I specifically waited to write my blog post until today because I was planning on trying several new recipes this week and wanted to tell you about them all!
So first thing's first. Monday our meatless meal was Easy Pad Thai. I was pleasantly surprised! I wanted Asian food; something I'd never tried before. I pinned this recipe onto Pinterest bout 7,000 years ago but forgot about it until the other day when I was meal planning and searching for a meatless meal. I have always been a smidge afraid of "pad Thai" but this person promised it wasn't very authentic. This gave me hope! No looking for impossible ingredients only found in a store where they surely don't speak my language! Of course I left out ingredients that didn't suit my tastes. These ingredients are probably what make it Pad Thai. Oh well, I'm excited because it was really good! (Even if it wasn't really Pad Thai...) I stir fried some veggies to go along with my faux pad Thai. The kids loved it. Mom and Dad thought it could maybe use some more sauce. It was a little dry. But oh that flavor was pretty yummy!
The same day I made the pad Thai, I made dessert. "Cake Batter Pudding Cookies". Another pin. This one was just "Meh." I actually deleted the pin because I didn't feel I'd make it again.
Then there was this morning. The whole reason for my delaying my blog post another day....phenomenal breakfast of breakfasts!.....The breakfast of the pumpkin. We've been having some fall like weather. I am excited about this. Therefore pumpkin and spices have invaded my kitchen.
First, I made Baked Pumpkin Spice Doughnuts. Sprinkled with cinnamon sugar straight out of the oven...oh man! Then, I made Pumpkin Pie Smoothies. I think it could have used a little more sugar and spice but the kids loved it as is. Oh man oh man! I had a child wake up with a sick stomach this morning. I felt bad for her because I thought she'd miss out on the yummy pumpkin, fall-y breakfast. While she had no appetite for the doughnuts she guzzled down some smoothie and promptly went back to sleep. An hour later she woke up wanting to eat and put away 2 doughnuts before I called it enough!
The pumpkin recipes are sooo good! I can't wait to buy more nutmeg so I can make another smoothie with the leftover pumpkin.
I had some reservations about the exercise class I had been attending so I'm trying to find a new one to try. In the meantime I figure I'll spend some time on the bike. Yesterday I managed 13.38 miles in one hour. I was kinda proud of myself. I would have done a little strut, but my legs fell off at mile 12....
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Revelations....and Soreness
Our family has gone back down to just four of us. As quickly as our foster children came in and turned our home on its head they are gone again; leaving memories, lessons learned and stains on my walls...
I have spent the last week recovering. Recovering from the whirlwind of foster parenting. Recovering from a cold. Recovering from realizing that I, in fact, do not have all the parenting skills to be the parent God has called me to be.
This first foray into foster parenting, while it did not give me the children meant to forever be in my family, gave me insight into the type of parent I am....and the type of parent I must pray and study and strive to be. God abruptly brought me to the realization that I am not necessarily an exceptional parent. He has just blessed me with exceptional children.
That's not to say I had nothing to do with how my sweet babies have turned out thus far, but learning this lesson will absolutely determine how they continue to grow. I realized that, while I have common sense parenting skills, I have failed to really dig into The Word and ask God how He would have me parent. I have been parenting on instinct. It's time to parent while standing on God's Word. I've found resources and begun reading in my daily quiet time and already God has shown me weak areas I can strengthen. When I work to apply the things I am learning I see my children bloom before my eyes! It's amazing what God will do when we are obedient.
So I am finding myself. As a parent, as a teacher (help me Lord my second grader hates to read!). I'm finding myself as a wife. As a woman of God.
I am still struggling with rebellion in the form of eating and drinking things that I should not. I have actually started delving into that through a Bible study I am going to at church. Because God knows what I need. Monday I was SO very sick all because I craved a soda. I know caffeine in any form aggravates my digestive system. But I drank it anyway. If I can kill that devil I'll be doing pretty good. I have lost 15 pounds. So now I have to start saving to buy myself new clothes. Sigh. I actually loathe clothes shopping. Last year I dragged a friend along with me and she dressed me. She'll probably hide if she hears me talking about doing that again!
My life in a nutshell.....homeschooling, housecleaning, praying, hiking my pants up. It. Is. Good.
Oh. And being STINKING sore! This exercise class is kicking my rear! But it's the reason I'm down 15 pounds. So back I go. As a matter of fact I just got done. Excuse me while I whimper.
I have spent the last week recovering. Recovering from the whirlwind of foster parenting. Recovering from a cold. Recovering from realizing that I, in fact, do not have all the parenting skills to be the parent God has called me to be.
This first foray into foster parenting, while it did not give me the children meant to forever be in my family, gave me insight into the type of parent I am....and the type of parent I must pray and study and strive to be. God abruptly brought me to the realization that I am not necessarily an exceptional parent. He has just blessed me with exceptional children.
That's not to say I had nothing to do with how my sweet babies have turned out thus far, but learning this lesson will absolutely determine how they continue to grow. I realized that, while I have common sense parenting skills, I have failed to really dig into The Word and ask God how He would have me parent. I have been parenting on instinct. It's time to parent while standing on God's Word. I've found resources and begun reading in my daily quiet time and already God has shown me weak areas I can strengthen. When I work to apply the things I am learning I see my children bloom before my eyes! It's amazing what God will do when we are obedient.
So I am finding myself. As a parent, as a teacher (help me Lord my second grader hates to read!). I'm finding myself as a wife. As a woman of God.
I am still struggling with rebellion in the form of eating and drinking things that I should not. I have actually started delving into that through a Bible study I am going to at church. Because God knows what I need. Monday I was SO very sick all because I craved a soda. I know caffeine in any form aggravates my digestive system. But I drank it anyway. If I can kill that devil I'll be doing pretty good. I have lost 15 pounds. So now I have to start saving to buy myself new clothes. Sigh. I actually loathe clothes shopping. Last year I dragged a friend along with me and she dressed me. She'll probably hide if she hears me talking about doing that again!
My life in a nutshell.....homeschooling, housecleaning, praying, hiking my pants up. It. Is. Good.
Oh. And being STINKING sore! This exercise class is kicking my rear! But it's the reason I'm down 15 pounds. So back I go. As a matter of fact I just got done. Excuse me while I whimper.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The Accidental Meatless Day
Yesterday was a fail of epic proportions...on one hand. On another hand it was a win. Unfortunately the win was much smaller. It actually took me aback when I realized my little win this morning. Let me 'splain...well it's lengthy...let me sum up.
Yesterday was our first day of the new home schooling year. Yay right? Not so much apparently for my foster children. These are unstructured, undisciplined children who were already pretty much incapable of adapting to life in our house. THEN I had the nerve to ask them to do coloring sheets and quiet activities while my second grader completes his work. Well, that's what I thought I asked them. Apparently, they HEARD "and now we're going to cut off your toes." Every step, every activity all I got was an "I don't want to" and lots and lots of screaming. They, quite literally, cried for two straight hours. I feel bad for them because they are going through so much. Then I feel bad for my kids who have to endure it all. Then I feel bad for me because I am so weary it's not even funny. Today I have a cold that I caught from the kids. I feel like I have been run over by a small Japanese vehicle. I was chafing at the bit to go to my usual aerobics class. I am pretty sure I almost died. My head nearly exploded. But now, I am calm, I feel balanced.
This is where my big little win came in today. I realized I'm slowly, silently slipping from a slothful lifestyle to becoming a doer. I sent the animals (I mean children) out to recess today and was thinking "oh yes! 20 minutes of peace! I'll sit down and read a little!" Then I saw it. The patio and porch littered with debris. And I didn't sit. I quietly swept the back patio. Alone with my thoughts and the sunshine while the children laughed and played a few feet away. And I thought, "when did this happen?"
And now for the reason for my title, the other small win. I, one, managed to have a meatless Monday ON Monday (thanks to the hubs who was off for the holiday.) We had Veggie Chili. I was gonna do some awesome sounding vegan sweet potato tacos to try something new, but the kitchen got a special request.
Two? I accidentally ate no meat yesterday. I mean, meat isn't bad, but when you're trying so hard to consciously make better food choices that's a pretty big deal! I was kinda nauseous yesterday morning so I just ate a bowl of unsweetened applesauce. Why they put so much sugar in it I'll never know! Then, for lunch I had a really yummy and diverse salad. Then the veggie chili. Today as I was making breakfast it hit me...no meat at all yesterday! I chose fruits and veggies and beans over carbs and meat and fat! This made me excited. Maybe not you, but I did a small dance.
Yesterday was our first day of the new home schooling year. Yay right? Not so much apparently for my foster children. These are unstructured, undisciplined children who were already pretty much incapable of adapting to life in our house. THEN I had the nerve to ask them to do coloring sheets and quiet activities while my second grader completes his work. Well, that's what I thought I asked them. Apparently, they HEARD "and now we're going to cut off your toes." Every step, every activity all I got was an "I don't want to" and lots and lots of screaming. They, quite literally, cried for two straight hours. I feel bad for them because they are going through so much. Then I feel bad for my kids who have to endure it all. Then I feel bad for me because I am so weary it's not even funny. Today I have a cold that I caught from the kids. I feel like I have been run over by a small Japanese vehicle. I was chafing at the bit to go to my usual aerobics class. I am pretty sure I almost died. My head nearly exploded. But now, I am calm, I feel balanced.
This is where my big little win came in today. I realized I'm slowly, silently slipping from a slothful lifestyle to becoming a doer. I sent the animals (I mean children) out to recess today and was thinking "oh yes! 20 minutes of peace! I'll sit down and read a little!" Then I saw it. The patio and porch littered with debris. And I didn't sit. I quietly swept the back patio. Alone with my thoughts and the sunshine while the children laughed and played a few feet away. And I thought, "when did this happen?"
And now for the reason for my title, the other small win. I, one, managed to have a meatless Monday ON Monday (thanks to the hubs who was off for the holiday.) We had Veggie Chili. I was gonna do some awesome sounding vegan sweet potato tacos to try something new, but the kitchen got a special request.
Two? I accidentally ate no meat yesterday. I mean, meat isn't bad, but when you're trying so hard to consciously make better food choices that's a pretty big deal! I was kinda nauseous yesterday morning so I just ate a bowl of unsweetened applesauce. Why they put so much sugar in it I'll never know! Then, for lunch I had a really yummy and diverse salad. Then the veggie chili. Today as I was making breakfast it hit me...no meat at all yesterday! I chose fruits and veggies and beans over carbs and meat and fat! This made me excited. Maybe not you, but I did a small dance.
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