Happiness Project: Week 9

I am filled with joy that I have a Mother who loves my kids so much and spends so much time with us. She is a blessing in our lives.

Naturally Mom: Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe!

Naturally Mom: Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe!
This post is part of Real Food Wednesdays

Remembering my Grandparents.....living in gratitude

In loving memory of Gwendolyn and U.E. Mathis

As this time comes around each year I am thinking about all that I am grateful for. My family is healthy and happy and I have so many things to be thankful for. This eve of thanksgiving, 6 years ago was also the day that my Grandmother past away and I have used this day as a time to grieve the loss of both my grandparents and also remember all the the gifts they gave me while they were still here.

Growing up, there wasn't a day that went by that I didn't know I was loved by them.Even though we lived on the other side of the earth, I looked forward to weekly letters in the mail sealed with a kiss and spent every summer at their home in New Orleans where I spent my days with them; shopping each morning for dinner with my grandma, grandpa teaching me to drive with his ever patient tone, playing tricks on my grandma and hugging her so tight she almost couldn't breath, learning to play golf with my grandpas strong hands around mine, many games of gin rummy, swimming in the Mississippi river, trips to the circus and the museums, singing at church which made them so happy and proud, many family vacations all over the country,delicious  family dinners each night together started by a prayer, bedtime snuggles with my Grandma "now I lay me down to sleep", but most of all, I always felt like they wanted nothing more than to be right there with me (and I am sure all my cousins and family felt the same way) asking nothing more of me than what I was. They lifted me up, in a way, only seeing the good in me.

I get sad some days when I think about the fact that my children will never know them. When I imagined myself having children, I had such a clear picture of my Grandma and Grandpa being there to share in each moment. Although I do think (but I am not sure) that they are watching over me in some way and hopefully seeing my kids grow up, it just isn't the same. They were the type of grandparents that would never have missed a thing if they had the chance.  They would have loved to hold my little babies, and be there to watch them blow out their first candle, but mostly they would have wanted to be a part of their lives. To hold their hand and give them a million kisses. I know that people have to die, we all will, but somehow I never thought they would. I know it is silly, but I never imagined a life without them. I never wanted to.

Even though Jetta only met my grandmother as a baby and has no memory of it, both my kids seem to know my grandparents and feel their spirits with them. They are connected to them through the stories I tell them. These stories are the stories of my life with my grandparents. They have made me who I am today. They will hopefully become part of my children's lives.

My Grandparents were always there for me. They took interest in my life. They loved me unconditionally. They truly liked being with me and I knew it. They included me in their lives and also thought of my needs and encouraged my interests in so many ways. They spent their time teaching me and loving me and showing me how much they cared. It wasn't always easy either. They traveled long distances, gave up their Saturdays to take me to another tennis or swimming lesson, and even in the end when my Grandmother could not walk or do much for herself, she got on a plane to come and visit me because that was important to her. I was that important to her.

Not only did they love me so much, but they loved so many others the same and most importantly they loved each other. They held each others hand through life and stood strong together through all of life's challenges. They were a team, respecting and loving each other through it all.

They are my true inspirations. For I guess it is my turn to be that person who will hopefully mean so much to someone. They only problem with loving someone so deeply, is it isn't easy to just stop. Even though they are dead, my heart can not stop loving. Maybe that's a good thing. That love that they poured into me will certainly not be wasted. For I can now love just that much and find many people to share that love with.

(Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks. post something today or tomorrow about what you are thankful for and put your link in the comments to this post. I look forward to reading them and sharing this wonderful time of year with you. Happy Thanksgiving!)

Happiness Project: Week 8 + it's Sweet Shot Tuesday!

When I saw these pictures that my husband took of my kids, they mad me smile.

 

Sculture Day: Tea Cups

We had another fun sculpture day at Grandma Boo's making coil tea cups. It was a little cold so we had to end a little early but I think we all had a nice time getting our hands in the clay again.

Gluten Free Pie Crust Recipe!

This post is part of

Real Food Wednesday

hosted by Kelly The Kitchen Kop

Gluten Free Pie Crust
(Makes enough pastry for a double crust)

1 C Millet Flour
1/2 C All Purpose GF Flour (I like Bob's Red Mills)
1/2 t Sea Salt
1 T Coconut Sugar
1 Egg (lightly beaten)
1/2 C Butter (or Coconut Oil if you can't have butter)
2 T Milk (add one at a time, you may not need all of it)
1 t Vanilla

Mix dry ingredients. Melt Butter and mix well into wet ingredients. Mix all ingredients together and form into a ball. (You can wrap your ball of dough in plastic and store in the fridge for a week or freeze for later.) Split ball into two. Roll out your dough between two sheets of plastic wrap. Your dough will be very fragile.(unlike normal pie dough.) You have to be careful when placing it into your pan. You may have to patch a few pieces around once you get it in. That won't affect the taste.

My Husband and I have been working on this pie crust recipe for years now. We love it and I hope you will try it and love it too. I would enjoy hearing any feedback about it.

This Moment: Early to Bed

This is a special moment from the past week that I want to stop, savor and enjoy. If you want to see other moments being shared this morning, go over to SouleMama.

7am Pie Making

There aren't many things better than the whole family making a pie together early in the morning.

Pilot making a gluten free crust.

Happiness Project: Week 7

She lost her first tooth and we had our first visit from the tooth fairy. A very exciting time.

This Moment: Go Fish

This is a special moment from the past week that I want to stop, savor and enjoy. If you want to see other moments being shared this morning, go over to SouleMama.

Happpiness Project: Week 6

Here's what makes me happy today:
I moved all the dishes to low open shelves in the kitchen, so now my 6 year old daughter even my 3 year old son (pictured) can unload them all by themselves. They can also set the table without me. Not only does this make me happy, but I think they get a sense of satisfaction and independence from this as well.


If you want to see what makes other people happy or share your own happiness today, visit http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/

not just a walk in the woods

My good friend and I have been talking walks in the woods on Fridays together with our children. This is the perfect opportunity to commune with nature, get some fresh air and exercise, catch up on anything new that is happening in our lives and simply connect to what is. I also find that the kids are so happy as we wind our way through the woods to our picnic spot on a cliff over looking the water. They are either silently content or screaming with joy. Each Friday is new and different. Lately we have been enjoying the beautiful leaves and even had a deer cross our path. It is always new and unexpected which is why it is so important to find yourself in nature as much as possible.

To eliminate the whining factor ("I am too tiered,.....my legs hurt.....I can't walk any more...") we bring bikes for the kids to ride and they just love tearing through the woods they are feeling more and more at home in.

We sometimes find a little trail that takes you deeper into the woods. This week we found a little beach that we will have to revisit.

My fiend, Cara, is soon to have another child. It has been fun seeing her belly grow, knowing I will be meeting a new person who is sure to become a dear friend to my family. I do believe that she (the little baby in there) too enjoys our walks.

Climbing on the roots of a fallen tree. What fun.

Taking a little break to enjoy some always entertaining conversation.

I am looking forward to spending every Friday here in our woods with good friends. I wonder what each season will have to offer us and what we will have to give in return.