Why yes, I do have my hands full, thank you!

"You have your hands full!"

When I heard this phrase the first few times when I was expecting the twins, I didn't think much of it. Then after a while and especially after the babies were born it started to bother me and I don't know why. Perhaps it was because I heard it ALL. THE. TIME. I would get so irritated every time someone said it. But then it occurred to me that unless spoken in a tone of obvious disdain and malice, these comments were most likely innocent and from a good place. Even if they weren't, was it my place to get mad and huffy? No! It is my job to show Christ's love to everyone. I now hear something along these lines every time I go anywhere with all the children and all I say is, "Yes I do!" Because, yes, my hands ARE full! I say it with a smile to show love to others and that even though my hands are SO full and I am exhausted beyond belief, it is a good kind of full and a true blessing. I am still a work in progress and the comments do get to me on occasion but I try my best to portray my blessings as such!

I really like what this lady says in her post on the Humbled Homemaker.


"Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:2

Homemade Crockpot Yogurt

What you will need:

Crockpot

1/2 gallon (8 cups) whole milk (or 2%, but the thicker the better)

Measuring cups

1/2 cup starter yogurt, any flavor (must have live active cultures, check the container for these words- most store bought yogurts will work for this) Can also just be 1 whole individual serving size container

Whisk

Blanket

This yogurt is so easy! 

Put the milk into the crockpot and turn on low.

Set timer for 2.5 hours

Turn crockpot OFF

Set timer for 3 hours

Do this step quickly!

Remove 2 cups of milk from crockpot, whisk in 1/2 cup of starter yogurt then add to crockpot and whisk together. Put lid back on and wrap the entire crockpot up in the blanket. Leave like this for 8-12 hours. We usually just do it overnight. 

That's it!! 

In the morning stir your yogurt, put it in a new container, and stick it in the fridge! If you want Greek yogurt, strain through a fine sieve until it reaches the desired consistency. You can then use the liquid (called whey) collected in place of buttermilk in recipes. 

Vegetarian Taco Casserole

My husband affectionately calls this dish "Taco Irene" because, well that's my name and I invented it! This is a cheap and easy meal! I used to eat this with spicier salsa when I was overdue with my first baby and it always gave me "stirrings" like I might go into labor. I never did, but when I made this dish for a friend she DID go into labor that night! It hasn't worked like that since but I do like to make this for mothers who are about to have their babies. Maybe that's just my thing. 

Ingredients

-1 cup rice, uncooked (we use brown rice to add a little extra health boost)

-2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning or 1/3 package of taco seasoning

-2 cans or 2-3 cups cooked beans (I usually use a combination of kidney and black) 

-1 jar salsa

-tortillas (optional)

-shredded cheddar or nacho & taco cheese 

How to make it

Cook rice according to directions but add taco seasoning to the water. When cooked, begin layering with tortillas on the bottom (if using), rice, beans, salsa, cheese, then tortillas again and so on. 

Cover and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes until heated through. 

I didn't get a picture of the finished product. But it was good! I like to serve this with a dollop of sour cream and corn on the side. 

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I have found that this tastes similar to the store bought stuff but I love making my own because I can control the amount of salt. We love it in our family!

2 tsp minced dried onion

1 tsp salt (or sea salt)

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp crushed red peppers

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1/3 tsp oregano

Mix all ingredients together. Add a few tablespoons to 1 lb ground beef with 1/4 cup water. Let simmer until water is mostly gone. Enjoy!

Just a quick and encouraging word...

"When I view motherhood not as a gift from God to make me holy but rather as a role with tasks that get in my way, I am missing out on one of God's ordained means of spiritual growth in my life. Not only that, but I am missing out on enjoying God. No amount of mommy angst can compare to the misery that comes from a life devoid of the comforting, encouraging, guarding, providing, satisfying presence of our holy God." Gloria Furman--Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full

"Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full"

One of my sweet friends gave me a book at my baby shower for the twins. It's called Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditation for Busy Moms by Gloria Furman. I have so many books that I have been meaning to read and am slowly plucking my way through them and sadly this book was nowhere near the top of the list because I forgot I had it! However, God has a very special way of bringing things to happen at exactly when they are needed. I was starting to think that this whole twin thing was going to be a lot easier than I thought until... THE BABIES STARTED WAKING UP! They are sleeping through the night (YAY! although I still have to wake up at night to pump) but they are starting to be awake more during the day and are demanding much more of my time these days, as is my 21 month old. So this book came back onto my shelf at a very good time, just as life is starting to get a little overwhelming again. I have only read the introduction so far but I wanted to share a little snippet of what is to come. I can't wait to finish and be able to tell you all about it!

"The circumstances of your motherhood may be difficult, troublesome, and confusing. Even so, there is a circumstance that supersedes all the complexities of your life. It is the simple truth that the one great, permanent circumstance in which you live is that you have been allowed to walk in newness of life as you are united to Christ by faith through grace. Our joy cannot be wrapped up in motherhood but only in God. All of us need to allow the Spirit to do his 'indoor work' and marvel as the Lord cultivates sweet, inward contentment in our heart as we learn to trust him."

What this means to me is that no matter how crazy my life is, there is something bigger. There is someone bigger. I don't deserve any of these blessings that God has bestowed on me because I am a wretched sinner! So undeserving. But God has chosen to offer me (and anyone else who seeks it) His grace and I have the opportunity to live a new life in Him. That is the most important thing. It doesn't matter that I am trying to care for four children five and under and all that goes with that. All that matters is that I am a new creation. I can't give all that I am to my children. That won't get me anywhere but a loony bin! It is only by putting my trust in God that I can learn to be content in my difficult and hectic life. He will teach me how to see joy in ALL circumstances, which is sort of a theme in my life right now. This is obviously a work that God has been doing in me over the last year and I still have a lot to learn!

If you are a mom, it might be worthwhile to check out this book! I haven't read it yet and can't endorse it FULLY, but if the introduction is a true reflection of what this book is about, I say it's a must read for any mama (busy or not)!

By the way, the first chapter of this book is called Hands Full of Blessings.
*wink wink* *nudge nudge*