Free Mac Mini

We've become smitten with Mac, but that was their plan. Just the other day, while organizing our iTunes and listening to our iPod, I read up on the new Mac Mini. Its Mac's sub-$500 (i.e., $499) computer. Unfortunately, to get it where you need it to surf wireless etc. it takes an additional $500 (monitor, mouse, keyboard, wifi 'stuff').

However, in our great capitalistic country, there is of course a "free MacMini website." We decided to give Blockbuster online a try and see if we can win a Mac. Unfortunately, unlike the iPod, the Mac Mini requires 10 referrals.

Remember: (1) Make sure your cookies are on. (2) Make sure you're not using Safari. [see Barlow's troubles] and (3) Help us win a Mac Mini (pst, here's your chance, Wayne!)

It worked for the iPod ...

Welcome Back and Recipe

Welcome back, Mosleys! Nathanael and Sarah are blogging again, and we're excited about it. So excited, I am going to post a recipe Sarah requested from me to commemorate this happy occasion.

TOMATO BASIL SOUP
1 1/2 c. Vidalia (sweet) onions, diced
10-15 basil leaves, chopped
2 T. garlic, chopped
1 28 oz can of whole tomatos
2 28 oz cans of diced tomatos
1/8 c. sugar
salt
ground pepper
2 c. reduced fat milk or cream

Saute onions, basil and garlic in the bottom of the pot (sprayed with non-stick spray or in a bit of olive oil). Process whole tomatos in blender or food processor for 10 seconds, set aside. When onions are soft, add all the tomatos and sugar. Simmer on low for 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper, add the milk or cream and heat through. Vary the taste* by adding red pepper flakes, frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained) sauted with the onions or add mozzarella cheese and garlic croutons before serving.

* We have never tried the red pepper flakes or spinach, but we always add about a half a cup of parmesean cheese to the soup and serve with mozzarella and croutons.

Book Reviews

I'm going to tackle these a few at a time, so I actually do them!

My Life For Yours by Douglas Wilson (9) I loved this book. It's a practical guide to family life and hospitality centered on the home. Like most of the family series, it's not particularly new ideas, but wonderful reminders and oftentimes good reasoning to keep on doing what I'm doing.

The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley (10) If you have an infant (or expect one) this book is a must read. It's basically a book full of suggestions for helping your baby sleep longer and more soundly. No system. No hard-and-fast rules. Just tips for a better night's sleep!

I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe (6) This is a pretty decent modern novel that captures modern college life perfectly. That means it includes a good deal of profanity and "adult situations". It is an interesting account of what happens to morality without a solid worldview and a deep faith when it comes under pressure.

Technical Difficulties

A few weeks ago, our php started to mess up. We haven't changed ANYTHING. It will pop back to normal with a refresh or two. We're sorry about that. If anyone knows how to fix it, just let us know.

Need tips: Keeping babies in church

Moms (and Dads too) -- how do you keep a six month old happily quiet during church? There are about eight babies in service right now, though Kate is the oldest infant. She's generally okay, nothing too awful, but I'd love tips on how to occupy her. We basically pass her around and let her look at a board book or play with a quiet toy.

From Richmond, With Love

We missed telling y'all Happy Epiphany yesterday. Epiphany is such a wonderful season. We're singing "When Christ's Appearing Was Made Known" and "Brightest and Best" with joy.

Kate is a force to be reckoned with on all fronts. What a fun kid.

We're still trying to get settled back in from our Christmas whirlwind. A trip to Ikea is helping our living room look that much cozier. Pictures forthcoming...

Books (again)

Someone asked what my favorite book read in 2004 was. Too hard to choose. Here are some finalists --

Best memoir - Girl Meets God by Lauren Winner
Best non-fiction (non-memoir) - Remember Who You Are by William Willimon
Best fiction read because of hype - The Brothers K by David Duncan
Best Dorothy Sayers - Clouds of Witness
Best Chaim Potok - My Name is Asher Lev

This year I probably read less "reformed" books than I have in 5+ years. It was a nice break. I think I am ready to read them again!

The Band

The UNC Marching Band was needed at the bowl game on Thursday, so when we arrived at the basketball game they were noticeably absent. They played recorded music. It was... strange. With about 4 minutes left, they arrived in the Dean Dome to great cheering and applause. It was as if the players came out of the tunnel for a second time. I wonder how often the Marching Tar Heels have an entrance like that!

Books Read in 2004

Aeschylus, Complete Works Vol. 1
Peter Leithart, A House For My Name
Hesiod, Works and Days & Theogony (tr. Lombardo)
Homer, Odyssey (tr. Lombardo)
Homer, Iliad (tr. Lombardo)
Dorothy Sayers, Five Red Herrings
Dorothy Sayers, Strong Poison
Dorothy Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
Dorothy Sayers, Unnatural Death
Dorothy Sayers, Clouds of Witness
Dorothy Sayers, Whose Body?
Dorothy Sayers, Lord Peter
William Willimon, Remember Who You Are
Patrick O'Brian, Post Captain
Patrick O'Brian, Master and Commander
Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?
John Milton Gregory, The Seven Laws of Teaching
Antony Kamm, The Romans
N.T. Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said
Tracy Lee Simmons, Climbing Parnassus
Doug Wilson, Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning

Books Read in 2004

Lauren Winner, Mudhouse Sabbath
Philip Roth, The Plot Against America
David J. Duncan, The Brothers K
Yann Martel, Life of Pi
Dorothy Sayers, Murder Must Advertise
Dorothy Sayers, Have His Carcase
Anne Lamott, Operating Instructions
David Lipsky, Absolutely American
Dorothy Sayers, Five Red Herrings
David Brooks, Bobos in Paradise
Dorothy Sayers, Strong Poison
Dorothy Sayers, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
Dorothy Sayers, Unnatural Death
Dorothy Sayers, Clouds of Witness
Dorothy Sayers, Whose Body?
David Pelzer, A Child Called "It"
Ron Suskind, A Hope in the Unseen
Chaim Potok, Book of Lights
Bryan Chapell, Each for the Other
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
Chaim Potok, Davita's Harp
Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code
Joseph Garcia, Sign With Your Baby
David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day
Chaim Potok, I Am The Clay
Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time
Kris Lundgaard, The Enemy Within
Gwen Gotsch, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Chaim Potok, The Gift of Asher Lev
Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada
Azar Nafasi, Reading Lolita in Tehran
Chaim Potok, My Name is Asher Lev
Robert Bradley, M.D. Husband-Coached Childbirth
Chaim Potok, The Promise
Chaim Potok, The Chosen
William Willimon, Remember Who You Are
Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country
Nancy Wilson, Praise Her in the Gates
Lauren Winner, Girl Meets God
Amos Oz, A Perfect Peace
Randall Balmer, Grant Us Courage

Home Again

The basketball game was great fun -- many thanks to my parents for the tickets and the good company! However, it is so nice to be home again. We have so much unpacking to do, but our new iPod is so distracting! Once I get it all set up, it'll be a good cleaning companion.

Happy New Year to you all!

Update

We're back from California... we had a wonderful visit! More on that later.

We're in North Carolina hanging out with family and going to the UNC basketball game tomorrow night.

My new, free 20GB iPod has shipped! Get your own! (and help Richard, too!)