Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday of the year.  Christmas always ran a close second, but in the past ten years, Valentine's Day seems to be running away with race.

I have such fond memories of this day as a child.  I don't remember my parents making a huge deal out of this day for them as a couple, my memories are all about how much fun it was to be a kid.  We made shoebox "mailboxes" to set on our desk at school.  We woke up to our own boxes of Valentine candy at the foot of our bed and a special card just for us.  She put candles on the table one year to be "romantic".  Another year had white crepe paper streamers with red hearts on them  -  the dining room was decked out!  Homemade cookies were available when we walked in the door from school.  Somehow Mom always managed to find a little extra in the budget to spend on Valentine's cards to share with the class and a special one for the teacher.  Public school in my day allowed the entire day off of "regular" work for fun work.  My classmates and I had a "party" where we passed our Valentine's out... we were provided with fun worksheets for math and crosswords and search-and-find pages for language arts or science. We voted on the best mailbox.  We watched the Charlie Brown Valentine's Special.  Nothing "normal" happened on this day - it was all about the fun.  I remember this happening nearly every year in grade school.

My mom isn't really a crafty person - she can SEW AMAZING THINGS - but crafts with paper and glue really aren't her thing.  (I wonder where I get it from??? But I digress...)  When Valentine's Day rolled around, she pulled out all. The. Stops.  Construction paper, paper doilies, glitter, stickers, glue sticks.  One year we didn't have construction paper, and being a one-car family, she didn't have the liberty to simply jet to the store to purchase some (and I didn't grow up in a world with a $1 Store on every corner like my kids are) so she had to think on her feet.  She pulled out the aluminum foil.  I cannot even imagine how much money that took out of her grocery budget to hand that box over and allow us to "waste" so much of it in wrapping up a shoe-box to take to school to set on our desks for a few hours of fun knowing that box would end up in the trash.  What a sacrifice! Oh, how SHINY that years box was.  And what a sweet memory now that I'm a mom.

So I've always made this day a LOT of fun for my kids.  They look forward to this day like not much else... they wake up and run down the hall to the dining room to see surprises they know are awaiting them. Now that they're getting older, it's fun to hear them talk about the past years with each other and reminisce about their favorite memories.  However, I've always struggled to make this day special for my sweet husband.  I think men have a plethora of options to shower on their women... flowers, jewelry, candy, dinner out (or even take out brought home), but women don't really have it as simple.  Or maybe it's just MY situation... He doesn't grill/cook (he'll even admit he shouldn't). He doesn't love sports (that's me in this relationship) and he doesn't love music (also, me).  He's ambivalent toward most books.   He has his hobbies, but they're EXPENSIVE.  I'm not joking.  I asked him about a tool add-on he wants for his lathe... Yikes!  And the amount he told me was only the first part of the add-on... and I cannot even remember the rest of his explanation - it may as well have been Greek.  I heard the cost and KNEW that was out of the "surprise" range in our budget.  Pinterest is NOT helpful in this sort of dilemma - believe me, I searched and searched for something "original" to copy off of there.  I felt defeated - and when I feel defeated - I pray.  So I prayed about this desire I had, knowing my heart desires do come from God, and I asked Him to help me understand what I could do to surprise my sweetheart, or to align my desire properly with His will.   AND HE ANSWERED!  (Why am I always surprised at that?!?)

God gave me the idea (and I know it HAS to be from God because I'm just not this original on my own) of a few tools that my sweet man could use around the house.  Alright, those of you who KNOW him are laughing, and with good reason.  My man has SO MANY TOOLS, but seriously, he actually USES them ALL.  I'm amazed at how his brain works and how much time and money he saves us from being able to fix something.  It's a serious gift.  So, now you know why I was excited about this idea... I am giving him some tools that I KNOW he'll use, and I know he would appreciate duplicates of because they either wear out or we could use them in several places and it would be a privilege to have multiples in different work areas of our home and barn. And the idea doesn't stop there - I was able to pair the tools up with scripture verses to encourage him!  I haven't been this excited for Valentine's Day with my husband since... ever!  And I figured out a surprise gift ALL ON MY OWN!  (Well, I had God's help!  But Pinterest was a total bust!)

P.S.  SHHHHHHH!!  If you see my husband BEFORE VALENTINE'S NIGHT please DO NOT tell him!!!  We have a busy day that day and presents might wait until just before bed time!  Don't spoil my surprise!  ;)

Easy Sausage & Tortellini Soup

This is one of those "almost" homemade recipes.  It was emailed to me a couple of years ago (I printed it on January 6, 2010...  apparently I like to collect new recipes more than actually try them) when I signed up to receive a recipe-a-day via email.  It's from BetterRecipes.com.

Ingredients:
5 links sweet Italian sausage
1 can (10.5 oz) condense French Onion Soup
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, Italian style
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 9-oz package fresh three-cheese tortellini **
Fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Remove casings from sausage links.  Cut up meat, then brown in a 4-quart Dutch oven.  Drain fat.  Add all remaining ingredient, except cheese.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Spoon into bowl & sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4-6

** Notes from the Cook:  You can substitute an 8-oz box of dried cheese tortellini or 1 1/2 cups of frozen.  This soup is wonderful served with fresh salad and warm garlic bread.

Review:
I knew better than to try the cabbage with my kids, so I omitted it.  Honestly, I thought it sounded pretty gross myself.  So I added more pasta (I used 2 generous cups of frozen) instead, and this makes for a hearty, filling meal.  Perfect for this time of year.  I paired it with Pillsbury Crescent Rounds, brushed melted butter and sprinkled garlic on top before baking.  Delish!!  I was so excited about how this turned out I shared it with my folks.  My expectations were high... I honestly used the sweet Italian sausage, but my mom said her mouth was "on fire".  Her tongue is a bit biased and has been known to exaggerate how spicy things are.  I think she could find a single speck of pepper in anything!   My dad shrugged, "Eh, it was okay".  I can read between the lines... that's code for "not my favorite thing you've ever cooked".  

Kid Review:
O: I ate all the pasta... but my tongue is rejecting the meat and red things (ie. tomatoes).
E:  Can I have more bread to dip, please?  Nothing else tastes that, um... as good as the bread. 

**sigh** 

I ate this soup two days in a row, and went back for seconds BOTH DAYS! I am looking forward to making it again, even IF I'm the only one who will eat it.

Living In The Future

One of my closest girlfriends, Lindsay and I, along with our children, usually go away together for a week or two during the summer.  This summer the plans to get away just didn't work out, so we created a "Stay-Cation" and did several sleep overs at each others homes and had a calendar of events filled with fun-packed days and a variety of activities that kept us busy all week long.   At the end of the week, her fabulous husband (and my super, duper friend-in-law) Jason kept our five children (well, THEIR three and MY two... this is NOT an episode of "sister wives") all day long on Saturday while Linds and I cropped the day (and night!) away at the local scrapbook store.

During our scrapbook stay-cation day, we had dinner out at a local Asian diner called Pei Wei.  Have you ever been?   It's fabulous!  (And they provide gluten free options for my girl, Linds!)  While waiting for our food we were walking to the soda machine and noticed it was different from the last time we scrapped and dined on Asian cuisine.  Different as in SERIOUSLY COOL!   It looked like it could have been derived directly from a Jetson's episode.   It has a touch screen and about a million options of soda, lemonade and tea.  I might be exaggerating a tad about the million options, but it did have quite the variety.  More than your average 8-option selection.  For example, you have a hankering for Sprite... so you touch the Sprite logo.  Then about 10-12 different flavored Sprite options are available for the choosing... diet Sprite, Sprite Zero, Raspberry Sprite, Strawberry Sprite, Orange Sprite, Grape Sprite, Root Beer Sprite... okay, I'm joking about the Root Beer Sprite, but you get the idea.  Options previously UNKNOWN to us were now available for the choosing.  Right at our fingertips!! 

We played with it for awhile before I decided I MUST take a picture of us with our Jetson-esque discovery.  (For the scrapbook of our Stay-Cation adventures, OF COURSE!)

And with all those choices in front of me, I still decided on which soda???  Any guesses??

Crockpot Sesame Chicken

It's Recipe Review Thursday again...  I missed last week.  Actually, I CHOSE not to post last week.  I made this recipe with last week in mind but was so heavily disappointed I just could not bring myself to write about it. 

I had such HIGH HOPES for this recipe.  When I first pinned it on Pinterest, it garnered 6877 repins, 804 "likes", and 13 comments from friends and strangers alike.  It is by far, my most popular "pin".  With that many people interested in trying the same recipe I thought for sure this meal would be a huge hit!  I was expecting an "out of the park home run" and what I ended up with was a disappointing foul ball.   (Can you tell I'm ready for baseball play off season??  Go, Tigers!)

Here is the original link - and below are the recipe instructions.

Crockpot Sesame Chicken

2 1bs. skinless, boneless chicken thighs.
1/2 c. low sodium soy sauce
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a bowl and pour over chicken.Cover and cook on low 6 to 8 hours or on high 3 or 4. Serves 4 - 6.

 

Review:
Now that photo is from the orignal post... I am not going to post my photo, but please trust me that it does not look at all similar, except for the rice. In fact, the rice was the best part of this meal. I have recently purchased a rice machine and I will never go back to the typcial rice-in-a-minute box type of rice. The real stuff in the massive bag from Costco is amazing - fluffy, not sticky... tender, but not slimy... delish, delish, delish!! The chicken, sadly, ended up tasting like soy sauce - all salt, and zero flavor.  I saved the leftovers with hopes of slicing the chicken up and revamping for a stir fry mixed with fresh veggies, but sadly could not bring myself to serve that salty chicken again.  There was no saving it once it sat overnight in the fridge.

Kid Review:
O: How many bites do I have to actually eat?
E: May I have only rice please?

Next week will be something new, and hopefully much, MUCH better.  If anyone has a similar recipe that is supposed to turn out like the photo above, I'd be willing to try again.  :-)
 

Chocolate Cheesecake Pie

Okay - back to school means back to blogging.  Hopefully. Probably. At least a little more consistently.  We'll see...

Recipe Review Thursday is back...  and with something seriously decadent and super easy!

Back in July I hosted a BBQ with my ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship) friends and I had signed up to bring a dessert.  However, I'd forgotten that I'd commited to a dessert and was scrambling at the last minute trying to figure out something to make with what I already had on hand.  Google to the rescue!  I typed in a few "staple" ingredients I always had on hand and then scoured the options.  Then came Pinterest... and I searched there.  VOILA!  Discovery revealed the recipe for this Chocolate Cheesecake Pie, and because it was from "Taste of Home" I trusted it would be divine.  I was not disappointed!

Ingredients:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups milk chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)
Chocolate dessert decorations, optional

Directions
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate. Fold in whipped topping. Spoon into crust. Chill until ready to serve. Garnish with chocolate decorations if desired. Yield: 6-8 servings.

 

Review:
This recipe is just as simple to make as it reads.  I didn't have a pie crust on hand, so I made my own.  It crumbled a bit, but it didn't distract from the deliciousness of this treat.  It was creamy, chocolaty, and cool - perfect for the hot summer day we devoured it.  I didn't have chocolate garnish, nor did I feel like making any, so I served fresh raspberries instead.  The berries were a beautiful contrast of tartness to the sweetness of the pie.  The flavors blended perfectly.  It also serves more than 6-8; it is so rich it easily serves 10, possibly 12.  (I used a standard 10" pie plate).

I will make this again... after all, I need a reason to perfect that crumbly crust!  

Kid Review:
O: Can I have another piece, please?
E:  I could eat that whole thing up, it's so GOOD!

So... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, it!!! (Just like I thought I would!)

Guess what???   I LOVE BEING A HOME SCHOOL MOMMY!!! 

Okay.... so I know it's only the first day.  And I know that there are going to be days that I won't love it as much (if at all...).  But today was a GOOD day.

It began with morning snuggles.... at 8am!  In years past, when my kids attended a local school, morning snuggles were a privilege reserved only for snow days, sick days, and summer vacation days.  But today - the FIRST day of (home)school - we had morning snuggle time.  It didn't slip my consciousness that it was happening at the exact time the local school was beginning their day.  I silently thanked God that I was able to spend some quality time WITH my children in the morning instead of rushing them out of their beds before they were ready to rise.... instead of rushing them out the door with barely a breakfast inside them because they weren't up long enough to even BE hungry yet.... instead of a heart (mine) breaking in two.  Yes - that's right.  This is the FIRST first day of school this mommy has NOT had a broken heart. 

After our morning snuggles we took our traditional "first day of school" photos.  Then I decided we should begin a tradition of the "first day of school breakfast".  So we did - and I treated them out.  Yumm!  The kids toasted the beginning of their day with chocolate milk with their meal.  Not a bad start to the day.  I also was able to get the traditional "picture with their teacher" shot... only ONE of those this year!  And then I capped it off with some "learning in action" shots. 

*** (Disclaimer about the photos: for some reason my oldest child is in a stage where it is NOT at all "cool" to smile for any photo.  This is the best I could get out of him.  He will grow out of this, right??   RIGHT???)

**sigh** from one contented Momma.... AKA "Teacher".   Have I mentioned that I LOVE that?!?

Stress Cleaner turned... Stress Crafter??

I admit it, I am a "stress cleaner".   When I am stressed out, I have the ability to transform my home into a museum.  It would pass Mary Poppins' "white glove" test.   Since my home is currently on the market (any takers for a super cute, updated 3 bedroom ranch with finished basement?? Anyone??) it's in a state of perpetual cleanliness.  Just ask my kids - they'll tell you I'm not giving an inch where clutter is concerned.   I've been feeling a bit stressed out the past couple of days - nothing major, just dealing with a few of life's curve balls.  You know the kind I'm talking about... you think you're headed in one direction and WHAM!  Out of nowhere, you're hit with something you didn't put in your day planner.  It's not a comfortable situation for us "type-A" people, but with God's perfect grace and mercy, I'm learning to deal with it. 

Since the house is clean, what is a God-loving, stressed-out, type-A, girl supposed to do?   Movies don't distract - I often find my mind wanders too much and I discover I have no idea what's happening in the plot and all I've accomplished in my mind is borrowing trouble for things that haven't happened.  Yet.  ;-)   Books don't distract (I was shocked, too!) - and I find I'm re-reading the same paragraph over and over.  I trust that Isaiah 26:3 is true, and I have learned to keep myself busy so my mind doesn't wander where it shouldn't.   My house may revolt against me some day now that I have discovered that I am indeed a "stress crafter"... I can see the bathrooms getting less attention and scrapbooking receiving MORE.

After all my Excel planning for homeschooling this fall, it was nearly time to print schedules, attendance sheets, note pages, and curriculum plans.  But these ugly, old, wrinkled binder dividers from long-since-passed financial analysis days looked too sad to use for my super-fun homeschool planner!  All that time I'd spent at the computer deserved something PRETTY to organize it!!

 

But don't these scrapbook papers look super fresh and inviting??

 

 

 

Add some adhesive, and VOILA!!!   Pretty new binder dividers!!  (And all the while I was praying over my stress, praising over my stress - thanks to K-Love, and being productive).   Win-Win-Win!

 



 

If you haven't heard from me in a few days, check under the piles of scrapbook paper and adhesive.  Bring Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate - I'll need some bribing to come out. 

How Great!?!?

Do you want to know how great MY GOD IS? 

I have been filing some paperwork away and could not find ONE document I knew had to be there.  I flipped through the pile many times, each one more slowly than the time before because, as I said, it HAD to be THERE.  No where else.  There was no need for it to be any where else.

The anxiety began to build...

Anyone who knows me, knows that calling me an "organized person" is a bit of an understatement.  Now don't misunderstand, I live in my home just as much as the next person... my home is not a museum... but there is a place for practically everything and even in the "piles of daily life" I can typically put my finger on what I'm looking for in a matter a minutes, if not seconds.  Yes, organized I am.

So, the anxiety builds... WHERE is THAT document?

A friend calls, interrupting my search.  She can tell I'm flustered.  I explain my predicament.  We chat for a few minutes about the next days plans, and she promises to grab her family and pray for swift finding of the very important, very lost document.

I walk into another room of my home and begin to go through another set of documents that should not yield successful results of discovering the lost document... the lost document does not belong in this pile.  Why would it be here?   But discovery occurred... and much praising His name began!  I called my friend back, not three minutes after we'd ended our previous conversation to share with her the news.  Rejoicing His name in numbers multiplies JOY.

This song erupted from my heart and flowed out of my lips. How Great - Chris Tomlin

How GREAT is our God?   Greater than even this simple reminder... that a lost document can be found.  In minutes.  Yes, He is THAT great.

The Birds

No, I'm not talking about an Alfred Hitchcock movie in this post... 


Back in May while I was cutting the grass I accidentally, very lightly, "tapped" the gutter downspout with the mower.  The support holding it to the house gave way, accelerated my annoyance (already high because I was tired and I was cutting the grass which is NOT my favorite chore) and I didn't even care about the gutter so much and I just kept cutting the grass with it literally hanging in mid-air. The WHOLE time.


When I'd finished I asked my fabulous (really, they are) children to then help me sweep and put the clippings bags back behind the house.  After I had all grass cutting tools put away I finally decided to check out the annoying gutter downspout which, by the way, I was fairly certain broke away on purpose to make my annoyance level rise.   You have to look out for those gutters - they have minds of their own.   I grabbed a landscaping stone to hold annoying gutter in place until I could figure out how to fix it permanently.  (And it has been fixed by now, thanks Mr. Mike!)


Much to my dismay, this is what I came across.

Look closely at the the top of the nest.

Now, I knew that nest was perched there on top of the annoying gutter, but I thought all bird activity had long ago ceased.  Boy, did I feel sick over this discovery!  I made a few frantic phone calls - and NO ONE I KNEW WAS HOME!  (I apologize to my friends the Richter's for the weepy, very girlish sounding frantic voicemail I left... thank you for still being my friend).   After all the phones of my friends went to voicemail, I prayed.  (Now WHY didn't I do that FIRST?!!?  Sheesh!)  

My main issue with picking the baby birds up was that I was afraid the mother (who was crying at me the ENTIRE TIME from the neighbor's roof top WITH A worm in her mouth even) wouldn't come back to them if she smelled me on her babies.  Isn't that what you learn in grade school??  She was definitely NOT helping my anxiety level with all her crying!  Then I remembered that I had just purchased some new gardening gloves - THAT VERY MORNING! (Praise God for Costco and packages of things I don't know I need until I see them!)


I ran to the garage, grabbed the massive ladder and some fresh gloves.  

These birds were soooo small.  They were not even strong enough to lift their own heads up and they barely had any feathers.  Where their "ears" were (actually just flaps) the skin was still translucent.  I was in awe of how special these little creatures were.   Now, my tears were much different than the franctic ones left on voicemails all across town...  they were sheer amazement of how wonderful God had protected them from the fall off the roof top gutter, protected them from my NOT hitting them with my lawn mower, and protected them from the length of stay they had on the ground while I took my sweet, annoying, time doing finishing my chores.  

Owen and Evie are watching me respond to these creatures, a point that is not far from my mind any minute of the day, but I was so actuely aware of their soaking in this moment.  They wanted to examine each bird and make sure each one was breathing.  This teaching moment was not lost on me (Praise the Lord for His goodness in THAT!) and I was able to show them how "just fine" the babies were and explain how God loves these little birds as much as He loves us.  He created them, and He created us.  He loves His creation and to Him it brings glory. 


After we'd done our due diligence of ensuring each bird was breathing fine and had no broken "limbs", we prayed over them, I fixed the gutter (temporarily), and returned them to their "home". 

And we waited... would the mother come back to "mother" them?  Or would she abandon them as I had feared...

SHE CAME BACK!!! God IS good!!

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."  (Matthew 10:29-31 ESV)

So You Wonder...

... why I want to homeschool?

Every day I ask my kids what their "high" and their "sigh" of the day is.  Good points, not so good points... we talk it out.  I have found that many a potential "melt down moment" is averted through this conversation starter.  There is no opportunity for my little blessings to harbor any emotions they don't understand and cannot compute on their own.  (Eph 4:26)  I have found out more information with the game "Highs and Sighs" than asking the question "How was your day?"

Tonight at the dinner table was no exception... I found out more information than I anticipated, and am beyond grateful to God for His grace in keeping me calm and preventing an overreaction.  My 2nd grader was talking about learning a new subject... "Visual Media".  He was explaining how the students use "T-Charts" to compare and contrast real life with the fiction seen on television / media (in general).  So far, so good.   Next I asked him what example was used for comparison. He said a television show was shown and it was contrasted with real life.  Hmm... my curiosity is peaked... mostly because I'm pretty particular about what my kids' eyes view and what their ears hear.  I am teaching them to guard their hearts.

(Side note:  the school has a policy that no permission slips need to be sent home to watch anything the school chooses as educational as long as it's rated G.  I have a policy that I don't send my children to school to watch movies / TV shows.  We agree to disagree on each others policies).  

I probe further and ask my 2nd grader what TV show was shown to his class.  It was a Disney show, but one that is really too "mature" for the little minds I am protecting.  By the worlds standards it is a perfectly acceptable show.  But we don't live by the worlds standards.   (NOTE:  here is where I'm grateful for exercising self-control and not freaking out... and God blessed it and allowed my child to open up further). I asked what was shown in the film that he was able to fill up his T-chart with.  His answer was simple - "in the show they played with water guns in the house.  In real life, that doesn't happen.  Water guns are played with outside so the house doesn't get wet."  Excellent comprehension.  He's a genius.  :-)

"And then you know what happened, Mommy??  The grandpa was at a soccer game and he got mad at the coach and turned around and faced his bottom toward the coach on the field and he pulled his pants down and showed the coach his bottom."    Yep - you read that correctly.  MOONING on a child's program.  Ugh. 

Finally I asked my 2nd grader (as I'm silently thanking the Lord that there are only 5 more days of school left this year) what he thought of that.  He admitted he laughed (and was currently laughing) but he thought it was inappropriate for him to be watching, so he told his teacher he didn't want to see anymore.  His teacher told him he could play a math game (mother-approved, at that!) on the computer instead of finishing the TV show.   I have no right to be proud of my child... but in my sinful humanness, I am.  Proud. Of. Him.  He chose to honor the Lord today, and not his own desire for entertainment.

I have no right to be blessed.  But I am.  Blessed.  Immeasurably.

Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

~ Proverbs 22:6

And that's why I desire to homeschool.  To give more to my children of the Lord than they can possibly receive when not in my care.  I am charged to train them up.  And I want to. More and more.

Queen of the "Last Minute"

I am becoming the Queen of the last minute projects.  This is not ever how I've approached anything in life... but lately, it's just the way things seem to flow.   I hope I grow out of it.  And soon.  It truly shows a lack of planning and preparing, which has not ever been my character, and nor do I want it to be.  But in my lack of planning, God blessed my night anyway.  Isn't He great???  (Amen!)

My church's children's ministry's Wednesday night program features a theme night once per month.  And tonight's the night.   It's been marked on my calendar for literally months.  (You know... because of the preparing and planning trait I try to implement??  Yeah...  it requires follow through of actually LOOKING at the calendar I plan things on.  But I digress).   Guess when I noticed it.  At 4:15 pm, after spending an entire day away from home (on a field trip - so the time away was worthwhile) and I'm prepping dinner to leave the house at 6pm.  YIKES! 

The theme tonight is "Holiday Night" - and I took the easy-way-out suggestion and pulled out Santa hats (perfect for a Christian holiday, no???)  and the CHRISTmas sweaters.   My kids looked at me like I had perfectly lost my mind.  Were we not wearing shorts, devouring fudge bars,  and playing with the hose in 80 degree weather just yesterday???   "Um, I don't prefer that idea, Mommy" - to quote one of my polite children verbatim.   The other child...  (air-i-ly)  "Mommy, I want to be a ballerina" as she twirls and whirls so elegantly around me.  Hmm.... ballerina.... holiday.... NUTCRACKER BALLET!   PERFECT!!!    Have I ever mentioned that "I'm not just another pretty face" lately??    Hold on... I'll prove it further.

So Polite Child desires to be something other than a sweater.  Thinking cap... tired Momma... oh, so very tired... this is hurting my head....  LIGHT BULB!!   Empty box, wrapping paper, packing tape, scissors.  

He's a Christmas Gift!   (I told you I was genius!) 

Cut the holes for the head and arms.  Then wrap packing tape around the edges so no scratching occurs.  Comfort is a very important factor in a gift.

Wrap the gift.  When opening the holes I cut a "pie" shape with a knife and folded the ends in.

Then I re-wrapped the edges with more packing tape so it didn't tear so easily. 

VOILA!  (I think I'll keep this gift)!!! 

Happy crafting!! 

Recipe Review

Funny story - I wanted a Kindle for Christmas.  I ended up talking myself (not truly as difficult as it sounds) into a Kindle Fire.  I LOVE it.  I use it all the time.  I love reading and thought I would hate having an electronic device as a "book" - but the practical side of me won out.  I find so many books for FREE and the realization that I couldn't supply enough shelves to house them all won me over.  So, while I still purchase a paper book on occasion, and check them out of the library as well (which you can also do on your Kindle!), I have quite the collection of books "shelved" inside my kindle. 

First a couple of pictures of the kids giving me my Christmas gift.  This story still makes me laugh.  You don't see Owen because he's on camera duty.  But I still "hear" him in my mind instructing his sister on how this all should play out. 

For reference, Amazon has a different free book every day.  Just search "free Kindle book" on Amazon's website and the options will appear.   I have also found three websites which offers FREE and nearly-free books each day.  Pixel of Ink - which offers a mix of genres for your reading pleasure. Pixel of Ink - Young Edition - which is the sister site and offers childrens and young adult reading.  And my latest favorite - Dining Downloads - which is full of... you guessed it - recipe books!   SCORE!

I have a thing for "new" recipes.  I love to try something new and I enjoy cooking / baking.  My waning desire to cook these days has brought me to trying something new, often, to keep my desire up and my skills honed.  I am also trying to stretch my kids' palate beyond the typical chicken and potatoes meal, which brings me to a new post, and something I hope to feature once a week.  So once a week I will be trying and testing a new (to us) recipe and then reviewing it.  I will tag them all under "Recipe Review" so they're easier for you (and for me) to find again in the future.  I have also "pinned" a bunch of recipes (among other things) on Pinterest and will be commenting about the reality of those projects.  Look for those posts tagged under "Been There, Pinned That" - coming soon to a blog near you. 

Now, for the first recipe....

Kindle Recipe Book:  More Than Hummus by Katherine Cumming
Recipe:  Sun Dried Tomato Hummus (No Tahini)

1 1lb can garbanzo beans, drained
1 c sun dried tomatoes (in olive oil), drained
1/2 c water
1/8 c olive oil
4 cloves garlic
4 Tbl lemon juice
pinch of salt, to taste

Garnish: smoked paprika

Blend all ingredients in blender or food processor until smooth.  Garnish with paprika. 

Review:
The recipe needed quite a bit more water to produce the creamy, smooth texture of hummus.  I'm not sure it affected the taste too much, however.  It did not taste watered-down, and if you like tomatoes, this is the hummus for you!  The tomato flavor was full and rich!  Disclaimer:  it could have used more garlic.  I like garlic, and the taste is hidden behind the tomatoes.  All in all, this is a snack I keep going back for each night. 

Kid Review:
O: Can I have some goldfish instead, please?
E:  Do we have any regular chips and dip? 
Hmmm.... guess I won't be trying any Middle Eastern recipes anytime soon.  ;-)

Evie - Credible

Evie is "star of the week" at school.  Among filling out a special poster with several of her favorite things and bringing in something special for show-and-tell, one of her "special" assignments is to describe what kind of super powers she would have if she were a super hero.  She's been pondering it for days.  Well over a week now, for sure.  And I can't blame her - with something as important as choosing your very own powers, one must be selective. 

She finally told me today. 

"Mommy - if I were a super hero my special super powers would be to be able to see every time when bad guys are stealing money.  I would see them stealing the money and know where they are and I would call the police and tell them so they could arrest the bad guys and put them in jail.  And then we could give the money to the poor people because they need the money.  And then there would be no more poor people in the world.  Except the bad guys in jail because they would not have money in jail.  And the worst thing would be their food.  They would eat waffles every day.  And not good waffles.  Soggy waffles.  Because soggy waffles are the worst."  

I just love her exuberance and her loving, generous spirit.

And I agree. Soggy waffles ARE the absolute worst.

Knocked My Socks Off

Every  morning before I drop my kids off to school I read a proverb (from the book Proverbs for Kids - I have the Kindle edition) to them and the correlating "story" to break down the understanding.  There are questions asked at the end of each proverb to promote discussion and to see how well they listened.   They typically listen quite well and are able to answer the questions without a problem.  Today was no exception, and we had a good discussion.  After our "devotion" time, it is someone's turn to pray - we each take a different day.  This morning, because Owen isn't feeling well, I was going to have Evie pray instead and Owen would take another day this week.  However, Owen insisted on taking his turn.  And I am beyond thankful that he did.  As a friend of ours says, "He blessed my socks off!"

"Dear Jesus, 

Thank you for today. 

Thank you that you are not a cloud or a toad or anything like that. 

Thank you that you are so much more." 

He did go on to finish the prayer with asking God to heal those we know who are ill, but the beginning of the prayer caused me to pause.  I have never discussed personally with him that God is NOT a cloud, nor is God NOT a toad.  But HE knew.   And he thanked God for it.  What a blessing to be taught something by my child this morning.  Humbled and blessed.  That's a pretty good start to the day.

"At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." ~ Matthew 11:25

Bummed & Thankful

So bummed (in a self-focused, sinful way) to be reading excited notes and blog posts, hearing excited comments about our long awaited church service this morning.  It was a special one.  It was one I missed.  I have a sick child at home and I missed something I was looking forward to.  Something that cannot be repeated (in person).  Just one more thing in this "blink" we call life that I don't understand.  But I don't have to understand.  I trust.  I trust in the One that knows all and ordains all.

Do you trust and know Him?

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
        and do not lean on your own understanding.
    In all your ways acknowledge him,
        and he will make straight your paths.
    Be not wise in your own eyes;
        fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
    It will be healing to your flesh
        and refreshment to your bones."
(Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV)

Our youth pastor Patrick McGoldrick (Blog Here) is young.  He has been diagnosed with ALS.  And he is dying.  Dying to this earth - but promised a new one.  He preached his last sermon today.  And I missed it.

BUT....

I am thankful for the promises each new day brings.

I am thankful for the promise that God is all sufficient, all powerful, all knowing.
He knows what will happen, before it will happen.  And He is good.
Because of that knowledge and hope, I know it was good for me to miss what I missed.
God has ordained my path.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
     his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;
     great is your faithfulness."

(Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

Nothing surprises Him.  He knows our next minute, our next hour, our next day(s).
Because He knows, I trust that I am safe.  Because I am in His care.

    "And we know that for those who love God 

all things work together for good,

 for those who are called according to his purpose."
(Romans 8:28 ESV)

Not my purpose.  But His.  Alone.  

(Oh... .and another thing I am thankful for??  TECHNOLOGY!  Because of it, I can listen to the much anticipated sermon I missed this morning online later this week!  Praise the Lord for technology!)  

A Hole In One

"Oh, I lost a tooth!

Whatever shall I do??

I'm left with a window

and my tongue is sticking through!"

Miss Eva has been waiting for this day for F-O-R-E-V-E-R.   We had our six month cleaning six weeks ago now... and Evie insisted that her bottom two teeth were loose.   I kept telling her that "probably not yet, exactly... but keep testing them".  The dental hygienist agreed with Evie.  So Mommy's theory went right out the window and Evie took the "professionals" opinion.  (That sounds so much better to me than admitting she just chose the opinion that agreed with hers).   She has been vigorously wiggling those two bottom teeth ever since... showing anyone that would watch.  Mostly, it's just been her fingers wiggling, but from the postman to our pastor, she has proudly displayed her "wiggling" teeth. 

Today the constant manipulation of her baby cuspids paid off... and at the end of the day one finally POPPED out.  Congratulations, little girlie of mine... you have now accomplished another step into "Big Girl-Dom". 

Our God

This song is one of my favorites.  We sang it at our church on Sunday - and it was such a surreal moment as a parent for me.

Our God - Chris Tomlin

It's not been very long since my beloved was called home.  And yet, in many ways, it feels like a million years.  Seconds seem so long - so excruciating some days.  We have been incredibly blessed this past year (and a few months) - God has been so very REAL to us - our ever sufficient provider, protector, healer, comforter.  However, if I'm truly honest, there is a gaping hole that is not filled.  I wonder how that will ever be filled this side of Heaven.  One of my children especially struggles right now (it's very much an up-and-down, cyclical process, this thing called 'grief').   And while singing this song, I was able to sit down next to my child, put my arms around my child, and whisper in my child's ear the very real truth of this song...

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
What could stand against. 

It was remarkable to have my child look into my eyes, both of ours glistening with tears, having separate but shared pain.  My child for the missing of a father... me for the missing of a spouse.   To have a sense of peace that comes to us through the truth of music is a God-given gift.  A tangible gift that cannot be seen, but it is very real. 

What's A Picture Really Worth?

Is a picture really worth a thousand words?   I suppose it depends mostly on two things:  1 - what the subject matter is, and 2 - how it relates to you, viewing it. 

I love this picture.  Really.  L-O-V-E .... La - OVE it.   It makes me laugh every time I see it.  A second in time... a memory forever.  

This photo truly depicts my children's relationship with each other right now.  Evie is all over Owen - arms wrapped around him, totally devoted and loving him.   Owen has dirty knees (a constant, every day occurrence in his 8 year old life... incredibly busy and BIG in almost every way, but the dirt reminds me that he is still little enough to get down on his knees to play... I know I'll miss those stains SOME day).  And he needs his space.  He's not exactly pushing her away... he's willing to have his "little sister" close, but not too close.   At least when it doesn't suit his needs at the moment.  He lives very moment-by-moment right now... which thoroughly irritates Evie because she doesn't.  (Yet).  

Hmm... did I reach a thousand words?  Probably not, but it doesn't matter to me because this picture is priceless in my eyes.  Totally cropable (that's a scrapbooking term).  Totally frameable.  I'm ordering an 8x10 for sure.  Do you want one, too, Mom?

He Is Risen... He Is Risen, INDEED!

What is good about “Good Friday”?    

Why isn’t it called “Bad Friday”?

Because out of the appallingly bad
came what was inexpressibly good.

And the good trumps the bad,
because though the bad was temporary,
the good is eternal.

—Randy Alcorn, If God Is Good

Modge Podge - 101

So what do you with old artwork that is so sad it's begging to be retired??? When it's Christmas, you cover it in wrapping paper and ribbon and hang it back up on the wall. But when February rolls around and the wrapping paper 'artwork' begins to mock you, it's time for a craft project: adult style! This isn't your elementary school Modge Podge lesson - but it IS just as simple. I promise!

BEFORE: OLD ARTWORK

SUPPLIES:  PAINT, SPONGE BRUSH, SCRAPBOOK PAPER, RULER, PAPER CUTTER, and MODGE PODGE

I chose the outdoor paint because it says it is 'water resistant'. My art will be hanging in my dining room, thus immune to the outside elements, however I wasn't sure how the regular non-water resistant paint would hold up against the Modge Podge application, so I wanted to safe. It needs to dry for 72 hours.

During this time I designed the way I wanted my papers to lay on the boards and chose my bible verse and printed it out. The paint was truly dry to the touch even though the required time hadn't fully passed yet, so I was able to lay everything out flat on the boards and move it around until I was satisfied with my design.

For those who haven't used Modge Podge before, it's very similar to glue, just a bit more watered down.  It comes in a variety of finishes - glossy, matte, or  if you're feeling particulary bold, you can choose one with glitter sprinkled in.  I poured out my Modge Podge into a throw-away take out container and a simple painters/crafters sponge-on-a-stick worked great for application.  It washes out with soap and water, too!  (This excites me the most because I am a messy crafter and cook.  The bigger mess I make, the better my project (food) turns out.  I've proven it to be a scientific fact.) 

Brush on your Modge Podge pretty thick, and this is key - BOTH SIDES!!  But not to the point of weighing your paper down too heavily.  You should "SEE" it on your project.  Smooth out all air bubbles.  Wait for it to dry.  Apply more Modge Podge on top.  Dry and repeat.  I was able to make three applications in one evening between folding loads of laundry. 

The next day it was hung and ready to be admired!  I LOVE IT!  For a couple of bucks I revived some tired, old artwork!

AFTER: NEW ARTWORK