My Fish and the circle of life...

Ok everyone it has been a long time since I wrote anything. I seem to be back to "full health"... several weeks ago we went biking in a local state park were I flipped over the handlebars of my bike and landed on my arm and head... no lasting problems... problems... problems so I guess I am well again. :)

Last night was the annual church men's/kids campout, camping with the kids moms get a free night. The campout is held on private property with a large private lake. I was not planning to go for two reasons. Our tent is so big it takes two days to setup... and if it is just the girls and I why bother, and last year I froze my hinny off.

Long story short I invited a friend to share the tent and so it only took us one day to set it up. This year the temperature was pleasant so the night was great and we enjoyed a cool crisp breeze.

Warning longwinded Hubby story to follow:

In the morning Lovebug and Ladybug both wanted to ride the paddleboat, but we could never figure out where the line was or who was in it next. Finally I threw each girl in the boat with someone (Ladybug, I literally threw because when I stepped in the boat it sank and so I pitched Ladybug and jumped for the dock, neither of us got wet).

Ladybug wanted to go fishing and I had heard there were a couple of boats around one end of the lake that no one was using so we investigated. The boat we settled on had a lot of water and a "small' leak... since we both know how to swim we jumped in just as Lovebug came along, she decided she did not want to get in a boat that might sink so Ladybug and I took off to the other end of the lake.

Ladybug had her 2 foot Scooby Doo fishing pole along and so she kept dropping the bait over the edge and of course the hook would get stuck as it went under the boat, lots of untangling.

The wind was against us but we finally got to the other end of the lake. I put a spinner on Ladybug's line and she threw it in and I showed her how to reel it in slowly. She was reeling in her first cast when I notice the line took off in the other direction and went under the boat... she was not paying attention so when she pulled the line in and had a bass flip into the boat she was quite surprised and excited, I was glad I bought those $0.64 stringers to put any catches on, I did not figure we would be throwing anything back. By the time she had had her fill of fishing she had caught four nice size bass and two large crappie.

When she walked into the camp carrying that stringer of fish she was standing 9 feet tall and walking like she had been fishing for years.

She put the stringer down at the dock and showed anyone who wanted to see it. Finally the catches were to be cleaned for lunch and so Ladybug proudly carried her stringer up to the gentlemen who were cleaning the fish. She was still holding the stringer when he took the electric knife and filletted the fish from the folks in front of us. When I finally caught up with her halfway to the lake and asked what she was doing she said she was taking them to let them loose.

Come to find out she and her friends had named the fish on the stringer and she did not want to take them to the gentlemen cleaning the fish. I told her that the fish had been out of the water too much and would probably die anyway even if they were released now. After many tears I handed the stringer to one of the men to deliver for cleaning. Ladybug wanted to go to the tent. We went and she cried because she did not want "Silver" and "Gold" (the crappie) to die and be eaten. She asked me when the fish die and when thier blood would stop. Needless to say she did not eat any lunch, I hope she will eat fish again someday.

I am reminded of the innocence that my girls possess and the tenderness that they harbor within them... I encourage all of you dads to step up to the plate and protect your child's innocence and teach them God's way. There is a circle of life... it is not defined by Disney.

Hubby

Comments
May. 9, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
I loved this post..........especially the comment "there is a circle of life and it was *NOT created by Disney" Amen to that!!! =o) Be Blessed, Angie in GA

*ss added NOT

h - a - t

"Mommy Mommy I found 'hat'!" Yea!

Let the games begin!! Ladybug is beginning to read!!!! She's learned the short vowel sounds... and is just putting together her first words!!

In the coming weeks she'll have her first book!!! The whole book is short vowel words. She is eager and excited!

Lovebug so wants to help. She wants to just give her the word as Ladybug works it s-l-o-w-l-y out.... Today Ladybug got so excited to figure out "cat".... We all smiled and meowed!!!

Then I shared if we give her the words she'll not have this excitment to find them!! I hope it helps. This has been a hard lesson as big sister knows the answers... but the eagerness to tell all does not always help!!

This fall we started learnign the alphabet. She has made huge leaps in her letter recognization & learning their sounds. We are using Sing, Spell, Read, Write. Look at the info & reviews... and get it 2nd hand!!! I enjoy their songs & right now we ride the farris wheel to combine to the short vowel sounds. You can hear a bit at Sing n Learn.

We are alsow working thru the AO year 0 reading list. This week we'll revisit Make way for Duckings and follow their path on Google Earth! Wow! We are enjoying our flights around the earth!! We just have to fly by the grands as we fly home!!

Ladybug is 5 :)

Grace to you!! ss

Comments
Mar. 12, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
Congrats Ladybug!!! Reading is exciting!

Expander! Lisp...

"Oh, I cannot eat!" Lovebug curled up to me as she struggled with a baked potato.... I know it hurts and feels so very weird to eat....

Today our orthodontist placed the e-x-p-a-n-d-e-r in her too small mouth.... today was a challenge for her 8 years.... we'll turn the key each day for 3 weeks.... making room in her upper pallet for teeth... I've been reminded the alternate to this was pulling 4 teeth with an oral surgeon... and that was too close to hubbies surgeries...

No candy is the rule.... Ice cream, cake & pies are her sweetness ticket!!! Yumm sounds good, huh!? I hope tomorrow she'll have sweetness to enjoy those pleasures!!!

Talking is another challenge!! With her mouth full it is hard to speak... I'm sure she'll work thru her lisp...

Grace! ss

Comments
Apr. 12, 2008 - ouch
Posted by JamieLee
I had one of those as a kid, so I can sympathize with your daughter! The good news is that it did what it was suppose to do, and I didn't have to have a bunch of teeth pulled like my poor mom did when she was a child!

Humane Society- What Not to Say

10 Things Not to say to the Humane Society:

1. I want to get rid of my dog.


2. My dog bit my daughter.


3. The bite was on her face.


4. It broke the skin.


5. There was blood.


6. It is a very small skratch.


7. I don't have $120 for quarintine.


8. I live in the city limits.


9. I know friends out of the city limits.....


10. I won't tell you my daughter's name.

Comments
Mar. 10, 2008 - Posted by 2boysmom
And may I just add: don't tell them you want to help save one of the dogs they have for adoption if :you don't have a fence (because you live on 9 acres and your other pets have never run off in years). And make sure you're up to the month on any heartworm pills, exams, etc. on every pet living with you or they will make you feel like a complete loser and tell you that you're not fit to adopt one of the pets that they say so desperately need homes. So much for trying to "rescue" a pet. So we exercised our right and bought a dog instead, who is perfectly healthy and happy. And we still don't have a fence!

Mar. 11, 2008 - Posted by homeschoolhelp
And you know this because . . . . . ??? Hope everything is okay -- and I hope your daughter's mouth adjusts to the expander soon. That's just no fun! Blessings, Dianne

Snowman!!!! And a Driving Snowman!!??

What a wonderful snow day!!!

God truely opend His storehouses of snow for our fun!!! Job 38.22

We started by cutting out snowflakes!!! Here's some great patterns in a pdf download.... Dave's Snowflakes.

After breakfast we headed into the snow.... Ladybug made her first snowman!!! Isn't Frosty wonderfully small!!!

Daddy joined us at noonish to enjoy the snow!! The temp was rising and the snow was rapidly melting. So Daddy led us on a snow hunt!! We listened to Snow Day with Adventures in Odyssey. The girls sang "Alex loves snow"! After about 40 miles we enjoyed our snow patch with a snowball fight and more snowmen!!!

With cold toes and fingers, Lovebug and I watched more play in the snow. We enjoyed the hot chocolate & snacks we'd packed. Ladybug made more snowmen... a snow child & a driving snowman. We ooooed and ahhhhhed as our snowman drove home. As the temp warmed he dripped and lost appendages... and lastly after nearly 20! miles he dove from the car!! He was wonderful to watch heading home!!

Out of the bosom of the air

Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken.

Over the woodlands brown and bare.

Over the harvest-fields forsaken.

Silent, and soft, and slow

Decends the snow.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

Our day of snow!!!!!

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7

Grace! ss

Comments
Mar. 10, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
Is your dog trying to bite L through the fence?! Yikes! Aimee

Sweets for the Sweet

Alas, there's no sweetness here today... none yesterday....

Why?? Grumping girls... fussing girls... bickering girls... all befor breakfast this morning. So they eleminated sweetness from their relationships... and from their day!

What sweetness? Sugar, rasin bread, sweet hot tea, yogurt rasins, juice..... and any nibbles around the house!!

These struggles are like little pebbles at the bottom of a mountain. Today we are tripping and falling because of these pebbles... like one caught in your shoe! One day we'll see the pebbles and recognize we could spend the day here... or we'll work thru these petty differences... and climb to the heights!!! But today it is all about the pebbles....

Lord, teach me in this valley!!! Grace! ss

Comments
Mar. 6, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
What a great idea! I am going to have to use that!! I hope their is sweetness today! Oh, may I put you on my blogging list? **Sure! Send me an e :)

Daffodils In Bloom

Wow!!! Today we visited Mrs. Lee's Daffodil Gardens!!! Spring is truely here!!!

From the gardens:

The kiss of the sun for pardon

The song of the bird for mirth

You're nearer God's heart in a Garden

Than anywhere else on earth

For the rest of life... Lost in PA the camera charger & bag... and lost at home the bark collar! Oh all is not lost w/ God... praying He reaveals mysteries!!! Grace!! ss

Comments
Feb. 29, 2008 - Posted by Dell
Beautiful! Your daughters and the daffodils are so lovely together, and so very springtime! I'm in Wyoming, and we won't see the bulbs braving the cold for a few more months, so it was fun to get an early taste of sprintime on your blog! Thanks for sharing!

Dr. Leman - Listen. Apply. Amazed!

Yesterday we had the priviledge of hearing Dr. Kevin Leman speak on Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours. We laughed thru his presentation. We took notes and saw lots of options for application. I really liked the phrase "A healthy child is not a happy child".

Terrible fits!! This morning with us back in full swing for school was a prime time to apply the seminar from last night! Banished at breafast she eventually quieted. She appologized and we were off to a late start to school.

I think I've warned way too much. Justice has been slow coming. Tedious and trialsome! I've gotten way too involved & mad. That's what I've got to change.... With the fit over we simply jumped righ into the next thing. School then lunch. Then the girls got ready for ballet. This was the consquence....

Dressed and ready for ballet I simply told her because of her attitude this morning she would not be attending ballet. GRIEF!!!! We were at time to leave. I left her wailing and got into the car... she followed.... I turned the radio up to cover the noise. There was no discussion. No explinations. Soon all was calm. We prayed in the car as our habit.

Amazed!! At ballet she expained to her sister why that "she was disciplined because mommy loved her." She quoted "a father disciplined the son he loves." Proverbs 3:12 The LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

I watched in total shock as she accurately explained the entire situation. We talked thru that strangers did not care if a child threw a fit... only a loving parent cares. Wow!!

As sis went to ballet there were yet tears, hollars & unkind words. That control is a lesson yet to learn. Even yet I have peace that I made the right decision.... and I hope the lesson will be long remembered!!

Alas we may repeat it tomorrow!! God gives strength for the battle!!! Grace! ss

Comments

Feb. 26, 2008 - Posted by LittleEblingsAcademy
Hi! I found you through "Recently Updated Blogs". I peeked around a bit and have enjoyed "getting to know you". It's been fun spending time with you this afternoon. I love your recipes and can't wait to copy a few down for future reference. I enjoyed your photos and quick family stories. I have the book, "Making Your Children Mind Without Losing Yours". I think I need to read it. *wink* (Don't we all?) Blessings, Beckie :o)

Feb. 26, 2008 - Way to go Steph!
You control your temper so well which is something I need to work on tremendously. What encouragement that she understood the discipline! Those moments are fleeting but are the most wonderful! Aimee

Feb. 26, 2008 - by homeschoolhelp
So glad you and your husband enjoyed Dr. Leman! Sounds like the calm and firm approach to discipline worked! Now I'm going to get his book out and do a little bit of reading in it -- picked it up at a garage sale months ago and haven't even opened it! Another book every mom should read -- She's Gonna Blow! by Julie Ann Barnhill . . . very real and practical advice. Blessings, Dianne

Feb. 27, 2008 - We like Leman too.
Posted by lklivingston
I'm glad you enjoyed the conference session. John had wanted to go to the whole conference, but I just didn't see it working out for us. We really like Dr. Leman though; we've got at least three of his books at the house.Edited by lklivingston on Feb. 27, 2008 at 9:51 PM

Thursday

Sometimes it would be easier to say... school is out!! Even now I have the icky taste of cough meds. Alas I'm sick. Yet it is hard to give up a whole week of school. I still want to get many things in but I know that's aiming high!

Today I headed to my ENT Dr. It has been ages... more that a year since I've been that way. I really wanted the cought meds to sleep! He did a culture too. I think I'm striken with a sinus infection.... and I'm trying to win on my own... hummm that's a battle!

Well, I'm heading to warm before the fire with a cup of tea. Maybe we'll yet do a bit of school!?!

Grace. ss

4Some 1/08

We had a great cook!!! My part of our last cook! The recipes are mostly x4 as I'll make one for each of us in the group. Cooking together has been both fun & a blessing to me & my family! Grace! ss

1- Turkey Fajitas Bag Aimee’s Request…

2- Meatballs & Mushrooms - Bag FBC

3- Chilly Night Chili Bag

4- Chicken Cobbler Casserole Bag

5- Cranberry Chicken Bag

6- Honey Baked Chicken

636.39 grand total

159.09 per person

6.36 per meal

Turkey Fajitas

SL 5/01 169

9 Turkey Tenderloins (2#s) (Unable to find & subed chicken)

3 Taco Seasoning

3 Diced frozen Celery (Frozen combo w/ onion?)

2 Frozen Onion

3 Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies

Crock on High for 4 hrs.

Option Stir in 1c Cheese. Spoon onto Tortillas (BUY) & serve w/

Toppings: lettuce, sour cream, sliced olives, chopped tomatoes

Meatballs & Mushrooms Bag FBC

2 lg bags Meatballs Frozen

4 Cream Mushroom Soup

4 cans Mushrooms

4 Dry Onion Soup

Crock low for 4/5 hrs… serve on noodles or rice… Enjoy!

Chilly Night Chili - bag

6 pounds lean ground beef (no Prep, browning in directions)

2 frozen onion, diced

3 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained

3 (16-ounce) cans tomato puree (large)

3 (16-ounce) cans kidney beans, undrained

3 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles

4 cup water

6 garlic cloves, minced

6 tablespoons chili powder

6 teaspoons salt

6 teaspoons ground cumin

6 teaspoon pepper

Cook beef and onion in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring until beef crumbles and is no longer pink; drain. Return to Dutch oven. Add tomatoes and next 9 ingredients.

Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 45 minutes. Serve over hot rice with desired toppings: shredded Cheddar cheese, sour cream, sliced ripe olives

Serve over hot cooked rice

Chicken Cobbler Casserole 2007 11

12 boneless skinless chicken - (No prep, cook & prepare meal)

6 T Butter

3 Bags Onions

3 (8-ounce) mushrooms

3 cup white wine

3 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

1 &1/2 cup drained and chopped jarred roasted red bell peppers

12 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

12 (4each) cups cubed sourdough rolls (Buy individually??)

6 tablespoons parsley

Cook Chicken & Shred

Toss 4 tablespoons melted butter with Parmesan, rolls & parsley; SET ASIDE.

Add Chicken to 9x13, top w/ bell pepper mix…

Bake @ 400° for 25 THEN add seasoned rolls & Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Cranberry Chicken - Bag

15 chicken breast no bone (5each)

3 (1-ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix

3 (16-ounce) can whole-berry cranberry sauce

3 cup Catalina dressing

Cover with Foil & Bake at 400° for 40 minutes; remove foil, reduce temperature to 350°, and bake for 20 more minutes.

Honey Baked Chicken: bag

18 chicken breasts

1 c butter

1 c honey

6 T mustard

3 t salt

3 t curry

Thaw chicken; place in greased 13 x 9 pan. Melt butter. Add honey mixture to melted butter. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 for 1 ¼ hours, basting every 15 minutes or so. Serve with rolls, veggies, salad, rice/potatoes.

Comments

Feb. 27, 2008 - Cooking group
Posted by Hubby
I don't know if anyone will read this. If anyone out there has a husband who would oppose you getting into a cooking group you ought to count the cost for him. Yes there is an investment in time and money up front. But the time that my wife spends with her friends on a Saturday gives me time to either get up and do the father thing on a Saturday morning by myself or of course lose an opportunity.

It gives wife some much needed time off and fills the freezer up with the equivalent of a months worth of frozen dinners that are good for you and you don't have to question "What's in this?" One meal, at least the entree for the meal, is approximately $6.50 and it feeds the whole family with leftovers to take to work.

I call wife on my way home from work and she puts the thawed meal into the oven when I head home and when I get there I help set the table and get the girls in and the timing works more often than not that dinner is ready.

Now I just have to be able to get off work and head home at a decent hour. :)

KjS

Great Grandpa

This morning our Great Granpa left this world. I'm so very glad we made the trip this summer... even in the midst of surgeries....

• Oh, God's word is a blessing in grief!


• To be absent in body is to be present with the Lord for a believer.


• We're not meant to be here forever.


• Is your name in the Lamb's Book of Life?


• I have prepared a place for you... and you will be with me (Jesus)..

My time is tight!! I long to find the verses that so come to mine... Verses of comfort in grief. ss

Lost & Looking

Daddy "Mama lost her voice. Girls look in our room and see if you can find it."

Oh! I'm glad it is not a school day! My voice is a whisper. If a soft answer turns away wrath... things should be pretty good here :) I''ve caught a cold... or rathe it has caught me!! Sleep is threatened... alas..

It is a rainy Saturday! We enjoyed a date last night w/ friends... and the girls won the game Rook.... 770 to like under 400!!! I'm enjoye our fire & reading a challenging book... Grace to ya!! Mercy too!! ss

Narration Cube for Daddy

We are trying to figure out how to get Daddy into the midst of our schooling!! Our newest try to is make Daddy his own Narration Cube to use during dinner!!!

(Here's a direct link to my jpg)

This is a great idea from Penny Gardner at her site http://www.pennygardner.com/narrationcube.html She has great info on each side of the die to help understand what's being asked.

We have used this before... after a reading and it has on been minorly successful ("I don't want to do that...." When Daddy asks it is more fun to tell him :) We've focused on this narration is not a test on the reading... it is a process of storing the info... That helps me remember the focus!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Grace! ss

Narration Power Boost

Complete the reading or learn from it! It seems I've lost focus of the learning in AO and we are getting it done.... humf... and that's not enough!!!

• Old Way: Read the entire selection in a book in one sitting. Regardless of the length...


• Challenge: There is the greatest memory in the first & last 5 minutes of a reading.


• New way: Read for a short time 10 to 15 minutes... take a break (laundry, cup of tea, brush teeth.... asundry!) Then back to the book... or rotate books.... We loose time in the adjustment but it is gained in the recall....

Benefit!! I saw Ladybug sit with her daddy and tell MORE THAT EVER BEFORE.... of our AO2 time. Wow! I'm blown away!! And realizing I've had my eyes on completion rather than on learning!!!

This is truely an adjustment in my vision!! Our scope!! In the very rhythem & rhyme of our day!! This is a power boost to our narration!! Yea!!

Grace! ss

Comments
Feb. 13, 2008 - Great insight!
Posted by Jilann
I'm working with my oldest this week. I'm going to have to add timing our readings to the next couple days and see how her narration goes. I definitely lose her. That's the thing that I'm working on with her.

Sing Spell Read Write

We celebrated Ladybug reaching to Z in her alphabet study.... with a soccer ball!! That was her choice after considering icecream or such... "or maybe a soccer ball" I suggested. Well she latched on to that and zoomed thru x, y & z... to go shopping!!!

Now we are heading into learning short vowel sounds... and then... She'll be reding her first book!!! Wooooooow!!! We are so very excited!!! Tonight she showed Daddy!! And Lovebug remembered the prize box that's been collecting dust since she walked this route!!! Humm we'll have to resupply that :)

We are enjoying the SSRW program and are using it with our AO0 readings. Lovebug enjoyed SSRW and is a great reader. We've liked the hands on cut, paste, dot to dot & writing... We all enjoy the songs... A a apple & B b ball....

Grace! ss

Update: Hubbie is doing better! He's trying to destress and since WOW is over we hope that's easier! His natural MD said all looks great... now for him to believe it... and feel it!!! He may or may not take the referal to a GT specialist....

Aunt Joya

Oh! This Chistmas we had Aunt Joya & Uncle Ray over to visit. We ended up paying Yatzee.... growing up we always play games at Aunt Joya's.... And Aunt Joya won the game at Chrismas.

She'll be remembered!!

His Grace is sufficient!! ss

Peter Waldo

Trial in Triumph Peter Waldo & the Waldensians Faithful to the Word 1130-1217

This reading left Lovebug mad. She was greatly sadened at the slaughter of the Waldensians. We talked about their love for the Bible. Peter translating the Bible in to French so he could read it on his own. What would it be like to not have a Bible in our language? To have never hear about Jesus.

Her anger was released as we talked thru the passion to follow the Bible.

Naration :( Tonight Daddy asked about her schooling today. She retold virtually nothing. Hummm we need a better system on this.....

Grace! ss

** She did narate to daddy on the pillow... and was next to tears telling the tragic details...

Daddy's Birthday

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!

Love your girls!

Yet in Pain

Bummer! We wanted this done all in 2007.... yikes....

Hey- I'm looking for Dr. info.

It looks like we'll need to be heading to a specialist... I'm guessing Gastroenterology....



Hubbie is not yet feeling good... pain even yet.... we toyed w/ going to the ER on Friday :( but thankfully avoided it.... Monday we'll see his surgeon... but this seems to be outside the surgeon window. He's drinking lots of water and leaning toward a liquid diet... and struggling...



Anybody have Dr. recommendations??? (We're trying to check out the locals!!)



Thanks, ss

Knitting, Knitting

Knitting, knitting, one, two, three,

I knit socks for the girls and me.

I love sunshine and I love tea;

Knitting, knitting, one, two, three.

I'm on my thirld sock!!! Mom taught me this past Thanksgiving. I'm now a sock knitter! I cannot believe it! I'm enjoying taking my knitting wherever....

Bonus! Lovebug is knitting as I read in the morning. She's even picked it up on her own during the weekend! Daddy helped her when her needles pulled out. Wow! I've helped her with a horrible knot. She's not exactly eager but she's definately learning!

Ok, this does not take an expert! Before Thanksgiving I've knitted scarves. My hospital scarf looks like beads and as I worked on it I prayed for Hubbies recovery. I can knit & can remember how to purl. I dropped stitches!! Here's a great site on stitches.... http://www.knittinghelp.com/ Go there and watch a movie of the stitches.

Ok! My time is up!! I've put together my pattern for the circular needles! I can e it... and may post it.... another time!

God knits too!!! For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Ps 139:13

Knitting by Grace! ss

Comments
Feb. 7, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
How lovely !! I am currently learning to crochet, and knitting is next on my WISH I COULD DO list. Love the socks !! God Bless. MomToCherubs http://www.becksbounty.blogspot.com

It is a New Year!!

Well I guess I wanted to start this e-mail off by letting you knowthat there are 11 months until Christmas!! Have you started yourChristmas shopping yet?

I don't know about you but one month of the year just disappeared andI barely even saw it.
Things are going well in the S household. Wife-ie is doing great with the schooling of Lovebug and Ladybug, Lovebug enjoys reading, Ladybug I think will be the mathematician, and I am probably runningat about 7.9 out of 8.0 cylinders. I am still trying to eliminate the rest of the pain from the surgery but things are going well. The doctor told me at the very end of last year that if I still have a lot of pain they would begin doing some testing this year to try to pin point it... he said the testing would involve Barium... Huh!!! I didn't say I had any pain, I meant there is a stain... yeah, yeah stain!

I thought in this edition of my monthly reminder I would add a couple of photos and give you a little info about what I do with No. It is really pretty simple. I am told do this... and I do it. Actuallyfor the most part I am training for the big league when I have to handle a complete silo from start to finish. My main role up until now has been coordinating with the manufacturer of the silos themselves and I am in charge of making sure the drawings are correct for all the holes that are needed in the silo, and then I send the PO to the vendor and sign my name in blood stating that this is what we really want to buy.

It is kind of weird... these silos (just the shell) can cost well over $100k each. But by the time we have the silo on site we mayhave as much as an additional $60k tied up in just freight costs alone.




This photo is a shot of us loading the first of three silos we had to get out by the end of last year.

Photo on right shows an example of some of the holes that have to be planned andcoordinated with the customer and the vendor.

Lastly this shows one of our installers working inside the silo getting some of the internal electrical work completed prior to shipping.





Hey don't be a stranger... Let me know how things are going in your worlds too.
Regards, KjS.

Pileated Woodpecker

Wow! This morning the girs spotted a new woodpecker!! "He has red on top!!!"

He does!! I've seen this bird once before!! We have a Pileated Woodpecker!!! We have 2 and the pair are sending down wood chips as they look for breakfast!!

I wish a zoom lens would have caught him!!!

They look like a Woody Woodpecker for sure!!!

Also, we have icecicles already on the house!! It will be a cold day with a high of 37! And we are off to a book sale & a fresh milk run!! We need like 20 gallons for the milk co-op!!

Stay warm!! ss

Comments
Jan. 28, 2008 - Posted by Jilann
Love your picture! I saw your link on the AO list. I just recently started blogging, so I love finding fellow AOers that blog too. Sounds like things are going great!

All's Well That Ends Well

This week our AO2 trip took us to Tales from Shakespeare. We enjoyed making our clothes pin actors for our play All's Well That Ends Well! We are yet a few players short... mostly boys... Here's our troup!

Clothes Pin Dolls: We saw a video on our podcast from Everyday News and were inspired to make our dolls! We found the wooden clothes pins, pipe cleaner arms, some curley hair, googly eyes, and some scraps of fabric. For hair we used also some DMC thread. Our last gent wears his kingly crown!! We've used mostly hot glue & some white glue. Lately we've added some beads for decoration!!

Ladybug's doll is first with pigtales! Lovebugs's girl has long golden hair. Mama's doll has the flowered dress with a crop hair style. The others are extras :)

We've finally added our handicraft!! During our morning reading Lovebug is working on her knitting. She's not overly thrilled with it but she's doing quite well! We are working on consistency that rounds out in joy!

Grace! ss

** Update: My Hubbie said I should put together a kit to make our clothes pin dolls!!! That sounds fun!! I have it for $10!!! Several picked one up at our HS business fair! Email me if you are interested :) shakespeare.dolls@gmail.com

Comments

Jan. 29, 2008 - Great Idea
Posted by Cheryl L
I love the idea about making the clothespin dolls for Shakespear!! I have wondered about ways to make the stories more concrete. I thought about making puppets. Callie loves to act out more than anything when she narrates and that would be fun!! Thanks!

Feb. 6, 2008 - Clothespin Shakespeare Puppets
Posted by FLORAandFAUNA
What a terrific idea! We have made and used paper dolls, but your clothespin characters are so cute! My family would enjoy providing dramatic narrations using these props. ...I guess you know what we're making tomorrow! LOL

Feb. 8, 2008 - Nice
Posted by Testimony
Great idea! Karen www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony

Feb. 19, 2008 - Posted by lindafay
These are cute and a great way to share Shakespeare!

Feb. 19, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
Oh, I love this idea! My daughter and I were just studying Mozart's The Magic Flute recently and used various stuffed animals for the characters to act it out. I'd LOVE to make some of these clothespin dolls. Or buy a kit! :-) Dana, www.alexml.blogspot.com

Feb. 21, 2008 - Posted by homeschoolhelp
This is such a good and creative idea, Stephanie! Congratulations on making it into the CM Carnival. I think a kit for these is a great idea! Blessings, Dianne

Feb. 21, 2008 - Posted by Anonymous
We love making clothespin dolls but I have not thought of making caracters from our literature. We just finished Romeo and Juliet...thanks for the great idea! Leila @Freedom Academy www.thecookfamilyzoo.blogspot.com

Mar. 2, 2008 - Posted by Jimmie
Quite clever! :-) We love crafts! I'd love to hear more about how you do Shakespeare.

Cocoa

For Christmas we've welcomed Cocoa to our family!! Well, we've often threatened to be rid of her! She's an ancle biter... she attaches especially to Ladybug... and we've had a most difficult time adjusting to her!!

We've just taken the plunge and started a Puppy class w/ Petco!! For now when the girls are out Cocoa is on her new dog line. This has allowed the girls to not run to get away from her!! They were looking for all heights to get out of Cocoa range!!

We are trying to keep Cocoa, but we've already looked at a replacement!!! Ooooo!!! Grace! ss

20 & Term II

Our new term is off to a great start! Our schedule is more intense..... and we've added a jewel too!!

20 Minutes!! (That's not a time out!!!) It is 20 minutes solo with mom!! We gather in my room with an array of books... these are the things we need solo time... body book, manners, anger... or Mother Goose, story books, Peter Rabbit, Pooh... This time has been precious!! Then after the girls Mama gets 20 minutes solo!! :)

Another add on is Lovebug is using 20 for independent reading... She's thilled with Heidi! We've had a bread and cheese and milk lunch, just like Heidi!

Here's our schedule!!

8a Reading with Mama, AO2 Additional reading by me or Heidi by her

9a Breakfast & Bible Devo & Psalm 8 (Daily read & btw memorize)

10a Window to the World- Praying for Chad this week

AO2 Her Pick A - Wind in the Willows

Poetry

MEP - Math

AO2 Her Pick B - Child's History of the World

And I've added a weekly check list to help us stay on track & catch up!! Right now we're doing 2 math lessons, poetry & handwriting daily.

I've also added our Hymns & Folk song on my MP3 player... and we play those at breakfast or in the afternoons!!

Right now I think we're doing more of the AO & CM that ever!!! We need focus on nature & time on Spanish. Also in the days to come we'lll add in our artist & composer!!!

That's our start to AO2 Term 2~~~

Grace! ss

Comments
Jan. 10, 2008 - Posted by JacciM
Thanks so much for commenting on my blog! :) I've enjoyed reading yours some tonight, too. Sounds like you all are well underway. Hope you have a terrific term!! Blessings, Jacci

Back to Climb the Mountain

This week we've started the climb into a new trimester!! We're in the middle of 2nd grade & K and enjoying the views in our AO journey!

Pagoo tears!! We'er appraoching the end of our hermit crab trip! Oh!! Lovebug does not want to finish this trip!! We've seen Pagoo grow from a pre-hermit crab... thru his fights for a shell of his own.... And today he pinched another hermit when Pagoo moved in first!! Just a month or so left!!

Math!! Oh this even yet needs more of me!! Math! Once a week is just not enough, humf!! So today we've ventured into double lessons!! In the midst of the lesson we enjoyed skip counting songs that are wonderful (The Skip Count Kid's Bible Heros)!! Also, the girls enjoyed the finger play with Thumbkin! We did number stuff to!! We are enjoying the MEP lessons!! Now mama needs to be consistent!!!

Ladybug enjoyed mama's favorite book... Miss Rumphius!! Maybe some day we too can live by the sea!!!

We are off to a great start!! These two days have been fabulous!!! Praise my Creator & Sustainer!! Tonight's pillow talk walked again the journey of the day!! Highlights were King Richard the Lionhearted & Robin Hood of Sherwood forrest from Our Island Story!

Grace!! ss

Hubbie- His biggest concern lately was a fall skating!!! (Roller, alas we're without ice!!) Praise nothing broke!! His wrist & a twist were feeling better after rest!! Pray for snow!!

Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas!! Filled with joy & sweet forgivness that only Jesus brings!

We enjoyed reading Luke 2 to slow down and remember this is the reason for the season! After we read, we HAD to act out our own nativity!

Lovebug was Mary who struggled to be mild! Ladybug was her choice of a donkey at the manger. Daddy was Joseph, the Angle of the Lord & our narator. Memom carried her shepherd's crook of a candy cane. Mama circled and came as a wise man to worship the King. Swaddled and laid into a manger box was our bear as Jesus. Grandaddy was Herod & watched our nativity.

I pray you a moment to slow down and read Luke 2.

Jesus is born & risen!!! King of Kings! ss

Our 2007 Christmas Letter

Hold on! Our 2007 roller coaster of life kept us on the edge! It has been a wild year! Through it all God has woven his comfort!! His hand has been strong & sure.

The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hand. Psalm 19:1-2

Our path was in the clouds thru the Rocky Mountains. In Estes park we drove into snow! The mountains truly declared the glories of God. The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hand, Psalm 19:1-2. We skied A-Basin in Colorado! That’s to say K made his way up the mountain and Lovebug mastered the bunny slope & lift. Ladybug skied well with an instructor. Alas, I struggled on the bunny slope, flopped on the magic carpet and understood how my dad could ski the parking lot!! Maybe that’s a genetic trait. K says it is better the second time you go skiing, yet I’ll reserve my thoughts on that.

We hit a speed bump as Hubbie had emergency surgery on 7/31! He awoke knowing nothing about what a diverticulum or colostomy were (that was a rude awaking). Following a week in the hospital, he repeated it all again 8 weeks later with the 2nd surgery to end the colostomy. All in all Kerry stayed 14 days in the hospital… walk… walk… walk… Thanks to the friends who kept the girls for this hospital visit& church family & the family that came to fill the gaps in our great need & flowers and many notes of encouragement. In that time we learned we were expecting a baby. In the weeks that followed the girls and I started our mornings with… fearfully & wonderfully made, knit together in my mother’s womb… Psalm 139

Thanks to the friends who kept our girls for the hospital visits & church family & the family that came to fill the gaps in our great need & flowers & many notes of encouragement.

We packed for Pennsylvania in the midst of those surgeries. The doctor let K travel… (this is not recommended after busting a gut). We took Philadelphia slowly, saw the Liberty bell, met Betsy Ross, got some confederate notes from a Yankee dressed like a Rebel. Ladybug met her great-Grand parents Cyrus & Erma for the first time. They saw where their daddy learned to shoot groundhogs, launch model rockets, touch an electric fence. They helped Great Grandpa fed the fish in the pond. Numerous times Megan & Lillian walked down the lane to help daddy get well! They laughed a lot as they rode the tandem bike. We ate chocolate in Hershey PA… Yummy! We discovered the owner of the Reading railroad from Monopoly (pronounced Redding for all the southerners reading), and he gave us a personal tour of his grandfather’s castle, the Stokesay Castle. It is a copy of an English Castle!! Wow all in PA! Thanks to the family we stayed with!

A grief came in that midst! September 20, Kyle our baby boy was born in heaven. We celebrated this little one when we found out about his coming while in the hospital first round. We cried & grieved his loss. Even the darkness is not dark to him Ps 139:12. This was merely 2 weeks before Kerry’s 2nd surgery. We were hemmed in tight. You hem me in- behind and before… Ps 139:5. For weeks and months now, my girls yet think of their baby brother.

In the quiet and the background from all the excitement… Lovebug is in 2nd grade. She is a good reader. Ladybug is in Kindergarten and writes, colors, glues, & dot-to-dots her alphabet. We’ve learned about sea life with Pagoo, a hermit crab. We’ve met Kings of An Island Story and saw William the Conqueror beat King Harold. Lovebug celebrated her birthday with Betsy in Understood Betsy. We’ve seen Christian on his journey beyond the Slough of Despond in Pilgrim’s Progress. We’ve started our day with God’s precious word and the girls know Psalm 1, 19, 23, 139. We’ve dabbled in Spanish. Our days are tight. The girls have enjoyed ballet & choir, too. Lovebug declared this week that one day she’ll homeschool her kids. We love it!

This year I, (K) made a big career change. After 14 years, or something like that, with General Dynamics/Vertex RSI/Tripoint Global/Vertex Communications Corp, I changed companies. Now I work in Marshall, for Norit-Americas, Inc.. I’m a Project Engineer in the Systems and Services group works along side the production of activated carbon used for filtration products, if it needs to be filtered I’ll bet we can filter it. The rest of my time is filled with lots of FBC projects and video editing, multimedia presentations. Then there’s doctor appointments and a CTscan this week. I am still supposed to be resting in that mix so I can get completely healed.

(S) My joy and privilege is to be home with our girls. School keeps me busy and we’re enjoying our study with Amblesideonline.com. I’ve had a burden & joy to pray with friends and have seen God’s hand working. I’m enjoying our cooking group 4Some and it’s a HUGE help to have meals ready. My freezer is empty for the first time in years and we’ll cook in January. I’m also learning to knit socks! Mom is my excellent teacher even on the phone! I’m nearly done with one very cute sock. We’ve also started a blog through this year’s journey. We’ve enjoyed watching the world thru our hits!! Learning with the Girls at http://grace2u-s2.blogspot.com/ *(as if 6/08). We’ve written thru lots of our year and you can catch up there (here).

From our world to yours… Have a wonderful Christmas celebrating Jesus! May you see thru the eyes of a child and see the wonder of The King is born.

S & K, M8 & L5

Cream Mushroom Soup

Cream of Mushroom Soup

For FBC Mission’s Ladies Lunch 2/06 - From Patti Coles

I made this soup for about 60 for that lunch... It was a hit!!! I've been asked about it many times since!! Maybe I'll make it this week! Soup!! I've been making a soup a week and freezing it for lunches!! Hubbie ate all my Hot Taco & I like the Chicken-Rice.... I'm not sure how this will freeze... but it will be yummy!!

Grace! ss

Cream of Mushroom Soup

3 pkg sliced fresh Mushrooms
1 med onion finely chopped
3 T butter ** use real
1/2c flour
2 (14oz) cans Chicken Broth
3c Whipping Cream
1/4c dry white wine
1 1/2t salt
1t tarragon
1t Worcestershire sauce
1/4t white pepper

Coarsely chop mushrooms.

Sauté mushrooms & onion in butter in large Dutch oven over med heat 10 minutes. Add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Stir in broth & remaining ingredients. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium- high. Cook 20 minutes or until thickened stirring often.

*Be careful not to let it come to a full boil… it wills separate & not turn our right. It can also scorch & taste burnt.

Print by Print

I'm checking my laser... print by print... It's been a mess lately.... Mostly it hungry I guess, for toner.. when it's not chewing and jamming on paper!! Alas, this laser has seen many many years!!! It's much older than our girls... and goes back to college days!!!

It has survived a flood! When the roof in the old house needed to be replaced... it leeked only on this printer... Yikes!! And once dry, it was merrily printing again..

Toner cartriages have gotten quite difficult to find!! This is an old HPIIIP. In the years we've upgraded the memory.

Now I've talked of a new printer.. and now I must weigh the balance... a toner that approaches $100... or putting that chunk toward a new printer!!??? Oh, I'd really like to be able to print on both sides.. Now I'm here feeding each Christmas letter in 2x....

Oh, now I'm out of paper!!! Alas!! This is work!!! :) ss

Christmas Lights

Tonight we did the drive for Christmas lights!! The girls were thrilled with Santa & Rudolph & sleigh on top of the hospital!! They wanted to climb into that sleigh!! They were also in hunt for Santa... Lovebug carried her huge list all rolled up with a bow... Alas, he was not to be found....

Our Christmas cards are out!! They landed in Ohio!! So if you are between here and there or somewhere beyond... Merry Christmas!!

School is officially out!!! We yet have a bit of stragglers to run on... math...but we are definately moving at a different pace!! with games in toe too!! Today we cleaned... so we can make Christmas cookies!! Tomorrow... That sounds fun!! We have a ginerbread house to decorate too!!

Wednesday Hubbie has his follow up from the CTScan... Tonight he's hurt a bit... yet says no to even tylonol...

Ladybug said her brother was looking at Christmas lights with her.... and then later they said Kyle was playing with Holly in heaven. We could only smile!! God is good!!!

Grace & Glittering Lights that declare Jesus is the Light of the world! ss

Christmas Lights

Tonight we did the drive for Christmas lights!! The girls were thrilled with Santa & Rudolph & sleigh on top of the hospital!! They wanted to climb into that sleigh!! They were also in hunt for Santa... Lovebug carried her huge list all rolled up with a bow... Alas, he was not to be found....

Our Christmas cards are out!! They landed in Ohio!! So if you are between here and there or somewhere beyond... Merry Christmas!!

School is officially out!!! We yet have a bit of stragglers to run on... math...but we are definately moving at a different pace!! with games in toe too!! Today we cleaned... so we can make Christmas cookies!! Tomorrow... That sounds fun!! We have a ginerbread house to decorate too!!

Wednesday Hubbie has his follow up from the CTScan... Tonight he's hurt a bit... yet says no to even tylonol...

Ladybug said her brother was looking at Christmas lights with her.... and then later they said Kyle was playing with Holly in heaven. We could only smile!! God is good!!!

Grace & Glittering Lights that declare Jesus is the Light of the world! ss

Christmas Cards

Do you do Christmas cards?

We are in production!! Last year each of us signed each card!! That's not my ambition this year!! I'm just getting ready to hit the print & send them out!

Do you send a picture? I so like to see families grow up! I try hard to take that Christmas pic!! This year we used our April Colorado pic!! That was easy!

Hopefully they will be in the mail by the weekend or so!!

Hubbie has a CTScan on Friday to make sure there's nothing to his pain. Yesterday Ladybug had yet another fall and busted her lip and messed the same area of her Peter Pan teeth!! We'll finish school this week, the first term of AO2!! Grace to ya! And tinsil too!! ss

Christmas Cookies

We are making cookies at home and here too!!

Enjoy the nibbles! ss

Get your own! More Flash Toys from TheoWorlds.com

Comments
Dec. 12, 2007 - Posted by Anonymous
the cookies are SO cute! where do you find this stuff!! :) hope you are having a great day.

More Cookies

Hope you'll take a moment to go make you a cookie too!! ss

Get your own! More Flash Toys from TheoWorlds.com

Memorize!

We are brushing on the final touches of Psalm 139. There are just a few rough spots... missing a phrase... or so. Lovebug has asked to move on to a new passage...

Challenge- She need to say this passage... like during Christmas with family... and then we'll start something new.

?How do you memorize?

Every morning at breakfast, we read our Psalm. We'll read it and talke about it. It is a very causual & no pressure reading. We are NOT focusing on memorizing!!! I know if we consistently read the passage... we'll know it!! It will be like a friend! Every morning I read to the girls. Sometimes Lovebug wants to read... I love her reading God's word.

As we go along.. I'll stop and see if they know what comes next. Gradually we'll set it to memory. Some parts we'll know and others need more attention. I'll do more focused reading starting sometimes at our harder parts.

Now we are at our challenge point. We nearly have the passage word for word. We'll spend the next few weeks reviewing and practicing reciting the Psalm. Hopefully Christmas we'll say it top to bottom!

?How long do you spend on a passage?

We started Psalm 139 when we were expecting a baby! That was August. We we lost the baby in September I found so much comfort in the same Psalm... It was awsome to see God's workd meeting me in such grief.

So it has been from August to December. That's 5 months... with many breaks with surgery in the midst too. My goal is to work on a single passage for each trimester of our schooling. That's 12 weeks. Before this we learned Psalm 19. We picked it up after our Colorado trip. That was 4 months, April thru July.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and flowers fade, but the word of our God lasts forever.

As we make His word part of our day, I think we take on a bit of eternity!! For this lasts...

Grace! ss

Happy B Lovebug

Happy B to Lovebug!! Big 8 years!! We celebrated with friends at a wonderful indoor playing area! This is a bit early for she'll be 8 on the 4th, Tuesday!!

Eight years!! 2nd grade!! Teeth are squished and we are seeing an orthodontist! She's getting tall. She dresses up to a lovely young lady. She's a help to her sister with letters and learning. Often times she helps little sis to clean her room! She's great answering the phone. She likes dress up, sparkles, painted fingers, earings, and shoes with heals. She can run fast in those heels. She's nearly broken her nose! She enjoying ballet. She's learned Psalm 1, 19, 23 & 139 and can recite them. Her tantrums are tough. And she's known for her faces! She loves Jesus and has sought Him fasting. She yet grieves the loss of our little one and still prays for a baby.

She's reading Understood Betsy & Heidi both from AO2. She and Betsy will share their birthdays next week!!! How fun!

Grace! ss

Lessons: He is the potter, I am the clay. Jer. 18.

Followup: Hubbie is yet healing from Monday's Dr appt. Orthodontists are on a pendulum... from pull all 4 teeth to pull none! The nose has healed only occasionaly hurts. Ladybug yet has Peter Pan teeth. The sinus battles are declining, I hope. Grace to ya!!!

Comments
Dec. 3, 2007 - Posted by Anonymous
happy birthday m. sorry we didn't make it to the party...jack came down w/ a cold. suzannah was very disappointed. sounds like they had a good time. m looked beautiful. stacey

Thanksgiving

We ejoyed a lovely Thanksgiving with Memom & Grandaddy & Uncle Erica & cousin Erica! We had a week full of fun.

The girls enjoyed playing Rummykube. This is a great game for the girls 7/8 and adults!! With 2-4 players you used numbered & colored cubes to make a set of same numbers in different colors or a series of numbers in one color... Just a week or so ago G'Ma Carol & G'Pa Ben taught us to play... and we were hooked!

While visiting we watched Amazing Grace. Wow it is awsome how one man changed the course of England! We need boys to grow into men like that!!

It is cool back at home!! Cool is low in the 40's. We're enjoying schooling by the fire.

Tomorrow is a Orthodontist #2 day!! We are also thrilled to be having G'ma Carol & G'pa Ben over with their crew!!

Tomorrow I'll be busy making a Taco Soup & Lovebug has asked for the Coconut Pies!! I hope that fits too!!! Then there's a B cake to make by Thursday!! Small Group is here on Wendesday... and I'm feeling snowed!!!

Pray for snow! Grace!! ss

Cornbread Salad

This is what I want to make this week at Memom's!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!! ss

Cornbread Salad from Michelle F.

• 1 (16oz) pkg. corn bread mix


• 1 (1 oz) pkg. ranch dressing mix


• 1 ½ c. sour cream


• 1 ½ c. mayonnaise


• 1 (15 oz) cans pinto beans, drained


• 3 tomatoes, chopped


• 1 c. chopped green bell pepper


• 1 c. chopped green onion


• 2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese


• 10 slices bacon


• 2 (11 oz) cans whole kernel corn, drained

Prepare corn bread according to package directions. Set aside to cool.

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until

evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. Whisk together the salad

dressing mix, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Set aside. Place half of the

crumbled corn bread in the bottom of a large serving dish. Top with half of

beans. Add the tomatoes, half of cheese, bacon, corn and salad dressing.

Repeat layering using remaining ingredients. Garnish as desired. Cover and

chill two to three hours before serving.

The Art of Knitting

We've just started working on knitting with Lovebug and Ladybug. I'm not sure they will be hooked... but it has been fun to check out....

The Art of Knitting 4 Kids is a DVD with great instruction!! Here is a snip it! I think it is an easy way to introduce you and your kidos to knitting...

Memom picked up this DVD. She is a compulsive knitter!! She's having a ball knitting socks!! We have a great shop we can get to get yarn & help!!

I'm knitting a bit!! I'm learning from Memom too!!!

Grace! ss

Comments

Nov. 17, 2007 - Posted by Leigharev2
Hi! I am very attracted to AO, but love Sonlight and am currently using that. I am looking into trying to morph some of the elements of AO into our routine.

Oral Surgery

Daddy's teeth!  O how quickly we head into the next thing....  I'd call it yet another crisis, but it just seems to be life this year... 

Orthodontics appintments have started already.  For a year we've made visits as they watch Lovebugs baby teeth be crowded out.  We'll this was the visit of action!!  Yikes, 4 baby teeth to come out!!  Peter Pan had a much better deal just sticking with his baby teeth!!!

This extraction is too much for our wonderful & familiar dentist DDS Baker...  Alas, we've been refered to an oral surgeon!!   Hubbie is in BSF with DDS Mac....  so it seems the path is set. 

Daddy had all this route as a child... a head brace... something called a functional regulator...  and a whole lot of stuff to give him a beautiful smile!!  (Thanks Mom & Dad!!)  He even threw part of it in the trash at school!!!   Maybe we'll not have that problem.... 

The appointment is for aftter Thanksgiving.... and maybe we'll put the surgery off into next year... this year has truely been a banner year!!

Rejoice in the Lord always!  ss

Better Yogurt

Would you believe last time I posted on yogurt... it flopped!!! My lesson from that round was new milk is much better than older milk!!

Yogurt for Daddy & the Girls!

• 4c Milk
• 3-4T Cornstarch
• Yogurt starter

1. Heat the milk & cornstarch till thickened... and just boiling...


2. Cool the milk to 120ish degrees... mix a small portion with the starter & combine with all cooled milk.


3. Put into yogurt maker for 24 hours.

Flavor the Yogurt- sweeten the entire batch

• 1/3 c maple syrup


• 2~ T of your favorite fruit preserves. Hubbie really likes peach.... we're also making blueberry, strawberry, apricot, blackberry, & raspberry.

I generally spin the batch with my immersion handheld blender. Enjoy! I'm making 3-4 batches a week!! Maybe cooler temps will slow it down.... we'll see.

Well, that blender is the latest appliance to spark & toast!! Maybe it will be on my list for the biggest shopping day of the year... Toaster ovens, microwaves & blenders are not meant to last forever!!! God's word lasts forever!!! ss

Chicken & Rice Soup

A few weeks ago, we enjoyed a wonderful weekend with Memom & Aunt Karen. One of our delights that weekend was a wonderful soup...

Memom's Chicken & Rice Soup

• Whole Chicken


• Onion - Diced


• 3 Ribs Celery Diced


• Salt & Pepper


• 10oz Mahatma Saffron Yellow Rice **Next time I'll use the 5oz


• Peas & Carrots - Frozen

1. On stove top, cover Chicken with water, add Onions & Celery. Bring to boil & cook til done (2hrs). Remove Chicken & all bones :). Debone Chicken & dice. Remove the fat from the broth.


2. Bring broth w/ onions & celery to boil add rice. Cover and cook until done.


3. Add Carrots & Peas (& corn too if ya wish) & add back Chicken & cook til carots are just done. (With the 10 ounces of riced I added back in like 3 cans of broth.... that's why I'll go to the 5 ounce next time.... and a little white rice if needed... )


4. Serve with crackers and Enjoy!! Freeze in small zips for and easy lunch on cold winter days!!

I took the soup to our Small Group last night!! I think Caleb (4) liked it the most!! What fun!!

Rejoice in the Lord always! ss

My Best Overall Coconut Pie

I yet cannot believe I won the best overall pie contest!!

Best Overall Coconut Pie

Here's the recipe...

in a minute!! ss

Pumpkin Dump Cake

Tonight we're heading to our Small Group.  The day has been yet another struggle... oral surgery!!  but that's another post...  This is great for the season!!!

Pumpking Dump Cake  from AllRecipes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (29 ounce) can pumpkin puree


• 3 eggs


• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar


• 1/2 cup white sugar


• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger


• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves


• 1/2 teaspoon salt


• 1 (18.25 ounce) package spice cake mix (I used a yellow cake)


• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans


• 1/2 cup melted butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.


2. In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs, brown sugar, white sugar and milk. Stir in cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt. Pour into pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the pumpkin filling. Sprinkle pecans over the cake mix. Drizzle melted butter over all.


3. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Allow to cool.

Enjoy God provison & give Him thanks!! ss

Broke Broke Broken

Ok.... I'm glad it is not a nose! And Hubbie is healing...

Yet! I'm getting weary of this!! Broke broke broken.... Today it is the microwave!! The button to open & close the door is popping out. I've already lost the toaster oven because it shocked me... grr...

It seems everything broken and everybody has been broken/damages & is healing... I'm weary! We've started to dig out of the related bills... it will stretch us & make us lean... :) Leaning on Him!

I'm praying God's hand on us for good & not to harm us. I'm praying for the washer & dryer & the cars.... the a/c & heat. I'm praying God's protection in the daily miles we cover & the Thanksgiving miles we'll drive. God's protection on the family we love.

When I am weak... He is strong.... He must be really strong now because I'm really weak! ss

Remembering

My heart and prayer goes out to Caroline in the loss of her little one!!! It brings all back the sadness of loosing our little one!! Remembering...

As we told the girls, we prayed for them as a family. Ladybug prayed that our little one and their little one could now play together in heaven.

It was a God moment filled with His comfort!!

Update: Lovebug's nose is positivelly green!!! Healing. Hubbie announced today that the bumps in the road no longer hurt. Healing. He's also back to driving his stick!

It is amazing how God created our bodies to heal!!! From noses to major surgery we continually see God's hand in healing our sickess... It is so good to call on Him!! ss

Comments
Nov. 12, 2007 - Posted by lklivingston
I didn't know about this. I'm so sad.

Broken Nose??

I dont even want to think of yet another dr bill...

but Wednesday my 7 yo fell and hit the bridge of her nose.... we were at Chick-fil-A... she slipped and hit a metal handrail.....

I know it hurt badly... and she's turning blue under her eyes... and this evening the swelling has impaired her breathing.... she complained her nose hurts & tylonol has helped....

Alas, now what?? Her nose is not misshapened.... Do we visit a Dr? An ENT? The ER??

Any experience here???

I'm so tired of drs!! I'm even more weary with medical bills!!! God goes before us! He owns the cattle on 1000 hills!!! And all my pennies are His... and it seems He is spending more!!

His grace is sufficient!!! ss

Note on recovery...

Things here are going well. I am recovering pretty well, but slow, the second surgery was harder than the first and the recovery has been longer… the weekends seem to be the hardest. I don’t know why but through the week I feel pretty good, minor discomfort but when the weekend hits I start to hurt in mainly two areas of my lower abdomen. I still have some swelling that as the day drags on it seems to shift toward my beltline and once it contacts my beltline I then start to bend over and it hurts pretty much until I get home and in bed for the evening. I think the doctors would tell me when that happens I need to stop pushing myself.

I have been back at work for two weeks since the surgery. It has been a help to be back here because I come in and do something consistent from day to day and I can feel myself getting stronger. Each day I am able to last longer and longer before the beltline issue above starts.

Tuesday I went home and we picked up pumpkins and carved them up for the girls, and they loved it. I will have to post some pictures of it.

This last time the surgery was on Tuesday and I had a real hard time pretty much through Thursday. Friday I was able to get out of bed and get moving.

KjS