Day 11

I love cooking for my family. When I was single, my friends used to call me up and ask me what was for dinner, knowing that I was preparing something delicious, even  if I wasn't entertaining. Since I got married, I have pretty much cooked from scratch every meal we have eaten, 1) to save money and 2) for the sheer joy of it and 3) for the satisfaction of knowing my family (esp. my husband) appreciates my home cooked meals. Today, after tucking the twins into their beds for their naps, I proceeded to the kitchen to make a dessert for dinner. After sifting through my recipe box for something that I hadn't made yet, I came upon a recipe for Banana Cream Pie. To my delight, I had all of the ingredients and I think it came our beautifully. I can't wait to unveil it tonight and watch my family's faces as they devour what I know will be a delicious treat!

Day 10

In the movie Mary Poppins, Mr. Banks said it best when he sang,
"Let's go fly a kite. Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!"
My father also loved kites and many a day happily wore a pin on his lapel which said, "Go fly a Kite."  (I think they were referring to entirely different things.)
I took the twins to the park today to launch our first March kite. There is true joy in something so simple as making a kite airborne. Happy Kite Flying!

Day 9

Forgiveness. A while ago, I read in my daily devotional about how special the name of God is and that we should always speak His name with reverence. This is something that as youth I failed to do, but now try very hard to follow, although I am not always successful. In doing so, it has become painful for me to listen to others speak lightly of His name. I think of how we cherish our own names (we would never refer to ourselves as "i"), and wonder how the Creator of the Universe feels when we take His name in vain. It must pain Him greatly, yet we continue to pepper our language in anger, in jest and even in just plain ignorance with derivatives of His name.

One day not long ago, I was in the gym locker room, and could no longer stand the casual use of His name. It seemed to come at me from every angle until my ears were ringing, so I decided to say something to one of the women who was speaking. I did in so as gently as possible, yet she was quite affronted. This bothered me for weeks. Every time I saw her at the gym, I wanted to apologize, not for my words, but my manner.  I was afraid that I had ruined her day, and that perhaps she paid forward my impertinence. Today, however, I finally had my opportunity. I explained to her the situation, apologized to her fully and asked her forgiveness. She was very kind, and understanding and now a great weight has been lifted off my heart. Perhaps, too, a little of my "faith" in humanity has been restored. Forgiveness. One of God's great gifts to us. Something we can do for one another.

Week 2 Watercolours (Acrylics)

Dreaming of a Tropical Paradise

Day 8

I am not rich, but I am not poor. My husband and I live paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes we aren't sure how we manage the bills, but they usually get paid. My children want for nothing, but they do not have everything. They have what they need and for this I am grateful. My family has been incredibly generous and without them, I'm not sure how we could have survived. I am very careful with the money I receive for the children's birthdays.  I cannot afford to "put it away" for the future, but I am always frugal with it.

When the twins were born, my mother told me about an article she had read on birthdays. One woman wrote that each of her children received a new toy, a new book and an option for their birthday. The option was always something they wanted, but not necessarily something for which the parents had to pay (ex. one child loved farms, so the parents arranged for the child to spend a day with neighbor who had a farm). I have tried to follow this example, except that again family has blessed me. They usually buy my children toys and I have an aunt who reviews children's books, and graciously passes them on after she has reviewed them. So I focus on the options. Today I exercised one of those options and splurged on the twins. I bought them something totally impractical, but something I knew they would love -rain boots. To me this was a huge unnecessary expense. One that I may never repeat, but today as I watched my children splashing in the rain puddles during our afternoon walk, I knew that this gift was priceless.

Day 7

Water. Our bodies are made up of it. It is tasteless, odorless and exists in 3 forms.  When I swim in it, I feel as if I am apart of it. With each stroke I take, my arms and legs break through it, pushing aside all doubts, fears and troubles I have. Baptized in it, I am renewed and forgiven. Each time I drink of it, I am refreshed and my thirst is quenched. Today I celebrate it as my favorite combination of elements. 

Day 6

Peaceful Play Dates. Is this an oxymoron? I think not! My cousin and I have been doing play dates with our four children, all of whom are under the age of 4 for about 2 years. We have watched them play, laugh, bicker and grow together. Some days they have all been at odds, but today was blissful. We read books, did a craft, and made pizza together with only a few minor mishaps. My cousin and I even got to sit and sip our tea/coffee together (for a while). Ah, how I relish these days!

Day 5

Chocolate! Need I say more? Enjoy this simple recipe - not an original, but with slight variations.

Chocolate Pie
2 C. Milk Chocolate Chips, melted
1 Pkg (8 oz) Cream Cheese, room temperature
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 C. Heavy Whipping Cream, whipped
1-2 TBSP Mini Chocolate Chips

Beat Big Chocolate Chips, Cream Cheese & Vanilla until Fluffy. Fold Whipped Cream into mixture. Spoon into pie crust. Top with mini- chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 2 hrs.

Pie Crust
7 Graham Crackers, crushed (not to dust)
1/4 C. Margerine, melted
1/2 C. Sugar

Mix together & pack into pie crust.

*** To make for St. Paddy's Day, add 1-2 TBSP Irish Cream Liquor per taste to Pie Recipe.