Game, set, match!

Picture if you will...you're standing on a tennis court, racket in hand. Across the net from you stand four players, all of whom are hitting tennis balls at you as hard and fast as they can. You have no hope hitting them all as they zing past, narrowly missing your head. Forget hitting any winners, you will simply settle for surviving. Finally in frustration, you throw down your racket and begin picking balls up and throwing them back at your four daunting opponents.

You've just pictured my morning as a homeschool mom. Had my quiet time this morning, picked up my racket and was ready to start the game. Before I knew it, I was being bombarded on all sides by those four opponents - my kids! It was all I could do to throw my hands up to protect my face! We finally called a time out mid-morning to regroup. After a few minutes of prayer and quiet, I shared the tennis analogy with them. I also apologized for throwing the balls back at them when I should have gathered them all sooner and made the choice to redirect the day.

Count it all JOY when you face trials of many "kids"...I mean "kinds". Believe me, that joy James wrote about is definitely a choice. I must chose to play the game in such a way that we all come out winners.

Sausage Pasta

Looking for an new recipe to get you out of that cooking rut? This one is easy, deliciouso and low-fat.

Sausage Pasta
3/4 pound of your favorite pasta (I use whole wheat angel hair)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound spicy Italian sausage OR kielbasa
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
fresh spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add your favorite pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and reserve.

In a large skillet, heat oil and sausage; cook through until no longer pink. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, add onion and garlic to skillet. You can also grill the sausage on the grill, slice and add to pan after sauteing onion and garlic.

Add broth, basil and tomatoes with liquid.

Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to slightly reduce. Add a few handfuls of fresh spinach; cover skillet and simmer on reduced heat until spinach is just tender, 2-3 minutes.

Add pasta to skillet and mix together. Sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.

Utterly random thoughts that might somehow explain my absence...

Just for the record, file this one under "completely random thoughts".

It's been a busy fall, but I'm sure the two readers I have left can attest to that fact. A trip to Idaho to visit family and friends kicked things off in September. Though exhausting, it was good to see everyone again. We followed that up with a trip two weeks later to Colorado for Ash and Rajeev's amazing wedding. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord...plans to give you a future and a hope" - a quintessential wedding set in the CO mountains was the perfect embodiment of God's promise.

Amongst all the coming and going there was school to be done, too many church activities to count, football practice and games, along with the ins and outs of a family of six. Despite how it all sounds, I am getting better at saying "no"...really, I am.

Emma turned five and lost her first tooth. Football is winding down. One more playoff game and hopefully a trip for Connor to the Superbowl. Yes, football in Texas is apparently a big deal. Basketball season has started up and games begin next week. Hosting Thanksgiving here in a couple of weeks, along with Austin's 13th birthday party. Any idea how much pizza five 13 year old boys can consume?

Oh, did I mention it's only 46 until Christmas. I.will.not.panic!

We must not forget

"Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature and we responded with the best of America." President George W. Bush, 9-11-01

We all remember where we were the day the World Trade Centers fell. The day the Pentagon became a memorial. The day, over a field in Pennsylvania, ordinary people became heroes. In the days that followed, flags flew proudly and we stood together, united as no other nation on earth could unite. We loudly proclaimed, "We will not forget!".

Life has returned to normal for most of us since that fateful day...at least for those of us who did not lose someone dear to us. We've gone about our lives, business as usual and once again taken for granted that we are safe.

Have we forgotten? Do we feel the same patriotism and connection to our neighbors we did that day? Does our heart swell with pride and thankfulness when we see a soldier in uniform? Does our flag still wave proudly from every corner and building?

Sadly, I believe we have forgotten. The horror we felt as we watched the towers crumble has become a distant memory. The pride that swelled in our hearts as we heard the words, "Let's roll" has faded.

For the sake of the 2,974 lives lost that day, we must not forget. For the sake of the children who will not know a parent, we must not forget. For the sake of the spouses who now sleep alone, we must not forget. For the sake of the parents who have outlived their children, we must not forget. For the sake of those still fighting for our freedom, we must not forget.

For all of them - we must not forget.

originally posted on February 7, 2008

Happy fabulous 40!

I've been musing quite a bit over the last few months about this whole "turning 40" thing. At first I was just down right bummed. 40? Seriously, how did that happen? As I've had time to think about it, I've come to the realization that 40 can be fabulous, depending on how I look at it. OK, I won't go so far as to agree with the Hollywood set who says, "40 is the new 20!" Yeah, whatever...they're just justifying the fact that they're getting older like the rest of us. Next they'll be saying from their walkers through their false teeth that 80 is the new 40!

Honestly though, if given the chance to trade wisdom for a few less wrinkles, I have to say I would keep the wrinkles. Being young(er) may have some advantages, but the lessons learned through living life over the years are worth their weight in gold. I'm a different wife, mom and friend than I was when I turned 30...and that's a good thing.

I've had 40 years of God's amazing faithfulness in my life. 40 years of seeing Him at work. 40 years to get to know Him more personally...and I could live another 40 lifetimes and still not know all I should know. I am thankful He continues to teach and shape me to look less like me and more like Him. And if looking more like Him means I have to put up with more wrinkles looking back at me from the mirror, then so be it.

God's comfort

God does not comfort us so that we'll be comfortable; we are comforted by God so that we might be comforters. Marvin Williams

Where were you Lord?

To everyone who has felt the pain of losing a baby, please take a minute to read my friend Cate's blog. It is an amazing portrait of a loving heavenly Father. One who is there in every moment, every ounce of pain, every second that forces us to question, "Where were you Lord?" If we are brave enough to ask the question about our most vulnerable moments, we will hear Him whisper "Right here".