2/3 of my olive shoots live elsewhere. At 22, my oldest has graduated from West Point and is doing officer training at Fort Benning
Being the mama of a Soldier means I grasp pride – tightly
Nate in a tank. He isn’t deployed yet but he’s still in a tank.
And when he sends me pictures of him in a tank, that word grasp (and gasp) take on a whole new meaning
Jesus, hear my cries for his safety and for all those who serve
The other is 18 and a freshman at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago
He desires to be a bi-vocational pastor
This means that I grasp fear because I see how congregants can be so cruel to a pastor, how we in the pews can quickly judge, how those in leadership can go astray, become arrogant or lazy
And when he boards the train
and heads out to Kedzie each Friday
from about 3-7pm
to work with inner city boys,
he journeys to a part of Chicago where guys of his meager melanin level usually go only to score drugs and get high
That’s when that whole grasp thing is magnified for me as a mom too. Father, extend your protective hand to my/our precious child.
Taking the train in Chicago
Use Nate and Aaron today in their respective lands to do good for your kingdom.
Take their hands through the challenges they will face and the people they will encounter.
Even though they are young men, I know they will allow you and only you to grasp their hands just like I did when they were younger.
And while you’re at it, hold my hand too after all, because I’m their mom.
“The treadmill routine of the week is: washing, baking, ironing, fixing dried fruit, airing clothes, sewing, cleaning, baking and cleaning again. So it goes week after week. Eating and drinking, cooking and cleaning, scrubbing and scouring we go through life; and only lay down our implements at the verge of the gravel!…You bake, and boil, and fry, and stew; worry and toil, just as if the people’s principle business in this world was to learn how much they could eat-and eat it.” Jane G. Swissholm, Letters to Country Girls, 1853.
I love Helen Nearing’s book Simple Food for the Good Life. Filled with recipes and pithy sayings, I selected the above quote from Nearing’s book because it sums up my average day. I try not to find drudgery in homemaking and consider a skill, a privilege and a science. Our world has belittled the career of motherhood and domesticity. Most of us don’t teach these skills to our children and then don’t understand why our kids can’t take care of themselves, eat horribly and have homes in disarray when they are older. My three sons are ages 22, 18 and almost 16 and they know I’m on a mission to change that. They make a mama proud. God gave me three olive shoots for a reason and in general, I like how they’re sprouting up to be competent, Jesus loving, strong men who can also throw down.
But today I want to write about pre-soaking grains and seeds literally. I am a total neophyte in this arena. A caveat, please correct any of the information I am going to share as my desire is to contribute to the discussion. Add to the conversation also, I want to learn.
But first, did you know about 15 years ago, I had a funny flax seed story published in a book? It’s true! I shall soon share. It’s about Nate, brownies and a little bit of trickery on my part.
Do you want to hear a super creepy story in the interim? I had a friend whose boyfriend had his wisdom teeth extracted. He ate pizza a few days post-surgery. A few days after that, the guy went into the bathroom and screamed to his girlfriend to come right away. She rushed right in and there he was mouth agape. He said, “@*&@!!,” pointed and she spotted it. Back where one of the wisdom teeth had once lived, a tiny sprout had grown in its place! Can you imagine what it would have been like to pull a small plant out of a hole in your mouth! I would have Instagrammed it.
If you thought the only time you sprouted a seed was before you planted it or following dental surgery (!), here are some things to know.
Sprouted seeds
Sprouting biologically activates the seed and makes the plant proteins, essential fatty acids, starches and vitamins bio-available.
Flax seeds are hard for our body to digest. They have natural enzyme inhibitors which prevent digestion. There is much to love about flax seeds – their crunch, color, flavor, even tactically, put your hand in a bag of flax seeds before and after you buy them from Whole Foods and you’ll notice their silky texture. Let’s just say I “know” someone who does this. You’d really like her. 😉
Despite a flax seed’s many attributes, though I don’t need a stomach ache. My family will usually try anything I make but if they have a bad reaction or don’t like it, I’m done. They won’t revisit it. Ask them about kale cake. Gigantic epic fail. If you’re sensitive or allergic to certain grains, soak your whole grains beforehand, in a salt brine, anywhere from 7-24 hours and it will probably lessen the symptoms. Oh, and don’t ever make kale cake. Ever.
Use warm water. It coaxes the enzymes out of their little crusty shell. Don’t soak them too long or they will grow bacteria. I think I did this for you, so trust me. Last year I made a batch of granola. I was a Soaky McSoaker and soaked the oats in a mixture of keifer, coconut oil, butter and water. Recipe said overnight but I pushed it a little. This resulted in a granola which brought facial expressions reminiscent of kale cake. I fed the trash can, not the Hubs or my OS that time. Duly noted.
SueGregg.com puts it this way, pre-soaking, “allows enzymes, lactobacilli and other helpful organisms to not only neutralize the phytic acid, but also to break down complex starches, irritating tannins and difficult-to-digest proteins including gluten.”
Here are some great websites with additional information. I’m giving them mad props for their discoveries and information. They’re not quite as humorous but super helpful.
There’s nothing more annoying than someone stealing your spotlight.
Not to be outdone, my tibia decided it was sick and tired of Nate’s ACL getting all the attention. So yesterday my left leg became encapsulated in an orthopedic boot for the next three weeks and I’m only to walk a total of one-two hours A DAY. That’ll teach Nate and his so-called ACL repair…OY!
Seriously though, my oldest OS is doing so well.
The Hubs went to visit him during a business trip and they bravely went to New York City.
It’s scary enough walking around the Big Apple as an able-bodied person but as you will soon see in this video clip, my OS took on NYC like a BOSS.
I love how the lady by the curb doesn’t even step aside as Nate comes barreling through. Nice. Thank you Mobilegs for making such a great product, your crutches have made such a difference in my son’s recovery.
That awkward Cinderella moment between brothers – the shoe fits!
When Aaron and I were at West Point, I observed brotherly love in a fresh way.
Five years ago, almost to the day, Nate had his first ACL surgery.
Aaron and Ike attended to Nate in the manner fitting of a then 12 and 10-year-old.
One of the post-surgery highlights was when the two guys competed each day to see which brother could collect the most wee-wee from the urinal. Such a proud mommy moment.
Thankfully everyone has matured. My orange haired, freckle face almost 15-year-old stayed behind for driver’s ed but loaded up a box of treats for Nate replete with a funny card. He spoke to him regularly and showed sincere concern.
It was my middle OS that displayed such a servant’s heart, I found myself nearly thankful for Nate’s injury.
When Nate’s surgery was scheduled first thing in the morning, Aaron cheerfully awakened to join me at the hospital.
Anything Nate needed, Aaron offered to help.
Anything I needed, Aaron was equally joyful to do.
Fill Nate’s ice machine, get him fresh water, fluff his pillows, Aaron literally poured himself out to his brother and he was remarkably patient with me.
My boy sacrificed his own Fall break to help Nate and then only three days after getting home from New York, Aaron was the patient. He had wisdom teeth surgery!
It was my middle OS that displayed such a servant’s heart, I found myself nearly thankful for Nate’s injury.
When Nate’s surgery was scheduled first thing in the morning, Aaron cheerfully awakened to join me at the hospital.
Anything Nate needed, Aaron offered to help.
Anything I needed, Aaron was equally joyful to do.
Fill Nate’s ice machine, get him fresh water, fluff his pillows, Aaron literally poured himself out to his brother and he was remarkably patient with me.
My boy sacrificed his own Fall break to help Nate and then only three days after getting home from New York, Aaron was the patient. He had wisdom teeth surgery!
It’s not the best quality picture but I captured a tender moment when it was time to say goodbye.
Of course, the lacrimal glands were activated as I hugged my boy’s neck.
We had such a treasured time together.
There was another WP mom picking up her son by Grant turn-around and she wiped tears from her eyes at the sight. Aaron carried his big brother’s laundry and stuff as Nate crutched back to life at West Point. Yes, I was crying.
But then I really lost it as Aaron accompanied Nate to the barracks. Nate was limping along on his Mobilegs as Aaron carried Nate’s stuff back to his room.
Two beautiful, godly young men and brothers displaying love and gratitude.
They are there for each other.
They share joy and sorrow, struggles and success.
Neither distance, nor disability of any kind or length, nor differences will separate my three OS from each other. Ever.
I think most of us have had a few bad church experiences. Some are worse than others. Some people never set a foot in a place of worship again until they’re dead. This must really anguish the Lord. One of my sayings is, “We’ve got to be better than the bar.” I mean, I have got to find more support, love and encouragement in church than if I wore a too short mini-skirt and a too-tight tank top and bellied up to the bar with all my troubles and woes. It’s one of my finest sayings! 🙂 I never hung out much at bars and no one ever came up to give me a drink when I did but getting back to the point, it is so sad when people mess up God’s plans.
So I contemplate the word “wide” on Five Minute Fridays with a sense of trepidation. The word “wide” feels sad to me right now. Deep fissures have erupted in places that mean a lot to me. I don’t want to be too specific but if you know me and there is a pang in your heart as you read this, you have correctly identified one of the “wide” areas in my life. I pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Without the Lord, I’m sure to botch things and sadly still stumble even though Christ lives in my heart. I love the idea of how God’s forgiveness is “wide.” I even accidentally made a Guinea Pig Girl Doll to unintentionally demonstrate that. But I prefer closeness in most other aspects of my spiritual, emotional and physical life.
This world is not my home
Many years ago, before I came to know Jesus, Mark and I were attending a church. Mark was on the “Board” at the church and they had monthly meetings. We got a new pastor and he said something one day in a sermon that offended me so much, I told Mark, probably during the service, I had it. I’m never going back to that church again. I didn’t care if he went or if he was on the board, Nate and I would never enter that church again. I meant it. I never did go back though I think I let Mark take our toddler with him a few times. Obviously, this created a lot of strife between the two of us and I never had closure. Eventually Mark left the church. It was awkward, I can’t remember if the pastor wanted to talk to us/me before the final departure. Regardless it never happened. Honestly I’m not sure if the pastor said the same thing now if it would tick me off given where I am with the Lord. I don’t think I made the right decision, I created the rift in a sense. The Hubs and I needed to be of one accord and we weren’t.
Tabitha who is now living in Nepal reminds me about Psalm 103 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
So this is what I pray, “Heavenly Father, could you fill this wide gap over here and the chasm over in this other place? You never disappoint and your ways are always true. Not with the spiritual equivalent of a gin and tonic but with something good and real and true? I pray this not only for myself but for the many I know and love who are also hurting. Amen.”
“Wow. Tabitha’s got funky arms,” I mutter to myself.
Sitting there on my couch, fairly disgusted at my lack of sewing prowess, crestfallen.
How can I give her to Karen?
But then I heard God’s whisper as He reminds me of a truth. Karen was just a regular wife and mom and now she’s also an anti-human trafficking agent. Through Tiny Hands International, (please, please click here to read about this incredible organization), my friend will encounter many broken people. Tabitha will fit right in.
And then the Lord assured me, I’m a broken girl too. So is Karen. But we are redeemed, precious in His sight. Blameless. Holy. Pure even. In God’s eyes we are saints in fact which is quite surprising considering I’m quite familiar with my flaws. At times they are more obvious than Tabitha’s two funky fabric arms. So it’s all good.
“Let her go,” God said.
But the Lord wasn’t done with me so I espy Tabitha again.
Karen kindly offers Tabitha a few nights in her house to help transition to life in Nepal. Since they will be traveling together, it might be nice to get to know one another. Good thinking, Karen!
“Daughter, look at her funky arms and remember me.”
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
Psalm 103:11-13
Now I see this Guinea Pig Girl doll differently. Tabitha’s arms are open wide, really wide for a reason. She and Karen must to go to Nepal. Tabitha’s funky arms might bless a tiny hand. Their plane leaves in just a few hours.
Please pray for those I care about specifically Karen and JD as they are traveling to places far away this week. May their arms and hearts be stretched wide open to offer love and compassion. Let all who encounter these folks find ultimate freedom and redemption only Christ can give.
Thank you, Heavenly Father for teaching me something again today through sewing. I’m no longer embarrassed by Tabitha’s funky arms.
Here I am workin’ it in my “progressives” hanging with my Soldier, Nate and my goofy, orange hair, freckle face OS Ike.
I swallowed my pride this year and got bi-focals. Thankfully I waited until they began calling them, “progressives” so I was able to feel better about myself and another sign of my mortality.
I wanted to get “progressives” because I wanted to see. Yes, I have high expectations.
It was annoying to put in my contact lens (I just wear one) and then run all over the place to get my “readers” for more up-close things.
My world opened up more easily with the new glasses because I was able to see up close and far away.
Sometimes I would really appreciate spiritual progressive lenses. I see things in my personal life that are blurry. They don’t make sense, I want resolution and selfishly, I want peace and restoration. Or at least MY version of what that should look like.
And then it’s frustrating because I can’t see far away, what will happen next, how things will turn out. Turmoil close to home, with people I care about. Turmoil in the Middle East. Terrible things going on so I try to slip on any pair of “glasses” I can find but there is only one prescription that works.
This is the kind of focus we need to remember in times of trouble.
I go to God’s Word and ask Him for help. He has perfect vision and sees all things clearly. Motives, background, history, past, present and future, it all makes sense.
Today I’ll continue to do my Bible Study in Psalms. Father, help me FOCUS on YOU in this unclear earthly world.
To participate in Five Minute Fridays go here, it’s really fun.
On Saturday, Tabitha, another Guinea Pig Girl doll, goes to Nepal with an anti human-trafficking advocate
Can you imagine?!
Although Tess will miss her greatly, she’s excited for Tabitha and her big move to Nepal.
To bless a little girl or a hurting soul
In my own comfortable land or continents away
My sewing machine feels happy, just wish “we” would have started sooner.
“Heavenly Father, mightily use my human brothers and sisters in Christ. Protect and anoint every aspect of their journey. And for my fabric friends, Lord, whoever receives one of these little dolls, may she receive it with the love with which it was made and sense the everlasting love which only comes from you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Read more about my friends’ travels here and here, I hope to have some pictures of the GPG in their new homes.
As much as I miss the high-pitched voices of my OS when they were little –
As much as I cling to those chubby snuggles and hilarious toddler sayings,
I’ve got to say, there are things about this stage of life that have perks!
“Woo hoo! Gonna take my beautiful sweetheart out for a date night!”
I got a text from our oldest OS on our 25th anniversary. A $100 gift certificate to Ruth’s Chris was on its way!
He and his brothers had pitched in to make this possible
When I was a kid, I remember celebrating my parents’ wedding anniversary but my OS haven’t done this before.
2/3 of my OS even publicly acknowledged our special day on their facebook pages and it sincerely made me happy.
Because it’s not like we made 25 years easily.
In the past, we threw the “L” word and the “D” word with regularity. When my oldest OS was a toddler, we took him with us to the marriage counselor.
He played with a little toy on the floor as the Hubs and I sat on separate couches. We were at impasse. Would we stay together or would we go our separate ways? As we celebrate this hallmark anniversary, I can still see that toe-headed fella on the carpet. He is now an Army officer.
I began reading the card and then Ike took it from my hands and said he wanted to read it out loud to me. ❤
So as the orange hair, freckle face OS stood in front of me (the Hubs had to go to DC to attend to a speeding ticket (!) he got on the way home from Nate’s graduation from West Point), Ike presented me with a homemade anniversary card.
It’s unlikely Ike will be a great artist in the future but we love him anyway. I love these goofy cards and I really, really hope I don’t look like this in real life!
Thank you for setting a wonderful example for us on what a faithful marriage is. Raising 3 great children and the last one possibly being the great is not easy to do. You have shown us what leadership and sacrifice is and have blessed us by walking beside us in our Christian walks. We love you and thank you for the love you have given us.
Isaac, Nate and Aaron
PS. Thanks for making us”
Ike has always been such a funny guy!
Ike’s drawings look quite similar to my Tess the Guinea Pig Girl doll collection, don’t you think? Not sure what to do with that!
Jesus alone has salvaged the Hubs and me. Individually, the Lord has also redeemed my children’s lives when they repented of their sins and asked Christ into their hearts. Aaron and Ike exist today because of the mighty work Christ has done in this really human family.
My OS know our story and they see our flaws on a daily basis. And they celebrated our marriage anyway. I’m looking forward to a festive date night.
Here’s the link if you want to see more of the Guinea Pig Girl doll collection!
“We just got married and have no idea what that means!”
When you’re a 25-year-old bride
walking down the aisle
scared, excited, feeling as if it’s not your own feet that are walking toward a guy
who will soon be your husband
You don’t, you can’t fast forward to
25 years later
three children
OUR awesome olive shoots too long ago…
three SONS!
three awesome olive shoots –
a Soldier, a ministry minded guy
and an orange hair, freckle face ginger -WHAT???
And you don’t expect that
25 years later
you’d go to Whole Foods
Excited to buy organic purple kale
for a green smoothie
with your Hubs
on your anniversary
And no one could have told you that
while you were talking to the produce guy about brocco-sprouts
Your husband would make a funny face and interrupt your conversation
No, when you were a young bride, you wouldn’t have believed that a quarter century later
You’d go over to your husband
by the apples
Dramatic re-enactment of the box. I had already torn off the bow. I was completely flummoxed!
And see a box
A small, black box with a bow
And that your first thought would be “Hey, you’re going to buy the WRONG apples! I said GREEN apples!”
And your second thought would be “Hey, don’t mess with that little box in the apples. That’s not ours. Leave it alone!”
But then you see that man you love, beaming
It’s your box
At the Whole Foods
and yes, you did say GREEN apples…
but you’ve moved past the offense and you open the box
You see THIS
“Ok, that was a weird/awkard/wonderful sparkly surprise!”
The produce guy is as confused as you are
But everyone is smiling
The Hubs and the sweet man at the produce aisle. He was so happy for us when I told him what had just happened. And guess what? He had gone back to the back room and found fresh brocco-sprouts for us!
You place another ring on your finger
Kissing the man you love
An assortment of yummy things and a sparkly blue diamond ring – this was the best grocery trip EV!
AND you get some brocco-sprouts along with your green apples and organic purple kale
That walking on air feeling
You had when you were dressed in white
Happens again
Different place, more casual attire
But the same man is still there
And then just as you are getting ready to publish this post
The doorbell rings
Bells of Ireland, delphinium, rubrum lilies, roses, a breathtaking bouquet!
And this is delivered to your door
You think to yourself
September 5th is truly a momentous day
So you press the publish button because you have to tell everyone
How blessed – really, really blessed you feel today. ❤
Sandwiched between a Soldier and an orange hair, freckle face OS = pre-sushi joy
My Soldier came home for the weekend. To find him fast asleep in his bed Saturday morning felt like a bowl of slightly melted, premium vanilla ice cream with warm butterscotch and multi-colored sprinkles on top.
We ate sushi at our favorite place and stuffed our faces.
Oh my, Nate is a funny fellow.
And he encounters so many characters, there’s never a dull moment. I honestly think if the whole Army officer thing doesn’t pan out or the West Point degree with a major in comparative politics amounts to nothing, my oldest OS could hit the comedy scene with his own schtick. And his material would all be true, no exaggeration necessary. While at dinner, Nate demonstrated how his pastor, a WP grad himself, is a BIG fan of gestures. Basically every sentence is punctuated with a dramatic bodily motion. I thought a piece of rice was going to fly out of my nose!
We promised Nate we would eat here if he drove nine hours to come home = totally worth it!
My oldest OS’s stories about sunflower seeds are equal parts disgusting and delightful. I’ve been hearing sunflower seed stories for years now. It’s a smart Soldier’s alternative to chew or cigarettes.
These two people had no idea how the Lord was going to change and bless them. Three olive shoots and almost exactly 25 years later, we are still a work in progress but rejoice over what Jesus has done in our lives.
Before we ate dinner, Nate got our family’s attention and offered a toast. The Hubs and I will be married 25 years on Wednesday. The toast and acknowledgement of our pending celebration were just more signs that our OS is a man.
But you know what is really cool? He still lets me call him “Baby.” Not gf “Baby” but mom-speak “Baby.” He allows me (sometimes) to place my head on his broad back and just be near him. When I grab his biceps, which seem to get more muscular each time I see him, he flexes for added bravado. He is patient with my shenanigans too. In other words, he lets me be his mama. He’s not too cool, well-traveled, intellectual or strong to still grant his mother a moment to remember, savor and appreciate.
The car drove away this morning, too soon. A weepy mom stood on the driveway, her heart full of love and thanksgiving which btw, will probably be the next time we see him. Thanks Baby for letting me scoop up more memories. Until next time,
My Awesome Olive Shoots 