Cooking: Quiche

With all our farm eggs, I decided to make quiche recently. This easy recipe turned out to be delicious (I didn’t put any veggies in it, this time). I used frozen pie crusts and it came together in literally minutes.

Happenings: Grandparents’ Day

Grandparents’ Day at the children’s school was a special, heart-warming occasion. As I observed all the grandparents with the grandchildren, and heard the memories and “favorite things” shared by the children, it made me think about this role in new ways. (Food was mentioned most frequently of all.)

Thinking & Growing: The Journey of Child-Raising

Each child truly is an individual for whom God has a plan, a unique path.

As parents we have the trick of at first choosing for them, then guiding them, then eventually seeing them take flight to chart their own course, all while praying and providing advice and feedback along the way. It’s a process of relinquishing control.

There is no box; no magic formula. Although we can’t be certain of the outcome, we can be certain that God will push us out of our comfort zone(s) in parenting, in ways we never expected.

It will require self-sacrifice, sometimes in the most surprising ways. Be encouraged; God is at work in all these things. Raising a child should never be formulaic. It’s a living, breathing relationship between you, God, and your child. It’s a journey, not only for your child, but for you as the parent.

Others can provide valuable input, but they don’t have your specific child and your specific set of circumstances. Only God knows all about it. Talk and pray with your husband and look to Him. Be vigilant, be brave, be ready to be surprised!

Shopping: My new favorite soap

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day soap – lemon verbena scent. Love it! Steve actually got me a bottle for Christmas and I loved it so much I had to get more. It’s a refreshing, clean scent, made with some kind of essential oils. I see there are cleaning products too. (Affiliate links)

Gifting: Homemade Calendar

Micah (age 8) is my most creative gift-giving child. He loves thinking of ideas, and he is quite determined to see his ideas through to completion. Often his ideas are kind of last-minute, so he has to think of things that can be done with items we have on hand.

His creative ideas are really fun and much appreciated by the recipient. So here is one I’ll share, in case you need something low-key that your young child can make to give to a loved one.

For his oldest brother’s birthday last month, Micah wanted to make a calendar for him. I helped him print out a sheet for each month of the year (something like this) that we could staple together. Micah alternated writing either a verse or a joke at the top of each month. He also filled in all of our family’s birthdays and anniversaries. Of course, coloring and stickers could also be added, according to the child’s imagination.

Podcasting

April episode: Noah’s Ark on Ararat?

From the Archives

For those facing a season of change in parenting, or maybe a child about to fly the nest:
One more year. Or, in the process of letting go.