Priorities

It's not a coincidence that the two books I've been reading lately have to do with priorities, busyness, and people... I didn't set out for it to be that way, but God fully ordained that these would be my books of late because both of them were "assigned." I use that term very loosely. :)

Making Memories at the Children's Museum at Christmas time!

What a blessing to me to take a step back and evaluate. I've felt the gentle nudge for awhile that I need to say 'yes' to my kids more and make more time to just be with them. Laundry and dishes and housework ARE important (and a clean-ish house makes me a happy lady), but they will always be there. They are endless and repeating. My children are growing up - the oldest two turn TEN (10!!!) this year. I'm feeling it. They will not always be here.

I've pondered what I want their childhood memories to be - me stressed and snappy and always too busy or us making time for one another and saying YES to the book or the walk or the movie or the cuddles. My goal is to not only say 'yes' but to create and welcome individual and family time with my sweet blessings. And while I cannot ignore the needs of our home, I can prioritize more efficiently and delegate more effectively.

Parenting has been HARD the past year or so (really a few years) - beyond the average kid drama because it is clearly compounded by early trauma and painful loss which results in actual brain change. Some days it's a challenge to want to nurture certain kiddos because I am just so over the hard and so angry and frustrated with the actions and words (and so hurt). It is in those moments that I know I need to be the most present. I'm working on this - we ALL are. Besides loving Jesus, the main thing I want to teach my children is to love people well. That starts in the home.

I need to stop making excuses of busyness/housework and show up consistently. My husband and children need it. I must refuse to accept that life is too busy and ignore the truly important things (Jesus and people). Yes, we have busy days and weeks and months and seasons, but that cannot replace our commitment to growing in grace, spending time with our children, and taking care of ourselves.

So, we are here loving one another, forgiving one another, and making time for one another. I'm feeling challenged and encouraged and renewed.

(Oh and I commend to your reading Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung. It's a quick read and well worth the time.)

A Review

I've been so excited to review this book! One of my friends showed it to me a few months ago and I just recently got my hands on a copy - Andrew gave it to me for my birthday! How to Cook Without a Book, by: Pam Anderson is a thoughtful, helpful cookbook that every cook should have.

To summarize this book in one word: EMPOWERING! It is an amazingly complete book that I can't seem to put down. It's full of wonderful techniques and great formulas. Each chapter deals with a different topic but builds into a cohesive book about cooking - how-tos, what to buy, substitutions, recipes etc.

It starts with a list of suggested things to keep stocked in your pantry - a list that makes good food accessible and quick any night of the week. The author includes basic foods like salads & dressings and then progresses to Asian food, sauteing (all kinds of meats!), ravioli, appetizers, vegetables, desserts, etc. The beginning of every chapter starts with a rhyme - a rhyme introducing the technique. And for those of you that prefer written recipes, she includes those in every chapter as well. I just love that you have a basic formula to customize according to your taste.

This book makes me feel like anything is possible. I feel empowered to try new techniques, to make even more from scratch, and to attempt food that I never dreamed was so easy. It's definitely going to be a book I come back to again and again - well, hopefully I'll be able to memorize many of the formulas and not have to even use the book (as the title inspires!). I found her style easy to read and the information at the opening of each chapter to be invaluable. I really just devoured this book - it was hard to put down! Some of it was not necessarily new, some of it was a good refresher course, and a lot of it was a new way of thinking.

I highly recommend this book for any amateur or seasoned cook. It makes a perfect shower gift or a wonderful addition to your own cookbook library.

My Love Affair with Books

I set a reading goal of 35 books this year. Sadly, I'm only on #5, 6, & 7 (not counting cookbooks which would add several more). But I have tackled a couple of really long books (Suite Francaise & Poisonwood Bible) - does that count? I try to read in the evenings and manage to read maybe 10 pages before falling asleep. :) Sometimes I read during nap time or while watching the boys play outside but generally my snippets of reading are few and far between and I find I'm not a particularly fast reader these days.

As a child, I devoured books - occasionally reading as many as 3 a day during summer break. I brought home stacks of books from the library and was constantly looking for new authors. My parents gave me a book of the month club for my birthday one year and I loved it! Books were always high on my Birthday and Christmas wish list. As the years have passed, my reading has definitely slowed down (see above :)) but my love for books has not ceased as evidenced by our sagging book shelves.

My to-read reading list is huge with just books we own. And still I enjoy receiving books, going to bookstores, and drinking in the rows and rows of books at the library. I find great pleasure in scanning shelves or tables of books at garage sales, thrift stores and library book sales for that one great find!

I love opening a book for the first time - a well-written first sentence is like a proposal for an excellent read. I love the musty smell of old books and the crisp newness of never-before-opened books. I lose myself in a good story but find equal fascination with facts and human interest in non-fiction.

I long for more time and energy to turn the pages of well-loved books and to discover new ones but wouldn't trade the time with my beautiful children as I guide them down their own road of book discovery. Maybe some day they will share their parents love of books for I have not filled our shelves alone. :) And maybe they will be inspired by the stories they have read and the books they have loved.

As I watch them grow and change, barely pausing from their constant chatter and play, I know there are seasons of life. Someday, I will once again read and read and read...until then, I will content myself with the snatches here and there and work a little harder to find more time to devote to reading good books.

Cookbooks: The Addiction!

So I decided to giveaway some cookbooks and people, I haven't even gotten them out the door and I've replaced them with others. :) How sad is this addiction! The boys and I went to Half Price Books yesterday to have lunch with my sister (who works there) and of course, I browsed. I came away with four (4!!!) new cookbooks but I did get them all for 50% off the Half Price cost which was good and they are not like any other books in my collection.

I really did use self-control - they have an AWESOME cookbook selection and if I hadn't gotten them for 1/2 off, I would not have bought all of them. Don't you love how I justify it :) - the best measure was that Andrew was really excited about them! Anyway, here is a list of the cookbooks I couldn't resist:

Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook (Robert W. Surles)

Cook Organic (Ysanne Spevack)

The Healthy Kitchen (Andrew Weil, M.D. & Rosie Daley)

The Best Ever Vegetarian

They all look so yummy and like they have so many great ideas! I can't wait to read them and try new recipes! What's your favorite cookbook? I don't know if I could ever narrow it down but I definitely have a few I go to more frequently. :)