Book Review: Real Simplicity

This is the book I just read.  It really has me thinking about getting to know my neighbors and structuring my day to enjoy relationships in the evenings.  It also reaffirms what Mike and I have been doing over the past years, and one of the big issues I started blogging about:  slowing down and focusing on important relationships  and priorities.  We have limited our evening activities, so that we can spend time with our family, having a relaxing meal where we enjoy talking about the events of the day.  Then, we spend time together.  This book has many more ideas that we have not yet implemented, which I have to think through and try out before I am totally on board.  Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book.  Who knows?  It may have some ideas you may want to try, too. 
Here is a link which gives some exerpts. 
Real Simplicity by Rozanne and Randy Frazee

More Than I can Handle

 

Some days, I just want to stay in bed.  This morning, the kids came in, laughing, with a Dora backpack, singing "Backpack backpack."  I prayed to God for strength, then went back to sleep.  Then later, Blane came in a said, "Dit up." (Get up)  Then, I mustered all strength and slid out of bed.  I went directly to fix coffee.  On the way, I stumbled upon Blane's mess of beads he had spread all over the boy's room.  Last night, Blane was coughing so I had to get him medicine twice, and I kept listening to him cough.  On a morning like this, I ask, "How will I teach these kids today?"

 

Many days, I get overwhelmed with all that has to be done, normal cleaning, laundry, teaching, and the big one, chasing my cute boy around and cleaning up his messes.  Sometimes, I feel like I have taken on more than I can handle.  Some days, everyone seems to need extra attention, and I have no more to give.

 

God is teaching me that in my weakness, He can show His strength.  I have heard that over and over, but I am trying to claim that.  I just read the book Kisses from Katie.  She talks about how people say, "God won't give you more than you can handle."  She says that she does not believe this is true, because when we have more than we can handle, we turn to God and He will give us strength or He will show Himself strong.  I also believe this is true.  God is at work, in our weakness.  God used weak and sinful people throughout the Bible.  Often, we remember the stories and speak of great heroes of the Bible, as if they were great people.  In reality, they were scared, weak, or sinful, but God decided to use them for His purposes. 
 

John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  (NIV) 
As I am with my kids all day, I need the fruits of the spirit.  I need joy and love and patience.  Hey, I need all of them more!  I can't have these fruits without God making these grow in my life.
 

Philippians 4: 13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (NIV)  So I can do all things through Christ, and nothing without Christ.  I need Christ to do the work in my life as I remain in Him and obey Him.

During these winter months, when my heart grows restless and I want off from school, even more than my kids, I am brought back to these verses.  Psalm 119: 36-37 says, "Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.  Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." (NIV)  May each of us cling to Christ each day, for strength, for fruit that we long to see in our lives, and for hope of eternity. 

 

 

 

Hummus and Vegetable Sandwiches: Hummus Recipe Included

Here is a fun way to get everyone to eat their vegetables!  I enjoy trying vegetarian sandwiches in restaurants, so I thought, why not make my own?  Even the kids liked them, although they didn't add all the veggies. 
Slice and set out vegetables on a plate.
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Red Onions
Lettuce
Mushrooms
(and any other vegetables that work for you)
Slice an avocado too!  Their creamy texture and delicious flavor adds a lot to the sandwich!

 











Hummus:
1-2 garlic cloves
1 can organic garbanzo beans, drained, then add back liquid to  (I found you even have to check the ingredients on garbanzo bean cans!)
1/4 c. Tahini (sesame paste)
(then add more to taste)
1/4 c. lemon juice (or to taste)
salt to taste
Mix all ingredients in food processor or blender.
Add back bean liquid to the desired consistency.


Then, when the family is gathered, each person can prepare their own sandwich.  We used potato rolls, which were a favorite of my grandma Gerlach. 

Hope you like them!

Whole-Wheat Brownies: Slade Approved

Slade loves to bake.  I think it is because he likes to lick the spoons, bowls, and get an extra piece of dessert!  No matter, he does a great job making these brownies.  Usually, Slade does not want to make the "healthy dessert."  However, even Slade likes these Whole Wheat Brownies.  You can't go wrong with real butter and brown sugar.  I would not call these healthy because of the sugar, but at least they have whole wheat flour and are not from a box with all kinds of ingredients you can't pronounce. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vote With Your Pocketbook: Great Finds at the Grocery Store

 

We really do vote with our pocketbooks! The money we spend for an item will bring changes in the grocery store. I am noticing this as I shop, and it encourages me to spend a little more for an item I want to keep in the store.

Here are some great finds:

Stores:

Aldies has organic lettuce and spinach! (Hopefully, your local Aldies does too.) I love Aldies for their low prices, so I was thrilled when I saw organic options. Right now, I don't have any lettuce or spinach in my garden. (I killed the lettuce in my cold-frame.) They also had fair trade dark chocolate, organic chicken broth, organic diced tomatoes, and organic bananas. The cashier said, "If you want the organic things to stay, people need to buy them." 

 

Weis Markets is getting a larger organic section. They also have great Feta and Parmesan cheese in blocks, without added ingredients. This is one of my latest changes.  It takes a little more work and money, but is worth every penny. Feta cheese with black olives on a salad is delicious.

Miller's Country Store in Hanover, PA is a wonderful store for flours, grains, beans, honey, coconut oil, yeast, and nuts. They have great prices. They are moving closer to Hanover, so it may be worth the trip for some of you.

Brands:

Heinz ketchup now has organic ketchup and Simply Heinz which does not have high fructose corn syrup.

Wasa crackers and Triscuit original only have a few good ingredients. (Most crackers have all kinds of crazy ingredients)

Mainly, as Michael Pollan says in his book In Defense of Food, go for the potatoes, vegetables and fruit, which will not be advertised with big signs claiming low fat or low sugar. Yet, these are the best finds in the market. Remember, vote with your pocketbook.

Do you know of some healthy finds at your grocery store?