Camping

We just returned home from a week camping in Santa Barbara at El Capitan State Beach. We had an absolutely wonderful, relaxing time at the most beautiful site - in a woodsy, shaded spot, overlooking the ocean with an easy beach access.

The weather was perfect. The campground was quiet. And we loved every minute of our time away!



We hiked in the woods, walked the beach, had picnics by the water's edge,
sat around the campfire each night, and enjoyed playing games together.

(Paige is the SET champion, but I rule at PICK TWO - otherwise known as DING.)

This was along the walk we took each day.

The water was too cold to swim in, but the
girls had fun playing on the rocks.












This was my view of the ocean from my
chair at the campsite.













Here's Ron reading an Alfred Hitchcock -
Solve-It-Yourself Mystery Story for kids. We
read this at night around the campfire.

Ready, Set, Go!

House cleaned.
Groceries bought.
Menu planned.
Meals prepared and frozen.
Camping kitchen stocked.
Clothes and toiletries packed.
Camping equipment all sorted and checked.
Tents found.
Camper borrowed.
Sleeping bags aired, chairs and boogie boards hosed down.
Firewood and propane bought.
Camper Packed.
Vehicles fueled.
Lists checked and double checked.
Last minute details attended to.

I think we are ready to go!

We're Officially on Vacation!

Vacation starts for us today at precisely 12:01 PM - as soon as Ron dismisses the congregation with a final prayer. I'll try not to let out a "whoohoo" and run for the exit!!

We will take the next two days to finalize all the preparations for the camping trip, get the camper, pack it up, buy last minute supplies and food and will leave bright and early on Wednesday morning.

Spreading out the preparations over several days helps me not get overwhelmed- we do one thing each day: hauling out and sorting through the camping gear, laundry and packing, grocery shopping and food prep, purchasing supplies, packing the camper. That way, we're not so exhausted by the time we drive away.

We try to make getting ready for trips fun - it's a good way to build anticipation in the kids, talk over memories from last year and plan for new adventures this year. Paige usually makes something cool each time we camp. One year she made a volleyball net from twine - the next she wove a hammock (from twine) - can't wait to see what she comes up with this year!

We're really looking forward to this vacation - spending time with the kids -relaxing and building memories.

As for me personally, I have a date with my beach chair and a good book.

Cooking Day

Spent most of the day cooking and freezing the dinners for our camping trip next week. So now, meal times will be easier and I won't be spending a lot of time cooking on our vacation.

We made:

black bean chili
chicken curry
spaghetti sauce
white chicken chili
"gravy train"
(a hamburger gravy that we put over baked potatoes).

Tomorrow I'll cook a roast in salsa verde and then we'll have shredded beef for tacos.
We've got hamburger patties for grilling and we'll probably go in to town for
a restaurant meal for the last dinner.

While we're camping, we'll just have to thaw the dinner on the stove and cook the pasta, rice or potatoes that go with it. With older girls now, I think I'll just put one person each night in charge of dinner so I'll just have to cook one night. We keep breakfast pretty simple - usually just bagels and coffee and fruit. One morning we do a big pancake breakfast.

The last time we went camping I made a week's menu and grocery list on the computer - so this time, all I had to do was print it out and go shopping. So much easier not to have to think and plan it all out!

The kids like "tradition" - so these are the meals we do every year. :)

Been Thinking...

Been thinking lately about Spiritual Discernment.

Here's a series from Nancy Leigh De Moss that's been helpful to me.

Radio Series: Discerning Truth in a World of Deception

The world is full of shiny images and confident voices. We need to be discerning as Christians about the influences that vie for our attention. In this series, Nancy will help us to faithfully understand the Truth and not be deceived by error.

• Feb 6, 2009 - Purposeful Discernment
• Feb 5, 2009 - Anti-Virus
• Feb 4, 2009 - Showing Others the Truth
• Feb 3, 2009 - Focusing on the Authentic
• Feb 2, 2009 - Innocent About Evil
• Jan 30, 2009 - A Popular Deception
• Jan 29, 2009 - Deceiving God's People
• Jan 28, 2009 - Are All Religions Valid?
• Jan 27, 2009 - Beware of the Beautiful Deception
• Jan 26, 2009 - The Danger of Deception

Getting Ready for Camping

Busy this week - getting ready to take the family camping at the beach the last two weeks of this month. Getting the house organized, taking out all the camping equipment, airing out sleeping bags, sorting through flashlights, printing out camping lists for supplies, menus and groceries. Searching for the tents...

Hoping that Zach and Andrea can join us for a few days and that Courtney can come for the weekend -so we can start our annual family tradition of camping together as our family grows.

We're going to El Capitan State Park - in Santa Barbara. Short drive, quiet campground, several lovely spots to choose from, beautiful beach... looking forward to a great time - and looking forward to adding our new daughter in law to the family photos!


Last Year's Photo:

Little Earthquake

Was awakened this morning at 4:04 by an earthquake. The epicenter was in Pico Rivera - about 15-20 miles from here. I usually don't feel quakes at night - but this one had our house shaking/rolling. By the time we were fully awake and figured out it was an earthquake - it was over. No aftershocks so far (that we have noticed) - but feeling a little bit edgy.

I think it's funny that even in my sleep, my first instinct is to call out - "Earthquake!" and run to the kids. :)

Changing the Way We Look at Food

Just saw Food, Inc. last night. Wow.

Woke up this morning to read this article about a recent recall of processed foods containing HVP (hydrolyzed vegetable protein).

I went to our cupboard and looked at the processed foods we have and it's in everything! Herbox bouillon is being recalled, but not the lot number we had.

BUT, it did make me rethink how I'm cooking ~ what I'm buying ~and what we're putting into our bodies. Taking a closer look at how we're eating and how it's affecting our health.

Spent the day cooking dried beans, rice, and bulgar. Made a chocolate beet cake but we don't like it. :) You can only go so far... :)

Listening...

When we live attentively, listening to the Voice that choreographs all that we see, sensitive to His movements in our daily lives, in even small things, we realize that the simple pleasures of our days are in fact tender overtures of God approaching.

~ Ann Voskamp

What I Did Today:

Spent the afternoon washing, peeling, cutting, chopping, dicing, shredding all kinds of vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets, carrots, onions, celery, swiss chard, kale, cabbage, lettuce - and rinsing, boiling and draining pearl barley and black beans.

Meals for this week:
Roasted Vegetables and London Broil
Thai Salad with Chicken
Carne Asada with Rice and Black Beans
Minestrone Soup
Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Stir Fry

What to Do with a Parsnip

Since signing up for our weekly organic box of fruits and veggies, I've been looking at new recipes. This week I received three vegetables that I've never cooked before in my life: Brussel sprouts, parsnips and beets! Thanks to many friends who love to cook, I've discovered new recipes and some really cool websites:

Super Natural Recipes

Bon Appetit

101 Cookbooks

The Nourishing Gourmet

The girls and I are having fun making new meals and trying new things. Last week, we made roasted cauliflower and it was great. This week I'm looking at these dishes:

Roasted Vegetables with Pecan Gremolata

Thai Salad with Spicy Dressing

Not sure what I'll do with the beets... don't think we're ready for those. I think I'll try this:

Chocolate Beet Cake!