The Jackson "5"

A Tale of Two Fish...

2012-02-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

So one day (several months ago) I received a phone call from my mama that went like this, "So, I was thinking of what to get the kids for Christmas and your dad and I thought fish would be a great idea." I laughed. And said, "No." She came up with some fairly convincing reasons why a fish would be good for our household, but I still laughed and said, "No." I know what happens when a person takes on fish...the story usually ends with a trip to the toilet and an explanation of whether or not fish go to Heaven. No thank you. Then it was her turn to laugh, saying something about passing the baton of parenthood.

My mama is a persistent lady. It's one of her God-given gifts. Persistence. For several weeks leading up to Christmas, she would randomly ask me if I had considered her proposition and I would again say, "No." I said "No" many times before I finally gave in and begrudgingly said "Yes". See? Persistence = her God-given gift. This would be the point when she could have rightfully thrown out a certain Charlie Sheen quote.

So, after Christmas our children became the proud owners of a new fish tank. We took ourselves down to the local Petsmart and bought the fixings for the fish tank using a gift card from my parents that was specifically designated for keeping the fish alive.

We came home with our new fishy family members: Elmo, Alvin and Sheldon the snail. Things were going along swimmingly for several weeks (Oh, yes. I'm all over that pun). We fed them and kept them alive. Until this week.

You see, there was a hollow tube that was in the center of the tank. It filtered this color changing light that the kiddos were obsessed with. They would stand in front of the tank quickly pressing the button making the colors change rapidly all the way through Roy G. Biv. Why this hollow tube never caused concern, I'm not sure. I should have recalled scenes from "Finding Nemo" and how easily fish get themselves into precarious situations. Anyway, Elmo (whom I sort of pegged as a trouble maker early on) chose to swim down the tube...and couldn't make his way back out. All he had to do was swim back up the tube and out, but it was more than he could handle. I'm guessing he watched this scene from finding Nemo and was following horrible advice to keep swimming down:

Elmo managed to swim down the tube and under the support tray, trapping himself. So to rescue him, I had to scoop out Alvin and Sheldon and place them in a bag. I scooped out the rocks and foliage from the 3 gallon tank, then I put the stopper in the kitchen sink and poured out the whole fish tank until Elmo fell out from under the tray and into the sink. I replaced the rocks and faux sea foliage then filled the tank back up with fresh water. Finally I put Elmo, Alvin and Sheldon back in their home and mumbled how lucky they were. Lucky I tell you!

About 10 minutes later Elmo started acting crazy. He was swimming erratically and flipping around (not in the thankful to be alive sort of way) and before I knew it he was upside down. I figured the stressful circumstances were his demise, until another 10 minutes went by and Alvin started doing the same dance...And then there were none. The lone survivor was Sheldon...the bottom feeding snail who seems to have a strong will to live.

The kiddos did surprisingly well considering the circumstances. The little Mr. just patted my shoulder and said, "It's okay mama. I know you did your best. You didn't mean to kill Alvin and Elmo." Such a bummer. Poor little guy.

I kept trying to piece together where things went wrong, when I realized I had forgotten to add the all important tank conditioner drops to remove the harsh chlorine from the tap water. Sheesh.

So, a big fat parenting fail this week. We're taking ourselves back down to Petsmart to pick out a new Alvin and Elmo. I will give this two more rounds before I throw in the towel and declare Sheldon the winner and let him have the tank all to himself.

This Mama's Shakin' Things Up...

2012-01-27T13:38:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to title this post, "I'm Taking Hostages," but somehow that seemed completely inappropriate and I was afraid some well-meaning friends would become concerned and I would find a S.W.A.T. team on my doorstep. I'll clarify.

We've had sort of a clutter issue at the Jackson house. Lately, I've found myself tripping over dolls and the accompanying accessories, legos, books, shoes, slinkys and more. I also found myself having to remind the kiddos multiple times to put things away, only to find them a few minutes later, in the middle of the chaos playing and *gasp* getting out even more items!

We had two problems: 1) they were not following directions and

2) I had created a pattern where they expected me to run around reminding them of what they should be doing until I became frustrated and picked things up myself.

The other day during rest time, I was ~~wasting time~~ relaxing and looking on Pinterest when I noticed a friend's pin. It was an idea for getting your children to pick up their own things. This mom created a 'ransom' box. If her children did not pick up their things when asked, she simply put them in the ransom box. If they wanted to have those items back, they had to complete a task in order to redeem those items.

That was a huge light bulb moment for me. So, yesterday I asked my children to pick up their toys. Unfortunately, they didn't pick up everything. I got them both ready for rest time, and once they were asleep, I set about taking hostages:

And wrote the kiddos a ransom note:

When my wee ones got up, I gently explained the situation and what they would have to do to redeem their beloved toys. When I got to the task of putting away all of the shoes that had collected near the backdoor, the little Mr. exclaimed, "But, mooooooooooom! Those aren't my shoes! Why do I have to put them away? That's not fair!"

I simply smiled and said, "You're right buddy. You know, I was thinking the exact same thing as I was picking up your toys today."

The rest of the time, they did their assigned tasks with kindness and zero complaining, then the three of us worked together to put away the redeemed toys.

When we were all done we talked about what it meant to be redeemed. I shared with them how we should have to pay the price for our own sin, but instead God sent Jesus as our Redeemer. Jesus paid the price for our sin so we wouldn't have to. I explained that we are sort of like hostages to our own sin, and the only person who can free us is Jesus. The little Mr. really liked the idea of Jesus in the role of hero. But that's what HE is right?

So, back to the box...it's sitting in plain view at the moment and so far there are no hostages. A success? Maybe. A good friend laughed as I shared this idea with her and said, "You know it's a good possibility this could backfire right?" I wasn't following how this could go awry until she said, "One of these days you are going to find your favorite shoes in that box, and who knows what your kids are going to make you do in order to get them back."

Meatless Monday...Let's Talk Gnocchi

2012-01-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

Before moving to Iowa in 2003, I had never heard of gnocchi. In fact, I was not food adventurous at all.

My first Spring in Iowa, I decided to do some networking and volunteer for Wine Fest (hosted by Meredith Corporation...aka the HQ of Better Homes and Garden Mag). It was the first year of the annual event, and I was selfishly hoping to get some face time with a few Meredith Corporation big wigs and hopefully land a sweet writing job. Neither of which happened.

I was assigned the task of welcoming the guest chefs and fetching their needs. Had I been a true foodie, I would have known who each of them were and been salivating at the chance for them to sign my cookbook...but, alas, I was clueless except for Oprah's chef Art Smith, and unfortunately I wasn't assigned to him.

Anyway, as I watched the first chef expertly make a batch of her famous cioppino, (which, by the way stunk up the joint), and talking of her time spent in northern Italy, I looked down at my syllabus to see that the next chef was making 'gnocchi'. What the heck? Never heard of it, and all I cared was that it smelled nothing like the fishy cioppino that was already making my hair reek.

As cioppino lady cleared out, a young man stepped in, air kissed both of her cheeks and gave her some sort of Italian greeting before displaying is array of cooking gadgets. As he began his demonstration, I soon discovered, gnocchi are a little potato dumpling regarded as a pasta in Italy. He peeled, diced, and boiled potatoes for the gnocchi, all the while talking of his tutelage under Lidia Bastianich, and totally losing me when he pulled out his little wooden gnocchi board and began rolling the little dumplings one by one down the board and into the boiling water. Delicious as these little dumplings were, it was so much work! I resigned myself to enjoying gnocchi only at various restaurants (which, if you haven't tried it, do! So delicious and worth the calorie splurge!).

Recently, I found a recipe for gnocchi on Pinterest, and decided to give it a try. The recipe called for pumpkin as the non-traditional star ingredient instead of potatoes, which cut out a majority of the work of peeling, chopping, boiling and ricing potatoes. I was a bit skeptical at first, but the result was a light, savory dumpling equally as good as it's sister potato gnocchi with far less time and work involved. It was so easy that a little helper even got in on the fun...

Believe me, making this gnocchi is just as easy as she makes it look...let's get started!

Pumpkin Gnocchi

1/2 C. skim milk ricotta

1/2 C. canned pumpkin

1/2 C. shredded parmesan cheese (I used kraft parmesan/asiago blend)

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp. lemon zest (plus extra for garnish)

1 tsp. kosher salt

1 C. sifted flour (I used white whole wheat--but regular flour is fine)

4 Tbsp. butter divided

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh sage

Preheat oven to 200F

1)Combine ricotta, pumpkin, parmesan, yolk, zest and salt in a large bowl. Mix well. Sprinkle in half of the flour and gently turn with a spatula a few times. Add in remaining flour, and knead until just combined. Too much kneading will make the gnocchi tough.

2)Dust a clean, dry surface with a generous sprinkling of flour. Divide dough into four parts. Taking each dough ball, roll it into a long 1" in diameter log. Cut gnocchi into 1" pieces. Repeat with remaining dough.

3) Using 1 tablespoon of butter for each batch, heat the butter in a large saute pan. When melted, add a fourth of the gnocchi to the pan and saute a couple of minutes, tossing the gnocchi in the pan until all sides begin to brown. Remove gnocchi and place in a large pan and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the rest of the gnocchi.

4) When all gnocchi is cooked, wipe the pan clean with a paper towel and heat 2 Tbsp of butter (over medium heat). When melted, add the fresh sage and cook a couple of minutes until browned a bit (but not burnt!). Add 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar to the butter/sage and whisk until combined. I added another tablespoon of butter to top this off. Toss the gnocchi with the sauce and serve. This does not make a lot of sauce, it's just meant too lightly coat the gnocchi so it does not over power the flavor of the gnocchi.

5) Serve with additional chopped sage and shaved parmesan cheese.

Thrifted Thursday...A Promised DIY

2012-01-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago I blogged about this blazer promising a tutorial on how I tailored it to better fit my body. Well, I've never considered myself a particularly prompt person, but better late than never right?

Brief history: bought the blazer at a thrift store last year ($4!), but it hit me about six inches below my hips, which I wasn't crazy about. I'm 5'4, so it really wasn't doing me any favors at that length. Unfortunately, for the last year it has been sitting in my closet.

I really hated to have the blazer just sitting there, but I couldn't part with it either. I decided that it would have to be tailored...and preferably by me to save some dollars.

I found some photos on Pinterest, which renewed my hope that I could make the blazer work for me with a bit of tweaking:

Using a blazer I already owned that was a length I liked, I turned my navy blazer inside out, and laid the 'pattern' blazer on top:

Using the top blazer as a template, I pinned the bottom blazer to the length I wanted. I did not make any cuts, so I could be sure everything was right where I wanted it before making any permanent decisions.

Next, I sewed the new hemline right along the line of pins, removing the pins as I went along (I wish I had taken a picture of this, but I'm not one who can work and photograph at the same time...ya know?).

I'm not going to lie...it took me twice before I got the hemline right, which made me happy I hadn't made any cuts yet. I just simply used my seam ripper to remove the stitches and then started again.

After I got the hemline where I wanted it, I trimmed off the excess fabric and ironed everything down so it laid nice and flat.

I did not need to take in the sides or sleeves as the blazer fit great in those areas, but had I needed to, I would have followed the same guideline:

1)sew the new seams first

2) use a seam ripper to remove the old seams

3)cut off the excess fabric.

4) Iron down new seams to lie flat

It's probably not the way a true seamstress would do it, but it made it more error proof for me.

Here is the before and after:

Blazer: thrifted/DIY

Brown Boots: thrifted Plato's closet

I am so happy with the way this project turned out, and now I wear the blazer all the time! It's probably my favorite and most versatile clothing item!

Happy Thursday!

Meatless Monday: Sneaky, Sneaky...

2012-01-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

I can be very sneaky when it comes to slipping the kiddos veggies...but not nearly as sneaky as this guy:

Sorry for the 'A' word and the friendly finger. I try to keep things G-rated around here but that guy on Mr. Deeds just cracks me up...sneaky, sneaky, sir.

Anyway, this mama has to be sneaky with the veggies or else I can't guarantee they will make it passed the kiddos little lips. I've been making a lot of smoothies for them lately with a few tricks up my sleeve in the forms of Mr. Iron and Mr. Beta Carotene aka spinach and carrots. For weeks I hovered over the blender so they wouldn't see what I was slipping into their yummy smoothies, but I soon realized they loved the smoothies so much they could care less what was in it, and now they like to help add in the veggies!

I had a great blender shot for ya'll, but somehow I deleted it, sorry! But the above picture looks exactly like our finished product! With the addition of blueberries, strawberries and banana, you'd never know there was spinach and carrot hiding out too!

A little tip, as my bananas start to become over-ripe, I peel them and throw them in a freezer bag then throw the frozen banana in the smoothie. Using the frozen fruit means I don't need to add ice!

Hope you enjoy the sneaky, sneaky smoothie!

Sneaky Smoothie

1 whole carrot, sliced

1 cup raw spinach (I use more like two cups, but you can work your way up to that)

1 tbsp ground flax

1 tbsp wheat germ, optional

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1 frozen banana

6 oz. vanilla Greek yogurt

splash of milk to thin it a bit if necessary

Throw everything in the blender and blend until smooth. Divide between four glasses and serve! You can freeze individual servings for later as well.

Still Learning...

2012-01-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

If there was a superlative that I thought would have fit me a year ago, it would be, "Most Likely To NOT Homeschool Her Children." But, here we are nearly five months into our school year, and loving every minute of it. I'm so thankful that God guides our paths and takes us down roads we never would travel on our own.

It's helpful that the little Mr. and little Miss are easy to teach and love to learn. I have no idea what the future holds for our family as far as homeschooling goes, but for now it is a good fit for us. I am so grateful I can teach them and be with them to see them grow and learn. Mommy is learning too.

Each day we start with a Bible devotion, and a character trait we are studying for the week. This week I introduced the fruit of the spirit (Galations 5:22-23), discussed what they are and how they relate to us and God's desire to see these qualities exhibited in us. We are breaking it down to study one fruit a week with a goal for the kids to memorize the fruits of the spirit, and then find opportunities each day to exhibit these traits. Youtube didn't disappoint, and we found this little diddy to help us remember the fruit of the spirit...

Not going to sugarcoat it...the song kind of drives me crazy and gets stuck in your head, but it drives home the point, and the kiddos love it.

Learning the fruit of the spirit has been a great reminder for me as well, not only as a mom, but as a wife and in all other relationships in my life.

But, I have a confession. This morning I wasn't really exhibiting the fruit of the spirit...in particular patience. I was being impatient with the kids, and frankly I wasn't gentle either. I was sort of lost in myself, but was so humbled when the little Mr. walked over to me, mustered up his most respectful voice and said, "Excuse me mama...but you're not showing the fruit of the spirit. We're supposed to be patient and gentle. Remember?" At that moment I didn't really know what to say. So, I just nodded.

We piled ourselves in the car, and I felt so pressed to thank him for reminding me of God's truth. I said, "Hey buddy, thank you so much for reminding mommy to be patient and gentle. Sometimes mommies forget these things and need to be reminded too. Please forgive me for not being patient."

He could have remarked on how I totally blew it. Or he could have laughed at my foolishness for not being a good example. But, in his grace he said, "It's okay mommy! I still love you and I know you have another chance to make it right!" Then, he prayed for our short drive to Tae Kwon Do. This was his sweet prayer:

"Dear Jesus, thank you for our car and keep us safe on the road. And thank you for the fruit of the spirit and help me and Eva and mommy and daddy to remember them every day. And thank you that you help us when we forget. Amen."

Amen.

Meatless Monday...No Soup For You

2012-01-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

This week I sort of struggled over what to make for meatless Monday, and then I remembered a soup recipe my friend Nicole shared with me. Is it just me, or at the mention of soup do you automatically conjure up episodes of Seinfeld and hear the soup Nazi's gruff voice shouting, "No soup for you!"

Just me? Anywho, back to Nicole's recipe. It's packed full of veggies and a good amount of beans to balance things out. Nicole said her family loved it, which was good enough reason for me to give it a go.

I made a few adjustments, per our family's taste, and we absolutely loved it! The leftovers are even better! We topped ours with shaved parmesan cheese and served it with fresh ciabatta bread and salad. By the way, I had no idea what to call this soup...'Lots-o Veggie and Bean Soup'? 'Soup-There It Is'? 'Yum-Yum Soup'? 'Campbells Eat Your Heart Out'? I decided to title it...wait for it...'The Soup'. Any way you call it, I hope you enjoy it.

The Soup

2 16-oz. cans diced tomatoes with juice

1 15-oz. can red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)

1 15-oz. can great northern beans (drained and rinsed)

1 15-oz. can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

4 C. water + 4 chicken bouillon cubes (vegetable works too if you are vegetarian)

1 C. chopped red onion

1 green pepper, chopped

2 celery stalks, chopped

1 medium zucchini, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 tsp dried basil

2 bay leaves

Combine tomatoes, beans, water, vegetables and seasonings in a large stockpot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer covered for one hour or until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves and serve topped with shaved parmesan.

Thrifted Thursday...60 Degrees in January

2012-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Oh my word...today it's 60 degrees in Iowa. This must be some kind of record, because usually this time of year, B would be shoveling with all of his might and we would have a huge snow mound on our back patio because we've run out of places to put the stuff. Not so. It's sunny, gorgeous and no snow to speak of.

So, this girl ran around town with the kiddos and enjoyed the weather. This is what I wore:

navy blazer: thrifted/DIY (Talbots)

sweater: super old

jeans: target

flats: target

So this week I came across a few tips on the EmersonMade blog regarding changing up your clothes, and she had this really great tip to do an inside roll on skinny jeans to make them ankle length. This was sort of a slap the head moment for me, and I wished I had thought to do this long ago (my guess is I'm the last one on the planet to figure this style tip out...).

Anyway, with the temps so nice, I figured today was as good as any to see if it worked, and it did! So far the roll has stayed in place, and given me just enough of a change to keep things fresh.

Oh, and about the blazer...I tweaked it a bit so it would fit my body better...but I'll post about it next week with some close-ups!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Meatless Monday: Iraqi Soup

2012-01-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Friends! This year, our family is continuing our journey in meatless meals. I am feeling challenged to be creative and expand our meal repertoire.

A couple of weeks ago, B sent me a recipe for an Iraqi soup called Hasa Tamata Ma' Hummus. I wasn't particularly excited about it, but decided to give it a try since it really interested B. The verdict? It's so delicious! It's a very light soup, yet incredibly filling at the same time. I felt so good after eating this soup...no food coma feeling which was nice.

I paired the soup with some homemade garlic naan (a flat bread commonly served in India and the Middle East) and a salad. I was shocked that my kiddos loved it and even asked for seconds! Next time I make it, I will probably throw in some shredded carrot and maybe even some chopped cauliflower to bump up the veggies. A couple of things that surprised me about the recipe was the addition of allspice (don't skip it...it makes the soup taste incredible!) and cooking the cilantro in the sauteing process. Most recipes add cilantro at the end, but cooking it in the beginning, really enhanced the flavor of the soup.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Hasa Tamata Ma' Hummus (Tomato and Chickpea soup)

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 red onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 C. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

3 C. tomato juice

2 C. water

2 C. chicken broth or vegetable broth

1/2 C. brown rice

1. In a stockpot, saute the onions in the olive oil until softened.

2. Add garlic, cilantro, cumin and allspice and saute about a minute more.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cook over medium heat until rice is tender (about 20 minutes).

Garlic Naan

1/2 C. warm water

2 tsp. active dry yeast

1 tsp. sugar

2 1/2 C. flour (I used white whole wheat)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 olive oil

1/3 C. plain yogurt

1 egg

a little butter for frying (just a little for flavor and to prevent each naan from sticking to the pan)

minced garlic (about 4 cloves)

1. In a large bowl, stir together water, sugar and yeast. Let stand 5 minutes until foamy.

2. Stir in the flour, salt, oil, yogurt and egg.

3. Knead on a lightly floured surface until dough is soft and pliable. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled in size.

4. Divide dough into about 6-8 pieces, and on a floured surface roll each piece into a circle or long oval.

5. Cook each naan in a hot skillet in butter until blistered and cooked (flipping as necessary)

6. Sprinkle each naan with garlic and serve immediately, or keep warm in oven between sheets of aluminum foil until ready to serve. Store leftovers in airtight containers for no more than 2 days.

Thrifted Thursday...

2011-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

The other day B came home with a sack and said, "I was at the mall and I picked up a couple of things for you." It wasn't Christmas, or my birthday...just because. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to be shopping for himself, but ever the thoughtful guy he is, he moseyed on over to the ladies section to scout things out. He bought me two of the softest henleys in my favorite colors: grey and a light pink that's a cross between pink and lavender.

B has impeccable taste, so I always trust his purchases. But, what made it even better was his thriftiness...he bought them both for ten bucks total! So, today B gets all the credit for Thrifted Thursday!

Oh, and on an unrelated topic, I'm dubbing December, 'No Coat December'...lately the weather has been unseasonably warm in Iowa.

shirt: gap ($5)

jeans: limited (thrifted)

Bracelet: forever 21

necklace: forever 21 ($1!!!!!)

Happy Thursday!!!

Barely Functioning...

2011-12-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

The last few days has been brutal for two members of the Jackson 5...and I'm not talking about the wee Jackson's.

The little Mr. has been bouncing into our room between 5:00 and 5:30 am, requesting everything from a lost stuffed animal to breakfast and everything in between. At some point he recruits his sister to join him and before long, our bed has gained two new members along with jabbing knees and elbows.

I adore my children, I really do. But, I believe this nifty device will be making it's way into our home in the very near future...

http://www.goodnitelite.com/index.php

Please Lord...I just want to sleep until 7:00 am.

Love,

The mommy of early risers

Thrifted Thursday: Mathematic Equations...

2011-12-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

One pinstripe shirt +sweater+comfy jeans= my new favorite outfit.

I wore this outfit to church on Sunday, and loved it so much that I wore it again on Tuesday. I'm pretty sure I'm going to wear it next week too. I would have NEVER done that back in high school...so taboo ha!

sweater: target (really old)

pinstripe shirt: gap kids (thrifted)

jeans: the limited (thrifted

shoes: urban outfitters

vest: fossil

But who cares right? Why not wear something you love over and over (washing in between...or not...your choice) because it works for you and you love it?

Happy Thursday friends!

Traumatized By A Christmas Tree...

2011-12-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

Every year as we place the first ornament on our Christmas tree, B and I often ask one another, "Remember our first tree?" And then we laugh and laugh and quickly reiterate our vow made 10 years ago, "We will never again have a real tree."

The year was 2001. We were a couple of newlyweds celebrating our very first Christmas married. We were wavering between a real or artificial tree, when a sweet couple at our church offered to let us cut down a tree from their acreage...for free! We were way excited about that, so we drove B's little Chevy Z-24 to their farm loaded with some rope and bungee cord, and set out to find our tree. It all seemed very nostalgic and romantic and I have to admit, B was pretty handsome playing the role of lumberjack.

With the help of our friends, we loaded up the tree (on top of our teeny car) and headed home after receiving a bit of advice: place the tree in a bucket of water and let it sit outside overnight so the scent isn't overpowering. No problem.

After letting the tree sit overnight...

We brought her in and decorated her...

A few weeks went by, and we were still congratulating ourselves on a job well done. One evening, I was sitting near the tree admiring the lights, when I noticed a fine white thread in the branches. I reached up to remove it, when I noticed another thread.

And another. And another.

Upon closer inspection, I realized the tree was covered with the threads...or webs. And then I saw it...a teeny, tiny, spider lowering itself from a silken thread. But there wasn't just one spider...he brought along several of his spider friends and they were partying it up in my tree.

Apparently, the spiders were hibernating in the tree for the winter, and had mistaken the warmth of our home for summer and decided it was time to come out and play. Gross.

I ran to get B and screamed that spiders were everywhere and that I was pretty sure they were now crawling all over me. Probably an exaggeration.

So, B carried the hulking tree back outside, with me doing the hebejebe dance behind him. We took ourselves down to the local hardware store and purchased a few bug bombs to set off in the apartment while we left for a few hours to make sure the little beasts were gone. We came back to a nasty, foggy, mess and began a lengthy clean-up process.

I'm pretty sure this is the reason you're not supposed to just go and chop down some random tree out in someone's field. I mean, that is why there are tree farmers and little stands set up in abandoned parking lots with perfectly fresh trees that I imagine are debugged as a free service to all paying customers.

So, while you're enjoying the fresh Christmasy scent of your live (bug free) tree, I'll be bringing out the box containing our tree, and place the 'branches' in the little metal slots. Then, branch by branch I will fluff it out, trying to convince myself of how 'real' it looks.

Yeah. Not even close.

Merry Christmas!

Meatless Monday: Roasted Vegetable Pizza...

2011-12-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! We sure did in the Jackson house! Friday night we attended a Christmas party with all of our international friends and had an awesome time! Then Saturday, B and I had a Christmas shopping date while the kiddos played with friends. We topped it all off last night with a trip in the car with the kiddos to look at Christmas lights in a few neighborhoods around town.

Weekends usually mean a departure from healthy fare for us, so it's always nice to start Monday off with a meatless meal. A dear friend brought this roasted vegetable pizza to us shortly after one of our kiddos was born. Is it sad to say I don't remember which kiddo for sure? Anyway, it's super easy, and if you don't want to make your own crust, you can just buy one of the prepared pizza crusts at the grocery store, and I won't even judge you! But, I will give you bonus points for making your own alrighty?

Let's get started.

Roasted Vegetable Pizza

1/2 an eggplant, diced small

1/2 red onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

3-4 roma tomatoes, diced

1-2 garlic clove(s), minced

sprinkling of kosher salt and pepper

drizzle of olive oil

sprinkling of Italian seasoning (optional)

2-3 Tbs prepared basil pesto

8 oz pkg mozzarella thinly sliced (I don't use pre-shredded, but you can if you'd like)

1 recipe pizza crust (recipe below) or store bought pizza crust

Directions:

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Chop all of the vegetables and place in a metal baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with kosher salt, pepper and Italian seasoning (all to taste). Toss to coat all the vegetables and roast in the oven about 25 minutes or until vegetables begin to brown.

Spread pesto over the bottom of the *pizza crust making sure to spread to the edges (you don't want a thick layer of pesto, just enough for flavor). Place roasted vegetables over the pesto (you'll have some vegetables left over). Top with mozzarella cheese and bake 15- 20 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.

Pizza Dough

4 1/2 C. flour

1 3/4 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp yeast

1/4 C. olive oil

1 3/4 C. cold water

Stir together dry ingredients. Add oil and water and mix with a mixer using the 'dough hook' until ball forms (dough will be very sticky). Oil a bowl and let dough sit covered with a towel for about an hour before using. Divide dough for pizzas (can make 2 large or 4 small) pressing out onto a pizza pan or aluminum foil. You can crimp the edges to form and edge crust like the picture above, or simply pat it out thin Neapolitan style. Top with toppings and bake. Mid-way through baking, remove the pizzas from the baking pan and bake directly on the rack (about 10 minutes) to crisp up the crust.

*If using homemade dough, pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes before putting on toppings, as the roasted vegetable toppings are heavy and can tear the dough. After you've topped your pizza, bake for another 10 minutes or so on the baking sheet, then slide pizzas directly onto the oven rack to bake another 10 minutes to crisp the crust.

Thrifted Thursday...A Haiku...

2011-12-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

I'm out of words today. So here is a haiku:

Wide leg jeans.

So roomy and so comfy.

They were out,

Now they're in.

denim jacket: gap (from high school--does that make it 'vintage'?)

cardigan: AE

striped tank: target

wide-leg jeans: thrifted (Limited)

Christmas Decor and Little Fingers...

2011-12-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

If your kiddos are like my wee ones, then your tree has been decorated and re-decorated several times over already. Can I get an amen? A couple of years ago, I actually swapped out all of my gorgeous glass ornaments for plastic balls in a similar color. It just wasn't worth the risk of breaking glass, and selfishly, I just wanted to enjoy the tree and not worry about little hands moving things around when I wasn't looking. Thankfully my little ones mind the 'no touch' rule in other people's homes (so please still invite us to your Christmas parties).

This year we got the kids their very own tree for their bedroom. It's just a little pre-lit table-top jobby (for around $8 at Wal-Mart), but they love it! I knew this tree was for the little ones to have fun with, so I decided soft and safe would be our motto. I found these really great handmade ornaments for inspiration on pinterest and loved them:

From left to right: Purlbee, say yes to hoboken, rikrak via etsy, betz white

I had some scrap felt leftover from a previous project, so using the Pinterest board for inspiration went to work to create a similar look for the kid-tree.

I decided against traditional Christmas colors and just worked with what I had, but I loved it in the end. All it took was a little hot glue and some quick hand stitches (on the trees--purlbee has an easy-to-follow tutorial) and the ornaments were finished in a few hours time. The little boy and girl skaters were scored on the cheap at Walgreens of all places.

It turned out to be a fun little project and the kids are having a great time moving the ornaments around on their tree. I think we may have found a new tradition of making new ornaments for their tree each year!

Meatless Monday: Roasted Vegetable and Blackbean Enchiladas...

2011-12-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

**I made a correction to the recipe below...please note that you should use 2 pkg of baby bella mushrooms (8 oz each).

Is it Portabella or Portabello? I googled the fungi, and it came up that both were correct...so I'm going with Portabella in this post.

Either way, I tend to prefer meat in my Enchiladas...usually chicken, but occasionally beef. But, then I came across this recipe on Pinterest, and knew I had to give it a go for Meatless Monday...oh, man are they good. Unfortunately, my camera battery was dead to capture the enchiladas in all their glory, so you'll have to drool over these delicious photos from Perry's Plate...

I made a few changes from the original recipe. I didn't have time to make my own enchilada sauce, so I used two cans (one mild and one medium) of enchilada sauce, adding sauteed shallots, garlic, cumin, paprika, and a roasted poblano to give it a bit more flavor. I also roasted the red bell pepper for the filling right along with the mushrooms and onion to save myself a step (I didn't have a jar of roasted red peppers on hand).

Overall these were a hit! I hope you enjoy them!

Roasted Vegetable and Blackbean Enchiladas

adapted from Perry's Plate

For the Sauce:

*One poblano pepper

(roasted until blackened over the open flame of a gas stove)

2 Tbs vegetable oil

1 small shallot finely chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp paprika

2 cans enchilada sauce

1/2 cup fresh cilantro for garnish

4 oz Queso Fresco

1/4 cup shredded cheddar/jack

Filling:

2 red bell peppers, seeds removed and finely chopped

2 pkg (8 oz. each) baby bella mushrooms, thinly sliced

1/2 red onion, diced

olive oil for drizzling

kosher salt and pepper to taste.

1/4 tsp cumin

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

12 corn tortillas (I used white corn)

Directions:

In a large roasting pan, add chopped red peppers, mushrooms and onion. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt pepper and cumin. Roast for 10-20 minutes at 475 degrees or until vegetables are brown and tender. When vegetables are done, transfer to a large bowl and stir in blackbeans.

Using tongs, roast poblano until blackened on all sides over the open flame. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap and set aside to steam for about10 minutes. Rinse poblano under water to remove blackened skin. Remove stem and seeds and chop finely. In a saucepan, saute shallot in olive oil until tender. Add garlic, poblano, cumin and paprika and cook for about 30 seconds. Add enchilada sauce and reduce temperature to a low simmer.

Spray a 9x13 pan with nonstick spray and spread about 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce in bottom of pan.

To assemble enchiladas, warm tortillas in microwave about 20 seconds. fill each tortilla with about 2-3 tablespoons of filling, roll up and place seam-side down in baking pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over enchiladas and top with cheddar/jack and crumbled queso fresco. Bake in a 375 degree oven about 25 minutes or until golden and bubbly.

Top with chopped cilantro and serve.

*If you're not a fan of poblanos, you can certainly skip them...you want to make sure to roast them completely and remove all seeds as they can pack a little punch in the spice department.

Ideas For An Engaging Advent...

2011-12-02T02:00:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! I can't believe it's the 2nd of December already! The last several weeks, I have been pinning ideas on Pinterest to come up with a way to incorporate Advent in our family. In the past we did sort of a countdown to Christmas, but this year our wee ones are old enough to really get involved. I wanted the celebration to be Christ centered, and really focus on what this season means for our family! I really wanted our Advent celebration to be about loving Jesus, serving others and having fun as a family.

I saw so many cute Advent ideas, but ultimately decided on a simple (and free!) paper chain printable from here.

I decided against printing on both sides of the paper, and instead hand wrote our Advent activities on the unprinted side of each slip of paper.

I searched all over the internet for activity ideas, but really sort of struggled coming up with an exhaustive list. It took a while, but we finally came up with some activities that are a good combination of just plain fun, and some that are meaningful for our family! We started yesterday with Day 1, and our kids are already having a great time! I am happy to share how we are celebrating Advent, and maybe something will be a good fit for your family this season!

Day 1...Each child pick out a new toy to donate to another child for Christmas.

Day 2...Make Christmas cards and send them to grandparents.

Day 3...Make gingerbread cookies.

Day 4...Watch a Christmas movie in our jammies.

Day 5...Learn about Christmas celebrations around the world and pray for the various countries.

Day 6...Have an indoor picnic dinner.

Day 7...Make a card and gift for teachers.

Day 8...Visit our friends at the nursing home.

Day 9...Watch a Christmas movie.

Day 10...Take a drive and look at Christmas lights with our international friends.

Day 11...Make an ornament for the tree.

Day 12...kids choose dinner!

Day 13...Play board games with mommy and daddy.

Day 14...Read the Christmas story from Luke 2 during bedtime devotions.

Day 15...Go to the library to check out Christmas books.

Day 16...Make cupcakes to celebrate Jesus and share them with friends.

Day 17...Go to an indoor play place to have some fun.

Day 18...Make a card and Christmas treats for daddy's work.

Day 19...See mom for a special treat after dinner.

Day 20...Act out the Christmas story.

Day 21...Drink hot chocolate.

Day 22...Pick out food to donate to the church food pantry.

Day 23...Make a nativity craft.

Day 24...Listen to Christmas music and have a dance party.

Day 25...It's Christmas! Spend the day praising God for our Redeemer!

Happy Friday friends!

Thrifted Thursday...Those Boots Again...

2011-12-01T12:01:00.000-08:00

I don't remember with whom I was having the conversation...maybe my grandma...maybe my sister, but it went something like this:

"I love your boots!"

Me ~~gloating~~ grinning: "Thank you! They're thrifted!"

My gloating ended as B piped up, "Yeah, and she'll never take them off of her feet as long as the weather is cold. I can bank on not seeing her calves until Spring."

Not only is he handsome and insightful, but sarcastic as well.

He's right though...here's yet another thrifted outfit post with my boots as the main attraction:

boots...um thrifted. Garden...dead.

Anyone know how to get rid of the boot muffin top? I tuck and tuck my jeans in all day and still they stretch out and over-floweth.

Paisley scarf: via swap party

ch:

Wrap bracelet: Wal-mart

Watch: Donna Karen

Happy Thursday friends!

Meatless Monday: Make Yourself A Dang Quesadilla...

2011-11-28T12:16:00.000-08:00

We like quesadillas in this household. There are times when I'm stuck on what to have for dinner and then B will come to the rescue with this brilliant idea, "Why don't you make us some dang quesa-DILL-as!" And then I do...

No meat in the house? Check. Mushrooms on hand? Check. A little cheese? Check. Maybe some spinach? Check. You're well on your way to deliciousness.

So, in honor of my favorite awkward 80's boy who made geek 'cool', I bring to you a favorite meatless recipe...

Dang Spinach and Mushroom Quesadillas

*adapted from PW's Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla

16 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

2 Tbs olive oil

2-3 Tbs white wine

1 bag spinach

12 flour tortillas

2 cups shredded Monterrey Jack cheese

4 oz pkg soft goat cheese (plain chevre)

Saute onion and mushroom in 2 Tbs of olive oil until golden. Deglaze pan with the white wine and cook until liquid is evaporated. Season with a bit of kosher salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

Top a flour tortilla with monterrey jack cheese. Dot with the goat cheese, and layer spinach leaves over the cheese. Top with a generous amount of the onion/mushroom mixture and a bit more cheese. *Place another tortilla on top and grill on a griddle or nonstick skillet about 1-2 minutes on each side or until tortillas are golden and cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

*you can butter the tortillas first, but I've noticed the tortillas brown just fine without the added butter.

Explaining Thanksgiving...

2011-11-22T12:17:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Are you in full-on Thanksgiving prep like I am? Right now I have two loaves of pumpkin bread in the oven, and four more loaves to go! I also have several baskets of laundry to fold and put away and bags to pack for four people before tomorrow afternoon...yes, I am a procrastinator.

Last week, I was talking with one of my international friends from Yemen, who has only been in the states for a short time. We were discussing Thanksgiving, which was a perplexing holiday to her. She asked, "Who do you celebrate with this holiday? A saint?" I explained to her that we aren't celebrating any person in particular, it's just a time to be thankful to God for his goodness. She was quiet for a bit...sort of processing what I said, then she asked, "Thank God for everything?" Yes. "For all that we have?" Yes. "For our health and for our home?" Yes. She smiled then said, "Ahhhhh...thank you to God because all is from Him!"

I love having these conversations with my international friends. It forces me to really think about why we celebrate the holidays. To them, they see the food and the presents and boisterous celebrations, but don't often hear the true meaning behind our expressions of celebration. These conversations force me to stop and look past the feast-filled table and remember that all that I have is from Him. I listened to my friend talk about the strife in her country, what it's like to have to flee for your safety and that of your child--all the while leaving behind your husband. My heart broke as she said flatly, "We had nothing. We come here and are safe. We have everything."

I have never faced religious persecution. Never. I have never packed up my children in the middle of the night for fear of their safety. My children have never had to give up a meal. And my home, though modest, is sturdy, protects us from the elements, and is a mansion compared to many dwellings around the world. Our water is clean and safe for drinking, cooking and bathing.

I have so much to be thankful for. I live in a country that, even in a poor economy, is rich by world standards. We can peacefully walk our streets without the fear of bombs or fear of being forced to leave because of our religious beliefs. Our grocery store shelves are stocked with such an abundance that we can hardly decide which item to choose.

For some reason, God placed me here, and how sad it is that there are times that I live out my days in discontentment because I want more. more. more. A bigger house. The latest technological wonder. More stuff. That is not thankfulness...it's greed.

I am thankful for the reality check and I am thankful that God saw fit to place these amazing friends from many cultures and backgrounds in our lives. They give abundantly, though they have less by American standards. They rejoice in the small things and show appreciation for a simple act of kindness. They hunger for truth and the word of God. But, most of all, they are thankful.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she, out of her poverty, put in all

that she had to live on."

Luke 21:1-4

I love this verse, and every time I read it, I am struck by the visual of thankfulness and true worship. I venture to say that the widow Jesus was speaking of was giving all that she had as an outpouring of thankfulness and gratitude for the blessings God had given. It was all that she had, and in her thankfulness and obedience, she recognized that is was God's to begin with.

I have much to learn about true thankfulness.

Meatless Monday...Spaghetti Squash Gratin

2011-11-21T13:05:00.000-08:00

First of all, a little bidness...today is B's birthday! Happy birthday love! I don't write a lot about B because frankly, he's the only normal one in our little family. Ha! He doesn't write on the walls or feed his lunch to the dog. He doesn't unroll the toilet paper from the tube, or flush toys down the toilet. I'm not so sure he signed up for our craziness, but he handles it with style and we love him for it!

He's an amazing husband and father! I never would have imagined that we would go from junior high crushes to married with kids. He is a blessing to our family and I am so grateful to be able to 'do life' with him.

Now, while I am sharing a Meatless Monday meal with you today, I am not forcing B to eat meatless on his birthday! Birthday boy gets to choose his meal, and I have a feeling carne asada may be on the menu.

But, let's talk meatless right now. I am typically not a big fan of squash in general, but I made this spaghetti squash gratin from Naturally Noshing, and I've totally changed my mind. It is so delicious and while eating it I completely forgot I was eating squash and thought I was eating a creamy pasta bake! Yum! When I took the gratin out of the oven, it was so bubbly and golden and smelled amazing! This recipe is definitely a winner. We ate ours as a main dish with a salad, bread, and green beans, but I may just make it to take as a Thanksgiving side! I hope you enjoy it as much as our family did!

Photos from Here

Spaghetti Squash Gratin

1 large Spaghetti Squash, halved, seeds removed

1 bunch of greens (I used kale) stems removed and chopped

1/2 red onion finely chopped

2 garlic cloves minced

1 egg beaten

3 green onions chopped

6 mushrooms chopped (I used baby bella)

1/4 sour cream (I used light)

3/4 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese + 2 tbs for topping

(I used a parm/asiago blend)

salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbs sliced almonds

Roast squash halves cut side down in a pan with about an inch of water at 400 degrees for about 25-30 minutes. Cool slightly then using a spoon scrape out the squash strands and place in a bowl large bowl.
Heat olive oil in a pan (about 2 tbsp) and saute onion until softened. Add the garlic and mushrooms and saute until garlic becomes fragrant. Add kale and saute until wilted.

Add mushroom/kale mixture, green onion, egg, sour cream, cottage cheese and 1/2 cup of parm to the squash and stir until combined. Add salt and pepper to desired taste.
Pour mixture into a greased casserole dish and top with remaining parm and almonds.
Bake at 400 degrees until golden and bubbling about 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Thrifted Thursday, Cashmere-Yes, Crafty-No...

2011-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

For some reason I felt like wearing a dress...which is so rare you may not see it on the blog again...

This dress was an amazing find. It's cashmere, so you can imagine my surprise when I spotted it at the thrift store for like $3! It's in perfect shape and is probably the most comfortable item in my closet. I usually pair it with denim, but today felt like a leggings day, so I went with it. Now, my mama always had a rule when I was growing up that dresses should be no longer than your finger tips...just kidding...they should be longer than your finger tips.

This dress just barely passes mama's test...

scarf: swap party

belt: thrifted

cashmere dress: thrifted

leggings: target $5

boot socks: target

boots: thrifted...sick of seeing them yet?

And now for your crafty delight, I present a bracelet I made myself:

Kidding again. It's just a thrifted skinny belt wrapped around my wrist and buckled to look like a cuff bracelet. I did not inherit my mama's crafty gene. She only passed on her resourceful gene. She also did not pass on her good-decision-making-gene. Honestly, I couldn't decide which accessory to wear with the dress...maybe you can give your opinion! I loved the above ~~belt~~ bracelet, but I wanted to wear this one too...

excuse the dry hands...it's that time of year.

It's from Forever 21 and I really love it...it was cheap too! I really love the chevron pattern, and it was a fun pop of color that tied in with the yellow belt. Decisions. Decisions.

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful Thursday friends!

And if you haven't called your mama yet...do it!

Meatless Monday: Penne With Mushroom Sauce...

2011-11-14T13:37:00.000-08:00

So, it's Monday, and I just got back from taking my kiddos to the doctor's office for their shots. In their book, I'm nowhere near the rankings for 'Awesome Mom Of The Year.' Little do they know that shots totally stink for everyone involved...the screaming kid, the nurse's ears, and the mommy who has to console everyone including her own nerves.

So what does a woman do after all of that drama? Well, quite frankly, I like to sit myself down in front of the computer with a nice big bowl of B's cookie dough and write about food while the kiddos nap....you think I'm kidding?

I'm already feeling much better...

Alright enough of my cookie dough shenanigans...let's talk pasta.

I found this recipe from Sweet Paul, and knew I had to try it. The ingredient list was simple enough: mushrooms, pasta, chicken broth and cream, which was perfect for a quick meal. Now, if my vegetarian sister is reading this she would be all, "Um Nikki...why are you still cooking with chicken broth? Haven't you switched over to vegetable broth yet?" Baby steps...one day I'll switch over to vegetable broth and cream made from plants.

So. Back to the pasta.

Simple ingredients, and really delicious. You won't miss the meat, but if you think you will, toss in a bit of grilled chicken or prosciutto and peas would be delicious too...just don't tell my sister. I made a subtle change by deglazing the pan with white wine, and I loved the flavor it gave the cream sauce.

Photo

Penne Pasta With Mushroom Cream Sauce

1/2 pound baby portabella mushrooms (washed/patted dry and thinly sliced)

1/4 chopped red onion

2 cloves of garlic, minced

4 Tbs White Wine

1/2 Cup of chicken stock

(for sibling rivalry, but vegetable stock is okay too)

1 1/2 Cups Heavy Cream

1 tsp dried dill

Parmesan

Boil penne in salted water until al dente (I used about 3/4lb).

While pasta is cooking, in a large pan saute mushrooms, garlic and onion in 2 Tbs of olive oil. Cook just until onions are softened and mushrooms begin to brown. Add a dash of kosher salt to the mushrooms/onions for flavor.

Add white wine to the pan and cook until wine evaporates a bit.

Add the chicken stock, cream and dill. Cook until sauce begins to thicken slightly.

Drain pasta (do not rinse!) and toss it with the cream sauce.

Serve topped with parmesan.

My family really loved this recipe, even more so the next day! The original recipe calls for spaghetti noodles, but I personally liked how the penne held the sauce.

Happy Monday!

And seriously, no offense to my awesome vegetarian sister Jess...that's her on the left getting her vegetarian groove on.

Thrifted Thursday, The One Where It Snowed...

2011-11-10T02:00:00.000-08:00

I've come to expect that in Iowa, anything can happen. Growing up in Missouri, you could be fairly certain to not expect snow before Thanksgiving. Maybe a bit of frost...but not snow. Not so in Iowa.

Yesterday morning we woke up to this...

Cardigan: Thrifted

Jeans: Forever 21

Boots: Thrifted

I mean, it's November! This is crazy! I know I'm acting all, "What the heck?" But, I actually kind of liked waking up to the snow. And if you listened very closely, you may have heard my children screaming with delight when they woke yesterday morning and discovered the white stuff. The little Mr. was all, "Mama...is it winter now?!" I said flatly, "Nope...still fall." Confusing stuff that weather.

Maggie...this one's for you...boot socks!

Feather Necklace: Forever 21

The snow is actually melting a bit, so it's pretty much back to business as usual. The little Mr. has been packing as many snowballs as he can before it's all melted, despite me telling him that in a month there will be more snow than he can handle. Oh well.

Happy Thursday Friends!

O' Happy Day...

2011-11-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

There have been so many things making me happy lately. For one, my morning chai has gone from this:

To This...

I love it when all of the holiday products start coming back again.

I mix one part warmed milknog (gotta be AE) with one part strong-brewed Tazo chai (sweetened a bit before combining with the nog). Mmmmm...

Another bright spot in my life is my kiddos. They're always a bright spot, but lately they've entered a season of contentment. The Mr. has been so gracious to his sister, and has been consistently compliant (but more importantly, with a joyful heart!). They have been playing happily, sharing with joy, and have been so kind and loving toward one another. That makes me so proud of them.

Yesterday, the little Miss knocked over Mr.'s tower of blocks. At first he got angry, but then I heard his voice soften as he said, "I'm sorry I yelled...I was just having a bad day. But, you can't just come and knock over my tower. We're a team and we built this together, so we can't knock it over. We can make it again, it's going to be okay." Then they hugged and made amends.

I've sort of been waiting and hoping that we'd reach this moment in our family. For so long there was bickering and complaining, but our wee ones seemed to have turned a new leaf. B and I have been praising them and thanking them for working so hard to be content and joyful. Tomorrow they may fight, but we can now point them to this time when they worked together and use it as a reference of how God desires for us to treat one another.

Another bright spot is B. We've been married for over 10 years now, and he still calls me "Beautiful". He opens my car door for me, and shows compassion toward our children. He prays for the kiddos and me every morning on his way to work. I'm so grateful that he makes prayer for his family a priority. I'm grateful for his gift of wisdom and leadership. And I'm so grateful for his humor...he makes me laugh everyday.

He is a wonderful husband and father, and I'm so proud of him.

*Sigh* I love him.

What is making you happy these days?

Psst...for those of you who read my post the other day about my friend Mary's ebook, listen up...now through November 15th, when you use the discount code 'FABPARTY' you will receive a $3.00 discount making the price only $4.99! Head over to Mary's blog www.givinguponperfect.com to get your copy of , Plan A Fabulous Party {Without Losing Your Mind}!

A Friend, An Ebook, And A Shoebox...

2011-11-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! It's a bit dreary and cold in my neck of the woods, but I'm sitting here this afternoon with a hot homemade chai and a copy of my friend Mary's ebook:

Plan a Fabulous Party {Without Losing Your Mind}

I can't tell you how many times I've felt like the picture above when trying to plan the perfect party. A procrastinator by nature, I've had birthday parties that have gone awry and have found myself scurrying around up until mere seconds before the arrival of my guests trying to get everything just so. I wish I would have had this ebook years ago!

Mary offers practical advice, while covering everything from the guests to the venue, food and entertainment and behind the scenes details! After 10 years in public relations and an array of experience in event planning, Mary has compiled a practical guide that will have you hosting a party or event that both you and your guests will enjoy!

I found this book to be a quick and enjoyable read, providing truly usable tips that translate well into any party or event. I can't wait to plan my little Mr.'s 6th birthday utilizing Mary's tips to avoid my last minute hoopla!

Today is a special day! If you order today, Mary is donating all of the proceeds from the sale of her book to Operation Christmas Child! Operation Christmas child is an amazing program through Samaritan's Purse International that sends shoeboxes filled with toiletry items, toys, candy and other goodies to children in underprivileged countries. For many of these children, these shoeboxes are the only Christmas gift they will receive. Not only will they receive a tangible gift, but they will also be presented with the gift of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I hope you will head on over to Mary's blog, Giving Up On Perfect, and purchase your very own copy of

Plan A Fabulous Party {Without Losing Your Mind}

and support Samaritan's Purse: Operation Christmas Child!

Have a blessed day friends!

The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

Meatless Monday: Blueberry Muffins

2011-11-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

Okay...so I'm totally stretching the whole 'Meatless Monday' thing today. The closest thing we made to meatless all weekend was blueberry muffins...so, I'm making an exception today.

I discovered this blueberry muffin recipe right after the little Mr. was born. I spent a lot of time at the library trying to collect reading material for all of those hours I was clocking sitting in a rocker and nursing. I figured that since the meal deliveries would be ending soon, I should probably try and find some easy recipes to get myself back in front of the stove. That's when these blueberry muffins from Heaven beckoned me. Oh my goodness are these good and so worth the effort of dirtying up a few dishes.

B is definitely the health conscious Felix to my 'give me the bacon' Oscar, and tried to make these healthier by cutting out the butter and using applesauce instead. All I am saying is leave the butter in and eat a salad for lunch to balance things out.

And if you need any more proof as to how delicious these are, whenever uncle K.K. comes to visit, I make him these muffins (because he claims they are "rad") then send the leftovers home with him. I'm just trying to secure my status as the best-big-sister-he-never-had.

Okay...enough chatter. Here's the recipe.

Remember: Keep the butter, eat a salad.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

yields 2 dozen

3 C flour (I use white whole wheat)

2 C sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbs. baking powder

1 stick + 2 Tbs. butter softened

3 eggs

1 C. milk

1 C blueberries (if using frozen, thaw and drain first)

Combine:

Flour, sugar, baking powder, salt. Cut in all of the butter until mixture is crumbly and reserve 1 cup of mixture for topping.

To the remaining mixture, add eggs and milk, stirring until just combined. Fold in blueberries. Either spray muffin tin with non-stick spray, or use muffin liners (my preference). Fill cups with batter 3/4 full and top with crumb topping. Bake 15-20 min in 350 degree oven until golden and centers test done.

Thrifted Thursday...

2011-11-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today has been one of those days. Simply put. This morning started with a flooded basement. The washing machine was running, and somehow a stray sock found it's way into the floor drain, which made the water back up when the washing machine was on the spin cycle. There was soapy water everywhere, which made me realize there's a reason I'm supposed to put things back on the shelves instead of laying them on the floor in front of the shelves...lesson learned. There are now several wet boxes.
Lucy has some "splainin' to do" when Ricky gets home tonight.

The grocery store trip with the wee ones was interesting. Can I just say I'm not a huge Wal-Mart fan anyway, coupled with my little one's hiding in every clothing rack we passed, I felt my grumpies creeping in.

Sorry for complaining. This is November and I'm supposed to be thankful. So, I will say I'm thankful for Thrifted Thursday! I'm also thankful for a certain friend who gifts me with her hand-me-downs! Actually, are they really considered hand-me-downs if most of them still have have tags?!

How do ya like the dead garden? It's time for yard work. I'm tempted to not paint the garage just so I can have rustic pictures...yeah...B's not going for that one.

Cardigan: Hand-me-down

Jeans: Old Gap

Scarf: DIY

Shoes: Converse--$7--not thrifted,

but might as well have been for that price!

I know what you're thinking. "Really Nikki? You're posting THIS outfit?" Well, it fell in the 'thrifted' category (sort of) and it was super-comfy which made me less crabby. This cardi is the first color blocked item I own, so for once in my life I'm marginally on trend.

I completely forgot that I owned these jeans, but discovered them at the bottom of my jeans pile while organizing my closet and preparing my donation pile. These babies are NOT getting donated. They are super-comfy. You can't tell from the picture, but they are flared with the perfect amount of fringe on the bottom. I know...no amount of justification will redeem the jeans...

I. Just. Can't. Let. Go!

Oh, and the sunnies are new as of today. $7 Target glasses baby. I gave up on fancy schmancy sunnies until after I'm done raising little ones. I can't say no to my wee ones trying on my glasses and wearing them around the house...so, under $10 it is for this mama.

Happy Thrifted Thursday friends!

Adventures in Food

2011-11-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

Last week was a culinary adventure of sorts for the Jackson '5'. We were recently introduced to a sweet Iraqi family who invited us over for dinner last Tuesday. We were a little nervous that the little Mr. and Miss would say things like, "ewwww!" "What's that?!" or our all time favorite, "I'm not eating that!" But to their credit, they did wonderful and tried everything that was placed before them. And honestly? Everything was delicious!

We learned that Iraqi dishes contain a large variety of rice, vegetables and meats and it is customary to serve Iraqi tea (a strong brewed sweet tea served HOT!) right before the meal.

Our hostess served us Kibbeh, Turshi (pickled vegetables), Tabbouleh, Lahmacun, and Laffa. They serve everything family style and you just sort of grab and pass. Honestly, we were so warmly welcomed, and Iraqi's really take hospitality very seriously. They make sure you are comfortable and well-fed, then send you home with a huge mound of leftovers! We had such a wonderful time with our new friends!

Then on Thursday, we went out for Indian food for the first time:

We feel like we are fairly adventurous as far as food goes, so we couldn't believe that we hadn't tried Indian food yet. This was an equally yummy meal, and once again, the kiddos were troopers and tried everything!

We ordered cheese Pakora, Samosas, Lamb Vindaloo and Chicken Tikki Masala. Really, the flavors don't compare to anything I've ever had and everything was so amazing!

So, I suppose last week was about trying new things and making new friends...and we loved it!

So, question...what is your favorite ethnic food?

Meatless Monday: Zucchini Fritters

2011-10-31T12:56:00.000-07:00

My garden is long gone, but thankfully we have a little bit of Summer's goodness in our freezer. One meal we really enjoy to use up some of our garden veggies is zucchini fritters. And as of a few days ago, we officially used the last of our vegetables from the garden:

On the health scale, zucchini fritters are probably tipping closer to artery clogging than we'd like, but it's so yummy and we love the flavor of the zucchini. Occasionally if I'm running low on zucchini, I'll do half zucchini and half yellow squash and we've noticed no real flavor difference.

I also switch between using flour or panko crumbs as the binder. I think Panko gives the fritters a bit of a crispier texture, but I don't always have it on hand :)

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

Zucchini Fritters with Homemade Marinara

Fritters:

2 Medium zucchini, grated

2 tsp. kosher salt

Directions:

Combine zucchini and salt and let set 5 minutes. Then rinse in cold water and either squeeze dry in a kitchen towel or spin in a salad spinner. It's important to get all of the liquid out or else the fritters will be soggy.

Stir Together:

Zucchini

1/2 cup flour or panko crumbs

1/3 cup grated Parmesan

1 egg

1/4 red onion (or yellow if you prefer)grated

2 tsp chopped fresh basil

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Drop zucchini mixture by a couple of tablespoons, flatten and fry about two minutes per side (or until centers are cooked through and outsides are brown and crispy).

Keep warm in oven until all of the fritters are cooked. Serve with marinara and additional Parmesan.

Marinara:

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 clove of garlic, minced

2 Tbs. olive oil

Directions:

Heat oil in pot, and cook garlic and salt just until fragrant. Add tomatoes and cook uncovered 15-20 minutes, occasionally mashing the tomatoes with a potato masher until the sauce thickens. We like our sauce a little chunky, but if you want a smoother texture, let it cool slightly and then process the sauce in batches in either a food processor or blender.

Axel F...

2011-10-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

The little Mr. has a new favorite song. Axel F...He hums it to himself all. day. long. I really don't mind it, as when I was five, it was my favorite song too. I remember hearing it for the first time when I watched Beverly Hills Cop...yes. At five. It's not my parents fault, I had a cool babysitter who let me stay up late and watch it with her. I may or may not have even developed a slight crush on Eddie Murphy at the time.

Now, I do have a little more discretion and have not allowed my son to watch Beverly Hills Cop. He heard Axel F from Monsters vs. Aliens. I know. Not much better as far as movie choices go for a five-year-old.

I'm all about sharing the love or rather exposing you to the pain of getting a song stuck in your head, so without further ado...Axel F as performed by the little Mr....look out for a key change mid-song and a slightly inappropriate finale.

You're welcome.

Thrifted Thursday...

2011-10-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

Wow...it's been a while since I've done a Thrifted Thursday post. I haven't been thrifting as much, and really haven't found anything worth claiming...until a couple of weeks ago.

B and I were driving through a neighborhood close to downtown when we spotted a mid-century modern dresser sitting along the side of the road with a 'FREE' sign on it. We are suckers for modern furniture, so we did a loop around the neighborhood so we could get a better look. It was actually really cool and had a lot of potential...so, we crammed her into the back of the suv. And I'm not even ashamed about it!

Suffice it to say, she needs a lot of love. But, we looked her over and she's actually in fairly good condition. The drawers glide really well, and everything is sturdy. We love that the drawers are flush, with a slight indentation along the top which means there is no need for hardware or drawer pulls. It's really funny to us that three of the drawer fronts don't match, so we'll definitely be remedying that.

We love the look of tapered or peg legs...but, as you can see, it is missing two legs, so we'll have to replace all four. There is also a long scratch on the top...

The inside of one of the drawers was stamped with a 'Kroehler Furniture' logo. Anyone know anything about Kroehler?

I Googled it, but didn't really find anything that would lead us to believe that this piece of furniture is worth anything.

We are no strangers to restoration, so we have big plans to make her beautiful:

We plan to repair the scratches and lightly sand the outside shell, then we will paint it white.

B will remove all of the drawer fronts and replace them with stained walnut so they all match. We think the walnut will contrast nicely with the white.

Replace all of the legs with either new tapered legs or stainless steel. I'm voting for tapered wood, B wants stainless steel. What do you all think?

Once she is beautified, she will reside in our little one's bedroom, replacing this Ikea Malm dresser:

We are really excited to get started on this project and hope to update you all with the finished project soon!

Do you have anything that was previously a diamond in the rough, but after a little work was turned into an awesome gem?

A Heart For Missions...

2011-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

I beg your forgiveness for a couple of reasons. 1) This is a lengthy post and 2) I'm a terrible blogger. And what I mean by that statement, is I'm not always an open book. I'll share funny stories about my kiddos, share sarcasm regarding myself, or share something I've learned in my quiet time, but I don't really flesh out life's decisions on the blog. I often find myself being vague or cryptic when I share about change etc. I think part of that reason is fear that you will lose faith in me if the decisions I/we are contemplating never come to fruition. But, as we all know...our plans are not God's plans, nor are our ways His...can I get an Amen?

All that to say B and I have had a lot to pray about, mull over, and give to the Lord over this past year. We feel God is asking something big of us...but it's either not time yet, or it may look different down the road. We're not sure.

Last year, when Brent was laid off from his architecture job, our lives were flipped inside out. Not only did we have a lot of time together, but we had a lot of time to think about our lives and how we believed this one circumstance would forever change who we are. To say B had a lot of time on his hands is sort of an understatement. He did a lot of thinking, evaluating his life as an architect and provider, and how God could possibly use this experience to bring HIM glory. B was approached by our Missions Pastor at church who encouraged him to attend Perspectives. Ever heard of it? According to the Perspectives website:

Perspectives is an intensive 15 week course aimed at helping believers from all walks of life see how they can get threaded into God’s story of redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation to Himself. From Genesis to the prophets, Jesus Christ to the early church, and Constantine to today, you will see how God has been moving, how the global Church has responded, and what the greatest needs in world evangelism remain today. It isn’t a class about missions, but a course on how every believer can be intimately woven into the story of God using His people to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth.

Since B was in flux, he decided this class would be really good to attend. If anything, it would help him to better understand missions and help us to be better plugged in at our church (our church has a strong emphasis on missions). When B informed me of his decision to participate in the class, I laughed and said, "I hope you don't think we're going to become missionaries just because you're learning about them." I obviously need to learn to allow my inner monologue to filter my thoughts before I verbalize them.

While they say this class isn't about missions, most people who have completed the class either go to the mission field, equip others to go, or send missionaries through financial support. The speakers are amazing, and by the end, you really get the whole for lack of a better word perspective of how great the need is for many across the world to hear about Jesus. There are over 2500 tribal groups who have never heard the gospel. That is huge! That is approximately 140 million unreached people who still have never heard the name of Jesus, many of whom are located in the 10/40 window.

It's hard for me as an American to grasp that. We live in a country with a church on virtually every corner, the freedom to worship without persecution, and most people (even if they don't believe in Him) have heard the name of Jesus and know what He did on the cross.

After weeks of B attending Perspectives, we both felt God moving in our hearts. We felt that we had a responsibility with the knowledge we received, coupled with how clear scripture is on sharing God's word with all the nations. We felt that we should take the steps to make connections with missions organizations and let God open and close doors as He should see fit. About seven months into B's unemployment, we began applying to a couple of missions organizations, and shortly thereafter B got a job with his current architecture firm. At that point, we didn't feel God saying 'no', but more of a 'wait'. Not because B had a job and now we no longer desired missions, but we wanted to explore what missions would look like for our family. We decided we would continue to be obedient by pursuing missions, but locally for now, until it became clear when/if we were to go. We felt like what better way to start than by living it out now, on our own 'turf' so to speak.

So, what does it mean to pursue missions locally? We recently joined a small group along with other Perspectives alumni and are going through a curriculum called The Global Life which is a year long curriculum designed to help people live out a missions-minded lifestyle. It is a 3-2-1 module...basically, our family spends 3 hours a week in God's word, 2 hours per week with internationals or non-believers, and 1 hour a week as a team (our group actually meets for 2 hours). Our particular group is fairly eclectic: we have a couple who are former missionaries to Malaysia, a single young woman from Indonesia, two single gals in their 30's, a missions pastor, another single woman in her 50's, and our family of four. We include our children as much as we can so they can see us in action and know that they are very much a part of what mommy and daddy are doing.

Each week we meet as a team, study God's word, discuss how we are making connections in our community and explore how missions looks for each of us. It's incredible to be in a room with so many people who are so burdened for others to hear the truth, but more than anything, people who are intentional about building friendships and relationships, caring for others, and allowing God to open up doors in conversations as He sees fit.

Because of this change in our life, and after much prayer, we decided to try homeschooling our children. Our thought was that we wanted to see how homeschooling would look for our family, work out the kinks, and find a routine that suited us best now, while on our home 'turf' rather than wait until if/when we were on the mission field--which could be an added stress while navigating life. Of course there is the very real possibility that we are to remain here...for now at least, it seems clear we are to stay. Either way, we are okay with God's leading. More than anything we desire to be obedient, and live out a life that is missions minded in the here and now. B and I feel convicted that if we can't live it out here in our own community, then we have no business going overseas.

What does that mean for our family? It means that we sacrifice a bigger house with a bedroom for each kid, so we can live near the Bosnian families that flank either side of our home. It means we stay in the neighborhood we've been in these past eight years so we are closer to the refugees a few blocks away, the couple down the street who we have built a friendship with, and the bus route to downtown where the passengers know B by name. It means we live in our urban neighborhood so we can be closer to downtown, where we frequent the coffee shop that attracts a particular group of people who are searching for answers to life in all the wrong places.

For the past several months, missions has been our new normal...

This call is so far out of my league times a thousand. If I do this on my own, I will fail. It defies all of my previous ideas of what missions is or looks like. And to express how inadequate I feel doesn't even scratch the surface . Right now I am holding onto HIM and begging HIM for strength. But I do believe one thing is for sure...God does not call the 'equipped'. He equips the called. And I am clinging to that.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20

Homeschooling On A Shoestring...

2011-10-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

As promised, today I am sharing a bit about what we are using for homeschooling curriculum, and how we've kept the cost to a minimum for our family.

But first, I thought I'd share a few pics from a recent field trip. We've been reading the book, "The Story About Ping," which is a story about a duck who lives with his family on a boat on the Yangtze River in China. To go along with the story, we talked about China and what it's like to live there, identified the Yangtze River on a map, made Chinese flags, and learned about the missionaries from our church who are based in China and talked about ways we could be praying for them.

Des Moines has a really cool pagoda located near the river, so we decided to take the kids so they could see a structure that is similar to many traditional structures in China and other parts of Asia:

After the pagoda, we took the kids to a couple of Asian markets in town so they could see how they are the same or different in comparison to American markets. It was a whole new world. The frozen food section was eye opening with bags of frozen chicken feet and other delicacies. The kids had a blast, and we let them choose a few food items to take home and try. A favorite was Lychee, which is a small fruit that we thought tasted similar to ripe pear.

While strolling the aisles of the market, this product sort of stood out:

Is it a drink or an exercise regimen? The packaging is oddly unclear. Either way this coffee product seems to insinuate that your rear will be toned and perfect after consumption. Sold.

Now that you have indulged me in gratuitous family photos, I will share how we are homeschooling on a shoestring and what we are using.

First, let me state that there are amazing curriculum sets out there that are already pieced together for you (covering all subjects) and laid out in advance so you have very little prep. Unfortunately, the sets are very pricey, and after much research, I decided to piece together my curriculum instead of purchasing a set. If you are interested in a set, ABEKA, My Father's World, and Sonlight are a few of the most popular Biblically based curriculum and each are really wonderful.

We are blessed to live in a school district that makes homeschooling really easy for families and has an abundance of resources. I checked with our district, and we have a program called the Home Instruction Program, which allows families to check-out curriculum for a small fee, and provides a teacher who visits twice a month. Really, this program has been key to saving us money. In addition, the little Mr. attends a block class every Wednesday for two hours, where he is paired with other homeschooled children in a K-2nd class. He loves going every week and is learning some really advanced things (right now they are studying the body systems).

Below I have listed what we are doing for Kindergarten. I indicated curriculum that we have checked-out through our home instruction program with an asterik*, and have provided links to each item so you can look up any that interest you:

Math- *Math-U-See-I can't say enough how impressed I am with this curriculum. The little Mr. loves it, and I love teaching it.
Reading-*Explode The Code I love that this curriculum is fun and stresses not only reading but early reading comprehension. We also checked out a set of scholastic early readers that the little Mr. loves. He's doing so well, that we are almost ready for the next set!
Writing-I chose not to use a handwriting curriculum, and instead have the little Mr. do copy work in his journal each day. We use sentences from his children's Bible or his Awana verses, or sometimes we focus on a particular character trait...like respect (not that it's necessary or anything). Before copying he sight reads each sentence to further emphasize that reading and writing go hand in hand.
Social Studies/History/Geography etc.- Five In A Row I love FIAR...I am a FIAR groupie now. Really this curriculum is sort of a catch all. It can be used to teach anything from social studies to art to math, hence the 'etc.' in the description. Basically FIAR provides a book list to choose from (most if not all can be checked out from your local library) and then provides lesson plans to go along with each story. Each book is read five days in a row, while completing the corresponding lessons. I am only using the list as a spring form, and am creating my own lessons (our 'Ping' lesson and field trip was part of FIAR).
Science-The Usborne First Book of Knowledge this book was given to me by a friend. It's perfect if you have a little one who asks, "Why?" as it covers how things are made and how they function. It's a fun read with bright pictures and my kiddos love it.
Bible-Each week we work on scripture memory through the Awana program at church. We also use the Children's One Year Bible for story time and I typically look online for craft ideas to go along with our story.

Friends, this sort of just scratches the surface. We have more that we use to sort of fill in our day and keep things fresh, and I'll share those tidbits later on. I've had so many friends share links for free printables and so much more, but to list all of that today may leave you feeling as though you're drinking from a fire hose...

I am surprised by how much I enjoy homeschooling my children. I had never thought of myself as a person who would homeschool, but it's been a very good decision for our family thus far. But, we are also realistic and are willing to be flexible should our lives change later on down the road. Tomorrow I hope to share a bit more in depth as to why we came to the conclusion that homeschooling was the right fit for our family.

Happy Tuesday Friends!

Meatless Monday: Burrito Bowl...

2011-10-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

A week ago I was sorting through my pantry, trying to dig up something for our Meatless Monday dinner. Beans? Check. Rice? Check. A fridge full of veggies? Check.

After displaying what I had on the counter, I realized that all of these ingredients might just make a good burrito bowl.

What was born from this combination was a dish reminiscent of a Chipotle burrito bowl...minus the steak (which is usually my meat of choice). It was really great and the whole family enjoyed it!

Burrito Bowl

2 cups brown rice

1 chicken boullion cube

1 Can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 cup cooked corn

2 carrots shredded

1/4 red onion diced very fine

2 Roma tomatoes diced

1/4 cup (or more per taste) Newman's Own Cilantro Lime dressing

Warmed Flour Tortillas

Garnish: cilantro, shredded Monterrey jack cheese, avocado, salsa, chopped spinach (or other leafy green) and sour cream

Directions:

Cook rice according to package directions, adding the boullion cube to the boiling water along with the rice.

Cook the corn and combine with the rice, beans, carrot, onion, and tomato. Drizzle dressing over all, toss lightly and garnish with cilantro. Place warmed tortillas in the bottom of each bowl, top with rice mixture, a bit of cheese and spinach and garnishes of your choice.

Whirlwind Weekend...

2011-10-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend B and I packed up our kiddos, arranged a Stella-sitter and headed down to Missouri (that's MIZZ-OOR-EE...not MIZZ-ER-UH, or MISERY) to visit our families.

First, we headed to my side, who happen to live on a little over 65 acres just north of Kansas City. My parents moved our family to the country after spending most of my years in the city. I guess you could say that I'm a country-girl with city roots. Thankfully I can walk with my feet in both worlds and feel comfortable.

However, it was a shock to my system when I woke early on the first morning at the farm and suddenly remembered that my parent's small town doesn't have a Starbucks...and after a 20 minute drive (and much to my displeasure) neither does the neighboring town. I settled on Folgers.

It was so gorgeous this weekend, so we spent plenty of time outdoors doing farm stuff...like feeding the goats, llamas, chickens and petting a new baby calf. There is a certain attire for doing these chores...black leggings and knee-high boots aren't it. If you can imagine, animals process their food quickly...and well...there's a lot of poop. Improper attire aside, it was so wonderful to be out on the farm again.

The little miss loves animals, so she had a blast being a farm girl for a day. The little miss happens to love rocks as much as she loves animals, but unfortunately she had a hard time discerning the difference between a rock and dried poop. She pocketed a few poop pebbles before I realized her error. *Sigh* City girls.

My youngest sister and adorable nephew joined us later, and we had a bonfire out in the pasture...among the goats. One thing about my family is that we are competitive, and no one chickens out of a dare. Things started innocent...challenging the little Mr. to run to the fence and back. Then from there it was to run and touch a goat. And after that to run and catch a goat. But, then someone threw out, "I'll bet your mom can't run out there and catch a goat...and kiss it." It was on. So, not one to back down...I ran in my knee-high boots and leggings and chased down a goat. Which turned into goat-diving as those suckers are fast and I did a nice face plant before actually nabbing one of the beasts. Thankfully there are no pictures as proof, so did it really happen? If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear the sound, did it make a noise?

After the farm, we headed down to KC to spend time with B's family. We raked some leaves as a family...

Uncle K.K. put down his guitar for a day...

And grabbed a wheelbarrow full of leaves and kids...

Later, Nana J. did a popcorn craft with the kiddos...more popcorn may have ended up in little tums than in the actual craft...

It was a crazy-busy weekend, and two of us Jackson's brought home colds as souvenirs, but we loved seeing the fam, and I'm sure Stella loved having the house to herself other than visits from the neighbors. She almost seemed a little disappointed when we arrived back home, "Seriously? You people came back...and brought the loud-short, humans with you?"

Happy Monday friends!

KA-RA-ZY...

2011-10-19T14:43:00.000-07:00

Okay...not going to lie. Life has been crazy. Really crazy. Crazier than I normally infuse on a daily basis. And honestly? I'm in over my head.

I could list out all of what's been going on, but frankly I don't want to see it in print, and I don't want to be the downer of the day for you either.

Ha! I just read the first two paragraphs and realized I've already pulled you into my pit a little. Let's climb out together shall we?

One area that seems to be plugging along is homeschooling. I really love it and so do the kids. B has been such an encouragement in this area. I have to give him so much credit, because I don't know that I'd have the strength to teach every day if he wasn't all, "Babe, you've got this and I'm so proud of you." Yeah...he's amazing.

After a couple of months now, we've found our groove, and it's been incredible to see the little Mr. grasp new concepts and thriving. He has been a breeze to teach. He loves to learn and is such a trooper when it comes to sticking it out until we're done. And the little Miss is really doing great too. I see how allowing her to be a part of what we're doing is helping her to grasp some of the same concepts, but on her level.

Early on, we got plugged into a home instruction program through our school district. You read that correctly...through our school district! What I love about the program is that it supports homeschooling parents and provides resources and even access to curriculum through a lending system should one choose. Tapping into this resource has saved us so much moolah...but I'll write a post about homeschooling on a shoestring another day.

Twice a month, we have a visiting teacher who comes and does fun science experiments with the kiddos:

And an art project or two:

Mostly, she's there to support us in our endeavor to teach at home. Through the home instruction program the little Mr. also takes part in a block class once a week, where he is placed in a classroom with other homeschooled students (in his case, grades K-2). Right now they are learning about body systems, and I'm so impressed at how much he understands about how the body operates. Future physician maybe? A mama can dream.

I may have mentioned it before, but for us, homeschooling this year was sort of a trial. We weren't absolutely tied to our decision to homeschool, and if it wasn't a good fit for our family, we had no problem admitting so and making a change. But thankfully, it's been really wonderful.

Sure there are days when the kiddos ask, "Do we have to do school?" Or I'm frustrated because there is way too much goofing off. And let's face it, something had to give, and so this blog has been sorely neglected. We're all striking a balance and trying to function in our new normal...which sometimes includes me passing out on the couch after a full day of teaching.

Hopefully, I can pull myself together and get back to posting stories about the craziness that is the Jackson '5'.

I give you permission to hold me to it!

Let Them Come To Me...

2011-10-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

I love...no, I ADORE hearing my kiddos pray. They are two and five, and there are two things that come to mind when they pray, A) they pray for the funniest things, and B) they pray earnestly. I mean like eyes squeezed tight, hands clasped, loud, earnest prayers.

This montage has nothing to do with the topic at hand...these pics just crack me up.

My sweet miss usually prays for the same thing every night. It goes something like this, "Desus, tee-coo for Vee-va's teef, and tee-coo for bubby's teef. Tee-coo for Elmo. Tee-coo for my bed and pee-low, and food. A-meeeeen.

Now, I'm not sure why she prays a prayer of thankfulness for her teeth and her brother's teeth, but the girl is very thankful for them, as she usually shouts that part out.

The little Mr. has gained some sophistication in his five short years, and his prayers go a little like this, "La-wrd, thank you for my house and my bed and food. And La-wrd thank you for Jesus and dying on the cross. La-wrd thank you for my mommy and daddy, And dear La-wrd, thank you for Stella and for all we have. And Heavenly Fodder, I'm sorry for pushing Eva today when she took my Legos. In Jesus name, Amen.

His prayers usually sound a little like a southern minister as he repeats 'Lord' with a slight southern draw. I love it.

B and I often find ourselves bowing our heads low as they pray to cover the smirks on our faces when prayers get particularly specific. But, really, I'm so grateful to hear such honest fervent prayers. They are praying what's on their hearts...they are talking to God, whom they know without a doubt, hears their prayers and cares about what they are laying before Him. They believe their Heavenly Father pays attention to the small details in their lives. Their prayers to Him are so conversational, recounting the details of their day, and the ways they are grateful for how He provides.

It's no wonder why God wants us to have hearts like little children. It's no wonder why He gathers them up to Himself.

In Matthew 19, after a long day of preaching, parents were bringing their children to Jesus, and the disciples began shooing them away saying Jesus didn't have time for these wee ones. But, Jesus heard this commotion and chastised the disciples saying, "let them come to me." Jesus gathered these little ones up and blessed them. And then he said something profound, "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." I'm sure the disciples were stunned to hear that. I mean, these were just kids. But, these little children were flocking to Jesus. They knew who this man was, and they longed to be near Him.

I look at my own children and see how easily they trust God at His word. If I ask them who God is they reply, "He's Jesus! He's big and Mighty." If I ask them what He made, they reply, "Everything!" If I ask them what He can do they say, "Anything!" If I ask them who God loves, they reply with great big smiles, "Me!"

That is faith like a child. Trusting God at His word. Believing He is who He says He is. Believing He can do all things. Knowing He gives us all that we have and giving Him the glory He deserves.

I want faith like that.

Trust Fall...

2011-10-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

My sweet little miss just discovered the dangerous fun that is a 'trust fall'. Any time I park myself on the floor, she immediately runs over to me, stretches her body tall and straight, spreads out her arms and dives forward into my arms, squealing with delight. She never asks me to catch her...she never hesitates...she just falls toward me with a huge grin on her face, trusting that I will catch her in my arms.

Over and over she falls, and over and over I catch her.
This fun little game could go wrong in so many different ways should I choose not to catch her...but she's my child. I love her and I want to protect her, so of course I'm going to pay attention, stretch out my arms and catch her every time she falls toward me.

One day, after about 10 minutes of laughing and catching my little dare-devil, I couldn't help but think about how this little game is so similar to my relationship with God...or rather not-similar. God holds out HIS arms to me, I spread mine wide and begin to fall back into HIM, only to falter ever-so-slightly and then stop. Will HE catch me? Can I trust HIM with the details of my life? I'm afraid to let HIM be in control. Unlike my sweet miss, I don't fall back with abandon. I look at HIM, shake my head with shame and decide to take my life into my own hands.

Even though I am HIS child, and I know HE will never let me fall, I'm afraid to let HIM have it all...I'm afraid of the trust fall.

So often, I want to take the reigns...I want the control. I want to make my plans and I want to check off the tasks from my mental 'to-do' list. I want, I want...

I hesitate to give everything to HIM. I hesitate to release it all to HIM.

As HIS child, do I trust God to catch me in life? Do I trust my life and the direction it is going in HIS capable hands?

I wish I could always answer 'yes' to that question, but I would be kidding myself and you.

Daily I find myself praying with trepidation, "I am yours God...do with me as you will..." While still holding back the parts I want to keep for myself. It's selfish, I know.

But, then I think of Isaiah's vision in Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah is at the throne of God, in the perfect Almighty presence of God, and the Seraphim are so in awe they are covering themselves as they shout God's praises. Isaiah was feeling completely unworthy to be in the presence of the Lord, and could only think of his shortcomings, when all of a sudden the Lord spoke and asked in verse 8, " Whom shall I send, and whom will go for US?" and Isaiah replied, "Here I am, send me!" Isaiah was humbly ready, and had complete trust in the task prepared for him.

The job he was accepting was not a good one. He was to deliver news to an unreceptive people...yet, HE trusted God's good and perfect will. HE trusted this task that was given by God. I am in awe of Isaiah's readiness. His willingness to bring God glory through trust and obedience.

As I am typing this, the old Hymn 'Trust and Obey' came to mind so, I googled the lyrics. I was particularly struck by this verse:

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Chorus:

Trust and obey for there's no other way,

To be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.

It is clear that our Mighty God has capable hands that are strong to carry the burden of every detail in our lives. How great of a disservice it is to not relinquish all to Him. To not let Him have His way in our lives. To say, "Thanks, but no thanks."

To not let our lives bring HIM the glory HE deserves.

The trust fall is sort of cliche`, but I love the point it makes...to place our trust in someone other than ourselves. Relinquishing control.

More importantly, spreading our arms wide, erasing fear and doubt, and giving God every piece of ourselves to do as HE wishes for HIS glory.

We'll Take The Fries--With A Side Of Fries...

2011-10-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Was it a beautiful weekend where you are? It sure was here in the Midwest! So gorgeous!

B's parents came up to spend the weekend and watch the kiddos so B and I could attend a wedding...my, it's nice to have family to watch kiddos! All of our family live out of state, so we totally ~~take advantage~~ are thrilled when they offer to watch our little ones for us. If any of you have family in town who are able to watch your wee ones while you go out...well, then I'm jealous and you're lucky!

We didn't just make B's parents watch the grandkids...we took them to the zoo too...no, not our house...the real zoo.

Anyway, we attended an outdoor wedding at a lovely old mansion here in Des Moines. The wedding was beautiful, and it was so nice to have B all to myself! He's an architect and for the past three months, he's had crazy deadlines and worked long hours (60+) so it was nice to not have to share him. We really needed that time alone to reconnect.

After the wedding, we looked each other up and down and decided to play hookey from the reception, and went on a date to a local french restaurant instead.

We got right in and found a quiet little corner table. Now, I've admitted on this little old blog many times that I am a food snob. I readily admit that I turn up my nose at chain restaurants and prefer locally owned secrets. I know...it's bad. Can we still be friends?

Anyway, I was feeling at home in my snobiness (snobishness?) at this little french place, and got a little too proud of myself as we ordered our appetizers: Poutine (a dish of french fries covered in a red wine reduction gravy with cheese curds), and the Duck frites.

Now, I did not read the full description of the Duck Frites, nor did I ask our server about them. I assumed the dish was sauted duck or strips of sauted duck hence the 'frites'. After our server left, B was like, "What are Duck frites? Are they fries?" and I was all, "Ummm...it's duck, duh." Now with what little french I remember from college, 'pomme frites' are what we know as french fries, so I assumed 'Duck frites' would be duck meat.

When our appetizers arrived, the server set down the Poutine...and then set down a plate with a large mound of french fries. I was like, "Oh...we didn't order fries." and the server was like, "These are the duck frites you ordered." I was all, "Where's the duck?" she was like, "They are french fries fried in duck fat." Oh. As she left she laughed and said, "I just assumed you two really liked fries." Um. Thanks.

So, we laughed at how ridiculious we looked with our large plate of fries...with a side of fries. I certainly wasn't laughing later when my stomach was screaming all night at me. Gravy fries, and fries fried in duck fat are not a good combo. I don't want to see or smell another french fry for a very long time. And honestly...after those choices, I think I've lost my status as a food snob. Just reading those food descriptions after typing them makes me nauseous...gravy fries?

Moral of the story:

A) Read the full description on a menu and ask your server.

B) Don't be a self-proclaimed food snob...

Do Everything...

2011-09-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

On my short car ride into the office this morning, I balanced the steering-wheel with my knee, while taking sips of my hot chai latte, fumbling through the radio stations with my free hand. Dangerous multi-tasking at its finest.

As the numbers on the stations grew higher, nearing the brink of starting at the beginning, I paused on the local contemporary Christian station...a station I rarely listen to. Not because I don't like it, but sometimes its the same songs on a loop. I prepared to pass, but paused when the announcer introduced the next song by Steven Curtis Chapman titled, "Do Everything." I sort of laughed to myself and quietly made a snide remark, "I do everything...I'm a mom!" As I listened to the first verse I realized I was hooked by the words:

You’re picking up toys on the living room floor

for the 15th time today

Matching up socks and sweeping up lost

Cheerios that got away

You put a baby on your hip and color on your lips

and head out the door

And while I may not know you I bet I know you

Wonder sometimes does it matter at all

Well let me remind you it all matters just as long as you

Chorus:

Do everything you do to the glory of the One who made you

Cause He made you to do

Every little thing that you do to bring a smile to His face

And tell the story of grace

With every move that you make

And every little thing you do

I don't know if it was the fact that I didn't fall asleep until after 2am or that B and I had a little ~~argument~~ intense moment of fellowship last night, but my eyes started burning and I couldn't stop the tears from spilling over. The words of the song spoke encouragement into this over-tired mama. I have been stretched in so many directions, and I've wondered about my effectiveness.

But, this morning, alone in my car, listening to a song I had never heard before, I couldn't help but be reminded that I didn't miss a step somewhere along the way. There wasn't a path I was supposed to take that led to bigger and better things. There wasn't an opportunity that I should have taken that would have changed my life forever and allowed me to make my mark on the world.

Being a wife, a mom, a youth leader, and a homeschool teacher was all in HIS plan. The world fools us into believing that if we're not out there making it big or making a name for ourselves, then we are not making an impact. I haven't taken a backseat to life, nor am I sitting on the sidelines.

I am in the trenches. I'm doing the small things...making lunches... listening to imaginative stories...detangling little curls...giving hugs...wiping tears and noses...singing songs...sharing about Jesus and His unending love...and yes...even picking up cheerios off of the floor.

It all matters.

Being there for our friends, husbands, children and family matters.

Doing all that we do with a cheerful heart as unto the Lord matters.

Being grace, mercy, love and compassion matters.

Doing every seemingly little thing because it is what HE created us to do matters.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17

Where's The Beef: Chili Edition...

2011-09-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

So, last Monday I shared with you a Quinoa recipe that our family loves...did you try it? If you did, I'd love to know your thoughts and any changes you made to suit your tastes!

This weekend it was pretty chilly in the mid-west, so it seemed fitting to stick a pot of chili on the stove and let it simmer down. In the past, I've used a pretty standard chili recipe, one that includes ground beef. Well, in keeping with our new family changes, I sought out to find a meatless chili recipe (vegetarian if you will) that would satisfy and not leave us feeling like something *ahem* was missing.

Chili is one of those subjective things...everyone has their own tried and true version, and no two chilis are alike. I found that to be true while searching for the 'perfect' meatless chili. Several came close, but I found that nothing truly seemed to fit the bill. I ended up sort of shooting from the hip and came up with this recipe that we really loved!

I chose not to add a meat substitute, and instead used a combination of beans as the protein. After that, I used traditional chili seasonings, but the two surprise ingredients were bay leaves and shredded carrot. Both seemed to take the chili to the next level flavor-wise. As with any chili, slow simmering seems to be the key to having a super-yummy pot of chili! I cooked mine for about 2 hours on low.

Sorry friends, no pictures of a superb bowl of chili...I took one and then decided that in general chili probably isn't meant to be photographed ha!

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Vegetarian Chili

1/2 cup finely diced red onion

1 small green pepper finely diced

1 garlic clove minced

2 carrots shredded

1 4oz can diced green chilis

2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp corriander

1/4 pkg of chili seasoning

(I used William's no salt added only because I was out of chili powder...

otherwise I would have done about 2-3 tablespoons of chili powder to taste)

1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper if desired

2 14.5oz cans of tomatoes

(I used salt-free petite diced)

1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained and rinsed

1 can blackbeans drained

(I didn't rinse the black beans)

1 can light red kidney beans drained and rinsed

Directions:

In a large stockpot, saute onion and green pepper in a little olive oil until vegetables are softened. Add chopped garlic and cook only until fragrant. Add carrot, green chilis and all of the seasonings and cook for about a minute. Add tomatoes and beans and let simmer on low for about an hour to two hours. If the chili is thicker than you like, you can add a little vegetable broth or water (1/4 cup at a time) until desired consistency is reached. Adjust seasonings, remove bay leaves and serve.

I topped my bowl with a squeeze of lime juice, cheese, sour cream and a few chips.

Next time I might saute a diced jalapeno pepper with the veggies and skip the cayenne pepper.

Hope you enjoy it!

Thrifty Thursday...

2011-09-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a Thrifty Thursday post my friends! And I have to tell you that I've been itching to go thrifting and find good deals! Well, I scratched that itch last Thursday evening with some dear friends, and get this...it was free!

My sweet friends, Nicole and Julia, hosted a clothing and accessory exchange party. Oh my was it a thrifter's Heaven.

The idea was for each lady to bring to the party at least 15 clothing or accessory items from her closet, set them out on display and then everyone could go around and 'shop' from the displays. Isn't that brilliant? There were so many ~~scarves~~ treasures that I was practically giddy:

Seriously...a whole table full of scarves?! Pure Heaven...

**photo courtesy: Nicole Young Urban Wings Artography

What is so outstanding about this idea is that it can translate into so many other areas! What about a children's clothing swap? Or maybe a housewares/home decor party. A children's book and toy swap would be a great way to clear out toys your children have outgrown and replace them with 'new-to-your-family' items. A book swap would be super-fun for avid readers, the list goes on and on.

The beauty of this is that any items that are left over from the party can be donated to your local clothing closet, thrift store, or ministry for those who have been displaced from their homes. I love that you are not only re-purposing items, but also giving to those in need.

As you can tell, I'm still riding off of the high from this party *sigh*
I hope you all will gather your friends, set out some yummy snacks and create an exchange party all your own!

Being Present...

2011-09-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

I've always had this notion that the little Mr. has the soul of an 80-year-old-man. He just gets things about life that I'm certain didn't come from us. He puts up with me as his crazy, unorganized, flighty mama and often times, I think he's wiser than me.

I'm always running around with about five pots on the burner trying to juggle my many hats...and sometimes I'm oblivious to the fact that I'm rushing my time with my wee ones. In the moment I think to myself, "We've got to hurry this up. I still have to clean the house and get things ready for tomorrow." In the evenings I find myself speeding through storytime and our devotional, tucking the kiddos in bed, giving quick kisses and hugs and then turning out the lights. All the while I'm thinking to myself, "I have so much to do...how am I going to get it all done before bed?!" Once they're in bed and asleep, then I'm usually hit with the delayed realization that I didn't spend quality time with them. Instead, I checked them off my mental list. That feels really horrible.

Last night, I started rushing things again. I was speed reading through our story, and began to rush cuddles, when the little Mr. stopped me. He squeezed me really tight and said, "Mommy, how 'bout you rock me before bed tonight? 'Cause someday I'll grow big and say no."

First, there is no way on this earth I am going to refuse a request like that. Second, I realized my little guy is far wiser than me. I know God was tugging his little heart, and using my sweet son to speak words of wisdom into my own heart... "Don't rush time with your children. Show them they matter and give them your attention and physical love. They need to see your love, grace and mercy. Teach them about Me and My ways."

I picked him up, held him and rocked him, cherishing that moment with him in my arms and remembering all the late nights I spent with him as a baby, pleading with God to not let him grow up too fast. All the while I was rocking him, my sweet Miss was chanting, "Me Nest! Me Nest! Me Nest!" while jumping on her bed. I tucked the Mr. in then grabbed her up and rocked her too...it was wonderful to snuggle that sweet girl and feel her tiny arms around my neck as we rocked back and forth. She kept kissing my cheeks and brushing my hair away from my face...just like I do to her.

Sometimes I need my children's wisdom to put me in my proper place...the role of their mommy. Not the housekeeper. Not the youth assistant at church. Not the blogger. Not the homeschool mom busy preparing lesson plans.

I needed that reminder to slow down and not leave my children in the wake of my busy life. I will never forget a quote from the wise mother of a sweet friend of mine, "Don't think of it as 18 years with your children...think of it as 18 summers." Our time with our children is infinitely short, and as I'm sure many of you have heard from seasoned mothers, "goes far too quickly."

I am challenged to play the game I don't think I have time for. Comb Barbie's hair while the dishes are piled high. Laugh and jump on the couch when the rug needs vaccuming. Read 'just one more story' when we've already read 10. Answer the question I explained yesterday with patience today.

I just want to be completely present.

Incorporating Meatless Meals...

2011-09-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

Yikes...it's mid-September and I haven't posted since August? Well, you probably don't want to read my laundry list of excuses, so let's just jump into the post shall we?

When B got laid off last year, I was seeking ways to cut expenses from our budget. I poured over every category, nixing and trimming until finally I reached our food budget. I was racking my brain to think of ways to shave down that number...but it seemed impossible to cut that number down any further since we already used coupons, didn't drink pop or alcohol, and didn't buy much processed food.

After thinking for a bit, the only logical solution seemed to be to cut back on some of the items that seemed to cost the most...meat being one of them.

I confess I wasn't thrilled with this idea. I love chicken, roast, steak and a good juicy hamburger with the trimmings. Did I mention bacon? Oh man...I. Love. Bacon. I really didn't like the idea of swapping my chicken for lentils. I wasn't sure I was ready to go meatless several times a week and use an alternate source of protein.

But, after some research and tapping into some blogs and websites that promote meatless meals, I armed myself with recipes and headed to the grocery store to buy the staples for a meatless pantry:

*Quinoa
(a tad expensive, but goes a LONG way)
*Lentils and Dried Beans
*Beans
(black, red, chickpeas *or garbanzo beans depending on where you're from*)
*Brown Rice
*Whole Wheat Pasta
*Instant Polenta
*Lots of fruits and vegetables
*Nuts and natural nut butters
*Dried fruit (used sparingly)
*Wheat Germ
*Flaxseed
*Couscous
*Quick Cooking Barley
*Rolled Oats

That's not an exhaustive list, but you get the idea. You can imagine my family's surprise when our first meatless meal was served and there was no animal protein. No chicken. No beef. Zero. Zilch. Nada. As a matter of fact, our protein for the evening (14g) was coming from a grain. Quinoa to be exact. And it was delicious! The kids ate all that was on their plates, and B declared it to be wonderful!

We ate meatless several times a week for nine months. Once B got a new job, we found ourselves continuing to eat this way and enjoying it.

After incorporating meatless meals for a while, B and I started noticing some beneficial physical changes...very little bloating, more energy, and better digestion. I have been managing depression since my college days, and I noticed a change in my hormones and mood. It was a refreshing feeling.

We are by no means vegetarians, but we are certainly beginning to understand the health benefits of at least cutting back some, if not all animal protein. Maybe one day we'll say good-bye to animal protein, but for now, we still enjoy eating meat and fish on occasion.

I thought I would share with you the recipe for a yummy quinoa dish that just happened to be our very first meatless meal and see if you enjoy it as much as we did. You can see my version below, tweaked to suit our family's taste, but you can find the original recipe here: 101Cookbooks

Quinoa

2 Cups Cooked Quinoa

(follow the cooking instructions for the original recipe)

1/4 Cup chopped red onion

1 Cup fresh or frozen corn

(if frozen, I cook in the microwave a bit before adding)

1 Cup steamed broccoli florets

1 Cup fresh spinach (I do more like 2 cups)

1/3 Cup pesto

1/4 Cup sundried tomatoes**

Feta cheese

*I skip the tofu called for in the original recipe. You could certainly add chicken if you like,

although it's equally good without it.*

Directions:

In large skillet, saute the red onion in a bit of olive oil until soft. Add corn, quinoa and broccoli, stir until hot and sizzling. Stir in spinach, sundried tomatoes and pesto (add more pesto if needed).

Serve topped with feta cheese alongside a salad, crusty bread and fruit.

**I sometimes use finely diced tomatoes instead of sundried and have liked it just as well. I've also tossed in a handful of slivered almonds for a little crunch.

A Heart Lesson About Weeds...

2011-08-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

Every spring, B and I plant a garden. We love the satisfaction that comes from a little hard work to bring food from our modest back yard to our table. Now, lest I come across as a woman with a green thumb, let me be clear: B is the planter and garden tender. He knows when and where the seeds are to be planted and all the tricks to make them grow. Me? I'm the weeder by default. I like this arrangement. The likelihood of plant survival depends on this arrangement. My duties extend from our garden to our hosta and daylily lined flowerbeds. B helps them grow, and I pull weeds.

The other day, I was walking along our driveway, admiring the line of hostas. They were looking full and beautiful. But, I saw some strange looking un-hosta-like leaves bursting through the full bundles. Upon closer examination, I realized the leaves were attached to a tall, thick, stalk: a weed. There were hundreds of these weeds all lush and green disguising themselves among the hostas.

At first glance, it was hard to tell they were a weed; the leaves were green and almost pretty, but beneath the leaves was an ugly, garish stalk, and at the base a thick root was gripping beneath the dirt with all its might. I promptly walked the line of hostas, grasping each weed at the base and pulling it up root and all.

Now, if you've ever been put to the task of pulling weeds then you know that first of all it's dirty, back-breaking work, and second there's a rule: to get rid of a weed, you have to get to the root. If you just pop off the stalk, then the unseen root will continue to flourish and produce another weed. It may seem to be gone...but underneath the soil, the weed is gaining strength and nourishment to grow again.

As I walked the line of flowerbeds with frustration bred determination, pulling and tossing the weeds in a pile, I began to think about how this scenario applied to my life...because I'm dramatic like that.

How many times do I allow seemingly innocent thoughts grow in my heart? A little jealousy here. A little anger there. A touch of resentment. Just a bit of envy or unforgiveness. A dash of bitterness. It's little lies, posing themselves as truths.

I just ignore them at first...sort of just shake them off. I tell myself they are harmless. Everyone gets those feelings at one time or another. But, before long, just like a weed, they are consuming and rooted deep in my heart. It becomes difficult to distinguish them as something that doesn't belong. Before long, it's out of control, creating a mess, and I'm left feeling unworthy and beaten down. It usually takes God coming along, getting His hands dirty, rooting it up and reminding me through the truths of His word that those things don't belong in my heart. I'm reminded that the longer I allow them residency inwardly, the more they become reflected outwardly.

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

Proverbs 23:7

"As in water, face reflects face, so a mans heart reveals the man."

Proverbs 27:19

As painful as it is to realize what I've stored up, the sense of relief from releasing it is far greater. To allow God's truth to settle, grow and flourish, making me more like Him becomes the catalyst for freeing my heart.

"He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water"

John 7:38

I want to reside in truth. Not just believing in Jesus...but believing Jesus. Taking Him at His word, and allowing that truth to settle over me. No more believing lies about myself, spinning tales about not being effective or worthy, or allowing sin to grip my heart.

My heart will not be fertile ground for weeds.

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,

meditate on those things."

Philippians 4:8

I'll Take Those Culottes, And Could You Throw In a Denim Jumper Too?

2011-08-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to start this post with some catchy intro. I'm just going to throw it out there: We're homeschooling...and yes, I'm crazy. My brain hurts from all of the research on curriculum, I'm tossing around names like Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick, and I'm pretty positive I left all sensibilities behind somewhere. If you find them, I'll give you my mailing address. Thanks.

I can tell you, that I honestly never thought I would choose to homeschool. As a matter of fact, several close friends are homeschooling their children, and when the question was posed if I would be homeschooling, I laughed hysterically and after catching my breath exclaimed, "No way!" Not because I was against it, but because I felt I was not my child's best teacher. "Leave it to the pros," was my motto.

I didn't even make the full commitment until a couple of weeks ago, and it took our local school's principal calling to get my decision for the coming school year for me to be able to say out loud (with a slight hesitating stutter) "Hello Mr. H...I-am-homeschooling."

So, why the heck have I taken the plunge? Well, I can tell you it has nothing to do with my view on public schools (our neighborhood school is awesome), or the fear that another kindergartner will try to sell something illegal to my son. I can also tell you my goal isn't to shield the little Mr. from the world...I mean, come on. I think he has a proven track record of running the world amok with his own two hands. I also in no way feel that our teachers are not either doing their job, or doing it properly. They have a huge responsibility, and I commend them for getting up each day and giving their all.

Our reasons are pretty simple. We want to have the opportunity to prepare our little ones with an education that teaches them to view the world through a Biblical lens. We feel that homeschooling gives our family that opportunity. Plus, I look good in culottes and denim jumpers... kidding...just seeing if you're still reading.

I have found so many resources readily available online (you can homeschool without the purchase of expensive curriculum if you'd like), and the support and encouragement from friends and family has been overwhelming. Honestly, I never thought I would be so excited to teach. I'm compiling our materials and curriculum (I'm piecing ours together rather than going with one company), and have begun to make our 'classroom' feel a bit more 'homey':

Instead of getting online and purchasing curriculum right away, I've taken the last few weeks to evaluate where my kiddos are academically and how they learn best, then work from there. I've found lots of great websites that provide free worksheets and ideas on unit studies, and I've shopped the dollar bins at Target and Dollar Tree for flash cards, workbooks, play money, various charts etc. I've also utilized some really wonderful learning sheets that seasoned friends have put together for their own children. It's amazing how everyone in the homeschooling community freely shares with one another...I have yet to meet a parent who keeps all of their ideas under lock and key, and for that I am grateful!

I'm learning homeschooling doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. More than anything, I've learned, that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to homeschool your children. It looks different for every family, and I love that we can do something fun like using the little Mr.'s cars as math manipulatives, or anything else in our home to get our kiddos excited about learning.

So, in the coming weeks, I hope to blog about our progress and give you a list of links and tips on what we've learned along the way. Homeschooling will not be the main focus of this blog, but since it's a new member of the family, you'll probably hear about it from time to time. What do you think? Is that something you are interested in reading about?

Also, I want to encourage you to share in the comment section what you are learning, tips, or resources that have been a key to success for your family! You don't have to be a homeschooling mom to share...because as parents, we teach our children everyday!

Texting...

2011-08-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

We just got texting capabilities on our phones. I know...it's a shock how long I've survived without it. You may be thinking, "Can you even get a phone plan without texting?" Yes. But Not until you've been asked multiple times by the customer service rep if you are, "Truly sure you do not wish to have texting on your phone plan."

We've had texting for over a week now...and I have only sent one text... I should share that I'm sort of anti-texting...I'm sharing this in my quiet voice...I don't have many pet-peeves...but, texting is one of them. It may have something to do with the fact that my phone is *shock alert* out-dated and I have to punch the keys like five times as it cycles through every letter until I get the one I need. It would be quicker if I just called and asked, "Hi Honey, what time are you coming home?" It takes f-o-r-e-v-e-r to type it out. Probably because I'm a novice...whatever.

I am also not a texting fan because I can't wrap my brain around sending an abbreviated message..it makes this word-lovin' English major short circuit: "Snt u a txt. U get it?" I'll stop there. I'm probably treading on delicate territory.

I'm mostly not a fan because while convenient, it means I don't connect with a 'real' person. I want to hear someone's voice, laugh together, and understand *fully* what they mean. But, in the same vein, I also avoid automated phone options, and always press zero for the operator. See? Need a human being over here people!

So, when I receive a sweet, "Thnkn bout u" Text from my hubby, I call him and thank him, then profess my undying love and devotion. When my mama texts me: "evrythn ok? jst chkn on u n the kids." I call her to let her know I am alive and well. When My friend sends me a text: "Do u wnt to do lunch?" I call to confirm that indeed, I'd love to meet for lunch, how lovely of her to ask.

I suppose I just don't feel like I'm as adaptable as I used to be. I don't seem to latch on to new things as easily as I used to (yes, I'm aware texting has been around for a while). My sweet hubby thinks I'm just stubborn and a non-conformist. Well...I'm not going to address that right now *smile*.

So, I may be slow, but I suppose I'll text...once I figure it out. I'll squint as I look at the keys, mutter under my breath as I type, and declare this, "New fangled thing" to be a frustration while asking, "Why don't people just pick up the phone and call anymore?" Am I the texting Grinch?

Wish me luck as I attempt to keep up with the times. Maybe for my next feat I'll get a Twitter account...

Could You Translate That Please...

2011-08-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

I pride myself in the ability to understand my two-year-old daughter...for the most part. While I can understand most of her requests and ~~volume-defying~~ high-pitched declarations, there is the occasional time that I simply have to throw my hands in the air and ask her to 'mime' for me what she wants. It it weren't for the fact that the little Mr. speaks 'Eva-nese' fluently, our day would look like a never-ending game of charades.

Take yesterday for example, the little miss came up to me and babbled something frantically...and heck-if-I-knew what she wanted. We tried back and forth for about five minutes, and all I could make out was 'Elmo'. I would ask, "Do you want your Elmo?" She would shake her head no. "Do you want your Elmo potty seat?" Again, no. "Do you want your Elmo backpack?" Nope. Finally she threw up her hands and walked away. Suddenly, without breaking concentration from building Lego towers, the little mr. piped up, "She wants to sit on the couch with a blanket and snack and watch Elmo." I looked at the little miss and she screamed, "YES!" Seriously? You got that sentence from "a;lkjnaf;aorebhga;na;eorugb;a;aldnv;r!!!"

Today, she pulled me over to the refrigerator and began pointing and yelling, "Pots! Pots! Pots!" What the heck? There are no pots in the refrigerator. So, I opened the door and of course she continued to point and yell, "Pots!" Eventually, Ethan to the rescue. He calmly walked over in his,

"What-seems-to-be-the-matter-ma'am"

manner and said, "She wants applesauce," then he moved past me, grabbed a yogurt and walked away. She looked at him with a thankful grin and exclaimed, "Yes!"

And I stood there, scratching my head, wondering what I just missed.

Often I hear the two of them playing together, and Eva will say, ";anf;;asdroing;akjertb;airgb." And Ethan will give a little chuckle and say, "I know, I like it too!" Huh?

So, what is it about siblings and their simple ability to discern communication? I mean...it's baffling...and endearing at the same time. Sometimes they fight like crazy, and I'm pulling out my hair, and other times there seems to be an impenetrable bond that adults are not privy to. They understand one another and the plights of childhood that I seem to have forgotten.

Whatever the case may be, it is clear that, unlike the little mr., I have yet to crack the Eva-nese code.

I do hope he continues to provide his translation services free of charge.

The Book...

2011-08-04T02:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I found myself sitting through a children's ministry training at church. I was loaded up on donuts, juice and fruit, and chatting excitedly with friends...basically, I was preparing my body and mind so I could experience what it was like to be a four-year-old for a day. Sort of like method acting.

After a few moments, the children's director stood in front of our group, welcomed us, shared her excitement for the coming year, but before sharing her vision, she said she would be sharing a book with us that made a huge impact on her.

She opened the book, and in perhaps the most pleasant and soothing reading voice, began reading the story.

A story of God's promise. A story of a long awaited Redeemer. A story of fulfilled prophecy and a promise kept. My heart was caught in my chest as I listened to this story, taken straight from God's word. I knew my own children, who have heard so many times of God's promise, needed to hear this story, told so plainly that they could understand and grasp every move God made to redeem His people...to redeem us into friendship with Him.

When she was done reading, you could have heard a pin drop. She then shared the vision and encouragement to every adult in that room to teach these little ones about the redeemer who wove his scarlet thread through each story in order to keep his promises.

Yes, I bought the book, and I read it with the same enthusiasm to my children. Mid-story, the little Mr. tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "Mama? What's a redeemer?" Oh, my sweet one! I truly couldn't hold back my tears. First, because I'm emotional like that. Second, because I was so grateful for the opportunity to tell him. I said, "A redeemer is someone who rescues people and sets them free." He looked at me and smiled his huge grin then said, "Is Jesus the Redeemer?" Praise God HE IS!!!

Not only do we have a God of second chances, but we have a God who keeps his promises. A king and redeemer who rescued us and set us free.

**If you are looking for a children's storybook that concisely tells the story from Genesis to Revelation, while making it clear how Jesus fulfilled all the promises in scripture, then I highly recommend this book as a supplement to devotional times you have with your children.

"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth."

Job 19:25

"They remembered that God was their rock, that God most high was their redeemer."

Psalm 78:35

**I am not being compensated in any manner for the review of this book. I simply love it, and wanted to share it's awesomeness with you!

I Am That Mom...

2011-07-29T02:00:00.000-07:00

As I sit on the couch and type, my daughter has pushed an Eames chair against the window so she can stand and pound on the glass, 'happy-yelling' at the pedestrians walking past our house. I'm not stopping her. This is a sweet moment.

Yesterday, I took a nap. And it was gooood. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, "Please don't tell me she is devoting an entire post to her nap." No. I wouldn't do that to you.

But, I will tell you why that nap was so needed. It has been one of those weeks. You know? It's been a week full of fussing and fighting, and whining and tantruming and stomping and back-talking and door slamming. And while the behavior in our household has been colorful...it hasn't been pretty. If there was a blue light special on time-outs, then the Jackson's stocked up.

This whole week, I've felt like such an ineffective mom, and was at my wits end. So, yesterday, I decided that distraction was in order. What better distraction than a sweet story time including a blanket on the floor and a few chapters of 'Alice in Wonderland.' I sat on the blanket, with a little Jackson on either side of me, and began reading aloud, while inwardly congratulating myself on an effective plan. Somewhere between chasing the rabbit, and Alice's fall down the hole, things fell apart. I was in the crossfires, defending myself from their sudden blows towards another. I'm not quite sure where the breakdown occurred, but, I began yelling:

"Stop.touching.your.brother! Don't.hit.your.sister. You.both.stop.spitting! Get.your feet.out.of.each other's.face! Everyone. is.getting.a.timeout.NOW!'

They both stopped and stared as I teared up and broke down in front of them. Not only did I lose my cool, but there I sat sobbing. I'm pretty sure that in most parenting books I've read, yelling is not advocated. And I'm almost positive that if I pulled my favorite parenting book from the shelf, my week would be the prime example of the parent who had lost all control, and was in desperate need of following the author's program toward family revival.

I am that mom! Ugh!

So, while my kiddos were in bed, sleeping off the events of the day, I flung myself across my bed feeling defeated, beating myself up...and of course I had a good cry. It was ugly and lamentful. After regaining my composure, I spent some time in prayer and read my Bible, then decided to read my all-time favorite blog.

You may have already heard of Angie Smith. Her writing is full of godly wisdom and tenderness, joy and humor. I love it.

After reading a bit, I stumbled across one of her older posts titled, 'Seven Prayers A Day.' In her post, she shared seven verses that coincide with seven daily events to help remind her to pray for her girls. While going about the day, she prays each verse aloud, personalizing it for her children.

It struck me that while I earnestly pray for my children, I don't often pray scripture over them. What better way to pray for them than with the guidance of specific scripture?

I quickly jotted down the seven passages onto note cards and added an eighth verse I stumbled upon that seemed fitting for our circumstances:

"How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers *and sisters* live together in harmony!"
Psalm 133:1

God has a sense of humor.

So, armed with my scripture cards, today is a new day. I look forward to the fresh start (and the forgiveness my children give freely despite my mistakes) and can't wait to begin praying scripture liberally over my children.
I don't want to store up the expectation that my little ones will not make mistakes, but I do want to be armed with the truth of God's word as I parent them today, and be full of grace and mercy toward them just as our Heavenly Father so graciously extends His grace toward me.

Have you had an 'Aha!' moment and discovered something that just works for your family? I would love for you to share!

The Karate Kid...

2011-07-28T02:00:00.000-07:00

Before retiring, my dad was a karate instructor for over 20 years. I remember spending time at the dojo, doing push-ups, kicking at imaginary opponents and punching large bags that swung back and hit you if you didn't move out of the way. Ahhhhh. Good times. I remember being called 'grass-hopper' and referring to my dad as 'sir' and 'Mr. Watson' when other students were around. It was a sign of respect for those who were a higher rank than you.

I also remember when parents flocked to sign up their kids for classes at the height of the 'Karate Kid' trilogy. It was the 80's, and all they wanted to know was how to properly 'wax-on, wax-off' like Daniel-son and balance on a splintery stump to perfect 'the crane.' It was sort of a rude awakening, when they were told that those things didn't really exist in martial arts and that their child's instructor would not be a gray-haired Mr. Miyagi look-a-like. Could a white guy effectively teach martial arts?

And even though I found other interests when I entered junior high, and spent less and less time in my dad's dojo as I got older, karate never fully left me. I still remember all the moves. I can still hear the clanking of the chains supporting the bags as they swung back and forth. And, I still remember how the gi's smelled salty after a good, hard workout.

I remember rising early on Saturday mornings to go to my brother and dad's tournaments. We'd sit all day long until all of the competitions were over and trophy's had been handed out, then we'd go out to dinner to celebrate.

Karate has a special place in my heart. And, while I never wanted to push my children into a certain interest, I knew it would be fun to introduce them to karate when they got older...just to see if they would love it as much as I did.

So, yesterday was the little Mr.'s first Taekwondo class. It was hilarious watching him running around, trying to line up and do all the moves the other kids were doing.

Getting a little help from a friend...

I was, of course, the only mom wildly snapping pictures of the little kid who didn't know what the heck he was doing. I wanted to have pictures ready for when he got older and reached Jean-Claude Van Damme or Stephen Seagal status and was interviewed about his beginnings in martial arts (nah...just kidding...just seeing if you were still reading. I'm just another photo crazy mom).

He ran, and kicked, and air-punched his little heart out...and loved every minute of it. Watching him run around, having a great time was worth it.

After an hour-long workout, he ran over to me and breathlessly asked, "Can we do this again?!" Of course you can sweetie. Anything that burns that extra energy and gains an afternoon nap is okay in my book.

So, we'll be back at it next Wednesday: me, watching and snapping pictures, and the little guy swinging at anything and everything that moves. While swim lessons didn't quite work out, I think he may have found his niche.

Is there an activity you loved when you were a kid? Is it something you'd like to see your own children get involved in?

Learning To Swim...

2011-07-27T02:00:00.000-07:00

This Summer has been full of events. Eva's diagnosis, play dates, parks, swimming, trying to stay cool, deciding to homeschool or send the little Mr. to public school (we have less than five weeks to make that decision). B has been busy with a work deadline, and I've had dog sitting clients just about every week. All wonderful things...but exhausting, leaving little to no time for blogging.

Smack-dab in the middle of all these shenanigans, we had swim lessons at a friend's pool for the little Mr. As I tend to write about this subject every summer, I'll just say: The little guy hates swim lessons...heavy emphasis on the hate.

The mere mention of swim lessons elicits groans from his little self. He'll play in the water, and he'll wade around, but he simply doesn't trust his safety when it comes to actually swimming. A big part of learning to swim seems to be trusting the person teaching you. You have to give up control in order to allow them to manipulate you in the water, as they guide your body and teach you the techniques.

Each lesson, he eased himself in the water with great trepidation, while laying out the game plan before the teacher:

"Okay, today I'll swim a little, but I don't want to get my face or ears wet. Oh, and I don't want to get my nose or head wet. And, can I not swim on my back? It gets my ears wet. And I don't want to go under water...cause I get wet. And, please don't let me go."

Each day, the sweet teacher smiled and quietly assured him that all of those things had to happen in order to learn how to swim. He listened to her encouragement, and then agreed to her rules...only if he didn't have to get his head wet. They reached an agreement just shy of putting it in writing.

I had hopes that he would be a Michael Phelps by the end of lessons (a mother can only dream), but, sadly, we had a long way to go...the whole 'getting wet thing' was sort of an obstacle.

So, like any mother, pushing their child to achieve, I signed him up for additional lessons. Just two. But, you'd think I had signed him up for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a year. He was horrified by the thought of going one more lesson past the week-long commitment.

We showed up for the lesson. Me, smiling, cheerful and optimistic, and the little Mr., grumbling, glaring and pouting. We looked great together.

He once again eased himself in the water, but this time he began shrieking, thrashing and yelling, "I hate this, I hate this, I hate this!" I typed this statement in purple...purple makes it look prettier on the page. It was an ugly sight. I'm sure the neighbors were peering through their blinds towards my friend's house and wondering who was torturing the small child. The teacher looked at me and yelled out, "Got a suit? I need you in the water." Luckily I did. So, I suited up, said a prayer and jumped into the water beside my worked-up child.

Ethan grabbed my neck and begged me to not let him go. He was scared, angry, and didn't trust us. He repeated over and over, "Don't let me go. Don't let me go." I promised I wouldn't let him go, but I told him we would move together in the water. I told him I would be asking him to do some hard things that would require him to let go of me...but, I would not let go of him.

I slowly moved with him in the water, calming him down, speaking quietly while the teacher directed me to begin floating him in front of me. As we suspected, he panicked. He gripped me tightly, and I slowly moved forward with the plan, I removed his hands from my neck, promised to not let go, and held him out in front of me so he could look into my eyes. As the teacher coached me, I in turn coached Ethan as he paddled, kicked and floated in circles.

By the end of the lesson, he was jumping into the pool without me holding his hands. He wasn't swimming on his own, but he began to do the things he feared the most.

Trust. It was all about trust. It's funny, but I learn the most about my relationship with God through my children's life experiences.

Just as Ethan attempted to 'set the rules' of engagement prior to swimming, I often find myself trying to set the rules with God.

"Lord, I'll give you this piece of me, but that's all I have to give."

"Lord, I can't do that because it's asking too much."

"Lord, I've paid my dues with tough circumstances, so I deserve a free pass now."

And while sometimes I too, thrash, shriek and scream, 'don't let me go!" He quietly asks me to trust Him. He speaks ever-so-gently. He reminds me to trust Him as he slowly removes my grip from His neck, holds me out in front of Him and says, "I've got you. I promise I won't let you go."

I slowly release my grip from the earthly things that don't matter, and focus my eyes on Him. I am reminded of all of the reasons I trusted Him as my savior 22 years ago. His grace. His mercy. His faithfulness. His love. His protection. His forgiveness.

None of these things are dependent upon me, my abilities, or what I bring to the table (which is nothing). All are given freely, when I rely fully on Him...fixating my eyes on Him.

"So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:18

Distracted...

2011-07-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

I am an easily distracted person. Ask anyone close to me and they would probably agree. I would compare myself to 'Dug', the quirky, people-pleasing dog from the Disney movie 'UP'. Squirrel!

Photo Courtesy: Disney-Pixar

Like Dug, I flit about getting things done, running here, running there. I start conversations and leave them half-finished. I check things off my list, and overload my mind with thoughts about what's next.

Lately, it's been a bit worse. I've got so many things on my mind from car decisions, to the little miss, to ministry decisions, to stuff I shouldn't be stressed over (but, I am), to things I am doing--but don't have time for.

When I've got too much on my plate, I become distracted and I function horribly. I become forgetful, scattered, and frankly...a little cranky.

Today I overloaded my plate...again...and was running between swim lessons, church, Eva's CBC, and other random errands. But, I decided that I wasn't going to let this day go completely to pot. So, to redeem my 'fun-awesome-mom' status, I told the kiddos I would fill up their pool in the backyard so they could swim after lunch. But, of course I'm super busy making lunches at the same time, so I decided to set the hose in the pool and let er' rip. We all have left the hose unattended here and there right?

About an hour later, the little Mr. walked through the kitchen, looked out the back door and exclaimed, "Oh cool! It's the Amazon River outside!" Thank you Diego.

I looked out, and sure enough, the water was filled to the brim and was now running over the side of the kiddie pool and flowing swiftly down the patio toward the house. The water gushed, carrying pool toys, and balls downstream.

Distraction got me a nice little 2 ft. puddle near the back of the house and a mud pit for play later.

Sorry. I didn't take a picture. I was a little busy using a push broom to push the water away from the house while my kiddos jumped in the puddles. You understand, right?

A little extra water is pretty harmless (except for the whole conservation thing). But, sometimes distraction causes me to miss out on sweet opportunities with my wee ones, or not take advantage of a quiet moment with my hubby. Sometimes distraction means I miss the signs that a dear friend is hurting, or that I breeze past someone while tossing out a brief 'hello' instead of taking the time to truly ask how they are doing.

Sometimes distraction keeps me from spending quality time with my Savior.

I suppose that's why I feel I connect so much with Martha. She loved her savior with all her heart, and wanted so badly to serve Him. Her preparations for Him were well-intended, but she was distracted from spending time with Jesus.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed, only one."

Luke 10:41-42

All it took was a gentle reminder. Jesus wasn't harsh, yet He was still able to open her eyes that the one thing she needed above all, was to spend time with Him. In her distraction, her heart was divided, but Jesus wanted her heart to settle on Him.

Lately, I've been challenged to use my kiddo's nap time as an opportunity to read my Bible, pray for my family and specific needs of others, and reflect on what it means to have an undivided heart. I really love this verse:

Teach me your way, Lord, that I may

rely on your faithfulness;

give me an undivided heart,

that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God,with all my heart,

I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 86:11-12

Like Martha, distraction tends to create division in my own heart. The need to check things off my list means I'm often not spending time where I should be: with the Lord and with my family.

What about you? How do you take captive moments that are precious with your family?

How do you carve out time to spend with God?

Education Gap...

2011-07-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

So, I have a confession. It's sort of a nerd confession. Deep breath. Here goes:

NPR is my homepage.

I know, I know. You can never see me in the same light ever again. It gets worse...I also watch public television...and like it.

It's B's fault really. He's like a brainiac. And when a non-brainiac marries a brainiac, the brainiac wins, because they have brain-power-pull.**

After years of fighting it, I decided that nerd-power is pretty awesome, and I can dig it. So, when I opened my laptop today, logged on the internet and ~~got all giddy~~ began reading NPR, I was intrigued by the title of this article: 'I Was Absent That Day.'

Hmmm...sounds like the story of my life. My interest is piqued.

So the cliff's notes version of the article is how there are topics, situations, events, issues etc. in our life that are sort of common knowledge to everyone in this day and age, but somehow you missed it. You should know it. But, for all extensive purposes you don't. It's like a little education gap. For some reason, you were absent that day. We're not necessarily talking about earth-shattering information here (although it could be), but an example from the article would be not knowing the lyrics of a song.

We've all been there. You're jamming, totally into the song playing on the radio (or your media of choice...I am aware that the i-whatever exists) and you flub the words to the song. Like big time.

I will never forget hanging out with one of my best friends, tooling around town in her car. Windows down. Radio blaring. Wind in our hair. The next song on the radio was Sisqo's popular song. You know...that one. So, I'm singing along at the top of my lungs (cause it's catchy) and at the chorus, I shout out, "Let me sing that soooooooooooong." My friend immediately turned down the volume, looked at me and asked, "What did you just say?" I was acting all cool and was like, "You know, let me sing that song. It's Sisqo." She got super serious and was like, "Nikki. It's 'let me see that --ong!' You know...as in underware?"

I was shocked. She died laughing and I felt this big. Oh well. Your grandmother could have listened to my version. It was G-Rated!

That's just a small situation. I've mispronounced common words in front of groups of people (like carafe...my version had a cute little french flair. They should totally change the pronunciation), flubbed information, or just flat out didn't know something that everyone knows. It just happens, as embarrassing as it may be. You can try to cover it up, but everyone already knows that you just screwed up a little bit. That's when we all throw out the, "Oops. My bad," and give a nervous chuckle while looking around to see if we're off the hook.

For all of the above reasons, I LOVED this article. It validated my education gaps and made me feel like a more complete individual.
I will be forwarding this article to the ~~overly critical~~ well-meaning individuals in my life, who feel the need to correct my mistake at the second of it's utterance. (Not really...but, I should)

And, thank you NPR. Kudos to you for delivering information to the masses and filling in the gaps.

**I should make a disclaimer...this statement (frankly the entire post) is my attempt at being cheeky and funny about A)The fact that my hubby has won me over to NPR and B) That as a super smarty-pants guy it was inevitable that he would convince me that NPR is pretty great. And C) I'm just making fun of myself and my gaps. I'm sarcastic and this is just a rather silly post.

A Juiced Two-Year-Old...

2011-06-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a little over two weeks since the little Miss was diagnosed with ITP, placed on steroids to bring up her platelets, and sent home from the hospital for us to ~~freak out over~~ monitor closely.

Since then, things have been a bit interesting in the Jackson casa. First of all, have you ever lived with someone who has a large dose of steroids coursing through their veins? No? Well, let me enlighten you.

First, the little Miss has a mean case of 'roid-rage' every afternoon around 4 pm. During this time, for roughly 10 minutes she repeatedly screams: "NOWAYNOWAYNOWAYNOWAY!"

It's really precious.

As suddenly as it begins, it ends just as abruptly when she picks herself up from the floor, hugs me and says, "sorry mommy."

Yeah, it's freaky.

There's another little side effect from the roids...the munchies. Our day looks a lot like a page from the Eric Carle book, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar.'

Have you read the story? Basically a teeny, tiny, little caterpillar pretty much eats his way through the entire food pyramid in a week:

Like the caterpillar, the little Miss is a bottomless pit. Unlike the caterpillar, she is not building a chrysalis, but rather juicing. I think I even heard her exclaim, "Feed me Seymour!" during a particularly hungry day. I don't believe Eric Carle would appreciate me paralleling steroid usage against the story line of his children's book.

With all of the negative side-effects, the positives far outweigh the negatives. As of last week, the little Miss's platelet levels were a whopping 253,000, placing her in the 'normal' range! She's responding much more quickly than the doctors anticipated and we are rejoicing! We are slowly weening her from the steroids, and waiting on today's CBC results. If her numbers continue to be high, then the doctor will continue to lower her dosage. We hope she is able to be steroid-free in the next week or so, while continuing to monitor her platelet levels weekly.

We are so thrilled that her health continues to increase, and are so thankful for all of your prayers! Keep them coming, they are working!

Stumble. Fall. Flub. Fail. But Get Back Up...

2011-06-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

"This is really, really..." At that moment I stopped listening to my professor and began hearing in my head, "Wonderful! Brilliant! I love your perspective of Hamlet as he wades between the recurring theme of damnation and redemption. Well done! Do you mind if I keep this in my file to show future students?"

But, as he cleared his throat, I came back to the present moment and heard, "...really, really bad. Perhaps the worst paper I've read all day." He removed his glasses and began rubbing his eyes in frustration. I sat there and started to chuckle, thinking he was kidding...but the look on his face and the slight pulsing from the vein in his balding forehead said otherwise.

My smile faded as my ego deflated like the air leaking from an oversized balloon. I nervously picked at the fibers of the worn blue office chair I was sitting in. I was only days away from graduation, and my professor was telling me how my dissertation totally stunk to high heaven. I just spent four years in the English department with high-hopes of becoming a technical writer, moonlighting on the side as a novelist. At this rate, I wasn't going to be shopping a book anytime soon. I was told I couldn't cut it. It was my style, my topic, everything.

He gave me a passing grade, and I graduated, but my self-esteem took a major hit. He was right. Looking back, that dissertation didn't necessarily fit the mold of what was coming out of the English department. Some students seemed to write at a level on par with brainiacs I couldn't even touch.

After graduation, I worked a few years as a mediocre grant writer and did a few brochures and newsletters for a company in KC, but my heart just wasn't in it. I lost my passion. I packed away my journals along with my goals. I completely lost my confidence and began taking different career paths. It was a little late to be rediscovering myself, but there was no way I was going to write again, let alone allow others to read my writing.

A couple of years ago, my husband asked me, "What's your passion? What do you really love to do?" I couldn't answer him. It used to be writing. But I didn't feel that was an option for me any longer. He encouraged me to begin journaling again, just as a way to feel more connected to God during my quiet time. I dug out my dusty journals from a box in the basement, and slowly eeked out a couple of paragraphs here and there. After a while, it seemed like everything was coming back to me. The words began to pour out of me and onto the pages of the tattered journal. It felt comfortable. Familiar. Fun.

I wasn't writing earth shattering literature...I was keeping it simple and writing about life. What I knew. Then, I did something that was a huge stretch for me. I started to blog. I knew no one outside of family and a few friends would read it, so it was just a little spot out on the Internet to make my journal come alive, and document all the craziness of being a parent. It was fun and freeing, and a place to capture all of my swirling thoughts.

Selfishly, I suppose I blog for myself. It's a place for me to practice being open and writing what's on my heart and mind. I don't have a 'blog theme'. I'm not a crafter, or a photographer (as you can obviously see by my subpar camera skills), or a fashionista or foodie blogger (though I do eat food). It's my journal that I hesitantly open, and then turn my head and hide my eyes so I won't see anyone reading it. Some posts may be good, and others are just horrible and I think to myself, "I can't believe I posted that!"  And, try as I may, sometimes my grammar and punctuation is atrocious (like my overuse of ellipses...). But, I've made a promise to myself, that the goal is to 'just post.' To keep writing, and writing, and writing, because I love it.

If 32-year-old Nikki could go back and pep-talk 22-year-old Nikki, I would ask, "Why are you so quick to throw in the towel? Why does one critique negate all your writing efforts?" I would venture to ask, "What are your dreams? Goals? What is that little thing you love to do, but you keep burying it, because you don't think you're good enough, talented enough, or smart enough? Get out of your comfort zone and do it...pass or fail."

Now, this is not where I step up to the microphone, give it a good tap and declare that I am biting the bullet, 'going pro', and releasing a book. Not even close. Sharing this story is simply a reminder to myself (and maybe you) that God has given each of us something that He wants us to use to give Him glory. In doing what we love, we may stumble, fall, flub, or even fail. It's not about me, or whether I receive accolades, or pats on the back, but rather, using the talents and gifts to point back to Him and give Him the glory.

Why do we do the things we do? Because it's our passion? Because it's who we are? Because it's what we love? My challenge to myself (and you if you'll let me) is to not scrap something you love (or avoid what God is calling you to be obedient in doing) because you think you will not succeed.  Or for fear of not cutting it. It's less about your success and more about bringing glory to Him.

2011-06-20T14:10:00.000-07:00

On the heels of Father's Day, what else could I post but a little recap. I promise there's something for you in this if you stick with me friends.

We started the morning with homemade blueberry muffins. I'm not one to toot my own horn, but this recipe is pretty yummy, and has even received approval from B's little brother Caleb (better known as Uncle K.K. in this house).

This is K.K...

Anyway, being the good sister-in-law that I am, I always make sure I whip up a batch of these muffins for K.K. when he comes to visit. He once asked me for the recipe. I gave it to him, and after making them he declared that, "His didn't taste the same as mine." I reminded him that they just lacked my love.

After muffins we Jackson's took a paddle boat around Gray's Lake. If you're a Des Moines friend and haven't done this yet...do! It's only $5, and totally entertaining. A bit hot and sweaty but still fun! AND...every month during the full-moon, you can take a moonlit boat ride. Sounds like a winner to me!

Later that evening, we went to our favorite 'kids-eat-free' spot, the Gateway market! I'm still daydreaming about my blackened salmon sandwich.

Okay, so before I move on to my next topic, I'll share the muffin recipe. Make this and you won't be sorry!

Blueberry Muffins

(yields 24 muffins)

3 C Flour (I use white whole wheat, but regular is fine)

2 C sugar

1 stick + 2 Tbs softened butter

1 Tbs. Baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 C. Milk

1 1/2 C fresh or frozen blueberries

(if using frozen, thaw and rinse)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with paper liners.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder. Blend in butter until crumbly. Reserve one cup of flour mixture and set aside (for topping).

To the remaining flour mixture, add eggs and milk, stirring until just combined. Fold in blueberries. Divide batter among the muffin cups, top with crumb topping and bake 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done, and topping is golden brown.

In other Jackson news, we received a very sad phone call yesterday afternoon. B's grandma died. We are so sad, but so grateful for the time we had with her, and I feel blessed to have known her these last 10 years. She was really special. So special that she was the mother of 15 children (B and I will not be trying to break that record anytime soon) and grandma to hundreds of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She celebrated 102 years in March...and as many family pointed out, it was 102 years filled with joy and love. To have lived such a long life was truly a gift from the Lord.

Four Generations

It may sound silly, but one of the things I will always remember her for are the pumpkin rolls she would bring to Thanksgiving dinner, and the handmade doilies she gave as wedding gifts to each of her grandchildren. Both a tradition.

She has left behind an extremely rich legacy, and we hope to continue passing down a love for the Lord and family to our children.