Difficult Decisions

Recently one of my daughters was presented with an amazing job opportunity that would require her to relocate several hundred miles away.  She and her husband carefully considered the options, prayed about it and both came to the conclusion that the job offer should be accepted.  They both felt good about the decision and all was well until the time of the move.  Then the doubts started creeping in.  It's so far away.  Did we make the right decision?  Am I going to like the job?  What if I DON'T like the job?  What have we done?!

Good bye beautiful Pacific Northwest!  It's going to be ok!

During a tearful phone call, I reminded her that both she and her husband felt that they were making the right decision and said that even though a decision is right doesn't mean that there won't be obstacles to face, difficulties to overcome and challenges to conquer.  So it is with all aspects of our life.

Sometimes we think that doing the right thing is going to be easy.  Not so.  Often the right way is the hard way.  Unfortunately, when things get hard, the temptation is to get discouraged, anxious or give up.  If only we exercised a little more faith, we'd see the rewards of our effort.  Most difficult choices (whatever they might be) result in personal growth and eventually, an affirmation that we chose well.  It just might take a little time to see past the initial fear of the unknown.

 When times get hard, don't lose sight of the reason you made your decision.  Don't let your emotions get in the way of an opportunity to gain new experiences and develop greater strength of character.  A decision carefully (and prayerfully) made will turn out ok.  Don't give up!

Educational Options - What's a parent to do?

The advertisements are everywhere.  The stores are bringing in new stock.  It's officially Back to School mode.  How can that be?  Summer barely started!  Oh well, with that reminder, let's think about some of the options you and your children have.

In the olden days, kids went to the local school and that was that.  A few children went to parochial school but they were few.  If you didn't like the school in your neighborhood, you either just lived with it or moved to a more desirable neighborhood and school.  Those were your options.

Now, it's infinitely more complicated.  Not only is the local school an option, but you can also choose from charter schools, magnet schools, alternative schools, online schools, homeschool, private schools, Montessori schools or a combination of any of the above.  What's a family to do?

The key to finding the right educational fit for your family is to educate yourself.  (Funny, huh?)  Every family, every child and every family's situation is different.  What works for one family might be totally wrong for another.  Originally, we chose to homeschool our children because my husband's work required traveling to different parts of the country.  We wanted to go with him, without disrupting our children's school work.  The answer?  Homeschool them and keep their curriculum consistent.  It worked for us.

Your job as your child's parent and advocate is to see that your child is learning what and how you think is best.  You need to know who your child's teachers are.  You need to know who their friends and their friend's parents are.   You need to know what is being taught in your child's grade.  Volunteer in the school.  Be informed and involved. 

You can't sit back and leave the education of your children to someone else.  Parenthood isn't for the lazy.  If you send your child to school, your job isn't finished.  Know what is going on.  If you homeschool, you can't sit back and do nothing.  You need to be actively involved and see that your child is learning according to set standards.

You can't assume that because your school worked for you that it will work for your child too.  Times have changed.  But, there are now far more options than there ever were when you were growing up.  Find out what they are.  Do what's best for YOUR child and YOUR family. 

The ultimate comfort food!

Do you want to impress your family and friends with an amazingly heavenly treat tomorrow for breakfast?  Give this recipe for homemade biscuits a try.  They are soooo good and super easy to make!

Homemade Biscuits
2 c. flour
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 cube butter, cold
1 c. buttermilk

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.   Wash your hands thoroughly.  This is a hands on project!

Cut butter in to chunks.  Set aside.

In medium size bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt.  Mix well with hands.

 Add the cut-up butter and start incorporating it into the flour mixture.  Keep working it until the mixture is crumbly with no large lumps of butter.

Now it's time to add the buttermilk.  I use a fork to start mixing and then use my hands to finish.  It's messy! You don't want to overwork the dough.  (That makes it tough and the biscuits won't rise very well.)  Mix until it all starts to hold together and can be formed into a ball.

In the picture, I'm about ready to switch from fork to hands.

Place the ball of dough onto a floured covered surface.  Knead it a couple of times.  Again, not too much!  The less you handle the dough, the better!

Roll to a thickness of about 1/2 inch.  In the picture, I'm using the rolling pin my grandmother (who was born in 1898) gave me when I was a teenager.  Every time I use it, I think of her!

Cut out biscuits.  Today I'm using a sippy cup because I like the smaller size.  :)  You can use a traditional biscuit cutter or any size cup you want.

Arrange biscuits on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 9-10 minutes, until very lightly browned on top.  I set my timer for 9 minutes and checked them.  They were perfect!

There's nothing left to do now but EAT THEM!

With jam or butter or just plain, they're a real treat! 
Hope you enjoy them!

Pregnancy is NOT an illness!

In this day and age of women empowerment, it's perplexing to see the number of women who treat pregnancy as an illness that requires special care.  True, there are actual pregnancy complications that endanger the life of mother or baby but those instances are rare.  The majority of pregnancies end in a happy and healthy outcome for both mother and baby.

Pregnancy is NOT an illness.  Our bodies were made to nurture and protect a growing baby inside us.  Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time and there doesn't seem to be any indication that this very normal process is going to end soon.  We are not an endangered species.  :)

So, with that in mind, it's wise to remember that life goes on.  An active, healthy mother-to-be is more likely to have an easier pregnancy, labor and delivery and quicker recovery.  Normal activities can and should be maintained.  Just as the athlete trains for peak performance, your pregnancy gives you nine months to "train" for the event of delivery.

Listen to your doctor.  Eat healthy.  (You AREN'T eating for two full grown adults!)  Exercise.  Join an exercise class if you don't feel motivated.  Read up on what is normal and what is not.  Be informed about your body and your growing baby.  Include your husband so he is informed too.

There are definite discomforts associated with being pregnant but if you remember that they're a normal effect of your changing body, they are more tolerable.  Take care of yourself and enjoy the miracle that is taking place inside you.  The reward for your efforts will be a happy, healthy baby and a happy, healthy YOU!

Self Discipline = ACTION

It is said that the key to having a successful blog is to write regularly.  Well...it's been exactly three months since I wrote a post.  Oops!!!  In my defense, it's been a busy and somewhat stressful three months but it's time to get back in the habit of writing.  Which ties in directly to my post today...

Wouldn't it be nice to have perfect self-discipline?  Think of it...getting up on time each day, exercising regularly, resisting the cheesecake in the refrigerator, cleaning the house according to a schedule, making and keeping all the well-child check-up appointments, changing the oil in your car every three months, putting aside Facebook and Pinterest for self-improvement and on and on...

I always have good intentions to make better use of my time every day but it occurred to me that to be self-disciplined requires discipline!  It sounds like a "which came first, the chicken or the egg?"  dilemma.  And in that example, it doesn't really matter, does it?  Whether it takes discipline to become self-disciplined or self-discipline develops discipline, is irrelevant.  What does matter is action...the ability to get up and do something!

Brian Tracy wrote that, "Self-discipline is the ability to do what you know you should do, whether you feel like it or not."  Therein lies the key...doing.  I find that if someone is depending on me for something, I have no problem remembering and following through.  Maybe that's why lists are so helpful for so many people.  They are a visual reminder of a commitment or task that needs completing.  Rewarding yourself for completing a task is another way to develop discipline.  Whatever motivates you to get moving, take advantage of it! 

Knowing there is room for improvement in your life is a good step in the right direction but knowing isn't enough.  There has to be some form of action.  And with action and perserverence comes success. 

What motivates YOU?

How NOT to train a child

The ear-splitting shrieks caught my attention as I glanced over at the table where a young family was eating dinner in the restaurant.  I watched the interaction between the father and the toddler (surreptitiously, of course) and wondered if the dad realized what he was doing.  The little guy was drinking from a sippy cup and the dad grabbed the cup and took it away from him.  The result was instant (and loud!) prolonged shrieking.  After a minute or so, the dad gave the cup back to his son.  The son quieted down until dear old dad did the same thing, over and over again.  The little boy wasn't laughing - he was mad!  He wanted his cup!

The dad thought it was great fun making his little boy scream and shriek but what he was really doing was teaching his son that if you want something, all you have to do is scream and you'll get it.  Is this what he REALLY wants to teach?

Usually as parents we want to reinforce GOOD behavior and not bad.  All I can say is good luck to this clueless dad!

What's Cooking? Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew Squares

Today I found the most amazing, delicious recipe!  It is a copy-cat recipe for KIND bars - chewy, slightly sweet, nutty and packed with protein!  You can find the original on the blog http://www.theyummylife.com/Homemade_KIND_Bars.  The directions are super clear and the blogger (Monica) has recipes for eight different varieties.

I need to bring a "healthy" treat to an activity tonight so I thought I'd try these bars.  I had most of the ingredients and played around with substituting those I didn't have.  The results were better than I hoped for!  I cut them into squares for the activity...smaller, bite-sized pieces are better than large, substantial bars.

Here's my adapted recipe for Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew bars/squares -

• 2 cups whole unsalted almonds, coursely chopped (I used my VitaMix)
• 3/4 cup unsalted cashew pieces
• Combine nuts and spread onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
• Pour into large bowl.
• 
  
• 1/2 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup craisins, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup Rice Krispies
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed 
• Add these to bowl with nuts.
•  
• In 2 quart sauce pan mix the following-
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla 
• Cook over medium high heat until a candy thermometer reaches 260 degrees.  
• Remove from heat and  pour over nut and fruit mixture.  Stir quickly and thoroughly.
• Scrape mixture into greased 9x13 pan and press down firmly so the mixture is tightly packed.
• Wait about 15 minutes.  Turn upside down onto cutting board and cut into bars or squares.
• Drizzle with chocolate (The recipe says optional but I say necessary!)
•  

  

  Needs chocolate!

  
  
• FOR CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE (optional) -
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Combine chocolate chips and oil in Ziploc quart freezer bag.  Microwave in 20 second increments (for a total of about 1 minute), kneading and mixing chips after each 20 seconds until thoroughly melted.
• Snip off tiny corner of bag and drizzle chocolate over bars/squares.  
• When chocolate has set, eat! 

Melting chocolate in a baggie is so much easier than in a bowl!  Less clean-up afterwards too!

For variations as well as very helpful tips and photographs, I hope you check out Monica's wonderful  blog!