Baking Morning!

We were busy this morning.

We made 4 loaves of whole wheat bread with the Bosch.
We made 2 dozen hot cross buns with the Kitchenaid.
We made 1 loaf of cinnamon raisin bread with the bread machine.

Just need to ice the hot cross buns when they cool.

But, note to self: It is wise to remember that after using the bread machine solely for mixing dough since before Christmas that is best to wipe down the element before using it for baking....

A Frugal Tip...

...stay home.

With being on germ lock down, and now step downed to germ aversion with slightly paranoid tendencies, we have stayed home, a lot. Even grocery shopping has been limited.

And you know what, we are doing find food wise.

And you know what else? We are saving money. I am still using my whole grocery budget, but I am going to less stores less often, so saving money on gas, and there has been no picking up take out because it is Saturday and lunch time (avoiding restaurants right now too, too many people with their germs.)

I have other frugal tips I keep meaning to post about, but this is today's tip.

I was supposed to go grocery shopping on the weekend. I looked in the fridge, looked at the menu and realized that I needed nothing ASAP. Same thing happened tonight. So we stayed home to watch Canada clobber Russia in men's Olympic hockey. I think that tomorrow it will be a milk run for sure though, and that is okay, I will have a list ready for Henry's. One stop. Excellent prices on fruit, veg, and bulk stuff, plus chicken on sale. That fills out my list! One stop, everything on sale or just normally dirt cheap. Works for me!

What's in My Crockpot

I LOVE my slow cooker, it is my buddy, and I cannot count the times it has saved me from meal related disaster!

There are a number of recipes I use on a fairly regular basis, but for this carnival I decided to link the ones that are favorites!

Famous Chili - recipe from a friend who lost his battle with brain cancer. We think of him every time we make this and always around Miss Pear's birthday as we attended is funeral while I was hugely pregnant. Our friend was famous in our small group and church for this recipe.

Famous Mushrooms - at my first and last job in California they loved pot luck lunches, and one manager ALWAYS brought this because he would be in trouble if he did not! I was less impressed when I realized how easy it was!

My Spaghetti Sauce Recipe - I learned to make this in home ec, tweaked it for a couple years, perfected it and then doubled it to make a huge amount at once! It freezes beautifully. When I need to take a meal, this is one of the first recipes I reach for.

Tortilla Soup - hands down favorite soup. I love to make this for our Canadian visitors who know they like Mexican food but don't know a whole lot about it.

Taco Chili - Everyone in my family loves this, we eat it a lot. A fun twist on an old favorite.

What are your favorites?

Gift of Perfectly Ordinary Days

There was much I could have posted today, much I could have shared, but today, like many days, I am busy, but don't know what I did. I do know that it was wonderful (except for the dentist visit), but it was a perfectly ordinary day.

Friday...happy sigh and a Project

It has been a quiet week around here, just what our whole family has needed. I love it.

We have been watching WAY to much TV, but we are watching the Olympics and consider it vital to our girls Canadian education...after all, they are dual citizens! We are most intrigued with hockey, curling, and figure skating, all sports I played as a child.

Today I have been working on a couple projects such as cleaning the kitchen and doing laundry, but the big project was working on our car emergency kit. It is mostly assembled with stuff we have on hand. We have been slowly working in this in a half hearted way for a while. We used to be excellent at this when we lived in Canada and were driving in snow, but somehow living in California we have become lax. So we figured it was time to just look at what we have in the car and then make a list of what we are missing. We are in surprisingly good shape.

So far we have:

• jumper cables
• highway flares
• flashlight
  
• jacket
• blanket
• wet wipes
• anti-bac wipes
• diapers, wipes and change pad
  
• jack knife
• New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs
• Pen and paper
• At least $15 in quarters plus other assorted change
• umbrella (one of those little folding ones)
  

I still need to add:

• 5 bottles of water - have these, just need to put them in.
  
• Some kind of high energy snack that will handle the California heat
• Spare batteries for the flashlight - need to check if we have these
  
• a roll of toilet paper (just trust me on this one...) - have this on hand too
  
• roll of paper towel - have this on hand too
  
• basic first aid kit
• a fleece blanket for each girl (think the receiving blanket size, just big enough to cover them in their car seats, although this is more of a comfort item for fun) - have this on hand too.
  

I have to admit it is weird not to be adding a snow shovel, ice scrapper/snow brush, coffee can with candle and matches, extra toque (woolen hat), mitts, scarf, heavy socks, and sleeping bag to the mix!

We travel very busy freeways, so our list is a touch on the lighters side, whenever we go on a road trip we always pack accordingly, including our safety gear.

So, what are your ideas for a high energy snack for those who have peanut allergies? For those of you in the know, what should my first aid kit have in it? (I do have bandaids in the car).

Do you have an emergency stash in your car?

Busy Morning

All mornings are busy with 2 children, but this morning seemed especially crazy!

Here is what we got done:

1. Woke up early to read the Bible - finished about half of my Bible in 90 days reading - Ecclesiastes slowed me down, plus Baby is not feeling good so I had just under an hour to read before she woke up and needed me NOW (she has definitely found her volume button!).
2. Breakfast and Morning Circle Time (Everything a Child Should KNow about God, Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes, Scripture Memory (Jn 3:16), Chapter of John, 5 story books)
3. Started Hot Cross Buns for the start of Lent and finished them before lunch
4. Read chapter in our read aloud
5. Started Soaked Granola (will finish tomorrow)
6. School time
   
7. Baked off 2.5 dozen cookies (dough was in freezer)
8. Emptied and reloaded dishwasher
9. Emptied clean dishes from sink from yesterday
10. tidied kitchen
11. played lots and watched olympic curling with girls
12. Asked girls and helped clean up toys and books more times than I can count
    
13. had lunch
14. we all went for naps.

When I write it all down it sounds much more impressive and I understand why it was such a busy morning. I still have to iron 5 shirts and a pair of pants, fold laundry, make supper, and wash dishes, but we are definitely heading in the right direction!

What was your morning like?

A New Week

There is something to be said for the start of a new week, especially when it comes after a long weekend!

We had a wonderful long weekend relaxing and enjoying the Olympics. It has been wonderful to see the winter sports we rarely, if ever, see in Southern CA! While we occasionally get hockey games, it has been wonderful to also see things like curling, moguls, snow boarding and ski jumping! We are enjoying it all.

After the long weekend the weekend wreckage was a little more overwhelming today with a little one feeling under the weather. I cannot figure out of she is coming down with a cold or is teething more molars. She is teething, but I just am not sure that explains it all.

We are having unseasonable heat here and with a little one feeling rough I ended up turning the air conditioning on for about an hour today. Hard to believe that was necessary in February, but it most certainly helped!

It seems weird to say this, but it seems like I am still struggling to get back on track after the craziness of the past few months. Things are settling down, but it seems like I am struggling to get back on track. I am working on a new homeschooling plan now that Baby is not napping in the morning and am hoping that will help. If it does I will let you know!

We are planning a quiet week with just a cardiology appointment on Thursday. I love a quiet week.

I did not do the Bible in 90 Days update yesterday because we were out shopping for new shoes and jeans for Miss Pear who is outgrowing everything...again. But I did want to report in that I am still caught up, and have had no more "catch up" days. It is really going well, and even though it is a lot of reading each day, it is wonderful.

Litany of the everyday part 2

I was talking to a friend and used the phrase litany of the everyday and she immediately was surprised because she took the word to me a boring repetition.

I had not thought about that, but it raised an interesting point. According to my Pocket Oxford English dictionary, the second definition of this word is "a boring recital", it is the first definition that I was referring to: "a series of prayers to God used in church services."

The confusion was humorous.

But then I started thinking about it, and thinking about the meaningless prayers we hear about in the Bible and are warned against, prayers that are prayed for show and not for soul. It got me thinking about how easily our daily life can go from being a litany honoring to God to a litany of mindless repetition!

Lord, please help me to worship you in the everyday, and serve You in even the smallest tasks.

Litany of the Everyday

Lately I have been more aware of Jesus in the everyday, in the little things that need to happen to care for my family. In the grand scheme of things not one of those things is earth changingly significant, but each of those little things that no one else sees are done with love because I love my family, and that makes a huge impact on the lives around me.

As I pour milk for my daughters I am reminded that it is the Word of God that nourishes, that when we are babes in faith we are fed milk, but then we grow to need the spiritual meat.

As I give our baby Tylenol for teething I am reminded of the pains that the Lord has comforted me through.

As I rub vitamin E lotion into our daughter's scar from open heart surgery I am reminded so vividly of the heart surgery the Great Physician has done in my life and is doing.

As I serve cheese bread with supper I am reminded of the Bread of Life.

More and more I see God in the everyday, I see how is teaching and reminding me, and I see how my service to my family is worship to Him.

And it makes me smile. It refreshes me and is like a cool glass of water for my very soul.

A Quick Lunch

There is something wonderful about having a decent repertoire of lunches that are quick, simple, delicious, and use ingredients that are always on hand...like tuna salad sandwiches. But it is easy to get into a rut!

So I have a couple ways I spice up my tuna sandwich.

First is the tuna mix itself. While I often do the simple tuna, mayo, pepper and onion salt with a bit of celery and red onion if I have it, I try to remember to make a lower fat version.

The low fat version is actually high on taste! You take one can of tuna, a tbsp of mayo, a tbsp of mustard, some red onion, celery, and grated carrot or finely chopped sweet pepper if you want to be fancy and add more veggies. Then add just enough red wine vinegar to make it a nice consistency. It is very delicious.

My other trick is simple tuna melts. You make your salad any way you would like, then assemble the bottom half of your sandwich (bread, butter, tuna salad mix), top with a slice of cheese and put under the broiler until the cheese melts. It is so delicious and it is certainly encouraging little girls around here to eat more fish!

Of course, it helps if it has a side of homemade pickles and grapes!

And that is my kitchen tip for today!

Happy Monday

Somehow last week kind of slipped by on me. I feel that happening right now more than usual. I think the craziness of life since October is still taking its toll on me. I guess I just figured it would be over, and I would feel great! Maybe not realistic, but I guess I did not think it through very much.

So now I am trying to take it easy and be restful and relaxed, trying to rejuvenate and rest in the Lord.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days is definitely helping.

But I discovered what I consider to be THE KEY problem with the program: it makes most other plans look unsubstantial, like they could never possibly be enough. (Bible in a year? I need more than that!)

I have already realized that there is a very good chance that when I finish reading in 90 days that I will turn around and start again.

I had anticipated this being hard and grueling, but it is not. Right now I am waking up some where around 5:30 AM to read, and am done by 7AM. And last night when my husband was doing his devotional time I sat next to him and started reading 1 Peter. I look forward to that time in the morning and realize that it is helping me get back on track in numerous areas of my life.

It is difficult to explain how I am doing in my 90Days reading because it is such a positive experience in ways that cannot be easily quantified or explained. I will say that I am very grateful God gave me the nudge to do this (okay, it was probably more like a shove). Today's reading is done, and I feel like I am growing in my relationship with God and understanding of His Word in a big way. I feel like I am getting back on track with life in general. And I am starting to feel more contented with where I am.

How is your Bible study going? What are you reading? What is God teaching you?

If you want to hear more from bloggers reading the Bible in 90 Days, head on over to Mom's Toolbox.

Miss Pear's Summary

After we read a chapter of the Gospels at breakfast I am trying to remember to ask Miss Pear what she learned. Today's answer will encourage me to remember.

We read John 6.

She learned that Jesus would be handed over to his enemies.

And that Jesus takes a little lunch and makes it a big lunch.

Bible in 90 Days, the first 31 days

It is wonderful to say that on day 32 I am still on track to read the Bible in 90 Days - actually 88 as there are 2 grace days built in. I do have 5 chapters left to read in today's reading, but there is no reason, Lord willing, they will not be read by bed time. I have fallen behind a day a couple times but have managed to make it up, and have only fallen behind one day when Miss Pear was in the hospital and one day when I was REALLY overwhelmed and overtired.

For today's check in I thought I would also share some of what I am learning. I am trying to get back into the habit of opening my Bible and notebook at the same time, otherwise I never actually open the notebook to make notes unless it is something profound or a clear "slap you upside the head" kind of lesson (to quote my old small group!)

Lessons from the last 2ish weeks - just the big ones.

In my last Bible in 90 Days update (2 weeks ago) I was wondering why:

I do have one question though, it comes from Joshua 1:

Josh. 1:12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying,
Josh. 1:13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’

So often we see this in the OT, and I am wondering why this particular phraseology, why not OUR God?

In my research I discovered that what the people were saying is that if they saw evidence that the Lord was leading Joshua they would indeed follow him. Interesting.

So now on to new stuff.

1 Samuel 17:34-37 - I had a note in my Bible that we should not despise small opportunities because they prepare us for larger opportunities; David tending the flock prepared him to tend and lead God's people. I also felt strongly that the Lord was teaching me to not despise small blessings, to practice accepting small blessings because that prepares me for big blessings. (Just say yes, please, thank you! when people offer help!) This is a big lesson I am working on.

1 and 2 Kings are so depressing to read. Even King David disappoints me at the end of his reign when he is such an indecisive leader, not acting as clearly or deliberately as he should, often splitting the difference or doing nothing. However, what is most depressing is the lack of godly kings. For example, Judah has 20 kings, but only 8 are considered to be good. And even the godly kings cannot seem to turn the tide of evil! 2 Kings 23:25 says that there was no king like Josiah who turned so completely to the Lord, and yet in 2 Kings 23:36-37 we read that his son did evil in the sight of the Lord. So sad. It reminded me that we must be deliberate in teaching our children about God and encouraging them in His ways, we cannot assume that they will just "catch it" in our house or that the church will do a good enough job, it is up to us parents to step up and take responsibility to teach our children about God.

I was struck by 1 Chronicles 13:7 - this is how the Philistines moved the ark, not how God said to move the ark. It was a strong reminder that we must constantly be seeking God and His ways! and in 14:12 to be RUTHLESS in removing that which opposes God in our lives.

Lastly, what struck me was 1 Chronicles 28:9, the idea of a loyal heart and willing mind. Still mulling that one around.

Achieving my goal

When we started this, I was up front and honest in saying I was not pleased with how my Bible reading was going (I cannot imagine God was either), and that I was determined to do all in my power to change that. I knew that the more I read the Bible, the more I would want to read. When we started it was tough to get through the entire day's reading, really tough, especially once the initial enthusiasm of a new plan wore off and the reality of the work required and life in general kicked in. But I persisted. I am stubborn that way. Already I see where it is getting easier, where the joy is definitely coming back, and there have been days when I was a bit surprised to realize I was done.

God is definitely starting to speak to me more clearly through scripture, although it could also be that I am finally hearing better. As I mentioned I am taking out my notebook and opening it at the same time I open my Bible, and I am definitely writing lots down with today's writings being particularly pointed and encouraging.

I have also started getting up earlier to read in the morning. Often Baby gets up to nurse between 5 and 6, so I have started just staying up. I get dressed, turn on the coffee and start reading. To help in this endeavor, the night before I get the coffee ready so all I have to do is hit the start button, and lay out sweats and a sweatshirt with my Bible study bag beside. This works well.

How is your Bible reading going so far this year? (Even if you are not doing the 90 Days) What is God teaching you?

Check over at Mom's Toolbox for more Bible in 90 Days Check ins.