Babies and things.

How was everyone holiday season? We took a break from school and as we enter into the new year will be starting up again. Victor's last day of  work was Friday and so we are into our annual unemployment period.  Our plan is to keep up a work like schedule and get some things done around the house as well as work on our health and exercise that has gone by the wayside lately.

Big news!! One of my best friends had her baby! He is such a cutie. I can't wait to meet him.

We got snow in November and the beginning of December.. This is what it looked like and it stuck around for awhile which is totally abnormal for here, particularly this time of year. Very cold too.

We had a special musical program at church, in which everyone participated singing songs of praise for the blessing of Christ's coming.. The kids all got up front for a story and sang "Away in a Manger". Many people joined in and dressed in clothing of the time, so there were quite a few shepherds, Wise men and angels around. 

Now as we have entered the New Year, we draw ever closer to the Second Coming of Christ. I pray that we may grow in our relationship with Him and be made ready to go home to be with Him when He comes.

Well, I guess that's all for now.

Odds and ends

Today, the kids and I went to the library, and came home with a book on origami. It's all Star Wars ships and things, but it's fun. 

I also brought home an exercise DVD. Hopefully, I will actually use it. I told Vic yesterday, that I am going to try to make it a point to get up in the mornings when my alarm goes off and get out the door for a walk. Maybe I'll just turn on the DVD, but at least there is a bit of motivation to get up and workout. 

We made waffles this week. Rice and chickpea. Awesome recipe given to me by a good friend who makes them all the time. He uses them instead of bread. 

I made several meals that were so yummy, and mostly I didn't follow any recipes, as usual. I was thinking that maybe I should put together a cookbook, though I doubt anyone would buy it. My creations are just throw together kinds, so most of them I would have to figure out what was in them and then how much. Otherwise, my 'recipes' would be more like outlines and probably would not be so good for someone who has to have specifics to end up with a good taste. Although it's fairly hard to ruin most recipes if you have taste bud and good sense. But then, I don't know, since most of mine turn out pretty good. 

Homemade shepherds pie with cabbage/beet salad.

Lentil stew, vege stir fry, and tomato-cucumber salad.

I am trying to come up with ways to earn money from home. This was one idea. I'm not clear on how to write an ebook though I've seen some people advertising and selling theirs all over FB and blogs. Another idea is essential oils which I have just in the last year started getting into. They really are great for all kinds of ailments and healing. 

Anyway, it would be nice to get some thoughts from other people on these and any other ideas you might have.

I guess that's all for now.

Til next time!

Moving out in faith, Part 5.

I was just reading over previous posts and realized I needed to update on our moving situation. My uncle sent me an email earlier this week also asking about it. So here we go.

 

The landlord managed to work a deal with the powers that be, and we no longer have to move. 

There, that's it. It's a lot shorter on paper than in my head. :)

Anyway, so we are back to keeping warm, and living paycheck to paycheck, and thinking about how we can get rid of some more things just to simplify. 

We still would like to move to a place more in the country, but can't afford it and since grandma doesn't have to move either, it doesn't make sense to spend too much time looking for places at the moment.

It has been extra cold, extra early and we have snow. It's been here about a week and a half and is really just one starting to melt. We got 6 inches or so last week, and the kids and I had fun doing some sledding and they have been having snowball fights. 

The low last week was 1 degree. Fahrenheit, at 5 am Sabbath morning. The first week of December. We don't usually see those kinds of temperatures until January/February, if at all. And the kind of snow we got, rare to get down this low. We get a dusting about once a year and it's gone in a day or so.

So, all in all, a very cold couple of weeks.

But beautiful, and a blessing from God as well. 

We move out in faith, trusting Him with whatever comes our way and praising Him for all the good and wonderful blessings that He sends. 

Yummy foods!

These are just some of the foods we've been enjoying the last month or so. Some of our favorites, anyway. 

Definitely an easy favorite. Rice noodle soup with veges.

This one was a delightful 'cheese' enchilada. I used a vegan 'cheesy' sauce recipe made
with potatoes and carrots that turned out really good. This
particular one got a bit scorched on top, but was crispy and with
salsa on top was so yummy, I did it again just because I liked it so much.

This was salad and mashed potatoes and gravy, I think we had some butternut squash as well. 

Desert for the above meal. Gluten free, dairy and egg free,
pumpkin cake with chocolate frosting.

Stir fried rice with veges, and a green smoothie.

Squash and leftover soup with okra with a bit of leftover gravy mixed in, Yum!

Leftover soup, squash and veges.  Leftover gravy in the other pot.

Enjoying our soup.

Sarah waiting for more soup.

Lentil and veges soup. This one I added vege burger and hickory
smoke flavoring and some southwest seasoning. So yummy!

Oat nut burgers, made with flax meal for a binder.

Leftover lentil soup with extra veges and broth added.
Just as good the second time!

Gluten free, dairy and egg free, chocolate pumpkin cake with
crushed walnuts on top. Yum!

Vege sushi rolls we made one day a couple months ago!

Sarah loves her sushi!

Everyone enjoying sushi!

Stir fried rice with tofu, beans and greens. One of our staples!

Hope you enjoyed seeing our food as much as we enjoyed eating it!

December Exercise

Rats. Stupid phone. I was sure I published a new blog post today and it's not here, so now I have to do it again.

Anyway, So, I haven't been getting up with my alarm at 5 but I have been getting in my exercise anyway.

There is a cold front coming in tomorrow and so Victor wanted to get some wood cut up and stacked on the porch in readiness. So we spent several hours yesterday sawing by hand logs into sizes that would fit our stove. All 4 of the trees in our yard are dead, so I went ahead and cut down a limb off of one of them and we cut most of that up as well.

Joshua cutting the limb up that we cut off.

Daddy sawing up some wood

Our pile of wood on the porch, ready for keeping us warm!

Boy, if we do this everyday, we'll sure be in shape! My arms are sore.

Today, I did some sit-ups and crunches, planks, and some squats. Then, after we did some schoolwork, the kids and I sawed a couple more limbs down and sawed up a few more logs.

Sarah playing and seeing us saw, haha!

The row of dead trees.

Trees that are dead.

Joshua sitting in the tree we just cut off of.

This is the other tree and limb that we cut off.

The boys sawing away at the limb we cut down.

The limb we cut off landed in the garden.

John climbing in the branches.

So, I am getting lots of exercise! That will help burn off all the good food I've been eating. I'll do a post on some of the yummy soups and things we've been eating, later. Maybe tonight, if I get a chance. With pictures.

And one of my next posts will be all fun pictures. So, if you want to see those, stay tuned to this channel!

Challenges and Resolutions

Tomorrow is the last day of the smoothie challenge for November. Apparently they have had one every month this year. I ha a lot of fun and enjoyed the different combos an recipes that I never may have thought of on my own. 

Starting on Sunday, the first of December, I am going to begin a challenge of my own. Each day, my alarm is set for 5 am whether I get up or not. So I am going to get up and use my rebounder and then have a smoothie for breakfast. Hmm, sounded a lot more exciting in my head!

Anyway, I am adding exercise to my day. Which I have gotten out of the habit of doing. I really need to get a handle on it because my gallbladder has been acting up again and I don't like it! So I am working on getting healthier.

Oh, the other thing I am adding starting this month is a menu plan. I hope. I am going to try to stick to it, keeping it simple and as cheap as possible. I am trying to wean the rest of the family off of wheat, (i.e. Victor, mostly) and feed us all as healthy as possible. We'll see how it goes. 

In January, Victor and I have a plan for several things that we are going work on, while he is off from work so that we don't get lazy, which is what tends to happen on vacation time. More on that, later.

So, here's to new resolutions for the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. We take it month by month and day by day. 

Fun things!

This month I started a smoothie challenge. Basically all I'm doing is adding a green smoothie to my menu and boy, has it been fun and delish! 

It's been great to have more ideas for smoothies than I've had before and when I'm done I'll have the whole collection that we do I'm my email folder for ideas later. Loving the combos!

Blueberry, banana, kale, ginger, and chia seed. So far one of my favs. 

Another one that Sarah enjoyed too!

Then on Sabbath evening after the kids were in bed this cute kitty showed up at our door. None of the neighbors know who she belongs to. I've got ads out all over Facebook and at the local shelter and area pet websites including Craigslist. So far no one claims her. Victor says we can't afford to keep her, but she's growing on him. So there is someone who may take her if we can't find her owners. She may have been just dropped off here, a fairly common occurrence. 

Cute, isn't she? 

And last night we went to meet the Adventist Bookmobile that stopped at the church. Got a game for the kids and some food items to try. Actually saw one of these at the Natural Grocers here in town so will have to try some of the other flavors they have. 

We had some of it for breakfast this morning along with smoothies and other stuff.

Sarah eating smoothie by herself.

And making a great mess down her shirt and all over her face. 

Video taken by Josh during breakfast.

http://youtu.be/m2j-rya_weI

I'm going to see if I can edit it so it's upright the whole way through. I am very new to doing videos especially when they aren't planned and are done by the kids! Actually kind of fun.

Well, that's all for now. Enjoy!

What I would like and what I am learning.

I would like to be able to do things with my kids and not just play, but chores and things that teach them what they need to know. 

I would like to be able to keep my temper and not have to apologize so often.

I would like to be able to have my kids listen to what I say and obey without question, but at the same time be able to think for themselves, doing what needs to be done because they want to and because they want to be like Jesus.

But most of all I would like to be able teach my kids what it means to have a loving unselfish relationship with God and with others, especially their own family.

Monday, as part of our learning time in the afternoon, we spent some time cleaning the house. I handed out chores left and right and they actually did them without too much complaining. Amazing that!! John wiped down the counter and mirror in the bathroom, Josh helped me sweep the floor in the kitchen and Jeffrey picked up the stuff off the floor. Then John and I mopped it. Later Josh washed the windows in the living room and John did the walls while Jeffrey dusted and I finished the dishes and cleaned up the rest of the kitchen. 

Yesterday we went grocery shopping so didn't so too many extras. And today we mainly just picked up the living room a bit. Then Josh made lunch which Sarah ate with a spoon with great gusto. 

Yummy soup! Rice noodles and greens, beans, carrots, onion, garlic, miso paste, turmeric, cumin (because everything must have cumin), chili powder, salt, a little mayo and salsa. 

After lunch, the boys headed outside to play, but as I was finishing up with Sarah, two of them had meltdowns. So, I brought them in and as I did, God via my thought process, (amazing that I actually listened today) told me to put them to work. So Joshua had to wipe down the walls in the hallway and Jeffrey had to pick and wipe the mess of noodles and beans left behind by baby. John wasn't in trouble but he volunteered to do the dishes anyway. He does that sometimes on his own in the am during chore time if there are any leftover from the night before.

Didn't think to take a picture of Jeffrey but oh well. Next time. 

Chores work really good for disciplines. Don't know why I didn't use that earlier. Saves my patience and temper too. 

Well, that's all today. Time to take out the trash and see what else I can do before the news comes on. 

Hope you enjoy reading what I'm learning as much as I enjoy learning and sharing t!

Reality

So, I set up this schedules routine so that we could get everything done that needed to be done. 

Here's what usually ends up happening. 

My alarm goes on.  I hit it off and doze in and out having spurts of prayer in between (horrible, I know). Then Victor gets up and rushes around getting ready for work while I start getting up and finish my prayers and the kids do their hires. We get breakfast and I make Victors lunch. 

After Victor leaves, I clean up the kitchen and the boys play. I do usually get outside to do something even if it's just to read Facebook in the sunshine and fresh air. 

Then sometimes I remember to do a 15 min cleanup or 2 but with no help from the kids. I hate to call them in. Sometimes I have to referee a fight or two.  Then we do have school. At least that one does end up being done on schedule.

After worship and school, (have to do that since we mostly miss it in the morning) then dinner gets fixed and eaten, again usually on time. 

Then we do a cleanup, most of the time and watch the news and the Brady Bunch with grandma. After that we have Bible and worship and bed. 

We are slowly getting closer to where I would like to be. In the next post, I will explain what I mean.

Schedules

Here is a basic rundown of the ideal day in our house.

After I get up and have my own devotional time, at 7 we have family worship. And the boys do their morning chores. Then we eat breakfast around 8 so Victor can leave for work by 8:45. After the dishes and the kitchen is cleaned up, the boys play Legos or run around outside while Sarah and I do some outside chores or I catch up on some reading, usually in the hammock on the porch if it's warm enough. 

About 10 we do a 15 min clean up of one area of the house and drink our water. Then again at 11 comes another 15 min work/water break. At noon we start our school work. We are learning about trees. After the book reading, we do an activity and our reading lessons. Then each of the kids has their turn on the computer with a typing lesson. Then they get to play.

 Each kid has a chance to be helper for the day so if it's their day they help fix dinner which we eat at 3. Then after cleanup there is another quick 15 min cleanup. 

Then we go to grandma's house for the news and the Brady Bunch. By then it is evening and time to get ready for bed. 

After everyone is in their pjs and has brushed their teeth, whoever is helper or the day chooses which Bible video we watch and then we have worship. Sometimes daddy is home by then so we all have prayer together and they are usually in bed before 8:30. 

I try to put away some laundry at this point while Victor is winding down and we chat about our days. 

Now for reality. :) Next post!

Health and other things.

Lately, I've been lazy about my eating habits. Since my gallbladder no longer seems to have a problem I've been eating alot more wheat, and more oils. Not a good thing for me to be doing. My allergies have kicked back in and I have noticed alot more foggy brain, tired feeling, and stuffiness. Sarah, even, has a runny nose and no other symptoms. So, starting back in this week with no wheat and eating as healthfully as possible. Victor and I have even talked of going raw for a bit to get rid of the toxins. We'll see how it goes.

Sarah's runny nose

Joshua had a very loose tooth.

Second's later it popped out!

Last week, helping daddy prune back the juniper in front of Grandma's house.

John pushing the wheelbarrow, Joshua and Jeffrey picking up the branches.

Sarah climbing all over the place.

Just a picture of the kids playing in the backyard.

There are a couple of other things I will be blogging about later, so stay tuned!