Quinoa Breakfast Cake
Karina's Kitchen
My Company Girl pals, and all my other pals for that matter...THANK YOU! Thank you for encouraging me and supporting me and providing a nice swift kick in the pants every now and then, too. I am so excited about the new year I can hardly wait to get started.
But let me catch you up since my last post. I am cleaning out the cupboards today, so I have a wonderful assortment of hot teas, some vegan hot chocolate, some yummy vegan/gluten free rice crispie treats, and a little left over vegan/gluten free chocolate cake to share with you. Sorry no scones today, but stop back by cause I am making some Quinoa breakfast brownies (from Karina's Kitchen- www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com- yummmmm!) a little later. So snuggle in cause I have a roller coaster ride for you today!
My last post was on the day after my birthday which was wonderful! From there our Christmas season started to roll a little downhill.
On Dec 17, someone broke into our house and stole a bunch of stuff. Nothing of terrible importance- our gaming systems (ok, my son might argue those are important)-our Wii, PS2 and GameCube, our cameras- including several rolls of film we hadn't developed yet and pics not yet downloaded from Thanksgiving, and...wait for it...our VACUUM CLEANER! Yep, robbers stole my vacuum cleaner! I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating that is...but I think that of all people, you guys would understand the frustration. Through the past couple of weeks, we have discovered other sundry items missing, but again, nothing irreplaceable. What is irreplaceable is the sense of security we had. Helen Keller said, "Security is mostly superstition. It does not exist in nature." And I know that so well...I teach personal security and self defense to women....but I am frankly angry that someone has crushed the perception of security that I have worked hard to create for my children. Anyway, this is a whole other blog post, which I will have up next week...needless to say, it was food for thought.
December 20, my family finally succumbed to the stomach virus that had been making the rounds at school. First my son, then two days later my daughter, then the next day, me...which left my poor husband for Christmas...My dear hubby spent his Christmas holiday absolutely miserable in hotel room, while we spent time with our family in central Arkansas. Unfortunately, we opted not to get separate rooms, so I got to re-experience the stomach virus the weekend after Christmas. I pray that we are all finished passing it around and that no germs survived the onslaught of Lysol and hot water that I followed my second bout with.
So that brings us to today. I have the high hopes of cleaning out my kitchen (fridge and pantry) today to start the New Year off right. As this is the first day that I am feeling human since my second battle with yucky germs, this is probably ambitious, but we will give her a go! Please excuse the mess in the kitchen...but you are welcome to help out if you would like!
As for the coming year, it is my intention (notice this is not a resolution), that I give 12 Strings Attached presentations this year....so if you know of a women's group who could use some real bonding time...get in touch with me! The site is up and filling out- my calendar will be up soon- I was shocked at how full it already is! Check it out at: www.stringsattachedministries.com . My testimony as well as what people have to say about the retreat itself are up now, and I have an email devotional you can sign up for about living life with strings attached. I super excited about all of the developments.
I have many other projects in the works, but one of the most pressing is a talk I am giving to a local mom's group about stepping away from Superwoman cape and living our lives without that expectation. I would love to know what your idea of "Supermom" is. Is it a good image? Is it an attainable one? Please feel free to comment with ideas!
Well that's all for now...I am off to put on my black eyed peas for lunch and start cleaning out my (ick) fridge! I look forward to hearing from you...oh...and check out the rest of the coffee girls over at home sanctuary and share a cup of coffee (or tea) with them!
Oh my...I'mm so sorry you had to experience all that...what a violation and then to get the stomach flu..twice...what an insult piled on injury! Praying that the New Year will bring peace and joy into your lives! Wishing you all the best in your ministry....and cleaning out the fridge! yuk!
ReplyDeleteOh, I can imagine how you feel that someone has invaded your house, a violation even without the missing items. That is why the Christmas gifts under my tree are fake.
ReplyDeleteI've heard others talking about the virus. Sorry it had to upset plans for Christmas.
I need to attack both of our fridges. I have an empty dishwasher right now so I could at least empty out the leftovers.
I'm liking what I'm seeing at Company Girl's websites. Everyone seems to be making goals for self improvement and getting some projects done.
Happy New Year
Mama Bear
ugh, having a break-in has got to be one of the most violating things ever. I am sorry you are dealing with that :( Even if it's "just stuff", it still really really stinks
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! What a December for all of you!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe that someone would steal of vacuum. Who would even think of that?!
I will be praying that you have a MUCH better January.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Cari-
ReplyDeleteI think Supermom is unattainable...cause even if we are a supermom by some folks' standards, there is usually an area we feel we need to improve in. To me a Supermom is all the things I am not--like a master cook, a perfect home, reading to the kids every night, helping in every class, etc etc. I suppose someone else might think it's the things I am. It's a standard we hold out we'll never reach by it's definition. It's always more "super"than we are.
I think most moms who manage to care for their family in the midst of whatever live brings are supermoms. parenting is not for wimps!
so sorry about your break in and your stomach thing. Hope this fresh start can help you put all that behind you.
Dawn, thank you for your feedback...I actually feel much the same way. Supermom is unattainable not because we are not able to be super moms, but because we hold ourselves to an impossible standard.
ReplyDeleteAnd to all, I am so proud of myself! I got both the fridge and the freezer cleaned out today! Tomorrow...the pantry!
FANTASTIC! I'm so excited about the Quinoa breakfast brownies. I've had some Quinoa that I've been wanting to try for the first time - and I'm inspired by that idea!!! =)
ReplyDeleteOkay - that's just AWFUL about your break in - awful. So sorry to hear it. And your vacuum? Bizarre... Praying God blesses you abundantly with His presence of peace!
Oh yes, stomach virus hit our house 12/21 and didn't go away until 12/27...
Thanks for your great post and updates. It's always good to catch up with the Company gals...
Oh, you so have to check her (Karina's) site! She does amazing, wonderful, super yummy things with quinoa! And the breakfast brownies are yummy and gooey and chocolatey (and kind of good for you!)
ReplyDeleteCompany Girl here for a visit. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment about 5 Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe had a break in in 1992 on Dec 12. They didn't take much of value except a Brooks Robinson baseball card that was a gift for my husband from his father. I understand that feeling of security being taken away, but it will return someday. It'll take awhile, but eventually you won't think every time you come home, "Is it safe?" It's a blessing, though, to ponder that God is ultimately our Security and nothing happens to us that He is unaware of. Take comfort in Him. One question: did the robbers vacuum to test their wares before leaving?
Zonna,
ReplyDeleteNo! They didn't even have the decency to run the vacuum before they left...it's a shame!;)
You are so right that the whole experience opens us to remembering that I have the best security system in the world- Jesus Christ.
I'm so sorry to hear about your break-in and the stomach flu! After that, 2010 HAS to start out better than 09 ended!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great New Year!
I'm so sorry about your home invasion. That's just yucky! I can relate somewhat...we had two hammock swings stolen from outside our home. One was on our front porch and the other was hanging in our newly constructed "Tree-mansion" in the backyard. It just isn't a good feeling. Kind of hard to believe your vacuum was taken too.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you all were sick! I do hope that has passed and you are all feeling yourselves again. Not fun to be sick especially at Christmas.
Hope you are having a blessed New Year!
LydiaCate
I am so sorry about the break in and the sickness. However, back to the break in...the vacuum? Of all things! I would like to just offer them up mine, I HATE it and would love a reason to buy a new one! Hopefully, your new year will start better than 2009 ended!
ReplyDeleteAs for supermom...she doesn't exist! I tried for years to be her. I have worn out myself and my family trying to be everything to everyone and I lost myself! Whoever you look at and perceive as supermom, you are only seeing a small part of who she is...the public part. We cannot see what goes on behind closed doors and it is such an injustice to women that we make one another feel obligated to somehow live up to those impossible standards. Whenever anyone tells me they cannot believe I.... (whatever) I make sure to tell them that they don't see what is not done. They don't see me stressed out and fussing at my imperfect kids or moving piles out of my imperfect kitchen just so we can eat at the table...what appears to be perfect never is. Except, of course, our Heavenly Father.
I wish our society would be more willing to share our struggles and weaknesses with one another and give support rather than try to perpetuate the image that we "have it all together."
Star, you are so right. There is no such thing as Supermom. But there are super.moms. All of us have our strengths and weaknesses,and I think we were created to work together with one another to combine our strengths...but that means that we have to be willing to reveal our weaknesses. That is what the talk is all about...
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the breakin and stomach virus. That's not a great way to spend the holidays. I always wonder about people who do things like that. Why they think it's okay....Well, I hope all of you will be back to 100% soon.
ReplyDeleteI would be lost without my vacuum! Sorry to hear that! So glad to hear that you all have your health back though.
ReplyDeleteAs for Supermom, I am reading a book called "Taking Care of the Me in Mommy," by Lisa Whelchel. It's a great book with a lot of practical tips about becoming not supermom...just a better mom. As a mother of 5, I often find my role changing. I have to adjust to the needs of my children as they grow.
Many blessings in the year 2010!
-Melissa
Thanks for the book suggestion! I will check it out!
ReplyDeleteI finally made it over for some very late coffee! I'm so sorry about the break-in and the fear it has caused. I've known other people it's happened to, and you never quite feel the same afterward.
ReplyDeleteThe Hubby and I caught the stomach flu right after Thannksgiving. It's a rough one. Glad it finally made it through your family.
Happy New Year!