Mundane Moments Are Where the Magic Happens

September 2020

So, if you remember correctly, 2020 was the first year of living life differently than previous years because of covid. 

Most people had to work from home and Riley had virtual school. Still, I had Riley stand outside our front door to get the traditional back to school picture taken.

Parents were sent emails from the school to inform us about the time and date that we needed to drive up to the school to pick up a laptop and school supplies. We knew that this school year would be a struggle.

However, remote learning was no cake walk. I think the teachers had a difficult time teaching via the computer camera and the students, at least my son Riley struggled to stay engaged therefore making it extremely difficult to retain any information that was taught. It was a ridiculous horrible time. I'm just going to say that because of covid and Washington state school system, Riley got about a year and half behind in his studies especially in math. His teachers weren't getting their point across in an effective way, so Riley was left having to try to figure things out on his own. We tried to help but half of the work as still unclear. A lot of back and forth emailing between his teachers and us was going on. 

You can see the frustration in his face. 

The good thing was that his karate class continued. They used to practice at a middle school gym but because schools were closed the Sensei was able to get his students to practice outside at an elementary school. I'm just very thankful to Sensei for not being a stickler and making masks mandatory. Those who chose to wear one did but there were a few that didn't.  

Getting to do karate during this stressful time especially for children was a great distraction and Riley looked forward to it twice a week. 

He was promoted to yellow belt. Here he is participating in his kyu grade belt promotion ceremony. He was so happy about it and so proud of himself for having done all the exercises right.

I like to buy stationary, notepads, post it notes (big and small) and college ruled paper so I can journal. Whenever I see a journal that fits my style I buy it. I have enough of them to last me for several years, but you know, I'll probably get more.

It was a cloudy and sprinkling Saturday. Always the ideal weather to eat something comforting so I made pozole. I am so happy that I learned how to make pozole because this is one of my favorite dishes and now, I can make it whenever I'm craving it and don't have to go to a restaurant to eat some anymore. Such a wonderful thing!

Lila aka peanut probably annoyed to have everyone home all the time when it would just be me and the two cats. 

Sophie encroaching on Jacob's personal space while he helped Riley with his homework. She does love body contact. 

I read this book five years ago and I honestly don't remember how it went so here's the Goodreads summary on it:

When Myriam, a French-Moroccan lawyer, decides to return to work after having children, she and her husband look for the perfect caretaker for their two young children. They never dreamed they would find Louise: a quiet, polite and devoted woman who sings to their children, cleans the family's chic apartment in Paris's upscale tenth arrondissement, stays late without complaint and is able to host enviable birthday parties.

The couple and nanny become more dependent on each other. But as jealousy, resentment and suspicions increase, Myriam and Paul's idyllic tableau is shattered..

I must have thought it was decent because I gave it four stars.

Do you know what Apologetics stands for? Apologetics is a defense of Christian belief that helps to explain and clarify the gospel message.

Christians must be trained and equipped to share the gospel like a love letter. We must not start out arguing. We must start by sharing the story of the gospel persuasively and powerfully. I must admit that at times it is difficult to come up with the right answer quickly when one is unexpectedly confronted by a hostile person demanding answers. But we must get better at being knowledgeable in the Christian faith and being courageous to give a prompt answer.

Equipping kids with an understanding of apologetics is important. It enables kids to confidently deal with the intellectual challenges to Christianity, helping them understand how their faith is grounded in reason. This will help them to stand bold and confident in dealing with their non-Christian peers or anyone for that matter. 

As 1 Peter 3:15 states: But honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. We, parents, have to do something to protect our kid's faith. Scripture places a high value on teaching God's truths every day (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

Back in 2020 these were the only Apologetics books in my collection. I've since added more. I strongly believe that the Bible and Apologetics should go hand in hand. 

The Little Pilgrim's Progress is both a simple adventure story and a profound allegory of the Christian journey through life. I do remember this book and most of all I remember that when I finished reading it to Riley that he was sad that it was over. I have yet to read the Pilgrim's Progress for myself.

All these day-to-day moments are what makes family life more meaningful. When we love, nourish, motivate, encourage, guide, teach, discipline, and be present with our children and spouse has got to be the best way to love and serve them. As mother's that's what we are called to do by God.

When we face choices, it is wise to consider the words of 

Micah 6:8. "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the 

Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

July Recap 2020

The beginning of July was cool and cloudy. I call that perfect summer weather. However, it began to warm up by mid-July but it was still comfortable, in the mid 70's. Still, not bad at all. But, by the end of July it had definitely warmed up, in the mid 80's. You'd be surprised, not many people realize that WA can get pretty hot in the summer, sometimes 90+ degrees. The good part is that the hot weather doesn't last too long.

This was my book haul for the month of July. I definitely spot a theme, American history. It's important we know about our country's past, both good and bad. 

It's always a good idea to bring a book along with me when we go on outings. Although I can't read in the car because I get carsick there's still a chance that there will be some quiet time where I can get some reading done.

And now that I've finished reading this book, I can say that I did enjoy it. It was a cozy read for me. I gave it four stars on Goodreads.

I think it's cute when cats spread their toe beans to groom them, it makes me giggle. And how they bite their back claws to remove the old sheath is interesting to see. 

While Jacob worked from home and Riley being on summer break, I have to find ways to keep him entertained so on this day I decided to take Riley on a short hike. The trail was partially shaded. Thankfully, it was a fresh day so it made for a pleasant hike.

After pulling weeds in the backyard during the morning and after my second shower Riley and I got cozy and watched The Goonies together. I love this movie. I've been watching it since I was a kid. 

Every once in a while, I'll make onion dip. We both enjoy this treat. We ate it out in our front porch while enjoying a nice breeze.

Other times, when I need time alone I either go book shopping or I get a few things for the house. How cute is that dish towel?  I love it!

I bought Riley a book on the Attributes of God. After each exercise it gave a verse to look up and study. I also read him the Case for Grace for Kids by Lee Strobel. 

He also had karate twice a week in the evening which was good. It gave us all something to look forward to, especially during those days when we stayed home all day. 

Weekday park visits were a regular rotation during summer break as well.

I sometimes came along, sought the shade and read. 

In this home I had modular bookshelves. So, naturally I needed bookends to prevent books from falling over to the ground. I got so excited when they arrived.

What I also do to decompress is journal. I either read my Bible or a devotional or a book and journal things that stand out to me. This activity is very calming to me plus it has its health benefits as well. Writing on paper as opposed to typing is better for eye coordination and exercises your brain by improving memory. I truly do love doing this plus I get so engrossed in writing/journaling that I don't notice how fast time passes by.

And summer is the perfect time to make ceviche. Jacob often craves it, so I make it several times a year. 

I am as contented being a homebody as I am exploring the great outdoors.

Tamale Making and Cookie Baking

It is tradition in many Hispanic households to make tamales for Christmas. I remember watching my mom make them every Christmas when I was a child. She would make about two hundred when it was our turn to host Christmas Eve dinner (that's another thing Hispanic families do, we gather on the 24th and open presents at midnight).

In my family everything is scaled down a lot! It's just us living in WA so we tend to celebrate more on an intimate level consisting of us and two of our children that like tamales. Riley doesn't eat them.

I've eaten tamales with no vegetables in them but my mom would make them differently. She would add a green olive, a slice of jalapeño and a slice of potato. That's how I continue to make them except I use black olives. I believe this was our second time making them and although they came out decent they weren't great, not like Mom's. It was the masa. It needed more salt and needed to be softer which means I didn't add enough lard. At least I know where the problem is that way next time we make them we know where to focus on.

Sophie ever so cute wearing her Christmas collar. She really does like it because she doesn't try to take it off or bite it. 

I've been blogging for a while now. Gosh, I think I started when we moved to Tucson which was thirteen years ago. Crazy! I especially enjoy blogging when it's cold and cloudy outside because I like to put on a good movie and get cozy on the couch. One of the cats is always bound to be laying next to me. Just a perfect combination.

As I'm reading back on my agenda to help aid with my blogging I can't help but get melancholy about what I was experiencing back almost three years ago. On Dec. 20th I wrote, " It rained all night long and hard too. Rain kept hitting the windows. I love falling asleep to rain".    - how cozy does that sound!

Later that same day Jacob and I decided to start a new family tradition, cookie baking! Like baking more than just one cookie. For our first year we chose to bake three different cookies.

They were; Pumpkin-Praline with brown butter icing, Minty Chip Chocolate, and imitating Hello Robins Mackles'more cookie.

For the record. I help prep but Jacob is the baker in the family. Maybe one day I'll start baking myself.

Riley's such a willing helper ... only because he would sneak chocolate dough bites every now and then, lol! He looks a lot like Nathan when he was this age.

And here are the cookies. They were all sooo good but we definitely made too many. Even after gifting some away we still had a good amount of cookies left.

It was fun making different varieties of cookies. Looking forward to next years cookie baking.

Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.

July Snippets

7/2019

Last year I had resumed on getting pictures printed and placing them in photo albums, I had been slacking. Riley doesn't even have a photo album, that's how far I've fallen behind! Can you believe that? All this began when I got myself a digital camera and you know how much easier it is to take pictures, not to mention how many more one can take without having to run out of camera roll. 

Anyway, I began separating pictures ... a stack for Sydna, a stack for Nathan, and a stack for family & friends. I wonder if anyone still gets their photos printed and then put them in photo albums anymore?? I think that's become a lost art/hobby which is a sad thing. I know it takes time but anything worthwhile usually does. 

A favorite past time of mine is to watch a good movie and either journal or blog. This is the best way I destress during the day (because at night I like to read). 

When Riley's on summer vacation I like to make plans to get out of the house every other day. Some days we stay home and other days we sometimes go to the park. I try to take him to a different park each time since there are so many nice ones here. This particular park is right across the street from a library. It also has a splash pad but the weather wasn't warm yet so Riley played at the playground. The city community center is next to the park too so kids that attended summer programs were all over the park. That's why there were so many kids.

During another outing we went to the movie theater to watch Secret Life of Pets 2. I actually liked the movie (and the first one too) but I noticed that the main dog's (Max) voice was not the same as in the first one. Darn, I thought Max's voice was cute. Another character I liked a lot is Chloe, she's a big white blunt sarcastic cat. She makes me chuckle every time. 

Riley loved these reclining theater chairs. They are very comfortable.

Had my in-laws over for dinner. Riley had grandpa play a nerf gun battle with him, lol. 

Sometimes, to change up my reading I select books to read that compliment the season. For the first time I decided to read books about sharks for summer (2019). I believe I selected seven books, but ended up reading only four. I have a thing for sharks. I believe them to be amazing creatures and hope the Mako shark stops being killed because their species is quickly disappearing. Whenever shark week comes around each Summer on the Discovery Ch. I am glued to the tv. I also watch Jaws non-stop which, I end up getting a hard time about from the boys, lol.

I love to read whenever I treat myself out for lunch but it does take me forever to finish my food, lol. I used to think how lonely it must be to eat out alone but now that I eat by myself I actually love it! At least it's a pleasure to eat alone if you're an introvert like myself.

I rarely bake sweets but once in a blue moon I like to bake a little which surprises even me. I found this simple Apple pie bites recipe on Pinterest and have since made it several times. 

They were very tasty and a hit with the kids. I baked them midday and were gone by the evening. I like treats like these because they are small and just having one satisfies the sweet tooth. 

One of my favorite meals that Jacob cooks for us is Alfredo whether it's with chicken, scallops, or shrimp. On this day I was craving shrimp. It is so good. Doesn't it look delicious?! and I can't eat pasta without crushed red peppers. Seriously, I can't. To me adding this precious spice completes the meal. So good.

It starts getting hot here by mid July. I have a treadmill in the garage and I exercise several days a week but during the hot summer days I have to wait until 10:00 pm to walk. Obviously it's hot during the day, so on these days (which I'm thankful aren't many) I keep the blinds closed, lights out and stay comfortable indoors watching movies, reading or playing games with Riley.

Halloween is a favorite, has been since I was a kid. I'm not the type of person that watches a certain type of movies on their respective season or holiday. If I like a movie whether it's a scary or a Christmas one I will watch it year round.  

VBS week. It would be great if it lasted longer than a week.

Took Riley to a fairly new park. It's nice for the kids but I did noticed that it lacked shady areas. Even once the young trees mature there's still not much shade. 

So to cool off we got some Baskin-Robbins ice cream. 

Lila doesn't really like to be held for long or cuddled so it's very cute and funny whenever she craves affection, like in this case. She just jumped up on the couch and laid on Riley's lap. 

This chutes-and-ladder style slides were built in June 2019 on Ruston Way in Tacoma. We visited a month later.

And this park is new as well. It's called Dune Peninsula Park. The views are beautiful. It's a great place for a picnic. However, this area is a popular tourist spot so it can get crowded at times. 

And on a clear day, one can see Mt. Rainier. 

A trip to the beach is a perfect getaway during the long Summer months especially here in the PNW because it can be chilly at the beach even in July. It is such a relief. We got take-out and ate it in the back of my Tahoe. It was cozy.

We saw several dead jelly fish. 

Every time I go to the beach I look for sand dollars but it's been a long time since I've found any (dead or course) in good condition. I've come across a few but they were broken.

She likes to lay on my left side when I'm in bed so I have to scoot out of the right side of the bed when I want to get up. She looks too cozy and comfortable to bother her.

Eating lunch along with my oldest and youngest.

Lila's 2nd birthday.

She looks funny here, kinda like the famous grumpy cat, lol. 

Even though you're grown, you should never stop having fun.