Clueless?

I remember the time not long ago when I was absolutely sure there wasn't anything harder than raising a child through the toddler years. Let's face it, what could be more challenging, tiring, frustrating or leave you feeling more clueless? There are the meltdowns to deal with. The egocentrism to conquer. The tantrums to diffuse. The potty training...need I say more.

Well, I think I am going to have to change my whole line of thinking. Because even though I have found my children's toddler years challenging, I am finding myself once again in unchartered territory. I have a 12 year old! EEK!

For those of you who have pre-teens and teens I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking about. Let's face it, what could be more challenging, tiring, frustrating or leave you feeling more clueless?! It's like toddlerhood amped up. There are still the same battles surfacing (minus the potty training).

My son is searching for independence; trying to figure out who he is. At times I feel like we are running head long into each other with our shields up ready to do battle. He trying to force his will and me trying to throw my experience and wisdom up to stop him.

I see the look in his eye during these times, questioning me and my authority. And it scares me! He is a wonderful kid and aims to please for the most part, but he can also be stubborn and sassy at times. I'm not trying to break him, just mold him into a responsible, God fearing young man. Yet, at times I feel like I am doing this blindfolded. Feeling clueless about a toddler, has nothing on the way I feel when I am trying to teach and guide my pre-teen son.

I feel like I'm walking a thin, precarious line. I want him to have some independence, but not too much too soon. I want him to feel he can talk with me and be open, yet he clams up (partly due to his introverted nature). I want him to be responsible. I want to wrap my arms around him and never let him go. I want him to desire to serve the Lord. But what if I mess up and push him to far one way or the other. Will he rebel and ditch every thing I have ever tried to teach him?

The only peace I can ever get from the myriad of questions floating in my brain is to take my son to the Lord. Place him at the Savior's feet and say, "He's yours Lord. Love him, protect him, guide him and mold him as only you can."

And suddenly I can bask in God's sweet peace and my feelings of helplessness fade away.

Missing You!

I just can't stay away! You know, I really, really tried.  But I'm missing all of my friends way too much. I have come to rely on blogging for my socialization.  I crave the connection with other moms. I need it.  Without these friendships I would be a sappy, lonely, lost and confused soul.  Okay, well maybe not lost, but definitely sappy and lonely and a little less knowledgable.

So, I'm back!

Just to let you know, I am still trying to find some balance with my computer time. If you don't get a comment from me on every post please understand...I may be hoeing down the infernal weeds in my garden or standing over the steaming canner or feeding the ever hungry hooligans or taking my daughter potty (again) or taking a day at the lake or taking a road trip or visiting my sister or doing an art project or MAYBE I'll be sitting in the shade with a glass of lemonade glancing up at my children as they run through the sprinkler and I read a "can't put down" good book.

SIMPLIFY

 

Sublime summer

Ice cream

Moon beams

Peaceful afternoons

Late nights

Intense heat

Fireflies

Youthful energy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am trying to soak up every moment of these beautiful summer days. So, I will be taking a little break from blogging.  I know I will miss reading each of your blogs, but I need to take time to refocus. I feel that I have been spending too much time in front of the computer and not enough time with my children. 

I'll meet back up with you on down the road~ take care!

Simple Summer Fun

 

There are many times in the midst of the intense heat of summer when I think a pool would be wonderful, but...

there's just something I love about the simplicity of running through the sprinkler.  The giggles, screams, constant motion, and ingenuity remind me of when I was a little girl and cooled off in the same manner with my sisters. 

I hope my children will have great memories of their summers just as I do!

Lemon-Lime Cooler

MMMM! One of my favorite summer-time drinks. I found a recipe for Brazilian Lemonade last year.  It called for using whole limes that you processed in a blender.  I found the drink to be a bit to bitter for my liking so I altered it to this...

Juice of 2 lemons and 5 limes

1/4-1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk

1 cup sugar

6-8 cups water

Combine all ingredients and serve over ice.

Enjoy!

Turkey Catching In the Cool of the Morn!

Good Friday morning to you all!

I woke up this morning to a beautiful summer day!  As I was stretching and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I walked out on our back deck.  I was thinking of how peaceful and wonderful the morning was then I saw this...

Yes, these are turkeys, no they aren't wild. They are two of the twelve that we own.  Some how these clever little boogers figured a way to fly out of their covered, penned in area.  When I first saw them, they weren't being too clever, however.  They had chosen to lay down quite close to our chocolate lab!  She didn't bother them, but I'm pretty sure it was because she was tangled around a tree!

I woke up the boys and informed them of the escapees.  We grabbed a bucket and filled it with their favorite treat, dandelion greens.  As soon as they saw us coming they headed straight for us.  I was so thankful!  They came right up to me and started to eat out of my hand, so the boys snuck around behind them and scooped them up. 

I'm just thankful we got a hold of them.  We can't have our 4-H projects wondering off into the woods or grassy field to be eaten by coyotes.  Not to mention some of those dear birds will be Thanksgiving dinner for our families!

Not all was chaos and excitement this morning.  I was able to enjoy the beauty of God's flowers.  Here are a few of my favorites...

Yarrow

Bachelor Buttons

Hydrangea

Butterfly weed in the forefront.

Daylilies growing along the fence in my yard.

 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Groovy

Peace Out!

For more Wordless Wednesday go to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Culture

My brother and sister-in-law have returned from their 6 month trip mission trip to Southeast Asia. On Thursday we got together and made an authentic meal. It was one they enjoyed eating when they were guests of some of the nationals there. We all dressed in ethnic clothing, ate a very ethnic meal and had a wonderful time learning about a different culture!

This is my sister-in-law, whom I love just like one of my sisters! She gave me this Shalwar Comise with a beautiful Orna (scarf) to keep! It is absolutely beautiful, unbelievably comfortable and it makes me feel so feminine!

Our Meal...

Chick Pea Salad

Biryani (pronounced Beery-ani)...this is mixture of stir fried onions, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken and spices mixed with Basmati rice and a boiled egg. It sounds crazy, but it was pretty good! It is the sort of meal the people of this country would make for company. Their everyday food is much more basic, consisting of Dahl (a lentil mixture), rice and vegetables.

The fun part was that we couldn't use any utensils! Here's my brother demonstrating the proper technique!

And here I am trying out my hand at it!

A few of the crew tried the strange looking concoction, but decided to go with the old stand by...

To top it all off we had a wonderful rice pudding...

which I forgot to take a picture of until I had almost devoured it! We Americanized it a bit with a dollop of whipped topping, M-M-M-M good!

This has been amazing learning experience for my brother and his wife. We have been blessed to be able to also share in the learning as they share their experiences and knowledge with us, of a totally different culture from ours!

One of Summer's Perks

 

Even though we have been extremely busy with gardening, berry picking and jelly making, we still find time to enjoy a fun filled afternoon at a local lake with our family.

Here is my adorable nephew just back from a 6 month mission trip. How I missed this little guy!  He was such a phenomenon in the country where his parents were working that the people there wanted to touch him all the time.  So, for now he prefers not to be touched or cuddled too much.  I'm trying to wait patiently, because I just want to swoop him up into my arms for a humongous hug!

 

My crew had a great time splashing around in the water. Lauren got overly excited a couple of times and went under, but except for a hilariously shocked look on her face and a couple of tears, she recovered nicely!

This is my youngest sister, Katie with my other nephew (who is the brother of the cutie above).  I kept trying to get pudge to look at me (the baby, not you Kate!), but every time I took the picture he looked away. In this one even Katie looked away. I love how it turned out!  My sis is so beautiful! And baby boy is just adorable!

There's nothing like a summer picnic and a leisurely afternoon spent splashing, giggling and getting soaking wet!