A little more me

A month since I've blogged last. Well, I don't know what to say. I thought about blogging, many times actually, as I read funny and sweet and clever posts written by so many ladies out there. I even had numerous times where I thought "oh, I should blog about this or that, because I don't want to forget so and so story..." But I didn't. I guess I was just busy doing a bunch of stuff. Fun stuff, boring stuff, exciting stuff and bittersweet stuff.

I realized a thing or two during my month of not blogging. The first is: I don't need to blog. If I never wrote another word in my blog, and also if I (gasp!) never even read another blog, I'd be just fine. Really, I would. But here's another thing I learned: it's good for me to write. Even if I never write anything super funny or super interesting. I realized that even though I was just fine the past month, I gave much less thought to my own feelings, thoughts, and ideas. And let's face it - you lose a lot of your "self" when you're in mommy-mode. After 11 years of being mom, (the best job on earth!) I think I'll reclaim that little bit of self again, thank you very much!

Abundance

I seem to be spending a lot of my days lately "just getting through the day."

I know it's normal. It's almost the standard mommy-mantra. Just make it through another day.

But I've been thinking on this, and here's the thing: I'm not really ok with that anymore. Everyday that I trudge through, waiting till the kids' bedtime, is another day that I will never get back. I know we all have those days. But they should be the exception, not the rule. What I've discovered is that when I live this way, I lose myself.
The me that was created with a purpose by God. When my Maker formed me, He did so with huge plans for my life. A life that no one else can live but me.
I know that at this stage in my life, one of my biggest "divine appointments" is to be the very best mommy I can be to my kids. And I LOVE that job. But, there is more to being me than just being Mom.
You know those hopes and dreams that are hidden in the back of your heart, the ones you don't think about too often because, well, you're busy being a mom? Yeah, I have those, too.

But I don't think God put those hopes and dreams and glimmers in any of us, only to be ignored. Yes, some days all I can see is the circus I'm directing here at home. But in the midst of that, I am filled with the spirit of God, who says that He can do "immeasureably more than anything I can ask or imagine." A God who wants me to dream big. A God who wants me to live a life of abundance. A God who does what He says He will do.

I tell my kids that God wants them to dream big, to strive for greatness. I think I'm going to start taking my own advice.

Do you have any dreams that you've not given much thought to lately?

You'll Never Look at Pizza the Same Way Again

Remember my little guy, the one who has named a woman's cleavage a "neck-butt"?

He climbed up on me the other day, and started pulling down my cowl-neck sweater. He managed to pull my bra away, and said "Oh! Is that your pepperoni?"

So, that's what I learned this week. If I ever need to discreetly use the n word at some point in time, I've now got a new term.....

So what have YOU learned this week?
To read more, go to Musings of a Housewife

How To Be Famous: Roast Your Own Coffee

There are a few things in life that I think are always better homemade.

In my little world, we always have home baked bread, homemade marina sauce, and home roasted coffee. All three of these things are ridiculously easy to make.

But today we will talk about COFFEE.

I'll bet you aren't able to function in the morning till you get your cup o joe.
And the Starbucks baristas know you by name, right?

Do you secretly wish that you could be a coffee snob in every sense of the word? Do you wish for your friends and neighbors to be in awe of you?

Let me help you make your dreams a reality. I will tell you how to be famous with all your coffee loving friends. Just learn how to roast your own coffee. You will gain the people's ovation and fame forever. (or maybe that's just the Iron Chef...)

If you've never tried homeroasted coffe, you don't know what you're missing. The coffee that you drink everyday was probably roasted months ago. But Starbucks doesn't tell you that coffee is at it's peak within a week of being roasted. Or, that they over-roast their coffee till it's almost burnt. Actually, there is a lot about coffee that you will come to appreciate by roasting it yourself.

PLUS, did I mention that the cost of unroasted beans averages only $5 per pound, compared to at least $12 per pound for Starbucks? Guilt-free indulgence.

If you can spare just a few dollars, you can give home roasting a try. My husband is obsessed with coffee. He has multiple coffee roasters. Even a huge drum roaster that goes on our grill. But to get started, you don't need much more than.....

...... a popcorn popper!

It's true. Go buy a hot air popcorn popper at Target for about $15. Get a big bowl, and a colander. Then order some green coffee beans. How about trying some Mexican? Sumatra? Colombian?That's it.

Well, not exactly, but it's almost that easy.

I've had a bunch of people online ask about roasting, so my sweet hubby has helped put together some basic information on home roasting using the popcorn popper method.


Click HERE for all you need to know to get you started.

I'd love to hear from you if you give it a try. Email me with any questions at kzwahr@yahoo.com. And of course, leave me comments!

New Anatomical Discovery

I seem to be writing quite a bit lately about JB. (John Boy) So I figured I may as well keep at it.
Plus, who isn't in the mood for a good laugh?

A few weeks ago, the family had just finished dinner. I was still sitting at the table, doing my ususal. Which is trying to get John to eat. John was under the table, doing his usual. Which is not eating. As I went to reach for him, he jerked out of the way, and cracked his head. He started crying, and I pulled him up onto my lap and he rested his head on my chest.

After a minute, he looked up at my chest, which was clothed in a v-neck sweater and cami. He smiled real big, laughed, pointed at my cleavage, and said "HA HA!!! I see your NECK-BUTT!!!!"

Uh, yeah. It took us a few minutes to get up off the floor laughing.

Three weeks later, he still insists I have two butts. Obviously he doesn't understand that the ONE butt I do have is more than enough for me!

Have YOU learned anything new this week?
To read more, go to Musings of a Housewife.

Just For You, Buddy

I've mentioned a zillion times that I'm keeping my almost 3 year old little boy a baby for as long as possible. One of the things I haven't given up yet is rocking him before I lay him down to sleep. Since it's gotten cold out agin, he's been wearing sleepers. And he still sucks a pacifier in his crib. So when I rock him, I've got this warm little person, all snuggled up on me, sucking his paci and stroking my hair.

Tonight I was rocking him, and he said "Why do you have shoulders?"

"Uhhh, well, it's because...." ??? How do I answer that? Especially when I'm almost completely asleep myself?

"So I can lay down?" he asks.

Yes, buddy. That's exactly why God gave Mamma shoulders. That's the best reason in the world.

What Trumps a Kiss?

WHAT I LEARNED THIS WEEK

It's one of my greatest joys as a mom..... snuggling my little one, laughing, tickling on the bed, smothering him with little kisses all over. Including those soft, shiny little lips.

These days, I almost feel like a silly, nervous girl on a date when I'm with my little John Boy. After having my kisses turned down several times, I still haven't given up. Will he let me kiss him? Will he say "eeeewwwww!" Will he relish every kiss and ask for more? At what point will I get my last sugary kiss on the lips?

The other day, we were laughing our heads off, snuggling, giving each other butterfly kisses. The shiny little smiling lips were beckoning me. I just couldn't resist. I leaned in, got him right on the lips, and made a long, sqeaking sound, then proclaimed... "I SMOOCHED YOU!"

He thought this was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.
And. He. Wanted. More.

MORE!!!

Apparently in an almost 3 year old's mind, there is a huge difference between a kiss and a smooch. Umm..... ok. You can bet you won't hear me complaining!

So what have you learned this week?
To read more about what other moms have learned this week, visit Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife.