This is another favorite hymn. The LeVans had us sing it at their little Joshua's Celebration of Life service... beautiful.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Hymn study
Multitude Mondays
With a full heart and full hands come my thanks this week...
70. for my sweet Stephen, who accidentally received a concussion on Friday while playing with Nate and the kids (he ran into Nate and fell on the concrete, then rolled onto the rocks and Nate fell onto him- but Nate did a great job catching himself so he didn't land completely on him... he said it happened so fast, there was no time to react). He had a goose egg on his forehead from the initial fall, and then a 3+ inch long gash/goose egg above his right ear. Given the size and placement of the second one, he went for his first ER visit and did really well, they said we did the right thing bringing him in because of where he got hurt. He held still for the CAT scan and they said everything looked okay, but we needed to watch him the next few days closely.That was quite possibly one of the scariest things we have been through. He's fine now, but what a weekend it's been trying to keep him resting... 2 year olds don't know the meaning of the word! :)
71. for the sunny skies this morning, and the multitude of bird songs coming in the window.
72. for the Amish stores that I'll be shopping at today, and for the relationships we've built with the Amish girls who work at the stores. We all look forward to seeing them and talking to them... especially the girls.
73. for the beautiful drive to go shopping... after living in the suburbs (kind of) for my whole life, it never gets old to be able to just go somewhere and not worry about traffic or lots of people every where. It soothes my soul to live here.
74. for our dear friends, the LeVans... I'm so glad they were able to spend an hour with their little Joshua before he went home to our Lord. I'll post their video here, they want it to be a blessing to other people.
75. for my best friend Caryn, who is always there for me. We have been through a lot since middle school... and I look forward to many more years of experiences with her. I wish Iowa was closer.
76. that Nate's defense of Christianity was a blessing to so many people at the Collision showing and panel discussion in Ft Wayne this weekend. He is gifted in and loves Apologetics- and this was a great chance for him to use that knowledge to glorify our Lord.
77. for our upcoming visit with Nate's parents and brother. We always look forward to seeing them, and it's been since Thanksgiving- so we are really anticipating this!
78. for the clothes, shoes and baby needs I was able to get at the resale... such adorable clothes for the children, and I got about 4 or 5 times the amount of clothes that I would get at the store. Gotta love that!
79. for our Greenway, a system of trails throughout our town that we frequent quite often. It gives us a safe place for the kids to run and explore and enjoy God's beautiful creation.
For more on thankfulness, stop by Ann's site...
70. for my sweet Stephen, who accidentally received a concussion on Friday while playing with Nate and the kids (he ran into Nate and fell on the concrete, then rolled onto the rocks and Nate fell onto him- but Nate did a great job catching himself so he didn't land completely on him... he said it happened so fast, there was no time to react). He had a goose egg on his forehead from the initial fall, and then a 3+ inch long gash/goose egg above his right ear. Given the size and placement of the second one, he went for his first ER visit and did really well, they said we did the right thing bringing him in because of where he got hurt. He held still for the CAT scan and they said everything looked okay, but we needed to watch him the next few days closely.That was quite possibly one of the scariest things we have been through. He's fine now, but what a weekend it's been trying to keep him resting... 2 year olds don't know the meaning of the word! :)
71. for the sunny skies this morning, and the multitude of bird songs coming in the window.
72. for the Amish stores that I'll be shopping at today, and for the relationships we've built with the Amish girls who work at the stores. We all look forward to seeing them and talking to them... especially the girls.
73. for the beautiful drive to go shopping... after living in the suburbs (kind of) for my whole life, it never gets old to be able to just go somewhere and not worry about traffic or lots of people every where. It soothes my soul to live here.
74. for our dear friends, the LeVans... I'm so glad they were able to spend an hour with their little Joshua before he went home to our Lord. I'll post their video here, they want it to be a blessing to other people.
75. for my best friend Caryn, who is always there for me. We have been through a lot since middle school... and I look forward to many more years of experiences with her. I wish Iowa was closer.
76. that Nate's defense of Christianity was a blessing to so many people at the Collision showing and panel discussion in Ft Wayne this weekend. He is gifted in and loves Apologetics- and this was a great chance for him to use that knowledge to glorify our Lord.
77. for our upcoming visit with Nate's parents and brother. We always look forward to seeing them, and it's been since Thanksgiving- so we are really anticipating this!
78. for the clothes, shoes and baby needs I was able to get at the resale... such adorable clothes for the children, and I got about 4 or 5 times the amount of clothes that I would get at the store. Gotta love that!
79. for our Greenway, a system of trails throughout our town that we frequent quite often. It gives us a safe place for the kids to run and explore and enjoy God's beautiful creation.
For more on thankfulness, stop by Ann's site...
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Multitude Mondays
In the midst of chaos and coziness, I have so many reasons to thank our Almighty Lord...
60. for the basement bedroom, where all 7 of us have been sleeping for over a week while Nate finished the wood floor in our dining room and then when the Blocks came- the words chaos and cozy are a perfect fit right now!
61. for a wonderful visit with our best friends. Words cannot express how hard it was to send them off after such a great week. The children all played together so well, and we had many good talks... we can't wait to do it again!
62. that the dining room floor is finished! Now we just have to do the trim work and maybe add some wainscotting... then it will be fabulous!
63. for the warmer weather of this past week... the children all were able to play outside almost every day, and we took our first walk on the greenway for the year.
64. that our cheeky robin has returned!
65. for the seeds from Pinetree that I'll be starting tomorrow... and the nourishment and beauty they will bring our family.
66. for Irish Breakfast tea in the morning and Sleepytime tea at night.
67. for the feel of clean sheets and pillowcases after a long day.
68. for food to fill our stomachs and the love of Christ to fill our hearts.
69. for precious baby sounds that make us all giggle and sigh with love.
For more on thankfulness, stop by Ann's site...
60. for the basement bedroom, where all 7 of us have been sleeping for over a week while Nate finished the wood floor in our dining room and then when the Blocks came- the words chaos and cozy are a perfect fit right now!
61. for a wonderful visit with our best friends. Words cannot express how hard it was to send them off after such a great week. The children all played together so well, and we had many good talks... we can't wait to do it again!
62. that the dining room floor is finished! Now we just have to do the trim work and maybe add some wainscotting... then it will be fabulous!
63. for the warmer weather of this past week... the children all were able to play outside almost every day, and we took our first walk on the greenway for the year.
64. that our cheeky robin has returned!
65. for the seeds from Pinetree that I'll be starting tomorrow... and the nourishment and beauty they will bring our family.
66. for Irish Breakfast tea in the morning and Sleepytime tea at night.
67. for the feel of clean sheets and pillowcases after a long day.
68. for food to fill our stomachs and the love of Christ to fill our hearts.
69. for precious baby sounds that make us all giggle and sigh with love.
For more on thankfulness, stop by Ann's site...
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Recipes...
I've had several requests for recipes from some of you, and I thought I'd post them here so I wouldn't have to do a lot of cutting and pasting. If there's one I've forgotten, please let me know!
Homemade yogurt
Put 2 quarts of whole milk in a slow cooker. Turn on high for 3 hours or until nearly boiling and turn off for an hour until still warm, but not hot to the touch (it takes me about 1 and a half hours for this, but I'm making it in my 2 quart slowcooker that is very efficient at getting hot and staying hot for some time). Stir in a single serve plain yogurt well (make sure it's not low fat or fat free). Re-cover and put in a draft free, undisturbed place and about 8 hours later you'll have yogurt... refrigerate! I add fruit and honey as I serve it- we also looooove it as smoothies, which are super easy. So- enjoy!
Cooked chicken and stock
1 chicken (I just rinse and stick it in the pot- make sure there aren't any gizzards in there still, though!)
4 stalks celery with leaves, washed and cut
1 small onion, sliced
2 sprigs parsley (I use a sprinkling of dried parsley)
1 bay leaf
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups cold water
Combine all and cook in slow cooker for 7-10 hours on low. Remove chicken from cooker (it will fall apart, so beware!) Strain broth through a sieve lined with 2 layers of 100% cotton cheesecloth. Discard solids in cheesecloth. Skim fat off broth if using right away, otherwise refrigerate for 6+ hours and then remove fat. Pour broth in airtight container and seal (I use a mason jar) and freeze or keep in fridge for up to 3 days.
When chicken is cool enough to handle remove meat from bones (I sort white and dark meat usually, unless I'm doing it for soup). Discard skin and bones, refrigerate until chilled and then freeze or keep in fridge for up to 3 days.
Makes about 5 cups broth (!) and 4 cups cooked meat. Which can then be used for soup, casseroles, or the yummy recipe below...
I can make this go throughout the week in soups, casseroles, and tacos. And the stock is excellent because all of the vitamins and minerals have been leached from the bones, on top of the ones from the vegetables... so good for you! Especially during cold season!
Chicken Pot Pie
(I usually quadruple this recipe and use half to fill a 9x13 if we have company and put the other half in a freezer bag for instant pie filling later). This is one of our favorite meals and goes well with a salad on the side.
1 pkg pie crusts (I make my own)
1/3 cup diced onions
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
1-3 cups cooked chicken
2 cups mixed veggies
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place one pie crust in 9 inch pie plate. In medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, cook until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Stir in chicken and veggies; remove from heat. Pour into pie shell and cover with other crust- crimp edges and cut some venting slits in top. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
Pizza Hut Breadstick Topping
(I keep this in a container in the fridge- it will make enough for lots of batches of breadsticks)
1 white bread dough (the frozen kind is fine, or you can use homemade)
4 Tbsp. Parmasean cheese
3 Tbsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp. Onion Salt
1 Tbsp. Oregano
dash Basil
dash Parsley Flakes
Roll bread dough into rectangle about 9x13 and bake (I coat my pan with Light Olive Oil). Blend other ingredients in small cup. Brush baked bread with butter immediately after removing from oven and sprinkle with seasoning, then cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy. This goes well with pizza and salad, or with soup.
Macaroni and Cheese
8 oz. cooked elbow macaroni
3 cups milk
few drops Worcestorshire Sauce
3/4 lb. cheese
4 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp dry mustard
3 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. salt
Melt butter, stir in flour until smooth. Add milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until as thick as thin cream. Add mustard, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Grease a medium sized baking dish. put a layer of macaroni on the bottom, then a layer of cheese. Repeat until dish is full, topping with cheese. Pour sauce over all. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
(I also quadruple this one and fill a 13 1/2 by 11 dish and freeze the leftover sauce in mason jars. Then all I need to do is cook the noodles and thaw the sauce next time I need to make mac n' cheese).
Applesauce Muffins
(our favorite muffins- thanks, Dottie!)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp. soda
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 3/4 cups flour (whole wheat is great!)
1 cup raisins (opt.)
Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Makes a dozen (Yep, I usually quadruple this one, too!) :)
Homemade yogurt
Put 2 quarts of whole milk in a slow cooker. Turn on high for 3 hours or until nearly boiling and turn off for an hour until still warm, but not hot to the touch (it takes me about 1 and a half hours for this, but I'm making it in my 2 quart slowcooker that is very efficient at getting hot and staying hot for some time). Stir in a single serve plain yogurt well (make sure it's not low fat or fat free). Re-cover and put in a draft free, undisturbed place and about 8 hours later you'll have yogurt... refrigerate! I add fruit and honey as I serve it- we also looooove it as smoothies, which are super easy. So- enjoy!
Cooked chicken and stock
1 chicken (I just rinse and stick it in the pot- make sure there aren't any gizzards in there still, though!)
4 stalks celery with leaves, washed and cut
1 small onion, sliced
2 sprigs parsley (I use a sprinkling of dried parsley)
1 bay leaf
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups cold water
Combine all and cook in slow cooker for 7-10 hours on low. Remove chicken from cooker (it will fall apart, so beware!) Strain broth through a sieve lined with 2 layers of 100% cotton cheesecloth. Discard solids in cheesecloth. Skim fat off broth if using right away, otherwise refrigerate for 6+ hours and then remove fat. Pour broth in airtight container and seal (I use a mason jar) and freeze or keep in fridge for up to 3 days.
When chicken is cool enough to handle remove meat from bones (I sort white and dark meat usually, unless I'm doing it for soup). Discard skin and bones, refrigerate until chilled and then freeze or keep in fridge for up to 3 days.
Makes about 5 cups broth (!) and 4 cups cooked meat. Which can then be used for soup, casseroles, or the yummy recipe below...
I can make this go throughout the week in soups, casseroles, and tacos. And the stock is excellent because all of the vitamins and minerals have been leached from the bones, on top of the ones from the vegetables... so good for you! Especially during cold season!
Chicken Pot Pie
(I usually quadruple this recipe and use half to fill a 9x13 if we have company and put the other half in a freezer bag for instant pie filling later). This is one of our favorite meals and goes well with a salad on the side.
1 pkg pie crusts (I make my own)
1/3 cup diced onions
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
1-3 cups cooked chicken
2 cups mixed veggies
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place one pie crust in 9 inch pie plate. In medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, cook until tender. Stir in flour, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in broth and milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Stir in chicken and veggies; remove from heat. Pour into pie shell and cover with other crust- crimp edges and cut some venting slits in top. Bake for 35-40 minutes.
Pizza Hut Breadstick Topping
(I keep this in a container in the fridge- it will make enough for lots of batches of breadsticks)
1 white bread dough (the frozen kind is fine, or you can use homemade)
4 Tbsp. Parmasean cheese
3 Tbsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp. Onion Salt
1 Tbsp. Oregano
dash Basil
dash Parsley Flakes
Roll bread dough into rectangle about 9x13 and bake (I coat my pan with Light Olive Oil). Blend other ingredients in small cup. Brush baked bread with butter immediately after removing from oven and sprinkle with seasoning, then cut with a pizza cutter and enjoy. This goes well with pizza and salad, or with soup.
Macaroni and Cheese
8 oz. cooked elbow macaroni
3 cups milk
few drops Worcestorshire Sauce
3/4 lb. cheese
4 Tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp dry mustard
3 Tbsp. flour
2 tsp. salt
Melt butter, stir in flour until smooth. Add milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until as thick as thin cream. Add mustard, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Grease a medium sized baking dish. put a layer of macaroni on the bottom, then a layer of cheese. Repeat until dish is full, topping with cheese. Pour sauce over all. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
(I also quadruple this one and fill a 13 1/2 by 11 dish and freeze the leftover sauce in mason jars. Then all I need to do is cook the noodles and thaw the sauce next time I need to make mac n' cheese).
Applesauce Muffins
(our favorite muffins- thanks, Dottie!)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup applesauce
1 tsp. soda
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 3/4 cups flour (whole wheat is great!)
1 cup raisins (opt.)
Mix and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Makes a dozen (Yep, I usually quadruple this one, too!) :)
Our house is too quiet now...
We had a wonderful visit with the Blocks. Right now we have all been relegated to the basement because Nate is finishing the last part of our dining room floor (hooray!) and the camera is upstairs, so I'll have to post pics later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)