A Busy Life

Up until September of last year, I was a full time work-at-home mom. I was thankful for the opportunity to be able to work at home rather than having to work outside the home, but it definitely wasn’t an ideal situation. I was neglecting my family as well as myself during that time. Thankfully, I was able to transition from that full time position to a contract position (where I can work only as much as I want and only when I want). When I transitioned out of my full time work, I really thought that I would have so much more time to do everything I wanted to do.

I was reflecting on how many blog posts I’ve averaged over the past few years, and I noticed that, overall, I’ve blogged a lot less this past year. It hasn’t been that I haven’t had things to write about, but rather, I think because I’ve been busying myself with so many more things that I wanted and needed to do for our family as well as for myself. 

I’ve been able to spend more time focused on the kids. I’ve been cooking a lot more, and not only cooking, but learning new techniques and preparing more things from scratch.  I’ve been regularly attending (and even teaching) Ladies Bible Class. I’ve had time to read (love my Nook!). I’ve been able to be involved more in the student center work where my husband is the campus minister. I’ve been able to generally keep the house in better order. I’ve had time to work on starting my photography business (which, by the way, is not replacing my full time work).  I’ve had time to work on cleaning out things in the house (although I feel like this process is never-ending, perhaps because I feel like I’m cleaning out and organizing from years of neglect in the house). I’ve had time to actually sit back and breathe. I’m not nearly as stressed or overwhelmed as when I was working full time.

I admit that the transition from my work-at-home life to stay-at-home life hasn’t always been easy, and I need to do better in many aspects. Life is still busy and crazy. But, I am doing so many things that I had wanted to do for so long and just hadn’t physically had the time to do. I’m getting to be the stay-at-home wife and stay-at-home mama I’ve always wanted to be. I love it!

Homemade Cinnamon Ice Cream

I admit it. Although there are things I like about summer, summer isn’t my favorite time of year. I’m not big on the heat, but one thing that I do love about summer is that it is the perfect time of year for homemade ice cream. I have fond memories growing up when our family would make homemade ice cream. There is nothing like a good creamy, freshly churned bowl of ice cream in the summer.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of the actual ice cream because it is already gone. But, I will share my recipe for homemade cinnamon ice cream. This recipe is a modified version of the country style vanilla recipe my mom and dad passed down to me.

Ingredients (Note, this recipe is for a 4-quart ice cream maker):

4 eggs

4 cups whipping cream

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon extract

2-3 teaspoons cinnamon

Approximately 5 cups milk

Directions:

Beat eggs until foamy. Gradually add sugar and beat until thickened. Add whipping cream, salt, vanilla, cinnamon extract, and cinnamon and mix thoroughly.  Pour mixture into ice cream maker drum. Add milk until the fill line is reached. Freeze ice cream according to your ice cream maker’s directions. If your ice cream is not freezing properly, the texture may come out icy or slushy rather than creamy. And, although you can certainly eat the ice cream right away, it freezes better if you let it freeze for several hours (or overnight) before serving.

Is that a good attitude or a bad attitude?

As parents, we always try to explain why we are upset with our kids to them. We want them to know if they are behaving in a way they shouldn’t behave or if they didn’t do something they should have done or something in between. However, there are times that no matter how plainly I feel like I’m explaining why I disapprove of Ella’s actions (or inactions) that it doesn’t seem like she “gets it.”

Recently when she was throwing a fit about something (I don’t even remember what), I asked her, “Are you having a good attitude or a bad attitude?” I could see the light bulb go off in her head. She got it. She understood that she was having a bad attitude about the situation and that wasn’t acceptable. I asked her if she should have a good attitude or a bad attitude and she immediately responded with, “good attitude.” Throughout the rest of that day, I reinforced the good attitude vs. bad attitude concept. When she was acting contently and behaving appropriately, I’d remind her she was having a good attitude. I’d also remind her if the opposite was true.

Since that day the good attitude vs. bad attitude concept has really worked well in getting through to her when her attitude is off whether it is when it is time for us to leave a place she doesn’t want to leave or if she doesn’t get to do something right away. It doesn’t always ward off a bad attitude, but she is immediately able to recognize the way she is acting is wrong, and that she needs to fix it. I’m thankful that I’ve figured out a way to communicate with her in these tough situations when she isn’t always apt to listening like she should because her emotions are running high.

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

• Grilled pork chops with a peppercorn cream sauce, mashed potatoes, and green beans
• Baked chicken with couscous and salad
• Breakfast for dinner: biscuits, eggs, and bacon
• Hamburgers
• Chicken with pasta (never got around to this last week)

Drafting Dinner: Weekly Menu Planning

• Grilled pepperoni pizza
• Country style steak with potatoes
• Chicken with this pasta (new recipe for me)
• Pork quesadillas

I Heart Faces: Enjoying Life

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you’ve already seen this photo when I shared it a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn’t resist sharing it again for this month’s I Heart Faces challenge. I think it really embodies an attitude of enjoying life!