The View From Where I'm Standing II

Today, I have time to write.  Today, I have the desire to write.  Today, I can't think of one thing to write about!  Seriously.  I know, that is kind of like me saying I can't think of anything to SAY which would cause some of you to wonder if Alzheimer's is setting in early.  I could do another, "The view from where I'm standing" post.....hmmmm....okay....here goes......

The View From Where I'm Standing II

The day is beautiful-- 70 something in the sun and 60 something in the shade.  A perfect day really.  I would feel bad for all you "winter" people but then again, I guess we get our own with day after day of 100 plus weather in the summer.   The three "big kids" are set up outside under the one tree in the yard.  It is barren of leaves this time of year but does offer scant amounts of shade here and there.   They have pulled out our old blue-jean camping quilt-- the one Ryan and I received for a wedding gift 13 1/2 years ago with a tag that said, "The next time I see this quilt I want it to be ragged and well-worn!"  There are three pair of boots scattered here and there and three sets of bare feet peek out from under a HUGE umbrella.  Wait, the dolls don't have shoes on either so I guess that makes it five sets of bare feet.  They are talking and playing, something about getting their swim suits on to go to Sea World and Ben defending the tent from the lions lurking about.  Benjamin jumps up and, stick in hand, whacks at the air.   I'm assuming the lion was dutifully destroyed as Ben nonchalantly plunks back down between the girls.   Now they are off, stuffing their feet into their boots and running to the next adventure... some other adventure that is faceless to me but they are clearly facing together.

Have You Ever Noticed?

Have you ever noticed how the blogs you really want to write you shouldn't?  I mean who wants to hear about how you have a bad attitude or made a wrong decision or had a really lazy day and got nothing done.  Not that any of these things ever describe me personally, I'm just saying, hypothetically speaking....  and maybe there are people out there who WOULD actually like to read about all your shortcomings so that they could feel better about their own but that doesn't exactly offer the correct motivation to have a whine and complaint pity party on yourself now does it?  And then, when you think about all the things you would like to write, but shouldn't, you realize that in retrospect you really don't have all that much to whine or complain about anyway....I mean compared to living in a trash city in India or being separated from your family for months or years while your husband is off fighting in a war.  Or your children going hungry because your husband can't, or won't, work.  Of course the list of ways people TRULY have to suffer goes on and on.  And I guess since God's word is sufficient, He's got my puny list of whines and complaints covered:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have it's perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing."  James 1:2-4

"Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

So, I guess I really don't have anything to write about today after all.

Yes, It's Another Benjamin Funny!

It's not just that Benjamin is the only funny kid in family.  I happen to think they are all quite the little comedians at times but Benjamin just SAYS stuff that is so different than "average silliness" that I can actually remember it later when I want to write it down!

"Hey Mom, you know that oil that goes between your ball and socket joint right here?"  Benjamin says while pointing to his hip.
"Well, I think mine is going dry because sometimes I can feel it cracking and popping."

Some Little Things I Do...

We all know that the fewer decisions we have to make a day, the more energy we have for other things-- such as chasing after disobedient dogs or cleaning up after countless un-scheduled messes!
So, here are a few little things I try to do to help make each day run smoother with fewer decisions to be made on my part:

*  Breakfast-- if we are having steel cut oats or oats of any kind the next morning,  I will soak my oats overnight so that when I cook them the next day, they literally cook up in about 5 minutes.  (This of course also infers that I have decided the night BEFORE what we will be having for breakfast the next day-- wha la!  I'm feeling more energetic already!)

*  I try to make sure my kitchen is in order before I hit the hay no matter how tired I may be.  This allows me to begin my day fresh (and without the hassle of having to wash this or that pot before I can cook or having to step all over last night's dinner as I traipse around the kitchen first thing in the morning-- plus, having a toddler around, it also means he won't be able to EAT any of last night's dinner for breakfast!)

*  We don't live by too much of a routine around here, which would help immensely with the issue at hand but I have found that God is able to bring sanity to my life even considering our crazy schedule.  I start each day seeking His guidance, help and strength for whatever the day holds.  This may seem a no-brainer but I have come to see that it was really when I couldn't depend on a schedule to keep me sane that I began to depend on HIM more fully.  "Lord teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

*  I was given a jewel of a book entitled, "Fix, Freeze, and Feast".   It is by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik.  In it, these gals guide you through how to buy, fix and freeze in quantity so that you have HEALTHY, pre-made meals all ready in your freezer.  I LOVE this!  It actually takes very little time and I have already been able to reap great time benefits from this concept.  Instead of making a batch of whole wheat cheddar biscuits for one meal, I make 6 times the amount of dry mix.  I then add milk to one batch, roll it, pat it, mark it with a ......oh sorry, I digress.....and put the other 5 batches in individual size bags in the freezer.  This way, the next time I am in a hurry with dinner or breakfast or whatever, all I have to do is to pull out a HEALTHY premade mix, add milk, roll it, pat it, .....you get the idea!  I do this with muffins for breakfast and cornbread too.  Anytime I want to make a special bread for any meal, the HEALTHY premade mix is all ready and waiting for me.  And if you want to make this a really fun family project, get the kids involved too!  We have had a "ball" making 300 meatballs at one time!  Everyone gets in on the action and soon the freezer is filled and everyone has had a hand in helping out with random meals for the next few months.  I have also began making my own red sauce (spaghetti sauce) and cream of mushroom soup this way.  I make a huge batch one day and then freeze them in two cup sizes so that all I have to do is take my HEALTHY sauces out of the freezer when I want to use them. 

I have always bought meat in bulk, because it is usually cheaper to do so, but now, I also go ahead and marinate my meat before I freeze it!  That's right.  So instead of having four packages of chicken thighs in the freezer that I have to remember to get out of the freezer to defrost and then decide what I want to do with it and then actually still have plenty of time to do it, I now have:  orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, pecan-crusted chicken and plain ole' BBQ chicken ready and a-waiting for the day it will be chosen to grace our table for dinner.  And, not only do I have one package of each of these menu items ready and waiting, but I have three sets of each since I made all the marinades in bulk too of course!    If you can't tell, I LOVE this new way of thinking and preparing.   I was really surprised at how little time it really takes to prepare three or more meals compared to one!  The kitchen is already messy, the supplies are already out, the kids are all there ready and willing to help out-- all I have to do is plan ahead a little and remember to buy double or triple or whatever the amount of ingredients I will need ahead of time (which also infers I have somewhat of a menu plan and a grocery list which are also incredible time and energy savers!)

I certainly wasn't planning on spending this much time and space writing out all these delicious details but I am really weird and I just get so excited about this kind of stuff!  I mean, what else do I live for then to love and honor my husband (which I can do better if I have more energy--but we will save THAT discussion for another day!),  love and train my children (again...the more energy thing), and be a godly manager of the home God has given me to oversee?  This IS my life! 

The View From Where I Am Standing

There's nothing I enjoy more than sitting back and watching my little lambs laugh and play together.  And when their Daddy is in on the fun too-- well that is a little taste of heaven on earth!  The view from where I am standing:

The children and Ryan are crowded around the dining room table playing "Farkle".  Boden is standing on Maya's chair in his new feety pajamas he just got for Christmas.  He is eating dry Cheerios with a serving spoon and occasionally leaning over to rub his sister's back with it.  Maya is leaning on the table swinging her legs back and forth being the commentator of the game in her silly "Southern Belle" accent.  "Way to go Da-aday!"  Ryan grins and giggles as she says his name with at least three syllables.  Ryan is at the head of the table.  I can see the laugh lines around his eyes as he teases and goads the children.  He is still the master of fun and funny-- the exact reasons I married him!  Sarah is next, leaning in as close as she can to her dad without irritating him by leaning over his shoulder.  She is the one who is keeping everyone in line-- making sure no one is taking a turn before it is their time or adding their score incorrectly.  She laughs too but you can tell the real success of the game in her mind depends on whether or not it is being played right.  Benjamin is sitting on the table with his feet in his chair.  Since it is not his turn, he is currently sticking Boden's Cheerios to his head where his eyebrows would be if they were in the middle of his forehead.  After 45 minutes of play, Benjamin just now got on the board-- scoring the amount of points needed to actually start keeping score.  But, does this phase him?  Not at all.  He is laughing and having a great time calling "FARKLE" as loudly on himself as on the other players! 

I think God must enjoy us in this way too.   The joy and delight He must derive from watching His beloved delight and take joy in Him and His creation.   In each other.  In the things He has made.  In the small moments of life He gives us to remind us of what is important.   And I can't wait to see the view from where He is standing!

Women?

A Benjamin funny:

Tonight after dinner we were playing a new game we received for a Christmas gift.  It is called, "I've Never...." (I am not sure at this point if I would recommend it or not).  Ryan drew a card that said, "I've never had a crush.  If this is true make a sad face.  If this is not true tell us the name of the person or make kissy noises for 10 seconds."  
Well, of course, all the kids were saying, "NOT TRUE!  NOT TRUE!"  and making the recommended kissy noises.  Then Ben blurts out, "I am SO glad I didn't get that question!  Heeeheeehee!"  We were all laughing hysterically by this point and that just put his dad and I into more fits of giggles.
"Why Benjamin?  What girl have YOU had a crush on?"
Heeeheeeeheeee!!
heeeheeeheeehee!!
"You mean girlS and WOMEN!" shouts Benjamin as he is rolling on the floor gasping for air. 

I still can't stop laughing.  He is so funny.
But, I think our prayers for him just took on a new direction.

Today...

Today

I will remember to acknowledge God frequently --through thankfullness and seeking His continual wisdom

I will smile more

I will lovingly reach out to my husband, showing him love through frequent touches

I will hold an 18 month old before he starts whining or crying

I will invest in each of my children's lives-- one-on-one

Today.

Resolution

"Resolution", according to the 1828 edition of the American Dictionary of the English Language by Noah Webster, is "a fixed purpose or determination of mind; firmness; steadiness or constancy in execution;  implying courage."

As a general rule, I avoid making a New Year's Resolution.  Something about doing what everyone else is doing goes against my nature.  I noticed this at Thanksgiving as well.  Everyone on FaceBook was posting things they were thankful for each day of the month.  What a great way to practice the Lord's command to "be thankful in all things--for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"  (1 Thess. 5:18)  Not me.  I decided to post things I wasn't thankful for.   I  would just post a word like, "old lightbulbs" or "throw up".    So it was my clever joke on everyone between myself and ......well.....myself.

And I well remember the time in High School when I was in the Gillespie County Fair Queen contest (I still don't know what in the world motivated me to do this so don't ask) and because everyone was getting all dolled up and dressing like a beauty pageant contestant, I decided to come as something original....originality is what the world wants right?   Wrong.  Although no one laughed in my face as I bounced onstage in a cute little get-up that no one else would be caught dead in, I certainly lacked the composure and elegance of the rest of the girls....that was original right?  And that definantly took courage--or was that just social oblivion?     I was sure that because I was daring to be different and was "friendly" and "cute" the judges would see that as "fresh" and "original" and decide I was just who they needed to represent them that year as "Miss GCFQ".  Wrong again.

There are countless other memories I have of going against the grain.  If the world is doing it, you can bet I will NOT be doing it....or at least I will fight it as long as I can.

So what does all this have to do with "Resolution"?  As everyone else in the country is making their "New Year's Resolutions" I have been thinking about the things I HAVE BEEN resolute in the past few years.  Is there any one thing that I have shown "a fixed purpose or determination of mind" about?  Is there anything that I have been "steady or constant in executing"?   And this is my challenge for myself.  To focus on the things God says we are to be resolute in and them execute them constantly and steadily....with courage.  Especially when no one else is doing it!  I can see how God can use this character trait of mine to go against the grain in order to stand for Him....if indeed I remember that THAT is what God would have me use it for.