A Wise and Glorious Purpose

Still Sorting Through This Grief

2012-02-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

Heather and I at my 20th birthday tea at the Four Seasons.

I'm still sorting through grief, and as a terrible illness overcomes another family member I am reminded of this process in life we call grief, which in unceasing, ongoing, and never ending...

Some days I do well, some days I don't want to do anything.

I may have lost a friend but I'm blessed to have had every second with her that I did. Life is a gift. Absence of life isn't a punishment or something unfair.

Every day that we wake and breathe life God pours out millions of blessing upon us.

Our bodies are a miracle, the touch of a loved one, the smile of a child, the shinning sun, the cold wind, the miracle of door knobs - everything is such a gift, and whether we or our loved ones get to spend one day or 90 years in this miracle we call life, it is all a gift from our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly and more then anyone else ever could.

I'm reminded of two characters in literature. Nellie Olsen from the Little House on the Prairie series. This little rich girl was never happy with anything. She never had enough pretty dresses or enough candy and she always put down what others had or didn't have.

The other is Pollyanna. Life hit her hard over and over again but she always found time to play "the glad game" where she found something to be glad about, no matter what. Not only did she play this game but she taught her whole town how to play.

One of the most important things we can remember and teach our children, is we have a choice. We can be a Nellie Olsen, or we can be a Pollyanna. Everyday, it's up to us.

Waldorf Style Verse for Lent

2012-02-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

Yet even now, says the Lord,
Return to me with all your heart, (place hands over heart)
With fasting, (hold belly)

with weeping, (mimic tears on your cheek with finger)

and with mourning; (wipe the side of your face, mimicking a veil)
Rend your hearts (make a ripping motion on your chest)

and not your clothing.
Return to the Lord, your God, (sweep hands upward)
for he is gracious and merciful, (swoop hands out above head)
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, (place hands at heart)
and relents from punishing.(shake finger "no")
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, (shrug shoulders)
and leave a blessing behind him,(turn and blow a kiss behind you)
a grain-offering (scoop hands outward from belly)

and a drink-offering (cup hands and extend out from mouth)
for the Lord, your God?(make a cross over your heart with your finger)

Joel 2: 12-14

Our Lent Observence

2012-02-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Our Lenten Garden

Our faith community doesn't celebrate Lent, instead we have Fast Sunday the first Sunday of every month when we fast for two meals and donate the money we would have spent on food to those in our community who are hungry.

I still love the idea of Lent though and being Waldorfers, we choose to celebrate it.

Above is our Lenten Garden. A box of soil, a twig for a tree, a stone, some pine cones, one large white candle and six small candles. Everyday we water the soil, keeping it moist. Six days before Easter we will light one candle each night, from the large candle and let it burn all the way down. A few days before Easter we will sprinkle the dirt with grass seed and on Easter morning (or there abouts) we should see green sprouts shooting up from the earth and we will decorate the twig tree with tissue paper butterflies, representing transformation.

For Lent I am again giving up yelling, but not just at the kids or dog, I am giving up yelling period. No yelling across the house, no yelling down the hall, no yelling when I'm mad.

I'm also giving up the "W"s. You know;

"Why are your clothes on the floor!?"

"Who left the door open!?"

"What on earth are you doing!?"

It's one day in and it's hard. LOL I yelled at the dog to get off the couch before I caught myself first thing this morning.

I look forward to seeing the progress God helps me make these 40 days, the good example of struggling toward eternal progression that my children will see, and real change that I hope to make.

My eldest is giving up dessert (a tough one he's already asked to back out of) and my middle child has given up using what he calls "face words." He often will reply "In your face!" when he is mad. We'll see how we all do.

We are also going to join Ann Voskamp and her children in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. More on that later :)

What are you doing for Lent? How does Lent make you feel?

Shrovetide Blessings and Pancake Recipes!

2012-02-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

Mix and pancake

Stir and pancake

Pop it in the pan

Pour a pancake

Flip a pancake

Catch it if you can!

Today is Shrove Tuesday or Shrovetide. You may know it as "Fat Tuesday" or "Mardi Gras." Shrovetide falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the forty day fast of Lent leading up to Easter. Traditionally people fasted from products like eggs and butter at this time so they used up all the eggs and butter in a frenzy of pancake making.

Having pancakes for dinner is a fun family activity to bring you out of the "everyday" and have a simple reason to come together and celebrate. Pancakes are so easily made that even very young children can participate in this activity and this is one simple meal that mom need not stress out about either.

Tonight my family will be making a variety of pancakes to eat, topped with ingredients like; organic maple syrup, yogurt and coconut sugar, lemon juice and powdered stevia, blueberries, etc. I encourage you to have a pancake feast of your own tonight is you weren't planning one already and join us here at Wise Glorious Purpose as we enter the Lenten season!

Sourdough Pancakes

Egg Only Pancakes

Fluffy Coconut Flour Pancakes

Once,

Twice,

Three times I give thee warning,

to make pancakes 'gain tomorrow mornin'!

Sew a Pillow Case Apron!

2012-02-18T13:44:00.000-08:00

Want a fun craft for this weekend? How about a homemade bridal shower gift that only takes a few hours? I've got what you need! A pillow case apron!

What You'll Need:

Four pillow cases, matching colors preferred

Sewing machine or needle and thread.

A large strip of wide ribbon or lace

An idea of how big you would like it (I based mine on my favorite apron)

Step One:

Cut out one side of one pillow case to match the size you want the apron to be. Cut four strips from the other pillow cases about 6 inches longer than the apron size (so you can ruffle them)

Step Two:

Sew the strips from your four pillow cases on the apron back, over lapping them slightly and ruffling them using a running stitch.

Step Three:

Sew the wide ribbon to the top and you're done! It's that easy! These also make great mother's day gifts for friends and family or go ahead and sell them at your local Farmers Market :) Cute, feminine, practical and recycled!

For the Love of Heather

2012-02-11T15:57:00.000-08:00

Heather (top) and myself (bottom) at my birthday party in 7th grade.

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

-1 Corinthians 13:13

It all started in PE class. The hot sticky surface of the tennis courts under Southern Nevada heat. A little blond girl with the puffiest hair you ever saw. She spoke of fairies, worshiped hamsters and had created her own language. I made fun of her last name written on the back of her uniform.

We were friends then.

She wrote stories like Steven King and drew pictures of fairies that could take your breath away. I went to her house, we drank peach shasta sodas and walked to the 7/11.

Come highschool we dated the same boys (though not at the same time :)) and those long school days seemed like they would never come to and end.

But they did.

I got married, she got married. I had children, she lost her sweet boy.

Today I woke up angry. I wanted to punch something, hit something because she's no longer here. God decided it was time for my best friend to go home and 20 years were not enough for me.

I read over my scriptures, I want to memorize Alma chapter 40, to remember where she is, always. I pray and I pray but it still hurts. Why does it hurt when I know I will see her again?

I suppose it's because I want to see her now. I don't want to wait for God's time or timing. I want to talk to her again, now. But Heavenly Father has called all who love her to great patience.

Last night I couldn't sleep so I pictured Heather in a big rocking chair. She was holding her son she had lost to a birth too soon. She was nursing him and singing. She was happy and I could sleep.

In the morning I do my housework but then I roam around not knowing what to do with myself. Too stunned to live normal life and not distracted by anything else....I roam.

This is what growing into adulthood is. It isn't an age, it's an experience and I'm lucky to have gotten through 32 years before I was hit with such a one.

But they will keep coming. Even now family members hear dim news from doctors and I know I will walk this path over and over again until Father calls me home too.

Nothing to be done but keep walking

look at the sun and and smile through the tears

count the years one by one

from finger to thumb

finger to thumb

my God I will be done

Heather, I love you so much.

5 Candy Free Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day

2012-02-10T20:57:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. " - Matthew 22: 37-39

Valentines' day is soon upon us and like many holidays it seems to really be centered around candy. Let's think outside the heart shaped box and brain storm on some candy free ways to spend the day...

1. Go to a coffee shop. Enjoy a decaf, tea or a smootie with your sweetie.

2. Take a hike and look for heart shaped things, such as leaves, twisted branches, forks in the path, etc.

3. Bake up some nice banana bread and take it to your neighbors.

4. Take a walk down town or to your local park and using side walk chalk spread some loving hearts and messages of peace and love on the sidewalks in your community (be sure to double check that this does not violate your local graffiti laws first ;))

5. Have the kids make cards and use the day as an excuse to stop by and see a friend or relative you've fallen out of touch with or someone who is lonely or recovering from illness.

Whatever you do, do it with love! :)

Healthy Tips While on the Road

2012-02-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

My boys and I just got back home after traveling for a week to Nevada and Utah. Traveling can be a nightmare for those of us who try to live healthy lives. Between the bleak food options and ever present media (i.e. TVs) in every hotel room it can seem like an internal and external invasion on your mind, body and soul to go traveling.

Here are some tips to help you easily fight the attack...

In the Car

Ronan shows off his rock collection

I'm a huge fan of traveling by car when I'm able. That meant a 14 hour drive, one way, with three boys ages 8, 5 and 2 - by myself. But still I prefer traveling by car for a few reasons...

1. It's usually much cheaper
2. You can see the landscape change, experience the geography and local color of new places
3. It encourages both parents and children to use their imaginations
4. I'm afraid of flying LOL
5. You can take more stuff with you, thus making things cheaper and easier over all

We took our driving trip in four stages. 7 hours, stop for the night and then 7 hours to our destination and the same on the way back.

We woke up at 7 AM and hit the road about 9 AM. We would drive three hours (straight through if no one had to pee). We would stop at a park, rest stop or other grassy location to have a picnic lunch. Then the boys could watch one movie on the portable DVD player while we clocked another 2 hours. (My kids love Avatar, Jurassic Park, Pollyanna, and Little House on the Prairie).

We would stop and stretch our legs and the boys would be allowed to have a juice from a convenience store ( I would usually have a juice too to keep up my energy) and then we would knock out the last two hours.

In the car we kept various toys, ones to stimulate imaginative play such as small dolls, stacking containers, small sticks and string, etc. The boys also had a treasure box, a small container, that they would put things in they found along the way such as stones, leaves and other things they liked.

Extra Tip: Google map any LDS Temples with visitor centers that are along the way on your drive, they are great leg stretching places with wholesome family activities that are Christ centered :)

At the Hotel

I use Hotwire to book our rooms before we started our trip. I have found a lot of savings on Hotwire and I also like the reviews, they help me pick the right place for us. I've found really nice hotels for $30-40 dollars per night. I'm a fan.

Before we leave for our trip I check TV Guide online and see ahead of time if anything appropriate is playing on TV in the area we will be staying. I then write down the dates and times. The children know they will be allowed to watch these programs but nothing else and no channel surfing or flipping is allowed on the hotel TV. We also mute the commercials.

To entertain the children while in the hotel we usually bring along our home school books, crayons and paper, beeswax, clay, reading books, scriptures and the like. Most hotel rooms have a desk so that becomes our entertainment central - instead of the TV.

Because I'm out of my routine of constant cooking and cleaning I make sure that I bring along lots for me to do to so I'm not tempted by the TV. A knitting project and a few good books and a small reading light to read after the children have gone to bed are my favorite things.

Food

Food is the hardest. Not only are you usually limited in your cooking ability but "bad" food can easily tempt the weary traveler.

We set a food budget ahead of time. For example, on this recent trip, we knew that we wanted to eat at Cafe Rio in St. George and that we wanted to go out to dinner with family one night. Other then that, we packed our food.

We took along a cooler and in it we had apple butter jam, a block of cheese, some lettuce, some eggs, mayo, ketchup, mustard, butter, and chicken hot dogs.

In our other food bag we took, sprouted bread, fruit (oranges travel well), almond butter, nuts, dried fruit, fruit and nut bars, Terra chips, cans of dolmas, salt, sprouted Tortillas, cans of tuna and chicken, instant oatmeal, coconut sugar, stevia, instant rice noodles and raisins.

Other things for food include a can opener, forks, spoons, knives, napkins, wooded or plastic plates and bowls for each family member.

For breakfast we ate oatmeal made with hot water from the hotel coffee maker, with raisins and coconut sugar. For lunch we had apple butter and almond butter or cheese and lettuce sandwiches. For dinner we ate chicken hot dogs wrapped in a sprouted tortilla, instant rice noodles made in the hotel coffee maker (let them sit for about 10 minutes to cook all the way through). To the noodles we added chicken and tuna and we also ate dolmas or made grilled cheese using the (cleaned!) hotel iron with our cheese and tortillas.

We took along jugs of water and our reusable water bottles.

After we were done eating I would scrape any left over food into the trash and wash the dishes in the hotel sink or if we were on the road I would place the plates in a plastic bag and wash them when we got to the hotel. (Be careful to scrape plates well otherwise you will clog the hotel sink.)

I hope you and your family have a fun, safe and healthy traveling experience this year :)

When Life is Perfect Pain

2012-01-20T16:46:00.000-08:00

"We never are too old for this, my dear, because it is a play we are playing all the time in one way or another. Our burdens are here, our road is before us, and the longing for goodness and happiness is the guide that leads us through many troubles and mistakes to the peace which is a true Celestial City." -Little Women

Sometimes life is perfect, and sometimes life is painful but then there is perfect pain, when all is right excpet one thing and that one thing just isn't getting better.

My life is a dance of bliss and love....of morning cuddles, rain drops soaking into dry earth, gray sky sparkling silver, and little feet that live inside me kicking the drum beat of God's heart.

But then there's the river that runs underneath of me. A river that rushes and wont seem to stop, that knocks me off my feet, drags the breath out of my lungs and finds me whimpering on the floor.

For the past two months my dearest, lifelong, friend has been in the hospital fighting for her life. What should have been a common surgery has exhausted the brains and resources of her doctors and they

just

don't

know

why

she isn't getting any better.

When I start to cry I try to think of the good times and the good times to come, whether in this world or somewhere on the other side of the veil. No matter what I WILL see my dear friend alive and well again I just pray that God doesn't decide to see her first.

I try to think that she wouldn't want me to cry, that she would want me to laugh and smile and pray. She wouldn't want me to fret.

But it can be overwhelming this need to fret and this need to feel like I can control my life and hers. This need to think that because we are young

this

can't

happen.

We can't suffer and die. But we do.

So every night, when life is still. When the dishes are done, when the children are sleeping, when my book has been set down.....I go through the labor pains of releasing and relaxing so I can let go of my will and give birth to God's.

Update: My dear, life long, best friend, Heather Andrews, passed away on February 10th at 4:30 AM. She was literally the best person I ever knew and she will be our families angel until we see her again.

Healthy Spin on Duggar Recipes

2012-01-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

I love the Duggars. I love their cheerfulness, their parenting, their dedication to Heavenly Father and I love seeing how they cook for a large family (especially as mine grows!) One thing about the Duggars is that they don't have the same diet as I do but I have a lot of fun adapting their recipes to my own standards :) Here's a few of my favorites.

(For a complete list of Duggar recipes visit their website here)

"Tater Tot" Casserole

Ingredients: 

2 lb ground, organic, grass fed beef cooked, seasoned, drained

6 lbs sliced potatoes, lightly steamed and tossed with butter and salt
4 cups of chicken broth and 2 1/2 cups of sour cream blended together

Directions:

Brown meat, and place in large casserole dish.
Cover with potatoes. Mix chicken broth and sour cream together.
Pour over top. Bake at 350 for 45 mins - 1 Hour.

*Makes 2-9”X13” pans (about 16 servings)
Recipe can be cut in half.

Banana Cake 

Ingredients:  

12 eggs, whites and yolks seperated
1/2 cup of coconut flour and a pinch of salt
1/2 cup of coconut sugar
1 cup of whole milk
1 stick of pastured butter (1/4 lb)with a dash of lemon juice
1/4-1/2 cup of honey and a dash of vanilla
5 bananas

Directions:

Beat the egg whites until stiff, fold in coconut flour and sugar, and milk mix until well blended. Poor into greased cake pan and cook at 375 degrees for about 20-30 minutes (until golden brown on edges and center is solid)
While cake is baking heat butter and lemon juice in a sauce pan over low heat until melted. In a separate bowl beat egg yolks with honey and vanilla until well mixed. Add eggs to butter while beating mixture. Return to low heat and beat until the mixture thickens, remove from heat.
"Frost" the cake with the egg and butter custard. Slice bananas and layer over custard . Enjoy!

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-11T19:25:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I would share my New Year's Resolutions.

I'm of the opinion that no one should wait until the new year to improve their life or set goals but it's a great time when most people are reflecting on their lives and endeavoring to improve them. It seems like a great community effort toward progression and even though we all know the statistics on failing new years resolutions I'm of the strong opinion that...

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

- Philippians 4:13

Personally, I LOVE reading other people's new year's goals and intentions, it gives me ideas and inspiration! So without further ado, here are my big three :)

1. Be Calmer in My Daily Speaking

I'm an Aries and we are known for being all fire. I'm a spark, and when I get pushed around, I shout and yes, I even shout at my kids. I can't stand this about myself and I've been working on it for years. I even gave up yelling for Lent once. But I thought this time instead of focusing on "not yelling" I would focus on calm speech which is interesting because it's made me super aware of the words I use to and when they are uplifting and when they are not. I'm still yelling but the first step is to be aware of it and then tone it down as much as you can and I have been able to not yell on many occasions so I'm counting these as small steps toward victory.

2. Be More Aware of Others in Need

I have many ill friends and family right now and their illnesses have brought to my attention how much we all suffer in our own ways and how much we need care and concern from our friends, family and community. I recently sat down and made a list of friends and family who are ill or suffering and jotted down some ideas on how I could better serve them. I hope to keep this list ongoing during the year and set goals to save and visit family and friends who live far away more often.

3. Provide Myself With More Rest and Reflection Time

I'm a stimulation junky. I usually have the radio on when I'm doing dishes or a Netflix streaming while I knit. Even when I "rest" I grab a book or magazine to entertain myself. I am no good at doing nothing. But it occurred to me recently how much we all need time to sit, reflect and absorb our lives. We can only gain wisdom through processing.

We already don't have a TV but I cut back our online movie time drastically, by about 70%. We set smaller times spaced out throughout the week for family "movie time." Three days a week for a little bit in the afternoon we will sit down and watch a show together. Even then, I've also drastically cut back on what we watch, focusing on wholesome, modest things that give glory to God. I don't want to pollute my mind, or the minds of my children with too much fluff.

I've cut back on radio time too. Instead of playing Pandora or NPR all day while I go about chores I do so in silence (well, the silence afforded me by my 3 kids!) and I find myself pondering events and situations that needed reflection.

I also cut back on non-scriptural reading. Reading for fun is crucial and needed but I find myself gravitating toward the "fun" stuff and neglecting my scriptures and Church magazines. With no movies or radio playing my children often ask me to read allowed as they play quietly and we have been sharing so many more Church messages and scriptures with each other lately! It's wonderful!

As far as the Internet goes I quit facebook for technical as well as personal reasons. My laptop recently broke and at first I thought I would naturally replace it (and as soon as possible!) but after reflecting a moment it seemed RIDICULOUS to have two computers in our house! How silly! So I decided simply to share my husbands computer which means I'm online A LOT less often and I have to be very thoughtful and intentional with my time online (because often there is an anxious hubby itchin' for his computer back! :)) I have a lot less information coming into my mind and much more time to process it fully. It's blissful!

Most importantly I have been able to really absorb my life on a deeper level. My mind is clearer and more refreshed, I'm less stressed both mentally and physically and I'm more aware of my own needs as well as the needs of my family. To pass time that I would have spent engaged in a distracting form of media I often find myself cleaning or spending more time with my children.

What resolutions have you made? How are they working out so far?

Good Housekeeping - Saturday and Sunday

2012-01-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

My messy boys :)

This week I am writing a series on good housekeeping. I'm sharing my rhythm and what works for me every day as I go about my week tidying up after all our boys! :)

Daily Wisdom

:: Dishes, 2-3 times per day

:: Straighten up main area for 10 minutes after each meal time

:: Check the chickens

:: Brush the dog

:: Read my scriptures

Saturday

:: Clean Outside

When we clean outside we start with the coop. We rake the sand clean, put fresh litter inside and clean out the roost boxes and lay down fresh straw. Then we sweep down the back porch and clear up any clutter we find laying around. If you have access to your garage (my husband wont let me in there, it's his domain :)) then you should clean up and sweep the garage. In the front yard we clean up the dog doo, sweep the walk ways and driveway, wipe down the outside windows, pick toys up, mow the lawn (yes, I do this LOL even four months pregnant!), and make note of any repairs that need work.

:: Clean the Car

Depending on how dirty your car is you should clean out trash and vacuum. Every once in while pull out the car seats, vacuum under them and wash them or wipe them down. Wash the outside of the car as needed (I don't bother in the winter LOL)

:: Bath Night

I clean the children and myself throughout the week as needed but bath night is when we get super scrubby. I make sure all the bits and pieces are washed clean, hair is shampooed and conditioned, nails are scrubbed clean, ears are cleaned out, nails trimmed, etc - everyone is squeaky clean on bath night!

A Sabbath dinner

Sunday

:: Church

Sundays in our home are reserved for church, rest, reflection and family. We go to church from 10 AM-1 PM. I strongly encourage families to spend one day a week engaged in spiritual activity. Find a church, temple, synagogue, mosque, drumming circle, a fellowship of some sort and use that day to rest and reflect on your Creator.

:: Media Free Day

We also use Sundays to practice media free time. No radio, no secular music, no movies, no Internet, no non-religious reading materials, etc. Giving your mind, body and spirit a break from constant stimulation is needed. Your mind needs to reflect and refresh which it cannot do unless you sit and do nothing.

Nothing is an adjustment. At first you'll be REALLY bored but you will get use to it and it will amaze you what you find to pass the time. I usually end up talking to my husband and children about my thoughts. I'm a big talker and with nothing to distract us we end up sitting around exchanging stories, ideas, news, etc. It's a really crucial time for reconnection as a family.

So that's it! We are done! Is your house shinny and new? Is it on it's way? I'm so glad you could join me for our good housekeeping series this week. I wish you blessings on your homemaking endeavors! Please share comments with me and let me know how you manage your household and the tips you find helpful :)

Did you miss Friday, you can find him here. Have a great weekend!

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

- Genesis 2: 2

Good Housekeeping - Friday

2012-01-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

This week I am writing a series on good housekeeping. I'm sharing my rhythm and what works for me every day as I go about my week tidying up after all our boys! :)

Daily Wisdom

:: Dishes, 2-3 times per day

:: Straighten up main area for 10 minutes after each meal time

:: Check the chickens

:: Brush the dog

:: Read my scriptures

Friday

:: Clean Floors

I clean the floors in the bedrooms and bathrooms on the days I clean those rooms but on Fridays I target the kitchen floor, the living room and the hallway. First, I wipe down the base boards and scrape the lint and build up out of them. Then I vacuum well. I pull out the couch and vacuum under it and as needed I vacuum the couch including under the cushions every few weeks (be sure to rotate your couch cushions to avoid "butt groves" :)). In the kitchen I sweep the floors well and then mop them down being careful to move aside all dining chairs to get underneath them. I also wipe down the base boards. About every six months I rent a carpet shampooer and clean the carpets with a mix of Dr Bronner's lavender and peppermint soaps.

:: Dust

In the main areas I also dust (I dust the bedrooms and kitchen on their assigned days). I pay special attention to the computer area which becomes very dusty very quickly being sure to move things and get behind and underneath them. Make sure you get the back of furniture and desk areas as well as bookshelves, window sills, picture frames, wall corners, knick knacks, lamps and light fixtures.

:: Windows and Walls

I give the windows in the main areas a good wiping down as needed ( I wipe the outside of them on outside cleaning day ;)) I also wipe down the walls in the main areas of sticky finger build up paying special attention to the door frames and light switches.

Did you miss Thursday? It's right here :)

Tomorrow is our last cleaning day! Are you excited? I am!

"The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe."

- Proverbs 18:10

Good Housekeeping - Thursday

2012-01-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

Photo credit

This week I am writing a series on good housekeeping. I'm sharing my rhythm and what works for me every day as I go about my week tidying up after all our boys! :)

Daily Wisdom

:: Dishes, 2-3 times per day

:: Straighten up main area for 10 minutes after each meal time

:: Check the chickens

:: Brush the dog

:: Read my scriptures

Thursday

:: Laundry

This is my midweek laundry round up to keep it from getting out of control. I also like to wash bathroom towels on this day too and any other odds and ends like kitchen rags, my apron, oven mitts, etc.

:: Clean Kitchen

Wipe down counter tops, cabinets, door frames and the walls around food preparing and consuming areas. Wipe down baseboards, table tops, chairs, high chairs, stools, the outside and inside of the fridge and freezer. Wipe down appliances, clean out the stove inside and out, organize cupboards, wipe down shelves, etc. Throw away spoiled food and when needed rotate your food storage area.

My laundry room and kitchen are connected so I take this time to wipe down the outside of the washer and dryer when they need it and straighten up anything in the area that needs it.

*Note: If you haven't had a regular housekeeping schedule the first week of this schedule may seem daunting. It may take you hours each day to complete the tasks. But rest assured if you do it for a week, the next week it will take you about 20 minutes to complete each daily task.

If you can't spare a week to get everything in order consider making a list of what needs to be done in each area and dividing it up over a month so that maybe you are working in each area, each day, for only 45 minutes but after the month is over you are caught up and can proceed to keep things in order with only a 20 minute or so commitment each day :)

If you missed Wednesday you can see it here. What do you think we are doing on Friday? Stay tuned and find out! :)

"One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

-Psalm 27:4

Good Housekeeping - Wednesday

2012-01-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

This week I am writing a series on good housekeeping. I'm sharing my rhythm and what works for me every day as I go about my week tidying up after all our boys! :)

Daily Wisdom

:: Dishes, 2-3 times per day

:: Straighten up main area for 10 minutes after each meal time

:: Check the chickens

:: Brush the dog

:: Read my scriptures

Wednesday

:: Grocery Shopping, Errands, Meal Planning

I keep an ongoing list in my planner where I jot down things we need each week such as vitamins, shampoo, olive oil - whatever we run out of. Then I go the store only once per week along with a trip to the bank, the pet store, whatever we need. I also map out my trip before a I go to plan the most efficient travel route between shops to save time.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path"

- Psalm 119:105

Check out Tuesday here and stay tuned for Thursday!

Good Housekeeping - Tuesday

2012-01-03T14:59:00.000-08:00

This week I am writing a series on good housekeeping. I'm sharing my rhythm and what works for me every day as I go about my week tidying up after all our boys! :)

Daily Wisdom

:: Dishes, 2-3 times per day

:: Straighten up main area for 10 minutes after each meal time

:: Check the chickens

:: Brush the dog

:: Read my scriptures

Tuesday

:: Clean the Bathrooms

Scrub down the shower and tub, wipe down fixtures, clean the toilet (throw away old reading materials from the back of the toilet and remember the toilet base), wipe down the sink and mirrors, sweep and mop the floor, change the towels out for clean ones, take out the trash, shake out or wash the rugs, clean out the medicine cabinet, wipe down the door frame and anywhere else with sticky finger build up.

:: Take the Trash to the Curb

(of course you want to do this the day before your own trash pick up :))

"To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled"

- Titus 2:5

Monday can be found here :)

Wednesday is up next!

Good Housekeeping - Monday

2012-01-02T20:33:00.000-08:00

This week I am writing a series on good housekeeping. I'm sharing my rhythm and what works for me every day as I go about my week tidying up after all our boys! :)

Daily Wisdom

:: Dishes, 2-3 times per day

:: Straighten up main area for 10 minutes after each meal time

:: Check the chickens

:: Brush the dog

:: Read my scriptures

Monday

:: Clean bedrooms.

Strip sheets off bed, spray mattresses with tea tree oil, clean,

dust, wipe down windows, window sills, and door frame (and any other sticky finger build up),

vacuum (don't forget those baseboards and behind the door!)

:: Laundry.

Wash, dry, fold and put away any laundry.

Sew or iron-on patches, sort out clothing that is tattered or too small

"So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander."

- 1 Timothy 5:14

Stay tuned for Tuesday's rhythm! :)

What Has Happened to Extended Hospitality?

2011-12-31T15:08:00.000-08:00

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies -- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ...

(1 Peter 4:8-11).

The thought trickled in a few months ago during a re-reading of Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Hospitality.

It was deep in the 1860s, going beyond a simple invite of the neighbors to tea, they lived it, they breathed it.

When the tin salesman came riding up in his wagon, the family put a hen in the oven and fresh sheets on the bed, naturally the man would stay in their home.

When the shoemaker came through their neck of the woods he was given free room and board for a week as well as payment to make their shoes. After all where would he go? There simply were no Super 8s back then.

But there are now...Super 8s I mean, and Hotel 6s and spas and resorts and that's where we stay. What have we lost because of this?

We've become closed off, living behind the walls of our homes rarely welcoming anyone in for a visit much less a long stay and even when we do they are likely to be close family, never would we dream of putting up a total stranger.

But our grandparents and great-great grandparents did.

When the tin salesman came each year he brought with him stories and news from his travels. The Wilder family sat down in the evenings and laughed so hard they cried as he spun his tales.

Now we check our facebook status updates and see pictures of nieces, nephews, friends and grandchildren but do we really know them? Do we know the sound of their laugh, the wretch of their cry? Do we know how their brow creases when they are thinking or how their eye twinkles when they have an idea?

These are only things we learn by inviting people in and being with them. People we love as well as people we may not know as well.

It's not always comfortable, I know that. You may have to wait to use the bathroom. They may see how untidy you keep your bedroom. They may not like your food. But do we remember what we gain?

Love, connection, conversation, and community.

I thought about it even more. How did this start?

And that's when it felt political to me.

A lot of people talk these days about shrinking the government. Social welfare has made us dependent and the best thing you can do for people is foster independence. I don't completely disagree with that assertion in some cases but it's not just government programs that make people dependent - in fact, we have a worse offender, it's corporations.

Super 8, Best Western, Motel 6 and the like have talked the past few generations of traveling folk into the notion that they should fork out some cash and not impose on those around them.

They've shifted the culture for their own benefit, and made us dependent on THEM to provide services we now think we all need. Like many corporations who have done a similar thing, they have detached us from our friends and family by providing a "service" that use to be provided by our family and community.

How do we take this back? Where does it start?

It starts in our homes and in our hearts.

Will you make a commitment to be more hospitable in 2012? I know I am!

"I'm Alright" Seasoning Mix for Your Family's Health

2011-12-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

"Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."

D & C 89:11

This is a modification of a seasoning blend I found here

"I'm Alright" Seasoning Mix

Recipe:

Mix equal parts garlic powder, oregano, tumeric and purple dulse flakes.

Add Cheynne pepper to taste.

You can find these ingredients at your local health food store in the bulk herb and seasoning section or online.

This seasoning mix is the perfect savory addition to soups, toast, potatoes, pasta, veggies, sandwiches, burgers, meat, stir fry, rice, salad - you can put it on nearly everything!

Garlic helps prevent cancer, benefits your heart and cholesterol levels.

Oregano is a naturally antibacterial and is rich in vitamins and minerals.

Tumeric makes cancer cells commit suicide among a whole host of other health effects.

Purple dulse, a seaweed, relieves constipation, and scurvy, and is a mild aid for parasite removal. But most important, purple dulse, protects against nuclear fall out radiation which is especially important due to Japan's 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant explosion.

Here's wishing you a healthy and happy winter!

We Are Now on Twitter :)

2011-12-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the Lord is subtle and sometimes He shouts!

:)

For some time now I have been hearing a still small voice saying to move away from facebook. I had headed the voice for a while. At first I did stop using it other than to post blog updates on the blog page, but then I got sick, and fell head over heels into the facebook trap yet again as I lingered on the couch needing any distraction to alleviate my constant illness.

But once I felt better I continued to spend an hour or two a day on facebook. Too much...

...and still there was the prompting to leave.

I started thinking about it. I didn't like the way facebook had me thinking of my life in terms of status updates and the increasing problems with facebooks ethics pressed upon my heart.

Then God shouted!

A few days ago facebook begun banning us from posting links from blogger and other independently voiced sites. Feeds were shut down, and posts were stopped. I had written two new blogs and thinking the whole thing was a glitch (which it seems now like it isn't) I tried to google a solution. I was told to try and manually type the http address into a status update. It worked....

..and then I was blocked from facebook.

I have no idea how long I will be blocked but I can say this.

I'm finally really done with facebook.

So without further ado I would like to let you know that you can follow us on Twitter now! My Twitter account is both me (as a person) and me (as a blog).

@wiseandglorious (Ayla Stewart)

(Link available on the right sidebar under the heading "Social Networks")

If facebook reverses their new policy and allows blog posts back on facebook then I will continue to update the blog page (although I personally will not be on facebook anymore).

Sometimes He is a still small voice, and sometimes He shouts!

I encourage you to pray about facebook yourself especially if you use it in connection with a business (that would be hurt if your access were suddenly shut down). I'm not saying we all have to quit, let's just be intentional with our use :)

Avington Fife's Birth Story

2011-12-26T10:31:00.000-08:00

Little Avi Fife, wrapped in a blanket made for him by grandma Susan

Avi turns two years old today! Here's his birth story!

I woke up at dawn on the 26th of December 2009, with the feeling of a poke at my cervix and a mild "popping" sensation. Then it felt like I was peeing! I jumped up and ran to the bathroom where I did pee but continued to leak clear fluid in dribbles. My water had broken!

I went back to bed with a towel. Seth asked what was up and I told him that my water had just broken. Within a few minutes I started having some contractions but they were very mild. Seth helped me time the contractions, I would say "time" when I was having one and he would write down the time. The boys ran around the house yelling, "Time! Papa, time!" I had roughly 5 contractions an hour and most of the day they stayed very mild.

At noon I was trilled to tune into my favorite radio show "Wait..Wait..Don't Tell Me, the NPR News Quiz" to hear that their guest was George Takei (Sulu from Star Trek) and his quiz topic was child birth!

Around 4 PM I laid down on the couch and prayed to Heavenly Father that the contractions would please just come hard and quick so I could have a fast labor, I was so ready to be done wondering the house waiting for true labor to start. After that prayer I hopped in the shower and the contractions picked up dramatically.

At this point I started singing through them which was amazing! I mostly sung my favorite U2 song "The Unforgettable Fire" especially the lines:

"Walk on by - walk on through
So sad to beseige your love so
Head on - stay this time
Stay tonight in a lie
I'm only asking but I think you know
Come on take me away
Come on take me away
Come on take me home - home again

And if the mountain should crumble
Or disappear into the sea
Not a tear - no, not I
Stay in this time
Stay tonight in a lie
Ever after, this love in time
And if you save your love, save it all
Don't push me too far
Don't push me too far tonight "

So, picture it, I'm pacing rapidly because that makes the contractions feel better and I'm singing these lyrics at the top of my lungs. Ha! During one contraction I blurted out "I love babies yes I do! I love babies how 'bout you?" To which Seth and I laughed.

After a bit more pacing I got back in the shower and the intensity around my cervix increased. It was almost a "doubling over" feeling. I told Seth at this point that I didn't want to be doing this anymore. In my mind I didn't think I could be very far along because things were suddenly moving so fast and I thought that I was "wussing out" too early. Seth was so steadfast and encouraging telling me I was almost there.

I got out of the shower and started dry heaving into the toilet. I just LOVE transition, don't you? Not a fan of the vomiting but hey, it means I'm close! I didn't want to have the baby in the bathroom so I crawled out to the living room and laid my head on Seth's stomach. I prayed again to Heavenly Father "Please let me be pushing, I'll give anything to be pushing." With the next two contractions I felt a building "pushing urge"!!!

I got on my knees and bent over a dining chair, gripping the back of it with my hands. Now I was pushing! I literally felt a spreading sensation as his head descended into the birth canal. With the next push I could feel my hip bones sliding apart. I remember thinking "this is so cool!" It felt like massive tectonic plates were shifting inside my body. With another push his head was at the gate.

I told Seth, who was behind me, to get Nykki (Nykki had wanted to catch) Nykki and Ronan came out of the play room and stood behind me with Seth. With a push the head was out. Seth said "Oh babe, it's head is out! Look boys it's head! Oh it's moving it's mouth!" There was so much love in his voice, so much joy, that I know that was the best moment of my life! My most cherished of all memories.

Seth said to Nykki, "Come here and catch it." But Nyk was a bit overwhelmed so with the next push out came Avington Fife into Papa's hands. I spun around and scooped him up. A boy! My three Charmed Ones! My Dumbledore's Army! My Fellowship of the Ring! My Scooby Gang! I thought Avi was so small, his coloring was peachy, his hair and eyes a hazel brown.

Avington Fife was born at 7 PM, December 26th 2009. He was 7 lbs 10 oz and 20 inches long. My smallest babe yet. A Capricorn, Leo rising, Taurus moon.

On All My Holy Mountain...

2011-12-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

Nykki and Avi carry sticks as they walk near the view ridge on our property. You can see Frey organic vineyards from this spot which is nice, it kind feels fancy :)

We recently acquired four acres of land about 25 minutes up the mountain from the small northern California town we live in now. We had thought that due to high prices in our area that we would be buying land somewhere else, but a terrific deal presented itself and now we find we have become lifers in the Redwood rain forest!

Papa and Avi near the home site.

Hopefully by this time next year I will be blogging from our cobb house located right here!

Isaiah 55:12-13

The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and

all the trees of the field will clap their hands. All this will be a memorial for the
Lord, a sign that for all time will not be cut off.

Joshua 2:11

For the lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.

I Chron. 16:7,30-34

Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly

established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice. Let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, "The lord reigns!"

Isaiah 11:9

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for

the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Christmas in Our Home

2011-12-21T14:55:00.000-08:00

I've been so busy with the holiday season, I haven't been updating enough! :)

We are so blessed this Christmas. We finally have 5 acres of land that we are beginning to develop, we are all healthy, the babe in my belly is growing strong and we are looking forward to 2012 with much glee!

Our family, Christmas 2011

A display at our church

Our grain free Saint Lucia buns made with butternut squash, egg white and coconut flour

Our advent calendar

Saint Nicholas

The Waldorf Christmas Craft Fair

Advent with St. Lucia looking on

Drying herbs from our garden to use as Christmas gifts

Baby bump

Letters to Santa

We hope you have a blessed Christmas season and a happy and healthy new year!

Grain Free Cinnamon Rolls!!!!!!!!!!

2011-12-03T19:44:00.000-08:00

I invented something over the past few weeks. I stayed up at night thinking about it, how to make them perfect, and now, I've done it. Grain free cinnamon rolls that will melt in your mouth. I am so pleased to present these to you!

Ingredients:

12 eggs
coconut sugar or honey
salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mashed butternut squash (you can also use mashed pumpkin or banana)
3/4 cup milk, plus some extra for frosting
cinnamon
2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup butter plus extra for greasing
chopped fruit and or nuts

Preheat you oven to 400 degrees. In a medium pot melt 1/4 cup of butter over medium low heat. Once melted remove from heat and set aside.Grease two baking sheets very well with butter.

Seperate the whites from the yolks for all dozen eggs. Beat the whites until stiff.

When the oven is preheated, fold the squash into the whites and add teaspoon or so of cinnamon and a teaspoon of cocnut sugar or honey along with a dash of salt.

Immediately spread the egg white and squash batter onto the baking sheets and put into the oven right away. Do not let these set. Bake for about 12 minutes until brown on the edges. Remove and allow to cool.

Add egg yolks to your melted butter along with your milk, cinnamon to taste, coconut sugar or honey to taste, vanilla, and orange juice. Cook over medium heat stirring all the time until mixture thickens (this takes about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and continue stirring for about 2 minutes. Add some extra milk until the mixture is the consistency of runny pudding.

Spread the runny pudding mix over the egg white and squash (leave some for topping). Top with additional cinnamon, chopped or dried fruit, nuts, etc. (Pictured here I have used chopped apples and almond slivers)

Cut into strips and roll up. At this point they will be quite cool so I recommend popping them back into the oven for a few minutes as well as heating up the runny pudding and adding additional milk.

Once warm, top with pudding mixture and enjoy! :)

Crustless, Date Sweented, Pecan Pie

2011-11-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

Pecan pie is my favorite pie. I cannot go a Thanksgiving without it! Years ago, I tweaked the recipe to omit the crust, cane sugar and corn syrup.The results were more amazing then I could have hoped for. In my opinion, it's BETTER than regular pecan pie.

5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup chopped, pitted dates
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
2 cups chopped toasted pecans
1 to 2 tablespoons frontier butterscotch flavor
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 eggs, lightly beaten

In a blender or food processor, puree the dates until smooth (you may need to add a teaspoon or two of water depending on how dry your dates were). Combine the dates, butter and salt in a medium sauce pan. Heat well stirring consistently for about minute. Remove from heat and ad butterscotch, vanilla and nuts. Set aside for five minutes. Then add eggs and whisk until smooth. Place mixture in a well buttered pie pan and bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until set. Enjoy! :)

Celebratating Martinmas!

2011-11-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

"The sunlight fast is dwindling.

My little lamp needs kindling.

Its beam shines far in darkest night

Dear Lantern guard me with your light."

-Festivals, Family and Food by Diana Carey and Judy Large

Winter is here! Commence sledding, drinking of hot chocolate and cider. Hang evergreen along your entry way, light your candles, gather with family, and enjoy the indoor festivities!

November 11th is Martinmas, also known as Martinstag and the Feast of Saint Martin of Tours.

Saint Martin was a Roman solider from France born in 316. As an adult he converted to Christianity and became a monk. He was known for being a kind man who lived a quiet and simple life.

Saint Martin, like all Saints, has a wonderful story to tell. Before he was baptized, while he was studying Christianity, he was on his way home when he passed by a beggar on the side of the road.

It was a very cold night and the beggar had hardly any clothes on. Saint Martin took his battle sword and cut his own cloak in half. He then gave half of it to the beggar.

Later that evening Saint Martin had a dream or vision that Christ appeared to him wearing the half cloak proclaiming to the Angels,

"Here is Martin, the Roman soldier who is not baptised; he has clothed me."

I cannot begin to describe how much I love this story and how thankful I am to the work of Rudolph Steiner and the Waldorf method for introducing it to me.

Saint Martin begins his adult life as a solider for Rome. I cannot imagine the torture, the bloodshed and the horrors he must have witnessed in such a world. Instead of crawling into a cave and wishing the evil world away (which is what I am tempted to do in hard times), Martin strove for more and in this striving found Christ.

Once Martin had found Christ he had access to that wonderful Christ light. Even though he had not yet completed his studies to become baptized he was able to stop in the dead cold of a winter's night and share half of his cloak with a total stranger in need.

Martin wasn't caught up in himself and what his hardships or history were. He let grace fill in his gaps, he trusted completely and without hesitation served the Lord through giving to the most poor.

That thought can pull me through just about anything, and in the dark of winter either literal or metaphorical - you need that light to guide you.

In Ireland the tradition of Martinmas is to kill a cockerel, bleed it, and sprinkle the blood in the four corners of one's home. They also did not use a wheel of any kind since legend has it, Saint Martin was killed with a wheel.

In Northern Europe children make paper lanterns and go from door to door singing Saint Martin's Day songs for sweets. The Nordic tradition has been carried on in Waldorf schools and among Waldorf families. A lantern walk on the evening of Martinmas is traditional.

Singing for sweets may remind you of Halloween and the dates between the two traditions are not far off for good reason. The Old Scottish or Pictish form of Halloween is called Samhuinn (pronounced Sow-un) and it falls on November 11th.

In the Old World this was the start of the new year and a return to wintertime. Fire was key to Samhuinn rituals celebrating all night by a large bonfire was common. Like the more modern lanterns of Martinmas this symbolism of fire as we descend into winter was meant to bring us comfort as the days became very cold and the nights very long and dark.

A popular chant heard on this night would be..

A null e; A nall e; Slainte!

Welcome to the new year!

May it teach me as well as did the old.

A null e; A null e; Slainte!

Sitting by the fireside and meditating or sleeping all night was a popular way to spend this New Years night. The Pects also marched through their community singing songs and carrying sparks to light the new years fire.

Precautions were taken at this time against bad luck to human and livestock. Juniper was burned, mountain ash decorated the house and doorposts, walls, and cattle were sprinkled with wine.

No matter where you live in the Northern Hemisphere your days have become cool and the night has grown darker, earlier - pressing us to use our sparks (fires, lanterns, electric or solar lights) on our journey through the winter.

And in life we all experience dark times, we just need to remember to carry our light with us.

5 Things I Learned About Food From the Second Chapter of Farmer Boy

2011-11-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder is very much the world as seen through the eyes of a little boy. Food and work play the biggest roles in his life, and of course this makes sense since they were literally working long, hard days for their food.

Throughout the book Alamnzo details the meals they shared around the kitchen table. His mother was an accomplished cook, as were most women of the day, and she lavished her love upon her hard working farmer boys.

What lessons about real food can we glean from these pages?

1. They ate A LOT

Earlier in chapter one Almanzo describes for us the lunch he and his siblings took to school in their lunch pail. "Eliza Jane opened the dinner-pail on her desk. It held bread-and-butter and sausage, doughnuts and apples, and four delicious apple-turnovers, their plump crusts filled with melting slices of apple and spicy brown juice."

That's a lot of food for lunch! Nowadays the typical school lunch would probably consist of a sandwich, a bag of chips, maybe a piece of fruit and a drink. The theme of heavy eating is protrayed throughout the book but is never described in such wonderful detail as in the dinner meal served in the second chapter.

Now bare in mind, this was not a fancy or special occasion, this was what was served for a typical dinner. There were slabs (note: not slices but SLABS) of tempting cheese, a plate of head cheese, glass dishes of jams and jellies and preserves, a tall pitcher of milk, a steaming pan of baked beans with a crisp bit of fat pork in the crumbling brown crust, a large platter of sizzling ham, mealy boiled potatoes with brown ham-gravy, bread and butter, mashed turnips, stewed yellow pumpkin, spiced watermelon-rind pickles, and pumpkin pie.

2. Their Diet Was Surprising Close to the Primal Diet

For those unfamiliar with the Primal Diet it is a diet related to the caveman diet or the Paleo diet in that it attempts to get humans a little closer to what we would naturally eat under the conditions of nature for which we were designed. Essentially the diet consists of getting the bulk of ones nutrition from animal meats and fats but that by volume, vegetables and to a lesser extent, fruits should take up most of the room on our plate. Good fats, raw or fermented, full fat dairy products and spices should round off one's diet.

The Primal diet does not support eating grains or sugar, for which we are not well adapted. Now, mind you, I'm not claiming this diet of the Wilder's IS primal or paleo but what I am saying it's a lot closer than the modern diet most people are eating.

Let's break down this meal.

Meat - Ham was the featured product of this meal, big hunks of ham. The mealy potatoes were covered in brown ham gravy which in those days would have been made of organ meats from the pig along with a little butter, salt and flour. They also consumed head cheese which despite it's name is not actually cheese but is a cold cut meat made from the head of an animal (in this case most likely the pig).

Dairy - Slabs of cheese which would have been fermented from the milk of their cows.A pitcher of milk which also would have been fresh and raw.

That's a very protein heavy meal!

Let's continue....

Vegetables and Fruits - Here's where we see some volume! Stewed yellow pumpkin, mealy boiled potatoes, mashed turnips, watermelon rind, and various jams and jellies. Also they ate pumpkin pie which was not likely to have been like our pumpkin pie today but would have been more like a squash pudding and may or may not have contained a crust.

Grains - Bread and baked beans. Of course the baked beans would also have featured a lot of bone broth and/or meat as well as the pork fat mentioned and the bread (most likely whole grain, stone ground and naturally fermented as they did not have packaged yeast) was served with a generous helping of raw, grass fed, butter.

So we see a lot of protein in the form of meat and diary, second we see tons of veggies and some preserved fruits and last we see a bit of grains but not very much.

Contrasting that the an average American meal of say spaghetti with garlic bread and salad, or pizza or hamburgers and french fries or macaroni and cheese we can see that today we tend to load up on the carbs and the protein comes second, if at all.

3. Children Did Not Speak At Meals

"'Thank you.' Almanzo said. Those were the only words he was allowed to speak at the table. Children must be seen and not heard. Father and Mother and Mr. Course could talk, but Royal and Eliza Jane and Alice and Almanzo must not say a word."

Seth and I tried this once at our dinner table, needless to say it did not go over well. I like speaking to my children at dinner so I don't mind them speaking but there are some nights when I wish this WAS our rule! *chuckle*

4. Preparing the Meal Was the Domain of the Women

While the boys and their father were out feeding the animals, cleaning the stalls and milking the cows, the women (Almanzo's two sisters and his mother) were in the kitchen preparing the meal. When Almanzo tried to sneak in he was quickly and sternly told to leave the kitchen.

This split of domestic responsibilities has great advantage to all. The household can function smoothly, everyone knows who is responsible for what. There is never any squabbling about who was meant to do what, all duties are clearly laid out and what's more they are laid out in such a way as to benefit those who would be best at the chore.

The men and boys, with their ability to focus on one task and their strong bodies were perfectly suited to tending the livestock. The women who are able to multitask and who are more suited to nurturing activities I'm sure relished the chance to spend the evening in the warm kitchen preparing the meal. I know I would!

5. They Ate Seasonally And Ate What They Grew Themselves

This dinner happened in wintertime so as we can see butchered animals, root vegetables and squash were the featured items. In addition some immediately available foods such as milk and cheese as well as preserved food such as watermelon rinds, jams and jellies.

The pig would have been raised and butchered right there on their farm. The milk and cheese also came from their very own cows. The berries and fruits for the preserves would have been grown on the farm or gathered wild in the nearby wood and of course the squash and root veggies would have come from their winter garden.

There would not have been eggs in the pumpkin pie, as eggs are a seasonal food (chickens do not lay in wintertime). There were no fresh fruits or leafy green veggies which one would only eat in spring and summertime.

Compared to today this one family dinner seems like Thanksgiving! It is very rich, nutrient dense, full of animal fats and vegetables and lower on grains and sugar then a typical modern meal. It seems that unlike modern day athletes who rely on carbs to keep them going this hard working family who farmed their land from sun up to sunset (and often longer) was fueled on animal fats and vegetables.

Aside from Almanzo describing his mother as "plump" (which may have been the result of giving birth to six children more than anything else) no one in the family was fat nor did they suffer illness.

Infact as we can see from this boyhood picture of Almanzo he was a good weight...

We can also see that all this "fattening" food did not catch up with him later as the handsome Almanzo stole the heart of the young Laura Ingalls (10 years his junior) and from this picture we can see they were both trim, healthy looking folks...

All the fattening food and meat still never caught up with old Almanzo. He lived healthy to the ripe old age of 92, running his own farm and horse breeding business and as you can see never did get fat....

So maybe high calorie, "fattening" animal products are not so bad for us after all? It seems like this was a very healthy diet that served the hardworking Almanzo and his family very well his whole life.

Food for thought...

6 Things I Learned About School from the First Chapter of Farmer Boy

2011-11-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

We are re-reading Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My boys love this book. Tonight as we read the first chapter I was again struck by the opening chapter's description of school in the 1860's.

I've felt prompted to write about it a bit and contrast it to modern day school experiences.

1. Children Walked Three Miles to School

We've all heard grandpa's tale of walking five miles to school, in the snow, up hill, both ways. Turns out your grandpa probably isn't too far off. Almanzo and his siblings walked 1 1/2 miles to school and then back again and, yes, they did so in the freezing snow.

This may one reason why, even though they had a rich lunch consisting of apple turnovers, butter, and donuts, the rates of childhood obesity in Almanzo's generation were probably zero.

2. Teacher's Were Responsible for Children

Almanzo speaks of the high snow drifts this winter day. The school teacher. Mr. Corse, had arrived at the school house early to shovel the walk way to the school so the children could enter the building. He was also responsible for getting the wood stove going (with wood he probably chopped himself) as to keep the students and himself warm all day.

To me this shows a level of responsibility needed from a teacher for the care and comfort of their class that we simply don't have the opportunity to find anymore. Imagine having to wake early, walk miles to work through the snow, shovel the walk way, start a fire, not to mention preparing your lesson. What dedication that must have taken!

3. The Teacher's Knew Their Students Intimately

Teacher's during this time would room with their students families. Each family boarded the teacher for two weeks and then they switched. Imagine the insight one would gain as an educator if you had to actually live with your students! Today a teacher would be extremely lucky to have one, one hour, home visit per year and that usually only happens in private schools.

How much better a teacher would be able to teach his or her pupil if they understood the students background, their home life situation, the kinds of food they ate, the schedule they kept, where they fell among their siblings, how their parents spoke to them, etc. It boggles the mind!

4. The School Year Was Very Short

The teacher boarded two weeks with each family and when he or she had rotated through all the families available the school was closed up for the year. From what I could gather from Almanzo's description there were about 5 families worth of students in his school. that would mean about 10 weeks of school all year long.

That's a big contrast to the institutions we call school today were some students, at "year round" programs literally spend all year in school.This really shows that the emphasis at this time was on home and family for socializing, entertaining as well as education.

5. Children Didn't Start School Until Age 9

In Almanzo's world children didn't begin school until they were almost 9 years old. This puts kids entering school at third grade by our modern standards. This may seem odd but really it makes a lot of sense. Around the age of nine children go through what's called "the nine year change". This is a time when they become more independent and are better able to focus on long tasks.

Since children in Almanzo's school were expected to sit, be quite and learn their lessons starting at age nine, when they were mature enough to do so, is very logical.

But didn't this leave them behind in their studies?

Not at all. They started later but could learn quicker. Instead of trying to shove reading, writing and math down the throat of a 5 year old, they simply started at nine when the child could pick it up without much of a struggle, thus they moved along quickly after that.

6. Children Were Given Ample Recess Time

Teachers back then seemed to understand what our modern day has forgotten - if you're going to make children sit, quietly, in a desk, for hours, you need to give them time to run and play. It's called recess and few schools these days even allow for it.

Yet in Almanzo's day they were given 15 minutes in the morning and time again during lunch - and this was for all ages. These breaks were also separated by gender with the girls going out first and then the boys having their turn. Lots of fresh air, sunshine and play punctuated the children's day - what a delight!

You would expect that today with our longer hours, our earlier start and our federal standards in educational methods that we would at least see a much more intelligent population here in the US but that simply isn't true.

In 1870, 80% of the entire adult population was literate (able to read, write and articulate). And those numbers were dragged down by the fact that African Americans, unable to attain education in most parts of the country, only had a literacy rate of 20%.

The gap for literacy between blacks and whites equaled out for the most part in the 1970s yet as of 2003, we see that only 86% of our adult population is literate and that rate has been on the decline for years.

So for all our testing, pushing, prompting, regulating, forcing and equal opportunity of education we have only gained 6% and we are in danger of losing that soon? Something doesn't seem right

Modern day schools have become like jail cells for children. Drab, sterile, too long, and too often with nothing to show for it but high rates or "behavior" issues unheard of in the 1860s.

Personally, I long to see a return of community run, one room school houses and as more parents take their children out of public education jails and school them at home and in co-ops I think we have a good chance of seeing that happen in our life time.

In the meantime, I'll be pouring over Laura Ingalls Wilder's books for more gems lost in the past!

And now, some wisdom on modern education from Tears for Fears...

"All around me are familiar faces

Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow...

I find it hard to tell you

'Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me "

-Mad World by Tears for Fears

This is Halloween

2011-10-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

This Halloween ghosts and spooks are ancestors to remember. Those who got us where we are...

...the wave we rode to our own existence

Do we remember them?

Tell their stories...

Laugh

Think

Help them re-live this Halloween night.

From them

came the newest us

from us

come the next them

Samhuiin

becomes

Dio del los meurtos

becomes

All Saint's Eve

becomes

All Hallows Eve

becomes

Halloween

and what do we become?

Are we costume adorn and neighborhood treking, gathering treats for the long winter nights to come?

Easy, Crustless Pumpkin Pie

2011-10-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Easy Crustless Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients

3 cups of mashed, cooked pumpkin

(I cut my pie pumpkin in half and bake it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes or until soft)

4 eggs

18 oz of condensed milk (may substitute 12 oz whole milk)

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp all spice

1 cup coconut sugar

Blend all ingredients together well in a large mixing bowl. Pour into a pie pan that has been well buttered. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, reduce to 375 degrees and continue cooking for an additional 35 minutes or until the center is solid.

Remember to save those seeds!

Let the Words Call You

2011-10-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

Turn off the electronics (wait! Finish reading this blog post first! :))

Get cozy...

and let the words call you.

Let them excite you, inspire you, move you deeply.

Engross yourself.

Around the web today.......I was a 14 year old girl that Halloween 18 years ago when River Phoenix past away. I adored him and not because he was cute (which he was) but because he believed in things, he stood for things, he has passion. Now, his last movie is finally being released.

Are you getting too many pap tests? A new recommendation may surprise you.

Ever considered how you want to die (if you had a choice that is?) I read this article and now I know. I want to go just like this couple.

Do you have pink fatigue? I know I do!

The week is half over, what have you enjoyed so far?

On Being With a Being (An Announcement!)

2011-10-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

Seth and I, Ronan in my belly.

It happened so slowly....yet so fast.

First a call from father a few months ago.

"A friend of mine at work dreamed you had another baby, a girl."

I laugh.

"Well Dad, you know we aren't planning on having anymore, I mean I want to adopt but I'm done giving birth."

God chuckled.

I was in control. I had a birth control plan which was recommended by my doctor, all was fine.

I went to the sea side and when I came home I was tired.

Oh so tired....

What was it?

Was it the traffic on the street at night keeping me awake? Was this what it felt like to get older? Was it our new home school schedule?

I served up a dinner of steamed vegetable. The smell made my stomach flip over. I sit plates in front of hungry kids and then all the sudden it dawns on me.

No. It can't be!

I dash to the bathroom.

I pee on a white stick.

One line...oh OK that's the test line, no wait, no it's not.

Another line.

Two lines.

My brain flashes through any possibility....all possibilities and after a few seconds comes to rest like a roulette wheel on the only winner.

A baby.

I'm going to have another baby.

It's there and there's no going back.

I cry out to God.

No. I think. No.

I wasn't going to give birth again. I wasn't. I was looking forward to raising my children, I was done having them. I was done giving birth. I was done.

God, I can't do this. I plead.

My head swims.

I see my future.

Three years away from adopting children who need a home. Three years away from having my three boys homeschooling together with no baby sniffling for na-nas while I'm trying to teach a lesson.

Older children, not babies.

The future falls to the floor and crashes as if made of glass,

and after all, it was.

It was never up to me to determine my future, it was never in my hands, it always was with God and His wisdom.

But I don't want to. I cry. I don't want to trust God, I don't want to even think about Him, I had plans and He's messing everything up.

All these thoughts flow through me like a great flood carving the Grand Canyon.

From one breath to the next.

I breathe for the third time since seeing the test results.

It's OK, I hear a prompting. This is meant to be.

The event is so abstract. It's isn't a person yet, it's a failure to control my own life. It's having to tell my husband and my family. It's having to reorder the make up of my home, rearranging my current children to fit the new reality.

It's my dreams on hold.

But really, it's none of those things. It's a PERSON.

A spirit brother or sister (Oh please God let it be a sister!) who wants to experience this mortal world.

I breathe for the fourth time. Four.

I'm the mother of four.

Senseless panic gives way to acceptance and a peek of joy.

It will be hard. It's always hard but it's worth it. Three times before and all worth it.

I go into the kitchen visibly shaken.

"What's going on Mom?" Nykki asks.

"I'm pregnant." I stammer. Saying the words out load for the first time.

"Get your shoes on." I tell the boys. "We're going to Brooke and Corey's."

We walk the block to my visiting teacher and home teacher's house. I tell them the news. I receive a wonderful blessing.

We walk home.

Seth is home from work and I tell him. He's shocked.

I'm shocked.

For two days we sit and look at each other with our mouths hanging open.

Then I begin to laugh.

How silly we were! How silly to think that for a second WE controlled whether or not we created another life. It wasn't up to us.

So it's inconvenient? So what?

So I'm sick as dog, head over the sink at the slightest smell, too exhausted to cook dinner.

So what?

I go to the midwife and hear the heart beating.

This isn't an event, this is a person.

I go to have blood drawn and must walk by Planned Parenthood to get to the blood drawing office.

I shudder. My hand protectively closes around my womb.

My baby.

And I weep.

You're so vulnerable when you're pregnant. Even I, in a loving family with a good home and the time and energy - even I was shocked, upset and bewildered.

My heart grieved for all the women in harder situations than I. For the single mother's, the widows, the abused wives, the poor, the young, the depressed, the angry, the violated.

If it was hard for me to accept, how hard must it be for them? Where is the community of women for them? Where are we?

I shudder and walk quickly past that place of doom and on the get my blood tested..

The weeks have past. A little more than two weeks. I'm nine weeks pregnant and my little being is the size of a large grape. Her eyes are fully formed and all her organs are in place. She is a tiny person. A being inside my being.

Her date is set, May 20th. My father's birthday. Will she be on time?

And our hearts have made room for four....

This is a Home

2011-10-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

I don't know exactly how it all started but you know the feeling, that turvey topsy shifting and before you know it your cheeks flush hot, your heart pounds a bit more and you realize things have gotten totally out of control?

Due to some recent very shocking news (more on that in another post) my family has felt, well, off. Our routine is off, our feelings are off and our home is off.

What's more is that I've been so caught up, stuck on that feeling of day to day survival that I hadn't noticed how off we were.

That is until something so simple reminded me. My husband was on the phone with the Internet company trying to trouble shoot a problem. At some point in the conversation the man asked, "Is this a residence or a business?" Without skipping a beat my husband replied, "This is a home."

This is a home.

Yes, it is and some how, sometimes, we forget that. How can we forget that?

I'm just glad I had an opportunity to remember.....

Around the web today....I truly believe people should have the right to choose their own food, this story hit close to home. We all know being materialistic is a sad way to go through this beautiful, abundant life of ours and a new study shows that being materialistic also causes problems in marriage. Protecting young girls from exploitation in today's society is difficult and here's a grass roots organization to help.

Little Children and the Joy of Eating

2011-10-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

I love pictures of children eating something yummy.

I guess because they do it with so much gratitude and joy. The meal looms large over their tiny existence and they literally dive in, completely in the moment.

Here the kids and I are eating at Cafe 1, an organic breakfast and lunch cafe in Fort Bragg, CA.

Around the web this weekend....

Did you ever think you'd hear of an entire bridge being stolen? Sounds like something from a movie but it really happened recently. Crazy. And speaking of theft, ever loose a Netflix and looked at your postal carrier a little more suspiciously? Well, it turns out sometimes the friendly neighborhood mailman is pinching your DVDs and other things too!

New crack downs by the federal government have shown that even when the people let their voice be heard by vote the government can simply choose to ignore them. What's up with that?

I'm a pretty natural livin' kinda gal but I do have one modern indulgence, outside of blogging, and that's sci-fi. A recent vote tallied the 25 best sci-fi heroes and some of my best friends were on the list!

Flu shot season is here and there's one more reason to be weary of the needle. And speaking of medical choices did you know that a brave woman made a choice back in the 50s that saved not only her baby's life but changed the world as we know it?

Immigration is often a hot topic, here's an article I stumbled across that really put things in perspective historically. It's a good read for those interested in the subject.

Have a blissful weekend!

Pumpkin Harvest

2011-10-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

"The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest."

Psalm 85:12 (NIV)

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

Genesis 8:22

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."

John 4:35

We are so fortunate to live in a community with local pumpkin growers. Today we squished through the deep, deep mud (thanks to some early winter storms) and picked our carving pumpkins and our eating pumpkins for the year.

The experience of picking your own food from the vine cannot be beat.

Today I'm thinking about the people rising up. Nothing beats the power of the people because the power of the people doesn't stop :) And while we are talking about changing the system I agree with this reporter, breast cancer awareness month (which is October) needs a serious over haul if we are actually going to beat this disease. Why aren't we as a nation talking about the real risk factors?

We live in a multi generational household, the idea is catching on and if you ask me it's one of the biggest benefits of this economic downturn.

And I have to say I was shocked at the global internet outpouring over the death of Steve Jobs. I had no idea how loved he was by so many people. My heart goes out to his family and friends and all those who were inspired and helped by his products. I for one, recently found out that Steve openly opposed pornography and wouldn't allow it in Apple apps. Way to go Steve! You certainly made your mark.

Easy, Grain Free Hamburger Buns

2011-10-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

6 eggs

pinch of salt

spices to taste (optional)

a bit of crushed nuts or flax for a "grainy" taste (optional)

In two bowls separate the egg whites and the egg yolks. Whip the egg whites until they peak stiffly. Into the egg yolks beat the salt in until the yolks are well mixed. Gently fold the yolks into the whites. Add any optional ingredients and fold in. On a greased skillet, on medium, pour the batter like pancake batter into a circle. Use batter right away otherwise it will settle and separate. Cook until golden brown on the bottom, flip and cook the other side.

Yum!

Around the web today..........Facebook keeps getting into trouble regarding people's privacy, now they track you when you aren't even logged in? Sounds like a horror movie but it's true. And we all know that here at Wise and Glorious we eat a Paleo/Primal/Nourishing Traditions diet (hence the grain free hamburger buns :)) so I was a little shocked to hear of a government raising taxes on a food because it's fattening. Not all fats are created equal and some are essential for good health. This is one government over step that has me concerned we may be in for a slippery slope of regulations on what we can eat.

When Food is Sacred....

2011-09-30T16:53:00.000-07:00

....we prepare it slowly and with intention.

With carefully selected ingredients from our local farmers or from our garden.

We join around the table with family and celebrate.

We light candles, we say a blessing and thank our Creator for our food.

Whatever that food may be.....

Buying local and organic is not just important for the economy and to support family farms but as we've seen this week it's even more important to our health than ever. Outbreaks of deadly listeria are claiming lives in melons and in two separate bagged lettuce outbreaks. Big food corporations simply cannot provide safe oversight of their millions of products.

Kraft has recalled some of it's products for containing bits of metal. And a Seattle based coffee company is having issues too. Please check your fridge, stay safe and God be with those who are ill.

And have you ever wondered about free things online. Here's a great little cartoon that sums it up perfectly.

Morning Grace

2011-09-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

...That's what I'm calling it. Morning Grace. It's that moment when your eyelids first flutter open. Before you even realize you have to pee or that your neck is stiff. It's that perfect moment when Heavenly Father's breath lingers on your cheek like a father who just kissed you and stepped from the room.

It's then that you are most filled with God's grace. You don't remember how your children don't listen, or how your grandmother is ill. You haven't yet remembered that your husband has left the trash full in the kitchen for days or that your eight year-old refused to do his school work yesterday.

You simply know that you ARE. You feel your breath come in as you adjust to being awake and if you try to keep all thoughts from your head you can hold on to this feeling.

This is when family bed can be the greatest. A hug, a cuddle, and embrace, a kiss - all in this moment when things our pure, untainted and God-like.

It seems as though that the second we let our guard down it's gone. We have to work so hard to get back to that state of grace, through careful practice, reading of scriptures, prayer, thankfulness and constant attention to the present moment. The rest of the day we practice grace and we fall over and over and over again.

I enjoy this early morning grace, when the newness of the day is simply handed to me like a gift. Before my human thoughts pull me away. When I am still lingering in the arms of angels....

Recently I have been very inspired by Ann Voskamp. I adore her, she saved my life with her book One Thousand Blessings, Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. The title just says everything, doesn't it? What a simple yet life changing concept.

Over at Ann's blog she shares thoughts intermingled with links at the bottom of her posts. I wanted to start doing this here at Wise and Glorious Purpose to expand the experience for this blog, to share with you what's on my mind and heart and to create a greater space for experiencing that Wise and Glorious Purpose that is motherhood!

Life is so precious. I hold each of my dear children close and I can't imagine life without them. I pray all women have the opportunity to experience the unexpected JOY that is mothering.

The earth was created with such abundance and it never fails to amaze me how our Heavenly Father planned natural methods for our every need.This is simply amazing.

If you're anything like me I can get so hung up on "making" my children do this or that. I feel pressure to make them conform so they will "behave." Here's something more important to focus on.

I loved having my babies at home but here's a story (and a cute newborn picture!) to remind us that birth can happen anywhere!

I may be young but when comes to operating the computer, especially the new facebook mess (blah!) I can feel like this couple. What a sweet portrait of enduring love. I pray my husband and I will be this adorable when we are their age.

Grain Free Apple and Raisin Kugel

2011-09-26T20:11:00.000-07:00

This year as we study the Old Testament we are celebrating the Jewish holidays. Rosh Hashanah is coming up soon and I found this recipe for Kugel but I modified it to be grain free. It's super yummy!

Ingredients

1 pound of shredded turnips
6 farm fresh eggs
½ stick grass fed butter

1 cup chunky applesauce or fine diced apples

3/4 cup sweetner
1 teaspoon molasses
2 teaspoons organic vanilla
1 cup organic raisins
cinnamon

Bring the pound of shredded turnips to a boil in about 3 cups of water with a dash of salt. Boil for 15 minutes, drain well. Combine all ingredients in a baking dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

Healing by the Seaside

2011-09-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

"And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one
place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. "

We sang our way to the sea side, we sang our way to the shore. We went there seeking healing, we found this and so much more....

My youngest son has very sensitive lungs. The slightest cough can easily become a raging infection for him. We have to monitor him closely.

Recently a bug has been floating around our house. We have managed to keep it at bay but our little pie has caught one of his coughs.....so this time we decided to pack up for a holiday by the seaside.

As soon as we arrived beach side, the salt water air loosened the congestion to ease and help clear the babe's lungs.

"And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

The evening saw us walking through the sweet historic downtown of the sea side village. As if we had stepped into the Shire - Celtic music began drifting our way mingled with the smells of coffee and tea.

So we stopped in for some juice squeeze and a decaf latte. A live Celtic band was playing just behind us.

Like a slice of heaven....

This week I'm feeling thankful for...

The healing power of the fresh, salty air.

Sand, sea, waves, blue sky and white clouds.

Talented musicians who share their talent with the community.

Grace.

Nap time.

Fresh hotel sheets and soft beds.

Sand between my toes.

Heavy Keys and Happy Hearts, an Ode to the Typewriter.

2011-09-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

The heavy keys, the smell of ink...ah the joys of an old fashion typewriter!

Four dollars at the Thrift Shop turned into an afternoon of sheer delight. The children lined up to take their turns....hunting, pecking....push harder so the letter will show! Opps! Where's the back button? No back button?

Nope, this is real life.

This is the power of your hand pushing keys to force ink to paper in a symbol of understanding....constructing sentences like music.....

No electricity to get in the way, no micro chips are claiming co-billing on your creation.

I think of my grandmothers and how fast their fingers moved these heavy thunderous keys. Clank, swish, thud, clank, swish, thud - all so fast as to nearly blur.

All to create one precious master piece.

Seed Saving at the Heirloom Gardening Expo

2011-09-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

A family within a family. Dodging and weaving among piles of freshly harvested, glowing food. Tables draped with cloth, smiles spanning faces....

We sit on hale bales and hear nearly forgotten tales of how to save our own seeds.

Dry food, dry plant...the skin, brittle breaks away in flakes of brown and in your own soft hand rests a firm, round seed.

Gathering them in, gathering them in for the winter months are ahead. Our hearts are called to this relationship with bean and pod.

Messy fingers ring tomatoes clean....

A joyful harvest for next year, yet unseen....

Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas - a Guide for Celebration!

2011-09-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

Mommy dressed as Sir George for story telling.

I wanted to post this a week and a half early so you can mull over whether or not you would like to join us in our week long celebration! It's super simple and lots of fun! Join us, wont you?

A chilly wind makes my toes curl, my heart skips a beat at an amber colored leaf - in short, I’m an Autumn addict. Every year I try and find new and improved ways to celebrate this time of year. Last year we had so much fun with this plan!

Autumn Equinox falls the week prior to the Waldorf celebration of Michaelmas. These two holidays are often celebrated in similar fashions, with harvest feasts and various fall merriment.

Michaelmas adds the exciting adventures of Sir George slaying the dragon through the spirit/guidance/help of the angel Michael. Michaelmas is a fun way to look toward our inner selves for bravery and guidance as the days grow shorter and winter descends.

This is our second year holding a week long Fall Equinox and Michaelmas bash! The first ingredient in the fun is the story. Told in eight parts the story brings to life the changing of the seasons and weaves these changes into an empowering narrative of one boy’s defeat of a mighty dragon.

To join our celebration simply read the eight parts of the story guide and then expand the story line as long or short as you like. Add places, names, descriptions and details. Be sure to tell the story to your children without reading it from a page, look at them, really engage them.

I dress up as Sir George with a knitted knight hat and red silk cape when I tell the tale. Be sure and tell the story early on in the day so you have time for the craft or activity I have suggested to accompany the narrative.

If you’re artistic use paper and crayons, paint, chalk or whatever to create a picture to go along with each day’s story. Encourage your children to create impromptu artwork about the story as well.

Ronan on a dragon hunt.

I’ve also created a list of things you will need for your week long celebration, don’t worry, it’s all very simple!

Supplies for the Week:

Local vegetables (to bake or steam)
Local, grass fed meat
Candles and candle holders
Leaves (don’t worry if they haven’t turned yet, that’s OK)
Paper and crayon for leaf rubbings
Clay Ingredients - Baking soda, corn starch
Silks, scarves or blankets for a cape
Cardboard, scissors, tape
Cookie ingredients - 2 cups almond butter, 2 eggs, 1 TB vanilla extract, three tablespoons of sweetener like raw sugar or stevia

Nykki by the glow of candle light during story time.

Friday, September 23rd, Autumn Equinox

Story guide: All the people in the land (Mother Nature’s Realm, Avalon, Zion, God's Kingdom, or ?) are harvesting their crops and hold a big feast.

Activity: Simple Harvest Dinner using your local veggies and grass fed meats. Talk about where the food came from.

Saturday

Story Guide: Father Sun says he’s tired of shinning all day when the people no longer need him to grow their food. He asks the Angels to make the days shorter.

Activity: Set out candles in your home in anticipation of Father Sun’s long naps or carve gourd lanterns.

Sunday

Story Guide: Sister Wind grows chilly without the sun around all day. She blows and blows and makes the leaves cold. The cold leaves try to warm up by turning the color of fire.

Activity: Leaf rubbings

Monday

Story Guide: But it does no good, they are still cold so slowly they drop one by one to the ground. Some fall upon a huge mound of earth and they become the scales on the back of a mighty dragon.

Activity: Rake up some leaves into a pile, pretend it’s a dragon. Give him a scary name. If you don’t have leaves work with what you have; straw, a mound of dirt, a tree stump or a pile of laundry. To get even more creative make a head or tail.

Tuesday

Story Guide: The dragon frightens Mother Night and she is too scared to let the moon come out. The people know that without the fall moon there will be no winter and without a long winter nap the animals and seeds will not have energy to grow next spring. So the people ask their angels to help them.

Activity: Make clay angels using this recipe. Bake them with ribbon inside and a loop at the top. Hang your angels on the trees outside to protect you from the dragon (or inside if your dragon is a pile of laundry).

Wednesday

Story Guide: The Angels agree that something must be done. They send a magic cape and sword to a young boy named George and knight him, Sir George, the brave knight of Mother Nature. He is afraid but he accepts the challenge to fight the dragon.

Activity: Make a cardboard sword

Thursday

Story Guide: George chases the dragon all around the earth, up into heaven and back. George prays and asks for strength.

Activity: Make a cape. You can get fancy and use silks that you dye naturally or simply use a cut up sheet, blanket or scarf.

Friday

Story Guide: God sends Michael and Michael tells George about the war in heaven and how he cast out Lucifer. George gains new strength to slay the mighty dragon. All the people are happy and bake good things to eat and give them to the brave George.

*Don’t be tempted to think this tale as too violent for young ones. Children view the world and death differently than we do as adults. The simple triumph of slaying the dragon will not translate into violent animal murdering adults, I promise. Fairy tales speak to the soul and part of that magic is the death of the evil in the story. This empowers children to believe they can conquer their own woes, putting them to “death.”

Activity: Dress the family up and act out the whole story, bake almond butter cookies (see recipe below), shape them into dragons, leaves, trees, etc.

Hint: If you’re Christian you may want to read Revelations Chapter 12 at some point in the week.

Happy Autumn Equinox and Michaelmas!

Almond Butter Cookies

2 cups of almond butter

1 tsp vanilla

dash of salt

3 tablespoons of sugar or stevia

2 eggs

Blend everything together in a bowl, drop onto ungreased cookie sheet, shape as desired, cook at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Kindergarten in Our Home - The Waldorf Way

2011-09-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

Our Homeschool Room. The blackboard is welcoming the start of a new year. The Moses basket sits quietly with warm, crocheted blankets awaiting Old Testament tales for my third grader.

“May my soul bloom in love for all existence.” - Rudolph Steiner

This year our homeschool is really hoppin'! With Ronan doing Kinder work as well as the addition of my younger brother, we now have a kinder, third and fifth in our home! My toes curl with anticipation! All boys adds the element of creating balance in our studies, our energy and our rhythm.

I'm am signing praise of thanks to my Heavenly Father and the firm foundation of the gospel I have to guide me on this journey! I'm also grateful for Rudolph Steiner, educator and inspiration-er to me and so many others who carry the torch for....

simplicity....

love.....

honor....

and

Christ....

in education through the Waldorf method.

Maps of the US and of German speaking Europe.

In Kindergarten this year we will be focused on a consistent rhythm and joy in the home over household tasks. Not only is this important to our Kinder but it creates security for our older boys and our baby as well.

Ronan will actively engage in washing clothes on Monday, folding and ironing on Tuesday, market on Wednesday and so forth. Helping to wipe, sweep and to fold will engage his mind and train his eye on the side to side movements needed for reading later on.

He will experience a new awakening in of his own abilities to serve and to do. His role within the family will begin to emerge from that of small child underfoot to growing child and vital member.

Circle time with his brothers, mom, nana and uncle will set his mind on singing, guessing, and thinking - setting up a life long playful relationship with the learning process.

Ronan will learn to strike a match and light a candle. We will recite verses to strengthen his mind and his relationship with God. We will tell timeless stories and poems (such as Mothergoose) to keep his imagination strong and connect him with the changing seasons.

Our numbers to practice reciting them in German.

Pillow corner for Ronan's story time

Nature table

Class pet

Angels watching over...

Creation and the Nine-Year-Old Change

2011-08-25T20:11:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit

The child grows, yearns, waxes strong and approaches the age of nine.

The year is tough. The child folds in like a rollie pollie - but cannot hide from awaking to a new view on life.

Parents fret and wonder....what has happened to my sweet innocent child?

The child bites her lip, he squirms.....they ask about life and death. They are unfolding to self.....

"In the ninth year the child really experiences a complete transformation of its being, which indicates an important transformation of its soul-life and its bodily-physical experiences."

- Rudolph Steiner

The child begins to separate from the oneness he experienced with the world. She peels away like the skin from a banana - and for the first time the once dreaming little-one, who never felt alone in the vastness of creation - feels absence as they experience, for the first time.....their individual shelf.

The child scrambles in this new sense of shift and loss. What is stable? Where is her authority? Who can he trust? If life ends, who will always be with her? Who will comfort him? Where can he find oneness again?

Mom and Dad hold tightly to their changeling......wondering how they can comfort him in this trail, what can they say to her as she awakens for the third time, crying for no reason?

God is here...

We may not always be here little-one but there is someone who holds you, there is someone who will never leave you, there is someone whose unfailing authority you will always lovingly guide you....

God is beyond the limits of our earth and our human existence.

God created everything, God is everything...glorified....

This is the gift a parent can give their child.....the grace and peace of God in all His glory.

Turning to the stories of creation, to the Old Testament the Waldorf family knows God's word is so soothing and so healing...

Photo Credit

The child tucks in, comfortable, blankets piled high and hears Mom's voice read the melodic prose of scripture.

Life IS connected....

Life HAS a purpose...

.....the child breaths easier.... dreams lighter as vision of angels sweep through her mind. His life, his fate - it all has meaning. It can all be goodness - sweet and light tasting through the glory of the most high God.

The real world is beautiful, not frightening....she can let go, he can loosen his grip....

For the nine-year-old the paradise of their younger years is lost....

....but a firm foundation in a relationship with Creation, aides and comforts along the path to whole self.

Will you wait for them to catch up?

2011-08-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

Recently my family and I went on a short trip to visit a lighthouse museum about an hour away from where we live. Once you park you must walk a half mile out, through a nature preserve to get to the light house. It's an easy and pleasant walk but with three boys wandering around it felt like herding cats!

I was in typical "mom" mode. We had an agenda. We were walking from point A to point B. I wanted to see the lighthouse and I knew where I was going.

The boys had other plans.....they wanted to wander around, pick flowers and grass, read ALL of the plaques alongside the path......

I was walking straight - I had a destination.

They piddled here and there and the baby, who refused to be carried wanted to stop and pick up every rock he saw. He kept "holding me up." I would have to stop and wait for him.

I would have to stop and wait for him.....

That's when I realized that this is good practice.

I may know where I'm going. I may be 32 and have a few things figured out and I may know that today I want to go to the lighthouse.

But they don't....nor will they anytime soon.

They don't have direction yet, they don't have a plan.

They just ARE.

As they walk their paths through life will I wait for them?

Will I always remember that they are smaller than I? Younger than I--

that they may not have a path chosen and that's OK (because neither did I when I was their age).

Will I stop.....be patient....and wait.

Will I let them pick flowers, wonder around, start down one way then turn around and chose another?

Heavenly Father, please, grant me the patience. Please give me the ability to....

stop....

turn around...

and wait.....

until they catch up.

Amen.

Gearing Up for Homeschool

2011-08-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

Here is our beeswax candle for lighting and saying our morning verse.....

After that we will be reading and acting out some of the Christian Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes for our circle time.

Then on to main lesson for my kindergartener and my third grader...angels watching over

Creating a warm...

...and inviting space...

...where hearts can open to learning...

....and thoughts can soar and bloom...

...taking this journey together...

...for the glory of God.

Here's a list of some of the resources we'll be using this year

Grammar and Punctuation

Brain Quest Workbook

Children's Illustrated Bible: The Old Testament: The classic stories retold for the young reader, with context facts and special features, and ... beautiful watercolours, maps and photographs

Children's German Picture Dictionary

Tudor 1 Piece Soprano Recorder

Sevi Instrument Eco-Friendly Toy Set

Imagining Faith With Kids

but let's not forget...

our garden

our chickens

our yard

our scriptures

many field trips

the library

grass

dirt

the beach

sea shells and sand

cooking

cleaning

changing diapers

walks through town

the park

the Farmer's Market

our dog

Nana and Uncle Colin

sticks, rocks and water

berry bushes

snow

rain

sunshine

sidewalks

snails and butterflys

apple trees

ponds with fish and new fishing poles

Happy homeschooling!

An Ode to Play

2011-08-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

Papa and Avi go down the slide at our local park.

Before internet, before TV, before movie theaters, before radio, before record players, before plays, before books -- people played.

Really, after gathering food and making sure the cave was in order, there wasn't really much else to do.

Imagine the grown ups, playing.

When was the last time you saw a grown adult playing? Not just a sports games but using their imagination, swinging for the fun of swinging, running for the fun of running?

Playing seems to be a lost art not only among adults but our children as well.

I invite you, if you don't already, to play more!

Run

Free...

Shop Logo

2011-08-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

Picture 1254, a photo by nykkicreations on Flickr.

I'm opening a shop soon and today I finished the logo.

Waldorf on a Dime

2011-08-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the prowl for Waldorf toys and imagination ideas on the cheap. Here are some of my latest finds and/or ideas!

This basket chicken was 35 cents at my local Senior Center Thrift Shop. It opens up in the middle to hide treasures. I found the hand painted silk at the same shop for $1!

Since I have boys they don't really use a play kitchen.

This is an alternative. A simple stand that becomes a table, a market stand, a horse, etc. I found this foot stole at Goodwill for $5.

It's draped in a faux leather I found at the Senior Center Thrift Shop (SCTS) for pennies.

On top we have a set of wood play dishes bought on Etsy for $12, a stack of wooden coasters used as dishes that I found at the SCTS for $1.50 along with a wooden salt shaker which was 10 cents at the SCTS!

The orange I knitted from yarn purchased at the SCTS, so that cost maybe a penny total.

Okay so in this picture we have the wooden, old fashion phone I found at Goodwill for $8. The kids LOVE this one! The metal bucket came from my oldest son's Waldorf homeschool charter school so it was free, the animals inside were knitted using free patterns from Living Crafts Magazine.

The shelf liner and the shelves the toys are on were a total of $5 at my SCTS!

Another SCTS find. One whole dollar! Makes an awesome addition to the play room!

This set of Eco friendly kids mucial instruments was $30 on Amazon plus free shipping. The basket was 50 cents at the SCTS :)

This is our current dining table center piece. The wooden plate was 50 cents, the wooden duck candle holder was 35 cents (both at the SCTS), and the beeswax candle was $3 at my local co-op.

The walnut shell turtles were a recent late summer craft activity. The green beeswax was $2 at Three Sisters of Ukiah, CA and the walnut shells were from our local co-op and cost pennies (plus we got to eat the nuts!) They are so cute!

What are your favorite ways to save money on natural toys?

Homemade Granola Bars for Grab and Go Snacks

2011-07-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

I hate packing a last minute snacks when I'm in a hurry.This usually comes up when it's time to leave for Church or Baseball practice.

So, I went to the health food store and bought a few boxes of natural fig bars and whole wheat blueberry bars but let's face it, these things are NOT real food either. They are shelf stable food-like products that I really don't want my children eating.

So, I thought, I need to come up with a nourishing, grab and go treat for the kids and this is what I came up with.

Homemade Granola Bars

1/2 cup nut butter

1/4 cup of honey or sweetener of your choice

(a mashed ripe banana will work well but not keep as long)

1/4 cup of coconut oil

1 cup of oats (or for grain-free, use one cup chopped nuts)

1/3 cup shredded coconut

1/3 cup roasted sun flower seeds

1/3 roasted pumpkin seeds

(optional) 1/3 cup of dried fruit

a pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of whey (omit if you are not using grains)

In a sauce pan melt the nut butter, honey and coconut oil together until well blended. Remove from heat and allow to cool until it can be touched (do not let it cool completely).

Add the rest of your ingredients

I section the ingredients out into cups I place around the table, I then place the nut butter mix in the middle and let the kids pour the other ingredients in. They really like this!

Stir it all together and spread it out on a flat pan.

Let the mixture sit on your counter top for 24 hours (omit this step if you are not using grains),

then pop it in the fridge.

When it has firmed up, cut it into bars, wrap them in baggies or parchment paper, store in the fridge :-)

It's that easy!

If you want to know how to make whey here's how...

Place one cup of plain, unsweetened whole milk yogurt in a coffee filter and place the coffee strainer and filter over a glass jar. The whey will drip out from the yogurt into your jar. :)

Images from Our Waldorf Inspired Play Room

2011-07-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

"To truly know the world, look deeply within your own being; to truly know yourself, take real interest in the world." - Rudolph Steiner

Preparing for Lammas

2011-07-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Recently I have decided that our families Wheel of the Year will focus mainly on the Scottish, Pectish, PectiWita, versions of the old nature-based, seasonal, holidays. This narrows it down a bit, keeps it a little simpler ...

...I'm known for overdoing things! LOL

And also it celebrates our family's heritage (as both my husband and I have Scottish roots) as well as being the fist version of the Old Ways I read about as a young girl.

From time to time I will throw in some American folk magick ;-) Especially as it pertains to Mormonism (and boy does it ever pertain!)

So, we are just days away from Lammastide. Also known as Loaf-mass day, Lughnasadh or Lambress.

Celebrated on August 1st in the North or Europe, this holiday marks the beginning of the harvest (the festival of Samhuiin marking the end of the harvest in preparation for winter.) It also marks the midway point between summer solstice and Fall Equinox.

Photo Credit

This is the beginning of the season of hope. The seeds, ideas and intentions we planted in the spring are just now beginning to ripen but we have a lot of hard work ahead of us as we collect and store our food for the winter.

"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

Matt. 9:38

Lammas has always been a personal favorite of mine. No season is better than fall and Lammas marks the beginning of the end of summer, my least favorite season.

I grew up in the hot deserts of the American Southwest. Summers were harsh and unrelenting, fall marked the beginning of the break from the heat that was the late fall-winter-early spring trinity.

But I digress.... back to Lammas.

Photo Credit

Baking of bread from the newly harvested grain was customary and is where the holiday draws it's name. As Christianity came to Europe people practiced the tradition of bringing their Lammas loaf to church. In the Old Religion the grain of the earth was sacred and was the body of God. When it was harvested for the winter it was as though God had died and they honored this prized grain, knowing their God would be reborn next year.

Lammas can be a good time to reflect on the sacrifice, death and rebirth of our Savior Jesus the Christ. The death, and rebirth of the grain is nature's way of retelling this story to us. Just as the grain nourishes our bodies the atonement nourishes our souls.

But it wasn't all about bread. The holiday was also the time when new fruits were blessed as they ripened as well. Big bowls of fruits are customary on this day and make a delightful addition to the Lammas loaf.

"Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: "

Lev. 23: 10

I would love to pause here and draw upon the Word of Wisdom for a moment.

"Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."

DC 89:11

I think that verse would make an excellent blessing over the first fruits!

"All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—"

DC 89:14-16

Of course in our modern day and age our grain has been so corrupted by Big Agriculture that it is more like grain-Frankenstein's monster then it is the grain that God once gave to man as the staff of life.

For those concerned about grain there are a few alternatives.

Photo Credit

First, for me, and alternative way to look at the Word of Wisdom is this; a staff is a walking stick that aides one in hiking or long travels.The staff of life could therefore be seen as something you use when you cannot make the journey on your own two feet. So grain can be seen as something you might want to put in your food storage or something to eat when there is nothing else available, but not something you would want to eat every day.

If you do choose to eat grains you can soak and ferment them according to the Nourishing Traditions diet which would have been how the early Mormon's would have prepared their bread in the traditional fashion.

You can also prepare a grain-free loaf of bread for Lammas which is made of coconut flour or nut flour (see my links below).

Photo Credit

As with many holidays of the Old Religion, Lammas was adapted into the Christian tradition. The holiday is celebrated in conjunction with the feast day of St. Peter in Chains also known as the Liberation of St. Peter. This part of the holiday celebrates the apostle Peter's release from prison. Peter was imprisoned by King Herod but an angel appeared to him and miraculously granted his release.

Being a late summer holiday Lammas made the perfect gathering time for people (think our modern day BBQs, picnics, fairs, etc. held in summer time) Traditionally games of strength and agility were held at this time. Local tribes and villages would get together and hold games and competitions. It's not a stretch to imagine that this may be where our modern practice of county fairs comes from, where people complete in all sorts of games, sports, arts and crafts.

Ideas for Celebration:

- Bake bread of course! This is almost a must for Lammastide. As promised, for those grain intolerant, here are some links to grain free bread. This one looks yummy, and I'm dying to try this one this Lammas.

- OK, now you have your bread so take it to Church! Our Church holds semi regular pot lucks after third hour but if yours doesn't you can always take your bread with you to share in Primary, Young Women's or Relief Society.

- Bake a double portion and bring some to a nearby neighbor.

- Play games as a family, neighborhood or with church families. Some great games that are easy include, kick ball, Frisbee, tag, hide and seek, a sack race, a three legged race and charades.

- If you have a garden, local farm or wild bushes from which to harvest, do so. This is a great way to teach everyone in the family to work by the sweat of their brow to earn their food.

- First fruits are now cheap in the store, buy in bulk and set to canning natures miracle’s for the winter. Peaches, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and even watermelon rind are all easily preserved. If you’ve never canned here are some websites to help you get started: www.wikihow.com/Can-Food and www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm

- Gather grains, fruits or wild grasses to decorate your nature table.

- Glean from wild edibles in your area. Blackberry bushes, plum trees, grapes, peaches - whatever you have. I know our summer season has been set back this year by late spring rains so our gleaning will have to wait.

- Host a thanksgiving style supper of local foods, say a blessing of thanks over them.

- Gather wild herbs or flowers.

- If you don't go regularly, get out to your local Farmer's Market.

- Make a list as a family of what you are grateful for; give thanks to the Lord for your blessings!

- Bake gingerbread men the perfect representation of the sacrifice of the grain.

- If you have a local farm to visit, do! See the corn stretching high, the berries ripe on the vine.

- Read stories about the Apostle Peter.

- Read about the Atonement.

This Lammas my family is celebrating by going up to my father-in-laws garden and having a picnic of Lammas bread and first fruits by the pond. We will be reflecting on what we are thankful for this season and what preparations we will be making for the coming fall and winter.

It seems to me not a coincidence that Pioneer Day falls shortly (just days) before Lammas. Utah Mormon pioneers knew of the hard work required for a bountiful harvest. They named one of their early towns Bountiful, UT where they kept communal grain storage bins.

In the book of Mormon we find reference to the harvest in Alma 17:13 "..that they seperated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken."

What work have we undertaken this year? What awaits us at harvest time and have we put our faith in the Lord that we shall reap what we have sewn?

We see reference to the Lord of the harvest in Alma 26:5; "Behold the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with you might, yea, all the day long did ye labor: and behold the number of your sheaves!"

Alma 26 goes on to say in verse 7; "But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day."

What are you doing this Lammas? What do you think about this ancient holiday? How does celebrating the seasons effect you and your family?

Building Our Chicken Coop

2011-07-26T16:52:00.000-07:00

My Dad came for a visit last week and built us a fine chicken coop for our ladies! Here are the photos of the birth of our coop!

One happy lady :)

Paleo/Primal/Caveman Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-07-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit

For those of us on a traditional diet it can be hard to get a good cookie fix in. Here's a little recipe I dreamed up during a cookie craving....

Ingredients:

Cookie Base

3/4 cup of ground flax meal or ground almonds
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
1 ripe banana
1 tablespoon of raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 stick of grass fed butter, soft
1 pastured egg

Chips:

3 tablespoons of cocoa powder
1 teaspoon of raw honey
3 tablespoons of coconut oil

On the stove top heat the chip ingredients together until well blended. Transfer to a freezer proof dish and freeze into a thin flat sheet.

In a bowl mash the banana with the honey and butter until well blended. Add the vanilla and egg and mix well. In another bowl add the coconut flour, the flax or almond meal with the baking soda, stir together.

Add the two mixes together and combine well.

Take the sheet of hard chocolate out of the freezer and using a sharp knife cut the chocolate into small blocks. Add the blocks to the batter.

Spoon out the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place in the oven at 375 for about 10-15 minutes.

Optional- try adding a handful of walnuts or shredded coconut to the mix! Yum!

My kids LOVE theses cookies!

UnPotato Chowder

2011-07-19T13:20:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit

This is a great recipe when you're feeling like a comfort food but don't want to pack on the extra carbs found in potatoes.

Ingredients:

3 cups Chopped onions
1 cup Sliced celery
2 Tbsp. Minced garlic
1/4 cup Olive oil
3 cups Chopped red bell peppers
2 quarts Chicken broth
2 quarts Cauliflower, chopped into bite size pieces
2 quarts Whole milk or coconut milk
1/2 cup Chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
1 tsp. Black pepper
1/8 tsp. Cayenne pepper
1 cup diced carrots (optional)

Sauté onions, celery and garlic in olive oil in a stockpot over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until softened.
Stir in peppers.
Add chicken broth; bring to a boil.
Stir in cauliflower. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 2-3 minutes.
Add milk; bring to a simmer, stir until thickened.
Stir in remaining ingredients.

Enjoy!

Why Modesty Still Matters in Our Modern World

2011-07-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

Imagine you love apple pie (not very hard, huh?) Imagine that it's your favorite thing in the whole world. Now, imagine that you are on a diet and you aren't eating any apple pie. You vow to stay strong, to show control over your cravings.

So, now you've been without apple pie for while, you try simply not to think about it and that works really well. You go about your day - work, school, kids - whatever it is you do. You're feeling happy, you're feeling carefree, you are NOT thinking about apple pie.

Then, all of the sudden, when you get home you find that your neighbors are over for a visit. One of them has baked a hot, yummy, apple pie. Your friend knows you can't have any so they just sit the pie on the table in front of you. You can see it, you can smell it but you may not eat it. Now imagine sitting there, in front of the pie and trying to not even THINK about eating it..

So, I think my point is coming together here.

You get where I am going with this, right?

Our men carry a lot of burdens. They are committed to a life of near constant work to provide for their family, they carry the huge responsibility for providing for that family no matter what may come up with no exceptions and they also are saddled with the drive to procreate at a rate much higher then women are.

But, of course, we have morals. Every society has a rule about what man may have what woman. No man may have simply whatever woman looks appealing and to break that rule is a great crime. That is universal - across all cultures and all creeds of our world.

So a man's body and spirit drive him to create life, but his morals, his faith, and his society demand a high standard of control from him in regards to this drive.

Women learned a long time ago that dressing (or not dressing as the case may be) in an alluring manner entices men, get's their attention, trips them up, and catches them off guard - hence, the battle of modesty.

In the battle of modesty there are essentially two arguments. The first says that we as women are called to be modest in our dress and actions. That it is vulgar and disgraceful to show one's breasts, buttocks or other sexual body parts in public. A woman should not dress in a manner as to entice a man who is not her husband, sexually.

The other argument goes something like this; women should be free to wear what they wish and men should control themselves, period. If a woman has got it, why not flaunt it?

I would like to explain why I think the second argument is flawed.

1. You wouldn't bake an apple pie for a person on a diet.

Just like in our tale in the opening of this piece you probably found it rude that the dieter's neighbor baked them an apple pie when they were on a diet, then sat it before them and made them see it, smell it but expected that they not even think about eating it.

Men have high drives, there is no getting around it and it's natural. Most of them control it just fine but why make it harder on them?

2. Would you dress that way in front of your friend's son?

Everyman in the world is a beloved brother, husband, or son of someone. Men spend so much time protecting us and being the tough ones that we sometimes forget they are weak and vulnerable in some areas of their lives too.

Would you show off your superior intelligence in front of a friends not as quick as you? Would you brag of your cooking skills to a sister who has trouble boiling water? Of course not, we all know this would be rude. So why is it that women don't find it rude to flaunt a man's weakness?

In my opinion it's in bad taste to the point of being cruel to do so.

3. It makes other women feel bad about themselves.

Some women are blessed with large breasts, a firm bottom and long legs - but most of us were not. Most of us struggle with body image, in fact I challenge you to find a woman who doesn't.

A few years ago I lived in a communal farm house on some acreage. One of the women living on the property was very pretty. She had worked as an erotic massage therapist in the past and placed a lot of her pesonal value on her looks.

She was forever sun bathing in the nude, wearing very short skirts, running around in her bra or bikini top and bending over, especially if a man was around. In short, she showed what she had at EVERY opportunity.

When I lived in that house I felt terrible about myself. All I could think of was how I didn't look as good as she did. I felt like maybe I wasn't trying hard enough to be attractive, that maybe if I just dieted more, bought expensive lotions, got my hair done - maybe if I tried very hard I cold look as good as she did.

But of course I was wrong. I was wrong because this woman had at least 5 inches on me and all of that was in her legs. Her weight was easier for her to manage because she didn't have my blood sugar issues or my genetics. I would never look like her and I wasn't suppose to. I was suppose to look like me.

But it's very hard to remember that when another woman is dressed immodestly. All other women around her can't help but to compare themselves. They can't help but to feel bad and uncomfortable. Which brings me to my next point.

4. It makes people uncomfortable.

Have you ever been sitting next to your dad at the mall when a woman in a mini skirt walks by? Remember the rush of embarrassment you both feel? The awkwardness? The clearing of throats and looking away?

That's because their is something internal that tells us that dressing that way is wrong.

Some would argue that it isn't internal, that we are simply taught by our puritan society that procreation is bad and thus body parts are bad. In other societies they are not so modest so why should we hold to these old values?

To that I would say two things. First, all societies have some rules around modesty and body parts are never flaunted just for the sake of being sexual but are revealed instead in the process of natural functions regarding that society (think places with hot weather or lack of materials to make clothing).

Second, even children who are raised with overt shows regarding procreation as being "normal" still feel shame around it. I once watched a documentary about a family who's father was a horrible man. One of the things he did was regularly watch pornography in front of his children. Now, these children were obviously not raised with puritan morals regarding the display of procreation. Yet, these children, when interviewed, expressed how sick this had made them, how much they hated it when their father would do this, how it had damaged them mentally and they had ongoing nightmares.

Why would the children react so negatively when they were raised in an environment where such incredible immodesty was portrayed as normal unless there is an inner moral compass all humans have (given to us by our Creator) which tells us that immodesty is wrong.

*Deep Breath*

Let's allow that to settle for a moment. What I'm saying may not be news to some of you, to others it may be a truly different way of looking at things.

Ready to move on? Great!

So what is modest?

How do we decide what women should wear? Well, that is really up to the individual. I'm a Mormon and our modesty standards are set by the garments we wear. Some women of different backgrounds choose stricter or loser standards. I think two good rules of thumb are:

What would your grandmother think?

Are you trying to be sexually attractive or arousing?

Some simple tips to becoming more modest.

1. Be sure to wear sleeves.

2. Make sure that skirts and shorts are at least finger tip length.

3. Make sure your clothes are not too tight, can you see the creases of your undergarments?

4. Make sure your undergarments aren't showing, bend over, stretch - check yourself from a few angles.

****A note about breastfeeding****

When discussing modesty I feel it is important to address breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a healthy, non sexual function that does not elicit an improper response in most men. Discretion is always best but under no means should any woman feel like she needs to remove herself from wherever she is to seek a secluded place nor should she cover herself and her baby in a tent to prevent anything from showing.

Breastfeeding is so rare in our world and so many children suffer mentally, emotionally and physically from not getting proper nutrition from the breast that women who do choose to breastfeed have a sacred duty to promote it's healthy integration into our society by breastfeeding openly and often.

Do you dress modestly? Why or why not?

As always, I love comments!

Create a Family Restaurant!

2011-07-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago the boys had the greatest idea. Create a family restaurant!

The kids helped me prepare dinner. They helped me set the table fancy. We used paper napkins and rolled up the silverware in them. The best part was naming the restaurant and creating the sign!

The boys named our family restaurant "Tum Tum." Nykki even created an "open" sign to let Papa know we were open for business as soon as dinner was ready!

We prepared an apple, walnut and blue cheese salad along with some steamed broccoli in a white cream sauce with almonds and some sourdough garlic bread.

A proud employee of Tum Tum!

This was a spur of the moment event but next time (I'm thinking maybe for Sabbath dinners?) I'm going to plan ahead a bit and make it even funner. Here are some of my ideas:

- Wear white shirts, aprons or chef hats

- Come up with a logo for your restaurant

- Choose a server, a chef and the patrons

- Create a menu (with what is for dinner as the "special")

- Use candle light

- Play music

- Create an "ad" for your restaurant and put it up in the house somewhere early on in the day. Have Dad comment on it, if possible, with remarks like, "I think I'd like to go out to this new place, Tum Tum, it sounds really good!"

Please feel free to share your suggestions below! Hope you're having a beautiful Sabbath day!