Say it forward

Today I'm deciding to participate in a celebration of loyal commenters.  Comments.. don't they make you feel good?  Thanks Shana, for commenting so much! 

Shana for that which matters

 

She posts menus, fun ideas, and thoughts about life.  She's thinking about going for the 30 meals in a month?  Should she do it?  

Speaking of meals, I actually cooked yesterday, without much fanfare or disaster.  And the dishwasher IS fixed.  After spreading out the dishwasher all over the kitchen and reassembling it, my DH says, "That was close! We almost had to have a service call!"  Yeah.. like everyone else's husband who is NOT an engineer WOULD  have made a service call.  I'm guessing the fuse cost about $9.00 or so.  Gotta love 'em, those engineer type of husbands.  What they lack in social skills, they definitely make up for in... everything else!!  Some are even cute, like mine for example.  

So where was I again?  Oh, cooking.  O.K. It is really need to get a menu going again.  Right now, I'm all confused about food.  Are we supposed to eat highly saturated fats or not? And what is this about soaking grains? Did I fall asleep somewhere in the kitchen? (it's that demon again)..  I need to go back to using recipes also.  Here's what I have discovered.. are you ready for this?  This is profound, so get out your pencils...

When you don't use a recipe, the food only turns out as well as your mood.   

So, it can be too salty, too sweet or too.. barfy? depending on the mood.  That does it.  I'm using recipes again.  

My kitchen woes..

I can remember with fondness the days when every night, around the same time, our precious family actually ate dinner together.  I cooked even.. imagine. Now I am not sure what has happened.  I think there's a demon lurking in my kitchen.  

It started with the dishwasher breaking.  I figured it was something electrical, since the lights on the circuit board were out.  That was Monday.  Now I know for some of you reading this, you may be thinking: big deal.  We have never had a dishwasher, and we do fine. 

 O.K. I'm happy for you.

But I AM NOT FINE WITHOUT A DISHWASHER!!  She said sweetly.  

So, I've been making a game out of it. 

 I remember our maids in Panama (who seem to be skeptical of dishwashers?) diligently hand washing all of the dishes.  I remember watching them and learning the fine art of hand washing.  So, I thought I would be Gloria for the day (minus the curler and the kerchief on my head) and just enjoy the process.  Actually, it was kind of fun.  Gloria didn't habla ingles, so I'll never knew if she enjoyed the process.  She did like boxed macaroni and cheese, though.

A few days later, the fun was wearing off, but  Hola! I set the timer for 33 minutes, and managed to really conquer the dish mountain again.  This time I managed to even make a few loaves of bread too.  Be still, my domestic heart.

So, I got the loaves in the oven, set the timer and left to teach pilates with E in tow.  When we arrived several hours later, I was greeted by the smell of freshly baked bread.  Wow, it's  a wonder how that smell lingers... I thought.

Then I saw THEM.  Fully charred, dark brown loaves that had been sitting in a hot oven most of the morning.  The four intelligent children who were home did not think that the timer going off actually meant "take loaves out of oven, now".  

I was crushed.  Now I have no desire to make more.  One batch per day.  But I had hopes for dinner.  I was making: chicken pot pie, which happens to be my family's favorite meal.  So, I set to work on it.  The problem with me is: I do not use recipes very often.   O.K. let's be honest--hardly at all.  Usually things turn out great, but last night it was: chicken pot soup pie.

To console myself, I made a nice pot of hot tea.  No kidding..Speaking of Panama,  I think I dredged the canal and put it in the tea pot.  It was awful, thick, dark tea.  Absolutely awful.  

So, no one ate bread, pot pie, or tea.  So, today I made scrambled eggs and they turned out fine. 

Hey, anybody want boxed macaroni for dinner?

Decade Goals

My decade goals..

My mother says that we should not just endure another birthday, but we should usher it in with much fanfare and expectation.  I think I may be done with the fanfare of turning 40, but I'm just now starting to think of my goals for the next decade.  

In the next ten years I would like:

1. to be much more focused on the eternal, rather than the earthly. 

Much of the first section of my life has been on developing the skills, the education, the information to live life on earth successfully and more organized.  I've read and conquered a lot of earthly information from things like giving birth naturally, to grinding grains and making healthier food, to teaching your child to read or write, or how to organize your closet or your life or how to do certain crafts or sew or knit things.  I'm not saying those skills are not important; they are. I'm also not saying that God wasn't a part of that; he most definitely is! But all of this organization has to lead to something.  So, I sit around in my organized house, with my organized kids.. all to do what?  God has given me the ability to get this far.  I would like to take it to the next level and learn how to be more spiritual and to think and do in terms of eternity. In the past, focusing hard on the earthly has been the only way that I've been able to make time for the eternal.  Now that I'm older and the kids are growing up, it's time to move in a new direction.

2. to have launched my oldest four children and have my youngest child heading in the right direction.

By "launching" I do not mean hurling them out into the world and out of the nest.  Whether they live at home or live on their own makes no difference to me.  What I really would like to see happen is that each of my children are capable, responsible, industrious, and godly with a clear focus as to what God wants them to do in life, as well as the means and ability to get there.  This is a tall order.  My dear husband and I are not capable of doing this on our own.  We are asking for God's help.  In ten years, my kids will be: 27, 25, 23, 22 and 14, Lord willing.  Who knows? I could be a grandmother.  (I was married at 22 and had children by 23) 

3. to have simplified my material possessions as much as possible. 

 Anyone who homeschools a big family knows it takes not only time and money, it takes space and stuff.  A family needs room to move around and grow.  As our children grow up, I would like to have a smaller house and less stuff.   Perhaps the Lord will want us to keep a great big house even after our children have grown up, but I am open to the possibility of living smaller and simpler. As my mother has always told me, "there's no trailer behind the hearse" --why ARE we keeping this stuff anyway? 

4. to have perfected the art of enjoying the moment and delighting in people.

 I have been so focused, so task oriented for so long that I have completely forgotten how to enjoy things.  Yes, I'm efficient.  Yes, I'm organized.  O.K. big deal.  Bossing people around, zooming from thing to thing.. gets old after a while.  Every soul is precious.  People are important.  I want to learn that.  I want to enjoy that.  God likes people.  He is patient and kind and compassionate.  I'm not even sure what those words mean.   I wish I could be more like my Mom.  People love her, and she loves them.  She laughs.  She really enjoys the moment.  She enjoys remembering funny things and laughs again.  Then she laughs when she's telling you about laughing about what made her laugh the first time.  I giggle just thinking about her.  When I'm in a funk, she can get me to see straight again.  She can get me to laugh about it.  Can you imagine? Now (if she reads this) she'll laugh again about it again.  

There are a lot of other things I would like to do in the next ten years, but so much of it is in God's hands.  We never know what even a day may bring, let alone a year.. or ten years.   I have this day.  The first step towards your big goals start with today.  Do you have decade goals? Have you perfected or worked on these things mentioned above? Feel free to launch me toward my goals by dropping a comment. Blessings to you in your goals too.

Tackling life on Tuesday.. just a few things

As some of you may know, our home is a great stopping location for O'Hare International travelers.  These guys just got back from India in good shape.  I've flown internationally a few times, and when you get back from a 27 hour flight, you are absolutely slap happy.  These guys were no exception.  God protected them all the way, and it may be a while before Nancy wants rice again.  

Also, I've been trying to re-create a sweater by knitting as I go.  Here is the original sweater with the balls of yarn all around it.

I finished both sleeves this week.

Another great thing I got to check off my list is mailing out the annual New Year's letter and thank you cards for Christmas and birthday gifts.  Whew!  It was a huge job, but it got done.  Here is my brother.  He really IS a sweetheart. Don't let his good looks scare you.

Are we dramatic or what??  For more tackles, check out tackle it Tuesday.

Saturday linkage: encouragements

Saturday linkage: great sites and stuff that I've been able to find!

Want to write a craft book? Suzanne explains how on Sew Mama Sew

Want to buy fabric? Looks like some good deals at fabric.com.

Want to celebrate your favorite commenters? 5 Minutes for Mom has a new carnival on Fridays called say it forward.

Virtually Organized has a new site now, and she's giving away a $50.00 gift card for the container store... pick me.. pick me!

Household helper is trying once again to help us save $$ on groceries.  Is there any help for me $251.00 this week and counting...

Need a laugh? Uncle Jay Explains the News.. is my new favorite for political satire and humor.

which is, by the way, my only commentary on the inauguration. 

Want the fresh inspiration of young ladies in their invincible twenties?  (my terminology, not theirs)  passionate homemaking and Titus 2.  

editorial note: Invincible twenties: (definition coined by Jena and Kathy M.) When you are fresh, young full of ideas, convictions and the energy to pursue them.  Only to be followed by the balancing thirties and the settling forties.  

Speaking of 40's.  I have been trying to train my sweet E to sing this song: 

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you, you don't look a day over 29.  

Finally the song emerged (on its own) from the backseat of the car.  As I craned my ear to hear the sweet finale, I heard:

you don't look a day over 49!!  

The Good and Bad about workout DVDs.

With the dawn of the new year, everyone is thinking about exercise and making new commitments to renew that sluggish body into a healthy body.  One great option for many is the workout DVD.  Whether it's pilates, aerobics, kick boxing or turbo jam, everybody's doin' it.  

The benefits of a home workout DVD are obvious: they are affordable, easy to set up and can be done at your own convenience.  Even if they cost $100.00, they still are the price of about one month at a nice health club (the Y is cheaper than that, but you get the idea) 

Consider this email that I got from someone who just dropped a pilates class that I am teaching :

It's not the cost nor is it you as an instructor by any means. It has

been about a year since I've done the brand name Pilates or any Pilates for

that matter, but I'm used to the pace of brand name  Pilates. I also feel

that I can get more "bang for the buck" if I purchase the latest brand name DVD's and do the exercises at home.

Hey, I feel your pain! We're all on a budget, and I see the benefits of doing things at home. But here's my concern. To illustrate my point, I've got a story.

Let's say that you are kid growing up in a family, and every day your mother serves you tofu, but she calls it "chicken".  After a while, you grow to like "chicken" and like it to be called "chicken", even though it's really tofu.  It's not the tofu isn't good for you, but it really isn't chicken.  So one day, when you go out to someone's home for dinner and they tell you that you're having chicken, you get all excited for "chicken".  You are so surprised to find this foreign thing sitting on your plate that they call "chicken".  

O.K. maybe that is a lame illustration, but it is sort of what happens when people order DVDs and then attend a fitness (pilates) class that has a teacher who is wanting to check "technique" on your body, and not just have you keep time with the music or pace of the class.  

Speaking of technique, that is what is lacking from DVDs.  Even though I was a trained dancer, I still was not able to assimilate the correct techniques into my personal body until I took a class from a trained teacher.  

So, what's the big idea anyway? In pilates, failure to use modifications or utilize good techniques can result in injury.  In aerobics and cardio workouts, failure to take a break or slow down (especially if one is morbidly obese) can be dangerous also.  Even if no injuries result, the actual results you are looking for may not be apparent for failure to do the exercises correctly.  

Sometimes compromises are made for appealing more to the interest level of the customer.  People want FAST results and a FAST workout, so that is what the DVD manufacturers are producing.  Real life is not fast.  Weight that stays off is a result of a healthy lifestyle change, which is a slow process.  Exercising for a lifetime of health is also a slow procedure.  I feel your pain.  I am not very patient either, but moderation is key for loosing weight, exercising, and maintaining balance in life.  

So, am I opposed to a workout DVDs?  Not necessarily.  I think they have a real place in peoples' lives,  as long as the participants keep in mind technique and safety.  If possible, work group fitness or personal training into your life, just to make sure you are getting a balanced and healthy workout.  

Encouragements..without pain

 Remember when I wrote about the pain I was in from that awful massage? Well, I am so happy to report that it has been a little over a week, and I am virtually pain free.  I never believed it would happen.  Yes, I know that massage is supposed to help you with injuries, but I never imagined it would be all gone.  

I did learn some things through this, that I hope I do not soon forget.

As the pain was lingering longer than I thought necessary, I had some thoughts about pain in general.  First of all, there are so many people that live with constant pain as a lifestyle, not just an event.  I've been blessed with a relatively pain free existence.  Others, like my friend Carrie, live with constant pain.  So, I am not claiming to be an expert on this subject AT ALL.  But I prayed this simple prayer in faith:

Lord, every time I have a twinge of pain, I want to use it as a reminder to pray to you.  This constant reminder of prayer is my new friend, not my enemy.  I hope that this pain will not leave me unless you are ready for it to go.  The pain will not be here even one second longer, or one level higher than you allow for your good purposes.

I was actually very thankful that I had come to this conclusion and was just enjoying the peace that comes from full surrender to Christ, when almost as if in a dream.. the pain lifted.  

As I was teaching pilates today, it seems so long ago that I was hobbling around trying to cope with pain and teach others exercises that I could not do.  Incidentally, the class I taught in complete weakness was the one where I had a lot of great feedback from the participants.  God gives grace to the humble, weak and hurting. 

Tackle it Tuesday: from trash to treasure

Perhaps some of you remember that when I go and visit special people, I like to clean their garage.  Here's a treasure from THIS organizing adventure. It made its way from Minnesota to Illinois, and then ended up here.

It was cluttering up my dungeon!!  I listed it as a six hour project.  

First off, I cut samples of what I thought the cushions would be, and then held them up to the real chair.  Once they looked about the right size, I cut the actual piece from the upholstery fabric.  I also made welting from a contrasting fabric.

I employed my DH to help me with the strapping.

The skirting was lined and pleated before being attached with a staple gun.

To make the cushions, I made fully filled pillow forms that were the same shape as the pillows. Making these pillows with a zipper is the best way to go.  If things "shift" over time, they can be adjusted easily.  Once you squeeze the forms in, I shove more stuffing in the nooks and crannies of the pillow form.  It makes it look sort of "pregnant", and that's a happy look for upholstery.

The little ties are also sewn in the seam before the seam closes.

Ta-da!!  Finished chair!!

Friends are a great treasure also.  Thank you for the kind birthday greetings. 

Surprise! I really was!!

So, my family REALLY pulled a fast one on me.  I had a sort-of clue that something was going on when my kids were 1. cleaning when not being asked to and 2. my four year old mentioned something like "I wonder when the Mmmwellls (Morells) are coming".  So, sure enough! My buddy, Kathy and her husband, Jon and their six kids showed up for a weekend of fun.  I figured that was it.  What a neat idea. I never suspected there was MORE. 

So, Kathy and I left to do our lunch out and shopping.  This is normal procedure for us.  We just indulge in some grown-up conversations and expensive food.  The dads handle the 11 children, and we bring home something easy for dinner.  

I had no-idea that there were many people working feverishly around my home to get it "party-worthy".  All the kids, dads and friends were preparing stuff for the party. 

There was even some ice-shaving going on.

I wonder why they put a 40 there, since I'm 30 this year?  Must have been an oversight. 

I think that my DH really outdid himself for this one.  Even though we only had 50 people there, there were so many we forgot! (Sorry if you are reading this and thinking: why didn't I get invited?)  Poor Will had the flu and a back issue all week.  I'm surprised he could do anything!!

No party around here is complete without a crazy string adventure.  These are the main culprits. 

This young lady worked like a workhorse (I'm sure) to make this a reality.  And she has time to hold a friend's baby during the party. 

so...

Extreme Muscle Therapy

Why is it that we equate "massage" with something that feels.. good? 

A few weeks ago,  I decided to catapult my exercising efforts, pretending I was on the Biggest Loser, and ended up pulling something.  It's OK though, because that something is only one of the largest muscle groups in my whole body and seems to connect my legs and hips together.  I didn't want to pull something, I just wanted to decrease the size of something. 

So, I tell Larry, the trainer that I work for, that I need help.  I can teach pilates and all, but I just can't do the exercises. In other words, I need help NOW!!  He told me about his sports medicine guy who has on his door "Emergency Muscle Therapy".   "It is amazing! He does such a great job.. etc. etc. etc." 

 Thankfully, Mr. Torture had a slot. 

Let's just say this.  If a sinister individual would like to give up the night life and go into mainstream, this job might be a good transition.  REALLY!  I'm not even sure where to begin. 

I show up, and I have to wait.  Finally, a fairly normal looking fellow shows up with a clipboard.  O.K. this is good.  a clipboard.  I kind of feel like I'm at the doctor's office.  The place that makes you "better".  

Once I'm inside the dark cavern of an office/work space, I am starting to get the idea that this guy isn't heavy on sympathy, in fact, I start to wonder why he went into the "helping people" type of profession.  He uses words and expressions like "torture without scars or bruises" and "ripping the muscles apart" and if you want to remodel the house, you have to "take the roof off".  

So, I let him do his thing.  After all, Larry said this guy was good.  Who cares if Larry isn't even 30? (young punk) 

I had a lot of thoughts during this time like:

1. Why didn't I take a tranquilizer before I came?

2. Did I tell anyone that I'm here.. just in case I.. die?

3. and kin I have my mommie?

So, the fact that I am here (at home and not in the hospital) proves two things.  

Giving birth several times without medication has more lasting benefits than just a healthy birthing experience. 

and

Never do extreme cardio and pull something  or I'll have to do THAT again.  I think I'll start speaking Spanish around the house, and convince my DH that he really is a Mexican and he loves  hippy, roundish women.  "The twiggy look is so out!"

So, now I am home, drinking a lot of water "to flush the toxins out" (who put them in there in the first place??) and ice the appropriate "somethings".  I found some frozen bread dough and sat on it.  Unfortunately my... "hot buns" almost forced me to make cinnamon rolls when the bread dough started oozing out on to the couch.  

Hey, cinnamon rolls!  See? there is a benefit in all of this.  Can I see the silver lining in just about any cloud, or what? 

Tackle it Tuesday: upholstery repairs

She who upholstereth, also will repaireth..  

Yes, that would be me! The girl who thinks she can upholster but has never learned her lesson because everything she makes ends up looking like this:

and this: 

Yes, the $10.00 I paid for the chair and the $1.00 for the footstool were a good deal.  The $8.2 million for the fabric and time... well....

But it only takes a little stitching with upholstery thread and a needle.. and we're all patched up.

Footstool: after

chair: after

I'm not really sure if I would have accomplished this without that Tackle it Tuesday motivation.  Yeah for 5 Minutes for Mom.

So, am I the last one to KNOW?

My stealthy daughter, Jo, went ahead and entered a writing contest and won.  You can read her entry here.  So, this is how I find out about things--by reading them on her blog.  Families who actually talk are soo passe.  ???  After all, I DO teach writing, and I would like to know if my daughter wins a contest.  Although, I can understand her trepidations.  After the last contest she won, I threatened to tell the local 23 news and submit an article to the Gazette.  

Speaking of blogs, I updated my side-panel a little bit so the good posts are easier to find and read.  I hope that if you are new to my blog and looking for a little bit of encouragement in organizing that you will be able to navigate through things easily.  

I am looking to hire a web designer and go "big time" into the world of blogging without loosing the "small time" touch.  For now, I am thankful to have a blog.  It is a great place to express feelings and ideas, even though they may not be as polished as they could be.  Any great ideas?  What kind of look do you guys like? I like this one: Sandy Toes. It has some class, some style.. some fun. 

Menu plan Monday

Hey!!  I'm finally posting a menu!!  I bet you thought I had a New Year's Resolution to: not post menus!  Sorry! The menu planning is back in swing, even though my darling daughter, Jo, said, "Mommy, can I cook all of the food this week?" Hhmmm.... yes, you can.. but why? 

So, even though she wants to cook this week, I think I'll cook a little bit, just to keep things somewhat nutritious.

Monday: Clean out the fridge soup

Tuesday: freezer lasagna (ooh.. I'm so glad I have one of those left!)

Wednesday: chili and cornbread

Thursday: hotdogs (with veggies)

Friday: chicken packets 

This is also our first week back to homeschool co-op for the year.  I was so excited to think we had an "extra" week to get things ready, and as it turned out, we have been sick (flu) and sore (back pain) and needing to recover. 

My DH has had a degenerative disk issue for over 10 years and has managed to keep surgery at bay; unfortunately, we may not be as lucky this year, since he can barely walk.  Yes, he's in a lot of pain! 

So, we're starting up a new week: back to grindstone, so to speak.  

I just have to post some of these photos from our trip up north.  I have no idea how Jo makes the photos black and white with a little bit of color, but she does it somehow. 

Pass my starbucks!

My hands are cold! 

For more menu planning, check out: organizing junkie's  MPM.

Having Fears?

For me, Fear is not normal.  So, when I start to fear, I know something is amiss.. off kilter.. you know.. a low in chocolate or something?

This week, I had this strange experience of being afraid of teaching my regular pilates class.  I've been teaching for about a year, and I wasn't having difficulty before the break.  Then because of the holidays and snow days, it ended up being a 3 week break.  Ugh.  

All I can think of is this:

1. I've put on a little weight; nobody likes a chubby exercise teacher.

2. I can't remember a rollup from a plank.

3. The "other" exercise teachers are "better".

Ugh.  So, it was time to start teaching on Wednesday, and I couldn't tell if I was sick or my little one.  You know how mommies have that strange ability to project their symptoms on their kids and spouses?  So, I called for a sub and then later realized that neither of us was sick, but I had developed some sort of fear-of-teaching-exercise phobia.  

Incidentally, there is no name for such a phobia.  There wasn't even a fear of exercise phobia listed.  Hummph..  I can't believe it.  Anyway, I called my sweet Mom (above).  She prayed with me.  She asked me a simple question, "Is this worth it?"  

Is it worth it? Yes.  I love it.  But I put it to prayer (again) and asked God to give me a fresh vision here.  Yes, I'm a busy mom, and I do a lot of things, but I need this.  If I'm not teaching the class, I might be tempted to not go!  Also, I can be a light! and an encouragement!  I also have training, so I can help women be healthy!   It doesn't take that much time, and I do think it is worth it.  

So, I girded up my loins and put on many layers and ventured out today.  I humbled myself before the Lord and asked for help.  Yes, I have 10 pounds to lose, and yes, my knowledge is a little rusty, and there will always be someone who can do it better.  But I have THIS day to improve and give it the best I can, and I did.  I really did.  I'm back!  I'm going to teach those people, with God's help, I will.

When I'm feeling blue..Works for Me

What works for me when I'm getting blue because everything is white and bleak and cold?  I have to admit--I'm an emotional person.  If the sun is shining, I'm happy.  If the days are long and dark, I'm blue.  So, what do I do?

I'm hoping that just by writing this, it will remind me of how temporary life is.  That short days that are dark are still wonderful because they are filled with people you love.  How much sadder it would be to be without loved ones?

Cold is hard, but being indoors is nice.  Candles can be lit and enjoyed as early at 4:30 p.m. Getting outside can be challenging, but it's also rewarding.  It makes you feel like you've conquered something just by getting out there.

When all is said and done, the majestic red cardinal reminds us that he is hardly visible when all is green and plush.  How much more do we appreciate him on days like today?

He comes for his food, rain or shine.  He is happy because his creator is smiling on him today.  Just thinking about him makes me smile. 

Tackling life on Tuesday..

This week I am posting at 5 Minutes for Mom about tackling a large and overwhelming project.

This is my mother's cousin, Karen looking overwhelmed.  

As you can guess by the picture, Karen is HILARIOUS.  We don't get to see her very often, but when we do, we are always rolling with laughter.  She brought us a really hilarious game called: SNORTA.  Let's just say that it sounds like your living room is a barnyard when you're playing.  

Now I have a series of random things to tell you!  Here is a quilt I started...in ???, and my Mother finished it for me!!  She had it completed (along with 3 other quilts).  I call this: the Luna moth.  It's a perfect summer evening.

These are two snow-people dancing together.  Can you see how the left one leans slightly one way?  We made these up north.  They started out straight.

This is my new shoe (left) right along side of my old shoe (right).  Welcome to the world, happy Keens.  The contest shoes came in!! 

Last but not least, our caboose child (Emily) is starting her first reading lessons!!  She is only four, but she was begging for a lesson.  When she jumped up on my DH's lap and touched the decal on his sweatshirt and proudly read (from left to right) " I..Z...O..D..", I figured she was definitely showing signs of readiness!!

So, that precious book that has been taped, patched, and resurfaced is going to serve us for: one more child!!  

Happy Tuesday.