My friend, Z, and I were talking at church on Sunday while we kept the "creepers" in nursery for Sunday School. Our conversation was really encouraging, but also very convicting.
As we discussed issues we both have with our particular children and how we address those, we came to the conclusion that the work is ultimately up to God. He has to be the one to work in their hearts to produce change. We can feel like we are beating our heads against the wall, trying to show a certain child that they are repeating the same sin with little change. We concluded that it keeps us humble before God because we have to admit that we just can't fix things, that He is the only one who can produce fruit. This led us to discuss how sometimes in parenting you can feel like such a failure. Not only do your children repeat the same sins and you can't affect change, but we often repeat the same sins in parenting: being too harsh, critical, angry, impatient. Parenting definitely keeps us on our knees before God, not only pleading for our children's sake, but pleading for our own. It keeps us humble.
However, I had to confess that as much as parenting keeps me dependent on God, I really struggle with remaining humble before my children. I struggle with asking forgiveness when I have been too harsh with my children, when I have been impatient or angry, or admitting that I was wrong about something. As the authority figure I don't want my children to see my weaknesses. Maybe it is out of fear that they will get the upper hand? I don't know. I think it just boils down to my PRIDE.
What I fail to realize in those moments of pride is that in being humble I will have GREATER access to my children's hearts, will be more likely to KEEP their hearts, and will actually be willingly accepted as the authority figure instead of begrudgingly so.
I think that a lack of humility is what turns a lot of teens' hearts away from their parents, but I could be totally wrong here, not having had a teen yet. My theory is that most young children have their parents on a pedestal, but that changes as they age and begin to recognize faults in their authority figure. If we have set up a pattern of not displaying humility, our children when they see our sin that we have failed to confess, will not only call us out, but their hearts will turn away from us and bitterness can take root. We can end up with a rebellious teen after doing all of the "right" things because we failed to be humble before them.
A parent who wants to teach their children to be patient, but is impatient herself, is not only a bad example, but is a hypocrite. Our children may be too young to recognize hypocrisy now, but watch out. Our humility may be evident before God in our prayer time, but our children need to see it.
I struggle with this. I snap in impatience as we are hustling to get out the door and get somewhere on time, and then as we are settled in the car (okay the huge van, a.k.a. "Mouro mobile") driving away, the Spirit convicts me. I want to ignore that voice telling me to ask for forgiveness. I have to force myself to confess my sin to them and then when I do, swallowing my pride, my children joyfully call out "That's okay, we forgive you." They never point the finger, ridicule me, or make me feel dumb for admitting my fault. But, one day, they could and I think this WILL happen if I refuse to practice humility now. Just as it is easy to love a humble person, it is difficult to love a prideful person who is "always right". That is what we often set up in our parenting--us telling them what is right and how they are wrong. It is easy to see how "sides" form, in an us against them mentality, instead of all of us on the same team, fighting sin together. No, I don't want my children to confront me on my sin. I don't think that is right. But, I do know that I need to be quick to admit when I have sinned.
I DO struggle with sin, I have to be honest with my children about that so that they can begin to see a pattern of repentance and reconciliation with God and others in my own life and imitate that themselves. Our children are like a mirror, reflecting our sins back to us. I want my children to also be like a mirror showing me that I AM becoming more like Christ and they are imitating what they see that I have put into practice, right now namely being humble. :)
It is so hard to admit that I am wrong, but I know it is worth it.
In Christ, Laura
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
A New Addition!
My brother, Patrick, and his wife Michele, welcomed their firstborn, a son named Wesley Elliot late last night!
Congratulations!
(Finally, a cousin for my children on my side of the family.)
We can't wait to meet him. Anna, my mom, and I will be flying out at the end of January for a visit.
Praise God for the gift of new life. Children are a blessing from the Lord.
In Christ, Laura
Congratulations!
(Finally, a cousin for my children on my side of the family.)
We can't wait to meet him. Anna, my mom, and I will be flying out at the end of January for a visit.
Praise God for the gift of new life. Children are a blessing from the Lord.
In Christ, Laura
Saturday, December 27, 2008
A Great Resource
I first came across this website about 4 years ago. At the time, Anna was almost 4, Jonas was not quite 2 1/2 and Katria was only 4 months. I found it to be so helpful in its practical advice for training children to be obedient. I hope you find this website as helpful as I did.
In Christ, Laura
In Christ, Laura
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Our Christmas Menu
I am taking a break from cooking and baking to enjoy a cup of coffee and some quiet time while the kids play downstairs with Papa and Daddy. From the loud laughter and squealing I hear, I am guessing they are having a good time :).
I just finished making most of Christmas Day's menu and wanted to share a recipe. Here is what our family will be eating:
Christmas Eve Dinner: Stromboli--1 sausage, spinach and cheese and 2 ham and pepperoni and cheese as well as a salad. (I think I have posted the recipes before. If not, leave me a comment and I will post the full recipe--the ham and pepperoni one has a special sauce that you spread on the inside--not a pizza sauce--and it is worth it!).
Christmas Breakfast: Sausage and Egg and Cheese Breakfast Casserole (I always make a breakfast casserole, but will try a different recipe from year to year. They are pretty much all very similar with a few variations. I found one on http://www.recipezaar.com this year. I am excited about this one because it calls for green chilies. I am loving spicy food lately!). The other thing we always have is homemade cinnamon rolls. (This is the recipe I am going to post! It is amazing and every time I make these I get asked for the recipe!)
Christmas lunch: Dips!! We usually don't have a lunch, but just snack on some really fattening dips! I made a spinach artichoke one that is my mom's recipe, her own version, as well as a cream cheese/sausage/rotel dip that you melt all together and eat with chips. SO GOOD! (Again, if you would like the recipes, leave me a comment and I will be glad to post).
Christmas Dinner: Ham, baked beans, Polish sausage and pierogi!! Cameron and I handmade the pierogi yesterday. It was our first attempt and let me tell you we started out quite frustrated as we tried to roll out the dough to the exact thinness, cut the right size for the perfect pierogi and fill the tiny dumplings without tearing the dough, and then sealing the edges so they won't burst open upon cooking. It was quite tedious work and there were several times we wanted to throw it all out the window, but we persevered and ended up completely slap happy! What kept us going was kowing that the results are going to be worth it! My family has been eating periogi since I was a small child and my grandma (when she was alive) and my aunt always made the pierogi. Since moving away 6 years ago, we have not had pierogi, but I have decided to resurrect the tradition for my children to enjoy. Cameron said yesterday that this was the first and last time we will ever make them, but I think we may change our minds by next year! :) As you probably deduced, my family is Polish and we enjoy many Polish foods around the the holidays. We also made Polish Snowball cookies yesterday.
For dessert, Cameron made a cappuccino cheesecake. We always make a cheesecake, because it is my favorite and we do not watch fat content or nutritional value on Christmas :), but change the flavor every year.
Originally, I wanted to do something completely different for Christmas this year, such as steaks or a roast, but tradition won! As Christmas got closer and closer I just could not imagine not having those special foods that we have come to look forward to each year. My mom told me that our children will grow up and not remember what they got each year for Christmas, but they will remember all of the special foods, if we do the same dishes each year. That is what I remember from my childhood! Here is just one recipe that has come to be a family favorite and a tradition in our house:
Cinnamon Rolls
4 T. melted butter
1/4 c. warm water
1/2 box instant vanilla pudding
1 c. milk
1 egg, beaten and at room temperature
1/2 t. salt
4 c. flour
2 1/2 t. yeast
1 T. sugar
Put all in your kitchen aid or bread maker and use a dough hook, or select dough cycle, and let it mix and knead until smooth and elastic. Let rise for 45 minutes to an hour or however long you feel like :). (If you don't have either of these appliances, just do it by hand. It may take a little longer, but not a big deal.) Roll out into a 24" by 10" rectangle.
Spread with Filling:
Filling:
1/4 c. butter softened
1 c. brown sugar
5 t. cinnamon
3/4 c. chopped pecans (I usually omit, but added them this year).
Spread the butter all over, then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top. Finally, sprinkle nuts, if desired. Use a rolling pin to press the filling into the dough. Roll tightly lengthwise (like a big log) and pinch edges closed. Slice into thin slices--I use dental floss to slice. I take a long piece and run it underneath the log, cross the ends and slice through. Place the rolls onto a greased baking sheet or circular cake pans or whatever you have. Then, you can either let rise until doubled and then bake or like me, you can let it sit in your fridge until the morning and take out before you bake to warm up and rise a little more. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.
Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
2 c. confectioner's sugar
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. vanilla
3 t. milk
I can't remember if this makes too much frosting or not, but you may have some leftover. I usually freeze the extra, if I have any.
This recipe may seem like a lot of work, but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy and is worth it.
Enjoy!
I would love to hear what your family has for Christmas! Take the time to leave a comment and let me know. Who knows? Maybe a new recipe will be added to our menu! :)
Merry Christmas!
In Christ, Laura
I just finished making most of Christmas Day's menu and wanted to share a recipe. Here is what our family will be eating:
Christmas Eve Dinner: Stromboli--1 sausage, spinach and cheese and 2 ham and pepperoni and cheese as well as a salad. (I think I have posted the recipes before. If not, leave me a comment and I will post the full recipe--the ham and pepperoni one has a special sauce that you spread on the inside--not a pizza sauce--and it is worth it!).
Christmas Breakfast: Sausage and Egg and Cheese Breakfast Casserole (I always make a breakfast casserole, but will try a different recipe from year to year. They are pretty much all very similar with a few variations. I found one on http://www.recipezaar.com this year. I am excited about this one because it calls for green chilies. I am loving spicy food lately!). The other thing we always have is homemade cinnamon rolls. (This is the recipe I am going to post! It is amazing and every time I make these I get asked for the recipe!)
Christmas lunch: Dips!! We usually don't have a lunch, but just snack on some really fattening dips! I made a spinach artichoke one that is my mom's recipe, her own version, as well as a cream cheese/sausage/rotel dip that you melt all together and eat with chips. SO GOOD! (Again, if you would like the recipes, leave me a comment and I will be glad to post).
Christmas Dinner: Ham, baked beans, Polish sausage and pierogi!! Cameron and I handmade the pierogi yesterday. It was our first attempt and let me tell you we started out quite frustrated as we tried to roll out the dough to the exact thinness, cut the right size for the perfect pierogi and fill the tiny dumplings without tearing the dough, and then sealing the edges so they won't burst open upon cooking. It was quite tedious work and there were several times we wanted to throw it all out the window, but we persevered and ended up completely slap happy! What kept us going was kowing that the results are going to be worth it! My family has been eating periogi since I was a small child and my grandma (when she was alive) and my aunt always made the pierogi. Since moving away 6 years ago, we have not had pierogi, but I have decided to resurrect the tradition for my children to enjoy. Cameron said yesterday that this was the first and last time we will ever make them, but I think we may change our minds by next year! :) As you probably deduced, my family is Polish and we enjoy many Polish foods around the the holidays. We also made Polish Snowball cookies yesterday.
For dessert, Cameron made a cappuccino cheesecake. We always make a cheesecake, because it is my favorite and we do not watch fat content or nutritional value on Christmas :), but change the flavor every year.
Originally, I wanted to do something completely different for Christmas this year, such as steaks or a roast, but tradition won! As Christmas got closer and closer I just could not imagine not having those special foods that we have come to look forward to each year. My mom told me that our children will grow up and not remember what they got each year for Christmas, but they will remember all of the special foods, if we do the same dishes each year. That is what I remember from my childhood! Here is just one recipe that has come to be a family favorite and a tradition in our house:
Cinnamon Rolls
4 T. melted butter
1/4 c. warm water
1/2 box instant vanilla pudding
1 c. milk
1 egg, beaten and at room temperature
1/2 t. salt
4 c. flour
2 1/2 t. yeast
1 T. sugar
Put all in your kitchen aid or bread maker and use a dough hook, or select dough cycle, and let it mix and knead until smooth and elastic. Let rise for 45 minutes to an hour or however long you feel like :). (If you don't have either of these appliances, just do it by hand. It may take a little longer, but not a big deal.) Roll out into a 24" by 10" rectangle.
Spread with Filling:
Filling:
1/4 c. butter softened
1 c. brown sugar
5 t. cinnamon
3/4 c. chopped pecans (I usually omit, but added them this year).
Spread the butter all over, then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture on top. Finally, sprinkle nuts, if desired. Use a rolling pin to press the filling into the dough. Roll tightly lengthwise (like a big log) and pinch edges closed. Slice into thin slices--I use dental floss to slice. I take a long piece and run it underneath the log, cross the ends and slice through. Place the rolls onto a greased baking sheet or circular cake pans or whatever you have. Then, you can either let rise until doubled and then bake or like me, you can let it sit in your fridge until the morning and take out before you bake to warm up and rise a little more. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes.
Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
2 c. confectioner's sugar
1 t. lemon juice
1 t. vanilla
3 t. milk
I can't remember if this makes too much frosting or not, but you may have some leftover. I usually freeze the extra, if I have any.
This recipe may seem like a lot of work, but once you get the hang of it, it is pretty easy and is worth it.
Enjoy!
I would love to hear what your family has for Christmas! Take the time to leave a comment and let me know. Who knows? Maybe a new recipe will be added to our menu! :)
Merry Christmas!
In Christ, Laura
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Christmas
I absolutely love this time of year. I love everything about it. I love that we have an entire season devoted in our culture for one day which celebrates the birth of Christ. Even those who don't worship Jesus as their Savior and Lord still embrace Christmas with all its festivities. There is even a negative moniker reserved for those who refuse to have holiday cheer: A Scrooge.
I love that there is special music, movies, food and decorations. I love the sights and smells. I love that almost all society celebrates together, unlike family birthdays which are personal to each family. Stores close, people get the day off of work (hopefully) and families gather to exchange gifts, eat rich foods, and sing Christmas carols.
It can be so difficult not to get caught up in the commercialism. However, I actually like some of the commercialism, even some of the Santa Claus movies leave me with a warm feeling. I like the bustle of the busy stores. I think I enjoy it because it does give a sense of unity; that we are all celebrating together, strangers united in our efforts to find the perfect gift, to create the perfect holiday atmosphere, delighting in the happiness of our loved ones. We may be in our separate homes, with our distinctly different traditions, but we all have a common purpose: celebration.
I think what bothers Christians the most is that so many who are not Christians still celebrate Christmas, leaving Christ out of it, embracing the "happy holidays" movement instead of "Merry Christmas". Or, there are those who only attend church on this one day of the year, paying their "tithe of 1/365th of their year, as if that was enough. No, God doesn't want our duty, He wants our hearts and on this most special of days, the birth of His son sent to die for us, He should have it. Christmas is not about good cheer and community service, nice as all that is. It is about Christ, the One who was born to die. My favorite line from a Christmas song is "God predestined that His son would die, yet he still created man. Oh what love is that his death was in His plan." THAT blows me away. It blows me away that God knew His son would have to die for us, for our sin, yet He still created us. What amazing love!
Yes, Christmas is about the birth of a baby into the most humble of circumstances. But is about the birth of our King, our Savior, who would ultimately be led like a lamb to the slaughter for our sins, to pay the price we should have paid. Are we teaching our children that this Christmas? Cameron and I want our children to love Christmas as much as we do, but we also do not want them to get caught up in materialism and the temporary excitement that is gone as quick as the wrapping paper is discarded, leaving one feeling empty on December 26th. We want to fill our children's appetites with Christ, leaving them not empty, but full and hungering for more of Him. I have to admit, it IS hard to compete with toys, cookies and the excitement that accompanies the anticipation of waiting for Christmas morning. However, we cannot expect our children to be excited about Jesus on Christmas morning if we are neglecting Him the rest of the year, or if we are not preparing their hearts LONG before the big day. A heart focused on Christ takes work, especially on the part of the parents. We cannot expect our children to naturally have a desire for Christ when their senses are filled with the world. We have much to compete with and we have to be proactive and vigilant in our assertion that Christmas is about CHRIST. We need to start right after Thanksgiving, reading the Christmas story daily, praying for each of our hearts to remain steadfast in the midst of the busyness, and creating a home atmosphere that points to Him. It IS a big deal. Christmas is something our children look forward to all year. They start talking about it months ahead of time! They sense the specialness of the season, but do they know WHY?
Let us embrace the holiday traditions, enjoy the festivities, but point our children to Christ, not as a small piece of Christmas, in their young minds, even though we may have a grasp on the significance. No, let us show our children how all traditions, festivities, and fanfare point to Him!
Ultimately, He is more than the "reason for the season"; He is the reason we LIVE and He is our very great reward. May Christmas just be an extension of the worship of Christ that is already present in our daily lives. If it isn't, don't you think you should make that your #1 priority this Christmas?
To God be the glory!
In Christ, Laura
I love that there is special music, movies, food and decorations. I love the sights and smells. I love that almost all society celebrates together, unlike family birthdays which are personal to each family. Stores close, people get the day off of work (hopefully) and families gather to exchange gifts, eat rich foods, and sing Christmas carols.
It can be so difficult not to get caught up in the commercialism. However, I actually like some of the commercialism, even some of the Santa Claus movies leave me with a warm feeling. I like the bustle of the busy stores. I think I enjoy it because it does give a sense of unity; that we are all celebrating together, strangers united in our efforts to find the perfect gift, to create the perfect holiday atmosphere, delighting in the happiness of our loved ones. We may be in our separate homes, with our distinctly different traditions, but we all have a common purpose: celebration.
I think what bothers Christians the most is that so many who are not Christians still celebrate Christmas, leaving Christ out of it, embracing the "happy holidays" movement instead of "Merry Christmas". Or, there are those who only attend church on this one day of the year, paying their "tithe of 1/365th of their year, as if that was enough. No, God doesn't want our duty, He wants our hearts and on this most special of days, the birth of His son sent to die for us, He should have it. Christmas is not about good cheer and community service, nice as all that is. It is about Christ, the One who was born to die. My favorite line from a Christmas song is "God predestined that His son would die, yet he still created man. Oh what love is that his death was in His plan." THAT blows me away. It blows me away that God knew His son would have to die for us, for our sin, yet He still created us. What amazing love!
Yes, Christmas is about the birth of a baby into the most humble of circumstances. But is about the birth of our King, our Savior, who would ultimately be led like a lamb to the slaughter for our sins, to pay the price we should have paid. Are we teaching our children that this Christmas? Cameron and I want our children to love Christmas as much as we do, but we also do not want them to get caught up in materialism and the temporary excitement that is gone as quick as the wrapping paper is discarded, leaving one feeling empty on December 26th. We want to fill our children's appetites with Christ, leaving them not empty, but full and hungering for more of Him. I have to admit, it IS hard to compete with toys, cookies and the excitement that accompanies the anticipation of waiting for Christmas morning. However, we cannot expect our children to be excited about Jesus on Christmas morning if we are neglecting Him the rest of the year, or if we are not preparing their hearts LONG before the big day. A heart focused on Christ takes work, especially on the part of the parents. We cannot expect our children to naturally have a desire for Christ when their senses are filled with the world. We have much to compete with and we have to be proactive and vigilant in our assertion that Christmas is about CHRIST. We need to start right after Thanksgiving, reading the Christmas story daily, praying for each of our hearts to remain steadfast in the midst of the busyness, and creating a home atmosphere that points to Him. It IS a big deal. Christmas is something our children look forward to all year. They start talking about it months ahead of time! They sense the specialness of the season, but do they know WHY?
Let us embrace the holiday traditions, enjoy the festivities, but point our children to Christ, not as a small piece of Christmas, in their young minds, even though we may have a grasp on the significance. No, let us show our children how all traditions, festivities, and fanfare point to Him!
Ultimately, He is more than the "reason for the season"; He is the reason we LIVE and He is our very great reward. May Christmas just be an extension of the worship of Christ that is already present in our daily lives. If it isn't, don't you think you should make that your #1 priority this Christmas?
To God be the glory!
In Christ, Laura
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Keeping Christ in Christmas
I love Christmas traditions and I especially love those that point to Christ as the true meaning of Christmas. Here are some of the things we do at Christmastime to make Christ the focus of the season:
~We read Luke 2 every night to our children. By Christmas day, they have almost the entire chapter memorized. Cameron will leave out words every night and the kids love filling in the blank. It is amazing how much they remember when we start reading Luke 2 the next year.
~We do an Advent calender every night with little stuffed figures that the children each take a turn velcro-ing onto the Nativity scene.
~We have a ceramic Nativity scene and we display it all except Baby Jesus. Cameron hides Baby Jesus and the children do a treasure hunt on Christmas morning to find Him. They get so excited when they find Him and can't wait to place Him in the manger.
~We play Christ-centered Christmas music all of the time. We try to buy a new Christmas cd every year. Of course, my children have picked up all of the words to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" even though we don't play THAT one! LOL
~We don't do Santa Claus. Cameron's parents told him about Santa when he was a little boy and when he found out that Santa wasn't real he said to his parents, "Let's talk about some other holidays that aren't real." Yikes. We stick to the birth of Christ and talk about Santa as a "fun story".
~We have in the past made a birthday cake for Jesus and sang "Happy Birthday." In recent years, I just haven't gotten my act together to make one more extra food item. Maybe I can pull it off this year.
I would love to hear about others' traditions. What are some of your family's Christmas traditions that point to Christ as our Savior?
~We read Luke 2 every night to our children. By Christmas day, they have almost the entire chapter memorized. Cameron will leave out words every night and the kids love filling in the blank. It is amazing how much they remember when we start reading Luke 2 the next year.
~We do an Advent calender every night with little stuffed figures that the children each take a turn velcro-ing onto the Nativity scene.
~We have a ceramic Nativity scene and we display it all except Baby Jesus. Cameron hides Baby Jesus and the children do a treasure hunt on Christmas morning to find Him. They get so excited when they find Him and can't wait to place Him in the manger.
~We play Christ-centered Christmas music all of the time. We try to buy a new Christmas cd every year. Of course, my children have picked up all of the words to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" even though we don't play THAT one! LOL
~We don't do Santa Claus. Cameron's parents told him about Santa when he was a little boy and when he found out that Santa wasn't real he said to his parents, "Let's talk about some other holidays that aren't real." Yikes. We stick to the birth of Christ and talk about Santa as a "fun story".
~We have in the past made a birthday cake for Jesus and sang "Happy Birthday." In recent years, I just haven't gotten my act together to make one more extra food item. Maybe I can pull it off this year.
I would love to hear about others' traditions. What are some of your family's Christmas traditions that point to Christ as our Savior?
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas Picture
Last night, we had our Christmas picture taken at church by a friend. He did a great job!! However, on our part, it is so difficult to get 6 kids looking somewhat "normal" for just one picture! Jonas has this fake smile in EVERY picture and Ruth has the same pained smile. Elyse squinted when she smiled and in half of them Haven was looking away. In the end, we just had to choose one, realizing that the "perfect" family picture just doesn't exist. I can drive myself crazy trying to choose between which child looks the best in which picture. So, these were the two finalists. It was a tough choice, but in the end, we decided on the second picture. If we have your address, you will be getting one in the mail at some point in the next few weeks. If we don't--Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Our Favorite Stew
This recipe is our family's favorite stew recipe. It was given to me by a friend of mine from church; she made it for us after Elyse was born. We now make it quite often. It is very thick and we serve it over rice.
Cubed Steak Stew
1 1/2 lb. of cubed steak (this is NOT cubes of beef, but a flat steak called "cubed steak" that has some texture to it, like it has been tenderized or something.
flour, salt & pepper (a mixture on a plate or bowl to coat the meat)
1/4 c. butter
1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 c. white cooking wine (please do not omit, it gives such good flavor)
1 c. water
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 T. parsley
4 carrots, chopped in big chunks
4 potatoes, chopped in big chunks
1 t. thyme
1 bay leaf
Melt the butter in a large stockpot. Coat the steaks in flour, salt and pepper and brown in the butter. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook a minute longer. Throw everything else in, stir and cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours. At this point, sometimes I transfer it to my crockpot and simmer it for several hours. When it is done, the veggies are soft and the meat falls apart (I also help break it up with my spoon). The whole thing is thick and resembles a big mess, kind of all blends together. Sometimes, I add a little more water if it needs it, but it will not be soupy at all. It may not look appetizing, but oh man! My children LOVE this dinner. They call it "Cowboy Stew". Serve over rice.
Enjoy!
In Christ, Laura
Cubed Steak Stew
1 1/2 lb. of cubed steak (this is NOT cubes of beef, but a flat steak called "cubed steak" that has some texture to it, like it has been tenderized or something.
flour, salt & pepper (a mixture on a plate or bowl to coat the meat)
1/4 c. butter
1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 c. white cooking wine (please do not omit, it gives such good flavor)
1 c. water
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 T. parsley
4 carrots, chopped in big chunks
4 potatoes, chopped in big chunks
1 t. thyme
1 bay leaf
Melt the butter in a large stockpot. Coat the steaks in flour, salt and pepper and brown in the butter. Add the onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook a minute longer. Throw everything else in, stir and cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours. At this point, sometimes I transfer it to my crockpot and simmer it for several hours. When it is done, the veggies are soft and the meat falls apart (I also help break it up with my spoon). The whole thing is thick and resembles a big mess, kind of all blends together. Sometimes, I add a little more water if it needs it, but it will not be soupy at all. It may not look appetizing, but oh man! My children LOVE this dinner. They call it "Cowboy Stew". Serve over rice.
Enjoy!
In Christ, Laura
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Our Adoption Story
The past 7 weeks have been some of the most difficult in our lives. God calls us to care for orphans and that is what we have done for the past year. We obeyed God and brought two Liberian orphans into our home and called them our own. We have had many struggles along the way and have learned so much as we cried out to God and depended on Him. Recently, it became clear that God wanted us to do something more for Jerome, to get him help that we were not providing, that we are not able to give. It was one of the toughest decisions in our lives, but we decided that Jerome would heal, and become more of the young man God wanted him to be, in a different family. This decision was not made quickly or without much prayer, seeking of wise counsel and many tears. It was heart-wrenching, but we know that we did the right thing. God has confirmed it in so many ways. It was the most humbling thing to admit that we were not able to help Jerome. I wanted to believe that we were what was best for him, that God would equip us, that everything would be alright. But it wasn't getting better and we began to see that Jerome needed more. I wish I could say more about what exactly was happening, but in order to protect Jerome's privacy, and that of his new family, I cannot. I wish that I could, that I could get everything off of my chest and share so that others could totally understand our decision, but that wouldn't be right.
God used us to bring Jerome here, and now he has placed him in his "forever family". I like to think that we laid a foundation for the new family to build upon. In fact, this is exactly what they have told us that they believe about us and have seen in Jerome since he came to live with them. That really made Cameron and I feel good, that there was a purpose in Jerome coming to us. Cameron and I believe that by placing Jerome in another Christian family, who is better equipped to meet his needs, we are caring for an orphan in the best possible way.
Yet, Jerome did change while he was with us in so many ways. He even received Christ, which I believe was a genuine decision.
God, in His sovereignty, orchestrated all of the events surrounding Jerome going to his new family. It was amazing to see God at work in this situation. Through my pain, I was able to see God's love both for Jerome and for me. Jerome's new family was chosen specifically for him. Cameron and I had talked about what kind of family Jerome would best heal in and the family God chose met every single one of our criteria, down to minute details. It was amazing. We will remain in contact with Jerome's new family. They are godly, so loving, so amazing. It has been an honor to get to know them.
How are our children doing? They are doing well. Of course, they miss Jerome. However, they have expressed sadness mixed with relief. Jerome is also doing very well in his new home. He transitioned well to life with his new family. He talks about our family with no bitterness or anger, but with fondness and appears to be much happier where he is.
I have debated whether to make my blog private and open it only to friends and family. I have also considered quitting blogging, knowing that we could face some pretty severe criticism. However, we do not want to hide our decision, because we are confident that we made the right one. We aren't happy that our adoption ended, but it is part of our story and we feel that we need to share it.
Adoption is a difficult thing. Did we go into it naively? I don't think so. We knew it was going to be difficult and were up for the challenge. Ultimately, we did not place Jerome in a new family because it was too hard for us. Nor did we do it because we thought Jerome was a "bad" child. We did it so that he could heal and we had his best interests as our top priority. We know that what God has planned is not only for Jerome's good, but also for ours. A decision made in prayer, in faith, cannot go against God's will. And so we trust that God has a purpose for this past year.
I will continue to blog, but I may not blog about Jerome. It is a wound that will take time to heal. I know that many of you know our story and support us. I know that some of you only know the story that I posted on this blog, but you still support us. However, I know that there are many other adoptive parents reading this blog who would never consider placing your adopted child in a new home, think it is wrong, and will not agree with our decision. I will tell you that one of my good friends, who has 3 adopted children, strongly disagrees with disruption and pointed us to numerous other options during this year when things got difficult. However, when I recently shared our whole story with her, she agreed that in our circumstance we had no other choice. I don't tell you that to justify our actions, but to point out that while a last resort, placing a child in a new home sometimes IS in the best interest of the child. However, I commend all adoptive parents who, despite their difficult circumstances, and their child's "issues", continue to parent their hurting adopted child. It is a difficult calling, but a highly commendable one.
I know that just as there are a lot of hurting children, there are a lot of hurting adoptive parents who feel that there is no where to turn, no one who understands. You are not alone. There are so many in the adoptive community who are willing to reach out and help, myself included.
Thank you for your prayers and your support during the past weeks while we were going through this most difficult time.
For His Glory!
In Christ, Laura
God used us to bring Jerome here, and now he has placed him in his "forever family". I like to think that we laid a foundation for the new family to build upon. In fact, this is exactly what they have told us that they believe about us and have seen in Jerome since he came to live with them. That really made Cameron and I feel good, that there was a purpose in Jerome coming to us. Cameron and I believe that by placing Jerome in another Christian family, who is better equipped to meet his needs, we are caring for an orphan in the best possible way.
Yet, Jerome did change while he was with us in so many ways. He even received Christ, which I believe was a genuine decision.
God, in His sovereignty, orchestrated all of the events surrounding Jerome going to his new family. It was amazing to see God at work in this situation. Through my pain, I was able to see God's love both for Jerome and for me. Jerome's new family was chosen specifically for him. Cameron and I had talked about what kind of family Jerome would best heal in and the family God chose met every single one of our criteria, down to minute details. It was amazing. We will remain in contact with Jerome's new family. They are godly, so loving, so amazing. It has been an honor to get to know them.
How are our children doing? They are doing well. Of course, they miss Jerome. However, they have expressed sadness mixed with relief. Jerome is also doing very well in his new home. He transitioned well to life with his new family. He talks about our family with no bitterness or anger, but with fondness and appears to be much happier where he is.
I have debated whether to make my blog private and open it only to friends and family. I have also considered quitting blogging, knowing that we could face some pretty severe criticism. However, we do not want to hide our decision, because we are confident that we made the right one. We aren't happy that our adoption ended, but it is part of our story and we feel that we need to share it.
Adoption is a difficult thing. Did we go into it naively? I don't think so. We knew it was going to be difficult and were up for the challenge. Ultimately, we did not place Jerome in a new family because it was too hard for us. Nor did we do it because we thought Jerome was a "bad" child. We did it so that he could heal and we had his best interests as our top priority. We know that what God has planned is not only for Jerome's good, but also for ours. A decision made in prayer, in faith, cannot go against God's will. And so we trust that God has a purpose for this past year.
I will continue to blog, but I may not blog about Jerome. It is a wound that will take time to heal. I know that many of you know our story and support us. I know that some of you only know the story that I posted on this blog, but you still support us. However, I know that there are many other adoptive parents reading this blog who would never consider placing your adopted child in a new home, think it is wrong, and will not agree with our decision. I will tell you that one of my good friends, who has 3 adopted children, strongly disagrees with disruption and pointed us to numerous other options during this year when things got difficult. However, when I recently shared our whole story with her, she agreed that in our circumstance we had no other choice. I don't tell you that to justify our actions, but to point out that while a last resort, placing a child in a new home sometimes IS in the best interest of the child. However, I commend all adoptive parents who, despite their difficult circumstances, and their child's "issues", continue to parent their hurting adopted child. It is a difficult calling, but a highly commendable one.
I know that just as there are a lot of hurting children, there are a lot of hurting adoptive parents who feel that there is no where to turn, no one who understands. You are not alone. There are so many in the adoptive community who are willing to reach out and help, myself included.
Thank you for your prayers and your support during the past weeks while we were going through this most difficult time.
For His Glory!
In Christ, Laura
A great Post
I read THIS on my friend Courtney's blog and it encouraged me so much!
Thanks, Courtney. I love your heart.
In Christ, Laura
Thanks, Courtney. I love your heart.
In Christ, Laura
Monday, December 8, 2008
I'm Back
I'm back to blogging. I am pretty sure that I am going to continue with it. I took a couple of weeks to re-evaluate, with all that we have had happen (which I will post more about), prayerfully considering if this is something I want to keep doing. I have been overwhelmed with the amount of emails, phone calls, and in-person requests to keep blogging or to be invited to my "private" blog. I made it private, but then didn't invite anyone to read it, just so that I could take a step back and think and pray. We have made our adoption issues very public, and I know that it has encouraged and helped many. However, as things began to get worse I struggled with how much to share. I have never shared everything, but I have been honest that it hasn't been easy. If I share too much, I face criticism for not being private enough. If I don't share enough, I feel that I cannot help other families undergoing the same struggles. It has been tough to keep the right balance. I want our family's life to be private, but I also know that living in our isolated Christian bubbles doesn't benefit anyone. How much do I share?
The fact is, I enjoy blogging. I like writing. I enjoy being honest and open and sharing my struggles and what I am learning. My hope is that my blog is an encouragement and not grist for the gossip mill when things are difficult. Blogs can be voyeuristic in nature, a window into someone's private life. Of course, you only know what I want you to know, but part of the enjoyment of reading is learning how another family does life, kind of like a reality TV show. It is encouraging to know we all have similar struggles, we all have bad days, and we all struggle in our faith. It is encouraging to hear when prayers are answered or that obstacles have been overcome. So, I will press on. I will be honest about our struggles. I will continue to be open.
I'm back, and to celebrate, I would like to share my favorite muffin recipe. They are SO good that I can't keep my hands off of these! I must warn you, they are NOT low-fat. Oh well ;). I wanted to share before Thanksgiving, because they require fresh cranberries, which can be difficult to find the rest of the year. However, before Thanksgiving, food and I were not on the best of terms. That is slowly changing and I am even gaining back some of the weight I lost! :) Won't be long before I am packing it on! ;)
Cranberry Muffins
1 c. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
4 eggs
2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2 c. fresh or frozen cranberries (I use fresh that I freeze).
1/2 c. pecans
Cream butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and pecans. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.
Enjoy!
In Christ, Laura
The fact is, I enjoy blogging. I like writing. I enjoy being honest and open and sharing my struggles and what I am learning. My hope is that my blog is an encouragement and not grist for the gossip mill when things are difficult. Blogs can be voyeuristic in nature, a window into someone's private life. Of course, you only know what I want you to know, but part of the enjoyment of reading is learning how another family does life, kind of like a reality TV show. It is encouraging to know we all have similar struggles, we all have bad days, and we all struggle in our faith. It is encouraging to hear when prayers are answered or that obstacles have been overcome. So, I will press on. I will be honest about our struggles. I will continue to be open.
I'm back, and to celebrate, I would like to share my favorite muffin recipe. They are SO good that I can't keep my hands off of these! I must warn you, they are NOT low-fat. Oh well ;). I wanted to share before Thanksgiving, because they require fresh cranberries, which can be difficult to find the rest of the year. However, before Thanksgiving, food and I were not on the best of terms. That is slowly changing and I am even gaining back some of the weight I lost! :) Won't be long before I am packing it on! ;)
Cranberry Muffins
1 c. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. vanilla
4 eggs
2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2 c. fresh or frozen cranberries (I use fresh that I freeze).
1/2 c. pecans
Cream butter, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in cranberries and pecans. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Makes 24 muffins.
Enjoy!
In Christ, Laura
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
