Monday, March 30, 2015

Holy Week

Here's wishing all of my family and friends a most blessed Holy Week.

For several years, I have shared Matt Maher's "He is Risen" at Holy Week and Easter. While this is still a favorite of mine, Maher has recently released, "Because He Lives."

So often I will connect with a song on K-LOVE (our local Christian radio station) and find out that Matt Maher is behind it. He will be performing at the 125th Celebration of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls in August and our family plans to attend.

His new album "Saints and Sinners" is filled with more awesome music and is what I listened to while I walked along the Atlantic coastline last week.

The best part of listening to "Because He Lives" and our other favorite Matt Maher music is hearing my kids sing along!

Amen! Amen!


(Just skip over the ad before the song. I can't control that. :) )

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Walk MS and Schwans-Cares

With 24 days left of our Schwans-Cares fundraiser, we have now reached over $200!
Thank you to all who have ordered online at www.schwans-cares.com or www.schwans.com or by phone and given Campaign #19469 to help our WalkMS team Many Steps to Fight MS!

Schwans will donate 20% of orders and 40% of eGift card orders made on their website or by phone until April 22. After that date, they will continue to give 5% through the end of the year, so continue to keep us in mind when placing your orders.  Every little bit helps!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Quiet

I decided to purchase a book to read on our vacation because my top priorities, as well as spend time with my awesome husband, were to
1. Sit on the beach.
2. Read 
3. Eat delicious food.

Mission accomplished for all!

I went though a whole long list of Kindle books and ultimately decided on Quiet The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I am so glad I had the time to read this!  I not only learned a lot about the world and how different countries value extroversion and introversion, but I also learned a lot about myself.

In describing myself, I've often been conflicted.  I clearly prefer quieter environments, small groups of people, to work independently, and am not afraid of solitude. In fact, as I've mentioned before, I need solitude to gather myself and recharge after being around people for a long time.  This does not mean, however, that I am anti-social.  I love to be around people, to talk, laugh, and enjoy the company of others.
As it turns out after reading this book, I can be both!

Some quotes I found to be highlight-worthy:

Introverts are drawn to the inner world of thought and feeling, said (Psychologist Carl) Jung, extroverts to the external life of people and activities. Introverts focus on the meaning they make of the events swirling around them; extroverts plunge into the events themselves. Introverts recharge their batteries by being alone; extroverts need to recharge when they don't socialize enough.  

And a few pages later . . .

Your typical introvert would rather spend her vacation reading on the beach . . . .

This book is quite long, 263 pages, and since the author is a consultant for businesses, most of the book covers aspects of how best to relate to extroverts and introverts in the work force.

The greatest thing I took away from this book is that being an introvert is not a form of disability, as our modern American society often suggests.  In fact, other countries view introversion as a strength to be attained.

Whether extrovert or introvert, I recommend this book to learn more about yourself and the extroverts and introverts in your life!

Friday, March 27, 2015

Melius' Most-Read: Eric Carle Classics

This book of Eric Carle Classics has been read a time or two before bed at our house.
The collection includes The Tiny Seed, Pancakes, Pancakes! and Walter the Baker
Appropriately, given the Melius family's love of pancakes, Pancakes, Pancakes! is probably the favorite of the stories. 
I am thankful that I don't have to work as hard as Jack does to get our family's Saturday morning pancakes!



Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Pompano Beach & Jupiter

David and I just returned from a long weekend in Pompano Beach, Florida. This was our 4th trip to Florida and the first time we have had sun AND warmth!  We were beginning to think that all of those sunny photos of Florida were just a big scam. As it turns out, they DO have sunshine there!  We even swam in the ocean--a first since our honeymoon almost 14 years ago.

Here we are on our first afternoon.  I had to document that the sun WAS shining!  I look topless, but I can assure you that I am not. :)

Here was my Saturday morning coffee spot.  Ahh . . . I can never get tired of watching the ocean.

After my coffee, I went for a little walk.  I think I much prefer this to my treadmill. :)

On Sunday afternoon, we drove north to Jupiter to watch the Minnesota Twins play the Miami Marlins in a Spring Training game.  The Twins won 5-3.  Must be the different atmosphere found in Jupiter. :)

Now we're back home again and happy to be here.  
Spring is almost here, so I'll soon be feeling temperatures in the upper 80's once again!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Melius' Most-Read: Little Critter

Nathan received the Just a Little Critter Collection when he was born and he is, appropriately, our biggest Little Critter fan.
All of the kids like them, though, and are always finding interesting and funny details in the illustrations, too.
I checked these books out of the Eureka Library as a child, too.
It just goes to show once again that a great children's book series can stand the test of time!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

For the bride to be!

We celebrated my sister Amanda's bridal shower this past Saturday with a yummy and fun Pampered Chef shower.
The wedding is approaching quickly!
Only a few more weeks before she and Vince say, "I DO!"


Friday, March 13, 2015

Melius' Most-Read: The Paper Bag Princess

Prior to discovering The Paper Bag Princess, the only Robert Munsch book I had read was Love You Forever, a tear jerker for any new mom for sure.  
We received this in one of the big siblings' care packages from the hospital when Rachel was in Rochester.
The Paper Bag Princess has become one of our favorites, too.
This Princess is resourceful, clever, and no one to mess around with!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Our tooth fairy

Tonight at supper, we were discussing the tooth Landen lost last night.  (He declared himself too old for the tooth fairy long ago, but she still pays him a visit.)

Me:  Did the tooth fairy come?  (Both of us knowing darn well that she didn't.

Landen:  No, she didn't.

Me:  Hmm . . . she must be on vacation again.

Landen:  Or, she got messed up by the time change.

Oh, yes.  He knows our tooth fairy all too well.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

WalkMS Fundraising Kick Off with Schwan's

Usually we are gearing up for an early May WalkMS, but this year the walk will be held on September 19 in Aberdeen.

Even though we are still months away, we are kicking off our fundraising efforts with an Schwan's Cares Fundraiser!

When you order between March 8 and April 22nd, 2015, 20% of product and 40% of eGift Card sales will go back to the organization. In addition, Schwan’s will contribute 5% of all orders to our organization for the rest of the year!

Our goal is $1500, and every bit helps.  This is an easy way to contribute that won't cost YOU anything!

Here are two ways to support us.

Order Online:
1. Visit Schwans-Cares.com.  (I've linked it for you and everything--see how easy that is??)
2. Enter Campaign ID: 19469 into the search box located in the upper right hand corner then click to open campaign.
3. Click the "Buy Now" button to purchase an eGift Card or "Shop Now" to place a product order.

If you go to Schwans.com (the regular site), you will be asked if you want to contribute to a fundraiser on the checkout page.  Enter the Campaign ID 19469 and Many Steps to Fight MS will come up to support.

Order by Phone: Call 1-855-870-7208 and provide Campaign ID: 19469.

The only extra step required to help Many Steps to Fight MS is that orders must be made ahead of time online or by phone.


Friday, March 6, 2015

Baked Oatmeal

When I brought home a 25 pound bag of oatmeal in late January, it was clear that our family would have a stock of oatmeal for a good, long while!  I still think that I intended to order 2 5 pound bags, but the 25 pound bag is what arrived!  It's a good think that we like oatmeal, and my favorite cookie recipe uses a lot, too.


I was pretty happy to see this recipe appear in my Facebook newsfeed shortly after the arrival of the year's supply of oatmeal.  I tried it that day and the results were good!  I froze what we didn't eat and take them out whenever I want a sweet treat that is healthy, too!

Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups applesauce, unsweetened
1 banana, mashed
½ cup honey
5 cups, Old Fashioned rolled oats (I used quick, as you can see.)
¼ cup flaxseed meal (I did not use.)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2¾ cups milk
Optional toppings: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana and honey together in a bowl.
Add in oats, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and mix well with wet ingredients.
Finally pour in milk and combine.
Spray a 12 and 6 capacity muffin tin with cooking spray or use cupcake liners. Pour mixture evenly into muffin tin cups.
If using toppings, add them onto the tops of muffins now. If using fresh or frozen fruit, drop it right into the batter.
Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick in center comes out clean.
Cool and enjoy or freeze them in gallon freezer bags.



Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Landen's Most-Read: Warriors

This is Landen's Most Read.
Landen has ready many different series of books since he took off reading chapter books in the first grade.
A friend introduced him to the Warriors series this year and a few boys in his class are devouring them as fast as they can read.  The books in this series are full of conflict and suspense.  I haven't read any yet, but he has told me about them.
Landen asked me to go online and print a Warriors' Family Tree for him.  Let me tell you--it was quite complex, as you might expect from a family of cats!
He told me they are considered about a 3rd grade AR level, if that sort of thing is important to your elementary reader.
If you check out the Warriors, let us know what you think!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Spring is Coming!

We're attempting to bring on spring a little early again this year.  We started by planting grass and a pack of zinnia seeds.  The pellets didn't work for us last year, so we are trying good old potting soil this year.


This is just a neat wall of blocks Rachel made. :)


Happy Monday!