Making Your Home a Haven and a few other things

One of the first blogs I read that focused on being a Christ Centered Woman within your home was Women Living Well .  I've enjoyed Courtney's writing and that she often does monthly challenges that encourage growth spiritually as well as growth within the home  The past couple of years, I've participated in her Making your home a haven challenge but, some how, missed the beginning of it this year!  I love her focus each week on things like burning a candle as a reminder to pray for your family or to have soft, relaxing music playing all day every day (one I'm working on more!).  If you are looking for encouragement in how to make your home a haven, check out Courtney's posts!

Courtney has already announced the next challenge which will be a book challenge based on the book Messy Beautiful Love.  I know that I plan to participate in this book "club" and encourage you to do so as well! 

One last thing, Courtney is doing a daily Bible Reading program hosted on her site as well.  You can find the latest study on the side of her blog  or you can also click HERE and read about it as well.  I'm currently in the middle of a study on Esther but plan to jump into the Women Living Well Bible Reading program once the study is finished up.

What we are eating - Buttered Noodles

Buttered Noodles
adapted from Food.com

One of my favorite dishes at a classic Michigan restaurant is the Buttered Noodles from the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth.  I've attempted a few times to make my very sad version but they just tasted like, well, plain noodles.  I recently noticed that my grocery store was now selling the noodles from another Amish restaurant in Indiana so I picked up a bag to serve with the Amish Chicken I served recently.  I then went in search of a recipe and Pinterest did not disappoint. The dish was almost like the original dish so that made me very, very happy!  You could easily use regular egg noodles or the frozen noodles that have a little more "oomphf" to them :-) 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 gallon water
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes
• 8 ounces extra wide egg noodles
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 ounces butter
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 6 Ritz crackers, crushed

Directions:

1. Add 1 ½ bullion cubes to ½ gallon water in a medium pot, bring to a boil. Add noodles and set timer for 1 min longer than the longest time listed on the package, stir a couple of times while cooking.
2. While noodles are boiling add 1/2 cup water, 1/2 chicken bullion cube and butter to glass measuring cup. Microwave for 45 seconds on high, Stir. If the butter is not melted all the way microwave again for 30 seconds and mix well until bullion is dissolved.
3. When noodles are done drain water from pot but do not rinse, add butter mixture and parsley. Mix well until most liquid is absorbed, about a minute.
4. Serve immediately with crushed Ritz crackers on top.

 

Teaching Tuesday - Week 8

It's official.  Nate is now a preschooler, not a kindergartner.  After watching him struggle, be frustrated, say he hates school, and then just sob in my arms about not be able to do his work I made the decision to stop pushing him.  He and I talked about it and you should have seen the smile on his face!  He will still do our "Life of Fred" books because he loves those and will also be able to be part of our Zootles and God's World magazine readings because he loves those.  I will then be transitioning him into the Letter of the Week  printables that I purchased last year and used with Josh.  We will then pick back up with K-5 work next year.

Josh was a thinker this past week.  On Monday, none of us were feeling "school" - the boys were super busy playing outside so Josh agreed that doing school on Friday was better.  Well, on Tuesday, he asked if he could do two days worth of work so that he wouldn't have to do school on Friday - since he was so eager, I agreed.  He completed everything and was very happy with himself.  He did ask if he could do the rest of the weeks work too so he could be done but I said no ;-)  There does need to be a balance of building concept upon concept!

We are loving using our AWANA books for Bible.  It is so fun to hear the boys say their verses and be so excited about learning the Bible.  Nate finally has his shirt and he is beyond cute! (He would NOT stand still for me!)

 Josh has stepped up recently and helped wash dishes.  I was surprised by how much he loved it and yes, it probably really is time to give these boys some chores but . . well, sometimes, it is just easier to do it myself HA!

We had a pretty quiet week last week but, I do want to wish a very special little boy a Happy SIXTH! birthday - tomorrow is his birthday and I find it hard to believe that he is growing up so fast!  I love his fun-loving, sarcastic, off the cuff sense of humor.  I love his sweet spirit and the fact that he wants to love and be loved.  I so enjoy his conversations, his quick wit, and his quirks that make him just perfect.

Make It Monday - A twist on a Recipe

Sometimes, when I read a recipe on a blog or on pinterest it registers completely differently than what it really is but that is something I don't notice until I start making it.  That happened recently with a cake recipe I made - a Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake.  It sounded so good and so different until I started making it and realized it was very similar  to a cake I LOVE - My 'famous" turtle cake.  Why change perfection?

Well, recently I came across a recipe for One Pot Chili Mac and Cheese that sounded good.  As I read it I thought that it might be a great substitute for my lack luster Goulash that I make with the twist of some cheese added.  Did you read the title of the recipe?  It has the word "CHILI" in it HA!

As I started to make it for dinner last week, I realized that it was actually chili with the addition of noodles and cheese - not goulash!  This recipe was a great jumping off point and, if you like average "joe" chili, this is an easy and quick recipe to use.  There wasn't anything wrong with it; it just didn't have any depth.

Now, my chili (which I need to make and post the recipe for!) is THE best Chili ever.  Usually when I make it, I also make spaghetti for two reasons.  1) My kids don't like chili but they love spaghetti and 2) My husband loves to put his chili on top of spaghetti.  As he and I were talking about the dinner above we both agreed that this idea would work great with my chili on the second day.  Take some leftover Chili, add some macaroni noodles and some cheese and now, instead of just Chili we would have FABULOUS Chili Mac and Cheese!

That's my twist on a recipe :-) 

Things My Kids Say

* Darryl was making our Sunday night "free for all" dinner (basically, we eat whatever we find HA); Nate said, "Dad's the baker; sometimes the baker sits down and eats with us.".  I later learned that "baker" is actually "waiter" and that on Saturday, Darryl served Nate his snack at their little table in the living room where Nate told him he was the "baker".  It all slowly started to make sense. 

* Last Sunday, Josh sang for 6 hours.  While he played, ate, walked, sat . . he just kept singing a song . .or songs. . .changing words, making up nonsense words.  I may or may not have locked myself in my bedroom to avoid insanity.

Family Fun - My Parents Retire

My parents have been in the ministry for my entire life and then some - about 43 years total.  My dad has been a pastor for that many years with over half of that time spent in their current church.  Well, he finally decided to retire as of September 1st.  This brought on some changes like the fact that my dad no longer has an office at the church.  That was sad for me because I've always had that "place" to go to when stuff was going on at church like weddings, funerals, or dinners.   It kinda makes me sad to think that my kids don't have Papa's office to go to anymore.  Instead his office is now at home - which he probably likes :-) 

He announced his retirement mid August and then, he and my mom went on a much needed vacation for two weeks.  While they were gone a party was planned as a total surprise for them.  It just "so happened" that my oldest brother, Kel, was already scheduled to preach at the church in September so they lined up the surprise with that Sunday to throw them off. 

 My oldest brother, Kel, while he was preaching Sunday morning September 7th. 

 My youngest brother Ken kinda stalling for time while my niece and her friend rolled the cake up the aisle.

 So, do you think they were surprised?  Yep :-)  Totally, 100% surprised and they were both in tears almost instantly.  Best surprise EVER!

 My niece is the little blonde in the front :-)

 Ken sharing some things about my parents and their ministry. 

 It was a packed house - so many people just love them to death!  :-) 

 Then my parents each got a turn to speak.  They really did deserve this recognition after all of their years of ministry :-)

And, as comic relief, the boys discovered the joy of blowing milk bubbles until they overflow the cup.  :-)

Weekly Menu - The one with a birthday!

As I mentioned last week, since we have a birthday to celebrate, that person gets to pick meals for their 7 days of celebration!  That makes my life easier since I don't have to "plan" :-)

Saturday - I'm going to be visiting at a campground with my mother-in-law and (step??) sister-in-laws so I'm going to leave pizza for the boys.  Pizza is a top favorite of Josh's so it will be perfect.

Sunday - Hamburgs on the grill and French Fries.  Josh is a HUGE Hamburg lover so we must have them during his birthday week!

Monday - We are heading out of town for a couple of days to celebrate Josh's birthday and, really, just for a much needed family "vacation".

Tuesday - We'll be out and about today

Wednesday - Dinner tonight will be on our way home and we are planning to meet Papa and Nana too.  It should be fun surprise for the boys!

Thursday - Tonight is our town's annual Fall Festival.  The boys get to put on their Halloween Costumes and go play games and get lots of candy.  Dinner will be simple - probably soup and Sandwiches.

Friday  - Well, my Mother-in-Law has been asking to take the boys for a few days again so I'll be dropping the boys off.  I'm thinking we will grab McDonald's on the way out of town.