Exasperated Expeditions {Guest Post}

I'm excited to have my Mother-in-Law guest post today! She has a blog called 'In the Potters Hand', a place where she shares her heart and encourages women (and men) of all ages to live life to the fullest and challenges you to deepen your relationship with God every day. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read the encouragement she is sharing with us for mommies with little ones!

Hello there, and thank you for allowing me the wondrous opportunity to be a guest on Housewife on a Mission’s blog. I am so honored to be able to reach out to you through the wonders of technology that was pretty much unheard of 25 years ago, when I was eh-hmm, a young mom myself. When Megan first asked me to be her guest blogger I thought to myself what in the world could I possibly say to these young savvy lady readers whether they be wives or moms that they haven’t already heard a zillion times ?

"hang in there" "love your life now" or how about the poem about the dusting that can wait, cuz I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep?

No, I want to encourage you to enjoy this season of your life. I want to remind you about self-care. Before there were babies, toddlers and young kids, what did you do? How much time did you spend quietly reading your Bible, and praying? I have met women that do not want to make time to lay aside their ambitions and give sacrificial love to have a child at all. They do not know what they are missing. I have such a gnawing hunger to see young mothers enjoy staying home and raising children. Not babysitting, but raising them. Teaching them daily lessons, chores, bed making, bath tub cleaning, and laundry sorting. Cuddle time to read and explore new stories. Gardening flowers and food.

 Unless you have a marriage where you are both surrendered to following a Christ-like life just staying married will be a challenge. Throw a couple of little miracles in and you will not only be challenged to stay married, but challenged to stay sane as well. When you have a child, and you choose to raise that child or children in the model of a biblical home, you have such a wonderful opportunity to be the example of happiness, unity and love. Moms teaching little girls about how to fold clothes, or braid their hair, and dads showing their sons how to separate the recycling, or shovel the walkway of snow. These are simple, but perfect examples to set of how to know their place in the world. Securely.

The young learn by the example of the older.

 As a young mother and wife I did not have a biblically sound marriage. It rarely felt like a privilege and honor to be a mom. More of a duty. I did not have any type of "teacher" in the area of becoming a wife or mother. Don't misunderstand, I loved my child. I was passionate about teaching him things that I was doing, and tried to remain patient as he pulled cookie dough of his baby fat fingers instead of rolling the dough to bake an actual cookie.

Yes, I was able to be a stay-at-home mom for the better part of my young motherhood. I decided to make sure I instilled prayer time, and scripture memorization along with simple Bible stories that are all but forgotten today. YES! There were numerous days I just wanted to talk to another adult, or go out with a friend and not worry about packing sippy cups, diapers, or a change of clothing. I was often the exasperated mommy. Full-time home maker is so under rated today, and yet it is such a very important career, when done biblically.

 Quiet time was my favorite time of the day.

Nap time was a great time and I stretched those out for as many years as possible. Even when my son no longer slept, he could choose as many books as he wanted, and climb on his bed to "read" them. The rule was he must stay on his bed and be quiet until the timer went off. Instilling quiet time in him recharged us both.

45 minutes of peace, quiet and “me” time. It wasn't always at the same time of day, it just happened every day possible.

In every place we lived I had a spot in the closet where I could disappear. Long ago, I had taken the verse about going into your closet (or room) and closing the door to pray literally. Often we lived in a one bedroom place, so I would go into the next best place to be alone…..you guessed it.The bathroom.

You are smiling or nodding because you know there are times you stay in there and just close your eyes! Flush the toilet, or turn the water on pretending you are busy. Of course you do, you are a mom!! You get exasperated! Kids are sponges soaking up everything you do, and when you realize that you are dried up and running on empty, you need to take a break.

It has been just a few years since I was a young mother. I had distractions, meals to make, dust bunnies to chase, cards to send. Today, you have emails to send, texts to reply too, Facebook to peer at, Instagram photos to post, and many other assorted technological ways to be busier than ever. But, if I can just challenge you, as one wife and mother to another, please set an alarm for quiet time. Every day make the time to just shut out everything except a moment with your Creator, and Father God. See, I am challenged when I read Paul’s letter to Titus where he advises him to tell the "older women to be teachers to the young women." "Teaching you to love your husbands, and to love your children". "Teaching you to be discreet & chaste." Words like that do not set well with modern women. I know that. Biblically modeled families are not encouraged today. You want your equality and independence. You deserve to be a productive citizen with a mortgage & "real" career. Check yourself if you feel a sting about being submissive and obedient to your godly husband.

If your kids are a burden and make you scream and show your ugliness, maybe you need to set a timer. Perhaps you have friends or relatives that think you are wasting time staying at home, and not "out there" working. I am sure you have heard that it is nearly impossible to have a one income, one car, one cell phone life in the twenty first century. I want to" teach" you, that this time is precious. Your children may be entertained at a daycare or with sports, dance and music classes, but when they are grown they may become insecure & needy. Not knowing how to relax, and be alone they will find amusement some where outside of the home. Instead of feeling intimidated or rushed when your small child wants to set the table, or help wash dinner plates, encourage her or him to help you.

YOU are the model that they will eventually become. How scary is that sentence?

Perhaps you can’t manage a 45 minute afternoon break, because you have more than one child, and their schedules don’t allow for that, but could you possibly find twice a day for even 15 minutes of meditation on a verse of the day, or a devotion? Reign your thoughts back to where nothing else matters except you. Set the smart phone down, and just hear yourself breathe. You need to recharge yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. Find a godly "teacher" or mentor that is older and can reassure you that what you are doing is worth so much more than it often feels or appears. Dig into Gods Word and see what He says about parenting, marriage and home making.

Losing your temper, yelling "NO" instead of instilling a choice of calmness, and a "Let's do this instead" attitude, may be a sign that a timer needs to be set. You could be exasperated.

More than once I have told women that becoming a wife is a tough, selfless job, and it most certainly is. Then I follow up when they announce that they are pregnant by telling them that parenting is the toughest job they will ever love. One day, you will look back and see all the expeditions you were on; the vacations, the trips to the park, story time, Sunday School attendance, crying while you combed hair and clipped barrettes, refolded the towels from the hands that wanted to help, and swept up the flour that is now all over the just mopped floor and not in the cookie dough, and you can smile. You were exasperated in your twenties and early thirties. You missed a lot of worldly fun because you wanted to finish a bedtime story, and get splashed with bath water. Going on a date with your husband, lover and best friend was the highlight of your life on the rare occasion it happened. You passed up the big corporate career, and left the life of  building a nest egg for the bigger house and better car. But you instilled peace and a contented spirit into another soul. Your expeditions are solid foundations that were laid for that miracle that is now grown and off to repeat history on their own exasperated expedition. 

My Song, My Strength

Monster Cookies {Recipe} #PeanutFree #GlutenFree

I'm always looking for yummy cookie and dessert recipes that are peanut nut and tree nut free, that are amazingly delicious. Well, thanks to my mom, she twirked a cookie recipe she had into making it peanut free by substituting peanut butter with soy butter (brand she used was WOWButter).

My Favorite Time of Year

Christmas is my most favorite time of year! I love family coming together, the music, the scents (from desserts baking in the oven to Christmas trees and smoke from fire places) and everything about Christmas time. Welllll maybe not so much the hustle and bustle around the mall and grocery store, but oh well!

Free Thanksgiving Turkey Printable

Image adapted from twinklingtrees.com

I recently came across a free Turkey printable from Twinklingtrees.com and I thought it was so cute, I just had to share it with you all!

Here is my daughter's finished Turkey!

Go here to print out your own turkey! It's simple, cute and a fun craft for your child!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My Song, My Strength

Fruit Basket Cake

Mr. Hunky's birthday was yesterday! Yesterday was also the three year anniversary of our first date. Yes, our first date was on his birthday, and I paid! We still have the parking garage ticket from our first date/Mr. Hunky's birthday too. It's pretty cute if I do say so myself.

When I became a part of Mr. Hunky's family they introduced me to what is now my absolute favorite cake. Ever. Fruit basket cake. Never heard of it huh? That's not surprising, a lot of people haven't heard of it. Let me tell you about it now. It's cake, whipped cream, and fruit all together in one happy bite of heaven. I was in utter disbelief when my local Safeway had absolutely no clue what a fruit basket cake was, so I took it upon myself to make my own for Mr. Hunky's birthday....so here it goes!

For the Cake:

{Okay, don't judge me.}

~1 Box of Yellow Cake Mix (and the ingredients that it calls for)

~2 Round Cake Pans

Split the cake batter between the two round cake pans and bake as directed on the package.

Remove from the oven and let them cool. Once the cakes are cool remove them from their cake rounds and place them on two separate plates. You may need to put them in the refrigerator or the freezer to cool quicker depending on how fast you prep the other ingredients. 

For the Fruit:

~Blueberries

~Strawberries

~Banana's

~Lemon Juice

For the fruit you may use the desired amount of each that you prefer, add any that you may like, or take out what you dislike. These ingredients are extremely flexible! Slice your banana, cut your strawberries, and put all aside with your blueberries on a large cutting board.

Transfer 2/3 of the banana into a large bowl and shake drops of lemon juice over the top (be sure to stir!). This will help the banana's from browning. Once you have finished putting lemon on the banana's, add in 2/3 of the strawberries and 2/3 of the blueberries into the same bowl as the banana. 

You can then repeat that process again (starting with the banana's and lemon juice) with the remaining amount of fruit in a smaller bowl. 

Set the bowls aside for later use.

For the Whipped Cream:

~32OZ Container of Heavy Whipping Cream

~1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

~1/2 Teaspoon of Vanilla

You will need either a stand mixer or a lot of patience for this one, it took a while for my whipped cream to form! Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl or stand up mixer and beat (with a wisk or wisk attachment) on medium until the whipped cream turns from liquid to whipped creamy fluff!

Assembly:

Using your big bowl of fruit, pour about 1/3-1/2 of the whipped cream into the bowl and stir the fruit into it. Make sure that the whipped cream is fully mixed in with the fruit! 

Next, take your frosting spatula and pour all of the fruit/whipped cream mixture onto the top of the first layer of cake. It will look like a lot of filling but just squish it down the best you can without any of it falling off of the cake! 

When your whipped cream layer is complete, take your second layer of cake and place it on top of the whipped cream/fruit mixture. It will almost look like a giant (delish) ice cream sandwich! 

Gently press the top layer onto the whipped cream/fruit mixture to make sure that it won't move as you are frosting the cake. You will then use your frosting spatula and frost the entire cake with whipped cream! Once it is as smooth as it is going to be, top with the remaining berries and enjoy!

My only word of advice with this cake is put the bottom layer of cake on the plate/platter/tray that you plan on serving it on, once you have completed the cake you will have a challenging time moving it to another plate if needed! Also, be sure to keep this cake refrigerated!

Baked Brie with Cranberry Chutney

This past Saturday I was at a women's pampering event held at my mother-in-laws church and there was this really good brie cheese there! They had recipe hand outs that I could take so I of course had to grab one! I am a huge Brie cheese lover especially when it is warm with nuts and berries!! If I make this at home though it will be nut free, as our daughter has a peanut & tree nut allergy!

Ingredients:
2/3 c. water
2/3 c. sugar
1 1/3 c. cranberries
4 tsp. cider vinegar
1/3 c. dark raisins
1/4 c. chopped pecans
2 tsp. brown sugar
Scant 1/4 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 1/4 lb. wheel of Brie cheese

1 loaf French bread cut in thin slices or party loaf pumpernickel bread- or crackers of choice

Directions:
To make chutney: In a heavy saucepan combine water and sugar. Stir and bring to a boil. Add cranberries, vinegar, nuts, sugar, ginger and garlic. Boil slowly, stirring until thick, 5-10 minutes. Cool and refrigerate. It will keep in refrigerator up to 1 week or it can be frozen.

To Serve:
Place Brie in an ovenproof shallow dish. Spread chutney over top of cheese. Bake at 350 degrees 5-10 minutes watching carefully so as not to melt brie, just to soften it. Serve with slices of bread or crackers.

This is NOT the picture from the recipe above, but it looks very similar, except this wheel of Brie looks smaller! 

Recipe from the kitchen of Cindy VanArtsdalen (family friend).

Food Allergies & The Holidays

 For those of you who don't know, our 4 year old daughter has a severe life threatening peanut allergy. As the holidays are here we have to have extra precaution at all times, or that one time we turn our back she might intake a peanut butter snack/dessert and will go into Anaphylactic Shock. "The reaction may be fatal if emergency treatment, including epinephrine injections, is not given immediately". Our daughter is only 4 years old and does not fully grasp her allergy, so we have to keep a very close eye on her.

When we have family gatherings, there is no peanut anything around, which we are so thankful that family and friends understand her allergy and that it is air born. Proof of that at a baseball game last year. People behind us were eating peanuts and throwing the shell's on the ground. Halie was breathing in the peanut dust or whatever you want to call it and started getting woozy and falling over. :/ Needless to say, we left right away and she started feeling much better within a matter of minutes.

Our biggest thing is keeping an eye at her at church. We have only been going there for a little over a month now and not a lot of people are aware of allergy, however her Sunday School teacher is very much aware. We keep a snack at church in her classroom for Halie to eat at snack time, and the kids do wash their hands after they eat their snack.  Thankfully the teach doesn't bring peanut/nut products in but some items are still made in the same factory as peanuts/nuts.

Halie does wear a peanut allergy alert bracelet and knows to always ask me or daddy to have something if someone wants to give her food. AND we do practice with her to say that she has a peanut allergy and to ask mom and dad if she can have that snack. Thankfully the only reaction she has ever had was when we first learned of her severe allergy when she was around age 1.

 

Does your child or someone you know have a food allergy? What precautions do you take? What advice can you give us? Thanks!

My Song, My Strength