Yay for free!

I don't know about you, but I LOVE getting fun, free things in the mail!! Look what I got today! I also got some valuable coupons!! What fun things did you get today?

Fun day in School...

We are starting off the week with some fun! This week in our Beyond Hearts for His Glory, we have been learning about the Mayflower, which sailed to America in 1620. There were 102 passengers on board, and it sailed for 66 days, 2,750 miles across the Atlantic Ocean! The girls used 180 'O' shaped cereals to represent the 180 casts or barrels that the ship held.










The girls also added the Mayflower to their timelines.

Reading...

As much as I love to read, I have a hard time finding time to sit down and soak up in a good book. But, I came across this book, "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God", and haven't been able to put it down. It's a very refreshing and really puts into perspective how important our jobs as stay at home moms and wives are! It is very important! He only wants us to give Him our best, so that He can mold us into His best! This book gives a bright insight on what a keeper of the home truly is,and made me feel proud to be a stay at home mom! It also shines light on to how Believers can even neglect to value what God values.

I really like 2 Timothy 4:3, because it's shows us why we need to be very careful what we are taking in... "For a time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers." NKJV.

Many so-called, Christian self-help authors, teachers and even bloggers, are eager to tickle our ears and tell us we need more time for ourselves and that we deserve more. But, all that does is rob us of the joy and fulfillment that we could have if we just embraced our God ordained roles. When we submit to His design for home, family, and marriage, then our homemaking will impact our families for God's glory, for generations to come!

I could go on, but I want to finish it, and I don't want to spoil to much for those of you who want to read it! Fabulous book! You can find it here or here.

Freezer Cooking Day 2

So far, last night and today, I have prepared for the freezer...

7 lbs. of shredded chicken, ready to go for any quick recipe
3 lbs. of BBQ Chicken
2 1/2 dozen Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins
4 1/2 dozen Corn dog Muffins
1 1/2 dozen Blueberry Almond Crumble Muffins (making more tonight)
1 batch of Homemade Pretzels

My plan for making later this week includes...

Garlic Toast Slices
Taco Pasta
Mac and Cheese
Turkey and Cheese Sandwiches
Chimichangas
Chicken Enchiladas
Buster Bar Dessert
French Onion Soup
Whole Wheat Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls

You can find more ideas on freezer cooking here

Fess Up Friday!

Okay, this isn't usually what I would write about, but thought this might be fun to do and a bit refreshing at that, since there are some moms out there... you know who you are:)... who think I have it all together, all the time.:)And, it's also good to remind me too from time to time that there are other moms out there who have less than "glorious days":) So, I will be the first to confess that it's not all flowers and rainbows, like my blog on a regular day portrays:)I do however, like to organize, keep a clean house, create school schedules, and work on weekly menus, but it's just not a 24/7 reality.:)

First off, I will admit that I can not for the life of me make a fluffy pancake with out it sticking or falling apart in the pan, or make mac and cheese from a box. My husband will attest to that! He is a great cook, and usually will take over in that department.:)I love to cook, but why I can't make the world's most easiest meals... no idea! And, there are some days, when I don't feel like cooking my blog's "scheduled" meal, and wind up with my kids' favorite... cereal!

Secondly, there are some days, when laundry piles up so high on my bed, and then falls off my bed, to the point where I have to take the "sniff test" to see what's clean and what's not... and then usually ends being washed all over again... You see where this is going?:) But, those are the days, when I am not expecting anyone to just pop in... Please don't all rush over at once!Lol!

Thirdly, I am not the "perfect mom" by any stretch! My kids aren't the "best behaved", just because they are home schooled, by any stretch! Planning a trip to the store usually entails this.... Getting the kids ready to go... taking all morning to get there. Then, when we get ready to go, it's time to check to see if everyone has gone potty before we go. Mom usually points out that there are no bathrooms available (even though there are, but we aren't stopping... when in reality we do). Then, we all pile in the car... fighting over who gets the captain seats. Then, as we are driving to our destination, it's bickering about "who's touching who, or who's looking at who"..., followed by mom, threatening to turn the car around. You mom's know what I'm talking about. So, we get to our destination, and before we get out of the car, it's a huge lecture on how to behave in the store... Catch my drift? Then, when we get out, and go in, it's "who touched who, and whose looking at who" all over again... followed by, "Can we get this?" Mom usually, is warning them throughout the store...Not all days, but some. We are really trying to work on this. By the time we are out of the store, I am a bit frazzled, and then it's home to start the cycle of life all over again.

My "schedule" says, that baths for the kids are every other day... reality is that sometimes we as a family, kids joining in, have to play the guessing game to see when one had one last.:)Fridays are supposed to also be our Family Fun Night... usually is. We enjoy playing games with the kids or watching a movie and having snacks together. But, reality is, that sometimes I am so strung out from having an "unscheduled day" that when regular bedtime comes around, I jump at it. Terrible mom? I don't think so.... just not a "perfect mom".

I think what makes us "good moms" or "good homemakers" is not whether we always have our laundry done or that our schedules are always kept, or that our house always is perfect, or if we have 5 course meal planned for dinner... but that we STRIVE to be the moms and wives that God wants us to be. We are imperfect, sinful, human beings, that are going to mess up. Thank goodness for new days!! God wants us to be moms and wives for Him! So, to me that means that all we can do the best job that we can! Does things always get done that we would like or how we would like? Absolutely not! But, I think STRIVING is the key... that's all we can do!

Wow! This was kind of refreshing for me! Hope you got a little laugh out of it, and found it a bit refreshing too! Thanks New Life on a Homestead, for posting this!
What a great idea!

Stay tuned .....

Keep your eyes open for this special edition on Friday! I came across this from another one of my blogging friends, New Life on a Homestead. I actually a little bit excited to post this. I don't know why, because it's about my "dirty laundry". Lol!
But, I think you will enjoy reading about the reality of my less than perfect life!
See you on Friday!

Freezer Cooking Day 1

Wednesday night, I must have got a burst of energy, because I started freezer cooking. I had planned to do it on Thursday, but thought I would start a little bit earlier, since I had to teach school as well. So, on Wednesday night, I made 9 turkey and swiss melts, and 9 turkey and cheddar melts, wrapped them individually in foil and then in freezer bags. Now, when we are in a hurry, we can just pull one out and microwave it, to get the cheese all gooey!

I also made French Onion Soup, and I have to say, it turned out fabulous!!! So yummy! I made Julia Child's version of it, minus the wine. I read in her book, that if you don't use a good wine... one that you would drink yourself... then it was better to just leave out, so I just added more broth instead. The broth that I used is L.B. Jamison's Beef Soup Base. I find that it isn't so bland as canned beef broth, and has a nice, rich flavor. It is hard to find, so you might have to look around.

Then, Thursday, I started with the other half of Day 1 cooking. I was able to put in the freezer, Chicken Noodle Soup, Beef fajita mix, Chicken enchiladas, peanut butter and granola bananas, 2 meatloaves, corn dog muffins and some lime juice cubes.

If you haven't thought about Freezer cooking you should try it! It is a bit time consuming, but worth it to have a freezer packed with easy meals. During the week, when we are homeschooling, it's nice just to be able to pull something easy out with no or little work to prepare. I have two books that I think are great books to use for cooking..."Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer" and "More, Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer". Excellent books, however, you can freeze really just about anything. Both of the books, though give you tips on how to prep for cooking day and how to store your preparations.

I will try and post some of these recipes soon!