january 2011 happenings

• we drove to idaho falls and got a new (to us, of course) van given to us. 
• on the way back (from idaho falls until twin falls where we exited for dinner) we followed a drunk driver swerving from off the road on the median side, to almost hitting gaurd rails on the other side of the road.  every time a car would try to pass him, he would come about a foot from hitting them (and a foot looks like an inch when you're watching it!)
• i called isp four or five times reporting our location and rate of speed... 
• my monthly women's bible study/mentorship group wrapped up the topic of marriage.  i love just about everything that comes from this group!  if at first i don't agree with it, all i have to do is study God's word and pray about it, and then i become internally convicted!  the leader, my mentor, is so wise and godly.  i love the time we spend together.
• i started a wednesday night "core" bible study.  we're going over the book of 1 john.  "sophie" (otter's mom) started it with me!
• adejay and aleemay got roles in their school's play performance.  adejay got a leading role and is really excited.  aleemay got a role in the pre-show entertainment.  she's playing goldilocks.  :)  both of them have practice weekly...
• "sophie" took all five kids for a one-day/two night holiday (for me). 
• i started a weekly meeting to help learn how to support others and help our family stick together.
• i attended a class with otter pop that meets on the second monday each month.  it's an inconvenient committment that will help us learn to grow and help each other with our health.
• aleemay celebrated her 6th birthday. 
• otter pop started a weekly date-night with the eldest child.  we've been trying to take one kiddo out per week (on tuesdays) alternating parents...  so, we'll see how these both work together.
• we sold our old van for a whopping five hundred big ones!  otter pop advertised it at $1000 and was shocked when we had several interested buyers.  we could only accept half of that with a clear conscience though, letting the buyer know he'd need to put another $500 in it for repairs.
• aleemay had her very first all-day school field trip on the third wednesday of january.  she visited a local science center and art museum.  she loved it!  also (her most exciting part) she got to bring a COLD LUNCH to school!!!  woo-hoo!
• i took the younger kids to the zoo and actually let them have fun!  jones spent the time in the stroller, learning another lesson from disobedience, but the girls were able to run from animal to animal as they pleased (as long as they could hear my voice and i could see them).  they also were allowed to play on the play structures for the first time.  i had to give myself a pep-talk on the drive over there, repeating all the reasons why it is, in fact, ok for kids to have fun in public places...  i was SO relieved and reassured of my pep-talk-talks when we arrived at the zoo and there were about five cars total there!  i thought they might be closed because we've never been there when they're slow before.  i thought it was a successful learning experience for all of us.
• we spent a no-school day home playing altogether.  after a day of fun and a good family movie together, we all piled up and went to the local hands-on science center together.  we only spent about 45 minutes there, but it was fun and i'm glad to find that it is appropriate for all the kids' ages.
• i took an overnight road trip to eastern idaho and back.  it was filled with caffeine and great company.  i returned home at 4am.  i then only got about 3 hours of sleep before the kids woke me up... it was an interesting next day.
• i took on another challenge to babysit another two kids for four days each week, but then got fired the day before i started because i charge too much.   ----nah!
• we turned in an application for jones to start kindergarten in the fall. 
• i took aleemay on a mommy-daughter date to the discovery center (her choice) and then picnic in the park (also, her choice).  it is SO WONDERFUL to spend times like these with my children: one-on-one! 
• my parents, sister and brotheri-l, and family friends came over to celebrate my 29th birthday.  we had an enormous delicious feast followed by some yummy german chocolate cake (if you were nuts enough)!  it was a blessed time!
• sold some crap and made some money!  what a great way to end the month!!!!!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge

awesome.  another challenge.  go here to see where this challenge is coming from, and in the mean time discover an awesome resource as a Christian mom.
now, if you decide to take on this challenge your decision means that you truly want to be a blessing in your home. This challenge will also result in spiritual growth in your own life.  so... think about it long and hard before you go makin' up your mind!!!
now, i think it be a great idea (it's not mine, but still a good idea) to keep track of what God does in your marriage over this next month. if you keep a prayer journal, or a journal of the non-prayer type, or a diary, or just a notebook with several empty slices of paper inside it, take some EXTRA time (because honestly this challenge takes almost no time at all) and write down what you did for the day and how he responded. 

if you didn't click on the link, here's the challenge for the next 30 days:

* You can't say anything negative about your husband . . . to your husband, or to anyone else.

* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband . . . to your husband . . . and to someone else.

if you click on the above link, they will email you a daily reminder with a nice idea if you're running a blank on why you married mr. right.  this challenge is sweet and it reminds me of that movie "fireproof".  if you haven't watched that, and you're married, you should!  it's so good!!! 

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." (Proverbs 31:11-12)

here's a great picture of my hubbaluv being the sweet daddy and uncle that he is!  i LOVE that he loves kids and isn't afraid to interact with them, even when they're teeny tiny.  he's passionate about the youth of society today and how we're all part of how they turn out.  he's a great daddy and he cares about that!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

just GIVE IT UP already!!!

if you've been keeping up with my daily dialogue, you've already read part 1, 2, and 3.  if not, do that first, would ya? 
"we were back at square one... with five kids!"  and both of us were completely convicted at this point, that babies are indeed blessings.  huge blessings!  daily my children teach me who and what God made me to be.  they give me the strength and the reasons to keep smiling...

i love my babies.  such blessings! 
but anyway, sorry i got sappy and sidetracked there.  :)  they're just so great!!!  ok, back again.  so babies are blessings and we have five.  so what now?  well, here's where i just went to God to ask.  because i just didn't really know.  and this is what He told me, through His Word.  i gave it up to Him.  i would be completely happy with our family as it is... and i would be completely thrilled to add another member if He wants us to have one.  He can have COMPLETE control over the issue.  over our family.  and now i have peace.  did you hear that?  PEACE
the Bible instructs me, as a wife, to submit to my husband's authority over our family and he (the hubby) doesn't want us to take any measures into controlling the baby-making (via birth control)... that's God's control not ours. 
so where does that leave us?  back at step one with five kids.  we already went over this.  well, one thought that i had was this:
i feel so pained for all those couples that try and try and try and try to have babies and can't.  I could bless them through surrogacy!  I CAN get pregnant!  and I ENJOY being pregnant!  I am the perfect candidate for that!!! 
i didn't look into very far before i got this convicting pain that sounded like this, "so... you are COMPLETELY trusting Me???  you're saying that I am in charge of your womb???"  and i fell over and surrendered again. 
no, surrogacy would NOT be surrendering my life to God's will... unless He implanted someones fertilized egg inside my uterus!  and i'm not putting that past Him because dang! He is so amazing.  so so sooooo awesome.  but i'm not going to pursue surrogacy.

so then i decided to stop thinking about it.  i read a book.  it was entitled "taking charge of your fertility" by toni weschler.  it gave me some wonderful and brilliant knowledge about my body.  --if you're interested, i have a blog acquaintance who's reading it right now and summarizing it chapter by chapter for her blessed readers.-- 
last month (december) i really really really wanted to get pregnant.  i felt a tugging at my heart.  it's this feeling i get often.  when i see babies.  when i hold babies.  when i see beautiful preggo women, and not-so-beautiful ones too.  but otter pop doesn't have it.  he's feeling just fine.  and all month long i "begged" and "pleaded" for him to make a baby with me.  -now i realize that could all be a little too much information for y'all, but i'm not going to expand on that.-  so, i respected him as the leader of our family and respected his decision.  and i told him a few weeks ago, "i respect that you don't want to have any more babies.  i respect that God gave you the leadership role in our family for a reason.  and after praying about it (a freaking LOT), i'm ok with it too.  as long as you're praying about it and you feel like that's where God is leading you in your decision."  he kinda looked at me with wide eyes.  he explained that he IS praying about it and wants it to be completely in God's hands.  i told him the strong desire that i had all december long.  he said that he didn't feel that way, but wouldn't be opposed if God laid it on him.  i said, "God is so amazing!"  so that's how we'll know.  He will tell us.  He can lead us and we will follow.  We are in His sweet will! 
all it took was for us to COMPLETELY let go of the crazy control issues we had.  hand the conducting baton over to the Master conductor and follow His lead. 
"trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."  Prov. 3:5
"and they that know your name will put their trust in You: for the Lord has not forsaken them that seek Him."  Prov. 9:10
and "every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord ponders the hearts."  Prov. 21:2


Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

29 years young

i had an interesting discussion with a new friend this past week.  we'll call her "mary".  i told "mary" that i was turning 29 on sunday and she smirked and then explained what she's always thought about that age.  here's "mary's" theory.
by 29 most humans have reached full maturity.  after about age 29 our bodies keep changing, but everything else is at a stand-still (unless further education is pursued, or study of some sort).  i don't know if mary thought i was fibbing about my age or what, but this theory TOTALLY explains why so many people -mostly women, i think- say that they're celebrating their 29th birthday 29 years after their actual 29th birthday.  as our bodies age, we don't feel older...  the numbers keep increasing, but we still feel about the same we did when we were 29! 
my cousin commented on my facebook page that she too was 29, even though she thought that she was seven years older than me.  somehow now we're the same age.  i like that.  i'm excited to be 29!  i'm happy that i've made it 29 years.  i'm thankful for my family who has stayed with me my whole life (or theirs, whoever came first)! 
so... today i've reached the age everyone says they are.  i think i've reached full maturity.  however, as a good example to my children, and as not to waste away, i will continue to try and further my mind's potential by studying the most important Words that have been given and living in His will. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

give it up, man!

this post is the third post in a continuing series.  see my last two posts, are you my mother (surrogacy) and contra seption & ives (birth control).

it doesn't seem that my past two posts have been connected at all.  and they both really just drop off mid-thought.  because that's the way i do things, you know. 

so here's the beginning of a little tie together.

as otter pop and i searched for a means of birth control that wouldn't be a foreign contaminant to my body, we prayed and found peace in God's will.  it ended up being, not the foreign substance in my body as much as what the foreign substance would do to make my body not work the way God made it to work.  otter pop had a deep rooted conviction, maybe because of his first daughter's birth, that babies are miracles and blessings.  to take away the possibility of that miracle, he felt, was just a slap in the face to our creator and who are we to slap Him?! 
when otter pop explained it to me like that, i realized that he was right.  my daddy told me once that if you wait to have a baby until everything is right, you'd never have one.  but you know what?  God knows the perfect timing.  He can make it right! 
together we decided to leave our baby-making decisions up to God.  we both thought that even He would agree that we had our hands full (at four) and were plentiful blessed.  we even got a dog to even our families gender unevenness out for the boys.  we were satisfied.  we were happy.  well, about six months later we discovered that i was pregnant again.  honestly, we were both kinda shocked.  not pleasantly either.  we weren't mad or angry or anything like that... just kinda discouraged that we both "knew" that we had enough children to complete our family and God STILL gave us ANOTHER ONE!

 well, that pregnancy was amazing.  it was wonderful.  ---i've always had easy pregnancies.  i don't get very sick.  i don't get overwhelmingly tired.  i don't get so hormonally imbalanced that i can't function.  really, it's just an amazing experience for me to make a baby and carry it until it's ready to enter the outside world.  i love it.  otter pop does help me acknowledge that i do have some of that disease where you don't remember everything (or the bad parts) of pregnancy... but really, it's just not that much of the pregnancy, so it's not worth remembering the tiny bad parts when there is so much good!---  but back to what i was saying... i had an amazing pregnancy and then birthed the sweetest little boy!!! 

now we both look back and are SO THANKFUL for the blessing God gave us when we thought we were all done!!!  i can't believe how much our family has grown and changed because of another little baby. 

at the beginning of that pregnancy, when i still wasn't thrilled with child #5, we discussed the option of getting my tubes tied afterwards.  otter pop claims that he didn't realize it wasn't a permanent procedure, so that's how he validated it in his head, but i knew.  the WHOLE pregnancy long i was second-thinking the procedure.  and even at the end, decided that i just couldn't do that. 
we had given our baby planning up to God, and i just didn't feel right about taking it back.  so we were back at square one... but with five kids... 
stay tuned...

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

contra seption & ives

this isn't going to tie perfectly, but this is connected from my previous post (are you my mother? ).  stick with me, it'll all flow together somehow.

my husband has always been very strongly convicted about birth control.  (yeah, i hear you.  i know what you're thinking.)  i haven't shared those convictions until about a little less than three years ago.  God spoke to me.  after boo was born i really felt like we had done our part in populating society.  we had enough to fill a van comfortably and i just felt like we were always dealing with babies.  it felt like i life was always revolved around having a baby.  i was getting antsy and thinking that if we didn't stop having babies, we weren't going to get to enjoy any of the kids' fun parts of life.  we couldn't go camping anymore... who camps with babies?!  we couldn't ride anymore... who dirt bikes or rides motorcycles at all with babies?!  we couldn't do ANYTHING (so i thought)... who did ANYTHING when they had BABIES?! 
so, i started looking into other forms of birth control.  other than the pill.  because that's what my husband didn't like... the pill.  his reason:  he just didn't/doesn't like the thought of taking some sort of foreign, unnatural substance that prevents the miracle of birth from happening.  seems like a reasonable reason...
anyway, the one i seemed to like was the mirena IUD.  i thought, well that seems great.  in my understanding it just blocked the sperm from getting to a place that it could fertilize any eggs passing through.  great.  right?

well, after i googled it i realized that it, too, would put a foreign, un-natural substance in my body IN CASE the barrier didn't work, to kill off the sperm and in turn prevent the miracle of birth from happening.  also, i got really freaked out in researching the IUD options because of the amount of dissatisfied "customers" there were with the product.  i realize there probably were lots of satisfied people that didn't give feedback because they were satisfied, but it really gave me an uneasy feeling, which i, in turn, took as God speaking to me and also a negative choice towards that option. 
it was about at that time, that i started a bible study/christian women's mentor group.  after going for a few months, my friend that i mentioned in yesterday's post lost her baby.  i couldn't take it anymore.  i just felt so strongly that God can give us blessings as He wills...

God can pour on the blessings
in astonishing ways.

2 Corinthians 9:9 (MSG)

how many blessings (other than children) do we turn away?!  if He blesses us with good health, we take it and are so thankful.  if He blesses us with stable finances, we rejoice and are glad. if He blesses us with wisdom, we would be delighted.  He can bless us in so many ways, and really it seems as the only blessing that we are unwilling to accept with a happy heart every time is the precious miracle of life, in pregnancy!  why is that, you think? 
stay tuned for more...

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

are you my mother?

 i have a friend that i recently found out has donated the next several months of her life over as a gift of surrogacy to a couple that has found themselves unable to conceive naturally by themselves.  i found out via a facebook comment stating something similar to this, "today was transfer day.  i'll lay back and wait it out hoping by tonight i'll be pregnant making a certain couple's family dreams come true." 

honestly my first reaction was jaw dropping shock.  i've always claimed that i could be a surrogate mother.  i have read about surrogates in articles and have seen a tv special on a lady who's done it dozens of times (literally)... but i guess i just didn't really think it happened in real life.  especially not in idaho! 
i had a precious friend give birth to a stillborn son after carrying him for 36 weeks. 

(8-19-8)

she had gone through a horrendous pregnancy, filled with all sorts of complications of the uncomfortable type.  their family was devastated (as were most of the other families close to them!)

 i was majorly broken hearted as well.  the pregnancy was so rough that they were SURE they didn't want to go through that again!  however, they were left with a feeling of an incomplete family...  after months of grieving and sorrow my friend expressed her desire for another baby.  it didn't take me a few seconds to think of surrogacy as a solution.  it almost seemed like the only viable option, however i did know there was an enormous cost.  after my friend left me that day, i was almost over-excited to talk with otter pop about the possibility of me helping our friends make the baby that they were longing for.  he, of course, was very supportive to the idea. 
well, if you couldn't have figured it out, things didn't work out for me to surrogate their pregnancy.  God had other plans. 

(this was just last year)

i've been thinking deeply about God orchestrating our lives and us handing over the reigns, or baton if i stick to the same analogy of orchestration, to Him.  He is so mighty.  He is so powerful.  He is such a better conductor than we could ever imagine being. 
this is a touchy topic, but this is my blog and i'm entitled to my feelings.  i really don't want to offend anyone, so if you think you might be offended and don't want to read a new perspective, just go away.  but either way i'm gonna blog. 
i'm not going to condemn anyone who chooses surrogacy or anything else that i'm convicted about.  my friend, the maybe-prego surrogate, is a sweet christian lady.  i know she's doing this for all the sweet, loving, giving, non-self-centered reasons... 
so, with all that said, i'm going to continue this in several blog posts because otherwise i'll lose you all about six paragraphs ago.  stay tuned. . .

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

a sugar free approach at life from now on:

go here to see how my challenger did on her week with no sugar.  she did the "advanced" level, so maybe you'll find her journey more interesting than mine was.  or stay here and read about the ending to mine...
hmmmmm, i wonder if i lost weight.  that would be nice!  what a perk to going off of sugar for a week!!! 
but as for how my week-challenge went, the following is what i got out of it:  i'm going to be more sensitive to adding sugar to recipes.  tonight i made sweet and sour chicken and i really debated weather i should follow the recipe and add 1/3 c. brown sugar, or reduce or substitute-sweeten with fruit.  i've always been a recipe-follower, so this new approach is nice. 
also, something i've NEVER done is looking at how much or if sugar is in things.  i've just never really cared much.  after reading the info on the sugar free challenge site, i've now decided it is worth my time to do so.  when i learned about high fructose corn syrup and genetically modified foods i --for the first time-- started checking the ingredients of things i would buy...  now i'm taking it a step further.  even though i have ALWAYS wanted my kids to be healthy, i am now more alert to the changing of society and the eating habits that go along with society and how much more aware i'm going to have to be in our food consumption.  i really don't want my kiddos to grow up being sugar-addicts or food-addicts at all!
what do you think???
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

new menu again

sometimes this is so easy... other times it takes all day... and then sometimes it's just like pulling teeth and you have to go for two weeks without food to realize you NEED to make a menu!  this time, it was the first of the few options.  thankfully.  i've found a few websites/blogs/whatever that help make this easier.  if you're interested i'll share, otherwise i'll just keep them to myself.

• chili (in the crockpot) and cornbread.  i usually always get the chili made, i'll really try hard to remember the cornbread this time!  we love cornbread and it's not hard... it just does take more than 5 minutes.
• pork chops with fruit salsa and mashed potatoes.
• floating tacos.
• chicken fettucini alfredo with garlic toast and green beans.
• homemade tomato soup with some gourmet grilled cheese sandwhiches.
• sweet and sour chicken (in the crockpot) with rice and steamed stir fry veggies.
• pesto minestrone soup with fresh bread
•  stuffed shells with garlic bread, steamed broccoli, and maybe a green salad as well.
• crockpot bbq chicken (the easy recipe where you throw in the chicken and pour bbq sauce all over it) with corn and mashed taters.
• breakfast for dinner = eggs, hashbrowns, and sausage links.
• a fun new chicken crockpot recipe either made into burritos or maybe a yummy salad depending on how it smells when it's done.  i'll serve this with corn and rice.

sorry no fancy pictures this time.  i thought while it was easy to make the menu i might as well get it all done and over before the hard part strikes.  (probably the grocery shopping, even though i did make my list already and have it sectioned out to different parts of the store.)
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

i've got some of the cutest!

today aleemay asked me if fairies are real.  i reply, "nope" kinda quietly, but boo was sitting right next to us.  she looked up with great big worried eyes, "you mean tinker bell isn't real?!"
:(

i wish i would write down more/all of their cute sayings and questions...  they make me laugh hourly!  i love my cuties!!!!!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

day 3 & 4 without sweetness

this sugar free challenge isn't nearly as hard as i thought.  day two i was hungry, but found some sugarless munchies... the only thing i'm wanting to pop in my mouth is gum... which they do make "sugar free", so maybe i'll look into that.  or maybe i won't and i'll just quit altogether.  sugar free usually means fake-sugar-added... which i don't like. 
anyway, it's good to know God can help me abstain from stupid things like sugar.  my health is important.  i don't NEED sugar... i don't even WANT sugar... i just eat it. 
back when i was in my first year of college i wanted to see if i could stop eating sweets (much like this challenge, except not public.  not challenged by anyone in particular -although encouraged by my roommate who wanted to do the same.)  it was kinda like a personal challenge.  like me testing myself, "anwat, are you ADDICTED to sweets?!  could you go without them for an extended period of time?!"  it was my way of testing my will-power.  i did fine.  i stayed off of anything that i would consider sweet or a dessert or the likes for about 4-5 months.  when i came home and visited my gramma, she had either her cinnamon rolls, or her cherry pie... and i resisted once.  but then the next time i came to visit she did it again, and i thought, "you know, anwat (because i do.  i do talk to myself), gramma's not going to be around forever.  you're not going to get these cinnamon rolls (or cherry pie, whichever it was) offered to you much longer...  take it while you can!"  so, i did.  and i miss them now.  because she is gone.  mostly i miss her!  but disirregardless, i know sugar doesn't rule my life.  but nevertheless, i eat it and i shouldn't.  so maybe i'll just stop.  i'll miss ice cream ---and gum, it seems--- but it will be better for my health and my kids can look up to me as a healthy example.  that's important. 

next.  start excercising.  yeah... that would be good!  very very good.  .  .  .  one thing at a time.  maybe next month i'll take jillian's 30 day shred challenge.  :)  i'm always up for a good challenge!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

nope to sugar

day 2 on my sugar free challenge...  here's how i did:i ate eggs for breakfast.  chicken and veggies for lunch.  veggies for dinner.  i drank milk with all three meals.  no snacks.  the only sugar temptation i had today was a slice of gum that i did NOT have...  no headache today either. 
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

sugar free

today was the first day of my sugar free challenge.  i was challenged by a fellow blogger and decided it was worth a shot.  i'm always ready for a new challenge!  
today i did NOT have my daily cup o' joe (really, it's mostly milk with a little coffee and some sweet flavor).  i did NOT have any waffles (even though they did not have any sugar added in them) coated in syrup (THAT's why).  i did NOT have a piece of gum -even though i really wanted one.  i did NOT take a sip of my husband's carbonated beverage when he got home, NOR at dinner.  i did NOT lick my children's suckers they got as a treat after dinner.  i also will NOT have any late night ice cream nor will i have anything else that's sweet and sugar-coated...

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

revised menu

i'm going to take my last menu and go through it.  i'll draw a line through the recipe if i've already used it and put comments on them.  most of those recipes were new for me.  i really like blogging my menus so i can always go on here to look at my menu and do a quick link to the recipe.

• mulligan stew = not new.  it's a family recipe.  we've had several soups and stews lately, but not this one and i miss it.    i don't think i've posted the recipe and i know i haven't posted pictures, so perhaps i'll do that this time.  WITH fresh baked bread spread with butter.  mmmmmmmm-mmmm.

• pineapple-bacon burgers (picture) with onion rings  --THIS DID NOT TURN OUT QUITE LIKE THE PICTURE.  WHENEVER WE MAKE OUR PATTIES FROM GROUND BEEF (BY HAND) THEY ALWAYS CRUMBLE UP ON THE GRILL.  IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND WE ATE IT ALL TOGETHER (BURGER, PINEAPPLE, & BACON), BUT IT DIDN'T WORK LIKE IT SHOULD'VE! 
• dj's outdoor pork loin with veggies = i'm not going to completely make these outdoors, because it's so frigid.  i think i'm gonna combine it to a crockpot meal.  we'll see if i can do such a thing...  ---DELICIOUS!!!  I LOVED IT.  NEXT TIME I WILL DO MORE APPLES AND A BIGGER ROAST.  THE VEGGIES WERE FINE, A LITTLE SPICY.

• 2 ideas for this meal:  either one.)  ham and pineapple kabobs  (picture) OR two.)  pineapple ham and rice (casserole).
• chicken paprikash = a hungarian grandma-type recipe i thought i'd brave because it sounded pretty hungarian-grandma-type yummy.  (not that i have a yummy hungarian grandma... but i can imagine!) 

• makeover swiss chicken supreme = i have no idea what the first swiss chicken supreme dish was that needed madeover, but i'm willing to try it's successor!  (look at the creativity of that picture... cute green plate and all!!!) --THIS WAS FINE.  NOT VERY MOIST AND NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.  THE KIDS ALL ATE IT SLOWLY...  WE DICED UP THE LEFTOVERS AND HAD THEM WITH SALAD AND THAT WAS WONDERFUL! 
• chicken tarragon = i am not certain that i love tarragon, but i'll let you know if i (or any/all of my family members do) after this.  :)  also, it has fun veggies in it, like zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms... so if we don't like the tarragon... we'll still have nutrition! 
• beef tips = served over noodles and probably with corn.  also, just noticed this would be another easy crockpot meal if i need.
• pumpkin joes = i'll just let you wonder away...  we have lots of pureed pumpkin, so i'm broadening my horizons with pumpkin recipes!  --SLOPPY JOES WITH PUMPKIN.  THESE WERE ALRIGHT.  I NEEDED TO USE UP SOME PUMPKIN, SO THIS WAS MY CLEVER IDEA.  THE KIDS REALLY LOVED IT (ALL OF THEM HAD SECONDS OR THIRDS), BUT I'M NOT A HUGE PUMPKIN/SQUASH GAL, SO I WILL MARK IT "ALRIGHT".
• lasagna = finish the list off with another not-new recipe.  in fact, it's so not new i buy it frozen.  however, i will check the ingredients and make sure it is in fact healthy and not modified for the government's sake. --HAVIN' IT TONIGHT.  IT SMELLS GOOD... 
• we have a birthday meal this week, so i'll let that be a surprise and a post of her very own.  6 years old!!!  --THIS WAS BAKED/FRIED CHICKEN WITH SALAD AND CORN AND MASHED POTATOES AND CHOCOLATE OR STRAWBERRY MILK.  CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH PINK FROSTING AND STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM.  IS SHE MY GIRL, OR WHAT?!!!

that leaves five meals left for this week.  that should be about perfect...  enjoy your meals and enjoy your family!
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

thrifty entertainment for tikes during the cold season without the tv set

what are some things to do with your kids during these cold months?  i don't know about you all, but my kids get really stir-crazy when it's too cold to let them outside to run and play.  here are some things that we do to keep us busy during the day, so that they don't realize they're really bored stiff:

• read.  i read to them.  they read to me.  we read read read.  it's good for them.  it's good for me.  and it's good cuddle time.  i LOVE to cuddle!!!

 not exactly like this... but i don't usually whip out a camera while reading with the kiddos...



learn.  sometimes it's fun to learn.  you can do this ANYTIME.  it's what we spend the majority of the day doing...  how?  doing anything and everything.  anything that the kids find interesting is what i take the time to stop and teach them about.  i don't know much so lots of things get pushed aside and books checked out from the library and learned later, but if they show interest, they'll keep interest.

• games.  i love to play games but kid games lots of time really bite.  i can put up with memory for a while... but man, i hate getting beat over and over again.  :)  j/k.  i like a lot of the jr. versions of games.  they really just simplify them enough to be able to finish them in about 30 minutes which is much more my attention span anyway!  other good games are games that can get the kids up and moving without tearing apart the house.  we love hulabaloo.  also the least amount of little pieces the better, because the little pieces always get lost and that really makes a game suck when the main piece is gone (such was the case in buckaroo after only one time of playing!)  i love playing cards, but not so much with little-handed folk... they can really only hold about 2-3 cards at a time and even with those cards, they usually need help figuring out what to do and stuff.  i'm honest, so i won't cheat, but well, ya know!

• cleaning.  kids love to help out.  you might as well put them to work.  sorting silverware.  folding laundry.  vacuuming.  washing walls.  washing windows.  washing dishes.  etc. 

• excercising.  ok.  i don't do this, but it sounds like a good idea...  :)

• tickle monster.  they like it.  i like to hear them giggle.  it's a win-win.

• toys.  kids like to play with toys.  mine do anyway.  they spend a good majority of their days playing with simple toys.  -and yes, we don't get the extravagent ones.  we have limited space and limited funds.  to keep them going, i shuffle their toys around.

• color.  we (yep.  we.) love to color.  some of us enjoy it more than others, but it's a good activity.

• stamp.  we got some stamps and the kids love to waste time with them.

• lacing.  we got some nifty melissa and doug lacing sets for christmas, but before we had them i would just punch holes in paper and have the kids string shoe laces around the holes.  now we have animals and big wooden beads to practice lacing.  it's great for hand-eye coordination.

• sorting.  it might be a genetic thing, but my kids love to sort and organize.  i can dump out anything in front of them and just tell them to sort them and it'll keep 'em busy for long minutes... maybe even an hour!  legos, beads, dishes, silverware, crayons, etc.  they can sort them however they want!

• beads.  we like to make jewelry. 
• cook.  play with food.  you know... healthy fun there!!!

• do hair.  nothing funner than playing with hair.  anyones! 

that's all i can think of.  what else is there?  i'm sure i'm forgetting some obvious ones, but what do you guys do, at home, to save money with your kids' entertainment.
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

prayer for today

this is an anwat-revised puritan prayer from arthur bennett's "the valley of vision: a collection of puritan prayers and devotions".  i thought it was beautiful but changed the dialect to be more personal for myself.

o God, you are incomprehensible, yet prayer-hearing,
known, but beyond knowledge,
revealed, yet unrevealed.
my wants and welfare draw me to you,
you never said, "seek me in vain."
to you i come with complaints, needs, and stresses;
fill me with you...
with a spirit of grace and supplication,
with a prayerful attitude of mind,
and with access into warmth of fellowship,
so that in the ordinary concerns of life
my thoughts and desires will rise to you.
in habitual devotion, may i find a resource
that will sooth my sorrows,
sanctifuy my successes,
and qualify me in all ways for dealing with others.
thank you for making me capable
of knowing you, the author of all being,
of resembling you, the perfection of all excellency,
and of enjoying you, the source of all happiness.
God, attend every part of my grueling and frustrating journey;
for i need the same counsel, defence, and comfort that i did as a baby.
let your Love be more obvious to my conscience,
and more perceptible to those around me.
while jesus is representing me in heaven,
help me to reflect him on earth,
while he pleads my case,
may i show forth his praise!
continue the gentleness of your goodness towards me in blessings.
as i follow you, i find your promises true:
i've been sad, and you've helped me,
afraid, and you've delivered me,
despairing, and you've lifted me up.
your vows are ever upon me, and i praise you, o God!

six pix of little miss six

 newborn aleemay, six years ago

 after months on this earth. 

 about 18 months old

 three years old

 either almost five, or just barely five

on her daddy-date, dec. '10.

it's been a wild ride, child.

i've loved it all the way.

i like the way you make me smile,

every single day.

i can't believe it's been six years already.

six seems like so very long!

i can remember it like yesterday

your first cry was like a song.

you used to be so teeny tiny

little hands and little feet.

everything about you was so perfect...

your sweet head and your sweet seat.

little girl, who'll always be mine

i hope you'll always know

how much your father and i love you

and we'll never let that go!

~ your mother

you're such a miracle to watch grow!!!  i love you aleemay...  my six-year-old...

unproductivity

blah... yeah.  it seems as if i got nothing done today.  that seems to happen a lot on monday!  however, if i do a true revamp, i did do something.

• i finished my grocery shopping (meats)... only to find out we only have a gallon of milk left! 
• i cooked some meat in the crockpot.  and made breakfast, lunch, and pumpkin joes for dinner.
• i went to a 2 hour class with my hubby-lub.
• i made a birthday cake for my second eldest child who will be turning 6 tomorrow!  from scratch.  without a mixer.  that won't come out of the pan.  poor aleemay!  her cake is ALWAYS UGLY! 
• i finished reading "balto and the great race" with aleemay. 
• endless cleaning inserted here...  everyday.  endless. 

yeah,  i think that's it.  bluck.  what a day of unproductivity. 
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

money-saving tips

i'm frugal.  abstemious.  canny.  careful.  chary.  cheap.  conserving.  discreet.  meager.  meticulous.  mingy.  niggardly.  parsimonious.  penny-pinching.  penny-wise.  preserving.  provident.  prudent.  saving.  scrimping.  sparing.  stingy.  thrifty.  tight.  tightwad.  unwasteful.  and wary. (thank you http://thesaurus.com/)  ...not to mention poor!  ;)
so, i've come up --yeah right.  i did NOT come up with this.  actually it's how i was raised.-- i've FOUND WHAT WORKS for us by living the frugal life.  i actually enjoy it.  i am content with our wages because it promotes this healthy lifestyle of frugality.  and yes, i truely believe it is healthy on a number of levels.  (perhaps that will find itself in another blog though).  here are some of the things i do to make pennies last and last and last.  i know it's the thing to do nowadays to live green, so it's nice that how i live (and how i will always live, no matter what our income level) is "in".  for a while, at least.   
the following hints are in no particular order, just my thinking pattern:

• a good way to start is by cutting out things that aren't NEEDED (different that wanted). 
• examples being:  telephone plans (cell phones).  tv and cable.  vehicles.  etc
• homemake everything.
• do things the old fashioned way.
  things that i can make that save me big bucks:
1. laundry soap 
•  laundry soap looks daunting but after doing it a couple times, it's easy.  the website for the recipe is http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm  there are lots of others too.  just google homemade laundry soap.  
2. dishwasher soap
• dishwasher soap is equal parts baking soda (yes, BAKING, not washing) and borax. you only use 1 Tbsp per load (1/2 in the prewash spot, 1/2 in the wash cycle spot). if your dishes are not sparkling like you wish you can throw some vinegar in with the rinse cycle. we pre-wash all our dishes before we put them in the dishwasher because our dishwasher is a piece of crap though, so i don't do the vinegar rinse.
• you can use that same powder formula for washing dishes by hand too. it's kinda weird because it just doesn't seem like the liquid soap we're used to... but it works. cuts the grease really well. i still prefer the liquid though and i haven't found a substitute that i like. i like the bubbles. it makes me feel better about the clean dishes for some reason. :) 
3. shampoo & conditioner.
4. bread.
5. food (from scratch).
6. haircuts.  (don't be scared... it's not as hard as it looks.  and, if you mess up... it'll grow back!)
7. i've heard of others (lotion, deoderant, etc.) but haven't gone that extra mile yet.  go here and seek out some awesome recipes and ideas for natural healthy living.
• things that i (as a mama) use to help me save mulah:
1. cloth diapers.
2. cloth wipes.
3. cloth napkins.
4. reusable stuff (meaning not disposable anythings).
• tips to make things last longer:
• reuse things*.  and by "things*" i mean anything!  even things that you don't think are made to be reused. wash it and try to use it again... if it works, it works. if not, no harm no foul.
• use ALL of things*.  just because it's hard to get out, doesn't mean it's not there!!! 
• make a meal plan and stick to it. only go grocery shopping once/week (at most). don't EVER eat out. it's just not worth it. i think that's one of the most frivolous expenses that can save you so much money!!! not drinks (coffee included) or anything. all take-out food is WAY OVER-PRICED! instead pack lunches and snacks.
• a meal plan tip that i do is plan out and get groceries for about 8-10 dinners but don't set them for a certain day. then you know what your options are and can decide each day. that works so much better for me for some reason. you'll find that you'll naturally want to use the recipes with fresh ingredients first (so they won't go bad) and then usually the other recipes are easier so as the week goes on and you get more tired each day... the recipes will be less work (crockpot recipes, casseroles, etc.)
• eat less meat. 
• cut down on portions. 
• stay hydrated with water (it comes out of your sink... not from a bottle.  if you're scared of drinking tap water, buy a filter.  but you don't have to change it as often as they say.  you can taste the difference when you need to change it.)
• always be prepared.
• turn the heat/air down a few degrees. in the winter bundle up.
• don't buy things* at full price!  shop clearance, big sales, yard/garage sales, or second-hand stores. you can find some amazingly awesome deals at thrift stores!  
• use coupons.  
• here are a few of my favorite sites to find deals through: thethriftymama.com (she's not local) and krazycouponlady.com (this one IS local). i found that a lot of things i thought i could find cheapest at my favorite stores (winco) can actually be bought dirt cheap with coupons at places like walgreens and rite aid! (which i'd never shopped at before) before starboy was born i stocked up on medicine cabinet items and toilet paper. i got about $80 worth of FREE items (by single check rebates through rite aid) and bought several months of toilet paper really really cheap! i knew i didn't want to be pressed to run to the store for something stupid like that right after the baby was born.  it was eye-opening how much coupons could save me...
• conserve.  turn off lights.  turn off water.  use less water. 
• people don't NEED to shower 3 times/day.  most people don't NEED to shower once/day.  if you do shower every day you surely don't need to wash your clothes after every time you wear them! 
• wait until your clothes are DIRTY before you wash them and then use cold water. 
• use energy-saving appliances and low-watage flourescent bulbs.
• drive slower, stop less.  you can't control stop signs and stop lights, but by adjusting your speed to hit them green (the lights, not the signs...) you can stop less frequently and save gas.  also, when on the freeway, instead of traveling at 75, slow down to 60-65.  it saves gas and only increases your ETA by minutes.
• carpool when possible.
• stay home more.
• recycle.  most places give credits for using the recycling program. 

so, that's all i can think of.  i've racked my brain too hard...  i'm sure there are more, but this will do.  hopefully with this post, i can do my part in changing the way people think.  i mean, i have readers ALL OVER THE GLOBE!  so, if you found this helpful, share this with others...

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
COMMENT! IT SHOWS ME THAT I'M BEING READ!!!

first menu of this year

i have a good menu going and i'll post it even before grocery shopping. 
i have touched on part of the financial reasons in creating a menu, but other reasons why i find it beneficial to create a menu are:
1.)  it helps me set up the day.  i have mom'd long enough to know what works for me.  NOT having an idea of what's for dinner STRESSES THE HECK OUT OF ME at about 4pm!  2.)  when i create a menu, each morning all i have to do is look at the menu and decide what's for dinner.  also, when i do that, 3.)  i also am planning ahead, and at that point, take the meat out of the freezer.  **that's where a lot of my stress was coming from at 4pm before.  dethawing meat in 1-2 minutes isn't really possible!**  4.)  when i decide what to make and take out the meat, i also know how long i need to prep and make the meal... so, if it's going to take 3 hours, i can start at 2.  if it's going to take 30 min., i can start at 4:30.  if it's a crockpot meal, i can start at 10.  i hate it when i have a great meal idea at 4pm, but it's a crockpot meal, so it won't be ready until breakfast time!!!  ;)  5.)  going grocery shopping once/week or once/2weeks, is SO BLESSED!  it's SO wonderful to always have all the ingredients!  i only have to make quick trips, maybe one more time/2weeks for another stock-up of milk... so that's blessed too.
anyway, back to my menu...  this week (s), i tried to get a good variety of meats in my meals.  i tend to favor chicken and ground beef.  one, because they're cheap and so am i.  but two, because they're easy and i'm not.  :)  so, i looked up some new recipes because i like to and here's what i came up with:

• mulligan stew = not new.  it's a family recipe.  we've had several soups and stews lately, but not this one and i miss it.    i don't think i've posted the recipe and i know i haven't posted pictures, so perhaps i'll do that this time.  WITH fresh baked bread spread with butter.  mmmmmmmm-mmmm.

• pineapple-bacon burgers (picture) with onion rings 
• dj's outdoor pork loin with veggies = i'm not going to completely make these outdoors, because it's so frigid.  i think i'm gonna combine it to a crockpot meal.  we'll see if i can do such a thing...

• 2 ideas for this meal:  either one.)  ham and pineapple kabobs  (picture) OR two.)  pineapple ham and rice (casserole).
• chicken paprikash = a hungarian grandma-type recipe i thought i'd brave because it sounded pretty hungarian-grandma-type yummy.  (not that i have a yummy hungarian grandma... but i can imagine!) 

• makeover swiss chicken supreme = i have no idea what the first swiss chicken supreme dish was that needed madeover, but i'm willing to try it's successor!  (look at the creativity of that picture... cute green plate and all!!!)
• chicken tarragon = i am not certain that i love tarragon, but i'll let you know if i (or any/all of my family members do) after this.  :)  also, it has fun veggies in it, like zucchini, carrots, and mushrooms... so if we don't like the tarragon... we'll still have nutrition! 
• beef tips = served over noodles and probably with corn.  also, just noticed this would be another easy crockpot meal if i need.
• pumpkin joes = i'll just let you wonder away...  we have lots of pureed pumpkin, so i'm broadening my horizons with pumpkin recipes!
• lasagna = finish the list off with another not-new recipe.  in fact, it's so not new i buy it frozen.  however, i will check the ingredients and make sure it is in fact healthy and not modified for the government's sake. 
• we have a birthday meal this week, so i'll let that be a surprise and a post of her very own.  6 years old!!! 

and that wraps it up.  i hope you enjoy your meals this week... but i hope we enjoy ours more!  ;)
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

don't know what to do???

(pictures from our church christmas service)

 (in the audience)

 (Jones WAS on-beat!)

 (aleemay looking oh-so-beautiful)

 (isn't that just precious?!)

(pictures from our church's Christmas service)

i was up early this morning without any kids.  i ventured out to discuss things with people.  the topic of discussion: "understanding" and "encouragement". 

there was a lot said, but sometimes it's impossible to understand unless you've "been there, done that".  when you don't WANT to "be there" or "do that", but you still want to be understanding, what can you do?!
my answer:  pray.
sometimes it's so difficult to always be uplifting and encouraging.  sometimes you're just so mad, that the only way you feel like encouraging is by yelling and screaming and kicking and punching.  that's really not encouragement.  it may make you feel better, but it isn't really uplifting anyone else.  in those times, you really can't just flip the switch and be all counselor-like... some times you just don't have the words to encourage (or any words at all).  sometimes you are too sad and are feeling more sorry for yourself than anyone else to be able to encourage.  sometimes the words that you think are encouraging are really not what others need.  -sometimes we think we have all the answers, but when we share them it only makes matters worse, hurts feelings, makes people bitter, etc.-  encouragement isn't always easy... what can you do to be encouraging?
my answer:  pray.
prayer works.  prayer can help in mysterious ways and in the way that He controls.  we can't always control everything (much to our dismay -especially us women), but we can let go and let God.  you can pray for understanding, but you can also allow God to understand for you...  you can pray for encouragement for others to come through OTHER people and things.  sometimes by taking a step back and praying, you're giving others around you the real encouragement and understanding that they need all the while deepening your relationship and faith in the Lord. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."