helpless

I truly believe there is no worse heart-pain as a parent than not being able to take care of your child.  Whatever the reason... whether they are sick, you are sick, you are apart or things are just bigger than you can handle... nothing hurts as much as not being able to care for your child.  At least that's how I feel.

God created us, as parents, to care for our children.  To love them, to cherish them, to protect them and to raise them up (in the way they should go!).  When something happens that interferes with those instincts, it is so painful.

A few weeks ago I got sick.  Miserably sick.  Yes, it may have been just the flu...  but being 7+ months pregnant and having the flu is a much different thing than having the flu as an otherwise healthy non-pregnant person.  When you have a strong contraction every time you throw up (sorry for the TMI on this usually food-related blog!) and then end up having regular contractions at 33 weeks for several hours the next day because of dehydration, things can get pretty scary.

Even worse than that, for me, was the knowledge that I couldn't take care of Bjørn when he needed me.  I couldn't pick him up, hold him, or care for him because my body wouldn't let me, and I felt so lost...  so helpless.  We happened to be at my parents house when I got sick, and I am so grateful that they were there for us.  I don't know what I would have done if we had been at home alone!

I am lucky.  Or rather, I am blessed.  My Father had his arms wrapped around my family and we were protected and are fine.  And I have never been more grateful!  In the depths of my helplessness, I was reminded of how wonderful it is to be healthy and whole.  Every day, I am trying to remind myself to enjoy the not-so-helpless days, even when they don't feel so great, because things could always be much, much worse!

slow cooker barbeque beef sandwiches

On most chilly fall mornings I wake up thinking about what I can put in the slow cooker for the day...  something about the smells filling up the house all day just makes the cold seem cozier!

This time, for inspiration, I went out to the freezer in the garage to see what we had in there.  I found a couple of packages of rib steaks and decided to throw them in the slow cooker with a homemade barbeque sauce for shredded beef sandwiches.

It smelled great all day, and tasted even better!

Slow Cooker Barbeque Beef Sandwiches Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup vinegar (cider, white wine or red wine vinegar)

1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar

6 oz tomato paste

2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons yellow mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4-1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder (to taste)

3 lbs or so beef roast (pork would work great too!)

Directions:

Mix together all of the ingredients, except for the meat, in the slow cooker, stirring well to combine.  

Cut the meat into large chunks and place into the slow cooker, turning the pieces to make sure everything is coated with the sauce.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling apart.  Shred the meat and return to the sauce to keep warm.

To serve, toast your favorite buns until golden brown and pile with meat!  Also great with a few slices of cheese thrown onto the bread before you toast it...  yumm!

36 weeks!

We're getting so close!  As of today, this baby is in the clear to come whenever he wants!

Now, I would love for him to stay in until he is good and ready...  but if he happens to be good and ready a little sooner than 40+ weeks, that would be fine with me!  :o)

I am so excited I can hardly stand it!  We can't wait to meet you, sweet boy!!