What will we pass on?

     This summer has been filled with several “firsts” including a first trip to camp for my oldest, Hunter.   I learned about the 6 day camp titled “Learning to Lead” at Abilene Christian University (ACU) from my good friend Amy.  Amy attended ACU and her son Anson, who is on of Hunter's best friends, was going.  Hunter and Anson are very entertaining to watch. Laughter and silliness abounds whenever they are together.  Aside from over-night sleep-overs at my parents’ and a few friends’ houses, Hunter had not experienced being away from home for more than a couple days.  We talked it up all summer and he didn’t know quite what to expect but he was all for it.

    This Christian camp came at a great time for Hunter.  Over the past few months we have noticed that he has been more curious about God and his understanding of our faith has been maturing.  It has warmed my heart especially to know that he is finding comfort in knowing that he is part of God’s bigger plan and is special just as he is.

On the spicy side salsa

Ingredients
10 large Roma tomatoes
1 large chopped white onion
4 jalepeno peppers, seeded, finely chopped
1 long green chili, seeded, chopped
2 tomatillo peppers, seeded, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1- 12oz can tomato paste
1/2 cup bottled or fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp oregano leaves
1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions:
Wash and boil tomatoes until skins began to separate.  Let cool.  Peel and remove core and seeds.  Place in a pot.  Using a chopper or food processor, chop onion and peppers. Combine remaining ingredients in the pot. Simmer over medium heat and stir frequently. 

She's being silly. This little munchkin couldn't stand to be in the kitchen when I chopped the peppers. 

Once you have homemade, you won't want to go back to store bought salsa. The best part of today's salsa was that Ethan (my kid who won't eat a single vegetable) loved it with his  tortilla chips. 

Check out: http://www.chile-pepper-sauces.com/canning-salsa.html for great tips on canning salsa.  I've given this as teacher gifts and it was a big hit!

Helllllo. Are you listening???

I have wondered for some time who is responsible for putting up the huge billboards around town that read “THINK GOD.”  They have a white background and the letters are in black bolded letters that are all caps.  The first time I spotted one was about a year ago about a mile from my home.  It had been placed in the most inconspicuous spot near a Walgreens Store and a couple other billboards that apparently left no impression on me because I don’t remember what they advertised.  But this one has made me stop and think for a moment each time my eyes have focused on it.

Last week at work was more challenging than most.  My job was requiring me to do something I really didn’t want to do.  It felt like I was trudging through mud that was up to my knees…I would have much rather gone back to bed or sit in traffic all day for that matter.  My outlook took a 180 degree turn when I parked my car in a place that I had a perfect view of this “THINK GOD” billboard.  Talk about a wake up call.  Some may have not even noticed or maybe called it coincidence but to me, it was God’s very clear way of saying “Leave it to me and think positive…things are going to work out.”  Suddenly I was able to put my less desirable circumstances into perspective…I have 2 perfectly good legs to walk and run on.  I have a roof over my head and a beautiful family to come home to.  I could go on and on counting my blessings.  Most importantly, I have a God that loves me so much that although he may allow me to stumble and fall, He will always be there to pick me back up again.

I’ve come to finally embrace in my “middle age” (as my kids like to put it) that there is positive energy in positive thinking and negative energy in pessimistic thoughts.  It’s a philosophy that takes frequent re-direction when my “old self” tells me “that’s not fair!” or “how can this happen to me?” So many of us dismiss the many circumstances in our lives as being “out of our control.”  I’ve been there all too many times.  I’ve been guilty of leaving my happiness in the hands of others  when ultimately it’s mine to choose in how I respond.

Sometimes all it takes is a subtle or not so subtle reminder to “THINK GOD” to turn a dreary day into a bright one.

You know you're a finatic when you can reach under your seat and grab a camera at any given time.

When life gives you lemons...

Fresh Lemonade
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup Splenda
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 1/4 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 10 lemons)
About 12 cups cold water

Directions:
1. Add sugar and boiling water to a gallon sized pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves.
2.  Add lemon juice and cold water; stir to mix.
3. Chill for several hours and serve over ice.
4. Insert a slice of lemon in or on the side of each glass before serving.

Note: Depending on the tartness of your lemons and your preference, you may choose to add more sweetener.  I like my lemonade on the tart side. 

Enjoy!

I couldn't resist having them try a lemon slice as we were squeezing the juice. Thank goodness for my juicer!

Bella and Ethan were such good helpers.

Ta-da! Does this look like it could make your mouth pucker or what?!

I'd have to say that Ethan was the biggest fan!

My fresh lemonade was a bit hit on this hot summer day!

It's all the little things

Have you ever told or taught your kids something which they later have used against you, rightfully so?  Hunter and Bella do this to me quite frequently and I love it.  It keeps me in check.  Last night was a tiring night.  I’ve concluded that moving all our belongings out of one home and into another without the help of the underappreciated Air Force movers is not something I want to do again…ever.  Moving Man, my hat goes off to you. The world is a better place with good movers like you.  As I tucked Bella into bed, I was just dead tired when she asked me to say her nightly prayer.  Gratitude and faith are among the top virtues I want to instill in my kids and I am a firm believer that it takes planting a seed and constantly watering it for these attributes to grow.  Tonight Bella was holding me accountable for her prayer when a big part of me wanted to say “no prayer tonight sweetie, just go to bed.” 

Our prayer was not earth shattering.  I don’t think God really cares what you talk to him about, just that you talk to him about something.  What was really on my mind but I have not shared with her is how I will I make sure she and her brothers know that they are my life when I am deployed and they are not part of my daily life…for 6 months.  This thought left me with a lump in my throat as I said “Amen” and I kissed her soft cheek.  I could smell her newly washed hair that for the first time she brushed through all by herself.  YAY!  This is BIG!  This girl has A LOT of hair! Just then Bella said to me, “What’s wrong Mommy? You seem sad.  Am I growing too fast?” All I could say to keep from starting to cry was respond “Yes, Bella you really are.”

This girl is a hoot.  She was so excited to wear these shades she found in the dollar bin at Target.  Cuddled in her arms is Minnie Mouse who she has since her first trip to Disneyland when she was 1 year old.  I can't tell you how many times she has been lost and found!

A house is built on boards and beams, a home is built with love and dreams

CHANGE.  It’s a bad thing when it’s forced.  It’s a good thing when it’s overdue. It’s often times uncomfortable and resisted.   It’s one of life’s few guarantees.  We are experiencing a significant change in our lives.  It is the end of a rather lengthy chapter in Riepma saga.  This month we closed on the sale of our family’s home.  

When you’re in the military you learn to not get too comfortable because as soon as you do, things are gonna change- your job, your friends, your co-workers, your neighborhood, just about everything.  We get used to change and I say “we” in a broad sense because family members get the brunt of it too. 

Just the Five of Us

Us

Kurt and I have been married just over 12 years.  If you count the years we spent dating (on and off), you will come up with over 20 years.  Wow, that’s even a shocker to me!  We have shared more birthdays together than apart.  We don't have a secret recipe to our marriage but what has made our relationship work is that we love God even more than each other. We don't give up easily and we're on the same page as far as what is truly important in life. We’re a lot alike but different enough to make life interesting and work in a certain ebb and flow.  We make up for each other’s strengths and weaknesses.  We’re a great team.

I just have to tell you

The past few days I've been thinking about a catchy name for my most recent project, a blog site. But before I go into how it actually got named, let me take a step back. Those who know me, know that I am one BUSY girl, wife, mom, and Air Force officer. In fact, it's not too often that I don't have a "project" in progress. If I don't, it's because I am in transition, and a new one is right around the corner. What's behind all the projects, you may ask? That's a good question and likely the topic of a future post but for now, it is what it is.


What prompted me to take the plunge with my own blog site was notice that I will be deploying to Afghanistan for 6 months. From what I have heard from others who have been deployed, it's an intense experience but there is good amount of down time. Hmmm, how exactly am I going to stay busy? There's only so much exercising a girl can do. I know...I can keep a blog of my life over the next several months to capture the experience and all the emotion that goes with it.