HELLO!
Today is quite a day in one way, and yesterday was quite a day in another. Yesterday was Day #1 of my baking days and the focus was COOKIES. I realized just a few days ago that Matt's last day of work is on Friday, so the platter I make every year for him to take with him, must be done by tonight! (If youw onder why he has a week off for Christmas it is because if you don't USE your vacation time, you LOSE it-and there is certainly no point in THAT!) Yesterday my intention was to make two batches of cookies. Instead, I was a baking MACHINE and made FOUR batches of cookies (ALL different!) and one batch of fudge. The cookies were Chewy Maple Oat cookies, Mint Pillows, Frosted Sugar cutouts, and soft cashew clusters. The fudge was my all-time favorito....Peanut Butter! Today, I am SUPPOSED to make chocolate dipped pretzels but I had better get hopping. I also have to make a SKOR cake since we are having company tonight-a friend from church who is bringing all the fixings for PIZZA night, provided I make him a dessert. Sound like bachelor? Well, there's a reason for that! :-)
I am also planning to make, (possiby not this week but DEFINATELY by Christmas!) Chocolate Glazed Toffee Sponge Candy, Peppermint Patties, and creme puffs. These require a bit more time than I have to devote right now and requires me getting to the store to get some ingredients.
I have THREE more gifts to make before Christmas. AH! Usually, I am all done my gift-making by now. I did finish MATT's homemade gift this week. That is something. I also have to get stocking stuffers....cough,cough, er, I have to talk to Santa about getting stocking stuffers. Hehehe. :-)
Yesterday I spent more time then necessary perusing the wonderful Jan Brett website.
I printed off a mask of a Meadow Mouse for Corynn,who then spent the entire afternoon being a mouse. I also made a few things for her to give to some friends. THEN, I made thank-you postcards for after Christmas. They have a darling picture of blonde haired girl hugging a reindeer (his antlers are covered in quilted scarves with jingle bells!) and to the side I wrote,
Dear __________________,
Thank you for the wonderful gift you gave to me for Christmas! I loved the _____________________! Love, ORYNN
I will fill in the blanks to personalize them and she will fill in the "C" because she is learning how to write a "C'. I hope that these save time while teaching her the importance of writing Thank-You notes for niceties received. They are just so darn cute, if I do say so myself!
Well, I have got to get cracking-though I hate to do it. I will post a picture sampling of my 'goodies' tomorrow, if possible.
OH! One more thing, I am so excited, because my Pastor's daughter is going into labor so they left for Connetticutt today. I am of course, excited for HER, but also-with them being AWAY, my dear hubby does not have a session meeting to attend tomorrow night-which frees us up to go see a Handel's Messiah concert as a family! How exciting is THAT?!?! I love live productions and want Corynn to grow up loving them too. And the cost is only $5.00 per adult! Woohoo!
8 comments:
AHHHHHH!!!!!
I'M SO BEHIND! WHY AM I CHECKING YOUR BLOG!!!!
AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
(Actually, after a too-full day yesterday, I've been taking today slowly, and it feels so good, even though I know I'll be in a time crunch next week.) It's worth it. Too much time has passed since I let you know that I enjoy your blog and pictures, so here's an update. I enjoy your blog and pictures!
I'd love to talk to you about homeschooling, but it looks like that thread has lost its vitality for now, so I'll save it for a meeting in person. I have no doubt that you'll be a fine teacherly mom to Corynn, as you already are, though the expression of such will vary from year to year. Remember what the good Mr. Wilson said! It's normal to feel overwhelmed, and it's okay to not accomplish everything you'd like to, as long as you meet the greatest priorities.
Here's a quote from the blog of a woman who depresses me with her homeschooling. She does with her oldest daughter what I would love to be able to do, but that I, even now, recognize my inability to do now or possibly ever, because I lack her knowledge. After detailing what she's doing with her oldest, she writes, "But I still think that if you keep a child home and do NOTHING else with them but throw out the television, do enough phonics to get them reading and make sure they have access to abundant quantities of excellent fiction and non-fiction, they are better off than if they went to public school." A great comfort, because of COURSE I plan to do more than that! :)
Your house looks so beautiful, straight out of a postcard, and your little mouse eclipses our old Ignatz in the cuteness factor, for sure.
It's so cool that you get to go to Handel's Messiah! One of the things I miss most about college is not being able to attend symphonies and other concerts for free (as long as you don't count the tuition we're still paying off). Enjoy it!
Your cookies sound so good. I'm not starting on cookies or chocolates until next week, and I'm wondering how in the world there'll be enough time in the day to finish them. I'm making five different kinds of cookies, and your success gives me hope that it won't take more time than it should. (After Christmas, I expect some recipes, especially for the Mint Pillows and Skor cake. Please. Please.)
I'm also making my mom a bunch of sponge candy for her gift (she still raves about the Buffalo-produced sponge she ate here while waiting for Annie's birth), but I've never made it before. Have you? Is it tricky? I'm afraid that I'll flub it up and then have nothing to give her.
I must say I am glad that you are taking a break...for the sake of a comment. :-) Selfish, selfish me! (Think also of your little apple-berry who is being tugged along for the ride; no doubt, becoming dizzy with such a mad frenzy!) My break day was yesterday-and unfortunately, it is becoming the trend for me to be an all-or-nothing kind of girl. Either work me to the bone from sun-up to sun-down or NOT AT ALL.
I hope we DO have an opportunity to talk about homeschooling some more in person. It was so nice chatting while decorating at the shower-though a bit scatterbrained on my part. I don't know why, but it seems to me, I can talk to you about ANY topic-serious or non...and you will give a gracious, honest, and undefensive answer. It really is one of your many gifts.
I do keep remembering what 'Lord Wilson' said and Matt and I are both hoping someday, to attend a homeschooling conference, much like the one you guys went to. I really liked the quote you gave of that lady, and I believe I know which blog you are talking about. I do NOT remember the address, however, which may be to my benefit, since I have been unnecessarily freaking out lately. I blame it on Baby Peanut and the whirling, swirling, quicksand of hormones and emotions that are my constant companions.
I am saddened to inform you that, while I would still love Love LOVE to go to Handel's...alas, it is not to be. Matt doesn't want to head uptown and I suppose I can understand that since he has been working so hard lately. I guess it saves us $10.00. I will be on the lookout for any free performances anytime soon. Poor Corynn NEEDS to grow up enjoying the theatre and the arts. It is a MUST. I don't CARE what SHE thinks! ;-)
As for the baking and cookies...you will get it all done I know and have excellent results, no doubt. On a side note: Just so you know-thanks to YOU, I was able to ice my sugar cookies with ease this morning. The icing recipe you gave me a few months ago worked wonders on my cookies and I am so thankful that you shared it. I will never go back to my old and VERY frustrating way.
Everything I have made (and plan to make) in the kitchen-with the exception of the sugar cookies, are experiments and first-timers. I REALLY enjoy the challenge and fun of creating something NEW. I have never made the sponge candy before. I found it in one of my many Christmas from the Heart books that have crafts and recipes for the holidays. It looks simple enough and requires so few ingredients, I couldn't pass on it. Besides, it is one of my mom's favorite candies-it must be a mom thing. :-)
Thanks so much for taking a break and 'talking' to me. It was a welcome break and the best part of my day! :-)
Rebecca,
You and Abigail sound like you've got plans up to your eyeballs! ;) All this talk of cookies, candies and such has go tmy sweet tooth aching! Not a good thing! You'll both have to share recipes!
Your house does look beautiful! And I love Corynn's little mouse mask! How cute!
I must admit to kind of feeling out of place with all the baby belly talk. Hence my infrequent comments. It's just really hard. I think I'm the only one(at our church anyway) who's not pregnant and desperately wants to be. No one seems to remember what it was like to be where I am now. Sorry. I'll stop now.
Abby,
I'd also love to have a discussion with you about homeschooling sometime! Maybe you should post about it on your blog! Would you share the web address to the homeschooling blog you mentioned?
Rebecca,
Let me know how your new treats turn out, especially the sponge. I made 4 batches of assorted truffles and buckeyes today to mail off to John's folks, but I won't make the rest until Wednesday, and I'm still pretty confident that I'm going to royally mess up the sponge. :)
I feel badly about the missed Handel's Messiah. Keep your eyes peeled for an alternative...
I think John just sent Matt and Scott an email about our Sunday plans, but I don't know what he said, only that he was going to try to entice you all to come to church with us. I don't really expect his enticement to work, but, if it does, hurrah! We'll be in town from Thursday night until Monday sometime, I think, but everyone's schedules are probably packed. Rats.
Leah,
I'd love to talk with you about homeschooling, especially as it seems you and Rebecca have both scouted around more than I have. John and I are pretty settled on using the Trivium as a general framework, but I'd love to incorporate good ideas from everywhere, and I'm sure you're storing up quite a few!
As far as your baby longing goes, I'm glad you occasionally comment anyway, because I enjoy your comments and this is the most frequent way to "see" you. I also pray for your comfort and contentment even as I realize how inadequate the words are coming from my pregnant self. I trust that God will grant you the desire of your heart in good time...hopefully before too long! :)
oops. I forgot.
www.upsaid.com/parah is the address for the blog. It's not a homeschooling blog, but if you click on the subject "homeschooling" on the sidebar, all her posts regarding such will appear. I don't want to homeschool identically (and wouldn't be able to anyway!), but I do want to incorporate some of her techniques. She also homebirths and makes yummy food. :)
Leah~
After reading what you wrote I admit-I was a bit shocked. I couldn't remember talking about Peanut at all hardly so I scrolled down the entire page to see only two short references to me even being pregnant! I guess I don't really know how to respond. I never talk to you about being pregnant and hardly bring it up on my blog-at least it seems to me. Apparently I need to be more cautious?
You being the only one in our church who badly wants to be pregnant and is not...well, that doesn't say much since most of the women in our church don't WANT to be pregnant or have more kids! hehehe
Seriously though, I have NOT forgotten the situation you are in nor have I disregarded it. I too, pray fervently that you will find peace in your situation. It is a terribly hard thing to see others get what we want, but we ought not resent them for what the Lord has chosen to give them. I speak not only of children, but in ALL things. It is a lesson we must all learn and live to perfect daily. But that doesn't make it any easier.
I will continue to limit my gushings to a minimum out of respect and love for you. I certainly wouldn't want to hurt your feelings or purposely leave you out. I ask only that in return, you would be gracious enough to allow me to express some excitement this dear child has brought me. After all, I feel as though this child is a very special blessing since I HAD to wait so long for him/her. For many months I longed and prayed for a baby; for many months I feared the Lord had chosen to humble me and close my womb after one child. For many months I doubted-and so when I did finally have a child within, it seemed (and still seems) extraordinary. It is hard to explain to you in words how I feel towards this baby. I love this baby with a depth that I could not even fathom while Corynn was yet unborn. It is with a deep thankfulness that I feel each movement. It is an awe that I did not know before, because for so long, I thought I would never again feel it. Though I can't explain it very well, I know you will understand when you do get pregnant-BECAUSE you have longed for a baby just as I did. And when you do get pregnant-you will (though you may scoff at me now)be thankful that the Lord blessed you when He did. You will be so grateful for your little one and everything will be so much more miraculous and it will just seem so perfect. That is what you have to look forward to.
I pray now that you have peace in knowing that the Lord has all things under His control. You are not 'broken'- you are doing nothing wrong. This is His plan for you right now-and the Lord's plan is perfect. There are no mistakes. (That was the hardest lesson for me, anyway...knowing that the Lord WANTED it that way...I just wanted to blame myself so I could feel even in the slightest, that I had control over the situation. We do NOT though. Even if we want it.) Open your mind and heart to the things He is showing you through these times. There are lessons and blessings-and if you just open up to them, you will see that this is a time of STRENGTHENING. You must be dependent upon Him and turn to Him for comfort.
Well-now that THAT sermon is done. I didn't mean for it to turn into a lecture. Because I went through it all, I can understand (a little bit) of how you feel and so I hope these things that I learned can in some way help you.
Rebecca,
I'm wasn't just referring to this particular post. Trust me, though, it's not that I don't want you to talk about Peanut! Your blog is about every facet of your life and Peanut is definitely worth talking about! Please don't feel you need to limit your posting about your precious unborn child! I was just saying that in general, that I'm not always sure what to say. Please don't think that I'm resenting your situation.
I would greatly appreciate your prayers, though, that God would bless us in His perfect time as well as prayers for my own peace in this situation. I'd like to remind you, too, that I have now have waiting as long you did to conceive your little Peanut. Noah will be 22 months old in just over a week. Corynn was 22 months old when you conceived Peanut. I'm sure when the Lord opens my womb again, I will know exactly how you feel about Peanut!
I fear that you think I'm somehow not content right here where I am. I will admit that in times past that has been the case. You are right about the Lord using this time to work on me. He is certainly doing that! I just pray that I can remember the lessons He is teaching me now.
I hope my thoughts aren't too jumbled. My brother, his fiance and their little boy(whom I haven't met yet) are at my parent's house! We're getting ready to go over there now! Please pray that I will be Christ-like in my attitude and actions today!
Oh, yes, and Abby thatnks for your prayers concerning our next child, too!
I knew you weren't referring to the last post so I scouted the whole page. Not only do I understand what you are saying...but am glad to hear what you wrote!
I hope you have a good time with your bro. and sil. PLEASE take pictures! I would love to see your little nephew!
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