New Beginnings

You know that you live a life filled with chaos when you open up your Pinterest to see that they have "How to slim and tone your legs in 10 easy steps" and right next to it is "How to make cupcake sprinkle rolls in 6 steps".  For those who know me best, you will know that while I desire to have slim anything and everything, I desire food more. Usually for me it isn't so much in the sweet department but definitely in the Cheetos Crunchy or Hummus and Pita Chips area. Regardless, it got me to thinking which would I choose?

Take a moment.......

You know the cupcakes would win out everytime.

Man I love instant gratification. Often to my own demise. I will sell out for the immediate thrill instead of holding out for the hard working payoff. 

I have seen this all too often in my parenting. Let's just be honest folks, sometimes the embarrassing tantrum in the supermarket makes you want to call CPS on yourself so instead you buy the candy they want in hopes of taming the beast within for the last 30 minutes of your trip. You also resort to doing what you swore you would NEVER do and open the package let them dive in and pay with the empty wrapper at the end. All with the hope that this will relieve the stress and anxiety of shopping with short little people. 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret..."IT DOESN'T WORK, EVER!" 

You might feel better in the moment, but those little "totes-adorbs" kids you were blessed with have the will power and tenacity of a Gladiator. (Sometimes I think if we set Little K loose on ISIS, the USA will have won the war on terror, that's another story for another day though).

So as I was furiously cleaning my house today before Little K's teacher came for a home visit, I was thinking of how could I best get through to her the significance of his issues. We had met earlier last week and she kind of brushed off my concerns as if the sole problem was my parenting. So being the human behaviour analyzer that I am and the fact that I am able to lay huge amounts of guilt on myself, I naturally spent the whole week beating myself up and second guessing my parenting with Little K. (This naturally ended with me also eating through 2 Family Sized Bags of Cheeto's...yoga pants anybody)? I realized that I had to own some of those issues. I have chosen to not fight battles because I wasn't ready to win it, and in that he has gained a foothold on me. I have to choose new battles to fight. I needed to fight the war on terror.  

Let me tell you, sometimes when you begin to feel the most discouraged God just comes along and gives you a squeeze and a reminder that He's got this. This teacher who left me with a very poor impression and clearly even today came into my home with her preconceived idea of who we were as a family and as parents, ended her visit with these words. "I wish more parents were like you. So many allow their children to be in control. With your son it is clear you know what you are doing and you are in control. You choose your battles wisely." and "Wow, you are a fantastic parent. Where did you learn how to do the things you do and where do you get your ideas from?"  followed with "I am going to seek an evaluation and see if we can't get more answers to what his challenges are and how we can support him and your family." Now I don't share that for praise or seeking any compliments, I share it because that is not how I feel. I feel like daily I fail. Sometimes though God just gives the reminder that he has this planned and it's for his glory. I consider it a joy that I was able to look her dead in the eye and say, "Only by the grace of God. Everything I have learned is instinctive and intuitive. God has looked out for me and placed articles in my lap and people in my pathway when I needed help the most. God has not allowed my mind to rest when something was wrong and I was being told it was I who was wrong. God has loved these children far before I did and he knit them together. They are uniquely and wonderfully made." Who knew my little pile of blessings would turn out to be a testimony to the Glory of God. Instantly in that moment when she asked me that, I thought of two songs and I have put the lyrics below. Lastly this verse came to mind-

  "Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" 1 Timothy 6:11b-12

Beautiful Things

Michael Gungor

All this pain

I wonder if I'll ever find my way?

I wonder if my life could really change at all?

All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found?

Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

All around

Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

Whom Shall I fear

Chris Tomlin

You hear me when I call

You are my morning song

Though darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear?

Verse 2:

You crush the enemy

Underneath my feet

You are my Sword and Shield

Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear?

Chorus:

I know Who goes before me

I know Who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The One who reigns forever

He is a Friend of mine

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

Verse 3:

My strength is in Your name

For You alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear?

Whom shall I fear?

Meals for October 20-25, 2013

 Sunday:

5 Minute Brown Butter Chicken with Sage Tossed with Parmesan and Angel Hair Pasta with Broccoli and Garlic Bread

Monday: 

Crispy Crockpot Carnitas with Corn Tortillas.

Toppings:Cilantro and Onion Mix, Fresh Lime, Corn, Sour Cream, Cheese

Tuesday: 

Thai Style Chicken Breast served over Basmati Rice with Broccoli

Wednesday: 

Buffalo Soup and Cheddar Garlic Biscuits with Carrot Sticks

Recipe for Biscuits:

2 1/4 C. of Bisquick

2/3 C. Milk

1/2 C. Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)

1/8 t. Garlic Powder

Mix thoroughly and drop on cookie sheet evenly spaced. Bake in oven for 8 minutes at 450.

Thursday: 

Skillet Chicken Tikka Masala and Rice with Green Beans and side of Roti

http://www.traceysculinaryadventures.com/2012/10/skillet-chicken-tikka-masala.html#.UmhRCPmkqxU

The only thing I do differently in this recipe is I always Puree the tomato. I have learned from experience if you don't the flavours don't blend as well. 

Friday:

Costco's Orange Chicken, Pot Stickers, and Chicken Fried Rice 

Recipes!!!

Everyone has asked for some of my recipes that I use the most so here ya go!

Lemon Garlic Crock Pot Chicken

2 lbs. chicken breast halves, (cut in half if they are large)

3 Tablespoons dried oregano

1 ½ teaspoons seasoning salt (like Lawry’s)

¾ teaspoon pepper

4 Tablespoons butter

¾ Cup water

¾ Cup lemon juice

8 cloves garlic

2 teaspoons chicken bouillon

3 teaspoons dried parsley (optional)

Rinse chicken.  Mix oregano, salt, and pepper and rub into chicken.  Melt butter in large skillet, add chicken browning both sides.  Transfer chicken to slow cooker.  Place water, lemon, bouillon, and garlic in large skillet.  Stir over medium heat; bring to a boil loosening brown bits.  Pour over chicken, cook on high for at least 3 hours.  Add parsley last ½ hour.  Serve with steamed brown rice.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth (or chicken broth made with bouillon cubes or powder)

1 1/4 cups water

1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked

1 cup white hominy

1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

Toppings:

crushed tortilla chips

sliced avocado

shredded Monterey Jack cheese

chopped fresh cilantro or green onions

sour cream

In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat.  Saute onion until soft, add garlic and sauté til fragrant.  Stir in tomatoes, chili powder, oregano, broth, and water.  Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.  Stir in corn, hominy, green chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken.  Simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve with toppings.

** Note:   I usually add more chicken broth before simmering the last 10 minutes – it’s a pretty thick soup otherwise.  Enjoy! 

Chicken Curry

2 Jars of Trader Joe's Yellow Thai Curry Sauce

1 Whole Onion

6 Chicken Breasts

2 Whole Carrots

1 Potato

Directions:

Slice Chicken in strips and cook over medium heat until cooked through. Skin and dice potato in bite size pieces. Do the same with the carrots.  Cut Onion in half and then slice thinly.  Put everything in a 10x13 pan and cover with jarred sauce. Cook in oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees! Serve over Basmati or Jasmine Rice

Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 Hours
Finishing: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil
1 (4-5 lb.) lean boneless pork roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 3-inch chunks
8 oz. beer
1 large white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. chipotle powder (or 1 chipotle in adobo sauce)
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
Directions:
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the pork and sear on each side until browned (about 2 minutes per side). Transfer pork to the slow cooker.

Add remaining ingredients, and give the mixture a careful stir to combine. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until the pork is completely tender and shreds easily with a fork.

Once the pork is cooked, preheat your broiler to high heat and prepare two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Use a fork to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and then use a slotted spoon to transfer it to the prepared baking sheets, spreading it out evenly in a single layer. Reserve the remaining broth from the slow cooker.

Place one sheet under the broiler for about 5 minutes, or until the edges of the pork begin crisping up. Remove the sheet, and use a spatula or tongs to carefully toss the pork. Then ladle about 1/4 cup of the remaining slow cooker broth over the pork. Broil for an additional 5 minutes to get the meat more crispy. Then remove and ladle an additional 1/4 cup of broth over the crispy pork.

Repeat with the other baking sheet of pork.

Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, salads, or whatever sounds good to you! Or cover and refrigerate or freeze. Source: www.gimmesomeoven.com

Buffalo Chicken Soup (From AllRecipes.com)

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup butter 3 stalks celery, diced 1 small onion, diced 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup half-and-half cream 3 cups water

1 cube chicken bouillon 2 cups cubed cooked chicken 1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce, or more to taste 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat; cook the celery and onion in the melted butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and allow to cook until absorbed, about 2 minutes more. Slowly stir the half-and-half and water into the mixture. Dissolve the bouillon in the liquid. Stir in the chicken, buffalo wing sauce, and Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stirring occasionally, allow the soup to simmer until the the cheese has melted completely, about 10 minutes.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/23/2013

5 Minute Brown Butter Chicken and Crispy Sage

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thawed)
salt and pepper
1/2 cup fresh sage leaves
1.5 – 2 tablespoons butter

1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes), season generously with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

2. Melt butter in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When butter turns brown and fragrant, add the chicken in a single layer and arrange sage over the chicken.

3. Set the timer for five minutes. Cook the chicken on one side without moving for 2 minutes and 30 seconds until golden brown. Stir and toss chicken and sage, making sure to coat all in brown butter, then flip the chicken to the other side and cook for the remainder of the time. 

Note: I serve with Angel Hair Pasta tossed with fresh Parmesan Reggiano

Source: www.kevinandamanda.com

Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowl

YIELD: SERVES 2

 

TOTAL TIME: 30 MINUTES

1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed

1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded

1/3 cup chopped carrots

1/3 cup shelled edamame

1/3 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro

Sauce:

2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon canned coconut milk

1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon creamy peanut butter (it mixes in easier if it's melted, FYI)

1 garlic clove

1/2 lime, juice

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:

Prepare quinoa according to directions, which will most likely call for 1 cup of liquid. I prefer to use low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock, so if you have that, use it!

While quinoa is cooking, combine all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and whisk well to combine. Once quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid, stir in the sauce and toss well to coat. Add in chicken, carrots, edamame and green onions, stirring to combine. Taste and season with a little salt and pepper if needed. Toss in half of the peanuts and cilantro, then serve in a large bowl, topped with remaining peanuts and cilantro. 

Note: I like to serve over a cabbage slaw or Basmati Rice

---

This delicious recipe brought to you by How Sweet It Is 

http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/02/thai-chicken-quinoa-bowl/

Day 4: The 30ish Days of Joy Challenge

Day 4 was much harder than the first 3.  When everything could have been wonderful it wasn't. Around 10:00 AM I thought all hope was lost for me to find joy as the kids were difficult and arguing. Around 1:15 our neighbours were leaving, they came over to play around 10:30, and Ellie was sad then I heard their youngest say to her "Don't worry Ellie, our moms are friends now so we can play anytime together".  This gave me reason to pause. This is joy. Joy is living making friendships with those around you! Joy is unexpected lunch dates. Joy is unexpected run-ins with "friends" at a local coffee shop. Joy is pool parties and BBQ's with friends. Joy is making new friends and valuing the ones you already have!!! Day 4, you tried to get me but I won!!! I found joy!!!

Day 3: The 30ish Days of Joy Challenge

Oh Day 3! You were wonderful. At the beginning there was a rough start and when I arrived at church for worship practice I was struggling with feeling peaceful, but as soon as our worship leader for this week picked up the guitar and began to play I felt peaceful and joyful. Of course the first song was "I am Free"

Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you all hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams
I am free, yes, I am free
I am free to run (I am free to run)
I am free to dance (I am free to dance)
I am free to live for you (I am free to live for you)
I am free (I am free)
Yes, I am free (I am free)
Through you the kingdom comes
Through you the battle's won
Through you I'm not afraid
Through you the price is paid
Through you there's victory
Because of you my soul sings
I am free, yes, I am free
Who the Son sets free
Is free indeed
Who the Son sets free
Is free indeed


Now please tell me how you could not be joyful after reading these lyrics? What a great song to sing in the midst of my 30 day challenge!!!  Today I found joy in several areas of my life.  I was able to joyfully worship with other believers. I was able to joyfully eat at the potluck as we welcomed a new person on staff at our church. I was able to joyfully go to the store with some money in my pocket to buy groceries for the dearest people on earth, my family of course. I was able to come home and make pizza for the family.  I was able to go out with my neighbour and get to know her better over Starbucks and all because my other neighbour gifted me with a gift card for watching her cats while she was away. (We all know the payment of kitties was enough for me).  While at Starbucks I ran into the kids I.A.'s/Crossing Guard at their school and we were able to talk to one another and I met her daughter. Also, she asked me to pray for her! I thought that was great. It is so wonderful to find joy when you are looking out for it!

I am so blessed. I appreciate the life that God has given me and I love that when you choose to be joyful, you find joy everywhere you look! 



Total side note...The Crossing Guard and IA also is an author so to my lady friends out there, if you're interested I recommend her book Dare To Repair.    Also, you can't be as lucky as me and get an autographed copy but it is a great book on home repair! LOVE IT!

Go be joyful!

30 Days of Joy: Day 1 and Day 2

I have been really convicted as of late, that I have gotten into a funk and have stopped finding joy in my life. In Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord made; we WILL rejoice and be glad in it."
After a conversation with a good friend, that verse came to my mind. It doesn't say we wake up rejoicing in the new day, it says WE WILL rejoice and be glad. Joy is a choice. Happiness is a choice. It is choosing to see all that GOD has done for us and focusing on that instead of all that Satan is doing against us. For the next 30+ days I will keep track of what brought me joy that day.

Day 1:  We experienced joy by playing a game, went outside with friends, had a bbq with fellow members of the body of Christ.

Day 2: We experienced joy by swimming in our "pool", Little K "helped" our neighbour wash his car, Big K, Little E, and I played a game (which he beat me twice) we sat in the sun and chatted with our neighbours, enJOYed Starbucks, had great food from generous friends and neighbours. We also got our basement set up so we can enJOY more family time down there. Dane and Big E were able to do that by eating ice cream and watching a movie  as a reward for them helping a fellow friend and church member move their home.  I played a game with a good friend and neighbour. I am so thankful for these times and I know I want my children to see me JOYful and not stressed out all the time. I know I will not be perfect all the time and that everyone has failures but I know that with God I can find joy a bit more every day!

ASD= A Serious Downer or Autism Spectrum Disorder

It is all in the attitude. When you hear that your precious little gift from God isn't perfect, like you think he is, there are a gamut of emotions that pour down on you. At first you have relief because you're not crazy. You're validated that you as a mom know when something is wrong with your kid. Doctors, schools, psychiatrists, psychologists, and the like can give you an idea but they don't really know either. How much time do they really spend with your child? I have carried this life for 9 long months, I have watched him roll over, sit up, walk, and talk. I have worried when he was sick at night or his wheezing was worse than normal. I have read the books on different behaviours that have concerned me. What do they know? They know only what he is compared to every other typical child. I know who he is to me and to our family. I know who he is to God. So it's all in the attitude. Big K might be high functioning Autistic but he is special to God. He is sensitive, loving, and kind. As long as you do everything the way he wants and needs it to be done, you will be showered with hugs and kisses. If you don't do it his way then you might be told "do you see these teeth? Remember they are for biting...just reminding ya". However, when you pull him aside and you listen to his heart you know that it's just his junk masking how he feels. All he really means is, "I'm feeling frustrated and not listened to, don't you get angry when you feel that way?" I love him past all of his junk. I love him for who he is. I love him for who he will be or won't be. He is my son and nothing will take that away. 
   All my hopes and dreams for my Big K will come true. Sure it gets depressing when day in and day out I struggle with his attitude and defiance but sometimes I look at him and think I wonder if this is how God feels. Here I am and all my junk and he sees past it to my heart and loves me just as much anyway.

Psalm 139:14
 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; you're works are wonderful, I know that full well."

{S}

May not send you to hell, but it will make you smell like you've been there!

So there is something I was not expecting when moving to Virginia.  I did not anticipate the amount of smoking. I knew people would smoke as they do in California. However, I didn't expect so many. In California because of the anti-smoking campaigns and the high cost of taxes on cigarettes I would say most people don't smoke.

 In Virginia it is completely different. Smoking is not for a particular type or people group. Smoking never used to bother me but I think California has changed my perspective. I have associated it with low class and low income people who do not care for their health or children. How judgmental I have become. I think the non smoking propaganda has worked on me. I am kind of disappointed in myself.  I thought I was resistant to such tactics.

Anyway, I know I will get use to the smoking again and I do enjoy the smell.  The kids just don't know how to handle it. Beware, when you visit I might be on the front porch with my pipe.Maybe it isn't horrible for your health if you just do it every once in a while. Always thought that would be a fun hobby...hmmmm!

Can you spare $2.25 a day?

Okay...so we're not really asking you to support our children. However, this is one thing I didn't expect when moving here to NOVA. The cost of FOOD is ridiculous. My gracious it is enough to make me need to get a job. I am so used to ur cheap prices in California. I am not overly sure why food is so much more expensive here. However, my theory is that it probably has to do with shipping costs. We aren't really near any majour routes for supplies so I am sure many of them are trucked here and that has to make for higher costs. We will survive this but man it is crazy!

Other news in our neck of the woods are the storms. Most everywhere has been declared a state of emergency. We will be getting another group of them the next few days. Praying that our power doesn't go out and we remain safe. Thankfully we live far enough out that they didn't affect us too much! However our Pastor's family/good friends lost all of their power so we hosted them at our house this weekend. It isn't just the power that is the issue it's the fact that the heat is almost unbearable. By 10 a.m. we are all indoors because it is sweltering outside. If you think of it please keep praying for the people in this area because so many are just not handling the lack of electricity well and it could be up to a week before all the power is back up and running.

Peace Out!

CA to VA....one letter change and about 2700 miles

As most of you know, we moved from the beautiful state of California to the even more beautiful state of Virginia. We live in NOVA which is an abbreviation for Northern Virginia.  I think we were all a bit apprehensive about the move. Of course, being without the husband for 5 months left me with an independent streak a mile wide. Thankfully the transition back together as a family hasn't been too rough.  The kids are adjusting well, as are the parents!

 Of course our Big E has already dominated the neighbourhood with her vibrant spirit, loving heart, and dare I say "ummm leadership" and formed a club called Kid Time Club.  (Please don't get her confused with Hitler, he had a mustache) Needless to say she has gotten together a group of 6 children and they meet on Mondays and Wednesdays at the local park.


  It is so nice to live in a neighbourhood where I feel safe to let the small short people go up to the park on their own. It is just around the corner and if I go out on the deck I can hear them and see them through the trees. It allows me to be able to get a few things done around the house. Little E has already been banned from going unless with an adult because she refuses to obey Big E. However, she is only 3 and she will catch up on maturity with time.

  Dane takes the Metro to and from work and really seems to enjoy it.  It is about an hour commute each way but it gives him some downtime before and after work and because he doesn't have to drive it is more relaxing than if he were to have to drive both ways and the commute would be longer probably. So we are managing with one car just fine and I am able to run errands as I need to and also hit our local farmer's markets.  We have several in the area. I found one man that sells his organic honey.  I have always had a firm opinion that honey tastes like bee spit and is DISGUSTING, however if I have to eat honey it would be from this guy!  Soooo YUMMY, for honey. 

  Well that is a semi brief update on our VA adventures for now but I will try to update more later. Enjoy a few pictures of the small short people at Frying Pan Farm. (Emmaleigh milked her first cow)

My Grandpa

There is a saying, "Grandpas have silver in their hair and gold in their hearts." My grandfather is very ill at this time and while I know it is inevitable that his time will come to go home with the Lord I don't think you can ever be truly ready. I didn't have much of a relationship with my grandparents growing up but the few interactions I had have remained imbedded in my mind forever. I can never eat a soft pretzel without being magically transported back to being a 9 year old little girl when my grandpa took us to get fresh soft pretzels from the factory in Pennsylvania. I remember being so timid to ask for more than just the pretzel but I wanted cream cheese with it and he told me "a pretzel just needs mustard" that is my favourite way to eat my pretzels now. When I eat swiss cheese I think of Lebanon bologna and swiss cheese on rye bread at a park in Pennsylvania. Grandpa took us there after we went to the Green Dragon flea market in Ephrata. I think of how he would let me come into his woodworking shop and let me use his soldering tool to make my name in scrap wood and he helped me make things for my siblings. I remember how haunting it sounds when he plays his guitar in the morning and sings "Farther Along". I love how he always wears Dickies, except for church of course. I love how even though he has 18 grandchildren he has always makes each of us feel special and loved. What I love most of all is how he is always praying for me. I know when my grandfather goes home to be with his Heavenly Father he will be rewarded greatly with a "Well done my good and faithful servant" but I know earth will have lost a prayer warrior, a pastor, a husband, a father, a grandpa, a great grandpa, a confidant, a counselor, and a friend. He is truly a man after God's own heart, he has dedicated his life to loving people. The loss for me will be immense but then my little 7 year old daughter made a statement at the dinner table tonight that reminds me to rejoice. She basically said that God only wants good for us and that he will never let something happen that isn't in his will. If it is great grandpa's time to go to heaven then it must be good. That is the legacy my grandfather will leave behind. A legacy of love for people and God! He has pure gold in his heart.

The sun is out, the ground is dry....

There is nothing better than packing the kids up to go to the park on a beautiful day.  I took my 3 youngest and my beautiful niece to Freedom Park today. They love this park because it is big and beautiful and they can watch the planes fly overhead.  They love to look at the airplanes in the Aerospace Museum next door. Koen loves to throw his frisbee at the trees. They like to pack up their snacks and get ready to go. We went on the swings, and visited the butterfly garden, and Koen mastered climbing up the rock wall.  It was fun and this is one of the best things about being a stay at home mom. I am so thankful that God has blessed my family and my husband so I can be with my children.

Viva La Mexico!

This afternoon we realized Emmaleigh hadn't done her "Field Study Day" project for school yet. So Dane had this plan to do this special effects thing with her but that got to be so stressful we decided to change up and do it on Mexico and just do a quick research project. Then we made "authentic" Mexican food. Okay, we made enchiladas. I think it is slightly authentic.  They were really good and I got the recipe from one of my favourite food bloggers Gina.  It was really fun to cook with her and learn a little bit about Mexico. There were many facts about Mexico that I was unaware of, such as, did you know that Mexico isn't Catholic? That they only incorporated Catholicism into their religions because of the Spaniards.  They actually practice ancient Nahua which is a compilation of different beliefs from different tribes. I found it very interesting.  The sad part of the night was when Emmaleigh realized we weren't making Fajitas but we were making Enchiladas. I have never seen her so upset. She was so bummed. We tried to pull her out of "the depths of despair" by offering to go get her a Jimboy's Quesadilla but there was no pleasing her. Then I remembered I had some Chevy's salsa from Costco. She was satisfied and the night was saved. Add that to a wii game we rented it ended in a super fun night for her!

Change isn't just for the Homeless

  It is for you and me. 
  So I went to this conference today and let me say it was AMAZING! Anywho I wanted to share this verse that really touched me. 


"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead fix your attention on God.  You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity. God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:2 MSG


  How many times do you find yourself stooping to a level of immaturity because we have become like those around us?  I know I do. I forget to keep my eyes on God and to remember that he has plans for me. He wants to know me intimately. He wants to change me. He wants to develop a "well formed maturity" in me. He has a DESTINY for me! He has given me a life inside and wants me to live out those plans and dreams. 
  God doesn't want us in a box with only a little light shining through, he wants us to be free of addictions, hurts, problems, pain and curses. He wants us to claim his promises of love, affection, joy, and trust. He wants me to let go of the loneliness, the pain, the rejection, the hopelessness, the anger, the rage, the criticism, and the self hatred.  
  To a new life, to change, and to growth.

Nashville, Tracy, anywhere but Sacramento

Dane had to go on a business trip this week to Nashville for some training. I knew it was going to be a long week with 4 kids on my own.  I love each and everyone of my children, but what I love more is that break at the end of the day when Daddy comes home and rescues Mommy from all the chaos.  I decided that I shouldn't risk a nervous breakdown so I came to Tracy to stay with my very good friend.  My friend Tracey, who lives in Tracy, and her husband David graciously allowed me and my four children to hang out with them.  So we arrived yesterday and we don't leave until Friday, unless we are asked to leave earlier, and I have decided to kick back and enjoy this time away from my home and focus on my kids.  It is going to be a fun week.  So far all is well minus a few tears last night when they missed their Daddy tucking them into bed.

She did it

So Emmaleigh has been playing basketball for about a month now and tonight she scored her first basket in practice. I am SO PROUD of her. She is my sweetheart and I love her so much but seriously, other than me, the  world's most uncoordinated child. She is bright, funny, friendly, and loving but she is NOT athletic. When she dribbles the ball she also is dribbling herself. She jumps with the ball it is hilarious.  The thing I love most about Emmaleigh is she is having fun. I think she knows she isn't as good as the other girl's but she is having a blast anyway.  I hope she always stays this open with no fear of being embarrassed but just living life in the moment and trying things she may not be good at. I <3 that girl!

Habits

They say it takes 27 days to form a new habit. I have decided when it comes to food I am not going to try and break bad habits, I am going to only form new ones.  Webster's defines a habit as an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. I have decided my new habit that I am going to form is to eat at least 3 fruits and veggies a day! 


My whole life I have eaten poorly. Mostly, as a child, out of necessity.  As an adult out of gluttony. In April of 2008 I had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. I went from 278 lbs. down to a low of 151. Gastric bypass gave me the kick start I needed to be thin and healthy without having to do the REALLY hard work.  I became very regimented into a work out routine.  I was doing really well. Then it all stopped. I am here now almost 3 years post op and I have gained back 22 pounds. I WILL NOT BE OBESE AGAIN!  Granted I did have a pregnancy and baby this last year but I also know it is due to a lot of bad eating habits. It is those late night snacks, the big macs, the chicken burritos, the western bacon cheeseburgers. You can't eat those things and not have them catch up to you.  So I started doing Weight Watchers.  What do you know, my husband joined me for this ride.  I am not dieting. I am modifying the way I eat and the way I view food. Food is here to sustain me. Food is not here to entertain me. (I rhymed, didn't mean to) 


I have officially begun a healthier way of eating. If I want a Big Mac, I will have one.  Just because I have one doesn't mean I have screwed up the whole week and to let it get to me and ruin the rest of the week.  I just start anew the next day.  So here is my list of new habits I am adopting.


1. I WILL weigh myself only on Wednesday mornings.
2. I WILL eat at least 3 fruits and veggies a day.
3. I WILL remember to take my multi-vitamin
4. I WILL enjoy one special treat a day
5. I WILL journal my food so I remember what I have eaten 
6. I WILL lose 30 pounds and weigh in at 140


This is my chance to get it together on my own. I don't want to be heavy anymore. I don't want to be struggling with a sense of hopelessness. I want my daughter to not be scared of food anymore. She sees my struggles and negative self talk and is mirroring me. I don't want that. I want her to be healthy and beautiful and not have to worry about her weight. Those habits start with me. I will form new habits this year. 

When your plan backfires

Tonight it was supposed to be Tuscany Tuesday, but when I opened my crisper to get the cheese...I found out that my cheese had gone moldy. I know in some third world countries they just cut off the mold, but for me I couldn't even look at it and feel okay about serving it. So I had to come up with a new plan and with hardly anything in my cabinets. (I really need to go grocery shopping)  So I made shrimp sauteed in garlic and butter, served over rice. It was delicious. It just reminded me of when Dane and I first married. I was a HORRIBLE COOK! I couldn't even cook boxed food. I burned a frozen lasagna. I boiled the beta fish that I left on my stove top.  Attention to detail was not my strong point.  Dane liked his mom's cooking more than mine. (Who could blame him? Although at the time I sure did). We lived on Pasta Roni. It was a sad existence indeed.  Then about 2 years ago I decided I was going to learn to cook. I have since found that I have a passion for making good food. I love watching others enjoy the food I make. I feel validated when I receive a compliment about my cooking. I know it sounds odd probably to others but I truly feel elated when I see my family enjoy their supper. What started as my own project of getting my cooking to where my husband looked forward to it, has turned into a passion. I now think of the conversation we will have as a family around the table. I think of who will eat what and will they enjoy it. I think of happiness and funny comments that will be made.  Most of all I think of is that someday they will be grown and gone and my table will be quiet and empty and I will have only 2 to cook for, will I be able to reduce my meals and shopping enough to where my cheese doesn't go moldy? Or will I notice it is going bad and call my kids and their families over to have a supper made by their mom and hope they enjoy all the love I poured into every ingredient.

It's Early

So here I am sitting in the silence of my house. The kids are still asleep except for Keagan who is sitting next to me chowing down on his bottle. All I can think of is the chaos that will ensue when these kermunchkins wake up. I love being a mom and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. You see, the chaos is worth it, the fighting is worth it, the tears are worth it, the potty accidents are worth it, because in the end there is love in this home. We might have days of chaos and we might have days of poor discipline and shouting but at the end of the day there are hugs and smiles and love. When we tuck those kidlets into bed and ask them what their favourite part of the day was, there is never a child who couldn't say something (except Keagan since he can't speak). In fact if they think we are going to forget to ask them, they remind us! For our kids they think we're grand. When I see myself failing as a parent, they do something that makes me think, they do understand and my hard work is paying off. Thank you God for getting me through these days. Thank you for guiding my children's hearts and guarding them when I am not able to protect them. Thank you for sustaining their lives and giving them such happiness and joy. Thank you for providing a home for them so I will be able to enjoy them for eternity.

Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day who you will serve, whether it be the god of your forefathers from across the river or the god of the Amorites in whose land you are living, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

It's been a while :)

So here I am trying to get back into the blogging game. It has been a very long time. With 4 kids now, who has time for blogging? I guess I must because I am attempting once more. I really want my kids to have something to look back on and see how much they were loved and cared about and truthfully I don't have a lot of time to write in baby books. So here is a quick update on each child.

Emmaleigh:
She is in the first grade this year at Creative Connections Arts Academy, which is a charter school through the Twin Rivers Unified School District. Her teacher is Mrs. Smith and she has been teaching for over 18 years. Dane and I love Mrs. Smith because she sees Emmaleigh's potential and has been pushing her, primarily in her reading, to do her very best in all things.

At this time Emmaleigh is obsessed with The Powerpuff Girls, her favourite being Bubbles. She loves anything "Rockstar" and all of her clothing must be "Rockstar". She has finally joined the "Sillybandz" craze and wears them to school all the time so she can be popular. No amount of talking to can convince her that she is popular without the sillybandz. She has also recently joined the iCarly and Suite Life phase. I am not ready for all this growing up but it was bound to happen sooner or later. Also, she is playing basketball with Upward Basketball. She loves AWANA and is working steadily on her Sparks book. She is appx: 49" tall and weighs about 48 lbs.

Koen:

He is being homeschooled for preschool. He knows all of his shapes and can identify most of his letters. I should really be working with him more but life is crazy around here :)! His favourite things are playing with his cars and trio's. Koen loves to go Cubbies at church right now but he is struggling with structure. I know I need to work with him on having scheduled time. Right now he is perfectly content in just wandering around the house. He likes to play his games on the computer and is quite literate. His favourite TV show right now is Batman. He has really become a boy as where 3 months ago he was perfectly content playing with the girls. Now he gets upset if I give him anything girly. He still hates meat but will eat it in some situations. He mostly is sustaining life on Peanut Butter Sandwiches. He is a good boy overall, just sneaky :)! He is approximately 38" and 30 lbs.

Elizabeth:

Ellie is into all things princess. She is the sweetest little thing and is always aiming to please. However, she is also my most defiant and difficult girl because she just wants what she wants. My favourite thing about Ellie right now is when she doesn't get what she wants she tips her head to the side and says "pease, pease" completely adorable. She loves the colour pink and hates vegetables and beans. Elizabeth's favourite shows are Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I can't believe how fast she is growing and changing. Ellie is approximately 36" tall and 29 lbs.

Keagan:

CAN YOU BELIEVE HE IS 3 MONTHS? I know I can't. My baby is growing fast. Keagan has been smiling since about 8weeks and had his first baby food 12/29/2010. He had bananas and seemed to like them okay. He makes good eye contact and likes to babble when I talk to him. He has started to get some stranger anxiety when he hasn't seen me or daddy for a little while. He is a good boy but does have some problems with fussiness and gas. Right now we have been blessed with expensive formula from some really good friends, it seems to help a little bit and so we continue giving it to him. I think he is just around the corner to start laughing. He seems to be a smiler and when you tickle him he starts to wiggle and smile. Keagan's last check up was when he was just 2 months and he weighed 10.6 lbs and was 24"

Overall, we are doing well. The kids are growing and changing and so are Dane and I. We have settled in nicely at Antelope Springs and are starting up a small group for Married Couples with kids. We also are heading up a Family Fun Night program with another couple at the church. Our hope is that we will be able to build a program to meet the majourity of young couples in our church. This will hopefully lead to authentic relationships and lasting friendships. God must have a hand in it all because it is coming together :)! We know that this will be a great year!