Interesting Weather

It snowed all day Sunday and Monday.  We got over 8 inches.  After a couple of months of nice, spring weather, it was very unwelcome....especially since all the local kids are out for summer vacation.

The only cool part was that the snowflakes were the biggest we'd ever seen.  It looked like someone was throwing millions of cotton balls out of the sky.

On Wednesday it was in the 80's and we had a pool party with our friends who live a block away...

We spent the whole day outside and in spite of slathering up with sunscreen, got a little sunburned!

Yard Sale Finds

It's that time of year again! 

The adrenaline rushes through my veins on a Saturday morning!   I'm like a hunter on the scent of a big animal!

35 cents for this beautiful, like-new dress which Ali can wear next Easter!

50 cents for a new cooler for our many park picnics.  I searched 3 stores in town for sidewalk chalk until I finally gave up only to find a new tub at a yard sale and the owner told me to take it for free!

I'm a sucker for baskets.  I put a pretty pink blanket in this one and filled it with diapers on top of Katri's dresser.  I'm also a sucker for anything brand-new, like these little bath salt packets.  Perfect for throwing in the gift stash!

Books and CDs for nickels and quarters

Like-new and brand-new baby clothing for a quarter a piece!  My gift stash is overflowing with girl stuff but I have little to nothing for boys since so many people I know had boys in the last year. 

Favorite Pics

I've been doing lots of photo shoots recently to get some practice with my new camera.  I'm having so much fun doing it!  It truly is a passion of mine.

My little brother Grant and his girlfriend Jesse.

My little boys

A friend's new baby, Carsen

Carsen and his 3 big brothers.  So adorable!

Some senior pics I did for a friend of the family, as a graduation gift for him

I drove around town looking for good photo backdrops and found tons!  Rock walls, river beds, old trains, rusty cars, etc.

Keeping Kids Fed--Monday's Project

During my pregnancy and the stage of having a new infant I purchased bread because I just didn't have the extra energy to make it.  But lately, I've been feeling energetic again and have noticed that quality bread has gotten VERY expensive in our town.

So, on Monday, I decided to make up a week's worth of bread for my menu plan.  I took my favorite recipe and multiplied it by 6.  I'm thankful for my enormous tupperware bowl that I got at a yard sale for 25 cents because it is big enough to mix it all in.

If I had been making 1 loaf, I would have used my trusty bread machine.  But this batch was far too big for that.

I set it on the porch in the hot sunshine for a while and it rose very nicely.  Am I the only one who uses her van to raise bread sometimes in the spring, summer, or fall?  Cars sitting in the sunshine are always nice and toasty, perfect for raising bread dough.

The recipe x 6 ended up making 3 pans of homemade hamburger buns, 1 pan of breadsticks, 3 smaller loaves and 2 large loaves.

We ate the breadsticks with ravioli later in the week.

We shared a couple of loaves with friends who came over for Pray and Play one morning.

We used the buns for BBQ chicken sandwiches one night and Ham and Cheese Melts another night later in the week.

Would you believe that every bit of this bread was gone by Thursday night after dinner?  That means from Monday afternoon, when we had some for snack, to Thursday night, we ate 6 large loaves worth of bread!  If we hadn't shared with company it may have lasted a day or two longer, but still, that means our family can easily eat 6 large loaves a week! 

In a perfect world I would make this much bread every Monday.  I'm going to try to continue to do so on Mondays in the future, but I'm not opposed to being flexible and buying bread as I need to if my schedule doesn't allow for it.  Do you bake your own bread or find it cheaper/easier to buy it?

Superwoman is a Myth

Sometimes we fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others.  Each of us has different gifts and interests, and sometimes we feel inadequate because we don't have the same talents that our friends or favorite bloggers do.  Bloggers often showcase the things that inspire: cute crafts we've made, beautiful photos, great mom tips, fun vacation pics, homemaking wonders like bulk cooking days or new recipes, etc.  Sometimes when we see this tiny slice of someone's life we forget that they are real-life, gal-next-door folks that have challenges, struggles, bad days, hurts, fears, sins, and weaknesses.

Though I am the first to admit that I'm the farthest thing from perfect with my in-real-life friends, sometimes my blog readers or facebook acquaintances can get the impression that I "do it all" or am some kind of superwoman.  Every now and then I write a blog post to debunk the myth.  I'm just like you....only probably worse.  I often have my priorities out of whack, often fail to be patient and kind with my little blessings, and often choose my own way over God's way.  I long for a perfectly clean home, but I've discovered that I cannot have a good attitude, a clean home, and four kids simultaneously.  I often struggle with keeping the balance, and just keeping up with the simple chores.  Yes, I organize, yes, I bulk cook, yes, I sew once in a blue moon, and yes, I love taking pics, but that doesn't mean that I can do everything at once and do everything well.

 Plants that I meant to plant a few days ago and haven't gotten to.  They are also pretty desperate for some water.

 The homeschool table this morning....

 Katrielle's laundry often goes straight from the basket to her body, and back to dirty laundry without ever making it into her dresser drawers.....

A far cry from a stylish, polished mommy hair-do, a ponytail is usually all I have time for in the beauty department....

 Can you tell I hate folding socks!  Oh how I look forward to summer when sandals and Crocs will eliminate the need to match 60 sets a week!

Oops!  The weekend movie we rented never got returned so we'll have a late fee.....

When the kids are driving me crazy and I absolutely have to get something done or have some time to relax, Dora is a lifesaver!

Getting breakfast as a mommy of four is a challenge.  Some mornings I don't get any, and most mornings I get it a couple of hours after my kids do.

All too often I look to my good friend Chock Lutt for energy....

My kids have an innate ability to destroy everything and cause messes everywhere.  This occurred right as Pray & Play (my weekly Bible Study/Playgroup with friends) was starting and a day after mopping the kitchen floor and shampooing the carpet in this exact spot....

I worked my buns off to clean and tidy up the house for a whole day, not stopping to take breaks or rest time.  I was so happy that most of the house was clean and neat even though I was so pooped I could hardly say a word at dinner, only to realize at the end of the day that the kitchen looked like this once again.....

And I don't have pics of the thank you notes I have yet to fill out and send that are long overdue, the phone call to the eye doctor Josiah had to make because I kept forgetting to make us an appointment, and the packages I've been meaning to send to some military guys in our church for the last two years.  Or the medication and vitamins I have to take to combat postpartum depression that I've been battling for a few months.  Or the times I say stupid, or hurtful things to others, or am selfish, controlling, or angry.

I'm a work-in-progress just doing the best I can.

I realize only God gets His to-do list done everyday.

The endless work load brings me to my knees and reminds me that:

*This world is not my home

*This life here will never be easy or perfectly neat and tidy

*A perfectly clean home is the sign of a wasted life

*No one has "it all together"

*We all struggle, have trials, and sin in many ways

*I can't do it without the Lord and His grace for my sins and His strength in my weaknesses

I hope this post was an encouragement to you today!

Reflections

When Monica from Homespun Heart mentioned the devotional Jesus Calling, I thought it sounded perfect for me.  I was not disappointed when I bought it.  This little book is chock full of amazing truths in small bites, perfect for my stage of life right now.  Almost every single day, I am blown away by how God speaks to me through this book.  Here are some favorite quotes from the last week that have touched me:

"Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter.  The best equipping is My living Presence, My hand that never lets go of yours.  Discuss everything with Me.  Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle."

"Thinking that you should live an error-free life is symptomatic of pride.  Your failures can be a source of blessing, humbling you and giving you empathy for other people in their weaknesses.  Best of all, failure highlights your dependence on Me.  I am able to bring beauty out of the morass of your mistakes.  Trust Me, and watch to see what I will do."

"Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life.  These problems are not random mistakes; they are hand-tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth.  Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them.  View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me.  When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me.  Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me.....thank Me for the fifficulties in your life, since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance."

"Instead of trying harder to help people through your own paltry supplies, become aware of My unlimited supply, which is accessible to you continually.  Let My Love envelop your outreach to other people.  Many of My precious children have fallen prey to burnout.  A better description of their condition might be "drainout."  Countless interactions with needy people have drained them, without their conscious awareness.  You are among these weary ones, who are like wounded soldiers needing R&R.  Take time to rest in the love-light of My presence.  I will gradually restore to you the energy that you have lost over the years.  Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and you will find rest for your souls."

Berry Granola

My sweet friend Heather sent me an encouraging card with Scripture verses and this delightful recipe.  I felt very "crunchy" eating my parfait made from homemade yogurt (with a little Truvia and vanilla extract in it) and homemade granola (sweetened with agave nectar).  Thanks Heather!

Berry Granola

1/2 c. pumpkin seeds (optional)

1/2 sunflower seeds

1/2 C. agave nectar (or 1 cup brown sugar)

1/2 stick of melted butter

2 t. cinnamon

3 t. vanilla

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. cardamom

4 C. rolled oat flakes (or you can use barley)

1/2 C. wheat germ

dried berries (I used cranberries)

Mix all ingredients except berries and toast on a couple of cookie sheets at 350 for 10 minutes.  Stir and toast more until golden brown in 5 minute increments.  Cool.  Add berries.  Use in parfaits, eat by the handful, or use as breakfast cereal. 

It makes the whole house smell like cinnamon rolls are baking when it is in the oven, just as my friend Heather promised it would!  Yummy!

Mother's Day Tea Party

I've been wanting to do a tea party for Alathia and her friends for months and just haven't gotten around to it.  So, I was thrilled when the local library had a Mother's Day tea in the courtyard for moms and daughters age 5 and up.  I think our local library ladies are the best in the world! 

All of the little girls were dressed so beautifully in their fanciest dresses. 

The library ladies had laid out a craft for the girls.  They decorated CD cases with puffy paint.

A friend from Pray n' Play, Rebecca, attended with her daughter Iliana.

Rebecca's three kids are exactly the same ages and genders as my 3 oldest kids so we have lots in common!  It was fun to have tea and treats with them!

A wonderful Saturday "mother-daughter date!"