Recipe

Here is the recipe incase you're in the mood for some festive baking!

Ingredients

150g Butter
60g Caster Sugar
60g Soft dark brown sugar
60g Golden syrup
360g Plain Flour
1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1.5 tsp Ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1) Preheat oven to gas mark 4/180C/350F. Line a baking tray
2) Melt butter with both types of sugar and golden syrup
3) Sieve flour, bicarb, ginger and cinnamon into a large bowl, then add melted mixture and mix together.
4) Knead the mixture for a few second until to comes together. add a little water if needed, but keep the sough soft, not sticky.
5) Flatten the dough into a round, 2cm thick, then wrap with cling film and put in the fridge for 30 mins.
6) Dust work surface and roll out dough. Stamp out shapes with a cookie cutter.
7) Bake in the oven for 10-12 mins or until golden. Remove from oven, cool on wire rack and ice them cool.
8) Icing - icing sugar and water to desired consistency (remember not very much water is needed at all)

Gingerbread

Just dug out the old Christmas cookie recipe from 2010...

Ready for hungry kiddies!

Ready for the oven

Preparing for the day

Hubby snoring beside me. Washing machine has done its load (set up with timer for early hours) and shirts are now in the tumble dryer. My lamp is on as I take some much needed reflection and prayer time in its dim glow before the kids stir. The quiet and peace is glorious. Such a blessing to start a day this way rather than being woken by the noise of kids and mayhem! I actually feel ON TOP of the day rather than feeling overcome by a rushed beginning.

So there is much to do today. Prayerfully Asher will go to school with no frets or tears (off yesterday with sickness) and life will carry on as normal at home. Soup and rice for dinner so that's nice and simple and I can focus my day on the kids and hopefully a library visit which will be a good walk up the hill! I should attempt to do some of those things I didn't get round to last week, like phone calls and some online shopping.

I praise and thank God for his constant Grace and mercy in providing what we do not deserve. I thank him for my dear husband beside me, my beautiful children next door, our warm home, our food and clothes. My breath this morning as I have awoken, to live and breathe another day in his presence. I want to always be in his light. I pray my mind is in tune with him today. James 4v8. I pray he will cherish and protect my kids, esp Asher who is away from me at school and is so nervous still. God give him courage today. Show me how to teach and guide them to know you more and learn to love you as I do. Help me direct their little hearts to want to please you and obey. Our theme this week is OBEDIENCE and we're searching for O's everywhere! I'm sure we'll find some at breakfast time this morning!!!

Time to go and get that sorted and get myself in the shower. God bless your day and may we bear fruit for him Col 1v10.

Remember November

Here we are again, months after the last post, wondering where the time went! Well we had a monsoon season here in England from May to July which was probably the most depressing summer on memory! Many days I would cry at the site of more rain and having to try and 'enjoy' the 'summer' months! The only saving grace was our trip to Canada which was just incredible and we enjoyed sunshine and quality time with friends and family.

Upon our return we were right back into the thick of it with Pete's shift patterns, Asher starting reception, and looking after a friend's 10 month old baby. Lots changed but it's been good to start some new routines.

I am learning a lot about 'letting go' as we adjust to Asher being at school. He has found the transition quite challenging and is still extremely sensitive about certain things. This has been quite a difficult change for me, as I worry and wonder about how he is doing. God is pushing me to trust in him when I cannot have the control myself. What a lesson for us as parents, to be able to let go and let God! For the last 4 years i've had that control of what he is doing, who he's with, how he feels, just knowing exactly what's going on. What a difference it is not to know for 6 hours of the day what he is feeling, whether he is coping or even enjoying himself, and I have 16 + years left of this!

So the rest of the week looks like this:

Today: Pete home at a reasonable time, hopefully in time to share yummy beef and vegetable stew and warm bread with us.

Tuesday: Library/park visit. Chicken and veg one pot (keeping the meals warm with the chilly weather)

Wednesday: MY BIRTHDAY! Meeting Mum and Sis in town for lunch and SHOPPING, Sausage casserole for dinner, followed by sisters class in the evening with my lovely ladies.

Thursday: Hanging out with friends and play date for the kids. Salmon stir fry for dinner.

Friday: Grandparents day at school, so excited for Asher! Cinema with friends for my birthday, Breaking dawn part 2!!! :)

Saturday: Hospital Visit to see my consultant. Taking the teen girls ice skating in the evening, can't wait!

Sunday: Memorial service and roast dinner at Mums (more birthday treats!)

Doesn't look too bad really, just got to try and fit in some exercise, EYFS planning, sunday school prep, finish the ecclesial rota, make some important phonecalls, cleaning, painting, and of course some time reading my book...speaking of which!

back on track

I am finally back in the land of the living, after a good 2 weeks bedrest and doing very little other than sleeping and reading in bed! Once again, God has been so gracious and good in giving me the support and help I needed to recover and get back to full strength. The weeks leading up to this operation I felt daunted and stressed to have to go through it all again and worried how we would cope practically, but God always provides and I sure am learning that each time! He never leaves us short of what we need always showing his love for us though the people around us. I am so encouraged by the love of Christ shining through people in their kindness and generosity. This is how others can know him, but seeing him in us. 


So I am back to meal planning, cleaning and washing and trying to keep on top of the day to day, but relishing in the blessing that this is my role in our family. Enjoyed baking a yummy banana bread this morning with Isaac in my new stand mixer (thank you sarah and jim!) and then had a lovely walk to pick up asher from nursery...the sun was shining then, but not now! I was hoping to go out into the garden and do some weeding with the boys but the heavens have opened! More rain to help our plants grow I keep telling myself. I just hope they don't drown and get ruined!


I think I will go and wake Isaac up from his nap and take the boys out for an afternoon visit with Auntie Millie, otherwise they are going to drive me crazy stuck in all afternoon! 


Take it easy. God Bless x

Recent Fun and Games

April already!

It's great to have got the chicken pox out of the way since my last post, although Isaac's bout of it was pretty traumatic! I hope we never have to go there again! Life has been pretty steady since then, fighting a lingering cold in the background for the last few weeks but that seems to be the story of my life! Isaac is potty trained, Hallelujah! We are now on Easter Holidays and enjoying Asher being at home, no school runs and pancake breakfasts!

Only 11 days now until my next Operation, so I think that is very much at the forefront of my mind at the moment. General preparations going on in the background, who's going to be helping out when, getting meals made to freeze ready for when I am confined to my bed for bedrest! I have my pre-op tomorrow, another annoying appointment going over the same old stuff I've heard a million times, but I know it must be done.

So, the carrots, parsnips and potatoes are peeled ready for our yummy roast beef dinner tonight, and looking forward to Sarah, Jim and Maggie getting here! This is our weekend now, as Pete had to work the whole of Easter wkd so we missed out on a nice meal with family! Time to look up Dad's amazing beef gravy recipe!

I will leave you with a verse I read this morning which reminded me how much I appreciate kind and encouraging words when my anxiety gets the better of me...

'An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up' Prov 12v25.

Chicken Pox

It's only Wednesday? Are you serious? Boy oh boy, what a painfully slow week! Made even more painful by a broken washing machine, one boy with chicken pox and rainy days!

So I got 3 loads of washing done at my mum's yesterday which was such a help so I feel more on top of that now. But the list of jobs just keeps getting longer and longer as each day goes by and I still can't get much done, apart from cook dinner, because of a poorly Asher who wants cuddles and love! I don't mind the cuddles and love, I LOVE the cuddles and love, but it's just no good when the floors keep gaining another layer of grease and grime each day, and the vacuuming can't get done, and the bathrooms are filthy and the toys are everywhere. Well I just don't bother putting the toys away anymore. I used to put them away at the end of the day, but while they have been ill and i've been so exhausted, i've just left them out. They'll only get them out again first thing in the morning!!!

But today I have to get into action. I can't have people over for bible class tomorrow night and the house be in this state. At least I don't have to go out in the rain to go shopping, we have cupboards full of food thanks to Tesco home delivery! So where should I start? Might be a good idea to mop those floors and clean the toilets! Hmmmm, such appealing jobs.

On the plus side, Isaac just willingly got the potty, sat on it and did a big poo! and a wee! Maybe it's time to start potty training. It's one of those things I am just not ready to start yet though, because once you start you gotta be commited! Am I ready for accidents and poo on the floor again!?!? Maybe I'll wait til the washing machine is fixed or we've bought a new one (most likely) or maybe once the spring comes and it's warmer weather then I can just let him run wild in the garden with the potty!

But enough of the dreary stuff, there's still so much I am thankful for and I gotta remember that! We are all well again since the AWFUL flu that hit our home a few weeks ago. It's so nice to have Isaac back being his cute happy self. Apart from the chicken pox, which will inevitably hit Isaac next (poor thing) we are doing good and I am much less fatigued this week. I have news from my consultant that he should be able to operate late March early April, which is not too far away and I am thankful, ready to get that over and done with.

Time to get some lunch made, and that means nap time is in sight! Good job because Isaac is getting cranky. Not surprised as he was up at 6:30am!

Leftovers

Well Monday morning has come round again and unfortunately so have the viruses! I've woken up totally full of cold again and feeling rough. Thank goodness it's half term and no school run, and as 5 o clock approaches, thank goodness for leftovers!

Yesterday we had a massive roast capon with roast potatoes, parsnips, squash, carrots, stuffing, sprouts and peas. It was delicious. We boiled the bones last night and made a big tub of stock, and there was also tons of chicken and veg leftover. So when I looked in the fridge wondering what to make for dinner today I was so thankful to have all this food left over. I took a roll of pastry out of the freezer to thaw out. I usually make my own pastry but when you're not feeling well it's so nice to have a back-up roll ready made.

So today's meal was easy peasy and cost nothing! I began by making a sauce by melting 3oz margarine in a saucepan and once melted added 3oz flour. This turned into a paste so I straight away added 2 cups of the stock that we made last night. This thickened nicely, and then I added 1 cup milk (oat milk as we're non-dairy). To this I added some fried onions, and then all of the chopped up carrots, peas, chicken, potatoes, squash, parsnips, and even the sprouts! I mixed it all up, added some salt and pepper and poured it into a rectangle pirex dish. I put the rolled out pastry on the top, and popped the pie in the oven where it is now cooking and the kitchen smells good!

Only half an hour to go until Pete gets home God willing, and oh I can't wait!!! Now I collapse on the sofa!

Wednesday

So one week on and the germs have nearly left the house, but not quite! It's been a tough and exhausting week of getting barely anything done, relying on oven cooked food for mealtimes, accepting the mess and too much TV! I am much better now, just left quite lethargic, but am slowly getting back on top of the washing, cleaning and meal planning! Isaac is still suffering, but improving slowly. His fever is not so frequent now and he' started to eat a few cheerios a day which is a good sign, but the poor lamb is still weak and restless and just wants to be held. We've read a LOT of stories in the last few days!

I am always trying to find lessons from everyday experiences like these. I like to think there is always something we can learn or take from a difficult day or week, so it doesn't feel quite so wasted. I have definitely felt God's love and Grace again in this week of illness. God is all knowing and all powerful. He knows the end from the beginning and it is in the everyday miracles that this is really confirmed for me. Being a mother in itself is challenging and tiring, but being an ill mum is almost impossible! God knew how ill I was going to get last week, to the point where I couldn't even get out of bed or sit up. Nancy extended her ticket 2 days before I got ill, meaning she was here to help with the kids and cook and clean and look after me. THANK YOU GOD. My mum came over on the Wednesday and picked up Asher from nursery, another blessing because I was still in no state to get out of bed, let alone out of the house! Then on the Friday when Nancy was spending the day with Sarah, Pete's shift was changed for no reason which meant he had the day off. Once again God knew. Then on the Saturday when Pete was back at work local friends helped me out by having Asher a few times in the day allowing Isaac (who by this time was ill) and myself to sleep. These things really show me that God was truthful when he said he would not let us be tested beyond what we can bear. (1 Cor 10v13). His promises to love us and protect us are really seen when he helps us through challenging experiences, even the smaller things like these.

So as the week of illness draws to an end and a new week begins I am feeling encouraged and close to God, thankful and blessed to be on the mend. I am hoping lots of Vit C, zinc and echinacha, healthy eating and gallons of water will get me back on track! Now I am off to check on Isaac who is sleeping, best thing for him, play with Asher and peel some potatoes! Sausages and mash tonight with lots of steamed veg! Still keeping the meals simple so not to get too tired out, but nutritious! Bye for now! x

Sick day

Today I'm finding it really hard to let go. As I lie here in bed burning in a pool of sweat, it's really hard not to be in control. I don't know what's going on downstairs, if the boys have eaten, if the house is clean, what's for dinner. Good job I have limited hearing because I can't hear a thing so I don't need to know if anyone is crying or tantruming! It's really hard being ill as a mum though isn't it? Well if this was a normal day i'd be really stuck because I don't think I could even stand up without falling over, but thankfully Pete's off work and Nancy is here to help take care of things so I am able to stay here quarantined to my room while they pick up the pieces. I'm hoping that I can cook this flu and it will be gone by the morning, but already I am lying here anxious about whether I am going to be able to manage tomorrow.

I am bored as heck, but exhausted. I wan't to sleep, but my head is pounding and I'm too uncomfortable. I don't want to moan to anyone and seem like a bad patient, but at least I can moan on here! I will definitely need to change the bed-sheets by the end of the day! It's a beautiful day outside, I really feel like i'm missing out. The curtains are open so at least I can see the sunshine. I might try and sleep now, or read or watch call the midwife on iplayer...

One of those days

Already today feels like a bit of a write-off, although I am trying not to let it be so. It's 'one of those days', or at least I could label it as that and then just let the day take over! But I am still trying to resist, I am still trying to fight this day because I don't want to come to the end of it and just feel like it's been for nothing. Even when I feel exhausted and beaten, it doesn't mean I can't give God glory and make a difference to someone, although i'm not quite sure what or who yet.

I dragged myself out of bed this morning feeling strangely fatigued even though i'd had 7 hours sleep. I traipsed downstairs, sleepily laid out some cereal for the boys and set them up for breakfast, prayed with them and then stumbled back up the stairs bleary eyed and got in the shower. That helped, and once dressed and out the door to take Asher to nursery I felt much more normal. Once back at home I ate someone, took a multivitamin and omega oils and settled on the sofa to do some reading. But after 3 chapters of Job, I couldn't keep my eyes open. I tried to shuffle about, change positions but I admitted defeat realising I wasn't taking in any of what Job was saying, and fell asleep, like turning a light bulb off, click, I was asleep. I haven't felt THAT tired for ages!

During which time Pete (who doesn't start work until 1pm and works til 10pm) made lunch and went out with Isaac to pick Asher up from nursery at 11:30. I woke up for lunch, which helped and cleared up, put Isaac down for a nap and now I am sitting here trying my hardest to stop my head hitting the pillow again!!! It's a miserable rainy day outside which doesn't help because I would force myself outside for some fresh air, but I don't want to get all soggy and cold and wet today. Not today.

So in the hope of salvaging this day and not spending the rest of it dosing on the sofa while the boys run riot, I am going to go peel potatoes for dinner, set up some painting for the boys to do, make a phone call and write a letter, and then once those few things are done maybe I will permit myself a 20 minute sit down and not feel guilty because at least I would have done SOMETHING!

Nana Miles

The ironing is done, bathrooms are cleaned, the whole house vacuumed, meat marinating in the fridge, clothes put away, uniform laid out, floors mopped, kitchen cleaned, facebook checked! Yes, it's Sunday night, Monday morning looms! But this is not going to be just any Monday, THIS is going to be a special Monday! During prayers tonight we prayed with the boys for safe travels for their Nana Miles who they are so very excited to see tomorrow after 2 years! What a treat they are in for! We are looking forward to hugs, laughter, walks, stories, meals together, trips out, and new memories made. So I shall say goodnight because I have muffins to make in the morning!

Christmas Morning Muffins

I think it only fair to share with you the muffin recipe which got us through the christmas season!

Christmas morning muffins

250g Plain flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

100g caster sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 clementines/satsumas

approx 125ml milk

75ml veg oil or melted butter left to cool slightly

1 egg

175g dried cranberries

3 teaspoons demerara sugar for the topping

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Line 12 bun muffin tins with muffin papers or silicone inserts

Measure the flour, baking powder, bicarb, caster sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a large bowl.Grate the zest of the clementines over and combine.

Squeeze the juice of the clementines into a measuring jug, and pur in the milk intil it comes to the 200ml mark.

Add oil and egg and lightly beat until just combined.

Pour this liquid mixture into the bowl of dried ingredients and stir until everything is combined. Lumpy batter is a good thing here.

Fold in the cranberries and spoon the batter into the muffin cases and sprinkle with demerara sugar on top.

Bake in the oven for 20 mins. ENJOY!

Carpe Diem

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/glennon-melton/dont-carpe-diem_b_1206346.html

Grace

I doubt anyone ever reads this, but that's not too important really. It's a really nice outlet to just type all your thoughts out. Like a diary or journal, but much more efficient - much faster than handwriting and my hand isn't aching after 10 minutes. I find handwriting tiresome for some reason, although I love to send letters to friends, but my handwriting is AWFUL, and I mean awful, like my teachers used to struggle to understand my essays at school!!!

I actually forgot about this blog to be honest, and reading the last post I had written a whole year ago makes me wonder how time can go so fast without noticing! I am put to shame reading last years new years resolutions because I have totally failed, and that's hard to take, but I will not be discouraged because I am human and God's Grace is sufficient.

This year has been FULL. Moving house was fun, (and stressful and tiring!!!) but it's good to be settled in our own place that we can call home and do what we want to it. Today we had plasterers in to fix the hallway and landing walls so we hope to paint when that has dried. We have not chosen a colour yet, really have no clue what to pick, am hoping it will just come to me when we go to B&Q. So today has been pretty hectic trying to keep the boys from accidentally running into the wet plastered walls or tripping over ladders and dust sheets! I have had little patience today actually which didn't help and struggled when they decided they didn't want to listen when I asked them to tidy toys away or sit on their bottoms to eat their dinner! It's bizarre how some days I can be over-spilling with patience and other days the smallest thing will tip me over the edge. At least I can walk into their bedrooms tonight while they are sleeping and with one look I fall right back in love with them as they snore away and know tomorrow is a new day and God will supply all my needs.

God's Grace is so apparent in my life at the moment. Whenever I just don't think I can rise to the challenge he has set me, his constant Grace and mercy pulls me through. In finding out I need more surgery...my human thinking is anger, frustration, disbelief and pain, but then he reminds me that 'Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked will I depart. The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. May the name of YAHWEH be PRAISED' Job 1v21.

Every breath I breathe is from him and every step I take is because he keeps me from stumbling. And so I ask him to help me remember that every day and go on living with gratitude in my heart.