Making Yogurt and a 'Lightbulb' Moment

Yes, I am slowly making the switch in our household from uber processed foods and drinks to more natural kitchen items.  Now, that does not mean that an occasional Tombstone pizza and oreos might not make their way onto my table but we're making progress.  We've traded those fish shaped crackers for the organic bunny rabbit ones. :)  Our fruit snacks, milk, and other items have been replaced with more natural or organic counterparts.  Now, we're starting to go for the personal items.  Hand soap, deodorant, and body wash are now laced with essential oils and all natural ingredients.  Who knew?  Well, apparently God gave us all of the things we needed to survive and over the centuries we changed and combined ingredients to make foods, bath and body items, and household products into some of the most dangerous substances around.  In my quiet time reading today I read Matthew 5.  In verse 14 and 15 it talks about being the light of the world.  What struck me in my light bulb moment, was that the end of the verse talks about all those in our house should see our light.  I've known this verse for years and I've always thought of it as a world view concept.  However, with the changes in our home it helps me to think we are starting to let our light shine to each other in our home.  My children will grow up using essential oils to help calm them instead of a chocolate cupcake fix.  Hopefully, my light shines in other ways but, for now it gives me peace to know that, albeit slowly, these small healthy changes allow my light to glow a bit brighter in my house and then maybe I can add in the world later! :) 

In his hands,
Lisa



For all of you that are interested, here is the web page with the recipe for my homemade 'crockpot' yogurt we've switched to.  Love it!  Simple but takes a bit of time!

http://www.aliciashomemaking.com/2010/08/homemade-yogurt-in-crockpot.html

It's Spring...finally!

Spring, newness, rebirth, green, warm...er, flowers, robins, so many things happen in Spring.  It sure took it's time this year but I think we may have finally arrived.  As my husband rakes up all of the dead leaves, grass, and dog poop from the winter, the kids run around like they've been starved for the sunlight and fresh air.  They don't know what to do first!  Plant a flower, bring out the croquet game, or just stand and twirl.  In the back yard, they've discovered a robin's nest.  With excited shrieks they fight for position to check and see if there are any little blue eggs.  "Not yet!" they decided as a team.  We'll check back later.  Later happens to be about 15 minutes.  After the joy of drawing with chalk has worn off. 
As this excited little dance goes on, I am on the back porch, soaking in all of the plans I may or may not be able to do this year.  A garden over here?  Raised beds or not?  Flowers in which pots, herbs in another?  What about a little table and chairs?  Or maybe a picnic bench?  When I grow...how will I preserve it?  Freezing?  Canning?  Drying?  All he while, my DH is counting the hours and coins in his pocket to see if a quick 9 holes may be an option. 

Ahhhh, Spring. The newness, the hope it brings.  At least until we are couped up again with the AC on during the season of Summer....  Ahhhh Summer. lol!

A Modern Girl Longing For A Simpler Time

Air conditioning, microwaves, cable tv, Wii video games, internet, and indoor plumbing.  These are just a few things that our family uses on a regular basis.  As we are diligent about how often we watch tv or play on the computer/video games, we still have them in our homes and enjoy them.  However, I find myself teaching my children during our school time about simpler times.  Practical things like placing the harvest in the cool cellar to last longer or working together as a family to enjoy a night by the fire with stories and apple cider.  To make butter, bread, and a fully homemade meal everyday without fail is almost more than I can fathom.  Getting a craving for ice cream and having to milk the cow, go to the ice house and chip away some blocks of lake ice, AND to wait for 6-7 hours for it to freeze in said blocks of lake ice brings us away from instant gratification.Can you just imagine?  "Boy, I'd love some burgers and fries right now.  Well dear, do we have any of the smoked beef left in the attic from butchering time?  No?  Well, I guess it's rabbit stew or veggie omelets than." 
Or how about that Valentine's dance that's coming up?  Most people didn't have the stores to go and just "pick up" a new dress and shoes.  (not to mention accessories!)  The wool fabric would have to be dyed, than weaved on the loom, then cut, and sewn to make a plain simple outfit and the shoes FOR THE YEAR would just have to do.  Boy, and we complain about having to drive 20 minutes to pick up some new pjs! 
Well people, I think we have it pretty easy.  We live in a time of excess.  We take so much for granted and don't take the time to appreciate it.  We all are born at a certain time period for a reason but every once in awhile we need to look back at whom have come before us and be grateful.  I was born at the right time.  I would not make it without AC or flushing toilets and I can spread my thoughts out into the great wide world with the computer but, I need to remember the simpler times when a handful of popcorn took 3 months to grow out in the front yard and a whole day to pick and peel off the ear.  Remember those simpler times when you complain that your Blu-Ray isn't working right!

In his everloving hands,
Lisa

Childhood Stories

My beautiful daughter turned 7 years old this past weekend.  While we were eating breakfast as a family at the world's most popular fast food restaurant...  she asked to hear stories of my childhood.  She and my son giggled as I told them different stories that told about their extended family.  While talking with my mom later that day, she suggested that I write the memories down in my own words. 
So, here is the start of a series of family stories. 

I thought I'd start with a story of faith and compassion.  Before I begin, I have to preface that my parents are wonderful parents!  They were also extremely poor when I was young.  Poor to the point of taking their daughter's leftovers for their lunch.  My mom would hope I wouldn't finish all of my yogurt! However, I never wanted for anything.  All of my needs were met, especially love and faith. 

When I was about 8 years old, or in second grade or so, we were preparing for a Thanksgiving meal.  Now, my dad was in medical school and gone quite a bit.  My mom was a homemaker and stayed at home with my brother, sister, and myself.  (my youngest sister came quite a few years later! )  I remember mom making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Yup, that's what we had at the end of the month, even for Thanksgiving.  As a kid you just don't understand the internal struggle parents go through when you don't have the things you'd like to give your kids and can't.  (I have a better idea now)  So, I asked my mom if I could go and play in the back yard.  As she was facing the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches she said I could go out without looking my way.  With a smile and a desire to make a speedy escape to outside I didn't watch where I was going.  The next thing I know, I was face down on our porch!  When I looked to see what I had tripped on and my mom came around the door to see that I was ok we both sat there gaping with our mouths wide open.  There were about 4 or 5 bags full of groceries.  Including a full Thanksgiving meal.  The rest of my memory is fuzzy but I know the happy feeling that always comes from that story.  You see, we were members of a church that had such an amazing amount of compassion.  As an adult my parents have told me that on more than one occasion extra money had mysteriously found its way into their bank account during that hard time.  I don't think my folks were ever really open with others about their struggles but they did ask for prayer and prayed for others.  Even today, my mom is fairly diligent with her daily quiet time, praying for others and especially for me and my siblings.  A bit of faith, a pinch of compassion, and a heaping spoonful of prayer gets us all through those tough times. 

In his hands,
Lisa

Moderation

So, a lot of my friends that know me know that I have been trying to lead a healthier lifestyle.  One of the ways I have been doing this is substituting.  I will take my favorite things that I eat or drink and switch the ingredients with healthier alternatives.  For example, the other day I went thru the drive thru at my fav local coffee shop.  I ordered a 1/2 caf, (yes, half the caffeine) sugar free black and white,(dark chocolate and white chocolate) skinny, (skim milk) and no whip. (no whip cream) Oh yeah, and iced, not blended mind you, ICED.  After I spit my order out at the poor girl at the window who had to get it straight, I sat back with a sense of accomplishment.  It takes a lot to get that order right ya know!  I started my usual banter with the girl while my drink was being made.  (I love the customer service at this place, they usually have one person stationed at the window to be face to face with you while you wait.)  After a bit, I noticed the girl was giggling to herself.  I asked her what was so funny?  She said she was happy to see I had ordered my drink the right way.  Most people come in and order all the 'diet' stuff, (sugar free, skim milk, etc) and then top it off with a huge thing of whip cream.  I laugh because that is probably the thing I struggle with the most.  To whip or not to whip?!!!  Ha! I am reminded of a Simpsons sketch where Homer orders a huge order and a diet coke.  At the last second he orders everything deep fried, including the bag and diet coke!  So, I say, "MODERATION!"  We find that if you go 'hard core' into one end or the other one will crash and burn but, if we slowly make changes they tend to stick a bit longer.  So, here's to the big dollop of whip cream on my next coffee.  Just maybe when that girl isn't working at the window.  ( I don't want to look like a quitter) LOL!


In his hands,
Lisa

The Rain Finally Cometh!

FINALLY!  The rain finally came thru and actually hit our home!  It has been a long long drought in this area.  I know the farmers are praying that it is enough to bring back their crops.  We were just tired of the excessive heat and the brown lawns.  You would think, being so close to a river, we would have extremely moist ground but the plant life can only take so much!  Since, it has been awhile for the rain...  I actually saw that they had updated the fire danger to Extreme!  I honestly don't think I've ever seen it to that level!  Well, I really pray that the rain will continue for awhile.  Of course after 3 or 4 days of non-stop rain, remind me that I said that!  Ha! 

I'm holding my first vendor show for Tupperware and I'm just a bit on the nervous/excited side of things!  I've always just been a shopper at these shows so I'm trying to think on those lines of things.  My bags are packed with products I believe in and use, I have wonderful deals and gift baskets, and my schedule is ready for bookings.  I think this should be a good show!  It kinda has to be.  Our family now depends on my success here and in my future parties.  As the economic tide turns, my home based business friends and I have been seeing our businesses turn from something fun to do and meet new people, to a viable income necessary to our familys' survival.  While they may only bring enough to pay for one household bill, it's that one bill that the main income doesn't have to cover.  Well, I pray the rain actually makes you smile today!

In his hands,

Lisa

I Love our Library!

Ok, so it's late and I didn't have a moment to write at all today.  So, I know I've said how much I enjoy our library here in La Crosse already but, seriously; they are amazing!!!We signed up for the summer reading program this year and the kids are flying thru it.  It's an adventure in space.  Each week they have a checklist of things they need to do.  Starting with at least 5 items being 10-20 minutes of reading time.  Next they have something like check out a funny book, or a book about animals, etc.  Then it's something creative like make up a story and tell it to your folks, or write a letter to your favorite character.  Next there is do an activity at the Library.  There are many little stations, from picking an ice cream stick with a call number on it and finding the book wtihout help, to picking out a wrapped up book and not seeing what it is until you have checked it out.  Finally, there are activities planned specifically for the summer that the kids can participate in.  After they have done so many check lists they get to pick out a free book at the end of the summer!  Love it!  Anyway, today we participated in an amazing field trip at the library and with the exception of no a/c on the school bus, it was great!  We went to the planitarium at the University.  My kids were a bit nervous about being in a dark room but once we got there and the professor started telling us about our own sky that we can see from our house, they couldn't stop with the questions!  At the end of the show we climbed back on the bus and then spent about an hour picking out new books on stars and planets, etc.  It was a great thing to witness my children in active learning and applying mode.  So, I hope you have a library near you.  Take advantage of what they have.  While they may not have field trips, I bet you'd be surprised at the amazing things they do offer.  Check it out!


In his hands,

Lisa