Snow Day Recipes

The kids didn't have school today because of the snow, so we were at home for the third day in a row (Zion had pink eye on Sunday and Saturday we just didn't have any plans).  They have played pretty creatively most of the day; having a lot of fun with some large boxes, stuffed animals, and lots of games.  They also went outside and lasted about 30 minutes in the snow.  While they played I made two recipes that are worth sharing.  First is my favorite homemade granola recipe (a big thanks to Heidi Gerber for giving me this one). 

Homemade Granola 
(I normally double the recipe)

Ingredients:

6 cups uncooked oats
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup whole wheat flout
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup coconut oil
2/3 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
2. In a large bowl combine oats, coconut, flour, spices, and salt.  Mix well.
3.  In a saucepan heat the oil, maple syrup, and vanilla until warn.  Pour this over the oat mixture and stir well.
4.Spread this in a think layer on 2-3 cookie sheets, press into pan with back of a spoon.  Bake in the oven at 300 degrees for 40 minutes, stirring after 20 minutes.
5.  As it cools  it becomes harder, more granola like.  Store in an airtight container. 

Whole Wheat Bread
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/05/make-6-loaves-of-whole-wheat-bread-in.html

I really like whole wheat bread but have not had much success with bread recipes.  It is so frustrating to go to all the work to make bread and then have a bad taste or texture.  This recipe has worked twice for me and really doesn't take me much time since I have a Bosch mixer. I ground the wheat in my Vitamix using the dry blade container. This recipe took me more than the suggested hour because I let it rise longer than 20 minutes. Probably the best thing about this recipe is that Zion and Moriah will eat it even though it is healthy.  

So enough about my baking-I need to start washing dishes.  My least favorite part of cooking and I am procrastinating by sharing these recipes.  Before I go though a couple of pictures of the kids enjoying the snow.

  

Surely the Presence of the Lord Is in This Place

I have found myself pouring my heart out to God often in the last 24 hours as I have admitted my weaknesses to Him and asked for Him to give me peace as He directs my life.  I told a friend yesterday that at times I feel like I am back in my early 20s again trying to figure out what God wants me to do with the rest of my life only this time around it is more complicated because I have two children and so many more life experiences.  During my  devotions this morning I read the following quote by Stormie Omartian, "His purpose for our trails is often to bring us humbly before Him to experience a breaking in our inner, independent, self-sufficient selves, and grow us up into compassionate, patient, spiritually strong, God glorifying people.  He uses these situations to teach us how to trust that He loves and cares for us enough to get us through the tough times"  Over this past year God has taught me so much about surrendering everything to Him and trusting Him to work out the details that I don't understand.  This surrender is a daily process and I have discovered that He is my Rock when it feels like I have no where else to turn.  God also faithfully provides other people to support me when I just need to talk about the things I struggle with.  I read may wonderful verses this morning and Hebrews 11:14-16 stood out among them. 

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 11:14-16 (ESV)

When I finished my devotions and started my day this song was running through my mind.  God is so good to remind me that He is with me always.  I can hold on to this morning as one of those times when He gave me a little extra reminder that He is really listening to the prayers on my heart.

(Sorry not sure how to post this without the links to other youtube videos at the end.)

Goals week 2

 

Last Weeks Goals:

I didn't accomplish everything on the list because I spent time doing other things not on my list and to be honest I didn't always use my time wisely.  I was blessed to have lunch with three different ladies (a huge encouragement) and got some shopping done for Christmas. 

Kids

 

1-Have Zion and Moriah complete 3 chores each day in order to earn i-pad privileges.

Zion is starting to ask what chores he wants me to do and asking me to pay him money to do chores so he can buy a Lego set.  Moriah cleaned her room on Monday and Zion helped with dishes and laundry.  Both of them get a little irritated when I ask them to pick up toys and want me to come up with other things they can do-so feel free to send ideas.  They are still spending too much time on their i-pads.   

 

2-Spend time each day reading to Zion and Moriah and helping them with their home work

I pretty much failed at this one.  Zion and I studied two days for spelling and Moriah and I completed her homework one evening.  We did do a few activities together this week including putting up our Christmas Tree and watching a movie together that I remember enjoying as a child.

 

Photos

 

3-Complete our 2011 digital photo book (I have 2-3 months of pictures to add before I can print it)

I worked on this book for almost two hours on Thursday and got through 1/2 of our December pictures.  I need to finish December and put in all the pictures for July. I really don't mind working on my book-I just need to get motivated to sit at the computer and start working on it.

 

4-Put the photos I ordered last week in pictures frames

This is about 80% done. I need to buy another picture frame and order a few pictures in different sizes to fill a few empty frames. 

 

Other

 

5-Spend at least on hour de-cluttering my office area.

I spent 30 minutes on both Wednesday and Friday doing this.  Setting a timer was really helpful in getting me started on this overwhelming task.  

 

6-Spend an hour cleaning/organizing my closet.   

Worked on my closet for over an hour on Saturday and got rid of summer clothing that I didn't wear this summer. Organized my winter shirts by color and moved to the center of my closet. 

This weeks goals:

I am going to cut down on my goals for this week since we have a lot of Thanksgiving plans.

Kids

1-Have Zion and Moriah complete 3 chores each day in order to earn i-pad privileges.

 

Photos 

2-Finish putting December 2011 photos in digital photo book

3-Print labels for Christmas Cards so I can save on postage by passing them out to family members at Thanksgiving events.  Hoping to have the kids stick on the labels.  

Other

4-Spend 1 hour cleaning office and entry area.

5-Get food and clothing ready for Thankgiving events.

 

Cherished Friendships

Working on my 2011 photo book tonight and came across this picture from December of 2011.  God has blessed me with many friends over the years, but these two have been my friends (and cousins) since childhood.  Their dedication to me over the years is amazing.  We now live in three different states: Sarah in Ohio, Heidi in Kansas, and me in Indiana and yet every time I talk to one of them we pick up right where we left off the last time.  Heidi just blessed with an email this afternoon to find out if I am making progress on my goals for the week.  (Her email inspired me to work on my photo book tonight instead of going to bed.) Looking forward to seeing them both Thanksgiving weekend. I would write more about these wonderful ladies, but I must get back to my photo book if I am going to meet my goal.   

Accountablity

I am guessing that I am not the only one who struggles with having a huge mental to do list and not knowing where to start.  One of the challenges I have with getting things done around my house is the fact that I don't have another adult to keep me accountable.  A few months ago I realized that until Zach's death I always lived with other adults (first my parents, then various roommates, and finally Zach).  Adults who cared if I left dishes in the sink, if the house hadn't been cleaned for weeks, and if certain areas of the house were overrun with clutter.  While Zion and Moriah have many wonderful traits they are happy to step over messes and as a rule don't care how the house looks unless if effects their ability to eat, play, sleep, and get attention from me.  

I have a lot of tasks I would like to complete before the end of the year and I am very aware that they will not get done unless I have some accountability.  Last spring posting weekly updates on my de-cluttering process was really effective for me, so starting this week I am going to post goals and updates on my progress.  A few of my goals will be related to getting my kids to help me around the house, some will be little things that I just keep putting off, and the rest will likely be related to organizing/printing/finishing photo projects. 

A few things to keep in mind: 1-I have someone clean my house every other week because it needs to be done and to motivate me to pick up the clutter so she can clean (this has provided great accountability and stress relief). 2-I decreased my hours at work for the months of November and December, so I can get things done and be less stressed about holiday travel.  3-My motivation for doing this is not to have all of you know how much (or little) I get done in a week, so I will only be posting a few key goals not my entire to do list. If I happen to motivate you to get a few extra things done feel free to comment about that and if I am slow at posting weekly updates feel free to send me a reminder (jennylbertsch@gmail.com).

Goals for this week:

Kids

1-Have Zion and Moriah complete 3 chores each day in order to earn i-pad privileges.

2-Spend time each day reading to Zion and Moriah and helping them with their home work

Photos

3-Complete our 2011 digital photo book (I have 2-3 months of pictures to add before I can print it)

4-Put the photos I ordered last week in pictures frames

Other

5-Spend at least on hour de-cluttering my office area.

6-Spend an hour cleaning/organizing my closet.    

      

Bless The Lord by Laura Story (Lyrics)

Song that I am appreciating today.

*Make something beautiful*

This song started playing on Pandora this afternoon and I realized that it reflects the prayer on my heart today. I know in my head that GOD is working in my life, but some days my heart struggles to trust that HE is working and HE has everything under control.  Continuing to pray that GOD will take my life and make something beautiful from the broken pieces that I know exist within me.  I am so thankful that I serve an amazing strong GOD who can use my vulnerable places for HIS glory.