Succulent Baby & The Crying Book

We had a Greek Feast with friends the other night...and enjoyed their sweet baby!  We prayed for Baby Jack intensely when he was born early...God answered our prayers...Now he is a wonderful, fully succulent little man!

Sorry Scruffy...Jack is the cuter baby!

Well, after my Grit to Grace post of Friday...FOUR people recommended "Grace for the Good Girl" by Emily Freeman...in the space of about 4 hours.  SO, I bought it.  I'm just sayin'...that book should come with tissues. Sniff, sniff!

I tried to narrow it down to my favoritist quotes so far...I'm a little over halfway through it....I can't seem to STOP reading it...I'm definately going to have to read this twice...or more!

"Hiding behind that good-looking mask, her arms are folded too tightly to give and receive grace, or to fall into an embrace from God who sees beyond her good reputation."

"Anything we do to get life and identity outside of Christ is an idol, even service to Christ.  He doesn't want my service.  He wants me."

"There is a difference between the discipline of sitting down with God and the pleasure of knowing his voice."

"He is a generous, patient, compassionate God and his expectations of us are not the same as our expectations of ourselves."

"We observe and interpret reactions through our own messed-up filters so that whatever is going on with others ultimately comes back around to us."

"You have trained people to think you have no needs, but you are secretly angry with them for believing you."

"All that is mine is yours.  We already have the love and acceptance of our Father, so why do we try so hard to earn it?"

"I don't have to figure out the mess.  I do have to trust in the One who can."

 "She compares herself to rescued others and feels both less-than and better-than, proud and invisible."

Five Minute Friday: GRIT to Grace

GRIT...

I'm a rules loving kind of girl.  And yet, I find that I'm all bound up in rules I can't possibly keep...falling flat on my face in utter frustration.  I'm holding on by the sheer GRIT of my will...and sadly, I'm pretty strong willed.

After a recent flattening kind of day...I realized with a chuckle, that I can extend grace to all sorts of people in my life...allowing them to be human.  But, I can't extend it to myself...or accept it from God.  I will tell you that I'm saved by GRACE...and I believe that is true...but...well, I spend a lot of my time just trying SO VERY HARD!!

As I ran my miles today...a new song on my list made me cry.  For those of you who have tried crying while you run...it ain't pretty folks. 

 "Let me know that You hear me...

Let me know Your touch...

Let me know that You love me...

Let that be enough."   

So, I'm going to proceed today...changing true GRIT to true GRACE!  He is more than enough for me!   

Oh, Lord, Help me live like it! 

Math makes me cry & Better-Than-Takeout

First, my sweet Loverbrains is studying for his Masters degree and is currently reading a research paper written by one of his profs.  It cracked me up...she had this quote at the beginning...

"Medicine makes people ill, 

mathematics makes them sad, 

and theology makes them sinful."  

Martin Luther

I said, "I sure agree...math makes me cry!!"  HAHAHA!  Actually, I think I'll need to ponder this a bit more...Why would Luther write this?  I guess when we study God, THEOLOGY, it convicts of sin...hmmm?

Now, I must share this most awesome recipe from my favorite healthy crockpot cookbook!  Better-Than-Takeout Mongolian Beef.  Now, I have to put a little plug in here for buying those odd ingredients...those hard to find items.  Most of the time I don't go to the effort...but in the wintertime when my senses are numbed by the weather...and I'm attempting to eat healthier...it's good to think out of the box.  And with the nice assortment in your average grocer's it's just NOT that hard...I promise!

 I made a simple side salad with lettuce, thin radishes, peppers and citrus vinaigrette.  I'll guesstimate my recipe here:  1/4 c. oj, 1/8 c. lime juice, 2 T. dijon mustard, and EVOO to emulsify!  That's a Loverbrain word...hehehe!

 Here ya go...

Better Than Takeout Mongolian Beef

3lbs lean beef bottom roast (remove extra fat)

3 cloves garlic, grated

1" knob peeled fresh ginger, minced or grated (I keep this in the freezer and snap off pieces as needed...it lasts longer!)

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1/2 c. water

1/2 c. low sodium soy sauce

2 T. black vinegar (the one ingredient I could not find...so I substituted balsamic the blackest I had)

2 T. hoison sauce

1 T. five-spice powder (awesome stuff!)

1 T. cornstarch

1 t. red pepper flakes (or more:-)

1 t. sesame oil (LOVE this stuff too!)

 Put it all in the pot on low for 5 hours.  Take roast out and slice it thinly and then into strips (put paper towels around cuz otherwise the juice will pour onto the floor...don't ask me how I know this!)  Put meat back into crockpot and cook another 20 minutes or so...while you cook your noodles.  Use chop sticks for additional funtimes!

 It was delicious...I can take pictures of me holding chopsticks...TRICKY!  This meal challenged my chopstick abilities...but Loverbrains did GREAT....no surprises there, eh?

 Emma (our ballerina in residence) enjoyed it, too...using her fork, of course!  She wasn't crazy about the salad though.

 My pickiest eat...cleaned his plate!  Two thumbs up from this Sweet Boobah is a REAL selling point.  AMAZING!

And Scruffy approved of the leftover lickings too!  The WHOLE family loved it!

Happy Hodgepodge!

 

1. George Washington-Abraham Lincoln-Thomas Jefferson...who would you most like to meet and why?
Abraham Lincoln...wow, so many reasons...just his writings alone...and what he did for our country at a crucial point in our history!
2. What's your favorite chain restaurant?
This question should get lots of interesting answers...cuz even chain restaurants tend to be regional, unless they are McDonalds.  We traveled to Cinci for a funeral and were thinking how much we miss LaRosa's pizza but NOT Skyline Chili.  Around here...I guess I'd have to say...Cracker Barrel.  Incidentally, a new one called "Jack in the box" just opened here in Indy.  Anyone know where it originates?
3. I spied this question on the Bears at Home blog last week and she gave me permission to steal borrow it-  When you look back on your life, do you imagine you'll think about the goals you failed to meet with regret? Or will you look at what you accomplished and say: it was good?

Two verses came to mind...
Philippians 3:13-14, "One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Luke 19:17, "Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities."
4. Grapefruit-take 'em or leave 'em? Given the choice between an orange and a grapefruit which would you choose? Would you prefer it served as is or squeezed into juice?

I love a good grapefruit for breakfast in the morning.  I tend to squirt them all over the place but...hey, it's part of the fun, right?!

5. When was the last time you cleaned out a closet? Is there a closet in your home that currently needs cleaning? What are you waiting for?

I just cleaned out our closet...and I organized the shirts by rainbow color...wooo...funtimes!  ROY G BIV anyone?

6. You get to have lunch with three famous people...who would you like to see round your table?

Simon Peter (He gives me hope that God can use a big mouth like me...)  Abraham Lincoln (thinking of the first question)....and Jacqueline Winspear (one of my favorite authors)...Do they all have to come at once??  That makes this question a bit trickier...

7. On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate your ability to parallel park?

Our economy car an 8...The mini-van...um, 4??  I probably could if I had to...I just don't put myself in those types of situations.  Parking garage!!  Wootwoot!

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm on a role today...Went to the gym, did all the laundry, swept and mopped the floors and took a shower with time remaining to blog before the Sweet Boobahs "quiet time" ends.  I'm exhausted.  Phew!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We got many wonderful LOVING Valentine's from Grandparents and GREAT Grandparents...

...the stickers were put to immediate use...except for some that MomE set aside for a rainy day! 

The little artist has a stack of "projects"...It ought to keep her busy for...oh, a day or so!

I got a Valentine with a PRINCESS on it...from a little boy who only draws Star Wars Robots most of the time!  I feel special!!

My sweetheart Emma drew a bird and butterfly....and a heart with an arrow...and some words that she can spell!! 

But, my favorite comes from my GEEKy husband...who proved, in a differential equation, that I take womanhood to the positive limit!  Hehehe...gotta love how he puts his Master's classes to good use!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Bundle of Comfort...

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you 

the reason for the hope that is in you.

But do this with gentleness and respect" 

1 Peter 3:15

I know I will not have the time for much more than a hug in the receiving line...some shared tears... 

So, I'm going prepared...with a dozen well loved verses of comfort...

...lovingly wrapped in a fabric bundle...

...hugged into the bundle with prayer and love...

....tied up with a bow...So, she can read them when she's too tired to look them up...and be reminded of God's faithfulness in this valley!

Do you know someone who could use a bundle of comfort?

5 Minutes Friday: TRUST

TRUST...

And again, “I will put my trust in him.” 

And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”  

Hebrews. 2:13

I'm so excited about going to Emma's Valentine's Friendship Party today.  We even made ribbon roses to wear...so we'll match.  I wonder how long she'll continue to enjoy these matchy times?
 
I know that today will be a struggle to TRUST though...because every time I get into a classroom...I miss being there.  I question...again and again...God's timing. 

I detest being a "room Mom"...mostly cuz I'd rather be the teacher...but it's also that room Mom's are just so pushy and alpha, cliquey packs of everything I don't like about groups of women.   *Sigh*...I find myself looking for those quiet, helpful tasks to do for the teacher...things I know the other Moms don't want to do...and things that the teacher will have to do herself before she can go home.

This season of staying at home isn't easy for me, requiring lots of TRUSTing...and I have to turn it over to God...again and again...the manic cyclical chores sometimes threaten to drive me quite mad!  I know my honesty may bother those who feel all Moms are called to stay at home forever and ever amen.  But, it's not for me...forever anyway.  

I often feel stuck...and conflicted.  I know that I should just TRUST...and spend time fully enjoying this blessed season at home.  But, I also know that the desire of my heart is to teach...that I've been blessed with a gift in the classroom...and that that day of return is approaching.  I find myself questioning...am I wanting to "jump the gun" and fix licenses, check out preschools because of a lack of TRUST in God's timing?...or is it the Holy Spirit whispering...and saying the season is coming to an end. 

I guess the best way to look at it...God is teaching me...to TRUST.  He will make His plans clear for me.  Today, I'm off to be the most helpful room Mom in the Kindergarten class...and the best matchy Mom to my girlie!

"I am teaching you today--yes, you--so you will trust in the LORD."  Proverbs 22:19