Brain-Washing...

My steno pad can hold so many ideas, thoughts, recipes, and more.

           



           Every day I make a To Do list. I have a steno pad just for this purpose. It is the perfect size. It will fit in a book bag easily and can be dropped in the crack between the center console and the drivers seat in the car. I leave it open to the page I am on and I can use it all day. I can also write any notes I might need on the other side or flip a page. I will sometimes use it to write down a recipe I want to try or a phone number of someone I want to call. As long as I am using that pad of paper I have the info in there. When I am done with a pad, I will thumb through it and pull anything out of it anything I might  want. Sometimes I will pull out stuff I don't need and throw the used pad in a bottom drawer in my desk if it has info I may need later (conversation with an insurance man, or notes on the car repair).
             I will open the pad to a new page for the day and visually cut the page into 4 sections. From the top left, TO DO. Top right, TO CALL. Bottom left TO GO/APPT (appointments). Bottom right, TO BUY.
              To Do is pretty self explanatory. The To Buy isn't my whole grocery list or Target run, although I may write -See List under there if there is a big shopping list for today. Mostly it is for the odd items that you remember at odd times. Like," Prizes for kids at church."  Nail polish remover. something you may not go for today but, put on the big list later. Or it might be an item you get all by itself, like stamps. To Call I might  put in any e-mails I need to send or answer as well. To Go/Appt is just that. Where I need to go. Whether I have several stops and don't want to forget to pick up dry cleaning or it is an appointment I have that day, either out of the house or a service person to come. It can be a reminder of the time my son's writing class is, or what time the dentist appointment is.
              Well, like most of you, I don't always get everything done on the list everyday. In fact there is never enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done. Right? Well, my husband and I are really working on our relationship with God and what he wants for us to do with the time he has blessed us with. It is really hard to do everything else much less fit in what I need to do to grow in Christ. So tonight we went to bible study. It was about managing my time. I wanted to laugh. It talked about writing a time journal just like you would do a food journal if you were on a diet. I am thinking, are you kidding? Didn't you hear me I don't have time. I have a husband, 4 kids, I home school and I don't have a house keeper. Did I mention I have 4 kids and one of them is 2!? When will I have time to write down all of the stuff I do all day!!?? How detailed do you think I should do it? Little girl has a runny nose because she is cutting her 2 year molars. Do you have any idea how much time I spend in a day wiping noses? Really. It is a  lot of time. Well, I am still working on that in my mind but, I did really glean a big nugget of information that I will use starting tomorrow morning.
               I have read that there are 5 purposes for our life. They are to worship, to fellowship, to discipleship, to serve others and to share Jesus. It occurred to me that I remember a teacher in school doing the pickle jar visual years ago. It goes something like this. You put bigger rocks in the jar until it is full. These are the things that God wants you to do. Read His word, pray.  Then you say yes it is full. Then you put in the small pebbles, being careful to shake them into the crevices. These are your "have to's". Now the jar is for sure full. Then you pick up the sand and shake it into every empty crack in the jar. These are the things that come up that aren't planned for. A cold, flat tire, helping a friend pick up her kids, making dinner for a sick friend. Now the jar couldn't be any fuller. Now you put in the water. Slowly and steady until the jar is now full. This is all of the time you have left to do the things you want to do. Recreation. You would be surprised how much you can fit into your "full day" when you put things in their proper order. If you will put God first the rest will fit right in.
             Tomorrows To Do list will have 5 new things on it.

1. Worship - I can turn on a CD while the kids and I do chores in the morning. That will put us in the proper frame of mind. 
2.  Fellowship- that one is easy for me. On 2 days a week we are at the church working with other believers. On the others I talk on the phone to my dear friend who encourages and challenges me to stretch and be radical. Not to mention all of the other friends and family I talk to and visit with daily. 
3. Discipleship
4. Serve others- this one is going to take some thought. What can I do for someone today that will serve them? Make a meal to take to someone? Bake cookies to share with a lonely neighbor? Send a thoughtful note to a busy and overwhelmed friend.
5. Share Jesus- My hardest. Who can I share the gospel with today? I heard that the longer you are a Christian the less amount of unchurched friends you have. Also, the less likely you are to tell someone else the Good News. (That one scared me. That is complacency.) I guess I should just look around and start speaking up. I can share the gospel anywhere I go.  A neighbor, the check out guy at Trader Joe's  ( here we come Mr. Ken). 

My To Do list is my brain. This is a way for me to "wash " it. Who says brain washing is always bad? I'd rather have clean thoughts than dirty ones!




              

Organized for Christmas

        


            Who am I kidding? I haven't even finished unpacking all of the boxes from our move 6 months ago. How am I going to organize my Christmas?! I am now laughing at myself for writing that title.
           Well, in the past I have used a site called Organized Christmas.com . I love it. I do have a sick fetish for forms. I don't know why, but, blank forms get me really excited about what I could do with them. Besides that point, I do use the site to make a Christmas notebook. I know it sounds tedious but, it really makes it so much easier. Everything you need to do for the holiday season as a whole is in one place. All of the special recipes (Jesus Cake), Christmas lists from the past couple of years (you would not believe how many times I have tried to buy the same thing 2 years in a row for someone), kids sizes, Christmas card list, etc. The different things to put in here are really limitless. The trick is to only put in what you will really use. I really like so many of them but, I really wouldn't use the memories page because I have a separate family book for that. I do however love that all of my advent things are in one place. (OH I am so excited to share some of those with you. I think you will really love it),
             The site also has a Christmas Countdown Calendar. I know it is still October but, I am telling you if you will start just a little early, you will also get to enjoy the holiday time as much as everyone you are trying to make it great for. Their Calendar started just a few days ago. Don't think you are behind, you can catch up. Besides you will probably not do everything on their calendar. You have to make it your own. Remember, I love skeletons so I can fill them out. That is true of a recipe, curriculum, even an organized calendar.
              I hope you love it. I will be making a new notebook this year I am afraid. I haven't found mine since the move and I don't want to wait to start.
             Oh inside information from using this for several years. Target has the best Christmas cards for the best price. Only, you have to get them soon. The sell out right after Halloween (or Reformation Day as some of my friends call it).
              Maybe I have inspired you to do the Organized Christmas Countdown Calendar with me. If I have, please share with me what you are doing and how it is working for you. O.K.?

How Long Will Ground Hog Day Last?

           

             

            Have you ever watched that movie Groundhog Day? It's not a very good movie but, the concept strikes a cord with most of us at times. The plot of the movie is that Bill Murray's character gets stuck replaying the same day over and over again. Supposedly,  until he gets it "right". It takes him quite a few tries until it finally occurs to him that he should really try to get it right. Even if no one notices or remembers.

             Funny, it sounds like a mom's life to me. A mom is eternally stuck in Ground Hog's day. We wash the same clothes, clean the same dishes, scrub the same toilets, dust the same furniture, vacuum the same carpet. When you have a cleaning day where you have the opportunity to clean for a good portion of the day, which we know is virtually impossible if any of your kids are at home, you feel good about getting so much accomplished.  That is where the problem lies. You have accomplished something. You have cleaned. Doesn't anyone else see what a huge accomplishment that is? It is huge!! Especially if there was a baby or small child involved in the whole thing. The bummer is no one usually really notices, unless we don't do it. Then everyone notices. 

               Isn't it weird how you will get up one morning and catch a glimpse of the mirror and think, "why is there dust there again? Didn't I just do that?"  I wish once you did it the furniture would stay dusted. Nothing stays the same.

             I am in a difficult time in my families growing up time when it comes to cleaning. With 4 kids, there is always something or someone that needs to be cleaned. Unfortunately, neither can they do it themselves or really care if it is done.  My daughter is potty training. Since we started it we have had some terrible cleaning "issues" pop up. Do you know there are just some things that poop won't come off of? And then some you don't know where to start to get it clean. Confession, I have thrown things away. Perfectly good things with a bit of poop on it that I just couldn't stand the thought of messing with.

             Well, I am telling you that it is O.K. We, as moms, just have to be patient. Our rewards are in the re-dos. The carpet and laundry will eventually get finished one day and those little bodies that make everything so dirty, they will move away. Grow up and have their own little messes to re-clean. I dare say we will miss the busyness. And I can only imagine and pray that my children will remember that we did so much for them. Well, I can dream can't I? 

              Truth is, they don't notice a whole lot of what we do. They would totally notice if they didn't have clean undies. That is when the appreciation starts. When they move out and no one puts clean undies and socks on their bed. No one tells them to wash their hands and come eat dinner. (that they didn't have to cook). If you don't believe me, hold some all of their socks hostage. Or better than that, hold their favorite jeans or shirt hostage (they would probably just go sock less anyway). They will appreciate you and a few things you do then.

             In the mean time, grab a glass of tea and call a friend on the phone while you do the dishes. It is so much nicer to do "Ground Hog" day with someone else that is doing it too. I have noticed that I actually clean faster when I am visiting with a friend. Maybe because I will stay on task and chug away at what I am doing instead of getting distracted. And the tea? Well, it just gives me sense that, "all is right with the world". At least until I get to the bottom of it. 

Sharing my love one glass of tea at a time.

Tea=Love

            My family has kid's small group at church once a week. The whole family is involved. We each are either in a class learning or working as a teacher. Except little girl who is basically a mascot. Well, I have a dear friend that is so precious to me and I try to do little things to make her day. Send her a sweet text, a fun e-mail card or a glass of sweet tea whenever I come by the church and she is working. She works a lot. And the tea just makes her happy (see why we are friends?!). Tonight I had a big cup left from a drink I got at a fast food place. I washed it and filled it with crushed ice and lots of tea. She was thrilled to get it. This is a long day for her. We all know tea is a great pick me up.
              Well, I guess I am not so popular with other staffers now. Word got out that I brought her homemade sweet tea and it got a little ugly (not really ugly ). One lady asked my friend for a "sip" then didn't want to give the cup back. Another staffer says, "Well, you know where I am from. Where is mine?" I didn't know he was from Texas. Dude, you don't have a drawl and you were flip flops. Everyday. How am I supposed to know. I am truly sorry I have excluded so many. I think it made my friend a little giddy that she was in possession of something so truly sought after and it meant someone loved her. (We all understand that food = love. In this case Tea = love).
              My dear friends and co-leaders of Kid's Small Group, I will be bringing a gallon jug next week. Do you think one will be enough? I don't want anyone to feel unloved so, I will make that small gesture.
              Who can you show a little love to and share a glass of sweet tea? You will be surprised how it will make people smile.

Bean Soup

             I have looked at those bags at the grocery that says 17 bean soup. They look pretty but, kinda... I don't know, vegetarian.  Well, I finally decided to go for and just try it. So, here is the recipe I used. (You know I had to use my crock-pot).

1 bag of 17 bean soup (if there is a flavor packet, throw it away. It can't be good for you).
1 10 oz can Rotel
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 onion
1 box of vegetable broth
2 cloves of garlic
Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, parsley)
salt and pepper to taste

-First I rinsed the beans in a colander and pulled out any bad ones or rocks, etc.
-Then put them in a slow cooker with water. Fill enough water to fill the the crock 2/3 to 3/4 full.
-Put the crock on high for  one hour to an hour and a half.
-After the hour is up, pour the beans into a colander again dumping all of the water. Rinse the beans again.(This gets rid of the gassy water. This is instead of soaking overnight.)
Return beans to crock. Add all other ingredients except the salt. (Cooking beans in salt results in tough beans). Including adding extra water to fill crock up until it is 3/4 full.
- Cook for about 8 hours on high. You can cook for longer if you like.
-Add Salt at the end for flavor.

The verdict: My husband loved them. He actually ate half the pot alone. Also, very good the next day. We put it over pasta the second day.

Rotel is so good. I had never used it because we couldn't find it here in California. Now that I found it at Target and if was on sale for .87 a can.

Try the recipe and let me know what you think.

Bumpkin Cake or Panana Cake

I couldn't get them to let me take the picture before they ate it. 

This is a recipe that I modified from a magazine. (Big surprise. I make a recipe the way I want to). The original recipe is from the October issue of Parents magazine.
Check it out to compare : Parents Magazine Oct. 2010

Mine is a little different also because I wanted to use my bread maker instead of using the oven.  Even though it is fall, it is pretty warm here. We had such a cold summer but, our fall is hot. Well, here is the recipe I made. It was really good. Hope you like it.


Cake
1 package of white cake mix (I used Trader Joe's brand)
1 cup mashed bananas
1 cup pumpkin puree (either mashed fresh or canned)
1 tsp. cinnamon
(1/4 cup brown sugar if you use the TJ's brand it isn't very sweet)

Mix cake according to directions on the box omitting the water or milk.
Mix in the the pumpkin, banana and cinnamon.
If using a bread machine make it according to a one pound quick bread or cake setting.  I had to add an extra 10 minutes to the baking time.

If baking in oven: bake at 375 degrees.
Pour cake batter in a greased 9" loaf pan.
Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out fairly clean. (It is like a banana bread so moist is good).
Dump out of loaf pan and let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting


4 oz. cream cheese, softened (I used the whipped kind. That was all that I had.)
1/4 cup of softened butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup of powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and butter until well blended.
Add vanilla and mix.
Slowly add powdered sugar until thoroughly blended.
Frost cake and enjoy!!

Verdict: It was really good. Different but, good. Really moist. Cream cheese frosting is always surprising to me, tangy but, sweet.
Let me know if you make it and how you like it. I love to hear feedback.

Pumpkin Pie Soup

Funny view but, I wanted you to see the soup itself.

I used to make this for my preschool class years ago and love to do it for my kids on National Pumpkin day, which was on Sept. 29th. I really think I could add a sugar and cinnamon "chips" made from tortillas to go with it next time. Here it is, I hope you enjoy it.



6 cups of canned pumpkin
6 cups milk
3-4 TBL Butter
1/4-1/2 cup of Brown Sugar
Cinnamon and Nutmeg to taste
1 dribble of Vanilla (about a teaspoon)

Put it all in the crock-pot and turn it on low. Heat until warm. That is it. You could do it in a pan on the stove as well. Don't boil or over cook. The milk will get yucky. I will leave it in the crock for a few hours and let the kids drink it out of coffee cups.

Verdict: Yummy and sweet. Full of Vitamin A. I am not a big pumpkin fan so, I just like a little. My 2nd son LOVES it and drank probably 4 cups by himself. I ended up sending some to the neighbor kids house to share with his family. They loved it as well. Hope you enjoy it.