Pulling Out My Hair

ARRRRGGGG!  C-o-m-p-u-t-e-r malfunctioning....m-o-v-i-n-g at snail's p-a-c-e.  Must shut d-o-w-n.

I won't be blogging for several days. I'm sure I'll experience some pretty significant withdrawal.  However, I can't properly enjoy my blogging the way my computer is operating at present.  S-o-o-o, I will be sending it away.  Hopefully it will come back with less of a penchant for irritating me. While I am waiting and wondering how all of you are doing, I will have to entertain myself by catching up on laundry or some other such fun thing!

*Just wanted to let you know I have been reading your blogs the past few days, but since dial-up which is notoriously slow has been aided by a buggered up computer, I haven't been able to leave comments.  Whew! That was an extremely long sentence. I'm quite out of breath. It just goes to show you that I really have been missing leaving you all comments, had to get it all out at once!  :)

Appreciating Falls Beauty

About a week ago we took a break from our book work and headed outside to collect some of the beautiful leaves around our yard.  By the time we got back inside we each had handfuls upon handfuls!  I wasn't sure what we were going to do with all of them, but I wanted to preserve the beauty of Autumn if I could. 

We decided to dip some of them in melted wax.  After they were dry we hung them from thread and placed them around the house.

Don't they look beautiful hanging from the window!

This is our new art display.  I always want to display the boys artwork, but never really had a great place to do it.  So this year I pounded some nails into the wall, strung some jute, hot glued on big black buttons and painted a dozen wooden clothespins red.  TA-DA a way to display our creativity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the leaves we placed in books to be pressed.  We will let our creative juices flow and make collages or leaf people or leaf creatures.  Who knows what we will come up with, but it will be original, I'm sure!

 

 

Pear Butter

Last weekend when I was at our local orchard, I picked up a 5# bag of utility Bartlett pears for $1.75.  I couldn't pass up that deal.  They weren't the prettiest pears I've seen, but I figured we would eat them right up.  Well, even though they looked ripe, they were quite hard.  I tried ripening them on the counter, but they just started rotting at the core.  So, I got busy and decided they would make excellent Pear Butter.  Now, I have never made Pear Butter before, but I made Apple Butter with my mom one year.  I got on the Internet and got a recipe that sounded good.  I tweaked it a little and this is what I came up with.

4 lbs of pears cored and chopped

1/2 - 1 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you want it.)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup white grape juice

Place cut pears in slow cooker with 1/2 c water.  Cook on high 6-7 hours or until soft.  (You could do this quicker on the stove, but I was busy with school and couldn't keep an eye on it so I went for the ease of the slow cooker.)  Once soft run it through a food mill.  (I then placed it in the fridge to finish it up the next day.)

Place pulp in a large stock pot add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and juice.  Cook on low heat until mixture is thick and molds to spoon. (This took about 3 hours.)  Place in hot jars, clean rims, place on lids and bands.  Hot water bath for 10 minutes.  Yields about 3 pints. 

 

 

 

I used half-pint jars, skipped the hot water bath and placed them in my freezer.

 

 

We will be enjoying this on our toast on chilly winter mornings or as a snack after a invigorating afternoon of sledding!

Awarded

Heidi from Moms, Ministry and More has given me this wonderful award. Heidi has an amazing blog full of humor, overseas knowledge (like things such as squatty potties) and Godly wisdom. Head on over there, you'll find some great insight.

With this award comes a meme. It is by no means a small one. The original plan calls for a listing of seven items under each heading. (So if you decide to play along you can either list 7 things under each heading or cheat like I'm going to do!) Well, ladies, I'm just a simple girl, really. I don't have that much to say about myself, so I'm going to make it easier on myself and you. Like Heidi, I will be listing one fact about myself under each topic. That way I won't be losing my readers half way through this post (hopefully)!

1. What I Did Before: I graduated with a BA in Elementary Ed. and taught pre-school for a year. A couple of months into it I realized I'd made a mistake. My heart was with my precious baby boy. I taught the rest of the year, loved the children I taught, but then called it quits. I needed to be home.

2. What I Do Now? I am putting my education to good use! Teaching my four children is showing me that college didn't prepare me all that well! It's a new and challenging experience everyday and I'm lovin' it.

3. What I'd Like To Do? Get away for a few days. No laundry, no dishes, no cooking, I just want to relax, relax, relax!

4. What Attracts Me To My Husband? Oh where do I start! His humor, His dark hair and chocolate brown eyes, his deep dimples, his willingness to work hard to support our family, and his wonderful hugs that make me feel so loved and safe.

5. Favorite Food: Um- I can't pick just one. So I will list a few.

• Homemade bread
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Anything Pasta
• COFFEE- one of the basic food groups, right?
• Soups- comfort food at its finest.

6. What I Say Most Often: That's Crazy!

7. Pick Seven Other Bloggers: Okay, here goes, I choose.....

Jamie at Rose Cottage. I have been reading Jamie's Blog for 9 months now. We share the love of homeschooling, nature and picture taking. Jamie's blog is full of beautiful pictures,wonderful insight and inspirational thoughts.

Amy at The Kings Table. Amy's blog is light-hearted and full of fun. She posts some really interesting items that she finds on the internet. Her posts always make me smile!

Amy at Little Toes and Cheerios. Amy is full of honesty and sincerity. She keeps me laughing with all the adorable posts about her daughter and mommyhood.

Marisa at Small Moments Captured. This is my beautiful sister's blog. She is one of the most creative people I know. Let's just say she is very artistically inclined! She is very busy with my niece and nephews and I know she doesn't get to post as often as she wishes, but when she does post her thoughts are always beautifully expressed.

Angela at Becoming Me. I just recently found Angela's blog, but it has touched my heart deeply. She writes beautifully with emotion and strength. Her posts always give me something to ponder and learn.

Jackie at Our Moments, Our Memories. Jackie has some of the most amazing posts. She is a wonderful writer and is able to write so that you can see right to her heart. She has a wonderful sense of humor and you can feel her joy in what she writes.

Kristen at We Are THAT Family. If you want to laugh this is the place. Nobody can leave Kristen's blog without chuckling. She takes every day life and turns it into comic relief. Plus you get the added bonus of the wisdom she imparts about the many different aspects of parenting.

If you get a chance, check out these blogs and leave them a some love with a comment or two!

Have a great weekend!

Memory Lane

Thought I would reminisce a little this morning and take a walk down memory lane!   

 

 

Last fall we took a trip to the zoo with my mom, dad, sister and her two children and one of my other sisters and her husband.  We had a great time exploring the zoo.  The best part was that we were able to do it together.

 

 

Here is a picture of my children and my nephew sitting on a statue of a cow.  When I look at these pictures it amazes me how much each of them have changed in a years time.

 

Here Jacob and his Uncle John thought they would pose next to this lovely sign.  Jacob was quite impressed that there were sheep named after him! (Or at least that is what he thought!)

 

 

 

 

Here I am with Lauren, trying to keep an over friendly pigmy goat from getting to know me too personally!

Now for the best part! The giraffes!  We always look forward to this part of our zoo journey, because you get to feed these beautiful animals.  The giraffes are in a big field with zebras, birds of all kinds, and other animals.  It is beautiful to look at.  I don't feel so bad about them being in captivity, because they are in such a natural setting

When the giraffes see people up on the observation deck they amble right up for a tasty cracker.  You can even touch their heads if you move quickly.  But watch out for that tongue!

HMMMM, Jacob did you clean your ears?

Maybe that giraffe can help him out!

 

 

 

 

 

For more memories visit Kristen at We Are THAT Family.

The LORD's Light

"The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being."  Proverbs 20:27

Can you picture the Lord holding up a lighted lamp.  Can you see him looking deeply into your eyes and searching you innermost thoughts and feelings?

I can.

When I read this verse, I can picture the Lord looking deeply into my soul.  I can picture his compassionate gaze and sense his deep love for me.  He knows my hidden thoughts and darkest secrets.  He knows what I try to hide from others.  He knows my failings. 

Yet, he loves me.  He loves me so deeply and completely.  I can't even begin to imagine the intensity of His love for me.  He loves me unconditionally, even though he has seen the ugliest parts of me. 

This verse imparts a beautiful reminder to me of how much I am loved, but it also pricks my heart.  It reminds me that I can't hide my innermost being from the Lord. 

It saddens me. 

I know the things I have thought, said or done that are unloving.  I know the actions I have committed that are ungodly.  This verse inspires me to live my life more like Christ.  To be careful.  It's like the song that I have taught my children.

"Oh be careful little mouth what you say.  Oh be careful little mouth what you say.  For the Father up above is looking down in love.  Oh, be careful little mouth what you say." 

Be careful mouth what you say.  Be careful eyes what you see.  Be careful ears what you hear.  Be careful hands what you do.  Be careful feet where you go. Be careful mind what you think.  How hard it is to guard ourselves, but so necessary.  If we are to have inner beauty and peace we need to guard what we allow into our lives. Then we need to carefully, intentionally live these lives that God has given to us.

Thankfully, the Lord loves us even when we feel our ugliest.  He loves us when we mess up.  He loves us when we feel unlovable. He is an AMAZING, FORGIVING God.

"The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you." Psalm 116:5 & 7

No Bear!

On the dining room wall, in the cabin, where we stayed on our vacation there was a mount of a black bear. The boys thought it was S-O-O-O COOL! Lauren on the other hand had a love-hate relationship with the fuzzy critter. Whenever we had a meal she would stare at it and dramatically say, "No beaw, no beaw!" She would hide her eyes and shrudder. However, in the next breath she would be holding up her fork with scrambled eggs on it, offering her tormentor a bite to eat. As the week went on she figured out how to play up the drama and receive laughs from us all. By the end of the week I think she would have brought the goofy thing home just so she could continue her little dramatic scenes!

And I just had to add in this vacation picture, because she is being so feminine. She adores doing little antics such as this because her brothers think it is hilarious. There is no hope I'm afraid!

Days of Giving

The day has arrived. One Day to Give hosted by Kristen over at We Are THAT Family.

"But just as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us- see that you also excel in this grace of giving." II Corinthians 8:7

Right now, as a family, we are involved in several Giving projects-

1) For the past several years we have kept a missions jar. We fill it with loose change or sometimes a dollar bill or two. Our jar is almost full. This time around we will be giving the money to my brother Matt and his wife Heidi. They will be leaving for Banledesh in January for a short-term mission trip (6months).

2) We are also collecting loose change for Mission India. Mission India provides dedicated Indian Christians with essential training and materials through 3 core programs: Children's Bible Clubs, Adult Literacy Programs and Church Planter Training. The money we are collecting will go to help illiterate Indian women learn to read using Bible-based materials. There are more than 2,000,000 illiterate women in India. Indian girls are not considered worth educating, they are put to work at a young age and often married before they are 18. The literacy classes benefit the whole family because the mother passes her new knowledge on to her children.

Just A Few Facts About India:

• The are 1,013,661,777 people living in India (almost 4 times the number of people living in the U.S.).
• India is about a third the size of the U.S.
• Over 820 million people earn less than $2 a day.

Please lift up the Christians in India with prayer. They are facing severe persecution at this time. Many are homeless. They are hiding in the jungles and are fearing for their lives. Please take a few moments and check out this site or read about it on my blog here. It will open your eyes and break your heart as you read about the persecution the Indian Christians are facing.

The two other areas that I am personally focusing on are- family and prayer.

• Giving isn't 50/50. It is giving 100% of yourself and not expecting anything in return. How often do I do that?

I have found I struggle with this when it comes to my relationship with my family. I do my best to give, but sometimes in the back of my mind there lurks a "what a about me". I am convicted by my attitude towards my family. I am quick to give to others in need. I am glad to lend a helping hand where needed. And I don't require compensation. But, when I am getting worn out with all the requests for help, I start to resent my role as a mom.

Giving is meant to be an offering of oneself to those who are in need. At times I fail my children and my husband. I don't always give freely of my time and myself. At times selfishness overcomes me and I just want to withdraw. I am learning though. I only need to look to Jesus for the perfect example of the ultimate giver. The Giver of love, the Giver of peace, the Giver of strength, the Giver of eternal life.

I used to see giving as an external. To my way of thinking, it required an out pouring of activity, money or material goods. But, as a young mom I learned that one of the most important aspects of giving is to lift others up in prayer. It isn't an external mode of giving, but a deeply internal one. If I truly desire to give, then I must make the first step prayer. It is quite possible that all I am supposed to do is pray. If I don't start with prayer I won't know what God desires me to do. Maybe God will want me to take a meal to a needy family or write a thank you note to a lonely widow. But, quiet possibly, it may be the Lord wants me to give through fervent prayer. Prayer is so powerful. What better way to give, then to lift those in need up to the One who loves them wholly. He, who can perfectly heal, strengthen and comfort His beloved children.

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

Autumn Delights

The beauty of this time of year is amazing. These are just a few of the pictures of the gorgeous color in our yard right now. The view from each of the windows in my house greets me with beautiful sights. Even better, is stepping outside and combining the scenery with the scent of Autumn!

"so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it." Isaiah 41:20

How anyone can dispute that there is one true God when they look closely at nature is beyond me. I see Him in every leaf, flower petal, berry and creature. How amazing He is!

Interruptions, Delays and Inconveniences

At the Well is dealing with the topic of interruptions and our reactions to them- good and bad. Head over to Lori's blog to see more posts on this topic.

• How do you handle interruptions in your days?
  
• Do you plow right on over them missing opportunities God has placed on your path?
  
• What interruptions frustrate you the most? How are you working to overcome that?

In all honesty, as a homeschool mom, I would have to say I am still learning to handle interruptions in my day. I function best and so do my children, when we are able to stick to the schedule I have planned out for the day. Deviations from that plan can cause me some uneasiness and guilt over the lack of school work accomplished. Possibly resulting in agitation on my part, which my family would take the brunt of. Not pretty, I know. However, so that you all don't think I'm a control freak, I do yield to changes in the schedule, allowing for interruptions that show potential for positive outcomes. And some days we just chuck it all and go for an easy day with lots of interruptions the sillier the better!

I am sure I have been bull-headed and missed opportunities that where God given. Especially with my children. There have been times when I have just shushed them instead of stopping what I am doing to have a meaningful conversation with them. It has been one of my goals for the past few years to improve in this area, because I began to realize that if I continued to ignore their important interruptions, I would lose out on a much desired relationship with my children. Sadly, at times, I still fail. Missing great opportunities to connect with my children. My prayer is that I miss fewer and fewer of these moments and that the Holy Spirit will fill in the gaps in their lives where I fail.

Feeling the Love

Thank you for the touching comments you left on my Friday post. It was wonderful to hear that I am not alone.  Sometimes as a SAHM and homeschooling mom it is so easy to feel isolated.  However, what a blessing blogging has brought me.  I have so many new friends, who are also going through the throes and beauties of mommy-hood.  What a special community of ladies we have- lifting each other up, offering advice and sending out a whole lot of love over the lines. You are all a blessing to me. I thank you for lifting me up with your beautiful thoughts, virtual hugs, steaming cups of virtual coffee and  for the Chocolate Chip Cookie, Jackie virtually sent my way!

Sleeping Angel

After a long day of changing her babies into numerous states of dress and undress, walking miles through the house pushing the latest, pink, posh, baby stroller, and reprimanding her brothers for daring to touch her precious charges. The little mommy-in-the-making succumbs to a much needed nap.

To see more sleeping angels, visit 5 Minutes For Mom. There you can enter your own beauty in the Sleeping Angels Contest.

I've Been Bitten

Don't worry! It isn't anything contagious. I've been bitten by the loneliness bug. I usually keep my posts uplifting and upbeat, but today I wanted to be open and honest. I seriously contemplated whether or not to post about this at all. But, who knows, maybe someone else is suffering from this malady today. I have been dealing with the affliction, of a lonely heart, for a couple of weeks now. I am hoping to recover soon, but who knows with these things.

Oh, I know I am not alone! My days are very busy and filled with activity. I am surrounded by my four precious children, day in and day out! I love my kids dearly, but I am aching for some adult contact. I am a home body by nature and don't usually mind that I don't get out much, but, Oh Boy, has it been bothering me lately. My husband, Joel, is doing the best he can, but we aren't seeing much of each other because he has been crazy busy the past couple of weeks.

What I need is a good night out with a girlfriend! The sad thing is- it is highly unlikely that this will happen since all my friends seem to have jumped into the same ship as I did. We are all busy with our young children. I know these times will pass by quickly and I will miss my precious children's questions, noise and busyness. But, for today, I desire some grownup conversations, a fancy coffee, and lots of laughter with a good friend.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:4-5 What comfort these words provide. When I feel my soul is in turmoil I only need to come to the Lord to find hope and sweet rest. I need to lean on Him in these times of loneliness. I know He can fill my heart and soul with comfort even in this time.

Psalm 25:16 says, "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." In this Psalm, David is calling out to God, asking for relief from his suffering. Even David, who was a strong warrior and faced unbearable situations suffered from loneliness. He too, called out to the Lord asking for God's strong loving arms to ease his burden. It helps me to know that even a brave warrior dealt with these feelings. I am not alone!

These verses remind me not to dwell on myself, but to look to HIM. They re-focus my attention. They help me to be grateful for each moment I get to spend with each of those who are in my family. God has blessed me. On my days of loneliness I just need to focus on this and know that in His time I will be sipping coffee with my girlfriends!

Just keep me in your prayers.

I know I'll pull through!

Hey!

I feel better already!

*Thanks to all those who leave me comments on my blog. They are a source of joy to me!

I've Been Tagged

Amy from Little Toes and Cheerios has tagged me with a meme in which I am to tell 5 things I have learned from blogging.

Well lets see......

1. Its a great way for me to journal about my children and all the happenings here in our country abode. 

2. I am enjoying this way more than I ever thought I would.  I have even had to cut back as I have found myself spending way to much time in front of the computer!

3. I have gained many wonderful friends and I look forward to reading about what is going on in their lives on a daily basis.  It is helping me to broaden my thinking and I learn so much from all of you.

4. I can figure out how to read computer lingo!  It has taken some serious reading and trial and error, but I have slowly been able to make changes to my blog all by my little own self!  This is huge for me since computers tend to confuse my simple mind easily.

5. Blogging has helped me to strengthen my relationship with Christ.  I am in God's word more and writing about what I read is giving the Bible deeper meaning.

Okay- I am supposed to tag 5 other people, but many of the blogs I would choose Amy has already tagged.  So, if you would like to join in feel free to use this meme as a post.

Keepers At Home

Its At The Well Monday again.  I haven't been able to participate lately but the theme for today made me laugh.  Because I took these pictures this morning before I read what todays topic would be.

Keepers At Home

Well, you can imagine my chagrin when I read that today we would be discussing the practical and never-ending aspects of housekeeping!  Just perfect!  Look at the whirlwind above.  This chaos was created in record time by Lauren.  With exception of the shot of the dining room table and kitchen.  This was school materials/candle making equipment/laundry and a few odds and ends that needed my attention.

"That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:4-5

Here are a few questions that Chelsey wanted us to come clean on!

1. Let' s get a little vulnerable here ladies - do you keep a neat and tidy home? 
   
2. If so, what do you do to keep on top of this? Schedules? Routines? If you have children at home, do they get involved?
   
3. If you are lacking in this area, why do you think that is?

I would say that I keep a fairly neat and tidy home.  Now mind you it isn't picture perfect and you aren't going to see my home featured in Better Homes and Gardens.  But, just the same I like to keep my home clean and organized.

To keep my house in order I have assigned each of the boys a daily household chore.  For example, Mondays are our general pick-up day, Tuesdays are vacuuming days, Wednesdays they clean the bathrooms, Thursdays they dust and Fridays they clean the mudroom.  We keep a chore chart posted so that they know exactly what is expected of them each day. Each day is laundry day here so, I tackle that pretty much non-stop.  My only other focus on school days is the kitchen and meals.  I can't seem to find the time for any other chores, my days fly by too quickly.  On Saturdays, I clean the bathrooms, vacuum, sweep and mop or I may clean windows and do a thorough dusting.  It just depends on what the house needs the most.  Each day the boys pick up their play room and I pick up Laurens.  I make each, age eligible, person responsible for taking care of their items.  My mantra- take responsibility for what is yours!

I'm not lacking in the area of keeping a clean house, but I do believe in my younger days of being a wife and mom, I took it to the other extreme.  You know the one- Perfectionism! However, I have learned a thing or two over the past 15 years. 

• While homeschooling don't attempt to have a perfectly picked up home.  The first few years we homeschooled, I strived for a perfectly tidy home.  That notion blew up in my face!  I would get all tied up in knots when things got cluttered.  I had to change my ideal of what a beautiful home was.  Nowadays, I am comfortable with my house.  Yes, there may be a stack of books and school papers on the end table or baby dolls and their accessories littering every square inch of the sitting room floor, but I've come to accept that!
• There is more harmony in our home when I don't keep a perfectly picked up abode.  The more I try to keep things spotless, the more stressed out I become.  I have learned to let a few things slide.  However, on the other hand, if things get to cluttered, you can bet there is going to be one stressed out Momma to deal with.  That being said, I think there is a fine line that I must walk to keep everyone in this house sane and happy. And doom to those who don't tow that line! 

I was going to end this whole post with a picture or two of my clutter free home, but alas, my sweet, angelic, whirlwind of a daughter has awoken and there are babies, strollers and blankies decorating my floors once again.  SIGH!

Simple and Scrumptious Apple Turnovers

Fall is upon us and with the cooler temperatures- I feel like baking!  This is one of our favorite fall treats.  It is simple enough that I feel I can even make it during the week for a special addition to our dinners. 

Crust:  This is actually bisquit dough.  I find it quicker and easier than pie dough and it tastes just a good.

2 c flour                                                                                          

1Tablespoon baking powder

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 c shortening, marg. or butter

2/3 c milk

Stir together flour, baking powder, sugar, cream of tartar, and salt.  Cut in shortening till mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Make a well in the center; add milk all at once. Stir just till dough clings together.

On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently 10 to 12 times.  Roll to 1/2 inch thickness.  Cut with a 3 inch bisquit cutter or cup.  Roll each bisquit into a 6-8 inch circle. Place about 1/4 cup of filling in the center. Fold in half seal edges. Cut vent slits on top of turnover.  Place on greased cookie sheet.  Bake 15-20 minutes in a 400 degree oven or until golden.

Filling

3 medium to large baking apples peeled, cored and chopped

4-6 teaspoons of sugar or more depending on tartness of apples (sorry not an exact measurement but I just eyeball it and taste it)

1/2-1 teaspoon of cinnamon (depending on how much you like cinnamon!)

pinch of nutmeg

Mix up these four ingredients in a bowl. Set aside until ready to fill the turnovers.

After the turnovers are done baking and have cooled slightly, I drizzle them with a thin cinnamon/vanilla frosting (I make it thin enough to drizzle but thicker than an icing so it doesn't just slide off the turnover).  Serve warm with a dallop of vanilla ice cream and a steaming cup of coffee.  MMMM!

Okay if you are really strapped for time I can give you an even simpler version!

Use refrigerated (store bought) bisquits (7-1/2 oz) roll them out as above.  For the filling use 1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped, 1/2 cup applesauce, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg.  Place a heaping Tablespoon on each circle and seal.  Instead of frosting brush tops of turnovers with butter, then sprinkle with a cinnamon/sugar mix.  Bake 400 degree oven 8-10 minutes or until golden.

Mommy In The Making

This is what I call multi-tasking!