The Celestin's

Valentine's Day - An "Especially" Day

2012-02-12T22:13:00.003-06:00

Our family has not established concrete traditions for holidays yet. I imagine as the boys get older we'll begin to discover what things are most meaningful to them and what things are most representative of the mission of our family. In the meantime, we're kind of testing the waters to see if anything sticks! We're mainly focused on simplicity at this point. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I've been thinking of simple (keyword here) ways to make that day special for Kevin and the boys. Some may argue that I shouldn't waste my time focusing on a holiday that celebrates "love" when every day should celebrate "love." I argue like Noel Piper in her book Treasuring God in Our Traditions, that we need "especially" days. And, although we don't have specific Valentine's Day traditions for our family yet, I know that in our home I want to make Valentine's Day one of those "especially" days.

An Excerpt from Treasuring God in Our Traditions, by Noel Piper

“No!” our college friend squawked. “All days are not the same! God knows we need ‘especially.’”

He’d heard it once too often, somebody pontificating, “Every day should be Mother’s Day,” or “Every day should be as significant as Christmas.”

God knows we need ‘especially’ – that was a new thought to me back then. And it’s true. God himself appointed special days, such as Passover, for his people and gave them ceremonies to set those days off from the others (Ex 12:1-20). December 25, for example, could pass like any other day in our week, except for the thought and preparation we give to it and the customs and traditions that surround it.

The ceremony of a special day keeps it from slipping away like an ordinary day. We stop and recognize the specialness of an event in large part because of the traditions in which it’s wrapped.

Our “especially” celebrations anchor us and our children in the harbor of our family, reflecting our true refuge – God. The way we observe these occasions – the focus of our observation – has great potential to show our children what we think is most important and to help them value what we hold most dear.

Of course, the benefits are not just for the children. Our celebrations work good in our own lives and in other people whose lives touch ours, by rekindling our love of God, by increasing our knowledge of Him, and by helping us remember who God is and how He works.”

~Noel Piper

What are your thoughts about Valentine's Day? Do you have any family traditions?

I'd love to hear from you!

Facebook for the Glory of God

2012-01-28T16:18:00.002-06:00

Recently, I've had to evaluate my use of Facebook. It was one of the things that I knew God wanted me to examine when I committed to being more focused this year. I put it off for a while because I was scared of what God might ask me to do. I have enjoyed Facebook and still do. I have seen it used for good in my life and the life of others. But I have also seen it steal my time and destroy the lives of others. So my questions were: Is it possible to glorify God with my Facebook account? And if so, how can I do so?

I know that as a Mom in the trenches of early motherhood it is so important that I really monitor what I allow myself to take in. I'm talking about Facebook, Blogs, TV, radio, podcasts, etc. I'm beginning to understand that as Moms of little ones we are prime targets for the evil one. Satan knows that we're often physically, mentally, and emotionally fatigued. He knows that our most common struggles involve comparison and guilt and discontentment, battles of the mind. Do you remember the children's song, "Oh, Be Careful Little Eyes What You See?" Well, I've been singing it to myself lately. For the most part, I can choose what my eyes see and what my ears hear, which in turn effects the way my mind thinks. I don't want to take in any negative or ungodly words and thoughts if I don't have to. I want to take in things that encourage me to keep moving forward for the glory of God.

Unfortunately, not everyone on Facebook is there to glorify God. And, up until recently, I wasn't there to glorify God either. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't there to dishonor God in any way, I just didn't see the connection between God and Facebook. It was like I separated my spiritual life from my online social life. It wasn't until I asked God to help to me honestly examine every area of my life this year that He began to reveal the link between His glory and the cultural phenomenon of social media.

So, with a heart determined to glorify God with my Facebook account, here are a few of the things that I believe will help me to use Facebook for the glory of God:

{1}

Make sure that my heart is not craving Facebook above God's Word. Just like feasting on junk food will ruin my appetite for real, whole food, so feasting on Facebook will ruin my appetite for God's Word. It will make God's Word seem less appealing. I've become so accustomed to being ~~stimulated~~ over-stimulated with technology and information at my fingertips that I've somehow lost the discipline of being still and knowing that He is God (Psalm 46:10). I've lost the will to think deeply about my own life because my minds is so used to lazy, uninvolved thinking. My earnest desire is to make time to dwell and think upon God's Word without a divided or distracted heart (Psalm 119:36-37). I never want to lose my appetites for God's Word. So I need to be connected to Him before I can be connect with the rest of the world.

{2}

Make sure that everything I post on Facebook is God-glorifying. I believe that God has given us technology such as Facebook to glorify Him and encourage each other like never before. Why would I waste my words on vain things? Why would I use Facebook as a place to bring another down or to complain? I'm not saying that I shouldn't post about my day or my kids or the ins and outs of my everyday life. In fact, reading about how someone's toddler smeared toothpaste all over the bathroom floor reminds me that stuff like that happens when you have little kids, and it's okay! I know the kinds of things that encourage me, and I want to encourage others in that same way.

{3}

Hide people that constantly post negative things or who are involved in regular Facebook drama. I'm not a person who likes drama in my everyday life so why would I subject myself to it on Facebook. I believe that there is a time and place for controversial conversations and Biblical admonition. I have found that those things happen best in a safe and loving environment, one that invites, "I love you. I care about you. I desire to honor God in word, thought, and deed. Let's talk about this." Facebook is not always safe and loving. I've seen many careless words lead to harsh judgements, disputes, and anger. That type of dialogue feeds the flesh. I'm trying to starve mine.

P.S. And if any foul language crosses my news feed, it's an automatic hide!

{4}

Create groups to better manage what I view on my news feed. I've created two groups: Family & Mommy Friends: Family because many of them I don't see on a regular basis; Mommy Friends because God has given me a heart for Moms, and I desire to serve them with encouragement in any way that I can. And, of course, I love reading about pregnancies, births, and adoptions of friends across the country and across the world! It's not that I don't browse the general news feed sometimes, but my time is limited so I have to be more purposeful in the way I use Facebook. My most fruitful connections are with those who can encourage me in my current season of life.

I know this is not an exhaustive list. But these things are the things that have stuck out in my heart and mind as I have tried to honor God with my Facebook account. It's funny to think that just a few years ago, topics like these were irrelevant. Today, however, we would be fools not to consider the spiritual impact of social media on ourselves and on our world.

I remember reading this article by John Piper back in 2009 called, Why and How I Am Tweeting . For further encouragement in your own personal use of social media, I would highly recommend reading it!

What are other ways that we can use Facebook to glorify God?

He Has My toes

2012-01-26T20:32:00.002-06:00

I sank down into a hot bath tonight with what felt like the weight of the world on my shoulders.

Some days are just heavier than others.

Thank God for His Word, hot water heaters, and Lavender Chamomile Bath Soak.

As my shoulders sank down on one end, my feet popped up on the other.

And I saw Liam's toes.

Liam wasn't in the tub with me.

I just noticed how much Liam's toes resemble mine.

He has my toes.

And I couldn't help but smile.

I smiled because I recognized some of myself in Liam.

My mind immediately recalled a phrase I recently read in Beth Moore's Bible study, Breaking Free.

She says, "God's glory is the way He makes Himself recognizable."

It's the way He shows us who He is.

And He desires us to reflect his glory- to reflect who He is.

To resemble Him.

I imagine that God must also smile when He looks down and sees parts of Himself reflected in me.

The question is: How much of Himself does He see in me?

I pray in the words of John the Baptist, that God would become greater and I would become less (John 3:30).

"To them {God's people, the church} God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of GLORY."

Colossians 1:27

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s GLORY, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing GLORY, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

2 Corinthians 3:18

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the GLORY of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

The Cost of Motherhood

2012-01-24T22:29:00.002-06:00

Like it or not, the decision to welcome little souls into your home has placed certain limitations on your life.

If it’s truly your heart’s desire is to equip and train little hearts for God then you will have to say "no" to some other, less important things.

Your first reaction, like mine, may be to resist those limitations, but I'm slowly learning that submission to those limitations brings great freedom.

It’s just like the commitment to learn to play an instrument. Does it place limitations on your life? Sure it does. The discipline it requires to say “yes” to that instrument means that you have to say “no” to other, less desirable activities. But with perseverance, patience, and your best energies at work, eventually you will find much freedom in playing that instrument. You will no longer be bound by your lack of knowledge, but you will be free to experience music in a way you never have before.

Motherhood is a like that.

When we say “yes” to the concept of Biblical motherhood, we say “no” to other less desirable activities so that we can use our best energies within our families. We surrender to a lifestyle of service and sacrifice. And we begin to experience the freedom of motherhood like we never have before.

Let me assure you, there's nothing easy about true, Biblical motherhood. In fact, when we put our masks on and pretend that it's effortless, we weaken the value of family.

The best things in life are not free. They come with a cost.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Weekly Goals- Week 3

2012-01-23T17:40:00.000-06:00

Well, I got almost all of my reading done this week! And although I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to around the house, we did manage to meet our family goals. So, all in all, I think we had a pretty good week. It's been amazing to see how simply writing things down is a great form of accountability.

Here are my goals from last week:

Family/Home

Make a Thrift Store Drop
File Bills/Straighten Bill Box
Vacuum the Car
~~Straighten/Clean Kevin and I's Dresser~~
~~List 10 more books on Paperback Swap~~
~~Have Dinner Together as a Family 2 Nights~~
~~Pray together as a family every night~~
~~Open our home for hospitality for at least 1 Meal~~

Personal

Finish Reading Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days (Sorry, Kay Arthur, you'll have to wait until I'm done with Beth Moore *sigh*)
~~Complete the 5 Days of Homework for our Ladies Bible study (Breaking Free by Beth Moore!~~
~~Complete my Morning Routine every morning that we're home~~
~~Read Chapter 1 of Educating the Wholehearted Child~~
~~Read Chapter 1 of The Money Saving Mom's Budget~~

And here are my goals for this week:

Family/Home

Sit with Kevin to determine our financial goals (Step 1 in The Money Saving Mom's Budget)
Make a Guest & Supply List for Silas' 3rd Birthday Party!
Vacuum/Clean Out the Car
Make a Thrift Store Drop (take two!)
Straighten Bill Box (take two!)

Personal

Complete the 5 Days of Homework for Breaking Free by Beth Moore
Read Chapter 2 of Educating the Wholehearted Child
Print Pictures to Update Picture Frames
Mail out 5 Books for Paperback Swap & List 10 more
Try a New Recipe from my Pinterest Weight Watchers Board

How about you? Have you set goals this week?

Visit Money Saving Mom to see what others have planned for this week!

{And remember, all the words in blue are click-able!}

Speakers & Lemons

2012-01-20T10:44:00.000-06:00

It's always nice to make helpful discoveries.

Like...

The candle in my bathroom makes for a great iphone speaker.

Lemons make water taste better.

Have you discovered anything helpful lately?

Sowing for the Spirit

2012-01-19T14:33:00.000-06:00

"You will reap in your children's lives exactly what you sow as a parent. If you want to reap secure, mature adults, you must sow by the Spirit the seeds of time, togetherness, and training... You can no longer sow to please your own desires, but to please Christ."

~Clay Clarkson with Sally Clarkson, Educating the Wholehearted Child

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"

~Galatians 6:7-9

As I sit before the Lord this afternoon, I am humbled by the great task that He has set before me. He has entrusted me with two little souls that I will one day present back to Him. Will I have sowed the seeds of time, togetherness, and training into their lives? Will I have been the best example of Christ to them that I could be? Will I have been a good steward of the gifts that He has given me? Will I be found faithful? I sit and beg for grace and strength. It's only by His grace and strength.

Practice with Papa

2012-01-18T16:22:00.000-06:00

Ten on Tuesday {Favorite Picture Books}

2012-01-17T19:02:00.002-06:00

I recently joined Paperback Swap, which is basically a free online service that facilitates the trading of used book. After you join you're able to post used books (in good condition) that you're ready to get rid of. Other members can request those books from you. For every book you mail out you receive a credit, which, in turn, allows you to request a books from another member. All you pay for is shipping for the books you mail out. You're able to keep the books you receive forever or can can trade them again once you're done. I'm almost solely buying books for the boys so I plan on keeping them until the boys have outgrown them.

The reason I'm so in love with this service is that there are several books that I want to add to boys' book collection. The problem is, I don't have lots of time to browse thrift stores or used book stores, and buying new books can cost $10 or more, especially for good, classic books.

With Paperback Swap I've been adding books to Silas' collection for about $3 per book (shipping). Another awesome benefit about this service is that Silas gets a book in the mail periodically. He can now identify the wrapping, so it's like a little present in the mail every now and then! And what kid doesn't like getting mail, right? Also, did I mention that you don't even have to go to the post office to mail your books?! You can print your postage from home, wrap your book in paper, and simply drop the book in your mailbox! Easy Peasy!

So just for fun, I wanted to share 10 of Silas and I's favorite picture books. (It's always a bonus when Mama enjoys the book to, right? hehe) Some of these we've gotten from Paperback Swap and some we've been having for a while, but all are thoroughly enjoyed by the Celestin's. We'd recommend adding them to your collection to!

{1}

Blueberries for Sal

{2}

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Slide and Find)

{3}

Bunny Bungalow

{4}

Daisy and the Monster

{5}

Froggy Gets Dressed

{6}

Make Way For Duckings

{7}

Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You Book

{8}

The Lion's Paw

{9}

The Little Red Hen

{10}

The Monster at the end of this Book

What are your favorite picture books?

I'm looking for some suggestions!

Weekly Goals - Week 2

2012-01-16T17:05:00.004-06:00

Week 1 of goal-setting is complete, and I've noticed a trend. I'm much better at accomplishing family/home goals than I am at accomplishing personal goals. This is just further affirmation that mothering little ones all day leaves little time for extracurricular activities! And I'm okay with that.
I was encouraged at the Girl Talk Blog this morning about the goal of the Christian life and how being a wife and a mom is a call to radical, selfless Christianity. I'm not saying that as wives and moms we shouldn't set personal goals for ourselves, but those goals shouldn't be our driving force. And meeting those goals shouldn't make or break us. Our main goal as wives and moms is to love the Lord our God first (Matthew 22:37-38), before all others, even ourselves (Philippians 2:4). If that is the only goal we pursue in life, we should consider ourselves successful. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

With that said, I still believe that goal-setting is a great way to turn my desires into reality. It's one of the best ways I know pursue living intentionally in every area of my life. So I'm gonna keep going!

Here's my list from last week.

Family/Home

~~Have Dinner together as a Family 2 Nights~~
~~Date Night with Kevin, courtesy of Mimi and Pops~~.
~~Plan One Week Worth of Menus for our upcoming Daniel Fast.~~
~~Deep Clean the refrigerator.~~
Clean/Straighten out Kevin and I's Dresser.
~~Take Down Christmas Decorations~~

Personal

Finish Reading Lord, Teach me to Study the Bible in 28 Days (almost there!)
~~Drink 2 Full Glasses of Water per Day~~ (Yay! Probably because my strategy was to have no other beverage options in the house!)
Do the "Ease into 5K" program 3 Days this week (I didn't even pull out my running clothes! I'm really struggling with motivation in this area.)
Photograph 1 Week Night Dinner for the Blog (May have to put this off until we complete the Daniel Fast.)
Read Chapter 1 of Educating the WholeHearted Child (Maybe this week!)
Spend 10 minutes a day of Free Writing 3 Days this week (Did this one day, and enjoyed it. It's just hard to find time for uninterrupted writing.)

Here are my goals for this week:

Family/Home

Make a Thrift Store Drop
File Bills/Straighten Bill Box
Vacuum the Car
Straighten/Clean Kevin and I's Dresser (Take-Two!)
List 10 more books on Paperback Swap (details about this to come in a future blog post!)
Have Dinner Together as a Family 2 Nights
Pray together as a family every night
Open our home for hospitality for at least 1 Meal

Personal

Finish Reading Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days (I think it'll have taken me more like 56 days! haha!)
Complete the 5 Days of Homework for our Ladies Bible study (Breaking Free by Beth Moore! FYI: Bible study starts tonight @ First Baptist Church of Lockport!!)
Complete my Morning Routine every morning that we're home (Quiet Time, Get Dressed, Start Laundry, Breakfast with the Boys, Unload Dishwasher, Switch Laundry, Put Liam Down for Nap, Quality Time With Silas while drinking a glass of water - I gotta set a time for water-drinking or I won't do it! haha!)
Read Chapter 1 of Educating the Wholehearted Child (Take-Two!)
Read Chapter 1 of The Money Saving Mom's Budget

I'm really going to try to work a lot of reading in this week. I know I can do it if I spend less time on social media (*ahem* Facebook *cough*) and other online reading. We'll see how it goes!

How about you? Have you set goals this week?

Visit Money Saving Mom to see what others have planned for this week!

{And remember, all the words in blue are click-able!}

Play-dough & Salsa

2012-01-15T15:28:00.003-06:00

I don't think I've ever used those two words in a sentence before, but thanks to Pinterest, I'm excited to report that I made both this weekend-- DIY-style!

I've been wanting to try my hand at homemade play-dough for a while, so when my Nursery Sunday School lesson this week suggested using play-dough as a teaching tool, I immediately ~~googled~~ "pinterest-ed" a recipe. The particular recipe I used claimed to be the BEST play-dough recipe, and, I must say, I was extremely satisfied with how it turned out! And it was extremely simple to make!

For my Sunday School class I made individual Ziploc kits for each child, which consisted of a ball of play-dough, a wooden dowel rod for rolling it out, and a Popsicle stick for cutting it. I also brought several cookie cutters to class just for fun. The kiddos LOVED this activity. I'm sure we'll be doing this again very soon.

{Just in case anyone is curious, we were learning about how the widow shared her bread with Elijah, the prophet, even though she barely had enough for herself and her son (1 Kings 17:7-16). We talked about how God helped Elijah and about how we are to share with others. We pretended to make bread with the play-dough.}

Never fear, I didn't bring salsa to my Sunday School kiddos! But Kevin and I sure enjoyed this very simple, 4-ingredient salsa! And, of course, we used our new magic bullet to whip it up!

I like my salsa restaurant-style, but I've been having trouble finding it that way in the grocery store. After tasting this recipe I won't have to look any further for a great-tasting, restaurant-style salsa. It was delish! And did I mention that it's only 4 ingredients AND zero Weight Watcher Points?! Just my style!

{FYI, all the words in blue are click-able, so click through to find the recipes for the play-dough and the salsa!}

What about you?

Completed any successful Pinterest projects lately?

I'd love to hear from you!

The Saints Are Gone, But My Babies Are Back

2012-01-14T21:55:00.001-06:00

My sister, Sara, and Silas ready for the Saints game.

I won't lie to you, friends. My football-watching strategy looks something like this: I don't start watching games until the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter, and that's only if other spectators are still watching the game and beginning to act as if they may need an oxygen tank to maintain normal breathing.

So, yes, I watched the last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter of the Saints game tonight. And even though I'm not as emotionally involved in football others, I was disappointed to witness the loss. But in the spirit of honesty, I was mostly disappointed that we won't have an excuse to get together with friends and family every weekend until next August. The Saints bring people together, and that's my favorite thing about football.

The cutest baby on the planet.

In other news, Kevin and I had date night on Friday! *whoop whoop* Our big plans for dinner and a movie in New Orleans slowly turned into dinner in Houma and a movie at home, but it was still wonderful. Liam wound up with yet another ear infection, so a late-afternoon doctor's appointment altered our plans. Technically, we still could have driven to New Orleans and pulled an all-nigher, but, the thought of catching up on sleep was much more appealing. The best part of date night was that the boys spent the night at my parent's house so Kevin and I got a FULL night AND late morning of sleep! It was glorious, of course. Sleep is the greatest gift you can give parents of small children. Am I right?

But we do miss our babies when they're gone. And I think they miss us to. Silas called me on our way to pick him up and said, "I need you to hurry, Mama." I almost cried until he followed that statement with, "And can you stop at the store and get me a lollipop?" My Mom assures me that he did, in fact, call because he missed me though.

We're glad to be home now. The boys are both soundly sleeping so I figure I'd better get to bed myself. Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Happy New Year: The Future {Focus}

2012-01-09T14:30:00.000-06:00

Remember last year when I blogged about my One Little Word for the New Year?

{The idea is to choose one single word for the new year- "a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life." It's not a GOAL per se, but instead one simple little WORD that, hopefully, will inspire me to pursue change in the New Year. It's like a theme for the year.}

Looking back on 2011, I can see how my word {perspective} guided my year. Bringing a new baby home, buying a new house that needed plenty of work, saying farewell to my husband when he left for Africa... all of these and many other circumstances last year required me to keep things in perspective. Often times it isn't until we look back that we see the value of the words we pray over our lives, but there is no doubt that these prayers are powerful. That's why I've decided to use the same strategy for 2012.

After much prayer and plenty of confirmation, I've chosen my word for 2012.

That's right. Focus.
Kevin and I have been very intentional these past few months about getting tools in place to help us to become the family that God wants us to be. I, personally, have done a lot of studying on goal-setting and mission statements and the forming of habits (good ones) in myself and in my children.
And while studying those things and getting tools in place is all well and good, without FOCUS, without "concentrated attention and energy," the goals and plans that we have in in place will never transpire. This year I want to put action to my desires. I want to be focused enough to actually SEE change happen. I want to slowly, but faithfully, rid my life of distractions and time-wasters that prevent me from being the Christian, wife, mom, friend, etc. that God wants me to be.
I'm experienced enough to know that true change doesn't come quickly, and I'm wise enough to know that complete change won't happen all at once. Which is why I'm focusing on little tiny baby steps each week. My plan it to continue to have my Weekly Planning Session, during which I'll set weekly SMART goals for myself and my family (SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound).
Just to give you an idea of the types of goals I'm talking about, here are some of my goals for this upcoming week (Monday-Sunday):

Family/Home

Have Dinner together as a Family 2 Nights (We're really hoping to see significant change in this area over the course of the year).
Date Night with Kevin, courtesy of Mimi and Pops (already on the calendar!)
Plan One Week Worth of Menus for our upcoming Daniel Fast.
Deep Clean the refrigerator.
Clean/Straighten out Kevin and I's Dresser.
Take Down Christmas Decorations

Personal

Finish Reading Lord, Teach me to Study the Bible in 28 Days (I'm on Day 21 Today)
Drink 2 Full Glasses of Water per Day (This is a true baby step for me!)
Do the "Ease into 5K" program 3 Days this week
Photograph 1 Week Night Dinner for the Blog
Read Chapter 1 of Educating the WholeHearted Child
Spend 10 minutes a day of Free Writing 3 Days this week

So there you have it! My goals for the week! My plan is to give an update on my progress next Monday.

I'm also linking up at Money Saving Mom today, where you can see what others have planned for the week.

What about you? What are your thoughts on setting goals?

Weekend Reading

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

{Blueberry Muffin Picnic with Silas}

Stuff that's inspired me lately...

Keep Your New Years Resolutions :: GirlTalk Blog

How to Care for Wavy Hair :: Small Notebook

Whip Your House Into Shape in 2 Hours :: Money Saving Mom

Secrets of Marriage :: Simple Marriage

Freedom to enjoy life, and monkey around a little bit :: I Take Joy

Have a Great Weekend!

Kitchen Toys

2012-01-06T20:27:00.003-06:00

In the past month, we've welcomed four new appliances into our home. Now, lest you think I have lofty cooking goals for 2012, let me preface this by saying that three of the four appliances were surprise gifts. My only purchase was the last of these four wonderful appliances, a Presto Poplite Hot Air Corn Popper (say that three times fast!).

Anyway, regardless of how I acquired these appliances, I was super excited to welcome them into my kitchen, and I look forward to making good use of them in 2012!

So, here are my new kitchen toys...

1. The Keurig B60

If there were a fire I'd probably grab this. Okay, not really, but this baby has totally revolutionized my life! I'm a coffee lover, and I'm also the sole coffee drinker in this house, so when my parents graced me with this little surprise, it was a match made in heaven! Fresh cups of coffee at my disposal without the hassle of making a full pot aaaaaaaannnnnd practically NO cleanup-- heavenly, I tell you! Thanks, Mom and Dad!

2. The Magic Bullet

Believe it or not, Kevin wound up with this awesome kitchen toy during a white elephant gift exchange. We'd seen the infomercial, so, of course, we were ecstatic to bring it home and try it out. Kevin has been whipping up yummy smoothies with it every morning, all the while raving about how easy the cleanup is. Basically you can drink your smoothie out of the same glass you prepared it in! Score! I'm hoping to whip up some fresh salsa in this baby soon!

3. A Cuisinart SmartStick Immersion Hand Blender

I've been wanting one of these for a while, and, believe it or not, I wound up with this beauty during another white elephant gift exchange! It was just our year for kitchen appliances I guess!

I haven't tried it out yet, but my plan is to use it soon. Any ideas on fun ways to use one of these handy tools? Please share!

4. The Presto Poplite Hot Air Corn Popper

I purchased this a few weeks ago because, basically, our microwave is HORRIBLE at popping popcorn in those little bags. The microwave door actually melted while we were trying to pop popcorn one night. Strange, I know. So anyway, I began the search for a popcorn popper, and since we are trying to eat healthier, this little popper was the perfect fit. It pops the popcorn with hot air instead of oil-- big calorie saver! For flavoring we use a little buttery spray, some sea salt, and some popcorn seasoning (ranch or nacho cheese flavor). I'd say this has been a welcome addition to our kitchen, especially when we get the 9:00 pm munchies!

Sooooo, did you get any new kitchen toys for Christmas?

I'd love to know!

Weight Watchers Update + Pepperoni and Veggie Pizza Recipe

2012-01-05T15:08:00.000-06:00

Although I haven't updated regarding my Weight Watchers progress lately, I am still following the program, seeing great results, and loving it. I'm .6 pounds away from losing a total of 20 pounds! On December 8th I actually reached my weight loss goal, so now I'm following a maintenance plan. If I can maintain for 6 weeks, I'll become a lifetime member (translation: all the same awesome tools and resources for free! Now that's motivation!)

I've learned so much along my journey, but one thing I know, I don't like spending hours in the kitchen. A few facts about my cooking style:

I don't like recipes that have a 5-mile long list of ingredients.
I don't like to buy a fancy ingredient that I only use once.
I like very simple and quick cooking techniques.
I'm always looking for shortcuts to lessen my time in the kitchen.

I think most Moms probably have the same cooking style, right? Haha. So with that said, I want to begin sharing some of the meals we eat around here. My ulterior motive is that I want all of my recipes and recipe ~~shortcuts~~ variations to be online so that I can easily access them!

So with no further adieu, first up: Pepperoni & Veggie Pizza! Comfort Food, people! Here's the preparation in pictures. The full recipe is at the end of this post.

Start with Martha White's thin and crispy pizza crust. Prepare according to package directions (translation: add water and stir)

Spread the dough, and have the toddler poke holes in it before it goes into the oven for the 5-minute-pre-bake. Seriously, the directions say to poke holes in the dough.

While the pizza is pre-baking, chop up the veggie toppings (in this case, just bell peppers... the mushrooms were already sliced). Have the toddler put the veggies in the pan for you. Saute the veggies for about 5 minutes in a tiny bit of olive oil.

Measure out or count your pepperoni slices. It's all about portion control!

Spread the sauce on the pre-baked crust. I use the Wal-Mart brand of sauce.

Second comes the pepperoni...

Third comes the spinach leaves... (from the bag)

Fourth comes the sauteed bell peppers and mushrooms.

Fifth comes the cheeses (mozzarella and Parmesan)...

Put the pizza back into the oven and bake according to package directions (about 10 minutes).

Enjoy the finished product!

{Pepperoni & Veggie Pizza}
4 Points Plus Values per slice
Makes 8 Servings

Ingredients:

1 Packet of Martha White Thin & Crispy Pizza Crust Mix
1/2 Cup of Store Bought Pizza Sauce
Turkey Pepperoni (about 25 slices)
1 Cup of Spinach Leaves
2 Bell Peppers (whatever color you like)

8 oz of Sliced Mushrooms

1/2 Cup of Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

2 T. Parmesan Cheese
Olive Oil Spray

Prepare the pizza crust according to package directions. While the crust is pre-baking (about 5 minutes), chop up and saute the bell peppers and mushrooms. Take the crust out of the oven and add toppings (pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni, spinach, bell pepper and mushroom mixture, and cheeses). Bake again according to package directions (about 10 minutes).

Ideas to make this meal even quicker:

Buy pre-chopped Bell Peppers.
Skip sauteing the peppers and mushrooms. Instead, just throw them on the pizza raw. They'll soften a little during baking.
Vary your veggie toppings depending on what you have on hand (tomatoes, onions, banana peppers, etc.)
Serve with a simple bagged salad and some light dressing for a complete meal.
Skip the veggies all together for a plain pepperoni and cheese pizza. (The Weight Watchers points don't change.)
For a single serve pizza, use Flatout Light Flatbread or Hungry Girl Foldit Flatbread and follow a simple recipe like this one.

Happy Eating!

Happy New Year: The Past (2011 in Pictures)

2012-01-03T15:02:00.000-06:00

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

~Psalm 126:3~

{Family Pictures}

{Silas Turns 2}

{Silas' Fishing Adventure}

{Liam's Arrival}

{Eric and Britt Tie the Knot}

{Homeowners At Last}

{Brothers}

{Family Vacation}

{Liam's Baby Dedication}

{My 30th Birthday}

{Thanksgiving Family Picture}

{Christmas Family Picture}

"The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

~Lamentations 3:22-24~

Happy New Year: The Present (Our Experience)

2012-01-02T10:48:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, Friends!!

This New Year's Eve was nothing fancy. We opted for a quiet night at home. I had no intentions of staying up to welcome the New Year, but I lost track of time trying to get things ready for Sunday and 11:45pm rolled around before I knew it. It's extremely rare that you'll find me staying up past 10pm these days. I attribute this rare occurrence of "night owling" to a late afternoon cup of coffee. The crazy part is that Silas stayed up with me! So when midnight struck Kevin, Silas, and I ran outside to witness a beautiful display of fireworks and give each other New Year kisses before heading to bed.

{Our New Year's Eve Dinner: Semi-Homemade Pizza!}

{Silas and I'sNew Year's Eve Activity- finger puppets!}

{Silas doing a puppet show for Kevin and I.}

{Liam doing his favorite thing.}

{Silas and I waiting for the clock to strike midnight}

New Year's Day was a full day: church; our missionary friend, Sara Sealine, and another family over for lunch; and then a trip to Pierre Part for some family time around the fire, fireworks, and the first annual firework-powered truck race.

{Silas' learning how to use fireworks, wearing his new Dino costume. Thanks, Aunt Steph, for these awesome hand-me-downs!}

{Daddy and the Dino}

{The trucks ready for the first annual firework-powered races. I would definitely call this an extreme sport! Ideally, the trucks are supposed to move forward, and let's just say *ahem* a couple didn't get the memo. Thanks, Brit, for protecting my child from a flying truck!!}

We got home after 11pm. The boys were both asleep so we gently transported them to bed. Kevin and I followed close behind.Today we're catching up on cleaning and rest.
I think New Years Resolutions will start on January 3rd this year!

{Coming Soon... Happy New Year: The Past (A Look Back on 2011)}

Good News + Christmas 2011

2011-12-30T16:06:00.000-06:00

I have good news, friends. No, I'm not pregnant (hehe). But I am going to try to blog more consistently in 2012! Now let's see if Liam will cooperate and start sleeping through the night so that his Mama can be alert enough to put words together! Haha!

By the way, Merry Belated Christmas! I hope yours was as wonderful as mine. Here are a few things I will remember about Christmas 2011:

1. It was Liam's first Chrismtas

2. Silas' priceless expression each and every time he opened a gift.

3. I came to the personal realization that I'm in a season of motherhood where Christmas crafts and Christmas baking and pretty holiday cards are not a top priority. And that's okay. I'll have more years without little ones than I will with little ones. I chose to enjoy a simple Christmas, void of all the stress that comes with trying to do more than I can handle. And I think that's the best gift I could have given my family this year.

4. This was my first Christmas without any grandparents. I will remember how special it was to see my family come together after the loss of my grandmother on my Dad's side. Thanks to my Uncle who opened his home to all of us and made it a very memorable Christmas Eve.

(The littlest family member, Liam, was napping at the time of this picture. Also, Baby Carson was born 2 days after this picture was taken.)

5. When we walked into church on Sunday morning, Silas immediately told me that he was going to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and he sure did. He made his way in and out of the rows wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. It brought such joy to my heart.

6. Silas and his cousin Ethan enjoyed running around on Christmas Day with their new sports gear on.

7. Liam had pretty much the same expression in every photo. I think it translates: Give me more food!

8. Amidst all the new toys, bubble wrap was still a huge hit.

9. Christmas day ended with my all of my immediate family gathered around the fire reminiscing about our childhood. We laughed till we cried. It was the perfect ending to a very Merry Christmas.

10. The only thing that was lacking this year was not being able to spend time with Kevin's family. They were in St. Lucia for Christmas, and we missed them dearly. We look forward to celebrating with them when they return.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CELESTIN'S!

Thanks to my sister Sara who took all of our Christmas pictures this year. Without her I probably would not have any photo memories of Christmas 2011! Thanks, Sara!!

"Give me more food!" ~Liam

November at Our Home

2011-12-08T12:17:00.000-06:00

A plate that my Mom displays every Fall. I love this quote.

Although we're over a week into December, I still wanted to take a moment to look back into November to record what our family was up to.

The highlight was probably welcoming Kevin back from his mission trip to Africa. He captured many videos and pictures, which gave us a little glimpse into what he experienced. His stories of God's work there have encouraged our family and expanded and our hearts. You can check out several of the videos Kevin captured in Africa by clicking here.

I've continued to enjoy Weight Watchers. I'm officially 15 pounds lighter and still losing. I'm looking forward to getting a few new pieces of clothing that I don't have to constantly pull up or readjust. I've been experimenting a lot in the kitchen- a few success and many fails, but I'm embracing being a beginner!

About to be Hamburgers

Silas helping me make orange muffins (using up the abundance of satsumas given to us by sweet friends and neighbors).

The best part of making orange muffins.

Speaking of Silas, he loves to help me in the kitchen. And although at times that means bigger messes than I would like to clean up, I know that helping with household tasks gives Silas feelings of significance and belonging, two of his greatest needs at this age. So I'm making an extra effort to find little ways that he can help out around the house.

About mid-November snotty noses became popular around here. Liam also cut his third tooth, which made for several days of glued-to-the-recliner-rocking-miserable-baby days. And then yesterday the doctor discovered that Liam has a double ear infection, which has surely contributed to his misery the last few days. We're hoping to have both boys well by Christmas.

Thanksgiving was bittersweet this year as my grandmother was sick in the hospital. She passed away the day after Thanksgiving. My fondest memories of my Grandmother, Lucy (my Dad's Mom), include being in her kitchen watching her cook while listening to her retell stories of when she was little a little girl. I would often go over to her house just so that I could hear those stories. I will always remember her hands and her smell and her teacher's heart and her love for sweets. Her home holds so many of my favorite childhood memories, as she always provided so many opportunities for make-believe play for all of her grandchildren. She will be missed.

Silas made a new friend on Thanksgiving Day- Leila, my cousin's beautiful dog.

Liam meeting Leila

As November drew to a close I was determined to get a head start on my Christmas shopping. I'm usually the last-minute shopper, dawning the doors of Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve trying to find those last few gifts. This year I took advantage of cyber Monday, and I think it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's making December a little less stressful and allowing me to focus on people this season rather than being consumed with shopping for gifts.

Liam now has his own kitchen cabinet.

December has already brought us new adventures, as Silas is making great strides in the area of potty training. I've taken a really really laid back approach to potty training, and we're finally reaping the benefits.

Our calendar is filling up quickly as Christmas approaches. We're looking forward to spending time with friends and family as we celebrate Christ's birth together. My goal is to keep Christ at the forefront of everything we do and to give my children the gift of a Spirit-filled Mom this busy holiday season. I read a quote by Sally Clarkson which really gave me some perspective: "...holidays can be so delightful and so stressful. Children have more sugar, less sleep, have to share more, are in unexpected places, and so the potential for disaster is higher. Knowing this, the best way to arm ourselves is by clothing ourselves with the Holy Spirit and give them the gift of a Spirit-filled mom!"

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas,

On Being a Beginner

2011-12-02T16:10:00.000-06:00

“To be a learner means to adopt a particular attitude about ourselves: It means letting ourselves be beginners…”

~Barbara Baig, How to Be a Writer

I’ve been enjoying Barbara Baig’s book How to Be a Writer. I actually got it free for kindle on my iPhone. I’ve been reading through it slowly, as leisure reading is not my top priority with two little ones under foot, but I’ve been hanging on the author’s every word. I do not consider myself a skilled writer, but writing is a hobby that I feel good about engaging in and learning more about. I’m not much of a crafter or a decorator. And I’m certainly not musically inclined or a whiz in the kitchen. But the one thing that I have consistently enjoyed throughout my life has been writing. I journaled through my teenage and college years, and I picked up blogging after Kevin and I got married. I figured it would be a great way to record our memories while partaking in a hobby that gave me some fulfillment. There’s something about words that fascinates me and something about being able to communicate on paper that seems compelling. I do my fair share of reading, and I’m always intrigued with authors who can paint a clear picture with words. All that to say, I'm appreciating Baig's perspective that skilled writing is primarily a learned skill, one that everyone has the opportunity to acquire with the right amount of desire and practice.

Today as I was reading Baig’s book I came across the statement above, “To be a learner means to adopt a particular attitude: It means letting ourselves be beginners…” That statement struck a chord with me. Although she was referring to the realm of writing, that statement can apply to so many areas of life. She states, “Many adults have trouble being beginners; they want to know how to do things ‘already’.” Isn’t that so true? Why is that? Why do we struggle so much with being a “beginner”? Because I truly believe that the attitude of “I-should-know-this-already” paralyzes me and many others from taking the necessary steps to one day excel in a particular field.

So what does it mean to be a “beginner?” Whether you’re a beginner cook or a beginner musician or a beginner basketball player or a beginner mom, one of the necessary character qualities that blankets any type of beginning learning is, no doubt, humility. And isn’t that one character traits that is often the hardest to put into practice? Practicing humility means being comfortable with who God made you to be to the point that you don’t have to pretend to “be something” or “do something” that you’re not capable of “being” or “doing”. It puts you in the ideal position to learn. It allows you to place yourself under the instruction of another with nothing to prove. I would dare say that humility is a non-negotiable when it comes to learning.

Another prerequisite to learning is patience. This is where the rubber meets the road for me. I want to keep my time as a “beginner” as short as possible. I don’t want to endure continual the trial and error of learning something new. I become obsessed with performance. I want to know as soon as possible that I am “good” at something. I either want to excel right away, or I want to drop it all together. I take on an all-or-nothing attitude. Unfortunately, all that this attitude does is prolong ignorance. Impatience sets me up for failure every time. It’s no surprise then that in order to acquire a desired set of skills one must be willing to take all the time necessary to be a beginner.

How are you at being a beginner? What other character qualities make for a good beginner? Are you trying to learn something right now that requires humility and patience? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Mommy Hacks - Grocery Shopping Edition

2011-12-01T13:44:00.001-06:00

Today I wanted to share something that has totally revolutionized my grocery shopping. Yes, get your hopes up *wink wink*

For years I've been making my grocery lists by just writing items down in no particular order. Then when I get to the grocery store I glance at the list as I walk through the store and try to categorize it in my head- the head that holds my mommy brain. (FYI, I usually shop at Wal-Mart, and I always start from the back and work my way to the front.) My ultimate goal is to not get to the fruit and veggie section and suddenly realize that I forgot the sour cream. Because when you have children in tow, trekking back to the sour cream sometimes just isn't worth it. It's sad, but true. Anybody relate?

So, you would think it wouldn't have taken me this long to figure out that categorizing items on paper BEFORE I actually get to the grocery store would save me TONS of time and energy. And what Mom doesn't need more time and energy, right?

So one day when I went shopping alone (glory, hallelujah!) I mapped out the Wal-Mart grocery layout. When I got home I made a non-fancy, but extremely helpful grocery list template (partially pictured above) according to my findings. Here are the categories I used (from the back of the store to the front):

1. Baby

2. Dairy

3. Drinks/Snacks

4. Cleaning/Paper Products

5. Chips

6. Breakfast

7. Baking/Seasonings

8. Juices/Candy

9. Soups/Ethnic/Canned/Rice

10. Pasta/Condiments

11. Bread/Coffee

12. Frozen

13. Meats

14. Fruits/Veggies

15. Toiletries/Miscellaneous

I can't tell you how much time this has saved me. I can whip through the grocery store and get all my groceries for the week in 30 minutes tops--even with the boys in tow. Such an elementary concept with such revolutionary results! Of course, I'm sure you guys already do this. I'm a little slow ~~sometimes~~ all the time.

So what other tips do you have for more efficient grocery shopping?? Any ideas for shopping with little ones?? Do you have any strategies we should know about?? I'd love to hear your secrets!

And I'm sure there are plenty of other Moms out there who would love to hear your secrets to! So commence sharing!

A Letter From Liam (7 months)

2011-11-30T14:20:00.000-06:00

Dear Mama's Blog Readers,

Did y'all know I am 7 months now? Yep, when the number on the calendar is 29 that means I can celebrate another month of life. And I do mean celebrate. I pretty much love my life. When I'm hungry I get fed (even in the middle of the night). When I'm tired I get put to sleep. When I cry someone is always there to comfort me. People always smile and talk to me and tell me how cute I am. Yeah, I would say life is pretty awesome.

Did y'all know I have three teeth now? Yeah, they're all on the bottom. Mama is wondering where the top ones are. It's no fun when the teeth start popping through the gum. I usually cry a lot and want to be held all the time. But once they're out it's great because I love to eat. Sometimes when Mama cooks dinner she lets me sit in my high chair and munch on baby snacks all by myself. She doesn't mind the mess as long as I'm happy for a while.

I love my brother more than baby snacks. I want to be everywhere he is so that I can learn how to be a big boy like him.

Sometimes my brother gets aggravated if I try to eat his toys, but for the most part he likes playing with me.

I LOVE pulling up on the couch and walking from one end to the other. It makes me feel like such a big boy. Mama thinks I will be an early walker like my brother. I hope so.

I like to help Mama with the laundry. The laundry basket is just the right height for me to pull up on and reach for clothes. I don't like to fold the clothes though. I prefer chewing on the clothes and unfolding it.

My brother and I like to play with Mama's laundry basket and all kinds of other stuff around the house. We barely even play with our own toys. We keep Mama very busy.

My brother loves me and always gives me plenty of kisses. I can't wait to be able to do all the things he knows how to do. He's my best friend.

Well, thanks for reading about me. My Mama says hello. Love you guys!

~Liam

Random Mommy Thoughts

2011-11-19T20:30:00.004-06:00

This is so random, but...

1. Baby wipes are God's gift to Moms. I use them for everything. Seriously, don't tell anyone, but I even quick-clean the toilet seat with them when I have impromptu visitors stop by. So if you randomly stop by and I sneak into the bathroom, well... know that you'll be sitting on a nice clean baby-wipe-swiped toilet seat. Is that weird?

2. I must remember that the stuff my kids do now that annoy me the most will probably make for the best family memories some day. Like when I engraved my name into my Mom's wooden rocker with a lead pencil. Or when my brother did a cool "trick" at the Western Sizzlin which resulted in ketchup flying across the restaurant. I'm sure my parents were slightly annoyed in those moments, but now those stories make for the funniest memories. It's all about perspective, right?

3. I must rid my closet of all clothes that requires ironing. I must replace them with low maintenance, no-ironing-required pieces. It's no secret that I have laundry issues. It piles up around here. The wrinkles abound. But I have like two shirts that I can just pull from the pile, put on, and not look like I just got into a fight with the wrinkle monster. Needless to say, I wear them often. I must get more shirts like that. What's your favorite low maintenance fabric blend?

Ok, I'm done.

What are you random mommy thoughts tonight?

Irrestitable Instagram

2011-11-18T14:46:00.000-06:00

I love me some instagrams, don't you?

Super Silas flying around the house

Super Liam in his favorite spot

Hi, I'm Beth, and I accumulate piles of laundry that need folding. I need help.

I'd much rather "freehand cut" Christmas-y felt board images instead of do laundry. Excuse the very scary snowmen with triangle eyes and crazy arms. I was trying to keep up with a demanding toddler's request for felt pieces.

That's all I got.

Happy Friday!