For Missionary Moms!

My friend Ashley from Campus Crusade at UW is now a missionary in Russia and started a cool website for mamas: http://formissionarymoms.com/

I'm flattered to share that she asked me to be a regular contributor on her site and write about once a month, primarily on the subject of homeschooling!

The first article is up today, check it out if you're interested!

I feel like I should also include that I really appreciate Ashley's site because her articles aren't just about missionary families in foreign countries, all Christians are missionaries to the world! This is a concept our church really pushes, that we are all "on mission" whether we're living in Siberia or Lynnwood, reaching lost people for Jesus.

Tag! You're It!

I got tagged by my friend Ruth in a blogger cooking chain letter. It's not really a chain letter, hopefully I won't be getting a lot of stuff in the mail, but it is a fun game. The game involves me choosing an ingredient from the recipe she posted here and making a dish with that ingredient. I also need to tag 4 friends. The ingredient I chose is sugar! Sweet!

The recipe I'm sharing is from a Cooking Light magazine and it's fabulous and easy. We're actually eating it tonight! (I think I've made this for you Ruth!) This recipe uses brown sugar, not white like Ruth's recipe, but whatevs.

Sweet Orange Salmon
Eight ingredients combine in a spice rub that would also be good on pork tenderloin medallions. Serve with orange wedges.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Cooking spray

Preparation
Preheat broiler.
Combine first 8 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture over both sides of salmon fillets. Place salmon on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil for 8 minutes or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork.
Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 fillet)

So, I'm tagging Tamara because I know she'll make something fabulous, Karina who hopefully will find a recipe including bacon, Ashley a missionary in Russia who may treat us to some native cuisine, and Kim who has the cutest girlie twins ever!

Have fun ladies!

IronGirl!

One of my goals during this pregnancy was to stay in better shape than during my previous pregnancies. I was a little nervous because in my experience being pregnant during this time of year has been difficult. In my pregnancy with Caley I found it difficult to stay active because during the summer I felt sick and in the winter it was so cold and dreary and I felt like a 30-week prego whale.

But this time I decided to try to continue running and the end of the running road would be the IronGirl race. And the race was today! So at nearly 19 weeks I ran a 10k with a friend and it was so fun! Exhausting, but fun. I finished in 1hour, 11 minutes (search for me here). Longer than previous races, but my goal was only to finish without having to walk.

God is so good and I feel blessed to have stayed healthy through this pregnancy. With his grace I may run (or walk fast) occasionally through the rest of the pregnancy.

Thank you Jesus for a healthy body, supportive family, fun encouraging friends and a beautiful day for a race!!

Bill is the best daddy ever. Last weekend he spent most of Saturday building a birdhouse with Caley. It was a "daddy date." They came up with the design and Caley helped nail and paint. Afterward she helped him work in the garage, which she was very happy to do!

Oh Boy!!

We found out today that little Gerlach #3 is a BOY!!

We are surprised, amazed and blessed. It's a weird feeling, although we already have two amazing kids whom we love, we are entering new territory.

Here are some pictures of our little man. We can't wait to meet him!!

Dear Beef People,

I have been wanting to write for some time, to thank you and praise your absolute brilliance in hiring Matthew McConaghey to do your radio ads. And I'm not being sarcastic, this is genuine love for your new commecials. Genius, pure and simple. I am a meat-eater, and enjoy burgers and steaks and really anything that comes from a cow. But when I hear your recent commercials, with Mr. McConaghey's slow Texan drawl, my brain switches from, "I could go for a burger" to "All I want is a big fat burger!" It's pure genius. Women want Matthew McConnaghey and men want to BE Matthew McConaughey.



Sincerely,

Satisfied beef eater



(You can hear one of the ads here and read other's reactions to the ad here. Just make sure you can get some beef after because you're going to want some.)