Learning to Live Life...De Die in Diem

Jan. 17, 2008

Happy Winter...

Posted in Just a thought

I just wanted to drop in real quick and send a hello. Life has kept me busy with many projects. Praise the Lord for that. The winters here are kinda long (for me at least) and keeping busy, helps. Our Christmas was super yet very simple. A few days before Christmas, my dh's First Ssgt knocks on the door and brings us a huge box of Christmas Dinner goodies. That was so very thoughtful of them to look out for us like that. (We were really touched, we felt so blessed) There was a catch though...he had 2 boxes because another family had declined theirs, and he wasn't taking these 2 boxes home with him...so we "had" to accept. The funny part was because of the Lord's grace this year we were blessed enough to buy our family quite a feast prior to ever realizing were were getting a dinner box. So now we had 3 meals, all ready for Christmas! So anyway we thought for a second about what to do and decided to call our church office just before they closed (this was the Friday before Christmas.) We talked to the Assistant Pastor and asked if they knew of any families that needed a Christmas meal. He didn't quite understand but said yes bring the food to the Christmas Eve Service. Well we did, (both boxes) and ended up also serving in the children's ministry that night (because they were short handed.) It turns out there were 2 families in need at the church, and the pastors didn't really connect the 2 situations until they saw the boxes and the families they went home with. Then they realized as did we that the Lord was at work in the backround (as usual.) And I believe the whole situation increased the faith of our pastors who work so hard yet get so busy and sometimes miss God's backround work. It was such a blessing to just slip out of church that night knowing the Lord is so sovereign. That really made our Chirstmas!

New Years was fun as well as we were invited to our friends property to go sledding and to have a nice dinner. The kids had a blast rocketing down that steep hill. I of course being a mother, just about had a heart attack watching them!! The week after, my dh left for a short week long trip to another stateside base to attend an AF conference. We missed him, however we were thankful it was short. We also recieved a ton of snow the week he was gone (that I had to shovel) and 2 of our 5 children came down ill with some stomach thing! Sigh! It's always interesting when they leave! Any military family can attest to that. LOL!!

Well I will add another post on top of this one to share an ultra yummy recipe I made for dinner the other day. It was healthy, tasty and all my kiddos ate every bite! My 3 yo son even said, "mom my favorite part was... the meal." LOL!! Well you had to have been there. We thought it was really funny. One last thing... at the end of the month I will be undergoing some intense dental surgery and I would love your prayers. I hate needles and dental pain. LOL! Thankfully my sweet dh will be taking leave to take care of me and the family while I recover. For those that knew I was severly ill over the last few months-- I am still in recover mode but I am doing better, taking a high end multi vitamin has helped a lot! (Of all things.)

Blessings and take care,

~Renee~

Dec. 23, 2007

Merry Christmas

Posted in Just a thought

Hey there,

It's been another small break in blogging due to health issues. For many months I have been fighting a severe Staph infection, and the antibiotics have been fighting both me and the infection! LOL!! It's been a rough road at times. Anyhow, I wanted to upload my winter/Christmas template, and type a quick note to wish everyone who reads this a Merry Christmas, and many blessings. The Lord is so good... whatever comes our way in life the Lord is faithful to take us through it and use our circumstances good and/or bad to shape and mold us. He also allows us to come along side others who might be in that same situation down the road and offer peace and grace to them. What a blessing!

~Renee~

· Answers in Genesis: Article-- Do Leave’s Die?

Oct. 10, 2007

Fall Fun

Posted in School Days

After a visit from family I am ready to blog once again. I thought I’d share some photos of the beautiful fall foliage around here. It’s is so awesome to watch the Lord at work in nature. The kids and I did some studying on the color change in leaves and find them to be all the more fascinating. I have some great links to websites we have enjoyed learning from... (always use discernment when surfing)

· Kid Explorers—Why Do Leaves Change Colors in the Fall?

· Enchanted Learning—Fall Worksheets

· Ed Helper—Autumn Theme Unit

· Fall Poetry—Fact Monster

Here are some photos of the kids and the fall color around the area. Enjoy...

Blessings,

~Renee~

Oct. 2, 2007

Feeling Lead to Blog Again

Posted in Just a thought

Well it’s been an even longer time of no blogging! I have been feeling led back to this so I am planning on easing back into blogging. For now I have updated all my graphics to reflect the season, curriculum additions, etc and hopefully start fresh. This last year has been filled with activity and growth especially on the homeschooling front and our family’s faith in Christ. My husband and I have been working our way through the bible verse by verse and it has lead to such great conversations and growth. Over the summer we took some great day/field trips which I hope to include on here asap. I am keeping this short this evening so that I may go and bake some cookies with my girls as we prepare for a visit from family.

Blessings in Him,

~Renee~

Shared Thoughts (3)

http://teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/

Nov. 16, 2006

One More Thing

Posted in School Days

Today I found a great link over on the Washington State Blog for kids to learn about the "First Thanksgiving!" We checked it out and found it to be a fun supplement to our studies this week on the Separatists and Wampanoag nation. Here's the link if you wish to check it out.

~Renee~

Nov. 16, 2006

It's been a while

Posted in Just a thought

Long Time No Blog…

I know it’s been quite a while since I last blogged. I felt I needed to take a bit of a hiatus from things, kind of like a fast from computers, phones, and TV. I felt it building up over the course of the last three years, as they were challenging. I was spiritually and emotionally spent. During my hiatus my husband and I took up reading the bible and lifting up our day in prayer together every morning before sunrise. It has been a wonderful time to connect with each other as well as our Heavenly Father. He has begun to fill us up again, deep inside. It’s like taking a long drink of cool water on a hot day. It’s been very refreshing. We also finally found a church home where we feel God’s magnificence and glory abundantly.

Homeschooling has been going fine. We surge some days and others we barely get anything beyond the basics done. This was an area I could feel was over taking me emotionally. I felt cornered and hopeless. I felt that our homeschooling journey would not be successful, with three little ones under three in tow. My oldest two have been great and very patient through it all. I basically had to give it all over to the Lord and claim His promises that “He would work out all things for the good of those who love Him.” Every morning I have to trust that He will fill in the gaps and allow me to overcome my perfectionism in this area. If I keep it in perspective, and look at the big picture, they are learning a lot. We have our basics, which I can take as much time on as I want, like bible, grammar, spelling, reading, writing and math. If they don’t get it we can keep trying until they do get it. When we can’t get to history and science, I have them open up good resource books and just look through and read them. We watch science and history shows, and discuss that period of time and look up the things that sounded interesting as a way of filling in the “gaps.” Best of all their characters are flourishing. They have so much honesty and integrity; it fills my heart with joy. That’s not to say they don’t have their days, because they do. LOL! So when I look at it like that, I feel much better. Boy is it ever hard to let go of the “traditional school” approach, and just adopt a more natural approach. My dear sweet husband gave me great wisdom in this area… he said, “You have to let go of the expectation.” He thought I was going to hang up the phone on him! LOL! Actually…it made me think, and pray.

The conclusion I have come to is that homeschooling is a frame of mind, a perspective.

I will post again as soon as I can. It will most likely not be everyday though. Unless I surprise myself! I’ve updated my blog look to reflect the season, and will change it again next month for winter.

~Renee~

Aug. 11, 2006

The Military HomeFront--The Balancing Act

I am posting my article for the Military HomeFront on my blog this month because all our writers had so much to share regarding planning and preparation. I’d love to hear your thoughts, or even your experiences. We at the HomeFront would also love to hear from you!

The Balancing Act

A few years ago I jokingly asked the Lord to slow me down as a driver. I typically drove with a lead foot everywhere I went. One day as I was zipping around town, I noticed a speed trap and arrogantly prayed for the Lord to slow me down. “Ha-ha,” I thought to myself as I passed the cops slowly by. Little did I know God took me seriously. A few hours later, on my way home I was slowed way down! No I wasn’t in an accident. I was however stuck behind two oversized terribly slow trucks, and a train approaching which would have us stop all together. I was annoyed, very annoyed. After the train moved on the trucks slowly puttered forward; I tried to pass them every chance I got. They ended up heading for the base, the very direction I was going. The Lord whispered softly in my ear, that I had asked to slow down. Sigh! I should have remembered that later the next year when my husband and I were embarking on our first year of homeschooling. I felt completely unqualified for the journey we were about to undertake. I prayed continuously for patience, creativity, and the ability to learn to lean on Him. We were also praying for another child, we only had two children at the time and our youngest was almost four. In time our Awesome God began reveling glimpses of a plan He had to transform our family like never before. Again...little did I know….He was going to get creative. We got an answer to one of our prayers. At least we thought it was an answer to only one. We found out we were expecting our third child shortly after relenting to the idea of homeschooling. I remember thinking “Good grief, now I’ll have a baby to slow me down.”

Here I am three children later looking ahead to another year of homeschooling the five I now have, and wondering where the easier days have gone. The question in my mind remains, were the previous years easier, or do they seem easier when you look back and realize they weren’t that bad. You know what they say about hindsight? Keeping this in mind, I march ahead planning our new year. I have learned so much about creatively organizing a large family. I have also discovered more patience than ever before. I once read somewhere…”never pray for patience.” I thought that was a silly thing to say. Now I know why it was said. Our Father in Heaven is so very creative in teaching us what we need to know. Homeschooling our two oldest with three (ages three and under) in tow has been a tremendous patience and faith builder. He found a way to reach me the way I would learn it best. It has not been without tears or breakdowns; however it has been vital to my spiritual growth.

In planning our new school year I am tempted to dig out that old trusty “bang head here” sign when faced with the thought of corralling these little guys. However in all God’s grace and mercy He has also taught me that scaling back a bit will not ruin my children’s education or my sanity. For survival I have had to be willing to put school away some days, or only require the basics done. I have had to be okay with that. I can easily drive myself bonkers thinking of all they could possibly be missing out on. In reality they are missing nothing, and learning loads of real applicable life skills. I love the verse… Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed, Proverbs 16:3. I use unit studies as our main curriculum, and it takes some planning ahead on my part. However I tend to over plan, and snowball my reality of what truly is important. A love of learning, and desire to find the knowledge needed. I also tend to try and school during nap times for the little ones. That is not always a practical reality either. They don’t always want to nap. So praise the Lord, I have come up with a way to keep my little marauders busy and learning while I teach the other two. I am slowly building a tote just for the toddler and preschooler. It will contain items like large wooden puzzles, blocks, stringing beads, magnets, alphabet and bible coloring pages, finger and water paints etc. They will only be allowed to have this bin out during “school,” so that they may be supervised at all times with some of the small pieces, and so the bin remains novel.

We do have a schedule that I would love to stick with, however I still need to be flexible to remain productive. In the morning right after they wake up, it’s time to make beds and set the table. During breakfast we have our bible lesson; it starts off the day with our priorities in order. After breakfast we clean up, get dressed, brush teeth and get ready to start school around 9 am. While the children are busy starting school, I do the dishes and throw in a load of laundry. Around 10:30 am I try to put the little ones down for a nap, if that doesn’t work, it’s bin time for them. Our school day weaves in and out of our everyday life, between meals, chores, and play. We may not officially finish until after dinner if need be, however the children have had a full day of fun, learning, playing and working. Some days are truly pleasant, and others I feel I should have stayed in bed. Through it all if I continue to plan school around our lives and refine it when necessary I know I will obtain a precious balance. Above all I pray the Lord’s and my “teaching [will] fall like rain...like showers on new grass.” Deut. 32:2

Tip: When scheduling your school days especially with little ones, always use pencil and never write exact dates to avoid frustration and disappointment.

~Renee~

Jul. 28, 2006

Patriotic Friday... A fallen Marines promise.

Posted in Patriotic Fridays

It’s Patriotic Friday!!

I have not been as diligent as I would have liked lately with posting on Patriotic Friday’s. So, today I am going to take care of it! LOL!!

I found this article and was moved at the love and compassion of this young fallen Marine. Here is the link to the story. (scroll down until you see the story.) When you get the chance to read it, come back and share your thoughts.

To me, this is just another example of the humanity of our troops. To often the media and others see and portray our military members as callous machines. In reality they are loving, caring, and compassionate individuals, who have families. Our troops are people too.

~Renee~

Jul. 20, 2006

My thoughts...

Posted in Just a thought

Okay I know another long stretch between posts. I do apologize. Some of my blogging buddies are beginning to wonder where I’ve been. I suppose I’d better update a little. LOL!!

For starters I have been taking a break from the computer for a while and focusing on potty training my 2 yo, as well as comfort my 7 month old whose been cutting 3 teeth all at once and with the accompanying fevers. Which is really fun (NOT) with all this heat and no AC!! SIGH! It’ll be 100 to 103 this weekend. I think we’ll be at the mall all day!! LOL!!

I have also been taking some time off of schooling the children. For said reasons above, and for some creative time for me. The one thing I have noticed that remains constant with me is that I am a creative person. Without the time and or ability to create I get feeling bogged down, and overwhelmed. Which is what I believe has been happening over the last 2 ½ years. I have had to leave that side of me alone during 3 pregnancies back to back, 3 moves back to back, and slim finances. The things with the finances holding me back is during 2 of the moves (that were military moves), the packing companies will not allow things like paint, (even craft paint) stains, glues, candles, wax, etc, to be moved so therefore all my supplies had to be tossed. Sniff. Rebuilding my supplies has been difficult.

Over the last year I have gathered a few items, but was already in the day to day “business like” attitude of “I’ve got to get this or that done, there is no time for messing around.” It took me feeling really down and burdened as well as watching how my children love to create to help me realize that part of me was missing. I began to think about the Lord and how creative He is, and since He made us in His image…then being creative in some way is in our design. Why fight it? I realized I was fighting against myself all this time. LOL!! That’s always fun. My hubby is also very creative, he used to write poetry and draw beautiful things. However as life has been happening, he has completely put those things away and believes they are no longer there, it is my prayer that he picks them up once again someday.

So anyway, I have taken the time to repurpose a book shelf for the children, (it’s in my living room, so I wanted it to blend with the décor.) I also made 2 necklaces, one for me and one for my daughter. In addition to that I have been making the children a “behavior” type chart. It has pockets, and cards to fill them. Each of the 2 older children will have 6 pockets. Two pockets for their assigned “zones;” one for zones to do and one for zones done. The middle pockets are for school assignments to do, and one for the assignments done. The third pockets are for character; one positive and one negative. We are using the “Fruits of the Spirit” for determining character. If they exhibit things opposite of the “Fruits of the Spirit” then the card is put into the negative pocket. They then have to earn it back and so on. There is a little more to it, but I’ll save that for another post if readers are interested. Just leave me a comment. I will add pictures of the chart when all the cards are finished, as I am hand making them all. I have also been helping out a few fellow bloggers with decorating on my other blog, 7swallowtails. I hesitate to put that out there as I would hate to be scrutinized as to my intentions. I am merely providing help with love, and no expectations for anything in return. Well maybe a smile! He-He-He!

I’ll leave you with my preliminary action plan for the upcoming school year. I have decided that I will school the kids 4 days a week, and use Fridays as a modified day. They will still do their bible, math and grammar, however it will also be used as a make-up day for assignments not completed, or school crafts not done. In addition to that I will use that day for some good old fashioned house cleaning. I do a little everyday; however some of the more detailed stuff needs a little extra time, so Friday will be the day. I know this will help in keeping me feeling more relaxed, and not so stressed during the school year. I will post my schedule in the few days for those interested. I will also post my picks for curriculum for the new school year, and why I choose them. I know that this time of year there are many moms looking for encouragement, and ideas for their new journey of homeschooling. I wish I would have had the resources and support that HSB provides, a few years ago!! LOL!! I pray and hope moms will find what they need on the various blogs over the next few weeks as we all get ready for our new school year.

Have a blessed day.

~Renee~

Here are some photos of what I have done so far…

My daughter's necklace on the left, mine on the right.

Here is the bookshelf...

Shared Thoughts (6)

Jun. 30, 2006

Patriotic Friday...

Posted in Patriotic Fridays

Today being the “Patriotic Friday” before the most Patriotic Day of the year, I wanted to share with you two quotes from the very men who had the privilege of brining this country to her feet. One man an original signer and writer of the Declaration. The other man is John Adams son, who worked under the first 5 presidents including his father. The first quote from John Adams lets us peer into one of his thoughts written to his wife Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress. Which by the way was originally presented to Congress on July 2^nd 1776, however some changes were requested, so they presented it again on July 4^th 17776. The second quote is from John Quincy Adams, shows us the importance placed on our Nations birth from the perspective of a man who had experienced the birth and growth of our Nation, including watching the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War from a hill above his family farm.

John Adams:
“ The general principles upon which the Fathers achieved independence were the general principals of Christianity… I will avow that I believed and now believe that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”
• “[July 4th] ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.”
–John Adams in a letter written to Abigail on the day the Declaration was approved by Congress

John Quincy Adams:
• “Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day [the Fourth of July]?" “Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity"?
--1837, at the age of 69, when he delivered a Fourth of July speech at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Over at Cindy’s blog you can read the Declaration of Independence. On Janet’s blog you can read of ways to show and send support to our troops. I also wanted to include the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. These men took a very brave step of faith in order to secure a free future.

Massachusetts
John Hancock
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
New Hampshire
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Matthew Thornton
Rhode Island
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Georgia
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Connecticut
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New York
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas M' Kean
Maryland
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carrol

Virginia
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton
North Carolina
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward
Thomas Lynch
Arthur Middleton

Jun. 27, 2006

Easy Frozen Coffee Treat

Posted in Recipes

I wanted to post a recipe for an icy cold coffee treat you can make yourself on these hot days of summer. Now, if you’re not a coffee person, then you can always substitute iced tea, or juice for the kiddos.

Easy Granita:

· 2 cups strong leftover coffee

· about 1/3 cup sugar

· and whipped cream (optional)

In a bowl or your measuring cup combine coffee and sugar. Mix until sugar is dissolved. Pour into 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish. Place in freezer, and let sit until it starts to freeze slightly. After that, scrape with a fork every 20 minutes or so until you have the consistency of icy slush. Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Tips: to avoid your Granita from defrosting too quickly place your glass into the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes as well, before serving.

Want to experiment with your Granita? Try adding a little splash of your favorite coffee syrup, like vanilla, raspberry, mint, etc. before freezing.

Enjoy!

Jun. 27, 2006

What I have been up to part 2...

Posted in School Days

Well we’ve decided it was time to teach our children about the birds and the bees…..I know they are still kind of young. I even have pictures that we showed them, to help in their studies. Now before you get upset with me check out our pictures….

HA! Made you look! LOL!!

My hubby took both of these pictures. He was actually up close to that bumble bee. In the next picture check out the beautiful intricate design on the wings. Is there not a Designer?

We have been having a great time enjoying all of the wild life we have encountered lately. It’s always an adventure just to step out our door it seems. LOL!! The children recently found a nest of quail eggs in our front garden, they were recently laid and sadly a crow had found some of them. Regardless I took some pictures and wanted to share them with you.

Here is one the crow got to....sniff.

Quail eggs are a small to medium sized egg, with a tea stained white color to them and brown spots all over. (In case you ever come across a nest in the garden or by shrubs.)

Here’s a shot of the nest. I am afraid they have been abandoned. (Oh, just in case you were wondering…yes,... the children washed their hands! LOL!)

Here are two photos of a swallowtail in my pear tree in the back yard. The first one I took, was from inside my dining room behind the slider, the other one I went out and got under the tree and took the picture that way.

One more nature shot for you today…

~Renee~

Jun. 26, 2006

What I have been up to part 1...

Posted in Family Time

Wow!! It has been a long time since I last blogged! I’ve just been taking a much needed mental break. I have been keeping busy though. LOL! I thought updating with some pictures might be fun. Over the next few days or so I will be adding pictures and posts about what we have been up to, and will be up to. They will include things like, repurposing furniture, jewelry making, and gardening to name a few.

We recently took a day trip to the Grand Coulee Dam. That was a sight to behold! The Grand Coulee Dam is not nearly as tall as the Hoover Dam; however it is the heaviest concrete structure in all of the United States. It has approximately 12 million cubic tons of concrete!! It is the 3^rd largest producer of electricity in the world! The dam itself is about 1 mile across. Your eyes can barely distinguish the mass of this dam. It is incredible that this structure was built in the 30’s. Besides the awesomeness of the Grand Coulee, just past the spill-way we saw 2 bald eagles perched up on an old telephone poll. They were beautiful!! We also spotted their nest on the other side of the dam. Now that was a nest! During our picnic on the lawn in front of the spill-way they turned the spill-way off to just a tiny trickle. We were very disappointed until we learned that they have actually only turned it on full power during the day, 4 times since 1990!! YAY! Praise you Lord. What a blessing!! During a brief thunderstorm while we were there, we stopped in the newly remodeled visitor center. I didn’t take any pictures of that, however I will next time. We had the opportunity to chat with a local Native American from the Colville Confederated Tribes. His particular family was Nez Perce and Palouse. This gentle man was a speaker and an artist. He shared really great info with us about his family’s means of communication and identification. There is no written language for his people, so everything was/is spoken. There is a very nice museum that we will visit the next time we go all about the Confederated Tribes. The tots were tired so we decided to head home and skip the museum. However, we snapped a picture of a Teepee that various Confederated Tribes might have used. Hopefully we can go back soon and absorb even more of the culture, and beautiful natural surroundings.

~Renee~

Notice the tiny cars below...

A close up...

My family!! Well except the baby...she was sleeping in the stroller. Ah, the life!

Ack! It's me...can I photoshop me out!? LOL!!

Lunch time!...Pasta Salad and Turkey sandwhiches...

"I'd rather be chasing the seagulls..."

What little one can resist chasing the birds??

Apperently he can't either....

Hey! Who turned off the water?!

The children thought it was interesting to see the concrete under all that water...

Here are the bald eagles...

Here is a close up of the bald eagles... Just magnificent.

The bald eagles cozy home...now that is a big nest!

An exapmle of a Teepee, from the Colville Confederated Tribes...

Jun. 24, 2006

Patriotic Pie

Posted in Recipes

Hopefully many of you have read the latest edition of the HomeFront E-Newsletter. If so then you might remember my recipe for Patriotic Pie. Well I promised I would add a picture of it. So, here it is. I hope you all like it. If you try it, drop me a line and let me know.

In case you hadn’t read the newsletter, I am offering out the recipe that I had featured there. I’m sure many of you are planning your 4^th of July celebrations and of course food is almost always a concern. Well here is a great dessert for your family and friends to share as we usher in another birthday for the USA. Next week, I’ll add my recipe for a yummy Potato Salad.

Patriotic Pie: serves 8

Crust

· 1 package blueberry muffin mix, separated

· ¼ cup butter softened

Filling

· 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened (see tips below)

· ½ cup crumb mixture reserved from crust

Topping

· Can of blueberries from mix (I prefer fresh or frozen blueberries, defrosted)

· 1 pint fresh strawberries, rinsed, drained and sliced

· 2 TBSP sugar (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 9-inch pie plate.

2. For crust, place muffin mix in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives. Spread evenly in ungreased 9-inch square baking pan. Do not press down. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Stir. Reserve ½ cup crumb mixture for filling. Press remaining crumb mixture against bottom and sides of pie plate to form crust. Cool completely. (In a hurry, stick the crust mixture in the freezer for a few minutes to cool.)

3. For filling, spread ice cream over crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture. Freeze several hours or until firm.

4. For topping, rinse blueberries from mix with cold water and drain. If using fresh blueberries just rinse them off. For frozen blueberries, defrost first according to package directions. Combine sliced strawberries with sugar if desired.

5. To serve, let pie stand 5 minutes at room temperature. Top with blueberries and strawberries. Cut into 8 wedges using sharp knife.

Tips: 1. Ice cream can be softened by allowing to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes or placed in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. 2. Hold off on preparing topping until just before you are ready to serve the pie. 3. A nice way to present your pie is to arrange you blueberries in the middle and sliced strawberries around the blueberries in a circular fashion.

Shared Thoughts (3)

Jun. 23, 2006

It's Patriotic Friday!

Posted in Patriotic Fridays

It’s Patriotic Friday!!

This was forwarded to a yahoo group I belong to…then I googled it and I found it at this website. I decided that this would be appropriate for Patriotic Fridays.

Dinner Alone

By Lori

May 2004

Lori is a 31 year old teacher and proud military wife.

I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters.

Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.

Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home to me.

I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts.

"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know he stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.

Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."

My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.

"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?

I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking.

"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby killers we call a military."

Professional baby killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again.

That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.

Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, I smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him."

"Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."

I must have been louder than I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."

As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away.

After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."

With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."

As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.

Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom.

As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!"

To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Shared Thoughts (5)

Jun. 9, 2006

The Star-Spangled Banner for Patriotic Friday!

Posted in Patriotic Fridays

It’s Patriotic Friday!

With Flag Day approaching I thought it appropriate to post something about our flag. Francis Scott Key was so inspired by seeing our flag flying high even after a battle, that he composed the poem that eventually became our National Anthem. What a blessing that this captured man was so moved by this symbol of freedom. Far too often society seems de-sensitized to our American flag, and the words to this anthem. Maybe reading the words will help to bring about a higher level of patriotism.

The Star-Spangled Banner

—Francis Scott Key, 1814

O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when free-men shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in Chesapeake Bay to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the burning of Washington, DC. The release was secured, but Key was detained on ship overnight during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore. In the morning, he was so delighted to see the American flag still flying over the fort that he began a poem to commemorate the occasion. First published under the title “Defense of Fort M'Henry,” the poem soon attained wide popularity as sung to the tune “To Anacreon in Heaven.” The origin of this tune is obscure, but it may have been written by John Stafford Smith, a British composer born in 1750. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was officially made the national anthem by Congress in 1931, although it already had been adopted as such by the army and the navy.

(Words to The Star-Spangled Banner and the encyclopedia entry provided by Fact Monster.)

Jun. 2, 2006

Thomas Paine on education....

Posted in Patriotic Fridays

It’s Patriotic Friday’s once again.

I found this quote from Thomas Paine; I felt such relief in seeing that even then there began to be problems noticed in our “school” system, from taking the Lord out of it. So many are now convinced that our Nation and school system were created with merely atheistic intentions, and the God was not a central focus of our founding fathers…Wrong. All one has to do is read their writings.

Thomas Paine:
“ It has been the error of the schools to teach astronomy, and all the other sciences, and subjects of natural philosophy, as accomplishments only; whereas they should be taught theologically, or with reference to the Being who is the author of them: for all the principles of science are of divine origin. Man cannot make, or invent, or contrive principles: he can only discover them; and he ought to look through the discovery to the Author.”
“ The evil that has resulted from the error of the schools, in teaching natural philosophy as an accomplishment only, has been that of generating in the pupils a species of atheism. Instead of looking through the works of creation to the Creator himself, they stop short, and employ the knowledge they acquire to create doubts of his existence. They labour with studied ingenuity to ascribe every thing they behold to innate properties of matter, and jump over all the rest by saying, that matter is eternal.” “The Existence of God--1810”

May. 27, 2006

Part 2, the "HomeFront's" "Chow Hall" article...(a light dessert.)

Posted in Recipes

The HSB E-Newsletter “HomeFront” Chow Hall Article Continued…

For the month of May we at the HomeFront were not able to have our newsletter published as usual, so instead we posted our newsletter in various places. One of which is the Military/HomeFront Blog. My article for the Chow Hall "Rememberance and Celebration," gave a great recipe for my Potato Salad as well as a small devotional for Memorial Day. I also informed my readers that there was a redeeming dessert to accompany the Potato Salad. If you haven’t read it yet go check it out. Then come back here and pick up your dessert recipe. If you’ve already read it, here is the dessert below.

“Sorbet DeLight”

Prep time: 15 minutes Total: 3 to 4 hours (this includes freezing and standing)

· 1 pt (2 cups) Strawberry Sorbet (or Raspberry) Sherbet can be used as well

· 1 cup cold milk

· 1 pkg. (4 serving size) Banana Pudding& Pie filling (tastes great with Vanilla also)

· 1 tub (8 oz) Whipped Topping, thawed

· 1 cup blueberries (for a Patriotic look.) You can also substitute any of the following…Bananas, Strawberries, or Raspberries.

Line a 9x5 loaf pan with foil. Spoon slightly softened Sorbet into pan; freeze 10 min.

Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mix. Beat w/ whisk 2 min. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread pudding mixture over sorbet in pan.

Freeze about at least 3 hours. To unmold, invert pan unto plate; remove foil. Top with fruit just before serving. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into slices.

Makes about 12 servings.

{This dessert is already pretty lite, however to save about 40 calories and about 3g fat use fat-free milk, sugar-free pudding mix, and lite whipped topping.}

Enjoy! If you use my “Popular Potato Salad” recipe, or this “Sorbet De-Light” recipe please come back and let me know how it was.

~Renee~

Contributing Writer for the “HomeFront.”

May. 26, 2006

Some Activitie's To Share For Memorial Day...

Posted in Recipes

Fun things to help your children celebrate Memorial Day….

Recently the children and I made some fun, and nutritious Frozen Banana Pops. I wanted to share the idea with you.

Frozen Banana Pops:

3 ripe bananas

1 container strawberry yogurt (or raspberry)

Red, White, and Blue Sprinkles

6 Popsicle sticks

Wax Paper (or foil will do in a pinch)

1. Cut bananas in half (not length wise)

2. Insert popsicle sticks into the cut end of the banana

3. Pour yogurt onto plate, roll banana in yogurt to cover

4. Add sprinkles

Freeze for at least 3 hours. Enjoy!!

Also here are some links to some websites where you can find fun, Memorial Day crafts as well as good info and facts, to share with your children.

· http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/memorialday/ (great crafts!)

· http://abcteach.com/directory/theme_units/month_to_month/e_may/ (fun word search)

· http://www.edhelper.com/Memorial_Day.htm (lots of things to do, and color)

· http://www.factmonster.com/spot/memorialday1.html (awesome facts)

By the way…stop by the Military Blog to read the May issue of our E-Newsletter “The HomeFront.” There are great articles on there about Memorial Day.

~Renee~