Salad "Rub"

I just love nutritional yeast! I mix it with salt, pepper and sometimes dried basil. Delicious on my salads. I am a hard core creamy dressing kind of person so it's gotta be good if I am choosing this over it. I am addicted to it. Good thing it's so good for you, lots of protein too. You can buy it at your local health food store in the bulk section. It's NOT the same thing as active yeast!

My Favorite Breakfast

I have been enjoying this breakfast now for quite some time but I haven't posted it on here yet.
1/2 cup rolled oats(I flake them myself to save money)
1 TBL Coconut oil(Garden of Life brand is my FAVORITE)
1 Banana
Almond Milk

Place the oats and coconut together first and stir around. Cut up the banana and mix it in. Poor over your almond milk. The coldness of the milk hardens the coconut oil and you get a crunchier cereal. So yummy!

12th Anniversary

I can't believe that today I have been married for 12 years! I never realized that I would grow to love and respect this man as much as I have. Thank you God for blessing us so richly! We are going to be celebrating this weekend, I can't wait!

July is a busy month!

Here we are in July and I am so thankful. This month has a lot going on and most of it is quite exciting! Let's see.. we have Independence of course, then there is my sister's bday, my anniversary, my Dh's bday, my FIL's bday, and there is a possibility that I will find out if my Dad is moving closer to us. Very exciting.
This last month has been very challenging to me. God is working on my heart on many fronts, mainly just dying to self. It is a continual process that I wish could end but self just won't go away until we take that final breath. I have struggled with worrying about the future(today, tomorrow, 20 years from now) and he is teaching me to just focus on today. Notice I didn't say WORRY about today. Worrying is, after all, a sin. It is a commandment NOT to worry. Matthew 6:25 So I have been trying to focus on what I can do today to honor God. It has been very difficult for me but God has blessed me, despite my failures, in that he has comforted me throughout the whole process. He has been there when my mind starts to wonder, reminding me that I shouldn't go that route. I am grateful!
On another note, something really neat happened yesterday. Our neighbor is moving and she decided she didn't want to move all her long term food storage so she divided it up between another neighbor and us. It is a ton of food. We are praising God for her generosity! I just have to find a place for it now! lol Thankfully, I have been working on the garage for a while, cleaning and getting rid of stuff we don't need. Hopefully I will find a good spot.
I will leave with a great little quote I heard yesterday.
"How is your righteousness in the midst of affliction?"

One of those days

Today has been one of those days where it just doesn't seem to be happening...that is...productivity. I am dragging so much that I thought it must surely be Monday! I feel like I haven't gotten anything done. In fact, the only thing I have gotten done is feeling bad about not doing much. I don't know why I feel this way. I guess worrying about Daniel, lack of sleep, and not having my quiet time have clouded the day. I have made bread, cleaned up, and written up a cost comparison worksheet for the grocery store, so I have accomplished some things. I think I need to go spend time with the Lord. :0) Maybe it will get better.

Cost of a Large Family

We are expensive! I think back several years ago at how much our food bill was and I am astonished. Granted, we usually didn't eat the most healthy things but we couldn't afford the best anyway. People often tell me that they can't imagine how much it cost to have a large family. They come to the conclusion that Dh must have a great job. Well, he does, but that's not how we afford them. We are able to afford our family because God enables us to do it. I struggle SO much with food cost. I want so badly to eat "cheap", to be able to walk into Aldis and only spend $100 for the week. But, my health starts to decline rapidly in one week. Depression starts creeping in. The kids go crazy! The best I can do is to find cheap(er) healthy food.
In bulk:

• oats
• wheat
• buckwheat
• salt
• beans
• rice

At Sams:

• Lettuce(organic)-very cheap compare to all stores. I will update with price.
• Spinach(organice)-Same as above
• Nuts-raw almonds, pecans, walnuts. Almonds are not really raw but close enough
• All Fruit
• Most other veggies(Carrots, Celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc..)
• Avocados(much cheaper than most places and if you get them unripe, they ripen very nicely on your counter
• Frozen veggies(broccoli, corn, mix)
• Frozen fruit
• Milk
• Sour Cream(we use this for most dressings. We don't buy salad dressing anymore. We mix spices with this to make ours)
• raisins(we go through 2 large boxes that contains 2 large bags of raisins-every WEEK!)
• Organic decaf coffee that is cheaper than the regular decaf coffee at publix
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Trash Bags
• Shampoo
• Toothbrushes
  

Some things we have to get at Publix

• Collards
• Kale
• Corn
• Cabbage
• coconut oil
• pickles without yellow number 5
• Almond Milk
• Zucchini
• Wheat Noodles( I don't have time to make this right now ;))
  

We never buy boxed cereal. We flake our own oats from oat groats and combine it with buckwheaties(dehydrated sprouted buckwheat) and raisins with milk. I grind our grain and make our bread. I don't buy raw bars/breads. I make my own dehydrated buckwheat bread.

I think this post is more for me than anyone else. I do the best I can with trying to save money but sometimes(most times) I still feel like I am doing a lousy job. Do you ever feel that way? Just writing it down helps me to realize that I AM doing all that I can to keep my family healthy without breaking the bank. So on those days when I think "we could live on rice and beans for a little while" I can look back and remember that it's not ALL about the money.

Change

Why am I always surprised when I have to change my schedule to fit my family's needs? I am a very habitual person by nature but I have grown accustomed to change..so I thought. Having many children, especially babies, means being very flexible. This is my prayer, that God would help me to be a person that's okay with habitual change... Does that even make sense?

Martin Luther on the ordinary duties of family life

"What then does Christian faith say to this? It opens its eyes, looks upon
all these insignificant, distasteful, and despised duties in the Spirit, and
is aware that they are all adorned with divine approval as with the
costliest gold and jewels. It says, O God, because I am certain that thou
hast created me as a man and hast from my body begotten this child,
I also know for a certainty that it meets with thy perfect pleasure. I confess
to thee that I am not worthy to rock the little babe or wash its diapers,
or to be entrusted with the care of the child and its mother. How
is it that I, without any merit, have come to this distinction of being
certain that I am serving thy creature and thy most precious will? O
how gladly will I do so, though the duties should be even more insignificant
and despised. Neither frost nor heat, neither drudgery nor labor,
will distress or dissuade me, for I am certain that it is thus pleasing in
thy sight. . . . God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling—not
because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in
Christian faith."

Fun with Friends

I had so much fun yesterday with a friend that has 5 kids(with another one almost here!). They came over and stayed for most of the day. We chatted(a lot!) and tried to get some sewing/cutting done. I didn't get very far but at least now I know what I want to do next. It was so neat to walk into the sewing room and see our girls sewing/laughing. They were having a blast. That moment was so priceless to me. All the little people just played most of the time. No one yelled. Babies cried...a lot. Toddlers(aka... my toddler) didn't want to share. There were lots of hugs and laughs. Such a great day. Thank you Lord for friendship!

Weekly Review`

Wow this week was super busy and super fun! We went to the YMCA only once because we had some other things that needed to get done. We had a very productive week. We got to go to the zoo with my Mil, I finished Kaitlyn's and Summer's skirts, I was able to go to a homeschool Mom's get together, and I was able to attend choir again! Kaitlyn passed the Association drill as well. She is very excited about that. I think I have developed a consistent way to give the kids their piano lessons. I have struggled with this for a while but things seem to be coming together. I have been giving Kaitlyn guitar lessons(and learning myself) too. That is so much fun. Charlotte wants to start violin but that would be too expensive. I just don't have the money to buy both of us one. I would be teaching her so that means that I would have to have one too. I would love to do it but that doesn't seem very likely. I feel bad because we initially told her that she has to learn basic piano first. That has been about a year ago. She told Jason last night that every time she practices she thinks of the violin. His heart melted. Jason and the two older girls went to a Daddy Dinner Dance last night at our church. They got all dressed up(including Jason-in a suit) and wore corsages. They looked beautiful. They took pictures there so I am hoping that I will be able to update with pics. It is good for me to be busy. There is less time for my mind to wonder(worry). As long as I stay focused on God and make sure that the things I am doing are not TOO much, it is a good thing. It was a really good week, thank you Lord.

Zoo trip

We went to the zoo yesterday with my Mil. We had a blast. Here is our first official family photo since Daniel has been born. I can't express how grateful I am to have such a wonderful family. They have been a joy to me and have saved me from myself in so many ways.

Judgement

I was listening to a sermon yesterday in the car that was very good. The pastor said there was a conversation between two women where they were talking about being judged. They were saying they didn't want to be judged by others. He said he didn't reply to them but thought they were completely wrong. He said everyone wants to be judged, we just want that judgment to be positive. I thought about that and it is so true! We live out our lives with the hope and expectation that others will judge us in a positive light. But if that doesn't happen, it can shake our belief in ourselves. Then I thought about God. Do I do things with the hope and expectation that he will judge me positively? Yes! But it's funny how this relationship is so different than others. The truth is that there is nothing that I can do that would incline him to look on me in a positive light. It's just not going to happen. The only way that he would look down on me and see me that way is if he sees his son covering me with HIS righteousness. All the good things I do don't mean a hill of beans without Christ. Therefore, everything that I do for the kingdom of God must be done with the acknowledgment that it is only by Christ's strength that I can do them. This humbles us instead of making us boast in ourselves, which is what we tend to do when we impress others. This is one of the reasons why Deuteronomy 6:5-9 is important. To remind us our place lest we forget. To remind us of where our strength and source of life comes from. Job 34 is a good passage to read. So today I pray that I walk humbly about with the goal of glorifying God through my thoughts and actions. That they be a pleasing aroma to him but only through Christ can it be so.

Sweet Baby Day

I had a great time yesterday at a friend's baby shower. She is so special and I can't wait to meet her little girl! It was a very precious time. I will try to get some pictures from her because I didn't bring my camera. My mother in law and sister in law were able to make her cake and that was neat! When I got home my mother in law had made me a cake too because she wasn't able to come to my baby shower that the church gave me. It is a beautiful cake that has a bear in a basket covered by a bib/blanket. Then there are flowers above it. She knows that I love bears. The bear even had eyelids! How adorable. Here are a couple of pics of the me and the cake. It was THE BEST cake I have ever tasted!

Children's taste

It always amazes me what children will eat. Jason and I used to be surprised when the kids wouldn't eat a yummy quiche but would turn around and eat boxed macaroni and cheese. Well, we don't eat like that anymore(for the most part) and they continue to shock me. Yesteday I baked some sweet potatoes. I know they love sweet potatoes mushed with honey, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg but I decided not to add anything. I just cut the potato(I didn't smush it) and put it on their plates. They loved it. I can't believe it's that easy. And then to top it all off, I made some raw sprouted buckwheat bread/crackers and dehydrated it. It wasn't done by dinner but I let them taste it. I did't like it as much because when it's not dehydrated it has more of a buckwheat flavor. The kids loved it! They almost devoured a whole sheet. I am guessing their taste buds have changed since we starting eating more real foods but they are still amazing me. Needless to say, don't be afraid to go simple and try out new things with your children! They may surprise you. Charlotte puts red pepper, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder on everything she can(I give her freedom in this area). Here is an easy way to get your kids to eat zucchini:
~Boil enough zucchini(sliced) for your family in a large pan. I peeled mine as well but you don't have to
~Let most of the water evaporate
~Either buy or make some spaghetti sauce and poor over zucchini. Let it get hot but don't worry about boiling it. You can even turn the stove off. Serve. My kids were begging for more.

You can also use this same recipe if you spiralize the zucchini into noodles. I wouldn't boil the noodles though. It's better to either not cook them at all or just add them to the sauce and let it get warm/hot.

Learning how to suture

Jason's coworker gave him a suture training kit and the kids and I are learning how to stitch people up! It's so neat. Here are some pics.

Bike riding again

I gotta tell you, it feels soo good to ride again! Jason and I have been going up to our local park and taking turns riding with the older ones while one of us stays with the little people as they get stronger on their bikes. It is a much needed mini vacation every time I get on the bike. I am not a terribly strong person but I LOVE to ride. Breathing in the fresh air and praising God for his creation is so invigorating. I am looking forward to the day when Daniel will be able to ride in one of our trailers. Then we can all go together! Jason and I both pull a trailer on the back with 2 kids in tow. It's tough but it's so worth it. We went out last night and Alex is doing so good on his bike(with training wheels). I wasn't sure how he would do but he is catching on. Andrew does much better on the scooter so he will still need to ride in the trailer until next year. Summer LOVES to ride. I can't believe it. She talks about it all the time. You would never expect her to like it because she is so sweet and girly. I really enjoy having my girls as my bike buddies. When the older ones get stronger we are going to take them on the tough paths through another local park. Those are very difficult but so much more fun because they are not paved. That might be next year but we will see.

Christ is risen!

I am so grateful to my Lord and Savior! I am reminded often what a terrible person I am without him. How lowly I truly am and how nothing in me has worth apart from him. He gives me meaning and life. He restores my soul when I think that giving up is my only option. Hope has no meaning without him. Life is colorless and empty. It is better for me to be at the lowest valley and on my knees than the highest mountain top standing because in humility is where I see just who I am without him and why I need him so greatly. His death and resurrection has given me life and I am so thankful! Thank you Lord for choosing to save a wretch like me.

Dandelions

I bought some dandelions at Earth Fare the other day and I have really been enjoying them! For those of you who drink green smoothies, try a handful of these. I have been adding them in with my collards(collards are my favorite). One day I will get a juicer and try juicing them. Here are some nutritional benefits of dandelions(as if I need convincing):
The leaves are richer in vitamin A than are carrots.
One cup of dandelion greens:
-25 calories
-1.5 g protein
-5 g carbohydrate
-19 mg Vitamin C
-7,700 IU of vitamin A
-103 mg calcium.
They also stimulate the liver and kidneys. I have don't enough research on them but I wonder if these would help people with gallbladder disease. I had my gall bladder out about 6 years ago. I wish I had known about natural ways to deal with that. We have a ton of dandelions in our back yard but there are so many stray cats around here that I am fearful of getting worms or something if I ate these.LOL

Reflection

Well, for the last 2 days I have tried extremely hard to work on my thinking in regards to being content and remembering the end goal. It has really impacted me. I can say honestly that during these 2 days I have slipped several times. These times have been moments where life completely feels overwhelming. However, I am shouting for joy because God has allowed me to actually recognize these thoughts and he has helped me to calm down and move forward. These overwhelming feelings use to last several hours but thanks be to God they have been shrunk down considerably! For those that don't know me, stress impacts me on different scales. It cripples my mind and body. I physically hurt. My mind is turned to mush it seems and I can't think straight. Praise God that he is so good and he is the only one capable enough to pierce through the darkness!

On another note, we had our reflection service at church last night. I have been in and seen many plays/productions regarding Christ's death and resurrection. I can say loudly and boldly that this was by far the most piercing reenactment that I have ever seen. They set it up to where the audience(believers in Christ) could participate. Participating in the Lord's supper, singing after it(remember, they sang a hymn after Jesus ate with the 12), and the most powerful of all, nailing our written sins to the cross. The choir sang "Were You There". The choir quietly left and the congregation followed without making a sound. There was no resurrection, no joy..yet. Oh I can't wait till Sunday! The kids told me when we got in the car that we just HAVE to be there Sunday. It makes my heart sing for joy that they would rather go to celebrate Christ's resurrection than to go to visit family to eat candy. I love my family but that's not what Resurrection Sunday is all about! Have a joyful and reflective Friday!

Yummy Raw Sub Sandwich

This is so good and it really hits the spot when I am craving a sub.
- 1 Romaine Lettuce HEAD
-Various veggies to put on it
- Some type of sauce/spread.
Take the head of romaine and cut the bottom piece of and then stand it up on its bottom. Slice it from top to bottom. Take the 2 pieces and take out the very middle small leaves. This is where you will stuff you veggies. I like to put a sauce on first. You could use salad dressing, homemade mayo., mustard, anything. Stack your veggies on. I usually slice my veggies pretty thin so I can put more on. Some suggestions are:
-avocado
-cucumber
-tomato
-onion
-pickles
-red/green peppers
-salt, pepper, red pepper flakes

You could also "toast" your sub by warming it or grilling the lettuce head before you put the veggies on. This might seem crazy to eat a whole head of lettuce but if you just eat a couple of leaves it doesn't give it that nice hearty feel that you look for in a sub.