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We've Moved

2013-01-23T08:54:00.001+09:00

We've Moved!

Come on over and join us at Chasing Chesed for upcoming homeschool, adventure, recipes and such.

Life Detox Challenge - Day 4 YOUR NEST

2012-05-17T13:47:00.001+09:00

Oh you knew I would get to this eventually. I am a purger. I absolutely LOVE getting rid of things I don't need or use. Heck, I like getting rid of stuff I do need and use. I enjoy the simple life. Where I have empty spaces in my home and the things I need are the things I use every single day and help me in my career as mother, wife, school marm and friend. Anything else and I have no qualms about donating or tossing it! I have probably donated an entire house full of stuff in the 8 years my husband and I have been together. It's freeing. It's life changing.

I grew up with a hoarder who held onto stuff because her memories and value were attached to them somehow. Living this military transient lifestyle affords me the pleasure of purging and inventorying our stuff every few years and I love it. I want to know everything that I possess. If I have more than I know of, I have way too much! I don't believe in storage and am not really a fan of knick knacks that serve my family no purpose. That's just me, but I believe that most people get piled up under their stuff and even though it isn't obvious, they are stressed by trying to live around their clutter and excess.

My challenge today is simple. Go through your house and find 3 things in each room that you don't need or use anymore and donate/toss them. I'm sure you will have no problem in your kitchen drawers with just 3 items, but what about your bathroom? Do you really need 10 different items to curl your hair? Do you really need 400 pens in your desk? Do you really need 8 shirts that all have pretty much the same color and cut? Do you even need enough towels to supply a hotel? There are so many things that we manage to collect over the years that creeps into our living space. And if we don't make a conscious decision to purge some of this stuff, we will find ourselves with what I call 'low grade anxiety' trying to live around our stuff.

If you find more than 3 then by all means, get rid of it! But if 3 is difficult, go through the reason why it's so hard to let go of it. What is making it so difficult?
Once you have completed this for every room, rinse and repeat a month later. You will feel so good that you did it the first time that you will make this a cyclical exercise and come to enjoy more living space! More freedom from clutter and chaos. Your home will become your haven and you will only have what you truly need. We're cutting the fat, remember. Healthy eating, healthy bodies, healthy schedules and now we can bring our home into 'best' instead of letting it drag us down. Your home should never be a burden, but a place you come to escape the crazy outside the front door.

I would love to hear how this goes and how many car fulls you donated! Grab some trash bags and start lightening your load!

Life Detox Challenge Day 3 - YOUR TIME

2012-05-17T13:28:00.000+09:00

I always have funny sayings and people probably think I'm crazy but this one is true. Everyone, no matter how rich or how poor, is equal in that we have all been given 24 hours in a day. Whether we spend it on ourselves, on others, resting, playing, working, sleeping, singing, commuting, cleaning. We still only have 24 hours in a day. No amount of money/status will give us more or less. What you do with the time you have is your choice.

One thing I always struggled with in my early 20's was saying no to 'good' and choosing the 'best' things. It is hard to turn down invitations or to skip a few events. It's even harder to revamp your entire life, more or get a new job that doesn't require hours and hours away from family each week. These precious hours add up over a week, a month, a year, a lifetime. The average American child age 8-18 spends 7.5 hours on electronic devices each day and that's not even including television! All that time, lost. One family spent up to 18 hours a week jockeying the kids around to various sports activities they thought their kids enjoyed. But the truth was that the kids were exhausted from homework, school commitments, and then all the extra curricular. They had very little time to sleep (which growing teens need more than ever) and even less time to just relax and 'be'. I waste a lot of time cleaning while my children "wait just a minute". And when that minute is up, they will be 18 and off to college. Sure I'd love to have a clean house but it's not as important as the nurturing of children going on here!

We run around all week long with children to soccer, karate, music lessons, dry cleaning, errands, appointments, play dates, get-to-gathers and at the end of the week, can we really say every hour in our week was spent wisely?

My challenge to you this week is to get organized if you're not already.
Write down a rough idea of what you do each hour of the day and the recurring things you do each week.
I wrote all mine on slips of sticky notes and put them in order on a sheet of paper as to what I do and when. I can shift them around. They're not set in stone, but give me a good idea of what I do each day/week.
I notice that I complain I never have any time but there are tons of empty spots on my schedule that seem to have to record. If I was an accountant I would suspect fraud and so it is with my ramblings of no time. I do have the time, but I waste it and before I realize it, I've blown the whole hour with nothing to show for it.

Take your schedule for the week and [here's the hard part,] I wan't you to be honest with yourself. Take a hard look at your schedule and define the things that are 'good' and the things that are 'best'. I encourage you to take the giant leap of bravery and do away with some of the things that are keeping you and your family at 'good' and push toward saying YES to things that are 'best'. It may not always be easy turning invites or events down, but you won't have any regrets I guarantee.
Detoxing isn't just about losing weight, but shedding the old garbage that is weighing you down in life. Arbitrary busyness, junk foods, 'stuff' (which we'll get to later), and unhealthy 'drainers'. This is a hard challenge but do it and you'll never look back! I would love to hear how altering your schedule and saying 'NO' to make room for different 'YES's goes.

Life Detox Challenge Day 2 - TWIST & SHOUT

2012-05-15T14:04:00.001+09:00

A new Crunchy Okinawa Parent, Erica, that hasn't yet arrived on island is our new "yogi". She is guest posting for us to learn how to literally squeeze the toxins from our body and become lighter, healthier people!

*Please only attempt deep twists up until the 2^nd trimester if pregnant. Above all else listen to your body.

One of the greatest ways to detox the body is through gentle stimulating and massaging the organs through twisting poses. Some people feel the squeeze and massaging of the liver and kidneys (or do you know where these organs are located on the body?) While in any twisting posture be sure to lengthen the spine and twist into the pose a little deeper with each breath. Be careful to only go to your edge. Please deeply through the nose (inhaling and exhaling) for 6-1- breaths. When you release from the pose your organs are flooded with nutrients and toxins are released. Why should I care if my kidneys and liver and bowls are in good working order?

First of all the kidneys are in charge of creating adrenaline. This not only comes in handy for riding roller rosters but also in our every day stressors. When the body becomes stressed (either physical and/or mentally) adrenaline goes to the kidney’s and starts the process of glycogen converting to glucose, which is just a fancy way for the body to increase blood flow. If you’ve ever been in a stressful situation (like a 2-year-old melt-down in the commissary) your blood pressure goes up, your breathing changes, and even your digestive tract is affected. A person under high amounts of stress may suffer constipation or loose stool. The first thing I learned to do is pay attention to the poo (sorry for the visual). But it’s important! It can tell us if we are stressed or perhaps a dietary change needs to happen.

Next, the liver not only processes the foods and drinks we ingest but many of the daily toxins we are exposed to-the air we breathe, medicines, water, soaps…and the list goes on. If our liver is over stimulated can result in migraines, irritability, rashes, anger, anxiety…and more..

So, now that we have a basic idea of why are guts are important let’s get to some asanas or yoga poses to help stimulate our center.

Reclined Twist

*Note: cat featured not needed but furry friends always love to join in :)

How to: Start lying on the back with legs extended straight. Allow the arms to come to the sides in a “T” position (palms facing down). Bend both legs. Cross the right leg over the left. Slightly slide the hips over to the right. On your next exhale allow both knees to drop over to the left side of the body. See if you can allow your entire body to relax into those pose while keeping both shoulders on the ground. If you find your knees do not reach the ground (or that the shoulder starts to lift up) find a folded blanket/pillow/block and allow the knees to rest here. Repeat on opposite side.

Stimulates the liver and kidneys
Stretches the spine
Relieves back pain, menstrual cramps.

Half-Lord of the Fishes

How to: Start seated with legs in front of you. Bend the right leg and bring the heel as close to the groin as possible. Lengthen the spine on an inhalation and allow the right arm to wrap around the right knee (you may also rest the elbow on the right knee with the fingertips pointing up). On the next exhalation begin to twist to the left. Look over the left shoulder. Inhale, lengthen the spine, and exhale twist a little deeper. Find out edge and breathe here for 6-10 breathes. On your last breath exhale slowly and come out of the twist. Repeat on the opposite side.

Stimulates the liver and kidneys
Stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck
Energizes the spine
Stimulates the digestive fire in the belly
Relieves menstrual discomfort, fatigue, sciatica, and backache

*Three-Legged Dog

How to: Come to all fours-keeping the knees hips width apart and arms shoulder width apart. Spread the fingers wide and start to lift the knees up. . Send the hips up and the thighs back. Plant firmly through both hands, allow the heels to sink down towards the ground Create an inverted “V’ shape with your body. Release any tension in the neck and slide the shoulders away from each other and down the back. Stay here for a few breaths. If it feels comfortable come into the challenge pose of three-legged dog*. Step the feet towards the front of the mat just slightly so that the heels come down a little further. With the right hand reach over and grab unto the left ankle. Look underneath the left armpit. Breathe and feel your body filling up with new blood and air. Exhale everything you need to detox and let go. Repeat on the other side.

Stimulates the liver and kidneys
Stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck
Stretches the hamstrings
Stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck
Stimulates the thyroid/lymph nodes
Can be very energizing!

Legs-up-the wall

End your practice with a detoxifying final relaxation. Legs up the wall is easy and is exactly what it sounds like! J You may want to put a folded blanket under the hips for support or wrap the feet tightly in a blanket. Perhaps even an eye pillow and just allow your shoulders spine and hips to just melt. See how long you can stay here. You may notice tingling feet, hands, etc. This is new blood flow!

Relieves tired or cramped legs and feet
Gently stretches the back legs, front torso, and the back of the neck
Relieves mild backache
Calms the mind

*If you have something firmer like a rolled up towel or a yoga bolster (as seen here) or even a pool "noodle" you can really feel the squeezing of the kidneys!

Life Detox Challenge Day 1 - FEED YOURSELF!

2012-05-13T16:20:00.000+09:00

Not much else in our daily life is as important as what we put into our mouths. When we work so hard, serve others and go about our busy days we fuel these things by the food we eat. When we don't eat the right foods we crash. We are grumpy. We eat excessively because our brains tell us that we need more since what we have been shoveling in our mouth lacks the vitamins and minerals it requires to run efficiently. So in our week long detox challenge today we're going to change the way you see food and how you'll fuel your body for the rest of the week.

1. A SIMPLE LIST - I am the queen of lists and you'll see why. They are amazing for seeing where you've been and where you want to go. Make a list of the foods you have been eating. Not a detailed list of everything at every hour, just a generic list of the foods you eat in a week.

Go through that list and put a star next to the foods that fuel your body. Foods that are loaded with vitamins and minerals and living energy that nourish every cell in your body. These are vegetables, fruits, sea vegetables, probiotic foods, fermented foods, etc.

Now put a line through the foods that you've been noshing that not only don't support your body but are detrimental. Foods that drain you. Foods that bloat your belly, give you indigestion, make you sluggish and ill feeling. Mark out the foods that are not working hard for you. Foods that may taste good but long term are not out for your best interests. You know who they are. Be honest with yourself and let these guys go. You deserve foods that work hard to deliver energy and vitality to your body. You need living foods! You deserve to be fed well!

Though I have done extreme cleanses in the past like the Master Cleanse, I don't recommend them since they don't support the liver very well and can flush toxins too quickly from your body and give you terrible side effects. Your body needs food to heal. It needs living nutrients to support detoxification and rejuvenation.

Here are just a few foods that do that.

Dandelion tea - purges junk from the liver and kidneys
Apples - fibrous deliciousness that bulldozes detritus from your colon
Dark Leafy Greens - loaded with phyto-nutrients that can actually prevent cancerous cellular mutations
Oatmeal - scrubs the body, mopping up fat and cholesterol while nourishing the body at the same time
Lemons - another "purger" that cleans out mucous and collections in the liver and kidneys
Cilantro - I personally do not like the taste of cilantro so I use parsley in my recipes but cilantro has amazing traits and can actually adhere to heavy metals and flush them out of your body. Natural chelation therapy.
Vinegar (Apple cider vinegar) - can eat this many ways...fermented or pickled foods, or straight up ACV drinks. Excellent for health of teeth and overall condition

So what are you going to do with your honest list of supportive foods and unsupportive foods?
Feel free to use a detox plan like this for smoothie ideas and meals that cut the junk and are full of unlimited clean burning fuel!

Here is my plan for this week.
BREAKFAST:
Each morning I am starting with a glass of warm ACV drink. This used first thing in the morning will squeeze all the gunk out of my liver and flush it promptly. No food in my stomach means that it will work more effectively. Warm lemon water does the same thing if you don't like ACV drinks.

One of my favorite breakfasts is cereal for its cold crunchiness. This however doesn't fuel my body well so I had to say 'sayonara' to my cereal addiction. I make 'overnight oatmeal' that serves my body and I can add walnuts to it to satisfy crunchiness. I take 1 cup of steel cut/Irish oats and 1.5 cups of yogurt. Mix in a jar and throw in the fridge until the morning. Pull it out, add fruit and eat!

Another of my favorite breakfasts is pure green smoothies! Throw a few handfuls of fresh greens, an apple, coconut milk, water, a banana and an orange. Blend, baby, blend! This is my go-to snack at all hours of the day.

LUNCH:
This is a simple plan. No frilly recipes. I'm lazy like that. Just make a list of foods that you know are nutritious that you can incorporate into your daily meals. Carrot sticks, celery sticks and salads are in my daily repertoire. My kids love them. I love them. Best of all, I can eat as much as I want and they pack a powerful punch of nutrition for our bodies!

My favorite salad dressing: 1.5 part coconut oil, 1 part balsalmic vinegar, 1 part honey, sea salt and cracked pepper. Shake and drizzle!

DINNER:
Dinner is the biggest compromise time for me. I am married to a carnivore. People have mixed feelings on meat. I believe Dr. Gerson is onto something but I also know that animal proteins are something our bodies need and can be absorbed more efficiently than any other protein type. Wild caught salmon is excellent for the DHA and literal brain food. Fermented cod liver oil is another excellent nutritive supplement.

Dinners are easy when you think simply. Soups, stews, salads and 5 ingredient-or-less meals are my go-to's.
How fast is throwing some chicken on the grill and tossing it on some greens?! Couldn't be faster. Make sure that your dinner plate is half or more than half covered with living fresh vegetables (meaning they haven't had the living daylights cooked out of them) and fruits.
Use detoxing foods like cayenne or lemon on your chicken to spice it up but also to eliminate junk in your body.

CHALLENGE:
So here is my challenge to you. Make your lists and get a good idea of what serves you and what doesn't. Take a good honest look at your food and re-commit to nourishing your body the right way. Trash the white flours, rice, and sugars from your kitchen. Make a simple meal plan for the week. Simple is better. Smoothies, soups, salads with tons and tons of produce should be your goal! These are what will give you energy, feed your cells what they need and over time, will heal your body from the inside out! You'll notice that once you start eating healthy you will need to eat less volume because you're eating high quality foods over high quantity dead processed boxed junk!

Do this for the entire week even though we're going to be adding more challenges each day! You can do it!
I'm leaving you with images and articles regarding Kirlian Photography that shows the dynamic difference between cooked and raw vegetables.

http://www.energyfirst.com/site/newsletter/05-09-05-Healing-Power-Foods.htm

http://www.santafechiropractor.us/lifestyle-choices/what-we-eat-drink-and-breathe/kirlian-photo-gallery

And a little kitchen purging inspiration!

Source: Uploaded by user via Rose on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via Cindy @ Cinsarah on Pinterest

Best Friends and God's Provision

2012-02-13T16:07:00.000+09:00

February is the month of my grandma's birthday. She was a best friend and passed away over 2 years ago shortly after Z-B was born. It's also the month of my birthday and this year I turn 30. Happy birthday to me!

I decided as a gift to myself that I'd take the week off. Since my husband was gone I would take this opportunity to cleanse my schedule and my life of a few things.

I turned off the phones, turned off my email and face book and I'm not even answering the door should someone come by. (Don't worry. I've notified everyone so they don't come knocking thinking I'm dead.) It has been amazing so far. Peaceful. I have been enjoying less hurried meet-ups and errands, and more cuddle time with my Littles and really look in their eyes and spend quality one-on-one time with them with no set time limit. We've been studying things in the coral tide pools across from our house during low tide. We've enjoyed multiple museums and plenty of couch cuddle time and walks along the water. I am so happy to see that my two children are becoming each others best friends.

I was driving down the street today past where I used to live. There were two ladies going for a walk with their kids in strollers down the path I used to go with friends every single day for years. It was nice to see and God used it, along with other things recently to really teach me something.

This season of having two Littles is new to me but it has been so sweet. It can be isolating and lonely to not find any moms of like-mind or like-faith to hang out with. Sure we have church and Bible study and work peers but I'm done looking for a stroller buddy, a best friend. I am so thankful that I have an amazing little family and my husband and I prefer to be with each other. We don't need a guy's night or ladies' night out. We enjoy being together and spending the time we do have together with the children.

God has taught me in the past that I don't need half as much as I think I need in this life. I was lamenting the difficulty of finding like-minded families to hang out with every time we have to move the other day and God just reminded me, "am I not enough?" When I mention that I have a hundred acquaintances but not any friends that are also close, reliable sisters in Christ that I can have a regular (meaning not long distance) meaningful interaction with God just reminds me that He is enough. He gave me Himself, His fellowship, His friendship, His love and understanding. The acquaintances He has placed in my life are there for a reason and I'm thankful for God's work for me to do in those relationships. I always wonder how missionaries do it. It must get kind've lonely. But God is enough for them as He is enough for me here.

I was reminded today about how wonderful my family is and even though we're in a transient life and cannot live near one another, technology is such that we can stay connected very easily. What a great age to live in.

I hear it all the time, even in a Bible study I once participated in, "you have to do something for yourself once in a while". I am so sick of hearing this since typically "doing something for self" has little to no benefit other than for self (which I guess was the point). God has shown me that when my life is chaotic or stressful, when I'm struggling or enduring difficulties that a pedicure isn't the solution. A massage isn't enough. Going to coffee with a gal pal isn't going to make everything somehow clearer or more enjoyable in my life. Reading the latest pop-Christian book isn't going to work. Only God is enough. He is anything and everything I need for any and every situation. Period.
Do you realize what this means? This means that we don't have to have obedient patient children, or clean husbands or orderly days with perfect schedules or a perfect house or a huge cache of friends or a shelf full of self-help books. We don't even have to have a bath tub full of bubbles to have a happy life! (though it is a nice bonus)
This revelation both frees me from the things I sought after feeling understood, having a local best friend (other than my husband), some 'me' time, etc. It allows me to live off the purest and most fulfilling thing I can and operate at top efficiency with love, grace and joy in my life. He is enough and I'm so thankful for that.

Trusting and Moving On

2012-02-10T12:21:00.001+09:00

Dog and I were on a walk the other day, just the two of us, which rarely happens. He's been such a great pal and ever since we rescued him 7 years ago, he's been my buddy. He's there when J deploys and I'm alone. He was there when Z-B was born pacing the floor like a worried mother hen. He was there when we moved from US to Japan TWICE. He was there when B was born and every day in between. If there's one thing I love about dogs its that they're loyal. In many ways I like them better than people which I'm sure sounds terrible but any 'dog person' I'm sure agrees.

He's getting older now and not as agile as he once was climbing up Mt. Gusuku and through the dense vegetation in Okinawa or the volcanoes in Wyoming. He's always been lazy and laid back but that's why we love him.

Anyway, we were going for a stroll down the seawall and there are 3 levels of walls around the Miyagi Coast. We chose to walk the lowest level so I could look in the tide pools and snap pics. He was nervous about it since the algae makes the footing extremely slippery. But he trusted me. We were being bombarded with a tide rolling in that occasionally doused us with sea water. He hated it but he still trusted me to protect him and lead the way. There is a big cement block that we must jump over to continue on our path and I can easily scale it but for little legs like Dog's it takes some effort. He's older now so most of his pep is gone. He knows that if he does the work to get his top half up I will gladly help him get the back half of his body up on the block so we can get on with our walk. He doesn't like it and can't see from his position where exactly we're going and sometimes he seems confused as to what I'm asking from him, but despite all my demands, he trusts me regardless. He knows that wherever we go, whatever we're doing, he can relax and enjoy the walk while I take us there. Oh how simple and enjoyable a life! To follow wherever your owner leads you.

So why is it so difficult for us to do the same? Do we follow our owner who has lovingly written His name on our heart like ANDY wrote his name on Woody? Do we gladly go even when we're not certain where we're headed or what obstacles my be on the journey? I can humbly admit that I don't.
Sure I've learned how to throw up my hands and give control to God in certain areas. (PCSing is an easy one for me because I love adventure and God always sends us on interesting and exciting missions to different places). But other areas, not so much. Like my children. I still deep down in my mind have a death grip on them. In my thinking, I believe that what I do and don't do, how I raise them is more important than God's plan for them and if I screw up, they will fail. But where is the God who knows and sees more than what I can know and see? Is He in the equation at all?
I am sad to say that Dog has taught me some very profound things over the years about who God is and how to follow gracefully and trustingly. I am not a good follower but when I consider the character and nature of Whom I am following it is clear that He is the ONLY person I want to follow. If I lead myself I'd end up drowning in the ocean!

On Sunday we got back from church and noticed that the door had not closed all the way when we left a few hours earlier. I didn't think much about it except that keeping the window open on a windy day might have caused it. We went inside and it took me a few minutes to realize Dog was gone! I didn't think he'd ever leave since he's happy with us. He essentially adopted us that fateful spring day back in Milton, FL in 2005. I had two kids to put to nap and then I drove around the block hollering his name and looking for him anywhere I thought he might be. He wasn't at the park playing with the kids. He wasn't in the shade relaxing by the water. I just had to trust that he would come back because I didn't have anyone who could help me since J was deployed and all my friends are over scheduled as it is. I didn't have anyone - except God. I remembered what Dog taught me earlier in the week and put it to good practice. Just then J called and said that when he checked the app on his phone that helps you find your lost iphone he saw my phone driving in circles so he thought he'd call and see why. I was stressed and worried and getting a mid-day call from my man was just what I needed. I drove back home and just then I saw Dog's floppy ears in the parking lot trotting toward me with a look like, "and JUST WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!" He was happy to see me and I him. We was very self sufficient and the opposite of needy when we met him so I knew he wouldn't have a problem surviving on his own and may not even feel the need to return to us. But we were his family and he came back! He may have been there the whole time just relaxing in the sun near a car or something. But me trusting that he would be okay and that this situation was not outside the eye of God was important. I trust His plan no matter if I'm let in on the details or just have to be led step by step. I'm okay with that. All in all it was a great day celebrating Dog and his contribution to our family!

Education as a Way of Life

2012-02-08T20:24:00.001+09:00

Our home school hardly stays at home. Here are a few things we enjoy doing on a regular basis in the off season (meaning when it's 'beach season' we have a HUGE other list of educational things we do there since we spend most of our days there.) We love the principles of Charlotte Mason and try to embody the idea of learning to love learning not just education in a classroom setting. When I really studied this I realized that we do this already. It's natural. It's easy and it's the way I want my children to grow and love to learn new things.

writing songs on a 100Y guitar

studying the big cats at the zoo

sketching in her nature journal the animals she saw at the petting zoo

going over the details of breastfeeding while playing with the granite animal statues

running in a 5K together

racing strollers

studying waves and the art of surfing

umin-chu style fishing

roller slide at local park

learning about kinetic and potential energy

learning about gravity

building letters and various other things from play dough

more fishing and learning patience

learning about the battle of Sugar Loaf Hill

designing and making a butterfly pin at the Wonder Museum

learning about gravity and cause/effect

learning courage

There is never a dull moment in our learning adventures and even though I often feel like we're not "learning" because we're having so much fun, we really do discuss a lot about the science and art of things as we go along. I love it that my two year old calls it our Chrysalis tree and baked goods, hibiscuits. (smile!)

Tutorial - Pillowcase Dress

2012-02-08T14:01:00.000+09:00

(Adapted from a message I sent a friend so if you need more clarification, just add a comment.)

Pillowcase dresses are instant gratification with minimal effort! You can make them with a yard or less of any type of fabric though I recommend a cotton or muslin over stretch fabrics. (I hate stretch fabrics.) This matter appeals to me because it has no button holes or zippers or snaps or velcro.

Mom Note: If you got super ambitious you could also measure one for you as a top. They're THAT versatile and much cheaper than buying them!

First thing's first. Wash, dry, iron your fabric. If you try to speed through and skip this step, all your work will be for naught when the wash your creation for the first time and the weave shifts and it's all contorted. Just be patient and do this first!

1. Grab a dress or shirt of the Little you want to make a dress for.

2. Lay it flat on the fabric you want to use. Since you'll be marking on it, use the backside of the fabric.

3. grab a pen and trace a giant rectangle (or it can flare a bit at the bottom if you like it better for dresses) around the dress/shirt. You want to make it around the correct length, a few inches from each side (because it will gather up to a smaller size) and measure up to the neck with about an extra inch or so (because you're going to fold it down to make a little alley for the drawstring to go through).

4. Cut both rectangles/hexagons out.

5. Grab an iron. look at the pre-made dress and see where the bottom of the armpit is. mark a little spot on each piece of fabric so you'll know how far the arms should go.

6. roll a little hem (fold over and then over again) this will make the top more angled inward instead of straight down the sides because you have to hem up where the arm hole is going to be. Easy peasy. You don't have to fold and iron past the armpit mark you made except for a little bit. It won't matter past there.

7. Sew a straight line down the little hem you made on each arm on each piece.

8. Now that the arms are done you should have two pieces of fabric that are a little more narrow on the top than the bottom because the hem for each of the arm holes. right?

9. Take the mark you made for the bottom of the arm pit and dew from there to the bottom of the dress. Both pieces pattern sides inside. (I have sewn an entire dress wrong sided before I realized I hadn't turned the dress inside out to sew it!)

10. Now you have still two pieces sewn together with the top narrower than the bottom. right?

11. Now for the alley for the drawstring. Fold the tops down about 1 inc. Just eyeball it and see what looks right. You don't want to too narrow because you'll be feeding a ribbon through it and it will need some room to bunch up a little) Fold it twice so you have a nice little pocket all the way across the top. Sew this on both the front and back but make sure not to sew them together. The ends of the top should be already finished because of then armpit hems you made earlier. So when you sew across to make the alleys the ends will be open, right?

12. Now you can make your ribbon. Some people make them narrow and some make then fat so they can make a big fluffy bow with them. It's up to you. Just sew a long narrow rectangle on inside out fabric and then turn it right side out. There's your ribbon. You can angle the ends if you want. It might look a little nicer.

13. put a safety pin in the end of your finished ribbon and thread through your alleys. Whichever side you want your tie to be on, keep that in mind when you thread them in a big circle with the ends on whatever side you want the tie.

14. Now you can put it on the girl and see how much you need to tighten the drawstring ribbon for it to fit. If you need to shorten your ribbon or not you can adjust it and then just mark where you want to cut it off.

15. Also now is the time to check the length. If you want to shorten it or lengthen it with a little band of a different fabric. When you have the length good you just fold it over twice and hem it!
AND YOU HAVE MADE A PILLOW CASE DRESS!

Extras: you can add the band of coordinating fabric at the bottom and use the same fabric for the ribbon to match if you want. You can also use a decorative stitch that is on your sewing machine for sewing across the tops of the alleys because you'll see that right up top when you look at the dress on her.

Happy Sewing!

Home School -Top Favorite Educational Toys

2012-02-08T13:48:00.000+09:00

1. Wooden Clock with moveable arms
2. Flip-A-Block Alphabet
3. Frog and Toad Read Along books and Audio CD
4. How to Build an A Book and Manipulatives
5. Pop Up Alphabet Flash Cards
6. Hot Dots Alphabet Cards (pen sold separately)
7. Infantino Texture/Word/Color Matching Puzzle Pieces
8. Eureka Animal Manipulatives
9. Melissa & Doug Lacing Cards
10. Geometric Puzzles
11. Melissa & Doug String a Farm

Home School A-Z - Letter U

2012-02-04T20:11:00.001+09:00

Action Word- Upper cut, turn upside down

Activities - build an umbrella out of paper and pipe cleaners

- find fun creatures under rocks/useful items and snap photos and create a book about it

- eat lunch underneath the table or tent

- draw a landscape you are looking at but completely upside down (the image, not your

body)

Animals - sea urchin, Upupa, Ulysses butterfly

Bible Character Study - Uzziel (God is my strength)

Books - Up Above and Down Below, Up on Daddy's Shoulders, Under the Table

Character Trait - Understanding

Color - umber, ultramarine

Coloring Page - HERE

Food - Ube cake, unleavened bread, pineapple upside down cake

Service - umbrella for an umpire

MORE RESOURCES:
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/Letter_Uu_Printable_for_Toddlers.pdf
http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2011/10/now-i-know-my-abcs-uu-is-for-umbrella.html
http://ponderedinmyheart.typepad.com/pondered_in_my_heart/alphabet-coloring-pages/
http://www.animalstown.com/animal-coloring-43.html

Home School A-Z - Letter T

2012-02-04T19:52:00.002+09:00

Action Word- Tickle, Try

Activities - build a tower with blocks, or draw/build a train from various toys.
- take pictures along the trail on a walk. print, laminate and create a book about the walk.
- make a tunnel/tent from cardboard boxes or sheets
Animals - tarantula, turkey, turtle, tiger,
Bible Character Study - Timothy
Books - Tootle, Frog and Toad, Tawny Scrawny Lion, One Tree, Hurray for Today
Character Trait - Telling the Truth
Color - teal, turqoise
Coloring Page - HERE
Food - Turkey legs, tacos, tomatoes
Service - Treats for man who works on Trucks (our mechanic down the street)

MORE RESOURCES:
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/TotSchoolPrintables4.html
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/ThomasTotBook.html
http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2011/09/tt-is-for-tools-now-i-know-myabcs.html
http://ponderedinmyheart.typepad.com/pondered_in_my_heart/alphabet-coloring-pages/

DIY Self Watering Garden Containers

2012-02-03T20:45:00.000+09:00

There are many tutorials out there on how to build your own self-watering containers but since Z-B and I worked very hard on these, I felt the need to share them with the world. Self-watering containers are great because they encourage the roots to grow deep and strong, regulating water on their own. They are great for arid areas and conserve water and energy (yours).

1. Find a container that has a lid. Many people use 5 gallon buckets that you can get super cheap at hardware stores. I used a Rubbermaid box. Trim the lid to fit inside 2 inches from the bottom and if the container has graduated sides, not straight, the lid will be a bit larger. If the sides are straight just trace it off the bottom of the bucket and adjust later. Drill a bunch of holes all over it.

2. Find a container that fits fairly low in the container. I found a pencil container that already had holes in it. If your container doesn't have holes then drill a few all around.

3. Grab some plastic zip ties and attach the little container to the lid through the holes.

4. Drop the set up in the bottom of the bucket and see how far the lid is from the bottom. Drill a hole in the side of the main container just below where the lid sits. This is to make sure the water fills up the bottom without rising over the lid.

5. Cut a piece of pipe with an angled bottom and cut a hole in the lid to slide it through to the bottom. Don't worry if its' floppy, the dirt will hold it in place. This is where you'll fill it with water.

6. Check your set up and make sure everything is good before you fill with soil.

7. When watering, you only need to water through the hole to the bottom, except only water traditionally every now and then and when first planting.

Holiday Candy and Bikinis

2012-01-24T17:20:00.000+09:00

I was driving home today and noticed a correlation between a few things. Let's see if you can too.

Candy...holidays...holiday candy...Halloween...Christmas...Valentine's Day...Easter...but none of the holidays in the summer involve candy...and everyone who isn't an agoraphobe in the A/C sheds the clothing in the summer. Bikini is not a word in my immediate vocabulary anymore.

Since my Sept. baby I have been holding on to more than a chubby little man. I've got atleast 26.4 pounds to lose and if I'm ambitious I can add 10 more to that number to level off at pre-marriage plumping.

When I got married a million years ago, the IT guy at my church whom I worked with told me that all women get fat when they get married and it was just a fact of life. I was irritated and determined to prove him wrong.

He was right.

But it isn't out of laziness that's for sure. Picking up all the stray socks and putting them in the hamper (2 feet away), hauling a toddler, a baby AND 2 gallons of milk up the stairs is what some would call a full body workout. (smile)

In my attempt to secure atleast one sliver of pleasure in my life I have chosen running. I can give up smelling nice, being clean, sewing, having free time, even naps! But I can't give up running. It's directly connected to my sanity (and my hips). I love running.

My sweet husband is always offering to watch the kids nap while I go for a "quick run". I kindly decline as a "quick run" for me is no less than 2 hours down the beach and back. He doesn't understand that this one thing actually isn't for fitness for me. It's for pleasure and when done in such a way as for me to enjoy it, it isn't a sprint or even a run. It's a putting jog listening to my ipod or just the waves crashing on the shore.

I went for a run the other night in the cool breeze and once I hit mile 4 it was time to turn around. I ran to the dead end on the seawall that jetted out away from the shore about 20 yards. I sat at the edge looking out into the deep dark ocean where the lights couldn't reach and I listened to the wind howling in the feathery plants growing in between the coral boulders. I leaned back and laid down looking up at a pink cloudy sky. I was humbled by a snap shot of my life at that moment. A grace-oriented husband, a hilarious and curious adventurer in my daughter, a sweet happy little boy, a faithful and loving Dog, a relaxed life in Okinawa with virtually no crime, no media, no hustle and bustle. I was so thankful for everything. My difficult childhood, my friends long lost, my struggles and my blessings, my duties and my freedoms. Here I was, in the blink of an eye, a mother of two on a tropical island laying on the coral listening to the breeze in the reeds and the moon pulling the tide in. How did I get here? Why do I have such a life as this? I can't honestly say. All my life I worked hard for what I wanted but this wasn't worked for. It wasn't earned. It was given to me out of a lovingkindness. Out of a grace that I still can't quite wrap my head around.
For the rest of my run I ran in silence, no catchy tunes pumping me up and picking up my pace. Just breath and thoughts. It was peaceful. I got home to my family feeling like I'd been hooked up to a car battery - recharged and replenished from what was once drained and empty. Thankfulness is so important and in this military life that feels like being rung through a pasta maker at times, it is essential to find things to be thankful for in every situation, in every location, every person, ever challenge and trial.
I gathered all this in a mere 6 mile run. (This is why running isn't one of the luxuries I can afford to give up!)

Homemade Soaked Pitas

2012-01-20T19:18:00.000+09:00

Who doesn't love a good pita? In my attempt to make more meals at home I have to be honest with myself about the foods I love. Bread is one of them that I refuse to keep in the house (which prompts more dining out). This recipe is great for a weekend of baking and tastes amazing with a little homemade yogurt on the side. Throw some spicy sausage meatballs and tomatoes in the pocket and you have an instant tasty lunch!

Soaked Whole Wheat Pitas

Have

3 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon sugar or honey
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups water, roughly at room temperature
2 tablespoons olive oil, butter, or coconut oil
2 tablespoons whey, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar

SOAK THESE ITEMS 12-24 HOURS

Adding then,

1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 packet yeast (2 teaspoons) – I am currently using the rest of Gigi’s instant yeast so I don’t need to add anything, but if you are using Active Dry Yeast you will need to activate it using a little warm water and sugar or honey. Follow the instructions on the package).

add until sticky but balled up

knead 10 min

rest in oiled bowl 90min covered

divide into 8 pieces and form balls

rest in oiled cookie sheet 20 min

pre-heat 400 degrees

flour and roll into flats

bake until puffy (3 min or so)

The Smell of a Mother

2012-01-20T19:07:00.000+09:00

I remember the days when I was little, curling up to my mom while she painted my fingernails (a little motivation to not chew them to bits). I remember the smell of her nightgown when I'd come in her room in the middle of the night with knee pain or a bad dream and cuddle. I remember very little about my youth but I can remember smells acutely and place myself in the exact memory no matter how long ago.

In my crunchy ways I have changed soaps many times in an attempt to find one that both cleans well without irritation and isn't loaded with chemicals. Our entire family uses baby shampoo for body, hair and face. One bottle...many uses. I decided recently as I considered what an impact scent made on my memories that I would search for a scented soap that was still fairly non-toxic. I want my children to know my smell and remember it fondly all their days. I have been searching high and low for the right one and weighing all my options when I settled on a plain bar of Dove soap. It's one of the few soaps that both my sensitive husband and my own sensitive skin can handle.

As I showered for the first time with my new soap that broke all the rules to my crunchy ways, my mind was flooded with memories of that smell. My mother, my grandmother both used that soap. I remembered long hot summer days in Texas and instantly smelling my mom as she stepped out of a steamy bathroom smelling like, well...like a mom. I remember hugging my grandmother hello and goodbye on our many trips to visit her. She smelled like an angel - or so I thought when I was a kid. Later I found out she was quite the pistol.

I couldn't wait to get out of the shower and cuddle with my babies. They are so young and so impressionable. Will they know my scent when they're old and in college about to do something stupid and catch a whiff of Dove in the air and decide against foolishness? If I die before they're grown will they have fond and clear memories of their mother? Z-B instantly noticed a change in my smell and asked me, "New soap, Mommy?"
Yes, I actually smelled like something (besides a primate house in the middle of an Okinawan summer).
So Dove has come full circle in our family and 3 generations have used it as their signature scent with their children. It's not chemical-free. It's not the best soap I've ever used but it is the one I choose to use for reasons that only are important to me.

Sayonara 2011

2011-12-24T14:59:00.000+09:00

This year has flown by faster than any I've ever experienced. I thought moving to Okinawa back in 2006 made the year go by fast as well as the year we had Zoe-Bell but this year trumps them all. We moved from Japan to the US and back to Japan again AND had another baby, Brave Christian. I can hardly believe that 365 days have gone by as it seems like a blur.

Here's a recap of this year. WARNING: You may want to buckle your seat belt!

January: Recovered from the flu I got on Christmas vacay in Amish country. Conceived Brave. Ruined my hair. Found out I was pregnant which made the crazy hair stunt make much more sense. (I lose my brain when I'm pregnant and so stupid things.)

February: Turned 29 and had my first great birthday with James. Every other he's been deployed. Zoe-Bell is growing fast and we did more purposeful play gearing up for home school. The weather is chilly but we spend our afternoons wandering through the woods at the Prince William National Forest. We enjoyed a nice visit from our MIL and FIL, as well.

March: Winter is transitioning into Spring and we're excited to enjoy the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. It reminds us of "home" in Okinawa where the cherry blossoms bloom in bright pinks.

April: James ran the National Marathon and "Team Yothers" came out to support. He then left for Virginia Beach for a month and we traveled down to visit, enjoying a lovely Easter and prepping for another move to Japan. The Salvation Army loved seeing me pull up with car fulls of stuff to donate! I love moving because I get to purge our entire house!

May: We got to see our baby BOY for the first time on a sonogram. From now until Sept. Z-B would often come to my stomach with some random object in her hands to "listen to brother's heartbeat". MIL and FIL came to visit again. Travel month. We said goodbye to friends in D.C., enjoyed time with family in CA, and spent a lovely few days with dear friends in Seattle while waiting out a typhoon to fly home to Okinawa.

June: We drank in the warm sun in Okinawa like we'd been living under a rock for the past year. Our hearts were so full of thanks for being returned to Okinawa. We found a great church, we reconnected with old friends and met new ones. We got to know our new unit and our new job here in Oki (which we love!).

July: Our beach days are a nice respite from the hot summer here. We got there often. My darling baby girl turned two. I cried.

August: Swim lessons start and Zoe-Bell is a pro. She loves the water and loves her instructor, Miss Cassie. My belly is getting bigger but my car was in the shop for 6 weeks so I pedaled around the island.

Sept: Friends came to visit from the US for 2 weeks. We enjoyed them so much. Patiently waiting for the birth of our son as he didn't make his debut before friends left. Shortly after they flew out, my MIL arrived and spent 3 weeks. After her first week here, baby Brave was born on Sept. 29th at 6AM in our home unassisted after 4 hours of labor. (There is an amazing story here which I will post soon.) We enjoyed some serious baby bliss before J was scheduled to leave.

Oct: We send MIL back to CA with our grateful hearts. A week later we say goodbye to James as he leaves for the Philippines for a month and Zoe-Bell, Brave and I learn how to do things on our own. We enjoy time with friends and finding a sweetness in our "new normal". Our unit and the MEU wives took excellent care of our little family while J was away and we were so humbled and thankful for their efforts!

Nov: Things begin to cool off on our island and the sunsets are brilliant pinks and purples this time of year. We spend time with dear friends around a turkey for Thanksgiving and celebrate the men who deployed a week earlier to Afghanistan. Brave is now 2 months old and giggling and cooing at my face and his sisters antics. He cracks us up. He cracks himself up.

Dec: This month has flown by and somehow we mark 3 months for Brave and 7 years for James and my anniversary. We enjoyed a lovely Christmas full of traditions and love. We are looking ahead to a new year with some major changes in our way of living and our goals. Our 7th annual New Year's Day meeting will start our year off on the the right foot.

All in all this year rocked our socks off. It was busy but blessed. It was hectic but humbling. We have been given so much grace from a good God that its hard to take it all in. We have been re-purposed in Okinawa and are so thankful for new adventures here, new memories and new friends found. We're excited at what 2012 holds and if it will fly by as fast as this year did.

Thai Coconut Pancakes

2011-12-24T13:16:00.000+09:00

These delicious beauties are going to make the cut for our new Christmas traditions. I don't know if I can wait for another holiday to make these again!

Have

1 can good-quality coconut milk (14 oz./398-400 ml)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
2 eggs
1+1/2 Tbsp. white sugar
2 Tbsp. coconut oil OR butter, melted
1 tsp. coconut flavoring (optional)
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
oil for frying
FOR COCONUT SYRUP:
1/3 cup good-quality coconut milk
1/4 cup table syrup (I like maple syrup)

In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the can of coconut milk with the shredded coconut. Set aside.
In a smaller bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the sugar then melted butter, and whisk again until light and fluffy.
Add the egg mixture to the coconut milk mixture, stirring well to combine. Also add the coconut flavoring (if using).
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Now add the wet coconut-egg mixture to the dry flour mixture, stirring well to combine.
Heat a frying pan or flat-bottomed wok over high heat for 30 seconds (use a pan with a thick base, if you have one). Reduce heat to medium for another 30 seconds. Add 1 Tbsp. oil and swirl around, then ladle about 1/4 cup pancake batter (for large pancakes) into the middle of the pan. Jiggle the pan a little or tilt to spread the batter out (if needed).
When surface around is covered with bubbles, flip and cook the other side. Tip: Always add more oil when frying the next batch, or it may stick. Also, you may need to lower the heat as you go, or the pan might become too hot and burn your pancakes before they're cooked. I find medium-low heat best once my pan is good and hot.
To Make the Coconut Syrup: Simply combine the coconut milk and syrup, stirring well. Adjust the flavors by adding more coconut milk or more syrup depending on how syrup-y or coconut-ty you like it. ENJOY!

Ten Easy Steps For Developing Your Normal, Healthy baby into a Drug Addict or Alcoholic

2011-12-22T19:45:00.000+09:00

Ten Easy Steps For Developing Your Normal, Healthy baby into a Drug Addict or Alcoholic

1. Spoil him; Give him everything he wants if you can afford it.

2. When he does wrong, you may nag him, but never spank him (unless he's showing signs of independence).

3. Foster his dependence on you, so drugs and alcohol can replace you when he's older.

4. Protect him from your spouse and from all those mean teachers who threaten to spank him from time to time. Sue them if you wish.

5. Make all of his decisions for him, since you are a lot older and wiser than he. He might make mistakes and learn from them if you don't.

6. Criticize his father openly, so your son can lose his own self-respect and confidence.

7. Always bail him out of trouble so he will like you. Besides, he might harm your reputation if he gets a police record. Never let him suffer the consequences of his own behavior.

8. Always step in and solve his problems for him, so he can depend on you and run to you when the going gets tough. Then when he's older and still hasn't learned how to solve his own problems, he can continue to run from then through heroin and alcohol.

9. Just to play it safe, be sure to dominate your husband and drive him to drink too, if you can.

10. Take lots of unnecessary prescription drugs yourself, so that taking non prescription drugs won't be a major step for him.

Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

2011-12-22T19:31:00.000+09:00

Have

3 1/3 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

3 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground clove

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1 c. oil

4 eggs

2/3 c. water

2 c. pumpkin

chopped nuts (optional)

Mix dry and wet ingredient bowls. Pour in greased muffin tins.

Fill muffin tins three-quarters full and bake at 350°F for 20-30 minutes.

Top Ten WORST Ways to Discipline your Kids

2011-12-22T19:26:00.000+09:00

10. Tell them they can only watch four hours of television per night.

9. Send them to their room (where their toys are).

8. Promise them a trip to McDonald's if they stop misbehaving.

7. If they're misbehaving at McDonald's, promise them Chuck E. Cheese.

6. Tell them if they don't shape up, they'll have to go live at the pastor's house.

5. Hit them over the head with one of Dr. Dobson's books.

4. Dangle them over a lawn mower.

3. Threaten to tell Santa what they're like. Or, threaten to tell Santa not to come to your house this year.

2. Bribe them with ice cream. (That's like trying to extinguish a car fire with a gas pump hose.)

1. Just say yes.

(taken from the Christian Family Answer Book, Yorkey)

Holly Jolly Pumpkin Pie

2011-12-16T20:10:00.001+09:00

Later we had pumpkin pie and did some caroling (even if it was in our own living room while we put ornaments on the tree.)

Have

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups canned pumpkin, mashed
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (double for spicy pie)
1/4 teaspoon ground clove, (double for spicy pie)
1 piece pre-made pie dough
Whipped cream, for topping

Mix all ingredients together (I used a stick blender to help with the cream cheese) and bake in a pre-made pie shell. (this amount should make 2 deep dish pies and if you only want to make one, pour the rest of the mixture in a quart jar and refrigerate.)
Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes

Christmas Traditions

2011-12-15T10:59:00.001+09:00

Now that Z-B is old enough to appreciate and remember special traditions we've been going through some ideas and here are a few we're doing this year...

1. Decorating the tree as a family listening to CHRISTmas music and drinking hot cocoa and cider. It's not going to be dressed unless everyone can participate with their undivided attention. Otherwise the tree is just a tree.

2. A CHRISTmas game where we try to find scripture that supports the songs we hear during the holidays to see if they're really Biblical or just made up.

3. We always read the first Chapter of Luke and paint a picture of Mary and Joseph having the God-man baby in a barn!

4. We crack open the Martinelli's (sparkling cider) which we do for every major celebration.

5. The youngest member of the family gets to open the very first gift.

6. Gifting others with homemade gifts. This year we did simple things we could do in the kitchen.
(ex. rosemary sea salt)

7. Blessings to others - making a point to serve others whether it be hospitality at our home or taking food or comfort to their own turf. This is increasingly important for us to do with the local Japanese community now that Z-B is getting older. (ex. cookies to the elderly)

8. Advent gifts for Daddy for the 12 day countdown.
12 - a 12 month magazine subscription
11 - pieces of favorite candy
10 - running socks (10 toes)
9 - favorite cookies
8 -
7 -
6 - tubes of electrolyte tabs for running
5 - favorite kind of pen (he's particular about very few things but pens is one)
4 - flavors of favorite jerky
3 - flavors of favorite almonds
2 - pics of children
1 -

9. We support Toys for Tots and make a fun "shopping day" for Z-B to enjoy buying toys in full knowledge that they are for other children. We talk about generosity making a beautiful heart and what the little girls might like for a gift and how the little boys will smile when they see what she got for them. It's a great opportunity to teach her to be other-minded and she seems to really find joy in doing this!

10. We incorporate a character lesson in these days learning scripture and stories about Joseph, Mary, Herod, etc.

I am tempted to make it a monthly exercise to write on a little piece of paper something that we are thankful for each day and at the end of the month read them aloud. We did this for the month of November and really enjoyed hearing what everyone else was thankful for. It put our heart in the right position of thankfulness.

All in all I realize that these are the days where we are making memories. It's not about gifts, or expectations or over-scheduled days. It's about people, about making memories with them doing special things and maintaining the Reason for the season.

What are some of your traditions you enjoy with your children?

Cleaning House

2011-12-05T22:37:00.002+09:00

So how do you like the new layout? I figured we could all use a change from looking in the eye of a Thai fisherman all the time on my background photo.
The blog isn't the only thing getting spiffed up.
I have been doing some calculating and new changes are-a-brewin'.

Here are just a few...

1. Reposition God as the center of everything in our home. Our purpose, our goals, our schedules, our hearts, our home education, our discipline, our hospitality...EVERYTHING. This requires time in the Word to reprogram from our default (sin nature) to something more eternally minded.

2. Cuddling more with my sweet children and spending more time on songs, dancing, eskimo kisses and familiy time in the hammock.

3. Ignoring crunchies on the floor, toys scattered all over the house and laundry piles to be folded. These things don't matter when the daily task of shepherding little hearts is at hand. This has a generational impact and is far more important.

4. Hired help to keep #3 from overtaking #2. A monthly deep clean of the house saves me time and allows me to focus more on my more important job...mothering, not cleaning. I cringe at my submission on this one. People always lean toward what they do best and I am sad but honest to say that I excel in cleaning more than I excel in mothering. What can I say? I'm a sinner saved by grace. God is walking me through the messy, imperfect, unpredictable, unplanned, uncontrollable complicated thing called parenting. one. step. at. a. time.

5. Use #1 to learn humility and overcome the shameful feeling I have for #4 even though I've always really turned my nose up at the idea of paying someone to do something that one could do themself. In this instance, it is a matter of priority and my children must be first. They haven't always been but I'm working on that. Perfection is not attainable, but parenting proactively and presently IS!

6. Exercise is back! Now that baby Brave has been evicted from my body, it is available for moving again. Running, biking, roller blading, maybe try surfing...and of course, furniture moving! I am looking forward to my sanity returning once I get regular intervals of exercise. I used to take a daily morning walk and it made such a difference in my whole day. I haven't kept that routine but I must find a way to revamp that idea and work it with two kids and the dog. Daily morning walks are essential to my internal happy-meter. Just ask my husband.

So that's all for now. I'm ending a semester of Bible Study this week and heading into a short rest before CHRISTmas whereby we will have our annual Bing Crosby CHRISTmas music and decorate our house while munching on holiday foods and snapping photos. We will enjoy a nice vacation the week between CHRISTmas and the New Year. I can't wait for some R & R after one very long and busy year!

And you know me. Anti-Stuff Girl strikes again. I'm determined to invest in memories with folks instead of material goods that just age, break, get lost or stolen. Memories are for a lifetime and all parties involved can enjoy them! I have some pretty great intangible gift ideas this year!
This may get you in the CHRISTmas spirit more than those annoying and ever-so-tacky blow up Santas riding motorcycles in neighborhood.

Sacrifice and Sanctification

2011-12-03T20:52:00.001+09:00

There is far more to parenting than "what to expect when expecting" or various other how-to books.
When a woman becomes a mother she truly gives up everything. She gives up her dreams of becoming a rock star, an astronaut. She gives up her sleep, her time, her energy. She sacrifices her body for the cause and it will never return to her in the same condition it was before. Sometimes she has to give up certain friends, a certain lifestyle. She gives up a lot but most of all she gives her heart to be broken day in and day out by that tiny little creature who has such a hold on mom, it brings her to tears because of her great love for it.

Recently in my days as a mother of two and particularly a mother of a toddler, I realize that motherhood also causes me to give up my emotions. I have to parent from a place of love and Godliness which may or may not include being validated as a parent, feeling loved by my child, or even feeling like a good parent because I am doing what is right. Feelings are completely out of the equation, and I forget this all too often.

You see, my mother wouldn't have ever won any kind of mothering award. There were many lackings and negative things I had to overcome. I love my mother and am so thankful for the childhood I had even if it wasn't all roses. It made me who I am and it made me all the more passionate (maybe too passionate) about parenting my children differently. My mom taught me plenty of what NOT to do and be to my children. I find recently in my new life as a mom of two under three years of age that the discipline and training going on in our house is constant. It's exhausting. It's vital. It's not just for the toddler either. There's a lot of training for the parents as well, mainly me. I am learning all that God has designed for our family and prayerfully moving my daughter towards a relationship with God and His plans for her life. I am brought to humility and surrender daily when my plans fail and my intentions fall aside in the marathon of training and teaching my sweet daughter. She is stubborn, she is resilient. She shakes off discipline and keeps on going like nobody I have ever known. She amazes and inspires me yet the beauty of her nature also leaves her obstinate and mule-headed.
In all my efforts, research and prayer to put my child on the right path and hope she stays there, I realized that her sin nature will keep trying to derail her for whole life. It is my job while she is entrusted in my care to be determined and long suffering. To keep putting her back on the right path and eventually teach her how to lean on and trust the Holy Spirit to help her do this herself.
The sanctification of my soul is housed in my work as a mother in this special season of my life. I am so thankful for it and terrified of botching it.
I worry and I fear way too much. My hopes for my children are so great and so wonderful, generation after generation, that I can't imagine someone like me and all my imperfections parenting well enough to have my children respond in such a life changing, God-loving, legacy leaving kind of way. I fear my vigilance in training and discipline will not be fruitful as God promises, but will push them further away from parental wisdom, a relationship with Christ, and authority in general.

And then...
I realize...
all I want for my children is to trust God fully in every area of their life. And in hoping this for them, my dear little ones who will grow up to have little ones of their own, in order for them to really get it, to really see this in action, I must again sacrifice my emotions, my fears and self-sufficient bent and depend solely on God for everything. He is a Father and He, most of anyone, knows how to parent obstinate (strong hearted) children, how to teach and train them to abide. How to love them through their lives. So in Him I will trust to walk daily and speak kindly, to love abundantly and pray generationally.
I can parent in peace knowing that if I abide in Him, He will guide my steps. If I take the path He clears and trust His plan for the children He gave us, then I can enjoy the journey to dependence. And in doing so, my children will enjoy being onlookers to the greatest love relationship they will ever know between their parents and God.