Laundry Room

I looooove my laundry room! Laundry has always been my waterloo, and although a great deal of my trouble has been poor execution, some of it has just been inconvenient arrangements. I prayed for an adequate laundry room and this one definitely fit the bill!

We got this vintage dresser secondhand for a little bit of nothing. It's just right for the spot, and now I have a place to fold laundry AND storage for old towels and other supplies.

I've heard for years that you should fold the laundry as soon as it comes out of the dryer, but it just didn't seem feasible to me. I guess it is more feasible to search for socks and wrinkled shirts out of the mountain on the couch. Anyway, since we've been in this house I've followed that advice religiously. If I can't fold it immediately, it stays in the dryer. What a difference!

These little baskets are the other thing that made a great difference in my laundry success. An older lady at church passed on the tip. Each child has a basket above the dryer, and when I sort the clean clothes, they go directly into each child's basket. When the baskets are full, they go to their bedrooms to be put away. This is a great time saver.

I got the baskets at a garage sale, by the way. Love them!

Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli.

Office Work Day 2: Check!

And finished a couple hours earlier than yesterday, I might add. Yay!

Laundry Room: Check!

The laundry room is clean and organized--as much as it will ever be. There's a place for everything laundry-related. Everything is in its place. It's now a tidy and highly functional space! The only thing I'd like to do is rearrange the chest freezer. I may let Billy help me with that job, though, since it's full of boxes of grass-fed beef.

Pictures of the real thing to come.

Office Work Day 1: Check!

I almost thought of a good excuse to procrastinate, but once I got started it wasn't as bad as I thought. And I'm done for the day! Woohoo!

Resolved

Yesterday I organized all my craft supplies in an attempt to clear out the hall and hall closets. (If you want to see a picture, check out my craft blog.) I have been so proud of myself for not buying much "stash" and using what I have in my hand. Well, turns out I had no idea just how much I have in my hand. My supplies were absolutely disorganized and I kept finding items I didn't remember or thought were lost or used up. I thought I was nearly out of paints, glues and tapes, thread, and ribbon, yet when it was all together I discovered that I had a full basket of each. Shameful. But now there is a place for everything crafty, and everything is in its place, so if it becomes a mess it's nothing more than sheer laziness on my part.

I have two goals for the next 10 days. One is to complete an office job each day that I have put off/not been able to do for a long time. Catch up my office work piece by piece. This will be the more challenging, because I truly despise it--but if I hadn't let it go I wouldn't be facing such a daunting task either.

The other is to completely organize and clean one room each day until the job is done. Then to maintain those rooms while tackling the others. Ten days give me plenty of time, even if I have an unproductive day or two.

There. I said it, so y'all hold me to it! Someone was asking for pictures of my new house, so as I get my rooms organized I'll have to show a bit of what I've accomplished!

Stuff

We've been in the house a month and I still have a lot to unpack. Of what is unpacked, I need to dismantle, re-sort, and organize a large portion that we shoved on shelves and in closets for "the time being." How I've come to dislike those words! I can't really clean the house because very few items have a permanent place. It's all still in some state of chaos. How do you clean chaos?

I know we have far too much stuff, and we have said several times recently that we are going to slash our number of possessions dramatically. That's easier said than done though. The bottom line is that it takes an enormous amount of time and energy to manage excess stuff, time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. If I had half the stuff I had I would have had the house put together long ago.

I think about people like Sara and Debra who have both drastically downsized recently, Sara to a motor home and Debra to a one bedroom apartment. Granted, Sara only has one small child and Debra's an empty nester, so I clearly require a bit more than they. Nevertheless, their stories of freedom from excess possessions are compelling.

These thoughts led me to do a little exercise with myself, partly for fun, partly to try to get my view of what I own in perspective. I imagined what it would be like if I were forced to live with one tenth my current possessions, divided into rough categories of the most space and time-consuming stuff. It was enlightening. I had to think: What's important to me and why? What do I really need? What would I want most? Most of all, it made me realize afresh what a materialistic society we are, and how frightfully spoiled I am. Even this list encompasses far more than most people in the world own, which makes me feel ashamed.

Although it will probably bore you to tears, here are a few of my notes. Below I'm listing the things I'd keep if I could only keep (roughly) 10% of what I own in each category. Don't be alarmed, I'm not really going to reduce my possessions by 90%. This is a game. And obviously this isn't really factoring in anyone's wishes but my own. But it helped me get a clearer view of what I hang onto and why.

Books

Bible
Kids' most basic curricula
A general gardening book
A household how-to book
A cookbook (probably something all-purpose like Betty Crocker)
2 or 3 good health books (general, pregnancy, and natural)
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
Edgar A. Guest collected works
James Whitcomb Riley's complete verse
One Man's Meat by E. B. White
Any Elizabeth Goudge novels I have

And a few kid books:

Little House on the Prairie series
Happy Little Family series
Little Britches series
Picture books by Tasha Tudor
Picture books by Beatrix Potter
A few little boy picture books

Movies

Visual Bible-Matthew
Star Wars (For Billy, 'cause I could care less)
Ben Hur
Horatio Hornblower series
Princess Bride
My Big Fat Greek Wedding

And for the kids...I guess I'd have to say a few of their Nest Bible movies

Furniture

Beds
Dining room table/chairs
B's antique pieces-desk, pie safe, and chest of drawers
Obviously a couple basic pieces of living room furniture
A book case

Kitchen

Basic stuff necessary to cook and eat, like stainless pots and utensils, basic plates and cutlery...This list got long and boring, but I was embarrassed to realize that in spite of its length I still probably only listed 10% of what I actually have.

Kitchen Gadgets

Come on, they deserve their own category, right?!

Wheat grinder
Bread machine
Toaster oven

China Cabinet

Tea pots
Grandma's tea cups

Crafts

As much as I love papercraft, I have to say that you won't be creating any heirlooms or anything of lasting value with paper. So...

Sewing machine
Some fabric
Needles, thimble, thread, scissors--hand sewing/embroidery supplies

Toys

A doll or two for each girl
A truck and teddy bear for Silas
1 set blocks
A ball
Bicycles

Clothes

Most of us don't have excess clothes

We do, however, have a lot of hand-me-downs. I'd have to keep only the highest quality/my very favorites.

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So what about you? Are you happy with the amount of stuff you have? Is it too much? What would you get rid of if you had to? What would you keep?

Still Under the Weather

Sometime in the middle of last night, trying for hours to quell Elizabeth's cough, I decided I'd better take the kids to the doctor today. E's bronchial passages are severely constricted and irritated, Silas has an ear infection, and Sarah is actually pretty chipper. I have laryngitis, so between me not being able to talk and Silas not being able to hear, we are quite a sight! Elizabeth has been our translator--listening to me whisper and then repeating it loudly enough that Silas can hear! Anyway, we came home with a boatload of medicine. Hopefully tonight will be more restful and we'll all soon be on the mend. I have lots of blogging ideas, I just haven't felt up to organizing my thoughts. See you soon!

P.S. Just in case you were wondering, the thing that finally got E to stop coughing long enough to go to sleep was hot peppermint tea with a big spoonful of honey. All the medicine I tried didn't work as well as that!

I find that we seem to come down with this stuff after a high-sugar holiday. Last time we were this sick was right after Halloween. Hmmmm, interesting.

Sick Day

The kids have all had runny noses and stuffy heads for the past few days, and last night it deteriorated into chills (for some), sore throats, and coughs. Elizabeth has been up coughing since 3:30, so I kept them all home from church. I am tired too. E visited my room every 30 minutes to tell me she STILL couldn't go to sleep. Finally I put her to bed with a book. She read for hours I think, before she watched the sun come up. Right now they are all still in their pj's, wrapped in quilts, watching our favorite Jesus movies, The Visual Bible. (A side not--I highly recommend these. We call them the "happy Jesus" movies. I'm not a fan of most Jesus movies because He always looks like He's been sucking lemons. This is a great Jesus! And word for word from the Biblical text as well.) I am moving in slow motion, but I think this morning will hold a few loads of laundry and some craft organization. After Billy gets home and we eat lunch it is going to be nap time!

Pretty Cups

I wanted to show you these three sweet cups for Show and Tell Friday (although I'm joining very late this week). I got the Beatrix Potter mugs for the girls for Christmas. They are bone china, and I found them at Tuesday Morning for a third their original price. Very sweet!

I've had the bunny cup for years. When I was a teenager I used to babysit for our pastor and his wife (Dr. Collin, who later introduced Billy and me). Their kids gave me the cup for my birthday one year. I treasure it! Their oldest, who was in first grade then, is now a senior in high school, and their "little" boys are way over six feet tall. Where does time go? Now I have a 7-year-old of my own.

Show and Tell Fridays hosted by Kelli.

I Love My Husband

Pretty Paper Cone

Today Elizabeth and I practiced making paper cones to hold party favors for her upcoming birthday tea. To see the rest of our attempts, check out my craft blog.

Just for Fun

Recent international hits on this blog:

Singapore
India
France
Turkey
Canada
United Kingdom

Actually I usually have more international hits than this. It's always fun to see where my readers are coming from!

Eight Random Things...

About me. Lots of people in blog land have done this little meme. It feels kinda narcissistic, but it was fun too. Now you know how strange I really am!

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1. I don’t like to watch TV in the dark.

2. I know how to milk cows and goats, spin yarn on a spinning wheel, quilt, bake bread from scratch (without a machine), sew and knit at an beginning level, and grow a garden.

3. I don’t like plastic. I think it’s a necessary evil.

4. Messiness drives me stark raving mad. When my house or van are messy, I often feel on the verge of a freak-out. Most people (even my husband) would never guess this because I try not to freak out, and my house and van are usually messy.

5. I was home schooled K-12.

6. I like things to be exact. For example, when I set the digital timer for 60 minutes, if it runs over to 61 minutes I have to bring it back down to 60. It drives me nuts to see the little red squiggly line when spell check doesn’t recognize a word like “homeschool,” so I change it to “home school” just so I won’t have to look at the line. I don’t like to view my blog while I’m logged into Blogger because the tool icons look cluttery. I feel intensely unsettled when rugs or picture frames are crooked.

7. I didn’t wear makeup till I was 25, even on my wedding day. Now I wear it every single day, and I never, ever leave the house without it.

8. I would love a huge family. Like 8 kids.

Now it's your turn! What are 8 random things about you?

Tea Towels

Today for Show and Tell Friday, I thought I'd show you a Christmas gift from my parents. When I opened the package, I found this clever fabric envelope.

And inside, these sweet tea towels. Aren't they beautiful? Almost too pretty to use. I don't know where my mom found them, but they are perfect. And a lot nicer than the ratty old tea towels I've been using!

Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli.

Happy!

Today I spent several hours organizing my closet, bedroom, and bathroom. Not cleaning, just organizing. Woohoo! It is so wonderful to have a place for everything and everything in its place. My goal for this evening is to finish doing the same thing in the kids' rooms. It is impossible for them to keep them tidy when they don't know where anything goes, and when their rooms are so overcrowded with stuff that they feel overwhelmed. I am trying my best as I unpack to deal with things as I run across them rather than waiting to deal with them later. That way I will not run across boxes labeled "misc." 5 years from now and finally find that long-lost whatever. :)

Happy New Year!

There's lots of buzz in the blogosphere about resolutions and goals. The idea of New Year's Goals brings fond memories for me. When I was growing up, we always spent New Year's Eve at home. We had a snacky supper of cheese ball, chips and dip, and other junky foods and drinks that we didn't get at any other time of year. Then we each shared a list of goals for the coming year. These were not high-pressure goals, just things we would like to accomplish in the next 12 months. Later, we added a list of desires as well...things we'd like to see happen in the next year. Then my dad collected the lists and kept them till the next New Year's Eve. We'd read them and see how close we came to reaching our goals. What fun!

I still make a personal list of goals around New Year's. In past years these goals have been more low-key and just a guideline or idea of things I'd like to accomplish. This year is a little different. There are some things on my list of goals that simply must happen this year, no doubt about it. My goals for this year are more serious. I haven't even started on my list of desires yet. I plan to, but the past weeks have been so crazy I'm a little behind. That's OK. I'm not going to stress about it. Right now my desire is just to get my home fully unpacked and organized so I can focus on other things.

What about you? Do you make a list of goals or desires for the coming year?

Blog Roll

If you read here regularly you might have noticed that I updated my blog roll. My blog roll is a funny thing, very diverse. Just because someone is on my blog roll isn't necessarily and endorsement. The blogs on my roll are there because I enjoy them. Hope you find some blogs there to enjoy as well!

A Christmas Trend

I've noticed a relatively new trend, especially among young families, that seems to have picked up steam this year. I've talked to many moms, especially those with young children, who opted for a very simple, low-key Christmas celebration that gave them time to enjoy their families and spend time on what's truly important.

I know many people who have come to dread the holidays because of all the chaos, spending, busy-ness, and stress it brings. I've heard some of them say, "I just can't wait for Christmas to be over." This relaxed approach seems to be an answer to that kind of Christmas pressure...The pendulum seems to be swinging the other way. I love Christmas as much as anyone, but it seems the younger generation is seeing that when expectations and traditions stop being fun and become burdensome, it's time to try something new.

What about you? Have you noticed this trend?

Christmas Celebration

Growing up, Christmas was a huge deal at our house. We started celebrating at Thanksgiving and didn’t stop till after the New Year.

But when I say Christmas was a huge deal, I’m not talking about gifts. My parents handled gift-giving so wisely, no matter how much or how little we had on any given year. They got us each just three gifts, both on years when my dad was in corporate upper management, and years when we could barely make ends meet. (Grandparents usually gave us one gift each.) One of those gifts was always a book. We were never encouraged to ask for what we wanted, but rather to be happy with whatever we got, knowing it was chosen with a great deal of thoughtfulness and love.

Christmas remembrances are among my sweetest. My parents taught me that Christmas is about more than how much there is under the tree. We focused on the birth of Christ, of course. And we just made memories.

This week I told my kids a story about one Christmas that could have been less joyful than others. I was a teenager. We had just come through a very devastating situation, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and we had a lot of healing to do. My parents bought a small farm in East Texas, with a tiny old house that needed extensive renovation. We had money set aside to fix our new place, but my dad was unable to find work. So in the meantime, we put most of our belongings in storage and rented another tiny old house two miles up the road.

It was a little yellow place, pier and beam. We could see daylight between the floorboards and dirt sifted up through the cracks. The tiny living room had a crooked wallpaper border, and the dining room was covered in a jarring coca-cola pattern, red, black, and white. The boys had to pass through the girls’ room to get to theirs, which was essentially a big closet. That was an exceptionally cold winter, and the house had no insulation. There were a couple of broken windows. We woke up many mornings to icicles hanging on the inside of the window sills. The only heat was provided by a couple of antique porcelain space heaters that would burn you or melt your clothes if you stood too close. The septic system was a mess, and we had to take drastic measures not to overload it. Among other precautions, several of us usually had to share bath water (there was no shower in the only bathroom) to keep the whole thing from backing up into the house.

We thought for sure we’d be out by Christmas and things would be better, but December rolled around and Daddy still hadn’t been able to find work, in spite of his best efforts. (On one hand, he was free to work on the new house when he wasn’t job hunting, but on the other I know this was a really difficult time for him because he has always been such a conscientious, hard-working provider.) The remodel was taking longer than anticipated, as so often happens. We realized that we’d still be in the little yellow house for the holiday.

Looking back, our spirits should have been dampened, but they weren’t. I have to applaud my parents for never allowing self-pity or discouragement to take over and ruin that time. (This applied to other times as well, probably why I have no patience with negativity and complaining.) I’m sure they were stressed and worried, but that didn’t affect the atmosphere at home. After all, we had enough to eat and wear and we were together. It wasn’t perfect, but we could make the best of it. We were thankful for what we did have.

Some of my best Christmas memories are of that Christmas…Singing carols with friends in the small, cold living room, making cookies, my sister and dad working puzzles in the coca-cola dining room. I have no idea what I got that year, although I’m sure it was no more than three gifts. Gifts didn’t matter though. Love made it a great Christmas.

Billy and I don’t have a set number of gifts we give our children, although it’s not extravagant. But quite honestly, regardless of what each Christmas is like, my prayer is that we instill in our kids a spirit of thankfulness and contentment that rises above stuff and draws their focus to what’s really important: love, family, and Christ. With a foundation on immaterial things, I know that no matter whether times are lean or plentiful, they’ll be able to have joy in the midst of it. Their hearts will be focused on what truly matters.

Paul Potts

“Mama, can we listen to some opera?”

That is the last thing I ever expected to hear from my 6-year-old while she was doing her school work. Of course, the last thing I ever expected my husband to buy was an opera CD, and opera was the last thing I expected to play over and over as I prepared Christmas Eve supper. We are pretty ordinary people, not really opera fans. I mean, my kids will sing the first line of “The Barber of Seville” over and over again till I think I’ll lose my mind, but they learned that from Alfalfa on Little Rascals. I enjoy classical music like Mozart, but I don’t listen with any real understanding, I just try to appreciate the sound. My kids enjoy it too. Billy doesn’t so much. None of us have ever liked opera.

Paul Potts changed that. I might be the only person on the internet who hadn’t heard of this unassuming Welsh cell phone salesman, the latest winner of Britain’s Got Talent. The YouTube clip of his first performance on the show made me cry. I think the reason I’ve never liked opera before is that the few opera singers I’ve heard came off as soulless performers. Paul Potts sings with a childlike wonder that lets you know he is in love with what he’s doing. He’s a common, ordinary guy singing opera, and singing it beautifully. Our opera-free home has now been introduced to these lovely classical pieces, because when Paul Potts sings, the music comes to life.

He’s already sold 2 million copies of his debut album. If you aren’t one of the 2 million who have discovered Paul Potts, I encourage you to get a copy. I bet you’ll enjoy it, even if you think you don’t like opera.

Christmas Joy

In spite of a really crazy month, we managed to squeeze in a few fun Christmas activities.

Elizabeth's one request was that we make cut-out cookies.

The kids had such fun icing them. I iced a few myself to make sure we had some that were certified slobber-free. Come on, we are all moms here, you know how it goes!!!

The aftermath!

Yum...

Did You Have a Merry Christmas?

We did! This is the first year in quite some time that we have not been near enough to spend Christmas with family. While we would have loved to spend Christmas Day with our parents, we made the best of having a "just us" Christmas. Actually, after moving and a week of travel, it was wonderful to just have a quiet day where we didn't have to do anything. The kids were able to take their time opening gifts and then playing with them. I made a couple pies and Billy cooked some really yummy spaghetti and meat balls in lieu of a big, labor intensive feast. Quite honestly, I wouldn't mind if that became a yearly tradition. All I had to do were the dishes! We napped and watched new movies and watched the kids play outside. I did not do a stitch of laundry! It was just the refreshment I needed after a very intense month.

But Christmas is not over, you know. The 12 days of Christmas last until Epiphany, January 6th. So look for more Christmas posts this week! And me tree is staying up until the New Year!

I'm Back!

Finally got everything up and running last night, so I'll be back to blogging. Yay! I hope all 3 of you faithful readers aren't sick of Christmas, because I've had so many Christmas posts trapped in my head all month that haven't been able to get out! They will last at least a week! :)

Still Alive!

Hey everybody, I'm still here. Thanks for all the sweet comments. We're slowly settling in, but I still only have internet access for a short time in the evening when the laptop comes home. Hopefully everything will be in working order sometime after Christmas. Till then, I guess this blog will have to be on hiatus.

Merry Christmas!!!

In Between

I dislike this time of being in between houses, belonging neither to one nor the other. Nerves wear thin about now, when the exchange is almost, but not quite, complete. I've done better this time than last time (just 8 months ago), perhaps because I've always known this place was temporary, perhaps because I've stayed better fortified with the Word, adequate breaks, and decent food. (I lost 10 pounds during our last move and got down to pre-baby sized jeans. I wanted to make absolutely sure that didn't happen this time. Just kidding! I'm pregnant, so it doesn't matter...)

I will miss this charming old house. Our new home is nondescript 1970's style, not my favorite architectural era, but I can look at it as a clean slate just waiting for the addition of our own personality. While we are excited and pleased to be in a place of our own, it is not really what we envisioned. I'm not a fan of neighborhood life. Yet it is so clearly the place God picked out for us. Billy and I were talking the other night about how God often gives us what we need, not exactly what we want. Just following where He leads brings such freedom, because we are not constantly holding out for our own way. I believe with all my heart, like the Bible says, that God chooses the places where we live and I know that He puts us there for a purpose greater than our own. I am excited to see what He has in store for the ministry of our new home.

Here are a few things I really love and appreciate about our new place:

A big laundry room. I prayed for this. It will be a delight to work in!

A small screened in porch. I believe I prayed for this too! I can't wait to find a swing and spend time watching the kids play in the yard or just enjoying the quiet.

A large fenced yard. The kids have a place to run and play for the first time since we've lived here.

A great kitchen with new appliances. I've never had a new refrigerator, and I'm so excited. None of the current appliances worked, so we had to include new ones in our plans. They will be fun to use, I know.

A dining room big enough for our large dining room set. Our big table seats up to 10, so we will be able to have guests easily.

I also really love the layout of our new house, with a fairly open floor plan between kitchen, dining room, and living room. It will easily accommodate many people at one time.

A master bathroom. Haven't had this since our first house, years ago.

Lots of storage. 'Nuff said.

I'm sure I'll discover even more things to love about our new place as we live there for awhile. Right now I just feel thankful.

Now off of my break and on to packing!

Christmas is Coming!

Yesterday was one month till Christmas! Are you ready? I'm not...We are still trying to move into our new house. Maybe the tree will be up by the end of the week?!!

Grandpa and Grandma's Farm, Part 2

I posted about going to my parents' little farm last spring. We visited again last weekend. The kids had such fun...

Playing with big cats...

And little kittens...

Going to Cowboy Church...

Swinging on the front porch...(OK, we all enjoyed that!)

Napping on the couch with a comfy old quilt...

It was too warm for a fire, but isn't this pretty? One thing that inspires me when I go to my parents' is that my mom always combines function with beauty. There's very little in her home that is purely functional. It's pretty too.

I missed a shot of the new tire swing, where the kids spent most of their time, and lots of other good ones too. Next time!

Tools of My Own!

I've wanted a pink tool set with lady-sized tools for a long time, but all the ones I found cost an arm and a leg. I even had plans to collect a small set and paint it pink. But look what Billy got me today! Is it not the cutest thing?!!! Now I will know for sure when someone swipes my hammer and doesn't return it. (Ahem!)

P.S. They have them at Dollar General for $12 if you want one too!

P.P.S. I finally updated my other blog!

Thankful

I have so much to be thankful for. I planned to post a list, but I've run out of time. I'll be out of pocket for the next week, maybe the next few weeks, as we prepare to move. See you soon! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Strong-Willed Child

Anyone who has a strong-willed child knows just how precious they can be, and just how hard it is to know what to do sometimes. I stumbled across an excellent blog entry called Surviving Strong Willed Children. Great advice, and I needed the reminder!

Newsflash!

Fully engaged mothering is exhausting!!!

I keep telling myself, "It's worth it! It's worth it!" :)

Pelicans

These are two pelicans that landed near out boat when we took the kids fishing Saturday. Elizabeth felt sure (and she was probably right) that since the pelicans were there it must be a good fishing spot. Everyone who fished from the bank caught flounder, but all we caught from the boat (just a few feet away) were small trash fish. It would have been nice to catch some keepers, but we had fun anyway. The water was very clear and teeming with small jellyfish. I had never seen one before. We were careful not to stick our hands over the side into the water this time!

Moving!

As I've shared before, we're buying a new house and we'll be moving out of the one we're renting. I was psyched up for a January moved, but it turns out that we are closing Wednesday and we could move as early as Thanksgiving weekend. So if I'm not around as much for the next few weeks, that's why. I have a lot to do, as you can imagine! Thanks so much to each of you who reads faithfully. I know I've been out a lot lately, but higher priority tasks have taken precedence. Hopefully once we move I'll get back into my blogging groove. (Or after Christmas? Or after the baby comes? Maybe I'd better not make predictions...)

Weird

Every time I get pregnant, I've been prone to shortness of breath. Not the baby's-squishing-my-organs kind, but something food related. With Sarah I cut out sweets (even natural sweeteners), and it helped a lot. With this pregnancy I've fudged on sweets far more than ever before, delighted that there seemed to be no ill effects. Till this week. I'd be almost gasping for breath in the middle of a meal. Billy's been saying, "Are you OK?" almost every time I ate. It's not just sweets this time, but fruit, corn, and any refined carb. And Tuesday it was so severe that I called the doctor. It felt like what I'd imagine asthma feels like. Fighting for air. But it got better. And as long as I stay away from the carbs, it stays better.

Yesterday when I saw the doctor I talked to him about it. He said he'd never heard of anything like it before. But when we went over all the details, he said it sounds like possibly my pregnant body develops a hyper-sensitivity to carbs in much the same way some people are sensitive to peanuts or bee stings. So, it's low-carb for me. I suppose if it continues it might be no carb.

The ironic thing is that a low-carb diet is the one eating pattern I swore (many times, vocally) that I could never do. I love my carbs. I NEED my carbs. ;) Never say never, right?

Any low-carb readers here? What are your favorite dishes?

Fully Engaged Mothering

Today you get a re-run that I posted some time back. I've realized this week that my children need a little closer supervision, a little more focused guidance. Mothering isn't a passive activity. It requires strength and stamina to be fully engaged!

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I find that my kids get into lots less mischief when I keep them busy. They play outside much of the day, in our big shady back yard where I can watch them from the kitchen or living room. They rarely get into trouble as long as they are running around, swinging, and riding their spring horse or cozy coupe. When they come inside it’s a different story, and their mischief-making is even more pronounced when I’m on the phone or the computer. Kids seem to have “preoccupation radar” and they can tell when my mind is busy with other things. Now my kids are sweethearts, don’t get me wrong, but when they know I’m not looking they will get into fun forbidden items (mom’s moisturizer, furniture polish, and spray starch are a few from this week). One of them will come running, “Silas pushed me!” “Elizabeth hit me!” and I have no idea exactly what happened. Or they disobey and each denies their involvement and blames the other. It’s human nature, and they are as likely to do it as any child.

I’ve found that I can let this happen and deal with it the best I can after the fact…When my moisturizer is all over the outside windows, when the carpet is well-starched, when one of them is crying and hurt and the other denies that they shoved and I have to try to sort it out. And this happens sometimes.

But by far the most peaceful way to mother has been to learn how to be a fully engaged mom. When I get too busy and preoccupied to notice what they are up to, it’s usually because I am selfishly insisting on “me time”. I think that as moms we need to have time to ourselves, but we also need to embrace our mothering role and be “all there” as much as possible when our kids are “all there”! I’m learning—slowly—to find my personal time when they are down for naps or before they get up in the morning. Do I do it perfectly? No way! (In fact, right now they are dancing to the stereo in the living room and I’m hoping everything stays as happy as it is right now.)

The best way I’ve discovered to do this is to keep my kids with me--in the same room--pretty much all the time (except when they are outside). I try to involve them as much as I can in what I’m doing. They help me put laundry in the dryer, empty the dishwasher, make a salad, and vacuum. They are learning vital skills and we enjoy each others’ company. And most importantly I can stop that mischievous behavior before it gets started in many cases. It’s a lot easier to say, “Silas, put the sharpie away,” than to have to discipline later for sharpie on the furniture. It’s more fun for him and me! Sometimes I think we can help our kids not get into bad habits by just dealing with them promptly and never really letting them get started. That’s not to say that their fallen nature won’t rear its ugly head at times, but even when it does, we can handle it before it gets out of control if they are with us. (I have to say that I didn't come up with this on my own. Wise mamas from many different places have shared the same general idea, and I've just benefited from it.)

I’ve been tempted to whine about having three tiny ones and no time for me. Then I have to remember a few things. One is that God says they are blessings. They are not just blessings when it is convenient or when they are big enough not to need me so much. They are blessings, period, human beings made in the image of God, and pretty darn cute too! I wouldn’t trade their smiles and snuggles—as well as their tears and dirty diapers—for anything in the world. I also have to realize that while they are gifts from God, I have chosen to receive those gifts. So in a sense having three small ones is my choice. I can gripe about the blessings I’ve chosen to receive, or I can embrace this role of mothering little ones. Third, I have to realize that we are all benefiting from being together. They are learning, and they are there for me to hug, kiss, pick up, talk to, and serve. We’ll be closer and more connected for chopping the salad or folding laundry together. I'm also more available to sit down and read a book to them, or drink a cup of tea, or play basketball or push them on the swing, when they don't have to hunt me down.

When I do, I have to consciously remind myself to be fully engaged. When they are all three underfoot, this means that I'm both answering questions and chatting with them about the details of their little-kid lives, and giving almost constant instruction. “Sarah, don’t touch, that’s hot. Silas, will you put the spoons on the table for me? Elizabeth, please put the breakable glass down.” On it goes. They are little, after all. I have to use an eagle eye and not let my mind wander to my next craft project or blog entry. At first, it’s mentally and physically exhausting, but that gets better with time. And when I realize how much better I know my little ones and how much happier they are when they feel productive and stay out of trouble, it’s all worth it.

Family Update

Well, we are on the mend. Sorry blogging has been so light. This is a tough bug to shake. Elizabeth woke up this morning and said, “I’m better.” There was such relief in her voice! Fortunately the cough and congestion never turned to bronchitis. Just a nasty cough. We’ll keep dosing everyone till we’re well.

I don’t remember if I posted about our new house or not. We’ve sold our old one (in the old location) and we’re buying another! God keeps giving me big houses. I was honestly expecting and looking forward to downsizing, but since God seems to have had other plans, I’m rejoicing and looking forward to filling our new home with guests. Hospitality, what fun! We have had a lot of people over to our (rent) house lately and it’s such a joy. One night we had about 50 20-somethings. That was great.

Elizabeth has grown so tall this summer. Her reading skills have exploded and I am so happy that I now have to pry her away from books at times to do other things. Her comprehension is improving and she is starting to ask questions about what she reads. “Hey, Mama, you know the judgment? That doesn’t sound like much fun.” We have never talked about the judgment that I recall. She just read about it. She is really enjoying cooking. She plans to start a cookie business as soon as I get my act together enough to kick it into high gear. Of course we had to wait till we were well too…Perhaps in the next few weeks. In time for Christmas, maybe? The kids were chopping veggies for soup the other day and Elizabeth told Silas, “By the time you are a teenager you will know all the skills of cooking!” Hey, sounds great to me! As long as he has all the skills of cleaning up his cooking mess as well!

Silas must be on a growth spurt too. He wakes up ravenously hungry in the mornings. He just begs me to fix him some breakfast. He’s always eaten well, but not obsessively. Lately he has been HUNGRY. He’s such a thoughtful little guy and he comes out with questions that blow my mind. He is thinking through the whole salvation issue, and while he is not there yet, he is close to getting a basic understanding. The other day I was having my quiet time and he asked me to read the Bible out loud. I was in Romans 7. As I was reading he kept interrupting with questions (between play) . "Did Lazarus make the law go away?" (He meant Moses.) When I said no, he said, "But Jesus did, right? Why did Moses have to fire [burn] animals? Why did Jesus die on the cross? Jesus was not sin. But we sin." I was amazed that he made the correlation between sacrifices and the law, especially since what I read did not specifically address sacrifice, and that he grasped the fact that someone came to set us free from the law. He also grasped in some fashion that there was relationship to sacrifice, the law, and sin, although I don’t think he quite understands just what yet.

Sarah’s favorite activity is eating. When she sees that it will soon be meal time, she goes to the table and waits as long as half an hour for her food to show up. I am trying to encourage and establish healthy habits, since she loves food so much. She can be quite obsessive in a lot of areas. She will carry around the same small toy or paper for weeks…To church, outside, to bed. She keeps everyone laughing with her funny little antics. Her latest sayings are “I’m happy!” and “That’s punny!” (funny) She really is a happy little girl. It takes a lot to get her bent out of shape for more than a moment. She has an imaginary friend named Bakah (like Baker, but with ah at the end). The other day she “called” Bakah on the phone. “Hey, Bakah? Are you at your preschool? OK. I LOVE YOU!!! Bye.”

I'm feeling lots of little flutters and kicks from Tiny One. Sixteen weeks now (I think ). We'll find out if we have a little boy or a little girl next month.

Now that I’ve written about the family, it’s time to go spend time with them. School, laundry, and dishes call. We’re having steak for supper, thanks to the beef my parents raised us. Doesn’t that sound good?

Yummy New Stuff

I was so excited to see that Cherry Menlove of Tales from a Pixie Wood now has a new web site and a forum! I honestly have had almost no time to peruse it, but everything Cherry does is beautiful and home-centered. Not to mention that you get to "know" all these cute European homemakers. Check it out! (Follow the link to her blog and you'll see the buttons on her sidebar. I'm having a hard time figuring out the proper way to link to the forum.)

Lemons

Since we've been sick, hot honey lemonade has been on the menu. It tastes good and for me, works better than any commercial expectorant. Besides, lemons are pretty. (Excuse the glare. No time to crop right now.)

Autumn Color

Orange is an autumn color, right? Well, we have autumn orange even in the tropics. (Or sub-tropics, not sure what it is officially.) Satsumas!

Satsumas are a local variety of mandarin orange. They are beginning to turn color, but the inside is ripe and juicy even when the peels are green. They are sold everywhere, by the bag, at little roadside stands. My kids adore them and beg for more. I see a satsuma tree in our future.