Sunday, March 13, 2011

The ups and downs of life.

This past months has been.....tumultuous, emotional, crazy, pull my hair out because I think I am losing it, kind of month.  Good things are happening, but lots and lots of bad things have happened to bring those good things around.  Circle of life, I guess.

This has helped me a lot.  I love coffee.  I love the smell, the taste, the color, everything.  It makes me so very happy.  I also love pretty coffee cups.  This one is lovely, it makes me smile.

I would not have made it this past month without coffee, diet coke, Jesus, and my husband.  Jesus would come first in that list and then my husband and then coffee and diet coke, you get the picture.  Anyway, God is so good, I have been praying a lot and He has been very faithful.  I know those reading may be a little foggy about what I am talking about, so I guess I will fill you all in.

For years my oldest son has struggled with school, paying attention, being kind to friends, being respectful, obedience, you name it.  He was diagnosed with ADHD last summer, so my hopes in writing this is that some parents who are where we are will read it and know that they are not alone, even though it feels like it.  Just a few short weeks ago, we were at a place of absolute despair and we felt like we were in an un-winnable battle.  Thankfully we started on some new medicine and after much research I came across a book that I feel is changing our lives.  It is called "The Explosive Child" by Ross W. Greene.  I am only on the 3rd chapter, but I have cried more than I thought possible while reading a book.   In the book, the author states how there is no other group of children who are so misunderstood.  That is my boy, misunderstood, even by my husband and I, until I started to read this book, I was like everyone else.  I would look at him, and think, why does he act like that, why does he do those things, say those things,....for years I have been so consumed about whether or not he behaved the "right" way and what others thought about him and how his behavior reflected on me as a parent.  I am done with it.  It breaks my heart to think about all the pressure I have put on my child to meet up to expectations that he just can't meet.  He tried, bless his heart, he tried, but after so long he just couldn't take it.  
I am over worrying about what everyone else thinks, all that matters now, is the 6 people living in this tiny yellow house, that we have Jesus in our hearts and love for each other.  Is my son going to get into trouble, act out, hurt other kids' feeling, yes, he is, will he be sorry for it, yes, will I condemn him, no, not anymore.  He will be forgiven, just as Jesus forgave me.  Do I care what others think?  Nope.  I am through putting that pressure on my boy and myself.  God is changing me, He is changing my son, and it is an awesome thing.  The book I mentioned is changing the way that we parent, and the way we see our child.  He is different, but not in a bad way, different in a very good, complex way.  And that is ok, it is the way God made him, and I love that.  Its going to be a long, long road, we are not even close to being out of the woods, but God is showing us the way, through good doctors, counselors, books and His faithful love.  Hope is here.

If you are a parent and have had a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD, OCD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Bi-Polar, intermittent explosive disorder, Tourette's, depression, or any other learning disability, you NEED to read this book.  You will be so glad that you did! 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Smothered Pork Chops

I believe I've mentioned this before, but one of my favorite ways to minister to my family is to cook for them.  I love when we are all sitting at the dinner table with a good meal before us.  The other night I tried out a new recipe and it was delish!  Everyone loved it, even the picky eaters!  It call for peppers and onions, which I left nice and big, that way if you have picky ones, they can just pick them off.  Here is the recipe!
 Low Country Smothered Porkchops
4 center-cut pork chops, 1-inch thick
Salt and pepper
Ground cayenne pepper (optional)
2 - tablespoons butter
1/4 - cup all-purpose flour, spread on a plate
2 medium green bell peppers, stemmed, cored, and membranes removed, cut into strips
2 - yellow onions, trimmed, cut lengthwise
3 - cloves garlic, minced
2 - cups chicken broth
2 to 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Trim the excess fat from the chops and season well with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Lightly roll the chops in flour, shake off the excess, and slip them into the pan. Brown well, about 3 minutes per side, and remove them to a plate. Add the bell peppers and onions, to the skillet, and saute until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about half a minute longer. Push the vegetables to the side of the skillet. Add chops to pan and place vegetables on top of pork chops. Pour in the broth and sprinkle with Worcestershire sauce. Cover pan with foil and allow to simmer for 45 minutes or until chops are tender.


I went pretty easy on the cayenne with the kids' chops, but put a nice amount on my husbands and mine, and they were sooooo yummy!


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

My cup runneth over.

Yesterday was my birthday, I am officially 36 years old!  It was an absolutely great weekend.  On Saturday Chad and I went to dinner with our sweet friends Rich and Bryndalyn in Kansas City at Lidia's, which is a restaurant owned by the famous Italian chef Lidia Bastianich.  


The resturant is so beautiful.  It is warm and inviting. The chandeliers were made out of hand blown glass.


First we had some amazing bread with an olive dip and some delicious pesto.  Then came the Fritto Misto. I was happy with that, is was out of this world!

 
My AWESOME, handsome husband, who totally rocks in my book!


Rich, listening intently to his lovely wife.


Bryndalyn.  I love this girl, she is such a wonderful friend, and possibly the nicest person I know!

  
Butternut squash ravioli, Classic Bolognese, and a yummy Spicy Shrimp Pasta.  Yummo!
 



  This picture is a bit blurry.



Torta de Chocolata - my desert = Heaven in my mouth!

The next day was my actual birthday, Chad made me coffee and chocolate chip pancakes.  Then I had lunch with my sisters-in-law, Libby and Staci.  We ate a great place called Esquina, in Lawrence, I had fish tacos with plantain chips.  I am still dreaming about those tacos!

Then I came home and had pizza and salad with my awesome kids and amazing husband in my PJ's.  It was a lovely birthday!

I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful friends and wonderful family.  I thank God for each of you!

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