My phone rang. It was past 9:00 pm, a little strange for someone to be calling me at this hour on a Monday night. It was my dad.

"Have you heard about your grandmother yet?"

Oh great. I was preparing myself for another she-caught-her-microwave-on-fire story. (She's 87 and lives alone, four houses down from my parents. Her eyesight, memory, hearing, etc. are failing her, so the accident stories I get become increasingly worse.)

"Did she catch her house on fire?" I asked reluctantly.

"No, she's in the hospital." My heart sank. It was just an upper-respiratory infection, but when you're in your late 80s it is a lot harder to fight when your body is already failing. Her white blood cell count was 25,000. In addition, she was severely dehydrated and they were pumping her full of IV fluids. According to my mom, she'd been sleeping constantly for the last few weeks and refused/forgot to eat or drink.

I managed to get to the hospital last night after my husband finished work and the kids were in bed. The room was silent and dimly lit. I slipped in quietly. My grandmother was fitfully asleep, pulling her blankets closer to her chin to keep warmer. Her cheeks were more sunken than I remembered. She looked so frail and thin. I gently kissed her warm forehead. Her eyes flew open and she let out a happy little "Oh!"

For the next thirty minutes, she delighted in looking at pictures my children had colored for her, flowers and a scented candle I had brought, and we looked at videos and photos of the kids on my phone. The nurse came in to check her blood pressure and temperature. My grandmother wanted to show her (and everyone else who came in the room that night) pictures of "her babies." She chattered on excitedly for a while about my three kids and how she was getting another great-grandbaby this Spring.

As the night progressed, she became less coherent and didn't talk as much because it hurt for her to breathe and talk. I continued to talk to her, telling her about our plans for our next home and some of the features that I wanted, one of which was a large covered patio in the back yard for cookouts.

"Oh, I hope I'm around for that," she whispered, "but if not, I'll be watching from Heaven and enjoying it with you."

My throat tightened. "You'll be there," I assured her. As it got closer to 11:00, I pulled my chair closer to her bed and sat quietly, waiting for my mom to arrive. I watched her slow, shallow breathing. It was hard to believe that she was travelling around Israel just seven short years ago.

Thankful For....

I don't normally do the "I'm thankful for" posts on Facebook, not because I'm ungrateful.... I'm just really inconsistent. However, I did want to try this year, so I've got 18 days to catch up on now...

#1) Derek. Intentionally or not, he has always been what I needed and exactly when I needed him. I would not be who I am today without this man. He never backs down and never gives up... which can be infuriating at times, but God knew I needed someone who was more stubborn than me. I love how he gives everything 110%. I'm so thankful he is committed to being a good father to our children and incredibly thankful he's stuck by me all these years... even at times when I wasn't being very loveable.

#2) Caden. You made me a mom and gave me a backbone. I had no idea how much I could love someone until you came along.  You have such a sensitive heart and I love that about you. You may cry a lot more than the average boy, but I've never seen a little boy who loves babies and animals as much as you do. You have a rare nurturing personality and I hope you continue to keep it. You have remarkable communication skills and empathy towards others. You're a natural leader. I often refer to you as my "sheep dog." You're always herding your younger siblings and trying to keep them out of trouble. I love to watch you build and create things. All we have to do is hand you some blocks and wooden tracks and you create elaborate "cities" complete with buildings and roads. I can't wait to see how you apply this talent as you grow older.

#3) Riley. I have to admit I wasn't thrilled at first when I discovered I was pregnant with you. Your brother was only 9 months and I was terrified of going through childbirth again and having kids so close together. You helped me get over that fear. You were my easiest pregnancy, labor, and delivery. You were my easiest and happiest baby. Your first nickname was "Smiley Riley." As a toddler (and now almost 3-year-old) you have kept us on our toes because you are always getting into things you shouldn't, but your happy nature and dimpled smile make you irresistible. I am impressed by your natural inclination towards electronics and things with wires, buttons, etc. I have a feeling you'll be just like your daddy. You're already like a tiny carbon-copy of him.

#4) Maddie. My precious little rosebud. I never thought we'd get a little girl. When we went in for a sonogram I was already resigned to a third boy, but when the doctor said you were a girl I was incredulous. It didn't really sink in until they laid you in my arms... perfect, with a little button nose, rosy cheeks, and thick dark hair. You grow more beautiful every day. You make everyone smile with your sweet, friendly personality and gorgeous blue eyes. Watching your personality develop is so much fun... and you certainly have plenty of it. You're already bossing your brothers around and make sure you're the loudest thing in the room. Daddy and I love how cuddly and loving you are.

#5) Dave has always been my big brother hero. Most teenage brothers wouldn't pay much attention to their little sisters (and brothers), but some of my best childhood memories involved him. He's the most generous person I know and he's always there when I need help (and even when I don't think I need it). He's going to be such an awesome dad and I can't wait to see his little girl grow up with such an awesome daddy.

#6) Jer. Ever since we were little, he's been my partner in crime and my best friend. Even though we're busy adults now, we can still hang out and watch movies or laugh at really stupid inside jokes that no one else gets. Jeremy still possess the ability to make me laugh harder than anyone. Can't wait to see what the future holds for him and I'm so proud of the man he's become.

#7) Lindsay. You were my first sister-in-law, and I have to say I was really excited that we'd be family. You were so accepting of me when I joined your family, even though the circumstances weren't perfect. I don't know if I've ever told you how much I appreciate that.

#8) Yoli. You are the most perfect fit for Dave and our family. You add a calm balance to our crazy and slightly dysfunctional circus. I love being able to go have fun with you and talk to you about anything. And I love that you are also a Hello Kitty fan... sounds silly, I know, but it's fun to have a sister-in-law to go gaga over HK stuff with me.

#9) My mama. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye or gotten along, but I love how our relationship is now. You're there for me 24/7 when I need help or advice and I appreciate you a lot more now that I have kids of my own. I feel like I understand you a lot better now.

#10) Daddy. I have to say I also understand you better now that I've got my own kids. You worked so hard to provide for us when we were little and I am so grateful for that. You are the most patient and long-suffering person I have ever known. In my entire 26 years of existence, I have only ever heard you raise your voice once (I totally deserved it, too).

Ok, someone's trying to kill the cat. I'll have to come back and finish later.

ThanksGIVING

It's my favorite time of year. From October-December, I get three separate holidays to enjoy with my family. Pumpkins, costumes, a foodie's dream feast, presents, music, lit trees. Best of all, we get a break from the Texas heat and get to wear sweaters, scarves & boots!

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach us, I can't help but plan menus and presents. We're finally getting to a point in our lives where finances are starting to ease up and I can breathe easier around the holidays. For years we've had a meager Christmas budget. I have to confess this depressed me. It seemed no matter how hard we worked, we just couldn't get ahead. (Having three kids back-to-back drains more than just your energy.)

A friend of mine told me about how she saves up money every year to go out to dinner and bless their server with an extra-large tip during the Christmas season. That really made me think. Here I was all excited to get the kids bigger and better presents this year, and I hadn't thought much about teaching them why we celebrate this holiday season. We may feel like we've finally "arrived," but now my goal is NOT to go crazy. We'll get the kids a few presents each and probably make presents for our grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. to keep it simple. I really want to teach our kids from a young age to give. Caden, our oldest, is getting old enough now to really learn about giving and helping others. What I really want to do with him is set aside some money to bless another family and have him help me shop for them.

A lot of people give to charities over the holidays or participate in "Operation Christmas Child" and the like, but I like to give on a more personal level. When I was a kid, my family didn't have a lot. There were many times when we survived on the charity of others, and more than one Christmas was had because someone else blessed us. I'd like to do the same. At this point, I don't know how much we can do, or even who the Lord will lay on our hearts, but I'm hoping that we can bless someone else like I was once (or twice, or more).

"Freedom From Fear"

Standing at a crossroads,
Unsure where to stand;
I am a stranger
In an unforgiving, barren land.

How do I move forward?
Which way do I go?
I want to take Your hand.
I really want to know.

I want to take a chance,
Yet my fear remains steadfast.
My feet are frozen here.
The grip just seems to last.

Release me from my bonds;
Unbind my fettered legs.
I stand before You pleading;
Your mercy do I beg.

Take me on a journey;
Lead me down a path.
Give me trust to take Your hand.
Give me freedom at last.

~ Carey Dieleman ~
       April 2013

Creamy Chicken & Noodles

For those of you with young children (or spouses with the pallet of a young child), this is a delightfully simple dish that the whole family should enjoy (and did I mention it's cheap?).

2 chicken breasts
2 C chicken broth
1 Tb dried onions
1 (15 oz) can peas (or 1 C frozen peas)
1 (16 oz) pkg wide egg noodles
1 C half & half
2 Tb cornstarch + 2 Tb water (for thickening sauce)

In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a rapid boil. Add chicken and dried onions, reduce to med heat and cook 15+ minutes until the chicken is cooked all the way through. Remove chicken breasts and set aside on a cutting board for 5 minutes to cool a little. Drain about 1 C of broth mixture, keeping the other 1 C in the saucepan. (Try to keep the onions pieces.)

Cook noodles according to package directions. While noodles are cooking, chop or shred the chicken into small pieces. Drain noodles, add chicken & peas.

Place saucepan with broth back on the stove and stir in half&half. Bring to a simmer. Whisk in the cornstarch/water thickening mixture and continue to whisk until sauce reaches desired thickness. Add to noodles/chicken/peas and stir.

Makes: 4 servings
Serve With: butted bread & salad (or just the salad for you carb-conscious adults)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

These aren't remotely healthy, but I love to bake. So this is my newest project....

http://www.annies-eats.com/2010/10/08/pumpkin-cream-cheese-muffins/

One of "Those" Days

Today was just "one of those days." We had a lazy morning, so I made the kids pancakes and scrambled eggs... which then resulted in a post-breakfast bath time. Derek called not long after. He needed me to bring him something at work and get his car tags renewed, so I quickly dressed the kids and ushered them out the door. (Quickly = 1 hour)

Getting three small kids out the door is such a huge production. Through in some 4-year-old screaming tantrums, a two-year-old who ignores every word you say, and a wild puppy who keeps knocking over the baby and the chaos is significantly increased (not to mention the stress). If we go anywhere in the morning, I usually have to prep the night before. Now that all three are walking, it's like herding cats into the SUV.

Twenty minutes after we walked out the front door, everyone was finally buckled in their seats. Pile on extra errands and a caffeine-withdrawal headache (I didn't get my coffee this morning) with the tantrums still going on, I was already a wreck by the time we finished our errands and made it to Chick-fil-A for lunch. I guess I was hoping some "chicky nuggies" and playtime would settle the kids down. Silly me.

It took 15 minutes to peel all of the children out of the play-place and put shoes on. I had the baby under one arm, a death-grip on the runaway toddler's hand, and a cranky 4-year-old dragging behind. By the time we got out my migraine was in full swing, I was an irritable wreck trying to safely get the kids into the hot car. Finally climbing into my driver's seat, I let out a groan of exasperation.

"This too shall pass." An older woman had been waiting patiently for me to finish while I got my kids in the car. She smiled as I laughed nervously. I was a little embarrassed that she'd witnessed the whole thing.

I know at some point I'll forget the tantrums and frustration and miss when my kids are little. Sometimes that though is what gets me through the day. Having three kids less than 3 years apart is extremely hard and feels like an up-hill battle most days.

Preaching to Myself

In my pre-children days, I was a very brave (sometimes stupidly brave) person. Nothing scared me. I lived my life fearlessly. I had never experienced a panic attack or spent much time worrying about anything. I knew that things would work out somehow and I'd survive.

Somewhere along the next 7 years, I lost that. I worry all the time. I like things to be predictable and orderly - so very different from my 18-year-old self who love spontaneity and chaos.  I worry about my husband, my three kids, the house, money... the list goes on and on. There are days when I feel like I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

All day, I've struggled with just a sense of panic. There are no logical reasons for my stomach to be tied in knots. It just is. Then as I'm opening the fridge, I glance at my pre-schooler's Sunday school newsletter. This entire month the kids have been learning about trusting God. I scan the paragraphs typed on purple paper. God keeps us safe. God gives us a family and a home to live in. Simple truths for children, yet it gives me comfort. Their monthly verse is Isaiah 12:2.

“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”

I forget how much God has done for me. I can't help but see where He has personally involved Himself in the big and even minute details of my life. I guess I have a subconscious thought that God is too big or too far away to concern Himself with me, but I'm wrong. Time and time again He has intervened when I didn't deserve it. He has blessed me in spite of myself.

"When I am afraid, I will trust in You.

In God, Whose Word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?"

(Psalm 56:3-4)

Instead of getting anxious, I need to remind myself of these simple truths that I teach to my own kids. I need to trust Him. He has always (and always will) take care of me. I can't see three inches in front of me, but He can see the big picture. I just need to look at Him and walk forward in confidence. He loves my family more than I possibly can and He will take care of them. I am not in control. I do what I can, but there are some things I just have to hand over to Him. I'm okay with that.

Macadamia Nut White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I haven't eaten these things in years, but since I'm baking them for a care package for my "adopted" sister in Tennessee, I had to try one... or two. Okay, three. I forgot that a cookie could taste this good.

Macadamia Nut White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
(Courtesy of Texas Recipes)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening or vegetable oil
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 12 ounce package (2 cups) white baking pieces
1 3 1/2 ounce jar macadamia nuts, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour, the chocolate pieces, and nuts.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or just until edges are light brown. Cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes. 

Slow-Cooker Hawaiian Chicken

4 lg chicken breasts, cut into 1-in cubes
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 sm onion, chopped
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple (seperate the juice)
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C soy sauce
1/2 C pineapple juice

Combine liquid ingredients and pour over the rest of the ingredients in the crock pot. Cook on high for 4 hrs or low for 6+ hrs. Serve over steamed rice.

Thank You

I married a keeper. He's been through some really tough times with me, stuck by my side when it wasn't easy, loved me when I was unlovable, taken care of me in my lowest moments, been such an awesome daddy, and works so hard to take care of his family. I don't thank him nearly enough for all of the sacrifice he's made for me and our kids. Derek, I love how stubborn you are for me. There have been many times when I felt like strangling you, but I'm glad that we make up quickly. I'm glad you're in it for the long-haul with me.

Positive Parenting

You would think after three kids, I would have taken a parenting class by now... but no. Lately, I've felt like our parenting methods haven't been that effective (or it could just be that we have 2-year-old and 4-year-old boys), so I thought it would be nice to get some pointers on raising kids with less yelling and frustration. I signed up for an 8-week class I saw in the church bulletin called "Practicing Positive Parenting."

Naturally, getting three small kids fed, bathed, clothed and in the car to get to said class was stressful... especially since I needed to leave at 6:15 (and all day I was thinking 6:45).  Said stress fueled frustration, and well... you get the picture.

About 30 minutes into the class, I felt like crawling under the table. The lesson was about affirmation and encouraging your child's good behavior with praise. I get so stressed out and let the exhaustion of three small children get to me. I feel like all I do is discipline (especially the boys). Maybe I need to throw in some more encouragement. I need to stop and take the time to give each child a little more individual attention. Maybe that's why Riley (my middle child, age 2) is constantly getting into trouble or causing it.

More thoughts later. I'm tired. Will share more of the homework later (once I do it).

This morning after I bathed the kids, I told Maddie it was time to get dressed for church. She brought me her pink ballerina tutu with an expectant look. I shook my head and laughed.

"No, sweetie. That's not a church dress." I held up a purple gingham dress. She shrieked in protest.

"Look, it's a pretty sparkly princess dress," I coaxed, "and you can wear your pretty new shoes with it." Her face lit up and she raised her arms to be dressed. After her dress was on, Maddie ran immediately towards the door, grabbed her shoes out of "the pile," and sat in front of me again, kicking her legs excitedly. How on earth can a 15-month-old girl be so fashion conscious?

Day #1 of Homeschooling

Well, our first day of pre-K was a success. Caden is such a smart little sponge, he makes it pretty easy on me... except when it comes to numbers. Alas, my son seems to have inherited my mathematical mind block. We're both geared toward language and art. Numbers make our eyes glaze over.

We actually did a lot more than I had planned. He completed the first page in his alphabet workbook, shapes & colors flashcards, number flashcards, LeapFrog Phonics Farm video (thank you, Netflix), practicing the letter A with his Angry Birds marker board, and finally some pre-K alphabet games on my Kindle. Yes, he actually wanted to do all of that. Thankfully, the younger siblings all obligingly took a 2+ hour nap (in fact, they're still napping). I think I can get the hang of this.

A lot of people laugh when I confess that I'm terrified of homeschooling, considering my own mother homeschooled me K-12. It's not that I feel ill-equipped to teach (at least K-6), it's because I am not a very structured or organized person. I remember my mother having everything planned out in her lesson plan book, schedules made out, books & desks all organized. I guess I felt like I had to live up to all of that.

Then I remind myself that Caden is 4 and this is just pre-K. We only have to do this 2-3 days a week. I don't need to teach him calculus. Stop stressing, Carey. It brings me back to when he was a newborn and I was freaking out because I thought I'd be a bad parent. I was clueless about everything, and yet somehow we both survived... along with two more siblings. This will pass. By the time I get to little brother and sister, I will have learned new ways to teach and it won't be so scary (ok, teaching Riley still scares me... he's a little wild man).

Caden, you are ridiculously smart. Your verbal skills astound me (and on occasion annoy me...hey, you talk a LOT). When you were speaking in complete sentences by the age of one, I knew I'd have my hands full with a brainiac kid. You are like a sponge right now. If I could learn as much as you can as fast as you can, I'm pretty sure I'd have two doctorates by now. I love how you can play for hours with puzzles, coloring, legos, etc. all by yourself. I love how you like to "read" books on my Kindle and then tell me all about the trucks and animals you just learned about. You're so smart and I'm sure you will surpass me someday.

Riley, you are the Energizer Monkey. I am constantly exhausted by your endless energy and knack for climbing and getting into trouble. You only want to play with wires, buttons, electronics, and robot-like things. I can tell you are going to be like your daddy and work magic with computers. You're a fighter. Right now, your daddy and I are trying to curb your endless desire to pick fights into something good. You never give up, and that can be a very good thing someday. Your daddy is a stubborn fighter and he never gives up. I love that about you both.

Maddie, it's so much fun to watch your sassy little personality bloom. You love to boss everyone around and be the center of attention. You're also very sweet and sensitive towards others' feelings. Anytime I hurt myself or look sad, you give the best hugs and kisses. You like to love on everyone. It's fun to see how girly you are already. You like to hoard/collect shoes, purses, and tutus. I love to watch you dance. When a good beat comes along, you can't help but move. Your dancing antics provide endless entertainment. I can't wait to see what other personality traits you develop.

Apparently, there are rumors going around that I "have it together" and that I'm super woman, but I assure you, I'm not. Those rumors are all untrue. This picture would be more of an accurate description of me (especially today)...

My alarm is set for 7:00 am. I, quite skilled at hitting the snooze button, don't get out of bed until nearly 8:30... a mistake I'm regretting all morning. Derek's still working on his parents' company server, so I face the prospect of hauling all three kids to church by myself. Stumbling into the kitchen to fix bagels and orange juice for the kids, I manage to blindly fumble around and turn on the coffee pot. I put the children into their seats at the table and dish out breakfast. Five minutes later, there's bagels and cream cheese all over the floor (or in Maddie's case, her hair). Apparently, my kids no longer like bagels. Cue peanut butter toast... also a hair product for my one-year-old. 

While the kids are eating/body painting with peanut butter, I pull my hair back and put on some makeup so I don't look dead. A shower is out of the question at this point, so it's deodorant and perfume to the rescue. Suck down some coffee and eat the left-over bagel pieces that weren't licked or dropped on the floor. Chase down the boys and wipe them down before they paint the furniture with peanut butter. I get to Maddie and just toss her in the tub. A lone washcloth isn't going to solve that mess.

Meanwhile, the boys are running amuck. Riley, 2, tries to climb in the tub too (we're now 45 minutes away from time to leave). I use one arm to wash Maddie and the other to hold back a now screaming and naked Riley. Caden, 3, thinks the bath looks like fun too and tries to get undressed. I tell him to go find his shoes (a task I know will take at least 10 minutes or more). Get Maddie dried off and drag the still-screaming, still-naked two-year-old out of the bathroom. Dress them with much chasing and wrestling. It's now 15 minutes until we have to leave. I throw on my dress and hunt down some bags of clothes to give away to various people at church.

While I finish getting ready, Riley has dug out the cord to my electric skillet and has successfully pulled out the "baby proof" outlet cover and plugged it in. I find him hiding in his bedroom and playing with it, along with his little sister. Recover from heart attack. As I grab Maddie and slip on my shoes, I smell something... it's her now-dirty diaper. I am regretting the bloomers and fluffy skirt and I scramble to clean her up. Caden is still looking for his shoes, which turn out to be be the front door in plain sight. Riley is in the kitchen again, looking for something else to stick in the electrical outlet. I pry a screwdriver from his toddler fist. More screaming ensues.

By the time I haul all of the children and bags out the door, I'm a sweaty raving lunatic. I feel like I'm herding cats. Two out of my three children are screaming. I'm near-screaming. Everyone's buckled in and we finally drive off. About 10 miles later, I realize I have forgotten the double stroller for Riley and Maddie... which mean I have to let everyone walk... which means I will be a nervous wreck... well, more of a nervous wreck.

The 40-minute trip to church is uneventful (thank you, dvd player) and the children all walk into church nicely. We meet up with my grandmother and check the kids into their Sunday school rooms. The boys run in to play but Maddie's at the age of major separation anxiety. She screams as I leave. I get to the auditorium and remember my phone is still in Maddie's diaper bag. Great. I rush back and peek around the corner of the door, signaling one of the moms in the nursery. She successfully gets my phone out and sneaks it to me without Maddie noticing.

Back in the auditorium with my grandmother, I croak my way through a few songs (my voice is strained for some odd reason) and pull up the Bible app on my phone. I catch about 30% of the sermon, in between zoning out and struggling to stay awake.

Children are picked up and cheerful, giving me an armful of crafts they made. I have a brief hope that they will be more manageable, but spend the next 30 minutes trying to corral them out the door. Riley makes a beeline for the busy parking lot. I scream, running for him with Maddie under one arm. Caden's flying behind me with coloring pages in hand. Thankfully, another dad sees this and grabs Riley before he runs in front of an SUV. I'm trying really hard to restrain myself at this point and inform Riley his backside will be on fire later.

It's 1:00 pm at this point and I decide (stupidly) to just grab sandwich fixings at the store on the way home. After an hour-long torturous trip involving lots of screaming and tantrums, I arrive home around 3:00, quickly feed the children, and put them down for late naps. Forget making myself a sandwich at this point. I just eat some pieces of ham and cheese, grab a glass of wine, and sink into the couch before passing out. This is a normal day.

Sweet N' Simple Slow-Cooker BBQ Chicken

Barbecued chicken is another family favorite, and I've found it tastiest in the crockpot (well, other than the grill). When you cook it in the crockpot it comes out so moist and tender - perfect for sandwiches.

Again, I'm modifying a store-bought sauce, but this version is nice and mild for the kiddos.

For the sauce you'll need 1/2 C BBQ sauce, 1 tsp onion powder, 2 Tb honey, 2 Tb olive oil, and 2 Tb apple cider vinegar. Mix it all together and dump it over 4-6 chicken breasts in the crockpot. Cook on low for 6 hours or on high for about 4 hours. Super simple and quick. I think it took me a total of 10 minutes to assemble everything in the crockpot.

Sweet & Simple Slow-Cooker BBQ Chicken

1/2 C BBQ sauce (use a mesquite or smokehouse flavor)
1 tsp onion powder
2 Tb honey
2 Tb olive oil
2 Tb apple cider vinegar
4-6 chicken breasts

Mix all the ingredients together and pour over chicken. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.

SIDE DISHES: Crispy Baked French Fries (use sweet potatoes) and Zucchini Fries

Make-Ahead Meat Sauce

I've become a huge fan of make-ahead dinners. Best thing is, they're great for just about anyone who wants to save time and money. Let's face it, none of us really feel like cooking at the end of the day, so why not make ahead dinners you can just come home to?

I only buy ground beef if the grass-fed/organic stuff is on sale and this week it was at my local Sprout's,  so I had to figure how to cook it all up and make it last. Answer: meat sauce. Now this recipe uses prepared spaghetti sauce in a jar (gasp!), but I'll publish my homemade marinara sauce recipe later (it's ridiculously cheap to make).

We eat a lot of spaghetti. It's fast and it's something everyone will eat. Last night, I made a huge batch of meat & veggie sauce and froze what we didn't use for dinner. Easy peasy.

Make-Ahead Meat Sauce

1.5-2 lbs ground beef 

4-lb. 3-oz. jar of Prego spaghetti sauce (I get the enormous jars at Sam's Club)

2 zucchini, diced

1 C bell peppers (red & green), diced

1 onion, diced

1/2 tsp garlic salt (approx)

2 Tb olive oil

You could also throw in...

1 C chopped fresh spinach

1 C diced carrots

1 can of diced tomatoes

... go crazy with the veggies!

In a large pot, cook veggies & ground beef in the olive oil until vegetables are soft and ground beef is browned. Add entire jar of sauce and stir. Voila! Use what you want for dinner that night with some whole wheat pasta and freeze the rest in containers or freezer bags. When you need a quick dinner in the weeks to come, just thaw out a package and cook up some pasta.

Slow-Cooker Bacon & Lentil Soup

I love crockpot recipes, especially since I have three small children. Trying to cook dinner around 5-6 pm is a nightmare and usually results in at least one or two kids hugging my legs and screaming while I'm trying to cook. Throwing together a crockpot meal while they're eating lunch makes my life so much easier.

Today, I attempt a lentil soup. This recipe is especially handy if you're at work or church and want to come home to a ready-made dinner.

Start by soaking 1 lb. of lentils. I started this morning around 8:30 and let them soak for 4 hours. If you like, you can soak them overnight (cover with plastic wrap) and then throw together your ingredients in the morning before you leave.

Next, cook up 1 lb. of bacon. I used bacon tips, but you can turkey bacon as well. While the bacon is cooking, chop up 3 celery stalks, 1 onion (white or yellow), and 1/2 lb. (about 2 cups) of carrots. After your bacon has cooled, chop that up as well. Save the drippings in a dish for later.

If you're prepping the night before, throw all of your chopped ingredients in bags and stick them in the fridge for later.

Once you're ready to put everything in the crockpot, start by adding a couple tablespoons of the bacon drippings, followed by the rest of the ingredients. 

Stir it all in with 3-4 cups of water (you can use vegetable or chicken broth). Add 1 tsp garlic salt and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. Enjoy with some warm French bread or a spinach salad (or both if you're really hungry).

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Slow-Cooker Bacon & Lentil Soup

1 onion (med-lg)

3 stalks celery

2 C carrots

1 lb. bacon (or turkey bacon), cooked

1 lb. dried lentils

3-4 C water (depends on the preferred thickness you want)

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

Soak lentils in a bowl of water for 4+ hrs - overnight. Next, coarsely chop bacon and vegetables. Add all of the ingredients into the crockpot and stir. Cook on low for 6-8 hrs or on high for 4-6 hrs.

Beauty

Beauty.... confident self-image... slender figure. I have spent my entire life feeling like I would never acquire these things. It sent me into a life-long downward spiral of depression and self-loathing. I whole-heartedly bought into the lie that I had to look a certain way to be successful, accepted and loved. 

That lie led me to dabble with Bulimia and Anorexia in high school. (Fortunately, neither lasted long because I liked food too much.) In early college, a hard-hitting rejection drove me to lose weight the right way, but with all of the wrong intentions. I worked hard and lost 60 pounds, started wearing more feminine clothing, and for the first time in 18 years the opposite sex started to notice that I existed. Unfortunately, I didn't gain self-respect as I lost weight.

When I got married, I was sure that my problems were over. I had someone who loved me the way I was. Everything was perfect, right? But then I had my first child and I wasn't prepared for the enormous change in my body. Everything shifted. My muffin top dropped and my weight went up. Add two more kids in less than three years. Bam. I now felt like Jabba the Hut. The amount of weight I needed to lose was astronomical.

But something happened I didn't expect. I had a daughter... a daughter that looked just like me. As I looked at her perfect little face and beautiful blue eyes, I realized something... she is perfectly beautiful... and she looks like me. I am beautiful. She gave me something I had been looking for for the last 25 years - resolve. Mothers unconsciously pass on their self-image to their daughters, and I was not going to let this negative self-image haunt my daughter. 

I realized that I needed to become the woman I hope my daughter will become one day. 

I want to teach her to take care of herself and look her best - not what modern media tells her she should look like. It's okay to like food, but there's a healthy way to enjoy it: you eat to live, not live to eat. I want her to be a woman of character, to know her worth in the Lord, to respect herself and make wise decisions. She won't learn these concepts from me preaching. I've got to live it out for her.

When our daughter was born, we named her Madelynn Rose. Madelynn means "a strong and elegant tower/fortress." Her middle name is after a beautiful flower. I hope and pray that I can set an example for her to live up to her name and become a woman of strength who is confident in both her inner and outer beauty.


Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
^27 
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

(Proverbs 31:25-26,30-31)