This is my favorite time of year...when it's warm enough to grab a blanket, cup of coffee and soak in the sun on the deck. Our view is not a neighbor's house, but the city park - so I can sit out there in my jammies and not worry a bit.
Last night my husband mowed for the first time last night. I could still smell that wonderful fresh cut grass smell, along with the hyacinths and the freshly tilled ground. Such pleasant smells, unless you have allergies...
But, surely you can agree that spring is such a perfect time of year. I know, I know the weather is unpredictable, but even that provides a suspenseful evening. The season holds so much promise - school is almost out, flowers are blooming, everything is turning green. I read that gardens are a promise of tomorrow. I often sit in awe at the creatures and how God thought of every little detail so that they are completely provided for. It certainly re-affirms my faith when I watch the birds and squirrels.
This reminds me of the song I learned in kindergarten (yes, a PUBLIC school before God was thrown out), it was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." He certainly does. He has foreseen every detail and taken care of it. What an awesome God, worthy of our praise, worship and thanksgiving.
Spring also means Easter - the resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. So, along with the gifts of green, flowers and warm weather God arranged during springtime He gave us the ultimate gift. As we look to re-energize our lives by stepping outside and soaking in the sun and breathing the fresh air, it's also time to re-energize our soul. Reflect on where we are. . . is it pleasing to God? Is it worthy of death on a cross? And finally, are we ready to embrace Jesus the Resurrection and the Life?
You can deny the Lord, live for yourself, believe in other things - but it is all just one big fat lie that Satan has deceived you with. I don't care, that's that. It is the simplest thing on earth, you can make everything else complicatd, but God is God and Jesus came to save the world. You can be saved, be full of peace and inner joy and make a route to heaven - but you DO have to believe in Jesus Christ. You DO have to confess He is the Son of God. You DO have to believe He rose from the dead. You DO have to believe that God is the only God that created the heavens and the earth and all creation. It's not hard, it's not scary and if you take out a Bible and read it with an open mind, it will be so completely obvious. It's time to begin your faith or renew your faith.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Homeschoolers, Take Note
Recently I've come to the realization that as a homeschooled only child, my daughter may never learn to take notes in class. This has been a bit bothersome to me, as I realize the importance of having this ability. It's also an important way to help them stay focused on what is going on and not daydream. I also realize she is a fourth grader. Since fourth grade was many moons ago for me, I don't remember if we took notes or not.
Hmmm, what to do. For those of you who know me and those of you that don't I stress about things. Surprise, surprise. As if you couldn't tell that about me in these posts. So, something as small as when to start teaching her how to take notes turns into this huge production in my head. I begin stressing about whether or not I am truly enhancing her education. Or, am I being a detriment? O, Lordy, here we go...guess I better stop right now and spend some time on my knees and at His feet.
Back to note-taking - I figured it out! Quite by accident. Turns out all that stress didn't create one single brilliant idea. The typical school day with my daughter did. It was time for science, studying the estuaries. And with every other ecosystem this year, there is a blank sheet where you tell what type of climate, plants, animals, distinguishing features and the like. Well, today it seemed as though she had done quite a bit of reading, so I decided to read to her. Only, as I was reading (to make sure she'd be paying attention) I told her to fill out the sheet. Voila! Note-taking! Problem is solved and she did excellent - but best of all, no more stress for me. However, why is it that we only have a few weeks of school left and I just NOW figure this out? I suppose I'll be coming back next year to read my posts to figure out what I did right. I guess it would make for more entertaining reads if I included what I did wrong, but those are pretty big spoofs and I'm not quite ready to go there...yet! Blessings
Hmmm, what to do. For those of you who know me and those of you that don't I stress about things. Surprise, surprise. As if you couldn't tell that about me in these posts. So, something as small as when to start teaching her how to take notes turns into this huge production in my head. I begin stressing about whether or not I am truly enhancing her education. Or, am I being a detriment? O, Lordy, here we go...guess I better stop right now and spend some time on my knees and at His feet.
Back to note-taking - I figured it out! Quite by accident. Turns out all that stress didn't create one single brilliant idea. The typical school day with my daughter did. It was time for science, studying the estuaries. And with every other ecosystem this year, there is a blank sheet where you tell what type of climate, plants, animals, distinguishing features and the like. Well, today it seemed as though she had done quite a bit of reading, so I decided to read to her. Only, as I was reading (to make sure she'd be paying attention) I told her to fill out the sheet. Voila! Note-taking! Problem is solved and she did excellent - but best of all, no more stress for me. However, why is it that we only have a few weeks of school left and I just NOW figure this out? I suppose I'll be coming back next year to read my posts to figure out what I did right. I guess it would make for more entertaining reads if I included what I did wrong, but those are pretty big spoofs and I'm not quite ready to go there...yet! Blessings
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Death of a Football Mom
Memoirs: Death of a Football Mom
My football years began in high school. Not as a football player, but as a cheerleader. There were only a few on our squad that actually understood or were actually interested in the game. The rest of us were there to be peppy, loud & cute. The girls that understood the game knew when to do an offensive or defensive cheer. I always marveled at how they knew before we had the ball that we should do a touchdown or first and ten cheer. What was a first and ten anyway? Generally, we had losing seasons, which meant even less interest in the nuts and bolts of the game. I was also a young teenage girl infatuated with those fellas with the nice tight purple pants. Life couldn’t get much better. Then, I became a football mom. This happened much earlier in life than most women anticipate becoming sports fanatics. I married, at the young age of twenty, a man with two sons. Bring on the flag football.
The first football season we were married, I found myself rising early on Saturday mornings and sitting on cold metal bleachers. I had never sat on bleachers before, I always cheered and I found the experience rather unpleasant. There wasn’t a backrest and there was usually either bird droppings or dead bugs on the bench itself. But, I sat there.
My situation was a little different than most women that marry men with children. Usually, the real mom is active in their lives and they also live with her except every other weekend. That was not true for our situation those boys became mine. My heart wasn’t initially into the sports part of the relationship, but I knew that I had to be there to cheer them on. And, cheering is what I did best; at least I could wear warm clothes and bring a blanket!
The years dragged by; flag football to junior high football and on to high school football. High school football was more fun; it wasn’t just the parents in the crowd; but the whole town.
My youngest son was the football player, all the way. My oldest, not so much. The oldest son didn’t have the heart for the game and only played because his friends did. Thankfully, he spared us tedious years of high school play. The youngest; however, has put me through eleven years of cold bleachers.
He is a senior now. We have enjoyed cheering him to the end zone many times. He has made some amazing catches and runs. I even understood the double reverse play that works well for getting a touchdown. Though he is in a position that gets a lot of credit, I do know now that the blocking is crucial to the quarterback getting the pass to him or someone else. The greatest part about the team this year is the fact that so many of the team members are capable of running, passing and catching. Most of the teams we played against, it is just one or two that can make it to the end zone. Our players seemed to be able to do it all when it needed to be done.
He has played his last game. The evening was beautiful and warm, except the bleachers. This night was to honor senior parents of athletes. It is a nice tradition, marching arm in arm with your son after he hands you a flower and as they announce your names. He’s all grown now, much bigger than the little 7-year-old boy with a yellow flag hanging out of his pants. He doesn’t hug like he did when he was seven either, but he did hug his dad and me before the game.
I look at the parents, we’ve been through it all for over a decade. Together. Cheering, supporting and freezing. We each share a common bond; our kids have been together since the beginning. Together, we were silent and held our breath when one of ours didn’t get up after a play. Only once did the ambulance drive away with one of ours in it. That moment was so heart wrenching, I honestly can’t tell you if we won that game or not. Thankfully, that same player, that broke his leg, became our kicker.
This last game was their chance for the play offs and that chance has passed by. Each one of those senior guys walked off that football field, never to wear a purple jersey again. Many of them stayed on the field as long as they could, soaking in the moment. Each one of those men gave their heart to the game, the team and to the community. There is something about the spirit of your school that you carry within. It doesn’t ever go away. There are people in those stands that have played on that field, watched their children and grandchildren play on that field. They have felt those emotions of victories and losses. There are people that are in those stands because they have always been in those stands, cheering on every player that runs onto that field and calls himself an Indian.
I lay in bed last night hardly believing football was over. I spent so many years wishing for this night. How was it possible that those years seemed to drag by and now, as I look back they actually flew? One more game would not have changed this feeling. Winning state would not have changed this feeling! I will never have to sit on cold bleachers again. In fact, I was cheated out of cold bleachers on the very last quarter as a football mom. I won a bleacher cushion.
Mismarked, Indeed...
I borrowed The Pioneer Woman's cookbook from a friend. Surely you know the Pioneer Woman. She is THE blogger of the Midwest USA. She's lovable, funny, normal, inspirational...need I go on? The funny thing is - she's pretty much like me, except I never lived on a ranch and no longer live on a farm. We have the same tips, tricks and a lot of our recipes are spot on. Which is crazy to see some of my recipes in her book. Not that she copied them from me or stole them. She doesn't even know me, but it's just crazy seeing stuff I know how to do and regularly fix in print. I was reading her cookbook, because evidentally she completely understands that a lot of women read cookbooks, not just pick out recipes. Anyway, she has a rather funny tomato story about an overabundance of yellow tear drop tomatoes due to the nursery mismarking tomatoes. This has happened to me. It wasn't tear drops, it was cherry tomatoes. My friend Debi picked up tomato plants from Lowes last spring and out of the 42 tomato plants, more than half were mismarked and ended up being cherry tomatoes. Thankfully, we had five hungry children on a regular basis. Except for the oldest one, he's sorta picky. But we'd pick bowls of cherry tomatoes, then totes of cherry tomatoes. Towards the end, we didn't even pick cherry tomatoes - if the kids didn't pick them off to snack on them - they didn't get picked. We still ended up with a successful garden, processing well over 100 quarts of tomatoes for the winter. It didn't take long to go through them, but it made many delicious sauces. It just cracks me up that someone like the Pioneer Woman does have a real life - just like mine. Just like a lot of ours. The funny thing is what Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) took from the experience was to buy from multiple nurseries.
What did I take from the experience? With the prompting of Debi, we purchased organic heirloom seeds, made our own seedling pots from newspapers and water daily. Why didn't I think of multiple nurseries?! At least I could've had a nice 6 month break from gardening. Instead I'll be watering and taking care of plants for most of a year - we planted in February. But, if a disease should come and wipe out all genetically altered tomato plants then I guess I'll be the go-to girl with the old fashioned plants. Oh joy. Blessings.
What did I take from the experience? With the prompting of Debi, we purchased organic heirloom seeds, made our own seedling pots from newspapers and water daily. Why didn't I think of multiple nurseries?! At least I could've had a nice 6 month break from gardening. Instead I'll be watering and taking care of plants for most of a year - we planted in February. But, if a disease should come and wipe out all genetically altered tomato plants then I guess I'll be the go-to girl with the old fashioned plants. Oh joy. Blessings.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
An Itch To Start From Scratch
I talked to Mary! She's fine, baby boy is fine and so are all those brothers. She does; however have router problems. I think she thinks she can pull out a hairpin, hot glue and a cell phone battery and make it work. I personally think she should head to Walmart and get a new router. At the very least it will keep her from getting shocked or hacking into a satellite system and learning more about the pathetic state our world is in.
But, in our conversation I soon realize she has gone Caroline Ingalls on us. Which is great, because I love doing things the old fashioned way. Or, at the very least learning how and never doing it again. But we were talking and she so bluntly says,"I've decided it's stupid to buy anything whose main ingredients are flour and water." I did the happy, amen dance! We'll keep you posted with pictures and our own personal critiques of our attempts at virtually everything from scratch. This will include soap, detergent, fabric softener and any food imaginable.
But, the trick will be to keep her and my other dear friend, Debi separated. Debi likes to do everything the "free" way. We made our own pots from newspapers to start our seeds in. Bet you can't guess where we got our newspapers...if you can't guess, you really should be reading this blog more.
I can see it now, poor MalPal, she'll be entertaining 8 boys while us mothers attempt true grit home making. I hope she doesn't see this, she'll be packing up and moving in with our neighbor Sarah. Have a blessed evening and stay tuned as we feature our attempted feats! Blessings!
But, in our conversation I soon realize she has gone Caroline Ingalls on us. Which is great, because I love doing things the old fashioned way. Or, at the very least learning how and never doing it again. But we were talking and she so bluntly says,"I've decided it's stupid to buy anything whose main ingredients are flour and water." I did the happy, amen dance! We'll keep you posted with pictures and our own personal critiques of our attempts at virtually everything from scratch. This will include soap, detergent, fabric softener and any food imaginable.
But, the trick will be to keep her and my other dear friend, Debi separated. Debi likes to do everything the "free" way. We made our own pots from newspapers to start our seeds in. Bet you can't guess where we got our newspapers...if you can't guess, you really should be reading this blog more.
I can see it now, poor MalPal, she'll be entertaining 8 boys while us mothers attempt true grit home making. I hope she doesn't see this, she'll be packing up and moving in with our neighbor Sarah. Have a blessed evening and stay tuned as we feature our attempted feats! Blessings!
Reflecting on Redemption (it's not just about the coupons...)
It's funny how some things just never cease to amaze you. Especially when it comes to human nature. You've all read it, I am guilty of dumpster diving and finding great coupons. It's something I'm not necessarily "proud" of, but I do think it is quite funny. I don't actually see myself as a dumpster diver, but I did grow in confidence when I discovered the Krazy Coupon Lady does it too! In fact, there are several of us in town that visit the recycling center to obtain coupons. It's not such a bad thing. We are, in fact, multi tasking. We drop off our recyclables and then we take a gander at the newspaper box. I can even honestly say that recycling has increased because of our little trips. And, even though I don't "dive" so often, I do still go once or twice a week to take my trash.
But here is the part that flabbergasts me. It's nothing short of it. There is a lady in our town that realized her coupons might be commandeered at the recycling center. So, now she THROWS THEM AWAY! This way no one can use her unwanted trash. So, yes, I am getting on my soapbox. I almost called her because I know this woman personally. She says she's community oriented. But how can someone who claims to care about their community and fellow brothers and sisters NOT?! Yes, coupons are a small part, even minimal but it could potentially bless a young mother trying to stay home and make ends meet. It could bless an older couple on a fixed income. Yes, the coupons are so minimal - but if she isn't even willing to share her unwanted coupons, then it makes one wonder how much she really would help someone in need.
It truly is sad how easily our selfish nature can shine through in each one of us. That isn't what God wants. That isn't what He did. His love, His generosity is so perfect. We can never be perfect, but we can be Christ-like as long as we are mindful and diligent in our actions. What have you done recently that could either be deemed as selfish or Christ-like? Which made you feel indignant? Which made you feel humbled? I know that when I am acting selfish I tend to feel overly righteous and can think of a million excuses as to why I acted the way I did. But, when I follow Christ's lead and do what He says, I am often in awe of His goodness and what He is able to do through me when I step back and let Him.
The world is short on kindness. We as Christians need to step outside of our comfort zone and be the way Jesus commands us to be. Lent is traditionally a time when we give up something which allows us extra time to reflect on Christ. However, it can very well be a time when we add something to our daily routine. It could be a devotion, prayer time or a simple good deed - particularly to a non-Christian. And, let's face it, there are plenty of people out there needing to not just know about Jesus, but to see Jesus work through your arms as you reach out and help them. Actions have always spoken louder than words. How loud will you be? Blessings.
But here is the part that flabbergasts me. It's nothing short of it. There is a lady in our town that realized her coupons might be commandeered at the recycling center. So, now she THROWS THEM AWAY! This way no one can use her unwanted trash. So, yes, I am getting on my soapbox. I almost called her because I know this woman personally. She says she's community oriented. But how can someone who claims to care about their community and fellow brothers and sisters NOT?! Yes, coupons are a small part, even minimal but it could potentially bless a young mother trying to stay home and make ends meet. It could bless an older couple on a fixed income. Yes, the coupons are so minimal - but if she isn't even willing to share her unwanted coupons, then it makes one wonder how much she really would help someone in need.
It truly is sad how easily our selfish nature can shine through in each one of us. That isn't what God wants. That isn't what He did. His love, His generosity is so perfect. We can never be perfect, but we can be Christ-like as long as we are mindful and diligent in our actions. What have you done recently that could either be deemed as selfish or Christ-like? Which made you feel indignant? Which made you feel humbled? I know that when I am acting selfish I tend to feel overly righteous and can think of a million excuses as to why I acted the way I did. But, when I follow Christ's lead and do what He says, I am often in awe of His goodness and what He is able to do through me when I step back and let Him.
The world is short on kindness. We as Christians need to step outside of our comfort zone and be the way Jesus commands us to be. Lent is traditionally a time when we give up something which allows us extra time to reflect on Christ. However, it can very well be a time when we add something to our daily routine. It could be a devotion, prayer time or a simple good deed - particularly to a non-Christian. And, let's face it, there are plenty of people out there needing to not just know about Jesus, but to see Jesus work through your arms as you reach out and help them. Actions have always spoken louder than words. How loud will you be? Blessings.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Gardening by the Seat of My Pants Part 2
Here are some tasks that you need to take care of before the new flowers and grasses start awakening and growing.
I hope that last fall/winter you allowed the leaves that cluttered your flower beds to remain there until now. The leaves provide a natural layer of protection. Also, decomposing leaves provide a nutrient that cannot be mimicked in the chemical retail world of fertilizers. It's time to clean out those flower beds.
I know, I don't like to go out in the cold either. However, it seems as though God thought of that aspect because it won't be quite so miserable out there when you are raking, shoveling and the like. I recommend removing all the leaves but the thin bottom layer. This layer has already started decomposing and your flowers are loving it - so don't take it away. Unless you have a growing ground cover that will soon come to life, I would recommend turning the soil with a shovel. The consists of taking your shovel, going parallel with the dirt and gather about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of dirt and flipping it over back where you got it from. Be mindful of the plants that are there but are small or may not have started growing yet. Just do this in the spots around your plants. This will not only hide that thin layer of mulch, but will essentially re-plant any seeds that may have fallen from your annuals.
This is also the opportune time to prune rose bushes that you may have. Now, if you're a rose expert, then I'd skip this paragraph OR gently correct me below. Remember I'm not an expert. I'm just giving live and learn advice. It is very important to buy rose food that will help your roses ward of diseases and feed them as well. I have also read that roses love banana peels. So, twice a year (early spring and mid summer) I chop up banana peels and place them in the soil around my roses. They aren't spitting them back at me, so I'll assume they love them.
If you have pampas grass, it too can be divided if you want to have more of it but are on a budget. Just break it up with a shovel and plant where you want. This is the time to cut the dead stalks down before the new green starts coming. I've seen people burn them, but that freaks me out. So, I use my hedge clippers - the electric ones work the best. Just be careful not to have too much fun and clip right through your extension cord. I almost did that once. Shhh. Don't tell Ted. I blame it on being a left hander in a right hand man's world! Or uncoordination. Go ahead, have fun - post all the possible reasons of why I would almost do something that stupid!
And last but not least, I suggest turning your compost pile. What?! You don't have a compost pile? Oh, you don't know what a compost pile is. . .my turn to laugh. I am not a die hard composter and I (again) don't know a lot about it. Surprised?! Don't be. Basically that's where all your dead leaves, grasses and garbage goes. No, not your trash - your garbage. That is your vegetable peels, egg shells and the like. Now, don't throw out your uneaten food or unidentifiable objects from the fridge - that won't make for healthy soil, only a gathering spot for critters in your backyard. One that has a compost pile either buys a fancy gadget or creates a cage like area to put it in. I'd suggest going to your local hardware store and purchasing some chicken wire or hog panels and simulate a tomato cage. My mother digs a hole. But, for those of you who may live in town with no fence - that may pose a liability issue should someone fall into the hole and break an ankle. Anyhow, you add as often as you have stuff to add, turn it with a shovel once in a while and then after a couple of years take the bottom layer and put it in with your gardens. It can smell bad, so be mindful of neighbors and don't put it too close your back door either. I'd suggest going to http://www.bulkherstore.com/ and purchasing the book "Let It Rot" by Stu Campbell. Or, better yet - click on our Amazon.com link and see if Amazon has it for cheap!
Now, I'm going to spill the beans on how I compost. Before I tell you, I want you to know that it drives my mom C-R-A-Z-Y! So, I wish I could see you all's faces when you read this! I have a back deck with flowers and bushes planted on each side of the stairs. All winter long I take my potato, carrot, cucumber, banana, orange and any other kind of peel and throw it onto my flower beds. That's right, I just dump them right on the ground. I even throw fruits or veggies that have gone bad out there. It's kinda gross, I know. But! It's cold outside and I don't want to go all the way behind the garage where the compost pile is (like 30 feet). I also empty out pickle juice and things that don't attract cats, coons, or skunks. My excuse is that because it is cold, you can't smell the stuff so it's OK. My reasoning is this, it dries out quickly and blends in well with the leaves. Also, I have the prettiest flower beds right by my deck. And, there's another reason for turning the soil in the spring - so when we are outside on the deck we see lovely flowers and lovely, rich black soil.
The moral of the story is this, it doesn't matter how you compose, but do it. The soil needs the nutrients back. It will save $$ on fertilizers and such. And we won't be filling up our trash bags with smelly rinds and peels. Let the worms do the work, not the sanitation workers!
Well, I'm out of "by my seat" advice. Until next time, many blessings your way!
I hope that last fall/winter you allowed the leaves that cluttered your flower beds to remain there until now. The leaves provide a natural layer of protection. Also, decomposing leaves provide a nutrient that cannot be mimicked in the chemical retail world of fertilizers. It's time to clean out those flower beds.
I know, I don't like to go out in the cold either. However, it seems as though God thought of that aspect because it won't be quite so miserable out there when you are raking, shoveling and the like. I recommend removing all the leaves but the thin bottom layer. This layer has already started decomposing and your flowers are loving it - so don't take it away. Unless you have a growing ground cover that will soon come to life, I would recommend turning the soil with a shovel. The consists of taking your shovel, going parallel with the dirt and gather about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of dirt and flipping it over back where you got it from. Be mindful of the plants that are there but are small or may not have started growing yet. Just do this in the spots around your plants. This will not only hide that thin layer of mulch, but will essentially re-plant any seeds that may have fallen from your annuals.
This is also the opportune time to prune rose bushes that you may have. Now, if you're a rose expert, then I'd skip this paragraph OR gently correct me below. Remember I'm not an expert. I'm just giving live and learn advice. It is very important to buy rose food that will help your roses ward of diseases and feed them as well. I have also read that roses love banana peels. So, twice a year (early spring and mid summer) I chop up banana peels and place them in the soil around my roses. They aren't spitting them back at me, so I'll assume they love them.
If you have pampas grass, it too can be divided if you want to have more of it but are on a budget. Just break it up with a shovel and plant where you want. This is the time to cut the dead stalks down before the new green starts coming. I've seen people burn them, but that freaks me out. So, I use my hedge clippers - the electric ones work the best. Just be careful not to have too much fun and clip right through your extension cord. I almost did that once. Shhh. Don't tell Ted. I blame it on being a left hander in a right hand man's world! Or uncoordination. Go ahead, have fun - post all the possible reasons of why I would almost do something that stupid!
And last but not least, I suggest turning your compost pile. What?! You don't have a compost pile? Oh, you don't know what a compost pile is. . .my turn to laugh. I am not a die hard composter and I (again) don't know a lot about it. Surprised?! Don't be. Basically that's where all your dead leaves, grasses and garbage goes. No, not your trash - your garbage. That is your vegetable peels, egg shells and the like. Now, don't throw out your uneaten food or unidentifiable objects from the fridge - that won't make for healthy soil, only a gathering spot for critters in your backyard. One that has a compost pile either buys a fancy gadget or creates a cage like area to put it in. I'd suggest going to your local hardware store and purchasing some chicken wire or hog panels and simulate a tomato cage. My mother digs a hole. But, for those of you who may live in town with no fence - that may pose a liability issue should someone fall into the hole and break an ankle. Anyhow, you add as often as you have stuff to add, turn it with a shovel once in a while and then after a couple of years take the bottom layer and put it in with your gardens. It can smell bad, so be mindful of neighbors and don't put it too close your back door either. I'd suggest going to http://www.bulkherstore.com/ and purchasing the book "Let It Rot" by Stu Campbell. Or, better yet - click on our Amazon.com link and see if Amazon has it for cheap!
Now, I'm going to spill the beans on how I compost. Before I tell you, I want you to know that it drives my mom C-R-A-Z-Y! So, I wish I could see you all's faces when you read this! I have a back deck with flowers and bushes planted on each side of the stairs. All winter long I take my potato, carrot, cucumber, banana, orange and any other kind of peel and throw it onto my flower beds. That's right, I just dump them right on the ground. I even throw fruits or veggies that have gone bad out there. It's kinda gross, I know. But! It's cold outside and I don't want to go all the way behind the garage where the compost pile is (like 30 feet). I also empty out pickle juice and things that don't attract cats, coons, or skunks. My excuse is that because it is cold, you can't smell the stuff so it's OK. My reasoning is this, it dries out quickly and blends in well with the leaves. Also, I have the prettiest flower beds right by my deck. And, there's another reason for turning the soil in the spring - so when we are outside on the deck we see lovely flowers and lovely, rich black soil.
The moral of the story is this, it doesn't matter how you compose, but do it. The soil needs the nutrients back. It will save $$ on fertilizers and such. And we won't be filling up our trash bags with smelly rinds and peels. Let the worms do the work, not the sanitation workers!
Well, I'm out of "by my seat" advice. Until next time, many blessings your way!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Gardening by the Seat of My Pants
I love to garden - I love flowers and vegetables. However, I don't always know what I'm doing. My neighbor can tell you the correct name of each plant that is grown in her yard. She is always pruning, fertilizing, making new starts. You name it and she does it at the exact time it needs to be done. Her knowledge is amazing and I do enjoy bouncing questions and thoughts off of her. She has yet to steer me wrong.
However. Then there's me. I like the idea of doing things properly, but I don't necessarily have the time to do them properly. I have run across many women who are completely "terrified" of putting something in the earth and watching it grow. It kind of cracks me up, because these women are mothers. They put little people on the earth and that's a WAY bigger responsibility than planting a flower or cucumber!
So, this blog is for those that are completely intimidated by the dirt in their yard. Because, if I can grow things that I don't even know what they are, then anyone can purposely grow what they want. I am referring to when we moved into our lovely bungalow four years ago. I've talked about how old it is. Well, another fun aspect of old houses is they also have old yards, meaning you just never know what's going to grow where. It's kind of like a treasure hunt. The previous owners weren't into lawn care at all, literally. Zero interest. The whole darn yard, a lot size of 75 feet by 150 feet, was crab grass and stickers. Well, once we started watering and fertilizing various plants started popping up their little heads. I found hostas, liriope grass in abundance, irises, grape hyacinths, tiger lillies and petunias. How did I not mow over this and not even notice these things popping up?
Well, I have a strange fetish of looking at the ground. It probably stems from being terrified of looking my step father in the eye, but it's there. Generally, unknown plants will start growing around trees, along boundary lines and near buildings. When I see something that I clearly recognize as not grass and possibly not a common weed I tend to let it grow for awhile. Since things bloom at different times, I patiently wait it out. However, if I don't like the way a plant is looking I will go ahead and dig it up. WHICH, leads me to a very funny story. . .
Just after moving into our home in May there was a strange plant growing on the south side of our house. The bigger it got, the more peculiar it started looking. And by peculiar, I mean it strongly resembled a marijuana plant. Honest. I asked my walking dictionary of a neighbor and she wasn't exactly sure what it was. She said it resembled an Hibiscus. I did NOT tell her my suspicions, after all she was a new neighbor. Then my mom came down a week or so later. The plant had not yet bloomed, nor did it have buds on it. It was also about 4 ft tall and very bushy with lots of leaves. I don't know anything about marijuana, but we've all seen the pictures of what the leaf looks like. I became more and more paranoid, as a police officer lives just down the block and the darn plant was getting bigger! But, I was too curious to dig it out. I was torn between possibly discovering an amazingly beautiful plant and getting arrested for nurturing a marijuana plant. Truly, I was torn. Anyway, my mom comes and for no specific reason other than she grew up in the 60's & 70's I asked her advice on the plant. She said she wasn't sure, but I should cut it down right away. Well, THAT freaked me out just a bit! That night a freak thunderstorm rolled through and it rained and the next morning, on my mystery plant were the most beautiful hibiscus blooms all over it. So, I have a strange variety of hibiscus whose leaves mimic exactly a marijuana plant, but has beautiful pink blooms every time it rains. Boy, am I glad I didn't cut it down.
Back to gardening. Here are a few basics that I've learned (now remember, there are people out there that know a whole lot more than me, I'm just giving you the meat). An annual plant is one that grows one year. They tend to bloom flowers all season right up until the frost in the fall. Annuals will also generally produce seeds for the next season unless they have been genetically altered. SO, I leave my annual flowers standing, all dead and brown through the winter. Then, early spring I clean out the stalks. I look for seeds. If there are seeds, I drop them where I want them. Weather will have naturally done this through the winter as well. Seeds are also a natural way to feed your birds through the winter - don't worry they know where to look for them. You can clear out your annual beds as early as a warm January or February day, just be sure if you want more of the same flowers in that spot that you allow the seeds to drop.
Perennial flowers are those that come back every year, but do not bloom an entire season. It's the same plant and if it hasn't been genetically altered will also make seeds. I don't know if this is correct, but in my mind I categorize hostas, irises, mums, lilies, cone flowers in this category. Each year, the plant gets bigger and may send up more blooms. There comes a point though, that the plant is too thick and literally seems to choke itself. It will no longer bloom and appears as a solid mat of foliage. When this happens, you need to dig it out, separate it and plant some elsewhere or give away what you don't want. The rule of thumb is generally to do this after they have bloomed. This way it doesn't stress the plant and you won't lose a season of beautiful blooms. I have however, moved lilies, liriope grass and mums in early spring and they still seem to bloom. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's OK, not really sure about that. The other thing is I do know that hostas are to be divided in May. Flowers like iris, hostas, liriope grass, lilies, tulips and hyacinths have a bulb inside the ground. These, every few years need to be dug up, broken into smaller bulbs and replanted for more room to grow. Carefully take the bulb and allow it to break "naturally" - once you check it out, you'll be able to use common sense of where it needs to break, so don't freak out about it. These are also flowers that are almost impossible to kill.
Vegetables are amazing. I can't imagine anyone who eats salad, salsa, or any tomato based food (spaghetti) would not have a few plants in their yard. First of all, I think they are pretty. There are tons of books on what to plant next to what and how to get the most space out of your yard. But, this can send you on information overload. Just go to your local greenhouse, discount store, hardware store or grocery store and buy at least 2 of every plant you want. Follow the instruction on the little plastic marker that is in the plant. Remember to water and watch it grow. Watch for bugs that look like they might do damage and pick your goodies. You can always expand your knowledge and figure out how to do it more efficiently but first things first - you must start by putting the little guys in the ground. If it truly was so hard to grow things, they wouldn't have survived all these thousands of years since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. Feel free to email me with questions or leave the question in the comment section. Blessings.
However. Then there's me. I like the idea of doing things properly, but I don't necessarily have the time to do them properly. I have run across many women who are completely "terrified" of putting something in the earth and watching it grow. It kind of cracks me up, because these women are mothers. They put little people on the earth and that's a WAY bigger responsibility than planting a flower or cucumber!
So, this blog is for those that are completely intimidated by the dirt in their yard. Because, if I can grow things that I don't even know what they are, then anyone can purposely grow what they want. I am referring to when we moved into our lovely bungalow four years ago. I've talked about how old it is. Well, another fun aspect of old houses is they also have old yards, meaning you just never know what's going to grow where. It's kind of like a treasure hunt. The previous owners weren't into lawn care at all, literally. Zero interest. The whole darn yard, a lot size of 75 feet by 150 feet, was crab grass and stickers. Well, once we started watering and fertilizing various plants started popping up their little heads. I found hostas, liriope grass in abundance, irises, grape hyacinths, tiger lillies and petunias. How did I not mow over this and not even notice these things popping up?
Well, I have a strange fetish of looking at the ground. It probably stems from being terrified of looking my step father in the eye, but it's there. Generally, unknown plants will start growing around trees, along boundary lines and near buildings. When I see something that I clearly recognize as not grass and possibly not a common weed I tend to let it grow for awhile. Since things bloom at different times, I patiently wait it out. However, if I don't like the way a plant is looking I will go ahead and dig it up. WHICH, leads me to a very funny story. . .
Just after moving into our home in May there was a strange plant growing on the south side of our house. The bigger it got, the more peculiar it started looking. And by peculiar, I mean it strongly resembled a marijuana plant. Honest. I asked my walking dictionary of a neighbor and she wasn't exactly sure what it was. She said it resembled an Hibiscus. I did NOT tell her my suspicions, after all she was a new neighbor. Then my mom came down a week or so later. The plant had not yet bloomed, nor did it have buds on it. It was also about 4 ft tall and very bushy with lots of leaves. I don't know anything about marijuana, but we've all seen the pictures of what the leaf looks like. I became more and more paranoid, as a police officer lives just down the block and the darn plant was getting bigger! But, I was too curious to dig it out. I was torn between possibly discovering an amazingly beautiful plant and getting arrested for nurturing a marijuana plant. Truly, I was torn. Anyway, my mom comes and for no specific reason other than she grew up in the 60's & 70's I asked her advice on the plant. She said she wasn't sure, but I should cut it down right away. Well, THAT freaked me out just a bit! That night a freak thunderstorm rolled through and it rained and the next morning, on my mystery plant were the most beautiful hibiscus blooms all over it. So, I have a strange variety of hibiscus whose leaves mimic exactly a marijuana plant, but has beautiful pink blooms every time it rains. Boy, am I glad I didn't cut it down.
Back to gardening. Here are a few basics that I've learned (now remember, there are people out there that know a whole lot more than me, I'm just giving you the meat). An annual plant is one that grows one year. They tend to bloom flowers all season right up until the frost in the fall. Annuals will also generally produce seeds for the next season unless they have been genetically altered. SO, I leave my annual flowers standing, all dead and brown through the winter. Then, early spring I clean out the stalks. I look for seeds. If there are seeds, I drop them where I want them. Weather will have naturally done this through the winter as well. Seeds are also a natural way to feed your birds through the winter - don't worry they know where to look for them. You can clear out your annual beds as early as a warm January or February day, just be sure if you want more of the same flowers in that spot that you allow the seeds to drop.
Perennial flowers are those that come back every year, but do not bloom an entire season. It's the same plant and if it hasn't been genetically altered will also make seeds. I don't know if this is correct, but in my mind I categorize hostas, irises, mums, lilies, cone flowers in this category. Each year, the plant gets bigger and may send up more blooms. There comes a point though, that the plant is too thick and literally seems to choke itself. It will no longer bloom and appears as a solid mat of foliage. When this happens, you need to dig it out, separate it and plant some elsewhere or give away what you don't want. The rule of thumb is generally to do this after they have bloomed. This way it doesn't stress the plant and you won't lose a season of beautiful blooms. I have however, moved lilies, liriope grass and mums in early spring and they still seem to bloom. Maybe it's luck, maybe it's OK, not really sure about that. The other thing is I do know that hostas are to be divided in May. Flowers like iris, hostas, liriope grass, lilies, tulips and hyacinths have a bulb inside the ground. These, every few years need to be dug up, broken into smaller bulbs and replanted for more room to grow. Carefully take the bulb and allow it to break "naturally" - once you check it out, you'll be able to use common sense of where it needs to break, so don't freak out about it. These are also flowers that are almost impossible to kill.
Vegetables are amazing. I can't imagine anyone who eats salad, salsa, or any tomato based food (spaghetti) would not have a few plants in their yard. First of all, I think they are pretty. There are tons of books on what to plant next to what and how to get the most space out of your yard. But, this can send you on information overload. Just go to your local greenhouse, discount store, hardware store or grocery store and buy at least 2 of every plant you want. Follow the instruction on the little plastic marker that is in the plant. Remember to water and watch it grow. Watch for bugs that look like they might do damage and pick your goodies. You can always expand your knowledge and figure out how to do it more efficiently but first things first - you must start by putting the little guys in the ground. If it truly was so hard to grow things, they wouldn't have survived all these thousands of years since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden. Feel free to email me with questions or leave the question in the comment section. Blessings.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mary Mary, quite contrary -
Where did your posts go?
Your baby's ears are red
And you haven't been to bed...
But we miss your charm and wit -
So please don't quit!
Anyone else out there miss Mary? I haven't even talked to her on the phone for days, so shoot up a prayer for sweet little baby boy and for momma too. He's been rather sick with ear infections, but I'm sure this will give her lots of material to post on!
My fondest memory of my darling daughter was when she was about a year and a half. She was terribly sick and had been running a temperature of about 100-103 for a couple of days. We basically did nothing but cuddle and rock during the whole time. She had even lost her voice and it sounded like a raspy whisper or a lot like those that have the voice translator they have to hold up to their neck to talk. Honest.
Late one night as I rock her and pray she woke up out of her sleep. I gave her a drink of water and she reached up and patted my cheek with her warm little toddler hand. Then she said, " Nice Mommy, Nice Mommy." Only, she didn't say the first letter of her words, so it sounded more like, "Ice Ommy, Ice Ommy." I will cherish that moment forever.
At that point, I knew without a doubt that God had truly appointed me to be her caretaker. Children are not accessories for your lifestyle that fit neatly by your side like a matching handbag. They are blessings from the Creator of the Universe. Nothing you do will ever be as important as raising your children with love, patience, acceptance, understanding, discipline, consequences for their actions, consistency and faith in Jesus Christ. Blessings.
Where did your posts go?
Your baby's ears are red
And you haven't been to bed...
But we miss your charm and wit -
So please don't quit!
Anyone else out there miss Mary? I haven't even talked to her on the phone for days, so shoot up a prayer for sweet little baby boy and for momma too. He's been rather sick with ear infections, but I'm sure this will give her lots of material to post on!
My fondest memory of my darling daughter was when she was about a year and a half. She was terribly sick and had been running a temperature of about 100-103 for a couple of days. We basically did nothing but cuddle and rock during the whole time. She had even lost her voice and it sounded like a raspy whisper or a lot like those that have the voice translator they have to hold up to their neck to talk. Honest.
Late one night as I rock her and pray she woke up out of her sleep. I gave her a drink of water and she reached up and patted my cheek with her warm little toddler hand. Then she said, " Nice Mommy, Nice Mommy." Only, she didn't say the first letter of her words, so it sounded more like, "Ice Ommy, Ice Ommy." I will cherish that moment forever.
At that point, I knew without a doubt that God had truly appointed me to be her caretaker. Children are not accessories for your lifestyle that fit neatly by your side like a matching handbag. They are blessings from the Creator of the Universe. Nothing you do will ever be as important as raising your children with love, patience, acceptance, understanding, discipline, consequences for their actions, consistency and faith in Jesus Christ. Blessings.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Martha's Meltdown
Yes, it happened. Just like in the Bible, I found myself shouting about how I needed help. Our lives have been extremely busy and I'm not sure how it happened but it seems as though every minute of every day is filled. It probably started last weekend when we traveled across the state of Kansas to go to a Junior Bible Quiz meet. It was great fun and the kids actually got first in the league. Then we headed home and my Sunday was full of worship and making chocolate covered strawberries & cherries (see previous post). Monday came and with work, a couple missed orders for Valentine's Day sweets, fiddle lessons, meeting, filling the order of missed sweets and packing up my husband to be gone for several days, I dropped into bed exhausted! The next couple days were filled with work, then sick child, painting exterior doors of our home (with help from friend) and play practice. Yes, we're in a play too. Thursday was finish painting, child is better, recycling, cleaning, couponing and husband comes home. Friday is friend appreciation day - where we invited our friends, the Calhouns over for dinner and a movie because we appreciated all their help the last couple of weeks. Saturday was Blue Grass Festival with Malorie performing and then grocery shopping with our college son, starting pepper seeds of various varieties, and eating out with the parents. We were also supposed to stop on the way home for a birthday party, but just too tired. Sunday was worship, cleaning up flower beds (not a whole lot of progress was made) and late night laundry and dishes. I was trying to take Mary's advice of no matter how tired you are, make sure your sink is shiny. UGH! Then, after that it was preparing for the board meeting that was the next day, UGH again! Monday - work, board meeting, 10 dozen brownies for a company's open house, fiddle, coupon class (skipped coupon exchange) and play practice. I should also mention that we have managed to do school during this time frame.
SO - last night, I became irritated at my husband when he's laying on the couch at 10PM and he didn't bring his cereal bowl (snack) to the kitchen and I had to go get it. The tears came. And, being a man he wants to just fix it - he doesn't want to listen to me vent or whine, he just wants it better immediately. Bless his heart. He did get up and wash dishes while I cried and complained. I was a first class whiner last night but, being a typical female, the more I talked the better I felt. I was reminded of Martha in the Book - how she became upset because she had completely lost sight of what was truly important. No, I don't feel as though I frittered any time away, as I have previously suggested that's why Martha was overwhelmed. But, I do know that I have taken off more than I can chew. The problem is what to tone down. . . do I slow down in the ministry that teaches women to coupon and essentially relieves stress in their homes and allows us to show them Christ's unconditional love for us? Do I quit my job? In my dreams, but not in the plans right now! Do I quit gardening? What?! And not have tomatoes to eat in the summer - not an option. Besides the hard, tedious part is over. At least until it's time to put those tomatoes and peppers in the ground. Do I quit the play? Nope. I LIKE pretending to be someone else and taking on someone else's pretend problems.
Well, I think that all will be fine as I sit here on Monday evening. I have accomplished it all today and I actually feel rather relaxed. Taking everything one step at a time, remembering to call on Jesus to help me from getting overwhelmed and doing what I do cheerfully is essential. Some weeks are better than others. Some weeks, just like this past one, a ton of tasks are accomplished. Then there are the weeks that you're lucky if your husband has clean underwear to wear to work. The hard part is not getting frustrated with lack of accomplishment or with having an overload. Oh, did I mention my son is getting married in 6 weeks?! Yeah, I'm crazy, I know - but it keeps life eventful! Blessings!
SO - last night, I became irritated at my husband when he's laying on the couch at 10PM and he didn't bring his cereal bowl (snack) to the kitchen and I had to go get it. The tears came. And, being a man he wants to just fix it - he doesn't want to listen to me vent or whine, he just wants it better immediately. Bless his heart. He did get up and wash dishes while I cried and complained. I was a first class whiner last night but, being a typical female, the more I talked the better I felt. I was reminded of Martha in the Book - how she became upset because she had completely lost sight of what was truly important. No, I don't feel as though I frittered any time away, as I have previously suggested that's why Martha was overwhelmed. But, I do know that I have taken off more than I can chew. The problem is what to tone down. . . do I slow down in the ministry that teaches women to coupon and essentially relieves stress in their homes and allows us to show them Christ's unconditional love for us? Do I quit my job? In my dreams, but not in the plans right now! Do I quit gardening? What?! And not have tomatoes to eat in the summer - not an option. Besides the hard, tedious part is over. At least until it's time to put those tomatoes and peppers in the ground. Do I quit the play? Nope. I LIKE pretending to be someone else and taking on someone else's pretend problems.
Well, I think that all will be fine as I sit here on Monday evening. I have accomplished it all today and I actually feel rather relaxed. Taking everything one step at a time, remembering to call on Jesus to help me from getting overwhelmed and doing what I do cheerfully is essential. Some weeks are better than others. Some weeks, just like this past one, a ton of tasks are accomplished. Then there are the weeks that you're lucky if your husband has clean underwear to wear to work. The hard part is not getting frustrated with lack of accomplishment or with having an overload. Oh, did I mention my son is getting married in 6 weeks?! Yeah, I'm crazy, I know - but it keeps life eventful! Blessings!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Spring Street Sweets
Several years ago, I took cake decorating classes and have done cakes off and on. However, cake decorating stresses me out to a whole different level and the worst of "Martha" comes out. I do enjoy it for myself and family and I have never had a total failure/flop. But with that being my biggest fear - I decided long ago the stress really isn't worth it.
But, this candy making and goody baking thing is really my cup of tea! After all, if a strawberry is ugly I can either attempt to remove the ugly design or just eat it! This week I am making brownies for a company and their open house event. I'm not sure why I think that this is less stressful than cakes but it could be the time involved with cake decorating - if you mess it up, you are looking at many more hours to fix it.
The cake decorating class was well worth the investment though. I have not hired a cake done and have done various Christmas parties and even did birthday cakes for Martina McBride's dad. For those of you who do not know who Martina McBride is, shame on you! Google her right now. Seriously. For those of you that do know her - well, my husband dated her and took her to prom. Oh, but that's totally off subject.
I would encourage those of you out there to take a cake decorating class, if anything you will learn some techniques, have a great time and make some yummy cake assignments your family gets to eat. Blessings.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Trading dough for dough
My favorite small kitchen appliance would have to be the breadmaker. Many choose the kitchenaid mixer, coffeepot or the food processor. I however, adore my breadmaker. Mostly because of the large amounts of money it saves me each day.
A loaf of bread, the real whole wheat healthy kind costs well over $3 at the grocery store. I can stick in all the ingredients and press one buttom - voila! I have bread. Even if I just put it on the dough cycle, while it is mixing, kneading, rising and kneading some more I can accomplish a mountain of tasks. I can vaccuum, do my make up, rearrange a sock drawer, fold and put away a load of laundry and clean the kitchen. Then I hear the magical beep that means it is my turn to take over. I take out the dough place in a pan or roll into a french loaf and with 10 - 15 minutes of letting it rise and baking it for 20 more minutes in the oven I have amazing, home made bread. Plus, the cost of making a loaf of bread (aside from electricity) is about 40 cents. Which means every time I make a loaf of bread I have saved $2.60. Now, if we want to take that further I have saved about $7.80 per week and $405.60 in a year's time! Not to mention all the times I take that dough, roll it out add some cinnamon and sugar, roll it back up, cut it, put it in a pan and call it cinnamon rolls rather than buying them.
The part I love the most is the fact that while this strange small appliance is banging away and making all sorts of strange noises it is doing all the work and saving me serious dough (pun intended) while I run around and do other things. No more flour smudged face, tired arms and frustration. Not for me - I use the amazing bread machine! This is definitely one appliance, should it ever quit, I will make a point to purchase another right away.
Some pointers would be to look for bread machines that come with a cookbook so you aren't buying expensive preboxed bread mixes from the store. Also, look for bread machines that may have a multipurpose, mine also has the ability to make butter - and different recipes of butter are also included in the cookbook. Look for one that has the multiple cycles as well. This way you can take the dough out when it is finished to do other things or leave it in to bake inside the machine. Feel free to check out our Amazon links and search for various bread machines. Blessings.
A loaf of bread, the real whole wheat healthy kind costs well over $3 at the grocery store. I can stick in all the ingredients and press one buttom - voila! I have bread. Even if I just put it on the dough cycle, while it is mixing, kneading, rising and kneading some more I can accomplish a mountain of tasks. I can vaccuum, do my make up, rearrange a sock drawer, fold and put away a load of laundry and clean the kitchen. Then I hear the magical beep that means it is my turn to take over. I take out the dough place in a pan or roll into a french loaf and with 10 - 15 minutes of letting it rise and baking it for 20 more minutes in the oven I have amazing, home made bread. Plus, the cost of making a loaf of bread (aside from electricity) is about 40 cents. Which means every time I make a loaf of bread I have saved $2.60. Now, if we want to take that further I have saved about $7.80 per week and $405.60 in a year's time! Not to mention all the times I take that dough, roll it out add some cinnamon and sugar, roll it back up, cut it, put it in a pan and call it cinnamon rolls rather than buying them.
The part I love the most is the fact that while this strange small appliance is banging away and making all sorts of strange noises it is doing all the work and saving me serious dough (pun intended) while I run around and do other things. No more flour smudged face, tired arms and frustration. Not for me - I use the amazing bread machine! This is definitely one appliance, should it ever quit, I will make a point to purchase another right away.
Some pointers would be to look for bread machines that come with a cookbook so you aren't buying expensive preboxed bread mixes from the store. Also, look for bread machines that may have a multipurpose, mine also has the ability to make butter - and different recipes of butter are also included in the cookbook. Look for one that has the multiple cycles as well. This way you can take the dough out when it is finished to do other things or leave it in to bake inside the machine. Feel free to check out our Amazon links and search for various bread machines. Blessings.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Well, this next winter weather storm is hitting us - about the same time that we are experiencing some serious spring fever. Go figure. Today has been very difficult keeping my daughter on task with her schooling as she flits about from subject to subject. I can't even keep up long enough to teach her and she's off on another assignment. That is probably one downfall of the sliding drawer system, she can jump around as much as she pleases. Generally, it isn't a problem but today it certainly is. Fortunately, she has managed to complete everything except her solar system - we're making a mobile. First comes the decorating of the planets (girls are so much fun). Because, you know, we have to make them all pretty and sparkly. She has also made a Valentine's Day mobile. I sense a theme in her mind, I wonder how many things will be hanging from hooks and such before this phase passes. . .
I think I have "caught" the random bug, because now I want to talk about my new EdenPURE heater. It FINALLY came yesterday. It is so quiet and keeps our drafty living room warm. I love it! We have eight windows in our family room that are original to the home and even though there are storm windows on the outside that are fairly new, it is still drafty. I am anxious to compare utility bills now. I promise to keep you posted, because EdenPURE sure promises affordability.
Next. My dear friend Debi & I gardened together last year and we both learned a lot. This year we have decided to start our little tomatoes from seeds rather than waiting and buying them from Lowes for buy one get one free. That was a really great deal, except a majority of the tomatoes were mislabeled and we ended up with about 15 cherry tomato plants. The kids loved them, but honestly, by the end of August we were all feeling the, "if I see one more cherry tomato, I'm gonna scream!" syndrome. Plus, because there were so many of them and not of the large tomatoes, it really cut back on our ability to preserve for the winter. So we went through the site www.pennystomatoes.com and purchased organic tomato seeds very reasonably. She also threw in a couple packs of free seeds as well. The benefit to the organic seeds is, because they haven't been genetically altered, we will be able to harvest seeds at the end of the season and grow from them next winter. We also purchased from Penny's compatriot, Pepper Joe at www.pepperjoe.com for jalapenos for the pickle recipe. The next step in the process is to make our own seed pots. That's right, we're not buying jiffy pots from the local hardware/discount store. We're making our own using newspapers. This was certainly a venture Debi started, but like most things that Debi starts - it will be a fantastic venture that will work marvelously. I will get you the link on how to make them, I know it is on you tube.
As I look outside and see the blustery cold, I realize I would have made a terrible, terrible pioneer wife. It is easy to fantasize about the simpler times, but in all honesty they were not simple. Sometimes I feel like a slave to the cell phone, utility bills, vehicle expenses and long for just a roof and a few belongings and the quiet. But, do I? Not really. I can't imagine having no contact with my friends except for on special occasions. And not because of just lack of transportation, but because there was just no time for it. We really, truly have it so easy. Unfortunately the demands of technology can really pull us until we feel like Gumby, but even then it is so easy to eliminate the stress. If we really wanted to. After all, the phones could be unplugged or shut off. Same goes for internet and television. But if we lived 150 years ago, we'd have to make our own soap from water we carried from the nearby stream, feed our animals and kill them to eat them. We'd have to walk or ride to town in a rough wagon pulled by work animals. Our homes would be cold. Have you ever stopped to think about how cold their houses were in the winter. Fuel to burn would have been precious and you wouldn't want to waste it because you felt chilled. You needed it to cook on and all sorts of things. Everything had a multi-purpose and if it didn't then it wasn't worth having. A true definition of wants and needs was established and hardly ever crossed. Well, something to think about anyhow...
I think I have "caught" the random bug, because now I want to talk about my new EdenPURE heater. It FINALLY came yesterday. It is so quiet and keeps our drafty living room warm. I love it! We have eight windows in our family room that are original to the home and even though there are storm windows on the outside that are fairly new, it is still drafty. I am anxious to compare utility bills now. I promise to keep you posted, because EdenPURE sure promises affordability.
Next. My dear friend Debi & I gardened together last year and we both learned a lot. This year we have decided to start our little tomatoes from seeds rather than waiting and buying them from Lowes for buy one get one free. That was a really great deal, except a majority of the tomatoes were mislabeled and we ended up with about 15 cherry tomato plants. The kids loved them, but honestly, by the end of August we were all feeling the, "if I see one more cherry tomato, I'm gonna scream!" syndrome. Plus, because there were so many of them and not of the large tomatoes, it really cut back on our ability to preserve for the winter. So we went through the site www.pennystomatoes.com and purchased organic tomato seeds very reasonably. She also threw in a couple packs of free seeds as well. The benefit to the organic seeds is, because they haven't been genetically altered, we will be able to harvest seeds at the end of the season and grow from them next winter. We also purchased from Penny's compatriot, Pepper Joe at www.pepperjoe.com for jalapenos for the pickle recipe. The next step in the process is to make our own seed pots. That's right, we're not buying jiffy pots from the local hardware/discount store. We're making our own using newspapers. This was certainly a venture Debi started, but like most things that Debi starts - it will be a fantastic venture that will work marvelously. I will get you the link on how to make them, I know it is on you tube.
As I look outside and see the blustery cold, I realize I would have made a terrible, terrible pioneer wife. It is easy to fantasize about the simpler times, but in all honesty they were not simple. Sometimes I feel like a slave to the cell phone, utility bills, vehicle expenses and long for just a roof and a few belongings and the quiet. But, do I? Not really. I can't imagine having no contact with my friends except for on special occasions. And not because of just lack of transportation, but because there was just no time for it. We really, truly have it so easy. Unfortunately the demands of technology can really pull us until we feel like Gumby, but even then it is so easy to eliminate the stress. If we really wanted to. After all, the phones could be unplugged or shut off. Same goes for internet and television. But if we lived 150 years ago, we'd have to make our own soap from water we carried from the nearby stream, feed our animals and kill them to eat them. We'd have to walk or ride to town in a rough wagon pulled by work animals. Our homes would be cold. Have you ever stopped to think about how cold their houses were in the winter. Fuel to burn would have been precious and you wouldn't want to waste it because you felt chilled. You needed it to cook on and all sorts of things. Everything had a multi-purpose and if it didn't then it wasn't worth having. A true definition of wants and needs was established and hardly ever crossed. Well, something to think about anyhow...
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Follow, follow, follow, follow . . . follow Mary n Martha! (to the tune of "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"
OK ladies (and gents) - we know you're out there because we see the stats! Go ahead & sign up because we're just ITCHING to give away! Check out Mary's Gizmo & Gadget page 'cause we're giving away the laminator she featured - that's right! It's great, it works and it's REALLY fun to play with. Don't worry, yours is new but we each have one and the possibilities are endless. I have made a 'cursive license' for my daughter because she was so proud of completing 2 complete cursive books. It is complete with her name, date and picture. I have also laminated many blue grass festival certificates for her (she plays the violin).
It's super easy, just click on the follow button above the list of our current followers. I do think you need a google, hotmail or yahoo account - so set one up if you don't have one already. Don't worry, it's free.
We adore our readers, fellow bloggers and followers. It is such a blessing to share our experiences and ideas with all of you. Blessings!
It's super easy, just click on the follow button above the list of our current followers. I do think you need a google, hotmail or yahoo account - so set one up if you don't have one already. Don't worry, it's free.
We adore our readers, fellow bloggers and followers. It is such a blessing to share our experiences and ideas with all of you. Blessings!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Reduce - Reuse - Recycle . . . It works!
So, I've felt a little guilty over the years since we have moved to town that I didn't recycle. I know, it's sad and disgraceful. But, in my mind it was just one more thing to do. I tend to shut down and self sabotage when I 'm on overload.
Several months ago, I started recycling. Not on purpose (being honest), but because I had started 'dumpster diving' with a friend for coupons. Seriously. After about the third or fourth time, I realized I could participate in this civic duty of recycling and it would give me a more legitimate excuse to be there. It also gave my daughter something to do while I was digging through the papers. She went around and located the proper bin to put all our once trash, now recyclables in.
Now, I am in awe that my recycle pile is larger than my actual trash pile is each week. We don't have a trash compactor, but still our family generates about 1 bag each week that the wonderful sanitation workers pick up.
Speaking of our sanitation workers, I think they are just great. It's such an unpleasant job in my opinion but they are there, every day without fail. Every week the carry away my trash and I feel literally feel joy as they drive away leaving my dumpster empty. I guess it's because they help carry away the gunk I don't know what to do with. Our guys here in town are super friendly, always waving and polite. It helps that we live in a small town. They have even gotten my dumpster a time or two when I've forgotten to take it to the curb. Now, that's service!
On to reusing, I have never been a fan of this. We were extremely poor growing up so mom washed and reused everything - even disposable products if possible. So, as an adult I have rejected this idea, until lately. I haven't taken it to the extreme that my mother had, but I do reuse the same Ziploc bag for my home made sliced bread and things like that. I also use the same Ziploc bag for crushing cracker crumbs until there are holes in it - I just store it in the cabinet under the cracker box. If I'm out of Ziploc bags, I'll transfer cereal to a Tupperware container and use the bag from the cereal to crush the crumbs in.
Anyhow, this short little blog is basically meant to encourage you to recycle as well. My recycle pile is simple - I use a laundry basket and if it exceeds the basket (which it often does) then I use an empty storage tote. My daughter collapses all the boxes and such to use as little space in the basket as possible. This gives her ownership of the recycling pile and she distributes it all without fail and loves doing it. Who'd have thought that recycling could bring a child such joy!? But I'd be kidding myself if I didn't admit that I like it also. It lightens the load of my beloved sanitation workers, lightens the load of the landfill and lightens the load on my conscience! Keep it simple, but go ahead and try it if you're not already doing it! I hear the trash truck now! Blessings!
Several months ago, I started recycling. Not on purpose (being honest), but because I had started 'dumpster diving' with a friend for coupons. Seriously. After about the third or fourth time, I realized I could participate in this civic duty of recycling and it would give me a more legitimate excuse to be there. It also gave my daughter something to do while I was digging through the papers. She went around and located the proper bin to put all our once trash, now recyclables in.
Now, I am in awe that my recycle pile is larger than my actual trash pile is each week. We don't have a trash compactor, but still our family generates about 1 bag each week that the wonderful sanitation workers pick up.
Speaking of our sanitation workers, I think they are just great. It's such an unpleasant job in my opinion but they are there, every day without fail. Every week the carry away my trash and I feel literally feel joy as they drive away leaving my dumpster empty. I guess it's because they help carry away the gunk I don't know what to do with. Our guys here in town are super friendly, always waving and polite. It helps that we live in a small town. They have even gotten my dumpster a time or two when I've forgotten to take it to the curb. Now, that's service!
On to reusing, I have never been a fan of this. We were extremely poor growing up so mom washed and reused everything - even disposable products if possible. So, as an adult I have rejected this idea, until lately. I haven't taken it to the extreme that my mother had, but I do reuse the same Ziploc bag for my home made sliced bread and things like that. I also use the same Ziploc bag for crushing cracker crumbs until there are holes in it - I just store it in the cabinet under the cracker box. If I'm out of Ziploc bags, I'll transfer cereal to a Tupperware container and use the bag from the cereal to crush the crumbs in.
Anyhow, this short little blog is basically meant to encourage you to recycle as well. My recycle pile is simple - I use a laundry basket and if it exceeds the basket (which it often does) then I use an empty storage tote. My daughter collapses all the boxes and such to use as little space in the basket as possible. This gives her ownership of the recycling pile and she distributes it all without fail and loves doing it. Who'd have thought that recycling could bring a child such joy!? But I'd be kidding myself if I didn't admit that I like it also. It lightens the load of my beloved sanitation workers, lightens the load of the landfill and lightens the load on my conscience! Keep it simple, but go ahead and try it if you're not already doing it! I hear the trash truck now! Blessings!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Season of Life
Mary is busy dealing with a sick baby and I seem to have total writer's block! Go figure. Usually I have plenty to say and certainly plenty of opinions to offer but the inkwell has run dry.
Becoming a published author is something that I have always wanted to be. It's kind of crazy but I have known since I was about 8. However, I know that now is not the time in my life where I can do that. I am busy researching curriculum and the like - who has time for researching the Dark Ages...
I often marvel at the fact that I am now middle aged and teenagers see me as old. But, I enjoy each season of life that I am given. I can honestly say I don't lament about the years gone by too much but look forward to each day.
There is a season for everything, unfortunately in today's society we are taught that we need to do it all, RIGHT NOW! How sad. A young mother of toddlers and babies should focus on that. Churches should not make them feel guilty for not volunteering in the nursery. Schools desparate for volunteers should not ask them to help with fundraisers. Civic organizations should find someone else. But, what do you do when they expect it of you. Living in a small town has that effect. Everyone knows who they can count on and who they dare not ask.
As a young mother with pre teen stepsons, I felt pulled in many directions and am very thankful that the other moms completely respected my inability to volunteer at the time. However, as my daughter grew and my stepsons entered high school, I knew it time to make up for lost time.
Be careful to evaluate what you are saying yes to. Is it the right season for it? A very wise friend once told me that every time you say yes to someone on the phone, you are in fact, saying no to your family. Think about that - each time you volunteer - if your whole family isn't involved then you may be spending a meal away from them and at the very least time away from them. So when you volunteer, do your best to involve your family so that memories can be made together. If they are too young to help, then it probably isn't your 'season' yet. Blessings!
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Becoming a published author is something that I have always wanted to be. It's kind of crazy but I have known since I was about 8. However, I know that now is not the time in my life where I can do that. I am busy researching curriculum and the like - who has time for researching the Dark Ages...
I often marvel at the fact that I am now middle aged and teenagers see me as old. But, I enjoy each season of life that I am given. I can honestly say I don't lament about the years gone by too much but look forward to each day.
There is a season for everything, unfortunately in today's society we are taught that we need to do it all, RIGHT NOW! How sad. A young mother of toddlers and babies should focus on that. Churches should not make them feel guilty for not volunteering in the nursery. Schools desparate for volunteers should not ask them to help with fundraisers. Civic organizations should find someone else. But, what do you do when they expect it of you. Living in a small town has that effect. Everyone knows who they can count on and who they dare not ask.
As a young mother with pre teen stepsons, I felt pulled in many directions and am very thankful that the other moms completely respected my inability to volunteer at the time. However, as my daughter grew and my stepsons entered high school, I knew it time to make up for lost time.
Be careful to evaluate what you are saying yes to. Is it the right season for it? A very wise friend once told me that every time you say yes to someone on the phone, you are in fact, saying no to your family. Think about that - each time you volunteer - if your whole family isn't involved then you may be spending a meal away from them and at the very least time away from them. So when you volunteer, do your best to involve your family so that memories can be made together. If they are too young to help, then it probably isn't your 'season' yet. Blessings!
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Triumph!
Many of you know that I have been in quite the slump. However, as I wind down on this Saturday evening and reflect on the week, I realize that I have made many triumphs which leads me to feel victorious. I don't want to seem prideful but it's been a good week.
Ever notice when there are a ton of little "tasks" that need to be done it tends to leave you feeling grumpy or like you're climbing up a mountain barefoot? That's how I've been feeling for quite a while. With the impending marriage of my oldest stepson, I really want our home in tip-top shape. Only, when I look around, I see nothing but the i's that need dotted and the t's that need crossed. The many little tasks actually seem more daunting than a major remodel at this point. What do to? Where to begin? Maybe I'll just go scrub the toilet . . . No, wait, start working on the list. So, to the basement I head in hopes of finding a fairly clean and not overly used paintbrush and that dark chocolate brown paint I bought a couple years ago.
Paintbrush. Check. Paint. Check. Paint can opener - MIA. Flatblade screwdriver. That's easy, my husband owns stock in Sears (I'm pretty sure of it).
Three years ago we did a major kitchen remodel. I mean major - took out 2 walls, one of which was a supporting wall, created beams to withstand the weight, moved the plumbing and electrical. What we didn't do is replace the windows. The trim had been painted several times, so to match all the new woodwork, I simply purchased chocolate chip brown paint by Valspar which matches exactly, just without the woodgrain. I remember it was homecoming night for the high school and my son Corey's senior year. And I thought I could paint the trim before the game. I did. Except one of the windows was open about three inches and once I realized it - I had to let it go until the paint dried before I could close the window and paint the remainder of the green trim to brown. Who'd have thought it took paint three years to dry. . . hmmmm. No, not really it just took me three years to get back to it!
Next the paint can journeys to our master bedroom. When we purchased the house, this room was sponge painted pink and blue with the trim being painted John Deere green. Anyone who knows our family knows that color on anything (and especially a tractor, combine or any other farm equipment) is completely unacceptable. Before we moved in, I painted the room a deep forest green, but didn't ever get around to the trim. In fact, I hung curtains and "forgot" about it. But not really. Another one of those things that eats on you while you pretend it's something you just don't have time for. After all, not many people actually see your bedroom.
I do need to back up a little bit. What sparked this sudden burst of energy began one day when I went to open the blinds in my bedroom to let the sun in and the curtain fell down. Just like that. So, the way I saw it was why hang the curtain up with the trim needing to be painted and why not paint the window in the kitchen and get rid of that too? Funny how one little thing can truly start a cataclysmic set of events.
Since that fateful day I have stained 2 doors that we replaced a year ago but never stained, sanded down woodwork that had paint drippings on it and re stained those as well. I have also sanded the vanity in the bathroom and stained to match the woodwork in the house, painted 2 of the exterior doors and started chipping off paint on our porch to be repainted this spring. I have also all but completed our taxes of both our personal and farming - just need to send them to our accountant within this time frame. Our family has not eaten out during this and we have home schooled every day and prepared for the next Junior Bible Quiz meet as well. Did I mention that I worked about 30 hours a week the last few weeks? This is why I feel as though I have climbed that mountain of projects. It is so freeing. I think back and wonder why in the world I put those little mundane jobs off for so long. I want to encourage you to chip away at your to-do list but not to be like me. Don't wait for the curtain to fall - don't be the hare in the race, be the tortoise. Do your tasks as they come along so that you aren't overwhelmed or dreading them as they mount up. And most of all, don't expect the impossible of yourself - be yourself and be the best you that you can be! Blessings - I think I'll go crochet an afghan for my son and his future wife (just kidding, though I'd love to!) !
Ever notice when there are a ton of little "tasks" that need to be done it tends to leave you feeling grumpy or like you're climbing up a mountain barefoot? That's how I've been feeling for quite a while. With the impending marriage of my oldest stepson, I really want our home in tip-top shape. Only, when I look around, I see nothing but the i's that need dotted and the t's that need crossed. The many little tasks actually seem more daunting than a major remodel at this point. What do to? Where to begin? Maybe I'll just go scrub the toilet . . . No, wait, start working on the list. So, to the basement I head in hopes of finding a fairly clean and not overly used paintbrush and that dark chocolate brown paint I bought a couple years ago.
Paintbrush. Check. Paint. Check. Paint can opener - MIA. Flatblade screwdriver. That's easy, my husband owns stock in Sears (I'm pretty sure of it).
Three years ago we did a major kitchen remodel. I mean major - took out 2 walls, one of which was a supporting wall, created beams to withstand the weight, moved the plumbing and electrical. What we didn't do is replace the windows. The trim had been painted several times, so to match all the new woodwork, I simply purchased chocolate chip brown paint by Valspar which matches exactly, just without the woodgrain. I remember it was homecoming night for the high school and my son Corey's senior year. And I thought I could paint the trim before the game. I did. Except one of the windows was open about three inches and once I realized it - I had to let it go until the paint dried before I could close the window and paint the remainder of the green trim to brown. Who'd have thought it took paint three years to dry. . . hmmmm. No, not really it just took me three years to get back to it!
Next the paint can journeys to our master bedroom. When we purchased the house, this room was sponge painted pink and blue with the trim being painted John Deere green. Anyone who knows our family knows that color on anything (and especially a tractor, combine or any other farm equipment) is completely unacceptable. Before we moved in, I painted the room a deep forest green, but didn't ever get around to the trim. In fact, I hung curtains and "forgot" about it. But not really. Another one of those things that eats on you while you pretend it's something you just don't have time for. After all, not many people actually see your bedroom.
I do need to back up a little bit. What sparked this sudden burst of energy began one day when I went to open the blinds in my bedroom to let the sun in and the curtain fell down. Just like that. So, the way I saw it was why hang the curtain up with the trim needing to be painted and why not paint the window in the kitchen and get rid of that too? Funny how one little thing can truly start a cataclysmic set of events.
Since that fateful day I have stained 2 doors that we replaced a year ago but never stained, sanded down woodwork that had paint drippings on it and re stained those as well. I have also sanded the vanity in the bathroom and stained to match the woodwork in the house, painted 2 of the exterior doors and started chipping off paint on our porch to be repainted this spring. I have also all but completed our taxes of both our personal and farming - just need to send them to our accountant within this time frame. Our family has not eaten out during this and we have home schooled every day and prepared for the next Junior Bible Quiz meet as well. Did I mention that I worked about 30 hours a week the last few weeks? This is why I feel as though I have climbed that mountain of projects. It is so freeing. I think back and wonder why in the world I put those little mundane jobs off for so long. I want to encourage you to chip away at your to-do list but not to be like me. Don't wait for the curtain to fall - don't be the hare in the race, be the tortoise. Do your tasks as they come along so that you aren't overwhelmed or dreading them as they mount up. And most of all, don't expect the impossible of yourself - be yourself and be the best you that you can be! Blessings - I think I'll go crochet an afghan for my son and his future wife (just kidding, though I'd love to!) !
Monday, January 24, 2011
Loss, Pain and Hope
I have struggled with writing about this topic for quite some time. I'm not sure if I'm ready or if I can do it justice or if it will even help a single soul out there, but at the same time I feel called to write. It's such a hard topic but my adult life has been coupled with infertility and an inability to carry a child to term. In fact, I am feeling rather emotional because I should be about 36 weeks right now - but at 12 1/2 weeks I miscarried after a complete unexpected yet joyful discovery.
The first four years of our marriage I struggled with an inability to conceive, we went to fertility specialists and everything was 'textbook' perfect. Even doctors who didn't seem to have much faith said it just wasn't part of the plan at the time. That honestly was what they told us. The struggle was amplified by raising my husbands two sons from a previous marriage. They were/are great kids but it was hard to be infertile and have to deal with "someone else's" kids every day. That may seem harsh to some readers, but that's how it was. I didn't treat them poorly or with hate. I treated them with much love and patience. They were boys after all, and we all know how much adventure comes with little boys!
I remember when Kristi called me to tell me she was expecting their first baby. I was so happy for her, but at the same time completely devastated. I sobbed in my closet for what seemed like hours. I begged God to forgive my feelings but at the same time feeling as though everything under my feet was crumbling. Kristi was a great friend though. She was extremely sensitive to the situation (probably too much) and never expected me to act a certain way. When she was six months along, I found out I was expecting.
Almost as quickly as I had learned about my pregnancy, it ended. It was so hard, but finally I felt free because everything changed. I could get pregnant. There was hope! When Kristi's baby made his appearance, it was thrilling and I could truly be happy for her. Just days after his birth, I discovered I was pregnant again.
Pregnancy for me is no picnic. I literally threw up almost every day and often times many, many times a day. I only gained 17 pounds during my pregnancy. And, as weird as it sounds the one thing that wouldn't give me heartburn or make me throw up was a chili cheese hotdog with jalepenos, onions and mustard. I'm not kidding. Giant dill pickles helped too. My former supervisor/ loan officer at the bank I worked at used to go across the street and buy me Klondike bars. Those helped too.
Soon, my baby girl - the one I prayed for and hoped for and begged God for came into our lives. Being a mom for me was a must. Not everyone feels this way. But, God knew my heart and knew I needed her. During the first four years of infertility I made a very conscious effort not to be bitter towards my stepsons for being someone else's. But, it was a conscious effort. Satan was very good at deceiving me and putting feel sorry for myself thoughts in my head. I did struggle with the whole aspect of why a woman who didn't want to take care of her kids could seem to pop them out left and right. I still do - hey, I'm just being honest here.
Since having my daughter, I have experienced three more miscarriages. Tests have been run and there is no other apparent reason other than it's not meant to be. I do think that God has given me an unbelievable dose of understanding and strength. Which leads me to think there must be women out there that I can minister to by telling my story. I don't know. This last miscarriage really rocked my world though. It had been about 4 years since the last one and I really felt that there were no more babies or conceptions in my future. I'm getting old. Then, it dawns on me that I had been missing something for a couple of months! At first it was, "oh my goodness!" Then it was, "OH MY GOODNESS!" But all in a good way. Of course I knew I 'd be getting some backlash from by husband's family - he's the baby of 7 and he was 46...but we were OK with it, so it really didn't matter to us. Instead of morning sickness, I was sick most of the night and saw it as a good sign. Then it happened. It's funny how people can be insensitive without meaning to. I had one friend ask why I told people so early - I guess it was early, especially for my track record. But I was so excited and surprised and I've never been good at keeping my secrets. I told my friends at about 10 weeks. I was sick, I thought it would all be OK. Then, one day at the pool, I was still going through the process, but took MalPal to swim with Kristi and her brood - another friend came up and started in on "I heard our doctor is going to stop delivering babies - if that's the case I'm going to work on #4 right away" Well, that was my OB doctor too and it just really hurt to the core of my being. It didn't at that moment, but it has over time.
I know that people don't know what to say in any situation regarding loss. And, to those that have never experienced a miscarriage, it doesn't even seem like it was a real loss. But, for those of you that haven't had to suffer through one, it is a loss. It is something that makes us hopeful mommys feel inadequate. I suffered hugely about what I did wrong during my pregnancy. I didn't even drink my 1/2 cup of coffee, took my vitamins and ate lots of organic (from my own garden) vegetables. I slept, moderately exercised and went to the doctor immediately at 8 weeks to have blood work done to ensure all was well. And still, I lost the baby. To think that, as a mother, you can't even protect your baby when it's in the safest place on earth - it's heartwrenching, bone chilling painful. So, when someone you know loses a baby - no matter how far along they are- just give them a hug and let them cry. Some may need to vent and allow them to, but please be mindful of what you say. Because what you say in this time of crisis for them will stay with them forever.
At the urging of my dear friend Kristi and my exceptionally smart RN friend Heather I went to the recommended doctors appointment two weeks after. That was quite possibly the most alone I had ever felt and believe me I have been alone a lot in my life. My husband offered to go, but then couldn't for work related reasons. So off I went with MalPal. The longer I was there, the more terrified I became. Not that my doctor in any way gave me reasons to be scared, but my imagination began running away with itself. I, at one point, convinced myself that maybe God made me pregnant so I'd go to the doctor and discover I had cancer. Or what if it was a tubal pregnancy was another thought right before the sonogram. I know that because MalPal was there, I was stuffing down my fears and emotions. It's almost embarassing to think how distraught I would have been if I didn't have someone there that I had to hold it together for. I remember I did have to pull over on the way home so I could just cry. MalPal just held me and cried too. What a heartbreaker for a 9 year old to go through.
Over the years, God has given me the grace to deal with infertility and miscarriages. Unfortunately, I haven't felt his grace this time around. I feel completely alone, inadequate and to some extent abandoned. As my 'due date' approaches, I feel those emotions running high again. I know I'll get through it and I know that even though I don't necessarily feel Jesus' presence, He is here with me.
If you are suffering from a miscarriage, I don't have wonderful words of wisdom for you. I don't even have words of encouragment for you. Same if you suffer from infertility. I'm sorry. What I do know is that even when you feel most alone and cannot take another breath, God is with you. He loves you. He is with you. And, if you haven't asked God to love you and take care of you then do so. Because He will. That's what He wants most, to be the first person you turn to in joy and in sorrow. He is the Creator of the Universe and that includes you. He died for you on that cross to save your soul and to spend eternity in heaven with him. When you accept Jesus Christ as Redeemer, Savior and Lord you can be sure of your gift of eternity in heaven with your beautiful little babies that you were never able to hold. Just ask Him, only He can make it happen. Meanwhile, I'll continue praying for every woman out there that hopes to hold a baby of her own... blessings to you all and thanks for reading.
The first four years of our marriage I struggled with an inability to conceive, we went to fertility specialists and everything was 'textbook' perfect. Even doctors who didn't seem to have much faith said it just wasn't part of the plan at the time. That honestly was what they told us. The struggle was amplified by raising my husbands two sons from a previous marriage. They were/are great kids but it was hard to be infertile and have to deal with "someone else's" kids every day. That may seem harsh to some readers, but that's how it was. I didn't treat them poorly or with hate. I treated them with much love and patience. They were boys after all, and we all know how much adventure comes with little boys!
I remember when Kristi called me to tell me she was expecting their first baby. I was so happy for her, but at the same time completely devastated. I sobbed in my closet for what seemed like hours. I begged God to forgive my feelings but at the same time feeling as though everything under my feet was crumbling. Kristi was a great friend though. She was extremely sensitive to the situation (probably too much) and never expected me to act a certain way. When she was six months along, I found out I was expecting.
Almost as quickly as I had learned about my pregnancy, it ended. It was so hard, but finally I felt free because everything changed. I could get pregnant. There was hope! When Kristi's baby made his appearance, it was thrilling and I could truly be happy for her. Just days after his birth, I discovered I was pregnant again.
Pregnancy for me is no picnic. I literally threw up almost every day and often times many, many times a day. I only gained 17 pounds during my pregnancy. And, as weird as it sounds the one thing that wouldn't give me heartburn or make me throw up was a chili cheese hotdog with jalepenos, onions and mustard. I'm not kidding. Giant dill pickles helped too. My former supervisor/ loan officer at the bank I worked at used to go across the street and buy me Klondike bars. Those helped too.
Soon, my baby girl - the one I prayed for and hoped for and begged God for came into our lives. Being a mom for me was a must. Not everyone feels this way. But, God knew my heart and knew I needed her. During the first four years of infertility I made a very conscious effort not to be bitter towards my stepsons for being someone else's. But, it was a conscious effort. Satan was very good at deceiving me and putting feel sorry for myself thoughts in my head. I did struggle with the whole aspect of why a woman who didn't want to take care of her kids could seem to pop them out left and right. I still do - hey, I'm just being honest here.
Since having my daughter, I have experienced three more miscarriages. Tests have been run and there is no other apparent reason other than it's not meant to be. I do think that God has given me an unbelievable dose of understanding and strength. Which leads me to think there must be women out there that I can minister to by telling my story. I don't know. This last miscarriage really rocked my world though. It had been about 4 years since the last one and I really felt that there were no more babies or conceptions in my future. I'm getting old. Then, it dawns on me that I had been missing something for a couple of months! At first it was, "oh my goodness!" Then it was, "OH MY GOODNESS!" But all in a good way. Of course I knew I 'd be getting some backlash from by husband's family - he's the baby of 7 and he was 46...but we were OK with it, so it really didn't matter to us. Instead of morning sickness, I was sick most of the night and saw it as a good sign. Then it happened. It's funny how people can be insensitive without meaning to. I had one friend ask why I told people so early - I guess it was early, especially for my track record. But I was so excited and surprised and I've never been good at keeping my secrets. I told my friends at about 10 weeks. I was sick, I thought it would all be OK. Then, one day at the pool, I was still going through the process, but took MalPal to swim with Kristi and her brood - another friend came up and started in on "I heard our doctor is going to stop delivering babies - if that's the case I'm going to work on #4 right away" Well, that was my OB doctor too and it just really hurt to the core of my being. It didn't at that moment, but it has over time.
I know that people don't know what to say in any situation regarding loss. And, to those that have never experienced a miscarriage, it doesn't even seem like it was a real loss. But, for those of you that haven't had to suffer through one, it is a loss. It is something that makes us hopeful mommys feel inadequate. I suffered hugely about what I did wrong during my pregnancy. I didn't even drink my 1/2 cup of coffee, took my vitamins and ate lots of organic (from my own garden) vegetables. I slept, moderately exercised and went to the doctor immediately at 8 weeks to have blood work done to ensure all was well. And still, I lost the baby. To think that, as a mother, you can't even protect your baby when it's in the safest place on earth - it's heartwrenching, bone chilling painful. So, when someone you know loses a baby - no matter how far along they are- just give them a hug and let them cry. Some may need to vent and allow them to, but please be mindful of what you say. Because what you say in this time of crisis for them will stay with them forever.
At the urging of my dear friend Kristi and my exceptionally smart RN friend Heather I went to the recommended doctors appointment two weeks after. That was quite possibly the most alone I had ever felt and believe me I have been alone a lot in my life. My husband offered to go, but then couldn't for work related reasons. So off I went with MalPal. The longer I was there, the more terrified I became. Not that my doctor in any way gave me reasons to be scared, but my imagination began running away with itself. I, at one point, convinced myself that maybe God made me pregnant so I'd go to the doctor and discover I had cancer. Or what if it was a tubal pregnancy was another thought right before the sonogram. I know that because MalPal was there, I was stuffing down my fears and emotions. It's almost embarassing to think how distraught I would have been if I didn't have someone there that I had to hold it together for. I remember I did have to pull over on the way home so I could just cry. MalPal just held me and cried too. What a heartbreaker for a 9 year old to go through.
Over the years, God has given me the grace to deal with infertility and miscarriages. Unfortunately, I haven't felt his grace this time around. I feel completely alone, inadequate and to some extent abandoned. As my 'due date' approaches, I feel those emotions running high again. I know I'll get through it and I know that even though I don't necessarily feel Jesus' presence, He is here with me.
If you are suffering from a miscarriage, I don't have wonderful words of wisdom for you. I don't even have words of encouragment for you. Same if you suffer from infertility. I'm sorry. What I do know is that even when you feel most alone and cannot take another breath, God is with you. He loves you. He is with you. And, if you haven't asked God to love you and take care of you then do so. Because He will. That's what He wants most, to be the first person you turn to in joy and in sorrow. He is the Creator of the Universe and that includes you. He died for you on that cross to save your soul and to spend eternity in heaven with him. When you accept Jesus Christ as Redeemer, Savior and Lord you can be sure of your gift of eternity in heaven with your beautiful little babies that you were never able to hold. Just ask Him, only He can make it happen. Meanwhile, I'll continue praying for every woman out there that hopes to hold a baby of her own... blessings to you all and thanks for reading.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Clear the Clutter
I find that I like to be prepared, or at least try to be prepared in a mayhem sort of way. Due to this need of preparation, I find that storage is an issue. Particularly since I live in a 1925 bungalow (they just didn't need all the stuff we need nowadays). There is just so much stuff a person needs to be organized, prepared and efficient...and if you want to add creative in there, well, that's a whole other need for storage!
Mary is hard at work creating some grand organization project that I am sure will "WOW" us to no end, but until that is actually completed I have just a few tips for everyday, easy efficiency that I can offer.
The first and most annoying thing for me is the kitchen drawer full of utensils. Sometimes, I can't even close my drawer because the utensils aren't laying right and there are just too many of them. I thought the other night that I actually have my own spoon army! Obviously, everything in that drawer is of use at some point...spoons, potato masher, garlic press, candy thermometer, tongs, pasta thingy - there are just so many options to cook with. But, I recommend getting rid of the plethora of spoons or spatulas or whatever you have in excess of. I honestly can say I don't need 4 slotted spoons and 2 regular spoons. An option (which does take a little organization) is to get with a group of friends and do a utensil exchange. Of course, it is a possibility that everyone has an over abundance of spoons. In that case, pack'em up and ship'em out!
Coffee mugs - need I say more? I have many wonderful coffee mugs that were once part of a set I liked, given as gifts or picked up as freebies. In my perfect little world, everything in my cabinet matches - yes, that really is important to me. My mother thought I'd outgrow that, but I haven't. On the other hand, I have learned to deal with non-matching items. And, coffee mugs is one of those categories where I sigh every time I open the cabinet. First of all, it is completely overflowing. Second of all, my husband has an adoration with his green Cricket phone coffee mugs. They are several years old, the green paint is chipping off and he loves them. Have I mentioned they are well past their prime and are u-g-l-y?! So, here goes nothing, I am going to get rid of the coffee mugs that I deem rather lovely because we never use them and they take up too much space. I have accepted the fact that my husband loves ugly mugs and I am going to be a wonderful wife and allow him to keep them. So, though your mugs may have a sentimental value or you possess an innate desire to coordinate and it's just not working for you - free yourself of the clutter. Put the mugs with the spoons and make at least enough room that a mug doesn't fall out when you open the cabinet door.
Well, with that said, let's keep moving throughout the house. We're on a roll after all! We have eliminated clutter in a cabinet and enabled a drawer to open and close. What about all those books? OK, so maybe you don't have the same collection of books I have. But, I love books. I love the smell, the way the pages feel (unless they use cheap scratchy paper, then I can't even touch it 'cause it freaks me out) and just knowing that there is an infinite amount of knowledge surrounding me. Heck, our home now has built in bookshelves and I love books so much that I even left the previous owner's books on the shelves. But, books can also create clutter if we're not careful. There is a site that you can actually send your unwanted books = http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/ . Now, I can't think of a better place for books to go! Plus, it frees up shelf space to put pictures of your wonderful children (more bragging rights)!
And, speaking of the kiddos, what about that stash of art made by those wonderfully creative critters that you adore with all of your heart? Craft after craft, drawing after drawing - I only have one child and we are on overload with the amazing creative talents of my daughter. But, as a mom, it seems so cold and heartless to throw something in the trash that she so obviously labored over. And, their hearts are so pure and they express their love through the amazing art they produce. What is a parent to do? Thank goodness for the modern digital age. My answer to this question is to take pictures of the art and save in a separate file & CD. This way you can enjoy the art, but not be swimming in cotton balls, glitter and Popsicle sticks. You can even have them create a slide show of the artwork that runs as a screen saver too! OK, so it will still be hard to haul it to the trash. You may have to wait until you are in a "I have to get rid of all this junk" mood and the children aren't there to stare at you with big sad eyes as you toss it. But, truth be known, I'm still saving the holiday crafts. With one child, I have that luxury of space.
The digital age is nice for so many things, but is anyone else experiencing not cobwebs, but cord webs? Chargers for every gadget imaginable is about to drive me crazy! I have resorted to Ziploc bags with what the cord/charger is for written on them. Then, every bag containing a charger is tossed into one dresser drawer. This way, I know where to go to look for something. It's not the greatest method, but it works and it's easy. Someday, I may have Mary make me a fancier system (yeah, right).
The last is blankets and sheets. First of all, if your blankets sit in a closet without being used an entire winter, please donate them to a shelter or something. There are many people that are in dire need of a blanket and it would be such a blessing for them. According to the Fly Lady (as previously mentioned in various blogs) she recommends 2 sets of sheets per bed in the house. I recommend placing the fitted sheet, flat sheet and second pillow case inside of the other pillowcase. Then - and I love this idea since I don't have closets - place the extra sheet set under the foot of the mattress it fits.(this last portion is also a tidbit offered by The Fly Lady) How simple is that? Even if you do have a closet, you have freed up extra space. Also, it's much easier to pull out that sheet set and know it will fit that bed, rather than pull it out of a closet and not remember if it fit the queen or the full...
That's about all the organization - get rid of unwanted clutter tips I have for now. No, it didn't take another Rubbermaid tote, more shelving or storage rental unit - but it did free up some common space that we meet face to face every day. So, have a great time trading, taking pictures, marking plastic bags and folding sheets but remember at the end of the day it will leave you feeling refreshed and efficient. This, in turn, allows for great bonding time with the family and spending time at the Lord's Feet rejoicing in His Goodness and Glory.
Mary is hard at work creating some grand organization project that I am sure will "WOW" us to no end, but until that is actually completed I have just a few tips for everyday, easy efficiency that I can offer.
The first and most annoying thing for me is the kitchen drawer full of utensils. Sometimes, I can't even close my drawer because the utensils aren't laying right and there are just too many of them. I thought the other night that I actually have my own spoon army! Obviously, everything in that drawer is of use at some point...spoons, potato masher, garlic press, candy thermometer, tongs, pasta thingy - there are just so many options to cook with. But, I recommend getting rid of the plethora of spoons or spatulas or whatever you have in excess of. I honestly can say I don't need 4 slotted spoons and 2 regular spoons. An option (which does take a little organization) is to get with a group of friends and do a utensil exchange. Of course, it is a possibility that everyone has an over abundance of spoons. In that case, pack'em up and ship'em out!
Coffee mugs - need I say more? I have many wonderful coffee mugs that were once part of a set I liked, given as gifts or picked up as freebies. In my perfect little world, everything in my cabinet matches - yes, that really is important to me. My mother thought I'd outgrow that, but I haven't. On the other hand, I have learned to deal with non-matching items. And, coffee mugs is one of those categories where I sigh every time I open the cabinet. First of all, it is completely overflowing. Second of all, my husband has an adoration with his green Cricket phone coffee mugs. They are several years old, the green paint is chipping off and he loves them. Have I mentioned they are well past their prime and are u-g-l-y?! So, here goes nothing, I am going to get rid of the coffee mugs that I deem rather lovely because we never use them and they take up too much space. I have accepted the fact that my husband loves ugly mugs and I am going to be a wonderful wife and allow him to keep them. So, though your mugs may have a sentimental value or you possess an innate desire to coordinate and it's just not working for you - free yourself of the clutter. Put the mugs with the spoons and make at least enough room that a mug doesn't fall out when you open the cabinet door.
Well, with that said, let's keep moving throughout the house. We're on a roll after all! We have eliminated clutter in a cabinet and enabled a drawer to open and close. What about all those books? OK, so maybe you don't have the same collection of books I have. But, I love books. I love the smell, the way the pages feel (unless they use cheap scratchy paper, then I can't even touch it 'cause it freaks me out) and just knowing that there is an infinite amount of knowledge surrounding me. Heck, our home now has built in bookshelves and I love books so much that I even left the previous owner's books on the shelves. But, books can also create clutter if we're not careful. There is a site that you can actually send your unwanted books = http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/ . Now, I can't think of a better place for books to go! Plus, it frees up shelf space to put pictures of your wonderful children (more bragging rights)!
And, speaking of the kiddos, what about that stash of art made by those wonderfully creative critters that you adore with all of your heart? Craft after craft, drawing after drawing - I only have one child and we are on overload with the amazing creative talents of my daughter. But, as a mom, it seems so cold and heartless to throw something in the trash that she so obviously labored over. And, their hearts are so pure and they express their love through the amazing art they produce. What is a parent to do? Thank goodness for the modern digital age. My answer to this question is to take pictures of the art and save in a separate file & CD. This way you can enjoy the art, but not be swimming in cotton balls, glitter and Popsicle sticks. You can even have them create a slide show of the artwork that runs as a screen saver too! OK, so it will still be hard to haul it to the trash. You may have to wait until you are in a "I have to get rid of all this junk" mood and the children aren't there to stare at you with big sad eyes as you toss it. But, truth be known, I'm still saving the holiday crafts. With one child, I have that luxury of space.
The digital age is nice for so many things, but is anyone else experiencing not cobwebs, but cord webs? Chargers for every gadget imaginable is about to drive me crazy! I have resorted to Ziploc bags with what the cord/charger is for written on them. Then, every bag containing a charger is tossed into one dresser drawer. This way, I know where to go to look for something. It's not the greatest method, but it works and it's easy. Someday, I may have Mary make me a fancier system (yeah, right).
The last is blankets and sheets. First of all, if your blankets sit in a closet without being used an entire winter, please donate them to a shelter or something. There are many people that are in dire need of a blanket and it would be such a blessing for them. According to the Fly Lady (as previously mentioned in various blogs) she recommends 2 sets of sheets per bed in the house. I recommend placing the fitted sheet, flat sheet and second pillow case inside of the other pillowcase. Then - and I love this idea since I don't have closets - place the extra sheet set under the foot of the mattress it fits.(this last portion is also a tidbit offered by The Fly Lady) How simple is that? Even if you do have a closet, you have freed up extra space. Also, it's much easier to pull out that sheet set and know it will fit that bed, rather than pull it out of a closet and not remember if it fit the queen or the full...
That's about all the organization - get rid of unwanted clutter tips I have for now. No, it didn't take another Rubbermaid tote, more shelving or storage rental unit - but it did free up some common space that we meet face to face every day. So, have a great time trading, taking pictures, marking plastic bags and folding sheets but remember at the end of the day it will leave you feeling refreshed and efficient. This, in turn, allows for great bonding time with the family and spending time at the Lord's Feet rejoicing in His Goodness and Glory.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Breaking The Chains Link Two
Wow, I really let everybody hanging on this Chain breaking thing.......But while Martha has been canning tomatoes, knitting homemade Valentine underwear and making home made saltines crackers I've been stuck in the real world wiping snotty noses, refereeing sword fights, curing a coon hide and taking care of a rabbit that was recently trapped, it is still being debated if it will be used for bobcat bait, keep as a pet, or possibly tomorrow nights dinner.
So I have my list of the of the things that seem to affect how everything runs in this house from getting the hubby out the door so he can bring home the bacon, to getting the bacon in the frying pan, to feeding the little piggies their roast beef, to getting them educated-(so they will leave home), so momma can have more time and energy for daddy so they can make more! (Sorry, that just started flowing!!!!)
Most of you have probably heard of the Fly Lady at http://www.flylady.net/. But if you haven't it is a great site to help you end the “chaos”. I did find it was just to much information at once for me so I had to tweak her plan a little bit and make it work better for me and my family-but it may be just what you need-so if you have never checked her site out you should.
The first order of business is to make out a check list or routines for the morning and night - of the things that you put on your list of things that have to get done-This is not a daily to-do list-This is a routine that you do everyday, even on the weekends and holidays. It is going to include all those things that were on the have to get done list. Put it up some where, where you will see it, don't worry about making it pretty for now-because it will probably change and take a few different versions to figure out what flows the best for your schedule and family. The goal is that these routines become automatic-you just do it without even thinking about it. Your routine needs to fit into your life and your families needs but there are a few Mary Musts-
Make a bedtime routine for you and your children and make sure it is done before 8:00 pm. Even if your kids do not go to bed that early ~Get it done so it is not hanging over your head and you can enjoy your evening together. It is also important that you teach your kids this time management skill and for them too (if age permits) just do it with out your hounding.
Here are my routines: The bold print is a must!
Morning: Must start by 6:15
- Start a load of Laundry
- Enter any checks or debit card into the computer-Check calendar
- Empty the dish washer
- Get Shane's lunch packed/breakfast
- Lay out meat/any dinner prep for the day
- Start school
My afternoon routine: Must Start by 3:30
- Everyone spends 20 minute picking up
- Put the days laundry away
- Vacuum
- Boys pick 1 toy or game for the evening-that's it nothing else can get out!
- Look over the menu for the tomorrow-Lay out meat or any prep work, get sack lunches ready
- Start on Dinner
My Evening Routine: Start as soon as dinner is over. Make sure It is done by 8:00
- Dinner Clean-up-Myself and one big boy
- Little boys bath-The big boy that is not helping with dishes gives the boys their bath and reads to them while they are in the tub.
- Another 10-20 minute pick-up
- Look over tomorrows to do lists
- Make sure the sink is shiny clean
- At 8:15-Mom reads bible to all kiddos
- 8:30 light out for little ones
- 9:00 big boys must be in their room-they can read, play DS, listen to music. They just have to be out of our sight and QUIET
- 10:00 LIGHTS OUT
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When you are planning your routines and the time you start your day consider this:
She gets up while it is still night...Proverbs 31:15 I know....nobody really wants to hear this, and it is one of those bible verses we think we can ignore-But again, I've learned that everything is in there for a reason and God knew that a wife and mother was going to need a head start everyday. The proverbs 31 woman needed it and she had servants-DON'T BLAME ME-BLAME EVE !
Stay away from the temptation to let dishes "Soak" over night-It is normally not necessary, and it is just a yicky way to start your day. My DH gave me this helpful hint and I have for ever been grateful to him for it. If you have a stubborn pot, put it back on the stove with a squirt of dish soap, bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about five to 10 minute. The gunk comes right off. I also use this trick for the crock-pot, Of Course then I have to break the overnight rule-but if I fill it with water and soap and turn it on low, by morning it comes right off and you still avoid the dreaded sticking your hand in cold nasty dishwater!
I know what you are thinking? What, Her 8 and 10 year old give the little ones their bath? Yep and they do a great job! This is just the way I found our evenings go better, I have time to get the kitchen really clean and still have time to enjoy the evening with everyone. I have learned that children are far more capable of things then what adults in this modern age expect of them. Of course I am just right in the other room and was right there in the bathroom the first few times we tried this. But don't just assume your child is not ready to do a certain task-You will know after you have helped them a few times if it is a chore they can continue doing, or if it is just not something they are ready for yet.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I made crackers!!
Recently, we have implemented a strict grocery budget. It is one that I am sure we can eat well off of, but I have 10 days and $14 left before I can start over again. That's not a big deal, because with coupons I can save tremendous amounts.
However, with that said, my husband wants chili for supper. No problem there except for his beloved crackers. I have never seen a man so 'in love' with crackers and we're out. Hmmm. Should I take part of my budget and purchase crackers that I have no coupon for. No. So, with the wonderful internet at my fingertips I google saltine crackers. Here is the recipe I used:
As strange as it seems, little conqests like this excite me immensely! I mean, who thinks of doing these things and then who but me actually follows through! I know, I know there are many of you out there just like me and I am thankful - it makes me feel a little more sane to know you are out there when I am here, surrounded by a world of Marys. Thanks for reading!
However, with that said, my husband wants chili for supper. No problem there except for his beloved crackers. I have never seen a man so 'in love' with crackers and we're out. Hmmm. Should I take part of my budget and purchase crackers that I have no coupon for. No. So, with the wonderful internet at my fingertips I google saltine crackers. Here is the recipe I used:
- Preheat the oven to 400.
- Lightly grease two large cookie sheets. Combine the dry ingredients, and then stir in the water, oil and mix until a smooth dough forms.
- Divide the dough in half and flatten each half on a cookie sheet. Use a small rolling pin or even your fingers for a rustic, uneven look. Once the dough is spread thin, use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to cut the dough into squares. The elasticity in the dough will make the crackers shrink slightly and pull away from each other; this makes them easy to bake without sticking together.
- Brush lightly with an egg wash (one egg white and 2 tablespoons of water) or spray lightly with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with the topping of your choice. Experiment with your favorite flavors, or try one of these variations: Chopped rosemary and sea salt, sesame seeds, poppyseeds and onion salt, Parmesan cheese
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the crackers are golden and crispy.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Yes, We've Changed Our Name
Though we've spent years joking about Martha and Mary with each other, we've realized through our postings that at the end of the day it's all about one thing. We hope to chart our journey and along the way make your journey more fruitful. The journey's end is 'at His feet'. We pray that each one of you that reads our blog will step away from your brief respite of modern technology to a more fulfilling day.
Stay with us as we tweak our system, figure out what is most helpful and share what the Lord wants us to. Are you curious how to follow? Simply click the follow link about half way down the page and add your email. We also love it when you choose to share our blog with your friends and family.
If you're wondering about the crafts Martha is attempting, they still aren't quite complete, but pictures will be up by the end of the weekend - even if they are of a half finished project!
May the blessings of the Lord shower down among each and every one of you!
I should mention our URL has not changed though - it's still http://www.areyoumarthabecauseyouremary.blogspot.com/ it's quite the handle!
Stay with us as we tweak our system, figure out what is most helpful and share what the Lord wants us to. Are you curious how to follow? Simply click the follow link about half way down the page and add your email. We also love it when you choose to share our blog with your friends and family.
If you're wondering about the crafts Martha is attempting, they still aren't quite complete, but pictures will be up by the end of the weekend - even if they are of a half finished project!
May the blessings of the Lord shower down among each and every one of you!
I should mention our URL has not changed though - it's still http://www.areyoumarthabecauseyouremary.blogspot.com/ it's quite the handle!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A Home. . . On Mission
With all of the chain breaking, household tips and keeping our lives simple that we keep talking about here at Mary and Martha, I have felt increasing lead to share my own personal testimony, and the chains that the Lord broke for me about six years ago that are far more precious then successfully marking off everything on a silly to do list. The freedom to take care of my husband and family first and foremost, and the wisdom to understand what true obedience to Christ is despite what some well meaning Christians; including myself are some times lead to believe.
My testimony begins like a lot of peoples, not too exciting-I grew up in a large family with lots of love and the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father was just something I had always known and a very easy concept for for me to understand. As I entered in to High-School,unfortunately like most kids popularity and fun were my top priority-Not Jesus. I did attend church with my family and youth group and had a very consensus mind set that all of this was something I would embrace whole heartily when I had a family of my own-But for the time being I didn't want to miss out on anything FUN!I met Shane when I was 20 years old. It didn't take long to know that he was the one and was everything I had imagined in my future spouse. He was not a church goer (but neither was I at the time) But he did believe in God and we shared the same moral compass (which I would describe as old fashion conservatism) and he was one of the most honest men I had ever met-Sometimes too honest! As we all know by now, young and in love girls can be quite naive, and I went into our marriage with the assumption that when we started our family we would attend church~ as a family.
The dream of that family became a reality in April of 2000. Like all mothers, I was completely taking aback by the love that consumed me for this new little man in my life. Like I had said earlier, I have had a very blessed life-and an abundance of love has never been lacking in it, but for the first time I understood a love so strong I would die for it. I dove into the bible and could not get enough of Gods word, I no longer found it confusing and hard to understand. I could see it for what it was; not a book full of silly traditions and rules; but a Fathers letter to his children, teaching them and warning them of the dangers in this world, trying desperately to get them to understand so they would avoid the path that would lead them to heartache and death, the same thing I want for my own children. My focus was on my son, and to make sure I raised him according to Gods word, so we of course started going to Church and Sunday School, and to my very public disappointment~alone with no Shane, who wanted no part in messing with his Sunday routine (which usually involves working, not by his choice-but by his career choice). Of-course I saw myself as a perfect submissive Christian wife, always having supper on the table, and jumping to fill his glass when he rattled it, unfortunately I also thought my Christian mother and wifely duties also included letting him know exactly how disappointed I was he would not go with me to church, and what he was watching on TV in front of our child, and the attitude he had when something didn't go his way and the list of his discrepancy went on and on. As I look back at this time in our lives, I am so amazed that our marriage even held together, you would be too if you knew the no-nonsense Mr, Command Man I am married to!
A year and a half after our second son was born a dream came true for us as we were able to purchase a small 80 acre farm outside of Isabel. At the same time I was feeling lead to leave the church I was attending, not of any fault of the church or the people that attended, there was just some things on a national level that I was not comfortable with and was increasing liking the idea of finding a bible believing non denominational church-The move to Isabel was perfect timing, as I was closer to Pratt and could possible go to church there. While being bashful, and not being able to meet new people has never been a problem for me, the idea of walking in to a church by myself with two small children seemed pretty over whelming. There was also a lot of work that needed done that summer on our new home, and Sundays were about the only time Shane could work on things, so I put off looking for a church that summer. It was a wonderful summer, we had so much fun working on the house and the tranquility that country life had brought into our lives. I could also tell that Shane was really enjoying the Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings he was once again enjoying with his woman at his side. But as fall approached and my bible study was starting to meet I was increasingly missing the fellowship-but more importantly having the boys in regular and steady Sunday school classes-After all, I had to raise them right and be the spiritual leader since their father was not stepping up!
It started out like a lot of Sundays at our home, Shane works for a Natural Gas Plant and is on 24 hour call ever two weeks. At 2:30am Sunday morning the Answering Service called our house, and Shane as usual when that call comes in, hops right out of bed and makes the 45 min. drive to the plant. That morning I read a bible story to the boys as they did a simple craft project of gluing news paper scrapes to a foam cross and we wrote across the top of it “SHARE THE GOOD NEWS”. I was very excited that day because my small group was meeting for the first time since the end of spring and I was really excited to see everyone and to get back into the swing of things, if not at a church yet at least I would be having weekly Bible Study and Small group. I had my day all planned, including Shane's favorite meal-I figured if I feed him well it would soften the blow that I would be leaving him for the evening, besides he was going to be exhausted anyway, that would also work to my advantage! Right as I was getting ready to start on his “You Won't Have Your Woman, But At Least You'll Eat A Steak Meal”, Shane walks in the door and tells me to get the boys ready, he is going to get our trailer so we could go back to the gas plant to get some old pipe that would work perfect for the pipe fence he planned to build around our place and if we picked it up before Monday we could just have it, other wise it was getting hauled off. This was totally messing with my plans, but I thought “We should still make it back in time-I just won't have time to make him steak”. We finally had made it home with only about 45 minutes until the start of Small group and I still had to get myself, and the two boys cleaned up and drive the 20 miles to the small group.(they would have to go with we me since Shane could get called out at anytime.) I hesitantly ran them thru the tub, and when they got out they both thought they needed their pj's on-that was no big deal I could take them to the nursery in pajamas. But my youngest who was barley two at the time was worn-out; and after he was dressed begged me “ ock me mommy, ock me.” So I begrudgingly threw him on my lap and began to quickly rock him-My plans were going south-FAST! As I wearily rocked him I prayed, “Lord, I want to serve YOU, I want to live a life YOU would be proud of, I want to raise these boys to grow up to be Godly Men ~ Committed to leading their families in your ways, not this worlds, Instead all I do is serve this Man!” As I sat there, the following seemed to be whispered in my ear. “Kristi, If you want to serve yourself, then you can throw a sandwich at your husband, load these tired babies in a car seat, and keep them up another four hours, so you can spend time with your friends. But if you want to serve me, you will finish rocking this tired baby to sleep, you will lovingly and graciously go and prepare a proper meal for a man who has just worked 16 hours straight with hardly any sleep to provide for you and these children.” A peace immediately came over me, “Okay”, I said to myself, “That is what I'll do”, but Lord I sure hope that is really your voice I am listening to and not someone else' s.” With the littlest one peaceful sleeping in his bed, I got to work on our dinner, and as I was busy in the kitchen washing potatoes, I hear my four old, excitedly hop on his daddy's lap, “Daddy, Look what we made today; It is a cross that says Share the Good News, The good news that Jesus loves us, and died on the cross for our sins, and Daddy Jesus loves you too!”Shane answer's with a “I sure hope so buddy”. Brett confidently assured him that he knew he did, and the two of them sat there admiring Brett's cross and discussing the love of God. I was still in the kitchen hardly able to control my emotion, I knew then without a doubt whose voice I had listened to that night. And to think at that very moment Shane could have been siting alone, eating a bologna sandwich, feeling like he was nothing more then a paycheck, and in competition with God, but instead he was being witnessed to by his four year old son.
That night, along with a book called Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious
by Debi Pearl that I would recommend every wife or soon to be wife read, completely changed my life. I relinquished my self proclaimed role of being Shane's mother and holy-spirit, those positions were already filled anyway. Instead I proudly resumed my God given honor as being his Helper, Friend and Lover. As a result in the past six years a lot of other things have changed as well, I spend more time concentrating on where Shane will spend eternity and not his Sunday mornings, we have also added two more boys to our quiver. Of-course Shane is still the same ole (and I mean this with love) bullheaded command man, but with a much softer and loving side, I did go on to find a wonderful bible believing Church, Shane has even went with me a few times , but dressing up and sitting still is just not something he is very comfortable with and much prefers to stay at home on Sundays to unwind after a long week; working with our little cow heard and playing with his boys. He is always excited to watch a Christian movie with us, or educational documentary on creation and will intently listen as I read the bible to the boys, and I can see he as a desire to learn more about our savior (I say our, because I am really not for sure if he understands Jesus is his Savior as well). Most Saturday nights we lay out our Sunday best ready for church in the morning, but Sunday morning rolls around and I find it hard to leave the embrace of a man that is so commented to serving his family, even thou I know he wouldn't care and may even come with me if I asked nice enough.
by Debi Pearl that I would recommend every wife or soon to be wife read, completely changed my life. I relinquished my self proclaimed role of being Shane's mother and holy-spirit, those positions were already filled anyway. Instead I proudly resumed my God given honor as being his Helper, Friend and Lover. As a result in the past six years a lot of other things have changed as well, I spend more time concentrating on where Shane will spend eternity and not his Sunday mornings, we have also added two more boys to our quiver. Of-course Shane is still the same ole (and I mean this with love) bullheaded command man, but with a much softer and loving side, I did go on to find a wonderful bible believing Church, Shane has even went with me a few times , but dressing up and sitting still is just not something he is very comfortable with and much prefers to stay at home on Sundays to unwind after a long week; working with our little cow heard and playing with his boys. He is always excited to watch a Christian movie with us, or educational documentary on creation and will intently listen as I read the bible to the boys, and I can see he as a desire to learn more about our savior (I say our, because I am really not for sure if he understands Jesus is his Savior as well). Most Saturday nights we lay out our Sunday best ready for church in the morning, but Sunday morning rolls around and I find it hard to leave the embrace of a man that is so commented to serving his family, even thou I know he wouldn't care and may even come with me if I asked nice enough.Does my story mean that I don't think that families need to make going to Church a priority in their lives, ABSOLUTLLY NOT. I can still be filled with an over whelming fear that I am not raising my boys to be proper Godly leaders in their homes, or what if something happens to one of us and our preacher and church family hardly even know who we are? I have learned to give these fears over to the Lord, and he reminds me that I am very mistaken (and you are too) if all it takes to train up Godly children is to have them in a Church as often as the doors are open. What good would that do if at home mom and dad barley speak to each other, and their homes are in constant turmoil with nagging and orders so everyone can be rushing here and there after every activity under the sun.
So more then likely you will not be seeing me sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, but I'm not just sitting at home. Instead the Lord has sent me to the Mission Field. . . Loving 4 boys and a daddy to Christ!
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