Where has all the creativity gone?

I think at some point most of my creativity was snuffed out of me. I don't know if this is part of growing up or if the school system does it to us. I can remember painting and coloring almost everyday in 3rd grade, but then it turned to sports and academics. For this reason, art and creativity had become obsolete in my life. The great thing about being a Mom though is that in so many ways I get to be a kid again. There is so much creativity which is innately in our children. This is something we should encourage and nurture through the years. There are also so many opportunities in the home to be creative too. At times I just can't help myself. Whether it be cooking, or meeting basic needs that arise. My friend Kristin and I were talking about how both our babies drool so we decided to make bibs for them. So, here are mine and this is Elizah's latest art piece. I cut a part of it out and made it into a colorful card for a fellow toddlers' birthday.

Parenting can be so difficult, but how can I be down when this face greets me in the morning? Really! Don't children bring such great joy to our lives? I try to remember that when I am in the middle of disciplining. Just because Elizah is telling me NO or being defiant I still need to act in love towards her. This becomes a very difficult task for me. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1. The relevancy of God's word for all situations is undeniable. I know that when I get angry, she gets angry and no training is accomplished. Just a momentary modification to her behavior. The truth of this verse allows me to be able to learn to control myself in the midst of teaching Elizah to control herself. Now I just need to recall this verse the next time I have to correct her behavior (which will probably be in about 10 minutes). I love what author Ginger Plowman says on this issue. "The simple truth is that all kids are sinners and will manifest sinful behavior. The question is not: Will they sin? The question is: When they sin, what will you do about it? Will you ignore them, scream at them, make excuses for them, or will you train them up in the way they would go?". What a great reminder.

This morning as we ate our breakfast we watched the girls one by one perch up on top of the box. I think it's their way of saying that they need more space. They are so funny. They just sit up there and watch us with curiosity. We have moved them outside during the days but keep them in at night because I think it's still to cold for them. Then I went for a run by the river and made a picnic lunch for Josh. I met him at his work and we went to a park. Picnics are so refreshing. Instead of going somewhere to eat lunch under florescent lights. We lounged on the grass watching all the cars zoom by going to make more money or spend money or whatever. Sometimes we just need to slow down and take a break from rushing or from our "TO DO" lists. I know I struggle with this and become so task oriented. This was a good reminder.

Granola again?

Yes... granola again!! Today is Granola making day as we are almost out. We have granola most mornings in our home because it is healthy, I know what's in it, it's easy to make, and our house smells like a bakery while it's in the oven. I have adapted this recipe from the cookbook More With Less. So here's the recipe. We have it with milk sometimes or with yogurt and fruit or warm or as a snack. It's wonderful!

Preheat oven to 350
6c. old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 C. Wheat Germ
1/2 C. Dry Powder Milk
1/2 C. Chopped nuts
3/4 C. Shredded sweetened Coconut
3/4 C. Dried Fruit (cranberries, raisins, currents, whatever)
2/3 C. Oil
2/3 C. Honey
1 t. Vanilla


Put oats in 9 x 13 pan and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and add dry ingredients. Stir. Then add oil and vanilla. Stir. Then add honey and stir. Bake in 5 minute increments stirring after each for 15 minutes. Set out untouched until completely cool. Then break up and put in airtight container.

Not only is Easter the highest point of the Christian year in the celebration of our Savior's birth, but it has always been remembered as a day to spend with family as well. I have so many memories of riding horses and falling off, playing volleyball, or trying to be the lucky kid to find the golden egg my grandmother would meticulously hide during the egg hunt. My memories are filled with days like these and that is the benefit of having a large family and living near them all. They become your support group, your best friends, your children's best friends, your critiques and your advisers. Relationships forged with them are like no other. We look forward to the day when we can form these memories with our family in Vermont as well. It is hard not being near them now, but we know it is just a season of our lives.

We have finally decided to feed Hazel something other than breast milk. I wanted to feed her something sweet and creamy sort of like breast milk. So, I mashed up some banana until it looked like snot and said "ooooopen uuuup". She was not amused and as the spoon touched her tongue I saw a look of pure fear in her eyes. Why I ask myself am I feeding this person who cannot pick it up with her own hands, does not have teeth to chew it, spits it out and dislikes the experience all together? All of these things working against me and sabotaging my efforts. This stage is such a short amount of time that I am tempted altogether to skip it in anticipation of the day when she can pick up her own glob of food and stick in in her own mouth. Did God really intend for a baby to eat solid food at 6 months? I doubt it.

Love with Abandon

It's refreshing to take a trip and have it consist of people rather than places. This past weekend we visited old friends in Southern California. I miss them dearly and wish we still lived near them. Each of their lives are changing so much and they are all growing into great people and people we want to raise are children with. This weekend really caused me to think of how little I consciously make it appoint to love people. Yet as Christians this should be our goal. To love others self-sacrificially. How much I want to be this person and desire that to be my goal with people. Instead so many times I find myself focusing on myself and my family alone. So many others in our family and friends have loved us in this way and I want to return this love. I am thankful to each of our friends! They are wonderful people who have enriched our lives beyond our expectations. We love you and we miss you!