The post after the break. Always the hardest, I hear. I don't want that to stop me from getting back into a routine. Oh wait. I never was in a routine with blogging. Oh well. I'm certainly back into the routine of the fall, and loving it. This year I did some things differently that made a HUGE difference in my life.

Up until now the routine has been that Brian goes back to work around August 1, just as we are really starting to hum along as a tight knit family. The boys and I do fun things without daddy, but we still enjoy the summer weather as a family in the evenings, whenever Brian breaks away from "home" work. We have even been able to enjoy some September camping, which used to NEVER happen when Brian taught high school marching band. Well, once my day care kids come back in September and David starts school soon after, I begin to get tired and stressed out with all of my responsibilities. Brian's work increases and the time we have together looks like this: Brian working on computer, and Becky asleep on the chair. Great quality time had by all ... NOT! Our relationship always takes a back seat during this time and we both end up feeling a little lost. At least I do. Brian always manages to scrap by ok. 

This year, by God's grace, things have been different!! Somewhere in the middle of August, I asked a friend (older than me), to hold me accountable to a few things. I've done this on occasion with gals, but it has never been very effective for me. Well, this friend had just started something new (or maybe not for her) of e-mailing her accountability buddy with what she'd read in the Word that day. Well, how easy is that, I thought!!

My issues were: consistent times in the Word,  exercising 5 days a week, to make a strong effort to make choices (sacrifices!!) that would build up my marriage, and start having daily devotions with my boys. And some other stuff too. Long story short, it worked!! Daily emails to Mrs. A have truly been all I needed to get into a routine before I really needed to, and has made a huge difference in my fall. The thing I walked away from that first meeting certain of, was that if I had daily times with my Savior in His Word and in prayer, then everything else would fall into place. It was true, and He has been gracious in keeping His promises found in scripture, of being my food, my drink, my Light. My relationships with Brian this fall, and my sons, have never been better. Now that the storms and stresses of fall are here, I'm so thankful those routines are in place and to help protect us (me!) from discouragement, stressed-outedness, and the desire to run screaming from the house. So thankful to be resting in God's grace and mercy!

To God be the glory, for He deserves ALL of it!

Living Water

Jeremiah 2:13 "For My people have committed two evils; They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water."


John 4:14 "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."


This last weekend was whirlwind romance. It wasn't with my hubby though, who was at home puking, or my kids, one of whom was also puking. And it wasn't quite like the sacred solitude's that I've had in the past because 250+ women were there too. It was Women's retreat 2011, baby, and the romance was with my Savior! Those of you with kids understand how your romantic get-a-ways without kids can be, it it's for one overnight. You've got to cut to the chase a lot of times, and that can be hard. With God though, who knows the circumstances ahead, it's doable. I didn't know that I'd be going to retreat late and leaving early, but God did, and He met me right where I was and gave me exactly what I needed. So, this entry isn't a true look at the Salem Heights women's retreat 2011, but just a quick glimpse at how God met my need quickly. 


Usually at retreat I fight with myself until the last session, where I finally fling out my pride and God has the freedom to work in my heart, and it usually blows my mind how the verses that I've been mulling over throughout the last year come together to show me how big God is, how little I am, how in control He is, and what the next step for me is in coming closer to looking like Jesus. Usually God has shown me how to tweak what I'm doing to wife better, parent better, do my job better, how to love better, and how it'll be impossible to do that in my own strength. But usually it does take all weekend to break down my barriers. 


This weekend was fast forwarded. I walked in the Saturday morning session just as worship was starting. Immediately I looked over at a friend and my heart melted. I knew she was in one of those times when life seems out of control and all you can do is hang on and trust God. I knew she was doing it, that life was raw, and I immediately started crying. BIG wall, BROKEN down. God is in control. Check. 


I don't even remember where my heart went with the rest of the session or the evening. I declared to another friend God's truth in the afternoon, and I spent time in the John study later on studying the of Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. I turned on my phone right before breakfast and saw a text that the hubby and my healthy son had had a rough night. I called home and just knew I needed to get myself on home. I also knew in my heart that I had gotten everything out of retreat that I needed. My heart was satisfied. What did I need to change? 


The change I needed to make, was to take every DAY captive and to make a difference in lives that include my husband, children, the 3 sweet girls that I watch every day, and people who are in my circle of influence. I felt convicted that I was just living for bed time. Living for the time when I could relax, put my feet up, and eat whatever I wanted. Refer to the Jeremiah verse above. That verse came up  at a pervious sacred solitude and was so convicting. Guess what! It still is!! Life's SO empty when you're chasing after stuff that isn't a relationship with God. I've been chasing after God, and have learned lessons, but . . . who cares if I'm LIVING for the moment when I can just think about myself. 


Jesus satisfies (see John verse above). I've experienced this before, and am thankful for God's patience with me and grace that allows me to experience it again, and forever. 


If anyone reads this who went to retreat, I'd love to hear what God taught you at retreat, or has been teaching you lately in your life and times with Him!!!

New Potatoes

A few weeks ago I spent an overnight with my sweet and sassy sister, Hannah. I was so fun to watch movies all weekend, relax, and talk together. I wish we lived closer and could hang out more! She is so amazing. She's encounter all kinds of various trials, and is one STRONG cookie!

While we were there, I made a dinner that has become a personal favorite! It's super easy, gluten-free for those who care, and is a healthy take on potatoes. Here it is:

Drizzle chicken breast (I did thighs, yum!) with olive oil, and sprinkle with Garlic Dude Dust (haven't ordered this online, but search it out. It's a favorite!), and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes (shorter time for thighs).

While the chicken is baking, boil cubed sweet potatoes (light flesh) for 15 minutes, or until tender. Mash potatoes with a little butter, salt, pepper, and lemon zest. It's the zest that sets this apart, and does help keep your glycemic index lower. The combination of the sweet potatoes and garlicy chicken are so yummy.

Add in a mixed greens salad or broccoli, and you've got a delicious and healthy meal.

Routines and Wishbones

As I enjoy the last little bit of a quiet before bed, was reading some blogs and feel semi-inspired to update before any more time slips by. This will be random . . . I promise.

This Christmas break I've gotten a couple chances to sit and revisit my normal routines and changes are coming! Between feeling the desperate need to spend more time with Jesus, getting a gym membership for Christmas from my main squeeze, and feeling the need to be done with singing my sweet baby to sleep every night, I needed to work a few things out. Unfortunately some of that requires that I start getting up REEEEAALLLYYY early again. And that also means trying to get to sleep early most nights. Oh boy. Here it comes. The struggle between sleep and hangin' with my honey. I hate this! He is such a night owl and can't seem to find his way to bed before 11. Was just thinking yesterday about how I needed more opportunities to grow. Felt a little stagnant. :0) Here's me asking the Creator of the universe for a little help and inspiration to find a balance. HELP! I've got a tentative schedule put together for when my cherubs return on Monday, and we'll see how things shake out.

As far as the baby boy goes, He and David now have their two twin beds put together and we've established a really great bed time routine that gives me snuggle time AND time to finish up my chores BEFORE 9, and thank you to David, who tells Johnny all sorts of silly stories to put him to sleep. Halleluia! Mommy might just survive. This is me wearing a BIG smile.

Today I attended the celebration service for a beautiful lady who went to be with Jesus on Christmas day. It really made me take stock of my life and my legacy. All I can think of is, "WISHBONE!" A few months ago I'd made a turkey and gave the wishbone to David and Johnny to break. David won and I asked him what he wished for. He said he'd wished for a better mom. Haha. I laughed. We all laughed. A few weeks later David was trying my patience with needing to get out the door to soccer practice, or something like that. My voice started to raise, and then escalated to a yell. I hate to admit it, but it does happen from time to time. To this he responded with, "Well, I guess the wishbone didn't work!" Oh man. He's brought it up a couple times since then as well. I know that I need to work on my responses, being more consistent, and teaching rather than a no-mercy/no-grace approach, but come on kid! Beth's service today reminded me that if my focus is on Jesus my Savior and not on myself, that He will use me in greater ways than I can imagine. I'd rather be used for God's glory, then be reminded that the wishbone didn't work! That's a pretty shortcut way of saying what I wanted to say. Did that all make sense?

I am looking forward to what God has to teach me in 2011, and will embrace each opportunity, or will maybe throw a fit and then remember half way through it to embrace each opportunity.

Setting the Tone - One of Woman's Greatest Legacies

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: . . ." 

Proverbs 15:13

Being a mom and a day care provider has its challenges. One of the challenges for me, but more specifically for my boys, is the morning. By the time my boys wake up in the morning, three girls have been in my home for at least 20 minutes, and my boys wake up needing to share mom. This is a little easier for them toward the end of the week, in contrast to right after the weekend.

Now, I could choose to get them up before the girls arrive, but my goal is to get lunches packed and the hubby and myself fed by 6:30, which then allows me time to read my Bible and sip some coffee for a little over 30 minutes. That plan is what gets me through the day. I'm pretty happy with that plan. However, that does make me very aware of the impact that has on my own children since mom is already busy with children when they wake up.

Currently the boys love the girls, and the girls love them, so the transition is pretty easy. I have noticed though, that my response to them then, and on the weekends, can either make or break the morning. If I drop everything to greet the boys (and girls, actually) with a joyful greeting and a hug, then they get a good dose of mommy love that will get them through the harried morning. If I stay involved with what I'm involved in when they come downstairs, then they have a much harder morning. Of course this is much easier to do on the weekends, but has even greater impact during the week.

Setting the tone of your home (early in the morning!) is one of a mother's (or woman's!!) greatest legacies. This isn't my own idea though, God's second greatest commandments was to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31)! This is one way that I choose (because some days it's a choice not feeling!) to love my boys (and husband) as myself. I greet them in the morning exactly how I'd want to be greeted.


This weekend I was with it enough to greet my boys with some really light and fluffy pumpkin pancakes! I thought I'd share this yummy recipe, which comes from a wonderful breakfast cookbook a friend generously gave me!

Pumpkin Pancakes

(From Margaret S. Fox's, Morning Food)

1 c. flour 

(I doubled this recipe and used 1/2 white and 1/2 whole wheat, and couldn't tell at all.)

1/4 tsp salt 

(I decided to not put this in because of salt in the butter)

2 Tbsp brown sugar 

(slightly healthier than white, and organic sugars, which are certain to be non-genetically modified, can be found near the regular sugar at Fred Meyer)

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ginger

1 large egg, beaten

1/4 c. plain yogurt 

(the secret ingredient in my opinion!)

3/4 c. milk

3/4 c. pumpkin pureé 

(I'd recommend trying to make your own! You could can it, or freeze it, if using a large pumpkin.)

2 Tbsp melted butter

Mix all ingredients and use real maple syrup if your kids will eat it! Real maple syrup has less impact on your blood sugar levels than other syrups. 

Autumn is Back With Salmon Chowder

Salmon Chowder

Autumn is upon us and soups are BACK! I posted the recipe for this salmon chowder last fall, but felt like it deserved to repeat appearance. I made this last week and the reviewers told me it was the best yet. Although one of them said that the time we made it after buying the salmon fresh on the coast was better. I believe him, even though it was a LOOOONNNGGGG time ago. So, here's my nod to fall, which, by the way, still feels like fall without spending an enormous amount of time involved with a marching band. Just in case you were wondering, marching friends!



Salmon Chowder

2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp butter
1 c. onion, diced (I use a whole, medium onion)
1 c. red pepper, diced (I use a whole pepper)
1 c. celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely diced
1 c. carrot, shredded
1 c. potato, chopped
1/2 tsp salt (adjusted for the salt in the butter)
1/2 - 1 tsp dill weed
Chicken broth
1 can creamed corn
2 - 3 small cans salmon
Half-n-Half or heavy cream (1 - 1 1/2 c.)

In a big soup pot sauté onion, red pepper, and celery in butter and oil until soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add garlic and stir for just about a minute, and in the carrot, potato, salt, and dill weed. Cover with broth and simmer for 20-40 minutes until vegetables are soft. Add creamed corn, salmon, and cream until desired thickness. I recommend serving this chowder with a small green salad and either corn bread or toasted garlic bread.

Happy Autumn everyone! Time to cuddle up with your loved ones, or with blanket and a good book!

Dutch Oven Cooking and the Chicken of Awesomeness!

My husband LOVES to cook in dutch ovens. We have a larger one and a smaller one. We usually use the larger one when camping, but this week I pulled the smaller one out, seasoned it, and made my new favorite chicken recipe. Cooking and baking in a dutch oven is really an art. We have two recipes that Brian and I would consider perfected (Dutch Oven Peach Cobbler and Chinese Chicken Stir Fry - the two SHOULDN'T be mixed! Ask me if you want to hear THAT funny story!) and have recently begun perfecting a blueberry cake. Now that the little one is out and seasoned, I'd like to cook in it more often! 

I know that there are benefits to cooking in dutch ovens, but without doing any research because I'm tired and want to go take a nap, the only one that I can spout off is that you get a dose of iron in your food, which is good for you! Good for your blood! Anyway, it's super fun and feels halfway as if you were camping. 

Here's some tips about maintaining a cast iron dutch oven.

1) If you've got a brand new dutch oven, heat your oven (or fire!) to 350 degrees. Wipe your dutch oven down with some Crisco, or a more healthy option would be coconut oil or olive oil. (Have never used coconut oil, but I'm assuming it'd work just fine.) You should wipe the lid down as well, and be generous with your oil of choice. Throw your dutch oven into the oven for an hour, then bring it out to cool, unless you've got a meal ready to cook in it or something to bake in it. (Hmmmm. I think I may try some corn bread!) 

2) Clean up's a snap with a dutch oven! Never wash it with soap. Always use water and a some steal wool. If there is food baked on, put water in it and let it soak for a while, and it should come off with some steal wool. Don't worry about getting off every little bit of it though. That's the glory of the dutch oven and seasoning it. The chicken recipe that I recently tried had a sauce and I simply rinsed it out, wiped more oil into it, stuck it back into the oven, and it was good to go. 

3) Make sure you store your dutch oven in a dry location. When left damp it will rust. If it does rust, simply scrub it with steal wool, season, and you're back in business!

So, now for the moment you've all been waiting for. Drum roll, please!!!

From the kitchen of Mary Goodell and the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society Cookbook . . . 

"Mary Goodell's Honey Salsa Chicken"

12 in. Dutch oven - Serves 4-6 

3-4 lbs chicken, cut up (did whole breasts. You could do thighs, just shorten the cooking time.)

1Tbsp butter

1 onion, chopped (or sliced)

Sauce: (I doubled the sauce recipe)

2 tsp chili powder

2 Tbsp prepared mustard (I used dijon)

1/4 c. salsa

1/2 c. honey

dash of hot sauce

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tsp salt

I did this recipe in the oven, which I heated to 325 degrees because I knew I wanted to let it cook for more than an hour. You could cook it at 350, or 300 depending on how long you needed it to stay in the oven.

Preheat the oven with the dutch oven inside (up to 45 minutes). Throw the butter in it until melted and sizzling. Throw the onions in and toss until coated. Let the onions cook for 10-20 minutes, depending on the oven temperature. Add in the sauce and chicken, making sure that the chicken is well coated with sauce. Put on the lid and let it cook for 1 hour-2 hours, again, depending on the oven temperature. 

This recipe could be down in a slow cooker! I'd layer the chicken on top of the onions and pour the sauce over the chicken and cook for 6ish hours on low. 

Last night we served this over brown rice, and it was amazing!

I'd love to hear about any other great dutch oven stories, tips, or recipes ya'll might share!