{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
You’re probably reading this with the great expectation of finding out all I am capable of doing. No, I meant that title quite literally. I’m going to tell you why, despite Daxson’s insistence that I’ve lost all sanity when I do it, I can. I mean good, old-fashioned canning. You know, the kind with the water bath canner, the glass mason jars, the old screw top lids. Canning. The art of preserving food.
I only usually do it once a year. Sometimes twice. It’s a big production. It takes up a good part of the day (okay, it takes up the whole day if you consider the number of times I stop to nurse the baby or change a diaper or attend to another need around the house or as was the case this year, to run to the grocery store to pick up any missing ingredients) and it takes over the kitchen completely (maybe next year, despite the chaos, I’ll remember to snap a few pictures during the process so you can see how much I am not kidding). It’s actually a little daunting. I wake up on the morning I’ve planned to can and I ask myself again if I’m sure I’m up for it. Usually I dread it a little. Now for those of you that don’t can, don’t get me wrong. There is absolutely nothing difficult about canning. It’s just time consuming. Especially if you’re making something besides jam because usually there’s some prep work involved.
This year my dear father-in-law sent over tons of cucumbers (strangely, he didn’t even plan to plant cucumbers…the seed packet was marked zucchini, but these are most definitely cucumbers). First, I decided to make a recipe called Cucumber Relish (which I now know is really another name for sweet pickle relish…good to know…I’m not really sure what I thought I was making but I didn’t think it was going to be sweet pickle relish since it was called cucumber relish). “Cucumber relish” requires lots of finely dicing and chopping ingredients. So here’s what my day looked like: Dice and chop. Dice and chop. Change a diaper. Dice and chop. Feed the baby. Dice and chop. Time for lunch. Dice and chop. Let it set for four hours. Four hours? That’s plenty of time to prepare some more things to can. Plus that only used four of the monster cucumbers (I still had ten left!) So I scrounged up some blackberries and made jam (yeah, I know, what does that have to do with all those cucumbers? Absolutely nothing. I just thought blackberry jam sounded delicious). Then I had to decide what to make with the leftover cucumbers. Dill relish. Quick trip to the grocery store for the missing ingredients only to return home and realize that it was going to take forever to prepare the ingredients since I have a teeny, tiny food processor. Decided to try making refrigerator dill pickles…much faster (although now I have another grocery trip in my future to return all the items for making dill relish). Pickles in the refrigerator. Time to can jam. Jam canned. Finish making cucumber relish. Can the relish. Done.
By this point, my children had now been left to play on their own for the better part of the day, dinner was no where to be seen, and I was exhausted. Daxson wandered out into the kitchen, saw the mess, made a face, and asked me for the third time that day, “And tell me again, why do you can? You do realize you can buy all this same stuff at the store, right? Save yourself all the time and effort.” Usually I respond with a quick, “yeah, but homemade tastes better.” This time I was silent. In my exhausted state of being, I was wondering why do I can?
Now 24 hours after the final top sealed and I’ve had time to think about it, I know why I can. Because there is a final product. Something to show for my hard work. Most things I do on a daily basis don’t have a final product. If I cook, it’s quickly consumed. If I make the beds, no one notices and within 12 hours, the beds are unmade once again. I do pile after pile of laundry and at the end of the day, there are more clothes in the hamper. Even my children are works in progress. Like the great cathedrals, I do not see a finished product. But canning? Well, canning gives me pretty jars to hold. Canning gives me a homemade gift to give to dear friends and family. The jars sit on the counter top (until we’re tired of staring at them) for all to see the great accomplishment of the day. In a world of unfinished products, canning just feels good.
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
Outside my window…night has fallen. The temperatures have not. Seriously. Where. is. fall???
I am thinking…this video is great! It definitely captures life with boys.
I am thankful…the simple things keep these boys happy. Tonight it was paper airplanes…such squeals of delight.
In the refrigerator…The Pioneer Woman’s Sunday Night Stew…yep, I know it’s only Thursday, but I just couldn’t wait. (an added bonus…it’s a gluten free and easily adapted to being an allergen free recipe!)
I am wearing…a pink t-shirt and gray shorts.
I am creating…a grocery list. That’s the extent of my creativity these days.
I am inspired…by this story and this one, too, and I am loving the thoughts shared here.
I am reading…The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker. I’m on habit #4. Still reflecting on habit #1.
On my iPod…where is my iPod? Time to add some fresh encouragement to it…any suggestions?
I am looking forward to…a visit with my little animal loving nephew soon.
In our learning room…we are studying insects so I figured what better way to study them than to have some live ones to watch. This thing is awesome! Everyone is completely captivated by it (including Daxson).
I am pondering…control and faith and the thin line between the two.
I am praying…for Mom and a speedy recovery.
One of my favorite things…all of us in one picture…and all of us looking at the camera.
A peek into my day…
Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.
Throughout the bible there is a recurring theme that we should rely on God for help. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7) And again Jesus promises to help us with our burdens if we but ask, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Matthew 12:28-30).
That’s all well and good, but we are human. We tend to lack faith. We tend to lay down our crosses and just give up. God realized that. He realized how quickly we, as humans, tend to feel beaten down, deserted, alone in the face of trial. Even Jesus felt it. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
We know there is a Heavenly God, but sometimes we need a human touch.
There is a line in the bible that fills my heart with joy. It’s a line that at first glance seems so insignificant that you have probably read it a million times, but in a rush to get on with the story, you’ve probably never stopped to think about what lies behind the words. It’s in Luke, chapter 23, verse 26. “As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.” Do you know that passage? That one little line in the bible is where Jesus tells us we’re not meant to make this journey alone. We are meant to accept help…not just offer it.
As Christians, we are called to give. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me…” (Matthew 25:35). It is often easy to give. It’s human nature to help, to be kind, to lend a hand when needed. It’s not so easy to accept help. We raise our children to be independent. We take pride in doing things on our own. We like imagining ourselves as superheroes, juggling as many balls as we can. But even Jesus accepted help…right there on the way to his death…just when he was feeling forsaken, God sent a human hand to help ease the burden. This is pivotal…here Jesus is showing that we, as Christians, are not only called to give but to accept. And to accept with humility. To accept without argument. Just to accept.
Jesus is God’s Son. He is one of three persons in the Holy Trinity. Jesus is God made man. He has major power. We know that. We watched as he performed miracles, so we know that he could have picked up that cross and sprinted to Golgotha. But he didn’t. He struggled. He fell. Not once. Three times. He struggled…the entire way. And when the soldiers called to Simon, Jesus humbly accepted help. Notice there’s no verse in the bible that tells how Jesus tried to deny the help. No verse that tells how Jesus was prideful, claiming that he didn’t really need the help. Nope, none of that. It simply says, “they made him carry it behind Jesus.” Jesus accepted, without a word, without a struggle. How often can you say the same thing?
Outside my window…the rain is still falling. I love the sound of it.
I am thinking…I can’t get enough of dresses and bloomers and hair bows…who knew little girls could be so fun to dress?
I am remembering…Joseph’s surprise tonight when his tooth fell out. He claims the tooth fairy pays $2 per tooth. Really?
I am thankful…for all the rain. It’s been awhile.
In the refrigerator…a gluten free berry cobbler and some chicken, cooked and diced, ready to be added to my pot of chicken tortilla soup.
I am wearing…a green sleeveless top and a black skirt (that my very talented sister-in-law just whipped together for me).
I am creating…nothing. I find myself too busy to create lately…soon, though, soon. First in my mind…that beaded scarf I’ve been wanting to knit.
I am going…to finally have to do some shopping for this sweet little girl!
I am inspired…by every mom I meet. We are all superheroes.
I am reading…The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker.
On my iPod…Simply Charlotte Mason’s Language Arts the Charlotte Mason Way
I am looking forward to…some fall weather.
In our learning room…we are loving all of our curriculum this year. One of the highlights is definitely Classically Catholic Memory. We get together with Jessica, Walker and Gavin every two weeks to introduce the new material. I am amazed at how well they’re learning (and retaining) all the memory work!
Around the house…laundry, as usual.
I am pondering…suffering. I am eager to hear about Kirk Cameron’s new movie, Unstoppable. Do you have tickets to see it?
I am praying…for our little friend, Levi, and his mama.
One of my favorite things…reading to my kids (especially when they are all quiet and listening at the same time).
A peek into my day…
Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.
Tape dispenser: $5.99
3 rolls of scotch tape: $4.26
Silence (even if only for a moment): Priceless
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
Outside my window…it’s sunny, beautiful, but so very hot.
I am thinking…I’m losing my touch at multi-tasking. Case in point…I was just thinking of my to-do list while taking a shower and when I turned off the water, I realized that I had no idea what I had washed…turned back on the water and took another shower and realized that if I can’t even think while doing something, I might not want to try actual multi-tasking right now…hoping my brain returns soon.
I am remembering…Andrew’s response lately when he’s told to do something…”No problem, Mom, no problem.”
I am thankful…that I actually filled out so much in both Joseph and William’s baby books…now to start Andrew and Katie’s books…oh and to update Joseph and William’s…
In the kitchen…freshly baked chocolate chip cookies…dairy, egg, and soy free again…we’ve walked this path many times.
I am wearing…jean shorts and a pink v-neck t-shirt. Tomorrow I’m going to make an effort to remember jewelry and a little lip gloss…crazy, I know!
I am creating…plans for this next school year and having so much fun doing it…our science and history plans are awesome!
I am going…to make my grocery list tonight and I plan to pull my Taste of Home Slow Cooker book out to help with the menu planning because nothing beats cooking in the crock pot!
I am reading…Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews, while waiting for my first book club book to arrive so I can get started on it.
On my iPod…the same old stuff…Mother Culture by Karen Andreola, Childlight conference talks, Family Life Center CDs…inspiration to keep going each day.
In our learning room…Presidents and more presidents…and more presidents. When we went to Barnes & Noble this weekend, bet you can’t guess what book Joseph chose…yep, a new presidents book. I’m your lifeline if the million dollar question ever involves presidents.
Around the house…ooh, I can finally do a little cleaning. It’ll take some major restraint from doing it all.
I am pondering…Jeremiah 29:11-14 and finding such comfort and joy in these words…“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the Lord…”
I am praying…with St. Paul. “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, through prayer and thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” Such words of comfort.
One of my favorite things…big brother singing to the sweet baby girl.
A peek into my day…
Please visit The Simple Woman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.
With Every Intention 