Audaciter Matris

These years that we are in right now, these years with all small ones all around our feet, will forever be known as the Age of Coffee. The years in which my adrenal system shut down, we survived on coffee alone, chaos ensued, memories were made, babies snuggled…and blood was shed.

Again.

Charis’s chin has been healing very quickly, thanks to the most magnificent shea butter on earth. (Seriously, the stuff is amazing!  I apply it as soon as there is a good scab and the scab quickly falls off because the skin has healed so well. We’ll keep putting it on the scar and I expect to see that shrink quickly as well. I’m just sayin’… completely unrefined shea butter is a miracle worker when you live in a house where folks are always splittin’ their skin open.)

So, Brent was working. On a Friday night. Again. Arwen was spinnning joyously around the room with Mary the cat. She slipped. And then there was the scream. It sounded so familiar, just like when Charis split her chin open. But this time, I was experienced! I kept my sane-Mommy-hat on this time, thank you very much.

Arwen had split her doggone head open right at the hairline. It was just like Charis’s chin, but only about 1/3 as deep of a cut, thank goodness. I cleaned the wound like a pro. Then I found out I have a butterfly closure handicap. I called Natalie. Umm…again. (Yes, it’s okay, go ahead and laugh at me.) She was in the middle of her own crisis and advised that I shave the hair that was in my way.

It just couldn’t be avoided. Arwen’s hair line takes a bit of a dip on the left side of her head now. All those little baby hairs and a small chunk of full grown hair was preventing me from getting the butterfly closures to actually stick and hold the wound shut. (I’ll admit I briefly thought about using super glue. But can you imagine if it didn’t work?! Showing up at the emergency room and having to explain that I put SUPER GLUE in my child’s wound and now it was stuck and I couldn’t get it shut?? LOL)

So, I got my razor and explained that I was going to shave her head like I shaved my legs. She was so brave! She sat very still while I chipped away at her hairline. I also had to trim the hair that was in the area that split open. I had to take about an inch of it off, and finally the bandages stuck to her soft skin.

I calmly ignored the chaos going on behind my back while I worked with the skill of a surgeon, ya’ll. Evelyn was screaming her head off, I have no clue where Charis was, and Ezra was doing this:

The exposure is a little off, but take my word for it. The boy had taken the entirety of the last roll of toilet paper in the house and wadded it up in the toilet bowl. (We potty trained him just the day before!) See how proud he is? He pointed to it like he had done me some sort of favor.

As Evelyn continued to scream and fuss, I fished it all out with the handle of the plunger into a plastic bag.

Then I turned to whip up a quick lasagna. (First I turned on Toy Story to keep the little ones occupied because I was all out of tricks…and brain power.)

I also have a lasagna handicap. I’m not sure why, but it always takes me twice the amount of ingredients called for to complete all the layers in the recipe. I found myself having to chant to remember what I was doing. In my mind, “sauce, noodles, cheese, sauce, noodles, cheese, sauce, noodles, cheese...” Because if I didn’t chant, I couldn’t remember what in the heck I was doing in the kitchen.

It’s a good life, with all these little people. It’s insane and hectic and completely random. We know… we’re crazy! But one day it’s going to all pay off. We’ll have a house full of wonderful big kids to lend a hand and make their own mark on the world.

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Monday: Eggs, Bagels//sesame chips//peanut butter sandwiches//fruit+ plain yogurt//Chicken and Spinach Salad w/ homemade ranch dressing

Tuesday: Oats (soaked in Kefir)//plums//peanut butter sandwiches w/ milk//veggies and dip//Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Wednesday: Bagels, Eggs//trail mix//noodles and veggies//popcorn//hot dogs and tots

Thursday: POTTY TRAINING EZRA TODAY!! Soaked Oats//celery + almond butter//GIRLS OUT TO LUNCH!//Popcorn//Seven Bean and Barley Soup

Friday: Bagels, Eggs//fruit//leftover soup//trail mix//Lasagna + salad

Saturday: Soaked Oats//milk + muffins//leftover lasagna//celery + almond butter//mahi tacos

Sunday: Bagels, Eggs//at church//at Whole Foods//milk//Rotisserie Chicken and sweet potato fries

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Produce:
Pineapple
Fresh Cilantro
green onions
cucumber
Pears
grapes
bag of whole carrots
white potatoes (big bag)
frozen Mahi fillets

Bulk:
Oats
Some kinda snack for the kids?? (not sesame crackers this time)

Dairy:
Eggs
Butter
Yogurt (large, plain, whole milk)
whipped cream
tortillasx2

Grocery:
Yummy pasta sauce (newman’s five cheese?)
1 can cream of chicken soup

Frozen:
tater tots
bagels

Meat/Cheese:
1 lb ground beef
2 blocks cheddar
1 block moz
moz balls
Ricotta
parmesan (shredded)
goat cheese
Bakery:
hot dog buns

WATER WATER WATER

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Wasn’t that a Paula Abdul song in the 80’s?

Last week one day I panicked when Brent left for work. Yes, panicked. Not so fearless now, right? All this sickness and death and sleeplessness had totally deflated me and made me feel entirely discouraged. And I was absolutely positive that no one cared (which of course wasn’t true). I needed some support and I felt guilty about it for some reason. I needed someone to come along and help me get back up on my feet; to say “You can do this!”; or perhaps to say “what can I do to help?” I guess I felt guilty because it felt selfish to want that. I admitted this honestly to a friend who told me that it wasn’t selfish. We need people. Everyone single one of us needs someone.

My mom always told me that JOY means “Jesus first, yourself last, and others in between.” If you want to find true joy, stop focusing on yourself. When I was the lonely new girl at school (repeatedly too, because we moved around a lot) she advised that I find someone else more lonely than I and be their friend. Even when I was 7 this advice worked!

So, last week I decided that doggone it I was going to help someone else. Then I realized I was too sick to do that… and cried. (I’m such a… girl!)

But I’m not sick anymore! (YAY!) My goal is to take a meal to one mom each week. I’m starting with the pregnant ones. Who of us hasn’t sat in the middle of our kitchen at 6 pm, round with child, and desperately prayed someone would show up with dinner? =D

Ironically, the first gal I was to take dinner to this week went and had her baby early. (I’d be jealous if it hadn’t been an 11 pound, 2 ounce child! Born at home! Woot!) I’m still taking dinner though, and I get to see a sweet new baby on top of that.

After that I’m going down the list of all three local pregnant moms I know. So, maybe after that I’ll start mailing things to folks. I’ll get some sort of rotation to it hopefully.

How often do we think that we are busier than everyone else? Am I the only one who struggles with feeling like society owes me something because I’ve got all these little people depending on me? Does someone have to be in dire need before I stop and consider doing something nice for them? Shame on me!

Here’s the really great part. No sooner had I committed in my mind, by the grace of God I was going to get my head out of my butt going to look beyond myself and help others… that two folks offered to bring dinner while we were getting over the last leg of our sickness. Coincidence? I don’t think so!

Some  young ladies made dinner for our family and brought it to us at church, and Natalie brought dinner the night before (probably because she’d seen my kitchen and knew there were no clean apparatus for food preparation).

And of course there was the big surprise in the mail on Saturday.

Then today I was having…a Monday moment and Brent brought in the mail. A wonderful sweet card was what I opened. Under a picture of a cute bull dog it said “NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP. -Winston Churchill” God’s mercies and compassions never cease, do they? And the one family from church that lives near us has offered to help out a little too.

So I’m changing the mantra. “oooooooo, What have I done for you lately?….ooooooowooooowooooooyeah”. That’s the tune in my head.

I think that this will also help with the “do unto others” problem that my kids are having as well. They will get to be involved in constantly blessing others as we make food together, and whatever else it is we can think of, that might brighten someone else’s days.

My encouragement is to look for opportunities to reach out to others. If you don’t know anyone whose world is falling apart, get creative. Maybe they are secretly struggling. Be somebody’s someone.

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This morning a man called and said he was with FedEx and couldn’t find our house. We weren’t expecting any packages, so I skeptically asked enough questions for him to validate that he indeed had one for us. Moments after I gave directions there was a knock at the door. Brent brought the package in and the entire family anxiously gathered around to see what was inside. (We lead a very simple life, people. Packages in the mail are a big deal!)

I could never have expected the….wonderful-ness…that the box contained!

Our friend Beth is an artist. She had drawn the most exquisite framed rendition of this blog posting that I did a few weeks ago.

She captured the moment as if she had been there! Clementines and all! Charis’s sweet curly blonde hair, Brent’s burly hand and even his tattoo! Sweet baby nestled between Mamma and Daddy.

I proudly hung it in our bedroom.

Beth, you are one of the most beautiful people (inside and out) that we have ever known. We pray God’s abundant blessings on your artwork and your family. Thank you!

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This is my good friend Leanne’s recipe and (with the exception of Brent) our family loves it!

• 2T Olive OIl
• 2 t carraway seeds
• 1 large onion, sliced thinly
• 1 lb green beans (frozen)
• 1/2 cup green peas (frozen)
• 1 1/2 c rice (basmati, brown, jasmine, whatever)
• 1 t turmeric
• 3 sticks cinnamon (or 1/2 t ground)
• 6 bay leaes
• 1 c coconut milk
• 2 c water
• 1 1/2 t salt
• 1/3 c roasted cashews (I’ve never added this part. always forget!)

Fry carraway seeds in oil 10 seconds. Add onion and saute till brown. Add beans. Saute 5 min.

Add rice and stir fry over high heat 4-5 min. Add water, coconut milk and spices.

Boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20-25 min.  Add peas, cover and leave over low heat 5 min. Add nuts and serve (don’t forget to catch those bay leaves!) I’ve also made this with ground turkey and it is soooo yummy!

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I used my crock pot for the second time this week! Woot! I had a recipe I saw online but my internet was down and I couldn’t get to it… so I did what I would have done even if I did have the recipe. I did what I wanted.

• 2 pounds chicken thigh (bone-in, skin-on…it’s cheaper than boneless skinless chicken breast, and we like it better anyway)
• 1 Pineapple, chunked
• Soy Sauce
• Agave Nectar
• 1 cup water + 1 Rapunzel Vegan Vegetable Bouillon Cube
• Tarragon
• Salt to taste

Layered chicken thighs and dumped pineapple on top. Then I drizzled soy sauce and agave nectar (maybe 4 T of each?). Added one cup of water, but next time I will dissolve a bouillon cube in the water first. Sprinkled some tarragon and cooked on high for 4 hours.

Served with wild rice, but something like Jasmine or Basmati might have been yummier.

And Garlic Broccoli, which I cooked like this…

Melted butter in my big stainless steel pan until it got super hot but not burnt. Added fresh cut broccoli florets and one chopped clove of garlic and salt.

It was so yummy and SO EASY! (YAY!) OH, and the kids gobbled it up.

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Brent made tortillas for lunch today since I wasn’t feeling well enough to make bread.

Arwen held up two of her tortilla triangles that were stuck together and remarked that they were “mommy and daddy.”

“Mommy, you are the small thin one, and daddy, you are the big fat one.”

I beamed with gratefulness.

“Being big and fat is bad…It means you’ve probably been eating too much fast food.”

(Long pause as we all munched our food.)

“There’s only one time that it’s okay to be big and fat…

and that’s when you are a mommy and you have a baby growing in your tummy…

and you were born big.”

(More munching)

“Mommy, you’re not fat. You’re just big.”

Thank you, Arwen.

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So,  my weekly menu rotations took a hiatus when Evie Rose was born. Now that she’s four months old, I figure I ought to start planning meals again. I’m starting over, just to keep the lineup fresh, and then I’ll rotate the four weeks according to the season. This system works really well for me because the grocery list is already made and I just have to tweak it according to what I may already have on hand.

Here goes…Format is breakfast//snack//lunch//snack//dinner. And you should know that Eggs & Bagels actually means either Sprouted grain bagels, homemade muffins, or toast. And I don’t get any of that,so I have grits or fruit instead.

OH! I’m also going to start experimenting with one recipe out of Nourishing Traditions per week. I’ve had this book for MONTHS and have yet to dive in.

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Tuesday:Eggs & Bagelsl//fruit//Fish and Grits Casserole w/Spinach//Green Pineapple Smoothies// 7 Bean & Barley Soup w Salsa and Crackers (corn chips for me)

Wednesday: Oatmeal//trail mix//Cheese Toast w mix veggies//fruit//Pineapple Chicken w Wild Rice and Broccoli

Thursday:Eggs & Bagels//fruit//left overs//popcorn//Indian Green Beans

Friday: Oatmeal//celery w peanut butter and raisins//salad//smoothie//DIY Pizza

Saturday: Eggs & Bagels//raw milk//spaghetti (rice noodles)//Tacos

Sunday: Oatmeal//at church//Sandwiches//whatever//Some kinda soup w Pumpkin Pie (recipe from Nourishing Traditions….what?!? Don’t judge me! There are desserts in there too!!)

Monday:  Oatmeal//whatever i can find (grocery day)//etc//etc//Rotisserie chicken and sweet potatoes

Produce:
Apples
Pineapple
Fresh Ginger Root
Broccoli
Pears
onion
spinach leaves

Bulk:
7 Bean Soup
Oats
Some kinda snack for the kids??

Dairy:
Eggs
Butter
Yogurt (large, plain, whole milk)
1 pint cream (not ultra pasteurized)
whipped cream
Grocery:
whole black peppercorns (for grinding)
bouillon cubes
1 can pumpkin
Rapadura
Salsa
Crackers
Corn Tortilla Chips
Marinara
Frozen:
Pie crust
bagels
green beans
green peas
Meat/Cheese:
2-3 chicken breasts (boneless skinless preferred)
2 blocks cheddar
1 block moz
moz balls
Bakery:

WATER WATER WATER

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• When your 2 year old can put himself up on the changing table, it’s probably time to potty train.
• HOW IN THE WORLD do you communicate “do unto others” to your children?!? My kids are NOT getting it and I feel like all I say all day long is, “Now, would you want someone to XYZ you like that?…..” Ideas anyone? Tips? Tricks? Please share!
• Today Charis and  I are pretending. She’s pretending all sorts of stuff and I’m pretending like I feel well. Evidently this house take two grown ups to function.
• Note to self: you cannot grind up large chunks of organic corn (intended for making corn flour/meal out of, not popping corn) and cook as you would polenta. I don’t know why. It just didn’t work. (I think it requires more slow cooking time) So, I put it back on the stove with more water. And then I burned it, because let’s face it… there are a lot of distractions going on around here. SO, my friend google brought me these instructions. Looks like I’ll be having breakfast at lunch time. (And it was wonderful. I went a step further and made the casserole-recipe on that same site- and added spinach, eggs, and milk, but no cheese. Served it with some panko breaded cod. YUMMO)
• It is uncanny how quickly 5 gallon buckets go on freecycle. I should be selling them. I expect to see some folks out in my front yard wrestling for them shortly as I listed them as “first come, first serve”.

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So, I’ve got a crock pot and it rarely gets used. Naturally, you can find me scurrying about at the last minute to throw dinner together. I do plan my menus ahead of time, so that’s not my deal.

And I’m not a procrastinator, per se. But 24 hours in a day is not enough…let’s just put it that way. I fly by the seat of my pants from one project or activity or disaster to the next throughout the day and that’s the way life is for me right now. I’ve accepted it and let it go.

Having said that. Crock pot cooking would really help me out. I generally avoid crock pot recipes because they involve a can of this,a package of that, etc. And I am not a can/package type cook. I like fresh foods. When I grocery shop, I try to keep 75% of my buggy loaded with stuff from the produce department. Basically, I try to limit myself to shop the outsides of the store- produce, dairy, cheese and fresh meats. And if I have to navigate into the aisles, it’s for things like peanut butter, some canned beans, and spices. Not so much packages or canned soups or mixes. Of course I buy grains and local organic grass fed beef in bulk.

So, there is a crockpot carnival going on over at SmockityFrocks right now and I found about four recipes from the links at the bottom that were suitable to our fresh food lifestyle. There are TONS to choose from and they look and sound pretty yummy. Go on and have a look-see.

(Pineapple Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak, Chicken Spinach Soup, that sort of thing)

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