Found a new blog while searching for Vegan menus. Fimby is full of natural things and simple beauty.

I spent Saturday trying to find alone time. I let the boys play games and veg. But, first I knocked out the pile of dishes and laundry. I gave each boy one major chore. Little flower got herself a really plush bed and lots of babies in her giant play pen. I think I really needed that. I knew I wouldn't get to go anywhere and my fuse was short. But, it sure feels good.

::Things I need to do this week::
Finishing revamping chorepacks
Wash all the windows...they get dirty and moldy over the winter since the back half of the house is partially in the ground.
Oldest is hanging up the laundry we got behind on.
Read more in Siblings without rivalry...these boys drive me nuts. I get tired of yelling, leave me alone and the oh so popular..you are such a turd.
Make a Trader Joes list. I realize we haven't been there in a few months. Seems strange.

What is important. What is doable.

I am reading the above book. I will try to keep track of some notes here. There is this quote from page 18, "What seems the most important is usually not; what is most doable is the place to begin. If. you do enough that is doable, you will get to the important, and your motivation will be fueled byyour success."

I think I try to tell this to my children, but I definitely don't do it for myself. I make countless schedules and routines. Yet, I have yet to work on the things that keep our routines from working. I think it would be better if I worked on improving mealtime and bedtimes. Bedtimes used to include candles and lots of books. Now they are usually TV with Dad at a horribly late time while Mom passes out in the bedroom. Dad misses this time, but no one is doing anything about it.

Meals and Money or Money and Meals

I'm not doing so bad when I enter our income into the Global Rich List.  That's a fun little tidbit worth checking out if you are feeling a little down and out about your yearly income or your mediocre food bill.  

Some of those cheap meals we have been eating (and in no particular order):

• Spaghetti with two types of sauce & garlic toast.  A family member gifted us with some pantry staples from their overflowing pantry.  Spaghetti was one of those.  My kids are eating a ton of bread lately.  I made garlic toast out of all the leftover pieces of bread my children refuse to eat.  They always leave a few pieces in the bag.  I just spread with butter or Earth Balance and some garlic and Italian seasoning. 
• Chickpea salad spread melts.  We were out of pickles and relish (egads what will we do), so we used jalapeno olives instead.  It was delish.  This was spread heavily on pieces of bread, topped with thin slices of fresh tomato, sprinkled with cheese for those who eat it, and sprinkled with Italian Seasoning (from one of those nifty McCormick Grinder thingies).
• Teriyaki Tofu, Brown Rice, and salad with Goddess Dressing.  Trader Joes has a private label dressing that is so delicious.  I used to hate this stuff,  but it's the only salad dressing I like now.  I ate the leftovers at the gym the next day.  Just piled it up and put more dressing on the top.  
• Lasagna is on the menu currently.  A giant pan came from a family member.  Unfortunately for me, it contains lots of meat and cheese.  Both of which I vowed to give up after Mother's Day.  (I feel better by the way!) I'll probably grab some salad to go with it tomorrow.
• White Chili is on the menu for those not eating lasagna.  I made two pounds of beans, so I'm hoping that lasts 3 days because of that lasagna.  Made it in the crockpot, too.  Can't beat cheap and crockpot and doesn't make me sick when I eat it.
• I had planned on pizza after the chili was all eaten up.  

5 Years

I was editing a post this morning.  I decided to look back on my posts.  I realize I have been blogging for over 5 years now.  I started with Xanga, move to blogger, moved to wordpress, and then moved back over here.

That is such a long time.  My kids are 5 years older.  I only had three back then and one was just a baby.  Where did all that time go.  What were my goals and dreams back then?  We have moved three times since then.  The adults have gone back to school.  We have added another child to our family.

I've changed a lot during that time.  I've relaxed.  I've grown.  I've tried new foods.  So, have the kids.

We took a short break in there to try public school again.  The oldest went to half of Grade 4.  The second went to a fabulous K program and half of a not-so fabulous Grade 1 program.  The third child has not attended any schooling, although he has been in speech therapy for two years.  And, then there is the youngest.  Who I pray will never attend school.

In 5 years, it will be 2015.  Our oldest will be graduating and be just turning 18, the next will have just turned 15, then 11, and a Kindergartner.  Now that my friends will be a crazy year.  I bet I cry a lot that year.  I bet I will have changed a lot by then.

But, goals, thoughts, guesses on my future.  It seems so very wrong to do.  How can I do that to my family?  How about hopes....

I hope...
               we are still homeschooling
                         we live on Vashon or in Ojai
                                  my husband has a profession he loves
                                           I've finally found a hobby I love or written a book
                                              we are happy and strong
                                 our oldest is going out into the world with God in his heart
                        I've gotten my hands in some good organic earth
                 I can decorate a cake without it falling apart
            I've experienced dreads
       I've sailed on a boat with my husband
 I'm no longer afraid of the water
            

And where have you been..

I've been vomiting.

See ticker in right hand corner.

We are all very excited. My wonderful husband is in charge of everything. I'm in charge of sleeping and vomiting and the occasional bath. If my laptop hadn't died I would probably be on here quite a bit. But, alas a computer by the kitchen isn't cutting it for my body right now.

I did get sea bands and that's helping. But, I'm hoping my midwife will give me some medication. I've never been so sick before.

Preparing for God's plans...

and not our own.

I've not been around for awhile. I've been busy finishing up school. I've got one more class I have to take to get my Associates. But, I'm going to take a few quarters off. Then I'll be taking only one class a quarter. I don't need a foreign language because I had French in High School. But, I've decided I should be better prepared. So, I plan on taking 3 quarters in Japanese. I want to take Ceramics at least once more. Then I need that darn Science class with lab.

But, God has been putting so much on our hearts lately. We have felt like we are battling unseen forces..so I guess we are right? At least that is what our Pastor talked about today when he taught on Job. We have found a new church, it's a good fit! We actually have two. One for Saturday night and one for Sunday morning. Our oldest prefers the church we go to on Saturday night, so we compromise. It's not like you can really fight with a kid who wants to go to church twice on the weekend.

We both feel ready to move on. But, we don't know where to go. We both feel overwhelmed with burdens, the house, the chores, and stuff. We are really sensitive people. We could never work 9-5 and survive. We would have a nervous breakdown.

God is getting us ready. He is calling us to him and asking for us to prepare. We have no idea what for. But, so far these are the plans he has been sharing:
He wants us to rely on him
to simplify our household
to let go of our connection to our possessions
to reconnect and build the relationship we have as a family

So, we have been
cleaning,
condensing,
praying,
and finally tithing.

I've been working on really loving my husband.
Not just when he behaves or performs to my standards.
But, for all the things that make him who he is.