how to love for mothers

I recently shared this paraphrase with a group of Moms from our church.  Thought it might bless someone today:

I Corinthians 13 paraphrased for Moms (from the book A Mother's Heart by Jean Fleming)

If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family---I'm just another housewife.

If I'm always producing lovely things--sewing, art; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving to my family--I am nothing.

If I'm busy in community affairs, teach Sunday school, and drive in the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family--I gain nothing.

Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes--over and over and over again.

Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.

 

Love doesn't envy another wife--one whose children are 'spaced' better or in school so she has time to pursue her own interests.

Love doesn't try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as a mother.

Love doesn't scream at the kids and apologizes when I do.

Love doesn't feel cheated because I didn't get to do what I wanted to do today--sew, read, soak in a hot tub.

Love doesn't lose my temper easily.

Love doesn't assume that my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating.

Love doesn't rejoice when other people's children misbehave and make mine look good.  Love is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children.

how to love for mothers

many are the plans

Oh, I had grand ideas for this week!  So proud was I of the snow days last week that provided for the pace of life to pause a little and for me to plan :: to write out all of my intentions, my vision of what our days should hold.

Not a bad thought naturally, necessary for living.

But I failed to check in along the way with the One who is the Master Planner.  And thus, my frustrations at the interruptions or at the list that remains unchecked grew.  Irritations that would have fallen off my mind before swelled & simmered in my heart. 

Finally, as the days progressed, I saw the faults in my attempt to run life totally on my own.  Again.

“Many are the plans in a man's heart,
       but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.”  Proverbs 19:21

Those works ring true today, it’s His purpose that must rise above my own plans.  So I choose today to attempt to see it all through heaven’s lens!

photo:  four-year old’s coloring pencils left on the table

 

many are the plans

comfort soup

This recipe from Vegan Soul Kitchen is good.  Very good and the whole family liked it! 

Butternut Squash-Pear Soup

3 TBsp olive oil

2 medium leeks (white & tender green parts), chopped finely

1 small butternut squash (about 2 lbs), peeled, seeded & cut into 1-inch pieces

3 pears (about 1.5 lbs) peeled & chopped into pieces

5 cups vegetable stock (or other if you don’t care about it being vegan or not)

coarse sea salt

1 14-ounce can coconut milk

2 sprigs thyme, minced (I used dried)

freshly ground white pepper

:: in a medium-size saucepan over medium low heat, warm oil and cook leeks until soft, about 8-10 minutes.  Add the squash and pears and cook for 5 minutes.  Add stock and bring to boil.  Lower the heat, add 1/2 teaspoon salt & simmer until squash is fork-tender.

:: Stir in the coconut milk, then puree the soup in batches in an upright blender or use immersion blender.  Add soup back in saucepan, stir in thyme, and warm over low heat for a few minutes.  Season with white pepper & salt to taste.

Yields 4 to 6 servings

comfort soup

oh, no…

Mommy, did you say we’re getting more snow!? 

We’re settling in here for another snow storm, two in a week’s time for a total of three feet plus of the white fluffy stuff!  What to do when we’re all in?

:: play several games of Twister Hopscotch 

:: organize and plan ahead for busier times

:: make soup

:: shovel the snow 

:: make paper dolls, lots of them

 

Hope that you’re cozy, whatever the weather where you live!

oh, no…

blog upgrades

You may have caught on to them, there are a few blog upgrades to mention~

:: I’ve moved to a domain name and the blog is now dot ORG!  You’ve been redirected if still using the blogspot address.

:: At the end of each post, there is a option bar for sharing the post’s contents on a variety of social networks like facebook or twitter, through email, or to simply add to your favorites page.  Rest the mouse pointer over the bar and the options open right up! 

:: I’ve redfined my ‘About’ page (sans photo, but that will come!).  Also at top, click to read a new additional focus for the blog which I’m very excited about and will share more on soon.

think that’s it for now…..

blog upgrades

food on the brain

Yep.  Food is on my mind these days.  Having less time for other pursuits (such as sitting quietly to read a book), I’m finding that cooking is a solace, a bit of a retreat from it all so to speak.  Yes, it gets routine and no, every evening doesn’t include a new recipe!  But one of the benefits of enjoying cooking is that I get to both take care of my family and do something relaxing as well.

With a newly turned 6-month old (yikes, how did that happen?), there’s been a lot of making of baby food—pureed avocado, squash, bananas, and the like being eaten & stored up.  I like the Super Baby Food book or Wholesome Baby Food website as a resource.

And I’ve been really getting into vegan cooking since several of us cannot have eggs or dairy—um, we still eat meat though so it’s a contradiction so to speak.  Anyway!  My new cookbook of interest is Vegan Soul Kitchen, a gift from my sister-in-law.  This week I’ll be trying a butternut squash and pear soup that gets its creamy smoothness from coconut milk; the recipe had my mouth watering.  We’ll see if the family likes it.

And though I don’t plan to grow a big garden this year, I’ve spent many evenings curled up in bed for a few minutes of browsing through Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog.  Oh. My.  If you’re a gardener, get one of these!  I plan to just do a few potted plants or a small raised bed.  Here’s a great post on getting organized for a larger garden planting.

So…food, food, food.  Does the mind and body good.

food on the brain