A local news station came out and interviewed Ethan and me about living life with allergies. The only clarification needed is concerning "wet wrap therapy." This method of treatment was suggested to us by our allergy specialist as a new way of hydrating and replenishing eczema-suffering children.
I had to chuckle at the footage of our basement... of all the places in this house not tidy and neat, it's the basement! LOL!! So you'll get a good glimpse into what our basement looks like BEFORE the mad cleanup dash prior to company arriving... hee hee hee!!
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
A Soil Carbon Cowboy's Modified "Date Night"
With consecutive crop failures, organic farming is becoming anything but feasible financially. Humbly, we have acknowledged that no matter how much our heart and soul is poured into our integrity, eventually one can only remortgage so many times!
So what does it look like to farm without chemicals and leaving the soil in better shape than we found it in? How do we give BACK instead of TAKE? Thanks to the life-work of Alan Savory, founder of Holistic Management, we have a renewed hope. A six-day course in January lifted our spirits and filled us with renewed purpose.
I am proud of my husband for making this switch. He has been grain farming from birth. Some of his earliest memories consist of being dangled (while still in a diaper) into the combine to pull out a screw for his dad. He lived and breathed grain farming and to say that it "runs in his blood" would be to minimize his ties to the earth he's worked these thirty-nine years. But despite tearing off a piece of fabric from his life, he is using it to clean up the mess we are facing with our soil carbon, our costs and our farm.
No more grain farming.
Yep. I had to check his pulse a few times in that process but here we are, seeding season and I am not kissing my husband goodbye for my usual spring/summer/fall widow-hood! I'm watching him closely for a nervous tick to develop, but so far, he seems surprisingly peaceful. Praise be to God!
So now what?
We are shifting our focus from mining nutrients from the soil and shipping it off our land, to putting nutrients BACK into the land using livestock and stock-density grazing. It's about taking the carbon we've lost from the soil and getting it back in there where it belongs! Phase 1 will include putting the whole farm to forage seed and getting a good plant root-establishment in place while setting up perimeter fencing and water piping for water supply throughout the whole farmland. Once that's in place, we can get some animals on the land! God-willing, the animals (primarily cows and some sheep... maybe goats?) could arrive as early as this fall but realistically, it will likely be spring 2015 before we're fully equipped. So lots of work still this year but once the framework is established, all we will need to worry about is moving around inside-fencing (connected to the perimeter fencing) to create small paddocks for intense short-term grazing over all the fields.
Here is a great nine-minute video summarizing what we are working towards over the next couple of years. The switch from seasonal widow-hood to weekly date-night of fencing together is much-welcomed (remind me of this after we've done miles and miles of fencing)! :)
My dear ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you a whole new Circle V Farms... may the fruit of our endeavours bring glory to God, may we honour His request that we be stewards of His land including giving our land its sabbatical year, and may we bless Him daily for the land He has given us.
God bless you all out there!
CUT 2.3 from Peter Byck on Vimeo.
For those of you interested in the phenomenal story of Alan Savory, below is his 22 minute TED talk video.
So what does it look like to farm without chemicals and leaving the soil in better shape than we found it in? How do we give BACK instead of TAKE? Thanks to the life-work of Alan Savory, founder of Holistic Management, we have a renewed hope. A six-day course in January lifted our spirits and filled us with renewed purpose.
I am proud of my husband for making this switch. He has been grain farming from birth. Some of his earliest memories consist of being dangled (while still in a diaper) into the combine to pull out a screw for his dad. He lived and breathed grain farming and to say that it "runs in his blood" would be to minimize his ties to the earth he's worked these thirty-nine years. But despite tearing off a piece of fabric from his life, he is using it to clean up the mess we are facing with our soil carbon, our costs and our farm.
No more grain farming.
Yep. I had to check his pulse a few times in that process but here we are, seeding season and I am not kissing my husband goodbye for my usual spring/summer/fall widow-hood! I'm watching him closely for a nervous tick to develop, but so far, he seems surprisingly peaceful. Praise be to God!
So now what?
We are shifting our focus from mining nutrients from the soil and shipping it off our land, to putting nutrients BACK into the land using livestock and stock-density grazing. It's about taking the carbon we've lost from the soil and getting it back in there where it belongs! Phase 1 will include putting the whole farm to forage seed and getting a good plant root-establishment in place while setting up perimeter fencing and water piping for water supply throughout the whole farmland. Once that's in place, we can get some animals on the land! God-willing, the animals (primarily cows and some sheep... maybe goats?) could arrive as early as this fall but realistically, it will likely be spring 2015 before we're fully equipped. So lots of work still this year but once the framework is established, all we will need to worry about is moving around inside-fencing (connected to the perimeter fencing) to create small paddocks for intense short-term grazing over all the fields.
Here is a great nine-minute video summarizing what we are working towards over the next couple of years. The switch from seasonal widow-hood to weekly date-night of fencing together is much-welcomed (remind me of this after we've done miles and miles of fencing)! :)
My dear ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you a whole new Circle V Farms... may the fruit of our endeavours bring glory to God, may we honour His request that we be stewards of His land including giving our land its sabbatical year, and may we bless Him daily for the land He has given us.
God bless you all out there!
CUT 2.3 from Peter Byck on Vimeo.
For those of you interested in the phenomenal story of Alan Savory, below is his 22 minute TED talk video.
Sunday, 29 December 2013
Say "Cheese!"
Since before Ethan could even walk, he was so in-tune with his allergies that if he picked up an allergen (like a fallen Cheereo on the ground), his hand would grasp it in curiosity but immediately drop it and back away. Somehow he knew what was harmful to him.
With time, we would test those instincts by asking him to hold a potential allergen in his hand and say "Body, am I allergic to this?" and he would answer either yes or no. He has been bang on 100% of the time! We've done our best to encourage him to hone in on that skill set, a wise intuition.
Today, I was grating a massive brick of cheese as he played with his Lego at the breakfast counter. Sivana's intuition about cheese being out in the open had her in the kitchen in no time opening her mouth like a little bird asking for "Cheese, please!" Ethan looked up from his Lego then back down again and said "I sure wish I wasn't allergic to cheese."
Dairy has been one of his top allergens. He was so off the charts with his eEg tests as a baby that they suggested we not even have dairy in the house. We were warned that even skin contact could be life-threatening. That's why we sold the dairy cow, got rid of chickens due to his severe egg allergy and other potential life-threatening allergen-contributors on our farm.
I've also been ultra protective, constant hand-washing when handling dairy, separate cutting boards, separate pots, dishwasher with sanitizing cycle, etc… but something today put my guard down.
"Ethan, you want to HOLD a piece of cheese?"
"Ok."
Without even feeling too nervous, I placed the piece of cheese in his hand and he asked "Body, can I have this?" His eyes lit up and he said "MOM! My body says YES!!"
Before I could stop him, he placed the piece of cheese in his mouth!!!
"ETHAN!!! WAIT!!!"
He spit the piece out and I regained my composure and said "How about we rub a bit on the top of your hand and watch to see how your skin responds?"
A few years back, Duane left hand marks through Ethan's shirt because Duane had eaten buttered bread and picked Ethan up before washing his hands! Through the little guy's shirt, raised red skin in the print of Duane's big hands revealed just how allergic he was.
Even with this recollection fresh in mind… still, I had peace.
We set the timer for ten minutes and said we'd look at his skin then. I asked him "Ethan, do you know that it's thanks to your allergies that Mommy and Daddy started staying home and keeping the Sabbath? Do you know it's because of your allergies that we started studying God's word so deeply to better understand His will and His ways? I know it hasn't been easy for you, but I thank you for the way you changed our lives being made exactly as you are. If God gave you allergies for a good reason, do you think He could take them away if He wanted to?"
His eyes lit up at the realization and he exclaimed "YES!!"
"Ethan, I don't know if it's God's will that your allergies go away or not, but I DO know whatever He chooses, it is good. Do you agree?"
"Yes, Mom."
Ten minutes passed and there is ZERO indication that cheese was rubbed into my son's skin. It's now been thirty minutes and there is ZERO indication that a severe life-threatening allergen made contact with my son's skin and zero indication thus far that sticking cheese in his mouth affected him.
I don't know what this means without official testing in the allergy specialist's office but I do know that something HAS changed. And whatever it is, it is good.
Praise be to God for His perfect will and for His patience with us when we fight Him in our lack of understanding and trust. Oh how He endures us with such patience!! :)
Blessings to you all out there and praise be to God for His breath of life in you… for His perfect will where you are concerned and may He grant you peace in your surrender to that trust in Him. God bless you all!
With time, we would test those instincts by asking him to hold a potential allergen in his hand and say "Body, am I allergic to this?" and he would answer either yes or no. He has been bang on 100% of the time! We've done our best to encourage him to hone in on that skill set, a wise intuition.
Today, I was grating a massive brick of cheese as he played with his Lego at the breakfast counter. Sivana's intuition about cheese being out in the open had her in the kitchen in no time opening her mouth like a little bird asking for "Cheese, please!" Ethan looked up from his Lego then back down again and said "I sure wish I wasn't allergic to cheese."
Dairy has been one of his top allergens. He was so off the charts with his eEg tests as a baby that they suggested we not even have dairy in the house. We were warned that even skin contact could be life-threatening. That's why we sold the dairy cow, got rid of chickens due to his severe egg allergy and other potential life-threatening allergen-contributors on our farm.
I've also been ultra protective, constant hand-washing when handling dairy, separate cutting boards, separate pots, dishwasher with sanitizing cycle, etc… but something today put my guard down.
"Ethan, you want to HOLD a piece of cheese?"
"Ok."
Without even feeling too nervous, I placed the piece of cheese in his hand and he asked "Body, can I have this?" His eyes lit up and he said "MOM! My body says YES!!"
Before I could stop him, he placed the piece of cheese in his mouth!!!
"ETHAN!!! WAIT!!!"
He spit the piece out and I regained my composure and said "How about we rub a bit on the top of your hand and watch to see how your skin responds?"
A few years back, Duane left hand marks through Ethan's shirt because Duane had eaten buttered bread and picked Ethan up before washing his hands! Through the little guy's shirt, raised red skin in the print of Duane's big hands revealed just how allergic he was.
Even with this recollection fresh in mind… still, I had peace.
We set the timer for ten minutes and said we'd look at his skin then. I asked him "Ethan, do you know that it's thanks to your allergies that Mommy and Daddy started staying home and keeping the Sabbath? Do you know it's because of your allergies that we started studying God's word so deeply to better understand His will and His ways? I know it hasn't been easy for you, but I thank you for the way you changed our lives being made exactly as you are. If God gave you allergies for a good reason, do you think He could take them away if He wanted to?"
His eyes lit up at the realization and he exclaimed "YES!!"
"Ethan, I don't know if it's God's will that your allergies go away or not, but I DO know whatever He chooses, it is good. Do you agree?"
"Yes, Mom."
Ten minutes passed and there is ZERO indication that cheese was rubbed into my son's skin. It's now been thirty minutes and there is ZERO indication that a severe life-threatening allergen made contact with my son's skin and zero indication thus far that sticking cheese in his mouth affected him.
I don't know what this means without official testing in the allergy specialist's office but I do know that something HAS changed. And whatever it is, it is good.
Praise be to God for His perfect will and for His patience with us when we fight Him in our lack of understanding and trust. Oh how He endures us with such patience!! :)
Blessings to you all out there and praise be to God for His breath of life in you… for His perfect will where you are concerned and may He grant you peace in your surrender to that trust in Him. God bless you all!
Wednesday, 25 December 2013
A Whole New Understanding of Funerals
I learned something very important yesterday…I always thought funerals were only for the people who knew the deceased, and so I've often wondered why people, including my dad, read obituaries. But yesterday something beautiful happened. After my brother's funeral and interment, once gathered in the main hall, I saw the faces of my husband's family, a previous co-worker from nearly ten years ago, friends from our "church" community, etc…. people who never knew my brother, Danny, but came to KNOW him, honour him, and support my family. The gesture brought forth fresh tears of deep gratitude for the hearts of these beautiful people who already understood that funerals are not for the dead, but rather they are for the LIVING.
I wanted to share this humbling lesson with you all in case any of you out there thought the same thing as me. Don't ever ask yourself "Did I know this person well enough to be worthy of attending the funeral?". Because what I learned yesterday filled an aching in my heart which was to have Danny KNOWN by everyone. Something inside wants him to LIVE on not just in my family's heart but in others', too. The fact that the world does not pause for a moment to join in mourning but rather keeps right on going… meals to be made, bedtime routines to undergo, laundry to fold… etc… catches me off guard and stirs up sorrow. As insensitive as it may seem, perhaps God is more brilliant in His design than we give Him credit for. If the world paused, what would ever, ever encourage us to hit that "play" button ever again? He humbly reminds us that there IS a bigger picture.. and He promised that it is a gracious picture... that even this, a moment which understanding cannot grasp yet, is for His name's sake. He is setting His table. His guests are preparing to arrive, one by one. And before we know it, that trumpet will sound and those who have been made ready, those whom He created for the purpose of pouring forth His mercy, will enter into the marriage feast of the Lamb and the rejoicing will never cease.
I believe He has prepared a place for my brother and his invitation has been received. He is resting now and in a state of readiness for the glory of God.
But I miss knowing he is out there right now. Even if we didn't always know where that was. I miss knowing he simply was.
Another thing I got to learn these past few days is how very proud I am of my family and how deeply affirmed I am in the gift of blessing my children by being a "larger" family. I am number five of six kids and my heart instantly goes out to any and all of you who have mourned a deep loss without the comfort of siblings. I know that God alone is our Comforter, but I thank Him for having used the arms of my sisters and brothers to hold me these days and I pray He could use mine to hold them.
Sunday night, at the viewing, I saw a side to each of my siblings I will never, ever forget. A gift I will always credit to my brother, Danny. Danny was only 17 months older than my next brother (brother #2) and only three years older than my eldest sister. Four years after that and it's sister #2, another four years after that and it's me… eight years after that and it's my little brother. So I was twelve years younger than Danny and missed out on some of those crazy stories of his wild adventures on our 80 acres farm. My big brother #2 has always been more shy, more private and Danny was the outgoing, fearless ring leader, if you will. Needless to say, Danny and brother #2 and sister #1 were like peas in a pod, doing everything together under the sun (literally). It has been their stories that have made my heart grow deeper in love for our brother. He moved out when I was only 4 or 5 so my memories are only of our many family functions and the occasional phone call from him. But my delight is seeing the best of my brother in his two sons.My heart goes out to my brother #2 and sister #1 for the deepness of their loss. To be honest with you, I have never seen brother #2 cry and I've never seen his heart so vulnerable like this before... and it has made me love him that much more, too. Sunday, at the viewing, I watched my quiet, shy brother stand up before everyone and share some of his childhood memories. Through the quiet tears that sneaked past despite his great self-control, my brother spoke with strength, simple words but with such comedic timing that he filled the place with laughter despite the solemn occasion… and this is EXACTLY what Danny would have wanted. Danny lived to make people laugh and was such a gifted story-teller… so convincing, you would believe ANYTHING he told you… a direct DNA link to our Dad!! I thank brother #2 for honouring Danny by speaking exactly as he did. I have never been more proud of him.
Then there was sister #1 who stood up there and conveyed such depth of love with grace and eloquent poise…. representing not only her own memories but Danny's girlfriend's memories, too. Her strength was evident through her bright smile despite eyes glistening. I watched her love shine with such radiance and felt so proud of her.
Sister #2 went up, always the most petite of all us siblings, but don't let that ever fool you! The delicate state of her sorrow did not waver her ability to share her fondest memories of our brother and how though she couldn't pin point what exactly she learned more of him in those moments, what she did know is that she loved him all the more with each of them.
And my Mom… so brave, so strong. She went up there and shared some of her fondest memories including when Danny was just little and he ran into the kitchen where she was doing dishes and told her in French "Maman! Fermes tes yeux!" (Close your eyes!). He led her out the door, down the driveway up to the main road, my mother ever-trusting in her little boy's lead. Finally he turned her around and said "Ouvres tes yeux!" (Open your eyes!). My Mom says the sky was filled from north to south with the most radiant sunset… truly breathtaking. And there, my brother spread his arms wide in triumphant glory and declared "c'est tout pour toi, Maman!" (it's all for you, Mom).
When it came time for Danny's Song to be played, the recording was NOT working! My sisters and I pre-recorded it because we knew we wouldn't be able to sing it without bawling. My heart sank when the barely audible song came through with skips and scratches… when I saw my two sisters walk up to the front with a resolve in their eyes, they didn't need to say a thing. I got up there, grabbed the guitar, and found strength in uniting with them in that resolve that our brother deserved better than that failed recording! We three sisters have often sung together and according to Danny's girlfriend, she said he often boasted about how beautifully his sisters sang… a big brother's pride we wanted to live up to. Well, by the grace of God, my sisters and I rode that wave of strength and sang from the bottom of our hurting hearts until that very last note… Then the wave broke, the hurt all-consuming, and the unspoken words of "there you go, big brother, that was for you" resonating in our hearts with the remnant harmonics still in the air from the guitar in my hands.My left fingers are gloriously callused from playing his song many times over again like a comforting lullaby. I watch his childhood footage and get choked up each time I see my brother sitting on that motored canoe looking back at my father… with such pride, with such trust… a son in his element with his dad.
 |
| Danny holding me |
May God comfort you in the losses you face in your life. May you feel united with those who know with you the pain of watching life go on no matter what and may the hurt you've experience be filled with the hope in God's promises to His children. Our Shepherd who tends to His flock.
I love you all out there. God bless you!
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Danny's Song
For those of you who would like to join us in spirit for Danny's funeral this morning, this YouTube link will take you to the song I wrote and sang with my sisters. Lyrics are at bottom of YouTube page. God bless you.
Danny's Song
You came into this world before it was time,
A newborn cry to soothe,
A young mother's heart
who feared for the tiny life from her womb.
You came into this world
before you should have been allowed,
A son to look up to his father and say,
"someday I pray that I'll make you proud."
CHORUS:
When you looked in the mirror, did you ever see
The man we all saw deep inside?
The breath of Creator who willed you to life
Who knows your heart deep inside.
When you had, you gave.
When you could, you prayed.
The underdog, you defended.
The forgotten, you befriended.
You left this world before it was time,
Now a mother's heart weeps,
In sorrow and reluctant peace combined.
You left this world
before you should have been allowed.
A son to look up to the Father and say
"I pray somehow that I've made you proud."
CHORUS
We'll see you again
When that trumpet sounds
And resurrected life abounds.
And across the masses
of souls come and gone
We'll look at you, and smile...
You came into this world before it was time,
A newborn cry to soothe,
A young mother's heart
who feared for the tiny life from her womb.
You came into this world
before you should have been allowed,
A son to look up to his father and say,
"someday I pray that I'll make you proud."
CHORUS:
When you looked in the mirror, did you ever see
The man we all saw deep inside?
The breath of Creator who willed you to life
Who knows your heart deep inside.
When you had, you gave.
When you could, you prayed.
The underdog, you defended.
The forgotten, you befriended.
You left this world before it was time,
Now a mother's heart weeps,
In sorrow and reluctant peace combined.
You left this world
before you should have been allowed.
A son to look up to the Father and say
"I pray somehow that I've made you proud."
CHORUS
We'll see you again
When that trumpet sounds
And resurrected life abounds.
And across the masses
of souls come and gone
We'll look at you, and smile...
Sunday, 22 December 2013
My Big Brother, Danny
It is with a sorrowful heart that I share with you that my eldest brother, Danny, passed away in the wee hours of December 18th. He'd lived a difficult life, particularly these last thirty years and it's hard to believe he is gone. I struggle between the logic of knowing he is finally at peace now and the real hurt of knowing there is never going to be an opportunity to see him again… at least on this side of life.We five siblings and my parents (among many other loved ones) have prayed diligently for him these many years and have wondered how our merciful God would answer them. Would it be in an obvious way? Would it be in a way we don't understand? Will we have the eyes to see His workings?
My prayers for him changed a couple of months ago. As I have been studying scripture, I wanted to share the incredible findings with my brother. My mother, two sisters and younger brother had recently shared our first Sabbath gathering as a family and have delighted at the journey of eager learning together as a family. I wanted so much for Danny to be a part of this journey with us, too.
So my prayers shifted and I asked God "Father, you know my heart and you know my brother's heart. If you have guided us thus far in learning your ways, your statutes, your life-giving laws so as to guide us into willing obedience into a bondage of righteousness rather than a legalistic bondage of sin, then send your spirit to prepare the heart of my brother, Dan. I will not chase him down but instead I ask that you stir something deep within his heart that causes him to contact me. I ask this in our Messiah's holy name, Amen."
 |
| December 2000 |
In shock, I exclaimed with such joy "DANNY!! Could you feel that I was praying for you??"
He didn't seem too interested in that question. There was a remnant of inebriation in his tone and he was obviously troubled about something…
"I had to call Dad to get your number! I've just had a terrible dream. It was about Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth? Who's Elizabeth?"
"ELIZABETH! Your daughter!"
"Oh! Danny, it's Isabel." (Even as I type this, I chuckle while holding back tears as this was just one of those Danny-things… he couldn't remember some of my kids' names).
"Yeah, Isabel. I just dreamed about her…" at this point he choked up and said "she walked right up to me. Rita, she was WALKING, and she shook me awake. She looked into my eyes and it was as if she could see right into my soul. She could see right into me! She looked at me and said 'Danny, you're dying.'"
There was a brief moment of silence as I could hear him still choked up and he asked "What do you think it means? Is she ok? Will she and I die soon?"
Because of the prayers I'd been praying and the miracle of his phone call, I felt nothing but HOPE. I, too, have been sensing that Isabel will be free of her disabilities soon but my prayer was that it was to be through a moment of great faith… a miraculous healing for the glory of God. This has been my prayer. If I could see my Isabel free from her suffering due to a miracle, couldn't this little "message" mean a miracle was coming for my brother, too? So I answered him:
"Danny, you ARE dying! But not for long! I prayed that God stir something within you that would cause you to call… and you DID! You were obedient to the Father stirring within you. That tells me deep inside of you, you are ready to let your old self die. I think your suffering is about to end and you will be free of it! Don't worry, Danny, your suffering will not have been for nothing… I think it is meant to be for the glory of God!"
He chortled sadly at that one in sad disbelief and I said with great excitement and hope "Danny, we won't talk about it more right now, I know you think I'm talking crazy talk, but you'll see… I know you'll call me again and we'll talk about God in a way you didn't know! You're about to know God in HIS way! I believe in you, Danny, and I love you very much. And I'm very excited for you!"
A bit of a sad pause on his end, then barely over a whisper, he answered, "I love you, too. Give Elizabeth a big hug for me."
And those were our last words. I so believed his surrounding peace meant he was about to become a new creation. But I suppose in some way, he has. But I thought it meant in this lifetime, not through death. I know God answered my prayer, just not as I expected. Had He not caused that stirring, I would not be able to tell you right now what my last words were to my brother. I would not be able to tell you when I last told him I loved him. I got off that phone with tears of joy flowing down my face. I looked at my husband and said "God is working something in Danny!"I feel so dumb having believed with full confidence that I was going to hear from him again. My siblings shared with me that he called each of them including my parents and had a good talk with each of them, except my dear sister Linda. He had asked for her number but never got his chance to talk to her. Needless to say, this has broken her heart. As a family, we have united to share in our sorrow, our reluctant peace…. it has felt like waves ebbing and flowing between peace and deep sorrow.
The finality of it hits like a punch to the stomach and looking through pictures brings forth sobs as we try to accept that there will never be another picture taken.
His obituary has printed in the Press today and the realness is hitting hard. This isn't just another set of time where no one knows where he is but he pops up again… he is gone and he's not coming back. I wrote a song and if I can find a way to upload it, I will share it. If not, I may simply post the lyrics.Please keep my parents in your prayers as they bury their firstborn son tuesday morning. And my two nephews, only young men. Sunday night is the viewing and I'm scared to see the finality of my brother's empty shell. I pray for continued healing through whatever process each person is best suited to. I pray an unconditional support where each one is at and a collective uplifting with each step. I pray for a peaceful surrender and trust in the will of a merciful God whose bigger picture exceeds any of our ability to understand.
Goodnight, my brother. Enter into your sleep and I pray to recognize you at that trumpet sound.
We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
Sunday, 15 December 2013
ABC with Toddlers
Always fun learning alphabet songs in this house. Avalyn loves to sing and Sivana pipes in without her hearing aids and manages just fine! I have the best "job" in the world!
http://youtu.be/JerxQSUqK0c
Sent from my iPhone
http://youtu.be/JerxQSUqK0c
Sent from my iPhone
Sunday, 1 December 2013
Ethan-Friendly (Gluten-free & Dairy-free) Rice Krispies
With Ethan's plethora of allergens, I am always on the lookout for recipes I can modify with Ethan-friendly ingredients and experiment. One day, my sister who was trying a gluten and dairy free diet, came by with some basic rice krispies Ethan could partake in. Working off that recipe, I beefed it up a little and came up with the following… which has been a big hit with Ethan, and (much to his chagrin) everyone else! :) This is one occasion where Ethan does NOT mind being the only one able to partake! Here's hoping your family can enjoy it as much as ours. I wish I knew how to make this a printable copy but for now, we'll have to do this the "old fashioned" way.
Ethan Friendly (Gluten-free & Dairy-free) Rice Krispies
3 TBSP Becel Vegan margarine
1 pkg Jet Puff large marshmallows (~40)
1 tsp vanilla
5 cups gluten-free Nature's Path Crispy Rice
1/2 cup coarsely crushed Nature's Path Corn Flakes (optional)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened & sulphite-free)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
Chocolate Sauce:
2 TBSP Becel Vegan margarine
6 large Jet Puff marshmallows
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cups Enjoy Life allergen-free chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
1. Grease a 9 X 13 pan with Vegan margarine.
2. In large pot over medium heat, melt 3 TBSP margarine and pkg of marshmallows until completely dissolved and blended. Remove from heat.
3. Add vanilla and blend well.
4. In a large bowl, combine the Crispy Rice, Corn Flakes, coconut and sunflower seeds.
5. Add to large pot and blend quickly.
6. Press into 9 X 13 greased pan (you may need to put some margarine on your fingers to keep it from sticking to you).
7. Sauce: in small pot over medium heat, melt margarine and marshmallows until well blended. Remove from heat.
8. Add coconut milk and chocolate chips and stir until smooth.
9. Spread over rice krispie base and refrigerate 1 hr before cutting and serving.
Ethan Friendly (Gluten-free & Dairy-free) Rice Krispies
3 TBSP Becel Vegan margarine
1 pkg Jet Puff large marshmallows (~40)
1 tsp vanilla
5 cups gluten-free Nature's Path Crispy Rice
1/2 cup coarsely crushed Nature's Path Corn Flakes (optional)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened & sulphite-free)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
Chocolate Sauce:
2 TBSP Becel Vegan margarine
6 large Jet Puff marshmallows
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 1/2 cups Enjoy Life allergen-free chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
1. Grease a 9 X 13 pan with Vegan margarine.
2. In large pot over medium heat, melt 3 TBSP margarine and pkg of marshmallows until completely dissolved and blended. Remove from heat.
3. Add vanilla and blend well.
4. In a large bowl, combine the Crispy Rice, Corn Flakes, coconut and sunflower seeds.
5. Add to large pot and blend quickly.
6. Press into 9 X 13 greased pan (you may need to put some margarine on your fingers to keep it from sticking to you).
7. Sauce: in small pot over medium heat, melt margarine and marshmallows until well blended. Remove from heat.
8. Add coconut milk and chocolate chips and stir until smooth.
9. Spread over rice krispie base and refrigerate 1 hr before cutting and serving.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Lego of Ego and Share from the Heart
In the midst of teaching addition, subtraction, phonograms and vowels, I try to incorporate values in every day learning. After all, the bible tells us that all creation declares His glory so let's train our eyes and ears (and hearts) to "see" what is declared.
For instance, math helps us to find even numbers so we know how to share with a friend, or divide fairly among groups. Math helps us learn that if everyone measures based on their own hands or feet, we could never work together to build something that would stand… a universal measuring stick makes sure we all work together. No differently than if we all gauge for ourselves what LOVE is or what's RIGHT and WRONG, we may find ourselves in a community that is collapsing. But when we uphold God's universal measuring stick, His Torah, for what is right and wrong, we can work together and build community… for His glory.
We know that our provisions are bountiful in our home but we have not been diligent in sharing that abundance. I thought maybe it was time to teach the kids how to manage provisions in a way that honours God's Torah, (which is the basic golden rule of "do to others what you would have them do to you.") and to be open about the fact that we will be right there learning with them. Not-so-surprisingly, there are many commandments regarding tending to the widows, the orphans and the poor. We are also to help our "enemies." And when our tummies are full of food and life is good, God warns us that those will be the times we forget about Him. So with our tummies full, every provision met and then some, Duane and I humbly embark on a journey of teaching our children some basic rules about finances… and to apply them in our own lives.
Thanks to moonjars, we have set up Ethan (5), Anika (6) and Sivana (3) with three little "jars" each labeled: Save, Spend, Share. They receive a weekly allowance based on their age and we've discussed the three aspects of dividing those funds. For their "spend" jar, we told them they are now responsible for buying their own toys and/or extras above their existing provisions. For their "share" jar, we suggested looking at our Compassion Canada booklet to see what we can buy for our sponsor family in Brazil, but to also keep our eyes and ears open for local needs. And the "save" would be a monthly trip to the bank to watch their savings grow for down the road.
Ethan was eager to look through Lego pamphlets and right away zeroed in on a Police Mobile Unit for $35. "Well, Ethan, you get $5 per week and $0.50 goes into your share and $0.50 goes into your save which means you get $4.00 in your spend. It's going to take you about nine weeks to save up enough. Are you excited about working towards that?" "Yeah! That's a long time, but I can do it!" "Alright, Bud."
Every Friday, Ethan would remind me that it's Payday. He'd be ready with his little deposit book and he'd write the new totals for each category. Every now and again, he would ask "Mom, can you pull up the picture of the Police Mobile Unit for me again? I just want to look at it for a while."
Nearly twenty minutes of staring at the computer screen, dreaming of his Lego Police Mobile Unit…
November 22nd was THE payday which brought him to his FINAL amount needed. He was counting down the days all week. I was excited for him and proud for the long-term dedication. We sat down with his little balance book and the four loonies and four quarters and he looked up at me pensively and said "Mom, today, I would like to put more in my 'share' box." Needless to say, I was a little surprised by this! "Wow, ok Ethan, but you realize this means you will not have enough for your Lego this week?" "Yep, I know." "Alright, how much would you like to put in your share?"
He thought about it and answered with a big smile "$2.00!" And so he joyfully updated his deposit book, plunked the coins in their respective boxes and bounced away happy as can be. I sat back and marvelled at the large slice of humble pie before me.
I thought of the poor widow in the books of Mark and Luke who gave only a few coins to help with the Temple repairs in Jerusalem… but it was all she had despite it being worth only a penny. Jesus saw and taught His disciples that she had given more out of her poverty than the men who gave large sums out of their abundance.
My little man had been dreaming of that Lego set for nearly nine weeks and rather than give in to his own desires, he felt happier giving more to others' needs. It is time Duane and I learn from this and seek to share our abundance with this same joy.
It is ever humbling to realize as a teacher and as a parent that sometimes we do more of the learning than our kids do! And praise be to God for that. Perhaps he knew those would be the moments are hearts would be willing to listen.
To all of you out there, I hope you are feeling as richly blessed in your provisions as we are. May you join with us in being humbled by our abundance and may you be blessed with the eyes to see and the heart to give where it is needed most. And may you be blessed by these words:
For instance, math helps us to find even numbers so we know how to share with a friend, or divide fairly among groups. Math helps us learn that if everyone measures based on their own hands or feet, we could never work together to build something that would stand… a universal measuring stick makes sure we all work together. No differently than if we all gauge for ourselves what LOVE is or what's RIGHT and WRONG, we may find ourselves in a community that is collapsing. But when we uphold God's universal measuring stick, His Torah, for what is right and wrong, we can work together and build community… for His glory.
We know that our provisions are bountiful in our home but we have not been diligent in sharing that abundance. I thought maybe it was time to teach the kids how to manage provisions in a way that honours God's Torah, (which is the basic golden rule of "do to others what you would have them do to you.") and to be open about the fact that we will be right there learning with them. Not-so-surprisingly, there are many commandments regarding tending to the widows, the orphans and the poor. We are also to help our "enemies." And when our tummies are full of food and life is good, God warns us that those will be the times we forget about Him. So with our tummies full, every provision met and then some, Duane and I humbly embark on a journey of teaching our children some basic rules about finances… and to apply them in our own lives.
Thanks to moonjars, we have set up Ethan (5), Anika (6) and Sivana (3) with three little "jars" each labeled: Save, Spend, Share. They receive a weekly allowance based on their age and we've discussed the three aspects of dividing those funds. For their "spend" jar, we told them they are now responsible for buying their own toys and/or extras above their existing provisions. For their "share" jar, we suggested looking at our Compassion Canada booklet to see what we can buy for our sponsor family in Brazil, but to also keep our eyes and ears open for local needs. And the "save" would be a monthly trip to the bank to watch their savings grow for down the road.
Ethan was eager to look through Lego pamphlets and right away zeroed in on a Police Mobile Unit for $35. "Well, Ethan, you get $5 per week and $0.50 goes into your share and $0.50 goes into your save which means you get $4.00 in your spend. It's going to take you about nine weeks to save up enough. Are you excited about working towards that?" "Yeah! That's a long time, but I can do it!" "Alright, Bud."
Every Friday, Ethan would remind me that it's Payday. He'd be ready with his little deposit book and he'd write the new totals for each category. Every now and again, he would ask "Mom, can you pull up the picture of the Police Mobile Unit for me again? I just want to look at it for a while."
Nearly twenty minutes of staring at the computer screen, dreaming of his Lego Police Mobile Unit…
November 22nd was THE payday which brought him to his FINAL amount needed. He was counting down the days all week. I was excited for him and proud for the long-term dedication. We sat down with his little balance book and the four loonies and four quarters and he looked up at me pensively and said "Mom, today, I would like to put more in my 'share' box." Needless to say, I was a little surprised by this! "Wow, ok Ethan, but you realize this means you will not have enough for your Lego this week?" "Yep, I know." "Alright, how much would you like to put in your share?"
He thought about it and answered with a big smile "$2.00!" And so he joyfully updated his deposit book, plunked the coins in their respective boxes and bounced away happy as can be. I sat back and marvelled at the large slice of humble pie before me.
I thought of the poor widow in the books of Mark and Luke who gave only a few coins to help with the Temple repairs in Jerusalem… but it was all she had despite it being worth only a penny. Jesus saw and taught His disciples that she had given more out of her poverty than the men who gave large sums out of their abundance.
My little man had been dreaming of that Lego set for nearly nine weeks and rather than give in to his own desires, he felt happier giving more to others' needs. It is time Duane and I learn from this and seek to share our abundance with this same joy.
It is ever humbling to realize as a teacher and as a parent that sometimes we do more of the learning than our kids do! And praise be to God for that. Perhaps he knew those would be the moments are hearts would be willing to listen.
To all of you out there, I hope you are feeling as richly blessed in your provisions as we are. May you join with us in being humbled by our abundance and may you be blessed with the eyes to see and the heart to give where it is needed most. And may you be blessed by these words:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Monday, 25 November 2013
Quick greeting to touch base!
Hello my dear ones!!
I must extend a great big thank you for your enduring patience with me at this time. Some have graciously shared with me that many readers have lost interest in my family blog because it has become far too "spiritual" or "religious". I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or not…
My gratitude is for all of you who have been so gracious in your time of connecting with my family right where we are at in our journey of life. Doesn't mean we have to agree on everything but we can certainly find ways to connect! And you've done that with our family…. what a gift!
In all honesty, this past year in particular has been an intensely spiritual one for us and every free moment has been spent deep in scripture and studies. I suppose this means that I will take as a compliment the feedback I received because this time of spiritual growth through scripture is a perfect reflection of where our family IS at.
Part of me wants to apologize and at the same time celebrate. What I do promise is to be whole-heartedly me and offer you my humble self in full honesty right where I'm at, whether good or bad. And the beauty of sharing oneself wholeheartedly IS a freedom because it gives selflessly… no strings attached... with the freedom of allowing you, the receiver to do as you see fit with that.
If I may humbly ask for your prayers at this time as I have drafted what may be a rather significant "message" of revelation through scripture. It is in the process of being prayed over, refined and tested against scripture by my beloved husband, and awaiting a final comfort/peace in hitting "publish". Its findings have changed our lives over here and of course, the first instinct when one stumbles upon something life changing is to say "Whoa! I gotta tell everyone about this!"
In the meantime, God bless you all out there! And for those of you lighting your first Hanukah candle this Thursday, keep an eye out for comet ISON! If astronomers are right in their guess, it could be an incredible light show as though God Himself were lighting the first Hanukah candle reminding the world WHO the light of the world is! :)
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who is the father of our Messiah, Jesus, be with you all.
I must extend a great big thank you for your enduring patience with me at this time. Some have graciously shared with me that many readers have lost interest in my family blog because it has become far too "spiritual" or "religious". I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or not…
My gratitude is for all of you who have been so gracious in your time of connecting with my family right where we are at in our journey of life. Doesn't mean we have to agree on everything but we can certainly find ways to connect! And you've done that with our family…. what a gift!
In all honesty, this past year in particular has been an intensely spiritual one for us and every free moment has been spent deep in scripture and studies. I suppose this means that I will take as a compliment the feedback I received because this time of spiritual growth through scripture is a perfect reflection of where our family IS at.
Part of me wants to apologize and at the same time celebrate. What I do promise is to be whole-heartedly me and offer you my humble self in full honesty right where I'm at, whether good or bad. And the beauty of sharing oneself wholeheartedly IS a freedom because it gives selflessly… no strings attached... with the freedom of allowing you, the receiver to do as you see fit with that.
If I may humbly ask for your prayers at this time as I have drafted what may be a rather significant "message" of revelation through scripture. It is in the process of being prayed over, refined and tested against scripture by my beloved husband, and awaiting a final comfort/peace in hitting "publish". Its findings have changed our lives over here and of course, the first instinct when one stumbles upon something life changing is to say "Whoa! I gotta tell everyone about this!"
In the meantime, God bless you all out there! And for those of you lighting your first Hanukah candle this Thursday, keep an eye out for comet ISON! If astronomers are right in their guess, it could be an incredible light show as though God Himself were lighting the first Hanukah candle reminding the world WHO the light of the world is! :)
May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who is the father of our Messiah, Jesus, be with you all.
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