Taking a Minute

Seems that lately I've forgotten to take a minute and look at all the blessings in my life. Don't know how I can forget to do that when the 2 biggest blessings in my life are constantly demanding my attention. Oh, wait they ARE the reasons I forget to count blessings.

Kellen has been constantly asking WHY lately. I understand on a whole new level now why parents complain about this. The occasional "why" is really cute. But the same "why" 50 times a day is truly driving me crazy. I tried explaining every way possible why daddy works. I tried ignoring. I tried distractions. I even sent him to sit on his bed when he asked for the 51st time after many warnings to quit. Driving to Regina yesterday I heard many whys. Why we going to see Grandma? Why we drive on this road? Why that building there? Why that truck driving? Why he doing that? Why we drive on the train tracks? Why we drive on THIS road? If he doesn't quit soon, he'll be asking why is mother is crazy.

Anyhow, they are both sleeping right now and I was sorting pictures. Seeing them was making me feel so lucky and I realized I have been letting myself get too frustrated lately with them. I just wish there was more time in the day...more time for me, more time to do all the things that I want to and think I should do. I think if there was more time I wouldn't get so frustrated at times. But there's not, so I am committing to having more realistic expectations and enjoying life more as it is. I'll try to remember Roberta's "perfect" sentiments. I need to remember that.

Recipe #7?: Peanut Butter Flaxseed Cookies

I've had several people get this recipe. Since Shannon requested it now too, I said I'd put it up here. These cookies are popular and addicting. That's a warning.

1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1. Combine flour, flax, baking soda, salt
2. Cream together sugars and butter. Beat in vanilla, egg, and peanut butter until smooth. Fold in flour mixture.
3. Bake at 350 for 8 to 10 min.

I should give credit to the Dietitians of Canada for this recipe. You can find it in their cookbook: Simply Great Food: 250 quick, easy & delicious recipes. I don't recommend cookbooks usually, but this one I would. It's one of my most used.

I did something out of the ordinary today. I went to a writing/cooking workshop for the afternoon. Food and stories do go together. I know I'd enjoy putting the 2 of them together more. Maybe you will see some of it here, or maybe it will just be another thing I will think about doing.

Enjoy the cookies. They are amazing, I promise. I'm going to relax in the hot tub and hear about Ian's little moose hunting trip.

The new life...

It's almost been a week with the new life. We're loving it. Breakfast in the morning together before the kids even are up. Then lunch all together and we say "see you in a couple of hours!" The evenings are flying by, instead of dragging by as I used to feel. Ian says he likes the new job. A little slower pace and he really likes the other guys. I can tell cause he comes home happy and even tells a story or two about his day. When he used to work with grouchy guys he came home grouchy and wouldn't ever talk about his day. He's done lots of different things already so he won't be getting bored.

But, it is a change and its still an adjustment. I feel like I've lost time in my day somehow. I thought would be able to be more organized, but so far I've found the opposite. I guess we will have to find a new groove. It's not just my show around here anymore. I might have to cook meat more often instead of lentils or beans. I might have to get used to putting shoes and jackets in the closet everytime I walk through the porch. Not that I want to paint a bad picture. But the reality is it's still a big adjustment. Ian's having to get used to trying to sleep through Lanelle's many night awakenings, which I hear she's up AGAIN!! AHH.

New

Lots of new things in my world. Playing around with the look of the blog after getting the idea that it needed a new title. It was a year or two ago that I remember saying to Ian in complete frustration that nothing works out well for us. I think I knew that was never true, but I was really feeling it somedays. Lately though I feel our cup is overflowing with blessings. If it wasn't almost 1am I'd go into more detail. But I can hardly think straight after the feat of actually achieving this new look on the blog. I will take time to share the biggest news. Ian gave his 2 weeks notice to his work this morning. He has a new job starting with the Town of FQ. It will completely change our lives. As this has all unfolded the last 2 weeks, I have been constantly thinking of new ways this will affect us. It is going to be amazing. So when you stop by here, I'll be sharing the new blessings as our cup continues to overflow.