/**/ The Purposeful Wife: May 2012

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Homemade Brown Bread with Spelt



In honor of my Mother-in-Law being with us this week, I must post about her delicious spelt bread. I craved this bread when pregnant with S, and love having it for breakfast every morning when we're visiting my husband's parents in Ireland, or when my lovely MIL comes to visit us.

You've heard of Irish soda bread (and maybe eat it every St. Patrick's Day), and perhaps you've heard of brown bread? It is a simple whole grain bread with baking soda used as the rising agent instead of yeast. My MIL's variation of it uses spelt, a whole grain much easier on the digestive tract than whole wheat.


I've done my best to figure out her recipe (in Ireland they use weighing scales instead of measuring cups for flour, and Cathy is a cook by the look, not by the book, kind of woman), and I will be sharing it (with her permission, of course!) with you today.

Ingredients:
  • About 2 pounds (or 1 kilo if you have a scale) of brown spelt flour (we used Bob's Red Mill brand)
  • 1 pint buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda (really, we don't use a measuring tsp, but the tiny proper teaspoon I have from Ireland- it is about half the size of a normal spoon... are you confused? I hope not! I'm sure that a close estimate, or a regular measuring teaspoon would suffice)
  •   2 mugs of oats (just take your average sized morning coffee mug and fill to the top)
  • A smattering of whatever seeds you like (we use pumpkin, sunflower and flax)
In a large mixing bowl, combine spelt flour, oats, baking soda, and seeds to taste. Slowly add buttermilk and stir til batter is just moistened. Pour into two greased 9x5 bread pans. Sprinkle a few more seeds over the top. Dip a spoon in some water, and spread over the tops of batter to help seeds stick, and to smooth the batter so that it is even. Make a small dip in the middle (just a little round indent) to prevent bread from becoming too tall in the middle. Bake in an oven heated to 400 degrees for one hour. Remove and enjoy!


This bread is best toasted, in my opinion. I enjoy it with just butter, my husband likes it with butter and strawberry jam, my FIL with marmalade (an Irish classic), and my MIL with a thin slice of goat's cheese.

Have it for breakfast, and you can feel:
  • Very Irish
  • Very healthy
I sure do :)! 

Linked With: Proverbs 31 Thursday and Passionate and Creative Homemaking

Thursday, May 17, 2012

For Such a Time as This: Seeing the NICU as a Ministry Opportunity

One of my greatest regrets from our NICU days was my lack of boldness- people wondered why I was joyful, how I could smile when my baby was hospitalized... sometimes I gave the glory to God. But many times I did not.
Some very special NICU nurses on S' going home day!
If I could go back, I would speak up more. Instead of just saying the miracles were the result of prayer, or that we trusted God, I would share the GOSPEL. Explain that no matter what happened to S, Niall and I could have joy because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf.

We've put our trust in His sacrifice for sins, we know God, and we've been given abundant riches and an eternity in Heaven by Christ Jesus. And anyone who acknowledges that they are a sinner, repents of their sin (not just feeling sorry, but turning around), placing their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, can know Him too.

It isn't enough to talk vaguely of God, faith and prayer- in this anything-goes age of tolerance, which God am I referring too? A big grandfather in the sky who laughs and overlooks our sins? A man whom I impress with the good things I do?

No. The God of the Bible is Holy. He cannot tolerate the slightest sin (whether it be a little "white" lie, laziness, gossip, etc.), and He has said in His Word that NO ONE is good (Romans 3:10-12). Our only hope of making it to Heaven is if God Himself intervenes. And He did; He sent His perfect Son to live a life free of sin, then to die on our behalf, paying the penalty for our sins, and rise again. Anyone who puts their faith in Christ can have Heaven for free, it is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).

If I could go back, I would seek to encourage other parents struggling through the NICU roller coaster with these truths. Not just nodding and saying I understand their grief, but pointing them to the God who is good even and especially in the grief.

I can't go back. But if the Lord has placed you in the NICU for this season of your life, please consider: He has put you there for such a time as this. You are surrounded by doctors, nurses, and hurting parents who do not know Him, and need to. Be bold. Be gracious, but be bold.

Whatever season of life you find yourself in today, there are people who need the gospel... and how will they hear unless if we speak? This is probably one of the greatest struggles of my Christian walk! I fear man (which brings a snare), I am ashamed of the gospel.

Lord forgive me, and help me to be bolder. 

Who are you seeking to share the gospel with within your sphere of influence? Have you been changed by faith in the gospel of God's Son?

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

More Maximizing of Kitchen Efforts to Make Life Easier (Breakfast)

Photo Credit
Yesterday I shared my botched attempt at quadrupling a dinner making session. While it didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped, I did end up with more bang for my buck at the end of the night.

What did go just as smoothly as I'd hoped this week was my effort to get ahead in breakfast making. We LOVE muffins around here. On Saturday night I made a double batch of apple cinnamon muffin batter. The recipe was already a large one (as it makes 16 muffins), so I figured doubling it would really make it stretch.

Every morning (Sunday-Wednesday) I've filled my muffin tin first thing and baked a batch. We eat 4-6 of them between both of our breakfasts and morning snacks, and whatever is left on the counter afterwards has gone into a bag in my freezer.

This has been nice on several levels. Who doesn't like to start the day with a delicious baked good fresh out of the oven? And on top of that, I have a full bag of the tasty morsels in my freezer to pull out as needed in the weeks to come. This was a very successful multitasking kitchen endeavor :).

Feel inspired? Give it a shot! On a quiet evening, double or triple the batter for a favorite baked good. Then bake a little every morning for fresh deliciousness, and freeze your extras. I will definitely be repeating this exercise!

How do you simplify breakfast in your home? 


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Doubling My Efforts in the Kitchen to (hopefully?) Make Things Easier

Photo snapped while waiting on my broth to defrost.... sigh.
Inspired by Crystal's 4 weeks to fill your freezer, I've been trying to maximize my efforts in the kitchen. Although I am not following her specific menu plan, when making my meal plan and shopping list for the week, I noted all of the meals that would freeze well and planned to make doubles of each of them. One for dinner, one for my freezer.

Last night's plan was chicken pot pie, and since I was already chopping onions and carrots for it, I decided to make my zesty tomato soup at the same time (since it also calls for chopped onions and carrots). Impressed with myself for thinking of this, and pleased that I was making not one, but four dinners, I happily set to work.

Only to realize that:

1. I hadn't thawed any of my homemade broth (which both recipes require).
2. I was out of frozen corn (a favorite veggie of ours for pot pie).

This of course dawned on me at the moment that I desperately needed the broth; two big pots on the stove bubbling. I had to shut off the burners and thaw my broth in the microwave.

Ten minutes later, I was back on track. Sort of.

S woke up from her long nap, starving and demanding food. Niall walked in the door, home from work, to a frantic wife, frantic baby, and a kitchen that looked like a hurricane had gone through it.

The moral of the story? If you want to get ahead in the kitchen, plan wisely. Walk through your recipes first, have all of the ingredients ready to go and waiting before you start, and begin early with plenty of time to complete your project (in case if a starving baby wakes up).

I think I've learned my lesson. After dinner all I could do was collapse on the couch with a headache brought on by the kitchen debacle.

On the bright side, dinner is already made for tonight :).

Do you freezer cook? How do you multitask to get the most out of time spent in the kitchen?

Monday, May 14, 2012

This Week's Priority: Reading Well

This week I turn 26... oh man, do I feel old. For those of you who are older and think I am being silly, try to remember what you felt like when you turned 26 :). I'm entering the latter half of my 20's, quickly approaching 30... which seems ancient! Help!

Lately I've been feeling hungry and thirsty. Not physically, but mentally and spiritually. I've been binging on fiction for the past few months, and feel the need for a heavy dose of soul-food reading. So I browsed my shelves yesterday afternoon and selected a few choice morsels.

Desiring God by John Piper. I read about half of this book 5 years ago, and feel the need to go through it again, and Lord willing, actually finish it this time. John Piper is probably my favorite Bible teacher (excluding my own pastor, of course!), I really resonate with his affectionate and joyful understanding of the sovereignty of God.


A Mom After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. An early birthday gift from my pastor's wife, I love Elizabeth George for several reasons. 1) She is easy to read, 2) her books are chock-full of practical wisdom for daily living, 3) I always feel inspired by her to get busy and keep moving for the glory of God and the good of my family! Now that I'm officially a mom I can really dive into parenting and motherhood books... oh delight!

The Case for Classical Christian Education by Douglas Wilson. This was a loan from a friend, and though I've been slowly taking a chapter at a time for the past couple of weeks, this week I really want to stick my nose to the grind and get through it. Good food for thought as Niall and I are leaning towards classically educating our children at home.



So this week my goal is to really, really READ. Because it is good for the renewing of my mind, and the energizing of my soul- to help me serve my family and work in my home with new energy and passionate delight.

I am replacing internet surfing (specifically excessive blog reading and facebook newsfeed studying) with reading time. And I'll tell you what, I am really excited about it!

What books are you reading right now to nourish your mind and soul? 


Saturday, May 12, 2012

Purposeful Perusals, Mother's Day Edition

Thank you to our friend Joel DePriest for the beautiful picture of S!
Encouragement for Moms this Mother's Day Weekend!

Motherhood is a Calling (And where your children rank)- At the Desiring God blog.

Motherhood is Application- Also at the Desiring God blog. SO GOOD!

When Mother's Day is Painful- A timely reminder from Jessalyn at Desiring Virtue that Mother's Day is tough for many, and that we need to be sensitive to them.

Happy Mother's Day!- A beautiful collage of paintings through the ages, depicting mother's and their children. Stunning! Thank you, Birth Bug!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Happy Mother's Day All!


Officially it will be my first "real" Mother's Day... Last year I was still pregnant :). I guess that kind of counts? At any rate, it feels more "real" this year.

And would you believe that I didn't even realize Mother's Day was this weekend until yesterday? Ouch! Call me a little dense, it's true... I've seen the advertisements, I've read the blog posts... and yet I somehow missed it.

So I apologize in advance to my mother and grandmothers. All of your cards will be a little late this year.

The worst part? I've had them in my possession since LAST YEAR, when I remembered to buy the cards early, but then forgot to send them for so long that it didn't even make sense to send them at all.

Now you know how "squared away" I am. Hopefully I'm not the only super late forgetful daughter out there?

Please, dear readers who happen to be mothers, have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Let's hope that I don't have the same stack of Mother's Day cards still in my possession next year :). A girl can dream!

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Book Review: Why Pro-life?

I have always been pro-life. No one needed to convince me that killing babies was wrong. Perhaps you are in the same boat.

So why read a book about it? Don't we know that life begins at conception, that it is precious, that it demands our protection?

We certainly may. But we live in a world in which the vast majority of people around us are not convinced.

Worse, they've been terribly deceived by the cunning rhetoric and propaganda of a wicked industry- an industry which, by the way, knows that a fetus is not just tissue, but a living human being.

They know. But they spread their lies like frosting to glaze over the ugly truth; to line their pockets and prey on the vulnerable.

This slim volume will take very little of your time to read, but it graciously and effectively explains the reasoning behind the pro-life movement. It would be great to pass along to friends, family, and neighbors who've never heard the other side of the story.

In compelling and clear language, Randy Alcorn uses scientific studies, medical research, and quotations from countless sources directly involved in the abortion movement to prove that:

1. Human life begins at conception.

2. Abortion is murder, and therefore is never justified.

3. The Pro-Life position is the side most concerned with the health of BOTH Mom and baby.

4. Abortion has serious, negative consequences for those involved. 

5. You cannot remain neutral on the topic.

6. There is help, hope, healing and forgiveness available to those who've been involved in abortion.

An excellent read. If you are dedicated to the pro-life position, you need to be informed and educated on the topic. Let's spread the truth about the widely accepted and largely ignored American Holocaust.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Choose Your Love, Love Your Choice

As a little girl I remember my father's wise counsel concerning marriage.

"Choose your love, and love your choice."


While you are single, you have a choice. Choose wisely.

Find a man that you can respect and submit to joyfully. A man of character, who works hard, is committed to Christ and His church, and treats you lovingly, gently, and respectfully. A man whose friends you like, and who likes your friends (marriage is the closest friendship, and if you don't see eye-to-eye hear, it is a big red flag).

If you are married, you've made your choice.

As a kid it was always comforting when my parents assured me that divorce simply wasn't an option for them. They had covenanted with each other before God, so even though they might argue or have a season of difficulty, they were in it for the long haul.

One of the things that surprised me when I got married was how easy divorce could be. My husband is wonderful and I love him immensely, but it is all too easy to let little things get under your skin. Little quarrels left unresolved build big chasms. It can be very easy to coexist, just living together, too busy and distracted to invest in one another.

It happens all the time. Resentments are fostered. Quality together time is neglected. Weeds of disinterest and bitterness grow up, spoiling the joy and order of the marriage garden.

Today I want to encourage you to LOVE your choice.

Purpose to show him love. To thank him for the good he does. To focus on counting rights, not wrongs.

Every day I try to write out ten blessings- things I am thankful to God for. I think of things I am learning from the Word of God, the beautiful glimpses of nature I get from my window, physical and material gifts, things I appreciate about my daughter.

And every day, to foster love for my choice, I am purposing to think of one thing about Niall that I am thankful for. Whether it is something nice he did, a virtue he possesses that I admire, or something sweet that we've enjoyed as a couple.

Just to remind myself of why he was my choice. And to choose to love him today.

How are you loving your Choice today? 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

One Good Reason to Love Julia Child

Photo Via
Back in February I mentioned that my husband and I had been reading Julia Child's My Life in France. Because we don't get to spend as much time reading together as we'd like, we are still working on it, only about half way through.

We've been entertained by her humor, inspired by her intense dedication, and left salivating over her descriptions of French food. Yum. Again I will warn you if you decide to pick it up- do NOT read on an empty stomach! It would be torturous!

This weekend we watched an episode of The French Chef about how to roast a chicken. It was so fun! Julia's antics are epic and hilarious. You can watch the intro here, we saw it on Netflix.

But I have one really good reason to like Julia Child. She gives you instructions (as do most cookbooks), but unlike a lot of cookbooks I've read, she explains WHY.

Cut out the wishbone before you roast your chicken. WHY? Because it makes it easier to carve! (My husband can attest to the truth of this instruction!)

Don't crowd the pan when you are browning meat. WHY? Because it steams the meat and prevents browning!

We learned how to tell the age of your chicken and if it has been pumped with hormones (true story!).

I'm the sort of lazy cook who, if a direction seems tedious to me, and I don't see or understand the reasoning behind it, I ignore it. I never let my eggs get to room temperature before making cookies, I mix all of the ingredients for pancakes or muffins in a single bowl (wet and dry), and I often start things baking in an oven that hasn't been preheated.

I like short cuts and often skip steps.

When cooking with Julia, I can no longer be so lazy, because she fully informs me of the dangers of short-cutting and the purpose behind every. single. step. I like that.

Because if something makes sense, I will do it.

Here's to Julia, and the WHY behind cooking!

Monday, May 7, 2012

An Update on S (May 2012)


Two weeks ago I shared with you the disappointing doctor's visit S last had. Her pediatrician was concerned about her lack of weight gain; instructed us in  how to add extra fortifier to her milk, and scheduled us back for yet another weight check (we hadn't had one in ages).

I felt frustrated. Ever since she was out of the hospital, we'd been receiving nothing but good feedback, and I'd almost forgotten about her setbacks as an extreme preemie.

When I think about her early start, however, it is another reminder to thank the Lord for all of His goodness to her. He spared her in so many ways, and taught us so much about Himself and His Church.

I'm reminded to give thanks instead of groan, to count my blessings instead of bemoaning perceived misfortunes, and to trust my tender Father instead of allowing rebellion to boil over in my heart. Perhaps a disappointing doctor's visit was in order for the shepherding of this forgetful mother.

Well, as of Friday's weight check, I am pleased to report that S gained 3 oz. short of a pound in two weeks- boy was the nurse impressed ;)! At nearly ten months she is now weighing in 14 lbs. 10 oz. All glory goes to the Lord, we are very thankful!

Thank you for your prayers for our little darling :). We just love her to pieces!


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Out of the Mouth of C.S. Lewis

I must apologize for my inconsistency in posting this week! Due to a garage sale last weekend and company coming this weekend, things have been a bit nuts around here. I appreciate your patience and hope to be posting more frequently again next week! :)


I just finished rereading C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. I hadn't read them in, I don't know, probably 18 years? So the reviewing was long overdue, and very refreshing. At the back of my edition they included an essay of Lewis' entitled "On Three Ways of Writing for Children" (which I found online for your reading pleasure here).

It was a great read, and just to expose you to some of the ideas Lewis included (so good!), I thought it would be fun to state a question, and then let Mr. Lewis answer by using an excerpt from the essay. If this doesn't make sense, hopefully it will by the time you've finished reading...

Question: Isn't reading fairy tales some sort of bizarre and unprofitable escapism? Wouldn't I benefit from reading something more realistic?

Mr. Lewis: No. "The dangerous fantasy (novel or story) is always superficially realistic. The real victim of wishful reverie does not batten on the Odyssey, The Tempest, or The Worm Ouroboros: he (or she) prefers stories about millionaires, irresistible beauties, posh hotels, palm beaches and bedroom scenes- things that really might happen, that ought to happen, that would have happened if the reader had had a fair chance. For, as I say, there are two kinds of longing. The one is askesis, a spiritual exercise, and the other is a disease."

Question: Shouldn't I protect my children by not allowing them to read stories with evil characters and plots that might frighten them?

Mr. Lewis: "I suffered too much from night-fears myself in childhood to undervalue this objection... none of my fears came from fairy tales...we must here make a distinction. Those who say that children must not be frightened may mean... that we must try to keep out of his mind the knowledge that he is born into a world of death, violence, wounds, adventure, heroism and cowardice, good and evil... (This) would indeed be to give children a false impression and feed them on escapism in the bad sense. There is something ludicrous in the idea of so educating a generation which is born to the Ogpu and the atomic bomb. Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker... Let there be wicked kings and beheadings, battles and dungeons, giants and dragons, and let villains be soundly killed at the end of the book. Nothing will persuade me that this causes an ordinary child any kind or degree of fear beyond what it wants, and needs, to feel."

Question: As a writer, should I purposefully seek to include a moral in my stories?

Mr. Lewis: No. "Not because I don't like stories to have a moral: certainly not because I think children (or any other audience) dislike a moral. Rather because I feel sure that the question "What do modern children (or audiences) need?" will not lead you to a good moral. If we ask that question we are assuming too superior an attitude. It would be better to ask, "What moral do I need?" for I think we can be sure that what does not concern us deeply will not deeply interest our readers, whatever their age...Let the pictures tell you their own moral. For the moral inherent in them will rise from whatever spiritual roots you have succeeded in striking during the whole course of your life... The only moral that is of any value is that which arises inevitably from the whole cast of the author's mind."

So there you have it! Out of the mouth of C.S. Lewis himself. What a brilliant mind, what a delight to learn from it.

Anyone have a favorite Lewis quote to share? Because that would just be delightful!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Love Notes in Lunches and Dresses at Dinner

Last week I started doing something new.

Something to remind my husband that I love him, think about him, pray for him, and am thankful for him.

Photo Credit
I sat down on Sunday night with 5 little slips of paper. On each one I wrote out a little note; some with a verse, some with silly drawings, some with a few words meant only for him.

Then each morning when I made his lunch before he went to work, I would tuck it in between the plastic containers of salad and leftovers. A little surprise to add joy to his day.

And he liked it :). Because some days at work are long or tiring or difficult, and its nice to get a reminder that someone who loves you is waiting at the other end of your day.

Then on Thursday night I decided to dress up a little, just to surprise him when he walked in the door. I donned a sundress and heels, lit a candle, and made sure that dinner was ready to go as soon as he arrived.

Photo Credit
I was rewarded with a big grin.

He works so hard, and I am trying to be more thoughtful and intentional about showing him love. Because you only get one husband girls, and one short life to enjoy together.


How are you intentionally loving your husband this week?
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