Before the first snowfall

I try and get outside, every day! Now with the cooler weather we are usually bundling up. Brr!

Yesterday we had the perfect afternoon outside, sans coats and hats.

I was able to snap a few photos of the Sugar, which I might add is getting harder and harder. She moves so much, doesn't want to "look at MAMA!" and would rather click the buttons on the camera, than smile for  it.

 

 

Mommy's helper

 

 

 

 a squirrel came to say "hello"

 

I am not even considered an amateur photographer...just trying to learn how to focus...anyone wanna help me learn a fixed lens?

 

Saving the best for a last......

 

soup for Fall

I think soup has become the main staple in our household this fall. I have one to two cooking every week and am loving all the new recipes I find.

 

If you need an easy, delicious recipe this is for you.

You can omit, add or mix this recipe up with many veggies  & types of meat.

 

Cook up spicy chicken sausage in large stock pot.

 

sauté onions and garlic in pan ( slice onions very thin & let garlic sit for 5 minutes after mincing before adding to the onions)

 

add chopped celery & carrots

 

combine all ingredients into large stock pot with stock and diced squash

 

simmer for 30-40 mins or until squash is tender, add kale half way through

 

A little helper is always a must....

 

 

 

I add pepitas, and sometimes goat cheese to my soup.

 

 

 I had lots of squash left  over, I froze it for my next soup!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

let the celebrating begin

This month has flown.

We have already celebrated so much this month: Parker turned one, friends babies were born and many more little moments of celebration.

 

November 3rd we mark one year in our home, and from then on out until May we have multiple things to  celebrate and honor.

 

 

 

 

We started our book on Jim Elliot and we are hoping to read about Hudson Taylor, as well this month.

I got a great book from my favorite author Jeannette Walls- A Silver Star

We are enjoying the leaves, cooler weather and lots of snuggle time. I think a fire is in our near future.

 

 

1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

coffee, anyone?

I am sure some of you have seen the DIY pumpkin spice coffee.

 

I was a bit apprehensive.  I love coffee but don't like all the unnatural flavors they use to make it so scrumptious it with. I

 

When I found this simple recipe I was thrilled and tried it right away.

 

You will need:

~over cup drip filter- mine if from Starbucks, find similar here.

~filter

~cute, large mug

~nutmeg

~cinnamon

~cloves

~ginger

~boiling water or milk for a creamer coffee

For one large cup:

I added 3 tablespoons of ground, flavor free, coffee.

1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon, cloves, allspice and ginger and 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg. I love nutmeg and so I added more.

Boil water and pour into your filter. Add ice or drink hot.

 

Voila, a cheap, no fake, GMO filled flavorings.

I sweetened with honey and almond milk.  You can also use other seasonings, a pumpkin spice blend, vanilla and if you're wanting a real treat, whipped cream.

the sweetest season

Fall came upon us so quickly; the leaves are bright yellow and shades of reds and oranges. I cannot believe it is October.

I love fall for many reasons; the decorations, the cozy sweaters I can finally wear, laying in bed with a crisp breeze blowing in through the window (yes we leave them open), toffee nut mocha's and fires in the fireplace. Life seems to slow down. Knowing I have to put a coat on to run an errand usually deters me, I just want to stay warm.

As I drove home from Boulder yesterday I realized that this season, Fall, is a great season to prepare for the Winter season. Prepare with my heart. Many holidays are coming and I am wondering how I can be more heart and mind ready to enter into those days of celebration. I usually get so overwhelmed with the to-do's, I have to actively choose to rest and enjoy.

A great book I have is called Celebrating the Christian Year. This book has given me such great insight into holidays, the history behind them and ways to celebrate what may be known as a "cultural holiday", in a way that brings deeper awareness of Jesus, his kingdom and turning our focus away from the commercialized day.

We have decided to celebrate Halloween! Elaina will be Madeline (the sweet Parisian girl) for Halloween this year. After praying and thinking about this holiday we feel that its our job to help our children bring light into a holiday that many believe to be dark: souls of the dead revisiting their family. Although the pagan roots of Halloween are to celebrate the dead (and more) we feel that as a family we can celebrate those who have passed, whether that's family members or men and women of the faith who were martyred. We are going to get a book about Jim Elliot this week and read the book over the coming weeks. We want to enjoy the fun of dressing up & decorating our home with gourds, pumpkins and everything Fall. Making pumpkin bread is also a must. We feel a great opportunity is available in sharing with our children about the light, Jesus has given us and giving them a chance to hear about those who have given their life for Him.

Our thoughts are this: how do we bring light into the dark world, whether on Halloween or any other ordinary day.  We could choose not to celebrate Halloween but we may be missing a great opportunity to connect with our neighbors, greater community and having a chance to give our kids a perspective that builds their spiritual foundation.

These coming months will become more special as we create memories and instill the true meaning of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day & Easter  in our children's hearts.

We hope to focus on Jesus, family, giving to those in needs.

Halloween Activities:

Read story about Jim Elliot

Decorate our home

Visit a pumpkin patch

Make pumpkin bread

Deliver one meal to a family in need

Ill write posts for each holiday and what we as a family are doing to create traditions and heart connections in our family.

Right now I am working to simplify, wind down and in this moment,

find some warmer socks, its freezing!!!

 

Here are a few pictures from our family trip to  Cottonwood Pumpkin Patch

good because we are loved

As I look ahead as to what I hope for my children  I cant help but know, and feel called by God to have my child's heart, not just their obedience.

One scripture I think on often is Romans 2:4: "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?"

As parents we have the power to shame our kids from a very young age. We make statements such as:

Why cant you be more like....
What is wrong with you....
You ALWAYS do that, when will you lean....
You embarrassed me....
You make me angry....

The way we treat our kids is the way they will think God views them, thinks of them and ultimately if he loves or doesn't love them. When in truth, he loves them and is working to kindly lead each one to himself.

We have a choice to bring blessings or curses onto our children. Let what we say about them, to them and behind their back be what we hope of them!

A statistic from church service the other day said, 1 out of 10 comments in Christian homes, towards children, are negative.

As parents who hope to change out children's bad behavior, for fear of embarrassment, fear they will "always be like that", or feeling disrespected; shaming a child will work for a little while but the deep seeds we plant will be there forever.

We need to look at our kids and focus on a changed heart that leads to obedience. Through kindness, patience (TIME!), maturity,  this can be accomplished.

I want my babies to be good because they are loved, not loved them because they are good. How can I be kind and lead them into better attitudes and behaviors. All of which comes from their heart.

A great article shares this exact idea. The people of the bible are painted in a light that they are not human, they don't make mistakes and that God's loves "good little girls and boys".

Joseph was a good little boy (unlike his “bad” brothers), and God made him Prime Minister of Egypt. So be good like Joseph.

David had a pure heart (unlike his brothers), and God made him King of Israel. So have a pure heart like David.

Esther was an obedient girl. God made her Queen of Persia and she saved God’s people. So be obedient like Esther.

We forget that David was a murdered, Esther was an adulterer, Abraham was an idol worshiper.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

How do we bring forth the goodness in our  kids. What goes into our kids heart is what motivates their actions, words and behaviors, and most importantly their thoughts behind it all.

If our kids are struggling lets be honest about our struggles. "Mommy is having a hard time too, God is asking her to be more patient and its a lot of work growing", "I am working on my attitude too", "You're not done, God is still growing you"

I know I felt shame growing up. I don't think my parents ever intentionally meant that, but I did. I felt like I had to do the check list and be like my sister. As our kids make mistakes may we connect with the deeper heart issue (foolish child  who doesn't know better or conscious defiance) and help them as they work to change their behaviors.

I want my kids to know that their uniqueness is designed by God and I am always on their side to help them grow into the person he made them to be. How can I be kind and loving towards their mistakes and disobedience as they grow & mature?

God loves you, nothing you do will change that.
God is committed to your good.
God does not treat us as our sins deserve.
You are not done, God is still working on you.

If we as mothers and fathers don't believe this, how can we pass it along to our kiddos?

We love him, because he first loved us.  1 John 4:19

giving up a little dream

After many months, pretty pennies and a little effort we have said goodbye to our chickens.

Goodbye sweet Chickadees. I spent many hours praying, worrying and justifying my decision to keep you, but my heart (and God) said, NO!

Reasoning: We spend more on one week of care for these little ladies when we travel, than it would cost to support a beautiful, local farm.

Instead, we have decided to take the sales of the coop and make two more large garden beds. Much greater yields and something my Little Heart can join me in- without all the messiness.

I wanted chickens to teach my babies as well as have a way to provide for our family; gardening can do the same thing!

Guess Roo now needs her own mini garden tools and kneeling pad. She is gonna be a busy gardener. We start our fall seeds in a week or so!