tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84426922752843794162024-03-12T16:55:43.562-07:00Up Chaos CreekThe moment you realize that you're up a creek without a paddle! Learning to steer your way through life, losing your way yet finding yourself, loving the journey and searching for serenity....and in the midst of it all, realizing the chaos makes it all worth while. WELCOME! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-10504263294636983202017-11-06T19:22:00.003-08:002017-11-06T19:22:35.172-08:00Just me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just me! Being born as a first child to a family makes it just you for a while. "Just me" and my mom, or "just me" and my dad. Then along comes the other children, which makes life even better! However, they aren't "just me" kids, there are always others around. My "just me" syndrome was emphasized as I am the only girl in my family. When people had girls night it was "just me" and my mom, and since my mom is the only girl, when we visited my grandma it was "just us". </div>
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As history or society would seem to have it, girls generally gravitate more naturally to their mother. So I spent a lot of time with my great grandparents and grandparents as "just us", and a lot of time with "just me" and my mom. Fast forward to present day, my husband is the only boy so it's usually "just him" and "just me". I think this worked out to our advantage, we seem to get each other, seem to not really need much more company than the two of us, which works smashingly well with my introverted tendencies. So when we attend family functions and it's "just me" and "just him" we often don't really feel connected to anyone. No one else is the only daughter in law or son in law. And when I do as society has done and gravitate to my mom it's not a group of sisters coming together....no, it's JUST ME. </div>
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Hunting trips at my house included the majority of my family... so either I went or "just me" and mom stayed home. I didn't share clothes or fight about makeup or curling irons, it was "Just me" I had my own room, no one wanted to borrow my shoes and they could've cared less about my eyeshadow. I experienced things, like, brothers using my (expensive, paid for by me) conditioner to slide all over in the tub like it was a water slide park, or finding tampons strung apart as part of GI Joe's parachuting launches off the second level.<br />
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These experiences have made my eyes open to different family dynamics. I don't understand the sister relationship at all, I've never had one. I do however fully understand the brother relationship because that was my norm, my life. My husband however can't relate and he thinks that girl relationships are more normal than I do, HA! </div>
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With three girls of our own and two boys, none of our children are able to take our "norm" as their own. It's interesting watching sisters be sisters. I see how much fun and how much they will rely on each other as they get older and I can only relate it to the relationship I have with my mom. I'm so grateful for these three daughters that I get to have as best friends! I'm so grateful that my two boys will marry and have wives that will be able to "relate" to not being a "Sweat" or laugh together at our silly tendencies or crazy ways. I'm glad my son's-in-law will be able to sit around and talk about those <strike> Sassy</strike> leadership skilled Sweat girls they married.</div>
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I love that my husband gets me, he gets it... he understands what it feels like to be a "just me", to not really fit in, and not be uncomfortable with that either. He was raised with opposite gender domination in his house too HA!, his mom only had a sister and his sisters had each other. When we got married he thought when I said I was going to Provo that meant my mom had to come... nope it's "just me" I'd say on the phone. He found it odd that I didn't have to take hours to shop and make up my mind...He, on the other hand takes an extra long time to shop (hehehe). I found it odd so many people were expecting an invitation to attend when we got prom dresses or a wedding dress...the thought had never occurred to me that others would want to come, you see at my house it was majorly boring so "just me" and mom would do those things by ourselves. </div>
<a href="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.2CZr-bgdtvQPlkTMx9ALvgEsEC&pid=15.1&P=0&w=188&h=163" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.2CZr-bgdtvQPlkTMx9ALvgEsEC&pid=15.1&P=0&w=188&h=163" width="200" /></a>I'm grateful for the things in life that help you realize what you want. The way people treat you that makes you think... I don't want to be like that, or I love them and I want to emulate those characteristics. I love being "just me", but not a lot of people understand this personality type. I don't like to shop with other people, I don't love to do a lot of things girls love to do. When the guys go hunting or shoot guns and the girls are supposed to shop, or darn socks, or whatever they do...I really HATE being labeled in the girl group. When the guys leave the table and the women clean up... I really feel like I've been betrayed (LOL)! I love being a wife, a mother, a girl... but sometimes those things that are supposed to be my ROLE, don't come very naturally to me. I don't want to make small talk and shoot the breeze most days, I get really overwhelmed when I've had too much people interaction in a week. Most times I want to have some "Just me" time. <br />
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When Shelby got married her sisters wanted to go wedding dress shopping... this was foreign territory for me. Why do we need an entourage? But I've learned in all this gender diversion that there isn't a right or a wrong we're just different! I'm grateful to have amazing Sister's -in-law and Brother's-in-law. To be the "Favorite" daughter in law, and to be able to write Sweat on our things and everyone knows their ours LOL! I'm grateful to be able to go wedding dress shop with nieces, to kayak with nephews and to experience all the different things I get to being "just me". I love that we get to introduce our "normal" to those our children choose as spouses. This life is crazy and I'm so happy I get to be "just me"</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-25834760059721614762017-08-11T23:33:00.000-07:002017-11-06T18:32:29.374-08:00Same GodIt amazes me, the same God that answers the prayers of the woman who desperately needs help with her down syndrome baby, and creates a program that gets passed by the state to fund things for down syndrome kids, is the same God that answers the prayers of the mother who desperately wants to rely on her own efforts and not have any government dependency at all. The God that helps a coach rally his team and win a game is the same God that speaks to another that their spending too much time with sports, and helps them to direct their paths to other things. <br />
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It is such a testament to me that God lives! He loves us Individually!! He cares about what we want and what is important to each of us. The mother who home schools her kids and wants to bake bread and raise a garden, and the mother whose kids attend a private school and works in an office in the corporate world, to the mother who is PTA president participates actively in her children's school and helps other children around her. He loves us all, no matter our choices, our differences, and he helps us and leads us and answers our prayers.<br />
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He wants us to have the righteous desires of our hearts. That doesn't mean that if we wish our neighbors dog would die it'll happen, or if you dislike your kids soccer coach they'll magically get a new one. Just like the apostles, some wanted to merely be with The Lord and he told them their desires were good and they were given the desires of their hearts, and yet John desired to tarry on Earth until the Lord comes again, and the Lord told him this was a righteous desire as well. No shun, no shame in different desires. God is merciful!<br />
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We have to do our part, and we should ask him if our desires are in the right priority, but I know He cares! He loves us and He listens to us and knows our desires. It is our job to align our will with His. This is a never ending process and one I'm sure I've failed at more times than I care to admit. I've judged people for their desires as they weren't my own, and I have so far to go, I'm so far from perfect. The fact that God sees our hearts and knows them is such an amazing thing to me and makes me want to be better, to try harder and to see others as God sees them. To not compare and to let others righteous desires be theirs. <br />
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Sometimes guilty pleasures sneak up on us. Sometimes I binge watch Gilmore girls til the wee hours of the morning, sometimes I do genealogy, sometimes I'm ever so faithful to schedules and priorities, sometimes I just want to eat chocolate and pretend I'm not an adult anymore. I think that's the beauty of mortality.....experiencing it all. If we don't know pain we can't know joy. I'm ever so grateful for a Father in Heaven that loves me, that knows my heart and each of yours. The awe that fills my mind when I think about how the person that I don't see eye to eye with or that might annoy me, is loved by my Father in Heaven, is glorious! It's masterful...His plan!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-30471901238677302312016-06-23T23:46:00.001-07:002016-06-23T23:58:47.119-07:00Making time...choosing timeI read a poem recently that went like this:<br />
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Funny isn't it?<br />
Keith H Woodland<br />
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When the other fellow takes a long to do something he's slow.<br />
But when I take a long time to do something, I'm through.<br />
When the other fellow doesn't do it, he's lazy.<br />
But when I don't do it, I'm too busy.<br />
When the other fellow goes ahead and does something without being told, he's overstepping his bounds.<br />
But when I go ahead and do something without being told, that's initiative!<br />
When the other fellow overlooks a few of the rules of etiquette, he's rude.<br />
But when I skip a few of the rules, I'm original.<br />
When the other fellow does something that pleases the boss, that's polishing the brass.<br />
But when I do something that pleases the boss, that's cooperation.<br />
When the other fellow gets ahead, he sure had the lucky breaks.<br />
But when I manage to get ahead, "Man HARD WORK did that!"<br />
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I ran across this poem randomly on the internet and I just loved it! It went right along with things that have been filling my thoughts lately. <br />
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A week or so ago I sat on a sunny patch of grass catching up with a good friend. We talked about our lives, our kids, our work, our husbands, our families. As we talked something she said struck me. She was telling me about a person she knew who didn't always put forth great efforts in keeping their relationship, and she talked about making time for relationships and how it's so important to make the time to keep the relationship, it takes work but if we want the relationship we have to work for it. I nodded in agreement, but something inside of me stung a little. <br />
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You see, I'm not a people person, I don't crave that kind of attention. I have a handful of GREAT friends but don't love crowds of people. In fact, I could literally be all alone for a long time and be totally content. Most weeks I just do my own thing, my own little family takes up my time and that suffices me. Literally I've gone weeks without talking or seeing my mom and she lives like 25 min away. I call it independent, but maybe it's socially awkward-ness, or maybe I'm odd, HA! Really! I don't think you're taking me seriously, but I just don't even think about things like that very often. Most days I can't see past the end of my nose and I'm perfectly unaware of things going on with others.<br />
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When my friend said this I really started to think about carving out time for relationships I want to strengthen and keep. And maybe not necessarily because I need to or crave that, but because they do! WOW! Hit me like a ton of bricks!! How selfish I've been as a friend, to just think "Eh, I don't have time we'll get together sometime" and shrug it off. (Yep, the introvert in me makes that all to easy) So what if I just gave an hour or a day or a few hours? What would happen? How would my life change? <br />
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I remember having girls night once a month with some pretty amazing gals I taught preschool with. We'd leave those nights late and heading home and laughing, and being happy, and knowing my cup was full. I was a better mom, a better wife and all around a little happier because I had spent time cultivating a relationship with people I wanted to be with. Do I want that again? Yes, yes I think I do!<br />
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Life get's crazy and I can't bank that once a month things will happen. But I do know that I want people to feel and know that they matter in my life. I want my visiting teaching sisters to really know I care and not think I'm just there to turn in a number. I want my friends to know that our relationship means something to me and that I am willing to make time to spend time with them. I want my family to know they matter and that I want to be with them and spend time, not just co-exist. <br />
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As I read that poem above I thought how true it is that we always think we are too busy (aren't we all?), or that person doesn't understand, or how we wouldn't do things like that if we were them.... But what if we made time to listen? What if instead of saying we were too busy (Amazingly enough we ALL have the same amount of hours in a day) we simply chose things that we wanted to take part in, and honestly said "I choose to spend my time in other places" to the rest of it? Isn't that really what we do anyway? Are we really that busy? I know there are days I am really busy, but I seem to find 5 min to check my email and to respond to texts during the day. I seem to find a little while at the end of the day to read, blog, study, or whatever it is I desire to do when the kids are tucked in at night. I seem to find time to walk in the early hours of the heat seeking days of June...so why don't I have an hour to help my neighbor weed the garden, or to chat with the widow down the street, or take a friend to lunch, or make dinner for a new family? <br />
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I want these habits to be a part of my life. To show my kids that relationships matter, that we have to make time for other people and sometimes it's not for US...it's for THEM! When we get outside of ourselves by serving, listening, giving, engaging...I know we'll find more of us out there than we ever did 'being too busy'. So what about you? What are you willing to do? Will you carve an hour out of your day to chat with a friend? A Saturday out of your week to sit with your grandma an reminisce about things of her childhood? Or 30 minutes to introduce yourself to the new neighbors? I Hope to do all of these things!!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-35711002281542340562016-04-08T09:37:00.000-07:002016-04-08T09:37:15.343-07:002016 FocusMissing in action lately. Sorry, life caught up with me. I wanted to take a minute and write about my 2016 goals. As many of you know I choose a word or phrase each year to focus on. Last year was delight, it truly had an impact on my life to find the good, seek out the fun and joyful things in my life. It gave me purpose and excuses to do more exciting things and to be happy about my choices. This year will be no different in purpose but I have a new phrase! <br />
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For 2016, I chose three words: Present, Patience and Purpose. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIcnGi52Yn6PDwwhEFdtMyDUrI5U7caPFaff7OuWSRDAiFNGhyrUi_M7uEuq-tLcBSVFJm5m-VEVY7pMuhk2OXIkoCDnCKJ9j1BkxlwuC3nsuOJxAdlp9D_I-W-8db0pEMCCXVCmIvyq1/s1600/BE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIcnGi52Yn6PDwwhEFdtMyDUrI5U7caPFaff7OuWSRDAiFNGhyrUi_M7uEuq-tLcBSVFJm5m-VEVY7pMuhk2OXIkoCDnCKJ9j1BkxlwuC3nsuOJxAdlp9D_I-W-8db0pEMCCXVCmIvyq1/s1600/BE.jpg" /></a>I feel that in an ever increasing world of technology we seldom look up from our devices to actually pay attention to the world around us. We have so much at our fingertips, google, questions answered, maps, directions, anything and everything. I see so often, young adults who don't know how to be bored or to just enjoy one another's company because if they are bored they simply pull out a device and scroll, or read, or do something so they don't have to endure what they are currently situated in. I see this happening in church meetings, in conversations with family, during family events, at dinners, and any other time and place you could dream of. Being present takes action in this world. You have to want it, you have to try to be with people. I too am guilty of checking my phone WAY too often, of not letting things that need to be present in my life be. I respond to emails for my primary calling, texts for my Kimber Academy job, paying bills, making lists, reading articles I feel are necessary, all while telling the things I need to be present for "just a minute!" Yes, this trap is a tricky. Did you know that 20 years ago, I didn't even have a cell phone, heck 15 years ago I didn't. I went to town without anyone being able to get a hold of me. We went on vacations and shopping trips without the interruption of someone or something else in our daily routine, and We SURVIVED, actually we probably did so a bit better than today. So, the first part of my focus this year is to BE PRESENT! To put the blasted phone away and not have to email or text back when someone wants to converse. Trust me if it's that important, they'll find me! And if they don't, well it obviously could wait.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ts-jLASKY9HrChmvXLvtBZKrPT2Zj3cXS_xQxvLr0Rhkj8Etp6wkmjRE-0EhT_s_xZd69QhDdT2XXlYgMkfJhRYfOmhGdzwAv2KCNtTNZTL2Yl6mf2i6XfKf08WFeqXS5cP-4GbyLpEC/s1600/patience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ts-jLASKY9HrChmvXLvtBZKrPT2Zj3cXS_xQxvLr0Rhkj8Etp6wkmjRE-0EhT_s_xZd69QhDdT2XXlYgMkfJhRYfOmhGdzwAv2KCNtTNZTL2Yl6mf2i6XfKf08WFeqXS5cP-4GbyLpEC/s1600/patience.jpg" /></a>Patience, I've struggled with this for.....forever! Also, not being present creates a lack of patience, with so many things at access so quickly no wonder we all have no patience, we want it now and we have no need to wait, no need for delayed gratification. This is something I hope to work on diligently. To be patient with my family, to be patient with others choices, to be patient in the Lord's timing, to be patient with myself and to be patient as a wife and mother. So many good things are worth the wait. A baby takes 9 months to grow, can you imagine if we just wanted them here NOW, it just can't work that way, GOOD THINGS ARE WORTH THE WAIT! <br />
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Purpose, with all of these things, purpose ties in so perfectly! We need purpose, if we are looking for an answer on google we need a purpose, if we are responding to emails and texts we need purpose. Instead of flying on a whim, if we purposefully choose to respond to those emails, to do the laundry, to read our scriptures, to play with our kids, to clean the bathroom, we will be able to accomplish more and to be doing so with a PURPOSE behind it. I don't want to find myself scrolling through Facebook for hours unless that is my purpose and I've given myself time for that. I want to live this life with PURPOSE to have my choices be meaningful and my decisions be made with intent. I want to look at Pinterest with my girls with purpose, I want to make time to play at the park, and by having purpose in my actions I can create this time and the things that need done will come first. Priorities will come more easily with Purpose. <br />
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With all that said, I have to be a better blogger this year as well. Writing to me is healing, it helps me sort out my thoughts, to be a better version of me and to express ideas and things I keep penned up in my head. My mind is clearer when I get to write what's in there. I hope my sharing will help those reading as well.<br />
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May we all practice being more Present, having more Patience and having a Purpose in all we do! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QLh166mCd6tpO5_zEsx6NWYRlZ3yfGm2REv2DxcJHvKidXBxHNsG3MtblG6Ix5W2TPNMZzFc_19dmOxl8qaB_QbSMiw31wPDU5vkhfRAepO81_kSyFzplqALTDDNo89Xl5f1OiAJ_0mw/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QLh166mCd6tpO5_zEsx6NWYRlZ3yfGm2REv2DxcJHvKidXBxHNsG3MtblG6Ix5W2TPNMZzFc_19dmOxl8qaB_QbSMiw31wPDU5vkhfRAepO81_kSyFzplqALTDDNo89Xl5f1OiAJ_0mw/s1600/Signature.png" /></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-34674377143908639472015-01-15T15:24:00.000-08:002015-01-15T15:24:00.297-08:00Women of FaithWomen of faith! Women I know and admire, who are stronger than they think, and braver than they believe. Sometimes we don't want to be brave, sometimes it hurts to be strong, yet we do it! Through it we gain a greater strength, give strength, and give hope to those around us.<br />
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Today I am grateful for women of faith! I have many friends and family members who are such great examples to me. Women of different faiths, religions, cultures and ages. Women that have helped shape me into the woman I am and the woman I continually strive to be. In their moments of weakness I find my strengths. In their triumph I see my purpose and am sometimes reminded of my weaknesses. When I see a new mom struggle to keep her little ones quiet in a store, or an exhausted mother shopping with a screaming toddler, I smile. Not from spite but from the pure fact that I've been there! I remember thinking how hard it was, but then you wake one day and those toddlers are teenagers. I smile because she doesn't know how fast it will go, and I didn't either back then. When I see a woman who has been through divorce I admire her courage and her dedication to her children and all she's been through and at the same time I am grateful for the man I married and the strength he is to me. When I hear of a family struggling with death, a little bit of my heart can relate as I think of my sister who lives in heaven. Or when I hear the word cancer, I immediately recall my dealings with cancer and being there when my grandfather took his last breath. When I see an accident on the side of the road and the EMT's attending to someone's medical needs or working to save someones life I am reminded of my weaknesses and my inability to deal with trauma or blood. But in the same thought I am astounded at their selfless service and thrilled that those who have that gift share it with others. All of these experiences help us grow, help us to relate to others and to share our experiences and gain love for one another.</div>
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I know... women who know how to throw a killer party, women who know where they are going and who are confident and strong, women who would drop whatever they were doing and help, women who have shared trials and joys in my life, women who have more faith than I could muster, women who have had life hand lemons to them and they've made some KILLER lemonade! Women who have insanely clean homes, women whose children are so well behaved it makes me think I'm dreaming, women who think of others first no matter what, women who make me think I can do anything, women who make others feel so important and welcome. Women who wouldn't say a bad thing about anyone, women who when we get together we laugh until it hurts, women who love to serve, women who accept others unconditionally, women who are amazing wives, women who can cook like a master chef, women who are so creative it makes my brain hurt, and women who know how to balance life and all that they are handed. Women whose homes are so warm and cozy you could stay forever, women who know who they are and aren't afraid to share their opinion, and women whose inner beauty shines so brightly you almost have to squint! How grateful I am for <span style="font-size: large;"><b>each </b></span>of them!</div>
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The women I know are women of faith, faith in getting back up when they fall down, faith in putting one foot in front of the other ......every. day. Even on the days they just don't have the will power to do so. Women who sacrifice for family, friends, neighbors, and complete strangers. When I see women sharing their weaknesses it strengthens me, it helps me to be grateful for the strengths I possess, and humbles me to know I do not have the same challenges to contend with. We all have talents and abilities and skills that we can use to bless the lives of others. We all have weaknesses and inabilities that allow us to seek the greater good in others, allow us to depend on others, learn from others, and to be grateful for the talents others posses. This is all for our good! Sometimes it HURTS to stretch and grow, sometimes we want to take away another's pain and make everything better, (this too is a strength to others) compassion shows we are alive and shows others we care about them individually. This life was not suppose to be easy, but it was meant to be worth it! So here is to all the women in my life who have touched my heart and my mind, brought me through things, helped me, befriended me and assisted me on this journey to become a better woman, A woman of faith! Thank you!!! For your example, your faith, your dedication, your friendship, your weaknesses, humility, honesty, strengths and abilities. With out ALL OF YOU the world would be pretty DULL indeed!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-62187597039349019942015-01-13T15:06:00.001-08:002015-01-13T15:34:47.251-08:00Vaccinations....more than meets the eye<b>Beware: This is a long post... I will delete any rude or unnecessary comments. These are my views and this is me exercising my FREEDOM TO CHOOSE! </b><br />
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When I had my first baby the immunizations were given at the hospital as routine. Not many mother's think too much about it, it's what "everyone" does now right?! I knew differently. You see, my mom studied things, researched them out and followed her own pattern of normal ways of life. <br />
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When my youngest brother was a baby his immune system wasn't up to par and for this reason my mom did not vaccinate him as she had the rest of us. He needed more time, more natural immunity's and time for his body to catch up. He was an at risk birth and was pumped full of antibiotics before being born, which may have been necessary, but didn't help with his well being. When he was in 3rd grade he still wasn't caught up on his immunizations. A county healthcare nurse called my mom to "remedy" the situation and my mom explained to her that she was not going to immunize my brother at this time. The nurse, thinking she was doing her "duty" told my mom over the phone that she would drive to our home and inoculate my brother herself. Threats?! Wow. Because he could cause an epidemic if something broke out, she then told my mom that my brother could no longer attend school if he was not immunized. My mom drove to the school and removed my brother, thus began her homeschooling journey (but that's another story).<br />
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Having this experience as an example in my life, I knew that as a mother it was my CHOICE whether I wanted to immunize my children or not. While I am not against all immunizations, in the back of my mind there was always this uneasy feeling, sometimes referred to as mother's intuition :) you may have heard of it. My decision to not immunize didn't come from simply observing what my mom had chosen, nor did it come from <u><b>only</b></u> the uneasy feeling. It started small and grew into something I<b> knew </b>was the right CHOICE for my family. <br />
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My beautiful baby girl was injected with the same vaccines most babies get at the hospital. When she was 2 months she received her immunizations and at her 4 month check up got them again. Except this time something happened...she developed a severe allergy to the shot itself causing her to breakout in a leopard like rash from head to toe. My beautiful baby looked like a jungle animal. The doctors told me that she was allergic to something in the shot....although they weren't sure what because they are given not just one at a time but several so pinpointing anything is a little hard. <br />
<img src="http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Vaccine-Epidemic2.jpg" height="200" width="131" /> <img height="140" src="https://scontent-a-lax.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10444708_985951238088200_7344390155390942984_n.jpg?oh=d83a598eba6ecd5cfd9ad59c4188d47c&oe=55379336" width="200" /> <img height="146" src="https://clairelambblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/re-thinkvaccines.jpg" width="200" /><br />
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(Now here me out... I am so grateful for modern medicine, for doctors, I LOVE this doctor and many other doctors that have helped my family and I!! I have to deliver my babies C-Section, so without modern medicine I'd be dead, my baby would've died and that would me my story. I know that doctors and nurses have helped numerous people in my family and I am most grateful for their talents and skills! However, I feel there are certain situations and things where modern medicine is needed, and other places where it is not. My issues with vaccines are the dosage that is given, and the mixing of more than one vaccine at a time, thus making it difficult to view the bodies reaction between one vaccine's. We as a family choose not to use modern medicine as a daily practice. As I stated I believe there is a time and a place. We do not go to the doctor for the sniffles or for the flu, or ear aches, etc. we go to the doctor when my husband slices his palm open with a knife, or when my son can't breathe because he has a bad case of croup and the cold air just isn't helping. We aren't freaks, we simply CHOOSE to do things differently than some, and we CHOOSE what is best for our family.)<br />
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So here I was a new mom with a baby leopard. Needless to say that was the last immunizations my first baby every had. When the next two babies were born I proceeded down the same path. One child had immunizations up to 6 months and the other only had them up to 2 months. I felt a very strong feeling with the second baby that 6 months was enough! In fact I felt an overwhelming feeling that his life could be in jeopardy if I chose to give any more. That was when I CHOSE to stop vaccinating. My children are all healthy, average kids. The older two (that I didn't have as infants) were immunized and they are as healthy as the 3 that were not as immunized. When I went in to get an exemption when school immunzations were upon us the nurse was a little agitated at my choice and gave me stacks of paper that I could read about the "danger" I was inflicting upon my children. I smiled as I thought to myself, "I could give you a stack of papers twice as tall that would show you the "dangers" of choosing to immunize my child". (Please note the nurse that helped me with my exemptions with my youngest two was a gem and she was very respectful of my choice and gave me options if I ever wanted to start slowly down the immunizing road! That is how situations should be handled.) She signed the paper and we were done.<br />
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" 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" 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I am not writing this to stand on my soap box and tell you that if you vaccinate you are killing your children. You can research whatever side of the story you want. But there is a deeper concern that applies to this and many other situations on the rise in this modern world. <span style="font-size: large;">The freedom to CHOOSE!</span> I have many friends, family members and acquaintances that choose to immunize their children. I do not think these mothers are bad mothers, I do not think that they should make the same choice I did. I do not believe that all immunizations are bad. I do believe that as an American citizen I should have the RIGHT to make the CHOICE to immunize or to not immunize. I do believe that we are all individuals and that the vaccines made do not fit the mold for every person. How do they know what effects it will have on my baby, toddler, teen? They don't! As the mother, I know my child more than the government or drug company does, and I know if I feel good or bad about something. Some people have severe allergic reactions to vaccines, some people's bodies do not accept the vaccine and therefore they don't develop the antibodies they are suppose to...or maybe they were naturally immune already, and some people accept them free of any effects whatsoever. But shouldn't that choice be mine? When people say to me....and yes they've said it..."If I'd have known your children weren't immunized I wouldn't have enrolled my child in the same preschool" I smile because quite simply, if you believe your vaccinated child will contract something from my non-vaccinated child what does that say about your belief in the vaccine? Yes I know that people at certain ages can't have the vaccine, I am aware that they may be exposed to something they don't know they are being exposed to. But, there are outbreaks of the very diseases that we have vaccines for, and a lot of the time the outbreak effects those who WERE immunized. Chickenpox for example, whooping cough. These are two that I personally know of. People I KNOW have been vaccinated and then contracted the disease anyway. Do your research and make your own choice. But know that YOU have a CHOICE!<br />
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The point is, if we are all forced to vaccinate our children then we give up our freedoms. <span style="font-size: large;">Haven't we given up enough freedoms? </span> Genetically modifying our food, Healthcare, and common core, just to name a few. When we give up our rights because we feel we want everyone to be the "same" to have to do something that may not be right for them isn't that communism and socialism? Too extreme?! Well it starts with a simple freedom and gradually we will have NO CHOICES left. I value my rights as an American, I value the freedom of CHOICE the freedom that we can CHOOSE what is right for our families, in education, in health, in vaccines, in religion, in so many things. I urge you to think about that before you tell people that don't immunize that they are making the wrong choice. Think about what freedoms you're willing to give up. As for this mom, I CHOOSE to have a CHOICE! <u>And I choose the same for you!</u>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-71728093036629305062014-06-18T00:11:00.002-07:002014-06-18T00:11:16.843-07:00"Choose your love ~ Love your choice"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdkS2NwVDCG2RxdAFEGOcKhRg8Zjt8n3qjZsVPIfFYZgO1IP7JOi4_BqC-Jq5OIrpd6AJ4MavHfHPnQcwNwQxtE4ouSsT5KifTqEVK-CPl5vMUatZoEAfqla01k8Qs30vZiPLkemUlUPO/s1600/branding2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdkS2NwVDCG2RxdAFEGOcKhRg8Zjt8n3qjZsVPIfFYZgO1IP7JOi4_BqC-Jq5OIrpd6AJ4MavHfHPnQcwNwQxtE4ouSsT5KifTqEVK-CPl5vMUatZoEAfqla01k8Qs30vZiPLkemUlUPO/s1600/branding2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calves to be branded</td></tr>
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Summer brings on a whole new list of "to do's" at our house. While we enjoy the new season, warm weather and the chance to be outside more, we also remember why we like winter to come back around as well. Spring sprung and we branded the cows again, seriously one of our favorite times of the year. This year we recruited the help of my cousin from Cali, it was super fun to have him experience all the cows and dirt, ropes and shots, branding irons and dry ice. </div>
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Now that the FUN part is over we move on the other "farm livin'" items. Watering, cutting, baling, fixing, raking, fixing, spending, fixing, driving, fixing, watering, fixing, did I mention fixing? It seems to never end! We are running (co running some) over 200 acres this year, the hubs is working overtime at his job most weeks and I'm still keeping my "plate spinning" acts at full capacity. The other day Hank and I met up in the garage (he was going to change water, I had come from changing another field) I smiled and said "is it winter yet?" he looked at me a little confused and asked "why?" I replied, "Cause I need a NAP!" Yes this time of year it seems the peaceful slumbers of winter and hunkering down by the fire are missed dearly. We are a lot like bears, we work and work all summer then hunker down for the winter. There is still work in winter but much less. I don't think I have fed my family dinner before 8pm (most days between 9 and 10pm) this summer! My kitchen floor is a disaster and I swear I sweep 5 times a day. There is more laundry to do, fuel to buy, sheep to walk, weeds to pull, flowers to water, lawn to mow. Then we top it off with all the regular things we do and it seems like it's never going to end. I was thinking about all of the "to do's" and feeling pretty overwhelmed. The kids still have their activities to do like baseball and swimming lessons to add to the list. We have jobs and church and checking cows on the mountain as well. But....as I run Buckwheat to baseball and watch his batting get better and better and his love for the game improve, listen to Jo play the star spangled banner on the piano, watching Peanut count down the days until swim lessons, changing water with Bud (who by the way will be a licensed DRIVER soon!), chatting with Sue on the phone, picking up Hank at 1am from a field he's baling, and washing the dishes by hand cause the dishwasher gave it's last wash months ago....I can't help but think of the quote by President Monson, "Choose your love ~ Love your choice!" </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bud, waiting for the cows</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the lovely shot giver and the new chute closer (oh, and the alley pusher)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">roping cows</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jo and the boss in the new Kubota </td></tr>
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I love EVERY busy, chaotic, nap needing, so hungry we could eat a horse at 10pm, filled day! This is what WE CHOSE! Our family chose to live this life, we chose each-other, we chose to work HARD and hardly play....(except it is our play). We are addicted to our jobs for sure, but we don't' regret it, we don't hold a grudge, we thrive when we are working hard and getting in late. Not only do I LOVE my choice in the man I chose to be my eternal companion, and the family we chose to have, I love the choice in what we decided to make of our life. There is nothing as truly AMAZING as changing water at dusk with your almost 16 year old son and talking, laughing, watching the sun set. The wheel lines on the horizon, the gorgeous valley we live in and the BEST family I could have imagined by my side. I chose this, I love this! It's not always easy, and often times we are so tired we can't see straight. There are times when more things break than we care to name, and times when we've spent so much money on fuel, seed and farm stuff we aren't sure if it's worth it....But in the end it's our Happily Ever After, it's the Ying to our Yang, it's the best life we could imagine! So as you rush around in the life you've made, remember the choice is yours....Choose your choice and love it...it's better that way!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljEJ-PLl0tdoEG98CJ3vm3l2pKAxqxZ4iuftcZRU8w1Ry4D9PwXkjnxlQ3v7jU5JiVEcqyibfHupnx1k9B3hLLRVPH_Rcb6L54GAhxMkGI1qY1jseIp-eNGdIn3189SCPzPYlIyz2U97k/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljEJ-PLl0tdoEG98CJ3vm3l2pKAxqxZ4iuftcZRU8w1Ry4D9PwXkjnxlQ3v7jU5JiVEcqyibfHupnx1k9B3hLLRVPH_Rcb6L54GAhxMkGI1qY1jseIp-eNGdIn3189SCPzPYlIyz2U97k/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-34772176079938043902014-04-07T10:00:00.000-07:002014-04-07T10:00:07.745-07:00Teriyaki Turkey Burgers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In a effort to feed the family in a healthier fashion, we've been trying a few different things. We raise beef - we eat beef - we eat more beef- we sometimes feel like <u>NOT</u> eating beef! Our beef is grass fed, very healthy and we know what goes in it so I never worry about store bought stuff and I am very grateful for that! I don't remember the last time I bought beef related products at the grocery store. But in an effort to not ALWAYS eat BEEF we are broadening our horizons and trying new things. I haven't been a huge fan the the turkey burger, it's very bland and doesn't have a real strong flavor when cooked ,but this time we kicked it up a notch and it was FABULOUS! These Teriyaki Turkey Burgers are a<span style="font-size: large;"> must try! </span> They have graduated to our DO EAT list and we are trying more things with turkey burger. They were super simple to make and the turkey when seasoned properly is really tasty!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grilled Pineapple...YUM!</td></tr>
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As you can see, I just grilled them up on our cast iron griddle right on the stove top. I seasoned the turkey with garlic salt and pepper and I added a little bit of Italian bread crumbs as well. I grilled the pineapple first, then Patti-ed out the turkey burgers and grilled them up. We topped them with teriyaki barbecue sauce, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, and of course the pineapple and devoured them! EVERYONE loved them! Seriously a must! I can't wait to get the BBQ fired up this summer and make these with some corn on the cob. <span style="font-size: large;">DELICIOUS, EASY and Healthy!</span> <div>
What's your favorite thing to do with turkey burger?<br /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-84585186146685224082014-04-06T20:59:00.002-07:002014-04-06T21:06:55.374-07:00The FIRST one ~ twenty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She was the first, yet I didn't watch her first step or stay up with her when she was a baby. No, our firsts were different. Our firsts started at age 8 when she became my little buddy, greeting me eagerly on weekends we had together, letting me dress her and curl her hair. She was the first little girl, she was the first one I stayed up late with, the first one I made an Easter dress for, she was the first one I waited up for when the dating began, the first one I sent to school, she was the first one I took prom dress shopping and car shopping, she was the first one I taught to drive, the first one that made me laugh and cry, she was the first one that I worried and wondered about, the first one to move in and move out, the first to make me proud as punch, the first to get a job, the first to have her own room, the first one in braces, the first birthday cake I ever made anyone, the first one to wear makeup, the first one that I learned from...the first one. She still is, the first one! I can't believe 12 years have come and gone. 20 seemed like a very distant thing when we were having all these firsts together. <span style="font-size: large;">I'm crazy grateful for this FIRST ONE!</span> She makes me laugh, we've had some great moments, some sad ones, some crazy ones and some awesome ones. Happy 20! To the FIRST ONE! <span style="font-size: large;"> I love you.....to the moon and back (mostest)! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 years old!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dresses and Dances</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexico</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Little Maid of Honor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2r13mvi_70y1Y93sG70eXmutxNqY8_9fHMnKKNW4Xxl_eGPsPe_Wnp4YoZZ77_vMYautEQTqiXeMCsMPxckrK4gbXPeu63gl6HyXfnxTjODdGRpVIt_HLcFnvNDZNS1PDN66vZ8fr4Ju/s1600/2011-08-06_19-53-30_582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2r13mvi_70y1Y93sG70eXmutxNqY8_9fHMnKKNW4Xxl_eGPsPe_Wnp4YoZZ77_vMYautEQTqiXeMCsMPxckrK4gbXPeu63gl6HyXfnxTjODdGRpVIt_HLcFnvNDZNS1PDN66vZ8fr4Ju/s1600/2011-08-06_19-53-30_582.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rodeo flag </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Quote for adoptive parents wall vinyl decal I didn't give you the gift of life decal" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/029/0/5712282/il_570xN.528944945_nsnv.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't write it....but I LOVE IT! Life gave me the gift of YOU!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7th grade</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First deer </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-15355114835189263672014-04-04T16:36:00.000-07:002014-04-04T16:36:00.690-07:00Springtime on the Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's the <span style="font-size: x-large;">MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!</span> I know they sing it at Christmas time but I think I should be able to sing it at other times of the year. Like Fall because I LOVE Autumn, or SPRINGTIME because it's one of the BEST! The ground is thawing the calves are being born and things start coming to life again. I absolutely <span style="font-size: large;">LOVE </span>this time of year! This year we have had a good abundance of healthy calves. In years past we've had times when it seems there were more that didn't make it than did. Sometimes we've had sick ones and mothers that wouldn't cooperate. This year however has been one of the BEST! Thank Heavens! Sick cows and one's that don't make it are just part of the circle of life on farms, but it's never fun. I prefer healthy years like this one, myself. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the cows</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ear Tagging calves</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't forget Uncle CJ's Piggies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute Calves!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doctoring Calves</td></tr>
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I don't know that I ever really thought about being a farmer (or being married to one) when I "grew up" but it just so happens that the man I married got the farming itch about 3 years after we were married. We knew we wanted wide open spaces, no neighborhoods, we wanted to listen to cows moo and wake up to the sound of sprinklers hitting the fence or the creek running in the back. Now those are just part of what we call life. We work all summer and feed cows all winter. We don't vacation much......okay maybe not really at all, but do we need to? Who says that's what life is about? It may be for some, but for us - this is what we do and what we love! I have never been disappointed with the choice we made! (It also is a fabulous way for the kiddos to learn. We've learned TONS through working together, doctoring cows, branding, spending time together, and being out in nature). There's no better life! "Farm livin' is the life for me!" Stay tuned for the next debut of the famous annual "Cattle branding weekend". Famous as is in we do it every year, it makes me happy and is another one of the MOST WONDERFUL TIMES OF THE YEAR! I saw a cute quote on Pinterest (duh, where else would I see it haha!) it said<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Live your life like someone left the gate open!"</span> </div>
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So true! The joy is in the journey. Find something you love and live for it! <span style="font-size: large;">I LOVE THIS LIFE WE CHOOSE TO LIVE!!!</span></div>
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Do you love your life? Tell me about it! I'd love to hear what makes your life FABULOUS!<br />
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Thanks for reading,</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-75376779662185154492014-04-03T16:09:00.001-07:002014-04-03T16:09:13.669-07:00Paleontologists in the making!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These cute little munchkins love to discover things. When we registered with <a href="http://www.chaoscreek.blogspot.com/2013/07/homeschooling-curriculum.html" target="_blank">Harmony</a> this year we got COOL things in the mail...Like CHRISTMAS! In one box was this Dinosaur Dig kit....and what better day to break it out then a MARCH day. March tends to be warm one day and miserable the next...okay who am I kidding it's like that ALL SPRING where we live. No guarantees it'll be nice til, oh I'd say late June then it's just too freakin' hot to do anything. So you gotta enjoy the nice days and live up the yucky ones. And that is just what we did. These three are ALWAYS on me about SCIENCE! So we pulled this bad boy out and they all got cracking on it. They even let their friends in on it, everyone taking a whack trying to see what bones they could discover. Really Cool! and kept them mesmerized for hours!!!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww-MoOuNpE6ZR-vFX1FRyVzVdnLnu437vTAOFoF9V9-oyIMG_FLKGxXMEM1s1kqGYfT33uIRFacbSOnmx4pAvEz3Nww44VpDCATgrF7uMrpu1C_DaWvozsoRNhRYAVzlG91ONdD2IGtUl/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgww-MoOuNpE6ZR-vFX1FRyVzVdnLnu437vTAOFoF9V9-oyIMG_FLKGxXMEM1s1kqGYfT33uIRFacbSOnmx4pAvEz3Nww44VpDCATgrF7uMrpu1C_DaWvozsoRNhRYAVzlG91ONdD2IGtUl/s1600/IMG_2343.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all in the preparation :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paleontologist's look out!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60KiFwkIb_JE6AQ_0iI3xN2bwLLbFZ6u2TBCgkAcg4XYpu67MUHZ3IM5k5TxzEknrq-isrdKh-VHanp4-r-oo0WCYD2BwTT1k94-AdFulj8lBQV87gkKMjLx__RVupwOTRA5wvLsL9Vqs/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60KiFwkIb_JE6AQ_0iI3xN2bwLLbFZ6u2TBCgkAcg4XYpu67MUHZ3IM5k5TxzEknrq-isrdKh-VHanp4-r-oo0WCYD2BwTT1k94-AdFulj8lBQV87gkKMjLx__RVupwOTRA5wvLsL9Vqs/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh SHE'S CUTE!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My THREE MUSKETEERS</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-44675830849014535862014-03-24T15:58:00.000-07:002014-03-24T15:58:00.224-07:00Crafty Kids ~ Make it Monday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5EqncKSxcAAc07qcldIEm7_TLQVqo9L8Sa-Nl_PXUOaz1uyRPMeAqqL7CI_fNSOhTGCATkXsXNon3XkLqVl1mXgoLcjX5olUG_1vi-7PyXMbCM-w5xjHzltwSNU0VZdZnhtQRbvHLSGb/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5EqncKSxcAAc07qcldIEm7_TLQVqo9L8Sa-Nl_PXUOaz1uyRPMeAqqL7CI_fNSOhTGCATkXsXNon3XkLqVl1mXgoLcjX5olUG_1vi-7PyXMbCM-w5xjHzltwSNU0VZdZnhtQRbvHLSGb/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby M's Blankie!</td></tr>
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Jo! Oh she is a funny gal! She often thinks her mother is not crafty at all!! And finds the need to express herself in craftiness (which I don't usually crave that desire). I can do crafts, like them, don't have room for them, don't feel the need to do them often. But this child of mine finds great joy in it! I'm grateful she's a self learner cause she can do just about anything. This is a little blankie she mad her baby cousin. Jo picked out the fabric, embroidered the name, cut the ribbons, I helped her pin them and then she helped sew it together. It was just perfect! Baby M loves it and Jo couldn't be more pleased! It's just a little blanket so Baby M can take it in the car or it can easily fit in a diaper bag, etc. The ribbons give it texture and the fun colors are great for learning babes. Crafts may be something we venture into more often :)!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-49442552182343617422014-03-23T15:50:00.001-07:002014-03-23T15:50:16.057-07:00Elf on the WHAT? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK0hOE0W_PIedRqgsfldC7yrb20jWRPI1mMrNjGG_lb5zmmnC-IMnWcPL5F3wOw6clC1s3uVuTK8VDWlZnT7Um4nKKRDnfYwcS7tplkFmVqoDjU8VhbZdMuKn6eDatwoiz4jmyx3-QCbx/s1600/IMG_2074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK0hOE0W_PIedRqgsfldC7yrb20jWRPI1mMrNjGG_lb5zmmnC-IMnWcPL5F3wOw6clC1s3uVuTK8VDWlZnT7Um4nKKRDnfYwcS7tplkFmVqoDjU8VhbZdMuKn6eDatwoiz4jmyx3-QCbx/s1600/IMG_2074.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jingle the silly little Elf!</td></tr>
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That famous new tradition of this little Jolly Elf that appears in homes (when Grandma's feel the urge to grace you with one's presence). It's another of those things that I think is OVER the TOP but one magically came to our home in 2012. It was a sad sight! The poor little Jingle elf we have barely made any movement, staying in the same place for sometimes two weeks!!! The blame was placed on the weather and other various acts that were not related to WHY the elf wasn't moving. THIS year however was much different! Our Elf gained a great sense of belonging, we found him hanging from a ceiling fan in Buckwheat's underoo's, he was found trapped by army men and Ken doll's by the back door. Now, remember this is a kind elf, ours doesn't get into mischief.....I don't see the point in making messes for the sake of telling the kids the elf can but they can't. So,our Silly but well behaved Jingle had a personality that he seemed to be lacking the year before. All this was due to a certain creative little genius I like to call "Santa's little helper" a.k.a Jo! Now looks are deceiving, this little helper of mine is WISE beyond her years and is constantly reminding me of things, helping with homeschooling, cooking, chores and anything else, I'm certain her spirit is older than mine, (she just happens to be younger than me in age). When Jo was waffling in her belief of the man in the big red coat I decided I'd rather make things positive instead of negative. See, I believed!!!! I'm talking, <span style="font-size: large;">I BELIEVED </span>til I was 13 years old!!! My grandpa lived in California and would drive 10 hours, dress up in his Big Red Coat, deliver a sack of GOODNESS (I actually have no idea what he brought but he had a sack and that's all that mattered) to our home while I watched with <span style="font-size: large;">AMAZEMENT</span> from the doorway of my parent's room <u>WITH </u>my parent's (might I add). Then he would drive all the way back home, never visiting as "Grandpa" on that special day. <span style="font-size: x-large;">SERIOUSLY FOLKS........ I BELIEVED!!!</span> Santa was MAGICAL, Santa was TRUE and I had seen him for SEVERAL YEARS with my own two eyes and my parents standing by my side. So when my little (much wiser than his years) baby brother broke the news to his 13 year old sister (mind you, <u><b>he was 3!!!</b></u>) I was devastated! But believing is so much more than that ........Believing in the Good the, hope the light! I STILL BELIEVE but it's just a little different now. Well, I didn't want Jo to find out the hard way and be crushed or feel deceived because that's not what Christmas and the Spirit of Christmas is about! <span style="font-size: large;"> I wanted her to be BELIEVING and to help and hope and have the Spirit of Christmas with her Always!</span> So I let her read a letter on <a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/b0/eb/a8/b0eba85a808888b6ba8b45a20572027e.jpg" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> that explains this whole thing as I see it! The parents who wrote this letter were so Right! Santa is more than just a person who brings toys. This is what I wanted Jo to know and to get a taste of so she would still be excited for Christmas and the Magic and Hope and Love it brings. After she read it she asked a lot of questions and I happily answered. We talked about Jesus being the reason we have Hope and the Spirit of Christmas is about GIVING and the gift the Savior gave to us is the most important of them all! Santa gives and we give to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. Then the topic of Jingle our little Elf came up. We had found the PERFECT roll for her to play in making Christmas Magical! <b>JO IS THE BEST ELF ON THE SHELF mover of ALL TIME!</b> She brought happiness to her little brother and sister, the joy she found in moving him and having them find where Jingle was each morning was something I will always treasure! I love the creative things she did with Jingle, the dedication she had to do it daily (it gets to be a little much after a while!) and the joy she found in the journey. (I'm so glad she took over this roll! If it would've been mine again I think Jingle would've magically disappeared LOL!) My wise girl all wrapped up in a beautiful little girl package, her vibrant spirit and love amaze me! I'm so grateful for her! I'm so grateful for the help she is for the Spirit she brought this Christmas to our home and for the light she brings everyday, I'm truly blessed to be her mom!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-84610767582659960462014-03-20T15:04:00.002-07:002014-04-06T19:52:45.350-07:00Buckwheat's Birthday!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAoAPudxDk3FGqFKZImZ2rMRoflB3wbywHbyWFK1qba97I1wfZXQ2SbLPetHem6MVA1YSjJdgzWk5L4oX7R9RYJp4I6cQ9cFYXloZra2wyTiABxU-Dy9cKHn9A0HL9ziIOzAPo2Ky9s6o/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAoAPudxDk3FGqFKZImZ2rMRoflB3wbywHbyWFK1qba97I1wfZXQ2SbLPetHem6MVA1YSjJdgzWk5L4oX7R9RYJp4I6cQ9cFYXloZra2wyTiABxU-Dy9cKHn9A0HL9ziIOzAPo2Ky9s6o/s1600/IMG_2085.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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Buckwheat turned the magical number 8!!! And we celebrated with style this year. I am SO not a birthday party thrower, just not my thing. I like small parties with family and cake and ice cream, the child's favorite dinner and call it a day. But every once in a while Celebration is called for! So we had a Minute To Win It themed party. The boys that came were super fun! We played: Keep three balloons up in the air (that was TRICKY!), stack the dice on your partners tongue depressor (SO FUNNY!), Marble and Pool Noodle bowling, eat the Oreo (HILARIOUS!) and elephant trunk game (Another HILARIOUS one!). We also had Sloppy Joe's and I was told that I make the BEST Sloppy Joe's EVER! Well, I'm glad that packet of Western Family sloppy joe mix and the tomato sauce made someone's day :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balloon Game</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant trunk game</td></tr>
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Happy BIRTHDAY BUCKWHEAT!!!!!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-39005345166069231822014-01-11T21:07:00.003-08:002014-01-11T21:41:30.981-08:00Then and Now...change is good!<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
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Reflecting....I think I do that a lot :)! I was thinking about who I use to be and who I am now. Thinking about the road that lead me to THIS place I am, THIS person I am....WOW what a journey! You think you know who you are and then you turn around and you are someone very different. When I was little I was cautious, shy, very observant of others. When I turned 8 years old my family took me to a Mexican Restaurant and the staff had me put on a <span style="font-size: large;">huge sombrero </span>and they proceeded to sing "happy birthday" to me....well if you don't already know, now you do please don't sing happy birthday to me!!! Especially not in public places. I melted, sank low in my chair then under the table and sobbed. Yeah not a lime light kind of gal. That definitely hasn't changed. Although in high school I wasn't really popular, not unpopular but just kinda did my own thing, I was quiet and liked things just so. <br />
<a href="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1185481_613782561977362_1335119430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://scontent-a-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1/1185481_613782561977362_1335119430_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a>I use to be an immaculate room keeper (because that's all that I had to claim as mine I suppose) every 30 days I would gut my room. We are talking bed out, mattress out, everything OUT! I cleaned, vacuumed, wiped down and put it all back in, in an orderly organized fashion. I was thrilled to help friends clean their rooms, houses and the like. I still have this obsession and have to remind myself to NOT clean so I can get other things done. But my cleaning has taken a backseat. Who knew 7 people could make a house so messy DAILY?!?! <b><u>Not me!</u></b> That's when I had to let things go.....or go insane. (maybe I did a little of both ;0)!) <br />
I've always been opinionated, but I use to not verbalize it out loud. Now I'm happy to give my opinion whenever you'd like, and maybe even when you wouldn't like it!<br />
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I use to think that kids that misbehaved were totally not getting enough discipline at home! After Buckwheat came into the world I kind of changed my mind about that one. Sometimes the parents are to blame, but quite often these little people come to earth with these.........PERSONALITIES they developed somewhere that I am quite certain I didn't have much say in! I will never forget when Buckwheat was about 18 months old I attended a movie with my parents and some other peeps in my family. Buckwheat still had a binky and was doing quite well til about 45 min into it. He got restless (he's a BOY and he's BUSY!!) so I tried to entertain, tried to let him stand by me, play with my purse, my phone (we didn't have smart phones then), and various other quiet activities in the proximity we were contained to. Well he'd had about enough of that.... he started to get louder (he still has no idea what a quiet voice is) and louder. Quietly I whispered "you have to be quiet". He looked at me, binky in mouth, and GROWLED "MMMMMOOOOOMMMMM!" "SHHHHHHHH!" I said. Wrong word. Out came the binky and I saw it fly into the crowded theater. I'm sure it smacked someone in the back of the head or they later found it in their popcorn (SORRY whoever you were!). I was mortified, now I had NO way of keeping this little man quiet or content. So I gave in..........I just let it all loose and gave in. I put him on the ground so perhaps his non quiet voice wouldn't be so loud! Guess what he found? Oh yeah! POPCORN! No, I didn't buy it, others did, you know the popcorn you step on when you find your seat. YEP! He found it, and without the bink, HE WAS GOING TO EAT IT!!! So I just let him. I felt like the worst mother ever, felt like perhaps he'd become deathly ill, but I just couldn't make him sit still and he had chucked his plug into the crowd so my son ate popcorn off of the dollar theater floor that night. That's when I knew that the old me.........yeah she was GONE! With Jo it was so easy, she let me feed her, SHE NEVER got messy (except on her 1st birthday when I took deep breaths and rocked in the corner as she ate her cake in her highchair). Seriously I was a clean Nazi! And when Peanut came around it was every man or child for themselves :) HAHA! No, but I have chilled IMMENSELY since baby number one. Peanut now frequently says to me "Really mom?!" with all the attitude of a 17 year old in a 5 year old body!<br />
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Other things that have changed.... is that I always had to look just so. My dad use to go bonkers when we'd go hunting, because I had to get up an hour early to "primp" for the hunt. He would say "Whose gonna see you?!" and honestly I have no idea who would've but it was just who I was. I still get ready, I still like to look nice, but there are some days I have been known to go to town with a beanie and my gym clothes on (something I swore I'd NEVER do!). And since we've started homeschooling I am constantly saying to the kids "please do your hair, you look like you are homeschooled!" HAHA! <br />
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Another....I use to remember things.....okay everything..... like crazy! I mean weird dates, peoples phone numbers, memorizing long lists of words and their definitions, work phone numbers of numerous contractors we dealt with, crazy things and in great detail too! I still do (I do know all my bank account numbers by heart, my SSN (duh) and my DL number too) but some days mommy brain has the best of me and if I don't write it down I may have no idea what you are talking about ;) there was one point it got pretty bad and my mom started calling me Dori like on Nemo... yeah mommy brain can be that bad sometimes LOL! (Lists and calendar apps have become my best friends)<br />
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I use to have an obsession with moose. I had a moose decor room, I had moose figurines, moose signs, moose dishes, moose sheets. Now I still like moose, I just don't feel the need to decorate with them. I use to be a rule follower, letter of the law kinda girl. Now I feel the need to go against the grain, to find whats right for me and whats right for my family. I don't like to be told what to do...never have (which is weird that I liked to follow rules, hmmm). I use to want 12 kids, then after watching my 3 little bros in my tween-teen years I determined ONE child would be magical! Glad that didn't stick ;)! <br />
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Another use to..........I use to always compare.....I wish I was more like <i>her </i>and could be more playful with my kids, or I wish I could relax and be laid back like<i> her</i>, or I wish I was as skinny as<i> this one</i>, or I wish I could......blah blah blah. It's taken me a few years but for the most part I don't want to be like anyone else. Don't get me wrong, there are women I love, admire and look up to, many of them and they are inspirations, but I don't need to be them. I have weaknesses and things I want to change about me, but I don't want to <b>be</b> someone else. I like having my body, having my strengths.....and weaknesses, because I know what to do with <b>me </b>and what I know what I need to work on with<b> ME,</b> I wouldn't have a clue what to do with <i>her. </i>I love the quote that says "Comparison is the thief of Joy!" Or better yet "The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday!" That's EXACTLY right. <span style="font-size: large;"><i> I am me, and I'm very glad I am! </i></span>In a book I've been reading called <i>Desperate hope for the mom who needs to breathe </i>the co writer wrote something so inspiring to me, it went something like this: I need to be me, with all my strengths weaknesses, imperfections and all, my children needed this mom, they were sent to be with me for a reason and I am what they need. I just wanted to SHOUT FOR JOY! AMEN!! I agree 100%, even though I want to be a better mom a better version of me, I am what they need, I am who they need and they will be who they are partly because of me.<br />
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So, <b>then</b> I was a growing girl trying to figure out who I was. Doing what I knew how to do and getting better everyday. And <b>now</b>, I am still trying to be better everyday, but in different ways. I am sure when I am 60 and look back I will be pleasantly surprised at where I am and who I am... Just as I am sure the teenage version of me would be pleasantly surprised of who I am today. Change is necessary, change is amazing and change makes us who we are each and everyday!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-70780067316097619312013-12-31T23:37:00.000-08:002013-12-31T23:37:00.026-08:00Welcome 2014!I hope you're ringing in the New Year with a <b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">B</span><span style="color: magenta;">A</span><span style="color: cyan;">N</span><span style="color: blue;">G</span>!</span></b> We are planning a shin dig with my cousin and her littles. Food, games and fun! I have had a few quiet moments to do my "planning retreat!" and I've found that it may take longer than just one session, perhaps a planning month is more my style. I am planning meals (loose meal plans, I've discovered I don't like things to be too set in stone....funny the things you learn about yourself as you get older.) I've thought a lot about my word......My one word goal for 2014 is:<br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>ACT</i></b></span></div>
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Are you EXCITED?!?!?! I really like this word. It can mean so many different things. You can ACT appropriately, you can ACT your age, you can ACT when something difficult is thrown your way. You can ACT up, you can ACT out. Act, just a smalll simple word yet it's meaning is so deep. My Jo recently came home from church and showed me a very inspiring video. <a href="http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-140-only-a-stonecutter?lang=eng" target="_blank">"Only a Stonecutter"</a> is a powerful video clip about the faith and persistence of one man. Regardless of your religious affiliation, his dedication and determination are unlike anyone I've ever met! I encourage you to watch it! This is the main reason I chose the word ACT. In the beginning of the clip the son says that there are two kinds of people in the world those that act and those that are acted upon! ...............WOW! </div>
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I won't give the rest of it away, seriously watch it!! It's <b><u>AMAZING! </u></b> For this reason, I choose to be a kind of person that acts! I want my children to remember me as the mom who did her best, worked hard and made every moment count. ACT....I want to act on the promptings and stirrings I have to help others. I often feel the need to call someone or write a letter or drop something off but I neglect these feelings and just let my own busy-ness get in the way. I want to ACT first, and by doing so I hope to have less busy-ness and more I'm so glad I did's. Act.....when life get's rough I want to ACT, I don't want to sit idly by or wish I would've done something to make the situation better. For instance I have been trying so hard to be a morning person, it. just. doesn't. work. I will keep trying however, but when my night owl is bursting at the seams to get out...I'll let it out and make the most of it. By doing things that are productive and bettering my self, my family's life, maybe even filling my bucket so I can better serve and do and help those around me.</div>
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I don't know about you, but my TO DO LIST keeps growing.... but I'm not going to let that get me down. I'm going to love that I have stuff that needs done, love that I can keep improving, keep plodding along and making progress. I WILL ACT in 2014! In Lieu of pictures....(because my google plus isn't allowing me to upload any at the moment HAHA!) I found a bunch of really cool quotes on my favorite pinning place that are all about ACT! Enjoy ~</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/85/9c/3e/859c3e665cc342929ad6ebc3d91cb606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Patience is how you act while you’re waiting" border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/85/9c/3e/859c3e665cc342929ad6ebc3d91cb606.jpg" width="224" /></a><img alt="act" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/07/9d/48/079d485aa49870f87067847bca3cb9b9.jpg" width="320" /><img alt="Act" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/2f/38/36/2f3836845f3751960a8f75ae8bdf04b9.jpg" /><img alt="Een Plan van Aanpak werkt pas als je het gaat doen!" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/79/11/d6/7911d67db582763334efa7d1af976290.jpg" width="307" /><img alt="Act, Show, Prove" height="270" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/84/00/ca/8400cae656caec0dc81783a41456a9d9.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<img alt="The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. -Emelia Earhart" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/46/37/34/4637347ff7ef679a5c523bcabef009d0.jpg" /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-70163264950744645042013-12-31T00:49:00.004-08:002013-12-31T00:49:38.770-08:00Clam Chowder ~ YumI LOVE WINTER! Okay I think we all have heard enough of that. But it's not that I love freezing weather in fact I don't really like it when it's -18... No... No ... I don't. But I love soup and warm mittens and brown paper packages tied up with string... THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS! Okay enough singing. I truly love the warm foods, the wood burning in our fireplace, snuggling down with a good book and hot cocoa. I love the very essence of winter! Plus I love SOUP! And soup just isn't good when it's 70 degrees outside.<br />
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CLAM CHOWDER was calling my name. In all the eleven years I've been a wife..and mother for that matter, I've never once made clam chowder. WHY?! I have no clue, I simply love the stuff but it seemed just too difficult to make. My mom gave me some canned clams a while back and I needed to use them... so I whipped out my trusty smart phone with my well used pinning app and searched up some 'easy clam chowder' because I thought that easy would be necessary cause it looked difficult :). BINGO...WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER (or clam chowder). I found a FABULOUS recipe that was OH SO YUMMY! Even HANK said "this is really good!" Okay I give him a hard time (rightfully so, he's forever teasing me and I don't know that we've ever had a serious conversation our whole married life...or have we? no one will ever know ha!) but really he is easy to fee, he pretty much eats whatever I make just doesn't usually LOVE it very often. So the moment he said it was "really good!" I had Jo make him put it in writing. Yes, I have a piece of paper with his signature stating that the soup I made was "really good!" :) (insert proud wife face here). I made it for our family cmas party at my parent's house too! REALLY GOOD SOUP PEOPLE!!!! So try it out. I doubled it the first time (we fed 5 people with not very much left over) then I quadrupled it for our party and it was plenty. I adapted it a little as I did not have any bottled clam juice so I just used chicken stock (I did use the clam juice from the canned clams but didn't really count that as it wasn't much.) I also used a lot more cream than they suggest...really it's a very adaptable recipe and very forgiving you can make it as thick or thin as you want and you could add peas or other veggies to it as well. Enjoy ~ <span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="color: orange;">Recipe courtesy of Chef Ron Lock @ chefronlock.com </span></span><br />
<img alt="chefronlock.com" src="http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/new-england-clam-chowder-638x350.jpg" /><br />
<div class="shortcode-ingredients" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px inset; background-color: #faf7e0; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(234, 232, 216); box-shadow: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.701961) 0px 6px 8px 0px inset; color: #736458; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 30px 0px;">
<h3 style="color: #728fb4; font-family: Copse, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 22px 25px 8px;">
Ingredients</h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
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<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">2 (6-1/2-ounce) cans minced clams, with their juices</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick)</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">1 cup small-dice yellow onion (about 1/2 medium onion)</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">1 slice thick-cut bacon, finely chopped</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">1 medium garlic clove, minced</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">1/4 teaspoon dried thyme or 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">3 tablespoons all-purpose flour</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">2 cups bottled clam juice</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">1 pound russet potatoes (about 2 medium), peeled and cut into medium dice</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">1/3 cup heavy cream</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">Sea Salt to taste</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background-image: url(http://chefronlock.com/recipes/wp-content/themes/petit/images/ingredients-list-arrow.png); background-position: 20px 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-top-color: rgb(233, 229, 201); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; padding: 6px 48px;">Freshly ground black pepper</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
</div>
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<div class="shortcode-directions instructions" style="background-color: white; color: #8b7d6b; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25px; margin: 30px 0px;">
<h3 style="color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Copse, Georgia, serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;">
Directions</h3>
<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
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<li style="line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px; min-height: 44px; padding-left: 62px; position: relative;">Strain the clams over a bowl. Reserve Juice and set clams aside.<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
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</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px; min-height: 44px; padding-left: 62px; position: relative;">Over medium heat, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add in the onion and the bacon. Cook, stirring now and then until the fat from the bacon has rendered. 8-10 minutes.<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
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</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px; min-height: 44px; padding-left: 62px; position: relative;">Add the garlic and thyme and cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring occasionally, 2-3 minutes but do not brown the flour.<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 30px; min-height: 44px; padding-left: 62px; position: relative;">Stirring constantly, slowly add the reserved strained clam juice and bottled clam juice. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally and making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the pan. Reduce the heat to medium low, add the potatoes, and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are knife tender, about 15 minutes.<div style="margin-bottom: 14px;">
<br /></div>
</li>
<li style="line-height: 1.8; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-height: 44px; padding-left: 62px; position: relative;">Stir in the cream and reserved clams and return to a simmer. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.</li>
</ol>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-31499342194733277972013-12-29T15:30:00.000-08:002013-12-31T00:04:24.919-08:00Out with the old...As 2013 comes to a close I reflect on the things I had set out to do. My "word" for 2013 was <a href="http://www.chaoscreek.blogspot.com/2013_01_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Strengthen</a>. Although I did not accomplish all that I thought I would, but I did strengthen many things this year. I set out to strengthen all areas of my life, my family, my mind, my body, my spirit....I like this 'one word' goal because it is easy to remember and I often found myself thinking about my "word". I don't know that I accomplished all that I needed to or all that I would've liked, but I did make a great effort to Strengthen the things I could. My family was strengthened by me spending time with them, teaching them and doing things for and with them, we were also blessed (or maybe it was procrastination HA!) with me taking a little break in school while I got ready for my big test this fall/winter. It was LOVELY to have a break but it was even sweeter to pass the test (with the exception of the writing part...still waiting on the results)! It is so true that you don't know what you have until it's gone. My brain NEEDED a break! I felt my sanity starting to wobble and so the break was welcomed and I read a lot more (things that didn't pertain to school....there is life out there!:)) I was able to focus on things I needed to and was able to get a few little projects done, which is good for the mind and body. But as I dreaded the return of school and all that it entails ....I realized how much I miss it! I miss studying and writing papers (SICK.... I KNOW!) I miss the interaction I have with classmates and the instructors. I also feel that when I am pressed for time I generally make the most of the time I have. School makes me prioritize more and I seem to function better. 2013 was EPIC just as I thought it would be! We farmed more than we ever have before, we had a baby horse and he's healthy and happy, all three little ones are schooling and loving it, we are experimenting with our "style" of schooling and we love learning how we learn and what we want to learn. I'd say 2013 was a success! <br />
<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/67/e1/04/67e104b96c83152d121028aa72e84787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="hotphotography: Out with the old" border="0" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/67/e1/04/67e104b96c83152d121028aa72e84787.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
As we prepare for 2014 which brings a new start, new goals and new plans....we begin with what we know will happen: I will start school again the first week of January, Hank will have more land to farm, we will continue to homeschool. Those things we know are certain! Recently I read a blog post from somewhere in blog land that had a new year planning retreat......what a great idea!! This retreat includes YOU yourself, a quiet place where you will not be interrupted, something good to munch on and something warm to drink, a pad of paper and pen. I have a goal to DO this planning session, whether it be 2 days after the new year or today! I will make this happen! I think planning is such a great thing, goals are so great and they help us to realize what is most important to us. I want to make plans for being productive, make plans for my new "word" (stay tuned....it's a good one), make plans for homeschooling, make plans for serving, make plans for creating and make goals for where I want to be next year. I use to look as goals as something I didn't want to make because at the end of the year... when I had forgotten my goals.....I would just feel discouraged but if I have a plan and a few good motto's/words that I know I want to work on, they will constantly remind me of what I want and what I am working towards. Goals aren't suppose to be depressing they are suppose to help us find focus and lead us in the direction we want to go. Whether we get there in 12 months or in 12 years doesn't matter, it only matters that we keep making progress!<br />
<br />
Thinking about this blog, I sometimes write consistently......... then at times I hardly write at all. I became discouraged about that and thought maybe it was best if I just didn't blog. But then I went back to the reasons I started blogging in the first place: I love to share my ideas, I love to write, I love to express myself through written word and tend to do so a lot better than I do verbally ;). So the Blog stays! I mainly write for my own purpose anyway and if I happen to inspire one or two of you out there along the way that will just be icing on the cake. <br />
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So here's to Planning Retreats and new things to come! I hope your 2013 was as EPIC as mine! A big thanks to all those who read my blog once, or always....I'm happy you do!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljEJ-PLl0tdoEG98CJ3vm3l2pKAxqxZ4iuftcZRU8w1Ry4D9PwXkjnxlQ3v7jU5JiVEcqyibfHupnx1k9B3hLLRVPH_Rcb6L54GAhxMkGI1qY1jseIp-eNGdIn3189SCPzPYlIyz2U97k/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljEJ-PLl0tdoEG98CJ3vm3l2pKAxqxZ4iuftcZRU8w1Ry4D9PwXkjnxlQ3v7jU5JiVEcqyibfHupnx1k9B3hLLRVPH_Rcb6L54GAhxMkGI1qY1jseIp-eNGdIn3189SCPzPYlIyz2U97k/s1600/Signature.png" /></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-68764031432146301942013-10-23T21:45:00.000-07:002013-12-31T00:34:03.090-08:00Simplifying.....just about everything<br />
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<img alt="Love this!! Need to remind myself of this everyday! :)" height="320" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/03/ff/b003ffd70d630bce96fb667e8c3278d9.jpg" width="240" /></div>
<br />
Simplifying has been on my mind a lot lately. The fact that we have so much "STUFF" and the fact that our comfy home seems to be overrun with this "STUFF" is a little annoying to me...especially for the past few weeks. I'm kind of in a weird funk, I feel....OFF somehow, not sure how or why but I feel the need for a major change a major life (or maybe attitude) adjustment. I bought a great <a href="http://www.simplylivingforhim.com/p/simply-homeschool-ebook.html" target="_blank">book</a> on simplifying (it was for homeschooling but applies to so much more). This book truly touched me, I have this need to fill my bucket more, live life instead of "manage stuff" as a friend of mine put it. With Christmas quickly approaching my desire to buy stuff is GONE, ZILCH, DI-PLEATED, OBSOLETE, NON EXISTENT! I don't need more <strike>"CRAP"</strike> "STUFF"!!! Sorry kids, mom's not going all out this year. Once upon a time there was a simpler life, a life that wasn't made up of feeling like we were running marathons all day (on conveyor belts that never end), it wasn't made up of how much can we cram into one day, and it wasn't made up of houses full of stuff we don't need. Now some may like life busy, like the running the doing.........that's cool, that's you, but this mama needs down time. I need to be a Family, I need to read and listen, I need to clean (I know that's odd, but I do) I want to do a few projects sometimes, I want to enjoy this life!<br />
Some of my fondest memories of my childhood are, going to my great grandmother's house, with her tiny kitchen with ONE drawer full of toys for us to play with. That kitchen made the BEST food (well the cook did, but it wasn't a fancy kitchen with all the gadgets and quadruple cupboard space) they had no garage yet survived, the washer had to be drug into the kitchen and hooked up to the sink (bet they didn't throw their "mom I tried it on so it's dirty right?" clothes in the hamper)! My grandma had an end table that was made from a bucket of wheat (food storage) and a glass top, covered with a table cloth and complete with a lamp. She lived SIMPLY, she was happy, she spent time cooking, canning, making things work for her, and serving others. I bet every single woman that knew my grandma had a phone call for their birthday! VERY little was EVER wasted. In fact I remember her washing the wrappers to butter so she could wrap something else in it. (I use 500 feet of plastic wrap!)<br />
<br />
Yes some of these conveniences we have are life savers, some I would not want to do without. Like, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, my mixer, garbage disposals, etc. But something in me is dying for SIMPLE, I want to just live and not have all this stuff to wade through. I'm on a mission! My to do list on my phone (yeah not wanting to give that little puppy up!) has a new ~Simplify task on it. One that I have had on for a week and don't plan on EVER checking off. So far I've gutted my closet (got rid of things that I just don't wear and won't ever, got rid of the things that I say "one day I'll fit into it again", that one day will come but until then I'm loving this body, dressing this me and I'm perfectly okay with that!), I cleaned out a bunch of paper work in the desk. Not anything HUGE or MAJOR but it's a beginning and I won't finish til my house is "orderly" til things have a place and we can LIVE and not MANAGE (and I probably won't reach that in this lifetime haha!) Baby steps, baby steps. <br />
<br />
My great grandma's house was probably one of my favorite places on this Earth! The feeling that was there was indescribable, my little granny had time for us, she let us cut bread, peel apples, we worked, we made memories and we did it with so much less than we have now. We did it simply, we lived, we let life get in the way and it didn't mess up our schedule or our long list of "get there, go here's". <br />
<br />
As a homeschooling mom I know my kids need ME! With that said we let life teach us a whole lot. Yeah that unschooling stuff is REALLY rubbing off on me :) (AND I LIKE IT... Shhhh!). I need to be there to help them with their stuff (mentally there), I'm famous for saying..."just a minute" and an hour later I arrive to help them. I need to not be sorting through junk mail, or trying to find the counter, or folding MOUNDS of laundry ALL. THE. TIME. So perhaps a little scheduling and a little.....eeeekk..... going to bed ontime and waking up earlier is going to be needed. But, I really like the night owl life!!!! If we are burning the candle mine burns a HECK of a lot better at midnight than 6am! This simplifying life might have to teach me some knew habits, and break some very old ones. <br />
<br />
Life isn't like it was back when my grandma made mush and eggs and bacon every morning, but my goal is to find that balance between the modern conveniences that make this day and age so AWESOME and the little white house that I so dearly loved! There is a balance, a middle ground of finding a place for my "stuff" (or chucking it..... hey! There's a thought!) and allowing those conveniences that truly make life easier to have a place too! So here's to Simplifying! However and whatever that may be for you ~ Simplify away!!!<br />
<br />
:)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljEJ-PLl0tdoEG98CJ3vm3l2pKAxqxZ4iuftcZRU8w1Ry4D9PwXkjnxlQ3v7jU5JiVEcqyibfHupnx1k9B3hLLRVPH_Rcb6L54GAhxMkGI1qY1jseIp-eNGdIn3189SCPzPYlIyz2U97k/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljEJ-PLl0tdoEG98CJ3vm3l2pKAxqxZ4iuftcZRU8w1Ry4D9PwXkjnxlQ3v7jU5JiVEcqyibfHupnx1k9B3hLLRVPH_Rcb6L54GAhxMkGI1qY1jseIp-eNGdIn3189SCPzPYlIyz2U97k/s1600/Signature.png" /></a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-8987889460014495842013-10-23T21:02:00.000-07:002013-10-23T21:02:52.103-07:00Soup's on!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V_9LomydO2UXvtM0yPLb6n1NKpzUhyphenhyphenVCpDBfc8Rrq6xU8JPgQRHFIiLl5fAdVrt1NA50Rnk5l_0CusZIObcJunCj898sGeedC5Aw0vvizD0XTHVBnhIkR0H50YR4irMeaNmJQYf4WIl9/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V_9LomydO2UXvtM0yPLb6n1NKpzUhyphenhyphenVCpDBfc8Rrq6xU8JPgQRHFIiLl5fAdVrt1NA50Rnk5l_0CusZIObcJunCj898sGeedC5Aw0vvizD0XTHVBnhIkR0H50YR4irMeaNmJQYf4WIl9/s320/IMG_1959.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potato Gnocchi (organic from Target) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have I mentioned that I LOVE FALL! Okay I may get a bit giddy when Fall arrives. No I 'm not a summer fan. Don't get me wrong I love the green grass and the fact that we can spend time outside, but let's be honest after 80 degrees it's just too hot!! I'm a spring, fall, winter fan! But Fall is my all time FAVORITE! Especially because of the fact that we get to eat SOUP again! Yes, I am aware they make (or you can) soup all year. But eating soup when it's 80 degrees outside just IS NOT okay with me.<br />
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I love soup! Most any kind of soup! Chicken noodle, Beef Vegetable, Beef and Barley, Ham and bean, Clam Chowder, and I really love any kind of soup from the Olive Garden! I found some recipes on my favorite Pinning location HAHA! And so I made <a href="http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/2564076-Olive-Garden-Chicken-and-Gnocchi-Soup" target="_blank">Chicken Gnocchi soup</a>! OH HEAVEN HELP ME! It was to DIE for! I even used the organic <a href="http://chaoscreek.blogspot.com/2013/09/roasted-chicken.html" target="_blank">roasted chicken</a> I made! Yeah I was feeling very domestic :) So here's the recipe:<br />
<div id="recipe-content-left" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px 0px 0px;">
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INGREDIENTS</h2>
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<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and diced (you can use a rotisserie chicken)</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">4 tablespoons butter</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">4 tablespoons flour</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 quart half and half</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 14 ounce can chicken broth</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1/2 cup celery, finely diced</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">2 garlic cloves, minced</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 cup carrots, finely shredded</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 cup onion, finely diced</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 tablespoon extra virgin oil</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1/2 teaspoon thyme</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1/2 teaspoon parsley</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Freshly grated parmesan cheese</li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1 pound potato gnocchi</li>
</ul>
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<div id="recipe-directions-notes" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Calibri, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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DIRECTIONS</h2>
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<ul class="inst_list" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span class="step_count" style="background-color: #9fb819; color: white; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">1</span><div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; max-width: 600px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="padding: 0px;">
Sauté the onion, celery, and garlic in the butter and olive oil, over medium heat when the onion becomes translucent, add the flour, and make a roux, let the butter and flour mixture cook for about a minute before adding 1 quart of half and half.</div>
</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span class="step_count" style="background-color: #9fb819; color: white; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">2</span><div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; max-width: 600px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="padding: 0px;">
Cook gnocchi according to package directions.</div>
</div>
</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; padding: 0px;"><span class="step_count" style="background-color: #9fb819; color: white; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; width: 20px;">3</span><div class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 30px; max-width: 600px; padding: 0px;">
<div style="padding: 0px;">
Into the roux add in the carrots and chicken. Once the mixture becomes thick add the chicken broth. Once the mixture thickens again, add the cooked gnocchi, spinach, and seasonings, simmer until soup is heated through.</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
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<div class="recipe_copyright_source" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px;">
Source: copycat recipes</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT26uvYA54Fv54Sm0cAdAVMQ45SudYoNimPQlFbaiAdq9GqtEfLqXCdXw8NIgJrEuqvjZ1VYDK91S7596wKA36egXWysBKJjTXOOuwaLErn_Jhvby4OaFaEV_S_rD3Bw1dPtD0GUIZwf6_/s1600/IMG_1956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT26uvYA54Fv54Sm0cAdAVMQ45SudYoNimPQlFbaiAdq9GqtEfLqXCdXw8NIgJrEuqvjZ1VYDK91S7596wKA36egXWysBKJjTXOOuwaLErn_Jhvby4OaFaEV_S_rD3Bw1dPtD0GUIZwf6_/s320/IMG_1956.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sauteing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDe2zcrPhNhuK2FbuegDgbXZ4vZBBLB7hsaKGkunDJZ7rpD_b66BTaIvKoXF7G8yiEU8MsF5__vvZjq1clvxxt_cbrfWLZqHwcqhCuAyh5sqsSyL-Z78QXbFmIrkX9nrOmFSc-r4SoFHD/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDe2zcrPhNhuK2FbuegDgbXZ4vZBBLB7hsaKGkunDJZ7rpD_b66BTaIvKoXF7G8yiEU8MsF5__vvZjq1clvxxt_cbrfWLZqHwcqhCuAyh5sqsSyL-Z78QXbFmIrkX9nrOmFSc-r4SoFHD/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SOUP~!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now that you have it you may want to eat it alone.......in the dark.............where no one can find you!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-39132432260019696382013-10-02T16:42:00.000-07:002013-10-02T16:42:00.969-07:00WeekendsSometimes, not very often, but every once in a blue moon we Weekend it up! Meaning we spend a lot of quality time as family doing the things we all LOVE to do. It might not be "fun" to the average person but it makes our Heart's Sing and keeps us closer together and helps us Strengthen our relationships. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSLJGtOG3-W4S62ZclpKnExcEppLddV9FEV5NKpHGeeRJ8vP0_IOpIObnmprPevAh-wWoc6h_mbwXAOb5CSNVK4UMzII_By1vZiF2Glc6O0hyphenhyphen8QGxjmfgwzjDkYxLpsW2DF0urEJyX3wW/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSLJGtOG3-W4S62ZclpKnExcEppLddV9FEV5NKpHGeeRJ8vP0_IOpIObnmprPevAh-wWoc6h_mbwXAOb5CSNVK4UMzII_By1vZiF2Glc6O0hyphenhyphen8QGxjmfgwzjDkYxLpsW2DF0urEJyX3wW/s400/IMG_1849.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She loves Crow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This particular weekend we saddled up the horse and took turns riding him. His name is Crow and he is super TALL! He's a cool horse, he even knows how to lay down so you can get off and on of him easily :).... (I know you're wishing he was you're horse huh?)<br />
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We also went up to the mountain ground and looked for the cows. They were coming home soon so we needed to locate them and see if we could account for all 51 of them. Not all of them are ours but we still have to keep track.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-YV6Q4sz4tHsvE8FmdWx-sVHj0eSc8DbP0GSbcRpDRH_cGbHsJfFh60mpG2q5iWyCftQsOmbi1aemmHZGudE9tU0UTLGdrpvFh0HWcZbOffUvkqebf4Q35OGeJsRzOMMhWW8uM5lsha2/s1600/IMG_1857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-YV6Q4sz4tHsvE8FmdWx-sVHj0eSc8DbP0GSbcRpDRH_cGbHsJfFh60mpG2q5iWyCftQsOmbi1aemmHZGudE9tU0UTLGdrpvFh0HWcZbOffUvkqebf4Q35OGeJsRzOMMhWW8uM5lsha2/s400/IMG_1857.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Cute cowgirls counting the herd</td></tr>
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We found some cool scratches in the Aspen tree's where a Bear had climbed up! SWEET!!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9CNKH5YM2yS9tiIJw0xgh0xf4i4PbnDWPL1GMtzG0oh4gEbIaKUEo6TGG1K_L2XAFJ90EuAFujiaxtguvsvUNyywE44ANzQMYhh8Fr0RWrV3meoD6d9QGOIGwszCUSqYXar2h6PAxyN3/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9CNKH5YM2yS9tiIJw0xgh0xf4i4PbnDWPL1GMtzG0oh4gEbIaKUEo6TGG1K_L2XAFJ90EuAFujiaxtguvsvUNyywE44ANzQMYhh8Fr0RWrV3meoD6d9QGOIGwszCUSqYXar2h6PAxyN3/s400/IMG_1860.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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And that's how we Weekend! We love it, we love it, we love it, we do! How do you weekend? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-89297249544849606892013-09-30T17:10:00.000-07:002013-09-30T17:10:09.433-07:00Roasted ChickenI love this rotisserie chickens you buy at the store. You know the one's that have been sitting for hours under the heat lamp. The one's that are probably made from hormone injected chickens. I don't love that part! I just love that it's DONE, it's prepared and all I have to do is shred and eat or add it to whatever we are eating. I love that they are tender and their flavor is good. So I found some Organic, yes ORGANIC, whole chickens on sale for $5.00 each! So I snagged two up and thought I'd give this whole chicken thing a whirl. Now they weren't rotisserie but they were roasted :)! I found the recipe, yep Pinterest, DUH! You can also find it<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roast-Sticky-Chicken-Rotisserie-Style/Detail.aspx" target="_blank"> here. </a> My chickens were a little larger than the recipe, and I may have forgot to put them in the oven at 3:00 when I had planned to. Due to husband errands and laundry, they got in the oven at 6:30......which meant I was waiting up til 11:30 pm to get them out. Oh but no! They were larger you see and ended up getting done at 2:30 AM! WOWSERS! I would recommend starting sooner than that ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PhE92xTxDTKforG0tNEARovYp4lerMgaB8Vij4VDi5Zp0IBAEc-hwVmcaYGIRcbYeuSH7ZE-N6PE_rUGnj2my2ZfIxy4fLDP49VNLOJOKcKwfJ_GrHSGvjzQvjByFJcQJI6JezUmltlh/s1600/IMG_1926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_PhE92xTxDTKforG0tNEARovYp4lerMgaB8Vij4VDi5Zp0IBAEc-hwVmcaYGIRcbYeuSH7ZE-N6PE_rUGnj2my2ZfIxy4fLDP49VNLOJOKcKwfJ_GrHSGvjzQvjByFJcQJI6JezUmltlh/s400/IMG_1926.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't they look LOVELY?!</td></tr>
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The end result was Fantastic! I used them in some tacos, sandwiches, soups, etc. They were moist and fell off the bone and had great flavor. The onion in the chicken did a lot of good too and the rub was great! I will totally be doing this again!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-72357136709197721422013-09-23T16:11:00.000-07:002013-09-23T16:11:02.053-07:00Give Me Food......and FIVE Kids Please!So, I've been thinking a lot about this Blog and about what I want out of it and what I want it to be about. I don't really just want to be a Homeschool blogger, because, yes Homeschooling is a HUGE part of our lives or is it, our lives are HUGE part of Homeschooling? Do you see the dilemma? Homeschooling is life it's what we do everyday 24/7 not just the "school" hours. Learning happens each day whether we planned it and studied it or whether we took our 79 year old grandmother to lunch for the afternoon. It's all life, it's all learning and everything is incorporated in it. We are REAL people, we have good days, bad days, food days, no food days (only when I decide cold cereal sounds better than actually cooking something), sad days and exuberant days! Which made me think more about what I blog, and really I just want to blog about <u>EVERYTHING</u>, recipes, homeschooling, things I love, things I <strike>hate</strike> don't love. Blah blah blah! So with that, I'm just gonna be me and Blog about whatever makes my heart happy or sad or hungry at any particular time. This post....Happy Heart, Hungry Heart! :)<br />
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This past Saturday we had breakfast as a family! I know, you're thinking..."Okay, that's really Cool... not!" but it really is, we have 5 kids, 2 of whom don't live with us all the time, you know they think school and jobs are all important and stuff, so we don't get to see them as much as we once did, or as much as we'd like to! Saturday morning I made breakfast and all SEVEN of US sat and consumed it TOGETHER! AHHH nothing makes a Mama's heart happier than having all her children together and enjoying something.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDFn59ZiYjfNqk57XsOBMIv9aWcLzpo7a6P25Ip2bnKfNcOA-b__ID99AL8rk43n7QCSg3Fk4uCtPsbJVYnz5jz-6GVKSZboZP1SgNN-a1onJRlzAc06Sd2VMfHq-Skom5m4aDYO3bFSN/s1600/155799_620853961270222_294660946_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDFn59ZiYjfNqk57XsOBMIv9aWcLzpo7a6P25Ip2bnKfNcOA-b__ID99AL8rk43n7QCSg3Fk4uCtPsbJVYnz5jz-6GVKSZboZP1SgNN-a1onJRlzAc06Sd2VMfHq-Skom5m4aDYO3bFSN/s400/155799_620853961270222_294660946_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TRUE LOVE!</td></tr>
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And to go along with our MAKE IT MONDAY theme ~ Here is what we MADE to eat!<br />
We had <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886953201376/" target="_blank">overnight french toast</a> with caramel syrup and <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886953915603/" target="_blank">Ham cups</a>, and OJ don't forget the OJ! Delicious, delightful and the perfect way to start a Saturday! We are going to start planning at least monthly meals together, as they each get bigger it seems harder to get them all together, so making time now and planning things is important to me, (I think this is what they call a TRADITION :)).....and them! :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk-aP4eBnog9ZuSGR8GbYybtdoF43yUg2IDNFcnP_CIYk6DSzX7pFIQQN8QzTuNNOxQ74QeunSt-i8vhp3oN_-xBACX40p0xtZjCAibHX6tuGzfaf7-53RHvK8wWHOC_OdHNTwMmtPRwy/s1600/1236429_620855054603446_1749047685_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk-aP4eBnog9ZuSGR8GbYybtdoF43yUg2IDNFcnP_CIYk6DSzX7pFIQQN8QzTuNNOxQ74QeunSt-i8vhp3oN_-xBACX40p0xtZjCAibHX6tuGzfaf7-53RHvK8wWHOC_OdHNTwMmtPRwy/s320/1236429_620855054603446_1749047685_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready for the overnight refrigeration! </td></tr>
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And there you have it! Food and Family....NEED I SAY MORE?! </div>
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What do you like to do with your kids? What TRADITIONS do you have?<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-47195370136825529342013-09-22T16:04:00.001-07:002013-09-22T16:18:14.549-07:00Be Kind ~ Speak Kind This past weekend I've been very reflective. Well that's not anything new, I'm often lost somewhere in "deep" thought, or thinking about things that matter most to me. But this week marks the 3rd anniversary of my Grandpa passing away (right, weird that it's an anniversary, but he lived across the street from me and....we had a pretty good relationship he and I), it's also my most favorite time of the year. I love FALL! I love the happiness it brings to my heart and soul and the chilly air. I love wearing long sleeves and boots and being able to throw on a hoodie and jeans and not roast to death. I love fire's and pumpkin smells and comfort food and falling leaves and EVERYTHING that Fall is. With that, and my "reflective" mood, my 5 kids being under one roof for breakfast, a friend's trials, my grandmother aging and........life changing. I find myself in tears a lot, for the changes mean I too am changing, my kids are changing my role as a mother to babies is gone and I now have a daughter who could very easily make me a grandmother in a few short years (not that I'm pressing the issue, but that it could be reality), my youngest is 5 and still a little girl but things are changing. I'm not sad that they are changing, just reflective of what life brings, how short (yet long it seems sometimes) each season of life is. How much we learn and grow from different things, the trials we think will surely do us in, yet we look back and they have made us who we are.<br />
<img alt="Seasons of life" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/a6/df/60/a6df6014be03f1e076dc803179c08aa1.jpg" /><br />
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The lesson at church today was on words, how words can lift us up or bring us down. How what we choose to say can make someones day, change their lives, motivate them, cause them heartache or perhaps break their spirit. I love words! I love writing and sometimes when relationships have been rough I have found a pen in my hand and words flying onto the page so I could say what I needed to say and express what I needed to express without my emotions getting in the way, or my train of thought getting lost. Some of those words get crumpled up and thrown away as a release of some sort, and some have been gently placed on a pillow or tucked under the door of someone I love. Some of my fondest possessions are letters from my mother, or notes from my husband, a letter one Christmas when I was given my mother's ring is probably as priceless as anything I own. These words that I keep are words of love, words of encouragement of thankful hearts. As I reflect on the words I hold dear to my heart I am reminded of the words I speak each day. Yet, do these words always build up? Or do they tear down at times? <br />
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Sometimes it's hard to decipher if you are hurting or helping someone, some people take constructive criticism well and work to better themselves and to see the potential that you see in them, others take it as a blow and feel completely defeated, perhaps never recovering from it fully. As a mother I struggle to find the balance of words that help and words that hinder. The words that encourage and the words that set a mark so high that they don't think they'll ever measure up so they quit trying. The words as a wife that build up, show love and appreciation and encourage, and the words that deplete and "push buttons". In my Quest to <a href="http://www.chaoscreek.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-ring-in-new-year.html" target="_blank">Strengthen,</a> Kindness and speaking kindly is something I will probably be forever attempting to master. But, if each day I can think before I react, listen before I speak, and ponder before I pray.....one day I will be there!. But for now I am challenging myself to complain less, to smile when I'm weary and my day has been too long, to say "yes" to more stories, cuddles, walks, talks, moments to be together, and "not right now" to the piles of laundry, the projects I want to finish or the books I long to read. I want to be present in this day, be kind, be patient, be loving, I want to speak kind of everyone I meet, find goodness in everything I see and try my best to be better at all that I am and all that I will be. I hope to speak words of encouragement, love,compassion and kindness to my family and friends, I hope to give strength to those who need it, to do good to those I serve and to help those who need help. This year as I've worked on strengthening .......I've felt myself grow and become a better me, a stronger me and yet a more tender me. I hope to keep growing, changing and loving ALL the seasons of life that make me who I am. I hope to be kinder, to speak with purpose and to hold my tongue at times (which some days.......needs to be done A LOT!). I am not perfect, far from it, but my quest to be so is an interesting one, one that's brought me here, one that moves me forward, one that I truly love and am thankful for each day! Remember one thing as you go about your week.........Be Kind! <br />
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<img alt="A kind heart speaks kind words" height="289" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bb/49/22/bb492285a87038670942db8e46c6b5f7.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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Thanks for reading~ and remember I'd love to hear about your Quest's your triumphs and your learning moments :)<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">pictures found on this post were found on www.pinterest.com with no link to their source.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442692275284379416.post-87200584384808579432013-09-19T13:00:00.000-07:002013-09-22T15:22:54.334-07:00Floppy ChickenSo funny story, well I guess it didn't start out funny, but luckily it ended that way. One Wednesday afternoon a couple of weeks ago Buckwheat tells me his neck hurts and he isn't moving it like normal, kind of like he slept on it wrong. I asked him why it hurt and he showed me this LUMP on his neck. It wasn't like a bump or a bite or anything, it felt like he had somehow managed to get a large marble stuck under his skin. My first reaction was "WHAT IS THIS!!!"<br />
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My second reaction was to call my mom....which is usually the much more logical thing to do HA! My brother researched it on his phone and it said it could be a swollen gland or cancer or you know just about anything under the sun. <span style="color: #f6b26b; font-size: x-small;"> Don't research your symptoms on Google you will think you are going to <u>DIE </u>at any <u>given moment</u>!!! </span> So after some filtered searches and some discussions with those wiser than myself I decided that the best thing was to probably have it checked out so I could sleep soundly and so that if it was in fact something to be concerned about, then we could take the steps necessary. So the next day we went to the doctor. They were a little puzzled, not shocked or too concerned but they were stumped that it was only on one side of his neck and not both sides. The doctor told us that we could have an ultra sound to make sure it wasn't anything to be too concerned about, but then she said we should probably do a blood sample first and if it came back with anything of concern then we would do an ultra sound or whatever needed to be done. I was glad she was so informative and that we were taking baby steps to get the true answers not jumping into worst case scenario stuff right away. <br />
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If any of you know me very well you know that blood, needles or anything of that nature just don't sit well with me. (Yes I did have children and I even had them C-section ~ Fancy that!) So I put my brave MOM face on and thought "You got this, he's a little BOY, you can't freak out now!" Buckwheat was a <strike>LOT</strike> little nervous. We don't really go to the doctor a lot and now they wanted his BLOOD?! He asked how they would get the blood out and I told him it would come from his veins and he melted into a puddle on my lap. I quietly calmed him down and he very bravely asked "How much of my vein do they have to cut out mom?" "OH NO Sweetheart they aren't cutting your veins out!" I must not do a good job of explaining things to this brave little guy! I told him they would poke a small needle and suck the blood out and that he wouldn't even be able to really see the hole. He felt much better knowing that we wouldn't be slitting his arms open to remove his VEINS!!! Then the assistant came in with the blood sucking equipment :) I informed the assistant that I "get a little queasy with blood so I'll just sit behind him on the table and hold his hand" the assistant smiled a little and watched me climb up behind Buckwheat so I could hold his hand but not have to look directly at what they were doing. Jo quickly went to the waiting room as she was having NONE of this! I tried to bribe Peanut into going with her but she wouldn't budge. The assistant started inspecting Buckwheat's arms to find a "good vein". Peanut was sitting across from us and looked at me and then started yelling "MY BROTHER IS GOING TO DIE!!!" The assistant busted up laughing! I was laughing trying to get Peanut to stop telling people her brother was dying and that he would be just fine! I'm sure the assistant thought we were NUTS! <br />
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They poked the needle in and I held Buckwheat's right hand with my left and we looked at pictures on the opposite wall, trying to talk to him so he didn't concentrate on the needle. He started giggling from Peanut's crazy antics and the vein closed off. So round two! The assistant goes and fetches the doctor so he can have a little help, and because the veins of a 7 year old just aren't that great for drawing blood. They tied his arm, this time they used the right hand vein (ouch I hate the hand veins!) I put my arm around Buckwheat's neck because I couldn't hold his right hand anymore. I held him and we started talking about different things. I tried to block out the conversation the doctor and assistant were having (because I'm visual I just can't shake those kinds of things LOL!) the blood was pumping so slowly it was taking FOREVER and poor Buckwheat was trying to hold still and the needle in his hand vein HURT, so the poor kid was being so tough! After about 2 minutes .....which seemed like 10, the assistant said that the vein had collapsed because the suction was too strong for the vein...... I felt myself go warm..... I looked at the clock ........concentrate Kyndra concentrate. No NO NO you're fine it's all going to be okay, Stay here, right ..................<br />
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"Mom, mom........are you okay?...........What's your mom's name?" I barley heard the voices. "Kyndra" Buckwheat replied. "Get him off the table," the doctor stated. I slowly came to. I felt the doctor push me back on the table and I saw the flashlight in my eyes. "Are you okay?" she said again. "Yeah, I think so," I said. Yep, I passed out! Right over the top of my son with the needle in his hand. He told me I fell on him, hit my head on the wall, did the floppy chicken with my tongue hanging out and my eyes in the back of my head. LOL! Oh the poor kid thought his mom was dying!! The assistant was trying to get the needle out of my son's hand and get him off the table. The nurse was trying to keep me on the table (bless her heart). I laid on the table, completely embarrassed and still dizzy and hot flashy from the fainting spell. After a few minutes I sat in the chairs and My Brave little man had to get his blood drawn a THIRD TIME, ALL BY HIMSELF! And now we know that I honestly can't do it, not that I don't' want to be there but I just can't! :) And we learned that a 7 year old is a WHOLE LOT BRAVER than his mama or he thought! <br />
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Oh, and it turns out it was a swollen gland. It wasn't anything crazy and went away in a few days with some antibiotics. Now we have a great story, and the knowledge that I need to call Sue my Oldest since she has medical training, or a friend when a doctor springs a blood draw on anyone (including myself) HA HA!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15480931383014932027noreply@blogger.com0