stay-cation 2011

This is not very Roy of us at all.  We're adventure, travel, road-trip-type people to the core.  But life has been hectic, and my love will be boarding a plane to Mexico soon...so we opted to vacation at home, to look for beauty right outside our front door, with 50 bucks in our pocket.
Our first {of many} bike rides, I was remarking how special it is to have this time together, to ride down a hill and spot the lake, to get coffee and a cookie at the local bakery.  They were taking it in, and Jack exclaims "I can't believe we live here!"
We do live in a pretty phenomenal town, but the itch to explore nags me: large cities, third-world countries, Paris, beach, mountains...you name it, I'll go!  But what I value more than trying out a new cafe or riding a moto down a dusty road is a new perspective.  I love seeing the world in a new light.  Getting away does that.  So, part of my prayer for this week was that God would renew my mind, even here.  And would you know, He has!  He whispers to me to "take the gentle path." Shows me how meaningful putting together a Star Wars puzzle can be.  And what a refreshment a drive studying the clouds is.  And the faith of a child to climb up a 100 ft. fire tower with their dad, no hesitation.  Or, to go down their first waterslide in the lap of their mom.  And what a gem of a husband I have.  And how completely rewarding are spontaneous hugs.  And pure, lasting joy is not found in what we have or don't have, where we are or where we aren't.  Our God hears!  And He answers prayer.  And there is so much beauty that awaits, right beyond our front door.

Stay-cation 2011

Silver Beach. Parking: $5

Pike Lake. Bike Ride, Coffee and Cookies: $8

Ouabasche State Park.  Entry to Park: $5, Pool/Waterslide: $10, 5 Frosties: $5

Fort Wayne. Art Museum: Free (on Thursdays), Picnic Downtown, Starbucks: $4.50 (doubleshot on ice for mom and dad)

Our “backyard”. River-stomp, Bike Ride to Dairy Queen: $10

Family of 5 + 1 week + 1 tank of gas + $50 = a priceless amount of enjoyment

corners of our home

Thanks for all your kind comments.  We are overjoyed to see it come together!  Many projects are still to be done.  But with school starting in a week, we’re gonna soak in the rest of summer.  The to-do lists we will always have, but these boys I won’t {wipe tear from the corner of my eye}.

I have finished enough to forgive the boxes that will go unpacked until these boys are away for {gulp} 7 hours a day…

So, I bring you corners of our home:

  

 {the above bathmat will not be white for long, but that's a whole other post 

about re-purposing what we've got}

 {can you believe we found that desk and chair (I recovered the chair) 

in the trash alongside the road?}

 {this has been my dresser for as long as I can remember - used to be pink, then lavender, then my dad stripped and refinished it.  looks like it belongs.}

 {note the new game table:  yay for church garage sales!}

 {Miles is pretty pumped to have his own space, which may be the theme of his room 

if we get around to it:  space.}

 {our pet fish, "sushi" is diggin' the sea life mirror, an original "brett gregory" work of art}

 {the barn + chair (an original "T-pa" masterpiece) = hours of fun for Jude}

Of course, boys still make "bug playgrounds" {which involves lots of mud, and bugs}, walls get ketchup-y hand-prints, clifford's trip to silver beach leaves our floors with enough sand to sweep into a mini-beach.  This could all drive me crazy {and it has a time or two}.  It is a conscious decision I have to make to not let it get to me.  I am known to say "This is not the time of my life to have a clean house".  We teach our boys to pick up after themselves and I clean what I can.  But at the end of the day...frankly, there are things that matter more to me than extra smudges on the window.  'Cuz I have a feeling that someday I'll miss those grubby little paw-prints and wish back the days of legos scattered, supper needing made, and being beckoned to play.  Why wish away the playing, the enjoying, the living?  And there you have confessions of a recovering perfectionist, learning to seize the day.   

Carpe diem, friends!

moved.

We have lots of catching up to do, don’t we?  First, we have internet!  Second, we moved!!!  It has been a full, fast, fun week of moving and settling, arranging and rearranging, scavenger-hunting for random items. 

Here’s a sneak peak…

 {above: slowly deciding what goes on our walls}

{below: loving the little things, like another peach tree in our backyard}

I made my first GF zucchini bread and zucchini lasagna this week to break in my oven.  I think we'll get along just fine. 

 Many projects on the list still to do...

Paint the brick brotha is probably not one of them, but it makes me smile :)

Found this on the phone - didn’t know Jack had taken it, not even sure what we're laughing about, but I love it – many good times to be had here!

One week ago, sitting down to a french press at 8.30 am, a wave of vulnerability came over me (ok, maybe it was more like panic), thinking how this would all get done.  Next thing I knew it was 10.30 am, and the truck was pulling out of our drive.   Friends and family had gathered, with a smile and a hug, sleeves rolled up, ready to get to work.  The truck was unloaded, we ate lunch, the guys went back for some odds and ends, the girls helped me get beds set up and the kitchen unpacked.  We were done by dinner.  Unbelievable.

I have pondered for days how to say thank you to all…  All those who labored on this house with such diligence and skill: laying kitchen tile on your vacation, asking the garbage truck guys if you can throw in some extra trash, building closets in 100+ degree days before the central air was hooked up, painting into the wee hours of the night.  All those who so cheerfully moved us, scraping your car with a tool box in the process, playing “musical mugs” - switching them to 3 different cupboards ‘cuz I couldn’t make up my mind, driving all the way from Ohio to help out a sister/daughter, sitting with our boys so they would have a constant in the chaos of people and things in and out.  All those who made meals for us – not any ole’ meal, but a gluten-free meal – that takes patience and love!  {This feels a little bit like I just won a Grammy and don't want to leave anyone out, because you all are so kind!}  All those who dropped off thoughtful gifts, like: a box of 1000 Park coffee at just the perfect time, sharing their harvest (zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, corn), Udi’s bread and stuff to make sandwiches, flowers for our porch, antique beds for our boys.  

We are moved, by your care and generosity.

I really don’t know how to say thank you...

But I do know how to say you are welcome. 

Welcome, all!

to affect the day

to affect the quality of the day,

that is the highest of arts.

h.d. thoreau

Here and there, uncovering slips of paper with sea creatures and bugs doodled, plans for their 70-story building sketched out, notes scribbled "i love mom" {me drawn with 2 ponytails and 3 strands of hair in each}, and journals with quotes jotted down such as the above have made this moving experience so much more than filling boxes with stuff.  I am reminded why and for whom we are doing this, and with what shall my heart be content.  It's a long story, what we've done.  Something you can read a little about here (a blog Andy started before his to-do list became a million items long...)  

We've drug 3 kids along in the process, and they've been troopers.  A few weeks back when the early mornings, late nights, long days were getting to me, they were just "at" each other.  My mom pointed out how we all deal with stress in different ways - my body let me know by breaking into itchy hives; they let me know in fighting and tears shed.  We've tried to do what we can to lessen the shock of all this on them - it's not a far move, but it involves crossing over the railroad tracks, getting used to a different house, switching schools, making new friends, learning other rules - a lot for a little one, especially for one who is already fragile about change.  

Yesterday, lessening the shock of all this looked like leaving the boxes behind and the grass that needs mowed oh, so bad...and hitting the beach.  
Just me and them.  Just 2 hours.  Just what we needed.  

Thinking through the day, what stood out wasn't the closets sorted or boxes filled (although "marchin on" blares while I do - thanks to you, Ang :), 

but taking a break at the lake for a few hours, 

sewing a baby gift to drop off for a friend (procrastination project #17...), 

setting a butterfly free, 

a most awesome meal dropped off for us (complete with sparklers - you're the best, Brooke!), 

All those who have chipped in to help make this nasty house our soon-to-be home…staying up until 12 and 2 to help my man paint (still in awe, Paul and Kristine!), swinging by the house to drop off some strawberries to my lonely love when his family is away (thank you, Matt and Jennifer!), caring for my kids like they're your own so I can pack (so grateful, Brandi and Becky!)

Thank you for creating beautiful moments to bless our days.
You are thoughtful, gifted artists.
And we are so thankful.

journeying home

The boys and I had a great time with my fam.  It's been awhile since I've taken a road-trip solo with all 3 - the first time with them all in undies!!! (sorry to my future-teen-sons reading this :) and the first time not in a van.  That backseat can get a little crazy...  

This drive was sweet memories of queen anne's lace and bachelor buttons lining the road, grooving to a little credence clearwater revival, watching them through the rear-view tear into their snack bag before the car was in gear, and thanking the Lord for bringing us safely back home...again.  

We got to celebrate 92 years with my grandma...

Savor fresh produce at every meal...

Relive childhood memories of black raspberry shakes...

Go antiquing with my bro, while the boys visit "lego lady"...

Now we are home…for now... 

.: Packing, packing, and more packing…thinking this should be the next (and last) book I buy.

.: Making special moments amidst the...packing...to relish the view and the summer and these days we long for all year, trying hard not to let them slip away.

{This is what happens when you've reached your decision-making max, can't possibly make another one, and the hair stylist asks what you'd like to do...} 

.: Breaking out the ice cream lovewiches recipe – because oh, how we love thee.

.: Stopping to smell the flowers…

.: Embracing this moment, so full of sentiment, uncertainty, and evidence of His faithfulness.  3 days until the move!!!

.: Wanting to bloom where planted.

life beyond gluten

One year ago, I got the phone call that started me down this gluten-free adventure.  It was one of those moments I wasn’t sure whether to breathe a sigh of relief, or cry.  I tested positive for celiac disease, and was relieved to know why my stomach was so upset, why I was sooo tired.  But, I didn’t know the slightest about celiac disease, let alone how I would manage to cut out the 4 basic food groups of the American diet?  
You know…bread, pasta, bagels, donuts…

why kick the gluten?

Basically, my body could not break down the proteins in wheat, so every time I ate a piece of homemade whole wheat bread (that was supposed to be so good for me), it wreaked havoc on my insides.  My thyroid problems were probably caused by celiac.  A doc at the Cleveland Clinic told me 1 in 3 people who are hypothyroid have celiac!  [A ton of research has been done on the connection of the two.]

The only cure for celiac is to eliminate wheat, barley and rye from your diet, completely.   Once you try to do that, you realize gluten is in *everything*, from BBQ sauce to cold cuts to cookie sprinkles.  No wonder so many people are suffering from gluten overload.  Studies say 1 in 133 Americans have celiac, but only 5% are diagnosed.  The reason it is so difficult to diagnose is because there are over 300 possible symptoms! 

how to kick the gluten?

I am a firm believer that if you can do 3 weeks gluten-free, you can be gluten-free for life.  The first 3 weeks were the hardest:  figuring out what not to eat, learning what is okay, craving a crusty slice of bread.  But when I started to see how much better I felt, it was so worth it!  I lived most of my life in a fog, thinking everyone else was too.  I didn’t know better, until going completely GF.  I felt like I woke up for the first time in my life! 

It has been a challenge, mainly because I have kept our family’s grocery budget to $500/month, for the 5 of us.  Gluten-free food is usually double the cost of regular.  So, we have to be creative.  I try out lots of recipes.  We keep our meals simple, and rarely eat out.  But, it’s always such a treat to find a gluten-free replica that tastes just as good, if not better. 

what to do without gluten?

I just compiled a list of recipes we could do GF, and kept it at that for a few weeks, then added as I could.  It was something like:

Monday: black bean soup, pão de queijo, salad

Tuesday: curry chicken, rice, broccoli

Wednesday: stirfry, edamame

Thursday: rice and beans, chips and salsa

Friday: grilled chicken, potatoes, seasonal veggie

Saturday: pizza night!

Sunday: baked potatoes with toppings, salad

Breakfast: hard-boiled eggs, scones, baked oatmeal, pancakes, breakfast casserole, smoothies, yogurt and berries, French toast, granola (with GF oats), bacon!!

Lunch: sandwiches on Udi’s bread, quesadillas, wraps, taco salad with tortilla chips, BLT salad with GF croutons, pizzas on brown rice tortillas, mac and cheese, leftover soup from monday…

You might feel like you’re cooking all the time at first.  There’s no more “order a pizza” or “swing by a drive thru” option, because cross-contamination is fierce after you’ve been GF for awhile, and have a gluten sensitivity.  But, it is so. very. worth. it!

Just thinking back to what things were like a year ago before I knew what was wrong... Unbuckling Jude out of the car seat at the movie theatre on free-movie-Wednesdays, I remember last year, praying I could make it through the movie without having to take 3 boys with me to the bathroom because my stomach was in knots.  So often, I have thought how there’s no way we could have done this house renovation before saying goodbye to gluten. 

I’d just encourage anyone out there not to ignore the warning signs (all 300 of them...)  The risk of untreated celiac is disturbing, and why suffer from gluten sensitivity?  Just give it 3 weeks.  Buy frozen GF meals and make PBJ on Udi’s, if you have to (throw in a salad too :)  Taking care of yourself is so very important.  And, there is life beyond gluten!

Also, I know this is already weeks-worth of thoughts, but I read an interesting article in "Outside" magazine.  You can read it here.

Other GF link love:

glutenfreeonashoestring.com

glutenfreegirl.com

I guess that's all for now.  I've had some little spies, who are just asking to get wrestled and then to pack some boxes with me :)