Author: mamamorozov

Mom Set Free | Week 1 Day 4

Uncategorized

Happy Monday. I am grateful for a new week to begin. I want to preface this by saying that I just found this post lost in my drafts that I wrote earlier this year while my husband was still and decided to go ahead and post it just as I found it because it still has so much relevance today & speaks with honesty about my shortcomings in my heart, life, and marriage. Having clear realization of those shortcomings was a big turning point in my life and marriage. It gave me the strength to lift my husband up from his rock bottom. It gave me the mindset shift to serve my husband better, any way that I can. It made our foundation stronger in our home, marriage, and family, and continues to secure that foundation with each passing day. I am still so grateful for God opening my eyes to where I needed to improve.

I will be honest, I walked away from this Bible study for awhile as our family adjusted to our new schedule once my husband began his new job, but I’ve decided to step back in and continue where I left off. I have been in complete mourning since the assassination of Charlie Kirk this last week and, like many others, it has inspired me to lean in closer to God and fully step in to my role as a biblical, Titus 2 mother, wife, woman, teacher, and homemaker. I want to make Jesus the heart, center, & priority of our home. I want to be louder about my testimony and all of the ways the God has changed my life for the better. I want to find courage and stop silencing my own self in the false illusion of safety & comfort, and the way that I can do that is through my writing.

If you’ve been following along so far on the Mom Set Free Bible Study, welcome back for Week 1, Day 4. The first “week” is almost over, and even though it’s taken me so much longer than I originally anticipated when I decided to work through this study again, I feel like my relationship with God is the closest it has ever been. This workbook, in this season of my life, has really helped open my eyes to so much that I was needing to see. I am really grateful for that.

Recently, I realized that I wasn’t treating my husband with grace as he was taking time off work – time we agreed upon – to get to really know and build a relationship with our children and get to experience moments he had missed out on for so long in each of their lives due to work. We should have discussed a time frame in the beginning of how long he had expected/hoped for this break to be, but we didn’t. So as time went on, I began to feel the immense financial pressure build, and as more people shared their opinions with me on how they felt that my life should look, I began treating him passive-aggressively. I was not being a good partner or wife. I was not setting a good example for my children. I was seeing things only through my lens, not God’s or my husband’s. Coming to that realization was hard, but so necessary.

This week’s Bible Study questions came at exactly the time I needed them. I love when life works out like that.

What emotions does the expression “be the person you want your children to become” evoke in you?

The first time I answered this question, my answers were so different from what they are today. I had written down “Fear. Sadness. Frustration. Guilt.” I had such a low view of myself from who I was before I became a mother, and who everyone told me I was my entire life. Over the years I’ve found myself and I’ve found confidence in myself, especially as a mother and gatekeeper of my home. I can say I am proud of the person I am today. I’m not perfect, but I’m a dang good mother and love being one with all my heart. There are certainly things I’d like for my children to be better at than me, and I hope I’m giving them the tools they need in order to do that as they grow. I do my best to teach them important things like leaving the Earth better than they found it, old world skills for self-sufficiency, to always give to those less fortunate, and not worship material items or outside influences. I love the person I’ve intentionally become and I am no longer ashamed by that expression.

I know many moms who don’t struggle with perfectionism but still feel the pressure of our culture’s impossible standards to be close to flawless. How do you respond to that pressure? Are you more prone to try even harder, or does it make you want to just quit altogether? Explain.

I struggle with perfectionism, but I decided to walk away from our culture & society years ago. Homeschooling has been so freeing for me as a mother. We get to live our own lives – not the lives society tells us that we are supposed to. Plus the further away from it we get, the less we ever want to return.

What are the consequences of trying to be the perfect example for our kids to follow?

Constantly trying to be perfect leads to mental breakdowns, which isn’t healthy me or my kids. It also sets them up for constant failure, feeling like they can never be enough or do enough. As an adult, I still struggle with never feeling like I am enough even though I’m constantly told that “I do more than anyone I know.” I’m constantly reminding myself that it’s still not enough, it’s still not everything. I physically cannot relax because there’s always more I could be doing. It’s productive, but it’s not exactly healthy.

Read Titus 2:7. Write the verse in your own words.

Actions are everything. You must lead by example, not by words. Children don’t listen to what you have to say very well, and sometimes it doesn’t register for them until many years from the time they hear it, but they are quick to follow your actions. BE the person that you want your children to be, don’t just tell them to be it. Be intentional with your actions. Be consistent in your actions. When you know better, do better. Be a good example. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t personally be okay with your children doing too.

Read Corinthians 12:7-10. What was the affliction that Paul said was given to him?

“A thorn in my flesh.”

Rather than respond to Paul’s pleading by removing the affliction, what did God say to him? Answer by filling in the blank: “My – – is all you need. My – – works best in weakness.”

“My GRACE is sufficient for you, for my POWER is made perfect in weakness”

Share how you think you might have responded to God’s answer.

Personally, I agree with God. My husband is always so embarrassed that I share the parts of my life that he’d rather people not know about me. He tells me that it pushes others away from me and causes them to judge me. So what?! If someone cannot handle the parts of my story that have led me to become the person I am today, then they have no business being in my life to begin with. I don’t want anyone in my life who isn’t going to love me despite my shortcomings. My weaknesses show what I’ve had to overcome, they prove my strength – something I am proud of. I fully believe that God takes care of us as long as we surrender to Him and let Him lead. When I am struggling my hardest, that’s when I find myself closest to God and I am able to see the miracles that living in faith brings at the end of the tunnel.

Now let’s look at how Paul responds in verses 9-10: “So now I am glad to – – about my – -, so that the power of Christ can – -“.

I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that God’s Power may rest on me.

Why was the thorn given to Paul?

To keep Paul humble throughout his powerful spiritual experiences

And what is the opposite of pride or conceit?

Humility

Have you seen God’s grace proven all-sufficient and all-powerful in your weakness and need? If so, please explain.

Yes, more so in the last year & a half than ever. When my husband left his job I had to put all of faith into God that He would provide for our family. I had to learn how to stop being my controlling self and believing that everything was up to me and only me to solve. Time and time again when I had no idea how we were going to make it, we somehow made it, by the grace of God. There were times I woke up not knowing how I was going to come up with enough money to feed my cats and I’d make exactly enough in tips to buy a box of food down to the dollar, or the time I had no idea how I was going to afford the necessary car repairs I needed done – then God supplied us with exactly enough money through an eviction clean out selling items that I saved from going in the landfill. Strangers/angels who helped us at exactly the right times. People always tell me that I am so resourceful and they would never be able to do what I do, but what they don’t know is that I’m also not doing it – God is. God moves me like a pawn & places things in my path through manifestation. He takes care of us and provides for us on a level that cannot be explained in any other way than by His grace & miracle.

On a scale of 1-5, how free do you currently feel to be honest with your children about your weaknesses?

5. I am not ashamed to share my weaknesses with my children. I am, however, ashamed to show my children my weaknesses at times. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and over-stimulated and I behave in a way that isn’t beautiful. I’ll raise my voice, I’ll behave in a passive-aggressive manner, especially towards my husband. Those aren’t things I am proud of, but I’m human, and therefore I’m flawed. I apologize and make sure they know that my behavior is a reflection of me, not them and assure them that nothing they could ever do will ever stop me from loving them and enjoying them. I believe that sharing my experiences with them, both good and bad, is important. They know they aren’t alone in their struggles. We have incorporated a very strong sense of family in our children and it is extremely important to me that they know how strong our family support is, that any time they are struggling, big or small, there will always be one of us waiting and ready to take the torch from them when they need it.

What has prevented you from feeling free to be honest? Or, what has enabled you to be honest?

Absolutely nothing has prevented me from being honest with my children at home. I feel that with my oldest, I do not have that same bond. I have never been given a say in his life about anything other than giving him life itself – something I fiercely fought for when everyone around me tried to force me to have an abortion, even threatened against my will. I was instructed to lie to my son on several occasions, mostly regarding his father and his living arrangements. I have been left out of all important life decisions – decisions having been made for him that I would have never allowed. I’ve never felt that I had any right to be his mother, only some screwed-up version of an older sister. I feel like I can’t be myself or share any sort of beliefs with him because my values & my beliefs are the exact opposite of my mother. She presses her values on him, while actively bashing mine without even realizing it. I feel forced into silence with him.

What are some ways your life can demonstrate to your children that you are deeply grateful for how God’s grace is sufficient for you?

Continue to teach and show them how to take care of God’s creation, continue to praise God for all the ways He loves and provides for us while continually pointing out the every day miracles he blesses us with. One of our favorite daily activities is going around the Dinner table each naming one thing we are thankful for that day. It’s easy to recite a simple mindless prayer, but to really put thought into it is really special and I believe teaches them how to always look for the good even in the bad. We could be having the worst possible day, but there’s always something to be grateful for. Continue to show them to keep going even through the hard times and to find strength in God.

How is striving to be a flawless example different than seeking to live in pursuit of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit?

I think that the difference is living by what you view as a flawless example vs what God sees as a flawless example. God writes out very clear instructions in how to follow him to His standard, yet today’s society tells us the opposite. When you strive to chase society’s “flawless example,” you lose yourself and lose sight of the example that God wants you to be. You set your sights on human standards and humans are anything but flawless. God knows we aren’t perfect and doesn’t expect us to be, that is why he is ready and waiting with grace.

Who is the ultimate example that both Paul and the people of God should have followed?

Jesus.

Close with prayer. Write your own prayer of gratitude below.

Creator, I thank you for all that you do to watch over us and all of your creation that you have so generously shared with us. Thank you for being my strength and believing in me when no one else did. Thank you for the wonderful children that you have entrusted to me, please continue to provide me with the strength and wisdom to raise them in your image. Protect them from those who cause harm and stay near them in hardship and fill their hearts with peace. Amen.

Additional prayer: Please pray for Erika Kirk and her children and his parents to give them strength, guidance, comfort, and light through the darkest season of their lives and continue to watch over them for the rest of their lives. Pray for those in attendance who were traumatized. Pray for Iryna Zarutska, who also lost her innocent life last week to a tragic murder, whose death was unfortunately overshadowed & deserved so much more attention. Pray for America, and the world as a whole.

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Grace Girls | Loom Knitting 🧶 + Resources For Moms

Motherhood, The Story of Me, Uncategorized

We (the girls) recently learned a new skill at Grace Girls: Loom Knitting.

I had actually learned this skill many years ago during my first trip to rehab at Timberline Knolls before I had any of my babies (my oldest will be 15 in a few months!). Timberline Knolls was such a beautiful resort of a treatment center that I absolutely took for granted, knowing what I know now. I did, however, pick up some great life skills there and I learned a lot of valuable tools regarding addiction & mental health that I still carry with me today. (Plus, fun fact, I was there at the same time as celebrity, Demi Levato. I didn’t get to meet her as she was kept privately in one of the halfway houses, away from us regular folks 😂, but it was still a big deal around the center at the time.)

This was a skill that was still a little too challenging for my younger girls. Mia wasn’t interested from the start and asked to stay home. Ella got it down pretty well, though.

Each girl was given a baggie filled with a tiny size loom, a ball of yarn, a hook, and a large sewing needle. Our project that we were focusing on knitting was hats for newborn babies for the Pro-Life Organization: Life Forward.

This is a cause that is near & dear to my heart and it might be important that I add a *trigger warning* here.

When I was 18 (almost 19) years old, I became pregnant with my oldest son. I was freshly home from my first trip to rehab, not even 45 days sober. Every single person in my life at that time tried their hardest to force me to abort my child. I was threatened with homelessness. I was threatened to be strapped down to a table against my will while an unwanted abortion was performed on me. I was taken to Planned Parenthood. I signed the papers even though I absolutely did not want to go through with it. I was taken to the back room, alone, and shown a video. I spoke with a counselor. I broke down in tears saying there was absolutely no way I could go through with this, it isn’t what I wanted or believed in, and they helped me.

They helped me say no. They helped me find a voice for my child, and myself. They helped point me in the direction of free parenting classes, where I found an organization called Healthy Moms & Babes, who help young mothers who have decided to keep their babies but don’t know what to do next. They provided me with services, classes, and a small basket of free baby items & coupons when I graduated their program. They helped me understand my next steps in finding prenatal care. They provided me with resources.

These organizations are exactly the safe spaces young mothers need who otherwise wouldn’t have any other support in their decision to keep their baby. Without their help & support, I could have been pressured into making a decision I absolutely did not want to make for myself or my child that I would have regretted every day of the rest of my life because I was young, afraid, newly sober, and alone. I didn’t know I had options – up until that point I had been told abortion was my only one.

I am so proud to be contributing as a family to this cause, even if it is something small. There is a baby out there who will be blessed to GET the chance to wear these hats, who might have otherwise missed out on life without the support of these organizations. I am proud to teach my girls to stand against the crowd and be a voice for the literal voiceless, now more than ever, in a world where women are seriously obsessed with getting abortions.

We’ll be working on finishing our newborn hats and will be returning them at our next Grace Girls meeting, along with our baby bottle bank that we are collecting loose change in for Life Forward.

More Organizations For Mothers

Diapers, Clothing, + Other Basic Needs

Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank

Baby Basics – Cincinnati

Baby Bear

Give Like a Mother

The Cloth Option

Housing

Cincinnati Scholar House

Rosemary’s Babies

Mater Filius

Home For Life

Lydia’s House

Madonna House

Food

WIC

EBT

Food Banks

General Support

A Caring Place

MomsHope

Pathway to Hope

Pregnancy Center West

Head Start’s Pregnant Mom Program

Moms in Recovery

First Step Home

The Source

HOPE Program

Brigid’s Path

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Lil Sprouts | Birds 🐦

homeschool, Motherhood, Uncategorized

We started off our week with a homeschool field trip at Civic Garden Center for their Lil Sprouts program.

This is a FREE group that meets every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 9 – 10:30 am, designed for children ages 3-8. Each meeting includes different themes and activities. This week’s theme was birds.

First, we made Nesting Balls for the birds who are beginning to return from their winter migration as the seasons are preparing to swift. These balls are meant to be hung outside for birds to use the organic materials to build their nest.

There was a table set up with the materials we could use to make our balls. All material were organic and safe for the birds. The girls used a lot of moss, alpaca fur, and twigs.

Don’t mind the “temporary” tattoos that just won’t wash off 😅

We took the materials back to our table and made our balls. I love how they turned out! And they will be perfect to hang near the birdhouses the girls have all been working on over the winter. We hope that the birds love them too!

After we made our Nesting Balls, we listened to the story The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle. Then we went outside for a group Nature Hike to listen & watch for birds with binoculars. We used the Merlin App on our phones which luckily all participating families already had downloaded!

Sasha had the great idea of looking on the cable wires near the main road to see birds. She said she thought of that because that is where all the birds always are. We were able to spot an American Robin because of her idea! We also heard a Cardinal – our state bird – but we didn’t see it.

We were really excited to see flowers beginning to bloom. We named different flowers that we saw – at least 4 different kinds! We were particularly excited about the abundance of Crocus! We also checked on the tree sap collected in buckets through a tap that they set up in a past Lil Sprouts meeting. We got the taste the fresh sap which surprisingly had very little flavor prior to being boiled.

We finished our hike and headed back to the classroom to close out our meeting. I am so glad that we found this place! Sasha has already asked to begin regularly attending the Lil Sprouts classes and Moses said he wanted to come to our next meeting as well. I’m excited to find out what the next theme will be!

The Civic Garden Center also offers a variety of really neat & useful classes for both adults and families. There is also a super cute gift shop with all kinds of items for your gardening needs! I’m really glad that we found this place & am excited to incorporate it into our regular homeschool schedule!

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Meal Plan For This Week

Uncategorized

I hope that you are starting out your week with a great Monday!

Even though I didn’t do a good job updating our meal plan the last two weeks on here, I did do a good job sticking to it in person. We didn’t have to carry over any meals this week and we didn’t have an excess amount of Leftovers so I’m still considering it a win.

We pretty much lived out of our Pantry & freezers this month. I’m still on a mission to use up what we have, and still have quite a ways to go. I’m trying to make this an even bigger priority now as we plan to have our food benefits greatly reduced if not completely revoked in the next coming weeks. It will be nice to give myself a little cushion as we transition into our new budget.

MONDAY

AM: Cinnamon Swirl Sheet Pan Pancakes

PM: Black Bean Soup with Home Baked Sourdough Bread

TUESDAY

AM: Biscuits & Gravy

PM: Homemade Gnocchi with Sauce

WEDNESDAY

AM: Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

PM: Ham & Scalloped Potatoes with Baked Carrot Fries

THURSDAY

AM: French Toast Bake

PM: Forget it Pot Roast

FRIDAY

AM: Lemon Poppyseed Waffles with Blueberry Compote

PM: Homemade Pizza

Hope you got some inspiration for your weekly meal plan too!

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Grace Girls | How to Build a Birdhouse 🐦

Motherhood, Uncategorized

It’s been awhile since we last had a Grace Girls meeting! We had a long winter break and then we ended up having to unfortunately miss the first meeting of the year: Responding to a Medical Emergency. I was really looking forward to that one too.

This time, the youngest girls and I went to the meeting together. The older girls have already built a Birdhouse, so I decided to give the younger ones a turn. I’m really glad that I did this. I think it minimized arguments between the girls. Taking turns was much easier with 2 girls than 4, especially on such a small project.

Our friend, Mrs. Liz, led this project and was so kind to put little kits together for each family using cedar wood that came from her family’s personal scrap lumber inventory. Each kit included instructions as well as pre-cut wood pieces labeled where to place them, small pre-drilled holes for the girls to know where to place their nails, and a little perch. Each family was also given a piece of scrap wood to hammer on, wood glue, and sanding paper to use.

Sasha took our kit apart and laid out the pieces. The girls and I took turns sanding pieces of wood.

Then we were ready to begin assembling our Birdhouse. Athena was really excited to get to use a hammer.

After a couple bent nails, we got our rhythm down. We found it easier if I started the nails just a little, and they took turns hammering each one down. I reminded them that Dad taught us to always attach pieces diagonally for stability.

Once the bottom and sides were together, it was time to attach the roof and add the perch using the wood glue.

Then they had a finished Birdhouse! 🐦 They were really proud of their Birdhouse and I was very proud of their hard work and ability to take turns & work together. I love the way it looks! I think it’s so adorable!

I can’t wait to find the perfect spot outside to get it hung up in time for Spring!

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Mom Set Free | Week 1 Day 3

Motherhood, Uncategorized

Welcome back to another week of working through the Mom Set Free Bible Study. I’ve gotten so far behind in basically everything since the beginning of December. I thought January would allow me to catch up & return to slower living, but it’s been somehow ended up just as busy for me as I’ve been working an almost full time schedule again. Fingers crossed for February! This chapter went deep and with how busy I’ve been I decided to take my time and not to rush it just to get through it “on time.”

I feel like this week’s challenge really helped me to open my eyes and come to terms with certain things.

Read Ephesians 1:17-19

Paul prayed that God would give “The Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that,” we may: know Him better.

What 3 things did Paul pray for the Ephesians to know in verses 18-19?

  1. The HOPE to which He has called you
  2. The RICHES of His glorious inheritance
  3. His incomparably great POWER

How have you tended to think about God’s sovereignty? How has your understanding of God’s sovereignty impacted the way you parent?

Truthfully, I haven’t been living with this in mind and that feels really difficult to admit for some reason. I have not been putting God first. I think that it has impacted me negatively. I have been leading by my example and not by God’s. I need to do a better job in this area.

Look up the following verses, and note what they have to say about God’s power.

I was planned by God and given a plan to follow out long before I was Earth-side.

I may make the plans for my life based on what matters to me, but the plans are by God’s design. He is leading me down the paths I need to go down. My passions and interests are not random, they were chosen by His plan for my purpose.

I am human and it is easy for me to get lost in the way that I think I should live my life instead of living the life that God has designed for me. His plan for me is far greater than anything I could come up with on my own. Every single step in life is part of His plan and is all working together for His greater good. I need to stop looking at God based on my level, because he is not on my level – He is far beyond anything I could imagine.

When He created the world, He created me too. I was designed for great things because of Him, because He sees me as a necessary part of his overall plan for the world.

He is everything. The before, the during, and the after.

Read Matthew 7:9-11

Sometimes we view God as someone who wants to take things away from us. How does this passage refute that lie?

I don’t think he wants to take things away from us, but sometimes what we think that we want for ourselves isn’t what is actually best for us. God knows what is best for us and wants the best for us. He wants to answer our prayers, but we have to ask. We are imperfect parents, but still wish to give our children the best. God who is perfect wants to and has the ability to give even bigger and better gifts than us, but that doesn’t mean giving in to our selfish, materialistic desires.

Over the past year & a half that my husband has been off work, God has shown me time & time again that He will provide. He will take care of us as His children. You have to be willing to surrender though. You have to truly put your faith in Him and believe in your heart that it not only could happen, but will happen – that at the end of the day, everything will be okay. While this year has been a struggle, it has also provided us with many blessings & gifts.

How can we apply this truth to our children?

Know that even when I feel that I can’t provide for my children, that God will help make it happen because he too wants what is best for my (His) children and doesn’t want to see us struggle or fail.

Read Roman’s 8:32

What does this verse reveal about God’s ability to understand the sadness, grief, and even anguish that we experience as parents?

Even as parents, we have to do things that we don’t want to do or have to endure battles that we didn’t see as part of our plan. I think there’s a little bit of comfort in knowing that God too had to give up his son, like I did. It wasn’t part of my plan. It wasn’t how I wanted things to be. He knows how sad I feel over it. He knows how heavy this burden is to carry with me every day, every year. He understands how I feel, when no one else can. God has other plans and even though I don’t know why yet, I have to trust that it is greater than what I want. I need to stop believing that it’s because I am not worthy or good enough, but because God has bigger plans.

What are some of the battles you are facing alongside your children right now that you desperately wish you could fix or control?

As a family, we are fighting a financial battle while my husband is not working. We are facing family drama that has led to a lot of estrangement, and I feel stuck in the middle. As a mother, I’m fighting a battle to be heard and obeyed. I am struggling with being the homemaker, homeschooler, AND worker. I want to come back home where I am most needed and useful, where my children need me. Personal struggles at home. I’m struggling a lot with the situation with my son living with my parents, which effects all my children: one misses out on the amazing experience of growing up with a big family, something I dreamed of as an only child, the rest have to miss out on knowing their brother, and miss out on many experiences that he is presented with as an only child. It breaks my heart that Moses gets sad when I call Kaden my son too, because he truly doesn’t understand.

How do these verses encourage you to breathe hope into those situations?

I am hopeful things are the way they are because something bigger & more beautiful will come from it and that I will be lucky enough to get to see the plan unfold Earth side. Although in my experience, I also know that sometimes pieces of the plan don’t come together without loss, and there is a chance, and fact, that some parts won’t be answered until long after I’m gone. The same way I came long my бабуся left Earth side, but with an important purpose of bridging the gap between the old generation and the new to keep our heritage alive. Or the way Kaden was reconnected with his dad’s side of his family after his dad passed. Parts of my grandchildren’s stories and their children’s stories are already being written today, with each step we take. I just have to keep hope that I’ll get to see as much of God’s plan as possible.

Read Chronicles 20:1-12

How did Jehoshaphat prepare for battle in verse 3?

Seek the Lord

Now record how Jehoshaphat ended his prayer to the Lord in verse 12.

“Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.”

How would this mind-set impact your daily parenting?

When I don’t know what to do, look to God. When the kids aren’t listening or obeying, fighting with each other, look to God. When I feel like I’m failing and I can’t do anything right, look to God. When I feel like I’m both completely outnumbered and all alone, look to God.

Ponder your response to that invitation.

On a scale of 1-5, how difficult is it for you to trust God?:

I’m not sure I can scale that. The closer that I am to Him the more I trust Him, but when I get away from him, so does the trust. I have definitely noticed myself getting further and further since beginning my job. I know I don’t put enough trust in God. I divide between others – the universe, my ancestors... but he even begins his prayer “Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven, and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations?” He is the ruler of all kingdoms & my ancestors. I don’t need to split up who to thank. He covers all.

What stories from Scripture, your life, or the lives of those around you that God, not you, is the One holding all things together and can be trusted with your children?

I cannot think of specific stories off of the top of my head, but I know God can be trusted with my children because they are His children first.

Close with prayer

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Ohio Harvest of the Month

Uncategorized

Ohio has launched a really neat statewide campaign that teaches children about different Ohio-grown produce to encourage healthy eating habits for kids and spark interest and curiosity in trying new foods. I love this & am SO glad to see this happening! I strongly believe that picky eating is taught/encouraged and honestly believe American adults could benefit from this valuable information as much, if not more than children, as the beings responsible for feeding the children & shaping their views around food.

Sasha circa 2021

It literally BLOWS my mind that at least HALF of American Children do not eat at least one vegetable a day 🤯. At least HALF!!!! I can very proudly say that my family does NOT fit into that statistic. We love our veggies over here. Any form, any time – day or night.

We ❤ Eating the Rainbow 🌈

I love this idea so much that I decided that we are going to add this to our homeschool as well! It fits right in between our Botany courses & Culinary courses. I’m a bit late for January, but I’ll still try to work it in there for us somehow. This will be a great way to incorporate some more food field trips, especially in the warmer months when we are able to visit local farms & farmers markets! It will also be a fantastic way to focus on adding a few new veggies to our own mini-homestead stead that we don’t already have! I also think it will be fun having a monthly produce theme/challenge to plan meals around, incorporating them as much as possible in creative ways as not to get bored!

Credit: Ohio Department of Education

I really look forward to sharing with you our Ohio Harvest of the Month unit studies we do each month & recipes we come up with (beginning with February)! I hope you will find inspiration in sharing healthy eating habits within your home & join the challenge with us!

Also, a reminder that families who recieve EBT benefits are able to get matched $1 for $1 on fresh produce at local participating Farmers Markets.

For families living in the Cincinnati area that do not have access to reliable transportation or healthy foods, but want to buy fresh produce, check out the Grocery Store on Wheels: Healthy Harvest Mobile Market. You can find their up-to-date location schedule & produce list on the website. Everyone is welcome & Produce Perks is offered.

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

This Week’s Meals 🍽

Uncategorized

Happy Sunday! A new week is beginning tomorrow which is always my favorite. It’s a chance to start fresh! Leave the worries of last week behind and try again at accomplishing tasks that you didn’t get around to.

Last week, we had way more Leftovers than I anticipated and I ended up needing to skip over the Lasanga Soup to eat up what we already cooked, so I rolled it over as the first meal of the week since I already purchased all of the ingredients last week and do not want them going to waste. Plus, it’s one of the recipes that I’m really looking forward to trying!

I’m trying to keep the budget low this week and continue using what’s already in stock in our home. I tried to keep it simple (for me) so that I would be less overwhelmed and have more time to focus on my family. Sasha is turning 7 on Thursday, and at the time of writing this I haven’t spoken with her about what she would like to eat for her birthday dinner, so I’m leaving that evening open.

👩🏼‍🍳 Monday

AM: Orange Cinnamon Sourdough Rolls

PM: Crockpot Lasagna Soup, with Ceaser Salad + Chocolate Chess Pie

👩🏼‍🍳 Tuesday

AM: Fruit Pizza

PM: Asian Meatballs, served over White Rice with Broccoli

👩🏼‍🍳 Wednesday

AM: Cream Cheese Scrambled Eggs with Buttered Toast

PM: Vegetable Pot Pie with Ceaser Salad + Pecan Pie Bites

👩🏼‍🍳 Thursday

AM: Birthday Waffles 🥳

PM: To Be Determined… + Birthday cake 🥳

👩🏼‍🍳 Friday

AM: Apple Crisp with Greek Yogurt

PM: Swedish Meatballs served over Mashed Potatoes with Green Beans & Cranberry Jelly.

Lately, it seems like all I’ve had time to write is my family’s weekly meal plan 🙁. I really want to change that and make writing more of a priority this year.

♡ What are some posts you’d like to see from me this year? How can I best help you? (Examples: Low-Budget Living, Homeschooling, Homemaking, Homesteading, DIY Projects, Addiction, Reintegration, Recipes, Resources, Motherhood, etc.)

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

Silk Road Supper (with Recipes) + A Field Trip to Jungle Jims

homeschool, Motherhood, Recipes, Uncategorized

In our History course, we are currently learning about The Silk Road. This week’s assignment is making a Silk Road Supper.

We were given 4 courses (appetizer, main dish, side item, and dessert), Ella & Mia each chose two courses that they were going to be responsible for. I also chose 2 of my own to contribute to our feast. Ella chose a main & side, Mia chose the appetizer & dessert. They prepared their grocery lists by writing down the ingredients from each recipe that we needed to buy, leaving out the items that we already have.

Our next step was to go on a field trip to the grocery store and learn where the ingredients that we needed were sourced from, then buy the items that we need for our supper. We are fortunate to live where there is not only one Jungle Jims, but two, and either one a 20 minute drive for us. We decided that was the perfect store for this assignment.

For my friends outside Ohio, Jungle Jims is an International Grocery Supermarket. It’s sort of like an amusement park, but for foodies. It’s currently listed as the largest grocery store in the world. People travel from all over the country to visit this market.

You can shop international products by country. You can watch old-time animatronics perform or join eating contests. You can hang out at the lounge for beer & wine testing, or check out a cooking class at The Cooking School. Visit their Award Winning Restrooms. Watch the Jungle Jims Story in the theater or take a guided tour.

There is nearly every type of food you can think of from all over the world. It’s really fun to find new things to try that you otherwise would never know even existed.

It really is such an interesting place. If it’s your first time going, plan on spending at least half of your day there, if not more. It’s very easy to overspend though, so we try not to spend too much time browsing when we go. There’s a huge shopping area for kitchen tools & accessories, and a giant old school toy section filled with toys from my childhood & collectors items.

The surrounding Plaza around Jungle Jims has plenty of food options if you’ve made yourself hungry while shopping and want to grab a bite to eat on your way home. Don’t leave without checking out the renovated Monorail that once upon a time in Cincinnati history rode guests through King’s Island’s now-retired Lion Country Safari exhibit.

They are currently expanding the jungle, and I’m sure, surrounding Plaza as well. I’m so excited to see what all is added!

A Silk Road Supper

• APPETIZER: Bruschetta al Pomodoro • (Mia)

I feel like this was a strange dish to be included in a Silk Road Supper, considering tomatoes are native to the Americas & did not reach Italy until the mid-1500s… after the Silk Road had already closed nearly 100 years prior… but we’re all about celebrating other cultures so we kept it on the menu 🤷🏼‍♀️. It was delicious though, so we’re glad we did!

• MAIN DISH: Middle Eastern Market Chicken • (Ella)

I forgot to get a picture of the finished dish, or of what it looked like packed inside a pita wrap – we were all so hungry by the time dinner was served. Ella made a rotisserie chicken in the crockpot. She’s getting really comfortable working with meat.

I made a Ready to Cook vegetarian legume “chicken” for myself. I don’t usually buy these products, but I wanted to try to get as close to the menu as possible for myself and I’m glad I did. It was so delicious.

• SIDE ITEM #1: Gan Bian Si Ji Dou • (Ella)

Ella chose to use ground turkey for this recipe. I think we would remake, omitting the meat all together. We substituted regular rice wine because I could get it at my work with my discount. Dad got to drink the rest. He said it tastes like if vodka & wine had a baby.

• SIDE ITEM #2: Biryani Rice • (Mom)

This ended up being Sasha’s Favorite dish. I’ve never had it so I have nothing to compare to. My husband said it tasted “Middle Eastern.” I think that means it turned out right? It was what I was aiming for. I thought it was good, and had the most pleasant aroma. I caramelized the onions all day (10 hours) in a crockpot and I feel that they still never got very caramelized. They smelled amazing while they cooked, though.

• DESSERT: Sakkarai Pongal • (Mia)

I liked this a lot. It sort of reminded me of Ukrainian Kutya, but thinner. The kids were disappointed, they thought it tasted more like Oatmeal than pudding and saw this as more of a breakfast option than a dessert option. I could see that. I did have some with breakfast the next morning and can confirm, it’s awesome for breakfast.

• BEVERAGE: • Ukrainian Kompot (Mom)

My reason for choosing this (besides that it is so delicious) is that the Silk Road branched off to the Black Sea, off the coast of Ukraine, which has always been a vital trading route, even today. China has been working on re-opening the Modern Silk Road that Ukraine aims to be a destination on for trade. Ukraine’s land is known to be the most furtile in the world and is known to be The Bread Basket of The World from their major exportation of wheat, soy, barley, maize, and sunflowers. Plus, we’re Ukrainian and I’ll use anything as an excuse to celebrate our culture!

Kompot is so great because in the summer you can serve it cold, then in these cold, winter months you can serve it warm like tea. It’s a great way to use up fruit that is turning mushy, but not yet moldy. Instead of throwing those away, place them in a gallon-size ziplock bag in your freezer. Once you fill a bag, use it for making Kompot to cut down on food waste & enjoy a delicious fruit drink.

I hope you enjoyed our Silk Road experience as much as we did. We thought it was a lot of fun and very hands on & family-oriented which we love. I am really grateful that we were able to take a field trip to such a large international market for this project. I’m also grateful for being presented with new foods to try and having children with an adventurous & open eating palate who are always willing to try new foods with me.

Jungle Jims, circa 2021

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov

What We Are Eating This Week

Uncategorized

Thank God we are starting this week out with a freshly re-loaded EBT card. Pantry challenges are fun, but I’m grateful to be back to planning meals with a curated shopping list. It feels great restocking my kitchen & pantry. However, I am going to be more intentional with using items we have on hand while planning our weekly menus.

This week I/we have a lot going on, both in & out of the home so I decided to plan a morning meal + an evening meal. This way typically works best for us since our days are jam-packed. Lunches will consist of sandwiches or Leftovers. Fruit & veggies, cheese, and homemade baked goods will be available for snacks.

This year, I’d really like to learn how to do a better job creating & sticking to a food budget. I’d also like to learn the art of couponing, as well as canning & preparing frozen ready-made meals to have on hand. This will all be particularly useful once we lose or have our benefits reduced when my husband goes back to work.

👩🏼‍🍳 Monday

• AM: Peach Crisp with Greek Yogurt

• PM: Crockpot Vegetarian Chili, served over Cornbread Waffles

👩🏼‍🍳 Tuesday

• AM: Spinach + Cheese Breakfast Sandwich on Homemade Sourdough English Muffins

• PM: White Bean Enchiladas with homemade Tortillas

👩🏼‍🍳 Wednesday

• AM: Cream Cheese Stuffed Cinnamon French Toast with Bananas

• PM: Silk Road Supper (Can’t wait to share more about this!)

👩🏼‍🍳 Thursday

• AM: Eggs in a Crispy Saffron Rice Basket

• PM: Crockpot Lasagna Soup

👩🏼‍🍳 Friday

• AM: PB&J Overnight Oats

• PM: Dad Choice

I am leaving the weekend meals up to my husband this week.

Until next time ♡ Mama Morozov