Wordless Wednesday - Hurry Up Spring!!

Dear Spring:

While I am aware of your decision to have an unusually long vacation this year, I would like to request your return as soon as possible. Your swift arrival will bring much joy to the masses, as we will all be able to see beauty such as this:

And This:

And this, this, this, and this:

And the Children's faces will look like this:

Please return soon.

Thank you.

For more Wordless Wednesdays, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

How Does YOUR Garden Grow

Well, DH and I did it.
We finally decided to grow a garden.
The asparagus, strawberries, onions, shallots, garlic, and potatoes are planted
The tomatoes and peppers are in containers to sprout
And as soon as this cold snap ends, we will be planting everything else.

What's the point of growing a garden?
Well, there are LOTS of points - which one shall I start with?

1) Cost effectiveness. One packet of seeds costs about a dollar, and depending on how many you plant, you can use the same packet of seeds for up to five years. Now add up your typical produce costs for spring and summer. I would call that quite a savings.

2) Organic vs non-organic. When you do your own garden, you can handle it how you like. We're organic - we will not be using any chemical fertilizers or pesticides in our garden - we have a compost pile and a handful of all natural remedies for the little pesties that might invade later.

3) Exercise - It is work to plant and maintain a garden. You have to till, rake, hoe, plant, weed, check, water, harvest, etc. You WILL be getting a workout, there's no way around it. Who needs a gym when you can just go pick some veggies?

4) Healthy eating - you put all the work into growing your own fruits and veggies, might as well eat the whole lot of them! That means more veggies in your diet - which is ALWAYS a good thing.

If you don't have room on your property or you live in a rental, you can always do container gardening. It's a little less time and activity intensive and can yield similar results!

Now, lets say you have a bounty and don't know what to do with it? Well here's one of my favorite soup recipes. Very healthful. Very tasty!!

Harvest Vegetable Soup


1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. light butter
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini squash, diced
2 potatoes, diced
1 large or 2 small tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
4 or 5 stalks asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite size pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 box chicken or vegetable broth
1 C water


In a large soup pot or dutch oven, melt the butter into the olive oil over medium heat. Add all the veggies except the potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until tender. Add garlic and tomatoes and cook another minute more. Add potatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Makes 6-8 servings.


*Notes - to trim asparagus, bend one until it snaps naturally. Line it up with the rest and trim all to the same length - to peel and seed a tomato, cut a small "x" on the bottom of the tomato, dunk into boiling water for about 5-10 seconds then plunge into an ice bath. The peel will come right off. To seed, cut in half and squeeze cut side down, gently. Then chop as usual.*

Enjoy! Blessings to you all!

Yikes!

 I have been neglecting this blog, haven't I??
WOW.
Well, between family and writing research papers about the significance of Spectral Evidence in the overall outcome of the Salem Witch Trials I haven't had much time to blog.
And that's got me thinking . . .
WHERE do my priorities lie?
Shouldn't my blog really focus on THAT.
Right now, and in this order, my priorities are:
God
Family
School
Weight Loss
Housework

Yes. Housework is on the bottom. Why? Because life's too short to focus on worrying about laundry or vacuuming on a regular basis. Yes, I do some work, when I can, but lets face it - when you're surrounded by books, papers, highlighters and computer keyboards, cleaning is going to have to take a second fiddle sometimes.

But that's okay. Because I know that things will slow down again and I will be able to get back on a cleaning schedule.

It helps that The Hubbs helps around the house.

So, on that note, as weight loss has become a larger focus in my life, most of my blogs for a while will reflect that. While I will still post here from time to time - hopefully at least once or twice a week - I will probably be spending my time over at my other blog - SuperMom: Losing It. Feel free to visit me there anytime! Recipes, weigh ins, and other tidbits that reflect my personal journey to making a smaller . . . well, ME!

Blessings to you all!

Making Your Home Sing Monday - The LOVE Edition

For more Making Your Home Sing Mondays, or to find out how you can participate, visit Nan over at Mom's the Word and link up!


Today is Valentine's day. Now this is one of my favorite days of the year. Maybe because of all the hearts and flowers (I'm a sucker for romance).
Maybe it's because of the fact that it's right after my birthday.
Eh, who am I kidding? It's all about the CHOCOLATE!


Just kidding (sort of).


My husband doesn't like Valentine's day. He thinks it's a marketing ploy. And yes, it is, but it's FUN!
I think he just wants all the chocolate to himself.


But this year, Valentine's day hasn't been as big a deal. It really hasn't been on the top of my agenda.
You see, I love my husband every day, and I try to show him that - every day.
A touch, a whisper, a soft kiss on the cheek, a word, a hug, encouragement . . . ALL these things are important on an every day basis.


Proverbs 31:12 says:
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life


Now I know that they didn't have Valentine's Day in the time of Solomon, but this does NOT say "once a year" it says "ALL the days of her LIFE".


So, show your hubby some love!


Some of the fun ways to show your husband you love and appreciate him EVERY day:


♥ Get a bag of chocolate miniatures. Leave one on his pillow or in his car with a love note.
♥ Put some love songs on his MP3 player.
♥ Write a cheesy love poem on the bathroom mirror (with white-erase markers, of course)
♥ Hug him close, and whisper your devotion in his ear.
♥ Share a favorite bible verse or devotion with him.
♥ Massage his feet/shoulders/back.
♥ Get/make him a CD with some favorite songs from his childhood (if you know them) or some favorite songs of his now.
♥ Put the kids to bed early, and break out that fondue pot you've never used.
♥ Put the kids to bed early, and set the table with your nicest china, cook him his favorite meal and enjoy a candlelit dinner just for two.


For many of us, especially we Stay At Home Moms, our husbands work hard all day.
I hear so many women complaining about what their husband DOESN'T do -
they forget to be thankful for what their husband DOES do.
Remember, love is a two way street - you must give it in order to receive it.
And we must give it fully, wholly, and unconditionally.


Incidentally, for Valentine's Day this year The Hubbs is trying to find something non-food related to give me. He's trying to not be an enabler since I started Weight Watchers.
THAT in and of itself is an amazing Valentine's gift.
Of course, I DID remind him that sugar-free dark chocolate is a "power food" . . .


Have a blessed week!

Happy Birthday to . . . ME!

You know, I almost forgot my own birthday this year, all the excitement with sickness and the weather and everything.
35 years today . . . I can't really believe it, to tell you the truth.
I remember as a kid thinking that 35 was SO OLD.
But right now, I am looking forward to new beginnings.
I have made it my mission that in the next five years, I am going to completely reinvent myself
physically
mentally
spiritually
I am going to lose this weight (thanks to weight watchers)
I am going to release my fears and self-doubts
I am going to re-focus on my relationship with Christ.
When I hit 40, I'm going to be the best version of me that I can imagine.
I'm not striving to be perfect
I'm just striving to be what God wants me to be.

Incidentally, my husband got me the silliest, and yet sweetest card (because of the inside joke - we've all been sick around here for ages!)

Birthdays are Like Boogers,

The more you have, the harder it is to breathe.

Have a Happy One!

(Birthday, That Is)

I guess he should feel lucky that I appreciate and adore his humor, huh?

This weekend we're going to go out and celebrate both my birthday and Valentine's (since the weekend falls smack dab in between the two). I've given him a list of three places I'd like to go, and told him to surprise me.

He has a way of making my birthday's amazing.

My birthday when we were dating was spectacular.

He went to this place here in town called "Party in a Box" and did this amazing box with lots of amazing goodies - movies, chocolate, a squishy pillow . . . The works. I loved it. A week later he proposed :-)

Then a couple years later, he took me and my sisters to Medieval times. We had the best time laughing at the pomp and circumstance! Oh, and the serving wench that dropped my chicken.

And of course, he's baked me a cake too. 

My wish this year was for a coconut cake, but since I've started WW, I'm thinking on a smaller scale, so we'll see what happens.

It's going to be a great birthday.

Witnessing . . . And Me

I am a terrible witness.
I just had to get that out first thing.


I don't minister to ANYONE face to face.
I may say something on my blog or facebook or twitter.
But never directly TO anyone, and NEVER face to face.
Maybe I'm scared of losing their friendship?
(I have many non-Christian friends)
Maybe I'm scared of being judged?
Whatever the reason, I know it's attributed to fear.


What kind of friend doesn't share the love of her Christ with those she cares about?


The Lord commands us to in Matthew 28:19-20:


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


How displeasing is it to God that I don't - that I CAN'T - bring myself to do this?


Yesterday I read this devotion from Proverbs 31 Ministries. It talks about these feelings of self-doubt and fear. Doubting myself is, essentially, doubting what God can do for me. 
It led me to make a commitment to myself and to my God to be a better Christian and to be a better minister.


Christ has led us ALL into His ministry, and calls for each of us to do so.


But in order to do this, I have to "check myself" first.


I have to release my fear and self-doubt.
Some people don't like Christians filled with Fire.
I have to be willing to take that risk and remember that teaching other's about Christ is right, and good, and pleasing to God.


I also have to stop whining and complaining so much in my life.
How can I tell others about the love of Christ and the Peace and the Joy He brings, when I'm complaining all the time?
God wants us to find comfort in Him at all times.


I also need to watch my actions and what I say.
Gossip is hurtful to others. Harsh words are hurtful to others. Raised voices are hurtful to others.
God wants us to be kind, and tolerant, and loving.


So there you have it.
It's going to be hard for me.
really. really. hard.
Please pray for me.


Have a blessed day!

Making Your Home Sing Monday When It's FROZEN!!

It's time for another Making Your Home Sing Monday! Want to know how you can join in the fun? Go visit Nan over at Mom's The Word and find out how!







If you missed this post  talking about our frozen tundra of a wasteland or this post with the pictures to prove it, let's just say things have been pretty slippery around here this past week. So much so, that it's been really REALLY hard to keep my home singing. So, I guess this post is kind of a "hind sight is 20-20" kind of post - all the things I SHOULD have done but didn't to prepare for the onslaught of what has become known as "Snowpocolypse 2011".

What To Do BEFORE "Snowpocolypse" Hits.

• Stock up on bottled water, and fill a couple of 5 gallon jugs for important things like dishwashing or toilet flushing.
• Make sure you have enough groceries for two weeks - INCLUDING milk, juice, and Goldfish Crackers. (Just in case)
• Sock up on paper plates and plastic utensils to avoid as much dishwashing as possible - cutsie animal ones are preferred by smaller ones.
• Make sure your kids are good on things like coats and gloves and galoshes (really spell check? THAT'S how you spell galoshes??).
• Stock up on things like craft supplies and puzzles - especially puzzles with pictures of things like princesses or talking cars.
• Remove the light bulbs from most of your light fixtures and unplug most electronics to avoid unnecessarily high price jumps in electricity.
• Stock up on taper candles to use so that you won't be tempted to replace said light bulbs.
• Stock up on batteries for all toys, cameras, and other battery operated things that you might need batteries for
• Hid the battery operated things that make a lot of loud, repetitive, annoying noise.
• Instruct family members on the proper noise level in a home with five people all stuck in the same place.
• Invest in extra duct tape to assist those having issues remembering proper noise levels.
• And finally, pray that we never live to see another SnowPocolypse again!!!

Hope you all got a good chuckle from my lack of foresight!! Love to everyone. Have blessed week!