Seasons of Survivial

April 12, 2013

Sometimes daily life has such a beautiful steady rhythm to it.

Getting up early is [almost] easy. There is time to read the Bible, exercise, and get dressed before the kids wake up.

There is energy to cover the basics of child-training and homeschooling and then explore the world together. After all the normal housework is done, there is time to pursue goals and cross things of the to-do list. 

It’s a season of bounty and blessing.

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Then something happens.

Maybe it’s a protracted sickness, or job loss, or tragedy, or maybe even the blessing of welcoming a new child into your home.

Suddenly, you enter a season of survival. Just getting the basics done becomes a struggle and the to-do list sits untouched for weeks.

Follow me over to Little Natural Cottage to read the rest. 

Linked up at Mama Moments, Growing Home, Encourage One Another, Walking Redeemed, Our Simple Country Life, & Proverbs 31

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Onions for Bruises (& Tumbles!)

February 5, 2013

Today’s topic: another great use for onions (besides helping break up congestion. And flavoring food, of course!)  But first, a funny story:

Last Wednesday dawned sunny and beautiful. The kids and I all got up earlier than we have of late. After a holiday on Monday and sick day on Tuesday, I determined that today WILL be productive. We’ll get lots of school done. We’ll do extra cleaning. And I’ll spend time just enjoying the kiddos.

With that resolution, I skipped down the stairs to rescue the 3-year-old from the bathroom. We were out of toilet paper. So back up the stairs I ran. On the way to restock, I noticed little Meg peeking her head out from the crib with a smile. So, with three rolls of toilet paper and my water bottle in one hand and Meg and her cozy blanket in the other, I hurried back down the stairs to a now quite impatient little boy.

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At the landing, my socks slipped.

Toilet paper went flying. The water bottle landed halfway down the stairs. And I fell down the stairs face-forward. In the split second it took to hit bottom, I managed to pull Meg close to me and brace our landing with my free hand… and my foot.

Thankfully, Meg was cushioned well, but I landed hard. As the room started darkening and my ears started ringing, I cried out that God wouldn’t let me pass out in front of the shocked and horrified face of my sensitive five-year-old. Instantly, the darkness faded.

(Rose also prayed “God! God help!” Later, when I told her that God has answered our prayers, she said, “But I wasn’t really praying.” It was such a privilege to get to explain to her that we can call upon God when we’re in trouble, just like she would call for me to help. And that He answers!)

I was filled with gratitude… but hardly able to move. I finally managed to crawl to the couch, all plans for a productive morning vanished. Rose and Will (who managed to get himself out of the bathroom by himself) got breakfast ready all by themselves. It was so fun to watch them serve so cheerfully, even if it did take almost an hour!

I can’t help but smile whenever I think of our “productive” morning turned on its head. Especially since there was no real damage, except to my foot.

Which brings us back to onions.

I’m not quite sure how (except maybe that I’m talented like this, you know), but the top of my right foot took most of the brunt of our fall. Moving or touching it send throbbing pain through my whole body. Even keeping it perfectly still, it hurt.

Then I remembered reading that onions are really good for healing bruises and falls in 10 Essential Herbs (a new favorite herbal book !)

After I was able to get up, I cut off a big slice of onion and slid it under my sock against the foot and left it there the rest of the day. The onion helped ease the pain and (I think) prevent swelling.  If I hadn’t have run out of onions, it might even have prevented any bruising at all!

 Do your “productive” days ever turn out quite unexpectedly? 

Linked up at Mama Moments, Growing Home, Encourage One Another, Healthy 2Day, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways,Works for Me, Wild Crafting Wednesday, Walking Redeemed, Our Simple Country Life, Proverbs 31, Natural Living, & Simple Lives

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Our Sisters Came South: Visit Recap

May 22, 2012

It’s hard to believe it’s Tuesday already! Sorry I’ve been so absent around here lately! Life offline has been keeping me busy.

Last week, two of my sisters and two of Joshua’s sisters came down to visit. Our house is already on the small side for a family of five, so four extra made it nice and cozy. It kinda felt like camping inside!

I’m going to miss these cozy memories when we move, so I’m trying to enjoy each day now, so I don’t have regrets later.

Four years after moving here, I finally toured one of the local landmarks. It’s funny how sometimes it takes out-of-state guests to get you to visit the attraction right down the street!

We toured a beautiful mansion that was built during the Civil War. There’s something sobering about hearing the story of a home that has housed many generations summed up in 15 minutes. It maks you realize just how fleeting life is!

During the Depression, this mansion was turned into an apartment complex. 13 families split the home and shared the one bathroom and one kitchen communally. (That made our sleeping arrangements for the week seemed rather roomy!)

The massive mirror behind us survived Sherman’s troops and was shipped all the way across the South. It must have taken a mini army just to move! 

 We also went on picnics, rode horses, toured some more, played games, went thrift store shopping, stayed up late watching movies/talking, and visited a local fountain park multiple times. The last time, I decided to be adventurous and join the others who were sliding down a tall kid’s slide. But my swim shorts were so slippery I flew down, lost my balance, and landed with a thud on the rock-hard dirt.

When I recovered from the shock, I couldn’t stop laughing, despite the fact that laughing made it hurt even worse. Maybe I’m getting too old… but at least it was a funny memory.

Ride horses or play in the dirt? Can you guess which one Will preferred? 

Will couldn’t stop crying when they left and we’re counting down the weeks until we see them again…and will probably still be eating leftovers til then. Apparently I way overestimated the amount of food four young ladies can eat.

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Perspective and a Bug’s Life

May 2, 2012

Twenty years from now, when my children are grown and I am consistently getting a full night’s sleep, I’m sure I’ll laugh to look back and see how often sleep (or lack of sleep!) seemed worthy of a blog post.

But, my kids aren’t grown and sleep still seems blog-worthy. Which means sleep will, once again, be the springboard for today’s post.

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Will skipped his nap most of last week but yesterday morning, he woke up bright and early. And tired. It was clear he would need  (and take) a nap.

I greatly looked forward to a bit of quiet while the children napped.

But, just as I laid Will down for his nap, Meg (who shares a room with the big kids now) woke up extra early. I spent the next hour fruitlessly trying to get her back to sleep. Finally, I gave up.

I was frustrated. Really frustrated. My well-laid plans had been spoiled by events that really weren’t in my hands. My expectations were not filled. Now I didn’t get to enjoy that much-anticipated quiet that I thought I needed.

Though I knew it was silly (and sinful) to be upset over something so trivial, I kept struggling with anger.

Then I walked into the kitchen. Earlier, I had captured a bee-like insect in the bottom of a glass. Now it was on its back, struggling for air.

As the insect fought for life, I stood and watched him for a minute.

And it struck me just how small I am. The world does not revolve around me and my little needs and wants. Though a human’s lifespan is (thankfully) longer than an insects, it is still “like a vapor.” In the vast view of things, my life makes up about as much of the story as that little bug.

But, the glorious part is that, despite our smallness, we are not “like flies to wanton boys.” God Himself, in human flesh, laid down His life to save us!

With those thoughts in mind, it was hard to be upset about not getting a nap.

[Oh, and as a "thank you" to the bug for my attitude adjustment, he is now at loose in the great outdoors.]

 Linked up at  Growing Home, Encourage One Another, Homemaking Linkup, Women Living Well, Hearts 4 Home Thursdays, Proverbs 31 Thursday & Finer Things Friday

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9 Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips

April 12, 2012

Do you ever have “duh” moments in the kitchen? I do.

My latest involved a should-be-obvious kitchen tip: Keep the lid on while your food is cooking.

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Earth-shattering, huh? For over a decade, I’ve happily cooked away while letting all that steam escape into the kitchen.

Now I’m scratching my head wondering why it took so long to grasp this simple time & money-saving tip! [Especially since Joshua has several times asked, "Don't you want the lid on that, babe?"]

No wonder my kitchen got so hot before!

Summer is right around the corner. Avoiding unnecessary heat in the kitchen is a big money (and comfort) saver. Here are a few other ideas:

  1. Fill the grill. Grill dinner, but also grill the meats you’ll need for the coming week. (See Amy’s example here!)
  2. Maximize the oven heat. If the oven has to be on, don’t just bake one item. Slip potatoes in while your bread is baking. Slide a couple loaves of quick bread for the freezer next to dinner, etc.
  3. Leave the oven door shut until you need to open it. Once you’ve made a recipe and know how long it takes to cook in your oven, jot down exactly how many minutes it takes. That way next time you don’t have to check it multiple times (and spill hot air into the kitchen!)
  4. Turn off the oven and let things finish baking while the oven cools. (Easy way to cook granola. Another brilliant idea from Amy! It must be hot in Texas, or something.)
  5. Do the same thing with the stove.
  6. Use the crockpot. If you can safely plug it in on the porch or in the garage, all the better!
  7. Use the freezer: fry up a big batch of hamburger, double/triple dinner, etc. Freeze the extras
  8. Plan ahead. Frozen food heats up much faster when it’s thawed…. especially if you don’t have a microwave.
  9. ….and don’t forget to put the lid on when you’re cooking!

What about you? How do you keep your kitchen a little less hot during the summer? 

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Feminine Adventures

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And now, join Jenn (from The Purposeful Mom) and me for our weekly Thrifty Thursday Blog Hop!

Posts about living frugally, thrifty tips and tricks, money-saving DIY projects and gardening, frugal recipes, and encouraging posts on financial stewardship are all welcome. Link up to either of our blogs–your post will be displayed in both places.

We’d be very grateful if you’d share only thrifty-themed posts. (Read full guidelines here)

Linked up at Homemaker by Choice, Consider the Lilies & Delight Thyself

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