Sacred Mommyhood

The Crowded Bed

2012-02-23T06:40:00.000-06:00

It's 4 am. The baby wakes. Eyes half closed, I stumble to her crib and bring her back to my bed to nurse. She eventually falls back to sleep, but I am too tired to even place her back in the crib. I shuffle down in my bed, beneath my covers and lay her next to me. I drift back to sleep.

What seems like minutes later, I awaken to a little one climbing up on my bed. Surprisingly, it's Ethan, my five year old. I can't remember the last time he came into our room in the middle of the night. I grab him and help him up into my bed, thinking he needed comfort. I whisper to him to be careful of Baby Amelia, and he snuggles in and drifts off to sleep.

By now, I'm slightly awake and just lying there, thinking. Thinking of many things. Praying. Praying for loved ones, for situations, for anything that comes to mind. Before I know it, I hear the pitter patter of feet. Another one of my precious babies is climbing into my bed. I glace at the clock. It's now 5 am and we've got three children squeezed in between my husband and me. My sweet husband sleeps soundly, not even aware of our visitors. But I lay there. Wide awake, yet so tired. My thoughts bordered on feeling a little irritated that my bed was full, and I would surely not get back to sleep.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him. Psalm 62:1

But as I lay there snuggling these babies, the irritation melted away. I was suddenly filled with joy. My heart was full. For whatever reason, my kids awoke, needed to be close to us, and felt welcomed to come, knowing they would not be turned away. What a privilege it was to hold my babies close, keeping them warm, knowing they were all safe and well. They were at peace. They were comforted.

I began to think about the truth of scripture, and how this mirrors our relationship with God. When we are scared, need comfort, or reassurance, He welcomes us. He welcomes us at any moment, day or night. He doesn't get tired, or irritated by the hour. He just welcomes. He loves. He comforts. We are His children and He loves us more than we can imagine.

"As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13

I am so grateful to be a mom. I don't always show it, or appreciate it. Some days I wonder why God entrusted me with these precious souls. But He did. And I am thankful. It's moments like these, when my bed is overflowing with children, in the sleepy quiet of the night, that God reveals His deep love for me. His child! And just as my children come to us, without reservation or hesitation, I must go to my Father. Only there, will I find comfort and peace!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3

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Praise God!

2012-02-21T09:51:00.004-06:00

We are beside ourselves with gratitude over the generosity of friends and family! We are speechless over the amount raised for Celeste's trip.

As of this morning, the total is $3,500!!!! In just three days!!!! Not only does that cover the airfare, but that covers nearly the whole trip.

I'm in awe of God's goodness! And I'm in awe of God's people! Thank you, friends, for your giving hearts, your love for our daughter, and your heart to minister to the orphans of Africa! We are humbled beyond measure and will be forever thankful!

I'd like to mention our business sponsors. Thank you to:

La Fonda at Oak Hills Restaurant

KCA Engineers

Slide Fire Solutions

If you own a business and donated, please let me know. I'd love send friends your way!

Thank you again to all who gave. Wow! So, so blessed by you all!

Soli Deo Gloria!

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My Daughter is Going to Africa

2012-02-19T14:33:00.002-06:00

It has been a whirlwind the last several days in our home. An exciting opportunity has come up for our 16 year old daughter, Celeste, and we have been in super-sonic action mode since.

Celeste will be traveling to Africa in the coming months to visit and minister to the orphans. We've been filling out paperwork, raising support funds, reading material, and working out passport details. I'll let you read all about it in a portion of Celeste's letter below. If you feel so inclined to offer support, contact me via the contact tab for details. We would be grateful if you would keep Celeste, the team, and the children in prayer as they prepare for the trip. Thank you!

Dear Family and Friends,

I am so excited to share with you an opportunity God has given me to love and care for the children of Africa. Soon, I will be traveling to Ethiopia and Uganda to show the love of God to orphans. There, I will get to help feed the children in several orphanages and minister to them in many ways. I will also get to visit the Fistula hospital, and reach out to children who live and work at the city dump in Korah.

Why do I want to do this? Over the past year or so, we've been connected to Africa through several of our friends. Friends who adopted from Ethiopia, and friends who have gone on mission trips in other parts of Africa. God has used these friends to give me a heart to pray for the orphans. Recently, my mom had us all watch several documentaries about various countries in Africa. Some were about the Genocide, some were about spreading awareness of the orphan crisis, and some were about medical conditions such as Fistula. I also viewed a trailer to a book called 'Kisses From Katie" that shares the story of the young woman who started Amazima Ministries.

Over the past couple of weeks, my parents have discussed the possibility of me going to Africa "some day" as part of a mission trip. I said I would love to go! While we were learning more about the Amazima ministry recently, we came across Visiting Orphans, a ministry that sends teams out to 13 different countries to visit orphans. As we looked at their upcoming trips, we saw that there was a team going to two of the places that I had seen in the documentaries. Amazima (in Uganda) and the Fistula hospital (in Ethiopia). I could not believe it. The team will also be visiting 2-3 orphanages in Addis where our friends adopted their daughter. It's likely that I will get to go to that same orphanage. Isn't that amazing? God has placed the perfect trip in front of me and there's nothing I want more than to go and love on these kids.

I ask you to pray. As excited as I am, I am also a little scared. This will be my first big trip away, and there will be a lot to learn. But I am ready. Please pray for the team, travel safety, and especially for the people we meet, that they would feel loved and needs would be met. Please pray that I would be able to raise the money needed to go.

Thank you so much!

Celeste

Thankful Thursday: Missions in Africa

2012-02-16T06:46:00.000-06:00

Today, our good friends, the Carnahan's, are traveling to Africa to share the love of the Gospel, a message of hope, to the people of Rwanda. David, Hollie, McKenzie, and Taylor have been sponsoring four children there and will actually get to meet these kids and love on them, among other things.

The Carnahan's worked very hard selling bread and homemade meals to raise money for this trip. We are excited for them, inspired by them, and are praying for them. Please join us in praying for this family, for the people whose lives they will touch, and for the message of the Gospel to be disseminated clearly.

You can follow the progress of their trip over at The Carnahan Chronicles, as David plans to write while there...so check back!

Our hearts have been drawn to Africa more and more as we've been touched by friends who have actively ministered to various countries there in some way.

I think of my sweet friends, the Blair's, who adopted their precious daughter, Elle, from Addis, Ethiopia last year.

You can watch an incredible video of their journey to get their daughter here.

Another family that I've been following, though I do not know them personally, is the Freeman Family. I came to read about them through my sweet bloggy friend, Brandi, over at The Marathon Mom, and have been praying for the Freeman's since.

The Freeman's are missionaries in Swaziland. It's been so neat to learn how God is using them there, and to read of what every day life is like for this homeschooling mom of four. You can read of their adventures here and here.

These families have prompted us to learn more about Africa. Praying for the people, watching documentaries (ranging from medical conditions there, to hunger, to the genocide), and simply knowing where these places are on the map.

Please pray for our friends, for the people of Africa. I am so thankful for those willing to go there to meet needs, and share the good news of the Gospel. I am also thankful for missionaries all over the world, including in the United States. We are all missionaries if we listen to when God is calling us to act, whether it's to the neighbor next door....or the far reaches of the world.

What are you thankful for? Are you praying for any missionaries specifically that you would like to share?

This post is linked up with The Marathon Mom.

Quick Tip: Help Little Ones Enjoy Salad

2012-02-15T07:10:00.000-06:00

We eat a LOT of salad in our home. It's pretty much a staple side for us. I've got kids who LOVE salad and eat it with no problems, and I've got kids who are more reluctant about eating it...namely, the little ones. I've observed over the years, that my children will eat salad better if it's in smaller pieces. In fact, I eat salad better when it's in smaller pieces.

Did you also know that they will consume more salad (and veggies) if it's in small pieces? Visually, a small portion of a finely chopped salad will look the same as a pile of big lettuce. But, in volume, the chopped salad will contain more, which means more nutrition, Moms!

I do one of two things:

1) Tear the lettuce into tiny pieces as I'm plating their food.

2) Or, I put portions of salad (and veggies) in my food processor and pulse a few times. Don't over pulse or it will turn into mush. You want a nice consistency of a delicious chopped salad.

If we're having a salad that is conducive to one particular dressing, I will mix the dressing into the salad before serving. This also aids in easier consumption. :)

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Provolone Pasta

2012-02-07T06:09:00.000-06:00

If you're looking for a new pasta dish to feed your crew, give this a try. Not only will this dish feed a crowd, but it's good enough to entertain a crowd as well. It's one of our favorite dishes, and it freezes well too! A sweet friend passed on this recipe years ago...and we're so grateful! YUM!

Provolone Pasta

2 lbs bulk Italian sausage
1 lb Medium Shells
16 oz Cottage Cheese
2 cans Sliced Stewed Tomatoes
26 oz (about 3 cups) Pasta or Marinara sauce
1 jar (or can) sliced mushrooms (optional)
8 oz sour cream
2 cups shredded Mozzarella
1 lb sliced Provolone

Preheat oven to 350*

Brown sausage, drain, set aside. In large pot, boil shells just shy of al dente. Drain. In same pot, mix shells, sausage, pasta sauce, cottage cheese, mushrooms, and stewed tomatoes. In very large baking dish (deep 9 x 13 or larger), place half of pasta mixture on bottom of dish. Then place dollops of half the sour cream randomly over pasta. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella over sour cream. Then, add half of the Provolone slices to cover. Now repeat layers. Pasta mixture, sour cream, mozzarella, and top with sliced Provolone.

Cover with foil, but spray underside of foil before covering to prevent cheese from sticking to foil. Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil the last 10-15 minutes of baking to slightly brown the top. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Serve with a salad and warm bread and you've got a delicious feast!

Serves 12+

*If you're a smaller family, make the whole recipe, split it in half (or fourths) and put it in the freezer for later...or bless a neighbor, or a new mom, or a sick family. You get the picture! :)

My Tips for Successful Potty Training

2012-01-31T06:55:00.000-06:00

I will soon begin potty training my eighth child. Having trained seven very different children, girls and boys, we've learned a thing or two. Fortunately, all of our kids have gotten the hang of it fairly quickly...and I've never had one who just flat out refused to train.....yet.

So while I've got potty training on the brain, I thought I'd share some of our potty training tactics. Potty training in our home is like boot camp. It's all or nothing! So I must be prepared mentally and physically.

For us, age does not determine when we begin. We've had two train as early as 18 months and one train as late as 3 1/2. It's important to take two things into consideration when thinking about potty training.

1. Is the child ready?
2. Are YOU ready?

For the child, you want to have a general sense that he is ready. Is he showing interest? Is he uncomfortable when wet or dirty? Is he mature enough?

For you, are you prepared to stay close to home for the first week for consistency and continuity? Are you prepared to clean up messes. They WILL happen! Are you prepared to make frequent potty trips?

As I've had more children, and my life has become much busier, I have to mentally prepare myself to take on Potty Training Boot Camp. If I'm too tired, or can't commit to staying home, I won't begin. Inconsistency will only make things harder, as we all know.

Our Tips for Successful Potty Training

The Talk: We try not go overboard in talking about the upcoming event. We take more of a nonchalant approach. We say something like, "Yay! You get to start going potty in the big potty! And each time you go in the potty, you get one of these treats!" We have found that if we talk something like this up too much, it creates a sense of expectation that may clash with certain personalities. We want to be excited, but also give a balanced sense that it's just the natural progression of growing up. Make sense?

Rewards: Nothing like a good old reward to get our kids excited. Our two staple potty training rewards are M & M's and Skittles. Our kids are very motivated by the possibility of a treat, so are generally ready to get down to business right away. We usually give 2-3 pieces for number one, and 3-4 pieces for number two. If they don't go at all, we don't give a treat. Usually, by about the third/fourth day of training, and if the child is doing well, we begin cutting back on the treats, and phase away from there.

Toilet or Potty Chair: It really doesn't matter which you use. With our older girls, we used a potty chair. But as we've had more children, using the big potty has just been more practical.

No Pull Ups: When we decide to begin training, we go straight to underwear/panties. We expect accidents the first day or two, so we keep lots of extra pairs on hand. We also keep our carpet cleaner on stand-by. And for really messy number two accidents, I just throw the undies away. It's not worth the amount of clean up work involved (we usually use hand-me-down undies, so less painful to throw away), though I think I've only had to do that twice in all my years of potty training.

Timer: The first couple of days, we remind the trainee to go potty about every 20-30 minutes. Usually by the third day, they're skilled enough to go without being told, but sending them often helps to avoid those accidents. Keep the fluids coming so that they'll feel the urge to go often. Watch the clock or set a timer.

Praise: Of course, lots of praise for successful trips to the potty helps to keep our children motivated. This is a time for lots of grace, especially those first 2-3 days when they may have accidents.

Night time: For most of our children, we've trained them for night time as well. We limit their drinks in the evening, and then usually wake them about 10 pm for potty runs. Over the years, we have had one or two kids use an occasional pull up at night if life circumstances made potty runs too difficult. This is something each family has to decide for themselves, as you know what you can handle. For example, when I'm very pregnant sick, and my husband is on a 24 hour work shift, I am not able to wake kids late at night to take them potty. And I'm definitely in no shape to change bed linens in the middle of the night, so this would be a scenario in which I would gladly welcome a pull-up at night.

Consistency: Like stated above, when I decide to potty train, I stay home for continuity. Once I feel my child has really gotten the hang of it, then we venture out. We also don't revert to diapers or pull ups out of frustration. It sends the child a mixed message of what's expected. Unless you feel certain your child wasn't ready to train after all, stay the course. Don't get discouraged over numerous accidents. Boot camp is tough, but it will pay off if you stick with it.

Does your method look much the same? What would you add to this list of tips? Do you have any questions? Please leave a comment....I'd love to hear from you.

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Quick Tip: Yummy, Easy Snack for Kids

2012-01-30T14:58:00.000-06:00

My kids love fresh fruit! But most require cutting, peeling, slicing, washing, or coring. But not these little Cuties! These Clementines are soooo easy to peel that my two year old can peel his own!

They're small, making them perfect for a snack or served alongside a sandwich.

They're sweet and yummy.

They're nutritious.

And they're super easy to peel, even for a two year old.

I'd say this pretty much makes them a perfect snack!

What is your idea of a perfect snack for little ones?

First Dance

2012-01-26T17:22:00.001-06:00

I know many of you have already seen this on Facebook, but I thought I'd post it here for my non-FB friends and family. This was taken during their first dance.

The wedding was truly beautiful. Everything went according to plan, mostly. ;) It's hard to believe my baby girl is married and beginning a new chapter of her life. We are praising God for His faithfulness and goodness to our family. May He richly bless this sweet couple as they begin their journey.

Stay tuned for more pictures to come soon. :)

Tax Time...File for FREE

2012-01-24T15:09:00.000-06:00

I look forward to writing about our wedding adventures soon...but I wanted to get this offer out since many of you will begin preparing your taxes.

There's no reason to pay when you can prepare and file for free. This is what we use every year. It's simple and thorough.

Click on image to get started.

One Week...

2012-01-14T08:23:00.001-06:00

One week...and these two shall become one.

Today, Cheyenne and Nathan get the keys to their soon-to-be-home. A cute apartment that they will make their own. With the help of family, they'll be moving everything in and setting up home. Nathan will move in right away, Cheyenne will join him after they are wed in.....

One week!

One week left with our little girl-turned woman.

One week until we will not see her come down the stairs in the morning.

One week until she will not join us at every meal around the table.

One week until Celeste will lose her life long room mate.

Just one week to savor every moment we have left with her in our home.

If I sound sad, it is because we will miss her and the dynamics of our family will change forever.

But....

In one week, our daughter will celebrate one of the happiest days of her life.

One week, we will gain a phenomenal son in law.

One week, we'll stand in awe of God's goodness in joining these two together, just as He designed.

One week until we have the privilege as parents to see our daughter begin her new life with her husband.

One week until we see our little girl-turned woman standing at the altar, with her white gown and veil, glowing and radiant, pledging herself before God to the man she loves.

Just one week....

What a privilege. An honor. A joy. A blessing!

If you think of us, please pray for this final week of preparations. Pray for our family and our transition. But most of all, please pray for Cheyenne and Nathan...and the life they will share....beginning in just one week

Praise be to God!

Ink Garden Deals

2012-01-11T19:02:00.000-06:00

You can't beat this deal. 100 FREE double sided business cards....and all you pay is shipping of $4.99. Whether you have a business, a blog you'd like to advertise wherever you go, or simply want cards with family info such as phone numbers, emails, and addresses, this is the way to go! It simple and FREE!

USE CODE: 100FREE for front, and for back USE CODE: 100FREE2 for 100 Free double sided business cards.

Click on image to get started.

And yet another great offer! Make a custom desk calendar for $1.00, plus shipping!

USE CODE: DESKSP

Click on image to get started.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Guest Post: Moms and Mesothelioma

2012-01-10T08:26:00.000-06:00

This guest post is from cancer survivor, Heather Von St. James. She shares her story about being diagnosed with deadly Mesthelioma, just three months after giving birth to her daughter, in hopes of encouraging other moms who may be facing the same diagnosis. If you are in need of support, or know someone who is, please visit The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Rose Colored Glasses by Heather Von St. James

I’ve always been accused of wearing rose colored glasses, seeing the glass as half full; an optimist, and never has that trait served me better than when I was diagnosed with a deadly cancer at the age of 36, just 3 1/2 months after the birth of my one and only child.

I got my cancer diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma on Nov 21, 2005.. no one ever expects a diagnosis like that, much less during what is supposed to be the most joyous time of your life.. but there I was.. hearing those three words.. You Have Cancer. I had a choice.. to give up, curse God and wallow in self pity and cry out “WHY ME GOD!!? Or face this diagnosis head on.. and that is what I did. I put on those rose colored glasses and did what any new mom would do.. fight for her life to raise her little girl.

Cancer is a true double-edged sword, most people you talk to who have gone through it will say the same thing. It is all at once the worst thing that can happen, but in another aspect.. Its a good thing. My life is forever changed for the better because of it. It may be because I chose not to be the victim. I chose to make light of a dreadful situation, so the fear would be taken away, maybe because I vowed that I wanted to help others who where diagnosed with it as well, to give hope when that is the one thing people lose first when getting a mesothelioma diagnosis.. Whatever the case may be.. I chose to find the good.. I was referred to the worlds leading specialist in the disease, who was able to give ME hope that I could beat this thing.. I nicknamed my tumor Punxatawny Phil upon learning I was to have surgery to remove the tumor on Groundhogs Day, 2006. We renamed Groundhogs Day, Lungleavin Day, since it was the day my lung left, and every year on the first weekend of February, we have a party to celebrate Lungleavin Day.. its a celebration of life.. of conquering fear.. of seeing the good that comes from an otherwise bad situation. It is a celebration of hope.

I would not know so many of the wonderful people I know had it not been for this cancer diagnosis. Amazing people. The strongest, most passionate and tough people I’ve ever met, other mesothelioma warriors, people who are committed to bringing about awareness to a disease that has very little other than a commercial on daytime TV . Wives, husbands, sons, and daughters... all people who in some way have been affected by mesothelioma, I now call friend. I would not know any of them if not for my own cancer battle. My life has much more purpose to it now, it seems to me and I want to continue to do what I do to give hope to those who need it.

Heather Von St. James is a guest blogger for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. You can read all five parts of her in-depth story here. You will also find the Mesothelioma link on my Blogroll (tab above), and "Links" sidebar.

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*If you are interested in submitting a guest post at Sacred Mommyhood, please contact me via the contact tab above.

Thankful Thursday: Genevieve

2012-01-05T18:11:00.000-06:00

This Saturday, our sweet Genevieve is turning four! I am especially thankful for this birthday as I reflect upon how close we came to losing her. It's a sobering and humbling thought to know that we could have been facing her birthday without her. I am fighting back tears at the very thought!

Some of you will remember when she nearly drowned, and her daddy had to resuscitate her. It was the most frightening event I have ever experienced with one of our children.

Life is fragile. Life is precious.

Genevieve is a bright, spunky, very expressive little girl. She is also quite mischievous and loves to drag little brother Jonathan along with her on her missions to find trouble!

But even in those times, I'm reminded that I almost lost her, and how thankful I am that she is here to get into mischief!

Genevieve is funny! She has fantastic hair! She tells me she loves me all day long. She is a special little girl, mischief and all!

Genevieve was my first home birth baby! You can read her birth story here. It got a little scary after she was born, but the whole labor and delivery was all I had hoped for and more....in the comfort of home!

I am so thankful for this precious gift, my Genevieve! I am thankful God's will determined before time that she would live beyond that terrifying day at the pool. And I'm thankful to be celebrating her 4th birthday this Saturday with her!

Thank you, Father!

What are you thankful for? Share here or link up with The Marathon Mom.

Quick Tip: Large Family Kitchen Supplies

2012-01-03T10:43:00.002-06:00

As your family has grown, have your pots and pans shrunk? Are you running out of dishes, or find that your baking sheets just don't hold enough?

Check out your local Restaurant Supply store!

With all things restaurant sized, you're sure to find the perfect stock pot, or inexpensive stacks of plates and cups. If you don't have a Restaurant Supply store in your area, check out the restaurant section at Sams (if you're near one). We've purchased inexpensive food storage containers, huge cookie sheets, large carafes, our huge bread making bowl, table cloths, and a few other fun things from Sams. However, our local Restaurant Supply has a LOT more to offer....and it's just fun! :)

Where have you found large family-friendly supplies? Please share!

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Getting Meals on the Table with Ease

2012-01-02T07:00:00.001-06:00

Let's face it! There is no snapping our fingers and food will magically appear on the table. Feeding our family involves work. Sure, we can hit the drive thru, eat out at restaurants often, or even live on convenience foods, but we all know that this would be both costly and unhealthy in the long run.
The good news is, there are things we can do to ease the work when it's time to whip up a meal.

If you're not already, applying these tips will make an incredible difference in meal time efficiency, which results in a less stressed mommy.....which equals happier family! :)

Have a plan! I can't stress this enough...if you're struggling to get meals on the table, plan a menu and coordinating grocery list. This principle alone will make such a difference, especially at dinner time. When you know what you're making and have ALL the ingredients on hand, you've won half the battle. There's nothing more frustrating than standing in front of an open fridge, trying to decide what to make. If the thought of making menus and grocery lists overwhelm you, try a meal planning site to get you started.

Prep your way to success! Once you have a plan, you then know what things you can prep in advance. As soon as you get home from the store, process your veggies, and chop and freeze what you can. You may remember my quick tip on freezing bell pepper. Chopped carrots and celery keep well in the fridge for several days. When it's time to start a meal, it's a lot more fun when you just simply pull your prepped ingredients right out of the fridge or freezer and drop.

Get an early start! I often find it easier to start my dinner in the morning...if it's a meal conducive to that. We are huge crock pot fans, and most crock pot recipes need to get going early. When I know what I am making, I look at any element that can possibly be done early in the day...and I do it. My girls do the same on their cooking days. If we're having some sort of casserole, they prepare it early and put it in the fridge.

Have a few go-to ingredients on hand. Whether it's cooked, shredded chicken, homemade refried beans, or browned meat, having these prepared in advance will save you in a pinch. If we've been exceptionally busy, I can pull out my beans and grated cheese and throw together burritos or quesadillas in minutes! Or, whip up quick chicken tacos. Or a quick spaghetti sauce.

Double, triple, or quadruple your meal. Whether you're making chili, spaghetti sauce, or a casserole that freezes well, make extra and freeze the rest. It's always a good idea to have a couple of freezer meals on hand. They also come in handy for those spur-of-the-moment service needs....like a sick neighbor or a mommy who just gave birth.

Let the kids help! I think one of the biggest detriments to parents is keeping your kids out of the kitchen. I realize there are just those days when it's easier to get it done yourself, but if you have age appropriate children, give them a job and let them help. Before you know it, those kids will have become capable contributors in the kitchen!

Meal time is ~~always~~ mostly a well oiled machine in our home because we put these tips into practice....a must for this crowd of eleven!

Do you have a tip to share? What do you do to get meals on the table with ease?

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New Year's Eve Favorite Dips

2011-12-31T14:31:00.006-06:00

Every great New Year's Eve celebration begins with great food. Add in people you love and fun games...and you've got a perfect way to ring in the new year!

Part of our menu almost always includes our favorite dips. What's more fun than a Dip Buffet, right? Tonight, we'll be serving four of our favorites.

There's still time and run out and get ingredients if you find any of these calling out to you! ;)

Touchdown Taco Dip

1-2-3 Dip

Guacamole- Most people I know who LOVE Guacamole, make it their own special way. But if you're interested in how I make mine....I like it with lots of fresh garlic, Kosher salt, a little pepper, a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, and a little Cayenne. Sometimes, I will toss in a very fine dice of tomato, red onion, and jalapeno if I'm in the mood. Tonight, I'll keep it simple!

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip

1 box chopped frozen spinach, thawed
1 1/2 cups frozen artichoke hearts, thawed (I just buy the canned stuff)
8 oz package cream cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder (I use fresh minced)

Boil spinach and artichoke in one cup of water until tender. Drain. Add in cream cheese, stirring until melted. Add rest of ingredients. Pour into a square or oval baking dish. I like to add a little more Parmesan on top. Place under broiler for a few minutes until hot and the cheese is a light golden brown.

This is best served with Baguette slices that have been buttered and browned slightly under the broiler. YUM-O! If you don't have a Baguette loaf lying around, tortilla chip will do also!

We usually make homemade salsa as well, but not tonight. I'll share the recipe in a future post.

So, what yummy snacks are on your New Year's Eve menu? Please share!

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Thankful Thursday: My Sweet Progeny

2011-12-29T06:01:00.005-06:00

I am so thankful for these nine wonderful blessings. Being a mom to these kids is an incredible privilege. But it's also hard work. Anything worth doing requires hard work....but with the Lord's help....He equips us for the task.

We were able to get pictures of the kids on Christmas morning before heading out to church. Sadly, they ALL turned out blurry to some degree. We realized the flash was not going off, but since the camera was set to auto, we figured there was plenty of light, thus, the flash was not needed. Upon further investigation, the flash was not working at all.

Sooo...a little blurry in parts, but still thought I'd share!

Here's one with the wonderful Daddy...

This photo is special because my mom made these sweet dresses. She made them for our two oldest girls years ago, and they've been handed down to each of the younger girls every Christmas since.

We had a wonderful Christmas, celebrating the incarnation of our precious Savior. We worshipped with our churh family, opened gifts, ate yummy food, and enjoyed the blessing of being together!

What are you thankful for? Share here or head on over to The Marathon Mom to link up too!

Today I Was THAT Lady

2011-12-26T22:07:00.004-06:00

You know that lady....you're at the grocery store, you're in line, and you suddenly realize the line is not moving? You glance to the front of the line to see who the culprit is......and even though you know in your mind that it may not be her fault, you still find yourself frustrated at that lady!

Yep, I was her today.

I left the house early this morning to get to the store to browse Christmas decorations. Not for my tree next year, but for the upcoming wedding. Since my daughter's having a winter wedding, with colors of navy and ivory, with an accent of silver, we realized that we can fill centerpiece vases with Christmas ornaments...and get them on CLEARANCE. If you turn them inward, no one will eeeever know they're tree ornaments instead of those fancy vase filler ball things.

I know what you're thinking....you're thinking, "Now, why didn't I think of that." And, "Wow, that Sacred Mommyhood lady is pretty smart."

Right?

You're not? Okay, then....

So, I get to the store and head straight for the clearanced decorations where I score six boxes of navy, glittery, sparkly, shiny, and cheap hangy ball things.

While I was already in the store, I thought I'd also peruse the rest of the clearance stuff. I came across a Little People's Nativity play set. Our younger kids looooove Little Peoples sets, and have quite a collection.

So I think to myself, "Self? I really wanted one of these when I first saw them out. And look, it's 50% off." So I head on over to the scanner and it rings up at $20.

"Hmm..." I think to myself.... "Was this really $40 regular price. That's pretty high. Maybe $20 is the regular price, and I'll get it for $10 since it's a Christmas item." At this point I'm thinking of my soon-to-be four year old who has a birthday coming up in less than two weeks. She would love this. I also know that I want to find a doll that has long hair that she can brush. So, I head for the toy section.

I end up finding a really pretty doll that has long hair that my soon-to-be four year old would love. I check the shelf tag price and it's $21.00.  Not bad for a nice doll that has long, brushable hair. I place it in my cart, go get some other things I needed, and head for the registers.

By now, despite it being early still, the checkouts are pretty full. After all, the early birds are there stocking up on their Christmas goods for next year. I scan my cart to do a quick count of items. I was pushing that 20 item limit for the quick check, but I go ahead and jump in line.

As soon as I get to the front, I warn the cashier that I need to check the Nativity for the price. It rings up at $20, but I ask her to check if that was the original price, or if it's in fact the sale price. She calls another employee over. The employee, a lady, glances at the box and says that only Christmas items are half off, and that this toy was not.

Slightly confused, but with a smile on my face I say, "But this is a Nativity toy and it was on the 50% off Christmas shelf."

The nice employee lady says, "But it's not a Christmas item."

A little more confused, but still with a smile on my face I say, "It's a Nativity!"

Again, she says, "It's not a holiday item."

By this time, I'm a little surprised that she isn't aware that a Nativity is specific to Christmas, but I'm also aware that this is an opportunity to show Christ. But I'll admit, I was a teeny weeny bit perturbed that something they only bring out at CHRISTMAS, is not considered a HOLIDAY item. Not to mention, it was on the 50% off shelf.

So, I say again, "It's a Nativity...a Christmas Nativity. It was over on the Christmas clearance shelves, but I just wanted to confirm the original price."

Finally, the other cashier jumps in and agrees that it is indeed a Christmas item and finds out that the $20 was half off. Okay, fine. Didn't hurt to ask, right? *sheepish grin*  Now nice lady knows that a Nativity, albeit a toy, is a holiday item.

By this time, the line had grown and I could tell that the customers were ready for the line to get moving. I feel bad for holding up the line, apologize to customers behind me, and continue with the rest of my items.

The cashier scans the $21 doll next, but it rings up at $30. Huh?

Oh dear.....here we go again!

I politely tell the cashier, that the doll is $21, not $30. At this point, I could feel imaginary daggers piercing my back as the other customers in line grew tired of waiting on that lady!

But now we're talking principle here, right? One, I am not wealthy and $9 is a big difference. Two, the tag says $21 by golly, and I'm not paying more! And three, our Walmart is notorious for over charging on things at the register. I must speak up!

Oh look!  Nice lady is coming toward us again.  Yes, the same lady who tells me the Nativity is not a Christmas item now tells me, that the price of the doll is whatever it rings up at and that the tag the customer sees is wrong.

Oh. No. She. DI'int!

By now, customers are pushing their carts away in a huff and I'm feeling like Walmart's worst nightmare. But I'm a woman of principle and this is just wrong!

I kindly explain to the nice lady that as a customer, I base my shopping upon what the tag says, not the surprise price I get at the register, and that shoppers who aren't paying attention will pay more than they should. I also explain that this store is famous for charging more at the register and that I refuse to pay more than what the shelf tag says!

Just then the whole store erupts into cheers of agreement and I'm dubbed the Principle Hero!

Just kidding.

My sweet cashier agrees that I should not pay more at the register if the tag says otherwise, so nice lady heads to the back of the store to check the price of the doll. I ask the cashier to go ahead and finish ringing up what I have so that I can pay and let other customers go while I wait for nice lady to come back.

Nice lady comes back with two other dolls and proclaims that not only are the dolls not $30, but they too are CHRISTMAS items (even though they are not Nativities) and are 50% off! The doll is now $10.50!

VINDICATION!

I smile, tell nice lady that I appreciate her checking the price and apologize to cashier for holding up her line. The cashier rings up my very nice, half-off, non-Christmas item toy doll and I went on my merry way.

The moral of the story, Friends, is.....to hold up a line at all costs while you argue your point based on principle.

Wait....what?

Scratch that. The moral is to know your prices, and remember that that lady holding up the line may just be holding the store accountable for their regular practice of over charging! :)

Have you ever been that lady? What things are you willing to speak up over? Should I have just paid the $30 for the sake of the other customers....or was speaking up best in the long run? Share your thoughts!

Free Disney Planning DVD

2011-12-26T12:43:00.000-06:00

Planning a trip to Disneyland or Disney World for the upcoming year? If so, take advantage of this FREE planning DVD to get you on your planning way!

Click on image above!

*I make a small commission for each DVD requested. :)

Christmas Craft Fun

2011-12-22T14:43:00.000-06:00

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not a crafty gal! It takes effort and sheer will to pull out the craft box for the kids. But because I love them, and don't want to completely deprive them of craft fun, I do it!

Today, we actually did TWO crafts. Probably a record for me! I knew we would set out to do the Paper Plate Snowman craft, but since it went so quickly, to the kids' delight, we did another.

We didn't exactly have the proper plates....meaning the ones withOUT the blue rims....but that's okay! We were also short on cotton balls, so we couldn't even cover those blue rims. ; )

These just crack me up! I love seeing what little ones come up with on their own. Some even look like Pilgrims, and I'm not sure any of them resemble a snowman, but I love them 'cause my babies made them. They did a great job and had fun!

Remember the dough ornaments from when we were kids? My mom still has the ones we made from early childhood. She even has one my dad made when he was five. Sooo, when I pinned these on Pinterest, I knew we would eventually do them. The kids were happy it was today!

A few of my sweet Rag-a-muffins anticipating their turn....

Aren't these adorable? I used a toothpick to prick names/initials and dates on each one.

Here's the easy recipe:

Salt Dough Ornaments (via Homemade Grits)

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water

Mix well and knead for 15-20 minutes

Bake at 300* for 20-25 minutes. Ornaments will continue to harden as they cool. Paint if you wish....acrylic paint works best. Oh..and don't forget to poke a hole in your dough before going in the oven. :)

Please share what fun things you're doing over Christmas break!

Calling All Crafty Friends!

2011-12-20T18:18:00.001-06:00

If you're always on the look out for good deals on craft supplies, check out Craftsy Crafting Daily.

There you'll find:

1) Terrific online classes from amazing instructors for beginning, intermediate, and advanced quilters, knitters, crocheters, sewists, jewelry makers, and other crafters.

2) Astonishingly good deals on crafting supplies: organic yarn, lovely fabrics and fat quarters from top designers, high quality needles, etc...

And by signing up (free, email only required), you'll also give me the chance to win an Amazon Gift Card...and you know I looooooove my Amazon Gift Cards. ;)

Check it out by clicking image or link above! :)

*Contains affiliate link

Pinterest Find: Handprint Christmas Tree

2011-12-19T19:58:00.004-06:00

Pin It

I am finally getting the hang of Pinterest. And though I don't have much time to spend perusing boards, I'm enjoying what I've pinned so far and am putting it to use.

I pinned this idea a couple of weeks ago....and recently, we made our own Family Handprint Christmas Tree. Isn't it cute?

We did ours a bit differently than the one pinned here. Ours isn't quite as neat and tidy, but I love all the varying sizes of all my babies hands. We ended up using my husband's fingers for the trunk rather than printing his whole hand. At 6' 6", my hubby has very large hands, so his handprint would have covered the whole tree. I also painted the kids' names and ages on their handprint so that years down the road, I can marvel at how little some of their hands used to be.

I am not a crafty person by nature, so this was right up my alley....simple and fun. And anything that involves getting their hands covered in paint is a win for the kids! :)

What have you made recently from Pinterest?

Quick Tip: How to Clean Your Coffee Pot

2011-12-16T06:53:00.000-06:00

You know the time...when the coffee maker starts to gurgle and it takes four times as long to brew half a pot as it should?

This is what happens to ours about every six months, mainly due to hard water.

Thankfully, it just needs a cleaning. And it's easy!

Fill your coffee maker half way with vinegar. Fill the rest of the way up with cold water. Brew. Once finished, do 1-2 rinses with cold water alone. The rinses should brew MUCH faster.

I usually then do a quick wipe down just to ensure there's no hint of vinegar left.

Now you can enjoy better tasting coffee in a shorter time....without having to buy a new coffee maker! :)

So how do you keep your maker flowing? Vinegar? Something else? Do you purchase a new one?

Photo Credit

Meal Planning and Organization

2011-12-14T07:33:00.000-06:00

If you struggle with getting meals on the table, or you wish it was easier and took less time, this may be for you! I've posted this before and have received positive feedback. The only downside I've heard is that there aren't a wide variety of Gluten Free recipes. But perhaps that will get better as they increase fan base.

Though it's a "service", you can plan up to three meals a week for FREE. Not bad for minimal planning, or simply trying it out for a while. But if you want the planning works, $5 a month is not bad at all. Planning includes the meals, recipes, grocery lists, AND options to base your meals on your local grocery sales! How cool is that!

Give it a try...and as always, please come back and tell me what you think. Click on the image above to get started.

For other ideas in meal planning, check out how we keep our crew fed with little effort! :)

Another great find is this online organizer for getting your home in order. As busy moms, having an organized home cuts down on stress and makes life easier. However, finding the time and motivation can sometimes get the best of us.

Organize Yourself takes you step by step, room by room, to get you organized. There is even special tips for procrastination....which is so easy to do when you're feeling overwhelmed with clutter, right? ;)

If you've tried this, please tell me what you think? If you'd like to check it out, click on image above to get started.

Happy organizing!