Summer

Having fun with a dear friend at Marbles Museum in Raleigh

Summer is flying by just as I thought it would - faster than any of us want.  We're not even done with June and July is already booked up.  I am grabbing moments here and there to finish old projects or organize new ones, but it's still not enough time.

We have been busy seeking God's will on so many levels in our home.  We are still waiting to hear about the little girl Sam sponsored with the Children's Heart Project.  She is scheduled to have surgery in August some time and we are faithfully praying for her.  Carolina's biggest desire is that this little girl get a large cupcake after her surgery.  Apparently she's under the impression that if a child has surgery, they need a large cupcake.  Sam, on the other hand, is praying for her to have fun at the hospital and enjoy her surgeon.  It's sweet, really, to see their differing perspectives.

While we wait on her surgery, and by then the new year will be in full-swing, we are working on all kinds of fun train-type activities all summer long.  Carolina is learning her alphabet and has been reading short sentences.  She gets ahead of herself when she gets excited and starts making up words when she isn't quite sure what she's reading, but that's to be expected.  Sam is designing train tracks, visiting Tweetsie, studying about trains, engineers and every type of car that goes with a train.

We have made huge changes to our diet since April and are all feeling better for it.  You probably already know that we got rid of our microwave a couple years ago, but now we're limiting our processed food as well and eating more "whole foods."  It has changed the children's behavior a lot and we are also feeling more energetic and focused.

So, homeschooling, cloth diapering, microwave-less, eating whole foods and who knows what else, it's all a part of life in Boone and just the beginning of better habits our children will be taking with them into adulthood.

The Iris

A letter to Sam's Kindergarten teacher on Teacher's Appreciation Day:

There is a story behind this iris.  I wanted to share the beauty of the flower, as well as what God has shown me through it.

We were home from serving overseas on our Stateside Assignment and grew very close to an elderly woman at our church in Raleigh.  She asked Bill to come to a relative's house and dig up some iris bulbs to plant at the house where we were staying.  He did, and that very day was the day Sam had his first seizure at just 10 months-old.  The iris bulbs became forgotten for weeks.

I had viral meningitis on the day (three days after the seizure) Sam was diagnosed.  The last thing we could think about was planting those bulbs.  Then one day, I realized we would have to plant some of them so they wouldn't die.  I did.

I left the rest, about five, to rot in a plastic bag on our back doorstep.  Months later, and after a harsh winter by Raleigh standards, Bill took the job with Samaritan's Purse and we began our move to Boone.  I picked up the bag in March and saw that the irises were growing.  I shoved the bag in the floorboard of my car, as an afterthought, and dragged them to Boone.

We didn't buy a house until late July and they sat, again, in their plastic bag to rot and die.  I found them in late August and planted them, because, somehow, they were STILL growing.

The next year, around this time of year, I saw that they were blooming.  The most beautiful purple irises I'd ever seen.  God showed me something that Spring.  It took me almost a year and a half to realize it, but He showed me that I am like this iris.  Bill is too.  But especially Sam.

We battered a storm during those 18 months.  Many hospitalizations, almost losing our only child countless times, our marriage struggled, our prayer lives were tested, and we had to acknowledge that Sam is God's and He can take him any time.  It was brutal.  Those irises battered a storm too.  Bad weather, no soil to nurture them, no oxygen in a plastic bag that was unprotected from the elements.

But God made each of those bulbs.  Because He made them, He protected them and they stand today as blossoms in my garden.  A testimony of His love, His protection, His grace, His faithfulness to His creation.

Just as I do.  As Bill does.  And as Sam has blossomed and lived, so does he. I am sharing this blossom with you because you are also a testimony of God's love, protection, grace, and faithfulness to His creation.

Thank you for sharing that with my family.  With me.  And with Sam, my firstborn son, who is not really mine at all.

Love,

Teesa

What has God been doing?

Read all about it here.

"Three Hearts" Winners!

The winners of the "Three Hearts" DVD from the Children's Heart Project with Samaritan's Purse are:

Susan H. (so glad to hear from you!)
Karen (you are going to LOVE this, but it will be difficult to watch at some points)
Laura F. (would love to catch up)
saspinall (you are right, you may have to sit on this movie for a bit before watching it, but you won't be disappointed)

If you haven't sent me your mailing address yet, just leave a comment for me here and I won't publish it.  Samaritan's Purse will mail you the DVDs.  Thanks so much for participating in the giveaway!

Giveaway

Check the post below for a giveaway.  I am moderating comments, so it may take a few days for it to appear, but I will definitely get to them!

If you want to leave me a way to get in touch with you (email) so we can send you a DVD, just let me know and I won't publish it.

Three Hearts

Many of you know my son, Sam, has Brugada Syndrome, an arrhythmia of the heart.  If you haven't read his story, you can find it on the sidebar.  Sam's particular heart issue is an electrical one, which means that no surgery to his actual heart can fix the problem, not even a heart transplant.  He was born with one heart and he will die with the same.

However, he was given a chance to live when his cardiologist strongly suggested implanting a defibrillator at the tender age of 10 months-old.  

Now, four years later, he lives a typical five year-old's life.  He climbs trees, plays soccer, goes to school, reads books and loves his family and friends.  He has even chosen to believe in Jesus as his Savior and will be baptized on Easter morning.  He lives because of God's hand in his little life.  We are stronger because of the path the Lord has chosen for us to walk.  I have friends I would never have made were it not for this difficult, arduous and wonderful road in our lives.  And, in everything I do, I give the honor and glory back to the Lord for leading us in times that I thought I could never live through.  

I was recently asked to review a new movie from the Samaritan's Purse Children's Heart Project.  CHP helps provide children, in countries where medical care is not advanced, the opportunity to receive life-saving heart surgeries.  As you know, I am very passionate about educating the public concerning children's heart conditions, so I gladly accepted.  

My husband warned me before I watched it though.  He told me when they have shown bits and pieces of the movie during their devotional time at Samaritan's Purse, he has had to get up and walk out on more than one occasion.  It is just so hard to remember what Sam went through and think about any precious child going through something similar.

"Three Hearts" follows three Mongolian children, and their mothers, who come to the United States through Children's Heart Project to receive surgeries.  Two of the children, one is three years-old and the other 16, live in very rural areas of Mongolia, while the third who is 18 years-old, lives in Ulaanbaatar.  They are filtered, for lack of a better word, through a pediatric cardiologist at the Maternal & Child Hospital in Ulaanbaatar as at risk for sudden death.  I was surprised when I learned that there are 200 children currently on the waiting list for the Children's Heart Project.  Honestly, I can't even imagine having to be the one who decides which children will make the final cut.  

The movie was beautifully made.  I enjoyed watching each of these families and their progression through this difficult season in their lives. I loved hearing that Children's Heart Project not only chooses the children carefully, but also the host families in America as well.  And, to go a step further, they choose a strong church associated with the host families.  It's not just the host families, but the church family who embrace these children and their mothers.  It's a true picture of God's family and how we are called to meet the needs of others.  I was impressed, though through tears, that CHP chose to include (and honor) the memory of a little girl who did not make it after her surgery.  

I will warn you, there are a few graphic scenes in the operating room.  My children watched some of the movie with me and Sam was moved to tears on more than one occasion (they did not watch the graphic scenes), but was brought to laughter as well.  His favorite scene was watching Toggie, the three year-old pictured above, playing with running water in Texas.  She lives in the South Gobi desert, so running water was a new and wondrous miracle for her.  She kept splashing her face with it, giggling all the while.  The scene reminded me of the innocence of this child; she has a life-threatening heart condition and still sees the newness in everything around her AND enjoys it.  I can learn a lesson or two from her.

If you would like to see this movie too, I'll be giving away five copies.  Just leave me a comment and let me know why this subject is important to you or why you are interested in seeing the movie.  The giveaway will end on March 20th at midnight and I'll announce the winners on my blog on the 21st.

Follow Children's Heart Project on Facebook

Watch the trailer 

Buy a copy

Grafting

We have this old Weeping Willow in our yard.  I have always thought willow trees were beautiful - the way they droop down and create a curtain of beauty surrounding the trunk.  I've seen them get so weighed down with snow and ice that they fall, but I know the one we have in our yard has already withstood many a harsh winter, even since we moved in.

As my children were climbing in the tree recently, I noticed that there are parts that have grown into other parts.   I felt like the Lord spoke directly to my heart - like in Romans 11.

16...if the root is holy, the branches are too. ¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; ²¹ for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. ²² Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. ²³ And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Although I know that Paul was speaking to the Jews, I felt like their situation could certainly apply in our life.  I looked at this tree, this branch that was "eaten up", as my children say, by the tree and I realized that as much as I am that way in God's family, Carolina is that way in our immediate family.  Ephesians 1:5-6 says, "He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved."


Once we are adopted into His family, we are part of it and if we try to remove ourselves it will leave great damage, like trying to remove a toe or an arm.  Carolina has been adopted into our family and is a permanent member.  Just as this branch on our willow tree has been grafted into the trunk, Carolina has been grated into our family and is an important part of our body. The root is rich and holy.  

This tree is an important reminder of God's love for her and for me (and His children).  

Just for Kicks

The kids and I have enjoyed watching The Pioneer Woman's new TV show on the Food Network lately.  I never really followed her blog (I still don't...not really), but my BFF gave me her cookbook for my birthday a couple years ago and I have seriously enjoyed everything I have made of hers.  So, when the children saw this broccoli and cheese soup, they immediately wanted to make it and make it NOW!

Since I normally don't cater to their every whim, I went grocery shopping that day but didn't actually make it until a couple days later.  I have to say, this recipe was a hit.  Not only was it delicious, but we also got to EAT our bowls.  What child doesn't enjoy something like that?  And I didn't just get a bread bowl, I bought pretzel hamburger buns that we turned into bowls.  The perfect size for little bellies (maybe a little too much, but Carolina didn't seem to think so) and a lovely compliment to the creamy soup.  I also added another cup of cheese and added some local ham that I had sauteed a little.

In the words of Yo Gabba Gabba, "Try it, you'll like it."

Yum.

Life Changes

Well, life changes because our kids are growing up too fast.  I find that I have three children who are absolutely refusing to stop growing.  No matter how many times I stomp my feet, ball up my fists and demand that they stop growing, they refuse to obey me.

So, I just have to roll with the punches, get out the next sized bin of clothes from the attic, buy new shoes that may or may not fit two months from now and enjoy the scenery as everything changes around me.  I miss my babies, but I am really enjoying this new stage of life we are in.

Just the other day, I taught Sam to throw a Frisbee and now he can throw it better than I can.  We spent about an hour just throwing it back and forth in the yard on a beautiful afternoon.

Then the weekend came and he grew up more.  He sat down to breakfast and I asked him how his loose tooth was doing.  He said it was fine, pulled his bottom lip down to show me and it was gone.  Not only had he lost his first tooth, but he had, in fact, swallowed it as well.  Good times good times.

And Carolina?  I can't even begin to describe the amazing changes I see in my only daughter.  She is so verbal now, people who haven't seen her in a while don't recognize her. She's taller and  has a little less pudge around her belly (where's my baby fat going???).  She is an amazing big sister, very responsible, organized (well, when she wants to be) and extremely loving.  She has a hysterical sense of humor too.  Just today the children were playing a little game where I would call out an animal and they would run to me acting like that animal.  She got so tickled she literally could not lift her arms up and could barely move across the floor.  She got Sam and Hudson laughing so hard they were in a similar predicament.  What an angel.

Then there's Hudson.  Not so verbal, but extremely bright, very obedient, physical, and, well, a bit melodramatic at times.  He may not look like me, but he certainly has my personality traits.  He's a serious little guy, but when he finds something funny, it is consistently funny.  He is only ticklish when he chooses to be.  He loves being outside, especially in the snow.  We had three inches of snow this morning and I let the children leave the house just before me while I grabbed my bag so we could run to the pediatrician's office.  Thirty seconds after they were outside, Hudson was already halfway up a steep hill IN THE SNOW headed for a sled.  He didn't care that he had snow on his face, mittens, pants - no, that didn't matter.  What mattered was that he was in it, touching it, feeling it, playing in it.  You should have seen the tantrum that ensued when I tried to strap him into his car seat afterwards.  On second thought, I'm glad that wasn't too public.


All that to say, things are changing.  Life is changing.  But we are enjoying it.  Every moment.

Re-post on English Muffins

Since there has been a lot of talk about the English Muffin recipe I posted several years ago, I wanted to re-post it.

Here is the recipe:

English Muffins

Mix and let stand 5 minutes:

1 T yeast

2 T sugar

1/2 cup warm water

Add and mix well:

1 1/2 cups warm milk

1/4 cup oil

1 t salt

3 cups flour

Add and knead in:

3 cups flour (you can use whole wheat flour here to make whole wheat muffins)

Let rise. Roll out dough and cut into 3 inch circles. Place on a cookie sheet sprinkled with a little cornmeal. Let rise 1 inch high. Cook on a heavy ungreased griddle, turning at least three times until both sides are brown. Split open with a fork.

First, I want to encourage those of you who don't think you can do this. Yes you can! This is a very simple recipe, as bread recipes go, and requires very little effort on your part. If you have a mixer with a kneading attachment, it will make it even easier. If not, the only real effort you will expend is muscle energy.

As mentioned in my previous post, this recipe has yeast in it, to help the bread rise. If you use the right temperature of water (between 105 and 120F), the yeast should activate and look like the above photo.

I mixed the milk, salt, oil and flour then slowly added the yeast mixture. I used my KitchenAid kneading attachment and slowly mixed everything together.
Then I added the three cups of whole wheat flour and kneaded for about five more minutes. I transfered the dough to a greased Pyrex dish and covered it with plastic wrap, then placed it in my warm oven. You don't need to warm the oven, but it helps it rise a little faster.

About an hour later, I pulled it out and found it had risen perfectly.

It was the perfect situation for little hands to be involved. I try to include Sam every time I bake bread and punching down the dough is one of his favorite past times.

Then we rolled it out - another joy of Sam's. He is such a great helper.

Finally, we cut out little circles and placed them on a couple cookie sheets with some cornmeal sprinkled on them. I covered them with kitchen towels and set them aside for another half hour.
Once they were about an inch tall, I put them on my warmed cast iron skillet. I love my skillet and use it at least one time every day - it is so versatile.

The end result: perfectly browned whole wheat English muffins - made with fresh goat's milk for that extra nutrition. We ate them with smoked beef brisket, butternut squash bisque and fresh Swiss chard from the local Farmer's Market.

Year in Review

As I ponder what is to come in the next year, I was reminded of this post where our family each chose one word to focus on throughout 2011.  My word was "listen" which I feel has really come to a head in the last couple of weeks.  I have been listening to the Lord and have heard Him speak to me in beautiful and creative ways.  Besides through His word, which has been encouraging, comforting and specifically speaking to our situation, other people, my children and books have helped me to hear my Father speak to my heart.

I starting reading the book Radical by David Platt and my life was changed.  Bill also had a huge change in his heart after reading the book.  While overly simplistic in many ways, the main points of the book speak to the commandment that we have received from the Lord as Christians.

I do not know what is going to happen in the upcoming months or year, but I do know that I choose to continue listening.  I desire to hear Him more now that I have heard Him so clearly and so often.

One accomplishment I am proud of from 2011 is reading through the New Testament.  I am starting the Old Testament in 2012, but it will be a two year plan for me (I figure there's no hurry).  I love reading through His word - and it is amazing how fresh and new I find everything that I have read before as I read it again.


But, for the year 2012, what one word will I choose for our family, overall?  Offhand I think I'll choose SLEEP.  Sleep seems to evade us.  Hudson is one of those rare kids who can't cry because if he does cry for more than three minutes he will vomit.  So, we have to keep him close and snuggle often.  It's not such a bad prescription for his issue, but it does mean lots of waking up overnight and very little sleep.  I hope our entire family will sleep more in 2012.

What's your word?

Merry Christmas!

Our family has been busy growing and learning throughout the holiday season.  We've had some ups and downs, but are thrilled to be exactly where we're supposed to be right now.  We're excited about how God is going to work in our lives over the next year as well.  

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Shopping

I often wonder why everyone doesn't shop this way.

Homemade Marinara (it's cheap too!)

We're on a bit of a tight budget lately, so I'm up to my old tricks in making everything from scratch.  I found this article in Good Housekeeping a few years ago that I clipped and, for some reason, I never used it.  So, as I was digging through my recipe bag (yes, it is a ziplock bag, and no, I don't intend to change my "system" any time soon) this morning looking for a totally different recipe, I pulled out this gem and put it to good use immediately.

Turns out, it is absolutely delicious!  I changed it up a bit and just used the basic idea, so here is the new and improved version.  Most people have their own tomato sauce recipe, but if you feel like changing it up a bit, try this one.  It costs about 47 cents a serving (versus $1.50 per serving of the bottled sauce, on average).

Marinara:

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed with press

2 Tbsp tomato paste

1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes in juice (you can also use whole tomatoes)

Salt and pepper

1 tsp dried basil (or 1/2 cup loosely packed fresh basil, chopped)

Five fresh sprigs of thyme (leaves removed, of course)

Dash of marjoram

1/2 tsp oregano

In a 4 quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot.  Add onion and cook until tender, about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook 1 minute.  Stir in tomatoes with their juice, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper; heat to boiling over high heat, breaking up tomatoes with back of spoon if you have used whole tomatoes.  Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.  Stir in herbs.  If not using right away, transfer to a container with tight fitting lid and refrigerate up to three days or cool 30 minutes and freeze up to 3 months.  Makes enough to coat 1lb cooked pasta.

Personally, I am letting the flavors mellow in the fridge overnight and we'll have it tomorrow night for dinner with browned meat and some veggies to make a primavera.  I'm sure we could get fancier than canned tomatoes and tomato paste, but this is what I had in the pantry and it is actually quite inexpensive to be so tasty.

(Like my lid?  My aunt bought this one for me, but I've seen it online here.)

Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

On special holidays, birthdays, or just a sweet homecoming, I like to make my favorite caramel-pecan sticky buns.  Sure, I could stick to the old cinnamon bun recipe, which is decent in its own way.  But nothing says, "I love you" like these sticky buns.  They're not that much harder to make and if done correctly, they can be delightful.

So, get your favorite cup of java ready, because you're gonna need it when you eat this delectable treat.

Caramel-Pecan Sticky Buns

2 1/4 teaspoon dry yeast

3/4 cup warm water (110F to 115F)

3/4 cup warm milk  (110F to 115F)

1/4 cup sugar

3 T vegetable oil

2 t salt

3-3/4 to 4-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Filling:

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup sugar

3 t cinnamon

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

In a mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water.  Add the milk, sugar, oil, salt and 1-1/4 cups flour.  Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes or until smooth (I use a wooden spoon - just make sure you mix everything until smooth).  Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (not too tacky).  Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes.  Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top.  Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about one hour.**

Punch down dough.  Turn onto a lightly floured surface.  Roll into an 18-inch by 12-inch rectangle.  Spread butter to within 1/2 inch of edges/  Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over butter. Roll up, jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal.  Cut into 12 slices (I use a three inch piece of thread and wrap it around the dough, pull tightly and that cuts it perfectly without smooshing the dough). 

Combine brown sugar and cream; pour into a greased 13-inch by 9-inch by 2-inch baking pan.  If you are in a high altitude, do not use glass.  Sprinkle with pecans.  Place rolls, cut side down, over pecans.  Cover and let rise until doubled, about one hour.  Or, you can cover and place in the fridge overnight, but make sure you take them out half an hour before baking to bring to room temperature.

Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes or until well browned.  Cool for one minute before inverting onto a serving platter.  Yield:  1 dozen

Caution:  these are addictive, if done right.

**I learned a little trick from America's Test Kitchen that I use with all my dough.  Preheat the oven to its lowest setting (mine is 175F) then turn it off.  Use a glass bowl, like Pyrex makes, to put the dough into.  Once the dough is in the bowl and greased well, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and place in the warmed oven.  It cuts the rise time in half and makes for a very light and airy bread.  You can use this secret with pizza dough, bread, sweet breads, rolls, etc.  

Roseola

It has been quite a week at our house.  Hudson, only 11 months-old, was diagnosed with Roseola after three days of high fevers.  The President actually visited our little town during the worst of his fever and I was so nervous that I might not be able to get Hudson to the hospital or pediatrician's office when he hit 103.8F and stayed there for THREE hours despite medicine!  Fortunately, his heart was able to withstand the high fever with no issues that I could detect.  Unfortunately, his high fever lasted for a little over three days and never went below 101.5F until today, minus three hours of low-grade yesterday morning.  

He has not slept much in his pack-n-play - mostly just in my arms, on the couch, in my bed, in the Ergo Baby, etc.  I snapped a few shots of my sick little baby in different sleeping positions.  

I think the worst of it is over, except that he appears to have gotten a cold.  His heart is strong and despite getting checkups every six months to make sure it is okay, we are encouraged by this week's experience.  He does have a 50/50 chance of having Brugada Syndrome, like his brother, and it appears that he does not have it.  He has not been given the all-clear by the cardiologist yet, but his heart appears to be healthy.  

What a blessing this little surprise has been to our lives.  

Medical Tidbit for Kids

In light of a high fever that has occurred at our home this evening, I wanted to share a piece of information that my husband and I find invaluable in times of sickness.

When Sam was first diagnosed with his heart condition, we had to give him so much Tylenol and Motrin in order to keep his fevers down (fevers for him are life threatening) that we began to become concerned that we might over medicate him.  Thus, the chart was born:

Name of Child	Med & Dose	Time Given	Parent

Not the sick one this time

We keep this printed chart (with many more cells) on our bathroom counter with a pen close by.  Now that we have more than one child, we have had to add the "Name of Child" cell, because, inevitably, more than one child will get sick at a time.  Oftentimes, if the fever is extra high or stubborn, we will add another row entitled "Temperature" or just scribble it in somewhere on the chart.  The cell that you can't see completely on the right says "Parent."

When it comes time to see the pediatrician, this little chart comes in mighty handy.  We know exactly when the fever occurred, how often we medicated (even breaks or gaps in between) and which parent was doing the medicating.  Generally speaking, I am the medicine caregiver in our family.  However, on the off-chance that I am tending to another child or sitting in a dark room holding a sick baby, my husband will get the medication prepared and hand it to me.  He signs the chart as though he has given the medicine on those occasions.

So, just another small tidbit from a mom with a special needs kiddo - something that might make any family move a little more functionally during sickness.  I hope it helps.

Homemade Deodorant

I've been wrestling with myself for a long time about the antiperspirant I use.  I kept reading about the aluminum in antiperspirant being linked to breast cancer.  Although no conclusive data has been found (according to this website and a few others).  But I kept hearing my friends who have recovered from breast cancer tell me that their oncologists have told them two things - no more processed foods and no more antiperspirants.

So, when my antiperspirant ran out, I decided to make my own.  And you know what?  It was not only cheap, it actually works.  I put the mixture in a mason jar and use clean fingers to apply.

Here's the recipe, if you dare:

1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
4 Tbsp coconut oil

I mixed it with my fingers, since coconut oil actually becomes liquid at 76 degrees F (25C).

You can add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil if you like too.  I think the next time I make it I will add Tea Tree Oil, since it not only smells clean, it also neutralizes odors naturally.  So well, in fact, that I use it when washing my cloth diapers.

Am I preventing breast cancer?  I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that I just saved my wallet a little extra money and my conscience is clean, as well as my personal scent.

The Cascades

The KlearLife Kids on the Cascades Hike

We are thoroughly enjoying the Fall season here in the High Country.  The beauty of the colors this weekend reminds me how much I missed all of this when I was living overseas.  I think we've hit the peak of the season though, as we are experiencing a lot of wind and even this afternoon there are more bare trees than there were this time yesterday.  

We are ready to paint our pumpkins, eat more pumpkin treats (like those delicious muffins), have apple pie and start canning raw pears (I still have two huge bags full and they are absolutely delicious this year!).  

Check out those enormous leaves Carolina is hanging on to.  I have never seen a Chestnut Oak leaf as big as the one she found this morning on our hike.  We like to identify all the leaves as we walk through the forest and Carolina hit the jackpot with big ones today.  I felt like we were in some prehistoric jungle!  The Tulip Poplar leaf on the top of her pile is just one example.  

Everyone is having birthdays this month - Sam just turned five, Carolina turned four and Hudson hits the big ONE in two weeks.  I can't believe how quickly everyone is growing.  It's a bit different this year because Sam is being homeschooled and Carolina is taking ballet classes - I feel like we're finally hitting some sort of "American family" standard or something. 

Oh, and Hudson is walking.  *Deep sigh*

I'm off to enjoy them some more before the afternoon fades too quickly.

More Food!

Need I say more?