Take up your cross and follow Christ

  I have been listening to the wonderful music of "Selah" this morning and I have been blessed to tears.  It seems as though they pick their songs from the depths of their soul.  I listen to them over and over again, but one particular song has been tugging at my heart strings for some time now.  It is a song about being the heart, hands and voice of Christ.  Going out into a broken world and caring about the souls of others.  

  Matthew 16:25-25 says .....if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whosoeer will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

  To me this means that we should not be putting so much time and effort into earthly things, trying always to appease ourselves, but instead putting all that time and effort into following Christ.  What does that look like?  Drinking in His word(read, read, read), kneel in prayer, love others(family, friends, strangers) as you love yourself.  We already do this within our own homes.  We love and care for our spouses and our children with a deep, sacrificial love.  Now just let that extend beyond your four walls.  Prepare a warm meal for someone who is hungry, take clothes or blankets to someone who is cold, pray for those in need.  Care about the soul of another!

  Please click on the link and listen to this beautiful song!  I hope your as touched by it as I am!

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMaKpnKhHDk  

  What are we willing to do, to sacrifice, to follow Christ?  I deeply ponder my answer.  Lord, let your voice be heard through mine, let your love be felt by my giving to others, let the love of your heart shine brightly through me!  I praise His holy name!

Scavenger Hunt

  I have been wanting to do a scavenger hunt with the kids.  I think it would be a great way to get them out in nature and make learning fun.  Well, in my search for just the right hunt, I came across so many great ideas.  Today I'm going to share, what I found, with you!

1) http://www-personal.umich.edu/~espring/personal/drgndrop/scavHunt.html - This is a link for a winter scavenger hunt.

2) http://www.thechocolatemuffintree.com/2012/11/photography-abc-scavenger-hunt.html - Now, I am particularly fond of this idea!  You find things in nature that are shaped like letters in the alphabet and you take a picture of them.  How cute is that and great for littles!

3) http://cleverlyinspired.com/2011/12/scavenger-hunt-for-kids/ - This is a great hunt for older kids(tweens) and even includes clue ideas.

4) http://www.imom.com/tools/seasonal/4th-of-july/usa-scavenger-hunt-game/ - This is awesome!  This scavenger hunt could actually be a part of your American History curriculum.  I think this one is my favorite!

  All of these look like so much fun!  You could do a scavenger hunt with all the kids in your neighborhood, at your child's next birthday party(I have a friend who did this and the kids loved it), you could even do it at your next family gathering with all the cousins.  A great way to get everyone active and involved.

  I know that my kids would love an activity like this, but I truly think that I would enjoy it just as much.  Drag out the field guides, I feel a good scavenger hunt coming on!

A year of crockpotting

  Do you remember how I've said that I don't do all tasks well?  There are days that are better than others and on a really good day I will have washed a few loads of laundry, cleaned and put away the breakfast dishes and will have supper in the crockpot before lunch time.  Now in all honesty, I probably only use my crockpot about 2-3 times per month, but let me say that it is one appliance I have that is grossly underused!  On those really good days, it makes me feel so good to have a large white bowl cooking our dinner with no assistance needed from me.

  With that said I want to tell you about a lady named Stephanie O'Dea!  She is a best selling author, a mom and a blogger.  A few years ago she made a committment to use her crockpot, everyday, for an entire year.......everyday.  Below is the link to all her crockpot recipes.  She also has pics of each recipes, list of ingredients, and she even tells you if her family liked it or not.  So, if you need a night off from the kitchen and you have a crockpot, I say "put that baby to good use"!

http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/2007/12/alphabetical-listing-of-recipes.html

Happy Tasty Tuesday y'all!

Taking care of the sick

  My boys have been sick this weekend.  They have been so pitiful.  Even today Gage, my oldest, has been weak as water.  The poor boy was 8 lbs lighter this morning.  I have washed 2 loads of dishes in the dishwasher(could do a third since we just finished supper), putting my third load of clothes in the washing machine and have wiped down every surface possible(with the help of my shadow)!  The girl went to her daddy's building, got a pair of his rubber gloves and the disinfectant wipes and has been wiping stuff down for 2 days now.  Mostly I chuckle at the sight, but the possibility of OCD does cross my mind!  On the bright side, it is nice to have the help.

  Steve helped with supper tonight which was really nice.  On this "Wife & Mommy Monday", even a stomach bug won't keep me from being thankful!  I am so thankful that God gave me some very precious people to love and care for!  I covet your prayers!  Stay well.

  The dryer is calling!

Kids Eat FREE on this Frugal Friday

  Today I'm sharing an awesome list of restaurants where your child can either eat at a discount or for free!  This would be a great way to spend time together with the family, without breaking the bank.  I know that hubby and I don't get a date night very often because in addition to paying for the date, you also have to pay a babysitter.  That can get pretty expensive.  A dinner out with the family is still wonderful to me!  I get to change out of my everyday uniform(my pajamas), put on a little make-up, and I don't have to cook - this is what I call a win/win!  Just click on the link below.

Have a great weekend!  Go out and eat!





Kids Eat FREE – a HUGE List of Restaurants from Coast to Coast!

We Homeschool Wednesday - Nature Study

  Wanted to share this wonderful article on how to start your own Family Adventure Journal.  This would be a great way to include nature studies as well.  Just click on the link below!  I think I'm gonna go explore something!

goexplorenature.com/2012/01/how-to-start-your-own-family-adventure.html

Another Tasty Tuesday

  Today I've got a recipe that has become one of our favorites.  It always leaves leftovers(frugal) and I always make it with ground venison(which is free meat - very frugal).  We have had this several times and it is very yummy!  You could serve it with a little garlic bread or salad - both of these are a big hit at my house as well.  This is a very hearty dish and great for a large family.

 

Classic Baked Ziti

Recipe type: Main

Author: Sara @ Budget Savvy Diva

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 45 mins

Serves: 8

Comfort food at its best.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup onion , chopped
• pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of pepper
• 2 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 (32 ounce) jar meatless sauce
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1 (16 ounce) package Ziti pasta , cooked and drained
• 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven at 350
2. In a large skillet – heat oil and cook onions for 8 minutes than add garlic and cook for one minute. Add beef and cook till no longer pink ( drain excess fat).
3. Stir in sauce, chicken broth, pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and oregano. Heat through.
4. Stir 1 cup of sauce into the “cooked” ziti pasta.
5. Place 1/2 of the ziti into a 13×9 baking dish.
6. Place 1 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
7. Top with rest of sauce.
8. Top with rest of pasta.
9. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
10. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
11. Cook till cheese is golden browns well.

  I pinned this recipe on Pinterest from a website called budgetsavvydiva.com.  Must give credit where credit is due!

 

  I did omit the two cloves of garlic and the dried oregano leaves when I made this, just because I did not have them on hand, it was still delicious.  Hope you enjoy!

 

Mommy Monday

  I've been thinking a lot lately about the personalities of my children and I wonder if anyone else has a child where your personalities clash?  I do!  For me, it is my middle child, my only daughter.  Some people say that it is because our personalities are so alike, I believe it to be true! 

  Macy is 9 and she is a little girl who knows what she wants.  She is very passionate about the people she loves and enthusiastic about the things she loves to do.  She hates to be idol and loves busy work.  She will gladly fold towels and wash cloths while the boys plop down in front of a movie and just the other day she was begging me to let her iron pillow cases(yes, I'm serious).  She will help me with any task, but will melt down when asked to go and do a task on her own.  This is where, I think, the clashing begins.  Not only is she my precious little girl, she is also my shadow!

  On the days that are filled with chaos and running to and fro, I have literally stepped on my little shadow.  On the days that are filled with frustration and no quiet time, I have fussed at my little shadow.  But today......and everyday......I adore this precious little person who longs to be like her mommy!

  Just this morning I read a great article on the Focus on the Family website and it said to always look for the positives in your child's personality.  So on those chaotic, frustrating, noisy, busy days, I see a child who hugs and kisses her brothers when they are hurt or upset, a child who offers to give her little brother a bath because I have so much to do and who even picks out his pajamas and reminds him to brush his teeth.  She helps with the laundry, the dishes, and can even prepare meals.  This is the child who gets her daddy his house shoes every evening, tells him when he's buying the wrong brand item at the grocery and at the end of the day, climbs in the chair with him as they cover up with her favorite pink blanket.  She is my sweet child, my helper.......my shadow!

  Philippians 4:8  ...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely.......think on these things.

Repurposing

  It's time to be frugal again and today I just wanted to help you with a few ideas on repurposing items that you probably already have in your home.  Instead of throwing so much away, you might just find a new way to use it!

  Let's start with ice trays!  These are great for freezing homemade baby food, giving you just the right portion each time.  You can also use them to freeze fresh herbs.  Just place a few herbs in each hole, cover with water and freeze.  The next time you are making a pot of soup, pull out an ice cube or two and just drop them in!  Ice trays are also great for crafty little ones.  Each compartment could be filled with different paint colors or craft items like beads or buttons for gluing.

  You can also repurpose empty baby food jars.  These could be used for storing small items like screws or safety pins(my hubby also uses empty baby wipe containers for storing items like this in his building).  You could also put labels on them or paint them with chalkboard paint(for labeling) and then fill them with dried herbs or fresh spices.

  You know those canned vegetables that you buy at the grocery?  Wash and paint your empty cans, then fill them with colored pencils, crayons or other like items.  You could also use the cans to grow your fresh herbs in or start your garden early and plant your seedlings.  This would be a great way to involve your kids in some great homeschooling science!

  Lots of ideas on being more frugal, would love to hear your repurposing ideas, I'm sure there are many that I have not thought of!  Leave a comment and share your frugalness!  Have a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day

I Carry Your Heart with Me

by E.E.Cummings

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true) and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

Homeschooling Art Ideas

  I recently came across a great way to make Art fun for my kids!  This is really something that I don't do enough of.  When you homeschool, it is hard to do all tasks well.  If you have a great day of schoolilng, you have let the housekeeping go.  If you have a spotless house, first I am envious, but you have let the schooling go.  Many days, it is hard to find my balance.  Needless to say, Art does get pushed to the bottom of my "must do" list.

  Children need an outlet for their creativity, ways for their little imaginations to just run wild!  And, when you're stuck inside during the cold and rainy days, Art is the answer.  Just click on the link below!  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!


http://artmommie.blogspot.com/2012/03/young-explorers-class_10.html 

Something Yummy

  Well, I totally fell off the blogging boat yesterday!  I was so busy and by the evening exhaustion quickly set in.  It was such a long day that I fed my poor family scrambled eggs and Sister Schubert's rolls for supper - that's pitiful!  But, leading up to that sad little dinner, was a very fun and eventful day.  It started with a 60 mile road trip to get some great curriculum on clearance.  We enjoyed all there was to see, a large part of our drive was along the river, very beautiful!  So many little giggles filled my car yesterday because we also very much enjoyed each other's company.  We were off to Chick-fil-a next for the kiddos, then back to the grocery to pick up a few necessities.  After supper, I had to get hubby's clothes ironed for the next day(yes, I'm an ironer), threw in a load of laundry, loaded the dishwasher and it was nearly time to put little ones to bed - whew!  Today........not much different than yesterday!  I did, however, let the littles plan our meals for the next 3 nights.  This took a huge load off my shoulders and thankfully they are very easy to please.  Gage picked first and it was dirty rice, peas and corn - I can do that!  Macy was next and it was baked chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans and more Sister Schubert's rolls.  Then, it was Dawson's turn......wait for it......$5.oo pizza from Little Ceasar's!  Where did I go wrong?

  Since it is another Tasty Tuesday, I want to share with you how to make a simple compound butter.  This is what I will use on the whole chicken that Macy picked for this week.  All you need is a stick of softened butter(I totally recommend the real stuff) and 2 tablespoons of any combination of herbs and spices that you like.  I also add a little salt and pepper to taste.  Just combine all your ingredients together in one bowl and you now have a compound butter.  There are several things that you can do with it.  With the chicken I will use Pampered Chef Italian Seasoning Mix and some salt and pepper in my butter.  I will gently run my finger in between the flesh and skin of my chicken to seperate and then I will place the butter under the skin and press gently.  I also use some of the butter to rub on the outside of the bird for more flavor, then bake.  

  You can also reform your butter by rolling it up in some plastic wrap and putting it back in the fridge.  This method would be great for a chive butter that could be sliced and then put over a hot cob of corn.  You could even place a pat of this butter on top of a steak, fresh off the grill!  Just the thought of it makes me smile!  Don't be afraid to get creative.

Hope your Tuesday is very Tasty!

Frugal Grocery Shopping

  Buying the cheapest thing on the shelf is not always the best answer to being more frugal.  But, on this Frugal Friday, I want to share a few tips that might help you on your next visit to the grocery store.

  Start with making a list.  This is a must!  Do your best to stick to it(which can be very difficult when you take your littles........GO ALONE!).  It is also a great idea to keep a running list at home, maybe on the fridge, of things as you run out of them.

  Making a weekly menu plan is another great way to be more frugal.  You can plan around items that you already have in your pantry or fridge and possibly buy less on your trip to the market.  Try to plan meals that will leave you with leftovers.  Getting two meals in one, is a great way to stretch your budget.  A great example would be spaghetti, a large pot of soup or chili or maybe using left over chicken from last night to make fajitas tonight.  You could also plan 1 or 2 vegetarian meals per week or meals that could be prepared with little meat(again, spaghetti).  I will also add that clipping coupons is a great way to save, but only if the coupons are for things that you already use.

  Finally, I would just add........"don't go hungry"!  I've done it and it wasn't pretty!  All I can say is that the people that make oreos love me!  And the dairy farmers, the dairy farmers love me too, because who can eat that many oreos without dipping them in milk?  What was I saying?  Oh yeah, don't go hungry!

  Happy Friday!  Have a great weekend!

     

Priorities

  Have you ever just stopped and thought about what your priorities should be?  What should come first?  I can't tell you how often I ponder things like this, probably because mine are so out of order!

  I have recently discovered a blog called "a holy experience" that is written by a lady named Ann Voskamp.  It is so beautifully written, so eloquent.  One of her posts is what she calls her Sanity Manifesto.  It is a list of about 25 rules(for lack of a better word) that she allows to guide her through each day.  It is the first 3 points on the Manifesto that really reached out and grabbed me!

  1)WORD IN - God's word......read it, study it, soak it in!

  2)WORK OUT - Physically, do some exercise!  It will make you more alert, clear your mind, and it's just plain good for ya!

  3)WORK PLAN - Here she talks about our habits and how sometimes we need to give our habits a makeover.

  What a great way to start each day!  And, I have found that if something matters to you, you will make time for it.  If it doesn't, you will make excuses.  So when you lay your head on your pillow and all is quiet, take a moment to think about the things that matter(or should matter) most in your life.  I definitely have some habits in my life that need a drastic makeover!

  So, this is what my new list of priorities will look like:
  1)SPENDING TIME WITH MY LORD!  **What if you made a new friend and you knew that you wanted this friendship to last.  You would make a point of calling your new friend and find ways to spend time with them - lunch, chatting over a cup of coffee, etc.  If you made no effort to contact your friend and he/she did not contact you, you wouldn't end up being very good friends.  It is the same with Jesus!  He wants you to make every effort to spend time with Him(Word In)! 

  Really this is as far as I've gotten, wanna know why?  I let too many other things consume my time and I want to get this one right before I move on to anything else!  I do read my Bible, but what about the days that I oversleep and have to start breakfast for my littles as soon as my feet hit the floor.  I do read my Bible, but what about the mornings that Facebook is more important.  I do read my Bible, but..........do you see one of my habits?  I do spend time with the Lord, but it is not FIRST on my list - this makes me very sad!  How I long to spend more time with my dearest friend!

   

Learning through Literature

  Last year I attended my first Carole Joy Seid seminar.  Her approach to homeschooling is both exciting and proven successful!  She homeschooled her own son who has a master's degree from Wheaton College.  Her method is deeply rooted in rich literature.  Very similar to Charlotte Mason in her approach, she believes in great living books, lots of nature and not rushing your child.  I cannot begin to tell you how captivating she is as a speaker and how confident she is as a veteran homeschooler.  With each seminar, she provides her attendees with her booklists.  These lists alone are worth the price of admission! 

  Many parents begin reading to their children at a very early age.  Carole is telling you to continue doing what your child already loves!  Read them books that grab their heart, books that say something important and make them think.  Read them books that appeal to their imagination!  This.....is the makings of a great "Living Book".

  I have been homeschooling for 6 years now, but this is our first year using this literature based approach.  We are all loving it and I see us using it for many years to come.

  I encourage you to visit her website, CaroleJoySeid.com.  You can watch her videos on healthy eating, listen to small portions of her seminars(which you can also purchase), and while your there take a minute to click on the testimonials and read what others have to say.  You will leave encouraged and inspired!

 

Baked Chicken Fajitas

  Today is Tasty Tuesday so, of course, I'm going to share a yummy recipe!  I've always loved the the concept of breaking bread, fellowship, just gathering around a good meal with people you love.  It's one of the things that gives me much joy!

  I have many fond memories of being in the kitchen with my little momma as she prepared meals or canned vegetables.  I also remember washing a lot of dishes in the sink back then!  My mom and my grandmother before her, were never ones to do much measuring.  Their recipes consisted of "a little bit of this" and "a little more of that".  Needless to say, that's how I learned to cook as well.  This kind of cooking can actually have its benefits.  You can add more of what you do like, omit the things you don't like, and really make a recipe your very own.

  The recipe that I am going to share today, making it my own, is exactly what I did!  I'll explain as I go!  I do want to mention that these were a huge hit at my house!

Baked Chicken Fajitas:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
*I can usually find hormone/steroid free boneless, skinless chicken tenderloin strips at Food City for $1.99/lb!  That is what I used in this recipe!
2 tbsp vegetable oil (I used light olive oil)
1 15oz can diced tomatoes
1 4oz can diced green chilies
*Instead of using either of these, I just used 1 10oz can of mild Ro-tel.
1 medium onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, seeded and sliced (I used green)
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
*In place of chili powder, cumin and oregano, I used several shakes(sorry no measurement) of Southwestern Seasoning mix by Pampered Chef.
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Some salt and pepper to taste

Toss oil, vegetable and spices into a large bowl and stir them together.  Add chicken and toss until well coated.  Put all ingredients into 13X9 pan and bake at 400 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. 

We served these on flour tortillas, very yummy!

  *This is a recipe from SixSistersStuff, which they got from 'Eatin on the Cheap.

Learning from our children

  As a mother, so much of my time is spent in the instruction and discipline of my children.  It is, after all, our job to teach them.  I think so often though, that our children teach us, if we would just sit back and take notice.

  Hubby and I were married almost 9 years before Gage was born.  This gave us plenty of time to develop habits and become very set in our ways.  Now, three children later, I can honestly say that I have learned so much from them.  Have you ever noticed that the world looks much nicer through the eyes of a child.  The colors are brighter!  I have learned to see and appreciate their innocence and I long to preserve it!  I have learned to slow down because children do not get in a hurry.  I have learned to stop and listen to the birds sing and smell the flowers(literally).  Most recently, I even relearned the joy of sledding in the snow, and laughter......lots and lots of laughter!

  Most importantly, I have learned the true meaning of unconditional love.  I now know what was in the heart of my own mother when she gave us a hug, held our hand or mended what we thought was broken.  I have learned that it is with this innocence and pureness of heart that we are to approach the feet of our Lord, Jesus Christ! 

  Don't spend so much time talking that you fail to hear what your children are saying!  God gave them to us as a blessing!


 

Frugal Friday

  It's Friday!  I can't believe this week is already gone.  Before I had children and went off every day to an office job, I can remember being so excited for Friday to come because that meant date night with hubby and time to catch up on laundry and endless television.  Well(with a laugh), those days are long gone!  But, here to stay, are the days of dirty floors and windows, little giggles and more hugs than any mommy could ask for!  Did I mention that there is more laundry now too.  Lots and lots more laundry! 

  These days I look forward to Fridays for much different reasons.  Now, the weekend means that daddy doesn't have to go anywhere and the three littles get to take full advantage of the fact that they all have him wrapped around their fingers.  This is a man who has literally fixed three different things for lunch just to please each child(this wins lots of points with littles)!  The same man who refuses to wear a pink shirt, but lets his daughter paint his toenails pink......with SPARKLES!  He will also watch hours of terrible cartoons at the simple request of the baby(no whining needed).  He has taken the Hunter's Safety Course with our oldest and loves it when they can go hunting or fishing together.  To see him brush his little girl's hair after her bath or put pajamas in the dryer, just so they're warm when the boys get out of the tub.  This is the man I married.  This is the man who loves our children.  And thankfully, this is the man that God sent to make our weekends more special!

  All of this to say:  You don't have to spend a lot of money to have fun!  I have a lot to learn about being more frugal, but here are a few things that we've done so far.  We have done away with satellite tv and gone to Netflix.  We have done away with a home phone because we only use our cell phones.  We don't eat out very much, I do a lot of cooking.  And, I like to use my clothes line whenever possible.  There are also things that I am learning more about that will help us to be more frugal in the future.  Gardening, canning, and growing and drying herbs.  There are so many ways that we can save money.  I want to challenge you, over the next month, to find one way that you can save money!  Then just build on that!  Good luck!