A Woman of Pluck: A Steadfast Spirit in the Midst of Life

A dear reader shared with me that she had gone back and read all the posts in the GC archives over the past few years (Kudos, 6 Arrows!). In her reading, she pointed out a post, quite honestly, I had forgotten about. It was the very last post in 2010, written, of course, with no idea about the life-changing event we would endure in just 4 months.

It blessed me to re-read it because it revealed one more way the Lord seemed to already be preparing me for what was to come.

He does that for us; He knows it all and to see Him orchestrate even our thoughts and musings as part of the grand tapestry He’s weaving in our lives, is such a comforting, beautiful reality. I thought I’d share that post below. Admittedly, I’m still working on becoming that woman. But I can say, having had the privilege of knowing the Source of all peace when life gets turned upside down, HE DELIVERS.

A New Woman in the New Year

“Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.”-Zig Ziglar

This philosophy is universal, but it sure does resonate with this mother. My main new year’s resolution is to simply be more sturdy and resilient.

“I want them to witness a serenity of character…a steadfastness of spirit, regardless of externals. I want them to see a calm captain at the helm of this ship….and rest in knowing they are safe in this harbor.”

I’m very optimistic by nature, but I’m still prone to get bent out of shape fairly easily.

We’ve been reading some books about “bygone days” and something that strikes me is how hardy those women were! I find it terribly ironic that in our day of “empowerment”, most women can’t hold a candle to the kind of pluck those pioneer women had!

What would you do if you didn’t have any food in the pantry? I would cry.

One woman we read of during a hard year pulled up her skirts, marched out into the woods and found weeds–yes I said “weeds” that were edible, canned them, and served her family using the most creative combination of spices she had.

Now that’s pluck, my sisters! She didn’t complain to her husband about his lack of provision, and by all appearances, she hardly missed a beat, determined to press on with her job to provide meals for her family.

Few of us are forced to face such dire circumstances. And I don’t know about you, but I still find it very easy to complain or get discouraged.

But I want my children to learn something different. I want them to witness a serenity of character…a steadfastness of spirit, regardless of externals. I want them to see a calm captain at the helm of this ship and rest in knowing they are safe in this harbor. (Please no “I thought the husband is the head of the ship” comments …you know what I mean)

Admittedly, calmness is not my best trait. Chock it up to personality, life experiences or other unknown factors, I have quite a passionate personality which has its downfall in the sporadic notions of emotions out of control.

So this year I resolve to be a woman wearing the “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit”…notice “spirit”. Most women read that verse and picture a physically quiet, mousy girl with her head bowed low.

That’s not the picture. It’s the woman in control of herself, resolved to face trials and joy, whatever may come, like a placid river with its depths reaching deeply and drinking from the Source of all peace.

Let it be so…

Easy Summer Meals

I love easy. I’m sure you do too! I thought I would share some meals we’ve been cookin’ up around here lately. I always like to get fresh ideas (or be reminded of some I’ve forgotten) so I hope you’ll share yours with me and the others too!

Breakfast

Berry Butter Toast

We altered a French Toast recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cookbook (one of our favorites!), which is delicious, to make it a bit easier in the mornings as our crew gets up in shifts and cooking isn’t as easy.

The day before: soften a stick of butter then add chopped fresh or frozen fruit (we like strawberries and blueberries). Combine and refrigerate.

Serve on toasted Skinny Bread (or whatever bread you prefer–bagels or English muffins would be good too) and pour Maple syrup over if desired. YUM!

Oatmeal cereal

I’ve mentioned this one before, but it’s so easy and healthy! The night before, mix together in a large bowl oats, plain yogurt, mashed bananas (this makes it sweet) and cut up fresh or frozen fruit then enough milk to make it just “soupy”. Refrigerate overnight and it’s ready to serve in the morning.

Lunch

Favorite: Fresh fruit (Aldi makes it affordable!), cheese, crackers and nuts.

Grilled Bean and Cheese tortillas (with avocado).

Boiled Eggs, salad and pasta topped with cheese.

Tuna or chicken salad with apples and grapes with crackers or tortillas.

Supper

Photo: GetCrocked

Crock pot Asian Chicken

Place chicken thighs or breasts in a crock pot (cut into bites if thawed, or this can be done after they are partially cooked) and a cup of water or broth.

Cut up some chunks of fresh pineapple (or used canned) and some juice. Add a cup or so of brown sugar and some soy sauce. Sesame oil adds an authentic Asian flavor if you have some on hand. Sprinkle with pepper and let cook 4 or 5 hours. Serve with rice.

Summer Stir-fry

Photo: The Pioneer Woman

Another favorite from The Pioneer Woman Cookbook and can be easily varied using whatever you happen to have. Here’s our favorite:

Stir-fry some shrimp (or chicken) in olive oil or butter, in a skillet, then remove to another dish. Then stir-fry some fresh zucchini, sliced bell pepper, onion, whole-kernel corn and tomatoes (add these at the very end). Mix everything together, sprinkle some fresh basil and squeeze a half of lemon over all (this is the “secret”). Serve with your favorite pasta…a beautiful and delicious dish!

Dessert

Guilt-Free, Raw Chocolate Bars

Melt coconut oil (several tablespoons) and dark chocolate over low heat. Add ground oats and ground almonds (or other nuts) and any other dried fruit/nuts you desire. Flax seed is a great, healthy addition as well. Pour into pan, refrigerate to harden, cut and serve. HEAVEN.

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There is only 1 more day to enter some great giveaways at CHI (Christian Home Industry). Hurry and enter!

Pregnancy Update & How God Made it Healthy

For the record, this was a past pregnancy

I am in my last weeks of pregnancy (15 days until “due date”, which meant absolutely nothing with my last baby), without a doubt, a hard, most trying time. I’m 40, baby #10, you do the math. But everyone is so excited. They take turns feeling the baby kick each night, telling him how ready they are to meet him.

I deal with a few different things toward the end. Sharp, stabbing ligament pains that can evoke moans and even a scream if I have to sneeze, plague me. But even that is part of the natural process–ligaments loosening to prepare my body for childbirth.

The pressure on my pelvis can be excruciating, even making a grinding noise sometimes when I walk, and I can only stand for short periods.

It’s hard, but it’s good.

And yet, there is so much more at work!

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18

What glory? That of an immortal human, created in the image of God, the hope and promise of one who will glorify Him forever.

There are athletes who put themselves through much more pain, strain and even injury, for purely temporal accomplishments. How trivial are my temporary pains.

Also, while I want to be transparent about the reality of pain and sacrifice it requires to bring a human into the world, I do not take lightly the privilege of it, knowing so many women whose hearts and arms ache for a baby, who would consider the temporary pain an honor.

At Visionary Womanhood today, I posted some health benefits of pregnancy. It is utterly remarkable that God has so carefully orchestrated a precious, life-giving exchange between mom and baby. You will want to read about it here!

Simple Homeschooling: Ideas for Summer Learning

Whether you technically homeschool or not, you definitely homeschool in the summer when your children are home. And if your homeschooling has an “end”, you’re confused.

I basically dislike the term “school” because school starts and stops. Education though, is constant, all day, every day.

So even when formal school is out, we can actively nudge our children toward a well-rounded education, which includes all of life, and summer is a great time for that.

Here are some random ideas to get you thinking:

• Require personal reading. This one is obvious. But if you have a child who despises reading, perhaps you could encourage him with a contest or trips to the library or even a reward of some sort for meeting a goal.

• Read aloud each night. If a family makes it a habit to sit down each night (turning off the tv) and read aloud from a biography or adventure book or whatever the interests are, it is a wonderful springboard for further learning and discussion, plus it builds good memories. I fear families do not read together enough and miss a really bonding experience.

“Reading aloud with children is known to be the single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills they will eventually require for learning to read.”
~Marilyn Jager Adams

• Work on a problem area. Summer is a great time to work more intently on a particular skill/subject if you feel your child is struggling.

• Get them writing. Thank you notes, notes to a lonely, sick or hurting friend, letters to grandparents–encourage your children to write; not only is it an important skill to hone, but it’s important you teach them to think beyond themselves and minister in ways that are readily available to them.

• Help them start a summer home-business. It can be simple, and it may be one of the most beneficial things they learn for the future. Deliberate attention from you could help foster an entrepreneurial spirit to carry them in their adult life. (Where to start? What do they like to do? Let them prepare products (food, crafts, cards, etc.) in preparation to sell them for Christmas.)

• Take a trip around the world. Well not literally, but consider diving into geography from a fun, relaxed angle. Cook up some ethnic cuisine, watch a documentary, interview someone you know who has been to other countries, use your imagination and explore.

• For younger children, set up a store and let them practice counting money and making change. Better yet, have a yard sale and put them in charge of handling the money.

• Encourage them to write stories. Too much technology is robbing young people of their imaginations. Help them foster it.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
― Albert Einstein

My son made this today since I published the post--a pallet tray.

• Give them tools to create and build things.

• Give them work. My dad said, “When a child is given a job–a long, hard job, not just a chore, but a job he may hate, something good happens.” I believe him.

• Let them research and plant a garden. Even those living in an apartment or with very little space can plant small things–herbs, tomatoes, peppers–and/or build a raised bed on a patio. Let them learn to grow food; it is essential for an uncertain future.

• Find a u-pick fruit farm and store some fruit for the winter. You could also purchase vegetables from a farmer’s market to can or freeze, especially if you don’t have a great place for a garden.

• Take some inexpensive field trips. Museums are a great place to start.

• Have any projects that need done in the house? Let the kids help. You might be surprised at how much they figure out. And figuring stuff out is good.

• Show them how to press flowers.

• Pick blackberries and make pies to give to some people you know who are lonely.

• Give them a scavenger hunt.

• Look up and read to them about things they find. Don’t overlook their curiosity.

• Let them start a blog or website.

• Encourage them to make a movie.

• Encourage them to write an editorial to the local paper.

Summer is the perfect time to learn, expand and grow interests. What are your ideas?

Christian Home Industry: Helping Entrepreneurs and Family Home Businesses (Enter the Giveaway!)

If you don’t know about Christian Home Industry, you should! What is it?

“Christian Home Industry is an online entrepreneurial marketplace that is designed to Promote Industrious Homes and godly families seeking to glorify God.  We provide a central spot where Christian entrepreneurs can reach a large Christian customer base and where consumers can feel comfortable knowing that they are helping other Christians, while buying high quality products.”

I’m excited that the entrepreneurial spirit that once reigned in our country is being revived. And CHI is a business devoted to helping these families and businesses be successful!

They are hosting a giveaway of several products, one of which is our book, “When Motherhood Feels Too Hard”, and I wanted to make you have the chance to enter.

Enter the giveaway HERE. It ends at midnight June7th!

Adults Daughters at Home & The Homemaking Profession

Join me today at Raising Homemakers!

“Raising daughters who wish to pursue the profession of homemaking poses a delicate dilemma in today’s culture because “homemaking” isn’t considered a profession.

Childcare is, if you are getting paid.

Teaching is, if you are getting paid.

Cleaning is, if you are getting paid.

Interior design is, if you are getting paid.

Accounting/finance is, if you are getting paid.

Culinary art is, if you are getting paid.

Counseling is, if you are getting paid.

Nutritional expert is, if you are getting paid.

The love of money….

But a woman who wants to become adept at all these professions tied into one is laughed off or pitied.”

Read the rest about The Homemaking Profession