I find myself at a place in my life where I am growing. I suppose that's rather vague, we're always growing, aren't we? For some reason though, I see myself taking off in a direction I haven't yet ventured down thus far in life. I can feel my heart aching to transform into a better more inspired woman. Here I am, wrapping my arms around the change and hoping to take this transformation on with all I have to give, wherever it may lead me.
I have spent the last 5 years of my life becoming a responsible adult, a parent, a wife, and a friend. I've learned lessons, lost friends, and grew tiny humans inside my womb. I've watched them from the first kick, to their birth day, and my eyes are still glued. Some of the past has been less then pleasant, but it has undoubtedly prepared me for my present. I know what I can handle, what I can take on, I know loss, I know pain, and I know I can conquer it. I've learned what it really means to love, how to forgive, and when it's okay to completely let yourself go and just be.
Where before I felt so vulnerable and small, unaware. I became a pliable mold for God to shape me into the woman he intends for me to be. Now I see myself changing and wanting more, embracing what this adventure called life has to offer me. I know that God still has a lot of work in store for me, but for now, I feel like I've accomplished something. I can feel that I'm on the right path, walking the right direction, headed for what I want. Accepting that what I want is what He has planned for me, and opening my ears to hear what He has to say.
I am flawed, but maybe that's what makes all of this so great. I may make mistakes, take a wrong turn, walk off the path; but I know I'll always be able to find my way back. And, though times to come may grow dark and bring trials, I know my heart will remember how powerful faith is, and that it always pulls us through. This too shall pass, peaks and valleys, God won't make a mountain I can't climb.
For the next eighteen plus years, my goal is to be able to set my children on their own paths. To teach them, and show them, that they may always know faith. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is grown he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6" I hope that they leave me with the curiosity, strength, and determination to conquer the world. I pray that they walk with God, as they go out on the journey to discover who they are and who they want to be.
For the rest of my life, my goal is to continue to become a better wife for the man who's name I proudly wear. To learn how to better love him and to stand by him, no matter the cost. To forgive quickly and love, forever.
For right now, my goal is to continue to listen. To pray that God continues to give me ears to listen, a voice to change, and a heart to accept. To continue on with what I know He has put before me, and know always that He will provide and protect. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable then they? Who of you can add an hour to life by worrying? Matthew 6:26-27"
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own. Matthew 6:34"
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Calling ALL busy moms! Baked Potato Soup
So, I have reviewed a few potato soup recipes, none of which I was jumping up and down about. So I took a collaboration from 4 different recipes, added in what I knew I liked and omitted what I didn't, then decided to throw it all in the crock-pot. The results? Amazing! I doubled the recipe and had NONE left from my little family of 4. Even Lexi, who can be quite the picky eater (& HATES potato's) had a second helping! So, if you've got a crock-pot (which you DEFINITELY should) and you need something hardy, easy, and filling...this is your recipe!
Great for cold rainy days like today (I am making more tonight to freeze!), or even game day! Serve in sourdough bread bowls with cheddar bay biscuits (which I also have the recipe for)...total yum!
The recipe does call for a 10 hr cook time, but mine was ready to eat in 8 1/2-9!
As always, when shopping for ingredients, I encourage you to use as many organic ingredients as you can! This recipe I was able to use only what I had on hand, organic. Which happened to be chicken broth, garlic, onion, & basil. Would have LOVED to make this with organic potatoes (which are not expensive) but I had regular russet potatoes on hand, so that's what I used.
Baked Potato Soup -- Slow Cooker
5-8 bacon strips, diced into pieces
1 small white or yellow onion, diced
2-4 garlic cloves, minced ( I always add more garlic then a recipe calls for, it is one of the finest health boosters out there! For this recipe I used 5 cloves, minced)
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried chives (or fresh!)
1/2 tsp pepper (I used ground pepper because that's what I had, and added a lot more due to Jimmy's preference)
5-6 tbsp all-purpose flour
4-5 cups chicken broth--NO MSG (When purchasing your chicken broth, please, check the label. we do not want MSG aka Monosodium glutamate in our food! Yuck!)
6 medium sized potatoes, peeled & cubed
2 cups half & half
2 cups shredded cheese
Now all you have to do is get your ingredients prepared, throw them in the crock-pot, stir, and walk away! Set your crock-pot to the lowest setting, which should read '10 hrs'.
Here's how to prepare your ingredients:
The bacon should be cooked & the drippings reserved. I added 4 tbsp of drippings to this recipe. You can minus or add based on your preference. The bacon should be cut into bits for later serving atop the soup!
Cheese should be shredded finely for better melting, set aside, and used later as topping for soup.
Onion should be diced fairly small. I only had a huge onion from the local market, so I used about 1/4 of it which measured out to be 1 cup, chopped onion.
Garlic should be minced well. I threw all my cloves in the food processor and let it do the work for me, much easier!
Flour, should be stirred in well before placing on lid and leaving to cook. The flour is for thickening purposes, now you can certainly add more or less based on how you like your soup. I found that 6 tbsp made it just thick enough but not too 'chowder-y'.
I served this with homemade cheddar bay biscuits and it came out fantastic!
Vegetarian? This recipe is EASY to change. Omit the bacon and use vegetable stock, still yummy!
**I do have pictures to add, but I'm running out the door. Will get them up later!
Great for cold rainy days like today (I am making more tonight to freeze!), or even game day! Serve in sourdough bread bowls with cheddar bay biscuits (which I also have the recipe for)...total yum!
The recipe does call for a 10 hr cook time, but mine was ready to eat in 8 1/2-9!
As always, when shopping for ingredients, I encourage you to use as many organic ingredients as you can! This recipe I was able to use only what I had on hand, organic. Which happened to be chicken broth, garlic, onion, & basil. Would have LOVED to make this with organic potatoes (which are not expensive) but I had regular russet potatoes on hand, so that's what I used.
Baked Potato Soup -- Slow Cooker
5-8 bacon strips, diced into pieces
1 small white or yellow onion, diced
2-4 garlic cloves, minced ( I always add more garlic then a recipe calls for, it is one of the finest health boosters out there! For this recipe I used 5 cloves, minced)
1 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried chives (or fresh!)
1/2 tsp pepper (I used ground pepper because that's what I had, and added a lot more due to Jimmy's preference)
5-6 tbsp all-purpose flour
4-5 cups chicken broth--NO MSG (When purchasing your chicken broth, please, check the label. we do not want MSG aka Monosodium glutamate in our food! Yuck!)
6 medium sized potatoes, peeled & cubed
2 cups half & half
2 cups shredded cheese
Now all you have to do is get your ingredients prepared, throw them in the crock-pot, stir, and walk away! Set your crock-pot to the lowest setting, which should read '10 hrs'.
Here's how to prepare your ingredients:
The bacon should be cooked & the drippings reserved. I added 4 tbsp of drippings to this recipe. You can minus or add based on your preference. The bacon should be cut into bits for later serving atop the soup!
Cheese should be shredded finely for better melting, set aside, and used later as topping for soup.
Onion should be diced fairly small. I only had a huge onion from the local market, so I used about 1/4 of it which measured out to be 1 cup, chopped onion.
Garlic should be minced well. I threw all my cloves in the food processor and let it do the work for me, much easier!
Flour, should be stirred in well before placing on lid and leaving to cook. The flour is for thickening purposes, now you can certainly add more or less based on how you like your soup. I found that 6 tbsp made it just thick enough but not too 'chowder-y'.
I served this with homemade cheddar bay biscuits and it came out fantastic!
Vegetarian? This recipe is EASY to change. Omit the bacon and use vegetable stock, still yummy!
**I do have pictures to add, but I'm running out the door. Will get them up later!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
For my man
I'm sorry I have not blogged in a few days. We've had some health issues in the Parker household & Dr. mom has been busy at work keeping my family healthy and getting my husband back on his feet!
Ive taken time to address a lot of things with my blog, but have yet to speak of the one who keeps me going! So here it is, a note to the man responsible for keeping this woman grounded. My husband, the man I am obsessively in love with. --
I love you. I know I say that a lot, but I'll say it again. I love everything about you, even the things I will constantly complain about for the rest of your life. I am so in love with who you are as a father and the way our kids are infatuated with you. The way they run and jump to you at the moment of seeing your face, or the way they want to crawl and climb on you like a jungle gym, any chance they get. I love how Lukas gets a huge smile on his face, every time he sees you. & I love how Lexi says "DADDY! YOU HOME!", when you walk through the door, I love how she asks about you when you're not here, and how she scurries around the house looking for you when you are.
I still remember the look on your face when you saw Lexi for the first time. Complete awe and amazement. I still remember how excited you were after coming home from Afghanistan and seeing her again, grown. You wanted to drop it all and just revel in everything that was her. I creeped downstairs the morning after you had come home, to find Lexi in her high chair and you, asking her what she eats for breakfast. I stood watching her smile at you, almost proud when you busted out the cheerios. I'll never forget that moment. Your unwavering love and passion for our children only deepens the strength of my love for you.
I love how you breathe, so heavily. Mostly when I'm not sleeping five inches from you, but to hear it is so comforting. To always know that you're there. I love the way my hand fits in yours, to still feel so small against you and snuggled inside your arms. How you still call me 'beautiful', and I still know you mean it, and how it still makes me putty in your hands, just the way it did eight years ago. I love that we have hopes and dreams and we share them together, and even more, that I know we'll reach them together.
Remember talking about getting married? I still have that promise ring you gave me our junior year, sitting by our engagement picture, reminding me how simple things used to be. I think back to the times when we would sit in your room and talk about babies, think up funny names, and imagine what life would be like when we were grown. We had so many dreams to reach together, and though it's taken a long road, we've already accomplished so much. I wouldn't have ever chose to walk down this path with anyone else.
I sent you off to war, birthed our first child, and waited for your return. You left me and everyone you loved to go protect our country, saw battle, lost friends, and returned a better man. We moved away from family, started out all alone, with no idea what we were doing. Then suddenly, we became parents, bill-paying, diaper changing, laundry folding, dish washing, dinner cooking, responsible adults. I'm so grateful and blessed that I can look back on that part of my life, where I grew and changed dramatically, and remember it was you that was there by my side. Holding my hand, growing and changing with me.
You're the only one to ever make my heart skip a beat. We weren't coincidence, we didn't happen 'just because', and we certainly didn't come to be out of convenience. I know that out of every person on this earth, God chose you for me, and me for you. We're only lucky to have not spent much of our lives searching for one another, it's not many who can say they met their husband at 16. I guess God knew how much we'd need each other in the times to come. You've become my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my ear to listen, the one who can comfort with a simple touch.
When I was in the hospital, pregnant with Lukas, in so much pain, and terrified out of my mind, you never left. You sat at my bedside, exhausted, and held my hand. You hand fed me lettuce leafs, when I could barely sit up or keep anything down, because you knew I was starving. You held my hair and reassured me a million times how the site of my yacking does not affect you at all, and that I'm still gorgeous, puke and all. You stood by my side when I needed you most, you didn't complain. You put yourself aside for me, and never asked questions.
We have struggles, and it's hard more times then it ever is easy. Mom always said, nothing worth it is ever easy, and Ive seen that ring true more then once in life. I've seen us face things together that no one should have to. We've grown closer, stronger, better. We have been through so much together in the last eight years, and it's brought us to where we are today. You and I, together, are a force to be reckoned with, and I pride myself in knowing that. I love you more and more with each day that passes, which each fight we have, and with each night I spend telling you to roll over. You're my soul mate, the one God chose for me, and the only one I choose.Forever, babe.
Song of Solomon 2:16 My lover is mine, and I am his
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Genesis 2 :24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh
Ive taken time to address a lot of things with my blog, but have yet to speak of the one who keeps me going! So here it is, a note to the man responsible for keeping this woman grounded. My husband, the man I am obsessively in love with. --
I love you. I know I say that a lot, but I'll say it again. I love everything about you, even the things I will constantly complain about for the rest of your life. I am so in love with who you are as a father and the way our kids are infatuated with you. The way they run and jump to you at the moment of seeing your face, or the way they want to crawl and climb on you like a jungle gym, any chance they get. I love how Lukas gets a huge smile on his face, every time he sees you. & I love how Lexi says "DADDY! YOU HOME!", when you walk through the door, I love how she asks about you when you're not here, and how she scurries around the house looking for you when you are.
I still remember the look on your face when you saw Lexi for the first time. Complete awe and amazement. I still remember how excited you were after coming home from Afghanistan and seeing her again, grown. You wanted to drop it all and just revel in everything that was her. I creeped downstairs the morning after you had come home, to find Lexi in her high chair and you, asking her what she eats for breakfast. I stood watching her smile at you, almost proud when you busted out the cheerios. I'll never forget that moment. Your unwavering love and passion for our children only deepens the strength of my love for you.
I love how you breathe, so heavily. Mostly when I'm not sleeping five inches from you, but to hear it is so comforting. To always know that you're there. I love the way my hand fits in yours, to still feel so small against you and snuggled inside your arms. How you still call me 'beautiful', and I still know you mean it, and how it still makes me putty in your hands, just the way it did eight years ago. I love that we have hopes and dreams and we share them together, and even more, that I know we'll reach them together.
Remember talking about getting married? I still have that promise ring you gave me our junior year, sitting by our engagement picture, reminding me how simple things used to be. I think back to the times when we would sit in your room and talk about babies, think up funny names, and imagine what life would be like when we were grown. We had so many dreams to reach together, and though it's taken a long road, we've already accomplished so much. I wouldn't have ever chose to walk down this path with anyone else.
I sent you off to war, birthed our first child, and waited for your return. You left me and everyone you loved to go protect our country, saw battle, lost friends, and returned a better man. We moved away from family, started out all alone, with no idea what we were doing. Then suddenly, we became parents, bill-paying, diaper changing, laundry folding, dish washing, dinner cooking, responsible adults. I'm so grateful and blessed that I can look back on that part of my life, where I grew and changed dramatically, and remember it was you that was there by my side. Holding my hand, growing and changing with me.
You're the only one to ever make my heart skip a beat. We weren't coincidence, we didn't happen 'just because', and we certainly didn't come to be out of convenience. I know that out of every person on this earth, God chose you for me, and me for you. We're only lucky to have not spent much of our lives searching for one another, it's not many who can say they met their husband at 16. I guess God knew how much we'd need each other in the times to come. You've become my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my ear to listen, the one who can comfort with a simple touch.
When I was in the hospital, pregnant with Lukas, in so much pain, and terrified out of my mind, you never left. You sat at my bedside, exhausted, and held my hand. You hand fed me lettuce leafs, when I could barely sit up or keep anything down, because you knew I was starving. You held my hair and reassured me a million times how the site of my yacking does not affect you at all, and that I'm still gorgeous, puke and all. You stood by my side when I needed you most, you didn't complain. You put yourself aside for me, and never asked questions.
We have struggles, and it's hard more times then it ever is easy. Mom always said, nothing worth it is ever easy, and Ive seen that ring true more then once in life. I've seen us face things together that no one should have to. We've grown closer, stronger, better. We have been through so much together in the last eight years, and it's brought us to where we are today. You and I, together, are a force to be reckoned with, and I pride myself in knowing that. I love you more and more with each day that passes, which each fight we have, and with each night I spend telling you to roll over. You're my soul mate, the one God chose for me, and the only one I choose.Forever, babe.
Song of Solomon 2:16 My lover is mine, and I am his
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Genesis 2 :24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh
Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Heaven knows
I continue to say that I pray God continues to give me a voice to change, ears to listen, and a heart to accept. Well, recently, I've been tested, and in more than one circumstance. My listening ears and accepting heart have not wanted to work together lately, and I've had to step back and really look at myself. I've had to humble myself when my pride wanted otherwise.
I don't believe we ever stop growing. Life is a learning process, and it's up to us where we take ourselves, and, how we get there. My heart has been brought to it's limit, and I'm learning to push it's boundaries, and take in more then I may think I can handle. My ears, sometimes, choose what to hear. Yes, I admit. So here I go, burying myself in humility and moving on, 'taking away with it lessons I can learn from'. I am not successful every time, no, far from it in fact, but I'm trying. That's all I can promise myself.
Respect is earned. Love is respect, and only through such a thing can we truly see a person. & so, I have to ask myself this also. How can I respect myself, unless I venture down these roads? I can't, and so I will keep on walking, continuing to pray for God to fill me with the strength to do so. Heaven knows, I need it.
"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity."--Benjamin Franklin
Comments y'all. I love to know who's reading :)
I don't believe we ever stop growing. Life is a learning process, and it's up to us where we take ourselves, and, how we get there. My heart has been brought to it's limit, and I'm learning to push it's boundaries, and take in more then I may think I can handle. My ears, sometimes, choose what to hear. Yes, I admit. So here I go, burying myself in humility and moving on, 'taking away with it lessons I can learn from'. I am not successful every time, no, far from it in fact, but I'm trying. That's all I can promise myself.
Respect is earned. Love is respect, and only through such a thing can we truly see a person. & so, I have to ask myself this also. How can I respect myself, unless I venture down these roads? I can't, and so I will keep on walking, continuing to pray for God to fill me with the strength to do so. Heaven knows, I need it.
"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity."--Benjamin Franklin
Comments y'all. I love to know who's reading :)
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Nothing
I took some time last night, just to myself. Time to think, time not to think, to stare out through the hills and watch nothing happen. I let Jimmy become the human jungle gym, referee, and the chef who would have to conjure up something to feed our wild pack of animals for dinner. I sat with a glass of wine in the quiet, sipping slowly, and watching the sun fall behind the hills. I sat in the dusk, seated deep in my big green chair & sifted everything out from the farthest part of my mind, and then I did it. I basked in the pure bliss that is a mind filled with, nothing.
Almost pure silence, as the sun peeked down beyond the horizon. Just the birds & the wind, and the echo's of children I would hear every so often from the house. It was a tantalizing sunset, the colors so true here where the air is clear and clean. I surrendered.
Though they were stolen moments, just me and my nothing, I embrace them knowing they may not come again for another stretch in time. I listened to myself breathe, felt my heart beat, did things that did not matter at all, things no one knew about. I took time to remember to live.
Then I peered in my kitchen window, watched my kids jumping around the living room and my husband attempting to make dinner. I didn't see the toys that needed to be picked up, clothes that needed to be folded, dishes that needed to be done, faces that needed to be wiped, or any of the million other things I would have habitually set my attention on.
I saw the people who I love the most in the world, and felt the power in my heart that swelled with pride for being a part of them. The pure and intense reaction that overcomes me when I realize all over again, that these three human being's make up what I get to call, my family. Suddenly, my glass of Merlot and sounds of silence become washed away, as the urge to open that door and swoop up my babies overtakes me.
Nothing matters more then them, and I am so proud of them, of us. Whoever said that family is the most important thing in life, sure knew what they were talking about.
Psalms 91:10-11 ...no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For He orders his angels to protect you wherever you go.
Almost pure silence, as the sun peeked down beyond the horizon. Just the birds & the wind, and the echo's of children I would hear every so often from the house. It was a tantalizing sunset, the colors so true here where the air is clear and clean. I surrendered.
Though they were stolen moments, just me and my nothing, I embrace them knowing they may not come again for another stretch in time. I listened to myself breathe, felt my heart beat, did things that did not matter at all, things no one knew about. I took time to remember to live.
Then I peered in my kitchen window, watched my kids jumping around the living room and my husband attempting to make dinner. I didn't see the toys that needed to be picked up, clothes that needed to be folded, dishes that needed to be done, faces that needed to be wiped, or any of the million other things I would have habitually set my attention on.
I saw the people who I love the most in the world, and felt the power in my heart that swelled with pride for being a part of them. The pure and intense reaction that overcomes me when I realize all over again, that these three human being's make up what I get to call, my family. Suddenly, my glass of Merlot and sounds of silence become washed away, as the urge to open that door and swoop up my babies overtakes me.
Nothing matters more then them, and I am so proud of them, of us. Whoever said that family is the most important thing in life, sure knew what they were talking about.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is grown he will not depart from it.
Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
Monday, October 11, 2010
Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
No pictures this time, sorry guys, I'm slacking! I've made these twice now, and the second time I was much happier with how they turned out, I added more pumpkin : )
2 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp pumpkin (pie) spice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (or margarine), softened
1 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup pure pumpkin (I added 1/2 a cup)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine your flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin spice & salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat your softened butter & your sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, one at a time.
Add your pumpkin & vanilla extract. Beat well until mixture is smoothe (but not too much! about 1 minute) Stir in your flour mixture that you set aside earlier. (I always add this in slowly as I use my hand mixer) Once these are mixed well, drop by tsp onto a well greased cookie sheet or a sheet line with parchment paper (I used parchment paper)
*to make this easier, and to keep the size the same...I put all my batter in a freezer size ziploc, cut a hole in the bottom corner, and used it to squeeze the batter onto the cookie sheet. Remember...these are MINI whoopie pies
You want an even number of cookies, since you will be using two to make one whoopie pie. This recipe should produce 72 mini pies.
Bake for 10-12 minutes on 350, or until springy to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to continue cooling.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
Beat your cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Then gradually beat in your confectioners sugar until all lumps are smooth. This will be runny, you can let is cool before placing on pies, or just place on pies and refrigerate then.
Once your frosting is ready, take two whoopie pies, slap a good amount of filling on one, place the other on top & your ready to enjoy! These were a big crowd pleaser with my kids & husband, but I found them very rich. Which is why I think the mini version is much better then the large version. Enjoy with a cup of milk!
Make sure you keep these in the refrigerator, sealed, or covered with some kind of wrap to keep the cake moist.
2 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp pumpkin (pie) spice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter (or margarine), softened
1 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup pure pumpkin (I added 1/2 a cup)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Combine your flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, pumpkin spice & salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
Beat your softened butter & your sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, one at a time.
Add your pumpkin & vanilla extract. Beat well until mixture is smoothe (but not too much! about 1 minute) Stir in your flour mixture that you set aside earlier. (I always add this in slowly as I use my hand mixer) Once these are mixed well, drop by tsp onto a well greased cookie sheet or a sheet line with parchment paper (I used parchment paper)
*to make this easier, and to keep the size the same...I put all my batter in a freezer size ziploc, cut a hole in the bottom corner, and used it to squeeze the batter onto the cookie sheet. Remember...these are MINI whoopie pies
You want an even number of cookies, since you will be using two to make one whoopie pie. This recipe should produce 72 mini pies.
Bake for 10-12 minutes on 350, or until springy to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to continue cooling.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
Beat your cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth. Then gradually beat in your confectioners sugar until all lumps are smooth. This will be runny, you can let is cool before placing on pies, or just place on pies and refrigerate then.
Once your frosting is ready, take two whoopie pies, slap a good amount of filling on one, place the other on top & your ready to enjoy! These were a big crowd pleaser with my kids & husband, but I found them very rich. Which is why I think the mini version is much better then the large version. Enjoy with a cup of milk!
Make sure you keep these in the refrigerator, sealed, or covered with some kind of wrap to keep the cake moist.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Lukas
Lukas was conceived after over 8 months of trying. Now, by no means do I think that classifies as long, but compared to his sister, who we didn't try for at all, it took patience. It brought a hard time down upon us when we began to wonder if the scar tissue from my last pregnancy would interfere with our ability to get pregnant again. I grew frustrated, and more anxious with every month that passed and no plus sign.
Finally, right before Christmas, we became pregnant. I remember Jimmy being so excited that he actually hung my pregnancy test on the tree, like an ornament. We were elated, to say the least. Elated, and praying for a boy.
So my ultrasound came along, and within 5 seconds the tech told us 'it's a boy'. I cried. Jimmy jumped around the room dancing and yelling like a crazy man. The tech said they've never seen a father so happy. Jimmy had gone on with this fear that he would be one of those men who tried and tried for a boy, but instead ended up with 5 or 6 girls. We knew the name already, Lukas James. So then, we were just waiting for him.
At around 7 months I started getting very uncomfortable, pain, headaches, accompanied by insomnia, which plagued me in my last pregnancy as well. I'm not talking about being too big to sleep well, I'm talking NO sleep. I would sit in bed, exhausted, and just cry, lying there waiting for sleep to come, but it never would. That takes a toll on anyone, let alone a pregnant woman.
So my doctors put me on something to help me sleep (which actually ended up making me have memory loss & become addicted, I don't recommend it), and that got me through the next month or so. At one of our last check ups before I went in to the hospital, we sat down with our doctor and laid out our wishes. We let him know that the baby was to have no vaccines, not vitamin K, and no silver nitrate on his eyes. The conversation went great, the doctor respected our wishes and relayed them to my surgeon who would be performing my C-section.
From then on, I met with him, and not my regular doctor. I started having a lot of pain towards 30 weeks. I was seeing him at least once a week because of this. Eventually I was hospitalized, when Jimmy called the doctor's office one morning and demanded they do something, as I lay in bed begging him to make the pain go away. I was checked in to the hospital that morning, as they took a slew of blood work from me and hooked me up to some IV meds that made me do nothing but vomit.
I couldn't eat anything, not even jello, I couldn't keep it down. I was starving! The doctors administered me shots of steroids to make sure that if Lukas was born early, his lungs would be at full working capacity. That was scary. Lexi came only 6 days early, and that was because she was a planned c-section baby, due to her being a stubborn breech. I never even let the possibly of birthing a preemie enter my mind.
Eventually, my body got used to the meds they were pumping in me. With the pain at bay, they were hoping my body would stop having contractions, and we could cook Lukas a little longer. Our goal was 35 weeks.
We didn't make it. Lukas James Parker was born over 6 weeks early, our little preemie. Even still, he weighed in at a whopping 5lbs 13oz. The doctors told me later, had he been full-term, we'd be talking a baby over 9lbs, easily. They kept him in an incubator, only as long as I was in recovery. Not only did I have a c-section, but my gallbladder had to be removed as well. Double whammy surgery for me.
While I was in recovery, some of the NICU nurses questioned Jimmy about our wishes to not vaccinate. Now I wasn't there, but my mother tells me he was quite successful in shutting her down and standing true to what we wanted, regardless. I swelter with pride knowing he stood strong in my absence. Not that I doubted his ability, but knowing he took on what I have had to, so many times, without me there to back him up, really anchored me. I'm always the one who does the talking, the explaining, I'm the one who tells the doctors to shove it. Here he was, doing it all. True daddy-style.
Lukas took to breastfeeding right away, we had no problems with jaundice, and it looked like we were in the clear. When it came time to finally discharge us, they told us how much weight he had lost, as all babies lose weight after birth. At home, everything kept going great, or so we thought. I noticed that only minutes after starting to feed, he would fall asleep. Though I went to great lengths at attempting to wake him, I was always unsuccessful. I chalked that up to the fact that he was full, and ready to go back to sleep.
At his 3 day apt, after we left the hospital, we found out he had lost even more weight. They were concerned that my pain meds may be were transferring through my breast milk and making him too tired to eat. They asked me to 'pump&dump' and put him on formula, but Jimmy & I refused. I was not about to give up on some doctor's hunch. So the nurse suggested we try feeding him with a syringe. Syringe feeding it was. That was tedious. Stressful to say the least, but, Jimmy took it on as his personal mission. Getting up with Lukas every 2 hours and tiredly syringe feeding him. We were determined to get some weight on the little guy. Sometimes, Lukas would refuse to swallow & the milk would just pour out of his mouth, so we'd try again. It became very disheartening.
A few nights later, after a feeding, I was lying with Lukas on the couch in the living room. I had him on his back, lying right next to me, my hand on his chest. It was only because my hand was on his chest that I noticed he'd stopped breathing. Instantly I yelled for both Jimmy and my mom, I started crying, and the crying increased when Jimmy and my mom both noticed it too. Lukas would breathe, then stop, and then take in a huge gasp of air almost a minute later. Jimmy & I looked at each other and knew we had to take him to the hospital right away, but we also knew, that if we did, they'd take him from us.
So we spent a long night in the hospital on post, as they monitored Lukas and put in paperwork to transfer him to the children's hospital nearby. Jimmy & I followed the ambulance as they rushed him to the NICU in Augusta. They had him hooked up to monitors, so many monitors. There were wires coming off of him from everywhere. That, and seeing him struggle, shattered me. & knowing I couldn't stay, that I couldn't sleep by his side because of my recovery. I was jealous that Jimmy was able to stay with him no matter what, as a mother, that's all I wanted to do.
After a few days in the NICU, we came to find out that Lukas needed a speech therapist. Odd thing for a newborn, huh? They said that his suck-swallow reflex was not fully developed, so when he was trying to eat, he was exerting all his energy, therefore burning more calories by eating then he was taking in. They started him on a feeding tube right away, that was awful to see. Jimmy dealt with all of this much better than me, and I was glad, I needed someone to hold us both up and be strong.
I went to the hospital everyday, stayed with him, and pumped so that they had breast-milk to give him in the feeding tube, although now they were mixing it with a high calorie formula. He was weighed everyday, at the same time of day, on the same scale, in the same clothes, to ensure accuracy. Finally, we started seeing ounces pile on!
Again in the NICU they confronted us about vaccines, and inquired as to why we refused the vitamin k and silver nitrate. It was never confrontational though, I got a sense that they were more interested then opposed. We stated our wishes and that was it, I was never hounded. Although I was ready for it. With all I've encountered with Lexi, I was ready to put up a fight if need be.
After some time, Lukas was finally released back to us. We had to take him home with a feeding tube, but at least he got to come home with us. We saw the speech therapist once a week, and she worked with him to help better develop his suck-swallow reflex. We continued on with the tube feeding, and Lukas continued to gain weight. He tube fed for about 2 months, until he was strong enough to eat on his own. We started slowly, with one bottle a day, and then progressed to two bottles a day, and so on. By 4 months old he was taking 4oz bottles every 2 hours, where before we were struggling to get in 2 oz every 3 hours. His apnea (breathing) no longer showed itself, and with each day he became stronger.
They told us to expect delays. That he probably wouldn't crawl until 10-12 months old,and not to push him. Well, he crawled at 6 months.They said that he probably wouldn't walk until he was around 14 months old, and not to be discouraged. Well, he walked at 10 months old. Although we did prolong things, like solid foods, juice, etc. He was thriving where no one thought he would. The last time he had to go to the doctor was in Georgia, well over a year ago now, when we were cleared to stop the feeding tube.
They warned us that without vaccines Lukas would be most susceptible to viruses and disease, but he's never been sick. He's never once had to see a doctor or need a prescription. At nearly 15 months old, he has never had any form of antibiotics or any medicine for that matter, other then Ibuprofen. & he is now my little garbage disposal. Where once we were fighting to get syringes of nourishment into him, he is now a non-stop eating machine. Standing strong at 19 lbs and already beating up on his big sister.
I am so proud of him, the fight he fought, and the struggles he overcame. He made me stronger, and I'll never forget that. He's my little preemie, and I'm proud of that. Lukas is and continues to be, vaccine free. He continues to grow and thrive and surprise us everyday. We are so blessed to have him in our lives, and regardless of the pain, we are grateful for the struggle that brought him to where he is now. With every difficulty, we gain a strength that shapes us into the people we're supposed to be. Without these hard times, we wouldn't have the strength to keep going, to find the hope, to have the faith.
Tomorrow is Sunday, so I wont be blogging, but Monday will be a recipe, so let me know what you want to see!
Lukas James Parker --7/24/09, 3:17pm, Augusta Ga
5lbs 13oz, 20 1/2 inches
Finally, right before Christmas, we became pregnant. I remember Jimmy being so excited that he actually hung my pregnancy test on the tree, like an ornament. We were elated, to say the least. Elated, and praying for a boy.
So my ultrasound came along, and within 5 seconds the tech told us 'it's a boy'. I cried. Jimmy jumped around the room dancing and yelling like a crazy man. The tech said they've never seen a father so happy. Jimmy had gone on with this fear that he would be one of those men who tried and tried for a boy, but instead ended up with 5 or 6 girls. We knew the name already, Lukas James. So then, we were just waiting for him.
At around 7 months I started getting very uncomfortable, pain, headaches, accompanied by insomnia, which plagued me in my last pregnancy as well. I'm not talking about being too big to sleep well, I'm talking NO sleep. I would sit in bed, exhausted, and just cry, lying there waiting for sleep to come, but it never would. That takes a toll on anyone, let alone a pregnant woman.
So my doctors put me on something to help me sleep (which actually ended up making me have memory loss & become addicted, I don't recommend it), and that got me through the next month or so. At one of our last check ups before I went in to the hospital, we sat down with our doctor and laid out our wishes. We let him know that the baby was to have no vaccines, not vitamin K, and no silver nitrate on his eyes. The conversation went great, the doctor respected our wishes and relayed them to my surgeon who would be performing my C-section.
From then on, I met with him, and not my regular doctor. I started having a lot of pain towards 30 weeks. I was seeing him at least once a week because of this. Eventually I was hospitalized, when Jimmy called the doctor's office one morning and demanded they do something, as I lay in bed begging him to make the pain go away. I was checked in to the hospital that morning, as they took a slew of blood work from me and hooked me up to some IV meds that made me do nothing but vomit.
I couldn't eat anything, not even jello, I couldn't keep it down. I was starving! The doctors administered me shots of steroids to make sure that if Lukas was born early, his lungs would be at full working capacity. That was scary. Lexi came only 6 days early, and that was because she was a planned c-section baby, due to her being a stubborn breech. I never even let the possibly of birthing a preemie enter my mind.
Eventually, my body got used to the meds they were pumping in me. With the pain at bay, they were hoping my body would stop having contractions, and we could cook Lukas a little longer. Our goal was 35 weeks.
We didn't make it. Lukas James Parker was born over 6 weeks early, our little preemie. Even still, he weighed in at a whopping 5lbs 13oz. The doctors told me later, had he been full-term, we'd be talking a baby over 9lbs, easily. They kept him in an incubator, only as long as I was in recovery. Not only did I have a c-section, but my gallbladder had to be removed as well. Double whammy surgery for me.
While I was in recovery, some of the NICU nurses questioned Jimmy about our wishes to not vaccinate. Now I wasn't there, but my mother tells me he was quite successful in shutting her down and standing true to what we wanted, regardless. I swelter with pride knowing he stood strong in my absence. Not that I doubted his ability, but knowing he took on what I have had to, so many times, without me there to back him up, really anchored me. I'm always the one who does the talking, the explaining, I'm the one who tells the doctors to shove it. Here he was, doing it all. True daddy-style.
Lukas took to breastfeeding right away, we had no problems with jaundice, and it looked like we were in the clear. When it came time to finally discharge us, they told us how much weight he had lost, as all babies lose weight after birth. At home, everything kept going great, or so we thought. I noticed that only minutes after starting to feed, he would fall asleep. Though I went to great lengths at attempting to wake him, I was always unsuccessful. I chalked that up to the fact that he was full, and ready to go back to sleep.
At his 3 day apt, after we left the hospital, we found out he had lost even more weight. They were concerned that my pain meds may be were transferring through my breast milk and making him too tired to eat. They asked me to 'pump&dump' and put him on formula, but Jimmy & I refused. I was not about to give up on some doctor's hunch. So the nurse suggested we try feeding him with a syringe. Syringe feeding it was. That was tedious. Stressful to say the least, but, Jimmy took it on as his personal mission. Getting up with Lukas every 2 hours and tiredly syringe feeding him. We were determined to get some weight on the little guy. Sometimes, Lukas would refuse to swallow & the milk would just pour out of his mouth, so we'd try again. It became very disheartening.
A few nights later, after a feeding, I was lying with Lukas on the couch in the living room. I had him on his back, lying right next to me, my hand on his chest. It was only because my hand was on his chest that I noticed he'd stopped breathing. Instantly I yelled for both Jimmy and my mom, I started crying, and the crying increased when Jimmy and my mom both noticed it too. Lukas would breathe, then stop, and then take in a huge gasp of air almost a minute later. Jimmy & I looked at each other and knew we had to take him to the hospital right away, but we also knew, that if we did, they'd take him from us.
So we spent a long night in the hospital on post, as they monitored Lukas and put in paperwork to transfer him to the children's hospital nearby. Jimmy & I followed the ambulance as they rushed him to the NICU in Augusta. They had him hooked up to monitors, so many monitors. There were wires coming off of him from everywhere. That, and seeing him struggle, shattered me. & knowing I couldn't stay, that I couldn't sleep by his side because of my recovery. I was jealous that Jimmy was able to stay with him no matter what, as a mother, that's all I wanted to do.
After a few days in the NICU, we came to find out that Lukas needed a speech therapist. Odd thing for a newborn, huh? They said that his suck-swallow reflex was not fully developed, so when he was trying to eat, he was exerting all his energy, therefore burning more calories by eating then he was taking in. They started him on a feeding tube right away, that was awful to see. Jimmy dealt with all of this much better than me, and I was glad, I needed someone to hold us both up and be strong.
I went to the hospital everyday, stayed with him, and pumped so that they had breast-milk to give him in the feeding tube, although now they were mixing it with a high calorie formula. He was weighed everyday, at the same time of day, on the same scale, in the same clothes, to ensure accuracy. Finally, we started seeing ounces pile on!
Again in the NICU they confronted us about vaccines, and inquired as to why we refused the vitamin k and silver nitrate. It was never confrontational though, I got a sense that they were more interested then opposed. We stated our wishes and that was it, I was never hounded. Although I was ready for it. With all I've encountered with Lexi, I was ready to put up a fight if need be.
After some time, Lukas was finally released back to us. We had to take him home with a feeding tube, but at least he got to come home with us. We saw the speech therapist once a week, and she worked with him to help better develop his suck-swallow reflex. We continued on with the tube feeding, and Lukas continued to gain weight. He tube fed for about 2 months, until he was strong enough to eat on his own. We started slowly, with one bottle a day, and then progressed to two bottles a day, and so on. By 4 months old he was taking 4oz bottles every 2 hours, where before we were struggling to get in 2 oz every 3 hours. His apnea (breathing) no longer showed itself, and with each day he became stronger.
They told us to expect delays. That he probably wouldn't crawl until 10-12 months old,and not to push him. Well, he crawled at 6 months.They said that he probably wouldn't walk until he was around 14 months old, and not to be discouraged. Well, he walked at 10 months old. Although we did prolong things, like solid foods, juice, etc. He was thriving where no one thought he would. The last time he had to go to the doctor was in Georgia, well over a year ago now, when we were cleared to stop the feeding tube.
They warned us that without vaccines Lukas would be most susceptible to viruses and disease, but he's never been sick. He's never once had to see a doctor or need a prescription. At nearly 15 months old, he has never had any form of antibiotics or any medicine for that matter, other then Ibuprofen. & he is now my little garbage disposal. Where once we were fighting to get syringes of nourishment into him, he is now a non-stop eating machine. Standing strong at 19 lbs and already beating up on his big sister.
 | |||||
| You can see his feeding tube here & those are preemie clothes he's swimming in. |
I am so proud of him, the fight he fought, and the struggles he overcame. He made me stronger, and I'll never forget that. He's my little preemie, and I'm proud of that. Lukas is and continues to be, vaccine free. He continues to grow and thrive and surprise us everyday. We are so blessed to have him in our lives, and regardless of the pain, we are grateful for the struggle that brought him to where he is now. With every difficulty, we gain a strength that shapes us into the people we're supposed to be. Without these hard times, we wouldn't have the strength to keep going, to find the hope, to have the faith.
Tomorrow is Sunday, so I wont be blogging, but Monday will be a recipe, so let me know what you want to see!
 |
| Right after he was born & I was out of surgery. |
 |
| 1 day old. |
 |
| In the NICU |
 |
| 11 months old. |
 |
| 13 months old. |
 |
| Almost 15 months old! |
Lukas James Parker --7/24/09, 3:17pm, Augusta Ga
5lbs 13oz, 20 1/2 inches
Friday, October 8, 2010
Just and update for now
I am learning Portuguese. Yes, Portuguese. I am Portuguese by blood, so when choosing a language I'd like to learn, it only seemed fitting. I've heard a little here and there, learned perhaps a word or two, but never studied the language.
For the last two days I have been full on in Rosetta Stone trying to figure out this way of speaking. It's amazing how easy our language, English, is compared to others. Words change if there is more than one thing, or more than one person. It's very confusing. I am learning though, and I am finding it very interesting. I am really enjoying myself.
My kitchen is in full force, ready for fall. I've been baking at least once a day. Last night we tried baked mac&cheese (which did not turn out how I'd like), and today I have shredded buffalo chicken simmering away in my slow cooker for dinner, thanks to Mrs. DeMeo & her fabulous slow cooker recipe she sent me! I have baked cookies, whoopie pies, applesauce, and cake. Next week I am bound and determined to take on pumpkin pie fudge and (yum) peanut brittle. Jimmy is loving my new found skill, and keeps sifting through allrecipes to find more adventures for me to take on.
Jimmy is getting ready to compete in a Brigade competition that he will fly to Georgia for in early November, and he's been rucking around and studying like a crazy man to prepare. Then in January he'll be going to ALC, which means back to Georgia again, for 9 weeks. & in late March he is slotted to go to Ranger school, which he has been wanting to do for a long time. He is going to be a busy man for the next 6 months or so, which means things around the house are going to be crazy.
My (almost) brother-in-law is graduating from the Fire Academy in late November, and we'll be making a family trip down to Sacramento to take part in his graduation and celebration. We're awful proud of him and his accomplishments, and elated that my baby sister finally found a keeper. I have already bought Lukas a little tie to wear to his graduation and his fall/winter wardrobe is decked out with firefighter apparel in support of his Uncle Mike.
Halloween is fast approaching. I had hoped to spend it with family back in Sacramento, but that's not going to be able to happen with our schedule this year. The kids costumes came in the mail a few days ago, and I'm so excited to see them both in trick-or-treating action. Lexi is going to be Batgirl, and Lukas will be her little sidekick dressed as Robin. We tried Lexi's costume on when it got here, and oh-my-goodness, adorable. She's going to make the cutest Batgirl ever.
Tomorrow I am going to a local farm for their U-pick herb harvest. I hope I get to bring back a ton of fresh Rosemary to use for all my fall cooking. I am excited about having a 'me' day and dabbling in something I really enjoy, without a toddler attached to each leg. Then next week we'll be taking the kids to get their pumpkins & harvest some apples from the farm in Atascadero. I'm hoping to get some really great photo ops, so I'm already picking out the kids outfits. I'm thinking I may get the shot to put on our Christmas cards for this year.
My garden is in full bloom and I've been harvesting from it every day this week. God is good! Lexi and I picked a ton of carrots & tomatoes yesterday, and this morning we grabbed almost 1/2 a pound of string beans. I'm very excited for my fall garden to take off so I can learn to cook with all these new ingredients I'm growing right in the backyard.
Jimmy has been working to get his re-loading station up and running, and it's just about ready. By the new year we'll be making our own shells & then he really wont have an excuse not to take me shooting. My kids are napping, & my dinner is cooking, so, I am off to tidy up. I let both my kids run a muck this morning, while Jimmy and I enjoyed each others company over a cup of coffee in the backyard.
Did I mention I am loving this weather?
For the last two days I have been full on in Rosetta Stone trying to figure out this way of speaking. It's amazing how easy our language, English, is compared to others. Words change if there is more than one thing, or more than one person. It's very confusing. I am learning though, and I am finding it very interesting. I am really enjoying myself.
My kitchen is in full force, ready for fall. I've been baking at least once a day. Last night we tried baked mac&cheese (which did not turn out how I'd like), and today I have shredded buffalo chicken simmering away in my slow cooker for dinner, thanks to Mrs. DeMeo & her fabulous slow cooker recipe she sent me! I have baked cookies, whoopie pies, applesauce, and cake. Next week I am bound and determined to take on pumpkin pie fudge and (yum) peanut brittle. Jimmy is loving my new found skill, and keeps sifting through allrecipes to find more adventures for me to take on.
Jimmy is getting ready to compete in a Brigade competition that he will fly to Georgia for in early November, and he's been rucking around and studying like a crazy man to prepare. Then in January he'll be going to ALC, which means back to Georgia again, for 9 weeks. & in late March he is slotted to go to Ranger school, which he has been wanting to do for a long time. He is going to be a busy man for the next 6 months or so, which means things around the house are going to be crazy.
My (almost) brother-in-law is graduating from the Fire Academy in late November, and we'll be making a family trip down to Sacramento to take part in his graduation and celebration. We're awful proud of him and his accomplishments, and elated that my baby sister finally found a keeper. I have already bought Lukas a little tie to wear to his graduation and his fall/winter wardrobe is decked out with firefighter apparel in support of his Uncle Mike.
Halloween is fast approaching. I had hoped to spend it with family back in Sacramento, but that's not going to be able to happen with our schedule this year. The kids costumes came in the mail a few days ago, and I'm so excited to see them both in trick-or-treating action. Lexi is going to be Batgirl, and Lukas will be her little sidekick dressed as Robin. We tried Lexi's costume on when it got here, and oh-my-goodness, adorable. She's going to make the cutest Batgirl ever.
Tomorrow I am going to a local farm for their U-pick herb harvest. I hope I get to bring back a ton of fresh Rosemary to use for all my fall cooking. I am excited about having a 'me' day and dabbling in something I really enjoy, without a toddler attached to each leg. Then next week we'll be taking the kids to get their pumpkins & harvest some apples from the farm in Atascadero. I'm hoping to get some really great photo ops, so I'm already picking out the kids outfits. I'm thinking I may get the shot to put on our Christmas cards for this year.
My garden is in full bloom and I've been harvesting from it every day this week. God is good! Lexi and I picked a ton of carrots & tomatoes yesterday, and this morning we grabbed almost 1/2 a pound of string beans. I'm very excited for my fall garden to take off so I can learn to cook with all these new ingredients I'm growing right in the backyard.
Jimmy has been working to get his re-loading station up and running, and it's just about ready. By the new year we'll be making our own shells & then he really wont have an excuse not to take me shooting. My kids are napping, & my dinner is cooking, so, I am off to tidy up. I let both my kids run a muck this morning, while Jimmy and I enjoyed each others company over a cup of coffee in the backyard.
Did I mention I am loving this weather?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
I am
I am a martyr. Martyr, by definition, means : –noun
1.
a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
2.
a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause: a martyr to the cause of social justice.
3.
a person who undergoes severe or constant suffering: a martyr to severe headaches.
I would rather die then let my children be immunized. I do not immunize because of my belief system, my religion. I do endure much criticism for this belief, I am looked down upon, and feared, I am outcast. I believe that one day, I may be imprisoned or even set to death for standing true to this. I believe there will come a time when those who choose not to vaccinate are cut off from the rest of the world. When a great power will scare the population into vaccinating, with threats such as death.
You've heard my story, you know my beliefs. The bible says we MUST obey God rather then men. So, no matter how much you fear me, I will continue to stand strong in what I believe to know is right for my babies. I will continue to fight you and your fear of the unknown. I will continue to learn, to thrive in pure knowledge, and arm myself with it as much as I possibly can. I will not allow myself, my husband, or my children to be compromised because of a majority who'd rather I did. I will go against the grain, I will disobey to obey. I will make a ruckus. I am a force to be reckoned with. I am a mother. Do not underestimate my power, and will to survive. I cannot be 'shushed' away.
I will continue to demand answers, to speak out, to inform, to ask the hard questions, to point out the facts. Ive said it so many times before, people fear what they do not know.
I urge you to research. I urge you to investigate. I beg you to do your homework.
Vaccinate your child, I support your decision. As long as you've done the work, gained the knowledge. I look down upon NO vaccinating parent. I do not think you are beneath me, I believe you know what is right for your child, and you're making that decision by vaccinating them. Why can you not give me the same respect? Believe in my passion and what I stand for. Remember that I'm not asking you to change, and I never will. I will never pressure you or bully you, scare you into a way of thinking. I am not looking for numbers, for people in my corner. I'm looking for awareness. I am doing what God has set a fire in me for. To use my voice, my knowledge, as a tool to reach those who were once in my shoes. To reach those who don't know, but would like to. Those who may not have a chance to acquire any knowledge on their own.
I have many friends, family members, etc, who, despite knowing and seeing what I have gone through, continue to vaccinate. I love them no less. I support them, no less. I will never look down on you for vaccinating your child, and I never have. Please, remember that. I never have, and never will acquire the sense that I am better then anyone for choosing this action. Its taken a long, scary road for me to get here. A road, I pray, no one I love (or anyone for that matter) will have to walk down. Though I know that cannot be, as people are still suffering adverse affects everyday, I wish it. I wish, I hope, I pray that no one will ever suffer from a vaccine. That no one will ever have to watch their child suffer. That no mother will ever again have to bury their child do to a vaccine reaction.
There is talk that we who choose not to vaccinate, may one day be placed in a modern day concentration camp. Conspiracy theory? Perhaps. Just know, that even with that fear in the back of my head, I still choose not to vaccinate my children. I am jumping on no bandwagon, this is not about rebellion. Quite simply, I am protecting my children, being their advocate, as I (and Jimmy) are their only ones. We are their only voice.
Every once in a while we hit a wall. A blockade made up of those who fear us. Those who discredit us. Those who call us crazy, and would even say that we are not only endangering our children, but our communities. Though they cannot tell me how I would be endangering them, they continue along with this rambling. I don't understand it, but, I accept it. All the adversity, all the hate, I accept it. & whatever else a people can bring, a government can bring, I accept it. I will take it all on, for the safety of my children.
I will not be silenced, no. I will not be meant to go away, I will not.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Oatmeal, Cinnamon Apple. Pumpkin.
Oatmeal Cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
3 cup oats
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
Instead of vegetable oil, I used extra virgin olive oil because that's what I had on hand that was organic. Cookies turned out fantastic.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together your flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, & salt in a small bowl. Set aside
Cream together your margarine, oil, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla until smooth.I microwaved my margarine for 10 seconds first.
Beat in eggs, one at a time. Then gradually mix in your sifted dry ingredients. Once your wet & dry are mixed well, stir in your oats. Mix well.
Spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes & let cool on wire rack. Mine were done around 9 minutes.
To adjust this recipe to make pumpkin cookies, change the following:
While creaming together your margarine, oil, brown sugar, white sugar and vanilla, add 1/2- 1 cup pumpkin. (I added half a can)Also add 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg to your sifted dry ingredients & an extra 1/2 cup flour. Refrigerate dough for at least 1 hr before baking.
After creaming together your ingredients, and before adding oats. Mix in 1-1 1/2 cups of chopped/peeled apple ( I used small organic Gala apples & ended up using 1 1/2 apples, chopped)
**To make these even yummier, add in 1 cup of cinnamon chips after adding apples and before adding oats**
Up your cinnamon from 1/2 tsp to 2-3 tbsp, and also add in 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg with dry sifted ingredients.
I also refrigerated this dough, but there is no need. This come out a bit darker because of the cinnamon, so make sure to check that they are really done before taking them out. I lightly touch the top to make sure they aren't too soft.
These ALL came out fantastic. The kids prefer the plain oatmeal, while Jimmy prefers the apple cinnamon, and my favorite by far is the pumpkin. I added a lot of pumpkin and they came out so fluffy and delicious!
All the organic ingredients I got to use for cooking this weekend, with the exception of my homegrown organic tomatoes, bananas, and vegetables I used in my soup. I made these cookies, Pico De Gallo, Banana bread, & Chicken soup.
My Pico De Gallo came out amazing. Jimmy and I devoured it in under an hour. With our organic tortilla chips, of course! (look for them at Costco, BEST tortilla chips I've ever had. They taste homemade!)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hello, October.
I see those big dark fluffy clouds lining the sky, blocking the sun, keeping in the cold, wet weather. I have been praying for those. Beautiful. I have missed, so much, my northern Georgia weather. Where it rains 70% of the time, bringing beautiful lightening to gaze at, and the power of thunder to tremble with. I haven't heard a tornado warning come over my TV in almost a year, and I miss the weather. I sat up alone, early this morning, in my cold, dark, quiet kitchen. As my feet numbed from the frigid tile, I stared in wonder and awe of the dark sky. I smiled, and whispered with God, as I sipped my steamy pumpkin flavored coffee, with the chill of autumn continuing to seep in through my sliding glass door.
So here I am, so grateful for this day. I am comfy in my sweat pants and super soft socks, taking in the cold, and baking up a storm, bundling up my babies and collecting colorful leaves. There is a huge pot of chicken soup, made from scratch, simmering on my stove. The aroma is filling up my living room, and I am soaking up the scent in pure bliss. I am willingly throwing my little monsters diapers in the dryer for a change, as the sun plays peek-a-boo with my clothes line outside.
Thank you for the leaves changing, for the cold coming, for the clouds moving in, for the rain falling down. For reminding me that what I miss can be found right where I am, even if it only shows itself ever so often. Thank you Lord, for bringing a real Autumn day to this small town we're nestled in for a while. I've missed it so much, days like these. I'm not complaining at all, so please, feel free to bring more. Many, many more.
So here I am, so grateful for this day. I am comfy in my sweat pants and super soft socks, taking in the cold, and baking up a storm, bundling up my babies and collecting colorful leaves. There is a huge pot of chicken soup, made from scratch, simmering on my stove. The aroma is filling up my living room, and I am soaking up the scent in pure bliss. I am willingly throwing my little monsters diapers in the dryer for a change, as the sun plays peek-a-boo with my clothes line outside.
Thank you for the leaves changing, for the cold coming, for the clouds moving in, for the rain falling down. For reminding me that what I miss can be found right where I am, even if it only shows itself ever so often. Thank you Lord, for bringing a real Autumn day to this small town we're nestled in for a while. I've missed it so much, days like these. I'm not complaining at all, so please, feel free to bring more. Many, many more.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Tom & Jerry
This morning I found myself up before the sun. I lied in bed waiting to fall back asleep, but it never came. Instead I heard the sound of the rooster, coming from up the street in the neighbor's backyard. The sun came, the birds starting doing their morning routine outside my bedroom window. I heard cars start to drive by, and heard the delivery trucks down at the market, but still I couldn't fall back asleep. Awake it is, I suppose there's no fighting it.
I jumped on my elliptical and watched The Early Show, I can't remember the last time I was up in time to watch that. I took a shower, blow dried my hair, and went into the kitchen to put together a breakfast casserole. Here we are now at 7 am. I made myself some coffee, extra strong, and plopped on the couch in my big pink fluffy robe, watching country music videos, and wondering how I was going to make it through the day on a measly 5 hours of sleep. Then, I heard a bedroom door open. My curious little red head wandered down the hallway into living room, surprised to find mom awake and on the couch. She cuddled next to me, and asked if I'd watch Tom & Jerry with her.
So here we are, enjoying our girl time while little man snoozes away. Eating our breakfast casserole, and watching some Tom & Jerry at 8 o clock on a Saturday. Not a care in the world, not a place to be, just me and my bug and her absolute favorite cartoon.
It's been too long since we shared a morning together, just her and I. I'm grateful I still get to steal her away from the rest of the world for moments like this. Heaven knows, it won't be long before cartoons on the couch with mom become nonexistent. Not because I want them to, of course. No. Because, she's growing up, and much too fast if you ask me. She's growing up, and I can see it happening a little bit everyday. So, exhausted or not, I'm gonna squeeze her, kiss her, and cherish our mornings together, on the couch with Tom & Jerry.
I jumped on my elliptical and watched The Early Show, I can't remember the last time I was up in time to watch that. I took a shower, blow dried my hair, and went into the kitchen to put together a breakfast casserole. Here we are now at 7 am. I made myself some coffee, extra strong, and plopped on the couch in my big pink fluffy robe, watching country music videos, and wondering how I was going to make it through the day on a measly 5 hours of sleep. Then, I heard a bedroom door open. My curious little red head wandered down the hallway into living room, surprised to find mom awake and on the couch. She cuddled next to me, and asked if I'd watch Tom & Jerry with her.
So here we are, enjoying our girl time while little man snoozes away. Eating our breakfast casserole, and watching some Tom & Jerry at 8 o clock on a Saturday. Not a care in the world, not a place to be, just me and my bug and her absolute favorite cartoon.
It's been too long since we shared a morning together, just her and I. I'm grateful I still get to steal her away from the rest of the world for moments like this. Heaven knows, it won't be long before cartoons on the couch with mom become nonexistent. Not because I want them to, of course. No. Because, she's growing up, and much too fast if you ask me. She's growing up, and I can see it happening a little bit everyday. So, exhausted or not, I'm gonna squeeze her, kiss her, and cherish our mornings together, on the couch with Tom & Jerry.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Peanut Butter Brownies
I know a few of you asked, so here we are with the weekend approaching & I figured I better get this up! Here is the recipe I used to make yummy peanut butter brownies. I doubled this recipe & used a 9X13 pan, they were ready in 35 minutes. To give them an extra chewy, real brownie like texture, I let them sit overnight covered with a kitchen towel, they were to die for-perfect come morning!
Yikes! I forgot this part. If you use organic peanut butter, make sure to do a taste test. Most organic/all natural peanut butter's are very bland, you may need to add some extra white sugar to the recipe to even the taste out & still have that sweet appeal.
Peanut Butter Brownies
Add your dry ingredients into bowl. [flour, baking powder, and salt]
Take & grease your pan with butter. 9X9 or 9X13 for a double batch. Drop in batter & smooth out. Let bake at 350 [ or 325 for a double batch ] for 30 - 35 minutes. Be sure not to overcook, so check with a fork or toothpick at 30 minutes. You can add semi-sweet chocolate morsels in for an extra zing!
[I had organic milk on hand, so I in-cooperated it into this recipe]
My kids...peaking in on the brownies to see if they're ready.
Yikes! I forgot this part. If you use organic peanut butter, make sure to do a taste test. Most organic/all natural peanut butter's are very bland, you may need to add some extra white sugar to the recipe to even the taste out & still have that sweet appeal.
Peanut Butter Brownies
3/4 cup peanut butter (I used chunky peanut butter)
1/3 cup softened margarine
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
my tip [the key is to use as many organic ingredients as you can. This time I had on hand, organic flour, organic peanut butter, and organic eggs. See how many organic ingredients you can use!]
Preheat oven to 350 [ 325 if you double the recipe]
Mix your peanut butter & softened margarine together, using a fork [if you use a mixer this will come out with more of a cake like texture]
Add in your sugars [white & brown], egg, and vanilla extract. Mix ingredients together with a fork until all lumps are gone & eggs are well mixed in.
Add your dry ingredients into bowl. [flour, baking powder, and salt]
Mix together using a spoon or fork ( I used a small spatula)
Take & grease your pan with butter. 9X9 or 9X13 for a double batch. Drop in batter & smooth out. Let bake at 350 [ or 325 for a double batch ] for 30 - 35 minutes. Be sure not to overcook, so check with a fork or toothpick at 30 minutes. You can add semi-sweet chocolate morsels in for an extra zing!
Let cool, or sit overnight like I did. Then top with yummy homemade chocolate frosting & enjoy!
Chocolate Frosting
1/4 cup margarine, melted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
[I had organic milk on hand, so I in-cooperated it into this recipe]
In a large bowl, beat margarine and cocoa together until combined.
Add milk and vanilla; beat until smooth. [I just used a fork]
Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until desired consistency is achieved.[ I used a whisk for this part ]
Adjust with more milk or confectioners' sugar if necessary.
ENJOY!
My kids...peaking in on the brownies to see if they're ready.
..how does your garden grow
Well this year we have planted a total of 3 gardens. Our first which we harvested heirloom tomatoes, string beans, carrots, potatoes, strawberries, & even blueberries. Our third which was just planted 2 weeks ago, and I am very excited about. This will be our first fall garden, & I am anxious to see what it brings us. Along with the real green thumb, my husband, we've planted cucumber, onions, garlic, cabbage, winter squash, pumpkin, beets, parsley, and eggplant.
Our second garden was sort of a 'well we have extra seeds, lets just plant them' kind of thing. We planted mid-summer so we didn't know if we would get any harvest from it. Luckily for us, this year has been an odd one in terms of weather and temperatures. To our surprise, our second garden is in full bloom & getting ready for us to harvest! We have carrots, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, and string beans. These plants will continue to provide for us until our fall garden is in bloom! God has been good to the Parker's this year.
These are my string beans! The two things my kids will eat everyday is tomatoes & fresh green beans. & all those little flowers are about to turn into even more green beans for us to enjoy!
These are my pride & joy. My magnificent heirloom tomatoes. I already harvest from 4 plants in my earlier garden, and this plant has taken off in the last 3 weeks & started producing ton's of fruit! We have one that is ready to harvest any day...the rest are not far behind!
These are the hothouse tomatoes I planted (& some weeds that just got pulled) in our fall garden, already blooming. I planted them early because I wanted to harvest some fruit before the super cold temps kick in. & it looks like I just may get my wish!
I let the kids go out and pick with me, they love it. Although Lukas ends up taking bites out of everything we hand him, he still gets in on the action. It's fun to share that with them, and I hope this is something we can do every year with our kids. This year was our first endeavor, and I have really enjoyed it. Jimmy is teaching me a lot about gardening, & I am trying hard not to kill every plant I touch! I did a lot more hands on work with our Fall garden, so I'm excited to see how my new found 'skills' will pay off. We are going to be investing in a compost barrel this year, and I am totally thrilled about that!
Jimmy grew up always around his grandmother, who is a true green thumb. She took a large part in raising him, and passed on to him everything she knew. She has an acre or so garden that is always in bloom, always producing, every season. Jimmy has always enjoyed that, as it's been a part of his upbringing. So gardening for him, especially with the kids, is extra special. To be able to share this with all of us is such a gift. It brings a sense of something I know his heart misses, and I am so thankful that we can give that to him.
Growing a garden takes patience, and that, I will admit, is not a strong suite of mine. I have enjoyed so much walking into my backyard and picking vegetables for dinner. What an incredible blessing to be able to grow, organic, just 5 feet from where I cook dinner! We are so blessed, & good things come to those who wait!
& since I don't know how much I'll be able to get up this weekend [& because I love to show off my kids], some pictures from the week. Enjoy!
Lukas & his dishwasher fascination..
Snuggling with mom's Ally Zabba..
Checking out his sister's baby doll...
Fluff butt...he love's my AZ, guess I'm gonna need to get him his own [in blue]
Chowing down on a grilled cheese...
Conquering a popsicle...
Y'all have a good weekend. Mine is going to be extra busy! Don't forget to leave some love so I know who's reading. ;)
Our second garden was sort of a 'well we have extra seeds, lets just plant them' kind of thing. We planted mid-summer so we didn't know if we would get any harvest from it. Luckily for us, this year has been an odd one in terms of weather and temperatures. To our surprise, our second garden is in full bloom & getting ready for us to harvest! We have carrots, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, and string beans. These plants will continue to provide for us until our fall garden is in bloom! God has been good to the Parker's this year.
These are my string beans! The two things my kids will eat everyday is tomatoes & fresh green beans. & all those little flowers are about to turn into even more green beans for us to enjoy!
I let the kids go out and pick with me, they love it. Although Lukas ends up taking bites out of everything we hand him, he still gets in on the action. It's fun to share that with them, and I hope this is something we can do every year with our kids. This year was our first endeavor, and I have really enjoyed it. Jimmy is teaching me a lot about gardening, & I am trying hard not to kill every plant I touch! I did a lot more hands on work with our Fall garden, so I'm excited to see how my new found 'skills' will pay off. We are going to be investing in a compost barrel this year, and I am totally thrilled about that!
Jimmy grew up always around his grandmother, who is a true green thumb. She took a large part in raising him, and passed on to him everything she knew. She has an acre or so garden that is always in bloom, always producing, every season. Jimmy has always enjoyed that, as it's been a part of his upbringing. So gardening for him, especially with the kids, is extra special. To be able to share this with all of us is such a gift. It brings a sense of something I know his heart misses, and I am so thankful that we can give that to him.
Growing a garden takes patience, and that, I will admit, is not a strong suite of mine. I have enjoyed so much walking into my backyard and picking vegetables for dinner. What an incredible blessing to be able to grow, organic, just 5 feet from where I cook dinner! We are so blessed, & good things come to those who wait!
& since I don't know how much I'll be able to get up this weekend [& because I love to show off my kids], some pictures from the week. Enjoy!
Lukas & his dishwasher fascination..
Y'all have a good weekend. Mine is going to be extra busy! Don't forget to leave some love so I know who's reading. ;)
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