Blast from the Past!!!

I am noticing lately that as I add more and more to my days, I instead, tend to be losing a great deal more. More commitments renders less time to serve my family. More expectations...less energy. More "hobbies"...less enjoyment. More connections...less quality friends. Certainly, it isn't all bad, but I really want to live on purpose and not wake up one morning and feel like my life just happened. "Ready or not, there it goes!"

I am also realizing the immense amount of energy and dedication it takes to serve my husband and raise a family. With that in the forefront of my mind, I want to use my efforts to make our lives, enjoyable, peaceful and fruitful. How?! I can't boast to know all the secrets, but I'm going to try, perhaps the opposite of what I'm doing now: ). Simplify! Slow down!

So, to merely flirt with the possibly permanent idea, I am going to disengage all my Internet communications for a month!!! I will, however, gladly accept telephone calls, letters in the mail, and especially, unexpected visits. If you choose the latter, we will delightfully forgo our previous agenda, put on a kettle for tea/coffee and enjoy your company for as long as you care to stay...even if it's overnight! This may seem silly, but I truly mean it! Our lives are getting much too spread thin, much less relaxed, and very rarely personal or face-to-face.

I have already lost precious time, potential friendships and vital opportunities fulfilling unnecessary engagements and ignoring the bits of life that happen right in front of me. Besides, who doesn't enjoy a handwritten letter in the mail, or a spontaneous visit with friends (without worrying weather or not they are too busy or would welcome your "intrusion"), or a call to see how life is going? I for one, certainly do!!!

My "trial" will begin somewhere around the 15 th, so if you wish, please make sure I have your phone number and mailing address and vise-versa.

With much love,

Melody

Pictures!!!

We've been busy having a pretty fantastic summer, though I haven't had anything to show for it so far....here are the pics from our last month! First trip to the beach this year...Hike up saddle Mountain...County Fair...another hike and trip to Short Sands with our friends...It's been fun!!!

This was our first trip to the beach. It was super foggy, but warm and tons of fun. Benjamin absolutely loved the water and even after getting knocked down and washed over by a few waves he was very distraught to leave. The other boys spent plenty of time in the water, but also couldn't go without getting buried up to their wastes : )

We had so much fun at the beach we decided to take up hiking the very next day. We got a back carrier and headed up Saddle Mountain....it was a little too ambitious with young children, but we made it to the top safely(really!!! It was pretty scary at times). I carried Ben the whole way and the older boys took turns riding with Kiely...note the picture of my hunk of a man pushing the gigantic boulder out of the way for us to pass : )

The next week was our county fair and after almost a whole year of the boys waiting to go "Ride the Horses we finally realized (at the fair) that they did not mean real horses, they meant the carousel...we have one in seaside that's open year round....Ahhhh, communication!!!

The weekend after the fair we took a MUCH easier and child friendly hike to a little beach called Short Sands with our friends Brett and Stephanie and their handsome little man Augustine. We had a BLAST and the weather was perfect.

Life just wouldn't be life without a few accidents or medical situations which Gabriel usually takes initiative to fill. : ) This time it was a few outrageous bug bites, spider bites, or just a reaction to mosquitoes, we're not sure, but this is what happened to the side of his face...fortunately, with the help of some great healing salve, echinacea, lots of vitamin C and a few applications of red clay, the swelling went down and alas my beautiful boy returned!!! : )

Lastly, Kiely and I were able to celebrate our 6th Anniversary by taking a weekend trip to downtown Portland all by ourselves. Though, we don't have pics, we did lot's of leisurely shopping, went to a Timber Soccer game, ate at great restaurants, then visited a potential church for when we move to Portland!!! Grandma and grandpa watched the boys, and even though Benjamin is still nursing, they all did great! The next day after I returned Ben would spend the first minute or two of each nursing just smiling and making Ummmmmm sounds. We love our boys, but it was Sooooo nice to have the time to ourselves...Verdict?! We still really, really enjoy each others company! : )

Smile!

“Men are highly attracted to smiles;
That includes your husband!”
~”Created to Be His Help Meet”

SMILE FOR HIM TODAY!!!

Few Favorite Recipes

I am almost constantly reading; usually about some aspect of health or child rearing or spiritual topic. My latest infatuation is with a particular author named Adelle Davis. She died a number of years ago, but has amazing information on health and nutrition...that was well before her time. My biggest focus has been on her book "Let's have healthy children". To say the very least, I've picked up a few fun summer recipes (if they can even be called that), that I have no qualms about giving to my children nearly anytime they ask.

Our New "Chocolate" Milk:
(really, there is no chocolate, but it's rich and creamy and my kids act like its a huge treat...really, it's just extra nutritious for them!!!)
base recipe:
1c milk
1/3c powdered milk
extras/optional:
blended banana
1tsp flax or cod-liver oil

Popsicles:
1c plain yogurt
3-4Tb 100% frozen juice concentrate
splash of milk or cream
mix together, pour into popsicle molds...enjoy when frozen!

A Nephew!!!

This past week my brother and his amazing wife had their precious little boy:

Tristan Maximus
22in - 7lbs 15oz

The labor began on Tuesday morning and wasn't concluded until Thursday barely past noon!!! My sister-in-law and my brother are so amazing and I will proudly brag on their birthing efforts...nay accomplishment!!! Not only is it physically exauhsting, but mentally as well, and they stuck with it! Here is where I get to boast a little on midwives and homebirth, as most of you know, my passion!!!

If it had been under different circumstances (i.e. the hospital, or possibly even a different midwife) she would have ended up with a C-section and instead delivered beautifully, healthfully and completely natural! I LOVE homebirth! Even despite the waves of excitement and determination and discouragement, as soon as it was over, she proudly exclaimed it was "absolutely worth it!!"

It was such a great experience to be a part of! Thank you Angelo and Anya for inviting me to share it! You have a beautiful and perfect little man!

Melody

To All of You

I am just finishing my usual routine of getting on the computer for "just a minute" to check emails before bed...which turns into reading a blog or two...and eventually all of them in my favorites tab! Because it is already much later than I should have gone to bed(I'll figure that out one of these days), I often end up just reading and not leaving any comments.

So, for all the times I do so...I just wanted to say how much I love reading about your lives, seeing your adorable pictures, learning from your life-moments and almost always gaining a larger appreciation and satisfaction with life! You are all fantastic and I feel so very blessed!

Thank you~

Things I learned while packing...

Things I learned while packing...



Kiely has 3x's the clothes...and shoes I do. Now what is wrong with this picture???


I wish we had a LOT less stuff


The sun starts to come up around 4:30 these days. Oy!

Coffee can be useful (and maybe a little yummy), but I prefer sleep

My children can be happily entertained with only ONE toy set...for a whole week (perhaps my opportunity to get rid of some stuff)

Sometimes things fit better out of windows than trying to move them down narrow stairways (he-he)

RJ's raspberry licorice will suffice in place of a cough drop...even when stale. Evidently, I like them more than I thought. hmmm

I wish I owned less stuff!!!

Sharpie pens are unaccustomed to staying in ones pocket...yet are CRUCIAL when packing!

Again. I WISH I OWNED LESS STUFF!!!

Phew! It's over, (until September that is). For now I am thoroughly enjoying living with Kiely's parents. They are pretty fantastic in-laws and grandparents!!! Thank you.

Things I'd like to do...

Do you ever think of things you'd like to do.............um, someday! Well, I do, and here are a few of them...

skydiving (it's becoming a fad in our family...and I might be catching it)
having a garden
building or remodeling a craftsman style house ( I LOVE the character)
getting a tattoo ( I know, so cliche', but I may have finally decided of what!!!)
take ballet again (I was about 6/7 last time I took it....somedays, okay, alot of days, I wish I was a ballerina)
"deliver" a baby
get back in shape (he-he)
travel everywhere!!! Paris, Australia, South-south America, China...the east coast : )
paint
memorize the bible (maybe not in order, but to know where anything is and always have scriptures on my mind and in my thoughts)
do a mini-triathalon
row again
bake homemade chocolate brownies from scratch or gooie chocolate cake (Lindsey, I hear you have a recipe!)
know my herbs and home remedies to use them confidently and effectively (from scratch)
mentor the younger generation of young-ladies
get rid of my acne (highschool was waayy to long ago!)
play the violin (I even have one...perhaps a good place to start)
go on a cruise
hang my laundry outside to dry
start a mini business selling cloth diapers & altering reg. bras into nursing bras
kiss my kids too much!!! ; )

Sooo, what are some things you think about doing????

First Home-learning Adventure

I mentioned in my last post that I'm considering homeschooling. If I do, I really want to make it as "natural" as possible. Yes, I will use a base curriculum and make sure he can read and do appropriate math, etc. However, I don't want "schooling" to be all about doing bookwork, instead I want it to be about life and the way we naturally learn about things (i.e. as we're curious about them, or as they are happening in front of us).

After pondering the forementioned thoughts I had my first opportunity. Justus was helping me make tortillas yesterday and one of the steps is to dissolve salt in warm milk. Not knowing what that meant, Justus asked, "What is dissolve?" (Aha-opportunity!)

I explained it and then grabbed a glass of warm water so we could watch it happen(the recipe used milk, so that wasn't visible). Then I grabbed some sugar to dissolve on our tongues and added that to the water as well. Catching on quickly, he saw the next available "compound", baking powder, and gave that a try. It was great to see his curious mind work. After about 3-4 heaping spoonfuls of baking powder (he like that one), we grabbed the pepper and gave that a try. Ahhh, not everything dissolves. "Hmmm, Why?" He asked.

He loved it. I loved it...and we were learning! Such fun!

Random thoughts...inspired by Lindsey

Why do I let myself get overwhellmed so often? Am I going to raise my children right? I'm really deeply considering homeschooling... will it turn out good or bad?.....I absolutely love that Gabriel always had "bed-head", I even wet it down and styled it today before going out (new thing for me) and on our way home he fell asleep in the car, took a nap and woke up with it again!!!....How on earth did my little Benjamin get sooo sweet, he loves all my buttons to pieces....should I finish the cloth diapers I started sewing, ummmm, about 3yrs ago, with changed fabrics and designs? Or just buy some and be done with it?...I really enjoy hanging out with my friend Stephanie and little Augustine, she has been such a blessing to me since we've been in Astoria. I'm also sad to be moving away from her : ( ....How did I get such a fantastic husband???Honestly, he was not a Christian, had a very different background than me, odd hair and pretty easy-going (quite the contrast to my "tornado" personality). He's perfect!!!...Justus is such a great brother and all-around kid. He is soo smart (yes, everyone says that) and has been such a cuddler lately. He usually wakes up from his nap first and comes and sits with me on the couch or my bed. It's great!....We are moving in 1month and I really want to get rid of half of our belongings, but I can't quite think of what...when I look through stuff I think, "hmmm, we need everything in here", Yikes!!! ...what should I get/do for Father's day?...maybe I should go to bed...I really hope we find our camera so I can take pictures for the blog so I don't have to talk soo much....
Blessings,

A few oldies...

Here are a few pics we had taken over the Christmas holiday. I love them!!!

Closet Clean-Up

Things are moving along...Kiely is getting laid off on the 25th of June, and his summer class starts that very same evening. We are giving our notice on our house and will be living with his parents for 2 1/2 months until school starts in the fall. As things would have it (or rather God), Kiely's company is still going to need him after they lay him off and so they are going to re-hire him as an independent contractor part time and be paying him almost 3x's what he make now!!! It really couldn't work out any more perfectly. Now, he'll have time for school, but still be making money...and for less time. Hip-hip hooray!!!

In the mean time I'm trying to totally downsize our "stuff" in as many ways as possible....and as much as I've tried to keep it that way, we have a LOT of stuff. And for some reason, when I get slightly overwhellmed, instead of cleaning the dining room (usually where my projects or odds-n-ends accumulate) or something else obviously disastrous, I will find myself deep in a closet reorganizing and cleaning that out instead! Truly, this has happened more than once or twice. Just last week I sorted through our whole upstairs closet that has baby clothes and such equipment in it. I boxed up more than half of it to pass on to my sister-in-law and made phone calls to arrange new homes for a few other items...all this while, not ten feet away from me sat a huge pile of the boys laundry that was 3 days overdue to be folded and put away. I sure felt better when I was done though and every so often when I'm walking by I open the closet door and sigh a VERY contented "sigh"!!!

There is just something about knowing the deep, unseen things are in order, even when the surface may not be : )

p.s. thanks to everyone for the info on switching my background...isn't it cute??

change!

So I've been noticing many of your blogs have customized backgrounds. I am looking for a change and was wondering if you might share the tips on how to spruce up my page...

As far as our life is going, Kiely's last day at work is going to be in May. Wow! It's really coming up fast. Kiely is enrolled at Portland State, he's starting his first class in June, we're contemplating moving in with is parents to save money, are really looking forward to a more flexible summer, will be moving to Portland in the fall when Kiely will start classes full-time!

I think we're ready for the adventure! So off we go!

My Little Men...Glorious!

Here are my little men in action...as if that was hard to come by : )

I just don't usually have the camera on hand.

Benjamin

Happy and lovin' life...even if his brother just took away his ball.

Justus
Trying to be silly for the camera-such a poser!


Gabriel

Captain Gabriel! Not a day goes by without a valiant effort to defeat the "bad guys"!
My mighty warrior!!!
(To what he says, "No! I'm Gabriel")
He-he-he!

p.s. no more coffee for me. It's almost 2am and I'm typing away on the computer...THAT is not natural!

Crazy-Perhaps! Excited-Definitely!!!

So, it seems like things are falling into place. It's so different from what I originally had in mind that it's hard for me to get a firm grasp on it's reality...but I'm pretty sure it's for real!!!

My amazing, talented and brilliant husband is going back to school!!!

Yup! Our sole provider for the last 4years is going to be a full-time student for the next 1 1/2 to 2yrs to get his master's degree in Electrical Engineering. And we're excited! When Kiely and I did our pre-marital counseling nearly 6 years ago, one thing he said was the most important to him, was having a wife that supported him. I wholehearted believe that that is one of the reasons God created women in the first place.

" The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

I've always remembered that and am learning bit by bit what that fully entails and how it plays out for us. I'm finding that the more I support his dreams and take them as my own, the more joy I find, and in turn, the more I want to help him fulfill those ambitions. It's a win-win cycle and we're getting ready to dive headlong into the heart of it!

Not that I'm not nervous. We are going to be making some rather large financial adjustments and from what I hear, we may not see Kiely as often as is desireable. So, it will be a great test to see how well my heart "really" lays hold of this concept...but all-in-all, I'm ready for the Adventure!!!

The Verdict...

Well, we heard back from the company in Everett today and they decided to hire another applicant! Sooooo many different emotions going on here. My first impression-dissapointment! It really seemed like the perfect fit and would have gotten Kiely in the field of engineering he's most interested in-robotics! Just last night a friend from highschool that I've recently kept up with via blogging told me that her and her husband live in Mukilteo-the same town the company is in. I know God has a plan, but sometimes I wonder if He's trying to be confusing, or if that's just how it goes sometimes???

Another set of emotions-sympathy and defensiveness. I know my man is amazing and pretty brilliant, but with his current company thinking his job can be passed off to general technicians and this other company finding someone they thought fit the job better I don't want him to feel inadequate or rejected-because he's not!!!

Finally, relief! We would have made it work, and probably loved it, but our desire to find a smaller community that we can really settle into and not feel pressed by the cost of living. We've moved around alot in the last few years and with the boys getting close to school and having owned and rented-we're ready to make a permanent home. Where that is, only God knows right now, but I will say that He's never left us or forsaken our desires. Our God is GOOD!

Melody

Our ups and Downs

Do you believe God always has a plan? I do, but oh how I can forget when I don't see the details firsthand. : ) (I'm still learning to trust and let go)
We are in limbo right now. Kiely's company was bought out a little over a year ago and combined with economic stresses, they are panicking and, in our opinion, making very rash choices! They are based in Kansas and have moved a large percentage of the company over there and rumors are that Kiely's job is soon to be moved or lost. He interviewed for a job up in Everett Washington the other day and we are waiting to hear back. After his interview (that was 5hrs long-does that mean something?), we drove around and looked at the area.

Here's where the anxiety comes in...it's so big and so....expansive. Lot's of people, lots of stores and roads and telephone wires...and very impersonal!!! We love that here in Astoria (despite the weather), we have the sense of community. We love going downtown...cute shops, minimal traffic, personal relationships etc. There are a few communities skirting where the company is, but cost is also somewhat of a concern.....And of course, we don't even know if he's getting the job. Aahhhhh, ha! Deep sigh!

Well, whatever happens, God is good and in control...and we will miss our family and friends! Until then, I'll keep you posted.
Blessings,

Happy Birthday!!

Well, Benjamin is already 1 year old.
It seems to go faster and faster with each child.
Having three boys, I thought to some extent they would start to repeat themselves...but, even on our third, he is totally his own person and not in any way a duplicate of his brothers.
The things I love about Benjamin...
He has been sweetness from day one! Smiling and cuddling the whole way.
His blonde curly hair-Finally! : )
He loves to play the drums. Kiely got bongos for Christmas and Benjamin bee-lines for them whenever they come down. We also have a set of congas in our play room and he stands on the step stool to drum away anytime he can!
He loves his daddy, but is such a mama's boy-melt my heart!
He is already trying to wrestle with the other boys and just laughs if he gets knocked a good one. Such a little man!

Happily drumming with daddy on the congas

He emptied our tupperwear drawer so there was room for him...such a cozy place to sit!

Benjamin thoroughly enjoying the left over shaving cream activity on the table...he did not want to get down : )

Meal Stretch

I am often looking for ways to make our budget stretch farther so we can make better do with what we have and save more for the future. So far, my biggest challenge in this area has been food. My primary goal is to serve as many whole and nutritious foods as possible, and as most of you know, they are more expensive! So what to do? I’ve tried making many things from scratch, such as our breads, but with 3 young boys the time it takes and stress created is proving not always worth the money saved. So, to get to the point, here are some of my latest tips to saving grocery money while eating healthy and still getting our fill to eat.

First, I’ve picked a handful of meatless main dishes I can serve a few times a week. More veggies for healthy bodies and less meat for more room in our budget. Here’s a few examples:
Vegetable Enchiladas- Use a regular recipe, just saute’ up some bell pepper, onions, broccoli cauliflower, even potatoes, whatever your family eats, add the sauce, tortillas and cheese. Yum!!!
Taco Salad- I toss up lettuce of choice, black beans, olives, canned corn, broccoli, peas, peppers, whatever. Our dressing-sour cream and salsa or ranch, then a few crunchy chips and we’re usually set!

Soup, Soup, Soup! Any soup really. There are so many that don’t have meat, but are equally filling, often with beans or rice or just a thicker base. Tip: chowders or “cream” soups don’t always have to have lots of cream or milk (which can also be spendier), just remove a portion of your already cooked soup and puree in the blender. Add back into the soup and viola!!! P.s. to make your own broth the 3 keys to good flavor are onions, celery and carrots…a little salt goes a long way too.

Black Bean Quesadillas-black beans, maybe some cooked onion and pepper, cheese, tortillas and your favorite toppings.


I have quite a few others if someone is particularly curious…just ask!

Second, I’ve realized that there are many other countries that eat well (healthy and enough) while using very basic grains and such. So, I’m exploring ethnic staples that really cost very little and add lots of nutrition, variety and can stand on their own two feet. A few I’ve found:

Garbanzo beans- Our dinner tonight is garbanzo’s, red peppers, onions, broccoli, and spices saute’d and in a pita shell. Topped with sour cream or plain yogurt!I am also a great fan of hummus. There are so many different recipes, it easy to find one you like.

Corn meal (also known as polenta)- after it is cooked, much like rice, (except with constant stirring) it can be served alone with a savory sauce, grilled vegetables, baked apples for a sweeter treat, or it can even be made into little cakes and lightly fried for a tasty snack.


Third, I’m trying to use certain affordable vegetables (even some veggies can break the budget) to fill in the gaps and make certain meat dishes go farther. A few such veggies that do the trick seem to be potatoes, broccoli, green peppers and cauliflower. The potatoes and cauliflower work great because their taste is fairly neutral, and broccoli is very nutritious if your family likes it!!!

Well that’s it for me. I’m certainly no authority on the topic, so I’d love to hear your ideas and tips as well!!!

Something to Ponder

Humility-

...is not thinking less of yourself,
but rather
thinking of yourself less.

Don't take me too serious...just a little!

Q: What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A: It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q: Where will the government get this money?
A: From taxpayers.

Q: So, the government is giving me back my own money?
A: No, they are borrowing it from China . Your children are expected to repay the Chinese.

Q: What is the purpose of this payment?
A: The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q: But, isn't that stimulating China's economy?
A: Shut up.

Please, I mean no offense. Just a little laugh.

Old Fashioned Warmth

I, for some reason, love "old-fashioned!" I don't know if it is my search for something more simple and pure, or just nastalgic, but I enjoy learning how to do things like "the good ol' days." I know people functioned and lived just fine before all our modern inventions, so once in a while, usually motivated by saving money : ), I will make a simple list. This time: staying warm!

It's silly, but fun! A few ways to warm up without turning up the thermostat!
1) Put on a sweater and slippers (how often am I cold because I want to wear short sleaves and bare feet in January?)
2) Drink a hot beverage! My personal favorite is tea. Kiely likes coffee in the morning and occasionally we'll treat ourselves to hot chocolate!!! MMM, cozy and functional!
3) Grab a blanket or shawl. Again, that old-fashioned and nastalgia thing, but I enjoy doing things around the house in a wrap.
4) Use a hot water bottle to warm up your toes or the sheets before getting into bed. This is one of my latest favorites and only takes about 2minutes to fill with tap water. Love it!

Okay...any other ideas! Pass them along!