~Lost Something?!

Aaron did...

His first tooth!

~Irresistible~

I couldn't pass by a 20 lb box of blueberries at the grocery store today. I made 6 pints of jam and froze a bunch. Can't wait to have blueberries in my yogurt for breakfast!!!!

I'll have to write that on my to-do list so I can cross it off!

~I'm Spoiled~

Not a day goes by that some cute young man doesn't bring me flowers:-)...and kisses...and hugs:-)

~Bible School~

It has been a busy week with Bible School every evening...I'm here...doing well...but tired:-)

Here are a few photos I snapped between delivering the snacks! How did I manage to get that fun job!

~Homemade Yogurt~

I've been playing around with yogurt recipies for 3 months now and I think I've got "my own" recipie now! Don't be afriad to try this...not once have I "flopped" making yogurt!

This is how I like it...

You need...

Double broiler...or a crockpot...or two pans - I use the two pan method

Thermometer - not necessary but I like to use one

Sugar, Powdered Milk, Milk, Yogurt (at room temp)

2 quart size canning jars and 1 pint size canning jar (glass jars hold heat) and lids...I like to use the plastic screw on.

Ready!?!?!

Pour water in big pan and milk with 2/3 cup powdered milk in the little pan...bring water to boil (that is what heats the milk without scourching)

Bring milk to 180 degrees...keep in there for 5 minutes stir continuously - Some people don't do this...some do it for 10 minutes. I found keeping at temp for 10 min was not necessary but if I brought it to temp and immidiately cooled it, the yogurt was thinner.

Put in cold water bath in the sink. Add 2/3 cup sugar and three heaping tablespoons of yogurt. Cool to 120 degrees.

Pour into hot glass jars, cover and wrap in two towels...I like to put mine in this cooler to be sure it stays warm enough! If it cools to quickly it will be thinner.

I normally make it before lunch and I leave it on the counter til bedtime and then put it in the fridge. Do NOT stir!!! or shake!!! or anything!!! That will make lumpy yogurt!

Side notes:

You do not need sugar...but I like a little bit...this yogurt is not real sweet

You do not need powdered milk...but it makes a thicker yogurt

Some people use extract or geletin...I wanted the fewest amount of ingredients

You can easily half this...1 qrt milk, 1/3 cup powdered milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1-2 heaping spoons yogurt.

I could use less milk but I like having the pint jar and use that last...that is my clue to make more yogurt!

This takes me 25 minutes from the time I walk into the kitchen until I leave it...all clean:-)

I have kept the yogurt in the fridge for two weeks no problem.

Make all your pots, spoons and jars hot while your milk is warming...Make sure all that bad bacteria is gone so the yogurt uses only the good bacteria from the yogurt you add.

I hope you all understand this...it is truly easy! Give it a try!

~Commercial~

I thought take a moment to quickly share a link with you...

Homeschool Freebie of the Day

They send out an email every Monday with the info on a free resource each day for you to download. This week seems exceptionally good...sewing, coloring (creation science), laundry soap...go on over and check it out!

~Cute Dragons~

I finished up this cute little dragon set for my friend Val who is having her first little boy...I love how it turned out! This was my first time making a "tag blanket"...very fun!

~Guard Your Heart~

Over Memorial Weekend we had some special speakers...remember the Marines I talked about here...anyway,

One gave a little story about guarding your heart/home. I often picture a gate or a wall around a heart with this verse. I now have a more active, participating picture in my mind and I thought I'd share it:-)

He explained that his house was locked up and he and his wife were heading to bed...when he heard a strange noise at the back door. Long story short, someone was trying to break in!!! Being a Marine, he had some "tools" that most of us don't and stood at the back door ready to protect his home and family.

Is that how active I am in protecting my home??? Just putting up walls isn't enough...locking the doors isn't enough either!

We have had some recent sermons that have kept bringing this thought to my mind. What we see and hear really can have an effect on our walk with God...and more importantly on our children! Am I guarding them in this active way???...I do not yet know where all their weaknesses are. I may be able to overlook something but they may not be able to.

Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

~Catching up...~

...on rest :-)



Saturday night was eventful in our house. We had a fairly big rain storm come through and our normally wet basement turned into a basement with rivers and fountains! Gregg and I worked together until 12:30 am keeping the water from rising too much. It is continuous work for two as the water was coming in like a faucet. It doesn't do this often...but when it does...ughh!

Gregg had to remind me that we could be thankful we still had electric and a big supersized vaccum to keep the water moving out!

Anyway, it has taken a few nights and naps to catch up on some sleep!


I picked our first onion on Monday...

and six quarts of beans on Tuesday...

It was so relaxing to sit in the shade on the back patio and snap beans in the afternoon! I canned my beans...for the first time. I usually freeze them.


I am caring less and less about my to do list and getting more and more ready to sit and snuggle a newborn. This has certainly been an easier pregnancy for me and for that I am so thankful!

With that said...I'm going to go lie down:-)

~Mint~

I have been bummed to not be drinking mint tea. My iron levels seem to have risen and I'd like to keep it that way! I'd rather have energy then tea...but bummer!

Anyway, it was starting to flower and get overdone. A friend was over and she told me to freeze it!?!?!?! Never thought of that! I washed it, let it dry and bundled it in plastic bags and put it in the freezer. That will be a nice treat this winter!!!!

My mother in law gave me the idea to make mint jelly (thank you!) Did you know, you don't need pectin for mint jelly!!! It is very important to watch your temp...or you will get gooey candy type stuff...like I did...
Ooops! I'll have to try again! It tastes wonderful:-) My boys were very encouraging and decided we could melt it with hot fudge and have it on ice cream!Now I'll be able to enjoy my mint all winter! I would have never "saved" any if I hadn't had an iron problem! Next week, I'm planning on drying some:-)

~Pickles~

We all picked...
Aaron washed...
Jordan and Jared cut...
I mixed...
and canned...

Now we must wait 4-6 weeks to try them! I have never made pickles before...very fun!

~Grace...again~

I posted last Sunday about my Quieting a Noisy Soul study reguarding grace. I tried to concentrate on that topic throughout the week. I went back through verses and hymns in my mind each day. I have certainly found that when I am struggling it is because I am not asking for His grace...not that He doesn't provide enough! I just wanted to share the one song that seemed to really grab me...

On occasion, our Assistant Pastor will take a hymn and match it up to all kinds of Bible verses. I really appreciate that, so I thought I'd try it with this hymn...that is what all those small fonts are (along with my thoughts).

Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say,

(Am I listening - He that hath ears to hear, let him hear Mat 11:15)

Thy strength indeed is small!

(What I do I shouldn't I do, what I should do I don't Rom 7:15)

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

(Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is

willing but the flesh is weak Mat 26:41)

Find in me thine all in all.

(Do a search on all those wonderful "I am" verses!

light, bread, door, shepered, way, truth, life)

Lord, now indeed I find

(Seek and you will find Me Prov 8:17 - He is not going to hide it from us!)

thy pow'r, and thine alone,

(Jesus said - All power is given unto me Matt 28:18- That's a lot of power!)

Can change the leper's spots

(Jesus healed many lepers)

and melt the heart of stone.

(Is not my word like as a fire...and a hammer that

breaketh the rock in pieces Jer 23:29)

(remove heart of stone and give heart of flesh Eze 36:26)

For nothing good have I

(All our rightousness is like filthy rags Is 64:6)

Where-by Thy grace to claim -

(We can come boldly to the throne! Heb 4:16)

I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvarys Lamb.

(many vereses about white robes...especially in Rev)

And when before the throne

(I always picture falling down before Him...can you imagine standing...

only by the blood of Christ!)

I stand in Him complete

(Not only standing but complete!!!?!? - What a thought that is!)

Jesus died my sould to save
My lips shall still repeat

(I should be repeating these words for all to hear...even now!...especially now!!!)

Chorus
Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe;
Sin had left a drimson stain-
He washed it white as snow.



Here was my favorite verse...

Heb 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

~Nurisng Cover~

I told you earlier I had made a nursing cover using this tutorial. Well, I've had a couple friends look at it and try it out! One friend even had one she bought...it sure was nice to look at it! She put it on so quick when she wanted to nurse her baby...I couldn't wait for her to be done so I could check it out!

I ended up making these changes...

* instead of 16" boning - I used 13" (smaller window for my smaller self)

* instead of D-rings - I used an overall buckel (much quicker than threading D-rings every time!)

* I sewed the neck pieces on at a slant instead of straight (makes the boning go up instead of out)

I am very happy with the changes and can't wait to start using it!

~Garden Update~

Here is how my lovely garden looks today!


In the first bed...strawberries and mint

wax beans, pickles and cantalope

green beans and wax beans making a tunnel...

tomatoes and green beans

peppers and onions

Looks like I'll be busy next week. Pickles and peppers are bountiful...green beans aren't far behind!

~Family Fun Day~

We have just completed a very fun 24 hours! Kind of like a mini vacation for everyone:-) Gregg was off work today and we filled the day with fun.

Last night we started with a campfire and all my guys slept out in tents...I slept in bed!

We woke to a very special breakfast of doughnuts and headed off to another baby check. Not too much longer! We stopped and got some hogies for lunch before going bowling. It was fun to have Gregg with us this week!

After we got home, we enjoyed some banana split milk shakes...yum! The boys enjoyed driving their little race cars around our back yard in the early evening.

We took a break for supper (leftover hogies from lunch) and then the older three boys went swimming...Bullet and River even got to go in! Eric and Nathan enjoyed some time swinging.

I did no cooking, cleaning or laundry today! Wow!

~Grace~

Week 16...Getting Divine Help!
'
I, once again, am behind on my schedule to finish this study. BUT I think this lesson was ment for me to do today! (I am home from chuch with a sick son)
'

A very simple definition of grace...help from God or devine enablement...according to Berg. I really like that. Small words, easy to remember. I have gone through several "grace" verses and it really makes it easy to understand.

'

Why did I need this today? Nothing major. Just the ups and downs of life mixed with the ups and downs of pregnancy. My emotions have been on edge as well as my phyiscal strength. My mind struggles with remembering things. I know this will pass...but it is still difficult. I haven't been spending as much time with God...using my own strength to get through the day. Big mistake.

'

This is what I will be thinking about...

'

* II Cor 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace (devine help) abound (abound!) toward you; that ye, always (even in temptations) having all sufficienty in all things, may abound to every good work (Gods will = sanctification and service)

'

* Phil 2:13 - For it is God which worketh in you both to will (creating the desire) and to do (giving you the power) of his good pleasure.

'

I am sharing mostly Berg's thoughts today...I can't seem to put it in my own words.

'

I am heading over to my comfy chair with a hymn book. I'm going to look up songs that talk about God's grace...and with humbleness, I will be asking for some. I need the will and the power today. Hello to joy and peace...goodbye to discontentment and despair.

~Happy 4th~

We often miss fireworks...I think it has something to do with how late at night they usually are! We were sure to fit it in this year! I am so glad!

~The Best Grilled Cheese~

I know it's not really the grilled cheese time of year, but Gregg requested it and I was happy to make it for him.

I use this special recipe for the bread. Cheddar Chive Bread

The recipe makes two loaves. We usually enjoy one loaf with a yummy stew or soup. The next day for lunch we enjoy grilled cheese. Add ham and tomato...you'll have a very special lunch! You really must try it!

~Summer Salads~

We enjoyed a real salad last night. You know...lettuce, tomato and all the trimmings. I get tired of those easily. When I was pregnant with Jordan, I ate a salad every day and I think it really got to me:-) I'm so thankful for other types of "salad"!

This is what we are enjoying tonight...

Broccoli, Cauliflower and Peas - 1/2 head of each broccoli and cauliflower...and a cup or 2 of frozen peas...that's it! This is a great one to take to a picnic. The peas keep it nice and cold! I also make this with raisins and sunflower seeds instead of peas.

Later this week I hope to have Cucumber Salad (thinly sliced cucumbers and onion...yum). Earlier this week I made coleslaw (never really thought of this as a salad before but all that cabbage has to be good for you!).

The dressing for both the Broccoli and Cucumber is the same...
3/4 cup mayo
1 Tbsp honey
1 1/2 Tbsp vinegar
1/4 tsp salt

Do you have a favorite summer salad? I'd love new ideas!