been a follower of Jesus for a long time or are just beginning the process of investigating faith, this is the event for you!

Although we are all women, we are a diverse bunch! Single, married, divorced, widowed, mother, career focused, young, old, strong, quiet, hurting. There is amazing strength in our diversity and when we come together to celebrate our uniqueness, amazing things happen!

Join me (Jodie), author/speaker Linda Vujnov, OCC's Lynne Ellis, and the AWAKE Worship Band (led by me - scary, I know) for a weekend of fun and challenge as we take a look at what living a life fully awake and completely tuned in to God's call looks like! We have 3 main sessions, a beautiful (non boxed) luncheon and six different workshops to choose from!

Here is a list of the workshops...

SEX in Sixty Minutes
Life Hurts, God Heals
Discovering my Purpose – Exploring and Developing Spiritual Gifts
Practical Compassion: How can I change the world?
Learning to Live Dangerously
Parenting under Pressure

Invite a friend or neighbor! Register online today and you will receive the Early Bird discount Price ($45) Regular price is $65 so hurry and save $20! www.occfamily.org/events/events.asp

Looking for Help!!

2009-01-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

I am putting this out to the blog world because you just never know who is reading your blog and how they might be able to help.

Eastside Women of Purpose is putting on their 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament, "Tee Off Against Trafficking" on Saturday, April 25th and we need your help.

Here is a little bit about what we are raising money for...

For every one child rescued from a brothel, there are thousands of kids waiting to take their place.

This form of modern day slavery called Human Trafficking, continues to grow. An estimated 600,000-800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked across international borders each year (some international and non-governmental organizations place the number far higher), and the trade is growing. Victims of sex trafficking can be women or men, girls or boys, but the majority are women and girls.

Determined to be a part of the solution, our goal is to help raise funds to STOP trafficking in SE Asia through education and prevention. In doing so, we are working with World Concern (worldconcern.org) and The San Jai Network (Of One Heart) based in Bangkok, Thailand. We will be funding the duplication and translation of materials proven to be effective in the prevention of trafficking. Our financial support will also be used to raise up a new generation of highly trained workers. We will provide them with the tools and knowledge of how to help the smallest victims of trafficking that have been severely sexually abused and traumatized.

World Concern estimates that for each worker The San Jai Network educates, a hundred children will be saved from being trafficked. The far-reaching effect is that this information will be passed down from person to person and village to village and be multiplied to save the many whom are vulnerable.

Here is the help that we need...

1) Do you own or work for a company that would like to help through sponsorship? Does your company have a product or service that you would like to donate to our Silent Auction? Every dollar donated in a tax deduction.

2) Do you golf? Would you like to sign up to play in our tournament? The player fee minus $60 is a tax deduction.

For more info, check out our website at www.TeeOffAgainstTrafficking.com. It hasn't been updated for this year's tournament yet, but the info is very similar.

If you would like to help, please shoot me and email at EastsideWOP@gmail.com.

Sweet Lord

2009-01-20T16:31:00.000-08:00

I was just tagged on facebook in maybe the MOST unflattering shot ever. I almost cried. I am sure that you can see why. No, I'm not 8 months pregnant. I swear that I was just twisted into some strange "super fat" position.

I am laughing now, thanks to my Liam.

I was looking at the shot and my ever inquistive 4 year old comes up to see what I'm gasping about. He points at me and says,

"Mama. Who is that?"

"That's Mama."

"No. That's your head, but who's body is that?"

Awesome. I am deciding to take that to mean that I don't normally look that HORRIBLE! If I do, please don't tell me. I am all for a healthy little lie like, "Oh my gosh, you totally look way thinner than that normally."

I am very thankful for another "before" picture. And don't worry, I've untagged myself on facebook already. I'm hoping that people will have the same reaction as Liam did.

Gosh, how did Marisa's head get on that pregnant woman's body? Must be that darn computer magic again!

Do You Know What Today Is?

2009-01-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

On the way to school this morning, Jesse asked Liam if he knew what today was.

Nope.

Jesse explained that today we have a new President.

Liam looked at Jesse like he was an idiot (how did he become a teenage girl all the sudden - hopefully a phase) and said,

"Yeah, I know. Rock Obama is our President now."

Duh.

My BEFORE Shot...

2009-01-18T14:37:00.002-08:00

My BEFORE Shot - oh sweet Lord...

I have been at war with my weight for the last nine years. I won, it won, I won, it won, it won, it won. Let's just say that it's been winning for a while. I figure that I am due for a win now. I've had two kids and don't plan on having any more (the natural way at least) and therefore have no discouragement/excuse in my way. I am tired of not being able to wear clothes that I like. Some people say that they want to be healthy... I'm not going to lie. I want to be SKINNIER!

I'm not sure why I have decided to make my battle public. I guess I want encouragement and want to provide some encouragement to anyone else out there trying to shed some poundage. So I will share with you a little bit of my journey as I try for a win.

So... I joined Weight Watchers two weeks ago with my supportive husband and a good friend and I have to say (knock on wood) that it hasn't been too horrific. It is great to have the support and have someone to call when I want to stress eat. It is so nice to share in the tiny victories that come along the way.

I would love any helpful hints to leading the thinner life!

Sam and Esther

2009-01-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

I found this on a blog that I hadn't visited in a little while. It has just rocked me to the core.

Yes, I'll Admit It

2009-01-08T19:04:00.000-08:00

I'm obsessed with all things Twilight.

Liam just laughed when he saw this picture and said,
"You love the Twilight man."

Yes, son...
I do.

How Do You Know You Need to Lose Weight?

2009-01-06T08:25:00.000-08:00

When your son gently pats your stomach and sweetly coos, "Ooo... You've got a little baby in there. Hi little baby. Soo... sweet..."

Let's just say that I am already counting points...

HELP US STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING!

2009-01-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

Words from Liam

2008-12-14T20:12:00.000-08:00

Liam has been particularly hilarious lately (and also started "back talking" me - but that's another post). He has been experimenting with phrases and sayings that he hears.

Here is something that he said a couple of weeks ago while at church with Jesse. The worship team had just finished sound checking and he decided that he wanted their attention. He shouted,

"Hey everybody! Listen up! Do what you do - but DO NOT go potty in the pants!"

Liam and I were sitting at the table eating lunch a few days ago. We were having a stranger than normal conversation. He was saying things like...

"Mama. I wish my name was Joel. Why didn't you name me Joel."

"Mama. How tall are you?"
I answered, "5'3"."
Liam shakes his head and looks at me like I might be crazy and says, "Weird."

Yes Liam, that is weird...

Some of my Faves

2008-12-07T20:46:00.001-08:00

I know that there are a lot here but bear with me... These are just a few of my favorite shots from our Family Pictures done by the oh so talented, Amy Cheng. She's really good. If you were there, you would know that Finn was not pleased to be photographed and that Liam was ready to play at the nearby playground after about 1 minute. She's good.

The Family Photo "Outtakes"

2008-12-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

We had my friend Amy Cheng take our Family Photos this year. She is a very gifted photographer and I am sure that we will have a lot of great photos to choose from. BUT, being the Butterworth's, we seem to have a lot of outtakes too. Amy felt the need to shoot us a few while editing last night. I will post normal shots too but these are just more fun. I hope that you laugh as hard as we did when we opened our email...

I couldn't get Finn to be happy with me. I fear we didn't get one good shot of just Finn and his Mama.

Liam was starting to get SOOOO tired.

OK. I nearly peed myself when I saw this one. Look how creepy Jesse looks! Finn looks mildly evil. I look totally clueless. Liam had had it by then. Merry Christmas!

Amy told us to "interact" here. Wow. What are we doing?

Trying for a Mom and her loving boys shot...

Microloan Cards

2008-11-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

(This is the front and back of the card.)

Eastside Women of Purpose are selling Microloan Cards again before Christmas. They are $25 a piece (or you can feel free to pay more for them). We sold these cards last year and 30 girls were freed from the sex industry in Pattaya, Thailand because of it. 30 WOMEN!!

It costs a little bit more than $100 for a girl in Pattaya, Thailand to start her OWN business and be freed from the sex industry. Some are slaves, some are their because of their economic status, some were tricked into this life, some were born into it... I believe that these young women deserve a chance to start life anew. I believe that they deserve the opportunity to live without oppression, without being forced to have sex with between 5 a 30 men a day. I believe that through business training and mentorship, and a low interest microloan, these women can succeed in truly LIVING! The other cool part is that the after the women pay the loan back, the money is recycled and given to another candidate from the training program. Your money can help countless women!

I know that I often feel like problems like Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery are impossible for me to fix. That's true. But it is not impossible for all of us to gather together and make a difference. I love these cards because they offer girls who are treated as commodity hope... instead of spending my money on just another gift, I can put it towards something that matters... someones LIFE. I feel that it is my duty to help other women that were not given the same chances and opportunities that I have been given.

Please consider joining me in helping. I know that there are a lot of worthy causes out there. If not this project, please give to SOMETHING. We CAN make a difference in someones life. I love this particular project because we have the opportunity to track where our money is going and actually see (and soon meet) the people we've helped. Pretty cool.

So... if you are interested in purchasing a card (or more), please comment and include your email address. I will send these cards to you and you can mail a check to me. The cards fit into a standard envelope or can be wrapped up as a gift.

MY HUSBAND IS HOME!!!

2008-11-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

Yay! Jesse's BACK and we are all SO excited. It's funny how we just didn't operate as well without him around. The boys were clingy... I missed laughing with him and at him... I feel like I can exhale now... I know that it sounds mushy, but it's nice to know that we are still crazy about each other after being together 11 years (8 married).

Eastside Women of Purpose Dessert and Movie Night

2008-11-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

We are having a Movie and Dessert Night
on THURSDAY, November 13th at 7:30pm
at Amy Cheng's House in Sammamish!

If you are an Eastside Women of Purpose member
(and for some reason didn't get the invitation)
or would be interested in learning more about Human Trafficking,
please comment on this posting and include your email address!
We would love for you to join us.
(Feel free to bring a friend.)

Please Note: The dessert above will NOT be at our event. But it looks delish, doesn't it?)

The Pledge of Allegiance by Liam Butterworth

2008-11-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

Liam started preschool this year and LOVES it. I know that he has been learning a ton but he has what we call, "School Amnesia" - he can't remember anything that he has done from the hours of 9am to 12pm. But as we were driving home from school yesterday, he started reciting The Pledge. I have to admit that I got a little bit choked up. It has never sounded so poignant and beautiful... and hilarious!

The Advent Conspiracy

2008-10-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the church that I attend. I won't go through all of the reasons why at this point.... :) They are doing something this year that I think is awesome. Watch the video to see what it is and join the movement.

The Amy Grant Concert!!

2008-10-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to go to see the Amy Grant "Lead Me On'' Reunion tour last night.
My wonderful husband asked for tickets and backstage passes for me to go with some friends.
(I am SO sorry to all of my friends that are Amy fans that I couldn't invite, by the way...)
It was a GREAT birthday present as anyone who knows me has heard me talk about how I believe that Amy might be my long lost older sister.

1) So... we at dinner backstage.
2) We stalked Amy upstairs in the green room (code for lots of childish giggling).
3) We had great seats.
4) We all got in trouble with some lady for standing up during a song. Yes, she sure was awesome. Have you ever heard of NOT standing during a rockin 80's flashback concert?
5) We went back for the meet and greet with her after the show.
6) Oh! She also put on a really good live show...

It was so great!

Neely and I posing before meeting her.
Yes, we are happy and realize that we are totally dorky.
But nothing says,
"I'm a crazy fan who is mildly obsessed and still remembers your songs from
20+ years ago because I might still listen to them privately,"
quite like the shot below...

Don't we look like great friends? I realize how completely dorky I look but you must realize how excited I was. My dear friend Neely made me take this with her and I will never forget it.

It must be mentioned that when it was our turn to have our picture taken with Amy, Jodie and Neely were in the prime position to stand next to her. Dear, sweet Neely (have you ever been called that?) moved over so that I could stand next to her.
It was very, very sweet and means a lot to me...

BELOW:
For some reason I cannot get this picture to center and cannot type below it!

We all ate with the crew and musicians and
made one of the crew members take our picture.
Can you see how excited we all are?

Prostitution and Potential Human Trafficking in KIRKLAND

2008-10-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Tucked away behind an accountant's office on Northeast 85th Street, the Red Rose Hot Stone Spa sits empty.

Kirkland Reporter

Prostitution charges for Rose Hill massage parlor owner, employees

By KENDALL WATSON
Kirkland Reporter Staff Writer
Oct 21 2008 · UPDATED

King County prosecutors filed charges Oct. 9 of promoting prostitution, a felony, against a Kirkland man and three other women.

Following a nine-month investigation, detectives from the King County Sheriff's Office believe Sheung Tam, 45, was running two massage parlors in Kirkland and Renton as fronts for prostitution. They also allege that her business partner, Kirkland resident Timothy Kevin Howell, and two Bellevue women, Wei Qing Tong, 46, and 39-year-old Chinese national Yu Xian Huang helped manage the criminal enterprise. The four are accused of running two massage parlors in Kirkland and Renton that offered sexual contact for cash. Howell, 35, is also listed as a Class-II sex offender from a past conviction for child rape.

The two businesses -- Red Dragon Spa at 352 Sunset Blvd. N. in Renton and Red Rose Hot Stone Spa at 13017 N.E. 85th St. in Kirkland -- were owned and operated by Tam, a Bothell resident and mother of a 22-year-old daughter. They were both raided in July and shut down. If convicted, the four face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Sharing the same block on 85th Street with Red Rose Spa, Red Rose Chiropractic Clinic and Rosehill Chiropractic Center -- which sits next to the Red Rose Hot Stone Spa property -- have suffered from some confusion over similar-sounding names and services. The chiropractors use professional massage therapists as part of their health care practice, while none of the "masseuses" at Red Rose Spa were state-licensed massage practitioners.

"We started getting some strange people coming in," said Lori, a receptionist for Red Rose Chiropractic. "Lots of men asking about massages and we were wondering 'What's going on?'"

Still advertised online at Yellowpages.com and CitySearch.com as "Red Rose Massage," the business is described as a place where a person will "feel safe enough to relax and unwind." The listing also provides a non-working phone number and includes an anonymous, negative review from earlier this spring.

According to court records, the investigation began last October after a vice detective monitoring the Internet noticed suspicious advertising for the Red Dragon Spa at the Web site Craigslist. The link between the two massage parlors became obvious as detectives followed Tam and Tong traveling between the two locations, delivering laundry and making payroll deposits at a local bank. A subsequent records check of state tax records reportedly lists almost no earnings for the two women. Undercover detectives later visited both locations several times while posing as "johns" and received offers of a sex act in exchange for $100.

Kirkland Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also aided the investigation.

The long investigation helped authorities gather additional information on the four suspects. A former boyfriend of Tam's told police she asked for his help to import Chinese girls in exchange for $30,000. Another person, a woman who identified herself as "Angie," said she knew Tam by her nickname, "Kitty," while living in Hong Kong, China. She feared her as "cunning and smart" and believed Tam planned to use a "younger man to front her a massage business."

An arraignment for the four is scheduled to be heard on Oct. 22 in Kent.

Kirkland Reporter Staff Writer Kendall Watson can be reached at kwatson@kirklandreporter.com or 425.822.9166 ext 5052.

My beautiful Finn

2008-10-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to add these to the blog... I was really glad that I caught a lot of his "faces" while he was in the highchair. He is such a dolly and full of it. Thanks for indulging me!

I LOVE this picture of him...

Liam Wakes Up Early

2008-10-19T22:12:00.001-07:00

Liam wakes up pretty early in the morning. He usually comes and snuggles with us for a few minutes and then one of us sets him up on the couch until Finn wakes up. He usually sits and watches a movie but on the occasional morning, his creative juices get flowing...

On this particular morning he felt inspired to draw...

He was really very proud of himself. He came in to our room to show us his work.
We had a hard time being serious.

On this cool, fall morning, Liam felt inspired to paint.

We ran into Liam's buddy Jadyn and her mom Lynne at Target. Liam was quite taken with Jadyn's painted finger and toe nails. The next morning, Liam came into our room to show us HIS fingers and toe nails. He spent some time painting his fingers (and when I say fingers, I mean all of his fingers) and toes. I caught a picture of his toes. Jesse put him in the bath thinking that it would get the polish off. He also painted a good portion of his thighs. Fortunately he didn't get it anywhere else.

It's Pumpkin Patch Time Again!

2008-10-18T16:06:00.000-07:00

We went with Liam's Preschool to Remlinger Farms.
We all had a great time and both boys loved all of the toddler rides.
We caught this great picture of (from left) Jadyn, Jed, Finn, Sim, and Liam.

Sim and Liam on the Ferris Wheel for kids.

Liam and Jed on the Merry Go Round

I'm pretty sure that Jesse liked the Giant Pumpkin ride more than the kids.

It was kind of raining off and on but still a beautiful fall day.
The trees are beautiful right now and Liam looks adorable.

The boys riding the train.

Finn had a great day but was completely wiped out by the end.
This is how he looked just minutes after getting in the car.

I've Been Tagged!

2008-10-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by my friend Neely...

Here are 7 random/weird facts about me. I found this very difficult!!

1) I have a tattoo on what was formally my lower back - let's be honest - now my upper right butt cheek. It is of a flower from a cd cover that I once liked and has a Bible verse underneath it. It says... Phil 3:14. Yes, I realize how deep I am. I had to have a tumor removed that happened to be almost directly underneath it. The doctor tried to cut next to the tattoo but the tattoo is crooked now.

2) I was 1st runner up Miss Teen of Oregon. "Your generation has been label Generation X... what would you rather name it?" (You'll have to ask me about my awesome answer. ha ha...)

3) I was hit by a car the summer before 5th grade. I spent some time in the hospital with a concussion, broken nose, burns, cuts and bruises. I still have some random scars and a higher and crooked hairline from it (thank God for bangs).

4) I have super sonic hearing. I can hear people chewing from two houses down. It's a curse. (Poor Jesse.)

5) My dad was contacted by the FBI when I was in High School and told that he was on Ted Kaczynski's (The Unibomber) list of people to kill. They scanned all of our mail for a while until after he was caught.

6) One of the stars of the movie "Dodgeball" had a crush on me in high school. I still have his the letters that he wrote me. He was very sweet and funny. One of the guys from Jack Ass asked me to the Christmas dance (before he was on the show) in high school. I said no because he kind of creaped me out.

7) I have run into (literally collided) several famous people.
- Roy Firestone (at LAX)
- Evander Holyfield (at LAX)
- Dick Clark (at the American Music Awards)
- Thandie Newton (in Old Town Pasadena)
- Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins (at LAX)

OK... I tag Lindsey, Angel, Ashley, and Jenna.

Thank you Call and Response!

2008-10-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

Calling All Dr. Phil Lovers! (or even if you aren't one...)

2008-10-09T08:37:00.000-07:00

This Friday, October 10th, the Dr. Phil show will address the issue of human trafficking and publicize the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) Hotline.

Tune in and hear survivors tell their stories, an FBI agent recount a recent human trafficking case in Texas, and the filmmaker behind the new documenary film Call + Response discuss his anti-trafficking efforts. Julia Ormond, United Nations Goodwill Ambassador and featured actress in the new documentary film, Call + Response, will also join Dr. Phil to share her firsthand experience of witnessing and fighting human trafficking. Preview the show and find show times.

We are excited that the show will increase awareness about modern-day slavery and the services of the NHTRC hotline. We are preparing diligently for an increase in calls due to the coverage.

Currently, we receive hundreds of calls directly from trafficking victims, law enforcement agents, medical and legal professionals, community members, and policy-makers every month. In the past 10 months, the NHTRC has:

* Answered more than 4,200 calls
* Received calls in reference to more than 2,000 potential victims
* Reached an audience of over 4,000 people through more than 100 trainings and presentations
* Experienced a call volume increase of over 200% from the previous year.

If you are curious about the issue of Human Trafficking, what is being done, and how you can help, check your local listings... (Dr. Phil is on at 3pm in Seattle).

Download Free Music (Legally)

2008-10-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

** A Shameless Plug for the Illuminate Live CD **

My husband Jesse leads worship at Overlake Christian Church and just did something that I think is pretty cool. He added OCC's Illuminate LIVE CD to a website called Noise Trade. You can go on there and download the music for free by "recommending" it to 5 friends. There are bigger artists like Sixpence None The Richer, Derek Webb, Sara Groves, Martin Sexton, etc that are using noisetrade to get their music out there, too. The cool thing that is happening right now is that the Illuminate LIVE CD is currently in the noisetrade top ten! Right there with those other big name artists!

So, go on there and download the CD - it's really cool (and it will keep them in the top 10). Thanks for your support!

Call and Response

2008-09-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

More Birthday Party Pictures ala Amy and Joe Cheng (Photographers and Party Guests)

2008-09-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

My friend Amy was gracious enough to bring her camera (and talent) to the birthday party. Here is a sampling of what she caught. There are some really amazing shots. Thank you Amy!!

Liam opening presents with his Buddy Andrew by his side.

Levi Swinging Pirate Style

Getting ready to open the presents...

The Treasure Map that Gaga made.
Thank you Gaga!
Lord knows I am not an artist.

Liam eyeing his "Dead Man Cupcakes" and candles.
I love the look on his face here. He looks like he was really excited about the cupcakes.
He shared with me later that the only thing he really wanted was a big cake.
Will someone remind me of this next year?

The Dead Man Cupcakes
Amy made them look way cooler than they really were.

Finn on Papa's shoulders... holding on for dear life.

Amy carrying her little pirate, Noah.

Captain Liam and his crew

Liam's Pirate Birthday Party

2008-09-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Liam's 4th in full pirate style on Saturday. We had a small party with a few friends at the nearby park. I am a big fan of not having the party at our house because of the clean up and the park was the cheapest and best option yet. The boys were SO cute in their pirate gear and seemed to have a good time. I caught a few cute shots but I am hoping that my other friends with cameras will send through some more (hint hint)...

Finn had a nice time with the bigger boys. He is trying to launch a cannon ball in this shot...

We had a treasure hunt. The boys were super cute about following the beautiful map that my mom designed (thanks Mom) straight to the "not really buried but out of plain sight" treasure.

Their little outfits were so cute!

Here is little Levi... he was the most dedicated to the look.

Little Andrew

Silly Simmy

Precious Noah - (not into the costume)

Some Sweet Shots

2008-09-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

Jesse felt a little jealous that he wasn't in any of Liam's first day of school shots.
So we took some sweet 2nd day of school shots. Pretty cute.

Liam and Finn in the tub. I have a lot of these shots. I think that it's because it's the only time
that I can get them to stay still enough to take pictures of both of them...
and the confinement helps too...

Liam did this to himself. He knows it's good for a huge laugh in our house. Funny kid.

Crap! This one just makes me laugh. I swear that he doesn't walk around looking
like this regularly. I am totally laughing right now.

My little doll baby. Liam and Dada worked on this "Jack Jack" look for Finn.

One More Thing...

2008-09-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

It felt REALLY, REALLY good to go home with one child. I am really looking forward to this time. I will willingly admit it.

Liam's 4th Birthday and 1st Day of School

2008-09-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day at our house. Our first born son turned 4 and started Preschool (all on the same day). I anticipated being emotional but was surprisingly ok. He was REALLY ready to go to school and SO excited. I think that this helped a lot. He was really so stinkin' cute!

Liam on the way to school.

Liam's "Silly Face"

The long walk into the building. He picked out this
super awesome Spiderman Backpack!

He walked right in and started playing. You can see how excited he was.

Jesse and I picked him up at noon and went to his favorite place, McDonalds.
(I know that many of you are judging me :) I can't help it. Well I guess that I could but he REALLY loves the Star Wars toys. Now you are judging me again. Yes, he has seen a little bit of Star Wars. His father showed it to him when I was gone. OK?)

He had a great time and was beaming when we picked him up. He said that he had fun and that his teacher was nice. He is going to love it. I hope that he loves school as long as I did. I can't believe that I have such a big boy!

Human Trafficking Dateline

2008-09-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

"An estimated 600,000 - 800,000 are trafficked across international borders each year...further it is not limited to SE Asia. Seattle is #2 in the US and play host to many types of trafficking, both domestic and international." These women and children, some as young as 5 years old are held prisoners in brothels and sold into sex slavery. They DO NOT have a choice, WE do. DO SOMETHING!! www.teeoffagainsttrafficking.com

A fun 20 hours (even though it didn't involve a lot of sleep)

2008-08-31T21:01:00.000-07:00

We had a fun Friday and Saturday morning with the McQueen's and the Bauman's at the Bauman's beach house in Treasure Island (not as crazy as it sounds). We went clamming, looked for crabs and Liam decided to head into the water in his tennies and jeans. It was great. Liam was the most excited about riding in a canoe. He asked us to call him Captain Butterworth. Jesse bought him this hat at the Army Surplus store...

(That's Sim, Jed and Liam from left to right)

Here are Sim, Liam and Jed checking out the buckets of clams that we collected. We had to strip off Liams pants and shoes after his little dip in the water. Awesome.

Josh McQueen and Jesse decided to take the boys out on the canoe. It was a daring move on their part. Fortunately the boys were mildly terrified and stayed put. Captain Butterworth called for his mommy at one point but regained control rather quickly.

We headed to a Fireman's Pancake Breakfast after a night with very little sleep. It was a charming time and the balloon animal making clown was a surprising hit with the kids. Liam requested a balloon sword and Sim requested a fishing pole.

Even Finn enjoyed the breakfast and felt very cool in his fireman helmet. I was very tired but managed to put a little make up on.

Ok. Turn your computer or head to the side. (Neely sent these through and they came through on their side.) Liam in the passenger seat of the fire truck. He thought it was the coolest. You can tell by the look on his face.

The cuties in front of the fire truck. We headed back after this. We had a great time!

My Journey...

2008-08-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

This election has really forced me to think through what I believe and I can see why people sometimes just make up their minds on an issue and never change them! (I am not suggesting this but can identify).

I was a born and raised Republican (I know that some of you are judging me right now :) but as I age and experience life and dialogue with friends, I have developed a bit of a problem. I don't fit into my family's party anymore (although I feel a fondness for John McCain). I don't really feel at home with the democratic party either (although I really like Barack). I don't come close to agreeing with either party on a majority of topics.

As a teenager, I developed the belief that the world is made up of black and white issues. My beliefs were of course the right ones and the Christian ones - but the further I get through this life, the more I see that issues tend to be anything but clear cut. I am going to name off a few things that I am dealing with. Please keep in mind that I am not trying to change anyone's mind, I am not an accomplished writer (or an English major), I am in no way a brilliant theologian and was an A and B student with occasional C's... I am just on a personal journey that I wanted to share with my few readers. Feel free to comment after this - just promise me that you won't be mean, rude or condescending. I don't think that I will take it well. :)

1) I am anti-abortion. I believe that a life is made when the sperm makes it through the outer wall of the egg. I miscarried a baby that was 7 weeks old and felt the loss of my child very deeply. BUT, I often get the sense that people that are pro-life are so focused on being against the abortion that they can't see beyond the issue to why a woman would have an abortion in the first place. It was easy for me to be Pro-Life living in middle class America with great parents and support in my life.

Jesse and I qualified as low income for a good part of our marriage. But after traveling to Thailand and Cambodia a couple years ago and experiencing real, extreme poverty - I caught a glimpse of the desperation that women feel. I couldn't imagine being that mom with mouths she can't feed and feeling the burden of being pregnant with another child that she can't feed. I can't imagine not being able to feed Liam and Finn (whom I would do ANYTHING for) and knowing that I would have another child that I can't provide for. It would torment me. Seeing what these kids deal with (starvation and malnutrition, rape, abuse, incest, enslaved, sold, sick, orphaned) made me question my stance on many issues. While there are some "success stories", very few of these kids make it out. Millions die a horrific death.

This happens here in the US too. How can I tell a woman that she must have her baby when I am not willing to adopt the child that she can't care for or take in a foster child? I just can't reconcile it.

2) My dad owns a logging company and I believe it is important to recycle. People have many strong opinions about my dad. (He was actually on the unibomber's list of people to kill - not joking). People believe that logging destroys the environment and kills animals. Many people that call themselves "environmentalists" haven't spent an 8th the amount of time my grandfather, dad and brother have spent in the woods. Most haven't actually been on a logging site and have no idea how or why they do what they do out there. Loggers are easy to demonize and thanks to shows like "Ax Men", often portrayed as idiots (ok - some of them are idiots). My grandfather, father and brother all have their college degrees and are smart, well educated men. I know how respectful my father is of the trees that he harvests and then replants. I know that he follows laws and government regulations. My brother was a forest management major and knows WAY more about sustainable forestry than most. Logging helps prevent forest fires by weeding out the dead and dry trees. It helps keep forests disease free. They obviously want to be respectful of the land and trees so that they have jobs in the future.

But, I also believe in Reducing, Reusing and Recycling and think going green is for the most part a great thing. I think it's important to reduce waste. I have reusable shopping bags and while I rarely remember to bring them, I do occasionally use them. I believe in respecting the earth given to us. I think global warming is real (I didn't always :) and I think that we need to reduce our dependency on oil. So how do I vote on this one?

3) I am against the death penalty. Not very republican of me but I don't understand how you can be Pro-Life and Pro-Death Penalty. It doesn't seem very consistent. If someone murdered someone I loved, I would like to think that I would still be against the death penalty. I haven't been there and pray that I won't be. I don't think having the murderer killed would make me feel any better. I think that they should be justice but Moses was a murderer, David was a murderer...

4) I think that we need to have some sort of health care available to everyone. Jesse and I were VERY poor and insurance was an impossible payment for us. He had an accident and was hospitalized at a disgusting (don't get me started) hospital in LA because he didn't have insurance. They wouldn't change his sheets, they didn't clean him, there was no pillow and he had to beg for pain relief. We ended up with $35,000 in bills. We both had jobs and worked hard but didn't make enough money or have benefits. There is something wrong with that picture. It was easy for me to say that the country shouldn't have to provide medical benefits to everyone when we were insured but I never thought that we would be on that list.

5) I think that we need a better system for immigrants to be able to come and live in our country. We have something great here and I don't think that we should force people to crawl through tunnels or be packed into containers for weeks to enjoy what we have here. I can't say that I wouldn't do the same thing to get here. I know that there are many valid reasons why people want to keep the benefits of our country all "in house" but I don't think it's right.

So... I am sorry if I have pissed you off. It is not my intention. I am just sharing where I am in my journey. I have more opinions but feel like this is already way too long! I would love to hear feedback but I will not take it well if you are a meany. :) Thanks for reading!

Mt. Hermon Part 2

2008-08-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

Our Dear Friends Seth and Kristina drove down
to hang out with us for part of the week.
Here are some great shots that they took.

Someone finally caught Finn's Stink Eye on camera.

Liam and his Lady Love... Elliott Davis

Are they not the cutest couple ever?
It kind of makes me freak out a little.

I mean, should two 3 year olds look this cute as a couple?

Are they not the most adorable kids you've ever seen?
I love Liam's blue eyes and his,
"I'm the coolest kid ever," look on his face.
I love Elliott's demure smile.
While she is adorable, she is anything but demure.
That's a good thing.

Beautiful Finny.

Mt. Hermon Shots

2008-08-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, we realize how awesome we are. We can't help it.

Liam in Gigi's glasses looking a lot like Pop Pop.
Interesting.

Jesse and Finny on the Mt. Hermon train to Santa Cruz.

Jesse and Finn on the Santa Cruz boardwalk Carousel.

Baby Cousin Ellie and Gigi
Liam loved Baby Cousin Ellie and was super gentle with her.
He really wants a little sister.

Cousin Ava, Cousin Jill and Cousin Jenna
getting down

Mom Against Kids Tug-a-War
Kids Won.
It was like 100 kids to 20 moms.
Seriously.

All of the Butterworth Cousins
doing Silly Faces
Liam and Finn didn't get the memo.

The State of Things

2008-08-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

Life has been out of control crazy since mid-June and there is no sign of it letting up. In fact I know that I won't have a real, take a breath now, break until mid-October.

For the past two weeks I have been struggling with some anxiety and haven't been doing as well as I would like. I like to pretend that I handle stress well but I haven't been doing a good job.

I realized that there are some real outward signs that represent how I've been feeling on the inside and I thought that I would share them with you. Judge me if you must.

1) My planters are dead. While this isn't a real picture of my planter, it isn't far off. I haven't been a good waterer. It is low on my list of things to do but sad to look out at something dead.

2) My laundry pile has been out of control enormous. It is better today but now I have an out of control folded (yes, at least did that) clothes pile.

3) This is my favorite one... I noticed something really weird two days ago. The bottom of my forearm had been colored all over by a blue ball point pen. It looked fresh. Finn had been playing with a blue pen (great mothering, I know) but I can't for the life of me remember when he had actually colored on me. At first I thought that maybe I put my arm on something that had been scribbled on and it transferred - nope. I can't find anything like that. I am apparently so out of it that my son could come up and cover- I really mean cover - my right forearm with scribbles and I didn't feel it and I CAN'T REMEMBER!

Mmm... not good signs, are they? I decided to get out of the house this evening and I am going on a walk with my new mentor (yes, I now have a mentor) in the morning. I have been convinced that I am not doing as well as I pretend to be!!