Providence and Thanksgiving

Good morning, Company Girls! I've been enjoying the change of pace this week with my daughter home for fall break (five days off!). We're trying to do some special activities that have dropped out of our regular routine, like baking, visiting the library, and playing at the local children's museum. I've also been doing a bit of reflecting as another change of season is here.

Providence

Two years ago, an elderly gentleman came to our door. He explained how he was connected to a family we knew before our move and gave us a copy of a sermon, plus he added a tip about the local food distributions he visits. As providence would have it, we later joined the daughter church of the one where the sermon originated. And I began to frequent these free food distributions since our income was so uncertain for the first year of my husband's graduate program.

Then, one year ago, I began my blogging experiment. After taking an unsuccessful stab at work-at-home assignments, I wondered if a blog would provide an outlet for ideas and other things I had to say--on my own terms. In some ways, I've been happy with the outcome. I enjoy having one "place" in the world where I can arrange things "just so", and they stay that way (unlike my carpet). On the other hand, going online can also be my guilty pleasure, as I tiptoe over to my laptop like Meg Ryan did in "You've Got Mail." My oldest daughter calls me on it too. "Why do you like working on your computer so much?", she inquires. Why? Well, it's complicated.

I appreciate SteadyMom's advice about limiting time online. Now to apply the wisdom is my daily challenge.

Thanksgiving

My husband and I strive to make a big deal about celebrating Thanksgiving, especially since the trend is to sweep this holiday aside. Halloween "advent" calendars are a ridiculous demonstration of how people are trying to supplant Christmas (and Thanksgiving) with something less significant. So when I came across the idea for a Thanksgiving countdown this week, I knew I must take it and make it our own.

As difficult as the last two years have been, I also realized recently that God has actually granted many of my longtime desires. I have an intelligent, diligent husband who takes his faith seriously. I've been blessed with three adorable children who are eager to learn about the world. We even have a tiny house that doesn't require a great deal of upkeep. Furthermore, for the first time in our adult lives, our residence includes a fairly spacious backyard for our outdoor play, and a bit of gardening. Our student loans are paid off in full. We have no car payments. And the list continues. God and the rest of the world owe me nothing, but I've been given so much.

And how about you? What desires has He graciously given to you?

Simple Tip(s) of the Week: Ways to Use and Reuse Glow Necklaces

Halloween, the Fourth of July, and birthday parties are perfect opportunities to showcase glow necklaces as surprisingly versatile toys. How, you wonder? Take note of these bright and eco-friendly ideas.

1. Frisbee

2. Ring Toss



3. Hopscotch

4. Variation on the game of Twister

5. Jump rope (join two or three together)

6. Play dough or sand structure

7. Tug of war rope

8. Three-legged race (in place of bandanas)

9. Outdoor Decorations: Hosting an evening party? Deck your porch, mailbox, fence or table with glowing lengths of color. Or should the urge for mischief strike, forget toilet papering, and decorate a friends house with glow necklaces instead.

10. Capture the flag or treasure hunt

About 90% of these ideas can be done whether the necklace is still glowing or not, which means you don't have to toss them in the trash after just one night of use! Whether they are glow or no-glow, these tubular necklaces are designed for flexible fun, night or day!


Bonus Tips:

• If you lose a connector, certain sizes of drinking straws or clear tubing can serve as connector substitutes.

• If you pop the glow necklaces in the refrigerator while they are still glowing, they will glow a little longer. Ours lasted for more than 48 hours that way!

These ideas have worked for us, and are also linked to Tuesday's Tip Jar this week.

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/26

All of our main meals will be coming from the freezer this week. No, I haven't made them up ahead of time, but we have a new supply of local lamb cuts, plus venison from months ago to incorporate into this week's menu. After purchasing half a lamb and splurging on Sockeye salmon this month, I'm attempting to use what we have in order to limit further expenses.

Also, though I really enjoyed trying to make a soup a day last week, my kids will be glad to know that I won't be attempting it on back to back weeks. I still have some leftover soup to savor for lunch today though!

• Turkey burgers
  
• Grilled lamb, Russian potato salad
  
• Chicken kebabs, Di San Xian stir fry
• Seafood risotto
• Venison, rice
• Brats, Russian potato salad

Undoing

One week ago today I was in sprint-cleaning mode. Whenever we have relatives or guests come to visit, I face the daunting challenge of how to undo the whirlwind of chaos that the kids and I allow to accumulate. My parents graciously waited while I made the bed and cleaned the bathroom for them--hours after their arrival! By the time they left, the kitchen sink was also empty, thanks to my mom's hard work and a stack of paper plates.

Then last Saturday, the day before my daughter's birthday, cries of heartbreak and anger suddenly filled the air. I came rushing downstairs, abandoning my phone conversation. On the floor I saw scraps of colorful tissue from the pinata my daughter so proudly created just two days before. And we could all guess who the culprit was. Even with those long brown eyelashes, my two-year-old son could not charm his way out of this predicament.

Though he did say "sor-ry", the pain and disappointment over the destruction lingered. We might make another pinata, but our delight will be tempered with the thought of what befell the last opus.

Today is a new day, and rather than despair over hours wasted online the last few weeks, I will be thankful for new mercies and a fresh start.

And now it's time for another full-court cleaning press. We have another pinata to make and a house to prepare for my daughter's birthday party, which was postponed to this Sunday. What Duke Ellington said about time is so often true of me: "I don't need time, I need a deadline."

Thanks for stopping by, Company Girls. I hope you stay healthy and enjoy your weekend!

Buddies again (though the pinata is no more).

Craft of the Week: No-Sew Pumpkin Patch

Even without visiting a pumpkin patch this year, anyone can adorn a house with festive pumpkins of the handmade variety. A couple of years ago, I received a pumpkin that was made from a roll of toilet paper covered with orange cotton cloth. I loved the simplicity and thoughtfulness that this hand-crafted gift reflected.

To create our own collection of cloth-covered pumpkins this year, I found that orange napkins work well. To make my small pumpkins I used 2 napkins. The package of four cost $2, so just $1 worth of damask cloth napkins yielded 8 pumpkins.

The remaining materials were free, since they were headed to the landfill or recycling bin otherwise.

Stuffing options:

• tissue paper
  
• brown grocery sacks
  
• plastic shopping bags
• produce bags

Center options:

• cardboard tubes from paper towel and toilet paper rolls
• lid from a Listerine bottle.

Directions:

1. Cut cardboard tube to desired pumpkin height and wrap with stuffing material

2. Place tube with stuffing on napkin or fabric and begin tucking corners into the tube to form a pumpkin.

3. Trim napkin or other fabric into a square that is larger enough to tuck all edges securely into the center . One napkin can be cut into 4 equal squares to make 4 small pumpkins. Bigger pumpkins may require most of one napkin.

4. If the center tube seems too big, you can wrap stuffing around the top and insert a layer of stuffing into the middle of the tube. Then take another cardboard tube and slit it lengthwise so the diameter will be small enough to fit inside the first tube. Tuck the edges of the fabric into the center of the smaller tube.

5. To form a pumpkin stem, take a brown paper sack and cut a piece of appropriate size to roll into a tube. You can make small accordion folds to add realistic texture. After rolling into a tube shape, insert the stem into the center of the cardboard tube. Glue can be used to secure the stem and fabric if desired.

6. To add a leaf, green felt or fabric can be cut into a leaf shape and inserted next to the stem.



Note: A more frugal or eco-friendly option for orange material would be to re-purpose an old item of orange clothing lying around or to acquire something from a yard sale or thrift shop. However, after looking around the house in vain, I decided it was not worth my time to scour a thrift store for the perfect orange item. So when I went shopping for groceries at Wal-mart I just steered my cart and two children to the seasonal decor aisle, where I found cloth napkins.

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/19: A Soup a Day

Homemade soups are my theme this week. They are flexible and can be served for lunch or dinner. I'm hoping I can make one soup per day, so here is the plan:


Monday, October 19:

• Soup: Chicken noodle
• Turkey burgers, potato salad
  

Tuesday, October 20:

• Soup: Corn and potato chowder
  
• Grilled venison steaks, tossed salad
  

Wednesday, October 21:

• Soup: Tofu and cabbage
• Roasted chicken, "Di San Xian" (Eggplant, Potato, & Green Pepper Stir Fry)

Thursday, October 22:

• Soup: Lentil
• Seafood Risotto, steamed mussels
  

Friday, October 23:

• Soup: Minestrone
• Calzones
  

Saturday, October 24:

• Soup: Won Ton
• Dinner at the Smith's
  

Song of a Six-Year-Old

Thanks for stopping by to share a moment with me. I'm glad you came. Lately I've been pondering Rachel's post on the legacies we build and how my daily choices really do matter.

A certain soon-to-be 6-year-old's upcoming birthday has been the focus of many discussions this week.

"How many days until my birthday?"

She now is able to count it down herself.

"What kind of pinata should we make?"

She made her own rainbow crayon-turned-rocket ship on Thursday.

Now I don't have to wonder where I will find the hours it took me to make the previous two pinatas. Birthday Girl whipped one up in about an hour. It was one of those "Oh, I guess you are not so dependent on me for everything anymore" moments.

I suppose that's one of the perks of laissez-faire (or as some might say, "free-range") parenting. Or if I look at it more positively, my past investments of time and energy in various creative projects are bearing fruit. I may just leave the decorating up to my kids as well, since they are so inclined. And I think I will set up a snack for them to assemble themselves. Though recent parties we've attended have included a craft, I have decided to buck the trend and skip that idea this time around. We could still call it a "DIY Party." How's that for a theme?

On the occasion of my daughter's first birthday in 2004, I composed a song. The last line predicted that "it won't be long 'til you sing your own song, as a child and beyond." My job is to teach her to discover her own "song" and sing it well. Whether it is a pinata, a painting, or learning to ride a bike, hearing her melody emerge is a bittersweet privilege of motherhood.

Simple Tip of the Week: How to Buy Fewer Trash Bags

After living abroad for seven years, I consider drawstring trash bags to be a luxury. Nevertheless I do buy them in my home country. However, by also reusing shopping bags, I don't have to buy trash bags as often. We also cut down on our volume of garbage by recycling, which reduces the need for any kind of trash bag, free or otherwise. Here are two options that we have tried in the kitchen:










OPTION 1: Plastic shopping bag

This works for me since any
kind of garbage, wet or dry, can
be tossed in the smaller bag.

OPTION 2: Paper sack

If you compost food scraps
elsewhere and/or have
fairly dry trash, the paper
alternative might work well.



What is nice about lining the can with a larger, "luxury" bag is that it catches anything that doesn't make it into the smaller shopping bags. Of course, we could also just get a smaller kitchen trash can, but we believe in using what we already have.

Looking for other helpful ideas? Go to Kitchen Tip Tuesdays and Tuesday's Tip Jar.

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/12

Monday, October 12:

• Breakfast: Molasses Quinoa Waffles
• Lunch: Pigs in a blanket
• Dinner: Noodles and tuna

Tuesday, October 13:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal
  
• Lunch: Lentil soup
  
• Dinner: Burgundy venison
  

Wednesday, October 14:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal
  
• Lunch: Sandwiches
  
• Dinner: "Bun Oc" (Snail noodle soup)
  

Thursday, October 15:

• Breakfast: Eggs and toast
  
• Lunch: Wraps
  
• Dinner: Chicken pot pie
  

Friday, October 16:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal
  
• Lunch: Macaroni & cheese
  
• Dinner: Turkey burger stars
  

Saturday, October 17

• Breakfast: French toast, fruit
  
• Lunch: Arizona skillet
  
• Dinner: Salmon, cucumber salad, fresh rolls
  

A Return to Gratitude

I confess that I haven't been taking my recommended doses of gratitude very regularly. Let it be known then, that I am truly thankful for so much. Looking back over my recent Friday posts I was surprised by just how much discontent wove its way through my "wistful" words and thoughts. Part of the antidote is found in grateful reflections on our recent days.

After months of knowing I should plan more activities to do with my kids, we finally started doing some! My four-year-old daughter and I managed several fun activities this week--about one "project" per day. A paper strip pumpkin was Monday's creation; Caroline giggled with glee as we worked. On other days she helped me make chocolate pudding on the stove top (warm and yummy with a sprinkling of cinnamon!) and a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup.

And thus, as we waited for our cold/flu symptoms to diminish, our confinement turned out to be a blessing. I learned that I can choose joy even when I cannot go to my weekly get-togethers with other women. By focusing on what matters at home, I can be fruitful and fulfilled.

Another uplifting instance during our convalescence was when a sweet friend from church brought us some hot soup and raspberry muffins. I still need to get the recipes! That she would notice and make the effort to bring a hot meal over was heartening. Upon hearing that we were sick, she quickly took the initiative to offer her time to bless us with her cooking. God seems to send friends like this over every-so-often to remind me that He knows my troubles and He cares. Amazing.

Yesterday, on the other hand, my "mom rating" was less than stellar. I was late to pick up my daughter. Her birthday invitations remain undelivered. On the other hand, both of my daughters were well enough to attend school. A bouquet of red roses from my husband graced our living room with beauty this week. Despite my shortcomings, I can choose to be thankful for all that's been given to me, and start this day afresh with new mercies.

So now, as the autumn leaves start to fall and the first snowfall is in the wings, I am not dreading winter's confines quite so much. The overall reason? "God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good!" Amen?

Craft of the Week: Turning Paper Scraps into Pumpkins

Due to my current coupon fanaticism, I'm constantly on the lookout for printable coupons. But clipping printable coupons creates a lot of odd sized paper scraps, which can get strewn about en route to their recycling destination.


This week we made use of those awkward pieces by coloring some with orange crayons, cutting them into strips, and creating a paper pumpkin. My daughter and I were delighted with the simple process and colorful results.


Paper Pumpkin Materials List:

• Paper towel tube
• Paper scraps (at least 8'' long)
  
• Orange and green crayons
• Scissors
• Glue stick

Where to Find Directions:

The project idea was from the folks at Crayola. Visit this page for step-by-step instructions.

For other craft and home project ideas, head to DIY Day for inspiration.

Recipe for Tofu and Cabbage Soup

After living in China for two years, my general dislike of tofu was vanquished. I now think it is delicious fried or frozen. The simple soup below was easy to come by in the frigid Northeast region of China, where cabbage used to be one of the only vegetables available during the long winter months. Freezing the tofu gives it a more substantial texture, which I greatly prefer over soft tofu.

My recipe, which requires only 4 ingredients besides water and salt, originally appeared as one of two tofu recipes in this piece.


Simple Tofu and Cabbage Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

3-4 cups water

2 vegetable or chicken boullion cubes

5-6 Napa cabbage leaves (or more), cut/torn into several pieces

10-12 oz. frozen firm tofu, thawed and cubed

1-2 sliced mushrooms (button or shitake), optional

salt to taste

Directions:

1. Freeze tofu ahead of time and let thaw.

2. In a deep saucepan, bring water to boiling and add boullion cubes to make broth.

3. Next add cubes of tofu, cabbage, and sliced mushroom. Turn heat down and simmer until cabbage is wilted. Add salt to taste.

Notes:

• You can also add a cooked shrimp to each bowl, as demonstrated in this cabbage soup recipe on YouTube.

• This soup can also be made in your slow cooker. For more slow cooking ideas, head to Crock Pot Wednesdays. I've also submitted this post to Tammy's In-Season Recipe Swap.

Menu Plan for the Week of 10/4

Spilling over into this week's plan are several of last week's meal ideas. Once again, rather than a day by day schedule, here's a simple list of dinners. Sundays we have the policy of taking a day off from cooking; we go out for lunch and then heat up leftovers or frozen pizza for supper.

• Turkey Burgers, Slow Cooked Succotash
• Meatloaf, Rice
• Burgundy Venison
• Calzones, Tossed Salad
• Scallop Risotto
• Pigs in a Blanket
  

Good-bye Mountaintop, Hello Loneliness

Whereas last week I had a dear friend accompanying me all through the day and helping in the kitchen, this week I fell into a serious housekeeping slump. The contrast between this week and last was stark. It hit me again that one of the hardest parts of being a stay-at-home parent is spending my days apart from other adults.

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Several women have admitted to me that a fear of isolation motivates them to work outside the home. I completely agree that it is easier to have someone working alongside me, pulling me in the right direction. Now that the "mountaintop" moments are over, I need to find proper motivation to press forward.

Adequate sleep, Bible study, a shower, and exercise are invaluable for gaining momentum. But when one or more of them are missing, I have not forged ahead as I should. Other people, like my husband, keep going regardless.

So without making excuses, I'm trying to figure out how I might implement the "two are better than one" principle (Proverbs 15). In this season of life, forging and growing new friendships is difficult, since there are so many things I need to do for my family. To have a friend I need to be a friend, but not at my family's expense. This is my challenge. If I were more faithful in keeping up with the needs of my household, might I have more freedom to befriend others?

Remembering that God is my constant companion is a solace that can help propel me and keep me from grumbling. And I should be grateful for the face-to-face fellowship I have at church, in our small group, at a playgroup, and at a new weekly Bible study. It's too easy to focus on what I don't have rather than what I do. Healthy doses of gratitude would go a long way.

And yet I can't help thinking that there must also be ways for believers to have less solitary lives--that we might encourage one another to live, laugh, and love more abundantly.

Thanks, Company Girls, for walking with me.