Really?

That's all you've got, Mother Nature? 

I hope you are spending your extra day this year doing something you love!  We are all home playing in the snow, fighting, and asking for snacks!  Just another typical day at the Melius house. :o)

Snowless Snow Day

It's official.  Kids these days really do have it better than we ever did.  Today they had the first snowless snow day I have ever seen!
Last night our school and several other area schools cancelled for today because of the impending storm.
It is now 3:30pm and this is still the view from my office window.  In the past few minutes, a few snowflakes are just starting to fall. 
This blizzard looks an awful lot like Sunday/Monday's Daytona 500.  I'm beginning to wonder if it is going to happen or not!  Of course, for my husband and all who have mama and baby calves to worry about, I hope it doesn't turn out as bad as predicted. 

Snow or not, I can still enjoy my last few sips of chai green tea while baby is napping.
Stay warm and cozy!

Hunker Down Day

By this time last year, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself after weathering (no pun intended) one blizzard and snow storm after another.  That is not the case this year.  It is almost March and this is our first "Hunker Down Day" of the winter.  Have you seen the weather?  The whole state is in the path of a blizzard set to hit tomorrow and last through Wednesday.

And what did I do today to prepare for the big storm?  I went all natural and made my own granola.  Yep, that's right.  I was paging through a cookbook as I was drinking my mid-morning coffee and found a couple recipes for granola.  I had all of the ingredients, so why not?  I combined the two, added a few of my own ingredients and--wallah--homemade granola.  There are so many things you could add to this: raisins, craisins, dried apples . . . . I'm not saying this is the best granola recipe in the world, but it is pretty tasty!

Granola

5 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup flaked coconut

2/3 cup sunflower kernels

2/3 cup almonds

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup canola oil

dash or two salt

2 T cinnamon (I used apple pie spice)

1 T vanilla

Lightly oil a large roaster and combine the dry ingredients.  Bake at 300 for 20 minutes, stirring several times.  Meanwhile, in a saucepan, simmer sugar, honey, oil, and spice.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour over baked dry ingredients and stir.  Bake for 5 minutes more.  Stir again and bake 5 more minutes.  Cool and crumble apart.  Stir in an air tight container.

And, with that, we are ready for the snow!  In addition to our yummy granola, we have enough Wheaties, milk, Pepsi, and the Golf channel to keep my husband happy for a couple of days at least.  After that, it will be time to dig out again!





Best Chocolate Chip Bars in the Whole Wide World

My sister-in-law Katie would never admit it, but she is a fabulous cook.  She shared this recipe with me awhile back and it is a definite keeper.  David usually only eats cookies, but he loves these.  (Granted, they do bear a close resemblance to a cookie.)  Nathan said he couldn't even stop LOOKING at these when I made them last week.  Even with putting most of them in the freezer, they were gone within a few days.  The boys came in the house after school two days in a row and headed straight to the freezer for a chocolate chip bar.

It is a cold, windy Sunday here in South Dakota.  Why not whip up a batch for yourself today?

Chocolate Chip Bars

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 cup butter

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 3 oz. pkg instant french vanilla pudding

1 bag chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients.  Press into an ungreased 9x13 pan and bake at 375 degrees for 17 minutes or until set and brown.

Happy Belated Blog-o-versary

I missed my big Blog-o-versary back in January.  I published my first post on January 5, 2009.  Remember that one? 
You didn't? 
Don't feel bad.  I didn't either, so I had to review.  It seems some things haven't changed all that much in these past three years!  (If you wish to relive the magic of where this all started, too, you can find the The First Post here.)
As you may have noticed, this blog is just like me--a dabbler in all sorts of things.  I've never been one to devote my entire life to one subject.  I just have too many things I want to try (or dream of trying) to focus on just one thing!  Of course, the downside to that is I am a "jack of all trades, master of none," but so be it. 
That's ME.   
You could probably sum up this blog the same way you can sum up my priorities in life: FAITH, FAMILY, FRIENDS, and FOOD.
What's coming up? 
Probably more of the same with better pictures from my new camera.  Although this won't become a photography blog, I am learning more about DSLR photography and am loving it!  (Add that to my list of trades.)  Oh--and I've been watching The Nate Berkus Show daily, so expect some furniture re- upholstery and painting projects, too!
It has been awhile since I have thanked you for stopping by, so I want to make sure you know how much I appreciate your taking the time to read these words.  I always love it when people tell me this blog is a break in their work day, the playlist is their favorite "radio station," a post is an inspiration to them, or that my family makes theirs feel normal. 
(Does that mean that we're BOTH normal, or that mine is just weird?)  Never mind.  Don't tell me. :o)

Thanks for coming along on the journey. 

Don't ever forget we're all in this together.
   


 

 

Blokus

Have you played Blokus?  It has been around for awhile.
I first played it when Landen was a baby and thought it was a lot of fun.  I have had my eye on it since then, but I wanted to wait until the older three were old enough to play it.  This past Christmas was finally the year. 
Blokus is my favorite game.  Whenever one of the kids asks to play a game with me, they know this is the one I will pick.  I love it because even Teresa can play.  There is strategy involved, but it is not required.  Two to four people can play, but it is most fun with four. 
Each person starts in a corner with a colored piece of their choice (all pieces are different shapes and sizes).  The pieces can only meet at the same color's corners.  It gets fun when you reach the middle and use strategy to keep corners open to find your way through your opponent's traps.  The person to get all of their pieces on the board (or have the fewest squares left) wins. 
As an added bonus, a finished Blokus board is very pretty!  (Post-game wrestling is optional.)

Waffle Night

Yesterday David informed me he had a "thing" for the evening.
I said I had a "thing," too. 
Then we had a good laugh.


Inspired by Rachael Ray's Waffle Week this week, I decided the kids and I would have waffles for supper while dad was away eating prime rib at his meeting.  Halfway through the mixing process, though, I realized I was completely out of white flour. 
I was horrified.  My mom, to whom I was talking on the phone, was very disappointed in me. 
What was I going to do with my almost completed waffle batter??  I ran down to the freezer one more time and found the bag of whole wheat flour.  (Yes, I freeze my flour.)  I substituted the whole wheat flour, added a few things to make it taste a bit more kid-friendly, and everyone loved them!  No one knew or cared that they were healthier than the original version.  Here's a new recipe for you to try as we come up on the weekend.

Whole Wheat Waffles
2 eggs, separated
2 cups buttermilk (or add a splash of lemon juice to regular milk and let set a few minutes)
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1-2 teaspoons apple pie spice (or cinnamon if you prefer)

Heat waffle iron.  Place egg yolks in large bowl and whites in small bowl.  To yolks, add buttermilk; beat well.  Add flour, baking powder, soda and salt; beat until smooth.  Stir in oil, vanilla, sugar and spice.  Beat egg whites until soft peaks form (or at least frothy in you are in a hurry and/or have small hungry children).  Fold whites into batter.  Spread evenly in waffle iron.  Bake until golden brown. 

Guess what?  My need to buy flour turned into a "thing" for me, too, this morning. 
Coffee with my girls and my dear friend Kelly.  It was just what I needed. :o)

Homesick for Heaven

Tomorrow will be 3 weeks since our nephew Luke went to heaven.  The concept of time has become strange--some things seeming so recent and some so far away.  We have embarked on this road called grief.  No one wants to be on it, but we have no choice but to keep walking, not looking too far ahead, but concentrating on each small step.

As we gathered as a family after Luke's funeral, we joked that we should buy the house next door together as a time-share.  I am liking that idea more and more, but only if everyone can quit their jobs and live together in a sort of Melius commune--sitting in a circle in the bare living room, talking, laughing, crying, and holding each other up.  Was it just the newness of this reality?  Was it the being altogether in one place?  Somehow, sometimes, this all seemed more bearable then.

The hard part right now is not being able to be with Rick, Katie, and Lydia.  Since we returned, farm and family responsibilities and sick kids have kept us from making a return trip to see them.  We will, but it is taking much longer than we had hoped.

Grief and sadness are ugly, hideous things and I hate them  Hate them.

But, do you know what I LOVE?  The promise of HEAVEN, of an eternal life so beautiful that we cannot fathom it.  If not for this promise, this road would be truly, truly unbearable. 

Nathan (who often spends his church and prayer time spinning in circles and/or dancing), perched himself on the corner of the kitchen table a couple of nights ago and declared, 

"Heaven is our home.  This is not our home."

I am so thankful for these reminders, these feathers of hope, that God sends to float down when we need them most.

We received this beautiful prayer in a card from a friend yesterday.  I know we are not the first family to travel this road, nor are we the only ones traveling it now.  Feel free to share this, too, if you or anyone else may find comfort in it.

Lord, we know you are walking with our dearly departed Luke.  Bless him as he comes to share in the eternal banquet you have prepared.  Please show us your compassion and grace as we adjust to the changes in our lives here on earth.  As each day passes, help us to understand our need to surrender to your never-ending love.  Turn our tears of sadness to joy.  Let us weep with happiness for the new life Luke now enjoys.  It is through you, with you and in you that we will find peace.

Amen.    

Empowered

I am not taking my usual 1 or 2 year "recovery" time after this baby to get back to walking.  Having my biggest baby without any drugs (I'm not saying I didn't ask for any!) left me feeling empowered.  If I can do THAT, I can do anything!  Right??

I started walking slowly again when Rachel was about four weeks old and now I am back up to my pre-pregnancy routine and walking speed 5-6 days a week.  

Once spring comes around, my goal is to run a mile outside--maybe more. 

(Running on the treadmill scares me.) 

This goal is quite momentous because I DO NOT run and NEVER have. 

But, like I said--now I just KNOW I can do it!

Exercising is not so much about the losing weight for me (although I do have a few pounds to lose yet), but that I feel so much better when I do it.  That 35-40 minutes in my day has become my sacred "me" time (with my personal trainer pictured below, of course) as well as my natural Zoloft.

She is saying, "Cheeks like these only look good on me, Mom.  Keep walking!" :o)

And, with that, it IS time for my morning walk!

Happy Valentine's Day!  May you have a blessed day celebrating everyone you love.

Teresa's Room

Teresa is not the best housekeeper.  In fact, none of our children are meticulous that way.  There is still hope for Rachel.

Today Teresa had this exchange with her Grandpa Melius about her bedroom.

Grandpa:  Did a bomb go off in here?
Teresa:  No.  I have a smoke alarm.

Little Projects

Both boys came home with notes this week reminding us of the upcoming Valentine's Day party on Tuesday.  I was one grateful mom when they decided they would each make their own Valentine boxes!  Now, I grew up LOVING this time of year and would plan my own Valentine box weeks in advance.  One year I even ventured into the art of paper mache to make a gumball machine.  Yes, I LOVED Valentine boxes!

At this point in my life, however, I have a little different view on this yearly project.

Even with my independent artists working away, there was still enough fighting over paper, markers, tape, and a crying baby punctuating any silences.  Oh, it was quite a lively evening, but it turned out in the end!

By Friday morning, they had created these beautiful works of art!

 It didn't take Landen long to get bored on their free day from school, so I put him to work baking muffins for the February church potlock tomorrow.  Have you ever been to a breakfast potluck?  You should, especially if you are a fan of egg bakes, rolls, and muffins!  Mmmm!

This morning it was off to Saturday morning basketball for the boys.  I managed to get all of my little monkeys together for a picture before our Saturday morning pancakes.

Visit Just Imagine Heaven Today!

Today I'd like to direct you to cousin Jan's blog at www.justimagineheaven.blogspot.com.  Since I don't often blog about farm life here at the Melius farm/ranch, she did it for me after their visit last week.  (See the post "Cattle, Baby, & Pyrex")
Jan couldn't believe that I hadn't been out to see the baby calves (and a week later I still haven't been).  I suppose the novelty has worn off after ten calving seasons.  Just knowing that they're out there, healthy, and that Teresa has named them (Avery, Lydia, Funny Face, and, most recently Laura) is enough for me.  :o)  Don't judge--I have a a new baby keeping me in the house--and that is a very good excuse for not venturing out to see the cows!
Jan also captured the first photo of Rachel smiling on February 1.  (David would like to document that he was the first to make her smile on January 31.  It's true.  I witnessed it.)  You'll see that photography is one of Jan's many talents.
And . . . you just never know what you might find at the Salvation Army!
Wow--we packed a lot into one day's visit!  I'm sure you'll love her blog.
Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Church Music

Since the last Sunday in January, I have been playing the part of a real live church organist (or church pianist to be more precise).  Our full time organist is gone through the month of February and she asked if I could fill in.  Thanks to my wonderful husband being willing to sit with our four kids on his own, I was able to do it.  (OK, Rachel hasn't been awake for mass yet, but she probably will be before the end of the month!)
I subbed several times in our former parish and a few times at All Saints, but this is my first experience being responsible for everything from choosing the songs to putting the numbers on the board. 
Choosing the music has been the best part.  There is a music liturgy guide which suggests several songs appropriate for each Sunday's readings, so that takes a lot of the guess work out of it. 
I have a love for both old hymns and more contemporary songs,  So far my selections slightly favor the more traditional.  My favorite hymn, "How Great Thou Art" is coming up in a couple weeks.
I chose my favorite contemporary song for yesterday's mass before I knew what God would have in store for our family the very next day.  I first heard "You Are Mine" at the beginning of my sophomore year of college.  I had been homesick my freshman year and was apprehensive with the start of a new one.  I found such comfort in the words based on Isaiah.  It has been my favorite ever since.  Feeling God's great love through this song can (and often does) make me cry on a normal Sunday (which can get messy when I forget to pack tissues in my purse!)  I knew it would be difficult yesterday, and with no choir behind me, I didn't have a choice but to sing.  I made it almost to the end. 
The last verse is what always gets me.
"I am the Word that Leads all to freedom, I am the peace the world cannot give.  I will call your name, embracing all your pain.  Stand up, now, walk and live!" 
Love it, love it, love it.
I will post a You Tube link so you can hear it, too.
Now it is time for me to get practicing for next Sunday.  At least I remembered to change the numbers yesterday.  I'll get this all figured out by the end of the month--I hope! :o)
May God bless your day.

Rachels

We have been blessed with the company of family and friends this past week.  We continue to be grateful for such awesome support.  We were especially blessed to spend time with cousins we don't get to see very often.  David's cousin Jared & wife Jan and Rebecca, Rachel, Thomas, David, Elizabeth, and Anna came over to our house twice during the week before they had to return to Denver.  The kids had SO much fun playing with each other. 

 We had to get a picture of the two Rachel Melius' while they were together.  We didn't get a picture of the two David Melius' this time.  (Yeah--our families have similar taste in names.  At least we live far enough apart that we don't get each other's mail or confuse medical records!)

 Here's a photo of our two Melius families' worth of children.  The whole command to "go forth and multiply"?--not a problem here. :o)

We were blessed by a visit by another Rachel yesterday--my dear friend and baby Rachel's godmother (and her son Brandon, who was too busy when this photo was taken).  We have decided to call this Rachel "Aunt Rachel."  The only other alternative was "Big Rachel" and I just couldn't bring myself to call her that!
When I informed Landen of the decided name, he reminded me that she isn't really their aunt.  I told him that we are going to adopt her as one because nobody wants to be called "Big Rachel."  He said I had a point.  :o) 
Lots of Rachels and lots of love.  We have lots to be thankful for.