favorite smoothies

We love smoothies around here and, as much as we love Winter, cold smoothies are just much more fun to drink when the sun is shining and the air is warmer. Here are a few of our favorites:

banana peanut-butter

3 bananas
2T (heaping) peanut-butter
2 cups of chocolate milk (regular milk tastes good, too)
3T flax seeds
few handfuls of ice



chocolate cherry

1 banana
1 avocado
1c frozen cherries
1c frozen blueberries
3 handfuls raw spinach
2T flax seeds
splash of pomegranate juice (when I have some)
2c chocolate milk
few handfuls of ice


super-green smoothie

1 banana
3 whole oranges
1 whole lime
1c frozen pineapple
3 handfuls raw spinach
2T flax seeds
2T extra-virgin coconut oil
1c orange juice
few handfuls of ice

(this one tastes like it should have a little umbrella in it!)

The ingredients might make you a little dubious but they really are delicious. Try one for yourself!

I love parabens.

There. I said it. It feels so good to come out of the closet with that dark little secret I've only recently even admitted to myself. Let me explain...

I've mentioned before that I love good, healthy food and that I enjoy reading and learning about living more naturally. Well, about six months ago I decided to tackle the personal care products that we use, you know, make-up, toothpaste, soap, lotions, shampoo, conditioner... I figure that if I'm going to go to so much trouble making sure that the food we eat is "clean" I should probably do the same for the stuff that we put on our skin as well. I started using Everyday Minerals make-up and love it, found a toothpaste that we like (Sudantha) and one for the kids (Tom's of Maine, Silly Strawberry), soap that smells good and isn't crazy expensive (Kiss My Face), Jason Organics for sunscreen that works without a bunch of crazy chemicals, and Burt's Bee's lotions (or just plain coconut oil). And all without breaking the bank.

Unfortunately, my quest for a shampoo and conditioner has not been quite so simple. Over the past few months there have been many new arrivals to appear in our shower. I've had the same high hopes for each new pair that I've brought home, knowing that eventually I'd find "the one" that would make my silky, shiny hair grow six inches in three weeks. The miracle shampoo and conditioner that, of course, works so well because of the all natural ingredients. Six months later and my hopes are all but dashed and I've just cut all of my hair off because it's anything but silky and shiny!

After sitting in the salon chair smelling the familiar smells of Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Trimethylsilylamodimethicone (yes, that really is an ingredient) and walking out with soft, bouncy, shiny hair, I had to finally admit to myself the awful truth that I've been fighting against for the last six months. I. Love. Parabens. Those synthetic, hormone-mimicking parabens brought my dry, dull hair back to life again.

So here's to parabens and all the other chemicals that I cannot pronounce that make up my shampoo and conditioner. By using all those other more natural products I figure I've "bought" myself a few extra years that I can "spend" on good hair. And life's just too short to not have good hair if you can help it, you know?

100 Things

1. I got this idea from my sister-in-law.
2. I like my sister-in-law very much.
3. I'm so thankful that my brother was ready to settle down while she was still available.
4. This already feels hard.
5. I'm not very good at listing things about me and I rarely do those "about you" emails.
6. I have a Facebook...page? account? whatever you call it, and the profile is still blank.
6. It probably always will be because I don't like listing things about myself.
7. So I have no idea why I thought this would be fun.
8. I have the most amazing husband.
9. Sometimes when I'm being really self-centered I forget this.
10. Then when I stop to think about how great he really is I feel pretty dumb for forgetting.
11. We have four kids.
12. Our oldest will be seven in three days.
13. I completely love being a mom.
14. I think I would be miserable if I had to be at a job all day away from them and our home.
15. Actually, I know I would be miserable.
16. I actually like keeping the home fires burning.
17. The fact that I get to is just one of the things I love about my husband.
18. I'm a middle kid.
19. I've never understood why that was such a big deal.
20. I've never really felt like I missed out on anything because of it.
21. Except for that time when I was about 9 and I cried because both of my siblings had a whole room to put their stuff in and all I had was a chair.
22. My sister wasn't a whole lot of fun to share a room with.
23. But I like her now.
24. I hope my kids are still the best of friends when they're grown up.
25. I get teary when they do thoughtful things for each other.
26. I love the movie Life Is Beautiful
27. I can't wait to move out onto some land.
28. I love to laugh really hard.
29. My boys need manly work to do every day.
30. It's actually easier having four kids under seven then it was to have two under two (and then three under three).
31. I like to cook
32. I really love good food.
33. There are a million things that I think I'll love doing once our kids are older.
34. I enjoy taking pictures.
35. I really love it when they turn out well.
36. My sweet husband bought me an amazing camera.
37. It's going to take me forever to learn how to really use it.
38. I can't believe I'm not even half-way to 100 yet.
39. My daughter is now completely enthralled with the Disney princesses.
40. I love to play "house" with her.
41. But not nearly as much as she loves for me to.
42. She tries to entice me by letting me be the mommy.
43. I tell her I'll only play if I can be the sister.
44. That always works because she really wants to be the mommy.
45. I love to read.
46. I've read more in this past year then I have in several years.
47. I have made it a point with this baby to nurse him in the same place ("our" chair) each time.
48. I keep my Bible and a book there.
49. I love our special time.
50. I could be tempted to nurse him until he's five.
51. Not really.
52. He melts my heart with his sweetness.
53. He adores his daddy.
54. His daddy wants him to stay 11 months and 2 weeks old forever.
55. Not really.
56. But it does seem like each baby gets sweeter and sweeter.
57. We love that our kids are good sleepers.
58. I'm so glad that they sleep happily in their own beds.
59. I also love waking up and finding stow-aways snuggled between us.
60. I love remembering how secure it felt to climb into my parent's bed when I was little.
61. I don't think I have any regrets from my younger years.
62. Except for those times when we would taunt Ryan Marrs from our driveway.
63. That was pretty mean.
64. I think my second son has the cutest little raspy voice.
65. I hope I don't ever forget what it sounds like.
66. I'm so thankful that he's not allergic to all the foods he was allergic to when he was a baby/toddler.
67. I love being pregnant.
68. I really love being pregnant.
69. Except I felt older while I was pregnant last time.
70. I hate going to the Dr. while I'm pregnant.
71. I don't want to have another baby in a hospital.
72. I hate that insurance won't cover any of the midwives in our area.
73. I just remembered that we have a different insurance now.
74. I hope they cover one of the midwives in our area.
75. I'm not pregnant.
76. I hate feeling misunderstood.
77. I feel that way sometimes regarding a lot of the choices we make.
78. I'm slowly learning to accept that it doesn't matter.
79. I love our church.
80. I like being around people who are real and honest about themselves and life.
81. Especially when that honesty isn't used as an excuse to remain stagnant.
82. I really dislike prideful attitudes.
83. I hate the thought that I have "blindspots" when it comes to my own prideful attitudes.
84. I don't like that I am quick to get defensive whenever someone that loves me points out those blindspots.
85. I hope I always have people in my life who love me that much.
86. I love dark chocolate.
87. The darker the better.
88. I hate guns.
89. I've been told I need to learn to love them.
90. I recently read The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom
91. Thinking about the holocaust makes me feel sick.
92. I worry that I wouldn't be as tough as Corrie ten Boom was in the face of such trial.
93. I have friends that I greatly admire after watching them suffer.
94. I hate root beer.
95. I used to be able to burp on command.
96. Now I think that's really gross.
97. I'm allowed to say "gross" now that I'm a grown up.
98. And "fart".
98. But that word is gross.
99. I can't believe I'm ending on this note.
100. This reads more like a lot of little stories than 100 random things.
101. I told you I'm not good at these things.

Common sense conservatism?

Travis, who will be seven in one week, has taken to reading biographies. This past week he's read one on George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, all from the Childhood of Famous American's series. He's hooked (I found him up reading before 7am this morning - a Saturday! - while the rest of the house was sound asleep).

As is our custom now that he's reading so much on his own (and even after our read aloud books together), I have him narrate back to me what he's reading. It's helps me to be sure that he's comprehending, helps him to "get it" even more after having to put it in his own words and it's fun for us to share books in that way together.

So yesterday afternoon after his quiet time, we were discussing those three biographies and I asked him what his favorite thing was about each man. He thought it was cool that George Washington was our first President and that he was a soldier. He loved reading about the adventures that Abraham Lincoln had as a young boy. For Thomas Jefferson?

"He had some good things to say, like, all men should be able to govern themselves and that we shouldn't have to pay a lot in taxes."

Excuse me? (trying to stifle my surprised laughter) Has your daddy been teaching you about self-government and taxes? I didn't think so.

So I asked him what it meant for one to govern himself. He replied that, "it seemed like people know right from wrong and they should just do it." Yes, they should.

I then asked him what taxes were and he said that he wasn't totally sure but he knew you had to pay money out of what you earned and that you just shouldn't have to pay a lot of it. No, no you shouldn't.

So it seems that conservative ideas might just be common sense after all?

from a friend

I read this on a friend's blog ( http://afullheart.blogspot.com) and thought it was great. I knew she wouldn't mind if I borrowed it!

1 Corinthians 11:8-9...

For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;
for indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake.

Now, put YOUR man's name where it says "man":

for indeed Jimmy was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for Jimmy's sake.

Next, put YOUR name where it says "woman":

For indeed Jimmy was not created for Judy Kay's sake, but Judy Kay for Jimmy's sake.

WOW!! That made it so clear to me that my role, in fact, my very purpose in life from before I was even created, was to live as Jimmy's wife, for his sake. In living for his sake, I am to learn to align my thoughts with his, my desires with his, my plans with his plans. I am to learn to help him. Then in doing so I am fulfilling God's plan for me. It makes finding your "purpose in life" all too easy. It's right there in front of us as wives! And surely living for our husbands, truly living to serve them, brings God much glory.

Love and Respect - a review

I picked up a friend's copy of Love and Respect, by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs this weekend that has been sitting on my bookshelf for several weeks now. The book came highly recommended not only by this friend, but also from older women in my church who read it as a group last year. I expected it to be a good read and to offer a helpful challenge for me as a wife to be mindful in giving my husband the respect that he needs, but after reading countless books on biblical marriage (many of them excellent) I assumed that this one wouldn't have anything terribly new to say. I was correct. The basic message of this book is far from new, in fact it's about 2000 years old. The message of this book is Ephesians 5:33 and it is drawn out and explained in such a way that any and every wife needs to take notice.

"However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." Eph 5:33

If you're like me, you've either read or heard that verse a bajillion times. If you're like me, you have an enormous amount of respect for your husband. But, if you're like me, you have no idea that the tone of your voice, the look on your face, and your sighing betray your actual feelings of respect and leave your husband feeling defeated and completely disrespected by you. Ouch.

I can't begin to give a review on this book that comes close to doing it justice (and anyway, I'm only on chapter four!), but I want to tell every wife I know that she simply must read this book. I've allowed myself to fall into the very un-biblical notion that it is the husband who controls the emotional/relational thermostat in the home, and I'm beginning to see how very wrong that is. I realize that not all marriages are made up of two people who have genuine good-will towards each other, and for those marriages who lack that basic component, the premise of this book will seem all too simplistic. Perhaps it would be only a starting point for those marriages once the deeper issues are resolved. However, I do believe that in most marriages, even those that are far from fulfilling, both husband and wife at least love each other and want good things to flow out of their relationship. However, I am beginning to see how much is actually dependent upon ME, as the wife, to maintain a calm, easy steadiness in our daily life living together. A few examples....

"...a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping..." Proverbs 19:13

"It is better to live on the corner of a rooftop than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife" Proverbs 21:9

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Proverbs 14:1

These are just off of the top of my head and I am sure there are more. But in thinking about these verses I realized that I cannot think of any that would be counter verses for husbands in regard to their wives. Sure, there are those that remind husbands to be gentle with their wives, calling us the "weaker vessels", but I can't think of any that seem to give the husband as much "control" over the atmosphere in the home as these verses give to us wives.

Now, even in knowing this, I'll admit, I feel myself tensing up a bit here and there while reading this book as I come across places where I feel like he's hammering a little too hard on me as a wife. But really, I'm beginning to see and believe that God might actually have designed it so that I, as the wife, DO have more control over the love and respect being exchanged in my marriage. There could be any number of reasons for this, but one could be that, as a woman, I am naturally more in tune with the state of our relationship at any given time and will never be content to just give in and wish it were different. No, as a woman who loves as I am created to love, I will rarely be willing to sit back and do nothing, whereas a man might be more likely to throw himself into whatever it is that makes him feel valuable and respected if he believes that he should give up on the notion of ever feeling that at home from his wife.

So enough of my light bulb moments, back to the book. This book explains very clearly how completely different women are from men and men are from women. Our needs are different and the ways in which we go about trying to get those needs met are different. It is no wonder that we've misunderstood each other and begun to assume the worst of each other. Jimmy and I have always reminded each other to just assume the best when one of us says something insensitive or hurtful, because we know that love and respect really are at the heart, but when you've forgotten to assume the best it is only natural that the misunderstandings will begin to drive a wedge too deep to even want to climb out of. Read this book. Remember Ephesians 5:33. God tells husbands to love their wives for a reason. It is because showing love is not natural. God tells wives to respect their husbands for a reason. It is because we naturally show love and that is not the greatest need of our husbands. This book will make you aware of your own thoughts behind your words and how the way those words are perceived by your husband will either build up your home or tear it down. Don't be foolish!! Learn how to show respect to your husband. Be willing to do it because it is good and right. Be willing to do it because God has entrusted this man to you. Be willing to do it because he will be a better man when he feels respected by you.

Learning from Sam

Who would have thought that my quick tempered, emotional little one would provide me with a good lesson in self-control? It's all too easy to react instead of respond in any given situation and much more difficult to control one's temper before it's gotten the better of her. It's something we've been working on for a very, very long time with our little Sam and today we saw a little glimmer of hope...

The boys were outside playing when, someone, somehow made Sam very angry. It would not be uncommon for him to lash out in that anger, either physically or verbally, and then rush to tell me of his latest victimization. But not today. Today he came to the door with quiet tears in his eyes, sitting down, tugging at his boots to get them off. When asked what was wrong he replied with, "I'm getting really angry and I just need to come in, take off my boots and pull myself together for a minute."

And he did. And then he went back out and played happily for another full hour before coming in for lunch with his best buddy, Travis.

Sometimes we all need to just come in, take off our boots, and pull ourselves together.

"The fruit of the Spirit is...... gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

A Journey

I found Caroline standing in the hallway this morning wearing her red cowgirl hat with a bag full of who knows what. She was waiting for the boys who were behind closed doors packing for their journey. I asked Caroline where they were going but she wasn't sure.

The door opened and the boys came out dressed and ready with their bags packed.


Travis: We're going on a journey. We're moving to Minnesota.

Caroline: They have soda there.

Sam: We have to walk the whole way from Florida.

Caroline: And doughnuts.

Travis: It's going to be a really dangerous journey.

Sam: But don't worry, we'll protect Caroline and the babies.

Caroline: Don't forget the diaper bag, boys! We need the food!



And off they went. They've been journeying for about an hour now and I just can't bring myself to interrupt for school time. Hey, it's geography, right?!

Travis wanted to show me their path on the map: Starting in Miami, FL, through Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin to Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. In three days. On foot.

Sam is FIVE!

Oh, Sam Buns, where have these years gone?! I really can't believe that you are five years old. In some ways you have changed so much this year, and in other ways you are still very much the same Sam that we welcomed into our family five years ago. It's been a little sad on my mommy heart to see you caught between wanting to grow up and be big like Travis, yet still wanting to hold on to your babyhood for as long as you can. I've learned to feel you out in the mornings to see who you'll be for that day (or that hour!), a big man or my little guy.

Some ways that you are still our little Sam Buns...

You still love all of your "guys". When you were just a little toddler you would stuff your shirt with as many guys as it would hold and carry them around for the day. As night came, you'd line them all up on your bed right next to your pillow and they would sleep with you. Now, at five, you still look forward to snuggling up with Happy, Rufus, Growler, Wrinkles, Puppy, Pluto, Crazy Guy, Boom Boom or Buster, usually all of them at the same time! We find ourselves laughing almost every night when we come in to check on you at the way you have everyone situated.

And speaking of night time, you still love to snuggle as you always have and we often find a little guest (with friends) in our bed when we come upstairs for the night. Sometimes Daddy will carry you back to your bed and tuck you in (only to have you come back again by morning!), sometimes we'll scoot you to the middle and let you snuggle the night away. And whether you've made it all night in your bed or not, we can't start any day without at least a few minutes of quiet snuggle time before the day gets started.

You are still fiercely protective of me, which I love. Daddy has no chance of sneaking in any unwanted tickles because as soon as I scream out you come running! Your favorite weapon is your head - you back up, tuck your head and ram Daddy with all your might! If nothing else it makes him laugh hard enough so that he's forced to let me go and you have won the battle for me! It cracks us up when you want to end every battle by having a "Samwich", where daddy and I hug each other with you in the middle. Those are our favorite ones!

You still love to suck your thumb, which we've been working on for the past several weeks. We've been talking about the fact that five year olds save thumb sucking for resting times and you're not sure you're completely on board with that plan. In fact, the day before your birthday you told me that you wanted to pretend that you were three and would be four the next day instead of five. Growing up is tough, huh buddy?

Some ways we've seen you grow up this year...

You've become SUCH a better and more willing worker! We've learned a lot about doing good work and being diligent and talked a lot about how hard daddy works for our family and you have really begun to take it to heart. You have regular chores that you are very faithful about and you have even taken to surprising me by doing some of my chores for me (like making my bed!) before I get to them. You are always SO excited for me to find that you've done that for me. I love it. You really like to do manly work and got your own tool box for helping dad this year.

You also love to explore and have adventures with your best pal, Travis. The day usually begins with the two of you deciding how you'll dress up. Will it be Indians? Marines? Cowboys? Pirates? Those are you're favorites and the two of you play for hours in the afternoon outside. You both earn your showers, that's for sure! And that's another thing that is so different from last year - bath time! no more do I need to run a bath and get you all clean. You and Trav can handle all of that on your own just fine. It's certainly handy, but makes me a little nostalgic all the same!

You are also reading!!! What a huge accomplishment that has been for you this year! I hadn't even really planned on starting that quite yet but you basically told me that you were ready to learn and you wanted to start right away. What mommy can resist that?! And you were right. The light bulb went off and you were reading! Just like that. You love school time and I sit in amazement most every day at how quickly and easily you are able to pick things up. You are such fun to teach - I can't imagine someone else getting the pleasure besides daddy and me!

You and I have this night time ritual where we sing about how special you are. Part of the song talks about how your smile brightens up my day and we "argue" about whose smile brightens the day the most. We also say how much we love each other ("I love you more than every snowflake that ever fell in the whole world") and you are determined that you are able to love me more. I try to tell you it's a game you'll never, ever win, no matter how hard you try, but I'm glad you won't listen. : )

But most precious to us is your tender heart that has really begun to develop this year. You've always been our more sensitive soul, quick to be sorry for your sin and easily corrected, but over the past few months you've begun to show a deeper understanding of who you are as God made you and who God is as your Savior. That is so precious to us. When daddy will ask a tough question after reading at night, you often know the answer and say it in a way that tells us that you actually understand what you're saying. And more importantly, that you actually believe what you're saying is true. You also love to pray and often remind me to pray for things as they come up. We had our first snowfall last week and as it was snowing you were having trouble falling asleep due to the anticipation of the next day's fun. You came downstairs and sweetly whispered in my ear that you needed me to pray for you to fall asleep. So sweet. Your heart is changing and it's amazing to watch. Nothing brings us more joy, little man!

Sam, we all love you so very much and simply can't imagine our lives without you. We are incredibly thankful that God chose to put you in our family! We're thankful that He's allowing us to teach you and love you and watch you grow for as many days as He's planned for you. We can't wait to see the man you will become! Happy fifth birthday, Sam. We love you.

Caroline's 3rd birthday letter

Our Sweet Caroline,

You're Three!! How did that happen so quickly? After two boys, we were surprised and so delighted that you were coming. You have been a sweet blessing, full of laughter and joy since you came into the world on Christmas night.

A little about who you are right now at three years old...

You are a little mommy who delights in nurturing your own little girl, Lila. You are gentle and patient and sweet with her, singing as you tuck her in for naps. You change her when she's dirty (using all of Benjamin's wipes!), nurse her when she's hungry, "wear" her in your sling when she's fussy and leave me with very detailed instructions when I'm "watching" her for you. You love to play house with Sam and are always so excited to announce the birth of a new baby - you're the parents of 14 at last count.

With all of your "girly-ness", you also love to tramp through the woods (which you just started saying correctly - we miss "woobs"!) with your big brothers. When they dress up in their cowboy or Marine costumes and gather their weapons for battle outside, you head to your room and put on your pink tutu. You have to have something to put your sword into, after all. You're not the most graceful little thing, though you rarely cry after taking one of your many tumbles. You love playing with the boys and Daddy and I are so glad that you have them. You're so glad that they each have a "scoon kin cap" for you to borrow and rifles to carry. Yesterday you told me as we were walking through the woods that you would be Davy Crockett and I could be Georgie. I'll be your side-kick anyday, sweet girl.

As your mommy's daughter, you love good food. Your favorite snack is a bowl of cranberries, nuts and chocolate chips, which you would happily eat several times a day if given the choice. You always ask for them with your little lisp that we love so much. You love pancakes, but you don't like syrup. Milk is your favorite drink. You look especially forward to Maw Maw's visits because you know she'll be bringing yogurt.

You are Mommy's helper in every way; my little shadow in all of my cleaning, cooking or baking chores. You can roll out a pie crust like no other three year old! You really love baking bread and showing it to daddy when he gets home. You have eyes only for your "sweet daddy", as you call him and he wouldn't have it any other way. You love to ride upstairs on his back, a kiss on the neck making him "go". You also love the singing part of our family time at night. We laugh every time when you choose Joyful, Joyful when your turn for picking comes around. It's been your favorite for a while! You love music and always have a song that you've claimed as "yours" no matter what we're listening to. The doxology, Arise, my Soul and Sweet Caroline always get you singing and dancing.

You have definitely challenged Daddy and I to be firm and consistent in our teaching and discipline with you. You have a mind of your own and consequences seem to be a necessary evil after all of your fun has been had. : ) But you are quick to be reconciled and willing to get back to your normal, happy little self after being corrected.

You love to be snuggled and held and read to. You have already almost memorized your current favorite book, Little House in the Big Woods (My First Little House Book), which we read at least once a day. You love to snuggle on your bed with your little blankie and read along with me. And don't even think about missing any parts! You especially love the part where Pa sings Yankee Doodle. Your snuggles don't end at book reading - we often wake in the morning and find that you've snuck into bed with us at some point in the night. We know it's your most favorite place to be, warm and cozy right in between your two favorite people (and we kinda like it, too!). We know that they day will come all too soon when you'll think you're way too big for that.

Caroline, you have taught me so much and caused me to realize more than ever before how important it is that I be able to provide an example worthy of being followed. I've seen my own shortcomings in you from time to time (a glimpse of sassiness, a sharp word, a grumpy heart) and I'm reminded that you are watching and learning from me every second. Remembering that the wife and mommy you grow into will largely be affected by the wife and mommy you live with now causes me to seek grace and wisdom more than ever. You are our precious little Peach and we want nothing more for you than that you grow into a girl, a young lady, a woman who loves and serves her Lord above all else.

Happy third birthday, little lady! We love you so very much.