family

We had a wonderful dinner here yesterday. I am thankful for every family member who could be here. We missed those who were not. I am thankful for the home we have that we were able to share. I am thankful for the abundance of turkey and the all the trimmings. I am thankful for the conversations and the laughter.

children

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 19:4 niv

Today I am thankful for children. Their innocence. Their joy. Their laughter. I am thankful for each one that is apart of my life.

Digital collage generated with Smilebox

redemtion

I am thankful that there is nothing to broken for God to restore and redeem.

this guy...

I love him more than I can express. I am happy he is my husband, the father of my children and my best friend.

Last night I also had the privilege of attending a vow renewal ceremony of two dear people.
Its nice to be able to focus on the positive once in a while, the love and life long commitment. I hear of so much heart ache divorce and separation.

But today I only want to think of the good. Of my own family and marriage and how far we have come. Of those I know of who are working hard everyday to strive to make their marriage better and stronger everyday. Its hard but it also so worth it.

Link to my entry on our own vow renewal a couple years back is HERE.

everything you do...

I heard this song on KLOVE driving home from the grocery store today. Made me smile and think of my previous post on my "mission". Seemed particularly fitting for that. So I thought I would share....

snow

I woke up to a dusting of snow this morning. There is just something about that first (or in this case 2nd) snow fall of the season...I think even more so when you wake up in the morning and find the world was draped in white as you slept. It fun when you have small children who get excited about seeing the snow on the ground. Hannah laughed with delight seeing my car covered in snow. She thought it was so funny! We located the snow brush together and brushed of the car to head to preschool.



I am not a huge winter fan. I like snow mostly when I can be snuggled warmly inside, with blankets and hot cocoa. But today as I drove I enjoyed watching the big fat flakes float lazily to the ground. As I drew closer to the church I noticed I was coming to the end of the snow clouds, there was a visible line in the sky...gray snowy clouds and the light blue sky with fluffy white clouds....which eventually gave way to bright sunny skies...


I snapped a picture when I stopped at the church but I don't think it does justice to how cool it really looked. :) But I am thankful that even on the grayest of days sometimes the brilliant sunshine is just over the horizon! :D

etsy

I opened an etsy shop a while back. It has been empty for quite some time. I had a little card making party with my sister recently. It was fun. :) Mikayla has added a few of my recent creations to my shop. Hopefully more will be added as time goes on as well. :)
You can check it out here.... www.faith324.etsy.com

my verse and mission for today...

Titus 2:3-5 (NIV 1984)

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

My devotional today took me to the above verse. It spoke to my heart today. Sometimes I get frustrated with the mundane-ness of life. Doing the same thing, over and over and never seeming to get a head. Makes me wonder if I am making a difference. Do the things I do really matter? Funny we talked about this at Housewives this week too. I guess it really is something I need to be working on this week, something God is trying to tell me.

Here is a little excerpt from my devo this morning....

How do we keep an eternal perspective who;e living here on earth? Here are a few suggestions: Start your day by praying that God will use you for His purposes. Make it your ambition to please God in everything you do--- whether packing your children's lunches, running a company or volunteering at church. Each night thank God for the opportunities he's given you to serve him by serving others.
(new Women's Devotional Bible NIV, pp 1502)

My job starts at home, with my husband and my children. It IS the most important job I could possibly have or aspire too. Making their house, a home. A place where they love to be. Where they always feel loved and accepted.

Secondly God has recently called me to be a teacher. This kind of blindsided me. It was not a path I was planning on taking. But He has given me such a love for the 12 little ones in our preschool class and the 4 beautiful K/1st kidlets in my Sunday School class. Maybe some of them will remember me, maybe not. But I hope and pray God can use me to plant seeds that will grow as they do.

Today I am definitely working on the kind, the self-controlled and the busy at home parts of the Titus Two verses... ;P

Chicken Tortilla Soup

I am enjoying another bowl of the soup we had for supper last night. I had been wanting to make it for a while, but I get tired of whining and I was afraid my family would not like it. But this week I added it to my menu and decided to go for it. I steeled myself for complaints as we sat down to dinner. Ryan too a big whiff, his face bent over the bowl. No complaints yet...he took a bite and exclaimed. "Mom, this soup is so delicious it should be in a restaurant!" I was slightly shocked and stammered my thanks. :) He even had a second bowl!

I had a recipe I used as a jumping off point. I made a couple changes, some due to the ingredients on hand...one was an-- oops wasn't paying attention. But it still came out great. The recipe I posted is mine...the way I made it...not the way it was originally printed. ;~P

1 medium onion, chopped

• 3 gloves of garlic, minced
• 2 pounds of chicken, baked or boiled; chopped or shredded
• 28 oz can petite diced tomatoes
• 10 oz can RO*TEL tomatoes
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Saute onion and garlic in oil. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 30-35 minutes.

Serve with grated cheese and tortilla chips.

ripples

My blanket is growing. It is now 39 rows long. :) I plan to make it two, maybe three times as big as it is now...at least. I am finding I love crochet...I love the soothing repetitive motion. I love watching the ripples form and the finished section grow longer. I love watching Hannah's amazement as it grows. Listening to her count the stripes and try to determine which color will be coming up next. I love when she snuggles next to me to watch the progress. I love that it super wide and soon we will be able to snuggle under it together as we watch movies and read stories! :D



Riley snoozing on my ripple in progress ;-) while on my lap... I love his adorable smooch-able puppy face.


Hannah snapped this one...i <3 it!!!

days of praise...day 4

Today I am thankful for our great country, and the little corner of it where we dwell. I am thankful for all the men and women who sacrificed to give us this great land we live in.

Specifically for my mister. And my other favorite my Marine, my little brother.


(Christmas Eve 2003)

give thanks

I made a Thanksgiving banner for my mantle today. I saw a couple ideas online that sparked mine. This is my semi-final product. As the banner is up, but hopefully it will be added to all season long. I cut out a bunch of leaves, acorns and pumpkins from fallish colored cardstock and stashed them in a little pumpkin dish on the mantle. The intention is that people can pick a shape, write on it what you are thankful for and add it to the mantle. Some I hope to put in the scrapbook, some I may save and post again next year. If you look close you can see Hannah and I have put up our first thanks. Hannah also added a hand print turkey she drew this morning while I was making the letters T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L. :)

The banner was made using my top note die from Stampin' Up and my Big Shot. I found myself wishing I had a leaf shaped die or two as well, but I traced them from my cookie cutter set and cut them out by hand. that works too! :)




Hannah's turkey :) because it doesn't show up very well in the bigger shot.

this is home

What a marvelous day it ended up being. :) I love days like this.

Hannah had preschool this morning. I headed out to do some running around. My first stop was the library. I had lost a magazine, it was due today. I feared going into the library and confessing I had lost it. How embarrassing. Now I lose things on a regular basis. But usually I am able to locate them sooner or later. No such luck, I sincerely think during my brief bout of organizing it was discarded, mistaken for own of my own magazines. I decided I needed to own up to or never set foot in a Onondaga County Library again! Clearly that was not an option. But of course the past six weeks had made much more of the situation than it really was. The girl at the desk didn't even bat an eye, and even offered to renew it for an additional month to give me more time to find it. I opted just to pay to have it replaced today, my fee being a measly TWO DOLLARS! I couldn't believe it! I happily paid and ended up wandering the library leaving with a stack of books, movies and CD's. Two new crochet books boasting projects easy enough for beginners. ;) I really do <3 the library and it is so relaxing being there alone!

Driving around today I found myself basking in the season, and our location. I just love where we live. I love the fall, the sights, the sounds, the smells. Even the impending snowy winter weather can not dampen my love for CNY today.

Later in the afternoon Hannah coaxed me into sitting out on the stoop and watching her ride her scooter. She happily chattered away. It just does not get any better than this.

Pear-Gingerbread Cake Recipe

I made this cake for Bible study today, it was quite delicious if I do say so myself ;) As promised here is the recipe. The directions are for the microwave but if you have a metal vs the stoneware fluted pan, there are conventional oven directions at the end. Although I highly recommend the stoneware fluted pan!!! Also given are specific PC tools, obviously you can use any mixing bowl, etc... however I know where you can get the exact tools listed if you are interested! ;P



1/3 cup (75 mL) plus 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil, divided
1 can (29 oz or 540 mL) pear halves
1 pkg (18.25 oz or 510 g) spice cake mix
2 tsp (10 mL) ground ginger
3 eggs
1/2 cup (125 mL) molasses
1/2 cup (125 mL) Butterscotch Rum Sauce or Caramel Sauce

1. Brush Stoneware Fluted Pan with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the oil using Chef's Silicone Basting Brush. Drain pears using medium Stainless Mesh Colander; blot pears dry with paper towels. Using Utility Knife, slice four of the pear halves lengthwise into quarters for a total of 16 slices. Arrange pear slices in a circular pattern over bottom of pan. Place remaining pears in Manual Food Processor; cover and pump handle until smooth. Spoon pear puree into (1-cup/250-mL) Easy Read Measuring Cup; add enough water to puree to measure 1 cup (250 mL).


(Ryan pureed the pears for me in the manual food processor)

2. In large Bamboo Fiber Mixing Bowl, combine cake mix, ginger, pear mixture, eggs, molasses and remaining 1/3 cup (75 mL) oil; whisk until well blended using Stainless Whisk. Slowly pour batter into prepared pan.


Microwave on HIGH 10–12 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Carefully remove pan from microwave using Silicone Oven Mitts; cool cake in pan 10 minutes.

3. Center Simple Additions® Large Round Platter over pan and carefully invert; remove pan. Drizzle sauce over cake.


Yield: 16 servings

Nutrients per serving: Calories 250, Total Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 15 mg, Sodium 240 mg, Carbohydrate 43 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 3 g

Cook's Tip: To bake in a conventional oven, preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Prepare batter as directed; bake 40–45 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.

© 2009 The Pampered Chef used under license.

Also click here to see directions to make our magic cake, in the fluted pan. 12 minutes in the microwave, comes out glazed when you turn it out of the pan!

days of praise...day 3

Sisters! I have one sister and she is awesome, one of my best friends. And I love her...tons! <3





My mom and her sister, my Aunt Sue

My beautiful daughters, so happy they each have an awesome sister in each other.

Sisters rock! If you have one make sure you tell her you love her today! <3

days of praise... day 2

Source: writenowisgood.typepad.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Books! Glorious Books! The above is just a picture I found on pinterest. It would be totally awesome to have shelves like that though!

I just love books. I think in my heart of hearts I too am a librarian like my sister. I however lack the funds and ambition to actually go to school for it. So I will settle for being the librarian of our little corner library in our Church. <3 Even my home library is sadly lacking, my one bookshelf is slowly being over taken my the Mister's odds and ends, most of my books are either stacked next to my bed or still in boxes in the basement. I must obtain some shelving soon.... but I digress....

I love books, I love libraries. This week I actually slipped off to the library myself while Hannah was in school. It was wonderful to peruse the books of my choosing without having to constantly correct and chase after children. I do love sharing the library and my love for books with my children as well, don't get me wrong. I've been privileged to have some quality book time as of late with Miss Hannah. Her preschool teacher informed my earlier this week that she had some great pre-reading skills and would probably enjoy those level one early reader books. I promptly checked some out of the library. She and I had quite a reading fest that night. We snuggled and read 6-7 in a row, with some repeats, ;) during homework time. She delighted in being able to fill in some of the words that were quite repetitive in those early reader books ;) We particularly enjoyed one about a backyard. I love backyards too...but that is a post for another day. ;P

I am encouraging Ryan in his reading as well, as he has fallen quite behind in his independent reading. He is required to read 25 books on his own for school. Nearing the end of the 1st making period he informed me he was in danger of getting a ZERO in reading as he had yet to finish a single chapter book!! gasp! He reads every night in bed, takes stacks of library books to bed with him. But he has been neglecting the chapter books, and books on his level which would qualify apparently. This saddens me as he is very adept at reading, just chooses to forsake it for other activities! But we're working on it. His reading log is now posted on the fridge to remind the both of us to keep on track with his reading.

Source: google.com via Amy on Pinterest

Snuggle up with a blanket, and hot beverage and enjoy a good book this weekend. ;)

days of praise... day one

It's November! The month of Thanksgiving. I had this grand plan to blog one thing I was thankful for every day of November. But here it is the 3rd and I am just getting to my first post. Life sometimes gets in the way. :) But I am grateful. And one of the things I am most grateful for are these two people right here.


My Mom and Dad <3

I am thankful for all they have done for me. For the childhood they gave me, for the person they raised me to be. I am thankful that we live in the same town., where we occasionally run into each other unexpectedly. Like this past Saturday in the grocery store. I am thankful we attend the same Church, along with my Grandma. I am thankful that means I get to see them at least every Sunday and sometimes get to do special things like assist my mother in teaching the kids of the church about our time in Sierra Leone on WKFM (Wesleyan Kids for Missions) Sunday. I am thankful for the heritage of loving God we are passing down to my children. I am thankful they have been married all my life. That I never had to choose or split my time between them.

Mom and Dad, I love you. Thank you. For everything.


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making rippling progress on my blanket ;)

bikes, kites & roller skates ;~)

Halloween

I am not a big fan of Halloween. Never have been. I don't like things that are creepy, or scary, or gross. I do however love pumpkins. Fall. The kids dressing up, giggling with anticipation.

Last night was our Church's Harvest Bash. The kids had a great time. All my kids had costumes inspired by Adventure Time. Their favorite show on Cartoon Network, if you are not familiar and must know more you can check it out here.

Mikayla did not dress up last night. The "teens" watched a movie upstairs while the kids partied downstairs. But she wore hers on Thursday night for the Girl Scouts party. She was Fionna.

Hannah was Cake the Cat. I had to slightly modify the ears from Ryan's old puppy costume to transform her into a kitty. But she was happy, and that's what really matters. :)

Ryan was Finn.


Sunday night we finally carved out pumpkins. We were all quite proud of our creations.


I also made these cool looking cookies for Hannah's class yesterday. Sadly she informed me her class was less than impressed with them. :( Oh well, I thought they were cool and am enjoying the leftovers. ;) I found the recipe via pinterest. you can check out the recipe here, it was actually a Christmas cookie, I just changed the colors to make if Halloween~y.