Planted in Blooger Friend School

"This week we're going to reminisce on our Favorite Travels!  I had three requests to do something about favorite field trips, favorite vacations, or just favorite places to go as a family or with other homeschool families.  I combined those three requests and came up with Favorite Travels! Do you have a favorite travel prayer that the children recite or a favorite verse you can add?  That would be fun too.  Don't you just LOVE the graphic for this assignment...it's thanks to someone on Fliker (not sure that's spelled right), there was no name to give thanks to.  Please share pictures or a direct link to them if you have any!
I love sunshine faces!" ~Nancy's Nook

Really other than camp-meeting at our old church we have never had a family vacation. We would love to, it has just not come to pass. WE are going to try this year to go to family camp together and take a couple long weekends and travel to close places amd spend time together. our dream family vacation would be to go to Prince Edward Island and visit "Anne of Green Gables" Everything!

My hubby and I did go on a vacation within the first year of marriage. We traved from our home Province to Conneticut for a campmeeting. I was about 7 months pregnant in the July heat. e traved with members of our church in a small bus. With little pitstops! The meeting was great and I can still remember the bugs! Oh well, someday we will vacation somewhere!

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Come and join in the fun  here.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Find out how to join in our blooger school fun! See Nancy here.

As spring is among us and summer is approaching my family and I slowly steer away from the big hot dinners and more to the salads, sandwiches and fresh fruit.  We'll be doing lots of canning and preserving foods this summer, so I won't feel like cooking big meals every night like I do now. 

For this week's assignment I thought it would be fun to share our dinner plans for the night or if you're organized enough for the week.  You can include pictures if you desire.  Also tell what your family likes to drink, if you have desserts or not.  If you want to then take this assignment and let all the children in your life make dinner for the night.   Please add your favorite verse for this assignment as it might be an encouragement for someone else.  This week's assignment is short and sweet so have fun with it.

I have been posting my menu , or trying to every Monday. At this time of year we really start to BBQ and salads will start to make more appearances. Some of our favorits are grilled Greek porkchops, marinated steaks. I am always looking for more BBQ recipes. Let me know if you have any. :)  I am looking for more desserts for those hot summer days. We of course have the regulars hamburgers, hotdogs, tacos, puddings, jello. I always have lots of fun planning my menus. Let me know if you want any of the recipes from my menu. I would love to share them.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

 This week I thought it would be fun to share one or two short experiences with everyone about one of those times in your lives.  Tell a story or two about the last BIG laugh you had with your hubby or whole family.  The don't mean a little ha ha laugh...I'm talking about cheek hurtin', gut wrenchin',snortin' out loud, almost wet my pants laughing moments!!!  This can be a recent story or one from your childhood.  We all want to laugh with you and enjoy these funny moments!  Have fun and you can add pictures if you have any.  Don't forget:  Add your favorite verse for this assignment.  Find out here.

I have to say I was stumped on this. I just went around asking all of my family members when was the last time this happened? My oldest said "mom, just last night!" She's right. She was the cause. Now you have to picture this. My maturing 13 1/2 year old, always wanting to act like she is 30 ( does this happen in your family?) sitting at the table. We are all talking and eating lemon jello with whipped cream. Jello is low fat and mommy is trying to loose weight, no don't tell me how much calories is in the whipped cream. It was my one treat after veggies and rice cakes. My hubby likes to get them laughing by staring at the girls with funny looks. He does this really well. Then my second oldest starts to talk with a dill pickle sticking out of her mouth.   My oldest daughter then starts to laugh and as the spoonful of jello with whipped cream is coming to her mouth almost there, it falls and hits her mouth, her shirt, her skirt and almost the floor! I am not sure how it happened, but she did manage to get whipped cream in her hair and on her forehead! We all laughed alot! But not as much as when I was a child....

I am not sure of any of the reasons now, I am getting old you know. But I can remember times as a child even up to 10 or 12 of laughing so hard I was literally rolling on the floor and coulds NOT stop if I wanted to. Talk about cheeks hurting, once I was done I hurt all over!

Make sure you visit my other new post and wih my baby girl a happy birthday.

 Proverbs 17:22   A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

This weeks assignment is about window, our favorite windows. Find out about it here.

There are lots of windows in our lives, i.e., window of our soul, closed windows and open windows that God has for our lives, there's what some people call their, "window of opportunity", and there's "eyes are the window to our soul".  The assignment is to take a picture, if you're able, find a graphic if you can, and write about your favorite window in your home or the one you look out of when you have those 'daydreaming' moments.  Here's mine:

My Favorite windows are both in my kitchen. I can look out the back kitchen window and see straight across the Valley to the other mountain. That is in winter. In summer all the trees are in full bloom and offer alot of privacy. In fall I have a beautiful colour palet that would rival any picture!

My second window is in the front and faces the road. I love to watch the traffic and see the comings and goings of my family. Watching for my hubby to come home and seeing the children at play.

 You can't quite see my window it is just

on the other side of the far one to the

right.

From these two windows I can see almost the whole yard and I can sit and watch my children and marvel at God's handy-work.

My verse is ~  Psalms 19:1   The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

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Now this is an interesting assignment. I sat down to do it and the power went out. So I thought for awhile before the power came back on and realised I had only ever wanted to do one thing with my life. Even as a young girl (about 10-12) I dreamed of meeting my prince charming and getting married and having a family to raise.

I would often sit and draw out what kind of a home we would have. I would sketch out appartments, 2 level appatments, houses. all kinds of possibilites. There was always three bedrooms because I had planned on 2 boys and 2 girls. I guess God wanted that part different for me. I never dreamed of really going out to work, just be a good mommy and love my hubby.

God has given me that and so much more. I was lost when I had these dreams, but God made them a reality. After first giving me the gift of salvation. He then gave me the best man for me. He is caring, loving, firm, soft, strict, carefree (at times) and always willing to do what he needs to do for his Lord and his family. God has richly blessed us with 5 beautiful children, more then I dreamed of. He even gave us a house.

It's funny you know, I went to college because it was expected of me, and God used that for me to meet my hubby. In this day and age it is very hard to live on one income, but God again provides all our needs. I am so happy to look back and see where God has brought me from to where God has brought me to. Many people think we could be doing much better, but I know that God has a plan and I try, even when I stumble to trust His plan and trust Him for all we have. 

I had to come back and edit this, I realised I had two other dreams, one was to be a teacher, hello here, I do homeschool the other was to write a book, Maybe someday.

Mark 10:8   And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Wow, This was fun! It gave me some time to get away from my house for a few minutes and I needed that this week. Thank you to all who are praying for my family. I don't really shop on line but I do browse. It was fun to make a list of things that I would like to have, most things are for my bedroom that I would love to make a little nicer as it is the getaway room in our house. It is the one room that is ours and no children are allowed unless invite.

Tithe 100.00

Sears.ca

Lyndon Quilt in a bag set Queen size 199.99

Lyndon rod pocket panels 2 pair @ 69.99 each ~139.98

Lyndon valance 2 @ 29.99 each ~59.98

Blanket Bamboo fibre Bone colour 89.99 ~this is almost the one

Skirt 44.99 ~ couldn't find the picture.

Ikea.ca

Ektorp Tullsta arm chair 179.00

Arstid floor lamp 57.99

Astrid table lamp 2 @ 39.99 ~79.98

Christain book .com

Names of Jesus wall cross 7.99

The Christmas Blessing DVD 11.99

Full Range of motion DVD 12.99

My Prayer Jar 9.99

Show me your ways candle 4.99

WOW! It comes to  999.85 leaving  15 cents!

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Nancy has lovingly taken over blogger friend school. If you used to participate please come back in and join the fun.

This week is button tales. I really don't have button tales myself. Now my grandmother is different she had a big can full of buttons and we would take them out when I visited and she would tell me stories about where the buttons came from and who they belonged to, I loved to listen to the tales she would tell. I just cut them off of old clothes to save for another day. Maybe I should start keeping them in a jar for my grandchildren, then again maybe it is too soon to think about that!

My favorite verse is Proverbs 13:30 ~Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Heavenly Father,

What can I possibly say to express how much I love you, what words could possibly cover everything that sending your Son to die for me has brought into my life. You have given me eternal life, you have given me a home in heaven. If that were not enough you saw fit to bless me here on earth with a godly husband who loves you, five beautiful little girls that I am trying to train to love you. You have given me a wonderful church family full of people who love you and love each other. They show this in the words and deeds, not just in off handed comments. Thank you never seems to be enough for all that you have done for me and all that you have blessed me with in heaven and here on earth. I pray that I may be counted worthy of your love and that when I stand before you I might hear "...well done, my good and faithful servant."

Broken and Spilled out ~ not mine, a song I heard sung

One day a plain village woman, driven by love for her Lord. Reclessly poured out a valuable essance. Disreguarding the scorn. And once it was broken and spilled out, a fragrance filled all the room. Like a prisnor set free from his shackles like a spirit set free from the tomb.

Broken and spilled out, just for love of you Jesus. My own precious treasure. Lavished on me. Broken and spilled out, and poured at your feet. In sweet abandon let me be spilled out and used up for Thee.

Whatever it takes to be yours Lord.  Whatever it takes to be clean. I just can't live without your sweet approval, no matter wht it may mean. I pour myself atyour feet Lord, driven by your love for me. May the fragrance of total submission be the only defence that I need.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Please feel free to join me in posting about your Bible, it's really interesting to see other people's Bibles and learning about how they study and the tools they use for that. 

1. How old is your Bible?
2. Why did you chose this Bible?
3. Do you highlight/mark passages in your Bible?
4. If so, what is your system for marking passages?
5. Do you have notebooks to record things?
6. If so, how many and what do you record?
7. Where is your favourite spot to read your Bible?
8. Are there any special thoughts about your Bible you want to share?

How old is your Bible?

My bible is only about a year old, my hubby bought it for me to replace one that was 11~12 years old.

 Why did you chose this Bible?

It was chose for me.

Do you highlight/mark passages in your Bible?

As you can see there is always at least one higlighter in my case, usually two or three.

If so, what is your system for marking passages?

I usually underline or highlight a passage that I do not undersatand or that I ask God To explain to me. I usually bring it to my hubby or wait until i get there again. It amazes me how many times God has answered my questions.

Do you have notebooks to record things?

I do have a note book, but most notes go in the margins of my bible pages.

If so, how many and what do you record?

See above

Where is your favourite spot to read your Bible?

Sitting in the rocking chair with a cup of tea.

Are there any special thoughts about your Bible you want to share?

It is special because my hubby bought it for me as a surprise.  I am not as faithful to my reading as I should be. I tend to let the cares of this worls interfere with my time with my God. But HE ALWAYS forgives me and I continue to try again. It is special in that God always reveals himself to me here it is where I get to know my Saviour, it is where I become close to my Saviour. It is where He helps me to grow , where He pricks me and bleeds me til the only one I realise to turn to is Him. Does this make sence?  I know that as I grow as a christian God will allow things to come into my life that I may not always want there, sometimes it takes me ahile to realise that this is from God to help. It is then that I remember to ask Him to show me how to deal with this and in this become closer to my Lord.  I feel that i am rambling as usual. 

I pray that the Lord will open Himself to us all in a very real way in the next week.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Well it is that time again. I am trying to figure out what we have for goals. We really don't make alot. (It is easier to accomplish them that way ;)  )

As a family, we really have only one goal. That is to prepare our house to be put up for sale again this spring. This is a big goal. The main reward is different for all of us. For hubby it would mean taking some profit and paying off the last big bill, for me it would mean I can move from a house I have never really felt safe in. That is big for me.

As for the children, our main goal would be to get caoght up after christmas in our school work. We are not to far behind, but being where we should be creates space in our calender for any problems that arise. The other child related goal is to purchase the needed  supplies to be able to bring home the last two who are in public school for the next school year.

As a family our long range goal is to take a trip next summer as a family. We have never done this and we feel it is important for us as a family to have that stress free time together.

Short term, get through the Christmas season! Not that I am not looking forward to it. We just have alot to do and time is slipping away. I am still waiting for some "cards" from a grandmother to come in, I do the christmas shoping for the grandparents and great~grandparents. They claim I have younger legs. That is tonight if the last card makes it. Finnishing up the wrapping and baking. Mailing another package to my S.S. (I think she will like this.) Saturday we travel out to visit family and make it back for our Christmas program on Saturday night. Sunday church and Monday everything that did not get done! I feel tired already. Did I mention four aprons I have yet to make! that reward will be the smilles and laughter on Christmas morning as we see our girls faces as we watch them open their presents. Last thing on the list is Boxing day. We are planning an open house for friends to drop by and visit us. I'll be praying for you all as you set goals and strive to reach them. Merry Christmas to all!

Planted in Blooger Friend School

The assignment this week is to pray, something that seems to always be lacking in my life. I do it , just not as much or as often as I should. (one of my needs) I do commit to going to as many of my fellow classmates as possible and praying for their needs as they state on their blogs.

As for my needs, I always seem to find this time of year stressful. I love to give presents ( and recieve them ;)   ) So I tend to get frustrated when I can't give as much as I would like, may seem strange, but thats me!  I also am remembering my Dad right now, he passed away from a major heart attack on December 4, 2003. It always makes me sad, I do not know if he was saved or not, that is why I lack hope in this situation. His birthday wouls have been on the 19th of this month also. I still miss my daddy!

As for other prayer request, darawing closer to my Saviour! Becoming a better wife and mother! A better friend to those I know!The list goes on, just if you think of me please pray.

CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?

I'VE BEEN YOUR FRIEND FOR AWHILE
I KNOW YOUR HIDING BEHIND THAT SMILE
AND YOUR KEEPING INSIDE
TEARS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CRIED
YOU'VE BEEN BRAVE THROUGH THIS TRIAL
YOU'VE BEEN AS STRONG AS A STONE
THROUGH THE STORMY WINDS THAT HAVE BLOWN
BUT YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO CARE
MORE THEN WILLING TO SHARE
DON'T FACE THOSE TROUBLES ALONE.

CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?
CAN I MENTION YOUR NAME TO THE LORD
WHEN I SEEK HIS FACE
CAN I PLED YOUR CASE
THAT'S WHAT PRAYIBG IS FOR
I'LL HELP YOU CARRY YOUR CROSS
AND FIND A WAY WHEN YOUR LOST
IF YOU LET JESUS BE TRUE
I KNOW THAT HE'LL SEE YOU THROUGH
CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?

I KNOW THAT THERE'LL COME A DAY
WHEN I'LL HAVE TRIALS
AND NEED YOU TO PRAY
JUST LIKE YOU'VE DONE BEFORE
YOU'LL MENTION ME TO THE LORD
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SAY
LET ME BE HERE FOR YOU
WE'LL DIVIVDE ALL OUR PROBLEMS BY TWO
AND VERY SOON THERE'LL BE THREE
JESUS AND YOU AND ME
THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE SUPOSSED TO DO

CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?
CAN I MENTION YOUR NAME TO THE LORD
WHEN I SEEK HIS FACE
CAN I PLED YOUR CASE
THAT'S WHAT PRAYIBG IS FOR
I'LL HELP YOU CARRY YOUR CROSS
AND FIND A WAY WHEN YOUR LOST
IF YOU LET JESUS BE TRUE
I KNOW THAT HE'LL SEE YOU THROUGH
CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?

IF YOU'LL LET JESUS BE TRUE
I KNOW THAT HE'LL SEE YOU THROUGH
CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?

Planted in Blooger Friend School

This is so exciting for me!!!! I love to make cookies this time of year, and I am always on the lookout for one to add to my "must make at Christmas time" file. We usually devote one or two full days to making the cookies that will be treats for the next while. Here is a picture of the cookies I made last year.

I made about 22 dozen in all : mini butter tarts, iced sugar cookies, candy cane cookies, ginger bread men and women, snowman cookies, and whipped shortbreads!

This year I found a recipe that was lost for two years (I guess I didn't give that one to you kim ;) p.s. Kim if you find my shortbread recipe can I get it again please. ).  For Cocoa Pepperrmint pretzels. I don't have a picture of these but we love them!

COCOA PEPPERMINT PRETZELS

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter, soft

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup whitw chocolate chips

1 tsp. butter

12 hard peppermint candies

Combine sugar, butter, egg and vanilla. Mix until light and fluffy. Add cocoa, flour and salt. Beat at low spead until soft dough forms. cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2-3 hours ( I must confess I usually skip this step). Heat oven to 375 Degrees. Divide dough into 24 equal balls, roll balls into 7-8 inch ropes. Twist ropes into pretzel shapes. place pretzels on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-9 minutes, or until set. Cool completly.

Melt chocolate and butter together, and break mints into tiny pieces ( I usually use candy canes, they break easier. I am planning to try crushed chocolate candy canes this year!) dip cooled pretzels ( the side) into chocolate and then into candy. Let chocolate harden and enjoy!

BUTTER COOKIE SNOWMEN

1 cup of butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

red and yellow food paste

mini chocolate chips.

Cream butter and sugar and, then add milk and vanilla and mix well. Gradually add flour til you have a nice dough.  Remove two 1/3 cup portions tint one yellow and tint one red, set aside. Shape white dough into 24 1 1/4 inch balls, 1/2 inch balls and 1/8 inch balls. Make snowmen, large balls are bodies, med. balls are heads small ones are tassels for hats. Flatten with the bottom of a glass. Shape coloured dough into 24 equal portions each, yelloe will be shapped to form scarves, red will make hats with a small amount used to make noses. Add chips for eyes, resting just above the scarves, and chips for buttons on body. Bake on ungreases cookie shhets at 325 for 13 - 16 minutes or until set.  Cool for two minutes and remove to racks. I usually double this and make all the balls and have them ready to go assembly style. Enjoy!

I can't wait to see some of your recipes! I don't have alot of memories from my childhood, I seem to have blocked most of them out from what my grandmother tells me. But more recently I have been making much better memories for my girls, spending days making special things for this season. I used to want to do it all myself because it was easier and the mess would be less, but God broke my heart and now we all dig in and have ablast and worry about the mess later! I bought a new snowflake cookie cutter that one of my daughters has been just itching to use!

My verse this week is Proverbs 31: 30 ~

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Our assingment this week is to tell of our bountiful blessings and share our Thanksgiving with you.

The first thing I must share is that we were recently without power for almost 48 hours, and the blessings durring that time are many. My daughters helped to bring in bowl after bowl of snow so tha twe could melt it and boil it to have drinking water. My hubby continually calling to make sure we were alright (till we lost the phone also :)) I had a good friend come up on Monday and brought us to her house to shower and fed us homemade pizza! Thank you Kim! One thing that blessed my heart happened on Sunday night, we were sitting down eating chicken that my hubby bought so that I wouldn't have to come up with something in the dark, and one of my daughter suggested that we go around the table and tell what we were thankful for. So we sat in the kitchen with candles glowing in the darkness easting greassy chicken and chips thanking God for all he has given us! What a true blessing to a mothers heart!

I have beem truly blessed in my life. I can look back on many things and wonder how I came through them only to realize that even as a young lady, God was looking out for me and I never even knew it.  He has brought me a husband who loves through anything, children to raise for His glory, a good bible believing church, good christian friends, and abundant blessings everyday. I know that there are many blessings I take for granted everyday, but I try everyday to thank Him for all He has given me.

Before this next section I want to take a minute and say Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American Friends!

We celebrated our Thanksgiving last month. so I will share a few pictures with you.

for usThis is our beautiful table that my daughter Hannah set .

My beautiful family, it is a blessing just to see their happy faces.

My hubby, the biggest blessing in my life. I have truly married a wonderful God fearing man who loves his family and loves his Lord!

Our thanksgiving is a big family event. We had ham this year because we had turkey at church dinner. our menu inluded Ham with citrus sauce, potato casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed turnip, carrots, baked squash, homemade pickled beets, bread and butter pickles and mustard pickles, and dessert. We usually have apple and my favorite.....

The last part of our assignment was to write down a verse that reminds us of our blessing, but I am going to change this a bit, I am going to put one down that reminds me to be thankful ~

I Thessalonians 5 : 18 ~ In all things give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you ~

Planted in Blooger Friend School

Wow, my dirty laundry, that could be more then you want to see! ;) We have a small closet like area that is our laundry/pantry/storage closet. Doesn't make it always neat ( especially when you have five little girls helping) but it works well for me though.

We have friends who are very hurt by harmful scents so we use Tide, Downey, (unscented), Spray -n- wash, and Javex Bleach for all those white socks that get worn in the dirt and rock driveway! I always have laundry to do, it never ends. But the thing that drives me crazy about laundry is finding folded clean clothes that were never put away!  I do all of the laundry unless I can convince my oldest to help with the ironing, but the girls all help put it away ,hence the folded clothes that never saw the dresser ;) This is me pulling my hair out! I have never made my own soap I don't think I would really want too, but I would like to make homemade bath soap if anyone has any ideas........

Dirty laundry in my life..... How much time do you have? I think the thing I deal the most with and have a hard time with is fear. I struggle alot with fighting fear, and I don't always win   :( I have a great husband who loves me and prays for me. But I think alot comes down to my unsaved childhood that was pretty rough. I had to be in control of things a little girl should not have to be , for that reason I think that God has allowed this fear in my life for me to give Him control and I struggle daily with giving Him that control. But I still keep trying!

2 Timothy 1:7  ~ For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but if power,and of love, and of a sound mind. ~

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Wow, start with one that has me stumped! 

Last year My baby went to a pumpkin field with her class and picked out a pumpkin to decorate and bring to school. I'll post a few pics. Of her, the field, and her creation.

Didn't she do a great job!!!!!!

My verse ~ Galatians 5:22~23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,meekness,temperance:against such there is no law.

I pray that God will help me to manifest these attributes in my life.

Now the really fun part a recipe, we just made these the other day, doubled it and they are gone!

Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies

1/2 cup shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup pumpkin, 1 egg, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp. nutmeg, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1/2 cup chopped nuts optional, 1 cup mini chocolate chips.

Cream shortening and sugar, add pumpkin and egg and vanilla. Stir until well mixed. Combine dry stuff add to pumpkin mix a little at a time.  mix well.  Add nuts and chips.  Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 10-12 min. at 375 degrees. Enjoy!