Sunday Cooking

I have been cooking today.

Ice Box Gingerbread,



Tomato Soup Cake,




Turkey Pot Pie. This is it before the top went on.



Courtney and I made Pumpkin Spice Waffles to freeze for the week. She mixed up the batter and I cooked it :)







Hope everyone has had a restful Sunday. I have enjoyed being in the kitchen with my daughter. I hope she will someday do the same with her daughter (Yes Courtney YOU ARE having children).

Turkey Day Thankfulness

Okay, I am sooooo stuffed. We had an early dinner, but I am still feeling full many hours later. I made turkey (in an oven bag), which was very moist, Mashed red skin potatoes w/skin on, with garlic and parmesan, green bean casserole, whipped butternut squash, stuffing, and for dessert a pumpkin crisp which was to die for and I will be posting the recipe on here. My husband said I could not make it again it was that good. Anything he fears he will eat to much of, he says I cannot make again. I forgot the dinner rolls, but oh well...I will make them for something else. Dinner was wonderful and we spent the entire day including dinner in our p.j.'s. Its been a rough year for all of us with me being pregnant, us having a baby that had reflux, Bill working two jobs....we deserve dinner in pajamas..ha ha. We spent a quarter of the dinner time going around the table saying what we were thankful for. Some things were quite interesting things to be thankful for. I will have to post some pictures tomorrow of this and that.

The baby is finally in bed. The kids are sitting around the Christmas tree in the front room and I can hear the babies lullabies playing through the static of the monitor. I would say this has been a pretty good end to a very nice Thanksgiving with my family. I am thankful for them. I am thankful....

You Are Missed

Dear Dad,

It has been a year since you left us and so much has changed.

First, your son has done so many wonderful things to get our family where he felt it should be. He is going on to a career that you would be so proud of him for. He has become a father to little Jack and is really helping Anderson and Courtney along. We wish you could meet Jack, we think about that on a daily basis...all the things you are missing. Anderson is doing well and still is the same kind-hearted soul and Courtney is gearing up to graduate....she still does not have a boyfriend (something you used to ask). We think this is a good thing though. I am busy doing the Mom thing and just basically trying to keep up with everything.

I just wanted to say that we really miss you. I miss the way you laughed and I can hear you in my head if I think about you. You sure were a pain in the butt, but I would give anything to have you back. You thought that nobody would care, but we do. One of the last things you said was your sorry and that you love each of us, but we are sorry that you did not feel important, because you were.

Today, I will make sure your son is comforted and will give Jack extra hugs for you.

You are missed!

Love,

Andrea

My Son's Birth

My son was born today, November 24, 2008...born into eternal life. He asked Jesus into his heart. His earthly father lead him to his heavenly father. We are so happy for him and excited to watch God work in his life. He has already been saying he wants to be a missionary for a couple weeks and then today he said he wanted to be a missionary in Africa. I asked him what they do and he said they get to know God better and then they travel to different places in the world to tell people about God.

Please be praying for his walk.

Simple Woman's Daybook ~ 11/24/2008

FOR TODAY November 24, 2008...

Outside my window...The floodlight is shining on my windchime blowing in the breeze and next to it the thermometer reads 40 degrees.

I am thinking...that I need to get some recipes for my Thanksgiving dinner, put up Christmas tree, is my daughter getting sick, I need a haircut, how will everything happen in the time that I need it to.

I am thankful for...God looking out for us this week and showing us through ways that only we would recognize (that amazes me), the warmth and coziness of my home, my husband who is making salad (I hate chopping stuff for salad), netflix having good things for my children to watch, Children's Place because I found LOTS of cute stuff for the boys there. My coffee in a cute paper cup!

From the learning rooms....Learning addition and subtraction, borrowing, verbs, prefixes, about Esther, about purity, doing some geography.

From the kitchen...the sounds of my husband getting dinner ready, the gas stove clicking, the smell of chicken soup for my daughter who may be getting sick, the smell of cut cucumber.

I am wearing...jeans, my new boot slippers (finally a pair that keep my feet warm), hoodie.

I am creating...a list and checking it twice...definitely going to consider who has been naughty or nice! ;)

I am going...to try to get to the grocery store tonight.

I am reading...All You and Real Simple magazines,

I am hoping...that the eldest is not getting sick before the holiday, seems like that always happens to her...poor kid and the PS2 is not broken, but it seems like it may be...ugh.

I am hearing...the radio playing Christmas music, the water running, the phone ringing,

Around the house...there are too many lights on...why is turning off lights so hard to enforce.

One of my favorite things...the sound of the heat coming on.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Get to church on Wednesday, turkey coma on Thursday and thinking about losing weight on Friday.


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



For more Simple Woman's Daybooks, please click here

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

This is a new song by Michael W. Smith. I really like it. It is calling the church out from all over the world. Something I believe really needs to happen, especially with all the changes.

I will sing a new hallelujah!!!

You can find more favorite songs at Signs, Miracles and Wonders here

We Cut the Cable!

It has been a week...WE MADE IT...and we are still doing just fine.

We cut our cable. We had four boxes hooked up. We got rid of it completely. We have not access to normal television. The decision came for multiple reasons. One, we are absolutely disgusted by what is being broadcast. Even if you find a family movie, you have to worry about what commercial's will pop up. Two, we are looking to save money.

On to spending time with God, books and videos, games and spending time with each other. We also invested in a Roku box that will allow Netflix instant t.v. to go straight to our television. It is so much more controlled. I can pick series such as Leave it to Beaver to be able to be shown on our television and also we are allowed DVD's delivered to our home. All at a MUCH more reasonable rate than the cable.





I'd say we have plenty of things to keep us busy.

God holds us responsible for enriching our childrens lives with good things.

"I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

I had a teacher that would always tell the class Garbage In, Garbage Out and I truly believe that. I am hoping that my children will appreciate going back to simple life. With cell phones, computers and television, our children are far too stimulated. Time to get back to the basics. I am doing this so that my children's children will benefit from it. In 2 Timothy 1:5-7, there is talk of the influence a grandparent has on future grandchildren.

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

This is encouraging that even though the decision might be hard, it will show itself to be a worthy decision down the line.

I am happy for a quiet weekend with my family. I hope yours will be too.

Blessings,

Remembrance of My First Born Son Brennan.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.



—John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.



Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."



2 Corinthians 4:16-15:8
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.



12 years ago today, part of my life story went home to be with the Lord. My son Brennan died as a result of SIDS. I am so thankful that I will be able to be with him again. That gives me hope even in the face of pain. I thank God that he has made me whole and that through my relationship with him, he gives me that opportunity to have eternal life and be with the people that I cherish.

If you would like to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please click here

Blessings to you today,

My littlest little man 3 months

Done by my friend and photographer Jill Garl, for her site click here

Simple Womans Daybook November 17th

November 17, 2008


Outside My Window...White snow on the ground and my wind chime lightly ringing.

I am thinking...I wonder what the day will hold, how long will the baby sleep, how come I don't know how to fold laundry, how peaceful the house is this early in the morning...

I am thankful for...the peace in my heart from God my father, my husband, my teenage daughter who does not act so teenage, my two boys, my warm home, my parents, my siblings, food in my cupboards..

From the kitchen...the sounds of an aging refrigerator and a stovetop ready to be used for the morning.

I am wearing...A warm blue robe, p.j's and blue slippers.

I am creating...this post

I am going...to do some shopping today and get the baby's pictures taken.

I am reading...Country Living magazine and coupon inserts.

I am hoping...that things will work out in my family and that everything goes well in the next couple months.

I am hearing...a song in my head "I've got the peace that passeth understanding down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart to stay"

Around the house...The static from the baby monitor, the ticking of the clock, the rumble of the nearby road.

One of my favorite things...warm cup of coffee in the morning.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Get some much needed shopping done, check out sales/coupons for the week, enjoy time with my husband.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...This is a picture that was drawn before the baby was born by my son. I saw it and thought it was special, especially now that the baby is here.





To get involved in Simple Woman's Daybook every Monday click here.

First Real Snow

It is snowing here today. It is a beautiful heavy snow with very large flakes. The minute my son saw it, his boots and coat were on and he was out the door.











You know it is getting to be winter and the holidays when Tim Horton's puts out this cup...




I love it.

I definitely am getting in the mood for the holidays

Darn Good Chocolate Cake

This is SUPER good. The best!!!! This is the one that my family requests most. Does not need frosting.

Darn Good Chocolate Cake

1 pkg. plain devil's food or dark chocolate fudge cake mix
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) chocolate instant pudding mix
4 large eggs
1 c. sour cream
1/2 c. warm water
1/2 c. vegetable oil (canola, corn, safflower, soybean or sunflower)
1 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan aside.

Place the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, warm water and oil in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2-3 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, making sure they are well distributed throughout the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.

Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the sides of the pan, 45-50 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto the rack to cool completely, 20 minutes more. Or invert it onto a serving platter to slice and serve while still warm.

For more recipes hop on over to Grocery Cart Challenge here

Awwwwww

I love sons....this is sooooo good. Turn off my player at bottom to hear...I'm getting all misty

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

I love everything about this song. It really just puts me at peace.

Be sure to go down to bottom of my blog to turn off music to hear it.

If you would like to get in on Then Sings My Soul Saturday click here

What Makes Me Feel Safe....

You might be wondering what my husband is doing. It looks like he is checking out the ground or holding the tree up.

My husband is praying.....

I started noticing that he would come and kneel down on the driveway or at the front porch or by the tree after running. For a long time I just thought he was really tired out. One time I caught him at the porch though and asked him what he was doing. He told me everytime he runs he comes back to the house and prays over it and the people in it.

That sure does make me feel safe.....

I would not give that up for any amount of attractiveness, financial stability or smarts (although he has all those too).

Onward Christian Soldiers

Many people woke up this morning with different feelings about what is going on in this world. I struggled with voting at all, although I did. Now that all is said and done may people are saying God is still on his throne, but do they really believe that? HE IS!!!!! Hallelujah that we can count on that....

I still love the verse "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"...and that cannot be changed, even with whatever is happening outside of this house. I will try to raise my children to be soldiers for God and to proclaim the Good News..even in the face of immorality. I still have a choice. I can still chose to raise my children and my household up to know God, try to live my life as an example to others and get rid of things that would hinder that.

I say Onward Christian Soldiers...don't be frightened by what may be happening in our world...your destiny is ultimately heaven...this is not our home!

Pray for our world leaders as you should and lead your families so that they may be able to make the right choices in the face of decisions possibly made by those leaders.

Blessings to all...



Be Still My Soul

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Great Deals!!!!

Went to Kroger and got some great deals today...maybe not the best, but for being within my first couple of weeks of using coupons, I am pretty darn happy.

I got

4 Vitamin Waters
1 Land O Lake Butter
2 Gallons Skim Milk
10 bags of Quaker Mini Rice Cakes
2 lbs of lunch meat
2 boxes Orville R popcorn
5 rolls of Viva Paper Towels
1 bag of parsley
1 large bag of baby carrots
3 packs of Bic Razors
2 Scotch brite sponges
2 tubes Colgate
2 Carnation Evaporated Milk
1 bag Nestle Choco chips
1 small carton Quaker Oats
1 Dial soap
1 Cider Vinegar
2 boxes swiss miss

Manufacturer Coupon Savings $31.35
Bonus Cpn Savings (what was doubled) $4.10
Str coupons/plus savings $48.28

Total coupon savings: $83.73 70% savings

Total paid $35.62