Well Worn Cookbooks

Is there anything better than a well worn cookbook?

Okay, the worn pages of well read Bible ;)
But there is something so special about a handwritten recipe card or a cookbook with stains and folded down pages.  There is a post in the works about my favorite new cookbooks and websites we have been using as a family.  As I pulled out some cookbooks for meal planning today, I couldn't help but laugh at the tattered books! I must be really rough on them!  So here are my top three go-to cookbooks I've been using the last several years before I share some of my new favorites.

Start Fresh - Tyler Florence


Bread & Wine - Shauna Niequist


Cooking with Friends - Vera Bradley


I love that they open easily to my most used recipes (because there are spills and splotches on those pages).  The Start Fresh book is faded because I used to have it sitting out in our kitchen herb window.  The kids love opening this book and pointing to a picture of what they want to create in the kitchen. The recipes are easy for an entire family with options to puree food or include toddlers with a Goldfish Chowder ;)  Shauna Niequist's book was accidentally left in the rain when Vera was a newborn because I had been soaking up the sunshine and her beautiful words from our backyard.  I can't decide whether I love her stories or recipes more... I truly believe there is no way to separate the two.  Such raw beauty shared at the table.  And I have truly enjoyed "Cooking with Friends" because of the seasonal aspect of this cookbook.  Perfect for hosting a themed seasonal party or picking out recipe for a simple dinner.

Comment below with some of your favorite recipes books or websites... I might just add it to my list and share more in a future post!

Encouragement for the weekend

Have you all heard of Thrive?

I recently stumbled upon their website and blog- actually I believe the Lord led me straight there knowing just what I needed.
 Thrive is a ministry for moms to encourage us to do more than survive motherhood and to learn to be confident in who God calls us to be as mothers.
I thought I would share with yall before the weekend just in case you can sneak away for a little free time and watch their retreat video.  I think the retreat was in April but I watched it last week and was very encouraged and blessed by the speakers that shared their hearts and words from scripture.
It says it is three hours, but there is an intermission and since its not live- you can pause and come back to it whenever you have free time or the kids go down for a nap.
{click here} for the retreat video
I'm running after my hiding place this weekend and soaking in the rest that only God can provide- praying you will join me!

Quote from Thrive's Monday newsletter:
"True fellowship is found when we come together in the light, willing to expose ourselves, and ready to offer the grace found in the precious blood of Jesus."

Birth Story- Part 1

 (our 2011 Christmas Photo- taken at 39 weeks)

Note to expecting mothers: My sweet friend took some wonderful photos, but I would recommend taking any maternity photos before 37 weeks :)  Unless you just want to remember how HUGE you were!  It was one of those things I just kept putting off until, well, it was almost too late.

I thought it would be fitting to share John Ryman's birth story today and tomorrow as I look back on those special days one year ago.  I had planned on sharing his birth story about 11 months ago, but after postponing and forgetting many times, I decided a few months ago to just wait until his first birthday.  I'm so excited to relive our 2011 Christmas with you and I'll be glad I have it in writing one day when I start to forget the little moments. 

Don't worry, no gory details or crazy drama that will have you running from ever getting pregnant.  I feel like I read so many horror blog posts and extreme birth stories while I was pregnant, that after I delivered I was frustrated more people didn't share the beautiful stories.  I tried to prepare myself for the worst possible scenario, remind myself that even if that occurred Christ was still in control, and then remove my thoughts from those fears.  Thankfully, I had a mom and several sweet friends that told me their sweet stories and how much they actually enjoyed labor & delivery- crazy huh?!  I know that good birth stories are rare mainly because every delivery is different, but I wonder if that's simply because most people share the horrible, screaming experience and you prematurely expect yours to be the same?  I went into the day looking forward to the process and encouraged by friends that it is okay to enjoy labor and delivery.  My next pregnancy will probably be the complete opposite of John Ryman's but there is something to say about a calm mindset, free from horror stories read online.  Okay, probably thinking too much into it... All that to say, this is a birth story you will want to share with pregnant friends or people with a fear of delivery :)

John Ryman was due to arrive on December 23rd, 2011.  My parents, Sadie and Sam drove down on the 22nd in hopes the little man would arrive on time.  My doctor said she would only let me go one week past my due date, so they knew they would stay over a week and get at least one day with John Ryman.  Thankfully, they only had to spend 2 days with my pregnant self and the rest of their time they had a precious baby to snuggle. 

I guess it all started a week before the due date, well actually 9 months before... but about a week before I started some of the old wives tales to induce labor.  I tried some spicy wings at Buffalo Wild Wings (which for me is just medium!)  A little eggplant with dinner.  LOTS of walking and shopping even though I was done with Christmas gifts- TJMaxx was a favorite.  Then on the 22nd, I took some evening primrose vitamins and continued the dosage until I woke up in labor.  I highly doubt any of these things helped, but who knows!

 (looking Large at Christmas Eve Eve Church Service)

Christmas Eve Eve (the due date) came around and no signs of labor.  We spent a lovely day with my family shopping and eating.  That evening we all went to one of the Christmas services at Compass.  It was strange because it was the first time in 20 years that my dad did not have to be a part of a Christmas Eve service.  Patrick helped out on Christmas Eve Eve, but didn't have any specific responsibilities either because of the uncertainty of whether he would make any of the services.  What a beautiful service and a joy to spend the evening with my whole family worshiping and celebrating the birth of our Savior!

After the service, we walked my family around the church and were actually one of the last to leave. They were all trying to think of ways to get me to go into labor.  I actually did a couple of laps up and down the steps- in heels and skipping every other step- quite hilarious and my dad got it all on video!  Then I raced my brother to the car in the back of the parking lot.  Not sure if that started labor, but my crazy bursts of energy should have been sign I was getting close!

Before heading home, we all made a stop at Krispy Kreme!!  To this day, my dad tells everyone that Krispy Kreme sent me into labor.  Lets just say I ate a LOT.  I tell all pregnant ladies about the original glazed because who doesn't like an excuse to indulge in such goodness! 
Patrick, Sam & I headed home (the rest were staying at a nearby hotel) with still no signs of labor. 
Who knew that after a great night sleep I would wake up Christmas Eve with my first contraction!
and this little Christmas blessing would be here before the day ended:

"Yes" and "No" (part 2)

Read Part 1 {here}

Quote from On Becoming Baby Wise:

“Many Parents consider discipline to be a means of controlling a child’s actions at any given moment.  It is that, but discipline is also much more.  The primary objective of early discipline is to lay down a foundation upon which the next stage of development can be built.  Young children learn from concrete experience, not abstract parental reasoning, so we train by instruction and reinforce compliance with encouragement and correction (Don’t forget that encouragement part!) Initially, you will encourage and correct your child’s actions.  In time, your focus will be his or her heart, wherein all the child’s actions originate.”

Some theorists believe that parents should assist the child in the impulsive ways they already respond never “actively direct the child’s moral conscience”. For example, they would create and control the child’s circumstances and environment in order to protect them psychologically.  As Christians, we know that our natural way of doing things can be far from what God wants from us.   When we became Christ followers, God did not bring us straight to heaven or transport us to an ideal environment with like-minded believers where we would all act perfectly.  Instead, we stay in this broken and sinful world.  He calls us to change our behavior and realign our mindset to be like His through the working of the Holy Spirit.  In the same way, Christian parents need to realize that we cannot perfect our child’s environment, but we can love and train them to have a heart like Christ that shines in any situation.

Like all parenting lessons, discipline starts with the little things and begins at home.  I may be able to rearrange furniture in our living room and put away “no touch” items, but what happens when the surroundings change and I find myself in a friend’s home.  That busy toddler will think he has free reign in all environments and will not understand my frustrated yell or frantic “no”.  

As much as we want to give our children everything they could ever want, we know as adults that certain desires will not benefit them or could be dangerous.  God is the same way.  He loves us far greater than we could ever imagine, but have you ever had an unanswered prayer or a door clearly shut by the Lord?  More than just teaching our children obedience and trust in earthly issues, we need to help them see that sometimes God says “no” to us for our own protection or because there is something far greater he has in mind.  The earlier our children learn that the world, as much as we might want it to, does not revolve around them, the greater success they will have in this world and in their walk with Christ. 

Now, let me tell you that Patrick and I are learning.  Everyday.  We thought the first years of marriage showed us just how selfish we were and now, as parents, we continue to see just how much more Christ is calling us to sanctification.  This is a whole new world for us and we definitely don't know everything... and who knows, by our next child, we may realize that we didn't know anything!  But thankfully, we are able to glean from our parents, mentors, Christian authors and most importantly Scripture as we struggle through this blessing of parenthood.  What we do know is that this is a glorious privilege not to be taken lightly.

Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.

Psalm 127

"Yes" and "No" (part 1)

Our sweet boy is learning the word “no”.  That probably ruffles a few readers feathers J  

“You tell your baby No?!  That’s so mean!”

Yes, we tell him “no” and we also tell him “great job”.

In just one week of us being intentional and consistent, John Ryman has learned:

-       to stop and look at us when we say “no” or “no touch”

-       which items are off limits and is beginning to avoid them

-       (my favorite) that when he does the right thing and we say “great job buddy” he will sit down and start clapping with a proud grin on his face! 

The dogs' water bowl was the first thing for our little crawler to discover and the first “no touch” item.  Knowing that we couldn’t hide the water bowl every time JR was awake, this was going to be the first thing our mobile boy needed to learn.  With watchful eyes and consistent instruction, we would wait until he was reaching out for the water and warn him with “no touch”, then quickly moved him to the other side of the room.  He was smarter than we realized.  Trust me, your baby is way smarter than you know!  What did JR do?  He crawled across the living room, into the hall and straight back to the water bowl.  We repeated it two more times, before giving a little swat on the hand.  After that, for a couple days, he might get close, but simply saying “no touch” was enough of a reminder.  Now, he crawls all around it and pulls up on the door next to the water bowl, but he doesn’t touch it.  I try to encourage him as much as I can, so if I see him eye the bowl and then sit down next to it, I start clapping and praise him for not touching it.  He gets so proud and will clap for himself!  Precious!  Now, I don’t leave him alone because he is still learning (my goodness he is only 8 months!) and I’m sure there will be days he tests us, but if we continue to respond consistently I hope he will grow up to obey first-time and feel a sense of security in the consistent emotions in our family.  

(Please notice that I am using the word “we”.  Both parents need to work together and be consistent.  You must communicate together on what you are going to expect from your kids.  If you are both going to be relaxed and let the child run free- you still need to share that with each other so the child isn’t confused with the changing boundaries or lack there of.)

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to babysit in dozens of homes.  I have been able to watch godly (still imperfect) parents striving to raise their children in the Lord.  While many taught me wonderful tips and parenting lessons, there were other homes that showed me what not to do.  I can tell you that the most important thing I realized over those years was the significance of consistency in parenting.  I tried my best not to watch in a judgmental way, but simply to make the most of my time before starting a family, learning from the good and the bad. 

If we teach our kids that they can have anything they want and do not create boundaries, then it poses a major problem when they begin to interact with the outside world.  I feel sorry for their first teacher who has to teach them the difference between play time and desk time.  (Thank you Teachers- I’m sure you put up with a lot because of our parenting mistakes!)  Or who helps your child understand they can’t run freely and need to stay in line in order to organize all the children in the class?  If your child has never been told “no”, how will they respond when they do not make the team or pass their driver’s permit?  The real world is not that easy.  Your child will have to be told “no” in this world and given boundaries by society, most importantly, for their safety.  If you cushion every area of the home and put away every fragile “no touch” item, how will they learn? 

(to be continued...)

Guest Blogging

Head on over to my dad's blog {HERE} to read my guest post for today at Faithful Families.
And be sure to check back next week for a special giveaway :)

My Favorite Blogs Lately

Arielle Elise: My favorite photography blog.  She is so talented and such an inspiration- not just with her photography, but in her faith, love for her family and calling as a mom.

In This Joyful Life: My sweet friend's Nursery Reveal for her precious twins!  Not only will you love their nursery, but check out her adorable weekly pregnancy updates and her yummy recipes.  Start following now... her next post could be the big announcement!

Grace in Progress: Came across this new little place- look forward to more beautiful posts and photography!

Bob Russell Ministries:  Every post deals with issues relevant to today's culture and church.  He writes with a boldness and conviction that only comes from a life of walking with Jesus Christ. The truth that he shares is straight from Scripture and covered in a grace only One can offer.  I'm so thankful to have been raised in a church under his leadership and biblical preaching.  

The Better Mom: I have been so encouraged by this blog.  This is one of my favorite posts {here} but I love that every post is unique and covers a wide variety of topics from organic food to parenting, faith, budgets, scripture reading...

5th Belle Avenue: I love this sweet blog.  Her little boy is just a little older than JR and she is expecting #2!  Her faith is inspiring and she also shares some delicious recipes :)

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Hospitality vs. Entertainment

I have started my summer reading- a huge stack of books covering a wide array of topics & subjects.  The second on my list is called High Call, High Privilege by Gail MacDonald.  My Nana Stone had passed on this book awhile ago and I am so thankful she did!  Even though it was written over 30 years ago, I have gone crazy underlining and Patrick is probably sick of me rereading paragraphs to him. 
"From the perspective of a pastor's wife, Gail MacDonald explores all four roles (Woman, Wife, Mother, Leader) and shares the spiritual and personal growth she has found within five key relationships: knowing God, having self-awareness & self-worth, understanding and working with her husband, nurturing her family, and reaching out to the community and church family."
While I could share countless lessons I have learned from her advice, life experience and study of God's word... For now, I'll just share the following quote from Dr. Carlberg that she shares helped her differentiate between entertaining and hospitality.

Hospitality is a safe place; entertainment is a show place.  Hospitality focuses on people; entertainment focuses on things.  Hospitality creates an open atmosphere; entertainment can be neat and closed.  Hospitality exudes a warm attitude; entertainment can degenerate to being cool and calculated.  Hospitality puts on at ease; entertainment implies competition.  Hospitality is a harborous disposition; entertainment sets up a win or lose attitude in which one is closed off to dust, dirt, and people.  Hospitality involves making people feel good in God's world.  God created a hospitable world; sin made the world inhospitable.  By our supportive action, we can dispel the sinful atmosphere.
-Dr. Carlberg quote from High Call, High Privilege by Gail MacDonald

on my nightstand.

September First

Welcome September.
Tonight I will light my pumpkin pie candle in honor of you.
So glad you finally arrived.

"The breezes taste

Of apple peel.

The air is full

Of smells to feel-

Ripe fruit, old footballs,

Burning brush,

New books, erasers,

Chalk, and such.

The bee, his hive,

Well-honeyed hum,

And Mother cuts

Chrysanthemums.

Like plates washed clean

With suds, the days

Are polished with

A morning haze."

-   John Updike, September

on my bookshelf

Does God hate Haiti? article

a very powerful and well written article by Dr. Al Mohler

you can read it {here}

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, 

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

a sewing quote

so sweetly written

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting
and autumn a mosaic of them all."
-   Stanley Horowitz
 
"The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly
changes from the summer cottons into its winter wools."
-   Henry Beston, Northern Farm
 
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
-  Albert Camus

October by Robert Frost

 "O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away."

-   Robert Frost, October

Wedding Bells and Baseball Fields

Luckily, our school was located directly across from Seneca Park. On weather permitting days, our little first grade class lined up like sardines, waiting quite impatiently to adventure off school property. The boys gleamed with delight, for they knew this was their chance to get dirty. Baseball fields were the perfect spot for making mud pies. The boys lined the bases and wiped their fingers through the dust, but on days following a rainstorm, this dust turned into a squishy mud mess.

We were a little wiser, or so we thought, in our recess location and opted to run through the never-ending fields and amuse ourselves with our imagination. The oak trees were not just the homes of squirrels on squirrel day, but they provided heaps of acorns to collect for our pretend pets. Our teachers always brought toys, like hoola hoops, for us to use at the park. We connected the hoola hoops with rope and used them as carriages that led us off into a world of "happily ever after". Depending on the latest Disney movie, we chose which princess we wanted to become for the afternoon.

While several girls read in the shade or practiced secret handshakes with a friend, the majority of us had a special pastime. We loved to compose weddings! Not just a typical wedding; these were extravagant! Beautiful flowers filled the park along with Cinderella's carriage, but we were always missing one key component-- a groom!

All of us knew there would be no wedding without a groom, so we selected our crush, the cutest boy in high school, as our groom. He was an obvious choice as our prince, although even in our immature minds, we knew he was truly unattainable. The first-grade girls squabbled over who was to be the bride every afternoon at Seneca Park. Those who were not chosen acquired the duty of drawing the carriage or being the audience. Our invisible groom waited for us at the end of the aisle, and the music played in our heads, but very rarely did we make it to this point in the wedding. All too soon we heard, "Girls, it's time to line up, Recess is over!" It seemed like every day the wedding was cut short, all because we spent so much time arguing over who would be the bride.

It seems ridiculous, now, that we would waste so much time arguing over a little recess fun, but not much changed from first to twelfth grade. Even though we no longer venture to Seneca Park, our lives are still filled with little disputes that drive away our precious time. There are still dreams I want to accomplish and grooms some need to meet, but most of the time, these goals are left untouched because, time and time again, our focus is blurry. I wonder how different things would be if we had looked at it all in a different light-- If we had known in the first grade that all we needed to do to find our own groom was run to the baseball field and grab a muddy little boy.

It's Raining in Love

by: Richard Brautigan

I don't know what it is,
but I distrust myself
when I start to like a girl
a lot.

It makes me nervous.
I don't say the right things
or perhaps I start
to examine,
evaluate
compute
what I am saying.

If I say, "Do you think it's going to rain?"
and she says, "I don't know,"
I start thinking: Does she really like me?

In other words
I get a little creepy.

A friend of mine once said,
"It's twenty times better to be friends
with someone
than it is to be in love with them."

I think he's right and besides,
it's raining somewhere, programming flowers
and keeping snails happy.
That's all taken care of.

BUT
if a girl likes me a lot
and starts getting real nervous
and suddenly begins asking me funny questions
and looks sad if I give the wrong answers
and she says things like,
"Do you think it's going to rain?"
and I say, "It beats me,"
and she says, "Oh,"
and looks a little sad
at the clear blue California sky,
I think: Thank God, it's you, baby, this time
instead of me.

Pop Goes the Weasel

"Pop Goes the Weasel" grew closer and closer, and the line of impatient children at the curb grew longer and longer. Cool water from wet bathing suits sizzled on the burning asphalt, soothing little toes. Every child remembers blistering days at the pool and the excitement from the ice-cream truck singing "Pop Goes the Weasel" as it rounded the corner. I teetered on my tip-toes and peered over the towering window of the ice-cream truck to offer the shady looking man my handful of wet nickels and dimes. Pictures of Sponge-bob, Spiderman, Bubblegum, Cotton Candy Swirls, and Klondike Bars scattered the side of the truck. Spending me hard-earned lemonade stand money on a melting Popsicle highlighted every summer afternoon.

My grandma never owned an ice-cream truck, but her home always held this same special indulgence. Whenever a family gathers together, ice cream presents itself. I gently tugged on my grandma's navy pants while she was scooping my favorite homemade vanilla ice-cream into my red and white checkered bowl and stared up at her with my big brown eyes. "Nana," I requested, "my stomach is still really grumbling. May I have one extra scoop?" My grandma slyly looked about for my mother's conservative eye and then quickly shoveled one more heap of vanilla ice-cream into my cramped bowl. Her traditional vanilla ice-cream greatly surpassed all the other ice creams and flavors I ever tasted. The extra ingredient of love had something to do with it.

"Happy Birthday!" squealed all the youthful girls in the crowded skating rink party room. Michelle wanted me to open her fancy Barbie gift first, and Julie sought to return to the ice despite the huge Zamboni monster tearing through the rink, but every girl anticipated the moment when my parents distributed the ice-cream. Whether in a little carton with a plastic spoon or on the side with a mound of cake, each girl giggled with delight as the frozen delicacy hit her already shivering body. I preferred to receive containers of ice-cream, especially mint chocolate chip, than a silly doll that was out of proportion. Okay... maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but I sure looked forward to this treat on my birthday, and I expected to receive it at all of my friends' parties as well. Interestingly, I quickly slurped up the last smidgen of ice-cream from my bowl, so I could soar back to the ice, yet I still remember, so vividly, the taste of those spoonfuls and the activities that surrounded them.
Orange Sherbet... Rocky Road... Strawberry Chip... Chocolate... Peach... Cookies & Cream...
and so many more flavors. However, it does not matter the kind of ice-cream the child receives, how a girl eats it, or how many scoops your grandma serves. What matters rests in the memories that the ice-cream paints in a mind and heart. Every time the fresh chill of ice-cream tingles your taste buds, your mind traces back to an expression, location, or emotion that warms your soul.

Love Like Salt

It lies in our hands in crystals
too intricate to decipher

It goes into the skillet
without being given a second thought

It spills on the floor so fine
we step all over it

We carry a pinch behind each eyeball

It breaks out on our foreheads

We store it inside our bodies
in secret wineskins

At supper, we pass it around the table
talking of holidays by the sea.

by: Lisel Mueller

Joseph Millar

Telephone Repairman

All morning in the February light
he has been mending cable,
splicing the pairs of wires together
according to their colors,
white-blue to white-blue
violet-slate to violet-slate,
in the warehouse attic by the river.

When he is finished
the messages will flow along the line:
thank you for the gift,
please come to the baptism,
the bill is now past due:
voices that flicker and gleam back and forth
across the tracer-colored wires.

We live so much of our lives
without telling anyone,
going out before dawn,
working all day by ourselves,
shaking our heads in silence
at the news on the radio.
He thinks of the many signals
flying in the air around him,
the syllables fluttering.
Saying please love me,
from continent to continent
over the curve of the earth.

by: Joseph Millar(flickr)