Raising Beans and Peanuts

Asha Rose

2010-05-30T22:03:00.002-04:00

It's About Time

2010-05-13T21:45:00.003-04:00

As my husband said, "It's about time." This is referring to making a new blog post. It has been quite awhile. One thing I wanted to share briefly is the post I just wrote about Asha. We are so thankful for her and her place in our family.

My spunky, little Asha Rose...I am so very glad you were born. I am thankful that your first mother gave life to you, loved you and took such good care of you when you were with her and close to her heart. I am thankful that your daddy and I have the opportunity now to love you, care for you and get to know all of your inner details, emotions and talents. Your first mother has entrusted us with that job, and we take that seriously. I am eager to learn and grow with you, especially seeing the world through new and different eyes. I love your excited clap, and even your frustrated pout...which quickly turns into a high-pitched scream! You have no fear, except of strangers; you will try any food we give you; and whenever you hear music you stop what you are doing and start bopping up and down. We are always trying to be open to learn more about you. The first thing you taught us is how to love you. When you first were in my arms, you were a stranger to me, and I to you. Now your smell, sounds and touch are so familiar. I see you now look for me when others are holding you. You just started saying "ma ma". How sweet those words are to my heart. My Asha Rose, you are my daughter, and I am so glad you were born.

Thankful

2009-07-15T23:01:00.002-04:00

I just read a friend's blog, and on it she had a list of 10 things she was thankful for. I thought it would be a refreshing exercise for me to do today.

I am thankful for:

1. The Giver of Life, who sustains me everyday, even when I often I think it is I who sustains myself.

2. Asha Rose...a beautiful, expressive gift from the Giver of Life.

3. A two year old daughter who exclaimed yesterday, "Yeah Mommy! You woke up too!" I am not sure what I am more thankful for in that statement, the fact that she actually spoke that sentence, or that she was so excited to see me.

4. Camp Roger

5. A very flexible profession.

6. My encouraging husband, who still tells me at least every day that I am beautiful.

7. Our freedoms in America.

8. A bathtub at home and at camp.

9. Facebook...I think is is fun!

10. Sleep.

Just a few more Hawaii Pictures

2009-05-01T21:41:00.001-04:00

More Hawaii Pictures

2009-05-01T21:37:00.002-04:00

Hawaii

2009-05-01T20:45:00.004-04:00

We had an awesome time in Hawaii visiting Jenn, Darrick, Micah, Jacob and Naomi! We were most concerned about flying with Lydia and having her adjust to the different time zones. Hawaii is 6 hours behind Michigan. However, Lydia did great and we all adjusted pretty well. We did a little sight seeing, a lot of relaxing and enjoyed the time spent with the Hays family and in the sun. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip.

What we have been up to

2009-03-28T21:54:00.004-04:00

Here is a sample of what we have been up to. Enjoy!

Funny Things are Happening at the Peterson House

2009-02-03T15:28:00.003-05:00

There are so many funny things to post that are going on at our house, most of them have to do with Lydia. She is at such a fun stage, her personality is really starting to shine. As I posted previously, she has come to believe that her stuffed animals are real, or at least she treats them as if they are. She puts them to bed on the couch and covers them before she takes a nap. She also then has to kiss each one and then the other day she patted each one on the head. Now wait, I don't think we pat her on the head before a nap?! She has put them in time-out, tried to feed them, change their diapers and I even caught her washing the bears mouth and paws with the washcloth we use to wash her mouth and hands after she eats. Here she is washing the bear up and here is the bear in time-out.

Lydia also has become a little bit of a clean freak. Yesterday she noticed crumbs on her foot rest of the highchair. She got my attention and then pointed at them and pulled up her nose. Then she went and got a wash cloth and washed off the foot rest. After that, she proceeded to get down on her knees and scrub the floor under the table! I hope this phase lasts!

The last funny thing I don't have pictures of, but I think it is still funny. Yesterday Lydia and I went to a thrift store (along with a few other errands). When we got home I sent an e-mail to Jim telling him about our morning and I mentioned that I had gotten him black tea at the thrift store and asked him, "you needed black, right?" Well I got 2 e-mails from him back. The first one said, "You bought tea at a thrift store?" and the second one said, "Is it used?" I guess I didn't think how funny it would sound that I bought the tea at the thrift store. And no, it is not used.

A Flop

2009-01-26T17:15:00.003-05:00

Well, I did it...I created a flop. I have been gradually trying to do projects around the house. I have been generally very happy with them. Take my blankie in the previous post or Lydia's bedroom. (I will post pictures of that later.) However, this project was disappointing. We purchased a bench for our breezeway(entry-way) about 2 years ago. I really like how it has worked out. However, I have been wanting a cushion for it since we have purchased it, but I could not find one that I liked or that fit. So I thought I could make one---you really only need straight lines for a cushion. Well, I did some measuring and it seemed like a bed pillow was just about the right size for the bench. I was really excited about that because then all I would need to do is make a pillow case type thing and put a pillow in it. Walla, the finished project----it looks like we are storing a bed pillow on the bench! I have not decided yet if I am going to leave it as it is, or try to find an actual cushion and redo the cover.

And now a fun picture of Lydia. She has suddenly started pretending that her stuffed animals are real. She will read to them, want us to read to them, feed them, pretend to change their diaper, put them in time-out. Here she is pretending to take a nap with her friend the bear.

An Adoption Project

2009-01-16T08:21:00.007-05:00

Quite a while ago I had an idea of something I wanted to make for our next child (who hopefully will be adopted). I was reading the book, "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew." It had a very beautiful poem/parable in it that I copied so that I could put it in a scrap book that I would be making for my child. Here it is:

Long, long ago, in eternity past, God determined that there would be a beautiful braid made of shinning ribbons--a braid woven in the secret places, a braid called "adoption."

Each ribbon was a different color. One of the deepest of purples, another the richest of greens, and the third the most vibrant of reds.

Each ribbon had a purpose, each a vital contribution, and each a unique position with the other two ribbons.

The green ribbon represents the birth family and their deep yet often-forgotten contribution to your life.

The purple ribbon represents our family, chosen to nurture that God-given gift of life passed on from the birth family.

The red ribbon represents you--a unique weaving together of nature and nurture into one marvelous human being, with awesome potential.

--Sherrie Eldridge

What I really liked was the depiction of the different colors and what they represent. I decided to make a "blankie" with those colors to give to my child when we took them home. Now, this will really only work with a child under one or two, but I am fine if it doesn't end up working.

You see, Lydia has a "blankie" that my parent's gave her when she was born. At first we just let her play with it. But then at about 5 months old we put it in her crib for her to sleep with. That was really the only thing she slept with besides her pacifier until she was about 16 months old when we added blankets in her crib. She loves her blankie and it is becoming well worn. We hope to do the same thing for our next child because we feel like it is important to have a comfort object. The blankie is a perfect comfort object: it is small, portable, washable and fun to play with (the tags). We ended up having to hide this new blankie, because Lydia wanted to play and cuddle with it. Here is the picture of the new blankie. Now remember, I am not the best sewer, but I try.

Here is Lydia sleeping with her blankie at about 5 months old.

Christmas In Pictures

2009-01-12T20:33:00.007-05:00

Merry Christmas! I know this is very late, but I thought I would summarize our Christmas season in pictures. We spent Christmas Eve with Jim's family. We enjoyed some time together and the traditional Christmas Eve JB's pizza. Lydia learned, that night, that there were actually fun things in those wrapped boxes.

On Christmas day, my parents and brother Devin, came to spend a few days with us. We also enjoyed having them around and even shared a few sick germs with them. (oops!) Lydia enjoyed all the attention.

Then, two days after Christmas we were blessed with the healthy birth of our new niece. She was named Willa Kathryn. We are excited to get to know her as she grows over the years. As you can see, she is really cute.

My Mom

2009-01-04T20:41:00.006-05:00

Tonight I was looking through my pictures to post some Christmas pictures on the blog. However, I came across two pictures of my mom that just made my night. My mom makes me smile, laugh-out-loud and sometimes even cry because I am laughing so hard. Here are her pictures.

Is Jesus a Peanut?

2008-12-11T14:50:00.005-05:00

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?

Friday night pizza with the Spricks

2008-11-16T16:13:00.002-05:00

Friday Night Pizza

2008-11-10T16:28:00.007-05:00

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.

Oh, how I love fall

2008-11-10T14:27:00.006-05:00

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.

My title and why I chose it

2008-11-05T14:25:00.001-05:00

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.