Let's be better.

I have come to the conclusion that I do not have it all together.  The reality is I have always known this, but this year, I am reminded of this every single day.  Every day I fall short of something.  I mess up.  I burn something (dinner may have caught on fire last week. . . Oops!),  I forget something.  Things don’t get done.  It is a reality that I am quickly realizing might just be my normal this year and I have to be okay with that. 

I think that It is so easy to look at someone and assume they have it all together.  You might look at this blog and wonder, “How the heck does she do all she does?” Or even, “Why doesn’t she work?”  Instantly, once these thoughts leave our mind, more thoughts come through and we’ve got a problem.  We start looking at our lives, our homes, our projects and wonder what is wrong with us.  The truth. . . Absolutely NOTHING!. 

Over the past year, there was an image and poem that floated around the social media world talking about how, during the pandemic, we were not all in the same boat.  Each of us was in the same storm, but not in the same boat.  We each handled it in our own way and we each had our own struggles.  A sweet mom friend and I were talking a few weeks ago about how, both of us being enneagram 7’s had to find a way to get out of the house and have adventures. . . Being stuck at home was not good on our hearts.  In other cases, my sweet homebody friends were living their best lives being able to work from home.  Some of us had good or even decent experiences with distance learning and others quite the opposite. 

 But, what the heck does pandemic life have to do with not having it all together?  So much, I promise!  I believe that the same analogy found in that poem also applies to motherhood.  I am a mom.  You might be a mom, or even dreaming of being a mom one day.  And if you are reading this blog, you are most likely a woman (I think my husband is the only guy who might read this blog. . . Feel free to prove me wrong).  We are women.  We balance work, family, volunteering, fitness, bible studies, and social commitments and add in our kids activities, appointments, and possibly different schedules in the mix.  We are wonder women who need our villages to make it all work.  Even as a stay at home mom, I need my people to help me manage it all.  My best friend, who is a working mom, have each other’s backs to help with pick ups.  Between the 2 of us, we have 4 kids at 3 different schools, all involved in different activities.  We need each other.

 Now, I wouldn’t call motherhood a giant storm.  But it is chaotic, busy, and beautiful.   It is so easy to become completely miserable the moment we compare ourselves to others.  This is so stinking easy.  Plus, I think the moment we start comparing ourselves to others we build walls around us that make it harder for us to connect with other women. . . And women are the hardest on each other.  I don’t know about you, I could use some encouragement in the midst of the chaos?  No one has time for walls and judgment.  We need each other to spend more time building one another up then tearing each other down because we want to feel better about ourselves. 

 In 2 Corinthians, there is a verse that talks about taking our thoughts captive (I will link it at the bottom).  It is a verse that sounds like it is preparing for war, and in all reality, we are.  Our mind and hearts are at war daily.  John Eldridge, in his book The Sacred Heart, uses the analogy of arrows being flung at you.  Our enemy, also known as Satan (not that mom who in the Pinterest loving room mom) knows your weaknesses.  He knows what words or thoughts will make you feel weak and unworthy. And he flings them at you hoping to break you down and make you angry, depressed, and jealous . . . The opposite of living a life that is Christ like.  He’s sneaky like that.  We need to take those thoughts captive and not let them get to our heart.

 I love Pinterest and Instagram so very much.  I can easily get lost in the sea of pretty homes and projects and after awhile, thoughts might come in that make me jealous, inadequate, or not worthy.  (One of the big ones for me is why bother blogging. . . There are other writers so much better than me doing the same thing. . .That’s a blog post for another day).  I also can look at the other moms around me they balance everything and wonder why I can’t seem to get my ducks in order.  But, then I remember a passage out of Titus.  Paul is writing encouraging words to his friend Titus and the church in Philippi and one of the things he challenges them to do is to think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, and worthy of praise.  This list has been my battle ever since college.  I am so thankful that Satan provides a way to fight those arrows!

Let’s be better women and moms.  Let’s break down the walls we put up to protect us from hurt and jealousy and instead make some new friends and learn something new.  And most of all, let’s not let Satan win with his nasty arrows that go straight to our hearts!  Armor up, fellow ladies!  

What's for dinner? {September 2021}

This morning, I stepped outside to take the kids to school and I could see my breath!  We have officially entered into sweater weather. . . but the kind that has you shedding your sweater by the afternoon because it's still pretty warm.  California likes to take it's time making fall show it's fully glory.  In the meantime, I have apparently been making a lot of soup!  

Between having sick kids and making food for family gatherings, soup has shown up quite a few times this month.  While soup is not my most favorite thing, these ones are seriously delicious! 

I used to do these "What's for Dinner" posts long ago, but I thought that I should bring them back.  I am a huge advocate ending each day gathered around the table.  Now, as the kids have gotten older and busier, this doesn't look the same each night, but we still look forward to the time around the table over delicious food (or the occasional take out) where we share stories from our day, eat, and most often than not, laugh.  

I am constantly scouring Pinterest and my cookbooks for delicious new recipes that fit in our food budget and are mostly clean eating.  In our home, there are dairy and soy allergies, so we often find Paleo-ish meals meet our needs. I also like to try new meals as often as possible so I don't get bored cooking.  I want to feel excited about making dinner. . . give myself something to look forward to. These recipes were all tried on a weekday evening after a busy day of carpooling and errands. My hope through these blog posts are that you feel the freedom to try out those recipes you pin.  There are so many amazing recipes out there that it sometimes can be overwhelming. 

So, let's see what's been on the table at our house last month.

 

1.  Dairy Free Clam Chowder

I love clam chowder and every time my oldest orders it when we are the beach, I get a little jealous.  Last week, he requested homemade and I did not object.  This is the second time Ive made this specific recipe and it hasn't disappointed me yet.  And despite being dairy free, my milk loving son did not hesitate for seconds and leftovers! 

2. Chili

Last month I made two different kinds of chili. . . both from my blog.  They are my go-to and always are a hit.  They also freeze well, so you can make a batch and freeze half for another meal on a busy weekday afternoon when there are chilly soccer games or volleyball games.  

Our Favorite Chili can be found here. 

And Black Bean Chili can be found here. 

Both are so yummy!  

 3.  Simple Sesame Noodles

This is a regular on our menu.  I make a sub coconut aminos for the soy sauce and just use sriacha instead of chili oil.  Ethan has been making this for me so I can work on some other things on busy nights. . . which I love and because I eliminate the soy, Weston can eat it and he LOVES it.  I usually bake some Aidels Teriyaki meatballs to go with it (those aren't soy free, so off limits for Weston, but he doesn't mind!).   I won't lie, we make this at least twice a week!   

 

Cookbook Spotlight: The Defined Dish

And finally, I made a bunch of recipes from Defined Dish, and they were amazing.  So because of that, I am going to also spotlight a cookbook I tried several incredibly delicious recipes from! Let me introduce you to The Defined Dish Cookbook.  We tried her Healing Soup, Muffalata salad, and cheeseburger meatballs. . . all of them soooo very good!  You can find it on amazon or wherever you like to buy books.  She also has a new cookbook coming out soon. . . I'm so excited!  

 

For Your Sweet Tooth: Chewy Brown Sugar Maple Cookies

 And finally, we will end with this post with something sweet and delicious.  Last month I tried out a recipe by Half Baked Harvest (she never disappoints).  I will confess, I messed up the first batch, but remade them the correct way just last night and they were a huge hit.  The maple and apple butter editions add just the right amount of flavor that is not overpowering, but so stinkin' good!  Everyone gobbled them up!   

You can find the recipe here. 

I hope you feel inspired and ready to take on another week of cooking meals for your family.  

 Please note: All pictures were taken from the actual websites of the recipe creators.