Choosing Simplicity, More than Survival!!

Some ROMANCE Fun!

2012-02-03T08:11:00.001-05:00

The DAILY MUNDANE of life needs to be broken up by CELEBRATING life! I really love creating celebrations for our family to enjoy. I make a BIG deal out of the usual Birthdays, but I also like to celebrate special days throughout the year and make members of our family (and friends) feel special and blessed. It brings joy to the dailiness of life.

Ahhhh.... February, the traditional month of love! My husband and I have never really celebrated Valentine's Day because we celebrate our "Dating Anniversary" on February 4th. This year we celebrate 19 years! Wow! In May we will celebrate our 16th Wedding Anniversary. LOVE!

WAY BACK in February of 2008 I posted the following Frugal Love Game. This is a FUN way to add a little spice and celebration to your marriage and worth a re-post! Break up the daily mundane of life with a little extra FUN in the ROMANCE department!

Simply Frugal Romance Game

Create some new fun in the Romance Department!!
It is easy to let things go as "usual" in the area of intimacy. However, with a little creativity this game helps mix things up!

The Love Dice
This game can be purchased, but why when you can make it yourself for next to nothing
(and it will be personalized just to your style).

What you need to make the game:
* 1 dice
* 1 3*5 card

Directions to make the game:
* On the 3*5 card number it 1-6
* Next to each number list an action (kiss, touch, show... etc... this is a G rated site... be creative)

How to play:
*Each take a turn rolling the dice three times in a row....
*Then the spouse follows the numbers and does what the card says
(for example, He rolls a 3, then a 5, then a 1... so you will do what the card says for 3, then for 5, then for 1)
*Take turns
*Have fun... don't be surprised if you ditch the dice after a turn takings... it has a way of creating the mood!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Loving in the right LOVE language

2012-02-02T06:30:00.007-05:00

Do you know what your LOVE LANGUAGE is?? What about your loved ones?? This is a great online quiz resource from Gary Chapman, author of the book The Five Love Languages.

My husband and I took the quiz a while back and I was surprised by the results.... I thought I KNEW what his love language was! Now I know how to SPEAK in the right language.... makes him feel much more loved!

They also have one on there for teens.... my daughter is going to take it now .......she has been watching me type this up and her interest is piqued!

If you take the quiz, or already have before, leave a comment and share what your love language is!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Need a speaker??

2012-01-26T06:59:00.000-05:00

Need a Speaker??

Are you part of a MOPs group? Women's Bible Study? Women's Minisrty? Home Makers Club?
A part of a group of women??

Pass on some encouragement to your group!
If you are located Within 3 hours from Lafayette Indiana I would love to speak to your group.

Encouraging Topics for the Home Front:
* The BLESSINGS of the family meal
* Money saving on the grocery budget
* Nitty- gritty on Meal planning
* Let's get cooking! Basic, easy cooking skills.
* Cooking from the garden
* Home made bread
* Training up the next generation. Skills and recipes to teach to our children.
* Fabulous and simple deserts
* "Old-Fashioned" Kitchen Skills
* More than Survival.... the power of routines

Spiritual Topics:
Standing on God's Word through the storms
The Power of Praise
The Woman we love to hate: Proverbs 31

Let me know if any of these topics fit in with your ministry focus.
I am so passionate about the wonderful role that God has given to us as women. I believe that God has GREAT things for us and for our families when we are walking in HIS ways and not being deceived by the world. The enemy has put up a HUGE attack on the family and he is taking the family down by destroying the 'worth' of a woman. Praise God that God's word and ways stand firm forever and that our role as wife and mother is very worthy!!

Equipping women in the home and in their spiritual life is a way that God uses to strengthen and build strong families that serve Him!! No woman wants to feel like a failure in the home, but we need training!! The world is a different place than it was a few generations ago... we aren't receiving the same training and support from the older generations. We aren't being equipped with the skills and knowledge it takes to manage a home efficiently. Women's ministries have a wonderful opportunity to step in and serve women at these practical levels. I would be happy to minister to your Women's Group!!

Contact me:
Heather Corbin
simplefamilysupper @ ffni.com
Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

I'm going to let you in on one of my favorite SECRETS!

2012-01-25T06:24:00.003-05:00

Cooking with Venison!
We are a deer hunting family! I had NEVER eaten deer or even really known anyone that hunted till I met my hubby..... wow, has my world changed!

Anyway, cooking with venison is something that I struggled with at first..... I just couldn't get used to it and I thought it always tasted gamy..... well, not any more!!!! I learned the SECRET!

Secret to fantastic (you will never know it is venison) meat:
VINEGAR!!!!!!!!!! The acid totally takes away the game flavor! Period.... no more!
When I brown ground meat I simply add it while browning (I don't measure, but about 2 TBL per pound). When I make a roast I just always add vinegar to the cooking juices and I cook it in the crock pot.

I have also started canning deer meat.... talk about NO game flavor and a jar full of yummy! I will have to post on that later!!

****Linking with

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity..... Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Soap

2012-01-24T09:19:00.001-05:00

I just whipped up another batch of dishwasher soap this week and it got me thinking about the fact that my second all time most read post here on this blog is about the homemade liquid dishwasher soap I use. Isn't it funny what posts become the most popular?? I never would have thought dishwasher soap! LOL!

I started using homemade liquid dishwasher soap back in 2009 and I enjoy being both frugal and environmentally kind. I had used a homemade powder dishwasher soap for a long time before that. I prefer the liquid kind. We have "hard" well water and I must use a rinse aid (either vinegar or purchased kind) and I have to hand wash our drinking glasses every now and them because no matter what kind of dishwasher soap I use (home made or purchased) a film develops. This recipe is a keeper in my book, so thought I would post about it again (since it has been a while).

This batch that I made this week will last me about 4 months. Note that I marked the jug with the date... I like to keep track of usage data... it is the nerd in me! I run my dishwasher at least once a day and a few days a week it gets ran twice a day. For a cost of $3 I would say that this is very cost effective!

Homemade Liquid Dishwasher Soap
(This makes 1 gallon. It costs me approximately $3 to make. I store it in 2 1/2 gallon jugs.)

Ingredients:
16 cups of water, divided
1 1/2 cups WASHING soda (this is NOT baking soda)
1 cup borax
1/2 cup Dr. Brenner's Pure Liquid Castile Soap (fragrance of your choice)

Directions:
1) Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in washing soda, borax and liquid castile soap until dissolved.
2) Stir in remaining 8 cups water and allow to cool.
3) Pour cooled dishwasher soap into containers of your choice. It will "gell" up over next 24 hours.

To use:
give dishwasher soap a good shake to make sure everything is mixed well and to make it easy to pour out. I only put a small amount ( approx 1 rounded TBL) in the closed soap dispenser. Experiment with the amount you will need... I have found that it takes very little of this soap. This batch will last a long time!

I hope you like it... Let me know if you try it. I enjoy making as many of our cleaning products as possible... I especially like this homemade multipurpose cleaner. My 7 year old son is the chief bathroom cleaner and he sprays down the sink with this cleaner every day.... love that I don't have to worry about my child cleaning with harsh and dangerous chemicals! Safe and effective and of course money saving! :)

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity... Baking Cookie BARS!

2012-01-21T17:36:00.000-05:00

Baking Cookies takes soooo long! Cookie sheets in and out of the oven! Ok, also, I'm not the worlds best cookie maker..... my attention deficit issues just can't handle it! LOL! But in the spirit of CHOOSING SIMPLICITY I give my cookie loving family cookie bars. I know, not quiet the same, but better than nothing!

Last night I whipped up a batch of oatmeal cookie bars while the pizza dough was resting (15 minute quick rise). These cookie bars are easy, yummy and a *little* healthy. At least I like to pretend ... eases the guilty conscience .... that cookies with "good for you" ingredients are some how a little good for us! Surely I'm not the only one out there that does that!! :)

Here is the recipe for you.... I must be on an oatmeal kick because last night the pizza crust I made included oats and last week I made my favorite Oatmeal Spice Cake. mmmm.... I must really be feeling bad about all the chocolate we consumed over the holidays!!

Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup shortening (I use Coconut oil to replace shortening or you could use all butter)

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour (I like to use "white whole wheat")

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp salt

6 cups rolled oats

2 cups raisins or dried cranberries (optional) (I like to use a blend of the two)

Directions:

1) Blend together the butter, coconut oil (or shortening) and sugars until creamy and fluffy.

2) Mix in the eggs and vanilla

3) In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking soda, spices and salt. gradually mix into the creamed butter.

4) add in the oats and optional raisins.

5) Spread batter into a greased jelly roll size cookie sheet (the kind with sides) and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes depending on how done you like your cookies. ENJOY!!

***** Just FYI..... These cookie bars freeze really well and make a great addition to packed lunches or snacks on the go. I just freeze individual bars in their own baggie for quick grab and go convenience.***

Choosing Simplicity...... Abundant Life!

2012-01-19T11:32:00.002-05:00

In my relationship with Christ I have an abundant life!! Abundant in my spirit measured in my heart, not in my bank account! My God supplies all my needs and I am so thankful for that promise. I am also so very glad that my level of peace and joy does not come from the balance in my checkbook , the house I live in or the vehicle I drive. My JOY comes from the maker of Heaven and earth and I get very excited about knowing that this earth is not my home and I will spend eternity in HEAVEN!

If you don't have this peace, please find it in Jesus! Call out his name and He will be there!! He longs to draw you to His side and cover you with His grace and love. You are loved with an everlasting love. There is nothing you have ever done, or will do, that can make him love you less (or more for that matter). Today, reach out and cling to the source of abundant life!! Jesus!

"B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G" prayer for my husband

2012-01-16T08:45:00.000-05:00

Praying for my husband is one of the most powerful things I can do for him. Prayer moves mountains. With God all things are possible. The enemy does not want us to pray and will work hard to make prayer seem like it really isn't "doing anything". However, that is far, far, far from the truth. Prayers move mountains! When we pray we release God's power.

Several years ago I heard this prayer outline and I love it! After I drop off the kids at school I pray (out load..... keeps this attention deficit girl focused) on the way home. This BLESSINGS acronym has been such a helpful frame work for me. It covers so much! I encourage you to set a time each day that praying for your spouse will be come a habitual part of your daily routine. Your spouse will be BLESSED!!

BLESSING my husband with prayer

B- Body, health, strength, safety

L- Labor, favor and success at work

E- Emotionally, encouragement, joy, peace

S- Spiritual, personal walk and as leader in home

S- Socially, Godly and strong friendships

I- Intimacy in marriage, emotionally and physically

N- Needs, specific

G- Guidance and wisdom, as the leader of home

Oatmeal Spice Cake

2012-01-14T15:29:00.000-05:00

Tonight we are going to meet with our monthly fellowship group. We do a pitch in dinner and tonight I am taking an Oatmeal Spice Cake with Caramel Sauce Topping and a Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake. I am making a special variation of my Oatmeal cake and mixed in apples and cranberries.... yummy!

It is an easy cake to mix up and always gets rave reviews. Here is the recipe if you ever want to whip one up!

Oatmeal Spice Cake with Carmel Sauce Topping
Cake Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup oats
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup water
2 eggs
2 TBL molasses

OPTIONAL: 3 cups diced apples or cranberries (or mixture of both)

Caramel Topping Ingredients:
1/4 cup BUTTER (not any substitutes)
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 TBL milk

Cake Directions:
1) mix together all "wet" ingredients (oil, water eggs and molasses) and set aside
2) in large bowl stir together all "dry" ingredients( flour, oats, sugars, baking soda, salt and spices)
3) Thoroughly combine wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir in optional fruit.
4) Bake in a greased 9x13 pan for 35-40 minutes or until cake tests done.
5) Pour warm caramel sauce over warm cake!

Caramel Sauce Directions:
1) melt together the butter, sugar and milk. Bring to simmer.
2) Pour over warm cake

ENJOY!!!!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

2012-01-14T13:15:00.000-05:00

SOOOOO true!!!! Make your loved ones FEEL your love today!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity.... corraling plastic bags

2012-01-10T11:14:00.001-05:00

What to do with all those store bags?? When you forget more often than not to take the reusable cloth bags to the store like me..... but you probably always remember to grab yours!!

I use them to line our trash cans in the bathrooms so I keep a stash of them under each bathroom sink and under the kitchen sink. I have found that an empty tissue box works GREAT!! Compact storage and easy to pull one out at a time.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Fall pictures!!

2011-10-11T09:15:00.004-04:00

Every fall I enjoy taking pictures of my children, Wes (14) Robyn (12) Ethan (8) Nate (7). It is a fun tradition that I have done since my oldest son was just a baby! Here is a sneak peak......still editing some of the others. Taking their pictures as a group is a challenge requiring some posing creativity. Our Wesley is 6"4" and the other 3 are all between 4'6" and 4'11" making a HUGE height difference between Wes and the others. Robyn really hates that her brother is almost 2 ft taller than her even though he is less than 2 years older (not that she wants to be 6' 4".... just is on the short side). I tried really hard this year to "even out" their heights for the pictures.

Also, for the FIRST time ever we had our FAMILY picture taken by a professional…. kind of hard to be IN the picture if I’m always the one taking them! LOL! Really looking forward to getting those pictures back! She also took some really great pictures of my husband and I…. we haven’t had our picture taken since our wedding… only 15 years ago!

Choosing Simplicity.... with my clothing

2011-09-29T19:08:00.001-04:00

I just went through my closet and got rid of well over half of my clothing. I will be the first person to admit that I am in NO way a fashionista! Any of my real life friends will tell ya that! I do try to dress a little cute and not totally frumpy and out dated. I like the 'classic' look over trendy. Although, a lot of days I'm neither.... working in my barn or garden!

I gave away quite a lot and put some up in the upstairs closet (just in case I really can't live with this pared down selection). I am a big Money Saving Mom fan and she is a MINIMALIST in all aspects. I am not, but I try not too keep things we don't use/need or love. She recently posted a few blog posts about her TINY wardrobe. I found this one to be particularly inspiring. In fact I printed it off and my daughter and I have talked a lot about it and how we could implement this into our own clothing.

A couple of weeks ago I did a closet purge and then today I really dove in and pulled out another half. My wardrobe is a little more complicated than some.... I need:

*work* clothes.... ya know the kind you wear in the barn, garden, butchering animals and to doing home remodel projects.
I also need clothes to wear on the job site ( I work part time for (and with) my husband in our Ceramic Tile business... thus I have to have work shirts with our company logo and jeans
I also have my "home days" clothes
and clothes for volunteering at the school, going to church, bible study, date nights and the few extra nice things for weddings and funerals.

When I was going through my clothes I really tried hard to only keep things that mixed and matched easily with the other things I chose to keep. I focused on ONE type of clothing at a time. I also took out the summer clothes that I won't need for several months to come.... sniff, sniff! When I put it all together it is much more than 13 items like in the Money Saving Mom post. However, each category of clothing doesn't have much more than that. I will try to post some pictures soon!

I am excited to live with a small wardrobe again..... I grew up with MINIMALIST wardrobe and home and don't ever remember feeling deprived. Now I need to go through my kid's clothes and pare down with them, too. Keep what we LOVE and use and get rid of the rest!

What about you?? Are you a minimalist or fashion queen?? I want to look *cute* sometimes, but I have to admit that comfort is my main thing.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Our YOUTH rise up and SEEK the Lord!! See you at the pole!

2011-09-28T08:56:00.001-04:00

This morning, bright and early, 40+ kids met at our local jr/sr high to PRAY and PRAISE!!! What a sight to see!!! God is GOOD and the youth are rising up!!!! I am so proud of my oldest two serving God as group leaders and praising God on the worship team. It was so encouraging to see these youth live out their faith and make a stand that they are NOT ashamed of JESUS!!!

We are so blessed to live in a nation with FREEDOM to meet and pray without fear.

May God answer the prayers of these faithful youth and all the youth that gathered today across the nation!!!

I was also greatly encouraged today to see our vice principle (public school mind ya) JOIN in prayer WITH the youth!!!! He not only showed his support for this event, but PRAYED with the kids!

Did your kids/your local school participate in this national event??

Here is some information about the national "See you at the pole" event:

See You at the Pole™, the global day of student prayer, began in 1990 as a grass roots movement with ten students praying at their school. Twenty years later, millions pray on their campuses on the fourth Wednesday in September.

See You at the Pole™ is simply a prayer rally where students meet at the school flagpole before school to lift up their friends, families, teachers, school, and nation to God. See You at the Pole™ is a student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led event.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Making Mistakes! Making Right.

2011-09-26T09:39:00.000-04:00

Oh, how very many mistakes I make.....

How often I goof up and don't handle things right.

This morning was one of those mornings. The Monday morning madness. Try as I may I don't always have smooth sailing. I said stinging and hurtful words to my daughter. She got hurt and said stinging and hurtful words to me.

Yuck.

Ick.

Can we just all go back to bed and start over??

No. Drat.

I repent. God forgives. But the hurt is still there. God, how do I make this right? How did it go so wrong? The truth? EXPECTATIONS were not met. She did not meet mine, I lashed out. If we had just communicated earlier we would have been on the same page. Learning this lesson..... AGAIN!! Why am I such a slow learner??

Dropped the boys off at the bus stop and kept daughter with me. I drove her the long way to school so we could talk. Repented to her, asked her forgiveness. We talked over what happened and how we should have handled all things concerned. We grow.... together.... in this thing call life. We grow.... together in learning to be more like Christ. We have a heart to heart about some of the things that are causing each of us stress. We determine to support and encourage one another rather than create more frustration. We create a plan for expectations for the rest of the week. Learning. Loving.

By the time she headed into school the tears were replaced by smiles. We prayed together and we gave our day to Christ. Oh, am I so thankful for God's love, mercy and grace! I am thankful that God never gives up on me and that HE works in our life! Life will never, ever be perfect.... but with the Lord it is never hopeless!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

You know you are a COUNTRY GIRL when......

2011-09-24T18:40:00.001-04:00

I know I'm a country girl and I'm proud of it! However, I sometimes realize how very different I am from some of my friends! LOL! That's ok differences are good.

Are you a "country girl" like me??

A look back at my last few weeks.....

You know you are a country girl when.....

...... you open the back door and let out a good holler .... "supper is ready" to bring your kids in from the back pasture! My sister did give me a dinner bell for Christmas last year.... maybe I should start actually using it! LOL Wait a minute... having a dinner bell might just make me a country girl, too!

......you help your husband hang tree stands up in the woods in preparation for deer season!

.....you ask your friend (that just put together a whole new outside playground area for her kids) where the sand box is only to be told that sand boxes are not allowed at their house because they drag in too much dirt! oohhhh ha ha! Now that must be why I can't keep my house clean! Blame it on the kids and their sandbox. :)

.....you get excited to find 100% alfalfa pellets at the local farm store. Now I can get GREEN into my chickens diet all winter. The green leafy foods I feed them all summer .... read weeds from the garden... really make some very yellow yokes in the eggs. Now we won't have pale egg yokes in the winter!! yippee!!

.....you can butcher pigs right in your own back yard and then make your own sausage.

.....you hang clothes on the clothes line and then it rains so you keep them out there for THREE days!

.....you get excited when farmers start harvesting the fields because it means you can see the school bus coming from farther down the road!

What about you??? Got any "you know you are a country girl" experiences from your own life that you can tell me about?? Do you LOVE being a country girl?? I think it is just the best!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Words to live by.....

2011-09-18T16:38:00.001-04:00

This sits on my kitchen counter to serve as a constant reminder! I've had it there for a year and a half and

still love and need the message!

Life really is in the moment.....
I am trying to focus on each thing I am doing
Living intionally and appreciating the experiences of life.

Rather than focusing on the NEXT thing on my "to do" list
I try to LIVE in the moment I am in.....
Experiencing life to the fullest by living life in all five senses.
It really is amazing when we slow down to EXPERIENCE
life enjoying what we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell.

What to you hear right now?? What do you smell??
What do you feel?

Also living in the moment helps me to RELAX rather than rush. It helps me to enjoy small moments of
time and to focus on all the little things that are truly
huge blessings!!

This post is linked to Ordinary Days

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

10 ways to CHOOSE SIMPICITY everyday!

2011-09-14T14:51:00.000-04:00

Choosing Simplicity is just that.... a choice. It has nothing to do with where you live, marital status, how many kiddos you have or how much money you have in the bank. It is daily choices made in the living of life.

We have a quote hanging on our fridge right now (I wish I could remember where I got it so if any of you know please let me in on that).....

The HAPPIEST people don't

HAVE the BEST of everything.....

They MAKE the MOST of everything!

I think that sums up life... it is all in the attitude.

Anyway, I came across a list from a post I did at the start of 2010 and realized how relevent it is for me today so I tweaked it a bit and am re-posting it below.

10 Ways to CHOOSE SIMPLICITY

I have put a lot of thought into our family life and am being very deliberate about these 10 choices. I really want to continue to CHOOSE SIMPLICITY for our life... not get so consumed and busy with the ways of life that I miss out on ENJOYING life!!! Life is so fleeting and living life in the moment, in the day is going to be a huge priority for me. I don't want to look back and regret that I didn't cherish these precious days...

Life is just plain hard... just plain complicated. Creating a 'simple life' is actually more like swimming up stream. It requires deliberate fighting of this worlds current. It isn't easy, but it is worth it. As we have done some changes in our lifestyle over the past year I have found that change isn't easy, but rewarding.

As 2010 brings in a new decade I have to face the reality that this is my final decade as a mother with all my children at home. When this decade wraps up my oldest two will be in college and my youngest two in their last high school years. These next ten years are going to fly by... I am going to live them DELIBERATELY!!! It starts NOW!!

10 Ways to CHOOSE SIMPLICITY Everyday
(some of these may work for you, others may not... living deliberately is living in the way that is best for YOUR family)

Live DELIBERATELY: Choose what I do, and what I don't do, based on mindful and prayerful thought and purpose rather than randomness or based on cultural expectations. Requires understanding what to keep and what to toss in our schedule, home and heart!
Rudder hour is precious: The first hour of the day sets the tone for my remaining hours.... it steers me in the right direction! Guarding this hour and spending it wisely is key. Getting up an hour before my children so that I can shower, dress, pray and reflect in QUIETNESS and without disturbance will give me a chance to get a fresh start on the day without immediately feeling behind.
Re-focus/ re-commit to my daily and weekly routines. Rather than thinking "I'll do that later" my mantras have to be "Do it now" and "What can I do now that will make things easier for later"! Flylady has been such an inspiration (and answer to prayer) during the last 6 years (my flying anniversary is January 2004). I have pulled out my control journal and have written up fresh routines. The CREATIVE person that I am has a hard time with feeling confined to routine, but in the end I have so much more peace when I stick to the schedule!!
Use up or re-purpose what I already have rather than buy more. This will not only help to reduce clutter, but will save money. I will continue to focus on creating home made gifts (this allows me to tap in to my creative side). Really evaluate any and all purchases to see if there is anyway I can make due without it or create it from something I already have.
Focus on being a CON-SERVER rather than a CON-SUMER. This somewhat ties into #4, but goes a step further... it is an attitude of the heart! It is about reducing that "want, want, want, need, need, need" pulse that beats so strong in our modern world. It is also about being a wise steward of the resources we have and using what we have to the fullest. (and not filling up the landfills)
Minimize the belongings in our home. Stuff comes with such a cost... keeping it clean, organized and functioning. It also costs money to acquire, maintain and replace. So much of what we have we do not NEED. Evaluating our 'stuff' and shaving off the unnecessary extras will make daily life easier... it is so much simpler to pick up one basket of toys rather than three!
Maintain a low level of "Screen Time" in our home. Screen time sucks the life out of developing creativity and being an active participant in this life God has given. It is SO easy to let the hours slip away in front of the tv or computer. Over Thanksgiving break we had a NO screen time week and since then have been very conservative with our screen time. The results: more creativity, more family time, more games, more music, more baking, more laughter... more LIVING!!
CHOOSE my attitude and my actions based on walking out the fruits of the Spirit rather than following how I am feeling. Feelings are so fickle and not at all reliable. The fruit of the Spirit will never let me down. I will TELL myself how to act rather than be swept away by emotions. I will also SMILE more.... smiles are a gift we give to others that is usually returned. I am going to LAUGH as much as possible and focus on GENTLENESS!!
Self-sufficiency Skills: Pick a few to improve on and a few to learn. The day I stop learning is the day I will stop living..... there is always something to learn and always something to teach to my children!!! I am NOT raising future children, I am raising future adults who will need life skills!!
Take time to enjoy life each day. Slow down and enjoy moments with each of my children and my handsome husband! They are gifts from God, gifts to be cherished, nurtured and loved. Find pleasure in life, celebrate and flourish in the moments of life that make up the memories we hold dear in our hearts!

What do you think?? What ways do you "choose simplicity"? Does simplicity seem like a dream that will never come true or are you living a more simple life?? I would love to hear about what works for you or what you do off of this list of 10.....

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!!!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity in household management for those of us not born organzied......

2011-09-13T13:04:00.000-04:00

I will be the first to admit what anyone who knows me in real life will tell you...... I am not the most detail oriented person you will ever meet! I am a big picture person, a creative person, an idea person. However, life with a family requires ME to keep everything together (well except I have given up on the basket of mate-less socks)! I've give up on being like my super organized, detail loving sister who always has all her socks matched up..... It just causes me too much stress.

I am who I am because it is how GOD made me!! YOU are who you are because GOD made you! He did NOT make a mistake!!! YOUR strengths were give to you as part of your divine plan and purpose. Rather than fight who I am I choose to embrace it! ENJOYING what I love about me and working to overcome the areas where I struggle. Each of us has a specific set of strengths and weaknesses. We use our strengths to overcome our weakness. God wants us to operate withing the DNA He gave us! That to me is so freeing! I don't have to be like anyone else.... they don't have to be like me!

Since I am not born organized, as flylady calls it, and details elude me, I have to WORK to stay organized. I need systems to guide me without restraining me. I tend to go in spurts.... really focused for a while on keeping the house clean and de-cluttered and then giving up. Neither is going to work for my family in the long run. I need balance. I have been seeking God on this subject for so long that I wonder how he can even stand to listen to me anymore! LOL! However, God is faithful and has brought me oh, so far!

My journey to simplicity all started from a feeling of living life overwhelmed... all... the .... time! Always feeling like I was ten steps behind where I needed to be. This journey has taken me so far and I am so thankful I am NOT where I was! I learn daily to walk in grace and mercy. I focus to live out the life GOD predestined for me!

Soooo.... how does this all come together for simplicity in household management?? Well, first let me say that I have to make it a daily priority. There are HUNDREDS of things I would rather do than wash dishes or fold laundry.... hundreds. It takes that big scary "D" word....... discipline! Some days I truly rebel and let the dishes pile up only to need a double dose of discipline the next day to get them done. yuck!

In proverbs 1:7 it says that a fool hates wisdom and discipline.... ouch! I don't want to be a fool! I want to be wise and walk my days here on earth embracing discipline.
After really seeking God (again.....) on how to better embrace wisdom and discipline in the area of home management He has lead me to a plan that really works for our family. I'm not saying it is the plan for you because we are all different, but I wanted to share it with you in case you are like me and need a little guidance in this area.

Basically, all it boils down to is getting some BASIC things done EVERY DAY!! Using discipline in my life to get theses things DONE before anything else! I love to get sidetracked doing things I enjoy (like being on the computer, reading a book, picking flowers, taking pictures, visiting my chickens, talking with a friend, hanging out with my kiddos and husband.....). This plan gives me FREEDOM because when these everyday things are done everyday there is MUCH LESS stress in my life! I can then enjoy other things without the guilt of knowing the dishes are piling up!

I made up a chart and hung in to the fridge. I gave everyday tasks to each of my children (after all we are a family and all have a role to play). If they complain about their tasks I will gladly trade them! I haven't had any takers on that one yet.... darn!

I don't force myself to do these things in the same order every day.... I just can't fit that tight into a mold. However, I have found a good flow of one leading into another that works really well. My kiddos do there duties after school. I try to get mine done first thing in the morning, but sometimes have to finish up in the evening on days I work (a couple of days a week). Ya know what?? It is amazingly wonderful how doing these simple things everyday really does keep the stress level down and our home running much smoother! I know... shocker! Remember.... I'm not born organized like you!

Mom	Wes	Robyn	Ethan	Nate
Everyday	Everyday	Everyday	Everyday	Everyday
· Wipe down Master Bath · Dirty Laundry · Make Bed · Tidy Check Bedroom · Tidy Check Living room and wood stove room · Unload/reload dish washer · Hand wash dishes · Prep supper · Do laundry · Chicken chores · Zone task	· Sweep: Living room and wood stove room · Dirty Laundry · Clean Laundry · Tidy Check bedroom	· Sweep: Kitchen and Dining Room · Dirty Laundry · Clean Laundry · Tidy Check bedroom	· Take out trash in kitchen and bathroom · Clean floor and wall by trash can in kitchen · Tidy Check bedroom	· Wipe down bathroom · Sweep bathroom floor · Tidy Check Bedroom

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

life with a house full of boys can be stinky business!

2011-09-12T08:40:00.000-04:00

Keeping them smelling good is almost a full time job! LOL! I have 4 sweaty and dirty males in our household to contend with. I really do think they smell better (and for longer) when they use a man's "Sport" body wash. However, those small bottles of wonderful aroma are pricy.... what is a budget conscious, clean loving mama to do?? MIX! I mix whatever manly body wash I can find on sale with equal parts liquid antibacterial hand soap. I buy the giant hand soap refill bottles at our local wholesale store for cheap! Thus I end up with a household of great smelling guys for half the price. The Mens' Shower Gel has plenty of fragrance to be cut in half and still take care of the guys stink factor!! LOL! I do love my house full of guys, but I enjoy them so much better when they smell good!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Life with homestead animals.....

2011-09-08T21:25:00.002-04:00

takes emotional detachment. We butchered our 4 pigs today (we do all the butchering and processing our self) and tomorrow we will finish it all up with the sausage making. Last night when I fed my four pigs for the last time I really had to deliberately not let myself get sad.... I have really enjoyed having them around all summer and since their pen is right next to the garden they have kept me company all season long. Each one had a distinct personality and style. The kids loved the job of spraying them down with the hose on hot summer days. The pigs each had their own way of playing in the water.... one always wanted to drink it... one would run through it like a kid running through a sprinkler, one would just stand there and let you spray him down all day and the final one would just flop down and splash in the water! I'm telling you they were a hoot!

I kept reminding myself last night that the whole reason we raised them was for our winter meat but I left the barn without a skip in my step..... today I detached and did my job. Now my freezer is full of farm fresh meat and I will be oh so thankful every time I prepare our dinner.... for now I MISS them... so I guess I'm not so good at emotional detachment after all.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Sitting is killing us!

2011-09-01T19:22:00.000-04:00

I believe that so much SITTING is a huge link to the obesity crisis that our nation is in. I'm guilty of too much time sitting in front of this computer!! I saw this at my friend, Tammi's, weight loss blog and just had to post it here. This is a GREAT reminder that movement is so good for us and sitting is not! Click on the pictures to go to an easier to read article.

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

I am living a RICH life!!

2011-08-26T12:13:00.000-04:00

I CHOOSE to live RICH! "Poor" is a mindset. There is a HUGE difference between 'poor' and 'broke'. There is a HUGE difference between 'wealthy' and 'rich'. We are living RICH, we are living life with a heart of gratitude, focusing on the blessings in life. Wealthy is a matter of money, RICH is a matter of the heart.

We are living RICH by living life to the fullest enjoying all the wonderful blessings God gives. Life is 'rich' when you choose to open your heart to all of the little things that make life so sweet. Cherishing simple things like breathing in fresh air, receiving flowers from a child, relaxing in a warm bath, sinking in to a freshly fluffed pillow, driving a paid for vehicle, soaking up a beautiful sun set, eating a meal fresh from the garden.... Experiencing and reflecting on special times spent with family and friends. Mary, the mother of Jesus, 'stored up these things in her heart' (she stored the experiences of Chirst's early life in her heart to reflect on later). Life's greatest treasures are not things purchased at the mall (or even at Target... gasp....), the greatest treasures are the every day blessings of life.

Choosing to be RICH means slowing down, FOCUSING on the positives, SPEAKING gratitude and slaying the "gimmies" (children are not the only ones that get these). Choosing to be rich requires a heart of contentment. Thankful for all we have, not restless for things we want, realizing that having more will never satisfy the deep longings of the heart. The heart longs for things that really matter, trying to fulfill these longings with stuff only deepens the need.

I AM rich! I CHOOSE to focus on the little blessings in life that add up filling my life to the brim with true treasures!!!! Count your blessings and name them one by one!

Think about the longings of your heart. Can they really be filled by that next purchase?? You are not poor because your budget does not allow you to spend freely on all you want. CHOOSE to be rich by living a RICH life... a life lived enjoying the simple things! Challenge yourself to LOOK for the many wonderful simple things that make your life RICH!! Dwell on these, not on any lack.

(I originally wrote this back in march of 2009, however this has been on my mind quite a bit lately so I thought I would post it again. Hope ya don't mind!)

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Being vulnerable.... being real....being loved

2011-08-25T13:26:00.000-04:00

Support, listening ears, big hearts, hugs, tears and prayers. FRIENDSHIP! Unconditional love.

I am so incredibly blessed to be a part of a weekly Bible study with some amazing women. One of us is going through some extra hard stuff right now and the tears were flowing and the prayers were rising and our time in praise was a time of standing in faith on God's promises!!

If you don't have a tight circle of Godly friends I encourage you to REACH out and make one. We live in a CRAZY busy world but we NEED friendship! God Gave us that need!!!! I have written about my strong convictions about our need for REAL life friendship before......

I am grateful for the internet and the online friendships I have developed! You are a blessing to me. However, I NEED my real life friends and they NEED me!! Today was such an incredible reminder why God created the church body, he CREATED us to need each other!! I just wanted to encourage you to reach out and cherish the real life, in person, friendships that God has given you or challenge you to reach out to create some. It means being vulnerable, that can be scary, but so worth it.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake with your choice of frosting: Chocolate or Peanutbutter

2011-08-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

This amazing Chocolate Fudge Cake has become my standby recipe when baking for a large crowd. It is easy and extremely yummy and I love the *surprise* ingredient..... cola!! I first came across this recipe last year at Many Little Blessings. I have since modified it to make it simpler to throw together, but the results are just as divine!

I whipped this up this evening to take with us for lunch at church tomorrow. We are having dinner after church with the pastor's family and a few others. Tomorrow is a special day for our family.... we are pledging our membership at church! This is a first for my husband and me..... we have never been members of a church before. We are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful congregation..... a true family in Christ!

This cake will easily serve 30 people. I made it with the chocolate frosting tonight, but the peanut butter frosting option is absolutely delish!

Chocolate Fudge Sheet Cake

Ingredients:
1/3 cup cocoa
2 cups white sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup milk
1 TBL white vinegar (don't worry you won't taste it.... it reacts with the baking soda to make it rise)
1 cup oil
1 cup cola flavored soda (or any dark soda.... I have even used root beer and dr pepper)
2 eggs

Directions:
1) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a sheet cake/cookie sheet pan.
2) In a large mixing bowl combine the first 5 ingredients (the dry ones).
3) In a separate bowl whisk together the remaining 5 ingredients (the wet ones)
4) Pour the liquid mixture together with the dry ingredients and stir until completely mixed. Pour into prepared sheet pan.
5) Bake for 20-25 minutes. Frost with either the chocolate frosting or peanut butter below. You can frost it while it is still hot or you can wait till it cools.... I love the flexibility of this cake!

Chocolate Frosting:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup buter
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup cream or milk
3 1/2 -4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1) in a saucepan combine butter, milk and cocoa powder. stir and cook till butter is melted.
2)Beat in powdered sugar

Peanut Butter frosting

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup Peanut Butter
2 TBL milk
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
1)Melt together butter, peanut butter and milk
2) Beat in powdered sugar

Enjoy and I will admire your will power if you can just eat ONE piece of this cake!!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity in the school morning rush!

2011-08-18T10:21:00.000-04:00

Back to school time is here. My kiddos went back to school yesterday. Lazy summer mornings are now a thing of the past and the school morning rush has returned. Whether you home school (I was raised as a home school kid) or whether your kids head out the door to school we share in the fact that school mornings are different from summer.

5 ways to Choose Simplicity

on school mornings:

1) Alarm Clocks
As a mom I set mine so that I am up 30 minutes before my children. Flylady teaches this principle, too. This gives me time to get dressed, make a pot of coffee and spend a few much needed moments in the word of God before I face the morning with my family. When I miss this time we all feel it! It gives me time to ease into the new day with joy in my heart rather than hit the floor running.

My children set their alarms and they are responsible to get up at the established time. If I have to go upstairs to wake them up they face consequences. Harsh? No. Self Responsibility. I am raising future adults, not future children. Kindergarteners are capable of using an alarm clock and it will free you from years of being the bad guy that has to wake up a sweet sleeping child! I want to see their smiling face as they make their way down the stairs, not them grumbling at me for waking them up. Let the alarm clock be the bad guy, let me be the one they greet with good morning hugs!

2) Clothes

Have the outfits ready. For my young children I create outfits as I fold clothes so all they have to do is open up the dresser drawer and grab one. This has been especially helpful for my boys! The older children can make outfits as they put their clean laundry away. Planning ahead makes the mornings so much less stressful. For example, tomorrow my 7th and 8th grader have spirit day at school (first football game is tomorrow night) and they have to wear neon colors. They came home from school yesterday and got those outfits ready.... tomorrow morning their will be no scrambling!

3) Back Packs Ready

The night before we get the back packs ready to go out the door. Homework, papers that needed signed, library books, etc go in the back packs and the packs get hung on their designated hooks by the back door. In the morning we simply grab and go!

4) Lunches

I will admit that getting the school lunch is the easiest way to go on this one. However, they do cost more and are generally less nutritious than what we can pack from home. To make lunch prep simpler in the mornings I pre-package as much as possible ahead of time. I make individual baggies of things like pretzels, crackers, chex mix, carrot sticks, peanut butter balls, brownies, cookies, etc. (I will often make up a big batch of muffins and freeze them in individual baggies) My children are responsible for assembling their lunch boxes. Lunch paking if fairly quick.... make a sandwich or grab a container of left over supper, a piece of fruit and pre- prepared baggies. They can either pack a reusable bottle with water or juice or buy milk at school.

5) Breakfast

I am a firm believer that breakfast is the most important meal of the day..... especially for school age children. Their bodies and brains NEED a healthy breakfast to help them learn. They need the energy and brain power that a quality breakfast provides. They need good protein, complex carbs for energy and fiber to help keep away the hunger pangs till lunch time.

Things we eat for breakfast:

whole wheat toast with Peanut Butter (or just a whole wheat PB&J sandwich)
whole grain pancakes or waffles (warmed up from the freezer.... I don't cook in the morning)
whole grain cereal with milk
smoothies (we have several different recipes.... just use what we have on hand)
supper left overs (my husband thinks this is weird, but hey if left over spaghetti sounds good to them, why not?)

Our mornings are not *perfect* (nothing ever is)! However, these 5 things make our mornings much, much, much smoother! So cheers to school mornings and CHOOSE SIMPLICITY!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

2011-07-30T20:39:00.001-04:00

The garden is really starting to produce! Time to start "putting up" the harvest. We love cucumbers, but you can only eat so many of them fresh out of the garden. I have tried several times to can pickles but they have always turned out a mushy mess! So this year I decided to give refrigerator pickles a try and we LOVE them!!!!! I have made 2 gallons in the last 2 weeks and my kids eat them like candy. They are a hit that will definitely become a "putting up the harvest" tradition. These pickles will store well in the fridge for a couple of months. I will keep making them and hopefully we will have pickles till thanksgiving!

Refrigerator Dill Pickles
**** I combined 2 recipes and I don't measure exactly.... feel free to modify as you wish.

Ingredients:
washed and sliced cucumbers (however many you have)
salt
ice
Onion slices
Pepper slices (banana or green)

To make the liquid:
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups water
1/2 - 1 tsp garlic powder (depending on how much garlic flavor you want)
1-2 tsp dry dill weed (we really like the dill flavor so I use 2 tsp).... I buy dry dill weed at rural king.... they have spices cheap!!
1-2 tsp salt (again, this depends on how salty you like your pickles)

Directions:
1) Wash and slice cucumbers and put them in a PLASTIC bowl. It is important that you don't touch the pickles with anything metal... only plastic or glass!!!

2) Sprinkle liberally with salt and cover cucumber slices with ICE and let soak for 2-5 hours. (this makes the cucumbers crispy) I just leave this sitting on the counter for a few hours.

3) Drain and rinse. Drain and rinse again.

4) Put slices in jars (you can use whatever you have). Add in onion slices and peppers (optional). You can also add garlic cloves instead of using garlic powder in the liquid.

5) Fill jars with prepared liquid to cover cucumber slices. If you need more liquid just mix up another batch. It will save for later if you have too much.

6) Let sit in fridge for 3 days and then EAT and ENJOY!! The longer they sit the better they taste!!! They will keep in fridge for a couple of months... not that any will last that long around here!! LOL

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Treasuring the view, enjoying the moment!

2011-07-28T22:52:00.000-04:00

This is the view out my back door..... LOVE our simple life. However, sometimes we can loose focus on the blessings and get preoccupied with the struggles and frustrations. Actually, this picture is a few years old... still the basic same view only now there are some wind turbines..... I need to do another "tour Tuesday" again.

I came across the following great reminder on Kristy's blog, little natural cottage.... I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

We can enjoy life or we can survive life.

Our daily responses to the little things determine which it will be.

If the carpet is worn, vacuum it anyway.

If the furniture is old, dust it anyway.

If the linoleum is scuffed, sweep it anyway.

If the tub is stained, scour it anyway.

If the sink is leaky, clean it anyway.

If the toilet needs fixed, scrub it anyway.

If the bedspread needs updated, make your bed anyway.

If the rug is frayed, straighten it anyway.

If the pillows are lumpy, fluff them anyway.

If the clothes are out-of-date, iron them anyway.

If the shoes are cheap, shine them anyway.

If the closet is too small, organize it anyway.

If the dishes are chipped, wash them anyway.

If the table is rickety, wipe it anyway.

If the kids are fussy, hug them anyway.

If the hubby is cranky, kiss him anyway.

If the neighbors are loud, wave at them anyway.

If the clerk is rude, smile at her anyway.

IF LIFE IS LESS THAN PERFECT… ENJOY IT ANYWAY!

We can live in Order without perfection;

Peace without luxury,

and Joy without convenience.

Life is what you make of it… so do it anyway.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Farmer's Market here I come!!

2011-05-03T21:13:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow will be the FIRST day for a local 2011 Farmer's Market and it will be the first day of my first season as a vender!! I am very excited and a little nervous. I will be selling produce from our garden (as soon as we have some) and flowers from my many flower beds. However, I am specializing in Baking Mixes and Seasoning Mixes. I LOVE to cook and bake from scratch and I believe that eating whole foods is best for our bodies and for our families. I want to help others enjoy whole foods by helping them with some of the work.

Pray for me! I really want this to be an opportunity to meet new people, develop new skills and also earn some income for our family. I want to continue to be a stay at home housewife/mom so a job like this is perfect.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

My addiction is broke! I am FREE!!

2011-05-03T20:58:00.001-04:00

"You had an addiction?" I hear you asking. Yes. Addicted to myself. My SELFISHNESS led me to a computer addiction, an escape from real life! YIKES!!!

When I felt God calling me to give up recreational computer use for lent I was sure I was hearing things wrong.... but I finally decided to follow HIS leading and give it up... for an entire lent season. Let me tell ya.... the first week was HARD the second week was still hard and after that I had days that were hard! I was so used to plopping myself down in front of this ol' thing and disappearing into a world beyond my own four walls and my own four children. I had made my daily escapes from home such a habit that when I felt such strong withdrawal pains I had to admit the truth.... I was addicted to this 'escape' method. I was feeding my selfishness rather than LIVING the life that God has given me. I was trying to escape from the mundane parts of life (dishes, laundry, homework, sibling rivalry, etc).

I know it sounds horrible.... but I had so many nicer words for my addiction.... such as connection, learning, research, relaxation, fun, friends, and even more holy ones such as ministry, encouragement, insight and learning. Ha! Hogwash!! The truth was is that I have used the internet as a selfish tool more than I have used it for good. I selfishly waste time, energy and precious moments I could have with REAL people by leaving home via my computer. Even if I physically stayed home all day, my heart and my mind were off somewhere else way too much!!

As the withdrawal symptoms reared I spent a lot more time in prayer. I had to give these feelings to God. I was sacrificing this selfish part of my life to him as an offering. I wanted Christ to work in my heart. He did!! My prayer life deepened and I have felt His presence so much more. I spent a lot more time listening to praise music, more time reading the Bible and other good books, more time baking and doing projects and more time talking and having fun with my children and husband.

My life is far from perfect, but I tell ya FREEDOM is a wonderful thing. Lent finished as we celebrated Christ's ultimate sacrifice for us. Celebrating LIFE in JESUS!!

Now that lent is over and I can technically get back on the computer I have to tell you I don't have much desire. FREEDOM is wonderful and I don't want to end back up in bondage...... I want to live my life free from addiction of any kind. (ok... I might still have a few such as chocolate and fountain sodas!!) Whom that the SON sets FREE is free indeed and I want to stay that way. I know myself... if I'm not careful I will allow my flesh to get sucked back in.

I will be VERY, very limited on my recreational computer usage. I want my time on the computer to bring my savior glory, not feed my selfishness. So please don't take it personally if I don't visit your blog as much or write here too often.... just know that for right now I am learning to deny my flesh and follow Christ.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING! Heather

Making some tough choices....

2011-03-08T19:37:00.000-05:00

Lent. This is a relatively new thing to our family.... we did not practice lent as I was growing up. However, I believe that fasting is a very important thing to do and that lent is a deliberate time of fasting and focusing on the gift of salvation that Christ gave us. For the past couple of years each one of us in our family has given something important/something that we hold dear. Usually, I feel God call me to give up sugar.... I have a huge sweet tooth. However, this year I feel Him calling me to something different.... something tougher.

Computer. Blog. Facebook. What!!!! Really God?? Really?? What about all the things I learn? All my readers?? What about all the friends I have online?? YIKES!! As I have resisted giving up computer I realize that the computer has become a very ME, MY, I kind of thing. I spend time on here that should/could be much better spent serving my family, playing with my kids, reading to my children, praying, reading my bible, reaching out to others, helping at my children's school, and the list goes on. If I'm really honest (which is a little tough to do when confronting ones own weakness) I spend WAY too much time on the computer. The computer is a great resource for me.... I look up countless things from recipes to questions about my chickens, to growing potatoes to which president is on the US nickle. All kinds of wonderful and interesting things to be found!! I also have connected with some amazing Christian women and am encouraged, inspired and convicted by posts I read. It has been a tool for growth in my life, one for which I am very grateful for.

However, on the flip side I use it to ESCAPE the mundane responsibilities of homemaking, of life. I use it to escape the realities of real life...the parts that are not so pleasant..... like doing dishes and dealing with attitudes. I use it to COMPARE myself, to judge my abilities... this is both good and bad. Usually I end up falling short of all the cool things others do and have. The computer has become a too big a part of my daily life. Yikes!

Giving up the computer for lent will not be easy... I know that my flesh will be going through withdrawal... I will have to LEAN on Christ rather than on computer breaks. My energy, my refueling will have to come from HIM rather than gleaned inspiration from others.

I will miss ya all!! But I answer to the call and am going on a computer fast. I have done other fasts from the computer and they have been very beneficial in my life. I always loose 'readers', but I gain much more in my heart. When how many readers I have becomes too great a worth in my life I know it is time to re-evaluate. So, I bid you all a LENT farewell! Taking some time to FOCUS on our Savior and what HE wants for my life!!

Participating in lent is a growing experience. As always, why am I surprised that when we DENY our FLESH we are able to HEAR Christ more fully?? Why does my FLESH cry out so selfishly for the ME, MY and I things?? Maybe this time I will really get it!! My prayer is that during this no computer time my Spirit will be zoned in on hearing my savior! That I will GROW in HIS love!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Getting myself straighted up!!

2011-03-07T09:03:00.001-05:00

I look around and my eyes automatically head straight for the "undone" things... the basket of laundry needing folded, the games at the bottom of the stairs, the boots sitting out..... My ears prick to the whining, to the disrespectful tones. My fleshly nature is to see and hear the negative, the undone, the frustrations.... the total opposite of how I want to be!! It takes a deliberate effort to focus on the positive, the good, the fun, the right. However, I know I am not alone and I know that she has also found the wonderful antidote to this heart matter.... gratitude.

CHOOSING simplicity = CHOOSING to focus on the GOOD!! This is not automatic in my life... yet.. but as I CHOOSE this way of life it is getting easier and easier!!

This morning as I was getting myself and the kids (plus the 2 children that come for before school childcare) ready for the day my mind was at battle within my. My silent litany on all the things I should have gotten done over the weekend, the things I need to do, the ways I'm not 'good enough', etc. I was working myself up in a tither... why???? Why do I this to myself. Finally, I had enough and deliberately CHOSE to change the direction in my mind and start telling myself all the good!! There is a TON of GREAT things about the last several days and as I focused on them my heart began to relax, my mind began to have peace and my Spirit thanked me for following the way of gratitude. Ahhh... so much better!!

So what kind of GOOD things do I have to focus on??

Thursday mornings I spend with a fantastic group of ladies as we are working our way through Elizabeth George's book A Woman's High Calling. You all know how much I value real life friendship and this new group of ladies is a HUGE blessing in my life!! I have been a part of a Women's Bible study for the past 4 years.... it is vital to me. However, I felt God calling me to start a new group at my house with local ladies from my own rural area and small town. (the group I was in before was in the "big town" about 30 minutes away) It was hard to pull away from my previous group... such a fabulous group of women after God's own heart! In fact it took me nearly 6 months to follow God's leading. God's growth sometimes requires us to step out of our comfort zone!!

On Friday I spent the morning with a friend teaching her how to make bread. We laughed, we talked, we kneaded dough! We had a blast and we enjoyed a big cinnamon role fresh from the oven. Another day of friendship and fun time in the kitchen... two of my favorite things!!

Friday evening my husband and our only daughter, Robyn(age 11), joined other Dads and daughters from Robyn's Bible study group for a Daddy Daughter date night at a nice restaurant followed by a movie. They both got all dressed up and had a great time together. Robyn enjoyed it so much and she felt so special. It means so much to a girl to hear her Dad tell her she is loved and beautiful and to be treated like a lady. It fills her heart so that she doesn't need to be out looking for other guys to tell her these things!! I am so thankful that my husband does a good job of telling her she is pretty, loved and valuable.

While Chris and Robyn were out Friday evening the boys and I ate FUN food (corn dogs and french fries), played rounds and rounds of UNO and then watched two movies.

When I start to feel the pressure of so much to do (there is always a ton to do) I CHOOSE to focus on all that I did get accomplished over the weekend:

Planted seeds inside by our south window in preparations for the GARDEN!! Yippee!! I planted peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, sage, chives, leeks and a flat of aster flowers
Planned menus for the next two weeks and wrote out the shopping list
Went shopping with my daughter... fun time... haven't been shopping with her in a few months since I normally shop while they are at school.
Unloaded and put away all the groceries with a bunch of help from my family.... :)
Finished up our new black board wall (I will write a post about that soon) and filled it with a BIRTHDAY drawing in celebration of our Ethan's 8th birthday this week.
Made a big batch of "Better Butter"
Packaged up individual baggies of things for packing school and work lunches (this makes the moring rush so much easier).
Made a batch of cookie bars (didn't turn out as good as I hoped, but we are not having any trouble eating them)
READ for several relaxing hours!!!!

I do have SO very many wonderful accomplishments to focus on and I also need to remind myself that my VALUE does not come from what I DO... It comes from WHO I am in CHRIST!!

Well... I need to get OFF the computer and start my day strong. I have an extra special task today: baking cupcakes for our Ethan to take to school tomorrow in celebration of his birthday! I'm also going to brown up 10 pounds of ground meat to freeze for later use (Efficient Cooking) and have a mountain of laundry to tackle. I am CHOOSING to have a GREAT day and a day full of living out the plan and purpose God has for me. Doing laundry, cooking and baking cupcakes are all MINISTRY work that God has given to me as wife and mother!! Praise the Lord!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Discover What your LOVE Language is.....

2011-03-02T19:17:00.001-05:00

Taking this 5 Love Language assessment from Gary Chapman is easy and fun! They have one for husbands, wives, singles, teenagers and children. My husband and I took it a couple of years ago and I learned that his love languages are NOT what I thought they were!! Man, and after all that effort that could have been spent more wisely and effectively..... Oh, well... any effort to show love is good, but hitting the mark with their love language is much better. We found that we actually have the same primary love language: Words of affirmation. Learning this has helped me focus on SPEAKING and writing words of respect and encouragement to him. It is also easier for me to express this love language because I know how much I love it.

Anyway, I'm going to have my 2 oldest children take the assessment..... I wonder if I have them figured out correctly! I'm all for learning how to better love my family.

Have you taken this assessment?? What did you discover was your primary love language??

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

I discovered a VALUABLE resource!!

2011-03-01T21:58:00.000-05:00

Homemakers by choice has been around for a long time..... but I just found them last week. I have been listening to podcasts while I work around our home. Let me tell you I have been BLESSED. What an incredible source of encouragement, inspiration and an occasional swift kick in the.... Folding laundry and doing dishes has been a great time for me to soak in these powerful messages.

Have you ever heard of this ministry?? If so, what is one of your favorite messages. If they are new to you, too.... check them out and then let me know what ya think!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Helping my children WALK with Jesus!!

2011-02-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Keys for Kids!!! We LOVE it! Growing up it was a part of our family devotions. I loved the stories as a child and learned so much about God. Today, I am the parent helping my children learn to WALK their everyday life with Jesus and we use Keys for Kids as part of our tools.

We have used Keys for Kids for five years and this year we started using the PODCAST version. After all those years listening to MOM (me) read (the printed version of Keys for Kids) the kids find it MUCH, much, much cooler to listen to Uncle Charlie! I have to admit, hearing his voice brings back wonderful memories of listening to the Children's Bible Hour when I was young.

The stories in the Keys for Kids really make WALKING out the word of God come alive. The stories are very relate-able, realistic and interesting. The Godly principles taught will last a life time.

So, what do my kids have to say??
My oldest son Wesley (age 13), says that Keys for Kids is a good devotional to use because "the stories are good and apply to real life even though I am getting a little old for them". My daughter, Robyn (age 11) enjoys Keys because "It helps helps me get through the day because they help me learn what to do". My son Ethan (age 7) says he likes Keys for Kids because "I love God and they help me learn about my life and what to do." My son, Nate (age 6), says Keys is good because "we love God and it helps us to learn not to say bad words and other bad things and it helps our heart".

If you are looking for a way to help FEED your children's SPIRITUAL life you might enjoy Keys for kids, too!! If you are already using Keys, what is your favorite thing about this devotional?? Did you use Keys for Kids when you were growing up??

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Babies on the way!!!

2011-02-26T21:19:00.003-05:00

25 Baby Chicks to be exact! They will be here the middle of April.... really ready for spring, now!!
We haven't had any chickens since last fall and I'm ready for farm fresh eggs again. Nothing compares to an egg collected right out your back door. Here is a picture of my old flock... so much enjoyment!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Take advantage... FREE February eddition of Simple Family Supper

2011-02-26T19:48:00.002-05:00

The month long give away is winding up.... MARCH is almost here!!! You have no idea how much I look forward to SPRING!!! Ok.. off subject. DOWNLOAD your FREE copy of my February Simple Family Supper Menu Plan Kit E-book today.

ENJOY some wonderful SIMPLE suppers with your family. This menu plan does not have dates.. you can jump in anytime, any month of the year.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity: Choosing to ENJOY what we have

2011-02-20T14:09:00.006-05:00

Sometimes it is easy to think that living a "simple life" is all about giving things up. To some extent that is very true. We have chosen to "give up" many things that a majority of Americans live with. Some of the things we live without are a bit more radical (such as NOT using our furnace) and some are pretty easy (such as not eating out much). My favorite thing to live with out is DEBT!! We only have our very affordable mortgage and a SMALL work truck loan that will be paid off soon. Talk about less stress than when we began our journey to simplicity 6 years ago!

Instead of focusing on giving things up we choose to focus on enjoying what we choose to keep. For example, my husband and I both LOVE coffee. We do not buy coffee out, but instead choose to ENJOY good coffee made at home for a fraction of the cost. I even splurge and buy real half and half to put in my coffee. Every morning we enjoy a nice cup of coffee together in our own kitchen and Chris packs a thermos to go along with him to work. We have travel mugs that we put to use also. We ENJOY the coffee we make at home and don't lament about "not being able to stop at starbucks". I have also experimented with some great coffee recipes and make a mean Frozen Mocha Frapachino!

Choosing Simplicity is about BALANCE! Some things you give up, some things you keep. The bottom line is that we really ENJOY and appreciate the things we keep in our life. We choose to have a POSITIVE attitude and focus on ENJOYING life rather than have discontentment for all the things we don't have. There are days that one of use will slip into discontentment, but it doesn't take long to get back on track when we are reminded of the many wonderful blessings of living a simple life.

Last night my husband and I went out on a date! We did eat out (!) and we ENJOYED it!! However, we also enjoy our times out when we eat at home before we leave. It really is all in the way we CHOOSE to enjoy it.

ENJOY what you have in your life and CHOOSE carefully what you keep. I have been surprised by how much sheer delight I can have in the most simple of things.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

ENJOY supper together with your family!!!! Download your FREE copy of my February Simple Family Supper menu plan kit E-book today!

It's OK to have some convience foods in your kitchen!!

2011-02-16T08:14:00.003-05:00

Really, it is OK!! Big weight off the "cook from scratch" shoulders.

Perfection is a killer. We too often hold ourselves to unrealistic expectations. Yes, I want the BEST for my family. I want them to eat healthy and yummy food. However, ultimately what is BEST for them is having a CHEERFUL Mom!! When I get over stressed I'm not always so cheerful... in fact we had some extra stress this week and some things had to give.

There are days that convenience food is PERFECTLY perfect for our family. This week we had cold meat sandwiches and frozen pizza!! Yep, and they were yummy! Yesterday was a more "normal" day and I was able to get some yummy bacon, cheddar and veggie chowder in the crock pot. We sat at the table and ate a made from scratch, whole foods meal. Know what?? It was great food but the time together at the table is what matters most! Whether it is a frozen pizza, PB&J's, cereal or a made from scratch meal it is the FAMILY time that matters most!!

So, let me give you some encouragement.... it is OK to have some convenience foods in your life. Your kids NEED a smiling mom!

For the LOVE of FAMILY I want to help you be a smiling MOM! Download your FREE copy of my Simple Family Supper Menu Plan kit E-Book today!!!! It has everything you need: 4 weeks of menus, easy to prepare recipes and detailed shopping lists.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity... Back up Coffee maker

2011-02-15T12:22:00.004-05:00

Paradise = Morning Coffee!!

Back up comes in VERY handy when the coffee pot decides to be DONE! I knew that our coffee pot was on its last leg but I wasn't worried about replacing it just yet because we have a CHEAP extra one stored in the basement.

This week our well worked coffee pot decided to completely QUIT. My husband woke me up at 5 am in distress.... "The coffee pot is dead!". I calmly reminded him about the extra one and we didn't have to fumble our way through the day without our morning jump start!! Yeah, for the extra one!

We have now replaced the daily use coffee pot and the extra (mega CHEAP) one is back in its box to be used some other day. We also use this extra coffee pot when we have company and we need both regular and decaf.

Happy coffee drinking husband!!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

For the LOVE of FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!
Download your FREE Simple Family Supper E-book today.

Sometimes I'm a grump....

2011-02-14T21:47:00.003-05:00

Yep. Grumpy. Not pretty.

Not good.

Not cute.

What to do about it??

Admit what is really at the root.... what is really bothering me?? Sometimes life is HARD!

Should I really take it out on my family? NO!

Oh, Jesus, forgive me!! Family forgive me!!

Deliberately CHANGE my attitude.. yes, that can be done. Hard, but very, very possible.

Rest in GRACE, move on.

Smile, be thankful, be content.

Give a hug, receive a hug.

Eat some chocolate!

Turn on some praise music

Get some extra sleep.

How about you?? How do you handle the grumps??

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Don't be grumpy about supper!! Download the FREE Simple Family Supper menu plan kit E-book today! For the LOVE of FAMILY!!!!

A very special #100 indeed!

2011-02-14T10:44:00.004-05:00

How exciting 100 followers... and #100 is a very special lady in my REAL life!!! Brook and I have been friends for 11 years. She is a fantastic woman of God, wife, mother to 6 and friend. I am blessed to call her friend, one I can always count on! Thank you, Brook, for being such a good friend. Visit Brook's website... she is a very talented seamstress and I have been blessed by her handiwork many times. She specializes in all things baby.... adorable, quality and practical.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Download your FREE copy of my Simple Family Supper February Menu Plan Kit E-Book... For the love of family I am giving this e-book away for the entire month! Grab your copy today and let others know!!! Thank you!

I'm at 99 followers.... Who is going to be the amazing 100??

2011-02-13T20:10:00.003-05:00

Crazy... 99!!! Wow! Who wants to be the special #100?? Click the link in the sidebar to 'follow' to be the one.

Don't forget to download your very own copy (FREE for this month) of my Simple Family Supper February Menu Plan Kit E-book. Enjoy some stress free suppertime memories with your family.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Life can be REALLY hard!

2011-02-11T20:46:00.002-05:00

Sometimes life stinks. Sometimes the "WHY's" ring loud in our hearts. Sometimes we can do nothing but shout "God this makes no sense"! Trusting God and leaning on him are all we have left.

This week some of our dear friends walked through (are still walking) through a journey that I can't even imagine going through. Our friends delivered a beautiful full term baby girl on Wednesday, February 2nd and then Jesus welcomed that little girl into his arms one week to the day later. Baby Alicia had many, many health problems. Our friends had known from the first ultrasound that there were many issues, but it does not make releasing their daughter any easier.

Please pray for Karmon, Justice and their three older children (ages 8, 6 and 2). The services are on Monday, Valentines day of all days. Please pray for comfort and peace for them.

This will definitely be a first for me.... going to a funeral with a tiny casket. I really can't wrap my heart around the deepness of the grief....

Heather

Doctors only gave her months to live... God had different plans!!

2011-02-08T08:17:00.002-05:00

Way back in 1999 I met Amanda McClung. We became fast friends and became Bible study buddies until she moved away (her husband is in the military) in 2003 (Miss her very much). Amanda's life was turned upside down in March of 2009 when she was diagnosed with sage III colon cancer. She was given only months to live, but GOD had different plans!! We serve a BIG God and He still works miracles today! Amanda is alive and well living 100% cancer free!! To God be the glory! To read a wonderful article about her complete story go HERE. You will be encouraged! Pass on the word... Our GOD heals!!!!!!!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

For the LOVE of FAMILY I am giving away complete copies of my Simple Family Supper February Menu Plan Kit E-book. DOWNLOAD your copy today!!!!

Make me a woman who......

2011-02-06T19:09:00.002-05:00

Lord,

Make me a woman who loves you more than I love what others say about me or think of me.

Make me a woman who guards her heart.

Make me a woman who loves You more than I love how I appear to others.

Make me a woman whose heart is pure.

Make me a woman who returns only love.

Make me a woman who grows more and more to care about those around me–especially those hardest to care about.

Make me a woman who sees with compassionate eyes.

Make me a woman who doesn’t always have to be right.

Make me a woman who loves truth more than popularity.

Make me a woman who chases after Your heart.

(Thanks Generation Cedar for this!!!)

Added by Me: Lord, Make me a woman that fights to keep family a priority! A woman that deeply loves my husband and children. Make me a woman that understands that I can make a difference for eternity by focusing on building my family up!!! Make me a woman that makes a difference through the power of the Holy Spirit working in my life!

Don't forget: for the month of February I am giving away as many FREE copies of my Simple Family Supper February Menu Plan Kit E-book as I can. BUILD your family... share some simple meals together!! Let the Simple Family Supper menu plan take the stress out of supper and allow you to share some wonderful family time. Download your copy today and pass on the word!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The fight is on and my family is not going down!

2011-02-04T18:43:00.003-05:00

The battle line has been drawn. We will not give up. We will FIGHT to the end.

What are we fighting for?? Our FAMILY! Family in our modern world is under attack and the casualties are continuing to mount.
It is war and we have to stand up, take up our weapons and fight.

In my own family we have had a couple of seasons where we took some good hits and had some deep wounds to bind. With the power of God He heals and restores. It takes constant determination to keep family the focus and keep us strong, connected and operating in love.

One of the best weapons to use in this war for our family is shared meal time. Eating together brings us closer to each other. Conversation, laughter, TIME! Jesus set this example for us by sharing meals with his disciples and with many others. We all have to eat.... we can use this time to BUILD relationships!!!

I want to help you!!! The entire month of February I am giving away a FREE complete copy of my Simple Family Supper February Menu Plan Kit E-book. Download your copy today and use this tool in your fight for your family. Treat your family to a SIMPLE, easy to prepare, meal tonight!!!!

This menu plan kit includes:
*4 weeks of menu
*all the easy to prepare recipes
*weekly shopping lists
*tips and techniques

Please share this give away with others.... It is my heart's desire to equip as many families as possible with some meal time help!!!!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Month long Simple Family Supper E-Book give away!

2011-02-03T20:47:00.003-05:00

I love FAMILY and I want to bless your family!

For the entire month of February I am giving away a copy of my Simple Family Supper February Menu Plan Kit E-Book. Please download your copy today and let your friends know it is available for them, too.

Eliminate the "What is for supper?" stress and ENJOY some quality family time. Simple Family Supper Menu Plan Kit 25 page E-Book contains:

4 weeks family friendly Menus

EASY to prepare recipes

Organized shopping lists

Tips, techniques and hints

Bonus dessert recipes

FAMILY TIME!!!!!!

For the month of February I will be focusing on FAMILY meal time and why this is such a passion of mine. I really want to be a blessing to your family. Download the FEBRUARY menu plan kit today!!!! Spread the word and help me get this tool into as many hands as possible.... bringing families together one meal at a time!!!!

Thank you!!!

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Easy Chewy Peanut Butter Bars

2011-01-25T15:57:00.001-05:00

Baking up a batch of these yummy treats!!! I have shared this recipe before, but it is worth repeating. ENJOY!~

Easy Chewy Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (NOT margarine) or 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Spray 9x13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
melt butter and peanut butter in large glass bowl in microwave or in a sauce pan over low heat on stove
Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.
Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes until lightly browned and edges start to pull away from sides of pan.
ENJOY!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Eating at home can save your life......

2011-01-23T10:52:00.002-05:00

"The slow insidious displacement of home cooked and communally shared family meals by the industrial food system has fattened our nation and weakened our family ties. In 1900, 2 percent of meals were eaten outside the home. In 2010, 50 percent were eaten away from home and one in five breakfasts is from McDonald's. Most family meals happen about three times a week, last less than 20 minutes and are spent watching television or texting while each family member eats a different microwaved "food." More meals are eaten in the minivan than the kitchen."

***Read the complete article by Dr. Mark Hyman.

This is why I have such a passion for the family supper!!!! I know modern life is crazy and busy and that cooking skills are often limited. It is for these reasons that I created my Simple Family Supper menu plan kits. EASY meals, complete organization.... ENJOY and build your family life. I want you to experience GREAT family time without stress.

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather

A great way to start off the day.....

2011-01-21T07:21:00.003-05:00

The first hour of the day (well, the first hour I am awake) is very special. How that morning hour goes tends to set the stage for the next few hours. I can tell you it is very helpful for me to get up BEFORE the kids... have some quiet alone time to think and pray before I have jump into my role as Mom. I will admit when I over sleep and am forced to jump into mom mode immediately I am far too likely to not be the Mom I want to give my children.

Today we have a two hour delay due to very cold temperatures and blowing and drifting snow. I was able to sleep in a little and still have some quiet alone time before the kids got up! Yeah!! (I'm not naturally a early morning gal so sleeping in till 6:30 was a treat) Connecting with God FIRST really helps me to connect with others (I know... shocking!). :)

This morning I ran across the following prayer on Homespunheart and I printed it off. I think I am going to start praying this on my own and with my children every morning. *I need to write a post about the lessons our family has learned about prayer this year. God is GOOD!

"Lord, here are my hands;
I consecrate them to Thee.
May they never touch anything
that Thou wouldst not have them touch,
or do anything that would dishonour Thee.
And here are my feet;
I dedicate them to Thee.
May they never go
where Thou wouldst not be seen.
Here, Lord, are my eyes.
May they never look upon anything
that would grieve Thy Holy Spirit.
May my ears never listen to anything
dishonouring to Thy Name.
May my mouth never be opened to speak
a word that I would not want Thee to hear.
May my mind never retain a thought or
an imagination that would dim the sense of Thy Presence.
May my heart know no love,
and cherish no feeling that is not of Thee."

~ Oswald J. Smith

"The Man God Uses"

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

This is the day......

2011-01-20T07:44:00.004-05:00

To enjoy each moment.... because this is my life!! Instead of making a list of new years resolutions this year I did what many others are doing.... prayed for one word to focus my efforts on. The word that God gave me was CONNECT. Connect with God, my husband, my children, my friends. I am a type A personality... I love accomplishing things, doing things, making things. I too often have pushed aside moments of connecting with the people I love in order to check the next thing off my list. CHOOSING SIMPLICITY means saying NO to some doing and YES to some people. It requires a re-evaluation of my 'to do' list. God never fails.... when I choose to connect with Him first all the other 'connecting' is much easier.

TODAY is my life. As my family prays for Joanne Heim and her family we realize in a fresh way how uncertain our time is. Celebrating today by CONNECTING with my loved ones is my focus for the year. Focusing on what matters most..... and I can tell you that I am learning that it is not a neatly checked off "to do" list. I will also admit there have been many things that have revealed my selfish heart. It is often easier to retreat to the laundry than give a loved one what they need. How sad is that. I have found that I base my worth far too much on my ability to accomplish things rather than resting in the grace of God. I am learning, I am growing. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord."

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!!!!!! It is with a joyful heart that I anticipate CONNECTING with others today!! :)

Have a BLESSED day,
BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Invisible mother

2011-01-17T12:52:00.004-05:00

My Grandma sent this to me. She knows I feel invisible sometimes. She is such an amazing woman and I so very much appreciate her example and encouragement to me! I'm just sure that their are many 'invisible' moms out there that will find this story as much as a blessing as I did. Thank you, Grandma, for sending this to me!!

Invisible Mother.....

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become. At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're going to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING
!Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Using my secret weapon is key on days like today....

2011-01-14T08:07:00.003-05:00

We are doing some home improvement projects in the kitchen and dining room right now..... wonderful projects that my handyman husband is blessing us with. Today we will be putting down bamboo hardwood!! Needless to say, not much cooking has been going on this week. We have been living on cold sandwiches and cereal for a week. However, I just can't handle it anymore and the secret weapon is coming out! CROCK POT!!!!

I can plug in that baby in the living room and tonight we will enjoy a HOT meal!! mmmm yummy!

Here is one of our favorite recipes:
It can be eaten served over rice instead of as a sandwich. This recipe is in the March edition of my Simple Family Supper menu plan kits.

Savory Chicken Sandwiches

***Efficient cooking***

Crock Pot or Stove top

Ingredients:

8 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 envelope onion soup mix

½ tsp garlic powder

½ cup prepared Italian salad dressing

1 cup water

Directions:

1) Place Chicken in crock pot

2) Mix together remaining ingredients and pour on top of chicken.

3) Cover and cook on HIGH 5 hours or on LOW 7-9 hours

4) Remove Chicken and shred meat. Return to cooking juices.

5) Serve on buns. Label and freeze extra meat and cooking juices in a freezer bag.

Side Suggestions: baby carrots, baked beans, salad, fruit

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

I've been cleaning with this recipe now for FOUR years!

2011-01-08T08:43:00.007-05:00

My love affair with this home made cleaner just keeps going!! I keep a spray bottle with this cleaner in each of our two bathrooms and in the kitchen. It is used daily. It costs so much less to make than buying commercial cleaners and it is environmentally friendly.

Home Made All-Purpose Cleaner (it is also a great glass cleaner... we have used it to clean every window in our house in addition to lots of other places)

1 spray bottle (I just use the bottle I had from the last time I purchased a windex)
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2-2/3 cup scented rubbing alcohol (I use up to 2/3 cup if I am going to use it all for windows) *** or just use plain rubbing alcohol and add in several drops of your favorite essential oil. I am using lavender right now, but if my husband could handle the smell of tea tree oil I would use that for the natural antibacterial properties it has.
Fill the rest of the bottle up with water.

The rubbing alcohol comes in wintergreen and citrus... you will find it with the other rubbing alcohol in the pharmacy section of your favorite store. Our dollar store sells it. The alcohol really speeds up dry time... no more streaks! It also completely covers the vinegar smell and leaves a wonderful mint or citrus fragrance. (I am NOT a fan of the vinegar smell... it is what prevented me from using other home made recipes.) I use this to wipe down my bathroom EVERYDAY! I also use it anywhere I would use windex and on my kitchen counters (I alternate days with bleach water).
Anyway, save a ton and help the environment!

Do you have a favorite home made cleaner you would want to share with me??

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Sneaky cooking.... yes I do that!! :)

2011-01-05T08:38:00.003-05:00

I admit it. I sneak things into our food all the time. Healthy things make it into my kids and husband all the time and they are unaware!! I LOVE it, and their bodies love it, too. My kids really enjoy my chili.... all because it doesn't seem like it has any beans. Anyone else want to sneak some beans into their kids?? :) (I will admit that now that the kids are older they realize that there are beans in my chili, but they don't mind at all.)

Here is my recipe. It is in the Money Wise Simple Family Supper menu plan kit. Enjoy!

Kids will love it CHILI

**Efficient Cooking: Brown up extra meat and Freeze

Crock Pot or Stove Top

Ingredients:

1 pound browned ground meat

2 cans chili beans (use re-fried beans if you don’t have a blender)

1 can water

1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice or V-8 (here is another way to sneak in veggies)

1-2 tsp onion powder

½-1 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Pasta of your choice (optional)

Crock Pot Directions:

1) Brown meat

2) Blend beans and 1 can of water in blender till smooth. Kids will love this chili because they won’t know that it has fiber and protein rich beans in it. The blending also reduces “bean affect”!!! If you don’t have a blender you can use refried beans instead.

3) Place all ingredients (except pasta) in crock pot. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours or on high 3-5 hours.

4) During last 45 minutes add pasta and cover and cook till pasta is tender.

Stove Top Directions:

1) Same as above

2) Place all ingredients (except pasta) in soup kettle. Cover and bring to boil on medium/low heat.

3) Once the chili has come to a boil add optional pasta. Simmer for 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Side Suggestions: Salad and cornbread. (cornbread mix is EASY, just follow directions on side of box)

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

An EASY, yummy and budget friendly favorite meal in our house

2011-01-03T11:58:00.003-05:00

Today for lunch (the kids are home for one last day of Christmas break) I made one of our favorite easy meals. My kids (not my husband) love brown rice so this is a meal I always make with brown rice when it is just the kids and I and make it with white when my husband will be eating it, too.

Anyway, it is easy, yummy and very budget friendly. It can also be modified in a hundred ways. Here is how I made it today:

"Sneaky style" beans and rice
Ingredients

5 cups cooked seasoned rice (When I cook the rice in my rice cooker I add some cumin, turmeric, onion powder, garlic and salt)
1 can chili beans blended till smooth... this is what makes it "sneaky".... no one feels like they are eating beans
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
2 cups shredded cheese

Directions:
Cook the rice. When rice is cooked simply stir together the rice, blended beans and tomato sauce. Spread in a baking dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and either bake in oven till warm or use microwave.

EASY, YUMMY!! ENJOY!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!HeatherWhat is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

When I get where I'm going......there will be only happy tears!

2010-12-21T12:37:00.003-05:00

Christmas time brings back a flood of memories... and makes me look forward to the future. Right now I am holding close wonderful memories of my paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather. My grandma went to heaven this past summer and joined my grandfather who has been gone 8 years. This will be the first Christmas without her here with us. Hard. My maternal grandfather has been gone 14 years already. I have fantastic memories of my life with them. I also look forward to seeing them again someday and walking with them! When I get to heaven there will only be happy tears!! This is one of my FAVORITE songs and is by one of my favorite artists. I enjoy it year round, but especially right now. For some reason Christmas makes me long for my real home... heaven!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Celebration Bread Braid and EASY, wonderful fudge

2010-12-20T08:40:00.003-05:00

My husband and oldest son went ICE fishing over the weekend.... NOT me! I like to stay WARM and I can think of no better way to stay nice and warm than baking in the kitchen. The wood stove has worked over time this December.... Indiana has had a very unusually cold month. Never has my husband been able to ice fish before Christmas
(the pond he fishes had 8 inches of clear ice already). They brought home a nice mess of fish for us to enjoy.

I busied myself in the kitchen this weekend baking up some goodies to give for Christmas gifts. I made several batches of Celebration Bread Braid and pounds of candy! Gotta LOVE this time of the year!!!! Celebration Bread Braid is one of my favorite gifts to give. Home made bread is such a treat and this one is very beautiful to look at, too. My favorite fudge recipe is both fantastically wonderful to eat and is also easy on the budget. ENJOY! You will find both recipes below.

Celebration Bread Braid
Ingredients:

2 packages (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
4-1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon cold water

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the butter, sugar, salt, eggs and 3 cups flour. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide into four pieces. Shape each piece into an 18-in. rope. Place ropes parallel to each other on a greased baking sheet. Beginning from the right side, braid dough by placing the first rope over the second rope, under the third and over the fourth. Repeat three or four times, beginning each time from the right side. Pinch ends to seal and tuck under.
Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. Beat egg yolk and water; brush over braid. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Yield: 1 loaf.

Pair up the Celebration Bread Braid with some Better Butter and you have a wonderful gift to share!

Better Butter
Set butter out and bring to room temperature. In blender whip together equal parts of butter and oil (I use canola). Whip till very creamy. Store in containers in the fridge... will stay soft and yummy!

Variations: Honey Butter.... simply add in some honey in replace of some oil.
Cinnamon Butter.... add in some brown sugar and cinnamon
Garlic and Herb.... add in some garlic powder and herbs

Amazing Fudge

Combine the following in a large bowl:
3 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet is the best!)
½ lb. (2 sticks) butter, cut into chunks

In Sauce pan measure:
4 ½ cups sugar
¼ tsp. cream of tartar
1- 12 oz. can evaporated milk

Mix together and stir constantly over med-high burner. Keep stirring until it comes to a full bubbling boil- NOT a rolling boil. Time for 6 minutes. Remove from heat and pour over chips and butter in bowl. Add 1 tsp. vanilla, stir until chocolate is melted. Add nuts if desired. [Try dried cherries too- yumm-o!]
Pour into GREASED 9x13 pan and cool.
Cut into squares and serve. Keep refrigerated or at least in a cool place.
Warning: Very rich- you must have a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. Eating more than 3 pieces at a time is known to give you sugar overload.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Custom Ceramic Tile

2010-12-15T11:47:00.003-05:00

My husband, Chris, is a Custom Ceramic Tile contractor. He has been in business on his own for 8 1/2 years. He does incredible work and is a man of integrity. He just started a face book page for his company. Hop on over to the Corbin Ceramic Tile, LLC facebook page to see pictures of some of his work (and LIKE his page, too). Look at how all those gout joints line up on this back splash! He goes the extra mile and we are blessed to have some of his handy work in our own home, too.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life!
www.simplefamilysupper.com

Old Paths....

2010-12-03T07:01:00.000-05:00

~I liked the old paths, when

Moms were at home.

Dads were at work.

Brothers went into the army.

~And sisters got married BEFORE having children!

Crime did not pay;

Hard work did;

And people knew the difference.

~Moms could cook;

Dads would work;

Children would behave.

Husbands were loving;

Wives were supportive;

And children were polite.

~Women wore the jewelry;

And Men wore the pants.

Women looked like ladies;

Men looked like gentlemen;

And children looked decent.

~People loved the truth,

And hated a lie;

They came to church to get IN,

Not to get OUT!

~Hymns sounded Godly;

Sermons sounded helpful;

Rejoicing sounded normal;

And crying sounded sincere.

~Cursing was wicked;

Drugs were for illness;

And divorce was unthinkable.

~The flag was honored;

America was beautiful;

And God was welcome!

~We read the Bible in public;

Prayed in school;

And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for;

To be called a Christian was worth living for;

To be called a traitor was a shame!

~Preachers preached because they had a message;

And Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY!

Preachers preached from the Bible;

Singers sang from the heart;

And sinners turned to the Lord to be SAVED!

~A new birth meant a new life;

Salvation meant a changed life;

Following Christ led to eternal life.

~Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God;

Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord;

Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus;

And being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

~Laws were based on the Bible;

Homes read the Bible;

And churches taught the Bible.

~God was worshiped;

Christ was exalted;

And the Holy Spirit was respected.

~Church was where you found Christians

on the Lord's day, rather than in the garden,

on the creek bank, on the golf course,

Or being entertained somewhere else.

~I still like the old paths the best!

~~Author Unknown~~

I came across this poem on "It's harvest Time". Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life!
www.simplefamilysupper.com

What can I do now that will help me later?? (and 2 easy chicken recipes)

2010-12-02T09:23:00.004-05:00

Are you naturally organized?? Just plain born organized?? NOT me!! I have to WORK to be organized. I have learned so many, many great things from FlyLady (any other fly babies out there?). One of the best things I gleaned from her knowledge is to ask my self this question: "What can I do now that will help me later?". I might only have a couple of minutes, but there is usually something that I can do that will benefit me later.

Training my mind to think ahead rather than always struggling to catch up has been a hugely helpful shift. Now, don't get me wrong, I still have days that I feel the constant stress of feeling about 3 steps behind. However, compared to what I used to experience, the simple act of thinking ahead and putting some action in work has been a major help in my choosing simplicity! I am trying to teach my kids to look ahead and be organized. (getting everything ready the night before really cuts down on the morning rush out the door for school.)

Thinking ahead and putting some plans into action have really helped our evenings. The evenings in our home ( I consider evening to be from the time the kids get home at 3:30) are busy. There is snack time, homework and chores to be completed, supper to be had, and right now during basketball season our oldest has either practice or games 4 nights a week. BUSY! We are blessed to be in a carpool so I don't have to drive every night. However, evenings are still a hectic time. I know I am not alone in the business of evenings. I also really believe that my kids need down time to PLAY so I try to keep things as simple as possible.

The number one way I plan ahead for the evenings is with supper. I have a menu plan (that alone is a HUGE help) and I usually start supper in the morning (by either using the crock pot or having everything ready to cook). This morning I had our supper in the crock pot by 9 am.... now all I will have to do is warm up some veggies, and cook rice. EASY! Choosing Simplicity. Tonight our son has a basketball game and our daughter is caroling with her school choir. My husband is going to the game and I am going with our daughter. We will all have to be out the door with full tummies.

We are having So Simple Salsa Chicken for supper. It is YUMMY and it is an "Efficient Cooking" recipe that will give me extra cooked chicken meat to use later. (another HUGE way to "think and work ahead". One of our favorite recipes to use the "Fast Track" chicken meat that we will have is in Buffalo Chicken Soup. Below you will find both recipes. These recipes come from the "MONEY WISE" Simple Family Supper menu. Enjoy!!

So Simple Salsa Chicken

**Efficient Cooking: Freeze remaining chicken and sauce and label

Crock Pot or Stove Top

Ingredients:

3-6 lbs boneless, skinless chicken *amount depends on number of servings you will need for this meal and for the “Fast Track” meal. (if frozen increase cooking time)

1 (16 ounce) jar your choice chunky salsa

1 can diced tomatoes with or without chilies

2 cups shredded cheese

Opt: reduced fat sour cream

Rice (prepare according to package directions)

Crock Pot Directions:

1) Place chicken in crock pot.

2) Pour salsa and diced tomatoes over chicken

3) Cover and cook on Low 5-8 hours

4) Serve on rice and top individual servings with shredded cheese and sour cream

Stove Top directions:

Same as above except simmer in skillet for 30 minutes till chicken is no longer pink in middle of thickest chicken breast.

Side Suggestions: Rice (brown is the best health choice), steamed vegetables, salad

Buffalo Chicken Soup

Fast Track: Use frozen cooked salsa chicken from wk 3

Crock Pot or Stove Top

Ingredients:

4 cups low-fat milk

2 (10 ¾ oz) cans reduced sodium cream of chicken soup

1 can reduced sodium chicken broth

3 cups fast track shredded cooked chicken

1 cup reduced fat ranch dressing

1-8 Tbsp. hot sauce, according to your desire for heat!

Optional: 1 cup small pasta of your choice

Crock Pot directions:

1) Combine milk and soup and broth in slow cooker until smooth.

2) Stir in fast track meat

3) Cover and cook on low for 3 ½ - 5 hours.

4) 30 minutes before serving stir in optional pasta, ranch dressing and hot sauce. **start with a small amount of hot sauce and then add more till it is the heat you want.**

Stove Top:

Same as above except mix and cook in large soup pot. Bring to boil on med/low heat and simmer for 15 minutes before adding pasta, ranch dressing hot sauce.

Side suggestions: dinner rolls, salad

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Deer Butchering and Guys!

2010-12-01T05:53:00.002-05:00

My husband LOVES to hunt, loves to talk about hunting, loves to watch hunting shows. I will admit that at times it is almost more than this gal can handle, but he provides us with great meat to eat. Last night we spent the evening helping one of his good buddies butcher up the nice doe he got Monday. Chris' friend was drawn to hunt at our local state park. It was a nice doe and all together he ended up with 30 pounds of (boneless) meat. 25 lbs was ground and turned into bulk sausage and the other 5 lbs was loin roast. Yummy! Some of our best investments have been our quality butchering tools. Our grinder has been one of the best things we ever bought.

After I helped them I jumped in the suburban and headed off to pick up our 13 year old son and 3 of his friends from basketball practice. I was on car pool duty last night. I am blessed that there are 4 boys the same age all living within our neighborhood (a few country miles) and can share the driving with all the moms. Anyway, when I jumped in the truck I turned on the radio and was scanning through the channels when I came across Brad Paisley's song "I'm still a guy"! I just had to laugh and I really like this song..... As much as all the "GUY" stuff sometimes gets old (in our house there are 4 guys to us 2 gals) I am so very much thankful and appreciative that my husband is a GUY! In our society all this 'guy stuff' isn't appreciated like it once was. Enjoy this fun song.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Thrift stores are a part of our life...

2010-11-30T07:01:00.001-05:00

I donate to them, I shop them..... They are FUN (you never know what you will find)! They save us a ton of cash.

This past weekend we realized that Ethan (our 7 year old) doesn't have any insulated underwear (long jons) that fit him. Chris has been taking Ethan deer hunting quit a bit and this weekend it got pretty cold. I let Ethan borrow some of mine (they did the trick, but weren't too comfortable for him scrunching up about 12 inches of extra length). To get him his own pair I hit the thrift store first. I was able to find him TWO pairs, a pair of fleece pants for Nate and a wonderful heavy gray fleece sweatshirt for Wes (ok.. he is hard to keep in clothes! since school started in August he has grown another inch bringing my 13 1/2 year old up to 6'2"!!!). I was able to snag all four of those things for $7.99 (including tax) for a break down of $2 per item. Yeah for second hand! After that while I was at walmart I checked the price on new insulated underwear. Cost?? $9 for a shirt and pants set. I love it!! We didn't need the shirt but to get him two pants I would have had to spend $18!

The only thing that beats a thrift store is a good yard sale... but since that is a summer time thing I will just have to enjoy my local thrift shops!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

One last stroll down summertime memory lane

2010-11-29T09:00:00.007-05:00

I am a summer loving gal that is trying really hard to choose contentment with the cold winter months. So far this year we have been blessed with a warm fall and start to winter. Today the high is in the 50's... not bad at all!! However, before I completely give in to the winter months I just have to look back at summer one more time and remind myself that every season has good things. Winter has lots of time for BAKING! :)

I enjoy lots of time in the garden, and we spend a ton of time sitting on the front porch on summer evenings. This porch was added just this spring. The old needed replaced and we totally love this east facing porch. It is a nice shaded place to spend time together. We hope to one day put a roof over it and make it a covered porch. One thing at a time... no debt!

Out back was our sweet corn patch. It was 12 rows wide and 100 feet long. We were able to raise enough corn for 5 families to 'put up' for winter. My sister, Melissa, and I shared a special day together doing our 'putting up'.
We tried doing it a new way this year and loved it. We cut it off the ear raw and then cooked it after we cut it off. So much easier and so much less mess. We decided that this is the way for us.

A funny story about my sister and my youngest son, Nate. Nate is in kindergarten this year and is learning so much so fast! He is a budding reader and LOVES to write. Wednesday, before Thanksgiving, Nate wanted me to sit down with him and make thanksgiving cards for my sister and her family. He asked me to write down all of their names so that he could copy them down on his card. He copied everyone's name except my sisters. "Mom, you need to write down Ant Allissa's name for me." " I did sweety, it is right here... see, it says 'Aunt Melissa'". "But Mommy, that is not it... that starts with a 'M' ''". Yes, I replied as I sounded out her name... M-e-l-i-s-s-a for him. Nate looked at me, his eyes HUGE. "Her name is MMMelissa???" His whole life he had never heard the M.... he really thought her name was Allissa! SO cute! So he kept practicing saying this new name to try to get it right! LOL! On Thanksgiving he worked really hard to remember, but my sister told him that she loves "Ant Allissa" and that she wants him to call her that forever.... their special name! My kids have all had cute ways of saying her name and Melissa is a peach for making Nate feel so great.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life!
www.simplefamilysupper.com

My blogging style plus an Easy, no knead, Oatmeal Bread recipe

2010-11-28T14:55:00.005-05:00

I realize that I have slipped into the "magazine/Expert" style of blogging that is oh so very popular. Blogs look so professional and are written with magazine style articles. Please don't get me wrong, I enjoy a few magazines and I like to read experts in areas of interest. However, I think that my original blogging style is my favorite... a simple sharing of my life and our ways of Choosing Simplicity in a crazy and hectic world.

I am going to go back to that style and just share our way of life, our faith, our story. It will be more of a journal for us to look back at and will be a place of connection with like minded folks. I have passions and knowledge in some areas, but there are many out there that are much more experts than I. I don't want to have pretenses of being more than I am.

I want to welcome you to this little on-line corner. A small place of simplicity in a crazy, rushing world. I want to invite you to share your story with me, too. I want this place to be where we are real with each other. A place that I am just me, the God loving, family loving country gal that I am. A place without any pretense.

So with that being said, nothing is more "me" than cooking and baking! I absolutely LOVE it! I have a family that does love to eat, too. Below is one of my favorite easy (no yeast, no kneading) breads. In the cold months we eat a lot of stews and soups (cooked in the crock pot or on top the wood stove). Bread is a favorite with our soups. This one is quick, easy and nutritious. These pictures are of the counter in my kitchen. My grandmother (tour Tuesday post about her here) gave me these jars and they are filled with pantry staples that I use almost everyday. Simple food.

Quick (no yeast) Oatmeal Bread
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup molasses, honey or brown sugar
2 T oil
1 2/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk (to make sour milk put 1 TBL lemon juice or vinegar in measuring cup and then add milk to measure 1 2/3 cup)

Directions:
Mix together the dry ingredients. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour batter into a well greased 9x5" loaf pan. Let stand for 20 minutes and then bake for 60 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from pan while still hot. ENJOY!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

One little, Two little, Three little Indians.....

2010-11-24T07:54:00.003-05:00

My sister is married to a man of Cherokee lineage. So much so that her father in law is named Tonto! How cool is that?? I have no claim to Native American Heritage. I do, however, come from some hardy stock.... the pilgrims! One very cool thing about my bloodline is that on my mom's side our family goes all the way back to the Mayflower!! I am an actual decedent of one of the original pilgrims! :)

I didn't have pilgrim outfits so my boys and I had a GREAT time dressing up as Indians for the Thanksgiving Feast at school yesterday. I LOVE Thanksgiving. Such a great day to set aside time to THANK God for all of our blessings.

Whatever you are doing this week take some time to THANK God for the blessings in your life.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life!
www.simplefamilysupper.com

Choosing Simplicity.... Fresh Baked Goodies recipe list

2010-11-22T08:15:00.005-05:00

I am a summer loving gal. Since it is not summer (and can't be outside enjoying the sunshine) I BAKE! I can not tell you how much I LOVE summer. However, I CHOOSE to enjoy each season by focusing on what I like best about it. In the fall and winter I LOVE to bake. Choosing to enjoy the warmth of the kitchen and the wonderful joy I find in creating goodies helps the cold months to pass enjoyably.

I thought that I would put together a list of some favorite recipes from former posts. Enjoy some baking time!

A few favorite recipes:

Comfort food: Best ever corn bread

Starting the morning off with a healthy Peanut Butter Granola
More love of peanut butter with these easy chewy peanut butter bars
'Tiss the season for FUDGE and this one is easy and frugal: favorite fudge
Pumpkin pancakes are a hit at our house and they freeze well, too!
This coffee cake is one of the yummiest (and frugal) coffee cakes I have ever had. I make it several times a year.
No eggs? No milk?? No oil?? No problem! This delicious depression era chocolate cake doesn't need those ingredients.
Got some over ripe bananas? Banana poppy seed muffins to the rescue.
Need an easy bread to accompany your meal? This Italian Flat Bread is a snap to make.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather
What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life! http://www.simplefamilysupper.com

Choosing Simplicity.... trust God for TODAY

2010-11-20T15:48:00.003-05:00

"Give us this day our daily bread" as the Lord's prayer goes. I find that Choosing a Simple Life really does bring me back to living out the way of the word. Christ instructs us to trust him for TODAY'S needs. When I get all worried about things in the future my stress level rises. BIG. Time.

Sometimes we face situations that are HARD and we just don't understand how we can get through. However, don't have to worry about that... Trust God for TODAY!! Whatever the situation God's grace is sufficient for TODAY. I remember one particularly hard situation we were going through. I would get so weary and down because I just couldn't see the end in sight. My sister had some wise words.... Trust God for TODAY's bread! Strength for the DAY. She was so right.... Immagine that, God's word is true!

For some the holidays can be extra stressful. I often find myself wondering.. "How am I going to get all this done?? How are we going to afford this?? How am I going to handle being around that person?? Are my kids going to like their gifts??" You know what God is teaching me?? FOCUS on TODAY. Live in TODAY!! Don't let myself get all wrapped up in the stresses of tomorrow. God will be with me on those days. He is also showing me where I add stress into my life by trying to be like others and comparing myself to what everyone else is doing. There are so many unspoken expectations at the holidays that we think we have to meet. I am asking myself to take stock in what is really important. Focus on what really matters today and what God wants me to do with my day. I don't have to do everything, I don't have to live up to unrealistic expectations.

TODAY is what I have. TODAY is my life. I just know that CHOOSING simplicity involves saying a lot of "no". No to extra stuff, no to extra worry! ENJOYING the day rather than stressing about tomorrow makes a huge difference in my life. I can guarantee that my kids will enjoy the holidays a lot more with a relaxed mom than with a stressed out one.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

What is for supper?? Eliminate this daily stress from your life!
www.simplefamilysupper.com

Making Thanksgiving Memories

2010-11-20T08:59:00.002-05:00

Fun Thanksgiving ideas for children! Monica, at homespun heart totally rocks. Hop on over and enjoy her creative, fun and frugal ideas for celebrating thanksgiving and making it extra special for children. Build memories!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity... Choosing Contentment.

2010-11-10T11:48:00.004-05:00

Ahh.... I hear it..."that is so sweet". What a nice idea. Actually, NO! Choosing Contentment is not sweet. Rather it is a BATTLE! Contentment goes against every cell in our flesh. We WANT more, we want different, we want perfection, we WANT, want, want!!

Choosing Contentment means taking up deliberate battle against our raging, wanting, desires. It is NOT easy. Am I trying to discourage you from Choosing contentment?? Definitely not. I am being honest.

Have you ever thought that you were the only one that Really, really, really struggles with discontentment? You are so not alone. We ALL have issues of WANT. We might not all want the same thing (and that enters us into comparison), but that isn't the point at all. Discontentment is longing for what we don't have rather than choosing thankfulness and joy with what we do have. It is a heart issue. aarrrgg... why do we have to have heart issues! Heart issues are a battle ground!! Take up the sword with me and join me in slaying this discontentment dragon.

I think that sometimes we fear that having contentment means we are 'settling' for less than we can be. That somehow we will give up hope at "making progress". Questions like "If I become content with my body will I just always be over weight?" or "If I become content with our income will we always be paying peter to pay paul?" We fear that life will somehow become LESS worth living if we give up WANTING. This is such a trick of the enemy. God's ways never seem to make sense to our earthly minds. Truthfully, though, contentment sets us free! Contentment gives us the power to LIVE RICH. Wealthy is a matter of money, RICH is a matter of the heart.

Will you take up battle with me?? Will you wage a war for contentment?? If you want some more inspiration hop on over to the Stay at Home Missionary and join up with her challenge. I am in! Are you??

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Exercise your FREEDOM!! VOTE!

2010-11-01T20:48:00.003-04:00

We are so blessed to have the opportunity to ELECT our government officials. PLEASE get out there and VOTE!!

This year, for the first time ever, our family has been directly involved in a campaign for our local Sheriff. Go Gary Adams!! It has been such a blessing to be a part of this process. Our daughter really enjoyed the day she spent with us going door to door.... I'm excited our kids have had this experience as children.

PLEASE get out and VOTE today!!!
Thank God for this freedom and privilege!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Deer Down! MEAT in the freezer

2010-10-26T20:03:00.003-04:00

Last night my handsome husband shot this BIG, 224 pound, 8 point buck with his bow. God is so good. Yummy meat for the winter and a good hunt.

The first two does (hubby got one and oldest son got one) I canned up. We LOVE canned deer meat and I am working on a "how to" post on canning deer meat. However, with this one we decided to do sausage and jerky.

So I now have 50 pounds of ground sausage in my freezer and 5 pounds of jerky meat marinating in the fridge. I will post the sausage and jerky recipes tomorrow... right now I am tired and the kids all need tucked into bed.

We ended up with 55 pounds of boneless meat. We process ourselves and are careful not to be wasteful, but we do trim off as much fat as possible (the fat is full of game flavor in addition to extra calories). Chris gave the hide to our taxidermy friend and in trade he is going to mount the antlers on a Oak board. God is good!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

God made us to NEED Friendships!

2010-10-22T07:01:00.001-04:00

Warning: I am very passionate about the following topic! I originally shared this post back in October of 2008, but it totally stands true today. I 100% believe that God gave us a NEED for friendships.

Modern life can be very lonely. It doesn't matter if you are a stay at home mom, work at home mom, full time "paycheck" mom or any combination of that. We live in a RUSHED, busy, fast paced world that squeezes out all of our time, resources and energy. It doesn't leave a lot left for friendships.

I am a people person and really enjoy being around others. I find conversation invigorating and inspiring. God has put in me a strong need for relationships. I HAVE to connect with others.

This week I have had the privilege of spending time with TWO different friends. I met for lunch on Monday with my friend, Jackie. Jackie and I have only been friends since spring. She is older than me, but it goes to show that when God is involved in your friendships age doesn't matter at all! I believe that God has bought us together for a reason... to encourage, inspire and push each other in our personal walks with our Heavenly Father.

Today my friend, Brook, came over for a nice visit. We try to get together every other week on Wednesday mornings. We have known each other for almost 9 years... she was pregnant with her first, she now holds her precious baby girl, number 5! She is such a blessing and encouragement to me. We are both mothers of many young ones and understand each other's challenges and stresses. She was also pregnant at the same time while I was expecting my last two babies. Pregnancy and babies created a bond between us. She is also married to a "Chris". I think that one reason Brook and I get along so well is because we are opposite in so many ways. We always joke that personality wise I am like her husband, Chris, and she is like my husband, Chris! Some of the best qualities of each of our spouses we find in our friendship! Opposites really do attract in friendships as well as in love.

Making time for friendship is important. Life is BUSY and CRAZY, but doing the IMPORTANT things first puts things in the right priority. I value the group of wonderful ladies I meet with for Bible study on Friday mornings more than I could ever express. They are not only wonderful friends, but the accountability to be in the Bible completing the study is just what I need. My family also participates in a small group Bible Study/fellowship every other Friday evening. We ALL look forward to 'Jordan' Fridays very much. Getting together as families is also very important.

I went through a very lonely time a few years ago... I finally felt the Lord tell me to stop feeling sorry for myself and to reach out to others and BE a FRIEND! God's principle of sewing and reaping is true in every aspect of our lives. As I put energy and effort into being a friend and reaching out to others God has blessed me with friendship in return. Friendship is a lot like gardening..... I think that I will make that another post! LOL!!

I encourage you, reach out to women around you. Become a friend to someone. They don't have to be just like you, the same age, or have the same lifestyle or hobbies. Some of my good friends live the town life, others live out in the country. I have friends from many different churches, but we all love Jesus. We all have a need for relationship, we all have the need to be valued. Modern life can be lonely.... we can go days without real conversation. Give someone a call, write a note or invite someone over! Lunch dates, play dates, Bible studies and phone conversations are all possible if we just put out the effort.

My best friend, my sister Melissa, lives 50 miles south and is a full time "paycheck" mom. Between distance and time factors we don't see each other as much as we would like, but we make it a point to talk on the phone and email on a regular basis. Do what works.... be a friend and enjoy friendship!

Ok... off my soap box!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Choosing Simplicity.... Hospitality and generosity on a budget

2010-10-21T07:01:00.002-04:00

Is it possible to be both frugal and practice generosity and hospitality?? To stay on budget and still prepare a meal for a friend? YES!!! I believe 100% that as Christians we are called to practice hospitality and sharing. Tomorrow I share about a very passionate subject of mine: that God created us to NEED friendships. God has called us to love one another. A meal is a wonderful way to show and express love and care. I also know that God is our provider and if he is calling for us to be generous (which he is) then He WILL supply all of our needs!!! You can not out give God.... He will always make a way!!! .

How to be both Hospitable, Generous and Frugal:

Make big batches of food. If I am taking a meal to someone I will just make double of what I am making for our family. If you are having quests over just make double to serve.
Stock up on loss leaders so that you have a supply in your pantry to prepare from.
Give a treat. If you don't want to make a complete meal a loaf of home made bread is a BIG treat for most people. Also, dropping of a desert always shows love. You can also invite friends over for desert and cards... this is one of our winter time favorites.
Never turn down help. If you invite friends over and they ask what they can bring have them bring a side or a desert. I NEVER mind taking something when we are invited and it really helps cut down on cost.
Keep the meals simple. I can not say this enough. BEING with others is the important thing... not impressing them with what you serve. Hospitality is OTHERS focused... entertaining is ME focused. Use the same frugal recipes you use with your own family.
Give a gift from your garden. I don't know of anyone that will turn down fresh produce... unless they have a garden in full swing!
Give a gift from you pantry.... Do you can? Do you freeze? A homemade loaf of bread and homemade jam is a real treat!
Remember it is the HEART and ATTITUDE that God looks at!!!! A gift in love is what God desires.... He calls us to be cheerful givers. Don't give out of DUTY!

In our crazy, busy and frazzled modern world an evening of hospitality or sharing is a BIG way to show the love of Christ to others. It means a lot. Think about the last time someone had you over for dinner or dropped off a treat for you. How did it make you feel?? I know it made you feel loved and cared for. Extending our love by having others in our home is a powerful way to bless them! Be encouraged... you can practice hospitality and generosity without breaking the bank.

I believe in keeping things simple!!! Give my sample menu a try... they are easy to double, have some friends over and practice hospitality! www.simplefamilysupper.com

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The WALTONS are being aired again!

2010-10-21T07:01:00.001-04:00

Finding TV shows you can watch as a family are hard to find. One of my favorites is the Waltons. We have the DVD set, but I am excited to let you all know I just found out they are back on tv!! I have the dvr set.

Here are the details:

Beginning Monday, October 18th on INSP, viewers also can journey back with "The Waltons" at 1pm EST and 8pm EST when the series begins its exclusive Monday-Friday run on the network.

INSP is available in more than 60 million homes across the US on more than 2,800 cable systems and on DIRECTV channel 364 and DISH Network channel 259. Viewers can check their local program guides for channel line-up information or visit /the-waltons.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Getting the house ready for winter and PUMPKIN PIE bars

2010-10-20T08:14:00.005-04:00

Fall is here. Whether I want it to be or not. Denial only lasts so long. I am a SUMMER gal and try very hard to enjoy fall and winter. Actually fall isn't so bad in and of itself... it is beautiful. However, it is just knowing that winter is around the corner that gets to me. Really, I am TRYING to enjoy winters and last winter was my best one yet... attitude does go a long way (and also taking vitamin D helps a ton). OK, enough of my whining! :)

Winter preparation was what my handsome husband and I did yesterday afternoon. Took out the window air conditioners, cleaned out the wood stove and chimney, made sure all the hoses were put up, lit the wall furnace unit, changed the furnace filters and ran the big beast (ancient) furnace for a 20 minute warm up. We don't run the big furnace but a handful of times all year... the thing goes through gas like crazy. But it is comforting to know it does run.... back up is nice.

Baking is such a wonderful way to warm up the kitchen and fill the house with delicious aromas! No candle in the world will compete with the warm fragrance of freshly baked bread or yummy treat. In the fall and winter I love to bake with pumpkin. It is yummy and nutrient packed. One of our favorite pumpkin treats is Pumpkin Pie Bars. If you like pumpkin pie you are sure to love this finger licking good-hold in your hand- bar!

Pumpkin Pie Bars

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
(I'm sure you could just use 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice)

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 Grease a 12x8 pan OR a pie pan (I used the pie pan because I don't have a 12x8 pan)
In a mixing bowl, beat eggs.
Stir in sugar, oil and pumpkin mix well.
Stir in flour and spices.
Bake for 20-25 minutes (until set in the middle)
Cool (or eat warm like we did).
They will hold their shape very well and are easy to eat! We ate them with cool whip on top! YUMMY!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

How to get your kids to listen to you

2010-10-19T07:55:00.003-04:00

Do you feel like no matter how loud you are your kids never hear you?? I really want my kids to listen to me!! Why don't they?? ahh... this might be why! YIKES! I have been that crazy woman in the picture a time or two.... I needed the following post!

"Matthew Henry says "What is spoken wisely should be spoken calmly, and then it will be heard in quiet and calmly considered. But passion will lessen the force even of reason, instead of adding any force to it."

Are you baffled at the fact that your children are not listening to you? Research has shown that when a parent raises their voice at a child - a defense mechanism kicks in that helps the child emotionally protect themselves by tuning out what you are actually saying." .......... To read the rest of this post hop on over to Courtney's blog, Women Living Well. EXCELLENT post (and excellent blog)

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Simple Family Supper

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Fall Favorites: Pumpkin Cobbler

2010-10-16T08:08:00.003-04:00

The amazing way this cobbler makes the house smell while baking is enough reason to make this one. The fragrance it creates beats any candle any day.... and BONUS you get to EAT it when it is done baking!! LOL This EASY recipe is sure to be a big hit with anyone that loves pumpkin. I made it again last night to take to our small group Bible study and there wasn't even a bite left to bring home.... gonna make another one this morning. ENJOY.

I originally posted this pumpkin cobbler recipe last year... this is a fall tradition that will be a part of our life for years to come. :) It is a EASY recipe, it just takes time to bake. It is good warm, it is good cold, it is FANTASTIC with vanilla ice cream.

Super Moist Pumpkin Cobbler
Ingredients:
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups cooked pumpkin (or use canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling)
2 1/4 cups sugar (I used 2 cups of brown sugar and it was PLENTY sweet.. could reduce)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. cloves (I did not use this much and I also added a few dashes of nutmeg)
1 spice cake mix (I used a yellow cake mix and just sprinkled on some cinnamon and cloves)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions:
Mix eggs, pumpkin, sugar, salt and spices. Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Sprinkle cake mix over the top. Pour melted butter all over the cake mix. Sprinkle nuts on top. DO NOT MIX. Cover with foil and bake at 325 for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 40 minutes.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!Heather

Simple Family Supper

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Weekend Wanderings.... Link Love

2010-10-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

I have been very blessed and encouraged by these following posts. ENJOY!

The Secret to Abundant Life!!! I LOVE this post.... really helps to keep our focus!

Walking along side my children..... the importance of my mothering my children! Encouraging!!

Keys to Simple Living! Oh, the truth in this post!

Musings on a Simple Life has a great post to help gain perspective.

Our personal temper tantrums tear our homes down! Such good conviction. Encouragement for me to really THINK about the impact of my words and actions!!

I'm gonna miss this all someday! The fact is that someday I will miss all these CRAZY moments of raising the children. Point: I must CHOOSE to live in and enjoy the moment!!!! LOVED this post!!

14 marks of a wise woman. Continuing to GROW in these areas is what I want to do.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather