My birthday

I am now 23. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a birthday lover.  I do not keep it any secret that my birthday is coming up, a month, a week, a day away and I do not shy away from telling people on my birthday "it is my birthday!" (Yes, I really am that person). But, it isn't about the gifts  or even the cake... (though that does help) I just love celebrating and taking time to slow down and enjoy those special moments in life, like birthdays.  I told Andrew this year I was fine with not receiving any gifts (and I truly meant that!) though I did want him to sing me the "happy birthday song" I told him I just wanted a nice day spent with my favorite men, and that is what I got... with a few gifts thrown in :)

Growing a Heart that Gives Thanks

I know this isn't the appropriate time to be talking about thankfulness. I mean, Thanksgiving was over three months ago! But we were talking about its importance in my home today and so it led to my pondering it, which led to a blog post. :)

The fact is, if I want to instill the importance of being thankful in my children, I must be thankful myself. All the time. It is more than just teaching them the proper and polite words to say when someone gives them a gift or shares their toy, it is to be a constant attitude of the heart. I don't want my sons to have the thanks squeezed out of them through gritted teeth, I want it to flow naturally from their lips because their hearts are already bubbling with it. But how does it get there? How do I teach the process of being thankful in all things? How do I display that to them?

Table Talk

Growing up in the O'Brien House, Mom cooked everything from scratch.  She is a great cook and many of my memories are centered around a fantastic meal with everyone crowded around our big table, laughing and talking until long past the meal was over.


My favorite meal was always the beef roast, cooked slowly with potatoes, carrots, and onions and served with Mom's fantastic gravy.  We had that meal most Sundays growing up and it never got old.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I have been making our own bread for a short while now, and this one is my favorite so far. It is perfect for a novice (like me!) because it has basic ingredients, and few steps. The recipe makes 3 loaves of bread, so there is no need to put on my math cap while I bake, which I love! I have shared another bread recipe which I like, but this one is much easier, and still delicious, which is a winning combination.

Simple Honey Wheat Bread

3 cups warm water                                                        3 tablespoons butter, melted

2 (.25 oz) packages active dry yeast                             1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup honey                                                               1 tablespoon salt

5 cups bread flour                                                         3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

                                                                                      2 tablespoons butter, melted

1. In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.

2. Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky- just pulling away from counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in an oiled bowl, turning once to coat. Cover with a clean dishtowel. Let rise until doubled.

3. Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. (I only have 2 loaf pans, so I use a round cake pan for the 3rd one and it is more like a roundish loaf.) Place in greased 9x5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch. (I let it rise in the pan for awhile, but don't wait until the dough peeks over, and mine still turn out fine.) :)

4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tbls melted butter when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.

I found this yummy recipe here

Maude's Wedding Story

Most weddings have a funny story.  Mine was NOT funny at the time!!

To understand mine you must know that my husband's family wasn't exactly thrilled about our marriage...

On the morning of my wedding I was 100% sure that my husband was the only man for me and I knew my husband was just as sure about me.

My Wedding Day

Some people hear about my wedding and think it sounds strange, I think it sounds lovely.  I was barefoot, we were in the woods surrounded by trees, and only 27 people attended. To me, that sounds absolutely perfect.     I think it is interesting how weddings portray the individuals preferences and let you see some unique aspects of the couples relationship.  I think that is definitely true of our wedding.  I always knew I wanted a simple wedding, I wanted a low-stress wedding, I wanted an outside wedding preferably in my Mother's woods (which was exactly where it took place),  I truly got the wedding of my dreams.  

The Day of my Dreams

I was never a little girl that daydreamed about her wedding day, or knew how and what I wanted long before the day actually arrived. And I've never been a perfectionist or an organizer, so I probably should've consulted a professional wedding planner after the engagement, right? Maybe, but I didn't. I was blessed to have the enormous help of family and friends to make our wedding day beautiful. It was truly a group effort, and that effort showered us with love as others served, decorated, and sweated on our behalf. In fact, I'm thankful I wasn't as focused on making the day "perfect" because I think if I had been, I might've missed out on the real purpose and joy of my wedding.

True, if we had worried more about the little things my soon-to-be husband wouldn't have had to teach our sweet volunteer how to use the sound machine right before the prelude music began. (We had forgotten to secure someone to run sound, and so the poor man was willing to be "trained" last minute! Oops!) I guess I did slip a little into the non-planning extreme, but it's also true that no matter how hard I would've slaved toward a perfect day, bloopers will still happen. How else does AFV get such hilarious wedding footage for every episode?

Funny Wedding Stories

This weekend the O'Brien family has been focused on weddings as the youngest O'Brien got married on Saturday (only one more to go!).  Over the years and the nine weddings we've had we've accumulated some wedding stories which we will be sharing this week on our blog posts. 

Nearly every wedding has some bloopers but I think my oldest brother's wedding takes the cake (literally!). 

First, while his lovely bride was walking down the aisle her long train caught on the poles that were holding burning candles and knocked it over.  It would have fallen on her beautiful dress if the man sitting at the end of the pew hadn't caught the candle and saved the day!  A flaming bride - almost!

Sisters Chat about Valentine's Day!

Lizzi: Today I wanted to talk about Valentine's Day. I know by the time we post this it will be over, but I still wanted to use it for a topic!

Valentine's Day was always special in our house growing up. What type of things do you remember doing?

Maude: Esther posted about this, but the Secret Someone thing was a favourite

Esther: I LOVED that

Lizzi: That was fun! I also think it was really special that mom always made a heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie for each of us

Esther: It was so fun. Mom did a good job making it special.
Maude: It was fun because you had to do something every day. Whether a gift or doing one of their chores for them. Very fun, and it taught good lessons.

Lizzi: They were huge! Had to be a big expense and a lot of work for her

Maude: I loved the chocolate chip cookies. When we first got married and mine NEVER looked like hearts!

Lizzi: She also would post Valentine's poems

Esther: I can never get my chocolate chip cookies to taste like hers either. Hers are the best!

Lizzi: And decorate in such a fun way

Esther: And put hearts on the cupboards

Lizzi: Yep! Mom made it better than any preschool teacher could ever imagine... We had it so good.

Family Means Sacrifice

I've not been back to the O'Brien Home since Thanksgiving and it is so nice to be home! I'm the first out-of-stater to arrive for my little brother's wedding this weekend and it has been lovely to spend time with Mom and watch my little one's play with their cousins all morning.

Can anything replace family? I know there are some people out there whose biological family are not really their family but instead they have formed a circle of friends who act in that role and I am including those friends, whoever is your "heart" family, in this question. Can anything replace family? Don't we need a loving support system outside of our immediate family that shares a bond of affection and commitment to each other?

Amazing audio books

I have been on a mystery kick. I do that sometimes. I have been known to just pick up my Sherlock Holmes collection and read story after story, day after day; or maybe it would be Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books.  I would just clunker down on the couch with a cup of tea perhaps and read for hours on end.  Unfortunately, it is not quite as easy for me to just pick up books and read them like I once could. But, there is this amazing invention called audio books, they have changed my life (and lives of all busy readers if you let them).

The Day of Love

As I sat to work on this blog post, I realized that I got the winning number! I got to post on Valentine's Day! That also led to a second realization that maybe no one will read my post since they will be so busy celebrating love, but that's okay. I will just think of this as a diary entry and enjoy the writing even if I am the only reader. :)

I love Valentine's Day. I wonder if part of the reason I am enraptured with it is because as a child I received the nickname of "Lovable Lizzi." No, it was not that I was especially sweet or darling. It was actually the opposite. Seriously. My Mom thought it might be helpful to give me the nickname to encourage me to be more loving to others! Now that is very hopeful, positive parenting! I'm not sure if it worked, or not, but I do love this holiday. Not just the pink and the hearts and the sweet little valentines (although I love those too!) but the emphasis on loving others.

While my husband never fails to bless and spoil me, and I look forward to and appreciate all he does, and I have no doubt in how much he loves me, I also don't think of Valentine's Day as simply a romantic holiday. It is all about love, and love is for everybody! I love making valentines and sending them to loved ones, near and far. I love attempting to make heart-shaped cookies to give to my guys. I love decorating my home with hearts- well, I guess I always love that, even at un-Valentine's Day times.

To Our Health

Our guest blogger today is Maude's husband.

If I may, I'd like to propose a toast.  A toast to our corporate health as a nation.  Cheers.

Wait.

What exactly did we just drink to?

If you have been listening to NARAL President Andrea Miller you might be laboring under the delusion that in some way contraception, birth-control pills, abortion-producing drugs and sterilization are integral facets of our national health.  Well, they are.  They have become our necessary placebos that delude us into thinking we've achieved some sort of sustainable level of fitness as a country.  The web has been on fire for the past few days with the Catholic church's refusal to comply with provisions in the new mandatory federal health care law requiring employers to cover services which may contradict one's conviction.  But we only allow conversations about Obamacare and separation-of-church-and-state to persist because we can't articulate the root causes of the illness which we know is out of step with the principles we claim to hold dear as a nation.

Pharmacuetical birth control destroys self-control.

Sister Chat About Being Mothers of Toddlers/Babies

Maude: This week I wanted to talk about being mothers of toddlers/babies since we are all there right now.

Lizzi: We sure are!

(We were just in the potty as you typed that, actually...)

Haha!

Maude: First, let's start with where you are at in your parenting.

Esther: I am trying to catch my diaperless little boy and stick a diaper on him

Maude: haha! For me, my little girl is entering her "terrible twos."

Esther: My son is a day away from being 16 months

lots of climbing, falling, and starting talking

Lizzi: I have an almost 3 year old, and a just-turned one year old

Maude: We will soon be starting the battle to end thumb-sucking with my little boy...

Lizzi: I've heard from adults who used to be thumb suckers that they all had to stop on their own...

They said they just had to get embarrassed enough

Some even when they were 6 or 7!

Maude: Yeah, some have told me it wasn't until college!!!

Lizzi: Wow! They said their parents tried everything..

Maude: I don't expect that much trouble - he doesn't do it all the time like some kids do but I do want to make an effort so he knows he is supposed to stop. If he doesn't right away it isn't the end of the world but I don't want my lack of action to be the cause of teeth problems later.

Lizzi: I guess its such a comfort thing

Yeah, that's tough

Maude: What are you guys dealing with right now?

Or about to start?

Lizzi: Our one-year old is (and has been for a long time) a screamer

So we are dealing with that and how to handle it

Maude: Oh dear! That would be hard

Lizzi: It is shrieking, and now he thinks it is sooo funny

And sometimes big brother joins in then too

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I know where all my snow went... to Rome - and I want it back!!!

I love snow and cold weather.  I truly do.  And living in Virginia is killing me!  I remember past years of fun in the snow and I am becoming a bit cranky and feeling sorry for myself with my warm and dry winter.

A snowy view from my mom's porch.

Country snows are so quiet and peaceful.  It makes everything pristine postcard perfect.

Making yogurt

I have been making my own yogurt. It is surprisingly easy.  I was intimidated at first by this seemingly daunting task (or at least I always thought it would be daunting) but truth be told the most simple, trivial task turns daunting when you have a toddler hanging on your leg, wanting held, and whining at you the whole time. Despite the difficulty, it turned out quite well (and it truly is easier than you think).

Let's talk about what you would need to make this happen:

• You need milk (I have used goat milk before but today I just used whole milk.) You may use any kind you would like, skim, whole, 2%. I like mine fatty so I use whole (it makes it extra creamy!)
• You need yogurt "starter" aka yogurt you already have. You will need at least a Tablespoon. You will want this to be plain not flavored.
• You need ice
• You need a pan(s) (you can truly accomplish this with just one pan)
• You need a candy (food) thermometer.
• That's it! (told you it was easy)

Lau Sah Bao, in all its Yummy Goodness

I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man, who happens to be of Chinese ethnicity. This means that I have been able to enjoy a wide array of foods that until meeting him, I had not tried. One of my favorite eating experiences (and one I crave regularly) is dim sum. Dim sum refers to little dishes, or foods that are served in small portions. They are typically served in steam baskets, and you order many and share. The best sensory dim sum experience is when you go to a restaurant where the items are still loaded on carts and pushed around the restaurant. When the cart comes near your table, you just look over the wares and point to what you want. It is so much fun!

Not every dim sum restaurant is this way, and that's okay. The food is still delectable. ;) When we were visiting Singapore over Christmas, we went to a dim sum restaurant that is known for its Lau Sah Bao, or flowing golden custard bun. I hadn't seen this type of bun before, and so it was my first time to taste it.

Lau Sah Bao (Flowing Golden Custard Bun) in a steam basket

Memory Monday - Spending Time with Japanese Friends

I went to school at a university that was partnered with a school in Japan which made that tiny West Virginian school one of the most international experiences you can have in the country and certainly in the state.   The student population was 40% American, 40% Japanese and 20% students from other countries.   On top of that there were only 600 students so it was impossible not to interact and become friends with international students unlike larger schools.

I studied Japanese and loved so many of the people I met.  My roommate, Masako, and my good friend, Takumi, were two of my very favourite people and I invited them home to experience a traditional American Thanksgiving.

We took Masako and Takumi to see a nice old house in the area.  I am the 3rd from the left and Esther is the little girl in red beside me!  Lizzi is 4th from the right.  Masako is beside me and Takumi is 2nd from the right and everyone else is one of my siblings.

A heart of generosity

Esther:  I think we will talk about a "heart of generosity". We have been going through a sermon series on generosity.  Generosity of time, talents, resources, and money
Lizzi:  Ok!
Maude:  Sounds good.
Esther:  We have been talking about that a lot in our home and how to live that out.
Esther:  I thought my first question would be when have you really seen that displayed?
Has someone every really blessed you?
with money, time, gifts?
Lizzi:  I have a very great, recent example
A couple weeks ago we had a big storm here and our power went out
The house got pretty cold and we told some friends that we were going to find a hotel to stay in
And they insisted that we stay with them. Not only was that very sweet and generous, but it was even more so because she was a week overdue from delivering their first baby!!
She could've gone into labor anytime, and her parents were already at their house too
Esther:  I have been blessed to see this displayed numerous times. But, one thing that really comes to mind is when we first got married. Numerous family members and friends just gave us furniture, couches, bed, and Andrew's great Aunt gave us a washer and dryer! It was such a blessing we were left with hardly any wants.
That is awesome Liz!
Lizzi:  They were really the hands and feet of Jesus to us.

Valentine's Day Expectations (and what they reveal about marriage)

Two months into our marriage my husband and I celebrated our first Valentine's Day together. He bought me a plunger. Now if that doesn't say something about the difference between the expectations of men and women on Valentine's Day (and when it comes to marriage) nothing will.

The tenth Valentine's Day we celebrated as a married couple, my husband bought me flowers, a nice card with an even nicer message hand-written inside, and (very important) a box of fine chocolates from a local chocolatier. I think you'll agree that we've come quite a ways in ten years.

The reason for that is quite simple really. I've gotten much better at communicating my expectations and he has gotten much better at hearing those communications.

Secret someone(s)

Today is February first! And not only is this wonderful because a very special person was born the 25th of February (*cough*cough ME!)  I now only have 24 days till my birthday! I am a big fan of birthdays... especially my own.  The other reason  February is special is because of this little holiday that happens on the 14th, we call it Valentines Day.  In our family (the O'Brien clan that is) we started celebrating Valentines Day long before the 14th. It all started this day, the first of February.  Mother started something called "secret someone". To be completely honest I don't really remember how it all came about* (I am one of the babies you know; sometimes that means I don't know how some of the family traditions started I just know that we do them!) Are you curious about this  "secret someone" tradition? Well, let me tell you all about it. (If you are not curious you can stop reading for that is all I am going to be talking about. Just thought I'd let you know!)