Am I the only one?

When Greg is away, which thankfully isn't often, I like to make food that he doesn't love, but that I do.
(How's that for a run-on sentence?)

For instance the other night I made of my childhoodish favorites - PoTuna's - at least that is what my Mom called them.

Bake a potato or potatoes - using whatever form of heat you prefer - I like the good ol' microwave.

After potatoes are done, cut them in half longwise and carefully scoop out the insides, preserving the nice boat shape without tearing the skin. Then mash the potatoes with a can of tuna, some green onion (chopped) or regular onion (diced), some sour cream, some shredded cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Top with a bit of shredded cheese.

Then reheat (this time in an oven) until warmed through and the cheese on top is thoroughly melted, maybe even browned.

Enjoy!

Recommended Reading

Back in November I received an email from Veritas Press that included the following essay . . . it was something that I needed to read the day it came! I read it and re-read it. I cried. I know - you may think I don't cry. I do. Ask Greg. I sent the essay to some of my sister in laws and a friend or two.


Christmas Day I bought the book for my Kindle and have been reading and re-reading it. Rachel's words have been an encouragement to me.


Try this one on -

"In the Rock Tumbler" from Loving the Little Years

I remember a time when I used to be much godlier. It was sometime in junior high and my room was clean. It must have been beautiful weather outside because the lighting was very nice in my room where I was reading my Bible every day and feeling really good. It was quite clear to me that my sanctification was progressing very well. As the feeling wore off, I remember looking back to that time as a high point. That was really living the Christian life.

The truth is my Christian life then was like a rock being refined by a slow river in a quiet place. It wasn't as though I wasn't growing spiritually, but my word! So easily! And so little!

But God took me out of that life and threw me into the rock tumbler. Here, it is not so easy to feel godly, because we spend our days crashing into each other and actually getting our problems addressed. Here there is very little time for quiet reflection. I do a lot of on-the-job failure and correction. Repenting and forgiving. Laughing. Lots and lots of laughing. Because if there is anything that life in the rock tumbler will teach you, it is that there is no room to take yourself seriously. Like trying to strike "cool" poses on a rug that someone is continually pulling out from under you, self-seriousness in mothering is totally pointless and probably painful!

The opportunities for growth and refinement abound here-but you have to be willing. You have to open your heart to the tumble. As you deal with your children, deal with yourself always and first. This is what it looks like and feels like to walk with God, as a mother.

God treats us with great kindness as we fail daily. He takes the long view of our sin-knowing that every time we fail and repent, we grow in our walk with Him. It is easy for us to accept this, because our sins are, well, ours.

But our children sin against us, annoy us, and mess up our stuff. We want to hold it against them, complain about them (if only to ourselves), and feel put upon by their sin. We have a much harder time accepting that every failure from them is a wonderful opportunity for repentance and growth and not an opportunity for us to exact penance.

It is no abstract thing-the state of your heart is the state of your home. You cannot harbor resentment secretly toward your children and expect their hearts to be submissive and tender. You cannot be greedy with your time and expect them to share their toys. And perhaps most importantly, you cannot resist your opportunities to be corrected by God and expect them to receive correction from you.

God has given us the job of teaching His law and demonstrating His grace. We are to be guides to our children as they learn to walk with God.

Sin is just a fact of life. It is the way we deal with it that changes ours.


Rachael Jankovic

Rachel Jankovic has five children under the age of 6, including a set of 2-year-old twins. Loving the Little Years is a slender book of short essays that presents an honest and sometimes funny glimpse into her life and the wisdom she's learned in the trenches.

I heartily recommend "Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches" by Rachel Jankovic

You may also like: 
http://www.feminagirls.com/2010/08/19/a-spirited-rider

Fancy Cupcakes? I think not.

Last night we attended the 2nd Annual Fall Festival at Veritas Academy. I can honestly say that I did not want to go. My children on the other hand had been looking forward to it with great anticipation. After receiving several emails looking for volunteers for various booths for either the second or third grade, or the fine arts department, I received one that I thought would work for our week.

It was a request for baked goods for the Cake Walk. I thought to myself, I can do that. Especially when I saw that another mom had volunteered to bring Rice Krispy cookies. I can surely do that. They were looking for volume. Mass. Six plates of cookies coming your way.

I mixed the cookies up on Friday morning, so they would be fresh. I even printed the recipe out, rather than rely on my memory. I added coloring. They were cheeto orange. . . They were plated and wrapped.
Not fancy plates or wrap.

Ooops. Lots (not all) of the other baked goods were packaged very prettily - with orange bows, large celophane paper poofs. . . Aagghhh. The cookies tasted ok - hopefully the children that went to Cake Walk last weren't disappointed.

I know I am no Martha Stewart. Now I know to not volunteer for any baked goods.