Worst Case Scenario Mum

Worst case scenario mum.
I'm not sure where I developed this trait. It probably comes from my realist and cynical views of life in general. It started when child number one was young and manifests its self every so often so that my thoughtless children are fearfully brought back into submission.
Like when my kids are dangerously close to falling over the rails...out it comes. "Don't do that...you fall 0n your head and die" Or like "don't jump on the trampoline with your apple...You'll choke and die". Or "don't go by the road...you'll get hit by a car and die".

I didn't really discover what a strange parent I had become until a friend had told me what my 5 year old son had recounted to her. He had an infected pinky finger. It was red and painful and he really didn't want me touching it. I was trying to convince him that I needed to put some antiseptic ointment on that little finger and a plaster to cover it. NOOOO, NOOOO, NOOOO! And out came worst case scenario mum. "Look, if you don't give me that finger, the infection will spread to the bone. I will then have to take you to the doctor who will then have to chop it off....and you will have to wave like this" I motion to him a four fingered wave. The look of horror comes over his face. "Here mummy..." Oh yeah...Worst case scenario mummy strikes again.
A week later he's telling my friend..."look at my finger... its all better now. Its a good thing otherwise I would have to wave like this...". She laughs.

I'm not sure what I will do when the kids are teenagers and they want to live on the edge, as you do. My hope is that I will have ingrained it so much into them, it will go something like this....
" Honey be careful when you are driving..."
" I know, I know...don't speed or I'll crash and die, got it".
Thats right...

Herb crusted Lamb Rack

What do you do when Grandma decides to take the older two kids for the night? You promptly update your Facebook status inviting ideas for a Romantic Dinner for two because its been so long you can't even remember what to do! With the food critics gone, I was excited about making something delicious for us that we could enjoy in peace. Sima J suggested a yummy rack of lamb...and it went from there.

Menu

Entree
New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels in a red Thai coconut cream curry, with crusty bread

Mains
New Zealand Lamb with a herb crust, over hassle back potato and balsamic and honey glazed carrots.

Dessert
Sara Lee Sticky Date pudding with whipped cream.

And because I know you desperately need to know how to make one of these bad boys next time you want to cook a romantic meal for your love...I'm gonna share the recipe! Beware though...rack of lamb is not cheap...so a nice once a year meal for us I think! But oh my! It tastes so good!

Herb Crusted rack of Lamb.
Ingredients:
Rack of Lamb (French trimmed)
Mustard
1 cup Bread crumbs
2-3 cloves garlic
Some Parsely
Some Rosemary
Salt and pepper

Method: For the crust. Blitz your bread crumbs garlic and herbs together until all crumbly. Add a little olive oil just to help bind it a little. Set aside on a plate.
Season lamb generously with salt and pepper, then sear on all sides to get some good colour, (because as Gordon says colour equals flavour!). Then smear mustard all over it. Place your crumbs on a plate then put your mustard covered lamb on top and coat it all over with the crumb mixture.
Place it in a preheated oven at 180 Celsius until cooked to your liking...best at medium rare which took about 10-15minutes. Serve with a nice red wine jus and veges. Bon appetite.
If you need to see how Gordon Ramsey does it...check out his You Tube Video

And the winner is...

And the winner for the giveaway is....Drum roll please Mon...from Delissimon! Congrats!

Giveaway entries

If you haven't already entered into my giveaway for this....

head over here.
Im gonna draw it tomorrow (Thursday)
Goodluck

Losing my identity?

Seven years ago I entered into a new identity. It wasn't new for the universe, but it was new for me. At 22 years old we added to our family of two another little being. Our very own, half him and half me. Up until this point my life was being a wife, a Jesus lover, being a work colleague, being a sister, a daughter, a friend, a worship vocalist, a caffeine and food lover, music lover, a loud laugher, a movie buff....these and many more made up my identity, and the essence of who I was.
My how my life changed when Miss Joy came along and I became a new mother, a new role. Apprehensively I read all the books, gleaned as much information from my older wiser mother friends and set off on this road of discovery of the new me.
Did I lose my identity when I assumed this new role? I think not. I am still all the above things, the essence of who I am has not changed since I became a mother. My life is now even more enriched and the essence of who I am has been added to and enlarged. I am now also a teacher, an encourager, a- ready-for-anything-at-any-hour-of-the-night-machine! I am stronger and more assertive. I can dance in the face of adversity. I can negotiate with tiny terrors and make a boo boo better with a kiss and a cuddle.

Mothering is a tricky and precarious place to be sometimes. Lost in the mundane of nappies, never ending hungry tummies to feed and constant emotional tugging, our children can consume our lives- if we let them. But what then when they hit 18 and move out. What will we be then? If our lives are constantly revolved around them and they move on in life, what will we do with our selves? Where do we find our identity again?
My advice is never lose it in the first place. Continue to do the things you love and be who you are.
I will continue in my quest to find the perfect plate of food, the most amazing cup of coffee, the funniest joke to laugh at, and the next great movie. I will continue to give my best at work. I will continue to pursue Jesus. I will continue to be a loving wife, loyal friend and great family member.
Don't let the essence of who you are get lost because you are a mother, instead let it grow you and enhance you to an even better woman.

Things Im loving....Giveaway!

Hi bloggers...guess what it's GIVEAWAY time! I feel so OPRAH! Except her prizes are worth like, thousands of dollars more...but hey! Gotta love a good giveaway!
So today Im linking in with Kristy's Things Im loving and then giving you a chance to win them. It in celebration of my 100th post. I know right!? 100 posts is kinda a big deal for me. And as a Thank you for reading my blog! I wouldn't bother doing it if nobody read it...so thanks!

Things Im loving.
Esk Valley Coffee beans from the Beanlab, Whangarei. Roasted locally in my town. Loving the taste...and I'm just a bit fussy when it come to great coffee. Heres where you can buy some of your own if you really want. If you are local, I can give you their Email and they deliver to your door like they do mine. Or you could drop by and have a cuppa with me...I'll share I promise ;)... Love it!Also loving Holly Wagner's new book "God Chicks and the Men they love". She and her husband pastor a church in Hollywood. When Hubby and I were newly married Holly and her husband visited my city and did a relationship seminar over two nights. They had us in stitches, just funny and very honest about their relationship. I learned so much from them. On the night I won her book "Dumb things we do" which I was hoping to find for the giveaway but my bookshop only had this one which is actually better I think, because it has a mans perspective too. They seem to know that men hate reading books on relationships and have little summary chapters that are a page long just for them...too clever! It is not only for married couples but also for young God chicks looking forward to that special someone and what to look out for. A great read.
And finally whats not to love about Lindt chocolate...Do I need to say any more about it! Only the best chocolate ever!


So there you have it! Just make sure your following me and leave a little comment telling me about your favourite marriage book, favourite chocolate or coffee brand and your email so I can contact you if you win. I don't mind posting it overseas too. I will draw it next week. Good luck!

The simple faith of a child

Recently my neighbourhood, which isn't that bad, made the headlines for the wrong reasons. A particular "group" had moved in, and they had a rep of being bad news. They had set themselves up in hopes of luring young people to "help them out" etc. A wave of fear hit me. Like real fear. Fear for my home being invaded, fear of being intimidated in my own neighbourhood, and fear for our city. Real, keep me up at night fear. I decided for a while that I would avoid that route for a while, not run past and certainly avoid my children biking past. That was until I was reminded of the scripture in the Bible " ‎"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind". So that afternoon I decided, we weren't going to be afraid. Of course we would be on guard, but I wasn't going to avoid going down the same street I would normally just because of them. I also decided to pray for them... and get the kids to as well. We prayed out loud every time we drove past, "Lord shut them down and save them ".
And guess what!? This week its gone..only two weeks after opening. We drove past again and I urged the kids to have a look out the window and tell me what was different..."The signs gone.. Its shut down..!"

Getting them to pray real prayers and seeing them answered is what builds faith in little people. When you have things like Santa, the Easter bunny and the tooth fairy that get "Myth Busted" when they get older and they basically learn it was a big lie...the question is how will they not think that God (who they also can't see) even exists when other fairy tales are advertised to them as real and then aren't true.
The Hubster and I are committed to trying to instill not only the good values the bible teaches but also the reality of the Author behind it.

"Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:2-4 (New Living Translation)

Image from here

buying handmade

I just had to take a picture of what arrived in the mail today from "Felt". Zak-Zak was in need of some winter slippers so I popped over there to have a look. I'm pretty fussy about what the kids wear...Shamefully I will admit I prefer new to homemade or handmade, but I love these. They were made by this seller.

I also bought one of these off there a wee while ago too which looks perfect in my kitchen. I think these rules are more for me than the kids though.
And did you know that the talented Paisley Jade sells her awesome stuff like this here. Luckily I got a pair of these for my birthday! I'm sure she wants me to get on the Crochet Brigade..sorry Kristy not budging ;)


and also South African Kiwi sells some awesome handmade jewellery here too!I liked this one the best.



I am in awe of the creativity of ladies that take time to create something unique and not manufactured in China. I might be coming around to handmade stuff.

Go on BUY NZ made :)

First day of school.

Master Joe recently turned five and today is his first day of school.
Are you excited Joe?... "No" Are you scared Joe?.... "No" What are you? ..."Nothing...I'm just gonna go to school".
That's my boy, take it as it comes ready for any thing!

I couldn't stick around for long as little Zak-Zak was in no mood for it, tired and grumpy, so I bolted during assembly. I left as they were singing their songs to Jesus.
I believe I send my kids to the best Christian School around. I can't say enough about the place. My children are encouraged in the their little spiritual lives to pray and remember little memory verses from the bible. They are taught about a real God who loves their little lives and that they can live big lives now and in the future. The teachers genuinely care about them and pray for them and the school before school starts. Of course they learn to read and write stuff too!, with a great academic achievement level due to the small classes.
I drop my kids off knowing that they are in the best place, and that makes my happy as. Sure it costs more but in the long run I will hopefully reap the benefits of great teenagers and no trips to the shrinks!

Time now to catch up on some lunch dates and start some preschool activities with the baby. Two kids Down, One to go!