Catch up

Phew!!! A chance to finally sit down and write! 

I haven't been particularly stacked out, but lots of little jobs get in the way!

We have had a hectic few weeks with my sweetie's shifts, and with it being half term in England, my youngest is off. I love having them all with me, and we have had a lovely time, proving that you don't have to have a car or money to have a nice school holiday. 

Yes, you heard me, we are currently sans transport, but we have been here before. 

About 4 yrs ago, our car died and we were without our own transport for about a year, when God blessed us through some friends who were getting rid of their car and gifted it to us!! 

It has lasted us that long, and now this car was going to cost us more to repair than it was worth to sell, so that was that. 

Grocery shopping is a little difficult at times, but with public transport, taxis and great friends, we are doing well, and when the time is right, and we have saved a little money, God will lead us to the right car (minivan, actually) and we will be mobile again. 

Murphy, our pup, is getting huge!!! He had his first run on the field with his mama this morning, and is shattered now. 

I have been doing lots of planning and cooking, but have had some SERIOUS sugar cravings. Need to get a hold on them, and quick, I think I need to purge my house of the few sweet things we have, just to break the cycle. 

I can't believe it's is June tomorrow. 

Hope this sunshine is here to stay......

Whole Wheat Yogurt Dough

So I thought it was time I posted some recipes here on The Family That Grows Together, and one of my recent finds has been this pie crust/ pastry recipe that I found on my fave site keeper of the home

Whole Wheat Yogurt Dough

Ingredients

1 cup butter softened

1 cup plain yogurt (I've used kefir before too)

3 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (also good with spelt)

1  tsp fine sea salt

Method

·       Cream together the butter and yogurt (or kefir).  Slowly add the flour and salt until everything is combined into a nice dough.

·       At this point you can either use it immediately or leave it on the counter for 12-24 hours to soak.

·       When you are ready to use it, roll out the desired amount on a floured surface and use as desired.

·       Depending on what you are using the dough for, it usually takes around 30 minutes to bake at 350 degrees.  Adjust your baking temperature and time for what you are making.

For more details on why soaking your Nuts, Grains and Legumes is important, read here

We have has this twice now and it is soooo tasty!! 

Enjoy!

The Hard Water Fairies

So I have finally figured out the reason my hair feels like i have washed it with candle wax!!

HARD WATER!!! 

I was thinking that I was just going to have to quit and wash my hair with shampoo, but I knew I really didn't want to do that, after almost 4 weeks without it.

I Googled it (We love Google in this house) and others have had the same problem. 

The solution? 

Boiling the water before making the baking soda rinse!!! Simples!! 

I have done this today and my hair FINALLY feels clean! Still need to cut through the rest of the grease in the length of my hair, but I can tell the difference already, and it gives me hope!!

I Am a Happy Bunny Now! 

My Grace is Enough...

So I was talking yesterday about how I was re-thinking school in the Gee house, and I thought I would tell you how we came to take our children out of main stream school and educate them at home.

It was 2 years ago this August, when my eldest girl, Boo, was about to go up to secondary school. We had been watching a US program (I am an American who happened to be trapped in an English born body!!) about a very LARGE family and it mesmerized me. How this Christian family managed to be nice to one another, to help one another AND to be home-schooled had me floored, especially as, at the time, I hated the summer hols as the kids drove me CRAZY! (My Abba Father has done such a work in me!!)

As Boo was headed up to "big" school, I was really concerned at just what they would teach my daughter, as Evolution is taught as fact in UK schools. It was when watching the Big family program that I felt I heard the Lord clearly tell me "that's what I want of you". So began a Moses type dialogue that went something like this...
" Are you kidding, Abba??" 
"Not at all, my darling, I want you to teach your children about me"
"Abba, I go crazy being with them for a half term, let alone full time!!"
"I know, but I can change that"
"I can't do it, Abba!!"
"Then take a look at 2 Corinthians 12:9"

As I looked at that scripture, I found that God wasn't asking me to do it alone, and that he would use my weaknesses to show his Glory through me!

Well, I was learning all about submission, so I approached my sweetheart about it and, as I am a bit of an ideas girl, with little fruition, he was not overly keen at first. As I showed him the curriculum I had found, he warmed up, seeing I really was serious about it, but would only agree to the boys being schooled, as Boo wants to be a doctor, and the curriculum at this point didn't go that far, so I left it with the Lord, if He had said it, then He would have to work on my sweetie's heart to do it. 

So, January 2012, our 2 boys began our home-ed adventure!!!!

It was only a few months later, due to some horrid incidences at school, Boo joined her brothers at Easter. Our youngest has stayed on at school for a while longer.

We have been at this homeschooling lark for 18 months now, and I can categorically say that God has shown himself strong in my weaknesses, that I LOVE being with my kids and that it is the best decision we made as a family, for our family, and although there are bad days, crazy days, days when I want to go lay on my bed, read a good book and ignore the "MUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMM" shouts coming from the table, I love homeschooling my precious gifts from the Lord!!!!

How about you? Is homeschooling something you have considered or have you known all along??? Leave a comment below.

Time to pull my socks up...

I've been having a bit of a thinking session this weekend. 

As a homeschooling mum, (or any mum really) I wonder if I'm doing all I can for my children. 

I wonder if I'm a good mama, I wonder if they are going to do well, even though I absolutely know it is the right thing for our family, as the Lord expressly told me to do it (more on that tomorrow).

So I have been using a Christian curriculum, and having only been homeschooling for 18 months, we are still very schooled, used to tests, and traditional school practices. 

I have been looking at a few websites, including my fave at the mo, Keeper of the Home and looking at various ideas and curriculum, and I really feel that I have been putting too much pressure on the children to race through the booklets that they work on, and have not given them enough "fun stuff" to do! 

Like drawing a poster, designing a game, or making a bag with the sewing machine (all things my kids have come up with ON THE SPOT when I asked what they would like to do!)

I think Mama has been a little too school Ma'am and not enough relaxed mama!!

Time to have some fun with my babies!!

Sunday Thoughts

Oh the joys of a boys' sleepover!!

Haribo had 2 friends over for his birthday, but they wanted to sleep in the front room, so I was ousted to the back dining room for my quiet time this morning, but it is sometimes nice to have a change.

I don't know about you, but sometimes (quite often) I am plagued with doubts, about whether I am doing a good job with these children the Lord has blessed me with, whether I am a good wife to my amazing husband, whether I am doing all and being all the Lord wants me to do and be, or whether I even heard Him right! 

I had one of those moments this morning, so I poured my heart out to my Father. 

And He answered, as only He could, through His word. 

This Pentecost Sunday, I am so very thankful that the Holy Spirit lives in me to correct, to communicate and to enable me to live as God wants me to, even if I don't always get it right!

And I think I'm fine with that, because He is always there to pick me back up, like the amazing Abba He is! 

Thank you Abba Father. 

Happy Birthday to Haribo!!

My biggest boy is 12 today!!! 

I can't believe it! He is growing up so fast. My big boy is growing into such a gentleman, he is very considerate, and we are so proud of the young man he is and is becoming, as we are all of our children. 

Our family has some little birthday traditions.

The day before, our close family always text or email each other to say "whose birthday is it tomorrow!!!????" 
Small, but funny, when Nana posts it at 12.05am!! 

The children always know they are going to get a rendition of their birth story too, periodically through the day. "This time x years ago...." is our birthday tradition, and the kids even ask me now, if i'm not quick enough!! 

It's amazing how these little traditions grow with the family, how words get adopted for general use, and how comforting collective memories are. Ask my children what happened when they were born, and they can tell you, even though they cannot remember themselves. 

This is what family is all about! 

Thank you Lord x 

I can do it, I can do it...

My hair is driving me crazy!!!

There, I said it! This is week 3 of no 'poo and it is still very greasy. Come on hair, balance out! 

I was so tempted this morning in the shower to just give it a really good shampoo, but i know that would be quitting before the benefits start to show, so I WILL persevere with it. It will all be worth it when I get past this initial phase. 

Ponytails and pinned back fringe for me still.....

How I broke up with junk food!!

Urrrrggghhh, I feel so bad today! 

After almost 11 weeks of getting up at at least 5am, I was tired, and have been eating real food lately, no cravings, nothing. But yesterday, I just wanted to eat!! Anything and everything in sight! Crisps, sweets, well- crisps and sweets really, as that was the only thing in the house that wasn't healthy, but you get the picture.

I didn't feel guilty, I just wanted to eat. So I did.

Today, I feel ROTTEN!!! My tummy hurts, I'm lethargic, and I just want to sleep!! 

I thought I'd be ok, just blowing out once or twice a week, but it looks like my body is telling me it likes the new food, not the old food!

So good healthy snacks for me, and if I want something sweet, I really need to make it myself! 

Fruit bread anyone????

Big needle, small needle

My beautiful brave puppy was stabbed with needles today. No, we haven decided on acupuncture, he went for his second round of first injections, and also microchipping!! the size of the needle was ridiculous!!! 
He was a brave little soldier, though, and no matter how much it hurt, he still munched on the treat the lovely vet gave him!! Never one to turn down food, our Murphy.

After a good night's sleep, I feel a little more balanced today, and don't mind at all that my chick peas didn't turn out right, after the phone rang(!!!) because my hummus is amazing (if a little foolproof...)

Taco salad for lunch today, so no effort required, and then talking to my hubby before he goes to work tonight :( 
I'm so thankful for a man who works hard to take care of us, and am so happy that I get to take care of him in return :) Blessed mama x 

One of those days......

Today has just been one of those days! 

My oatmeal mistake has just gone from bad to worse! My peanuts that had been soaking all night and dehydrating all day were burnt when I got distracted, and the peanut butter did NOT work!! I'm soldiering on with some crispy spicy chickpeas, and I am watching these VERY CLOSELY!!!! 

At least dinner tonight is something I KNOW I can make! Salmon Fishcakes and salad.

I told you I would update you, and it has not dampened my spirit, so more nuts and more soaking will produce nut butter, because I will continue until it works!!!!!!

Losing the humour

*Mooooaaaannnn* I am definitely in need of a good night's sleep!! My beautiful puppy, Murphy has decided that 5am is a wonderful time to begin the day, and I have to say, after 11 weeks of it, the novelty is starting to wear off!! 

It really is like having a young baby, but I know as he gets older it will be worth the time and effort now in training him, when we have a lovely obedient dog like his mama!! (mostly) 

In other morning news, I completely failed at my first attempt at Granola this morning. I have made it before, with great success, but being a bit tired, i had forgotten I wanted to make Granola, and put my oats in to soak last night, thinking it was oatmeal!!! Not a happy sight!!! The second attempt worked perfectly though and balance was resumed.....

I have soaked and am currently drying my peanuts today, for my first attempt at Peanut butter, so I will let you know how that goes. 
(can you tell I am very impressed with my new food processor!!)

I continue to look at the GAPS diet, but i really don't want to cut all grains and beans out, so i think it is just going to be making sure I prepare them in the right way, and I think my next attempt might be some lacto fermented vegetables, just to see what they are like, because as this link tells you, they are SOOOOOOO good for you. 

We have a regular coffee morning at church on Wednesday mornings, with all sorts of goodies, so the filling Granola will hopefully steer me away from all the white bread, but slice of bacon may be coming my way.......

Could I? Should I?

For a while now, I have been trying to move our family over to a less processed, more natural diet, and it all started with the dog.....

Well, i took my beautiful boxer, Poppy, to be weighed in a well known pet store and was told she was underweight. Poppy is a small boxer for her breed and very lean, but perfectly in proportion. I went home and was a little disturbed by this, so I began to look at what is the best diet for a dog. 

I came across lots of different diets, but the one that really struck me was the Raw Prey Model diet. This is based on the premise that dogs, while now domesticated, have retained their genetics from the wolf and are carnivores. Most dog illnesses come from an intolerance to the grain that is in every commercial dog food, as dogs' digestive systems cannot digest grain. 

With a bit more research, we finally made the jump to feeding raw meat and bone, raw fish and eggs. Poppy has been on it for a over a year now, and has never looked better. The vet said recently that she can't believe how shiny her coat is, and how healthy she is. 

This got us thinking though, that the dog now probably has a better diet than we have!!!

After talking with my fellow cohorts at our local Home Ed group, we decided to overhaul our very processed, very convenient diet and move to home cooked, made from scratch meals. 

It has been amazing and the difference in taste has been SO obvious. (who knew sweet and sour sauce is brown, not ORANGE!!!)

I've been doing a lot more reading lately though and have been looking at how the preparation of grains, nuts and beans has to be just right, otherwise they may actually cause more harm than good, by drawing essential nutrients AWAY from the body! 

I am jumping on board with this, but then to look further, i was looking at the GAPS  diet and I don't know if that is just a step to far for us at the moment, although there is lots of good information here. 

See what you think. Is it something you have ever thought of? Leave a comment.

Sunday Thoughts

So Sunday has come back around again and this morning brought a real reverence for the blessings that the Lord showers on us as a family. He has brought us a good healthy family, has added to it in ways we could never imagine and, despite my faults and at times my downright bad decisions, He continues to bless me just because I am His daughter. No conditions, no pre-requisites, just because. 

This AMAZES me!! 

We are truly blessed when we know Jesus and when He starts to give us a sense of just how much He loves us.

Thank you Lord x 

Weekend Recommendations

I don't know about you, but I am always blessed by testimonies of others, whether it is how they came to know our Beautiful Saviour, or whether it is just to hear that someone else has gone through a similar experience to you and to hear how they handled it. 

I also love to get ideas and hear tips from others, so I would like to share with you some of the things that have blessed me this week;

• I've already shared this week from Simple Mom and keeper of the house 
• Loving the organizational tips from A Bowl Full of Lemons
• A wealth of information, and huge props to Brandy over at The Marathon Mom
• And an old favorite of mine, for all things marriage, ladies, the Generous Wife and for the boys, Lori's hubby writes the Generous Husband

Just a few of my fave things this week on this magnificent web. Enjoy x 

Cleanliness is next to.....

Well, I did it. I finally got around to cleaning and reorganizing my kitchen cupboards. I've been thinking for ages that my cupboard space could be better utilized, but you know how it is, you look inside and think "I have a hundred better things i could be doing!". 
So this afternoon, the boys and hubby are out at Kickboxing, and I just couldn't put it off any longer. 

I feel so much better that it's done, and I'm hoping it works better for general kitchen use.

I have grouped all the baking things in my carousel, for easy reach, my tinned goods in the wall cupboards, all turned front facing, just like shop shelves, (how sad am I that I'm pleased with that) and my pans and trays all swapped around. Still some space left, so have to think again about what I need. 

Definitely need some big storage jars for flour and and sugar etc, I feel another list coming on.

Now do I tell all the children before they wash up after dinner, or do I just wait...... :)

Appreciating Your Honey

When was the last time you told your spouse how much you appreciate them? 
Do you make a habit of saying "please" and "thank you" to them, or do you just expect them to do what they do?

I really want to encourage you today to say thank you to them for what they do, whether it is going to work to earn the family income, or whether they stay at home and take care of the children and house. 
Does your hubby run you a bath without asking? Tell him how much it means to you. 
Does your wife make the best pancakes ever?! Tell her they are your favorite. 

There is always something to be thankful for, and I know sometimes you need to be grateful on purpose, but how much better will you both feel! 

Try it, it's worth it. 

No shampoo? No probs...

After browsing some of my favorite natural living blog sites, I came across some quite frankly startling ideas. 

• Like green cleaners; using just vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice to clean pretty much your whole house (which I use ALL the time now, and that was a gentle one)
• using oil to cleanse your face (about to try this, will let you know how it goes)
• natural deodorants, (still pondering this.....)

But the one I really was shocked by, then intrigued by, and am a week into trying, is the no 'poo method. Not using shampoo??? Are you crazy, I hear you cry. Are you dirty, I hear you think! Maybe a little, and no, I'm perfectly clean. 

Here is a link to a great source of info on this topic, but for me, anything that cuts down on time, money and pumping chemicals into my body is worth a try. 

Like I said, I'm a week into this new change, and at present, my mid-back length henna red hair feels a little greasy. Doesn't look it, I'm assured, and feels strange to rinse your hair in the shower and it's not squeaky clean, but from what I have read, it can take up to a month for my hair to stop reacting to the lack of shampoo and balance out. I'm quite looking forward to it, actually.

I have had no luck convincing Boo, my 13 yr old daughter to try it, but then she is 13, and the only time I'm in favor is when the laptop is out..... 

Some great resources on this, and my go-to sites are:

• simple mom
• keeper of the home

So is this something you have ever thought of doing, or am I just a bit late to the no 'poo party? Leave a comment below.

My Favorite Things...

When studying what this homemaker malarky was all about, I came across some great ideas, from a home management binder to great organizing ideas.

Now one of the big things I have realized (after a dozen failed projects and wasted supplies) is that each family is different with different needs and strengths. Once this sunk in, I was able to look at other's ideas and work out what was worth giving a go, and what would not work in a million years for us. 

Having said that, one thing I think is a great tool for ANY family is a favorite meal list. 
Any family trying to work toward real food needs a plan, and the starting point, in my view would be to make a list of the top 20 or so meals that your family love and eat on a regular basis. 

This is so helpful when looking at your weekly or monthly meal plan, because you can easily slot in your go-to meals, and then fill in the blanks with a new recipe you've been wanting to try, or a take out night....

Ours consists of things like Curry, Quiche, Toad in the Hole, Fish cakes and Sweet and Sour (which is actually brown, when made from scratch, not bright ORANGE!!!)

I keep this in my binder to make meal planning that bit simpler, and lets face it, who doesn't want that!

Coffee, Eggs and no TV

My 10 week old puppy decided that 5.30am was a great time to wake up for the day, so my other dog and I embraced the morning with a much needed coffee!! (not Poppy, just mama) 

I have tried to use this time (v.early of the a.m) to develop my morning habit of spending some quiet time with God, something that I have always struggled with sustaining, so when the children wake up around 7.30, the house is still quiet. (not all of that time is spent in prayer, I'm not superwoman!!)
Eggs on toast all ready to be cooked, they trundle down one by one.

For the past 3 mornings, my youngest, Little Bud, has come down asking to put the T.V on. This might not seem odd in itself, but it has really been disturbing me of late, just how much T.V we watch. I went through a phase of wanting to get rid of it altogether, but hubby was flat out against that. I've noticed, though, that we seem to default to pressing that little red button on the remote more and more and how many times do we say, "there's nothing on!" 

So, it is my mission to reduce the black box consumption in my home and get back to good old fashioned things, like talking, drawing, writing, laughing together and I might even invest in a board game or two.....

Here we go......

Wow, I never thought I would be sat here, after so many years reading the amazing blogs around the world wide web, writing for my own blog!! That is what a girly night with my 13 yr old daughter gets me!! So, what do I plan to write about? well, I have always found the best way is to write about what I know, and although my hubby would probably say that's not a lot, i am a great student of this journey called life, and i love to learn, so this should be an interesting ride.....
Hold on, here we go!!!