Happy Birthday Dad!

 My dad turns 71 today so I wanted to take time to wish him a very happy birthday!  My dad is such a great example of what God's love really is and he shows that love to pretty much everyone he comes across each day.  As a pastor he set a strong example to those around him but he also lived that example himself.

 My parents hit the 50 year mark in 2013 so obviously my dad is a great example of how to build a good marriage.  He is kind, caring, compassionate and, most important, does everything my mom asks him to do HA!

 He has survived two heart attacks, a triple by-pass, and melanoma skin cancer.  Added to that he has survived being trampled by a horse, electrocuted, a few car wrecks (even sliding down the road on the roof of that old station wagon!) almost ripping his thumb off not to mention the "minor" things he has gotten himself into through the years.

Most importantly, though, he is a perfect "Papa" and "Grandpa" to all of his grandkids.  He has taught some how to drive, built many a science project and taught many of them the value of hard work.  I know my two boys think that Papa hung the moon and knows how to fix it if it isn't shining :-) 

Thanks, Pops, for being a great example through the years and the Koll family just wants to say:

Homeschool Corner - Making use of Pinterest

We all know that Pinterest is both a good thing and a bad thing.  Sometimes I have to take a break from it because I get so overwhelmed with ideas yet it sure is nice to be able to find just about everything you need all in one spot.  I tend to Pin so many Homeschooling Ideas, Art Ideas and just general kid ideas but I find taking time to put them to use is hard.  I decided I wanted to go back to my own little pinterest challenge and start making/doing/implementing things on my boards.  I may not use them right now but, I will create many things (hopefully) that I can also use in school this fall.  I'm keeping it simple, I'm starting with the most recent pins and just picking the first 5 things and actually reading the posts, learning about the idea and then either doing it or deleting it.  So, here are my first 5 goals for the next week.

I've heard alot about the Bob Books and I think they will make a great resource.  Hoping this is really just a "print it" option!

I loved Oopsey Daisy when she had a blog so I'm looking forward to seeing how this idea plays out.  I don't recall seeing this one before so maybe she is blogging again!

This is a must for this fall.  Last fall I tried this but we WAY over thought it so it was taking almost an hour to get through it.  I like her simple version.

I thought this looked interesting . . not sure what the concept is yet but I like what I see.

Finally, I want to see what this is all about.  I want my kids to learn the basic order of the Books of the Bible and it is never too early to learn.  :-)

Hopefully this new idea works and I can do some great prep work/planning for activities beyond the typical curriculum to use with the boys.  This week is a trial period so we'll see how I do ;-)

Things my Kids Say

* Twenty minutes after lunch:
Nate: "Mom, I'm hungry"
Me:  But, Nate, you just ate like twenty minutes ago. It's not snack time
Nate: But it should be because a lot of minutes went by and I'm hungry.

How can I argue with that reasoning?  Actually, Nate must be growing because the kid won't stop eating; and two weeks ago, I couldn't get him to eat.

* Josh's dreams have come true.  Nate informed me the other day that, "When we are playing, mom, Josh is the boss of us".  Yep, Josh is finally the boss.

* Nate reminded me to get chips when I go to the store.  "Orange Chips, Mom".  So I asked him if he meant the long fluffy chips (Yes mom), you mean Cheeto's? (YES Mom!  those are the ones I like!)

* Nate asked one night why he had to take a bath so I said, "Well, because your feet are dirty, your hands are dirty, your face is dirty . . .", he interrrupted me and said, "And I peed in myself".  Darryl and I seriously laughed so hard we almost fell off our chairs.  Nate was like, "What?  I just got some on my hands." hahahahaha

* The favorite line right now?  "Well, that's how God Made me."  Which is great except they use it when they chew with mouth open, when they leave the sink running, when they wear their boots in the house . . .. uuugg!

* I like to say things like, "I think you are . . .. " and then let the boys fill in the blank.  Josh's favorite right now is "I think you are . .. SMART" HA  I love the self confidence.  Yes, he thinks he is smart and, well, I just agree.  ;-)

What is my Ministry?

Recently, I became acquainted through the choir I sing in with someone who attended the same Bible College as I did and knows mutual people.  She was only there one semester but it happened to be at the same time as my brother and, thus, we had fun pulling out "old" names and stories.  Throughout the conversation she asked about what one of my brothers was now doing so I mentioned that all three are in the ministry.  She then replied with, "So how come you aren't in ministry like them?".  I was kind of taken aback and replied hastily with, "Well, I taught in Christian School for years."  Kinda like that made up for it or excused it or something.  I then said that I also help at church with music to which she replied, "Oh, you head up everything and take care of worship?"  I was like, "uumm, No.  I sing.  Once every couple of months."   I was really put off by the whole thing and it made me think about one simple question - "Where is my Ministry?". 

I think too often people look at Ministry as the pastoral roles or someone who leads the worship, heads up the children's programs, teaches at a Christian School or, well, is a Missionary.  But, wait.  Don't we all have a ministry?  I know I do! 

This is a book that is on my reading list (which has sadly not had much progress lately!).  This questioning of late has made me really want to read this book and focus on my main ministry - my kids, my spouse and my home.  I'll be ordering this book this week and getting started on it. I'm slowly coming out of my winter hibernation (that hit harder this year due to all of the snow HA!) and getting things done which will include some "reading to learn" not just reading for fun!

What is your ministry?  Maybe your kids are grown and your ministry is now helping with your grand kids.  What can you do to minister to them? Maybe you are part of a special group at church like a widows group or even the ladies ministry - how can you minister to the people you help in these areas?  Or your ministry might be at your desk at work where you can shower those around you with kindness and caring words. 

Food Friday - Sunday Dinner Swiss Steak

Swiss Steak
adapted from ReMarkable Home

  I don't know why but planning Sunday dinner seems to cause me problems.  I grew up in a house where my mom made a roast almost every Sunday for after church and it was fabulous.  The house smelled heavenly when we got home, she would have dinner on the table within about 30 minutes of walking in the door and we usually had homemade biscuits too!  As much as I love a roast, I just never seem to have it in the freezer.  I've found it hard to find really good roasts at our store so I just don't get them.  Ironically, as we ate this last Sunday, we figured out that we have not eaten at hone on a Sunday since . . .Superbowl Sunday.  Seriously.  We either ate at church, were out of town, or went out to eat.  Well, this recipe is now my "go to" dinner.  As a matter of fact, I'm planning it for this Sunday again.  There is a little prep work because you need to brown the meat and deglaze the pan but it is well worth it for a fabulous meal when you get home from church.  I served it with Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, and Rolls.  

A couple of little things.  One, I did cut this recipe in half and it still worked perfectly.  Two, for seasoning I use Nature's Seasoning in place of Lawry's and the Canadian Steak Seasoning.  We are total Nature's Seasoning Junkies in the house.  Third, after frying the meat, I poured out the excess oil before adding the water to the pan to deglaze it.  There was just too much oil left to NOT pour it out.  

Grammy’s Swiss Steak

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds petite sirloin or round steaks, cut into 3-4 oz. pieces
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Lawry’s
• 1 teaspoon Canadian Steak Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil (for browning meat…may need more)
• 1 onion
• 4 cups water

Directions:

Cut up meat into 3-4 ounce sized pieces (about the palm of your hand or a little smaller).  Cut off fat.  Mix flour with garlic powder, Lawry’s, steak seasoning, salt, and pepper.  Dredge meat in flour.  Reserve remaining flour.  Place oil in large flat bottomed skillet and heat well but not to smoking.  Brown meat in oil until browned and crispy.  You will likely need to do this in batches.  Add more oil in between if necessary.  Remove meat to a 9x13 baking dish or large covered casserole dish.  Sprinkle with salt a pepper lightly.  Deglaze your skillet by adding 4 cups of water to it and scraping the toasted bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon.  Pour over the meat.  You want the meat to be just covered.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup of extra flour mixture.  Slice an onion thinly and spread over the meat.  Cover pan tightly with foil or glass lid and bake at 325 degrees for 3-4 hours, or until meat is tender but you still have liquid in the pan.  Serve with mashed potatoes, if desired.

Weekly Menu

Well, I took a week off.   I didn't mean to; I even had a few posts to put up; but I will admit that I have enjoyed playing some computer games in the evening so I haven't even gotten out the laptop much lately.  I do feel like I'm coming out of hibernation as spring is slowing starting to envelope the mid-west.  As much as I enjoy winter, I am enjoying the fact that most days the boys can just put on their mud boots and head outside without any need for help me.  Flip Flop season is about here and getting out the door becomes so much easier.

I figured the weekly menu post was a good one to start out with again.  Last week I must admit that I made some pretty awesome meals so I'll even have some recipes to post again!  There really isn't anything major going on this week; Easter is coming but that will be in the next weekly menu.  We are throwing around the idea of going to an Easter Brunch after church.  I said, after last Easter, that I would not plan Easter dinner again.  I was in the kitchen almost the entire day and it was not enjoyable.  As a matter of fact, I said we would get KFC for dinner this year.  I have two places in mind for reservations - a local hotel restaurant that does an awesome Sunday brunch every week; their Easter brunch is just bigger or The Melting Pot.  It could be a fun tradition but I'm afraid the kids might not be quite ready for that one yet.

Anyway, here is the plan for the coming week.

Friday - It's time for tacos.  I saw a recipe I would like to try called Barbacoa Slow Cooker Tacos that looks really good.  It was posted on a blog where the author loves Tacos as much as I do but agrees that variety is good!

Saturday - We have a family day planned so we'll be eating out.

Sunday - Swiss Steak, Green Beans, Potatoes, Rolls

Monday  -Chicken and Asparagus Stirfry over Brown Rice w/ Rolls

Tuesday - We are going to meet my parents for dinner to celebrate my Dad's 17th birthday (Hahaha)

Wednesday - I think it is time to Grill.  Probably Chicken because I have some in the freezer and will have some baked potatoes, carrots, and, of course, rolls

Thursday -  Beef tips and Noodles with Rolls.  This is one of the last winter meals I'll make  . . .then we'll shift fully to some summer, less hot stuff! 

Weekly Menu

I survived the Pot-luck.  I ended up not making the dessert because, well, the pastor mentioned in a message that they get LOTS of desserts so instead I put together a relish tray (how's that for an 80's concept!).  You know, olives and pickles.  (Green Olives, Black Olives, Sweet Pickles and Dill Pickles!)  It was easy and simple!

Now, I'm starting to shift my mind towards summer cooking, or lack of cooking, and have decided that I need to do some prep work in order to save on the "Honey, stop at Taco Bell" phone calls because it is too hot to cook.  I'm putting together some freezer meals - most specifically, crock pot meals.  I do not like turning on my oven on warm/hot days since the kitchen is already the hottest room in the house.  I'm picking recipes that can be paired with other simple things such as Rice (thanks to the rice cooker), simple salads and veggies (quick stove top cooking) and potatoes - but I want to pick up a second slow cooker to use for "baked" sweet and regular potatoes.  Naturally, we will also do grilling but on hot days, it is even too hot to grill!  My goal right now is to put together 2-4 meals a week between now and the end of May.  I'd even like to cook up a whole bunch of Ground Chuck to use for Tacos and Sloppy Joes.  I'm trying to pick crock-pot freezer meals carefully because I want to make 2 of each kind . . .most we have never had and I want to make sure we like them!!

Normally by this time, obviously, my menu is normally written but this week has been a little "off" so I haven't gotten that far . I'm not even sure when I'll go "true" grocery shopping.  Crazy, I know.  Tonight I have a hair appointment so the hubs and kids will "fend for themselves" and I think I might grab a Subway on the way to eat while I sit with color on my hair for, like, an hour.   Friday night we will probably finally do "breakfast for dinner" and Saturday . . .well, the normal (Kids -Mac and Cheese; Adults order in!)  Beyond that, your guess is as good as mine right now :-)