Family

Reflection is always a part of the holiday season for me. Especially since it brings to close the end of another year which causes me to ask the question...Did I live this year with purpose? Well, there are those days when I question if my toils are producing any fruit, but when it comes down to it, I know that I'm living for a greater purpose and I'm blessed to get to be a part of shaping three tiny lives as they grow and develop into maturity. Here are just a few examples of the growth I've gotten to observe lately. My two year old was in his first Christmas program last week. He was jumping up and down with his tambourine on the top riser and although it was a little frightful...it was a delight watching him sing his heart out. He sings daily at the top of his lungs! My 4 year old daughter asked me the other day about her brother's toothpaste as we were getting ready to brush teeth, "Mom, how come that toothpaste doesn't have fluoride in it?" Me-"so the little kids don't swallow it"..."but Mom" she responds, "We drink water...and it has fluoride in it." That is true. Good observation! I don't usually have to try too hard to find teachable moments with this observant little girl! Then there is my three month old...I thought my other two were happy babies but this girl will not let me have a "bad" day. All I have to do is look at her and she is grinning from ear to ear...what a joy! Consequently, we almost gave her the middle name Joy but used a family name instead! Then there is my DH...We will celebrate seven years of marriage on monday. There have been trials and joys in our marriage these past seven years but I must say, "I wanna marry you all over again, I wanna meet you and I wanna be friends, I wanna chase you all the way to South Dakota". I have a great respect for my husband and I'm very blessed to be his wife. I hope you all cherish the moments and especially the people in your lives this Christmas Season!

a heart of a mother

So I have tears rolling down my cheeks right now. I feel relieved but anxious all at the same time. I put my two kiddos in my mom's car and waved good-bye. It's always nice to have some time by myself but there is always something about letting them go that I find difficult. I try not to show them...if my daughter saw me crying she would join right in and then my son would need to hug and kiss it all away for me until I was "all better". I want them to love going to grandma's house and feel free to be independent from mom once in awhile. I really adore those two. It is such a balance to love and not smother. Tomorrow morning I go in at 5:30 AM to birth via c-section another daughter. More to love. I am so blessed and thankful. I can't imagine giving my time and energy to anything else. It is so fulfilling to watch them grow and mature. I can't wait to see Miya and Isaac's faces tomorrow when they come to meet their new sister. I still have Miya's reaction to Isaac etched forever in my mind, oh so precious. Now I go to find a middle name. Nothing like last minute. We've had her first name for awhile now but just haven't seemed to be able to land the perfect combo. I have some options. I'm determined to decide before I go to bed tonight. Maybe the quiet will help me think it through.

Are you filled up?

I read an illustration the other day in a book called "Tender Mercy for a Mother's Soul". The author, Angela Thomas, describes holding a glass under running water. The water fills the glass completely and keeps running over. We are the glass. Jesus is the water. When he is filling us, the glass is completely full of only him. Not him plus whatever your job, kids, or spouse fills. Just Jesus and nothing else. When we are filled and spilling over, Jesus is spilling over everywhere. Jesus is spilling out of you onto everyone you encounter. Your kids, your spouse, your roommates, your co-workers, your neighbors are all being sprinkled with Jesus.

So I ask you...are you filled up? Are you letting Jesus fill you? Are you seeking him daily? Are you abiding in him? Are you relying on him and not your own strength? Do you believe he can fill you completely? Do others feel his presence when they are around you? Is your first response to others an overflow of Jesus?

Summer Reading

Summer is a great time to grab a book and read. The days are longer...some of your favorite shows like LOST and Grey's Anatomy won't be back for awhile...

Here are some of my suggestions:

Fiction:
The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers. Be ready to read all three in a row because you won't be able to put them down.
The Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis. (The Prince Caspian movie just came out...try reading the book first if you haven't already gone...the books are always better)

Finance:
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. Great motivation and a practical plan for getting out of debt, completely. A fresh perspective on credit and borrowing money.

Children's Books:
Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman (cute story about helping others)
My First Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder (teaches kids what it was like before all our modern conveniences)
How are you Peeling? Foods with Moods by Freymann and Elffers (feelings displayed through vegetables...make some inspiring veggie art after reading this one with your kiddos)
Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert (goes well with planting your garden or flower beds)

Mothering: The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson (a wonderful perspective on following Jesus model of discipleship and applying it to our calling of motherhood)

Spirituality:
The Holiness of God by RC Sproul (Increase your view of God and his holiness)
The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (challenge your view of what being a disciple of Christ requires)

Take some time to read...and please post any suggestions you may have of worthy reading!

Conveniences

The family went to my grandparents last weekend for a "farm visit". They raise pigs, chickens, sheep, and crops. My kids love it and are really smelly by the time we go back home. While we were there we had many talks with my grandparents. In one conversation, my Grandma made a comment about conveniences. She said, "we sure are attached to our conveniences." I was surprised that it came from her. I've always admired my grandmother as someone who was very content with very little. She doesn't have a dishwasher or a computer. She can afford new clothes but still wears the same ones she's worn for as long as I can remember. My cousin and I were discussing awhile back how nice it is to come to their house because nothing changes in a world full of constant change. I can sit in the same rocking chair that Grandma rocked me in when I was born 30 years ago. So it caught me a bit off guard coming from her, but got me thinking about conveniences. What are the conveniences that you just "can't live without"? The first thought that came to my mind was my cell phone. Not necessary, but very convenient. I've been on a quest the last year to simplify life. Conveniences are nice...in fact some are blessings...but are any burdens? Do they clutter your life? They sometimes make it possible for us to move faster and get more done, but then do we miss out on enjoying life and can those "conveniences" actually take away from our quality of life? Food for thought.

What celebrity do you look like?

I found this on a blog I was reading and did it for fun...I'm the one on the far left :) I don't even know who some of those celebrities are...

Peanut Butter Cookie Candy Bars

My hubby was reading the Lincoln Journal Star the other day and just happened to see a picture of some bars, he wouldn't pass by anything with the words "peanut butter" involved. I don't bake too many sweets but I figured he was due for a treat. Beware, they are sweet sweet sweet but oh so gooey good!

Peanut Butter Cookie Candy Bars by Amy Wood

Cookie dough crust:
1 pouch (1 pound, 1.5 ounces) Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie mix
1 TBS water
3 TBS vegetable oil
1 egg
Nougat layer:
1 1/2 TVS water
1/3 cup light corn syrup
3 TBS butter
1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3 TBS peanut butter
bash salt
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Caramel Layer:
1 bag (14 ounces)caramels, unwrapped
2 TBS water
1 1/2 cups dry-roasted unsalted peanuts
Topping:
1 bag (11.5 ounces) milk chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom of 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray. Make cookie dough as directed on pouch . Press dough into pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool to touch.
In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 TBS water, corn syrup, butter, vanilla, peanut butter and salt with mixer on medium speed until creamy.
Slowly add powdered sugar. When nougat is the consistency of dough, press evenly over cookie crust. Set pan in refrigerator.
Melt caramels in small sauce pan with 2 TBS water over low heat. Once melted, stir in peanuts. Pour the mixture evenly over the nougat layer. Cool in the refrigerator about 15 minutes.
When the caramel mixture is firm, melt mild chocolate chips in microwave on medium high for 1 minute. Stir Microwave for 20 more seconds until melted and smooth. Pour evenly over caramel layer. Cool completely until chocolate is set (bars can be refrigerated to speed up the cooling process). Cut into bars. Store covered at room temperature.


Enjoy & share some with a friend!