35 Weeks

Not the best photos of me, but rather funny because the big boys were taking the photos and the Littles wanted so badly to be included. Plus, R literally took pictures of the belly, while O, thankfully, managed to get a bit more in the picture for perspective. Life is funny!

Safe Births

With labor and delivery on my mind, it's no wonder I was drawn to this article about a healthier rate of C-sections within a Navajo community.

Even though we have chosen to have home births (with 3 of our 4 children), I don't necessarily think that it is for everyone. I do, however, find our country's Cesarean rates alarming. This is another area where our so-called health care is lacking. When we looked at the world statistics, B and I knew that we would rather not be part of the U.S. trends.

On Sick Care

I'm weary of the talk of "healthcare" when people are really talking about SICK care. Americans aren't very healthy and our system called "healthcare" is really set up to care for those who are sick. Prevention and wellness are paid for out of pocket. For those who are paying for wellness, they are paying a steep price indeed, because not only are we paying for our own wellness, we are forced to pay for other's illness.

I sound mean, but I do mean this in the most socially responsible, merciful way. People are better off if they are WELL. Providing sick care does not mean more people will be well. I'm concerned with wellness.

Politics is my husband's hobby, not mine. He just tells me the things I need to know. I did, however, read THIS ARTICLE on the "HealthCare" situation and it made sense to me. (Health Care Arbitrage)

March 2010

When the Job Seems Endless

B has been working on Law Review since he was a 2L at Liberty. I'm not even qualified to adequately describe what Law Review is. Not only has he been involved in writing and editing articles for Liberty's law publication, but he was chosen as Managing Editor of Publication his 3L year.

That was last year. He graduated May 2009. And while everyone else on staff has seemingly moved on to their careers, my husband is still working to complete the second (and last) issue of Law Review that his staff was responsible for.

It doesn't seem quite fair to me that the working husband and father of four is shouldering this task (that others committed to and are receiving credit for), but it is what it is. What I think doesn't really matter very much, except that I think past the petty resentment of all the time this is sucking up (evenings after work until 10 p.m., 11 p.m., or after). I'm so honored by my husband's persistence and diligence to finish the job.

Even though I wanted to throw in the towel long ago and cry, "Who cares!?". . . he has been consistently loyal to the cause and worked on, because it was the right thing to do. He has poured over thousands of pages looking for errors, sent and resent documents. I groan when I see the familiar glossy envelope show up at our front door, but he just sighs and resumes his customary position on the middle couch cushion.

This man impresses me. He has a deep drive to see the job through and to make sure it is done the best that it possibly could be. B defines LOYAL. As a wife, it is so very comforting to know that my man, as committed to this publication as he is, is even more committed to me and to our family and to the Lord. I shouldn't question it.

Some things have come up within the last week that have brought turmoil to my spirit. I've wondered if God's good plans for my husband could ALSO be good plans for me. I've struggled to trust that our sovereign God can do both and can direct my imperfect husband to love and care for me in the ways that are best for me. This man that I love has passions and drive that I don't understand. As this seemingly endless job of Law Review drags on it is an appropriate time for me to recognize that God is using this man's strengths (and weaknesses) to care for our family and to bring Him glory. My confidence is in the Lord, but I'm sure proud of my husband.

Thankful for the Mess

It was encouraging to me to read Ann Voscamp's post today because it is where I am. I've been looking around at mess and disorder and noticing the mess of our hearts today. So messy. This Monday I've felt sidetracked by so many discipline issues, disobedience, unkindnesses, critical speech, complaining. The day felt old as we sat for lunch at 1 p.m. and I felt weary.

Isn't this what it means to be alive? To wake and struggle with sin? To long for order and beauty and to find ourselves disappointed unless we look to Him? I can give thanks in the mess, in the struggle, in the disappointment because we are alive and He is sovereign and His grace is enough.

85. Trim that needs painting; we live here
86. Answered, unexpected prayer for opportunity
87. Laughter with friends
88. Marshmallow in hair, sticky faces after roasting mallows
89. R on a bike, stick in hand, happily eating four black marshmallows from the end
90. Mud on the floor; we have been outside!
91. Popcorn on the grass; another picnic
92. Yellow forsythia blooming gayly
93. O spontaneously quoting William Wordsworth's Daffodils
94. Fun of playing worship songs
95. Garage sale give aways for L
96. T sleeping with his brown truck clutched to his chest
97. Pile of pancakes, disappearing withing minutes
98. R reading ravenously, finishing his first chapter books
99. Fresh smell of shelves in L's closet
100. Park and picnic with friends

Favorite MultiGrain Pancakes

The kids all look forward to pancakes once a week. (The truth is, I think I do, too!) I've used lots of recipes, but this one is our current favorite- so much so that I took the time to write it down. Even though it looks like lots of ingredients, it's just a bit of this and that. You could use all whole wheat flour and oats and skip the flax and cornmeal (replacing with flour and oats) if you wanted and it would still turn out okay. I grind the flax in my coffee mill, then grind the oats in the mill, too.

MultiGrain Pancakes

In a medium bowl, combine:
2 cups kefir (or sour milk, buttermilk)
2 cups (almond) milk
4 eggs
1/4 cup (coconut) oil
4 Tbl. honey (enough to equal 1/2 cup with the oil)

In a larger bowl, combine:
1 and 1/2 cups whole wheat
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup ground flax seed
2 Tbl. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the contents of the medium bowl and stir until moist. This will fluff up a bit as it sits and makes thick, fluffy pancakes. If you would like your pancakes to spread more, add a bit more milk. Pour onto hot griddle and cook until small bubbles appear. Flip pancakes and cook until the other side is lightly browned. We keep ours warm in the oven on a stone until they are all made. This makes at least 24 pancakes. Yum!

Hair and Air

I'm washing L's (4) hair tonight in the bath and she says to me: "Is that AIR conditioner?"

Celebrate- and Sigh

We did it! Our goal was to have $1000 saved by the end of February- and we did! I take a wee bit of credit for selling thing and returning things and getting by on less. B did the real work of our tax return which was the major contribution we needed to complete the goal in time.

Of course, what happens when you have savings that you didn't have before happened to us. Our (very old) water heater rusted out and had to be replaced. SO, now we have a new water heater AND (thanks to the tax return) our $1000 savings account. For now. We'll see what comes up next!

Feta Picnic Salad

I love eating outside. We were gifted a picnic table from neighbors who moved away, and the children and I eat outside nearly every day we can. Not only do I LOVE to soak in the sunshine and feel the breeze, but we all love that no one has to sweep or wipe the table! As I looked outside at noon as I was making lunch, the sunshine looked so inviting that we decided to eat in the backyard (even though it is only March!). I was adapting a recipe from the Treasure Cave Feta cheese, hence we have Feta Picnic Salad. I should have taken a picture! It was pretty and delicious and healthy, too.

Feta Picnic Salad

Dressing: 1 Tbl. fresh thyme
1 Tbl. fresh lemon juice (1/2 lemon)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp. honey

Salad: 6-8 cups chopped greens (lettuces, romaine)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1-2 cups (red) quinoa
2 cups croutons
1-2 carrots, grated
1 cup (8 oz.) Feta cheese, crumbled
optional: black olives
oregano
black pepper

1. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
2. Combine salad ingredients in a large mixing or serving bowl.
3. Whisk or shake dressing again before pouring over salad (at the picnic spot). Sprinkle with oregano and pepper, if desired.

Either, Too

T (2), on the way to church: "I can't see the mountains, Mommy."
Me: I can't see the mountains right now, either.
T: "I can't see the mountains now either, too."

Random Observations

Oh; there is R's belt that no one could find on Sunday. Funny we didn't think to look in the drawer of the coffee table.

Hmmm... the back corner of the bathroom closet has some cobwebs. How come I haven't EVER cleaned in there?

Because I have bigger boys, I should expect that I will find BIG sticks (hand sawed and pocket knife trimmed, of course) in our yard. And piles of pinecones. And little sticks. And muddy holes.

The boys room will *SIGH* usually look this way (a mess!).

T says the baby is "puffing" out my belly. He also assures me that when the baby comes he (T) will willingly share my lap with him.

L wears mittens to bed. T sleeps with a tractor snuggled to his chin. Is this odd?

We haven't had (turkey and cheese) sandwiches for so long that L asks today, "What is this called?"

When I have a heady agenda of things to accomplish before B gets home for dinner. . . that is when the neighbors stop by.

And, our phone battery only lasts for two hours straight. That should be enough, right?! Yes, enough said.

Important things (like laundry) are taken care of in the morning with much more reliability than those things left until after naps (spelling, paying bills, scheduling brush pick up, etc.). Even though laundry doesn't seem to deserve such priority, if I left it to finish after lunch I would quickly have a monster to deal with.

Some friends have the gift of encouragement, and often their words affirm, too.

Being a Joy Finder

It's Monday, my day to purposefully post my gratitude. I want to be a joy finder. Not just to say tritely "I'm thankful for this; I'm thankful for that". . . but to really see God's mercy and grace and love in it all. My natural eyes don't look at things that way. I'm naturally looking for things that make me happy, prosper my family, are easy and fun and rewarding. I'm not, in my own flesh, looking around for God's glory everywhere. But I want to be.

Today I am FINDING Joy in:
71. Produce in season in VA again!
72. T's deep chortling laugh
73. R finding joy in spelling out his requests
74. O finding joy in chopping wood
75. Sunny spots on the floor for sitting and reading
76. Old, worn in sheets that are oh-so soft, warm and comforting
77. Unexpected financial provision (a gift. money found in a pocket. speakers sold.)
78. L's innocent (and slightly blond) questions
79. Scent of lavender
80. One last carrot found in the garden
81. Robins, cardinals and woodpeckers; have missed their company
82. Oatmeal bars with chocolate chips (the kids can only think of them as monkey bars!)
83. Good fiction to read before falling asleep
84. Small green shoots

KidScents Toothpaste: The Best Alternative

I'm playing around with posting articles I read elsewhere. This is from Gary Young's (of Young Living) blog. Even though we've been experimenting with making our own toothpaste, I can't say I've hit on a winning formula yet. I like this explanation of why we don't just buy name brands off the shelf. Even though we haven't tried KidScents toothpaste yet, I'm thinking it is our next best bet.

KidScents Toothpaste: The Best Alternative