To my husband

Dear Husband:

I'm hiding in the bathroom to write you this note because I have three children singing "clean up" in their bedrooms in anticipation of the "get dressed, have breakfast, and go outside" rush. (I have less than five minutes before one of them realizes I'm gone and they call come searching for me.)

So, in five minutes or less:

For the long days you spend at work and the nights you spend working on projects from home, thank you for providing for us.
For the evenings when you stop at the grocery store quickly to grab items I forgot and absolutely need in order to serve our meal, thank you for saving dinner.
For the days when our children question beyond "How does this work," and I have to answer "hmmm... I'm not sure, but Dad knows," thanks for giving all the technical answers.
For the evenings and weekends when you juggle planting and tending a garden, thank you feeding us while cutting down on the mowing.
For the evenings and weekends when you juggle the roles of Mr. Fix It and Mr. Build it, thank you for making and bettering our home.
For the nights when you read the Bible to our children while I clean up from dinner, thank you for helping our children learn to obey God.
For the nights when you ask our children to give you "a BIG kiss," a hug, and sometimes a high-five, before tucking them in their beds, thank you for being a loving father.

For all these things AND MORE that you do while being a partner to me, thank you for choosing me as your bride more than eight years ago. I can't think of a person I would have rather had at my side when having each of our beautiful children. And I can't imagine another person at my side for the rest of our lives.

I pray for you, and thank God for you. Happy Father's Day.

Love,
Wife

I failed miserably...

Let me first start by saying I've never made Puppy Chow in my life (I'm not talking about dog food here, people). But I've seen even the worst cooks of the world make this stuff, and I'm going to just step out and say-- I'm a pretty good cook. I've never really messed up a recipe, and I've never had anyone refuse the things I've prepared (well, with the exception of the time my husband was appalled by the liver and onions on his dinner plate).

But, today, I failed miserably.... with PUPPY CHOW.

In the first place, I didn't ever plan I'd make Puppy Chow. Have you ever seen the ingredients list for this recipe? But, in cleaning out my cupboards, I found a box of Rice Chex that my kids have refused to eat to this day. Waste not, want not. Right? I thought we'd give Puppy Chow a try, and then take a looooong walk.

I used my new "Evernote Food" app to search for a recipe, and was excited to find a "Healthy Puppy Chow" recipe without all the sugar. (You've already spotted my error, correct?) Simple ingredients: Chex, peanut butter, and cocoa powder.

The result: Chalky, chunky, cocoa flavored cereal.
Having seen this, I resolved to roll the mixture in powdered sugar to save it, but instead of saving it, I ended up with chunks of soggy, chalky, chunky, SUGAR-flavored sugar.

Feeling rather defeated and frustrated, I turned to my three sous chefs to apologize for ruining what they recognized as Puppy Chow (remind me later to ask who introduced my children to puppy chow). And I was quickly reminded that children don't care about gourmet. Cue the "Nom nom nom"s.

So there you have it. One of many reasons I love my children is that they love me even through my errors and faults. Come to think of it, so does God. And what a blessing to have both.

Now, I need a glass of milk. And probably a long jog. Seriously, did you think I didn't taste some?