sweetness savou(red):

* a berry good time indeed *

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Happy Canada Day/Weekend fellow canucks! 

Mel ;o)

A.musing.mama! 3.7

The power of a compliment.

Husbands ~ consider your wives.  We sometimes wonder if you still see us as the attractive bride you married.  Now that the kids and the chaos of the daily routines have added gray hairs and jiggly pounds.  A kind word is like your 'super power' to charge our hearts!

Wives ~ consider your husbands.  He sometimes wonders if you have any thing else in your wardrobe other than yoga pants and men's t-shirts.  Dress 'up' for him like you used to when you were *trying* to attract him.  Throw on that shiny lip gloss he likes, and fluff out your hair five minutes before he gets home from work.

Sure, our value doesn't lie in the surface props... but it goes both ways, doesn't it?

Feel good, look good.

Look good, feel good.

Maybe I should go throw my hair around now,

A.musing.mama,

Mel ;o)

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You can find the previous comics HERE!

stop. chop. and roll.

Hey there friends,

It's been a while since I've done a quick *foodie* post - and today it's all about my favourite type of cuisine: THAI!

Back when my guy and I were young(er)... and had this crazy thing called 'disposable income' we used to eat out... like, a lot. But, the debate would always be about where to eat - because I constantly craved all things Thai, while Ben wanted a good pub meal of fish + chips.  Thankfully there's some awesome local restuarants that met both our palettes.

Anywho, now that we're old(er) and cheap(er)... we have to make the fine dining from home.

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So recently I decided to whip up some spring rolls for some friends and our family.

This is a bit *labour intensive* simply because it's a lot of fiddly work.

I like to have all the ingredients chopped and ready on one side, with my large fry pan filled with (sugar) water on the other.

1) Soak a piece of RICE paper in the water until it softens to the touch (like the consistency of a deflated slobbery balloon that your toddler lets off in your face...).

2) Slip a new sheet into the water to start softening while you make the current spring roll.

3) Place a small portion of your ingredients on the lower third of the rice paper - like so: 

(Ingredients seen here: basil leaf + red pepper + mango + cooked chicken).

4) Roll up bottom piece over the ingredients, then flip both of the side panels over the middle and roll them up nice and tight.

Serve fresh with a sweet chili sauce.

You can also pan fry (deep fry) them for an extra greasy treat.

What's your favourite cuisine?

Mel ;o)

 

confessions (of a mama) part.20.

For a mama who is literally *never* alone, there are still times that feel painfully lonely.

 

Maybe it's true for most mothers - this battle with isolation.

 

It seems odd, that in light of all these wee ones around us continually vying for our attention, that we could feel alone.  It seems confusing that despite all the frequent play groups and visitors throughout the week that this feeling can persist.

 

I'll tell you when I feel most alone... is after an especially difficult day with the kids.

After all the wailing, rebelling and disobedience has pushed me to the brink.

After the anger has boiled my blood and shook me down to my very marrow.

After my hands are quivering from the strain of trying to hold back this wild beast inside.

 The battle of speaking firmly - but calmly - while my insides are screaming.

 

Trying to keep that monster of anger stuffed inside is isolating.

Because it feels like you're the only one who sees it.

Like, a dirty secret.

Secrets separate us.

Prevents intimacy.

Prevents into-me-see.

 

When my husband comes home and asks 'how was your day?'... and I give him that wild eyed stare.  The 'PTSD (post toddler stress disorder)' kind of stare that says, "I'm barely keeping it together here".

He gets it.

He knows me.

But still, not enough....

There's a loneliness that runs deeper than your soul mate can reach.

 

------------------

 

 This is the kind of heart ache that is a megaphone crying out for the deepest connection.

The reunion of my heart to the heart Who made me.

Christ Jesus

Saviour

Husband

Friend

Redeemer

Shelter

Comfort

He alone knows me deepest.

Sees my heart.

Loves me still.

---

 

Every other distraction we seek to fill this void will leave us empty.

Feasting on Facebook, tuning out to television, burying ourselves in books, pursuing pleasures, exercising excessively.... any good thing we try to turn in to the ONLY delight, becomes an added obstacle to true fulfillment.

 

'Our hearts are restless, till they find their rest in Thee' - Augustine.

-----

 

Weary mamas, fatigued friends, I hope you know where to find the deepest rest.

To be known in the deepest intimacy possible, and loved extravagantly through grace.

 

 I pray that you would taste and see He is good,

Yes, His love is better than wine.

Mel ;o)

 

 

A.musing.mama! 3.6

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Bedtime is kind of scary for everyone...

The kids are trying every 'one more...' they can think of.

One more hug, one more story, one more song, one more drink.

While we're using every 'NO more' we can think of too.

(And what is the deal with the kids being more bonkers on the nights we're most exhausted)?

These are the nights I'm especially grateful that my husband usually puts the kids to bed, just so the above scene doesn't actually happen most evenings!

A.musing mama,

Mel ;o)

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Catch all my previous comics HERE.

 

Finished projects!

**bunting makes this girl real happy!**

 So she sews still.

Surprise!

She, being me, that is.

The projects are few and far between at this stage of life... as you can imagine.

So when I do sew - it's mainly small manageable projects for home (or for gifts). 

Now I'm a firm believer that *bunting* makes any room better.

(Some call them flags, banners, pinnies... it's 'bunting' to me).

And I'm now one more room closer to the goal of: 'bunting.in.every.room.of.our.nest'.

A happy combination of my favourite things: turquoise, lime, paisley, damask... for our big front window.

Our oldest daughter has inherited my aesthetic side, and squealed when she saw it hanging:

"Ohhhhh thank you for sewing those decorations mama,

it makes me soooo nice!"

Win, win.

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Annnnnnd, in other sewing news: I recently made this tweet lil' hoot for a friend and her newest addition in their nest!

 

Features: turquoise vinyls, leather beak, wooden button eyes and fabric/felt body and wings.

What about you crafty friends?

Any projects you've managed to make lately?

Creatively yours,

Mel ;o)

A.musing.mama! 3.5

Ahhhh yes, that moment when your husband pulls in the driveway... and you both look at each other as if you've been hit by a truck.

"Take the kids, I need a break" we both say (usually in our heads).

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I keep telling my husband he needs to work until 4:50, not 5:00, because it is often those last ten minutes that destroy us.

No matter how good (or bad) the day may have been.

Even if I've managed to get dinner ready, and the table set... every.one is going to be having a meltdown at 4:50.

You know, just in time for Dad to come home and think his address is the insane asylum.

We're lucky enough to have this guy that comes home and jumps right into the fray, helping with dinner, or wrangling kids, or coaxing me out of the corner I may be rocking in....

so, thanks for always coming home to us Ben.

Happy (belated) Father's Day!

Mel ;o)

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You can catch the rest of these cathartic comics HERE!