Building My House

Check out my ride...

2011-02-03T19:52:00.000-08:00

I was informed today by my oldest and wisest that this is, in fact, "Mommy's car."

Yes, please!

Heads up!

2011-01-26T23:44:00.000-08:00

Just a friendly FYI that there's a (totally awesome) new fortnightly purse up for grabs over at Amoretti.

Double Whammy

2011-01-22T20:24:00.000-08:00

What do you get when you are nesting (and nesting a little girl to boot, which, I personally believe, kicks the nesting up to about the tenth power) and spring seems to have sprung miraculously overnight (oh, and it's Saturday AND your little boys just happen to find themselves occupied with activities that won't involve band-aids/stitches later)? You have a really, really, REALLY clean kitchen. And sore feet. Whatever. The kitchen is clean!

No, I'm not six feet under

2010-10-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so, it appears that blogging is waaaaaaaaaay down at the bottom of my totem pole. In fact, I think it's shoved a foot or so under the base. So, I am no longer promising consistency, but I will be around and I will post (just not every stinkin' day). Love to all! You'll hear from me soon. :-)

A delightful instance where the public school system shoots itself in the foot

2010-04-17T21:00:00.000-07:00

My Mom was sorting through some papers/projects of mine from the dark ages when I was enrolled in the public school system (K-8). She found a real gem that, honestly, I got quite a kick out of.

My second grade report reads as follows...

The Statue of Liberty.

The Statue of Liberty means we can do anything we want to do without hurting anyone. The Statue of Liberty means we can be anything we want to be.

(So far, the attempts at indoctrination appear to be working....and now for the backfire!)

All I want to be is a mother because I want to spend time with my kids.

Mwahahahahahaha!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure that my teacher was completely horrified and rip-roaring to retire after that one. Hey, she said I could be whatever I wanted to be...and I did just that. Who says nothing good comes from the public schools? :-D

Higher reading, indeed!

2010-04-09T10:43:00.000-07:00

We settle for nothing but the classics in this house.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah Christ arose!

2010-04-04T21:02:00.000-07:00

What a triumphant hymn for this triumphant day! A blessed and joyful Easter, dear friends!

"...for he is faithful who promised..."

2010-03-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

TICK-tock

2010-03-22T14:31:00.000-07:00

Yep. It's that time of year again. TICKS. Yuck. I have a theory that they're a result of The Fall. They give me the heebie-jeebies. Seriously, I'm not a fan. And we found our first one today. On me. I'm pretty sure I got it from the bear cub who was romping in the field today. The one curse of the country is that there are plenty of places to pick these buggers up (our dear Mundo isn't helping). Anyway, we did the whole strip-everybody-down-wash-the-clothes-vaccum-the-whole-house-pick-through-the-hair routine. Is playing outside really worth doing this three times a day? Well, my bear cub thinks so. So here is my plea to expertise...does anyone have some tips for what works best to repel the blood-sucking, disease-infested devils? We use Frontline for the dog. Gee, you'd think there would be some kind of once-a-month deal for us too, huh?

Lil' kickers

2010-03-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

Rain drops on roses and spray paint on dressers...

2010-03-17T00:20:00.000-07:00

...or on any other wooden object for that matter (belonging to myself, mind you). Yes, I love it. It is probably my favorite decorating tool. Of. All. Time. Paint in general is just marvelous for sprucing up a home in need of, well, sprucing. But spray paint (I'm going to put in a good word for Krylon here) is glorious. It's quick to apply and quick to dry, comes in some really fun colors, and is relatively inexpensive. You also don't have to wait for it to be mixed while you are trying to keep little ones content.

I tend to mix things up a bit in our home; changing and rearranging things to find out what works best. Scratching a decorative itch, if you will. Spray paint fits the bill perfectly. Take this curtain rod (turn your eyes away from the ground that I also managed to paint. I blame the fumes for that dopey move)...

...it holds up my wedding quilt and has been black and now...white. Not sure yet if I like it better, but who cares? It's an easy fix, I'm tellin' ya. I've been able to shnazz-up apron racks, desks, clocks, mirrors, thrifted picture frames, and who-knows-what-all with spray paint. One of my friends recently moved from a home built in the 1930s to a more modern home. None of the frames from her old home really complimented the style of the new home. So, one can of white spray paint later and voila! She now has coordinating white frames against a chocolate-colored wall in her living room. The contrast is stunning and it only cost about 5 bucks (instead of the $150+ it probably would have cost to replace the frames). Oh yes, it is indeed one of my favorite things.

One word of warning before you dive in, though. If what you want to paint already has paint or a finish on it, you must sand it lightly first. If you don't = very bad ju-ju. Otherwise, scavenge for some updateables, grab a can of spay paint, and spray, spray, spray!

Happy Find

2010-03-11T13:28:00.000-08:00

You know it's time to clean the sink when your two-year-old is helping you at the kitchen counter and as he reaches for the spoon at the bottom you quickly say, "Oh no honey, that's yucky. Please don't touch the bottom of the sink."

Yeah, my sink was that bad. And I keep putting off the scrubbing of it because all of our not-so-kid-friendly cleaning supplies are in a box on an upper shelf in the garage. The safer cleaners that I use daily (vinegar, baking soda, castile soap) unfortunately just don't cut it for this kind of job. So I started thinking (dangerous, I know) about what I could use that would be abrasive enough to cut through the hard water deposits and grime that had taken up residence in my sink, yet be safe enough to keep under the counter at all times. Then, it came to me....salt. It cleans rust out of my cast-iron skillet, why shouldn't it be up for this challenge? So, I poured some plain, old, run-of-the-mill salt into my slightly damp sink, grabbed a paper towel, and scrubbed away. Wow! I don't think this sink has ever been cleaner, and with very minimal elbow-grease to boot. Anyhoo...I know that this remedy is probably nothing new but it is definitely another happy find for this happy Momma. :-)

Note: My sink is of the stainless-steel variety. I don't know if I would recommend salt for cleaning say, an enamel sink. I think I would be concerned about it scratching the enamel.

Well, I'm sold.....HA!

2010-03-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

Every now and again, I just get the itch to mercilessly poke fun at something that seems to exist purely for the purpose of being ridiculous. Well, the postman delivered quite the gem today! A real honey, I'm tellin' ya. Ta-da! An ULTA sale add.

Okay, I know what you're thinking..."Um, yeah, an ULTA add. Whatever." I wouldn't have thought much about it either, or even looked at it for that matter, since I don't usually wear make-up. But this time I was fortunate enough to at least peruse the front page. Do you see that little shadow palette off to the left? Yes, the black one that I couldn't get a close-up of because my camera is on the fritz...that's the one. Oh, how I wish you could see the names of the colors printed beneath each shade! Moonlit Jasmine? Nope. Summer Rose? Uh-uh. Oh no, these names are much better. Let's go from worst to best, in terms of hilarity, shall we?

And the runners-up are...

Maui Wowie (Um...okay...?)

Last Call (would that be the call you make before you are caught in public wearing a shade called this?)

Chopper (as in, West Coast? Wow.)

Shattered (exactly how your life will be if you stoop to buying this palette)

Grifter (you are what you wear)

Polyester Bride (again...um...okay? It mocks itself)

Sin (Hey, they said it...)

And, ladies and gentlemen we have a three way tie!

Smog

Oil Slick

and drumroll please.....

Mildew

Yeah, I can't wait to smear my lids with a little pollution, or car grease. And what about that mildew, huh? Heck, I'll just scrape some out of a public restroom and save myself the 36 bucks. Oh the things we women do to attract the menfolk (please note the sarcasm...my husband would definitely be repulsed). They'll be swarming like flies toward the poor creature wearing this stuff. Or, with names like these, at least the flies themselves will be.

Feasting

2010-03-04T23:57:00.000-08:00

We had an impromptu feast this evening. It was lovely. My mom came over today, bearing a beautiful tri-tip, simply for the sake of our enjoyment. I love her. I always get excited when there is a gorgeous hunk of meat to be roasted. Mind you, this was not always the case. I used to be terrified by hunks of meat, because it seemed that all I could do was reduce them to rubbery or stringy, overly dry masses. Yuck. Then I learned the great secret to all cooking...don't stress over it...just grab that recipe by the scruff of it's neck, look it square between the eyes, and let it know kindly, but firmly, that you own it. *Sigh* see...it's that easy (okay, a prayer to the Almighty never hurts either). Anyway, back to our feast...

I must have been in the mood for feasting today (not just in my heart, where the fish sticks on the table are labeled a feast..I wanted to see something feast-ish on the table. Meat on the bone, hearty bread with mounds of butter, great vats of steaming soup...that sort of thing) because as soon as that tri-tip entered the house I was planning all of the sides and just how scrumptious they were going to be. I splurged slightly today and bought some gorgeous asparagus, which I roasted with olive oil, lemon juice, and sea salt. I then mashed up a huge fluffy cloud of cream cheese mashed potatoes and put a bottle of sparkling pomegranate juice in the fridge to chill (something even the kiddos could enjoy with us). I also planned to finnish off our feast with ruby-red strawberries and really good chocolate.

Now, for the meat. I have learned that there are a few things that you can put onto beef that will always do you proud. I have also learned that less is more. After putting my tri-tip into my covered stoneware baking dish, I splashed it liberally with olive oil and red wine (two-buck Chuck works just fine). I then ground salt and pepper over the top, snipped some fresh thyme over it, and plopped a few garlic cloves into the bottom of the dish. Incidentally, these ingredients also turn the drippings into the most luscious gravy (just add a cup or two of broth to stretch it out and some mashed potatoes or flour to thicken it). I baked the whole caboodle at 375 for an hour and a half (if I had all day, I would have let it roast longer at a lower temp, but this was still tender as can be). And...voila! What a feast!
My husband came in from the cold to something he pronounced "heavenly". The look on his face as he ate made all of the work completely worth while.

Even though we count our every meal to be a bountiful feast from the Lord, I feel it is still important for us to pull out all the stops and really feast (within financial means, of course). Usually for our family, this happens on, or the day before the Sabbath. We love having a planned feast for our kids to look forward to, reveling in the repetition of it. Sometimes though, we just need to feast, to rejoice, to marvel over the blessings that the Lord bestows so graciously. We need to bring out the choice meats, the choice wine (or pomegranate juice for the toddlers to gulp down), and have our hearts be glad that this is the day that the Lord hath made.

Great gift idea

2010-03-01T20:30:00.000-08:00

One of my cousins recently bestowed a fun birthday present upon yours truly. Apparently, she was planning on giving me a bouquet of flowers (which, mind you, I would have been tickled pink to have received) but nixed the idea on account that cut flowers have the propensity to up and die. So, she gave me a bouquet of a different sort and I happen to think it is a splendid gift idea...

The Spatula Bouquet

Isn't that fun?!?! They came tied with a lovely ribbon (and a chocolate bar..ahem :-D) and I thought it only appropriate to put my bouquet in a vase to keep by the stove. I tend to keep spatulas around until they pretty near fall apart, so it is wonderful to have some fresh ones. Such fun ones too! I'm particularly partial of this one...

...ain't he cute! I think I might even feel rather rotten sticking him into a pan of boiling something or other. Anyhoo, thanks Crys for the sweet sweet gift and the fun idea to use on some other lucky soul!

You are cordially invited...

2010-02-27T23:26:00.000-08:00

...to a lovely party hosted by the ladies at Femina! See ya there!

Painting by Mary Cassat

Ask a simple question...

2010-02-24T23:22:00.000-08:00

...get a funny answer...

Nana: "Here kitty kitty kitty...Meow...sweetie, what sound does the kitty make?"

Bear Cub: "Hgissssssssssss!!!!!!!"

I love that kid :-D

The Queen of Sheba...not her most flattering photo, but it's all I could find

Word of choice...

2010-02-23T11:26:00.000-08:00

Uh-oh!

We have a new favorite word around here (is it a word? Hmmm...). It applies to just about everything apparently...trucks, carrots, sippy cups, socks, the sky, etc. Occasionally though, it becomes quite handy. Like when baby bear is emptying the contents of his stomach onto Momma's pants, or the puppy is ravaging through the clean laundry.

Yet another reason to love Jan Karon novels...

2010-02-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Gems like these...

"It's th' unblessed food that makes you fat."

(courtesy of Miss Puny Bradshaw, of course)

Hmmm...Uh-oh....

2010-02-19T22:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I entered into a new level of momma-hood yesterday. I was locked out of the house by a 23 month old. Yup. Very impressive for this little bear cub considering that he can barely reach the door knob and the lock he managed to turn is a good 5" higher.

I was taking the dog outside for a quick potty-break (a 1 min. max trip, mind you). I made sure that the older cub was happily absorbed with a picture book and the younger was cooing on his playmat before stepping out the front door and closing it behind me. The dog did his business in record time and I went to open the door. Nope. Not happening. Definitely locked. And no hide-a-key. Whoopsie. It was then that I saw my dear little bear cub's nose pressed against the window on the door with a, "Who? Surely not I, sweet Momma dearest...", expression on his face. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, honestly. Fortunately, I remembered that my mom (who lives 15 mins away) had a key, and God was good enough to make sure that I had my handy dandy cell phone in my pocket.

While my wonderful mother was on her way, I tried get my child to repeat his fateful actions, but in reverse. No good. I think at this point he realized that locking momma out may not have been the best plan. Tears and more tears, followed by a tantrum that lasted all the way down the hallway and back ( which, incidentally, caused my youngest to completely lose it ). After his little meltdown, the wheels in his head really began to turn. I believe his thoughts went something like this...."Momma's out there. I'm in here. She can't get in here. Mwahahahahahahaha!" ( I said "something like this", not "exactly like this"). Anyway, he began tearing through the lower kitchen cupboards, pulling out vinegar and olive oil like it was going out of style, with me, standing on a lawn chair and banging on the kitchen window, saying, "No! Not the trash can...ahh! Keep the salt in the container honey...no, it is not snow! The olive oil jar is not a base ball bat sweetie!" And so on...

Thank goodness my mom arrived before he figured out how to open the olive oil (he mastered the vinegar, by the way). Momma got inside, attended to little ones...and hid a hide-a-key. Nana stayed to play with the bear cubs and we had a lovely picnic lunch out in the sunshine. So God worked it out for good. And He gave me a humdinger of a story to tell a future daughter-in-law. ;-)

Here we go!

2010-02-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

Mobility here we come! Baby bear is rolling from back to front...and boy, is he pleased...and Momma is proud!

Hidden art

2010-02-11T22:10:00.000-08:00

I love exploring. There is so much to marvel at in our Lord's creation! It's amazing how you can just step out your front door and find yourself on an adventure by just examining the ground beneath you. For instance, today these little lovelies caught my eye...

...according to my 'Mushrooms of North America' handbook, they are Bird's Nest Mushrooms (I'd say that fits the bill, wouldn't you?). They are apparently non-toxic, but I doubt that I'll be trying them. This particular fungi was too small for my camera to capture well, so I had to pull an image off of the dandy ol' internet, but this is exactly what they looked like. These are so small, that it would be easy to miss them, and I fear that many people do. I know I certainly did until today. Who knew that fungus could be so cute!

God is good...

2010-02-11T21:46:00.000-08:00

I think Mundo is potty-trained. In two days. At least I'm hoping he is. He spent most of yesterday in his kennel, learning to "hold it", and today he spent his time in the kitchen with me monitoring his behavior after meals to make sure he got outside in time. By the end of the day he was anxiously pacing in front of the door when he had to go, and he goes in the same spot every time outside. We let him play in the rest of the house this evening and there were no accidents. Hallelujah! He was allowed to let it go wherever he darn well pleased at the place that we got him from, and I was just a tad worried. Okay, a lotta bit worried (there I go again...worry worry worry...ugh!). But he seems to be doing well, and I am more than pleased. He also doesn't bark, whine, or howl at night...something else for which I am extremely grateful. Like I said...God is good. Next up...potty-training my two year old (though I doubt it will involve the same steps). :-)

Help for itchy babies

2010-02-09T22:17:00.000-08:00

Bath Dumplings

Nylon stockings (Wal-Mart has these in plastic containers for about 33 cents...you can get 6 dumplings out of one pair)
Coarsely ground oats
Chamomile tea bags, opened
Dried lavender, crumbled (optional
Powdered milk (optional)

Cut each stocking into three sections and tie a knot at the end of each section.
Combine the next four ingredients and add to stocking pouches (about 2 TBLSP)
Tie another knot to close up the dumplings

Place in the bath with your baby (or toddler...or yourself even...we momma's need a good soak now and then too, y'know). These dumplings make a soothing, creamy wash. Make sure to use a fresh dumpling for each bath to avoid bacterial issues. We use these with our bear cubs to help with eczema and they are a great wash for a newborn's sensitive skin.

Maroooooooooned!

2010-02-09T20:57:00.000-08:00

Meet our FIRST dog, Mundo Cani Dog aka...Mundo

He's a tri-color Pembroke Welsh Corgi and a total sweetie pie. What a love! I grew up with these spunky pups and I'm so excited to share my love for them with my Beloved and bear cubs. For those of you who are missing the significance of his name (or the title of this post, for that matter), you MUST read this book...

...it is an excellent read (really and truly one of our favorites). Mundo Cani Dog (meaning: dog of the world) is quite the character; hilarious yet noble. Anyway, it only made sense to name this little guy after our favorite canine in literature. *Sigh* it's sooo nice to have a Corgi in the house again. :-)

An exhortation for wives to respect their husbands...

2010-02-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

Charles Spurgeon said,

"Faults are always thick where love is thin."

We can claim to love them, but if we are using their "faults" as reasons why we can't respect them, then there might be some thin love going on. Just something maybe worth pondering...

Amen

2010-02-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

"If it be the work of God, he can make a stepping stone of the devil himself for setting forward the work."

-Samuel Rutherford

I think I may be slightly addicted

2010-02-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

There are many many reasons why I love my Aunt Paula, and one of them is this glorious stuff

Chocolate Malt Ice Cream

1 cup cream

2 cups skim milk

1 cup white sugar (no substituting y'hear!)

1/4 cup malt powder

1/4 cup cocoa powder

pinch of salt

any of your favorite mix-ins added during the last 5 mins of freezing* (we like chopped Ghiradelli 60% chocolate chips...we are chocolate snobs, I must confess)

*prepare according to your ice cream maker manufacturer's directions

You can also top yours with sliced bananas like we do (highly recommended).

I craved chocolate ice cream for the entirety of my last pregnancy. So, my husband bought me a fabulous ice cream maker, and my sweet Auntie gave me the recipe. The craving has not gone away, and it doesn't appear ever to do so. *Sigh* Thank goodness for nursing! ;-)

Worry Wart

2010-02-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

That's what I am. At least, I struggle with worry wartism (not a word, but it should be). I think it's a momma/wife thing. Or maybe even a woman thing. Whatever. But there are times when I really struggle it. And the rub of it is...it is just plain, old, flat-out, yucky SIN. "Being a woman/mom/wife" just never works as an excuse. Nope. Not ever.

I am always held accountable by 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Worry is such a product of fear, isn't it? Whether it be over your husband, the kids, the house, money, or even the state of the world. And in the above verse, it says that God doesn't give us that fear. Well, if he doesn't then who does? Yup, Satan. When we worry, we aren't submitting to our Father...we are putting ourselves in the hands of the enemy. That is sinful. Fortunately, God is faithful and forgiving. Aren't we glad? :-)

I was recently reading Proverbs 21 and verse 31 really smacked me upside the head, "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord."

There is nothing wrong with being cautious; being prepared. But worrying is completely fruitless. God has already determined the outcome. Every single aspect is in His hands. Personally, there isn't any other place I'd rather have my life...in His hands; not the enemy's.

So I'm going to work harder on trusting more not being a worry wart. How about you? :-)

All Done! Whew

2010-01-31T21:03:00.000-08:00

It is sooo nice to finish a project! Am I right? This was supposed to be a Christmas present for my youngest. When January rolled around, I decided that I would be content just to complete it before next Christmas. Well, my sweetheart gave me a cutting mat and rotary cutter for Christmas (which significantly sped up the process) and I was able to finish this before February. I know, a month late. But the cub isn't even four months, so he doesn't care and I'm beyond content.

It's nothing compared to the beauties that my cousin Hannah has whipped out for her children, but I'm still very satisfied with it. Most of the fabric is leftover from baby shoes that I made for him. I put plenty of textures in there; denim, corduroy, flannel, yarn, etc. Hopefully, it will be a cozy blanket that is fun to touch. I love making things for my children. I feel like it's a small way to share myself with them. A tangible expression of Momma's love, if you will.

Clarification....

2010-01-30T23:03:00.000-08:00

I feel I must clarify something, just so that I don't end up being associated with a particular behavioral pattern that I absolutely DO NOT agree with.

The name, Momma Bear...it's what I called my Momma. She called me Claire Bear. So then she became Momma Bear. I happen to love tradition, so that's why I go by "Momma Bear", my husband is the "Papa Bear" and my little ones are "bear cubs".

Now, (esp. since I have little menfolk) what I want to avoid be associated with is the dreaded "Momma Bear Syndrome". You know what I'm referring to, the mothers who fight every battle for their precious little boys. Never allowing their sons to take responsibility, take a hit, and essentially, causing them to be effeminate. I love my boys and I adore their sweetness, but I am raising men, not molly coddled babies. No, no, no. Being a man that serves the Living God takes guts, and that's something they will never have if I am always coming to their defense anytime a problem arises. How will they defend a wife and family if they can't even stand up and defend themselves? Does this mean that I'm not tender toward them? Of course not. On the contrary, it is because I am tender toward them that I feel this way.

*Whew!* There! I'll shove my soap box back in the closet for a while. :-)

Soup at our house

2010-01-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

We love soup at our house. It's warm, can easily feed a crowd, a good way to get in veggies, and has always been a loaves and fishes supper for us (stretches out what looks like nothing in the fridge).

However, it cleans us out of bread (we love toast too), and I wanted to find a way to make it stretch even farther and fill up the hollow bellies of some hungry menfolk I happen to know. ;-)

So what do we use? Mashed Potatoes.

I mash up some red or yellow potatoes with low-fat cream cheese, milk and butter, then put a good dollop in the bottom of our bowls and top with the soup. The combo eventually turns the soup into a thick gravy-like chowder (yum!), making it an easier thing for little bear cubs to keep on a spoon. This is especially good with chicken soup but we have also enjoyed it with tomato-based soups. The mashed potatoes are also a good way to stretch a small amount of leftover soup.

We still like to have soup by itself with bread on occasion. But we're always coming up with excuses to have it with mashed potatoes. :-)

You know you have boys when...

2010-01-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

...you find one of these fresh out of the dryer.

Just thankful it wasn't the real deal, y'know?

(soon enough, I'm sure) :-)

Reasons to Love Wal-Barn

2010-01-26T18:02:00.001-08:00

Or, Wal-Mart for those of you who didn't grow up with a dad calling it Wal-Barn. I bet, if when I was 5 someone came up to me and said, "Spell 'barn' please," I most likely would have replied, "M-A-R-T....BARN!"

To be honest, I grew up loathing Wal-Mart. I think it had something to do with the smell of the McDonalds right inside the front door. Or the fact that the young women's clothing section seriously left something to be desired. Whatever it was, I was not a fan. Then, I became a Momma. Now, I LOVE Wal-Mart. Here are a few reasons why (though this list is by no means exhaustive)...

Corelle ('nough said)
Fairly limited choices on basic items (wonderful if you are incredibly indecisive, like me, or are trying to get through the store as quickly as possible with your chilluns)
Baby/toddler camo pants (again, 'nough said)
Politically incorrect toys (rifles, cap guns, cowboy hats, ect.)
Amazing prices on pregnancy tests (now why would we care about that? Hmmm...) ;-)
Foam swords for $2 (yet again, 'nough said)
Surprising amount of merchandise made in the USA (hurrah!)

And finally.....

Because there are so many needy people that shop there.

I don't mean "needy" as in "poor", but needy for the word of God. Every time I go in I get comments on being a young mother with two children under the age of two, both negative and positive. Sometimes I get the, "Just you wait...", comments. Other times it's, "You're so lucky". Both scenarios have given me much opportunity to share my faith and the love of my Savior.

So, I'm gonna keep going to Wal-Barn. Cuz, I'm a Momma and I get it now. :-)

Hmmm...maybe tonight...

2010-01-25T11:53:00.000-08:00

Well, Analene inspired me. I used to be such an early bird; enjoying my tea and the calm of the house before sunrise and then being extremely productive before my eldest awoke. Then, I was pregnant. And had our baby bear. But I still managed to get up at a decent hour. Then, winter hit. My hibernation is most certainly the result of these continuously dark skies, I am sure. ;-)

So, last night my husband and I upped the bear cubs' bed time from 8 to 7, allowing us ample time together before crawling into bed by 10. I lay there so very content, anticipating how wonderful it would be to resume a sane schedule. But wait...say it ain't so! I couldn't sleep. Not a wink. So, let's say I'm a teensy weensy bit tired today. Just a tad. Not quite the victory I was expecting.

I am hopeful, however, and will try again tonight. And the next night, and the night after that. I won't be beat. No siree Bob.

In the meantime, any ideas ( besides counting sheep- har har) for conking out? I'd be much obliged. :-)

My Eden

2010-01-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

My Beloved has made me an Eden. It is still in its childhood, but already showing signs of fruitfulness...

He put up fencing, double-dug, tilled, spread manure,

planted seeds, watered, weeded, and built a lovely gate where I can, "sit and read, or just think on lovely things."

And he did this all for me.

All so that I could tromp through the glorious mud, breathe in the intoxicating scent of tilled soil and leaf mold, harvest bounty for our family, and teach our bear cubs the joy of working the earth and enjoy the Eden that GOD has given us.

So here I sit by my gate, thinking on lovely things...marveling at how our Lord is molding my Beloved to be more like Him.

I love two-for-ones

2010-01-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

A clean house AND exercise

Ahhhh.....

help...um...please...

2010-01-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

Okay, I need some advice concerning...cradle cap. It has gotten really really REALLY bad on the youngest bear cub (very very dry). I have tried using different oils (including DermaSmoothe) and they seem to help temporarily, but by the next day the yuckies are back. He has very thick hair (and lots of it) and I was considering a buzz (to ease the treating process), but I was concerned that exposing the skin might not be a good idea. Any suggestions?

Draw your....spoon?

2010-01-19T21:51:00.000-08:00

From the get-go it has been nothing but cars, cars, cars for the firstborn bear cub. And cars are still the passion dearest to his little heart. But Sunday night we watched this movie...

...and not only were the horses a BIG hit, but for the last two nights at dinner he has let out a battle cry and attempted to "cross blades" with Momma whenever she reaches for something with an eating utensil. This has made mealtime much more exciting and challenging, to say the least. Tonight, the cry rang out and mashed potatoes went flying. Fortunately, the wall they made contact with is a complimentary shade. Oh boy, what a boy! :-)

Just look at that sky.....

2010-01-18T23:35:00.000-08:00

Dear sweet Idaho...*sigh*
We are so very happy and beyond contented where we are...and yet...we miss it. Does that seem odd? Content, yet missing a place that we have never been able to call home but always felt like home when I was growing up. Smelling the summer storms...sleeping on haystacks...singing hymns beside Grandpa's grave. Sweet times. Times I would like my children to know...someday.

God is good. He has given us a wonderful place to "hang our hats"...to make into a beautiful home overflowing with His goodness and a place in the wild yonder to build dreams on. That is grace beyond measure, indeed. :-)

It's a GOOD one!

2010-01-18T13:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, I listened to 'The Pleasant Home: A Bible Study for Young Mothers' by Nancy Wilson, and it is marvelous. I had listened to her talk on respecting husbands and received much edification and "reminding" (always a good thing), so I was excited to listen to this new audio series. Wowza! She presents the joy and responsibilities of biblical motherhood and how the two are beautifully intertwined. She also shares family stories and great antidotes that help apply what God's Word teaches us. I highly recommend this to any mother, not just young mothers. This is one study to listen to over and over. It also a good one to listen to with your husband and get his opinion with an open heart.

Good golly, I LOVE that man!

2010-01-16T22:34:00.000-08:00

Looky what arrived in the mail yesterday!

My husband casually mentioned the other day that he had ordered "a couple" of audio sermons/Bible studies from Canon Press (which, mind you, I was plenty excited over because I love, love, LOVE to listen these while I am working around the house. Very edifying). Well, SEVEN of them arrived all nicely bundled to our front door! Hooray! My man was also wonderful enough to order this book...

which I am very anxious to read. We recently watched the DVD 'Collision' (highly recommend) which is the debate in this book "taken on the road" to various cities. Doug Wilson is the pastor of one of our church's corresponding churches.

The audio Bible study that I am probably looking forward to most is this one...Nancy Wilson is an excellent speaker and always sticks to God's Word like super glue.

Anyhoo, I am so very thankful for a husband that wants to learn as much as he can about how to be a man after God's own heart, and who wants to encourage me in what God has called me (as a Christian, wife, and mother) to do. Thanks Darlin'! :-D

Our Daily Bread Variation

2010-01-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

Our Daily Cinnamon Raisin Bread:

Prepare recipe for regular loaves up until dough is rolled out into rectangles, ready for rolling into loaves.

Mix together 1 cup brown sugar and 6 tsp. cinnamon.

Brush dough with vegetable oil or melted butter and sprinkle 1/4 of cinnamon/sugar mixture onto each rolled out rectangle of dough.

Sprinkle liberally with raisins and roll up tightly into loaves.

Let rise in greased loaf pans until loaves look less like logs, more like loaves.

Bake for 25 mins at 375 or until loaves sound hollow when thumped.

Smother with butter while still hot out of the oven and scarf with gusto.

Yum! :-D

Our Daily Bread

2010-01-15T17:57:00.000-08:00

I did not grow up baking bread and was very wary of the task when I married and decided to give it a go (so wary in fact, that I didn't actually buckle down and make a loaf until after my first child made his debut). Ever since that first loaf (which was a disaster and it's amazing that I kept at it), I searched high and low for the Holy Grail of bread recipes. I finally found it here. After figuring out that 2 cups of cooked oats is perfect, I had my ultimate never-fails daily bread. Bliss indeed!

Note: The loaves freeze really well.

An Ode to Oatmeal (from the perspective of an almost two-year-old)

2010-01-14T15:04:00.000-08:00

oatmeal you're yummy
you make me so full
you're inside my overalls instead of my bowl

oatmeal you're sticky
you're stuck to the ins and outs of my ribs
why don't you EVER fall down into my bib?

oatmeal you're gooey
I feel really quite blessed
that even at breakfast I can make a HUGE mess

Let's just say that I was inspired this morning ;-)

Okay, now here's a bit of advice on concocting oatmeal....from what I have observed, the general public has NO IDEA WHATSOEVER how to cook oatmeal (which is, incidentally, why I think so many people loathe oatmeal). The secret dear friends is....MILK. Cook your oats in it and you will be happy, you will feel blessed, you will LOVE oatmeal. Instead of an insipid porridge, you end up with a creamy treat (particularly when topped with fruit or honey). Seriously though, try it. And, if you are so inclined, stir in some flax meal while it cooks. Good stuff. :-)

Thank you, Jamie Soles...

2010-01-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Jezebel

she taught all Israel to worship Baal

the faithful she crunched

what a pill

it makes me wonder if the dogs felt ill

when they made her their lunch...

From 'The Way My Story Goes'

Now there's food for thought (pun intended). ;-)

Well said!

2010-01-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

"Chocolate is another reminder that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

-St. Anne's Public House

Hooray for firsts!

2010-01-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

This being my very first post (hopefully not my last), I felt it was appropriate to share a very special first for a very special boy. Indeed, possibly one of the greatest firsts one can hope to experience. Cookies (eps.with chocolate chips) soaked in milk is a great "tank-filler" on a rainy, grumpy, grouchy, just-woke-up-from-a-nap-and-my-tummy-is-empty day. I loved watching as the cookie was dunked and the milk promptly sucked off, followed by the wide-eyed wonder once that first glorious bite was taken. Did I mention that I love firsts? :-)