Discipline

Discipline is not a popular word. Self-discipline is even worse as it implies giving up something that I really really want or am somehow convinced that I need. I’ve recognized my need for work in this area before and have, at times, made progress with varying degrees of success. I find myself once again circling back around to the need for discipline specifically in the area of food. Having been diagnosed with IBS when I was 25, I have battled certain foods off and on for several years. Sometimes I would be able to eat pretty much anything, and then IBS would flare up again and I would have to be really careful. Over the past two or three years the spaces between flare-ups have gotten much smaller and I have found the need to completely eliminate some foods that I love (bye-bye ice cream) from my diet permanently. While I have had some success in the past with sticking to a really healthy, real-food diet, it seems our schedule would get busy or I would get stressed or over-tired and run right back to the easy convenience of fast food, sugar, and caffeine. Over the past few months I find I have struggled even more in this area and have had more days when I felt terrible than good days and have known that if I would only exercise some discipline in the area of what I put into my body, I would feel better. However, I like Mt. Dew, doughnuts, Wendy’s chicken sandwiches, fried chicken, brownies, and potato chips. Yes, I know those things are not necessarily evil, but definitely not healthy or beneficial, and what’s more if my Heavenly Father is telling me that I need to exercise self-control and to stay away from those things, then I had better listen. I also know that a grandmother and great-grandmother (and I think also a great-great-grandmother) died in their fifties of either colon or ovarian cancer and that there is diabetes on both sides of the family which means my genetics point to the need to be really careful about the fuel I choose for my body. However, I have such an attachment to the morning Mt. Dew or the “that time of the month” binge on brownies and Fritos that so far, I have ignored the need for discipline.

So what has changed? My heart. I desire a closer relationship with God, I long for the day when I am no longer spiritually dry and I recognize that my Father is calling for me to trust Him in the area of food. Maybe later, after there has been a true heart and mind change and true evidence of discipline in this area, I will be free to very occasionally enjoy an unhealthy treat, but for now, I need to stick to real food – to fruits and vegetables, to lean baked or grilled chicken or fish and stay away from the growing list of things that have been making me sick. The change starts tomorrow with a few days of liquid fasting to clear out the residual toxins and then onto a new (for me) way of eating. I must admit that tonight I am fighting the urge to run in the kitchen and eat my way through the Cheetos, potato chips, Triscuits, granola bars, and whatever else I can find. I recognize the need for self-control – I never said exercising it was going to be easy. Sigh, so instead, I will sign off and brush my teeth and look forward to what God will teach me in this season (which I realize may very well need to be a lifetime) of strict discipline with food.

I’m Back!

It has been nine months since I last added a post to this blog. My last post was written in June just before our life took an unexpected u-turn that left no time for blogging. Last June my husband interviewed for a band director’s position at a high school in a new town, without thinking anything would come from the interview. He was surprised to learn at his interview that the new job would mean a slight pay raise and that there would likely be a music teaching position that I could interview for, giving me the chance to work full-time in my degree area for the first time in 13 years. A week later when the call came offering my husband the job, he said yes and began a whirlwind month that meant wrapping up things in the jobs we had at the time, moving to a new town, and beginning new jobs. Every potential obstacle that came up during this transition was met in such a way as to leave no doubt that God was orchestrating this move. I got a job teaching middle school orchestra in the same school system as my husband meaning for the first time our entire family is in the same school system. Our boys see much more of their dad now that he is no longer commuting an hour each day and even though our schedules are still busy, things are much more sane than they used to be. Our home sold quickly which meant that we were able to pay off everything and become debt-free in January. We are doing well in our new jobs/schools and are part of a wonderful church that quickly embraced us and lessened the pain of leaving a church that we had been part of for 15 years. Personally, my husband has noted that I am much healthier mentally and more confident than I was before our move. Things are definitely going well and although we still miss “home” at times, we are glad for where God has brought us.

So now, I think I am ready to resume blogging (I’ve missed it) and ready to continue with this little blog that was begun just over a year ago after I ended my previous one. I am still resolved to growing in matters of faith and practical wisdom and to sharing things learned along the way. For now, let me just say that over the past nine months I have seen God’s faithfulness and provision for our family many many times and have learned to trust. I re-read a post written about a year ago called “Recalculating” in which I wrote of the need to just trust when things do not turn out according to my plans. I had no idea at the time just how I would be tested in this area. I can now say with confidence that God is faithful and trust is much better than trying to recalculate on my own.

Til next time I remain resolved,

heather

My Favorite Cookbook

My favorite cookbook was my first Christmas present from my husband the year we were married. We had been married for 10 months when Christmas was coming and I was to host my family for dinner. My husband came into the kitchen where I was beginning to figure out my grocery list for the meal and handed me a copy of The Pillsbury Cookbook saying it was an early Christmas present and that he thought I might need it.

Now, over 15 years later the once white paperback cover has yellowed, the spine is cracked, several pages are stained or are falling out. However, this familiar cookbook is still my go-to resource for several basic recipes. The book falls open easily to the often referenced banana muffin, pancake, and biscuit recipes. This is the book I pull out when I need to know how long to roast a turkey or ham each holiday season. My first attempt at homemade scalloped potatoes came from this book as did my first pumpkin pie.

I still look to this book when looking for new recipes to try as I can be sure that anything I choose will turn out well. The book is a great reference for good basic meals, appetizers, snacks, desserts, and breads; however, the reason The Pillsbury Cookbook is my favorite is that it was a gift from my husband. I smile every time I pull it from the shelf knowing it was a gift chosen in love and thankful for the assistance it has given me as I learned to cook throughout the years of our marriage.

Vanilla Cherry Lemonade Cupcakes

I was planning to make some orange cram pop cupcakes today from a recipe someone had given me at work but found I was out of the necessary orange gelatin and cheesecake pudding mix and so decided to improvise and came up with these yummy treats instead.

Vanilla Cherry Lemonade Cupcakes

1 pkg French vanilla cake mix

1 small pkg cherry lemonade Jello mix

1 small box French vanilla pudding mix

1 1/4 cups lemonade

4 eggs

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients together well and spoon into 24 greased or lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centers of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool slightly in the pans then remove to cool completely. Store in airtight container.

These are delicious as is or topped with a swirl of whipped cream. (If you top them with whipped cream ahead of serving time, you will need to store them in the refrigerator).

What Kind of Glue are You?

A couple of weeks ago as part of his sermon, our pastor said that the mother is the glue that holds the home together. Later, my husband said that he felt that was true, that I am the glue in our home. I began to wonder, what kind of glue am I?

There are many types of glue and some are definitely better than others. There’s the watery school glue that gives way at the first sign of humidity or change in temperature. There’s super glue that once fixed to something dries with no hope of flexibility or change in position. There’s the fun to use, but terribly messy rubber cement that gives all around it a headache due to the fumes it emits. Then there’s the really good tacky glue that’s good for holding all kinds of projects from fabric to paper and the hot glue used in glue guns that is also adaptable for all kinds of uses.

What kind of glue am I in our home? I must admit too often I am one of the lesser varieties that gives way under pressure or one of the toxic kinds that gives headaches to those around due to wild emotions and mood swings. My goal is to be good glue; the kind of glue that is useful for holding things together in all sorts of circumstances. I want to be the kind of glue that can be relied on to hold fast no matter what is going on around my family, a consistent sort of glue with no unpleasant surprises.

The truth is that on my own, I cannot be good glue. Holding things together in our home is impossible when I try to do it on my own strength. I am learning that my Heavenly Father loves and values moms and is able to fix the things I mess up and to help me to be the sort of good glue my family needs. I am learning that it is only when I take the time to first spend time with my Father that I have the staying power to be the wife and mother that my guys need me to be. Therefore, I am trying to daily spend time with God through prayer and Bible reading before I try to spend time with my family. With God’s help, I am finding that it is possible to be made into the good and useful glue for my family that I long to be.

Review of My So Called life as a Proverbs 31Wife

I have long been fascinated by the Proverbs 31 woman and have bought and read many books about her off and on over the past 10 years. I aspire to be a Proverbs 31 woman and get excited about trying and then put all my books away and ignore her for awhile because I usually feel any attempts on my part to be this sort of woman can be marked epic fail. My So Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn is different than most of the other books I’ve read on this topic. The author writes with honesty and humor and as one who is still trying to figure out how to best live as a godly wife and mother rather than as someone who has it all together. I also appreciate that she writes from the perspective of a working mom since many of the other books I have about Christian womanhood are written by and for stay-at-home moms. Since I am a working mom, it is a relief to read that it is still possible to live out the calling in Proverbs 31.

The book is subtitled A One-Year Experiment… and its Surprising Results. That is an accurate description of the content to be found in this book. Horn spent one year studying the attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman and trying to live them out as a modern Christian woman. She writes of experiencing job uncertainty, the frustrations of trying to keep a home clean, cooking and crafting experiments, and learning to be the calm temperature center of her home. Her personal examples are refreshing and honest and she writes with plenty of humor and grace.

The book concludes with a ten day challenge to complete, putting into practice the ideas presented in the book. There are also recipes to enjoy.

I highly recommend this book. It is a quick and easy read, perfect for the busy wife and mom, It is also full of challenge and encouragement. I bought this book for myself over a year ago and remembered enjoying it then. I recently re-read it and enjoyed it just as much the second time around. It is a great resource for group or personal study.

Coconut Oil – So Many Uses

I bought my first jar of coconut oil about a year ago after reading multiple posts on Pinterest about its many great uses. Since then, I have discovered that coconut oil really is quite versatile and amazing stuff. Here are some of the things I have been using it for:

– Frizz cream – I keep a small plastic container with about 1/2 cup of coconut oil in my bathroom cabinet to smooth on my wet hair after my nightly shower. This works as well as any commercial frizz creams that I have used. I have learned though to go easy as a little goes a long way. I use just a tiny amount each time and 1/2 cup of oil lasts for a few months. I have also used a tiny bit of coconut oil on dry hair as I style it in the morning to tame frizzies.

– Cooking – I melt coconut oil to use for frying foods. It works well, is healthier than vegetable or canola oils, and smokes less than olive oil. Since coconut oil is solid at room temperature it is also a good substitute for shortening in baked goods.

– Moisturizer – I sometimes use coconut oil in place of lotion for dry skin. It’s especially good on rough places like knees and elbows. I don’t use this on my face because I’m afraid it would be too greasy, but a little on dry legs and arms works well.

There are many, many other uses for this wonderful stuff. I have pinned a recipe for homemade coconut oil shampoo that I would like to try soon. I’d also like to try some of the other uses for it that I have seen listed on Pinterest and other blogs. What do you use coconut oil for?

Recalculating

Have you ever been in a car with a GPS  and decided not to travel the suggested route? Whether you are making the change because you know a better route to travel or because of road construction causing a detour to be necessary, that poor lady in the GPS has a conniption urging you to “turn left now”, “go back, turn left”, and make a U-turn!” until finally you hear a resigned voice saying “recalculating”.

I find that I do the same thing with my life. When things don’t go according to plan, when I am thrown something new that I wasn’t expecting or that wasn’t on my schedule, I sound just like the GPS lady. “Wait!”, “No, that can’t be right”, “How am I going to do that?”, until finally after I’ve had a chance to think (or a nap), I sigh and say “recalculating”. Sometimes the things that throw me off aren’t even bad, they just weren’t in my plan and the new information leaves me scrambling to process it.

I am trying to come to the place where I skip the freak-out mode and even skip the resigned tone of “recalculating”, and just trust. Yes, trust. It really is that simple. I need to trust that God sees the detours ahead, He has a much better route for me than any I could plan for myself, and I do not need to worry about the new things that come whether they be good or bad. I just need to trust in the One who knows me best and Who loves me most and rest secure in the knowledge that He will never lead me astray.

Playing in the Dirt

I bought several plants yesterday and today and have gotten most of them in the ground or in containers. It was so nice to come home from this evening’s ballgame and play in the dirt for a while. I don’t follow any sort of method to my planting. I just pull out any containers I can find and start filling them with dirt from the inexpensive bags of topsoil that I buy at Rural King or I add more soil to the planting beds I have around the house and tuck in the plants and seeds. I need to get more dirt and finish planting the flowers, rhubarb, and some more seeds, but our garden is beginning to take shape. So far, here is what is growing in my garden:

raspberries

strawberries

tomatoes and cherry tomatoes

peppers (sweet bell, sweet banana, & jalapeno)

Japanese eggplant

red okra

Swiss chard

lettuce (red and Romaine)

corn

blueberries

lemon balm

oregano

mints (spearmint, apple mint, and chocolate mint)

pineapple sage

lemon thyme

rosemary

lavendar

sorrel

flowers (geraniums, dianthus, snapdragons, petunias, celosia, coleus, moss rose, etc)

I still have more flower and herb seeds to plant as well as squash, zucchini, lemon cucumbers, cucumbers, bush pumpkins, and more okra and chard left to start from seed. I am praying for a good growing year with an abundant harvest. What’s in your garden?

Gardening Time

I did a little gardening this week. So far. most of my gardening is in containers and in a small patch of our landscaping. The raspberries, oregano, mint, and strawberries, that I planted last year all survived the winter and are up. The blueberry bushes that I keep in pots in the garage for the winter are blooming with the promise of blueberries this summer. Most of the herbs and flowers that spent the winter in my kitchen also survived and are now outside and blooming.

In addition, I planted a tomat0, a cherry tomato, a Japanese eggplant, a sweet pepper, and some lettuce plants in a large pot and some 5 gallon buckets. I also sowed a few seeds of corn, red okra, and Swiss chard into these containers along with the plants. I plan to put out some more plants in containers as well as in the patch of the landscaping that already houses the raspberries, mint and oregano, I am also hoping to start a new garden patch or two this year. I have a rhubarb plant ready to put put in alongside the raspberries and plans for blackberries, more blueberries, and maybe figs as well.

This is the fourth year for my little garden and most years it has done well. Last summer was extremely hot and so the plants did not do as well as I had hoped. I am hoping for a better yield this year as I would like to have enough produce to can this year.

In addition to the plants and seeds already in the ground, in the next few weeks, I plan to put in cucumbers, squash, more tomatoes and peppers, sweet potatoes, and more herbs and flowers.

I am looking forward to lots of fresh fruits and veggies this year as well as a flourishing herb and flower garden that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies.