A few evenings ago, Alan and I made hot chocolate and a chocolate chip cookie in a bowl to enjoy outside.  It was cool outside, and we wanted to try to use the pergola bed half as much as the dogs do ... seriously.  If they aren't sleeping on it, they're jumping on it to see who can rock it the hardest and cause the others to fall off.  So far, Ophelia can make it swing the hardest, but Chipmunk always seems to be the last dog standing, because she's closer to the ground.

Anyway.  I found the chocolate chip cookie recipe on Pinterest, but when we tried it, I thought it tasted like a pretzel.  With some chocolate.  Not cool.

So, I decided to change things a bit, and this is what I came up with earlier:

chocolate chip cookie in a ramekin (or bowl, or mug, or wherever you'd like it)

• 1 T. butter, softened
• 1 T. white sugar
• 1 1/2 T. brown sugar
• splash of vanilla
• pinch of salt
• 1 T. egg, whisked
• 3-4 T. flour (I used wheat, but apf would probably give it a smoother texture)
• 3 T. chocolate chunks/chips
• 1 T. milk

Combine all of the ingredients in a ramekin or microwave-safe bowl and heat for approximately 90 seconds in 20-second intervals.

Enjoy/Eat guiltily because your dogs are watching you.

life is full of blessings!

Life has become so full, and we have been so blessed over the past few weeks!

+ Alan was supposed to be "in the field" this week, which would have meant that he would have been sleeping on post all week, but plans were changed, so he's been home every night.  We love being able to see each other in the morning, enjoy lunch together, and spend time together in the evenings.  It's especially nice on Thursdays, because Thursday seems like the weekend for me (because of grad classes) and he gets off early on Thursdays.

+ I'm (Elizabeth) a graduate student!  It's challenging and stimulating, and I've met some really great people in the program.  There's a Chinese student who's been in the country for two weeks.  We met at the graduate student welcome reception--she asked where I was from and seemed a little disappointed that I wasn't Chinese, but I asked if she spoke Mandarin (in Mandarin), so we've been practicing our English and Mandarin together, and I've been trying to get her off campus and out and about.
I've also met two women whose husbands are serving in the Army.  One is writing a novel and one works for the Army as a civilian.  Last night, I went to the writer's house and we talked a lot studied together.  She said it would be cool if I visited her church and she visited mine.
Lastly, I met two women at the reception who seemed really nice.  We started a conversation and were rather gregarious and extroverted ... and then we all admitted that we usually aren't so outgoing, that we'd much rather just sit in the corner and eat our food and people watch.  Immediate bond?  I think so.
Here's to the introverts of the world.

+ Alan and I are going to start leading a home life group, which is like a home Bible study.  We'll be studying Resilient Warriors.

+ I (Elizabeth) am going to start teaching a book/Bible study on Sunday mornings at chapel.  When we first arrived, Chapel Next had only just started life groups (the chapel's version of Sunday School), and they were for both men and women.  I really missed the cohesiveness that I had with the ladies class in Pennsylvania.  (Also, I had attended the same church for over two decades.)  While we were undergoing training to lead a home life group, I asked if something like a women's group was available, or if one could be started.
I think there's a need for a women's group (especially because not everyone can attend PWOC on Tuesday mornings), and I've been wanting to teach ever since I took an inventory on spiritual gifts at my home church in PA.  The home life group leader mentioned it to the chaplains, and now we'll be studying Captivating.

+ I (Alan) would just like to say that the lord our God has brought us together and is pouring out his blessings around us. As for me and this house we will serve the lord. Our cup runneth over.  For Christ's sake . . . for when I am weak I am strong.

chipmunk's first haircut

We gave Chipmunk a haircut on Monday.

The hair around her ears was starting to get matted because it was so long (which is a breed trait), and she desperately needed a trim.  She has a tendency to pick up all sorts of debris while exploring the backyard.  The fur around her paws was also really long, so she looked kind of like The Grinch/Gremlin.  And now she sort of looks like a boy with a bad mullet.

Or "a" mullet.  Is there such a thing as a "good" mullet?

All I have to say is that hair styling is not in my future and it's a good thing that puppies don't bully each other because of their haircuts.

At least it'll grow back.

on being grateful

Pretty, romantic images on Tumblr and Pinterest had me yearning for a life full of writing and moody, still lighting and bright, airy lighting and tea.

And then, I realized that I spend most of the day writing; morning light is really moody and still here; afternoon light is really bright and airy; and I drink tea like it's my job.

Also, I sometimes spend evenings daydreaming while lying on my back on a suspended pergola bed, staring at the stars.

Also, I'm eating chocolate-covered pineapple because my caring and supporting husband surprised me with Edible Arrangements today.

My life is awesome.

miscellany wednesday

+ Alan made a delicious chicken and pineapple pizza for lunch on Sunday.  We dipped it in sriracha.  I love it when food is made from scratch + love.

+ Chapel Next hosted Date Night with Dr. Gary Rosberg on Sunday evening.  It was entertaining; I definitely enjoyed the fellowship and Alan was glad to know we're on the right track--for example, when we scored ourselves on our emotional and physical connections, we both seem to be doing the right things.  When we read the suggestions to improve our connections (i.e. text throughout the day to communicate or affirm your spouse), we realized that we're already doing those, too!

+ The temperature has been in the low 70s all week, with rain off and on.  It's been so cool that we haven't used the central air for the past two days; we've been content with keeping the windows open (usually, it starts getting warm around 2 p.m., so I close the windows and turn on the air).  We finally have grass that looks like grass.
Last night while we were sweeping the cracked cement slab that passes for a patio or something like that, Alan said he could buy some weed killer at Lowe's that, according to other people in the area, will kill the weeds and not the grass.  I told him that I thought half of our grass was comprised of weeds. ...

+ The dogs have taken over the pergola bed.  For a while, it was just a frame, and we could take out the futon mattress or a comforter when we wanted to use it.  The dogs didn't climb on it because they were afraid of falling through.  But, Alan recently came home with some sleeping pads that the Army was throwing away, so he stuck them on the frame.  We haven't tested it with the pads yet, but the dogs have.
And, he recently added an old quilt to make the dogs more comfy. :)