Works For Me Wednesday - Command Hooks

I have struggled with getting settled in our home. We moved in a year ago. At the time, I was 7 months pregnant and could not do much to move in. We didn't even finish painting Baby's room before he surprised us early! Needless to say, the unpacking process slowed drastically with a newborn!

Fast forward a year. Just about all the boxes are unpacked. Two rooms are painted. A few pictures are on the walls.   Now, fall has me wanting to "feather my nest."  One particular decorating dilemma - our brick wall in the enrtyway.  Enter Command hooks!  I had no idea I could use these on brick.

I find uses for these beauties all over the house.  Here is one more great use in the kitchen!

Command hooks work for me!  Check out We Are THAT Family for other great tips!

Good Links - Flu Shots, Recipes, Our God

I ran across some fantastic posts recently and wanted to share!  I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.  I just want to say that as for the vaccine debate, we decided to do pretty much all the shots, just not as scheduled.  We used the The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Sears Parenting Library) as a guide and worked with our doctor and nurse and health insurance to split up and delay shots while still getting them covered by insurance.  I am still undecided on the flu shots. I like to get the non-medical community/government side out there so parents can make informed decisions.

• The Gift of a Meal
• Savory Pot Roast Recipe (can you say comfort food?!?!)
• Coupons you'll need for deals next week
• Bleach or Vinegar to Kill Germs?
• God Loves Me
• Very Important Vaccine Question
• Vaccine Info for New Parents
• Flu Vaccine Exposed
• The Greater the Sinner, the Greater the Glory
• 
  

Gratituesday: Memories

I learned that my college roommate/best friend lost her grandfather yesterday.  It was a sad day.  I had only met him once or twice, but his passing reminded me that the wounds of losing my grandparents, friends,  and students are still quite fresh. 

I am thankful for these sad days of rememberance, even though they are bittersweet.  These days help keep the memories alive. 

I was reminded last night of:

• how soft my Grandma's skin always was when I kissed her cheek
• how Pap always had his breakfast table set the same way and had his coffee crystals (which caused a disasterous mothers day breakfast in bed years later when I didn't realize that ALL coffee isn't like his crystals)
• how Grandpop loved working with wood and creating beautiful works of art.  I always loved how the woodshop smelled.
• Now Namu always had my favorite snacks on hand for when we visited and how she always smiled when there was music
• how my friend Scott had a great sense of humor
• how my student, Kyle, worked so hard to be able to graduate early and with honors although he didn't get to graduate

I didn't mean this to be a downer of a post.  I find these memories to be beautiful.  They cause me to long more for Heaven where there will no longer be suffering, sickness, or death.

Click on over to Heavenly Homemaker for other great posts of thankfulness!

Can He Use Me?

Do you ever feel useless?  Do you wonder how, and why, God would use you when there are so many more qualified people around?  I do. 

I tend to sit back and let others use their gifts.  I fear failure.  I fear uselessness.  I fear the unknown.  I am being sinful.  I would rather do nothing and not fail than go and DO and risk being exposed as not perfect. 

God is the only One who is perfect.  We are to strive toward perfection, but we cannot attain it in this life.  He has given us great gifts to share.  We sin when we say, "No, God, I don't think I am good enough to use the gifts You have given me.  I think You made a mistake when You blessed me with this gift - it is meant for someone else."

Our Heavenly Father does not make mistakes.  He gifts us each differently.  We are to work together as a body to carry out His works.  An arm cannot carry a meal to a new mother if the feet don't take the body to her.  In that way, we all need to use our unique gifts together for the good of the Body of Christ. 

This verse came through 411GOD recently.  I often struggle with feeling too young to do much of the work God has for me.  I look quite young and get treated like a child often.  God assures me that He CAN and WILL use me!  What power!

1 Timothy 4:12-16 (New Living Translation)

12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Do you know what your giftings are?  Have they changed as you have grown?  I came across a spiritual gifts test this summer.  While no human-created test can tell us each and every gifting we posess, this one opened my eyes to gifts I had overlooked.  How are you gifted?  How are you using those gifts?  How can you Be The Blessing to someone else with your gifts?

Menu Planning Monday - Week of 9/28/09

What a fun weekend!  Hubby and I went back to our college Alma Mater.  There was a memorial concert for the man who made the music department what it is today.  I got to play in the alumni wind ensemble on French horn and Hubs got to play lead alto sax in the alumni jazz band.  Both groups were fantastic.  It was great to get "Pierre" out of his case again - the last time I played was April and before that, the time is measured in years!  It was great fun to play, to hang out with old friends, to meet other alumni (6 DECADES were represented!), to see professors, and to introduce Baby to everyone!

With that said, we are exhausted.  We left Friday evening within minutes of Hubby coming home from work.  We stayed an hour away from the school at my parents house so they could help watch Baby - we drove back and forth each day.  The concert itself started at 2pm and ended at 5pm.  We finally got home at 8:15pm.

I am planning some easy meals this week for my own sanity and recovery.  Next week will be busy too with BABY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!  On to the plan....

Monday:  BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (scroll down on my past post for recipe - I simply add a little bbq sauce rather than mexican seasonings - yum!)
Tuesday: (possible childcare at church)  Chef Boyardee night
Wednesday: Meat Pie (recipe on my past post)
Thursday: Chicken and Dumplings (recipe on this blog with pictures!  SUPER YUMMY!)
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Meatball subs
Sunday: Chicken Alfredo

Link up on Orgjunkie.com with your own menu plan!  By planning menus, I have been able to trim our grocery budget considerably!

Our Hearts Spilleth Over

When was the last time you were angry?  Surprised?  Caught off guard?  How did you respond?  What did you say?

A very wise pastor once spoke about our hears being like a vessel filled with liquid.  We truly see what is inside that vessel when it is bumped and the liquid spills out.  What have you been filing your heart with?  Things of this world or things of the Lord?

When we are bumped or shaken, we can see what is hiding in our hearts.  I am often surprised with what is in my heart.  I like to think that I am a pretty good gal - pretty under control.  I love the Lord and like to think that I am getting pretty close to what He wants me to be.  Yeah - I can be delusional!

Something so minor like the dog barking right after I put the baby down to nap or a person cutting me off in traffic can cause an explosion of ugliness in my heart.  Being told "no" about something I desire can cause me to fly into a rage.

I am thankful for these bumps.  God allows me to see what I had previously ignored.  I am able to address the areas of sin in my life rather than letting them slip by.  Not always right away - sometimes it takes days to give up my own agenda.  I have a lot of work to do, by God's Grace, I will continue to grow.  Yes, I will slip up - a LOT.

What is in your heart?  How do you respond?

Finer Things of Fall

Join us in a fun bloggy Fall Festival!  Visit Amy at FinerThings to see many blogs devoted to the finer things of fall!  You can also enter a giveaway for a great scrapbooking package.

Ah - the finer things of fall.  I couldn't just pick one.  Here's a whirl through the finer things in OUR lives during fall!

Church

• New small groups and ministry opportunities begin.
• MOPS starts again after the summer hiatus  
  
• Fall barn party happens. (we haven't gone yet, but plan to!)

Family

• Fall begins a season of family visits - Thanksgiving, birthdays, Christmas just around the corner
• Family walks - the Hubs and I love long leisurely walks.  We harness the dog and put Baby in his special backpack and we go on long walks and explore our new hometown.
• Family naps - napping all piled on the couch with the windows cracked open to let in the crisp air is simply delightful.
  

Fun

• It's MARCHING BAND SEASON!!!  Hubby's university just re-started the marching band after a 10 year break.  Nothing says fall like the sound of quads echoing off the grandstands.
• Re-nesting.  It is so much fun to do a good "fall cleaning" and then feather the nest with cozy and inviting decorations.
• Playdates!  Moms are back in town after summer travels.
• Football parties!
• Rail Baron!  This is a board game that has been out of print for many years.  Hubs got it for me (for $75!!!!) from ebay for my birthday a few years ago.  The best way to describe it is a combination of Monopoly and Risk with all historic railroads.  We seem to be able to play this more often in the fall.
  

Rememberences

• September 11th
• Veterans day

Apparel

• Turtlenecks
• Sweaters
• Socks
• Fashion boots
• Cords
• Blazers
• Pea coats

Oh - there are so many wonderful things about fall!

Ultimate Fall Recipe Swap!

Join in this fun bloggy fall festival!  Today we are sharing our favorite fall-themed recipes!  Click on over to Life As Mom to see some great recipes and be entered to win a fantastic giveaway!

One of my all-time favorite fall foods is chili.  Hubby does not like beans in chili, so alas, I eat regular chili alone.  Years ago, though, we were introduced to a wonderful BEAN-FREE chili!  Cincinnati Chili (or Skyline Chili) has a unique flavor - a hint of cinnamon and is served in an unusual way - over spaghetti!

In the past, I have always used a package mix, however, I am embarking on an adventure to make this chili from scratch.  I found a great recipe that was featured in Southern Living magazine, so it HAS to be yummy, right?  I tweaked this recipe just a bit to suit our situation and our tastes.

Original recipe can be found on MyRecipes.  A thank you goes out to BusyMom for pointing out some omissions in her comment!  I have altered the recipe further to reflect these changes!  Remember - I have yet to make this myself without a package mix!

Because the meat in this chili is not browned and drained, use very lean ground beef.

Yield

6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 2  pounds  ground round
• 2  cups  water 1 Quart water
  
• 2  (6-ounce) cans no-salt-added tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
  
• 1  clove garlic, minced
• 2  large bay leaves
• 3  tablespoons  chili powder (I use a little less)
  
• 1  tablespoon  ground cumin
• 1/2 oz unsweetened chocolate
  
• 2  teaspoons  ground allspice
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 1  teaspoon  pepper
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 1  teaspoon  white wine vinegar (cider vinegar works as well)
  
• 1  teaspoon  Worcestershire sauce
• Hot cooked spaghetti
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Oyster Crackers
  

Preparation

Combine ground round and water in a 4-quart stock pot; stir with a fork until thoroughly blended. Stir in tomato paste and next 12 ingredients.
Cover with lid.  Heat to boiling.  Either reduce heat to simmer and cook for 2-3 hours or transfer to crock pot and cook 6 hours.  (If you have more time, you can cook from the start in the crock pot - plan on at least 8 hours to simmer.)  Chili is done when it resembles really meaty marinara sauce.

It is best to cool chili and keep in refrigerator overnight so the fat can be lifted off.

Remove and discard bay leaves, stirring well. Serve chili over hot spaghetti, and top with cheese and oyster crackers.  Add diced onion and kidney beans if you wish.

Fall Traditions

I feel like we are a little unusual.  We have no traditions yet.  We have been married nine and a half years and have no fall traditions.  We have lived so many places that our traditions would have to change somewhat with each move.  We also have been child-less until now so traditions haven't seemed that important.  We were both super busy with school and work.

Now that we are settled and have started our family, it is time to start some fall traditions! 

• Color hikes and drives
• Leaf jumping
• Leaf collecting
• Special fall arts and crafts
• College football games - for the marching band of course!
• Pumpkin patch
• Pumpkin carving - not the scary faces - I don't like typical Halloween - but harvest themes

I could list forever what I want to do as a family during fall!  Now to fit all that in during the busy season Hubby has as a music professor!

Join the bloggy fall carnival by linking up at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free to see other great fall tradition ideas and enter in a fantastic giveaway!

Crock Pot Wednesday: Pork Chops Creation

For some reason, this silly crock pot makes me feel nearly invincible in the kitchen.  I rarely have fear with creating dishes.  Once I learned that potatoes cooked well in this marvelous appliance, I was inspired. 

Today, I am cooking a recipe I made up.  I don't know if it will be tasty or not.  I don't know if it will be a success or a failure.  You are welcome to try it, just don't expect too much!

I added this recipe in my menu plan on Monday.  I am undecided at this point if I will use chicken or pork - we just had pork a couple days ago. 

Without further ado:

Sesame Ginger Pork Chops and Seasoned Potatoes

Using a divided crock, I will make pork chops in a sesame ginger glaze with seasoned roasted potatoes.

In one side of crock, drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil in bottom.  Place pork chops in crock.  Pork chops can be raw or can be seared on each side.  I plan to sear mine first.  Add about a 1/4 cup water and a 1/4 cup Lowry's Sesame Ginger marinade.  Cook on Low for 4-6 hours until pork is done.

In other side of crock, place cleaned and cubed potatoes.  Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.  Season to taste.  I had a lightbulb moment concerning the 'taters.  Place clean/cubed potatoes in a ziploc bag.  Drizzle in extra virgin olive oil.  Sprinkle in seasonings.  I plan to use seasoned salt and some dry mustard and probably just experiment with the different spices I have on my rack.  Shake the bag like mad.  Pour into other side of the crock.  Cook as directed above.

To serve, place pork chop and potatoes on plate.  Add a side of salad.  Drizzle just a little marinade over the pork chops.

I hope this recipe works!  I will let you know!


Come on over to Dining With Debbie for a Crockpot Carnival!

Falling for Fun

Join us for a bloggy Fall Festival!  Link up with what you like to do for fun in fall at the Daily Dwelling.

One word sums up fun in fall - OUTSIDE!  Hiking, biking - well, not so much biking since my bike was stolen years ago, walking, playing, working.  Anything that gets me outside during fall is a good thing.

I love walking through the woods bundled up in a sweater with warm socks and hiking boots on my feet.  I love walking past a mountain stream, smelling the leaf mold, seeing the bright colors all around me, and listening to the dog frolicking in the water.  I love doing yard work in the fall - trimming bushes and preparing the grass and soil for planting in the spring.

I love hayrides and campfires.  There is just something about the crisp air contrasted with the blazing fire.  Sitting back and having a family sing-a-long with guitars while munching hobo pies is bliss.

Last fall, I was a brand-new mommy.  I spent most of the season confined to a chair with my sweet little nurseling.  The view was fantastic and I can't wait for the color to return in all its glory.  This fall, Baby, Hubby, and I will be able to enjoy fall together - OUTSIDE!

Feathering My Nest

I am so excited for fall.  I LOVE pretty much everything about this season, especially Thanksgiving and the approach of Christmas.   I am also excited for this blog carnival to celebrate Fall!

How do YOU "feather your nest" for fall?  Link up at Hoosier Homemade and share!  You will also be entered to win some super cute fall decorations!

Since we have been so busy for so many years with me working full time and Hubby getting his doctorate, we haven't created many traditions.  This time of year was always full of business travel for both of us so the only thing that ever happened was the setting of the fake Christmas tree after Thanksgiving.

Now that I am staying at home with Baby, I am enjoying the discovery of special things to do for fall.  I have big dreams.  I have a small budget.  The trick is to try to mesh the two.

What I Can Do Now:
I have a wooden bear on my front door.  He's my Welcome Bear.  He has different clothes that velcro on based on the seasons.  To ring in fall, my bear changed out of his baseball uniform and into his Steelers uniform.

I brought my fall centerpiece out and put my fall neutral tablecloth on. This year, I decided to actually USE my good silver tray.  Why store things we love when we could USE them and ENJOY them?

I got out a little knick-knack:

My fall wreath (that I plan to move to our entry way for a brick background and I plan to replace the current space with a wreath I make).

And I am occasionally burning candles of my FAVORITE fall scent - apples and cinnamon!  We don't use many fragrance items in the home due to allergies, but I will always use a touch of this fragrance during fall and winter.

Our Food:

I love hearty fall food!  Unfortunately, Hubby isn't too fond of produce of any sort.  Here are some favorites:

• Cincinatti Chili
• Regular chili - I want to experiment with a chili soup idea I have in my head that uses no beans so Hubby will eat it
• Crusty bread
• Pumpkin seeds!

My Dreams:

As we have more children and as they grow, I would love to incorporate the following:

• hayrides
• pumpkin patch
• campfires (or a fire pit on our deck)
• walks in the woods
• fall color camera adventures (go on walks/drives to capture West Virginia fall color on our cameras!)

I love fall!

Menu Planning Monday - Week of 9/21/09

I am actually feeling like I am on top of things!  Here it is, Sunday night, and I already have a good idea of what is on my plate for the week! We had a good night of sleep with baby for a change and are praying it continues.  I am going to jump right on in!

We have a BRAND NEW toaster oven (special deal at $15 at Target last week) so toast is back on the breakfast menu as a staple along with Cheerios and my new favorite Kashi Honey Sunrise cereal.  Lunch for Hubby is either peanut butter/honey sandwich or cold cuts with applesauce and water.  Lunch for me is whatever we have leftover from dinner or Lean Pockets that I picked up on sale.

Monday - Turkey filets (turkey breast wrapped in turkey bacon) with Au Gratin potatoes
Tuesday - Burgers (I do childcare at church in the evening so we eat seperately)
Wednesday - Crock Pot Sesame Ginger Pork Chops and Taters (see recipe below - I am making it up as I go)
Thursday - Prime Time Pepperoni Pizza "Pie" (from our newspaper - see recipe below)
Friday - Cookout at neighbor's
Saturday - Dinner out on campus - we are participating in the bands for an alumni memorial concert in honor of the founder of the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band.
Sunday - Pizza - probably frozen, possibly ordered.  We have the concert in the afternoon and a long drive home (nearly 3 hours).  I know I won't feel like cooking!

Head on over to orgjunkie.com to join in the menu craze!

Crock Pot Pork Chops

Using a divided crock, I will make pork chops in a sesame ginger glaze with seasoned roasted potatoes.

In one side of crock, drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil in bottom.  Place pork chops in crock.  Pork chops can be raw or can be seared on each side.  I plan to sear mine first.  Add about a 1/4 cup water and a 1/4 cup Lowry's Sesame Ginger marinade.  Cook on Low for 4-6 hours until pork is done.

In other side of crock, place cleaned and cubed potatoes.  Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.  Season to taste.  I plan to use seasoned salt and some dry mustard and probably just experiment with the different spices I have on my rack.  Cook as directed above.

To serve, place pork chop and potatoes on plate.  Add a side of salad.  Drizzle just a little marinade over the pork chops.

I hope this recipe works!  I will let you know!

Prime Time Pepperoni Pizza "Pie"
 Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:
1 unbaked 9-inch (4 cup volume) frozen pie shell
1 package (8oz) shedded Italian blend cheese, divided
2 oz thinly sliced pepperoni (about 20 - 30  1 1/2" - 2" diameter slices) cut into quarters, divided
1 can (12 fl oz) evaporated milk
3 large eggs, beaten
2 Tablespons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

PREHEAT oven to 350
SPRINKLE 1 cup cheese and half of pepperoni pieces onto bottom of pie shell.
WHISK evaporated milk, eggs, flour, basil, and garlic powder in medium bowl until blended.  Pour mixture into pie shell.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Decorate top with remaining pepperoni pieces and any other toppings you like.  Place quiche on baking sheet (if pie pan is made of aluminum foil).
BAKE for 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.
COOL for 5 minutes before serving.
TIP:  Choose 1/4 cup of any of your favorite toppings (such as chopped onions, red or green peppers, or sliced black olives) and add as topping with the remaining pepperoni pieces.

Blessed with Grace - ANOTHER Giveaway!

Blessed with Grace has another fantastic giveaway!  She is giving away 2 great books by Zondervan Publishing.  Click on through to enter in this great giveaway!

Be the Blessing

So, our church is leading the whole community in a Be the Blessing campaign throughout this whole year.  The premise is to look for ways to bless others in ways both big and small.  I wanted to share a scripture with you in light of Be the Blessing to encourage EVERYONE to bless others this week.

Philippians 2:3-11 (New Living Translation)

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
 6 Though he was God,
      he did not think of equality with God
      as something to cling to.
 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
      he took the humble position of a slave
      and was born as a human being.
   When he appeared in human form,
    8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
      and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
      and gave him the name above all other names,
 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

From a Distance - A Glimpse at Modern Spirituality

Do you remember this hit from the 80's?   Bette Midler singing about how beautiful this world is from a distance?

From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.

From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
it's the voice of every man.   (from elyrics.net)

It seems like a pretty song.  Catchy, flowing melody soulfully sung.  Seems innocuous enough...until these lyrics:

God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.

 It has only been recently that the full meaning of this lyrics made sense to me.  I stopped singing along blindly long enough to let what is being said fully sink in.

God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.

 Yes, God is INDEED watching us, but NOT from a distance.  He is here WITH us.

Romans 8:28 (New International Version)

  ²⁸And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 God does not sit on His throne and just watch the little "ants" below.  He is not a passive observer.  He does not leave us to just fend for ourselves.

Hebrews 4:12

 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight.

Recently, this song and everything it stands for has really gotten under my skin.  This feeling came to a boiling point as I watched Oprah interview Whitney Houston on TV the other day.  They were discussing prayer and talked about how they felt a connection with EACH OTHER while they were praying the night before the interview.   I was taken aback since prayer is connecting and communicating with our Father in Heaven, not with the cosmos, not with those who have passed away, not with each other - our Father in Heaven.

This song and this interview are just two shining examples of the modern culture of spirituality.

• the belief that we create our own truth
• the belief that all religions and all beliefs are good - as well as the belief in nothing being good
• the belief that all beliefs are "equal" and the differences don't matter

This list could go on for quite some time.  If we study different beliefs, it is obvious that they cannot ALL be equal and correct.  I will not delve into the specifics of various beliefs here  - that is for another time and place.  I will say that in these times, we need to realize that the terms "spiritual" and "religious" do not necessarily mean "washed in the blood of the Lamb Christian."

As we ingest popular culture and the media, we need to realize that terminology may not mean what we think it does.  When someone says they are religious, a Christian, Catholic, Lutheran, spiritual .... or many others, they may not mean what you THINK they mean.  We need to guard our hearts and minds.  We need to filter information through what God says in His word.  His WORD is our foundation, all other books, messages, songs, are just secondary.

As Bette Midler sings,

From a distance you look like my friend,
even though we are at war.
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
what all this fighting is for.

we need to remember that even when things seem to be their worst, God is doing what is BEST for us.  He is not sitting by simply watching.

Luke 11:11-13 (New International Version)

 ¹¹"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Give your heart to the One that loved you enough to send his only Son to die a horrific death on the cross so that you may have eternal life.  Give your heart to Him and guard it from the things of this world.

Healthy Eating

I desire to eat healty food.  I desire to eat the food God intended us to eat.  I don't often eat what I should.  Why?  Soooo many reasons!

• I'm lazy.
• I like how bad food tastes.
• I find better deals on processed food than on healthy food.
• My husband hates veggies.
• I like chocolate.
• I like sugar.
• I like salt.

I read the book The Maker's Diet several years ago.  It completely gave me a new perspective on food.  Our bodies were designed a certain way to work their best.  We come along and start messing with what God created as our fuel and we cause all sorts of problems.

I will say that following the Maker's Diet as outlined in the book just isn't financially possible.  Instead, we are taking baby steps.  I enjoyed a segment on the Dr. Oz show today regarding the "10 Major-Agers."   Now, I am not concerned about LOOKING older (I wouldn't MIND looking 10 years older - maybe I wouldn't get kids menus anymore! Pictures here.) but I want to care for my body (and my family's bodies) so they are equipped to do the work God has for us.

Here are our baby steps for this month.

• Begin limiting sugar consumption.  I realized I was eating something sweet at least 3 times a day - I'm talking CANDY BARS! There are much more effective ways to nourish my body as I continue to nurse Baby.
• Begin limiting high fructose corn syrup.
• Start making my own bread again - I can control the ingredients and will not have the preservatives that commercial breads do.
• Get rid of the home fragrance items.  I got a ton for free or nearly free.  They will make great stocking stuffers!

I have one quick recipe to share.  It is for my Grandma's delicious BBQ sauce (this may be a Betty Crocker recipe or something like that - I am not sure).  Grandma wasn't known for her cooking, but she made a mean BBQ sauce and fantastic fudge.  Goodness, I miss her.

She is in the foreground in the gold sweatshirt.  (I'm on the same side the third person back in a green rayon shirt with bangs and an attempted 80's hair puff)

Anyway, I have some ideas of how to tweak it to make it healthier, but I would love input on other ways to make this even better for us (BBQ sauce is a staple here).

1 1/2 cup ketchup (I will substitute with natural ketchup with no HFCS)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chili sauce
2 Tablespoons vinegar
2 Tablespoons liquid smoke
1 Tablespoon lemon juice (from a REAL lemon)

Combine ingredients in saucepan on stove.  Simmer for 10 minutes.

I want to thank my friend, Erika, for her heart on the issue of eating for the glory of God.  Her passion on this subject has rekindled my desire to take action.  Check out her blog for lots of yummy recipes!

Prayer

The topic of prayer seems to be a theme for this week.  I pray.  Hubby and I pray together each night.  We are starting to teach Baby to pray.  I struggle though.

I don't pray as often as I should.  I tend to get caught up in busyness and put it off until later.  I need to get better.  This verse (sent from 411God this morning) convicted me.

Psalm 66:16-20 (New Living Translation)

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God,
      and I will tell you what he did for me.
 17 For I cried out to him for help,
      praising him as I spoke.
 18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
      the Lord would not have listened.
 19 But God did listen!
      He paid attention to my prayer.
 20 Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer
      or withdraw his unfailing love from me.

How is your prayer life?

Crock Pot Cry-Out

I love my crock pot.  I try to use it at least once a week.  I am in a quandry and hope some of my readers could help!

I need some ideas.  I have pork chops.  A lot of pork chops.  I have potatoes.  A lot of potatoes.  I would love to make pork chops and potatoes for dinner this week.  I was wondering - can I "bake" potatoes in a crock pot?  I have a large oval crock pot with 2 crocks - one large oval one and one divided crock.

What do you think?

Check out other crock pot ideas on diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com.

Teach Your Child to Pray - Giveaway Notice

Blessed with Grace has a sweet giveaway.  Click on over to get all the details.  She is giving away a very special book:  The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers Created by Stan and Jan Berenstain, Written by Mike Berenstain. This book is $3.99 on the Zondervan website.

This seems like such a sweet book!  I entered the giveaway, have you?

Gratituesday: the Internet

Whether Al Gore invented it or not, I am thankful for the internet.  I was thinking about how much life has changed over the years since the internet really took hold.  I take the convenience for granted. 

I'm not that old - 30-something.  I remember writing programs for the computer in gwbasic.  I remember when floppy disks were just that - big and floppy.  I remember our first non-tv based computer that had no hard drive - just 2 floppy drive where we had to keep swapping out disks to keep programs running.  I remember writing code to configure my computer in college to run our college text-based email system in kermit.  During my college years, the world-wide-web really began to "expand" into our current internet.  I was able to look up articles for my music history paper online!

Here is just a short list of things made sooo much easier by the internet!

• real estate - we have purchased 4 homes and sold 3 in the last 8 years.  Our first home purchase was done without using the internet much at all as the companies in our area weren't listing online much.  With our last purchase, we were able to house hunt in West Virginia while living in Nebraska and Pennsylvania
• research of any kind - products, doctors, illnesses, events
• connecting - the internet has allowed us to stay in touch with our families as we have moved around the country.  In recent years, we have been able to do both business and social networking.  We have found old friends and actually met extended family.

What has the internet helped you do?  Join me on Heavenly Homemaker to share what you are thankful for today!

Menu Planning Monday

 

Well, our grocery budget looks pretty good this month.  I strive to spend less than $200 each month for our family of 2 adults, 1 toddler, and 1 dog.  So far, I have only spent $40.  We were blessed by a gift of a LOT of freezer food from my mother.  Her school has a fund raiser that involves lots of delicious frozen food (similar to schwan's without the delivery).  She purchases monthly and often blesses us with some food as well.  I will use this gift to stretch our budget and stock up on a few items - mainly coffee and dog food - this month (especially with the big Kroger MEGA sale - our stockpile will grow!).  Check out my other blog if you want details on the sale or many things regarding saving money.

To help stretch the budget, I want to start planning out more meals than just dinners.  We don't have a ton of variety for breakfast or lunch, but I know I tend to eat poorly myself (being the only adult home most days) if at all for breakfast or lunch if I don't plan ahead.

I challenge you to take a few moments and brainstorm all the meals your family enjoys.  Do this exercise over a few days since you will surely remember old favorites that way.  I started my list here.  I will be growing the list and organizing it until it becomes a great meal database that will aid my menu planning while pleasing the palates in my home.

Meals:
Breakfasts - cereal, toast, pancakes, cheese (I prefer salty in the morning)
Lunches - peanut butter and jelly/honey sandwiches or cold cuts for Hubby, leftovers or sandwiches for me

Dinners:
Monday - enchiladas
Tuesday - pulled pork bbq sandwiches
Wednesday - burgers
Thursday - quesadillas
Friday - meatball hogies
Saturday - dinner out!!!  We're going on a DATE!!!!
Sunday - pizza

Click on over to I'm An Organizing Junkie to see more menu ideas plus recipes!

Reading

 

The Bible is the most important thing you can read. It is God's love story to us as well as an instruction manual for our lives (not a set of "rules" as many people believe). It is good to supplement our time in the Word with other good books. I have added a widget in my sidebar listing some of my favorite biblical books dealing with being a wife and a mother. I cannot recommend those books highly enough. Just remember, those books are not a replacement for quite times or time in the Word but simply a supplement.

Hearts at Home

Have you ever felt alone as a mom? Lost in your chosen field of mothering?

There is an organization that was created to encourage, educate and equip women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home helps thousands of moms love their lives through their many resources including conferences, website, and books.

Recently I partnered up with this organization as a blogger. Over time I hope to share with you the many resources this ministry has to offer (old ones and new). To learn more about the Hearts at Home Blogging team go here.

In the meantime I would like to encourage you to explore their website and blog for an immediate dose of mothering encouragement.

Reflections

 

Today has been very busy and I haven't had time to post much at all.  This post will be cross-posted on all blogs, but I feel it is important enough to be posted like that.

Eight years ago, our nation changed.  A horrific series of attacks changed the very core of who we are.  The sound of an airplane overhead has a whole different meaning.  Each anniversary, I am saddened at the memory.  It is so fresh - if hardly feels like eight years have passed.  

A few years before, I lived just miles from the Pennsylvania field as I was a camp cook and counselor.  I haven't gone back.  I don't think I can.  Just three years after the attack, we awoke to find a small plane had crash landed across the street from our home in Tennessee. 


Where were you on that fateful day?  I would love to hear your story.  Here's mine.

Hubby and I had just moved to Tennessee.  I had my first full-time teaching job in a middle school.  The day of the attack, I was welcoming my 8th grade choir.  They told me that we were under attack.  I thought they were pulling a prank on me.  What they said just sounded so unbelievable.  I was having a rocky year with this group and wouldn't be surprised by a prank, so we sang.  Class as usual.  Part way through class, the principal made an announcement and I turned on the tv to hear the news.  I honestly don't remember much after that.  I don't remember if we had an early dismissal.  I don't remember teaching any other classes.  I do remember going into my friend, Becky's, classroom to watch the news.  I remember an announcement asking us to turn off the tv's to help the kids cope better - I don't think anyone listened, we were all too frightened.  I know a lot of kids went home.  I remember watching the news all night, shaking.  For months after, news reports and rumors kept coming explaining how if there a nuclear attack, we would be high up on the list of probable targets due to our proximity to Oak Ridge labs.

I remember the panic.  I remember emergency kits being prepared for homes - grocery stores selling out of water and canned goods.  I remember the brave volunteers who traveled to New York and Pennsylvania to help.  I remember feeling panic each time the Air National Guard helecopters flew over en route to base.

I remember the flags hanging at every house.  I remember how America bonded and became stronger through the pain.  America has changed, but not all for the worse.  Remembering is painful, but we must Never Forget.

Rest

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to Me all who labor and are heavy laden AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For I’m gently and lowly in heart, AND YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light"

Jesus commands us to rest.  He commands us to rest in HIM to be strengthened.  God Himself rested.  He created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th.  Jesus took time away from His ministry to rest.  If GOD HIMSELF seeks rest, why don't we?


It seems like life gets more and more hectic.  More places to run, more things to do.  Our to-do lists as wives and mothers seems to grow longer by the minute, especially with toddlers around.  It is HARD to find time to rest!  I know firsthand.  Baby is 11 months old, quite mobile during the day and still not sleeping more than 3 hour stretches at night.  I'm tired but I often feel that I don't have time to rest.


I have, however, discovered an interesting principle.  When I take the time to rest in the Lord, I have MORE time through the day!  How is this possible?  By aligning my will with His, He strengthens me to be more efficient in my work and points me to the work that He has for me for that day, not what I FEEL like doing that day.


Now, I often think I can do BOTH what I want to do and what the Lord has for me to do.  How silly that thought is.  The days when my thinking is flawed like that, I find my plans disintigrating. 

One great way that I find rest is through MOPS.   Mothers of Preschoolers.  No, it isn't a quiet time.  It is time with other moms, without Baby, where we all learn how to be more like Jesus and how to be better wives and mothers.  I began going to MOPS right after moving across the country when I was 7 months pregnant.  These women became an instant family.  They brought meals when Baby came early.  They have been there through the good times and bad!  They have helped me find my identity as an individual, not just as a wife and mother. 


I am quite excited that we kick off our new year of MOPS tomorrow.  I am excited to serve more this year as a table leader and by writing for the newsletter.  I am excited to welcome friends, new and old.


How do you rest?  Do you rest?  Have you spent time in the Word today?

Crock Pot Wednesday - Chicken and Dumplings

 

Crock Pot Wednesday

I am trying a new meme today.  I posted a Works for Me Wednesday on my other blog and want to post this new one here!  The theme of the meme is crock pot cooking.  I went on a crock pot adventure today and would like to share!

I started with a basic recipe but changed it QUITE a bit.  First, I cleaned and prepped a whole chicken and placed in the crock pot.  I poured 6 cups of water over the chicken then added some bullion and random spices (powdered mustard, poultry seasoning, onion powder, celery seed, salt, and pepper).  I put the crock pot on high and let it cook for 4 hours.

Once the bird was done, I put it on a cutting board and strained the stock into a large pot.  I removed the skin and pulled/shredded the meat.  I added about a cup of egg noodles to the liquid, added another cup - cup and a half of water, a tablespoon of butter, about a cup of peas, some salt, and some pepper.  Once the liquid was boiling, I added the chicken and let it simmer while I prepped the other steps.

I mixed 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 cup flour and mixed that into the soup as a thickening agent.  I used Bisquick to make the dumplings and added them as the Bisquick directions suggested.  When it was all done, it was YUMMY!!!