Summoned

I don't believe in making generalizations, but I do think it is fair to say that most everybody dreads receiving a jury summons.  But why is that?  As we have learned from our high school civics classes it is our responsibility as citizens to make ourselves available to sit on a jury of our peers.  It  is not just our responsibility, but it is a privilege afforded us through our great Constitution, as great a privilege as voting.  I'm not trying to make light of this because I do believe that our Founding Fathers knew what they were doing.  I'm just not sure why it strikes fear in the hearts of so many citizens.

I can only speculate, but it might have something to do with over committal.  We are over committed with regards to our time.  We are over committed with regards to our finances.  We are over committed with regards to our energy.  Therefore, we don't want to commit to doing our civic duty.

The we I speak of is me too.  Last Friday, before I called in to find out if I would have to come in today I, secretly in my heart, was hoping against all odds that I would hear the automated angel at the end of the line say that my group number was not needed.  But alas, that is not what I heard.  Instead, I heard that I was required to appear at 8am.  Grrrr!

I had just finished a week of teaching at vacation Bible school.  My 16 month old daughter was already mad because, instead of Mommy, there were an assortment of care givers throughout the week and her schedule was completely messed up.  She didn't even get to go to Gymboree.  Come on already!  So, the last thing I wanted was another off day for the family.  My husband would have to take off of work in order to watch our daughter and once again, Mommy would be gone.

Once I got there though and went through the rah, rah, rah orientation I was pumped and ready.  But again, in the back of my mind was the thought that I was doing my daughter a disservice.  Yes, Daddy was watching her and I know they would be having fun, but her schedule was still off.  Although, at this point I even wonder if she remembered what her schedule was anymore.

My group was the last to be called.  The bailiff had us sit in numerical order in the courtroom.  Then the judge asked the group if there was anyone who would experience a financial or personal hardship serving on this jury. I didn't raise my hand immediately.  I listened to a few other jurors and when the judge asked for the final time if anyone had hardships they wanted to share I sheepishly raised my hand.

I explained that I am a stay at home mom of a 16 month old little girl and that my husband used the last of his leave time to stay home from work last night so that I could be there today.  I told the judge that we would still be able to pay our mortgage and we would not be hurting for food if I were to be a juror, but that it would have an impact our weekly budget.  I was honest.

After deliberating with the attorneys my number was called and I was told I could go home to my daughter.  The bailiff actually told me to go home and spend the afternoon with my precious little girl.

I'm happy I went.  I'm happy that I was reminded again of the fact that despite our country's flaws we really do live in a wonderful place where even an ordinary stay at home mom can potentially be a part of the judicial process.  I'm just hoping that the next time I am summoned I will have fewer personal commitments, so that I can commit to doing my civic duty without any reservations.

Slow Cooker Enchilada Stew

Here's my disclaimer, I'm Polish!  I'm Polish, but I love Mexican food and so does my husband.  The things we love seem to involve a lot of work and as you already know from previous posts I'm not about spending a ton of time in the kitchen when I could be playing with my daughter.  So, I get a little creative in the kitchen.  Sometimes my creativity pays off and other times not so much.  Today it paid off.

 

My husband loves enchiladas, but I really don't want to spend the time making them.  I found a good recipe for an Enchilada Casserole that, with a little tweaking, is pretty good.  Today, I decided I was going to try to make my own enchilada type meal in the slow cooker and I was going to use what I had in the pantry.

The ingredients that I used were:

1/2 lb thawed skinless chicken breast cut into 1 in cubes
pepper
season salt
1 4 oz can green chilies
1 8 oz can tomato sauce

chili powder
caynenne pepper
garlic powder
cumin seeds
poultry seasoning

1 15oz can black beans
3 corn tortillas sliced into strips

1.  I put the chicken in the slow cooker and sprinkled it with pepper and season salt.
2.  I added the green chilies and tomato sauce.
3.  I next added my seasonings.  I didn't measure anything, sorry.  I put a hefty amount of chili powder which was probably at least 4 tablespoons.  I put just a shake from the bottle of cayenne because a little goes a long way.  Next was the garlic powder, probably about 2 tablespoons.  I put one shake from the bottle of cumin.  And then two shakes from the bottle of poultry seasoning.
4.  I let that cook for about two hours on low before I added the black beans and tortilla strips.  Then I let it cook an additional two hours.

I must say that it turned out pretty good.   The corn tortillas dissolve which adds for a fun texture and it has a nice flavor overall.  If you don't want it thick like we had it I would recommend waiting to put the tortilla strips and black beans in until the final half hour of cooking.  I'll probably make this again.  That's why I'm blogging about it.  I don't usually remember what I did when I go to try to make it the next time which is the problem with getting creative in the kitchen.

Snubbed at Gymboree

My husband and I decided pretty early that we wanted Olivia to participate in organized play because we knew it would be good for her for many reasons.  For me, I wanted her to be able to spend time with other kiddos since she doesn't have any siblings or any family her age.  She's so social that I knew it would kill her to be stuck with mommy all the time.  It definitely was the right decision because she absolutely loves her class and gets so excited when I tell her that we're going to Gymboree.

I must say that I, too, have been enjoying the class as well.  I love seeing her explore and try new things and I love to sing songs with her and just play with her.  I kind of get into it.  Also, I know, as a a teacher, that if, I as the adult in her life, am enthusiastic about something then she will be enthusiastic too.  And she is, so it's working.

The thing that I didn't expect was the very thing that happened today.  Let's just say that I felt like I was back in high school again and was being shunned by the cool kids.  See, I was singing the pop the bubble song and doing the motions with some gusto because the Peanut was getting a kick out of it when I noticed two moms sitting by me start to whisper to each other, look at me and laugh.  Really?  Aren't we the parents and aren't we supposed to be setting the right example for our children?

I wasn't going to let snobby Scottsdale moms ruin my fun with my daughter, so I moved us to the other side of the parachute circle and continued to be silly and have fun with my daughter. It was funny because they looked a little surprised to see me move away from them, but frankly I don't care.  I don't have time for that non-sense.  I was there to have fun with my daughter, period.

I'm really hoping that this was an isolated incident, but a part of me knows that it probably is not and there will be many more times that we encounter this sort of behavior.  As my daughter gets older and becomes more aware of what's going on there will probably be questions and that's when I will use these situations as teachable moments to teach my daughter how to be kind and how to love others in spite of how they treat us.

Say, "Cheese!"

We love to celebrate just about anything in the culture we live in and why not  It's fun!  It's an excuse to get together with the people we love most and spend time with them.  Or if we can't physically get together with them talk on the phone or text or email.  I guess it's just a way to connect.  There's nothing wrong with that.  Connecting is good.

Now, I will be the first to admit that since becoming a Mommy I celebrate everything when it comes to my little peanut.  She's my only child and I'm a proud mama.  What can I say?  The way I celebrate is through photographs and let's just say I have a few pictures commemorating the big milestones and the somewhat inconsequential ones too.

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to live in a couple different places in the country and I have made some amazing friends who have since moved on to other places in the world.  I have family close to home, but I also have family spread out in a couple different states.  This being said, all of these wonderful people who are a part of my life don't get to experience the Peanut's milestones with me, that is until I share the photos I have taken.  It's a way to keep them a part of our lives and I believe they appreciate it.

So, although I may go a bit crazy with the pictures, there really is method to my madness.  I want to celebrate the joys of being a mommy and watching my little Peanut grow up, but I also want to share those joys with the people I love who are not as close as I would like.  And, by the way, I love seeing the pictures my friends and family take of the celebrations and milestones in their lives too.  It helps me to feel a part of their lives as well.

Dust Bunnies and Priorities

Okay, so didn't want this blog to be one more thing that I started that I didn't continue. It has been a few months since I last posted and I really don't want to make excuses for my absence.

I have come to realize that there have been quite a few things that I have started since becoming a mommy that I have not finished in a reasonable amount of time, both big and small.  On a daily basis I start things like laundry only to get sidetracked by the Peanut and forget all about it only to find it hours later either sopping wet or wrinkled beyond recognition.  Then there are the books sitting on my dresser that I started reading because the Peanut's nap time got longer and I found I had some time to sit quietly and read.  But then, suddenly without cause the Peanut decides she is going to nap for half the time she was napping previously and now there seems to be no time to read and my book pile begins to collect dust.  I'm not proud to admit this, but I have even started dinner, complete with pots on the stove only to get sidetracked. I'll spare you the details, but the Fire Department did not have to become involved fortunately.

What has happened to me?  I used to be highly organized and very efficient.  I could multitask like no other.   My home was always ready for company.  Now, I'm this forgetful, don't always finish what I start kind of gal whose house is not always clean and who sometimes makes chicken nuggets for dinner because I couldn't get my act together to make a "real" meal.

What has happened to me is that my priorities have changed!  And, I'm okay with that.  A little clutter won't kill me.  A few dust bunnies here and there won't kill me or my family (I know this for a fact because my daughter ate one and survived!).  Everything doesn't have to be perfect and sometimes I may start something that I don't finish right away.  What's important to me is my relationship with God, my husband, and my daughter.  If leaving a mess means I can spend time in the Word then that's what's going to happen.  If making chicken nuggets for my family for dinner means that I get to read a few more books with my daughter then bring on the nuggets.  If letting the laundry pile up means that I can sit and talk with my husband then I'll just have to figure out what to do when I run out of clean underwear.

Time is not something that we ever get back.  Once it's gone, it's gone.  The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful husband and a precious daughter and the time that He has given me I am certain He would want me to spend with them.  The other stuff......it'll get done.  It always does.