Trainers...NOT Babysitters

Okay tired and exhausted Mommas, this is for you today! Here is yet another gentle reminder of why we have the loftiest of jobs. Even though about right now it may NOT feel like it, it IS a priviledge to be able to care for our little ones and train them. We are not babysitters. {No, your job does not end at 5:00!} What we are is trainers...for the long haul. When we are wondering if it is worth it, the answer is "YES, ABSOLUTELY!" When your child is throwing a tantrum, having a tough time in school, maybe dealing with hormones and arguing with you...it is worth it! We are meant to be brought to the ends of ourselves so we can cry out to Him. That is exactly where grace is. We just have to ask. {We certainly don't have a problem asking our children to brush their teeth and our hubbys to pick up a gallon of milk and Advil!}

As our family said goodbye today to a very dear child who is leaving to serve our Country, I could not hold back the tears. As I hugged him one last time before he left, I almost felt like I couldn't let go. I want to protect him and take care of him. Over the past year, our family has listened to this young man's dreams, fears, hopes, and most of all his love for God and the desire he has to do his part in fighting for the freedom he believes in.

As we prayed together last night he requested he be able to stay strong in his faith, and that God would keep him close!

A child does not just "turn out" like this. I am telling you! This child has had amazing parents that have instilled in him what it is to be more concerned about others than himself. They have prayed for him. It has taken more discipline and tears than you can even imagine. Rest assured...we are all benefitting from children like this who have put their dreams and hopes on the line to give us the freedoms we enjoy every morning when we wake up in our cozy homes... YES, even Monday's laundry, dishes from the weekend, cranky kids from camping trips and late-night summer festivities!

I am tired too, but again, I find myself even more ready to face parenting challenges...with a little more patience and with a little more compassion. I know that I wont always be able to tuck my children in and give them kisses at night...but tonight I do. I can write them notes and teach them the importance of loving others unconditionally by modeling it for them. I can have have my bedroom filled with smoke from the fire pit as my son and his friends make S'MORES. I can hold my daughter and wipe her wet, blackened cheeks from mascara and tears. While I have time with my children, I WILL dote on them. I WILL refer to myself as "mommy" and their dad WILL be referred to as "daddy". We WILL ALWAYS say "I LOVE YOU" before bed, first thing in the morning and before ending any conversation on the phone...and lots and lots of times during the day...just because! We will pray whenever, for whoever, and for whatever, because one day it may be our child going out to combat who is going to need to fully trust and depend on their God when we are NOT there. I want them to fully know the power of our God and the comfort only He can bring in dire situations. They need to know He can be trusted with the smallest of concerns {sick pets} to friends with cancer. He will be all they have at some point in their lives and what better time to teach them when they are young.

The soldier at the end {in the last frame} risked his life for someone he did not even know. The man he carried to safety wasn't a friend or a fellow soldier. I want to raise good, strong children who have been loved enough and taken care of enough to where their tanks are so filled to the tippy-top to where it can not help but overflow into the lives of those their lives will one day touch.

David Scott...we love you and are praying for you.

Share

Communication Station {a reminder for moms!}

This is a far cry from notes left on beds, kitchen counters, doors etc...but it works like a charm. A while back, I was going through all of my old paints and had some chalkboard paint I was dying to use. SO, the next time I went thrifting, I found the perfect-sized picture. Spayed it, painted the frame{sorta!} and hung it in the bathroom above the TOILET! YEP! That is where our teenagers spend quite a bit of time, so there is no missing a note from family...or friends! The kitchen is a close second, but why not have a bit of fun in the bathroom?!

It has become quite the conversation piece...besides, you never get bored with it because it is constantly changing!

As a mom, nothing puts a smile on my face like reading notes from my family. It reminds me of the priviledge I have as a mom. The responsibility I have before Christ to our children into HIS image. I never want to loose joy in the journey...especially on those days that are tough. You know exactly what I am talking about. :)

How do you communicate with your family? Where do you leave notes? Texting does NOT count!:) What spurs you on in parenting?

Happy, Happy Friday!

Share

Peanut Noodle Salad

Here is a very healthy, easy-to-fix, noodle salad that is great for picnics. It can be made ahead of time {up to two days!} which I love! I never mix in the peanut sauce, but serve it on the side. Especially since there are quite a few people with peanut alleries. It also allows everybody to have it the way they like it! And if you happen to have leftovers, you wont end up with a heap of soggy noodles.

This makes a lot...a large Tupperware Thatsa Bowl...to be exact. So, wheather you are planning an evening picnic out,enjoying a dinner in your backyard or on your front porch, you will want to share! Another practical way to practice hospitality!

Picnic Menu:

Homemade Ginger ALE
Peanut Noodle Salad
Molasses Cookies {recipe coming soon}



Peanut Noodle Salad
Adapted from the Pioneer Woman


SALAD INGREDIENTS:
1 lb. package American Beauty Thin Spaghetti Noodles, cooked, rinsed, and cooled

Add to noodles:

1/3 of a head of purple cabbage, sliced and chopped

1 red bell pepper, sliced and chopped

1 small bag bean sprouts

1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced

3 carrots, peeled and shredded

1 bunch cilantro…or less…soaked, rinsed, chopped, and toweled off
May be made the night before and stored in large Tupperware Thatsa Bowl
Serve condiments on the side: dressing, soy sauce, Sriracha


Peanut Dressing:

Juice of 1 lime

¼ cup hot water

½ cup crunchy peanut butter

3 tablespoons sesame oil

6 tablespoons soy sauce

1/3 cup Agave Syrup {Trader Joes or Costco}

3 tablespoons fresh ginger, sliced for measuring purposes

4 garlic cloves

1 jalapeno

Blend all ingredients together in blender until smooth. Pour into canning jar or in
to recycled glass container. Will keep up to one week in fridge.

This salad can easily be changed. If there is something you don't like, simply leave it out and add something you and your family LOVE. If it is convenient, you can serve the pasta from a bowl and have everybody add their own veggies. A salad/pasta bar! I am sure you all have lots of ideas.



*For those of you who really really REALLY need meat...serve with BBQ Chicken or with
Toasted Sesame Beef Kabobs!

*If it is a bit cooler out, we make up hot rice and skip the noodles...serve veggies over rice and top with sauce. It is fun to serve them in individual Chinese take out boxes while enjoying the great outdoors. {This is our homemade version of the Native Bowl Food Cart...not exactly the same, but close.}



Happy Picnicking!

P.S. To answer a couple e-mails {you are all quite the detailed little readers!Would never have thought to include the info!} The towel was a gift from my friend Tamie...from Anthropologie!

Share

Homemade Ginger Ale...and a bit of this and that

Okay, ladies...and maybe a few gentlemen...this blog is NOT all about food. REALLY. It just so happens that the few regular posts I have been working on are taking me forever. I can NOT seem to get it all on paper or in draft form without getting weapy. Life is changing so fast {I know. I know. Welcome to the real world!} and there are sooo many things I want to share with you that testify to an ALMIGHTY GOD. My heart is bursting to the brim with such gratitude that I just need to figure out how to put it into words. Imagine that! I do know this, as I have been writing, I have been reminded that even in the wost of circumstances, our Lord's hand WILL MOST DEFINITELY hold us securely. What a relief to know that all we have to do is trust Him and let Him worry about it.

I have been camped out in Romans lately and it has been so convicting. I think I need to read Romans 12 every day for the rest of my life, because, for some reason, I am not GETTING.IT. Like not just reading about it, but actually BEING sincere, hating evil, clinging to what is good...etc. Really does no good to not act on it.

Here is a small portion for you to read:

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
Hebrews 12:9-14

What do you think? Plenty of homework, huh?
*************************************************************************************
Back to Ginger Ale.

The ginger root is very healthy for you and is used to help treat nausea. It is also very inexpensive!

You could make the syrup, put it in a bag along with cups, straws, mineral water, a few baby limes, a sleeve of saltines and maybe a magazine...a thoughtful "get well soon" gift.

OOOOR, you could make up a batch, have a friend over for a ginger ale instead of sweet tea ...and practice hospitality!

Happy Wednesday!



Homemade Ginger Ale

While most Ginger Ale brands are made with high fructose corn syrup, this one is not. It is super easy to make and is so refreshing and nice to keep on hand for things that ale ya!



Ginger Syrup:

2 cups organic sugar
2 cups filtered water
1 cup ginger, washed, peeled and sliced, don't be a perfectionist. :)
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, bring sugar, water and ginger to a gentle boil. Simmer for about 10 minutes.
Let cool.
Let sit in fridge overnight.
Strain and pour into glass container.
Keeps in a glass container for about 1 week.
Reserve sugared ginger for smoothies, stir fry, peanut sauce etc.



For Drink:

Ice
About ¼ cup ginger syrup to taste
Sparkling Lime Mineral Water {{Trader Joes}}}
Lime wedge
A straw…very important…fun and works great to stir in the syrup!

Just put ice in cup and pour Sparkling Water to about ¾ of the way up. Top off with ginger syrup and don’t forget your little slice of lime! AND your straw!

Share

{Easy as Pie} Mini Mud Pie

AHHH! It is summer and today is going to be HOT! Very HOT! Wanna make mud pie? Here is my version. If you are a mud pie expert, please don't even look at how it was thrown together. All I know is I made a {as in ONE. ONLY one} mud pie many moons ago and well, that is why I haven't made one for so long. ANYBODY who has the patience to make all the layers and WAIT is truly a saint.

Here is a quick version...comparatively speaking. If you don't want to bother, you will just have to go stand in line at Red Robin...with everybody else...AND you will have to share...or not???

Ingredients:

Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream, softened
Breyers Chocolate Ice Cream, softened
Oreos or Trader Joe's Joe's Oh's :), chopped...not too fine, just random
Mrs Richardson's Butterscotch Caramel Topping, heated a bit
Trader Joe's Organic Midnight Moo Chocolate Syrup
Whipping Cream
Cherries for the tippy top! DO NOT FORGET!!!!! Very Very Very IMPORTANT!

1. Line bottom of tart mold, jar, Demarle tray...whatever size or shape you want..with chopped cookies.
2. Spread a bit of vanilla ice cream on top of the cookie layer.
3. Drizzle with toppings.  BE GENEROUS!
4. Freeze for 10 minutes.
5. Spread with chocolate ice cream...I filled mine to the rim of my mold
6. Freeze until ready to serve. Be sure to cover with saran wrap so that your yummy dessert does not taste        like the freezer.
7. Take out of freezer {I just popped mine out of the DEMARLE molds} and top with whipped cream and...my favorite...THE CHERRY!

BECAUSE IT IS A CHERRY ON TOP KINDA DAY! Happy TUESDAY! xoxo

Share

{Childhood} Memories in a Box

As I was looking through Laurissa's memory box, now that she is getting ready for college...it was a bit sad. Hard to believe everything from her baby shower to her graduation is in one box. It will be complete at the end of this summer. WOW! I am glad I took the time to save the things I did and even the things she wanted to keep that at the time I thought were really NOT necessary. Those little scribbles and "important" papers have become just as precious to me.
It is no secret that I have no patience for scrapbooking. I wish I had beautiful books gracing my shelves of well-documented pages and labeled photographs of my children growing up, but I don't.

Baby shower cards were wrapped in recycled gift ribbon, and put into an envelope.

My children each have a memory box that is basically a rubbermaid portable file box. Pretty sure it is not of archival quality either. :)
At the beginning of every school year I put a new marked manilla folder with their name and grade and keep it with my everyday files. During the year I file everything that is special to them: pictures, sports awards, birthday cards tied together, movie stubs, tickets to special events, notes, drawings, report cards, notes from teachers, yearbooks and summer memorabilia. At the end of the summer it gets filed into their memory box. It keeps their rooms cleared from clutter, doesn't get lost, and is a fun activity to pull out once in awhile.

I know it isn't fancy schmazy, but it is a fast, easy way to stay organized and "scrapbook" your child's memories without being too time consuming.

When we were putting Laurissa's senior memory board together, it was easy to go to the box and get what was needed for a detailed project. I would suggest always marking the year and grade on the back of filed papers etc, so it is eay to put back if it is used for something...

So glad I have one box filled with memories for each of the children. It is nice and compact, so that when they leave home, it will not take up too much space.

I have given two of these away as baby shower gifts and they were so appreciated. I know. Not very fun, but for a mom who hates organizing things, it is a welcomed gift. :) I pre-labeled all of the manilla folders and made a label for the front. They turned out adorable! For you crafty people out there, I am sure you could really have fun embellishing this idea!

How do you organize your children's papers?

*This post is shared with: women living well

Share

Southern Sip & See Baby Shower

This was so much fun! These days entertaining is at the tippy top of my list. The more, the better. THIS means alot of the time-consuming, perfectionistic, over-the-top details are not happening.

It is really difficult for me to be okay with it, but the more time we can spend with family and friends...because I am not worrying about the details...is so worth it.

This last week, my dear friend Tamie and I threw a simple Southern Sip & See for her new, most-adorable grand baby girl! {They call her Honey Gram...isn't that the cutest?}

Sip & See's are common in the South. They are much more casual and a bit more like an Open House where guests can come and go. We did it on Wednesday evening at 6:00. So that allowed people who were working late or hubby's getting home to watch the kiddies a bit more flexibility in coming when it was convenient for them to show up.

A light dinner was served and we all enjoyed passing babycakes around and visiting!

No party favors, no food labels, no last minute stress. We shared in food preparations and the decorations were re-cycled from past parties. Simple.Simple.Simple. Sip & Sees are the way to go.

How do you keep celebrations simple? Any ideas? OR How could you simplify if they are too complicated?

Menu:
Sweet Tea
Key Lime Punch
Artisan Bread from a local bakery
Asian Pasta Salad...made ahead of time
French Macaroons from Elephants Deli
Biscuits and Berries with Whipped Cream aka Strawberry Shortcake...made ahead of time

Share