So you think you can cook?

So, I spent some time in the kitchen this past weekend doing some baking.  Cupcakes. I heart cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese icing.  Like most of my cooking adventures things don't always go as planned and I usually call Lawnmower Man into the kitchen with this statement:

Where do you think I went wrong? 

I wasn't terribly wrong this time and I followed the directions to a tee, but I just thought the cupcakes should have risen a little higher and not have that sunk in the middle look.  His first diagnosis was, "Did you use baking powder?"  "Yes, yes I did."  "Maybe it was out of date?"  "Nope, the date is still good." 

We're still not sure what happened but he said he's going to start his own blog called...mywifecan'tcook.blogspot.com...too bad for him.  I looked and it's already taken:)

I came across this quiz on the AOL news page and took it.  I scored 8 out of 14.  I don't think my score is so bad considering I can't cook and someone wants to write a blog about it.  I'll be eager to hear what some of your scores are in the comments. 

http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight/cooking-quiz?icid=main|htmlws-main|dl3|link3|http%3A%2F%2Ffood.aol.com%2Fdinner-tonight%2Fcooking-quiz

I'm longing to have my feet rubbed by a Vietanamese man

Today is the day that I will admit one of my addictions.

I'm addicted to pedicures.  There I said it.  And I hear that the first way of dealing with your problem is admitting that you actually have one. 

I find that it's a source of comfort to have my feet scraped, scrubbed, exfoliated, rubbed and moisturized while sitting in a chair that rubs my back electronically.

In fact, this was something that I was doing frequently.   What's frequently you ask?

Well, it all started out as a special occasion thing.  Lawnmower Man purchased me a gift certificate for a birthday or mother's day.  Just like any addiction, it's hard to remember exactly when it all started.

Then it turned out to be a special thing when I was going to wear really cute sandals.  Like Easter or to ring in the spring season.

And then it was a summer tri-seasonal thing.  If you're going to wear flip-flops from June, May, April,  March- August, September, October  November...your feet need to look good. 

And then it was a once a month thing.  A special treat because I deserved it.  I have a job, I'm a hard worker, etc.  Why not? 

And then, like all addictions, I needed more.  I started stopping by the Luxi Nails on an every other week basis to get my fix because when you wear $1 Old Navy flip-flops, your feet don't hold up very well.  I kept justifying my addiction because the price kept getting better and better. 

Then I took it to a new level.  $19.99 if you bring a friend.  So, I drug my friends into my world of temporary pleasure and comfort.  That made it even better.  And then, just like good ol' Brittney, I involved my kids.  Oh, you say you'll never take it that far.  That you won't ever let that happen and then one day you're sloshing your feet in a basin of sudsy water while your children are getting bling designs painted on their big toes right across from you.   Exhibit A...

But that was all before Africa.  Before I knew that I was going to the land of starving children and that I would need to save money to get there.  So, I've quit.  Cold turkey.  I haven't had a pedicure since August 6.  Exhibit B...

I'm taking it one day at a time.

P.S.  And please don't leave me a comment saying to let Lawnmower Man or the Lil'Nanny paint my toes.  I've been there/done that and my feet looked like a prop from the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

This is the day that the Lord has made

After viewing this video, I, of course, have two questions:

I wonder if I can talk that kid into letting me play the bongos or talk that muzungu girl into letting me hold that baby on my hip while we sing.  I think we all know which one I have a better chance of doing:)

You can check out Sumer's blog over here for details on Amazima and Canaan's Children Ministries. 

Crazy Travel Companion #2

I've re-read this post this morning and Craftimama has also pointed out that saying: We've spent many evening hours walking the streets of Campbell Station...doesn't really sound good.  I'm sure Alicia thought the same thing.  I also forgot to include a picture of Alicia, so I'm adding that.

Today is the day you find out crazy travel companion #2...the one and only, Alicia Jordan. 

Direct, Forceful and Preachy. 

These are the three words that Alicia used in one of her own blog post to describe herself. And I'm here to tell you that she is all those things and more.

She's the kind of friend that loves deeply from the heart and she has always been there for me.  We've known each other for at least 10 years now, but we didn't become good friends until I moved to her neighborhood, 4 years ago.  We've spent many hours walking the streets of Campbell Station. 

And I'm going to let you in on a little secret...sometimes we only walked one circle around the neighborhood and then we stood on the street corner and talked for an hour.  That's kinda the reason we never lost any poundage.  We've stood on that dark corner, under the street light and talked because we like to talk.  But we've also stood on that corner many days and prayed over whatever had us bound up for that day.  I'm sure the neighbors have seen us out there before and thought,  "Why don't those women just go to Starbucks...and sit down?"  

I don't have any sweet sappy words to tell you about Alicia, but I will tell you this...

Alicia is a mighty warrior for the Kingdom.  She has a desire in her heart that all captives be set free by the power of Jesus Christ.

In fact, I think she is this kind of woman...

Can I get a witness?

Alicia is not going to like that I just used the word crap in the blog post about her. Sumer said this was completely appropriate because only adults read my blog and Satan probably uses worse words than that about her.

Alicia has already been to Africa.  This is a paragraph that she wrote on her blog when she returned from her 2008 trip...

I can relate because part of my heart is there and always will be. I can't describe it except that when I wake up in the middle of the night, I think of my girls in Africa. When my tummy gets a little hunger pain, I think of my girls in Africa. When my kids complain that there's nothing in the pantry (come on, it's full of food), I think of Africa. I dream of Africa. I smell the wooden items I bought in Africa because the smell reminds me of Africa (I know it's crazy, but the wood really does smell different). I pray and plead with God that I'll get to go back in 2009 and 2010 and 2011 and until He calls my heart somewhere else.

Alicia, You didn't think 2009 was happening but it looks like your prayer has been answered...exceeding abundantly.  Not only are you going to Africa, you're going with me :) 

Go over and check out Alicia's blog to hear about her crazy heart. 


P.S.  Alicia hates hotdogs and that really gets on my nerves.

Crazy Travel Companion #1

Today is the day you find out about one of the crazies willing to travel with me to the far away land of Africa. She is one of my sweetest friends, and I believe that God placed her in my life so her sweetness would rub off on me.

Meet Sweet Sumer…

The first thing I must tell you about Sumer is that our relationship is based on food, work & Jesus. And not necessarily in that order but sometimes in that order:)  Everything I do with Sumer is planned around the when, where and what we will be eating. If I tell her that we need to meet about something, I know that the next question out of her mouth will be, “So, are we planning to get something to eat on the way?” I’m sure we will have lots of Africa food stories to share.

We first started working together when she showed up at my house because I was looking for some volunteers to join my preschool ministry team. She had no idea what she was getting into the day she said yes and stepped into my world. She has always been willing to take on any project that I’ve cooked up and is constantly challenging me to make everything better. I think most people don’t realize that she is what I like to call a "go BIG or go home" kind of girl.  (So God is sending us to a BIG continent called Africa...it was either go BIG or stay home.)

She’s also what I like to call “slightly granola” -- because she feeds her kids hotdogs but washes their sweet heads with organic baby shampoo. And yes, that only makes her “slightly” granola and yes, I do make fun of her.

The Lord has allowed us to serve together over the last two years, and she is one of my forever friends.

Please go over to Sumer’s blog and read why she is going to Africa. Also, know that she doesn’t just go around telling this story all the time…I drug it out of her once over tears and a Starbucks. 

http://sumerwithonem.blogspot.com/2009/09/it-was-spring-of-this-year-when-i-went.html

Big Nanny goes to Africa

Yes, those words above are the words of a woman that loves America and desires to stay on the soil that we so often call the land of the free and the home of the brave.   But on December 29, 2009, I will head to the airport and enter into a land that I know nothing about all because...

 God moved my heart into action.

For several years now I have watched close friends go on international mission trips. I’ve often thought, “I have no desire to do that, why would I want to serve on another continent when I have plenty of youngins' to care for in Thompson Station, Tennessee?"  One does not have to go to the other side of the world to "minister."

I admitted to my peers that my preference is to serve in a clean preschool building where I have an abundance of Goldfish crackers and baby wipes...

I don’t do third world countries.

Here's a little tip:
Never tell God that you're not a third world country kinda girl.

The Lord began to change my heart over this past year when I began reading about Katie Davis, a 20 year old girl from Brentwood, Tennessee, who has given up earthly treasures to follow God in obedience. Her story (kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com) has moved and inspired me to go on mission to...

Uganda & Ethiopia

(at this point in this post, I know that I have some close friends who are snickering)

I know what y'all are thinking...I can't eat out at Shogun's without giving a complicated order and asking them to identify & explain the vegetables that will be used in our meal.  How will I make it in Africa?  I ask myself that same question everyday. 

So this is where my "Big Nanny goes to Africa" story begins.  I hope you'll pray for me and follow along as I prepare to go on my very first mission trip. Oh, but wait, there's more...I'm not going alone.  Soon you will find out who is crazy enough to travel with me to Africa?

Longing to be crazy for Jesus,  (if you have not read Boomama's post about super spiritual closings, click here & laugh)

Mission Trip Cowgirl

I bought a cowboy hat recently to wear to the TSC youth launch event. I made plans to attend because the student pastor rented a mechanical bull. I figured since I don't hang out in redneck bars this would be my only chance to ride a mechanical bull. Here I am in all of my redneck cowgirl glory...

You can only imagine the pride my parents feel when they see a picture of me riding a bull in front of a cross at the local baptist church.

Some of you may wonder why our student pastor rented a mechanical bull and the only thing I can tell you is that I live in Thompson Station, Tennessee, and I go to Thompson Station Church and that's how we roll.

Anyhoo, back to the hat. I purchased the hat to wear to the youth event but I've been planning on buying this hat for a long time. I've walked by that hat countless times in Tar-jay and told myself that one day it would be mine. And this week, God told me it was time for me to own...

My mission trip cowgirl hat.

You see, I've been reading lots of blogs and one thing I know for sure is this: you must have a really cool hat when you go on a mission trip.

 I give you exhibit A:

and exhibit B:

Please notice that the natives don't have hats on but the mission trip workers do. Obviously, it's a mission trip pre-requisite. Please also notice that some hats are cooler than others. You can also tell that I went with the cool one. I also decided that wherever God sent me to do mission work that I would wear the hat.  Even if He sent me to Russia. I would look silly wearing my mission trip cowgirl hat in Russia, but I would still wear it if that's where God sent me.

Stay tuned to find out where in the world is Big Nanny going?

Taste and see that the Lord is good

Last week I found this surprise on my front door step.  Last spring I had a little run in (pun intended) with my friend Heather's dog, Smitty the Schnauzer.  You can read about it here. 

This is my favorite brand of dawgs and this brand is not sold in the great state of Tennessee.  I may have mentioned this a least 20 times on this blog in the last two years.   Heather did some online research and had 24...count'em 24 dawgs shipped in for me. 

This is tonight's dinner.  I already told Lawnmower Man that these dawgs will not see the firey flame of a grill.  They will be rolled around in a pan of butter, placed on a grilled butter bun and topped with chili, cheese and onions.

Is it weird that I have a folder on my computer labeled...hotdogs. 

Thanks Heather!