Love Like Crazy

Happy Friday!

2012-01-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

Happy InstaFriday to you. Have a wonderful weekend all you anonymous and not-so anonymous friends out there! What will you be doing to lift your spirits and enjoy your weekend??

When the World Stopped

2012-01-24T07:47:00.000-08:00

Setting- Dining room. Blinds open to the gloomy, dark skies of a Saturday afternoon. Inside, "chilled cucumber" walls, warm lighting and a dining room table covered in puzzle pieces and cardboard dust.

Characters- A Dad, a Mom, and a recently turned 9 little girl with long Rapunzel hair.

Mom- {grumbling and mumbling about Ohio winters, cold fingers and cold toes}

Dad- {playing some dumb zombie game on his phone, *Tetris would have been acceptable, because Tetris is cool}

Izzy- {happily chattering away about puzzle pieces, and occasionally instructing and bossing around her mom and dad which is her new favorite past-time. Be it about cooking, driving or parenting. So fun!}

Mom- "Izzy, I need you to know that before you agree to marry a man, you should probably ask a few more important questions than I asked."

Izzy- giggles and looks at me over the top of her glasses

Dad-{husband's head twitches, but does not look away from game}"Like what for instance???"

Mom- "For instance, how many children you want. Or if you will forever have to live where it is cold. I'm just saying, if you want to live where it is sunny and warm, you should find these things out before you choose a mate."

Dad- "That's your fault for only caring about my good looks at the time."

Izzy- "Oh I know all about how to mate!"..........
........
....................
.......................... {world stops. zombie game stops. puzzling stops. Mom and Dad's heads snap up, eyes bug, and they stare at each other with their jaws on the table for a solid 10 Mississippi's}

Mom- "Pardon me? And how exactly do you mate?"

Izzy- "All big cats do it the same way MOooom. {with the exasperation only a 9 year old can muster} One jumps on the other one's back and it bites their neck."
......
...........

Mom and Dad burst into uncontrollable laughter. Loud, raucous laughter. The kind where eventually you can't breathe, and your sides hurt. The kind where you finally stop, look at each other and then start the laughing, gasping for breath cycle again.

Izzy- "Why are you laughing? Mating isn't funny."

Mom- "You're right, that's how it works. Absolutely......Oh and Izzy, no more watching National Geographic without us."

And the world starts back to normal rotation.

Can You Can?

2012-01-16T08:53:00.000-08:00

I LOVE canning jars. I've seen them as vases, crayon holders, candle holders, baking cakes in them, lamps and many other things. But I rarely see them actually used for canning purposes. My grandmothers and aunts can vegetables and fruits, but I never have. I'm endevouring to change that. I want to make use of my buckets of tomatoes in the Summer and when the Ohio tundra months are upon me, what would be better than opening a jar of garden grown tomatoes for my soups and stews?? Or applesauce for my "The only fruit I will let past my tonsils is applesauce- daughter."

Here's where the problem lies.... I'm kind of serial library fine offender..... And there's this one librarian who I try desperately to avoid..... because oh if looks could kill and/or ban someone from the library forevermore, she would so do it to me. I'm convinced she lives there, because I always manage to wind up in her line. Every, stinkin' time. And I then have to pretend that there is something very wrong with the toes of my shoes, so as not to look her in the eyes. She's probably starting to wonder what kind of woman returns books and cd's months late and has serious foot issues.

Solution- The internet. Its a beautiful thing. Lay it on me! All your canning tips. I want to hear them. Youtube links, I want to see them.

Ladies and Gentlemen

2012-01-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

I would like to have been born in age when women my age still knit, sew, can, sing to Doris Day songs, and wear cute aprons to vacuum. When women didn't dress their daughters in sweat pants that say "Juicy" on the heiny. Yay feminism and the right to vote and being payed decent money and all..... but come on? Where did the respect go? And red lipstick and men being gentlemen. Women having manners. Men having manners. Why is is acceptable for women to leave the house in their pajamas? Generations of women fought for equality and respect. So lets honor that, and respect ourselves.

I propose we teach our daughters to be strong, smart, independent women. Women who can change the world. Women who can lead the country and corporations. Women who are nurturing and loving. We should teach our daughters to serve God, and have courage. Lots of courage.

Daughters who don't settle for any man who treats them less than they deserve. But while we are at it, lets also teach them to be genteel. And compassionate. And nurturing. Lets raise daughters who don't swear like drunken sailors, or sober sailors for that matter. Lets raise daughters who don't say crass things, or make fart or burp jokes. Women who insist on having a man treat them like a lady. And for pity's sake, teach your daughters to cook.

Teach your sons to cook. And do their laundry. No one wants to do anyone elses' dirty laundry. And no woman wants to be married to a mama's boy, or have a mama's boy as a son-in-law, so blast it all, love and snuggle and spoil your sons, but I beg of you, teach them to love and respect a woman.... like a queen. Raise sons who are strong, and Godly, and confident. And protectors. And brilliant, and courageous. Sons who will be men of valor and protective. Men who will cherish their wives. CHERISH. Because I have three daughters, and someday they are going to be looking for good men, and darn it, I want one to actually exist.

*note- I am by no means saying that I am June Cleaver, the perfect lady, wife or mother. I want to strive to be all the things I just mentioned above. Its a goal. A worthy goal.

Letter to My Firstborn

2012-01-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Isabella Berniece,
Your life forever changed Daddy and I. Nine years ago today you patiently made your way into your im-patient mama's arms. After 15 hours of waiting for you, me and daddy and Grandma Angela finally got to see your beautiful face. A day I will never, ever forget.

You unlocked the mother in me. A mommy that is so in love with her children, a mommy who still has separation anxiety, a mommy who will hold tightly to the memories of you as a little infant, toddler and child.....

I'm so proud of the little girl you have become. You are kind, compassionate, stubborn as a donkey, lovely, smart, funny, curious, and oh your glorious hair and huge eyes. You are a loving daughter who thinks it is so fun to make Dad and I breakfast in bed.... at 6:30 am on Saturdays.

You are emotional beyond description and flip out about socks, shoes, hair, how tight or loose your clothes are and your homework. You are a caring and responsible big sister to 3 little ones. You may just be my favorite for taking care of Donovan so early in the morning and letting Mommy sleep!

And oh the places you have been in your short 9 years! NYC (twice), Niagara Falls, Washington D.C (3 times)., Phoenix, Hawaii, Oregon, Iowa, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Florida (twice), Savannah, Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, St. Louis, Connecticut, The Hamptons, Disney World, Cumberland Gap, Myrtle Beach.... I can't help but wonder about where you will go in the future.

You are already raising money for the World Wildlife Fund and can't wait to go on missions trips with me. You are going to be a world changer Isabella. You love God with your whole heart, and if you remain in Him, He will remain in you my sweet Sugar Bear.

Happy Birthday Angel.

"Eat Whole Foods (on a budget)"

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

I like this week's task. Its simple. As it should be, since its by Simple Mom and all :) .... never mind.
Week 14 is about getting more natural foods into our meals, lunches, homes.
Feed the body properly and the mind and soul will come along for the happy ride. While I'm not going to do all of her suggestions {like buy organic in the Winter months}, there are other things I can do. Things I've been meaning to do for years. You mean to do things next week, next month, next Summer.... and before you know it, you're going to turn 30 and still haven't done the things you wanted to 10 years ago.

Small changes I can make:

source

1. Get some books from the library and learn to can. Not to be confused with can-can, canning is not in my reportoire. We grow way more tomatoes every year than we can eat or give away. I would love to find out how to can them, and then use them in my soups and pasta sauces in the Winter instead of buying canned. I also want to try applesauce. and canned peaches {Hey Alex, I'm going to need some more shelves babe}.

2. Wash my produce better. Use water and vinegar to get the pesticides off of what I'm putting into my children and self.

3. Find and join a co-op. I'm not very happy with the farmer's markets in my area and I don't have enough back yard to grow everything I want, so I'm going to try the co-op route.

4. Implement more beans and quinoa into our meals instead of rice and pasta. Kale. We're going to start eating lots of Kale.

Simplifying

2012-01-04T09:27:00.000-08:00

Hello. Have you missed me? My blogging has been sporadic at best the last several months. Life... am I right?
December for us means Christmas, Addison's birthday, Donovan's birthday, and one week into January is Isabella's birthday. Yowzah. Thus, the lack of blogging. And when you throw a little writer's block into the mix, you get.... nothing.
I'm hoping to change all that. I pulled up my bootstaps yesterday, got on my new treadmill and ran. Yes, ran. For the first time in probably 10 years I ran a whole mile.... without stopping to have an asthma attack or drop to the ground like a blob of jelly. I was so excited!!! With that ~~small~~ huge goal accomplished, came a newfound mind set. I CAN do it. I can do things I was convinced were impossible.
This new year is going to bring about big things. Renewed purpose and drive for the Orphan/Foster ministry. Anti- Human Trafficking even in March. Third year back to El Salvador. Training at Summit 8 in Cali in May. {California in May? Yes please!} and I'm sure God is going to keep on challenging me in new ways like he did last year.

Sooooo. That was a really long winded way to get to my point. I'm joining in with Jeannett at Life Rearranged in her journey to simplify life at home. I'm thinking, if I can simplify and organize at home, then all the other things I've got going on will go much smoother. I do realize that this should have been so obvious, but I'm a little stubborn and unmotivated sometimes. But with 4 kids and a smokin' hot husband, sometimes the obvious solution gets lost in the shuffle.

Jeannet's on week 14, which for me, means week 1. I ordered Tsh Oxenreider's e-book "One Bite at a Time," to help me figure out how to do this, and I'm kicking off week 1 with a new bounce in my step. {Hopefully the treadmill will lessen the literal bounce after a few weeks}. Tomorrow I'll be back with this week's task. Want to join in the fun?

She walks in beauty...

2011-12-22T14:42:00.000-08:00

"She walks in beauty".... and joy, and love, and peace, and sweetness..... and she doesn't know any other way to be. My littlest daughter turned 5 a few days ago. She is untouched by the darkness, and evil of the world. She is just pureness. As hard as I try to keep her little, and deny that she is in fact growing up, Addison had another birthday.
This little girl came in to our lives when we were desperate for a happy ending. And honestly, she is the happiest, most compassionate child I have ever met. All five of us are desperately in love with her, even Donovan. Happy 5th Birthday Love.

I love you. Thank you for being mine. You will never know how you rescued me just by being you.

Why I Advocate For Orphans

2011-12-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

Every little girl deserves a daddy. One that has so earned her love and trust, that the sound of him at the back door every night, sends her running and leaping into his arms. One that she just can't hold herself back from hugging like a baby monkey while he plays his guitar. Because she loves him THAT much.

Every little boy needs a daddy that will so understand his energy, persistence and heart. A daddy that will consistently rock him to sleep at night, but also have father-son wrestle time, at which the little boy will laugh harder and more sincerely than at any other activity. Every boy deserves to feel so completely safe and secure that he can fall into the most peaceful sleep every night.

Every child deserves a daddy, that will not only work 14+ hours a day, but will also give a horsey ride to 3 kids at once, even though said horse is so exhausted and just wants to be put out to pasture for the night.

Because no child, deserves to go to an unspeakably, horrible mental asylum simply because they have Down's Syndrome.

You can help.

Grab This!

Make Christmas Count

2011-11-29T07:16:00.000-08:00

Jesus came to earth to be fully Man. And remained fully God. He came as a baby. A gift as a baby, to the world. Babies are gifts. A topic on which I could go on, and on about. Another day.
So what better way to honor that gift, and the real and only reason for celebrating Christmas, than to help a child. Over at Life Rearranged, Jeannett Gibson gets it. And she uses her extensive network to do great things.
Meet Xander. He's so sweet!

He's in an orphanage, in Eastern Europe. He will likely not get new Christmas p.j.'s, or open a Christmas stocking, or suck on a candy cane and have all the sticky goodness drip down his chin. He doesn't have a mommy or daddy to tuck him in at night, or wrestle, tickle or play with. I love what Jeannett wrote about Xander, its exactly what is in my heart and the reason I began an Orphan Ministry at my church:

"Once when Henry was a bitty baby, I found myself in his nursery in the wee hours of the morning consoling his whimpering and kissing his feverish little forehead. I remember thinking: of all the people in the entire world, I’m the only one who can make him feel even remotely happy. All he wants is his mama. No one else will do.
And suddenly, out of the blue, in the glow of a new mom’s overwhelming love for her first baby, I was crushed at the thought of the orphan crisis.
How, if my life were different…if one of millions of things weren’t exactly the same as they are now…
I was devastated at the thought of a feverish and sick child whimpering in a crib alone.
No mama to stay up and whisper sweet nothings and coo in his ear.
No daddy to chase him around the house and throw him high into the air for no reason but to elicit squeals of delight.
No cherry flavored Tylenol and cool washcloths for his head."

Xander wants a Mommy and Daddy for Christmas. You might be those people. But if you aren't, you can help him get to his home. You can give toward his rescue. Even $1. Because $1, from a lot of people, makes a lot of money. And yes, there is a giveaway connected to this fundraiser. But I like to think of it more of a thank you. Someone will get a nice thank you gift, for helping Xander have the most basic of human needs, a family. Barn Light Electric is going to match the first $1000! So go to Life Rearranged and give. Give and then spread the word. Because a friend of a friend of a friend might be the perfect fit to bring that sweet boy home and give him a life that he truly deserves.

Day 10: Giving Trees

2011-11-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Hello! I am Rebecca (Mari's sister) and today I am guest-blogging for Mari.

It is the holiday season now. The time where we worry about presents, food, family, etc. While you are listening to Christmas music (my personal favorite is Dean Martin's Baby It's Cold Outside), remember a lot of people even in our economic climate in the United States don't have gifts to give their children, maybe not even food.
Here is something you can do to help them. I invite each of you to search out locally for a giving tree. These trees will have tags on them with the name of a child and something they want for Christmas. It could be a pair of shoes or a toy, but it is something they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to unwrap. Most public schools have giving trees. Call and check. Put a smile on a child's face this year.

If you can't find a local giving tree, help out Reece's Rainbow. They advocate and assist orphaned children affected by Downs Syndrome.

"In only five years, your donations have made it possible for more than 500+ children with Down syndrome and other special needs to find their "forever families". That is PROOF that your gifts truly are saving lives and changing hearts around the world."

Click on the ornament below to donate and help these beautiful children find a family! Donate $35 or more and you will receive an ornament with the photo of the child you helped.

Grab This!

And always remember:

I CAN PRAY.

PRAYING IS DOING.

PRAYING IS HELPING.

~Rebecca~

Day 9- News Worthy News

2011-11-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

Bill Keane, the creator of comic stip "Family Circus" has died. I'm actually really sad about this. The memory of sitting down on Sundays next to my dad to read the comics is so finely ingrained in me. I can still smell his Pert Plus scented hair, and hear his chuckle as he read next to me and pointed out the really funny ones that he didn't want me to miss. And when they were just so funny that he needed to share them with everyone he would call to my mom, "Ang, you gotta read this, this is just like our family!" Then I would go and get the scissors and after we had finished all of the Funnies, I would cut his favorites out and put them on the fridge for the week. So whenever he went to the fridge, Dad would get a big smile on his face. Our favorite was "Family Circus." It was all about a family that loved each other very much, and kids that got into mischief but were still tucked into bed by both their parents every night. Time goes by, things change, I miss our "Family Circus." Thank you Mr. Keane for illustrating family life, and bringing it to us for so long. Even when we grow up, leave home and start our own circuses, the precious memories remain. And sometimes that's all that remains, so they become all the more sacred.

Day 7- News Worthy News

2011-11-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

I would love to be able to run 5 miles let alone an entire marathon! So when others do it, and live to tell the tale, I am so impressed. It is so easy to get in a rut and just lounge in my spare time.... and never get up again. You know, except to go in search of my chilren's Halloween fun size Milky Ways. I was doing so good running a couple of months ago, and then it got all rainy and cold. But this news story isn't called "Lazy Ohio Woman Gains Weight." Its about awesome-ness. Go read it! And I will turn on my new Wii Fit {thank you Rebecca!} and get back to running to a virtual waterfall.

Day 5- BIG News: National Orphan Sunday

2011-11-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Orphan Sunday. This SHOULD be big news. Last year was the first year I knew it even existed. And my life was forever changed after a friend posted a www.orphansunday.org video to her Facebook page. It changed so much in fact that, now Church of the Open Door in Elyria, as of tomorrow, will have an up and running Orphan/Adoption Care ministry. God will take you on a wild ride if you let Him. I am so excited for the future of my church and the big things that are going to happen.

Day 4- People Doing Things Worthy of The News

2011-11-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

There is an auction going on! But not just any auction. A super convenient auction. That you need no knowledge of bidding number registration, when to itch your nose and when not to, fear of coughing and buying a monkey knick-knack for $20,000.... you know.

Its an auction for a great cause. Cause is the wrong word. Its for something unbelievable wonderful. Its to help a really awesome family adopt one, possibly two sweet children from Ethiopia!!!

To sum up: great auction, great people rescuing babies! You also get to avoid long lines of Christmas shoppers and feel good about spending your money. Because you did something much greater than buying a gift for a family member of yours, you helped a family complete their family.

Here are just a few of the items: Coach purse, hand-made quilt, Kindle, jewelry etc.

The auction lasts until November 10. Go here: http://ourjourneyhome-lagorga.blogspot.com/, today. Like right now. If you are up in the middle of the night and tempted to buy something from an infomercial, don't. Bid on an item from my friends. Do something good. Are you usually an EBayer? Craigs-lister? Participate in this Adoption Auction instead!!!

Day 3- News Worthy News

2011-11-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

I'm tired of having the internet and National news inundated by socialite DUI's and divorces. So I'm embarking on giving to you, News Worthy News. Stories of real import. Join me. Read real accounts. Share real accounts.
For instance, one could read about these sweet little girls, their ecstatic Mom and Dad and their successful surgery:
"Angelica and Angelina Sabuco, twins who were born conjoined at the chest and abdomen, are now separate little girls.
The 2-year-olds were separated Nov. 1 in a 10-hour surgery at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. The operation was the culmination of several months of complex planning involving specialists from nearly every part of the hospital." Read the full article at Stanford University News.

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Day 2- News Worthy News

2011-11-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, yesterday I ranted a bit about what we are presented with as news from our major news carriers. I'm tired of having the internet and National news inundated by socialite DUI's and divorces. So I'm embarking on giving to you, News Worthy News. Stories of real import. Join me. Read real accounts. Share real accounts.

Yet again today, we have Kim K. as the front headliner on Yahoo News for attending a red carpet event....so soon after her split. So, I went to CNN.com and did some digging for something important. And what did I find on their home page as a leading story? How Paris Hilton became famous for being famous.... Not only that, but on The Today Show, the headlining story was Matt Lauer interviewing Kris Jenner.... ok enough of that.

I had to do 3 or 4 page and subtitle clicks, but I did eventually get to this important piece of news.

The "Lord's Resistance Army," {in no way affiliated with the real Lord} and it's leader Joseph Kony are finally going to be held accountable for their decades of terror in Africa. Hopefully. President Obama is dispatching troops of special forces to help the Ugandan and Central African governments find him, his fellow comrades, and put them on trial for his horrific crimes. Here is the article.

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p.s. Dear CNN, this should have been listed way above an article about how Paris Hilton got famous.

Did you read any real news today?

30 Days of Things More Worthy of News Than Kim's Divorce

2011-11-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a little ticked. Ok, more than just a little. So ticked that I want to swear like a drunken sailor.
Kim Kardashian is all over the news. Again. And I don't give a s*%t. I don't care that she is getting divorced. Or that when she spoke wedding vows in front of the world that she wasn't willing to give it even 80 days worth of a try.
I do however want to throw up every time I hear the $10 million price tag on her wedding.
How many dying children would that save? From death???
How many little girls and boys could be rescued from the atrocities of sex slavery for $10 mil. ?
How many families' lives could be saved in the Horn of Africa, dying, dying because they don't even have water to their names??
How many precious lives of orphans could be rescued into loving families all over the world if they had $10 mil worth of adoption grants to help them out?
How many bottles of formula would that buy for starving babies in orphanages in Ethiopia?

Does it make you want to vomit too?
Are those precious lives getting intense press coverage? Is anyone as outraged about children dying and being horrendously abused, as they are that Kim's getting divorced? We should be. I want real news, in the news. Do you hear me Fox, ABC, CNN, E!, NBC, CBS, Google News, Yahoo News, MSN News? We want real news.

So, since I didn't do the whole blog every day in October thing, I'm going to blog every day in November. 30 News Worthy Pieces of News and/or People. Which just so happens to coincide with Orphan Awareness Month. Want to join me?

Insta-TGIFriday

2011-10-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Whilst my little ones are watching the Sword in the Stone for their quiet time, I'm going to sneak in my first InstaFriday in a few weeks.
In order to do so I had to take a big step over some spilled oats {Donovan decided pretend kitchen food wasn't for him}, leap over an over-flowing laundry basket, and dodge a little dump truck on the stairs. I'll get back to taking care of those things, but sometimes you just need a minute. Ya know?
My sister's house is clean all the time. I am not my sister. I'm pretty good about cleaning my toilets several times a week. I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, we had some fun this week. Autumn in Ohio is in full force. This post is so random, is it not?
I'm having trouble focusing on account of the messy house and I get to go on a date with my Man tonight. And I do mean MAN. He doesn't know what a "man-cessory" is. Doesn't notice when women stare at him in public, gets riled up about his football team, and has these killer arms that I like best when they are wrapped around me. Too much info?
Oh pictures! That's why I'm on here and not cleaning. I almost forgot. I'm going to blame it on my medication from now on.

We like when Donovan sleeps. He's cute, and we can take a breather. Dennis the Menace I tell you.

There has been a lot of this

And a lot of this :)

Seriously. Dennis the Menace. With a cute little tushey.

I got this idea from above spoken of sister. Ciabatta bread basket, stuffed with mushroom, spinach, cheese, bacon and a fried egg on top.

No bake Mountain Cookies. So yum.

And thank you Pinterest for this one! Addison and I had so much fun :)

Getting out of a Funk

2011-10-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when you are in a funk, haven't had your required beauty sleep in ages {thank you Donovan for that, by the way}, annoying health issues and the house is a disaster, when the kids are taking turns being sick instead of all at once...you have to fake it till you feel it.

For me that includes an incredibly wild family wrestle, with all 6 of us last night before bed. As in, on the way into their beds.... when most parents are quietly taking children out of lavender infused baths, dimming lights, singing lullabyes..... Hublover and I gave each other "The Look and Wink." We charged upstairs which sent all 4 children running and squealing, somehow wound up on opposite sides, and we tickeled and wrestled our babies until we were all out of breath.

We did eventually come to our senses, and tuck them quietly in under some heavy quilts {Hello cold Autumn nights}, shut the door to their quiet giggles and whispers to each other, and cart the Boy off to his little room. And the last thing he said to me before he fell asleep (before he woke up 4 more times) was "I love you Mom. I seewious. I pwomise." And I felt it. Pure peace and happiness. That extra special "something" down in our souls for our children that can make you push all the bad right out the window, shut it tight and close the curtains.

I keep finding him asleep in the hall. He's weird.

How do you put your kids to bed??

4 Ingredient Italian-esque Wedding Soup

2011-10-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

In a cooking rut? Need a quick easy recipe? Well, here you go! This is what we are having for dinner tonight.
I love this soup. I wish I could list a ton of ingredients that I so expertly put together to meld into one pot of deliciousness. But I can't. There is only four. It is so easy, so healthy, and all my kids + husband love it. It is absolute, Autumnal/Wintery heaven with some crusty, warm, french bread.
Ingredients
One package of frozen, chopped spinach
5 cups of chicken stock
One cup of orzo pasta
Chicken sausage stuffed with mozzarella and spinach (I get it at super walmart), but really any kind of link sausage you want will work. If you like spiciness use chorizo.
Instructions
In large pot, pour in the stock
2. Toss in frozen hunk of spinach (embarrassingly simple)
3. While spinach defrosts in pot, slice your sausage into thin rounds
4. When stock is boiling and all spinach is defrosted and cooking, add in sausage and one cup of orzo
5. Boil for 9 minutes or until orzo is al dente.

I'm Reading "Bonhoeffer"

2011-09-27T11:30:00.000-07:00

May I just say, holy smoke. How did it take me so long to read a biography or papers by Dietrich Bonhoeffer? He was truly a man after God's own heart. And truly brilliant. I was reading today, and I don't know if you have ever experienced this before, but I was completely hit square between the eyes by the Holy Spirit. Wow. Since there is no way I can properly do any justice on a commentary of what he said, I'm just going to type it out for you. Here it is, the importance of the Bible and not just reading it, but studying, contemplating, meditating on it:

"First of all I will confess quite simply- I believe that the Bible alone is the answer to all our questions, and that we need only to ask repeatedly and a little humbly, in order to receive this answer. One cannot simply read the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will it reveal itself. Only if we expect from it the ultimate answer, shall we receive it. that is because in the Bible God speaks to us. And one cannot simply think about God in one's own strength, one has to enquire of him. only if we seek him, will he answer us. Of course it is also possible to read the Bible like any other book, that is to say from the point of view of textual criticism, etc.; there is nothing to be said against that. Only that that is not the method which will reveal to us the heart of the Bible, but only the surface, just as we do not grasp the words of someone we love by taking them to bits, but by simply receiving them, so that for days they go on lingering in our minds, simply because they are the words of a person we love; and just as these words reveal more and more of the person who said them as we go on, like Mary, "pondering them in our heart," so it will be with the words of the Bible."

Many, many people try to understand or see God by reading the Bible. Many people claim to know all about God, know all the right answers, but they have not received it. They cannot see Him, or believe He is there, because they are trying to see God "in their own strength." I love, love, love how Bonhoeffer says, "Only if we seek Him, will he answer us." I have heard several times from people {who do not believe God exists} that they don't see Him, or hear him, so He isn't there. But the Lord God, creator of the Universe, who is waiting to give us the relationship unlike any other, peace unlike any other, joy unlike any other, love, and eternity, is simply waiting to reveal himself upon the asking.

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Oh Boy

2011-09-22T09:57:00.000-07:00

Donovan, what you are DOING???

"Punchin' mine face."

He then continues to punch his own face..... and laugh hysterically.

{later that day}

Donovan, WHAT ARE YOU DOING???

"Lickin' the wall."

I sigh and walk away. At least he stopped licking me.

Addison Jane

2011-09-21T07:45:00.000-07:00

I'm staring at a blinking cursor, willing something to come out. Something that will express what it is in me. But for the last several months I hear nothing but crickets chirping. I want to write and have it flow out onto the page in beautifully expressed language that makes Shakespeare look like a 5 year old learning to spell. Not every post can be as expertly crafted as "Smoothies and Self Esteem." {do you have the rimshot ap? Now would be a good time to use it, I'll "bu dum chhhh" for those of you who don't}

All that comes is that this last year has been one of the hardest of my entire life. Second only to the year I lost my son. Its been extremely painful and heartbreaking. I have been challenged in ways that I never dreamed would happen. But all along the way, God has held me through it. I know this. Its not just some sweet platitude that Christians like to utter every now and then. There is sweet grace and comfort in the invisible arms of our Savior. It sounds Hallmark-ish but its so, so true.

This year has yielded so much, good and bad. Heartbreak, failure, friendship, trust, more heartbreak, more friendship, love, different heartbreak and then more love.
Love from my husband. Who is an extraordinary man. {I do not use that word lightly}
Love from my children. Pure, blessed, innocent, trusting, secure little beings who have yet to have the evil and pain of the world touch them.

Its so hard not to despair when you are joining in the fight against Sex Trafficking and the fight to rescue orphans. Its so big and so overwhelming. And so painful. When I hear about mothers who murder their own children, I just about want to give up.
Its so hard not to despair when you have broken relationships that tear at your very soul.

So yesterday, as I felt my self slipping and sliding into a pit of despair right out of The Princess Bride, my little girl rescued me for the second time in her life. And if that wasn't God's hand on me, then I don't know what is. After my third pregnancy ended in tragedy, Addison Jane was given to me. Her birth was a gift. She brought me out of a dark place that I could not get out of on my own. Her life was a gift from God on its own, but she was, and still is just about the sweetest little girl you will ever come across. She has these eyes that no words I could write will ever do justice to. Addison loves. Addison brings happiness into our world. Not that her sisters and brother aren't equally loved and cherished, but if you know her, and even her big sisters will attest to.... there is just something about her, that is undefinable. Our family was hurting and Addison filled our hole.

Back to yesterday. I was so overwhelmed. Feeling unworthy, unprepared, unequipped, and hurting over things that I don't know how to fix. My 4 year old Addison crawls up into my lap and tells me how she was afraid the day before, when I was away from her for the day. She was worried that I would die before I was supposed to. She tells me how she needs her Mommy with her. And with those simple words, God brought beauty and happiness back into the world again. I told her how I am not afraid of dying. How I know that I will be in Heaven with Jesus, because I have already been given that free gift. And she said she wanted that too. Addison Jane prayed and received her gift yesterday. You can bet the Lord and his angels are rejoicing because no one could ever get enough of Addison Jane.

I love my children. I love my God. I learned it from my mom and dad. Hopefully, I can pass that legacy on to my daughters and son too.

Girls' Night In

2011-09-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

I don't usually like the phrase "decompress." Its been used a lot. But I need it. And what better way to decompress from an eventful ~~day, week,~~ month than to share something that makes me over the top happy.

This Summer I became aware of a group called "As Our Own," that is fighting to rescue children out of sex trafficking in India. I was broken to pieces after hearing their founder speak and knew that I had to do something to help. The Holy Spirit was not about to let me be. I am never going to be the same.

What can I possibly do though? I'm a stay at home mom. But what I've learned from the blogging world, as silly as it sounds, is very important. I've discovered that women/moms/bloggers/men can do incredible things through this crazy internet world. I've seen money raised for babies and children to be rescued out of horrible orphanages, support systems for children with special needs, support systems for children with regular needs, lonely woman find friends.... I could go on and on. Its not silly. It is important. And because of this network, I found out what I could do. Its a small thing. But its action, and I'm all about taking any action.

I don't even remember where I saw it, but I read somewhere about having a fund raiser by doing one of the things women and moms love to do most.... hang out with other women and moms! Girls' Night In was born. Instead of going to a movie, shopping or dinner, stay in. And give whatever money you would have spent to an organization/cause/charity.

So this month's was for "As Our Own." And I loved it! My friends came, we ate, we talked, and talked and ate. I have fabulously generous friends, who embraced the idea and me and I am so lucky to have them. I can't wait to send the money off to As Our Own. I cannot believe that I didn't remember to take pictures of the party... when it was happening. I was distracted hosting and whatnot. So these fun snaps with my phone are what I have.

Its so simple and fun!! You can do it too. Have a Girls' Night In this weekend.

And if you are really brave, start praying for God to move in your heart too. My favorite song lyric currently is:

"Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity"

Hillsong United

And it is how I want to live. I now know what I want to do when I grow up. Its about time!