A Gift from My Mother - Meal Memories

Mother's days is next week. You know that.
Did you know my daughter is expecting a gift?
She asked for a red rose.
We shall see.

But, I see her point.
Mother's Day is a time to be grateful  to ones who made you a mother.
A gift from the mother is legitimate.
I'm not asking for a gift from my mother, though.
I'm gonna tell you about gifts my mother has given me.
Familiar food.

My mom has never liked cooking fancy food.
She made familiar food.
We had routine.
(& we ate together at the table.)

There is something really comforting about having "regulars" in the menu.
And there is the memory making aspect of the regulars, too.
You know,
"my mom always made really great pizza, or chili, or stroganoff, or whatever."

I lean toward trying to cook different stuff.
My standard way is to try the new recipes in the latest magazine.
And I don't have a good recipe organizing system.
Sometimes Scott & I will reminisce about how good some dish was.
But, I never make it again, cuz I don't know where I got the recipe.

I sometimes don't think to cook a "regular" until I feel really stressed or busy.
The good news is, that happens more & more often now days.
So, we are getting some regulars around here.

Hainanese Chicken
Minestrone
Salty Herby Grilled Chicken
Pizza (learned from Mom & big sister & brother)

And now a fairly new, but major favorite is Chicken in Creamed Coconut Sauce.
Ever kid likes it.
And the mommy & daddy LOVE it.

I first had this when my little sis Anna made it.

It is SO good.  I add extra chicken broth to make it soupier.

I add potatoes, too.

Sometimes I add green beans.

Or I serve it with sauteed greens.

Try it.  

Do you have family regulars?  Share with us.

You Capture {Pink}

I am participating, for the first time, in 

You Capture photography project.

Beth at I Should be Folding Laundry is the host.

This week's assignment was PINK.

My pink ranunculus.

Ranunculus is a one reason I love spring.  

Beauties!

Another beauty - 

My eldest is a lover of pink.

And she herself was pretty flushed in pink,

after an afternoon of tree climbing, 

bird watching, Godzilla fighting, 

& watermelon eating.

And how about these pink lips?

This little sweetie is a waiting orphan girl.

Waiting for her forever family.

My friend Love is coordinating an effort 

to raise up the money for her adoption.

Go check out all she says here at Moments with Love.

The plan is to have a party, with 10 people bringing $20 each.

She is trying for 150 parties.

10 people x $20 x 150 parties = $30,000.

Wow!

If you live near me, come to our park party on May 2nd.

Or, have your own party!

It can be anything.

Let's Play Monster!

Pretty much every time daddy comes in the door, someone shouts,
"Let's play monster!"
It isn't usually me.
I like to play other things.

Most often it is Peyton.
But Mo & Gillian love the game almost as much.
Although, during this particular outdoor fight,
Moira was too busy eating to join in.

Daddy loving

Embrace the Camera, Ya'll!  

p.s.  Do you know about Picnik?  

I didn't know about this free photo editor until this week.

Now I don't feel as left out, 

since I don't have Hipmatastic 

or whatever that cool iphone app is called.

Fitting More Beds In Here

Okay readers.
We have a 3 bedroom house.
We have 4 kids here,
with another coming to our home in the next year or so.
In the future, we would like to add more than that, too.

So, here's the thing.
What is the best way to fit the beds in here?
I've been gathering inspiration ideas.
I have a Pinterest Kid Bed board here.

Some of them are a little ridiculous.
(As in, not space saving & super fancy & out of reach for us.)

Here are some of my favorite ideas -

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Erin on Pinterest

These hanging beds are so super neat.  LOVE.

Source: beds.edu.ms via Erin on Pinterest

Excellent Triple bunk.  Love it!
But, I don't know if our ceilings are high enough.

Source: absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

We could always just put the mattresses on the floor like this.
Then if they want room to play on the floor, the mattresses could be stacked.
(that sounds like dangerous fun.)

What do you think?  What are your ideas for making efficient use of space?
Organization isn't my strong suite.

Post Holiday

My family saved the day for us yesterday by making the

jello filled egg shells that Gillian was fully expecting.  

Phew!  

I didn't make any easter clothes for my family this year.

But, I did iron the clothes we wore to church.

Around here, that is a really special thing.

Happy Easter!

(I do keep my ironing out all the time.  

If you stop by, you may think "Oh, she's doing her ironing this morning."

No, she is not.  She just keeps the wrinkled clothes on the ironing board.  

And they never get ironed or worn.)

My mom was a genius & made the candy hunt really simple for the youngins.

She put candy in a little jar. 

One for each kid.  

Even the little kids get the same amount as the bigger kids.

And, all the candy gets found, 

instead of it getting left in the garden until the dog finds it 

& dies from chocolate overload.

I made strawberry shortcake for the dessert.

I left leftover shortcakes on my table over night.

I do stuff like that all the time.

I never finish cleaning up the kitchen in the evening.

Ever.

This morning Moira got a few of the shortcakes & played a fun game.

I'm not sure what the name of the game was.

But, the way you play it is break the cakes into the tiniest crumbs you can 

& tower it up like a mountain on the edge of the table.

Then encourage the dogs to jump for it.

I wasn't too into the game.

The hyper level was high this morning.

So, I called my sister.

Instead of keeping the hyper ones in my own house, 

I tricked her into helping me take them to a cafe.

That way I could relax while she tried to keep them calm.

And I could give the wait staff a $4 tip to clean up our mess.

It was nice of her to come over.  

It was a day where I needed to talk to someone.

But, phone talking was nearly impossible.

While we sat in my living room talking, 

I was able to confirm something that I have suspected for the past week.

My living room does indeed, smell like a pet store.

Specifically, it smells the bottom of a rodent cage.

Strangely, we don't have rodents.

But, we do have filthy dogs.

And, in their old age, they no longer respect the "off the carpet" rule.

I have to think of a way to lose the dogs.  

Help me out here, friends.

On another note - I found something addicting to do 

while I am nursing the baby.

Pinterest.  I've been on their for a while.  

But this last week, I got really into it.

Even my husband is pinning now.

If you want an invitation to start pinning, I'll email one to you.

Happy Easter Monday.

He is Risen!

Source

"He is not here. He is Risen."

{source}

"Death had been swallowed up in Victory!  

Where, O Death, is your Victory?

Where, O Death, is your Sting?"

{source}

Rejoice!

My Memory Fails Me

Sometimes it breaks my heart how bad my memory can be.
There are things I want permanently burned on my brain.
Important things, beautiful things, formative things.

Yet I still forget.
No matter how much I want to remember, sometimes I can't.
I am so thankful for photos.
And for the things that are written down.

I am especially thankful for the role of film
that my sister took on the day Gabriel was born.
I am so grateful to have those photos.

I don't know if I will ever,
no matter how faulty my memory may get,
forget that day he was born.
But, sometimes when I think back to that day,
my mind's eye cannot recall his face.
And it breaks my heart.

I remember the first time I couldn't bring his face to memory.
I was afraid I was already forgetting him.
It felt awful.

My memory fails me.
I needed to look back at the photos to see him again.

What if I didn't have a picture?
That would be heart breaking.
I am glad I don't have that sorrow.

father & son

Don't forget to remember to record your memories.
You may forget sooner than you thought.

In memory of my firstborn, I want to tell you all about a ministry -
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.
Professional photographers gifting families
with beautiful photos of their terminally sick little one.

Jeanett over at Life Rearranged is hosting a blog series
about miscarriage & infant loss right now.
Throughout the series, she is fundraising for
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.
The goal of $1,000 has almost been reached.
Maybe it can raised by the end of this week?
If you head over there, you can click on the
"chip in" button on the right sidebar to take part.

What to do with Mom Guilt

Our pastor preached on the cross of Christ yesterday, as did many others.
This is Passion Week.

The anguish Christ suffered for us.

The deep love the Father showed us.

He ended the sermon speaking on the power of the cross.

One of the things we are given, through Christ's death & resurrection 

is freedom from the power of sin & freedom from the guilt of sin.

Why do so many Christian women carry heavy "mom guilt"?

Being a parent is a huge responsibility.

One I don't want to take lightly.

But, guilt is not one of loads I need to bear.

I yell at my son.  What do I do?

Add another brick to my "bad mom backpack"?

How about when I ignored my daughter's hurt feelings?

That deserves some feelings of guilt, right?

No, I don't think so!

I don't need to haul that around.

Jesus dies for me.  For my sins.  

He gives forgiveness & freedom.

When He died for me, he took the GUILTY on His own shoulders.

He suffered under that.  For me.  So I don't have to.

Now I can take each and every sin to the foot of that cross.

Lay every burden down.  

If I repent, it is removed.  Gone.  

Even if I bring the same sin before Him, day after day, after day.

He keeps no record.  He forgives again.

As a daughter of the King, by His grace,

 I will not be a mother whose life is marked in guilt.

What to do with all your mom guilt?  Lay it at the foot of the cross.

{Source}

p.s.  If you are feeling guilty over something
that doesn't need to be taken to the cross,
because it is not sin, then you have no need to feel guilty.