Two Wednesdays ago Mataya went in for surgery...it wasn't a huge procedure or anything risky, she was only getting tubes put in her ears. I was so tired of the many ear infections she had gotten by the age of 6 months that I was ready for any type of relief, and it was a really good exercise in making me give my daughter to back to God. So that morning we knew we couldn't feed her pa:st 3:00 am and the surgery was at 7:30 am, needless to say I was very nervous that she would be a basket case by the time the surgery would begin.
Usually when Mataya sees me in the morning she is very insistent that she needs to eat right then, so when she woke up at 5:30 am, I was was super nervous; however, we decided to just load her in the car since we needed to be at the hospital at 6:30 am and drive around town for awhile. I thought she would fall asleep or cry, but she just layed awake quietly in the van while we drove around. When we got to the hospital I was ready for a huge meltdown, but God was with us and she did awesome. She was awake until the time right before the nurse took her from us and she stayed asleep while we transferred her to the nurse. God is SO GOOD! I was so thankful that she wasn't screaming and crying when they took her from us.
We headed to the waiting room and began praying that God would be there in the surgery room with her, and after about 15 minutes they came and got us! It was so quick and fast, and even though she was super crabby the rest of the day, we were so relieved to have the surgery done. Another blessing was that my amazing sister-in-law Grace brought us an awesome dinner (even though she is pregnant, has an infant, and is super busy!). It was so tasty that Micah ate practically the whole thing! He told me that I needed to blog about the recipe, so I decided to once again give tribute to my awesome sister:
Quinoa Meatloaf (So easy!!!)
2 lbs ground turkey
1 cu. quinoa (2 cu. water)
1 Onion
1 Green pepper
2 eggs
Salt & Pepper
-Saute the green pepper and onion. Boil the quinoa for 3-4 minutes then let it sit with the lid for about 10-15 minutes. Mix all the ingredients then put whatever kind of sauce you like on top of the meatloaf in a bread pan. My sauce usually includes about 1 cu. ketchup and 1/2 cu brown sugar or something like that. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours or until done in the middle. Eat and enjoy!
Thank the Lord that Mataya is doing soooo much better, and she has been basically sleeping through the night since the surgery. God is Good!
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Bath time...can you say ADORABLE?
I don't have much to say, but I had to post the pictures of my adorable little girl in her bathtub. The rolls are just so cute I want to just pinch them all the time. I love my rolly polly little girl :)
Diaper Boxes Recycled!
Okay...so I have an obsession with baskets! Who doesn't like a cute fabric lined basket or box? Yes, I love to put baskets with fabric liners all over my house, and use them as decorative storage options. These are one of my favorite things to organize little piles in my house or in my closets or the numerous toys that are starting to accumulate in my house. I am always looking for clearance baskets at hobby lobby or michaels. So, when I was looking on pinterest the other day I noticed a DIY fabric box/basket recycling option. I was so excited to try this project because I had plenty of unused diaper boxes waiting to be put to good use. Yes, I will admit that often I just throw away my diaper boxes instead of recycling them like I should. Most of the time I just fill them with junk until it is overflowing and then I ask the hubby to take them out to the trash. So, I decided that I could do something good for the environment by recycling these boxes into something I am quite fond of: storage baskets! I also was excited to try and save a few dollars by doing it myself.
So I begged Micah to let me look for some clearance fabric while we were at walmart, and he gave me a budget that I was not supposed to go over! I scavenged their small collection of fabrics, and I was happy to find some really cheap canvas style fabric for 1.00 a yard. I was stoked!
I could go into detail on how I actually made the boxes, but I decided that I would just give you the original link I found these beautiful creations on so that way I wouldn't have to basically re-type what she already had put together.
lined canvas diaper box link
However, here are some of the pictures I took of my fun little project. They aren't the most beautiful boxes, but I was excited with how they turned out.
So I begged Micah to let me look for some clearance fabric while we were at walmart, and he gave me a budget that I was not supposed to go over! I scavenged their small collection of fabrics, and I was happy to find some really cheap canvas style fabric for 1.00 a yard. I was stoked!
I could go into detail on how I actually made the boxes, but I decided that I would just give you the original link I found these beautiful creations on so that way I wouldn't have to basically re-type what she already had put together.
lined canvas diaper box link
However, here are some of the pictures I took of my fun little project. They aren't the most beautiful boxes, but I was excited with how they turned out.
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| After I was done sewing I put all my sewing materials in the box! Perfect solution for my unorganized sewing materials. |
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Homeade Granola Bars
While trying new recipes I noticed that most granola bars in stores contain dairy. I was SUPER disappointed because I love to have granola bars in my purse or just around the house to snack on rather than just eating total junk. They are also a great energy booster in the late afternoon before dinner when I get the munchies.
I came across this recipe on another blog and adapted it just a little bit to fit my needs and what I had in my kitchen. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can add pretty much whatever extra things you would like depending on what you have in your pantry or the mood you're in! I had a huge bag of craisins from a sams club trip the other day along with some chocolate chips, so I made Cranberry Chocolate Chip Granola Bars. Here is the recipe:
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup Kashi Go lean Crunch
1/2 cup almonds (I have also made them without these because they tend to make the bars pricey, and it still tastes great)
1/2 - 1 cup cranberries
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1. Heat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the middle of the oven. Line the baking pan with parchment, leaving extra parchment to hang over the sides. Lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray or butter.
2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: Mix the oats, cereal, nuts, and dried fruit together in a mixing bowl.
3. Warm the honey for about 1:30 in the microwave then stir in the peanut butter until it melts. Mix in the vanilla extract, salt, spices.
4. Stir the honey into the Dry Ingredients.
5. Press into an 8x8 pan.Use wet or lightly oiled hands to firmly press the mixture into the pan.
6. Bake the bars for 20-25 minutes for chewy granola bars or 25-30 minutes for crunchy bars. As soon as you remove the bars from the oven, press them again with the back of a lightly oiled spatula. This will help them stick together!
7. Cool the Granola Bars then lift out of the pan and score with a knife and store in a airtight container between wax paper.
Now enjoy these delicious and dairy free granola bars!
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| Okay so the picture does not show how delicious and addictive these things are! |
Carrot Time With Daddy
Every night Micah begins his evening raid of the pantry and refrigerator after dinner (I don't know how he is still hungry after!), and his snack time usually includes a carrot or two. I have never really been one to snack after dinnertime because my family never really ate anything after dinner except dessert. Micah, on the other hand, LOVES to snack snack snack, and it just puzzles me every time.
However, I love it now when he pulls out the carrot every evening because I know he is going to share with Mataya. As soon as he pulls the carrot out he looks at Mataya and smiles and holds the carrot up, and she usually begins to flap her arms and yell loudly in impatience to suck on the carrot. They always lay on the floor and suck on their carrots together. It is always one of the sweetest moments of the evening for me to see this little tradition they are creating. Last night I was able to catch a few silly pictures of them laying down together sucking on their carrots.
However, I love it now when he pulls out the carrot every evening because I know he is going to share with Mataya. As soon as he pulls the carrot out he looks at Mataya and smiles and holds the carrot up, and she usually begins to flap her arms and yell loudly in impatience to suck on the carrot. They always lay on the floor and suck on their carrots together. It is always one of the sweetest moments of the evening for me to see this little tradition they are creating. Last night I was able to catch a few silly pictures of them laying down together sucking on their carrots.
Daddy giving the carrot to Mataya
Silly carrot time!
She wants the bigger carrot :)
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Quinoa and Sweet Potato
I recently joined the lovers of quinoa due to it's healthier aspects compared to pasta. It has taken a little convincing to get the husband on board, but he definitely enjoys this tasty dish from my lovely and talented sister-in-law Grace! I have to admit that when she brought the dish to a family gathering and mentioned that it was vegan I turned my nose up at the food. I knew that I would try it just to be nice, but for some reason I have a bad habit of thinking that healthier/unknown foods will not taste good! However, I am very glad that I tried this delicious dish. It is SO tasty and very healthy for you, especially when it comes to casseroles or side dishes. Normally Grace serves this as a side dish, but I wanted to make it my main dinner dish, and because my hubby and I are huge meat people I added chicken to the dish to make it more filling. Here is the recipe:
Quinoa and Sweet Potato (and chicken!)
2 Sweet Potatoes
2 Cu. Quinoa (4 cu of water)
Chicken (I used about 3 small chicken tenders)
1 Onion
1 Green Pepper
Cranberries
Slivered Almonds
Dressing:
1/4 cu. olive oil
1/4 maple syrup
2 tbl. balsamic vinegar
2 tbl. juice (I used apple but orange would work too)
1 tsp. dijon mustard
(Whisk well)
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut up the sweet potatoes in small chunks and toss in olive oil (or just use olive oil spray like I did) and put on a cookie sheet and cook in the oven until soft for about 20-25 min.
3. Meanwhile boil 4 cups of water and when it is boiling add in the 2 cups of quinoa and boil for about 3-4 minutes then turn off the burner and put on the lid and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
4. While the quinoa and sweet potatoes are cooking cut up onion and saute it in a small saucepan WITH the chicken.
5. Cut up one green pepper (no need to saute) or whatever veggie you have on hand!
6. Mix the sweet potato, quinoa, veggies, chicken, cranberries, almonds, and dressing all together and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until it is all warm.
That's it! You definitely want to try this recipe because it is delicious! I will be posting later about another quinoa meatloaf recipe also from Grace that I absolutely loved...
Quinoa and Sweet Potato (and chicken!)
2 Sweet Potatoes
2 Cu. Quinoa (4 cu of water)
Chicken (I used about 3 small chicken tenders)
1 Onion
1 Green Pepper
Cranberries
Slivered Almonds
Dressing:
1/4 cu. olive oil
1/4 maple syrup
2 tbl. balsamic vinegar
2 tbl. juice (I used apple but orange would work too)
1 tsp. dijon mustard
(Whisk well)
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut up the sweet potatoes in small chunks and toss in olive oil (or just use olive oil spray like I did) and put on a cookie sheet and cook in the oven until soft for about 20-25 min.
3. Meanwhile boil 4 cups of water and when it is boiling add in the 2 cups of quinoa and boil for about 3-4 minutes then turn off the burner and put on the lid and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes.
4. While the quinoa and sweet potatoes are cooking cut up onion and saute it in a small saucepan WITH the chicken.
5. Cut up one green pepper (no need to saute) or whatever veggie you have on hand!
6. Mix the sweet potato, quinoa, veggies, chicken, cranberries, almonds, and dressing all together and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until it is all warm.
Sorry the picture doesn't show just how tasty it is!
That's it! You definitely want to try this recipe because it is delicious! I will be posting later about another quinoa meatloaf recipe also from Grace that I absolutely loved...
Friday, February 1, 2013
Return to your first love
I would like to think that I am a morning person...and maybe some days I am, but I usually require about 5 minutes just to wake up. I don't drink coffee or anything; I just need 5 minutes to get going before I have a normal conversation.
I am blessed with my husband's early wake up time because he often gets Mataya in the mornings around 6:30ish and keeps her occupied until about 7:15 or 7:30 when she decides she needs her breakfast. After I feed her I usually play with her and eat my breakfast and so on. When she goes down for her first nap around 9ish my mind begins to go full speed with everything that I need to do! Most mornings I really try to get a quiet time/time in the Bible before I start checking off everything that needs to be done off my mental list that is already accumulating; however, today was one of those tough but good days.
Instead of taking time to read my bible or devotional (Jesus Calling - you need to read it if you haven't done so!), I started in on the tasks of the day and some fun projects I had waiting. Micah was home for the morning lifting weights in the garage. Around 10 he came in and Mataya woke up from her nap. I had felt a little guilty about not spending good time with the Lord, but I kept telling myself that one day didn't really matter...
Well, I started noticing that my heart/attitude was starting to get very grumpy and negative. When Micah came inside I snapped at him, and I just couldn't seem to get my joyful attitude back. All of the sudden I felt the Lord whisper to my soul, "Adrienne, don't I deserve your first fruits?"
I was taken aback because I was trying to make excuses in my brain..."well God I always give you my first fruits of the day, and I want to get stuff done during this nap because I need time for my projects"
Wow...
I realized how selfish that sounded...I felt God reply, "Adrienne, you are having the same attitude that Cain had."
Sigh...I was, wasn't I? I thought my time was more important than spending time with God, and it wasn't helping me at all anyways. I was getting grumpy and upset without God's peaceful presence starting my day.
I quickly asked Micah if I could take just 15 minutes to get right before I let the day go on, and he of course readily agreed to watch Mataya because he is an awesome husband.
I went to the other room and sat quietly before the Lord. What do you have to say to me Lord today?
"Return to your first love...Me"
Return to you? But I never left Lord...
"Come to me before you start going on all your activities and receive my love to fill you up for the day...you need my presence"
My heart ached with the realization once again that I need to return to my first love everyday, not just when I am in trouble or extremely happy. Thank you Lord for your gentle reminder that I need to return to you everyday.
God warns us in Revelation that we must not abandon the love we had for Him at first in Revelations 2:4-5:
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Oh Lord, I repent that I did not give you the first fruits of my love this morning...thank you for your grace and forgiveness.
God Bless,
Adrienne Barclay
I am blessed with my husband's early wake up time because he often gets Mataya in the mornings around 6:30ish and keeps her occupied until about 7:15 or 7:30 when she decides she needs her breakfast. After I feed her I usually play with her and eat my breakfast and so on. When she goes down for her first nap around 9ish my mind begins to go full speed with everything that I need to do! Most mornings I really try to get a quiet time/time in the Bible before I start checking off everything that needs to be done off my mental list that is already accumulating; however, today was one of those tough but good days.
Instead of taking time to read my bible or devotional (Jesus Calling - you need to read it if you haven't done so!), I started in on the tasks of the day and some fun projects I had waiting. Micah was home for the morning lifting weights in the garage. Around 10 he came in and Mataya woke up from her nap. I had felt a little guilty about not spending good time with the Lord, but I kept telling myself that one day didn't really matter...
Well, I started noticing that my heart/attitude was starting to get very grumpy and negative. When Micah came inside I snapped at him, and I just couldn't seem to get my joyful attitude back. All of the sudden I felt the Lord whisper to my soul, "Adrienne, don't I deserve your first fruits?"
I was taken aback because I was trying to make excuses in my brain..."well God I always give you my first fruits of the day, and I want to get stuff done during this nap because I need time for my projects"
Wow...
I realized how selfish that sounded...I felt God reply, "Adrienne, you are having the same attitude that Cain had."
Sigh...I was, wasn't I? I thought my time was more important than spending time with God, and it wasn't helping me at all anyways. I was getting grumpy and upset without God's peaceful presence starting my day.
I quickly asked Micah if I could take just 15 minutes to get right before I let the day go on, and he of course readily agreed to watch Mataya because he is an awesome husband.
I went to the other room and sat quietly before the Lord. What do you have to say to me Lord today?
"Return to your first love...Me"
Return to you? But I never left Lord...
"Come to me before you start going on all your activities and receive my love to fill you up for the day...you need my presence"
My heart ached with the realization once again that I need to return to my first love everyday, not just when I am in trouble or extremely happy. Thank you Lord for your gentle reminder that I need to return to you everyday.
God warns us in Revelation that we must not abandon the love we had for Him at first in Revelations 2:4-5:
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Oh Lord, I repent that I did not give you the first fruits of my love this morning...thank you for your grace and forgiveness.
God Bless,
Adrienne Barclay
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