that’s better!

Posted on April 3, 2007 by Shanda

Sometimes it’s guesswork when you’re a mommy.

Like today: Baby was having a melt down a little bit ago. I thought he was hungry so I picked him up and put him in his high chair. He kept crying as I warmed him up some pasta and cried even harder when I tried making him eat a bite. (He would not eat any of it!) So then, I lifted him out of his high chair and his head hit my chin which knocked my teeth together! Ahhhhh! What a moment. I sat right on the floor with him, told him to stop crying (he did!) and he put his head down on me.

I hummed Christmas songs and he fell right to sleep. (Christmas songs? Yes, the phrase, “all is calm, all is bright” kept running through my mind.)

Of course I had oldest son take a couple pics.

Poor Baby. All he wanted to was to sleep on Mama.

Then son #2 had a math question.

Coconut Drop Cookies

Posted on March 30, 2007 by Shanda

Yesterday when I found out that Kathy was coming over with her four kids I got to work making COOKIES.

It has become very important to me to have homebaked treats in the house.

When I read of someone’s food memories about the women in their life, it touches a chord in me because I understand that feeling.

I think of an elderly lady that I used to care for, she was 98, and she repeated the same stories over and over to me. One of the stories was about her homemade ketchup. . not just about the ketchup, but about the neighborhood children who would come to her house and say, “Can I have a piece of your homemade bread with some homemade ketchup?” It’s a funny food combination, but after all those years, here was an old lady at the end of her life, remembering the little children who loved her cooking.

( I remember: Grandma’s cookies, Grandma’s chicken, Mom’s brownies and everything else she makes, Aunt Mary’s cookies, Aunt Carol’s sweet potato casserole, Aunt Colleen’s iced tea and cucumber sandwiches.)

It’s a way to show love, you know! In the kitchen! It’s also a way to make really good memories.

That’s what I want. I want my friend’s little ones to grow up and come visit me and say, “I remember those muffins you used to make”. . . . “I remember those cookies”.

It also makes the house smell delicious!

I want to be remembered for my (simple, homebaked, full of love)- food.

Coconut Drop Cookies (from the April/May issue of Taste of Home)

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in coconut and walnuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoons 3 in. apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 11-14 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to cooling racks. Store in airtight container. Yield: 5 dozen

Do you have a food memory?

just give me one clean, pretty, quiet space

Posted on March 28, 2007 by Shanda

I determined I would have just one clean corner of the house to sit in. Never mind that I don’t have the time for prolonged coffee-drinking and reading right now (maybe later). Here is my newly arranged quiet corner with my Bible and pen, the photo album Joanna gave me, some fiestaware, some old workbasket magazines (that were my Great Grandma’s), and the little bird that Colleen gave me.

(I read a poem once that was “for all the moms” and this is my own version of it):

This is for all the moms who keep getting interrupted by loud little voices.

This is for all the moms who have the inspiration but not the time.

This is for all the moms who find mischief everytime they turn around.

This is for all the moms who are homeschooling today.

This is for all the moms who just want to have a quiet cup of coffee, but find it impossible.

This is for all the moms who have a little boy sneaking frosting in the kitchen.

This is for all the moms who leave their kids for 1 minute outside-just to get the camera-and find a naked 4 year old dancing in the mud when they return.

This is for all the moms who felt a little jealous of the 4 year old.

This is for all the moms who have an ugly toy next to their computer. (from McDonalds)

This is for all the moms who left coffee in their mug and their 19 month old drank the rest– (their breath always gives them away).

This is for all the moms who picked up the playdoh last night after the kids went to bed, just because she couldn’t bear the thought of letting them stay up long enough to clean it themselves.

This is for all the moms who have 3 loads of laundry to fold on the couch. And another load in the dryer.

This is for all the moms who are so tired at the end of the day that they can’t stay awake to read a book.

This is for all the moms who have a front porch that looks more like a giant toybox than a spread in a home decorating magazine.

This is for all those moms who are frustrated because they have a list of things to do a mile long.

This is for all the moms who know it won’t last forever and find the idea a little sad.

This is for all the moms who wouldn’t trade it for the world.

for the birds (and a recipe that isn’t)

Posted on March 27, 2007 by Shanda

(yarn for their nests)

*************************************************

I hate typing up recipes so if I go to the bother of putting one on my blog you know I truly enjoyed whatever it was I ate. Today I made a new recipe from the April/May 2007 Taste of Home magazine. If you are cautious about your sugar and butter intake you will have to throw it (caution) to the wind to make this recipe:

Texas Chocolate Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup cocoa
1 cup water
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup butter, cubed
2 eggs
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Caramel Icing:
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/4 cup milk
2 to 2 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring cocoa, water, oil and butter to a boil. Gradually add to dry ingredients; mix well. Combine eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; gradually add to batter and mix well batter will be very thin)

Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For icing, in a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium. Do not stir. Cook for 3-6 minutes or until bubbles form in center of mixture and syrup turns amber. Remove from the heat; transfer to a small mixing bowl. Cool to room temperature. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Spread over cupcakes.

Yield: 2 dozen cupcakes and a very happy feeling.

Note: I made the caramel base for the frosting FIRST. By the time the cupcakes were in the oven, I could finish making the icing.
Also, I love the word “amber”. . . . .

remembering me

Posted on March 24, 2007 by Shanda

(the pictures are of my wedding flowers after saving them for over 11 years)

I was transported back in time.

Today I opened my hope chest, which I haven’t looked through in years. The scent of cedar greeted me as I shook out some of my little girl clothes. . handmade blouses that my mom made. . .a few things handmade by my great grandma. . .dresses that were mine that I also dressed my daughter in (she’s outgrown them!). . .I found my baby book which is full of cards, pictures, and information about me, lovingly written by mom.

There were a few of my old dolls and my first set of Little House books.

There were old school programs . .report cards. . old schedules, reports, tests. I have my first New Testament, my Bible with pictures, and my last Bible before I was married, with my maiden name on the front cover.

My graduation things; cap, diploma. There were things from my year at college.

Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.
~William Wordsworth

I read through my old diaries. Parts of them made me blush, parts made me smile, and parts made me laugh out loud.

“We opened our Christmas gifts at 6am, although Nathan did try getting up at 4 again.”

“Amanda woke up while I was on the phone and she told on me. Now I can’t talk on the phone past 11 or I’m grounded”

“Grandpa ran over my kitten today. I feel sick.”

“I went with Roger to go pick up Colleen from college for the weekend”

“Elisha and Erika spent the night last night”

“I can do a round-off-back-hand-spring!”

I wrote this after a day of babysitting my siblings: “The kids drove me up the wall all day. David kept jumping around everytime a basketball commercial came on and was showing everyone the crackers he was chewing. Nathan was being stubborn. Everytime I told him to do something, it took forever. Isaac kept running around and making shooting noises with the tinker toy gun he made. Amanda was also a pain. She kept pretending the back of the couch was a balance beam. I had no patience and was grumpy.”

I was SO DRAMATIC back then! (certain people would say I still am!)

I wrote about boys, growing up, family, things that made me happy or mad, school, etc.

I wrote about meeting Rich, falling in love, our engagement, getting married, having babies. After the first couple children came along I stopped writing on a regular basis.

These days I mostly write my thoughts during devotional times; the scripture passages I’ve read, quotes and verses, my feelings and spiritual growth. Every once in a while these “deep thoughts” are interrupted with my hasty scribbling of something funny one of the kids just said.

Journals(from a magazine clipping)

“I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” Oscar Wilde

Travel journals
Garden journals
Nature journals
Family Chronicles
Dream journals
Crisis journals
Marking Life’s Milestones
Journals of Wisdom
Gratitude journals

(They were yellow roses and white daisies)

Anyway, I sat for a long time on the floor looking through my old things and reading. When I was done, I got up and stretched my legs that were stiff from sitting so long. I felt like I had just come back from a trip. . .it was fun. . .a delicious feeling of meeting myself again, a self that I hadn’t remembered in a long time.

kissing daddy

Posted on March 23, 2007 by Shanda

so happy i had my camera out this morning. . . . .i was able to get this totally spontaneous, unplanned, unposed, totally all natural picture of my husband with our 2 youngest. . . . .as he was about to leave for work.

“see ya later, daddy!”

family happenings and a recipe

Posted on March 22, 2007 by Shanda

Baby woke up yesterday morning crying in pain and cried most of morning. I called the doctor and they couldn’t get him in until 5:30 in the evening so it was a loooong day for my poor little guy. It turned out to be a ruptured ear drum from an ear infection. This hasn’t happened before in my family and we felt so bad. His ear will be fine, thankfully, and already this morning he’s acting much better. He’s been making me smile because he knows what cupboard has the bulk-case of fruit snacks in it and he opens it up, leans inside and says “Wow! Wow!” “Wow! Wow!” He knows they are in there, but it’s always such a reaction that you’d think he just discovered them.

While I was at Target last night, waiting for the prescription, I bought Daughter a “shabby chic” bed in a bag. It’s white and pale pink: a comforter, bedskirt, and pillow shams. I had to buy the sheets separately. I realized yesterday that she was still using the bedding that Husband and I bought over 10 years ago for our bed. We had fun making her bed this morning with the new sheets. I bought her an oval braided rug that matches the bedding, too. It’s such fun to rearrange her little things and make her room pretty. I love love love having a daughter.

I had to laugh last night when we were coming home from Target. I had bought the kids each a happy meal and they were silently eating when all of a sudden my son said excitedly, “MOM! I just ate a french fry that tasted JUST LIKE a POTATO!” (fancy that!)

The Chai Tea experience

My friend emailed me a recipe for chai tea mix so I gathered all the supplies to take to my parent’s house with me last weekend so that Mom and I could have fun making it together.

The Recipe:

1 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder 1 1/2 cup powdered non-dairy creamer 1 cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer 2 cups white sugar 2 cups unsweetened instant tea 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
In a large bowl, combine milk powder, non-dairy creamer, vanilla flavored creamer, sugar and instant tea. Stir in ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. In a blender or food processor, blend 1 cup at a time, until mixture is the consistency of fine powder. To serve: Stir 2 heaping tablespoons Chai tea mixture into a mug of hot water.

Enjoy!

"A Man Greatly Beloved." Daniel 10:11

Posted on March 20, 2007 by Shanda

Are you longing to see Jesus’ face someday?

What do you think you will see in His face?

I imagine LOVE, pure LOVE.

How do I know that God loves me?

I thought of these reasons today:

1. Because He is merciful to me (“There is nothing little about God; His mercy is like Himself—-it is infinite.” -Spurgeon)

2. His grace. I have so much to be thankful for. Those things are proofs to me that God loves me.

3. He never leaves me. He never lets me go. He is always there.

4. He calls me by my name, I belong to Him, I am His daughter, He adopted me, He chose me, He bought me.

5. He gave me salvation and bought me with the precious blood of CHRIST, His only Son. (and that is the only reason I need)

6. I know He loves me because of the testimony and witness of other believers. Doesn’t my heart burn within me? Doesn’t my soul say “amen” when I read or listen to how God is working in my brother’s and sister’s lives?

7. Because of the good He does for my soul. He is faithful. “He who began a good work is faithful to complete it.” It is an ongoing process. He must love me to do that!

8. Because I know and have faith that God loves EVERYONE. Little children! Handicapped! Weak! Old! Anyone! No one is too unloveable to God! That includes me!

9. Even though He is still working on me, He accepts me now for what I am now. He smiles gently at me and understands what I am going through.

What happens to my soul when I meditate on God’s love for me?

1. Fear and doubt are removed (“Perfect love casts out fear” “There is no fear in love”)

2. It gives me a healthy focus during my life on earth. (God)

3. It gives me healthy motivation for service here on earth. (out of LOVE, in order to GLORIFY GOD. NOT OUT OF DUTY and not in order to earn anything from Him)

4. It enables me to have a healthy goal-“For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain”

5. It takes the sting out of death and makes Heaven a sweet reward (because I get to be with the One I love).

6. It gives me real contentment.

So, I ask one more time:

How do YOU know that God LOVES YOU–freely, unmeasurably, unlimitedly, boundlessly? Do you have a favorite story, testimony, verse, a hymn, or an encouraging word about God’s love?

“Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.” William Reese

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Shanda

another successful meal

Posted on March 19, 2007 by Shanda

I was able to go to my parent’s house from Thursday until Sunday afternoon. On Friday I had a much needed visit with my aunt Colleen. We went out for lunch (I took the above picture outside the cafe we ate in – where the view is gorgeous and truly “country”) and to an antique shop.

“No, you can’t come with us,” Colleen told her daughters, “this is mommy-time!”