The Cozy Nook

Supporting Your Husband

2012-02-23T15:23:00.001-05:00

A quick reminder: I am hosting a Lilla Rose blog party through Tuesday, February 28th. If you are interested in purchasing some of their lovely hairpieces, you can register as a guest here and check out their products.

Sometimes my husband’s job gets insane. Correction – most of the time my husband’s job is insane! We always think it is going to get better “soon”, but you just never know what’s going to happen when you are an IT manager.

With his long hours, sleepless nights, and a 24/7 on-call expectation, I tend to get grumpy sometimes. I miss him. I get frustrated that his work seems to encompass our lives. I feel angry at times. I think about how his job is affecting him, his health, his sanity, my sanity, our children, our schedules, etc.!

There have been times when I would, inevitably, distance myself from my husband and/or make known to him my concerns and emotions in a not-so-great way. In the end, I realize this is not helpful for him.

He needs my support,
especially when he is weak and extended past his limits.

He needs my love.

He needs my tender care.

He needs my encouraging words.

He needs me to have a positive attitude.

Yesterday my husband worked from home – a rare thing these days. He was awakened, just after four hours of sleep, at 3 a.m. in the morning and had problem after problem arise. I had compassion for him. I wanted to do something for him (of course, I was praying!). I prepped his lunch on a tray, trying to make it a bit more special than usual, and included a small note to him, reassuring my love for him.

It was just a small way I tried to let him know that I was still there for him, thinking about him and loving him.

Are you supporting your husband these days?

Our husbands need our support and our love.

Green Monster Smoothie!

2012-02-21T21:22:00.001-05:00

Looking for a yummy, nutritious way to start your day? The green monster smoothie is it!

The original recipe is found here, but I switched it up a bit to make a bigger quantity and use a little less spinach in proportion to the rest of the ingredients. Honestly, you can not taste the spinach in this smoothie. My family says it tastes like a peanut butter smoothie. It’s so yummy and good for you!

Green Monster Smoothie

Printable Recipe

2 large handfuls of spinach

1/2 cup rolled oats

2 frozen bananas

2 T peanut butter (or almond butter)

2 cups milk

1 handful of ice.

Blend to your heart’s desire!

Drink and enjoy the goodness!

My Niece’s 18th Birthday, Part Two: A Surprise Adventure for Four!

2012-02-19T18:18:00.001-05:00

A quick reminder: I am hosting a Lilla Rose blog party through February 28th. If you are interested in purchasing some of their lovely hairpieces, you can register as a guest here and check out their products.

After my niece and her friends finished eating their lunches, I sent them out of the house on a surprise adventure! I planned three destinations with my niece’s preferences in mind.

When the girls were ready to leave, I handed my niece three envelopes. In each envelope was a poetic instruction sheet, a map to the surprise location, and money to cover the expenses. The girls were to open the first envelope before leaving the house and could not open the next envelope until they were finished with the previous activity.

My niece excitedly opened the first envelope, which read:

Your first destination is a colorful place.
I’m sure it will put a smile on your face.
During your visit you will feel pampered.
Your beauty and style will not be hampered.
Follow the map to your destination. You have appointments made for a special service for all of you.

The first location was a nail salon where each girl received a manicure.

The second location was Maggie Moo’s, my niece’s FAVORITE ice cream store in the “WORLD”!

The third location was For Love 21, an affordable accessories store. Each girl was given $10 to spend.

The girls had a BLAST!

According to my niece, it was “one of the most fun days of their lives”!

My Niece’s 18th Birthday

2012-02-17T22:34:00.001-05:00

First, a quick reminder that I am hosting a Lilla Rose blog party through February 28th. If you are interested in purchasing some of their lovely hairpieces, you can register as a guest here and check out their products.

Last week we celebrated my niece’s 18th birthday. Some of you know that we have been her legal guardians for the past few years, so she is like one of our children. We wanted to do something special for her. God’s blessing upon our lives enabled us to buy her a “set of wheels” ~wink~ and throw a special surprise luncheon event with a few of her close friends.

I planned for her friends to show up at the door together at 11 a.m. Saturday morning. Boy, was she surprised! She answered the door in sweats and no makeup and wished I would have prepared her a bit. ~smile~ Of course, I couldn’t do that. I would have ruined the surprise!

Once the friends arrived, my daughter and I busily went to work! We sent the girls upstairs while we set the table with beauty. (Notice the centerpiece ~wink~!)

We served breaded chicken salad, and I had most of the food prepared in advance. I breaded and fried the chicken breasts the night before. I made a large mixture of fresh romaine lettuce and carrot peelings in a bowl. We placed the greens on a plate with a good amount of chicken on top. The table held other optional toppings: grape tomatoes, freshly shredded cheese, dried cranberries, and honey sticks, with a choice of all-natural, delectable ranch or creamy italian garlic dressing. I made a 9 x 13 pan of cornbread that morning and placed that on the table as well. The girls were delighted and enjoyed the food thoroughly!

In my next post, I will tell you where I sent the girls after they ate. ~smile~

Happy Valentine’s Day–a Lilla Rose Blog Party!

2012-02-14T00:34:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to host this blog party! I have been eyeing Lilla Rose’s hairpieces for quite some time.

Go to THIS LINK to register and shop for beautiful hair products. I am starting the party today, in celebration of Valentine’s Day, and will end the party in two weeks on February 28.

Lilla Rose sells an assortment of lovely, practical hairpieces that I think you will adore.

Here are some samples:

(All of these photos are taken from the Lilla Rose site).

Simple Danglie Flexi-clip

Roses Headband

Princess Tiara Bobby Pins

and much more!

Take a peek at their store for more prettiness!

Love Notes for Your Children

2012-02-13T10:47:00.001-05:00

For Valentine’s Day, why not write your children a note about how much you love them and all of the things you appreciate about them? How often do we take the time to do that throughout the year?

It doesn’t have to be anything super fancy, just from your heart.

Blonde Designs has a template for business card-sized notes to write short and sweet messages.

Small Notebook displays a note written on a heart template.

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam has a printable for a snazzy “10 Things I Love About You” sheet.

OR you could just use some colored paper or lined-paper and be simple.

Your children will love to hear what you love about them!

Ways to Pour into Your Hubby for Valentine’s Day

2012-02-12T08:50:00.001-05:00

A couple years ago we went to a bocce ball restaurant with some friends for Valentine’s Day.

Yes, Valentine’s Day is nearly here! Just as it is good to review our hopes and dreams when New Year’s Eve arrives, it can be just as fitting to review the state of our marriage relationships during the Valentine’s Day season.

You *could* evaluate your current status in your marriage and focus on all of the negatives ~ all of the things that are lacking or going wrong ~ all of the things that are bothering you ~ all of the things *you* are not getting.

Instead, I encourage you (and myself!) to evaluate your marriage and see what baby steps you can take to make your marriage more vibrant.

Here are some loving and thoughtful things you could do for Valentine’s Day to show your husband you care:

Make breakfast in bed for him.

Wake up earlier to have a cup of coffee with him and good conversation, centered around positive things.

Send him caring notes throughout the day: in his car, in his lunch, on his phone, at his desk, on his pillow, etc.

Play a game together.

Watch one of his favorite movies with him.

Try very hard not to say anything negative about him or your household.

Give him a massage.

Take him on a date! YOU plan it. Consider what he enjoys doing!

Buy (and wear!) some new, flirty PJs.

Cook some of his favorite foods.

Complete something on your “To Do” list that has been of utmost priority to him.

Most of all, pray for him. Pray for your marriage. Pray for the Lord to show you what your husband needs from you right now and how God wants to change your heart.

Think of what you can do to bless your wonderful husband.

Cupcake Liner Topiary: A Perfect Craft for Valentine’s Day

2012-02-11T20:26:00.001-05:00

My daughter and I made this topiary. We started to make it like the one that originally inspired me. However, as we were making our project, the thought crossed our minds to put the foam ball into the pot directly (rather than on a stick). We think the results are lovely.

We are using our creation as a centerpiece throughout Valentine’s week and then it will be transported to my daughter’s room where she will enjoy its beauty there.

How to Create the Topiary

Printable Version

You will need:

Pot		Ribbon
Foam ball, a size that fits just a bit inside your pot – enough to glue it into your pot.		Burlap or other material, if desired
Cupcake liners – 1 pkg of about 75 liners should do.		Hot glue gun & glue sticks

Heat your glue gun.

Place the foam ball inside the pot. Shape cupcake liners and affix to the ball with a dollop of hot glue. (We wrapped and “folded” the liners around our index fingers with the non-decorative side facing inward). Quickly place the liner on your foam ball and hold for about 10 – 15 seconds, until the liner is sufficiently glued to the ball. Continue until all of the foam sticking out of the pot is covered.

Glue your foam ball into the pot.

Cut a piece of burlap or other material, just enough to wrap around your pot once. Trim the fabric so it lines up with the bottom of the pot. Glue in a few areas around the top edge of the fabric to hold in place.

Cut your ribbon to a desired length. Wrap around the pot and glue in place in a few areas to help hold it. Tie your ribbon.

Appreciate your creation!

Interactive Valentine’s Day Desserts

2012-02-09T23:34:00.001-05:00

I am trying to decide what to serve for dessert on Valentine’s Day. I would like the dessert to be a bit interactive – something that the kids can help make or decorate. Here’s what has been floating around in my mind so far:

Hot Fudge Sundae Cupcakes

recipe found here at “Joy the Baker”

Delicious, homemade vanilla cupcakes, served with a smorgasbord of chocolate ganache, homemade whipped cream, chopped nuts, cherries, and whatever else fits your fancy!

We have made these before and enjoyed them thoroughly!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue

This fondue is scrumptious and easy to make!

Printable Version

1 7.5 oz. jar marshmallow creme

1/2 cup whipping cream

12 oz. semisweet chocolate

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Melt 1st three ingredients in a double boiler. Add peanut butter.

Serve with dippers – fruit, marshmallows, pretzels, graham crackers, cookies, etc.!

“Life as Mom” and “Comfy in the Kitchen” posted about their tantalizing TRIPLE CHOCOLATE SUNDAE and CUPCAKE BUFFET, respectively, and got my mind thinking even more! They are also hosting link-ups where you can join in on the fun and find a lot more great ideas!

Have you decided what you are serving for dessert for Valentine’s Day?

Grace and Peace: Essentials for Victorious Living

2012-02-08T09:06:00.001-05:00

My Guest Post at “Woman to Woman”

Do you ever feel like you are living in the midst of a storm,

as the intricacies of daily life swirl about you?

The tempests of discouragement and disappointment surround you.

Clouds of sorrow and despair wait to engulf the precious moments of your days.

Whispering winds of gossip and hurtful words blow through your life.

Torrential downpours of to-do lists, full schedules, and “the unexpected” flood your being.

The storm is alive and well!

However…

You may remember Jesus in the midst of the storm.

“And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.” Matthew 8:24

Read the rest of my post here at “Woman to Woman”.

Breaking Out of the Mold

2012-02-05T22:45:00.001-05:00

When we review our family’s needs, sometimes we have to break away from the mold.

Each family has its particular strengths and weaknesses, and the individuals within that family have their own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, each family will have to decide on things that are best for their family.

Continually we need to be before the throne of God, getting wisdom from Him as to how we are to go about our days.

Lord, how should we educate our children?

Lord, how should we order our schedules?

Lord, in which activities would you have our family participate?

Lord, where should we spend our money?

Lord, to whom should I reach out this week?

God has a specific plan for our lives, and we need to find that plan and live it out to its fullness!

Currently, I am being encouraged to break out of the mold. One of my children has some desperate needs in our schooling, and I am going to do all I can to help my child succeed! That is one huge benefit of homeschooling for us! I am happy that I have the flexibility to change my children’s education and orient our days so I may teach my children the skills they need to excel in this world.

What is God teaching you these days?

What does God want for your family?

Listen to Him and don’t be afraid to break away from the mold.

Noah did.

Abraham did.

Jesus did.

Cherishing Your Children

2012-01-27T07:43:00.001-05:00

Imagine someone placed a gourmet meal before you to enjoy.

The meal included your favorite dishes and was presented on the most elegant place settings. Your favorite people were there to enjoy it with you.

You glance at the table, take one quick bite and say, “Gotta run! I’ve got important things to do. My to-do list is out of this world!

Oftentimes that is how we treat our days.

We are consumed with the activities and responsibilities of life, forgetting to consciously cultivate and appreciate the special people in our lives.

If you have children, God has placed a buffet before you, a platter full of goodies and tastes galore!

He has placed wonderful, living, breathing, thinking, lovable humans into your hands to enjoy with delight.

Are you cherishing your children?

Are you delighting in these days that you have them in your home or are you secretly (or publicly) wishing them away, anxiously waiting for the day when they would “just grow up already”?

Do you see your children as interruptions or as the very meaning and crux of your being as a mother?

Are you relishing your children and soaking it all in – their cuteness, their strengths and skills, their affection, their hopes and dreams?

It’s time to start cherishing your children!

Be with your children as much as possible.

Snuggle with them throughout the day.

Kiss and hug them.

Tell them you love them.

Be aware of your children’s needs at all times.

Take time to talk with your children.

Rejoice with them when they rejoice.

Enjoy the time you spend with them and make sure they know it.

Take interest in their interests.

Plan special times at home or elsewhere with them – “date time”.

Life is short.

The days are long, but the years go by quickly.

Our children will be grown within a blink of the eye.

Let’s savor our children and show the world that, YES,

children are REALLY blessings!

“Something’s Better Than Nothing”–Hospitality in Our Homes

2012-01-23T23:18:00.001-05:00

This past weekend we were scheduled to have some friends over for a time of fellowship after church. Oftentimes when I have people over, I put a lot of pressure on myself to have everything perfect! You know how it goes... You want to make the perfect meal, bake the perfect dessert, don the perfect attitude, and have a perfectly spotless house.

After a busy few days, I was unable to get to the grocery store in time for "The Big Event". We were surrendered to that convenient idea of ordering pizza for lunch! Part of me felt like a failure. Part of me started to wonder if our friends would really enjoy their time as well, because, after all, everything would NOT be perfect!

You can probably guess what happened. Yep, our friends politely excused themselves from the invitation and said, "Perhaps we can come another time".

NO! Of course not!

After I sent my friend an email telling her I had “failed” and we would be ordering pizza, she encouraged me. First and "foremost, she reminded me that I was not a failure. I had spent my time on other purposeful, important things and that was good. Secondly, she reassured me that pizza would be great and that her family would think of it is a gourmet meal because they do not order out much.

When I received my friend's response, I felt a bit of relief. I was reminded, once again, that people are not looking for perfection when they come to our homes, they are looking for love and friendship.

Sometimes we do not invite people to our homes because we have fears of failure, fears of not being perfect.

The excuses are plentiful:

“We don't have enough space.”

“Their children will have nothing to do.”

“What will I do about my "hotspots"?”

“I will be so embarrassed if they see my home in this condition.”

“I won't know what to serve.”

etc... etc... etc...

and we lose out on the blessing of being hospitable towards someone AND lose out on deepening our relationships with others.

People would much rather be invited and bring a dish to pass or toys for their children than to miss out altogether.

Life is about community.

Life is about people.

Life is about serving and encouraging others.

No matter what your circumstances are, certainly you can do "something" to increase hospitality and fellowship in your home.

Something's Better than Nothing!

It is better to open our homes, imperfectly, with love, than to neglect people.

1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Challenge yourself to do just that!

Plan to invite someone over within the next month!

White Chicken Chili

2012-01-19T22:09:00.001-05:00

When I made this chili, my husband said, “YUM!” after he ate his first bite.

When he went back for his third or fourth serving, he said, “I love your cooking!” That is when I know something is really good. ~smile~

Everyone loved it!

The original recipe that inspired me is found here, but I changed it up a bit.

White Chicken Chili
Printable Recipe

3 T olive oil
2 WHOLE boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 onion, chopped
3 cups chicken broth
2 (4oz) cans chopped green chiles, undrained
3 (14.5oz) cans great northern beans, undrained
1/2 – 1 t salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1 T ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons coriander
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add chicken, stirring often, until chicken is about halfway done. Add the onion to sauté pan and cook over medium heat until onion and chicken are well-cooked. Stir in the rest of the ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Delicious!

Inspiration for the New Year: Finale–Nuggets from the Week

2012-01-14T00:22:00.001-05:00

Thank you for joining my blogger friends and me this past week for some “Inspiration for the New Year”. I hope you felt encouraged and refreshed. I did, and I had a great time joining up with our guest bloggers! Truly, it was a lot of fun!

I just wanted to review the main thoughts from the week, to sum it all up, so we could grab the nuggets and push forward in our goals for the year ahead.

Some of the week’s goals were practical, but many were perspective-challengers. Isn’t that where our goals start – with our perspective? If our hearts and minds can be fueled to feel and think the right way, we can accomplish so much more in life.

This year, as you plunge ahead, encourage yourself to:

If you are interested in printing this list, you can right click and copy the image so you can paste it elsewhere to size and print.

If you missed any posts from this past week, I encourage you to check them out!

Evaluating the Essentials	Lovin’ the Good Life!
Be Deliberate About Your Marriage	The Not-So-Together Mom
Live It Like You’ve Got It!	God Is Our Provider

Have a blessed and joyful 2012!

If you found this series helpful, please direct others here for encouragement. You can follow “The Cozy Nook” via Google Friend Connect or Facebook.

Inspiration for the New Year: Guest Post–God Is Our Provider

2012-01-13T08:09:00.001-05:00

Today’s post is from

Sarah Beth of His Loving Presence

God Is Our Provider!

Happy New Year!

Would love to share with you what the Lord has been teaching me on debt and to inspire you with a wonderful idea for the New Year!

Have you read George Muller’s biography? The book is his journal. He was a preacher in England who felt led by the Lord to not take a fixed income, simply put a box out for those who felt they wanted to give. He then opened a school and Christian orphanage. The Lord taught him to NOT rely on man, government or the church to provide for the orphanages needs: food, clothing, coal, medical and furniture. This man relied on the Lord alone for all their needs.. daily you learn how God provides! It’s amazing! George wanted to show people that you do not have to be in debt, the Lord wants to completely, 100% provide for His children.

I highly recommend this book; your faith will be strengthened!

I got to thinking after this book, how many times do I myself rush to the store to buy something we need instead pray for the Lord to provide? Even worse, how many times do we buy something that is on loan, creating debt?

The Average household debt in the United States has now reached a level of 136% of average household income. That is jaw dropping!

But what does the Bible say about debt?

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

God wants us to come to Him for the things we need and trust in Him!

I remember credit card offers kept coming in the mail, once I picked them up and thought, why not..I have some upcoming expenses. But then the Lord whispered to me, I will provide.. those mean you don’t trust in me!

Oh Lord I do trust in You! in the trash the offers went! ...and he did abundantly provide for us.

My goal, that I want to inspire you

with, is to create a:

Journal of Prayers & Blessings

When you or your family have a need…clothes, coat, shoes, car, books, something repaired, etc. anything! Write it down and pray about it.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

The Lord is so good and provides for us more then I even know, here are just a few things the Lord has provided me with:

I prayed for winter boots... just days after a family member gave me a brand new pair that she didn’t like.

I prayed for food to be provided for a family gathering during the holidays..A neighbor came by with oranges and a big ham.

I prayed for a new bed for my daughter..we had seen children’s beds for around $400.00. We found her a brand new, beautiful wood day bed with lil hearts carved and a un~used mattress, all for $30.00.

Found homeschooling books from my favorite publisher for $2.99

This journal will encourage you on those days you need it!

It is my goal to not rush to the store for things we need but to pray and give all the glory to the Lord.

I am not just talking about credit cards but also auto and home loans. In my mind I always thought that if our car acted up, we would just keep buying as new as possible, on loan. God has really opened my eyes on this type of thinking. God gave us the idea to make a payment into another account, save and use that money when the time comes and we need a new car. For now, my car isn’t brand new but it’s perfect for us!

There are so many ways to save, ask the Lord to fill you with creative ideas!

“All believers are called upon, in the simple confidence of faith, to cast all their burdens on God and to trust Him for everything." George Muller

"Prove the faithfulness of God by carrying your every want to Him." George Muller

"The borrower is SLAVE to the lender, Proverbs 22:7. So who named that "MasterCard" Anyway?" Dave Ramsey

For more information on being debt free, click here: http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/financialfreedom

I hope that you are blessed by this idea and that it inspires you greatly! If you have anything to share, maybe what God has taught you or provided for you and your family, please share!

Sarah Beth blogs at His Loving Presence where she loves to encourage women in the Lord. She has been a helpmeet to her husband Jon for 7 years. They have three beautiful children. She is a full-time mother and has been homeschooling for three years~loving it! She loves to cook and make homemade everything from buttermilk ranch to laundry soap… She loves herbal teas, herbal medicine, and reading. She and her family have been living in Nevada for over 3 years but will be moving back to her home state of Michigan this spring.

Inspiration for the New Year: Guest Post–The Not-So-Together Mom

2012-01-12T08:53:00.001-05:00

Today’s post is from

Lisa of Stop and Smell the Chocolates.

The Not-So-Together Mom

Some days in my world require a Venti Starbucks. My life really isn't all that difficult - I'm not complaining! But I'm a Type B C sort of person, laid back and a daydreamer. Domesticity does not come naturally to me (in fact sometimes I wonder if I might be allergic to housework). Homeschool Teacher and Chef are not at the top of my list of strengths. Extreme stacker of paperwork sadly IS a strength. I'm a procrastinator and a slowpoke and usually at least 5 minutes late. I'm not so together. I'm not perfect. Not even remotely close.

I want to keep my house clean and dust-free. I want my laundry to always be folded and put away. I want my floors to shine. I want all paperwork to be organized. I want to cook a delicious and nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner for my family - all in the same day. I want to be the best and most fun homeschool teacher. I want to be a wife that always treats my husband with kindness and respect. I want to be a mother that can solve any problem. I fall short.

Sometimes the feeling of falling far short of expectations threatens to overwhelm me. But I try not to let it. Instead, I work on picking myself up, dusting myself off, and striving to do better. I know that I will fall short again - probably tomorrow; more likely by the end of this day. Why keep trying? Why keep striving to do better when it seems that I am never going to have it all "together?" Because the Lord has called me to be a wife, a mother, a keeper of the home, and His child. I know that He will help me to do it all to His glory, even when I'm not so together.

Do you look at other moms and wonder how they do it all? Or do you look at other blogs and think they must really be on top of things? Remember that whether in real life or on a blog - you are only seeing an edited snapshot of a life. No matter how it may appear to you, every mom has a time (or maybe all the time) when she feels not-so-together. None of us is perfect. And that is a blessing and a comfort!

We're in this messy life together and we can encourage each other as we ask for God's help and strive to do better. I think He likes us to be not-so-together because then we need Him more. When we ask for God's help and put Him first in our lives, the rest of it starts to fall into place a little more. It starts to come together. And then there is joy. Joy in the striving and the falling short and the trying again because of Love. It brings our focus away from not-so-together and brings it toward together-forever, with Him.

I'm thankful for the many ways the Lord has blessed my life and that He helps me daily! I'm thankful that He loves my not-so-together self. And I'm thankful for Starbucks and chocolate too. :)

Are you a not-so-together mom like me? May I offer you a virtual hug today and let you know that you are not alone in your daily struggles? Let's help each other to look Up for a moment and find joy. Let's find the blessings tucked away in our not-so-together world.

Have a blessed day friends!

Lisa :)

Lisa started blogging as a hobby in April 2008. She is blessed to be a stay-at-home mom and considers herself an imperfect homemaker. She blogs about many subjects, including yummy recipes, mainly at Stop and Smell the Chocolates. She is also a contributor at Pennies and Blessings.

Inspiration for the New Year: Lovin’ the Good Life

2012-01-11T00:05:00.001-05:00

Lovin’ the Good Life

Is your life good?

Is your life great?

Is your life excellent?

It probably is, and you aren’t even thinking about it!

Electricity.

Heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

A home to call your own.

An automobile or two!

~~Good~~ Delicious (!) food.

The privilege of dining out.

Loving family members.

Children.

A committed marriage.

Money to pay the bills and beyond.

Vacations.

Computers and internet access.

Caring friends.

Sunshine.

Pure water.

Information and knowledge beyond measure.

The freedom to worship God.

Salvation.

Peace that passes understanding.

and on and on and on…

Do you enjoy any of these blessings?

With such wonderful blessings, why would anyone ever think she doesn’t live a good life?!

The monsters of discontentment and perfection are there to help!

Have you ever thought your marriage was pretty decent until you heard a Christian radio broadcaster say you should be going out on a date once a week?

Have you ever felt so blessed to be with your children until they spilled the milk, didn’t empty the dishwasher, made a mess in the living room, and disobeyed within the span of five minutes?

Have you ever been happy with your home and family life until you visited someone else’s perfectly clean and decorated home and then felt like a failure?!

Have you ever felt pretty good about your appearance until you saw the latest beauty queen on the front of a magazine?

Imperfection is everywhere!

Competition is everywhere!

For us, the challenge is to get away from “everywhere” and live right where we are, “in whatever state I am”.

Philippians 4:11

…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound.

Are you content with your life?

Are you livin’ the good life and not even knowing it?

Step away from the ruler of man and step into the good life that God has given you!

Ecclesiastes 5:18 –20

¹⁸ Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. ¹⁹ As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God. ²⁰ For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

May God help us love our GOOD lives!

Inspiration for the New Year: Guest Post - Live It Like You’ve Got It!

2012-01-10T08:27:00.001-05:00

Today’s post comes from Leslie of “Three and Me”.

Live It Like You’ve Got It!

It was one of the scariest moments of my life. Our 6 year old daughter was having her third and most severe seizure, right there in my arms. For ten heart wrenching minutes, we pleaded to God to make it stop and to help our little girl. I honestly felt like I could lose her at any moment, frantically watching her breathe and feeling her heart beat out of control. Finally, she stabilized, and after a few hours at the hospital, we were sent home with more questions than answers. Unfortunately, some of those questions were answered a week later, when a doctor told us she had epilepsy.

Even though I figured that would be the diagnosis, it still hurt to hear it. Why did she have to go through this? She had been through so much in six short years- a congenital heart defect, eye surgery, and now this. I was feeling very discouraged and worried. Immediately, I ran to my friends and family for support, sharing it on Facebook, and asking for advice. I got many encouraging and helpful comments, along with heartfelt prayers. It made me feel better but somehow not peaceful. My husband, on the other hand, was confident and calm, and it bothered him that I "announced" the diagnosis on Facebook as if it were true. What? Um, a doctor told us it was true. Did my husband not see what I saw? I was not only confused, but hurt that he was discouraging me to talk so openly about "my problems". Isn't that what they say helps to get through things? What was wrong with getting support and advice from friends, as well as prayer for our daughter? Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. What right did he have to say that I shouldn't be talking about it like this? Apparently, every right, because unlike me at the time, he truly believed his little girl was already healed.

Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. James 1:5-6

We've all heard the phrase "I believe it and I receive it!”, but do we? Or are we only believing it with our heads, and not with our hearts? If you are still speaking negatively, or in a way that is claiming the problem instead of the promise, then you are not receiving the healing! It is not penetrating your heart. You are still living like you have the problem. I said that I believed my daughter was healed, but then when she'd get a headache or get sick, I'd fall right back into the thinking of "what if". I was like that wave, tossed by the wind.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. Hebrews 11:1

What is the evidence of your faith? It’s believing the things unseen! In our natural mind, we believe in what we can see. I could see my daughter having seizures. I could see the doctor giving the diagnosis. What I couldn't see with my natural eyes was her healing. That was the thing unseen. Yet that is what God calls having faith. That was the thing I needed to see with my spiritual eyes.

For we walk by faith, not by (natural) sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (my emphasis)

I heard this quote recently, and it really touched my heart:
Faith is the picture of the completed plan that you see in your spirit, and the living out of that plan in obedience as if it is already done.

For me, that boils down to, "Live it like you've got it!" You have to live your life as if the thing is already done, as if your situation is already taken care of, even if that is not what your natural eyes see. To God, it is done, it was done at the cross (Isaiah 53:5). It is up to us to start not only believing and receiving, but believing and LIVING!

So in this new year, will you strive with me to "live it like we've got it"? Will you look at your life through spiritual eyes, seeing what God sees, seeing the unseen? It is the only way that we will truly have victory in our lives.

For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:22-23

May God bless you this coming year with His healing, His heart, and His eyes!

Leslie blogs at Three and Me. She is a Christian wife to a wonderful husband and is a homeschooling mama to the “best three kiddos in the world”! She is learning to follow God's leading in all she says and does, even if that means taking the narrow road.

Inspiration for the New Year: Guest Post - A Deliberate Marriage Relationship

2012-01-09T00:12:00.001-05:00

Today’s post comes from

Charlotte of “Joyful Heart and Faces”.

A Deliberate Marriage Relationship

Next month my husband and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage. When we were first married, I couldn’t imagine that I would ever have to work at my marriage; I loved this man so much and it had been so easy to fall in love with him.

In the next few years we had 4 beautiful children. We grew older. Time passed, and most days seemed like any other.

A couple years ago, I was going through my day and realized that I hadn’t kissed my husband in 4 days. That would have been unheard of in our first couple of years of marriage! What had happened? In some ways I think I had gotten too used to his presence. He would come home at the same time each day; we would eat dinner, play with the kids, read a little and then off to bed. Our marriage was not in any danger of ending, but maybe it was on its way to becoming stale.

And from some conversations with others, I knew I was not alone.

Why is it that our marriages get dull? Maybe I was taking my husband for granted. I needed to remember that being married was a blessing; his friendship was cherished. Or maybe I came into the relationship thinking I could change him. Maybe as we aged, both of us changed. But that shouldn’t matter; my perspective as a wife needs to be to love my husband for who he is, not who I want him to be.

Marriage does need work. I needed to put effort into our relationship. To become romantic again. To remember that he was and still is my best friend. Really, my relationship with him, after my relationship with my Savior, is the most important one I have. Someday my children will be starting their own families, and the friendships I have today might be gone or changed. But the one constant relationship I will always have until I die, is with my husband.

We need to be deliberate about our marriages and put the effort into it when it becomes uninteresting; before we grow so far apart that we don’t get along. And being deliberate means making some plans. One of the few things I have done is to plan a date night at least once a month with my husband. Sometimes it is out for a nice dinner, other times it is just a walk to a coffee shop. I make a point to kiss him at the door when he comes home at night. I make an effort to engage in conversations with him; good, meaningful talks about things that he is interested in. And we try to leave the kids with their grandparents once a year and get away for a couple of days, just the two of us.

The marriage relationship is so important. This year, don’t neglect your spouse. Be deliberate about your relationship. Make plans to foster your marriage. Remember your love.

We never know whom we marry; we just think we do. Or even if we first marry the right person, just give it a while and he or she will change. For marriage, [being the enormous thing it is] means we are not the same person after we have entered it. The primary challenge of marriage is learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married. --Stanley Hauerwas

Charlotte blogs at Joyful Hearts and Faces. She lives with her family in sunny California where she is growing in grace every day. She is a help meet to her husband, a stay at home mom to her four precious children, a homeschool teacher, and everything else that goes along with that description. She enjoys cooking for her family, gardening, amateur photography, reading to her kids and spending quiet evenings with her husband. But most important she is saved by grace, unconditionally by our sovereign Savior.

Inspiration for the New Year: Evaluating the Essentials

2012-01-08T00:04:00.001-05:00

January 8 – January 14

Welcome to our week of inspiration!

I am excited about the week ahead. Each day I have something to share with you, from myself and four other blogging friends!

Enjoy and be blessed!

Evaluating the Essentials

"Take Care of You!!!"

That is what the sign at the health center shouted at me.

It is also what the Lord and life have been shouting at me.

Life has taken me by storm at times. The demands upon my life have exponentially increased within the past few years, draining me in every aspect of my life. Sometimes I wonder how I can keep going, how I can take care of all of these people and needs all the time. It can be overwhelming at times.

One day it dawned on me... I am not taking care of myself as I ought.

I began to think about the some of the key areas of life, necessities for a good, strong thriving life.

When I evaluated each area, I realized why I have felt so tired and unable to push ahead so often. I am taking care of myself very poorly. I am failing in just about every area. How can I expect to keep pushing forward and drain water from a well that is becoming dry?

I ask you this New Year, as you long for change and good things in your life:

How well are YOU taking care of YOURSELF?

Grade yourself. Write down on a sheet of paper how you are doing in each area, between 1 and 5, with 5 being exceptional. When you are finished, total the numbers. What is your grade point? 25 - 30 = A, 19 – 24 = B, 13 – 18 = C, 7 – 12 = D, lower than 7 = E, Are you happy with your report card? Even if your overall score is pretty good, is there an area or two GLARING at you?

Think about how you can take better care of yourself this year.

When we take better care of ourselves, we can be better people for Jesus, better wives for our husbands, better mothers for our children, and better friends for those we love.

Starting January 8: "Inspiration for the New Year" with Guest Posts!

2012-01-04T21:44:00.001-05:00

January 8 through January 14

Join us next week as we welcome the new year with some encouraging and inspiring posts from some special guests and a word or two from little ol' me.

Marriage, motherhood, faith, and more!

Pour yourself a cup of tea, grab your notebook,

and prepare your heart for the year ahead!

Forging into the New Year, Reflecting on 2011 Posts

2011-12-31T10:15:00.001-05:00

The new year is about to begin! It is hard to believe! The Christmas season always seems to fly, leaving just a hint of time to start squeaking out a list of hopes and dreams for the new year. This week we were endowed with the beloved stomach “flu” - yes, our entire household, except for our niece who was probably thankful she was visiting elsewhere! I haven’t had much time to regroup this week, but I AM looking forward to starting a new year. Starting something fresh, with a clean slate, always feels good.

As we head into the new year, I thought I would review some of my posts from this past year to fuel us.

May you be blessed as you reflect upon the many blessings you have had this year and look forward to what God has in store for the future!

Personal Growth:

Finding Your Niche

Discouraged or Encouraged?

Protect Yourself

Embracing and Promoting Work

Marriage:

Marriage Getaways

Are You Dating Your Husband?

Motherhood:

Seeing the “Simple” as Superb

There will be Fruit

Keeping Focus

Cooking:

Cake Extravaganza (included Confetti Cake, Ice Cream Sandwich Cake, Chocolate Cakes, Red Velvet Cake, Yellow Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter Wacky Cake, “Better Than a Hug” Cake, Root Beer Float Cake, and Sour Cream Banana Cake)

Bread for Dinner

Mexican Lasagna

Layers of Goodness – Poor Man’s Stroganoff

Homeschooling:

Homeschool Curriculum Review (included Math in Focus, Spelling Power, Spelling Workout, Horizons Math, Bob Jones English, God’s Design for Science, and First Language Lessons)

Homeschool Personalities

Our New Reward System

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T13:03:00.001-05:00

Have a very Merry Christmas!

May you be blessed with joy, rest, and peace as you celebrate the Savior of the world!

Remember Those Who Are Suffering This Christmas

2011-12-22T23:59:00.001-05:00

This Christmas I am reminded that so many people suffer.

Many suffer with grief as they remember their loved ones who have passed on.

Many suffer from loneliness.

Many suffer from poverty.

Many suffer with broken hearts.

Many suffer from devastation, like our friends and their acquaintances who live in the Philippines who just lived through a terrible flood.

While so many of us “have it good” this Christmas as we shop, wrap, sing, cook, and celebrate, there are many around us who suffer.

Please remember them!

Send a card or a simple note.

Make a phone call.

Send money or tangible goods.

Schedule a visit.

Ask God what He wants you to do to help someone.

Most of all, pray for God to be with those who suffer.

What Are Your Children Believing in This Christmas?

2011-12-22T22:32:00.001-05:00

Today I was discussing Christmas with someone, and her young son was nearby.

“Do your children still believe?”, she whispered.

At first, I had to stop and think… “What is she talking about?”

My initial internal response, being a Christian, was that she was asking me if my children believed in God. I asked her to repeat herself. Oh yeah, got it! She means do they believe in Santa? “Um, no.” That was my gracious response.

My children know about Santa. They know he is fictitious. Some would say this “ruins” their Christmas, but for us, we believe it deepens their Christmas experience.

For us, Christmas is about God sending Jesus Christ, His Son, to earth to save us from our sins. Songs like “O Holy Night” and “How Great Our Joy!” actually mean something very special to us!

We do not want our spiritual celebration to be overshadowed by Santa Claus. We want our children’s focus to be on Jesus Christ and what He can do for them.

We believe it is a blessing for our children to know that their gifts are coming from parents, relatives, and friends who love them.

We want them to know that we are blessed to give (and receive) because we have received from our God in heaven.

We want them to celebrate God’s gift of Jesus Christ – the greatest gift of all!

I ask you -

What are your children believing in this Christmas?

In whom do their hopes and dreams lie?

Santa or Jesus?

Who has been the focus of their hearts the past few weeks?

Santa or Jesus?

If you are a Christian family, I encourage you to diminish the teaching of Santa in your home and uplift and esteem the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Think about what your children are believing this Christmas.

Your Personal Celebration of Christmas

2011-12-21T13:53:00.001-05:00

All over the world there are discussions as to HOW to celebrate Christmas. Topics include gifts, parties, donations to charity, decorations, etc… Someone like me can feel overwhelmed in trying to create the perfect holiday.

In the end, the choice is up to you as to how you observe Christmas. The celebration of Christmas is just that – a celebration, a personal reflection of the values and desires of your heart.

Some may choose to celebrate by keeping things simple and humble. Others think it is important to glam things up a bit (or a lot!) and give abundantly.

Some may attend every Christmas event possible while others may choose a select few events to keep their lives more doable during this season.

Whatever you decide to do, be confident in your decision.

Have peace!

This is YOUR celebration of Jesus.

The season of Christmas should heighten our lives not drain them.

Are your activities lining up with the way you desire to celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ?

May your life be blessed as you attempt to keep in step with the meaning of Christmas – peace, holiness, generosity, fellowship, and joy!

Christmas Happenings!

2011-12-19T14:59:00.001-05:00

Christmas is finally happening at

“The Cozy Nook”!

All over Blog World, people have been talking about Christmas for weeks now! Here at “The Cozy Nook”, I’ve just been living life and trying to squeeze in Christmas here and there. With Christmas only less than a week away, it is time to get serious!

Although my blog hasn’t shown it, I *have* been preparing for and celebrating Christmas!

A couple weeks ago I went to a friend’s house for a very lovely time of fellowship. We ate delicious food, filled our need for friendly companionship, and exchanged gifts with each other.

All of the food was extremely tasty, and I made a cookie dough dip that was divine. If you follow me on Pinterest, I’ve got the recipe pinned on my “Food” board. Otherwise, you can find the recipe here.

My children made homemade gift tags by recycling old Christmas cards that a relative had given to us.

We also made Christmas wreath cookies, and my son wanted to shape some of them into trees.

Of course, I put up my Christmas tree. Brian and I surprised the kids one night, by bringing home a precious fir tree after an evening out together. I love my tree!

What have you been doing to prepare for Christmas?

I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what you’ve been doing by leaving a comment below or on my Facebook page.

Confetti Cake Pops

2011-12-13T23:19:00.001-05:00

I made confetti cake pops with my daughter a couple weeks ago to celebrate her birthday, and we enjoyed our time creating them! The cake pops were a great alternative to cake, since we had already eaten “real” cake with her friends a few days before her actual birthday.

If you are looking for a treat to make this Christmas season – for a special gathering, as a gift, or just to have some fun in the kitchen, I would recommend these!

Confetti Cake Pops

9x13 pan of confetti cake

1/2 recipe of Swiss Meringue frosting

2 bags of candy melts

lollipop/cookie sticks (~50)

sprinkles of your liking

For an excellent video on how to make cake pops, check out Bakerella’s video here! That is where I learned to do the following…

First, make the cake. After it has cooled, divide it into four sections and crumble into crumbs.

Mix the crumbs and the frosting in a large bowl. Then shape into balls. Place them on a tray, covered with wax paper, into the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then place the tray in the refrigerator until you are ready to dip the cake balls.

Melt the candy melts following the instructions on the bag. Note: I used a double boiler. If you do this, you must adhere to the instructions carefully. You must put water (below the top pot level) in the bottom pot and heat alone. Once the water is simmering, remove pot from heat. THEN, place the top pot on top with candy melts inside. Stir continually for a few minutes until melted.

Place the end of a stick into the melted candy, about one half inch. Then insert into a cake ball. Tenderly dip the cake ball into the melted candy, until well-covered. Gently tap off excess by tapping on your hand that is holding the stick rather than the stick itself to be careful not to lose the ball on the end of your stick!

Splatter sprinkles of your choice upon the cake balls.

Allow treats to dry upright. We used tall glasses.

You can purchase treat bags and ribbons to place atop the cake balls if you would like to gift them once they are dry. We did this for my niece’s basketball team, and they absolutely loved them. ~smile~

~ Enjoy! ~

Are You Dating Your Husband?

2011-12-07T22:06:00.001-05:00

Today is the 14th anniversary of my engagement to my beloved husband. It is a special day that brings back special memories. I think of the wonder in our relationship at that time, the awe we had for one another, the butterflies in my stomach, and the love that filled the air! What a joyous time!

Here and now, we are lucky to make it through each day – or so it seems. We are raising five children – from teen to toddler, homeschooling our children, juggling my hubby’s hectic job, serving at our church in multiple ways, and trying to live life as God calls us to live. Life is definitely full and busy! In the midst of everything, it is easy to lose the fervor in our marriage relationship. When the days are full of more than enough “care” for each day, evenings are spent separate - focusing on our various duties, and the day closes with a wish that “we could end the day together, and he would get more than four hours of sleep each night”, closeness suddenly seems so distant.

However, as I reflect upon this wonderful day – the day I betrothed myself to the man I love, I realize once again that I need to remember to date my husband.

No, I don’t have to escape the four walls of my home to do this precious task. I can simply start within the secret places of my heart.

I can start with a wonderful, respectful attitude that praises my husband and longs to be with him.

I can overlook his faults and our differences and love him utterly and thoroughly.

I can look for small (and big) ways to bless him each and every day of our lives together.

Are you dating your husband?

Make sure you add that to your Christmas “to do” list!

May God help us be superb wives who have intimate and awesome relationships with our husbands – relationships upon which the world will look and see Christ and His church.

Ephesians 5:31-33

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Sweet Treats–Homemade Gumdrops and a Spectacular Chocolate Cake

2011-12-05T23:38:00.001-05:00

My daughter’s birthday usually starts the process of making fun goodies, taking us through the holiday season. A couple weeks ago we made homemade gumdrops. They were fun to try.

You can find the recipe here at “Bakerella”.

When we made the gumdrops,

we put them in a mini loaf pan to set.

That worked well for us. Our pan was non-stick, so the molds came out quite easily.

The recipe says to let the mixture set overnight in the refrigerator before you cut and coat the pieces with sugar. We let it set about eight hours throughout the day, and that did not seem to be enough. After our first coating of sugar, the gelatin started to melt a bit after a while. I put the pieces back in the frig. for several more hours and then coated the pieces again, since the sugar seemed like it had dissolved or something. All of this to say, I would recommend a long overnight set – like 12 hours or more – before cutting and coating!

We used lemon extract, almond extract, and vanilla extract to flavor the gumdrops. Almond was voted as the favorite with lemon a close second.

For my daughter’s birthday cake, we wanted something with the deep, vibrant colors of autumn. We found a cake décor that we loved via “RecipeGirl” that looked too good to be true for us chocolate lovers.

First we made a Hershey’s Perfectly Chocolate Cake with applicable frosting.

Then….

Then….

Then!!!

We added Kit Kats around the border and filled the top of the cake with M&M’s.

Doesn’t it look so colorful and magnificent?

If you are planning to make a birthday cake for Jesus this year, maybe this is the one! ~smile~

(Coming soon! – Funfetti Cake Pops)

Keeping the End in Sight

2011-12-02T17:09:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago we started remodeling our family room. It is a project we wanted to do. It is a project for which we thought we were ready. It is a project where we thought we could “stick to the budget”.

However, now that it has begun, life seems to be a bit disheveled, and I am having a hard time keeping a good attitude.

You see, this “little” project has affected our lives tremendously. It is costing us more time and money than we were planning. We included a couple add-ons, like moving a doorway over, extending our kitchen floor, and redoing our fireplace. Those additions are bringing about extra projects, like replacing the kitchen floor since we now have an extension built onto it!

As with most projects, we ran into various glitches along the way. One problem we found was a water leakage into our wall and fireplace area. Fun!

Today I came home from a day at the homeschool co-op, only to find a thick layer of dust from the drywall sanding covering the entire family room and kitchen floors. There is also a thin coating of dust covering my kitchen area, including *clean* dishes, past the plastic “walls” that were put up to protect it. Yes, this project is affecting other rooms of my house now, as the dirt and debris travels through the air and upon soles of feet.

Through all of this, I have to tell myself to keep the end in sight! It can be very discouraging to live through this – with so much mess, items scattered around my house waiting for their “home” to be finished, and a non-functioning, crucial room.

If I can somehow remember what the end will look like, I can bear up under this extra pressure right now. I can clean the dust with joy. I can justify the extra time and money we are pouring out.

My mind starts to spin, and I think about how this applies to life itself – particularly when things come our way, and we aren’t quite prepared for all they bring to our lives.

God is wise, and He knows all.

He sees the end of everything.

He knows our situations and plans them carefully so they bring about the fruit He desires.

If you are going through something in your life right now, trust God! Remember that even in situations where we *d0* know the end, it can be very difficult to live them out. All the more, we must trust our God and know that He loves us, cares for us, and sees a good end!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Pomanders: A Simple, Festive, and Fragrant Craft

2011-11-28T22:21:00.001-05:00

Last week my daughter had a few friends over to celebrate her 8th birthday, and this is what we made:

Pomanders!

They are very simple to make. We had a lot of fun making them and absolutely adored the smell! Of course, we did it in the midst of soothing piano music and lit, apple pie tea candles. That helps too!

You will need:

oranges
sharp toothpicks
whole cloves
cinnamon sticks
ribbon

First, think of the design you will want on your orange.

Then, start poking holes into the orange with your toothpick and fill them with the whole cloves - stem side in, of course.

Once you have created the design you desire, secure a cinnamon stick to the top of the orange with ribbon that you wrap from the base of the orange and tie in a firm knot at the top. Curl the ribbon, if desired.

Smell the wonderful fragrance and enjoy your creation!

Find a special spot in your home for your treasure. I hung mine above my kitchen sink. ~smile~

Take Time to Be Thankful

2011-11-22T22:45:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is nearly here. The talk has been going on for a while…

“What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Are you hosting dinner?”

“What will you be cooking?”

“Are you doing any crafts with your kids?”

“Have you made any special decorations?”

“Oh, and what about Black Friday? Are you participating?”

All of this chatter is somewhat necessary as we connect with everyone and talk about one of the most important holidays of the year.

However, through it all, we must take the time to reflect and be truly thankful.

We must allow our hearts to be searched.

We must allow our negative, shallow thinking to be transformed by the beauty of God’s goodness once again.

We must put aside our perfect expectations of ourselves, the holiday, and all involved and simply enjoy our families and the great bounty of blessings God has bestowed upon us.

Don’t worry about Christmas yet. Take time to enjoy Thanksgiving.

Be thankful. Truly thankful.

And rest in His goodness with celebration.

Surely, we are blessed beyond measure!

Happy Thanksgiving!

God Chooses the Heartache

2011-11-15T22:38:00.001-05:00

Over the past few months, I have been reminded of the heartache in people’s lives:

*Two church members lost their spouses, within the same week.

*A woman told me the story of how she lost her firstborn daughter at 2.5 years old, about seven years ago.

*Another woman’s children have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses.

*A young couple’s lives have been changed, possibly forever, due to brain and other damage the husband received due to a car accident.

*A friend’s daughter has been diagnosed with epilepsy.

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. . .

Life is not easy in this world. All of us will have trials. Life is nowhere near perfect. It is full of sin, for now, until the Lord restores it some day, and God uses that “sin”, that “weakness”, that “imperfection” to test and try His people.

Through all of life’s difficulties, I am reminded of this:

God chooses the heartache and hardship.

We choose the response.

Wait! Say that again…

God chooses the heartache and hardship.

We choose the response.

When trials come our way, we can choose to shake our fist at life, harden our hearts, and pull away from God.

- OR -

We can choose to humble ourselves, probably with many tears, before our Almighty, Sovereign God who loves and cares for us greatly and has an awesome plan for our lives.

What will your response be?

I admit. I have not always responded well to life’s tests. I have desired to flee from them, at times, and find a different course for myself. However, that is not what the Christian life entails.

The Christian life is about surrendering our lives and wills to HIS.

Will we accept and embrace what He has given or will we shun it and move away from the very path God has made for us in life?

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Cooking with My Daughter

2011-11-11T10:02:00.001-05:00

This week my daughter helped me make a couple of our dinners. Sometimes we plan for it and sometimes she jumps right in – spur of the moment. I am thankful that she likes to cook, for it is one of my passions.

We made French Onion Soup for the first time, and that was delicious! I admit that I have never really been a big fan of french onion soup, but I find when I make things at home it will usually cause me to like something better. When you know what is going into the food and can control the taste, it helps. ~smile~

This recipe was delightful, and I would recommend it to anyone!

I gave my daughter a taste beforehand so she could recommend what we needed to tweak – a little more salt and pepper is usually the answer.

We also made a homemade tomato sauce, off the cuff, for dinner last night to go with our spaghetti. We sauteed some green pepper, onion, and mushroom with basil, parsley, garlic salt, and garlic pepper (I am currently out of REAL garlic). We added some diced tomatoes and tomato paste along with salt and pepper to taste and simmered the sauce for about a half hour. (If anyone wants the actual proportions leave a comment, and I will post a more accurate recipe).

The results were splendid! My family really liked the sauce and my daughter was THRILLED that we made it ourselves, without a recipe. She wanted to keep it a secret until everyone started eating so she could make the grand announcement!

Have you cooked something this week with your children?

I’d love to hear about it!

Crockpot Grinders

2011-11-08T14:53:00.001-05:00

A while ago I ran into this idea to make yummy, toasty sandwiches in the crockpot at “Big Red Kitchen”. With our lives being so full of activity at times and also having such a long church service on Sundays, this type of recipe serves me nicely! The woman from “Big Red Kitchen” made a grinder with Italian toppings. Check out her site for her recipe!

Crockpot Grinders

Put balls of foil in the bottom of your large, oval crockpot, along with 1/4 cup of water.

Place a round, Italian-type loaf of bread in two layers of heavy foil. My loaf was pre-sliced, so I made sure the bottom was snug tightly together when I put the foil around it.

Prepare your fillings, per each sandwich. I used turkey, cheese, tomato slices and pepper rings. I made sure to drain the pepper slices well and also used a tomato that wasn’t too ripe so it didn’t add to much moisture.

Fold the meat in half so the toppings are encased.

Tuck the meat “packets” into the bread so you skip every other opening – enough to make about six sandwiches.

Wrap foil around the sandwiches and place in a crockpot on low for a few hours or so. I actually cooked mine for five hours. “Big Red Kitchen” says two to four hours or longer.

Unwrap and eat with delight!

My family enjoyed these sandwiches thoroughly!

It’s just about as good as ordering out. ~smile~

The Sun’ll Come Out “Tomorrow”

2011-11-01T16:32:00.001-04:00

Last week my husband was due to have his last soccer practice with my son’s team. It was not only special because it was their last practice. It was also special since they were going to have a father-son scrimmage. There were good vibes for the event, but the weather looked very gloomy. Around 2:30 p.m. I texted my husband at work and told him it did NOT look good for practice. The clouds were gray everywhere, and rain was drizzling down steadily. Surely I saw no hope in sight.

Within about 20 or 30 minutes of texting my husband, this is what I saw:

I couldn’t believe my eyes! Where did this come from?!

Of course I texted my husband again and said,

“The sun is out!”

Before too long, I started to think about the life lesson in all of this. Sometimes our lives are filled with a lot of dreariness and a lot of rain. There seems to be little joy and peace, as the gloom overshadows the good. We struggle and strive with little victory.

However, we must remember that there is always hope with our God!

Even in the midst of the worst circumstances, our God is still there! Each day, month, year, and season of our lives ~even if it appears gloomy~ still has many bright spots along the way. We need the grace to embrace those sunny blessings and to remember that our season will change some day.

There will be sunshine!

In God’s economy, today is the day of salvation and tomorrow brings freshness and newness!

Yes, friends….

The sun’ll come out “tomorrow”!

Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
         And why are you disquieted within me?
        Hope in God;
         For I shall yet praise Him,
         The help of my countenance and my God.

Comforting Fall Foods!

2011-10-29T22:58:00.001-04:00

Truly I do enjoy the change of seasons. When autumn arrives, I start to picture and enjoy the cozy ambience. You know ~ candles, warm soups, blankets, the fireplace, being snuggled up with a book and/or a loved one with a cup of hot tea or cocoa.

To celebrate the season, I have been making some of those great, heart and body-warming recipes!

Here’s what I made this past week:

Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup

found here at “Crumbs and Chaos”

This soup was great! It was a novelty, containing both potatoes and sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes really enhance the color, flavor, and texture of the soup! We loved it!

Chicken Chili

courtesy of Martha Stewart

I blogged about this chili a long time ago. http://thecozynook.blogspot.com/2010/01/chili.html

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

“My Style” – recipe found here.

What is on your fall menu?

Shared at Growing Home’s Teach Me Tuesday’s Link-UP

Dealing with Expectations for Your Children

2011-10-25T07:55:00.001-04:00

Guest Post at Musings of a Minister’s Wife

Do you ever feel frustrated with your children?

If you are an honest mom, surely there are times when you do. You might feel angry and impatient and wonder “why in the world” your child is acting the way he is acting.

The Lord put something on my heart the other day regarding the expectations we have for our children.

Read the rest of my excerpt here at Musings of a Minister’s Wife. Check out what Melinda has to offer while you’re there!

Melinda Martin has lived a life full of mistakes and has only survived by God’s amazing grace. She “retired” from the corporate world three years ago and has since been making more mistakes in the avenues of homeschooling and running an online business. God has recently blessed her and set her peace-shod feet on a journey to becoming a minister’s wife. Follow along with her as she blogs about this experience over at www.MusingsOfAMinistersWife.wordpress.com. To offset her serious posts, she supplements with fun things like recipes and how to siphon gas from your lawnmower.

Making Monday Better–Our School Store

2011-10-23T17:23:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is Monday, and you know what that means… Everything is going to go perfectly! Our home will be filled with great attitudes. Everyone will want to get up early. Children all across the globe will want to do EXTRA school work, just because. Right?!

As most of us experience, Mondays can be grueling. After experiencing some recreation and relaxation over the weekend, it can be hard to get the wheels churning into full gear again come Monday!

Last week I did something that helped our Monday go so much better.

I opened our school store!

I had been thinking about doing this for a while and finally got around to getting a handful of items to start. Boy, were the kids excited!

Every item in the basket, currently, is 50 cents. I try not to spend over $1.00 for the items and just bless my kids by giving them a discount. They earn money through their pom jars and by doing extra/special chores.

Initially I was going to have the school store open on Friday. I opened it last week on Monday, since I wasn’t ready the previous Friday. Then I realized it might be better to do it on Mondays to motivate everyone! Sure enough, it was a great incentive!

The rule is that a majority of my children’s schoolwork must be done before lunch, when the store opens. That helps productivity, and I found myself not having to strive as much as usual on a Monday.

What do you do to help your Mondays run better?

Do you do anything out of the ordinary?

Tea for Two

2011-10-20T15:12:00.001-04:00

Last week my daughter had a friend visit for a couple hours. During their time together, I planned a special surprise for them:

Tea for Two!

While the girls were outside playing, I gathered some special things together to create an ambience that would make them feel cherished.

I used linen napkins for the place settings and planned to delight their palates with freshly, stovetop-popped popcorn, blueberry tea, and a salted caramel.

When the girls came to the table to see what I had created for them, they were filled with excitement! Their faces could not stop smiling for a minute or two.

Have you surprised your child

with something lately?

Be Still and Know That He is God

2011-10-17T10:33:00.001-04:00

My sweet seven year old daughter actually took this picture.

“Be still and know that I am God”

Psalm 46:10

As you examine your soul today can you say that you are “still”? Do you feel calm? …or anxious? Strong? …or weary? Joyful? …or depressed? Are you resting in God’s goodness overall or has the enemy’s ways gripped your soul?

I can say that I am learning through a very, grueling process to be still. I am learning to trust in my God and to be less affected by the things around me, to be able to surrender them to my Lord without them consuming my soul.

I have been thrust out of my comfort zone for years now. It has been a painful period of my life, as God delves into the depths of my soul to deal with the dark issues of my heart. God wants us to be at peace no matter what. He wants abundant life ~the fruit of His Spirit~ to flow out of us; in turn the flesh must die.

If you are feeling weary, trust in your God. He loves you. He cares for you. As it says earlier in Psalm 46,

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble!

Be still, my soul, and know He is God!

My Bathroom’s Facelift

2011-10-13T21:16:00.001-04:00

Last week my family was gone for a little over 24 hours. I, being the family lady that I am, knew that it was not going to be easy with them gone in another adventuresome place without me so I had to make the best of it. I pummeled through some ideas quickly in my head and decided I would paint the bathroom! Surely that would keep my mind off what they were doing and help me to funnel my energies in a productive way. It is definitely hard to carve out a good chunk of time and energy for a project like this with everyone in the house, so I figured it was a good opportunity for me.

I have been thinking for quite some time that I would like to finish painting our house. When we moved into our house eight years ago, we knew the house needed work. We have been chipping away at landscaping, siding, gutters, molding, painting, and remodeling room by room each year. A couple of the main functioning rooms – my kitchen and main bathroom – have gone untouched, and I really thought some fresh paint would do the trick until we could get to remodeling them more thoroughly.

Yes, I painted my bathroom by myself in less than 24 hours. Yes, it was a hassle at times, running into snags. Yes, the baby took shorter naps than I was hoping during some of my painting sessions.

The paint job was a challenge.

However, now that it is finished, it is a joy!

Before I painted, the entire room was basically a Kilz white.

Now it is a cozy (yep, that’s me ~wink~), bamboo brown.

Truly, a coat of paint does wonders!

Bulk Meal Preparation

2011-10-11T00:08:00.002-04:00

I have always admired the “Once a Month” bulk cookers. However, I did not think I could ever do it myself. It seems like a lot of work and time to get much of the food prepared for a month’s worth of meals ~ all within a day’s breath. Lately, though, I have been evaluating my meal preparations and realize that I could (and should!) combine some of my efforts to make things simpler for some of my dinners.

Currently I buy my ground beef at the local fruit market. If I buy at least three pounds, I get a discount. In the past I have bought the meat, used what I could within a couple days, and divided the rest into suitable portions for the freezer. Recently, it dawned on me… I could oftentimes brown most of the meat simultaneously to help with future meals.

Today I took out my five pounds of ground round, and divided it into three portions: one two-pound section and two 1.5-pound sections and placed them into separate pans/pots.

I chopped all of the necessary vegetables for the various dishes – tacos, nachos, and Sloppy Joe’s.

I separated the ingredients accordingly and put the extra seasonings into the pans for the nachos and tacos. Once the meat dishes were finished, I used one pan for tonight’s tacos. Tomorrow I will warm up the other Mexican beef pan for nachos. The following day, I will warm up the beef that I browned with onion and pepper and simmer it with the Sloppy Joe sauce ingredients.

It took just a little bit of extra work today to help a couple dinners run more smoothly!

I like that!

How can you combine some of your meal preparation efforts to make life a little easier for yourself?

I’m Still Alive!

2011-10-05T23:11:00.001-04:00

Yes, I am still alive! It has been a while since I have blogged. Life has been consuming, for sure!

The big news for the day…

Coney Dogs!

Yes, that’s right! Nitrate/nitrite-free, beef hot dogs, smothered with cincinnati chili from a can (next time I’ll use homemade, ~wink~), topped with your choice of shredded cheddar cheese, onions, and mustard. I guess it’s fitting since the Detroit Tigers are in the playoffs right now, fighting to stay alive.

Life has been busy and complex, so the food has been simpler!

What have you been eating lately?

Sweet Treats: No Bake Cookies and S’mores Bars

2011-09-29T23:50:00.001-04:00

I have made no-bake cookies in the past without too much success. The cookies turned out alright but nothing to brag about! This recipe, however, is great! I am thinking a lot of it has to do with using quick oats. I think it helps the cookies set a lot faster and also helps them keep their shape better. Besides that, the flavor of these cookies are just decadent! My family and friends agree! ~smile~

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

Boil the following in a saucepan for ~1.5 minutes, until mixture seems well-blended, thicker, and frothy.

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa.

Remove from heat and add:

1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy …. whatever you like! I have used both).

3 cups quick oats

1 t vanilla

1/2 cup chocolate chips

I “drop” the cookies with a medium-sized (~ a Tablespoon or so) batter scooper onto wax paper. This makes a nice shape.

Let cool until hardened.

Recipe Source: Adapted from “A Joyful Noise” No Bake Chocolate Cookies

I have found so many good recipes at “Mel’s Kitchen Café”, including this one for S’mores Cookie Bars!

I made this recipe for my husband’s birthday, and my family raved about them! They said it is now one of their favorite desserts that I make!

Truly, they are delicious!

Enjoy!

A Bonding Experience

2011-09-27T18:07:00.004-04:00

This afternoon, while my toddler was napping, I called the children to the table. I offered them tea or milk and a no-bake cookie. (I will have to post the recipe for the cookies soon). I passed out copies of a questionnaire I had recently printed from the “B’Twixt and B’Tween” blog ~ a neat blog that encourages great relationships with your daughters. The questionnaire asks questions like:

What is your favorite color?

… favorite meal?

… favorite memory?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

We spent several minutes filling out the questionnaire individually and then discussed our answers. We tried to guess how each person would answer the questions. We had a fun, relaxing time as we bonded and laughed about some of our favorite and not-so-favorite things.

This questionnaire was intended to use with your daughter. I chose to do the questionnaire with all of my children. You could use it various ways ~ with your husband, with a friend, as an icebreaker at a gathering, etc.!

What a great way to get to know someone better and develop more intimacy!

You can find the questionnaire here.

Doing the Laundry

2011-09-26T13:45:00.002-04:00

Recently I shared my laundry “system” with a friend of mine. She said it helped her, so I thought I would share some tips with you.

1. Establish a good spot where people can put their laundry.

Each of my children’s rooms have a basket like this where they put their dirty items.

My husband and I actually sort our items as we put them in baskets. These baskets are in our closet and are labeled: whites, lights, darks, and other (reds, delicates, and sheets).

2. Pick a good day to tackle most of your laundry.

Mondays are my main laundry day. I like to start cycling the laundry Sunday night to get a head start. I collect all of the children’s laundry at once when I am ready to begin the process.

3. Sort the laundry so it is ready to wash!

I sort all of the kids’ laundry in my family room and start washing! If the loads are not full, I will get some of the already-sorted laundry in our bedroom and add it to the load. I proceed through the children’s loads this way first and then do anything additional that is left.

4. Cycle the laundry as continually as you can!

5. Create a system for clothes once they are folded.

When I get the clothes out of the dryer, I fold them and put them in separate laundry baskets, according to bedrooms. That way, I can drop off the baskets for unloading into drawers and closets.

What helps you get your laundry done?

Don’t Let a Bad Day Get You Down

2011-09-22T17:34:00.001-04:00

I've had a “bad day”. Two bad days in a row, in fact. The kind of days where you feel completely swamped and unable to come up for air. The kind of days where deep emotions are sitting on the doorstep of your soul.

The dishes are backlogged. Children's attitudes have much to be desired. The toddler is getting into everything! I am unable to shower before early afternoon when my baby is asleep. There seems to be more need than a single person can fulfill.

The white flag starts to raise. My soul feels great despair, YET I will encourage myself to plod on.

These moments will pass.

The dishes will get done. The children's attitudes will fluctuate. There will be periods of productivity amidst the lazy legions of time.

Are you having a bad day?

Remove yourself from your situation for just a few moments so you can refresh yourself and clear your perspective.

Find some quiet time.

Pray. Ask God for help.

Count your blessings.

God is not the author of discouragement.

He is the author of hope!

Don't despair!

Don't let this bad day get you down!

This too shall pass!

Squash Chips

2011-09-21T17:04:00.001-04:00

Remember that crookneck squash I got from my garden?

(The yellow one).

I finally did something with it today! I made Squash Chips.

Our family members are not thrilled about squash, so I tried to think of a creative way to use the squash. I did a little searching online and found the idea to make “chips” out of them.

First I cut off the narrow neck of the squash and removed the pulp and seeds from the large part.

Then I sliced the squash thin and put the slices on an oil-sprayed tray.

Next I sprayed the slices with oil and put salt, pepper, and seasoning on top. In hindsight, I put a little too much seasoning on. When the slices roast, they dehydrate and become very concentrated, so watch the amount of seasoning you use!

Roast at 425 for 15 minutes. Flip slices and roast for approximately 15 minutes more, until desired crispiness is achieved!

I’m sure you could try other vegetables like summer squash, zucchini, and carrots with whatever herbs you like!

Enjoy!

Origami Scavenger Hunt

2011-09-19T09:20:00.001-04:00

My husband’s birthday was last week. This year I bought him non-tangible gifts for his birthday, with only a computer screen and sheets of paper to announce his presents – a painting class, an upgrade to Pandora, and a Groupon coupon for go-karting with a friend. I wanted a creative way to present his gifts. The kids bought Brian a Dairy Queen gift card so he can go on a date with me. I asked my oldest son to make an origami so we could stick the gift card inside. Then it dawned on me. Why not make a scavenger hunt with origami clues to boot! Yes, that’ll do it!

My son made two pieces of origami, and I constructed the other three: a frog, star, piano, dog, and house. Inside/on each of the pieces, I wrote a clue. The initial piece said:

Of course, that was to lead him to the refrigerator where he would find the kids’ gift card.

The next clue was: “Can you check my email, please?”

That led him to the computer for his Pandora upgrade and so on…

This was a fun, creative way to display my husband’s gifts, and I didn’t feel bad for not having something “wrapped”.

The Serenity Prayer

2011-09-16T22:11:00.001-04:00

I’m sure most of you have seen “The Serenity Prayer” before.

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

My grandmother loved this prayer, and I am learning to love it more and more. The longer we live the more we see the need for serenity. We experience difficulty in life and know that we need peace and strength to endure. We need a quietness of soul and mind that will help us keep our joy.

Serenity is defined (by Merriam-Webster) as, “the quality or state of being serene”. How does MW define “serene”? Clear and free of storms or unpleasant change… shining bright and steady.

Do you long for more serenity in your life?

When I Googled “The Serenity Prayer”, I discovered something very interesting. Perhaps you know that this heartfelt prayer does not end with those four lines typed above but continues with even more great definition and purpose in surrendering to God’s will.

Read this S-L-O-W-L-Y:

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.
Amen.

~Reinhold Niebuhr

Yes friends, those are the keys for gaining serenity: living day by day, enjoying life, accepting hardship, embracing God’s will and trusting Him, realizing that we will, some day, be immensely happy – forever – with Him. Amen!

God grant me the serenity…

Making Time for Fellowship

2011-09-12T14:36:00.001-04:00

Is your calendar busy? Feeling swamped?

Don’t have time for extras?

Life can be very full at times. It seems like a person can hardly come up for air. There is a lot vying for our time, yet I want to encourage you to think about your priorities and to make sure you have time for them.

For the past few weeks I have had a few different opportunities come my way to fellowship with others. At first, I admit, I wondered how I could fit something else into my schedule. My mind starts to weigh out the plusses and minuses, and Brian intervenes and says, “Let’s do it!” Each time I have committed myself to a time of fellowship, I have felt encouraged and blessed. I may not be able to go as long as I want or as long as the event lasts, but I am happy to break out of my routine and rub shoulders with others.

God made us to need one another.

We need each other for encouragement, comfort, strength, advice, and plain ol’ fun!

The Bible heeds us to spend time with one another:

Hebrews 10:24-25

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

(I realize this verse is usually applied to corporate worship, but I think it is applicable to fellowship with the Body of Christ, in general).

This world can be pretty discouraging at times, but God gives us something to lift up our hearts – fellowship with those who love Him and follow His ways.

I challenge you to do two things:

1) Say “yes” next time you are invited to someone’s house or another event for fellowship. Make it work somehow, even if you have to propose another day.

2) Find a spot on your calendar within the next month to invite *someone* over to your home or elsewhere.

Make time for fellowship in your life!

It is the glue that holds us together and the grace that enables us to plow forward!

Keeping Toddlers Busy

2011-09-07T21:37:00.001-04:00

Last fall my baby was a few months old and people wondered how I would be able to homeschool. My comfort then was that I had homeschooled with a baby before and also knew that last fall would pale in comparison to this fall. After all, this fall I am homeschooling with a… toddler! What do you do with a toddler for the entire day?

Here are some ideas for keeping your toddler busy, whether you homeschool or not:

A Notebook and Crayons for Scribbling

Containers with Craft Pom Poms

Just be careful the toddler does not EAT them!

Chore Time

Toddlers can do things like help with the laundry, taking out clean laundry from the dryer and putting in the next wet load.

Sticker Time

This is a more interactive activity.

Peel off stickers for your toddler to place on other sheets of paper.

Playthings:

Toys that come in sets, like blocks or animals.

Safe kitchen items, like measuring cups and bowls.

Books!

… And don’t forget to use the Pack ‘N Play! ~smile~

Your child may not like it in the beginning. Persevere! Aim for small amounts of time. It is okay if you listen to a bit of crying at first. It’s for your own sanity and the rest of your household!

Enjoy your toddler!

She grows fast!

Wrestling with God

2011-09-06T21:39:00.001-04:00

You probably know the story of Jacob and how he wrestled with God (Genesis 32). Jacob appeared to wrestle with the Man for a long time, until day broke, which could be another story in and of itself. Jacob would not let the Man go “unless you bless me!”.

I can relate to this story in my life right now. I feel like I am wrestling with God. Somehow, I feel the roles are reversed, though. I feel as if God has me pinned down and is saying, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” or “unless…”

Truly God uses the circumstances of our lives to mold and shape us, to make us into the people He wants us to be. He wants to change us. He wants to get the proper response from us. He wants to see His glory and light in us, and to do that, He must deal with our flesh – our inadequacies, our fears, our sins, our dislikes… Yes, He must shake our world so we can see things in a different light and grow deeper in Him.

Are you wrestling with God right now?

Be encouraged. Jacob did, and he was forever, drastically changed – from Jacob to Israel.

Genesis 32:28

²⁸ And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

May God be praised!

Mexican Lasagna

2011-09-01T11:31:00.001-04:00

This is my husband’s FAVORITE lasagna.

If you like Mexican food, you’ve got to try this lasagna. It is delicious! The recipe makes a large 9x13 pan serving, so it is a good recipe to make if you are having guests over too! We are able to use the lasagna for two meals, which is always nice since it doesn’t happen often with a household of seven people.

*I use 12 lasagna noodles and omit the olives.

Mexican Lasagna

taken from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

*Serves 6-8

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey
1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
dash of ground cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 ½ cup frozen corn kernels, white or yellow
1 (6 ounce) can olives, chopped
9-12 no-boil lasagna noodles (I love the Barilla brand), or boil and drain regular lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup sour cream, light or regular
8 ounces cream cheese, light or regular

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9X13-inch pan and set aside.

In a large 12-inch skillet, brown the ground beef or turkey and onion over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the grease. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste. Stir to combine well and cook for about a minute. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, cayenne, oregano and salt and pepper. Mix well. Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir to combine. Add the black beans, corn and olives. Mix well and heat through, about 5 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Spread 1/2 cup sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer three (or four, depending on the brand of noodles you use) noodles over the sauce. Spread 1/3 of the sauce over the noodles. Dollop 1/3 of the sour cream and 1/3 of the cream cheese (just pinch off chunks and toss them on top) across the sauce. Sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheeses. Repeat the layers two more times until all the ingredients are used.

Cover the lasagna with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more, until the lasagna is hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into and serving.

Linked with:

Establishing Disciplines in Your Life

2011-08-30T16:40:00.001-04:00

It is not always easy to establish certain disciplines in our lives. Some may come easy for us because they fit well with our personality tendencies or loved habits. On the other hand, some do not come as easy, even when you realize the discipline would be so helpful and would make your life so much easier!

For ages I have been trying to get to bed at a decent time – before midnight would be nice. My body’s clock is so used to getting to bed late at night that is hard to steer away from that not-so-good habit. Through bearing children and trials, I have told myself nearly daily that I should go to bed earlier and wake up earlier! This week, with a new school year at hand, I have been more mindful of striving towards the goal. I have gotten to bed a smidge earlier the past couple days and have woken up earlier due to the demands of my household. I am trying to order my nights and mornings better so I can have more energy and joy, produce better fruit in my home, and help things to run more smoothly.

For now these are the nighttime disciplines I am trying to solidify.

Nighttime Disciplines

Make lunches for my husband and my niece.

Make sure kitchen table, sink, and counter are clean.

Think ahead to the next day’s schedule and meals, preparing at least my mind and other necessities in advance.

Limit computer time.

Get to bed around 10:30 so I can be asleep at 11:00.

What disciplines are you trying to establish

in your life right now?

Our School Schedule

2011-08-28T21:48:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is the big day! My niece starts school, and we try as best as we can to follow her school schedule to maintain better unity within the household. I sketched out a basic routine plan for our day. I will start with this schedule and tweak it as necessary – one of the beauties of homeschooling!

One difference from last year – doing science before lunch. We always had science right after lunch. It worked well that way since it is a group subject, and we were all together. This year I am trying to break up some of the more tedious subjects, like math and English, to see if it helps our day run more smoothly. I had heard about this concept years ago – that it helps motivation and keeping the day from becoming too cumbersome. We’ll see how it works.

I have posted our schedule on the whiteboard to try and help the kids stay on track – also something different for this year. I was inspired by “Keeper of the Home”’s visual schedule.

Do you have a schedule for your school day?

Are you doing anything different this year?

Have a blessed year ahead!

Our Garden’s Goodness

2011-08-27T09:57:00.001-04:00

The past couple years we have tried to get back into the habit of gardening. It really is a beautiful thing to grow some of your own food. It tastes great, has no chemicals, and feels so rewarding, knowing you grew the produce yourself.

Our main problem is that the local deer love to eat some of our plants, like our tomato plants especially. We have only harvested ONE red tomato. I have seen flowers and some green tomatoes, but then – voila! – everything seems to disappear. I’m assuming it is the deer’s fault.

You can see our tomato plants in this photo. The deer have chopped the tops off. We are thinking about putting a fence up next year, just around the garden, even though the idea does not appeal to us entirely. We have a fenceless yard and enjoy its look and feel overall.

Regardless of the deer, we have harvested some goodness from our garden. We are not experts at gardening, and my thumb is still pretty brown. However, we are thankful for what we *do* get.

This was last week’s harvest

… along with this lovely beauty of a cucumber!

Yes, our cucumbers have done well. We have also harvested lettuce early in the summer, some basil, chives, and squash.

What should I do with these guys?

If you have never tried gardening, I recommend it! Even if you get a small harvest, like us, it is truly a blessing!

Did you have a garden this year?

Was it successful?

Snack Dinner

2011-08-24T09:27:00.001-04:00

Ever find yourself in a pinch to make dinner, don’t have a lot of energy or groceries in the house, or you had a pretty full lunch and want to have a light dinner?

Try a snack dinner!

I will make snack dinners on Sunday nights sometimes, especially. They are fairly easy to prepare. The main thing I try to do when serving a snack dinner is to make sure I have a handful of options with variety, hopefully with some sort of protein and fruit or vegetables.

Sunday night’s snack dinner:

Cheese quesadillas, deli turkey meat, chips with hummus and salsa, cut up cucumbers, and frozen grapes.

Other good options for snack dinners:

Simple sandwiches

Boiled eggs

Bagels

Crackers and cheese

Cut up veggies

Fruit

Baked Beans

Applesauce

Muffins

Trail Mix

Leftovers…

The sky’s the limit!

What do you or would you serve in a snack dinner?

Oh, and you don’t just have to use this idea for dinner. It works well for lunches too!

The Final Countdown

2011-08-23T13:25:00.001-04:00

Last night I was fortunate to have my wonderful, spectacular husband help me organize the school shelves. I have started this project a couple other times and was interrupted. With Brian’s great organizing skills and teamwork, we were able to accomplish the task much easier!

Before

The shelves needed organizing and updating. We also turned the bookshelf. Originally it was on an angle, cornering the kitchen. Now it is in line with the wall for something different. I like it. The area feels crisp.

We took everything off the shelves and separated it according to categories on the kitchen table.

We took away what was no longer necessary on the shelves and ordered the materials by child and purpose.

After

Now I am feeling much more ready for the school year!

Other things I am brainstorming about this week:

Our schedule
A planner for me
Record-keeping

Have any tips you would like to share?

Protect Yourself

2011-08-21T10:45:00.001-04:00

Life is busy. Extremely busy. Too busy for my liking a lot of the time. I would much prefer a slower-paced life with more margin. More time to relax. More time to read. More time to spend with friends and family. Less worry. Less calendar events. Less meetings and appointments. Less information plowing through our brains each day.

In accepting the reality of my busy life, though, I am slowly learning that I must protect myself if I am going to thrive in life rather than merely survive.

How is your life going?

Are you surviving or thriving?

We have some valuable assets we must learn to protect:

Protect your time.

There is much competing for our time. Know your limits. Figure out what works well for you. Try not to overcommit. It is okay to say “no”, even to good things. In the year 2011, we have more great opportunities than one can handle. Ask God what He wants you to do.

Protect your heart.

The Bible says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23).

When our hearts are weighed down with negative emotions, we are unable to function fully up to speed. Fear, worry, anger, jealousy, disappointment, heartache - all of these emotions paralyze us and prohibit us from living the abundant life God wishes for us.

Protect your thoughts.

Negative thinking leads us on a spiral downward. If we do not catch ourselves, we can find ourselves in a rut – dwelling on negative thoughts that encourage negative emotions and negative actions, besides causing havoc to the peace of our souls.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Protect your rest.

I am continually trying to improve the amount and quality of sleep I get each night. I fail tremendously, yet I plod on, knowing that sleep plays a major factor in our mood, energy, and health for the day.

Besides getting good sleep, be sure to take mental and physical breaks when needed. Sometimes I will just go up to my bedroom for a short breather when I need to get away from the hustle and bustle of my home. It helps me to regain my focus and feel more ready to handle what comes next.

Protect your relationships.

Relationships are the crux of life. We were not made to be loners. God made us to be in relationship with one another and to work hard at maintaining good relationships. The Bible exhorts us to love, forgive, serve, and bear with one another. When we are at peace with each other, we feel encouraged and motivated to handle the issues of life.

Brian and I are learning that, as our load has exponentially increased over the years, we must strive to keep our marriage solid. Stress in life can quickly diminish the love and fervor of a marriage if we are not cautious. Frequent connection, communication, and pursuit of understanding are key to protecting our marriages.

Protect your walk with God.

The cares of life can creep in and we find ourselves following the steps of Martha rather than Mary. We are so busy with taking care of our homes and families that we forget simply to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him. We must prioritize and protect our time with God. We must escape from the crowd, as Jesus did, and have quiet, intimate moments with our Lord so He can fill us, change us, and draw us closer to Him. That is the ultimate protection for our lives because He will enable us to do the rest!

Summer’s End

2011-08-20T00:15:00.001-04:00

Last night we returned from Fellowship Camp with our church. We go each year. Once you start having children, and they are old enough to realize what is going on, it is hard to turn back! Camp is a lot of fun for them - activities, late night curfews, endless time with friends, and a lake with cafeteria-style meals to boot. What more could they want?

Fellowship Camp is a great time of just that – fellowship with our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We stay up late and enjoy each other’s company. Of course, as a mother to five children there are always snags to any vacation, but it is still nice to get away and connect with others.

Some of our vacation’s goodness:

My son was baptized! Hallelujah!

My son learned canoeing skills to finish earning his badge.

Archery is always a favorite.

Beach fun!

Now I am regrouping and fixing my eyes towards the school year that is about to begin.

How is your summer ending?

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal

2011-08-12T08:54:00.001-04:00

In our homeschool this week…

I finally ordered the rest of the bulk of our curriculum! Yay! I had big plans to do it earlier, but life happened.

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

We are actually getting ready to go on vacation soon, so I am looking forward to a break. I am hoping, most of all, to get some rest for my soul and sleep for my body! I need to come home refreshed so I can plunge into the last minute “to do’s” before school starts.

Questions/thoughts I have…

I have been thinking about devoting a day of my week to cleaning and projects this year. A friend of mine does that and I have heard of others doing it as well. It seems like it would help me keep my focus on school, mainly, the other days and not feel so burdened about the house. I can then look forward to that specific day that I know I have set apart for more household tasks. After all, isn’t that one of the main struggles for homeschool moms – juggling it all?

How do you fit in your cleaning, organizing, and other household projects?

Things I’m working on…

Goals… learning to go with the flow… relaxing about life…

I’m grateful for…
My husband who is a huge mainstay in my life. He grounds me, reassures me, and helps me so much!

I’m praying for…

I am praying the Lord will do a great work in my life so I may learn to be victorious each day. I find myself getting discouraged and overwhelmed often.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3, 5-6

Energize Yourself–Clean a Horizontal Space!

2011-08-10T17:32:00.001-04:00

“Small Notebook” did a great post about maintaining an uncluttered look even when you have a lot of items in a room. One of the keys is this: “All the horizontal spaces are clear”. It’s true. If you check out the post, you will see it for yourself. The desks, tables, and sofas in the quite full room are crisp and clean, bringing a sense of peace, order, and balance.

When I read the post, I was motivated to do a little horizontal space cleaning myself. I whipped through my kitchen and cleaned off the counter and the kitchen table. Boy did that feel so much better! I felt energized and at peace.

Which horizontal spaces in your home could use a little tidying?

Go to it! The work will be worth it.

You will feel energized!

Your home will feel like a better place.

Cone S’mores–A Fun Treat!

2011-08-08T13:57:00.001-04:00

Recently, “Life as Mom” posted about a dessert she whipped up after accidentally buying the mini ice cream cones at the store. She used the cones to make Mini S’mores Cones. When I saw the idea, a bell went off in my head. I had regular-size ice cream cones and the super-size marshmallows sitting in my pantry. Why not try a larger version?

So I did!

Cone S’mores

inspired by “Life as Mom”

Preheat oven broiler.

Put empty ice cream cones on foil lined baking sheet.

Fill the ice cream cones about halfway with chocolate chips.

Place a super-size marshmallow on top!

Make sure the top oven rack is low enough so the marshmallows have a bit of room between them and the broiler.

Broil and watch carefully! The marshmallows will cook fast!

Let sit for a couple minutes on the tray before eating.

Enjoy the rich, gooey goodness, inside and out!

A Peculiar Situation

2011-08-03T20:01:00.001-04:00

A week and a half ago, I went to a subdivision garage sale with my mother. We stopped at a sale, and I ran into these...

My soul definitely had goosebumps at the time. You see, I have been looking for chairs to go with my dining room set for about three years now. I had purchased a beautiful dining table off of Craigslist and found four antique, Jacobean chairs for a great deal from another Craigslist dealer. At the time, we only had five bodies in our home (one still in a highchair), and I figured I would find some more chairs that would coordinate decently well pretty easily... right? Wrong! I kept my eye open at stores and watched on Craigslist to no avail.

With two more bodies in our home over the past few years, I knew I needed more chairs as soon as possible. When I found the chairs at this garage sale, I couldn't believe it. Surely, they would look well with my set at home... Surely Brian would approve... Surely I would not have to hunt for dining room chairs any longer. The garage sale was about to end for the day so I had to move quickly. I ran home to Brian and showed him a photo. He approved. Yay! We hopped in the car and reviewed the furniture in person. Brian stayed with the gentlemen while I retrieved our cash from the bank.

When I returned from the bank, I found out that the man's family was in a difficult position. He had just lost his job and was losing his home too. They are renters, and the owner is selling the place. He and his wife had made a difficult decision to sell this set of table and chairs - a set that they had bought from someone else years ago and had to refinish with a lot of manpower - a set where they had dined for many, many meals. I told him how thankful we were for the chairs and how I had been looking for something to coordinate with mine for so long. He remarked that he was appreciative that the furniture would be going to a home where it was loved.

Yesterday, a knock came at the door. Brian answered it and stepped out onto the porch. I saw the man from the garage sale. Wow! Imagine that... he found us! We told him we lived in the subdivision across the street, but didn't tell him our last names or our address. How did he find us? It turns out that he has been looking for us since shortly after the sale. He had come to our house to ask humbly and politely if we would sell the table and chairs back to them. They felt they rushed into the decision about selling the items, and his wife has been heartbroken since the day of the sale. Sigh... This news brought sorrow to my own heart. After fulfilling my own hopes and dreams of finding chairs that work well with my set, I would now have to relinquish them. I really didn't even think about keeping them once I heard the request. The depths of my heart knew immediately how to answer. I had quickly asked myself things like:

What would Jesus do?

How will I feel if I don't return the furniture?

How will I feel each time I look at or use the furniture?

What would I want someone to do for me?

Even though it would be difficult, I knew I had to surrender and trust that God will grant His grace to me because of it.

Brian and I both knew in our hearts that we would have to sell that furniture back to the man. Brian called him this morning and discovered that the man and his family attend a local Baptist church and school where we have other acquaintances. What a small world!

Yes, we are not only returning this special furniture to a family who obviously needs it, but to a family who loves Jesus. Somehow I know God is in this... for some particular purpose.

My trust is in the Lord and His goodness.

The Bigger the Summer Vacation…

2011-08-01T11:58:00.001-04:00

The other day I passed an elementary school. Its sign read:

The bigger the summer vacation the harder the fall.

I thought about that for a moment before its meaning solidified. Ah yes… the more you have fun and break from the norm the harder it is to get back to school, work, and routine. I find that is true in my home. Usually we school throughout the summer – lightly – just to keep brains fresh and give some structure throughout our days. However, this summer we have hardly done any school. I realized, for my own sake, that I needed a long break. I am going through a lot in my personal life and trying to get some things in order before the school year starts. In the mean time, I do find that my kids seem to be getting lazy, even though I have them do chores each day. Somehow it seems that our break is not always serving us best. Sometimes it is hard to get good attitudes about work, and I have to contend with tired, bored souls that fill my home at times. Yes, balancing the right break with the right amount of routine and work is tricky! At least it has been for us!

How is your summer going?

Have you found a good balance?

Cake Extravaganza–Finale!–Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

2011-07-28T10:59:00.001-04:00

Thank you for joining me for my Cake Extravaganza!! I hope you enjoyed it and gleaned some new recipes for your collection.

Today is my firstborn son’s 10th birthday! To celebrate his birthday, he has asked me to make an ice cream sandwich cake. I have made this a few other times, and it is definitely scrumptious! It is an easy cake to make, especially in the summer. No baking involved! Just a bit of whipping, cutting, layering, spreading, and freezing. Voila! You’ve got yourself a wonderful cake for a great celebration!

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup sugar

12 ice cream sandwiches – 1 box

1 small jar of hot fudge sauce

Spanish peanuts (the key to this cake!)

9x13 pan

While making this cake, be sure to work quickly or freeze the cake between layers if you must.

If you want a fuller cake, you can use the same size pan – just use more of all of the ingredients.

First, make the whipped cream. Whip heavy cream with sugar until well-beaten. Place in refrigerator until you are ready to being layering.

Lay out half of the ice cream sandwiches and cut them into 8th’s.

Now, you will begin the layering. Make sure each layer is spread well before starting the next.

Place ice cream sandwich pieces into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

Spread half of whipped cream over the sandwich layer.

Spread on half of the hot fudge sauce.

Sprinkle peanuts, amount to your liking, over the entire cake.

Cut the other half of the ice cream sandwiches into 8th’s.

Repeat layers: sandwiches, whipped cream, hot fudge sauce, and peanuts.

Freeze for a few hours or overnight.

Enjoy!

Cake Extravaganza–Chocolate Cakes!!

2011-07-27T09:36:00.001-04:00

Let’s get to the real heart of the matter – chocolate! ~smile~ We like chocolate in nearly every form, including chocolate cakes! Sometimes it is hard to stray away from chocolate for dessert in our house. I have a couple chocolate cake recipes that I make that everyone adores. For their decadent taste, freshness, and homemade greatness, it is definitely worth making your own cakes!

I made this cake into a volcano for my son’s birthday.

Chocolate Dump-It Cake

2 cups sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/4 pound unsalted butter (1 stick), plus more for greasing the pan
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the pan
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon semi-coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting:

1 1/2 cups Nestle semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups sour cream, at room temperature

(I like this cake with the sour chocolate frosting, but my children do not. Oftentimes, I will make the Hershey’s chocolate frosting, recipe follows.)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, and place a baking sheet on the lowest rack, to catch any drips when the cake bakes. Put the sugar, unsweetened chocolate, butter and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Place over medium heat and stir occasionally until all of the ingredients are melted and blended. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, stir together the milk and vinegar. Grease and flour a 9-inch tube pan. (If you prefer, you can grease it, line it with parchment and then grease and flour it. This is not necessary, but parchment does make getting the cake out easier.)

When the chocolate in the pan has cooled a bit, whisk in the milk mixture and eggs. In several additions and without overmixing, whisk in the dry ingredients. When the mixture is smooth, add the vanilla and whisk once or twice, to blend. "Dump" the batter into the tube pan and bake on the middle rack until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool on a rack. (This can be tricky, so if someone is around, enlist them to help. Place a ring of wax paper on top of the cake so you have something to grab onto when turning it out.) Let cool completely.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler, then let cool to room temperature. It is very important that the chocolate and sour cream be the same temperature, otherwise the icing will be lumpy or grainy. (Test it by stirring a little of the sour cream and chocolate together in a bowl; if it mixes smoothly, it's ready.) Stir in the sour cream, 1/ 4 cup at a time, until the mixture is smooth. Taste some! It's good.

When the cake is cool, you may frost it as is or cut it in half so that you have two layers (use 2 cups chocolate chips and 2 cups sour cream).

Recipe Source: “All Things Considered”

Another delightful chocolate cake recipe for your collection is Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake. It stands wonderfully alone or you can make the Oreo variation.

Hershey’s “Perfectly Chocolate” Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with "PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING”. 10 to 12 servings.

VARIATIONS:
One-Pan Cake: Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350° F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely. Frost.
Three Layer Cake: Grease and flour three 8-inch round baking pans. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.
Bundt Cake: Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan. Heat oven to 350°F. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely. Frost.
Cupcakes: Line muffin cups (2-1/2 inches in diameter) with paper bake cups. Heat oven to 350°F. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 22 to 25 minutes. Cool completely. Frost. About 30 cupcakes.

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING”
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.

About 2 cups frosting.

Recipe Source: Hershey’s

Cake Extravaganza–Red Velvet Cake

2011-07-26T16:45:00.001-04:00

If you have never tried red velvet cake, you should! Red velvet cake has a tinge of cocoa inside and a decent dollop of food coloring to make it a pretty red color – perfect for various occasions like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and patriotic holidays.

Give it a try! This recipe is wonderful!

Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Cake Ingredients:

1 stick butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 ounces red food coloring
2 Tablespoons cocoa (heaping)
1 cup buttermilk
2 1/4 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup butter

Directions:

1. In a larger mixer bowl, cream together butter and sugar.

2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. In another bowl, mix red food coloring and cocoa until cocoa is completely dissolved. Add to the creamed mixture.

4. Mixing on low speed, add buttermilk and flour alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Mix well but do not over-beat to ensure a light fluffy cake.

5. Add vanilla flavoring, mix well.

6. Blend the baking soda into the batter.

7. Transfer into two floured and greased 9 inch round cake pans.

8. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 25-30 minutes. Cool.

Frosting:

1. Blend into a small saucepan the 3 tablespoons of flour and the cup of milk. Add the milk to the flour slowly, avoiding lumps.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture resembles glue.

3. Cool completely.

4. Cream together sugar, butter, and vanilla until fluffy.

5. Add to cooked mixture. Beat, high speed, until very fluffy. Frost cooled cake.

Recipe Source: Moms Who Think.com

Cake Extravaganza–Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting

2011-07-25T16:08:00.001-04:00

Besides confetti cake, one of my niece’s favorite cakes is yellow cake with chocolate frosting. I made this one for her 17th birthday. She and her friends loved it!

The recipe, from “Smitten Kitchen”, lists a sour chocolate frosting for the cake. However, knowing my children do not like sour frostings in general, I opted for the alternate chocolate frosting “Smitten Kitchen” recommended. It paired very nicely with the cake!

Best Yellow Layer Cake

Yield: Two 9-inch round, 2-inch tall cake layers, and, in theory, 22 to 24 cupcakes, two 8-inch squares or a 9×13 single-layer cake.

4 cups plus 2 tablespoons cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 cups buttermilk, well-shaken

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line with circles of parchment paper, then butter parchment. (Alternately, you can use a cooking spray, either with just butter or butter and flour to speed this process up.)

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, then beat in vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well and scraping down the bowl after each addition. At low speed, beat in buttermilk until just combined (mixture will look curdled). Add flour mixture in three batches, mixing until each addition is just Incorporated.

Spread batter evenly in cake pan, then rap pan on counter several times to eliminate air bubbles. Bake until golden and a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around edge of pan. Invert onto rack and discard parchment, then cool completely, about 1 hour.

Instant Fudge Frosting

also from “Smitten Kitchen”

Makes about 5 cups

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
4 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

3 sticks (12 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
6 tablespoons half-and-half or whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse to incorporate, then process until the frosting is smooth.

Frosting tip: If your kitchen is as hot and sticky as mine is in the summer, you’ll want to watch a frosting like this carefully to make sure it doesn’t get too melty and soft. If it does, periodically put the bowl of frosting and your partially frosting cake back in the fridge to let it firm up and cool down again, then resume where you left off.

Planning to write on your cake? Whirl all of the frosting ingredients except the melted chocolate in the food processor until smooth. Set aside a half-cup of the white frosting for tinting and writing, then add the chocolate to finish making the frosting.

Cake Extravaganza–Root Beer Float Cake

2011-07-24T14:05:00.001-04:00

When I came across the recipe for a Root Beer Float Cake, I knew I had to try it. My husband loves root beer floats, and I thought it would be fun to surprise him with it some time. I decided to make it for Father’s Day.

Like me, you probably get a certain taste in your mind when you think about a food. I thought this cake would taste just like a root beer float – of course, if I ate it with ice cream. It didn’t, but it was still absolutely superb!

Rich. Dark. Moist. With a hint of root beer flavor.

If that is what you are looking for, this is the recipe for you!

Root Beer Float Cake

Yield: One 10-inch bundt cake

Prep Time: 30 minutes | Bake Time: 35 to 40 minutes

For the Root Beer Bundt Cake:
2 cups root beer (do not use diet root beer)
1 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
1¼ cups granulated sugar
½ cup dark brown sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1¼ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

For the Root Beer Fudge Frosting:
2 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled slightly
½ cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup root beer
2/3 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
2½ cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F*. Generously spray the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray, or butter the pan and dust with flour, shaking out the excess flour; set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, heat the root beer, cocoa powder and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the sugars and whisk until dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together.

4. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs until just beaten, then whisk them into the cooled cocoa mixture until combined. Gently fold the flour mixture into the cocoa mixture. The batter will be slightly lumpy, which is okay. Do not overbeat it, as it could cause the cake to be tough.

5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time, until a small sharp knife inserted into the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Gently loosen the sides of the cake from the pan and turn it out onto the rack.

6. To make the Root Beer Fudge Frosting, put all of the ingredients in a food processor. Pulse in short bursts until the frosting is shiny and satiny, scraping the sides of the food processor a couple of times. (If you don’t have a food processor, simply throw it all into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl using a hand mixer and mix on medium-low until combined and satiny smooth.)

7. Use a spatula to spread the fudge frosting over the cake in a thick layer. Let the frosting set before serving. Store leftovers wrapped well or in an airtight container at room temperature.

*Note: If you are using a dark, nonstick pan, heat the oven to 300 deg. F.

Recipe Source: Brown Eyed Baker

Cake Extravaganza–Confetti Cake

2011-07-23T12:28:00.001-04:00

When my daughter asked for a confetti cake for her seventh birthday, I knew I wanted to find a homemade version. My niece is also a lover of confetti cake, and she loves this recipe! I actually used this recipe to make confetti cupcakes for my niece’s basketball sleepover. They were a huge hit!

Confetti Cake

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 cup rainbow sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease the bottom and sides of two 9″ round cake pans and line with parchment paper. Grease parchment and set aside.

2. In an electric mixer, beat all ingredients together except the rainbow sprinkles. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally.

3. When mixed well, fold in the rainbow sprinkles. Stir only briefly so the colors don’t start to run. Pour batter evenly into pans.

4. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on wire racks.

Recipe Source : Sprinkle Bakes or Amanda’s Recipe and Beauty Finds

Cake Extravaganza–Chocolate Peanut Butter Wacky Cake

2011-07-22T07:55:00.001-04:00

This chocolate cake is “wacky” because the frosting is actually broiled on! The cake is deliciously moist, and the frosting is not overly sweet, is tasty, and has a bit of texture due to the broiling.

I last made this cake for a birthday of a friend of ours who likes chocolate and peanut butter. Sure enough – it was a hit!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Wacky Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cups white sugar

10 tablespoons butter, melted

2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

2 cups warm water

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup butter, softened

Directions

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa, and white sugar.

To the sifted ingredients, add the 10 tablespoons butter or margarine, vinegar, and warm water. Mix thoroughly, but do not beat. Pour batter into ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove cake from oven, but keep it in the pan.

Cream together peanut butter, brown sugar, milk, and 1/4 cup butter. Spread icing onto cake. Place under broiler until brown and bubbly.

Recipe Source: All Recipes.com

Cake Extravaganza–Sour Cream Banana Cake

2011-07-21T13:03:00.001-04:00

I admit. We are usually a “chocolate family”. We tend to eat chocolate cakes and desserts for special occasions. However, for my children’s first birthday, I bring out the banana cake recipe. Each time I make this recipe, I hear the “oohs” and “aahs”, even from people who aren’t normally banana lovers. The cake turns out very moist and flavorful.

For my daughter’s first birthday this year, I used the recipe to make cupcakes. I just decreased the cooking time and watched them carefully. I figured a cupcake was a perfect size for a one year old. Plus, cupcakes are the rave these days! I piped the frosting, too, to fit in with the rest of the cupcake world. ~smile~ They weren’t perfect, but they sure were delicious!

Sour Cream Banana Cake

*I do not use the walnuts when I make this.

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter
4 large eggs
4 large or 5 small bananas, mashed
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 9-inch round cakepans or a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Set aside.

In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, cream brown sugar and 1 cup butter, add eggs one at a time; beating well after each addition. Add bananas, flour mixture, 1 cup sour cream and vanilla. Stir in nuts.

Pour batter into prepared pan(s). For 9-inch pans, bake for 30 to 40 minutes; for 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until cakes test done when wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

For cake baked in 9-inch pans, cool for 10 to 15 minutes on wire rack before removing from pans. Cool completely before frosting.

To Make Frosting: Mix 1/2 cup of butter , 4 cups powdered sugar and 1/4 cup sour cream (more if needed). Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and beat until fluffy and of spreading consistency.

Makes 12 servings.

Recipe source: Cooks Recipes.com

Cake Extravaganza - "Better Than a Hug" Cake

2011-07-20T21:43:00.002-04:00

I’ve had this in my mind for a long time now, and it just needs to get out!

Have you ever wanted some good, homemade cake recipes to add to your repertoire? I thought so! I’ve got some tried-and-true cakes that you can make for birthdays and other special occasions. Over the next week, I’m going to share various types of cakes with you: chocolate varieties, confetti, banana, and even an easy ice cream sandwich cake!

Today is my mother’s 60th birthday (Happy Birthday, MOM!), so I have decided to start today! The extravaganza will end on another important day, July 28 – my son’s 10th birthday!

Grab a cup of tea, your recipe book, and maybe a friend!

Today I am going to share a recipe I have made a couple times, including today for my mother’s birthday. It is decadently delicious! If you like moist, rich, flavorful, dreamy chocolate cakes, you will want to try this one!

"Better Than a Hug" Cake

1 recipe of Hershey’s Deep Dark Chocolate Cake, made in 9x13 pan

1 can of sweetened condensed milk
~1 cup of caramel syrup
~1 cup of chocolate syrup
6 Heath bars (toffee bars), crushed

Homemade Whipped Cream: 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, whipped with 1/2 cup of sugar.

Make the chocolate cake. Once fully baked, let stand for about five minutes. Then poke small holes throughout with a fork or toothpick. Pour sweetened condensed milk over top and even out with a spreader. Drizzle 3/4 cup each of chocolate and caramel syrups over the top and add 3/4 of the crushed toffee. Allow cake to cool for a while so whipped cream doesn’t melt when you put it on. Spread whipped cream over the top and drizzle again with remaining chocolate and caramel syrups and sprinkle with remaining crushed Heath. (You could do this last step just before you are ready to serve or eat the cake).

For a simpler, less homemade version check out the original recipe at “Comfy in the Kitchen”.

Natural Skin and Hair Care–Part Two

2011-07-15T08:22:00.002-04:00

First of all, a note regarding my last post on the oil cleansing method:

You do not have to use the method twice a day. I use it once a day, each night before bed. I have read of other women using it less. When I am not cleansing with the method, I simply use water to cleanse my face.

Last time I shared with you how to care for your skin. Today I will share with you a simple, natural method for obtaining soft, clean hair! Just as the oil cleansing method seems to be making its way around the web, the “No Shampoo” way appears to be the newest craze in caring for hair. Even a couple months ago, I discovered that a friend of mine had also started cleansing her hair this way.

So what is “this way” you ask?

Yes, baking soda and apple cider vinegar!

Some of you are probably familiar with using these ingredients for your hair or maybe just for other cleaning around the house. Others of you are probably shocked and amazed at this combination and wonder why in the world anyone would put this stuff in her hair!

Whatever category you are in, I encourage you to try cleansing your hair more naturally, even every once in a while. This method is economical, natural, and does the job well! I will admit… You don’t feel the lathery, sweet-smelling sensations that you do with normal shampoo and conditioner, and that may turn some of you off immediately. Sometimes, it is a true act of faith, as I rub these ingredients through my hair to get the simple and good results I am looking for. However, in the end, even as my niece testified the other day, my hair feels soft and supplely clean.

How to make your shampoo and conditioner:

I found a couple plastic, squeeze bottles at my local hardware store. Make sure you use plastic because you don’t want to be dropping glass bottles in the shower!

Shampoo: Mix 1 T baking soda per 1 cup of water.

Conditioner: Mix 1 T of apple cider vinegar per 1 cup of water.

I use a funnel to help pour the baking soda and vinegar into the containers.

To use your mixtures:

I always like to shake my bottle well before starting.

Douse your scalp thoroughly with your shampoo. Rub throughout your scalp, especially, and into your hair. Let sit for a minute or two and rinse.

Then douse the mid to end section (not your scalp) part of your hair with the conditioner. Rub into your hair well and leave on for a minute or two. Rinse.

That’s it!

Again, it might take some getting used to this new way. It is a very different experience than using “normal” shampoo and conditioner.

Give it a try and pass it on!

For more info check out Keeper of the Home. She’s got a great video there!

Also check out Stop and Smell the Chocolates. Lisa's got a wonderful three part update to her "No 'Poo" routine!

Natural Skin and Hair Care–Part One

2011-07-12T16:33:00.001-04:00

I’ve always tried to take good care of my face, especially since I have been prone to breakouts. A couple months ago I was looking for a new system. I wanted to find a decent cleanser and moisturizer that didn’t cost a fortune and was naturally-based. I have used some good products in the past, but I was hoping to find something more economical. I looked online, at various stores, and was finally at Ulta, consulting with a woman there. She directed me to a couple different products that were not very expensive, but I didn’t feel great about them. They weren’t really what I intended.

I went home from Ulta feeling frustrated. It’s hard enough to be in the stores, sometimes with children, trying to weigh cost, effectiveness, and ingredients let alone to find nothing that really suits your scheme. Within a couple days, though, God led me to a routine that works well for me and fits right into my economical, non-toxic hopes and dreams!

Have you ever thought of using oil to wash your face?

Yes, oil!

The thought behind it is that “like breaks down like” – oil breaks down oil. Using the right combination of oils breaks down the dirt and grime in your skin, purifies it, and leaves it soothingly moisturized.

Castor oil is used as the base oil because it is a detoxifying, purifying oil. Most of us think of castor oil when we think about inducing labor, but it is actually a healing, cleansing oil that is used in medicines, cosmetics, and other common household items. For more information on castor oil read here.

Along with the castor oil, you use a supplemental oil that is more moisturizing. I have read about people using olive oil or sunflower oil. I actually use Vitamin E oil. Mine is from Jason and actually contains good oils like sunflower, apricot, and almond, and smells good!

I have combination to oily skin, especially during the summer, and have been using the following mixture:

25% Castor oil

75% Vitamin E oil

I use the clear bottle that is located in the center of the above photo to hold the mixture.

To clean with your mixture:

Place about a quarter size puddle of the oil into your dry hands.

Massage this oil gently into and around your face and over your eyes as well to remove all makeup and dirt, for about a minute. Enjoy the process!

Steam your face. Wet a washcloth with hot water, squeeze, and place over your face to steam until the washcloth becomes room temperature. Rinse the washcloth and repeat a couple times. I take this time to pray for people who are on my heart at the time.

After steaming your face, rinse the washcloth again and then gently wipe all oil and makeup off your entire face.

Your face will feel clean and moisturized! If it doesn’t feel good, try to alter the ratio of castor oil you are using – less for dry skin, more for oily skin.

After I used this method for a couple days, my husband thought my skin was as soft as a baby’s bum! He couldn’t believe how nicely it was working on my skin.

Enjoy your fresh, glowing skin!

*Note: You do not have to use this method twice a day. I use it once a day, each night before bed. I have read of other women using it less. When I am not cleansing with this method, I simply use water to cleanse my face.

For more info. on the Oil Cleansing Method check out these sites:

Keeper of the Home – has a Video with “How To” instructions.

Simple Mom

www.theoilcleansingmethod.com

The “Never Turn Back” Omelet

2011-07-06T21:11:00.001-04:00

When I first learned to make omelets years ago, I learned the whip and flip method. You know, whip the eggs with a bit of milk, pour them into the pan, cook/set the eggs, load the fillings, and flip the omelet in half.

Recently a friend taught me how she makes her omelets, and I daresay I don’t think I will be turning back! This method is a saute and broil method. In my humble opinion, it results in the best omelet one could eat!

*Since this is an omelet that you broil in the oven, you will need to use an oven-proof pan. I use cast iron.

Chop and saute veggies (and/or meat) of your choosing in a good dose of olive oil, enough to cover the bottom of the pan. I have been using a combination of some of the following: red potato, red/green pepper, onion, mushrooms, and spinach.

Turn on your oven broiler.

While veggies are cooking, whisk eggs and a bit of milk together - about a tablespoon of milk per two eggs. For a 10-inch pan, I use two or three eggs. For my 12-inch pan, I use four or five eggs. It depends on how large I want the omelet to be, i.e. how many people are eating it and how hungry they are. ~wink~

When veggies are well-cooked, turn off heat and pour egg mixture into your oven-proof pan. Place the pan into the oven about 6 inches or so below the broiler. Watch your omelet carefully and take out when the eggs are set – within a few minutes.

Take omelet out of oven and spread grated cheese over entire omelet. Spread with fresh tomatoes at this point, if desired.

Fold omelet in half and plate beautifully. Eat with delight!

The Homeschool Mother’s Journal 7/2/11

2011-07-02T21:19:00.001-04:00

In my life this week…

I was feeling quite overwhelmed with the routine of life and, as you may have read in my last post, decided to get myself out and take my kids to the park! I am going to try to go to a different park each week with them for the rest of the summer. I feel like the summer is escaping quickly, as it always does, and I want to make the best of it.

My husband has worked long, hard hours and also went on a golf trip for three days, so I am looking forward to having him home Sunday and Monday.

I am working on taking better care of myself. With the load I am carrying now, I realize that I have to focus on what God’s purpose and priorities are in my life and improve on those. I have been burnt out and need to regroup and hone in on the right things.

In our homeschool this week…

The kids have not done any school work as we are still on our “declared” break. However, after Monday I am planning to start up a few days a week and tie up some loose ends from our current curriculum so we can start the new year in August/September. I’m hoping the “Day Off for the Park” incentive will help us be faithful the other days. Again, I will not be doing a full load – just an hour or two, three or four days a week.

My favorite thing this week was…

Going to the park with my kids.

Questions/thoughts I have…

I am still thinking about ways to organize my homeschool items and also how to order my day successfully, keeping on top of housework and schoolwork altogether once school starts fully in the fall. If you have any ideas, let me know!

Things I’m working on…

I am working on incorporating the kids more in chores again. My home has been a whirlwind since we went on vacation and had the garage sale. With their help, I have been able to get the house to a decent level of order again – phew! It is my philosophy, anyway, that the children should learn to work hard and to help take care of the house they live in. It teaches them good responsibility and how to be a part of a family – something that is very important to me!

I am focusing on taking better care of myself, getting more order in my home and my spirit, and gaining more patience and flexibility as I juggle the many facets of our lives.

I’m reading…

I am mainly reading the classic book, Heidi. Believe it or not, even with a Bachelor’s of Arts in English, I have not read many of the classics. It is my goal to start reading some of them. I am enjoying Heidi so far. Have you read it?

I’m cooking…

I am getting back into the cooking “groove”. After being on vacation and feeling pressed with the garage sale, I was not in the mode of cooking much. It’s back to meal planning and cooking! I am trying to use the oven less with more stovetop meals and use the grill as well (once it is fixed).

I’m grateful for…

My Lord who never gives up on me and faithfully guides me!

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Guess who turned one year old last week?

She is the sweetness of life.

Summer Therapy

2011-06-30T16:09:00.001-04:00

Are you learning from the summer? Are you allowing it to give you a good dose of therapy? Have you continued to be weighed down with the drudgery and tasks of life or are you learning to lighten up a bit?

I MADE myself take a break today from my normal pile of housework and responsibilities and took the kids to a park. In fact, yesterday I decided that I would try to take the kids to a different park each week, for the rest of the summer. I am tired of life’s issues beating me over the head! It’s time to have fun with my kids!

Housework will always be here… summer will not.

Our “To Do” lists will continue to grow, and yet so will our children! They will not always be young forever.

Stress can consume us or we can attempt to consume it!

What are you doing to take advantage of the summer with your children? Are you giving yourself the break YOU need? Are you using the time to rejuvenate? You need it and so does your household! Your children need to have fun with you!

Today, after we returned from our great time at the park with ice cream in our hands, my six year old son said, “Today starts the fun year!” Obviously, our children are affected by the good times we have with them, and remember… it’s not just quality over quantity. It’s both!

Enjoy your summer!