| Ratatouille |

I have a rustic pleasure that you are gonna L-O-V-E.
If you aren't licking the pan clean, then please call me over and I'll do it for you.
Plant-based and family-friendly, ladies and gentlemen, I give you...

RATATOUILLE

1 eggplant
1 red onion
2 yellow squash
3 small zucchini
10 cloves of garlic
1 28oz. can of salted plum tomatoes
(I used Trader Joe's brand with basil)
1 1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
extra virgin olive oil for sauteing/baking
sea salt + pepper to your liking

Coat the bottom of a 5qt. Dutch Oven with olive oil and add 8 cloves of finely chopped garlic.
Saute on medium heat until slightly browned and aromatic.

In blender, puree the canned tomatoes and add to the pan of garlic. Add 1 tsp. dried
basil, 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, and enough sea salt and pepper to your preference.
Let simmer on low for 10-15 min.

While your tomatoes and garlic are getting married, thinly slice the eggplant, onion,
squash, and zucchini. THINK THIN. Layer the slices, alternating vegetables, in a circular
direction right in the tomato sauce that should be hot and bubbly in your Dutch Oven.



Lightly drizzle olive oil over the top of your Italian masterpiece and
sprinkle on the remaining 1/2 tsp. of dried basil and 2 cloves of chopped garlic.

The tricky part: cover with aluminum foil that fits the INSIDE of the pan - allowing the foil
to rest directly on top of the veggies. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Remove cover for the
final 15 minutes of baking to allow the veggies to crisp a little. Serves 4... or more if served with pasta!

We skipped using classic thyme in our batch of ratatouille simply because we don't like it.
Feel free to add thyme or fresh basil... oregano... go crazy!!! It'll be GONE regardless.
I've never wanted to frame a food picture before this. My Dutch Oven has never looked so elegant!



This recipe was actually inspired by my husband's cousin, Joy!!!
She and her beautiful family have been on their own journey to clean eating
and some of her story is being shared here today!



Q: What was the driving force behind your diet change?
A: Over the holidays I was feeling depressed, down, and not excited about anything.
I had a very close friend tell me I should look into anti-depression medication; she uses it and it helps!
After talking with her, my heart was heavy.

I kept thinking: "I'm 33, there has to be something more I can do before I resort to medication."
I felt God was leading me to search for something better. From there I had several people in my life,
including you, share stories of how food drastically changed some serious health issues in their lives.
So I started researching...

Q: What is your point of view concerning food/diet today and what
changes has it brought to your family, health?
A: I want to be eating things that are healthy for me and my family. I want a balance.
We have become vegan for the most part, but on rare occasions we will eat things that have dairy in it
just because we are in a position where we don't have a choice.

As for how it's changed our health and family: I have noticed that I am not as moody as I used to be -
especially the week before my period! My husband was the first to notice that! Ha go figure!
But I was thankful for that change. I have more clarity and I feel like I am closer to God as I see
Him work in my life in areas I so desperately wanted and needed Him to change. I struggled with
losing my anger with my kids so fast. I feel today (3 months into our diet change) that I can feel and see
myself be slower. Don't get me wrong there are those days that no matter what I do, they push me beyond.
But I have noticed a huge difference since the change.

Q: What advice would you give to others who want to tip-toe into a plant-based/whole foods lifestyle?
A: I would suggest just start by taking out something easy... like crackers! That's where
it started with us. My kids love crackers and anything crunchy!! Instead I started giving them more
fruit and veggies. And I started baking more things instead of buying all the processed foods.

Take one night a week and try a vegan/whole foods meal. If you have kids, try to come up with things you
know they already like and tweak it. My oldest, who is 8, gave us a hard time in the beginning - not willing
to try or she would complain. But now she is eating what we give her and is loving it. We actually will catch
her telling someone how we are vegan and how we make some of the yummiest foods. It blows my mind that
my kids now eat so many different veggies and they love it!! If anything - I have taught them how to eat
healthy even if they indulge in some meat and sugar from time to time with there grandparents.

Q: Favorite resource for clean recipes?
A: I don't know that I have a favorite resource! I just try to give a vegan spin to our favorites.
So I usually will just Google "vegan" (whatever I'm looking for).

Always always always makes my heart happy to hear that others are being
healed and transformed by the food they are putting into their bodies!
Thankful for Joy and the testimony she was willing to share to inspire us all.

Now, go dress up your Dutch Oven and make some ratatouille!

Pushing Pause

With my world spinning faster than ever before,I find myself pawing for the pause button.
Just a few more moments of being hand-in-hand with my baby, singing songs before
bedtime, or laughing our hearts out as the day goes by... please?



I don't want to blink and miss the first time my child pets a wild turtle or
experiences the magic of the merry-go-round. I don't want to find myself wishing
to rewind so that I can do it all over again and be a master mother of the present moment.


More often than ever before, I find myself putting things on hold - turning offmy phone - unplugging - disconnecting - so that I can tune-in and enjoy the connectiona parent is privileged to share with their child.
These days are too precious to sacrifice to the god of social media.
Capturing a moment for Instagram or tweeting about the latest riot act in my familymeans nothing if all I do is document the event for the online journal of world history.Pushing pause and reveling in the scene, the words, the exchange, the smiles is what it is all about.So what - Facebook remembers my special day? If my heart and mind forget - then I have lost.
So I'll take it with balance. I can feel a tug on my heart when it is time to turn myface from the world for the day. The Lily Field has an online presence here on the internet,but so much more is taking place behind the scenes, in the field of our home and family.My husband and children are my best gifts this side of Heaven.I cannot breathe in enough of their goodness!
Hoping to always share glimpses of our story with you without forgettingto pause and print the sweet chapters on my heart.
When's the last time you pushed pauseand lived like a kid again?

You're Ruining My Life

Maybe you've seen these books floating around lately.... mmmmm.... mmm?! Ruining your life too?
That's complete sarcasm btw. These two, bound buddies were at the top of my reading list this summer.
Little did I know that it would start a vicious cycle of

...read a chapter + beat self up + read chapter + beat self up...

Two words: Jen. Hatmaker. What a riot! Love her satirical take on oh... EVERYTHING!
Even if you aren't all "life conscious" and wanting to start your own mutiny against
the rise of excess, you should read Seven just to LAUGH.

She pretty much takes 7 major areas of life that can use purging:
Food, Clothes, Media, Possessions, Waste, Shopping, Stress - and blows up the reality
of the situation in your face so that you cannot walk away unmoved. It is really quite pleasant.

I read the first section on food and found my passion for clean eating REKINDLED.
It'll make ya think twice about LIVING TO EAT, which is practically an Olympic sport here in America,
and inspire you to embrace an EATING TO LIVE mentality. I was moved. My family is gonna freak about
all the super healthy food I have planned for next grocery cycle. Blame, Jen, kids! Blame, Jen.




I confess: I let the water run when I brush my teeth. I apparently didn't watch enough Barney growing up...
"Oh we never let the water run! No, we never let the water run." Sorry, purple dinosaur.

I turn on the A/C in anticipation of summer, with the excuse - "we need to make sure it works!" -
and then leave it on because it is an act of charity for all who come to visit. Right.

I go through paper towels like trees are manufactured overnight.

I have an extensive wardrobe that I utilize on a daily basis -
the idea of being seen TWICE in the same outfit makes me sigh.
I am pathetic.

I drive 3 blocks to the pool because I'm too lazy to walk.

Repurpose, reuse, reduce, recycle... are pretty verbs that I don't put into action often enough.

And you should have seen me a few years ago! I was the antithesis of treading lightly.
I've come so far, but I'm telling ya, Seven has taken me DEEPER. It's crazy + scary + good.

Seven has brought the sweet winds of change. Thanks for ruining my life, Hatmaker.
She opened the window and is holding me steady as I drink in a view of the REAL world.
The American lifestyle is blinding, but I want to win this battle against excess with my own
family so that we have more room to love God - to love people.

The "out of sight - out of mind" places have been purged in our home, unnecessary items have
been donated, the meal plan has been simplified, we are walking to the pool, turning off the
A/C more often and actually enjoying the HEAT that we long for in the dead of winter!
And growing a garden has been like balm for this super-consumer's heart.




And how about Gwyneth Paltrow's new book, It's All Good?!
This has been the cream to my strawberries this summer. I read Hatmaker and was like, "Now what?"
That's when the angels descended from heaven with Gwyn's cookbook, that I am convinced was written
for me and my family... AHHHHHH! A beautiful take on clean-eating.
Page after page of recipes and pictures that make my heart sing. I am LOVING it.

So there you have it. I am thankful to those who "ruin my life" - because in the long
run, it is really making my heart more pure, my footsteps lighter, and my relationship with God
and those I love deeper than ever before.



I wish that Hatmaker and Paltrow had asked me to do a review, but they didn't.
This post is 100% my own opinion.

Childrenisms

So I thought I had an ear infection this week. That landed me in a walk-in clinic because my
general physician is out of the office until... Juuuuly?! He left his office unattended.
Still don't know what I think about that.

The friendly nurse practitioner asks the typical blah blah blah..."Any chance you might be pregnant?"
"Well, we aren't doing anything to prevent pregnancy... so it's possible?"
She quickly, but dramatically glances from Isaiah to Judah and says,
"Like you aren't already busy enough!?"
"Ya know, that's exactly it," I said without batting an eye.
*awkward laughter ensued*

She brought it upon herself. I love it when people say that the Catholic Church should stay
out of bedrooms and let the world do its sexual transactions however it pleases...
and then those SAME people turn around and start asking you all kinds of personal questions about
your family size, contraception decisions, yadda yadda... looking at you like you have antennas growing
out of your head because you say, "Well, we are open to however many children God gives us."
GAAAAASP. God?! In control? Yea. Stop looking at my antennas or I'm gonna go all Matrix style on ya.
Clearly the Catholic Church is not the problem.



In other news...

As Isaiah was barreling down the hallway on his really-too-big-for-the-house
tricycle he nearly ran over my husband...
"Excuse me, buddy."
"Yea, excuse YOU, daddy!"

I had an argument with Isaiah that went something like...
"Momma, it's an apple!"
"No, it's a mango, baby."
"No, Judah told me it's an apple."
I see where I rank. The 1 year old is the authority around here.



As Judah chased his dinner right off his plate and around the table, still learning to man
the child-size fork, I hear...
"Dwamn it."
I have no idea who taught him that.
But I hear ya, buddy. That's frustrating. I'd curse too if I had to use that little fork.

My children are fascinated with the idea of cutting down trees.
They have a crib board that they "hack down" almost every day...
"Mom, I'm going to cut down a tree."
"You'll make the Lorax come if you do that, Zay."
"Good."
"Aren't you scared of the Lorax?"
"It'll be good time, momma!"
WHAT?!

We pray before meals in these parts...
"Guys, say a prayer before you eat your lunch."
Isaiah leads: "Dear Jesus. I'm gonna eat now. Amen."
That works?

Our fish apparently requested play-doh the other day...
"Why is there play-doh in the fish bowl, dudes?!"
"He wanted to play."
"Fish don't like play-doh. It could kill him."
"He's just playing with the play-doh, mom. No dying."
Apparently I know nothing. The fish lived. Swam with the play-doh like he was in a coral reef.



Last night as I was leaving for some paid time off, my husband was headed out the door with our littles
to play. I told him...
"Babe, there is C-H-A-L-K in the bathroom closet. The kids would love that."
"We have more important things to do."
"Like what?!"
"Liiiiiike practice for the Confederations Cup (soccer)." *dead serious face*
I don't even know what to say to that. They are taking me to a whole new level
with this soccer mom business.

This is our crazy, little life and it is capital G-lorious!
Happy weekend! Soak it up!

CARS | a 3rd birthday party

Birthdays are a big deal in these parts! There is nothing like celebrating the day
your child was born into your life! So many special memories to be remembered and created...

This post is FLOODED with cute pictures. You've been warned!
Lightning McQueen is basically my third child. We couldn't have Zay's 3rd birthday without him.
CARS CARS CARS... check out our not-too-themey birthday party we threw together last week!!!

Pre-Birthday started out with a trip to the aquarium and picnic at the lake
with the g-units. That would be GODPARENTS. So thankful for all the friends and family
who make ALL our lives so lovely.







THE BIRTHDAY BOY... still can't believe it's been 3 years!!!



We just added a lot of simple, little touches to make CARS come to life for our little guy.
Hobby Lobby is your friend, parents! So many affordable options.


|| checkered flag balloon banner ($5.00/Dollar Tree) - blew up and assembled by mouth?...and hand! ||
lemonade bottles ($2.50 each/Hobby Lobby) with homemade labels ||

free CARS print-outs (c/o Google Images) || CARS stickers ($2.50/Hobby Lobby) ||
orange cones (Party City/4 for $2.99)

My sister, Isaiah's Godmother, got her craft on with these UUUUHMAZING cardboard cars!!!
She re-used old diaper boxes || fresh spray paint ||
tires were made of paper plates with velcro - for tire changes! ||
The kids loved them and were able to drive them straight through a cloth, car wash I put together...


CAR WASH: colored fabric ($8/Hobby Lobby) tied to a doll rod ($1.50/Hobby Lobby) ||
now using as a curtain overlay in the boys' bedroom!

tire inner tubes - mainly used for decoration and bouncing around ($1/Dollar Tree)


checked flag cupcake holders ($1.99/Hobby Lobby)
CARS cloth for tables ($2.99 per yard/Hobby Lobby)
WAY cheaper than buying a pre-made table cloth!!!

the littlest lady friend at the party!



Ended the day with a LIVE concert by Nathan & Son. Best concert I've ever been to.
Baby is jamming out on his new ukelele!



Thanks for coming to this virtual rendition of Isaiah's 3rd birthday party!
Sorry that virtual cake is just not as good as real-life cake.

Belly Buttons

TRUTH: 26 years old and I've never stepped outside of a dressing room in a bikini until this week.
It's not that I am uncomfortable in my skin. PROOF: I just bared a lot of stretch marked skin
at the water park... and it is the prettiest shade of Elmer's glue that you are ever gonna see.

I've talked about modesty here before. And I feel like I breached my own standards. Why? Because I am vain and want an even tan. There, I said it. And every single weekend around here it is either cloudy, raining,
or we are miles away from a pool deck. Tanning in my front lawn with my other condominium buddies just
seems... red-neck-ish?! I can't do it. So I have a bikini that I planned to wear to the pool, by myself, in a
secluded corner of the patio like the hot prude I am, for a couple hours this summer to TAN. Good story.

So because I was fed-up with not being able to lay-out, I decided to just put it on and take
the kids to the pool and pray that the sun would kiss my body a nice shade of copper penny
as I awkwardly chase a 3 and 1 year old around the kiddy play area. Who am I kidding?!

Man, I wish you could see the tan I DID get. I just showed my husband the red "splotch" on my stomach.
"HA! FAIL! Glad you got some sun, babe! Just don't show anyone else."
I said, "Yea, thanks, buddy?!" in the most sarcastic tone I could muster.

My own children made fun of me. And I"m so embarrassed from that alone that I'll probably
never wear the bikini again. They both wear those swim tops that keep them from getting sun-burned.
I turned around to find that they both had pulled them up so that their belly buttons were exposed.

"BEEEELLLLLLLY BUUUUUTTTTTOOONS!"
They kept saying it and laughing OVER and OVER and OVER again.
Then they would come over and poke my stomach. "Momma's funny! Funny belly button!"
Rip roaring laughter - falling into water - repeat.

They were drawing quite the attention and all I could do was shrug my shoulders???
"They are not my kids. I'm the nanny." *uncomfortable laughter*

Just kidding. I claim them and their fascination for exposed belly buttons.
God has a funny sense of humor don'tcha know?! Using my own children to remind
me of my own standards. You're killing me, JC!

P.S. I have no strong opinions on swimwear in general. So don't go sending me hate
mail concerning the fact that you came out of the womb in a bikini. I don't really care.
It's your body - your soul. What feels right, moral, whatever to you is your deal.
I really believe it is a matter of the heart. We ARE called to love one another...
so what does loving our brothers in Christ look like to you?

I just would advise not wearing one around my sons... because they will treat you
like the Pillsbury dough boy - poking the living daylights out of your belly button
and announcing to the entire pool audience that you have one!

Just a Bowl of Strawberries

There are no words today. My heart is exploding with so many different emotions that I don't
know where to begin. Our weekend was one of great joy and grief. My littles were so excited to be
celebrating "papa" - presents and treats... they are practically party animals! We shared
so many sweet moments together. Makes me thankful for the time we are given.

On Saturday we said a final "goodbye" to one of Nathan's best friends.
I kept telling people who asked about what happened that he lost his battle with cancer.
While sitting at his funeral I realized that this man did NOT lose his battle with
cancer, but rather he... WON. Won because he was FAITHFUL to God through it all.
NOT one trial threw him off course. He praised and loved God til the end...

AND THAT IS NOT LOSING, my friends. That is pure victory.

Life is precious, delicate - held in time by the Maker of it all.
We are not here by mistake. There is a plan, a purpose, a mission, a call
that we all must answer. And when our time is up... we just fall asleep.
The world will keep spinning, but will it spin to a different tune because
you made the difference God planned for you to make?

I feel so small sometimes. Just a girl who married a boy and had some kids.
Our life is nothing fancy, but it is heaven on earth to us. Every day I am asking
God what He wants of me - who He wants me to reach out to - who He wants me to love...
and it is in the simplest moments that I see and hear Him clearest.

I stood in a strawberry patch, in the middle of nowhere Illinois, after the funeral
and was captured by purity of the scene. Raw earth beneath our toes, country wind kissing
our faces, and family scattered around on the eager hunt for berries - harvesting LIFE that
God sent to take care of our bodies. Can it all really be this simple?

It was just a few bowls of strawberries that we gathered, but so much more was
bound up in my heart. Seize the moments to love the people in your life - and steal away together
to meet the God of the earth who will meet you one day when your turn comes to fall asleep.