An Extraordinary Life

Amazingly Delicious Blueberry Pancakes.. :)

2011-02-06T18:23:00.003-05:00

So I've been looking for a great tasting pancake recipe with extra fibre to make them healthier. I googled and searched, and finally tweaked a basic pancake recipe to meet my needs. I made them last week, and the kids all loved them, and they were quite delicious. :) Here's the recipe so you can try them for yourself. :)

Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
5 tbsp flaxseeds, ground
1 eggs
1/2 cup skim milk
3/4 cup water, plus more if needed
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp honey
1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Notes / Directions
-Mix together flour, baking powder, and flaxseed.-1 1/4 cup all purpose flour.
-Set aside.
-Mix together remaining ingredients.
-Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, stir together.
-Add blueberries and stir.
-Add more water if needed to reach desired consistency.
-Cook in skillet over medium-high heat.

Makes 4 servings (8 pancakes).

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 161 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 244Calories from Fat 47
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5.2g8%
Saturated Fat 0.8g4%
Cholesterol 47mg16%
Sodium 326mg14%
Total Carbohydrates 42.1g14%
Dietary Fiber 3.9g16%
Sugars 8.0g
Protein 8.2g
Vitamin A 3% • Vitamin C 3%
Calcium 18% • Iron 16%
Nutrition Grade A-
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Happy pancakes! :)

Everyday Silhouette

2011-02-01T10:48:00.003-05:00

I see You
Today
Your silhouette
I catch a glimpse
Of Your glory
I feel Your presence
I know that You are with me
Today

But yesterday was
Different
I did not sense You near
Or catch a glimpse
I didn't see Your
Silhouette
I didn't hear You
Yesterday

I will seek for You
Tomorrow
You speak and I will
Hear Your voice
Your glorious presence
Your silhouette
I will find You in my
Everyday

Desert

2011-01-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

Under the sun
Facing the wind
We try to shield our lives
From pain

We've surrounded ourselves
With empty things
Longing for His presence
All around seems dry

Prepare the way
For the Lord to come
Set out the red carpet
He's coming in style

In unfettered worship
Drink in deep
Immerse yourself in
The water of His glory

For where there is a spring of
Gods presence
We can no longer call it
A desert

Changes..

2011-01-19T11:05:00.002-05:00

I have been finding it incredibly difficult to blog, and after much consideration, I have realized I'm much too private of a person to "let it all hang out" on the Internet. I've therefore decided to take my blog in a different direction, and turn it into a place to post my poetry. I haven't written in years, (since becoming a mom, really) life has been busy, and poetry was something that dropped off. I've been finding myself inspired to write again recently, and so here I am. I hope you enjoy! All I ask is that if you copy any of my poetry, please give clear creditation and citation. :)

Thanks so much!
~Susan Don~:)

Homemade Mayonnaise!

2010-04-13T13:44:00.003-05:00

After going to the store yesterday, and finding out today that we just used the last of our mayonnaise (we prefer Hellmans for taste), I was quite reluctant to dash back to the store to make an additional purchase. SO, I brought out my good ol' trusty "Cream of the West Cook Book", and sure enough, found a recipe for mayonnaise:

Mayonnaise

In a small mixer bowl, combine
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
dash of cayenne
Using electric mixer, beat in, drop by drop
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Beat in
1 tablespoon vinegar
Then very gradually beat in
1 cup vegetable oil
When thick, alternate oil additions with few drops of
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Store and chill in tightly covered jar.
Makes 1 3/4 cups.

How "I" made it:
-I used my magic bullet
-I used the whole egg rather then just the yolks
- I first put the yolks in as per the recipe, and added the whites AFTER I had blended in the first 1/4 cup of oil
-I used canola oil
-I mixed in the first 1/4 cup in about 5 additions, pouring then blending.
-I added the 1 cup of oil in 1/4 cup batches, adding the lemon juice to the final 1/4 cup.

It became very thick (that's good!), so I put the whole concoction into a bowl, and stirred it with a spatula. I put the whole thing in a mayonnaise bottle, and popped it in the fridge. It made 2 cups with the whites added.

The taste test was successful! The kids tasted it for me as well, and all said "yum!" {success!} It doesn't taste exactly like Hellmans Mayonnaise, but is close enough to suffice.

The recipe took less time to make then the trip to the store would have.

**note** The cookbook I have (and treasure!) had multiple printings, under two titles. "Cream of the West" was the flour in Newfoundland, and "Purity" was the flour in other parts of Canada. Both books have the same cover, which leads me to assume they have the same content inside. :)

Thanks for..?

2009-10-13T21:32:00.003-05:00

I try to be a thankful person, even not at Thanksgiving. I often fail. I find myself complaining about things not being "perfect", or people falling short of what "I" think they should do. Most of my complaining is done silently, but that means that God can hear my ungrateful, and thankless thoughts, even when I never voice them. When asked what I am most thankful for, my answer will inevitably be health. I am so very very very thankful to God for the health of my husband and kids, as well as my parents and siblings. At my house we rarely have stomach flu, and will have colds maybe a handful of times over the course of a year. My kids seem to be particularly resistant to getting ill, and are usually quickly over it when they are not feeling well. We have a number of friends and acquaintances who have sick children, and my heart constantly goes out to them. There is no feeling like a mothers feeling when her child is sick.. A father's feeling comes close though. :) This thanksgiving I asked my kids what they were most thankful for. My 4 year old daughter was thankful for the bunkbed I made her stuffed kitty and stuffed doggy this week. My 3 year old was thankful for toys. :) My 6 year old was thankful for Jesus living in our hearts, and insisted that his was the best answer of all. :) I try to encourage all my kids to speak up and support each others answers without favoritism, but it IS hard to argue with that response. To be thankful for God's plan for salvation. For sending his Son to die on the cross. For Jesus' willingness to lay down his own life and take our sin upon himself. For the Holy Spirit infilling, that we may live our lives with the power and guidance that God has provided us. Not just at thanksgiving, or Christmas, or Easter, but all the year through. Let us strive to be grateful for the new life we have, and not to take Christ's death for our sins for granted. As I walk more in the Spirit, I have to take control of my complaining thoughts, and redirect them to become thankful...

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" ~Psalm 19:14

Broken

2009-08-04T09:48:00.002-05:00

We have been home from our vacation to Newfoundland for a week today. What a wonderful time spent with family, despite hurting my foot the second day into our reunion week together. On the second night at the 'lodge', we were swimming, and I made a quick decision to jump into the deeper end of the pool. I crossed my legs under me, and jumped in. Apparently the rule "no jumping in the pool" is there for a reason, as I went straight to the bottom of the pool and hit the side of my foot on the concrete floor. (Yes, there was water in the pool!) As I hobbled around for the remainder of the week, the pain in my foot was a reminder of how often we ignore rules, or rationalize that they are not applicable to us or our situation. We do this not only with man's rules, but also with God's rules and guidelines for our lives. How much easier would our lives be if we obeyed what God is asking for us to do. If we upheld the standards that He has laid out before us. I've heard people talk about the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law. Somehow I wonder if this is another way to make excuses for not living the way we -as followers of Christ- should be living. I find myself as Paul was, constantly conflicted in what I want to do, and what I do. My prayer is to follow so closely to God that there will be no more me, only Christ in me.

*After a week of hobbling around, I had an x-ray done. I have a bone broken in my foot.

Romans 7 -the Message Version

^14-16I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

^17-20But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

^21-23It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

²⁴I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

²⁵The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

Born Again -Third Day

2009-07-08T14:27:00.000-05:00

Cupcakes!

2009-06-13T09:37:00.002-05:00

This past week I made 120 cupcakes for our church ladies annual Blossom Tea party. :) It was a really nice event, and I enjoyed making the cupcakes and practicing my Royal Icing flowers again. :) Here are a few pictures of some of the flowers and cupcakes.

A Dictionary Journey

2009-06-12T08:57:00.003-05:00

Today I've been thinking about some of the testimonies I heard last night at the ladies Annual "Blossom Tea" our church holds. These thoughts led me to Google, and ultimately to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary. Obviously this is a blog, and not a dictionary, so I have not posted the entire definitions as found online. However, here are some of the things I've been looking up, and the definitions I've found applicable to my thoughts..

Grace:
1 a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

Regeneration:
1 : an act or the process of regenerating : the state of being regenerated

Regenerating:
1: to become formed again

Sanctification:
1: an act of sanctifying

Sanctifying:
1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate
2: to free from sin : purify

Sin:
1 a: an offense against religious or moral law b: an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible [ie: it is a sin to waste food] c: an often serious shortcoming : fault
2 a: transgression of the law of God b: a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God

Consecrate:

: dedicated to a sacred purpose

You can see the track my train of thought is on.. I've been thinking about the grace of God.

What I like about the definition given, is where it says grace is "unmerited".

Merriam-Webster did not define "unmerited", but it does define "merited": 1: to be worthy of or entitled or liable to : earn : to be entitled to reward or honor 2: deserve.

Therefore the logical meaning of "unmerited" would be : to not be worthy of, or entitled or liable to: to have not earned : to not be entitled to reward or honor, and to be undeserving.

That tells me that it really doesn't matter what I've done, or how many mistakes I've made, or how imperfect I am. That even if I did EVERYTHING right, ALL the time, and NEVER messed up, or even if I were PERFECT, it would not earn God's grace.

There is nothing I can do to "merit" God's love. God loves me, and daily, by the hour and minute, even by the second, He grants me grace and forgiveness. Not only does God overlook my failings and shortcomings, but He remolds me, and removes my rough edges. He renews my spirit and my life. He gives me strength and peace. He makes me a new person, and the old me is no more.

I get so excited thinking about this! I recently turned the BIG 30, and am so happy that this isn't it for me! I am not stuck being the same person I've always been, but God still has plans for me, and is still fashioning me into a better me. I'm not quite sure what God has in store, but I will not fault the maker in His design or purpose for my life. I submit to the reshaping process, and trust in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Blah Blah Blah or Nothing?

2009-06-11T11:22:00.002-05:00

Which is better? My only excuse for not blogging, is that in April I switched from using Internet Explorer to using Mozilla Firefox as a browser and have yet to transfer my tabs . Not a very good excuse is it? I vowed to do better here this year, and what happens? squat... and not just squat. Diddly squat.

And it's not even like April and May were empty months! I had a wonderful visit in April from both my parents, and my sister and brother in law, and spent a lot of time doing things! Not to mention failing to make an Easter post. May was also eventful for me. I had a milestone birthday (the big 30), which was celebrated in a quiet but very fulfilling way. I could have made a life reflective blog, and also a Mother's Day blog. William also finished his Kindergarten year of homeschooling, and I could have blogged about my kids growing up. I wrote a small article that was included in the youth group newsletter, I could have posted that. *sigh* Ok. No more rehashing what I "could" have blogged about. Does this count as a blog?

Here it goes, I'm adding this to my tabs. No more excuses.

If someone without 3 kids has the time, please Google the origins of Diddly Squat for me and let me know.

Too Busy?

2009-04-07T10:22:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking lately how little time there is to do the things I'd like to do. Or more accurately: How much time I waste on pointless activities, instead of the things I'd really like to be doing. To be more disciplined is what I'd like to be. How to get there? One step at a time I'm told. So I'm taking steps. :) Here are 10 of my steps/goals, in no particular order:
1. Drink more water instead of snacking
2. Moisturize daily
3. Exercise regularly (I'm keeping track of this on my fitness blog)
4. Read my bible daily/memorize more scripture
5. Pray. I'm reminded of the poem...
6. Prepare healthy meals for my family.
7. Do school with the kids.
8. Keep up with the laundry.
9. Keep toys put away when the kids aren't playing... *sigh*
10. Go to bed and get up earlier.

Now if only I can keep up with my good intentions.. :)

Y

The Difference

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

I didn't take time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me

And heavier grew each task;

Why doesn't God help me, I wondered.

He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn't show me --

He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning

And paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

~~Grace L. Naessens

The Nature of Nature

2009-03-06T14:53:00.004-05:00

We're now into March, but it didn't feel like Spring was ever coming.. Until today. Today they were calling for rain. (They being the weather network). It rained overnight, so the ground is all wet and soggy. But the sun is out, as is the wind, and I have all my windows open to let in the beautifully fresh air. I have a tough decision to make. To finish cleaning the house as planned, or dress the kids up and take them outside. The cleaning needs to be done. But I think we need to get outside just as much. Maybe I'll reward my cleaning with a walk outside? Even on this glorious day (it really is beautiful out there!), I find myself grumpy. The kids aren't listening, and I can't shout because my windows are open. I have a slight headache and no painkillers. I can smell the neighbour smoking a cigar. The kids have made a disaster of their rooms with toys galore, and the babe threw his veggies all over the freshly cleaned floor. I admit it. I'm downright grumpy. For the past week or so I've blamed my short temper on the bitterly cold cold weather. So today I should be supremely happy! The happiest person ever! And I will be. I am. I just need to overcome my own nature to enjoy the nature that God has given us today. I think if it wasn't for God, I would be the grumpiest most miserable person. I try to fight against my human nature to be miserable (and to enjoy being miserable), and to remind myself of all the good things that are in my life. Things I take for granted. Things I don't deserve. Things that are truly a blessing. Like my family. My husband. My children. My health. The health of my family. Our house and van. More than enough food to eat (and overeat!). Clothes to wear. Toys to play with. All 5 senses. Great friends who love and encourage me. All these are things that God has blessed me with. Undeserved gifts from a loving God. Now if only I can fight against my complaining and grumpy nature and be thankful...

The verse of the day is very fitting. It's from Isaiah 25:1 "O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago."

From the Inside Out

2009-02-20T20:49:00.006-05:00

Lately I've been watching a lot of television. Quite possibly too much if truth be told. While considering what shows to keep and what shows to stop following, some of the shows have been causing me to think. One show in particular has made me quite reflective.

I'm not sure how many people have been watching, it's a show called True Beauty, and has been airing on CityTv. The basic premise of the show is that there are 10 people together in a house doing tests and challenges, and having eliminations, with the final person being given a spot in People Magazine's most beautiful people issue, and $100,000. All 10 people think that they deserve to win, as they consider themselves to be more beautiful then the others in the house. I've been following the show, and I believe there is only one episode left before they crown the most beautiful person. As each person has taken a trip to the "Hall of Beauty", where the most un-beautiful person of each episode has been eliminated. Here the judges have revealed the twist to the show. There are hidden cameras and hired actors throughout the show, testing the competitors not only on how good they look on the outside, but how beautiful they are on the inside as well. It's so easy to watch and see how they are behaving and how ugly they can be on the inside when they think no one is watching them.

It's made me think quite a bit about what my insides look like when I am all alone. The truth is that we are also to be judged on our actions, both public and private. We will all stand before the throne of judgement where we must face up to who we really are. The show has made me think of who I am, and who I want to be. I can just imagine what my own hidden camera video of my actions would look like. How ashamed and embarrassed would I be? How ashamed and embarrassed SHOULD I be?

I've been reading in Hebrews lately, and verse 12 of chapter 4 really seemed to go along with these thoughts of mine. "God's word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God's word judges a person's thoughts and intentions."

What is on the inside will show on the outside. There is nothing in our lives that is hidden from God. My prayer is to be more beautiful on the inside. To truly love with God's love, to truly love the truly unlovable. To become more like Jesus. Not to be focused on the outward beauty, but to have beauty from the inside out. Y

"I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I will not sin against You."Psalms 119:11.

Not Just Another Resolution

2008-12-31T14:07:00.002-05:00

As I reflect upon the last year, I see how time affects us all. The kids are growing older and doing so much more. There were so many decisions that we made, so many experiences that we experienced, so many moments that were noticed, and many moments that were missed. I am excited about the New Year, with all its new moments, new experiences, and new decisions.

I've been reminded lately of how self-revolving my life can be. I think especially being a stay-at-home-homeschooling-mom. Sometimes I feel like my life is just passing by. Other times I'm reminded of how precious the lives I influence really are, of my great responsibility. I know that on my own I would be so stressed! Thankfully I have a wonderfully supportive husband. More importantly, I have an amazing God who gives me strength and keeps me centered; as I keep my life centered on God, and my perspective on the larger picture. All the little decisions that seem so big when I'm focused on me are so small when it comes to the eternal. This year God did a lot in me, releasing me from a lot of pain and guilt from some of the decisions I've made in the past. Sometimes I've forgotten the forgiveness that He's offered me, and the sacrifice that God made to give that forgiveness to us all.

I've never actually made a New Year's Resolution before. This year I'm making a daily choice to keep my life Christ-centered, and less self-centered. To remember the price that God paid for my life. To try to see the worth that God has placed upon each and every one of us. I want the sphere of influence I have to draw people closer to God, to think more on the eternal life, and less on the earthly life. I'm challenging myself to be less shallow, and be more loving. To reach outside of my comfortable life. To have an Extraordinary Life

HoHoHo and Mistletoe

2008-12-20T14:46:00.004-05:00

As I took a look at my blog, I realized that it had been 10 months since my last posting. As 10 months is a VERY long time, I decided to start fresh. Same address, but new background, new blog content, and a new commitment to blogging.

What better time to start then at Christmas. A season of newness. We so often make this time of the year something we rush through, trying to purchase and wrap everything on our lists. A lot of us are glad when the season is over, so we can get back to our real lives again, and learn how to breathe!
This year I haven't been effected by the "magic" of Christmas. I admit it. I haven't been "Christmassy". I am done all my shopping, and my wrapping. The cards are finally in the mail. The tree is up, the cards are strung, and the kids are anxiously counting down daily the moment that Christmas will arrive. The kids are preparing for the Nativity Scene at our church; this year I have a wise man, an angel, and a small shepherd standing by. The costumes are ready, and my purse is stocked with candy canes as an extra incentive to behave while standing on the stage. As busy as this season is, this year more than ever I've been thinking of God's great gift to us in sending His Son Jesus as a baby in a manger. With all the Santa Claus-ing and 'HoHoHo'ing, all the shopping and baking, the sending of cards and wishes for the holidays, the hustle and bustle and mistletoe; I encourage you to take the time to ponder the wonder of the virgin birth. To think beyond the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, to Gods gift to us of a little baby. The gift of life.