Monday, December 1, 2008

Wow, it has been a long time since I've been here! I'm still homeschooling, but have added a part-time job to that. I 'm
a little busy. :) I want to share a recipe I found in a magazine that I
plan to make with my youngest, Isabel, today. Pumpkin pie play dough.
You will need: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tsp. cream of tartar, 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tsp.cinnamon, 1 T. vegetable oil, 1 cup water and food coloring (they used 6 drops of red and 15 drops of yellow). I think that makes orange. Combine dry ingredients in nonstick saucepan. Add the oil, water, and food coloring and whisk until smooth. Stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, cook over medium heat until it forms a ball, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the dough onto a counter, let it cool slightly, then knead the dough until it has a smooth texture, about 1 minute. The dough keeps up to a week in a ziplock bag. Maybe, it will keep longer in the refrigerator ( this is where we usually store ours).
I'm looking forward to the smell of this one. I am really enjoying this time with the kids. It is a wonderful time to teach about meeting the needs of others. There are so many opportunities at christmas time to give. We are going to make lap blankets for elderly people we know. These are so easy and you don't have to sew, which is good since I haven't learned how, yet. We will make salsa, which we do every year, for friends , neighbors and family. I will post the recipe next time. It is worth making! We already sent our operation christmas boxes off last month. Each child picks an age range and buys the contents to fill the box. They use their money (except for Isabel), and pray for who will receive it. My kids are starting on next years boxes now. You can get the information about this at: samaritanspurse.org We will also buy items for children and the elderly. Food pantries always need food at this time. These are just a few of many ideas. Everything we do with the right heart has eternal value. I want to live my life doing what counts for Jesus. This means being the mom, wife, friend, and person God created me to be. I can only do it successfully with his help. I've tried it on my own before and I always fall short. I would love to hear your ideas on what you are doing with your kids to help lighten someone's burden. My daughter, Bethany, told her dad and I that she wants the money we plan to spend on her for christmas to buy gifts for teenagers in the area who are often forgotten. I am really proud of her for that and we are going to let her do it. I wish I could say all my kids had that same idea, but they didn't. That is okay! God made them different. They are making a difference in other ways. God gave Bethy the gift of giving. Anyway, I hope this has made some sense to someone, since I have continuously been interrupted by my 2 youngest the whole time I've been typing. Some quiet corner. If you find one, let me know. Enjoy each day as God gives it, trying not to rush. Go at your childs pace and make lasting memories that can be recalled with joy instead of regret.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

It has been quite some time since I've posted. Life is getting back to normal for us since hurricane Ike made landfall. There are still so many displaced and without a job. They need our prayers and help. I had been teaching my kids in science class at co-op about hurricanes a week before Ike affected us. I find it interesting that the eye is calm and quiet, but the eye wall is the most fierce part of the hurricane. It reminds me of life. My life can be busy, unpredictable and painful to walk at times, but I can be calm (seemingly unaffected) because of the peace that surpasses all understanding God has given me. I am thankful to be in the palm of His hand. No matter what the "wind" blows my way, God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Bethany's (my daughter) 15th birthday. I love her so much! She is a precious, giving person. We had a party for her today. Last week when I asked her what kind of cake she wanted me to make, she was more concerned about what her friends would like. I told her, "It's about you, not them." I'm always telling my kids, "life isn't about you!" She takes it way too far, sometimes. When Bethy was born, she was like the calm after the storm. Daniel, my oldest, was supercharged! He talked and moved nonstop! He outlasted the energizer bunny. Anyone who knew him would agree. My life would be dull without the addition of kids. I am so thankful God's plan was kids for me. They are each so incredibly wonderful in their unique way! I have no favorites and no tolerance for parents and grandparents who do. I know what it is like NOT to be the favorite. I'm so glad I don't have to prove myself to God. He made me and loves me, period. Who am I not to love each of my children with everything I have equally? I don't always like there attitude or choices. They will always be able to count on my love just like I count on God's love for me.

Friday, August 29, 2008

I am still here! It has been a busy week with school starting back. I homeschool 3 of my 4 kids. My oldest child, Daniel, attends a public highschool. My homeschooled kids and I attend a co-op once a week. I am just beginning to lapbook with the kids. It looks like a creative, thorough way for them to learn a topic. I think we are going to begin with the election. If anyone has helpful tips concerning lapbooking, please pass them along. My daughter, Isabel(2), is learning her letters and their sounds. She has initiated this herself. None of my other children were interested in letters at this age, just catching bugs and being outside. I did have one who ate dirt like it was chocolate and fish food for dessert. I am not kidding! The pediatrician said I shouldn't be concerned. I was! It isn't like we didn't have real chocolate in the house. This child did eventually come around and traded dirt for chocolate. I want to share an easy and tasty recipe that I use with Isabel. It is peanut butter play-dough. 1/3-part peanut butter, 1/3-part dry powdered milk, and 1/3-part honey. Mix well and knead for a few minutes until dough sticks together. Refrigerate leftovers in airtight container to keep for a week or more. This is great because after creating letters, numbers or whatever, the child can eat it! Have a safe and peaceful weekend!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

I have been thinking about the last sentence in my first blog entry. The word worthy was not a good choice. God calls me His friend, but am I worthy? Absolutely not!!! I am so grateful anyone calls me friend. I mean this, especially lately. I have been so consumed with walking a very familiar road due to someone else's choice in my life, that I haven't been a very present friend. Thank you friends for sharing a small or large part of your life with me. I always ask God to give me the friends He wants me too have and He does. We don't choose our family, we do choose our friends. Some of mine are as close as or closer than family. Now about the less than desirable road I've been on lately. It really is a matter of trust. Do I trust Jesus? Do I believe He knows what is best for me? If yes, then who am I to question what has been allowed to take place in my life? Is it easy? I would have to answer with an emphatic NO! I remind myself of God's truth. He only allows what He knows I can handle. It is for my good. He gives me the grace I need. He is walking it with me. He loves me. Whatever you may be walking through is not hidden from Him. May you find peace in that. "In my trouble I called to the Lord. I cried out to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my call for help reached his ear." Psalm 18:6.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Chocolate chip pudding cookies

1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. vanilla
2 eggs
2-1/4 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
large pkg. instant coconut pudding
12 oz. choclate chips
1 c. nuts, chopped (optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto greased or parchment lined baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
I use vanilla pudding mix and use half the vanilla extract. These are my oldest sons favorite. I thought since I mentioned cookies in my post before, It wouldn't be right not too share the recipe. Enjoy!
Hello! I am hoping this can be a place to come and be encouraged and meet new friends. This is very new to me. I started this blog at the urging of a dear friend. I am so grateful for the ones God allows to touch our life lightly and some deeply. There are people who are there for a season and ones who stay longer. For the past several years I have had the privilege of knowing what it is like to have more than one friend at a time. I tend to be a loner and have always invested in one friend at a time. Then I got older and reluctantly pushed out of my comfort zone to be surprisingly blessed with a variety of people who enrich my life. I love to bake, but get tired of baking the same chocolate chip cookies week after week. Sometimes, just adding 1 new ingredient makes it less mundane. This is how I feel about really knowing a handful of gals I call friend. They replace the staleness of life with freshness. I do not use the word friend carelessly. It takes time to build a friendship. Sometimes you get hurt, but it's worth it for the times you don't and find a gem. Thank a friend today in your life who is worthy to be called friend.