7 November 2009
A Happy Saturday
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Today was a happy Saturday. We started our day earlier than most Saturdays and headed to church for Bible quizzing. Lukas is a "quizzer" this year. The Nazarene quizzing program is phenomenal. We are amazed at how much he is learning on their quest through the books of Joshua, Judges and Ruth this year. They're still studying Joshua at this point, and I am pretty sure he knows more than I do about that particular book of the Bible, though I have learned quite a bit through helping him to prepare for the quiz meet. I am the most proud of him for memorizing all 10 Bible verse/passages that he had to know for this event. He knew them all, hands-down! If I said the verse, he could tell me the reference. If I said the reference, he could tell me the verse. 10 Bible passages that he's learned over a little over 2 months was pretty good work in my opinion, especially considering that I have him learning different verses for school (I am considering changing that, but why fix something that isn't broken?)! I love the way this program is designed. It is obvious that this program is well established in the Nazarene church. Since we are relatively new to attending a Nazarene church, we were unfamiliar with their quizzing program until now. Lukas uses it as his morning devotions. He works through a little each day. I don't even have to remind him. He is enjoying it that much! They also use some great multi-media tools to help the kids learn and study during their weekly time together. Lukas comes home singing the Bible verses. As I mentioned in my last blog, he was singing them Elvis style last night. At any rate, I believe I have taken a tangent from my original purpose of writing, but now you know a little about the Nazarene quizzing program for kids. If you get a chance to try it with your child, I don't think you'll be disappointed! After we were done with quizzing for the day, we came home on this lovely fall day with several ideas of what we could get done. There's always something that needs to be accomplished. Unfortunately, I did not accomplish much. I can admit it. I chatted with a dear friend on Facebook, and that was worth my time. I cut the rest of the sage from my herb garden, tied it into bunches and hung it to dry in the kitchen(technically, Eric hung it for me because I couldn't reach). I started planning the rest of this month's school work. That's it. That's all I accomplished. It was a relaxed Saturday afternoon, the kind of afternoon that comes our way not nearly often enough. Eric and the kids were a little more productive. They raked the leaves. The kids and the neighbor kids were all buried in the leaves at one point, jumping into the pile and over the pile. With two maples in our back yard and two more hanging over our yard from the neighbor's back yard, there were plenty of leaves to rake into a giant pile. Eric was also buried in the leaves. He's such a cool dad that way. Some years, I get into the leaves too, but I didn't dare with the way my allergies have been lately. It turns out that I might as well have taken the plunge. Just being outdoors taking pictures of them playing while leaf dust floated in the air and picking the sage bundles has left me with a massive allergy headache. I am not complaining though because it was worth the time outdoors on this lovely autumn day! Since it was so beautiful, Eric made dinner on the grill, which was a treat since I didn't have to cook. BBQ ribs, baked potatoes (on the grill, so they were technically grilled potatoes) and peas. I bought one of those steamer bags of veggies that goes into the microwave. I didn't even realize I had bought it until Eric asked if that was okay to use for dinner (when he is cooking, I am pretty lenient. Whatever he wants to cook is fine with me!). It worked pretty well and made for simple cooking for Eric! Can you imagine a better way to spend your Saturday? Maybe this isn't your ideal, but it was a great day for us. Of course, I have all kinds of favorite ways to spend a Saturday. This is just one of them. The only downside is that I still have quite a lengthy to-do list. I did one load of laundry instead of 5 as I had planned, and school is not planned for the rest of the month. I'll get to it. It'll all get done. Monday is just around the corner. :) |
6 November 2009
They Said Something Else
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My children have been on a roll this evening saying things that simply make us laugh. Tonight during devotions, we had a discussion about the husband being the leader of the family in the Biblical model of the family. The kids seemed to understand this. I misunderstood at one point thinking that Eric had misspoken and said "leave" instead of "lead." Lukas thought it was quite hilarious that I misunderstood and said, "The husband leads the family and he leaves the family to go make money for us." Yep. That's pretty much how it works around here. I thought it was pretty funny. The good news is that he always comes back. After this, Ava had to get in on the action by innocently explaining what she expected her future husband to do to properly lead her family. She was sitting on Eric's lap, and she looked up at him and said, "Dad, you know what I want my husband to do to be a leader for me? To be a leader for me, he needs to cook, unless he is sick, then I will cook for him." If that is the definition of godly leadership, then Eric better get on the ball because he is so NOT the one doing the majority of the cooking around here. I couldn't help but smile at that comment. This of course led to Ava's big confession about who her husband would be and more info than we wanted to know. "Dad, I'm in love with Austin! I kisseded him on the cheek before. I'm gonna marry him!"(note, "kisseded" is exactly how she said it). Please rest assured that we do not encourage her to kiss boys other than her brother, and, at some point, we will discuss proper courtship. I think we're safe for a couple more years with her. She's 5. We're safe, right? Please don't tell me if we're not. There are some things that I simply don't need or want to know. At the end of our family devotional time, we always pray together. Ava prays first, then Lukas prays and then Eric leads us in a family prayer time. Tonight, when it was Lukas' turn, he prayed, "Thank you, God, that dinner was good even though I don't usually like it." How lovely is that? He truly meant it with kindness, and I took it that way. It made me giggle. It's true. He doesn't usually like it when I make stir-fry. He picks the meat from the veggies and eats the rice. Tonight, I made beef stir-fry with strips of meat, mushrooms, onion, red pepper, ginger, garlic, dry mustard, and??? That's right. I neglected to add an ingredient, the ingredient that pulls it all together in my book. Soy sauce. How in the world did I get distracted enough to leave out a main ingredient? Lukas, apparently, does not like soy sauce. I took one bite of my meal and realized that I had forgotten it and added it to my plate. It tasted the same as if it had been cooked into the mixture. Next time, I guess I'll purposefully leave out the soy sauce because it obviously makes it taste a little bit more acceptable to Lukas' pallet. Earlier this evening, Lukas was making me laugh as well. He loves to be the center of attention. This can be good, and this can be not so good. We're working on helping him figure out when it is appropriate. For instance, pulling your pants to your chest and acting like a "hillbilly" during a brief lecture from Daddy is probably not the most appropriate, but singing Bible verses from memory while holding a homemade microphone and doing an Elvis impersonation? Yep. That's okay. Oh, I guess someone out there might think it was fairly poor judgment, but it pretty much made this mama laugh. He knows those Bible verses.I really don't care if he sings them to me like Elvis. He's going to do a great job at tomorrow's Bible quiz meet, and if he managed to figure out a way to make today's quizzing review marathon a little more fun, then so be it! He's a trip. I love that boy. I love my girl too. They both entertain us. I am extremely blessed to be their mama. Everyday brings something new and exciting with them around. I am thankful that God chose these two children for us to raise. They bring us joy each and every day. |
5 November 2009
Pate Chinois
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We're studying world geography this year. I decided that we should have a meal from each country that we study. Cooking with the kids is a blast for me, and it is highly educational for them. Ava gets to practice kitchen safety, and Lukas gets to practice his math skills by measuring. Plus, they both love it! This week, we made a Canadian meal. I found interesting things on the internet when I was googling for traditional Canadian recipes. For instance, did you know that seal fin is quite the big deal on the east coast of Canada? I also found a couple recipes for muskrat. Since seal fin is not readily available in central Ohio and muskrat is anything but appealing, we opted for an inexpensive French-Canadian dish similar to shepherd's pie called pate chinois. It's so simple and seems to be so similar to traditional American cuisine, that you won't believe that it's actually a traditional French-Canadian recipe. I found several recipes for this, and I decided to use the one that seemed to be the friendliest for my kids (well, Lukas, mostly, since he's the picky one). Here it is for your enjoyment: PATE CHINOIS 1 pound ground beef, lamb or pork (we used beef) 1/2 medium onion 1/2 cup green pepper 1.5 cups frozen corn or 1 can whole kernal corn 1 can creamed corn 6-8 servings mashed potatoes (I guessed at this and think we actually had more than this) 1.5 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded Brown ground meat, onion and pepper. Salt and pepper to taste. Drain any fat from meat, and spread meat into bottom of 9x13 casserole dish. Pour whole kernel corn over meat (if using a can, drain water first). Pour creamed corn over the whole kernel corn. Layer the mashed potatoes over this. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Sprinkle the top with cheese and bake for 10 minutes longer. Note: If your potatoes are not freshly made (ours were cold), you will need to bake this longer. Ours baked for almost an hour because the potatoes were refrigerated. Also, I left the green peppers out because neither of my kids eat them. Normally, I would put them in anyway, but I knew it was going to be a battle to get Lukas to eat this meal. He doesn't do casseroles very well. Let me know if you make this! It's delicious, and it makes a lot! It's a great meal to stretch your grocery buck too! |
3 November 2009
Faith Building Lessons
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We've watched for a few years now as more and more Americans lost their jobs and cut-backs or closings of major corporations took place across the nation. Our hearts are always saddened by such events. It makes us angry at times and frustrated with the government at times. We run the gamut of emotions as we watch those we know and love go through hard economic times, and we hope and hope and hope that it won't be us. We push the very thought to the back of our minds thinking that it won't happen to us. We're fine. Our jobs are secure. We either choose to do nothing to prepare for the possibility, or we aren't able to prepare, so we choose to ignore the possibility altogether knowing that we'll just have to deal with it if it comes our way. I remember feeling the very same way about having a c-section. When we took our child birth classes to prepare for Lukas' delivery, I was so stubborn about not ever having a c-section that I practically ignored the instructor that week. I didn't want to hear about a c-section. I didn't need to hear about a c-section. It was not going to happen to me. But then...it always could happen to us, and, sometimes, it does happen to us, doesn't it? Sometimes, it happens more than once even. I survived having an emergency c-section when Lukas was born. I survived 22 hours of hard labor, shouting in my drug-induced state that I was going to die, and placing fear into the mind of my sweet, pregnant-for-the-first-time friend spending much of the day with us at the hospital. It was a challenging experience, the most physically painful experience of my life; and, yet, I survived. Twice. The second time was easier. It was a planned c-section. There was no emergency, no labor pain, no pain at all until later than night when some of the drugs began to lose effect. There is no pain-free way to birth a baby. Sometimes it seems like there is no pain-free way to accomplish anything in life. I survived financial exhaustion too. I knew that God was trying to teach certain lessons during that time, and I prayed that those lessons would be learned. I also prayed for deliverance from that experience because there was nothing about it that would ever make me want to do it again. I should have thought to pray that God wouldn't deliver us from that situation until He knew we had accomplished the task of learning the life lesson He had for us. God would never cause us to go through such difficult times, but He can use anything to teach us to be more dependent on Him. Now is the time we must learn this kind of faith. Now is the time we must realize what it truly means to trust in the Lord. Now is the time to hold fast to the truths which He has given to us in His word. Now is the time to wait upon the Lord and see what He has for us. This weekend, we sang a song in church which just keeps resonating in my brain. "Giants, you die! The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Giants, they die! Just walk around your Jericho wall. Now we come in your name, and we stand on your word. What is loosed in the heavens will be loosed on earth. Let God arise! Giants, DIE!" I realize I posted those very words in yesterday's blog post as well, but they are going through my head over and over right now helping me to get through to the next moment. I know that I am always battling one giant or another in my life. This time is no exception. This giant can continue to knock on my door, but I will not be defeated. I will not lie down. I will stand on the promises of God's holy word! "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 |
2 November 2009
The Simple Woman's Daybook #16
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For Today, 2 November 2009 Outside my window...the smell of burning leaves floats in the air. I am thinking... that things shouldn't be this way at this point in my life, but what do I know? I am thankful for... the knowledge that we can make it through our current situation because God is always there to provide for our needs. I am wearing... old blue jeans and an aqua top. I am remembering... how difficult this was the last time, and I'm not remembering it fondly. I am creating... fun, free, family fun nights. Tonight? An art project. I am going... to thrive in all circumstances if I keep my focus on the Lord. I am reading... Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel as well as a new read-aloud that I haven't chosen yet but will begin reading on Wednesday. I'll tell you next week. ;) I am hoping... that God will show-up in a mighty way in our lives. On my mind... are many ways in which I can bring extra income into our budget while still staying home with my children. From the learning rooms... A study of South America begins with the geography of Brazil and a scientific study of the rain forest. We're making a traditional Canadian meal tomorrow to conclude our North American studies. Noticing that... the stages of mourning apply in many situations, not just the loss of a loved one or a major tragedy. Pondering these words... "Giants! You die! The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Giants! They die. Just walk around your Jericho wall. Now we come in your name, and we stand on your word. What is loosed in the heavens will be loosed on earth! Let God arise! Giants, DIE!" From the kitchen... pate chinois (a French Canadian casserole similar to Shepherd's Pie that is super easy and super economical) and butter tarts, which appeared on every single page I explored when googling "Canadian recipes." Around the house... there is still a leak in the closet, but my shower handle has been repaired. I'm sorting clothes in the kids closets this week and stowing some of them in the garage to pass onto my sister and selling a few things on ebay that I don't think she'll use. One of my favorite things... boxed macaroni and cheese and hot dogs. How awful is that meal? We rarely eat like this, but it is one of my favorites from childhood. A few plans for the rest of the week... other than our normal schedule, we'll be voting NO ON ISSUE 3 tomorrow at the voting booths, and I hope that the majority of my fellow Buckeyes will do the same to protect our state(we'll be casting other votes as well, but that is the most important to me in this particular election), and Lukas' first district Bible Quiz is on Saturday morning. For more Simple Woman's Daybook information and to join us, see the blog created by the initiator of this great idea! http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ |