Easter Candy is the Best Candy!

My favorites are:

Cadbury Mini Eggs

(how cute are they?)

Cadbury Eggs

And Pink Peeps!

I LOVE these candies too much so they will NOT be any of my children's Easter baskets! ;)

What is YOUR favorite Easter candy?

The World According to Lucas

Talking to Lucas is one of my favorite things to do. He is hilarious. Here are a few gems from this week so far. Yes, it's only Tuesday!

Before dinner last night I had to run to Trader Joe's and Lucas asked to come along. In the check out line he greeted the woman behind us. "Hi! What's your name?" "Kay", she answered. "What's yours?" "Lucas." "How old are you, Lucas?" Kay asked. "I'm 2! How old are you, Kay?" And what's your guy's name?", Lucas asked, pointing to the random guy behind her. Awkward.

Last night as we were getting ready for a bath, Lucas looked me straight in the eye and said he needed a lamp with him in the bath.

Today Lucas was sitting on the couch and Ava started to crawl up by grabbing his foot. He kicked her hand away. I got him up and asked why he was kicking her. He said, "Because I'm HUNGRY!"

When it was time for his nap today, I told Lucas to get a toy he wanted to sleep with. He came back with a little bowl. It's contents: a mini rhino, a plastic toy solider, a lego window, and a wheel from a toy car. Proudly, he showed me his treasures and asked me to say good night to each one.

I SO wish everyone could have a Lucas!!!

(Here he is in front of the neighbor's garage proudly showing off the binoculars he "found" inside)

Acts 29 Coffee

Help Plant Churches One Cup At A Time!!

Acts 29 Coffee exists to help churches fund new church plants and unify churches on mission regionally. When you buy Acts 29 Coffee, 100% of the net proceeds from the sale go directly to the church planting effort. Help plant new gospel-centered churches and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ!

From the Acts 29 Coffee website:

Acts 29 Coffee has partnered with Cutter’s Point, a coffee roaster with a desire to use the company to further God’s kingdom purposes on earth. They have generously allowed us to use their company to create our own product line – Acts 29 Coffee.


One bag of coffee costs $10.99. The coffee roaster has committed to give $5 from the sale of every bag of coffee directly back to Acts 29 Coffee. The proceeds from the coffee are managed through the Acts 29 Eastside Area Foundation. If your church has partnered with us to begin raising funds for church planting we will be able to track and report on the progress in your region. We will then work directly with your regional leader to send funds for church planters.

It’s as simple as logging on to the secure web site, ordering a monthly subscription or one time purchase and your coffee will ship the next day and be delivered to your door step.

Click HERE to order!!!!!

Sandals

I was thinking about getting some dressy Spring shoes since I've been living in flip flops. I saw these Christian Louboutins:

and now no other shoes will do! :)

Beach Walk

This morning I had to run to the mall for some make-up and by the time I got back I was discouraged again about what size clothes I fit into and the blotches on my skin. Guess I needed to read yesterday's post again. Ha! But I prayed that God would take away those thoughts so I could enjoy the day with my family. We were off to the beach for a family walk. We had planned to take the kids to a free Science Expo downtown but it was just tooooo nice out. 77 and breezy. Clear skies. Lovely. I hope I didn't ruin their chances of becoming scientists.

Walking on the beach it's impossible to not think of God. The ocean is vast, amazing, incredible. Created by a loving God. For us. Watching my kids run and play and jump in the water with my hot hubby made my heart feel full. I'm SO blessed.

Sometimes it's hard for me to focus on the things that I can be thankful, grateful for. It's easier to let my thoughts be consumed with what I'm not thankful for. That's a big part of my struggle with my body image-my mind.

As I walked, I thought about how my life is just a vapor and will be over soon. The things that upset me this morning are NOTHING in light of eternity. I can't allow those thoughts to weigh me down. I thought about how in Hebrews it says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." And I thought about how Paul says in Titus, “11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” And how in Colossians Paul admonishes us to, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.". I thought about these verses and how they went together.”.

Anyway, these verses all jumbled together in my heart and mind and as I meditated on them, I realized that God’s grace was given to me to not only say NO to the things of this world and my thoughts and desires but also to be able to live in peace and thanksgiving as I live the life He has for ordained me. See how they all mesh together? :)

I love the ocean and the beach and my family and above all, my God! The rest of life I’m sorting out and asking for more grace and peace and thanksgiving and joy and love because my God loves to lavish his children with these things. Especially at the beach!

Do you worry about food and clothes, too?

Matthew 6:31-33: "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Ugh! I worry about what I'll eat (more accurately: what I won't eat, shouldn't eat) and what I'm going to wear all the time. Everyday. Am I here still? Still trying to lose weight, still insecure about my body, my clothes? Yep. The realization that I am sad over these things more than I am joyful about God's salvation hit me today. My thoughts are easily consumed with the very things Jesus told me NOT to be consumed by. And I don't think I'm the only woman who struggles with this disobedience.

Jesus knows my heart, my struggle, my desires. He knows what is best for me to eat or what to wear. But so often I just worry and think and plan my daily diet instead of praying. Asking God to guide my decisions and help me glorify him with my food. And my clothes.

As I meditated on these verses, I felt God whispering His love and care for me. In this struggle. In this place I hate to be and can't wait to leave. I want Him to be God over all of my life. Even my food and clothes. Especially my food and clothes. And He will guide me and help me and heal me. Because He LOVES me and cares for me greater than I could ever care for myself.

Praise God that I don't have to worry about those things. My life is more valuable to him than stressing over what I eat and wear. What a waste! He has given me one task, SEEK Him. His kingdom and righteousness. And all these other things will be added to me.

Trader Joe's Thursdays

Chinese Dinner

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts-cut into strips*Stab the chicken a lot and put in a Ziploc bag with the dressing. Maybe a cup or so. Enough to cover and marinate the chicken. Put in the fridge for an hour.*

TJ's Chinese Chicken Salad dressing to marinate the chicken (I like the one from Costco best though)

TJ's Veggie Egg Rolls. TJ's has chicken ones too but these are less fattening and healthier.

TJ's Vegetable Fried Rice. See above note on the egg rolls.

TJ's Sweet Chili Sauce. By the cans of coconut milk.

bag of carrots or broccoli or green beans (whatever side veggie you want)

an egg

some oil

*Rooster hot sauce-not at TJ's but AWESOME and necessary for Jesse to eat any type of Aisan food.

~Pop the egg rolls in the oven on oiled foil lined pans (it says to on the package). Heat a sauté pan and dump the chicken in. No need to oil the pan since there is oil in the dressing. Cook until done. While the chicken is cooking, heat some oil in another sauté pan. Dump in the veggie rice bag and cook-about 3 minutes. Check the chicken and egg rolls. Both should probably flip over by now. Then push all the rice to the outer edges of the pan, crack the egg in the middle, scramble it up and then mix into the rice. By now the egg rolls should be nice and crispy. Pour some chili sauce into a dish for dipping. Oh-you should steam some veggies for the side while you're checking the chicken and egg rolls somehow and Ta-Da! Dinner is served.

Total cost: about $10. WAY cheaper than Chinese take-out! And healthier too. :)

My Sons are Speaking my Love Languge

This morning I woke up to my oldest sons already dressed, happily playing together after having made their own school lunches so "I could sleep in a little more". What?!!?!? Amazing. And no, it wasn't full of fruit snacks and candy! ;)
Yesterday, when I gave them their chores, Caleb volunteered to clean all the bathrooms for me. Because he "likes to see all the dirt on the counter go away!"
On our morning walk, Ava started to get fussy and Lucas handed her his toy and said, "Don't cry, sweet pea!".

Why are my boys SO amazing? I'm in love with my three precious sons!

Ava at 11 months

Ava is such a joy. I am so thankful God blessed me with a daughter! I'm getting ready for her birthday party and am so excited for all the cute, pink decorations. I've even made a cute birthday banner for her! Her daddy and brothers (even Lucas) call her "sweet pea". I call her "lovie" or "lil sweetie". She lights up whenever she sees us and her cheeks are fabulous, squishy and perfect for kissing!

Her favorite things in her 11 month of life include:

her mommy, daddy, and brothers

standing up to play 

crawling as fast as she can

singing

eating

going for walks-especially in the Snuggli

being kissed. She tries to kiss back...with her forehead! It's hilarious

her bows! ;)

Shes not a fan of:

baths

being left in the nursery

sitting in her car seat unless the car is moving

Here she is eating a new cereal for the 1st time....She loved it, obviously!

I LOVE her!

My daily blogs

Okay, I failed my mission. I din't write anything this weekend. And I've missed a couple days before as well. But I'll keep trying. It's fun to have a challenge and it's also a great way to look back at my days. It's funny to read my blog posts from a year ago or longer and remember what I was feeling (or not feeling) at the time. I can read posts about the begining of my love for my husband, the fabulous adventures of being a boy mom, longing for a daughter, the joy when she came, the heart break of saying goodbye to my WA girlies, the excitement of moving back home to sunny SoCal...all in a year. Crazy. What a fun diary. That my friends and random strangers read, too. Actually, what a wierd diary.

So the other day I read my friend Kelly's blog about mybe "coming up for air on the shallow side once in awhile" and I realized I'm at the opposite extreme of the blogging world right now. My blogs lately are easy and not reflecting a lot of heart thought. I could say that I wish I had TIME to write more about what is in my heart but the truth is some days all I can articulate is a funny story or a poem I love or a quote from Spurgeon. Sometimes I am cracking up writing my daily blog and some days I don't even want to write anything and some days I pour into it.

But those are my days....

Bad Day, too? Read this. And believe it....

Psalm 84

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah.
A psalm.


1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!

2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.

Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools. [b]

7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.

Selah

9 Look upon our shield, [c] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.

10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

Trader Joe's Thursdays

Ok, this is a 1st. I'm posting a recipe I didn't make-up/re-do and haven't even tried yet. (Well, I did change it a tiny bit to make it easier by using stuff available at TJ's)
I just saw this on this website and thought it sounded great, easy and without too many ingredients. My kind of cooking! :)

Meatballs
40 already cooked meatballs (I'll use the turkey ones from Costco-cheaper)
2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter
1 cup canned coconunt milk
1 tablespoon Aisan hot sauce (the one with the rooster on it) or red chile paste
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons white granulated sugar

~Put meatballs into slow cooker (frozen is fine). Add peanut butter and coconut milk. Drop in a gollop of red chile paste, then add soy sauce and sugar. Stir as well as you can to combine---it won't be perfect because the peanut butter will still be clumpy. No worries. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, high for 2-4, or until peanut butter mixture is fully melted and the meatballs are heated throughout.
Serve as a hot appetizer, or over long grained basmati rice with my favorite TJ's garlic green beans as a meal

Uganda

Please pray for my sweet friend who left for Uganda today, Lindsay Laliberte. I wish I had her wisdom and love for the Lord at 18 like she does. And pray for her lovely family left behind to miss her. So hard!!

Here is her website: http://www.ugandaway.com/

I miss her already! :(

Too warm and sunny

It's too warm and sunny to blog today. I'm off to read a book outside in the sunshine and play in the sprinklers with my lovies.

Bye Bye blog.

;)

What does a 1-year old GIRL play with?

It's almost Ava's birthday and people (ok, grandparents! hahaha!) are asking me what to get her. After having 3 boys, I keep looking at tea sets and dolls and cute pink, sparkly things. But...what will she really want to play with at one? Any girl moms got any advice for me???/ So far I'm thinking:

an activity table (wish there were some cute pink ones! Know of any?)

a ball popper (Lucas loved this but it got broken in the move)

and this Little People Palace:

Or is she too young for that?

Okay, girl moms....what were your daughters favorite toys at on year old? Please help!

Happy Saturday

A huge breakfast-pancakes, turkey sausage, hasbrowns.
Family chores.
Pee on the carpet BUT poop in the potty.
PB&J and fresh pears.
SeaWorld.
Popcorn and Shamu.
Dinner out.
Game night with friends.
Red Wine.

Happy Saturday.

Friday Blah and Eternal Glory

I told Jesse that I have nothing to say today and I don't want to write my blog. He said, "Don't do it!". Ha! But seriously, maybe I didn't want to articulate this week? It's been a really hard week for me. I was in tears a few times because I was just overwhelmed by all I needed to do and the realization that I didn't want to do it! Floors, toilets, laundry, getting up at 6am, cleaning poop off a toilet, cleaning pee off the floor, etc. All the mundane drudgeries that I hate to do.

But worst of all were the many times I realized that Jesus was not enough for me this week. I saw very clearly how my idols of comfort and control were more important to me than loving and serving my King.
All I want is Jesus. Oh, and a husband who loves me perfectly. And cute, smart, obedient, Godly kids with clean rooms and stylish clothes that always smile and go to bed at 7pm and wake up at 9am. (Potty trained and sweet smelling too, please!). And a spotless, huge house with fabulous furniture. And a cute butt and skinny thighs and a flat stomach and great hair (finally a check! Kidding. But I do like my hair!).

See, I say all I want is Jesus but when I don't get the things above, my mood is altered. Jesus isn't enough for me anymore. I'm angry, sad, jealous, pouty, depressed. And I struggled with this all week so that by today I feel exhausted.

But I am thankful and joyful that I struggled!!  As I walked for an hour in the sunshine today I thought about how I am a daughter of the King and will struggle with these things as long as I'm on Earth. BUT the struggle means the Holy Spirit inside of me is fighting my sin, exposing more and more yuck so I can become more and more holy!

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

So…although this was a tough week for me. It’s just a week. I’m heading towards eternity and this week is preparing me for Christ. And as I walk in the good works that God has prepared for me, even though they are hard, (including serving my family by cleaning poop!) I KNOW that I will soon partake of His incomparable riches and will be in joy forever more. This week is short. Eternity is long. And all of those “things” that seem so important are NOTHING compared with the joy I will have in that day!

Trader Joe's Thursdays

Since Easter is right around the corner (Shut up, Sierra!) I thought I'd post this dish. It was originally from Real Simple Magazine and it actually had ham in it. I don't like ham so I don't add it BUT I make it as a side dish when I make ham-like at Christmas or Easter. But add the ham to make a main dish for dinner and serve with salad and rolls.
Also,  I prefer to buy the goat cheese and Croutons from Costco because they are cheaper/better! But you can still get everything from TJ's if you prefer.

My Favorite Cauliflower Ever

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium sweet onion, sliced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup milk (I've made it using 1% milk and couldn't tell the difference but it originally called for whole)
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets OR 1 bag of cauliflower florets
1/2 C. finely crushed croutons from Costco (bsically the stuff at the bottom of the bag when they are all gone. That's how the idea came to me inthe 1st place!) OR seasoned bread crumbs

~Heat oven to 400° F. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened and light golden brown, about 6 minutes. Add the cream, milk, and cheese and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until thickened, about 4 minutes. Add the cauliflower.
Transfer to a 2-quart casserole dish and sprinkle with the croutons. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until the cauliflower is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest at least 5 minutes before serving.
*If you want to add the ham: Throw in a cup of cooked, cubed ham right after the onion is done and stir around for a minute. Then proceed as above.

Gospel Motivated Prayer

The sermon at my church this Sunday was on prayer. How so many (probably most!) Christians don't pray more than a pre-meal ritual and pre-bed lullaby. Why? Usually it's because we are disbelieving the gospel in one of these ways: thinking we don’t need God, thinking that our prayers don’t really matter , and/or thinking that we aren’t worthy of Him answering our prayers. Of course we would never SAY those things but the way we live shows that we absolutely believe those lies. As the preacher gave examples, I realized how often I have believed those lies about the gospel and neglected the gift and command of prayer. But I was so encouraged and convicted by what gospel motivated prayer should be. Especially at the end of the sermon as he was exhorting us to know and believe our identity in Christ. What an amazingly gracious God we have. He is altogether lovely.


P.S. The preacher was Jesse Winkler on Sunday. Love him! ;)

Calvary Love by Amy Carmichael

Calvary Love

 

If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting "Who made thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?" then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I find myself taking lapses for granted, "Oh, that's what they always do," "Oh, of course she talks like that, he acts like that," then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can enjoy a joke at the expense of another; if I can in any way slight another in conversation, or even in thought, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can write an unkind letter, speak an unkind word, think an unkind thought without grief and shame, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not feel far more for the grieved Savior than for my worried self when troublesome things occur, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I can rebuke without a pang, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If my attitude be one of fear, not faith, about one who has disappointed me; if I say, "Just what I expected" if a fall occurs, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, "You do not understand," or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other's highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am content to heal a hurt slightly, saying "Peace, peace," where there is no peace; if I forget the poignant word "Let love be without dissimulation" and blunt the edge of truth, speaking not right things but smooth things, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I hold on to choices of any kind, just because they are my choice, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I am soft to myself and slide comfortably into self-pity and self-sympathy; If I do not by the grace of God practice fortitude, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I myself dominate myself, if my thoughts revolve round myself, if I am so occupied with myself I rarely have "a heart at leisure from itself," then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If, the moment I am conscious of the shadow of self crossing my threshold, I do not shut the door, and keep that door shut, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I cannot in honest happiness take the second place (or the twentieth); if I cannot take the first without making a fuss about my unworthiness, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I take offense easily, if I am content to continue in a cool unfriendliness, though friendship be possible, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I feel injured when another lays to my charge things that I know not, forgetting that my sinless Savior trod this path to the end, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I feel bitter toward those who condemn me, as it seems to me, unjustly, forgetting that if they knew me as I know myself they would condemn me much more, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If souls can suffer alongside, and I hardly know it, because the spirit of discernment is not in me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me; if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself; if I love to be loved more than to love, to be served more than to serve, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I crave hungrily to be used to show the way of liberty to a soul in bondage, instead of caring only that it be delivered; if I nurse my disappointment when I fail, instead of asking that to another the word of release may be given, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I do not forget about such a trifle as personal success, so that it never crosses my mind, or if it does, is never given room there; if the cup of flattery tastes sweet to me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If in the fellowship of service I seek to attach a friend to myself, so that others are caused to feel unwanted; if my friendships do not draw others deeper in, but are ungenerous (to myself, for myself), then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I refuse to allow one who is dear to me to suffer for the sake of Christ, if I do not see such suffering as the greatest honor that can be offered to any follower of the Crucified, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I slip into the place that can be filled by Christ alone, making myself the first necessity to a soul instead of leading it to fasten upon Him, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If my interest in the work of others is cool; if I think in terms of my own special work; if the burdens of others are not my burdens too, and their joys mine, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I wonder why something trying is allowed, and press for prayer that it may be removed; if I cannot be trusted with any disappointment, and cannot go on in peace under any mystery, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If the ultimate, the hardest, cannot be asked of me; if my fellows hesitate to ask it and turn to someone else, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

If I covet any place on earth but the dust at the foot of the Cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

That which I know not, teach Thou me, O Lord, my God.

by Amy Carmichael

Adventures in potty training. Part 1

We decided to start potty training in full force. TODAY!

~Lucas is stripped of his diaper. He willingly sits on the potty, excited for the promised sucker. No pee.
~I give him a juice box. I put him back on the potty to watch Curious George. No pee.
~He gets up and walks to the back of the couch. PEE! I rush over and try to put him on the potty while he is screaming. No more pee.
~I remind him that a sucker is only for pee in a potty. He says, "Mom! My butt is broken! No more pee! Sucker?"
~I'm laughing SO hard and putting him back on the potty. Still no pee.

Ok, I promise everyday won't be a play by play but that is ALL I'm doing today. Oh, and taking care of Ava. And cleaning. And making dinner. And a Costco run. And helping with homework. And having 25 people over for our Total Money Make-Over group tonight....Is it bedtime yet?

10 reasons I know I'm back in Cali

It's good to be home. Sometimes I can't believe I lived for about a decade away. But I'm happy to be back. Yesterday, as we drove to the beach for our family walk, I realized that there are so many little things that make SoCal home to me. Here are the 1st ten that I thought of....

1. Good Mexican food.
2. The Beach.
3. Friendly people. Waitstaff, clerks, people on the road. Ahhh....love the friendly SoCal vibe.
4. The speed limit on the freeway=FAST. Only in SoCal can you be driving 75mph and have a CHP drive up and around you because you're going to slow.
5. Outdoor soccer and baseball games for the kids. Without uggs and a winter coat. Or an umbrella.
6. In 2 hours I can be at: a beach, then a mountain with snow, then the desert, then a nice mall. Variety!
7. DISNEYLAND.
8. Being able to buy $10 good vodka at Trader Joe's. And NOT having to go to a scary liquor store.
9. In-N-Out. A's Burger's zucchini  sticks, Del Taco. And all the rest of the Cali food I knew and loved in high school.....
10. The weather. (Of course that would be on here!)

Happy Saturday. And please move here, too! :)

Community

Last night was the 6th night in a row of having people over for various meals, groups, community. I love it but I woke up exhasted from another sink full of dirty dishes, dirty floors, and another morning of work. I have other things going on this week too that make me even more tired. And cranky. So...the sight of my kitchen made me feel less than grateful today. Until I sat down with my tea and read Spurgeon's morning entry. Wow! What an encouraging word!!! I'm AWAKE, Lord! What a blessing to be weary from constant fellowship instead of weary from isolation and depression!!
________________________________________________
"Let us not sleep, as do others."—1 Thessalonians 5:6.

THERE are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, "To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse." Christian enquired, "Brother, where shall we begin?" And Hopeful answered, "Where God began with us." Then Christian sang this song—
"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.
Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell."
Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take "sweet counsel" with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open—the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them—a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. ~Spurgeon

Trader Joe's Thursdays

Do you have to make a nice-ish dinner but have about 10 minutes to do so?!?!? That's what happened to me the other night so this quick chicken parm was invented. Here ya go...

Totally Cheating Chicken Parm

1 container of "just chicken" cooked strips
1/4 C. flour and 1/2 C. Italian bread crumbs, mixed
frozen basil cubes
butter
1 jar of Vodka Sauce or 1 can of Toscana Marinara Sauce if you want lower fat/calories (I usually add stuff to any store bought sauce like sugar and garlic but these are fine without any if you're really in a hurry!)
1 pack of Angel Hair pasta or penne pasta
fresh parmesan cheese

~Ok, take the cooked chicken strips and toss them in the flour mixture until fully coated. Put some butter and 3 basil cubes in a frying pan and melt them together. Add chicken and cook until golden brown and covered in basil over medium heat-about 2 minutes each side. Meanwhile, cook pasta and heat sauce. Drain pasta, toss with olive oil or butter and 3 cubes of basil and 1/4 C. of parm cheese. Put on a platter. Pour hot pasta sauce over the top. Carefully arrange chicken on top of sauce and sprinkle the whole platter with fresh parm cheese. Delicious and QUICK!!!!!

10 Things I've learned So Far...

...On our "total money make-over"

1. A double coupon means you get double the amount off, NOT two of the item
2. Spending cash is harder than swiping a card because I want to spend less of it
3. It's annoying not to bring enough cash to the store and then have to run home and get it.
4. It's easier to sacrifce NOW if I know it will pay off in the FUTURE
5. Good food is really expensive. Junk food is cheap.
6. If you pay the minimum on a credit card w/ a $3,000 balance and a 14% interest rate it takes about 10     years to pay it off!
7. Out of 100 people age 65, 97 of them can't write a check for $600!
8. All the cliches (like "gazelle intensity") are annoying
9. It's best to start putting $$$ into your Christmas budget in January so it won't be overwhelming in December
10. It's helping my diet too since I have cute clothes I can't fit into yet but I can't afford to go buy more! Ha!

Mistakes Moms of Boys Make...part 3

Ok, this will be my last blog post in the series. I think. I could write more but I can't find the time to sit and think clearly lately since I'm too busy raising my boys (and daughter) right now! Moms of preschool and younger-it seems busy now, but just wait! School and relational issues and loss of innocence in small (and big) things take up WAY more mental time than playing, bathing, feeding. Trust me on this! So, enjoy the hectic pace now because it picks up even more! hahaha! (But I'm not kidding!)

So, here are the last 3 mistakes I want to address and hope that if, like me, you've made these mistakes without realizing it or wanting to admit it, this will be encouraging. Encouraging because if something is askew we can set it straight. But if something "is what it is", well...what can we do? Which leads me to mistake #1

1. Excusing sin. We do it all the time out of embarrassment, pride, or even a desire to protect our children from the reality of their suckiness. We call it "tired" instead of greedy and disobedient when our 2-year-old goes "kuku for coco puffs" at the store and throws a fit if you don't buy them. We call it shy when our 3 year-old is rude and disrespectful and won't answer the greeting of friends who come over to visit. We call it "picky" instead of rude and ungrateful when our 4 year old proclaims how disgusting the food is your friend made for dinner. Our 7-year-old is “sensitive” instead of manipulative and cowardly during his crying fits. Is your 9-year-old lazy and acting like a sluggard or he just "too busy" to do chores and study for tests? And maybe you say your teenager is just "having a hard day" when he totally disrespects you and blows off your questions. Yep, we're full of excuses for our kids' sin. The problem with this mistake is that we are being foolish to squander this opportunity to lead our kids to Christ. Romans says that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us! Halleluiah- we have an answer for sin. Jesus! If you need help identifying sinful patterns in your kids and finding verses to lead them to repentance, please read this book

2. Setting our kids up for failure. This is basically the opposite of #1. We do this when we neglect our kids’ needs for our own selfish reasons. An over-tired and hungry son will be cranky and prone to sin-just like we are! So while you might want to run that extra errand, your 2-year-old can’t! Or when you constantly discipline for the words and behaviors you fill his little 8-year-old mind with from the TV shows you neglectfully let him watch without checking the content, you set him up to fail. If your 11-year-old son is allowed to hang out with the cussing, smoking, disrespectful group down the block, don’t wonder why he’s acting the same way. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals”.
3. Not being consistent. Be thoughtful and decide what you will say NO to. And then stick with it! If your son is constantly whining at you to change your mind about something you told him no to (more TV time, more food, going to the park, spending the night at a friend’s house, etc.) it is because it woks! He has gotten his way before and will try and try again. If some negative behavior gets a spank sometimes and not others, kids will take their chances. So, be consistent.

There is a lot of wisdom to be gained from reading the Proverbs and all of scripture as to how we order our days-including relationships, food, etc. Apply that wisdom to your children's lives, too!

Ok, this is the last blog on the practical, how-to stuff. Any questions or comments? I’d love some feedback from you…. :)

And I think I will do one more on the source of our strength and wisdom so we do not become prideful if we do it "right' or despairing if we can't "live up".

Manic Monday

Today is crazy.

I woke up feeling sad and my heart is just heavy for the family of the missing girl, Chelsea King. After I posted yesterday, a sex offender was arrested in connection with her case. Jesse went to search with the volunteer teams and I'm praying she is found soon so her family can have closure. It's every parent's worst nightmare.

Ava had her first teething biscuit today. She wasn't too sure at first but fell in love. I took about 20 pictures. As I was cleaning the downstairs floors, I let her crawl around and put an armchair in front of the staircase. I got caught up for about 60 seconds and couldn't see her. She was on the TOP stair (I have 16!!!!!). After that mild heart attack, I finished the floors with her screaming in her saucer!

A family is coming over for dinner and then 5 more families will be here at 6:30 for our first Total Money Makeover group meeting. Gazelle intensity, baby!

And as I write this blog, one kid is crying about his ear hurting, one kid is whining about his day at school (something about 3rd graders hogging the handball courts...), one kid is punching his crying brother and one kid is sleeping. And they are all telling me how hungry they are! Except the sleeping one.

Time to clean, get dressed, run to the store, make dinner, help with homework-all before 5pm.

So...I gotta go. Bye! ;)