Thankful for freezer meals

I mentioned before that we do freezer meals sometimes.  We didn't end up having a baby placed here...yet...but we do have lots of meals ready just in case! Also very helpful for days like today when plans change and schedules get busy- a quick and easy HEALTHY dinner is always a bonus!

Tonight we had spaghetti with a delicious veggie loaded sauce.

Love having my freezer full of ready made meals!

Fajitas and fights...

Tonight we had fajitas- a party indeed! 

However, this weekend has been so busy, we just crammed much into our days, early mornings and late nights. All was fun, but it took its toll on one of my kids. Then, at the flip of a switch, the tears came, and they came in torrents. Then fighting. Fighting with tears. Such a hard part of motherhood!

Thankfully, God is gracious. My husband came home at the perfect time. I know it's not so wonderful for him, but tonight, his peaceful nature was much needed to help our home regain calm. 

Now, I hear peaceful chattering, piano keys making beautiful music and the birds chirping outside.  It's almost as if that 30 minutes of our day didn't happen...I wish it didn't! But I'm thankful, that though it did, God reigned despite my human nature!

The fajitas were from a box! Oops...well, the tortillas, sauce and seasoning....the chicken was on sale today - woohoo! And the peppers were remaining from our 21 freezer meal prep from a few days ago. All mixed together was delicious!

Deep fried avocado

Um. Yum :)

I love avocados...but often have to eat them alone since my family does NOT love avocados...however if I can hide them in something, the chances are greater. 

I really have very non-picky eaters, this is one of the only foods that they do not like to eat, but they are so good for us! So...I make avocado hummus...and just tried this deep fried avocado...delish!

Missed a Monday for these sweets

My sister had a baby this weekend! So I'm an Aunt again :) 

This past Monday, rather than being at home cooking...I was snuggling and crafting...we did make Rice Krispies treats....if that counts as cooking!  I even let the kids be creative and 'shape' their treat...it  was a huge mess, but they seemed to love it, and clean up wasn't sooo bad. :)

The sweet babe is so snugly and fresh and big brother and sister love her to bits!

It was a precious time with my nieces and nephew and my sister and her man too :)

Meatballs

This is going to make my family happy for sure!  Meatballs- again, simple, easy, never been tried in my kitchen before.

This is pretty great, cooking on Mondays, trying new recipes and overcoming those thoughts of things being too hard...

Meatballs are super simple. I didn't have bread crumbs, but I had cornflake crumbs- which worked just fine!  All you do is mix the beef 2 lbs, with two beaten eggs, one cup of crumbs, garlic, pepper, two tsp soya sauce and 1/3 cup ketchup, roll onto a pan and bake at 350- tada! Mmm...now what to serve it with....likely whole grain brown rice, another new favourite :)

Happy cooking!

Brownies and a babe

Today is Sunday...a day of rest.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I love this scripture from Matthew 11. Sometimes I can get so overburdened with things going on in life. It is SO comforting to remember that God's got it. He is carrying this burden. I don't have to. I'm not alone.  I really need to LEARN more from Him!

...Sunday is also a day to celebrate during lent, and have some sugar! Mmm! I'm not huge into cake and pies and such, I do like candy...gum...sugar in my coffee...and such. I have really come to like coffee without sugar, and almost don't like it with sugar!

But, something I have been wanting over the last few weeks is brownies! 

Today presented the perfect opportunity.  We are a babysitting two this weekend, and this afternoon Tim took all the boys to the trailer for a work afternoon- likely movie for the boys, Rachel is at a friends, and the wee one is having a nap- brownie time!

I also happened to do some less than exciting essentials, which somehow seemed almost relaxing in my current situation- dishes and dinner prep.

Enjoying a time of quiet, a time of rest, a time to breathe...and smell, soon eat...brownies!

Perfect timing, I hear the babe stirring!

Burgers !

Mmm! I am so excited for tonight's dinner! Two 'new' challenges for me that I've always thought of making but never made - home made burgers, and burger buns!

We had some ground beef, and I've been wanting burgers! It. Makes me feel that spring really might come yet, even though it doesn't seem or feel like it!  So, I looked up some recipes on Pinterest and chose my favourite parts of different ones ...the result was super easy and super yummy.

I'm not sure why I've always thought some things were just too hard to make - like pasta, burgers, buns even...I've made my own bread for over ten years but have never made buns, except in mass amounts at the bakery last season, but still, they weren't a bun for a burger or sandwich, just a dinner roll.  

It's funny to me, thinking about this AFTER making a few of these 'hard' things, that it was really just my uneducated, not willing to try it, or even look into it- opinion.

I think too often this translates into other parts of my life. Some things just seem to hard, or unattainable, that I don't even want to try, or think about trying.  Or, in the other sense, I get too comfortable with what I know - and really, I think it is this aspect that helps the uneasiness grow.  

When I cracked a rib a month or so ago, at first I was so put off by having to rest, not being able to run, or move around much at all...but then, after a while, I got so comfortable doing not much of anything, it seemed like a chore to even just get out of bed.  

Thankfully, my rib is healing, but now it's my heart and emotions that need to heal as well and get back into things. I need to do these 'hard' things, that really aren't that bad, and enjoy the process, praising God for healing, and for the blessings He has given!

Back to the meal....

So I mixed together ground beef, some spices, soya sauce, Worcester sauce, egg...and voila!

Then I worked on a bun dough, let it rise while I went out for a couple of hours, shaped the buns and baked them!

I know I'm going to have some thrilled family with this meal! 

Try those hard things! Stretch your point of comfort, and in all things, give God thanks!

A taste of normal

This has been a ridiculously not normal, very emotional past week.

We are an approved foster home, waiting for placement. We have a crib and can take a baby from newborn up to an eight year old child. One, at most two children.

This last Tuesday we got a call late morning asking if we would take a 22 day old baby. By 1:30 p.m. We had a sweet little one in our home. What a whirlwind of changes over four days! Friday afternoon it was decided that baby would go back to be with mom.

So...we had a bit ofa. Breather on Saturday, and a lot of things changed in terms of our thoughts and routine for the last week.

All that to say...today, I needed some normal. I love to make bread, I've been making bread for years. A few months ago a friend introduced me to healthy bread in minutes - a fantastic way to make delicious sourdough bread quickly.  

The steps are super simple and the result is...well, so good that it disappears like a flash!

First, you get a bucket, something that fits nicely in your fridge, with room in it to mix your ingredients and for the to expand.  I do a half batch, because that's what fits in my bucket / fridge.  

I put in 3 3/4 cup of flour, 3/4 tbsp yeast, 1/2 tbsp salt, and 2 cups of warm water. Mix this until nothing is dry, out the lid on, pop a corner open and let it sit for two hours. That's it! 

At this point you can take some out, shape it, let it rest for 30 minutes and bake, or put it in the fridge for up to two weeks.

When I bake mine, I like to preheat the oven (450') with a stone in there, then bake my loaf for 30-35 minutes. 

Today, I thought I would try making little buns out of it, it worked well, they a bit of a funny shape, but they taste just as good!

Now, to make more, add the initial ingredients to what is left in the bucket, you don't clean it out in between. It actually helps the flavor to keep the dough in there and mix it up with the new!

I have also added other things to the dough, you can be creative....I've added honey, flax, whole wheat flour, it's nice with seeds on top....very versatile!

I highly recommend looking up healthy bread in five minutes a day- excellent book, great recipes...for a little bit of normal :)

Monday's menu

So, I've decided to do a theme of sorts and share my menu, just for the day, on Mondays. I am on cooking for Monday, so, it might help me cook, and write! BONUS!

Since it's March Break, the kids are off, today I have Matthew home, the other two are with Grandma! So, Matthew and I decided to make some fresh pasta. We were inspired by Master Chef- we have been inspired before with failed results, and with fantastic results! So we were ready for the pasta challenge...!

We got all of our ingredients...all three of them! This was a bit of a shock to us...clearly we are not very serious pasta people, we had no idea how to make it, or what was in it! Just flour, egg and water. The recipe we used said to knead the dough, so Matthew was more than excited to get his hands in there and mix it around!

Once I got his hands untied I got the mixture into a smooth ball and we covered it in plastic wrap to sit 'for at least 30 minutes'. We didn't know it would be so fast up to this point so ours sat for ... A few hours!

Next came the rolling out and shaping of the pasta. We were conflicted with how we were going to make our meal. I was thinking an easy option would be fettuccine type noodles, Matthew wanted to try a ravioli....so we did both! And he won the meat sauce option- I often don't think of meat, but Tim will be thankful Matthew was here for the consult!

Lots of rolling and cutting later and we had some pasta looking dough in front of us!  All we had left was to bring the water to a boil, drop our noodles in for a couple of minutes and voila! Dinner!

It was very very yummy! We were really surprised with how easy it was! But if we do this again, which I imagine we will- we will roll our dough thinner and make sure to have cheese on hand for the filling. 

Overall, t'was an excellent experience with my boy, and a very delicious outcome!

Seasons

I'm reading this fabulous, fabulous book by Mark Buchanan called Spiritual Rhythm Being with Jesus Every Season of your Soul.

Did I mention it is FABULOUS!

 Anyhow, it has been such a ...seasonal book for me, in just pointing out different things we go through in life, and really how God is such a massive part of all these 'seasons' and what our part is in them.

It is really so well written, at least for me, so encouraging, even in winter seasons of the soul, and truly pointing to Jesus.

It's inspiring to me to look to Jesus when things are good, when they are tough, when they are bad, and when they are easy.  

I have been wanting to gobble this book up, but have been forced to pause as challenges are given to look at my life and make some changes.

I highly recommend this book :)

Seize the moment !

Last night the kids and I went to kingston to meet Tim at his break for a work conference.  We had to wait in the parking lot for about ten minutes and the boys asked if they could jump and climb the snow piles.  They ask this....often....! Usually it's not really a good idea beacause of where the parking lot is, the amount of cars and traffic...or we aren't staying long enough and aren't just going to leave them out there while we get what we came for! However, last night, there was time!

 So they went, 

they climbed, 

they jumped,

 they laughed!

I was watching them, smiling, and really just appreciating the moment that we had, the freedom that we have, the good health, the close relationships we have.  Just counting my blessings.  Then I thought, this would probably be even MORE enjoyable if I went out there too! So I did! I didn't..jump....per se.. But I climbed, I laughed, and seized the moment with my boys.  

As Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is a time for everything. This time I have now, I need to make best use of, to enjoy my kids, to grow, to learn, to laugh, to cry, but to really BE with them.

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
4     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Disappointment

Man, this word can hold so much power. I guess all words can.  We can speak life or speak death there is power in our words for good or for evil.  We will have to give an account before God for each word that we speak.

When someone says, it is so disappointing that you...that cuts. I'm not quite sure if three isspexific significance for me with the word, but I find it hard to think of any one word that hurts as much as that one.

Today, my son brought home a paper with his marks from a recent assignment on it. This assignment he that he had done very well on. He had told me about it most days as he worked, giving me progress reports when he came home, yet,  when he received the paper with the grade, there was a hand written note from his teacher on the bottom....it started out, it is so disappointing ....

My mothering instincts are beyond upset. I am so much in protective mode, defensive mode. I hurt for my son. 

Tonight, my prayer is and needs to continue to be that God will speak through me as I confront this issue, that is a bit of a straw on a camels back.... I don't need to sin in my anger. I don't need to add hurtful words, or any words that will speak death. Pray for those who curse you. May I be an example to my kids of how to stand up for ourselves, but at the same time stand for Christ. To speak truth in love.

Dates

We loved dates in our home :) They are a priority for sure!

Tim and I try for weekly dates, whether we are doing something together, skiing, skating, going for a walk, or going to town to get groceries and maybe a meal. We love dates.  

Our kids love when we go on dates too....probably for more than one reason! They have a blast being home without us and just being completely silly. It's often entertaining hearing some of the things that go on when we're out. We like to surprise them on a return time to keep them on their toes!  

They also like that we go in dates because they love when we show love to each other, it helps them feel secure.

We have, in the past, had dates with the kids, one on one, but we were really loosing track and not being very consistent. We also noticed, as a separate issue, chores were being done less and less without constant, repetitive asking!  So, combining these things together, we created a chore for dates system.  The kids have certain chores, which are mandidory anyway, and when they do a set amount, they get dates with us. They have to do they chores without constant nagging....and they have to do them on the day scheduled for their 'points'. They have one set chore a day, Sundays are off, and a bonus chore to walk the dog each day.  

Anyway, it's been a lot of fun having this one on one, or two on one date time with the kids. It's not an expensive time together, in fact,we set a $5 limit for their part of it.  We've played games, had Tim Hortons dates, poutine, breakfasts, gone skating, and running. It's just been a lot of fun spending this time together, and having it as a reward for responsibility!

Waking up with God

Every morning, at least for the last little while, I've been waking up with a song in my heart. It's actually been pretty fun, especially the days Tim wakes up with one too. Rarely, but not never, we have the same song we're singing as we slowly get out of bed.  

The thing in our house is, if you start singing a song out loud, it's almost guaranteed that there will be more voices once you get to the third word or so! 

There is no rhyme or reason, in my logic, what the song of the day is, it's not like we listened to it the night before, nor do we have music playing when we wake up, I guess it's just God's gift for the morning, a beautiful gift!

This mornings song, given to my heart is All the Way

 http://youtu.be/dDbmXrNqXxk

Enjoy! Be blessed!

Returning from Belize

We returned from Belize just over a week ago now.  It is a strange thing, the heart, the mind, the thoughts, the feelings that come with new experiences, with changes, with growth. 

We were given a missions journal which really helped put our thoughts and feelings into words during our entire journey.  The pages started 7 days before we left, continued for the 10 days of our trip, and had a 7 day post trip journaling as well.

                                                                                                      

This journal really helped me see some areas in my life that I have been improving at - Grace, and areas that I need improvement in - Selflessness.  Taking a look, at the end of each day, of how Christ lived through you is a really challenging thing.  Each day we were recording facts, smells, sights, sounds, tastes, as well as the things we were being challenged on that day, serving, belonging, changing, feelings, helping, persisting, ect.

 

I hope that this is a practice that I will continue, to reflect on my days, to really see what God is doing and has done, to be able to grow, to praise God, to thank HIM for Who He is, for what He has done and is doing.

 

Today, I'm thankful for this journal, for a guide to bring me through some thoughts and feelings and help process !

I love this place!

How did this happen?

How did this happen?

My kids were playing in their room, creating and racing cars on tracks...while I was slicing some cheese, preparing dinner, just pondering the day and various things in my mind when Matthew called out, "Mommy, come see this track!".

And all I could think was 'whoa, hold on! When did this happen?! Mommy? me? But I'm just a kid myself!

Ha! Oh boy...I'm not sure if that ever happens to you, but it's happened before to me...in my mind...sure is strange!

It's a good day to be a mom :)

Little bits of happy

There's a break in the clouds, His glory coming down!

Perspective

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

¹⁸ Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.