Cook Book

2008-12-18T10:08:00.001-07:00

I QUIT

blogging on blogger that is.

I tried to make it work with photos, and since I couldn't after way too many tries
and I am addicted to blogging

We have moved:
here

http://augiebecketcook.wordpress.com/

Please join us (don't worry, all the previous posts moved over nicely)

thanks buddies
:)

2008-12-17T14:51:00.001-07:00

HELP anyone who reads this... my pictures come up but they won't stay up. I don't know what to do... have you had this problem?

booo

Kel

2008-12-17T14:24:00.001-07:00

Testing... I am having trouble with pictures... let's see if this works.

2008-12-15T12:20:00.001-07:00

Best Augie / Becket quotes of late:

* Augie: "Mommy, can we bake a cake for Jesus' birthday."
Kel "okay"
Becket: "Jesus doesn't want a cake"
Kel: "What does he want?"
Becket: "A bagel!"

*Kelly Augie: "mommy look at the Christmas lights flashing... are they set on 'normal' or 'expert'?

* (Kelly- kicks Jeff in the butt)
Becket: "Mommy! We don't kick our friends! Go sit time out!"

*Augie: "Mommy, is snow hot or cold." Kelly: "Cold." Augie: "That's right mommy, snow is cold, good job!"

*Jeff: "Augie, why can't you sleep? Is the new night light too bright?" Augie: "No daddy, it's too lovely."

*Augie: "Can we go to baby Kate's house? I live there now." Kelly "Oh yeah?" Augie: "Yeah, sorry mommy."

*Becket: "Hey mommy!" Kel: "What Becket" Beck: "You are a (ninja) turtle! Make me some waffles!"

*Augie: "Mommy! Do you see Arco Irrrrrrrrris (rainbow in spanish) Lights? I see Arco Irrrrrrrrrres!"

* Kelly : "Augie, are you having a better day now?"
Augie: "No mommy, I am having a better night, it is night time. You need to pay attention."

*"Robots!!!! mommy robots!"... is the reason Becket won't go downstairs anymore.

2008-12-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

So... Jessie and Doyle moved. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I miss them already, which is silly, because I probably would not have seen them much since Friday anyway, but it is true. I think the rub is that they were with us from the beginning. Jessie helped raise Augie and Becket, even when things were really tough with Augie. They were there when our boys were born, we were there for theirs. They helped build Atlas out of the roots of Trail head... history and longevity with friends matters. It makes them more like family.

2008-12-15T10:52:00.001-07:00

I don't know what is up with some of my pictures... they weren't posting so hopefully they will now. Here is the collage for Jessie

2008-12-15T10:48:00.001-07:00

2008-12-10T08:29:00.003-07:00

Christine, Rob and baby Kate hosted a going away party for Jessie, Doyle and Tucker. I keep thinking I will write a blog about how much I love them and how sad I am, but I just don't have it in me... maybe I will do it some day. (I love you Jessie)

Anyway, as is the tradition with my obnoxious friends and me, we have theme parties. This time it was Crazy Christmas Sweater. Note my hair in a half pony tail and the turtle neck... that's dedication! (and thanks for the pictures Angie).

Okay, and if you don't know, when you are in Jr. High and one of your girlfriends moves, you make her a collage... mostly filled with the boys you like from Seventeen and Tiger Beat and really deep phrases like "hottie" and "suuuuuper sweet!". Here is my Jr. High collage for Jessie:

2008-12-09T13:15:00.004-07:00

Here they are pulling the sled up the hill. They brought it back up by themselves every time. Jeff said they are chattering away, like old buddies.

They had a good time riding together, but ended up buying a second sled anyway --- now they are addicted. They ask me to go about once every 10 min!

2008-12-09T13:13:00.002-07:00

2008-12-09T01:27:00.000-07:00

2008-12-01T12:22:00.000-07:00

The boys made a crafty banner for the Langley thanksgiving and gave it to aunt Kristie.
Now, I am no art critic, but I think these hand-turkeys are about gallery quality.

2008-12-01T12:17:00.000-07:00

Josh and Deb, they are like twins.

Augie at his first official "kid's table"

PIE!

2008-12-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

The Langley Thanksgiving feast! Mostly you see the family playing together.

2008-12-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

We are thankful...

Here is the table for Thanksgiving at our house

2008-12-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

The first time since the boys have been born that I was able to set it up martha-style

2008-11-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Dylan and Becket feed the geese

2008-11-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hanging out with our buddy Dylan Monroe. He is the best jumper around!

2008-11-20T13:13:00.001-07:00

This is what our gingerbread house looked like on the box... oh and look at our PERFECT copy below. Hard to tell which is which- right?

2008-11-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Aunt Peggy and Aunt Debbie bought us a "Christmas House" to decorate... we ate most of the candy first, and licked a lot of the frosting off as it went on the house. Oh, and we smugged the camera with our fingers (I didn't notice) giving most of the pictures that beautiful glow. It was a blast!

2008-11-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

2008-11-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

We have been so lucky to have baby Kate hang out with us a few times. She is so fun for the boys. She really likes to go get the boys from school with me in the trailer. She is also the only one who knows how to keep her eyes open for photos.

The boys adore her.

The first night we were riding in the trailer and Augie put her arm around her and said

"See that baby Kate, that is the moon... See the moon baby Kate?"

hmmmmmmmmmm

2008-11-17T12:41:00.003-07:00

Perhaps I should make a "bragging about Jeff blog" before all the space gets used up on this one... but for now, I am just to excited not to post stuff (plus Jeff will never do it):

Seven Plus Seven
Thursday November 13, 2008

I've never been a fan of studies of the seven deadly sins. I did purchase the New York Public Library series since it had two of my favorite authors, Phyllis Tickle and Joseph Epstein. Recently I got a book in the mail and when I saw the title "Seven" I thought, "Here we go again." No, it is not here we go again. Jeff Cook, in Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes , uniquely and eloquently combines the seven deadly sins with the seven beatitudes.
What Seven does is combine something we need to repent from with something we need as a virtue. Instead of leaving a person feeling guilty, as so many of the studies of the seven deadlies do, this book stiff arms us a bit and then points us to the way of Jesus.I recommend this book for church small groups, for college groups interested in exploring Christian morality, and to anyone who needs a good reminder of our moral calling. The prose is gentle and informed and accessible; the quotes very good; the stories exceptional.Notice how he puts them together:
Pride and the poor in spirit
Envy and the mourner
Sloth and those who hunger for a life made right
Greed and the mercy giver
Lust and the pure of heart
Wrath and the meek peacemaker
Gluttony and the persecuted

Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

2008-11-14T09:53:00.004-07:00

Our daddy makes us proud! You have done so much in the last two years ...

He was selected as Professor of the Month for UNC in October (we just found out)

I am sure this had something to do with it:

UNC MIRROR
Book money goes to African village
Tara Spencer
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: News
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 To purchase a well in Africa that can produce 600 gallons of water per day and radically transform the lives of everyone in the village would cost $5,320.

Jeff Cook, a professor of philosophy, has made it his goal this semester to transform the lives of people in an African village by asking his students to donate $20 instead of spending nearly $100 on a textbook.

Cook said the textbook he was planning to use had readings and articles that could be found online.

Cook had the class take a poll at the beginning of the semester to find out if they wanted to save the money and do the readings online, or if they wanted to dish out the money to buy a hard copy.

"I went to UNC, and I know what it is like to buy an expensive book that I probably won't even read," Cook said.

More than 60 percent of his students have already donated this year, which matches the percentage of who donated last year.

Cook is hoping students will use their spheres of influence to raise more money for this cause.

"I am glad that our professor didn't make us buy a textbook," said Mikal Achtner, a freshman biological medical science major. "It would have cost a lot more, plus the money is going to a good cause."

Cook said if every American gave $20, it would take care of more than half of the water problem on the planet and save thousands of lives.

"I don't want to be part of a culture who is unaware of the desperate and suffering people of the world," Cook said.

Cook outlined in his philosophy class that the amount of money Americans spend during the Christmas holiday is about what it would cost to eliminate world poverty.

"Isn't it interesting that on Christ's birthday, Americans go out and buy expensive and somewhat unnecessary gifts for their loved ones instead of helping others?" Cook said.

What Cook is doing is impacting the lives of his students.

"This is really a big deal," said Korey Askew, a junior recreation and communication major. "We don't understand that we are blessed more than other people. We don't even know their struggles."

Askew said he wants to spread the word to organizations that he is involved in raising more money.

"It's great to think that I helped to save kids from a horrible death at the expense of a book," said Scott Wharton, a senior communication studies major.

Wharton also said that Cook is one of the best professors at the University of Northern Colorado and that many students are inspired by his goal.

and, maybe more importantly, on ratemyprofessor.com he got a pepper for being "hot!"

way to go dad!

2008-11-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

2008-11-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Scenes from Halloween

2008-11-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

Photos of Becket by Emily and Lexi

2008-11-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

2008-11-05T09:43:00.002-07:00

Dear Boys
Yesterday something amazing happened
The country we are handing you changed

I am so proud to tell you
that the generation before you decided to be brave
and risk
and for the first time actually do what they believed
instead of just saying it.
Your country elected an African-American to the position of leader of the free world. They told me, you, the future that any one can do anything. The people of this country decided to be leaders in the world again and stand up for the ideal of freedom.
I write this to you so that you know what things used to be like. It used to be novel to think that a person of color could ascend to a position of leadership. We had laws that insured women and minorities would be able to work for the same pay as everyone else. There was fear, there was hate, and I think that by the time you care to read this you won't really know those ideas the way that I know them now. I think that people will still be people, and still be flawed, but they won't be people who understand the ideas of division and race the way that dad and I have seen.
Our HOPE
for you
and this world you inherit
is that you won't know why I had to write this.
That you don't understand why this is such a big deal
that this is only a part of history to you.

Congratulations boys
I am so happy for you
and so thankful
that there is ONE thing
in our broken world
that dad and I can give to you
and that is the legacy left by a nation
that said today the legacy of slavery
and a nation divided are over

forever

**photos by Erick Burke and The New York Times**

2008-11-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

Finishing Our Work

By Thomas Friedman

And so it came to pass that on Nov. 4, 2008, shortly after 11 p.m. Eastern time, the American Civil War ended, as a black man — Barack Hussein Obama — won enough electoral votes to become president of the United States.

A civil war that, in many ways, began at Bull Run, Virginia, on July 21, 1861, ended 147 years later via a ballot box in the very same state. For nothing more symbolically illustrated the final chapter of America’s Civil War than the fact that the Commonwealth of Virginia — the state that once exalted slavery and whose secession from the Union in 1861 gave the Confederacy both strategic weight and its commanding general — voted Democratic, thus assuring that Barack Obama would become the 44th president of the United States.

This moment was necessary, for despite a century of civil rights legislation, judicial interventions and social activism — despite Brown v. Board of Education, Martin Luther King’s I-have-a-dream crusade and the 1964 Civil Rights Act — the Civil War could never truly be said to have ended until America’s white majority actually elected an African-American as president.

That is what happened Tuesday night and that is why we awake this morning to a different country. The struggle for equal rights is far from over, but we start afresh now from a whole new baseline. Let every child and every citizen and every new immigrant know that from this day forward everything really is possible in America.

How did Obama pull it off? To be sure, it probably took a once-in-a-century economic crisis to get enough white people to vote for a black man. And to be sure, Obama’s better organization, calm manner, mellifluous speaking style and unthreatening message of “change” all served him well.

But there also may have been something of a “Buffett effect” that countered the supposed “Bradley effect” — white voters telling pollsters they’d vote for Obama but then voting for the white guy. The Buffett effect was just the opposite. It was white conservatives telling the guys in the men’s grill at the country club that they were voting for John McCain, but then quietly going into the booth and voting for Obama, even though they knew it would mean higher taxes.

Why? Some did it because they sensed how inspired and hopeful their kids were about an Obama presidency, and they not only didn’t want to dash those hopes, they secretly wanted to share them. Others intuitively embraced Warren Buffett’s view that if you are rich and successful today, it is first and foremost because you were lucky enough to be born in America at this time — and never forget that. So, we need to get back to fixing our country — we need a president who can unify us for nation-building at home.

And somewhere they also knew that after the abysmal performance of the Bush team, there had to be consequences for the Republican Party. Electing McCain now would have, in some way, meant rewarding incompetence. It would have made a mockery of accountability in government and unleashed a wave of cynicism in America that would have been deeply corrosive.

Obama will always be our first black president. But can he be one of our few great presidents? He is going to have his chance because our greatest presidents are those who assumed the office at some of our darkest hours and at the bottom of some of our deepest holes.

“Taking office at a time of crisis doesn’t guarantee greatness, but it can be an occasion for it,” argued the Harvard University political philosopher Michael Sandel. “That was certainly the case with Lincoln, F.D.R. and Truman.” Part of F.D.R.’s greatness, though, “was that he gradually wove a new governing political philosophy — the New Deal — out of the rubble and political disarray of the economic depression he inherited.” Obama will need to do the same, but these things take time.

“F.D.R. did not run on the New Deal in 1932,” said Sandel. “He ran on balancing the budget. Like Obama, he did not take office with a clearly articulated governing philosophy. He arrived with a confident, activist spirit and experimented. Not until 1936 did we have a presidential campaign about the New Deal. What Obama’s equivalent will be, even he doesn’t know. It will emerge as he grapples with the economy, energy and America’s role in the world. These challenges are so great that he will only succeed if he is able to articulate a new politics of the common good.”

Bush & Co. did not believe that government could be an instrument of the common good. They neutered their cabinet secretaries and appointed hacks to big jobs. For them, pursuit of the common good was all about pursuit of individual self-interest. Voters rebelled against that. But there was also a rebellion against a traditional Democratic version of the common good — that it is simply the sum of all interest groups clamoring for their share.

“In this election, the American public rejected these narrow notions of the common good,” argued Sandel. “Most people now accept that unfettered markets don’t serve the public good. Markets generate abundance, but they can also breed excessive insecurity and risk. Even before the financial meltdown, we’ve seen a massive shift of risk from corporations to the individual. Obama will have to reinvent government as an instrument of the common good — to regulate markets, to protect citizens against the risks of unemployment and ill health, to invest in energy independence.”

But a new politics of the common good can’t be only about government and markets. “It must also be about a new patriotism — about what it means to be a citizen,” said Sandel. “This is the deepest chord Obama’s campaign evoked. The biggest applause line in his stump speech was the one that said every American will have a chance to go to college provided he or she performs a period of national service — in the military, in the Peace Corps or in the community. Obama’s campaign tapped a dormant civic idealism, a hunger among Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves, a yearning to be citizens again.”

None of this will be easy. But my gut tells me that of all the changes that will be ushered in by an Obama presidency, breaking with our racial past may turn out to be the least of them. There is just so much work to be done.

The Civil War is over.

Let reconstruction begin.

2008-10-27T13:47:00.000-06:00

Pictures from Grandpa's phone
The boys got spoiled yesterday (and so did mom and dad)
Grammy and Grandpa showed up, took them to
McDonald's park,
the pumpkin patch,
the "cookie" store...
they had a great time.
I always know this when they could care less that we come home!
Mom and dad went to Boarders and relaxed
an equally great time!
(thanks Grammy and Grandpa!)

2008-10-27T13:46:00.000-06:00

2008-10-26T12:55:00.003-06:00

Here are some photos I took from my lovely freind Rachael from our pumpkin carving party... read on to see why I had to steal them from her.

If it looks like chaos, it was, but it was wonderful. I am still finding pumpkin seeds.

UPDATES for October 2008

On a good note:

Jeff has a new website, complete with video for the seven presentation.

http://www.everythingnew.org/

PS-if you have read the book please please please give a little review on Amazon.com, not much (short of purchasing 100 yourself) could help more.

Also, Jeff has a few radio appearances coming up. If you would like to hear them email him at whatisatlas@gmail.com and he will tell you how to make it happen.

On a very good note:

the boys are with my parents today surely eating sugar, jumping on things they aren't supposed to and looking adorable. Jeff and I are peacefully sipping lattes at Boarders. sigh--- like the good old days.

On a great note:

Augie is pretty much up to par on speaking level with his peers. Hallelujah and hooray! He even used his fantastic words to tell us yesterday:
"Look at this rock dad!"

"Where did it come from?"

"I pulled it out of my nose"

"oh, did you stick a rock up your nose yesterday"

"No dad! I stucked a rock DOWN my nose yesterday"

also- Becket might be the sweetest kid alive

On a bad note:

I broke my camera... and not a little bit. It looks like I threw a brick at it and I don't know how that happened, as in, it is totally unfixable. **sigh** so I am totally un inspired to blog about my beautiful children and life. I could have cried that I missed the jumping in the pile of leaves moment yesterday. Posts may be lame for a while until I re-camerafy myself

I will try to steal pictures from friends and save up for a new camera soon.

xoxo

Kel

2008-10-07T12:05:00.000-06:00

We were so excited last night when we randomly saw Jeff's book on the shelf at a Barnes and Noble in Loveland... woo hoo! Can you spot it?

2008-10-07T12:03:00.000-06:00

2008-10-07T11:43:00.000-06:00

2008-10-07T11:40:00.000-06:00

2008-10-07T11:38:00.000-06:00

Pumpkin Patch number 2... now they were ready for us.

2008-10-07T11:37:00.000-06:00

Fall at 1215

2008-10-07T10:32:00.000-06:00

So my students have an assignment where they have to design a DVD cover for the story of Lewis and Clark... needless to say this one got an "A". Way to go Nikki

2008-10-07T10:27:00.000-06:00

Cookie night

2008-10-07T10:23:00.000-06:00

2008-10-07T10:22:00.000-06:00

Rolling around in Dry corn is pretty much the best thing you can ever do, incase you didn't know that

2008-10-07T10:20:00.000-06:00

The Corn Maze

2008-10-07T10:18:00.000-06:00

I am obsessed with the pumpkin patch. Unfortunately we went too early the first time, so all I got was a one-wagon full of pumpkins picture. We shall return...

2008-09-17T10:03:00.001-06:00

The Upside of Autism...

2008-09-17T10:01:00.001-06:00

My brilliant little boy. He loves to spell with the letters... if he runs out (as you can see on the black board) he writes in the letters he is missing. My favorite is that his favorite words are the names of our family. He spells them all and then tells me "look mommy, there is the family!"

2008-09-17T07:48:00.000-06:00

Before they get too big for me to take pictures at bath time...

2008-09-17T07:01:00.000-06:00

Really

these little guys are such buddies. They can't sleep apart- mostly Becket- I love the yin yang here.

Lately we have been having the most amazing family days. We have no pictures of, but have loved seeing Marmie and Papa after Papa's latest half marathon. We were thrilled to go up and see Josh and Kristie's new house with 6 acres of us to run around in.

Life has been good.

Really good.

Too good.

Ever feel like you are waiting for the bubble to burst. I shouldn't feel this way. I hate my pessimism sometimes. It's just too good to be true.

The boys aren't perfect friends, but they seem to enjoy eachother so much. They are a good balance.

And they are a good balance for us too.

Other great things (in no real order):

Seven

Music for Seven

Biking

Block Party (is over!)

Atlas building (signing lease today)

School being easy (jinx)

FALL! and Halloween- my favorite

Broncos (that's for Jeff)

Losing the baby gut (slowly but surely)

Story time at bed time with the boys

The Zoo/The Park/The Library/Jumpin'

Friends having babies

People who read this blog.

2008-09-04T08:20:00.001-06:00

Happy
Second
Birthday
Becket!

We had the most wonderful time doing the birthday party I swore I would never do... Chuck E Cheese! The key to happiness - go in on a weekday and have the best friends ever!

2008-09-04T08:17:00.000-06:00

Becket finishes off his birthday cake the old fashioned way... look at Aunt Kristie cheering him on.

2008-09-04T08:15:00.000-06:00

2008-09-04T08:14:00.000-06:00

2008-09-04T08:12:00.000-06:00

2008-09-04T08:11:00.000-06:00

Notice the tilt behind our cheating-favorite-uncle Josh

2008-09-04T08:09:00.001-06:00

We enjoyed the day with a bunch of our good friends: The Budzynskis, Schreibers, Longs, Myers, Coons, Spences and of course the Langleys

2008-09-04T08:06:00.000-06:00

2008-09-04T08:04:00.002-06:00

Surely there will be more pictures on the other blogs on the left. Check out Tucker's Kate's and Sam & Jakes... we parents are picture taking fools.

2008-09-03T09:00:00.003-06:00

"Hey Augie, let's go potty"

"No!"

"YES! we are going to Jumpin'. We have to go potty first, how about 20 seconds?"

"No daddy, how about 30 seconds?"

Oh, and our trip to the zoo- we rode the choo choo train for the first time. It will not be the last time. We haven't been there for a few months, we walk in and the boys are immediately shouting:

"Lollipops! Lollipops!"... how do they remember that?

It's not like they want to see the tigers again, or the zebras... no, they are shouting for sugar treats that they had last time. Oh, and we were all sticky, thanks for asking.

2008-08-23T10:49:00.003-06:00

Jeff and Tim have this thing they talk about at Atlas all the time: Heaven on earth. Recently I was reading back some old journals, and part of a chapter in Jeff's book, and they were on how hard life was with the boys. It was, it has been- but as I get ready today to throw a baby shower for a friend and as I reflect on that time I cannot tell you how amazing life is. I don't want to jinx it, and yes, we are in the terrible twos, but dang. DANG! Life is amazing. The boys have grown and are able to tell us what they need and want. We are seeing the beginnings of patience and sharing and understanding. I guess this is to say that they are fun. The are thoughtful. They (sometimes) say "I love you" and "Thank you" with out being asked. Watching them interact with eachother is better still. Today Becket is running full speed from kitchen to bedroom to bathroom yelling for Augie.

"what's wrong?" I say

"Where did Augie go?"

"I don't know. Why do you need him?"

"I want Augie come dance with me"

... and off running.

Really

For moms and dads in exhaustion- it gets to be like this. And I can tell it will only get better.

Even the fights and fits, well, they atleast seem to be more reasonable (as in have a reason and therfore a soulution).

Our favorite things to do are:

read

bike in the trailer (although this sometimes is too tight a fit)

park

library

outside movie (drive in)

walk to UNC and play in the sprinklers

go to mommy's work

play, play, play

It is hard to remember that previous harder life- and perhaps I can truly love this one because I know how long we have worked to get to it.

2008-08-18T09:54:00.001-06:00

2008-08-18T09:35:00.000-06:00

This weekend it rained and rained and rained... when it finally stopped we got the heck out of the house! first we went to the park on our bikes. We knew the boys would play in the water. We did not know how out of control it would get. Suffice it to say we had a muddy bike trailer and two naked boys by the end of the day. As you already know they loved it.

2008-08-18T08:55:00.000-06:00

2008-08-18T08:49:00.000-06:00

PS- Jeff thought I should title this page "Best Parents Ever"

2008-08-18T08:44:00.001-06:00

Augie is a male model... despite having a black eye.
At school last week they had a pajama party.
Here is the hansom little man in the cute rocket jammies Aunt Tiny bought him.

2008-08-11T12:17:00.001-06:00

2008-08-11T12:13:00.001-06:00

Cousins! Cousins! Cousins!

2008-08-11T12:12:00.000-06:00

The book is here! We finally got our own copies- I thought I was going to have to go to Boarders to get one.

2008-08-05T07:22:00.003-06:00

This is the must see post of the year. Eat your heart out Calvin and Tucker!

We knew you were the one from the beginning Kathryn Cook.

2008-07-28T10:19:00.000-06:00

Boys making hats at the Arts Picnic

2008-07-23T15:14:00.002-06:00

News in the world of famous author and all around hot husband Jeff Cook:

Yea! Jeff got a good review in the Publisher's Weekly magazine. Angela, his editor, said that to even get in is pretty awesome-

it goes like this:

Great work, Jeff! This is a fabulous review (to get reviewed at all in PW is a big deal). Congrats!Angela http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6575550.html Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes Jeff Cook. Zondervan, $12.99 paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-310-27817-7The seven deadly sins and the New Testament’s seven beatitudes spoken by Jesus play against each other in this philosophy professor’s first book. Although both the beatitudes and the seven deadly sins are well-mined territory, the contribution of this book is the curious way they serve as foils for one another. They are “two realities, each vying for our affection.” Cook offers unique pairings throughout—envy and the mourner, gluttony and the persecuted, for example—as well as discussion that goes far beyond platitude and easy explanation. Greed isn’t about money, Cook says, but about “accumulation”; mercy, conversely, is “breathing out.” Lust is a substitute for real life, while purity is about freedom. Readers will find new ways to think about sin and its “summons into a dead life,” as well as the beatitudes and their invitation to life. Cook overwrites occasionally, making readers decipher his meaning, but overall he creates a unique comparison between living a life of hell and living a life of heaven. Study questions are provided. (Sept.)

PS- if you would like to pre order the book it finally available for real at Amazon

2008-07-21T11:01:00.000-06:00

The boys in a fountain in oldtown Ft. Collins

2008-07-21T10:57:00.000-06:00

Photos by Augie- very artsy don't you think. Also proof that I will subject my camera to almost anything to let us finish our chicken vindaloo.

2008-07-21T10:55:00.000-06:00

2008-07-21T10:52:00.001-06:00

A stolen moment in a torrid love affair... and a woman who has to choose. But how can she? If she picks between two great loves her heart will be forever broken. Clearly neither man can stand to be without her. Will she know what to do, or will she be utterly alone?

2008-07-15T12:10:00.000-06:00

What do grown-ups do after they put the kids to bed and they finally have a minute to be adult and mature?

2008-07-15T12:08:00.000-06:00

Did you know there was a place in Denver that is just a huge warehouse filled with trampolines and padding? did you? Pretty much the best place ever.

2008-07-15T12:03:00.000-06:00

our best freinds. Notice how we all coordinate with our spouses... scary!

2008-07-15T11:59:00.000-06:00

Christopher and Lindsey McClean

2008-07-15T11:57:00.000-06:00

2008-07-15T11:55:00.000-06:00

"senior pictures"

2008-07-15T11:53:00.000-06:00

From the wedding of Chris to Lindsey

Jess and Ryan, Tim and Bet, Rob and Tiny, Eric and Amy

2008-07-15T10:42:00.000-06:00

A picnic and concert in the park (UNC garden theater) with our good buddies the Branums. We ate icecream and listened for a few songs, and then ended up in the sprinklers playing frizbee. So much for an appreciation of the classics.

2008-07-08T11:10:00.000-06:00

Our new favorite thing is taking a long bike ride and ending up at a park. If there is anything that we hope to grow into it would be ending up at a coffee shop... but this is about as good as it gets.

2008-07-08T11:07:00.000-06:00

2008-07-08T11:05:00.000-06:00

Happy Fourth!

We did a 2 mile race, watch a parade, went swimming, had bbq and played with our Nana and Papa John. It was a blast.

The boys even saw their first fireworks- though Becket fell asleep after about 10 mins.

2008-07-08T10:57:00.002-06:00

2008-07-08T10:55:00.000-06:00

We like to go to the city "Splash pads" on hot days... but sometimes the boys take one quick dip, and then spend an hour rolling down the hill.

2008-07-08T10:54:00.000-06:00

More pictures from our great trip to the children's museum. Augie paining with his beautiful Nana, Tiny, K8 and Grandma Calm and the boys on a shopping spree

2008-07-08T10:51:00.000-06:00

I just can't get over how cute my little guys are when they sleep together- so here is yet another post of the exact same thing.

2008-07-08T10:50:00.000-06:00

Jeff got his 32nd birthtday wish... a Rockies' game with his brothers and dad... and some beer. I learned to make a rally cap- but it didn't keep the Rockies from losing to the Mets.

2008-07-08T10:46:00.001-06:00

Aug loved the penguins at the zoo... Becket loved to sleep the whole way through.

2008-07-03T13:15:00.006-06:00

Our baby sitters are the best!

Here they are playing outside (duck duck goose--- a new favorite) Baking a cake with the boys for daddy's birthday (totally their idea... they not only brought all the supplies they did all the dishes! it was a great surprise) and eating pizza.

They are so creative and fun. Here you see Lexi and Emily- who are even brilliant enought to bring a camera and send me the pictures. Nikki also comes with them a lot. I almost always get 3 for 1 baby sitters. I sometimes thanks them with starbucks ;)

The boys love them.

The even named the fish after them.

Yea- you can be jealous

2008-07-03T13:09:00.004-06:00

The good news.

The boys love- love- LOVE ABC daycare. It has been better than we imagined. They run in every day and talk about thier activities and teacher. Who would have known. I wussily asked God for a break this week from the kindof contiuous stress of parts of this summer, and I got one.

Thanks for everyone's words and thoughts and prayers.

Here are some pictures from when we went with Kate and Christine and both grandmas (Jeff's mom and Christine's mom) to the children's museum and then to lunch at the aquarium. Thanks for the photos Tiny! (more to come when I finally upload all of mine too)

2008-06-23T17:33:00.002-06:00

how could I not post this picture ? So classy, so intelligent. It is rare when you catch your spouse at his very most hansom... happy 32nd birthday honey!

2008-06-20T10:44:00.004-06:00

Okay, a kindof sad blog.

I didn't want to write this, but I don't want to talk about it even more... however, I know the people who read this love us very much, so I think I'll dish once in an effort to not have to tell this story over and over.

Yesterday we got asked to leave Children's Workshop- nicely, but yes, asked to leave. I am still reeling and really surprised. We thought that Augie was making great progress there, but they feel the class size (over 30) is too big for him and that they just can't give him the attention he needs. Primarily they are having a really hard time with potty training (a required part of their movement from age group to age group) and sometimes with behavior.

I have taken this totally personally. I am devastated. It takes me a long time to trust people with my babies, and I had grown so comfortable. Jeff and I have also seen Augie and Becket grow so much there... it has been really hard.

Essentially the director had a meeting with me and told me that the teachers were having a really hard time and did not have the individual time or attention that Augie needed. He really has moved almost completely off of the Autistic spectrum, but still needs some interventions, ie: you have to talk to him several times to get him to pay attention

ex:
"Augie look at mommy, do we throw toys"
"No?"
"Tell me 'We don't throw toys""
"No throwing toys"
"What don't we do"
"Throw toys"
"No..."
"Augie no throw toys"
"Good Augie"

Seem long and drawn out? Actually it is not too bad. If you know other parents with Autistic kids you know we have it easy. Augie has actually been amazing at home. Very few fits, very very responsive to correction. There was a time in his life when I walked on egg shells but no more. He is very much a normal kid.

Apparently they just aren't able to take the time to give that to Augie when there are so many others.

Jeff and I, being the have-things-settled people that we are started looking right away (as in 10 mins after my meeting) and found a much smaller place for the boys. 8-10 kids to a room, much more flexible on the potty thing (it is just going to take some time for Aug., we have come to realize) and very gentle- oh, and it is 2 blocks from our house (not 10 miles), and 300$ less a month! They also have a Colorado Preschool program that has speech therapy and some govt. $ for kids on IEP (individual Education Plans) like Augie is

Okay, so what is the down side?

Well, they aren't as academically focused. We have told ourselves this doesn't matter, but it sort of does. And I am just fearful. I often have this stupid spirit of fear. What if they don't love my kids enough, what if they get bored, what if they reject Augie? I guess I hate change.

Also, personally, I feel rejected. Like I haven't done enough, Like I don't know how to give my little guy the best tools to cope.

Also, Becket's teachers are AMAZING- I love them as teachers and personally. It is a weird thing when you sacrifice one child for the other. Is Becket always going to be in this position? Am I being over dramatic?

So, I've cried for 2 straight days. I'll cry tonight as we pick them up. (they made little cards with hand prints from all the class mates- who wouldn't cry)

But

Since this is not really our choice I will trust that it is best.

And, I know it is going to be fine- maybe better- in the long run.

I do want to say this: Here are the lessons learned-

a. For teachers. Don't shelter parents from truth. When it finally comes out it is shocking to the system. Augie is doing so well at home, we needed to know more honestly that there were so many troubles at school, mostly that potty training was such a non-negotiable

b. Kids are kids. I love who my kids are. I wouldn't take anything ANYTHING back or change anything. That is not survivor talk... I mean it.

c. We are going to get to go to a daycare that is way more representative of the people of Greeley... and (although this is a typical daycare) there are already 23 kids there that receive different kinds of therapies. I feel like God is forcing our hand and I should feel blessed to have to move our family.

Thanks for listening. I just want everyone to know what is going on in our lives and in my heart. I love you

Kel

2008-06-20T10:21:00.000-06:00

our first BBQ with our Atlas family! It was a blast. I can't tell you how awesome it is to have so many of our lovely friends have babies... and to have everyone be so baby friendly. It is really great to get to play all together.

2008-06-20T10:10:00.001-06:00

So, we wanted the move to 1215 to bring about a really good quality of life change in our lives... and we have really felt good about keeping our resolution, especially when it comes to being green. Here are a few of the changes we have made.

Drying herbs from the garden

riding the cruiser (with trailer!) when ever possible

Got a cool indoor clothes line... the boys LOVE to pull the clothes off of it... I love it a little less (good thing daddy does the laundry)

Planted a salsa/salad garden with Aug and Beck... they often like to un-plant stuff.

2008-06-20T10:06:00.003-06:00

Made scones for the neighbors that have welcomed us so warmly

Homemade chicken soup (I have never made soup!)

Eating more veggies

Recylcing

Almost every night we have taken a bike ride to the park, we are keeping on our no-TV kick... although as election season (and football season) draw near I wonder how hard core we will be. We are also going to sell the jeep (gulp) and try to walk or bike. Part of that change came with an unexpected, but hopefully good, move to a new daycare just 2 blocks away. We think we can make it work with Jeff's school and the boy's school being within walking distance even in the snow

2008-06-20T10:04:00.000-06:00

Even though the boys have 3 beds in thier room, they almost always choose to sleep together in the tiny twin bed. Some mornings I find one's foot in the other's face, but they don't seem to mind.