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Monday, October 1, 2012

Hey there, Monday!

Well here you. From time to time it is a little bitter sweet when you show up. Not for the same reasons as to why most people don't really like you, but because we just enjoyed such a great weekend.  We started with Friday night family favorite of hot dogs and movie. I know, I know hot dogs but they were turkey and grilled and just my favorite fun food.  I have come to enjoy unwinding Friday evenings with kids filling up our bed watching a movie while Bobby makes dinner. 

This weekend, we enjoyed friends and family.  We had a delicious chicken Santa Fe soup that I created when I had nothing else in my pantry one evening about a year ago.  Add corn bread or tortilla chips, cheese, avocado and table of friends and you have a great evening.  Top that off we had a pumpkin bread with pumpkin buttercream and coffee.  Just delicious.

Other weekend events included driving with friends around town to look at houses.  The hope of them moving to our area was exciting.  We love them and do not get to spend much time with them yet when we do it is like no time or distance has gone by. They started Sunday with us at church, OneChapel.  We were so proud for them to come to church with us....we love our church so much! Bobby ended our weekend with a quick PTA meeting in our home.  

Going to bed content with all that God has brought into our lives makes Monday actually sweet with thankfulness! It is going to be a great week....

Friday, September 28, 2012

Cooking for my son

All right so I would tease my husband so much when it would come to his mom cooking for him.  For years she would come visit and cook all of 'my son's favorites'.  She would ensure that I knew what he liked and possibly tried to teach me how to cook them.  However the thing is, he did not like them anymore.

As the years have gone by since I first meet my husband his taste buds have changed...drastically changed!  However the moment my mother in law would arrive it was all about 'my mom's cooking.' Blah..really?!  I would sit there at the kitchen table and think what a mama's boy. Or even think, wow Bobby can just say hi and she has whipped an entire meal of his "favorite" stuff.  She is a fantastic cook, a real gift in the kitchen and she can have a whole spread in 5 minutes.  She can spend all day cooking something but if any of her children or grandchildren do not like it she will make them something they do like.  I am far from all that especially the I will make you something because you do not like what I made.  I cook it, you eat it no excuse!

BUT...this year my older son started walking in saying he liked something encouraging me to find a way to cook it.  Now before I go on I will not budge from I cook it, you eat it no excuse.  My kids have learned that we do no ask for something else other then what is on our plates when we sit down.  I will cater to their tastes when I am cooking but not when I am done. Off the soap box and back to my story of me becoming like my mother in law when it comes to my son.  I have tried several new recipes because he likes something. I love it when he tells me that dinner was delicious or even better asking for seconds! Ahhh the things our kids can do to us....I am mush now after kids.

Why I am saying all of this? Because I got an email this morning with a recipe for homemade pot stickers and thought "oh I must try this for Alex!" So my simple inspired moment today is, for my son I will try new things.  

What moment today will inspire you to try something new? Be open...

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Mommy Confessions: Rachel


This week I am touched to have Rachel Witt answer Mommy Confession questions. I met Rachel my first year at Texas Bible Institute while she was an RA in her second year.  I was one of the older students so having leaders younger then me was a challenge but Rachel was amongst the few young leaders that I looked up to and I still do. We served together my first summer for Discovery Camp where she not only worked in the events department she assisted in the worship team.  
After her time at TBI, she followed her call towards mission and traveled to China and Africa.  She met her husband, Jerry Witt during a missions trip to Durango where now they reside and work with the indigenous tribes.  Rachel has four kids under the age of 6, I though having three kids back to back was something but Rachel has four! Admirable for sure…I enjoyed her response and think you will too. 


Are you a Scheduled or Non-Scheduled Mom? What are the benefits and downfalls to your choice? I would say I am in between. I love to organize and plan, but being a mom of 4 and one of those completely breast feeding right now, I have to be very flexible. The benefit to me of not being “too” scheduled is that is has taught me to be less stressful. It has taught me to roll with the punches and it will all play out.

What is your biggest Mommy Pet-Peeve? The kids messing up whatever I just cleaned (luckily they are getting old enough to learn to clean up the way I like it)

Your funniest/most embarrassing “Mom/Child’ moment? My oldest is 6...she told her dad, I am going to talk to Asha (her grandma) only in Spanish today. Dad told her that was great. She said, yeah, I don't want to be weird like mommy! (we live in Mexico, so I guess I am considered weird for not speaking Spanish completely fluent) hah

Given the opportunity, what- if anything- would you do differently as a Mom? I would have started my older ones (6&5) out earlier with learning...sounds, numbers, etc. I just didn't know then of where to start. If you just have some resources it really is simple.

Do you have a secret “Mommy Confession”- something that you did/do that you are willing to share? I am not good at keeping my kids teeth brushed!!! I really need to step that up. haha

Cloth or Disposable Diapers? Disposable diapers

Did the way you were parented shape that way that you parent your own children? Definitely so! I am blessed to have had wonderful parents...my mom is the best person I have ever seen with children. It is her life. I can't imagine what kind of mom I would be without learning from my mom and dad.

What are your “non-negotiables” when it comes to your kids? I guess it would just be with discipline. They will continue to be put in the corner, or get spanked until they obey (dad is even better at this than I am)


What was your biggest fear when you found out you were going to be a Mom? For me it was the whole birthing process. Other than that my children would be the unruly ones that no one wants to be around. haha

Did you breastfeed- why/why not? Did you feel pressure to/not to? Yep, breastfed the 3 girls and am breastfeeding baby boy now. I think it is the best thing for baby. Plus, I HATE washing and boiling bottles! haha. I think it is definitely becoming a pressure in society now, as are many, many things about parenthood. Every parent is in a different situation. Our families are our own little cultures. I believe we should take advice, learn from others, but in the end it comes down to what works best in your family. Way too much mommy competition out there right now in my opinion.

Do you have a funny “labor” moment? Yes. I have had 4 c-sections. On the third I was determined to come out the other side as modest as possible. I was tired of people seeing me naked. So, when it was time to take a shower, I decided I would do it on my own. My husband was gone, my mom went out to walk and I was alone. As I got in the shower I was getting extremely lightheaded and starting to pass out. I yelled out in Spanish for someone to help me and here came the first nurse. Then she sent for another nurse to bring alcohol, then that one sent for the doctor, and on it went. By the time it was said and done, there were about 4 nurses and my doctor looking at me naked and carrying me to my bed. Epic fail Description: mile

What is your “secret” addiction or obsession? Well, when all the family is in bed and I just want to sit down and chill, I like to watch anything Kardashian (hey, I am in Mexico and the shows that come out in English are limited and I don't like watching in Spanish when I want to relax....hehe) and when I allow myself, the guilty pleasure of ice cream, chocolate syrup and peanut butter!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

Noah is home with fever today....
Nothing like your dog to cuddle with you.....
 Napping while body is fighting....
 He has no other symptoms then headache and fever......
 Smiling faces......
Silly faces.....

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Psalm 19:14

This verse has been rolling, tumbling, stirring in my heart....

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (NIV)


Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.  (NASB)


These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. (MSG)

What we may think is acceptable for us to say to ourselves is not acceptable to God.  It may seem like a new concept and how do we encourage ourselves with God's word. But this is the beauty of learning that God is our strengthen and source of our self talk.

He is walking with us turning on  the light in our closet and showing us how to live by His word....even in our thought life.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
This is me meditating (To reflect on; contemplate.) out loud....

Monday, September 24, 2012

Happy First Monday of Fall


Fall is in the air…or least on the calendar.  I love spring the most and the freshness it brings with colorful flowers.  However there is something comforting about Fall.   

I do love opening my windows up and letting the cool air come through the house.  I do love the Fall scents from Bath and Body Works.  I do love the taste of warm Fall dishes and desserts.  

This Saturday we are enjoying friends coming over for Fall themed dinner with my Butternut Squash soup and her Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin cream cheese.

So even though I have not pulled out any Fall décor, like my Fall wreath, because our weather is not lining up with the calendar I am mentally getting ready….

Happy First Monday of Fall!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Friday Favorites: Me, Myself and Lies

dear friend of mine told me about this study she was working through.  I loved the description of the study:

In the Bible Study, Me, Myself and Lies, Jennifer shares practically and helpfully from her own life and from Scripture to show how every woman can turn her words—and her life—around for good.

This six-week Bible study for women encourages them to clean out the junk in their thoughts and replace these hidden negative thoughts and failures with positive truths from God’s word. Rather than struggling with self-esteem, body image, stress and other unhealthy thoughts and emotions learn to replace the lies you may have been telling yourself with the truth from God’s word.

It took several months to finally purchase the study, which was exactly a year ago.  I not only ordered the workbook but also the first 4 videos online for download….however I only went through the introduction and first week.  To my delight, since I was not able to complete the 6 weeks on my own effort, there was a connect group of women going through this very same study!

I wanted to I say all that to share that today, a year later, I was touched to see that connecting with other women brings support as we glean from each other.  I was originally excited for this study so I could grow in my own thought closet but now I am thrilled to be part of a group of women with whom I will learn.


Here are a few of my favorite nuggets:
- God is the source and strengthen of our self-talk. 
- It is not acceptable to call ourselves stupid. 
- Every wrong word and every lie that is spoken can be
          redeemed by God.

This was a favorite time of my week....what was yours?