Virginia in November...and Cookies

People said I would love Fall here, and they were right. Every time the children saw a leaf float down in October they would shout, "the leaves are falling, the leaves are falling! That means Christmas is coming! And snow!" Yet the leaves didn't really seem to be turning colors until after "Superstorm Sandy" (Which didn't affect us that much, by the way. Just a lot of rain). Then all of a sudden it was cold, and the trees got out their colorful coats!  We have been collecting and pressing the things like crazy. Sparrow got a leaf press from our friend Judy a few months back, and that is a COOL thing to have right now! The other day I found myself wildly shaking this poor little tree at the park, because seriously, it had the most vibrant, perfect leaves I've ever seen. It was just a spindly little thing with not very many leaves, but the leaves it did have, it did right! Afterward I felt a little bad because I stripped it of its glory. But we made a fine leaf garland and some Thanksgiving cards out of them, sooo.... it's ok, right? We went to the park again today and it took a lot of self-control for me not to shake that thing down again--it had MORE perfect leaves on it! But I swore I had done enough damage. I am learning to respect the environment and not be so greedy... sigh.

We spent the afternoon making fall and winter-themed ginger cookies--from a low sugar recipe I made up. Here it is, for all of you fans of baking. They were a big hit. Sparrow told me they are her favorite thing to eat ever--even better than chocolate chip cookies, and that's saying something!

Low-Sugar Ginger Cookies

Group 1:
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. white flour (or use 2 c. whole wheat or whatever flour you want, really!)
1 1/2 c. oat flour (I made my own by griding oats in the blender)
1 teaspoon BS (guess that BS word!)*
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon salt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 2:
1 cup butter, room temp
1/4 c. BS (guess that BS word!)**
1/4 c. (scant) stevia (use 2 Tablespoons if unsure)
1/4 c. molasses
1/4 c. maple syrup
1 large egg

Combine all ingredients in group 1.
Beat butter and BS together til light and fluffy. Add stevia. Beat. Add molasses. Beat. Add maple syrup. Beat. Add egg. Beat. Check flavor. =) Mix in group 1 to make a stiff dough. Refrigerate in plastic or an airtight container for 3 hours or up to 2 days.
When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out your dough, cut out shapes, and bake 12-14 minutes (or to the tune your oven demands).

You could ice this or drizzle melted chocolate on top. I am thinking maple icing with that fake maple extract in it (gasp!). But honestly, really really seriously, these cookies so delicious just plain. Thanks to all that butter. I didn't ice ours because the children are technically on a no-sugar fast right now. And no one who ate these at our house said they could tell there was stevia in them. I personally did notice the stevia aftertaste, but it doesn't really bother me. (I buy my stevia from Trader Joe's. Maybe there is a brand you know of that has no aftertaste. Use whatever floats your boat. I'd love to try these with xylitol next time.)

*Baking Soda
**Brown Sugar

=) Enjoy your guilt-free ginger cookies. And remember that butter is good for you. Yes it is.

September and Octoberness

The Boy (age 2) got mac n cheese out of the fridge for his breakfast this morning, and started eating it cold. I guess my work here is done. (status update Sept. 6)

OMgoodness, came home from a long day in the 1600s to find that the children got their own room! The girls were SO excited, they were hanging up all their underwear in the closet. Sparrow says it's going to be the most organized room in the house. (status update Sept. 14) 

(playing a game where they were to shout out the opposite of what I shouted)

me: "Colorful!"
G: "Pink!"
me: "I guess you'd say 'bland' or 'plain,' or better yet, 'monotone.' mono means one, tone means color. Monotone."
G: "MOM! In Arizona, in the night, we saw ONE TOAD." (monotoad! LOL!) -Sept. 11, 2012

 G, singing a made up song: "You can go to the far-est mountain, I don't care. I can go to the far-est mountain, I don't care..." -Sept. 14
me, telling G about school:
"Then, if you want, you can go to college!"
G: I wanna go to college right now."
me: "Well, you have a lot to learn before you can go to college."
G: "I know a LOT of things--I know how to read the 'I howl, I growl' book and the Maisy book..." -Sept. 17

(Learning history):
Sp: "Yeah, and then the people in the brown outfits won against the redcoats, and they had a party and called it the Fourth of July... it's a really famous party." -Sept. 18

Me: "Do you wanna learn about numbers? Like how to write 2012?"
Sp: "It's prob'ly 2, 1, 1, 0."
Me: "That's Two thousand one hundred and ten."
Sp: "Whoa... that's a long time. From now...I might be a teenager then." -Sept. 28

Golden praying: "...and that we would rent the house. Of the Spirit. And that we would not go into trouble. And not go into the devil's heart. Amen." -Oct. 14

G: "The devil is ridiculous bad." -Oct. 14

G, singing: "I love God, and his Holy Spirit, and I love his heart. He's good to us, and he loves our spirits..." -Oct. 14

G: "Mom, how does our heart beat for a long time? Does it do it til we go up to heaven, mom?" -Oct. 17

When the children were trying to guess what their surprise was this morning, one of their eager ideas was "A new baby!" I love that! It was not, however, a new baby. It was the next best thing: a bunk bed. -Oct. 17

Dad, kidding around: "Mommy chastened you with grasshoppers. I'll chasten you with scorpions and porcupines."
Sp: "Yeah, I'll chase you with unicorns and beautiful eagles."
Dad: "Well I'll take your unicorn horn and give it to a donkey to chew on."
Sp: "Well my eagles can poke your eyeballs out with their claws. And I'll get a million billion bees to sting you!" -Oct. 2012

This went on and on. When I tuned back in, Sp was saying,  "Well my hot sauce is waterproof! And even with all the living and unliving things in the world, you can never fight me, cause I'm bigger than space!" -Oct. 22

Sp: "If a unicorn had two horns they would be a biacorn. If they were high they would be called a high-a-corn, or bite you, a bite-a-corn." - Oct 23

Golden said she had a dream that we found a house a long time ago that was all red, with a fluffy carpet that's red, and a red wall and red beds. I think she likes red! -Oct. 22

Sp: "If a unicorn had two horns they would be a biacorn. If they were high they would be called a high-a-corn, or bite you, a bite-a-corn." - Oct 23

Thomas: "What's in her mouth?"
Me: "A felt circle. Blegh!" taking out felt circle, then "...Pippa, don't climb up the stairs! Noooo, don't do it!"
Thomas, chuckling: "Just like the Garden of Eden."
Me: "Yeah... Adam and Eve... eatin' felt circles and climbing stairs." -Oct. 31

9/29/12

Today: I stayed up way too late again. (It is 12:45 am--yikes to tomorrow!)

Children and I went to two stores, which took four hours. I have to post for you what a lady said to me at Michaels... tomorrow.

Sparrow--made THIS. Just because. Just on a whim. She is so creative!

Golden--picked out aNOTHER pair of shoes at the used clothing store that she fell in LOVE with and promised they were not too small. An hour later, she was in pain and had to take them off. What is it that doesn't jive between my daughter Golden and the world of shoes? All shoes seem to bother her or hurt her!

Silas--is down to his last diaper and no, I did not go to that kind of store today. Oh and he got new (used) dress shoes, his 1st pair, and didn't want to take them off. He fell asleep with them on! Hah!

Pippa--a good baby. We called her "bunny-kitty" a lot today. Cause she's cute as a bunny kitten. Whatever that is.

9/28/12

Today--

The day started out rough, continued rough, I found myself lecturing a lot... man! How can I ever teach them a good attitude when mine is so rotten!?! Finally by the end, the children went to bed an hour late, but I had decided that I'd better be happy, even in a mess and in chaos. They are who they are and they are themselves NOW. I will never again have them like they were today.

Sparrow--prayed for us this morning that we'd have a good day and not be mad at each other. O.o.

Golden--spent all day telling me I had "forgotten" to repaint the nail polish she has already picked off her nails since getting them freshly done yesterday.

Silas--kept on stripping out his diaper, peed in underwear twice, then successfully peed in his potty (his own initiative, too) after dinner. Thomas and I did a happy dance thing that included us rapping about what good parents we are. However, when the neighbor boy came to get his fire engine back that Silas had borrowed yesterday, and Silas kept screaming and crying about not wanting to give it back, and the little boy let him have it for another day without any trouble at all... I was a bit ashamed about my parenting skills. =/

Pippa--did yoga all day. That is one strong baby.

9/27/12

Today--

I woke up late, as I'd gone to bed after 3 am! It's funny now, but at the time... Oh, I don't know how I get such lapses in judgment--I spent ALL DAY yesterday on the photo site Shutterfly to try to get a baby book done for Silas--I was trying to beat the clock on a special promotion they were having where you could get a free photo book--and it was the last day! I worked and worked and worked til 3 am and then I was not even close to being done, but I tried to check out...and the promotion had expired. Of course.

So I was a little weary today. But no matter. Thomas watched the children for me while I went to run errands. I bought them their fancy holiday clothes (5 sets, incl. 2 whole outfits for Si), three pairs of snow boots, three pairs of shoes for Pippa, tennis shows for Golden, dress shoes for Silas, and three jackets, all for $100! (the used children's clothing store.)

Sparrow--drew her first cross section of a house. It is amazing and wonderful.

Golden--received her "big girl prize"--of a tiny pink poodle toy--for successfully stopping thumb sucking! Woohoo! (That bitter nail stuff helped greatly.) Then we did our nails in fancy new colors. She also received home made lemon cakes.

Silas--bonked his head on the corner of our new (used) glass table and is sporting a band-aid and his usual lovey attitude

Pippa--has a little bit of a cold and wakes often at night, but came with me on errands wearing a pink dress and is almost crawling! Almost, almost, almost! She does a LOT of push-ups. Right now she does an inchworm type of move to go forward.

Just a Line

I'm going to try updating daily for a little while. Having the task of a long blog post ahead of me seems to be a deterrent to ever writing anything! So short and succinct it shall be! And here is today:

Sparrow: Couldn't get enough of me reading "Good Queen Bess" and an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" to her...loved it!

Golden: Thought that the soap in the plastic travel box was really special and wanted to keep it in her room.

Silas: INSISTED we take his baby laptop AND the large hardcover "Maisy" book out to the back yard with us.

Pippa: Grew, ate, and charmed us all in the way that she does. Chewy, chewy, but no teeth yet.

Signing off, in lovely memories... -the Flourishing Mother

Silas and Golden's Birthdays

Silas is two. Golden is four. Their birthdays are two weeks apart. So... Instead of doing two events, I wanted to have a "simple" joint party. Simple. Hah. Hah. Hah. We don't have a kitchen. It is hecka hot outside. What was I thinking?!?! Turns out there was no good place to HAVE the party! But God provided something that worked out perfectly: a condo that is associated with the Eldercare business we work for was available and temporarily empty. I'll take it! SO the day before the party, we moved everything over there that was necessary for cake making and decorating, and baked cake. So far so good. And the day OF we did... everything else. It was *kind of* a MAD rush, and I was still unkempt and wrestling the fondant 45 mins before guests were to arrive...I don't recommend that..., but it ended up being really fun and good! When the guests arrived, the ladies all asked me if I'd like some help, and the women all chopped veggies and chatted in the kitchen while the men retreated to the living room and yard to set up the pinata, etc. (the pinata that had just been finished about an hour beforehand... LOL.)

I am so grateful that we already have so many people we can count as friends here. First of all, the people we work for are amazing. Mrs. S. is so wonderful, helpful, kind, and sweet, and always goes above and beyond to make sure we are doing well. This is not normal. This is Jesus. She came early to the party, even though she is a super busy lady, brought me stuff I had forgotten from home, watched the baby, blew up the balloons, did the girls' hair, etc. etc. I can't thank her enough. And our other friends? Well one of them is my childhood friend from Arizona!!! A couple of weeks ago, she had sent me an email just updating me on her life--it had probably been about a year and a half or so since we had heard from one another. At the end of the email, she mentioned where she was now living with her husband, and I literally yelled out loud to my computer screen in excitement! She lives about 10 minutes away from me!!!! I know God was just keeping that little secret up his sleeve, just laughing with delight to see our expressions when we found out about this. She has a little son now, about the same age as Pippa. So lovely. We have also been given wonderful neighbors! There is a great family that lives right next door to us, with a son the same age as Silas, and one the same age as Pippa. The mother is from Japan, and she is such a lovely person--always bringing over fresh veggies from her garden, reaching out to us, asking us if we need anything. I am just in such good hands. And as for our other friends--I just cannot  say enough good things about our church. We came upon this beautiful church called Dreamhouse, and haven't felt the need to look anywhere else! From the first time I walked in I just felt like--all my best friends live here! There are a good number of young families, the ladies are just so--kindred--our children love it, Thomas is getting to know people, etc. They invite the Holy Spirit, and seek God's presence for all that He is--I am so, so happy to know that there is Spirit-life out here! Every place carries its own spiritual atmosphere. Here, I can see the heavens are opening and God is calling a people to be fully after Him, to reveal His glory, to be radically obedient sons and daughters--warriors--ALL for the Kingdom! So thankful. Here are a few shots from the party!

Still dealing with fondant--party to start within the hour...

Let's just pretend that I *meant* to wink, ok? ...not overtired or stressed AT ALL!

Pinata time!

The boy didn't want to hit it. #enthralledwithcars

All done.

 Traditionally, I like to write letters to my children on their birthday. ...SO here are some little card-sized thoughts for them...

Silas--

My dear son, my firstborn son, my only son. YOUR smile, YOUR eyes, YOUR two-year-old bare, dirty feet, the curve of your neck, the breath of your face, are the delight of a million moments--I see your heart. The way you come to me with such confidence, even after bedtime, your blanket trailing behind you, as you quietly scoot in next to me, sucking your thumb. That is the confidence you have before an eternal throne. One of comfort and full access and blessing. Your identity is love. You are a lover of the Word of God. You haven't yourself said three words together yet, but what you will become is what you already are, for God sees the seed the same as He sees the full-grown tree. So I say--you are. A lover of the Word of God. May God give you Logos for sustenance, and Rhema for power. Be gentle. Be strong. Be listening. Be pure.

Golden--
 
Shiny, sparkly Golden girl. Here I have someone truly original. You don't even try. You make laughter and art and magic happen all around you. Four years is such a little time, and you still such a little thing, but I see you now, going out that door, changing the world, and it will still seem too small a time to be with you, soaking you in, laughing girl. You are aptly named, the name He intended. He longs to bestow treasure on you, He sings over you with shouts of joy. The treasures open, Golden one, in His presence. Laugh in His presence, sing in His presence, and be still in His presence. Listen. He waits to give you the real magic. You. Are. Growing. Into. Him. Like a wind He lifts you, He is all around you, and YOU have the ability to enjoy Him like very few... that delight will create safety for others. So you choose to delight in Him, and to stand in Him, little Pillar. Always choose it, and you will bloom. Shine brighter and brighter until the full day!