A Little Drive and Memory or Two

We took a bit of some time away and enjoyed family time in Williamsburg.

My little soldiers trying on military uniforms.

Elaina and Her Daddy stopping for a quick shot in one of the houses as we toured the Jamestown Settlement.

Sir Doze-A-Lot

Our sweet little puppy, Dozer. Looking back, it' s hard to believe he was THAT small!

...and now, I think I should Have named him, "moose". He 's enormous...but still adorable,

"Momma-Made Goodness"

For years I have wondered about canning more than just the veggies that abound from our garden. I mean, if Campbell's can process soups and put them into convenient cans for consumers, then why can't I take the vegetables and meats that I get on sale and can them myself.  My soups would be free from preservatives, lacking the tons of un-needful sodium and perfected to the taste of my very own family.  Mine could be tenderly made with love and could be proudly displayed on a shelf in my kitchen as a reminder that I, indeed attempt to "look well to the ways of my household".  :)

On a stressful or busy day, I could go to the shelf, pull off a jar of homemade goodness and serve it to my family without a shadow of guilt.

And so... I began to research my options.  I found that meat can indeed be canned and

should be processed in a pressure canner for 90 mins at 10 pounds of pressure (if using quart jars). 

 I also found out that if you mix ingredients in canning, you should always process

with the longest recommended time for your ingredients.  So, putting two and two together, if I want to can, say a Vegetable Beef Soup, all I need to do is put everything into my jars and process for 90 mins. 

After spending a week with my family battling a bad cold, I made some homemade chicken noodle soup and boy does it work to make one feel better.  I decided that Chicken Soup would be my first experiment. 

I didn't add any noodles (knowing that they would turn to mush).  It turned out beautifully!  Now, if we need some homemade cold remedy, it's on the shelf.  We just add a hand full of dry noodles to the boiling soup for about 10mins before we're ready to serve....and we have Yummy Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup that didn't have to cook on a stove all day but packed with lots of nutrition (without the additives that store bought would have).

Each week, I have been making a batch of "something" to put up for my family.  I've been watching for meats to go on sale and have been able to really extend my overall savings by planning around what I find.  To help in the prep work, I've used frozen veggies (also found on sale). In the longterm, this is really going to help our family.  If we have a week that money is tight or we want to put a little extra in savings for something special, we won't have to rely on "beans and rice" because we already have a storehouse of a variety of nutritious meals.  

 Since that first attempt, I have canned Chicken Soup, Vegetable-Beef Soup, Chicken Gumbo, Spaghetti Sauce with Meat and Seasoned Pinto Beans. Yes! Beans, too!  I had planned on making a pot for dinner and I simply made it the way I always do, but used a 3pd bag this time and canned it right along with my seasonings.  Now, I have 7quarts on the shelf, ready to eat without the time and fuss.

The plan for now is to spend the time I have waiting for our garden to overflow with vegetables in filling my "meals in minutes" jars.  What a great way to make use of those cold winter months...then when I want to spend the warm Spring and Summer days in the yard and garden (instead of in the kitchen) I already have dinner done! :)

Spring Around Our House

A Heart That Is Fixed

I was blessed to have this in my devotions this morning. What a wonderful mindset and prayer! "Lord, help me to glorify thee; I am poor, help me to glorify thee by contentment; I am sick, help me to give thee honour by patience; I have talents, help me to extol thee by spending them for thee; I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee; I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love but thine, and glow with no flame but affection for thee; I have a head to think, Lord, help me to think of thee and for thee; thou hast put me in this world for something, Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my life-purpose: I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury; I am all thine; take me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have."

Ode to JOY!

I have been strongly encouraged to write an uplifting post. A post to bring smiles of delight....where exactly shall I begin? I could begin nowhere but in the next room! You see, I have a delightful family (my greatest treasure and blessing).  A typical day around here is filled with conversation, laughter and silliness. Our day begins when my husband and I get up, grab a cup of coffee and spend a few minutes with the morning news while we wipe the sleepiness from our eyes.  As the bottom of our cups appear, we grab our Bibles, spend time alone in prayer and Bible reading.  Around seven, our golden retriever, Dolly is gotten up.  It is her job to cheerfully wake everyone else up in the house.  She does her job well and rather enjoys it!  First, she runs to Brittany's room, placing her paws right on her bed.  If by chance her face is close enough to the edge, she gets several slobbery kisses before she has a chance to know what hit her. :) Once Dolly is sure she has done the job thoroughly, getting a moment of cuddles with Brit, she heads upstairs to find the rest of her beloved family.  Her happy, half-growls, half-barks bring cheer to our mornings!  Who can wake up in a grumpy mood with such a wake-up call? Once everyone has done their devotions, eaten breakfast and dressed for the day, the children and I crowd around the living room, ready for morning school devotions. For quite some time, we have been going through a set of character sketch books for our school devotions.  Everyone seems to enjoy this, for the most part.  The book goes through different character traits and how they are illustrated in nature, as well as how it is illustrated in the Bible.  This is always interesting! I did say that everyone enjoys it "for the most part" because sometimes there are animals that the girls don't really care to learn about...you know, the creepy, crawly reptiles and so forth.  But, the boys eat it up! :) And thus our school day begins!   If I am feeling well, I shuffle between those needing help and housework.  THIS is my favorite way to spend the day! I absolutely love being a wife and mother- it is the most rewarding thing I could ever do.  It is such a joy to have the opportunity to have my children around me, to homeschool, to spend time with them, watching them grow, learn and develop.

Reflections in the Pool of the Year Past

With the thought of a new year brings a wonderful clean slate.  My organizing mind may venture to think of the many projects I could set my mind to tackle.  But I cannot get away from the fact that I must live day by day.

No, I haven't been given a deadline from the doctor on how much time I have left. 
I just cannot get any further than the day or perhaps week ahead of me.  Why? I'm not really sure. I only know that this is where I am and I will take it as it comes.  Maybe my perspective is all wrong, I don't know but this is how it is. 

Oh, I can think of many things that have been my "New Years Resolutions" of the past but they just can't cloud my mind.  Maybe it's because I have spent this last year living one day at a time.  The phrase, "limited life expectancy" will do a myriad of things to a person.

My! I have spent a good portion of the last year, looking into the eyes of my children, wondering how much longer I would have with them...If I would be there to see them finish school, get married or hold their first child.  I have cried tears on the shoulder of my husband more days than I would care to admit. 

What does this do to a person? 

It makes me grateful for each day that I can get up, take part in the lives of my children, serve my family in the menial tasks that some may dread.  Those words put new meaning to cooking, cleaning, schooling, laundry and the smallest thing like kissing my little boys goodnight.  

What will my children remember once I am gone?

It may be another sixty years that I walk the face of this earth but what mark will I have made in the lives of my children?  I wonder, will they remember godliness? I mean, do I follow God in a way so strongly that it impacts my children and makes them want to be like me?

I really don't believe that I do.  It's unfortunate to say, but in all truth, I believe this to be the case.  I have spent eighteen years as a Christian and I haven't progressed any further than this! All of my aspirations to become this woman that radiates godliness haven't taken me as far as I had hoped.  There is much work left to do so in reality, I should have a long list of goals and desires for this upcoming year. 

Will I still feel this way when I cross the thresh hold of 2013? I surely hope not.  

So, the question is, what am I going to do about this dilemma?   Well, take one day at a time. Focus on "the day" and what I can do this day to impact those around me for Christ.  Focus on what's important, continue to read my bible, memorize more verses and try with all that I have within me to live each day victorious....

and maybe, just maybe this year will be more Christ centered, God focused and others will be able to see a difference!  :)