God is real real good!

At the end of September a pipe in the house we were renting started spraying water in the master bedroom 's closet. This was the second time this happened. The first time, the landlord did not return our calls for three weeks. Then he finally came to pick up the rent and sent a plumber. Well, this time my husband talked to him personally in the front yard and the landlord promised to send a plumber the next day. Needless to say four weeks went by and no plumber and no landlord. We were having to turn the main valve off outside, and turn it on to flush the toilets, wash dishes, shower, etc. Definitely a huge pain. Not to mention, whenever we had to leave the water on for more than five minutes, like to take a shower, the water would flood the master bedroom. So of course everything started growing mold on it, and the carpet padding was smelling up the place. With central heat and air, the smell and mold spores were just circulating throughout the house. One morning my husband was riding down the street and saw a For Rent sign. He told me to call it. Reluctantly, I called thinking, "why, since I know we are not moving and we don't have the money to move anyway". The house was amazing (5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, loft and familyroom) and it was basically the same price as the 3 bedroom we were living in. God stepped in big time. In a matter of 3 days, we were approved for the house, the money was paid for move-in and we were moving in! Tell me that God doesn't provide! We are no longer dealing with the mold and mildew from the leakage, we are not having to turn the water on and off, and we are in a home that we would have never thought we could afford. This house is more than twice the size of the last one, and the price is basically the same. If you are looking for me, you'll find me singing His praises.

"Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works." I Chronicles 16:9

Red-bellied woodpecker

I was sitting in the van today and noticed this in the tree. Wondering why I was sitting in the van? Well... I needed to get away. For some reason today the kids are driving me insane. The funny thing is that they are not being bad, unruly, or obnoxious. I am just annoyed. I am sure it's because this house is getting on my last nerve. The landlord is at the top of my "please don't mess with me" list. There is water all over my closet and on the carpet in the bedroom. We have to turn the water off outside so that the room doesn't get flooded. He has known about this busted pipe for over three weeks now, and we have not heard from him. Ugh! But this post wasn't suppose to be the platform for my pity party. Check out God and all His amazingness! That bird is beautiful. My picture does not do it justice.

It took me forever to take that picture of the woodpecker. Then I got back into the van, and heard a noise. I looked behind me and I saw this little bird in the cupholder. I freaked out! I ran in the house and told Jaylem to come outside and get the bird out of the van. This made ALL the kids come out. It took another 30 minutes for Jaylem to get this picture. That little birdie kept eluding us! It was hilarious. Finally, after we got the picture, it darted out of the window as I was reaching in. Of course the kids fell over the ground laughing at me, because I definitely screamed and almost fell over a tree root. God brought some beauty and laughter in an otherwise crummy day.

"Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them." Psalm 126:2

Darion's first bubble bath

I let Darion take a bubble bath the other day. I figured since he could sit up, he would enjoy it. You be the judge....






Mekhi thought it was so cool that Darion was in the tub with him. Actually Mikaela was there, too. They were so dirty from playing in the backyard, that I had to put Mikaela and Mekhi in together so that my house did not look like they did. Usually she would pitch a fit, but she knew that her dirtiness outweighed her usual protests.

I might just let him and Mekhi bathe together from now on. Since I stay in the bathroom with Mekhi anyway, I might as well be efficient.


"Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." Acts 2:28

New Pancakes!

Pancakes are one of our favorite meals. We could eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Tonight we decided to try a new kind of pancake: German pancakes. They were soooo good! This isn't a great picture, and this was the only one left when I thought to add it to my blog.

Here's the recipe....

German Pancakes

1 cup flour

1 cup milk

6 eggs

1/4 cup melted butter or margarine

pinch of salt

Combine all the ingredients. I used my Magic Bullet (a definite must-have). It works wonderful; everything blends together perfectly. Grease muffin cups and pour batter into the cups. The recipe says it will fill 24 regular sized muffin cups. I used one regular muffin pan and filled 8 of them and one mini muffin pan with 12 cups. I did fill them to the top, so that might have contributed to me having less. Bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees or until golden brown. They are eggy, and not your typical pancake, but my most finicky eater (Jaylem) loved them. He ate some with strawberries and whipped cream, and some with plain 'ole pancake syrup. Mekhi requested that I make them everyday.

"Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me" Proverbs 30:8

Feast of Tabernacles

Well, our journey to observing the biblical holydays is hit and miss. After Rosh Hashana we totally spazed and forgot to observe Yom Kippur. Then we remebered Sunday that Feast of Tabernacles started on the 13th. Well, a mad dash to build a sukkoth without money or materials is a pretty daunting task. We had a couple of posts from the fencing left in the backyard so we used those. We had nails but could not find none of te hammers that we know we own. So we resulted to using a mallet for hammering, sheets for walls, common household staples, shipping tape, and some leftover screening we found in the garage. Talk about 'making due'. When we finally finished, I knew without a doubt that there was no way we were going to literally "dwell" in that thing, so I commenced to try to put up a tent from the 80's. It had about a million pieces (exaggeration), and it just did not happen. So we made a tent in the livingroom out of some comforters, clothespins, and thick string. The kids love it, and I have been dubbed "the bestest tent maker in the whole wide world" (Mekhi). Mr. Amazing (hubby) said it was the most ghetto-fabulous tent ever. We did do school in the sukkoth yesterday, it was sorta fun (not!), but Mikaela thought it was the best thing ever. Savion liked it, too, but of course, Jaylem was not impressed. He just wanted to hammer something. That's all he kept asking about, 'was there anything else for him to hammer'. Depending on what time Mr. Amazing gets home, we might have dinner in it tonight. The kids want to roast marshmallows.... we will see if daddy lets them build a campfire in the backyard. Somehow, I don't see that happening. Might be using the oven for that adventure.

"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." Zechariah 14:16

Granola bars

I saw an ad in the Albertson's flyer this week for Quaker products at 5/$9. They also had a coupon for$3 off, so it would have been 5/$6. I thought that was a great price considering we buy granola bars each week for Saturday's football game. Then it dawned on me, "why am I ecstatic about that price when I have all the things I need in my pantry to make my own?" If I make my own, I would know what's in them, I would not have to waste gas to go to Albertson's and it would be virtually "free" since I already have all the ingredients. I use to always make our granola bars, so why did I stop? Sheer laziness, I bet. It's not hard to make them, nor is it time consuming, so I really don't have an excuse. So yesterday afternoon we set out to make them. We made four different varieties: peanut butter chip, chocolate chip, reese's candy pieces, and walnut/cranberry/raisin/chocolate chip. Yum, yum, yum!!! I made two batches of the mix and then divided them into 4 bowls, then mixed in the add-ins. Then Jaylem and I pressed them into the cookie sheet with rims. Sorry I didn't get to take a picture of them, because we had to rush out of the house to football practice. Here's the recipe if you're interested:



Granola Bars



3 cups rolled oats

1 1/2 cups rice crispies

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter or margarine (softened)

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups of add-ins (total)



Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease pan. Mix all ingredients (by hand or a wooden spoon) except add-ins. Then stir in the add-ins. If you are making a variety, then separate the mix and add the add-ins to each.



Lightly press the mixture into the pan and bake for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let the bars cool completely in pan before removing.



We let them sit in the pan while we went to football practice, which is 2.5 hours. Then we wrapped them individually with foil, and put them in ziploc bags.



If I must say so myself, the ones with the walnuts are the best. Of course the kids were turned off by the dried cranberries.



I feel so much better about the kids consuming these. They are filling, too.

"Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones." Genesis 50:21

To be a kid again....

Is it possible to have that much fun, and still be an adult? Is it possible to be an adult and throw caution to the wind like that? This was the highlight of her day! If we could can her energy, and sell it, we would be rich. Mikaela has more fun than anyone I know. She is such a happy little girl; especially when she is outside.

Should I force her to be "ladylike"? Or should I just let her be? I want her to grow up to be a beautiful (inside & out), sincere, honest, modest and God-fearing young woman. She can still become all that even though she is my wild-child, right? One thing is for sure, she will definitely be a fun mommy! I love this little girl with all my heart. The Lord has truly made good on His promise.

"And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb." Deuteronomy 7:13

Math and preschool!

Recently, I was asked to supply some math links for elementary aged kids, and some preschool websites. So, Kat and Tanya, this is for you. Sorry I haven't gotten back to you sooner. Life has a way of going faster than you want it too.

http://www.edhelper.com/
http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm (This is a whole math "book". You just email them for the password)
http://www.donpotter.net/math.htm (This is a math book, too)
http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/math/

These are really good sites. The donpotter one is old-school 'rithmatic at its finest. In my opinion, the best thing to do for elementary age math is to just make a list of what you want to teach them (can be pulled from World Book), and then just follow the list with your own method of teaching. You can use manipulatives, go outside and use sidewalk chalk on the driveway, cook in the kitchen (fractions), or use Monoply money to learn to count back change (create a make-shift store). As long as they have a strong foundation, then middle school and high school math will come easy to them. Those foundations are KNOWING the math facts by heart, having a strong grasp of place value, and understanding measurement & estimation.

and preschool sites....

http://www.getreadytoread.org/ (look on the left-hand side and choose activities)
http://www.starfall.com/
http://www.juliasrainbowcorner.com/html/animalsounds.html (animal sounds)
http://www.barney.com/usa/festivalGame.asp
http://www.sesamestreet.org/home/
http://www.learningplanet.com/sam/cyc/index.asp
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/farm.htm (hidden pictures and you can color the picture online)
http://www.groovygames.com/kitty/pairs/default.asp (matching)
http://www.abc.net.au/countusin/games/game1.htm (counting)
http://www.lil-fingers.com/games
http://www.bookpop.com/ (stories, narrated to them)
http://www.bungalobooks.com/dots.html (connect the dots)
http://www.funbrain.com/dots/ (an AMAZING site! Can be used for preschool as well as older kids. It has all kinds of educational games)

As I come across new sites I will post them. Might be a new activity for me.

"And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do." Exodus 18:20

Happy Rosh Hashanah!!

Last night we celebrated Rosh Hashanah. The kids and I decided awhile ago to learn about the Biblical Holydays and to begin observing them. Rosh Hashanah actually started on September 29th at sundown, but we didn't know that, so we started our celebrations yesterday. The kids made shofars and blew them all evening. Giving Mikaela and Mekhi one was not the best idea in the world, because those things were noisy. We made them out of paper plates and construction paper. Then we wedged a party horn inside of them. Imagine the noise! The picture shows our table set for dinner. We made apple challah (recipe from Tammy's Recipes), and it was so good. It tastes like cinnamon rolls with apple spice. We did the whole traditional dipping it in honey. too. Mikaela wrapped ribbons around the chairs to "help" decorate. Then we played board games until 11pm. I figure since the Bible doesn't tell us how to celebrate this Holy Day except for blowing the shofar, we would make our own traditions. Rosh Hashanah ends today at sundown. So today we are going to study the Bible together and make ice cream sandwiches. If you get a chance, do yourself a favor and check out the link for Rosh Hashanah. The site outlines all of the Holy Days. It is such a blessing to see Jesus in these days that have been depicted as something wholly Jewish and anti-christain.


"it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings." Leviticus 23:31