What I Learned from My Grandma!

     When I was growing up my grandma watched me when my mom was at work.  I was raised by a single mom.  My grandma was your typical 1950/60's house wife, and proud to be one.  I was taught by my grandma that being a house wife/stay at home mom is truly a job, and not to let any one tell you differently.  My grandma had a routine for everything.  She had a set laundry schedule, a day for dusting, for vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, ect. 

     She was always willing to help out her neighbors, even if it was just a cup sugar.  She would visit with the other stay at home wives in the neighborhood.  Many of them raised their children at the same time my mom and aunts were growing up.  So in many ways I had a whole neighborhood of 1950/60's house wives to learn from.

     Although my grandma never go to see me in my role of stay at home wife/mom, I know she would be proud of me.  Many time I will stop and think what would grandma for .... I try and pull from the things I learned at her feet as a small little girl and later at her side as I grew.  Many things she tried to teach me I wish I had payed more attention too.  Things like some of her now forgotten recipes.  But so many of the things she taught me you can't learn in books.  Things like serving your family with a good attitude.  Standing by your husband and not giving up when things get rough.  Caring whole heartily for your neighbors, and being there for them in times of need.  Yes my mother taught me many of those things also.

     I learned that the best ran household needs routine.  In recent years I have strayed from that.  I am working to get back to that in the coming new year.  As I start off on this journey I will take you all along with me.

Photo Credit:pop-circus.blogspot.com

Cookies a Family Traditon

   For the last 6 or 7 years we have made a point to make cookies during the Christmas Season to give to our neighbors.  This year is no different.  My kids enjoy helping to make, decorate, and deliver the cookies every year.  Every year we try to do one new cookie and a couple traditional cookies.  This year we are making chocolate chip, butter spritzer cookies, ginger bread men and women, and new this year we are making pumpkin bread. Yes, I know that is not a cookie, but I could not find a new one I liked.
     When I was growing up, I helped my grandmother on my mom's side make pumpkin bread for her neighbors.  I think that is were I got the idea to start making cookies for our neighbors.  When I started to stay at home with our kids and homeschool them in May of 2008, I took on a lot of the same things I saw my grandmother do when I was younger.  Many of those things I can share in a different blog. 
   
Until Next Time,
Pitters

Homemade Kolaches

     I am about 1/4 Polish, 1/4 Bohemian, and 1/8 Czechoslovakian for a long time I have wanted to learn how to make Kolaches.  Although I have learned the sweet variation of this pastry I have yet to make a savory one.  So I searched today for a recipe for a savory variation.  I found one that I am making for dinner tonight.  With the size army, I mean family I have to feed I am doubling this recipe.  Many of the recipes I found used store bought dough.  I am not saying that is wrong, but I want authentic kolaches.  I finally found one and so far I am happy with how the dough is turning out.  I am right now waiting until the dough doubles in size.


Recipe for the Kolache Dough

Ingredients:
1 3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk (105 to 115 degrees F)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
6 Tablespoons Sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
about 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

   1. In a small bowl dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup milk.
   2. In a large bowl combine the yeast mixture, with the remaining milk that has been warmed, butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and 1 1/2 cups flour.
   3. Gradually add enough of the remaining flour to make a workable dough.
   4. In a mixer with a dough hook, kneed dough until smooth and springy, about 5 minutes.
   5. Place in an oiled bowl and turn to coat.
   6. Cover with a kitchen towel or loosely with plastic wrap.  Let dough rise for 2 to 3 hours or until the dough doubles in size, in a warm, draft free area.
   7. Punch down the dough, kneed briefly, cover, and let rise in a warm, draft free place until nearly doubled in size, about 1 1/4 hours
   8.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Punch down the dough knead briefly, divide in half, form balls and let stand for 10 min.
   9. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough 1/2in thick.  Cut into 2 1/2 in rounds. Reroll and cut out the scraps.
  10. Put in a tablespoon or 2 into in middle of the round.  fold the side around the filling and place seem side down.  Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper , about one inch apart.  Cover with a towel or plastic wrap loosely and let rise for about an hour.
  11. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake for 12 minuets or until golden brown.

What I have learned watching my son as he earns the Eagle Rank in Boy Scouts

     As we see our 17 year old rounding the last bin of his journey to getting his Eagle Scout Rank in Boy Scouts, we have seen him grow from a little boy to a young man.  As a young man earns his Eagle he learns many things along the way.  He first needs to learn what it means to be a scout.  He is asked to start living out the scout law oath, motto, slogan and the outdoor code.

The Law

A Scout is:

Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

The Oath

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

The Motto

Be Prepared!

The Slogan

Do a Good Turn Daily!

The Outdoor Code

As an American, I will do my best to -
Be clean in my outdoor manners
Be careful with fire
Be considerate in the outdoors, and
Be conservation minded.

     As a young man earns merit badges he learns many life long skills.  As he plans his Eagle project and puts that plan into action he learns leadership skills.  He is required to hold leadership positons in his troop along the way as well.

     I am so impressed with my son. Not many young men earn the eagle scout award.  He is now only waiting for his board of review to be scheduled,  Even though he is cutting it close and at times he wanted to give up he did not give up.  I know that he will one day look back over his time in scouting with fond memories and be glad he stuck it out.

     As his mom I have learned not to do the things he need to do but to encourage him to do them.  I have had to let him fail at times and learn to get back up and start again.  That is hard for a mom to do, but as he has grown on this adventure I have too.  

Warm Comfort!

     One thing I love on cold days is the warmth of hot chocolate.  For a short time as I drink my warm cup of hot chocolate, I feel life stresses melt away.  Tonight as I am writing this I am drinking a cup.  After the long day I had, I needed it.  Tonight's cup of hot chocolate is full of peppermint, whipped cream, and crushed candy canes.

   Another way I find warm comfort is in God's Word.  I know the days I don't start off reading the Bible and getting time alone with my Savior, are the days that don't go as I planed.  Well let me say that it bothers me more on those days when things don't go as planed.  On those days I have learned that I need to stop everything I can and read, pray, cry out to God.

     One thing that a guest pastor talked about at our churches marriage conference this past spring was that it is ok for us to express our emotions to God.  He can handle it if we need to yell and cry out to Him.  Yes, you heard me we can yell at God if we are upset. It is ok to get upset with God when you feel things are to much.  David yelled at God, have you ever read Psalms?  David yells at God a lot in Psalms.   Let it out, and give it to God.

     I know that not everything is solved by this, but you can ask God to help you.  To help you get through the pain of loss.  That pain may never truly go away, but you can cry out to God to help you work through the feelings you are going through.  He is there of His children, he wants to hold us and help us.  He can help us endure physical pain, cry out to Him, he is the great physician.  If you fell lost and drowning in life He can help with that too.  We just need to ask for His help.

     That is what God is teaching me lately.  To lean on Him, during all aspects of my life.  He is there for me.  He want me to ask Him for help.  What is God teaching you?

Until Next Time,
Pitters

Unit Studies: Using American Girl History Dolls

     This year for fourth grade we are doing unit studies with our daughter.  We are starting with Kaya, she is the Native American history girl.  My daughter and I are enjoying reading the books and doing a few crafts. Of this unit we are also going to be using the other resources from National Geographic, Usborne Books, and many others.  This years history unit studies all came about because of my daughters love for American Girl Dolls.  She loves reading the books about the different dolls.  How many of you also have daughters that love 18in dolls?

     I like how we have the freedom to use materials and books that our kids love to help them learn different subjects.


List of books we are using this year for 4th grade history.

* all the historic doll books from American Girl
* The Frist Americans (Usborne Books & More)
* Timelines of World History (Usborne Books & More)
* Various books from the Library about the time period we are studying.

     We also use Pinterest to find crafts and recipes.

Getting Ready for Christmas!!

     Now that Thanksgiving is over, my focus is now on getting ready for Christmas.  We usually we decorate the week after Thanksgiving. Most time the weekend of Thanksgiving.  This year I was booked for Small Business Saturday so it will happen this week.  Every year the kids love helping to decorate.  They each have their own ornaments that they place on the tree. 

     Every year we bake cookies for our neighbors.  Our kids enjoy making the cookies and packaging them up. Our neighbors seem to be happy to receive them every year. This year we have a couple new families that we are looking forward to making cookies for.

 
     Our little dog know what our stockings are.  When she sees them she cries for hers.  I know, I know, we are the crazy pet owner types.  Our dogs this year are being spoiled with a bark box subscription for a few months.  We have already received the first one and yes I wrapped it up for them for under the tree.

     I hope to share with all of you the things we do to get ready for Christmas and how we celebrate as a family.  So many fun things coming this Holiday Season.


Until Next Time,
Pitters

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

     So with just over a week away from Thanksgiving we have started to gear up to the week to come.  With all of the regular craziness of life it will be nice to slow down a bit next week.  We take to whole week of Thanksgiving off from school work.  Mostly because mom is busy cooking, baking, and prepping for Thanksgiving Day.  This week we will do all of the shopping for Thanksgiving along with our regular shopping.  This weekend the stores are going to be packed.  Knowing that a head of time I have to make sure I have a good list of what I need from each store we are going to.  I know is sounds crazy but yes I grocery shop at 3-4 stores every other week.  Mostly because Walmart has stopped price matching.  During the holidays many stores have to good of deals to pass up. Like Hy-Vee they have buy a ham get a turkey free.  Some things I get are only found at one store in the area.  Bakers has an amazing cheese area, with specialty cheese from all around the world.  Many I have not found at other places.

     So what 3-4 stores do I shop?  Well in our area we have quite a few, but I mostly patron Hy-Vee, Bakers, Neighborhood Walmart, and sometimes Family Fair.  I look through the ads for the stores and then make a list of what is a sale at that store I need for my menu.  I also make a list of things I need that are not on sale and then pick them up as I find a good price.  Many of those items are things I get on a regular bases and so I know what stores usually have the best price.

     As I plan for any grocery shopping trip I think of the following verse.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
-Proverbs 31:14

I try to buy the best quality and good variety for our family, even if it means going to 4 stores some weeks.

Until Next Time,
Pitters

Family Laundry!

    Our house hold is large.  In our household there is our four kids, my mom, my father-in-law, my aunt and my husband and I.  Yes we are a house hold of nine.  I sat down trying to decide how to do that much laundry.  So I decided to make up a schedule.  I have two family members on most days Monday - Friday.  Bathroom and Kitchen towels are a couple times a week.  I try not to have to do laundry on Saturdays and Sundays.

     My kids started helping with laundry when they were about 5 years old.  It started with them putting thing in their dirty clothing in baskets and helping put away clean laundry.  As they got older they helped more and more.  Now my kids do all their own laundry, some times they have to learn the hard way that if they don't do their laundry then they don't have clean clothing.

     I feel that teaching our children at a young age to help with their laundry and then do their laundry as they get a little older is a valuable life skill.   We are raising future adults, not children.  Ok let me say this yes my kids have had freedom to be kids.  On the flip side of that, they also have been thought to clean up after themselves with age appropriate chores. I want my kids to be good room mates and some day a good husband or wife.

     My hope is to post more tips about cleaning and decorating our homes.


Until next time
Pitters

How We Use Usborne Books & More in our Homeschool

     Let me start off saying that we have not always used books From Usborne and Kane Miller in our homeschool classroom.  About two years ago I as reintroduced to Usborne Books & More.  About a year after that I joined my friend in the Usborne Books & More business.  So when I share about Usborne Books & More please know that I might share my website from time to time.  So if I share that link and you order please note you are helping me in my small business.

     Currently my daughter is reading books from our Ella Diaries a series.  This book series has helped my daughter learn to love reading.  If your daughter like books such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then your daughter just might like Ella Diaries.

Disclamer: This is the link to my Usborne Books & More Website. I am an independent consultant with Usborne Books & More.  If you use this link to buy any books I will recessive compensation.

https://p5875.myubam.com/search?q=Ella+Diaries

     My 12 year old is reading books from our Extreme Adventures series.  So far he has read three of the books.  Scorpion Sting, Bear Attack, and Spider Bite.  He loves the books because the main characters are about his age.

Disclamer: This is the link to my Usborne Books & More Website. I am an independent consultant with Usborne Books & More.  If you use this link to buy any books I will recessive compensation.

https://p5875.myubam.com/search?q=Extreme+Adventures

     I am thinking about doing a book or book series highlight of Usborne Books & More a couple times a month.  Let me know if you all would like me to do this.

Soul Detox Devotional I am working through.

     I am still reading through the Soul Detox Devotional this week in my quite time.  You can find it on the Bible App. It is by Pastor Craig Groeschel from Life Church.

     This week is about cultural toxins.  The first day of this week talks about were do cultural toxins come from?  They come from music, magazines, movies, television, and so may other places.  Cultural toxins are things that are culturally acceptable, but if we are living for God are not,  according to His standards.  Craig Groeschel challenges the reader with the following.  "What are some of the cultural toxins you currently have in your life?  How have you seen these toxins pollute your life?"

     I was challenged with this a few years ago also by one of our pastors through a sermon he gave.  At the time it was season 2 or 3 of Grey's Anatomy.  That show for me was a cultural toxin.  Many may disagree with me, but for me I was challenged in my heart by God.  I have not seen an episode since.

     When I was a young Christian I was challenged by God with the music I was listening too.  I was a young single mom of boys.  Did I want my sons to listen to music that degraded women, talked about inappropriate things in this life, or about killing people?  That is not what I wanted my children hearing and I knew that was not what I should be listening too.  For the most part we only listen to Christian music and we are selective of the other music we allow in our home.  Once again this is some thing I have felt placed on my heart.  Not everyone has the same convictions, and that is ok.

The verses for todays devotional are:

[Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.  It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
Proverbs 25:26-27]

[Dear friends, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
3 John 1:11]

So dear reader my challenge to you is to get alone with God and ask Him what are the cultural toxins in your life? How can you remove any that are influencing your life?

Homemade Meat Sauce for Spaghetti

Homemade spaghetti sauce does not have to be hard to make.  I made a homemade sauce in under 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 Lb. Meat
2- 15oz cans tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste (I use the brand Cento in a tube)
2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1 small onion diced small
1 bell pepper any color diced small
3 cloves of garlic finely diced


1. In a deep sided frying pan cook the meat all the way through.
2. Add the garlic, onions, and bell pepper. Cook until tender.
3. Add the tomato paste and Italian seasoning. Stir for a couple minuets.
4. Add the tomato sauce and stir to combine.  Let simmer for about 8 minutes.
5. Add sauce to your favorite pasta and enjoy.

Let me know if you try this or any of the recipes I share.

Homeschool Does Not Always Have to be at Home

     I don't know how many times my kids or myself have been asked do you like just sitting at home all day, everyday?  Really people, I could ask your child the same thing, about sitting in a classroom all day.  Ok, first off yes we mostly do school in our home, but we also have the freedom to take our learning and even our book work on the road.  We also don't do all of our work at desks or tables. 
   
     For example last week my 12 year old (7th grader) was able to go with our aunt to our church's car care.  He was able to help one of the pastors change the breaks on her van.  He was able to work along side a man that was teaching him a very valuable life skill.  He has been able to help with our car care ministry before.  Most of the time it is getting tools and putting things away, but some times he get hands on lesson.  Any work he does is double checked by the adult in charge that day.  It has sparked an interest for him, he has been talking about looking into going to school for auto maniacs.  in the coming months and as he gets older he hope to help more with that ministry.

     In the past we have taken our books to a park just to get some fresh air and when school work was done they could run and play.  We try to go on a variety of field trips with our kids.  Any were from the zoo to art museums.  All learning does not have to be book learning.  Many times I take the kids with me to grocery shop, this helps teach them about budget, menus, nutrition labels, price comparison, and so much more.  A nature hike can be just as informative, if not more, as reading a book about nature.

     So please if you are thinking about homeschooling or if you are new to it, please don't think you have to be stuck in the house all day, everyday.  I also did not talk about co-op classes or extra curricular actives you can do with your homeschoolers.  We don't personal do co-ops, but many of our friends do.  Our boys are in Boy Scouts and our daughter is in American Heritage Girls.  Our church also has a homeschool group that gets together a couple times a year for holiday parties, field trips, and track and field day. There are so many ways to homeschool and there is not really a wrong way.  As long as your children are learning and exploring you are doing great.

     If you homeschool already can you tell us some ways to break routine and get your kiddos out of the house during the school year.  If you don't homeschool but are thinking about it please ask questions and I will try and answer them.

Halloween Traditions!

   When our kids were little we had a few traditions every year.  So we no longer do because they have grown pass some of them and other have stopped because of life events.  Non-the-less they are memories that I think fondly of every year.

   One of the traditions that we don't do any more in the kids would get dressed up and go to my grandparents house.  We lost my grandma in 2005 and my grandpa in 2012, so unfortunately that tradition we cant do anymore.  Most of their neighbors have also passed away or no longer live in the area.  Most of our kids don't go trick or treating any more, they now help hand out candy.

   One traditions we still do is watch "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", yes even my teens.  It was something we did with my grandparents every year and a way to keep that memory going.  We have also always had chili for dinner before trick or treating.  Most of the time after we got home also.  They would always be hungry after walking and it helps warm them up.

   Make memories with your families.   Breath in their littleness when you can.  Hold on to traditions as long as you can.

Happy Halloween, Be Safe, Have Fun!

Senior Year!

     As we are getting ready to graduate our first homeschool senior this spring, I am realizing how much there is to it.  I knew there would be getting transcripts ready, making plans for what collage he want to attend, and getting ready for graduation.  I never thought about how finding scholarships and some of the other deadlines and things that we would have to look into.  How at times I feel over whelmed.  I am so thankful for the families we know that have walked these steps before us and are more than happy to help if they can.  As we go during this senior year I will write about what we have learned, in hopes that it can help someone.

     This first right of passage of our senior that we took care of was his senior pictures.  I had though about doing them myself, but a good friend of ours ask if she could do them as a gift, plus she wanted to get practice with a new lens she had gotten, lol. I will share with you all some of his pictures.

     The next thing that we had not fully thought through was the fact he has to take the ACT test.  I knew in the back of my mind he needed to, but until this fall it slipped my mind.  So a slight homeschool "guidance councilor" fail.  It will work out and he will be taking the test in December.  I am trying my hardest to work on his transcript, but I have also not done very well with that.  I am lucky we use a computer based program for high school now. But his first two years we did not so I am going back over some things to find final grades.  Fail number two, on my part.  I told him the other day that I feel bad because he is the child that we are learning all this on and I was sorry for not being more on top of things.  In my opinion it is ok to and we need to apologize to our kids. I am looking forward to sharing more of our senior year journey with you all.

What God is teaching me in my Quiet Time (Devotional:Soul Detox)

     Maybe I should start with what a quiet time is.  This is time I take during my day to read the Bible and pray.  Many times I read devotionals on different topics also.  Most of the time I use the Bible App for my quiet times. I am going through a devotional right now called Soul Detox, by: Pastor Craig Groeschel and Life Church.  It is a 35 day plan,  I am on day 17 and I am learning so much.

     So during my quiet times I try and find verses that I can apply to my daily life and focus on during the day and week.  During daily life we can sometimes forget that what we are putting into our minds and what comes our of our mouths can be toxic to ourselves and to those around us.  I know that this was a much needed devotional for my life.  I hope the verse and what I have learned so for can be an encouragement to you.

"Not only should we speak life-giving words to others, but we should also speak them to our circumstances and ourselves.  The toxic words we speak to ourselves can be some of the most dangerous." -Craig Groeschel

This was a quote from day 14 of this devotional.

This quote made me thing about what I am saying to my family and what I am saying to myself.  What I am I believing about those around me and about myself.  What does God think about others and about me?

here is a verse from the reading on day 14:

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
-Mark 11:24-25

Check out the devotionals on the Bible App

October Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness

    So October is Infant and Pregnancy Loss Awareness month.  I have not shared my story with many people until recently.  Mostly because I thought it was a subject that was not suppose to be talked about.  So about six months into our marriage my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child together. I had children before we were married.  It was spring 2004 and we were so excited.  We wanted to wait to tell everyone just a little bit.  So we kept it a secret from everyone but my employer and our parents.  We told my job because I worked in a daycare and I had to do a lot of heavy lifting.  
   At about 10 weeks, I was at work and I started to have a lot of pain.  I told the director and I called Marshall to come get me to go to the hospital.  I had called my OB's office and that is were they told me to go.  So we drove in silence to the ER and I was praying the whole drive.  After what seemed like forever I was taken back into a room and a ultrasound was done and blood work was taken.  It was confirmed that we had lost the baby.  We were devastated,  I felt like a failure.  I felt I had done something wrong.  We sadly had to tell our parents we lost the baby and I took a couple days off work.  My boss was so rude after I returned to work.  Telling me well it was not really a baby yet.  That made me so mad.  After talking with my OB he really encouraged us to name the baby that we lost to help us heal.  We named the baby Kaya, we did not know if it was a boy or a girl, but something told me it was a girl. 
   We never told the kids, because they were little.  I felt after a couple weeks I was the only one mourning our baby.  I felt like Marshall had gotten over it and moved on.  I never wanted to ask him, mainly because I did not know how to ask him.  I read the Bible and prayed a lot in the 2 months following the miscarriage.  When the doctor said it was ok to start trying again we got pregnant  almost right away.  This time we did not tell anyone until I was almost 3 months.  I had changed jobs and so I was not doing any heavy lifting.  We were worried for the baby I was now carrying.  I prayed all the time asking God to let us deliver and happy and healthy baby.  In March 2005 we welcomed our Rainbow baby.  He is now an amazing 12 year old.  We were blessed again and  welcomed our daughter in the summer of 2008.
   I have a story to tell you all about our daughter we had in 2008.  When she was about 3 years old and we were looking at an American Girl catalog, she was asking the names of all the dolls.  When we got to the Native American History Doll, who's name is Kaya, she looked at me and said, "Like my sister in Heaven."  I asked her what she was talking about.  She said, " That dolls name is the name of my older sister that has to live in heaven."  remember I told you earlier we never told our older kids.  That was such a chilling, but comforting moment for me.
   As time has gone on and friends of mine have lost babies I have shared my story with them.  Remember how I said that after a couple of week I felt like I was the only one mourning our baby.  Well in August (2017) as we were starting up our home group meeting again for church, we were asked to share a time when God brought us through a tough time.  Marshall spoke up about the loss of our baby and how God had brought him trough, us trough that time.  It was hard for me to see him cry about it, I did not know that it affected him so much.  I am even tearing up as I type this, thinking back on that night.
   Marshall sharing that with close friends of ours that had no idea that we had gone through a miscarriage, has helped me to talk more about it.  To share our story when I fell it appropriate.  I hope my story helps someone in someway.

14 Years Together!!!!!!!!

  October 20th was our 14th Wedding Anniversary.  So this year we decided that we would stay in for our Anniversary.  I still wanted to do something special.  Two amazing friends taught myself and a few friends how to make Sushi.  So I got the idea that I would make Sushi for our Anniversary Dinner.  It was so much fun to make, but a lot of work as well.  It took me about an hour and a half to make every thing.  I am so amazed how God has worked in our lives and our marriage.  In 14 years we have been through so much.  Our Story is for another post.  I am just grateful for the time that God has given us and I am thankful for all the days he has for us.  So how about some pictures of the Sushi.

I am Christan, but I am not perfect!

     I became a Christian in October 2001.  I had grown up going to church.  I never understood that it was not about religion, but about the relationship.  To be saved, a follower of Christ it was about my personal relationship with my savor Jesus.  I had to choose to follow Him.  Just going to church, "being good," was not going to get me to heaven.  So many people I know that are not Christian have stated to me but I have to be perfect to go to heaven.  My friends no you don't.  I know that I am saved by God's grace because of my savor Jesus. He died on the cross and took on my sins, ALL my sins past, present, and future.  That does not mean I should intentionally sin, but I am human and I will falter at times.  I am a work in progress, I am not ashamed to say that.

     God is always refining me and growing me.  He is always teaching me and shaping me.  He does this in many ways.  First by what our pastors teach on Sunday mornings.  Second is in my quiet times, reading the Bible consistently.  Third is through prayer, our churches home groups and our small groups.  Forth is when I am teaching Sunday School and seeing things trough the eyes of the children I am teaching.  Another way is through the eyes of my children.

     I have over come many trials in the last 16 years as a Christian, I know there will be many more.  The thing I have now that I did not have before in the knowledge that God will walk with me through any trial.  At times he will carry me during trials, and it is all for His glory and the story He is writing of my life.

All Things Fall -Part 2

   So one thing I enjoy in the fall is braking out the soup recipes.  This week has gotten colder, and will not get to warm again until Spring.  So on our menu for the next two week I have a lot of soups planed out.

   So on Tuesday night I made carrot soup and lemon pepper chicken nuggets.  I will share the carrot soup recipe I use.  It is from The Pioneer Woman with my own little twist.

Carrot Soup: about 8 Servings

3lbs of baby carrots
2 quarts of chicken or veggie stock
2 sprigs of Thyme
1/3 cup honey or if you are out of honey you can use 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream ( sometimes use up to a cup)
4 oz.  of cream cheese


1. Put carrots, Thyme, and Stock in a stock pot.  Bring to a boil and hen let is simmer for 45min to 1 hour.

2. Take the stems of the thyme out.  Use an emergen blender to blend the carrots smooth.  If you don't have one you can do this with a blender in to batches.  It will be very hot, do be cautious.

3. Once smooth add in the cream cheese and heavy cream stir until the cream cheese has melted.  Taste and add slat and pepper if needed.

For the Lemon Pepper Chicken Nuggets:

2-3 chicken breast.  I cube them up
lemon pepper seasoning

1. I put all the pieces of chicken into a gallon size baggie.
2. Add the seasoning, and close the bag.
3. move the chicken around in the bag until the coated.
4. cook the chicken in a frying pan, I like cast iron skillets

All things Fall Part 1

     So I love fall.  The crisp weather allows me to were my favorite boots, jeans, and sweaters.  I love decorating for the fall and the vibrant colors of the leaves.  In the fall football on the TV is a must.  Family movie nights become more often as the sun sets earlier. As a family we enjoy outings to the pumpkin patch and to other fall events that have become family traditions. 
  
     I enjoy the smell of warm soup cooking on the stove and hot coco in my cup.   The smell of home made breads come into our home more and more in the fall.  Fall is the time when I do some canning.  I can apple butter, spaghetti sauce, and a few other things.

    I enjoy planning fall activities for our family.  Every fall our church homeschool group does a harvest party.  New this year our youth group will be going to a local pumpkin farm.  We will be having a bonfire, food and fun.  The last couple years, our neighborhood has been doing some fun Halloween night things for the kids also.  

     By mid October I start to plan Thanksgiving.  We are blessed to be able to take the whole week of Thanksgiving off.  I do most of the cooking so it can take me almost 4 days to cook every thing.  I try to get pies done earlier in the week and have a schedule of things I make or prep each day Monday-Thursday of that week.  The kids don't get off the hook and get to do nothing all week. They are on cleaning and cooking prep duty also.  J- our 17 year old is an amazing cook, even though he does not think he is.  Each of the kids have a dish they like to help with.

     This month I am hoping to share with you all some of the fun things we do, how to plan a Thanksgiving meal and much more.

Homemade Mac & Cheese

For dinner tonight I made homemade mac & cheese with chicken strips and a side salad.  I am going to share the mac & cheese recipe with you.

Ingredients:

2 boxes of Cellentani Noodles

16 oz of white cheddar cheese ( shredded)

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup milk

4 table spoons butter

4 table spoons flour

1 small onion finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic finely chopped

Directions

1. Cook the noodles according to package directions.

2.  In a medium sized sauce pan melt the butter and add the onions and garlic. Cook until they  are translucent and tender. About 3-5 minutes

3. Add the flour and cook another 1-2 minutes. Until fragrant.

4. Add the heavy cream and milk to the pan and stir on low. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.

5. Add the cheese to the sauce pan and stir until combined.

6. Before draining the water skim off about a cup of the pasta water and set aside.  Drain the noodles and return them to the pan.

7. add the cheese sauce and the cup of pasta water to the pan with he noodles.  Mix everything together. 

8. Enjoy!!!

Homeaschooling Year 10: End of the First Month

     Our 2017/18 School year has started out to be a productive one. We are in full swing of our school year schedule.  All of our actives have started or will start next week. This year our boys are in scouts again and our daughter is in American Heritage Girls.  Our church is starting our youth group up again.  All of our other church groups have also started back for the school year.  It feels good to get back in our routine.  Don't get me wrong I love summer break, but I miss some of our weekly actives during that time.

     We started off history learning about ancient Egypt.  We read many books about the pyramids and how mummies were made.  We learned about daily life in Egypt at that time. We will be finishing our unit with make old Barbie dolls into Mummies. The kids were not as interested in the unit as they had originally thought they would be.  That is ok, not every subject is appealing as you start off thinking it would be.

     We are reviewing in Math and will start with new information with in a week. In English we are working with the younger two on writing different types of papers.  K is learning how to write a personal narrative, she is doing very good for her first one.  P is also working on a personal narrative, he is not excited about English and rather do Math all day.  He is doing very well and learning how to fine tune his writing.

     Our two high school kids are doing amazing at keeping up with there work.  We use Switched on Schoolhouse for High School.  They are for the most part independent in their studies.  J is also working on studying for the ACT. He is working on getting everything together for applying for collage.   A is loving his freshman year in high school.  He is enjoying watching the weather channel online to see the coverage of Hurricane Harvey.  His likes weather study, that has been one of his favorite merit badges he has earned, in scouts.

     Also during our first month of school we learned about the solar system and the solar eclipse.  We were able to see the solar eclipse (98% of totality).  I am glad we were able to experience it as a family.   The kids loved seeing the moon moving to block out the sun.  Waiting for the Eclipse and during 98%.

So many adventures await us this year.  I am looking forward to writing about them.  See you all soon.

Spiced Beef with Couscous

 

So I found a recipe in the Food Network Magazine from July/August 2016. I like to basic concept of the recipe but I tweaked it a little.  I share with you my tweaked recipe.

Serves: 8-10

Ingredients:

2 carrots finely shredded

3 tablespoon of extra- virgin olive oil

3 cups couscous

2 cup plain yogurt

3 teaspoons of sweet paprika

4lbs. ground hamburger

8 chopped green onions

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cups water

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon dill

salt and pepper to taste

1. combine the ground beef with 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.  Mix together and form 8-10 paddies. If you need to adjust the amount of hamburger for larger paddies do so.  Cook on the grill or in a grill pan to your desired doneness.

2. Meanwhile place 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a heated pan.  Place the dry couscous in the pan and cook until you smell a nutting smell. about 2-4 minutes.  Add in the 3 cups of water, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, salt and pepper to taste and carrots, cover and cook for 8-10 minuets. Stir the couscous a couple times during the cooking process.  Add 3 of the chopped green onions and fluff with a fork before serving.

3. the yogurt sauce: mix together 2 cups plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon dill, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt and pepper to taste.  You can adjust the dill, cumin, paprika as needed for your taste.  When I plated our food I added a little bit of the remaining green onions on top.

Serve and enjoy!!

We added Pita bread to our meal and ate with our hands for a fun change. 

Our 10th Year Homeschooling!!!

     As the 2017-2018 school year starts (August 1).  I think back over the last nine school years, how I was nervous to start teaching our children at home.   That first school year I taught third grade, Kindergarten, and preschool.  We also had a newborn.  We did not know what our family was heading towards in some ways.  All we knew is that we were going to take homeschooling one year at a time. 

     The first year is a blur for the most part.  Some of the year I spent trying to replicate a public school classroom. But having a very set schedule.  Because as someone that attended public school that is what I thought that was what was expected of us.  I then sought out council from other homeschooling moms and found out that my homeschool did not have to "match" a public school classroom. Wow, I thought how much stress I was feeling about that was not even necessary.  If the kids and I got done with our lessons that it was ok for them to just play, read or be read too.  It was ok for them to paint, draw, or play outside.  I did not have to keep them cooped up in the house on nice days.  We could have impromptu "field trips", even of it was to the store down the street.   I remember one day we took our school work to the park by our house and took lunch with us.  I did not have to fear having someone call in on me because my kids "were not in school".  The first year we built a cover wagon out of sheets and my boys bunk beds.  We talked about how westward expansion happened, the Oregon trail and so much more with that unit.

     Over the years we have changed up some of our curriculum and we have done unit studies.  We have gone on countless field trips to places like our state capital building, museums, the zoo, and so many more.  This year is biter sweet for me. We have a senior in high school, a freshman, 7th and 4th graders. How have things changed for our school?  Well not much we still go on field trips, but the conversations about the field trips are much more in-depth with my kids.  Instead of just mommy look a lion, we talk about classification of lions or what ever animal we are in front of.  We might look for one particular style or artist in the art museum and talk about other works from that time or artist. Instead of can we find all the paintings that have the colors blue, read and yellow in them. If we are at the history museum we take a closer look at a particular time or culture.  Instead of when they were little hearing things like mommy look they have a train can I go see inside it. Ok, I will admit I still hear when we go to the Durham Western Heritage Museum, " Mom can we go on the train?"  When we go to the library the stacks of book don't get shorter in fact they seem taller, but the count of books has gone down for most of my kids.  It is just that the books they are reading are now four or more times the page count they used to be. 

     I will say that it has not all been easy, but it has all been worth it.  We have had times were everyone has cried about not understanding something new.  We have had times of celebrations, because someone learned something new.  So as we start our tenth year homeschooling I know that we will have many more ups and downs, many more field trips, and many more conversations.  I would say that the most important thing I have learned on our Homeschool Journey so far is that time goes by way to fast and I am glad that I can spend the time I do with my kids and help them learn the things they need for life and so much more.

Homeschool and Gardening

     With spring comes our yearly planning of our garden.  I use our garden as an opportunity to teach my kids science, home economics, and so much more.  Gardens help with keeping our food budget in check as we harvest.  This year we have moved our herb garden inside.  We are lucky enough to have a greenhouse window in our kitchen.  It is a great spot for all the herbs I love cooking with.  We had our herb garden outside last year and the chives and thyme came back. So we transplanted some of the plants into their new homes. we also planted rosemary, lavender and basil.  We worked on the herb garden today as part of school.
    
     Also this year we are planting tomatoes one cherry tomato and one or two roma tomato. We are planting corn, carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, and a few other things. I also am getting dill for our herb garden.

     I love canning so I like using the roma tomatoes in my homemade sauce.  I also use many of the fresh herbs and bell peppers in my sauce.  I will share my recipe and a blog about canning spaghetti sauce at harvest time.

This is our herb garden!!!

Until Next Time

Crafting Doll Rugs

My daughter and I started doing some doll crafts today. We made 2 doll rugs and started a third. I thought I would share them with you all. We used craft felt, pompom craft balls and hot glue.  We also started some other crafts that we will share when they are done. 

The top one is a diamond and the bottom is an oval. 

Making Memories and Learing Lessons!!

     It is Friday night and I am so happy that it is.  This weekend is very busy for my guys.  My husband and our boys are going to a competition for our area Boy Scout Council.  It is The Klondike Derby Camp.  This happens every year in January, troop from our area work together to complete tasks given to them.  The troops work for about a month or so before the camp to build a sleds, that is used to carry equipment and sometimes even a person.  They are challenged on basic scouting skills.  I know my boys always have wild stories for me when they return home every year.

     So what does mom and little sis do when the guys are away?  Well this weekend we will be doing some crafts, playing with her dolls, and most likely painting our nails.  We will also work on some reading and may even go to the library.  We also go grocery shopping on most weekends.  Mostly we have a fun girls day. 

     I was encouraged today with the moms time meeting at our church.  We are reading through a book called "Mom Enough: The Fearless Mothers Heart and Hope" by Tony and Karalee Reinke.  It is a collection of Blogs that a group of moms wrote.  We read chapters 21 and 22 for this months meeting.  Chapter 21 talked about not worrying about anything.  One of the verses they used was Philippians 4:6- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God".  It helped remind me that I need to be praying more in time when I am feeling overwhelmed.  Chapter 22 was about how we view our children.  Our children are a gift from God!!!  It talked about how are children are not a to-do-list, but they are to be treasured.  The time with our children is such a small about of time in their lives were we have a huge impact on their lives.  Sitting and talking with the other moms in our church and hearing that they have the same struggles of keeping these thing in mind was refreshing. 

     My quiet times this week, that is when I read my Bible and spend time praying, have had a every clear message.  That message you may ask..... I don't need to stressed and worry all the time.  I think that as moms this can come naturally, but it is not good for anyone to stress or worry.  So how can I stress less, worry less? I am going to look up Bible verses about the subjects and write them down and place them in areas that I can see them during the day.  My hope is that reading them and then praying about what is stressing me will help me to let go of that worry. 

     Well I should go finish up a few things before bed time.  Let me know if you would like for me to share the verses that I find with you.  I might make a printable for you all if that is something you would like.  Let me know in the comments! 

We are a homeschool family!!!!!!

     It was a cold Monday morning.  We are back to the normal homeschool schedule today, even with it being Martin Luther King Jr. day.  We chose a long time ago that we would still do homeschool on holidays like MLK day and Presidents Day.  When I was in school we never got these day off. , we were in school in these holidays to learn about why we honor these men.  So that is just what we do, we learn about these men that had and continue to have an impact on our country.

     Life as a homeschool family is not all that different than families that send their children off to public or privet school. Yet, at the same time it is completely different.  Let me explain what I mean. 

     How is homeschooling the same?  Like other families we care about our children's education.  Like other families we do what we feel is best for our kids education.  Our children learn math, science, history, language arts, and many other subjects. We have expectations for our children with school work, as well as other things. Our children do extra curricular actives.  Homeschool kids make friends and are very well rounded.

     So now you ask ok so how are homeschooling different?  Well we do school really anywhere we choose. What I mean by that is some homeschool families have a dedicated room in their home, others meet around the dinning room table, and still others choose a wide variety of places to hold lessons.  In our home we have a dedicated room, it was our living room. We have a table for the kids to do their work, bookshelves and some over sized chairs to have the kids hand out a read.  There are days like today that we also all sit around our dinning room table.  Our dinning room is right off of the classroom area so it has easy access to every thing we need.  Still there are other days that the local zoo, museum, park, store, or restaurant is our classroom.  We are free to take more "field trips".  Part of the freedom to homeschool is that it looks differently for every family. It will be hard to find an exact match.  Even if families are using the same curriculum it will look different.

     This school year I am teaching 4 kids, all in different grades.  I have a high school student that is a junior.  He does his work on the computer with a program called Switched on Schoolhouse.  His studies are basically independent. I have an 8th grader that does most of his school work on his own.  He still needs reminding about getting things completed. This  a new thing for him with school, up until this fall he did not need much reminding.  I also have a 6th grader, he is very good at math.  We work with struggles in English. Last but not least my 3rd grader.  She loves doing her math, but is not so keen on reading.  We are working very hard on her reading skills.  So as you can see yes homeschool kids also have struggles with school work.

     The point is that our family has chosen homeschool as the right option for our family.  It may not be for everyone, and that is ok.  I am just hoping that you can get a felling for what one homeschool family does in life.