I Love Fridays!

On Fridays...

Andrew is home.

We get to sleep in.

We eat a leisure breakfast.

The kids play.

We hang out as a family.

Sometimes I go out and run errands.

The kids delight in their Papa's presence.

Laughter fills the air.

Smiles shine on little (and big) faces.

We go outside.

The house gets really messy.

We all have fun.

I love Fridays!

Spring in January

It is 2:20 pm. Liam and Lydia are down for their afternoon naps. Usually, I bustle the other two into bed and have some time to my self, but today it is about 45* outside, the sun is shining, the birds are swinging and Abbi and Phin have disappeared. In their stead is “Wild Cowgirl” and a cowboy named “Mud” (who likes cookies - who doesn’t?!). We all just returned from an excursion into the wilderness of Heart-attack Hill. (You my recall my sledding adventure down the logging road.) Heart-attack Hill isn’t nearly so tiring when hiked with a two year old. You then get to go at a snail’s pace, aka. a dawdle. Very slow.

Before we ascended to snowy heights, we wandered in the foothills, following deer trails and squirrel tracks. The kids were fascinated by not one, but two trees that had a whole pile of wood shavings at their feet. Upon investigation we found the spots where a woodpeckers had been hard at work. We found vibrant green moss, peeking through the last layers of snow, striving to reach the warming sun. Abigail found a huge vine, probably 4” in diameter and promptly proclaimed that she was very glad it was a vine and not a snake. I agreed. We found a couple claw scratches on the side of a tree – couldn’t have been from anything bigger than a raccoon – and Phinehas announced that he was SURE it was from a monkey. We listened to chickadees and smelled the fresh air. And then we began our climb.

First, Phinehas set out as leader. I told him to keep an eye out for anything interesting, so he could show it to us. He immediately turned to a mundane bramble and announced that it was very nice because its little branches looked like a hand; hmmm, not so mundane, was it! He quickly tired of leading (or of having Abigail right on his heels) so he fell back and Abigail had her turn in the front. She found a trough of wood laying across our path and chuckled as she stomped on it. Liam and I slowly trudged along behind. Toward the summit, Phin declared that he was done and didn’t want to go any further. “Aren’t your legs tired, Mama?” I told him that they felt great and asked him if he liked being a mountain climber. “No. I’m not a mountain climber; I’m a cowboy.”

On the way down, Liam decided that he was going to become a bulldozer. He marched right over and through each and every bramble he could find; its not like they were blocking our path! But he went right through ‘em! And my! Did he yowl when he got hung up! But he pulled through and made it down unscathed.

And where was sweet Lilly this whole time? Strapped to my back, happy as could be. She sang with the birds, growled at her siblings and kicked me happily in the kidneys. She didn’t complain a bit!!!

Never a dull moment...

I think we need to join a roving gypsy circus. I’m sure we could qualify! First of all, we have the bouncing baboons; you’ve seen them springing on the couch. Then, we have the wild cowboy and cowgirl that ride on their flying horse, chasing away all sorts of vile dragons. (Yeah, I know: Cowboys and dragons don’t usually mix. They do in our house!) Other times we have a musical shepherd and shepherdess that lovingly care for their wee little goaties and sheepies, valiantly slaying any lion or bear or wolf that threatens the existence of the precious flock. And now *drum-roll, please* we have the flying monkeys that swing from their newly hung trapeze! You should see the tricks, the flips, the twists, the accidental flights through the air that end in a lack of wind followed momentarily by loud howls of discomfort. But, they are not dismayed! Off they go again, ready for more.

You see, Andrew hung a trapeze in the doorway between the dining room and the living room. It is hung at the perfect height: Liam can walk under it, but still grasp it with a big stretch of his little arms. He likes to hang from it with his legs stretched out in front of him. He then will drop down, landing on his feet and instantly turning with a grin to find whoever was watching. Phinehas is the swinger. He runs then takes off, flinging his feet into the air. Back and forth he goes til finally he dismounts with a backwards flip… when he doesn’t prematurely let go and land on his back. Abigail is bound and determined to figure out a way to sit or stand on the bar; we have decreed that she has to do it unassisted and without standing on a chair (or anything else, for that matter.) So she twists about, wrapping her legs and feet around the ropes in any way she can manage, searching for a better way to gain some measure of leverage. I’m sure she’ll manage soon.

Last night we watched some YouTube videos of trapeze artists. Wow. Unbelievable. You can imagine what the kids tried this morning! Fortunately, past experience has produced a small measure of prudence in Abbi and Phin and they aren’t yet attempting valiant mid-air stunts. Nor are they trying to catch each other – it is still one at a time on the flying trapeze.

As I said, I guess we’ll have to become a roving gypsy circus that herds sheep and slays all manner of dragons and chases away all the great hunters of the woods. We’ll have to rove around the forests where mid-air stunts can be executed with ease and we’ll need to bring some kind of trampoline, to maintain the bouncing.

Let us know if you want a performance – or if you have a resident dragon that needs to be ousted!

Curry and Naan

Yesterday, right around lunch time, I tweaked my back out. I wasn’t incapacitated, but the wind was definitely taken right out of my sails. So, Phin and Abbi decided to pray for my back. Here is what Phin said:

“Dear Jesus, please make Mama’s back ALL better. Please heal it so she can cook supper for us! Amen.”

After that I just HAD to cook supper, so after a hot bath, a lot of stretching, and a hero coming home from work a bit early, I settled on a super easy recipe for Chicken Curry. It was super good, served with rice and naan, so I thought I’d share!

Curried Chicken Stew

2 chicken breasts, chopped into smallish pieces

1 lg sweet potatoe, peeled an cut into ½” pieces

1 med onion, peeled and chopped

1 med zucchini (I didn’t use this)

1 small green pepper, chopped (I used a mix of red, orange and yellow)

1 ½ tsp curry powder

1 tsp cumin

1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 can diced tomatoes

¾ c veggi broth (I used water)

½ tsp salt

In big pot or skillet, cook chicken in a bit of oil with a dash or paprika, turmeric, salt and pepper.

Transfer to bowl.

In a bit more oil, cook vegetables till tender, 8-10 min.

Add curry powder and cumin; cook 1 min.

Add garbanzo beans and tomatoes, broth and salt.

Heat to boiling; reduce heat to med-low.

Cover and simmer till, veggies are very tender but not mushy.

Serve with cooked brown rice and naan.

Naan is an Indian flat bread that is fried in a pan. Sort of like a fluffy tortilla. You can use it in place of utensils by taking a piece of the naan and pinching a bite of food. Then pop it into your mouth and enjoy! Here is the recipe I used:

Naan

1 ½ cups water

1 T yeast

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp turmeric

1/2 cup golden raisins

3-4 cups whole wheat flour

(The recipe called for 3 T mango chutney as well,

but I didn’t have it so I didn’t use it!)

Add yeast to water, let stand.

Add the spices and raisins plus 3 cups of the flour.

Mix well, adding flour till your dough I firm but slightly sticky

Divide dough into 6 sections.

Let rise 60 – 90 min

Divide each dough ball in half.

Flatten and roll into circle (hah!)

Let rest 5 min.

Heat fry pan to medium (cast iron works great!)

Coat lightly with a bit of olive oil.

Fry each rolled out dough ball till lightly brown on each side.

Very yummy.

Enjoy!

Asking for Wisdom

The following is a letter I wrote for two friends of mine, both of which are having their first baby later this month.

In a few short weeks you will be holding a brand new life in your arms. This little one, the evidence of the love you share with your husband, will bring much joy, much frustration, much laugher, many tears. There will be days that you soar high, loving each and every moment of motherhood; there will be days when bedtime can’t come quick enough – and as soon as your head hits the pillow you will hear the dreaded cry of, “Mama!” This little one will bring you a new perspective on life – you will see the world through a whole new set of eyes. This little one will bring new beginnings. This little one will bring you to the end of yourself.

When I first had Abigail, I thought I knew it all. Just ask any of the unfortunate parents that had children shortly before Abbi was born. I had all the answers. And then came the arrival of the most beautiful girl ever born. My wisdom lasted a short while… but quickly ran out. Soon the questions started flowing in and all my answers faded into theory. I was left with a numb mind and a baby without a user manual: For your sake, I hope your wee person comes with one – but I doubt you will be so fortunate!

So, here I am today with not only one, but TWO beautiful girls and TWO daring boys. And I have an even greater deficit of answers to an even larger array of questions.

Fortunately, I’ve learned to ask for wisdom:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

~ James 1:5

Now, notice that it says that if you lack wisdom ASK! It may seem silly, but there have been SO many times that I’ve been faced with a problem, vainly wondering WHAT I am to do, frustrated because the wisdom I so desire just plain isn’t coming! Argh! And then I remember, humble myself and simply ask: “Lord, I need Your wisdom. What on EARTH am I supposed to do right now?!” Believe it or not, an answer comes - if I listen for it.

I need to ask for wisdom EVERY DAY. Honestly, I don’t always ask. When I don’t… well, those are the days that Andrew comes home to a crazy Italian woman who has a sever deficit in patience and kindness, and rather than being slow to get angry I’m walking around looking for something to be irked about. Well, I hope I’m not that bad, but there have been days…

Anyway, in my search for wisdom I happened across the following:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere [without hypocrisy]. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.

~ James 3:17-18

Wisdom from above is pure. When I think of pure, I think of clean – something untarnished by anger or malice, something wholesome and undefiled. Pure.

Wisdom from above is peace loving. That means to me that wisdom from above doesn’t find a mere ‘truce-type’ answer to an argument, but it finds the RIGHT answer; the answer that will yield true and lasting peace for all that are involved.

Wisdom from above I gentle. Hmmm. Gentle. Gentle in voice, gentle in touch. Gentle in word and in deed. Gentle to me is soft and welcoming, pleasant to be around. I want to be gentle for my children! Interestingly, gentleness is also a fruit of the Spirit – I can’t muster up true gentleness. I need to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in me in order to be gentle, which leads to the next one:

Wisdom from above is willing to yield. Yes, yield to others, but also (in my opinion) willing to yield to the Lord. Yes, Lord. Your way, not mine. I will yield my last bite of cookie to my super cute kid; I will yield my moment of quiet to this screaming baby; I will yield my desires to instead meet the needs of this little life that is dependent on me. I yield…

Wisdom from above is full of mercy: Yes, I know you just dropped the WHOLE STACK OF DISHES which I’ve told you 100 times not to carry all at the same time. How many times do I have to tell you?!? No, mercy says, “Oh, honey. Here. Let me help you clean that mess up. Thanks for trying to help. Next time, try and carry FEWER dishes and take more trips; you’ll be less likely to drop them.” Or, “LOOK, Mama! I picked you a flower off of your plant!” WHAT! MY ONLY FLOWER OFF OF MY JADE PLANT! WHY YOU LITTLE RASCAL, I’VE TOLD YOU 100 TIMES TO NOT TOUCH MY PLANTS! No, mercy says, “Hmmm. Thank you, son. It is a pretty flower isn’t it? See the delicate petals? Why, they look like lace!” (For the record, I failed to walk in wisdom that time.)

Wisdom from above is full of good deeds. Good deeds are books read, towers built, art projects made. Good deeds are cooking together in the kitchen, cleaning together (even when it makes a bigger mess), playing outside. Good deeds take all your time… but in the end, they are worth it… and they are good!

Wisdom from above shows no partiality. It doesn’t choose a favorite – no matter how much one child is irritating you today. It doesn’t exclude. It doesn’t ignore or push away.

Wisdom from above is always sincere. It is without hypocrisy. Wisdom from above says what is meant and means what is said - without sarcasm, without blame, without pouring out shame. It is sincere in love.

So, my friends, you are about to begin one of the hardest things you will ever do. May you heartily embrace this thing called motherhood, and may you never be too proud to cry out for wisdom.

Quote for the Day

The following must be a result of having a nursing mother in the house!

After supper, while eating oranges:

Abbi: "OOooo! Can I have a baby orange, too?"

Me: "Sure, if there is one."

Abbi: "We mostly have mama oranges, right?"

Me: "Uh huh."

Phin: "And Papa oranges?"

Abbi: "No. Just mama oranges 'cause they're filled with the goodness that we get to eat!"

Family Life - there is nothing like it!

The past couple of days the kids have been filled with imagination: They have built houses, cooked meals, and taken care of horses. They've jumped off of houseboats with barrels tied to their backs (like in "Ping, the Duck"), driven to the store in their couch-car to buy colorful milk, and been wild indians. It is fun to watch them play together and even better to listen to them laugh! They are growing so fast and changing everyday.

It is fun to rediscover the world through their eyes - when I take the time to do so. Everything is so fresh and new. The other day a wee little gold finch hit the window and was stunned. I went outside, picked it up and brought it in. Each of the kids, save Lydia, had a chance to hold the delicate creature. Their energy filled world slammed to a stop and they suddenly moved in slow motion, quietly cupping their hands as they waited their turn to gently grasp the little bird. Loud laughing voices were suddenly silenced into whispered "Ooo's" and "Aahhhhs." They watched his rapid breath and giggled at the quick movements of his tail.

Right now, the memory of that quiet and contained energy is far away - a distant thought that is more like a yearned for dream: there are squawks and screeches, peels of laughter and loud growls as three children are vainly trying to get onto the couch - the couch that their Papa is lounging on. King of the couch, mayhaps? Life is so much more fun with a Papa at home!

Lydia has started 'talking' to the kids. She will sit in her little chair and make very girly yowls and yells in her high-pitched voice, demanding their attention. They will start laughing and giggling and she will call all the more. She breaks into wide grins each time one of them pauses to give her a momentary smile or greeting; they grin right back, thoroughly enjoying being the recipient of her affection. (Who wouldn't?!)

Truly, I am enjoying this role as mama. The more I embrace it the better it gets; the more I try to keep a bit of 'time to my self' or demand QUIET! the more frustrated I become.

So, since just about everyone under the sun makes new goals for the New Year, I thought I would share some of mine:

• - Be swift to listen - to my children, my husband, anyone who is talking
• - Stop and look, I mean REALLY look, at the things my children notice
• - Enjoy the things they (my kids) enjoy
• - Say, "Sure" more often, even when it is an inconvenience to me
• - Smile
• - Laugh
• - Be Joyful

Speaking of the New Year, wanna know what we did New Year's Eve? Well, just like any intelligent parent of four wily children that have no regard for adults who would like to sleep in, we went to bed! At 9:30. And we DID sleep in... til around 7:10! So far this year we have had fun company, gone sledding, played games, enjoyed yummy meals, and even gone to a museum!

Now, I need to go do dishes. I would like to have them fade into last year's memory but they followed me into 2010. O well! Dishes and laundry seem to be irremovably intwined with my existence. Maybe I should try embracing them as well??? Eh. I think I'll just endure. *grin!*