For The Love Of Fritters!

Today marks the first day of my hubbies vacation! Nine days including projects, camping, a 4 day trip to Idaho and plenty of fun! It has been quite awhile since my husband has had a true vacation. He has taken time off over the last two years but most of it has been taking care of me or our crazy stint in KY. Not exactly rejuvenating.
I wanted to kick off the day with a special celebration and in our house that usually involves food.
My husband enjoys apple fritters. I mean he really enjoys a good apple fritter!
We usually head to a local donut shop for the goods but I wanted to knock this surprise out of the park, so out came the cookbooks.
This recipe is adapted from the Baker Creek Vegan Cookbook. I used it as a basic outline but there are very few moments in life that I follow a recipe as written. This was no exception
This is my adapted recipe.

Heat up 3 jars of Louanna's Coconut Oil (available at Walmart) in a large dutch oven to 350 degrees.

Make your dough which consists of:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup unbleached white flour
2 granny smith apples peeled and finely chopped
2 cups warm water
4 1/2 tsp. yeast
1/2 cup natural sugar (I like organic cane sugar when I can afford it!)
1/4 tsp. salt

Just mix this dough up with a spoon. Simple. Let it sit for a few minutes.

Drop in quarter cup fulls of batter into that hot oil and watch it bubble. Try to let little "fingers" come up as you drop your dough. They taste the best! Brown up these little treasures on both sides until they are a rich golden brown. Takes about 4 minutes. Lift out with a slotted spoon or tongs and let cool on racks with paper towels underneath to deal with the mess.

Don't forget your glaze.

Mix together with a large fork:
3 cups powdered sugar
10 tsps. fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tbls. milk

Drizzle the glaze on your fritters while they are still hot! Watch the glaze melt into the cracks and once it hardens turn them and do the same thing on the other side.
Save one or two without glaze for those who are pregnant and can't handle too much sweet. <Ahem>

Serve these up while warm, preferably with pretty dishes and a nicely set table. A little English Breakfast Tea with cream doesn't hurt either.

 

Prepare for the man in your life saying these are the best apple fritters he has ever had.

Bow or curtsey. Enjoy the accolades as you take a deep breath and dive into a huge cleanup. Don't worry. It is worth it.

That smile says it all.

Why Remembering Isn't As Hard Today

Today is the second anniversary of John's death, and while I am fully aware of this day and think of him, I do not feel the sadness and grief as I did on the 16th. It was this way as well last year. I cannot completely explain it. It is as if the day of his death was a great letting go. That it still is. A day to exhale, chest concave and loose.
When he was born, there was a road that must be taken. A path to walk filled with hope, chance, pain, worry, love, joy, and faith.
On the day he died, he went alone. Straight into the arms of Jesus, and I believe, reunited with his twin sister that was lost so early on. I could not make that journey with him. It was for him alone to take. I released a precious gift, so quickly gotten, knowing I would someday take the same journey. The one of gasping for the last breath, of feeling beating stopping, and a new path spreading out brilliantly before me. 

Today though, I rest, knowing that he is safe. Free from harm and sin. That he is waiting, worshiping the King, and happier than all of us have ever known.
There is great freedom in that rest.
And because of that, great comfort in today.

Seasoned With Salt Saturdays

Psalms 145:18-19  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Would A Rose By Any Other Name Smell As Sweet?

So many have reached out ,to offering kind words in remembrance of my son. Tender thoughts, heartfelt sentiments. All meant something special and was a salve to my heart.

My dear friend Brandi, did something I will never forget.

She bought me roses.

4 pink. 2 white and blue.

4 for my girls.
2 for my boys.

And her whole family wrote a letter to John. Not to me, but to him. I was allowed to read it if I wanted. (I guess being the Mom gets you some privileges. <wink>)

I asked her permission to post it here.

July 16, 2014

Dear John,

Happy Birthday Lil' Buddy! Our tribe remembers this very special day. We want you to know a bit about your very sweet Mama.
First of all . . . your Mama is the kindest woman. She has a heart as big as Texas . . . although deep down inside we think she wishes she could fix her hair like those "big haired" Texas gals!!!
Secondly, she misses you like the dickens. We know she would give anything to wrap her arms around you and give you a great big squeeze!
Last but not least, she is a friend to all! You would be so proud of her! She has an amazing ability to see all of Hashem's creation with the eyes of the Creator . . . What abundant love!
So John, we can't wait to meet you! We pray for Shalom for your family.
Love,
Our Tribe

First, let me preface by saying they were way too kind in their description of me.
Second, when I opened the letter I was not expecting that. I never thought of telling him about his family. I thought it was a beautiful way to a knowledge his life.
Sometimes, it is hard for people to think of him as anything other than a miscarriage. I believe those are just as painful, so please do not think that I am saying this loss is greater.
It's just . . .different.
When he lived for such a short time,
when we couldn't take him home,
when our children weren't allowed to meet him for fear of NICU infection,
for many he became a blip. An anomaly. A sad thought.
I am not expecting or even wanting for people to remember him or the day the way we do. I do not expect anything.

And maybe that is why this gift was so very sweet. 
Brandi never met him. But she knows him. 
She never held him, but she embraces him. 
She never saw him, but she remembers him.
And it makes a lonely heart, feel not so alone.
Thank you friend.

Thankful Thursdays

I am so very thankful to the many people who remembered my sweet son's birth. 
To the many who reached out in love and grace with a kind word or gesture.
I am thankful I was privileged to have him at all.
I am thankful to the hospital staff who took such good care of us two years ago.
I am thankful for life.

A Birthday

Today, 2 years ago, my little 9.3 oz love was born.
A fighter till the end, strong in spirit,
heavy on soul,
not on size.
He graced me with his presence,
fought for me for as long as he could,
and died in my arms.
Comforting his Mama as he made the sweet journey to walk with the King.
I miss him so.
And I am so happy he is where no pain can touch him,
where he sings praises to the most High God in perfect peace.
I am happy to know someday, I will be reunited with him, in God's perfect way,
and that we will sing, 
"Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty"
Together.

Happy Birthday Sweet John.

Season With Salt Satrudays

Psalms 131:1

Behold how good and how pleasant it is: for brethren to dwell together in unity.

A Thought For The Day

Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but at succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter at all. ~Francis Chan

Today - In The Journey

23 weeks. 3 days pregnant.

That is where I am today.

1 more day in my last pregnancy and I was being airlifted to deliver my tiny treasure, a starving 9.3 oz boy, with the will of a fighter and a soul destined to dance with Jesus.

In this time,2 years ago, I was fighting enormous amounts of pain, fear, and unknowns.

John's birthday is July 16th. Not so very far away. I feel like I am reliving his journey . . .

except for that the journey of this little girl is nothing like his. I feel her kick and crash, tumbling around in my belly, and I smile. But, I think of him, and his little kicks and his little crashes, and I think of how very small he really was. And I feel so very sad that I couldn't help him. 

It is a hard month here. Many moments of missing our little man. Many moments of rejoicing that our little girl is growing safely in my womb. Many moments of wondering how long my body will keep working to grow her. Many moments of asking God why? How? Should we? Shouldn't we? Will we? What if?

I long for heavenly days, millennial days, when I will know the face of my boy restored.

I look forward to meeting this new treasure. This soul growing safely, in the dark recesses of my belly.

I am grateful for my journey, albeit a hard one.

For it causes me to seek the face of God.

And Jesus becomes ever more so real in my heart, and in my world, and in the world of those around me as I keep journeying down the road of unknowns.

PSALM 61 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

6 Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

Back in the Yard Again

It seems that everything fabulous happens in our backyard. 
It is where Frisbee's get tossed, houses get built, soccer gets played, sprinklers are run through, watermelon is munched on and memories are made.
But what happens when Dad starts showing his son how to work on his chip shot?
3 year old mavens decide they need to learn too.
And what do you think good Daddy's do when they see a pipsqueak attempt to hold a grown mans club?
They show them how.

And then they realize that their child is left handed and can't hold the club.
So, they start shopping for little tykes left handed clubs.

And then they watch the video their wife made while watching the impromptu golf lesson commence and realize their wife has no technological skills whatsoever.

But they don't care because they are good husbands. And because there children like golf.

The End

Thankful Thursdays

For my two bigs being ready to attend an awesome soccer camp . . .
Even though it is hard to see them growing so fast.

Mine are the two on the left. The other two are some pretty awesome friends we got to take with.

Yes, my girl was the only girl wearing a skirt. Yes, she was a contender with the ball all the same. Yes, she did get her skirts dirty. And she loved. every. minute.

For Mormor's. "Nuff said.

For summer days . . .



And for another year with my favorite Birthday Man . . .

What are you thankful for?

Seasoned With Salt Saturdays

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Homeschooling Hotline

I am in no way a homeschooling genius. Nor am I a seasoned homeschool Mom, but I am a Mom who loves to homeschool. I mean, I really love teaching my children. 
Recently, I have come across a couple of things that have made me go nuts for knowledge and crazy for creativity! (Yep, I really wrote that. Uh-huh, I am cheesy like that. Yes, my son says I am over the top quite often.)

Alright, drum roll please . . . .

#1 The True Princess

Ok, so this isn't really a homeschool tool, but it is all three of my daughters recent favorite. A book about what it really takes to be a princess, it shows that virtue is better than vanity and we are all in service to a King. Love, love, love this book.

#2 MindWare Imaginet Shapes

A magnet game chock full of thinking skills that keep little hands busy, learning and out of trouble while Momma is helping the Bigs do math.

#3 Expedition Earth

This curriculum availabe for download is suitable for my kindergardner all the way through my fourth grader. I just alter the work a bit and everyone is challenged. Even my little tyke has fun listening in. They are learning so much about the world and having a blast while they do it. I never hear "Are we done yet?", or "Do we have to do this?" They just smile and say "Do we get to do our memory songs today?" Genius product. Simply gold.

Well, there you have it. Those are my three latest and greatest. I want to give a big thank you to my Auntie who bought the MindWare magnets for us. 

What are you teaching your children today?

Feeling Thankful

I don't know what has happened over the last few days . . .
God has been allowing me the freedom to grieve. To be real in my selfishness of wanting my sweet son back. To want to have a normal birth, a normal pregnancy, to just feel normal. 
I have cried out to Him and He is answering me. 
For every time I ask "why is it this way?" I hear a soft still voice.
It is not a thunder, it is a whisper.
And it is a salve to my festering wounds.
When I ask Him why I have to deal with MTHFR and shots, a black and blue stomach due to a simple needle thinning my blood, I hear Him say, "I have provided a way to help your baby grow."
When I tell Him about my fear of another c-section, a spinal, and all off my excess scar tissue in my uterus, I hear Him say, "Another c-section just might fix your insides."
When I tell Him my fears of this beautiful baby not growing I hear Him say, "She is big and bountiful in this moment and I have given you ultrasounds every 3 weeks to check and ease your heart."
I hear His provisions for every complaint. And ultimately in His fatherly patience I hear Him say,
"Are you only going to trust me when times are easy? Will you not trust me when times are hard? I sent my Son to die for you, am I asking of you too much?"
And I am humbled yet again,
at the magnitude,
at the majesty, 
and at the mercy,
of my King.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

1 Kings 19:11-12  And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.