Quick, Easy Dinner Idea: Chicken Tacos

So, somewhere in my internet surfing I came across this idea for making really easy chicken tacos and I wanted to share it. I love this recipe because you can make several different Mexican dishes with, you don't have to remember to thaw out the meat, and you can even cook extra chicken to freeze for another day.

All you need is:

• Chicken tenderloins
• A large can of salsa
• A can of chicken broth (only use if you need more liquid to cover the chicken)

You just put the chicken (still frozen!) in your crockpot, pour the salsa over it, add the chicken broth if needed, and turn it on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours. Then, all you have to decide is if you want soft-shell chicken tacos, hard-shell chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas, or Mexican chicken casserole!

I just love recipes like this!

Fighting a Lie

I'm exhausted, and not just because I have a teething 8-month-old. I'm exhausted because for the last several days I've been fighting a lie. I know it's a lie, which theoretically should make it easier to bust through and move on, but that hasn't made my struggle any easier. 

You see, this one big lie is actually a bunch of little lies that, for a variety of spiritual, mental, and hormonal reasons, are sucking the joy right out of me. I feel like my mind and heart are constantly being bombarded with a millions thoughts:

• You're not blogging enough.
• You should be exercising more.
• You haven't taught Little Girl sign language.
• You aren't cooking enough.
• You should manage the money better.
• You're not a good wife.
• Your boss isn't happy with you.
• Your house is dusty.
• You haven't had your quiet time.
• You need to water your flowers more.
• You haven't lost enough weight.
• And on, and on, and on, and on....

And it call culminates into a single, awful thought  - "I'm a failure."

I know it's not true. I know the Lord has forgiven me and no longer sees my imperfections. I know that my husband, daughter, and family aren't judging me. But, I can't seem to stop judging myself.

I know the typical Christian response and encouragement for this - I've given the same advice to others. I know that hormones are primarily driving these feelings- they'll be easing up soon. And, I know, as my loving husband would say, I'm just being silly.

But more than anything, I'd just like to know that other women do this too. That I'm not a horrible person and horrible Christian for feeling this way. That I'm not the only one who feels like their mask is slipping. 

Why Do We Plan to Homeschool?

I'm slightly strange, so, yes, I've already starting reading homeschooling books, doing research on curriculum, and buying teaching supplies even though we've still got two and half years before preschool starts. And while I've been doing all of this, I've also been thinking about the reasons Daniel and I desire to homeschool. Some could argue that since I was homeschooled, it only makes sense that I would want to homeschool my own children. But, I wanted our decision to be based on more than just my childhood experience. I wanted our family - Daniel, Little Girl, and me - to have our own reasons for making this big, life-changing decision.

So, for the last several days I've been thinking, taking notes, and consulting with Daniel...and we now have our answer to the question I'm sure we'll be hearing quite a bit - "Why do you want to homeschool?"

Here it is:

1. Our Faith - Based on Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he/she should go...", we believe that God has entrusted us to do just that. Many of the influences they would encounter in public school - lack of prayer, no teaching on morals, absence of God, evolution taught as truth, liberal sex ed. - would not be pointing them in the right direction.
2. Academic Excellence - Homeschooling will allow our children to move at their own pace, not at a too fast or too slow pace set by a teacher, school administer, or the slowest child in the class. Since I  will be teaching such a small number of children, 1-3, and will already know their strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes, I will be able to match the curriculum with their individual learning styles, giving them the opportunity to maximize their education. Also, since teaching a few takes much less time than teaching 30, there will be time for them to focus on logic and critical thinking, and not just trying to master basic math and reading. 
3. Real Life Education - Based on what we've seen with children who attend a traditional school for 7+ hours a day, we don't believe they are being prepared for the real world. Where in the grown-up world do only people born within the same year work together? We want our children to be able to communicate and interact with people of all ages, from people their parents' age to much younger children. Plus, we want the opposite of what public schools teach children - we want our little ones to stand out, not fit in. After all, isn't that what Christians are called to do - stand as lights in a sea of darkness and be in the world but not of it? Plus, last I checked, professors and employers are looking for students and employees who are different, who stand out from the crowd, and don't fit the status quo.
4. Best for Our Family - Daniel and I firmly believe that the best teachers for Little Girl and any future children we have are us, the parents. And where else could you find a teacher who has dreamed her whole life of teaching certain children. Being a homeschool mom has been my dream - my calling - since I can remember. My heart's desire is to be the one who teaches my child to read, to be sitting next to my child when they realize they can add, and to watch as Daniel helps them with science labs at the kitchen table in the evenings.

Hopefully all that makes sense - it is harder than I thought it would be to put it into words. I'm sure as we go along, Daniel and I will refine it, but it does give you a good little glimpse into our hearts and desires for the children God blesses us with.

You don't have to agree with these reasons, however they are what God has led Daniel and me to. If you're unfamiliar with homeschooling, I'd love to attempt to answer any questions you have. And, if you're first thought is "I'd like to homeschool, but I'm worried about socialization," you need to check out this book - The Well-Adjusted Child by Rachel Gathercole.