Around Here. . .

I've been so busy living life around here that I'm finding it hard to keep up this little space of mine.  The lowering of my expectations for myself has been quite freeing. . .I write when I write because this serves as a record of our ordinary days we're choosing to live extraordinarily.  I get a little bit behind sometimes and I'm finally one hundred percent okay with that!

Around here, we've been celebrating our birthday boy. 

We've also been working on our little piece of peace in the yard.  I am a home body.  I have absolutely zero desire to travel the world in airplanes with suitcases.  I enjoy reading about these faraway places, but have no desire to get there myself.  None.  Call me crazy. . .However, what I do enjoy?  This house that has captured my heart forever because it is where we grew our family and made it a home.  It never ceases to amaze me all the little changes that go a long, long way.  For me, the backyard is that sacred space.  We practically live there in the summer.  With only seven working days left for me. . .it feels like it is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!  Call me really crazy, but I can't wait to have my lovebugs home with me--all day.  Every day. Messes and all.  Summer is our time out in the yard with no schedules to keep and our own learning going on, and now it feels like the yard is ready for us.  E, you know me so well.  The simplest things make me happy--and I am so fortunate for all you do to make that happiness come true. P.S. I love my window box herb garden--perfection.

Weekends are for lounging and reading and walking and racing down the street to see who gets home first.  I love the way a walk can dead end into a yard sale with a great piece of furniture for the living room--even if I'm the only one who absolutely loves it!  Home made ice cream and crock pot cooking with my Nessa-Bessa fill me with joy.  TV installed in the backyard complete with Pandora for my listening pleasure. . .and a trip to the ballet with my very own Cinderella, who was so cooperative with our picture as you can see.

More sunlight filled days means more time to play outside.  Summer Sanity webcast with Lysa Terkeurst was fun while folding tons and tons of laundry--for which I am very thankful.  The child who has cried and cried over going to school lately is one who watches everything I do.  She walks in my shoes.  She speaks just like me to her bears and babies and on some days--I hate the way she sounds because I've had my fair share of not so good mama moments.  One of which was the other day after Ernie tried to practice Super Nanny sleep in your own bed techniques, she was cranky after hours of interrupted, crying sleep--I was cranky and done.  And maybe a little over-done.  As we drove home from a dermatology appointment and she screamed her head off, screamed.  I screamed out too, "I'm going to throw you out the window and guess what?  You don't have wings!"That quieted her for a second and she quipped, "me not a bird mama."    I'm not sure if it was a statement or question.  It was actually unnecessary and uncalled for on my part and I did later apologize but man, some days are just so TOUGH! 

And then on other days like today, we stayed home  and as I made my breakfast she sat at the table and read her Jesus Storybook Bible just like the big kids start their day.  And I paused and sat down and just looked at her and really took a minute to see her.  And I remembered to be thankful for all of this--every fleeting moment and I was reminded of my cutting comment to her that I haven't heard her repeat to her own babies--and I hope she never does because I let my crazy get the best of me and she is my child who will say unabashedly, "Mom, you didn't give me love today," (at least ten times).  What's not to love about that?

And then I'm just praying that our little In{RL} conference goes well on Saturday.  It's kind of hard
 to plan for something when you don't really know how many to expect. But I'm just putting it in God's hands to bring who needs to be here and to make it enjoyable for those that come.

As mothers, we are already doing something extraordinary. . .I'm excited to see what Saturday brings:)

Rancho Days

Last week the fourth graders participated in their second Hands on History field trip, Rancho Days.  I had signed up at the beginning of the year and I feigned excitement as my Lene Bean was bursting at the seams that I got to be a part of it.  I had so much to do: grades were due, packing for Pismo, planning a retreat for my Faith Formation kids, book club the next day. . .my to do list was choking out the excitement that may have presented itself had I let it.

That morning I prayed for a changed heart.  I wanted to feel excited.  I wanted to do this when I signed up.  Why was I letting the drudgery life get in the way of joy?  Thankfully, God changed my heart in the form of spilling my coffee all over my little quiet time space and I remembered it was a choice: it was up to me to make the best of this day.  I could choose to soak in the joy and count it as a blessing or I could choose to remain in my current mindset and call it a burden.  Blessing won.

The day was filled with history and I got to see these kids come alive with hands on practice of the skills that made the ranch work.  They prepared their lunch from grounding the chili, to mashing the beans, to cutting the meat, slicing the oranges, making banuelos and making the tortillas.  They learned a dance and created beautiful flowers out of tissue paper.  They worked in the mud (what a mess, super blessed that wasn't where I was stationed) to make bricks, made necklaces, lassoed horses, and weaved on a loom.  They heard the history of the adobe they walked through--how the Chumash once lived there and how they worked the land and provided for their families.

It was seriously one of the best field trips I had ever been on.  It took a ton of parent helpers to make the history come alive, but wow! It definitely was a blessing to behold. . .an opportunity to look at learning through my child's eyes and see their fascination with the past.  It made me proud to be a part of a district that desires these learning opportunities for their students.  It made me wistful and a little sad that the district I work in has no such thing.  It was a very good day filled with learning and activity and downright fun!  I can not wait for the Gold Rush in May!!!!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4

September 14, 2011

Are you looking for something to do with extra corn on the cob?

Take 8 pieces of grilled corn and remove corn from cobs.

Puree corn and add some thyme.

Cut up some new potatoes, onion, and red bell peppers.  Saute in olive oil.

In a frying pan, fry 4 pieeces of bacon to crumble.

Add veggies, puree, crumbled bacon and chicken broth to a pot.

Simmer about 5 minutes.

Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Enjoy!