Grace

God's grace is a marvelous thing! On my worst days I am never so bad that I cannot still receive God's grace, and on my best days I am never so good that I do not need His grace! I cannot do anything to deserve His grace, nor anything to earn it. It is a free gift, like His love. I am reminded of His grace again this morning in my life as I am in desperate need of it.....and I know it will come.
I have planned a special 'potty party' for my daughter. Lots of planning, preparation and scheduling went into it and I am excited too! However, the party is supposed to start now and my baby woke up early so his schedule is off and my little girl is still sleeping soundly in her bed. Already I am thinking, uh-oh! Sleeping in an hour and a half past her normal wakeup time often means she is not feeling well. Sick and crabby is obviously not the best mood for a toddler to start her first day in 'big - kid' panties!
Instead of dwelling on the possible negatives I am choosing to believe God has a plan for this day. Full of His grace and His love. Perhaps my daughter will wake up extra rested, extra happy and ready to learn!!! No matter what the outcome, His grace is sufficient for me. I will keep saying that throughout the day.

Realistic (and Unrealistic) Expectations

I work part time from home for about 5-10 hours a week, which is perfect for me as a stay-at-home mom to a one-year old. However, due to a big project that needed completion, I had to spend some time in the office last week. My boss is kind enough to allow me to bring my daughter with me to the office if I need to, but it was really hard for me. Of course, I thought I needed to spend a certain number of hours in the office, but I ended up needing much more time than I budgeted for. I packed numerous snacks (those really help my baby stay quiet) and quiet toys, but I still had trouble. My daughter loves to wander around and move. Sure, there are times when she sits very quietly reading books for a long time, but even then she usually moves and changes where she's sitting, or takes a break to run across the room and get a different book. Needless to say, she didn't appreciate being stuck in her stroller for 2+ hours, even though she had lots of snacks and toys. She started by saying "down" over and over, to which I soothingly explained to her that she had to stay in her chair at the moment so that Mommy could finish working. Then she started with the whining, which quickly escalated to whiny-cries, (the ones that really pierce your heart but get under your skin at the same time). Usually at this point, I would give her more snacks to appease her, but then the cycle would begin again. After about two hours of this, I was getting very frustrated. I started praying that God would give her patience, but was also thinking, "Why can't she ever sit still and play well?!" Just then, something popped into my head that I had heard during a parenting seminar.

A few weeks ago I heard a woman speak on parenting at a MOPS meeting. There was one thing she said that stood out in my mind. She said, "You need to expect your children to act like children." I can't have expectations that my baby is going to act like anyone other than a baby. She has no understanding of "work" or why she would have to sit still for a few hours so that I can finish working. If I have unrealistic expectations that my child who hardly ever sits still will wait patiently and play quietly while I am working, then of course I am going to be frustrated when she doesn't fulfill my expectations. After reflecting briefly on this, I took my daughter out of her stroller and took her for a little walk in the office to visit other co-workers (who love seeing her) and then held her a little before putting her back in the stroller (with a fresh supply of snacks). I was still wiped out from working and entertaining my baby simultaneously, but I felt so much better when I wasn't frustrated with her. I need to always remember that at whatever age she is, I should expect her to act that age, and love and appreciate the age that she is!

Friday Night Recipe and Extra Fun Recipe

You-Won't-Be-Single-For-Long Vodka Cream Pasta
Recipe from "30 Minute Meals 2" by Rachael Ray - ok so I'm using two of Rache's recipes this week - they are really good! She wrote in the cookbook that a girl served this recipe to her boyfriend just before he proposed (he said it was the second helping that did it). It is so simple and so delicious!

Ingredients
1 Tbls olive oil
1 Tbls butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup half and half (she uses heavy cream)
12 oz. pasta, such as penne rigate
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn (fresh is definitely best in this recipe)
Crusty bread - I think it goes great with Pepperidge Farm frozen garlic bread - follow the baking instructions on the package - it only takes about 8 minutes in the oven!

1) Put a large pot of salted water on to boil.
2) Heat a large skilled over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute, 3-5 minutes to develop their sweetness.
3) Add vodka, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about a cup. Reduce vodka by half, 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble, the reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
4) While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, a bit firm to the bite. While pasta cooks, prepare the bread.
5) Stir 1/2 and 1/2 into the vodka sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Serve immediately, along with crusty bread.

Extra Fun Recipe: Jordan Pond Popovers
This recipe is from The Jordan Pond House in Maine. My family used to go to Maine every summer and hike around the Jordan Pond, then go to the Jordan Pond House for their amazing popovers. This may not seem like an extra fun recipe, but believe me, when you have the crispy on the outside, warm, moist on the inside popovers spread with butter and jam, you will be glad I posted this!! They double great as a savory side dish for pot roast or chicken - coat these babies in gravy and voila! you've made little Yorkshire puddings.

Ingredients
4 eggs
2 cups milk
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/6 tsp. baking soda

*Please note that this recipe works best using a popover pan, but you can use custard cups or a muffin tin as well. It makes 8-12 popovers. Remember not to overfill the tins! Grease them first with some shortening, and also grease the top, so the popovers don't stick. Some people also swear by getting the pan and fat smoking hot before adding the batter, but this recipe does not specify. I will have to try that method. Let me know if you have any good advice on popover baking!

1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2) Break eggs into mixing bowl and whisk. Add milk and blend. Add remaining ingredients and mix together until nearly smooth. Do NOT over beat.
3) Fill popover pan, muffin tin or custard cups 3/4 full.
4) Bake for 14 minutes. WITHOUT OPENING OVEN DOOR, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake an additional 15 minutes. It is crucial that you do not open the oven door - something happens with the air getting in and makes the popovers deflate. I have personal experience and it is so disappointing when this happens!! Don't let it happen to you!
5) Popovers should be crispy brown on outside, moist inside. Remove from oven and pans.

Mmmm...this makes me want them. Maybe I'll go make some popovers...

Adopting a Cause

Each Wednesday after I drop my kids off at their different schools, I take the train into the City to volunteer my time at a Crisis Pregnancy Center as a peer counselor. I love the work - once I get there. To get there though, means juggling an already busy family schedule and committments at home. Some weeks the train is late, I have to leave everything at home "undone", I am exhausted from the night before with obligations, and somedays I am just tired and feel like I have nothing to give. But, the blessing always come - even when I am weak. The first part of the blessing comes from the choice to be there and the second part comes from knowing that a woman and her family will be cared for in their time of need.

Our friend, Monroe Diefendorf has written a terrific book entitled, 3 Dimensional Wealth. He quotes a Persian Proverb, 'What I kept, I lost. What I spent, I had. What I gave, I have'. Diefendorf writes about life as a journey that requires planning. Plans we make should be based on who we are, what we have, and what purpose we have here in this life. Early in our marriage, my husband and I began a conversation about the need each of us has to serve others. It enables us to use our gifts, practice other centered love, and be connected to the Body of Christ. It is what drew us to each other.

How can a family with young children find the "extra" time to adopt a cause? It can happen and it will build into your child's heart and mind a lifestyle of other centeredness. When your children are very young, bake cookies with them and take them to neighbors, your church's Sunday School snacktime or coffee hour. Next time you are out for a walk with the children, talk about ways you can help others in your neighborhood - pulling your neighbor's empty garbage cans off the street after pickup, carry their newspaper to their door, shovel an elderly neighbor's stoop or rake their leaves. Walk or run with your strollers in a marathon to benefit special needs kids or research to find cures. Knit baby caps for neo natal intensive care units. Donate your old clothes and make the children apart of giving their old things away as a way of paying it forward. Give your old books away to literacy programs. At holiday time, pack a shoe box for a child who may only receive that box for a gift. There are countless opportunities.

If writing a check is how you feel most comfortable, include your children as you determine your family's cause. Support causes that are important to your family's values, whether local or international. The work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love begins with His love. Matthew 20:8 says that 'the Son of Man came here not be served but to serve others'. And so sometimes it will be with a check, sometimes with volunteer opportunities or marathons, and sometimes it will be in your home as you and your family identify people in your life who need to see the hands and feet of Christ shown through people.

God bless your efforts as you keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Hebrews 6:11

Nina

Regrets

Last year, there was an incident that deeply troubled me. I had learned that a mere moment could have so many effects on things and people around me.

Perhaps it's somewhat universal, but school parking lots around the drop-off/pick-up times can be quite chaotic. This is something that I've become used to over the years now, but last year, I had to face a very upsetting situation.... twice in one day.

I was walking in the parking lot, trying to drop off my pre-schooler at the school hurriedly since we were running late that morning, when a white sedan came speeding down the lot and almost hit me and my child. This scared me and my 4 year old half to death. But the worst part was, she actually had the nerve to pound on her horn like ten times along with some extremely offensive words that I cannot dare to repeat. This upset my son even more where he started to cry, of course. I was so taken back, since I had not expected something like this to happen at a Christian school, I didn't know how to react but to just keep on walking. Now, I understand a mother can go through a whole lot of hurdles and stressful times in the morning, but it was definitely not the way to handle the situation.

Now comes the afternoon time, where I came to pick up my 1st grader. As I look back now, I feel that God was trying to teach me something through this experience. After I had picked up my daughter, I was driving away in the parking lot, and a familiar looking car pulled out and almost hit my car. Guess who that was. It was the same white sedan I had that encounter with that very morning. Quickly, I drove around her car and this seemed to make her quite mad. So after I had pulled out of the parking lot, this same woman sped up from behind me and cut me off in a one lane road (not to mention nearly scratching the side of my car). But I can tell you this time, I wasn't taken back, rather furious. At that moment, the anger I had felt in the morning came rushing in, and I found my way to get back at her.

She got stuck at the light, and I pulled in next to her and I yelled out " Learn how to drive!!!". This was something I could do instead of using the kind of words she said earlier. I can tell you that it felt good and satisfying. But at the same moment, I remembered my daughter sitting right behind me, doing the very thing I had taught her not to do. We as parents know that actions speak so much louder than words, and I had failed to show her how to actually live the lessons taught. But the biggest regret, was that I had disappointed my heavenly Father by trying to justify myself through the temptation. 

The important lesson learned here, is that it's not how much you know the biblical principles or what kind of position you hold in your church that makes who you are, but it's about whether you are living the principles that you know in your mind. It's the action that counts, and it's the action that expresses our faith in Christ. 

Thursday Night Recipe

Dirty Risotto
Recipe from "Giada's Family Dinners" by Giada de Laurentiis, slightly modified

Ingredients
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 Tbls. unsalted butter
Leftover bacon from Monday night, crumbled
Leftover browned 1/2 pound hot Italian sausage from Tuesday night
1 medium finely chopped onion
1 large chopped red bell pepper
4 oz. button mushrooms, stems removed and coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups arborio rice (it's a little expensive, but you have to get this kind)
3/4 cup dry white wine (could substitue chicken stock, but the wine is best)
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (could use pre-grated)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbls. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1) Bring the broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Cover and keep hot over low heat.
2) In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms and saute until tender, about 8 minutes, scraping up any browned bits and the bottom of the pan. Add the leftover bacon and sausage in and heat through.
3) Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil. Add the wine and simmer until it is almost completely evaporated, about 1 minute.
4) Add 1/2 cup of the simmering broth and stir until it is almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next, until the rice is tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 25 minutes total. Remove from the heat.
5) Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

Wednesday Night Recipe

Traditional Chicken Pie
Recipe courtesy Carole Clements’ “Cook’s Companion”

For the pastry
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening or butter
2-3 tbls ice cold water
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk

For the filling
Ingredients
2 tbls. Butter or margarine
3 tbsp. flour
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup white wine or stock
¾ cup half and half
1 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
1 leftover chicken breast from Monday, cut in small pieces
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper

1) For the pastry, mix the flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut in the fat until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Sprinkle in the water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing lightly with a fork until the dough forms a ball. Dust with flour, wrap and refrigerate until required. I am sure you can use pre-made, store-bought pastry dough for the top to save time. I have never used that before, so I’m not sure if it would change the cooking time at all.
2) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat half the butter or margarine in a saucepan. Add the flour and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the stock and white wine. Bring the sauce to a boil, and continue boiling for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add the half and half, peas and carrots, chicken, thyme, and parsley to the sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 1 minute, stirring.
3) Transfer the mixture to a 3 ½ pt. (2 litre) shallow baking dish. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to ½ inch thickness. Lay the pastry over the baking dish and trim off the excess. Dampen the rim of the dish. With a fork, press the pastry to the rim to seal. Cut decorative shapes if desired.
4) Lightly whisk the egg and milk. Brush the pastry all over with the egg wash. Arrange pastry shapes in a design on top. Brush again with egg wash. Make 2 holes in the crust so the steam can escape during baking.
5) Bake until the pastry is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

The Greatest Story Ever Told

Most children love when parents read to them, and parents love it too! In our home we spend a lot of time telling and reading the greatest story ever to our children - the Bible. Now we have a new favorite bible for our family; The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. This bible is not just a mere paraphrase of the most basic bible passages, like many children's bibles. This bible tells the story of God's 'Never Stopping, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love' for us and His 'Great Rescue' plan for us. Author Sally Lloyd-Jones captivating writing, not only tells the bible stories and truths but shows God's love, and the character of Jesus in a way children can understand. It truly tells the 'story' beneath all the stories. The creative and intriguing illustrations, by Jago, collaborate wonderfully with the text to add meaning to each story.
While some people may take issue with the few 'liberties' taken in the storytelling, I don't. For example, the prodigal son practiced his I'm sorry speech on the way home, Jesus winks at the boy with loaves and fishes and when Gabriel spoke to Mary she looked around to if he was talking to someone else. To me, these small details are just a way to help portray the emotions of the story and do not diminish the value and truth. The Jesus Storybook Bible is geared toward ages 4 - 8, however, 2 and 3 year olds that we know love it as do older children. Lloyd writes in the opening chapter, "The Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done." And this bible is all about Christ and His love and plan for us. This is a wonderful bible for children of any age (including grown up kids too!).

Tuesday Night Recipe

Peasant Pasta

This is a recipe from Rachael Ray, and instead of re-typing everything, I am just including a link below. You can copy it and paste it in your web browser. I do make a few changes though: I use 1/2 and 1/2 instead of heavy cream. And, while browning the sausage, brown the hot and sweet sausage meat separately, and go ahead and brown a whole pound of hot Italian sausage. Then, set 1/2 of the spicy/hot sausage meat aside and save it for the Dirty Risotto Thursday night. This recipe is SO delicious!! I love Ms. Ray!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/peasant-pasta-recipe/index.html

Anything but Ordinary.....

Over the weekend I traveled to attend the wedding of a very dear friend. I was excited to get away, to see old friends and mostly to get to be there to share in her joy! But I did not expect the wedding to have such an impact on me. Like many of us, I have been to a lot of weddings over the years and although each one is special and I am happy for the couple I am sad to admit that sometimes they almost seem commonplace. Well, this wedding ceremony reminded me that no wedding, and no marriage is common or ordinary. The marriage covenant, the wedding ceremony and the couple themselves all paint an extraordinary picture of God's love.
It was a beach wedding. As the guests gathered on a gorgeous sunny morning, soft music mixed with the lapping sound of the waves. People chatted as they settled into their beach chairs, seagulls flew by and children played in the sand. The mood was that of a relaxed gathering, but there was a hint of anticipation as well. When the MC announced that the wedding was starting, and the groom stood in front (flanked by the pastor and his best man) no one knew what to expect. We all looked around and wondered....where was the bride? Then the groom's face lit up, he saw her and soon we did too. There she was walking out of the trees and onto the beach, about 70 yards away. She walked slowly along the shore, her soft white gown ruffling in the breeze. As she got closer we saw her bare feet leaving footprints in the sand and her smile radiating as she approached. Then her groom began walking out toward her. He reached his bride, handed her a single white rose and they continued, arm in arm, until they stood before us. It was breathtaking! We were speechless, smiling, crying and amazed. What followed was a simple ceremony beginning with a reminder from the pastor that marriage is not ordinary, the joining of two people in such a way is, in short..... a miracle!
On the ride home I replayed the image of the beautiful bride walking towards the love of her life, and her love, her expectant groom walking out to meet her. Taking her arm he led her the rest of the way until they became one. It was an amazing reflection of God's love for us, His bride, His love. He is walking towards us, waiting for us to come all the way to him so He can meet us and guide us the rest of the way!
I have a renewed sense of appreciation for the blessing of my marriage, my husband and my God!

Monday Night Recipe

Roast Lemon-Herb Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Green Beans
Roast Lemon-Herb Chicken
Ingredients
1 (6 lb.) whole chicken, rinsed inside and out with water and dried with paper towels
Olive Oil
1 large onion, half chopped, half cut into big chunks
5 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lemon, halved
1 Tbls. dried Rosemary
1 Tbls. dried Thyme
1 Tbls. dried Parsley
Approx. 8 strips of bacon
2-3 Tbls. flour
1 (14 1/2 oz) can chicken stock

1) Preheat the oven to 375. While it is heating up, drizzle some olive oil into the cavity of the chicken. Add the chopped half of the onion, all of the garlic, 1/2 Tbls of each of the dried herbs, the juice from the lemon, then stuff both halves of the lemon into the cavity as well. Carefully lift a hole in the skin from the top of the chicken and rub some olive oil over the breast of the chicken, then rub in the other 1/2 Tbls of each of the herbs in as well. Lay the bacon across the top of the chicken, making sure you cover the entire top of the chicken in bacon. Put the chicken in a roasting pan or just a large baking pan (I use a 9 x 13 baking dish) and scatter the other half of the onion around the chicken. This will flavor the drippings and make the gravy taste better.
2) Bake the chicken in the oven for about 2-2 1/2 hours, or until a thermometer inserted into the center of the thigh reads 180 degrees, and the juices run clear when the thigh is cut into. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let the chicken rest about 10 minutes before you begin cutting into it so that the juices can redistribute.
3) While the chicken is resting, remove the onion from the pan and skim as much fat as possible off of the top of the pan drippings (the fat will be the clear, oily layer on top). Then sprinkle in the flour, one tablespoon at a time, until you have formed a kind of creamy paste. VERY SLOWLY stir in the chicken stock, a little at a time, stirring constantly so no lumps form. Transfer to a gravy boat or measuring cup with a spout for serving.
4) When carving the chicken, cut off both of the breasts and save for later meals. Save the bacon for Thursday's meal. Eat the drumsticks, wings, and thighs during this meal.

Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients
4-6 medium potatoes, scrubbed and diced
2 Tbls. butter
1/2 cup milk

1) Add potatoes to a pan of cold water. Bring to a boil and boil for 20 minutes until soft. Drain and return to pot.
2)Mash and add butter and milk, then mash some more until you've reached the desired consistency.

Sauteed Green Beans with Tomatoes
Ingredients
1 1/2-2 cups frozen green beans
2 Tbls. Olive Oil
3 large shallots, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 Tbls. dried basil

1) Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and boil 2-4 minutes until al dente.
2) In a separate skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high and saute the shallot and garlic about 3 minutes, until tender. Add the tomatoes and their juice and cook another 3 minutes. Add the chicken stock, basil, and green beans and simmer about 10 minutes.

This Week's Menu and Shopping List

This is a yummy week...

Monday Night: Roast Lemon-Herb Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Green Beans
Tuesday Night: Peasant Pasta
Wednesday Night: Traditional Chicken Pie (think: Chicken Pot Pie)
Thursday Night: Dirty Risotto
Friday Night: You-Won't-Be-Single-For-Long Vodka Cream Pasta (Rachael Ray's title, not mine!)
Extra Fun Recipe: Jordan Pond Popovers

Shopping List
Produce
1 large onion
1 medium onion
5 large shallots
14 cloves garlic
1 lemon, halved
4-6 medium potatoes
1 large chopped red bell pepper
4 oz. button mushrooms

Baking/Pantry
Olive Oil
6 (14 1/2 oz) cans chicken stock
1 (14 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes
2 (28-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
1 pound penne rigate pasta
12 oz. pasta, such as penne rigate
1 1/2 cups arborio rice (it's a little expensive, but you have to get this kind)
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 6 Tbls
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening or butter
1/6 tsp. baking soda

Meat
1 (6 lb.) whole chicken
Approx. 8 strips of bacon
1 pound hot Italian sausage, uncooked
1 pound sweet Italian sausage, uncooked

Herbs and Spices
1 Tbls. dried Rosemary
1 Tbls. plus 1 tsp. dried Thyme
1 Tbls. dried Parsley
1 Tbls. dried basil
45 leaves fresh basil (approx)
2 Tbsp. fresh parsley
Salt and pepper

Dairy
7 Tbls. butter
2 and 1/2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. milk
1 and 3/4 cups half and half
5 eggs
Grated Italian cheese , for passing
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (could use pre-grated)

Frozen Foods
1 1/2-2 cups frozen green beans
1 cup frozen green peas
1 cup frozen peas and carrots

Bakery
Crusty bread, although I suggest Pepperidge Farm frozen garlic bread - follow the baking instructions on the package - it only takes about 8 minutes in the oven!

Other
1 cup white wine (can sub. Chicken stock)
1 cup vodka

Fruit of the Gloom

I've been sick this week, and it's making me think...about life, the low side of life. When you don't feel good, and your guard is paper thin, who am I then? Our children see it all don't they?! They really do live under the glamorous "underbelly" of humanity. After all, they live with us at home...where it all comes out. Even babies. I read somewhere once, way back when, that babies and toddlers pretty much develop specific memory along with language. Although a very young child doesn't remember things specifically, they do remember emotions...how things felt.
What I'm getting at is this. I'm observing again this week just how critical my life with my God is. With the privilege of parenting comes the awesome responsibility of modeling how it works...even when I'm sick, or tired or when I make a mistake. It seems simple to teach our kids love, joy peace & patience...when we feel good. But all the more critical, and possibly even common, teach them the fruit of the Spirit of God when your exhausted or you just lost your patience. What does the Spirit-hungry-Jesus-follower do when she loses her patience, or realizes that her child just heard her tell a 'white lie' on the phone?
I'm realizing again this morning how earnestly I want my life to ooze fruit...the Fruit of the Spirit.

Letting Go

As mothers, some of us excitedly anticipate the day when our children head off to nursery school, daycare or preschool. We have their clothes picked out, their tiny little backpack is filled with anything they might possible need and we have taken twenty photos before even getting into the car. Imagine it, time to ourselves to get things done and maybe even relax, and time for our child to grow, learn, make friends and have new experiences. It is a win win situation, right? Well, it is not always that easy....especially depending on the mom.....and the child.
I talked to a friend this morning who just left her daughter at nursery school for the second time this week. She and her daughter had both been excited for her first day of school. However, after the teacher had to pry her little beauty from her arms and she yelled and cried for her mother, the excitement definitely disappeared. Since her little girl did not calm down, she was eventually called back by the teachers to come and bring her home. Thus, rather then excitement, the mood was more one of fear and trepidation when she dropped her off this morning. Again her little girl cried and told mommy that she did not want to go to school...but she did leave her. My friend admitted that she cried a bit this morning after leaving her daughter, but knew that she needed to leave her because she was very attached to mom and needed to learn how to be without her mom sometimes.
It can be hard to force our children to do things that they don't want to, especially when it makes them unhappy and they are crying for us, even though it is for their own good. Personally, leaving my children in someone else's care is one of the hardest things for me to do. Even though my daughter loves to go play with friends and usually runs into the church nursery saying 'Bye Bye Mama' as she hugs the other kids, I still tend to worry when she is out of my sight. What is she doing, is she behaving, is she happy, is she sad, what is she eating, is she saying or doing something new that I missed. I have started not to worry as much anymore, as I see that she is happy, well adjusted and well cared for. It is still hard to fight against my 'mothers heart' sometimes. So when that happens I remind myself that my children are a gift from God, that they are not not mine and that they are in His hands (even when they are with me). It is then that I realize that really loving my children means letting go when it is time to let go. My children are still so young that I have not had to leave them at school.... yet. So I am preparing even now as I let them go in small ways, with their Dad on an outing, for a playdate at the neighbor's or in the church nursery. Surprisingly I find that I am starting to enjoy seeing my 2 year old flourish in her independence without mommy and make friends with so many other children and adults. I am thankful that God is continually and gradually teaching me to let go. I am sure I will have to learn this lesson over and over throughout the years.

Unexpected Blessings - by Jill

A very godly friend of mine is chairing a huge fund raising project event in our community. As you can imagine, this requires countless hours of her time for meetings and events often at the expense of her family time. She took this position because she felt led by God to do so and because she genuinely believes in this project. She was also hoping that through her actions she would glorify God and "manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
What she didn't expect were the "blessings" that have come her way. You see because of the many disappointments and cancellations from people that go along with chairing an event, she has been 'on her knees' daily with God, seeking His wisdom and guidance moment by moment through the day. What has amazed her are not only all the different ways God has provided the necessary resources and people for this event but also answered prayer for her family members. One of her sons started seeking out a bible study as a result of seeing his mother so focused and surrendered to God. He saw the power of prayer and obedience.

So what about you? Are you a fragrant aroma of Jesus Christ to the people around you? Are you "seeking His will in all you do and letting Him direct your steps" (Proverbs 3:6). If not, how about getting on your knees in prayer to your Father in heaven.

Growing Pains

This past week has presented me many opportunities for growth, or perhaps I should say that my daughter has provided many opportunities for growth.... for both of us. Having recently turned 2, she is at that wonderful stage in her life where she desperately wants to do everything on her own and does not want help even though she often needs it. Needless to say, this causes her to become pretty frustrated, pretty fast. Also, due to her unique toddler pronunciation of the English language, it can sometimes be hard to understand what she is saying. The fact that my bright little girl often cannot accomplish what she is trying to accomplish, nor communicate what she is trying to communicate has led to tears on many occasions, and rebellious behavior on several occasions. I must admit that I have found myself empathizing with her rather than just becoming frustrated along side her, as I have felt in the same predicament in my relationship to my Heavenly Father at times.
One particularly tough morning, after my independent little one had already dissolved into tears 4 or 5 times after fighting to put on her own shoes, she completely lost it when I bent down to pick up her shoe and help her. She flung her shoe out of my reach, laid on the floor face down and sobbed. A part of me was thinking, "We are already running late, we need to get out the door - just stop yelling and let me put your shoes on. I have had enough!" However, I was pleasantly surprised to find this thought only occupied a tiny fleeting moment in my mind and my heart was overwhelmingly saying, "I love you, I feel your frustration, I understand you are overwhelmed. I want more than anything to help you and hug you and dry your tears." I laid down on the floor next to her and put my arm over her back. I stroked her head and her back, when she started to quiet a little bit I pulled her into my arms and wrapped her in a hug. "Mommy loves you," I whispered in her ear. "I understand you are upset. I feel sad too because you are sad. But I love you so much that I don't want you to be sad and cry, so I am going to help you with the shoes so you can put them on." She stopped crying and wiped her drippy face on my shirt. I helped her get the right shoe lined up with the right foot so she could put in on and was rewarded with a huge hug and a smile!!
I have learned so much from my frustrated toddler. God has used her to teach me to be more.....more patient, more loving, more forgiving, more prayerful, more creative, more resourceful, more of a godly role model.... in short more of the mother I know I can be. And though I have fallen short many times, becoming 'less' rather than more, I know it is a critical lesson I am learning. There have been growing pains this last week, and will be more in the future, but there has been amazing growth for both me and my daughter. I thank God for His Hand and His continual work in my life and pray that He will always make me more .... more of HIM and less of ME.

~~John 3:30 He must become greater, I must become less. ~~

A New Hobby

A few weeks ago I blogged about the need that myself and all moms have to pursue our own interests and hobbies so that we can grow as individuals (outside of mommy life), expand our conversations beyond diapers, feeding, potty training, new words, etc, and just keep our sanity by having "me-time." Well, I had mentioned that I was starting the new hobby of sewing, and I wanted to put in an update. I have indeed been sewing quite a bit since then and I really love it. Like anything else, it was slow-moving at first and there were definitely frustrations along the way (I would like everything to come out perfect, first time, which is impossible)! However, like anything else, when I just worked through all the mistakes and had patience while ripping out endless stitches (I assembled a bag completely inside out so that the lining was on the outside) I can already see some improvement and am enjoying the hobby more and more. I think what I love the most about sewing is that I am creating something.

I've been completely inspired by the crafty blogs that Gina has been showcasing on this site and love browsing through the little (and big) sewing projects that these women have completed. If you are interested in sewing, might I suggest that you use the Internet as a tool? I have found some free patterns/tutorials for bags, burp cloths, bibs, and baby dresses, as well as instructions on how to assemble a vast number of quilts. I even came across some instructional videos on YouTube! If anyone is looking for a new hobby, I think you should try a sewing class and see how you like it! And let me know how it's going if you do! I thought that I would end with posting some photos of a few projects I have completed. They are all made with scrap fabric my mom gave me - I can't wait to go shopping for some new fabric and get going!! The burp cloth was inspired by a tutorial on the Homemade by Jill blog: http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/ (I want to try a baby bib like hers next -- I pretty much love every project she does, including those strawberry cheesecake cupcakes! Can't wait to make those!). The little fabric buckets are inspired by the tutorial on the Vintage Ric Rac blog: http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com/2007/09/back-with-buckets.html.

Burp Cloth:

My daughter managed to sneak into this picture!

Little quilt and blanket: Fabric Buckets:(I want to try to make handles)

How to Survive Sunday Morning Car Rides to Church

We're running late for church - - we are pulling out of our driveway 5 minutes before the service is about to begin, and we live 15 minutes from church. On the way there, one of my kids is complaining about their outfit, the other is begging us to turn back so their hair can be redone, and the third child's stomach hurts. Mom and Dad are not happy with the state of affairs and we begin to hack away at each other as well for how late it is and how unhappy we all are. We are not ready to worship.

Fifteen minutes later we arrive at church. We walk into the service "all pulled together" on the outside but our spirits have yet to be prepared. Has this happened to you? Does any of it sound familiar?

We are all guilty of disguising the inner man with the "right look" so the inner man can remain unknown, anonymous, and masked behind the busyness of life. Amidst our dual existence lies the need to be known and loved, and to be the people God intends for us to live as.

I am glad to know and be able to share with you that God desires truth in our inner parts, ... to teach us wisdom in the inmost places of our hearts. (Psalm 51: 6) He calls us to 'abide in Him, that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming'. (1 John 2:28) He knows how difficult life can be, but He offers an alternative way to live and respond.

How do we get to this point so that when scenes like the one I described which are apart of life's everyday landscape happen, we continue to remain true to God and to whom He is making us to be? The first way is the most simple: start each day with praise to God. Psalm 113:3 tells us, 'from the rising of the sun to its setting we are to praise God.' Next, as I said in the last devotional I wrote to you, ' fill your mouths with the Word of God and declare his splendor, never allowing confusion to cloud your knowledge of His goodness, because He is our help'. (Psalm 63) Memorize scripture - I assure you - it will come in handy when nothing but anger and frustration exist.

When angst fills your heart, seek Him and know that He will hear you and deliver you from all of your fears. (Psalm 34:4) That's a promise. That does not mean the noise will all of a sudden cease, it means the noise inside of you will be replaced with peace.

The last thing takes time, sometimes years to really apply, but starting this now will enable you to live the way God intends. Put away the old negative responses and replace them with the 'new crucified with Christ version...'for Christ lives in me and the life I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.' (Galatians 2:20)

Getting back to my Sunday morning ride to church, how could it have been different? God put on my heart to examine how I conduct myself - including when I awake, how do I prepare the night before, and how I enable others to be their best. This did not come to me on the car ride there, but the next Sunday it was time for us to worship as a family, I tried to view it a privilege to be an enabler instead of a reactionary. Lord, please help us as women to build up our families in magnificent ways for your glory. We ask this and thank you in advance in Jesus' name, AMEN.

The Barefoot Tales

My heart was broken today.

I was browsing through the Newsday website to be informed about the aerial spray that had to be done around where we live due to the West Nile cases, and found myself drawn to their "Photo of the Day" section. I love photography, so I'd thought I'd indulge my eyes with some mind blowing pictures.

They were mind blowing alright....

Most of the 170 pictures were images of the victims of terrorism, war, anti-government protestings, and different cases of natural disasters. They were all full of people in pain, in need, and in devastation, and this just broke my heart.

One thing I know from this is that it's evident that Jesus is coming very soon. But at the same time, I know I can't rejoice about what's going on around the world and how much I've become desensitized about the people in need. 

But what can a 30 year old with three young children and another baby on the way do to make an impact? Often times, I've felt that I am limited to do anything outside of my home because I have made that commitment to be focused on my children. But I realize, somewhere along the line, my perspective and attitude needed a realignment: to always be willing to be used as God's instrument no matter what stage of life I'm in. Just like the saying, "If life gives you lemons, make lemonade", wherever God puts us in life, (in our case, mothers with little ones), we need to be willing to serve God with our children by serving others. 

I always emphasize on how as a mom, our first ministry is our home. But we also need to be aware of what's going on around us to be His instruments. I think for me, I focused too much on my children that I've gotten to the point where I turned self-focused. And often times, I've said no to God when He wanted me to reach out to someone in need. I know that as a mom of four little ones now, I can' exactly go to India or Haiti to help those who lost their homes due to severe flooding, but I know that I can definitely lift them up in my prayers and contribute in giving. I can also reach out to that mother who seems to need a break from chasing after her toddler, or encouraging that person who is struggling to find Jesus in her life. Whatever it is, it starts with our hearts. If we're willing, God will use us to make a difference. And yes, busy mothers can be a part of this. 

I saw some pictures of orphans my children's age, who lost their homes and their parents from the storms. As I tried to imagine, "what if that was my child?", I couldn't handle the emotions rushing in. But the truth of the matter is, they are God's children, and I can't imagine how much this is breaking His heart. I don't think I can push that image out of my mind. The hungry and shoeless children waiting to get their meal for the day. I can't forget what I've read in the New Testament when Jesus said (I can't quote word for word) if we feed the homeless and take care of the orphans, it is like doing the same for him. I hope that you will join me for the rest of this week to especially pray for those who lost everything from the series of storms we had last week. And I also hope that you as a mom will be able to teach the sharing of Christ's love with others as they watch you live out your faith.

Mommy's Art

Have you ever thought of raising kids as being an Art? I mean as opposed to being a science. The science of raising a child means that there are certain predictable rules that will produce certain predictable responses. There is a lot about child rearing that is certainly scientific. For example, any child on the 'no-nap & add a lollipop' adrenaline sugar high will make a mother pull hair out of her very own head. Or, the more kids sleep, the better they sleep...did you know that? We know that certain rules, like bed times, eating times, and other healthy routines produce healthy children. But what about rules? What about nurturing and the warmth of responding to a request that doesn't line up with a rule? What about exceptions?
I've learned that raising kids is an Art. You need rules like the artist needs tools and color. But how and when they are applied may require interpretation. How do we know though? If you break a bed time too many times you no longer have a bed time, or you no longer have a cooperative child. What happens to dinner if you allow too much of a snack? What makes Art work is WISDOM. And wisdom comes from God. It's that simple. We have been given the privilege of asking for wisdom anytime we need it. Anytime. God even says He won't get annoyed by our asking. So we can literally depend on THE all-knowing wise God for little things like should I give in to the plea for crackers right now! Do we really understand how near God is to our days...how interested He is in these grimy little details of mothering. Happy painting!

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

It's Potty Time

For anyone with toddlers, two little words may strike fear in your heart or make you want to pull your hair out... Potty Training! Those whose children have already accomplished this feat are probably breathing a sigh of relief, or possibly chuckling at some memories (if it has been several years since you went through it). Well I am currently in the middle of potty training my daughter, who turned 2 last month, and though I have had frustrating moments it has not been that bad....yet. That is because she wears pull-ups and does not seem interested in making the switch to 'big girl' underwear no matter how much I tell her how exciting it is. She is pretty much trained, in that she usually keeps her pull-up dry and clean all day and only wets once in a while. I have been trying to figure out how to get her through this 'last step' of potty training. Several moms recommended a great book and I recently borrowed it from a friend.
Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day, Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro by Teri Crane, sounds too good to be true! I was surprised to discover how helpful this book is. Though a large portion of the book focuses on how to throw a day long 'potty party,' (a very successful technique) this guide is much more than that. Teri's fun to read book teaches parents how to recognize when your child is ready to be potty trained, how to help your child accomplish necessary pre-potty training skills, how to use consistent positive reinforcement and most important how to prepare yourself not to be anxious or frustrated with your child.
Though I was skeptical of a one day potty training technique (even though it is backed by experts), after reading the book it now makes complete sense. First you and your child need to be ready to potty train on several levels, which the book provides explanations and checklists for, and only then will an awesome fun filled day of teaching work. I recommend this book for any parent who is, or will be, facing the challenge of potty training your child. Teri's down to earth advice and humorous comments actually made me excited to finish potty training my daughter. The book also has checklists for everything, which I love, from how ready you are as a parent to potty train to all the supplies you need to start training. After reading Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day I am inspired and empowered to plan my own "potty party!"
*I will be sure to let you all know how the party goes*

Focus on the Family: James Dobson on Parenting

I love podcasts. There are so many different ones available for free that could enrich us in many different ways. Sometimes, when I can't find the time to read books, especially the Christian parenting ones, I turn to iTunes and download one of Dr. James Dobson's talk show on Parenting. This is very good for all parents who have children from infants to teenagers. And it's very convenient to hook myself up to my ipod and learn while I do the dishes or the laundry. From iTunes, you can search for Focus on the Family or under James Dobson, and it will take you to the page where you can download it onto your computer. Have fun exploring!

Saturday Night Recipe and Super-Fun Extra Recipe

Beef and Tomatoes on Rice

I know that I don't like to just serve leftovers as is, but the juices and sauce made from the pot roast Wednesday does taste phenomenal on rice, on its own!


Ingredients
Leftovers from the pot roast meal
1 1/2 cups uncooked rice

1)Put 3 cups of water on to boil in a medium saucepan with tight-fitting lid. When boiling, add the rice, cover, and lower heat and simmer 20 minutes, or until all water is absorbed.
2)In a separate saucepan, slowly heat the pot roast leftovers. Shred up remaining beef and vegetables.
3)Serve the leftovers over the rice.





Super Fun Extra Recipe!

This is from the show "Tyler's Ultimate" with Chef Tyler Florence. This recipe was featured on the episode with the Pot Roast recipe from Thursday. I just made this cake - it is amazing! If the way to your man's heart is through his stomach, MAKE HIM THIS CAKE!



Chocolate Cracked Earth (Flourless Chocolate Cake)

Ingredients
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1 stick unsalted butter
9 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
2 cups heavy cream, cold Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1)Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan.
2)Put the chocolate and butter into the top of a double boiler (or in a heatproof bowl) and heat over (but not touching) about 1 inch of simmering water until melted.
3)Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar in a mixing bowl until light yellow in color. Whisk a little of the chocolate mixture into the egg yolk mixture to temper the eggs - this will keep the eggs from scrambling from the heat of the chocolate - then whisk in the rest of the chocolate mixture.
4)Beat the egg whites in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form and fold into the chocolate mixture. 5)Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the cake is set, the top starts to crack and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, 20 to 25 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan.
6)While the cake is cooking, whip the cream until it becomes light and fluffy.
Serve at room temperature dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped with whipped cream.

Living Outside the 'Box'

This morning I gave my daughter and empty diaper box to play with. I assumed she would have fun with it for a half hour or so, and give me time to get some work done. Well I greatly underestimated the excitement, enthusiasm and creativity that the box brought about. She was so excited when I gave her the box that she bounced up and down, clapped her hands, said 'yeah Mama,' and gave me a hug!
She spent countless hours with the box. She sat inside the box, stood inside the box, hid inside to play peekaboo and even placed a blanket in the box so she could pretend to sleep inside the box. She put her favorite dolls and animals inside the box and gave them rides all around the house. She filled the box with toys then dumped it out and filled it again. She turned the box on its side and rolled/bounced various balls into it. She tried several times to find out how many books would fit in the box (but always lost count). She turned the box upside down and crawled under it. She used it as a chair, a stepstool and a table. She colored on the box. She even 'fed', petted and hugged the box. Then when it seemed her box fun was coming to an end she insisted that the rest of the family join in, begging daddy to push her around in the box, making sure her baby brother got to sit in the box too and giving me a 'pretty hat' by putting it on my head.

Watching her excitement over what seemed an ordinary, even boring gift, made me think. When was the last time I got so excited over something I was given? What about the many blessings, gifts and talents that God has given me? I realize that I often view these as ordinary or only able to be used in one specific way. Just think about what could happen if we applied the same creativity, commitment and excitement to using what God has given us, as my daughter did when she put her box to use. Imagine what could be done, and who could be touched! I was challenged today to put the time, talents and treasures that God has given me to use.... and not to take them for granted. While my daughter spent the majority of her day 'in the box' I decided that I need to start thinking and living 'out of the box.'

Friday Night Recipe

Cheesy Chicken, Potato Cakes, and Asparagus

The cheese gravy or any cheese sauce makes good use of the leftover Gruyere from Monday. If you've been following this meal planning from the beginning, you may remember this meal from a little while ago - I do like to make the same meals over again, so there may be repetition in the future too!


Cheesy Chicken
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 sprig fresh thyme, leaves chopped
Pepper
2 Tbls. olive oil
2 Tbls butter
2 Tbls flour
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese

1)Season the chicken with the thyme and pepper. In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes on each side.
2)In a small, heavy saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook about a minute, then whisk in the chicken broth and 1/2 cup milk and cook until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Stir the cheese into the sauce slowly until melted, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and serve with the chicken.



Potato Cakes

Leftover mashed potatoes
1 1/2 tbls. flour
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
olive oil

1) Heat skillet over medium heat, coat with oil.

2) Mix flour into mashed potatoes.

3) Mix breadcrumbs and cheese in a dish. Form small pancakes out of the mashed potato mixture, dip into the breadcrumbs, and fry in the pan until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip over and fry another 2 minutes or so, until golden brown.

You can serve this with the cheese-gravy made above, or with ketchup or applesauce, whatever you prefer!



Roasted asparagus
1 bundle green asparagus (1/2 - 1 lb.)
1 1/2 tbls. olive oil
salt and pepper
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2) Wash and trim woody stems from asparagus. On a baking sheet, toss with olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast 15 minutes, turning occasionally. (Very skinny asparagus only takes 10, thicker asparagus may take a little longer).

In Everything Give Thanks - By Jill

1Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Several years ago my school district went through a redistricting procedure to 'equalize' the number of students attending the 2 elementary schools in the district. As you can imagine, parents were quite upset and angry at the proposition that they might have to switch their child's school. To make matters worse, families were split up because siblings attending 4th grade or above were allowed to remain in the school they were attending but those under 4th grade were force to transfer to the other school which involved 2 different buses at 2 different times. At this time my youngest was in 2nd grade and my middle son was entering 5th grade. During that summer I was teaching my children the names of the Lord used in the bible. One of the names of God is El Elyon, God Most High who rules and overrules the affairs of man. As I was teaching them about El Elyon, I heard God say to me very clearly, "Do you trust Me?" Wow! I knew this meant my neighborhood was going to be chosen to redistrict. I had to trust God completely. When we received the news about the redistricting my youngest son, the 2nd grader, cried at night for 2 weeks. My middle son offered to transfer with him so he wouldn't feel so alone. Although I was extremely touched by this act of unselfishness, I knew God allowed this to happen for a reason and I just had to trust Him. I kept telling my children to trust in God, El Elyon. As time went by I understood part of the reason God allowed this. You see my middle son was a very strong, confident student. My younger son on the other hand was the opposite. Had he remained in the same school he would have walked in his brother's footsteps and been continually compared to him. Instead, by switching schools, my youngest son stood alone and was able to blossom and bloom in his new school. By the time middle school came around he was in his own element. This life lesson has always stayed with me and it is a reminder to me that because we are His, nothing will happen to us that is not first filtered through His fingers of love. As Romans 8:28 -29 says, "and we know that God causes all things to work together for the good to those who love God ... to become conformed into the image of His Son..."
What about you? Are you struggling with something that you need to give to God? Go, run to you Father. The Lord will be you confidence and keep your feet from stumbling (Proverbs 3:26).
Are you trusting God no matter what circumstances you are in? " For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
No matter how hopeless the situation looks, keep your eyes on Him. "Therefore, ... let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Thursday Night Recipe

Mmm...Comfort Food!

Pot Roast and Vegetables - save the leftover pot roast for another meal
*This recipe is from the show "Tyler's Ultimate" with Chef Tyler Florence.*



Ingredients
1 (3 to 4 pound) piece beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 cup water
2 yellow onion, halved
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 bunch baby carrots
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 cup button mushrooms, stems removed and sliced in half
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves

1)Season all sides of the beef with a fair amount of salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot that has a tight cover; heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately high heat. Brown the meat on all sides, taking the time to get a nice crust on the outside.
2)Pour in the tomatoes and the water. Scatter the vegetables and herbs around the pot roast, season with salt and pepper; and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of oil.
3)Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Braise for about 3 hours, basting every 30 minutes with the pan juices, until the beef is fork tender.
4)Slice the pot roast and arrange on platter surrounded by the vegetables. Serve with the pot juices.



Mashed Potatoes - save 1/2 the mashed potatoes for another meal.
8 medium potatoes, chopped into 1 1/2" pieces
3 Tbls butter
1/4-1/2 cup milk, or more if desired

1)Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and boil for 15-20 minutes, until potatoes are very tender. Drain and return to the pot.
2)Mash with a potato masher with the butter and milk until desired consistency is reached.

Wednesday Night Recipe

Baked Ziti

*This recipe is from "The Sneaky Chef" cookbook by Missy Chase Lapine. She has an amazing bunch of kid-friendly recipes that include pureed fruits and vegetables and other sneaky, healthy add-ins. I would highly suggest this book - my husband actually got it for me because I don't really like many cooked vegetables on their own! For this recipe, you are supposed to have already made a mixture of pureed carrots and sweet potatoes to add in, but if I haven't made it I use 1 Gerber 2nd stage baby food container of carrots and one of sweet potatoes and it works great!*



Ingredients
1 pound ziti or rigatoni noodles (whole wheat preferred)
1 cup firm tofu, mashed well or pureed (1/2 of a 14-oz. block)
2 1/2 cups store-bought (or homemade) tomato sauce
1 cup Orange Puree (SUBSTITUTE BABY FOOD HERE)
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 cups shredded part skim mozzarella cheese

1)Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 13x9" baking dish with oil.
2)Cook pasta according to package directions until slightly firm. Drain and place in prepared dish. Mix tofu, tomato sauce, and baby food in a bowl. Toss pasta with the sauce mixture and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top the pasta with a combination of the parmesan and the remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese, sprinkling evenly over the top.
3)Cover ziti with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Uncover. Bake another 10-15 minutes or until top is lightly browned.

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!

Of course, if you asked my kids if they're excited about school, they would say "NO!" but, unfortunately, they have been known to lie. Joy (8) went down to the school box, where we keep all of the supplies that survived the previous school year without totally succumbing to my children's "gentle" ministrations, and packed her backpack without any prompting from me. On our recent vacation, Joy and AJ (11) both noticed store display bins in Walmart and started picking out the items they needed and even comparison shopped the RoseArt vs. Crayola products.

Danielle (16) might actually NOT be looking forward to school. Sometimes it's hard to tell, since she has an incredible knack for making her participation in even pleasurable experiences seem as though you are torturing her. I do know that she is looking forward to her Tuesday evening Bible study group and since that only meets during the school year, there is at least one thing she anticipates positively at this time of year. She hasn't mentioned needed anything for school but I've seen the duct tape and string holding the remains of her backpack together and I know what I'll be doing this week.

Beth will be a senior this year, turns 18 next week, and can't wait to register to vote in this year's historic elections. She has spent most Wednesday and Thursday evenings this summer learning ballet for her part in the school musical "Oklahoma". We spent yesterday at Target picking out senior portrait-worthy clothing. She hasn't said that she's NOT excited about school but she rolls her eyes at me when I start humming my favorite seasonal tune "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year".

I don't have time to watch tv. My husband and I are dedicated NetFlix subscribers and we spend about 45 minutes a day enjoying 2-4 year old tv series on DVD. We just found out who Sylar is and still don't even know what LOST is about! However, in spite of my cultural ignorance of current tv, I did manage to glimpse a commercial for Staples a year (or was it 2 or 3 years) ago, right about this time of year which showed happy parents gleefully pushing shopping carts down the school supply aisles to that cheerful Christmas song and I have never forgotten it.
I look forward to our dinner conversations (when not overshadowed by the requisite squabbling about who served themself before we prayed or whether or not everyone washed their hands, or has since rubbed their nose, sneezed, or scratched) which are usually lively with discussion about current events. My three oldest children all excel in Social Studies and History. They were able to name the presidential and vice-presidential candidates within minutes of their announcements. They enjoy sharing what their teachers have said or (to give some credit to the teacher) what they believed their teachers have said and I just know we will have lots to talk about between now and November!

I can't wait to dive back into my Bible study group, my Wednesday lunches with friends, exercise, putting in my 16 hours of work guilt-free, and, hopefully, dedicated prayer time with a friend.

Part of me will miss them when they go back to school but the other part of me is happily humming.

Tuesday Night Recipes

A Parisian Feast

I FORGOT YESTERDAY WAS A HOLIDAY, SO I JUST PUSHED ALL OF THE RECIPES BACK BY ONE DAY!! I'm sorry for any inconvenience!
French Onion Soup Au Gratin


*This is the best French Onion soup recipe I've ever tried, and I've tried 3 or 4. It's cooked slowly and is not difficult, but produces a golden, mellow, amazing soup! I got the recipe from my friend Donna, who also posts on this blog, and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it! (I'm sure she won't!) The only special, non-grocery store ingredient (secret ingredient) you need is cognac, which you can pick up at any liquor store. I just bought a very small bottle more than a year ago, I think, and am still on the same one, since the recipe doesn't use very much. I would not suggest omitting this ingredient though, because I think it means everything to the flavor of the soup! I do usually leave out the last Tablespoon that is added just before serving it though, because I don't really like the taste as much when it has not been cooked out.*


Ingredients
1/2 stick butter (I use salted)
2 lb. onions, cut in slivers (approx. 6 cups)
2 tsp. sugar
1 heaping Tbls flour
3 1/2 cups beef stock
2 cups water
4 Tbls cognac
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 baguette (approx), cut into 12 (3/4" thick) slices
Grated Gruyere cheese (about 1 cup, or as much as you desire)

1)In a large pot or Dutch oven with a lid, melt the butter. Add the onions and sugar, stir. Cover completely and stir occasionally, cooking for 20 minutes (over medium heat) until the onions are wilted and golden.
2)Uncover and cook another 20-25 minutes until light golden-brown and caramelized, making sure they don't burn.
3)While the onions are cooking, mix the water and beef broth together and bring to a boil in a medium saucepan.
4)Add the flour to the onions after they have caramelized; stir in well. Stir in the boiling beef broth and water to the onion mixture. Then stir in 3 Tbls cognac, and the salt and pepper. Boil for 5 minutes, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, partially covered.
5)While soup is cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and toast the bread slices until golden. If you haven't grated the cheese yet, do so now.
6)After 45 minutes of the soup cooking, uncover and simmer 10 more minutes. Adjust seasoning as desired and then add 1 more Tbls cognac. Stir well.
7)Ladle soup into four oven-safe bowls (1 1/2 cups soup each), top with the toasty bread slices and grated cheese. Turn the oven to broil and broil the soup bowls until the cheese is nice and golden brown and bubbly.




Steamed Mussels
Ingredients
2 Tbls olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lb. mussels, scrubbed and cleaned - see below note on cleaning mussels*
1/2 cup dry white wine, or chicken stock
2 sprigs fresh thyme, chopped
Pepper
1/2 baguette

1)Heat a large, deep skillet (with lid) over medium-high heat; add olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and saute until softened, making sure the garlic doesn't burn. You can lower the heat if necessary.
2)Add the mussels in a single layer, then pour the wine or chicken stock over them. Cook off the wine for 30 seconds, then cover the pot completely and cook until the mussels open (only 3-5 minutes). Discard any mussels with unopened shells, sprinkle with thyme and pepper, and serve with bread to dip into the sauce!

*To clean mussels, scrub them well in cold water. Pull off the "beard" (little fuzzy piece sticking out from inside the shell) by giving it a quick tug. If any mussels are open, tap them or try and tap them closed a few times. Then let go and watch them. If they close on their own, continue with the cleaning process - they are still alive and are safe to eat. If they do not close, discard them because they are already dead and unsafe. After scrubbing all of the mussels, put them in a large bowl or pot of cold water. Let sit for a few minutes, then dump the water and repeat a few times with fresh cold water. This helps get rid of some of the grit. I would also suggest buying mussels from a seafood market rather than a supermarket, because they probably have better ones!

A Father's Favorite Time

I used to think that my husband considered putting the kids to bed as just another chore that he was willing to help with after a long day. Recently he wrote the following and shared it with me, and it truly warmed my heart. Thought I would share his insights on fatherhood with you:

Lately at bedtime, my daughter only wants me to read to her from her new children’s Bible. She’s even taught her self how to say “bie-buh.” I’ve now found the most heartwarming aspect of fatherhood to date: telling my children about God’s love.

Reading these stories challenges me spiritually in seeing the God’s truth spelled out in simple terms. I get to read about the prodigal son, reminding me that God will always take us back. I also read the story of Zaccheaus, the short guy who nobody liked except Jesus. God’s love is so big, so unending, and so accepting. And he’s longing for His children to love Him back.

When we’re done, we turn off the light, close our eyes, and pray to Jesus. Then we sing “Jesus Loves Me” together as I tuck her into bed. I close the door behind me, almost I tears as I see her learning more about what has completely changed my life – the love of Jesus.