Today's doings:  patched some jeans, made lemon meringue tarts, and a yummy dinner of broiled chicken, roasted potaotes, and florentine veggies(the platter is the left overs).  The members of Sunday School may be interested in the fact that the tarts will probably make it to church in the morning:)

Supersonic Salmon and Spinach Pie

Make the crust and roll in a rectangle to fit a 9x11 pyrex dish.

Roll onto pin getting ready to transfer to pan.

Lay out in pan, and trim rough edges.

Neaten and crimp edges.



Pour in filling and top with Parmesan Cheese and spices.



Bake til golden.

Supersonic Salmon and Spinach  Pie
1 can pink salmon, boned and cleaned
1 1/2 packs cream cheese
3 eggs
2/3 cp drained chopped spinach
2tbsp sugar
onion powder
black pepper
paprika
lemon juice
prepared pie crust--enough for a 9x11 inch pan

I am Overweight and Starving...

For the last year or so, I have been aware that I really need to lose some weight...and I mean like 50lbs of weight. Now let me say that I have never been the "obsess over my weight" kind of person--when I was yonger, I was not a lightweight, of 120lbs or anything. I was always sturdy, rarely sick, and generally happy with my ability to eat pretty much anything I wanted without ever getting overly plump. In college, I never gained the "freshman-15" as I attended a very large, hilly campus and was an art major, so I did a lot of standing, lifting(we made clay from 100-150lb bags of dry clay), stooping and reaching as well as walking. It was after I had my first baby and then my second that things started to get rough. My first two sons were close together--18 months--and when I found out I was pregnant the second time, I was somewhat down and depressed. At that time, my hubby was working at a stressful job, and was gone a lot, and I was home constantly with 2 babies in a tiny little house in Kane. I developed some resolve when #2 was about 4 months old and started walking in the middle of winter, (sometimes in snowstorms!)several days a week. My dear mother would come and watch the kiddos when hubby wasn't home, and I would walk about 2 miles each time. I also began to lessen the amount of sugar we consumed. I attempted to only use 1 lb. of sugar per week for everything. That was hard, as I didn't buy premade cookies, bread, or even pancake syrup(that was before I was gluten free), so I had to be really careful with that one pound. Over the course of a few months, I began to lose weight and actually attained my pre-baby weight--hallelujah! Then, my hubby applied to be a pastor and we sold our little house and moved 3 hours away from my parents. Things were good for awhile. I was active in the church, and kept busy helping my dear hubby in ministry...then we discovered we were expecting #3! This was further spaced than #s 1 and 2, and we were thrilled, and ready for our family to grow again. And then, we had #4 pretty fast again. So, since then, it's been nearly 3 years, and I am again a good 50 lbs overweight. Over the months, I have tried to find ways to make small changes to eat healthier, so that I don't try to go "cold-turkey" and make it just too hard. Nothing has really helped. With four kids, I can't just hop up and walk anytime the spirit hits me... I have an eliptical machine, that I have been using more, (but it makes my feet go numb when I do so), and I loathe just walking on the machine, so I try to find something to listen to while I do so, and of course it's hard to fit that in... Anway, I've done a lot of pondering about my weight, habits, and what is keeping me from following through with any resolves at all. As I began to think about it, it occurred to me that it would seriously depress me to stop eating sweets and other high-calorie foods completely, or even limit them severely. It further depressed me to think about living on low-fat, low-carb, low-sugar anything...and to drink LOTS of water...shudder, ugh...(though I don't drink soda--I do have some convictions!). So, then I began to ask myself (as soon as the horror subsided:) why did I feel this way? It seemed somewhat disturbing that food could be so important--to the point that altering my food habits was depressing to me...I mean REALLY depressing! Like wanting to cry, go to bed, and give up(and eat some chocolate)--depressing... It occurred to me that FOOD shouldn't have that much control over my life. And as I thought about it, several things started to show up...You know how the "experts" look at bulemia and anorexia as symptoms of control issues? I think even overeating or wrong-eating can be control issues too. And beyond that, some sinful, rebellious attitudes in my heart that have to do with discontentment, unthankfulness, fear, lonliness, and so on that are contributing to the overall problem...like using food as a panacea, or compensation for other sacrifices--saying to myself, "If I am stuck eating gluten-free for the rest of my life, then I'll compensate by choosing better-tasting stuff, regardless of the outcomes!" Or "If I must be "stuck" staying home with crazy kids all day, every day, and sacrifice so much of myself, then I'll compensate by making sure there is chocolate in the house...and cream cheese, lots of cream cheese!" Or "If I have to give up all the things I have loved--music, fine arts(drawing/painting), then I'll just direct those creative talents into perfecting the gluten-free double chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting"...Do you see what I am saying? Filling up the gaps made by sacrificing self--with food. The difficulty with food is that it's so necessary...You don't need to smoke. But you do need to eat...and the human mind is so good at self-deceit...and justification..."but it's Sunday, that should be a special day of feasting..." and so on... As I was talking this over with my dear husband last night, it occurred to me that if food-control was given up, then something would have to take its place...and really all the discontent, rebellion, and fear would have to be dealt with, in order to address the REAL problem. In my mind, I pictured a huge void, like a sinkhole...I know that if I attempt to live with the sinkhole, food will just tumble back in...the sinkhole must be filled with something permanent, and lasting... That is when the thought came to me about Christ calling Himself the BREAD of LIFE...or the LIVING WATER. When HE spoke to the woman at the well, he said, "Whoever comes to ME and drinks will never be thirsty." And I began to realize that what masquerades as body hunger, is actually soul-hunger...but pride, rebellion, and love of self don't want to acknowledge it...if we are truly feeding upon Christ and His Word, then sacrifices we make in our lives for HIS sake would be sweet, not a canker of resentment...Any endeavor made for Christ would be one done out of devtion, and hence a joy...and the lack thereof simply exposes the heart of the matter...What is the necessary action? REPENTANCE...and an intense seeking of Christ...feeding upon Him til the soul is satisfied...and if the soul is satisfied, the body will follow...

Hello All Who Have Checked my Blog and found it Wanting!! I've had a couple of hints that I should begin doing some blog posts recently, so perhaps over the next few months more of them will appear...My problem is that I will think of a great article idea, then go to sit down and type it up and forget what it was...note to self, gotta keep a paper on the fridge... Anyway, I LOVE interacting with blog readers who leave comments...Part of the reason I stopped writing articles was because there were almost never any comments...So feel free to do so!

Everyone Might Hate Me

In recent months, I have had the opportunity to speak to several parents on both sides of the homeschool debate. I often feel like a fish out of water. I don't know that many families that homeschool, at least not near me!
However, the argument I often hear from parents about why not to homeschool their children is that they have a child that they clash with. A child that they apparently can't stand the thought of spending the whole day every day with.
The tricky part about this argument is that most parents who favor homeschooling can't, or won't try to disable this line of reasoning. It's a very personal thing about their family dynamic and often says to the homeschooling parent, "Don't cross this line or ask anymore questions."
Well, I'm going to try.
First of all, the type of child that most parents find challenging is the strong willed child. The child that seems to constantly dig in with their heels to disobey constantly. Yes, these children are challenging, but as strong personalities, don't we want them to be so for Christ also? It seems like strong willed children should be even more protected from the influence of the world, as they may take it more to the dangerous zones if left to themselves, or placed in the hands of the enemy (state schools),(note: if you feel that enemy is too strong a word, start reading about the philosphies of John Dewey and Jean-Jacque Rousseau, who are the "founders" of modern education, and you'll see what I mean. Absolutely anti-family, and atheists.)
As Christian parents, we should be concerned with the spiritual state of our children. We should also realize that the kind of person we are, is the kind of person our child will be. If we won't consider homeschooling because we are afraid it will be too "hard", that smacks of American Consumer Spoilism. Do we give up or not even try when other things are hard? Starting a business, overcoming anger, overcoming drug abuse, p*rn, or alcoholism, starting to exercise, quit smoking, eating healthier and on and on. Lots of things in life are hard! I would be even willing to say that most good things ARE hard. The best things are probably the hardest! What are we teaching them if we can't purpose to do a good, hard thing?
The Scriptures indicate that we are to teach them all the time (ie when we walk by the way, when we lie down and rise up etc). THat is very hard to do in today's rat race to accumulate stuff, power, and prestige. That is hard to do when they spend 40hours a week somewhere other than with mom and dad.
This is the clincher(at least it was for me). God knows what I need to make me Christ like. My children challenge all my abilities, my patience, my understanding, and my discernment. It would be "easier" to let someone else teach them. But as I am walking through life with them, I am challenged to Christlikeness in a new way, because I know they are watching me, nearly every hour, every minute. They are learning how to follow Christ, as I try to. Sometimes I really wonder if the real reason parents are scared off by homeschooling is the fact that when their children are elsewhere, it allows us to be lazier, perhaps with a secret sin or habit we can indulge in when they are not there to see. Or perhaps we don't want to be bothered with them. We can get so much more done alone. Yes children slow us down, but if we want them to learn godly attitudes as they work, as they serve, as they obey, it has to be in the day to day, walking along of work, play, pray, and worship. Yes, you can worship while cooking, holding the baby, folding laundry etc. We are commanded to do so! Do we? Most probably not(myself included). But as our children watch us, let us be aware of this and strive to incorporate God into every aspect of our lives, and bring our children with us.

Giveaway at InaShoe

They are hosting a giveaway over at www.inashoe.com. They are currently giving away the Baby Conference on audio! This is a seminar on the Biblical view of children, babies, adoption and many other things concerning the womb. Good stuff to think about. Convicting.

I have been gone awhile

We recently signed up for internet again after not having it for well over a year. Perhaps I will pick up the blog again during these long winter evenings! What have we been up to, you ask?
Good question.
Here's a partial list:
Laura and Chara have been trying to eat better(children too!) and Laura has developed some tasty recipes using dates as the sugar!
We purchased an eliptical machine to provide us with some exercise!
Laura has been sprouting her own wheat and grinding it with her own grain grinder. Soon she will experiment with sourdough.
We still use cloth diapers--do i need to explain how long this takes?
Laura has been trying to learn to knit socks.
We have four children--two of which are homeschooling--yeah--busy!
Chara has enjoyed attending amateur church sport leagues--basketball and volleyball.
We went north for Christmas to visit both sides of the family.
The biggest? Our dish washer broke, and we have had to do all our dishes by hand! (Big deal you may say, but 6 plates x three meals is 18 plates, and three pieces of silverware times six is 18 pieces per meal times three is sixy-four pieces per day, not including serving or cooking ones...or pots, or cups etc!)
And no, I'm not pregnant again--yet....but you never know?