Do Everything...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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?

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!