Winter Joys!

One of the most lovely things about the cool weather is the food and drinks we consume during the cold evenings. I. Love. It.

Here is a very simple recipe for "apple cider".

Ingredients:

1 package of red hots

1 bottle of apple juice

Directions:

Pour the red hots into the part of the coffee pot where the coffee grinds normally go.

Pour the apple juice into the back, turn on the pot and there you have it. Delicious!

This is a picture of my husband's apple cider.

It's in a Coca-Cola glass because our mugs are

mysteriously disappearing one by one...

Life...

The 5 of us went to see Toy Story 3 today.
What a bittersweet movie!
It was so great to watch it together as a family.
We love our kiddos so much and thank God so much for them!

During part of the movie I had 2 of the kids snuggled in my lap.
Little Man reached over and put his hand on
Irish's arm and just left it there. It was so sweet.
I squeezed the children tight and thought,

"Cherish this moment and hold them close,
because it won't be long before you have to let them go."


Why does time fly by so fast?

Tamale Casserole and Pinto Beans

This is a pretty good-tasting vegan dish that I made for the first time tonight. Not sure where it's from, just found the recipe mixed in with a bunch of papers from my mom. I served it with homemade pinto beans (see recipe at bottom):

Tamale Loaf (or Pie or Casserole)
1 large onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 chopped green pepper (optional)
3 cups tomatoes, fresh or canned
2 cups corn, whole or creamed
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 can olives, quartered

1. Cook first five items in water until tender and bring to a boil. Add salt, cumin, and cornmeal gradually, stirring constantly, and cook over low heat until thick. Then add olives.
(You can also use other seasonings such as paprika, sweet basil, thyme, oregano, or bay leaf.)
2. Bake in casserole dish for 1 hour at 325 degrees.
The loaf will be firmer if made a day ahead, refrigerated, and then baked before serving. It will also freeze well.
Serve with tomato sauce, if desired. (or salsa; or make it non-vegan like I did and use sour cream : )

I used sliced olives, no bell peppers, and additional seasonings of bay leaves, oregano, and paprika.

Here's an option that was written at the bottom of the recipe. I didn't try it but in case you want to, here it is: "Millet may be substituted for the cornmeal, but it needs more liquid and longer cooking either on top of the stove in a double boiler, or crockpot, or longer baking in a covered casserole. Instead of corn, you might wish to use 1/2 cup of cashew nut pieces and substitute green ripe olives for the black olives."

I used this recipe for the pinto beans, omitting the steps involving ham hocks and streak-o-lean. Really tasty without that!

Bean and A Balloon

Tonight I watched my 3 year old playing with a balloon
and I pondered so many things.

She was so full of joy as she ran around chasing that thing.

She was free.

She was happy.

She was having fun.

She wasn't distracted by what other people were thinking or doing or saying.

All that mattered was her and that little red balloon.

Bean, I want to be more like you.

Being a Parent is...

Being a parent is about letting go of the little things...

Letting my child's creativity soar...

Not holding on to things that don't matter...

Changing my no to a yes

and letting my 5 year old wear pink and red
together.

(Even though she knew it didn't match :)

On Being a Mom to My Munchkins

I thought I was a complete person.

I was an adult.

I was in possession of unique gifts and talents and abilities.

I had a "profession".

I was me.

And then I became a mother.

And everything changed.

A whole new me was birthed.

New thoughts. New ideas. New creativity.

Just because I was in the presence of my beautiful blessings.

Learning from them.

Growing up with them.

My house is messier. The dirty dishes pile up in the sink a lot faster.

But the trees are greener.

The sky is bluer.

The clouds are so much puffier.

Because my children bring them to life in a whole new way.

Seeing life through their eyes is amazing.

Helping them discover the world and their gifts and dreams is creativity in action.

The joy of being their mother is indescribable. I thank my Heavenly Father for the gift of these beautiful babies.

Thanks for the image

Thinking of my King. And a rocking chair.

A few weeks ago I closed my eyes and thought about my God.

My Father.

His love for me and me being with Him.

And what did I see?

This big huge rocking chair at Country's Barbecue:

When I was a little kid we would go to this restaurant and climb up into the chair.

It was fun, of course and I enjoyed it.

I remember climbing from the ground, up the side of the chair,

all the way into the seat - it was SO high!

Well, as I closed my eyes and just thought of God's love for me,

I pictured Him as big as this chair.

He was sitting and I was climbing up His leg, into His lap,

just like I did on that chair at Country's Barbecue.

And when I got into His lap, I was so little,

I could just sit there in perfect peace,

knowing that I was fully loved

and completely protected

by the God Who made me and loves me.

That's where I always want to be.

A child of the King, rocking in the arms of my Daddy.

Become a fan of Country's Barbecue here. Which is where I found the picture : )