Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd’s Pie
(for a cozy fall night! As requested by Nadia :-))

2 pounds ground beef
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 quart homemade beef stock
1 small can tomato sauce
½ t. Wizard Worcestershire Sauce
1 t. balsamic vinegar
1-2 t. sea salt

1 bag organic sweet corn (Trader Joe’s)

Yukon Gold Potatoes
Kerrygold butter
TJ’s Organic Sour Cream
Sea Salt

Grated Cheddar Cheese (Tillamook Sharp)

Frozen Spelt Pie Crusts from Whole Foods - pull them out of the freezer as you begin.

Brown beef and onion. When onions are somewhat softened and beef is partly cooked, add diced carrots.

When beef is fully cooked add stock, tomato sauce and seasonings. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make mashed potatoes. I don’t even know the recipe anymore because Courtney always makes them, but I’m guessing a bag of potatoes – boiled, drained and smashed, 2 sticks of butter (or one package of Kerrygold), a lot of sour cream, and sea salt. This is too many potaotes for the pies, but we like leftover mashed potatoes around here.

Stir in corn to beef mixture and simmer until it’s heated.

Pour beef mixture into 2 or 3 pie crusts. Top with mashed potatoes and cheese and bake until crusts are done – 25 mintues or so.

Yummy!

Waiting and Bountiful Harvest

I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. Psalm 52:8

The other day I had a bunch of plants that I really wanted to move. Some were getting too much sun, and some weren't getting enough. I had all kinds of ideas about where to put things, but there was nothing I could do about it. It was just too hot, and I knew that they would die if I moved them at that time.

So I had to wait.

It made me think about situations we are in, when we really want change. We know we're not in the best place but there seems to be nothing we can do about it, and we pray, and we wait and it seems like nothing is happening. Yet God, our master gardener, feels our pain. Just like I really wanted to move my plants, God wants to put us where we'll blossom. But He understands the perfect timing and circumstances that are beyond our knowledge.

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him. Isaiah 30:18

Part II Bountiful Harvest - just a few fun pictures

I have been so pleased with the limelight hydrangeas. To my knowledge, these are the only hydrangeas that tolerate heat and full sun. The have done beautifully around the pool and also make a great cut flower (best if cut in the early morning).


I think it's fitting that the African basil (on the left) outperformed the standard basil this summer! On the right are Courtney's zinnias (planted from the seeds she got at Justine's birthday party) but if I ask really nice she lets me pick some from time to time. We're going to try to save some seed this year for the first time - from several different flowers. I've heard you can even save petunia seed - we'll see!

As always, I plant tomatoes too close together and without enough support so they are sprawling everywhere... but yummy all the same. This year, I'm almost as excited to see a slug eaten or overripe tomatoe because they make the chickens so happy! And I'm getting about 9 eggs a day now.

Mission Mindset

It is so, so very good to be home.

We had an absolutely wonderful trip to Kenya. We praise God for His provision and protection in every way. Considering we just took our seven children, age three to fifteen, half way across the world for three weeks, it was amazingly smooth, and we are so thankful.

Before we left, I wondered how it all would affect me. Would there be a difficult culture shock in returning to the abundant life in the US? But while I learned a lot and have somewhat of a different perspective, I don't feel like my world has been turned upside down. And I think it's because everything I encountered was more-or-less exactly what I expected.

I attribute this partly to all the people in my life who have opened my eyes to the hurting world around me. I am thankful for Compassion International, and for a long lost youth group leader who introduced me to this organization. I'm thankful for Samaritan's Purse, and their excellence in showing mercy and practical helps as an avenue to share the best news of all, reconciliation to the God of the universe through His Son, Jesus. I'm thankful to my Dad and Mom, and their real life, close to home examples of caring for the poor, outcast, and underprivileged in this world. And so, so many more people I have known that live their lives sold out to the cross, and tell their tales of the world they encounter.

I attribute it also to a love of reading, which has led me to learn through books about so many other parts of the world. Even Little House on the Prairie had a huge impact on my life, and I often think about how blessed we are to live in this time in history. I also read all the newsletters from missionary organizations and Voice of the Martyrs. They help me put things in perspective on a daily basis.

It was FUN to actually be there, and THRILLING to be able to meet our long prayed over boys, Zachary (pictured above) and Peter. But there is so much you can do to make a difference without flying half way across the world. It is so much about the MINDSET. It's what we read, how we use our time, and what we talk about with our kids. It's taking God's Word seriously and applying it to our lives. That is what has shaped me more than anything.

I'm not saying I've arrived - there is still a lot of sanctification to be done in my life. And I don't think short-term mission trips aren't important, because they are. And for some, I think tactile experiences are more effective than simply reading and seeing pictures.

Certainly Dan's skills as a surgeon were appreciated greatly, and I hope our family was a blessing to others. While money is needed, I'd rank prayer, education (which also takes money) and a stable government up there even more after our experiences. And I've always loved John Wesley's quote - "Earn as much as you can, give as much as you can, save as much as you can."

But for you parents out there, I think the best thing you can do is make missions a part of your everyday life. Pray for those you know who are full-time in ministry. They definitely suffer greater persecution from the enemy. Give generously, and teach your children to do the same. Learn about what God is doing all over the globe, and pray about your part. The beautiful thing is, usually what we are passionate about is where He wants us to be! (Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4)

And on a more shallow note.

It. Is. So. Good. To. Be. Home.

I love cream in my coffee, driving my car, towels that are dried in the dryer, not sleeping under mosquito netting, paved roads, friends and family (not necessarily less important than cream in my coffee), cell phone service, my garden, summer in Oregon, not having suitcases piled up in the study and entry in preparation for the trip, and not wondering how we would survive the flight. It's over. We did it. Thanks be to God! And now it's back to my favorite time of the year... summer, my birthday, homeschool planning (but not actually homeschooling), Sunriver, football season and dates with my husband. SWEET!

God is in the Details

Yesterday was Ryan's birthday, and we had a fun outing to the mall. He thought it was all fun, thankfully, but it was also a bit of last minute stuff for Africa. I had with me my week's massive, detailed list of EVERYTHING I need to buy for Africa and things I need to remember to pack, etc.

Somehow it disappeared after about three stores. We had walked a long way, it was time for Ryan's birthday lunch, and I just couldn't worry about it. And somehow I didn't.

We had lunch, did some more shopping, and on the way out I had one last stop at the Nordstrom lingerie department. A department, mind you, that I hadn't previously been to that day. After checking out I looked very carefully to see that I hadn't dropped my new, just-started, but incomplete list. And down on the employee part of the counter, amongst their papers, was MY ORIGINAL LIST!!!

It probably fell out near the children's shoe department, across the aisle, which had been my first stop. Someone gave it to someone close by. And it just happened to be given to the department where I would be two hours later. And it just happened to be on the same side of the counter where I would be checking out.

I don't believe in coincidences, do you?

God is SO good, and I think this was such a sweet reminder that He is watching over us, and He is in the details, as we embark on our African adventure.

An Hour in the Life (a.k.a. why it takes so long to make dinner)

I get out the pasta pot, but it looks like either the dogs had licked it and no one had washed it or someone under the age of nine had done the job.

(I put up with this because by the age of ten or so it pays off. I now have three kids who can make a kitchen spotless if need be!)

Lots of gunked on stuff so I had to get out an SOS pad.

Cade is STARVING and wants some yogurt. Okay, I'm thinking, it is kind of late to be just starting dinner and you're a growing boy.

We don't have any sweetened yogurt ready. So I open the new quart of yogurt, add agave and vanilla and stir, making quite a mess with overspill.

(Grr on all the companies that used to make maple yogurt without sugar but still call it maple yogurt even though it's not just maple syrup anymore.)

Now two more kids want yogurt. AND a little whipped cream leftover from Kat's strawberry pie. PLEASE? Okay, if you'll play the quiet game because Kat has the flu and is trying to rest on the couch.

Get the water started to boil.

Courtney is yelling, "Can you get us some coins so we can dive for them?"

Okay, sure! (Get coins, and on the way close the front door which has been left open by little boys taking bubble wrap outside to stomp on it, and remind them that they need to clean it up).

Mom, says Abby, my tummy hurts.

Why don't you take some Zypan?

Okay.

Meatballs into oven.

Now Bode and Cade want me to get them vitamins too.

Stop to clean up Bode, who is covered in yogurt.

Boys try to escape outside. Stop to get at least Cade to clear the yogurt bowls. And remind him to clean up the bubble wrap.

Out to garden to pick some lettuce. Wait, yogurt needs to be put away. Wait, time to add pasta. Turn off the back porch lights. Why are these always on?

Pick lettuce and so many strawberries! (No slugs in the beer trap, but there are two flies. Not bad!)

See Cade. Did you pick up the bubble wrap?

"What is the bubble wrap?"

The stuff you were stomping on the front porch! Please throw it away.

"Oh!"

The light finally comes on.

Coming back in. "Mom, watch me!" Bode is using a 2X4 as a balance beam. "Good Job!" Falls down. "You're okay!"

Stop to chat to sweet hubby who is working on a project outside.

Wash lettuce and berries.

Bode comes back in and is whining because somebody took his yogurt. No, no, it's right here on the counter.

Drain pasta.

"Hey mom, watch this." Some wierd thing I don't understand, and she says it's from the movie we saw last night.

See bubble wrap in a pile in the entry.

"Cade, you need to put the bubble wrap in the trash."

"O-oh!" (like now I get it.)

Heat sauce.

The little boys come in barking like dogs and crawl through the kitchen. Leave the door open. I close it. Turn the porch lights off AGAIN. I don't get this - who would turn them on?

Abby is now in her third outfit since I started this. "Abby, have you put all your clothes away that you have been taking off?" Says something I don't understand but somehow assures me that it's okay.

Rip lettuce.

"Mom, are you coming to watch our dog show?" Sure! Thankfully it was a short rendition of dogs singing "Don't Stop Believing."

Cocoa and friend are STARVING. Help yourself! Kat. Ditto. Serve Dan his "working snack" outside because this is date night! Come back in to serve the littles and Abby has already served all three!!! Good job!

Cade's drink spills all over the table and Bode has a great time splashing it before I get to clean it up.

Big girls try to escape without doing any dinner clean-up. That's a no-go.

Lots of chat about what movie they are going to watch.

Jack and Ryan are gone for the night or we would have a lot more dictation of arguments and discussion of sports scores.

Mom, I think Bode needs a diaper change.

Ah.

But.

Seriously.

I couldn't be more blessed.

Sweet Spring

Hilarious picture of Bode during a twilight game of family baseball.


I took this picture after they took their helmets off, of course. No one would be crazy enough to ride around on an ATV without helmets. Of course.


Our chickens and bunnies are living together harmoniously... so far!


These guys are seriously spoiled with all of our food scraps and buckets full of weeds. I especially love giving them all of the slugs I find.

I never seem to put up any picture of my older girls. I sort of feel like I'm invading their privacy; that they're too old for me to blog about. I don't know... what do you think? I guess I'll have to ask them what THEY think!

Organization

This is not the most beautiful room in the house, but I am very happy with it right now. Dan seems to be on an organizational kick. Maybe he's trying to pick up the slack around here since I always seem to be outdoors... hmm...

Anyway, I love these Costco shelves he put in the schoolroom. Now it's a schoolroom/pantry. We never really did school in there anyway, but it's great storage and nice to have a craft table.

And then this morning I woke up to this.


The picture doesn't really do it justice, but it's a charging station and memo board. Dan and Ryan were up til midnight working on it so that no cord shows!!! How great is that?! And of course he wrote "I love Heather" as the first memo but the flash ruined that for the picture. How did I get so blessed as to have a husband who orders from Pottery Barn without even consulting me?