The Birthday train

After four months, the Bain birthday train has chugged into it's home station.

There are hardly words for this boy.  He's determined and sure, perhaps sometimes too certain his plans and ideas must be implemented.  His joy and enthusiasm for daily life spill over like champagne Kombucha into our days. He's also sweet, kind, and quirky; most of his actions as colorful and full of sparkle as his crystal blue eyes.  When his birthday party had to be postponed because his best friend and brother spiked fevers he smiled and said he understood.  And meant it.

Over his chosen birthday breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes this morning he said he doesn't want to get any bigger. He told me eight was his favorite number, and if he grows any more he won't fit through his secret fort entrance in the woods. 

Astonished, my heart melted like the chocolate in his pancakes at the thought of his wish (and mine) coming true.  Of him always needing the silky shorts and wanting 3 different types of kisses before he can go to sleep.

I could only say Amen to his wish that this year passes much slower than the last. my wish is for us to practice enjoying every single moment and that he can find a way to expand his secret fort entrance and stay a little boy a bit longer. 

Because I know before I turn around another year's birthday train will be pulling into the station and ten is a whole 'nother ball game.

Lib

One {family} Word

I had a lot of time to ponder and meditate on the one word for 2012 on our holiday Texas drive.  I wondered if the possibility of one {family} word even existed.  

We are loud. We are busy.  We are Gluten-free as much as humanly possible.  Not to mention our at times over and under scheduled-ness.  Mile after sunny Texas mile slipped by as I prayed, asked and sought what word we might sail under this year. 

The Armor of God kept coming to mind, and I wondered if we might Practice getting dressed spiritually in January.

So here's my/our 2012 one {family} word plan for us:  it will be low key and easy to maintain, otherwise the chain connecting us to the anchor of spiritual practice will not hold.

Nothing more to do than read the passage once (or twice) a day and talk about how to put it into down-to-earth-real-life use.  I printed out a copy of January's reading and taped it to the kitchen counter.  We take turns reading it aloud (overlapping some reading practice!) and mention what we'll need most that day. Our goal is not to memorize, preach or figure out the meaning of the original language.  Simply to put emphasis and awareness on twelve different spiritual principles we want to practice throughout the year. 


No pressure.  No perfection.  Not really a quantifiable goal, just a family of six.  Practicing our sailing skills through the waters of 2012 under one little word.  

Lib
LInked to Ann
Linked to Layla 

OH! OH!Oatmeal

There are so many incredible recipes on this here internet, it seems shocking the only good recipes used to come from Junior League cookbooks.   Living in the age of apps that can take your on hand ingredients and spit out a recipe  transforming them into a meal, a printed recipe seems as antiquated apple pie.

Last week the two recipes that topped my to-try list were from Rachel and Mrs B. The recipe from Rachel had some undesirable ingredients (it was adapted from White Lily flour) and Mrs B's recipe for baked oatmeal didn't recommend soaking the oats.  As I looked over both recipes wondering which I would try first (I knew one with Crisco would require a major makeover) I decided to remake them both, blending them into one terrifyingly delicious breakfast treat.  Though not grain free, this recipe qualifies as a dessert breakfast with no refined sugar.  So go on, serve it up with a living beverage and tell me what your crew thinks!

Caramel topped OH! OH! Oatmeal

OH! OH! Oatmeal

8 (fill-up-a-growing-boy) servings 

preheat oven to 350

2 c oats (gf, rolled, quick or regular) - soaked overnight in 4 c water

1 can (about 2 c) pumpkin

1/2 c coconut sugar, sucanut or xylitol

4 fresh eggs, room temp

2 T pumpkin pie spice

1/2 t sea salt

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 t vanilla

1/4 c melted coconut oil

Topping:

1/2 c coconut oil

1/4 c maple syrup

1/4-1/2 c coconut sugar (to taste)

1 c chopped nuts (I used almonds and cashews)

1 t cinnamon

Add all topping ingredients to small sauce pan and heat until bubbly.  While the topping is coming together, drain the oats and add to a mixing bowl.  Throw in all the other ingredients, mixing well with a wooden spoon.  It doesn't have to be wooden, but this recipe doesn't require a mixer either.  The oatmeal mixture will be a thick-ish cake batter.  Pour it into a greased 2 1/2 quart baking dish and bake (with timer set) for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven (or just carefully pull out your rack) at 15 minute mark and pour topping over partially baked oatmeal.  It will kind of sink in, but you should still see most of it on top.  Hence, topping.  Bake for 15-20 more minutes.  Cool for 5-10 before serving. 

The boys were still out at the barn when this came out of the oven, so I asked Mainbain to give it a try.  He deserves credit for dubbing it terrifyingly delicious...the entire baintrain agreed!  

I think it's one recipe worth printing!

Lib
linked to
Kelli,
Rachel, Jen,
Laura,
Kristen 

Be Bold

Be the bold, 

beautiful person

4 year olds 

know 

you are.

Another day, another story,

Em

One word 2012

Have you heard of picking one word to christen your year? 

I first experienced it last year, when the word possibility kept coming up over and over in a pay attention kind of way in January.  So, last year was the year of possibility: I learned to live in a sea of it and I found myself enjoying it the more it knocked on my door. 

New job for Mainbain? Possibility that turned into reality. Trip to Africa? Possibility {still}.  Ability to be a more compassionate mamma? Possibility, with ample practice opportunities.  Trip to France with dear, newly reconnected friend? Possibility.  Joy and excitement in cheering best friend onto start new charity.  Possibility turned reality.  Whether or not they turned into realities, this word kept me stable. Sane on the sea of what am I doing and how did I get here days.  It was an anchor, pulling me back to what I believe I was divinely led to experience last year.

I envisioned myself alone at the back end of a sailboat with the sail completely unfurled.  The sail is white and emblazoned on it is the one big word I will sail under and anchor myself to this year.  

reminder button compliments of Melanie

Content.  I'm shaking my head that this is the word I can see on 2012's sail.  I've been a destination junkie for most of my life - always looking for the Bigger Better Deal:  an event to look forward to or an improvement to my current reality.   I know this year's word is going to mean growth. And that the growth will carry the possibilty {probability} of growing pains. So Content? I'm not gonna lie - it makes me nervous.  I would like the cheat sheet on how to maintain contentment, please.  During wins and losses, strep throat and disappointments, I think I could put St. Paul's cliff's notes to good use this year:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13

I can learn to swim in the sea of this new word; after all I've got a whole year for this possibility to become my {new} reality. 

Lib
Linked to Layla