Two Books that are Rocking My World

Some areas where I have really been seeking God are in parenting a defiant three year old and being a better wife.  Now I know you all assumed that I was some dream wife (ha ha) but I am not.  I have been married before and with that experience comes the wisdom that problems don't follow you twice…you bring them.  I guess I can say that I have been blessed in this situation because it shows the common denominator in relationship issues…MOI!  Tough cookie to swallow.  Most of my learning and growing has come from praying, reading the Bible (the greatest instruction book EVER!) and seeking wisdom from a couple of confidents.  These two books have really shook my perspective and I believe, by the grace of God, are setting me on a great path to becoming a more loving mom and wife.

As I have mentioned before, I love listening to Focus on the Family.  The author of this book, Nina Roesner, was featured in two segments and really spoke to my heart.  I have mentioned in past posts about the book Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs .  This book takes it deeper for the women's side of respecting her husband.  In this age of distorted feminism, I believe this book is timely.

Check out http://therespectdare.com for more information.

Another great resource is not a book but a video series from Tim Kimmel's Grace Based Parenting.  There is a book, which I am positive I will purchase but I am really loving watching the videos of him teaching from his book.  His whole point is to have us come to a place where we love our kids like God loves us. I am not good at that!!!  I desire for my children to know God's love through my parenting and the way I love others.  This book is a good supplement to help us get there.  

Check out http://gracebasedparenting.com for more information.  

Any great books that you could suggest for women/moms?  Maybe your suggestion is another person's answer.  

Have a great day! 

-Ange

Oatmeal Casserole

In attempts to keep the boys from asking for second and third helpings of cereal, I made this yummy oatmeal casserole.  In speaking to many moms, I understand that even when it's a hearty eggs and bacon breakfast, they still seem to be starving a half hour later.  However, I was looking for something more enjoyable for myself as well....and it worked. It was delicious! 

Funny thing, I followed a recipe that called for chocolate chips but used raisins instead, and the kids actually said they could taste chocolate.  Bonus...no chocolate but tastes like chocolate (I think it was the buttery baked pecans). 

the recipe: 
2 cups of rolled oats 

1/3 cup brown sugar (I substituted with Organic Coconut Palm Sugar)

1 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 tsp salt 

1 cup pecans or walnuts

1 cup berries (your choice)

1/2 cup raisins

2 cups milk

1 large egg

3 Tlbs butter (melted)

1 tsp vanilla

1 banana, peeled and sliced 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 2 qt baking dish. 

In a large bowl mix together oats, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, half of the nuts, half of the berries and half of the raisins. 

In another bowl mix milk, egg, butter and vanilla.  

Add oat mixture to baking dish.  Place the remaining nuts, berries and raisins on top of the mixture.  Place the banana slices on the mixture. 

Pour the milk mixture over top of the oat mixture and shake the dish so that the oats are all moistened. 

Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown and the milk mixture has set.  

Enjoy!  

Why I Chose to Homeschool

Maybe I have mentioned this before.  I am quite insecure in this homeschooling thing so have been hesitant to post anything about it. However, due to recent conversations with people who know me well, I figured there was some clearing up to do.

Now, really, I shouldn't care what people think of me but I do. Also, as a representative of Christ I always want people to know the truth on who I am and why I do what I do.  

That being said, let's just clear one thing up about my homeschooling decision.

I did not choose homeschooling because I hate traditional schools. 
 From what I have learned from my friends' experiences with school, it all depends on the administration of the school.  It seems it is very important to be involved and stay informed on who the principal is and what they are about. For one crazy example, there was a school in New York where the students shared that they watch movies almost the whole day and there was no gym or recess. When a parent was interviewed, they said they didn't even know who the principal was.  Okay, that was extreme but so crazy I had to share.
There are some good schools close to us and one I was very excited to enrol Munch in for kindergarten.  In spite of this, I felt God was calling me to homeschool.

I am not homeschooling because I am trying to keep my kids from the evil of this world. 

I am not trying to "shelter" my kids.  In our world, sheltering would require a move onto a self-sustaining acreage with no media and no personal contact. On another note, I would want a school that matched my values, not to keep my boys from "bad" kids. There are rotten kids in all kinds of schools. However, if that school is going to have authority over my kids I would want them to hold the same beliefs and values as us.  Again though, we have a perfectly great public school, that so also happens to hold Christian values, not too far from us.

I did not choose homeschooling because I think I can do a better job. Although I have witnessed students getting lost and let down by the current school system and have been educated of the homeschool vs. traditional debate, I also know I loved my school of 500, my husband liked his school of, like, 5000 or something crazy (and frankly terrifying sounding), and we turned out fine, many of our friends have and many smart, gifted and well-accomplished people have.  The school debate is as overwhelming and frustrating as the immunization debate with both great points on both sides.
 We all have our own convictions and mine was to homeschool.
 I have teacher friends; they have a gift. I do not possess such gift.  I am sure I will not be as creative as Miss Grade Four Teacher and maybe I won't find a way to teach my boys to looooove math like Mr. Garinger (who didn't actually teach me to love it, just to appreciate it and the people who are crazy enough to looooove it).
The point is that if God called me to it, He will do it and help me in it.  Anyone who knows any story from the Old Testament knows that God called people to some pretty impossible stuff but they accomplished it, and not just accomplished it but accomplished it well (David and Goliath anyone? Moses parting the sea?).  So if teaching three wild boys reading writing and 'rithmatic is my Red Sea then get me my staff (the stick kind of staff, in case there was some confusion).

In my time as a newbie homeschooler, I have learned some great things that have supported my current decision; some statistics, some testimonies and some simple positives like being able to take a holiday whenever we wanted and staying in on wintery days.   Even as I have come to love the idea and blessing of homeschooling, the main reason for my doing so remains.

 I felt God called me to it. 
 Many wise homeschooling friends said, "Take it year by year."  For Munch's Kindergarten year, I was confident The Lord told me to keep him home.  For this following year, I am listening.  I will continue to seek The One who loves us and knows how many are our days.  Whatever He tells me to do, I will do.  Regardless of what He calls me to and my supporting reasons why, I will do it.
I will do it because I was called to it. 

                                           

A Peek into our Craziness

We were so happy to hear that the boys behaved so well for their grandparents while we were in New York. Yet, at the same time, I couldn't get why they couldn't behave that well when they were with us. Many theories...but all in all we say it's better they are at their best with others. 

I missed these boys...an hour from our return to Calgary. (You can gufah all you want but I needed a break and loved every minute of it.) Once I could feel the Alberta air shrivelling up my skin again, I longed to hold these minchies! 

Is anyone else concerned that we are creating little narcissists with our iPhone craziness? Baby G loves getting his picture taken then checking it out and Munch is all about the selfie. 

He hasn't landed "the pose" yet though. 

Around Christmas I was growing weary of my relationship with Facebook; not the people on it but my self-focus because of it. I had a big post planned explaining why I was "stepping back" from FB but then someone beat me to it. Then I heard on a news show in New York that droves of teens and twenty-somes are leaving Facebook. Apparently, my feelings were not at all unique. 

Then I decided to post one picture of our first night in New York and bang, I was hooked again. What can I say? I liked the attention. (It really does annoy me that I think of life events in terms of a Facebook status.)

When all is out of control and yucky...make a fort. It always works. This is how I got them to sit and do bookwork this morning. Then it was where they took quiet time, snack time and...I stopped it at bedtime. 

My dear husband had come to the end of "sharing me" with the world this week. (As an extrovert, I need to learn to calm down and focus on my family more often.) We really enjoyed a dinner, just us two, at Maze by Gordon Ramsay and a delightfully long stroll down Fifth and Madison Avenues back to our hotel.  We won't wait so long for a date night again! 

This one little guy does everything this other little but bigger guy does. Unfortunately, it all started when the three year old was at his peak of badness. Now he has come out as the sweetest, most sensitive and yielding little man. However, he has left behind a spitting, screaming, pinching and hair pulling toddler. I repeat over and over throughout the day, "this too shall pass..." It's a good thing he's got cute chubby cheeks and an infectious laugh (even if it is because he's pulling your hair). 

Have a great week! 

-Angela 

A Sick New Years...and not the cool sick

We were so excited to spend New Years Eve with a great group of friends but as the hours approached, it was becoming less and less likely. By noon that day, with 4 fevers out of 5, we made the decision to stay home. Did I mope? Nope. In between fevery hot flashes and body aches, the boys and I gathered together leftover decorations and put our own party together. Enjoy a few snapshots of The Sickest New Year Party 2013! 

Yes, that's a coffee filter. 

Sparkling water for all! Baby Goose didn't think it felt nice on his tongue. 

A couple games, some salty chips and in bed by 7. 

"There's two mommies. There and there," says Munch. What a card! 

Ryan and I sat our achy bodies down with a glass of wine and enjoyed a movie...and in bed by 10...

...only to have this little guy and his baby brother keep us up for the next 2 hours with coughing and crying. At least we got to ring in the New Year! 

Even if it wasn't what we planned and even if we missed seeing our friends, I know we will look back at this New Years as one of the most memorable. A good night overall...despite the flu. 

Snippets from my Heart

For the past few months, it has seemed too overwhelming to write a couple of paragraphs on anything.  That is why my posts have been made up of activities and photos.  It may because there are far too many interruptions in the day to be able to formulate a thought long enough to communicate it in a post or that the things I have been pondering are too complicated to put down in one post.  However,  I have been feeling quite shallow in my blog as of late, so am leaving you with 10 things that I have learned and have been praying/thinking about lately.  If there are any topics you would like me to expand on in future posts, please let me know.

1. I will find true joy when I fix my eyes on things above and not on the things of the world.
That is, instead of stressing over my kids behaviour, how my living room would look if it was decked out in all Ikea or how much happier I would be if I could own a pair of tall boots "like everyone else", I will give praise for the abundant grace of God in my life, each day as I make mistakes and am forgiven,  praying for friends and family who don't yet know the great love and relationship that is available with God through Jesus and how I can exercise more fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace patience, kindness….

2. I am responsible for my own feelings.  
People "can't make me" feel anything. I choose to feel and respond to people's actions in the way that I do.  I can choose to respond graciously and with forgiveness in all circumstances.

3. This is the stage of my life where there is more death.  
Aunts, uncles, grandparents and even friends are more prone to sickness and long-term illness.  I need to get my will done.

4. Why am I surprised that my kids want to be on our i-technology all the time….we are.  
How do I find the balance in my face time and FaceTime?

5. Consistency in discipline is key.  
It is so hard to do with a cute 15 month old but if I am not consistent now, I will have a monster of a 3 year old.

6. Marriages are falling apart all around me.  
It doesn't just sadden me, it literally breaks my heart to pieces.  Many men are not rising up to role they have been given and many women are giving up on those men.

7. I must constantly surrender my family to the Lord. 
 I could do all the "right" things as a parent and they could still make poor choices and even though I have made many mistakes my kids could still turn out "normal". ha ha

8.  Nobodys family is perfect, even if it looks like that from the outside.  NOBODYS.

9. Generally, most Christians do not live in the victory and freedom that is offered to them through Jesus Christ.  
They do not walk in their new identity but are still living in the lies of their past and their circumstances.  What does it take to get us into that freedom? 

10. I am so grateful for the abundance in my life.  
I have food to choose from, I have a safe home and I have friends and family to call on when in trouble.  I am rich.  There are many people that I can share this abundance with, I just needed to look.  

Enjoy the next few days before Christmas.  Thanks for stopping in! -Angela 

Freezin' Fun

Man, it's cold outside.  It is not even officially Winter yet and I am freezin my buns off.  If you are from Canada or even part of the States, you know what I am talking about.  It is just too early for this type of cold. 

The other day, the boys and I decided to make the most of it and had some fun.  

Freezin' Bubbles 

I braved the -40 while the boys stayed in side (with jackets and boots on) to blow bubbles and watch them freeze.  Munch suggested we don't do that one again because "It was way toooo cold!" 

Freezin' Inside 

 I buried some marbles in bowls of snow and had the boys use spoons and warm water to search for their "treasure".  It went over even better than I thought it would. 

Even Baby Goose had a good time.  Easy clean up too! 

Freezin' Beauty 

We made a sun catcher out of ice, marbles and food colouring.  I am all about being real here, so I have to say it was a real headache as it kept cracking on me.  Thankfully, in this weather, all I had to do was add a bit of water to the crack and wait another hour.  Totally worth it!  (The marbles will be fun to discover on a chinook day.)  

Freezin' Balloons 

I cannot take credit for this photo as our attempt did not work.  Take your leftover water balloons from the summer and fill them with water and food colouring (and then tell me how to do it without spraying water all over the place!), leave outside or in the freezer until completely frozen and peel off the balloon. Mr. Bubblegum, in complete three year old style, found ours before they were totally frozen and smashed them to smithereens. 

Freezin' Education 

After the crazy snow storm of 2013, my friend Jenn took an "educational moment" to show the kids how much it had snowed in that one day according to the pattern on her newly snow-plowed driveway.  I like my science-ey friends!  

All in all, this cold weather has been pretty fun.  However, I don't know how much longer I can stay cooped up in the house.  Here's hoping that sledding weather for littles is on it's way! 

Here's the thing. We live in this crazy arctic climate and Winter is not going away anytime soon, so might as well make the most it. 

Send me some of your ideas for fun in the Winter and I will pick my faves to highlight in an upcoming post.  Send them to angelastockert@gmail.com.  

Stay warm!  

Angela