Once most of the crew had departed after about 10 days of meal planning and feeding a crowd rather well (moms love giving their kids their favorites when they’re visiting ), I was by my lonesome in the kitchen pondering what to whip up for lunch.  I did as I often do: I took inventory…

• Bits and pieces of leftover grilled steak (1/2 cup or so once the scavengers had nibbled most of the bones!)
• 2 1/2 grilled sausages
• 6 or so baked potatoes
• 2 large fresh orange and yellow sweet peppers
• fresh onions
• 4 ears of fresh raw sweet corn
• eggs
• a few small fresh tomatoes

I diced the peppers, a large onion and the potatoes, then cut the corn off the cobs.  I stir-fried these on med-high in a bit of oil until they began to brown a bit, then tossed in the diced leftover meat until it was all nice and hot throughout.  We call this hash.  It can contain lots of different stuff and is a great way to use up leftovers.  I then poached the eggs in a steaming pot of boiling water.  I sliced the tomatoes nicely to serve on the side.

Each plate had a pile of ‘hash’, a couple of poached eggs and a few slices of tomato.  I also set out hot sauce and salsa for those who like some ‘pop’ to their food.  This was one of the best meals ever!  So tasty.  Perhaps you’ll find the stuff you need to create some hash. 

Some tips that you might find helpful:

• Leftover baked potatoes make a great foundation for hash.  To have some meat to add for taste is nice, but not necessary.  Just about ANY cooked, leftover meat works.  Onions, peppers, tomatoes - even if they’re wilted, add great flavor.  Be creative and toss in anything from frozen peas and corn, canned pinto beans to Brussels sprouts and cilantro.  Sprinkle grated cheese over the top if you want-especially nice if you’re going vegetarian.
• I never bake just the potatoes I need for a meal.  I always throw in a good 5-7 extra for hash, fried potatoes, potato soup, veggie soup additions, etc.
• I wash and toss my potatoes in a crock pot on high.  In just 3-5 hours you have perfectly baked, steaming potatoes.  Easy, plus you don’t heat up the house with a hot oven in these summer months.
• To poach eggs simply boil a pot of water - 2 quarts for 8 eggs.  When it comes to a full boil, toss in a tsp or 2 of vinegar (keeps the whites intact) and slide the raw eggs in.  Watch the water as it begins to boil again and in about a minute you have perfect firm whites and runny yokes.  Scoop out eggs one by one gently with a slotted spoon and serve.   If you scoop one and it’s way too runny, just let the pot sit for another minute off the burner and the eggs will naturally firm up.
• Waste not, want not!  Enjoy being creative, while you’re being frugal.

…she’s losin’ it!  Her brain needs more support!  Now she’s rubbing off on me..”

My fifth-born’s response to one of my C-R-A-Z-Y days!

Ever feel like you’re in the ‘tumble dryer’ of life?An assortment of items/circumstances/people/appointments and to-do’s seem to be flying about you - out of control and all ‘talking in your ear’ at the same time???  It’s as if you’re being tossed about like an old shoe in the dryer; at times upside-down, completely overwhelmed and without your mental and emotional equilibrium.  Every time you’re about to anchor yourself and find your balance so you can see straight, someone, something, anyone, everyone, at home and far away needs YOU.  The phone - any number of them - ring and ring and ring again with an immediate request. Stuff happens.  The bug guy rings the doorbell at that precise moment of insanity (Murphy’s Law because he only comes bi-monthly).  Someone is hungry, in pain, ticking you off, can’t find the envelopes, argues with their sibling, hubby needs attention, food or otherwise, and soon you’re thinking, “What is wrong with me?  Why can’t I get it together?  I am hopelessly disorganized.  This wouldn’t be happening to ______ she is so put-together…I should have said ‘no’!  Whu…why….they’re gonna find me in a heap in the corner, drooling…”

Yeah, me too.  OK, what do I do in such a time?

• Sometimes I cry-there’s nothing like a good cry.  Some days I can find tears at every turn.  Other days I wish I could. 
• Sometimes I give everyone clear, simple instructions with a sober, calm threat and fly out the door to literally ‘run away from my problems’ (without my cell phone)!  Exercise really helps me emotionally…
• I remind myself that those who want to change the world and have an impact will not live lives of ease and comfort.
• I remind myself that mothering is the highest call for a mother - and actively mothering creates a very complex life at times, no matter how hard you try to keep it simple. 
• I remind myself that I am a revolutionary and there is a price to pay to have an impact.
• I remind myself that the devil hates me, hates my family, hates my marriage and is always on the prowl to discourage me from living this life I’m determined to live.
• Usually it’s always a good time to get alone with God.  Read His Word and find Him again.  He is Peace and He is Comfort.  It seems like work to find Him in such times, so many other voices are calling, but it’s always the right place to go when you feel you’re sinking in a very deep hole without oxygen - in His presence.  Everything looks different when I connect with the living God. 
• I hope you find Him today in a very real way! 

OK, so now the blonde has been pushing ‘refresh’ on my blog link for 5 days and she keeps seeing the same ole’ post, so she emailed me to ask whu’zup?….

Just kidding.  But I haven’t posted since July 1st, with our Convergence gathering goings-on taking place all last week (see June 28th post) attended by lots of precious friends, plus all our kids (YIPPEEEE!!!!!) from the Seattle area and way too much sun to ignore having water fun during the free times…then a huge and relaxing holiday party on Friday, July 4th, then the tears fell as, one-by-one we had to say good-bye to our dear friends and family and now, we’re holding tight to our last visiting son for the next few days until he departs.  Plotting our moves and planning some fun stuff.

Today we de-flated air beds and gathered sheets and towels and assorted laundry to be done, tidied the flop-house living room and found stuff we forgot we had hiding under extra pillows and blankets.  Cleaned the refrigerators and organized this and that.  Pulled out the assorted bags of leftover veggies from the freezer and packed the crock-pot full to simmer some homemade beef stew as I pondered my meal menu for the upcoming week.  LOVE feeding my kids - they’re always hungry and nothing’s ever wasted since they’re constantly grazing.

About food.  We always had a team in the kitchen, which is not only fun, but also cuts toil and time by at least half.  I baked an organic turkey I’d purchased on sale over the Christmas holidays (freezers are great!).  We roasted it on the gas grill to avoid heating up the house - summers here are scorchers.  Using the oven to bake for several hours can make the whole crew miserable…not to mention, sweating profusely kills an appetite.  I knew a turkey feast would be a hit and we could feed on it for days I did cheat and made Stove Top stuffing to save time and energy and it all came together beautifully…we also made lots of fresh wraps, rolled on soft whole wheat type tortillas which were tasty with fresh basil, thinly sliced turkey, Vidalia onion, tomato, havarti cheese and anything else that caught our fancy - avocado is always a winner and horseradish cream gives a sandwich such ‘pop’.  We grilled the best cheeseburgers in town and I did make a huge batch of homemade potato salad just because it’s sooo good, and sort of rare these days with all the store-bought stuff.  I made a quadruple batch of my Arrabiatta sauce with sauteed chicken breasts and fresh mushrooms over whole wheat spaghetti, stewed some of the best roast beef I’ve ever tasted and created some amazing french dips…we really had some culinary fun!  For the last 15 years or so I’ve always searched out a farm who raises natural beef and we buy a half or whole cow for the freezer.  It’s high quality and low cost and knowing it’s safe to eat makes it taste even better. 

But tonight it’s bake-your-own pizzas from Pappa Murphys, with salad ’cause Mom’s tired and Dad’s sweet :).  “Let’s order pizza, babe,” is music to a tired Momma’s ears!

Happy Monday everyone!

OK, so this gal comes up to me and says…”Uh, Denise, your blog…uh have you been really busy?”  I cocked my head to the side and wrinkled up my brow as I attempted to decipher her statement.  “Uh, whuuu???…” I said.  “Well, you haven’t posted in a while and I just wondered if you’ve been too busy.”  Hmm, I thought, as guilt began to rise up in me…wow, wasn’t it just 3 days ago and I usually try to post more often, but getting ready for all the kids to come, plus I seriously think I got salmonella poisoning and maybe it was longer than I imagined between posts….  “The last one I read was about your glasses, she said.”  “WHUUU???  That was like 3 weeks ago.  You mean you missed the chicken pox and Father’s Day and One More Thing and”….She shook her head.  “It’s one of my guilty pleasures, so I’ve been missing it,” she continued.  Gregory happened to be sitting next to me.  He piped up and said, “Have you clicked on ‘Refresh’ so it goes to the next post?  Mystery solved.  Moral of the story:  If you’re continuing to click on the link of the old post, the old post will pop up! 

Had to share that with you.  Off to bed! 

 Where I’ll be next week and also why I’ve been a bit scarce on the blog this week.  Preparing, praying, readying the house for all the kids to arrive for this exciting time together in God.  Check it out - some truly amazing, genuine and seasoned men of God will be pouring out their hearts and sharing their lives with us from Tuesday through Thursday and then we’ll all celebrate together at a big July 4th barbecue bash and find some fireworks to enjoy later in the evening.  And you are more than welcome to join us!  Can’t wait can’t wait can’t wait!  And….

Happy Saturday! I’m sneaking out to buy some Noah’s bagels with strawberry cream cheese for my fourth-born Levi Aaron, who turns 16 today (he loves white bread, so I’m indulging him today :)  Levi is a very trendy radical conservative Christian apologist, gifted writer, musician, intellectual and humorist who is changing the world every single day as he lives his life and defends the Truth of God’s Word.  Here he is on a ferry heading into his favorite city in the world - Seattle, Washington.  Happy Birthday Levi.  You Rock!

OK, Mom, you’ve spent time in God’s Word and had some decent prayer, which marks the only time you will likely be sitting still for any length of time for the next 12 hours of your day - unless you’re nursing a baby, and I’ve done that while standing up, sweating in the heat of summer, stirring gravy, while correcting toddlers, which, I imagine, so have many of you.  So…all that to say that nursing a baby isn’t necessarily break-time!

You’re up and running, preparing the oatmeal, throwing in a load of laundry, unloading the dishwasher, dicing potatoes to toss in the crock pot - the race is on to accomplish every…last…possible…thing you can, while the rest of the house sleeps.  Once the crew is served, dishes done, children directed to their next assignment, you’re on your next assignment, be it correcting papers, running a carpool, spanking a bottom, browning the meat, refilling containers, pre-treating a stain, searching for keys, chasing the crawler…

As you - possibly - sit to eat a sandwich for lunch (if you’re not eating it while bopping about, doing 6 more things), you grab the pepper, give it a shake, and realize - this needs to be refilled.  Drats. Thought I had it all done.  Then, upon visiting the rest-room : ) you find 2 squares of 2-ply left on the cardboard roll - drats - T.P. needs refilled throughout the house. You run to the ‘linen closet’ (fancy word for place you shove everything you might need, ever, to wash, fix, clean, sleep, medicate, etc.) and, while searching for T.P., you notice this closet has never been so messy.  Drats.  Add ‘clean linen closet’ to the list.

It’s always ONE MORE THING.  Praise Him!

…start playing tennis again.  It’s only been, what, twenty years or so?  I remember the last time I really played.  I was pregnant with my third son, and one day as I was battling through a set with my old friend Vicki, I had too much trouble running to the net with my big pregnant self, and that was that.  I put my racket down and haven’t picked it up since, to speak of.  Since that time I’ve played a good amount of pickleball, a common game in the Northwest.  It’s sort of like tennis-meets-ping-pong on a mini-court.  You play with large wooden paddles and whiffle balls.  It was a game easily played inside, and due to the often wet weather in Seattle, it became quite popular.  But here in northern California, the weather is great for tennis and there are courts everywhere, so, why not?

Back to my story.  So I see this flyer advertising a ‘drop-in’ tennis lesson with a coach and drills and a ‘good work-out’ all for $10.00 so I decide to go.  A couple days ahead I went over to a school playground and hit balls against a concrete wall so I wouldn’t embarrass myself too much at the lesson.  A lot of good that did.

I walked on the court and realized these chicks were all ahead of my game by a long shot (oops, another pun).  So after I was corrected out loud, multiple times, by the coach on issues like where I was standing, or not following the game pattern or whatever, I was tempted to leave because I really thought this was perhaps the wrong place for me to be. :)  But I hung in.  Then as I walked by him, the coach said, out loud in front of everyone, “hey, let me see that archive!” as he reached for my ancient ProKennex racket from the early ’80s that I bought for about $30.00 at Kmart.  “You gotta get a new grip on that thing…or at least get it taped.  Taping only costs a couple bucks.  Hey Allen, bring your racket over here and show her.”  Allen brought over his $200.00 toy and let me hold the handle while everyone watched.  (OK, thanks coach, I feel like a moron now).

So I decided that to save the only dignity I had left, I would fight for every single ball that came anywhere near me, and a particularly mean shot bounced over - one of those evil ones that drop in real close to the net, forcing you to run like crazy to attempt to scoop it up.  I shifted into 5th and gave my life to get to that ball, whacked it back up and over the net with such ferocity that my feet somehow got tangled up, and before I knew what happened I fell so hard on my backside that I just about saw stars.  I yanked myself back to an upright position in half-a-heartbeat and by now, all ten people on the court were doing the obligatory, “are you okay?”  “are you okay?”  “that was a great tuck and roll move!”  “are you okay?”…I mumbled something like, “thank God for Advil.”

But hey, I’m back in the game.  What’s there to fear now?  

  I passed my written test with flying colors.  I knew you’d want to share my joy!  Most of my life is spent giving tests to my kids, so when Mom aces one, she celebrates.  Usually at Starbucks.  After studying for 3 1/2 hours - yes, folks thought that was overkill, “after all, Denise, how many years have you been driving?!?!?” - but the last time I got too confident before a driver’s exam, I missed too many and I knew I didn’t want to go back to the DMV and have to do it all over again this time, after waiting in lines a mile long (can anyone say “AMEN”!), not to mention, taking the time to look presentable for the photo - you gotta live with that mugshot for nearly a decade, you might as well have make-up on. Sooooo…..I read/highlighted/re-read that book, consulted with hubby and spent an entire afternoon, because IT HAD TO BE DONE!  Boy was I glad I studied.  Do YOU know how many feet you can ride in the bike lane before taking a right turn?  Do you know the appropriate time to drive with your parking lights?  Do you know the speed to drive while approaching a railroad crossing with low visibility?  See?  Tricksy.  Very tricksy.

   …and this is one amazing man.  Gregory is a rare and precious vessel.  Not just because he is the hands-on, ever-watchful, ever-prayerful, effective father of five sons, and the steady, rock-like husband to this oft-times emotional woman (me).  Admirable qualities indeed, but more than that, he’s a real man, and there don’t appear to be many of those left in our culture.   Gregory is never moved by men’s opinions.  Seriously.  Driven only by kingdom and energized by faith, come what may, he’s a rock.  Twenty-nine years ago, I fell head-over-heels in love with everything about him, but I was especially attracted to his unusual strength. He’s a pillar.  Not a pushover or a politician. What you see is what you get.  He is tenderhearted and deeply and practically compassionate, yet strong as steel and immovable when it comes down to Truth.  I’ve learned so much from him and benefited greatly by being his wife these past 28 years.  And, he’s still my hunk o’ hunk o’ burnin’ love. (My boys always cover their ears on this part, but it’s true.  He takes my breath away.)

He’s faithfully sowed into too many lives to count across the earth.  He’s also paid a dear price to hold fast to God’s Truth.  I’m so proud of him.

Happy Father’s Day to a truly great man.