Thrilling Thursday!

A few months ago we had an apple tree cut down in our back yard. It was the only large tree in our back yard. It was a nice shade tree, but the apples were not edible. Likely it was a variety called "Early Transparent" which is not known for it's tasty apples, but is good for cross-pollinating other apple trees. So, it was a beautiful old tree that gave nice shade and lots of rotten apples to clean up after in the fall. And maybe some cross-pollinating benefits for some neighbor's apple tree. Somewhere. But it was very old and starting to rot in places. And the few branches that had been grafted on were not producing good apples either, even though they were supposedly edible varieties.

So, the tree was cut down. And we've had an 18" stump in our yard since then that basically has just reminded me of how many things in our back yard we have gotten rid of or cut down to make it truly our own design. We got rid of a statue of Mary, mother of Jesus. We got rid of two LARGE metal poles that held up a clothes line. We got rid of some small tree in the back of the yard. I can't remember what it was, but it had berries on it and the birds liked it. We moved three rose bushes into the front yard. They had been trained as climbers and are now back to their proper height. You're welcome. We got rid of the stuff that supported the "climbing" roses. We re-purposed the cinder blocks that had been used to support some IVY(!) that decorated the fountain and cement pond in front of the statue of Mary the mother of Jesus.

Our backyard now is the home of a beautiful grape arbor with two grape vines, three columnar apple trees, a dwarf cherry tree, a clump of ever-bearing raspberries and a modest garden which will have Walla Walla sweet onions, zucchini, pickling cucumbers, red potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, and some tomatoes, probably beefsteak or Romas.

But I got side tracked didn't I? Today was thrilling because the reminder of the way our yard WAS is GONE! We had the tree stump ground up today. And now I have some wood shavings to put in my compost bin. I'm happy! And I'm looking forward to spending hours and hours out in God's creation this summer, part of which is in my backyard.

Monday Mayhem

Today we attended our first birthday party of the school year. There have been at least 2-3 others already, but we didn't make it to those. The host family opted for the local fast food playland, and the boys had a great time. However, we didn't get home at the usual time, and my day is almost over before it even has begun! I really like my afternoons. Homework, if any, gets done after lunch time, then naptime and quietness prevail. There is just not enough quietness most days if you ask me! And today there is even less! Oh well. I wonder if the Lord likes quietness. He probably does. Especially when we spend some quiet time with Him. Think I'm gonna go do that right now! :D ~Jen

Friday Feast

I recently discovered that I have some food sensitivities. My younger son also has food sensitivities so I have been learning and cooking for an alternative diet for almost two years now. I suppose that his diet has forced me to learn some new basics, and my diet is now forcing me to learn more advanced principles in food preparation. As one dear friend said to me recently, "Isn't it amazing how God puts people into our lives that we don't even realize we need?"

The Lists

Son: Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Bananas, Corn Syrup, Eggs
Me: Wheat, Soy, Eggs, Mold
Husband: Fish, Shellfish

This is just what we know about. And for some reason, I don't think these lists are going to get shorter any time soon. And my older son has NO ALLERGIES OR SENSITIVITIES WHATSOEVER. Do you think I should get him tested? ;)

So, here's my (after-Thanksgiving) lunch for today:

Shredded Turkey Rice Wrap

Ingredients:
Shredded Turkey from cooked carcass
Romaine lettuce, sliced thinly
Thai sweet chili sauce, to taste
16mm rice wrapper, dried

Instructions:
1. Be sure all fillings are ready and prepared to fit properly in your chosen-sized wrapper
2. Soak one wrapper in a bowl of hot water for about 30 seconds, until it is soft, then place on clean work surface
3. fill with a little bit of meat, topped with sauce, then lettuce
4. fold wrapper around filling like a burrito
5. repeat as necessary until you are full!

This is the basis for my new wheat-free, soy-free sandwich. Want one?

A great big "THANK YOU" goes to Karina and this website with the great photos.

Fall Apart Friday

I'm falling apart. My body is getting old, and it's trying to tell me so in not so many words. I can't change the fact that I am getting old either, which really bugs me. If I'm getting age-related illnesses, why do you have to call them "age-related"?? Is it just so I really feel that there is no hope at all for my condition? Or is it to remind me that others get these conditions, too, and not to worry about it 'cause there's nothing I can do about it?

I went to a naturopath yesterday to get tested for food sensitivities. I tested sensitive to wheat and soy. I'm still in shock and starting to go into auto-pilot to attempt to save my sanity. I really don't want to have food allergies. Or sensitivities! Or whatever! But I don't want the symptoms even more, so I am removing wheat and soy from my diet to see if the symptoms that I have been suffering from will disappear. I pray they do.

Now I feel like I have four kids. I have one healthy child, one with food allergies (that makes it feel like double the work!), and now I have food allergies myself, which feels like yet another child in my family. Maybe the Lord knew that even though I wanted 4 children, they wouldn't look exactly like I hoped they would (you know, small and cute). Two of them look like they are supposed to, and two of them look like phantom food allergic people, that I can't see, but still have to shop for, and cook for, and clean for.

I ran across these song lyrics today that really hit home: "If sacrifice requires that all my kingdoms fall, I surrender all." Lord, help me to surrender all to You. Amen.

A Wild and Wooly Wednesday to you!

Today is playgroup day for me. Oh, and my almost 3 year old! LOL! This means I will be busy all morning. And I'm not ready for that.

Lord, give me peace and contentment for today and all that it brings. Help me to speak wisely, but only when I must speak at all. Work through me in the moms that you bring to playgroup today. Help me to be a blessing to them! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Saturday Surprise

I'm going to try to start blogging here regularly. That's part of the surprise. The other part: I think I'm allergic to something in my favorite sweet and salty peanut butter bars. And of course I bought a box at our local discount club store. Oh well. Looks like my 5yo has a lot of peanut butter bars to eat for snacks now.

Blessings! ~Jen

Gone

Gone are the thoughts that were just in my head a second ago. "Outta the den you guys," I say, as I try to scrap together some semblance of sanity to this world called Motherhood.

Gone are the days when I could eat a piece of candy and my child would not whine that he wanted one, too. When will I get a treat for me that I won't feel somehow obligated to share?

Gone is a peaceful night's sleep... or a peaceful day for that matter. When will I get to enjoy a few nights in a row of comfortable sleep on my brand new bed that cost a small fortune?

Gone are the days when I could make everyone at the table happy with what I fixed for dinner. How long will my kitchen be compared to a fine buffet restaurant, and with disdane?

Gone are the days when I could spend quiet time with the Lord, both quiet heart, and quiet room. How many more times will I not be able to find my Bible and notebook on my way out the door to go to a ladies' Bible study or church meeting?

But when I look back on this time, three or maybe five years from now, what will be gone then? What will I miss about this time?

Let me savor "now" Lord, before it, in it's uniqueness, is gone, too.

~~Jennifer Young
copyright 2008