NEW BLOG

It seems that we have reached our quota of images we can upload on this blog.  And we still have tons to upload from our European adventure.  So, we decided to start a new blog.  Soon it will look exactly like this blog!  It's just part two!  However, the blog address is different, so make sure you go over there and bookmark the new one and become a follower!

http://gombojavfamily.blogspot.com/

We've already started uploading pictures and witty commentary of our trip over there.  So, go leave us a comment so we know that you've made it!  We don't want to leave any of our beautiful and faithful readers behind!

GO.  NOW.

Summer has (obviously) not been about blogging

It's been a long time since I've let so much time elapse between blog posts!  I have several undeveloped posts swirling around my right-brain.  But, the left-brain is still MIA, so nothing much has gotten accomplished.

Actually, though, July has been beautiful.  Peaceful.  Relaxing.  Lovely.

June had us swept up in so many activities we scarcely caught our breath from one exhilarating event when another was upon us!  But July swished itself gently in and we all breathed a sigh of relief.  I valiantly held the reigns on our schedule (that's my job, isn't it as manager of this tribe?) and did not commit to any meetings, field trips, park days, or classes.  It was tough, let me tell you!  But, in exchange for this hard-fought effort, we gained a month of laying on the grass, playing in the sprinkler, obsessing over homemade ice cream, grilling out, camp-outs in the tree house, sleeping in, staying up late and having something I've never before understood--those lazy days of summer.  Ahhhhhhhhh.  Refreshing.

So, here are some updates in no particular order of importance or in any sort of timeline.

~We celebrated my brother and sister-in-love's eleventh anniversary by attending their vow renewal ceremony.  They renewed their vows on the same day and at the same time as they did eleven years ago.  I considered trying to squeeze into my bridesmaid's dress, but thought better of it.  There is such a thing as dignity.  (A phrase that I will use again before this post is over.)  The day was super blessed.  I wept, of course.  It was a hard fought victory, these 11 years.  I am proud of Josh and Serena for standing when the whole world was telling them to give up.

~So, I've been absolutely obsessed with making homemade ice cream.  It all started, I think, when we watched It's Complicated.  The movie itself is pretty forgettable.  But, the food was rather inspiring.  Meryl Streep's character makes ice cream when she cannot sleep.  In the movie they eat lavender honey ice cream, the result of her insomnia.  So, a couple days later I was shopping with a friend in Silverlake and went to the Spice Station.  It's my new favorite place.  Gift ideas for Christmas, my birthday, Mother's Day, Send A Gift To Your Favorite Blogger Day include gift certificates or gift sets (they have one entirely of about nine different kinds of salt!) from there.  I promise to cook something for you.  Anyway, while we were there I bought an ounce of organic lavender.  The next day I created lavender vanilla ice cream.  Because it involved not only my children but some that I was babysitting for a friend, I used this method (but not this recipe). Kids had fun kneading it.  Normally we make our ice cream in a Donvier Chillfast which we picked up years ago (at a yard sale?  I seriously cannot remember.  It's an older version, though.).  The great thing about this ice cream maker is that it does not require salt, ice, electricity or elbow grease.  It's super easy.  I pop the ice cream in the freezer while I'm tending to lunch or dinner and every so often I give it a spin.  In the last five days I've made ice cream three times: lavender vanilla, blueberry rum, and jasmine green tea.  In fact, as I type this blog post I'm eat the jasmine green tea.  It's my favorite so far!  Tomorrow........we'll see.  I have several flavors I want to try.  I will keep you posted, most likely on the Gomboblog, which is where I usually talk about food.

(Image from here.)

~OK, so I was in the park playing with my children recently, making small talk with other parents on the playground.  More than one mom asked me if I was at the park for the free lunch.  Let me insert that I was aware of the government's school lunch program and that it goes year around.  In our previous neighborhood (we just called it the 'hood, if you know what I mean) the community center promoted the free school lunch program through the summer.  I naively assumed that was because we lived in a lower-income neighborhood.  However, we do not now live in a lower-income neighborhood.  Curious, I took the kids to the "free lunch."  The picnic area of the park was roped off and stereotypical school lunch ladies were there with food carts and hairnets.  On the rope hung signs that said "NO PARENTS ALLOWED BEHIND THIS POINT."  Well......you know me.  My inner response was something like H.E.Double-Hockey-Sticks No!  I marched on through.  Each of my children--including the baby was handed a small brown cardboard box which contained a piece of microwaved-in-its-plastic-wrap-cheese-pizza, milk (which Meg insisted "tasted funny"), a fruit roll-up and a snack-sized bag of carrots.  No signing in required.  No verification of age (anyone appearing under the age of 18 gets a lunch).  No verification of income or residency.  So, I positioned my kids at a picnic table, baby still in the stroller.  I sit down with them and start opening up the milk cartons, pizza, etc.  A lunch lady on a power trip comes over and informs me, "You are not allowed to sit down.  You can stand behind your children, but not sit with them."  My initial response was to stand up.  But, something inside me said, "What the?!"  So, I sat back down again.  The lunch ladies glared at us and circled the tables making sure that no food was sneaked into backpacks or purses and that no adults attempted to take any bites.  No food is allowed to leave the roped off area.  Anything not eaten, whether or not it was opened, has to be thrown in the trash can.  We could see with others that the lunch ladies really enforced this rule.  Strictly.  The whole atmosphere was really intimidating and unfriendly.  And the beauty of it all is that this is happening all over town at several different parks and community centers.  Theoretically, I could eat as many lunches as I could fit in about a two hour window, by going place to place.  Is it any wonder the State is bankrupt?!  Your tax dollars at work.  A couple days later I told the kids that we were going to the park.  Luc said, "Are we going to eat that free lunch again?"  Gana said, "No son.  There is such a thing as dignity."  When Luc gave him his puzzled face, Gana explained, "If you are willing to be treated badly in exchange for something just because it is free, you don't value yourself."

~My best friend and her wonderful husband just gave birth to their second baby boy!  He's beautiful and I'm so happy for them!  I wish I could be there to snuggle him in person.  As I can't the Lord will have to do it for me, through my prayers.

~My mother sent me this blog post: 50 Summery Things To Do For Your House.  It totally inspired me today.  It somehow kicked me out of autopilot and gave me such joy for making my home beautiful and scrumptious.  I had a blast today, adding little touches here and there and livening up this place.  It has sent me meditating today, as I puttered around, about what it means to be a homemaker and not just a housekeeper.  I think there is a blog post on this theme in the works.  Left-brain, come in Left-brain.  Do you think we could schedule in some blogging time for the right-brain? 

598th Post and a GIVEAWAY!!!

We are two posts from our 600th post! As Shane Falco says in The Replacements, "I wish I could say something classy and inspirational. But, that just wouldn't be our style."


So, instead of a boring 600th post blogiversary giveaway with something predictable like a $600 gift card to Target, we decided instead to offer you a chance to win real parts of our life. It doesn't get any better than that, I assure you. I promise that everything is actually something from my house.

Here's a pile of books that sit under the desk where I compose these witty blog posts. I list used books on Amazon sometimes. These are the ones I can't seem to sell at any price. They must in invaluable.

Here is my chop stick drawer:

Here is my bathroom cupboard:

Here is the corner of my kitchen counter:

Here is my shelf of tea and tea related things: (Currently there are at least 11 different types of tea there.)

So, if you read this blog to see little pieces of our life, we are offering you a chance to win pieces of our lives!


Leave us a comment and you may be randomly selected to choose your prize! You may choose from:

1. A jar of Japanese milk candies that have been sitting my counter for a few months.

2. A devotional book by Margaret Becker

3. Chop sticks

4. An open box of Trader Joe's Pomegranate White Tea

5. Coconut Hand Lotion

The giveaway will be open until Monday the 30th. You'll get one entry for leaving me a comment. You'll get another entry if you promote this giveaway on your blog. (Yeah, I dare you to.) You can earn another entry if you can tell me a quote from The Replacements (movie referenced above). Quoting from the clip I played does not count, so don't try to cheat.

With fabulous prizes like these,

who'd want a gift card?

I love to scribble!

Ganeida has lovingly presented me with the Superior Scribbler Award! Thank you!




Here are the rules:



Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.


Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.


Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.


Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!


Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.



I pass this adorable award to:


Karen at Only Sometimes Clever
~Beautiful thoughts on homeschooling, worship, family, and gluten free living.



Christy at Midwifery Ramblings
~Passionate and challenging thoughts on pregnancy and birth.



Bonnie at Extended Hope
~Finding healing and wholeness after abortion.



Susanne at Living To Tell The Story
~Grateful and graceful living.



and


Civilla at Civilla's Cyber Cafe
~thoughts on family and womanhood and inspiring looks into the past.

More Awards!

I feel like some sort of celebrity....in my own bloggy universe, of course!

I'm walking down the red carpet of my mind, flashes of cameras, people clamouring for a word or even a wave from me. I'm wearing a fabulous little red number with earrings big enough to be Christmas tree ornaments. As I hang on the arm of my amazingly handsome husband who is wearing an Armani tuxedo, I catch my Jimmy Choo heel on snag on the carpet and fall flat on my face......

OK, I'm back to reality. Sorry about that.


The first award is from Allison at The Displaced Texan. She's so lovely and charming herself, that I feel doubly blessed that she bestowed this on me!


I lovingly pass it on to:

Karen at Yesterday, Today, Forever
Lady Dorothy at Daffodil Dreams
Barb at SFO Mom


The second is from Karen at Yesterday, Today, Forever. If she could have seen me yesterday being completely overwhelmed and threatening to send the children to bed at 5pm, she might take it back!

This award is passed to bloggers for showing great Attitude and/or Gratitude. (You know, turning those lemons into lemonade and all.)

The rules of this award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I pass it on to:

Heather at Knifty News and Rants

Starr at Lost in Laundry

Leona at Out of My Brain

Tiffiney at My Southern Hippie Married Mom of Four Life

Alicia at The Happy Homebody

Wendy at Dear Sophie

TJ at TJ's Garden

Serena at And By The Way

Allison at The Displaced Texan

KatyLin at The Great Adventure

Thank you Allison and Karen! You're too sweet! Please visit these fine blogs and give them some comment love! I know you'll find many to add to your regular list of reading!

Bloggy Bling!

I need to catch up! I've been given several lovely awards, but have been so busy with the holidays that I haven't posted my bling!

Back in November, Melanie at Cantare bestowed some Kreativ Blogger Bling on me. Thank you!

With this award, I'm supposed to name 6 things for which I am thankful. Only six? OK, here goes.....

1. Indoor plumbing. As often as I get up in the night to use the facilities, I can only imagine the hassle of having to go to the outhouse!

2. The "I Love You More Than Chocolate" game. This is where I tell Captain, "I love you more than chocolate" and he makes up his own reply, such as, "I love you more than peanut butter." This goes on and on and usually includes popcorn, chocolate syrup and cookies. My life would not be complete with this game.

3. Organic Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. Maybe it's in my head, but there is something very comforting about drinking something I know is good for my uterus.

4. My best friend's baby. Have I mentioned that me and my buddy MaryBeth are both pregnant and both waiting for our babies any day now? I love that baby so much and I haven't even seen him/her yet!

5. Gas Prices. It's so nice to know that in this "economic crisis" I don't have to choose between gas and a Venti White Chocolate Latte with extra whipped cream.

6. Ihbeleg when he's asleep. Not that I don't just adore him when he's awake. But, he is so uber-sweet when he's asleep. He mumbles. And when I kiss him he smiles in his sleep!

Now, I must pass on this award to six others:

1. Mrs. T at Domestic Felicity (Lovely and inspirational)

2. Flo at Tales of a Music Mama (She'll probably kringe at the kitschy "kreativ")

3. Karen at Only Sometimes Clever (which is a misnomer, because she's always clever.)

4. Marianne at Prepare To Eat (go read and prepare to drool)

5. Josh at Death Becomes Me (thanks to Josh the word "Zombie" is actually part of our regular vocabulary)

And last but not least.....

6. Claire at Two Kids, A Gear-Head and Me (Too bad you don't know her in real life. She's the kinda gal you can call and chat with for hours, but it feels like a few minutes. Good conversationalists are sometimes hard to find!)

The next award is from my mother, the lovely and incomparable Lady Dorothy!

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.

The rules are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to other 15 blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

FIFTEEN?! How many Premio Dardos bloggers is a girl supposed to know! Well, I'll give it my best shot!

I choose the following bloggers because they strive to be relevant, but not in bondage to their cultures. They are authentic at the same time entertaining as they present their values to the world!

1. Melanie at Cantare

2. Mama Says

3. Heather at Knifty News and Rants

4. Jonathon at Little Pastor

5. Flo at Tales of a Music Mama (Two awards in one day!)

6. Mrs. C at Homeschool and Etc.

7. Civilla's Cyber Cafe

8. Kelly at Generation Cedar

9. Katy Lin at The Great Adventure

10. Joy In The Burbs

11. Sue at Living and Learning

12. Serena at And By The Way

13. Starr at Lost in Laundry

14. Ruthanne at Genco Journal

And last but not least...

15. Christy at Zimms Zoo

(I truly didn't realize I had such a rich bloggy community! These are some great blogs you should visit!!!)

One last award to post! (Whew, am I getting popular or what?! LOL!)

Thank you Veggie Mom! I must now pass it on to six other bloggers who blogs really POP! (Click on the image above for the history of the award and the rules for passing it on.)

1. Rooks Paper Scissors, which come to think of it, I should have nominated in the "Kreativ Blogger" category above. But, I'm too lazy to go back and redo all my fancy linking. You should totally check out these creations. Andrea is like a magician with paper.

2. Fearless Birth, go get educated and challenged. Don't wait until after your epidural.

3. Whatever, if a picture is worth a thousand words, prepare yourself for a semester's worth of lecture! (but way more fun than the Fuller stuff we get over here!)

4. Out of My Brain, her blog especially pops because her kids are THE BEST!

5. Lady Dorothy at Daffodil Dreams. Her blog is lovely and I'm not just saying that because it frequently has posts about my children.

And last but not least....

6. Midwifery Ramblings, I repeat: go get educated and challenged. Don't wait until after your epidural.

Thank you one and all for enjoying our blog enough to leave us awards! And everyone, please enjoy the awards! If I didn't choose you, it was probably just an oversight, because you are awesome. Jesus has your picture in His wallet and your artwork hangs on His refrigerator!!!

Best Post of the Year?

So, Vicki over at Best Post of the Week is asking her bloggers for submissions of their best post of the year! I just don't know which one is my best! That's like choosing between a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks or a Gotta Have It at Cold Stone! How can one choose?!

So, we need your help!

Here are some of what we think are the best:

Being Right All The Time

Post Election Reflection

Lovely Weekend

Worse Than Dung

Dominion Theology

A Philosophical Reason To Homeschool

In The Company of the Committed

Mercy and the Chocolate Cake

A Spiritual Answer To A Political Problem

The Color of Virtue

Can You Judge A Person By Their Cup o' Joe? and the follow-up post Coffee Shop Psychology

So.......leave us a comment letting us know which of the above you like the best OR nominate another one that you think was our best! Now's your chance to be heard!

btw, I was talking to some faithful readers the other day that I know in real life and they said they didn't know how to comment. If you've never left me comment love, here's how:

1. At the bottom of each blog post there is a place that says, "Back Talk." Click on "Back Talk."

2. A comment box will pop up. Type your witty and sensational thoughts in the box.

3. Choose your identity. You may use a Google ID, an Open ID, just your name and web address or comment anonymously. If you comment anonymously, please still sign your name!

4. Click on "Publish Your Comment." The comments are moderated. So, as long as you weren't rude or vulgar (what?! My readers?! NEVER!) I'll approve the comment as soon as I check my email.

Easy as pie!


So, let us know what you think was our best post of the year!!!

We must be doing something right!

We got our first mean-spirited anonymous comment this evening!!! Imagine the fit of giggles it put me into. I even had to call my mom and read it to her. We had a hearty laugh together!

It was actually so refreshing to know that we weren't just "preaching to the choir"--that some who don't agree with us actually read this blog. Quite an encouraging development!

It was left on the Post-Election Reflection post. In case you're interested, I've copied it below.

"You made me laugh alright - if I didn't laugh I'd have to cry at such rank ignorance. Didn't make me mad though - you people are all mad, insane, out of your minds. Thankfully it's not catching. I think it's absolutely appalling however that your kids are all het up about abortion - let them be kids, they don't need to worry about that sort of stuff. I pity them, I really do. Dream on deluded ones. "

The way I figure it, if Obama wants to encourage sex-education from Kindergarten my children may as well know what abortion is.

And if abortion were amoral and not actually immoral, why would it be a bad thing for a child to know about? If it were just a woman's choice and a simple medical procedure, why can't they know about it--just like they know that Grandma had cataract surgery, a friend had weight loss surgery, and I need my wisdom teeth out? Why would the knowledge of abortion interfere with childhood......Then again, my anonymous friend, maybe there's something else to it.

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that
cannot fly." Langston Hughes

And yes, we will keep dreaming.

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions."

Joel 2:28

Another Award?! We're really on a roll now!

Mrs. C. at Homeschool and Etc, has lovingly bestowed upon me a bloggy friendship award! How sweet! I am, of course, delighted!

So, I have to answer the following question and then pass on the love to five other bloggy buddies. Here goes:

1. Do you have the same friends since childhood?

I do have some of the same friends since childhood. I grew up with a great gang of people. I love it that so many are still serving the Lord whole-heartedly. I won't start naming them because I would for sure leave someone precious out. But you know who you are--all you spread all over the world! LOVE YOU!

In particular, I do have one dear friend from childhood with whom I cannot help but keep in touch. We are BFF in the truest sense of the lingo. My friend MaryBeth and I met when we were 12 and really connected when I was 13. We have been best friends ever since. We even stayed tight when I moved to Mongolia. And now that I live back in the States the Lord moved her to Canada! (Gonna have to have a talk with the Lord about that one!) When I'm with MaryBeth I feel like I am at home.

2. What do you value most about your friends?

My friends make me laugh. I can differ with friends about politics, faith, and a variety of issues from homeschooling to natural childbirth. But, I have to be around people who make me laugh.

"In those whom I like, I can find no common denominator; in those whom I love I can: they all make me laugh." (Wystan Hugh Auden)

3. Are your friends your sounding boards?

Some are. You know different friends fill different needs. Some are coffee buddies, some are casual acquaintances, some share history, some are safe places to fall.

My sounding board is usually my mother, my sister Sarah-Kate or MaryBeth. I can't shock them and they are also not shy about disagreeing.

4. What is your favorite activity to share with your friends?

Tea and conversation.

The five people I immediately thought of do not all have blogs. (What's the hold up?! Get a blog!) Here are five dear friends who do have blogs:

1. Heather at Knifty News and Rants. Her rants, while very passionate, are usually much nicer than mine. And as a point of interest she married one of my childhood friends!

2. Flo at Tales of a Music Mama. We met in a childbirth class and have since bonded in Blog-land. I wonder if the Lord will ever have us living in the same area, because I would love to have Flo for a neighbor!

3. Trina at Beans and Trees...and Elephants. Trina is sweet and fun and authentic and I just love her! And if you ever need a doula, you should call her!

4. Leona at Out of My Brain. Leona is beautiful and fun and smart. Plus she has the most adorable children that keep us laughing. Leona has showed me what a gracious woman looks like.

5. Serena at And By The Way. It's just plum lovely to have your brother marry someone who you would have chosen for him if he wasn't bright enough to do it himself! Although my brother's wife, I don't refer to her as an in-law. She's my sister.

My Bloggy Personality

Your Blogging Type is Artistic and Passionate

You see your blog as the ultimate personal expression - and work hard to make it great. One moment you may be working on a new dramatic design for your blog... And the next, you're passionately writing about your pet causes. Your blog is very important - and you're careful about who you share it with.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

How about you? Leave a comment and let us know!

My Second Award

It was almost a year ago that I got my first award....they're not exactly pouring in are they?

Well, I am most honored to be given the Brillante Weblog Award from Sue at Living and Learning. Thank you, Sue!! She said I always have something interesting and challenging. (Read "mildly entertaining and controversial," I think! LOL!) I accept the award with pleasure! And please check out her blog! She lives in Japan and has children so cute you could eat 'em up!

Now, for sharing the love.

The rules I was given are as follows:

1. The winner can (and should, really) put the logo on his/her blog
2. The winner must link to the person from whom they received their award.
3. The winner must nominate at least 7 other blogs for an award.
4. The winner must place links to those blogs on their own blog.
5. The winner must leave a message on the blogs of the people they’ve nominated.

Here it goes....

Sharing the love with:

1. Karen Joy at Only Sometimes Clever, which is really a misnomer, because it's Almost Always Clever. And she's about to have a baby. So, go give her some bloggy love!

2. NJR at A Place In The World For A Gambler. I don't know how he found my blog, but he is a most interesting person!

3. Debbie at This Is The Life. She's sweet as can be and hosts the super-fun Blog Around The World Site!

4. Marianne at Prepare to Eat. We're food buddies. She cooks. I drool. If she lived next door I'd be that annoying neighbor who just happens to stop by at dinner time and who comes in to raid the fridge.

5. Katy Lin at The Great Adventure. Her Husband Rocks! And so does mine! She hosts the very fun every Friday Blog Party, "My Husband Rocks!"

6. The Birthkeeper at Midwifery Ramblings. Challenge the birth establishment! Think outside the box!

and last but not least...

7. Julie at My Journey to Family. She's fun! She's intelligent. She lives in a purple house! Now, you don't get much cooler than that!

Welcome Blog-Around-The-World Bloggers!

Sain bain uu!

Let us introduce ourselves!

We currently spend our days in So. California. But, our hearts are in Mongolia. (Click here for lots of pictures of our adventures there.) You've all seen So. Cal, though, in countless movies and TV shows. So, we won't bore you with Disneyland, Hollywood or Venice Beach. We've got nothin' new in that regard.

Our life is pretty simple, so telling you about it is easy as a price check at the dollar store. We like the simple things in life--the laughter of our kids, good old books, extra dry Riesling, home cooked meals, and Mongolian throat singing.

My husband is a full-time student at Fuller Seminary (working on a Masters in theology with emphasis on Christian Leadership) and a full-time handyman and still has time to take me on dates. Fuller Theological Seminary

I am a childbirth educator and doula and homeschooling mom of five with number six currently kicking me in the bladder.

Our house is a happy blend of blessed chaos and the peace that passes all understanding. So, come on in. Take your shoes off. Would you like a cup of tea? Some cookies? Some Mongolian dried milk curds?I grew up in Northern and Central California. Then I got married and moved to Mongolia. I never thought I'd be a So. Cal girl. Yet, here I am. I like my neighborhood, although it definitely has its quirks. So, rather than show you the Rose Bowl or The Huntington, I'm going to show you the quirkier side of things. The things without which life in Pasadena wouldn't quite be the same.

Being "green" is often synonymous with being cheap, so we walk nearly everywhere. Our closest market we lovingly refer to as "The GhettoMart."

Here you can buy any of the following:

Pig snouts

Pig feet

Chicken with the feet and head still attached

These are the things I threaten to feed the children if they do not behave. You know, when in Rome!

And what goes better with chicken than waffles?!

And speaking of odd combinations, how about a donut and a burger?

If you seriously want something tasty and that does not have head nor hoof attached, may we recommend The Hat. Seriously good. It's my favorite after-church-I'm-too-tired-to-cook-treat!

Speaking of church, we get to attend in the most gorgeous building in Pasadena, possibly in the whole of Los Angeles!

The Ambassador Auditorium is called the Carnegie Hall of the West. Our church, Harvest Rock, purchased it a few years ago and now we get to enjoy the beauty and perfect acoustics.

So, make yourself at home. Take a look around and enjoy! As much as we'd like to be all mysterious and cool, basically, we are as quirky as our neighborhood!

The Tribe

Hungry?

"A peasant's lunch" and "poori"--new meals to drool over on the Gomboblog.

The Ads, an apology

Thank you to those who click on the ads on our blog. It gives me some extra dough. Every click is appreciated!

However, since I started blogging recently about kissing, I've had an abnormal amount of questionable ads. If any of them have been offensive, please forgive me! I don't pick them.

I can however, block the questionable ones. So, if you see an ad on here that is icky or you just think, "I don't think Gana and Daja would like that very much" please email us or leave us a comment. We'll block the offending site.

Thank you and happy ad-clicking and blog reading!

On the Gomboblog....

With the heat lately (you know Global Warming and all....wait a second, it's May! It's supposed to be hot.) I've been leaning towards meals that don't heat up the house.

Two lovely summer meals on the Gomboblog....

Tandoori-Style Chicken Burgers and Eggplant Mozzarella Sandwiches

Mongolia here we come!

We are leaving in a few minutes for the airport. Please keep us in your prayers! Ask the Lord to pour out His love and grace on His people through us!

I probably won't be able to blog while I am gone. So, you all behave and check in a couple weeks for pictures of the spur-of-the-moment Mongolian adventure!

Closed for the weekend...

Missed me this week? I've been busy! Let me tell you!

And I'm only going to get BUSIER! In just 5 days I am going to Mongolia with Gana and Derek (the Administrator of Harvest International Ministries). Why the speedy trip? Well, I can't get into all the details, but we need to go lavish some love on some dear friends that need healing and restoration. So, be praying for us. Ask God to do what only He can do!

And because I need to work out some visa stuff for China, I am going to close the blog for the weekend. After tomorrow morning you will not be able to view the blog until Monday afternoon.

What will the world do without me? What will I do without the blog?!

Blog o' the Week

I award this week's pick to......

ME!

I started a new blog this week. Gomboblog! (Thanks, Flo!)

Here's how it started.....

I've been feeling tired of childbirth classes and doula work. I've been doing it in Mongolia and then here for almost six years. I could teach those classes in my sleep. I love being an advocate for women. I love welcoming new babies into the world. But, I think my right-brain and my left-brain are at war. I'm craving more creative outlets.

In addition to this, I feel the Lord telling me that He has something new for me and specifically that I need to make room in my life for new things. So, there are several things I'm phasing out. And I'm learning to say "No!" to things that I would have formerly automatically said, "Yes!"

During this season I have sort of rediscovered my passion for food. I love food. Seriously, I do not just eat for fuel. I love beautiful food. I love decadent food. I love real food. I'd rather eat no food than fake food. I also love the presentation of food. I don't like just sloppin' in on the plate. I like it to look as good as it tastes.

I'm thinking that I might like to cater or be a personal chef. Not big events like weddings so much, but private parties, small groups, meetings, families. I love throwing a party. It's a simple joy in my life.

And so.....I decided that in the meantime, while I'm waiting on the Lord, I would blog my food. Thus, The Gomboblog! A blog exploring my passion for the art of food! Enjoy a feast for your eyes!

My First Award!

Karen Joy at Only Sometimes Clever has given me the Thinking Blogger Award! I'm honored, of course. This is the first blog award (of any kind) I've received. I've seen lots of different little awards on blogs. I knew I would probably not get the "Nice Matters Award", especially after laughing my hiney off at Miss South Carolina in the Teen USA pageant. So, I wondered, if I ever got one, what it would be.

Thinking is good. Thinking that makes sense is even better.



Hopefully now and then I've given you, my reader, food for thought. Hopefully that food was satisfying and not the intellectual equivalent of drive-thru fare. Hopefully it was delicious, like dark chocolate, and not a tasteless imitation like carob chip "cookies." (There's health food and then there's going too far.)

Passing on the love, I give this award to...

Mama Says, because she's thoughtful and very entertaining.

Kelly at Families Against Feminism, but the award could be renamed the "over-thinking blogger award." Just kidding!

And last but not least, to Wess at Gathering In Light, for theological fare that doesn't nauseate me. Mighty good stuff over there....maybe I'll become a Quaker. Being a Quaker just sounds so cool.

Poll Results

So, the poll closed a week ago. Here are the results from the whoppin' 14 people who voted:(Wow, we really need to look into voter turn-out. )

What should we blog about more often?

Birth and all that stuff: 1 vote
Current Events: 1 vote
Homeschooling: 1 vote
Theology: 3 votes
Family, parenting and funny things the kids say: 8 votes

And the big loser: Persecuted Church with ZERO votes.

Hmmmm.....

"Don't forget about those in prison. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, as though you feel their pain in your own bodies. " Hebrews 13:3