entropy:

the gradual decline into disorder.

sometimes, not so gradual [toddlers anyone?]

the struggle against decay.

The constant upkeep of home, family, friends [life] is, at times, staggering.  The weight of it causes my feet to stumble. My path becomes broken and I fall. sometimes so very hard. to my knees. where I should have been to begin this journey. every day. on my knees before the God of this universe. who deigns Himself to love me. 

He reaches down. not to grasp a hand or push me onward. but to pick me up. soul and spirit. and brush me clean with tender Forgiveness. 

He sets me on my feet. holding me steady until such time as I am ready to try again. this time with my hand firmly grasping His. Only His steps can make my path straight again. So I will follow. There are no stumbling ridges when I simply hide in His shadow. walking this path under the cover of His wing. 

And Gentleness reminds me 
of Goodness every. time. I. fall.

our blessing

Just a few months before the time we found out that we would really, really need a van [4th child on the way, now almost 4 months old!], God was working to get it for us.

so HERE is our miracle. 

that we can look back upon and SEE GOD'S HAND MOVING:

It has a few of the fancy gadgets and gismos that come on vans these days. Electric doors, stow-n-go seats, deep cargo hold, etc. There is no DVD player, but I am pretty sure we can live with that [WHAT? yes, we don't watch movies when we are out and about. We sing songs and read books. or have conversations. with each other.  lol]. It does have a CD player, which aids in our singing. And now John and I can hold hands on the way to church again. [Kyria was having to sit between us in our car.] {smiles}

linked at:

homemaker by choice

sharing others {2}

A great post I read this morning: 

How to {help} Raise Grateful Kids

Perspective can always adopt gratitude 

~ ~ ~ 

and gratitude always parents joy.

Far East {inspired} Pasta

Well, 2 posts in one day.

 don't expect it to happen very often. 

*SMILES* 

 I call this "Far East {inspired} Pasta" because I am not entirely sure if you could actually label it "Chinese" or "Japanese" or anything, really. It has asian flavors: teriyaki & soy sauce, but could be used with Thai flavors or even Americanized with BBQ sauce. And, when it's made with just vegetables, it is made almost too quickly for pictures (but, really, I didn't think about posting it 'til it was done). 

Recipe:
1 lb. spaghetti noodles
1 bag frozen mixed 'stir fry' veggies
1 tsp cooking oil
1/2 c favorite teriyaki sauce
2 Tbsp soy sauce + 1/4 c cold water
1 Tbsp corn starch
1/2 - 3/4 c starchy water reserved from the pasta
1 egg

~  cook pasta according to package directions, but about 1 min. short of the 'al dente' cooking time, reserve 1/2 c of the water before draining  ~  put the pasta back in its pot

~  heat oil in skillet, dump in frozen veggies

~  allow veggies to cook until completely thawed & then crack the egg in the middle and stir till scrambled

~  add teriyaki sauce and soy sauce, turn heat to low at this point

~  mix corn starch & cold water to make a slurry

~  add pasta water, then add the slurry

~  pour veggies and sauce over the pasta and allow to sit over low heat for 5 min to thicken the sauce

~  serve!

garnish with toasted sesame seeds, add meat if you desire, change asian flavors for BBQ sauce or Italian dressing... or not.

I often neglect thinking about supper until it is quite late in the afternoon so these type suppers abound. Really, though, the only thing missing that would have been added had I thought about it earlier is some beef- which needs thawing first. 

Right now, I am praising the Lord that my husband even has a job. And we don't have to live on beans and rice-nothing against beans or rice, we have them frequently, too. But variety is the spice of life, right?

Also, I am enjoying the relative quiet and sweet chatter of sisters playing nicely. together. and I love knowing they will eat this. willingly.

 God is only good.