These Days

If you didn't know this about me already- I love holidays.  So when I found out yesterday was Fresh Spinach Day it made making dinner a whole lot simpler.  I set out a super spinach salad buffet.  My kids love this especially during summer and my husband has gotten on board as well.  I have been a salad making queen this summer because I feel in love with those tasty, beautiful mason jar salads.  Here is the spread:

Real bacon, bean sprouts, onions, hard boiled eggs, sweet pepper rings, grape tomatoes, sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts, and corn bread for the kids!  I could have added at least 4 more things but I was running out of space on my little kitchen table.  I made a brown sugar salad dressing: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup oil, 1/3 cup ketchup, 1 TB of Worcestershire sauce, and 1/4 cup of white vinegar.  It turned out absolutely delicious and a wonderful summer tradition.  


Also yesterday I said I wasn't have a great summer and I just want to clarify because there is absolutely no reason to feel sorry for me.  There was just a lot of stuff I didn't see coming and NONE of it is bad it just threw off my schedules for everything and especially blogging.  Here are a few of the things I am talking about just to give you some context: My husband has been home (A LOT) more than I anticipated so finding the balance between doing chores or feeling like he was in the way was rough for me.  He wanted to start the South Beach diet and start working out- AWESOME but also now I am cooking a lot more and making more messes.  I have not finished reading ONE book this summer.  It breaks my spirit when I don't even have time to read!  My kids have taken ZERO initiative or responsibility even though I have made snazzy summer binders with lists, ideas, and planners.  Part of that problem is because my husband likes to decide things spur of the moment and I am more of a planner so the children are jerked around a lot.  It kinda breaks down to personality and communication clashes.  Things have finally slowed down a little and I have been able to take a step back.  I will not let fear rule our marriage.  I have not been able to voice my opinion without feeling like the one with the flaws.  We are different.  We need to talk things out.  It seems so obvious but for me so terrifying.  If you were at all wondering why I wasn't putting up my regular Friday post it was because of all the schedule changes and having to processes my new responsibilities.  

There you have it.  Basically everything I thought the summer would be- relaxed, some structure for chores but not overwhelming, fun activities that I planned, and kids who took some initiative became yanked out from under me and became- would you please make breakfast and lunch for me every day (again I love to do but had not needed to do in the last 8 years or so), make sure x,y, z gets done we are going here (some event or location)  btw and I didn't tell you about, and I have a project I need to work on with you (interrupting something with the children).  Prayer for more flexibility, patience, and selflessness would be appreciated.  Thank you!  I pray that summer can still be great but accepting that change joyfully is still a challenge.  Thank you, husband, for making the coffee this morning!   

Three Gifts Hanging Down

This summer has not been as awesome as I thought it would be.  There were a lot of changes that I didn't anticipate and a lot less time than I thought I would have.  I guess I just spiraled into a whoa is me for a little bit, so that means it is time for another JOY DARE.  Counting blessings usually helps my outlook.  Plus I am tired of feeling fear and intimidation just because of change.  So bring it on!!! 

Wonder Woman Apron- a Christmas gift from my husband last year!  LOVE!  I don't wear it too much because I am a beast in the kitchen.  I make huge messes and I want to try to keep this one a little more clean. 

My sweatshirt!  Another gift from my husband- he gave to me just because!  I don't think there was any special reason so I love it plus the kids helped him pick it out.  They know mom likes red. 

Hanging tomatoes!  These are the Early Girls just hanging for dear life- sorry my camera does zoom and the sprinkler was on.  My friend Jessica helped prune these and I can't wait to give them away and maybe eat a few too!  This is where summer rocks.

I hope you are having a better summer than I am, but things are looking up.  See you tomorrow.  

Summer Gardening

Sorry I haven't been around like I said I would be, but let me see if I can make it up to you.  Today it is a high of 98 degrees and yes I have been outside gardening.  I have a lovely plot- 36 x 32.  I have yet to use the whole thing.  I was hoping to try this year.  I set the bar a bit too high, but I am still trying.  I still feel new at this even though I have had a vegetable garden for 3 summers now (I took last summer off and I really missed it).  Depending on funds I am going to attempt year round gardening and got a beginner book to help.

Right now my garden is knee with weeds so I am researching some ways to get rid of them.  I am going to try a a vinegar, salt, and soap mixture and see how that does but for now let me show some pictures of my imperfect but loveable garden.  We just finished the early raspberry season and now we are on to cucumbers, zucchini, and beans.  I still have so much work to do.  I tried staking some more tomatoes but I could only do one before it got too hot and the ground was too hard for me to put the steaks in.  Now I am watering it.  It is a lot of work but I am determined to work out there at least 1 hour a day except Sundays.  I will let you know how the getting rid of weeds works.

 

First year doing Strawberries!!! 

Broccoli just about done and some tomato plants in the back ground.

Raspberries- coming and going- most of the early season is over

Zucchini- looking good!!!  Can't wait for zucchini chips and bread!

Quick Note

Summer is finally here!!!!  Woot!  Okay, so I haven't been updating or anything in awhile.  I honestly was waiting for summer because my child care job is over and now I can focus on other things instead of yelling rules constantly.  But I don't have much to say today except we are in a tiny bit of a family crisis and have some unspoken prayer requests.  I don't know if there is anything more to say on that at this time.  I wanted readers to know I didn't just disappear and I will try to get things back to normal with my Friday updates.  Thanks and happy reading!!

The Ministry of Motherhood My Personal Study Part 2

This is how we mother!  We are kind, but not soft.  Unlike God we will never be perfect but isn't it amazing?  We get to show our children what God is like.  As mothers, we specifically can show grace when those little eyes look at us and say, "Sorry, Mom."  We don't keep bring up all the things they do wrong.  I am so guilty of this so I have a lot of learning to do!

Peter, one of Jesus' top disciples, denied he even knew Him, yet in I Peter 4:8 we see how Peter recognizes that love covers a multitude of sins.  Christ gave grace to Peter.  I want to extend that kind of grace to my own children.  What does that look like?  I can tell you what it DOES NOT look like.  It doesn't look like cussing out your kids, embarrassing/shaming them, spanking multiple times a week (spanking is a last resort under certain circumstances at our house), or screaming at them.  Grace, in our every day interaction, is knowing your child and making clear what is expected of them.  It is listening.  It is realizing that every situation you encounter will not be the same and will not requite the exact same punishment or possibly any punishment.  It is being a mom constantly seeking wisdom in prayer.

Jesus' attitude to His disciples before going to the cross was of concern, sorrow, and radical love.  He called them "my children".  The scene from John 13:31-14:1 becomes somewhat reminiscent of a parent leaving their child on the first day of school or college.  "I can not go with you....(but) trust God."  Jesus knew they were going to make mistakes and sin, maybe even HUGE mistakes and sins, even though there is no gradation on sin, but He was prepared to love them and forgive them.  That is what I, as a mother, need to be prepared to do.  My children are sinners and will continue to sin.  I want to be prepared to show them love while not approving of the sin.  I want to show grace and show them God's forgiveness through me.  I will read to them about the great heroes of the Bible who messed up big time and tell them it is never too late to come home and come before the church and throne of God for repentance.

Jesus also clearly teaches that discipline is a tool to be worked with along side grace.  But how does that work?  How do we put those things together when they almost seem like opposites?  Well to be honest- I don't know the answer and it is part of the reason I am reading this book.  For me, it comes down to trusting that God will help you make the right decisions.  It sound simple at first but it become so much more.

From the questions on page 57 of The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.  Stay tuned for next week to find what irritates me about my kids and how I try to respond in grace, but more often then not- fail.  I know you want to know!   

FAMILY UPDATE:  
Lucy was throwing up last week and then I was sleep deprived and also felt my stomach not being happy with me.  I didn't get my usual week homemaking update but life goes on.  We are all much better now!

A Gift in a Box, a Bag, a Book

What a gift to remember and find our wedding photos on a disc in a box!?!  I totally forgot where this was till I looked in my closet.  The things you find in the back of the closet- it could be a treasure. 

I have reached a point where I would pay someone to decorate the bare walls of my house.  But I did find some cute things to hang up so here is hoping I can do this myself.  Gift to myself- decor from the YAM silent auction.

So many gifts inside books- words, knowledge, fun, mystery, book markers, and my children's nose in one just to name a few.  Hermione has just started the second book and we have started a small literary tea after church so we get to talk.  It is so fun to see how much she loves these books.  I didn't even MAKE her read them.  She just says she loves them so much!!  Plus if you know me- I LOVE book markers.  In the hard bound book it is hard to see are two book markers- one with a tassel and one was Mother's Day present from this year.  Books are gifts themselves- I think it is time for me to reread this one.  

Happy National Chocolate Chip Day

Today is the first time our group is meeting for Hospitality In Practice and since it is also Chocolate Chip Day what better time to try a new recipe.  This post is mouth watering.  Behold this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake-

I used a Taste of Home recipe.  I haven't tasted it yet but I have high expectations.  Plus I think it will be the last dessert I eat for the year!  I hope you all eat some chocolate chip goodness today.  See you next week if not sooner- stay tuned for my personal study on the Ministry of Motherhood.