Teach Your Child About the Gifts That Can't be Placed in a Box

Thanksgiving is finally over. It was nice to see people being thankful for what they have in November but the Christmas greediness starts with Black Friday. 

Society is trying to instill in our future generations that while gifts are nice during the Christmas season, the true "gift" is the people behind the gifts and are one of the blessings that we should be grateful for. We are trying to teach them that Christmas wouldn't happen at all if it weren't for Jesus' birth and the importance of His birth. 

However, what do we do at the end of the day that shows these values? People give the kids more stuff; ironically just after celebrating being grateful for the stuff they already have.

This year my kids won't be getting much because of the financial situation we are in. I've saved a few things that I have collected through the year that will be special gifts from Santa, but that will be the extent of our gifts. I've already informed them what their Christmas will look like and why. They shrugged and said, "OK, that's fine" and went back to what they were doing. I've been instilling the phrase, "That gift that _______ gave you would mean nothing compared to the gift of love that _________ gives you-- which is why they gave you the gift."

However, this year is a perfect platform to keep showing those ideals. I'm keeping the Thanksgiving gratitude theme going by continuing with this Christmas one: 

We put up this little tree on our front door and under it are gifts. Each child will label a gift once a day with "gifts" that are given to us every day that could never be placed in a box. These gifts are more precious than any tangible object. 

Here is a photo of our start: 

So I am challenging your family to start your own "special tree" and put the most precious gifts under it that you already have. 

It's not looking good....

I've had a lot on my mind lately. I had an outpatient procedure done a few weeks ago. A simple procedure where they took a camera and looked at some of my insides. Pretty simple. It was something we felt had to be done with the kidney infections I've been getting. Well, we received the bills this last week. They total to over $1,700. This just blows my mind because we have decent health insurance and it was a simple procedure and there were no complications. In fact, the idea was to go in and see what was going on in the plumbing and possibly put a stint in. Well, they got in and found everything to be in tip-top shape. 

Let me back track and explain some things. I know this may seem incoherent but I'm just so upset and stressed about it that I can't even think straight. To preface, I should explain that we have decent health coverage through Joe's work that we pay over $700 a month for. For major operations, we have a deductible ($1,000) plus a 20% copay. When I had 4 major surgeries last summer that included 2 surgeons and a 3 day hospital stay, we ended up paying $3000 out of pocket for. That was tough to swallow but we felt it was pretty legit. Not great, but I had major stuff taken care of. So, when I went in and with the outpatient status, the procedure itself took under an hour and all they ended up doing was sticking a camera up my who-ha (no cuts and stitches!) and now I have to cough up $1700. I just feel outraged. It's not just the fact that it seems like so much compared to what my surgeries were last summer, but we are just hit really hard right now. The few weeks leading up to my surgery I had been out of work, on a 2 week hiatus. Well, after my surgery, I was supposed to be working again. However, at the same time I received the bills, I found out I lost my job. I should mention the loss wasn't through a fault of my own. Anyhow, so now we have this huge bill staring down at us and: 1) I lost my job, 2) we are just making ends meet now by stretching our budget 3) it's the worst time of the year for bills due to Christmas and 4) the extra normal expenses of winter like heating. I've just been racking my brain trying to figure out how we can do this. I'm glad that I've shopped at the thrift stores and clearance racks throughout the year to already have a semblance of Christmas and I can home-make the rest. I've already broken it to my kids that while every Christmas is focused on love and family, this year that's pretty much what it's going to encompass. What I have saved so far up to this point is going to be Santa's gifts. My kids, bless their little hearts, said they were okay with that and seemed to keep in good spirit. 

To get back on track, I'm not writing this to try to get pity. I'm writing about my situation to express that it's frustrating that us "middle-class" Americans that work hard to pay for our health care are still getting a short end of the stick to get mediocre healthcare. And no, I didn't vote for Obama. I'm frustrated that people are free loading while my family suffers because we choose to work hard. I'm feeling enormous guilt that my family is now going to struggle for x-amount of months because I had health problems, which by the way, is still not straightened out. I feel like maybe I made the wrong decision to seek healthcare because it may cost my family heat for our house or food. 

I can only wonder what has happened in the last year to make the hospital bill skyrocket. Obamacare. I've had people tell me that should have only affected our premiums (which it did). However, my hypothesis lies within this thought: hospitals have been know to charge people without insurance less because of "cash payment" versus the "insurance rate list prices" that are negotiated between the hospital and insurance company. However, the amount of people that are going to be insured because of Obamacare could make hospital bills go up because there will be more insurance companies required, by contract, to cover those expenses. 

Right now I'm doing what I can do get through this time. I'm pinching my pennies and praying that there is an opportunity for us to come up with that money. 

Freezer Tips

You've probably seen those tips flying around Pintrest or Facebook of women that freeze dinners, sauces, soups, etc in freezer bags and have them stocked on top of each other nice and tidy. I tried that for awhile. It's great while in the freezer but it seemed to get messy in the preparing stage and definitely in the thawing stage. It never failed that I got some food stuck in the zipper and when it was thawing, the bag opened or leaked and became a mess. 

In my opinion, I came up with a better option. I freeze nearly everything in canning jars or glass jars that food originally came in (like spaghetti sauce). They're reusable and if you're recycling the ones that food was prepackaged in, more brownie points for you! 

What's wonderful about putting sauces and soups in these jars is that you can stick them straight from the freezer into a crockpot filled with water. Turn on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours and you can evenly heat the contents.

 Everybody wants a different kind of soup for dinner? No problem. Thawing Alfredo sauce for dinner? It thaws to more of a texture when you originally made it. If you make spaghetti for dinner and only use 1/2 a jar, stick the rest in the freezer and thaw/heat in a water bath when you are ready. 

So put the ziplock bags away and go grab a jar! 

Learning How to Make Ravioli

A few months ago, I bought a pasta maker at a thrift store for under $10. I was stoked at the idea of making homemade pasta. I honestly didn't care too much about noodles because cost wise (and labor) it didn't seem worth it to make it. However, now that I have the machine, I'm seeing how worth it is! 

When I bought the machine, I wanted to make ravioli. That is worth the time and money saved compared to store bought. However, after looking at a lot of instruction online, I feel there's a few things missing when it comes to making the ravioli. 

I found that making the dough in my stand mixer was easiest. When it's done, I put it in a bread bag to sit for an hour and also when I'm working with the dough (Photo A).

When you are ready to go, I take a fist size amount of dough to work with. Then I take my mesh strainer and sift flour onto my work space and into the ravioli tray. Sprinkle it liberally everywhere. It helps so the ravioli doesn't stick in the tray. When you freeze the ravioli, you can dust off excess flour when they're frozen. 

When I first started making pasta, I thought it was silly that you had to roll through 1-6 to make the pasta. Why couldn't you go to a thin setting and be done? Now I know. It's not just about getting the dough thin, it's about getting the dough to be in a nice rectangle shape and to make sure it's floured thoroughly for the finished product. 

So, roll your dough through each setting, folding the dough into thirds in between each set. This is how it should go through each set: 

1. On setting 1, roll your dough through, after its floured enough so it doesn't feel sticky. 

2. Fold into thirds. (Photo B)

3. Rub your fingers over your work surface with your fingers closed and gather flour in between your digits and rub over each side of the dough so that the dough doesn't feel sticky. (Photo C) 

It should resemble photo D. You just want to rub the flour onto the surface of the dough, not into it.

4. Run it through on setting 1 again, running the dough through the opposite way (on the bias).

5. Complete each setting through 5, keeping the dough floured and rectangle. 

To make the ravioli, I highly recommend using a ravioli tray. I found mine at TJ Max. I use Ravioliera- con mattarello- 26cm. (Photo 1)

1. Sift flour onto the tray (Photo 2)

2. Place your first dough that you pressed on the floured tray (Photo 3)

3. At this point, you do not need to press the dough into the tray. If your dough is a bit narrow in some places, you manually stretch it. Fill each "space" with a heaping half teaspoon of filling. (Photo 4)

4. Run another batch of dough through the machine and place over the filling. (Photo 5) 

5. Lightly sift flour over the top dough. (Photo 6)

6. With a rolling pin, gently roll the dough. Gradually increase pressure (so you don't squirt filling out) until the dough gets cut with the tray ridges. 

7. Extra dough can be cut off and used again- just put it In a bag so it doesn't dry out. 

8. Place freezer paper on a metal cookie pan and either flip the ravioli onto it or dig each one out individually. I use a commercial size cookie sheet because it fits my freezer perfectly. 

9. When you have the sheet filled up, place in the freezer for an hour until frozen. Place ravioli into freezer bags. 

I hope this helps a fellow beginning pasta  maker out. It takes quite a bit of practice, so be patient. To fill up this one cookie sheet takes me about an hour to do solo. 

Good Luck! 

Repurposed Shower Caddy

When back to school sales rolled around, I picked up a few of these shower caddies for other useful reasons. They are super inexpensive at Walmart. 

For in the house or in the car, I've put my son's spare clothes into. 

Art Supplies/books-- super handy for in the house or the car. When it's in the car, I place the caddy in between my kids' booster seats and buckle it through the handle with the middle belt buckle.

Bathroom caddy- I have this up on a shelf when not in use and bring it down just for bath time. 

(Not pictured)

- Cleaning supplies

- crafting supplies

- diaper/Wipes for car or home

- snacks/drinks for kids

- Car organizer

Graciously Accepting Help

Yesterday, I had some grocery shopping to do. I got to witness something almost more rare than a random act of kindness. I was able to witness somebody accept the help that was offered graciously and fervently. 

I went to Winco to get some groceries. The trip went fairly well. I got to the checkout line and there was two people ahead of me. There was a woman at the front that, bless her heart, was clutching a baby (4-6mo old) to her chest with one arm and was trying to single-handed bag her groceries. It's not like she had a few groceries. No, she easily had bought over $100 worth. If you're not familiar with Winco, it's a great grocery store that has (more) affordable prices. One of those reasons is because they don't bag your groceries. The cashier will ring up your groceries and send them down the belt and you bag them. If you have a large order, they can ring up the next order and they send that one down an adjacent belt. The idea is to stagger people. Back to my story, since this woman still had to pay and the person behind her had to be rung up, I had enough time to tell my kids to sit still while I went up to the woman holding the baby and asked her if could help her bag her groceries. To my amazement, she graciously accepted my help. We made a great team. I bagged her groceries and with her free hand, she grabbed the full bags and put them into her cart. I was able to get back to my cart and unload it up on the belt in the nick of time. 

Since the purpose of the blog is to acknowledge this woman's graciousness, I also want to look at why people don't accept help.

1) They refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem

For example-- The woman in my situation above could have thought that she didn't need help. She was getting the job done. It may have just taken her awhile. The problem was that eventually, customer's behind her would eventually probably have to stack behind her and also, she really probably needed to be able to meet her baby's needs in some way that was hindered at that moment by the groceries. 

2) Pride

Sometimes people are just too darn proud to accept help. Sometimes this is enduring, and sometimes this is just frustrating for all involved. 

3) They would just rather do it themselves

There can be a certain sense of satisfaction in doing something yourself.

4) The person doesn't care/like the person offering the help

One word: Relatives. Need I say more?

5) They're not ready to receive the help

Sometimes people need to just keep beating their heads until that brick wall until they are ready for the help. 

I would just like to encourage people to not only practice random acts of kindness but also to accept the help that people offer. You may just inspire somebody around you to accept the help that they themselves need. 

Painted Nails

                     A Story

Closing my eyes, I think back to the day that preceded my wedding. The hustle and bustle of trying to make sure everything was perfect for our big day. My mom wanted her baby girl to be happy and pampered for the big day. We went to a salon and sat down next to each other. Placing my hands on the table in front of me, the Asian woman that sat across from me gently lifted my hands and soaked them in a beautiful white porcelain bowl. She cleaned my hands, massaging them with deaft grace, and finish by giving me a lovely French manicure. It was a relaxing way to be pampered- a way I relished frequently in that period of my life.

I took great care for the rest of that day to not disrupt my French manicure. My hands were to look lovely for my big day. 

The day of my wedding dawned, promising to be a brisk day. That day my soft manicured hands were placed by my daddy into the calloused hands that belong to the love of my life. That day and the next few weeks passed by in a magical yet joyful whirl. 

I was officially a married woman. My days were filled being a working wife. We wanted to save money to buy a home. 

Soon, we were surprised and blessed to find out we had a bundle of joy on her way! My days were still spent working. I still made sure I pampered myself regularly. As an expecting woman, I wanted to feel beautiful. My fingernails changed regularly depicting all the wonderful colors that surrounded us. Vibrant. Pastel. Sleek. Earthy.

Before I knew it, our precious baby arrived. My soft supple hands started the new tasks of caring for a baby. I was now a working mom. Life became busier: learning the balance of family, motherhood and work. My normally manicured hands didn't get the attention they were accustomed to. 

I started to gauge the time between mommy pampering excursions by how many chipped places were in my nails. This was when I made time to rejuvenate myself... And my hands.

My, how time has flown by! We have welcomed three more children into the world. I now stay home to take care of our family. My hands have transformed with all the work I do, with all the accomplishments I make. Where my hands were once soft and supple, they are now calloused from my chores and cracked from chemicals, numerous washings, and weather changes. I don't mind. My hands are tools to work hard for and to care for those I love. 

My third daughter came to me today and asked me to paint our nails to match. She is such a princess to the core! My heart leaped at the idea of painting my nails. I couldn't rember the last time I had done that. I had actually maybe thought about it a time or two, but always dismissed the idea. What would be the point? They just get ruined the same day. This though, there was purpose. My daughter wanted her inner princess to shine. And for the first time in a long time, I wanted my inner princess to shine. It was one small thing that would make me feel beautiful. While it lasted anyways.

My daughter and I dusted off the fingernail paint bin and picked out the most beautiful topaz. We spent fifteen minutes layering on the paint, giggling at my lack of practice. It had been so long, I was smearing the paint over my cuticles and skin that surrounded my nail. Laughing made it worse, but it was still fun. 

I had made my daughter's day by doing something simply out of the ordinary. After my nails dried, I carefully set out to do my chores. I grabbed objects with delicate grace that had not been used in years, trying to preserve my lacquered nails. 

At the end of the day, I was relieved to soak my tired body in a well deserved bath. I reached for my body wash and laughed softly when I discovered my freshly manicured hands did not survive the day. Each fingernail was abused and was missing parts of the beautiful topaz that had coated it just hours before. Each chipped nail has a story of an unselfish act of love and charity. 

I know that I will put it on my to do list to get fingernail polish remover and remove the remainder of the color. Or I might let it continue to chip, one loving gesture at a time, serving as a reminder for me that it only takes a few moments of my time to make my child's day. 

Family Perception

Today I met up with my sister. She has baby number two on the way. We went to a fast food joint to have some lunch. We were quite surprised when we ran into one of our parent's friend, Rick.

I introduced him to Aviana and Rowen and explained that my two older kids were in school. In that instance, it seems time slows down and I can visualize every thought and facial expression that passes his face:

"That's a lot of kids"

"Why so many!?"

"I could never of had that many kids"

"I'm glad I don't have that many grand kids"

Time catches up and he states, "well, your parents sure won the most grand kids contest!"

I just think the perception of my family is hilarious. For example, when I'm out shopping while the older two kids are at school, I have Aviana and Rowen with me. People have stopped me and said, "You have the most perfect family! One boy and one girl!" I reply, "It's even more perfect because they have two big sisters in school." People's expressions go from content to bewilderment to pity in a heartbeat. Suddenly, it seems I sprout horns and they quickly exclaim, "Well, you are a busy lady!" Or "You must've kept going until you got that boy!" Then they rush away feeling sorry for me. 

I come from a family of just my sister and I. My husband was the third (surprise!) child. However, my husband's dad is the oldest out of ten. My mother in law has a sister that had ten children. Our 4 seems comfortable. Not too many at all. However, the way people perceive us is as if we had 20! 

We are so glad we had 4. Not so we could have a boy, but because we felt like that was God's path. Our van is full and so is our hearts.