Our Summer So Far: Or What's Going on in the Tidwell House

So, I haven't been posting much on here this week simply because I have been incredibly busy trying to set up and post to my new website. I hope you will go over and follow me by e-mail over there.

But here is a brief run-down of what has been percolating in the Tidwell household:

(1) Kate and I have started "school" for the summer, which we do while Cora naps in the mornings. You can see details of what we are doing here.

(2) Bless her little heart. Cora is finally starting to get some soft baby hair, and I just can't get enough of it. It's a light brown but we still have hopes of red hair.

(2) I started two new Bible studies: one for moms at a local church where we are studying Chip Ingram's Five Lies that Ruin Relationships (EXCELLENT!) and one online where we are reading Sally Clarkson's The Ministry of Motherhood (also top-notch!).

(3) Kate has started learning to "earn her keep" by washing dishes. However, I think the amount of water she wastes is actually costing her more than she's making. Still, she is learning... : )


(4) Our garden is growing by leaps and bounds with all of the hot weather and rain lately. Soon, we'll be eating like kings and queens, and I won't have to pay the exorbitant prices at Kroger for pathetic produce. YEA! Here you can see cucumbers, lettuce, and tomato and pepper plants. We are also growing squash, green onions, and several different herbs.



(5) Last week we visited a friend from church as part of our service project for the week, and Kate LOVED feeding her pygmy goats, which was a bit surprising because she's very fearful of
animals.

Truth be told, we aren't doing too much this summer. Aside from some gardening, "school" in the mornings, and Bible studies, we are taking a break for the next few months to just relax, get refreshed, and enjoy life. And you know, as much as I was dreading the end of Mother's Day Out, I am really glad it's over...at least for now...because we are getting into a nice routine and running at a much slower pace than we have in quite a while. And that is a relief for this Mama!

Menu Plan for the Week of May 29th

I love three-day weekends, especially when the weather is warm and we can start grilling! There's nothing like ribs and hamburgers on the grill.

Here is our menu plan for this week:

Sunday Quick Lunch: Spinach Enchiladas with refried beans (We were supposed to have these this past Thursday, but I had to go to Nashville and didn't get home in time to make them. I will let you know if they're worth making.)

Supper: Hamburgers with sweet potato fries and corn-on-the-cob

Monday: Baby back ribs with homemade BBQ sauce, potato salad, and baked beans

Tuesday: Sweet Italian chicken sausage on linguine with spaghetti sauce, salad, and breadsticks

Wednesday: Pintos and corn muffins (I cooked the beans last Wednesday, but we ended up going out for dinner instead. So, I will just pull them out of the freezer for an easy supper.)

Thursday: Carnitas soft tacos (using beef shoulder roast)

Friday: Pizza night!! (I have been making sourdough bread every Saturday for the past three weeks, so I think I will make up a batch of sourdough pizza dough for something different.)

Saturday: Leftovers (My parents are coming home this week, so we will probably go to Chattanooga to visit with them and celebrate my niece and nephew's birthdays.)

Growing in His Glory

Check out my new website HERE!

What Do the Books on Your Nightstand Say about You?

Does my nightstand look like yours? Yes, to say I like to read is an understatement. I am always looking for the next great book to read and will spend hours searching blogs for like-minded mommies' favorite books just to get some inspiration.


Did you know that you can learn a lot about a person by the books beside her bed?

If you analyze the titles on my nightstand, you might deduce that:

1. I am a Christian (See my two Bibles, a daily devotional and Bible commentary, plus two Christian books--Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Five Lies that Ruin Relationships by Chip Ingram--that I am reading in two different Bible studies.)

2. I am a mommy (A new book I received for Mother's Day from my own Mommy is here: The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker, M.D. and Babywise II by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam).

3. I am a mommy of a strong-willed child and in desperate need of guidance (Did you see James Dobson's The New Strong-Willed Child and Tedd Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart? Those are constant re-reads for me!)

4. I am a Southerner (You might not have been able to see my Southern Living magazine, but it's a favorite read for this Tennessee gal. I love to pore over these mags for new recipes, gardening advice and decorating tips.)

5. My house and life need some serious organization help (See One Year to an Organized Life by Regina Leeds and my recent post.)

6. I like some variety (Yeah, there are 11 books and 1 magazine on my nightstand. I can't read just one book at a time; I need to spice it up a bit. Yeah, I know, those are some salacious books.)

I'm sure there are other insights about me that you could glean simply by closely perusing my nightstand.

Notice what is not there.

There are no romance novels, no chick lit, no sci-fi or historical fiction. Really there's no fiction at all. However, that's rare. I LOVE me a good mystery or a classic piece of literature to ponder over. But right now, I'm just not in that frame of mind. Maybe next week.

What's on your nightstand? What might others perceive about you from the books you're reading?

Menu Plan for the Week of May 22nd

Last week we tried some new recipes just to shake things up a bit. The Chicken Thigh Piccata was NOT a keeper. I know it's an economical cut, but I'm just not a huge fan of the thigh.

But the Pioneer Woman's Comfort Meatballs were awesome, and I will DEFINITELY make them again. Today for lunch I made Daniel a meatball sub with some of the leftovers, and it was pretty delicious! I will say that they are time-consuming to make, but the recipe made roughly 20-25 meatballs, half of which I froze for future meals. If you have the Pioneer Woman's first cookbook, I highly recommend this recipe.

This week I will continue to try out some new recipes that I found online, including Ina Gartin's Smoked Salmon Spread, Spinach Enchiladas, and a homemade Blue Cheese Dressing. I'll post the recipes if they are note-worthy.

Sunday: Chicken & Dressing (from the freezer), Mashed Potatoes (leftover from Thursday supper), Green Beans, and Fruit

Monday: Fish tacos with fresh black bean salsa and Spanish Rice

Tuesday: Salad with Buttercrunch Lettuce (from our garden!!) and other veggies with homemade Blue Cheese Dressing served with Smoked Salmon Spread with toasted sourdough bread

Wednesday: Pinto Beans & Cornbread (Ye Olde Faithful)

Thursday: Spinach Enchiladas with Refried Beans

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Leftovers

What are you eating this week?

Finer Things Friday: And For That I am Truly Thankful

So, it's almost 1:00 and already I feel exhausted. I was up I think five times last night with the baby, who is taking thirty minute naps these days, and Kate has been in rare form lately. Check out "Miss Independent" who obviously forgot to take off her pajamas before dressing herself.
But, finally, they are both down and asleep so I can be quiet, think, relax and reflect on this past week--the first week without Mother's Day Out. Despite the seeming chaos, the Lord is doing some beautiful things in our lives, for which I am grateful although very very tired.

(83) Yesterday, Daniel and I celebrated our wedding anniversary. Four years. It seems like an eternity at times, but we have had some amazing memories including two beautiful daughters. And I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us next.

(84) Kate and I have started a new project this week that has taken off really well. It's a combination of play, learning, and service, three key components that I think are integral to the education of our children. Yesterday, after a week of learning the sounds of the letter I as well as words that begin with that letter, we visited a sweet older friend from church named Ida and took her some ice cream. Kate also memorized Genesis 1:1--"In the beginning..." God is teaching me patience with this and expanding my comfort zones in many ways.

(85) Cora dazzles everyone she meets with her sweet smile and love love loves her big sister.

(86) My parents' arrival in Athens but please pray for their safety as they will be traveling to Israel on Monday.

(87) Starting two new Bible studies this week and the encouragement Godly women, especially Christian moms, provide.

(88) God granting me time to organize my pantry and making order out of the chaos.

(89) A kind husband who is merciful when I overspend, as I have this past month.

(90) A day at the playground and watching Kate make a new friend all by herself and realizing she is growing up.

(91) This blog. I don't care if no one reads it; it will be a legacy that I can hand down to my children one day and serves, in a way, as the baby books I never made.

(92) Watching our girls become best friends. It's truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

(93) My relationship with the Lord, which, I believe, is stronger today than ever before. Yet, still a work in progress. Thank You, Lord.

What can you say you are truly thankful for this week?

Kitchen Tip #3: How to Make Your Own Spaghetti Sauce

Just FYI: I don't always make my own barbecue sauce, granola, and spaghetti sauce. I'm not "Super Mom" or "Miss Health Food Woman" as some people think. I keep store-bought versions on hand in a pinch. And we always have something sweet in the house, even if it's a half-gallon of ice cream in the freezer.

However, I have found that I really enjoy making my own foods from scratch because of:

(1) the health benefits to my family (I know exactly what is in our food because I put it in there.)

(2) the flexibility it affords (I can make granola with whatever ingredients I want. I can make our barbecue sauce as sweet or tangy as I want. And, I can make the spaghetti sauce as spicy or mild as I want.)

(3) the price. (Without a doubt, I can make a batch of spaghetti sauce (approximately 12 cups) that will yield roughly 4 meals (4-6 servings per meal). That is a lot of sauce, I know, but if you freeze it, then you have ready-made pasta sauce whenever your family wants it. Think lunches for the kids or on the weekends.)

On average, I spend less than $3.00 to make 1 batch of sauce, which is roughly 96 oz. That equates to about $0.03 per ounce.

If you buy a 24 oz. jar of Prego, which is on sale at Publix this week for $2.07, that equates to roughly $0.09 per ounce.

So, it is three times cheaper to make your own sauce than to buy it at the store.

All right, so if you're still reading and somewhat interested in a super SIMPLE and DELICIOUS and ECONOMICAL and HEALTHY way to make your own pasta sauce, here's my tried and true recipe:

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, chopped, or 2.5 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 (28 oz.) cans crushed or diced tomatoes (or 1 can of each), undrained
3-4 (6 oz.) cans tomato paste
8 cups water
1/4 cup sugar
2 T. dried Italian seasoning
1 T. dried basil
1 T. salt
1 t. crushed red pepper (If your family doesn't like hot foods, you might omit this.)
1 t. black pepper

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.
2. Saute onion and garlic for about 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Be careful as garlic will burn.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients.
4. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to a simmer, stirring often. Allow to simmer about 2 hours. This slow cooking allows the spices to permeate the tomatoes and makes for a super rich and flavorful sauce.
6. Divide into recipe portions. I use 3 cups of sauce for about 1/2 a box of spaghetti. The remaining 9 cups I freeze in 3 cup portions for future meals.

This is a picture of some spaghetti I made a few weeks ago that I took out of the freezer for a quick lunch today. Perhaps not the best shot, but trust me: it was delicious!
Bon Appetit!

Week One: A Ministry of Motherhood Book Club

This week marks the beginning of our summer book club, and we are IN THE WORD! Let me just say that I look forward to waking up each morning, drinking my coffee and diving into the scripture reading for the day. What a wonderful way to start the day!

The method we are using in this Bible study is called S.O.A.P., which is an acronym for:

Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer

First, we read and write out the daily Scripture.

Then, we write down 1-2 Observations from the passage. What do I glean from reading this verse?

Next, we write down 1-2 Applications from the passage. How does this verse apply to me and my present situation?

Finally, we Pray over what we have learned from the passage.

This method has really helped me to internalize what I am reading because I am applying it to where I am right now. Too often I read my Bible and hope something sticks, but the S.O.A.P. method forces me to dig a little deeper.

This week we have read verses that stress the Lord's sovereignty and our dependence on Him:

(1) Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."
(2) John 15:4-5 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing."
(3) Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."

I have expressed the overarching theme of these verses in my prayer below.

Dear Lord,

Help me today, as a Mommy of two little girls, to remember that I can't go through it without you. I can't do it alone, and I know that I don't go it alone because You are always with me. Remind me, Lord, that apart from You, I can do nothing. I must depend solely on You today and every day.

Help me to seek You first in every situation. Relinquish my fears. You promise to provide all my needs if I will but trust in You. I am committing this day to You, Lord. Thank You for Your faithfulness.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.

If you aren't in a daily Bible study and are looking for one, why don't you join us at Goodmorninggirls.org?

Ten Things I Don't Do

1. Crafts. Yes, I know stay-at-home moms are supposed to be crafty. I should love making things out of pipe cleaners and sequins. But, first of all, I am not creative and have no idea what to do with said pipe cleaners and sequins. And, secondly, I can't stand the mess crafting makes, especially with a two-year-old. However, give me some paints, crayons, stickers or markers and I can go to town. Maybe if I had some "no mess" craft ideas from crafty people...You know who you are.

2. Dust. I know there must be somebody out there who enjoys dusting but for me I would rather clean the bathroom every day than dust. I think I was traumatized by dusting as a child when I had to remove, dust, and then put back in the right place every little knick-knack my mom set out. Trust me; there were LOTS of them. And my house is no different. Lately, I've been packing up and "Goodwilling" such knick-knacks that have no sentimental value or attachment just so I MIGHT consider dusting more often. Still, I don't dust unless we have company coming over.

3. Scrapbook. I know with two little girls I really should be making scrapbooks of all their wonderful achievements, but that just takes too much time, too much creativity, and way too much thinking. The one scrapbook I ever made was of our honeymoon. Wow! I spent three whole days working on that baby and decided then and there not to do them ever again. I would much rather take a slew of pictures and write about them, but that's just how I roll.

4. Pluck my eyebrows. I can probably count on my one hand the number of times I have had a brow wax and every single time I said I would never do it again. The pain is ridiculous and I can't stand paying money for something that hurts. Yes, I gave birth naturally and it was extremely painful, but that pain brought forth life. Plucking and waxing only produces tears and lightens my wallet, and I would much rather spend my money on a Dairy Queen blizzard.

5. Exercise regularly. Don't get me wrong I know I need to exercise and I do want to get this flabby body movin', but my youngest still naps 2-3 times a day and there just doesn't seem to be a good time to do it. I suppose I could pull out the double stroller and go for a walk but inevitably one, if not both, children will be bored and/or crying within 15 minutes, which doesn't translate into much of a workout. Still, when Daniel is home early at nights and occasionally on the weekends, we'll go to the Greenway and walk, which I really enjoy. I do need to figure this one out.

6. Keep up with the latest trends. Some people call me "crunchy" because I could care less about what's "in" and wear whatever I find on sale. Honestly, I just can't justify spending our hard-earned money on trends that go as fast as they come when I have a perfectly good cell phone, t.v., sound system, car, clothes, or whatever. Those things just don't matter to me. I guess I would rather put my money in organic foods for our family or a new book. But, hey, everyone's different.

7. Drive at or below the speed limit. I know I posted the other day about needing to slow down, especially after my speeding ticket. : ) But I still have a hard time doing it. I figure if I drive five miles over the speed limit I'm still safe because what police officer will stop me for going five over, right? Watch me get pulled over doing just that!

8. Allow our girls to wear two-piece bathing suits. I remember last year someone wanted to buy our oldest--a two-year-old!--a bikini, and, very politely, I had to nip it in the bud. Some people think it's cute, but I think it sends the wrong message to my children and to others. Our girls are not meant to be viewed as objects but as treasures of God, and we as parents need to remember that when we dress them.

9. Watch reality television shows. I have never been a fan of reality TV. Yes, I have watched The Bachelor, Survivor, American Idol, and The Apprentice and probably others that I can't think of right now, but watching those shows only makes me see how shallow and silly people can be, especially when in front of a camera. I know people watch those shows as a way to escape their own reality, but I'd much rather watch a show like Parenthood or Modern Family if I want to see something silly.

10. Iron. Like dusting, I think ironing is an outdated, useless task. I mean as soon as you iron out a shirt's wrinkles they come right back. I guess I don't know how to iron properly or maybe I don't have a good iron, but when it takes thirty minutes to press two shirts, I can think of about 300 other things I would rather be doing. So now I only buy clothes that are wrinkle-free or poor Daniel wears wrinkled clothes.

What are some things you don't do?

Project Organization: First, The Kitchen

I have always considered organization to be my strong suit. That is, until the littles came along. For some reason once the children came--like the cicadas--our house became a three-ring circus. All order disappeared. Toys here, diapers and wipes there, books scattered everywhere.

Inside I cringe because I can't stand the chaos!!! I feel lost in my own home because I can't locate my phone or even my car keys at times. That is why I am taking the summer to take back my house and rediscover my organizational skills.

I don't know who recommended the book to me, but I found and LOVE Regina Leeds' One Year to an Organized Life: From Your Closets to Your Finances, the Week-by-Week Guide to Getting Completely Organized for Good. This book takes you through every room in your house and teaches you how to simplify life by getting rid of clutter and creating routines that will get you organized so you will stay organized. For me, the "staying organized" part has always been elusive. But Leeds' common sense ideas are easy to do and not overwhelming--something I can do in one day!

In addition to transforming your house, she helps you master time management, deal with finances, entertain with joy, make meal planning easy, and organize travel plans and photos, so that you can enjoy life more fully.

I must say that the kitchen is my favorite room in the house, and if I only clean one room a day, it is always the kitchen. So, I decided to start my home organization project here.

Here are just a few of the suggestions Leeds offers on how to get started organizing and reclaiming your kitchen. She calls it "Speed Elimination."
(1) Get rid of stained potholders and frayed dishrags (or use them as cleaning rags). Just doing this one task made me feel so much better! There's just something fresh and energizing about crisp new kitchen towels.

(2) Pack up or "Goodwill" dishes, mugs, pots and pans, and other kitchen appliances you do not use. I had already done a lot of this purging when my mom was staying with us after Cora's birth, so most of my "extras" have already been "Goodwilled." But I did find several extra coffee mugs and glasses that never get used, even with company, that I packed up and put in storage.

(3) Check to see that all the plastic storage containers have lids and toss the ones that don't. I don't know about you, but I am FOREVER looking in my storage drawer for matching lids and containers. For some reason I hold onto every lid and container thinking their match will miraculously appear one day, but they never do. So, I threw away about a dozen random lids and one container without a matching lid. Now we can find what we need! Awww...

(4) Toss gadgets in your cabinets and drawers that you never use or don't know what they do. If you don't know how to use them, then you might as well get rid of them; they're just taking up space. I had three funnels and only use one, so I packed up the other two and some other random gadgets that I plan to use one day.

(5) Identify areas of your kitchen that frustrate you: cluttered countertops, cabinets, drawers, etc. For me the biggest areas of frustration are under my sink and in my cabinets. First, I tackled the mess under the sink. I threw away several bottles of nearly-empty cleaners, "Goodwilled" some vases I will never use, and reorganized the caddy holding my cleaners, sponges, and dishwashing soaps and tools. Then, I worked on the cabinets containing our dishes, glasses and cooking tools. After decluttering and eliminating items we rarely if ever use, I was amazed at how much more space we have and how freeing it is to be able to see everything on each shelf instead of having to move stuff around to find what we need.

This week I plan to continue my work in the kitchen, working on the pantry and refrigerator as well as the drawers.

My goals are as follows:

(1) "Goodwill," pack up, or toss items we do not use.

(2) Toss expired and mystery foods in the pantry, fridge and freezer.

(3) Create pantry and freezer inventories so I will know what we have for meal planning. I did this last year and LOVED it. I will try to find and post the spreadsheet I used if you are interested. Inventories really help me to keep track of what we're running low on, what I need to use up, and what ingredients I have on hand to cook with.

(4) Reorganize the foods in the pantry, fridge and freezer by category (baking, canned vegetables, soups, condiments, pastas and sauces, dried beans, rice, snack foods). I already have most of my foods organized fairly well but definitely need to do some work with my condiments and spices.

So, we're on the road to an organized kitchen and hopefully one day an organized house. I'm excited about the prospect of being able to find things again!

Do you struggle with keeping your home organized? Which room in your house is in most need of reorganizing and decluttering?

Sunday Blessings

I didn't do my usual "Finer Things Friday" post about the blessings of this past week, so I have decided to post them today because our sermon at church this morning really hit home about the importance of being content. Contentment is a constant prayer request for me, much like watching my tongue.

I just have to get on Facebook and see what everyone else is doing and suddenly nothing I'm doing is exciting enough or good enough. But then as I think back over my week, I know I haven't gone anywhere fun or made any life-changing decisions or had anything extraordinary happen and yet it's the simple things that have really made the biggest impact.

(70) Our oldest daughter's Mother's Day Out program and watching her sing and do the motions to "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Even when her spider visor fell down over her face, she kept going and didn't miss a beat!

(71) Also, hearing her sing her Bible song and recite her memory verse and knowing that she is exactly where she needs to be;

(72) Crying tears of joy mixed with sadness that my little girl is growing up;

(73) The sweet innocence of our youngest as she grabs a blade of grass for the first time;

(75) A husband who tries to help me as much as he can and knowing he truly adores his girls;

(76) A visit to Gram-Gram and Papa's cabin with the girls: catching frogs and paddling in the canoe;

(77) Pictures (finally!) of our youngest--now 7 months old--taken by a good friend and excellent photographer on a beautiful spring day;

(78) Getting a speeding ticket and realizing I need to slllllllooooooooooooooooow down (in more ways than one);

(79) The CBS Share Day Brunch: Some precious time to eat, fellowship, and worship God with other Christians;

(80) Summer Break! I know I have been dreading it, but my perspective is changing--thanks to many prayers and a faithful God--and I'm actually looking forward to a change of pace and a new routine for the summer.

(81) The re-opening of the Rutherford County Farmers' Market and meeting the farmers who supply much of our family's produce until our own garden comes in; and

(82) Quiet time to read, think, and write while the little ones sleep.

As I strive to be like Christ each day and to learn contentment, my prayer is that I will be able to say as Paul did:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:12-13

Menu Plan for the Week of May 15th

Here's our menu plan for this week. I have to say that I usually veer off a little from our menu plan, but last week we ate exactly what I had listed. Having the weekly menu plan is a LIFESAVER because I don't have to worry about what to fix at 4:00, AND if I don't feel like what we're scheduled to have, I can always switch it out for something else. Plus, when we have a really hectic week, like this past week, it's a huge burden off of me to know that my meals are already planned out. No thinking, no scrounging around looking for a recipe, no worries.

Also, I'm venturing out this next week and trying some new recipes to hopefully add to our repertoire. And I will post my recipe for making yogurt that I "stole" from Kelly at Faithful Provisions. Have a great week!

Breakfast

Oats with blackberries

Cereal

Fried eggs and fruit

Cinnamon toast on sourdough

Yogurt and granola with berries (I'm going to make some yogurt this week because I am constantly running to the store for more!)

Lunch

Turkey & cheese on crackers

Tuna sandwiches

Black bean burritos

Leftovers

Chili (freezer)

Spaghetti (freezer)

Dinner

Sunday: Church picnic (take baked beans, sourdough bread, & spinach-artichoke dip)

Monday: Chicken thigh piccata on linguine with salad and homemade sourdough bread

Tuesday: Garlic shrimp and grits with broccoli

Wednesday: White beans, kale, and cornbread

Thursday: The Pioneer Woman’s Comfort Meatballs with Sauce, mashed potatoes and corn-on-the-cob

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Flank steak fajitas

Snacks/Desserts

Oat and Currant Scones

Granola and yogurt

Cheese and crackers

Fruit

What are you eating this week?

Finer Things Friday: A New Bible Study for the Summer

So, this week marked the end of Community Bible Study for the summer and unless I get into another study soon, I will be floundering around aimlessly. To be such a disciplined person, I need need NEED a structured Bible study to keep me in the Word on a daily basis. That is why, starting next Monday, I will be starting a new online book club with the Good Morning Girls. We will be reading and discussing in small groups Sally Clarkson's The Ministry of Motherhood.

My friend Laurie from CBS first introduced me to Sally Clarkson's blog--I Take Joy--and since then I have been hooked. In The Ministry of Motherhood, Clarkson "looks at the life of Jesus with his disciples to find patterns for how a mother can influence her children." I know that my influence as a mom is far-reaching. Am I being the RIGHT influence? How can I minister to my children and their individual and unique needs? How can I teach them about Christ in a way that reaches them, that is, as Christ taught His disciples? These are all questions that Clarkson attempts to address in her book.

If you are interested in participating in the summer book club with us, visit the Good Morning Girls' website. You can download the reading plan here. There is also a message board where you can become part of a small group for discussions. Just click on "If you DO NOT have a group--Form groups here" and someone will very quickly invite you to be a part of their group.

I am super excited about starting this new study and hope you will join me.

Kitchen Tip #2: How to Make Your Own Granola

What do you usually eat for breakfast?

In my household, we seem to go in cycles. For weeks on end, especially in the winter, we'll eat nothing but oatmeal. Then the weather will warm up and we'll eat cereal and fruit or eggs and cinnamon toast. But, recently, I have started making granola. YUM!

Yes, I know you can buy granola at the store, but most of the kinds I find either have ingredients I don't like or taste like cardboard. Plus, it's a bit on the pricey side, especially when I can make it myself.

Thanks to my mom and Martha Stewart (sometimes I think Mom is Martha Stewart although she's never been to prison that I know of), I have a great granola recipe that I want to share with you. It is super simple, and, like when you make your own barbecue sauce, you can use whatever ingredients you have on hand to produce the perfect granola for your family.

Ingredients

1/3 cup oil (use something light like canola, vegetable, coconut or extra light olive oil)
1/3 cup liquid sweetener (honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, agave)
2 cups rolled oats (old-fashioned, not quick oats)
1 cup nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans), chopped or whole or both--we like different textures
3/4 cup shaved coconut
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup dried fruit

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line a pan with sides with parchment paper or spray with Pam. (You want to use a pan that will allow you to flip the granola without it falling off.)
3. In a large bowl, mix the oil and liquid sweetener until thoroughly combined.
4. Add the remaining ingredients EXCEPT the dried fruit and stir until combined.
5. Dump the granola onto the pan and spread it out evenly with a spatula.
6. Bake for about 8 minutes. When you start to smell the granola, that means it's beginning to brown and may soon burn. I've done this several times, but it's still yummy.
7. Take the granola out of the oven and flip with a spatula. You want the granola to bake evenly.
8. Return the granola to the oven and repeat steps 6 and 7 until it reaches the "doneness" you desire. We like it golden brown. That usually takes about 24 minutes depending on the size of your pan and thickness of the granola layer. The thinner the layer the shorter the cooking time.
9. Allow the granola to cool on the pan and then add dried fruit, if you like. We like dried cranberries or Craisins.
10. Transfer the granola to a storage container, jar with lid, or a ziploc bag and enjoy!

You can eat your granola by the handfuls, with milk like cereal, or with yogurt and fruit. Kate likes her granola with blueberries, cinnamon and yogurt, and Daniel adds a sprinkle of ground flax seed to his. In this last batch of granola, I added 1/2 cup of flax seed; you can't taste it and my family gets the added health benefits (folic acid, omega-three's, fiber).

Does your family like granola? What do you like to add to yours?

Menu Plan for the Week of May 8th

Sunday: Mother’s Day cookout with Daniel’s family in Nashville

Monday: Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and steamed broccoli, watermelon

Tuesday: Chef’s salad with fresh herb vinaigrette and quick rolls

Wednesday: Pintos and cornbread, fruit

Thursday: Kate’s Mother’s Day Out Program—Quick supper [Ribs & Steak (from the freezer), baked beans, tater tots, and fruit]

Friday: Pizza Night!

Saturday: Leftovers

What are you eating this week?

Finer Things Friday: It's the Simple Things that Make me Smile

(57) Listening to Kate cheer herself on as she runs with her daddy on the Greenway ("Go, Kate, go!") and watching her little legs work to keep up;

(58) Watching Cora pull herself up to standing in her crib and everywhere (and she's only 7 months old!)

(59) Digging in the garden and feeling the dirt between my fingers--it's cathartic in so many ways;

(60) Finding worms in the garden and watching Kate visibly cringe when I ask her if she wants to hold one---she's really afraid of creepy-crawlies like her Uncle Brian;

(61) Our house now on a firm foundation and able to pay for it without going into debt--thanks largely to my frugal husband who makes sure we save more than we spend;

(62) Time spent with my family celebrating my brother's birthday;

(63) Laughing and reminiscing with my brother and sister-in-law about old flames and school days and thankful that God knew best who to give us as spouses;

(64) The Stones River Market and being able to get fresh produce including spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and strawberries as well as eggs that are locally grown;

(65) Watching our own garden grow, in spite of all the weeds, and knowing SOON we'll have our own lettuce and tomatoes and other goodies;

(66) Kate's teachers, Patricia and Cristy, at King's Kids (Mother's Day Out) for their love for our child;

(67) A day of strawberry picking with the cousins--making memories that our kids will never forget!

(68) Spring time: Everything is green, lush and vibrant and recharges my sluggishness;

(69) New days ahead: With the close of CBS (Community Bible Study) and Mother's Day Out next week for the summer, I am excited about what the next few months will bring and looking forward to time with both my girls as well as getting into a more relaxed summer routine.

Lord, Teach Me to Love

My youngest child wakes me up crying. It's the third time tonight. To myself, I ask: “What is the matter, Cora? Just go to sleep!” It’s 4:00 a.m.

“Lord, teach me to love.”

After nursing my baby, I lay her back down in her crib and return to bed. My oldest child is lying in my place. I think to myself: “What are you doing in here, Kate? Get in your bed!” But instead, I lie down in hers. It’s 4:30 a.m.

“Lord, teach me to love.”

Cora has started crying. Again. I lie in bed listening, watching her on the monitor and thinking to myself, “I am not going back to sleep.” It’s 5:15 a.m.

“Lord, teach me to love.”

I have decided to go ahead and get up, have my coffee and have a quiet time with God. But my quiet time is interrupted by my crying baby who is now standing up in her crib screaming. Frustration and anger rushes over me. I know I'm being selfish but, "Please, God."

“Lord, teach me to love.”

After I give Cora some Tylenol, she cries but soon falls asleep. It’s 5:45 a.m. Kate wakes up and wants me to snuggle her. All I want to do is have some time by myself.

“Lord, teach me to love.”

I lie down with Kate but refuse to snuggle her. It’s just not in me. She sleeps for a little while and wakes up for the day. It’s 6:20 a.m.

“Lord, teach me to love. Your love, Lord is perfect; mine is so flawed. You are long-suffering, compassionate, gentle and kind. Lord, you love the unlovable—me. Teach me to love my children when I really don’t feel like it, when I’m tired and just want to sleep, when I’m consumed and just need a break by myself, when I’m in most need of love myself. Teach me to love.”

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:12-13

Going Home

Lately I’ve felt a longing to “go home.” I’m not sure where “home” is or even what “home” is for that matter. But I feel a tug in the pit of my stomach pushing me to find the place where I need to be.

For most of my life, I have called Chattanooga home because that is where I grew up and that is where my family still lives. And even after moving to Murfreesboro in 2004, I still call Chattanooga “home” even though I no longer live there.

To this day, I don’t think of Murfreesboro as “home.” I’m not sure that there is one exact reason that I can pinpoint but many. For starters, I don’t feel rooted here, meaning that if Daniel got a new job somewhere else, I don’t think I would be very sad to leave the ‘Boro. Don’t get me wrong, there are people I would miss: my church family and friends that God has brought into my life and who have blessed me tremendously. But otherwise, I would be fine to pack up and move somewhere else. Also, because Daniel bought our house at a time when we were not together (before we married), I didn’t play a role in the home-buying process and therefore do not, for whatever reason, feel like it is my home, despite the feminine touches.

So where, then, is home?

In the last few months, I’ve been back to Chattanooga to visit family. A part of me wishes we were closer to them so our children could grow up nearer their cousins, aunt and uncle, and grandparents. Also, a part of me really misses the church family at Signal Mountain Church of Christ where I grew up. Still, I don’t know that Chattanooga is where I need or really want to be.

As Daniel and I look at land for a future move, I can’t picture exactly where we will be, but I envision a space with lots of room for the girls to run and play without fear, a space for a larger garden, a space without crazy neighbors so close we can hear them yelling at each other from inside our house.

I see a place where we can sit outside on the porch and only hear silence, where we can build the home we have always wanted, where we can have a dog and maybe a few chickens, where our family can grow closer together.

But what does the Bible tell us about “home”?

The author of the 91^st psalm tells us that, for Christians, our true home is in the Lord:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

If you make the Most High your dwelling—

even the Lord, who is my refuge—

then no harm will befall you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

Psalm 91:9-10

As a Christian I know that my earthly home will never be the place of comfort, rest, and security that I long for; it will never be my true home. My true home is in the Lord, who protects us like a mother hen shields her chicks from harm:

He will cover you with His feathers,

and under His wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Psalm 91:4

While I’m searching for my earthly home, I need to remember that only in the Lord do I have a true home, a refuge from the storms of life. On this earth I will never find a place like the home I have in Him.

Have you found the place that you call “home sweet home”?

"What's Down in the Well Comes Up in the Bucket"

One of my biggest challenges is my tongue. James called it "a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (3:8), and I know for a fact that unless controlled, my tongue can completely destroy a person and can even lead to my own spiritual destruction. Satan uses our tongues to divide us, to spread gossip and lies, to put people down, and, ultimately, to separate us from God. He knows that we can never fully control our tongues (James 3:8) and yet we must try.

To be perfectly honest, I have to watch every. single. word. that comes out of my mouth. Sometimes there's just no filter, and what I say hurts, offends, discourages, and humiliates. Immediately after the words leave my tongue I wish I could take them back, but the damage is done: some innocent individual is hurt, and I can only apologize. Apologies cannot, however, take the hurt away. And that is because "what's down in the well comes up in the bucket." What is in our hearts is what comes out of our mouths. Jesus said this better in Matthew 12:34 when speaking to the Pharisees, who were trying to accuse Him of getting His power from Satan, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." The Pharisees pretended to be righteous, but Jesus called them "whitewashed tombs" because inside, their hearts were full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

The problem with my tongue is not one that I can fix simply by watching what I say. It requires a change of heart, a thorough cleansing by the Holy Spirit. If I truly want kind, edifying and encouraging words to come out of my mouth, my heart has to be filled with kind, edifying and encouraging thoughts. All criticisms, jealousies, and wicked thoughts must be gone.

Ephesians 4:29 is one of my favorite verses in all scripture because it is a constant reminder to check what I'm saying before I say it: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." That means, don't offer unwanted parenting advice. Compliment rather than criticize. Encourage my children with kind words. Stop nagging at my husband. Speak the truth in love.

Does what I say serve to encourage or discourage, build up or break down, help or hurt, beautify or make ugly? Does what I say reveal something about my heart that needs to change? Could Jesus compare me to a "white-washed tomb"? What would come up in the bucket from my well?