One Blessed Mama

New Journey

2011-12-13T09:10:00.000-05:00

I am embarking on a new journey. Andy and I decided there is no time like the present to curb our terrible habit of eating out and often in front of the TV. Please join me and walk beside me through comments and following on this new excursion! Love and prayers are much appreciated! :)

Back to the Table One Day at a Time - 365 Day of Only Eating at Home and Around the Family Table

Chicken!

2011-11-13T12:00:00.003-05:00

We are now home from vacation and we're ready to embark on a new journey! Without too much being said, we are entering a time of life in which we need to start minding our financial "Ps and Qs" even more.

I am quickly finding just how much growing boys can eat. With a husband, three growing boys and God-willing more in the future, I really need to learn how to stretch our food budget all the while trying to obtain good nourishment!

This week I am going to issue a challenge for myself. I have a family pack of split chicken breasts that has been in the freezer for a while. I am going to challenge myself to make as many nutritious meals out of that chicken as possible.

Photo Credit

Now I know that some would say, "Cook it and refreeze it so you won't get burnt out on chicken." but I'm not one of those types. If it goes in the deep freeze, it stays until we clean it out. As hard as I try, I just cannot keep up with what I have in that big ol' thing.

Enter...

Operation 5 1/4 lbs. Chicken Breast Challenge

I used to just bake the chicken with some seasonings and call it dinner, however I need to learn how to stretch it further and bring more vegetables onto our plates.

I will begin the challenge Sunday night. I will be putting chicken into a slow cooker with vegetables and allow the chicken to slow cook - I will be saving the vegetables to make bone broth.

Monday: 2 cups chopped chicken - no broth
Chicken Enchiladas - with re fried beans and salsa

Tuesday: 4 cups chopped chicken - 4 cups of broth or broth from cooking chicken
White Chicken Chili - with salad and bread (This while make enough for several lunches and LOs)

Wednesday: 1/2 cup chopped chicken - no broth
Chicken Alfredo - with salad

*I will be making the chicken stock out of the bones and vegetables for other meals*

Thursday: 2 cups chopped chicken - 4 cups of chicken stock
Chicken Gnocchi sou- with garlic bread and salad

Friday: 1 cup of chopped chicken - no stock
BBQ Chicken Pizza - fruit and veggie tray

Saturday: 1 cup of chopped chicken - no stock
Chicken Quesadillas - with Spanish rice and chips and salsa

Sunday: 2 quarts chicken stock
CP Baked Potato Soup - with sandwiches

Monday: 1 cup shredded chicken and remaining chicken stock
Chicken and Noodles - with green beans and mashed potatoes

Tuesday: 1 cup of shredded chicken
Buffalo Chicken Dip - with tortillas, chips and salsa

As I look through these meals, it's really going to be a stretch to get all these meals out of 5.36 lbs of chicken but we're going to give it a whirl! :) If I get all of these meals out of that chicken, I will be stretching one chicken into NINE meals!

Wanna take the challenge with me? Go ahead, try it! :)

Making Memories

2011-11-09T15:16:00.000-05:00

We are/have been on vacation. We came down for my best friend's wedding and decided to rent a house with my parents for the remainder of the week.

We really didn't have an agenda or anything that we wanted to do after the wedding but take it easy and embrace life at a slower pace. Andy has been working a lot and the boys (and I as well! <3) have been yearning for his undivided attention.

The trip started out with a good but hectic trip through three airports with three little people. The airplane ride was nice compared to driving but keeping the boys entertained and quiet was quite a job. They were really well behaved, it was just trying. I was trying to keep the baby (who has taken up screaming - shrill at the top of his lungs) quiet and Andy would try and keep one of the other boys entertained.

We then came into a major city and had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. We then went right into the rehearsal - Dylan the ring bearer and I a bridesmaid - and were constantly busy with wedding activities. Poor Andy was stuck in the hotel room with the other two. If I were him I would have been crying and pulling my hair out.

The morning of the rehearsal, we woke up to Dylan having pink eye. I tried to get into contact with my friend to find a pharmacy and we got the doctor to call in a prescription, not knowing the pharmacy was closed. By the time we figured out the pharmacy was closed, the doctor's office was closed as well. Fortunately, eye drops seemed to do the trick.

As the week goes on, we've had many issues arise. Yesterday, the baby barfed all day and we were constantly cleaning up the mess.

Today we were determined to make memories. We decided to set up to Big Lou's Pizza. A pizza house that was featured on one of our favorite shows, Man v. Food. As we were pulling in, we saw a bus of school kids unloading. I took the baby and ran, all the way praying that this would be a good experience, to the front door.

As we sat down and began ordering, I hear "MOMMY!". As I looked over I saw that Dylan had poked a whole through his ginormous drink of red Hawaiian Punch. It was spilling out everywhere. I was tempted to get upset and make a huge deal but when I looked at the look of embarrassment in my son's eyes, I just cleaned up and joked with him. He was still embarrassed and very wet and sticky but we eventually moved on and made it a memory. We had a great time at that pizza house!

This vacation has and I'm sure will have more stressful and embarrassing moments but we have made great memories as a family that I'm sure we will never forget. So next time something happens, choose to laugh at it and make a memory instead of a time of tears and frustration. Some day, I'm sure you'll look back at it and smile.

"Don 't hurry. Don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So don't forget to stop and smell the roses. " - Walter Hagen

Despair

2011-11-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Despair - the utter loss of hope; a cause of hopelessness; to lose all hope or confidence -

Photo Credit

Everyone, whether if be spiritual, personal, financial, marital or any other crisis, has felt some sense of despair at least once.

Even the Son of God felt despair.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus felt despair and anguish. After a wonderful Passover feast, Jesus took a few of his friends to the garden and asked them to pray with him and watch him. There he began praying so intently and fervently that he began sweating blood. Instead of praying with him, they - Peter, James, and John - fell asleep. Jesus tried waking them a few times but they would only stir.

I'm sure Jesus felt so lonely and hopeless. He knew that what would happen next. He knew that he was called, the very next day, to give his life for these friends who could not even wake to spend time in prayer. I'm sure he agonized and despaired over the next few hours and days. He knew his friends would betray him. They would deny him. They would doubt him. At that moment, I'm sure he felt complete and total despair.

Next, Judas walked right up to Jesus and kissed him on the cheek. The soldiers arrested him. The plan to cleanse our sins was in full motion.

Jesus went before Pilot and watched as those who had welcomed him just earlier called for him to be crucified - to die on a cross. To die next to true criminals.

He walked up a mountain, carrying a cross with a crown of thorns on his head being whipped continually.

He was nailed to the cross and as he stood nailed to the cross, He felt abandoned by his Heavenly father. He, I'm sure, felt the ultimate despair and hopelessness.

In Matthew 27:45-46, it says, "Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

I have felt despair. I have felt hopelessness many times. But I can assure you that I have never felt as agonizing - lonely- despair as I'm sure that Jesus felt in the garden or on the cross. Yet Jesus prevailed and rose just a few days later. Death had no handle on my Lord. My friends, despair has no handle on us. Though we may feel despairing, the sun will rise in the morning.

The Bible has so many good verses about despair and God's promises. If you are in the darkness of despair please know that light is found in the true Light, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

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

Revelation 21:4 - He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 91:1-16 - He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day....

Romans 15:13 -May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Photo Credit

My prayer is that you find hope and peace in your time of despair. Hold tight to His love, protection and promises...

My Voice

2011-11-08T14:56:00.002-05:00

Photo Credit

"If you say a thing, I will kill you and your family...."

I remember those words like yesterday. I remember the look in his eyes. The raspy sound of his voice. The warning and edge that came out with those words.

I was terrified. I said nothing.

"Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes, with 60% still being left unreported." Source

Even now, talking about it is extremely scary. It's an irrational fear but still a fear. I fear what people will think of me. I fear what people will say. I fear that some won't believe me. I fear...

Seven years and I just now have turned my heart and fears to the Lord in order to use this as my witness.

I have often said that I don't talk about it because I don't think it should matter. Rape or premarital sex, the Lord has died for my sins. I don't have to answer to anyone. I have been on my knees before the Lord.

However, as I am trying to become translucent, I am able to say that it was indeed a "cop out". The plain and simple truth is fear. Even times when I confide in my friends or husband, I still hear... "Say a word and I'll kill them" or "You deserve this. You were asking for it."

When being honest with myself, I see now that he was trying to steal my voice. My voice in which to bring hope and witness to others who are journeying through this time. Others who need to know there is light on the other side. Others who need love and reassurance. Reassurance that He, the Creator who was in me in the dark alley - hearing my cries, screams and prayers and feeling those emotions with me, is right there... He is longing to hold you.

That dark night in the alley and many months - even years after- my voice was taken. My voice to stand and I say with the help of the Lord, I am a survivor. I am a testament to His amazing grace and love. A voice to share His overwhelming love and protection to others. A voice to bring hope and peace. A voice...

It will be a hard road but with the help of the Lord and prayers from others, my silence will be replaced with a voice.

"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken."

- Psalm 34:17-20

Please don't allow sexual violence to steal your voice. Tell someone, anyone. Please seek the help you deserve. Please email me or a friend or someone to being a sounding board. Please find your voice...

Check out Fear Will Consume Me No Longer!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This weekend was a HUGE step for me. I was in my best friends wedding in San Antonio. I have talked about it and many of you know that I am extremely fearful of men being near me that I don't know. I usually hyper ventilate and totally freak out. When I would think about walking down the isle with a guy that I didn't know, I would feel overwhelmed and start crying. Saturday was the practice run and I did alright with a lot of prayer but I was extremely nervous Sunday. I think the thought of others watching me, being in heels and walking with my arm linked to this stranger was more than I could handle. The whole ceremony, I stared at my husband and silently prayed for the Lord's power to take over my fears and get me back to the room without fainting or flipping out. I made it! Small steps, I tell you! :)

Am I Stubborn or Slow?

2011-11-02T08:27:00.001-04:00

While I have been writing about loving yourself and the love of the Lord, I have been skirting around the topic in which the Lord has told me that I am really to write. I'm not sure if I was being stubborn and not listening or if it just didn't click.

Photo Credit

This morning, the Lord didn't ask me if I wanted to write about this topic. He knew I'd say, "Heck NO!". He just told me it was time.

This topic is hard....

This topic brings judgement and controversy....

This topic makes me vulnerable....

This topic is my journey and my story....

I pray this topic brings hope and reassurance of God's love to someone.

I know there is a reason that the Lord has told me to write it NOW. I pray that it reaches someone. I pray that I find the right words. Words that bring glory to Him, not me. Words that show how loving and merciful He is, not how strong I was... Words that will bring healing to my heart and hopefully someone else's. Words...

Please join me as I share my journey back from sexual violence- the blessings I received, the challenges I faced, the pain I still struggle with.... but most of all the grace of a Loving Father.

You might want to check out this post as well...

Love

2011-11-01T15:50:00.001-04:00

As I started writing my list of things in which I liked about myself, one revolving thought became clear to me...

To truly love yourself, you have to learn about God's love.

Not only do you need to learn God's love in order to love yourself, you have to learn of His love in order to truly love others.

I think instead of taking off on a list about being comfortable in your own skin, we should visit the idea of God's love.

The Bible is FULL of verses on love.

God's love is something I really struggle with... The thought of someone loving me so much in spite of my flaws and shortcomings is intense and scary. Someone knowing every hair on my head and every misdeed I've done is terrifying. But yet! He still loves us. He still yearns for our love and praise.

My absolute favorite people verse about love is found in Romans -

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."-Romans 8:37-39

This verse is so overwhelming to me. God loved me when I was born. He will love me when I die. He will love me if I meet Billy Graham or if Obama stays in office. He will love me in whatever circumstance I find myself in - good or bad. He is with me and loves me as I face the future or look back on my past.

NOTHING... Do YOU hear me?! Nothing that you and I do will ever separate God's love for us.

I went through a time that I despised myself. I felt useless, hopeless, dirty and many other things. I felt unworthy. I felt like I was unlovable. I turned away. It was a sad time in my life. BUT you know what? When I returned to His loving arms, He was right there waiting patiently.

Photo Credit

I often feel like my only "meter" for measuring how much the Lord loves us is my intense love for my children. Do you have a "measuring stick" in which you try to fathom God's love for us? If so, what is it?

Comparison

2011-10-28T15:23:00.000-04:00

First I'd like to once again say how much I have dearly missed all of my cyber friends. I keep coming to times in my life where writing must take a back seat to other priorities. I hope you all understand! Please leave a comment letting me know how you've been and what new happenings have, well... been happening! :)

Today I want to discuss a topic in which I have been struggling and I know other mamas, for that matter, women struggle with on a daily basis. Now if this does not pertain to you and you have this topic mastered, please comment and let me know how to arrive as well! :)

It's an ugly word.... To me, it's one of the worst words around. Satan uses it in a mighty way and often times prevails...

Comparison....

How many times a day do we compare ourselves to other women? How often do we look around and feel inadequate?

My house is a mess! How does she have everything so clean and right in it's place?!

How does she have time to make such creative and loving dinners? I barely have time for Hamburger Helper!

She is so skinny and put together! I could be a before picture of a Jenny Craig ad!

Goodness, here she goes again with yet another talent! I haven't even mastered one!!

And then, there come the even more dangerous comparisons...

Her children are so perfect! Good grades. Good at sports! Well liked! Oh my and so well behaved! I need to get home and whip mine into shape!

Her husband is so good looking and pays so much attention to her! Wish mine could be on a I Can't Believe It's Not Butter commercial as well!

There are so many comparisons out there and we waste so much energy comparing!

Do you know that when compare ourselves to others and try to be like others, we are actually robbing the Lord of one of his servants?

We are all made in His image...

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27

God did not make us in the image of Karen the good cook down the street. He made us in His image. An image that is perfect. Perfect for God's plan....

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

The body of Christ is made of many different parts with different functions and purposes. When we try to imitate another, we are not maintaining our function and instead imitating another's and our function is then missed out on.

Take our bodies for example... What if our nose decided it wanting to be an ear instead of a nose? We'll call nose, Ned... Well Ned the Nose didn't quite think he was good at being a nose. He's been looking over at Ernie the Ear for a bit and thought, "Wow! Ernie is so good at being an ear! I want to be like Ernie the Ear instead of like me, Ned the Nasty No good Nose!"

We'd now have three ears and not one nose! The body would not work in the fluidity that God had programmed it and made it to be work in. Much like the body of Christ and His plan for the world would not be working as it should if we decide our function isn't good enough and try to be like someone else.

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." - Romans 12:4 -5

"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." - I Corinthians 12:11-12

My challenge for you over the weekend is to find yourself. Make a list of things that you like about yourself and things you'd like to improve on. Monday I'll be back with my list and how I am trying to love myself instead of trying to make me into Karen the Good Cook down the court! :)

Ecclesiastes 3:1

2011-08-09T21:37:00.000-04:00

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven..."

We are entering a time of change in our home and in our family... As a control-freak, I am terrified of change. It rocks my stable world. As we enter this time, I am going to be holding tight to this verse and the promises of my Father.

Menu Plan: Monday, July 18 - Sunday, July 24

2011-07-17T20:50:00.000-04:00

I am trying to get back into eating and menu planning. I have started taking dinner over to my grandparent's two meals a week. We are quickly coming to the end of our bulk meat buy so it's slim pickins'. I am hoping that this week will bring a week at the house trying to incorporate good habits and routines before school quickly begins. I am finding that I am steadily becoming a home-body and I don't feel right when I am running around. So here's to beginning .... :)

Monday:
Pizza

Tuesday:
Chicken Noodles

Wednesday:
Italian stew with green beans

Thursday:
BLTs and some fresh veggie from the farmer's market

Friday:
Salmon patties and macaroni and cheese

Saturday:
Baked oatmeal
Family BBQ
Broccoli cheese potatoes, salad

Sunday:
Baked goods
Pizza
Re-runs

Our garden is still struggling. We are trying to bring it back in but feel like it's an uphill battle. Maybe tomorrow I will give a quick update! :)

Garden Journal: June 20, 2011

2011-06-21T08:24:00.000-04:00

As I said yesterday, we are having a horrible time fighting the blight and fungi around these parts. It just keeps raining, and raining and raining and raining and raining... Continuously. At first I was just so thankful that the rain didn't flood my seeds out but not I just want it to not stop but come more periodically.

With all the blight and fungi, my plants are still growing beautifully for the most part. We are blessed abundantly blessed and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for this year's harvest!

One of my favorite things when making dinner is walking right out my front door to gather the fresh herbs to add while cooking or to snip some lettuce for a fresh salad!

Herb "garden" right outside the front door

The three different times of leaf lettuce. They are all so delicious!

This was an extra tomato plant I had so I decided to give container tomato planting a try. This plant is growing beautifully due to the blight not being able to attack it as it has everywhere else on the ground.

It actually already has tomatoes forming!

In contrast, this is one of the tomato plants we've been fighting to save from blight and fungi. It is still alive, as are most of them, but looks really pathetic. Kind of reminds me of the "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree".

The side of house garden really needs weeded but with all that has been going on in these parts, I have not found the time Hopefully this weekend!

Peas - I just love the purple blooms!

We planted 16 pepper plants and surprisingly, the ones we thought were dying from transplant shock, are beginning to look as if they might make it!

The kale is beautiful to look at from the road and I am just amazed at how well it grows. This photo actually doesn't do it justice!

As I said, this side of house garden really needs weeding but here is a picture of the cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli plants.

These are also pepper plants. I think I am going to purchase some large containers and grow them in those. They weren't mature enough to transplant and the blight hit so I think I'm just going to stick to containers for them.

Back of house garden

Rows and rows of green bean plants!

Onions beginning to sow their little heads..

Beets

L-R -- Squash -> Pumpkins -> Cucumbers

Carrot and Radish bed - I began weeding it and the carrots were so small that they were coming out as well. I decided to give them time to grow and root better.

See the carrots popping up amongst the weeds?

Garlic bed - This is a perfect picture of what NOT to do with your garlic. See all those scapes that I never got to picking off? No? Well here's a better picture below!

So there are many areas that I need to work on in my garden. I need to convert weekend gardener to one that gardens like her family's food supply depends on it. But I do believe we are off to a good start.

How about you? How does your garden grow? Any advice for me on converting to a everyday gardener (besides get off my tail!) :)?

A Time with Blight

2011-06-20T10:23:00.000-04:00

I know I keep coming back and saying that I will be updating our gardening joys and woes, but we are still dealing with the woes...

The woes being blight and massive amount of fungi. It's been a crazy, crazy ride trying to fight these woes with organic measures but I am hopeful that this last time it worked. Now I am just looking at the forecast of rain for the next 10 days... Oy...

So stay tuned. I am hoping to get outside and take some shots today!

Garden Journal: June 6, 2011

2011-06-06T13:34:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow I am going to be sharing the garden woes we had the past weekend. Today I am just going to share how great things are going and focus on the positive! :)

All of my herbs in their containers!

This batch of lettuce is finally filling out and almost ready to eat!

This batch has already been cut and eaten once!

My container tomato plant experiment.

Look how tall the ones in the ground are getting!

These peas aren't having such a great go at it but we'll eat them up just the same!

These pas are doing MUCH better! :)

Sorry for the horribly shady picture but this weekend, Andy and I took out the spinach and but in 16 pepper plants instead!

One of the Kale plants bit the dust... I will be writing about my gardening woes tomorrow but for today, I am going to be positive!

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage plants - Remember those neighbors who thought I was crazy? Not anymore! Somebody really should weed this!

I just look at this beautiful broccoli plant and get sooo excited!

I spy with my little eyes something is green! Green beans popping up!!

Carrot and Radish bed! See them?!

How is your garden going? I know some of you have been cleaning out the weeds recently. What are you putting in instead of weeds?

Fear Will Consume Me No Longer

2011-06-05T07:08:00.003-04:00

It's hard to talk about. It's hard to think about. It was a life ago, yet it continually consumes most of my days.

If I talk about it, it seems real. Like it really did happen. Therefore, I stay quiet and just allow others to think what they want. It's easier than feeling and remembering the pain of yesterday. It's easier just to wear the label of slut, promiscuous teenager or whatever else others might label me as they judge me.

The ones close to me know but many people aren't allowed to get close - my own choice. Those who know, only know some. They only know what I allow them to know. It's easier. Feels safer.

I thought it was working...

But now I have come to the realization that it's not working.

It's hurting.

It's tearing me up inside and it's consuming many thoughts and much energy in which there are such greater blessings to invoke my thoughts. It domineers all of my relationships. It hurts my marriage.

Pretending it didn't happen has sabotaged so many potential friendships due to lack of trust and fear of letting someone see my tarnish. That night, when I came home and scrubbed my skin until it bled, I never really rid myself of the disgusting feeling I felt. I still carry it with me... I cannot pretend that it worked.

But... It really happened. It was hard. I was horrible. However, it made me who I am today. I am a lover and follower of Christ. I am a beloved wife and mother. I am a woman who survived.

However, I am not completely blameless in the lack of judgement and choices in which I made. It's not my fault.

I am a victim. I did not "ask for it" as I was told and I did not "bring it upon myself because I took care of myself". None of that is true. I am a victim.

Out of my greatest anguish, fear and heartache came my greatest light - a renewed relationship with my savior and a beautiful son - a reminder of God's promises. Even if you are in your darkest hour - a dark alley with no hope in sight - the Lord is with you and if you love Him and turn to Him and His promises, He will never leave you nor forsake you. A reminder that from the dark, there is still Light.

This was my getting it out post. My vent. My searching for a way to get this out so I can claim a good night's sleep again. One without nightmares. One without fearing what tomorrow will bring. This was my silent voice - a voice of typed words on a computer screen. And while I spoke that silent voice, I must be honest and say that my vocal voice is not ready to quit pretending. I am not yet ready to stand face to face and discuss this. I'm just not there yet. I am hoping one day I might be but I cannot promise that either. It is my hope and my prayer that the Lord will one day use me and help other silent women who have endured sexual violence.

"He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

AppleNut Oatmeal Panckaes

2011-06-04T13:21:00.000-04:00

I am finally getting to the point where I can try and come up with my own recipes by tweaking and adding. I'm still not very comfortable with it but I am finally finding my way around the kitchen better!

Here is a recipe I came up with this morning:

AppleNut Oatmeal Pancakes

1 cup oatmeal
2-3 cups of whole wheat flour (I think pancake making is all about the individual. Some like the batter runny, some like it thick. I personally like my batter runny. I think it is easier to work with - therefore, I used 2 cups of whole wheat flour.)
1/3 cup of crushed walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup sucanant
4 teaspoons of aluminum free baking powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup of applesauce
2 1/2 cup of milk

You can either grind your oatmeal or you can leave it whole. I choose to leave the oatmeal whole. It cooked up well on the griddle.

In one bowl combine oats, whole wheat, walnuts, sucanant, and baking powder. After sifted, add eggs, applesauce and milk.

Pour batter onto griddle, cook and flip. These pancakes are so sweet and full of flavor that you do not need any syrup. You can drizzle melted butter or a small amount of honey.

Trying this recipe, I did not soak any of the grains. Next time I will try soaking. For more information on soaking your grains you can visit Lindsey at Passionate Homemaking.

"No poo" Update: Friday, June 3

2011-06-03T21:37:00.000-04:00

I have officially been going strong on the "no poo" method for seven days. It's actually been quite easy and not nearly as embarrassing as I had thought it would be.

For the first five days, I did NOTHING. Nothing at all. I didn't even rinse my hair. I just left it be and took a shower - just cleaning my body. I know - eww!

After those five days, I started feeling yucky so I began washing my hair with a solution of 1/3 cup of baking soda to 1 quart warm water. I put it into an old shampoo bottle and used it over my hair. It was extremely runny. It was almost just like running water through my hair and massaging at the same time. After rinsing my hair thoroughly, I took a bottle of apple cider vinegar and just poured some over my head. Yes - not the most economical and Yes - for a moment I smelled like the inside of a Long John Silver's but after rinsing the vinegar out, the smell soon dissipated.

For the most part, I only had a couple of really greasy days. I would say probably the first five. After that it has been good, I think. No one has said that I look greasy anyway.

I will warn you, though, that as you take part in this little experiment your hair texture, color, etc. will all begin to change. I almost felt as if I had lifted all the chemicals from my hair and I was now finding my new hair. It was really exciting!

I am really struggling with the wavy, curly in the back, straight on the side issues going on with my hair. However, I am determined to do nothing - curling iron, hair dryer, rollers, etc. - that will make any difference in this experiment.

Are you taking the "no poo" challenge? How's it going for you? If not, why not? Fears? Hesitant?

Strawberries Galore!

2011-06-02T20:12:00.000-04:00

I feel so blessed to live in the location in which I do. Sometimes I whine that I cannot wait to get out of the city but I am truly blessed and need to remember that from time to time!

About fifteen minutes out of town there is a large farm and they have a farm market. It's not quite a "farmer's market" like many think of when they hear the term but it does us well (next time I will snap a few shots!).

A couple of days ago I decided to take a drive "north" and see what they had. Strawberries were in full bounty! It was beautiful. I was so excited! The boys and I purchased a large passel of strawberries and headed home.

With all these strawberries, I have spent the past couple days making strawberry jam and dehydrating strawberries. Wanna know the simple process I use to make jam? I'm sure glad you asked because I am excited to tell somebody! :)

Of course the first step in the jam making process is to wash the strawberries thoroughly. After washed, I go through strawberry by strawberry and cut of the stem and leaves as well as cut out all of the bad spots.

This may come as a shock to you but here it goes... I am weird. I do not like the texture of strawberries. The taste is alright but the mushy weird feeling just does not work for me. Keeping that in mind, as I cut the strawberries, I throw them into a blender.

If using the blender method, I would recommend leaving a little juice in the bottom. It makes the blending process go a lot smoother. However, make sure to put the lid back on. It makes a disastrous mess with more liquid in the bottom to begin with.

I have been talking to a lot of mothers who, myself included, are just not happy with the amount of sugar a lot of recipes call for when making jam. While at the store the other day, I found Ball Naturals pectin. With this pectin, you only use 1 cup of apple or white grape juice. No other sugar necessary (Please read the five star review. It explains the product very well and I have had no problem with mine.) Using this pectin, you use four cups of prepared strawberries and 1 cup juice to one box.

Continually stir. Using stainless steel pots, my jam cooked quickly and began sticking to the bottom. Bring to a rolling boil and take off of burner or heat source. I skimmed the foam off of the top and then ladled the jam into pint jars leaving 1/2 inch head space. Before putting lids on, be sure to wipe rim of jar. Often the jam gets on the rim and makes sealing impossible.

Place jars in pot in which there is enough room to cover with water. Keep in mind you will be bringing water to a rolling boil when you are looking for a usable pot. Bring water to rolling boil for 10 minutes. Take off of heat and allow to sit for five minutes.

Carefully, pull jars from water and place on a soft surface. Allow to sit, undisturbed, for twelve hours. Jam should be "set" and sealed. If you see that a jar is not sealing withing a couple of hours, you can reprocess or you can refrigerate.

Isn't this just the most beautiful colored jam you've ever seen? I stand in awe of the wonderfully vibrant colors the Lord saw fit to make strawberries. He's truly amazing!

Next up I will be showing the dehydrating process. Come on back!

Cutting Ties

2011-06-01T10:24:00.001-04:00

Lately, I have been convicted. I am dedicated to trying to get my family back to the "simple life". However, my actions and the steps I am taking just don't show that importance.

I was reading this blog post the other day about making permanent lifestyle changes and it spoke to me. There are MANY habits I need to change. I just need to "bite the bullet" - "take the plunge" and cut ties.

There are many "necessities" that aren't really necessities being used around here. Therefore, I have compiled a goal list of where I want to be and when. You know I love lists and you can never have too many! :)

Friday May 27 - Cutting ties with shampoo for myself first and then possibly others. I will be embracing the "no poo" method.
Friday June 3 - Cutting ties with the clothes dryer. We have been slowly moving towards this but inevitably we get behind or lazy and revert to using it.
Friday June 10 - Cutting ties with store bought bread. I always get in good habits doing this and once again I get lazy or something happens.
Friday June 17 - Cutting ties with the dishwasher.
Friday June 24 - Cutting ties with disposable diapers. Lincoln WILL be toilet trained or we will go back to using cloth for him.
Friday July 1 - Cutting ties with grocery stores. We will be planning ahead enough to get what we need from the produce delivery, farm or co-op. Other than that, no stores.

On major cutting ties area that will just be for a short time but will need a lot of preparation will be a spending freeze from December to February. The only spending we will be taking part in is fresh milk and eggs from the farm.

That means:

We will need to be working diligently to ensure enough food is put up for the winter months.
We will need to make sure gift ideas are began and finished by December for Christmas.
We will need to have an idea for Kristian's first birthday and have the materials on hand.

With cutting ties with the stores and with the spending freeze, I am hoping to wean my family away from even more "processed" foods. An example is spaghetti noodles. I know spaghetti noodles are not "processed" food per say but they must go through some kind of process in a plant or warehouse from I don't know where with I don't know who/what touching my food.

How about you? Any ties you want to cut with "necessities" in your home? Have you? What's holding you?

Garden Journal - Monday, May 30

2011-05-31T08:53:00.000-04:00

We had a great and productive weekend here around the Davis' house!

I am so relieved to announce that we have all our garden(s) in!

My favorite part of gardening is definently NOT planting. I love to weed, take care of, harvest and preserve but getting the seeds in the ground stresses me out. I think it comes from my OCD/perfectionist side. All rows must be straight and with equal distance apart. My poor husband. It is quite an interesting time putting a garden in with me. But now, all I have to do is the "work" I enjoy.

Here are some pictures for the garden journal:

My container tomato plant. Doing quite well in spite of the winds this past week.

With the constant rain, the little sun we had caused my tomato plants to thrive. I really think they are enjoying the extremely HOT weather as well!

Hard to tell with all the green but a closer picture.

Excited for the fruits this plant with bear!

Side view

side garden view

snow peas

shell peas

spinach slowly growing

kale

cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage trying to survive the squirrels

beautiful cabbage plant

beautiful broccoli plant

more cabbage and peppers awaiting planting

delicious lettuce needing to be cut for eating

yummy lettuce blend!

This brand of lettuce is having a harder time getting going but has such a sweet taste. Lincoln just stands and eats it out of the container!

Andy worked so hard to get our "new to us" tiller to run. Thanks so much hunny <3!

Bed of garlic - almost time for harvesting! I will be drying it and dehydrating it as well as using it fresh!

Before - bed number 2 - I am not very good about cleaning out and preparing beds for the next season in the fall. This is one area that I want to be researching and working on this year.

planting carrots and getting sun burnt! :)

Trying to make the "perfect" row and spacing!

Bed number 2 - after - raised bed of carrots!

Our longer garden that you look out the kitchen sink window and see. I cannot wait to look out and see all the fruits of our labor!

Loves that even though it's not his favorite, Andy still helps and supports me when I garden! :)

Seeds planted in order from fence to back door (right to left)

Fence: Watermelons and Melons

(from left to right in row)

7 Crimson Sweet Watermelon

2 Golden Honey Dew

2 Escondido Gold Melon

3 Amish Melon

Row 2: Squash and Zucchini

(from left to right in row)

9 Burgess Butternut Squash

9 Black Beauty Zucchini

Row 3: Pumpkins

(from left to right in row)

4 Connecticut Field

6 Big Max

6 Galeux d'Eysines

Row 4-5: Beets

Detroit Red

Row 6-7: Cucumbers

Double Yield

Row 8-9: Onions

Yellow of Parma

Row 10-24: Green Beans

(from left to right in row)
11 rows of Blue Lake
1 row of Blue Contender
2 rows of Ideal Market

Getting our marigolds ready to be planted in between rows and plants

This year, I am just jumping in (trying to plan ahead a little) but really trying new things and trying to find things that work for us. I'm not sure how some things will turn out but you never know until you give it a try!

How about you? How does your garden grow?

Looking Ahead to June

2011-05-27T08:32:00.002-04:00

Are there any seriously dependent list makers out there like me? I cannot live without my lists. I tried and seriously came unraveled.

One thing that I'd like to begin doing on my blog is making goals for the month ahead. That would bring us to June.

In June....

My goals in the kitchen are:

be more diligent in taking care of my water kefir, dairy kefir and sourdough starter. I need to feed them properly and actually use them.
tackle the area of breakfast. Breakfast is usually just thrown together. I am terrible at actually planning ahead and soaking and preparing for it. I will be adding breakfast to my menu plans.
to begin making my own granola. My family LOVES granola in our yoghurt. This would be an exciting treat for my kids. I will be scouring the Internet for good granola recipes.. Know of any?

My homemaking goals are:

to begin a cleaning routine.
to have a specific baking/preparing day.

My frugality goals are:

to be more intentional about my time. Making the most of it and not just wandering from one thing to another. Do things that matter and have a positive affect on my family, me and those around me.
stop eating out.

My gardening goals are:

to take pictures and be more diligent in documenting on journey. I am notorious for coming up with good ideas, them working and then the next year totally forgetting what I did.

Books I will be reading:

How about you? Any intentional ideas for next month?

What I Want to Be When I Grow Up

2011-05-26T15:36:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I feel as if my life just took off without me. All of the sudden I was out of high school doing stupid things and the next I was a mother and a wife. I catch myself wondering if I really ever figured out who I was and if I ever grew up.

Enter meltdown...

My oldest son is graduating from preschool this evening and moving on to all day kindergarten next year. I know y'all are laughing at me... All of the sudden this feeling came over me. I am going to be lost when I don't have kids at home anymore!

So after many days, weeks.. of praying, I decided what I want to be when I grow up. I adore being out in farm country. There is a peace that washes over me. God's beautiful country. I can feel Him in the breeze and see Him in the blowing grass in the fields. I long to be a country girl. I long to harvest our own foods and I long to be able to do it myself. I long to raise free range meat and breed horses. I long to do so much. I'm not sure just yet what my area will be but I know God's plan is great!

I have no idea to do a lot of what I will need to do but the next four years will be dedicated to trying to obtain financial security, lots of reading and research, and learning as much as I can about the life on a farm from right here in my own little suburban development.

I am beginning to garden at my home and trying to learn many other skills. I will be checking in and giving y'all progress updates and most likely some good stories of success and failure.

Join me on my journey from crazy suburbia to peaceful pastures!

Suburban Gardening

2011-05-24T23:06:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about the new gardening season. This year we are trying to garden at our home in a suburb of Dayton. I am very excited!

Here are some pictures of the beginning stages of the garden:

Have you started working on your garden? Any new ideas that you will be trying this year?

Don't Be Mistaken

2011-04-27T14:59:00.003-04:00

About a month ago I was asked to be a speaker at our local Women's Center - Walk for Life. I felt it such a great honor to be asked. I feel with the Lord's help, I have come so far. I have a story and I want to share.

Never in my wildest dreams, I did I think it would drag so much up. Not on my end per say but on others. I had truly thought we'd gotten past this.

I feel like I have been given a great gift, a gift of understanding. I have walked through the fire of judgment. I have felt the snare of others. It hurts. Having gone through that, I would hope that I will not be that way towards another.

I want to make myself clear on one note. Make NO mistake that I didn't and don't feel your judgment. Just because I say nothing and don't retaliate does not mean it doesn't hurt.

Back then, I thought I deserved it. I thought it was retribution for my sins. Now that I've grown up and grown in my faith, I now know treating anyone like this is just wrong. I didn't deserve it, nor do others.

When you judge someone, don't be under the misconception that they don't feel it by the way you don't acknowledge them or "guide" them with spiritual condemnation. They feel it and they know it.

Trust me, I as well as others - I'm sure, have condemned ourselves. We praise a Merciful and Forgiving Father. I can assure you that His forgiveness is much easier to come by than our own.

Make no mistake. We have all sinned. Some sins are more evident and out in the open than others.

So please, keep your judgments and your Scarlet Letters and throw no stone until the plank is pulled from your own...

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

Matthew 7:1-5

Without The Lord

2011-04-04T23:16:00.002-04:00

Tonight I sit here and ponder a verse that I found when I went searching for one to bring me "comfort". I'm tired. I'm overwhelmed. I'm sick from exhaustion. I'm proud of my "through thick and thin" family.

I am... I am... I am..

Mostly, I am just trying to process.

Death is a sad, scary thing to have to deal with, even if you know it's coming, even been coming.

Tonight, I sit here and lament for those who do not know the Lord. How depressing it must be to believe when this sad, painful life is over, there is no rejoicing with our Father.

Today's service was a very uplifting service. She would have wanted that. Andy rewrote a song of her's to make it more lively and rejoicing. As he and Todd sang it, I felt her presence, right along with the Lord. I felt Him smile.

As I looked towards the front at one woman in my life gone, I looked to the side of me to see another that I am slowly losing. Alzheimers.... Some days she remembers me, some days she spits at me. It's so hard.

I couldn't help but cry today when LeeAnn sang "Going Home" by the Gaithers and I listened as Grandma sang along. A beautiful heavenly voice... For a second, I caught a glimpse of the woman who means so much to me. But it was just a glimpse.

Tonight - I weep. I weep for what has been taken from me - a great-grandmother; a grandmother whose body still roams the earth but whose mind slowly fades... Tonight, I pity myself for those I will miss. BUT tomorrow, I rejoice for no more suffering. Tomorrow, I rejoice for the little glimpses and memories I can make with her. Tomorrow I rejoice...

"Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." -Psalm 30:5

Vaccines

2011-03-26T08:21:00.010-04:00

Now this post is not to cause a stir or a battle but to pass on some valuable sources I have found while trying to decide the best in vaccinating our kids.

My first two sons are fully vaccinated up to date but after much research and "breaking away" from just doing what I'm told by doctors, I have many questions and I am in the search for answers.

I have asked many a friends' opinion and I must say they are as different as apples and oranges BUT I must say that they are both "fruit" - good, concerned mothers.

Keeper of the Home: The Thoughtful Parent’s Guide to Thinking Through Vaccinations

Keeper of the Home: Pro-Vaccine and Cautionary Resources

Mrs. Informed

This website arranges all the ingredients of the vaccines in a table format.

Dr. Sears: The Vaccine Book

It must be said that there are many moms who are FOR vaccines and there are many moms who are AGAINST vaccines. If you, like me, read many natural and real food blogs, you can almost always find results in the bloggers opinion if you type "vaccines" in the search.

I, personally, want to read it all - the for, against and the "in-between".

I am still not quite sure the road we are going to take. I am still researching and will probably continue researching. I struggle with the ethics of some, the "what if I don't vaccinate and Lincoln dies of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B?" and "what if I vaccinate and Kristian has some horrible side affect?". I go back and forth, so please join me on the journey to research the products going into our childrens' bodies.

Please be respectful and kind (I will close comments if it gets out of hand. Please don't make me pull my "mama card". :)) but I would love to hear your opinion on vaccines. Do you vaccinate? Are you in the research stage as I am? What have you found?

Re-Opening

2011-03-23T22:19:00.002-04:00

Just a quick note to let y'all know I am back in business- business as in when I don't have anyone or anything competing for my writing time. :)

I'm cleaning out the cobwebs of my little corner of the blogosphere.

Atchu!

Excuse me. Dust always makes me sneeze!

A lot of my friends are back up in business as well. When I saw that, I thought, "Why not? I've missed writing and having an outlet." So this is my official "I'll be here writing when I can" notice to you! :)

So how have things been for you? Please leave me a comment telling me what's been happening in your little corner of the blogosphere?

Free!

2010-11-12T18:59:00.000-05:00

Are you in a rut when it comes to Christmas cards? Have NO idea how you are going to afford getting out nice and attractive Christmas pictures/cards to your friends and family?

I know that I am VERY particular about our Christmas cards. We have done it all- cards, photos and family letters. It all leaves me feeling exhausted. I was especially exhausted and weary about the whole Christmas card tradition this year due to being so pregnant. How will I get Christmas cards or letters or photos out at all with having a small baby?

Enter Shutterfly!

Over at Fancy Farm, my good friend, Courtney, blogged about this opportunity. Not only are there GREAT cards for what I think are reasonably priced, there is a chance to get 50 cards free! Did you hear me?! I said 50 cards free!! I don't know about you, but free gets me all excited!

We are planning on using shutterfly for not only our Holiday cards but also birth announcements. I really liked this card because with having a baby, I'm not sure that we will get them out in time for Christmas. I also liked it because there are three places for photos on the right (my soon to be three little angels) and then a larger photo on left in which we can try to squeeze in a family shot or a picture of all three boys together.

While I really like the options of photo gifts and calendars (and I wish I had the time or energy to have a party and send out these), the idea of choosing speical Holiday gift tags is just too cute to me!

What do you think? Out of all those neat little options, what would you choose?! I am starting to second guess my decision. Some of those photo gifts are too cute- especially this ornament!

If you are interested in your 50 FREE cards from Shutterfly and you are a blogger, take a gander here!

The Beginning of a Spiritual Battle

2010-11-11T19:28:00.000-05:00

The beginning of my spiritual battle. I feel spiritual warfare waging in my heart and my mind but I have vowed to conquer it; to reach for and grasp the Light.

I began reading The Prayer That Changes Everything by Stormie O'Martian. Now to be honest, in two days, I made it through the introduction. It seems to be one of those books that you have to take in bites and then take a moment to digest.

Stormie begans by explaining her reasoning for her books and then she moves into her personal life. While all of that was intriguing to me, the part that hit me the most was her recent story.

Stormie then enters into writing about a recent time in her life in which she felt lost. She felt abandoned. She felt all the feelings I have been feeling.

She was speaking to me.

She was speaking to me because it was revealed to me that I am normal. Spiritual warfare is a normal part of many Christian's walks.

There were times when Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, was tempted. Someone who was PERFECT fought off evil spirits and the devil.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
- Matthew 4:1-11

If Jesus went through this, why should I expect to be exempt? The devil is smart. He is cunning. He knows when I am at my weakest and he knows when to pounce. The stronger my faith became, the more I became whole in my relationship with Jesus, the more I felt unworthy. The more the devil edged his way into my mind and my heart.

I have been feeling so guilty because there are no outward storms in my life. I am blessed. I should quit whining but I have been doing an injustice to what is really going on inside of me. I might not be enduring a storm in life, but I am enduring a storm in my faith. A spiritual battle. Spirital warfare. This is the fight of my life. The fight of my first love, Jesus. I am not going to give in easily. I am going to fight. Please join me as I continue to journey. I look forward to sharing this with you.

Searching, Starving, Stagnant, and Scared...

2010-11-10T14:41:00.003-05:00

Where have you been, Jodi?

Where has your emotional health and mind been, Jodi?

What is one of your greatest talents, Jodi?

I am so glad y'all asked. I've been formulating this post for a while. Rolling ideas, thoughts and worries in my mind. What will y'all think of me? Will you boo me out of the blogging county? Will you leave dirty comments and make me feel little and insignficant? Just what should I share? How honest should I be?

I am still dealing with all of these thoughts in my mind even as I type... I am worried of being judged and hurt. I am worried that if I reveal that I am one messed up human, you won't want to visit anymore.

Where have I been? In my home, taking care of my husband and kids, talking to my friends and pretending everything is honky dorrie in my faith, life and mind. Honestly, nothing can be further from the truth. I am the queen of allowing people to see what I want them to see and what I think they want to see.

First and foremost, my faith... What faith? I am grasping for any straw I can possibly grab and if I achieve in grabbing one, they slip out of my hand and fall to the floor. Who is my God? A superior authority who can and will choose to squish you at any time. Is that the right attitude? No way! And the worst part is I know in my head that I want to gain a full understanding of the loving Father so many people in my life know. But there comes in, how do I get there? How do I achieve that full understanding? How can I praise Him for who He is in the bad times, when I cannot seem to find Him or grab on in the good? I feel like I am starving for His presence yet have NO idea where to begin to look. The Bible no longer seeems like a wealth of knowledge but a continual reminder that I am unworthy. I am so stagnant, I even want to spit me out. Where do I begin? How do I find my way? How can I find Him?

My marriage... I am only going to say this once... Poor Andy. It seems when I am pregnant, the feelings and thoughts and happening of my pregnancy with Dylan come to a head. It is almost like I am waiting to go into the Dr.'s office and meet a lady that was too impregnanted by my husband. Andy has and would NEVER do anything but it HAS happened to me before. I have dreams where Andy abandons me, saying I am not worthy. That I deserve all that comes to me. I am NOTHING but a whore and a loser. Now I know that all of those things are not true and Andy would never say any of them or even think them, but I can feel them in the back of my mind. I can feel them in my attitude every time I reply to him. I feel the tension I feel when he comes home. I hate it. I don't know how to change it. I don't know how to just love myself and the parts of the past that made me who I am.

These are just a couple of the biggies going on. I am searching, starving, stagnant and scared. I am trying. I am praying. I am reading. I am hoping.

I started a book today by Stormie O'Martin. So far, I totally identify and have felt a connect with her and this book. I think I am going to try to do a chapter every few days to make myself really connect and learn from this book. Today, I barely made it through the intro without crying so I am not making any promises but I will say that I will try my best. I will read, learn and then come and open my heart to many strangers who have somehow become the only few that I can open up to. I appreciate you. I really do. I am sorry it took this long to come out of the dark "closet" I was living in.

I don't know how but I will get past this. I will embrace God's love and I will find out what it truly is. This and this only is the most important step in my journey. There is NO use in healthy eating or frugal living when there are such more important things to grow in.

Menu Plan

2010-11-07T18:43:00.000-05:00

Howdy y'all! Am I back up and running? Why yes for right now, I can say that I am... Am I going to make any promises or such? Nope, but I can tell you that when I get all the thoughts in my head together, YOU will be the first to know!

I am going to start out on an easy note and post the menu plan for the week! I am just going to begin with main meals and then we'll take it from there.

Sunday, November 7
Meeting the in-laws for lunch

Monday, November 8
Courtney's Multitude of Yummy Meatloaf, green beans, corn

Tuesday, November 9
Chicken and broccoli alfredo, salad

Wednesday, November 10
Pizza, carrot sticks, vegetable dip

Thursday, November 11
Chicken quesadillas, salsa, rice

Friday, November 12
Cheesy sausage stromboli, fruit

Saturday, November 13
Chicken and dumplings, green beans, biscuits, gravy

I Really Want to Apologize...

2010-09-08T17:52:00.000-04:00

but after much prayer and soul searching, One Blessed Mama of Boys will be out of commission for a while.

If you actually care about the happenings of the Davis Family, you can click here.

Slow and Steady

2010-09-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

We are working slow and steady towards organic/natural/whole living and financial freedom. We are taking the slow and steady approach.

The few areas in which we are concentrating on working towards those goals are:

eating at home instead of out at restaurants or drive-thru options.
turning off our air.
not using our clothes dryer.
becoming a paperless house.
reusing items we need that we already have at our house.
going to the grocery store the least amount possible.

These goals are all going fairly well.

We ate out this past weekend more than we should have. I was tired and had worked hard and I didn't want to go to the kitchen and work more. However, we are getting back on the horse this week.

Turning off our air. It cooled down and then on Monday, it went back up to 90*. We made it through and now I feel as if we are in the the home stretch of the summer heat.

We are doing lots better at using the clothes line and not the dryer. It is actually going really well!

Besides toilet paper, we are now a paperless house. Once the paper arrives, I hope we are in the habit of using all cloth products so that cloth diapering will just come as second nature.

Working on the nursery last weekend was a great time and I am so excited that we are using items we already have around the house. We had to clean them up and give them a little TLC but they fit right in and we spent NO money! Exciting stuff!

We have not been going to the grocery store as much. That one is simple.

How is your adventure in frugal and natural living going?

Gratituesday: A Quiet Weekend

2010-09-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Do I have any snappy pictures to show of this weekend?

Nope.

Do I have any exciting stories of what happened this weekend?

Nope.

Do you know what I DO have?

I have a grateful heart. That's what I DO have.

This weekend was just what I needed. Nothing exciting happened. The phone didn't ring all that much. There was no one demanding our attention. Everyone knew we were busy and that we wanted to spend time together as a family. Our families honored our request.

We got a few things done (the biggest thing was the baby's nursery!). We played games. Rested and relaxed. It was great. It was marvelous. It was just what we needed.

I feel so refreshed and so blessed. I am so thankful!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

MPM #4

2010-09-06T13:04:00.001-04:00

This week Dylan starts school. I can honestly say that I am more terrified than he is! :)

After a weekend of working hard and busting the budget by going out to eat, I am vowing to get back on the horse! So here is the menu plan for this week:

Monday: salmon patties and baked potatoes

Tuesday: pizza and carrot sticks

Wednesday: chicken stir-fry

Thursday: spaghetti and salad greens

Friday: egg burrito casserole and fried apples

Saturday: chicken quesadillas, refried beans, chips and salsa

Sunday: chicken alfredo and bread sticks

If you read last weeks post, you probably know things did not go as planned. This week, I plan on just getting myself and my house back on track.

What will you be serving at your table this week?

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.8

Holy Baby! 26 weeks

2010-09-03T09:31:00.001-04:00

This has been my easiest, healthiest pregnancy yet. I am so blessed!

However, I am the biggest I have ever been also. I am now bigger at 26 weeks than I was when I gave birth to my others.

Even larger, I would do nothing to change this pregnancy. He is so healthy and I am amazed and in awe of God's goodness!

Thanks so much for your friendship and prayers. They are much appreciated! After a couple nights of good sleep and time to digest, I feel much better. Thanks again!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.8

Simple Living: It's Just Easier to be Truthful and Transparent

2010-09-01T19:47:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago, I introduced a new series on Living Simple. Last week, I wrote about how my ideal simple life would look. This week I was going to talk about what the dictionary says "simple" means and the negative connotation that some put with the word.

However, I have promised this blog to be full of transparency and real life.

If you have not noticed, I will make you aware of the fact that I promised to begin a writing schedule and would do my best to follow through with it unless real life happened and yet I have NOT been on here the past two days.

Well my friends... Real life happened and real life is kicking my tail end.

Today I want to write about how having an open, honest and transparent attitude and life can make things a little more simple. There is NO pretending, no comparing and usually no hurt feelings.

I can tell you honestly that this is one of the situations going on in my life. I was the one that was left out with hurt feelings, an aching heart and feeling left out and unwanted. I wish I can describe that heart felt pain I have in areas that I never knew could hurt but it is slow in healing.

I wish friends I could assure you that this is all of what is going on, the worst, the extent, but dear friends, it's only the beginning...

We have been thrust into a life that can only be described as an HBO movie. There has been drugs, violence, sex and pain (not on our end). We have tried and tried to get those the Lord has brought to us out of it and it has caused hurt and pain. We are still searching for God's calling and direction but we are terribly confused.

Think that is a lot (maybe not by some of your standards but we live a relatively quiet life)? Well guess what!! The best is yet to come...

A few weeks ago, Dylan was complaining that his finger was really "squallen" (swollen). With all the rough-housing and craziness that goes along with a house full of boys, I thought nothing of it. After a couple of weeks, I had decided to call the Dr. but had never gotten around to it.

Tuesday morning, he came down and was complaining that it felt funny. We didn't have anything to do that day so I thought I'd run up the street to the pediatrician and have the splinter lanced and then he'd have the afternoon to re coop.

Getting to the Dr., it was quickly announced that it wasn't just a splinter that had gotten infected but that we needed to head to Children's Hospital for an x-ray and ultrasound. I was in disbelief. IT WAS JUST A SPLINTER!

After a long day of problems, testing and worried anticipation... The diagnosis was a desmoid tumor. A rare, rare, rare, rare (like 9 out of a million) tumor. It is still hard to read, to type, to believe.

Do I believe and even KNOW that God is going to deliver us? ABSO-STINKIN-LUTELY! But as a mother that cries when her babies have runny noses (and who is 25 weeks pregnant! Hormones make you so irrational sometimes!), this is almost too much to bear...

The surgeon called this morning and we are going in for a consult in a couple of weeks. It is looking like surgery is the going to be the course of action.

On behalf of our family, Andy and I truly covet and beg of your prayers!

And for the love of a simple of life, be honest and open about what's going on in your lives! :)

MPM: #3 and An Outlook for the Week

2010-08-29T19:57:00.000-04:00

This is the last week before school starts for Dylan. I am hoping this is a week where I can get a lot done and good "end of the summer" memories can be made. Here is the menu plan and a "wish list" of things to get done around the humble abode. I am only going to be listing what we will be having for dinner because when I try to get a lot accomplished, I tend to just grab and throw together. I don't think that "grab and throw together" on a menu plan really helps... :)

Monday:
Sloppy Joes, oven fries, green beans

Tuesday:
Chicken quesadillas, chips, salsa

Wednesday:
Pizza

Thursday:
Slow cooker cream cheese chicken, noodles, broccoli

Friday:
Reruns

Saturday:
Potato soup and sandwiches

*For more menu plans- Organized Junkie is the place to find them!*
_______________________________________________________

So as I said above, this is a week that I really want to get things together. I feel like the beginning of a school year is the beginning of the year, not January 1st. I don't know why, the school year just brings I new schedule, slate and routine. Just call me crazy...

We have worked really hard around here and have gotten our house cleaned out, taken the clutter to Goodwill and now we just need to maintain. Maintain... That would be the issue. I am not a good maintainer.. So this week around my home is dedicated to maintaining and getting things back in order around here.

Shouldn't be too hard... Just. Need. To. Find. The. Energy... That is the difficult issue....

How about you? What does your week have in store? What is going to be on your dinner table?! Whatever it is or your week brings, I praying that it is blessed!

Why I Think It's Cool to Obey the Limits, Even When I Get Evil Looks

2010-08-27T05:18:00.001-04:00

I used to be "heck on wheels" and "drive like a bat outta heck" but I have changed my driving ways.

Since I am a 25 year old, mother of almost three, wife, soccer mom and mini van driver- all things I vowed I would NEVER be- I thought I'd throw people's opinions to the wind.

Here is a list of why I think driving the speed limit is cool regardless of what other's (mainly other drivers on the road with me) think:

Your car will get better gas mileage. Therefore, you will save money on gas!
You are more able to pay attention and view what others around you are doing.
Driving faster gives you less time to react to those in front of you, if something darts in front of you, etc.
I full more in control and less "road ragey".
You will avoid accidents and tickets. This saves a ton of headache, sanity and $$!

These are just a few examples of why driving slow saves me and my sanity money.

Here are a few more ways to save money on your car:

As above says, drive slower.
Try to avoid breaking quickly.
Properly maintain cars according to manufacturers recommendations.
Combine errands and other running around duties.
"Lighten the Load" - Take things out of your car and trunk. That extra stuff is holding you and your $$ back.

Those are just a few ways I can think of to save money on your car. Do you have any good tips or ideas? If so, share in the comments. I would love to hear!

------------------------------------------------------
This post is linked to Frugal Fridays over at Life As Mom.

What Blogging Means to Me

2010-08-26T11:56:00.001-04:00

What does Blogging mean to you?

I wish I could express how much sharing with all of you means to me. I have missed writing and being a part of your lives.

I was reading through a blog that I read daily and she was talking about beginning a writing schedule.

I really like this idea and I am thinking about trying to put one in place. The schedule I am looking at trying is this:
* Monday- From around the house. This will include menu plans, weekly plans and happenings from around our home.
* Tuesday- I love taking part in Gratituesday and will continue to do so.
* Wednesday- As you all know, we are slowly (slow and steady wins the race) migrating towards natural, organic living. I will write about an area we are working on and how that is going/went.
*Thursday- The Simple Living series
*Friday- Financial Fridays: We, along with most others, are trying to reach financial freedom and be good stewards with the resources God has given us. I will focus on this topic on Fridays.

If I post on the weekends, which is not likely, they will be about random topics.

Please be patient as I try to implement this new schedule and please remember that life happens. I am a very pregnant wife and mother of two young children and things come up unexpectedly.

I cannot wait to begin this new journey!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.5.5.2

What is Simple? What is Living a Simple Life?

2010-08-26T08:42:00.001-04:00

Simple living... What is simple living?

I believe that simple living is an individual thing. For one person, simple living is not wearing make-up and to another it is wearing make-up. It's all individual...

One thing I know for sure though is that we are grasping for simple and simple life. We are exhausted with the fast pace, always cluttered, always running and never having any time for ourselves kind of life. We are tired, over worked, and under paid. We are at our wits end!

Well I can say that is true for my husband and I. We are tired. We are worn down. We are ready for change.

Next week I am going to get more in depth on what the definition of simple is and how it relates or does not relate to our life. This week, though, I want us to spend some time doing an inventory and trying to find what simple living means for us and our lives and families.

I would love it if you would share simplicity of your life in your view. I will begin...

When I think of a simple life for my family and me, it:

has a simple and committed faith and relationship with the Lord.
has a close knit family that loves to do "simple" things in life such as playing a game.
isn't so hard to submit to my husband and we spend time doing things together such as planting a garden or taking a walk down a country road.
has NO debt.
involves us gardening and being self-sustaining.
involves us spending more time together and less money.
involves us doing less silly things and spending time doing more important.

I am sure there are many more but those are ones that stand out to me right this very second. How about you? What do you see as simple in your future or even the way you are migrating now?

How Harsh is YOUR Toothpaste?

2010-08-24T21:19:00.000-04:00

Do you have any idea just how harsh toothpaste is?

In my quest to find the best natural products for my family, I have found out JUST how harsh my toothpaste was.

Do you think it's kind of scary all the bleaching and whitening products out there? I had never really thought of it but decided to begin researching the ingredients in toothpaste.

Many toothpaste and mouth cleaning agents contain very harmful ingredients that get into your blood stream and can build up and even destroy your liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and tissues.

According to OraMD, here are just a few ingredients used in the leading toothpaste that can be dangerous:

Hydrated silica is made from a crystallized compound found in quartz, sand, and flint and is primarily used as an abrasive in toothpaste.
Sorbitol and sodium saccharin are both sweeteners and used as carriers and sweeteners in toothpaste.
Titanium dioxide is a pigment used for providing brightness and whiteness to such products as paint, plastics, paper, inks, fibers, food, and cosmetics; and is used as a stain remover/whitener in toothpaste.
Glycerin is a syrupy, sweet, colorless or yellowish liquid obtained from fats and oils and used as a solvent, antifreeze, plasticizer, and sweetener in the manufacture of dynamite, cosmetics, liquid soaps, inks, and lubricants. Glycerin prevents toothpaste from drying out and helps maintain product consistency.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a powerful surfactant (wetting agents) and detergent. It has industrial and cosmetic uses and is used around the world in clinically studies as a skin irritant. The molecule is small enough to penetrate the skin and can enter the blood stream being carried to every organ of the body. SLS is used in toothpaste as a foaming and cleansing agent.
Sodium fluoride is a colorless crystalline salt used in fluoridation of water, in treatment of tooth decay, and as an insecticide and disinfectant. Sodium fluoride is used in toothpaste to harden the enamel of the teeth to prevent tooth decay. (Sodium fluoride is also one of the main ingredients in rat poison.)

After researching toothpaste, I decided that I wanted to go to a more natural and organic type of toothpaste. I was then faced with the dilemma of what to do with all the extra toothpaste from around the house.

I can now tell you that without a doubt in my mind, toothpaste is extremely harsh. My mother-in-law recommended using it to clean. There were some hard water stains in our shower grout which the professional cleaners could not get out when we moved in. I had tried EVERY other shower cleaner out there.

So... Why not try the toothpaste?

In seconds, my grout was bleached back to white. Andy came home and couldn't believe it. He didn't even know the grout was that color!

With all the harsh cleaners I had used, CLR and KaBoom was just a couple, the toothpaste that I was putting in my child's mouth cleaned it off in seconds!

Don't believe me? Try it with your toothpaste. You will be amazed!!

A Simple Life

2010-08-23T19:11:00.000-04:00

I hear many, many moms asking how they can achieve a more simple life. Less stress, less mess and a little more simplicity...

Do you believe a more simple life is achievable? Or do you believe that the fast pace of this world is just inevitable?

For the past few weeks and looking forward to a season of more babies in our home, my husband and I have been searching and even yearning for a slower paced, more simple life...

Over the next few weeks, I want to take a look at how we can simplify our lives as women, mothers, wives and most of all, servants of an awesome amazing Lord.

So, therefore... Drum roll please..... I would like to announce my official jump back into my little corner of the web universe with a new series -

This series will discuss many areas in our lives as women and mothers. I will discuss how my family and I have simplified these areas and how we can do better.

Some future topics include:
* What is simple? What is a simple life?
* Why is Webster so mean? Simple vs. Plain
* Is it a ridiculous notion that we can get back to the basics?
* A simple faith - Searching for and Serving God with a child- like faith
* A simple wife - Is simply submitting to our husbands unheard of?
* A simple mother - What is REALLY important to plant in those little minds?
* A simple home - What NO TV?!
* Simply Clean - I need to smell the bleach and the White Glove test!
* Simply Cook - But I ordered a five course meal!
* A Simple Diet - Bring on the McHeartAttack!

I hope that you will join my each Thursday for a look at the Simple Life! Now y'all just simply must come back! :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I feel so blessed to be starting this series and for the Lord opening my heart and my eyes to this series. I hope you enjoy it. For more blessings and thanksgiving - Heavenly Homemakers is the place to look!

MPM: #2

2010-08-22T21:23:00.000-04:00

We have had a week and weekend of getting things done around here. I cannot wait to share with you later in the week. Stop by and take a gander!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Donuts

Yogurt, fruit

Monday, August 23, 2010

Yogurt, fruit, granola

Macaroni and cheese, carrot sticks, dip

Chicken salad sandwiches, oven baked cheese fries

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Creamy orange coolers, fruit, toast

RR chicken salad sandwiches, green beans, grapes

Tex mex dip, salsa, refried beans

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Applesauce bread, yogurt, fruit

Grilled cheese, carrot sticks, fruit

Crock-Pot Brown Sugar "candy" Chicken, broccoli, steamed rice

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Kefir smoothies, toast
RRs
Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Friday, August 27, 2010
Boy's choice (where boys can pick from any of the breakfasts from the week)
Quesadillas, salsa, chips
Sloppy cornbread, peas, salad and carrot sticks

Saturday, August 28, 2010
(I am actually, honestly going to make this this week!!) Egg burrito casserole and fried cinnamon apples
Baked potatoes, cheese and broccoli sauce
Steaks on the grill, potatoes and green beans, salad

GratiTuesday - Miracles

2010-08-09T17:22:00.000-04:00

For more GratiTuesday, click here!

Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth..

1 Chronicles 16:12

Do y'all know that we serve a Lord that is still in the miracle business?

What? Y'all need a good example?!? I am so glad you asked!!

As y'all know, my little bun in the oven is a little over half-baked. Well about 11 weeks ago, it was one of those mornings- you know the one where if y'all can just get down the stairs and stuff breakfast in the kids mouth, the morning might be okay? Well it was one of those mornings...

I had just walked out of my bedroom and Lincoln was screaming, wanting carried down the stairs. Dylan was already downstairs. I scooped up Lincoln, all the while hearing a voice in my head say.. "Don't do it!".

I was down to the second step and felt it... there was some kind of rolly (like my BIG words) toy (car, tractor, etc.) under my foot. That's when I felt myself fly backward.

For those of you that have not seen my home... I am going to attempt to "draw" how my stairs are...

-------------

Okay... So that's not really a good "drawing" but I hope you get the idea... Our stairs go down (about 7 stairs) one way and down the opposite way (about 7 stairs). I slipped on the top 2nd down step. (I really hope that makes sense!)

After falling down the top flight of stairs, I felt myself hit the wall with so much force that it flipped me down the next flight. At that point, I realized I had dropped Lincoln. I freaked out! I started twisting and turning and screaming down the final set. That was NOT a good thing!

I found myself at the bottom of the stairs, unable to move. I couldn't find Lincoln, but Dylan was quickly at my side. I ordered Dylan to bring me the phone and find Lincoln. He did both without a word of backtalk (that my friends is a miracle right there!). I quickly called Andy, who works 40 minutes away and Dylan came to tell me that Lincoln was okay.

As I got off the phone with Andy, I realized that I was sitting in a puddle of fluid. Talk about freaking out!

I quickly dialed my doctor who informed me that the worst might possibly have just happened. (Now for some of you IRL friends. I know you don't like my doctor, I just had to add that info... ) She informed to that I was to come straight to her office and not go to the hospital. In the meantime, Andy had called my father-in-law and he had shown up, found Lincoln was fine and was looking at me as if saying, no pleading.. "please, please don't ask me to come near you... ". It's actually quite funny now but at the time, it was horrible.

When the call with the doctor ended, I have NEVER heard such a sound as came from my heart. It was a sound of anger, sadness, heart-breaking urging and yearning with God. It scared me. I didn't know where it came from...

Andy finally came in and loaded me in the car. As we drove to the doctor, I can't even begin to tell you the bargains I began making with God. Praying that he would spare the little life inside of me. BEGGING!

After checking and an ultrasound, it was deemed a miracle by me. My doctor, not so much. She had some crazy scientific "maybe" explanation.

Now... Did I pee myself? Did I break something? It's all speculation. Right now the doctor is saying that I had an extra sac of water that ruptured...

Want to know how I feel? The Lord was with me. He saved my life, Lincoln's life and my unborn son's life.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY! I don't need science to explain because I know my Heavenly Father is still today, this very day in the miracle business...

MPM: #1

2010-08-08T18:13:00.000-04:00

I kind of feel like this is a brand new start to my blog. I feel as if I've been gone so long, we should re-introduce! Goodness...

This pregnancy is really got me exhausted. My heart goes to those who have multiple young children during pregnancies. This time around, I have not been able to cook or eat. Any time I see raw meat, I start barfing. It's ugly, yucky, horrible... So here is my menu plan in hopes that it helps me husband know what he's coming home to make! :) Love you, hunny!!

Sunday:
toast, eggs
Italian sausage in marinara sauce, pasta

Monday:
baked oatmeal
grilled shrimp, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

Tuesday:
cinnamon toast
roast, potatoes, carrots and gravy

Wednesday:
oatmeal
white chicken chili, cornbread

Thursday:

toast, eggs

Tex Mex dip (I will be adding pictures as I make this! It is delicious!!!)

Friday:

applesauce bread, fruit

chicken noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans

Saturday:

egg burrito casserole, simple apples

sandwiches

For more great menu ideas click here!

I'm Alive!!!

2010-08-08T17:27:00.000-04:00

So... You know it's been way too long when people start deleting you off their blog that they read you! Goodness... Well here I am again... Seems like I am barely hanging on but I am here... 22 weeks pregnant and all!!

Anyone wanna take a guess at what the gender is? I'm going to give you a huge hint! I apparently can only have one type! :)

That's right! Welcome baby boy #3 in December! Now I have got to be completely honest with y'all, we are having an extremely hard time coming up with a boys name. I have some, well, rules about naming....

The first name has to end in "n"... Dylan, Lincoln... etc... I come from a family of ALL "J" beginning names and while it seems like a good idea, it wasn't. If anyone looks our way (or we think they are) and says a word that begins with "J", we answer!
There has to be a family name in there somewhere. I want family legacy to continue.
It can't start with an already used letter in our little family unit. So... No "J", "A", "D" or "L".

I know... I'm a bit crazy! :)

Well this was just a quick "checking in" post. I am really hoping to get back on the blogging wagon. It's amazing how much I enjoy and need it, yet it always seems to take a back burner to everything else around here. But it's important to me that y'all know that I miss you and PUT me back on your lists! (wink!)

Know any good boy names that follow my rules? Feel free to leave them!

A Struggle..

2010-06-17T08:34:00.000-04:00

I have a battle with this phase in my life and my blog waging in my mind. My blog is a blog that is to provide encouragement and love to those who are dealing with PCOS.

I know when we were trying to get pregnant this time, every time I read a blog in which the writer became pregnant, I would get mad and stop reading it. "Why is this happening for them and not me?"

I do not want this to be the case with my blog. I want you to know that I have and am still fighting the battle PCOS and I understand. I don't know whether to just say that I am not going to write about my pregnancy or risk upsetting people that I have grown to care about. Any ideas? Any suggestions? Any pointers?

I would love to write about the steps I took towards conceiving but is that just rubbing salt in the wounds you are carrying? Once again, please let me know...

With the end of this little blubber of words, I will go against all my feelings and show you a picture of the "baby". Keep in mind that the ultrasound picture was taken about five weeks ago. So I am a little further along but man oh man am I big!

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

Question of My Life...

2010-06-16T15:45:00.002-04:00

Well now that you all know the reason for my absence and exhaustion, maybe you could just help me out with a little question I have.... How do you get back on the horse when you don't know where it ran off to?

I am so behind in everything from cooking to housework to money to spending time with the kids... It's a hot mess around these parts!

I know it is said... "How do you eat a whole elephant..? One bite at a time..."

But what do you do when you are eating the elephant and with each bite, you have to stop to throw up and then clean it up...? That's how I feel my life is going right now... How can I even begin to think about getting a head when I feel like getting caught up is totally not achieve able?

So all you brilliant mothers there who have it all going on... Can you give me a quick tip?

Am I still Alive?!?

2010-06-15T16:41:00.000-04:00

Yes I am still alive and I am doing pretty well! I have been waiting a while to tell you all what was going no in my life but I do believe it is now time! Well, I guess I can just show you....

So I am sure you can imagine how tired I have been... We are extremely excited and are truly blessed. Please be in prayer as we embark on the journey of baby #3!

*Linked to GratiTuesday!*

Back in Black!

2010-04-28T12:44:00.002-04:00

Ok so maybe I am just back in a black t-shirt, but none the less I am back in black!

Lots of new around the home front... Cannot wait to share but right now is just not the time.

I'm sorry that I disappeared. I know I was rude to hide... I was rude to not tell you... One day I hope I can disclose just what I was going through but right now isn't the time either.

This is next weekend I am going to be heading to Columbus with a group of girlfriends. I am super excited. I love Women of Faith. I love the fellowship and the praise and the worship and the meeting of Jesus and living for him.

Last year, Steven Curtis Chapman was there. It was hard to listen to him. They had just lost Maria less than a year before and his heart and story were so touching. It was great.

I'm not real sure about this line-up this year but a couple things that I do know...

My friend Nancy and I will be driving and NOT listening to Veggie Tales.
I will not only be eating one but FOUR meals without grimy, cute little fingers touching all over it.
My food will most probably be hot!
I will be able to use the bathroom without little fingers running between the bottom of the door and the top of the carpet, all the while saying "Mama, whatcha doing?"
Unless there are some unforeseen problems, I will only have to wake up and dress myself!

I am sure that there are many more but those are enough to make my jump up and down and shout for joy! What about you? What are some of your favorite things to do when you get away for some Mama Time? Wanna see some more things people love? Here you go!

Random Thoughts About Infertility/Miscarriage/Wanting a Large Family

2010-04-09T18:53:00.001-04:00

Where have I been you might ask... Well go ahead and ask!

I have been in a horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad attitude of late. I have been hiding. I barely want to be around myself so therefore, I conclude that others probably don't want to listen to me either. But who knows, maybe there is someone who loves a negative, irritated friend? If that's you, please forgive my absence! :)

Anyway, just a quick disclaimer. If you are looking for a light-hearted, go-lucky post, this is not the one today. Stop reading and come back with the RSS feeder indicates I have written a new post..

As many of you know, I recently had my 7th miscarriage. Now please don't start the "oh my, how terrible thoughts." I know this sounds cold, but I am getting used to it. Doesn't that sound cold and horrible?

Well here are some of my random thoughts about it:

I know that God can do amazing things.. Just take a look at two of my best friends, Courtney and Misty. It has been incredible to see the Lord work and now they are both pregnant. Just looking at them I should know He can make it happen.
I was talking to my friend Tanya a couple of nights ago and she gave me a new prespective. It sounds a little morbid and wacked but it gives me a little comfort. The Lord has given me the special job of being a vessel to get seven precious babies straight to Him. They are in the best hands of all.
I keep thinking if I could just be pregnant one more time and relish in being pregnant, I would never ask for anything. As I was sitting here thinking about that, I began to think about how I should be relishing and delighting in Lincoln and Dylan because they could be my last. Why am I wasting the precious seasons of the boy's lives wishing for another? Pretty messed up Jodi, pretty messed up.
If two boys is the number for our family, I will do the best by them I can.
One day, after reciting and telling myself all these things, I will believe them whole heartedly and not question the Lord's plan for my family. One day I pray that my will lines up with His. Until then, I will just fake it until I make it.

"There is hope for your future" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:17

A Rant on Food

2010-03-30T14:37:00.001-04:00

Ok... As you read this, please keep in mind that I am NOT losing my mind, I am just a bit overwhelmed with life and please, please, please don't throw tomatoes at me or stop reading my blog. PLEASE. Also, if you haven't had a chance, take a look and please take part in my 300th giveaway!

Here I go... I am very interested in all the things and opinions on food and nutrition. I have really taken to the whole foods, traditional foods, Weston A. Price, Nourishing Traditions type philosophy about food.

There are so many awesome resources and ideas and blogs out there that deal with foods. Now I have got to be honest, I am struggling when it comes to whole foods the whole time.

I get very overwhelmed if I am busy that morning, look up at the clock and it is lunch time. What am I going to feed my kids?! I know most of you might be saying.. "Peanut butter and jelly, you idiot!" but it's just not that easy for me. My kids have different food allergies and honestly, I get overwhelmed and I shut down. The "simple" answer is often lost to me.

Therefore, I get into this horrible pattern. It goes a little something like this... (This is the conversation in my mind..) "I have NO idea what I am going to make the kids for lunch. It's already past lunch time!" --> "I live a block from 14 different resteraunts, let's just go grab something quick." --> "Tomorrow will be different. I will figure something out tomorrow." I get home, get the kids sat down and we eat the food. I hate how it tastes, but at this point I am so emotionally, metally and physically tired that I just sit in blessed "I didn't have to make lunch" solitude. After a while, it hits me. It hits me that I took part in the dreaded what it takes out and puts in cycle. I took valuable money OUT of my purse and spent our valuable money on putting IN crappy foods in our body. I then begin mentally beating myself down. Do I not care about my heath, my family's health, my wanting a baby? Do I care more about not cooking and being tired more than my family?

On and on it goes... Let me tell you my friends... I am done. I am done with this vicious cycle of being stressed and overwhelmed about our foods.

I. am. done.!

I am not going to stress over wheat gluten or not being able to get pregnant due to eating bread (which I was this morning! stressing, totally stressing like crazy over it!).

I am not going to stress over whether my children can eat a peice of cake made from a box for their birthday.

I am not going to stress over feeding them chicken nuggets from a bag or hot dogs once in a great while (it's got to better than running to a resteraunt for Pete's sake!).

I am not stressing over this anymore. I am going to continue to put the best foods and most natural, whole and nutritional foods into my family but I am not stressing anymore.

I can tell you one thing... If this keeps up, my husband won't have to worry about what he and the kids are eating, he's going to have to worry about finding another wife because I tell you, I am going to have a stroke from high blood pressure due to worrying about what we are eating!

Ok. I am done. Please don't hate me and please don't send hate mail and hate comments. I hope y'all still love me and my crazy psychoness! :)

More ideas of what works for more sane people than me.. click here!

Gratituesday: Just What I Needed

2010-03-29T19:56:00.001-04:00

If you haven't had a chance yet, click here for an awesome giveaway opportunity!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This past weekend was just what I needed. It was relaxing... It was resting... It was a total gift from God.

Friday night, we went over to a game night at a friend's home. It is not normally something we would do but we decided to go anyway. Early that day when I found out this event was happening, I contacted my cousin and she was available to watch our kids ( I am totally weird about who watches my kids but that is a whole different post!).

I fed the kids and Catie came in. Andy and I snuck (is that a word?) off for a dinner date at Panera Bread. We sat and we chatted. We relaxed. And most important, we got on the same page. It was great!

We then went to the game night. It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed getting to meet knew people and play games. We stayed for a while and then headed home. We came home to an quiet house. The boys were asleep!

After a good night's sleep, we all got up gradually and had a yummy huge breakfast. This was the first Saturday in a while that we didn't have to rush off to basketball. After lounging around, we ran a few errands. We decided to have my aunt and uncle over for dinner to eat, play games and let our boys watch the Kids Choice Awards together. Once again, another great evening!

Sunday morning we went to church and praised and worshipped. It was a great service. After, we went to my Grandmother's for family lunch and then home for Sunday rest time.

That evening we went to see the African Children's Choir at our church. It was a great experience! The boys loved and it, as well as Andy and I! Then we went home and had dinner and began to prepare for the week.

God's love and His attention in the details is just amazing to me. He knew the relaxation and rest that I needed and He provided.

We are truly blessed and grateful around here! Have a story of gratitude or just want to read more -- click here!

menu plan Monday

2010-03-28T17:24:00.002-04:00

If you haven't had a chance to check it out.... Click here for an AWESOME giveaway!

I was truly blessed this weekend. I have had one of the best weekends that I can remember. I cannot wait to tell y'all about it Tuesday!

For now I have a menu for you!

Monday: hamburgers, oven fries, fried apples

Tuesday: French toast, sausage

Wednesday: homemade pizza, carrot sticks

Thursday: chicken alfredo, salad

Friday: soup, grilled cheeses

Saturday: chicken and dumplings, green beans

For more great menu ideas click here!

Frugal Friday: Groups

2010-03-25T20:26:00.003-04:00

If you haven't checked it out yet, I am having an awesome giveaway in honor of my 300ish post! Take a look and take the time to enter!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

photo : Riley Children's Hospital

Have you found a local women's or mom's group? Do you have a play group?

It took my FOREVER to finally take the plunge into groups. I am ALWAYS worried about joining them. I am always wondering if .... I'll get everything that needed to be done, done. Will my kids behave? Will the other kids treat them nice or like them? I have some quirky parenting ideas and some not so popular interests... Will the other moms like me?

A few weeks ago, my friend, Kelly, invited me to a women's group. I was so nervous, but then decided to go. The night of the women's group, Kelly invited me to her play group the next morning. Once again, I was nervous but still went. I had an awesome time! I even met some great ladies (Take a look at Janelle's blog! She is one of the encouraging women I met! She is an inspiration and EVEN a rock climber! Can you say "wow!"?) and learned that some of the SAHM struggles I am dealing with really aren't as far out crazy as I had thought.

In the past couple of weeks, the groups I have began taking part in have gradually taken over the trips to Targer that I took out of boredom and just wanting to get out of the house. And guess what! When you don't go to Target, you DON'T SPEND MONEY! Isn't that just a novel idea?!?

Take a look around your area. Are you in a mom's group or women's group? If not, I encourage you to find one. Most groups are free or minimal cost and they save a ton of money by taking your time away from Target!

For more money saving advice visit Frugal Fridays over at Life as Mom.

Around my 300th!

2010-03-25T15:42:00.001-04:00

300 POSTS!

That is just unbelieveable to me... I have written 300 (ish!) posts! AND.... Many of you have read my 300 posts!

I have lots of things to share with you all but I wanted this to be an upbeat and not so serious post, therefore I wanted to throw a few things out there!

I wrote 150 things about myself a while back and TRUST ME, that was something else! Therefore, I will not try to attempt that again!

So instead of writing a list of crazy facts about myself, I am going to give y'all a chance to ask ME the questions and I will answer them. I think this could be a lot of fun! AND I am also doing another giveaway!

I started an Etsy business and I love to crochet dish clothes/wash clothes, so let's give them away!

Here's what they look like:

If you want to check out the details, here is my Etsy page. Take a look! Also, when I contact you to let you know you have won, we can discuss your color choice!

Now I haven't decided how many I am going to give away yet so enter as many chances as you can! (Please leave me a comment with each thing you do.) Here's how!!

Write me a comment welcoming me back to the wonderful world of blogging!
Go to my Etsy site and tell me what you like, what suggestions you have, or just well... Go! :)
Follow One Blessed Mama.
Follow me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
Tweet and/or Facebook about the giveaway.
Post on your blog about it!
AND here's the biggest one... For every friend you get to come and check out my blog, if they visit and comment (with a comment that they found my site from yours), or do ANY of the above from learning about this from you, you will get an extra entry with every entry they do! (WOW! Does that make sense?!?)

So let me reiterate... I have NO idea how many I am giving away so enter as many times as you can! I know you want to!!!

On your marks... Get set! BLOG!!!

Oh... and you have until TAX DAY to enter... April 15th, right?!? :S

I feel...

2010-03-21T13:11:00.001-04:00

like an extremely bad friend.

Times are tough around here (I am certain every where) and, honestly blogging is coming up last.

My apologies friends. I pray and hope to be back very soon.

Much love and prayers...

Menu Plan: March 14-20

2010-03-14T23:32:00.000-04:00

I am getting back in the eating at home saddle. It's for sure now! I have a story and I will be sharing soon. Eat at home. It's better for you!

Sunday: eat with my parents

Monday:
applesauce bread
LO nuggets, salad
chicken alfredo, green beans

Tuesday:
applesauce bread
grilled cheese, tomato soup
cheesey beef and rice, broccoli

Wednesday (St. Patty's Day!):
big breakfast cookies
LO cheesey beef and rice
Irish stew and beer bread

Thursday:
baked oatmeal
LO Irish stew
soup, salad

Friday:
LO breakfast foods
creamy macaroni and cheese, green beans
egg burrito casserole, fruit

Saturday:
Daddy's in charge (Mommy- "Lifted" Prayer Breakfast)
chicken salad, fruit
chicken noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans

Preparing to Prepare

2010-03-08T20:43:00.000-05:00

Preparing to prepare... Sounds a little crazy doesn't it?

Well it is a little crazy... because... I'm a little crazy!

First things first...

I always look into buying seeds and plants first thing. I have got to be comepletely honest with you... It took me a LONG time to be able to grow plants which actually lived and produced fruits... A. Really. Long. Time.

So here are a few questions/suggestions when preparing to buy seeds or plants:

What kind of climate is your garden going to be in? Is it sunny or maybe shady? Is the area where you are going to put your garden the collector of rain water and will flood out? Where is the best part of your yard to garden or plant?
Are you a lot like me and really wanted to start plants from seeds but they always died? I wasted a TON of money on seed before I realized that I just needed to master on type of seed at a time. I wasn't a "green thumb" so I had to recognize and not overwhelm or set myself up for failing.
What kind of seeds do you want? For our family, non-GMO seeds are VERY important to us. We like to know that our food is in it's most natural state. We buy our seeds from Baker's seeds.
How much do you have budget for gardening? Every year, I do a gardening budget. I like to make sure that growing our own food isn't going to break the bank. It is also nice to see how much you spent compared to how much you saved. It is also important to remember how nice it is in the winter time when you don't have to leave your house if you don't want to because food is already available. So keep track of what you spend in seeds and time.
READ, READ, READ! There are tons of reviews and sources our there. Read up on plants and planting times.
Finally, how much time and attention are the plants going to take? If you are a busy person who works a ton of hours and barely has time to take a shower, you are probably not going to want a big garden. Maybe look into container gardening or raised bed gardening.

The challenge for this week is to think about and research what size and type of garden you want and if you want to try and start plants from seeds. Then, look into what seeds you are interested in. Come back Wednesday for the next step I take in preparing to prepare!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2010-03-05T23:53:00.000-05:00

Do you know what I am actually good at and REALLY enjoy? Gardening and perserving our food through the summer.

It's hard to believe that it is time to start prepping already, but it is!

I am going to spend a lot of time bringing you ideas that have helped me in various areas of my adventure in gardening and being a good steward of what the Lord gives us from it.

Join me in discussing these five areas:

Preparing: Your home, Your kitchen and Your garden for the planting.

Gardening: All the tips and tricks I have learned.

Harvesting: What's worked for me and my family?

Giving: In my personal opinion, the most important part of the garden.

Preserving: We are going to be trying some new things as well as sharing same old family tricks and secrets.

Come on back and learn some of the joys and defeats of growing your own food!

Dear Poor Neglected Readers:

2010-03-05T09:11:00.001-05:00

Dear Poor Neglected Readers:

I am writing to let you know that next week I am back in action! Oh, how I've missed you and your support. Thank you for giving me time to feel and to grieve and meditate. You are the best!

Next week I am going to spend time opening my newly done and updated "Homemaking Binder" aka Mama's Brain in a Binder. I know... Hold down the excitement over there is New York! You have to wait until Monday...

Happy weekend to you!

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Guest Post with Tania Tod: Nutrition for Women Diagnosed with PCOS

2010-02-26T07:48:00.000-05:00

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Tania Tod. Tania has started a blog about pregnancy and preconception time in relation with fertility, nutrition, exercise and other issues. Today, she is going to be talking about nutrition for women diagnosed with PCOS. Please welcome Tania to One Blessed Mama of Boys!

One of the most important parts of managing and living with PCOS is better nutrition. Nutrition for women diagnosed with PCOS plays a vital role in the quality of life a woman will have and directly increases the chance for those trying to conceive . In certain studies, women that lose as little as 5% body weight can experience an insulin stabilization, decrease in levels of progesterone and a regulation of menstrual cycles.

By incorporating healthy lifestyle changes, consuming a well balanced diet which includes vegetables, healthy fats, lean protein and limited carbohydrates, a woman can successfully manage symptoms of PCOS-related insulin resistance . Lean proteins in the diet should consist of egg whites, nuts, soy-based products, fish, skinless poultry and nuts. Healthy fats are contained olive oil, canola, sunflower seeds and oils, peanuts, corn and flaxseed.

A PCOS diet should limit carbohydrates, but this does not mean all carbs are bad and should be completely avoided. Nutrition for women diagnosed with PCOS can include the following carbohydrates such as whole grain breads, quinoa, couscous, brown rice and barley. For a woman trying to conceive, these incorporations into the diet can also increase fertility and make it much easier for her to become pregnant.

For women with PCOS, nutritional changes can be very important in treating the accompanying insulin resistance. Experts recommend a balance of 35% protein, 35% fat and 30% carbohydrates, which can be done by dietary changes but does not have to be considered a “diet.” The balanced diet will help stabilize insulin levels and control cravings which can lead the woman to over eat and gain weight.

There are various different types of protein available; most sources come from plants or animals. Plant protein is more beneficial to the woman’s diet than an animal source which contains unnecessary fats which can increase cholesterol levels. A balanced diet must include fats, but the fats need to be polyunsaturated and monounsaturated in order to be good for the diet and healthy for the body.

Exercise alone is not enough for a woman suffering from PCOS; it only treats the weight gain. It is necessary for a woman suffering from PCOS to understand the importance nutrition plays in her life and that of her condition. In order to have a decent quality of life, control weight gain and keep hormones and insulin levels in check, a woman needs to take all things into consideration and eat right, exercise and follow a nutrition plan.

When a diagnosis of PCOS has been made in a woman, there are many things that can be done to manage the condition. PCOS-related infertility is a condition which can be treated and conquered with the proper diet and a woman becoming educated about the situation all of which increases awareness. Being provided with the right information, making proactive decisions and incorporating certain lifestyle changes into the equation can help a woman succeed at the goal of becoming pregnant.

Tania has a great wealth of knowledge over at her new blog- Trying To Conceive! You would be doing yourself a great disservice if you did not head over and check it out!

Give Us a Little More!!

2010-02-20T20:37:00.002-05:00

I have gotten numerous emails from faithful readers saying "Give us a little more!"

And you know what I have to say?

Quit being so nosey!

Just kidding!!!

So this post is going to be honest and maybe brutal but it's going to be what it is going to be... Bear with me. Love me anyway...

These past couple months have been filled with a flurry of praises and requests, hurts and joys, hard times and good times..

Mostly, they have been a flurry of health concerns. And while I can say God has been faithful, there are still many questions in my mind. Many unanswered requests.

I'll start at the begining of our journey.

For a long while, I have been convicted about our health, eating habits, and environment. I, however, have not had the self-discipline to make the changes necessary. I have tried a couple of times and have failed time and time again.

A few months ago, I was diagnosed with Adult ADHD, OCD, Anxiety and a couple of different phobias. I have begun a couple of different medications but really struggle with putting those toxins in my body.

It has also been said on my blog that I have been diagnosed with PCOS. We have been trying and trying to conceive for a while now. About a month ago, I finally went to the Dr. and asked what steps I could take in order to ovulate (I only ovulated 2 x last year.) and what help I might need with my bad cervix. I really do not know what I expected but after a while of telling her my concerns this is what she said and I quote...

I would like to put you on clomid. However, with your numbers, we have concluded that you have approximately a 68% chance of conceiving multiples NATURALLY. Therefore, I will put you on half of the necessary dose. I promise you that you will not conceive twins but MULTIPLES. With your last pregnancy, it was shown that your body cannot physically carry more than one baby (Lincoln was a twin.). Therefore, I ETHICALLY (Really?!? Ethically!?!) will have to push you to terminate down to one baby.

I was stunned. I just took the script for Clomid and drove home in utterly disbelief. How could I honestly and in good faith put those toxins in my body and then put myself in the positition to possibly have to choose my life or my future childrens? After talking to Andy, we decided Clomid was not for us and we would hand it over to the Lord.

Okay... I had recently been diagnosed with OCD. Do you know what goes hand and hand with OCD? Being a total control FREAK! Seriously, how can I give this huge burden to the Lord?

I struggled with this for a few weeks and after having decide I could not carry this burden anymore, I handed it to the Lord.

In the mean time, I had my annual cancer check. The doctor called and told me that they needed to re-test. For a couple of weeks, I stewed and stewed over possibly having cancer again.

In comes the past week. I had been weirdly sick for a couple of days and after feeling so yucky, I decided to take a pregnancy test. It was positive!! God is good! I gave over my burden and He was faithful and had blessed me!

I could not believe it so I sent Andy to the store for another batch of tests (Did I mention that EVERYONE I know is pregnant!?!). The next 6 tests were negative. I had a false positive test.

My heart broke. My faith shattered. How could this be?! What a cruel joke? I handed my burdent to Jesus and he allowed a false positive? I felt betrayed. I felt slapped in the face. I felt hurt. I still feel a lot of those things.

I know what people think... "You are 25 years old. You have time." Well I understand where you are coming from. However, being 25 years old and having had 6 miscarriages and a false positive, I am done. I no longer can handle the anticipation. The pain. The worry. The wonder. I can no longer allow myself to feel. It just hurts too much now.

I am struggling. I am questioning. I am wondering.

I really need to launch myself into something. I really need to find the discipline to take care of myself and my family.

Therefore, real foods, here I come. I have talked about meeting with you. I have talked about spending most of my eating time with you and it is now time. The time is now!

I get extremely overwhelmed with the knowledge of whole foods online. Sometimes, I just need the meat and potatoes. Therefore, I started a facebook group called "Nourishing Foods". You might or might not be a friend of mine on facebook. No matter the case, if you are interested in learning about the "meat and potatoes" of real foods or if you are intersted in linking up some of your posts on real foods, PLEASE join me! All are welcome and I would love the information.

So, please come and check it out. Join me. Hold me accountable. I could really use it.

A Time in My Life

2010-02-19T19:05:00.000-05:00

I wanted to pop in and give a little update. I don't have much to say. I am not worth much right now. I was driving home today and I was trying to sum up the condition of my faith, my heart and my life. The Lord played this song right as I was pulling in the garage and it summed it all up. Here are the lyrics and the song..

Please pray for me as I seek the Lord and his Revelation..

Lent 2010

2010-02-17T09:52:00.000-05:00

What does Lent mean to me?

I am not a Catholic and many people think that you need to be a Catholic to take part in Lent. I, however, do not think that is the case.

My family observes the part of Lent in which you give up something in order to praise God and give Him control. He sent his only son and Jesus gave his life- so how could we not give up something dear to us for forty days in order to praise Him?

This year, Andy is partial fasting everyday and total fasting some days. He has a calendar prepared and his prayer and praises ready to bring to the Lord and focus on.

I am going to be giving up sugar. At first, I was going to give up ALL sugar even when I baked but after much prayer and seeking, I have decided that giving up soda, sweets and out and out sugar items will be enough. Trying to make my bread and such without sugar would just be too daunting.

I am also going to begin Lent by fasting and praying and seeking the Lord. It just amazes me how involved food and over eating are in everything in our lives.

Things have been really crazy this week at our house so on top of the above things, I am going to "unplug" from Wednesday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. I want to take that time to focus on the blessings in which God has given me and seek Him and His will more.

That is the rundown of Lent in our home. What is your family doing for Lent?

Skirts

2010-02-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

(Borrowed image from Zappos)

This is the skirt I am wearing in gray today... Why have I begun to wear skirts you might be asking... Because I'm crazy! No not really. I do have a couple good reasons or at least they are good in my opinion. :)

The Bible says:

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1 Timothy 2:9-10

It is, I believe, the opinion of each individual on whether to wear skirts or pants, cut their hair or not, weat make-up or not, OR wear jewelry or not, however the Bible does call for us to be dressed modestly. I do wear make-up time to time and I do wear a little bit of jewlery.

I was not a big skirt or dress wearer, but that changed a few months ago and I have just recently began to force myself into wearing a few skirts.

Here are the short reasons for why I wear skirts more now:

God convicted me. He told me that I was not taking good care of myself and I was not being an example for my children. Just because I was a mom, doesn't mean I should neglect myself and my body.
I am now at a point where I am content with my life (it took a lot of praying and seeking the Lord). If I only have two sons, I want to show them what modest femininity looks like. I want to be a Godly example of how woman should dress.
If I am blessed with daughters, I want to be the example that you can be modest and look nice. I want them to look at me and see confidence in what I am wearing and with everything all covered.
I want to look nice for my husband. I know this and all the above examples can be achieved through jeans and a nice sweater, but it just wasn't working for me. I had to get out of the maternity pants and sweats suits. This was my only option. I am very an "all or nothing" personality.
I feel better. I was beginning to forget, in a house of all males, that I was a woman and it was okay to not be one of the guys.
And I am being completely honest here, after I started wearing them, I have begun to like how the feel. I like that I'm not worried about my backend hanging out or my pants splitting. It just gives me room to move (side note... all skirts I wear at this point are long).

I know that wearing skirts might now work for you, but they work for me in making me feel like more of a woman, a Godly standard for my children and future children and skirts got me out of my sweats.

Have you ever thought of giving skirts a try?
*************************************************
This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

How Will They Know you Love Jesus?

2010-02-06T11:55:00.000-05:00

What do your actions say?

I'm One of Them!!

2010-02-04T19:23:00.000-05:00

When I was in high school, I swore I would never be one of them. I swore that I would never be that "uncool". I swore I would have more sophistication but alas it has happened...

I have turned into a MINI-VAN MAMA!!

How totally cool is that? Now that I am a mom, I not only LOVE my mini-van but I rock out my mini van!

And here is the crazy thing, I am learning just how much money we save by my being a mini-van mama! Do you know how much money a big old SUV burns as it is burning your expensive gas?!?

If you are interested in a family vehicle, I would recommend being "uncool" with a mini-van!

And while you're actually being quite cool, do the cool thing and take a gander at my new blog!
--------------------------------------------------------------
*This post is linked to Frugal Friday!

Women Blessing Women: Including

2010-02-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Romans 12:9-13

Do you know what an open and closed circle in communication means?

I did not know until a seminar this weekend at our church...

Have you ever walked up to a group of people in a circle and it was just hard to get included?

Have you ever looked around and saw groups of people who have similar circumstances and interests in one group and then another in a different part of the room?

Have you ever felt like the "odd man out"?

I know I have and I know that I have at church a lot of times at church...

Church is the one place that where everyone should be welcomed, loved and accepted. However, some times it just does not feel that way.

It breaks my heart to see a new face in the room searching for someone to reach out and the circles are formed and closed.

One easy way to bless other women is to include them and when you include them, listen to them. I know the Lord has truly equipped you!

So what do you say? This week when you walk through the church doors, I challenge you to look around for a new face and encourage them and make them feel special and like they belong. That will really be a woman blessing women!

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

Breakin' Goals Up

2010-02-01T08:35:00.000-05:00

If you remember, I have quite the large number of goals this year. I have decided since these goals were ones I actually wanted to accomplish, that it might be easier and the goals might be more attainable if I break them up and re-evaluate every month.

Therefore, this past weekend, I sat down and thought about what goals I wanted to make priority this month of February.

I know sometimes I see someone's post about goals and lists and I just want to click the "x" at the top left so I totally understand if that is the case, but lists and goals are a very important part of my personality. Putting them on the net for all to see also makes me try and stay more accountable than if I never voiced or typed them at all. It also helps my husband and me stay on the same "page". He is an always, everyday reader of my blog and when he sees my goals for this month after we have talked about them, it's a little refresher. It makes both our lives a little easier. :)

February 2010 Goals:

Faith:

Work through the book of Deuteronomy

Marriage:

Work through the Love Dare Book

Family:

No more meals in front of the TV, all meals around table spending time together
Consistently continue Saturday family movie night

Home-schooling:

Keep on track

From the Kitchen:

More soaking
Kefir from grains
Kombacha Tea

Financial:

No more than 5 debit card purchases. Use more cash!

Homemaking:

Organize ALL closets

Reads:

Finish "Family Driven Faith" (see left toolbar for more info)

So how are your goals for the New Year going or just lists and goals in general?

Menu Plan: Jan 31

2010-01-30T19:36:00.001-05:00

How was everyone's weekend? We had a really good and productive weekend.. And a milestone was reached in our home-- I tried Salmon and actually liked it! Is it bad that it was breaded and fried?! Oh, nevermind that!

I am going to try and incorporate regular breakfasts and lunches into my menu plan. I find that it is hard to begin with but during the weekend, it makes things run so much smoother!

Sunday:

cereal (I have decided to allow our family to eat KIX. Dylan was about to have a break-down when he found out there was no cereal in the house.)

chicken enchiladas, refried beans

spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Monday:

sweet potato struessel muffins

jelly sandwiches, carrot sticks

sloppy cornbread, oven fries, applesauce

Tuesday:

applesauce bread

sloppy joes, carrots, applesauce

vegetable soup, grilled cheese

Wednesday:

muffins

re-runs

pizza

Thursday:

oatmeal

marcaroni and cheese, pears

roast, potatoes, carrots

Friday:

smoothies

re-runs

lemon-garlic-herb chicken, rice and steamed broccoli

Saturday:

soaked pancakes, sausage

re-runs

BBQ beef, macaroni and cheese

What's on your family's menu plan this week? I am looking for some yummy new inspirational recipes. Leave a comment with you favorite recipe! Maybe I'll try it, review it and then write about it!

---------------------------------------------------------------

*This post is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

It's 3 o'clock!?!?

2010-01-29T15:08:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon! :)

A quick Howdy-do! I just wanted to pop in and let y'all know of a few things going on around this part!

For the past few weeks, I have been trying to grow my blogging audience by many (I thought it was the Lord's direction.) and after a little bit of a failed attempt, I had another meeting with the CEO of Creation (aka God).

I feel Him pointing me in a new direction. I am going to continue bloggging and posting the series Women Blessing Women but I am not going to be as fervent and determined as I once was.

My focus is going to shift to those already in my life (family, friends, church) and those who already read my blog. And I bet if I miss a day of writing, y'all will forgive me.

Instead I am going to focus on more indepth and personal posts, getting my house together, finishing out the school year with a bang, getting ready for our church bazaar and the three last but in my book the most important things are: finding myself and new hobbies which I enjoy, spending time with my kids that are getting way too big way too quick, and growing a deeper relationship with my Father. (Wow! What a run-on sentence! sorry... )

I have to be completely honest with you. I have been searching desperately for the direction the Lord wants me to go and I thought it was this blog. I thought it was writing and ministering to you wonderful readers. But after much prayer and acutally listening, I feel the Lord leading me away from this. I feel Him telling me that I need to work on IRL relationships. I feel Him telling me to quit hiding in a land where others can only read my words and I'm "safe".

You see, I have been hiding. It is so easy to minister and open up to a group of people that don't see your face and that you don't have to see them. I am hiding behind a computer. It is time that I get out in my community and tell others about Jesus and myself. It is time that I put myself out there and try to let others in. It's just time.

And while I really feel this pushing from the Lord, I will still be checking in and updating y'all on the crazy adventures in motherhood and finding myself that I get into.

Please be in prayer for me as I search for myself and open up to people that I do see. Pray that I have the courage and the faith...

Blessings dear friends!

Sourdough: Day 7

2010-01-28T22:03:00.001-05:00

Once again it is just add 1 c. flour and this time I only put in about 1/4 c. of water. Tomorrow we begin baking! Woot! Stay tuned and what my yucky smelling sourdough looked like (It looked yucky too!)

A "Butter" Adventure

2010-01-28T20:10:00.001-05:00

Butter really is better. And it is a lot of fun to make!

Last week, when I went to the farm, I bought raw milk and I have been using it. I love all the things you can make from it! I just l.o.v.e it!

There are a lot of tutorials out there on how to make butter and believe me, Andy and I have looked at them all!

And here is my conclusion... I am a person that needs a ton of steps and pictures. I need to know EXACTLY what is going to happen and EXACTLY how it going to look.

I thought some of you might be a lot like that also so I decided to show y'all step by step (and picture by picture) just how I made butter.

Here is a couple little housekeeping things about making butter. First, you really should let the cream get to room temperature (I keep forgetting but it works quicker if you let it warm up a bit.). Second, you can use just about anything that will aggitate the cream. I used a Kitchen Aide mixer. Others have used food processors, blenders and in the good ol' days they a churn! :)

Here is my milk. Do you see the line of where the cream has seperated? Just use the top part. The less milk and more cream, the ~~butter~~ better!

Put the seperated cream in the container of whatever appliance you are using. If you are using a food processor, Laura says not to fill more than 3/4 full or it doesn't work.

After about 3 minutes, your cream begins to look like whipped cream (what a thought! :)). A tip from my experience, if you are using a mixture, put on the baking shield or your bowl will turn out looking like mine (a mess!). When you are using a mixer, you really have to turn up the speed so it slops everywhere if you don't have the shield on. If you are using a food processor or blender, it needs to go on medium speed.

What I am trying to show here (and it didn't turn out) is that after the "whipped cream" phase, it goes back to looking more liquidy. I was really worried that I did it wrong and after doing the butter more than once, I have seen that for some reason it just does that. (Sounds intelligent, huh?)

After it's back to liquidy phase (after the "whipped cream" phase) it will go back to the whipped cream but it will be a more cream to golden color. Keep whipping!

The butter is starting to seperate from the cream (buttermilk-some say you can use it the same, some say you can't. The jury is still out on that one.)

The butter after it is whipped. The second time I attempted this, there was a lot more butter. I put way too much milky cream in the first time (which is this picture).

The next step is rinsing the butter. Run it under COLD water. Continue to squeeze and rinse until water is completely clear. It is a l.o.n.g process but keep at it. It is so worth it!

and.... Here's my butter. It is soft when you first finish rinsing it but within a couple hours, it will be back to the normal hardness of butter.

I know it sounds like a lot of steps but making butter is really really easy and like I said.. So worth it!

So what do you say? You willing to give making your own butter a try?

*This is linked to Frugal Friday.

Proud to be His Sister

2010-01-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

Now I know this may open a can of worms and make some stop reading my blog. That is a chance I am willing today.

If you haven't read the beginning of my son, Dylan's birth story or my decision to follow Christ, please do so.

If you cannot tell, abortion is something that I feel a passion AGAINST! My whole adult life (from as young as 19 yo) has been in complete refute of abortion.

I cannot tell you how many times I heard and I am still hearing that I should have had an abortion. How can you even stand to look at him? Isn't he just a reminder? Doesn't it hurt?

My answers answered with questions:

How can I not look at him? He is beautiful. He is part of me and in my opinion, his other half is the Lord's. How could he not be? He is amazing. He is all I yearn to be. He has changed lives.
How could I not be glad that he is a reminder? He is NOT a reminder of being violated but a reminder of my transformation into a Christ-follower, mother, wife and friend. Dylan saved my life. God used him in a way that no one else could. He is a reminder that God is always good and faithful even when we don't understand. He is a reminder that God shows love and mercy in a physical form. He is a wonderful reminder...
Doesn't it hurt? Somedays... but not like you'd think. I don't hurt about what happend that much anymore, I hurt for those who made the choice to terminate pregnancy. I yearn to hold them and pray with them. I know they hurt also... I know they hurt more.

With all that being said... Today I want to proclaim how proud I am to be Dylan's mother and sister in Christ, but also Tim Tebow's. What an incredible story. What an incredible young man to stand against many people to proclaim what he believes. I am proud to be his sister in Christ.

Today I ask you... Would you stand for what you believed in even if it meant losing friends or fans or blog readers?

And today I can tell you.. Yes I will stand for what I believe in and for what is good and right in God's eyes. I will stand!

Sourdough: Day 6

2010-01-27T22:01:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to pop on and let y'all know how my sourdough looked today on Day #6. You are still adding 1 cup of flour to approximately 1/2 c. water. I started cutting down on water to keep the "sourness" down.

Women Blessing Women: Listening

2010-01-27T20:56:00.000-05:00

Listening.... Do you listen? Do you listen or do you just hear? Do you listen only with your ears or do listen with your heart and mind as well?

I believe one of the easiest and most personal thing we can do to bless other women is to listen with our ears, heart, and mind.

How often do we ask... "How are you doing?" just to ask and not really because we want to know? We ask because it is what our culture has taught us to do. We don't always ask because we really care about how the other person is doing.

Listening to a each other and really trying to connect with each other can be a huge blessing for another woman.

Do you listen to other women? Do you ask others "How are you doing" and really value their response or do you ask just to ask? I challenge you this week to truly seek out other women and really ask them how they are doing. I small action such as listening with your ears, mind and heart can truly be a blessing to another woman.

Please be sure to come back for more Women Blessing Women!

Happy Birthday Mom!

2010-01-26T20:54:00.003-05:00

No today isn't my Mom's birthday but last week was!

Y'all know that I love to decorate cakes for people. I love to make people I care about feel special. I love taking the time and making something that I think they will enjoy and know that they are important to me.

So... I made my Mom's birthday cake and I also made her a scarf.

I used fondant for the first time and it was quite the adventure. It actually turned out pretty good for a first go!

How about you? Do you enjoy making gifts? Do you enjoy recieving homemade gifts?

____________________________________________________________

*This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

*This post is also linked to Life as Mom.

Sourdough: Day 5

2010-01-26T05:28:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Day 5! Now there is nothing more to really report except for it is really starting to smell "sour". Okay... "sour" doesn't begin to describe it!

I acutally had to move my starter to a bowl today! According to Laura's steps (and I am a rule follower!) we should only add 1/4 cup of water and 1 cup of flour to start making the starter thicker.

This is what my starter looked like when I pulled it out of its warm hiding place.

This is what my starter looked like when I dumped it into the bowl before adding to it.

and this is what it looked like after adding 1/4 cup water and 1 cup of flour.

Come on back for day 6!

GratiTuesday: Upward

2010-01-25T20:23:00.003-05:00

I just L.O.V.E. GratiTuesday! I love the schedule time that I weekly sit down and think of just all that I have to be thankful for. I often have such a hard time picking what I am going to share with y'all. Isn't GratiTuesday just a blessing? Laura is definently a woman blessing other women!

This week I just want to praise the Lord and tell him how grateful I am for blessing our first Upward basketball game.

I feel am so grateful that God found me worthy to coach and witness to these young souls.

I am already learning so much from these sweet little souls.

I am so grateful that their little hearts are so innocent and they yearn to learn about the Lord.

I am grateful that the Lord equipped me to teach them about Him and even a little bball.

What are you grateful for today? We serve an AWESOME God, don't we?!?
_______________________________________________________
*This is linked to GratiTuesday.

Sourdough: Day 4

2010-01-25T05:17:00.002-05:00

Welcome to Sourdough: Day 4!

If you are visiting for the first time, I am attempting a sourdough starter using Laura from HeavenlyHomemakers sourdough steps. Take a gander!

Day 4!

This is what my sourdough looked like on day number four. I didn't take any more pictures because I thought y'all might be getting tired of my pictures of a cup of flour and a cup of water.

Therefore if you're wondering, today you add another cup of water and another cup of flour.

Come back tomorrow for day 5!

Lord, You're All I've Got...

2010-01-24T19:09:00.001-05:00

Many of you have been following my posts on my son, Dylan's, birth. If you have been following you will hear some of this for a second time.

I grew up in church. I knew church. I grew up in church and knew all about how I should live and how I should have a relationship with Jesus. I knew... I knew what was expected of me. I knew that "becoming a christian" was the next step. I knew...

Sometimes knowing and really knowing are different. Sometimes knowing that your parents have a relationship with Jesus and knowing how they believe and feel are just enough to sustain you through your childhood. You think Mom and Dad know everything. (Don't they?) You mirror them and look up to them.

And sometimes, scratch that, a lot of times when you hit high school and college, when you run into "real life" (aka enticing sin-- my definition), you don't know why you believe those things, especially when you just want to fit in. You just want people to understand you and to like you. Sometimes the faith of your family takes a backseat.

That is what happened in my life. I thought I had a relationship with Jesus but in all actuality, I just had the faith of my parents. I had not made my own commitment and I had not made my faith my own. I had not sought after Jesus or what He wants for our lives. I had never studied or questioned or wondered everthing.

I got caught up in real life. I got caught up in the life of sin. I got caught up in the life of trying to find people who I thought I mattered a lot to. I got caught up in all the wrong things. I just got caught up...

And guess what.....

I got caught up in being caught up. The life I was living brought on many hard times. I found myself pregnant. I found myself all alone. I found myself with questions. I found myself...

While finding myself, I found God. I found God loved me regardless. I found God forgave me. I found God wanted me. I found God loved me. I found God wanted me and wanted a relationship with Him. I found God...

On Sunday, November 6th, 2005 I broke. I had no where to turn. I had no where to go to but the alter was calling me. I needed it and He wanted me... He was waiting there for me at the alter. I remember actually running to it. I remember actually laying on it. I remember actually sobbing on it. I remember the peace I felt, the embrace of my Jesus. He was waiting there to love me and for me to love Him back.

I am not going to lie and say from that moment on, I was perfect. I am not going to lie and say from that moment, I stopped sinning. I am not going to lie and say from that moment on, it was a 180 degree turn around. I am not going to lie. But I can tell you that Jesus stole my heart. He was all I had. He was what I wanted. He wanted and loved and yearned for me. I was home in His arms. I was His...

I had my son, Dylan and I continued to live for Jesus. I met my husband and we have a family that we are raising to love and know Jesus. I am blessed.

As my children grow up, it is very important to me that my husband and I stress just important it is for our children to find their relationship with Jesus. It is important to me that they find their own faith. It is important to me that they see just how much Jesus means to me....

He is so important....

Menu Plan: Jan. 24

2010-01-24T15:51:00.000-05:00

I know that my menu plan posts are pretty boring but they are important. Menu plans are important to me because they not only hold me accountable but they also keep my husband informed. He loves being able to just jump on my website during the day, while he's at work, and check to see what we are going to be eating for dinner.

So now I ask you... Why are menu plans online important to you and your family? Do they hold you accountable?

I am only going to be putting breakfasts and dinners, lunches are pretty up in the air due to left overs and being on the run a lot.

Sunday, Jan. 24
Daddy's dirty eggs, sausage, biscuits
leftovers

Monday, Jan. 25
banana bread
corn dog muffins, oven fries, corn, pears

Tuesday, Jan. 26
baked oatmeal
coconut chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli

Wednesday, Jan. 27
hot cereal
homemade pizza

Thursday, Jan. 28
banana bread
chicken enchiladas, chips and salsa

Friday, Jan. 29
breakfast cake
salmon patties, macaroni and cheese

Saturday, Jan. 30
hotcakes and sausage
apple chicken stir-fry
_________________________________________________________
* This is linked to Menu Plan Monday.

Sourdough: Day 3

2010-01-22T07:01:00.002-05:00

I have to been honest, day number three is extremely uneventful but I feel like I need to show you step by step anyway because that's what I would need.

There have been a few wonderful ladies acquire about where to go jars at this time of year. I, really and truthfully, go around and let people (especially little cute old women) that I am looking for jars, I look on ebay and Craiglist and I also find them at Meijers (Meijer is a grocery chain in Ohio). Beyond those, I have no idea. Laura also says that you can use a glass bowl. You could try that instead of using recycle spaghetti jars.

Now until day three!

This is what my sourdough start looks like on day 3. Laura said that she did not have a lot of brown liquid at the top but as you can see, I had quite a bit.

The next step once again is pour brown liquid off.

Once again, just like yesterday, you pour your sourdough mixture into a clean jar or bowl.

You then add another cup of water and another cup of your flour mixture.

I took a picture of my mixing because this was the first day when I felt like it was harder to mix. You really have to make sure that you are stirring it all together and until completely blended.

Tie the rubber band and cloth back around top and put back in its warm little hiding spot!

I welcome you to come back for Day 4!

Food Flops and an Emergency Fund!

2010-01-21T20:17:00.008-05:00

Now I couldn't help but think about our recent debt repayment flops when this incident happened (Plus it's just really funny and I wouldn't be a good little blogging buddy if I didn't share it with you!):

I have been on a conquest to start making our foods all from scratch and not processed. I happened upon my first food flop this week. I was trying to make my own yogurt and somehow I made something the resembled soured cottage cheese. My poor husband is always the guinea pig (Hey! I'm not dummy!). Here are the pictures to document:

"Honey, this doesn't look like yogurt..."

And being the good wife I am.... I started chanting.... "EAT IT! EAT! EAT IT!"

And being the good husband he is (or just trying to get me to hush...), he....

TRIED IT!!

And he says "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!?"

Now that I gave you a little comedy relief, I want to share with you just how this pertains to paying off debt.

Sometimes, we have the best intentions. We come up with a budget and we chart our course to repaying debt. Then something comes up. Something always comes up... What do you do if you have cut up all your credit cards?

The next step in the Road to Financial Freedom is saving money for a rainy day. Dave Ramsey calls is your umbrella on a rainy day. He says to save $1000 fast or $500 if you have a family income of less than $25,000/year.

An example in my life is my van tires. We just paid a ton of money to get new tires for my van about two months ago. Andy comes in tonight and says, "Why is your van tire totally flat?"

It ended up that I drove over a screw. Ack!!

If we didn't have money in our emergency savings account, we would have had to open a credit card, get a loan or another method to pay the tire people. All of those are detrimental in paying off debt.

So next step... save for a rainy day as fast as you can!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

*This post is liked to Frugal Fridays!

I Need Your Help!

2010-01-21T16:23:00.001-05:00

*PLEASE if you don't normally comment PLEASE leave one with ideas and your opinions!*

I am part of the Women's Ministry leadership team at my church. I have been feeling God speaking to my heart as I have been writing the Women Blessing Women series and unfortunately or fortunately, whatever it might be, He is convicting me.

Jodi, why do you have such good words but your actions are few?

Thus where my idea came from. We have not done a Holiday Bazaar in a long time. I have come up with an idea and I would like some input from y'all:

I would like to call the bazaar The Crafts for Christ Holiday Bazaar.

All money we make would be going to the Benevolence Fund at our church to help families in the community through hard economical and financial times.

I want to start a group for SAH women to gather every third Tuesday at our church for Crafts for Christ. You don't have to work on crafts if crafts isn't your thing, support and fellowship are just as important in my opinion! Also it would be great if some of my SAH friends would join us!

Now for your help! I would love to know...

If you came to a Holiday bazaar, what crafts/ideas would you be interested in? If you live in our area, what crafts/ideas/ways could we get you to come and fellowship/help/support, whatever it may be, on Crafts for Christ Tuesday?

I appreciate your input! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are truly a blessing to me...

Sourdough: Day 2

2010-01-21T07:01:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Sourdough: Day 2! If you missed it, here is Day 1.

Here is what the sourdough looked like after 24 hours. You need to pour off the brown liquid and transfer sourdough mixture to a clean glass jar or bowl.

Add 1 cup of your flour choice and 1 cup of water to the mixture in the new jar.

Mix

Re-secure cloth and rubber band

Find a nice warm home for your sourdough starter. We barely heat our house so I put mine on the furnace that runs about twice a day but is semi-warm all the time.

Come on back for Day 3 tomorrow!

How Cool!?!?

2010-01-20T23:28:00.001-05:00

My wonderful hubby has his own blog now! If you are really interested, sort of interested or just bored, head on over and check it out! He's so cute!

With Words Like Bullets

Andy is an incredible man with an incredible heart. You'd be crazy not to go and read his thoughts!

Mason Jars and Sourdough

2010-01-20T20:12:00.004-05:00

I love jars. I know you remember just how much I love jars. I love that you can use them for almost anything.

One new way we have been using jars around our house is by putting leftovers in them. They secure and keep your food fresh while being clear so you can see what is in them.. Isn't that just too cool?!

It never ceases to amaze me that good products, such as Mason jars, have been around for so long.

Generations and generations of my family have used Mason jars. I have made it my personal conquest to find the oldest jars possible. Look at the ones above-aren't those just so beautiful? Yeah, they need cleaned up again but do you know how many uses there are for these babies?

Well the reason for my talking yet again about how much I love jars is that I began to make my own sourdough this week. I used Laura's recipe and instructions. These instructions are GREAT but I have to tell you, they should make a book called "Sourdough for Dummies". I was so worried about beginning this adventure. Therefore, I decided to document my days of sourdough making for you!

Now I have to warn you, this was one of the few days that I have been in a good mood of late... Be warned... I am a goober... :)

The Birth of My Sourdough: Day 1

(If you are interested in step one of making

sourdough here is Laura's Day 1)

Most people feel like this when starting sourdough. I know I did. My friends told me how hard it was and I totally went for it. Now y'all I have proclaimed honesty and openness on this blog and this might turn out to be a total flop but we will see together, won't we?

But "Put a Smile on Your Face and Make the World a better place..." Okay, back to semi-seriousness. This is me after I decided to take the the dough dive! (I told you I was a goober. I even think my own jokes are funny!) Isn't Dylan just a great photographer?!?

Here are the ingredients you will need: 1 cup whole wheat or rye flour, jar or bowl, one cup water, stirring spoon, rubber band or tie, and Laura says cheese cloth, I didn't have cheese cloth so I used a cloth napkin.

Pour in flour and by pour in flour, I mean actually IN the jar....

Okay that's better..... :) Now while you're on roll add the water to the flour and stir.

Last step put on the cloth on over rim of jar and tightly secure with the rubber band. Now I had the thought of doing sourdough with cheese cloth nativities for Christmas next year? Think that thoughts a winner? Just kidding...

Come back tomorrow for The Birth of My Sourdough: Day 2!

------------------------------------------------------------------

*This post is linked to Things I Love Thursday!