The Van is Clean

at least on the inside. Before I packed up my scrapbook stuff for this weekend trip to Pine Cove I cleaned out the car. I have a lot of scrapbook stuff and had to make room. Plus, I haven't cleaned it out since Christmas and we got home from Oklahoma. So, here is the list of things that I found and brought in the house.
3 hats
1 coloring book
1 baby blanket
1 coat
1 pair of slippers
1 passie
2 cups
1 DVD player
1 bib
4 bottle lids
1 necklace
1 bracelet
1 ball
airborne
zicam
2 matchbox cars
2 head bands
2 leapster games
3 gloves
1 pair of gloves
5 baby socks
1 camera case
and
1 can of deep woods off

So there you have it. That is what you can find in a van that four kids ride in. What's in your vehicle?

Dad Brag

I have been so touched by the tenderness of my husband these past few days while I have had bronchitis. He has taken care of the laundry. He has helped with the kids. He has gotten up with the baby in the middle of the night. Yes ladies, that is right. Men are capable of doing that. Their bodies do wake up when they hear the baby cry. And my wonderful man has gotten up, turned of the monitor, and saw to the baby's needs. I am so blessed. He has been concerned about me, and he truly cares. I know that not everyone can say that. I have not even been that ill (at least in my book). But my husband loves me, and I love him. He is kind and compassionate. He is tender and he is loving. I adore him. I take him for granted way too much. So, here is my Dad Brag that is long overdue him.

Cottage Loaf

Every year RaeAnne gets me a cookbook for Christmas. This year I told her that I wanted one that was for five or six ingredients. She got me "200 Four-Ingredient Recipes" by Joanna Farrow. This recipe is from it. We were having stew so I decided to make bread bowls. They were pretty yummy. Let me make a few notes before I post her recipe. I don't think that you can get "fresh" yeast at Wal-Mart which is what her recipe called for. I used Fleischmann's Rapid Rise Highly Active Yeast and followed the direction on it. I also have a Kitchen Aid mixer that has the hook attachment that knead dough, and I used it. What can I say...I am lazy! So, this is Sherry's version. From the original verbiage on the recipe you could tell this is from Britain and not the good 'ol U S of A.

6 cups unbleached strong white bread flour
2tsp salt
1 package Rapid Rise Highly Active Yeast
1 2/3 cup water (120-130 degrees)

1. Lightly grease two baking sheets. Sift the flour, salt and yeast together into a large bowl.
2. Pour water into dry ingredients, then mix to a firm dough.
3. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes, until it is smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm place for about an hour.
4. Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and punch down. Knead for 2-3 minutes, then divide the dough into four or five parts and shape each piece into a ball. Place balls of dough on the prepared baking sheets. Cover with inverted bowls and leave to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
5. Carefully press a hole down into the center of the top of the balls using your thumb. Cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap and leave to rest in a warm place for about 10 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and place the bread on the lower shelf of the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until a rich golden brown color. Cool on a wire rack before serving.

Enjoy!

quilt pieces

What could be one of the best Christmas presents ever? Pieces of quilts that my wonderful Granny had started piecing together. There is one that is completely pieced, but has some wholes to fix. There is one that I am unsure of the pattern and then there is one that is in the pattern of double Irish chain. The first quilt she made of that pattern was for me. I still have it, and my children use it all the time to cuddle up. I get the privilege of finishing something that my grandmother started. I held fabric that my beloved grandmother held and sewed with love. I can not wait to get home and sit at my sewing machine. I am sure it will be an emotional journey. I will cherish it and cherish the memories of us together looking through quilt books. My heart is grieving her loss all over again right now. At the same time I am rejoicing that she is with our Lord. She was the living example of Christ to me. My heart always felt lighter when I was around her. What a blessing these quilt pieces are to me. To think they were in a closet at my parents all these years. I am thanking God for this snow storm. It gave us time to sit and talk and remember.

Rude Much?

Why do people feel that they can just say anything to you? When did decency go out of style. Yes, I know that I am tired. I am sure that I look tired. I have four children and I packed and drove three hours with a crying baby. However, I do not need you to tell me that I look tired. I know that I probably do. How would you feel if I said the same thing to you? It would probably sting a little just like it did when you told me that I look tired. Please give me a little grace and just not say anything about how bad I look. I am kind and don't tell you how you look.

All Because Two People Fell in Love

Two blogs in one day. Craziness, I know.

So, we have all heard the saying or seen one of the signed or photo frames, "All because two people fell in love". Right? That is the saying that popped into my head just a few minutes ago.

What made me think that? You are wondering, I am sure. Well, the baby was fussing. He was DONE eating, if you know what I mean. He was covered in goo. A big slobbery baby cookie and teething biscuit is what he was. Andrew (age 4) was screaming in the potty that he needed poopy medicine. He was gagging on his tears, slobber and snot. Screaming, really screaming. Our house is a pit. A real disaster. So, please don't come by (not that anyone is planning on coming to Texas). We were gonna go out to dinner, but my hubby had to work late and the kids were hungry. Not the evening I had planned.

So, just picture all of this going on. That is when the saying came to me. I was scrubbing last nights dinner dishes. Not the picture perfect evening, huh? I could think of a hundred better ways for the evening to go. But, in the words of Kate "It may be a crazy life, but its our life."

I really do love my life. I love my children and my husband. Sure, we all get tired and just plum worn out. However, the love that we share is precious. Not everyone is blessed enough to have experienced it.

All because two people fell in love...there is a house full of people that can laugh and cry together...there are children that will fulfill God's purpose for their lives...two families were brought together...one child who was motherless now has a mother...one child who fatherless now has a father...two lives were created...two hearts that were created to love have someone to spend the rest of their lives cherishing...all because two people fell in love.

*Footnote...we are very aware that we didn't just happen to fall in love. We were brought together by God for a divine purpose. Nothing just happens. Where there's God will, there is a way.

Needy Texans

Something that Bryce and I have noticed since we moved to Texas that we didn't in Oklahoma is the amount of needy people. In Oklahoma there would be a family here and there that needed help that we would hear of. A few people that lost their jobs and such. In Sunday school we would "search" for someone to help at Christmas.

Here in Texas it seems that there are lots of people facing troubles. Almost every church that we have visited the pastors have addressed issues of the food banks being overwhelmed and families in the churches that have lost jobs and homes. There are lots of children without coats at school. The schools have done a coat drive to meet those needs. The resources that are available for people are just overwhelmed by the need. They simply can't keep up with the demand.

The Sunday school class that we visited last Sunday had just given gift cards to two families in the church that had lost their jobs and their homes. They had also adopted two other families that were on the angel tree and bought Christmas gifts for them. Someone brought up the fact that there were still families and children on the tree that no one had bought for.

Our hearts are breaking at the need. I know that times are tough for most people right now, even if you do have a job. Don't let that stop you from giving. Bless someone this season. If you can't give of a financial means then give of your time. The food banks are needing volunteers to organize the food that is brought and to pass it out. The elderly in the nursing homes are lonely. They just want to know that someone remembers them. There are so many physical and emotional needs. Try to meet at least one. My husband has decided not to receive a Christmas gift this year so that he can give the money to an area food bank. There isn't anything that he "needs", but there are people that need food and clothing. Go through your clothes and give away what you don't wear to a clothing closet. Take your suits to one of the organizations that help people get jobs. Those people can't afford even a Wal-Mart suit.

If God has blessed you, then you need to bless someone else. You never know when you might be the one in need. Do it for His glory and not your own.