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Make the Most of Every Opportunity

Three weeks ago the husband of a dear friend had a stroke.  They were on their way to our house and we had a house full of people.  The hospital is between their house and ours.  He told his wife we was feeling funny, that he was either having a heart attack or a stroke,  and they went there instead of coming here.  

When they didn't show up, I didn't think much of it... things happen, kids need naps, etc.  There was another family who hadn't shown up yet, but we all decided to eat anyway.  The other family showed up soon after.  My friend called 2 or so hours later to say her husband had had a stroke.  What!?  He's only 35!  She briefly told the story and I tried to process it.  I asked if her immediate needs were taken care of (kids not with her at the hospital, that kind of thing).  When I got off the phone, I shared the news with all of our guests (it was a get together of home schoolers from our church).  We stopped and prayed for her husband and her right then.

After everyone left and I got my littlest one in bed I told my husband I was going to go to the hospital.  I called her up and sort of asked her and sort of told her that I was coming.  The situation did not look good.  We talked together, cried together and prayed together.  At one point she said to me, "I don't know what my week is going to look like."  And I said to her, "no one does."

And that is my point... none of us knows what our week is going to look like.  We can make all the plans we want, but it is the Lord who directs our steps.  Life is too short to argue over stupid things.  Life is too short to get angry over minor inconveniences.  Life is too short to not ask for forgiveness or to not grant forgiveness.  Yes, there are big issues in life.  Life is too short not to talk them out.... even if it is only with God.  Sometimes friends don't talk over something no one can remember.  Sometimes spouses grow apart because of the busyness of life.  Sometimes we let our kids do their own thing because we're tired and it's easier.  Life is too short not to take opportunities when they arise.  Your kids want you to read to them or play a game with them, but you are on the computer.  Life is short... your children will remember that you chose to spend time with them.  Your spouse wants some attention, but you're tired.  Will that extra half hour or hour of sleep make a difference in the morning... most days, probably not.  You have wanted to do something silly for a long time and have never done it (dye your hair purple, get your belly button pierced, get a tattoo, etc)... life is short.  If it's not illegal or immoral and you won't go into debt to do it, do it (especially if it's temporary, like purple hair).   A friend is down and needs help... be there.  Even a phone call or email helps.  You will not ever regret the time you spent being there for others.  You will not regret the time you spent making the most of every opportunity.

That first night and next day in the hospital, things did not look good for my friend's husband.  I spent some time with her that night and went back the next day.  But she called me the second morning to say he had greatly improved and by that evening he was home.  I visited them at home that night and God's grace was so apparent in their lives.  If you didn't know he had had a stroke, you wouldn't have known.    We praise God for that.  Two days before I wasn't sure if my friend would be a young widow.  They have the opportunity now, after being faced with a serious situation, to reevaluate things in life.  I know they have had some serious (and probably not so easy) discussions since then.  If you need to have some of those discussions in your life, please do it and make the most of every opportunity.

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Yea, I made this...

I have been working on this vest for not quite 4 weeks. I loved the pattern (mondo cable vest/shell from Ravelry). And considering I have been knitting for less than 6 months, I think it turned out pretty well. There are some mistakes along the arm holes and the shoulder seams, but you really can't tell. The yarn I used is from Knitpicks.com and it's called sugar bunny. Doesn't it sound like it would be soft and fuzzy. Well, it is. It's a very soft merino angora blend. However, I never expected it to shed so much. I wore it yesterday with a white t-shirt underneath. The white t-shirt was COVERED in purple fuzz... as was the straps on my backpack and some other things. Also it is starting to pill a bit... after only one wearing.

Moral of the story... I am going to check yarn reviews on ravelry before I purchase a yarn. I still love the pattern and I will make another one (probably out of a superwash merino or cotton blend) after I make 3 or 4 other things on my knitting list.

Sorry the picture is kinda' "eh". I took it with my phone and I barely have enough time to blog (because I am always knitting). I definitely don't have enough time to edit pictures to put on the blog.

And I haven't forgotten about the selling my cricut story. I will get to that.

Have a great weekend!!

Another Yummy Recipe

So most days I don't even think about blogging. I'm not sure why. I really want to. But the days come and go and run into each other. I am sure I have plenty of things to blog about. Since my last post I have completed 4 shawls. One I hated and turned it into one of the other ones. I knitted a sweater (just have to block it and weave in the ends). I have made countless meals, snacks, and desserts. I have had families and large crowds over for meals. I have gone to a homeschool conference. I sold my cricut (more about that in another post). I am sure I have something to blog about.

 Today I am going to share another yummy, healthy dessert recipe: Chocolate Coconut Cream Pudding (you can also use it as pie filling). I made this one up based on a coconut cream recipe from Bruce Fife's "Cooking with Coconut Flour".

 Here goes:
 2 cups coconut milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
mix together and bring to a low boil

 1/2 c coconut milk
1/4 c arrowroot powder (can use corn starch)
 mix this together and add to the other coconut milk

beat 4 egg yolks (keep the white and make macaroons. Have I shared that recipe? Yummy!!)
mix some of the warm coconut milk into the egg yolks and then add it all back in to the coconut milk 

when it thickens a bit add:
1/4 cup chocolate chips
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 Tbsp vanilla
2 cups coconut
remove from heat and put in another container (or separate serving dishes) and refrigerate for a couple hours. You can put plastic wrap tight on the top to prevent a skin from forming. You can eat it like that or add whipped cream. Yummy!!

If you make it, let me know how you like it. You can probably eliminate the sugar and it would still be good.

Enjoy!!

Yum, Yum, Yum

So I found this no bake cookie recipes somewhere on the internet. I didn't pin it. I didn't print it. I scribbled it on a piece of paper. I have no idea where it came from. I wrote in down because it is gluten free, egg free, refined sugar free... you get the idea. I am always looking for yummy gluten free, low sugar recipes for myself. But I also have a friend whose daughter has allergies to so many foods, so I am always looking for things this little girl can eat... and she can have these cookies! :)

I made them earlier in the week. They were gone in a day and I've made them 2 times since then. That's how good they are. I am making them again today to bring for Easter lunch at previously mentioned friend's house.

Here's the recipe:
1/3 cup honey (I use less)
1 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter - friend's daughter is dairy free)
melt those together and stir in
1/3 cup almond butter or peanut butter (I've used both. Both are good)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

drop by spoonfuls on a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm.

Then come back here and tell me how much you loved them. :)

"I could never do that"

As a homeschool mom there are several responses that I get when I tell people that we homeschool. The responses range from "Cool", to "I wish I could do that", to "I never could do that." My response to any of those generally has been, "we enjoy it", or "it fits our lifestyle." However, secretly I have always felt bad for the children of those who respond with "I could never do that." The implication (or the out right statement) is that they (usually a mom) could not spend all day everyday with their kids. These are usually the same moms who dread summer vacation or rejoice when school starts again in the fall.

I point these things out not to say that I am better than them. On the contrary, I point these things out to say I don't homeschool because I have super powers or super patience. I point these things out to say that it is only God's grace in my life that enables me to homeschool.

We homeschool because it is an conviction from God's Word that it is the best way to disciple, train, and educate children. Yes, there are other benefits... my older two can know and enjoy Little Brother. If they were gone all day they wouldn't really be a part of his life. My older two are going to Washington DC soon with Grandma and Grandpa and participating in a drama camp that occurs during our local district's spring break. We spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa last week and are looking forward to time with other Grandparents in April. They would not necessarily have as close intergenerational relationships without homeschooling.

But my point is I am not super mom. I don't have a cape or super powers. Sometimes I want time alone. Sometimes I raise my voice to my kids. Sometimes they make me want to bang my head against the wall. Most of the time I can't get everything done. My house is not always clean, my garden is not always weeded, and our yard would never make it on the cover of a magazine. I am not perfect and I will not be until eternity. I only have my children for a short time. I want to enjoy them. I want to have a relationship with them. I want to know what is going on their lives. I want them to love learning (not dread school). Most importantly I want them to love the Lord and desire to live for Him. That is why we homeschool.

We sang a hymn in church this morning that sums it up well, "And now, let the weak say I am strong. Let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord has done, for us."

And if you are one of those who has said, "I wish I could do that," I will be the first to encourage you and say you can, with God's grace, you can.