A Miniature World.

Enter a world where the mom, baby, and housekeeper, sit down to a mid day lunch of potatoes, candied apples, Fritos, cheese, chocolate cake, and coke. I’m so totally in. Sounds dreamy.

Look closer…doesn’t it all look yummy?

I took an extra week off of school at the holidays this year, so I could have a week to deal with post Christmas mess and repair. It was great decision. I was able to spend 2 whole days cleaning out our garage while sorting and repacking Christmas. I started to dig through some of the boxes of things from my childhood.

For Christmas, the year I turned 11, I received a big Victorian dollhouse kit. You know the cool wooden kind? My dad built it for me. I remember he put it on a board covered with fake grass that could wheel around my room. The house was totally tricked out with 80′s wallpaper and real working lights. Over the years it became completely furnished and I remember spending hours rearranging, decorating, and creating my little dream home. I loved it. Unfortunately, today I can’t find a single picture of the completed house.

When we were first married, we moved a lot and circumstances did not allow for me to keep the huge and fragile house very easily. At the time, it was better off to sell. However, I did keep most of the furniture and accessories.

A few days ago the girls and I unwrapped each miniature piece. There were plenty of ooh’s and aah’s and despite the fact that I am 40, I am still fairly smitten with it. It’s so dang cute. Everything is so dang teeny tiny.

After the appropriate fuss was made over each piece I left the room and let the girls set up the house. It was a makeshift house with no walls that covered our entire school table. It was complete with a working toaster, ping pong table, perfume bottles, fruit bowl, and gum ball machine. All the essentials.

My eleven year old was questioning why they don’t make toys like this anymore. I told her I thought that pre teens these days were more interested in electronics. She declared this is way cooler than an iPod. I agree. Whole heartedly.

The mini house still remains on our table. We schooled around it today. I am not sure what to do with it all and I can’t stand to pack it up just yet. I am so glad I kept it.

It would rock if I had a guest room and could display it in a fancy Victorian house just for kicks. In a busy homeschooling household of six, that hardly seems possible or practical.

While my wheels spin on where to put all of my treasures, my girls will continue to create magical scenes out of these fragile and outdated spectacular furnishings. I love watching their imaginations. I love that they GET how very fragile these pieces are and they treat them like gold. My little crazy balls of energy become perfect little dainty ladies trying to manipulate potatoes that are the size of a grain of rice.

The whole thing just makes me smile.

Happy Monday.

Boys and Their Toys.

We are quite blessed with so many people in our life who love on us and our kids. Today we were reminded of that yet again.

Heirloom toys. You know those kind. You imagine your children’s grandchildren pulling them out of an attic one day. We received such a toy today. This awesome family at church came in with a surprise for Greyson. He plays on the worship team with my husband and she watches Greyson in the nursery.

Isn’t it cool? Greyson was clapping and all smiles. It is one of a kind.

As if the toy wasn’t enough…then I found out that the dad in this family made this. MADE IT. With his own 2 hands. I am blown away. Truly, it is a work of art. It is just simply beautiful. I am so honored that he spent his time making such a beautiful gift for my little guy.

Such kindness that will be remembered each and every time I look at this.

This toy will be cherished and used and loved…

by all of us….

Thank you Matt and Hally. What a treasure. We are so grateful for you two.

Raspberry Coffee Cake.

Raspberry Coffee Cake? How does this work into my new healthy lifestyle, you ask? Well, I don’t make it 92 times a week anymore. When I do make it, it’s 1 inch slices all around. This cake has approximately 180 calories (I make with nonfat milk and margarine) for a one inch slice. Well worth it, for a little raspberry goodness every once in awhile.

My mom made this a lot when I was a little girl. I cook this every single Thanksgiving morning for breakfast. You should also be aware that if you throw a few birthday candles on it, it can double as a birthday cake quite nicely.

It looks super fancy and it is super easy with just a few ingredients. You’ll be amazed.

RASPBERRY COFFEE CAKE

1/2 cup margarine (or butter)

3 oz cream cheese

2 cups bisquick

1/3 cup milk

FROSTING

(I use the basic powdered sugar frosting)

Powdered Sugar

Vanilla

Melted margarine/butter

Milk

Place softened (not melted) butter, cream cheese, and bisquick into a large bowl.

Mix together until crumbly.

Add milk and mix.

Use your hands to make dough into a ball. If the dough isn’t holding together add a touch more milk until it does.

Place the ball in between two sheets of wax paper.

Roll out the dough into giant rectangle.

Pull off the top sheet of wax paper and lay the baking sheet face down on top.

Flip the whole thing over and remove the other sheet of wax paper.

Place 1/2 jar of Smuckers Raspberry Jam in the center of your dough.

Using a regular knife, cut about one inch strips in the dough, on a diaganol. Do this on both sides of the jelly.

Start “braiding” your coffee cake by simply folding the slices of dough over the jelly.

Tuck the 2 ends of the cake over and pinch closed. Do NOT forget this or you will have quite the mess to clean up on your pan!

Bake on 425 for 12-15 minutes until lightly browned.

While its baking, mix up some powdered sugar frosting. I don’t have measurements and you really can’t mess this up!

Mix 1 cup or so of powdered sugar, a little vanilla, melted butter, and milk until the frosting is at the consistency that it can drizzle…..

Drizzle on top of your coffee cake.

and EAT!!!!

ENJOY!

I am partying at

Just. So. Grateful.

A little over two years ago my husband and I made the joint decision to make some radical changes in our life.

Homeschool our children.

Cut up our credit cards and live on cash only.

Get physically healthy and…

Rebalance priorities.

It has been with great sacrifice and great reward.

It has been so worth it.

I have grown personally, we have grown as a couple, and I don’t have any regrets.

The Lord has revealed issues, begun to heal old wounds, held me close every step of the way, and given us many blessings.

He’s just amazing like that.

Life, is a lifelong journey. May I stay in the shadow of His wings every step of the way.

I am so grateful.

There are still difficulties and always will be. That is life.

However, this Year may I dream big and then dream bigger still.

I pray to daily surrender and live life with my eyes, hands, and heart wide open.

Use Me Lord.

Use Me.

Happy 2012 to you and yours.

Disturb us, O Lord

when we are too well-pleased with ourselves
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little, because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, O Lord

when with the abundance of things we possess,
we have lost our thirst for the water of life
when, having fallen in love with time,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.

Stir us, O Lord

to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas 
where storms show Thy mastery,
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.

In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes
and invited the brave to follow.
Amen.

~Sir Francis Drake

Twenty Twelve.

We rang in the New Year at home this year with friends. It was mellow. Mellow, that is until 11:59 and 50 seconds. Then the counting, toasting, yelling, hugging, pot banging, and running through the street began. Greyson slept through all of it.

Sometimes you go all out for your party and sometimes the 13 year old boys end up toasting sparking cider in girl print sippy cups because no one gave any thought to which glasses were available to use. It was the kind of night that nobody cared.

The kind of night where the friends were so close that you didn’t need to clean the house for their arrival. No agenda. Just being together. Chillin’, snacking on Christmas abundance leftovers, watching Dick Clark Ryan Seacrest, and trying to figure out what it would take to get to Time Square one year in person.

It was indeed quite perfect. We have two sketchy phone pictures and full hearts to show for it.

We slipped into bed just before 1 am.

New Years Day 2012.

It seems like just yesterday we were preparing and anticipating Y2k.

We got up today around 9.

It’s been a LAZY day around here.

Although I am somewhat whiny about the lack of rain that we are having, you just can’t beat this weather.

We got outside this afternoon and it was almost warm.

My head and heart are on warp speed today. I love new beginnings. The possibilities leave me almost breathless.

While the to do lists are plotting a somewhat hostile takeover of my brain, today I am opting to be still.

Focusing on what is here right in front of me.

…because while the future is pretty exciting, right now is pretty great too.

And I. am. thankful.

Progress.

The last week of the year tends to bring about reflection on the past and planning for the future. This past year, I have so much to celebrate, especially regarding my health.

I have lost 60 pounds since the birth of my fourth child, 13 months ago.

I have had no caffeine what so ever since the beginning of June 2011. (Used to be multiple 44 oz. diet cokes a day)

I have had fast food only 5 or so times since the beginning of June 2011. (Used to be 4-5 times a week at least)

I have gone a 13 week period with no sugar.

I have gone a 3 week period with no soda.

I have run a 5k.

I have run the distance of a 10k.

I have exercised 4-6 times a week since May.

I have considerably upped my intake of water and protein.

I take vitamins.

I eat vegetables.

I eat breakfast.

I am virtually unrecognizable!  O.k. that may be a bit dramatic. BUT I am proud of myself. I am grateful to God for the changes going on in that area of my life.

I have been on a lifelong battle with my body and food. I have written about it before. I have done it all and tried it all. I was searching for peace, not thinness. I had thinness before. Without peace it meant nothing.

Made to Crave has been a way God has spoken to the deepest part of my heart about some control issues I face. It is painful letting go. It is beautiful letting go. It is peaceful letting go.

“We were meant for more.” Lysa Terkeurst. God does not want us at war within our selves. “WE WERE MEANT FOR MORE.”

THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES

FOOD IS A GOOD THING {a new concept for me}.

I have not thrown out the scale because a scale is a good tool. I have made peace with the scale because what it tells me does not define me.

Calories in vs. Calories burned. This is the deal right here. Dotfit.com is what I use to help me track and understand this relationship. I purchased the exerspy. I received it for my 40th birthday. Best. Gift. Ever. This takes the guess work out of everything. You follow what it says and you have success. That simple. Not a gimmick. Teaches you how God created our bodies.

Finally, for the first time in my life my goals and my actions are actually lining up. It’s great. I feel great.

This year, I have 27 more pounds to lose. It will happen.

I am running a 10k on Feb. 5th.

I am running a half marathon on July 14th.

Did I mention, I used to hate to run? Well actually, I guess I really didn’t know that I hated to run because I never ran. I never ran because I hated it. Now that that is clear….

I am going to continue to learn to improve my family’s healthy eating. Continue learning new recipes. Continue NOT going to fast food. While I am on that subject I have a little story to tell you….

I LOVE me some fast food. Well, I used to love me some fast food. I didn’t go order 5 Big Macs or 6 fries or anything of that nature. However, I will tell you that I LOVE a plain cheeseburger and a small fry from McDonalds. So I would take the cheeseburger, take the top bun off and place all the fries on top of the meat. Add catsup and a little salt and replace the bun. Heaven. The other day I was out shopping for Christmas. I hadn’t had lunch that day, or a cheeseburger in 7 months, so I decided to have one. I drove through and was actually looking forward to eating it. I got it all ready and guess what? IT TASTED LIKE CRAP. and I mean CRAP. I have to admit I ate 3 or 4 more bites thinking I MUST be losing my mind. NOPE. STILL CRAP.

HALLELUJAH. I am cured!

Taste buds do change, my friends. This is not coming from some healthy gened, naturally, thin type who thinks a Nutri Grain bar is a candy bar. I am telling you, it is possible. Break up with crappy food. Just do it. Eat real food. It tastes better.

I don’t even miss fast food. NOT. ONE. BIT.  

The End.

When I lose 15 more pounds I am going Rock Climbing. I might even post pictures.

When I reach my goal weight I am going parasailing over Lake Tahoe. I have been talking about that for a couple years. I am doing it this SUMMER.

My energy is way up.

I feel pretty amazing.

I still have bad moments and I hate the scale moments and fat days and the like. However, they are fewer and farer between then I would have ever dared hope.

I take the failures with the successes.

I listen to the positive people around me who speak encouragement and positive things…silencing the negative tapes that live on repeat in my head.

I pray daily surrender in all areas of my life to Jesus.

It’s a lifelong process. I will live dependent on my Jesus…..for everything. The little, the big. The visible, and probably more important the invisible.

He wants all of it, my friends. Every last bit.

FIND YOUR STRONG!!!

 

 

 

Beef and Crispy Noodles

This recipe is one of my all time favorites growing up.

My girls are following in my footsteps. They ADORE this meal.

My mom gave me a box full of recipes that she wrote down for me on good ‘ol recipe cards. I love technology, but I can not give up my recipe box. I still file recipes all old school like. I am not changing. I will give my daughters recipe boxes when they go out on their own too.

BEEF & PEA PODS

Beef

Snow Peas

Marinade (recipe below)

oil

Cut beef into thin strips and marinate for at least 3o minutes in fridge (can be left all day).

Marinade

4 T soy sauce

2 t sugar

1/2 t ginger

4 t cooking Sherry

I like to marinate in gallon ziplock bags. After putting the marinade and meat into the bag, squeeze all the air out and roll the bag up. This way all the meat soaks in the juices.

While the meat is doin’ its thing, clean pea pods and cut the ends off. Steam for about 4 minutes and set aside.

Drain meat from the marinade (save marinade). Brown meat for a few minutes in 1-2 T oil.

Stir in pea pods and remaining marinade and simmer until cooked through.

CRISPY NOODLES

1 package of Noodles

(in the Chinese food section of your grocery store. Mine is located in the produce department. They are refrigerated.)

Follow directions on package to boil for about 3 minutes.

Drain.

Make sure your frying pan is nice and hot and add a generous amount of Crisco. I know Crisco is gross, but it is necessary to keep the noodles from sticking and turn them awesomely crunchy.

You can fry one side of the noodles until golden brown and then turn the whole thing over to fry the other side.

When finished it becomes like a giant pancake. Cut into triangles and serve.

If you fail on the flipping portion, never fear. Serve them kind of chunked up as shown below.

It just looks like you meant to do that.

The outside layer of the noodles become crispy while the inside stays soft like regular pasta.

There is nothin’ like it!

YUM YUM!

Don’t judge this recipe on my food photography skills. Photographing food seems easy. It doesn’t blink and it doesn’t move, right?

Try this! You will thank me!

Happy Thursday!

…Until We Meet Again

It is the time of year when Christmas Music just sounds weird. The Christmas displays look messy and you realize that the Christmas Magic has all but disappeared.

Our family of six. 

The few hold outs {like myself} will keep Christmas alive until New Years, but the majority seem to drop off steadily, one after another, beginning at 12:01 on the 26th.

My Mom and Dad. Bob and Bobbie. {cute huh?} I think you know the guy in the middle.

People are un decking their halls and throwing their trees on the curb.  Pretty soon all the houses will no longer be twinkly. Its sad.

 Our newest addition to our never ending array of Christmas trees. It's so tacky, it's spectacular.

I am looking forward to New Years. We usually have friends over, eat pizza, and watch people party the night away on t.v. I always need to watch the episode of Friends where Monica and Ross do “the Routine”. I always watch Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Years Eve. I never say that name right. I don’t even really know what the show is technically called. One day I hope to celebrate in Time Square.

Happy Birthday Jesus Lemon Bars. This is what happens if you disobey the COMPLETELY COOL BEFORE 
CUTTING instruction. They did however, taste heavenly. Warm, lemony goo. Happy Birthday Jesus.

Speaking of New Years, is it simply fantastic that the first day of 2012 falls on a Sunday? The over planner loving types like myself are doing a happy dance both inside and out. It makes me want to buy a fresh new planner just to celebrate.

Meet the newest member of our family. She joined us Christmas morning. She pees. Real liquid.
 Her diapers cost more than my one year old's diapers do. Her name is Stella {aka Baby Alive}.

 Yes, my favorite sights and sounds of Christmas are disappearing. My favorite holidays begin with my birthday in June and end with New Years Eve. January through May are kinda bleak in the holiday world for me. Maybe I will have to make some holidays up.

Christmas morning Greyson sat down and played with the manger for about 5 minutes. In the middle of all the
chaos of post stocking opening. I'm not sure if anyone saw him but me. I couldn't take my eyes off of him.

 I always feel kind of down in January. It’s silly really. Post Christmas Syndrome?  Perhaps it should be a real diagnosable disorder.

If so, I have it. There is no immediate cure.

I can't imagine what Mary was feeling.

I was at a Christmas Production where the Pastor said…there is just something so special about this time of year.

Everything is just better. Everything is just more special. I agree.

My most fantastic Christmas gift. Thank you Urban Outfitters and my husband. I was mesmerized by these dolls 
as a child and now they are measuring cups? I will wear my new frilly apron, measure with my dolls, 
and bake treats. I am 40, I promise.

I have plenty to keep me busy. We have 21 weeks left of the school year. I am mid way doing a complete overhaul on my health. I am running a 10k in February and a half marathon in July. I am searching for a organization to volunteer at. I was given three new books for Christmas ~ Bloom, Choosing Joy, and 52 Things Every Kid Needs. I am just beginning to study photography. I’ve got a house to clean, children to love, a husband to adore, and a Savior to worship. I’ve got plans.

Dear Christmas decor, I have enjoyed you for five weeks now, but soon it's back in the box. I sorry.

Today, I will shed a small tear for the goodbye of Christmas….until we meet again.

Christmas Presents.

 ”Mommy, if it is Jesus’ Birthday, why do we give each other presents and not Him?” ~says my 7 year old.

  Mom Panic sets in. I think I would rather be asked where babies come from. Somehow, that just seems easier to answer.

 ”Why do you think we give each other presents?” I triumphantly pull this technique from my mom arsenal to buy me a few more seconds to come up with an answer that will make sense to her seven year old brain.

“I don’t know, mommy. Why?”

 ”Because God loves us SOOO much, Emma. You can’t even imagine how much. It makes Him very happy when we all show love and kindness to each other….”

 then I panic…oh shoot, did I just teach my child that in order to be kind to each other, Jesus wants us to buy things for each other?

 ”Does that make sense Emma?” I ask hesitantly.

“Yes, mommy. When we give presents to each other, we are loving each other…..

“…and that is exactly how Jesus wants us to be.”

 ” Yes, and baby girl remember that Jesus’ birthday is so important…

…that it takes millions of people all over the world celebrating to make the party big enough.”

 I can see the wheels in her head turning.

I am waiting for a response and there is none. Just a smile and a content little girl who runs off to play.

 These kids of mine keep me on my toes, challenge me, and put my perspective in place time and time again.

It’s definitely better that way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sitting on the Stairs.

Our Christmas morning goes a little something like this….

We used to be awakened by loudness. I am not a morning person. I am a Christmas person…to the nth degree B U T…apparently this does not over shadow my lack of ability to get yanked away from dreamland as I am being jumped on and become instantly joyful. SO, this one day in the year 2006, I uttered some of the wisest words that have ever left these lips.

“When you wake up in the morning the only option for waking us up early is to come in and stand at the foot of our bed and sing Jingle Bells…in HUSHED TONES.”

Now keep in mind, I have a tree full of presents waiting to be opened and I can pretty much get my children to instantly agree to do ANYTHING I wish at this point. I am pretty sure if I said they had to scrub their toilet before opening presents, they would do so, agreeably.

However, I am not that mean and this little tradition of song, has become one of the highlights of the year. Truly. It is the simplest things in life, most of the time.

The first couple of years, my husband and I would actually be awakened by giggles and whispers as they plot their entrance and grand presentation while just steps outside of our door. We would fake sleep and listen to the pre show with smiles on our “sleeping” faces. It was priceless. Soon, they were on to us and now their goal is to truly wake us up with song. This year they definitely achieved it.

We wake up to the sweetest, softest voices. They are filled with excitement ~ and anticipation ~ and joy. Listening to children try and bottle up the joy of Christmas morning into a whispered version of Jingle Bells is amazing. It is beautiful. Each year I lay there and pretend to be asleep a little longer so that I can bask in the delight for a chorus or two.

After this we ask the kids to go sit on the stairs and wait for us for just a few minutes.

2006 (Emma was just 3 and still asleep)

They huddle and giggle and talk about what they might see. For in our house, upon reaching the bottom of the stairs and turning the corner, they will find their “big gift”. It is in plain sight with no wrapping.

2007

It is not necessarily big in size or price, but big on a child’s Christmas wish list. It usually creates screams, falling on the floor, and jumping for joy. Sometimes a delightful happy dance will spontaneously erupt. It is all so magnificent.

2008

…But those moments of waiting on the stairs, are some of my most treasured memories. The anticipation is at its absolute height of the season. All of the planning, preparing, decorating, and waiting is at the peak of its crescendo and for those few moments everyone in our house is on the same page.

2009

I love it. I LOVE IT. I L O V E I T. I dangerously push the line of inflicting childhood torture as I stall as long as humanly possible.

2010

We take our positions. My husband takes video and I take still. We wait for a moment and yell G O. A year of waiting, gives way to laughter and screams and imprinting more memories, that will hopefully last a lifetime.

2011

Hope your Christmas days are Merry and Bright.

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