Tastes of Summer

I love the taste of garden-fresh produce, and corn-on-the-cob is one of my favorites.  One of our annual events is picking up enough fresh corn (from a friend's garden or a local market) to enjoy for summer meals and to freeze for later.  This year, I was happy to share the experience with my daughter.

I have memories of getting LOTS of corn when I was growing up and our family was stationed in Nebraska. We would spend hours shucking the corn cobs and cleaning off the silk to prepare it for freezing.  If my friends happened to stop by, they were usually put to work!  This made for some sore, sticky hands and some great conversation.

Today I passed on some of those memories with my daughter, as I showed her how to shuck the corn and clean off the silks.  I broke the corn cobs in half for freezing (the perfect size for little hands), and explained the steps of blanching/chilling the corn.  She was most interested in the vacuum sealer we used to package the corn for freezing.

I've thought about cutting off the corn  to use a bit less room in the freezer, but both of my kids love gnawing the kernels off the cob.  At least for now, this is the best way for my family!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

(An older post I forgot to publish over a year ago!!!  By the way, the detergent works!)

I made my first batch of homemade laundry detergent this weekend.  It was pretty easy, and I'm very hopeful that it works for us and helps us to have a little more room in our budget.

Laundry isn't one of my favorite tasks, but I do it out of love for my family.

On good days, I can take it on calmly, planning when to do each load and keeping on top of the folding.

On those not-so-good days, I try my best to avoid it, or grumble about having to do it.  I get frustrated when I leave a load in the dryer and the whole load is full of wrinkles.  (At least I can usually get by with adding a damp towel to steam out the wrinkles- I don't really iron anymore.)  I really go ballistic when I realize I've left a load in the washer for a few days, and it smells awful!

Anyway, I'm trying to set up my laundry area (a closet in a bathroom) to be as pleasant and organized as I can.  I'm trying to set myself up for success and peace in the mundane laundry chore.

I did make a laundry sign and some organizational hooks for the area.  I even added some paint and scrapbook paper to make them more than just functional.

Finally, I made the laundry detergent.  It feels good to find a thrifty way get the clothes washed.  I feel like I accomplished something!  I know, laundry detergent isn't a huge accomplishment, but I know this will be another small way to love and serve my family.

I picked a simple recipe- 2 parts soap flakes (grate a bar of Zote), 1 part washing soda, 1 part borax.  I use a leftover baby formula scoop to measure- 1 for smaller loads, 2-3 for larger ones.

Now, the next step will be to add a verse to the wall over the washer- "Do all things without grumbling and complaining."  (Philippians 2:14)  That would be a real transformation!

In a Stew

I overslept this morning.  In fact, I didn't sleep well at all.  When I did get up (close to 9am) Cris and Alyssa were doing everything they could to help get the kitchen ready for stew-making.  Daniel was happily munching on cereal and playing with Play-Doh (in other words, staying out of the way).

It should have been a great family event.  Unfortunately, I woke up feeling completely out of sorts.  I've had several anxiety attacks recently.  I could feel the tension and agitation building.  My heart was racing.  My palms were sweating.  I feel like I'm grasping at my last bit of control.  My husband could see it in my face.

Instead of working together on the canning project, Cris took the kids out to play and have lunch out.  I stayed home to work on the stew.  This is EXACTLY what I needed!

I don't fully understand mental illness (even my own), but the topic has been on my mind this week.  A son of a teaching colleague did commit suicide last week.  I didn't even know how to talk to her.  I hurt for her and her family and the loss they feel.  I also hurt for the son and fully understand the overwhelming frustration and hopelessness that comes with mental illness.

I suppose I could have felt anger and frustration with my husband for not helping me with the canning, but that's not what I felt at all.  I was relieved when he left with the kids, knowing I wouldn't be lashing out at the people I love the most.

Staying home, preparing nutritious meals for my family is a way I show to them.  Scrubbing and chopping potatoes may seem repetitive and mundane, but it's also a great opportunity to think and sort things in my mind and breathe...

I am not extremely experienced when it comes to canning.  I helped my mom with jellies when I was a kid.  I helped my sister with stew more recently.  Last summer, my friend came over and walked me through the pressure-canning process so I could do it on my own.  (I was petrified to do any of it on my own before she jumped in!)  I'm still re-reading the instructions before every step in the process.  I even make a few phone calls to my parents or friend to verify some of the steps.  I know I take longer to complete this than I should, but today I need a long task to keep me busy.

It's pretty satisfying to see the piles of chopped potatoes, carrots, and celery.  The colors are beautiful, and I'm reminded of God's provision for us- the flavors and variety, and I feel blessed.  I'm reminded of old hymns we sang in church when I was little- about God's bounty.  It's a fleeting memory and I can't quite remember the words- only a phrase or two.  It's enough.  My tension is beginning to ease.

I pull out the sterilized jars.  I can't provide healthy meals by starting with dirty ones.  The heat kills any bacteria and provides a safe place to store our food.  I ask God's forgiveness for my worry and anxiety, for my attempts to handle things on my own.  He's shown me so many times his provision for me and for my family.  Several of these came to mind today, and I thanked him again for those times.  I asked that he cleanse me from the worry I take on, the doubt that returns and overwhelms me.

Nehemiah 6:9 says, "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking "their hands will get too weak for the work and it will not be completed.' But I prayed 'Now strengthen my hands.'"  This may be an odd verse to remember, but Nehemiah was a recent focus of a sermon series at church.  This verse really hit home for me in lieu of my fears and anxiety.

I carefully fill the jars, add hot water, and remove all the bubbles.  I cap 7 quarts and 7 pints- the most I can process at one time with the large and small cookers.  I find there is more stew than I have room for processing (so stew for supper!)   I'm so glad God fills us to overflowing- with love, with peace, and with joy (and food, home, family, friends, a very understanding husband...).  My God really does "supply all of our needs, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus!" (Philippians 4:19)

The jars continue processing as my family arrives.  Daniel is the one frustrated this time, but I'm rejuvenated. I'm ready to scoop him up and prepare him for his nap (which takes some cuddling and rocking!)

I made it through again.  With God's (and my husband's) help, this wave of anxiety did not overtake me.  I've been able to love my family with my stew preparations and with a renewed spirit of peace and patience for handling the normal family interactions.

Bedtime?

Signs the usual bedtime routine is no longer working:

1.  He shouts "woo hoo" and claps when you finish a lullaby, and then asks for more.

2.  He makes up hand motions to go with the lullabies.

3.  He wants to sing his own songs with airplane noises.  Then he pulls out a toy airplane from under the seat cushion of the chair you are rocking him in.

4.  When his older sister desperately searches for the missing bunny she has slept with for years, he decides he needs to cuddle with his cars.

5.  He pops up and begins barking when he hears the neighbor's dog run outside for an evening potty run.

Seize the (Cooler) Days

I have a confession.  I hate the heat.  I can't stand 100+ degree days, high humidity, and scorching sunny days.  I disdain the sticky, icky sensation of being drenched in sweat.  I also happen to be prone to heat-induced migraines and sunburn easily.  I have to brace myself to endure the annual school field day.

I also live in Texas, where the super-heated outdoors is a regular fact of life.  It's also a fact that I tend to prefer indoor activities in the summer with my constant companions, the fan and air conditioner!  I've just learned to do my outdoor activities in the fall, winter, or early spring to avoid the heated outdoors.

This summer, I didn't even attempt a tiny garden in the space allotted by our landlord, not wanting to be constantly watering and weeding (which is outside in the heat I can't bear).  I do feel a bit guilty, as my sister now has a small farm growing at her place.  (It even requires a tractor for plowing!)  I am very appreciative of the abundance of fresh vegetables her place provides for our family.

We recently received an abundance of potatoes requiring our attention.  Each year I use fresh potatoes, carrots, celery, and cubed meat to create a super batch of beef stew for canning.  Like every canning project I've ever been involved in, it takes quite of bit of planning and work, but the benefits this winter are worth it!  My potatoes were scrubbed and ready for cutting.  My carrots and celery are cleaned and chopped.  The meat is thawed and cubed.  The jars are clean.  The pressure cookers are in the kitchen.  I even woke up early to take on this monumental task, eager to begin.  I set out all the ingredients, the huge mixing bowl, and the pan for cooking the meat before the kids got up!  (Side note- I'm very grateful for the air conditioned home that allows me to enjoy this task.  I'm pretty sure I would not have looked forward to this, say,  100 years ago.)

Then I stepped outside for a moment.  I checked the weather app on my phone to confirm that it really was only 68 degrees.  Even better, today's high was predicted to only be in the mid-80's.  This just doesn't happen in July in Texas!  I went inside with a debate in my mind.  My responsible, organized side really wants to follow the plan for the day and get on with the stew.  My other side is thinking this type of weather does NOT come along every day and I'm a fool not to take advantage of it.

Then I put all my stew ingredients away.  Gathered up some water bottles, and loaded the car.  We were headed out to play.

We ended up driving to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.  We spent several hours roaming paths and trying out every turn.  

Peek-a-boo!  The boardwalk area is very kid-friendly.

They call these "Whisper Tubes," but we know a "Whisper-ma-Phone" with a snergelly hose when we see one!

There you have it... the day we chose to make memories at the park instead of stew.  I'm pretty sure I'll have plenty more scorching days where I can hide inside and catch up on canning.

Daniel's First Birthday

As of December 4, we have a one-year-old in our house.  It's hard to believe Daniel James is now 1.  He's grown so fast this year, and he's looking less like a baby, and more like a little boy.  Don't grow up too soon, Daniel!

Any celebration for a first birthday is a surprise party.  A one-year-old's never had a birthday.  He had no idea what to expect.  Everything was a surprise for him.  Fortunately, they were all delightful surprises.

He gave us a great smile when we sang "Happy "Birthday."  He was also pretty impressed with the cake.  He had no problem figuring out how to eat it- even tried to eat the plate!  The highlight of the evening was definitely the bath that immediately followed.  He couldn't stop giggling, "swimming" laps around the tub, and splashing in the water still pouring from the faucet!

Chapter 6- Christmas on Main Street

Mommy, Daddy, Daniel, and me- Alyssa we went to St. Charles to visit Main Street.  They had a Christmas celebration party.  It was fun.  Cami and Becky came with us. 

The road that the cars drive on is made out of bricks.  The buildings were old and had Christmas decorations on them. We walked around a lot.

We got caramel corn and cookies.  Some of the cookies had chocolate chips.  Some had Christmas sprinkles.  Some were “doodle” cookies (snickerdoodles).

I wore a blue dress with white fluffies at the bottom and on my sleeves.  My hat jingled because it had bells on it.  It also had red flowers and ribbons that touched the bottom of our hair. 

The Russian lady was pretty.  She had eye shadow.  It was blue.  She’s got a long white dress. 

We saw lots of different Santa’s!  They all gave us cards with pictures on them.  I got lots of cards.

I jumped in some leaves!  I don’t know why Mommy took a picture of that, but she did.

Chapter 5- Thanksgiving

There were lots and lots of people that came over today to Aunt Marilyn's house.  I think we're all family, but I didn't really know them.  Aunt Marilyn and Doris spent lots of time cooking in the kitchen.  It smelled really good.

There was so much food to eat.  It was just like the pilgrim feast!  I ate turkey and cranberry sauce and rolls.  I also ate green beans.  I had to wait a long, long time to eat pie.

 

There were almost too many people, but I had some kids to play with so it was fun.

Chapter 4- Cami Arrives

Cami is my cousin.  I love her.  She’s 4-years-old.  She likes me.  Cami’s nice.  I like that she is fun.   

We played ping pong and on the pool table  We played foosball.  We played with bolts and a magnet at Kim’s house.  We put the bolts where we want it.  Then it slides to where it wants to be and makes a cracking noise when it goes to its place.  We colored with Regan.  

We went for a walk with Risa, Regan, and Steven and the dogs.  We went up hills and down hills.  We ran down the hills.  We went all over Aunt Marilyn’s neighborhood.  

Mommy and Becky (Cami’s mom) made hats for us to wear in St. Charles.  

Cami and I both have glasses and straight hair.  Cami’s is black and mine is brown.  I think mine has a little bit of curl at the ends.

We played video game hula hoop and ran around a track.  We played soccer on the video game. 

We played and played and played together!

Chapter 3- The Magic House

We drove to the Magic House in St. Louis on Tuesday morning.  We played in the red side of the house, and then on the purple side.  (Colors came from the map they gave us).  

I climbed on the leaves and clouds on Jack’s beanstalk.  My mommy and brother went up the elevator.  It was like climbing a real beanstalk because they had decorated leaves that were strong enough to hold you.  A lot of kids were on the beanstalk.  That made it harder to get around, but I couldn’t push.  I had to wait my turn.  There was a little girl with boots on.  The back of her heal hit me in the head.  I got angry, so I climbed down and found Mommy.  I got back on later when the girl left because I wanted to climb to the top.

We played with musical instruments that I hadn’t played before.  Two of them had strings on them to strum with straws.  Another had a ball that you dropped on a ramp.  As it goes down it went “ding, dong, ding, dong” as it hit the bells.  My brother tried to eat the balls when he played with it.

I went to a set of doors with letters.  You lifted the cover and said the letter and then the toy that was inside.  “A- apple, b- baseball, c- cupcake…”

Then we went to the Magic Tree House area.  They had a prairie area, a Civil War area, and a pilgrim area.  I put a dress on and “cooked” a salad for Thanksgiving in the pilgrim area.  I rang the bell and blew the whistle on the train out west on the prairie.  I played I was the teacher and everyone else was the kids.  I drew all over the chalk board and then I erased it so no one else had to clean it up.   In the Civil War area, I bandaged up my brother.  He screamed because he didn’t like it.

We went inside a colder room (outside area) and mom asked what I wanted to do.  I said measure.  I wore a hard hat, an orange vest thingy and a tool belt, and goggles.  I measured walls.  I measured a light switch.  I measured a sink drain.  I think that’s all that I measured.  I went up the black stairs and pulled the red bricks up and down (pulley).  I sat in a digger. 

I went where the balls were flying out.  You put them in a tube and they went this way and that way and they flew out the top and bottom.

I had yogurt for lunch.  I didn’t like it and I fed it to Daniel.  I ate cheez-its and chocolate milk.  It came in a picnic basket.  We cleaned up ourselves and put the basket in a pile on top of the trash can.

Then we went to the purple side of the map.  We went to the Bubble room.  We blew bubbles.  We made bubble shapes.   We popped a bubble. 

In the attic we found a hair-standing-up thing.  When the girl told me to shake my head and touch the ball, I did, and my hair stood up from my head.  There was ball that floated when the air was coming on it.  It was spinning.  I switched the balls around.  Heres the funny part-  I put my face up to one hole and it blew my bangs up!  There was something that you put a bottle on and hold it and it flew up.

My favorite part was the play house.  There were lots books upstairs.  There was even a kitchen.  A little boy was taking the pizza without asking.  That made me mad.  Mom called me downstairs then.  I looked out the window to see the snowman and it was cold. 

Then I went into the baby area.  Only babies and parents could go there, but the lady there said I could go in and as my mommy something. 

At the end mommy took me home and I ate McDonald’s.  I had chicken nuggets and apples.

Chapter 2- Visiting the Zoo

Today we went to the St. Louis Zoo. 

I like the pictures of me that we took at the zoo.  We saw lots of bears and penguins.  The room where the penguins swam around smelled stinky.  It was cold. 

We saw some gorillas, chimpanzees, and orangutans that were eating broccoli and lettuce.  It was very warm in their house.  I wanted to take my hat off.

We heard a lion roar outside.  My brother tried to roar, too, and made me laugh.  The tigers and leopards were there.

We sat down and ate a snack in front of the giraffe and ostriches.  We saw some zebras there.

My Daddy and I rode a train around the zoo.  We looked at hippos, rhinoceroses, and elephants.  I liked the big animals. 

We saw some candy canes and Christmas bows next to the sidewalk in the zoo.

We ate at Fitz’s.  I colored a picture.  They made root beer in frosty mugs.  I ate pizza and drank root beer.

Chapter 1- The Long Road Trip

We went on a road trip from Arlington, Texas to St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday.

We were on the road too long.  I liked that we got to stop at restaurants to eat.  I got to drink lots of chocolate milk. 

Daniel kept sleeping when I wanted to play with him.  I did not like him screaming on the trip. 

I went to Aunt Marilyn’s house.  I love Aunt Marilyn and Uncle John. 

Aunt Marilyn is very nice and I like her.  I like her breakfast because it tastes good.  We had syrup on waffles made out of cornmeal.  I liked them.  It was the first time I tried them. 

Aunt Marilyn is fun to play with because she’s funny and makes me laugh.  She knew my Daddy when he was a baby.  She showed me some pictures.  When Daddy was a baby, his face looked just like my brother Daniel’s face.

There is a lot of stuff to do at Aunt Marilyn’s house.  She took me into the basement to get out the kitchen set to play with.  I love to play in the kitchen set.  It has cutting food.  Don’t worry, it’s just a toy.  It has a plastic knife that cuts corn, strawberries, apples, bananas, and onions into halves.  They are held together by Velcro until you cut them apart. 

There is a bird feeder on the back porch.  There were blue jays that came from the trees.  They flew over to the feeder and ate.  There will little round, brown sparrows, too.  They were flying fast around the feeder. 

Daniel is silly.  He tries to make me laugh.  Daniel crawls around everywhere and plays with the kitchen set.  He’s not supposed to play with the bookshelf, but he keeps getting in trouble for doing it anyway.  He tries to play with the TV remote control.  Uncle John says to Daniel, “Are you trying to change the channel on me?”

Uncle John is funny.  He doesn’t hear well.  Uncle John showed me how to build a fire in the fireplace.  He used a poker to move the wood.  He put paper in the fire to start it.  When it was warm enough the log caught fire.  There’s a shovel to move the ashes.  He uses pullers (tongs).  Daniel played with them.  He’s not supposed to so he got in trouble with Uncle John, Aunt Marilyn, and my parents.  

Alyssa's Thanksgiving Break

Actually, this is about the whole family, but told by my 5-year-old daughter, Alyssa.  Her Kindergarten teacher invited her to share her experiences (as she was missing two days of school).  I've also been reading "Little House in the Big Woods" to her, so she's got it in her mind that she needs to write her own chapter book.  Here it is...
Chapter 1- The Long Road Trip
Chapter 2- Visiting the Zoo
Chapter 3- The Magic House
Chapter 4- Cami Arrives
Chapter 5- Thanksgiving
Chapter 6- Christmas on Main Street

Celebrating Anyway

Sometimes life isn't easy.  Sometimes it's just plain tough, and you have no idea how to get through the next hurdle that comes your way.  Can we still celebrate in the hard times, when our heart's just not in it?

This week had some definite ups and downs.  There were 4 students from the high school my school feeds into that were involved in a car accident a week ago.  Two were killed.  This event has had a major impact on the students in that high school (our former students) and their siblings (some which are currently in our school.)  It hurts to lose them.  It doesn't make sense.  I know we serve a sovereign God, and that all things work together for the good of those that love him, but right now we're hurting.

Daniel has also struggled this week.  A little bit of congestion quickly turned into difficulty breathing, a doctor visit, and breathing treatments at home.  On the way home from the doctor, Cris's truck was damaged in a hit-and-run accident.  Add to that some aches and pains from overexerting myself at camp this week, stress of the impending medical and repair costs, continued monitoring of Daniel, and you get some long, sleepless nights.

This is one of those weekends where the unfairness of life was really getting to me.  I could choose to embrace the misery or celebrate the good.  It's so easy to rely on our life circumstances to dictate our moods.  It's a lot harder to find joy and strength in spite of the storms.  I'm sure glad I don't have to do this on my own- my track record is full of anxiety and depression.  Here's what God has given me...

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)  I have much to be thankful for this week.  (1) My family IS here, and we aren't promised health, or even a tomorrow.  (2) The truck is drivable, and all the electronics seem to be working.  (3) We had enough money for Daniel's medication.  The doctor visit, nebulizer, and truck repairs will go through insurance and be billed later, to be dealt with later.  There are plenty of things to worry about, but not today.  Although I may not be able to see how our issues will be worked out, I know they will be.

"The joy of the Lord is our strength."  Nehemiah 8:10.  Joy is not the same as happiness.  Happiness is that fleeting emotion that is dependent on our circumstances.  When things are great, we are happy.  When things are not, we aren't.  Joy is that peace we get in the really tough times, being able to smile when we are hurting and grieving, and forgiving someone who has hurt us.  We can do this through God, but it's really tough without him.

This weekend took a deliberate act of surrender- setting aside our burden and relying on the joy of the Lord.  God is bigger than my mess.  He's stronger than all the unfairness happening.

By choice, I took Alyssa to a school celebration she had been looking forward to all week while Cris took care of Daniel at home.  On Saturday, I followed up with pumpkin pancakes (eaten in our pajamas, of course!)   Cris and I took turns with Daniel's breathing treatments and taking naps (we both needed them!)

Later on Alyssa and I played board games, made pumpkin blondies and peanut butter pumpkin cookies to share, and read books together.

Daniel was the recipient of hugs, snuggles, and tickles.  He especially loved the attention from his big sister.

Look out world.  You may have dealt us loss, a tough economy, and unfair circumstances, but you haven't won.  Our family is smiling and celebrating anyway.