Mexican Chicken and Rice

ingredients:

2 lb chicken

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 green pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. seasoning salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 c. chicken broth

1 c. salsa

1(8oz.)can corn, drained

1 1/2 uncooked instant rice

1 c. shredded marble cheese(optional)

directions:

In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil untill its no longer pink. Add the pepper and onions and cook untill tender. Then add the corn, broth, salsa, salt, seasoning salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in the rice. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand about 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Sprinkle with cheese if desired. Let stand for a few minutes or untill cheese is melted.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

                         Meatballs:                                    

2 lb ground beef

2 eggs

2/3 cup oatmeal

1 onion, grated

dash of salt and pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

    Mix the meatball ingredients. Form small balls. Place a single layer in baking dish and bake uncovered at 350 Degrees Fahrenheit.

        While meatballs are browning, prepare sauce:

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 bell peppers, sliced up 

1 c. pineapple juice

1 c. ketchup

1/2 c. water

4 tsp. brown sugar

4 tsp. vinigar

dash of salt and pepper

Warm up oil in saucepan and saute onion and peppers on medium heat until sftened a bit. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Boil about 10 minutes.

Pour sauce over meatballs and bake covered for about 30 -45 minutes.

Taste great on top of rice!

When Things Get Overwhelming

After John's death:

"When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
John 14:13-16

Jesus often went on his own to pray and seek the will of His Father and sometimes we need to do that, too. What stood out to me in these verses today was that after John's death, it seems that Jesus wanted some time on His own. The news must have been heart breaking for Him. However quiet time didn't work out for Him since He was followed. He then went right back to helping people.
As women we can often get very overwhelmed by the business of life. Often it seems we are needed in too many places at once. Juggling family, all the chores, errands outside of home, homeschooling, appointments ( the list could go on ) will sometimes leave us exhausted! You add a sick child to that or maybe being sick ourselves, financial hardships, broken appliances or vehicle and it might feel like chaos and hopeless at times. How we react in whatever our circumstances may be a challenging test... A test that we may often fail in, but lets think of it as a test we want to pass. To do well on a test requires studying an taking in knowledge. To pass this test during challenges requires the same. We need to study God's word, which will fill us with His Spirit / way of thinking. What is in the heart will eventually show on the outside. If we fill our hearts with good, good will come from it.... if we don't we will not have the strength that He gracefully gives us as we need.

If you are having a day where you feel out of control, overwhelmed and exhausted, take a moment to yourself (in the bathroom may work) Ask God to help you start over, turn on some soft music, go gives your kids or husband a hug and do the things set before you one thing at a time. Maybe God isn't asking you to do quite as much as you think you need to do but just do what you are able to. And if you do come out of the bathroom to what seems like chaos with needs everywhere you look, remember what Jesus did in this story. He continued to serve even though He too was exhausted, overwhelmed and very saddened!.... Whatever the circumastances....this too shall pass!

Motivation/Spring Cleaning

 I love spring time! It's a time of newness and just very refreshing.   I was going to wait until school was finished a little farther to do my spring cleaning but just couldn't wait any longer! We doubled our work load in school yesterday and decided to do some spring cleaning now already and also enjoy the beautiful weather we have been having.
Today I worked on our bedroom. Cleaned everything top to bottom and then did the windows in our girls' room. One thing that can be motivating in this process is to challenge others to do their cleaning at the same time and then share before and after pictures with each other. I did this through my facebook page .
Here are some before and after shots:

 BEFORE

Sometimes it has to get messier before it gets better!

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

 Motivation in the home is a very big thing! I have gone through times I was not motivated and I also get so busy with other things that staying organized and keeping the home clean isn't always at the top of my list, but I do think we need to do our best with what God has given us! Having little children+ homeschooling = big messes. (especially with a  5 year old who has a ver big imagination! ) And so I have stopped expecting perfection. I think all that God is asking us to do is to  keep going. Don't procrastinate! (the act of willfully delaying the doing of something that should be done)

And then there are those who have totally different ideas!:) Glad he was having fun getting all muddy on the quad they borrowed, while I was working away! Ha ha!

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

LILY~ 6 Months Old!

 Once again , I have to say... I can't believe how time flies! My baby is 6 months old today. We have so enjoyed this little bundle! She is always smiling and sometimes will laugh so hard at something, it makes us all laugh!

As you can see, she is learning to eat like a little lady :)

  She is starting to sit on her own, though I have some trust issues with this still!

One happy baby!

Sisters-in-the-Lord

                                             

 Here we are sisters in the Lord

Coming together in one accord

Singing and shouting together in praise

For our Redeemer our voices we raise

A family we are through God’s great love

How precious how pure a love from above

We bow and we worship before our King

We laugh and we cry but still we sing

Jesus our Saviour we will not deny

Coming together to testify

Of all the things which God has done

He made us anew through Jesus His Son

How precious how sweet, our sisters  are here

How great and wonderful a gift so dear

Singing and praising not one without the other

How grateful we are for our Heavenly Father

                                        written by Nancy Wall

Chunky Potato Soup

4 cups water

5 medium potatoes

1 chopped onion

5 tbsp. butter

5 tbsp. flour

6 cups milk

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

2 cups cubed cooked ham

1 tbsp. chicken soup base

1 tbsp. seasoning salt

ground black pepper

parsley (optional)

Bring water to boil in a pot and add the potatoes. Cook until tender.drain potatoes , reserving the cooking liquid. Set aside.

Melt butter in saucepan and add onions, cook untill tender. Add flour, soup base and seasong salt to pan and black pepper to taste. Cook about 2 minutes.

Measure 2 cups of the cooking liquid back into potatoes. (add water if you don't have enough cooking liquid.) Then add your onion mixture, cheese and ham to the potatoes. Simmer over low heat about 20-30 minutes.

Garnish with parsley which I didn't have at this time. You could also add some cooked brocolli instead of ham. I think I actually prefer that.

Wildlife Adventure

Have you ever taken your kangaroo for a walk?

  and then carried him when he got tired? :)

Have you ever been taught by an owl?

 Perhaps you have played in dirt before...

 But I'm pretty sure you have never held a tarantula!

But you may have milked a cow....

 

Have you ever climbed a mountain?

 And then came back down , full speed?

This was a school homeschool trip we had on Saturday. Got to see some neat animals, pet a snake, climb a wall and learn some intersting facts . Did you know a tarantula is not actually poisonous and they rearely bite?

My God is So Great!

(same flowers on both pictures and the only two that grow on our yard each year.)

A&W Confession of a Homeschooler

  I thought I better make it to the Blogger confession room and get this off my chest! First of all I can explain! I better tell this story from the beginning! (nervously paces back and forth)
 It began like this... I wake up this morning and started the usual routine. The youngest two were up early again, fed the baby, said a (quick) be with me Lord prayer. Made a heartfelt breakfast (cold cereal). Started everyone on their school work, did some cleaning up where and when I had a chance,  gave everyone lunch , finished school then off to swimming lessons I went with Anthony and Emily. All pretty normal thus far other than the fact that I let my oldest babysit his two little sisters today!
 Well, this is where it all begins. I get kids to the pool and then decide to leave today while they swim. (Needed to pick up a few things in town.)
 I'm driving along and that's when it happened!  I .... Nancy.... went to.... A&W... ALL by myself AND ordered a BIG Teen Burger... and I sat there... QUIETLY and ate! A few times I looked to the back seats, thinking I heard someone say "mom" but it wasn't so!  Uh Huh!! It really happened! If I had had my camera, I would have taken a picture to prove it but sorry I didn't.
 Anyway, now you all know how I really did things today!
LOL.... Ok I will make my real point now.  Life is busy... we need to meet a lot of needs daily,  so why not have an A&W kind of moment once in our lives !  :)
 When you start to feel really run-down, we need to look to God for strength and His word is able to refuel us over and over but maybe sometimes it's ok to take a time out like I did if at all possible!
(some humour intended)

Seasons, Time and Purpose

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

My Grace Given Photos

I enjoy taking pictures and adding the verses and quotes that inspire me. The day I took this picture it was snowing and cold. I was suppose to be going for coffee with a few friends but the roads were slippery and covered in snow. I decided to stay home, make myself a tea and do some reading instead.

You may also join me on my  Grace Given Photos facebook page.

Kati-Lyn's 5th Birthday

Today one of our princesses became a handful :0 (She turned 5!) She is a strong and determined little girl! I believe her determination will help her to persevere in hard times. Her strength will help her in not giving up when things seem hopeless.  She is capable of much. I pray that as she gets older, she will see her need for Jesus more and more. I pray that she will use her God-given gifts to advance the kingdom. 

She wasn't feeling very well actually but still ended up having a good day. Yesterday she came up to me and says,"Mom I think my voice is getting different because I'm turning 5 tomorrow." (she had a sore throat and was losing her voice!:)

A few aunts and cousins came over today and we even had a turkey supper!

Thank You Lord for your blessings on us!

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5

Hip Builders

Here is another recipe for you. I made these today. I feel like changing the name on them though :) With that title , it's almost scary eating them, but they are really good!

Base:
1 3/4 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut
1 tbsp vanilla
2 cups oatmeal
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup hot water

Topping:
1 cup chocolate chips
1 can sweet condensed milk
2 tbsp margarine
1 tsp vanilla

Mix base ingredients and press into a 9x13 pan, saving some crumbs for topping.
Melt the topping ingredients and spread over base. Sprinkle with the leftover crumbs and bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.

Turkey Enchiladas

First of all if you have left over turkey that you won't be eating within a day or two, FREEZE it! There are a bunch of things you can use it for later on. The picture here  was taken on a day I really didn't have time to cook, didn't have anything in the house that was ready to be eaten, but had to feed my little group of hungry people. I suddenly remembered the frozen turkey I had put in the freezer a while ago and made some quick enchiladas. All I did was warm up the turkey, fried the corn tortillas in a small amount of oil. I wrapped the turkey in the tortillas and placed them in a baking dish. Topped it with enchilada sauce and cheese.  Baked at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes .

Now that turned out good and was the very quick and easy way.  However if you have a little more time on your hands than what I did, I have an even yummier idea!

ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped up

1 clove garlic, minced

1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and cut into small pieces

1 small bell pepper, cut into pieces

4-5 cups of cooked turkey, chopped

3-4 cups enchilada sauce

2-3 cups of cheese, shredded

10 - 20 flour tortillas (depending on size) or about 20 corn tortillas

 Heat olive oil in a sauté pan on medium heat. Add the chopped onion , garlic, jalapeños and bell pepper and cook until the onions are  soft. Mix in your cooked turkey and cook for about 5 minutes.

 Dip each tortilla into enchilada sauce and spoon the turkey filling into each tortilla. (if using corn tortillas , fry them in oil about 30 seconds per side.)Roll up your tortilla and place into a baking pan. Top with cheese and bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.

If desired garnish with cut up avacado and sour cream and refried beans is a great side dish!

 This works well with chicken also.

One Decade ago....

We had a precious baby boy! Seems like only yesterday that we came home with Anthony. We thank God that He gave us this chance to raise him and pray that he will follow the plans God has for him.

Just one day before Anthony was born,  his cousin Lauralie was born. She is vey special to us and this year we wanted to celebate their first decade together.

You are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

Turtles (chocolate)

1 1/4 cup brown sugar                                         2 cans sweetened condensed milk

1 cup margarine                                                   1 tbsp vanilla

1 cup corn syrup                                                  1 1/2 lb pecans

pinch of salt                                                          2 cups melted milk chocolate

Mix first 4 ingredients and bring to  a boil. Add the condensed milk and continue to boil for about 15-20 minutes. (try dropping a drop of the mixture into cold water. If it hardens , it is ready. If it stays runny cook a bit longer.) Take off burner and add vanilla and pecans. Drop into cookie sheets with a teaspoon.  Let cool completely and dip into melted chocolate. Place back on cookie sheet until chocolate hardens. Refrigerate.

When melting chocolate, Place in a pot over boiling water to melt by steam. Do not over heat chocolate!( I also I like adding about 1/2 teaspoon of shortening to chocolate.)

True Woman 2012...

 In 2010, I went to a True Woman's Conference up in Indianapolis. It was an amazing experience and just what I needed at the time. Not sure if I will be going, but there is another one coming up this year.  Speakers include Nancy Leigh Demoss, Joni Eareckson Tada and many others, with worship leaders Keith and Kristy Getty.

 I have been reading books by Nancy Leigh Demoss for years. Did The Lies Women Believe Study and Seeking Him. Joni Eareckson Tada's life is also very inspiring.
 Even though I would really enjoy going again, I don't want to go just for that reason. The year I did God clearly opened the doors and He did use it for good in my life.  If God leads you to go , I would definately say go for it! I do however think God is able to do just as much for us back home. So hmmmm.. Will I go again? I do have my doubts, but we'll see.
Here is their website with information:

                   Details for True Woman 2012

Geography Fun!

Our children are having fun learning about our world in a new way with this Leap Frog interactive game.  I only bought the map at first, not realizing I needed to buy the tag reader seperately. I then wasn't sure at first rather I wanted to bring it back or go ahead and buy the tag reader but  I went ahead and bought it!  

I do believe it was worth buying. The kids are having a lot of fun learning about our world with it!

And we may as well learn at a young age!

Just make sure you buy the map AND the tag reader!

Counting Our Blessings:)

Lily Grace- She has brought so many smiles into our home and she is very special miracle baby!

Kat-Lyn- Never a dull moment with her around! She is artistic and loves to sing.

Emily- Always thinking of others and doing special things for her family and a very quick learner with almost anything!

Anthony- Has a very content personality and a loving spirit! His smile can make anyone smile!

James- often comes up with many interesting projects that take me by surprise and weren't always safe in a mom's eyes, yet quite responsible!