The Big Fat Blah (Continued)

Okay, here is my previous post on "De-Itemizing". For those who have not read it yet, it's a must read!

So, here is an update on how well I have de-itemized my home.

It's been incredible! I have literally grabbed stuff that we do use and put them into black bags, bag after bag until I filled up 4 large Black bags and took them to our local thrift store. That's a lot of stuff.

This is how I did it. I walked around the house, analyzing each item and being quite brutal about it. "a brush! One of our 3... OK in the bag it goes!" / "bed sheets, rarely used, gotta go!" / "a board game, used, loved... time to move on -in it goes!" / "candle holders, pretty..but got to go"

I've taken out my coffee mugs and replaced them with my "special" tea set. I want to use beautiful cups to drink my tea/coffee from. I want my friends to enjoy them too. If we have more than 5 people visiting, I'll take out the mugs as a back up, not the other way around.

My kitchen surfaces are bare. Whatever doesn't fit into the cupboards must go. I really needed to prioritize. Some stuff is seasonal but they cannot have a temporary space in my kitchen, so some I have given away and some I have stored away-away.

We de-itemized our books as well. This is a thing, I never thought I would do. 1/3 of our books will be donated to BabyAnne's Mansion in the Philippines. This was really nice to do with the kids, they get it!

My home looks bare-ish, but we have a long way to go... I think we are half way there. It sure is liberating.

I'm feeling a lot better than this

You know, there are a lot of beautiful things in the world, a lot in your local shops, in the thrift stores...  it's okay to want them, and NOT purchase or receive them, even a fraction of them. Once owned, the beauty and excitement is not the same and it weighs upon your shoulders.

"Everyone wants to be happy; we make chasing this elusive ideal a lifelong pursuit; spending money, collecting things, and searching for new experiences. But if happiness depends on our circumstances, what happens when the toys rust, loved ones die, health deteriorates, money is stolen, and the party's over? Often happiness flees and despair sets in.

In contrast to happiness stands joy . Running deeper and stronger, joy is quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our life -- that He will be there no matter what! Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ." - NLT Study Bible

Some of you might think, by reading this post, that I am breaking away from excessive shopping. This is not true however, even if I have wanted to shop I couldn't  (frugal living, budget issues). My "breaking away" is from the little (compared to most homes) existing items I have in my home.

I encourage you to de-itemize your home. For those who are already thinking about it or doing it, or even done it -tell me briefly how, what, when, where...?

More of home making here

Savour the Christmas Season -Candle Lit Bubble Baths for kids!

On the 3rd day of our Advent Calendar it read, "Candle Lit Bubble Baths"! "Ooh, aah and wooow's" from the kids as they took turns to play in the candle lit tub with their favourite bath toys. The candles by the way, were no where near their reach.

Savour the Season - Paper Chains

So simple, so frugal, so addicting and such a fun craft activity to do with your kids -and husband!

Savour the Christmas Season by making simple, pretty, timeless paper chains and drape them from your living room, dining room or your door way ceilings. Festive!!!

I love the fact that while making them, we spent time chatting and laughing as a whole family.

Preparing For Possible Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Okay, some of you know that through all of my 3 pregnancies, I suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidadum, a.k.a "sick all of the time, vomiting all of the time". My "easiest" pregnancy was with my second child, which was very, very hard, but not so severe, did not need to go to the hospital for IV's and such.

My first was bad, hospitalized and to top it off, severe cystic acne (another story for later). But I must say, freshest in the memory is my third, it was the toughest. No preparation, no planning, no support group, it all makes a difference.We had just moved continents and even though she was planned, my husband landed a job sooner than expected (not complaining!!) and I found myself isolated with two kids under 5, severely sick and no support. We did manage though, praise God, but it was a really hard time and it shook us both to the core.

So as my husband and I are open for more children, we want to make sure now, that we plan and prep as far ahead of time as we can, and then leave the rest up to God. I want to share with you, who suffer from moderate to severe "morning" sickness, about the ways to alleviate and make your ride more manageable. 

Here is a site with loads of info and help for those who suffer badly. My Morning Sickness

I bought the E-book, printed it out, put it in a binder and have been mentally preparing myself for what is (or may not, -still living in hope!) to come. Only recently have I began to make a list of what needs to be done as soon as possible. You just never know. This is how I prepare for my pregnancies.

Before the positive pregnancy test:

• Start eating healthy, and drinking plenty of water
• Eat multivitamins and all the essential supplements for a good start
• Exercise regularly
• Make meals before hand and freeze them (20-30 meals pref)
• Search for a second hand mini fridge - The times I feel so ill, that I cannot even sit up, this will come in handy. I can have all the ice and snacks right next to our bed.
• Stock up on remedies, Nux Vomica (homeopathic), Milk Thistle, Sea(relief)Bands, Lemongrass Oil, Preggie Pops, Ice, Ice, and crushed Ice!
• we don't just de-clutter but de-itemize our home
• we home school, so I have to make easy to follow lesson plans

After the confirmation:

• Pray, pray, pray! Keep your focus on Him!
• Find a pregnancy support group online, and from church
• Hubby will build a foot board for bed. Keeping my feet secured and anchored, keeps me semi stable. It works! Once my feet are off the ground or surface, I began feeling really queasy. I spend a lot of time in bed, so it's important to have this foot board available.
• Make lemongrass and beeswax candles for aromatherapy
• Buy chewable vitamins
• make ice teas, and ice cubes from red raspberry leaf tea, lemon juice and nettle tea

During the (possible) rough ride:

• hire a doula for extra support. It can be a very depressing and a discouraging beginning but having a doula makes all the difference, if you live in the Vancouver area,  I recommend Mother Nurture Doula Services
• let your church women's ministry know and ask/accept the help.
• Hire a babysitter for a few hours so you can rest, or you and your husband can just chill without leaving your home. This is money well spent.
• Take this as a guilt free "quiet season". Don't feel bad if you cannot keep up with the things you used to do. 
• Read Christ Centered Childbirth as many times as you can. I love this book! As bad as my pregnancies were, my births were bliss!! This book helped me to surrender my mind, heart and body and focus the right way and I, believe it or not, gave birth with ease. I really recommend this book!

Answer me this, and by doing so you have a chance to win the Christ Centered Childbirth OR My Morning Sickness Handbook! Q. what methods do you use to get through your pregnancy sickness? Comment with your answer and your preferred book. Your chance to win ends January 15th, 2014. Winner will be informed privately.

I hope this encourages you.

Savour the Christmas Season - DIY Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

For the salt dough recipe click here

We used acrylic paint.

I made all of us an ornament, each with our initials.

One for the front door.

After painting them, we sprayed the ornaments with clear coating. This way they received their shine and last longer.

Savour the Christmas Season - Sugar Cookies

We are savouring the Christmas Season by baking sugar cookies and decorating them. I think this is also a brilliant gift idea! 

The Sugar Cookie Recipe (couldn't get any easier than this!)

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened  
• 2 cups white sugar 
• 4 eggs  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract  
• 5 cups all-purpose flour 
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4  inch thick. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. 
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

4. Decorate! 

Savour the Christmas Season - Gingerbread houses

We are savouring the Christmas Season by making our very own gingerbread houses. We had a blast making these, you'll see why! The end result is a killer!

I had ginger bread cookie cutters to begin with so I can't help with the design, but I can share the recipe which I altered for my "Finnish" taste buds. The mollases we get here (in Canada) isn't anything like we get back in Finland, so I had to make a few changes. I think it worked out well and tastes like the real deal. Almost.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C molasses
• 1/4 C maple syrup
• 250g butter
• 1 C sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1tsp ground cloves
• 2tsp cinnamon
• 2tsp ginger
• 1T lemon juice/ 1tsp pomersanssin kuorta
• 3-4 C flour
• 2 tsp baking soda

Insturctions:

•  In a sauce pan bring butter, molasses, syrup amd spices to the boil, remove and let cool completely. Mix in eggs, flour and baking soda. Cover and let it harden over night in the fridge.

• Take small sections and roll them out flat with a little flour. If you find the dough too hard, warm it up in the micro 30seconds at a time

•  Cut out the parts for the house and place them carefully on a parchment sheet covered baking tin. Bake at 400F for 6-8minutes. Melt sugar in a sauce pan and use as "glue" by dipping the pieces in to assemble them. The melted sugar hardens fast, so be quick. Be careful you don't burn your fingers with the melted sugar, it hurts!

 VOILA!

•  Let the kids decorate, have a go yourself. Be creative, use colours, texture...

 We gave it our best, we really did. We ended up doing three houses that were just as pretty. Ha ha!

Savour the Christmas Season -Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes

 Fun craft idea with the kids. I only needed the idea since I had pipe cleaners in our arts and craft box.

 Twist 2-3 colours together. I am old school. This Christmas our colours are mostly red and white.

Savour the Christmas Season - Pulla

Mmmmm...nom, nom, nom!

We are savouring the xmas season by baking our own Korvapuusti (Cinnamon Rolls). They slightly differ from the "north American" rolls as they include Cardamom.

The recipe(s) are available online. Google Pulla or Korvapuusti recipe/resepti 

and choose 'translate page' option.

Merry!

Savour the Season -DIY Gift Boxes

Today we are savouring the Christmas Season by making our own gift boxes to give out. We got a ton of empty shoe boxes from the mall and some fancy contact paper. Walmart, you got it all! I cannot guide you in how to cover them since I am not a pro but I figured it out. I didn't cover the bottom of the boxes, I cut out strips which I first measures and then covered the sides and then a rectangular piece to cover the lids. All they need are our baking goods decorated by my kids and a big red bow on top! Merry Christmas!

Savour the Christmas Season -Free Printable Advent Ornaments -By Confessions of a Homeschooler

I stumbled across this fabulous blog Confessions of a Homeschooler and to this fantastic idea for an Advent Ornament! Click here for the original source but scroll down as I want to share with you how brilliantly it turned out! 

I am a bit late in posting about this since we are on day 12 but nevertheless, this is brilliant and super fun!

 I put them along our mantel.

 Today we made hand made Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes!

I did laminate them because I plan on having these in our Christmas' to come! Fantastic! It's not too late to make your own! Oh by the way, this is what activities are on the back of each triangle:

1. Candle lit bubble bath!
2. Make paper snowflakes & decorate!
3. Fill Operation Christmas Child Boxes
4. Make personalized Christmas Ornaments
5. The Minivan Express
6. Rootbeer floats tonight!
7. Make Christmas cookies!
8. Make Christmas Cards for friends/family
9. Have hot chocolate and marshmallows
10. Make a pipe cleaner candy cane craft
11. Make Christmas Star Paper Chain
12. Make Candy Ornaments
13. Gather old coats, clothes, and toys to donate to your local shelter
14. Family Game Night
15. Make a Gingerbread house 
16. Dance and sing to Christmas Music
17. Make a christmas craft
18. Dress Fancy for dinner tonight
19. Wrap Christmas Presents
20. Watch “It’s a wonderful Life”
21. Take a night drive to see the Christmas lights in your neighborhood!
22. Watch a Christmas movie with popcorn of course!
23. Read or Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
24. Make birthday cake for Jesus!
25. Merry Christmas!

The Big Fat BLAH!!!

Blah! Ugh! SIGH

The accumulated half empty shampoo bottles that clutter your shower and bath. The  pumpkins, from last Halloween, that are rotting on your front porch and strewn all over your lawn from a little soccer moment by the kids. The garbage from "that reno", sitting in your car port for everyone to see, that still is waiting to be driven to the dump. The dead bees from last summer that died on your window ledge are still there. The tightness of your clothes that discourage you and create self loathing. The hungry kids who want food now, and your kitchen surfaces that are full of piles of random things and papers that need organizing. BLAH! UGH! AAAAAAARGH!!!! The feeling of seeing your tidy home sanctum, become a messy-crummy-bitty-mess in matter of minutes and you get a unexpected visit at that very same moment. 

I have blogged about decluttering before. Many times. Today, I'm going to blog about de-itemizing your life. I think I just came up with that word. Yes, de-itemizing.

I have decluttered my home so many times, that I am beginning to realize that the problem lies in something else. How on earth, after decluttering a zillion times, do I feel like my head is still caving in, and my anxiety is still ticking within? What's bothering me? Why can't my soul rest? Each item that I have decide to keep I can really make use of. I'm seriously not a hoarder (denial kicking in!!), so I know whether I need it or don't. Usually my mottos are, "if in doubt, throw it out" and "if I have not used it within 12 months, I won't", and "if I need one, I'll just borrow one, or buy one then" etc. So, I know (think) that the stuff I have in my home is there to serve us. Yes, true.

So what if I really can find use for them, which would impact us in a positive way or impact someone else in a positive way. I'm sure these are great things, good things and practical things. We "need" them. 

However, if our house burnt down tomorrow, I wouldn't remember 80% of the things that we have in our home. I'd probably not remember 80% of the kids books, the stack of "tape and fix" kids books, half of our seasonal candle holders, half of our clothes, 75% of the things that are in our bathroom cabinet, probably all of the sheets tucked in a cupboard... all of those wires and gadgets, craft ribbon, baskets, jewellery,  nicknacks, bits and bobs.. and so on....sigh.

But why is it so hard to give these items up? Because my brain has been coded in a certain way.

I see a potential gift. I see a good opportunity for a family activity. I see a good homeschooling class. I see visitors. I see future recipes. I see quality time. I see a great sewing project, a rejuvenated living room. I see a hand written letter. I see a picture collage, a scrapbooking event. I see hospitality, a dinner party. I see a birthday. I see time to enjoy my family. But my time is limited. I don't have the time to experience these desires and ideas. I am a mom of small kids and my time is so sparse. 

I see rotting pumpkins and dirty skirting boards because I am too busy to do anything about them. I have decluttered yes, but I have not simplified my life truly. I am not talking about the other blogs that encourage a "10 steps to a simplified life", I'm talking about a complete freedom from the grasp of the way of the world. Is it possible?

There are so many beautiful things out there. There are so many inspiring and motivating craft ideas, clothing trends, sewing projects, bathroom ideas, books-books-books, party ideas, recipes, new gadgets, and lots of incredible and intriguing things. I cannot seem to walk into Walmart without buying something "which happens to be the coolest thing that day" and another addition to my "fun things to do" list. These beautiful things are actually robbing me, they are robbing my family and the time I have with my Lord. I can't fully create, I can't fully be present for my family, and I can't fully do a thorough job at home. Even though I have not done any of the 3 previously mentioned, I feel torn between them all and I freeze. I choose nothing. I watch my house become a mess, I see the dishes pile on top of an empty dishwasher, I did the minimal in teaching science lesson today, I see the organized craft projects on the shelf that I don't know how long it'll be before I can make them (maybe years?!). I basically freeze. My mind races, my ideas accumulate, I day dream. The home gets messy, my mind gets messy, the bathroom is messy, I trip on a toy and it sets me off. I'm shouting at the kids, I am yelling at the top of my lungs "GOD HELP ME!!!! I NEED YOU NOW, I CAN'T DO IT!" I don't want to be an angry mom that just drones on. On top of that, my nick name to myself had become "Comet".. I give a 100% on every project and new idea, diets, tradition etc..and it fades away in 2 weeks or so... on to the next new thing....and again, I go up and I go down....-Comet.

On top of managing the basics of the day, and as a homeschooling mom, I really don't have much time to tackle my ideas listed above or the time do bigger (and needed) clean ups or maintenance of the home. It's either tackle that sewing project I've been planning for 2 years or make dinner. Have a conversation with my kids or read the news online. Sit down with my hubby after the kids have gone to sleep, or organize the shed. I choose poorly and then I suffer. My home suffers and I feel anxious and uneasy. Because, I live in chaos. Decluttered chaos. Organized chaos. It's chaos.

I'm on a mission. I am going to de-itemize my home. I am going to give away, throw away, or sell a LOT! I don't know how much exactly, but all I know is that I will know, when I know, it is enough :)

I am going to get rid of things I love, I like and I probably will miss. It will hurt but I am determined.

I'm looking around now, and I see things I would hate to part from, but I have already made my decision to do it. A lot of energy is tied to items. Whether they are useful or not, they burden us. 

I encourage you to join me in de-itemizing-IN-December! Letting go, beyond the decluttering, beyond the organizing and labeling, letting go of the things around you. Become less, so He can become more in our lives. Lessen the things around you, even the beautiful things around you, so He can become more beautiful in your life.

More on De-Itemizing and De-cluttering HERE and HERE

Join me, this July 2014, on a 30 day de-itemizing challenge! Please share your experiences with me, I would love to hear!!!

My Top 10 #2

1. Shellac nail polish. I really like this stuff! I can't really afford or manage acrylic nails, so this technique really gives me a lasting polish, SHINE and it keeps my nails strong.
2. Frozen Cherries (COSTCO). I love eating these sweet delicious cherries, especially when I start craving for sweeties at night, or late in the evening.
3. Woolly socks. It's autumn, rainy, cold...
4. Juicer. After watching THIS with my hubby, we both went on a two weeks cleanse. We took this time to fast and break the unhealthy eating habits we had created. This was a great way to "kick start" our liver and kidneys and clean our tubes. We give our cars a good service once a year, why not our bodies?
5. The Shelter of God's Promises, Bible Study by Sheila Walsh
6. Hemp Hearts, the nutty omegas! On my salads, in my porridge, on my fruit and veg, in my smoothies...
7. Liver Sausage. Reminiscing my childhood and Finland. I'm home sick.
8. Herbal Medicine and Remedies, from my kitchen! I have been a busy bee, in my kitchen making "arthritis"salves, lip balms, herbal body scrubs, fruity body scrubs, "tummy-soothing" tea, nursing tea, "hot flushes and night sweats" tea, varicose vein gels, and cold feet oil. I am attending Christmas markets to sell.
9. Genesis 1:29 and 2:9 " Through a testimony of life change and challenges, Nutritional Therapist and mother of 3, Cathy Rose will talk about how to improve your health and vitality through better food choices, and deeper nutritional knowledge. In addition, Cathy will help you build a tool box of recipes, ideas and tips in order to expand your understanding and enhance your health for not only you, but for your children and whole family.
   Cathy will discuss topics such as:
   - raw food and other remedies
   - benefits of organic
   - vitamins and enzymes in food
   - food choices today"                                                                                                                            I gave a talk on this and I'm looking forward to many more coming my way. All glory to God!
10. Women's Ministry. I'm really enjoying this season of life right now, where I am able to attend a few Bible studies and ladies events at church. It's soul food. I'm blessed! 

Click here to see my Top 10 #1

Chocolate Chia and Flax Raw Cookies

Ingredients

16 medjool dates, pitted
1C raw almonds
1/2- 1C of ground chia seed and flax mix (pref.freshly grinded)
2/3 C small dark cocoa chips
hemp hearts for garnish

In a food processor, grind almonds and dates until they form a sticky paste, add in the chia and flax mixture, a tblsp at a time, until it forms into a firm ball. Hand mix in half the coco chips.

Roll into balls or spread onto a cookie sheet, half inch thick firm square. Garnish with left over chips and hemp hearts. Press them down well.

Chill for 1-2h before cutting into squares.

Oh delish!

Mango Paradise Raw Food Cookies

Ingredients

1C dried mango slices, soaked for 20minutes. (discard water afterwards)
1C raw almonds
1C millet puffs
shredded coconut for garnish

In a food processor with an S blade, chop up mango slices and almonds until they form a firm ball, still sticky. If you find your dough doesn't form into a ball, keep adding more almonds until it's just right.
Hand mix in the puffs.

Roll into balls and roll in a bowl of shredded coconut, or spread onto a cookie sheet, pressing down into a half inch square. Garnish and press down with shredded coconut.

Chill for 1-2h before cutting into pieces.

YUMMMMM!!!!!

Savour the Christmas Season -Snow Paint

Today we savoured the xmas season by painting the snow. Fantastic! I just mixed up water and food colouring and filled up the empty icing bottles.

Homemade Remedies and Cosmetics for Christmas 2013 (Tri-City Area, BC)

Papaya-Pineapple Bliss Raw Cookies

Ingredients

2/3C of dried pineapple chunks, soaked for 20 minutes

2/3C of dried papaya chunk, soaked for 20minutes

(discard water from fruit!)

1/2C -1C of hemp hearts

1C raw almonds

almond flour to garnish

In a food processor, grind almonds and fruit until they form a sticky paste, add in the hemp heart mixture, 1T at a time, until it forms into a firm ball.

Roll into balls or spread onto a cookie sheet, half inch thick firm square. Garnish with almond flour or hemp hearts. Press them down well.

Chill for 1-2h before cutting into squares.

Oh yum!

Weight Loss #3 Part 9

I was 205 lbs

I am 172 lbs

I have lost -33 lbs !!

Before

After

I'm a loser!!!

See, I'm back on track!!!

I haven't stressed about it too much and the loss is slow-ish, but I'm still losing...

So what do I do? I don't use the WW method anymore, but rather eating more raw and natural.

• For example, I snack on apples, sugar free organic peanut butter and hemp hearts.
• I try having 50% of my plate raw, each meal.
• I put cucumber on everything.
• My bread is rye, usually rye crackers.
• I drink herbal tea.
• I have my coffee black.
• I eat frozen cherries when I crave for a late evening snack.
• I try to stay away from sugar and wheat, but don't beat myself up for having some.
• I've juiced: cleansed my system and "kick started" my liver and kidneys. 
• I've said "no" to treats. Not because I can't have them, but because I know I can, but I choose not to.
• I've weekly menu planned.
• I've eaten  sushi on a regular basis.
• I've enjoyed Korean Hot Pot, on a regular basis.

What are your favourite healthy snacks?

You can read more about my weight loss here.

You can read more about healthy recipes here.

Weight Loss #3 Part 8

I have GAINED 7lbs!!!

Yes, it's true!

After and during my tonsillectomy and a visit from my mother, my whole dieting took a pause. My working out took a pause too.

At one point my mind couldn't even focus on my WW app or even getting us to the gym and back.

I have continued walking. I've randomly attended Yin Yoga, which is the lighter version of the exercise. I keep my cross with me.

I am preparing for a speech, come lecture, on nutrition for the mother child group at C- Alliance Church.

I am making my herbal medicine to sell (remedies) at a Christmas market, soon.

I am planning a Christmas party.

I am homeschooling.

I am hosting a visitor (3 weeks).

I am doing what I need to do to keep this home afloat.

I am attending a Bible Study.

I'm feeling good!

I've hiked Grouse Mt.

I've hiked the Chief, in Squamish. Peak 1 and 2!

I have not taken this gain as a discouraging thing at all. I'm still on my way, to feeling healthy and fit!

MY Favourite Recipes this week :

Lima Bean Salad

Lima beans, soaked over night and boiled soft.

Chill

Dressing:
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Himalayan salt
ground pepper

Quinoa and Pinto Beans 

Prepare the quinoa as instructed on package. Cook it in broth, makes it taste yummy!
Pre boil pinto beans (1-2 C, depending on the servings)
1T Curry powder
1/2T dried thyme
1 t garlic powder
salt
pepper
oxo cube
cilantro
tinned tomato
olive oil
onion


Chop half an onion and fry it until soft in olive oil. Add the tinned tomatoes and fry for about 15-20minutes until the tomatoes form a paste. Mix in the spices and pre-boiled beans. Add the water and oxo cube. . let simmer until oil reaches the top. Season with cilantro. Enjoy with quinoa! YUMMMMMMMY!

Mothers, Daughters and Heavenly Father

Only a few days ago, I found myself deeply longing- soul wrenching longing for my mother. This kind of longing, is in fact unusual. Of course there are times I miss my mom, times when I miss her very much (right after giving birth, for example) but never have I felt this way, since becoming an adult.

We live in seperate continents, nevermind countries. I see her once a year, so far, which to most expats -that is good! She said goodbye to me and my family a few days ago (this post has been published late), and my heart sunk. Within, I curled up into a fetal position, holding onto her scent, her "being" and cried myself to sleep. But in reality, I kept on going, picking up after my kids, prepping for bedtime and for "tomorrow's lunch" etc. I swallowed my tears, until I couldn't anymore, and I gave my self a minute or two to straighten up and continued with my tasks. But, all I wanted to do, is push aside the responsibility, the load and become that daughter I once was. The daughter, I was once cared for, at home, by a mother.

I am a mother now.

Sometimes it's hard to shake off the "person you once were -reputation" and behave a certain way, from habit, with family, the way you used to. It's almost like, during family gatherings and visits, you subconciously taking the role you once unfortunately mastered in your family when you were a kid and growing up. I was a "hot head", in some ways I still am. But by God's grace and His strength and guidance, I no longer carry that sign above my head. A lady at church put it very wisely, "I used to live in my sin and acknowledge His Grace, but now I lvie in His Grace and acknowledge my sin".

How can the people within a family be so different, yet so alike? Doncha just hate it, when sometimes you open your mouth and your mother comes out!? SMILE! That WAS a joke, but so true isn't it?

Time flies, we get older, everyone around us grows older too. We do our things, get families, careers, attend and serve at church, surrender to and follow Christ. Yet, inside me, there is a little girl who misses the times she got rides from her dad on his bicycle to preschool, riding the bus with her mom on our way to the movies, and playing with her brothers in the sandbox, and the endless days and endless summer holidays that felt like forever. Now, time flies, I can barely grasp it. I just can't grasp it.

I have to believe that what God has in store for us, in Heaven, IS worth it all. Worth growing old, worth saying goodbyes, worth the diseases we fight, worth the tears we shed, worth everything we bare.. Heaven is and will be worth it all. This is a promise, I have to hold on to dear life.

My children, OUR children, are first God's before they were ever given to us. His love for them, is far greater than ours, multiplied, could ever be. His plans for them are perfect, regardless of how we feel about them (plans). Our parents are His children too. His plans for them, are perfect as well.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by reading. When trials and tribulations come, not IF, but WHEN they do...we need to be rooted fast in His Word, so that we may stand strong and carry the peace that surpasses ALL understanding. 

Figs Figs Ev'rywhere!

I feel so blessed. Who would've known that the tree in our garden would produce so much fruit! Lip lickin', nectar drippin', super delicious figs! Didn't Jesus eat figs and dates? :)

Anyway, I feel so abundantly blessed. So I noticed we had some droopy looking figs on our branches, so after google'ing about them, I wasted no more time and picked as many as I could reach. My husband climbed the tree like a pro and picked the rest. The figs were oozing nectar and so sweet!

I am quite apprehensive about making jam (making it unhealthy) out of any vitamin and antioxidant rich fruits and berries, so I chose to dehydrate and freeze them. I even made fruit leather! If my mom was here, I would ask her to make me a small batch of jam to go with my cheese addiction!

and by dehydrating them, I save room... tadaa! Flat as a pancake.

When needed, I'll soak them for about 15minutes before using them in my Super Bar recipe. Which I'll post soon.

Here is a fantastic recipe for you guys to try out! You won't want to miss this opportunity to taste heaven!!

FIG-Banana Ice cream. 

((You don't need an ice cream machine to make this!))

If you don't have access to figs, then double the amount of bananas, it's just as good!

Ingredients:

• 1 tin/can of coconut cream/milk, chilled prior (6h in fridge)
• 2 frozen bananas (peel and chop before freezing them)
• 2-4 frozen figs (dice them into fours before freezing them)
• dash of salt
• honey

In a blender, blend all, but honey, into a smooth ice cream like texture and (place into the fridge for 15minutes if it is too runny) drizzle with honey. Oh heavenly YUMMYness!

Check out my recipes HERE!

Don't forget - enter to win a FREE BOOK, HERE!

Tell me, how do you like your figs?