For Such A Time As This

Have You Missed Me?

2010-11-05T17:19:00.000-05:00

Not sure if you all know this or not, but I switched from Blogger to Wordpress and have finally gotten my site up and running. I also have a new feedburner link so if you have been reading from the old link, that is why you have not seen me!

You can fill in your email address here if you want to continue keeping up with my posts! You are missing out on some great stuff over there!
www.jennifersikora.com

You May Need To Refresh Your Reader

2010-09-30T06:54:00.002-05:00

Just a note that my rss feed went on the fritz. You may need to refresh it if you have been missing my posts. Just delete the one you have and reenter it and you should be good!

Blessings!

Chocolate Chess Pie

2010-09-25T07:21:00.000-05:00

The next time you have an urge for chocolate pie, try your hand at making a Chocolate Chess Pie. It may be just a southern gal thing, but this pie is SO scrumptious!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix sugar and cocoa together. Beat the eggs then add to the cocoa mixture. Beat in the milk, butter and vanilla.
Pour mixture into 9 inch unbaked pie shell and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until set. Let cool before slicing.

50% Off Meal Plannin System!

2010-09-24T08:24:00.000-05:00

From now through September 24th,the Menu Planning Mom is offering you two different ways to save when you join Menu Planning Central. You choose from a monthly option that's 50% of the regular price or a Lifetime Membership to the meal planning system for a fraction of what it would cost you in monthly membership fees to stay a member for just a year.

ORDER NOW AND GET Half Off

You can now get Lifetime Membership Access for $100 (compared to paying $19.95 each month indefinitely). Or if you prefer a monthly membership you pay just $9.97 per month.

This membership sells like hotcakes every day for $19.95 per month ... but you can save big by getting a 50% discount for as long as you stay a member or with your lifetime membership for just $100 (with the lifetime option, you never pay another penny to stay a member).

And if the 50% off or a lifetime membership savings isn't enough cause to celebrate, The Menu Mom is also throwing in...

Eight Free Bonus Gifts Worth $178!

If these eight bonus gifts were sold separately, they'd go for over $178... but when you accept my special offer, you can have them free!

You'll get instant access to...

Bonus 1: Family Brunch Recipes - Enjoy delicious meals with the entire family on the weekend. This mini recipe book features 50 brunch recipes you are sure to love.
Bonus 2: Family Routines - I put this report together for you after realizing what difference routines can make. Give them a try and see for yourself how much smoother your day will go.
Bonus 3: Fun Foods For Kids - Featuring enough edible play-dough recipes to keep you busy for months! Along with additional lunch recipes and craft ideas your kids will go crazy for.
Bonus 4: Healthy Meals and Snacks - Make meal and snack time fast, easy and most importantly healthy.
Bonus 5: More Energy For Mom - Tips, Ideas and Strategies to help you stay energized and get even through the busiest of days.
Bonus 6: Quick and Easy Breakfasts - It's the most important meal of the day, but we often don't have enough time to fix it. These quick and easy ideas will have you fixing a good breakfast for your loved ones any day of the week.
Bonus 7: Easy Brown Bag Lunches - Kids and adults alike will love these wholesome bagged lunch ideas. We've also included plenty of recipes for you.
Bonus 8: Craft Ideas For Kids - Keep your little ones busy throughout the year with these fun and crafty projects.

ORDER NOW AND GET Half Off

Here is a video about the membership program

Out For a Sunday Afternoon Drive

2010-09-24T04:38:00.000-05:00

Whatever happened to enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive with family? We did that recently--just to stop and enjoy ourselves. Someone else seemed to be enjoying themselves a little more than the rest of us.

Gotta love those that really take to heart the idea of resting and relaxing!

Double Decker Tacos

2010-09-23T04:46:00.000-05:00

Doesn't this taco look fabulous? My whole family raved about how delicious they were.

I got my inspiration off of Food Network's show, What Would Brian Boitano Do? He had fixed Carne Asadas and had used both a soft shell and a crunchy shell. The lightbulb went off and I knew exactly what I was going to do.

To fix these tacos, you need a few things first:

These along with your chicken are the main ingredients! The other ingredients you need to make these scrumptious tacos are:

small round corn tortillas
small round flour tortillas
shredded cheese
cilantro
tomatoes
sour cream
taco sauce (if you want it on there)
avocado
oil for frying

Preparation:

The night before, prep your chicken according to the package directions on the back of the fajita seasoning and place in the fridge. It is important to use the Wal-Mart brand. It has the best flavor so far (and I have tried several kinds).
When you are ready to prepare your tacos, prepare your chicken by sauteing it until it is done and no longer pink. Set aside.
Fry as many corn tortillas as your family will need. You will use one for each taco. Fry them until they are slightly crisp but not burnt. Cover them with aluminum foil and allow them to set.
Warm as many flour tortillas as your family will want. One tortilla will be used for each taco. Wrap in aluminum foil and set aside.
Grate your cheese if you need to.
Chop your tomatoes
Chop up a little cilantro
Slice an avocado
The last step before assembly is to heat the nacho cheese sauce in a saucepan. Do not add anything to it. Just dump it in the pan and heat--trust me. It's good!

Assembly instructions:
Take a flour tortilla and smear it with some of the nacho cheese sauce. Place one crispy corn tortilla on top of that. Top those tortillas with chicken, tomato, cheese, avocado, and whatever other ingredients you want to throw on there. Right before folding it, sprinkle cilantro on top!

You have now created a double decker taco!

Another Review In the Works for CSN Stores

2010-09-22T09:53:00.000-05:00

Did you know that CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish handbags, to cookware, or even a newtwin bed set for the kids' room.

I am working on another review for the CSN Stores! I love their websites. They have so many different things to choose from and I believe that I am going to get the new stuff for Robert and Kayla's bedroom remodel from one of their stores.

Stay tuned for my review ( you know it is going to have something to do with the kitchen. . .right?)

Couponing Basics~Guest Post Dimestretcher Mom

2010-09-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to have my looooong time friend(we used to live in the same neighborhood as kids and were inseparable until about middle school), Jen (aka Dimestretcher Mom) share with you about couponing basics. I use coupons, but not like she does! She inspires me to clip more, shop more, and get stuff free--or almost free!

I asked her to share with you her couponing basics--just in case you are like me and are yearning to shop effectively and wisely with coupons. She is my Yoda! LOL

~~~~~~~

I have been couponing…oh…a gazillion years. In the past 6 or 7 years, I have gotten deeper and deeper
into it. It’s almost like a game I play with myself…how can I save more money? It’s really fun (stay
with me…it IS!!) and the bonus is, I can use the money I save for other things: to pay bills, fun money,
anything!

I will admit, starting out if you’ve never couponed is a little daunting, but hopefully, I can guide you
through. It will take time in the beginning, but after a while, it will be second nature and your shopping
trips will get shorter and shorter. There are two ways to go about it: couponing from week to week, or
stockpiling so that you can “cherry pick” (just buy sale items and necessities) most of the time.

The first thing you need to do is get an organizing system. A lot of people use zippered 3-ring binders
with baseball card pages in them. You can purchase these at Wal-Mart or Kmart. Load your pages into
your binder and label the slots how you want them. I personally use a box. It’s a plastic Rubbermaid box
about the size of a shoe box and it “locks” shut. I made dividers with large index cards and stick on tabs I
bought at Office Max. This works much better for me than a binder.

Once you have decided what system to use, labeling is important!!! The labels will keep you from being
confused and help you find your coupons easier. For example, the dividers in my box are labeled how it
made the most sense to me. I have one color tabs for food, another for health and beauty, and another
for things like kids coupons, restaurant coupons, and adult coupons (sanitary pads, clothing, etc.). Each
color is together. I started mine with food, then divided them: bread & deli, boxed helpers (includes
pastas, rices, convenience, etc), condiments and seasonings, meats, frozen, dairy & refrigerated,
beverages, snacks, cereals (includes cereal bars, etc).

The next section in my box is HBA, and I divided them: Hair, bodywashes and soaps, lotion and
deodorant, teeth, medicine. You can divide them any way you want, but do it in a way that makes sense
to you, and in a way where you won’t have to search through so many coupons just to find what you
are looking for. If you have one section for all health and beauty aids, for example, then you will have to
search through all of those things I had listed just to find your toothpaste coupon, and believe me, you
will NOT be happy.

Ok, so now you have your system and it’s labeled. What now? Collect those coupons!!!! Buy
newspapers on Sunday, ask friends and family for their coupons that they won’t be using, look on
packaging, look for “blinkies” in store (the little blinking machines in front of products in the store with
coupons for those items- don’t be afraid to take a few), look for tear pads of coupons, and print online.
Coupons.com and Smartsource.com have lots of printable coupons. Try to get multiples of coupons.
You can even try a coupon clipping service once you get used to couponing. Set up a free email account
(Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) just for couponing and newsletters, and sign up online with companies whose
products you use often. Check the email daily, because most companies you sign up with will send you
coupons in your email. WRITE those companies. Compliment their products if you love them. A lot will
send you coupons! As you get them, clip them and organize them. Be sure you go through your coupons
at the end of each month and toss the expired ones.

Now, you’re ready!!! Never EVER go to a store without your coupons!!! You never know what will
be on an unadvertised sale or clearance. The reason I get multiples is this: if something is a fantastic
price, I will stock up. I once found Olay lotion on clearance for $4 a bottle. I had a bunch of $4 coupons.
I bought every one they had. As you collect coupons a while though, you will also notice which kinds
of coupons you use more, and you will notice what companies put out the same coupons regularly.

Find out who doubles (if any) coupons in your area, as well as who lets you stack a manufacturer’s
coupon with a store coupon. (Walgreens and Target both do this.) Knowledge helps you decide who has
the best deal for you.

Don’t buy an item (unless you REALLY want to try it) JUST because you have a coupon. Make sure it’s
the best deal. If you’re going to buy bread and store brand is less than name brand with coupon, just get
store brand.

Pay attention to the wording on the coupon. Some are good for certain sizes, some will say “any”.
Sometimes a coupon that says “any” can get you a free or really cheap item if you buy the smallest.
An example is the recent $1 Gain dishwashing liquid coupons. Wal-Mart had some for $1.77 and some
for $.97. The coupon said “any” and I had several, so I was able to score several free Gain dishwashing
liquids.

Don’t be brand loyal. For some things, sure, it’s ok, but in the long run, you need to be flexible. For
example, I have a stockpile of about 3 different kinds of detergent. The reason for this is that the sale
price with coupon was too good to pass up on each kind.

Match your coupons to sales. If you HAVE to have it, buy it, or if the coupon is fantastic on a regular
priced item (like the Gain liquid) go ahead. Otherwise, wait for a sale! Most things go on sale in 12 week
rotations at least. Once it is a fabulous price, get enough to last you 12 weeks if you can. Some things
you won’t have to. Toothpaste is almost always free or cheap somewhere with coupons. The same
with shampoo, razors, etc. Cereal, snack items, etc are almost always cheapest around the time school
starts. Baking goods are almost always cheapest around Thanksgiving and Christmas. You’ll start to see
patterns.

Watch impulse buys. If it’s a good deal, go for it, but just because you have a coupon, it doesn’t mean
that’s the right time or the right STORE to use it.

Get some couponing buddies. Keep each other informed of sales and trade coupons between you. Just
because you won’t use a coupon doesn’t mean they won’t.

Take your time. If you feel rushed, you may not see a great deal. Sign up for emails from the grocery
stores in your area. They will email you flyers so you can plan part of your trip before you go. Remember
that some stores do double coupons to maximize your savings!!! For some grocery stores, such as
Kroger, you can also have coupons loaded directly to your shopper card. Check their website for details.
You can often use paper coupons with these.

Remember to give yourself time to get the hang of it. Once you start seeing the savings, you’ll be
hooked!

Jennifer is a stay at home mom to three children. You can find her blogging and sharing her deals at Dimestretcher Mom. She also has a fan page on Facebook where she shares TONS of freebies and deals! You can also look her up on Twitter.

No Dawdling Allowed~A Martha Heart Post

2010-09-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

I am guest posting again today over at A Martha Heart!

Click on over to my post, No Dawdling Allowed.

Chicken and Parmesean Noodles~Kraft Homestyle

2010-09-21T05:43:00.000-05:00

I was chosen to host the Kraft Homestyle Dinners House Party. Can you say excited???

When my box arrived, I was jumping up and down with joy, for in it was more kitchen stuff!

I got tons of stuff in my box; macaroni socks (they are the coolest. Slipper slocks with noodles on the bottom), 7 or 8 bags of homestyle noodles (these feed a family of 6 people), a new pot, a pyrex dish, and a pyrex spoonula.

So here is the recipe I fixed the first night. I made the bag of pasta the main meal by adding some cooked, chunked chicken to it.

Follow the instructions on the bag, then add the chicken, place in your dish, sprinkle the bread crumbs on top and then place in the oven. When it is done, it will look like this--YUMMY!

What have you been cooking up lately?

Through the Eyes of God~A Martha Heart

2010-09-20T07:30:00.000-05:00

I am guest posting at A Martha Heart today. Hop on over there and read my post entitled Through the Eyes of God.

Look at What I Got in the Mail!

2010-09-20T05:05:00.001-05:00

My swap partner, Angela, sent me some wonderful goodies in the mail last week! I got:

~Rachel Ray cooking magazine
~new sharpies
~post it tags
~Skittles
~Little clippies that I am going to use for scrapbooking
~two packs of scrapbooking stickers
~Some more white out

(Angela, your box is on its way. There was a delay over the weekend)

I love swapping with other ladies. If you want to join the swap, you can subscribe to the HSBA Post and then when the next one rolls around, you can join in.

Butterflies

2010-09-19T08:18:00.000-05:00

Kayla took these photos a couple of weeks ago. She found a bush where we were fishing that was covered in butterflies.

Everyday should be butterfly day.

Around the Blogosphere

2010-09-19T08:01:00.000-05:00

This past week, I have run upon some great blog posts from other bloggers. I have compiled that list so I can share it with you!

Housewife Eclectic: Core Values for Blogging--Going to work on that for myself this week.
Life as Mom: Fall Busy-ness--All I can say here is WORD! I so need to put this into practice.
Free Christmas Planning E-Book and Printables from Life as Mom: I am telling you, I am gonna be prepared this year!
Homemade Dinner Rolls from Dinner for Four ( I am making a batch of these next week)
Swedish Chocolate Balls--YUMMY is the word for these.
How a Charlotte Mason Day Might Look: I found this very intriguing.
Delight: I could have written this post myself!

Have a great Sunday!

About You

2010-09-18T15:58:00.000-05:00

This book was pretty good. Reading about being fully alive helped me to see some areas where I have just been going through the motions instead of knowing that because of Jesus I am alive. I recommend his book!

About the book:
Amazon confirmed it. Reading About You: Fully Human, Fully Alive left me thinking of two other wildly popular books – Purpose-Driven Life and Your Best Life Now. If everyone who bought either or both of those books from any vendor buys Dick Staub’s new book he will be both wealthy and an unwelcome provocateur for those wanting simple and feel good.
Staub harnesses some very traditional themes – personal relationship with God and sin as missing the mark – along with a fully orbed understanding of what it means to be human to explicate what Jesus means in the invitation to an “abundant life.” Absent from Staub’s narrative of God’s purpose in Jesus is the reductionism common in the sales approach to faith. Also missing is the nebulous, unknowing of what it means for life now by those on the other end of the proverbial spectrum.
With nary a hint of my-way-is-better-than-your-way, Staub couches what it means to be human in the grand story of God – and he does so in more than “Four Spiritual Laws” and in less space than the Institutes. In popular idiom and in personal story, Staub hopes his reader’s capture that to be human in the Way of Jesus means to come to our senses with regard to our dehumanizing and diminishing ways trusting in the very personal Jesus who demonstrated the mark of being fully human (Incarnation) by living into the integrated intellectual, spiritual, creative, relational and moral features that mark human beings.
Readers looking for a more “Whole-istic” approach to life and faith will find About You helpful. For those looking for a book to give someone curious about the “why” of Jesus’ coming, About You could prove to be a great way to share a loving conversation about life and faith – in the present.

About the Author

A noted interpreter of faith and culture, Dick Staub is an award-winning broadcaster, writer, and speaker who is fascinated with today’s spiritual quest, so often disconnected from organized religion. He is the host of The Kindlings Muse podcast, an intelligent, imaginative, hospitable exploration of ideas, sparked by our shared experiences in art, movies, books, and music (www.TheKindlings.com). He is the author ofChristian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters, The CulturallySavvy Christian (both from Jossey-Bass) and TooChristian, Too Pagan.#vb-aboutyou

The Cutest Cake Decorations

2010-09-18T06:20:00.000-05:00

When I went on my business trip weekend with my friend Nancy, we took a detour to downtown Gatlinburg on our way home. She knows how much I LOVE to cook (I am a total foodie for those of you who are new here), so she whisked me away into the dreamiest little store I have ever been to in my ENTIRE life!

This store, y'all, had samples of almost EVERYTHING! You could try all their dips, salsas hot sauces, herbed oils and more. I could have spent my life savings in this store. But do you wanna know what I wound up purchasing?

Kayla loves cake sprinkles. So when I saw this set of sea animals cake sprinkles, I knew I had to get them. Not because of the sharks, or the sea turtles, or the tropical fish, but because of these:

Aren't these little dolphins adorable? Three of her favorite things here: dolphins, lime green, and blue--how neat is that?

Of course, she got to work immediately making a cake so she could sprinkle "her sprinkles" on them.

I think my next thing to buy is going to be candy melts because I have a new cookbook coming (can you say. . .Bakerella??). Kayla and I are going to make our very first cake pops!

You can order their stuff online and they will ship it to you. However, if you go to Gatlinburg, GO to this store! It is awesome! All Sauced Up

Mel's World~Come Read My Post

2010-09-18T06:19:00.000-05:00

I am guest posting over at Mel's World today! Come see what I have to share regarding time with the Lord.

Coffeehouse Theology

2010-09-17T16:06:00.000-05:00

First up--this book is NOT about coffee! LOL It is more about how theology works and how you can apply it to your life. At first, I wasn't for sure if I would like this book, but I soon found out it was right up my alley!

I really enjoyed it although it did take me some time to get into the book. If you like theological books, you will like this one.

About the book:
Who gets to set the agenda for doing theology? Some select the Christian era of their favorite theologian or theological movement and mark their boundaries. The next step is to consider everyone who does not follow out of bounds. Scot McKnight notes in his Forward for Coffeehouse Theology: Reflections on God in Everyday Life, “… there is no such thing as “the best form of theology ever.””
Ed Cyzewski sets out to offer a pattern for a contextually practical theology. Often the the study of theology begins with consideration of textual and authorial contexts. Cyzewski, while believing these important, suggests conversations about God must take into account the context of those interested in talking about God. Rather than getting mired in the debate over hyper-modernity or post-modernity, Ed simply notes issues in our own time with which we should be aware as we engage in talk about God. And, talk about God should lead somewhere; it should be practical.
If you are looking for some broad influences on Ed’s theological method you may consider Guder’s reifying of the phrase “missio dei,” Grenz and Franke’s epistemological approach in Beyond Foundationalism, and the value of reading the Scripture in community and with the Tradition of the Church in mind. Taken together it may be argued that Ed presents a missional theological method in for “everyperson.”

About the Author

Ed Cyzewski (MDiv Biblical Theological Seminary) is a freelance writer and speaker in Eastern Connecticut. He is the author of Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life, an introduction to contextual theology as well as the Coffeehouse Theology Bible Study Guide and a Coffeehouse Theology Discussion Guide. His most recent book is A Path to Publishing: What I Learned by Publishing a Nonfiction Book. Ed blogs regularly on theology at www.inamirrordimly.com and on writing at www.edcyz.com.
#vb-coffehouse

Making Waves

2010-09-17T15:52:00.000-05:00

This book was SO good! From the very frist opening line, I was drawn in to this story. You will definitely fall in love with Marguerite as she goes through her triumphs and trials. What I loved about her more than anything was the fact that while all the other women were bent on living a very hum drum lifestyle, she loved to live on the wild side--to face adventure (kind of reminds me of myself).

This is one book for sure that you will want to get a copy of!
About the book:

Sun, summer, and a scrumptious sailing instructor. What more could a girl want?
When spunky Marguerite Westing discovers that her family will spend the summer of 1895 at Lake Manawa, Iowa, she couldn't be more thrilled. It's the perfect way to escape her agonizingly boring suitor, Roger Gordon. It's also where she stumbles upon two new loves: sailing, and sailing instructor Trip Andrews.
But this summer of fun turns to turmoil as her father's secrets threaten to ruin the family forever. Will free-spirited Marguerite marry Roger to save her father's name and fortune? Or will she follow her heart--even if it means hurting the family she loves?
Full of sharp wit and blossoming romance, Making Waves will whisk you away to a breezy lakeside summer holiday.

Endorsements

"You'll set sail on a wonderful adventure in Lorna Seilstad's new series set at Lake Manawa, Iowa. Her quick wit and captivating characters are mixed into a little known slice of history that will keep you turning the pages and wishing for more when the story ends. Fortunately, there's another book to follow. I can't wait!"--Judith Miller, author, Somewhere to Belong
"Lorna Seilstad pulled me into the world she created around Lake Manawa with the lake breeze, the sailboats, and the leisure of summer days. But the love story and the characters were what made the book great. This needs to be everyone's first choice for a vacation read, or if you just want to open the pages of a book and be transported from your recliner to the beach."--Mary Connealy, author, Doctor in Petticoats and Wrangler in Petticoats

I was given a copy of this book as compensation for my review. The opinions stated here are my own.

100 Silly Rings for $4.99 Shipped!

2010-09-17T07:10:00.001-05:00

I found this AWESOME deal this morning! If your kid loves silly bands, you can get 100 for free! All you have to do is pay the shipping of $4.99.

This is a really good deal! You better hurry before they are all gone!

King Solomon's Temple

2010-09-16T09:22:00.000-05:00

This morning we were studying King Solomon's temple and I found this video that was intriguing! Hope you enjoy.

A Martha Heart~A Walk Will Do You Good

2010-09-16T07:56:00.000-05:00

Today I am guest posting over at A Martha Heart. I wrote a post entitled A Walk Will Do You Good. Hop on over there and read it!

Blessings,

Jennifer

The Rock

2010-09-16T05:31:00.002-05:00

Can you believe my daughter found this rock? Isn't it gorgeous?

Needless to say, this rock was dug up and brought home. She is cleaning it and it will go on her headboard with all her other "nature finds".

Basking In the Sun

2010-09-15T05:20:00.002-05:00

I love this photo. Wherever there is a spot of sun on the floor, Tucker wants to be in it. It makes him feel loved, happy, content, and warm. Being in the light is what's it's all about.

What about you? Have you been shrinking back from the light, trying to stay in the shadows? One verse that reminds me to continue walking in the light is this one:

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Isaiah 2:5
Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Psalm 56:13
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Let's make it a point to continue to walk with God, to bask in His presence--in His light.

Prepping My Home for Christmas

2010-09-14T19:48:00.000-05:00

Click here to visit Graham Family Ministries. $12.95I am not the best organized person when it comes to preparing for the holidays. That is why this year, I am using the 12 Week Holiday Planner to help me better organized.

Do your holidays seem to always become stressful and full of "wait tothe last minute" to do items? If so, then this eBook is for you! Begin October 1st planning and organizingfor the holidays.

I looked through this book the other day thinking, here we go. . . just another planner. However, I quickly found out that this is more than just another planner.

What you will find inthis 171 page ebook:

Blank monthly and weekly calendar pages for planning your year
Weekly "To Do" lists showing exactly what needs to be done each week
Thanksgiving and Christmas Menus forms
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Recipe Card forms
A Holiday Self-Evaluation form
Shopping Lists
"Sheri's Tips"- tips to make your holidays meaningful, shared throughout the ebook
Christmas Craft and Gift Ideas
Memory Making Ideas for the Family
Holiday Journal Pages
Many, many forms such as: Christmas Gift Shopping List Gift Making Checklist Christmas Card Checklist
Holiday Wardrobe Planner List of Baked Items to Share/Give Away Favorite Meals to Freeze for Later Decoration Ideas Needed Supplies to Purchase This Week Holiday Baking Schedule Kids' Gift Idea List Christmas Gifts to be Shipped
PLUS!!! Two bonus weeks with family tradition ideas, menus, and
PLUS!!! Some of our favorite holiday recipes!
PLUS!!! Holiday Coloring Pages!

To top things off, I will never have to buy another one again! One purchase and this one will do me every Christmas holiday, every year!

Buy yours today and begin your holiday planning now! Get ready for a moremeaningful, organized, Jesus-centered holiday season!

Click here to visit Graham Family Ministries.

Brownie Bites

2010-09-14T05:08:00.000-05:00

I love making brownies! These little bites though, don't last very long. I love to take them and crumble a couple of them up and use it as a base for a brownie earthquake. Then cover the top of the brownie with a scoop of ice cream and chocolate syrup and peanuts. Serious ice cream lovers will truly cherish these little sweet chocolate morsels!

Ingredients:

1 package (4 oz.) HERSHEY'S Unsweetened Chocolate Baking Bar, broken into pieces
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped nuts(optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease a mini muffin tin.

2. Place chocolate and butter in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 1-1/2 to 2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Add sugar; stir with spoon until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add flour and nuts, if desired; stir until well blended. Pour in each little tin until it is 3/4 of the way full.

3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Frost brownies, if desired. Cut into squares. About 24 brownies.

BROWNIE VARIATIONS:
CHIPPY CHEWY BROWNIES: Prepare brownies as directed, stirring in 1 cup REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips with flour. Bake as directed.

CAKELIKE BROWNIES: Stir in 1/2 cup milk with eggs and vanilla. Increase flour to 1-1/2 cups. Bake as directed.

CREAM CHEESE BROWNIES: Prepare brownies as directed, using 4 eggs. Spread in prepared pan. Beat 8-oz. pkg. softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg and 2 tablespoons flour. Soon mixture over brownie batter; swirl with knife to marble. Bake 35 to 40 minutes.

ROCKY ROAD BROWNIES: Prepare brownies as directed; bake 30 minutes. Immediately sprinkle with 2 cups miniature marshmallows, 1 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips and 1 cup chopped nuts over brownies. Bake another 3 minutes or until topping melts together.
Recipe reprinted from the Hershey Website.

Love Dare~Day 29~A Golden Nugget

2010-09-13T08:04:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to share this little tidbit I read this morning from The Love Dare, Day 29. It's on unity in marriage:

Wife--What would happen if you made it your mission to do everything possible to promote togetherness of heart with your husband? What if every threat to your unity was treated as a poison, a cancer, an enemy to be eliminated by love, humility, and selflessness? What would your marriage become if you were never again willing to see your oneness torn apart?

Therefore, love this one who is as much a part of your body as you are. Serve this one whose needs cannot be separated from your own. Honor this one who, when raised upon the pedestal of your love, raises you up too in the eyes of God, all at the same time.

Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and look on today as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness with your spouse. Pray that he would do the same for them. And if appropriate, discuss the matter, openly, seeking God for unity.

~Did the Lord open your eyes to anything new that might be giving fuel to this point of disagreement? How do you intend to respond? What do you hope to see God do in your spouse as well?

Enjoy this little marriage nugget today! The Love Dare is available for you to use in your marriage. I love this book and continue each day to read and absorb the things that are shared.

This post is linked to Marriage Mondays , Wifey Wednesdays, and

If You Happen to Be Studying Ancient Egypt

2010-09-13T05:48:00.000-05:00

We have finally finished studying about all the people and places in Ancient Egypt.I was not for sure how the kids were going to like using Sonlight, but they love it. We took one day last week and put together a lapbook/notebook style flip book of Ancient Egypt. I used it as a way to see if they remembered many of the things they read about and ya know what? They did! YAY! That is always a plus.

I used the free lapbooking unit study that is available from Homeschool Share. It was easy to put together and we really enjoyed it. There are a couple of recipes included that you and your family could make. We just ran out of time.

Some of the reading books that we enjoyed while studying Ancient Egypt were
Mara, Daughter of the Nile (Puffin Story Books)

The Golden Goblet (Newbery Library, Puffin)

The Usborne Book of World History

These three books alone make a wonderful study for everyone to enjoy! We are now going to be studying Ancient Greece and Robert is really excited. We will be talking about The Trojan War, Greek mythology, and we have a special field trip in the works for the Parthenon in Tennessee!

How has homeschooling been going for you?
The links in the post are connected to my affiliate account. If you click to purchase something, I will earn just a *little* bit of money to use for future book purchases.

Free Yarn~What Do You Do With It?

2010-09-12T05:42:00.000-05:00

Do you remember when I told you about all the free crocheting stuff I had been given?

To date, I have made a baby boy blanket

a yellow fuzzy baby blanket

and this one here is my newest edition--yellow and green baby blanket.

I am having a ball teaching myself how to crochet using You Tube videos. In fact, I am now working on Kayla's Christmas present or one of them that she has asked me to make her. She wants a throw made in electric blue, lime green, and black. We'll see how that turns out.

What have you been making lately?

Molly's September Digest is Now Available

2010-09-09T07:38:00.000-05:00

I love Econobusters. . . and not just because I work there. I loved it even before I started working for them. I love the frugal ideas and the way that Molly tries her very best to help me save and stretch my money so that my family doesn't have to do without.

The September issue is all about emergency preparedness. With hurricane season on the rise and many other natural disasters looming, being prepared is important. If you are like me, you might ask how do I get prepared?

Molly lays it all out for you in the September Digest. Here is what you will see in these pages:

You won’t always know when disaster is headed your way. But you can save your family from needless headaches, harm, and even hunger when you prepare NOW to survive the storm, fire, flood, or calamity that could come.
Are you equipped for an emergency?
It’s not exactly fun to think about—but it’s necessary. Does your family know what to do?
If you make provisions ahead of time, you can relax knowing that your family will have every opportunity to be cared for regardless of the unfortunate scenario.
Savor September and consider setting aside one weekend this month to focus on preparedness and to develop a plan for your family.

Create an emergency preparedness plan that is suited for your family’s dynamics and location.
Download your choice of crisis planning forms—prepared by the experts.
Get your kids onboard with designing a disaster strategy—help them stay unafraid, calm, and focused during a critical situation!

Take a closer look inside this issue of Molly’s Money-Saving Digest:
Monthly Feature: Emergency Preparedness
Utilize basic ideas along with a list of great resources and informative links to be sure you are ready to meet with almost any emergency situation.

A Well-Stocked Pantry. Make use of this basic primer consisting of the why, what, how, where, and when of stocking a pantry for your family. It makes so much sense!
Driving This Winter? Be Prepared! Here’s a quick list for putting together a simple winter emergency kit for your vehicle. Possibly save the lives of your children!
Pack a Backpack. Do you have a backpack stocked and ready for every member of your family?
Start Your Preparedness Project Here. Which resources does Molly recommend? What’s her favorite book on the topic? Where can you find free downloadable details and advice?

Begin With the Basics—Cooking With Ground Beef: What should you know when shopping for this frugal kitchen staple? How can you get a lot more mileage from a pound of ground beef? Save time and money with some make-ahead meatball recipes!
On Sale This Month: Uncover some great deals and bargain prices and stock up on those canned goods for your emergency supply!
Tips and Tools for Organization: An emergency checklist could be a life saver! Print these out, complete them, and file them in your household planner.
Feather Your Nest Frugally: In keeping with this month’s theme, you’ll be glad you took the time to put together and tuck away these great grab-n-go mini kits for each member of your family. This is a great upcycled project for kids too.
In the Kitchen With Molly: Stock your kitchen with basic staples that enable you to make delicious meals under any circumstances. Get a week’s worth of great meals to see just how far you can stretch those staples. We’ve updated our format—now it’s easier and more economical to print these recipes!
Special Dates This Month: Thirty days hath September . . . and a lot of them are special! You’ll be sure to find something worth celebrating in this lengthy list!
Kids’ Corner—Creating an Emergency Disaster Escape Plan: When you plan ahead, your children will know immediately what to do in these adverse situations. Kids will follow directions to draw a family fire escape plan as well as a storm shelter plan.

Something Old, Something New: Turn that leftover wax from last month’s project into new jar candles. With step-by-step directions and lots of photos, you’ll get plenty of ideas to create your own versatile candles—ideal to use in emergencies or as nice gifts.
This Is My Story: Penny went from being a successful California businesswoman to a “no longer self-driven but love-driven” mother with eight children on a horse farm in Tennessee. Fortify your commitment to family as you consider her wise words and beautiful story!

For only $3.95 a month, you can get this fabulous Digest, AND if you sign up for a Molly Membership, you can also get tons of other freebies that are not available to those who purchase just the Digest.

Molly Members get the following extras for the month of September:

Play it Safe E-Book from The Old Schoolhouse
Is Your Homeschool Ready to Collapse WeE-Book from The Old Schoolhouse
How Do I Teach My Platypus if He Won't Sit Still WeE-Book from The Old Schoolhouse
Many different preparedness guidelines and checklists
Lesson plans and unit studies on emergency preparedness
Freezer cooking plans
menu planning printables
Treasure Island Kindle download

You get all that for only $3.95! Join Molly's Membership program today and enjoy the abundance of freebies and information that we share each month.

Making Your Curriculum Work for You

2010-09-08T06:32:00.001-05:00

It's no secret that most homeschoolers love Sonlight. I have fallen in love with Sonlight myself. HOWEVER (and that is a big however), I do not like the Instructor's Guide. That huge thing is enough to give any newbie homeschooler a melt down (I am not a newbie--I am in my fourth year and I almost had a meltdown).

So how did I handle it? What have I been doing with it?

At first, I was very overwhelmed. I tried doing it like the guide suggested, but that just was not a good fit for our family. So I broke it down, pulled out the stuff we liked, and crossed out the things we did not like.

Here is what we have going on now:

~Friday is a free day. No structured curriculum on this day. We leave it open for Nature study, art, home -ec, field trips, woodworking with daddy, or whatever we would love to do on this day.

~Monday-Thursday: Bible, Math, History/Reading, Writing class, and Science. We also still have read aloud time (my kids like it)

I am trying this year to be more relaxed than ever when it comes to school. I am not doing a schedule much--we are doing a journal of what we get accomplished instead of fretting over what we have not gotten done.

Basically, all I am saying is this--instead of fretting on what is not working, find a way to make it work. You can take any curriculum and change it to meet what you are doing.

In the past, I have taken Bob Jones, read a section and then made a lapbook to study it further. Use what you have and make it work for you!

A Gift from a Friend

2010-09-07T07:34:00.000-05:00

I love this beautiful wall hanging that my friend Suzanne gave me. It just has this really peaceful feeling about it. Do you have any pictures or home decor that people have given you that mean a lot?

Here are a couple of more of my favorite pieces that hang around my house:

I got this little plaque from a junk pile that someone was throwing away. It just seemed right because I have a little house--so this one made the cut for our wall decor.

This was a gift from my mother one year at Christmas. It has three of my favorite Bible verses on it.

What are some of your favorite home decor pieces?

Mom-preneur Blog and Etsy Guide

2010-09-06T20:32:00.000-05:00

I love the Tip Junkie! She is one of my favorite bloggers. She has a brand new E-Book that is now available for purchase.

Get your printable copy of the e-Book
Mom-preneur Blog & Etsy Guide
only $19.95

Click here to view more details

Go check out her book. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy either! Be sure and visit her website as well. She has some pretty neat tips on there!

Click here to visit Tip Junkie.

The Nina and the Pinta~A Must See Field Trip

2010-09-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

The ships were huge!

The information learned was invaluable! Did you know that back in Columbus' time, that the average age of a ship mate was 14-19 years old?

Kayla was really intrigued by this contraption. I am still not sure what it is. We are going to look it up and find out what it is.

There were many plaques on the ship with notes about what each item was. I took as many pictures as I could of them so that the kids and I can test our knowledge later this week.

All in all, we had a wonderful time. I was able to snap a few photos of the kids as they enjoyed listening to the guide on the ship,

and I was able to get them to stand still for a few seconds so I could snap a new photo of their lovely little(not) bodies!

And to top it off, we were able to get a family group photo (rare--because I am always the one behind the camera)!

(uh--yeah, that's me--the one in the pink. I'm the SHORT one)

This was a great field trip. Check to see if they are coming to your area--www.thenina.com

I've Been Awarded

2010-09-05T07:48:00.000-05:00

My friend Tina over at Being Made New has awarded me with The Versatile Blogger Award. I am humbled to even think that what I write on here, someone deems it important enough to read. It just goes to show how wonderful our God is! Thank you Tina for giving me this award.

Now I am supposed to share three things with you that I feel make me a versatile kind of person--so here goes.

I am really learning how to let go and just have fun in school and not stress over the schedule--to much. We are really trying to get away from book work all together and learn from our five senses.
I don't have one set thing on here that I post about--I post everything from recipes, marriage talks to more. I am just an all around kind of girl.
I am one of those women who can be girly one minute and then turn right around and help my husband install windows in the next (yep ladies--he's a contractor)

So there you have my versatility list. Now, I am to pass this award on to three different bloggers who I feel are very versatile. . . .so let me see here....hmmmm

The Homespun Life: I love Sisterlisa's blog. She always shares some of the coolest things on there.
Hannah Braboy's blog is awesomeness! (I know her IRL and she is my bestest buddy)
The Chic Life--I love reading this lady's blog because her dog and my dog are exactly the same breed and color! Plus I have learned a lot about Zumba.

So there you have it! If you are receiving this award, here is what you are supposed to do:

put the Versatile Blogger Award logo on your blog and/or in a new post;
in a new post, share three ways in which you are versatile;
pass the award on to three fellow bloggers;
link the nominees within your post;
let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blogs;
share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Thanks Tina!

Let's Do Lunch Book Review

2010-09-04T15:08:00.000-05:00

Out of all the books I have had to review, this is one that I did not enjoy. The title of the book is a little misleading. While the diet program that he used (and he repeatedly says it was not a program, but he kept calling it that--very confusing) was an all you can eat diet, it was only for healthy food (that's okay, but don't mislead).

Right up front, the guy says he ate all the things he loved while on this diet, but comparing his list before the diet and the list after he started, the foods were not the same. It just seemed that his theory was very contradictory.

This is one book that I do not recommend. I just feel like it is another fad diet that might work for some and not for others.

Choosing To See by Mary Beth Chapman and Ellen Vaughn

2010-09-03T19:55:00.001-05:00

I just finished reading Choosing to See. Can I just say how blown away I am? From the moment I opened this book, I resonated with this woman--a mother. I laughed with her as she shared stories of her marriage before kids. I laughed again as she shared each of her childrens birth stories. I cried with her as she shared her stories of pain from when she was younger. But then, I ~~cried~~ wept as only a mother could ~~cry~~ weep for the loss of one of her own.

This book is heart warming and heart wrenching all at the same time. Mary Beth, along with Ellen Vaughn shares her deepest secrets and fears. She opens her heart for us to see how her and Steven and their whole family are now coping since the loss of Maria.

I encourage you to read this book. It will bless you and touch you like no other book you have ever picked up (with the exception of the Bible). I truly saw the Lord through Mary Beth's eyes. I am so glad I was able to review this book for Revell.
About the book:

"Every now and then a book comes along that is not only great--it's a gift. An extravagant gift. This is one of those books."--Beth Moore

From the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman's life was not how she planned. All she wanted was a calm, peaceful life of stability and control. Instead, God gave her an award-winning singer/songwriter husband, crazy schedules, and a houseful of creatively rambunctious children. Most difficult of all, God's plans for her also included tragedy.
In Choosing to SEE, Mary Beth unveils her struggle to allow God to write the story of her life, both the happy chapters and the tragic ones. And as the story unfolds, she's been forced to wrestle with some of life's biggest questions: Where is God when things fall apart? Why does God allow terrible things to happen? How can I survive hard times?
No matter where you find yourself in your own life story, you will treasure the way Mary Beth shows that even in the hard times, there is hope if you choose to SEE.

Endorsements

"Mary Beth makes the deepest places of our being easier to embrace and grasp. I felt like I was looking at my own heart exposed on the pages of this book."--Denise Jonas, mother of the Jonas Brothers

"Mary Beth has an important story to tell that starts long before the accident. It's a story of heartache, betrayal, depression, and loss. Yet her encouragement to us is that there is hope--spring is coming."--Mark (of Casting Crowns) and Melanie Hall

"Mary Beth has opened the doors of her stories to us so that our deepest fears may be overcome with hope. And so that we can all walk in a deeper trust that God is good . . . all the time."--Toby (TobyMac) and Amanda McKeehan
"When the world is telling us to suffer alone in despair and hopelessness, the Chapmans are fixing their eyes on Christ and faithfully walking each step clinging to the Lord and the hope we have in the promises in His Word."--Bart (of Mercy Me) and Shannon Millard
"This tender story will capture your heart and point you back to the One who restores, replenishes, and renews . . . even when He asks us to do hard, seemingly impossible things."--Wess Stafford, president and CEO of Compassion International
"With a balanced combination of heart-wrenching honesty and absolute grace, Mary Beth shares her 'severe mercy.' I couldn't help but sense God's presence in every sentence."--Mary Graham, president of Women of Faith
"Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman are living their story in a way that brings glory to God and real, practical help to the body of Christ. You won't be able to put this book down until you've wept, laughed, and relished every page."--Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship and the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview

MIA Today

2010-09-03T05:56:00.002-05:00

My family and I are visiting the coolest field trip ever today! We are touring replicas of the Nina and the Pinta! They are sailing into many different bays during the year. You can check to see if they are coming to your area. Just visit The Nina.com and see what cities they are visiting.

Just in case you can't go--no worries! I am taking lots of pictures to share with you! Hopefully I can get them all up by the weekend.

Have a great Friday! See ya when I get back!

It's Here! A Martha Heart~Come View the Tour

2010-09-02T08:04:00.000-05:00

I am so excited to announce that A Martha Heart is now open! I have joined with many other ladies in sharing our hearts each month--each one of us unique, but in the same, each one is connected by having a heart to serve others as we serve the Lord.

You will love what A Martha Heart is about. Each room of a home has special meaning. The same is true at AMH. Not only is this a place where you can learn about the love of Jesus, but you can also learn about gardening, being a great hostess, beauty treatments, how to rest (I need this one more than anything) and more!

Here is what you will find at AMH:

Entering Into His Presence (Foyer)
Heartbeat of the Home (Family Room)
Food for Living (Kitchen)
Family Business (Office)
Living to Learn (Study)
Cleansing of the Heart (Laundry)
From Hidden to Light (Closet)
Intimate Issues (Bedroom)
Hearth of the Home (Dining Room)
Healthy Living (Back Yard)
Beauty: Inside and Out (Powder Room)
Dusting off Ambitions (Attic)
Reaching Out in Friendship (Front Porch)
Recharge and Restore (Time Away)

Come visit me as I share along with many other ladies each month in the rooms of A Martha Heart.

Healing

2010-09-01T05:38:00.006-05:00

I have been serving the Lord now for almost 11 years. I still cannot believe it myself. During that time, I have learned a lot about healing. It wasn't until last night though, that I realized just how much healing I have been through.

God allows us to go through certain things in our lives. They are not always pleasant (I despise movies and things that always make life out to be hunky dory, because things do not always turn out like that.)

For myself, I have been through an almost divorce, dealing with panic attacks, a severe shopping addiction that almost ruined our marriage AFTER we were saved, going through a period of no job and no work and almost losing everything we own, sickness on both ends--but you know what? Instead of running from the things that we were going through, we tried our best to deal with them head on.

That's the #1 secret to healing.

After facing that giant head on, you have to learn to lean on and trust God that He will handle it. During the time that my husband was without a job and we had no income whatsoever, I remember crying out to God asking Him--Why aren't you trying to fix this? What else do I have to do in order for you to STOP all this insanity? His response to me that day is one I will never forget. God spoke to my heart and said--Child, just let go of it and trust ME. Look to ME. Everything will be fine. I PROMISE. From that moment on, I was at peace. I wish I could say that times were easy after that. They were not. In fact, they got harder, but the trust was there. And the peace--it was most definitely there as well.

Trust is the #2 secret to healing.

When you find yourself faced with a problem, don't run and hide from it. Healing does not come from the hiding. Healing comes from facing it and dealing with it. I remember the first time I got up in church and gave my testimony about my life before Christ. I had this nagging voice always in my head telling me that everyone was going to hate me when they found out what a bad person I had been--when they found out how I had treated my husband. This went on and on and on until the very day that I gave my testimony. As I got up to speak, I remember telling the devil that day--"You no longer can hold this over my head Satan. Today I am a free woman. Whether they hate me or not, I am sharing what God has done." That voice left the minute I finished giving my testimony.

Don't give up the fight. Put those gloves on and go for a KO with whatever that problem is! Here are a few verses to give you a little inspiration.

~Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

~2 Kings 20:5
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.

~Job 5:18
For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

~Psalm 30:2
O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

~2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Catch more Word Filled Wednesday at Internet Cafe Devotions.

Wordless Wednesday~Role Playing Dogs

2010-09-01T05:21:00.000-05:00

Homemade Oatmeal

2010-08-31T04:48:00.001-05:00

I learned last week how to make oatmeal from scratch (yeah I know--it's like one of the easiest things on the planet to make and I had NO clue how to make it!)

I was quite proud of the end results, so I am sharing my recipe with you--just in case you are like me and did not know how to make homemade oatmeal!

Homemade Oatmeal

Ingredients

1/2 cup of quick cooking oats

1 tbsp powdered milk

1/8 teaspoon of salt

2 teaspoons of sugar

1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

1 cup of extremely hot water

Directions

Combine all dry ingredients into your bowl. Add one cup of hot water and allow to sit for about five minutes. During that time mix ingredients together occasionally until desired thickness has been achieved.

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, and Kitchen Tip Tuesday.

Get a Subscription to The Old Schoolhouse for only $7.95!

2010-08-30T07:12:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe that The Old Schoolhouse is running this special again! It is one of the best ones yet! If you have not yet snagged your subscription to this homeschooling magazine, NOW IS THE TIME!

Regular subscription price is $25! To get your subscription started today, just click this link HERE for a one year without the current issue ($7.95 price) and click HERE if you want the one year with the current summer issue ($12.95 price).

Advertising Spots Now Available!

2010-08-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

I have been back and forth about offering advertising on my blog, but I have finally decided to open it up to family friendly advertising.

The spots that I have available in the right sidebar on my blog are $20 for a 3 month run. This is a great opportunity to have long term advertising on my blog without the cost of the normal advertising spots. (Most advertising costs 40% more than what I am charging.) If you are interested in a spot for advertising, please fill out this form.

By advertising on my blog, this is a great way to get out the word about an Etsy shop, a small business, your blog, an affiliate that you are a member of, or any number of other things.

Spots like this just don't come along that often!

Reading Just for Fun

2010-08-29T05:50:00.000-05:00

Our trip to the library this week netted some great books. In fact, each of us has a growing stack to read . . .just for the pure enjoyment of it!

Robert got books on different battles. He loves to read stuff like that and he also loves old guns. He found a book full of information on military guns from the older days. He also found a book on starting your own lawn care business. He has been mowing yards the last couple of years for money and has decided he might want to start his own lawn care business. I think it is a great idea, but I asked him to study up on first before he jumped in with both barrels.

Kayla loves books on rocks and minerals, plus she is wanting to learn morse code so she racked up on those kind of books. We also found out we have a humming bird, so we got a couple of bird books to see what we can do about feeding it. The Almanac book is the neatest. Lots of cool information in that book!

We found these books for school. Since we are studying Ancient Egypt right now, I am looking for anything to do with that and some hands on Biology stuff.

This is the book that I chose for myself, so that I can read up on my very spoiled chihuahua. He is a mess.

Try taking your kids to the library sometime just to let them choose books that they like--not anything that is scheduled, but just books that peak their interest. It will cause the reader in them to begin to flourish.

Weekly Wrap Up: The Kids Have Their First Cooking Class

2010-08-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

Our 2nd full week back to school is going pretty good. I think I finally got a handle on the curriculum and how to make it work for our family. Trying to follow it how it is written is just WAY too much overload for me and for them, so I am tearing it apart and doing it my own way.

This week the kids had their first cooking class of the year. If you remember, I told you that Stephen and I are really going to focus on many life skills this year that the kids will need when they are adults. Some of those that we will be studying this year is home-ec, auto shop, wood working class, and co-op (allowing the kids to build a work ethic by working with us).

Our cooking class this week went really well. The kids first lesson was on eggs. They learned all about them and was able to make french toast and scrambled eggs.

I think it is super important for the kids to be able to cook for themselves when they get older so that they do not have to rely on fast food or just sandwiches to feed them.

The kids, I think, were shocked that they actually prepared such a wonderful tasting meal. As they ate their breakfast we sat and talked about other meals that we could come up with using french toast and scrambled eggs. We have a great supply of menu ideas--some I am sure that you will be seeing here!

My son's remark after it was all said and done was--"Mom, now I know I can do this by myself!" He was quite proud of himself. Kayla was just as equally proud (but she cooks with me all the time anyway and does a great job at it too)

Oh--and the cooking lessons that we are using are free on the Internet from Future Christian Homemakers. You can access those lessons HERE.

This post is linked to Weekly Wrap up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Freebies from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

2010-08-26T20:04:00.000-05:00

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine always has some great back-to-school freebies. Here are a few I thought you might be interested in. To access the freebie, just click the graphic.

Homeschool Freebie Directory

Who doesn't love freebies? In the homeschool community, free is a reality, particularly when you come to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine's annual Homeschool Freebie Directory. In these pages (and on our website), you will find a good number of freebies and samples to get you familiar with what this vast community has to offer. Start contacting these companies for YOUR freebie gifts today. And tell your friends! It's all FREE!

Homeschool 101 Supplement

Are you considering homeschooling, or are you curious and simply want to know more? What if you were offered a commendable, complimentary class on homeschooling taught by experienced educators that included hands-on tools for your personal use? The course is called Homeschool 101. Would you like a front-row seat? The Old Schoolhouse® is thrilled to share with you this FREE resource, a digital supplement to the Schoolhouse Expo: The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine's Homeschool 101 Supplement.

TOS Lab Presents: Your Guide to Examining Curriculum

Have you struggled to find quality curriculum for your homeschool? With thousands of choices available to you, how do you find the resources that fit your family perfectly? Is it even possible? Members of the TOS Product Review Team work hard to check out a variety of products in their own homeschools, and then they report on them with extensive written reviews. The team is delighted to share this FREE resource with you--another quality digital supplement to The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine.

"Escape the Homeschool Matrix"

Read all about "Mrs. Anderson" in her homeschool matrix.

The New School Year

Get ready to plan a year of enthusiastic homeschool learning with consistent input from the Lord! Take the guesswork out of your planning, systematically organizing your homeschool this year with the E-Book The New School Year: Planning Your Course and Letting the Lord Determine Your Steps. Written by homeschoolers from a biblical foundation and using plenty of personal experience, this book will help take your homeschool to a whole new level. From curriculum to field trips, and from co-ops to homeschooling with the heart in mind, God is by your side. Let Him be your guide!

Is Public School an Option for Christian Kids?

Learn about how the public school system began and who started it in our E-Book Are Public Schools an Option for Christian Kids? What was the original intent of this system? As a Christian parent, can you confidently make the decision to place your child in the public school environment day after day, year after year? What is being taught there? What is the national dropout rate? Is God being honored, respected, and lifted up? This E-Book is perfect for providing a little education for adults!

Homeschooling With Confidence

Could you or those you know use a little more confidence? Our Homeschooling With Confidence brochure answers ten of the most commonly asked homeschool-related questions. We trust it will be a blessing to the families in your area. Share it freely. It would be perfect as a handout at an orientation meeting!

What About Public Schools?

This handout is ideal. Print it out and pass it around at your next group meeting or share it electronically among your members. Help fellow members better understand the advantages of homeschooling!

I have read every one of these freebies and I love them all! They are very encouraging. Feel free to pass them around.

12 New Things: August~Biscuits!

2010-08-26T07:31:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I did a post on 12 new things that I plan to learn over the next year. For August, my goal was to learn how to make homemade biscuits and NOT bricks.

I cannot tell you the countless number of times I have made biscuits and each and every time they have turned out horrible. You may say--oh they probably weren't that bad, but when my husband chooses CANNED biscuits over homemade biscuits--there is a problem there!

So I have been working ALL month long trying to learn to make the "perfect" homemade biscuit. Everyone I know said, Oh I use the White Lily recipe. It's SO easy. I used that recipe--and it failed--three times. So then I decided to watch the video on their website about making perfect biscuits (you can find that video HERE).

Here is what I discovered I hadn't been doing from watching the video:

~Whisking the flour before adding anything to it.

~Making sure the measurements were exact.

~Putting my biscuits close together for soft sides

~Patting them out verses rolling them out (this tip came from another website)

~Putting the temperate at the highest setting on the stove

~Making my pan silver instead of a dark coated pan

After watching the video, I decided it was time to try again--for the fourth time this month.

So far so good!

This time, they even looked different on the tray! They were more fluffier and less packed as before. I did not have a silver pan, so I used aluminum foil and it worked wonders!

Notice that the biscuit on the right is from earlier this month. See how squished it is. It was heavy and dense and just downright--blah!

The biscuit on the left however, is from today! Light, fluffy, soft, YUMMY!

I did it! I finally did it! I made biscuits from scratch and they rocked!

Now to make up a batch and flash freeze them so I will have biscuits on hand to cook every morning!

Here's the recipe.

White Lily Homemade Biscuits

Ingredients
2 cups of self rising flour
1/4 cup of shortening
2/3-3/4 cup of milk or buttermilk

Directions

Dump flour in a separate bowl and whisk slightly to break up the clumps.
Measure flour into measuring cup with a spoon. Using a butter knife on the non cutting side, even your flour out in the cups. Pour into different mixing bowl.
Press shortening in measuring cup and level it off the same way.
Cut shortening into flour mixture with a fork.
Make a well in the center of your flour mixture and pour milk in.
Mix gently with a fork until just combined.
Flour work surface and dump dough out on the counter.
Knead 2-3 times just to make sure everything is mixed evenly.
Gently press dough out to about an inch thick. Cut with a biscuit cutter. (Don't twist cutter. Just insert and press straight down and come back out. Twisting will result in biscuits not rising properly)
Place cut biscuits on prepared baking sheet. (I oiled my pan up and then ran my biscuits through the oil on both sides). Make sure if you want soft sided biscuits to place them close together.
Butter tops of biscuits before baking.
Bake in a 500 degree oven for about 8-10 minutes.

Next month, I am teaching myself how to decoupage something. We will see how that turns out!

Laughter

2010-08-25T06:48:00.000-05:00

When is the last time you had an uncontrollable fit of laughter? You know the kind I am talking about. The kind where

~Your sides hurt and you think your rib cage is going to explode

~when you look at someone you bust out laughing again even though it has been fifteen minutes since you stopped laughing

~You almost pee your pants because you have laughed so hard

~when you take a drink and start to think of that "funny thing" one more time and you spew the contents of drink out of your mouth onto the person in front of you, making you laugh all that much harder.

I had that kind of episode on Sunday evening while watching a movie with my family. I don't even know how it got started. The guy on the movie mispronounced a word and it struck my son funny and he began to laugh--hard. His laughter was SO contagious that my daughter began laughing hysterically. It was STILL contagious and before long, the three of us were laughing so hard we were all crying.

So why is it as adults, we have THE HARDEST time just letting go and laughing?

I know I do. Sometimes I feel that I have lost my laughter or that I am just "too busy" to enjoy a good laugh. I don't want to do that--that's for sure. I want to enjoy life and laugh. My coffee up says:

~Sit long

~Talk much

~Laugh often

Don't you know that God deems it important for us to laugh and be cheerful? Here are a few verses I found about laughter and being happy.

Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Psalm 126:2
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
Proverbs 31:25
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Luke 6:21
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Psalm 68:3
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

As you can see, God wants us to be happy and cheerful. He wants us to laugh and enjoy life.

Today, spend some time just enjoying yourself. Watch a movie that makes you laugh, take your family out for ice cream, play with your spouse, and wrestle with the kids. DO SOMETHING SPONTANEOUS and enjoy it while you do it!

You can find more inspiration at Word Filled Wednesday.

Terriyaki Chicken

2010-08-24T06:54:00.000-05:00

Terriyaki chicken is one of my favorite kinds of meat! I love the sweet and tangy taste of the terriyaki marinade.

There is only one marinade though that is the best and that is La Choy Terriyaki marinade. It's thickness makes it stick to the meat better and it crisps up nicely under the broiler in the oven to create a very sticky but delicious crust.

Here is my recipe:

Terriyaki Chicken

Ingredients
1 bottle of La Choy Terriyaki marinade
1 pound of chicken breast tenderloins

Directions
Pour half the marinade over the chicken and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. Once the chicken has sat in the marinade you can fix it however you want. My favorite way is to grill it! Serve with a side of rice and pineapples for a wonderfully delicious supper!

This post is linked to: Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, and Toot Toot Tuesday.

Learning to Let Go

2010-08-23T07:44:00.000-05:00

This weekend, I read a post on Amy Bayliss's blog. If you haven't read it, you should go here now and read it. Seriously. It was that thought provoking.

It just got me to thinking about all the STUFF I try to do in a day's time while my family is left to themselves. It makes me feel like the mother who doesn't care, or the wife who wants only her time.

I wrote Amy back and thanked her for sharing her heart about letting go of things that were burdening her down and keeping her from spending time with her family.

My question to you today is, What is keeping you from your family?
Is it the Internet, blogging, reading, church activities?

All those things are great and wonderful things, but ladies, our family is our first priority. Let's treat it like a priority and not like something that is a hindrance or a burden. I can promise you that if you treat it as such, the ones in your family will begin to feel like that.

This weekend, I unloaded on my family because I was just overwhelmed with trying to do everything. I took it out on them. Don't be like me and do this. It is harmful to your family's health.

Learn to let go.

Learn to breathe and just enjoy life.

Learn to laugh and not be so scheduled all the time.

These are the things that I am learning.

What are you learning today?

Flirty Aprons are Gorgeous!

2010-08-22T15:44:00.000-05:00

I am totally in love with Flirty Aprons. In fact, this one is my absolute favorite!

Chocolate and blue have long since been my two favorite colors together. I was going to make me an apron, but I just could not resist getting one of these. $30 may seen like an expensive price for an apron, but the fact that it saves your clothing while cooking, well to me it is well worth it!

Every time I wash dishes or cook, something is splattering on my clothes and then ruining them. I got grease spots on one of my new t-shirts the other day simply because I forgot to put my apron on...sigh.

If you want to order one of these, just click on the add to cart button above or here, and you can get you one too. It is well worth the money, believe me!

And, Flirty Aprons are a respectable company. That is one reason why I love their stuff.

Amish Proverbs Review

2010-08-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

"If you play you will have to pay".

Have your parents ever said anything to you that has stuck with you all throughout your life time? My parents use to always tell me the above proverb all the time to remind me that everything I did had consequences involved.

I just finished reading Amish Proverbs by Suzanne Woods Fisher and I must tell you that I love this little book! It is a very quick read.

I think the thing that I love most about this book is that I can see myself using many of their proverbs in teaching my own children. Another thing that I really liked was the pictures that were shared throughout the book. I have gotten to where I love to look at certain photography and the Amish life is very intriguing to me. The photos are gorgeous and you will immediately fall in love with the stories involved as well.

About the book:

Simplify your life with Amish wisdom
Through firsthand research and personal relationships, Suzanne Woods Fisher has collected more than 200 proverbs that uncover the rich heritage, folklore, faith, values, history, and essence of the Plain People. These proverbs serve as teaching tools and maxims for practical living--but they're not just for the Amish. They're for anyone who seeks God's wisdom and truth for everyday circumstances.
Ranging from the simple to the profound, from the serious to the humorous, these sayings will stick with you through life's joys and sorrows. With beautiful full-color photos throughout, Amish Proverbs is the perfect gift for any occasion.

I received this book from Baker Publishing Group as compensation for my review. All opinions shared are my own.

Tee Wit Review and Giveaway

2010-08-22T10:20:00.000-05:00

I got the coolest t-shirt to review from Tee Wit. Have you ever heard of them? Me neither, but I am glad I did. Their t-shirts totally rock!

The material is very comfortable and its not super thin like most t-shirts. I have now washed it about 6 times and the color is still vivid, the material has not shrunk and the screen printing looks just like it did the day I got it.

They have other gifts as well for every member of the family from babies all the way to grandparents--even
step parents as well.

*************Giveaway Information*******************
One lucky reader will win a $30 gift certificate to use in the TeeWit store!

Mandatory Entry: Answer this question: What is your favorite t-shirt of all times?

Additional entries can be obtained this way:

Follow this blog through Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
Subscribe by email to my blog (link is in the sidebar) (1 entry)
Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter (1 entry)
Share about this giveaway on Facebook (1 entry)
Blog about this giveaway on your blog (1 entry)

Be sure and include a link back here so that others can find their way here to enter as well! Also make sure your entries are entered separately. Giveaway will close on Wednesday August 25th at 3:00pm central time. I will choose a winner on Friday August 27th!

Hop on over to Teewit.com and check out all their cool products and good luck at winning the $30 gift certificate!

I received a t-shirt as compensation for my review. However, all opinions are my own.

I am In Love with CSN Stores and Cookware.com

2010-08-22T07:29:00.000-05:00

About a month ago, I was given a $40 coupon to spend at any of the CSN stores I wanted to. I chose Cookware.com cause y'all know I love those kitchen gadgets!

Here is what I bought:

Contempo 12" Grill Pan

Ginsu 4 Piece Bakelite Steak Knife Set

All I can say is I am in love.

Period.

I have cooked on that grill pan a gazillion times already and I love how tender it makes the food and how easy it is to clean up.

Those knives are SO sharp they will slice a finger off.

Seriously.

But don't do it.

I will say my new store to do shopping for kitchen gadgets is the Cookware.com site. The prices are very reasonable (some even cheaper than Wal-mart!)

You can visit there too--just click HERE.

Weekly Wrap Up: Our First Week Back to School

2010-08-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

This week was our first week back to school. The kids were ready to jump back in and start learning. I was ready for a regular routine again!

I always take a photo of them working the first day, but when I went to snap the photo, the kids had already decided to give me a hard time!

Attempt Number 1

As you can see they love to give me a hard time! LOL


Attempt Number 2

DRATS! Well, they say "third time's a charm". . . .


SUCCESS!

I love those crazy kids!

I did realize this week that when using Sonlight, it is VERY HEAVY on lots of stuff to do so I had to redesign my plans yet again to make sure I did not overload them with too much stuff.

Reading time is still our favorite time. This is where they get to just sit and listen while I read. Even Ruffles enjoys reading time.

Later during the week, we went to visit my dad and while there Kayla found the most beautiful butterfly that had just died. Someone told me what kind it was, but I forgot so I am going to let her look him up next week in the field guide for nature study time.

Kayla also took it upon herself this past week to create her own art project. She bubbled her name out on paper and turned it into a house! Her first name is the inside of the house and her last name is the outdoors area. It is really neat and I am so proud that she loves to just sit and create.

Next week, we are starting our Science. Robert will begin Biology and Kayla will be doing Life Science. They are looking forward to all the stuff they get to look at under the microscope!

This post is linked to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

What I Love About the Hillbilly Housewife

2010-08-20T05:02:00.001-05:00

When I started learning how to cook from scratch and pinch our pennies around here, I was introduced to The Hillbilly Housewife. Immediately, I was drawn in to the ease of which her recipes are made. In my mind, I thought surely these recipes cannot be this easy to prepare. Believe me, they are!

For a while, I made many of her recipes on her website, but then I was intrigued by her Freezer Cooking Made Simple E-Book. I had longed to learn about freezer cooking and every other book I have ever read said I had to do it once a month. Not the Hillbilly Housewife! She says that you can do it by the week, bi-weekly, monthly--whatever is easiest for you! In her E-Book, she has broken down and done all the hard work for you, all you have to do is implement it!

Another one of her books that I absolutely love is Meal Planning Made Simple. I am an avid meal planner! For a long time though, I was not real sure how to menu plan that well. The Hillbilly Housewife does a great job showing me how to break those menus down and save them so that I can rotate out and always have a fresh week of food to serve my family.

The Hillbilly Housewife also has a club where you can join and talk to other frugal minded moms. Right now, you can join the club for only $1! To join the Hillbilly Housewife Club just click the link.

To become an affiliate for the Hillbilly Housewife, just click here: Become an Affiliate

When a Crisis Happens, What Do You Do?

2010-08-19T20:38:00.000-05:00

When something bad happens in your family, what happens to the ones around you? Do they fall apart, panic, and fret over what has happened? Do they cry and wring their hands to the point that they don't know what to do next?

This week my family has been going through a crisis. My sister who is a lot older than me, had to be hospitalized because her body was racked with pain and they could not figure out what was going on. She has been taking care of my father since my mom died almost three years ago. She is his primary care giver when he needs it.

With her being down, many in my family could fall apart, however, we choose not to. It is during these times of crisis that we grow closer together as a family, and everyone pitches in to help where help is needed.

Two of those people are my children. They are still young, but old enough to know that when the going gets tough-the family gets tougher! They have pitched right in there and are helping take up some of the slack by mowing my sister and my dad's yard, just to be helpful. They don't expect anything in return. They just know that their help is needed.

I cannot tell you how proud that makes me that they want to help, that they want to pitch in and make it easier on everybody. I am just blessed with two wonderful kids who are the highlight of my day! I know there will come a time when they will make wrong choices and I will be disappointed, but for the most part, I know who they serve and they serve Jesus well. They strive to make Him happy and proud and that has a lot to do with their attitude about serving and loving their families.

Keep my sister in your prayers that they will get her diagnosis complete (they are saying Chron's disease) and that they will get her pain level to a tolerable point.

Ancient History Help for Studying the Sumerians

2010-08-19T07:45:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share a cool link with you. My kids are studying the Sumerians this week. We are going to be making a ziggurat this week.

I found this helpful, informative article here:
http://www.ancienthistoryforhomeschool.com/homeschool-education-fertile-crescent-2.html

And they have a free printable of a ziggerat that you can cut out and put together!
To get the free printable, just click HERE.

Fried Apple Pies

2010-08-19T07:08:00.000-05:00

Kayla and I started making these years ago after we visited the apple orchard one time. I think she was in Kindergarten. We had purchased one to share and immediately fell in love with the taste and texture of a fried apple pie.

I looked around and found several recipes, tried them out, and then used those to create my own version. We love these any time of the year and they are super quick to make up!

Fried Apple Pies

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold water
2 apples
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup vegetable oil

Directions

Peel and dice apples. Add sugar and cinnamon. Cook in a saucepan on low heat. Cook until soft, then mash with fork to form a thick applesauce.
Sift flour and salt together. Cut in the shortening. Add water and mix with fork.
Roll out to about 1/8 inch thick on a floured board. Cut with a large cookie cutter (4 inches in diameter).
In each round, place 1 heaping tablespoon fruit. Moisten edges with cold water, fold and press edge with a fork.
Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Fry pies, a few at a time, 2 to 3 minutes on each side; cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

This recipe is linked to the Ultimate Recipe Swap.

What Have Those Precious Pooches Been Up To?

2010-08-18T07:53:00.000-05:00

My dogs. . . they love me! My pooches are so crazy. I love each of them like they were my own babies. Here is what each has been up to lately.

Ruffles does what he does best and that is sleep and protect. Here, though, he was trying to get someone to play tug-of-war with him and his little blue blankie. He is a mess, but he is my Corgi! You gotta love him.

Puff has decided that he like standing on my coffee table. He is at eye level with whoever is sitting on the couch. This is his way of getting your attention. Who could not love this little fluffball of a poodle?

And of course Tucker the chihuahua is busy as ever being spoiled rotten, sleeping, and fighting for the "man of the house" title.

What have your pets been up to lately?

Welcome Wednesday

2010-08-18T06:34:00.002-05:00

Welcome to my blog! If this is your first time here, pull up a chair and make yourself at home! Browse the archives for recipes, homeschooling tips, marriage resources, and a good dose of Jesus!

I write on here every single day so if you want to stay in touch more often, be sure and subscribe by email so that you can have all my dribble delivered to your email in-box every day!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

2010-08-17T06:48:00.001-05:00

I have tried different homemade versions of taco seasoning mix, but none of them tasted "just right". I couldn't figure out what it was that was making them taste so bland. But no worries! I found one the other day that is the perfect blend of seasonings. It works great for chicken, beef, pork--whatever you are trying to spice up for Mexican night!

@Google Images

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Ingredients
1 tablespoon of chili powder
2 teaspoons of onion powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 tsp cornstarch
3/4 cup water

Directions
Mix all the dry ingredients together and use with your taco meat. Pour the water in the pan and cook just like you would for tacos. The amount above is the same amount that is in one packet of taco seasoning mix at the store.

This post is linked to Tip Me Tuesday, Anti Procrastination Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Shutter Love Tuesday, and Tasty Tuesday.

Working Together as a Family

2010-08-17T04:43:00.001-05:00

Many people ask us all the time, How do you get your kids to work like you do? Honestly, I don't know what to tell them, except for the fact that we have just modeled that in front of them.

We have done our best to show them how to have a good work ethic and also what God's word shares about working by the sweat of your brow. We want them to be proud of their accomplishments.

We want them to know that when they are older, they will have a sense of pride when they work, because let's face it, in today's society, most teens don't have a good attitude about work. It's all about, What's in it for me?

We want them to know that a little hard work never hurt anyone. The really cool thing is that we don't force them to work with us. When they know daddy has lots of work on his plate, everyone offers to pitch in and help until the work is done.

Whatever daddy needs, that's what we, his family, his support group are here for.
So there you have it. That is how we get our kids to work. They love being part of a family that works together, plays together, and loves together.

And of course, there is always the goofing off when working with dad, right??

Look at These Homeschooled Kids!

2010-08-16T05:16:00.000-05:00

Here we are! The first day of our school year. I am so excited and cannot wait to get going this year! Here are my wonderful students.

Robert is beginning his 10th grade year. Can you say "OH MY GOODNESS"! I cannot believe he is already in his 10th grade year. He is growing by leaps and bounds and just maturing faster than my heart is ready for. He loves to explore and learn new things and is SUPER excited about Biology this year (he is my Science geek).

My chef in training, Miss Kayla, is a 7th grader! WOW! She has come a very long way. She is one of those kids that can take a book and learn anything. She has her dad's visual perception and can see what others cannot. She is my Math nerd! She loves math more than any other subject.

The Marriage Challenge Update

2010-08-15T18:05:00.000-05:00

After spending all summer loving on my husband and using the guidelines that Courtney set up at Women Living Well, I find myself more supportive of everything my husband believes in.

It is funny because last year, I don't remember being this in love and this caring about his every day to day life. I mean I loved him then, but it is on an even deeper level that I love and respect him now. Come to think of it, I believe that is what has deepened my love for him even more is the respect that has grown for him.

Watching him work in a job for over a year, one that he absolutely hated, but he did it because he loved us--I don't know how to explain it. My respect just grew by leaps and bounds because of that.

I will have to say that I am glad that I did this marriage challenge. It helped me to put things back in perspective of where I needed to be, and where I wanted to be.

I am going to continue these practices as I know there will be times I am going to need a reminder.

12 New Things

2010-08-15T07:55:00.001-05:00


http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com

I love Sarah Mae's idea of learning one new thing each month for the next twelve months. I decided to join her since this is something right up my alley!

After thinking about it this morning, here are the twelve things I want to accomplish and learn.

August: I want to make homemade biscuits--NOT bricks, which is what mine keep turning out like.

September: I want to decoupage something. I saw this really cute plates that someone made that you hang on the wall and they were decoupaged--so I want to make some of these for Christmas gifts using the adorable plates at the Dollar Tree.

October: Pajamas. I want to sew some pajamas for my daughter for Christmas, and finish her blanket that I promised to make her.

November: I want to learn how to create a lovely tablescape. I see all these neat tablescapes, but I am just not crafty enough to make one look gorgeous.

December: I want to learn how to freezer cook. Plain and simple!

January: Basket Weaving. It just looks fun!

February: Planning out a garden and knowing what to plant FIRST! I have no clue how to do this.

March: Landscaping. I want to plant flowers but I want to know how to design it so that it is functional and beautiful.

April: French braid my daughter's hair because she has been asking me to learn.

May: Learn to play the guitar ( I started but then got frustrated)

June: Learn to bend metal and hang it like my husband (it goes around new replacement windows so that the wood doesn't ever have to be painted again). There is an art to that, one of which I do not possess!

July: Learn to cook Thai and Indian food, because I have heard it is delicious.

This is my list! I am really excited about this because I want to learn something new, and having a list will help me to stay more structured and actually DO them.

Skills in the Homeschool

2010-08-12T07:53:00.000-05:00

I read an article in Woman's Day Magazine last night that really just hit home with me. It is everything that Stephen and I have been talking about for this school year for our kids.

While math and english are very important parts of schooling, life skills are just as important. In fact, life skills are needed to be able to live an adequate and very fulfilling life.

I have watched countless teenagers grow up with little or no knowledge of how to care for a home, cook, take care of their vehicles, and frankly all of those things are a major importance in growing up.

Here are 6 skills that the article says are the most important for your teenager to learn. I totally agree!

Cleaning~All teens need to know how to clean. From washing dishes, taking out the trash, running the vacuum, washing clothes--they need to know! Weekly chores could involve all of these things. Create a schedule for them to go by so that they are properly introduced to running and caring for a household.
Car Maintenance~This is one that we are for sure going to be working on this year. The sad thing is that I am 35 and I still don't know how to properly care for a car. So my husband will be teaching all three of us this year. We are going to learn how to change the oil, check fluid levels, change a tire, and whatever else he thinks we should learn. In fact, the Duggars are not allowed to get their driver's license until they have went through a car maintenance workshop with their dad.
Laundry~When I married my husband, I had NO clue how to wash or dry clothing. The first load I ever washed and dried...I burned, seriously! I don't want my kids to have to go through that kind of embarrassment, so we are learning how to wash clothes this year as well.
Making Appointments~This is something that we have already started working on, especially with Robert. As we make appointments for things like doctors, and eye doctors, he is being responsible for creating the appointment and then once we go in, signing in and letting them know he has arrived. He is also learning what things to bring with him when he goes, because let's face it. He is almost 16. Soon he will be going places without us and he will need to know how to sign himself in.
Cooking~We are creating a home ec course this year that will involve everything from menu planning to completing a cooked dinner course. The kids are excited about this. If you have all boys it is extremely important for them to know how to cook for themselves. That is one thing I am proud of when I talk about my husband. He can cook and care for a home just as good as I can. I want our son to be the same way.
Managing Money~This one is a very big deal. I have always been one who is not good with money, so we are all learning this one together.

If your teens have these 6 skills downpat then they will make well rounded adults!

Whose Job Is It Anyway?

2010-08-11T06:25:00.000-05:00

Something has been really bothering me the last few days. Since this is my blog, I thought I would address it here, just in case you may have some viewpoints on this topic as well.

I guess what has just got my blood to boiling is the fact that most of the kids in my neighborhood are raising themselves. The parents just don't seem to care anymore.

This is very saddening to me.

The day before yesterday, I had to go outside and be the referee to an argument that was going on between a couple of the boys that play with my kids. I sat them down and talked to them about their behavior while they are at my house. They both apologized and all was fine, but it just frustrates me.

Parents--PLEASE take your job seriously. It is not the school's responsibility or the church's responsibility to raise your kids! It is YOURS!

God gave each of us a charge the moment we realized we were with child. At that point, this special person that belongs to the Lord, was given to YOU to nurture and raise in the admonition of the Lord. From the moment we decided to become a parent, we were saying to God, "I can do this. I can be a parent." Does that mean we always do a great job? No! But what it does mean is that we strive to do our best for the Lord in caring for His creation.

Our kids are not to tend to themselves all the time so that we can go off and live our lives and party and just do "whatever." That life was given up when we became parents. Our job is to instruct them on how to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord. Kids NEED grownups who can share with them advice on how to be the person that will shape who they are in the future. They don't need friends. They have plenty of them What they need is a parent. They may not act like they want a grown ups advice, but deep down, they do. Trust me. I have talked to many kids who SOAK UP that interaction--when you pay special attention to them when they have a problem. They look for that guidance.

It is not the Youth Pastor's job to guide your children. It is not the teacher's job to guide your children. These people are there to HELP build upon what YOU, the parent, are teaching them.

I am not saying I have it all together, because frankly I don't. But Stephen and I have made a committment to our children and to each other to be there for them and to teach them until they leave the nest. We are not leaving anything to chance. We are not allowing the world to teach our children what we the parents are to teach them. Does this mean we coddle them and protect them from everything around them? Nope! It means we are the ones preparing them for whatever the world is going to throw at them. We are teaching them how the Lord would handle it.

Let's prepare our children to succeed in this generation that they are living.

What about you? Will you take this parenting challenge with me? Take the time today to sit down and talk with your child about what he needs from you, what she is not getting from you and build upon that.

Coming Soon . .A Martha Heart

2010-08-11T05:12:00.001-05:00

I am really excited about A Martha Heart.

A Martha Heart is the ministry of Holly and Trish. There will also be a host of fantastic women that will be contributing as well. One of them is my friend Kela. I have no clue yet who the others are.

Being a woman so like Martha, but with a desire to have Mary's heart, I know that this endeavor is going to be one that will grow my relationship with Jesus and also help me to be more focused and organized as a keeper at home.

Check out the welcome page at A Martha Heart. Get excited because I am!

My Shop is Now Open!

2010-08-10T06:53:00.000-05:00

I am really excited about the opening of my Open Sky shop! I enjoy sharing with y'all products that have worked for me.

One of the newest things I have received is this adorable coffee mug.

This mug is a little more expensive than most that I have purchased ($14.95). I guess I was just taken by the person who is selling these. She has a corgi named Bailey that looks just like my Ruffles! It is unreal. And in honor of my little Ruff-Ruff


Isn't he just too darn cute?

I decided to choose this mug as my first item of choice! PLUS, I am going to start weaning myself completely off of coffee and start drinking tea instead (I am down to 1/4 a cup so I am doing great).

If you would like one of these adorable coffee mugs, all you need to do is just click that add to cart button and you can order one for yourself.

Fettucine Chicken Alfredo

2010-08-10T06:29:00.000-05:00

My family has fallen in love with Chicken Alfredo. Since eating it the last time that Kayla and I went to Olive Garden, I decided to try my hand at home.

If you don't have time to make the sauce homemade, you can just use the jarred stuff. It tastes awesome!

Here is the recipe that I have been using. It is from the Kraft website. Enjoy!

What You Need

1/2 lb. Fettuccine, uncooked

1 lb. Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1-1/4 cups Fat-free reduced-sodium chicken broth

4 tsp. Flour

4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed

3 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

1/4 tsp. Garlic powder

1/4 tsp. Pepper

Make It

COOK pasta as directed on package.
MEANWHILE, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 to 7 min. or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet. Mix broth and flour in same skillet. Stir in Neufchatel, 2 Tbsp. Parmesan, garlic powder and pepper; cook 2 min. or until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly with whisk. Stir in chicken.
DRAIN pasta; place in large bowl. Add chicken mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Special Extra

Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley just before serving.

Substitute

Prepare as directed, using whole wheat fettuccine.

Variation

Stir in 2 cups chopped cooked broccoli before serving.

Reprinted from the Kraft Kitchen Website.

This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, Dining with Debbie, and Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.

Riding Through Gatlinburg

2010-08-10T05:23:00.001-05:00

While I was away on my trip, my friend Nancy and I took a slight detour to Gatlinburg. Here are a few of the sites I snapped while driving through.

The Wondrous Cross!

Dowtown Gatlinburg

A city (in this case a house) on a hill cannot be hidden! Beautiful!

The majestic "Smoky" Mountains

As you can see, this town is breath taking!

The Schoolroom~She is Ready

2010-08-09T14:03:00.000-05:00

Heart of the Matter Blog Hop

The walls are prepped with maps and grammar helps. The table is waiting for the eager students that will be doing their math work, science work, and fun activities.

The bookshelves are loaded with living books for history and reading. Eager minds await the day that we will dig into these books for the first time.

We are ready for another new adventure! Year number 4 is upon us. Has it been that many already?

Letting God Use What's Available

2010-08-08T08:09:00.001-05:00

Yesterday while I was fixing supper, I realized that I was missing a key ingredient that I had forgotten to pick up at the store. At first I was extremely upset with myself for forgetting this item and it was putting me in a bad mood.

I was tempted to run to the store and grab the item I was out of. However, I remembered that a website I had been on earlier in the week had a recipe to make this item I was out of. I went on that site, found the recipe, made it, and guess what? My meal survived and tasted delicious.

Later that evening God spoke to my heart. It was weird because I really felt Him speaking to me about my life. He whispered to me--

You make your life like that item you were missing.

I wasn't for sure what He meant by that, but He explained it very quickly before I could question Him.

"You tend to think that your life always has to look pretty for Me to use. If you think there is something that I want from you that don't have--you try to get that, do that, be that. The truth is, why not just let Me use what is already in your life and let Me make it into what I want it to be."

I was stunned at that moment when God spoke that into my heart. It's true. Many times I try to "fix" my life up so God will be amazed at how together I am. In reality though, He knows what a mess I am. I am learning that all I can do is hand God my crazy messed up life, with all the ingredients. He is the one that can make something beautiful come out of all these weird and crazy parts of me.

He wants me like I am. He wants you like you are.

Let's stop trying to be somebody we are not. Let's allow Him to use what's available and make us someone special. If He could do it for Abraham, David, Peter, and Paul--He can most definitely do it for us.

Chocolate Cake

2010-08-08T05:29:00.000-05:00

The other night I was in the mood for chocolate, but did not have any cake mix on hand. However, I had flour, eggs, milk, cocoa, butter, and powdered sugar--so I was able to make this dee-licious chocolate cake, completely from scratch!

The cake recipe came from my favorite website, The Hillbilly Housewife. Her recipes are inexpensive to make and usually use what is already in your cabinets. I have made many of her recipes and there has not been one that I have not fallen in love with.

Hope you enjoy!
(recipes reprinted with permission)

Chocolate Cake

1 cup margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon each vanilla and salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
2-1/2 cups flour
2 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Get out a big bowl. Put the softened margarine (you can soften it in the microwave if you like)and the sugar into a large mixing bowl. Using electric beaters, cream them together until they are light and fluffy. Then add the eggs. Beat the eggs in, all at once. Continue beating the mixture until it is satiny smooth and emulsified. Next add the salt, vanilla, baking soda and cocoa. Beat again, until the cocoa is well mixed into the batter, making it chocolaty and fragrant. Then put the flour and the buttermilk or sour milk into the bowl. If you only have fresh milk, you can sour it with a little vinegar. Probably a tablespoon would be enough. Do it like this, put a tablespoon of vinegar into a two cup measure. Add enough milk to reach the two cup line. Allow the milk to set for a few moments, until you see it curdle. Now the milk is ready to use.

Anyway, beat the flour and milk into the batter with your electric beaters. Beat it really good, for about two full minutes, getting out all of the lumps. Turn the batter into a well oiled 9 by 13-inch rectangular pan, or two 9-inch round pans, or three 8-inch round pans. Bake the cake at 350F for 50 minutes in the large pan, and 35 to 40 minutes in the smaller pans. When the edges pull away from the sides of the pan, and the center springs back when you touch it gently, it is done. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a long time. When the cake is all the way cool, you can frost it. This recipe makes a very large cake. The batter just barely fits in my 9″ cake pans, so if aren’t sure if your pans will hold it or not, then place them on a cookie sheet the first time you bake this recipe. That way, if any spills over, it will be easier to clean off of the cookie sheet than the bottom of the oven. Good cake for birthdays and fancy layer cake creations.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup margarine (1 stick)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 or 5 tablespoons milk
4 cups powdered sugar
Good dash salt

Soften or melt the margarine first. I usually melt it in the microwave, because that is easiest for me. Add the cocoa, vanilla, and 4 tablespoons milk. Using electric beaters or a whisk, beat these ingredients together until they are good and smooth. Add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time, and continue beating the frosting. After you have added all four cups of powdered sugar, you may need a little more milk to give the frosting spreading consistency. If you think you need more milk, add it a teaspoon at a time. If too much milk is added, you will end up with runny frosting. Fix this by adding more unsweetened cocoa, or more powdered sugar, or both. If desired you may replace the milk with strong coffee and end up with a very tasty grown up mocha flavor. I don’t give this to the kids because they are wired up on the chocolate and sugar already, they don’t need caffeine on top of it. This recipe is supposed to make enough for a layer cake. Depending on one’s skill in frosting layer cakes, this may or may not be true. If you have a child who wants a chocolate layer cake with chocolate frosting for their birthday, this is the one to choose.

Learning Math Through Playing Games

2010-08-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

My kids love to play Monopoly. Me--not so much. Why? Because it takes soooo looooong to play one game of it!

However, I have learned that by playing Monopoly, they are learning math skills. Sometimes, it is better to teach a lesson when it can be fun and interactive. Skills that can be taught when playing games are:

counting~how many spaces do you have to move? Count them out loud.
estimation~how many inches do you think you will move?
logic~if I move there, what will happen? How can I move to make sure I stay in the game?
counting back change~That property is $320. If I gave you $500, how much will I get back?
multiplication~I landed on that property and now I have to pay you 5% of whatever rolls on the dice. How much will that be?

As you can see, there are great ways to teach math just by playing games! My idea is to loosen up a bit in math this year and find more fun ways to learn.

Do you have any particular games you like to use to teach with?

Random Thoughts From My Frazzled Brain

2010-08-06T07:44:00.000-05:00

Big changes are taking place in our family in the upcoming months. They will affect us greatly, but you know what? I am at TOTAL peace with them which is really weird considering that I usually freak out and worry immensely.

I won't share what the big changes are just yet, but just be in prayer for our family. Pray that we will continue to seek God as faithfully as we have in the past and that we will trust Him through all the changes that are taking place.

My house is a TOTAL mess this week. I have just been not in the mood to clean at all.

My daughter and her friend are waiting for homemade waffles, so guess I better stop being random and go make some!

Today is Mega Swagbucks Day!

2010-08-06T06:50:00.000-05:00

Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day (MSBD), which means better odds of winning BIG Swag Bucks denominations! Simply search naturally, and with a little luck, you'll be winning large bills starting at 20 Swag Bucks and up.

I have won 75 swagbucks before at one time on Fridays! I use these bucks to fund our book habit, school stuff, Christmas gifts, and more. The way I do this is by using my bucks to buy Amazon Gift Cards.

To date, I have earned enough to buy $420 in Amazon gift cards (this is since last year).

To sign up for Swagbucks, simply, click HERE and you get 30 right up front!

Freezer Cooking Made Simple

2010-08-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Freezer Cooking Made Simple

Product Name: Freezer Cooking Made Simple
Rating: 10
Where to Buy: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com

Description: This eBook is filled with all the information necessary to learn how to freeze foods and make those dollars stretch. With information such as how to get started, what items you need, what foods freeze well and foods that don’t quite cut it when it comes to freezing, this eBook tells it all. Worksheets, printable labels and even a few quick and easy recipes are included to get you started with healthier meals when living on a tighter budget.

Review: As a mother, wife and just all around caretaker of my home I needed to find something that would take less time and save me money in the kitchen. I went looking for ideas and found many that seemed to be the answer. Most of them I found to be more time consuming than anything. Then, I came upon this eBook.

Freezing foods makes sense in all aspects. It’s amazing how in just one afternoon you can have a freezer full of healthy foods to feed your family for a month. This eBook will show you how. It’s easy to understand, has all the facts you need to know and will give you the answers to any questions you may have.
Freezer Cooking Made Simple is set up so that even the newly married can find what she needs. It explains why freezing foods can save you money and time. It talks about what you need in the way of equipment, how to shop for foods and how to cook these foods.

There is a section that explains how to safely store your freezer meals including labels to help you remember exactly what you have and how to reheat it. Susanne has included a printable shopping list along with a worksheet to help plan your meals on a weekly and monthly basis. Best of all - there are even a few recipes added to get you started.

If you’re looking for a way to save money and time in the kitchen, I strongly urge you to take a look at Freezer Cooking Made Simple. Once you read through it, put it into motion immediately. You will see that this is a very simple and easy way to make those hours in the kitchen count. Shopping, cooking and freezing foods aren’t as hard as many of us believe. Give it a chance and you will find the answer you’ve been looking for all along.

Organizing Your Online Time

2010-08-05T07:48:00.000-05:00

My daughter said something yesterday that really shook me to my bones. She made a comment about how much time I am online. WOW! I realized at that moment, that I do spend a lot of time on the Internet--most of it is just being nosy about what everyone is doing.

It just kind of hit me hard yesterday and I have finally realized that I might have a slight addiction to being on the computer. Yes--I do work from home and have to be on the computer for that, but past that point I have to ask myself this question--Do I really need to spend all that extra time on the computer?

The answer is NO. My family definitely takes priority over that time, so I have found I need to organize my online time. Have you ever done that?

Here is the solutions that I came up with

~Early morning is great for me. They are still sleeping and I can get much of my work done during this time period.

~Independent study time is a great time to be on here. They are busy working and I can be too.

~When they are outside playing and before my husband gets home.

Past these times, I am going to do my best to limit my computer time. Once my husband gets home and we settle in for the evening, I am going to work on staying off the computer during this time.

What about you? What are some ways that you limit computer time?

The Gals

2010-08-04T14:52:00.002-05:00

Everytime I tell my personal friends that I work from home for The Old Schoolhouse and Econobusters, I always get the "Huh?" "What's that?" remark.

This past weekend, after two years, I finally got to meet up with some of the lovely ladies that I have worked along side with this year.

These ladies are the Econobusters team (except for Sharra who is the first one on the left. Her and my friend Nancy are taking care of the Schoolhouse Expo). The lady in the blue shirt is Dena Wood, I am the one with the pink Faith shirt, and the lady on the very end is Eleanor Joyce. These ladies will leave you in stitches. I cannot tell you how good it felt to laugh until our sides hurt! Not only did we have great fun, we made some wonderful and exciting decisions for Econobusters for the upcoming year.

Here is the whole clan that was at the Suarez's house. Back row from L-R: Tandy Sue Hogate, Dena Wood, Eleanor Joyce, Sharra Badgley, Nancy Carter, Gena Suarez. From row from L-R: Michelle Eichhorn, ME, Donna Campos (she is my Facebook game partner. We are always competing against each other when we have time).

We spent 4 days together working our tails off. Gena and her family are the most hospitable family I have ever stayed with. They took us all in like we are real family--not just co workers and loved on us and fed us some "oh so good" food!

When it was time to leave, Nancy and I posed in front of the green caterpillar for a quick pic and then off to KY we headed back!

I had a great time getting to spend some time with some gals and just chatting it up, and like they always say. . . What happens at the TOS staff meetings, stays at the TOS staff meetings!

Whisper on the Wind

2010-08-04T08:15:00.000-05:00

This book was really good. I enjoyed the story line very much. From page 1 to the very end you are captivated to the point you do not want to put it down.!

About the book:
In Brussels at the height of WWI, a small, underground newspaper is the only thing offering the occupied city hope—and real news of the war. The paper may be a small whisper amid the shouts of the German army, but Edward Kirkland will do anything to keep it in print. Meanwhile, Isa Lassone, a Belgian-American socialite whose parents whisked her to safety at the start of the war, sneaks back into the country to rescue those dearest to her: Edward and his mother. But Edward refuses to go, and soon Isa is drawn into his secret life printing the newspaper . . . And into his heart.

In Brussels at the height of WWI, a small, underground newspaper is the only thing offering the occupied city hope—and real news of the war. The paper may be a small whisper amid the shouts of the German army, but Edward Kirkland will do anything to keep it in print. Meanwhile, Isa Lassone, a Belgian-American socialite whose parents whisked her to safety at the start of the war, sneaks back into the country to rescue those dearest to her: Edward and his mother. But Edward refuses to go, and soon Isa is drawn into his secret life printing the newspaper . . . And into his heart.

Read the first chapter HERE.

Finding Me Again

2010-08-04T05:09:00.002-05:00

I have been really down on myself a lot lately. In fact, it has gotten to the point that I just couldn't stand to be in the room with "me" anymore.

This weekend, that all changed. God spoke to my heart in the wee hours of the morning as I sat reading His word, and my whole view of who I am completely changed. I found myself excited again about being God's child. I found myself looking forward to all that He has for me in my life. It was just a major transformation.

It just amazes me how God will pull you away from all the things in your life that are distracting you so that He can get you to focus on what He wants you to see and hear.

I am glad that I had my listening ears on this weekend. Here is what I heard:

~I love you daughter...LOVE YOURSELF COMPLETELY.

~I think you are beautiful...LOOK AT YOURSELF THROUGH MY EYES.

~You are My child. . .HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH AS YOU WEAR MY LOVE.

~I know you by name. . .YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MINE.

So what is God saying to you today? Listen with your heart first. Your heart is where God's love will bloom and grow.

Same Kind of Different as Me

2010-08-03T06:36:00.000-05:00

This book was an amazing book. I love true stories written to the point that they draw you in and you just don't really want to put them down. This is one of those books. You will want to get this and read about Denver Moore.

His stories of slavery are mind blowing and you make realize just how bad our nation has gotten. I promise you will want to read this one for sure!

About the book:
A true, inspirational story that crosses the barriers of society.
Meet Denver, raised under plantation-style slavery in Louisiana until he escaped "da Man"—in the 1960s—by hopping a train. Then, after another 18 homeless years on the streets of Dallas, God moved . . . and a godly woman named Deborah prayed, listened, and obeyed. Mountains began to move, beginning with her husband, Ron, an international art dealer accustomed to the world of Armani suits and art-collecting millionaires.
The story takes a devastating twist when Deborah discovers she has cancer. Will Deborah live or die? Will Denver learn to trust a white man? Will Ron embrace his dying wife's vision to rescue Denver? Or will Denver be the one rescuing Ron?
There's pain and laughter, doubt and tears, and in the end a triumphal story that readers will never forget.

This book was provided by Book Sneeze in order to review. I was not paid to write these words. They are my own opinion.

The Bishop

2010-08-03T06:19:00.000-05:00

This book is a little different from all the other books I have read. I was forewarned up front that this book was from the mind of a serial killer, however I wanted to see for myself so I asked for a copy to review.

If you like good crime novels you will love this one. It is a little on the gruesome side, but I like what Stephen James says on his blog about why he writes about evil:

In my books I never glamorize violence or make evil look attractive. However, I believe that including graphic material within the broader context of a redemptive story, just as the Bible does, is appropriate when trying to reveal the truth about human nature and our relationship with the Divine. For the record, when I write my novels I strive to

(1) uphold the dignity and worth of human life,
(2) as much as possible avoid showing violence on the page (most of it occurs off the page, in the minds of the reader),
(3) show that ultimately, hope does not come from inside ourselves, but from God,
(4) honestly portray the universality of evil,
(5) celebrate life, love, imagination, beauty and family,
(6) validate the purpose and meaning of life within the context of the broader scope of God's story,
(7) tell the truth about the world--exposing the grief and horror as well as championing the hope and joy.

If you’re looking for inspirational books, or more theological offerings, please check out my books "A Heart Exposed," "Story," or “Sailing Between the Stars.”

I started out reading this book, and for me, it was a little too graphic. However, a friend of mine who has a daughter absolutely loved this book and all the others that Mr. James has written and she said it was a great book. Like I said, if you love crime stories and can stomach some very detailed violence, then this is the book for you!

You can read more about Mr. James book on his website, Musings and Meanderings.
About the book:

The game is on.
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers's cutting-edge skills are about to be pushed to the limit when a young woman is found brutally murdered in Washington DC. Her killers continue a spree of perfect crimes in the Northeast, but with nothing to link them to each other, Agent Bowers faces his most difficult case yet--even as his personal life begins to crumble around him.
The Bishop is a gripping, adrenaline-laced story for readers who are tired of timid thrillers. Strap on your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride.

Endorsements

What everybody is talking about
"Be warned--James's books are not for the timid."--Mitch Galin, producer, Stephen King's The Stand
"Impossible to put down."--Kathleen Antrim, bestselling author, Capital Offense
"An intense, intelligent thriller. . . . Riveting!"--Karen Dionne, International Thriller Writers website chair
"James tells stories that grab you by the collar and don't let go."--Norb Vonnegut, author, Top Producer
"Absolutely brilliant."--Jeff Buick, bestselling author, Bloodline
"As thrilling and unexpected as any five-star action movie."--John Tinker, Emmy-award-winning writer

This book was provided by Revell Books in order for me to write a review. The opinions are my own. I was not paid to write them.

The Seeker

2010-08-03T06:09:00.000-05:00

I finished another great book published by Revell Books this week. The Seeker has been my favorite one so far. If you are a Gone with the Wind fan, you will immediately be drawn into this book, with its southern belles and wonderful gentlemen-like men.

To me as I read this, I could see Charlotte and the man she falls in love with as being Scarlett and Rhett. The trials they both go through, the love that blossomed between them--unknowingly to both, it is just one of those books that you get so engrossed in you don't want to put down.

This book gets five stars from me and a high recommendation for anyone's reading list!

About the Book:

When well-laid plans go awry, can she still make her dreams come true?

Charlotte Vance is a young woman who knows what she wants. But when the man she planned to marry joins the Shakers—a religious group that does not allow marriage—she is left dumbfounded. And when her father brings home a new wife who is young enough to be Charlotte's sister, it is more than she can bear. With the country—and her own household—on the brink of civil war, this pampered gentlewoman hatches a plan to avoid her new stepmother and win back her man by joining the Shaker community at Harmony Hill. Little does she know that this decision will lead her down a road of unforeseen consequences.

Ann H. Gabhart brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry, the simple Shakers, and the ravages of war in 1860s Kentucky to weave a touching story of love, freedom, and forgiveness.

Endorsements

"In The Seeker, Ann H. Gabhart has penned a captivating story of love that blooms despite the desperate circumstances of the Civil War and a delicious heroine who chooses safety and seclusion among the Shakers. Gabhart's vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters will leave you wanting more. A wonderful read!"—Judith Miller, author, Daughters of Amana series

"Ann H. Gabhart has a gift for skillfully blending research with fiction to create stories that entertain. The Seeker is a well-woven tale about a strong and determined woman who is willing to risk everything to follow her convictions. A definite can't-put-it-down book."—Suzanne Woods Fisher, author, Amish Proverbs, Amish Peace, and The Choice

"To read The Seeker is to step inside a peaceful Shaker village and experienceã•a new world of faith, love, freedom, and forgiveness. Ann H. Gabhart brings to life a spirited southern belle in war-torn Kentucky with authenticity and grace. A page-turner to the very end!"—Laura Frantz, author, The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little

This book was provided by Revell Books in order to write a review. All opinions are my own and I was not paid to write this.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

2010-08-01T05:12:00.002-05:00

This bread is SO good. It goes wonderful with coffee, or by itself, or on a plate with an extra dollop of whip cream. There is really nothing wrong you can do to this bread.

The lemony goodness just melts in your mouth as you take bite after bite--and you will. Try to eat just one little piece. It will not happen!

Here is the recipe:

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 tablespoons poppy seeds
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/8 cups vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease three 8x4 inch bread pans.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, poppy seeds and 2 1/2 cups white sugar. Add the eggs, milk, oil, vanilla and lemon extract; mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour batter evenly into the prepared pans.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean. Cool loaves in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
Combine orange juice with remaining 3/4 cup sugar and desired flavor of extract; stir well. Pour this mixture over the loaf while it is still hot. Allow loaf to cool completely before serving.

This yields 3 loaves.

To Flat Iron Or Not To Flat Iron. . .That Is the Question

2010-07-31T05:20:00.001-05:00

This is me before the flat iron. I wash and dry my hair and it "poofs" all on its own.

Ain't that hair something else?? Now, check this out. After my flat iron has had a chance to get with my hair!

Major difference huh?

When Sleeping Dogs Lie. . . Everywhere

2010-07-30T04:52:00.001-05:00

At lunchtime, this is the scenario that my husband has to look forward to.

In the evening, after everything settles down, this is what I have to look forward to.

It must be nice being a little chihuahua, huh?

Gearing Up For School

2010-07-29T05:45:00.001-05:00

I have been working super hard the last couple of months gathering our school books for the new year. As many of you know, we homeschool in our family, so I do my best to find good books that my kids can really learn from.

This year, my children wanted to study World History in depth, so we decided to go with Sonlight. When I checked out the package that I was going to have to purchase, the price was a total of $653! WOW! I almost fell off my chair at the sticker price.

Many people that use Sonlight say that they don’t like the hassle of trying to piece together and track down all the books, but for me, I love a good frugal challenge–and that is what I looked at this as. So I posed myself a question–Could I really find all the books in this curriculum package and still be within my budget for school curriculum for the year?

Do you see how full that bookshelf is? Let’s see how I did! My budget for our school books this year was not to exceed $400.

Sonlight Alt7 Program (new $653) Total Paid–$305!

Math U See Pre Algebra (new $85) Total Paid–$27!

Math U See Epsilon (new $65) Total Paid–$35!

Ace Science Biology for my older child and Earth Science for my younger child (new $85) Total Paid–$30!

Biology Dissection Kit (new $39) Total Paid–$20!

Biology Labs DVD (new $44.95) Total Paid $13!

~~~~~~~~~~~

So the total is just a bit over my budget of $27. However, how I paid for these purchases, I only spent about $150 out of pocket. How did I pay for the rest? And how did I find such great deals? Here’s how!

~I signed up for Swagbucks last year and do all of my searching on this website. By searching from their site I earn bucks which I was able to spend on Amazon gift cards. So much of my shopping I did online at Amazon–and I purchased from sellers rather than the Amazon store.

~I bought many of the Sonlight titles from places like Vegsource, Sonlight used book forum, E Bay, Paperback Swap, Half.com, and used curriculum swap groups on Yahoo (there are TONS).

~I sold our older curriculum from last year and used that money to apply towards our new curriculum.

The really neat thing is that all this money did not come out at one time. I simply spent a little here and a little there when I had a few dollars to spare.

So, as you see, there are many ways that you can save money on buying your curriculum. Don’t get frustrated by the price of something. Search and find a way to get it at a frugal price!

What about you? What are you doing to gear up for school??

The Countdown Has Begun to the Opening of My Store!

2010-07-28T11:33:00.001-05:00

I cannot wait until August 10th! That is when my Open Sky shop opens its doors for business.

HOLD UP!

What in the world is Open Sky?

OpenSky is relationship driven shopping – a place where you can go to find the people you trust and the products they like, use, and recommend.

You’re basically buying products from those you trust--like me!

In my store, you will find all kinds of things I recommend, but more than that, you are going to be able to shop with peace of mind, knowing it is a product that has been tested, tried and true by a friend, and that you are not just throwing your money out the window.

If you would like to check out what Open Sky is all about, just click HERE.

Until then . . .

How Much Is Too Much?

2010-07-28T05:37:00.001-05:00

How much of your life do you share through social media like Facebook, Twitter, My Space, your blog? I am one of those that would post things like:

"Going to Wal-Mart"

"Eating at Chili's"

"Can't wait until we move"

"It's almost time for hubby to get off work"

But then, my husband said, "Honey, I don't think its a good idea for you to share so much of our personal information on these sites. You never know who is out there lurking and reading what you write."

I got to thinking about what he was saying and he is SO right. I watched a segment of a news program where a lady was sharing on Facebook about when she was going and when she was coming home. One of her followers was reading it and then all of a sudden she was attacked and her house broken into. They had gotten down to the "T" where she was at all times because she was posting things that should have never been posted.

I am truly glad for my husband's leading in this area. More than that, I am glad that I have heeded his advice. I don't want anyone knowing all my business!

What about you? How much do you share and how much is too much?

CSN Review Coming Soon!

2010-07-27T11:16:00.001-05:00

With over 200 stores, CSN Stores will cover all of your online shopping needs. Are you looking for a unique gift, childrens' furniture or toys, home decor items, cookware or cutlery, a coffee maker, home improvement products, or furniture? CSN Stores has it...plus much, much more! You can navigate easily through their site, and find anything and everything that you are looking for at great prices...a one-stop shop!

I'm excited to announce that I'll be hosting a review and giveaway, thanks to CSN Stores! I can't wait to get in that kitchen gadget store and pick something out!

Be on the lookout for it! Coming soon. . . to a blog near you!

An Egg, Some Bread, and LOTS of Butter!

2010-07-27T05:33:00.001-05:00

This weekend, I had my very first try of the Pioneer Woman's Egg in a Hole recipe. I am usually not an egg person per-say, but this recipe was DA BOMB!

The bread was crusty and buttery, and the egg did not even taste like an egg at all. The juicy yellow was just scrumptious with each tantalizing bite!

You should try it. In fact, you should try it today! Here is the recipe link:

PW's Egg in the Hole!

What's On the Menu This Week?

2010-07-26T17:36:00.001-05:00

This week for our menu, I am going to be trying some new recipes. I get all giddy and excited when I get to make something new. So here is the rundown this week!

Monday--Spaghetti, corn on the cob, homemade garlic bread

Tuesday--Hawaiian Chicken Burgers, Potato Pancakes

Wednesday--Breakfast for supper

Thursday--Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta, Green Beans

The rest of the week, the clan will be on their own as I will be with my Econobuster buds talking lots of great ideas and special things to come!

His Vision

2010-07-26T04:55:00.001-05:00

Have you ever just sat down with your husband and asked him what his vision is for your family? I love listening to mine talk about what he sees our family doing in the future.

He has such a heart for God and he does his very best to lead us according to God's word. My only job at this point is to accept how he leads us and get on board. When the husband and wife are both on the same page of working together for their family and the vision--all things begin to come together.

I wrote a post awhile back about Saying Yes To His Dreams. I think you should go read it!

Negativity

2010-07-24T10:43:00.000-05:00

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the prettiest of them all?

Not You!

Do you ever have this kind of response when you look in the mirror? Do you find yourself looking at the mirror wondering what happened?

I deal with this kind of negativity from myself daily. In fact I have the hardest time accepting any kind of flattering remark from my husband. I find myself saying things like:

"I am so fat. Why do you even like me?"

I am nothing but a ball of blubber.

When he comments and says things like

" I love your eyes the way they glisten in the sun", my first response is to roll my eyes and say "whatever".

I am learning that this kind of comment hurts my husband. We don't realize how much they play off the words that come out of our mouths. When I say things like this, I see the hurt in his eyes. He hates it when I put myself down.

The Solution!
There is a solution to this problem that actually works. I read in a book recently that a husband had his wife for two straight weeks, to get up every single morning and look at herself in the mirror, smile, and say--"I am a beautiful woman who is loved and adored by her husband."

In fact, every single time she had any kind of negative thought, she was to go to the mirror and repeat this phrase. When I first heard about this, I was like--WHATEVER!

But I am here to tell you that it does work. I have been doing it a lot and I have found that when I look in the mirror, I am beginning to see what my husband sees when he looks at me. However, sometimes I slip--like this morning when he said something about my beauty and I blew him off.

But after my bath and while putting on my makeup, I looked at me in the mirror and said--YOU are a beautiful woman who is adored and loved by your husband.

Won't you do the same today? Let's rid our minds of the negativity and embrace the woman that our husband loves!

The Wolf of Tebron

2010-07-24T08:20:00.000-05:00

If you love C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, then you are going to love The Gates of Heaven Series by C.S. Lakin. I had the privilege of reading the first book in this series, The Wolf of Tebron, and I was immiediately drawn in.

You will fall in love with the characters in this book as you meet each one. As you begin to read, you will not want to put this book down.

I am not going to share the inside of the book because any part of it will give it away. All I can tell you is YOU will want this book--trust me!

About the book:
A young blacksmith must undertake a perilous journey to the four ends of the world to rescue his wife, who is held captive by the Moon. Along the way, he befriends a powerful wolf who encourages, protects, and ultimately sacrifices his life to save his human friend. A stirring allegory of God's love in classic fairy tale tradition.

Following in the footsteps of fantasy greats like J. K. Rowling, C. S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lakin tackles the ancient struggle of good versus evil in her multi-part “Gates of Heaven” series. The first installment, The Wolf of Tebron, follows a young blacksmith’s journey to rescue his wife who is held captive by evil forces. During his travels, Joran befriends a powerful wolf who encourages, protects, and sacrifices his life to save his human friend. An allegory of God’s unconditional love, The Wolf of Tebron features quotes from the Bible and famous thinkers such as G. K. Chesterton, and relies on biblical messages of hope, faith, and redemption to drive the stories and characters.

About the Author:
C. S. Lakin is a multitasker. While running a bed and breakfast inn and raising two daughters, Lakin wrote three novels and a cookbook. In addition to The Wolf of Tebron, her mystery novel, Someone to Blame, winner of the Zondervan first novel contest, comes out in October 2010. Born into a family of writers, Lakin is also a member of several writing groups including American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Authors Network. Now working on her ninth novel, Lakin also has experience developing television series and is a member of Christian Filmmakers. Lakin currently lives in California where she is a freelance copyeditor and writing mentor. You can check out her website at http://www.cslakin.com/

Courting Morrow Little

2010-07-24T08:12:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading this great book by Revell Books entitled Courting Morrow Little. Morrow is a girl like myself, from Kentucky who loves her homefront.

Morrow has had plenty of saddness in her life and now that she is marrying age, her pa wants her to get married. Her decision is a tough one--marry for love or convenience?

I totally fell in love with the characters in this book. You root for the underdog--Red Shirt--as he does his best to win her heart.

About the book:

Caught between the wilderness and civilization, Morrow Little must find her way to true love.
Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love?
This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop you as it takes you from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness of the West.

Reviews

Praise for The Frontiersman's Daughter:"Frantz's debut will find a place in your heart."--RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars

I received this book as compensation in order to write a review for Revell Books. All opinions are my own.