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Growing up, we had a Nativity that we could play with and touch. We could move the people around, adjust the angel and play with the animals. When I got married, I shared with Jim how much that meant to me to be able to play with a Nativity set. I decided I wanted a wooden one that my kids would feel free to touch and play with and I would not have to worry about it breaking. Our first Christmas together Jim got me a wooden Nativity set. Needless to say, I love it! This is the first year it is actually getting some "play time." Now, it has not always been very good play time. I have had to take the wooden people away at times for things such as: banging the wise men together like cymbals and trying to eat baby Jesus. However, most of the time it is good and fun playtime. Lydia likes to move Marry and Joseph around the room. She regularly stacks the wisemen on toys or books. Often she just carries baby Jesus around.
Last week the speech therapist, Miss Val, was at our house and we were talking about Christmas. I said to Lydia, "Go show Miss Val baby Jesus." So on que, Lydia went and got baby Jesus. Miss Val said in a rather surprised voice, "Jesus looks like a peanut!" Well...I guess I never thought of that.
Later that day and the following several days I kept thinking back to what Miss Val said. The thing that really struck me was, how am I portraying Jesus to Lydia? She is at an age where she will start to perceive things. Now, I really don't think I am making a mistake by teaching Lydia that the little, wooden, peanut-type thing is baby Jesus. However, I need to make sure that I am showing and talking about Jesus all the time, not just at Christmas. I need to make sure that I am intentional about talking about Jesus, "when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." (Deuteronomy 6:7.)
Just for fun, here is a picture of our Nativity. Do you think baby Jesus looks like a peanut?
Jim and I have started a tradition of having pizza on Friday night. We both love pizza, and by the end of the week I am sick of making and planning meals. Pizza is supper easy to make and I really don't have to think about it. Therefore, it has become our tradition. A tradition, I hope, that lasts for a long time.
The pizza recipe that I use, for all who are interested, has an easy, healthy home-aid crust.
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 t. rapid-rise yeast
1/2 t salt
1/2 t Miss Dash
1 to 1 1/4 c. water
2 T and 1 t olive oil
1 t minced garlic
Mix it all together (add more water or flour as needed to achieve correct consistency). Then I divide it in 1/2, put each 1/2 in a greased bowl and let it rise for about 4-5 hours. Each 1/2 should make one pizza. Roll it out (we like it pretty thin), and then bake for about 5 -10 min. at 410 deg. This gives the pizza a very crispy crust. (It is not necessary if you like a more doughy crust). I then add the sauce, toppings and cheese and finish cooking the pizza at 410 for about 10-15 more min.
One little tip that I have found is that I double the recipe and then divide the dough into 4. After the dough has risen, I wrap each ball in plastic wrap and freeze. Then on Friday morning, all I have to do is take out the dough, put it on the counter and then by supper it is ready to roll out and cook. Walla...Friday night pizza!
I am posting this in anticipation for an easy and yummy supper tomorrow night with the Sprick children.
Fall is such a wonderful time of year. The season is changing, leaves are falling and you feel the urgent need to spend every second outdoors because soon the snow will start to fall. Last week was a beautiful fall week. I took advantage of it by hanging out some loads of laundry on the line in our backyard. Now, I am not new to this whole hanging cloths out on the line thing, but it has been quite a while since I have. This fall is the first time that I have regularly hung cloths out since back when I was in nursing school. (about 10 years ago!) About 2 months ago, I was eagerly hanging cloths out because I had found renewed interest in it, and my neighbor lady came over. Now, my neighbor that I am talking about is a very nice elderly lady, probably in her mid to late 80's. She said, "You can come over and use our dryer." I replied, "Thanks, but I really want to hang out the cloths today." Then she said, "Well, isn't your dryer broke? That's why you are hanging the cloths out." I assured her that our dryer was indeed not broke and that I really wanted to hang my cloths out. In a very skeptical voice she said, "OK, but really, you can use our dryer any time." This really made me chuckle and reminded me that I need to hang out my cloths more often! Plus, as a side note, I love how cloths out on the line looks blowing in the wind.
This is my first blog post. Wow, I can't believe I am actually doing this! Writing a blog is generally not something I would do: I am not technologically savvy, I am not an outstanding writer, and I don't feel like I have a lot of huge, new insights to share with the world. However, my husband has been pestering me to start and blog, so here I am.
I chose the title, raising beans and peanuts, because that is where I feel like my life is right now. I am a stay at home mom (most of the time), which means we are busy planting and picking beans to feed ourselves (this statement is only partially sarcastic), and I spend the majority of my time with my little peanut (Lydia). I am trying to embrace being a mother and learn what cool things I have forgotten from childhood in the process of growing up. This includes such things as cooking new and exciting meals, planting a garden, going to the library and blowing bubbles.
My vision for this blog is to share about our lives, what we have learned and how we are growing our family. Come along as we discover how to raise beans and peanuts.
