Serving

Thinking of those who served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice, their life, for the freedoms with which we are now blessed in the United States of America.

As I was reading about the history of Memorial Day I learned this. . .

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

I then glanced at the clock and it was 3:00pm.  I was glad to join others in our country for a moment of prayer.

 

Thinking of those currently serving our country so we may continue to hold the freedoms we are so blessed with in the United States of America.

Thinking of our responsibility as believers to look for ways to serve others. . . our family, our church, our community, our friends. . . so that the love of Christ may be seen through our service.

Remembering a special dinner recently where the boys were asked to be waiters and serve tables.  It was a fun evening and a bit of a leap out of their comfort zone. 

(Mom said it was a good experience for them. . . and they had a great time!)

I hope we will impress upon our kids the joy of living "outside themselves".

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

Happy Memorial Day Monday,

Angels in a Mustang

They stop on by with a gift in hand,

Linda's famous chicken noodle soup-

the BEST in all the land!

Ed and Linda bless many with God's love and care,

and they are prayer warriors from the heart;

Friends like this are rare.

Can you believe, these two are grandparents great?

I hope I'm this hip at 70 and sittin' next to my mate!

Thanks for blessing Mr. E. with his favorite birthday meal, Linda! 

You're our angels in a Mustang!

It's number 46 for my handsome husband today. . .

I'm thankful for him and our special family.

He's a cat lovin', deer huntin', trap line runnin', fish reelin', fun lovin', husband o' mine!

Happy Friday!

The eyes have it

The weather has been beautiful around here.

Not too hot.

Not too cold.

No bugs.

Blue skies and sunshine.

Perfect for taking a few family photos for our friends.

 

 

The kids (and Daddy :), have just a wee bit of patience for the camera.

Especially when these are awaiting. . .

Don't kids just love marshmallows?!  Every last sticky bite.

This beautiful blue eyed family of five added their latest miracle just a few months ago.

After months of bed rest and concern for baby M, God's plan was perfect and they are now blessed to smother this new healthy baby boy with love.

And every time a new little addition joins their family?

A puppy does too!  It's a family tradition.

So yes, that makes three kids and three Labs!

 

 

       

           

 

And those eyes!  A photographer's dream.

 

This verse came to mind as I was taken with such beautiful eyes. . .

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

Happy Wednesday,

little things

It was a little thing but a definite blessing. . .

Daddy was out of town a few weeks ago.

Out of town for 4 nights in a row.

Which leaves momma bear a bit weary.

Grandpa and Grandma's phone call to say that they'd be in town and taking us out to dinner was a welcome surprise.

No cooking or overseeing clean-up tonight.  Yipeee!

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.
Laura Ingalls Wilder

May I always remember the sweet little things in my days and whisper a "Thank you, Lord" from my heart.

And the ice cream flavor of the day?. . . Turtle!  Very yummy!

Happy Saturday,

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

It's lunch time once again.

Meals are sooo. . . daily.  You know? 

I recently found this recipe in a Rachael Ray magazine and thought

it would be a perfect lunchtime option.

So I tried it and. . . .

the kids loved 'em!

Thumbs up all around!

Here's the recipe which serves 4.  I doubled it.

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

3/4 C flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 C milk

1 egg

4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

4 oz pepperoni, cut into small cubes ( I did not double this)

1/2 C pizza sauce

2 T finely chopped fresh basil

1.  Preheat the oven to 375, Grease a 24-cup mini-muffin pan or 12 regular muffin pan.  In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; whisk in the milk and egg.  Stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes. 

2.  Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups.  Bake until puffed and golden, 20-25 minutes.

3.  Meanwhile, heat the pizza sauce, then stir in 1 T basil.  Sprinkle the puffs with the remaining 1 T of basil.  Serve the puffs with pizza sauce for dipping.

Enjoy!

Happy Wednesday,

Simple Woman's Daybook

Monday, May 10, 2010

Outside my window.....the skies are cloudy this afternoon but the weekend snow has thankfully disappeared.

I am thinking....about making dinner.  (eggs with broccoli and cheese tonight)

I am thankful.....for safe travels this past weekend.  Especially after passing a family van which had caught on fire.

I am wearing.....a white t-shirt and black sport pants from my afternoon walk.

I am hearing....Little A letting me know she'll wash her hands, "Me do it myself."

I am creating.....bridal shower invitations.

I am going......for a walk with Mr. E tonight after dinner.

I am reading.....the latest REAL SIMPLE magazine which my mom gave me for Mothers Day. Thanks, Mom!
I am praying.....for curriculum decisions which need to be made for next year.

I am remembering.....a beautiful complete rainbow we had the fun of seeing last week.

I am hoping.....to get some sort of device to listen to music as I walk which will possibly spur me on to walk faster?!

On my mind.....how to better organize and store our pictures and videos.

From the learning rooms....glad we'll be finishing up throughout the next four weeks.

Noticing that. . . the deck railings need staining this summer.

Pondering these words....."Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth."  Hosea 6:3 NRSV

From the kitchen.....I need to clean out the refrigerator this week!

Around the house....are a few bags which still need to be unpacked from our weekend travels.

One of my favorite things.....is coming home to a clean house. (not that it was my reality but it is a favorite thing of mine)

A few plans for the rest of the week.....running kids here and there, a church meeting and a wedding on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you....

Mr. E and I were glad to wish our moms a Happy Mother's Day! in person on Sunday.

Thank you for stopping and visiting my daybook. If you'd like to visit others who are participating or write a journal yourself, please stop over at Peggy's at Simple Woman's Daybook.

Happy Monday in May,

Simply Grand Game

It's a cloudy, cool, spring, Monday.

A good day to grab one of the educational games I had purchased for a day like today.

All the boys had a great time playing Presto Change-O.

The 2-4 players learn how to make change, save money and spend it wisely. Players travel around a game board filled with everyday financial decisions as they earn money, sell lemonade, spend money at the museum or movies, and much more. The first player to save $10.00 wins! For 2-4 players. Ages 8 and up.

It seems we spend all of our school time trying to cover the basics but it's fun to "change it up" a bit and add an educational game every once and awhile.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV).

I'm trying to not grow weary as we finish up our last month of school. 

We're beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Let's finish strong boys!

Happy Monday!

pretty things

Pretty things around my home make me happy.

Yesterday God provided an opportunity for me to offer a "happy birthday!" to a friend and these pretty things made me smile.

I love the opportunity to get out my pretty tea cups.

My mom gave my sister and me a different matching cup and saucer, every Christmas, for 12 years in a row.

Another favorite pretty thing is in my bedroom.  I love to walk by and see my bed made with the pretty pillows on top.

I'm inspired to make my bed in the morning because this is what I look at during my quiet time before starting school. . .

The smaller pillow in the middle was my favorite find and an inspiration for the curtains which my mom kindly and painstakingly made for us last summer.

But there are a few practical items lying or hanging around the house.

Such as these. . .

One is in the family room,  

 

and one is even in the bedroom. . .

Can you guess? 

They are not streamers!

Can you say FLY TRAP?

Yes, if you stop for a visit watch your head or it may become permanently affixed to the hanging fly trap paper strategically placed throughout our home due to the unusual invasion of a vast amount of flies outside which find their way INside and have been driving. me. crazy.!

Spring around here has been welcomed with open arms but the flies. . . not so much!

Happy Thursday!

lookin' for the light

So it's Friday, late afternoon.

Mr. E. and Z-man are away turkey hunting.

What to do.  What to do.

After staring at each other for awhile, C-man lamenting his boredom, and others throwing out their ideas, momma bear makes a few decisions. . .

We're not going swimming, we're heading to the library, then to the park, then for ice cream and. . . I'm bringing the camera cause I'm looking for the light.

Anyone want to throw on a "nice" shirt and model for me?

Pleeeeease?

C-man, with his sensitive heart and knowing how much mom loves taking pictures, acquiesces while informing me how much he really doesn't feel like it.

And we're off. . .

While at the library we get a call from Daddy on the cell phone announcing that both he and Z-man each shot a turkey today.  WOW!  We're all stunned since such luck rarely befriends us and give a hip-hip-hooray!!

. . . The weather is perfect for fun at the park. 

It's dusk and I read from many photographers that this is a grand time of day to find the glorious light.  I'm still trying to figure this all out so I was happy to have a few moments of practice.

The sun was behind me.  I was trying to be careful of shadows on the face.

The sun is not as intense as in the middle of the day so the shadows I was dealing with were a bit more forgiving.

. . . Back in the car and the next stop is 49 cent cones from McDonalds.

C-man requests an Oreo McFlurry since he has been such an accommodating model.

Momma bear acquiesces this time while the others suddenly become interested models.

Sorry boys, only c-man. 

. . . I decide to take the long way home as I continue lookin' for the light.

Then I found it! 

"C-man please, quick, drop the McFlurry, out of the car!"

I didn't touch up those rosy red lips one little bit.

All natural.

Lucky kid.

     

What a handsome dude!

 

It was exciting for me to find these backdrops because they are so different than the typical woodsy landscape I find around our home.

Plus, they are facing west which was perfect for this time of day.

I know the lighting is good when I need to do very little in post editing.

Unless of course I want to, as in the last two edits.

. . .Alas, we find ourselves back at home and it's time to pick up the yard.

. . . Pizza and popcorn for dinner since momma is trying to please everyone tonight.

Oh. . .  and in case you ever wonder if it's ok to leave the cardboard under the frozen pizza while you bake it. . . .it's perfectly fine. ;)

. . . An episode of Bonanza follows and then lights out boys and girl.

Happy Friday,

P.S.  The title for this post reminded me of this verse. . .

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NASB)
1 John 1:6-7

Monday happenings

After a busier than normal weekend, Monday came fast.

I wasn't completely ready for the week to begin.

But ready or not here we go!

• Noontime brought a walk/bike down to the lake.

The boys love to skip stones.

 

Little A jumps into all the action with her brothers. 

She must have felt right at home as she wanted her clothes off.

Her brothers reprimanded me for complying because "we could get arrested!"

All went well and no arrests were made.

• We enjoyed this book about Galileo during table time today. 

• Today in history. . . John J. McDermott of New York won the first Boston Marathon with a time of 2:55:10.  Fifteen runners started the race but only 10 made it to the finish line.

The marathon's distance was changed in 1908 in accordance with Olympic standards to its current length of 26 miles 385 yards.

The Boston Marathon was originally held on Patriot's Day, April 19, a regional holiday that commemorates the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In years when the 19th fell on a Sunday, the race was held the following Monday. In 1969, Patriots Day was officially moved to the third Monday in April and the race has been held on that Monday ever since.

Although I'll never be ready to tackle a marathon, I would like to walk in a 5K sometime.

 

• My car made an automatic stop at the McDonalds drive thru on the way to the library. "Seven 49cent cones, please."

 

• Chicken noodle soup is simmering for dinner. Yum!

 

Here's hoping I'm ready to tackle Tuesday with a bit more energy.

Happy Monday!