I Was A Frazzled (Not Pampered) Mom On Mothers Day

On Mothers Day, I didn't take a break from being a mother. I didn't sleep in, I didn't have breakfast in bed, I didn't run to the spa, and I didn't have flowers sent to my doorstep. Basically, Mother's Day was not a day for relishing in the commercialization of the day. On Mother's Day, I was a mom, just like any other day.

Now, there is nothing wrong with the cards, jewelry, flowers and all of the most of the overhead of the Hallmark Holiday. I certainly enjoyed the little crafts my kids made for me and a special lunch. However, I do think that somehow our culture's ideal has moms taking a break from being a mom of the second Sunday of May. Most moms know better. We are moms every day. Mother's Day isn't any different. Unfortunately many moms (me included) find ourselves needlessly disappointed because the reality of the day doesn't look like what we see in commercials. 

I can attest that there have been some years when I felt like I should just throw in the towel because, well it was that proverbial day in May and my kids didn't even care enough to set aside the sibling squabbling for just a few hours, let alone clean up their rooms without having to be nudged along through the task. Mother's Day can leave mom's feeling kinda crappy. A mom can easily feel more frazzled and unappreciated then the day before. For many women, the day can cause deep pain as they struggle with the loss of children, an unborn baby, or perhaps they desire to be a wife and mother yet are still single. On Mother's Day, we are reminded of the stuff of life, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

So on Mother's Day, I took up my vocation and all its crosses. I woke up in a great mood, you would have thought it was Christmas morning by my daughter's excitement. My family and I had breakfast and began to get ready for church. Soon the tiredness and impatience began to set in. When the kids didn't follow directions and began to whine and doing everything else but get dressed it was pretty easy to get grumpy and lose it. I didn't feel like a queen for the day, I felt like a sinner. My rest didn't come from crawling back to bed, it came from dragging myself to church to hear that my sin are forgiven.

For many of us the standards of Mother's Day leave us feeling frazzled as if something magical should take over for the day, but reality set in. The normal things we do daily, like caring for our kids, changing diapers, doing dishes, can seem like bothersome tasks in our desire to be spoiled it easy to think that of all days we should not have to do them. Then the rubber hits the road when on all days an appliance breaks. Then suddenly we feel like crap because it's Mother's Day and we deserve better.  It can be so easy to spend the next week wallowing in our self-pity.

Mother's Day is a day for normal life. Just like every other day our Old Adam seeks to wear us down and steal away the joy of our vocations. As a mother, I am called to love my neighbors, my husband, and my kids, in that task. The job is a blessing, but the Old Adam would rather have moms feeling like the job is a burden. For me, the lie of the devil is that I am not really all that appreciated. Oh, how easily I believe the lie. Oh, how tempting it is to take it all for granted.

In the restoration of Christ, however, the burden becomes light. He takes the struggles and sins of motherhood to the cross. He lifts us up with words of comfort and peace. Christ restores, through His gifts, the soul of mothers, fathers, and children, so that we can serve each other in faithfulness, love, and joy on Mother's Day and every day.

So yes when being a mom is a task that has me pretty much frazzled day in and day out it's good to know that in Christ I have the freedom to cherish the task and ponder the moments with my family in my heart.

Many Changes, Worries, Transitions In Daily Routines, Yet Rooted In Christ

Suddenly life is happening very quickly. This past month has brought on a lot of changes and new opportunities. A new home, the to-do list of unpacking and settling in, a new job, kids who are now a year older, a looming birthday for myself (yikes 34), a few exciting opportunities, and more responsibilities. All of these things are exciting and worth being quite happy about. Yet, so much change so quickly has a way of stressing me out, making me anxious, and challenging me.

Now, I certainly know that all of these is the normal stuff of life. Such things are not unique to just me and my experience. Everyday life in its own right has a way of being chaotic. When our plates get full we can easily get overwhelmed. Normal life can leave us feeling perplexed as if we are a tumbleweed without any roots.  It's easy to lose track of who we are.

People move all the time.  From one continent to another, or from one state to the next. We simply moved across town.  So what gives when I feel homesick? I think it has a lot to do with leaving good and bad memories behind. I wholeheartedly LOVE our new place, but there is still the gap of not having created many memories in this home yet while the past seems so far out of reach. Also, there are the new routines that come with a new home. Certainly these routines are good, but establishing them takes discipline. Discipline and planning the management of a household is hard work, and not everything always happens the way I'd like. The kids knew their routines before, but it seems much of that has to be retaught because the laundry hamper and toy boxes are in a different location. Establishing new routines challenges my patience... and perhaps my sanity.

It's the same with the kids having birthday's and getting older. All the memories seem so very far away.  My kids grew up so much in the past five years at our old house.  The move draws a lot of attention to this, along with the celebration of three birthdays. I miss the toddler days, the sweet baby smell and soft coo's and silly giggles at their daddy. This is amplified as I still continue to grieve the two that passed away before they were born. Yes, even years later, these things stick with you. Memories that seem so long ago or that never were. The thoughts of what should have been, linger in my mind. I certainly adore watching the kid grow through each stage, I just wish the other stages didn't seem to vanish so quickly.  What if I forget how they were as little kids?

What If????

Changes in life, even when they are good lead me to ponder the "what if" question a lot. Even positive changes can leave one feeling insecure or fearing that somehow everything is going to turn bad. A new job as exciting as it is can bring on a good share of worry too. What if my new boss is difficult? Will I fit in with my co-workers? Will I miss big moments in the life of my kids now? Is my marriage strong enough?  How am I going to spend all of this new income? I quickly can get carried away thinking I should control it all on my own.

Life changes have a way of turn our eyes back to ourselves. We easily can become prideful, greedy, conceded, puffed-up or the stress of it all can cause us to crumble into our anxiety. The devil wants nothing more than to use the circumstances of our life to tempt us and cause us to doubt who we are in Christ.

As much as life changes one thing never does. Christ and His Word. His promises remain the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. When I worry, sin and doubt, Christ takes me up and finds me, calling me through His Word and Sacrament. There in the Divine Service I receive forgiveness, righteousness, salvation and strength. When all the changes wear me down, Christ says come to me and I will give you rest. Our Good Shepherd doesn't send us out to be lost in the pasture of life.  He comes with us.  All our needs He well provides us.

When the tumbleweeds and thorns of a fallen world seek to drag us out of the fertile soil, God's Word reminds us to be still and know that even as life changes we are still redeemed and rooted in Christ. As my family and I gather for devotions and prayer we find rest and stability through the working of the Holy Spirit in this restful routine. We are also reminded that the stuff of life, home, family, love, joy, memories are gracious gifts of our Heavenly Father. As a family, we remember who's we are, children of God in our baptism. We, therefore, are rooted to bear the crosses of life, all life's changes and transitions in peace with each other within our vocations as we live and serve together.

Moving Frenzy Meanderings!

Moving is just tons of fun.  Let me tell you... packing box after box, loading a truck, unloading the truck, dealing with the dirty messes in the back of the closets, wiping down cabinets, is about the most entertaining thing to do in the world.  NOT! The process of moving, even just across town, pretty much sucks.  It's daunting work. And seriously my family has a way to much crap. Less is more, and we need to learn this. In the end, it's a pretty great thing to be moving from one place to the next, especially since our new place is much more cozy! Even though, the workload is hard, knowing that this move comes flowing from God's provision for my family makes the work a joyful task.

In all of this I have realized that my husband and I have a wonderful blessing in our ability to work together.  As he works, pouring sweat, and even a little blood, I marvel at how he loves our family so much. It's a labor of love to carry out and in, box after box of books, dressers, tables and chairs, and couches. It's been my honor to help him as best I can though I offer little strength, he has been gracious and happy to have my help.  He gives really good directions for how to lift something properly and doesn't get impatient.  When a couple or a family moves there is plenty of room for disagreement and tension. This has not been our experience, and I know that this flows out of Christ being the head of our marriage. I thank God, that in this hectic time, a fruit our marriage has yielded is mutual cooperation.  So much, so that I have to say that this move has been pleasantly memorable. Even when a large tall storage cabinet fell off the hand truck crashing and breaking all over the street we were able to laugh.

Moving can bring on so many different thoughts and emotions.  It's difficult to leave the memories, good and bad, behind. Then there's fear that the new place or neighborhood may have issues. Moving brings many changes to life in a very short amount of time. It can effect routines especially. However, I am determined that these changes will be for the better. New place new habits.  I am not so sure the kids will be entirely thrilled with this approach, but whatever I'm the mom.

Every time we move I fret over if the house will feel like home. Currently, we feel a bit like we are on vacation, even with our stuff scattered everywhere, as the condition of the house is a vast improvement.  Even as things still feel a bit surreal after just two nights, I am surprised by how quickly we feel at home. There's room for our family to be a family. Which is a very good thing! Family is what makes a house a home.

Now I better get back to work unpacking!

Supporting Parents With Kids Age 5-10

Alright, what is the deal with parents who's kids are between the age of 5-10 being pretty much ignored by moms groups, parenting groups, congregations, and whatever else. There is so much out there for parents of babies, toddlers, and even parents with teens. But parental support for these years, not as much.  Yeah, we might be getting a little more sleep, but we still need support and care.  Seriously! What gives?  I've noticed that parents of this age group tend to be cast into the shadows of churches and congregations, in terms of parental support. We have words of comfort for the momma who's toddler is rolling Cheerios's under the pew during worship, but we ignore (roll our eyes at) the father trying to get his 8-year-old to stand up during the Gospel reading and listen.  No, a "less boring" style change in the worship service or offering children's church is not support.  It's not that we don't love these parents and their kiddo's, but, it seems like many of the issues families deal with during these years can tend to be overlooked.  Is there some kind of societal assumption that parenting gets tremendously easier as soon as they walk into kindergarten?  Did I miss the memo?  Do things change as kids get older?  Yeah.  Does it get easier to be a parent? Ummm... Sorry to say, not so much.

I love each stage of childhood.  I loved parenting an infant, running after a toddler, and playing with a preschooler.  I wholeheartedly like having big kids.  This stage is great and full of joy in many ways.  But families with kids aged 5-10 still have a cross to bear, we are still sinners, we still struggle, we still need support.   Parents and kids have a lot on their plate during these years.  There are many decisions to make.  Should a mom stay at home or work, what's best for the family?  Homeschool, private school, public?  What activities are the kids going to participate in?   All of these decisions are difficult, we may have to make them more than once during these years and the years to come.  We need support and encouragement. It's alarming that most of the time parents find themselves having to defend their reasoning.  Or they find that parenting kids of this age group is highly competitive!  Parents so easily can get slammed for being a bad parent, over the tiniest things.

So what can we do to support them?

1. Understand the difficulties kids of this age face

Issues with school tend to be some of the most difficult challenges.  Many kids struggle with something, math, reading, study skills, making friends, following the rules, nervousness, and on and on the list can go.  Parents go to great pains to help their kids, but these issues can cause so much heartache.  It might just be the homework routine has run the family ragged. Seriously, the homework hour can be messy ugly scene every night.

Parents of this age group also have to help their kids understand the world around them.  Kids become aware of news stories, and when bad things happen.  Kids get curious about the birds and bees during these years.  Then there is the talks about substance abuse and drugs. Uncomfortable discussions become a habit.  These are important conversations, but that doesn't make the task easy.

Disciplining children of this age can be hard also, they still throw tantrums (and talk back)... and now they are bigger, you can't carry them out of a public place if you need to.  Parents struggle with embarrassing situations all the time.  Parents need friends of their own age during this age, it can be tempting to forego the discipline of the child in exchange for a "friendship". Parents also struggle at letting their kids become independent during these years, we want to keep them from hurt and harm, it can be hard to get out of the way sometimes.  Encourage us to keep up the good work, training up our child, encourage us to be the parent and to stay firm.

2.  Respect the busy schedule

Families can be far too busy during these years.  School, jobs, sports, music camps, and whatever else can be very enriching and fulfilling, yet the dark side of all of this is often times families quickly become overextended.  In part, this has to do with so many parents and kids trying to live up to ideal standards. Let's give each other a break here and stop competing. Instead of judging our family schedule help us set faithful priorities.

3. Support And Forster Family Devotion Time

There is so much a congregation can do to equip parents and kids for a family devotion time.  Supply the right resources, and be a community that prioritizes the habit.  A lot of times certain congregational activities (ahem... meetings) can detract from families having the time they need to gather around God's Word throughout the week.  It's time to stop calling things like basketball or movie night a "ministry". Rather, help families see what family devotions looks like by using the prayer services in the hymnal, during the week. Support and promote home catechesis. Encourage fathers to take up the task of teaching their children the faith.  Don't clobber men for not being manly enough, instead show them how to lead their families by rightly preaching the law and Gospel on Sunday mornings. Mom's need good preaching too!  Families don't  need a checklist feel good self-help sermon... we need Christ crucified for us.   This is a most excellent thing for families and believers from cradle to grave.

So please don't forget about us parents who may seem to have hit a mountain top in the world of child rearing.  It's great to have elementary aged kids.  But it is not all milk and cookies.  We need the support of other families, friends, teachers, pastors, and those of you who have walked the path of parenthood before us.

Afternoon Coffee Break

I am a coffee lover.  I have to have a least 3 pots... umm... cups (wink) a day  No, it's not a hipster thing.  Maybe it's a Lutheran thing.  I have been drinking coffee from the time I was in Jr. High, perhaps before. Yes, I know it probably stunted my growth but whatever.  I blame my grandma who included us in her afternoon coffee time, church, and the explosion of coffee chains during the 90's.  A lot has changed from the time I was sipping my brown milk sweetened with 5 packs (more if it was at church) or so of sugar.  I remember the day the barista at Barnie's convinced a bunch of 15-year-old band nerds to try a cappuccino, that was a huge surprise.  I remember actually liking that instant crap from the machine at the gas station.  What a thrill is was to discover flavoring syrups, vanilla lattes pumpkin spice, and mocha?  Then of course my sister and I were the coolest when for Christmas we received a cappuccino machine! We quickly learned that we could not use hot water to speed up the process one night when we were hosting our own coffee shop, yuck!

Now for as much as I like coffee, and probably in the pasted considered myself a coffee snob (though I never made the effort to only use Dasani water for brewing) I think I can say without a doubt I am not a coffee snob.  These are my top reasons why.

I Don't Get A Raging Headache

For as much coffee as I consume each day I'm quite fortunate that I do not  a headache when I don't get my coffee.  Really this is most fortunate for my husband on those mornings when the coffee cabinet is surprisingly bare.  Now if I went for more than a day without that may be a different story.  Yeah, I'm not going to push my luck with a coffee fast, that would be crazy.

I Don't Really Care For Flavor Infused Coffee

So we all know that Lutheran's love paradox, I am a good Lutheran so it applies in my coffee drinking preferences as well.  In most cases, I do not like flavored coffee. In Fact most of the time I find flavored coffee to taste like rubbing alcohol.   Yet, my favorite cup of Joe is a maple flavored coffee served at Maple Street Biscuit Company.   This is the smoothest and most balanced blend I've ever tasted.  It's is perfect with just a splash of half and half.  I am sure it's a cult favorite. 

Flavored Creamers Also Sorta Suck The Yum Out Of Coffee

Unless it's something to do with Mocha, cause chocolate rarely is wrong in coffee.   Flavored creamers taste fake, like the chemicals they are made out of. Eww. Most of the time syrups are meh also.  Though I am not a coffee snob, so I grin and bear it when I need to steal a few sips of my hubby's coffee. Really if I'm going to put anything in my coffee it's half and half or, of course, Baily's or Jameson. 

Starbucks Is Meh... Really

I do not like Starbucks brewed coffee at all. I like when I make it at home but not from the store. It tastes burnt. Surprisingly McDonald is better and cheaper.  The coffee at Gate gas station is even better. Now I do enjoy a peppermint mocha and in the summer an iced coffee.  Usually when I go (which is not often anymore) I prefer a chi latte extra spicy.  But that's tea, not coffee so I digress. 

This Girl Does Not Do Dunkin...

YUCK! That is all. 

I Do Not Own A Keurig Nor Do I Want To

My coffee pot works fine.  Honestly, I am most content simply brewing up a good full pot of coffee at home.  Most of the time it's Folgers, Seattle's Best, Ikea, or whatever.  I don't care for instant coffee,  I need more that eight watery ounces at a time.  Another thing having to do with coffee pots is I really do not care if it's a paper filter or metal, I don't taste the difference, so convenience wins out on that one. I do own things like a coffee press and a cappuccino machine, but those are for special moments.  And seriously a good cup of black coffee makes any moment that much better. 

Coffee is a daily bread blessing, it's a staple each and every day.  It really doesn't matter what you like or don't like. Coffee adds hospitality to things like grocery shopping.  Yes, I appreciate the free cup of coffee from Publix.  It's the perfect accompaniment to most foods. Coffee is fantastic while when cheering on the kids b-ball game, enduring a road trip, watching movies, when curling up with a good book, or studying theology.   Coffee, like music, has a special way of bringing people together.  So enjoy a few moments, take a coffee break, and brew up a friendly conversation.

How do you take your coffee? 

They Do Grow Up

Now that yet another Christmas is past and a new year begun the strain of just how quickly the kids are growing up is present yet again. Terrible twos, toddles, crawling, first steps, babbling new words, and animal sound games, have faded into memories that seem as close as yesterday but yet as far as an eon ago.  It doesn't matter if you are a stay at home mommy or a working mama the idea that the years slip by far too quickly has its way with us all.  No matter how many times they sing "I Won't Grow Up" from Peter Pan,  kids do grow up, it happens way to fast, and it tugs at my mommy heart.

Turning chapters can be difficult.   As a mother of four I can hardly remember what it was like to be a mother of one.  How can it be that my baby is nearly halfway through kindergarten? It seems like time is a vacuum. For me, it seems like the memories are in danger of slipping away.  They won't I know, though I probably should spend a little more time documenting family trips, important events, and what day to day life is like teaching these four miracles what life is.

On the other hand growing up can be extremely exciting!  There is much to look forward to. Older kids can handle more difficult things.  It's nice to have kids who can cook breakfast or bake some cookies.   It was a joy to watch my six-year-old ride learn her bike without training wheels this month.   I love that my nine-year-old has an intense interest in history.  It gives him so much to talk about!  When he was two he was too busy to tell you his opinions about things unless it had to do with vegetables, he just wanted to run and me to chase.  It's great to see the kids develop new skills, as they become athletic, musical, a driven student, and a caring friend.  Each child's unique personality brings liveliness to our family.

When it comes to adolescence, in many ways, the past has prepared me for the present.  It's a hard time.  I have no qualms in saying adolescence brings suffering.  There is, however, much to gain from this stage.  Just like a three-year-old needs a parent's gentle guidance as they figure out what they need, so do preteens.  My daughter still needs hugs, cuddles,  a shoulder to cry on, and even someone to fight with from time to time.  Being the oldest she doesn't know just how much she has shaped me as a parent.  She has allowed me to teach her as she had taught me how to hold back and give independence.  As they grow it is no small phenomenon, I'm sure, when in the midst of discussing what's appropriate for boy-girl relationships at this age (just friends) you find that she agrees!  This certainly flows from a trust she has for her parents.  Or, perhaps she is just our easy one :)

It is an honor and a blessing to care for and watch them grow.  It a joy to spend wild crazy times together.  Nothing beats our quite times as a family, reading together or spending time around God's Word.  In my vocation as a parent, I have faltered many times, daily.  I've been too pushy, or overly distracted (silly Facebook), impatient, grumpy, lazy and so on.  It comes down to the fact as a sinner I  am self-centered.  Yet, in Christ my family knows forgiveness, we are bound by it,  reconciled to each other.  This certainly shapes our family life; past, present, and future.

While I can't slow down time, it is good for me to remember that there is still a lot of time left.  I can remember that they need me to be the mom, and still need me and their dad to be present.  Even as they continued to get older and they  want to spend more time with friends than with family, they will still need that family bonding time to prepare them for their own families.  Most of all they will need mercy and encouragement.  So I will relish this time, cherishing the past, embracing the present, and looking forward to the future.

Handshaking Isn't The Epitome Of Sportsmanship But A Handshake Can Benefit Christian Worship

Yep I'm an FSU fan.  I get that FSU hasn't been the "sweetheart" team in the world of college football this year.  I also get that many in the media have taken advantage of finding ways to generate a controversial story.    I am proud of my team, they have had quite the run of undefeated success, that is until the Rose Bowl on the Jan 1st.  A lot went wrong during the game and mistakes were made, this happens in sports.  All teams have suffered losses like this.  I think all college athletes should be treated with respect over the time and effort they put forth.  That's why I am highly disgruntled over the unfair finger pointing over players leaving the field and heading back to the locker room without shaking hands with Oregon.  Let's be honest, the whole indecent would have gone basically unnoticed had it not been for Kirk Herbstreit attempting to be a whistleblower.  He of all people should know that there is not a formal ceremony for an exchange of handshaking at this level, specifically during the postseason when the bowl committee is eager to get to the trophy ceremony.  having been at bowl games before I know that the end of the game is like as those hosting the game direct the shots.

Yes, there are times when players shake hands, yet this pleasantry is not law or a rule.  College Football is not a group of young kids playing soccer.  Returning to the locker room peacefully was just fine.  FSU simply let the Ducks enjoy the moment of their well-deserved win. They may have also been avoiding conflict in regards to inappropriate chanting from a few of their opponents.  Hours later the majority of Alabama players also returned to the locker room without shaking hands with the players from Ohio.  Going straight to the locker room does not indicate that an athlete is a poor sport, lacking in class, or whatever. Sportsmanship is more than a handshake. Because at the end of the day a sweaty handshake on a field doesn't have very much lasting value.  It's interesting that so many people have gotten quite shaken up over the lack of handshaking in college football, perhaps it shows that people do have a soft spot for tradition after all.  Or we can at least observe in this case that many like tradition especially  when others don't live up to their standard of it.

There Is A Handshake That Means Quite A Lot

In many churches, there is a practice of shaking hands before or within the service.  This practice, through  historically liturgical, remains even in contemporary settings.  It's a wonderful practice, but unfortunately often very misunderstood.   The sharing of the peace is more than a moment of pleasantry or hospitality or even sportsmanship.  Worshiping Christians aren't shaking hand to simply say "hello".  The practice is not some kind of verbal name tag either.  This practice is a symbol of what true fellowship is to be under the cross. Congregations are bound together in forgiveness.  The sharing of the peace is a greeting of a handshake (or a hug) and the words "the peace of the Lord be with you".  The confession this practice makes finds its theological roots in the Fifth Petition of The Lord's Prayer, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us".

How easy it is to become a curmudgeon holding back from extending this handshake and greeting.  Sometimes we fear it may be too chaotic, or simply take too much time.  Or worse we realize our struggle with the fact that Christ's forgiveness is good also for those who have hurt us.  In this, we join Jonah under the vine, grumbling over the great mercy and grace our God freely gives.  Though just as it is with the rest of the liturgy the Word of God draws our eyes away from our selfish way and onto Himself.  In Christ, the sharing of the peace becomes a blessing.

As God's children, we are gathered around the very words and promises of Christ given to us in worship.  We are declared forgiven of our sins and reconciliation with God.  In Christ, this reconciliation is extended into the relationships of the worshipers.  The greeting is a confession of neighborly love and care, as described by St Paul in 1 Cor. 11,  as we come to the cross where we bear with each other as we are strengthened and sustained in the righteousness that comes from receiving the very body and blood of Christ in the Lord's Supper.  The gift of peace that is poured upon us blesses us to live in harmony bound up in love as we serve each other in times of happiness, temptation, and suffering.  The beautiful greeting of handshakes, hugs, and words of peace continues as a beloved practice not because of what we  do in it but because of how it serves the church.

Peace be with you! 

Fall Weekend Musings, Pumpkin Patches, Planes, Hikes, Yard Sales, And Other Fun Times

I love this time of year.  The cool fall weather, a slower schedule, and fun times with family. Each season of the year offers great opportunities for family memories.  I am just particularly fond of October weekends in Florida.  Of course being in the south we don't have that rich fall feeling, so much of it has to be fabricated with imported decorations.  But it still is a lot of fun.  Boy is it nice to open the windows up and let in the breeze!

This autumn has been extraordinary,  offering ample amounts of family time over the weekends. An Oktoberfest, time with grandparents, and reconnecting with friends has made this fall very pleasant.  One Saturday we headed out to one of my favorite little places, Maple Street Biscuit Company, down in Jax Beach.  It a great gathering place offering a rustic feel and a flaky biscuit topped with chicken, fried goat cheese, and pepper jelly. Yummy.  The maple bark coffee is golden! I just love it.  My quest for the best cup of coffee starts and ends here. I love this place on Saturdays for the friendly crowd.  From there we hit up a fall festival. The kids enjoyed the climbing on the fire truck, wondering through the pumpkin patch and bounce houses.

We continued our day out and about with a quick stop at the new Trader Joe's in town. What a fun place.  It can be chaotic sometimes, but I thoroughly enjoy shopping as a family.  We picked up some stuff for dinner and continued our quaint day after dropping the groceries at home.  The day was perfect for a short hike.  It's amazing that we can escape the sounds of the city suburbs at our local arboretum.  I will have to write a separate blog on this place one day.  It's enjoyable to let the kids lead the way down the rugged trails while my husband and I enjoy hanging in the back for a lively conversation. It's amazing to observe the curiosity of kids as the notice all the details of nature.  They love to explore.  The day was simple and beautiful.  

This last weekend was also just as wonderful and full of sweet memories.  Much of Saturday was spent hitting up some yard sales.  We did quite well for ourselves and came home a nice pile of loot.  We did find a few things we needed too.  I also learned a valuable lesson on deal making, always count how many items are in a pile before you make an offer.  Yes, I managed to swindle my own self out of $1.75.  I came upon a pile of very new calendar kitchen towels.  Now these linen towels can be hard to come by, and the designs are nostalgically awesome.  Looking through the pile I just assumed there was at least $8-$10 worth there, I quickly offered $4 for the stack.  The lady (who was very nice) said she didn't know, in a rush I raised my offer to $5.  The lady sister, the owner of the towels, came out at that moment.  They took my offer.  None of us actually counted the towels that were originally priced at 25 cents (I'm sure the ladies were not trying to be dishonest)  As I counted the 15 towels in the car, my husband very lovingly pointed out that I had paid too much.  We had a good laugh.  I still feel as if I got a very good deal for the towels. Besides that the next house we stopped at was the kind of people that love to load cute kids up with stuff.  One kid walked away with a pilot's hat, and the other with a kid size beach chair. Not to mention the nearly new ski jackets we paid $2 each for.  Score! 

The fun doesn't stop there.  Now that the sequesters have been lifted, it means the Blue Angels and the air show are back. We had a blast watching the planes do their loop de loops in the sky!  Sitting in the van for a like an eternity to get out of the parking lot once the show was over was far less exciting, but a good lesson in patience none the less. 

This current season had been a heartwarming time. It's been filled with busy moments, sports, and homework, and new challenges.  Our family has turned into a different chapter as the kids continue to grow up (sigh). My husband and I grow closer together as well. I cherish the deep companionship with have together.  Our family vocations are such a joy.  There is no other person I would want to share this life with.  We have been so richly blessed.  I look forward to more of this season as we approach Thanksgiving. 

I can't tell you how much I love the rhythm of the autumn.  It's sweeter than a pumpkin spice latte.  The church year just adds to it.  The liturgical calendar is so rich and robust as we move through the end of Pentecost, thorough Reformation, All Saints Day, various other feast days and into Advent.  As we look to Christ holding fast to His promise of forgiveness, life, and salvation.  It marvels me how week in and week out this life in Christ shapes our lives together in times fun and cheer, but in times of sorrow as well.   We are most abundantly loved by our amazing God. 

Thanks for stopping by! What's your favorite thing about this fall season?  Leave your comments below. 

The Fruits Of Going Down To The Farmers Market

Over the bridge we went and past the stadium, watch out for those mega screens they distract driving...but hey largest screens in the NFL...Jacksonville's claim to fame. On to the farmers market to shop until we dropped. I've now made the trip twice (I've been before maybe annually or less) sense posting my goal to plan and cook better meals for my family, all while saving a buck or two.

Saving money on food these days seems like an impossible feat.  Yeah it's pretty much impossible especially if you love bacon.  

The first trip was just the hubby and I.  It was like a "date" Saturday morning. We actually got to hold hands as we walked!  We had a great time strolling though the stands which all pretty much offered the same fare with slightly different prices.  We walked on until we were offered a sample of Jerk Jelly.  Yummylisous! A plus to this concoction is that it versatile and can be used on meat and veggies.  I enjoy supporting peoples "cabin kitchens" but I think I will be making this combination of molasses, honey, peppers and spices in my own kitchen because I can make it for less then half the cost of the $8 we paid.  

From there we hit the "mother load" a stand with boxes of Bistro Salad kits $6 a box which contained six salad kits! This was going to be perfect for the first week of school.  Of course the kids didn't really want them but they served as easy lunches for Matt and I. The only down fall to these kits was the odor (an unappetizing stinky feet smell) when we first peeled the packages open. I think this smell was the preservatives. 

The next booth we came to the guy was ready to sell.  We made out with a bundle of fruits and veggies for a very good price.  

And so our first meandering though the farmers market was pretty great. 

Our second trip included the kids.  This was also fun.  They really enjoyed the sights of so many different kinds of fruits and veggies. The weather was like a smoldering broiler room which kept our trip short.  I really wanted to get some good peaches, but hurried out because the kids were hot. The thing that four kids do when they are hot is hang on each other just to ensure no one is cooler then another, apparently.  Oh, and whine a plenty.  There wasn't any cheese available so we had to leave.

Over all we still made out okay returning home with a pretty good bundle for less the $30.  I got two avocado's for $1.  However they were ripe, one being "eat this moment" ripe. The ripe avocado went well with the salsa we bought. The salsa and fresh made chips were a bit of a splurge.  Yet again I like to support the local "cabin kitchen"... I'm a sucker. The guy was so happy to give the kids samples (heaps) of chips and salsa. However like the jerk jelly I will be aiming to make my own salsa.  We also bought some cactus pears to try.  

After these two trips I have concluded there will be a learning curve to actually making the extra stop in the grocery routine worth it. Lesson one is to keep walking until a vendor starts making offers, this is the way to get a deal. The second lesson is that it can be tempting to over buy. Spoilage is lurking as the produce is not kept in a nice cool building.  I lost one tomato from trip two the very next day.  In this sense the odds have to be ever in your favor when buying produce that maybe ripe but cheep.  I also lost half a bag of stir fry mix because I couldn't figure out how to use it with the other things I was cooking.  If I would have had my act together I could have  made it into a soup...but alas who really wants soup in August. It is also helpful to have the fridge/freezer and kitchen ready for prep and packing up of items as soon as I arrive home. On the second trip I took a tote bag...so helpful.  

The meal I made with the stir fry mix was lovely. I prepared it with a little wok oil and used the jerk jelly on some pork chops.  The kids enjoyed plums, pineapple, and bananas in their lunches. My most favorite "fruit" of the market is the smoothies I've made in the mornings. After the kids had their fill of strawberries on day one I sliced and froze the rest of them as they were pretty ripe. When assembling the smoothie I just thew into the blender the strawberries, some banana and blueberries (frozen from a u-pick it farm expedition earlier in the summer) yogurt, juice and or milk.  The results are so delirious, better than that place that claims to be king of smoothies. Each child is very happy with this cool breakfast treat.  It makes the early morning rush just a bit brighter.  

Well I certainly have some learning to do as some of the results were serendipitous and others were fuzzy with unwelcome mold, I think I will continue the venture down to the farmers market each week... or perhaps more.   

Presently I have an eggplant I need to figure out what to do with.