Halloween Costume Ideas

Monchichi





Xochichi

Thank You

I've just gone back over some of my posts and have been re-reading all of your wonderful comments. I know I don't always have the time to respond back to each of you individually, and sometimes it may seem as if I don't appreciate them - but I really, really do. I cherish every one - full of encouragement, humor, tips, stories, 'amens'... they're awesome. And I am so thankful for the surprising friendships I have through blogging - old and new. What an amazing bunch of ladies I have around here!

So that's it. Just thank you!

Storytime Lessons

Steele and Justin making rose hip wreathes

This last Tuesday at story time our librarian read the story Ella Sarah Gets Dressed. It is a story about a little girl who is getting dressed and has her own style. Throughout the book, Ella Sarah's family members suggest different outfits for her but Ella Sarah has her own ideas about what she wants to wear. At the beginning of the book, her mother tells her to put something specific on and Ella Sarah replies, "No. I want to wear my pink polka-dot pants, my dress with orange-and-green flowers, my purple-and-blue striped socks, my yellow shoes and my red hat." This continues throughout the book.

As the story comes to a close, Ella Sarah finally puts on her crazy little outfit. As she showed the final illustration of Ella Sarah in her colorful clothing, our librarian looked out at the children and asked, "What do you think? Do you like her outfit?"

And Steele, my sweet squirrely Steele... Steele, who I so often have to remind over and over again about his behavior. Steele, such a typical four-year-old boy, who most commonly acts first and thinks second... piped up in a quiet moment and said confidently
,

Yah. But she disobeyed.

Ahhhh.... This mama's heart was so proud. He's getting it. He understands right from wrong. He recognized that Ella Sarah's disobedience was a problem. He often stares in bewilderment at children who confidently say "No" to their parents. It happened yesterday. I could almost hear the wheels turning as he stared at the little girl in confusion.

It was similar to the look of confusion on the librarian's face when Steele made his own confident statement.

"Why yes. Yes, she did," the librarian said.

The inside flap of the book describes the story in this way:

Ella Sarah isn't like her sister. Or her mother. Or her father. She's like Ella Sarah. And when it's time to get dressed, she knows just what to do.

Most of the time, when I discipline Steele I say to him, "I'm teaching you to obey your Mama and Papa so you grow up to be a man who obeys God." You see, little Ella Sarah isn't much different from the rest of the world's fallen humanity. So often, our sinfulness is justified by claims of self-expression and individuality. It's so deceptive and it leads us away from God's best.

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103: 17

He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.
Proverbs 19:16


I think I would be hard-pressed to find any greater discipline to instill in my children than obedience. Giving, loving others, devotions, sacrifice, corporate worship.... they're all good. But obedience comes first.

But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22


I ask my children regularly, "What come first?" They reply, "Love God." And then I say, "What comes second?" "Love Others."

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. John 14: 23,24


My prayer and goal as I train my children is obedience. Unwavering, joyful, immediate obedience. Obedience first to their parents, and as they grow and mature, to God. Obedience because they know and trust that God loves them and that His ways are always best for them.

And while we're at it, it's my prayer for myself too.

Close

But not quite...

I'd fill you all in on the ongoing saga of my hair but really, who wants to relive that? In the mean time, I'm letting it grow just a tad and then I'll try someone new.... again.

Am I right though? Here's what I think: bangs a little shorter/funkier, sides a little longer, back a little rounder?

Thai Spring Roll Fusion

That's my fancy shmancy made-up name for a made-up dinner I made this last week. Whaddya think? You have to say it slow and with a deep voice like you're an announcer for American Gladiators.

It could also be called: Chicken and Veggie Springrolls with Thai Peanut Sauce

My kids loved it, my husband loved it, I loved it. So I thought I'd share it with you.

Here's the thing about me. Are any of you like this? I'm a main course kinda gal. I rarely make side dishes. In fact, I kind of panic if I'm having company over. Scrambling to find sides. I mean, unless it's a pot roast or something - dishes like this don't really need sides. They have everything you need. You'll see what I mean. And then you can tell me what kind of side you might have added... if any.

Thai Spring Roll Fusion
(Heh heh... I just wanted to say that in my head again)

2-3 c diced chicken (I used about seven frozen chicken tenders from Costco)
2 c chopped cabbage (I think, I wasn't measuring as I went)
1 carrot (shredded... like Jillian Michaels)
1 green onion (chopped)
~1/3 c seasoned rice vinegar (or to taste, I just used the rest of what was in my bottle)
Spring roll wrappers
Peanut Sauce (you'll find the recipe below)

In a bowl, toss the chicken, cabbage, carrot, green onion and rice vinegar.

Prepare the spring roll wrappers. They look like this:

I think you can get them in the Asian section of pretty much any grocery store. When you take them out of the package you'll find these hard, dry wrappers.

As a side note - I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I have been about 99% gluten free since the middle of August. (the leftover 1% accounts for the Greek fest gyro crisis) So a lot of the recipes I post from here on out will be gluten free. For this one I used gf soy sauce too. Yah! I know! Who knew the second ingredient in soy sauce was wheat? Crazy.

So you take the wrapper out and place it in a dish of warm water. My cake pan was just the right size.

Let it sit for a moment (30 seconds to a minute) until it's completely pliable. Then take it out of the water (carefully so it doesn't stick to itself) and lay it on your work area.

Plop down a couple spoonfuls of your chicken and cabbage mixture.

And a spoonful of peanut sauce. (you could always omit this step if you're a dipper)

Hey, where's the dip? All the dips are dancin'

Name that movie...

And roll!

First the end...

Then the sides....

All the way up...

And there you have it.... Thai Spring Roll Fusion!

Here's the sauce recipe. Adapted from the Moosewood Cookbook. Unfortunately, they did not include the peanut sauce recipe in the "New" Moosewood Cookbook. So be sure and write this recipe down and put it in your safety deposit box or something. Because it's the best peanut sauce recipe I've found anywhere.

Peanut Sauce

½ c peanut butter
½ c water
2 T soy sauce
2 T sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1-2 T minced cilantro
Sriracha brand red chili sauce, to taste (I use a couple good sized squirts)

I didn't have any cilantro, which is rare in my home, but I mentioned to Justin that it would have been super yummy with it. Either in the sauce or in the chicken mixture

Mix water and peanut butter until combined. (Go slow or you'll slop it all over yourself and your counter) Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Refrigerate. Serve at room temperature.

Wait for it.... 1:00