Coffee Talk 9.24.10

Good Morning Ladies,

I know I ALWAYS say this and never come through, but this should be short and sweet today because I am running really late and have lots to do!

It has been a good week, with a few fun accomplishments. As you know, I have started running and have been doing my training. Tigerfan convinced me to sign up for a 5k that is sponsored, in part, by the telephone Pioneers. So, tomorrow I am running my first ever 5k. And I use the term running VERY lightly. My goal is to not die. This morning I did a short run...and it was TOUGH! Now I am a little worried about tomorrow...but I am determined. I will do hard things and I will survive! (sorry, needed to give myself that little pep talk).

I actually had a good run Wednesday. 3.56 miles with 5 minutes of it walking for warm up. So I have run the proper distance...just hope I can do it again!

We also made our home made Pop Tarts this week. I posted the recipe here, but originally got it from a fellow Company Girl, Sticky Cook. Dancer and I had so much fun! She was able to do almost everything and LOVED it. We made brown sugar and cinnamon but have decided that now we will play around with other fillings. They were really good, a slightly different texture that a store bought Pop Tart, but worth the no preservatives. Next time, I think we will use 1/2 whole wheat flour and see how that turns out.

I totally have pictures, but my IT man (AKA, Tigerfan) has not put them on the computer for me yet and I haven't a clue. Maybe someday you will see pictures. Because, really, who doesn't want to see blurry pictures of homemade Pop Tarts!

I also have pictures of F.B.'s last Cross Country meet. Because I am a great mom like that and finally remembered the camera on the last day. His team came in first place for the season and he is so excited...he doesn't even care that he never medalled...he is just happy to be a part of the team, I love that!

Okay, today we have friend coming over to work on Science Fair, yes, it is that time of year again...stay tuned for the mental break down, and I haven't even filled the children's workboxes yet, so I need to get moving. Hope you all have an incredible weekend...and feel free to virtually cheer me on tomorrow morning. If I survive, I'll be back next week!

For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

Recipes

Okay, for those of you who requested recipes, here they are:

Pop Tarts (this is for Brown Sugar Cinnamon but with extra pastry dough, we added plum jelly to some and Tigerfan and Dancer loved it...we are going to play around with fillings next time).

This recipe is from Sticky Cook. She has a lot of great preservative free recipes so you should check her out if interested.

For the pastry:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, cubed

2 Tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup really cold water

1 egg, beaten, for brushing on the dough

For the filling:

½ cup brown sugar

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

4 teaspoons all-purpose flour

For the icing:

¾ cup powdered sugar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon milk

In a large mixing bowl, cut the flour and butter together with a pastry cutter or two knives. Add the sugar and salt and mix well. Add the cold water and mix until just combined (if needed, add extra water, 1 teaspoon at a time). Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least half an hour.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the pastry dough, as thin as possible, then cut with a sharp knife into rectangles (you will probably have to do this in batches). Brush half of the rectangle with the beaten egg, then top the center of the brushed rectangles with a generous amount of the filling mixture (don’t spread all the way to the edges). Top with the un-brushed rectangles. Using a fork, press all the sides of the tarts, sealing the edges. Prick the top of the tarts a few times with a fork, to allow venting. Brush with the egg. Bake on a greased baking sheet (I use cooking spray) for about 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Combine the icing ingredients, adding a little more milk if necessary. Spread on cooled tarts.

Okay, now for the Green Smoothie:

For a single portion size, I use:

1/2 cup cold water

1 large handful (about half of a bag) of spinach

Blend these together until well blended and smooth.

Add 1 frozen banana. My sister sometimes uses an avocado but I haven't tried this yet (I think I am going to today). This is for the creaminess. The banana will give it a banana flavor which I don't mind. My sister says that the avocado gives it the texture without adding any flavor so if you don't like banana, give this a try.

Then I just throw in whatever fruit I happen to have on hand. My favorites are apples, strawberries, blueberries and kiwi. I usually add a couple of different kinds and a little flax seed.

When I first started making these, I added a little sugar or honey for sweetness, but I don't do that anymore...I think they are perfect without it, but a lot of people do add a little sweetener.

Blend all together and enjoy!

I know for you non spinach people, this sounds disgusting but the fruit masks the spinach...I promise. If you add blueberries, it will take on kind of a brownish color rather than the bright green. If you can get past the look, it is really good and a nice healthy snack!

Coffee Talk 9.17.10

Good Morning! I've got my bottle of water and am ready to visit! It has been a week of mild weather, a grumpy momma, and little accomplishments around here. I look forward to seeing how the week has been for the Company Girls.

Okay...I'm sorry, I am going to revisit a subject I said I would stop talking about, but~I DID IT!!! This morning, I ran about 2 1/2 miles without stopping. Yahoo! I know, for you real runners out there, that is child's play but believe me, for this non runner, that is HUGE! I don't know the exact distance, I just know I ran for 25 minutes and the website says that is about 2 1/2 miles.

I knew when I got up this morning that today was the day. And to be honest, I was dreading it! In fact, Wednesday was actually the day, but I had been fighting a cold for a few days and when I got up Wednesday, my sinuses were congested and my head was ready to explode and after about 30 minutes of trying to talk myself into going...I realized I just couldn't do it. Afterwards, I was really mad at myself because that is the first training day I have missed since I started this program. I think I decided that I would have to just start over from the beginning because I missed that day. Anyway, this morning I did it. It was tough. There were moments that were great and I was feeling really confident...and then I would have to run up a hill, so much for confidence. So here is my spiritual connection today...because you knew there had to be one. Toward the end of the run, it was getting tough...the road was inclining and I was getting tired and my Ipod died so I was just listening to my brain telling me I was surely going to die! I had been praying for my husband who is in a tough job situation. It isn't that he hates his job, it is just SUPER stressful and he is held accountable to do far more than one person can possibly do in a month. He works ridiculous hours and is constantly told to do more, get it done, take it home, etc. He would love to do some kind of ministry, but also feels the burden of supporting our family. He is frustrated and tired. He is running out of breath and the road is going uphill! We have been praying about it for awhile now. And to be honest, there are days my faith wavers. It is hard to understand why, when your heart desires to do ministry...you are tied to a job that leaves you dissatisfied, frustrated and with very little time.

I thought of some other friends of ours that are in a very similar situation. He hates his job and they have been praying for YEARS for other opportunities. He is still in the job he hates. I admit, I don't understand. Perhaps both he and my husband are making more of an impact where they are than we think. Sometimes, it is hard to remember that we are not really on this earth for our own pleasure...but for the pleasure of God...someday, we will be with Him in paradise, but for now we are in a fallen world that brings trouble and frustration. Anyway~ that is what I was thinking about as I was trying not to die! And I realized that I was making it just one step at a time. In that moment, I was just leaning on God to take me that one next step...if I had looked to the finish, I probably wouldn't have made it...it would have seemed too hard. And so, I just asked Him for the next step...one at a time. Before long, I caught that second wind and was able to finish...maybe not strong, but at least without passing out! :)

This week has been a little rough. School has not gone well and I will probably not be receiving mother or teacher of the year. By Wednesday, I was ready to pull hair out. The thought of continuing like we have been for the rest of the year is unimaginable. I am tired. I don't really want to keep going. And yet...I know that my Father in Heaven, my Sustainer, my Redeemer will help me take that next step. I cannot look to next week or next month or next year. I just have to trust Him right now, this minute, this step. He WILL be faithful. He will pull us through. He will give us hope because He is hope and at the finish line...we will be there, in His presence...so glad that we ran! He is worth it!

I hope and pray that all of my Company Girl friends know Him today. My prayer is that you know the name of Jesus and can call upon Him when your strength is gone. He is the way, the Truth and the Life, the Hope of our Salvation, the Good Shepherd, my Friend! I cannot imagine life without that truth! He is calling out to you today. He wants to help you with each step...will you let Him? Do you know Him?

Hoping you do today, and if you do not...please let me share Him with you today!

For more Coffee Talk, go to Home Sanctuary.

Coffee Talk 9.10.10

Good Morning Ladies! Come on in a sit a spell! I will be enjoying some nice cold water this morning, what about you? I am hoping to maybe replace my blender this weekend so I can again enjoy my green smoothies...it has been too long.

I missed visiting last week because we were on our way to Louisiana for some much needed R&R. It was a great trip...especially for Tigerfan who needed to get away after several greuling weeks at work. We went to the camp I have told you about a few times before. The kids got to swim, ride golf carts through the woods and we spent a good bit of time watching this little guy.
My very first "in the wild" alligator. He was searching for supper here, I think but the next day we caught him sunning out on a log. During this trip we also had a couple of break throughs with Tigercub. We forgot the pack and play and so we decided to just let him sleep in a big bed and hope for the best. He was so excited to get to be in a big boy bed that I think he just plumb forgot to ask for his pacifiers...I know, he is almost three and he still slept with not one, but three pacifiers...sometimes you just have to pick your battles, people! Anyway, he didn't ask and I didn't offer and other than one little incident since, he has never asked for them again. It is the easiest break from pacifiers we have ever had...just another one of God's little blessings. Now, if he would just decide to potty train himself, I think we would have this whole parenting thing all wrapped up!

The only thing I really hated about the trip is that we missed getting to visit with dear friends. One family there "adopted" me when we first moved to LA 13 years ago. I was 6 months pregnant with our first child, moving to hubby's hometown where the only people I knew were my husband and his sister and her husband. This family became my adopted parents. They cooked for us, took me to the doctor, babysat my sickly little one...such blessings. I miss them terribly and am still a little heartbroken that we didn't even get to see them. The other person I would have loved to visit was our very own Mrs. Lea, also known as CiCi. This is the second or third time we have gone to visit and I have missed out on a "live meeting" and it makes me sad...however, Tigerfan really needed the relaxing so I guess I'm not allowed to whine too much!

As for the rest of the week...Monday night we got home in time to watch MY team, Boise State. I really am not a huge football fan, but there are two teams that get cheered on around here. LSU and BSU. If you watched the game, you will know that Monday night...I almost had a heart attack! But my boys pulled it out...how bout those Bronco's! The rest of the week has been crazy busy. I am trying to look at our schedule and see what we can cut or tweak to make it more manageable. I'm pretty sure we shouldn't be this worn out this early in the school year. But it is so hard to cut...ya know, the things we do are good things, it is just hard to know if they are the best things.

Anyway, this weekend I have a brunch with my Bible Study ladies and we will be closing the pool and hopefully doing some major reorganizing as we have now moved Tigercub into B.B.'s bed, B.B. into F.B.'s bed, and F.B. into the guest room downstairs. There are closets to change up, a baby bed to dismantle, and dressers to change up. Oh, and I almost forgot that I totally want to attempt making homemade Poptarts from another Company Girl, The Sticky Cook. Ya know...in my free time.

Hope everyone has a great weekend, I look forward to visiting with all the Company Girls who join in to Coffee Talk! Blessings!

P.S. Please overlook any spelling errors my !@#$ spell check WILL NOT WORK!!!