Sacred Mommyhood

Thankful Thursday: Susan G. Koman Severs Ties with Planned Parenthood

2012-02-02T06:40:00.003-06:00

With the firestorm of controversy surrounding the recent decision for the Susan G. Komen foundation to sever its ties with Planned Parenthood, I am compelled to give thanks to God for this decision.

Though their decision was not based on the issue of abortion itself, pulling out of this relationship has opened the gateway for believers alike to now lend support to a company on the leading edge of breast cancer research. For this, I praise God!

It is not my nature to delve into controversial topics, but on the topic of abortion, protecting the rights/life of the unborn, I will take a firm stand. There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not any funding provided by Susan G. Komen was actually funding abortions, but rather, funding breast cancer screening. Honestly, this makes no difference to me. Any money sent to fund Planned Parenthood is money supporting the killing of innocent lives, and wounding women.

What I find interesting is that with all the funding, government and private, why is Planned Parenthood charging for their services. They claim to be a support for low income families, yet charge high fees for their services. Just for curiosity's sake, I decided to find out what services are provided for the detection of breast cancer. I called a local clinic and found that the only service they provide is a manual breast exam for the low, low price of $78. Really? This is supposed to help low income women? Furthermore, they do not offer mammograms, but refer out for additional costs.

A little background here: I have been in the fight against abortion for the last 13 years. I am not new to this debate. I've gone head to head with abortion providers in the past, and I have met people who have left the abortion industry after many years, to now shed light on this ugly business.

To read more about the practices of Planned Parenthood, I highly recommend reading Grand Illusions: The Legacy of Planned Parenthood by Dr. George Grant, Blood Money: Getting Rich Off a Woman's Right to Choose by Carol Everett, and Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye Opening Journey Across the Life Line by Abby Johnson.

Thank you, Father, for your hand in this decision. I pray that the firestorm would bring greater light to this issue and that eyes would be opened to the truth!

(Note: This is not intended to be an insensitive post toward the work of breast cancer detection. I realize that there are those who feel that defunding this program will lead to breast cancer deaths. I am very sensitive to the research of breast cancer, just not in connection with PP. In addition, if you have suffered the harmful effects of abortion, know that there is forgiveness and healing. Contact me for more information.)

What are you thankful for? I welcome any comments related to this hot topic, even if you disagree. Please just keep them respectful. Thank you!

This post is linked up with The Marathon Mom.

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.

Photo Credit

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.

Photo Credit

*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!

Photo Credit

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?

Photo Credit

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!

Photo Credit

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

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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!

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

2011-12-12T08:00:00.004-06:00

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I'd have to say, hands down, these are my all-time favorite cookies. Though they're not a "holiday" recipe per se, I only make them around Christmas. They're that special, so I reserve them for this special holiday.

This oatmeal-cookie dough can be baked immediately, refrigerated for one to two days, or frozen for up to a month.

I'll be making these tonight for my home school group's annual Christmas Cookie Exchange.

I hope you'll love them as much as I do!

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light-brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup dried cherries (sliced in half)
1 cup bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup toffee pieces, (5 1/2 ounces)

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour and baking soda, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice during mixing. Add egg, and mix on high speed to combine. Add vanilla extract; mix to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add the sifted flour a bit at a time on a low speed until well combined. Add oatmeal, cherries, chocolate, and toffee pieces; mix to combine.

Divide dough into three equal portions, and roll into logs using plastic wrap, approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter. To bake, cut logs into 3/4-inch pieces. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and transfer to a baking rack to cool. Do not over bake!

ENJOY!!!

Variations: In place of dried cherries, sometimes I've used dried cranberries. I've also used semi-sweet chocolate chips once or twice if I didn't have good chocolate bars on hand, but bittersweet chocolate is best. I recommend following the original recipe your first time! :)

*I've also thought about substituting the dark chocolate and cherries for white chocolate and cranberries, but I just can't bring myself to deviate from the original goodness! ;)

Photo Credit

A Big Day: A Recital and a Bridal Shower

2011-12-11T06:23:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a big day for our family. Aside from the usual holiday craziness, for good measure, we threw in a Piano Recital and a Bridal Shower...ON THE SAME DAY!

Cuh-RA-zy!

This was Sophia's first piano recital ever. She was a bit nervous, but played like a pro! We were so proud of her!

Sophia was one of five other sweet kiddos who played varying arrangements of Silent Night. There were about 35 pianist in all, and they did a beautiful job!

Did I mention how hard it is to keep your seven youngest ones quiet and still during a long piano recital? I have to say...they did a great job. Thankfully, they've had a lot of practice at church since we attend a family church where our kiddos stay with us in the service. :)

Cheyenne's Bridal Shower was wonderful. What's more fun than getting a ton of ladies together, eating yummy food, playing fun games, and watching your daughter be blessed beyond measure?

The lovely cake.....

About 30 of our closest friends and soon-to-be family....

The delicious spread......

The beautiful Bride-to-Be....

Our first game was a hoot! It's called "How well do you know the groom?" We all asked a series of questions about her groom...and for every answer she got wrong, she had to add a piece of gum to her mouth. I think she ended up with six pieces of gum out of 22 questions. Not bad. Though, I won't mention the hints we may have given her on some. ;)

The next game was called, "Advice to the Bride". Let's just say that this advice personified the term "blushing bride". A-hem...moving right along...

Gift fun! Cheyenne and Nathan were blessed tremendously with goodies for their future home. They will surely be set. Thank you to our sweet friends who came to celebrate and bless the this soon-to-be married couple!

What a great day it was. My heart is full over God's goodness and love.

It's hard to believe that NEXT month, I will have a married daughter! How did we arrive here so quickly! My little girl is all grown up and about to begin a life of her own with a wonderful young man!

Thank you, Father!

Rowdy Holiness

2011-12-07T07:33:00.013-06:00

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It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

For a Christian mom, there is sometimes an expectation of how much or how little she should be committing to personal time alone with God. With myriad books and devotionals available, and the expectation that moms will schedule quiet time into their day, the pressure is on! We feel less holy if we haven't had our quiet time.

While this would present an ideal situation, and time with God is parmount in our walk, for a busy mom, squeezing a devoted, daily quiet time into your day is just plain hard!

Even the best laid plans often go awry. We plan to wake up at 5:00am instead of 5:30 for time alone with God, but the baby decides to wake up at 5:02. We plan to study the Bible during rest time, but the two year old dumps the bucket of laundry detergent all over the floor, and we must now attend to that. How about when the kids go to bed? But hubbies want to spend time with us too, so it can't happen then.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

God understands our days. He's called us to sacred mommyhood and knows that some days are just rowdy and unpredictable. Therefore, we must find times of holiness in the midst of the rowdiness. Holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance. It's sactification! It happens ALL day long!

If we're looking for moments to worship or spend time with God, look to our day. I can't think of a better environment for moms, rich with sanctifying moments, than in our own home! We're surrounded by holiness, if we're willing to see it.

It's in the wonder of a child's first discovery. It's in the tiny arms wrapped around your legs as you make lunch. It's in your children's faces as they read God's word aloud during morning Bible time. It's in a moment of loving correction. It's watching your older children graciously serve along side you. It's in the joy you feel as you look at your family around the table. The list goes on!

If we're willing to see, we'll see that those moments are meant for worship. They cause us to marvel at God's goodness. They recharge us and encourage us. They're moments of holiness in the midst of our hectic day.

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." Jeremiah 31:25

When the days are difficult, when we're weary, frustrated, and feeling alone, we can find worship in short moments of prayer. Those moments when we are crying out, we are communing with our Father. Even those are sweet moments of holiness. God wants us all day, not just at 5:00am for 30 minutes. Years ago, I read a book which referred to these very moments as "prayer droplets". What a perfect description for how we come to God throughout our day!

In my home, we are surrounded by rowdiness. Even when we are experiencing "quiet", diligent moments such as school or family worship time, there is rowdiness. I have many little ones, so that comes with the territory! There are toddlers getting into mischief, the baby is fussing,the dog is barking to go outside, etc. Indeed, there is rowdiness!

If I didn't find holiness in my day, or catch small moments of worship, I would be wandering, parched and dry.

Finding holiness, even through the rowdiness, keeps my soul quenched and my eyes focused on my Father. It's when I fail to see the holiness in my day that I stumble. And I thirst!

If your day affords personal time alone with God, what a gift! But if your day affords you only moments, or prayer droplets, find holiness and worship in these times and trust that God is pleased.

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3:17

How do you find holiness in your day? Do you have a devoted quiet time? Or are you struggling to find moments of worship in your day?

Get FREE Samples from Free Flys

2011-12-04T20:35:00.001-06:00

I love coupons, but I only use coupons on items I know I love and need.

What I love about Free Flys, is that I can try a product for free before I spend money on it. Free Flys not only gives you access to great, free printable coupons, but also FREE SAMPLES! And who doesn't like free samples, right?

Click on image or link to get started. It's easy and you'll save money!

*And if you'll kindly sign up, I'll get a small commission. Help me help you! ;-)

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-12-02T09:04:00.003-06:00

I'm a sucker for a really good Chocolate Chip cookie.

For me, the perfect Chocolate Chip cookie is warm, slightly crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and never over-baked! I don't like them cake-y or spread out all over the pan. Achieving this requires a drier dough.

As you will see below, my recipe is pretty much the standard recipe with just a couple minor changes. But these minor changes make all the difference. My sweet friends always rave about my Chocolate Chip Cookies (uh...unless they're just being nice! hehe) You be the judge and give them a try!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 sticks of butter, softened (absolutely NO margarine or shortening....only the real thing will do!)
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 granulated sugar
1 egg (yep...one is all you need)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt (I like Kosher, but regular salt is fine)
2 cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Sometimes I add a 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped Walnuts, but most of my family prefers them without.

Directions

Preheat oven to 375*
In a large bowl, mix butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla until fluffy, usually a couple of minutes. Add in flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the dry ingredients just until slightly incorporated. You want it to be crumbly at this point, not doughy. It's much easier to fold in the chocolate chips when the mixture is still loose and crumbly.

Add chocolate chips and fold in with a wooden spoon. You'll see your dough come together as you mix in the chips. It will be on the dry side, but wet enough to have come together.

I like uniformity, so I use a (2 Tablespoon) cookie scoop. I also use a stone, but if you don't have one, a regular cookie sheet will do. Place cookies about 1-2 inches apart. Be sure oven rack is set in the middle of oven, not higher or cookies will be too dark on top.

Baking times will vary. On my stone, my first batch bakes for 11 minutes. But my second batch only bakes for 9 minutes since the stone is already hot. If I use a regular cookie sheet, I begin with 8 minutes, check them, and go from there. DO NOT over bake. You almost want to ever-so-slightly under bake. On a stone, the cookies will continue to firm up a bit as they sit. Allow cookies to stay on stone or sheet about 10 minutes before transferring to a rack for cooling.

What is your favorite recipe? Is it similar to this one?

Photo Credit (I couldn't believe that I didn't have my own photo considering I bake these often, but I found one that looks the same, minus the chocolate chunks.)

Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit

2011-11-28T07:34:00.011-06:00

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"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

I wish that I could say that exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit comes naturally to our family. That we show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control all day long with smiles on our faces.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. Some days, it's much easier to display anything but the fruits. And if we allow ungodliness to take root, that becomes the norm. But since we love God, desire to serve Him faithfully, and teach our children how to live godly lives, we must do our best to exhibit these fruits and make that the norm for our lives. And if your like our family, that takes practice.

There are many fun ways to incorporate practicing the Fruits in your home, but when I stumbled upon this one over at Smockity, I thought this would be a fun way to encourage Fruit in our home. And not just for the kids...but for Mom and Dad too!

First, I printed this template and wrote all the fruits inside the grapes. Then, I printed it onto colorful paper, put a name on each one, and hung them on the wall in the family room.

Next, we all went over each fruit and made sure that the younger ones knew what each one meant and what it looks like in every day life. For example, when they sit quietly at the table, waiting for their meal, they're showing patience. Or when an older sibling helps a younger one, they're showing kindness. When they sit quietly in church, they're showing self-control, etc.

When a family member sees someone else displaying a fruit, they get a sticker to place over that fruit. And once we fill up all the fruits, we'll do something special as a family.

The kids were very excited about doing this, and it really motivated them to "practice" these fruits. Plus, they had a fun goal to work toward. Everyday, I had kids coming to me and telling me how someone showed a particular fruit. It was wonderful! The kids were encouraging one another...and making a conserted effort to show the fruits throughout the day.

Conversely, when someone was impatient, or not sharing, or speaking unkind words, all I had to ask was, "How can you show a fruit of the spirit in this situation?" And the tone would change. In most cases, a gentle reminder was enough to get back on track. Likewise, we also gave the children permission to respectfully remind us when we were not displaying the fruits. And they did. ;-)

Well, as you can see in the photo above, we've completed all the charts. We gave the kids several choices of family activities and took a vote. It looks like we'll be having "Make-your-own-Sundae Night" with all the fixings soon.

It's amazing how "practicing" the fruits can change the dynamics of your day and keep us focused on Christ. We plan on printing more of these and starting over again. I'll also be looking into other fun ways for our family to practice the fruits.

It's your turn.....and I need more ideas! How do you teach the Fruit of the Spirit to your children. How do you incorporate "practice" into your day? Share here in the comments.

Reader Question: Christmas Gifts

2011-11-26T16:43:00.003-06:00

First, I'd like to say that I LOVE when my readers contact me with questions. I typically respond privately to my readers, but I thought it would be fun to answer some of the questions here. 'Cause you all want to know, right? ;-)

So here is my first official "reader's question" post regarding Christmas gifts.

Question: "With nine children, how do afford to buy gifts for all of them? Do you limit the number of gifts or have a budget per child? Would love to know how you make this work?

This is a great question and one that I've been asked several times over the years.

The answer to this varies from year to year, however. It all depends on how much we were able to put away that year. Our goal is to give each kid three gifts, but some years it may be one or two gifts per child, and more shared gifts (like a big set of Lincoln Logs for the boys or art supplies for the little girls). There is significance in the number of gifts we give. It represents the three gifts the kings presented to Jesus. This not only serves as a good way to point our children to Christ, but it helps us resist the temptation to buy more than we need to.

We do set a budget per child, allotting more for our older kids. We ask the kids to write a list of desired gifts, and then we choose according to what the budget will allow.

As a fun tradition, we give one gift on Christmas Eve. It's always the same and the kids love it. They each get a new pajama set to wear that night. There's something so sweet about all the kids coming down in their new, warm and cozy PJ's Christmas morning! The jammies don't count toward their three gifts.

In a family of eleven, and one income, Christmas can become an overwhelming time if we let it. We love giving our children gifts, but our main purpose for celebrating Christmas is Christ. Remembering this helps us to not get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, which can be easy to do sometimes. And our limited budget demands that we be smart about our purchases.

Is there something you want to know about large family living in general, or about our family specifically? You can click the "contact tab" above, or "like" Sacred Mommyhood on Facebook and post your question there.

It's your turn! What is your method for buying your children Christmas gifts? Set number of gifts? Set budget? Please share in the comments below!

Photo Credit

Easy Thanksgiving Placemat Craft

2011-11-22T09:21:00.002-06:00

If you're looking for something easy for the kids to do on Thanksgiving Day, why not let them help decorate your table with these fun Thanksgiving placemats?

Since we are having lots of children here for Thanksgiving, we thought it would be fun to let them make their own placemats for the kids' table. It will make a cute addition to the paper pumpkins we made yesterday for centerpieces.

Here's what you need: Fall colored construction paper (don't mind my Christmas colors here), scissors, a ruler, and glue.

Cut one inch strips of paper lengthwise for weaving, and one inch vertical slits on your background paper. Older kids can cut on their own, but for our younger kids, we'll have these pre-cut. Be careful to leave about a one inch border at the top and bottom as shown here....you don't want to cut all the way or you'll have more strips. :)

Simply weave the strips of paper under and over each slit, incorporating your different colors for each row. Once all the strips are in, use glue to fasten down the ends of the strips.

While my mom was here in March for the birth of Amelia, she taught the kids how to make these (hi Mom!). They're looking forward to making them again on Thursday!

Once the kids are done constructing their mats, let them be creative and decorate with markers, crayons, stickers, glitter glue, etc. They can even write "Give Thanks" like shown above, or write things for which they are thankful around the border. And if you happen to have a laminating machine, these would be great to preserve that way!

It's fun, it's easy, and will keep them busy while you're working hard in the kitchen! :)

Quick Tip: Storing Bed Sheet Sets

2011-11-21T07:46:00.000-06:00

This tip comes from Pinterest (via storageandglee.blogspot.com).

How clever is this? Simply store bed sheet sets right inside their pillow cases.

Love it!

Thankful Thursday: Clifford Breaks Down

2011-11-17T14:48:00.002-06:00

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Last week, we had an exciting adventure at the Walmart gas station. Our van, "Clifford", broke down. At the pump.

At first, it wasn't a big deal. I thought for sure it was something minor that my older girls and I could fix. After 30 minutes of trying to diagnose the problem, we didn't know what was wrong. At this point, we knew we needed to move the van away from the pump in the event Clifford was going to spend the night at the gas station.

My future son-in-law had come to help, and one man pumping gas next to us jumped in to try and help as well. All we had to do was move this 15 passenger van to a parking spot. Just so happens, we were at the ONLY pump in the gas station that was in direct line to a parking space. Thank you, Jesus, for directing me to that pump!

Just as we were about to push the van into the spot, approximately 50 ft away, a car pulls into it. I immediately ran to the gentleman and kindly asked him if he would park elsewhere so that we could push the big red van into his spot. Without hesitation, he moved his car....and we pushed Clifford safely into the spot.

By this time, the man who was already helping us had diagnosed the problem as a bad fuel pump. I knew that we would not be able to fix the fuel pump in the parking lot, so at this point, we just needed to get home. A friend had already been called to come and get us, and was on her way.

Before our friend had arrived, the man I had asked to move his car, drove over to us and asked if we needed help. We told him that it was probably the fuel pump and that we wouldn't be able to do anything until the next day. It was just getting dark by then. The man, Frank, asked to take a look. He suggested that it could just be the fuel filter..and that if it was, he would change it for us right there in the parking lot. He got on the phone with Auto Zone, where he used to work, to see if they had the part in stock. They did. Frank took off to his home to get some tools and the part. What a nice man!

Our friend, Bethany, had come by, picked up most of the kids and took them home. The kids did great and had a wonderful opportunity to practice patience. They were tired, bored, and hungry...it was well past dinner time for them and they had been sitting for nearly two hours. I was so glad when they were able to get home!

Frank returned, changed out the filter, but it wasn't the filter after all. How sweet of him it was to check the less expensive possibility first...and do it for us. Well, then...if that wasn't sweet enough, Frank gets back on the phone with Auto Zone to inquire about a fuel pump. They have one in stock. I told Frank that I would need to talk with my husband (who was at work) to find out if he would be able to fix a fuel pump on his own. Greg is the one who fixes most things on our vehicles, but I knew he had never fixed a fuel pump, mainly because you have to drop the entire gas tank. A BIG job on a BIG van!

So Frank says, "I'm off tomorrow and can fix it for you, free of charge!" Say WHA??? Who IS this guy and why does he want to spend his day off fixing a total stranger's HUGE RED VAN?

On a side note, when Frank got into our van to try and turn it over, before the kids were hauled home, he looked back at all the kids and asked, "Are they part of a daycare?" I literally laughed out loud!

Back to the story! We were so humbled over Frank's kindness. And sure enough, the next day, he and Nathan (my future son-in-law), both spent their day off under Clifford. For about five hours. In the Walmart gas station. In one little parking spot. Isn't that incredible?

There are so many more details about this story that I would love to share, but just don't have the time to get it all down right now. Let's just say that God orchestrated this whole occurrence in such a unique way, and involved several people. Only God can do such an amazing thing.

We are SO thankful for Frank and Nathan, and all the others who helped over those two days. As much as I did not like the fact that our van broke down, and with a costly repair, I couldn't help but marvel at how God worked in such a way to weave a beautiful tapestry of kindness, generosity, and grace. I had no choice but to praise Him!

On another side note....we found out that Frank goes to the same church where my OB doctor attends. Small world! :)

Please share what are you thankful for?

This post is linked up to The Marathon Mom.

Soup Series: Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup

2011-11-16T10:09:00.001-06:00

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The third and final soup in my soup series is Lady's Chicken Noodle Soup. This recipe came from Paula Deen years ago when she was first starting out on Food Network. It's a little more work than my previous two soups, but sooo worth the effort.

I don't usually prefer chicken noodle soup....until I tried this one! With the addition of fresh rosemary, freshly grated Parmesan, and cream, it takes chicken soup to a whole new level!

Ingredients

Stock
1 (2 1/2 to 3 lb) whole chicken (or fryer, cut up)
3 1/2 quarts water
1 onion, peeled and quartered
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 bay leaves
3 chicken bouillon cubes
Kosher salt and pepper

Soup
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced celery
2 1/2 cups egg noodles, uncooked
1 cup sliced mushrooms
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan
3/4 cup heavy cream, optional
Kosher salt and black pepper

Directions

For the stock, add all ingredients to a soup pot. Cook until chicken is tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Remove chicken from pot and set aside to cool. Remove and discard bay leaves and onion. You should have approximately 3 quarts of stock. When chicken is cool enough to touch, pull meat off the bone. Discard bones, skin, and cartilage. Set chicken aside.

For the soup, bring stock back to a boil, add carrots and cook for 3 minutes. Add celery and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes. Add egg noodles and cook according to package directions. When noodle are done, reduce heat to low. Add chicken, mushrooms, parsley, and rosemary. Add Parmesan and cream, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed.

Enjoy with a hot loaf of French bread or rolls.

If you missed my last two soups, you can find Basil Tomato Soup here, and Zucchini, Potato, and Parmesan Soup here!

Photo Credit

Look what I found!

2011-11-13T23:33:00.000-06:00

Hmmm....bunk beds? ;-)

Where have you found your kids hiding recently?

Donut Tradition Lives On....Maybe

2011-11-12T08:20:00.004-06:00

Early this morning, Daddy surprised the kids with donuts! Some of you may remember that we used to have a fun donut tradition.

Back when Greg was an on-the-truck-Fire-Fighter (he is a Fire Inspector now), he worked 24 hour shifts (24 on, 24 off...7am to7am). Every other Friday was "Payday Friday" and he happened to be off on payday Fridays. The beloved tradition was that he would stop at Krispy Kreme on his way home from work, specifically on "payday Fridays".

It's something we did for years. And it's something our kids looked forward to and loved very much. Sadly, the Krispy Kreme closed and our tradition came to a screeching halt. Yes....there was always the grocery store, but buying donuts from the grocery store just wasn't quite the same. In addition, Greg no longer works the 24 on, 24 off shifts, which means he works on "Payday Fridays". : (

So for those of you who haven't read about how much our kids love donuts....or the story about the devastating day we realized Krispy Kreme was shut down, you gotta go back and read them. These were written about five years ago, back when my blog was called Sabo Family Dynamics. It was primarily a family blog that I kept out of the mainstream public. But since I went public and have new readers (hi, new friends!), I'd love for you to read some of my older stuff. :)

As far as this morning, well, a new donut shop opened up about 8 miles down the road. But of course, it's Saturday and not Friday. I suppose we could begin our tradition again, but "Day-after-payday-Friday" doesn't quite have the same ring. And 8 miles down the road isn't on Daddy's way home (because he's already home). So, I think we'll just make it an occasional fun surprise like we did this morning. :)

It was neat to see the looks on their faces when Daddy unexpectedly walked in the door with those iconic boxes. They all thought he was still sleeping. Sneaky...and so fun!

Does your family have a special tradition that would be utterly sad to see come to a sudden stop?

Photo Credit

Very Cool Meal Planning Help

2011-11-09T22:22:00.000-06:00

Okay, friends...you know that I am pretty fanatical about menu planning. But this takes even my system a step further by incorporating your local grocery store sales into the planning....and does it for you!!! How cool is that?

Here's how it works: Food on the Table is an easy meal planning service that is based on sales at local grocery stores. With Food on the Table, users will be able to: find thousands of easy, healthy recipes - save money by knowing the items that are on sale - and simplify your shopping experience with a well organized grocery list.

If you struggle at all with meal planning, then this may be your solution. If you've got a great system already, this may help streamline your sale shopping.

Okay ladies.....I'm very interested in your opinion on this! Click on the banner above, sign up for the free trial, and tell me what you think!

*Contains an affiliate link.

8 Tips for Surviving the Economy Crunch

2011-11-07T06:49:00.001-06:00

Anyone else feeling a bit tight these days?  Are you struggling to make ends meet? Or just trying to put money away with little success?

As our family has grown, we've always been frugally minded. However, with gas, groceries, and everything else on the rise...except my husband's paycheck...we've really had to tighten up and be wiser about our spending. And did I mention that we're also planning a wedding?

Here are 8 ways that we have cut expenses to survive the economy crunch!

Calculate that trip!

We often calculate how much it will cost to drive to Grandma's out of state, or to the amusement park in the next city, but what about those frequent "short" trips? Those sudden trips to the grocery store or those trips to Sonic for Happy Hour. ;-) It's important to know what even your short trips are costing because they add up quickly.

First, find out how many miles your vehicle gets to the gallon....in city. Now, think of a place you go often. How many miles is it from your home?  Divide the total miles of your trip by how many miles your vehicle gets per gallon. Then multiply that result by the cost of gas per gallon. This will tell you how much your trip costs. Formula here.

For instance, Sonic is 4 miles from our home. So round trip is 8 miles. Our van, "Clifford, the Big Red Van" only gets about 10 miles to the gallon (pitiful, I know). SO, it will cost me $2.52 (current price per gallon $3.15) to get to Sonic and back. So now, my half price large Diet Coke just cost me $3.52 instead of $1.00. If I do this everyday, I've just spent $105.60 in one month for Diet Coke. Scary huh?

It's so important, if you're struggling financially, to calculate your gas costs. We've had to cut out a lot of frivolous trips to save on our gas budget. If you've got a fuel efficient car, it may not be so bad. But with a 15-passenger van and a Suburban, we really have to pay attention to our fuel costs.

Turn up (or down) that thermostat!

We've all heard that during the summer, we should keep our thermostat at 78 degrees or higher. How many of us actually do this? We do. You'll be amazed at how quickly you acclimate to a warmer temp in your home. Now that we're approaching winter, try setting your thermostat one to two degrees cooler than usual.

Check the unit price!

When shopping for groceries, be sure and look at the unit price when comparing prices. Look at the price per ounce or pound to find the best bargain. If you're set on a particular name brand item, search for a coupon first or price match it if your local store does this.

Buying in bulk is often a great way to save money, but be careful! Buying in bulk may not always be the best option. For example, we shop at Sams. Sams carries mostly name brand items. Even though they may be cheaper than the traditional grocery store, most time, buying the generic store brand will be less expensive than buying name brand bulk.

Eat at home!

If you're accustomed to eating out a lot, you can save huge by eating at home. Plan a menu and make a coordinating shopping list. And stick to it! This will also prevent those frequent store runs since you will already have everything on hand to prepare your meals.

Check for used items first!

If you need something for your family or your home, don't forget to see if you can find it used first. Chances are, depending upon the item, you can find it on eBay or Craigslist. If you need clothing or Children's clothing, don't forget about those great thrift stores.

Downgrade your cable package

About a year ago, we downgraded our TV package. We went to just the basic package which means we can watch only local channels for news and weather. We saved quite a bit by doing this and we haven't missed all those channels one teeny, weeny bit. Okay, so I do miss my Food Network and HGTV, but I've gone on ~~crying~~ living without them. ;-)

Sell Stuff

Look around your home and let go of things you don't need. Sell books, toys, baby items, furniture, etc. It's always fun to bring in a little extra cash from things you weren't using anyway.

After seeing a friend's FB status about cashing in her unused gold jewelry, and getting more than she thought, I went through my small stash and found three broken gold chains and a small ring I never wear. I took them to Gold Gals and made a quick 76 bucks from broken jewelry I may have ended up throwing out.

Join Swagbucks!

I'm tellin' ya! If you haven't done this yet, you're missing out on free stuff. I purchased most of my home schooling material last year from Amazon credit that I earned from Swagbucks for free. In addition, anytime I want a new book, or birthday gifts for our children, I build up my Amazon gift credit by buying Amazon gift cards with my Swagbucks. Currently, I am saving up for Christmas shopping. 450 SB gets you a $5 Amazon gift card. I usually accumulate 450 SB every week to week and a half just by doing regular Internet searches. But there are other ways to rack up the Bucks, too.

Once you redeem your SB for a gift card, you then go into your Amazon account and credit it with a code. You can let it build as high as you want.  If you're not an Amazon fan, there are pages and pages of redeemable prizes and gifts. You've GOTTA jump on the Swagbucks train! :)

How have you managed to cut back on your budget? What would you add to this list?

Photo Credit

Soup Series: Zucchini, Potato, and Parmesan Soup

2011-11-03T05:48:00.000-05:00

The second soup in the series is one that I got years ago on TV from Art Smith, personal chef to the big stars. It's actually a hearty summer soup, but since you can get zucchini all year round, it makes an excellent fall and winter soup as well. With the flavorful addition of fresh thyme and Parmesan, this soup is simply scrumptious!

This soup takes a bit more time to prepare than the Basil Tomato Soup, but I still consider it a quick soup. Give it try and tell me what you think!

Zucchini, Potato, and Parmesan Soup

1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium zucchini, scrubbed but unpeeled, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (1 cup)
1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (1 cup)
3 cups chicken broth or canned low-sodium broth, as needed
1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 cup evaporated skim milk (regular milk is fine too)
3 T. fresh grated Parmesan cheese, plus additional for serving
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped fresh Thyme for garnish (a must!)

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the zucchini and potato. Add enough broth to barely cover the vegetables. Add the thyme and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low. Simmer partially covered, until the potato is tender, about 15 minutes.

Stir in the evaporated milk and cheese. Heat until very hot, but do not boil or the soup will curdle. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Ladle into bowls and sprinkle each serving with fresh thyme and freshly grated Parmesan. Don't be shy on the cheese! ;-) Serve with hot French or Artisan bread.

Serves 8-10

Photo Credit

20 Christmas Photo Cards for $1.00

2011-11-02T13:58:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Christmas! Take advantage of this deal on Photo Cards. Receive 20 for only $1.00 plus shipping. But shipping is only $3.99...so with shipping, that comes to $0.25 per card. That's a great deal and will save you some gas if you ran out to buy them or pick them up.

But hurry....offer ends November 10th. And don't forget to use the coupon code provided on the site. :)

Holes to Hem

2011-11-02T06:55:00.002-05:00

What do you do with your kids' holey pants? Do you toss them, patch them, use them as dust rags?

Here's an easy way to salvage pants with holes in the knees. All you need is an iron, a little Liquid Stitch, and of course, the poor, abused, holey pants! No sewing required for this quick fix!

Once you've cut off the legs just above the holes, neatly roll up pants one time, creating an even edge, and press with hot iron (below). Try not to be distracted by my dirty ironing board.

You're distracted aren't you...

Once you've got a good crease, place a thin line of Liquid Stitch under the fold. (Tried to get a pic of this step, but the battery died....shucks!) Press tightly to adhere. Repeat on second leg.

Next, roll up one more time, creating a thicker, more secure hem. Press with iron again. Place another thin line of Liquid Stitch under second fold and press to adhere.

And here you have it...a nice pair of shorts from a holey pair of capris! And I didn't have to lug out the sewing machine! Okay, OKAY, I'll wash my ironing board cover! Sheesh!

Here's my sweet, much cleaner, seven year old modeling her new shorts! She loves them!

Do you have any quick fixes to share?

Teaching Reading

2011-10-31T07:18:00.000-05:00

Teaching my children to read is probably one of the most rewarding jobs I have as a home schooling mother. There's nothing quite like watching your child make that connection and begin to blend sounds. And then, to watch your children read on their own, and love doing it. But I'll admit, it can also prove to be one of the most challenging jobs too. For some kids, it takes longer and you must exercise much patience during the process. It can be a tough job.

I've had the privilege of teaching five of my children to read so far. Presently, I am slowly working with two more of my children.

My goal for teaching my children to read is, first, to instill a love for reading. And even though I understand that not all of my children will necessarily have a passion for reading, it's important that we plant those seeds early. In the womb is a great place to start, but it's never too late to begin at any time.

We read to our kids every day! I read aloud to the little ones and the older ones spend time reading throughout their school day and during rest time. But a few of them squeeze in reading whenever they can. As I write this, my seven year old is slouched half over the guest bed reading Little House in the Big Woods. :) In the evenings, Greg reads aloud to the whole family.

Over the years, I've tried several different methods and books for teaching reading. I've come to the point where I know what I love and what has worked well for our children, so that's what I'll share now. If you're using a method or a particular book that you absolutely love, please share it in the comments. (Click all images to enlarge)

There are two books I use to teach reading. They are set up in a similar way, but one is scripted and one is not. The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (OPGTR) is scripted for the parent/teacher. If you're just starting out and feeling a little intimidated about teaching your little one to read, this is the book I recommend. There is no guess work. Simply follow the script in each lesson. You can also purchase a magnetic board with letters, and flash cards that coordinate with the lessons here....or make your own. Here is an example of the "A" lesson.

The second book is called Phonics Pathways. This was my first real manual, if you will, that I bought to teach reading. This one is not scripted, but the pages contain larger print and have less wording. Each lesson will contain basic instructions or a particular spelling rule, but no more than that. Here is an example of the "A" lesson.

Deciding which one I will use depends on the child. When I began teaching Chloe, I started out using OPGTR, but found that there was too much information for Chloe...too much script. So I decided to try Phonics Pathways with her, and visually, it was easier for her. Simple was better. However, with Sophia, OPGTR was perfect. By the time we reached about 1/3 of the way through the book, she was reading well and took off from there.

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the "silent gh" lesson. Phonics Pathways left, OPGTR right.

As you can see, they are very similar. I have had success with both books and appreciate how simple they are to use, but how effective they are in teaching reading and spelling rules.

To sum up, here are some tips for teaching reading:

~Don't be afraid to teach reading! You can do it! :)

~Read to your children as much as possible. Allow older siblings to read to younger ones as well.

~Wait until your child is ready. There is no right or wrong age to teach. If you've begun teaching your 4 or 5 year old, and they're just not getting it, there's no need to rush them. Give it some time, continue reading aloud, and try again in a few months. One of my girls didn't take off with reading until she was six. Now, she's a super star reader and reads everything!

~Find what works for your child. With my older girls, I simply used letters. No manuals, just letters. But now, I switch between the two books I recommended. There are many ways to teach reading. Look online or borrow material first to view before buying. Also, consider your family size/dynamics. Some programs are more teacher intensive than others.

~Dont' be afraid to use helpful tools such as reading videos or online free programs. When I first let my kids watch The Letter Factory, I felt like I was cheating a little. ;-) I got over that real fast! My then two year old learned ALL of her letters and sounds from watching that video. It gave me a great head start. :)

~Once your child begins putting together sounds, incorporate books such as the Bob Books series. These books begin with one-syllable, short vowel words that really boost a young reader's confidence. It gives them something other than the manual to read and makes them feel like they're reading something on their own.

~Allow your child to read aloud to you often. Whether it's Bible time, school reading, or just fun reading, find ways for your child to read aloud. If we're reading a Bible passage, we divide up the verses so that everyone gets a turn. If my beginner reader is working on math, I have him or her read the instructions aloud. Reading aloud builds confidence....especially if those listening are encouraging.

So what are your best tips for teaching reading? Please share in the comments below. If you're just starting out, was this helpful? Do you have any questions? I would love to hear from you!

Photo Credit

Making Advent Special

2011-10-28T18:48:00.002-05:00

*Repost

I cannot believe we're almost finished with October! In just a little over a month, our family will begin reading the third book of our favorite Advent series.

Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels by Arnold Ytreeide are all beautifully interwoven stories that lead up to Jesus' birth. Each character is lead on a different journey full of adventure and nail-biting cliffhangers. Your kids will hardly be able to wait for the next day's reading.

Even though our older children have heard these stories numerous times, they still look forward to hearing them again every year. And for our younger ones, it's a brand new story as they grow each year and begin to understand the beauty of Advent. It's become a wonderful tradition in our family....one that we hope they'll continue in their own families.

You begin reading the story on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and read a section each day until you finally arrive at Christmas morning...the reading of Christ's birth.

Our first night of reading, we sit around the table with big mugs of hot chocolate. It is such fun time for our family.

On Christmas morning, the tradition is to eat breakfast first.....gotta feed those hungry vulchers. Then, we do nothing else until we've read our final Advent story. It really sets the tone for what Christmas means to our family as Christ-followers, and why we celebrate His glorious birth.

If you're not already reading these, I highly recommend them. If you can only order one, begin with Jotham's Journey, and try to collect one a year until you've acquired all three.

Your family will love these, and the time spent reading together is a time to be cherished!

"With these books you will begin a rich tradition of nativity celebration in your household."

*This post contains affiliate links.

Photo Credit

Quick Tip: Pumpkin Spice Coffee

2011-10-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

Spice up your coffee with a little fall flair!

Add a little Pumpkin Pie Spice to your coffee beans and grind as usual.

You'll end up with a delicious hint of pumpkin pie in your coffee. And the aroma while it's brewing? Oh my!

I add about a half teaspoon of spice per 6 cups of coffee. Play around with it until it's just right for you! Add some Heavy Cream for a rich cup of heaven. Enjoy! :)

Photo Credit (top)

Soup Series: Basil Tomato Soup

2011-10-24T07:11:00.000-05:00

With the cooler weather finally beginning to reveal itself here in south Texas, it's time to incorporate some of our favorite fall/winter meals...soups!

A good, hearty soup brings warmth and comfort to the home. There's nothing quite like the aromas that fill our home when a delicious soup is simmering on the stove. It says..."you're home", and comforts the soul, somehow. It reminds me of childhood, the safety of my home, and the family being together.

In this soup series, I will share three of our family's favorite soups. All three soups are made special with the addition of fresh herbs...three of my favorite herbs: Basil, Thyme, and Rosemary.

I've never been a fan of Tomato Soup. But when I first tasted Tomato Basil Soup from La Madeleine, I was in love. My daughter found this recipe online and it tastes very much like La Madeleine's. It's very simple and quick to make if you're short on time. Serve with a crusty Italian loaf or wonderful Artisan bread and you've got a hearty, homey meal that is sure to satisfy hungry tummies.

Ingredients

2 cans (28 oz) Crushed Tomatoes
1 can (14 oz) Chicken Broth, or Homemade
18 fresh Basil leaves, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup Heavy Cream

In a large pot or Dutch oven, bring tomatoes and chicken stock to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add basil and sugar (the sugar helps to balance the acidity). Reduce heat to low; stir in cream and butter. Cook until butter is melted.

Serves 9.

Photo Credit

FREE 8 x 10 from Canvas People

2011-10-21T17:34:00.000-05:00

Another great opportunity to put a photo or your kids' favorite artwork on a beautiful FREE 8 x 10 canvas.

Christmas is just around the corner and this would make a wonderful gift for a family member or friend.

Go to Canvas People , choose your own photo, then choose your size (remember the free 8 x 10), choose a frame (optional), and choose your effect. Canvas People will take it from there. They coat each canvas with an environmentally safe protective coating, and then gallery wrap each canvas so that it arrives safely.

It's very easy! You may also click on image above to order. Feel free to browse the site for testimonials and ideas. :)

*Contains affiliate link.

Happy Birthday Sophia

2011-10-20T08:08:00.000-05:00

Our Sophia is a big 9 today! She is a lovely young lady with many interests. Above, she is playing in a recital with Big Sis Cheyenne. Sophia loves the piano and is growing in the skill rapidly.

As you can see here, she has exceptional brain ability. lol She can cross one eye while leaving the other in the center. I'm tellin' ya...the girl is a genius! ;-)

Her other loves are reading, biking, running, baking, and art. She also loves to write recipes and music. She's a go-getter!

But Sophia also has a wonderful heart. She loves Jesus and she loves her family. She's always willing to help and loves to give. At present, she really wants to build a well in Africa, so we're brainstorming as a family to make that happen. She's our drive behind this project, so we hope we don't let her down. I think we'll be baking and selling A LOT of bread! :)

Happy Birthday, Beauty! We are so thankful that God created you, and we pray you have a GREAT birthday!

A Busy Week

2011-10-18T08:36:00.000-05:00

We have had a wonderful week of fellowship with our sweet friends. We have enjoyed late night talks and early morning cups of coffee. I've enjoyed runs with Dan, and talks about the faithfulness of God with Lori and Dan. It has been such a blessing having them here and we're so privileged to have hosted them. In a few days they'll be heading to VA to visit Dan's family...and then they head back to Costa Rica. We will miss them dearly!

Aside from enjoying company, we've also had other things going on along with normal, crazy life, which is usually busy enough. Here are a few snippets of what we've been up to and why I haven't blogged in a week. :)

Wedding: We've had a couple of wedding related appointments. Saturday, all the bridesmaids went to Cheyenne's dress fitting. It. fit. perfectly! No alterations needed! Woohoo! The only thing we need to do is the bustling. She looked incredibly beautiful! After the fitting, we all went out for lunch at Panera. Yum!

Then, on Sunday afternoon, we met with my wonderful friend, Hollie, who is graciously making the wedding cake. We had a "cake meeting" to discuss all the details and finalize a cake design. I know Hollie will do an incredible job and I can't wait to see the final masterpiece. :) If you get a chance, head on over to Hollie's Food for Missions blog and check it out!

All the other details are coming along. We have the invitations in hand. Cheyenne made return address labels and put them on, as well as stuffed the envelopes. All we have to do is address them. We have the wedding dress, of course. Now we just have to protect it form the elements of the Sabo household. lol Sunday after church, we picked up Celeste's Maid of Honor dress and my niece's bridesmaid dress. We reserved most of the linens, and will only add more as RSVP's trickle in. We have the venue reserved. We have most of the centerpieces purchased for assembling. Most of the groomsmen have been measured for their tuxes. We have a few friends who have offered to sponsor desserts for the wedding, or other things. Isn't that awesome? Whew....I think that's it so far. Things are progressing so I am feeling less overwhelmed with wedding details.

House Hunting: No...not for us, but for my other best friend, Stacey. They Cambrons are moving back to Texas from Colorado Springs and I have had the honor of looking at homes for my sweet friend. As she has found homes online, I've gone to look at them in person to report back to her the details. It's been fun...and I can't wait to have the Cambrons back in Texas! YAY!

Painting: I finally painted a room in our home. I started with the master bedroom. It looks FABULOUS! I have never been so pleased with a color before. It's called Weeping Willow. It's a muted, sage-y, very earthy green. It's peaceful and tranquil and I just LOVE it! My older girls moved all the furniture and took off the hardware and got everything prepped and ready. Then, Dan, the girls, and I painted. We did it all in the two hour rest time that all the little ones were down. It was perfect! Team work got the job done FAST! I've still got to get up a few pictures on the wall and then I'll post pictures.

Church: Since Greg is a deacon, we've had a few deacon related responsibilities that have kept us busy too. Our church just had our annual family retreat and then we celebrated Pastor Appreciation Month to honor our wonderful pastor. It's a privilege to serve along side my husband, helping him with various tasks while he serves his church family.

Chicken Pox: We exposed our four youngest kids to the Chicken Pox yesterday evening. We're hoping within the next couple of weeks that we'll see spots. We've chosen not to give our children the vaccine, so it's very important that they get the Chicken Pox as children to gain lifetime immunity. So here's praying.... Oh, and if you live in San Antonio and need to expose your children, contact me and I'll let you know if we're successful! :)

I think that about covers our week. It's been busy, but wonderful! Hope you all have a great rest of the week...and check back for more posts. I have about four that are nearly ready for posting. :)

Company's Coming

2011-10-11T07:39:00.002-05:00

I'm SO excited about who is coming to stay with us for several days. One of my best friends of twelve years, Lori, and her sweet husband, Dan, are making a trip to Texas from Costa Rica, and arrive TONIGHT! They serve as missionaries there, and they're coming back to visit family and friends.

They blog about their mission work in Costa Rica over at Dan and Lori's Journey. They have three wonderful children, and are expecting their fourth child in January. We are very excited to see them, and I personally can't wait to see her sweet baby belly.

Today, I will be heading to the store to pick up a few foods that Lori has been craving, but cannot get in Paso Marcos. We will also be sharing a few of our favorite meals that we used to eat together all the time. You know, those meals that somehow became special to that friendship, even though the meals themselves weren't all that special. It was the time spent sharing those meals together that was special. For Lori and I, it was Chili Dogs (I craved them during one of my pregnancies) and Wing Stop. lol Not exactly girlie food, but it's what we loved, and can't wait to eat together while she's here! ;-)

I pray that their time back in Texas would be a blessing and that God would keep them safe during their travels and their time spent here. :)

Thankful Thursday: God's Provision and Refining

2011-10-06T12:37:00.002-05:00

Why is that we are always so amazed that God provides for His children?

As Christians, we know that He provides. But there are times in our lives when we may not see His provision as "abundant". We feel like we're just scraping by and waiting for God to fill in the gaps spiritually, physically, emotionally, or financially. With our finite eyes, we only see what's right in front of us. We have moments of plenty...and moments that leave us wondering if God will truly meet our needs.

Philippians 4:19 says, "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes, it may seem as though God is not meeting needs because He's not doing it on our time table, or the way we want Him too. It's easy to slip into a period of questioning.

These are the times we must cling to His word and trust that he is at work in our lives. Trust that He knows what's best for us. Trust that He's working all things together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).

Recently, our family has been going through a period of refining. A period of waiting on the Lord for provision.

We've had a string of financial burdens which have caused us to tighten our belts and pinch practically every penny. Aside from planning a wedding, which in itself can exhaust resources, we've had major medical expenses; Jonathan's testing for his seizures, Genevieve's stay in the hospital, vehicle repairs, and Greg's pacemaker surgery to name a few. With the economy already putting pressure on the budget, these added things cause us to scrutinize every area in which we can cut back.

We've also endured a string of emotional burdens; Jonathan's seizures and tests, nearly losing Genevieve, and Greg's surgery. These have caused us some heartache and worry.

But they also cause us to ask, "God, what are you doing in our lives? What are you teaching us through this? How will you provide for all these needs?"

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

The verse above is one that I personally have been clinging to over these last months. God has shown us time and time again that He not only provides, but that He has a much greater plan than we do in how the provisions come to fruition. In one sense, it's very easy to worry when things don't add up. But in another sense, it's exciting to see how God will work in these situations because you've seen Him faithfully provide in the past.

We've been so humbled to see God at work. He's used prayer, His people, our wonderful church family, and His word to provide for our every need. Prayer has comforted and bolstered our spirits, His people have blessed us by modeling the hands and feet of Jesus, and His word has assured us and equipped us with important truths in times of doubt.

God uses these times for our refining. When I've been tempted to wallow in pity, I'm reminded that refining is good. Refining grows us closer to Him. As Christians, isn't that exactly what we want? To draw closer to Him? Of course. But refining isn't fun. I don't know about you, but I've caught myself on more than one occasion asking God if He would please go and refine someone else.....

How thankful I am that He loves me enough to refine me, for it changes me just a little each time. Changes that have eternal value!

THAT'S what I want! THAT'S what I'm thankful for!

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

What are you thankful for? How has God provided for you recently? Please share here.

And if you're a blogger, link up with The Marathon Mom.

Home Depot Savings

2011-10-05T10:15:00.001-05:00

I finally picked up paint to get started on my bedroom. We moved into our home for just over three years ago, and have been staring at the "builders off white" walls ever since. But with so much going on, I haven't had the time or energy to think about paint colors, let alone actually doing the painting.

My sweet daughter gave me a gift card for our anniversary. I was so glad to have had a coupon to reduce the cost of my purchase. I still don't have much time, but getting the gift card gave me that spark of desire to at least tackle our master bedroom.

Do you have any upcoming projects? Would a coupon be helpful? Would tips and guides be helpful? Sign up for the Home Depot newsletter and begin receiving special deals and offers, How-To's, Garden Club, and much more.

Click on photo above or click here to sign up.

*If you sign up, I'll make a bit of money....money helps to feed nine children. ;-)

How To: Homemade Chicken Stock

2011-10-03T07:20:00.000-05:00

One my routines every two weeks is to cook up a bunch of chicken and then store it in the fridge or freezer so that it is ready to use to expedite meal prep. As a result of making my chicken, I get delicious, free stock. My kind of bargain.

I use chicken stock a lot for various recipes, but I also like to cook rice, and sometimes pasta, in stock instead of water. It's a chance to infuse palin rice (or pasta) with tons of flavor. If I had to buy the stock for all our uses, that would get quite expensive.

Here's an easy way to make your own...and also have cooked chicken on hand to add to your dishes. I used to do this process with a whole chicken in a large stock pot, which was fine. But now, thanks to my friend Dawn, I use Split Breasts in a crock pot. It's much easier to prepare, I get all breast meat, and I don't have to deal with picking the meat off of a whole chicken.

(You'll definitely want to use bone-in meat to get a fabulous, rich stock. And, split breasts are much cheaper than boneless, skinless chicken.)

First, place a few carrots, celery stalks, and quartered onions in a crock pot. (I was out of onions the day I made this batch, so I just used minced onions) If you don't have these veggies on hand, you can still make a basic stock without them. The veggies give your stock a richer taste, but you'll still have a great stock without them.

Next, place two to six Split Breasts, depending on how much chicken and stock you want, on top of veggies. Remember, you can freeze your meat and stock, so go ahead and max out your crock pot so that you don't have to do this as often. Season your chicken with pretty much whatever you want. You can keep it as basic as salt and pepper or go to town with lots of different seasonings. Just keep in mind to go easy on the salt because you will be using your broth in other recipes that may already contain salty ingredients, so go light. Here, I used a little salt, pepper, marjoram, a couple bay leafs, and garlic powder.

Next add water. It doesn't really matter how much you add. The general rule is that less water equals a more concentrated broth....more water, less concentrated. I usually make six split breasts at a time, and I add about four cups of water.

Now, cover those babies up, set your crock pot on high, and go do something fun and exciting for the next four hours. Or, school the children, nurse the baby, and change diapers like I do. ;-)

Okay...four hours is up. Doesn't that look yummy? And doesn't your house smell soooo good? Now, take the chicken out and set it on a plate to cool.

With a slotted spoon, fish out all the big chunks of veggies and carefully pour the broth through a strainer.

Allow to cool before placing in fridge or freezer. Stock will keep up to two weeks in fridge if stored in air tight container. You can store in freezer for months.

Once chicken is warm to the touch, begin de-boning and de-skinning. Is deskinning even a word?

It's easier to do if the meat is slightly warm.

And here you have it...shredded chicken and wonderful, homemade broth. Wasn't that easy? ........Say yes!

Once your broth cools in the fridge, the fat will solidify at the top. This is great because you can scrape it right off and either toss it out, or use it to make gravy.

Here are the stats: For my six split breasts, I got a little more than 6 cups of stock and 10 cups of shredded chicken. Not bad, huh!

Did you find this tutorial helpful? If so, please let me know. Are you already making your own broth and have any tips or helpful hints to add? Please share! :)

She's Nineteen

2011-10-02T15:53:00.000-05:00

Our sweet Cheyenne at five years old.....

Now she's a grown woman, about to be married this coming January. (Cheyenne on right)

One of our family traditions is to take the "birthday kid" out to lunch. Usually, it's a special time with Mom and Dad alone, but this year, Greg wanted me to take Celeste and make it a special "older sisters" lunch since Cheyenne will be leaving home soon. We had fun talking about some of the girls' favorite childhood memories....many of which they shared together. It was a sweet time with my big girls!

Happy 19th birthday, Cheyenne! You are such a blessing to your family and to others. We love you!

Thankful Thursday: 20 Years

2011-09-29T15:15:00.000-05:00

There are so many things for which I am thankful. I'm thankful for my husband's smooth recovery from surgery. I'm thankful for Genevieve's life. I'm thankful for all the things in general like Christ, family, and food on our table.

But today I want to express my gratitude for 20 years of marriage with my husband. Yesterday, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary. We met in high school. I was a junior, he a senior. Mid year, we transferred into the same Drama class. Of course, right away, I noticed how tall Greg was (6' 6" for those who don't know him). But I was also intrigued by his name. Everyone called him "Sabo", so for the longest time, I thought that was his first name. lol

We became friends, and after only two months of dating, we were engaged. We didn't marry until a year and a half later because I had to graduate first. Three months after graduation, I was Mrs. Gregory Sabo.

What an adventure these past 20 years have been. We've had our ups and downs like most married couples, but the ups have definitely out-numbered the downs. We love each other more than we can imagine, and can see how God has molded us into the couple we are now.

Tuesday afternoon, Greg whisked me off to Fredericksburg for a night in a B & B. You won't believe this, but this was our first time in 20 years that we have gone away together. Shocking, isn't it? Between pregnancies, nursing babies, time, schedules, and life in general, we were never able to do it. Well, this time Greg wasn't going to let such a wonderful milestone pass us by without doing something special. So, with baby in tow, we escaped. I was so surprised. Our very sweet older girls took care of the kids while we were away.
This is where we stayed.....The Angel's Lodge.

Our room was beautiful and cozy......

I could go for one of these at home....

We enjoyed a lovely breakfast which was delivered to our room...

Here is our little bundle of sweetness enjoying time alone with Mommy and Daddy. She was such a good girl, and it really helps that she sleeps through the night. Once she went to bed at about 8:30, the night was ours....

We reminisced into the night the past 20 + years. We went year by year and tried to think of our favorite memories. We shared laughs and took in all the joy of God's faithfulness in our lives....

Here we are on the front porch of our room. The sweet lady at the front desk was kind enough to get our picture. I wanted to kiss her when she told us that we looked too young to be celebrating 20 years of marriage. Score! ;-) She really flipped when we told her we had nine children and that our oldest was engaged to be married. All of the staff there was superb!

As if the celebration wasn't incredible enough, we came home to another surprise. A few friends from church went in together to get us a gift card to The Melting Pot. Talk about being speechless! Isn't that the sweetest thing ever? What a blessing! Our oldest daughter, Cheyenne, made reservations for us.

We feasted on "The Big Night Out". We even had to take dessert home because we were too full to squeeze it in. We asked our wonderful waiter to get this picture for us. And speaking of our waiter, when we told him we were celebrating our 20th anniversary, he asked, "What's your secret....I can't even make it 20 days!" We joked with him a bit and shared a couple of practical ways to stay married, but once we established a rapport with him, we told him the true secret. We shared with him that Jesus was the secret. The night was only made more special by getting the opportunity to share Christ with this young man.

After the kids went to bed, and we had more room in our bellies, we brewed some coffee and enjoyed our dessert.

This was truly an occasion to share our thanks. There's so much more I would love to share, but then this post would turn into a novel. ;-)

What are you thankful for today?

Don't forget to head on over to The Marathon Mom and read about what others are thankful for! :)

Quick Tip: Freezing Bell Pepper

2011-09-27T07:51:00.000-05:00

To quickly add bell pepper to your soups, chilies, or casseroles, simply dice them up when you bring them home from the grocery store.....

Put them in a freezer bag in the desired amounts....

And store in the freezer!

I LOVE red, yellow, and orange bell peppers. And I love to cook with them, adding beautiful color and nutrition to my recipes. Here, I used red peppers because during the summer they are at their cheapest price. I usually buy a six pack of multi-colored peppers for just under $7.00 at Sams, which comes to about $1.16 a piece. But when on sale, I stocked up on Red Bell Peppers for $0.88 a piece.

Frozen peppers are fine for adding to soups, chilies, and casseroles. But if you're making Fajitas or just want to eat them as a snack...leave them fresh.

What veggies do you love to store in the freezer to speed up your meal prep time?

Happy Birthday Chloe

2011-09-26T09:23:00.000-05:00

It was just a short time ago that she was this tiny little baby....

Now, she's a lovely, seven year old little lady...

She's sweet, funny, kind, and helpful...

She loves all things arts and crafts, she loves to read, and she isn't afraid to get dirty!

Happy Birthday, to our sweet Chloe. We love you so much and hope that this special day brings you joy! You are so special and we're so thankful that God created you, for you were fearfully and wonderfully made! (Psalm 139:14)

We love you, Bunny!

It's How We Roll

2011-09-23T20:45:00.001-05:00

Why would we let a few billion days of 100+ degree temps prevent us from pitching the tent....

My husband, the fun dad, won't hesitate to set up the tent INside for his babies when it's too hot (or cold) OUTside...

Here are some of the kids enjoying a night of "camping" with their cousin, McKenzie. The kids had a blast...but they had waaay too many comforts for camping if you ask me. Do you see those mattresses?

That's my husband, the fun dad.

He is da bomb!

It's how he rolls...

Sweet Amelia

2011-09-22T08:19:00.001-05:00

Our precious Amelia is six months old. How can this be?

I often find myself taking in moments that I don't want to forget, purposefully committing them to memory so that I will remember them forever...even the smallest of details. A couple of weeks ago, the kids were playing outside like usual. It was a lovey day...a bit cooler, so I took her out in the walker to enjoy the fresh air. We stayed on the porch so she could cruise around freely and watch the kids play. She loved it so much. There was a slight breeze that she seemed to enjoy on her face. She giggled and smiled as she watch the older kids play. It was sweet.

There have already been more days like that one, but I want to remember that day. There was nothing especially significant about it...we just went outside like we always do. But it was one of those small details that struck me as a moment I wanted to remember forever.

Amelia is sitting up and just about to take off crawling. She's scooting and just getting the hang of the arm/leg coordination for full blown crawling. I'm not sure I'm quite ready for for her to be completely mobile. ;-)

She's very smiley and has a sweet disposition. She's determined. If she sees something she wants, she won't give up until she's rolled, scooted, or army crawled her way there. It's amazing how early you catch glimpses of a child's personality.

What a miracle...to be entrusted with such a gift. Thank you, Father!

Quick Tip: Lasting Lettuce

2011-09-19T20:23:00.001-05:00

Keep your lettuce fresh and crisp longer by processing it as soon as you bring it home from the store. This works best on Romaine and leafy lettuces.

Cut of the end off of the bunch. Wash each leaf under cold water. Pat dry.

Place leaves, neatly stacked, on a dry paper towel. Cover the with another paper towel on top.

Place the bunch into a gallon sized ziplock bag. (Here, I used plastic wrap because I was out of gallon bags.) Store in refrigerator.

Now, you've got lettuce ready to go for salads and sandwiches. Not only will it cut down on cooking prep time, your lettuce will stay fresh a lot longer this way. Give it a try!

What are your favorite tips for keeping lettuce fresh longer?

Free Printable Coupons

2011-09-17T22:21:00.000-05:00

If you buy any the of the following products, or have wanted to try one, now is the perfect time. Click on any of these links and print your free coupons. I thought these were note worthy.

$1.50 off Clorox 2 Stain Fighter/ Color Booster

$4.00 off any Non-Drowsy Claritan Allergy Product

$1.00 off any Robitussin Product

$2.00 any one e.p.t. pregnancy test

$1.50 off any Johnson's Natural product

$0.40 off three (3) Campbell's Condensed Soup

Or, click below to browse the whole selection.

Coupons . com

Coffee Addict

2011-09-17T10:47:00.000-05:00

Hello, my name is Jonathan and I'm a coffee addict...

We have never seen a small child love coffee so much. When Greg and I have our morning coffee, or our "need-caffeine-to-stay-up-late-and-watch-a-movie" coffee, Jonathan is always nearby, ready to sneak a sip. It's crazy! It doesn't even matter if it's straight black or loaded with cream and sugar....the boy loves it!

While on my run this morning, Cheyenne caught Jonathan in the act. Thankfully, the pot had been turned off, so the coffee was not hot.

We'll really have to keep an eye on him now that we know he'll try to get his fix right from the pot!

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

2011-09-15T14:16:00.003-05:00

With fall quickly approaching, these yummy-to-your-tummy Pumpkin cinnamon rolls are the perfect addition to your breakfast menu.

But don't wait for fall...it may never come...especially if you live in Texas. So go ahead and make them now. :)

Ingredients
1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/4 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
Cooking spray

Filling:
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Glaze:
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1 tablespoon hot water
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

To prepare the buns, dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl; let stand for 5 minutes. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Add 2 cups flour, pumpkin, and next 5 ingredients (pumpkin through nutmeg); beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes); add enough of the remaining 3/4 cup flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky).

Place the dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. (Press two fingers into the dough. If an indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.)

Combine 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Punch dough down; cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the 1/2 cup softened butter on the dough evenly. Sprinkle with brown sugar mixture. Roll up the rectangle tightly, starting with a long edge, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch seam and ends to seal.

Cut roll into 12 (1-inch) slices. Place slices in a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 25 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375°.Bake the rolls for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 15 minutes in pan on a wire rack.

To prepare the glaze, combine the powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and vanilla extract in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over buns. Serve warm.

Photo Credit

Menu Planning

2011-09-12T12:59:00.004-05:00

Pin It

One of the most rewarding aspects of motherhood is feeding my family. Putting meals on the table that will nourish and satisfy my husband and children bring a sense of joy and fulfillment to my heart. But it can also be challenging and overwhelming keeping a family fed three times a day, every day!

Growing up, my mom would write down meals for the week, and then compose a coordinating grocery list. So, when I got married, I did the same. Each week, for years, I would sit down and think about what we were going to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. As my big girls got older, they too would help in this area.

But it was still a big job! Especially as our family grew. Often times, just sitting there thinking of what to eat was mentally exhausting.

One day it occurred to me....why not put this menu into a database, with the coordinating shopping list, and hit "SAVE"!! And, each time we write a new menu, we'll do the same and eventually accumulate many menus from which we will rotate. Then, all we have to do is print off a menu and coordinating list and shop!

So that's what we have done for the last seven to eight years. We now have about ten menus that rotate every two weeks. If we get tired of a particular meal, or want to incorporate a new recipe, we simply change it out on the database and adjust the ingredients on the list. Done! So much easier than starting from scratch each time.

For us, two week menus work best since my husband gets paid every two weeks. In addition, I only have to 'big' shop twice a month instead of four. But plan your menu according to what works best for your family schedule. Whether weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, having an organized menu plan will save time and money in the end.

Here is the menu we are currently using. Click on image to enlarge.

And here is the coordinating grocery list. (click on image to enlarge)

As you can see, this list contains only food items that we need for every recipe on the menu. If we need to restock other items such as cleaning supplies, paper products, or toiletries, we simply add them to the end of the list where it says "Other Items Needed".

The night before we shop, we print off our list and go through the freezer, fridge, and pantry and cross off anything we do not need. For instance, we have yeast on the list because we bake breads, rolls, etc. But since we buy yeast in bulk, we don't always need to restock it. Same goes for Chicken Stock. I almost always make my own, so I rarely have to buy it. But, I have it on the list just in case I don't have any in the freezer. It's always best to include all ingredients on your list, and simply cross off what you don't need. The key is ensuring you have all the ingredients you need to prepare your meals so that you're not running to the to the store in a pinch.

What if I don't want to prepare or eat what is planned on that particular day?

Because we've shopped for everything on the list, we're free to swap dishes as we please. If we've had a hectic day and there is a more labor intensive meal planned that day, we just switch out for something faster or easier to prepare. Or, if another meal sounds better that day, we switch. The important element here is that you have everything on hand, and you don't have to think about what to eat. This also helps us to look ahead and get meat out of the freezer and into the fridge for thawing.

We try to balance our meals. Some require a little more prep time or cooking time. Some are quick and easy. Some are cheap and some require more costly ingredients. We like variety in the meals themselves, as well as the work involved.

What is FFY?

FFY is Fend For Yourself. Since we usually eat a big lunch on Sunday, dinner is usually clearing out leftovers, or making a sandwich, or snacking on fruit and crackers. Greg and I tend to the little ones, but the older, capable kids fend for themselves!

In our family, life is so busy and there's much work to be done. This menu system has saved a lot of time.....and gas. Since we've shopped for everything we'll need, I'm not running back and forth to the store. If we need milk or fresh produce, we make a stop while we're out running other errands. The best part is...I never have to stare into the fridge, ominously trying to decide what to make for dinner.

So how about you? What are your favorite tips for feeding your family with efficiency? Do you have any questions about my system? Please leave a comment...I'd love to hear from you!

Photo Credit

Save Money with TracFone

2011-09-11T00:02:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you searching for a low cost phone and plan for your family, but don't want to be bound by a contract? Have you struggled to find a plan that fits within your budget, yet gives you the freedom to buy as much or as little time as you need?

Several years ago, we purchased our first TracFone. We wanted a cell phone, yet didn't want the monthly responsibility of an ongoing bill that we couldn't back out of if things got tight. We looked into several pay-as-you-go plans and ultimately found that TracFone offered more for our money at the lowest cost.

We bought a $15.00 phone that, unbeknownst to us, had Double Minutes! So each time we purchased a minutes card, we got double the time. Double the minutes for the life of your phone is a feature that can be purchased separately, but like ours, some phones include it.

Since then, we have purchased three TracFones and love them. There are no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancelation fees. Plus, their phones are packed with features like camera/video recorder, web access, app capabilities, mp3 player, and full keyboards for as little as $29.99.

Additionally, TracFone has great nationwide coverage. We've never had a dropped call and reception is great!

Buying minutes has always been convenient because we normally just pick up a card while at the grocery store. But now, you can also reload your minutes online. You can purchase as little as 50 minutes for $9.99 or 200 for $30.00. We just purchased minutes online for the first time. The minutes were delivered instantly.

Lastly, this is the only wireless service where you can call internationally for the same price as any other call.

TracFone has been a huge help in keeping our family connected at the lowest price possible. To learn more about their features, watch this YouTube video: So many features

Need more? Listen to what other real TracFone customers have to say:

Real TracFone customers

Give it a try and start saving money now!

Swagbucks

2011-09-10T19:20:00.000-05:00

I just ordered another $5.00 Amazon gift card courtesy of Swagbucks! If you haven't signed up for Swagbucks yet, you're missing out on FREE stuff.

Remember that Giveaway I just hosted? I purchased that wonderful cookbook for FREE with my Amazon gift credit I received from Swagbucks! I also purchased much of my school material this year using my Amazon gift credit. It's free. It's easy.

You earn Swagbuck from doing regular web searches that you probably do every day anyway. Why not earn the Bucks while doing it.

There are other prizes and gifts that you can buy with your Swagbucks, but I always stick with the Amazon gift cards. You can buy a $5.00 Amazon gift card for 450 Swagbucks.

Click on image above to get started. Did I mention it's EASY?

*This post contains affiliate links.

And the winner is.....

2011-09-10T09:17:00.000-05:00

Jar-O-Entries

Our highly scientific method for choosing a name......grab a cute little boy and have him stir up those names well!

And the winner is......

Joni O.

Congratulations Joni! I'll be contacting you and sending out your brand new, shiny, gorgeous cookbook! I pray that this book blesses you and inspires you in the kitchen! :)

Thank you ALL for entering. My first Giveaway was a lot of fun. Check back regularly for more Giveaways in the future!

Two Amazing Offers

2011-09-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

I usually don't post two offers...but these are so good, I wanted to share both. (Click on image or link to begin)

Do you have a family photo or a cute piece of artwork from your child that you'd love to see on a nice, sturdy canvas?

Canvas People is offering a FREE 8 x 10 or $50 off any size canvas as a special introductory deal! This coupon can be applied toward a larger size canvas, creative effects, or beautiful frames! But, 2 Canvas are always better than 1 and with 50% off your second canvas and 50% off shipping there’s no reason to only get one.

This would be a fun way to decorate a child's room with their own colorful artwork. Or, personalize your home with a beautiful canvas family portrait.

The second offer is one you don't want to miss if you don't already have a way to back up your computer. You should consider this incredible offer. It's even more incredible because you don't have to offer your credit card info for the free trial like most companies require.

Try Carbonite online backup for 15 days. Then get 2 extra months with your purchase.

Your life is on your computer. With so much to lose, there's only one smart way to protect it. Carbonite online backup is the easy, automatic and secure way to safeguard your irreplaceable computer files. These days we all have things on our computers we just can't stand to lose: photos, music, financial documents and more. Carbonite works automatically and continually to make sure your computer files—and memories—are backed up offsite.

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*This post contains affiliate links.

Quick Tip: Tackle Toothbrush Germs

2011-09-06T23:04:00.001-05:00

Did you know that the average toothbrush contains bacteria from blood, saliva, oral debris, and even the toilet? Every time you flush the toilet, bacteria fly up from the bowl and can travel up to five feet away.

Tackle those germs by pouring a little bit of Peroxide on your toothbrush every few days....or after any illness. Hydrogen Peroxide has natural oxidizing properties that will aid in sanitizing hard surfaces and objects, including toothbrushes. It's what we do in our home.

*You can use vinegar as well, but I'd prefer not to taste vinegar first thing in the morning. It would clash with my coffee.

Photo Credit

GIVEAWAY! The Pioneer Woman Cooks

2011-09-05T07:47:00.000-05:00

Be the winner of my first GIVEAWAY!

Who wouldn't want to win a FREE copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl.

This collection of scrumptious recipes and beautiful photography is a must-have in your kitchen. And I haven't tried a Pioneer Woman recipe that I didn't love!

Own a copy already? No problem. It would make a lovely Christmas gift.

You may enter up to FOUR times. Here's how:

1. "Like" Sacred Mommyhood on Facebook
2. Write a quick blog post announcing my GIVEAWAY...and link to this post.
3. Link this post to your Facebook status
4. Follow Sacred Mommyhood on Twitter and tweet this Giveaway

Choose one...or do all four to increase your chances of winning. *Just be sure to leave a comment in the comments section below letting me know in which ways you entered.*

This GIVEAWAY will run through Friday (9th) at 10:00pm. I will announce the winner here on Saturday. Please be sure there is a way to contact you.

Easy Breakfast Tacos

2011-09-03T19:03:00.000-05:00

We love our Breakfast Tacos. They're quick to whip up, full of protein, and delicious! Perfect for a Sunday morning when you're busy getting the family ready for church. And, it tides the kids over until lunch time!

Easy Breakfast Tacos

1 lb bulk sausage
8-10 eggs
Enough flour tortillas for your family
Grated Cheddar
Salsa and Sour Cream (optional)

In large skillet, brown sausage. Drain. Add eggs right into the sausage and gently stir until eggs are cooked. Warm tortillas and build your tacos. Add what you'd like. Serves 8-12.

On the run: Assemble tacos and wrap them in foil. Very easy to eat on the go.

For Pot Luck: Once cooked in skillet, transfer sausage and egg filling to a crock pot. Bring your fixings and you've got an easy Fellowship Brunch meal.

Photo Credit

zulily

2011-09-03T17:29:00.000-05:00

Have you heard about zulily?

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All for up to 70% OFF!! If you shop early for next spring, you'll find savings of up to 90% OFF!

Membership is FREE. Invite friends and get $15 when they place their first order!

Sign up and start shopping now with Zulily! (Click link or image)

*I receive a small commission for each membership.

We Almost Lost Her - Part 2

2011-09-01T16:03:00.001-05:00

(Read Part 1 here)

What Happened?

My husband is a phenomenal father. He loves his children and takes an active roll in everything we do with them. He's also a phenomenal husband. He takes very good care of me...and this includes giving me breaks as I need them. One of those ways is taking the kids to the pool. It's fun for them, and gives mom a break.

He takes the kids swimming every other night after dinner as the norm. I stay home and enjoy some peace and quiet. I usually keep the baby home with me, but she had gone once before and really enjoyed the water. So, Greg took her again. Cheyenne stayed home. I was a little nervous about Greg having so many little ones, with the baby going, but Celeste, our 16 year old, was going too...and she helps to keep an eye on everyone.

I tend to be one of those nervous moms. And with nine children, I worry about keeping them all safe. Every time Greg takes them to the pool, I say the same thing to him... "Do a headcount before backing up, and keep an eye on all of our babies." He usually just smiles, understanding that it just makes me feel better to say this even though I know he will do those things. Then, I pray. Every. Single. Time.  I pray for the children's safety, knowing full well that accidents happen everyday. I also pray for any other children who may be swimming that day too! It just breaks my heart when I hear of parents losing a child.

While at the pool Tuesday night, Greg had the little ones in the shallow end near the steps, like usual. He was in the pool with them and had the baby in his arms. He watched them all play. The older kids were in the pool farther down having fun. Genevieve (3) and Jonathan (2) kept playing with a hose that led into the pool right at the steps. Greg had to get after them a couple of times because they wouldn't leave it alone.

Again, Jonathan went back to the hose, so Greg turned around to get Jonathan away from it. Genevieve had still been on the steps in the pool. By the time Greg turned around...Genevieve was gone. Thinking she had gotten out and run off to another area of the pool, he scanned the premises trying to spot her. When he couldn't find her, he looked down into the pool. But, between the ripples from kids' splashes, and the glare of the sun reflecting on the water, he couldn't see anything. Suddenly, he caught a faint shadow of pink at the bottom.

He walked a few steps toward her and reached down to pull her up, with baby Amelia still in his other arm. To him, it didn't seem that long from the time he saw her on the steps to when he turned around looking for her, so he thought he would pull her up and she would just cough up some water and cry.

When he lifted her up, she was blue and lifeless. She was not breathing. Greg thrust her up to the side of the pool and quickly got out. He set the baby down and yelled for the other kids, who at this point were oblivious to what had happened, to get out of the pool. He told Celeste to call 911 and began rescue breathing. Turns out, our cell was dead and the pool phone was not working. No one else was around to make the call.

Celeste hurried back, picked up the baby, and gathered the other children. Thankfully, a young woman walked into the pool area, saw what was happening and dialed 911.  The kids stood in utter shock watching Daddy resuscitate their sister.

Greg had done about four rounds of rescue breathing and back blows before he saw signs of life. He gave a final breath and she began coughing and vomiting water. The young woman stayed on the phone with 911 relaying information.

Once Genevieve came to, a gentleman from across the street ran over to assist Greg. The man is an MTI at Lackland and was also a paramedic. The man continued to help Genevieve expel water while Greg made the dreaded phone call home.

The ambulance was the first on the scene and the paramedics quickly took over. Then the fire trucks and police vehicles arrived. By this time, people had gathered outside their homes, and several had run over to assist.   Genevieve was loaded into the ambulance ready to be transported.

Cheyenne, who had chosen to run over to the pool, beat me there. She helped gather the kids into the Suburban while Celeste was busy talking with police officers. My daughter said a sweet woman had come over to the car to offer comforting words to the children. How precious that woman was to do that.

At this point, Greg was about to head to the hospital in the ambulance until I flagged it down. Greg jumped out of the ambulance and went back to the kids to help the older girls get them home. Once he got them home, he got himself and the baby out of their wet clothes, and headed for the hospital.

Prayer

God answered my prayer that day. I prayed for protection over my children, and He watched over and protected all of them, including Genevieve. For those of you who don't know my husband, he is a fire fighter. He's actually an inspector now, but was on the truck for 16 years. He was trained to save lives. And by God's amazing grace, he saved his own daughter's life. I marvel at the possibility that Greg's whole career, and all of his training was meant for this very day! We will never know, but what an incredible thought.

Please pray for my husband. He does not see himself as the hero who saved his daughter. He sees himself as the dad who didn't prevent this from happening. As a Christian, Greg believes and trusts in the sovereignty of God, and understands that this was no surprise to God. But, as a father, and a human being, he's left with the guilt of it happening on his watch. He's the one haunted by the image of his baby girl's lifeless body stuck in his head. It will just take time for him to recover from this. So please pray for healing and peace. Pray also for my children, who were traumatized as well.

God has used His people to minister to our hearts and meet basic needs. We had hundreds of people praying for Genevieve. Friends helped by coming to the hospital to offer support.  Friends came to our home with food and snacks for the kids. And friends drove back and forth to the hospital bringing us food and things we needed from home. There were also phone calls, emails, prayers, love, and the kind of support that demonstrate the hands and feet of Jesus!

Our little Genevieve has made a full recovery. She remembers some of what happened. When I aksed her how she got under the water, she said, "I sinked!"

We got home from the hospital last night. She was so excited to see everyone and all the kids were very anxious to see her! They had been so worried, that none of them could sleep the night before. When it was time for bed last night, they all wanted to be near her. So, Greg laid blankets on the girls' room floor and let them all sleep together. It was a sweet time for our family.

We're a bit more rested today, but still exhausted overall. For now, we're just clinging close to our family...and to our Heavenly Father, the author and perfector of our faith!

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

We Almost Lost Her

2011-09-01T10:29:00.001-05:00

"Hello?" I answered.

Greg quickly replied, "Genevieve's breathing. She went under. They're transporting her."

"GREGORY!!", I yelled. "Don't let them leave without me!"

At that moment, one of my biggest fears was unfolding. One of my children has nearly drowned.

I hung up the phone and ran out the door. My oldest daughter, Cheyenne, followed. As soon as we stepped outside, the eerie sounds of the emergency vehicles cut me to the core knowing they were coming for my daughter!

Our community pool is in the next subdivision. The two subdivisions are joined by three miles of walking trails. I was desperate to get over to the other side before the ambulance left.

Cheyenne and I jumped into the van to get there quickly. It wouldn't start.

"Father, please help me get there!" I prayed.

There was no time to waste. I jumped out of the van and ran across the street to ask my neighbor, Rosemary, to drive me to the pool. Before I reached her door, Cheyenne yelled to me that she was taking the trails, and took off running. For a split second, I thought about doing the same, but didn't think I'd make it in time.

Rosemary and her husband Gary rushed me over to the pool. It took about five minutes from the time I pounded on their door. Just as we rounded the corner to the pool, I saw the ambulance pull out of the parking lot. Frantically, I asked Gary to stop so that I could flag down the ambulance. I couldn't bear the thought of missing it and not being with my baby immediately!

I reached for the door, but couldn't get it open. In a panic, I fumbled for the lock as I saw the ambulance driving toward us. I yelled to Gary to stop the ambulance, fearing I would not get the door open in time. Just as the ambulance was passing, I got the door open and took off running, yelling and waving my arms in the air, trying to get the driver's attention.

I remember the picture in my head of people gathered outside their homes, watching all of this unfold. They must have been heart-stricken watching this mother desperately try to flag down the ambulance that carried her baby.

As I was running along side the ambulance yelling and waving, I hit the side of the vehicle with my fists, finally getting the driver's attention. He stopped and waved me to the back.

I made it. Praise God I made it! I climbed in and my husband jumped out and said he'd meet me at the hospital.

"Bring the baby", I said in a frenzy. And off we went. Full speed, with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

The ambulance ride was surreal. I was so relieved to be with Genevieve, yet, in disbelief that we were in the midst of this near tragedy. Genevieve looked pale. She was quiet and unresponsive. But she was alive. Thanks to her daddy, she was alive. I leaned down to her ear and just prayed. I told her I loved her, and I sang to her some of her favorite nursery rhymes.

The paramedics tried twice to get an IV in her, but were unsuccessful. However, the poking and prodding got Genevieve crying, which was a good thing. Crying meant breath. It meant responsiveness. It meant life!

By the time we arrived at the hospital, she was stable. Her O2 sats were low and she was "grunty", but she was doing well considering.

As we settled into the emergency room, our sweet nurse friend, Stephanie, walked in. She was on duty at that hospital. She had heard the news through our pastor's wife and came to check on us. What a comfort that God provided us. One of our most precious friends...on duty...and by our side. She even stayed with baby Amelia so Greg and I both could go with Genevieve for the CT scan and X-ray. By the time we got back from the tests, our pastor was there, as well as several other friends who came to comfort us and pray for us. Word spread quickly through our church e-loop, my home school e-loop, and Facebook. The power of networking at it's finest. People all over were praying for our daughter and asking how they could help us.

God answered our prayers, all of the tests came back normal. Praise God! Genevieve would need to stay overnight for observation....but that was it. Our baby was fine. God had spared her life.

Part 2 - What Happened?

Quick Tip: Egg Substitute

2011-08-30T11:43:00.000-05:00

Have you ever begun to bake something, only to realize you're OUT of eggs?

Did you know there's an easy solution to replace the egg (or two) withOUT running to the store?

Thankfully, I learned this handy dandy "egg substitution" that has saved us in a pinch on more than one occasion.

Substitution:

1 egg = 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of water

That's it! Replace the missing egg with the cornstarch and water and bake as directed. You'll never know the difference. It's also perfect for families with egg allergies. We once made a huge batch of pancakes for a friend with an egg allergy, where we had to substitute 3-4 eggs. They were delicious! We now refer to those special pancakes as "Dancakes". :)

Photo Credit

Tackling Chores

2011-08-29T04:49:00.005-05:00

Pin It

I've learned over the years that there are as many chore systems as there are families. This is a wonderful thing as it means families are creating methods that work for their unique family dynamics.

But like most moms, I think it's fun to see how others are doing it. Whether you want to fine-tune your own system, or you're just starting out trying to create one, find what works for your family.

In my last post, I shared about our wonderful school day messes. Messes that reveal life in our home. And though we love those kinds of messes, we do enjoy a clean and tidy home. And in a family of our size, it requires everyone pitching in to keep things in order and running smoothly.

Here's how we do it. My system of chores involves everyone, covers all areas, and even includes those monthly deep cleans. This is a standard sized poster board that hangs on our refrigerator so that it can be easily seen. Click on image for larger view.

As you can see, each child is color-coded so that they can quickly recognize their name. Most chores are Monday thru Saturday, with only the essentials on Sunday. Each child finds their name and can quickly scroll down the left column of chores to find out what they're doing on a particular day.

Our daily chores are usually done three times a day. If that sounds like a lot, you should see how quickly things go awry around here. After breakfast, we run though chores for the first time in the day. Then again after lunch. And again, after dinner. Doing this throughout the day helps keep on top of things and makes the work quick and less painful.

Beneath the Daily Chores, we have Weekly and Monthly. The weekly chores are done every Saturday. The Monthly chores rotate weekdays. For example, every 1st Tuesday of the month, Sophia and Seth wipe the downstairs baseboards. This allows everything to be covered, but spreads out the work over the month.

We begin training our children to pitch in as soon as they understand commands. However, the youngest age that I actually have on the chart is our three year old, Genevieve. She has chores such as dish helper, meal helper, feeding the dog, etc. The "helper" chores are for the little ones in training. When the little ones are working along side an older one, they're learning that job. It was very rewarding to graduate Seth (10) and Sophia (8) to their own dish and laundry day, knowing they were capable of doing the task because they spent time learning as "helpers".

If you only have little ones, allow your children to be your helpers. I know some days it's just easier to get things done yourself, but teaching your little one early will be such a blessing later on. If the thought of training little ones to do chores is overwhelming, just start with one...a chore that would be most helpful to you if your little ones could do it on their own. Train them in that one job until they've mastered it, and then move onto another chore. And remember, try not to have high expectations at first. My five year old won't sweep as well as I do, but they'll get better as they grow. Give them lots of praise for a job well done!

As our children grow, the chart gets revamped to either include new children who are big enough to accomplish chores or "upgrade" jobs as kids become more capable. (Click here to see two of our older charts.)

As a matter of fact, I'll be revamping again soon since my oldest daughter is getting married in January. I'll need to remove her from the chart and divvy up her chores between the rest of us. Doesn't that sound so sad? Removing her from the chart? I don't know..maybe she'll consider popping on over a few times a day to help out?!

Okay, probably not. She'll be a bit busy managing her own home.

So, what are your favorite tips for keeping your home clean? What are some of the chores your little ones do? And at what age do they begin?

Great School Days and Messes

2011-08-26T15:13:00.001-05:00

Have you ever just stood in the middle of your home and wondered how in the world did this place get so messy?

I have...and all too often. I like neat and tidy. I like clean and organized. But, we do happen to have people, little people in particular, living here! And with little people, come big messes.

The other day, I walked into our front room, which is our primary schooling area, and where we had been all morning. As if completely surprised by how it happened, I thought to myself, "This place is a WRECK!" I glanced around and took inventory of the things strewn about. There were school books, binders, papers, and crayons covering the table. Some of the crayons had fallen off the table onto the floor. There were Tinker Toys, Wood Blocks, fun books, and other toys everywhere. There were several baby blankets, floor mats, and baby "things" thrown in there for good measure. And in the neighboring kitchen, flour covered the counter tops, with a light dusting on the floor. In the middle of all this mess, were my children.

After processing the disaster area before me, suddenly, this thought plagued me. What if someone were to show up unexpectedly.....RIGHT NOW? What would they think?

But then....

It occurred to me that this mess.....the books, the crayons, the blocks, the toys, the baby things, the flour in the kitchen....meant life. Our life! This "mess" was the symbol of a great school day in our home. A day where learning and fun took priority over tidiness and pride. What was there to be ashamed of? That we actually use our materials? That our children actually play with their toys...and read their books?

So once I came to my senses, I knew exactly what I'd say to the one who just might show up on our doorstep and see our mess....

I'd say that real life was happening in our home..and that the things God has provided were being used.

I'd say that relationships were being strengthened because the younger boys worked together to build the highest. tower. ever. with those wood blocks.

I'd say learning flourished and brains were stimulated because all those books were being consumed, and those math cubes were being counted.

I'd say that creativity was encouraged by the use of all those crayons.

I'd say that toys cluttered the floors because they were being enjoyed by the little ones who were happily entertained while mom taught the older ones.

I'd say imagination was inspired as the Tinker toys found their way into the shapes of space ships, vehicles, and grocery carts.

I'd say that all that flour in the kitchen revealed skill being sharpened as my older daughter baked her homemade pie.

I'd say that servant hood was exemplified as my younger daughter played with the baby on those blankets and baby things which littered the floor.

Yes...a mess, indeed.

A wonderful mess that proved life was happening in our home, where life should be happening. Joyfully.

Like any other mom, I appreciate and enjoy a clean home. Just as there is a time for learning and play, there is a time to clean up. And when the time came, and the schooling was done, team work prevailed as we all pitched in to put things back together.

Moms, whether you home school or not, have one little one or five, don't be discouraged over the wonderful proclamations of life being actively lived out in your home. There will be a time for cleaning up, but until then....relax....press on with the task to which God has called you....and smile....knowing that good things are happening in the midst of the chaos. Things much more important than a perfectly tidy home at every waking moment.

Yes...this is my idea of a GREAT school day.

Photo Credit

20% OFF at Kohls

2011-08-26T10:57:00.000-05:00

Hurry.....only good for 7 days!

Free Photo Products

2011-08-25T14:21:00.001-05:00

Looking for something fun and personal to give the grandparents for Christmas? Or, looking for a way to display and preserve sweet memories?

Check out this deal from Vistaprint. Get 6 photo items for free and just pay (very low) shipping.

I am printing a family calendar as a gift to someone special. :)

Just click on the link or photo above and select a photo flipbook, t-shirt, mug, mouse pad, magnets or calendar- all for free! Don’t let your photos sit hidden on your computer, take this opportunity to celebrate your memories every day.

* I receive a small commission for each order. :)

Begin An Advent Tradition

2011-08-24T00:34:00.009-05:00

What? It's only August and you're talking about Advent already?

You betcha!

The reason? I want you to have plenty of time to order these wonderful Advent books that our family has enjoyed for the past nine years.

Jotham's Journey, Bartholomew's Passage, and Tabitha's Travels by Arnold Ytreeide are all beautifully intertwined stories that lead up to Jesus' birth. Each character is lead on a different journey full of adventure and nail-biting cliffhangers. Your kids will hardly be able to wait for the next day's reading.

Even though our older children have heard these stories numerous times, they still look forward to hearing them again every year. And for our younger ones, it's a brand new story as they grow each year and begin to understand the beauty of Advent. It's become a wonderful tradition in our family....one that we hope they'll continue in their own families.

You begin reading the story on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and read a section each day until you finally arrive at Christmas morning...the reading of Christ's birth.

Our first night of reading, we sit around the table with big mugs of hot chocolate. It is such fun time for our family.

On Christmas morning, the tradition is to eat breakfast first.....to feed those hungry vulchers. Then, we do nothing else, not even open presents, until we've read our final Advent story. It really sets the tone for what Christmas means to our family as Christ-followers, and why we celebrate His glorious birth.

If you're not already reading these, I highly recommend them. If you can only order one, begin with Jotham's Journey, and try to collect one a year until you've acquired all three.

Your family will love these, and the time spent reading together is a time to be cherished!

"With these books you will begin a rich tradition of nativity celebration in your household."

*This post contains affiliate links.

Photo Credit

Quick Tip: Snack Time

2011-08-23T07:07:00.000-05:00

Snack time doesn't have to be a production. A handful of raisins, a cheese stick, or a handful of nuts are nutritious, easy choices.

It can also be as simple as diving a spoon into a jar a peanut butter.

Peanut butter on a spoon packs a substantial, nutritional punch. Just 1 tablespoon of peanut butter has about 90 calories, 4g protein, and 1g fiber. The protein in peanut butter helps contribute toward your daily protein needs, and it provides energy while helping to keep the kids feeling full until meal time.

It's one of our kids' favorite snacks! And mine too. :)

Photo Credit

The Perfect Biscuit

2011-08-21T15:10:00.002-05:00

And might I add...the EASIEST too!

The Perfect Biscuit

Self Rising Flour
Heavy Whipping Cream

That's all -- just two ingredients for light and fluffy biscuits!

Mix about 1 1/2 cups of self-rising flour per 1 cup of heavy cream. Add flour as needed, being careful not to add too much, or the biscuits will be dry and heavy, instead of light and fluffy.

Knead lightly on a floured surface and roll out to 1/2" thick.

Then cut into rounds with a glass or cookie cutter dipped into flour.

Bake at 450 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, or until golden-brown on top.

Bridesmaid Fun

2011-08-21T14:45:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, Cheyenne took her bridesmaids to be fitted for their dresses. With the help of Rachel, their friend and sales associate, they were able to order their dresses for the upcoming January wedding. Two of her bridesmaids are not pictured here; one lives out of state, and the other was out of country. They were missed!

The girls had a wonderful time together, and followed the fittings with a girls' luncheon.

Photo from L to R: Amy, Rachel, Shelley, Cheyenne (the bride), Celeste (Maid of Honor and sister), and Bethany Bridesmaids missing in action: Cristen and Alex

How To: Homemade Refried Beans

2011-08-19T06:47:00.001-05:00

We love beans. We eat a lot of them because they're yummy, healthy, and CHEAP!

We especially eat a lot of Refried Beans. We make a 2 lb. bag of Pintos every two weeks.

Did you know that 1 cup of Refried Beans is low in Saturated Fat, and very low in Cholesterol? It is also a good source of Protein (13g), Vitamin C, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Manganese, and an excellent source of Fiber (12g...that's 49% of your Daily Value).

So what on earth do we do with all those beans? We make Quesadillas, Bean and Cheese Burritos, Bean Dip, Tostados, and Touch Down Taco Dip. We also use them as a side to enchiladas and tacos. The kids even like to eat them in a small dish with cheese on top. Having them on hand makes for SUPER EASY "go to" lunches and dinners.

Let's get cookin'.

Here's what you'll need:

1 lb bag Pinto beans
1 stick butter (or any other fat such as bacon fat or lard...but everything is betta with butta!)
Salt, Pepper, and Garlic powder to taste

First, sort your beans. Place a small pile on the counter at a time and pick out any dirt clots, rocks, or anything else that doesn't resemble a Pinto bean.

See that big, ugly clump of dirt? Now aren't you glad your sorted first?

Here's are the gems I found in my last bag. El Grosso!

As you're sorting your piles, throw the beans in a medium to large pot.

Now, give the beans a quick rinse....pour out water, and then refill pot to about an inch or two above the beans.

First stage done. Go relax and let those babies soak all night. (Quick soak method below)

When you're ready to begin cooking the beans, pour out the soaking water and refill with fresh water, again, 2 inches above beans. I usually use hot water just to give the heating up process a jump start.

Bring beans to a boil. Be careful not to let those beans boil over while you’re not looking…the mess is a doozy! But I wouldn't know about that.

Let boil for a couple of minutes and then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally and add water if necessary. If you let all the water evaporate, your beans will burn, your pot will be lots of fun to clean, and your house will not smell very pleasant. But I wouldn't know about that either!

When your beans are done, they will look plump and feel soft. Drain some of the water. Not all of it, though...about like this.

Now pour the beans in a food processor. If you do not have one, or you just don't feel like luggin' the huge thing out, use a masher. Add butter, about 2 teaspoons of salt, a little pepper, and a little garlic powder. If you're using a masher, be sure and stir the beans, 'cause those mashed beans stick to the bottom.

Process away! Once you’ve reached your desired consistency, it’s time to taste. Does it need more salt? Probably so. Maybe a little more pepper and garlic? I don’t know…their your beans. Taste them!

Each time you need to add more seasoning, pulse or stir to blend.

Once you’ve got them all nice and seasoned, pour them into a container to cool. Once cool, seal tightly. Will store in the fridge for two weeks.

So, you see, they’re not actually REfried, but that's okay...they still taste amazing! But if you want to "re"fry them, have at it.

Here's the printable version:

Homemade Refried Beans

1 lb Pinto beans

1 stick butter

Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder to taste

Sort beans and place in medium to large pot. Rinse with cool water and drain. Refill to about 1-2 inches above beans. Let soak all night. If you don't want to wait until the next day, use the quick soak method.

*Quick soak method: After rinsing beans, refill with hot water, and bring to a boil. Boil a few minutes and then turn off the stove. Let sit an hour...resume at this step below.

Drain soaking water and refill to about 1 inch above pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 hours. If you're not sure when they're done, taste a bean to make sure it's very soft.

Drain some of the water, but not all of it. Pour beans into food processor and add butter, about 2 teaspoons of salt, some pepper, and a little garlic powder. Pulse (or stir if using a masher) to incorporate seasoning and butter. Pulse until you get the desired consistency. Taste often to check for seasoning. Trust your instincts...you know what taste good to you!

Pour beans into air tight container. Allow to cool and store up to two weeks. These freeze well too. Enjoy!

Photo Credit (top)

Quiznos Anyone?

2011-08-18T18:02:00.003-05:00

If you're looking for a way to ease the Back-to-School hustle and bustle, print off these coupons and treat yourself to a break in the kitchen! One of them is even for a FREE sub. Yum!

Click on image above, print your coupons, and enjoy the night off. :)

*I receive a little compensation per printed coupons.

Fun Reading Games

2011-08-17T09:14:00.002-05:00

Looking for something new and fun to keep the little ones busy while they're cooped up in the house because it's TOO scorching hot to go outside?

Yep...me too! That's why I'm glad to have found this....

Three of my kids have already been enjoying these fun FREE reading games. And it's just enough to change up the old routine, and still keep their minds busy.

If you have beginning or early readers, click on the photo, and give it a try!

*I receive a little compensation per sign up.

Quick Tip: Children's Puzzles

2011-08-16T10:58:00.000-05:00

Keeping all those puzzle pieces to the correct puzzle is made easier by simply numbering the puzzle itself.......

And then numbering each individual puzzle piece to match.

What are your favorite tips for keeping puzzles organized?

I LOVE Swagbucks

2011-08-14T18:37:00.001-05:00

Did you know that you could be earning FREE Amazon gift cards simply by doing toolbar searches that you probably do daily anyway? Swagbucks has been a huge blessing to our family. I have purchased many Amazon gift cards that I immediately put into my Amazon account. I was able to buy most of my home schooling material this year for FREE thanks to Swagbucks. For just 450 Swagbucks, you can snag a $5 Amazon gift card. Of course, there are many other things you can buy (like Paypal cash and Starbucks gift cards), but I stick with my trusty Amazon gift cards.

Here's how it works. Click on the image above and sign up for Swagbucks. You will download a simple Swagbucks toolbar and that's it! Once your toolbar is up, begin using it for your daily searches.

There are other ways in which you can earn Bucks as well. You can do daily polls and surveys. You can also try promotional offers and earn big Bucks. Recently, I signed up for a 30-day trial of Netflix. Our family enjoyed a months worth of fun movies and documentaries, and I enjoyed 1000 Swagbugs! Cha-Ching!

Here are just some of the gift cards I've redeemed. I've got two more waiting to be delivered into my account.

$5 Amazon.com e-Gift Card
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Go up to the link above and sign up now....you won't regret it!

Mama Told Me There'd Be Days Like This

2011-08-13T11:54:00.003-05:00

It's a beautiful, lazy Saturday morning. Mommy and Daddy are relaxing, kids are playing, older girls are gone getting fitted for bridesmaid's dresses, no pressing appointments to worry about. Sounds perfect right?

In our eighteen years of parenting, one thing we've learned is that when it's TOO quiet, it's time to check on the little ones. Our instincts proved correct!

We came upon a scene of total art madness. In our older girls' room, no less. The guilty suspects? Our two, and three year old. BUSTED! Where shall I begin?

Sketching pencils strewn about. Open tubes of acrylic, oil, and watercolor paint all over the carpet. A "redesigned" abstract painting that Celeste had just painted last night, ruined, courtesy of little sister. And, of course, Jonathan and Genevieve, covered in paint.

The little sleuths got into the big girls' room despite having a "child safety knob" on the door. I didn't know whether to be glad the girls weren't home to see the condition of their room, or be furious that a certain, unnamed child didn't put away her painting supplies!

Never fear, Superhero Mom and Dad dove in head first and conquered the chaos. The girls will neeeever know what happened. Well, except for that redesigned painting....and the paint on their sheets, and the empty paint tubes, and......

It's days like this that I am eternally grateful for my handy dandy carpet cleaning machine, which got ALL the paint out of the carpet. It definitely works overtime in our home. It's just the nature of having children, especially a lot of children, that messes like these are a regular, and expected, part of our life! We just clean them up, and laugh about them later....much later.

Photo Credit

Just in Time For Back-to-School

2011-08-12T08:26:00.001-05:00

Sign up for JC Penney Savings Newsletter, and get great store/online offers including new brand launches and coupons delivered directly to your inbox. Register today and save!

*I make a small commission when you sign up. :)

Free Chips and Queso

2011-08-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

Would you like....

Simply click on link above and print your FREE chips and queso from Chili's!

Under Construction

2011-08-07T15:39:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm finally doing it. I'm redesigning my blog. New look, new name, new domain. GULP!

Things may look strange and unfinished around here a while, but I hope to complete the job quickly. It will be a process, so please bear with me! :) Don't forget to check back....

Amish White Bread

2011-08-01T21:51:00.002-05:00

This is hands down our favorite white bread recipe. Even though we mainly bake whole wheat bread, we can't resist this delicious, sweet bread. Give it a try! You will love it!

Amish White Bread

Ingredients

2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2/3 cup white sugar (organic, if you can)
1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 cups bread flour

Directions

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.

2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface (or in your very large bowl) until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Rising in a warm oven (turned off) works best.

3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9×5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

4. Bake at 325 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of The Marathon Mom :)

Dropping the Ball

2011-07-30T15:33:00.002-05:00

Do you sometimes feel like you've "dropped the ball" in the midst of the daily demands of mommyhood?

Whether it's your husband opening up his underwear drawer, only to find it empty...OOPS! Or you signed up to take a family a meal, only to remember the very moment they're waiting for you to show up at their door! Or forgetting that dentist appointment that you've waited three long months for! You get the picture. Sometimes as moms, even we organized moms, occasionally drop the ball.

Recently, I dropped the ball with my one of my older girls. Our oldest daughter participated in two years of Dual Credit. If you're not familiar with this program, it allows your high school student to take college courses for free, earning both college and high school credit.

Well, it was time to begin the enrollment process for our next daughter. She had already taken the SAT and we were just waiting on scores. Life had been busy during that time with a difficult pregnancy and then new baby, so I hadn't been paying much attention to dates and deadlines. While at Bible study one night, a friend mentions something about the Dual Credit enrollment deadline passing.

WHA!?! "Did you say the deadline has PASSED?"

"Oh, yes, it was last week.", said my friend!

At that moment, I really felt like I had dropped the proverbial ball. How could this be? School doesn't start until August and it was only March. Surely I can still get her signed up. But, after lots of calls and emails, hope was lost. Not only did I miss the deadline, but the enrollment process was for the entire year....not just one semester. My daughter will miss an entire year of Dual Credit. Not only would Dual Credit have eased some of my teaching responsibility, but my daughter was looking forward to trying her hand at a couple of college courses. I felt absolutely terrible and I beat myself up for days over this.

Until.....

I was reminded that God is sovereign. That God directs our steps. That if I truly believe that "all things work together for good" (Rom 8:28), then I should trust that there was reason I dropped this ball. Perhaps it just wasn't God's plan for Celeste to attend college this year. Maybe she wasn't ready. Maybe she was being protected in some way. I don't know, and perhaps I'll never know. What I do know, is that if it was His plan for her to be there, we wouldn't have missed the deadline.

My point to this story is not to use life as an excuse to ignore our responsibilities, or miss important deadlines, but as a reminder to not beat ourselves up when we occasionally drop the ball. If we understand that God is at work in all circumstances, we can rest in this knowledge, learn from our experiences, and move on to other tasks....like those "whites" so my husband will have clean underwear for Pete's sake!

As for my daughter, well, she was very understanding...and we'll just shoot for next year. Will someone please email me in OCTOBER to remind me? ;-)

Photo Credit

Flaky Deli Slices

2011-07-21T07:32:00.002-05:00

Looking for something new to make for lunch? Here's a recipe for you. Everyone loves these flaky, savory slices in our home! They're fun. Yummy. And it's not your ordinary sandwich!

2 pre-made pie crusts
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 pkg pepperoni
6 slices (or more) favorite ham
1 cup grated Cheddar

Preheat oven to 350*

Unroll both pie crusts. Spread out 1/2 cup of Parmesan on each crust. Next, layer pepperoni slices over Parmesan, making sure to leave about a one inch space around the perimeter. Then, place about three slices (or more) of ham over the pepperoni to cover. Finally, add 1/2 cup of Cheddar evenly over top of ham.

Tightly roll up crusts, being careful to hold everything inside. Tuck each end under and place on baking sheet seam side down. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown on top.

Slice into 1-inch pieces and serve with fruit or carrots. Serves 6-8 (or more if you're serving fruit/veggies on the side).

Four Months

2011-07-16T19:31:00.000-05:00

Four Months

We've held this precious girl in our arms for four months already! With each child, the time seems to pass more quickly than I can take in. Nonetheless, we've cherished every moment with Amelia.

She's as sweet as can be with her big smile and her vocal nature. She's a talker!

She's strong. Loves to stand and can even sit up almost by herself. She loves to roll over and she loves the timeless magic of ELEVATION! She's happiest in the arms of whomever is standing up or walking around. But we know it's simply because she wants to take everything in.

We love her. We're thankful for her. And we pray she doesn't grow up too quickly, though experience has taught us otherwise. :)

Blessings!

Engagement

2011-07-07T20:12:00.000-05:00

In Case You Haven't Heard.....

THEY'RE ENGAGED!

Greg and I are honored to announce the engagement of Cheyenne and Nathan. We are all giddy with excitement and ready to begin planning a wedding. But most of all, we are blessed beyond measure that God has brought these two together to be united as one. Nathan is every bit the man we prayed for our daughter since she was a baby. We are truly thankful for His goodness and faithfulness, and look forward to witnessing their lives together.

Aren't they the cutest?!

(photos taken by Bethany Warren and Robin Klein)

Cue Feeding

2011-06-30T17:26:00.000-05:00

Examining the Evidence for Cue Feeding of Breastfed Infants

Excellent artcle...fairly long, but well worth the read.

http://www.tulipgirl.com/index.php/2010/12/examining-the-evidence-for-cue-feeding-of-breastfed-infants/
ht: Kristen S.

Cheyenne's Graduation

2011-06-19T10:04:00.000-05:00

Cheyenne's Graduation and Recital 2011

We're so proud of you, Cheyenne! Congratulations!

Cheyenne and Sophia playing "Beauty and the Beast"

Cheyenne and Olivia playing "Wonderful, Merciful Savior"

Taking a bow

Daddy presenting diploma to our first home school graduate

Gramie, Grandpa, and the Graduate

The proud Grandpa's speech

Addie and Ella congratulating Chey

Mrs. Woodard, Chey's wonderful piano teacher

Beautiful cake made by our sweet friend, Blair

Chloe taste testing the food

Touchdown Taco Dip

2011-06-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

This is probably my all-time favorite dip. It's actually a Pampered Chef recipe I got from my friend, Stephanie, years ago after she made it for her party.

Your family will love it....and not just during football season! ;)

Touch Down Taco Dip

Ingredients:

1 can Refried beans (or this homemade recipe)
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons taco seasoning mix
2-3 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 cup (1 ounce) shredded cheddar cheese
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced (about 1 cup)
2-3 green onions with tops, thinly sliced
1/2 cup pitted ripe olives, sliced
1-2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
Additional sour cream (optional)

Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread beans over bottom of 10 x 10 or oval baking dish. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, taco seasoning mix and garlic pressed with Garlic Press; mix well.

2.Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over beans. Grate cheddar cheese over top. Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

3.Dice tomato and thinly slice green onions. Slice olives. Finely chop cilantro. Sprinkle tomato, onions, olives and cilantro over dip. Garnish with additional sour cream, if desired.

Yield: 8-12 servings

Photo Credit

Trey's Not-So-Secret Brisket Recipe

2011-06-01T07:30:00.003-05:00

My good friend, Blair, gave me this recipe for one of our annual church Progressive Dinners. It was soooo good, it's what we do EVERY time now! You gotta try it!

Ingredients

Any size brisket (the bigger, the better....you'll want to have lots of leftovers for those sandwiches. Trust me!)

16 oz Lowry's Seasoned Salt
8 oz Cavender's Greek Seasoning (yellow can)
1 tablespoon Meat Tenderizer
1 tablespoon Black Pepper

Directions

Combine all dry ingredients thoroughly. Return as much as will fit back into the Lowry's bottle. Label (w/ Sharpie) "BRISKET" on the Lowry's bottle. Put remaining powder into something suitable and use up first.

Preheat oven to 320* F.

Using trimmed brisket is fine, but the fat layer on an untrimmed will add flavor and juiciness.

Coat brisket heavily on both sides...don't be shy. Wrap brisket tightly in heavy duty foil, fat side up. Needs to be liquid tight. Cook in 9 x 13 pan. Bigger brisket equals bigger pan.

Depending on size of brisket, cook 5-7 hours. Longer time = tenderness. Unless it's a tiny brisket...I say go for at least 7-8 hours.

Remove brisket from oven and increase oven temp to 425*. Carefully, poke holes in bottom of foil and drain all juice into a saucepan. Open foil and sprinkle some more seasoning on top. Rewrap and put back into oven.

Cook one more hour and then let rest on counter for 30 minutes before slicing.

Gravy: Add water to the juices until desired saltiness. Dissolve some cornstarch in a small glass of cold water...just enough to make a runny paste. Bring juices to a boil and add cornstarch. Stir constantly until thick and bubbly.

When slicing, use a very sharp, non-seraded knife...and slice against the grain.

Serve with your favorite brisket sides. We like mashed potatoes (for the gravy, of course), a green salad, and our homemade rolls.

With the yummy leftovers, make a sandwich with a little mayo...oh. my. goodness!

Photo Credit

Two Months

2011-05-17T19:53:00.001-05:00

Sweet Amelia, Two Months

We just love this little girl more than words can express. With her big blue eyes and her sweet disposition, she's reeled us in! She smiles a lot and tries so hard to talk to us with her coos. She's already rolled over and she's been sleeping through the night since about six weeks of age. Hallelujah! Sweet, sweet baby girl!

Kids and Gramie

2011-03-29T15:05:00.001-05:00

I Just Love This Picture

This picture was taken just before I had Amelia. It's special because my beautiful mommy was here for the birth and was able to pose with her grand-babies.

And since Amelia wasn't in the above picture, here she is with her wonderful Daddy!

Amelia June

2011-03-14T15:37:00.003-05:00

She's Here

We are rejoicing over the birth of our baby girl, Amelia June. She arrived safely on Friday, March 11 at 2:22am. She weighed in at 8 lbs (though we don't think she's that big) and was 20 inches long.

It's hard to believe she's finally here after many months of waiting and wondering whether she was a boy or girl. Labor was long, and difficult near the end, but she was worth every minute of it.

We are humbled by God's goodness, His protection, and His many blessings in our lives. Welcome to our family, my sweet Amelia! We love you!

(Will post more pics soon)