Thursday, January 31, 2008

Blog Series


I am planning to do a few blog post series soon. I have been thinking and researching and sorting through all of my thoughts and findings to hopefully come up with a few decent posts on a few different topics. I hope you will join me and follow along as I post.
Stay tuned for series on...

* Food ---what we eat, menu planning, nutrition, baby food, etc.
*Green --- products, homemade products, paperless, etc.
*Home ---keeping of my home

Do you have anything you would like me to share or discuss? Leave a question for me in the comments section and I will surely pray and think about it!



picture from howtosplitanatom.com

Preparing Hearts


A bit of encouragement for you today.

  • Light a candle
  • Put on some reflective music (whatever that may be to you. It could be celtic hymns, worship music, classical, etc.)
  • Warm up a cup of something sweet and delicious (hot chai, coffee, tea, etc.)
  • Grab your notebook and Bible
  • Find a comfortable chair or seat

  • Breath-in and Breath-out (slowly)
  • Listen
  • Write down what you hear

  • Read
  • Pray
  • Be Still


My goal is to brush away my mental list of important things to accomplish and replace it with the high priority of focusing my efforts on how to communicate love to my family in the hours left in my day. I need to prepare my heart. Read, Do, Teach.

Ezra 7:10
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.


Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Lydle Present

Disregard the messy house and crooked Christmas tree and enjoy this sweet present....

Monday, January 21, 2008

Turn, Turn, Turn

What do you do when both parents are sick?

We take turns.
Ric slept and I watched the girls.



SWITCH



I slept and Ric watched the girls.


SWITCH

It was definitely a movie day too. You do what you can when everyone is feeling under the weather. It is all about survival with three girls. But, we made it.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Monday Menu Jan. 20th


We have been sick this past week and have had scattered meals...mostly soup. My menu was lost to the wind.
This week I am attempting to get back onto schedule. I have to admit...it is really not a good idea to plan your menu when you are hungry. I wanted to eat everything now. Hmmph.

At the end of the week I will be gone to Monterey, CA for a Bible conference. I am very excited to be going. Since the two big girls will be staying here with Papa, I had to think of some easy fix meals for them.

Meal Ideas:

Vegetarian Stir-Fry (see how I make it below)
Brown Rice
Gyoza
Chinese Cabbage Salad (Cabbage, orange slices, almond slices, green onion, & dressing)





Vegetable Soup w/ cornbread croutons
Drop Bisquits
Apple Pecan Salad











Pasta w/ pesto sauce (Adding in Kalamata Olives, Sun dried tomatoes, Pine nuts)
Homemade Bread
Cucumber Salad







Lentil Tacos
w/ homemade tortillas
Chips & Salsa









Baked Cod (new recipe)
Rice Pilaf
Steamed Veggies










Vegetarian Stir-Fry

Combine whatever veggies in the fridge
This week I have: Tofu, peas, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, onion
Brown the tofu first in a little olive oil
Add the veggies and stir-fry until just tender
Add Trader Joes and heat through.
Serve over Brown Jasmine Rice

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Showers of Love for Rosalia


Today we were blessed by friends of the church with showers of blessing and love for Rosalia.

A delicate brunch: Quiche, Fruit, Croissants, Crackers and Cheese, Juice

Fun Games: Alphabet Name Game, Name the Mom & Child of each Animal (i.e. Chicken --Hen, Chick)....and the last game was a memory game ( I went to the shower and brought a Sassy Rattle, a pair of booties, etc.)
A cute idea: Each of the game gifts matched the game that was played. The Alphabet Game Winner received Alphabet soup. The Animal Game received Animal Cookies. The Memory Game winner received a scripture planner. I thought this was a clever idea.

A sweet inspirational devotion: A special friend and mentor Dona shared her words of wisdom.

Lovely presents: homemade quilts and a bib, soft yummy material for me to make the girls some sweet jammies with a gift card to JoAnn Fabrics, a couple of much needed girl outfits, and lots more!


Cake: How can I forget the lovely cake. White cake with fresh raspberry filling and a buttercream frosting. Delicious!

Lydia enjoying her cake too!

Green


Ric and I have been "going green" in our home over the past several years. And, we continue to do more things that will benefit the health and safety of our home, children, and environment.
I am going to share with you what we have been doing, changes we have currently taken, and changes we would like to make.
How about you? Share with me your ideas and thoughts. I would love to hear them.




Here is what we have been doing already for quite awhile:
  • Composting
  • Growing an Organic Garden
  • Shop at Farmer's Market (would like to do this more often)
  • Recycle
  • We use CFL lightbulbs
  • Use cold water when doing laundry
  • Installed ceiling fans to help with reducing use of our air conditioner


Here is some changes we have made in the past year:
  • Cloth Diapers (we used them partly with Sophia ---but, then resorted to disposables with Lydia---now, we are using these with Rosalia)
  • Cleaning Products - We are using Seventh Generation products, Simple Green, and some Homemade products. I would like to find more recipes for the Homemade products too.
  • Aromatherapy -- making my own "medicines" or rather using recipes with essential oils to help aid a problem. For example, I will put a couple of drops of Lavender or Tea Tree Oil in the humidifier in the girls room. It helps with breathing during the cold season.
  • Shampoos, Conditioners, Lotions, Soaps, etc. --We are switching over to using safer products that do not have mineral oil, petroleum, parabens, or Sodium laureth/lauryl sulfates.
  • Using Re-usable bags at the grocery store
  • Hang Dry clothes in the summer time

Here are things we are working towards learning and doing:
  • Buying more Organic Veggies
  • Not use as much paper/plastic products for eating (paper plates, plastic cups, etc). Instead we would use our dishes when guests come over.

Here are some good websites and resources.

Green Guide Home
Skin Deep (This site you can search products that you would use on your skin, hair, etc. and find the level of danger, etc.)
Unacceptable Ingredients/chemicals
Health and Safety Info on Household Products
Green Ideas

Friday, January 18, 2008

This Day...

This morning, I lay in bed awake somewhere around 4:30am, dreading a little what lay ahead—the taming of the house from the aftermath of sickness circulating throughout. Ric had fainted and grown terribly ill. After dealing with him, I could not sleep.
I just laid there and thought and prayed.

I have had many thoughts in my head for quite awhile now ----it seems I am always thinking about things to write in my blog. Every situation in my life seems to be worthy of a blog entry. However, it is coordinating the time and words to express all my profound thoughts that delays me in writing them.

I have been reading some amazing blogs lately ---and I think to myself "Ah, yes that is me. " or "I totally agree with that!" or "If I could only relay that on my blog...because I feel the same way too!" "If I could only write like that!"

I understand that I am not a writer by any means, but then again I am re-evaluating why I am writing in my blog. It is not to win any amazing article award, but rather to just write down life as it is in our home.

“Only a Christian has a right to hope, for only he has the power of God to give substance to his hope…Earth is bearable because there is hope.” A.W. Tozer


Life in our home lately has been busy with recovering from sickness, adapting to a newborn, and getting back into some sort of routine. I am tired and scatter brained.

I would love to be:
  • Sewing
  • Learning to Knit
  • Scrapbooking
  • Writing Music for a new CD
  • Taking a bath
  • Painting my fingernails and toenails
  • Have my hair done
  • Decorate and re-decorate
  • paint a picture

I wish that:
  • My Office was organized.
  • My home and belonging were simplified
  • We home was clean all the time
  • Laundry was done
  • We had a better schedule/ routine
  • I had time to plan for homeschool and that homeschooling was easy
  • I played more with my kids
  • I had devotions everyday
  • I was 40 lbs lighter
  • All my meals were planned out

I put a lot of pressure on myself for not being the greatest mom and wife. I do recognize that I will never be perfect on this earth and that it is just one day at a time, one step at a time, leaning on God each day and through each moment to help me on this journey.

“And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9

My purpose? Here is something I read in one my favorite encouraging blogs:

A good question to ask is, “Am I living by what I can hope to accomplish by my hard work only?” or “Am I living in the realm of possibility of what God can accomplish, beyond my own skills and effort, because I am trusting Him to be accomplishing through me what He is able to do, even beyond my efforts, but according to His abilities?” Am I speaking life-giving encouragement to my children in the midst of their ideas and dreams, or do I throw water on them by asking them to be “realistic”. There is so much to be said about the work side of dreams, the bills to be paid, but today is a day to focus on the dreaming part of our lives. My vision for raising my children must be bigger than grades, SAT’s, getting a job. It must be a call to bow my knee before God and ask, what is your work for me? For my child? For our family? How can I bring you pleasure? How can I live in your power? May our sweet Father fuel our hearts with what is on His heart and use us and our children as He dreamed when He made us!



Well, I had to get on with my day despite not wanting too. "Lord, be my strength"

  • I was able to get Sophia off to her special day at an Asian Theme Day at her charter school.
  • Picked up coffee and a kid's hot chocolate for Lydia and I
  • Put on a movie for Lydia while Rosalia slept.
  • I made the beds, cleaned the bathrooms, mopped the bedroom and bathroom floors.
  • Put on a couple loads of laundry.
  • Folded laundry.
  • Ate some breakfast ---toast w/ Mimi's homemade strawberry jam and a little organic vanilla yogurt.
  • Fed Rosalia and Lydia
  • Taking a break to hold Lydia and write a blog entry.

Now, I am off to clean the breakfast dishes and mop the kitchen and family room floors.

One moment at a time.... attempting to worship the Lord in all that I do.

“How do we make the commitment to give the area of motherhood over to God as a sacrifice of worship to him? We yield our personal rights into his hands. We give up our time and expectations to him-and also our fears and worries about how we will manage. We trust him to take care of us and our family. We let him redirect our thinking and expectations and adjust our dreams. And we wait in faith to see the fruit of our hard labor in the lives of our children, knowing that he will be faithful to honor our commitment to him.”
The Mission of Motherhood, p. 54

Thursday, January 17, 2008

"B"

Our letter of the week (Jan. 7th -12th) was "B"

We Baked Bread with Papa.
We ate Bananas
We Bounced on the Big Ball
We read about Ben the Bug!


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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Ratatouille

We had a "Ratatouille" theme night. Ric made Ratatouille with Creamy Corn Polenta....and then we ate it while watching the movie Ratatouille.



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Monday, January 14, 2008

Sister, I do love you but...

...you are in my space

The girls with their new "American Girl" dolls. We could not afford to buy them the real thing so, we bought look-a-like dolls from Target called Generation Dolls. They don't know the difference. I don't dare spend $100 per doll to give to my 5 year and 2 1/2 year old --only to have them discard using them after 2 weeks. Especially, since the dolls would have all new scraggly hair-dos too. No thanks. So, these dolls are just fine for the amount the girls paid for them: $20 dollars each (Yes, they paid for them...they saved their money from birthdays and Christmas to buy them).
We took some pictures to share and you can tell by the progression of the pictures the mood of my 2 1/2 year old. She is already understanding the tricks of self-defense.
"Don't bother me, I am trying to pose for the camera" {Imagine that being said like they do in the Carl's Junior commercials...something like that}







"Bam" --That'll leave a mark! (not really...she was just fine)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Jane Austen


For those of you that enjoy Jane Austen: PBS is is running Materpiece Theater productions of some of Jane Austen's works.

I know that I will be recording all episodes onto our TIVO ---season pass! Very exciting. I love all of Jane Austen's works. Lovely!

Presented for the first time on US television, the classic season kicks off with The Complete Jane Austen, featuring adaptations of all six Austen novels and a new biopic of her life.

The Complete Jane Austen

A Delightful Morning


A somewhat clean house

Loads of fresh laundry

A scented candle burning

Homemade Gingerbread Waffles

Worship Music playing

Devotional with the kids

Girls dressed in matching pink polka dotted skirts

Headed off to church....



...A delightful start to the day.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

My Dearest Anne

After asking for these every Christmas for the past 7 years, I finally received it. I didn't even ask for it this year. I had given up. Surprise for me!

Now, I get to relish in watching my kindred spirit Anne in all her adventures and then read the entire series too! Bliss!

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Alphabet Activites

I have decided this year that the girls and I will focus on a letter of the Alphabet each week and do an activity(s) that start with that letter. I also plan to find words that start with that letter in a variety of ways: books, magazines, around the house, etc.
I write the letter on the whiteboard and also hang it on the wall..so that the girls can recognize the "letter of the week" all week long.
Sophia already knows her letters, but this will be good practice for her as we take it a step further and say the sounds that the letter makes. Lydia, at 2 1/2 years old, still does not know her letters yet, so this activity helps her to start recognizing her letters.
Fun and creative.

The first week (Jan. 1st) we did the letter "A"

Our activity was eating Apples












and watching the classic movie "Annie"...


...."Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow"

Monday Menu January 8th 2008


I am getting back into the groove again of ordinary life. Arrg, I really would love to just cuddle with my newborn all day, but I have got to get back to homeschooling, working at the YMCA, MOPS, Bible Study Group, cleaning house, laundry, and cooking! I am off to planning menus again. (Thankfully, I have plenty of food in the freezer!) Sophia (my 5 year old) pulled out her recipe books this afternoon and had a ball looking at the pictures and sounding out the words to various recipes. "Oooo, Can we make this?" "Oh Yum Mom! Let's make these mini t-ah-c-Oz!" After looking at her book, I allowed her to choose a few recipes for this week. We also came up with a snack list. I normally just pull something out of my pantry for snack time, but I decided to think of some new, fun, healthy snacks this week. So, instead of just plain crackers and cheese or a handful of goldfish or pretzels, I came up with my list below. Do you have any yummy healthy snack ideas that you would like to share? Leave me some of your suggestions with your comment. Hope you all have a great week ---gettin' back into the groove for some of you!


SNACK IDEAS
Celery sticks spread with cream cheese and sprinkled with raisins
Pita Chips, Carrots, Celery w/ Hummus
Apple Slices w/ peanut butter
Handful of dried fruit chunks mixed with wheat pretzels

Sunday
Breakfast:
  • Homemade Gingerbread
  • Yogurt w/ fresh fruit
  • Chocolate Soymilk

Lunch:
  • Leftovers

Dinner:
  • Greek Chili w/ feta
  • Harvest Bread
  • Green Salad

Monday
Breakfast
  • Cereal w/ toast
  • Juice

Lunch:
  • Taco Salad

Dinner:
  • Mahi Mahi Fish
  • 7-Grain Rice pilaf
  • Green Beans
  • Bread

Tuesday
Breakfast:
  • Oatmeal w/ honey & raisins
  • Toast and Homemade Raspberry Jam
  • Juice

Lunch:
  • PB&J or Tuna Sandwiches
  • Chips
  • Fruit

Dinner:
  • Black Eyed Peas & Brown Rice
  • Cornbread
  • Green Salad

Wednesday
Breakfast:
  • Bagels w/ Cream Cheese
  • Scrambled Eggs
  • Juice
Lunch:
  • Sandwiches
  • Chips & Fruit
  • Sparkling Water

Dinner:
  • Penne Pasta w/ marinara
  • Garlic Toast
  • Green Salad

Thursday
Breakfast:
  • Cereal w/ toast
  • Juice

Lunch:
  • Leftovers
  • Fruit
  • Sparkly Water

Dinner:
  • Vegan Enchiladas
  • Refried Beans
  • Green Salad

Friday
Breakfast:
  • Oatmeal w/ raisins

Lunch:
  • Sandwiches or Leftovers
  • Fruit
  • Sparking Water

Dinner:
  • Split Pea Soup
  • Homemade Bread
  • Salad

Saturday
Breakfast:
  • French Toast
  • Eggs
  • Soymilk

Lunch:
  • Leftovers

Dinner:
  • Burritos
  • Green Salad
  • Chips & Salsa

Friday, January 04, 2008

Break


This weekend I am taking a break from the computer ---completely! No emails, surfing, researching, reading blogs or writing... I will not be back until Monday. However, I will have a blog entry posted on Sunday evening for Menu.


I will be spending my time:

  • With Family ---playing games, etc.
  • Cleaning House and Laundry
  • Reading and sipping Hot Chai, tea, or coffee
  • Praying, Meditating, Reading the Scriptures (specifically for God's Will and direction for our famiy)


See you Monday!

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

A Place to Set your Plate

I wanted to share with you for quite awhile the sewing projects I had been working on for Christmas time. I wasn't able to share them earlier with you because these were made as gifts for family members and well, they are so faithful in reading my blog ramblings that I didn't want to reveal the surprise!

I made placemats and napkins! This is one of my first sewing projects that I have accomplished (besides pillow cases). I am now onto making a wedding dress next. (just kidding). I have ordered a couple of sewing books from Amazon and I am eager to get them and try out some new projects!

Here are the napkins and placemats I made for my darling Mother in Law. The theme in her kitchen seems to be red and peppers. So, I was able to find some cute fabric that went along with her theme. I wanted to personalize them as much as possible when choosing out the fabrics. I will share with you later some of the others I made for my SIL and my own Mum!

I made four of each. The placemat has pepper pattern on one side and the opposite side has the red gingham pattern. The napkins are all red with black stiching. Delightful!

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