I have a project to work on today. I have been diligently reading articles, working on sources, organizing my thoughts.
It is one of those perfect study/ quiet days, with rainy cool weather outside and a warm couch and slipper day inside. I had to have soup for lunch, and cooking is perfect procrastination!
Baby Belle and I headed upstairs to try and recreate a recipe I had read last week. She washed carrots and potatoes in a bowl and dried them, I quartered them. I melted a half stick of butter in a stock pot and added the potatoes, letting them cook for about 10 minutes. Then I added a can of chicken stock, and a can of water and brought to a boil. We tasted the broth and decided to add a little salt, pepper, and dill. When the potatoes were tender (another 10 minutes), I added a bag of frozen peas, and a handful of leftover spinach. Then we whizzed in in batches in the food processor. YUM! We floated a few goldfish and drizzled some cream over the top. Ridiculous!
Quick Pea Soup
4 TBSP butter
2 cups quartered new potatoes
2 carrots, rough chopped
1 can low sodium broth
Refil that can with water
salt/ pepper/ dill
1 bag frozen peas
handful of greens (I used spinach, but arugula would be good, too)
Melt butter and saute potatoes and carrots gently for 10 minutes
add broth & water, bring to a boil for 10 minutes, until potatoes are tender
season to taste
add bag frozen peas/ greens, bring back to boil
in batches, puree soup until smooth
(while processing, be sure to leave the little plug out of the lid and cover the whole lid with a kitchen towel)
we drizzled a little cream over the top, and some goldfish
fresh chives would be good, a drizzle of olive oil would be good, a grilled cheese sandwich would be good... oh yeah- getting back to work would be good!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
A Day to Remember
Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day.
I am a Lutheran, an American, and too young to remember. Why does this day matter?
When I was 9, my mom gave me the All of a Kind Family book. I was completely intrigued. I knew about the Hebrew people from the Bible, and that Jewish people lived here in the US, but I had never met anyone Jewish. There was something about that story that tripped my heart and imagination.
When I was 11, my mom gave me another book after I asked questions about WWII. My grandfather and I had been talking about bombers and planes at an airshow, and again my curiosity was sparked. The Hiding Place and then The Diary of Anne Frank, and then the entire series of books called The Zion Covenant were the start of books I read about the subject.
As I've gotten older, I have struggled to understand the war, the persecution, and where God was in all this. Elie Wiesel's book Night shook my faith, made me question and ultimately continue my search for truth. My heart is consistently moved by anything surrounding the war- how relationships changed, how people reacted to ethical and moral dilemmas , who chose to fight, who chose to stay out. One of my personal heros is Dietrich Bonhoffer, a man who was involved in the plot to kill Hitler, but instead became a martyr.
My husband's mother is Polish, born in Germany to a Polish woman and an American solider. I am waiting for her to write her mother's fascinating story about the invasion, switching identities with her sister, thereby protecting her parents, and then working as a cook in a work camp for the SS and being liberated by the US.
Today matters because no victim should die in vain, whether the victim be a race of people, or a single person. While it is impossible to honor each individual person, it is possible to look forward and recognize the symptoms of humanity's sickness and work towards a cure of peace and tolerance.
I am a Lutheran, an American, and too young to remember. Why does this day matter?
When I was 9, my mom gave me the All of a Kind Family book. I was completely intrigued. I knew about the Hebrew people from the Bible, and that Jewish people lived here in the US, but I had never met anyone Jewish. There was something about that story that tripped my heart and imagination.
When I was 11, my mom gave me another book after I asked questions about WWII. My grandfather and I had been talking about bombers and planes at an airshow, and again my curiosity was sparked. The Hiding Place and then The Diary of Anne Frank, and then the entire series of books called The Zion Covenant were the start of books I read about the subject.
As I've gotten older, I have struggled to understand the war, the persecution, and where God was in all this. Elie Wiesel's book Night shook my faith, made me question and ultimately continue my search for truth. My heart is consistently moved by anything surrounding the war- how relationships changed, how people reacted to ethical and moral dilemmas , who chose to fight, who chose to stay out. One of my personal heros is Dietrich Bonhoffer, a man who was involved in the plot to kill Hitler, but instead became a martyr.
My husband's mother is Polish, born in Germany to a Polish woman and an American solider. I am waiting for her to write her mother's fascinating story about the invasion, switching identities with her sister, thereby protecting her parents, and then working as a cook in a work camp for the SS and being liberated by the US.
Today matters because no victim should die in vain, whether the victim be a race of people, or a single person. While it is impossible to honor each individual person, it is possible to look forward and recognize the symptoms of humanity's sickness and work towards a cure of peace and tolerance.
Friday, March 30, 2012
My Favorite Things... Online!
EDU 543 Jing/ PPT project link (also linked on Angel)
Jing Project
I just looked at a funny pants flowchart and almost loaded that instead of my Jing. Here it is, FYI, and just in case you were wondering:
Pants. Completely dumb, but funny...
So My some of my favorite blogs are listed on the side over there-------------->
mostly the inspirational ones.
Here are the favorites:
Leadership:
Michael Hyatt
Jon Acuff
Seth Godin
Education:
Kevin Jarret, Technology in Education Blog
Twitter feed: Andrew Bowman
Curriculum 21 (Curriculum Mapping)
Illinois State Board of Education
State School News
Applications:
Mac music apps: iTick, Tabs, FlashNote, iTunes, YouTube
Android music apps: Rhythm Cat Pro, iNote Trainer, Pandora, YouTube
Mac education apps: (my kids are 2nd grade, Kindergarten, & toddler): WordGirl, Montessori Crosswords, Read Me Stories, FlashToPass, Everyday Math, Toddler Shapes, MeMeTales, ABCFree
Android education apps: Montessori Crosswords, Kids Ultimate Art, iStoryBooks
I'd love to know what you think of these posts- check them out and let me know!
Jing Project
I just looked at a funny pants flowchart and almost loaded that instead of my Jing. Here it is, FYI, and just in case you were wondering:
Pants. Completely dumb, but funny...
So My some of my favorite blogs are listed on the side over there-------------->
mostly the inspirational ones.
Here are the favorites:
Leadership:
Michael Hyatt
Jon Acuff
Seth Godin
Education:
Kevin Jarret, Technology in Education Blog
Twitter feed: Andrew Bowman
Curriculum 21 (Curriculum Mapping)
Illinois State Board of Education
State School News
Applications:
Mac music apps: iTick, Tabs, FlashNote, iTunes, YouTube
Android music apps: Rhythm Cat Pro, iNote Trainer, Pandora, YouTube
Mac education apps: (my kids are 2nd grade, Kindergarten, & toddler): WordGirl, Montessori Crosswords, Read Me Stories, FlashToPass, Everyday Math, Toddler Shapes, MeMeTales, ABCFree
Android education apps: Montessori Crosswords, Kids Ultimate Art, iStoryBooks
I'd love to know what you think of these posts- check them out and let me know!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday
Today is the first day of Lent, my favorite time of the Church. I love the simplicity, the starkness, the laid-bare soul and reflective spirit of Lent. The tempo marking 'Lento' in music means slow; I always think 'painfully slow'. Time is on me during Lent, the season of slow. And so,
I put away the snowmen, cleaned the living room and replaced winter with quiet white linens, seashells, and pitchers. This year, my outward aim is to shut out the spirit of the world and remember the baptisms of each of my children and my own. The girls and I will be reading their baby journals where I recorded their baptism days, the service, the parties afterwards, what it all meant, and what it will mean when they decide to confirm their baptisms in the church.
We will be talking about relationships and the time it takes to keep them right, to grow and nurture them with patience. And looking to the Master of relationship for His examples of how to treat people and love them well.
My other aim this season is to do the hard things: exercise, communicate effectively, eat well, and use my time well. I want to use my gifts this season, practice them and appreciate them. These are lofty goals and long time coming goals. The winter it is past and the preparations for the lively summer will begin soon, but for now it's slow time.
Give Thanks time, remember time, God time.
I put away the snowmen, cleaned the living room and replaced winter with quiet white linens, seashells, and pitchers. This year, my outward aim is to shut out the spirit of the world and remember the baptisms of each of my children and my own. The girls and I will be reading their baby journals where I recorded their baptism days, the service, the parties afterwards, what it all meant, and what it will mean when they decide to confirm their baptisms in the church.
We will be talking about relationships and the time it takes to keep them right, to grow and nurture them with patience. And looking to the Master of relationship for His examples of how to treat people and love them well.
My other aim this season is to do the hard things: exercise, communicate effectively, eat well, and use my time well. I want to use my gifts this season, practice them and appreciate them. These are lofty goals and long time coming goals. The winter it is past and the preparations for the lively summer will begin soon, but for now it's slow time.
Give Thanks time, remember time, God time.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The list
I don't have one.
Oh, I have the kid's lists, I have the 'Ridiculous Things I Want' list, but for once in my grown up life, I don't have a 'to do' list.
I've been busy, overwhelmed with life. There are a million things I need to be doing, and a list would indeed be helpful. But I don't have one, and I don't want one. I have my permission to go without a list.
I want to have coffee with a friend Friday morning, so I scheduled it. Noelle might come along.
I want to enjoy baking cookies with the girls and friends on Saturday morning, and my pantry is stocked. So I scheduled it.
I am going to worship with Christmas music on Saturday night and Sunday at church. Hey! I'm the one playing it! No plans, no set list. I'm just going to go and do.
Next week, I'm watching movies during the day and wrapping presents during nap-time. I will be done by Tuesday.
There is still a bit of shopping to do, but I really don't know what else I need. I'll know after I'm done wrapping on Tuesday.
You know what I am going to do? I am going to enjoy my girls, read stories, watch Elf & A Christmas Carol, we will sing together silly songs, decorate cookies and eat way too many. We will hide gifts from one another. We will play with the nativities and read the story over and over. This is the time of life to cherish, not the list.
See? My no list Christmas is going to be SA-WEET!
Oh, I have the kid's lists, I have the 'Ridiculous Things I Want' list, but for once in my grown up life, I don't have a 'to do' list.
I've been busy, overwhelmed with life. There are a million things I need to be doing, and a list would indeed be helpful. But I don't have one, and I don't want one. I have my permission to go without a list.
I want to have coffee with a friend Friday morning, so I scheduled it. Noelle might come along.
I want to enjoy baking cookies with the girls and friends on Saturday morning, and my pantry is stocked. So I scheduled it.
I am going to worship with Christmas music on Saturday night and Sunday at church. Hey! I'm the one playing it! No plans, no set list. I'm just going to go and do.
Next week, I'm watching movies during the day and wrapping presents during nap-time. I will be done by Tuesday.
There is still a bit of shopping to do, but I really don't know what else I need. I'll know after I'm done wrapping on Tuesday.
You know what I am going to do? I am going to enjoy my girls, read stories, watch Elf & A Christmas Carol, we will sing together silly songs, decorate cookies and eat way too many. We will hide gifts from one another. We will play with the nativities and read the story over and over. This is the time of life to cherish, not the list.
See? My no list Christmas is going to be SA-WEET!
Monday, November 14, 2011
November Evening
Today was busy. Today was internally busy, today was externally busy.
I took time out to spend with my husband.
Funny how a boy from Chicago can grab my soul with his love of my heritage in the country. We walked through the thick mud of a freshly turned field. In the twilight, he carried Cocopugs and I carried little Belle. CB lost her shoes. (pink ballet flats belong in a muddy field) We walked one behind the other, searching and scanning in precious daylight. Once on the other side, the girls and I headed down to the river while he continued to look. He is so aware of what he does in the woods and fields, so aware of the animal that he lost. His obligation is to finish what he started, respect the process. This man that I love yelled across the grasses to the river for me. I grabbed small bodies, cool hands and followed his voice to find him pulling a beautiful large deer from the brush.
Yesterday morning he came home from his hunt with tales of six bucks pursuing one doe. He observed quietly from a not perfect angle, and as he was pulling his first shot, another deer entered the area and the instant was lost. He wasn't able to see clearly the deer he was after, but quickly pulled another shot and nicked the animal. He searched for his arrows to account for what happened and could only find one barely bloody arrow. He watched the buck lick its neck and then bound away into the brush. He thought he'd missed and the arrow had gone into the river behind.
Today, his good buddy was hunting the same area and came across a 9 point buck with a clean arrow wound to his neck, and a nick on the thigh. Pat asked us to come with him to find it, and so our adventure went. He thanked his daughters and wife for caring enough to tromp through the field and search with him.
All a part of the treasure and journey with him.
I hope I feed his soul as clearly as he feeds mine.
I took time out to spend with my husband.
Funny how a boy from Chicago can grab my soul with his love of my heritage in the country. We walked through the thick mud of a freshly turned field. In the twilight, he carried Cocopugs and I carried little Belle. CB lost her shoes. (pink ballet flats belong in a muddy field) We walked one behind the other, searching and scanning in precious daylight. Once on the other side, the girls and I headed down to the river while he continued to look. He is so aware of what he does in the woods and fields, so aware of the animal that he lost. His obligation is to finish what he started, respect the process. This man that I love yelled across the grasses to the river for me. I grabbed small bodies, cool hands and followed his voice to find him pulling a beautiful large deer from the brush.
Yesterday morning he came home from his hunt with tales of six bucks pursuing one doe. He observed quietly from a not perfect angle, and as he was pulling his first shot, another deer entered the area and the instant was lost. He wasn't able to see clearly the deer he was after, but quickly pulled another shot and nicked the animal. He searched for his arrows to account for what happened and could only find one barely bloody arrow. He watched the buck lick its neck and then bound away into the brush. He thought he'd missed and the arrow had gone into the river behind.
Today, his good buddy was hunting the same area and came across a 9 point buck with a clean arrow wound to his neck, and a nick on the thigh. Pat asked us to come with him to find it, and so our adventure went. He thanked his daughters and wife for caring enough to tromp through the field and search with him.
All a part of the treasure and journey with him.
I hope I feed his soul as clearly as he feeds mine.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Thankful
This morning smells like hope.
Ok it really smells like toddlers, fruit loops and coffee here at the kitchen table.
It's a rare day and I want to enjoy it fully. Pat is working today and I have a clean calendar with a couple of things to do, a paper to write and three girls to hang out with. We are working together today to prepare for the season ahead, we will rest together and laugh together. I am hoping we will not fight together.
This week has been difficult. **DISCLAIMER**(massive understatement- this week resulted in a panic attack of epic proportions including meltdown, temper tantrums and crying. That wasn't the kids) I have observed people who struggle with the same issues over and over, and I know it is true for me. I feel my issues are magnified when I'm under stress. And this week has pushed my stress to new heights. Expectations for the children and home are not being met; my husband is picking up a lot of slack and essentially working both at home and at work. I was in intense physical pain for a couple of days, and my understanding of coursework is not as clear as I'd like. In my distant past I relied on unhealthy methods to cope with stress, so learning a few new techniques is now a necessity. I found the help I needed (honestly, a kind Drs off- the- books care, little talk therapy, an afternoon of walking around in the sunshine barefoot did amazing things for my psyche) and I am reflective on the whole process. Again.
So the girls and I are working on our thanksgiving journal at the table and I am thankful this morning for the struggle. I am thankful that my life is not boring, not predictable, not perfect. I am thankful for complicated relationships worthy of hard work. Hope is present even when my patience wears thin. Disciplining myself to look toward the fruits of a good relationship pushes me to work through difficult times. I am thankful that I have maintained good relationships that could have been written off. I have seriously high maintenance friends, I am thankful for the work our relationships are because it deepens the bond we have together. What is life without relationship?
I am also thankful that my struggles are pretty consistent. Even when there is a curveball thrown in, I can still mostly pare them down to the common denominator and try not to lose my head over them. And when I do lose my head, at least I know where to look for it. Now let's get going on this beautiful day.
Ok it really smells like toddlers, fruit loops and coffee here at the kitchen table.
It's a rare day and I want to enjoy it fully. Pat is working today and I have a clean calendar with a couple of things to do, a paper to write and three girls to hang out with. We are working together today to prepare for the season ahead, we will rest together and laugh together. I am hoping we will not fight together.
This week has been difficult. **DISCLAIMER**(massive understatement- this week resulted in a panic attack of epic proportions including meltdown, temper tantrums and crying. That wasn't the kids) I have observed people who struggle with the same issues over and over, and I know it is true for me. I feel my issues are magnified when I'm under stress. And this week has pushed my stress to new heights. Expectations for the children and home are not being met; my husband is picking up a lot of slack and essentially working both at home and at work. I was in intense physical pain for a couple of days, and my understanding of coursework is not as clear as I'd like. In my distant past I relied on unhealthy methods to cope with stress, so learning a few new techniques is now a necessity. I found the help I needed (honestly, a kind Drs off- the- books care, little talk therapy, an afternoon of walking around in the sunshine barefoot did amazing things for my psyche) and I am reflective on the whole process. Again.
So the girls and I are working on our thanksgiving journal at the table and I am thankful this morning for the struggle. I am thankful that my life is not boring, not predictable, not perfect. I am thankful for complicated relationships worthy of hard work. Hope is present even when my patience wears thin. Disciplining myself to look toward the fruits of a good relationship pushes me to work through difficult times. I am thankful that I have maintained good relationships that could have been written off. I have seriously high maintenance friends, I am thankful for the work our relationships are because it deepens the bond we have together. What is life without relationship?
I am also thankful that my struggles are pretty consistent. Even when there is a curveball thrown in, I can still mostly pare them down to the common denominator and try not to lose my head over them. And when I do lose my head, at least I know where to look for it. Now let's get going on this beautiful day.
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