5 for Friday

Yes.  I know it's Sunday.  But Friday was busy, as always, and then there was the situation with Lucy.  Then yesterday was Lucy's post.  That brings me to today.  I really want to do these 5 for Friday posts.  They're fun.  Hopefully I'll get one done on a Friday.  Maybe.  One day.  Until then it's Sunday and here's a look back at last week!

Last Sunday was Dr. Seuss' birthday.  But you just can't celebrate that man in one day, especially when it falls on a weekend.  So this past week I broke from the reading curriculum and did a week-long author study on Dr. Seuss.  The first day we learned about him and what got him started with The Cat in the Hat.  It wouldn't be a celebration, or day in my classroom, without a fun themed hat right?  Of course I shamelessly wore mine around school all day and to carline at the end of the day.  You can't teach 1st Grade and not celebrate Dr. Seuss!

This also happened on Monday.  It's a green tea cupcake with ginger frosting.  Yes, you read that right and yes, it was amazing.  It came from Gigi's Cupcakes.  We have a little good behavior deal going with the boys.  After a certain number of good days they get a reward.  Jackson's is always frozen yogurt from Menchi's.  Braeden's is cupcakes.  Monday marked his completion of his days.  I'm glad I remembered to take a picture of this because it wasn't there for long.  Mmmmmm.

Tuesday was Mardi Gras!  Our time in New Orleans is still a highlight in life for Amy and I so every year this makes us smile.  I also celebrate in the classroom with my students.  Again, another fun headpiece.  We don't go all out but we do talk about what it means, tie it in to Lent, eat king cake, and I throw beads at them.  All in all, it's a great time!

I promise this is the last selfie for this post.  Guess last week was full of them (Amy rolls her eyes at this point).  It's Lent again.  This year I again chose to give up sweets.  Before the day was out I had been offered chocolate-covered strawberries and cookies by students.  But I stayed strong.  40 days is a long time and I'm missing sweets something fierce.  But Amy and I are in it together.  Accountability partners you might say.  She took an extra step and gave up flour in addition to sugar.  Yikes!  She's stronger than I am definitely.  My sweet tooth is aching.

Friday brought an end to our Dr. Seuss studies.  Of course, as with any Dr. Seuss unit, we enjoyed green eggs and ham.  It was a hoot watching my students crack their eggs.  It's amazing what mental suggestion a little green food coloring can make.  Some kids just can't get past it to realize that it is just eggs!  HA!  We didn't get to make our oobleck, but I'll squeeze it in next week.  Another fun favorite.

So, there you have it.  My 5 for last week.  Even if it's Sunday!  Hope your week was awesome!

All is well, Friday or Sunday, in Drosche Land.

Countdown

I don't know why, but I gave up sweets again this year for Lent. Maybe I've already mentioned this but I can't remember. It's probably the lack of sugar having a detrimental impact on my memory. I know the purpose of giving up things for Lent and I totally get it. But man is it hard. I know what you're thinking, "Um, it's supposed to be a struggle!". I know, you're right. Believe me, it is a struggle. But that doesn't mean I can't miss my sweets. And miss them I do. Do you know that Lent encompasses several events that focus on sweets?

For one, it's Girl Scout cookie time! We ordered 8 boxes this year! That was way back when Lent seemed forever away and I hadn't given any thought to what I'd give up this year. Oh how innocent and naive I was. Needless to say, I haven't had a single one of those cookies. Amy and the boys have though. And I've watched them. Thin Mints, Caramel Delights, Peanut Butter Patties, Shortbread, etc. I'm salivating. Luckily my lovely wife has been saving a few of each kind, as they polish off box after box, for me. I'll be gorging, I mean eating, them on Easter!

Secondly, Rodeo season! We jusT finished this glorious time of year and again I did not get to partake in any fried sweet indulgences! Fried cheesecake on a stick. Fried Twinkies. Fried cookie dough (on a stick). Fried Snickers bars (on a stick). Fried ice cream. Again with the salivating. Ahhhhh carnival food! You name it, they can fry it. I just can't eat it. On a side note though I did indulge, twice, on some of my favorite fried (savory) treats: catfish, hush puppies, french fries, and fried green tomatoes!

Thirdly! Although it's not technically an occasion, I feel it still bears mentioning. I'll refer to it as Pre-Easter candy. You know what I'm talking about. It's the Easter candy you buy early because you want to be sure to get some before they run out at the last minute. You tell yourself it's for Easter but as the holiday get nearer the supply is rapidly dwindling. Or maybe you buy it early so you can eat it throughout the entire season? The same can be said for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day candy. I know I can't be the only one who does this, you know you do too! Reese's peanut butter eggs, jellybeans, Cadbury creme eggs (my fave!), chocolate bunnies. Yes, you guessed it, salivating.

Again, I totally get the reason behind the act of giving something up for Lent and I totally support it. I don't regret it, mostly, because of what it stands for. However I do also take things on. Namely reading the Bible. I always take on a new reading plan for the Lenten season and did so again this year. It's to help with the giving up and remembering why I did so in the first place.

Ironically posting about my sweets withdrawal, which is not getting any easier over this 40-day period, has actually helped a little. I feel a little stronger. My resolve it not as weak. I'm inspired again as to why I did it. But I am also hungry. Next year I don't think I'll be givng up sweets again. Maybe I'll try something new. Some other addiction to deprive my self of in order to strengthen my faith and bring me closer to Him. Remember the true reason for the Lenten and Easter season. But I have a year to think about that. In the mean time, I'm busy planning, and looking forward to, my Easter binge!

Did you give up anything for Lent? Take anything on? If so, how's it going? Tough? Rough? Easy? Regardless, stay strong dear readers, we're over halfway there! We'll celebrate together in 16 days. Not that I'm counting.

All is well, drooling, in Drosche Land.

'Tis the Season to Be Baking!

What is the holiday season without sweets?  Not much!  Part of the fun of Christmas, at least here in Drosche Land, is the holiday baking.  With the busyness and hecticness of this year's holiday season many things fell by the wayside, but we made sure to schedule in some quality baking time.  Now I'm not talking crazy baking here, you know like 20 different kinds of cookies spread out over a week, filling tons of tins, going through supplies like we're on Cupcake Wars (if you haven't seen it, watch it ASAP!).  We've been there and done that and although I do love it, this was not the year for such cookie hijinks.  Nope, instead we limited it to 3 of our favorite cookies, opting for quality rather than quantity.  In addition to the delicious byproduct of this fun activity it also provided us with some much needed family time as we all love to get in the kitchen and cook together as well as a reason to have to stay home and relax (in between batches of course).  Our 3 cookies?  I know you're wondering.  Well, up this year were chocolate Spritz cookies (because you have to use the cookie press at least once a season), sugar cookies (because they're Santa's favorite!), and gingerbread cookies (because it's not Christmas without a gingerbread person!).  

So, for the past two days we (mainly Amy with help from us boys here and there) have mixed, rolled, cut out, baked, decorated, and of course eaten.  We are finally finished and we still have a good 3/4 of our total haul left after eating, packing to take to family, and eating some more.  It was good for us to relax at home with no expectations or goals other than baking cookies.  We all needed the break and our DVR needed to be cleaned off so it was good all around.  Hopefully my waistline will not suffer from the past 2 days' activities, in addition to the copious amounts of leftovers from our fun and successful party on Wednesday.  I can't believe that it is December 23rd already, wow has the season flown by or what?!  I feel as though it came sneakily and by surprise!  But that is a post-Christmas post topic for next week.  For now I'll sit and relax, ready to enjoy the family time the next 2 days will bring as we celebrate the joyous season and everything it has to offer, even if it came suddenly and quickly!

All is well, stocked up on cookies, in Drosche Land.

The supplies.  Lined up, organized, and ready to go!
  

 Our favorite cookie cutters, ready to serve!

Amy using the cookie press.  I have 0% luck with this contraption!

Oh but it makes yummy treats!  Chocolate Spritz Cookies in an ornament shape!
 

Oh, not a cookie but I had to include a brief interlude of another holiday staple (at least in my opinion) homemade Chex Mix!  I must say, I make a mean batch (it's nearly all gone!)!

 

Sugar cookies!  Of course!

 

They come in both over-sized and mini!

 

Our little Cookie Monster, sneaking a pre-decorated cookie!

 

Sugar cookies ready for decorating!

 

Gingerbread cookies, their genders yet to be determined!

 

Gingerbread decorating!  Is it a boy or a girl?

 

 Gingerbread babies!

Braeden decorating his "Santa cookie"!

 

Jackson decorating his "Santa cookie".  It didn't last though (Jack ate it among many others) and Santa will never know of its deliciousness!

Sugar cookies come in stars and stockings as well!

 

But my Santa's FAVORITE are the Christmas trees!

Sunday Snapshot - Happy Birthday

Ok, so I know it's not Sunday, but here I am and still within the 24-hour window.

Saturday was my birthday and with it I have fully entered into a new decade - the 30's. It came calmly and slowly which, in this family, can be a good thing. Braeden had a T-Ball game and then we went to his end of the season party where he received his trophy! After that it was back home for some more relaxing before heading out to dinner. Nothing fancy but I thoroughly enjoyed my day. I guess the older I get, the more I realize how lucky I am to have the blessings I have been given. My gift is the upcoming trip to Las Vegas with Adam and I am stoked about that! Look for more posts about that as it gets nearer.

All in all it was a great day spent celebrating with my family and I couldn't have asked for more. A few pictures taken of the event, simple, nothing fancy but still fun!  So, bring it on 30's! I'm ready!

All is well, picture perfect, in Drosche Land.

  Celebrating my birthday at school with a ginormous, and delicious, piece of cake from a student!

 

 My birthday breakfast!  Yum!

 Happy 31st Birthday!

What A Day!

Well, today was quite the eventful day here in Drosche Land.  2 boys, both with big events going on.  Today was Braeden's first T-Ball game and Jackson's 4th birthday party.  We were worried about how today would go this past week because Jack was home Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with a wicked fever virus.  I stayed home with him on Wednesday and Thursday, Amy took Friday.  I was fearful that the party would be cancelled any my baby wouldn't get his party.  See, not everyone could make it tomorrow for his actual birthday and next weekend is even busier (hard to imagine) than this.  Luckily he got over the illness yesterday and today could go ahead as planned.  I'm glad because he gets his party and also because we had ordered a Costco cake (yes, another birthday goes by without me getting to make a cake) and while I do love me some cake, what would the four of us have done with a ginormous chocolate cake?  I don't need that kind of guilt!

From the moment we woke up both the boys were practically vibrating with excitement, each awaiting his own big moment.  I lost count of the number of times we were asked how much longer until the game/party!  But it was cute to see them both so happy and eager for their time to shine.

Now, I'm not going to brag (much) about Braeden, but he did an awesome job at T-Ball today!  I'll admit, to no surprise, that he gets none of his athletic ability from me.  Stop nodding your head, I know it's true.  But the boy does well in sports.  Also, he was super cute in his uniform, go Padres!  He was on first base at the beginning of the game and did a really good job.  He truly understands the game and the way everything works, yet again a benefit from his avid sports-watching and studying!  I see tons of ESPN in his future!  When he was at bat he hit the ball on the first try (not that I was counting all the players' attempts) and when he was at bat again later on only the 2nd try. (again, not counting).  The only down side to the game was the oppressive heat and lack of shading.  But such it life.  It looks like we have an exciting season ahead of us with Braeden once again jumping head first into a sport!

Having Jack's party on the same day meant our family got to be there for both of the boys' adventures.  Everyone followed, caravan-style, back to our house for Jack's party.  The theme was Batman as he is a huge fan of pretty much every superhero.  The birthday boy's menu?  Chicken nuggets, potato chips and onion dip, and grapes!  He's easy to please!  It looked as though I would get to make my first-ever birthday cake.  Jack chose me over Costco.  Amy helped me plan out my Batman logo cake and I was all set.  Then last weekend Jack informed us that he wanted a Costco cake instead.  Dang!  Oh well, there's always next year's birthdays.  Luckily I get to make a cookie cake for Jack to take to school on Monday, that will have to do.  Some day, one of them is going to let me make a birthday cake, I'm holding out hope!  The party was a success and he loved his gifts.  The top gifts were definitely his Captain America costume and his camera!  I think he may have inherited my love of picture-taking!  Within an hour or so he, and his cousins, had taken 240 pictures (more than my 224 of the entire day)!  Granted many were blurry and indecipherable, but he loves it.  He also loves his costume which is complete with muscles and a shield (which he adorably calls a shelld).  

All in all it was a wonderful day.  Crazy busy and exhausting, but great.  Everyone is asleep but me.  I wanted to blog and of course go through my 224 pictures.  I'm proud to say I was able to whittle it down to just 98.  Not too bad for one day.  I know you are wondering where they are, well not all 98 but the highlights.  Well, you will just have to check back tomorrow for the Sunday Snapshot.  Of course, given the number of pictures and the fact that it was a big day for both boys, there will be many pictures so I guess it will be a Sunday Snapshots post!

So, the day is now coming to a close and after the excitement has died down I realize that between the T-Ball game and 4th birthday party both of my boys grew up a bit more today.  Sometimes it seems as though it is happening so fast!  I'm running, with camera in hand, to catch up.  My sadness over this though somewhat dissipates when I see the joy in their faces.  I'm so proud of them both.  They are awesome!

All is well, post-game and after party, in Drosche Land. 

Addiction

So, it's pretty safe to say that I have a few vices in life. If you know me then you can probably name, in order, the things I am thinking/blogging about. Yes, coffee tops the list! I'm totally addicted to Starbucks, the Trenta size is the best thing to happen to coffee since Splenda. My current favorite is a Trenta iced coffee, without the syrup, 6 Splenda, and a shot of espresso. Ahhhh, just thinking about it brings me to giddy, caffeine induced joy! I also have a pretty strong adoration for my Keurig machines. Yes, that's plural, I have one big one at home and a small one in my classroom. We also get automated shipments of coffee every few months from Green Mountain. So you can see the love/addiction.

Another is sweets. Cake, cookies, candy, I'm not too picky. However, I made the decision to give up sweets for Lent this year and let me tell you it has been difficult! I've stopped counting the days left in Lent because it's too depressing. I didn't realize how much sweet stuff I ate throughout the day, but apparently it's a lot. Boy do I miss it though. I'm going to buy one of those ginormous chocolate bunnies, you know the kind I'm talking about, and bring it to church on Easter. I'll gnaw on that sucker all day, maybe I'll get two!

TV is of course another, although with the busyness of our lives lately and coursework (did I mention the fact that I only have 3 weeks left!) it has shifted slightly to a Netflix/DVR addiction. Streaming to my TVs, iPhone and iPad! Sure thing!

Why do I post this you ask? Well, it's a random train of thought stemming from the fact that I am struggling to muster enough motivation to do homework but instead have gotten lost in blog-reading, my latest addiction. Adoption blogs, teacher blogs (I've gotten some awesome ideas from these, and sometimes random blog wandering. See the connection? Anywho, that's what leads me to this delightfully random post/trip through my thought process! I hope you've enjoyed the ride. Now it's time to get back to my attempt at homework and bemoaning the seasonal loss of sweets! Wish me luck.

Oh, and if you're wondering, no, I didn't post a Sunday Snapshot yesterday. I didn't have material! :( it really bummed me out too because I love me some blogging and Sunday Snapshots! It's just been so darn busy lately. Bummer! I'm hoping the impending start of Braeden's soccer season will solve that dilemma! But that's a post for another time!

All is well, addictions included, in Drosche Land.

Sweet!

So, today we received some great adoption news from our agency. We had planned on our LOI being officially submitted on the 15th, Amy's half birthday. We were told that this would be the earliest we would be able to do this. We still cannot submit our entire dossier until Amy's 30th birthday, but 6 months out would give us time to begin the entire process. Well, today we received an email stating that our LOI would be submitted on Monday, Valentine's Day! Yeah it's only a day earlier than what we had been planning but when you're playing the biggest waiting game of your life one day is a big deal! Plus the fact that it's Valentine's Day hasn't escaped our attention either. What a sweet gift! One day closer to our sweet girl!

In other adoption news we also received the word that we will have no insurance hold ups, Margaux will be covered, no problems or worries. This is a big deal also, and a major relief to Amy and I.

Lastly, we have gotten off the bench and are fully running in the paper chase again. This time it is a massive form we have to fill out with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). Our pens are inked and our wrists are ready. Submission of this is not for a little while, but we may as well begin.

So, a day filled with adoption great news! Oh, and her bedroom is nearly finished (thanks Amy!) so hopefully pictures of that will be coming soon. Oh, and on an unrelated side note, since today was Friday, we had our usual Drosche Family Movie Night! Usually it involved pizza and a movie. Tonight was a little different and we began with a trip through the car wash, dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (La Finca), and the movie Secretariat. Awesome movie! I highly recommend it. Seriously, finish reading and head out to the nearest RedBox, Blockbuster, or even get on Netflix. I promise you won't be disappointed! Go on now, go get it!

All is well, enjoying our sweet news, in Drosche Land.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

So, yesterday was Chinese New Year!  The Year of the Rabbit is fully underway and we are hoping that it is kind to us, bringing us one very special little girl.  I'll admit, I had grandiose plans for celebrating this year.  I've been researching recipes, traditions, etc. but this winter storm changed our plans.  We never did make it out to a Chinese grocery store to stock up on authentic foods and whatnot, but that doesn't mean that we didn't eat well.  Last weekend we went to Costco for one of our regular visits.  They do have a little of everything there.  We picked up some spring rolls and pot stickers (complete with sauces) and they turned out to be fantastic!  YUM!  While we ate we mentioned to the boys that Margaux was probably eating (or had eaten) foods similar to these to welcome the new year!  It was nice to know that we were celebrating the same event, in a similar way, as our little girl even though we are half-way around the world.  It also was noted by us that the next time we celebrate Chinese New Year, we may be doing so with her!  

As for dessert, I again had plans that didn't come to fruition this year.  However, Amy had made a heart-shaped cookie cake the day before when she was home with the boys.  Last night we decorated it with frosting and sprinkles and that was our Chinese New Year dessert.  Maybe not the most authentic, but absolutely delicious nonetheless.  Who knows?  Maybe we've begun our own tradition that Margaux can join us in next year.  I am sure that she will love the cookie cake as much as we did, it was after all the best cookie cake I've ever had!  You can see it below, decorated with our initials (Amy and I split the "M")!

So, our first official celebration of Chinese New Year has come and we did enjoy it quite a bit.  Next year I am sure we will add to it, hopefully in more ways than just food and decoration!  We plan on trying to get out to a Chinese grocery store this weekend to check it out and maybe pick up some things.  We'll see if we get around to it with all of our other plans of laying around, relaxing, painting Margaux's room, and otherwise avoiding the bitter cold!

All is well, Gung Hay Fat Choy, in Drosche Land.

YUM!

Store-bought vs. Homemade

Well, tomorrow is Braeden's 4th birthday!  Once Amy and I got over the initial shock that he (and we) were that old it was time to start planning.  This year Braeden decided that his birthday theme would be Baseball.  Awesome!  Immediately my mind went to making a baseball cake!  I would make a standard round cake, frost it white, and then decorate it with icing (later changed to Twizzlers per Amy's great idea) to look just like a baseball.  I was excited!  So, eager with excitement, I pitched my idea to Braeden.  His answer was a resounding NO!  He instead wanted a baseball cake from Costco.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love a Costco cake or cupcake for that matter, but I was a bit disappointed.  So, a Costco it is.  I mean, it's not really my choice anyway right?  I'll get over it.  So we ordered a Costco baseball cake for his party.  Then I am hit with another idea!  I'll make a baseball cake for his actual birthday on Wednesday AND a set of baseball cupcakes for him to bring to school!  HA!  The best of both worlds!  Well . . . not so fast.  After buying all of the materials Amy and I come to a sudden realization.  This week is the first week of May, and May is the busiest time of year for teachers.  This week alone we have 4/5 late nights for a variety of reasons.  Tonight is the Spring Fine Arts Concert, that begins at 6:30, lasts about an hour, and we live in BFE.  So, by the time we get home, put the boys to bed, do homework, and make the desserts it'll be like midnight.  Too late.  So, on the way home tonight we will be making a quick stop by HEB or some grocery to pick up some cupcakes and a cake for tomorrow.  Again, I have to admit I'm a little sad.  Braeden won't care a bit since he will most likely be able to find something with Spider-Man or some other super hero or something that he thinks is the most awesome thing ever!  It would've been fun to make cute treats but, oh well.  There's always next year.  Just another reason to live closer to school, by the way the search is still on - hardcore but that's a post for another time.  So, we move forward with plans for the big day, photos of which will be covered in tomorrow's Wordless Wednesday!  He is super excited, and unaffected by the cake drama, which is how it should be!  I'm fine, really, I am.  :)

All is well, even with store-bought treats, in Drosche Land.

Bunny Prep

Well, Amy and I just finished filling over 60 eggs for the boys for this year's Easter.  Yes, it seems like a lot, but each is only filled with a few pieces of candy, and there are some filled with some change.  They love putting money in their jars.  We are going to get them on the Dave Ramsey plans for kids when they are a bit older.  For now we are just trying to teach them to "save".  They will not make the mistakes we made with money, that's for sure.  But I digress.  This morning has been one busy blur of a Good Friday.  I woke up at 6:15 this morning to find Amy awake since 5:30 and the boys since 6:00.  Amy was already hard at work cooking and preparing for the coming holiday festivities.  We were just talking the other day about how everyone loves the Easter holiday, but nobody every actually "rests" over this vacation.  It is always go go go, this year will be no different.

After lunch today we head to the mall to meet my Mom who is getting an iPhone!  She lost her other one and she has wanted an iPhone since we got ours last year.  So, Amy and I have converted another person to the iPhone.  I am so excited!  Plus we get to go to the Mac store which is always fun.  After that we will be going to their house to help her set it up and learn it.  Tonight we will go to the 931 Good Friday service with Mom.  I am super excited about this because they always lead such an amazing Good Friday and Easter worship.  I know it is going to be an awesome experience, as 931 typically is.
 

Tomorrow we head to Amy's Mom's house to dye eggs with Amanda and her kids so the boys are super excited about that as usual.  I think right now we are bringing about 3-dozen eggs!  The kids are so cute when dyeing the eggs though, I can't wait for the cute pictures.  We will eat lunch there and head back home to get ready for an evening with friends.  Our college friend Niki and her husband David are coming to Houston today so we will be getting together with them and Sarah & Nathan!  It'll be a like a college days reunion!  We live fairly near Sarah and Nathan but never see them due to such busy schedules.  We haven't seen Niki in 5 years since Sarah and Nathan's wedding so that should be fun.  The boys are coming with us so I know they will charm everyone there once they get over their initial shyness.

Sunday brings Easter morning worship at 931, which I'm also pumped about!  We didn't get to it last year so I am excited for our first time.  After service we will head to Amy's Mom's for Easter lunch/dinner.  Celebrating Thanksgiving with my side of the family and then Easter with Amy's has been a good compromise that seems to work well with everyone.  Then Monday, maybe, might bring some rest and relaxation.  But that remains to be seen, we'll see if anything pops up before then.
 

So, with a hectic schedule, bags of Easter goodies that the Easter bunny will bring the boys, and a fridge that smells like fart we enter Easter vacation.  I know it will be crazy, but it will also be filled with fun, memories, and some great worship experiences.  As usual though I'm sure we will feel like we need a vacation to recover from our vacation!  

All is well, and hopping along, in Drosche Land.

Lenten Withdrawal

Well, it has not even been a week into the Lenten season and man oh man is this hard.  Amy and I gave up eating out and sweets.  That means no eating out, for any reason, at all.  Yikes!  It's actually not too bad though.  At least not for me.  I am lucky enough to have a wife who not only is a wonderful cook, but LOVES to cook for her family.  However, there are times when the day has been rough and long, or we are getting home later than desired.  Typically, our pre-Lenten selves would have given into temptation from one of the many fast food restaurants we pass on the way home.  My favorite is of course: Jack in the Box.  Their tacos are heavenly and I truly believe I would live off of them alone!  But alas, no giving in, at least not for 35 more days.  This is harder for Amy because it means preparing, or coming up with something quick on nights when we would have eaten out of a wrapper.  Giving up eating out of course had multiple benefits.  Hopefully helping to slim our waistlines while fattening our wallets.  So far, so good.

This brings me though to the part I have the most trouble with - the lack of sweets.  I have an almost unquenchable sweet tooth.  Chocolate, cookies, cake, candy, etc.  I usually have at least one sweet thing a day, sometimes small, sometimes not so small.  Not now though.  What makes this harder is the fact that this year Lent came shockingly close to Valentine's Day, really not leaving sufficient time to make a dent in the treats left over from the holiday.  Amy dealt with this by taking nearly all of the sweets, save some for the boys, to school for those not so insane as to give it up for Lent.  I have a small stash at school (that I haven't touched) that is waiting to make it's reappearance on Easter, along with all the Easter treats we will undoubtedly receive.  However, hard as it is, I trudge forward knowing that it is for a good and beneficial reason.

One the positive side though, we have also taken on things.  Personally I am reading the Bible in a year via YouVersion (yes there's an app for that too!).  I am happy to say that not only have I not missed a day, but I am actually enjoying it quite a bit.  I opted for the plan that reads straight through the Bible rather than one that skips around.  I like something a bit consistent and structured.  We have also taken the challenge Trinity has given via the new series Faith Comes By Hearing.  We listen to it on the way to school each morning, and we have now listened to the entire book of Matthew.  Finally, there is a benefit to the outrageous drive times we have!  So, hard as it is, I know we are doing something good this Lenten season.  Hopefully our faith will be strengthened, as will our knowledge of the Bible.  Plus, we have made a commitment to honor the sacrifice Jesus gave for us.

Good as it is though, I am still starving for something sweet, and I think this post just made me hungrier!  Oh well, I have taken to chewing gum at work when I get a craving for something sweet.  I'm on my second pack!  Oh well, just 35 days left, I can do this.  All is well, though not so sweet-tasting, in Drosche Land!