Time Flies

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it has been 2 weeks since the last time I posted.

In the past 6 weeks my kids have all had birthdays. My oldest is now 9, my middle child is 6 and my "baby" is now 3! This is unbelievable. It was just yesterday that I birthed the first one! Now she is 9! (Okay guys, you might want to skip this part). A friend of mine mentioned that she had her first period at 9! Oh, I am so not ready for that! Isn't there some way I can keep her little?

And my little boy! He is my baby! I want to be able to hold him forever. Thank goodness he is in this mommy stage right now. I am thoroughly enjoying it. But he is so big. He talks like a big boy in full sentences and you can understand him! Now I understand why people keep having babies!

My middle one is very sweet and she can't decide if she wants to be big or little. She wants me to hold her every morning but then she wants to be like her big sister and do every thing the big sister does. It is kind of nice and also trying.

So for now, I'll try to accept them and where they are at. I will try not to wish their lives away. I will try to enjoy them in each moment knowing they soon will be grown and no longer my babies.

I have a problem...

I want Christmas to be perfect. I want it not only to be perfect but I want it to be like the Christmases I remember from my childhood. Which is strange because our family Christmases were not perfect. I don't think any ones ever is. But I do have some fond memories.

I loved spending time with my paternal grandparents on Christmas Eve. They picked me up early in the day before anyone else came over. I ran errands with them. We would go to get a hamburger for lunch. I helped out a little bit but I also would lie on their couch watching old movies. We went to church for Christmas Eve services which I particularly loved. It was so nice to have all of their attention. It's one of my best memories.

My mom must have spent DAYS baking every Christmas. We had cut out cookies, coffee cakes, crescent rolls, pecan sandies, butterscotch stars, fruitcake cookies...I can't remember what else but it was all good...except for maybe the fruitcake:) I try to make some of mom's recipes but I also have some of our own favorites. It never feels like enough though.

A lot of my problem is that I want to get my kids everything they want...which this year is especially difficult. I want them to be thrilled and overwhelmed. Of course, we never get them all they want but in the past we have gotten them a lot. Well, this year we are choosing a different way. I hope that they will be happy about all of what we did this season rather than what they get. It is hard. With God's help I am sure we will make it through but there are still feelings to feel and emotions to deal with. God has a different path for us to take this year and It's sometimes hard to swallow...but God's path is always good.

My problem (or problems) can always be solved with God's help.

From the Big Book...
"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems..." p.449 in 3rd edition

From the Bible...
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Easy but messy holiday treat!

Well, we just finished making a batch of Pretzel Snowmen at our house. They really aren't snowmen but my kids know them by that name. Maybe when they are older they really will be snowmen but for now they are just pretzel rods with melted white chocolate chip glaze and every sort of sprinkle possible! It is something we have adapted for each holiday. At Halloween they are pretzel ghosts and at Easter they are pretzel bunnies.

We love them but WOW! what a mess! The 3 year old joined in today and he kept (don't tell any of the relatives) licking his fingers! Both my 6 year old and my 9 year old fell off their chairs reaching for something! There are sprinkles everywhere and white chocolate glue attached to everything including the chair backs! Plus the bottoms of my socks are very sticky!

But it was great family time together. They love making them. I think they love making them more than eating them...or maybe not...I did catch my oldest eating up the pile of leftover sprinkles. It was fun and fairly inexpensive. I think the Pretzel ghosts will be a tradition for years to come. And a memory that will "stick" with my precious children for a long time.

Pretzel Snowmen

1 bag of Pretzel Rods
1 bag of white chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli)
Assorted Sprinkles (red & green sugars & nonpareils, crushed candy canes, etc.)

Melt white chocolate chips in a glass bowl for a minute. Stir to mix. Microwave 15 more seconds or until spreadable. Use a small rubber scraper to "paint" on the chocolate leaving a small unpainted "handle" at the bottom. Decorate and lay on a piece of waxed paper to dry. We have also dried them in coffee mugs so as not to get a flat side. Be aware it takes a lot of mugs and sometimes they stick together. Store in airtight container. They will last for weeks if you don't eat them before then.

We homeschool!

My kids are homeschooled. I love having the kids home with me. There are many times when I want to pull my hair out but overall it is awesome. I love the freedom. I love the relationship that my children have with each other. I love the opportunities we have to do things during the day. I love teaching my children what I think is appropriate. I love teaching them about Jesus and reading to them from the Bible. It is ideal for my family.

We have a curriculum but I have difficulty following the schedule. People tell me that kids need a routine. Well, I am not sure about that but I do know I get less whining when we do the same lessons each day. My son who is 3 listens in on what we are doing so I know he is taking some of it. My 6 year old is doing 3rd grade spelling which is definitely beneficial for her. We all read books together which builds our bond as a family. Reading is one of my favorite things to do and I don't do it very often because there is always something else to do. But this way I get to read stories I may not have read before. I picked this curriculum because of the reading. I actually had to hold us back from reading it all the first month we had the curriculum. My oldest and I would have finished it all and I am glad we didn't because now the 6 year old can read and we can all go through it together. We don't do our school the same time each day. We don't do it 5 days a week. We don't do each subject each day. We are a work in progress.

And about that socialization thing...it's the least of my worries. My kids have plenty of friends. They are comfortable speaking with adults. They have manners. They know how to behave (for the most part) in public. We have church, ballet lessons, field trips, parties, events, etc. in which they are around plenty of people. I really think that is the silliest excuse in the world to dislike homeschooling.

Here is a book that I loved about Homeschooling:
Real Life Homeschooling: 21 Families Who Teach Their Children at Home by Rhonda Barfield

Here is a homeschooling website with a daily devotional that I receive every day:
http://www.aophomeschooling.com/

Here is the website for our local homeschool group in Austin:
http://www.main.org/aah/

Gratitude

Have you heard of the saying "Attitude of Gratitude"? It's harder than it seems. But it is a necessary part of staying sane and peaceful. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of gratitude-a time where we say thanks for all that we have. Well, I forgot. We spent time with relatives, got holiday pictures taken, had a birthday party and so on and so on. So I forgot to thank God for all that He has given me. It is all from Him. All that I have comes from Him.

So, here is my gratitude list (try making your own, it will feel good).
I am grateful for:
1. My health-I have issues but I am alive!
2. My kids-they are so cute!
3. My husband-he loves me more than I deserve.
4. Our house-it is warm and dry
5. My husband's job-in this economy, we are lucky
6. The food in our refrigerator
7. Our church family-I feel so blessed
8. AA and my sobriety and my husband's sobriety
9. My sponspor and her guidance
10. Jesus

Here's one of my kid's favorite movies about this:
Veggie Tales Madame Blueberry with the song "A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart"

Here's one of my favorite verses from the Bible:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Here's a song that might inspire you:
Forever by Chris Tomlin (pay particular attention to the first verse)

Why I love Austin!

Austin is the only place I would live in Texas. When I told my family I wanted to move to Austin, they were perplexed. "Why do you want to live somewhere that has dessert and tumbleweeds?" was the question I got from many of my relatives. I told them that it wasn't like that. I told them about the Hill Country but they just couldn't believe it. I mentioned the bluebonnets in spring and the nice warm water. They couldn't picture it. See, we grew up with 8 months of winter (I may exaggerate slightly-let's say 6 months for argument sake) and none of us moved away...until I took the leap and moved across the country. It was like I moved to a foreign country.

Austin is so beautiful! The water, the hills, the city, the green belt. Austin is so odd! The city's slogan is "Keep Austin Weird" (that may be unofficial). We've got a man named Leslie who wears dresses and runs for mayor regularly. There used to be an event called Spamarama that was dedicated to all things Spam. We have a colony of bats under a bridge that is a highlight for visiting tourists. Austin has tons of live music from country to jazz to Tejano and any other genre you can think of.You want food? What kind? We have anything and everything. My husbands favorite? Anything Mexican-any kind of tacos! My favorite? Seafood. We love going out to eat. It's our entertainment.

I also love Austin because I met my husband here. I believe God wanted me to move to Austin to meet him. I had only lived here about a month when we met and that was that. Total God thing! Our children are native Texans. We love our church. To be honest we have thought about moving on occasion. And you are thinking right now..."she just told us how much she loves Austin?" Well, true. But you try living somewhere that had more than 50 days over 100 degrees! I like warm weather but whew! Anyway, one of the reasons we don't leave is because of our church. Riverbend is such a place of grace that we aren't sure we could find that anywhere else. We are so grateful to have such an awesome church family.

If you haven't been here it may be hard for you to picture how wonderful Austin is. The Capitol. Barton Springs. Loop 360 Bridge. The Greenbelt. The Frost Building. Lady Bird Lake. The Broken Spoke. The Wildflower Center. All this and a bunch more. Y'all come see us!

Tis the Season...

I love the holidays. I really do! I get all caught up in the magic of Christmas and the gratitude of Thanksgiving. With 3 kids, we try to make it as special as possible. We decorate, make cookies, play Christmas carols, drive around and look at lights, go to sing-a-longs, etc. Where we live there is no snow but that's okay we make due with 50's and rain! I want the kids to have great memories when they grow up. I hope they will.

There is one thing...we are BUSY!!! Just this week we had 3 nights of choir practices before our big performance today. And that's on top of another evening at church, an extra meeting at church and a girl scout activity plus our regular schedule. On the one hand I love the busyness but on the other hand, it is tiring. I know, I know, I asked for it --signing the kids up for so much, volunteering so much and wanting to be involved. If it was just the physical stuff we'd be okay. It's the emotional stresses that play the biggest part. The holidays can bring up memories and can bring extra financial worries. This can be overwhelming and difficult.

SO...This is the time of year to celebrate Jesus' birth! That is so important and any way we can celebrate Him is awesome. We aren't always this busy so we do what we can do and let go of the rest. I know that God doesn't give me more than I can handle. I also know that God is my strength and my salvation. I can live one day at a time knowing it's all going to work out in the end. So Merry Christmas! Relax and enjoy!

Here's one of my favorite verses from the Bible that applies:
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13 (New American Standard Bible)

Here's one of my favorite songs that may help with this:
God is Good All the Time by Don Moen

What's for Breakfast?

My family loves Cereal! We eat all kinds of it. I even eat it as a dessert at night sometimes. My husband laughs at me because I buy organic or natural cereal but they have sugar in them. Then he teases me by saying "because organic sugar is better than regular sugar, right?" Yes! It is better! At least that is my theory and I am sticking with it.

Here are our some of our favorites:

• Annie's Homegrown Fruity Bunnies
• Cascadian Farm Organic Kids Cinnamon Crunch
• Bear Naked All Natural Peanut Butter Granola (discontinued)
• EnviroKidz Peanut Butter Panda Puffs

In case you want something more savory, filled with protein and great for house guests, try this recipe I have adapted from Cooks.com. I will add tips throughout and at the end of the recipe.

Breakfast Casserole
approx. 8 slices of bread (can be day old or ends that you've saved in the freezer)
1lb. bacon or sausage (i use turkey b-fast links and squeezed out the sausage from the casing)
1 1/2 cups grated cheese (i have used goat cheese or a cheddar)
10 eggs
3 cups milk (i have used lactose free milk)
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper to taste

Grease 13 x 9 inch casserole (or baking pan). Tear bread (use enough to fully cover the bottom of pan) and put in casserole. Brown and drain bacon or sausage. Crumble over bread. Sprinkle with cheese. Beat eggs with milk, mustard and seasonings. Pour over mixture in casserole. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Make sure all the liquid has turned into solid.
Best if prepared the night before, cover and refrigerate.
Serves 8-10

I have made this several times and people love it. I'd like to try it with ham.

Enjoy!

Green Tips

Here's something you might not know about me...I am passionate about recycling! I am the person who has 2 recycling bins-one for the stuff they pick up on trash day and one to take down to our local recycling station. I put every piece of paper--and I mean every piece of paper --in a brown paper bag for recycling. Newspapers, mail, magazines, writing paper down to tea bag wrappers, tags off new clothes and crayon wrappers. I am also the kind that will take recyclables out of the garbage to keep them from being thrown away. I will take home those little plastic sample cups from the grocery store so I can recycle them. We take our own cups places so we can have water instead of using a plastic bottle or a throw away cup. I have used my own bag at the grocery store way before it was the cool thing to do.

Some people I have talked to about recycling say it's too much of a hassle or too dirty or a waste of time. I suppose it could be but I have some tips to make it easier.

Tips on how to be more GREEN:

1. Recycle your newspapers-easy starting point-no mess just put them in the bin

2. Recycle your plastic water bottles-take off the lid and throw it in the bin-no mess

3. BETTER IDEA-don't use plastic water bottles, take your own cup or coffee mug to work or buy a reusable water bottle to save green & $green.

4. Leave your shopping bags in the car--even better...buy washable reusable bags!

5. Use your brown paper bags to hold your paper recycling

6. Reuse plastic bags-Take a newspaper sleeve with you to walk the dog and pick up his droppings with it. Double bag your new bread with old bread bags before you put it in the freezer. Instead of a diaper disposal system that uses a ton of plastic, bag your diaper up in a grocery bag.

These are just some simple ideas. I hope you try them out!

Where to start...

I am not one of those people who are always happy. I don't always have a smile on my face. I can't seem to get past some things. I feel overwhelmed a lot. I am usually lost in thought and have a blank expression on my face. I tend to stress and let the stress show. Although you might not know because I usually say I am fine. My family knows though because unfortunately they bear the brunt of my frustration. I am not proud to say it but I am a yeller.

I tell you all of these things so that you might not feel alone if you do these things too. I know that it sounds pretty depressing and sometimes it can be...

BUT...

I also know that God is always with me. I can ask Him to remove my fear. So I pray that he take away whatever it is I am scared of AND turn my attention to helping someone else. It can be helping my child with their schoolwork, calling a friend I know is having a hard time, volunteering at church, donating something to a homeless person on the corner or many other things. This part takes my mind off myself and my troubles. Plus it gives God a chance to work on me. Nice!

Here's one of my favorite verses from the Bible that applies:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11(NIV)

Here's one of my favorite lines about this subject from the big book Of Alcoholics Anonymous:
"We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be." page 68

Here's one of my favorite songs that might help if you can relate to this post:
All In(Letting Go) by tobyMac from the album portable sounds