Simply Amazing Granola Bars

     Every Fall I go through a nature mom stage, I feel the need to bake fresh bread, create amazing homemade soups, can peaches, bake fresh apple cake, and the list goes on and on.  Recently, I tried a recipe for homemade granola bars and they were AMAZING.  I found the recipe in, "Harrowsmith Country Life Baking Book".  Here's the recipe tweaked Shannon style:

Chewy Granola Bars

1 c. brown sugar

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/2 cup butter (melted)

2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups oatmeal

1 TBSP. flax

1/2 Rice Krispies

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Home Ec for Christian

 Preheat oven to 350.  Mix brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup, butter and vanilla.  Stir in oatmeal, flax, Rice Krispies, coconut & chocolate chips.  Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.  Cut into 18 granola bars.

   My family loves these delicious treats.  I usually cut granola bars and then place them in snack size sandwich bags, so my  kiddos can pop them into their lunchbox throughout the week.  If I leave them in the pan they are devoured in a day.  Hope you enjoy this delicious treat.

Head Chef

Blessings to you and yours!

I'm linking up with "The Stories of A2Z".

The Truth Comes Out

   

                              

     My lovely husband has taken to reading my blog, nevermind that I stopped posting about five months ago and have recently posted only twice.  Apparently, as with all great writers, you're not appreciated until you stop writing. Ha!  Anyhoo, Sandy feels that I have failed to follow-up on some of my old posts, and therefore I need to update with you mindless info you missed this summer.  So here you go:

1.  I once posted that I was handing over the finances to my husband.  Now this was a great idea, at least in theory.  I have to admit, he was never able to pry the checkbook out of my hot little hands.  Apparently, now that Sandy's read my blog, he wants to "discuss" taking over the finances.  Hummm....

2.   Last winter Sandy purchased a boat without telling me.  Now, this boat wasn't your typical run of the mill boat, it was a hurkin' huge, ugly boat.   Sandy being the studly fix-it  fella he is, whipped the boat into shape, purchased new seats, and restained all the wood work.  The boat then went from extremely ugly to large an awkward, but at least he was able to collect a tidy profit when he sold it.

3.  Tonight in a passive aggressive move, I started the dishwasher and the washing machine (using hot of course) while Sandy was in the shower-  I was hoping he'd get a "refreshing" splash.   Ha ha!

                                

4.  Last year I lost 30 pounds.  Woo hoo!  The problem is I gained 12 pounds back.  Now my question is, did I lose 18 pounds or gain 12?  Hummm.....

5.  Someday I would like to write a book.  Here are a few titles I'm considering:  "10 Reasons NOT to Call your Husband a Little Moron",  or "When Teasing Becomes Truthful".  Ha!

Disclaimer:  If you were offended by tonights post.....  You should know that:

I have the worlds most amazing husband. 

 He smokin' hot and kind. 

He doesn't mind if I tease him.

 Hope you enjoyed the random blither of tonight's post.

Blessings to you and yours!

    
   

Arch Enemies or Best Friends?

The littles...I think it's possible they are going to be the death of me....

Sure they're cute, even though they don't like to brush their hair.

But they fight every stinkin' day...   AHHHHH!!!!

On the upside, their arguments are often hilarious.

Here's a sampling of a typical night at the K's house:

After finishing dinner I realized Grace needed a pink tutu

for tomorrows "Twins Day" at school, and I didn't have one.

I hoped in the car and headed to Target, about 1.5 minutes

into the drive my cell phone rings. Here's the conversation that ensued:

Christian:  "Mom! Grace just chewed up lettuce and spit it in my face."

(Insert:  Shrieking.)

Grace:  "LET ME TALK TO MOM."

Christian:  "Fine!'

Me:  "What on earth is going on, and where is your dad?"

Grace:  "Christian opened the refrigerator, and took out the whip cream and was going to eat it!"

Me:  "Okay?"

Grace:  "I told him that  he is NOT allowed to eat the whipped cream."

Me: "Okay?"

Grace:  "He won't obey me, so I chewed up some lettuce and spit it at his face."

Me:  "Grace Elizabeth, you are not allowed to spit food at your brother."

Grace:  "HE DIDN'T OBEY ME!"

Me:  "Grace, you are not the mommy, and Christian doesn't have to obey you.  Besides,  we never spit in someones face to discipline them.  Mommy doesn't chew up her food and spit at you when you are naughty."

Grace:  "Well, maybe you should!"

Me:  "Go to your room."

Hummmm....new parenting technique?????

Blessings to you and yours!



Adventures on the Bluff

     I'm grateful for Fall, it's my favorite season.  I love everything about it- the smells, the leaves changing color, fall scented candles, pumpkins, yummy soups, cute boots, pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks...you get the idea.  Being the traditional sort of girl I am,  Fall wouldn't be complete if we didn't make our annual trip to Green Bluff  for the Apple Festival.   Green Bluff is a community of farms that offer U-pick fruits and vegetables, hayrides, corn mazes, and delicious food.  If you have never been to Green Bluff, you are missing out on:

The Corn Shooter

The Caterpillar Train

Fresh Pumpkin Donuts (Source)

Apple Picking & Sampling

 and Pumpkin Patches.

Now if you miss out on Green Bluff, you'll save about a $100.00.  But who's counting...

well okay, Sandy probably is, but I'm not.  :)



Gratitude List:

60.  Little faces covered in sticky Carmel Apple goo.

61.  Notes that read "I trooly love you, mom".

62.  Date night with my man.

63.  Sunny, warm October days.

64.  Ripe, red tomatoes straight from the vine.

65.  Snuggle time

66.  Brady Bunch reruns

67.  My dad, he's been gone almost 2 years, and today would have been his 54th birthday.

68.  My sweet 14 year old asking me to pray with her before bed.

69.  Goofy, irritable, lovable kids.

70.  Cousins spinning crazy circles while dancing to an old time band playing "Sweet Home Alabama".

71.  My Savior.

 

Sassy Molassy

The Culprit

     My seven year old is sassy today, oh my.  Here's a few snippets of our morning conversations:

Conversation #1

Grace:  "Everyone says I'm your favorite, but I know I'm not."

Me:  "I don't have a favorite child, you are all my favorites."

Grace:  "I knew it, you don't like me.  You tell me NO all the time."

Me:  "Grace"

Grace:  "That's it!  I am going to take my picture, and post it on Craig's List. My ad will say, "Free Little Girl".

Conversation #2

(After reading stories for 20 minutes.)

Me:  "Do you want me to tell you the story of the day you were born."

Grace:  "I already know it."

Me:  Oh, so you know how the day you were born we went to the zoo? 

Then we looked through all the cages and picked you.

Grace:  That's it!  I knew it!  I knew I was adopted, and Sherri's my real mom.

     That little girl of mine, she is a spit fire.  One minute she's sweet and snugly, the next she's feisty with attitude.

Blessings to you and yours!

What's Cooking Tonight?

     I love spring, however I live in the Northwest, so I am not certain I have ever experienced spring.   Our weather is more inclined to be freezing for six months, really cold for three months, cold for two more months and then hot for two months.  It's an ugly cycle, but alas we must go on.

    If we can't have spring like weather we might as well cook spring like food.  Yumm!

Chicken Kabobs

12 boneless skinless chicken tenders (cut into cubes)

2 zucchini sliced

2 pints of mushrooms

1 red onion cut into chunks

1 pint of cherry tomatoes

1 yellow bell pepper cut into chunks

1 bottle of Italian dressing

Marinate chicken & vegetables overnight in Italian dressing.  

The next day soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes

in water.  Skewer vegetables and chicken.  BBQ over med-high 

until chicken is cooked through.  Meanwhile cook rice.  After 

rice is cooked toss with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and

garlic salt.  Serve the kabobs over a bed of rice.

     I like to serve Chicken Kabobs with  a salad and fresh Garlic Rosemary bread from Costco. 

 Here's an easy way to make a delicious salad:

Start with mixed spring greens, they are least expensive at Costco.

Core and dice an apple, jazz apples are great.

Toss in a handful of blackberries, a few sliced strawberries,

and some roasted pecans.  Toss in a bit of feta or gorgonzola and you

have a beautiful delicious salad. Serve with a raspberry vinaigrette

or a pear gorgonzola dressing.

     To wrap up this scrumptious meal, I like to go with a light but delicious dessert, usually strawberry shortcake.  My strawberry shortcake recipe is simple:



Via

Whip up a Betty Crocker angle food cake.  Slice strawberries, I

like to slice my strawberries lengthwise into four slices- it makes the

presentation prettier.  Toss strawberries with a sprinkling of sugar.

Top with homemade whip cream.  The secret ingredient is definitely

the whip cream. 

Whip cream

Beat one pint of whip cream & one teaspoon of vanilla until

the mixture comes to a fluffy texture

(similar to cool whip, but oh, so much better).

Gently fold in two tablespoons of powdered sugar and serve.

Yum!  The leftovers are great on your morning coffee.

Blessings to you and yours!

60.  Cooking with my sweet oldest daughter.

61.  Sweet conversation with my girls.

62.  Homeschooling successes & my sweet son.

63.  Family laughs watching the Cosby show.

64.  Date night with my hubby- he made reservations for the 1st time ever!

65.  Holding hands in the movie theater.

66.  Christian's enthusiasm over playing Jesus in a skit at church.

67.  Ann Voskamp's free download for Easter.

68.  Dinner with precious friends, and simple laughter.

69.  Ten minutes of sunshine on a snowy, raining, sleeting, windy day.

70.  God drawing me to His Word all day and finally taking a moment to sit down and soak it all in.

71.  Little feet growing to quickly.

72.  Belly laughs.

73.  Tired soccer girls, who leave the field just because they can.

74.  Snuggles on movie night.

75.  Tulips pushing up out of the dark brown earth.

76.  11,000 Easter Eggs and counting



Fun Facts

1.  Christian rocked his first I-SAT.  Fantastic, what you don't realize is I'm actually doing the happy dance right now.  School has been a struggle for our son, reading in particular.  This year we decided to home school and as a result were referred to a dyslexia specialist.  Christian was diagnosed with dyslexia.  We signed him up for eye therapy, and utilized a fantastic curriculum, Language!, to bring him up to speed.  He has worked incredibly hard and I am so SUPER proud of him.  It's a Hallelujah  moment!

2.  I breakout into song during American Idol.  I sing horribly, my voice cracks and squeaks horribly, but if I turn up the volume loud enough I sound awesome.

3.  Grace had a frustrating night.  First, after dinner she wanted only chocolate ice cream but we had Neapolitan.  Then later I annihilated her at Chinese checkers.  Hummm...I wonder if it is wrong to enjoy beating your children at games.  The final straw was when the ears on her bunny craft wouldn't stand up straight.  The angst of being in the first grade.

4.   I believe I was punked at work today, yes I do.  That's all I have to say about that.

5.  I told my husband all I wanted for him to do for our anniversary is sing me "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias.  Hummmm.....oh, and flowers in a vase.  See, simple.

6.  I think I will blog about proper etiquette on Thursday's, I'm not sure yet, but I'm leaning in that direction.  Now, this is not a snooty deal, it's just fun.  I learned how to properly make a bed before the 2nd grade, but I did not learn to properly set a table until I was at least 25.   Etiquette simple and fun.

7.  We have about 9,000 eggs that still need to be stuffed for our Community Easter Egg Hunt.  That's a 1,000 eggs a day for the next nine days.  Any takers????

Blessings to you and yours!

The Storm

   Anger burns hot and furious, indignant and proud.  A tidal wave speeding to destroy a quiet beach.  Anger can come as a surprise, something you don't expect in the moment, but its there hot and ready to destroy. 

Via

    God's word says, "that a gentle answer turns away wrath."  How does this play out in parenting?   Each person in a relationship has a choice to respond in conflict,  you can not control how another responds but you can control your words, your anger. Your response can be gentle, yet firm.  

      To many times  I have responded in anger, harsh words strategically placed that create destruction and hurt.  To many times I reacted instead of responded, and experienced the regret that accompanies rash harsh words.  God in His graciousness and stretched me and grown me.  I still make mistakes and cave into sinful reactions with my words, yet I feel His presence and His warning,  to pray, observe, respond in love, to hold to discipline even when I want to cave in, to extend mercy and grace, and to follow Him in all I do. 

    Tonight was a "challenging" night in our home.  Angry children, with feeling burst out in hot breaths full of rage.  Hot tears, harsh words, and early bedtimes.  My patience teetered on the wires edge.  Deep breaths,  discipline and consequences, so difficult to respond and not react, yet God is good and He reigns on high.  He walked me through the evening guiding my words and actions, gently rebuking me when I started to stray off His path.  He is ever patient with me, I will always mess up and need to come to Him for forgiveness and He is faithful to forgive.  Tonight I am thankful to be His and thankful to get to be a mommy to this crazy bunch He has blessed me with.

Blessings to you and yours!

  

Remember the Ugly Boat?

  Dear Friends;

    Do you remember the ugly boat Sandy bought in December?  Remember the one he didn't mention until AFTER he bought it.

Not to shabby on the outside, but check out the horrid interior.



     Sandy has been diligently scouring and tinkering with his boat to make it a little more family friendly, as I'm pretty sure that he expects the "family" to actually use the boat this summer.  With all the work he's put in the boat is much improved, but the interior is still terrible.  Sandy has searched Craig's List, Ebay and the local paper for new "used" seats for the boat with no luck. 

   I have observed his behavior with this boat the last few weeks and determined he does, in fact, plan on regularly toting our family around the lake in this contraption.  The problem is, he hates the interior as much as I do.  I threw out the idea of getting some upholstery bids, to see what new upholstery would run.  

    I think he thought I was trying to trick him or something as he was a little skeptical,  but today the upholstery lady came.  She had this amazing stack of upholstery options for our boat.  I was instantly in decorating heaven,  well maybe not that far, but at least decorating vacation.  I thumbed through that puppy and selected new upholstery for our boat in shades of dreamy oyster, and slate gray.  Be still my decorating heart, I already have throw pillows picked out. 

   The nice upholstery lady came back with  a $1,500.00 bid to do the whole boat.  I didn't think this was a bad  deal and our 15th Anniversary is this month so I encouraged Sandy to have the boat reupholstered.  My theory is 15 years $100.00 a year= a $1500.00 gift.  Right? 

      Do you know what that crazy guy did?  He said no! And maybe a little something about it not being responsible.   What?  I never EVER encourage him to spend money on boats and the first time I do he says no.  I think he's messing with me. In fact, I'm pretty darn sure he is, as he "mentioned" the cuddy smelled like urine because they kept their porta potty in it.  Sure...tell the finicky wife, she might have to ride in a boat with urine and deny the upholstery.  I don't think so.........

     I have a sneaking suspicion that he wants me to think the upholstery is really a gift  for me.  Maybe it is, I'm all confused now.

Blessings to you and yours!

Snooty

Snooty.

Not a very nice word.

Hummmp!

Do you know the definition of snooty?

Let me help you out.

The dictionary definition of snooty is:

supercilious: having or showing a haughty condescending manner,  especially to those considered socially inferior. Why, you ask am I telling you this?  Well, over the past month or so I  have been praying God will reveal some of my blind spots.  You know, those areas everyone else is aware of but you.  God in His infinite wisdom, and I believe a bit of humor, has revealed one of mine- snootiness.  In a period of no less than a week, in three different instances I was told I was snooty or prissy.  I know, cruel, right.    The first instance occurred at a basketball game for my oldest daughter.  At the game a friend from church came to sit by me and asked me to point out my oldest daughter.  I did, she laughed and said she had already guessed by looking for the prissiest one.  Hummm....  What do you think she's trying to say?   The second instance occurred  one evening at a restaurant with friends.  A roll from the bread basket dropped out and I did not want to eat because it fell on the restaurant table.  One of my formerly dearest friends remarked, "you're a little snooty."  At the time I was horribly offended, I still may be.  Everyone at the table laughed and agreed with her.  Hummm..      The final instance occurred at home with Sandy and my kids.  I told them the snooty and prissy stories, and they all laughed and agreed.  Rude....Though it maybe possible I am the common denominator.       Weird, I have never thought of myself as snooty or prissy.  I try to be kind and loving to  pretty much everyone. I'm known as the nice one, though I think it may be possible to be snooty and nice at the same time.  Hummm.  Yuck.        I don't want to be snooty, yet I am not sure how not to be. I do like things a certain way;  like properly made beds, a spring salad with cranberries, feta and pecans topped with white balsamic,  forks on the left-side and butter knives and spoons on the right, and ice water in a goblet topped with a slice of lemon.  Now, I don't think any of these things are bad per say, though I do think my attitude regarding the presence of these things maybe.      I have a new goal.  It's to be a little less snooty and a little more humble.  Did you know humble is the antonym of snooty in the Thesaurus.  Ouch.       I think God's doing a little heart surgery on me.  This doesn't mean I am going to stop wearing eyeliner and using hairspray or that I won't like proper etiquette, but it does mean I am going to start studying what God's Word says about humility.  Not only am I going to study God's Word I am going to apply it to my life.   (Note to the "snooty caller"-  This probably does not mean I will start eatting food off restaurant tables, though I may become a little less vocal about it.) (Note to other friends-  Call me out if you observe me acting snooty, don't be rude, just let me know I've been a little less than humble. I'd appreciate it.) Blessings to you and yours! 48.  A random sunny day in the midst of many rainy days. 49.  Kids who still love to chat with their mom. 50.  The sound of a dish washer running and the smell of coffee brewing. 51.  Friends that are equally as demented as me. 52.  New challenges. 53.  The earthy smell of rain. 54.  Rocking my littlest to sleep not one, but two nights in  a row. 55.  Six and a half trash cans heaping full of candy. 56.  A patch of blue among gray clouds. 57.  Flip flops. 58.  Preparation for Easter. 59.  A Savior who loves and chooses me! 

Moving Stinks

     Does anyone actually like to help people move?  If you do, you're weird.  I like people and even moving, but not, so much, moving people.  It's stinking exhausting.  Do remember, I don't particularly care to sweat, wear ugly shoes, lift heavy things or to break nails. 

I'm more of a stop and smell the flowers sort of girl.

    Yet today, I had a blast moving a good friend and her enormous collection of crap, oh I mean stuff.  The group we moved with was amazing!  I'm quit certain we have the best community pastor in the church- he rallies quite the team.  (I should of brought my camera).

Another bonus was watching that hot stud of mine lift heavy furniture.

He can jump super straight too.  He's multi-talented.



On a funny note, I have to share a hilarious (at least to me) story from moving: 

Note:  This story might possibly be slightly embellished, maybe, maybe not.  In addition,

this story does have the potential to offend, so read at your own risk.

A great team of people loaded the U-Haul and various other

vehicles full of home goods.  Once the vehicles were piping full, we

decided to leave a team of people at the current home, and

another team of peoplewould unload the gear at the new house. 

Before I headed to the new house, I gave some instructions to Jane.

I asked her to pack a cedar closet in the basement while we were gone.

I  then went on my merry little way to unload items at the new house.

Things went swimmingly until, on the way back, I realized I

forgot to let Jane know there was an urn containing
"Bob"(my friends first husband) in the closet.  Ha! 

Poor girl handled it fantastic. She found the urn,

opened it and realized it was quit possibly human ashes.  

She was quite the trooper, she packed Bob up and loaded him in the U-Haul.

 I, on the other hand, panicked a bit, raced back to the main

house, and informed her Bob was in the closet.  

She remained very composed and said, "I suspected that I found

human ashes."  I cracked up.  I know, I radiate with maturity and compassion.

  I bet that is the strangest thing she ever found while helping someone move.

(*Names have been changed to protect the innocent, and I asked permission to share this story.)

Now lets evaluate my leadership during this event.

1.  Divided into teams to conquer a task.  Win.

2.  It wasn't my idea to divide in teams. Win.  (I work with smart people)

3.  The team left at the main house was quite small,

a team of one, to be exact.  Oops!

4. Forgot to let the "team" know there was human remains in the closet.  (Fail)

5.  Cracked up at the poor woman, who was left alone in the giant house

and found an unexpected surprise that I forgot to tell her about.  (Win, humors good)

Blessings to you and yours!

 

   

Seeking

   For over a year now I have been reading through my Bible.  I have not been faithful to read the Word everyday.   I have even skipped weeks of reading God’s Word, yet He is so faithful to me.  He calls me and draws me, when I become complacent.  He loves me with an everlasting love.

   A few weeks ago I decided to get back on track, and start spending time in the Word again.  I read Hosea chapters 9 & 10, and this verse popped off the page:

“Sow with a view to righteousness,

Reap in accordance with kindness;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord

Until He comes to rain righteousness.”

           Hosea 10:12 NASB

   I felt God’s Word penetrate straight into my heart.  I was compelled to read the passage again and again.

“Sow with a view to righteousness,”

Via

“Reap in accordance with kindness;”

“Break up your fallow (unproductive) ground,”

Via

“For it is time to seek the Lord”

“Until He comes to rain righteousness.”

   Today as I opened God’s Word again, my eyes were drawn to the highlighted passage, including verse 13.

“You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,

You have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your way.

In your numerous warriors.”

   These verses resonate within me.  God has called me to so much more.  He wants me to, “sow with a view to righteousness,” He does not want me to sow arbitrarily or wickedly. He wants me to sow with a view of eternity and His righteousness.  Everyday and every moment I need to ask:  What am I sowing and to what end am I sowing too?  Do I have a view of righteousness, or are my glasses covered in muck?

     Do I “reap in accordance to kindness”, or do I plow over others in search on my own desires and needs?  Do I care more about myself than I do God or my fellow man?  In verse 12 the word kindness comes from the Hebrew word hesed, meaning loyalty.  This word actually refers to “right conduct towards one’s fellowman or loyalty to the Lord, or both. (source) 

   Am I willing to breakup my fallow, unproductive ground and seek the Lord, or do I want to stay status quo and “eat the fruit of lies”?  Am I willing to be active and seek the Lord, or do I want to be spoon fed forever?  Am I willing to work for righteousness and sacrifice comfort for eternity?  It is time to seek the Lord!

   Verse 12 tells us; “Until He comes to reign righteousness on you.”  My job is to sow with a view towards righteousness, and reap with loyalty towards Him.  I need to get in the game and break up the unproductive parts of my life and seek Him whole-heartedly, for it is TIME to seek the Lord.  Then He will reign righteousness on me. 

   It time to think like a farmer.  What happens after the soil is tilled, fertilized, and the seed is sowed?  Nothing without water. It’s not until the rain and the water come that the seed sprouts and the plant grows and produces an abundant crop for harvest.  I want to seek the Lord, I want to be productive, and I want to produce good fruit that only comes from the Father.

“It is time to see the Lord.”

Blessings to you and yours!

All That and a Bag of Chips

I'm spoiled, yes, I never thought it would happen, but it did.

Sandy has fantastically spoiled/enabled me into blissful happiness.

You see, he takes care of all the "Man" duties.  You know what I'm talking about:

1.  Changes the oil.

2.  Fills my car with gas.

3.  Mows the lawn (most of the time),

4.  Weed whacks.

5.  Fixes stopped up toilets- (seriously, I don't even have to plunge).

He pretty much rocks.

Typically, I loved this spoiled life style and apparently, according to one of my besties,

can be a bit, how shall we say it, snooty.

 (I'm still offended Shelly).

Honestly, I just try to avoid activities that may induce injury, broken nails, require ugly shoes,  and

basically are unpleasant.

 (Stop thinking I'm shallow, it's practical, people, practical.)

Anyhoo, I've been assigned new projects at work lately.

 Projects  that require the use of a U-Haul, muscles, and ugly shoes.

Hummm....I see the possibility of a broken nail in my future.

Today, I "manned up" and conquered a feat so amazing that I'm still basking in the glory.

I opened a U-Haul all by myself.

 Don't judge me.

This was a "small step for man kind" sort of moment.

I realized I can open a U-Haul and even pull out the gate.

 (Okay, so the Worship Arts guy gave me a hand with the gate.)

At this point you may be wondering, "why am I reading this drivel".

 But that's all good with me cuz' I got me some muscles. 

In addition, I also found out something new about myself. 

 I actually like trying new things. 

Hummm...Weed whacking- here I come.

Blessings to you and yours!

Over the Meadow and Through the Woods

Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go.

My grandma lives in this little ghetto town, sorry grandma, you know it's true.

But she and my Grandpa Marv found this beautiful piece of property at the edge

of town.

I love visiting their home.  I feel like they live in a magical land.

Beautiful views of a creek running along the bottom of a hillside. 

In the spring, orchard tree's in bloom.

It's lovely.

Just don't forget your taser when you visit, ya know, in case you want to go to town.

Grandma's is magical when you're little.  The littlest even found some petrified wood.

I love visiting family, and I can't wait to go to my mom's later this month!

Christian is going to try and score a ride in Grandpa's helicopter.  Fun!

Plus he's a homeschooler this year, so it'll count as homeschooling.

Blessings to you and yours!

The Strange Man and His Little Dogs

Are you confused yet?

Let me explain.  I spent this weekend visiting family, at my Grandma's.

   On this particular visit, I learned my uncle (whom I did not get a picture with)  reads my blog.  This particular uncle has two very loved spoiled dogs.  (I believe it's quite possible he loves his dogs more than most of his family.)  Well, as fate would have it, the week prior to visiting I blogged my Top 10 Dislikes, and number eight read a little something like this:

"8.  Animals in general. 

 Social tip:  You may love your pets, there's a good chance your company doesn't."

      I do believe he was a "little" offended.  He even printed my list and added a social tip of his own; 

 "Social Tip:  You may like your kids, but there's a good chance your host doesn't." 

     Ha!  He's a sassy fellow!  The thing is I agree with him, there are, in fact, children I don't particularly like.  Ha!  Though my children are lovely, little darlings, and cute too boot.

And his poor dog looks a little something like this:

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This post is all for you Uncle Gary! 

P.S.  You make fantastic chocolate covered strawberries!

Blessings to you and yours!

Woe is Me

Woe is me.

This beautiful daughter of mine, likes a boy.  Excuse me, while I throw-up.

I am too young to have a daughter who likes a boy.

The worst part is he's a nice boy, and we like him.

Woe is me.

Having a fourteen year old is very different than I thought.

My rules were:  "No dating until your married".

Notice the were, in the above sentence.

Well, there still is a "no dating" clause in our family.

But, and I stress BUT, it is impossible to make them not like each other.

Woe, is me.

I am NOT old.

My children are going to always think I am the coolest, and I'm not old.

See, she's little, and she loves her mom.

Woe, is me.

I like being a mom.

I like having my kids think I'm the greatest.

I have a feeling that's gonna change, a bit.

Woe, is me.

On the upside, Sandy and I will be able to take great vacations while we are still young.



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Greece anyone?

Humm... I like that. 

But I still don't like her liking a boy.

Blessings to you and yours!

Top 10 Dislikes

  

 Shannon's Top 10 Dislikes:

1.  Cats.  Nasty little beasts, they are.  I CANNOT stand them.  Now for you cat lovers, don't hate me,  I just HATE cats, and I especially hate when they rub up against you.  Yuck!

2.  Gross smells.  I cannot stand things that smell bad.  Here's a motto to remember:  "A shower a day keeps the stink away.

3.  Whining.  Seriously.  Stop whining and do something about it.

4.  Sugar on the floor.  Yes, this is a problem at my house, I have a sneaking suspicion that my children eat spoonfuls of sugar when I am not home.

5.  Screaming.  It annoys me.  Quiet please.

6.  Dog poop.  Enough said.

7.  Books that end weak.  If your going to take the time to write a book, end strong.

8.  Animals in general.  Social tip:  You may love your pets, there's a good chance your company doesn't.

9.  Calories.  Frankly, I think calories are overrated.

10.  When I act like a jerk, and trust me I do.

  Blessings to you and yours!

Handing Over the Finances

   Handing over the checkbook.  Yes folks, that's the plan, I will hand over my checkbook to my husband.  Well, at least I'm heading in that direction, I think.

Via

   You see, we've had almost 15 years of wedded bliss.  Okay, that's not quite right.  We've been married almost 15 years, the first three and a half were sheer hell, the next two were sort of okay, the next eight years were pretty nifty, and the last two have been heavenly.

  Needless to say, for the last fifteen years I have been the ruler of the checkbook.  How did this happen you ask?  Well have I got a story for you:

   The year was 1996 and my studly spouse and I were getting close to our nuptials.  Now, we were quite mature, followed all proper dating etiquette and everyone around us could see what a darling match we were.  Okay, not quite true, but we were a darling match.

    One night shortly before our wedding Sandy notified me he would be taking over the finances and would let me know what my budget was.

    "Excuse me?  Come again, sir?  You're giving me a budget?  I think not." 

 Age 18

     Sandy, ever the stubborn gentleman, replied (with something close to this), "I WILL be handling our finances."

   Those are fighting words, if ever a girl heard them. 

     At that moment, I chose the hill I would die on.  Finances.  We battled round and round, but I did not waver, no I did not.  I won that battle.  Stupid, stupid girl. 

   As a result of winning the finance war I was awarded fifteen years of financial stress, frustration, and aggravation.  I'm pretty sure that wasn't the reward I was looking for.  I wanted the money and control. 

   Now we are fifteen years into this thing we call love, and I am TIRED of handling the checkbook.  I want Sandy to handle the checkbook, at least I think I do.  I want to release control in the area of finances, and I trust my husband to take care of us.  It's funny, I thought I was doing myself a favor by insisting on ruling the family finances, but really I was hurting my marriage and punishing myself.  Bizarre. 

   It's funny how life is like that.  We can choose to die on the stupidest hills.  We can chose to dishonor our spouses and fight the wrong fight, while forgetting to fight the good fight.  I was so worried about not being controlled by others that I started my marriage on the wrong foot.  And quite honestly, I did not know how to be a "good" wife much less a godly wife.

   I wish I knew then what I know now, that God calls me to be a godly wife.  I am to serve Him, and I am to be submissive to my husband.  Eph. 5: 22-24 says, "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church of which He is the Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."

     I want the next fifteen years and beyond to be different.  I want to be different.   I want to release control in the area of finances and be submissive to my sweet husband.  Now, all I have to do is pry my hands off the checkbook and hand it over to Sandy. 

Blessings to you and yours!

 

Family Night

      A few months ago we started having a structured family night.  The kids take turns choosing what they would like for dinner and dessert.  We dine together and then head downstairs to snuggle and watch a kid chosen movie.  I love family night, but the funny thing is the kids LOVE family night and get seriously disgruntled if we skip it. 

 

    Anyways, this Saturday we settled in for family night.  It was Grace's turn to choose dinner, now remember she's a seven year old, who likes the finer things in life like:  steak, twice baked potatoes, Caesar salad and fresh bread.  Now, that is well and good, but I scaled back on her meal, a little, we had steak, baked potatoes with all the fixings, Caesar salad and asparagus.  Yum!  Noelle chose dessert- chocolate covered creme puff's and a brownie torte.  It was amazingly scrumptious and I am sure calorie free.

   I wish I had a picture of the Torte, but I don't.  I'll give you second best, the recipe.

Brownie Torte

One package of brownie mix

One package of white chocolate or french vanilla pudding

1 3/4 cups of milk

2 cups of Cool Whip

2 TBSP. Instant Coffee

3 Heath Bars crushed

Bake brownies as directed and cool.  Meanwhile, blend milk and

 pudding mix and instant coffee.  Fold Cool Whip into pudding

mixture.Slice brownies and arrange one layer on a cake

plate.  Top with 1/2 the Cool Whip/pudding mixture and

1 1/2 bars of crushed Heath.  Repeat layers.  Refrigerate 30 minutes

before serving.  Enjoy!

    After making glutton's of ourselves we settled in for the family movie Booky's Crush.  It was a cute family movie, but did not compare to our second movie Like Dandelion Dust.

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     This movie was excellent, though I have to admit, it made me do the ugly cry.  You know the one,  torrential downpour of tears, holding your breath so the people you're watching the movie with don't here you hiccup, swollen eye's, the whole bit.  Crazy yet, good.  This movie was based on a book written by Karen Kingsbury. It's excellent.   (Note:  We put Grace to bed before starting the movie, as I thought the content was to mature for her.) 

   There's a day in the life for you.  Hope your weekend was full of joy and adventure.

Blessings to you and yours!

    P.S.  I'm tired of couponing.