Monthly Archives: January 2009
Recipe swap, anyone?
It occured to me yesterday that this blog is missing something. I hate being categorized, but there is no denying this is a “mom blog.” And with a name like In the Dailies, it is definitely missing the mark by neglecting a very important part of daily life: FOOD.
I LOVE to cook! I try at least one new recipe each week. Williams-Sonoma is my favorite store. I have a hefty collection of cookbooks, culinary gadgets and appliances that spread from my kitchen to my bedroom to our basement pantry and laundry room. Yes, I even have cookbooks in my laundry room. Oh, and a few seasonal appliances in the garage. If we ever move, the new house will need a kitchen at least twice (maybe four times) the size of our current one just to house this hobby and the many “necesities” I’ve purchased to propagate it. All this to say: There is no excuse for not sharing recipes on here!
I tried to find an existing online recipe exchange but came up empty-handed. If you know of a current blog carnival that does this, let me know. Otherwise we can start one here! But I don’t want to do it alone. You gotta share, too! Anyone interested? We could do a Mr. Linky type swap where you post on your blog and link up here for a full list. Maybe once a month? What do you think? Leave a comment if you’re interested! Share your thoughts and suggestions. I think it would be fun! And maybe even educational. *wnk*
Teach me more!
“Please! Please, Mommy! Puh-lease!!”
Normally one would expect such zealous begging in relation to candies or a new toy. Every day this week I’ve heard these passionate supplications from my four-year-old. What does she want? Not food or TV or even time with her friends. She wants me to teach her about the Bible. I’m not kidding. I’m not exaggerating. I am shocked.
Let me back up just a touch. I’m currently leading a Bible study at our church on the book of Ruth. We’ve got a great group of moms participating in a fun in-depth discussion every month. I’m loving it!
Like most biblical characters, Ruth is not isolated from other people and events recorded. She’s a Moabite, a descendant of Lot (by way of incest with his daughter). Then Ruth, after her first husband dies, marries Boaz, the son of Rahab (the prostitute who helped the Israelite spies in Jericho) and further descendant of Tamar (the woman who secretly seduced her father-in-law, Judah, in order to preserve her deceased husband’s name and lineage) in whose name Ruth is blessed at the end of her short book. With Boaz, Ruth conceives Obed who fathers Jesse who then fathers David the King. David, as we all know, is a direct ancestor of Jesus the Christ.
Needless to say, all these connections can be a bit confusing. In prep for our next meeting, I drew the family tree, complete from Abraham to King David, on a giant white board. This has been sitting in our partially finished dining room all week. Every time Ellie sees it, she asks me to teach her.
The first time I only half-heartedly explained who people were. After all, she is four and I expected her to lose interest after about three minutes or as soon as she saw something shiny. But she kept coming back to that board. She kept asking questions. So I kept teaching her.
Most recently, three days after she discovered my big board, we filled almost two hours with in-depth story telling. She can recite the paternal genealogy through six generations without any help and without being able to read! (Well, she can read a little, but her skills don’t extend beyond three- and four-letter rhyming words.) We covered God’s promise to Abraham all the way through Joseph and the seven-year famine, the Israelites moving to Egypt and becoming slaves, the plagues, the Red Sea, the twelve spies and the wandering in the desert. Finally, I had to stop. Laundry awaited, Zach begged for attention, and neighbors knocked on the door to remind me I still hadn’t shoveled the sidewalk.
As I carried the board back to its storage spot, Ellie pleaded: “Mama, will you please teach me more later? Tonight after Daddy gets home? Please, please!”
When was the last time you begged God to teach you something? I know I’ve asked Him to show me something in His Word, but my requests are always subdued, expecting the same old, same old time of cognitive interaction with Scripture. But when was the last time I chased God, pleading with Him for spiritual insights? And expecting something awesome and stimulating as a result of that request?
Deb Burton frequently uses this tagline for her site: “Do you see your home as a mission field? It is, you know.” This short question, no matter how many times I’ve seen it, always startles me back to reality. Yes, my home is a mission field. Am I giving this mission the same energy and enthusiasm I poured into Bosnia ten years ago? Am I tackling it the way I would a church-plant in Asia or a humanitarian relief effort in Africa?
So I have two questions for you.
- What if we catered to our children’s innate curiosities with spiritual lessons? What if we took advantage of their sponge-like ability to learn and planted seeds of faith there daily, consistently, passionately?
- What if WE had that same insatiable desire to learn about God and His Word?
“When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you.
If you seek me with all your heart and soul, I will make myself available to you,’ says the Lord.”
Jeremiah 29:13-14a (NET)
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Luke 11:9-10 (NIV)
“Memorize these laws and think about them. Write down copies and tie them to your wrists and your foreheads to help you obey them. Teach them to your children. Talk about them all the time–whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.”
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (CEV)
Very Wordy Wednesday
I considered putting this up as a Wordless Wednesday, since it is a photo, but since it’s a photo of a bunch of words, I don’t think it counts.
A cousin emailed this to me today. I had to smile. I’ve often berated myself over this very question. Before having kids I seemed so much more productive! Now I struggle to say what I’ve done all day even when I know my tail hasn’t hit the couch once. What do moms do all day?
I joke with my single friends that if it weren’t for facebook, we would never know what was going on in each other’s lives. It’s not that moms don’t want to maintain these relationship! WE DO! It’s just difficult. One thing I will add to this article. It’s much easier to manage time well when you get consistent rest. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again: moms don’t sleep. I’ve had maybe a month’s worth of real, quality rest in the past five years.
So, cut us some slack, meet us halfway or, at the very least, remember it takes us three times as long to accomplish everything. Remember, too, that we’re not complaining! Well, not all the time. We know this is a choice and (most days) it’s one we would never, ever change. But life is different with kids and we’re trying our best.
Mama Loves: Preschool Jokes
Welcome to another edition of Mama Loves, the weekly exercise in positive blogging! For full details and rules, visit this post.
Mama loves preschool jokes.
My absolute favorite part of being a mom is watching my kids grow and develop. God packed each of them with an infinite number of gifts, talents and surprises. Every day a little more emerges! I am priviledged to be able to witness it. Lately, both kids have been testing their funny bones. I do not understand the humor of preschoolers, but I love hearing them laugh at their own jokes. They’re hysterical! The kids, not the jokes. In an effort to highten their humor receptors, I taught them the Richard Orange knock-knock joke. Haven’t heard it? Oh, it’s a doozy. It goes like this:
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Richard.
Richard who?
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Richard.
Richard who?
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say ‘Richard?’
Oh, I know you’re rolling in the aisles right now, but to a five-year-old that’s a pretty funny joke. And to the adults listening, it makes much more sense than “How do trees talk? With their mouths!” Yes, unfortunately, that is Ellie’s favorite joke right now. Actually she loves all nonsensical stories of inanimate objects talking. She laughs so hard, she gives herself the hiccups. However, since I told her the Richard Orange joke, there’s a new king in town. Here’s how she tells it.
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Richard.
Richard who?
Richard.
Richard who?
Richard.
Richard who?
Richard.
Richard who?
Knock, knock.
Who’s there?
Strawberry.
Strawberry who?
Orange you glad I didn’t say ‘Richard?’
It’s like a stuck record that eventually skips to the next song! I love it. What I love most, though, is that these two can make each other laugh over the silliest things, things that make absolutely no sense to me, but they find to be the most outrageous, hysterical things. I’ve told you about how they’re best friends. Well, it definitely shows in their budding senses of humor. Mama loves it!
Your turn! What tickled your funny bone this week? What did God do or show you that made you smile? Leave it here in the comments or, if you blog about it, link back here, so we can check it out and rejoice with you!
The machines are against me.
In the last two weeks I’ve seen sparks in my microwave, flames from my toaster and my beloved Ruthie died. Is this some sort of appliance apocalypse? The machines have turned against me! Well, the microwave is fine, though I’m still a little nervous using it. The toaster definitely died, and here’s a story for you.
Anyone know how much a toaster costs? Last week I bundled the kids and headed off to Bed, Bath & Beyond (since Linens & Things is now out of business) to buy a new toaster. We have four people in our family and, therefore, need a four-slotted toaster. Also, we live in Jersey, so our toaster needs to fit bagels. A four-slotted toaster that fits bagels = $70. Seventy dollars!! I expected fifteen, maybe twenty, but not seventy. I stood there for a while, debating who would get the cold pieces of toast if I settled for a two-slotter or if I should just bite the bullet and pay the obnoxious price they suggested for a family toaster. Frustrated I spun around to find a sales associate. This had to be a mistake -right? A typo, a poorly placed price tag. I didn’t find anyone who worked there, but I did find toaster ovens. Guess how much they cost. One was only thirty dollars! Yup. A toaster oven, that toasts six pieces of bread or six bagel halves, was half the price of a suitable toaster. Crazy. I spent the rest of the day reorganizing my kitchen cabinets to make room for my new toaster oven. I’m pretty psyched. I have a whole cabinet now devoted to appliances: crockpot, electric grill, toaster oven, immersion blender, etc. They look so pretty and happy in their new home.
At this point I should probably confess: I didn’t get the thirty dollar toaster oven. No, of course not. I still paid seventy dollars, but it can do so much more than toast bread, so I’m not feeling too guilty. Today we baked sugar cookies in it! Ellie is especially thrilled with this purchase. Since it’s small, she thinks it’s hers. We have a big oven for “Big Mama” (me) and a small oven for “Little Mama” (her). Someday I may tire of being called “Big Mama”, but for now I kinda like it. It’s endearing.
In closing, we’re ordering my Ruthie replacement tomorrow morning. My mom asked today if I would bury her. I don’t think I’m allowed to do that. Besides, I’d need a jackhammer to get through this frozen earth. The jackhammer would probably be against me, too. I don’t think I can risk it.
A Retraction (of sorts)
A number of people emailed and commented about my post of inauguration thoughts. I’d like to respond. Hopefully this can prevent any further distortions or faulty conclusions based on what I wrote.
I’ll not take back what I said because, as I stated in the first paragraph of Tuesday’s post, those were uncensored thoughts, an honest stream of consciousness. Politics are tricky, and everyone involved is passionate. That often leaves independents, like me, battling both sides.
I am not proclaiming blind support of President Obama. We differ on some very key issues which I will continue to follow and guard. Neither am I proclaiming blind support of President Bush. We also differed on some very key issues. While I am not at all happy with Obama’s position on abortion, I am glad to see someone new in the White House. I believe our nation needs change. I will not like all of the change, I’m sure. Already changes have been made that trouble me. But Obama is our President and, as I stated on Tuesday, that position is ordained by God and requires our respect (Romans 13:1).
One clarification I do need to make. I wrote: “I understand [Obama] writes his own speeches.” First, I did not say my understanding was absolute truth, only that this was what I understood to be true. Secondly, I have since researched this further (at the encouragement of you, dear readers) and found that Obama does indeed write many of his own speeches, just not all of them and not all alone. He wrote his first book, Dreams From My Father, entirely on his own. Since becoming a more public figure with greater responsibilities, he has employed a team of writers who helped him write his second book and a number of his speeches since. The White House gives credit for the Inauguration Speech to President Obama, though I’m sure this is mostly because he delivered it.
Here are some links to interesting articles about this topic. The first two talk about Obama and other presidents who were also writers. The second two dive into the relationship between Obama and his chief speech writer, Jon Favreau. All four articles are quite fascinating.
- How Obama Writes His Speeches, Time Magazine, 28 Aug 08
- All the Presidents’ Literature, The Wall Street Journal, 10 Jan 2009
- Obama inauguration: Words of history … crafted by 27-year-old in Starbucks, The Guardian, 20 Jan 2009
- What Would Obama Say?, New York Times, 20 Jan 2008
Book Blog Tour: The Baby Fat Diet
It’s time. My “baby” is three and a half years old, and while I have a dear friend who still blames her twenty-three-year-old daughter for five extra pounds, I think that there must be a statute of limitations on pregnancy weight. Sadly, I think my excuses expired a while back.
I want to tell you about this book, but before I do, let me share a little about my story. (I hate diets, so I feel the need to explain why I’m promoting one.)
I was either pregnant or nursing for three years straight. My weight boomeranged over fifty pounds more than once. My poor scale never knew what to expect, and now here I am, almost six years after this journey began and still 30 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight. I know I’ll never get back to wedding weight. I’m not aiming for that, but I would like to be rid of my muffin top hips and sausage-like thighs.
I have tried! I did a week on Atkins (only to annoy everyone with my whining and complaining); I tried the South Beach Diet for two months, but only lost my appetite (thanks to bland, unimaginative food). I tried a gym, but quickly realized I don’t like public nor shared torture. I bought a pilates machine to work out at home, but have yet to be consistent in using it. Oh, and I’ve bought plenty of other diet cookbooks, but with a husband who can instantly tell the difference between whole wheat pasta and regular, whole fat cheese and part-skim, none of the cookbooks stuck around for long. I don’t have the time nor energy to make multiple entrees for each meal, so if Rick doesn’t like it, it doesn’t return to our table.
Now, a new part of the story. I received The Baby Fat Diet through The Blog Tour Spot and decided to implement a few of the strategies even before finishing the book. I lost 3 pounds in one week. I know three pounds doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is the first time in a long time that my weight has gone down and stayed down. Weight fluctuates from day to day, but this decrease, while just a start, has remained.
So, what’s in the book? Who wrote it and what’s it about?
Monica Bearden and Shara Aaron, both moms, both registered dieticians, wrote the book together. They understand the hectic schedules of moms and they understand the need for regular doses of chocolate. Isn’t that great?
Great information floods this book. I can’t possibly cover it all; you’ll have to grab your own copy, but here are a few of my favorite inclusions.
- When to buy organic vs. when the label is more expensive than it’s worth
- The difference between hunger and appetite, knowing when to eat
- Portion control, knowing how much to eat
- How to tell a fad diet from an authentic, healthy diet
- How to read labels and know what you’re really getting
- How to tell real health foods from “healthy” marketing tricks
- Tips for maintaining a balanced diet
- Ways to excercise with little ones under foot
There really is a ton of great stuff in here! From BMI charts and calorie suggestions to recipes, shopping lists, menus and more.
Like I said, I didn’t follow all the suggestions. I haven’t even finished reading the book, but what I have read makes tremendous sense and fits into my life. I can’t reconfigure my life around a weight-loss program, but I can control my portions. I can choose a healthy, delicious snack instead of a bag of chips. I can eat slower. I can dance with the kids and run around instead of popping in a video. These are easy steps. They’re small steps. And they’re making a difference.
Click here to purchase the book through Amazon.
You can visit the authors’ blog to find more tips and recipes. Also, click on the links below to visit other blogs on the tour this week. See what they have to say about it.
5 Minutes for Books
A Little Whine and Cheese
A Peek at My Bookshelf
Be Your Best Mom
Behind the Mountain
Blog Tour Spot
Bookish Mom Reviews
Camy’s Loft
Fictionary
Fit Family
i don’t believe in grammar
In God’s Image
In the Dailies
Kells Creative Musings
Lighthouse Academy
Mommy Snacks.Net
Mommy’s Must Haves
Momopoly
Quiverfullfamily.com
Real Women Scrap
Refresh My Soul
Roni’s Weigh
The Journey of Writer Danica Favorite
The Law, Books and Life
The Pitter Patter of Losing Pounds
The Sassy Pear
The Unadorned Book Review
wandering, wonderings of a whacked-out woman
Ruthie, sweet Ruthie
If you missed yesterday’s early post, you may not realize Ruthie is my laptop. You know, “where you go, I will go …” She’s been by my side faithfully for more than two years, but lately she’s not been feeling too well. What is the lifespan of a laptop?
The good news: Rick was able to revive her last night! She was up and running beautifully just long enough for me to back up all my stuff on Rick’s fortress in the basement and, just to be very thorough, on disk. She got stuck on a prompt just before bed, so I left her on overnight to finish the copying of files.
The bad news: this morning, she re-entered her coma.
I’m so sad! I’ve been joking for sometime that when she dies I’ll get mac. Have you heard of Scrivener? Well, it looks like a super cool – like really super cool! – writing program. It, however, only works on macs. So it’s been this running joke that I’ll quickly replace her with something newer and better, but now I just feel awful. Like a sleezy spouse reveling in a blatant affair. And my sweet Ruthie never knew how much I appreciate her, how much I adore her, how I couldn’t have done all this without her and …
Yes, I know it’s just a computer. But she’s my computer! The first one that has ever been all mine. Rick gave her to me after my first article was published. It’s symbolic of his faith in me, that he thinks I can do anything as long as I have the right tools. Isn’t he great? I love him.
Believe it or not, when I started this post, my purpose was not to stage a memorial service. Really. Now that that’s done, I can tell you: I’m still here! Ruthie may be on her last leg and quite unpredictable in her reliability, but I’ve got a lot coming up for you this week. Stay tuned! I shall brave the frigid basement and re-write posts all for you, my friends.
I’m participating in a book blog tour this week; I hope to have the post up later today or tomorrow. Also, I want to rehash Christmas a bit (with pictures!) and share some Sunday Morning Leftovers. You don’t want to miss it. So, even if I’m erratic in my posting, stick around.
Inauguration Thoughts
More often than not I script my life. I think about what I’ll say long before I say it. Usually this is a good habit, but sometimes it leaves me saying nothing. I worry too much about what others will think of me or my thoughts. This paralyzes my tongue and magnifies my timidity.
Today was an historic day! I was brought to tears while watching the ceremonies. We have come a long, long way in a very short time. However, keeping with my typical approach to politics, I’ve said nothing. There is much going on in my head, much I want to verbalize. So here it is, my uncensored thoughts about today’s inauguration.
President Obama is extremely eloquent. I understand he writes his own speeches. I find this impressive and admirable. In fact, this elevates my respect for him. He appears to be a brilliant man with lofty ambitions for our nation. I’m glad. Our nation needs someone who exudes strength, confidence and integrity. I see these in our new President. While I do not agree with all of his positions (abortion being the greatest dissidence), I believe he will serve our nation well. I hope and pray he will.
We stand at a precipice with a vast unknown before us. Change is coming, and I don’t know what form it will take. It’s a little scary, but it’s also exciting. I can rejoice today because whether or not I voted for this man, God chose him to lead our country. God sets all the kings and rulers in their place. I know our Creator is in control; I know my Savior reigns and He will have His way.
I was impressed with the send-off given to President Bush. Again, I don’t agree with everything he did or said, but God put him in this position for the time he held it. He served our country for eight long years and he deserves our respect. I am proud of President and First Lady Obama for sending off the Bushes in such an honorable way.
The commentator said this is the first time in history a newly elected president has escorted the retiring presidential family to their way home. The first time in forty-four presidents? How can that be? Perhaps it’s directly related to Laura Bush’s preparation for this transition. I read she mobilized the residential staff toward this move last spring. They started moving boxes of personal things out of the White House and Camp David last summer. By today all that remained of their belongings were two small suitcases.
Regardless of why it’s never been done before, I was happy to see it done today. It showed great respect in front of a nation who has not respected President George W. Bush. Whether or not his actions deem respect, his position does. I’m sad to admit too many of us have failed in that arena, especially over the last few years.
Much was said and speculated about Rick Warren’s presence and prayer. I think he did a great job.
I was surprised how frequently President Obama mentioned God in his speech. Surprised and delighted.
I am praying for our new President. I am praying for our government and our nation. I hope you are doing the same.
Mama Loves, a condensed version
Normally Tuesday mornings start with Mama Loves, an exercise in gratitude and positive perspective. This week, however, my planned post is postponed.
My laptop in on the fritz. Yes, I believe my beautiful Ruthie, whom I love and can’t live without, is dying. She has gone everywhere with me for two years and now, sadly, I think she’s worn out. Why does this affect Mama Loves? Well, all my stuff is on that laptop (my graphics, pictures, programs, writing stuff*) and I can’t access it until I can wake her up, so that puts me on The Man’s computer, a viable substitution, but just not the same.
The positive side of this situation? Hmmm … I’ll likely waste less time today. I may need to get a new laptop soon. That’s kind of cool … expensive, but cool. And I get to play around with the hubby’s computer fortress. Who knows what fun stuff I’ll find here in the frigid corner of this basement? I’ll probably get to play my guitar today! That’s definitely cool.
Mama loves challenges. Mama loves surprises. Mama loves that God is always in control.
* Don’t worry: I have backups of all my book proposals, manuscripts, outlines and notes. I just haven’t backed up my other stuff. Can you guess what I’ll work on as soon as Ruthie comes out of this coma?
