The Armstrong 5

I usually love bedtime. And I never used to understand why Mark hated it. He used to say "It feels like admitting defeat... that there's nothing else you can do today." Lately I have really been struggling with this. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day for me, for many reasons. Not just laundry that needs to be folded, dishes that need to be done, emails that need to be sent... there are just TONS of other things I want to do! Lately, I've been attempting to understand more about the idea of "God's Will." I read a great book twice recently, called "Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung. It's all about the problem many of us "young adults" have with Godly decision making. I highly recommend it.

Basically, I'm seeing that God's Will is for me to know Him, thus, acting more like Christ and accomplishing His purposes wherever I am. I've been going back and forth with decisions regarding where I will end up in about 5 years... major things like kids, career, where to live... then I end up struggling with regret, self-doubt, questioning everything I do... but this book is offering me some clarity and God is definitely shaping me. It's hard for me to say that I want something but then admit that I must not want it enough to sacrifice what is required. How do I live with that? Is it honorable to have chosen other things? What if I could have made more impact? Been more "known" and thus, more people knowing more about God? What should I pursue now? Then, mostly, I almost become paralyzed thinking about making sure I do the most absolute, bestest thing I could do for God.

But now, I'm seeing (and I hope to truly believe) that God wants me to know Him to the greatest degree possible - which is wild, because He can make all things possible. Sorry, but I'm hashing this out here to help it sink into my heart. I realize, that when I know God deeply, it changes my desires, my feelings, my reactions to the people I love, my ability to take criticism, my heart for my friends and family... get what I'm saying? When I am growing closer to God, it won't matter what exactly I am doing. He'll work that out. I can make choices, go places, do things fully trusting that if I'm growing in the Lord, He will use me to the degree that I truly know Him... so this whole idea of having "maximum impact" for the kingdom is not how I envision it. No matter what I'm doing, if knowing God is center, He will be using me to have the biggest impact possible... and likely, that impact might not have been greater or lesser depending on my "career." I know that God already knows where I'll be and who I'll meet, and I'm trusting that He is prepping and using me every day to have the greatest impact I am allowing Him to have.

Still, when bedtime rolls around, I wish I had an extra hour or two to meditate on Him, read His word and what other people have to say about it... maybe tho, I'll just start doing that, trusting that God will rejuvenate me despite the loss of sleep... God can do anything right?

Yep, many of you have heard, Tracy got engaged! So crazy! Her fiance (also Mark) is such a sweet guy, and you can tell he loves her so much!!

So, Tracy and I will be doing lots of wedding planning in the next few months. Their wedding date is March 12th, 2011. They figure (and I agree) to just get it done with and not wait around, tempting each other... makes lots of sense and definitely a wise choice.

On Sunday I did their engagement photos and they turned out spectacular! So happy that it went well - I've been a bit out of practice. Enjoy!!

I was reading in Matthew tonight (in the bible that is). I'm working on a lesson for bible study on Thursday and I am really feeling torn about so much. Mainly, I'm wondering, how much do I really believe that I will be rewarded in Heaven for what happens here on earth? Do I really believe that when I pursue God's desires (to reach the lost and heal the broken) and put my own desires on the side, that I will be blessed for eternity? Do I believe this enough to suffer financially for the rest of my life? Or even a small part of my life? Giving up a nice home, nice clothing (with a wide variety of styles), comfy cars, whatever... get what I'm saying? Maybe I don't believe as much as I thought. But now that I am realizing this, I cannot very well go back to being concerned about only myself, my family and my friends all the time. They are just a very, very small portion of the population.

I always forget that God is more than able to take care of me despite the worst mishandling of anything and everything I can imagine... so why not pursue His interests above all of mine? He gives us desires for a purpose I'm sure, like the apostle Paul's desire for the gentiles. I guess what I'm trying to do, is evaluate if I'm really willing to lose myself for other people's standing before God. I mean, duh, right? Why would I even think about asking that? Then why am I not doing it more? Really, I think it's because I prefer being comfortable, but I don't want to risk eternal joys for little, tiny, momentary comforts. Pray for me, because my heart needs to change before it gets too stuck.

I have been baking up a storm around here lately! Not just for Thanksgiving, but it seems that almost every day I seem to be baking something new... I think Mark is enjoying it (though he's not a big sweets or baked goods type of guy). I'm glad that I haven't gained about 10 lbs after eating the majority of my chocolate macaroons, zuchinni muffins, pumpkin bars and the latest, Chai Molasses Cookies! Let me tell you, you NEED to try these!!!! The good news for all of you, is that this is a regular, all-purpose flour recipe that I modified to make it gluten-free. That's right! I'm finally learning enough to venture out and make a regular recipe, gluten-free, all on my own! I'm pretty proud, I have to admit ;)


I got this recipe from a friends' facebook. Mark has been friends with this family (the Gallagher's) for years before we even met! The mom has Celiac also, so she's loaned me books and gone to a Gluten-Free Friends meeting with me... hopefully, we'll go to more together.


Let me tell you, if you intend on baking cookies, using cookie cutters and icing, you should SERIOUSLY try this recipe!! It's almost gingerbread tasting. The bold print is the original recipe (sorry, I have no idea who the copyright belongs to) and I have notes afterwards about what snafoos I ran into :) Seriously, go and bake these soon! You won't regret it!




Chai Molasses Cutout Cookies


2 or 3 chai tea bags
3 cups flour - 2.5 cups Bob's Red Mill G-free all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup almond meal, 1/4 sorghum flour, 1/4 tapioca starch
1 tsp xantham gum - only for g-free people!! Makes the dough stick together better.
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice - 1/4 tsp each: allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
1.5 cups butter (3 sticks), softened
1 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
2 Tbsp molasses



1. Empty 3 tea bags and measure out 3 tsp. of spices. In a medium bowl combine tea, flour and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter on high for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and molasses. Beat in as much flour as you can, stir in the rest. Divide dough in half and refrigerate for 2 or 3 hours, or until easy to handle.

3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. On lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time to 1/4 inch thickness. Cutout with cookie cutters.

4. Bake for 11 or 12 minutes, or until edges brown slightly. Cool on cookie sheets for a couple of minutes and then move to rack to cool completely.


*to store- layer cookies between waxed paper in airtight container, 3 days at room temp or 3 months in freezer.




I ended up using almost 4 tea bags - 2 decaf, vanilla chai by Stash Teas and 2 vanilla chai teas by The Good Earth.


I started with only 3 cups total flour, but I ended up needing to add a bunch more to make the dough remotely dry enough to handle.


I ended up just rolling balls of dough, pressing them between my palms and setting them on wax paper... maybe it's the g-free-ness of my version that makes it tough to get good consistency to roll it out without overdrying.


I baked my cookies in the over closer to 15-18 minutes each time.


Made between 3-4 dozen cookies.


Did I mention that they were delicious??

Just a few pics from the snow today. Sadly, they aren't really of any nice snow landscapes, just some of the winter mixing with the remainder of fall in our driveway. Enjoy.

A few years ago we had some really cute Christmas cards done through Shutterfly to send out to friends and family. Sadly, last year I just spaced it until it was too late! This year, I am on top of things but am having trouble choosing which card to get... you'll see why :)

I know I shared the link to our family photos with you a while ago, but you didn't get to see ALL the photos ;) I won't show them all, there's too many for that! But I will show you some of my faves. My boys are so cute! I'm just loving them more every day. Although, any day I start even thinking about the possibility of ever having another one, we have a ROUGH, TOUGH, TERRIBLE day! Maybe it's God's way of keeping me convinced that two is good ;)

Anyway, enjoy the photos... I can't wait to frame some!

Going to Coos Bay for the weekend! Should be a good time. We'll actually be staying in a hotel which will be a bit less time with the fam, but overall, a better sleep for all of us - and if you know me at all, you know I NEED sleep ;)

I've been feeling so great lately. Physically, mentally, spiritually... it's definitely been a week or 3 of encouragement. I got to lead our women's bible study for a couple weeks and that was great to learn and just grow in that area. Physically, this whole no-gluten thing has been amazing! I don't feel depressed like I used to. I'm not having thoughts go so fast through my head that I can't keep up... overall, I'm just more stable. I'm not exhausted all the time which has given me a new challenge... going to bed on time! Yikes! I've been staying up reading, baking, knitting, exercising, playing fruit ninja... you name it! By the way, the new arcade mode on fruit ninja is totally worth the $.99, buy it iPhone people!!

My boys are certainly growing. I'm amazed at the things Cole can communicate. Here's a list of some of what he "says" and how it sounds.

- Basketball (or any ball for that matter) - ba BAH
- Bottle - ba ba (also, but with a certain intonation)
- Thank you - ta too
- Please - bees
- Yeah - ya
- Yummy, yummy - num, nummy
- Cracker - cah cah
- All done - ah done

He's also communicating with his hands and nodding his head yes or no a lot. No especially, in regards to random food items, depending completely on the day, mood, color of the sky, whatever! That crazy kid! Last night he ate TONS of shredded chicken I put on his tray... tonight, he sobbed and cried and cried and screamed. We finally got him to chew and swallow one taste (that's all we require of him most of the time - often we just offer other foods until he eats something). I should mention tho, that grandpa came in after he was happily ignoring his food, then once we told him to take a bite before grandpa could take him out of his chair... well, then all the sobbing and tears began. He just LOVES his grandpa! He even loved another older gentleman we say at Scotty's Playhouse last week... something about the white hair? It's pretty cute most of the time :)

Cole has his own sign for music. Asher did as well. With Asher, he kinda pumped his hand up and down in the air, almost like raising the roof, but with a downward emphasis instead of upward (I know, funny way to describe it). Cole, well, he strums his nipples. SO FUNNY! I promise, we will record it sometime soon. We are guessing it originated from watching Mark and Asher strum a guitar. Cole would look at the guitar box and bounce, look really happy strum both hands right on both nipples. It took us a few minutes to figure it out. But that kid LOVES music. We didn't think anyone else could love music like Asher does, but I think Cole might actually enjoy it more! He'll strum in the car and nod his head going "eh, eh?" in a severely annoying voice to "ask" us to turn on the music. So endearing, how can a parent resist?? Then, as if he could get any cuter, he starts smiling, laughing, clapping and "singing" with the song... have I mentioned that in a good mood, Cole is one of the most adorable children ever?? Well, he is.

Cole really likes to get into the wipes, especially after his last cold. He walks up and pushes the little button, opens it up and then 10 wipes are on the floor. When I close the wipes and tell him no, he blows air out his nose as if to say "but I need my nose blown." Funny the ways they figure out what to do to get what they want at such an early age!

Asher, where to start! He had a really big boy moment yesterday. We gave him another haircut. Last haircut was at the "haircut store" where he cried and threw a fit until he got a sucker at the end (after which he promptly said "thank you" and clammed up tightly). This time, we tried it at home with the buzzers again. The last home hair cut was all scissors since the even more previous haircut was massive amounts of crying, drooling, failed bribes, shaking and sweating. Anyway, yesterday... a little hesitant that morning talking about it, getting excited about it towards dinner time (since papa was getting one too) and then a look of terror when he saw the buzzers. But, after a short explanation that it was just like mama's shaver and a prayer to God to ask for courage, he did amazing! Not one tear!! Then, to top it off, he did something else he hates without crying - mostly. He took a real shower! He cried a bit at first when Mark told him what he was going to do, but then he went in, got cleaned, stood to the side shivering, rinsed again and was a happy, clean, freshly trimmed boy. I could not be much prouder at this point! What a brave kiddo!

Asher is also FULLY potty trained! Plus, he'll go potty on almost any toilet or even at the beach in the sand! I have nothing to claim other than the genes. He just did it! We started letting him wear undies, taking him every 45 minutes, and eventually he was dry at naps, dry at bedtimes for a month or two... now, he only goes 4-5 times a day and hasn't had an accident since who knows when! It's crazy to fold his little undies thinking that he ever used to wear diapers. I'm already preparing myself for Cole to be less easy - prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

Anyway, this inadvertently turned into a very long post. But I hope you enjoyed the update! I will try and do it more often... along with some pics here and there :) I must say, I'm really enjoying Asher's age (and enjoying Cole more than I used to). It's so neat to be able to communicate clearly (most of the time) to your child. I am starting to grasp how fast it will go and trying to hang on to the little moments where my heart melts. God gave us such a blessing in children... I'm beginning to think they are worth the havoc they wreak on your body, budget and life ;) Love you all!

This is a quick shot of the cookies I baked last night...






SOOOOO delicious. I won't tell you how many I ate... but you can guess, it was more than I should have! We're having them for a dessert tonight so it'll be a tough day working on self-control :)


Here's the recipe. It's what I used... what the original author (found here) uses are in parenthesis. Some of the ingredients I didn't have, so I did some swapping around. Enjoy the gluten-free goodness!




Whisk these dry ingredients together:
1 cup brown rice flour (buckwheat flour)
1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill all-purpose gluten-free flour (white rice flour)
1/2 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon fine (sea) salt
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup (organic) white sugar
3/4 cup (organic) light brown sugar

In a separate bowl combine:
2/3 cup Crisco Shortening (Spectrum Organic Shortening)
2 tablespoons molasses
7 to 10 tablespoons milk (chocolate hemp milk or rice milk), as needed
1 teaspoon (bourbon) vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 eggs (egg replacer for 2 eggs)


1/2 heaping cup of chocolate chips - to be stirred in later.
Add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir well to combine. The dough should be sturdy, not too sticky. If the dough is too stiff, add milk, chocolate hemp milk or rice milk one tablespoon at a time to soften. If by chance the dough is too wet, add a tablespoon of rice flour, as needed, until it sets up better. Add a heaping 1/2 cup  chocolate chips. Stir to combine and form the dough into a mound. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Get your baking sheets ready. I like to use parchment or a silicone mat liner or wax paper. Form the dough into 24 balls and place them on baking sheets 2-3 inches apart. Press down on the balls slightly. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes until the cookies are firm to a light touch, and cracked a bit. Bake less, for smaller or thinner cookies, of course. The cookies will yield to light touch but not be sloppy-soft. Cool a few minutes before using a thin spatula to remove them from the baking pan to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Wrap by twos in foil, bag, and freeze. Yields about 24 cookies.


A few things...
- my dough was way too wet to roll balls of it in my hands. I added a few tbls' of brown rice flour and it was still really wet, even after chilling. I ended up just scooping dough out onto wax paper on my cookie sheets without making balls or pressing them down.
- I ended up using a blending to mix the shortening mixture and blended the entire mixture just a little. Then I used a spoon the rest of the time.
- this recipe made over 40 cookies for me! And some cookies were very large too!!
- the batter tastes yucky before being baked... this made me really nervous! But 2 different non-gluten-free people said they were super yummy once baked... and of course, I agreed!

I will have to actually sit and write more about our trip sometime soon. It was so great, and I won't forget about it for a LONG time :) Here are a few fun pics from the trip... enjoy!

I've never been a huge fan of Halloween. When we were REALLY little, my parents let us trick or treat for a couple years. Then, for a few years we didn't, then, we did again a few years after that. I think some of the pressure of public school may have been an issue? I don't know about now, but back when I was in grade school, the entire school did a whole "Halloween Day" where all the classrooms paraded through the other classrooms, had candy, played games... it was quite the ordeal.

Anyway, I'm writing to just kind of put this thought out there. I don't get the point of Halloween! I mean, I've read stuff on where it originated from, what it first meant to those who started it and I do realize that for most Americans, it's just a fun thing. What I don't really get is why we do it. Why? Christians especially, why? What's the point? Just to have fun? Okay, I can see that a little bit. Free candy, family time, artistic expression, meeting neighbors and of course, getting your little kiddos all dressed up. Sure, good points, all of them.

I just fail to see how Halloween, albeit super-far removed from the old Celtic beliefs and practices, is something we should encourage or give so little thought to. Maybe more people think hard about this issue/Holiday than I realize... if so, no one has said a single thing to me. I mean, don't we (as Christians) get on other people's cases during Thanksgiving and ESPECIALLY Christmas about staying true to what these Holidays are based on? Last year, our church showed the Advent Conspiracy video and encouraged us to think about how we have just gone along with the flow of what Christmas has become for godless Americans. Yet, at Halloween, we hand out candy, are encouraged to dress up our children and participate in a holiday that is far removed from its origins (and thankfully so) but not a single thought-provoking word is given about what this looks like?? Weird, just weird.

I find myself tempted to just give in, after all, it's all in the name of family fun and adventure... seems harmless enough. My kids would be SO cute dressed up as little animals or something creative! I feel the pressure to do something I don't even want to do and that people wouldn't give me any crap about. I realized last night that if I can give in to something for such shallow reasons, there are likely other things in my life I might give in to for reasons that seem really good or will gratify other deeper longings. I don't know, I don't have a good example really... I'm just pondering. How can we so easily fall into doing things for the sake of doing? For the sake of fun? I am serious here, if you have some good reasons or good insights, just share them with me! Publicly or privately is fine.

All I know, is that I want my energies to be spent on reaching the lost and helping other Christians continue in the faith, not just doing what everyone else does so that I can have some fun too. I don't think that all my Christian friends who dress up their children are terrible people. I do think that we don't think (or talk) about this stuff. How many regular "rituals" do we have that are mostly purposeless and are completely molded in with this tainted world? Halloween was based on fear, based on warding off evil spirits... things which we know as Christians have ZERO power over us when we proclaim Jesus' name. So for me, I just don't get the point. Unless God truly changes my heart on this, we'll spend every Halloween enjoying company together as a family (at home, at the mall, wherever) encouraging one another while it is still called today. Because the less we think about what we are purposefully doing for God's kingdom,  the less we are going to be doing it. And really, when Christ comes, I don't want to be trick or treating, or watching movies, or whining or doing my hair (maybe I won't be able to help that one)... I want to be pursuing Him and at this point in my life, I have trouble seeing how Halloween fits in with that.


If you want to see a good overview of Halloween's history, here's a good link...
http://www.history.com/topics/halloween