So this is not a vegan meal, I'll just say that up front.
I've been making this pot roast since Cooks Illustrated wrote an article on slow cooking meat and what happens.
I buy as much meat as I can afford for this meal because no matter how much I buy its never enough. The key to this meal is LOW and SLOW. I used to make it in the oven but my slow cooker (like a crock pot) makes this fantabuliuos. I know its not a word. :-) The good news is you can buy a really cheap cut and it ends up melting in your mouth perfection. This is also a great meal for kids with oral sensory issues. The meat is so soft it doesn't' even get caught in Sweet Potatoes braces. It's also a phase 2 meal (with cheating for those who cheat on SBP Diet ) I know I know you shouldn't, but pot roast without potatoes... I just can't do it...
so here is the basics
a cut of meat that will feed your family I'd go for 2 servings each.
10 small salt potatoes (do not cut! leave whole so they don't "contaminate" the rest of the food).
4-5 peeled carrots chopped in 1 inch pieces
5-8 stalks of celery chopped in 1 inch pieces
1 white onion chopped in 1 inch pieces
Using Olive oil sear the meat on all sides.
Place in crock pot / slow cooker or an oven pot with a tight fitting lid.
Toss in all the carrots, celery, onion.
Put the potatoes on top and off to the side.
add water 3/4 up the side of the meat.
Cook for a minimum of 6 hours at 300 degrees F. or mark 3 for a slow cooker or medium heat for a crock pot. After 6 hours you can tun it down to low. I like to start mine at 9 or 10 am and let it cook until 6 pm.
serve au jus If your not doing SBP then you can make gravy with corn starch, if your on phase 3 you can use tapioca flour to thicken the jus.
Don't serve the taters to Your SBP target.
We like to eat it in bowls.
Enjoy
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
Practicing the change in tactics... saying Yes
I practiced saying yes today, I did notice a huge upswing in Sweet Potato's mood too.
Mom can I have some chips?
Yes as long as you drink 2 glasses of water.
Mom will you play a game with me?
Yes, let's play In a Pickle till someone gets 3 tricks. (see how I saved myself from a 3 hour game of Monopoly.)
Mom can I have a cookie?
Yes, after you finish your orange.
Mom can I play Computer?
No baby, it's not here, but you can play DSI for 20 minutes. Turned it into a yes... :-)
Mama's been feeling yucky today so Sweet Potato did take advantage of that to hide in her room and play DSI for an hour. Normally I'd be all freaked out by the screen time effecting her brain ahhhhhh she's loosing brain cells... but since my modus operandi for Mama sick days is to plunk them in front of Qubo and hope their brain's don't fry.. I figured why have a hissy fit? I got a nap and quiet time and a shower! SCORE! Her sister was practicing piano and I didn't hear the timer go off either. I actually could see how she could truly have not heard it go off. Her school was done (mostly), she had baby sat for part of her school time too (woo hoo acts of service yeah!).
So I just pointed out she was over time and as long as the undone chores got done ASAP, I'd not toss any penalty flags. She almost fainted when I did that... the look on her face said "Mom are you feeling ok?" well actually child I feel really yucky... so no I'm not feeling ok. LOL
She said "Sure mom right away." and then happily ran out to pick up dog poo... Little Miss Sunshine was as mystified as me in Sweet Potato's happy attitude toward poo patrol. "Mom this is not normal." was heard to come out of her mouth...
I passed them by later while they were playing piano and tickled both of them... Little Miss Sunshine laughed.. Sweet Potato said Ow ow ow ow... then she laughed.
I'm like "Oh sorry did I hurt you?"
SP: no Mom....
Why did you say Ow?
SP: I don't know...
Mom: can I do a redo?
SP: Yes please *Giggling* then I tickled them both again and they both laughed.
Lets see how this journey goes forward... but boy that In a Pickle game took it out of me... not!!
Mom can I have some chips?
Yes as long as you drink 2 glasses of water.
Mom will you play a game with me?
Yes, let's play In a Pickle till someone gets 3 tricks. (see how I saved myself from a 3 hour game of Monopoly.)
Mom can I have a cookie?
Yes, after you finish your orange.
Mom can I play Computer?
No baby, it's not here, but you can play DSI for 20 minutes. Turned it into a yes... :-)
Mama's been feeling yucky today so Sweet Potato did take advantage of that to hide in her room and play DSI for an hour. Normally I'd be all freaked out by the screen time effecting her brain ahhhhhh she's loosing brain cells... but since my modus operandi for Mama sick days is to plunk them in front of Qubo and hope their brain's don't fry.. I figured why have a hissy fit? I got a nap and quiet time and a shower! SCORE! Her sister was practicing piano and I didn't hear the timer go off either. I actually could see how she could truly have not heard it go off. Her school was done (mostly), she had baby sat for part of her school time too (woo hoo acts of service yeah!).
So I just pointed out she was over time and as long as the undone chores got done ASAP, I'd not toss any penalty flags. She almost fainted when I did that... the look on her face said "Mom are you feeling ok?" well actually child I feel really yucky... so no I'm not feeling ok. LOL
She said "Sure mom right away." and then happily ran out to pick up dog poo... Little Miss Sunshine was as mystified as me in Sweet Potato's happy attitude toward poo patrol. "Mom this is not normal." was heard to come out of her mouth...
I passed them by later while they were playing piano and tickled both of them... Little Miss Sunshine laughed.. Sweet Potato said Ow ow ow ow... then she laughed.
I'm like "Oh sorry did I hurt you?"
SP: no Mom....
Why did you say Ow?
SP: I don't know...
Mom: can I do a redo?
SP: Yes please *Giggling* then I tickled them both again and they both laughed.
Lets see how this journey goes forward... but boy that In a Pickle game took it out of me... not!!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
A change of tactics
Many nights Sweet Potato talks to the wall. Since I've been known to model this behavior I'm not surprised.. OH wait did it just tell you all I talk to the wall... himm I guess I did oopsie! Shhhhh don't tell anyone... Only thing is, she talks, and talks, and talks, and her sister can't sleep. She is keeping her self awake and that can lead to over tiredness and a less than optimal night of sleep, followed by a less than optimal day.
Many Many times I have asked her to stop talking and go to sleep, sad to say it continued. The nigh time talking has even been known to escalate when desisting has been requested. I've been know to sneak up on the door and say "Ah ha caught you talking when you are supposed to be sleeping!" and when its so loud I can hear it in the other room, I've been known to get annoyed...
Yelling "Child I CAN HEAR YOU! " from the living room is probably not my best choice of parenting styles for an auditory processing challenged child. Have I mentioned recently I'm not perfect... :-P
So Saturday night I tried a completely new tactic. I walked in willing to sacrifice my time and let her stay up if that is what she needed. Sat on her bed and said "Do you need someone too talk to Sweet Potato?" She didn't. She did tell me she was just going over all the things she had done that day. So I talked to her any way about all the fun exciting things she got to do that day with Aunti R. We're talking Hair straightening and Nail polish and Movies woo hoo... Not at all my idea of an exciting day but hey I'm not 12 either... I rubbed her back (her favorite) and then asked what I could do to help her be quiet enough to fall asleep, since she didn't need a person to talk to.
"Mom can I have the Steven Green songs on?" Of course Sweetie.
Woo hooo that only took 5 minutes and quiet fell over the room. Till she started snoring he he he ... Now if every night could be that easy.
Many Many times I have asked her to stop talking and go to sleep, sad to say it continued. The nigh time talking has even been known to escalate when desisting has been requested. I've been know to sneak up on the door and say "Ah ha caught you talking when you are supposed to be sleeping!" and when its so loud I can hear it in the other room, I've been known to get annoyed...
Yelling "Child I CAN HEAR YOU! " from the living room is probably not my best choice of parenting styles for an auditory processing challenged child. Have I mentioned recently I'm not perfect... :-P
So Saturday night I tried a completely new tactic. I walked in willing to sacrifice my time and let her stay up if that is what she needed. Sat on her bed and said "Do you need someone too talk to Sweet Potato?" She didn't. She did tell me she was just going over all the things she had done that day. So I talked to her any way about all the fun exciting things she got to do that day with Aunti R. We're talking Hair straightening and Nail polish and Movies woo hoo... Not at all my idea of an exciting day but hey I'm not 12 either... I rubbed her back (her favorite) and then asked what I could do to help her be quiet enough to fall asleep, since she didn't need a person to talk to.
"Mom can I have the Steven Green songs on?" Of course Sweetie.
Woo hooo that only took 5 minutes and quiet fell over the room. Till she started snoring he he he ... Now if every night could be that easy.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Empowered to Connect
I love how Karen ended the conference today. The last words were so encouraging. She was answering questions that had been submitted and apparently lots of parents were feeling less than their best (I know I certainly was). A whole pile of question cards were about how as parents we have messed up our kids and done everything wrong in our parenting style. Have we destroyed our children for ever?
Karen answered with "Unless you are a parent of a child less than 72 hours old, or alien spawn. You have made mistakes parenting. Welcome to the human race." That put a smile on my face and brought back perspective. She continued with, how asking forgiveness and admitting your at fault with your child will put $1,000,000.00 into your child's trust bank, and talked about how scar tissue is stronger when it has healed.
So often as adoptive parents we hear from those who think they know our situation: "Love is enough,"
"Once he knows he's a Jones he will settle down."
"She will forget her difficulties/past/birth parents and be ok now."
"You need to put your child's past behind them."
"You would think things that happened when she was 1, she would be over now that she is 12."
I love how Karen deals with this ideology.... If your birth child had been kidnapped for 2 years and then after you had spent thousands and thousands of dollars to find them, and they are returned to you... How would you view them? As parents we need to remember any separation from birth parent is Trauma to a child. If we can hold on to the compassion we would have for a child that had experienced kidnapping, we will do well.
In doing so, we as adoptive parents have to be fully invested above and beyond the birth parent model. The high nurture and high structure model is not for wimps. Birth parenting books will not always help a child who's age is 8 but the behavior displayed is 4. I can't tell you how many times I told my Sweet Potato at age 8 to "act your age." I was so frustrated and really down on myself as a parent. Constant embarrassment because your child is not acting "normal" does that to you.
Today was full of highs and lows as I could see all the things I was doing right in my parenting, therapy and realizing Sweet Potato has made huge leaps since age 8. We have the train moving in the right direction. Seeing my failures and areas I need to improve in, like how often I derail the train because her trust bank with me is not as high as it needs to be.
Ahh well I'm the "big" person in this equation and I can handle it right? :-)
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I need to not forget this is a Journey we are on that will last until I see heaven. We will never arrive at "fixed" just as no child birthed or adopted is ever "fixed" by their parents. I need to enjoy the trip.
Karen answered with "Unless you are a parent of a child less than 72 hours old, or alien spawn. You have made mistakes parenting. Welcome to the human race." That put a smile on my face and brought back perspective. She continued with, how asking forgiveness and admitting your at fault with your child will put $1,000,000.00 into your child's trust bank, and talked about how scar tissue is stronger when it has healed.
So often as adoptive parents we hear from those who think they know our situation: "Love is enough,"
"Once he knows he's a Jones he will settle down."
"She will forget her difficulties/past/birth parents and be ok now."
"You need to put your child's past behind them."
"You would think things that happened when she was 1, she would be over now that she is 12."
I love how Karen deals with this ideology.... If your birth child had been kidnapped for 2 years and then after you had spent thousands and thousands of dollars to find them, and they are returned to you... How would you view them? As parents we need to remember any separation from birth parent is Trauma to a child. If we can hold on to the compassion we would have for a child that had experienced kidnapping, we will do well.
In doing so, we as adoptive parents have to be fully invested above and beyond the birth parent model. The high nurture and high structure model is not for wimps. Birth parenting books will not always help a child who's age is 8 but the behavior displayed is 4. I can't tell you how many times I told my Sweet Potato at age 8 to "act your age." I was so frustrated and really down on myself as a parent. Constant embarrassment because your child is not acting "normal" does that to you.
Today was full of highs and lows as I could see all the things I was doing right in my parenting, therapy and realizing Sweet Potato has made huge leaps since age 8. We have the train moving in the right direction. Seeing my failures and areas I need to improve in, like how often I derail the train because her trust bank with me is not as high as it needs to be.
Ahh well I'm the "big" person in this equation and I can handle it right? :-)
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I need to not forget this is a Journey we are on that will last until I see heaven. We will never arrive at "fixed" just as no child birthed or adopted is ever "fixed" by their parents. I need to enjoy the trip.
Friday, February 17, 2012
You Can Never Have Enough Socks
So a few years ago when Sweet Potato went to school, getting her ready for the car pool was always a challenge. Why you ask?? Because she never had any socks. Now as a Rocky Mom I really didn't care if she wore socks or not. Apparently teachers especially Gym teachers expected socks on my child's feet. Mom was getting notes that her kid was not dressed properly and needed to wear socks or stockings everyday.
I wondered if the washer was eating the socks... Or maybe the sock angel was redeeming them for heaven... Alas I could not find a single matching pair. So I bought a bunch of the same colored socks... suddenly I was down to 3 pairs. Searching the room I came up empty handed, no matching socks to be found anywhere!!
Trying to get out the door in the morning was a battle field, "BUT MOM I can't go without socks!! I can't find any, I can't wear one green and one pink..." Oh the horror!!! IT was pretty exasperating. Dad is fuming,everyone is leaving angry, every morning and why?? Because of Socks!!! SERIOUSLY???
I finally thought "this is nuts" the peace of the family is daily disrupted when Mom is at her most groggy over lost shoes and no socks...
Enter the Sock Fairy... she comes at night and finds the shoes hidden under the couch, in the kitchen, under the TV or Wow in the closet (who knew she knew how to put them away!), and every morning a bright shining new pair of socks (bought in bulk at Big Lots very cheaply) laid on the shoes.
After a while I found out through my secret sources that she was purposefully throwing away one sock of each pair just so she could delay the inevitable. I really wish she had just talked to me about the bullying at school. the real reason behind this tactic
Eventually the Sock Fairy no longer needed to come anymore, the bullying, changes in her diet and a math program that only confused my daughter were the root causes of me pulling her from school and bringing her back to home schooling. I so wished she had spoken up sooner so the horribleness at school could have been addressed sooner. But that trust base was still lacking.
Now we don't need a sock fairy and I'm so glad to see my child working on long division at home with me.
I wondered if the washer was eating the socks... Or maybe the sock angel was redeeming them for heaven... Alas I could not find a single matching pair. So I bought a bunch of the same colored socks... suddenly I was down to 3 pairs. Searching the room I came up empty handed, no matching socks to be found anywhere!!
Trying to get out the door in the morning was a battle field, "BUT MOM I can't go without socks!! I can't find any, I can't wear one green and one pink..." Oh the horror!!! IT was pretty exasperating. Dad is fuming,everyone is leaving angry, every morning and why?? Because of Socks!!! SERIOUSLY???
I finally thought "this is nuts" the peace of the family is daily disrupted when Mom is at her most groggy over lost shoes and no socks...
Enter the Sock Fairy... she comes at night and finds the shoes hidden under the couch, in the kitchen, under the TV or Wow in the closet (who knew she knew how to put them away!), and every morning a bright shining new pair of socks (bought in bulk at Big Lots very cheaply) laid on the shoes.
After a while I found out through my secret sources that she was purposefully throwing away one sock of each pair just so she could delay the inevitable. I really wish she had just talked to me about the bullying at school. the real reason behind this tactic
Eventually the Sock Fairy no longer needed to come anymore, the bullying, changes in her diet and a math program that only confused my daughter were the root causes of me pulling her from school and bringing her back to home schooling. I so wished she had spoken up sooner so the horribleness at school could have been addressed sooner. But that trust base was still lacking.
Now we don't need a sock fairy and I'm so glad to see my child working on long division at home with me.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Adoption is Not Second Best.
I really think so many people in our society see adoption as
second best. Yes, many families come to
adoption because they cannot have children of their own, but when you look at
the overall picture you see many people choose it for a huge variety of
reasons. In a training session we once experienced
there were 5 couples each and every one of them had a unique reason. Only one of them was “We can’t have kids so
were adopting”… ya that would be me… but since it was our second adoption it’s
not like I didn’t have a child of my own.
For example the Korean couple… the wife had been adopted and
wanted to adopt because she had been.
The parents of 6 children were choosing adoption, so they could open their home to a child who had no home.
One couple felt led that this was God’s plan for building their family.
A Single woman had never gotten married and wanted to have a family, so she choose adoption and single parenting.
Those are just the ones that sick out in my mind, every family has a unique reason for adopting. In each of the above examples I do not see the choice of choosing adoption as second best. It was not the choice you have left when all other choices are gone… Yes many couples spend huge amounts of money each year on infertility treatment to: “Have a child of their own.” They may turn to adoption as a last resort but so few people actually adopt. It's some thing like 2% of the population who adopts, yet 25% of our population is infertile so its got to be a small percentage.
The parents of 6 children were choosing adoption, so they could open their home to a child who had no home.
One couple felt led that this was God’s plan for building their family.
A Single woman had never gotten married and wanted to have a family, so she choose adoption and single parenting.
Those are just the ones that sick out in my mind, every family has a unique reason for adopting. In each of the above examples I do not see the choice of choosing adoption as second best. It was not the choice you have left when all other choices are gone… Yes many couples spend huge amounts of money each year on infertility treatment to: “Have a child of their own.” They may turn to adoption as a last resort but so few people actually adopt. It's some thing like 2% of the population who adopts, yet 25% of our population is infertile so its got to be a small percentage.
I’m so glad our journey down that path was truncated. Early
on we knew DNA children were not possible.
Did we then just jump into adoption.. well we tried but God put us off.
He had a plan, with so many millions of children with no parents or permanently
separated from their parents. How hard
could it be to nudge us in the direction He had for us when we were actively seeking His plan.
Tonight a friend of mine ranted because a store clerk put
her foot in in her mouth and couldn’t believe this dark brown baby was the child of a light brown woman . When Mom told
her “Well he’s adopted. “ The clerk’s opened mouth and she inserted her whole
leg. (From what I heard anyway) Suddenly this clerk needed to know baby's whole life story. Hello!!!! our children are not freak shows, really I just brought my kid out for your entertainment!!!! I used to try to educated people about the do
and don’ts of adoption. Lets face it most people don’t want to be taught the right thing
to do, they just want to hear the gory details and satisfy their curiosity. Early on in the conversation this clerk hoped my friend “Would
have kids of her own soon.” Really you say that in front of an impressionable
child??? Hello!!! What was she thinking??? maybe after adopting.... the baby fairy rewards you for being good... and you can now have real family????
Adopt: 1. to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection or assent: 2. to take
and rear (the child of other parents) as one's own child, specifically by a formal legal act.
and rear (the child of other parents) as one's own child, specifically by a formal legal act.
Conclusion: to adopt is to make your own.
On Friday night I was asked for the umpteenth time,
if I felt the same about my kids as I would about my own. (Can you picture me banging my head against the
table) “Er um they are my own.” I replied. Why do so many people think love isn’t
thicker than DNA?
I’ll let you in on a little secret, one of the factors
in who, gets whom, is spark… When we got photos of Sweet Potato, my husband
thought she was THE MOST ADORABLE baby in the whole wide world. He sparked… he looked at the photo and knew,
he just knew, this was his daughter…
When I got photos of Little Miss Sunshine it was
like a bomb went off in my heart. I didn’t
fall in love with her, I suddenly realized this WAS MY LITTLE GIRL. Just like that, she was mine.
We could have waited for other children. In fact a few years earlier we had gotten photos of a special needs boy (possible hearing problems in the future) yet we sent him back. Not because of the hearing problems (I speak some sign language). There was just no spark. (Don’t worry five other families had applied to adopt him.) The lady at the agency just didn't want us out of the running, because we had a good foundation for this little guy. But when I said “I just don’t think he is ours.” she said “Yeah I get that.”
We could have waited for other children. In fact a few years earlier we had gotten photos of a special needs boy (possible hearing problems in the future) yet we sent him back. Not because of the hearing problems (I speak some sign language). There was just no spark. (Don’t worry five other families had applied to adopt him.) The lady at the agency just didn't want us out of the running, because we had a good foundation for this little guy. But when I said “I just don’t think he is ours.” she said “Yeah I get that.”
I know part of the curiosity of adoption and
orphans is most people have no realistic contact with it… our culture continually tosses
up characters in books as real people.
Oliver Twist, Anne of Green Gables, Little Orphan Anne, heck even Harry
Potter is an orphan tho never adopted. Seriously people! These are not “Real” humans but rather 2 dimensional
versions of humanity. I think peoples expectations are warped by these stories. Rather than feel compassion or acceptance; instead they just look to assuage their curiosity.
Adoptees feel stigmatized, second best, and out of place already, and to top it all off almost every time they go out with mom and dad, someone asks “Are your parents REAL?”
Adoptees feel stigmatized, second best, and out of place already, and to top it all off almost every time they go out with mom and dad, someone asks “Are your parents REAL?”
Take a moment and think, what message they are sending
with those words… Himm the child may think wow if my parents aren’t real then I’m
not really what they wanted…. I am a second choice, what was left over, the
last to be chosen for the family team. Can you picture feeling that way every time
you went out for dinner? Think about it.
Now think about the parent who continually hears they are not Real... its more than just the child that is getting distressed here. After a few years you get numb to most of it.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
gluten free cookies :-)
Ok I been messing around with some Phase Three cookies for Christmas
This is a very delicate cookie so be gentle :-) it's a modification of my families polish cookies.
Makes about 15 cookies.
Filling 1: Pit about 4 dates and pull in half.
Filling 2:
4 dried apricots (ok I cheated and used sulphured one cause they are prettier for the photo we were out I had to use the old ones )
1 tablespoon of hot water
1 table spoon of honey.
Soak Apricots in hot water till softened.
Blend in a blender with honey, till you get a filling like consistency. Crystallized honey works best! so this years crop of drought honey was perfect.
Cookie Dough:
2 tablespoons of Cream cheese
3/4 stick of butter
1 cup tapioca flour (also know as powder)
Parchment paper is almost a necessity!
Using a pastry blender mix the cream cheese butter and tapioca flour till it its crumbly and looks like pie crust. Then using your hands press it together. It is a very soft dough. Then follow the photos below.
Normally you would role the dough out into powdered sugar (a NO NO), so we will skip that step. I found it was firm enough to shape it by hand.
After 18 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees F. I decide to pull them out. I cooled them outside. Cool before you try to remove them from the paper. They get very hot! and will fall apart.
You could try a higher temperature for a shorter cooking time. They ended up being a flaky and soft cookie.
Even tho these cookies have no sugar in them Sweet Potato declared them to be sweet! I found them very yummy. Please note they are very very delicate, crumble and melt in your mouth calorie bombs. So let the SBP target eat most of them!
This is a very delicate cookie so be gentle :-) it's a modification of my families polish cookies.
Makes about 15 cookies.
Filling 1: Pit about 4 dates and pull in half.
Filling 2:
4 dried apricots (ok I cheated and used sulphured one cause they are prettier for the photo we were out I had to use the old ones )
1 tablespoon of hot water
1 table spoon of honey.
Soak Apricots in hot water till softened.
Blend in a blender with honey, till you get a filling like consistency. Crystallized honey works best! so this years crop of drought honey was perfect.
Cookie Dough:
2 tablespoons of Cream cheese
3/4 stick of butter
1 cup tapioca flour (also know as powder)
Parchment paper is almost a necessity!
Using a pastry blender mix the cream cheese butter and tapioca flour till it its crumbly and looks like pie crust. Then using your hands press it together. It is a very soft dough. Then follow the photos below.
Normally you would role the dough out into powdered sugar (a NO NO), so we will skip that step. I found it was firm enough to shape it by hand.
 |
| Using about a scant tablespoon shape them into squares |
 |
| make the square by gently forming it |
 |
| Now its ready for a filling |
 |
| Add a scant half teaspoon full of filling |
 |
| Add then press opposite edges of dough together. |
 |
| You can do the same thing with dates. |
 |
| use half a date a whole one is to much |
 |
| The dough is very delicate but easily pushed back into shape |
 |
| This is how many cookies I got. They do not brown up. |
You could try a higher temperature for a shorter cooking time. They ended up being a flaky and soft cookie.
Even tho these cookies have no sugar in them Sweet Potato declared them to be sweet! I found them very yummy. Please note they are very very delicate, crumble and melt in your mouth calorie bombs. So let the SBP target eat most of them!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Water Buffalo Update
Well my last post was about Little Miss Sunshine's' project of getting a water buffalo for Christmas. Its a beta testing program For GFA's Web Team. I can say it was successful! We found a few bugs, and got feedback and A water buffalo has been secured for a family in India. Woo hoo!!! Everyone Wants a Water Buffalo
On another note the kiddos are being themselves, were doing home school lite... Which means I'm checking work as I prep meals for the ministry and bake cookies. All but my Christmas cards are done. Woo hoo! Only a few presents to wrap and its all finished.
Just in time too, as Sweet Potato has been cheating with her meds. *SIGH* Now she is sick and running a fever. Ugh I'd hate to be in her shoes. Medication night and day, Doctors are mystified as to the cause, thus no answers just medication, and The Vest, to ease the symptoms. I hate it when she decided shes right and I'm wrong because what I said didn't happen immediately. No you cannot chew your medication! It will hurt your body... So she chews her medication. "My body isn't in pain, so you must be wrong Mom." Sigh... Picture me banging my head against the wall. She doesn't even believe the nurse on the phone. I had to switch it back to the neti pot which does the same thing as the medication just in a much more gross way.
Then I see posts on Neti pots that use tap water, giving people brain eating amoebae. *LOVELY!* Now I always use the reverse osmosis water because the amount of "dead" mold spores in the local water makes my allergy's worse. I know occasionally Sweet Potato doesn't, instead she pushes the easy button and uses tap water. So now I have one more thing to be paranoid about. NO MORE TAP WATER!! even tho we don't live in Louisiana.
I had a talk with her today about when you don't take your nose medication your nose itches. (then you rub it, and never wash your hands, and the family is all ewww gross!!!) When you fake taking your inhaler; your lungs hurt. Taking medication isn't fun; but not taking it, is worse. The Orthodontics nurse had to talk with me on the condition of her teeth, as in she isn't brushing well enough either.
And I know why this is all manifesting itself because it's Christmas!!! Oh the JOYS of the Christmas Season. This being all gross and unlovable is so true to form. time to Repost #1 and Repost #2
Last night I started singing like my youngest. A repetitive annoying song which Little Miss Sunshine had been doing all day! Muhahaha... She was reading The Silver Chair a bit above her reading level There I was next to her belting out a silly made up Christmas song. Priceless!!! She at least figured out what I was Doing.. "MOM stop pretending to be me!" ROFL!
We have decided that Christmas is NOT the most wonderful time of the year, as people act even stranger than normal. The added pressure to Be Happy just makes everyday worse. Mom is even more busy than normal and cannot be disturbed. Bah Humbug!
That is why this weekend instead of doing cards I sat with my kids and painted Christmas bulbs. We all had a blast got paint on our clothing and Sweet Potato ruined one of y best brushes. Ahh well it's only a brush right???
Christmas will come and go, I for one will be so happy to see the back side of it, and a return to "normalcy" if anything in this world can be called normal.
On another note the kiddos are being themselves, were doing home school lite... Which means I'm checking work as I prep meals for the ministry and bake cookies. All but my Christmas cards are done. Woo hoo! Only a few presents to wrap and its all finished.
Just in time too, as Sweet Potato has been cheating with her meds. *SIGH* Now she is sick and running a fever. Ugh I'd hate to be in her shoes. Medication night and day, Doctors are mystified as to the cause, thus no answers just medication, and The Vest, to ease the symptoms. I hate it when she decided shes right and I'm wrong because what I said didn't happen immediately. No you cannot chew your medication! It will hurt your body... So she chews her medication. "My body isn't in pain, so you must be wrong Mom." Sigh... Picture me banging my head against the wall. She doesn't even believe the nurse on the phone. I had to switch it back to the neti pot which does the same thing as the medication just in a much more gross way.
Then I see posts on Neti pots that use tap water, giving people brain eating amoebae. *LOVELY!* Now I always use the reverse osmosis water because the amount of "dead" mold spores in the local water makes my allergy's worse. I know occasionally Sweet Potato doesn't, instead she pushes the easy button and uses tap water. So now I have one more thing to be paranoid about. NO MORE TAP WATER!! even tho we don't live in Louisiana.
I had a talk with her today about when you don't take your nose medication your nose itches. (then you rub it, and never wash your hands, and the family is all ewww gross!!!) When you fake taking your inhaler; your lungs hurt. Taking medication isn't fun; but not taking it, is worse. The Orthodontics nurse had to talk with me on the condition of her teeth, as in she isn't brushing well enough either.
And I know why this is all manifesting itself because it's Christmas!!! Oh the JOYS of the Christmas Season. This being all gross and unlovable is so true to form. time to Repost #1 and Repost #2
Last night I started singing like my youngest. A repetitive annoying song which Little Miss Sunshine had been doing all day! Muhahaha... She was reading The Silver Chair a bit above her reading level There I was next to her belting out a silly made up Christmas song. Priceless!!! She at least figured out what I was Doing.. "MOM stop pretending to be me!" ROFL!
We have decided that Christmas is NOT the most wonderful time of the year, as people act even stranger than normal. The added pressure to Be Happy just makes everyday worse. Mom is even more busy than normal and cannot be disturbed. Bah Humbug!
That is why this weekend instead of doing cards I sat with my kids and painted Christmas bulbs. We all had a blast got paint on our clothing and Sweet Potato ruined one of y best brushes. Ahh well it's only a brush right???
Christmas will come and go, I for one will be so happy to see the back side of it, and a return to "normalcy" if anything in this world can be called normal.
Friday, December 9, 2011
All I want for Christmas is a Water Buffalo
First a commercial :-)
A blogger I read has found THE Coolest race track called Blu Track and is giving one away! Head over there for a chance to win. you totally have to watch the video on how it works. I so want one but if I do win it will go to my young nephews :-) I love how this mom let her boy make the right decision too.. Coolio Momsie!
http://inashoe.com/2011/12/giveaway-blu-track-racetrack/
Now since this is all a big link up blog post I do want to share what Little Miss Sunshine wants for Christmas. A Water Buffalo... NO not for our back yard, but for an impoverished family in India. Daddy has been hard at work getting a project called Activate My Faith started over at GFA's web site So here is your chance to give my daughter what she wants for Christmas (Oh bless her heart!) and do some beta testing as well.
This is your sneek peek at the future of GFA on the web :-)
She has her project here https://www.mygfa.org/waterbuffalo/ she saved up $96 herself from her stinky allowance of $3.25 a week (if she did all her chores) and by doing extra jobs at .25 and .50 cents apiece is no small feat!. Yes its a stinky allowance but we are missionaries and kids having money is not a big line item in our debt free budget.
Don't forget 100% of your donation will go to buy this water buffalo.
When I sat down with her yesterday and asked if it was ok that Grandma and Grandpa give her less/less expensive presents and donate more to her water buffalo she happy danced and said yes oh yes!
Oh what a blessing it is to have a child who feel this way, that giving is what Christmas is about, not the getting. It really keeps my "greedy heart" in check. Thank you Lord for this child of mine who sees the world with your eyes. Ok she not all that pure and holy but she can be really sweet :-) And she really really really wants a Water buffalo So a donation of 1$ is greeted with the same joy as $20 or $50.
Go you know you want to... and please remember it is beta let us know if anything is not working!!!
KNOWN ISSUES: pictures missing in video.
A blogger I read has found THE Coolest race track called Blu Track and is giving one away! Head over there for a chance to win. you totally have to watch the video on how it works. I so want one but if I do win it will go to my young nephews :-) I love how this mom let her boy make the right decision too.. Coolio Momsie!
http://inashoe.com/2011/12/giveaway-blu-track-racetrack/
Now since this is all a big link up blog post I do want to share what Little Miss Sunshine wants for Christmas. A Water Buffalo... NO not for our back yard, but for an impoverished family in India. Daddy has been hard at work getting a project called Activate My Faith started over at GFA's web site So here is your chance to give my daughter what she wants for Christmas (Oh bless her heart!) and do some beta testing as well.
This is your sneek peek at the future of GFA on the web :-)
She has her project here https://www.mygfa.org/waterbuffalo/ she saved up $96 herself from her stinky allowance of $3.25 a week (if she did all her chores) and by doing extra jobs at .25 and .50 cents apiece is no small feat!. Yes its a stinky allowance but we are missionaries and kids having money is not a big line item in our debt free budget.
Don't forget 100% of your donation will go to buy this water buffalo.
When I sat down with her yesterday and asked if it was ok that Grandma and Grandpa give her less/less expensive presents and donate more to her water buffalo she happy danced and said yes oh yes!
Oh what a blessing it is to have a child who feel this way, that giving is what Christmas is about, not the getting. It really keeps my "greedy heart" in check. Thank you Lord for this child of mine who sees the world with your eyes. Ok she not all that pure and holy but she can be really sweet :-) And she really really really wants a Water buffalo So a donation of 1$ is greeted with the same joy as $20 or $50.
Go you know you want to... and please remember it is beta let us know if anything is not working!!!
KNOWN ISSUES: pictures missing in video.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Advent Calandar
So I dug out my Paddington Advent calendar yesterday while decorating for Christmas.
But what to fill it with??? as now I have 2 kiddos and one can't eat candy, artificial colors or flavors, nor gluten or chocolate, and the Playmobile Advent calendar was $35.00!!
Well this season is supposed to be about Christ so I thought I'll fill it with bible verses. Then the thought of writing out all those verses. I can picture all the spelling errors I will make. Bah! Then one google search later and woo hooo I found a cute set and just printed them out.
You too can find them here!
http://happyhomefairy.com/2010/11/30/bible-verse-advent-cards-free-printables/
So this week were gonna do Homeschool Lite. About half speed so we can bake piles of cookies and get the cards and presents out. I also need to bake the fruit cakes. Maybe I'll post that recipe tomorrow. This is not fruit cake we all make fun of. But one that gets gobbled up every time I take it places. Considering it does not contain that weird looking plastic like fruit they sell in the store. But rather a nice mix of real dried fruit, and no molasses. (Which I have discovered people don't like in fruit cake. :-)
So have fun printing out bible verses and making a Advent calendar this morning. I know I will... after I make about 30 sandwiches for the staff.
But what to fill it with??? as now I have 2 kiddos and one can't eat candy, artificial colors or flavors, nor gluten or chocolate, and the Playmobile Advent calendar was $35.00!!
Well this season is supposed to be about Christ so I thought I'll fill it with bible verses. Then the thought of writing out all those verses. I can picture all the spelling errors I will make. Bah! Then one google search later and woo hooo I found a cute set and just printed them out.
You too can find them here!
http://happyhomefairy.com/2010/11/30/bible-verse-advent-cards-free-printables/
So this week were gonna do Homeschool Lite. About half speed so we can bake piles of cookies and get the cards and presents out. I also need to bake the fruit cakes. Maybe I'll post that recipe tomorrow. This is not fruit cake we all make fun of. But one that gets gobbled up every time I take it places. Considering it does not contain that weird looking plastic like fruit they sell in the store. But rather a nice mix of real dried fruit, and no molasses. (Which I have discovered people don't like in fruit cake. :-)
So have fun printing out bible verses and making a Advent calendar this morning. I know I will... after I make about 30 sandwiches for the staff.
Friday, November 18, 2011
A multi week check in
So this will be a photo show of the last few weeks of Heart of Dakota
a spontaneous poem I found in sweet potatoes notebook. 
Little miss sunshine making a secret message like the Romans. Took Dad a good long time to figure it out. 
 |
| Look Mom a Cell! |
Fossils in bread
The girls are trying to put together each others line drawings. The discovered it was impossible... they did manage to separate out the pieces but not knowing what they were putting together made it very difficult. 
Can I stop now Mom. this is impossible...
Ok I'd blog more but I'm totally swamped today!!!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Faith and Fear
So its 1 AM and I can hear Sweet Potato coughing, *sigh* The Vest (huh what is The Vest?? click here) is working, much less coughing but the night time coughing is still interrupting her sleep. A few days ago she was complaining of stomach aches and My Knight In Shining Armor was worried about Appendicitis (Because it can strike at any time!!!) He made her do the kick and cough thing. And Sweet Potato's response just reinforced my believe in her "sympathy cough." She looked at Dad and said "But I can only fake cough right now I don't have any real coughs." (Ahhh Ha!! I was right! She does cough extra when it gets her extra attention!!! And do you blame her!)
Were still working things out with the insurance company so far Cigna looks to be stepping up and doing the right thing. I hope it continues in that vein. But looking at a piece of equipment that is a huge chunk of change to this missionary family gave me personally a few days of fear! How will The Father pay for it! (no Dad I don't mean you ;-) but thanks for the braces check we appreciate that.) I can see it may clean out our emergency fund and missionary mobile fund. But I don't think we will need to take on debt. Whew! But then we will have to start all over again rebuilding those, yes yes I know that is what they are there for.
Part of me wishes I was more mature and had less of a fearful reaction to the exorbitant cost.I keep thinking if I was more of a mature christian, this "walking by faith" wouldn't be so scary. Why can't I just look back and see He is gonna be there for us. I mean He provided in so many ways to pay for Little Miss Sunshine's adoption. And giving credit where it is due Who knew a cartoon about Dogs locked up in the pound click here would cause support to come into our life. By the way Way to Go Mike! on winning all those awards for your animations. (We'll put it to good use buying medical equipment.) May "Pound Dogs" go on to amuse the men of this world and gross out the ladies for many years to come. *wink*
I sometimes wonder what was the agency thinking "Sweet potato was labeled as "Mild" but parents must be open to unknowns in the future.... then I think What was I thinking!!! that our family would be fine normal and never have any problems. Life is NOT assured to be happy and fine all the time. People get in car accidents and end up with brain trauma, cancer hits very young children, and even me the child of my parents has learning disabilities that still make me use spell check far more often than your average Joe.
Not picking anything "rough" on that form of how: severely damaged a child are you willing to take. Was more of a self assessment of what we thought we could handle. God knew we had far greater depth.
What I can stand firm on is the fact that God knows Our hearts, Our limits, and He put these children in our lives to raise as best we can. Ahh well the coughing has awoken her so I'm off to tuck her back in and pray this time she sleeps without coughing herself awake again.
'
Were still working things out with the insurance company so far Cigna looks to be stepping up and doing the right thing. I hope it continues in that vein. But looking at a piece of equipment that is a huge chunk of change to this missionary family gave me personally a few days of fear! How will The Father pay for it! (no Dad I don't mean you ;-) but thanks for the braces check we appreciate that.) I can see it may clean out our emergency fund and missionary mobile fund. But I don't think we will need to take on debt. Whew! But then we will have to start all over again rebuilding those, yes yes I know that is what they are there for.
Part of me wishes I was more mature and had less of a fearful reaction to the exorbitant cost.I keep thinking if I was more of a mature christian, this "walking by faith" wouldn't be so scary. Why can't I just look back and see He is gonna be there for us. I mean He provided in so many ways to pay for Little Miss Sunshine's adoption. And giving credit where it is due Who knew a cartoon about Dogs locked up in the pound click here would cause support to come into our life. By the way Way to Go Mike! on winning all those awards for your animations. (We'll put it to good use buying medical equipment.) May "Pound Dogs" go on to amuse the men of this world and gross out the ladies for many years to come. *wink*
I sometimes wonder what was the agency thinking "Sweet potato was labeled as "Mild" but parents must be open to unknowns in the future.... then I think What was I thinking!!! that our family would be fine normal and never have any problems. Life is NOT assured to be happy and fine all the time. People get in car accidents and end up with brain trauma, cancer hits very young children, and even me the child of my parents has learning disabilities that still make me use spell check far more often than your average Joe.
Not picking anything "rough" on that form of how: severely damaged a child are you willing to take. Was more of a self assessment of what we thought we could handle. God knew we had far greater depth.
What I can stand firm on is the fact that God knows Our hearts, Our limits, and He put these children in our lives to raise as best we can. Ahh well the coughing has awoken her so I'm off to tuck her back in and pray this time she sleeps without coughing herself awake again.
'
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Worth it
I was watching a video last night at All Night Prayer. It
explained the terrible conditions of the Dalit community in India and one thing
struck home. I don’t know who the man was who was speaking but it really pulled
at my heart. He was speaking about the mental state of a child raised in a
world that sees them as little better than animals and only worthy to be
enslaved. His main point was by the time the children are 11-13 or so they have a
skewed world view of themselves.
Then I was on face book and a message from last year popped
back up due to the changes in the inbox thing.
Here it is with the names changed to protect the repentant
I heard from XXXX XXXXXX via facebook. She said to tell you how bad she
felt about how she was mean to you back in HS. I said I felt bad too about how
I sometimes treated you. So apologies from both of us.
This is the 3rd apology in as many years. It seems to me every year I get something like
this in my inbox from people of that particular town.
We were challenged last night to understand that we (and I’m
paraphrasing here) raised in one of the wealthiest countries in the world could
have sympathy but maybe not truly understand how it feels to live in a
community that vilifies you.
I think he is right.. even tho I was called “Ugly” every day
of my High school career. I was only slightly higher than Pond Scum* in High
school hence the apologies I keep receiving. (Sometimes I suspect a 12 step
program to be involved.) My mantra as I walked the halls and heard politically incorrect
epitaphs tossed at me was “God doesn’t make Junk, God doesn’t make Junk.” I still had that to hold on too. I had parents
that reinforced that belief system. I was Not
junk… But a Dalit child, his belief system says you are slightly better
than an insect and you are only worthy to do the dirty jobs in this world. (For
example you can clean latrines with your bare hands.) *Evenually I was able to raise my level, I started winning races
in track and cross country then I was allowed admittance in the Jock clique. Not so for Dalits their position in society is more or less fixed.
I have experienced a village who decided they didn’t want us
to live in their town. I won’t
go into the gross and unkind things a few families in our community did to our
family to try to drive us out of town. (gross and unkind things....that is putting it pretty mildly). But in
no way does it compare to the loss of the Christians in Orrisa during 2008
village burnings. The insurance company
here In America paid to repair the damage done to our home and car. Meanwhile many Christians in Orrisa who lost everything are still waiting (3 years later) for
relocation and a home.
My family has known the pain and suffering of loss, heart
break, rejection, and violence. Our faith pulled us through and helped us
overcome the words and actions of others. My Sainted Mother often said to me: “What doesn’t kill you makes you
grow stronger.”
I feel like Paul I see
through a glass darkly of the plight of Dalits,
YES My family has been persecuted in America but, the police were willing to protect us.
YES We suffered loss but we could earn enough money to set things to rights again.
YES I was vilified and told by my peers I was worthless every school day for years (and even if you don’t believe it, it still affects you). But my God did not reinforce that message. I cannot know their level of pain and suffering but I can sympathize and help.
YES My family has been persecuted in America but, the police were willing to protect us.
YES We suffered loss but we could earn enough money to set things to rights again.
YES I was vilified and told by my peers I was worthless every school day for years (and even if you don’t believe it, it still affects you). But my God did not reinforce that message. I cannot know their level of pain and suffering but I can sympathize and help.
It just reinforced my belief that helping those in Asia to
be better educated, to learn there is a God who says they are NOT junk, to change the outlook of even
one child is worth all the effort
being a missionary in Texas.
If you want to watch the video click here http://nolongeraslumdog.org/dalits/
If you feel moved to help click here http://nolongeraslumdog.org/engage/
Friday, November 4, 2011
Surmountable: Capable of Being Overcome
Ever have days when you feel stalked by sorrow? I have been feeling this way lately. I wonder if it's due to the narrowness of my view? Its like I have the Mommy Blinders on and I have no Idea of the world around me. It was a HOT summer where we have been stuck inside. Now the weather has flipped and its cooler than normal and yet I'm still daily praying for rain, Oh where are the October rains??? Oh no wait it's November... So I keep diligently praying for rain. Who's idea was it to build a city in this arid landscape anyway?
Last Sunday I ran into a friend I used to work with on a daily basis. She was sitting outside on a perfect evening. I was feeling lonely and sad. I had totally messed up my schedule and had just completed a task I was supposed to have done hours before that I had forgotten about. Yet here in Gods perfect timing was my friend.
She looked at me and said "It feels like 2 years since I really talked to you last." Oh how true that was!! She was so right it has been 2 years. My focus has been so turned into family, fixing the issues at home, healing Little M...... I mean Sweet Potato's brain. Side note here: I have been lovingly rebuked (isn't it awesome to be Truly Lovingly rebuked :-) by a dear friend and as per her suggestion I am officially changing Little M.' moniker to Sweet Potato, but I digress. So back to the story... Yup its been a good bit more than 2 years to bring about real change in her attitude, hurts, learning disabilities. I'm still amazed at the flexibly of her brain and it's ability to change, grow and heal. I just love these Nuro typical days..... upon day, upon day, upon day...we are enjoying them so much. It was wonderful to sit and talk to my friend about dogs, and the weather. To pass the time pleasantly in the company of one who loved me even when I wasn't available.
I feel like I have been under water for a long time holding my breath and now I can see the surface all sparkling in the sun. Soon I can burst forth from the water and breath again. Only just a few more strokes for a clean full fresh breath of air. Ever dive really deep and look up, feel the pressure of the water actually propelling you upwards. Yup that is how I feel now, ever since the last evaluation at Little Giant Steps. Not that we don't have bad moments brought on by her issues. But now I suddenly feel confidant again they are surmountable.
It's been a season at home and it's been worth it. But today I so enjoyed a fuller day at work. C. took my kids with hers to a petting zoo (woo hooo field trip I didn't have to chaperon!!!) And I got to go use part of my brain that hasn't been used in a good 5-6 years. Once I found where Adobe hid the tool I was looking for in Photoshop. I was able to then train a talented artist in a different way to silhouette... Old school style...cause lets face it... it's the only way I know how and that select tool just wasn't cutting it. I swear my brain made happy juice as I was remembering how I used to do this. At one point I was bouncing back n' forth between tools. I KNEW there was an easier way and of course once I stopped trying to actively remember, my reflexes took over. And bingo!! My fingers had not forgotten the key strokes even tho my brain had. I had the tools I needed at the stroke of a key. The Brain is Amazing!!!
Last Sunday I ran into a friend I used to work with on a daily basis. She was sitting outside on a perfect evening. I was feeling lonely and sad. I had totally messed up my schedule and had just completed a task I was supposed to have done hours before that I had forgotten about. Yet here in Gods perfect timing was my friend.
She looked at me and said "It feels like 2 years since I really talked to you last." Oh how true that was!! She was so right it has been 2 years. My focus has been so turned into family, fixing the issues at home, healing Little M...... I mean Sweet Potato's brain. Side note here: I have been lovingly rebuked (isn't it awesome to be Truly Lovingly rebuked :-) by a dear friend and as per her suggestion I am officially changing Little M.' moniker to Sweet Potato, but I digress. So back to the story... Yup its been a good bit more than 2 years to bring about real change in her attitude, hurts, learning disabilities. I'm still amazed at the flexibly of her brain and it's ability to change, grow and heal. I just love these Nuro typical days..... upon day, upon day, upon day...we are enjoying them so much. It was wonderful to sit and talk to my friend about dogs, and the weather. To pass the time pleasantly in the company of one who loved me even when I wasn't available.
I feel like I have been under water for a long time holding my breath and now I can see the surface all sparkling in the sun. Soon I can burst forth from the water and breath again. Only just a few more strokes for a clean full fresh breath of air. Ever dive really deep and look up, feel the pressure of the water actually propelling you upwards. Yup that is how I feel now, ever since the last evaluation at Little Giant Steps. Not that we don't have bad moments brought on by her issues. But now I suddenly feel confidant again they are surmountable.
It's been a season at home and it's been worth it. But today I so enjoyed a fuller day at work. C. took my kids with hers to a petting zoo (woo hooo field trip I didn't have to chaperon!!!) And I got to go use part of my brain that hasn't been used in a good 5-6 years. Once I found where Adobe hid the tool I was looking for in Photoshop. I was able to then train a talented artist in a different way to silhouette... Old school style...cause lets face it... it's the only way I know how and that select tool just wasn't cutting it. I swear my brain made happy juice as I was remembering how I used to do this. At one point I was bouncing back n' forth between tools. I KNEW there was an easier way and of course once I stopped trying to actively remember, my reflexes took over. And bingo!! My fingers had not forgotten the key strokes even tho my brain had. I had the tools I needed at the stroke of a key. The Brain is Amazing!!!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Fighting On
If I believe in God, in a Being who made me, and fashioned me, and knows my wants and capacities and necessities because He gave them to me, and who is perfectly good and loving, righteous, and perfectly wise and powerful -whatever my circumstances inward or outward may be, however thick the darkness which encompasses me - I yet can trust, yes, be assured, that all will be well, that He can draw light out of darkness, and make crooked things straight ~ Thomas Erskine
These words are from a wonderful devotional my parents sent me. They really ministered to my heart today.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives as homeschooling moms/wife/missionary. We have so many concerns at home and ministry, we loose touch with the outside world. When we realize it and come back out of our little shell its like a whole new world out there. Being at the ministry were already in a bubble/fishbowl/glass house. Were always encouraged toward transparency with one another yet we rarely get it. And if you give it people are so unsure of how to assimilate it. We live in a world of unreality where we say were fine when we are hurting inside.
People are so afraid.
I'm So glad my GOD is so much greater than any of my problems I'm so glad He So REAL. I'm gonna repeat that HE IS SO REAL. Even when I'm at my lowest point crying over a chair that won't get put together right or a relationship that seems doomed from the start. God is still SO REAL. So close.
I often wonder how other people relate to God. I have heard the Holy Spirit described as a continuous shower we can step in to and out of by Aunti Gisela. But for me the presence of God is like a deep well. Not deep in the ground mind you, but so deep and full. Filled to the brim of that living water we can go a quench our thirst at anytime. You don't even need a bucket to drink from it.
Yet how often we get wrapped up in out little hurts our little fears, and big fears, or fears that are little that we dwell on so much they become big. Don't you do this? I know I do.
I was so freaking out this week about how to pay for yet another expense for Little M. It's a lifelong piece of medical equipment she will need for of course the rest of her life. It has a huge price tag. It's something that needs to survive for many decades to come so I can understand the expense. Ok at first I railed against God and man at the huge cost but I came around eventually.
At the moment God has it totally under control. Isn't that how it always is? Doesn't He always have everything under control? Our kids, Our families, Our ministry, Our relationships.
I believe he cares about the minute details of our lives. Take for example a book I needed for Little M's therapy. Amazon has it for 80$ new or $27 used. A begging email to the ministry homeschooling pool of resources came up blank. So a bit a prayer and the next day took my feet to our local Home Educators Resource book store. Guess what book they just got in yesterday and priced at 12$ and before they even put it out on the shelf I was holding it in my hot little hands.
God cares so much about every little detail of our lives and he loves us so deeply. I shake my head in wonder at my stupidity. Why, oh why!! Do we even waste one minute in worry? I know I do it and after ward think Doh! Why am I so short sighted??? I must need more faith, or wisdom or discernment.
But I'm keeping on, keeping on trying not to be afraid of being a real person and thinking I need to spend more time sitting next to the well drinking deeply of the living water.
These words are from a wonderful devotional my parents sent me. They really ministered to my heart today.
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives as homeschooling moms/wife/missionary. We have so many concerns at home and ministry, we loose touch with the outside world. When we realize it and come back out of our little shell its like a whole new world out there. Being at the ministry were already in a bubble/fishbowl/glass house. Were always encouraged toward transparency with one another yet we rarely get it. And if you give it people are so unsure of how to assimilate it. We live in a world of unreality where we say were fine when we are hurting inside.
People are so afraid.
I'm So glad my GOD is so much greater than any of my problems I'm so glad He So REAL. I'm gonna repeat that HE IS SO REAL. Even when I'm at my lowest point crying over a chair that won't get put together right or a relationship that seems doomed from the start. God is still SO REAL. So close.
I often wonder how other people relate to God. I have heard the Holy Spirit described as a continuous shower we can step in to and out of by Aunti Gisela. But for me the presence of God is like a deep well. Not deep in the ground mind you, but so deep and full. Filled to the brim of that living water we can go a quench our thirst at anytime. You don't even need a bucket to drink from it.
Yet how often we get wrapped up in out little hurts our little fears, and big fears, or fears that are little that we dwell on so much they become big. Don't you do this? I know I do.
I was so freaking out this week about how to pay for yet another expense for Little M. It's a lifelong piece of medical equipment she will need for of course the rest of her life. It has a huge price tag. It's something that needs to survive for many decades to come so I can understand the expense. Ok at first I railed against God and man at the huge cost but I came around eventually.
At the moment God has it totally under control. Isn't that how it always is? Doesn't He always have everything under control? Our kids, Our families, Our ministry, Our relationships.
I believe he cares about the minute details of our lives. Take for example a book I needed for Little M's therapy. Amazon has it for 80$ new or $27 used. A begging email to the ministry homeschooling pool of resources came up blank. So a bit a prayer and the next day took my feet to our local Home Educators Resource book store. Guess what book they just got in yesterday and priced at 12$ and before they even put it out on the shelf I was holding it in my hot little hands.
God cares so much about every little detail of our lives and he loves us so deeply. I shake my head in wonder at my stupidity. Why, oh why!! Do we even waste one minute in worry? I know I do it and after ward think Doh! Why am I so short sighted??? I must need more faith, or wisdom or discernment.
But I'm keeping on, keeping on trying not to be afraid of being a real person and thinking I need to spend more time sitting next to the well drinking deeply of the living water.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Little M's Evaluation :-)
Her last evaluation in the spring was a bit of a disappointment I was bummed that she did not progress as fast I expected. As I look back I can see she was in the regression/reboot phase so I'm not surprised she did not preform well.
This time I restricted her to phase one foods for about 4 days before the evaluation, because I'm paranoid. Don't want any "Bad Mood Food" AKA Maganese and Phytates to effect her evaluation. She still snagged a few finger-fulls of my birthday cake when my back was turned. I was saving her a piece for after the evaluation!!
Wednesday was her evaluation and Jan was so pleased. She said Little M is blossoming, and that she could name all the Star Wars characters LOL!
We still need to work on removing the Babinski Reflex tho (so stubborn!) and a few more tactility things that always seem the last to go. Her dominance is all lefty now Woooo hoooo lets hope it stays that way.
We still need to work on visual detail and conversations. I love how now her profile has so few yellow diagonal lines across it!!!!! And Jan kept saying Oh this one would be gone if she gets rid of "x" (one thing not many things.) Or this one will go when this goal above it is complete. This one will go when the detail in the other column is better. It makes me very happy :-) I'm much encouraged by this all.
I feel a bit sad for people who believe Spectrum Issues like ADHD, ADD and Autism is NOT"cure-able or fixable, and will be a life long struggle for their child." As I see Little M growing in ability, slowly loosing her carefulness in tactility issues, looking people in the eye, articulating her feelings and emotions. Identifying how other people are feeling, being generous, compassionate. These things were almost non existent before. Now she wants to share! has fewer issues and is slowly but surely becoming more nuro-typical. She is much less afraid of the the world. I like that I like it a whole lot.
Her reading comprehension is mid 5th grade and her math is slightly higher. So only about 6 months "behind her peers" so to speak which makes me happy :-)
And we saw her orthodontist and they have managed to grow her bottom jaw to where it is supposed to be. So her eating and biting ability is much improved.
It's been a week full of bad news and wrangling with the insurance company and I sure did need this good news right about now.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Mystery of the Missing Math Book
So school ground to a halt today as I left Little Miss Sunshine to "FIND" her math work book. I'm a big believer in taking personal responsibility of your stuff. I don't actually remember being responsible for my own stuff as a kid, I just remember yelling "Mom Where is My......" an awful lot. Not wanting to suffer my Sainted mothers fate of being the Go To person when something is lost. I don't help until all hope is lost... then we usually find it with in 5 minutes or it's lost forever. Oh the tragedy of it all...
LMS and LM searched for the missing math book for 30 minutes while I snuck off to the bed room and had a 20 minute power nap. After a while the silence woke me up and they had moved on from looking to hey mom is sleeping lets get in some play time. Oopsie! I walk in to find them dressed for Laura Ingalls, too cute...
The math book was still missing so I glanced around and saw the spine of it lurking in Little M's drawer. *sigh* Little M then proceeded to take a long swim in d'Nile and ended up all washed up. Long story short. Yesterday Little M broke the rules (in a really obvious way). Mom asked who did it? Both children denied doing any of it. Both got time outs until the perpetrator confessed. Dad convinced the guilty party to throw herself on the mercy of the court. Verdict 30 min to bed early...
But did she really Go To bed early last night? Nooooooo well she did sort of... but got up to brush her teeth because she forgot too. Then she primped in mirror for 15 minutes and still wasn't in her PJ's by the time the usual bed time rolled around. Ya know some days you just have to let them play out the line.. then you hook em. We pointed out since she didn't actually go to bed early Monday night she has to go to bed early Tuesday night... But Mom!!! it's Prayer meeting night!!!! This kid is sooooooooooo Smart! She knew it's a big deal to miss prayer meeting and that we often chose prayer meeting over discipline and by Wednesday Mom and Dad will have forgotten she still has an early to bed payment due.
Anyway at some point during the getting ready for bed last night.. (She was mad her sister got to stay up to the regular bed time.) she decided to be Darth Anikin... yes the Dark side took over. She stole her sisters math work book and hid it in her special drawer. Knowing full well it will be a big disruption and Little Miss Sunshine can suffer the consequences of no recess (oh the horror!) because she wouldn't find her math book because it was not put away. Muhahahahahahahaha can't you just hear it.. the dark side laughter. But of course that is not how it turns out because the Light Side always wins out. *plays Star Wars theme music*
During our conversation about why we don't steal (is this becoming a weekly theme or what???) She told me all about wanting to be Darth Anikin last night, but in the end she decided she wanted to be Luke rather than a "Darth"
Some days ya just gotta meet them where they are at.. it was all I could do not to burst out laughing while discussing how to have self control, using dark side and light side examples. She has had to be extra kind to her sister all day and Yes! she is going to bed extra early tonight and missing prayer. can we say backfired!
I was gonna take photos of the sputum sample we got this morning for the lab but Hubby confiscated the camera... Hope those germs stayed alive during the trip to the hospital.
LMS and LM searched for the missing math book for 30 minutes while I snuck off to the bed room and had a 20 minute power nap. After a while the silence woke me up and they had moved on from looking to hey mom is sleeping lets get in some play time. Oopsie! I walk in to find them dressed for Laura Ingalls, too cute...
The math book was still missing so I glanced around and saw the spine of it lurking in Little M's drawer. *sigh* Little M then proceeded to take a long swim in d'Nile and ended up all washed up. Long story short. Yesterday Little M broke the rules (in a really obvious way). Mom asked who did it? Both children denied doing any of it. Both got time outs until the perpetrator confessed. Dad convinced the guilty party to throw herself on the mercy of the court. Verdict 30 min to bed early...
But did she really Go To bed early last night? Nooooooo well she did sort of... but got up to brush her teeth because she forgot too. Then she primped in mirror for 15 minutes and still wasn't in her PJ's by the time the usual bed time rolled around. Ya know some days you just have to let them play out the line.. then you hook em. We pointed out since she didn't actually go to bed early Monday night she has to go to bed early Tuesday night... But Mom!!! it's Prayer meeting night!!!! This kid is sooooooooooo Smart! She knew it's a big deal to miss prayer meeting and that we often chose prayer meeting over discipline and by Wednesday Mom and Dad will have forgotten she still has an early to bed payment due.
Anyway at some point during the getting ready for bed last night.. (She was mad her sister got to stay up to the regular bed time.) she decided to be Darth Anikin... yes the Dark side took over. She stole her sisters math work book and hid it in her special drawer. Knowing full well it will be a big disruption and Little Miss Sunshine can suffer the consequences of no recess (oh the horror!) because she wouldn't find her math book because it was not put away. Muhahahahahahahaha can't you just hear it.. the dark side laughter. But of course that is not how it turns out because the Light Side always wins out. *plays Star Wars theme music*
During our conversation about why we don't steal (is this becoming a weekly theme or what???) She told me all about wanting to be Darth Anikin last night, but in the end she decided she wanted to be Luke rather than a "Darth"
Some days ya just gotta meet them where they are at.. it was all I could do not to burst out laughing while discussing how to have self control, using dark side and light side examples. She has had to be extra kind to her sister all day and Yes! she is going to bed extra early tonight and missing prayer. can we say backfired!
I was gonna take photos of the sputum sample we got this morning for the lab but Hubby confiscated the camera... Hope those germs stayed alive during the trip to the hospital.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Lung Report
Yes its that time to update you on Little M's Little Lungs.
She had a Dr.s appointment today. Her lungs still sound the same, she is definitely coughing more.
So if you work at the U of R's pediatric pulmonology department... could you please forward My kids records!!!! Dr doesn't want to do a battery of tests over again since she had pile of them when she was 3.
So we wait some more... Grrrrrr....
I feel so Stupid... My knight in shining armor could have harassed them every day for 2 weeks that would have moved the records into my Dr's hands. Ahh well we play the waiting game.
So tomorrow morning I get to try and convince Little M to spit up lung mucus into a cup. We tried the hospital
lab but she just couldn't bring her self to spit. Sigh.. Who know Motherhood involved making your child spit up in front of people. Isn't my life so super exciting. So now were gonna try the spit up into a specimen cup in private. Then as soon as it gets in the cup we have to go go go go deliver it to the lab ASAP so the germs don't die before they can culture them.
At least it is for a good cause. They get to grow it in a petri dish and see if there is a bacteria causing the mucus to form. Then they will test it because she has notorious bacteria that seems to be resistant to every Antibiotic out there.Ever wonder if germs are really aliens?? So were back to wait an see... wait for records and getting gunky stuff out of her, wait for culture, wait wait wait... And the Dr doesn't want to wait he thinks there is good chance of reversing her troubles and making her lungs even more stable. I really like that he is optimistic.
Mean while the Vest thing is not yet billed (its pending) so we still have no idea how much this costing us. *sigh* But if it helps her breath better its worth every penny God is going to give us to pay for it.
its a busy week with her Little Giant Steps evaluation Doctors visits, and Orthodontia. Will school get completed? do do do do doooo do dooo stay tuned for the next installment of The Lung Report...
She had a Dr.s appointment today. Her lungs still sound the same, she is definitely coughing more.
So if you work at the U of R's pediatric pulmonology department... could you please forward My kids records!!!! Dr doesn't want to do a battery of tests over again since she had pile of them when she was 3.
So we wait some more... Grrrrrr....
I feel so Stupid... My knight in shining armor could have harassed them every day for 2 weeks that would have moved the records into my Dr's hands. Ahh well we play the waiting game.
So tomorrow morning I get to try and convince Little M to spit up lung mucus into a cup. We tried the hospital
lab but she just couldn't bring her self to spit. Sigh.. Who know Motherhood involved making your child spit up in front of people. Isn't my life so super exciting. So now were gonna try the spit up into a specimen cup in private. Then as soon as it gets in the cup we have to go go go go deliver it to the lab ASAP so the germs don't die before they can culture them.
At least it is for a good cause. They get to grow it in a petri dish and see if there is a bacteria causing the mucus to form. Then they will test it because she has notorious bacteria that seems to be resistant to every Antibiotic out there.
Mean while the Vest thing is not yet billed (its pending) so we still have no idea how much this costing us. *sigh* But if it helps her breath better its worth every penny God is going to give us to pay for it.
its a busy week with her Little Giant Steps evaluation Doctors visits, and Orthodontia. Will school get completed? do do do do doooo do dooo stay tuned for the next installment of The Lung Report...
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Weekly check in?? What, Who, Where?
Well this week I have no photos and no funny stories. I had a birthday tho. That was fun. I was sick this week so we did a lot of bed side schooling. I love the portability of HOD. I can tell my wee ones to go get book X and I can read it to them. Their science was done totally independently this week. And I know I looked at it at the time but I have no recollection of what it was about. No photos either!
UGH don't you hate pain medication???
I hate how it makes me push "The Stupid Button." I wander around in a brain fog, and feel like a complete looser. But then my choices are act like a brain fogged looser or level 8+ pain... The looser bit is suddenly looking mighty fine. O.K. A digression: How come when the doctor asks my Hubby about his pain level and its a 6 or higher he gets a bottle of pain medications. Where as I have to see 3 doctors all of whom said "I'll give you something for it." then proceed to NOT write any prescriptions for pain relief and tell me to cut out chocolate! I mean I've already given up Coffee!!! What more can they expect?? What is the point of going on if Chocolate has to go as well... really???
I'd exercise more since that seems to be the cure for everything. Wait I have a problem, the gym only has child care up to age 12. My 12 year old is not nuro typically ready to be by herself for 2 hours while I head to the gym. Go ahead call me over protective and paranoid. Hey I let her ride around the block by her self 3 times today. I'm letting go... really I am... The Dr also said I need to loose weight and keep off my feet due to my plantar fasciitis. Ok anyone else out there think those statements are Antithetical???
For those with a dictionary not handy... Antithetical:
UGH don't you hate pain medication???
I hate how it makes me push "The Stupid Button." I wander around in a brain fog, and feel like a complete looser. But then my choices are act like a brain fogged looser or level 8+ pain... The looser bit is suddenly looking mighty fine. O.K. A digression: How come when the doctor asks my Hubby about his pain level and its a 6 or higher he gets a bottle of pain medications. Where as I have to see 3 doctors all of whom said "I'll give you something for it." then proceed to NOT write any prescriptions for pain relief and tell me to cut out chocolate! I mean I've already given up Coffee!!! What more can they expect?? What is the point of going on if Chocolate has to go as well... really???
I'd exercise more since that seems to be the cure for everything. Wait I have a problem, the gym only has child care up to age 12. My 12 year old is not nuro typically ready to be by herself for 2 hours while I head to the gym. Go ahead call me over protective and paranoid. Hey I let her ride around the block by her self 3 times today. I'm letting go... really I am... The Dr also said I need to loose weight and keep off my feet due to my plantar fasciitis. Ok anyone else out there think those statements are Antithetical???
For those with a dictionary not handy... Antithetical:
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Solutions???? Anyone??? I was walking 3 miles a day but it was making the foot pain worse. Ever wake up and look at the floor as if it is your worst enemy? So do I!!! Everyday. I got though my week by the grace of God and the ease of HOD.
I finally started to feel better, and Saturday I was looking up. Hubby threw me a come over and eat cake party where only 2 people showed up. Ever get the feeling if this was the school yard and they were picking teams for kick ball you'd be the last one standing? I think the Evil Dude is trying to disrupt my peace and make me feel out of place, I feel I should buy a one way ticket to the island of misfit toys but then who would do therapy with Little M?. He's a trickster, Ya gotta not listen to him. I feel like yelling SHUT UP at him right now. But then the neighbors would be positive I'm crazy, not just suspect it.
Sunday rolled around and EVERYTHING fell apart literally. I even have broken kitchen cabinets to prove it. But God is Good All The Time and I think we have solved it for under 80$ I put my birthday Adirondack Rocking chair together wrong 3 times. It used lock nuts!! I think I now know why my father hated lock nuts. I think I'm still pushing the stupid button.. am I sitting on it or something? My knight in Shining Armor sent me off to eat dinner which he made as well he's definitely a keeper! He only put the chair together wrong 2 times. In our defense: we had the worlds worst instructions. The good news is I'm tapping away on my keyboard outside, sitting in my now properly assembled rocking chair. I wonder if rocking counts as exercise?
Hopefully this will be a better week :-) I keep telling myself "Keep hanging in there the end result is worth it."
Monday, October 10, 2011
Christmas Is Not An Emergency
One thing I love Dave Ramsey says, well actually he tends to yell it. It's a wake up call. He asks why do you get a credit card... "For Emergencies" is invariably the answer. Then he asks something like "IS Christmas An Emergency?" Then he yells "Christmas Is Not An Emergency!"
So the last few years in October my Knight in Shining Armor and I sit down and tighten up areas of the budget so we can save up for Christmas. This is our wake up call, time to save up for Christs birth, cause I don't want to pay "Santa" after January.
I saw a shocking statstic while watching this video called Forgotten Christmas 460 billion was spent on Christmas last year. Ok lets see if my math skills are up to that Number 460,000,000,000. That is a lot of zeros!!! Then I think that children all over Asia that are in virtual slavery to the local moneylender. Working for no wages to pay back a debt their parents incurred. A debt that is often equal to only 15-20$ but high rates of interest extremely low wages paid and cost of food and "sick" days, and out right fraud perpetuated on those with little education keep them enslaved. Twenty bucks is less than your average cost of a tie, or a Wii game.
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| Used with permission copyright Gospel for Asia |
I love my brothers reaction to the first time I gave him a rabbit ornament (11$ to buy a pair) He was delighted. He showed his kids the rabbit and said "Look I need nothing, I want for nothing this is a gift that gives twice." Every year those kids will put that ornament on the tree and know a family was saved from poverty due to a pair of rabbits. My brother did not want yet another wallet, sweater, tie, or aftershave
But year after year I know I pull out my ornaments, hang them on the tree and think of the lives saved that they represent.
From the website below describing quarry workers in India:
Contractors working for quarry owners secure the labor of poor, landless migrant families. The workers are required to purchase their own materials, including drills and gunpowder, and provide for their own medical expenses and housing. They often have no choice but to borrow money from the contractors, moneylenders or quarry owners. Dependence on loans and advances leads to a high incidence of debt bondage, with debts ranging from 100 to 10,000 rupees (approximately $3.00 to $300.00).104 No records of the debts are kept. Bonded families are not allowed to leave until their debt is repaid, but low wages and high interest rates make this difficult.105 Physical threats are sometimes used to intimidate workers and prevent them from leaving.106 Bonded children are sometimes sold to other contractors.107
Sometimes children are born into bondage because of a debt owed by their parents to contractors.108 In stone quarries in Faridabad, near Delhi, "three generations may be seen working side by side in conditions of brutal debt bondage."109 Most of the youngest generation receive no wage.
http://www.dol.gov/ilab/media/reports/iclp/sweat2/bonded.htm
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