Mama Says

So here are a few fun facts about me....
- I sing loudly in the car when I'm driving alone or with my kids.
- Flamenco guitar music makes me melt.
- I love multicultural art.
- My main love language is 'acts of service'.
- I get overwhelmed easily.
- I really enjoy organizing other people's stuff.
- My baby's smile has made me cry on more than one occasion.
- If I went back to school I'd study naturopathic medicine...or organic agriculture....or culinary arts....
- I make up cheesy songs...all the time!
- Someday I'd like to make a children's CD.
- I enjoy the process of cooking and I read cook books for fun.
- I rarely follow a recipe when I cook...I tinker.
- The next language I'd like to study is Mandarin Chinese.
- The next country I'd like to visit is Croatia....or Nicaragua....
- I usually choose salty over sweet...unless it's dark chocolate.
- Two things I know are bad for me but still buy them on occasion and thoroughly enjoy: chips and kielbasa sausage.
- I like to play board games.
- I get lost in time when I'm in a group of people who like to sing harmony together.
- I like to ask hard questions.
- I enjoy reading about nutrition and natural medicine, and have offended a few people with my opinions!
- I really want to own chickens and a goat someday....

Well...there's a some random facts about me....What about you?
If you leave a comment share with me a random fact about you!!

So here is a little song I wrote for a music class at Western. I pulled it out of the files today and had to laugh at myself. So here you go....go ahead and laugh at me too!

Colorful Food
(to be sung to the tune of "O My Darlin' Clementine")

Fruits and veggies
eat the red ones
they have lots of lycopene
lowers risk of diabetes
tomatoes, peppers, strawberries

Fruits and veggies
eat the orange ones
full of beta carotene
maintains your eyesight, boosts immunity
carrots, pumpkin, nectarines

Fruits and veggies
eat the yellow ones
rich in bioflavanoids
strengthens bones and heals your boo boos
lemons, squash for girls and boys

Fruits and veggies
eat the green ones
a source of indoles and lutein
fighting cancer, loss of vision
broccoli, spinach, collard greens

Fruits and veggies
eat the purple ones
with phenols, anthocyanins
Reduces Alzheimer's and heart disease
eggplant, prunes, and blackberries

We've been seeing a lot of this around our house lately.....the look of the impending whine.  The "trying twos" stage has landed and we are in full swing. Sometimes I feel like all I'm doing with my time is discipline. It's exhausting and I'm constantly asking for wisdom/doubting myself and the way I've handled a situation. But just when it seems like it can't get any worse, we have one of those really special moments that reaffirms..."yes, you can go on". Like this morning....the kitchen was full of dishes, the house was still dark and the lights of our tree were lit.....I plopped on the floor, and a little boy climbed into my lap. "Get sister, mommy, let's look at the lights together."  My squiggle worm daughter sat still in my lap next to her brother and reached up to touch his face...he didn't pull away or say "No touch, Gracie", we just sat there cuddled under his blankie together. I caught a glimpse of our reflection in one of the shiny balls dangling just above us and wished that this moment could be perfectly etched in my memory in all its warm fuzziness.  I heard my mind repeating "remember this, remember this, remember this" and  that yes, these two really are mine.  Perspective....that "this too (two) shall pass", but so will these sweet times....cherish them.

I found a great website today.....a homeschooling family doing all the things I'm striving for! The Family Homestead.(yes, even the goats, chickens, and homemade lotions!) What an encouraging example. I sure have a long way to grow, but it all starts with a vision, right?
Here's an encouraging quote that reminds me to stay on track:
"If we want to change ourselves in some important way,
it's best not to wait for insight or inspiration.
Sometimes we need to act- to begin writing that paper,
to make those phone calls, to see that person-
even if we don't feel like acting.
To strengthen our convictions, it helps to enact them.
In this way, faith and love are alike:
if we keep them to ourselves, they shrivel.
If we enact and express them, they grow."
Sorry...I don't remember where I gleaned this from....but I found it in college, and now I keep it with my other inspirations in my journal.
Speaking of enacting, I've got to put a roast in the oven!

This is the hat that I'm trying to finish in time for Christmas...obviously I have lots of work to do! It's for Brent, and I haven't mastered the whole "gauge" thing yet, so we'll just have to wait and see if it fits. I love this yarn....chocolate brown washable wool...it is so easy to work with and feels good on the fingers. Also on the needles are a hat and scarf for mom in a brown alpaca/acrylic blend, and a hat for baby Tyson in a chunky country blue. Between knitting, shopping, parties, decorating, and all things mommy and home....we are a busy bunch these days.
AND...we had another snowfall on Sunday! It was so fun to wake up and shout..."It's snowing!"...and very soon the streets and grass were covered. It was mostly all melted by the evening, but what a treat. That night we put on the Christmas music and decorated the tree with what seemed like countless strands of little white lights, our collection of "homey" ornaments, and the miniature pine cones we fastened with twine the first year we were married. A star made of red sticks is perched on the top. Memories were made...

Meet my friend Cass
Whom I call Cassie Wray
We met at Emmaus
Way back in the day

 
We backpacked through Europe
Drove to ol’ Mexico
Rendezvoused in B.C.
Dashing round to and fro

 
She’ll keep tabs on you
Through photos and mail
'Bout her random adventures
By car, plane, or rail

 
She’s crafty, creative
She’s all things homemade
Can be found in the kitchen
With a cake she’s just made

 
She’s vintage, she’s classic
Has a tad modern flair
She’s Anne of Green Gables
With a Renaissance air

 
Often found with the paper
Or reading a book
Favorite mug in her hand
In her lil’ crafting nook

 
Organized, methodical
At planning she’s best
For her job or for travel
Or at building her nest

 
She’s thoughtful and loyal
What more can I say
I’m thankful to know her
My friend, Cassie Wray

Loves to you, Cassie.

 
Check out her blog at: The Plum and Posy

Our church just started using this verse pack for the children in Sunday school. It's from John Piper's 'Desiring God Ministries', and they are a really helpful tool in giving me direction on which verses to memorize with Josiah. So far we have done 8 of them, meaning that we've put them to song and practice them most days at breakfast.  They're short enough for him to get fairly quickly, and since he responds so well to music, I added some cheesy tunes. Now he reminds me by saying, "Should we do our verses today?".  Don't be too impressed, however, because most of our "sessions" involve me singing and Josiah playing the "drums" (He likes to use the pillow you made him, Camee, as his "drum"!). I know he's getting something, because I'll occasionally overhear him singing one as he plays. The bonus is that I'm learning them too...although I occasionally forget a tune....I don't know if I can keep up this music precedent  for the whole thing-it's a pretty thick little packet! I ordered one for my little nephew for Christmas (shhhh...) and if you're interested you can find them here. They also have another verse packet called "Fighter verses" for school-age children, but I think we'll aim to do that one as a family, since we all can use to be actively memorizing scripture.

Here's a few of my favorite corners of my house.  Mostly because they gratify some quirky aspect of me that likes to have things in order. Even though they're not always so.  I find that the areas I like the most I make sure they stay the neatest. Ok, except for the kitchen...but when it's tidy...wow, I feel great!

On a good day....my inspiration!

Having my detergent in glass jars makes me want to do laundry more!

I love my climbing vine....it started doing this on its own, but now I'm training it to grow all the way around my living room.

My family and friends make me happy.....and so did arranging them in order.

My first sewing project....to make a "snake" to block the cold air from coming in underneath the door. This was my second attempt, and I used up all the white rice in the house...(thanks, Camee!)....but it works great!
I also like the shoes I got on e-bay...they were $80 shoes for $25!

Christmas letters....photo, letter, card...or combo?
We've taken a family photo and were just about to send it off to Costco, when I had an inspiration for a Christmas letter intro.
Let me know what you think....

"Christmas is coming!", Brent said with a shout
as he watched the snow gently falling about.

"Get the lights, bring the stockings",Eye twinkling with glee
"Pack up the car, Let's go get a tree!"

I think I'll keep writing, but let me know which one you like to receive in the mail the best!

SNOW!!???!!! Yes, it's true, the first snowfall of the season has draped itself all over the front lawn.  The white winter blanket is deceptively  inviting....
Josiah went out daddy this morning and  said  "change your shirt,  daddy, it's dirty from the snow!" 
What a better way to celebrate than to sit down with a hot eggnog latte and a tasty breakfast with the family.  The blinds are all open so we can see the snow from every room in the house and periodically update each other on its progress. We were going to get our tree today, but it's a guarantee that our cut-your-own-tree lot has quite a bit more snow than we do! Brent eluded to creating an adventurous memory....so apparently it's still an option. =)