Season The Day

Best Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

2014-12-26T16:13:00.001-08:00

I actually made this version of Chicken noodle soup quite by accident. I was making soup for a friend and as I'm 1/2 into the cooking process I realize I bought 1 carton of chicken stock & 1 beef broth, instead if 2 chicken stocks! As any mom of young kids can guess, I was not about to pack all 3 kiddos up and run to the store for 1 ingredient- AIN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR DAT. So I kept on cooking, substituting the mistaken broth and hoping it was going to turn out ok...especially since it was for someone else's family!! Well, it miraculously turned out awesome and now it's the only version I'm making, the beef broth adds just the right flavor.

Also I have come to discover, any great soup starts with onions sautéed in butter, makes a HUGE difference. I'm just Sayin' :)

Ingredients:

2-3 boneless chicken thighs

1/2 cup carrots, peeled, sliced

1/2 cup onions, diced

1/2 cup celery

4 tablespoons butter

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups beef broth

1/4 teaspoon salt (you may want to add more, depending on what your family likes)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

1 bay leaf

6-8 ounces dried pasta of choice (I just tried Yoder's Amish Egg Noodles, AMAZING!)

Directions:

Sauté the onions, celery & carrots in the butter until they are soft. Once cooked, add the raw chicken thighs and lightly brown them in the veggies & butter, (using more butter if needed) then add the broth, and the rest of the seasonings (including bay leaf). Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer until chicken is thoroughly cooked (I do about half an hour.) Remove chicken & shred or dice, return to pan. Add the noodles and simmer until tender. (About 10-15 minutes.) Cook on low until ready to serve, the longer it simmers, the more the flavor meld together.

Get ready for a party in your mouth! Great ending to a chilly day. Enjoy!

The Flex Express

2014-12-12T19:14:00.000-08:00

Tonight we made a new family tradition. I took a few ideas from Pinterest and threw in a few of my own & came up with the Flex Express. It was so fun!

First we watched the movie Polar Express for movie night (every Friday we do pizza & a family movie- the whole family loves it!) While the kids watched the beginning I ran around and prepared for our surprise. I popped popcorn, had cocoa ready to be heated up, set the car up for our ride & hid new fleece robes (like the boy wears in the movie) & golden tickets in the kids beds. You can find more tips, ideas & printable tickets here. We have a Ford Flex so we personalized the tickets, that I made from a gold Christmas bag.

After the movie we got ready for bed as usual, but when they pulled back their sheets they made a discovery! We weren't going to bed after all!! They put on their cozy new robes, ran through the house all excited and headed to the garage...where daddy was exclaiming "ALL ABOARD!" He punched holes in their tickets & they climbed in and found their popcorn, Hot Chocolate (of course!) & Christmas light necklaces (picked up at the dollar store.).

We then announced we were going on a Christmas light scavenger hunt. Here is an example of a scavenger hunt, there are tons of lists online! It was a great night of listening to & singing Christmas carols and looking at all kinds of Christmas decorations & lights. The kids asked if we could do this every year. I'm thinking it will have to be a tradition. It was super fun to plan and do, I love this kinda thing and watching their faces light up with joy was just priceless!

What are your fun Holiday traditions? If you try this come back and let me know how it goes!

The Beginning

2014-12-09T19:18:00.001-08:00

This is part of the Simply Christianity Series, if you missed the intro, check it out here.

We are going to start where every good story does, the beginning.

The Christian Faith holds to the belief that the universe, world & all the species inhabiting it were created in 6 days, by God. If there is creation, there must be a creator. I wholeheartedly believe this and I believe it was a literal 6 days.

You can read the biblical account in Genesis chapter 1 & 2.

Creation

Day-1 God spoke & created Light & Dark, He separated Morning & Evening

Day-2 He Separated the waters of heaven & earth with the sky.

Day-3 Created dry ground & separated the waters on the earth & called them the seas. Created all plants & trees.

Day-4 Created the Sun, moon & stars.

Day-5 Created Sea life & birds.

Day-6 Created all land animals, wild animals, livestock & small animals. Formed the first man & woman. And he saw all that He had made was good.

Day-7 God rested from working.

While there is so much I could talk about in the creation story the focus of our study is on God's relationship with us. A few things I wanted to point out:

-When God created humanity He designed them in His image. He says "Let us make Human beings in our image, to be like us..." Gen 1:26

- Take a look at the phrases "Let us" & "Our image". Our God is 3 parts: Father, Son& Spirit. (Think about the molecule H2O in it's liquid state it is water, solid-ice, gas-steam, it has different forms but is still H2O ) He was speaking to and of all parts of himself.

- All 3 parts of God were present in Creation. God the Father spoke the Word (Jesus Christ is that Word) and the Holy Spirit moved.

God is a creative being and he gets pleasure by creating. The Creator made this spectacular, perfect world and he wanted someone to enjoy it and take care of it and it gave Him pleasure to have someone to have a genuine relationship with. Colossians 1:16 says "All things were created by Him & For Him." He did not create us for ourselves, he created us for himself, because He wanted to. He didn't need us, but He wanted us. And we get this amazing privilege of doing life with The Creator & by walking with Him we find our true purpose.

So, God created man & woman to be like Him and to live a life of love, for God himself is love. He made humanity in right relationship with himself. They could talk with The Lord because they were not tainted, they walked with God with no shame and no condemnation and they were lovely because He loved them. There was no question about it, they knew Him and lived in the Love of God. This is how he made us & how it is supposed to be.

God created humans with a spot in our hearts that long for that beautiful relationship with Him. Knowing about him, doing things for him, following rules to try to please him will not fill that spot. Only knowing Him & being with Him will satisfy our souls.

In the beginning all that God made was good and lovely and the world was perfect.

Next in this series we'll go over THE FALL -So... What happened?

TAKING IT FURTHER

Read the Jesus Storybook Bible pages 18-27

Why was creation and Adam & Eve "lovely"?

What did God want people to share with Him?

In the Bible, read John 1:1-10 & vs 14

Who is the "Word"?

Who gave life to everything that was created?

What was the Word full of?

Read 1 John 4:16

God is ________?

Microwaved Coffee

2014-12-09T19:01:00.003-08:00

Last week I snapped this simple shot of my first microwaved cup of coffee of the day.

One day I may be able to drink a full, fresh, warm cup of coffee without distractions...but until that day I am thankful for the interruptions- it means there are little ones around who still need their mommy's help & affirmation.

Just a reminder to embrace your season of life!

SIMPLY CHRISTIANITY SERIES

2014-12-05T08:54:00.001-08:00

SIMPLY CHRISTIANITY is a simple look at the story of the Christ and where we fit in. This is a series I'm going to be doing to present what I believe and how it has changed me to the core. This series can serve as a great reminder of the basics of the faith of Christianity or an introduction to. Feel free to use it as a tool however you see fit. I'm excited to start this journey and see where it takes us.

So...what is the bible?

Put simply: The Bible is a collection of stories written by many (over forty) authors over thousands of years (16 centuries)that is telling one big story. It is a story that reveals God to us and of His love for humanity.

The Hero of the entire adventure is Jesus. He is hidden and hinted at in every book of the Old Testament and unveiled for all of us to see and meet in the New Testament.

It has been said that the Old Testament is Jesus concealed and the New Testament is Jesus revealed. Basically, the Bible is all about Him and how we fit into His story.

Contained within the pages of this "Holy Book" are first hand accounts of astounding miracles, glimpses at the power and the nature of our Creator, epic battles, surprising scandals, truths that provide the source of strength-hope-love, promises from God Himself, a way to live life to the fullest, the answers to the questions that every one asks, safety from trouble, where we meet a hero and savior like no other, and get insight into our true destiny.

Can't wait to dive into this journey with you, first we'll take a look at THE BEGINNING

TAKING IT FURTHER

This weeks reading: The Jesus Storybook bible pages 10-17

In your life what have you seen the bible primarily as?

What fresh or new way are you looking at the bible?

READ THESE VERSES:

Luke 24:27 , John 1:45, John 5:39

What do these verses say the Old Testament (Moses & the Prophets) was pointing to, talking about or testifying to?

Sources:

The Bible

The Jesus Storybook Bible

http://www.biblica.com/en-us/bible/bible-faqs/what-is-the-bible/

A Legacy of Relationship

2014-12-03T11:44:00.001-08:00

In my heart I have this spot, this desire to walk with my creator. He's always wanted me to know him. He's been pursuing me my whole life. The more I get to know His character and love for me, the more I experience a fulfilling life.

It's like that spot in my heart is only filled through regular fellowship with God. As I sit here today poring over His promises and truths I feel safe, I feel secure, I feel loved beyond a shadow of a doubt. HE IS REAL TO ME AND HE HAS BECOME MY GOD.

I have this passion to pass on a legacy of a relationship with God to my kids. I don't want God to be "Mama's God" or "My Pastor's God" to them. I want The Lord of all the earth to be real to my children. I want Him to reveal himself to them. I want Him to be THEIR GOD, because they've experienced Him, because they know Him.

And so my thoughts today are of unveiling God to them & creating moments where they experience Him for themselves. And my prayer to my King is that He shows up in their lives as He did and does in mine.

I pray you, God become real to my children. And I pray I know you more, so I can share about you more. Show me your face and give me wisdom and opportunities to reveal you to my kids. Lord please show up in all of our lives, we want to see you!

Lets take this show on the road!

2014-10-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

One of the many reasons I chose to homeschool this year was so we could vacation whenever we wanted. So we took a week back in September to relax, see family & fit in learning in a fun way whenever we could.

In North Carolina we spent quality time with family. I got to see one of my closest cousins marry an amazing woman, so thankful to have Molly in our fam! We also laughed a lot as we told stories & played Apples to Apples (a family favorite !) My mom is a science teacher so Drew learned about the solar system with her. We also got a chance to worship at one of our favorite churches, Elevation. The kids enjoyed being the special guest there & their cool new glasses they got as a prize for visiting.

After Grandmaw's house & the family wedding we stayed at Great Wolf Lodge. They got to do a fun & informative "Wolf Walk" where they saw & learned a lot of interesting facts about different forest animals & did an origami wolf craft. Glad we could squeeze some learning in, but of course the waterpark was the main attraction! And bonus: we got off season prices, CHEAP!

We are doing Early American history and just learned about the Powhatan tribe, Pocahontas, Jamestown & the early colonies so we stopped for a few days in Colonial Williamsburg & the Jamestown settlement. It's very cool for them to experience what they are learning about & discover what it was actually like in early America.

From there we headed to the DC area, Drew wanted to see where the President lived, so we navigated our way around the city to get a glimpse of the White House. Then we visited The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Udvar Hazy outside the city and it was a boy's paradise!

On the way to our last stop we found a little diner/bakery along the road, where we saw and learned about the O & A bike trail that runs from Pittsburgh to DC, ain't gonna lie that just made it on my bucket list! Hope to do that one day as a family!

Pittsburgh was our last stop, it was a nice city! If you ever go and you have kids be sure to check out the amazing Children's Museum! It's a blast, we were there for hours and still didn't get to everything! We painted, created, played and discovered all kinds of interesting and fun things! We also road the incline up to catch a beautiful glimpse of the city & ate lunch at the famed Primanti Brothers.

From there it was home again. We were very refreshed!

Here are some pictures of our trip.

Love Strengthens

2014-09-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

I read this the other day and I can't stop thinking about it:

But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 1 Cor 8:1b

Isn't that interesting? I mean it seems like we are constantly on a path to gaining more knowledge. But according to this little snippet from scripture it isn't how much you know that makes a difference, what is truly important is showing & living a life of love.

This truth is really challenging me to really love more. On days I'm struggling in that area (ya know, having a hard time loving other people, putting others first, or just being plain old selfish) I'm reminded it's time to hang out with Jesus more. Because, "Loved people, love people!" When you know you're loved, you can't help but love on others.

This week I want to strengthen others, I want to love well.

Homeschooling: An Unexpected Journey

2014-09-01T18:55:00.001-07:00

I'm about to start on a journey, an unexpected journey.

I'm doing something I declared on many occasions to my husband I would NEVER do. Never say never, so they say.

Starting tomorrow I am officially a homeschool mom, there, I said it! I am homeschooling my 6 year old son & pre-schooling my 4 year old daughter this year.

Many things led up to this choice, including lots of prayer and direction from The Lord. So, we are starting this adventure as a family.

I had never planned on teaching my kids at home, but my husband, my son & my sister in law, Heidi put it on my radar. When I started to consider it as an option for this school year I was already doing homework most evenings with Drew (then in Kindergarten) and it was suggested I could be done schooling him in an hour each day......I started thinking "Maybe this could work!" I really feel like God has led us to this decision for our family at this moment & I'm excited to start this new chapter in our life.

Am I tad worried that I'm not super qualified to teach? Yep! Or that I don't have the patience to do this? For sure! There are doubts swimming around in my mind. This is a new world to me, but luckily the one who created the world called me to this. I may not be capable by myself to do this homeschool thing, but Christ in me totally is. I will be relying on him heavily for help & wisdom throughout this school year. If He brought me here, He will help me & I truly believe that. And the same goes for you. If God has called you out on an unexpected road that you've never traveled on before, cast the fear & doubt aside & trust The Lord. "But with God everything is possible." Matt 19:26b

So, here we are embarking on this unlikely journey tomorrow! Prayers would be greatly appreciated! I plan to share the curriculum we are using & ideas/updates along the way. Also I will keep posting on our family life, faith inspiration & food when I can! I'd love for you to check back in when you can :)

What about you? Is your family trying something new this year? Has God called you out of your comfort zone? I would enjoy hearing of your new adventure!

Simple Vacation Mementos

2014-07-11T19:52:00.001-07:00

Going on a trip and have young kids? I wanted to share a SUPER simple & cheap way to remember those priceless vacation moments.

If you visit a beach collect shells with your kids, or if you are not near the ocean go on a "cool rock" hunt. Can I tell you this is just about the best fun you could have?!

This past week we spent a few days at the ocean and each night we took a family stroll down the beach. I soaked in every moment & marveled at the joy my kids expressed as they made simple but amazing to them discoveries. It was as if they found precious jewels, but to a kid sea shells are worth far more than money, which really is of no object to them.

When looking for shells to make a memento out of, look for ones with a small hole and about 3/4" to 2" in diameter. The size will be good for the rocks as well and be sure they are relatively flat.

Once you have your precious "finds" make them into a necklace using a simple slip knot. Make one for each kid and you too. Be sure to wear them periodically and say "Hey, remember when we went to....?" & "What was your favorite part?"

I also thought turning one of these into any ornament for Christmas with the year inscribed on the back would be neat. Just simple ideas to remember a special time with your family.

Summer Challenge 2014

2014-05-27T19:24:00.002-07:00

Well, Summer vaca has started for us and I'm TOTALLY thrilled!! I'm so excited to not have to rush through the morning, stress over not being able to find a water bottle or get shoes on fast enough and attempt to get 3 kids out the door on time so we aren't tardy!! I am so not a morning person! (True story: that is one of the main reasons I'm considering homeschooling next year.....yes I said it, but more on that in another post!)

Last summer we started a fun tradition: The Summer Challenge, and as this school year started drawing to a close my son, Drew, started asking about this year's challenge. Well we've got it figured out and him & sister Emma began working on it today.

What is the Summer Challenge you ask? It's basically a list of activities that my children have to accomplish in order to achieve a prize. It gives them something to work towards and also if they ever get "bored" I have something to point them to "Hey, why don't you work on one of your challenges?!"

Every challenge is something they have to work on in order to accomplish. For example: At the beginning of the summer last year my son couldn't swim in the deep end of the pool, one of his challenges was to swim across the shallow end without touching. Once he could do that we headed to the deep end and it's been water slides & cannon balls ever since. I try to think of things I want them to be able to do physically, spiritually, socially & mentally and attempt to incorporate those in the list. I usually offer a small reward after completing 5 challenges. Positive reinforcement TOTALLY motivates my kids!!

You can see how I got started doing these challenges, more info on it & what we did last year HERE for a 3 year old girl & 5 year old boy. And below is what we are working towards this year. For a 4 year old girl & 6 year old boy. I may add to my list as I think of things, but this is what we are starting with :) If you end up doing a challenge of your own or something similar I'd love to hear from you!

Jack - Newborn

Sleep through the night. (Hey, a mama can wish!!)

Emma - 4 year old

Ride bike to church down the street & back
Spell EMMA and say family motto & moms #
Sit through 1 chapter book
Do a head stand alone
Read 30 picture books
Do 24 piece jigsaw puzzle alone
Do complex picture by numbers
Cut out circle, square, rectangle triangle and oval shapes with scissors alone
Catch a lady bug
Make lemonade by herself
Say 5 poems
Say 5 bible verses
Count to 20
Say the Alphabet
Recognize 10 letters
Hit 10 wiffle balls
Kick 10 soccer goals
Make bed every morning
Meet 2 friends in class at church & find out their favorite princess

Drew- 6 year old

Ride bike 5x around loop (4 mile loop- he's really into biking)
Spell Full name, moms # & dads #
Say new address
Count by 2's to 100
Learn & spell 10 new popcorn words
Say all current popcorn words & write a few
Learn 10 bible verses
Read 5 chapter books with mom/dad
Read all new Easy Reader Biscuit books to mom or dad
Make cookies by himself
Do 10 jumps with jump rope non-stop
Hit 50 baseballs
Kick 50 soccer goals
Catch 50 football passes
Make 50 basketball hoops
Do 50 piece puzzle
Create a collage about Drew, scissors, glue & clean up
Write whole alphabet lower and upper
Organize a family service project
Tell 5 people (not family) Jesus loves them

A Family of 5

2014-05-25T19:13:00.002-07:00

Well I've been on a break from blogging lately. I was pregnant and now our little bundle has arrived! Meet Jack:

We just can't get enough of our sweet boy! He is fitting right in and we are so thankful God chose us to raise him. Our family is growing, changing and going through lots of transitions and I hope I can keep the blog updated. We are on a journey, as all of us are, to find our purpose here on earth, the specific plan God has for our life. Every day is an adventure walking with Jesus and I want to continue to share about all we are experiencing.

So, I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still here! As I get more in the swing of things I plan to write when I can about our family, what God is teaching me, encouraging truths and daily life. Thanks for understanding about my absence in the blogging world, now I'm off to snuggle my sweetness!

No Coincidence

2014-03-13T20:04:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in coincidence? Like, that things happen randomly? Or is there a bigger design going on that we get to take part of? If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you will quickly discover I hold to the latter belief. I know God has a plan for each of us, that we are specifically destined and equipped to carry out.

Tonight, I knew I was in exactly the right place at exactly the right time, doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing.

It all started with my cell phone dieing. It just stopped charging, and let me tell you this is not the first phone I've had this issue with....what's up with that?! Well after tonight, I am ok with that happening. You see, instead of going out to a movie with my hubs, we spent our date night at a T Mobile store getting me a new phone.

At the cell store, I noticed an employee who was pregnant. Just before we left I thought I should ask her how far along she is. Here is our conversation:

Her "I'm due in 8 weeks."
Me: "Oh, me too! I'm due May 8th"
Her "Wow, me too."
Me: "I overheard your name is Amber...that's my name."
Her: "No way! That's crazy!"
Me: "Where are you delivering?"
Her: "****** Hospital"
Me: (With my jaw dropping to the floor.) "Me too!"

Both pregnant.
Same week in pregnancy.
Same Due date.
Same name.
Same hospital.

What?!?! This is no coincidence people! I've never had this happen before. We chatted for a while and she revealed to me that she is nervous about possibly having to deliver weeks early because of a particular condition, she will know the results in 2 weeks. I told her I would pray for her. We continued talking about the baby, hospital, pregnancy & then I asked God:

"Ok is there anything you want me to say to her or encourage her with?"
I heard clear as day "Pray with her." My first thought: AWKWARD!! I mean, come on, it's easy as pie to say you will pray for someone, but to ask if you can pray for them right then, I find it's almost always out of my comfort zone, even with Christians. I don't know this girl, or where she stands.
"But God, what if she's offended?! I don't want it to get weird." (B/c ya know it's all about MY comfort! (Hope you detected the sarcasm.)
To which He simply replied: "Do it."
"Oh fine... Let's do this."

So, I jumped in with both feet: "Hey, I would really love to pray with you about your situation if you are comfortable with that?"
Her "Yes, sure!" (God always knows what He is doing!)

So I walked around the counter and prayed with her right then and there. I'm writing this post in hopes that you will join me in praying for "Tmobile Amber" that God will do a miracle and change her condition so she can go full term, for her to not be afraid and mostly that she will be drawn to Jesus.

Sometimes I can just go through life and not really ask God "Ok who do you want me to minister to today?" Or "What should I say?" But today I was so glad I did. Yes, it took me out of my comfort zone, but who knows what the ripple effect will be of that one interaction? God wants to use you, I encourage you, ask for and listen to His leading and don't be afraid to sacrifice your comfort. The long term benefits FAR out way the temporary discomfort. It is worth it! God will help us, we just need to be willing.

Please pray for this young mom, Amber, I want her to experiences Jesus!

My Truck Boy

2014-03-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Some boys are into sports, others books, video games, dinosaurs.....my boy is a truck...engine...motorcycle kind of guy. His eyes light up when he sees an airplane or any thing on wheels. I love seeing what makes him tick.

So here is one of my favorite truck stories of Drew. One morning, as I was preparing to head out for errands with the kiddos, Drew approached me and ask if he could use the dried beans to play with his cement truck. I said "Not right now buddy, we have to leave soon."

A few minutes later I walk into the kitchen only to discover an empty blueberry carton. "Drew! Bring me the cement truck!" Oh, sure enough the missing berries were in the cement truck. Technically, he didn't use the dried beans, and it caught me so off guard I couldn't help but laugh. Then I had to figure out how to get those mushy little things out of there. After draining the barrel with a water hose, I discovered more random contents, including peanuts and marshmallows. What in the world?!

My life is not boring, and I wouldn't change it for anything. I love my truck boy and all his creative ideas :)

Simple Stroller Rental - Stroller Rentals in Orlando

2014-03-04T19:50:00.002-08:00

We just got back from a family trip to Florida, it was a great family vacation and perfect escape from the polar freeze we've been experiencing. We debated flying or driving and ended up choosing to drive for the savings. Two full days of driving with little kids, you can bet I planned some fun activities to keep them busy, so if you are looking for car or airplane ideas for young kids check THIS POST out.

Now, our vehicle could only hold so much stuff and one thing that did not make the cut is a stroller. I knew we could not do a pleasant day at Disney without a stroller, so I started researching prices at the park and was a little surprised at how much they cost. Not only did the expense bother me, but I wondered about the comfort (since Disney's are hard plastic) and the storage capability. Then I came across Simple Stroller Rental. After researching their site, reading reviews & policies I knew this was the best choice for us.

I've been considering buying a sit and stand stroller for our 3rd, so I was thrilled to discover Simple Troller Rental had the exact one I'm interested in. I was able to try before buying and experience their fabulous service. It couldn't have been an easier process. You reserve the stroller of your choice online, with brands such as Joovy, BOB, Baby Trend, ect... And select a delivery & pick up date, at no extra charge.

Simple Stroller Rental delivered our stroller right to our hotel and notified me by text as soon as it arrived. We strolled down to the lobby to pick up, it was super clean and in perfect shape. When we left for home we dropped it off at the front desk. Easy Peasy.

We took that stroller everywhere, and it was so nice not having to stop, purchase, register and pick up a rental at each destination. Plus, it was less expensive than renting at the parks & shopping areas combined, we got to use it at places that didn't offer rentals (outlet malls), was so comfy for the kids and had more than enough storage space! If you are looking to rent a stroller when in the Orlando area, I HIGHLY recommend Simple Stroller Rental, you won't be disappointed.

Read More Simple Stroller reviews HERE (on their site) or from their Twitterfeed: @ssrental

Road Trip Activities for Kids

2014-02-19T19:19:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow we head out on a 17+ hour road trip with 2 kids. I wanted to make the ride fun, not just the way we get there, but a memorable part of the vacation experience. So, I looked through Pinterest for lots of inspiration, and thought of a few of my own. What I came up with are BUSY BUCKETS.

The plan is to hand them a new activity from their busy buckets every hour or two, not all at once because they would be bored within an hour. This way it keeps the suspense going & gives them something to look forward to. I also want them to have some time where they are interacting together, listening to music or me reading. playing games with us & just looking out the window, they don't need constant entertainment. Of course, we will supplement with snacks, DVDs & Ipad games here and there, but I am hoping to keep the electronic use to a minimal.

Here are some ideas of how We are making our road trip more kid friendly & fun filled. As soon as I get back I plan to show how I made all my DIY activities & share links to other helpful tutorials/resources, I just wanted to get the ideas out before we left :)

Busy Bucket

Lacing Cards

DIY Magnetic Chalkboard Rimmed Cookie Sheets

Plain Notepads with Colored Pencils or Pens & Stickers

Vehicle Graph on Clipboard (Chart how many kids see of each)

DIY Gel Sensory Boards (Write with fingers to make pictures)

Map of Trip (Kids can keep track of where we are & how far to go by tracing progress with marker)

DIY Hide and Seek Bottles (Love that the card has the hidden objects on it, for littles who can't read yet)

Edible Necklaces (Keeps them busy creating & then eating! Also I twisted a pipe cleaner & laced the yarn through, to make it easier to thread.)

Assorted Activity Pads (I LOVE Color Wonder markers, and so does any mom who has creative kids who like to express themselves on the walls, couch, siblings, ha! And other note pads that have games, connect dots, mazes are fun.)

Dry Erase Boards (Seriously, awesome, my son who is not a fan of writing took off & improved so much when he got these, he actually wanted to write in his free time & my 3 year old LOVES them!)

Found these Foam Squishy Beads at the Dollar Store (Didn't seem to be too messy, here's hoping!)

DIY Letter, Number, Shape Sticker Matchup (For my younger child I just had the stickers colored with shapes & letters be exactly the same as on the toilet paper roll, for my Kindergardener I did lowercase stickers, upper case letters & tally marks & numbers that they will have to find the "match" for.)

DIY Go Fishing Game

Clip on Reading Lights & Lots of Books!

Finger Puppets

Making Marriage Work

2014-02-16T18:58:00.000-08:00

I went to a Marriage Retreat recently & it was dynamite! I wanted to share a few things I found REALLY helpful and wanted to pass along the goods in hopes that maybe something might encourage you in your marriage.

First of all let's start with BELIEVING

Believe that God hears YOU.

Believe that God us with YOU.

Believe that God is for YOU as an INDIVIDUAL & as a COUPLE.

Believe that God's power is available to YOU.

Believe that God has something good for YOU.

FORGIVENESS

I have heard it said "Communication is the key to a successful marriage." While clear, loving communication is so very, very helpful in a marriage, I learned something at this retreat, that I TOTALLY agree with. FORGIVENESS is the most important key to a marriage that will go the distance. Until we can forgive our spouses, all the tips & strategies won't help.

Forgiveness is hard, really, really hard. What is important is that we realize this is something we have to rely on God's strength for. Jesus says in John 15:5, "You can do NOTHING apart from me." Even forgive. Often when I'm finding it difficult to forgive a person in my life, I will pray for help & remind myself of Eph 4:32, that I am to forgive as God forgave me....of everything, I've ever done or will do. I also find it's a process, sometimes I have to actively say everyday, I forgive ____, I can forgive _____ because God forgave me and He will help me do this. And it doesn't always happen over night, it can take weeks, months, years, but we have to keep striving. We can forgive by God's POWER and GRACE.

Forgiveness is renouncing anger & resentment towards someone and releasing them of their debt or owing you anything (like an apology.) Oh, but how we want them to apologize & admit they are wrong!! Once someone apologizes to me, I find it pretty easy to forgive, because they are admitting their fault. However, it is extremely hard to let it go when they don't or won't say they are wrong.....But the truth is, they may never say those words "I'm sorry." And they may not even realize they offended us, when we hold on to words & situations from the past we are the ones that are left angry, it begins to eats us up with bitterness, and in turn it hurts our hearts & marriages.

Honestly, I find this one of the most difficult things to do, but it's also the most freeing. God is for your marriage and is willing & ready to help you forgive, pour out your heart to Him and let Him show you how.

I will have to continue this on another post, hope so far this has encouraged you!

Feelin' the Love

2014-02-14T17:51:00.000-08:00

So this little, but powerful thing happened to me yesterday and wanted to share.

Wednesday night I went to worship night at the church I'm attending. They sang a new song I had never heard before. It was a simple chorus "Jesus, Jesus, all I want is to be like you." We sang it over and over and I wept. I wept because it is the cry of my heart, and I have a LONG way to go before I am like Him. Why can't I just be like Him more? But, I know the good work God has started in me, He will complete it. So I have hope & not despair.

The next day, Thursday, I woke up with that song in my heart. I just wanted to hear it again & spend my morning singing it, making it my prayer. So I typed the lyrics in on google search. It pulled up a song...it wasn't it, I tried again, still couldn't find it. I headed to YouTube and tried again. No luck! Who sings this song?? I was bummed. But I decided I would sing what I remembered. I went about my morning and then started to clean, I have to have tunes on to clean, it makes me more efficient & the task more enjoyable.

So I turned on Pandora, I didn't pay attention to the station it was on, simply flipped it on and got to work. Within seconds I heard "Jesus, Jesus, All I want is to be like you." I burst into tears. The first song that played! Only God knew I wanted to hear that. He knew I couldn't find it, He found it for me. I ran to the screen, only to discover it's by my favorite group Hillsong...of course it is! Oh yes I did take a screen shot.

I can not convey to you how special I felt in that moment. I keep thinking about it. I felt so loved. That the God of the universe would hear a whisper, desire in my heart and show me the song I was looking for. He is incredible to care about those little things. There is nothing, no money, no thing, no clothes, no jewelry, no compliment, nothing that can compare to that love I felt & still feel. He can do something in your heart you can not explain, but want more of. He is Jesus & He is incredible. He is what your heart longs for. There is nothing He can't heal. He adores you and wants to show His love to you, will you let Him?

Taking God at His Word

2014-02-13T18:18:00.002-08:00

I just had to share a really special story that happened to me personally this week. This small story, along with one that happened today, gave my soul the lift I needed as I feel like God has been quiet for a while. I know He has been there, He always is, but tell me I am not alone in feeling sometimes God is just silent or quieter than usual?!

Earlier this week I was sharing with my husband something I've come to learn about God. When He tells you something, He doesn't change His mind. His word is eternal, it's irrevocable, He means what He says. God isn't like us, come on let's be real, we are fickle. We say "I like this.", then a few months later, we are like, "Yeah, I changed my mind I don't like that any more." So I shared an example with my hubs from my life:

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Once I was laying on a blanket in my back yard in the summer sun spending time with Jesus as the kids ran around me playing. All of a sudden I very clearly heard God whisper "I am with you." And then of course like any normal Christian I asked myself..."Was that me or was that the voice of God?" Can you relate? I then opened the book I was reading and I kid you not the very line I was at read: "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10. I wept from the love I felt at that moment, that the God of the universe spoke to me & then confirmed it.

As life continued on when I would hit a snag or get discouraged, one of the first things I would start to think was "Is God still with me?" And then one day it hit me. If He hadn't said otherwise, what God said to me last was still true. Because the Word of The Lord stands forever. He was still with me and I chose to believe it!

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It was awesome sharing that with Andrew, my husband, and we both knew it was true, God doesn't change His mind, what He says stands, don't question it. Believe Him, even if others don't agree, even if He seems to have been quiet for a while, go to the last thing He confirmed to you (which BTW will ALWAYS line up with scripture, and you will have a peace from the Holy Spirit. If you are still unsure, ask for confirmation.)

So, after this conversation took place, I kid you, not not 30 minutes later I got a picture text from a dear friend, it was this:

I cried all over again. The VERY truth I was sharing to my husband. Who could know that, but God? God is so real & I love how He takes time to make us feel special. So I wanted to share this story that blessed me so much this week. I also hoped to encourage you, has God told you something and been quiet for a while? Seek Him on it, trust and believe that He will lead you & hold on to the truths you know He has revealed and confirmed.

To Know Him

2014-02-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

For most of my life I've been in church and to be honest I've always been pretty much a rule follower. I mean if I got "the look" from my mom (you know what look I'm talking about) in church, I straightened right up. I like people to be happy with me, so I don't really want to rock the boat.

So, with that said, it wasn't real hard for me to stay within the rules of the bible, you know the 10 commandments and love people, love God. I liked following rules & church felt like home to me, I truly had a great church family & foundation of love.

But, somewhere along the lines, I started to believe that obedience & my adherence to the law & instructions of the word was truly living, experiencing everlasting life & freedom. While obeying and doing what the bible says are all really great things that will save you from a lot of heart ache, regrets, guilt and baggage, they are not the purpose of the Christian life. If I'm stepping on your toes, hold on, see where I am going....because I'd like to mention, the Pharisees were REALLY great at adhering to the laws, I mean immaculate, and you know they weren't experiencing a life of love. So obeying doesn't always equal true freedom or making God happy.

Today I read Jesus's own words in John 17:3 "And this is the way to have eternal life to know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ the one you sent to earth." Eternal life here isn't just referring to going to heaven, it starts now! Strongs concordance describes it as "experiencing this quality of God's life now as apresent possession." The way to experience freedom & a powerful life of love, is to know God. He wants us to spend our time getting to know his heart, the more we are with Him, the more he transforms us, and the natural outcome is making choices the bring life to us, not death.

So, my focus has shifted, from, "Ok, I need to do this & that to be a good Christian" to : "I need to hang with Jesus, have Him change me and ask Him to reveal His heart to me & mold mine into His." Jesus's whole ministry on earth wasn't to enforce rules, condemn or judge, it was to unveil what God was really like. When my heart is conformed & softened into a heart like Jesus, I will start to naturally radiate the glory of God & make life giving choices. Knowing Him is the root, right actions is the fruit. (Not the other way around.)

Check out Hillsong's Scandalous Grace worship song, the chorus goes right along with what our hearts' cry should be, GIVE ALL I HAVE JUST TO KNOW YOU.

Broken into Beautiful - Book Review

2014-02-02T18:43:00.002-08:00

As soon as I saw the title of this book I couldn't wait to get my hands on it & just devour every page. I contacted Gwen Smith, the author (you can follow her on twitter & Instagram @GwenSmithMusic) after reading a free chapter online to see about writing a review for her book. She was so sweet and agreed, and I'm so grateful.

Below is my summary of the book & some of my favorite quotes, I HIGHLY recommend it! And it can be purchased HERE.

You know, life is great and we should walk through it with our head held high and enjoy each day we are given. But, sometimes life throws you curve balls, times get tough, death happens, jobs are lost, friendships are ended, kids get sick, hurtful words are said, marriages are ruined, discouragement, depression & loneliness move in. We can experience loss, defeat, worry, shame and we are left feeling BROKEN.

This book is all about how God takes our brokenness & hurts and exchanges them for something beautiful. Gwen starts off by opening up about her own past and continues throughout the book to share the narratives of average women whose lives have been forever changed from heart breaking circumstances into amazing stories of hope.

These are a few quotes from the book that really spoke to me:

You have purpose in this life. And though you may have gone through a season of hurt, rejection, or pain, God can and will pick you up and place you back on track.

What I do know is this: Because of Jesus Christ and not because of anything else, I'm a woman of highest worth.

We need to associate the word worthless with the word lie.

Only the God of heaven has the right to define you, and when you are in Christ, you are perfectly beautiful in His righteousness....not broken.

None of us is perfect, just perfectly forgiven.

God's love is available to each wandering heart. It doesn't matter if you have wandered just a few yards from Him or if you have ventured far away. It's never too late to turn back to God.

Our loving Father is keenly aware of your circumstances and and your needs....."The righteous cry out, and The Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." Psalm 34:17

A heart filled with fear, is a heart filled with empty...The difference between empty and full is love-love that is found in Jesus that restores you to God the Father.

When you get serious with God-when you get real honest and pour out your soul to Him-He will faithfully replace your empty with the fullness of His peace, whether he removes your burdens or allows them to remain.

He will heal your hurts and replace lies with truth.

I've come to know this for sure: in all things---even the hard things---God is sovereign and can be trusted.

He wants to transform the painful pieces of your life into beautiful blessings. He has not forgotten you.

Whatever your circumstances...no wound of life is too infected for God to heal.

When you lift your eyes from your situation and fix them on your Savior, you will find peace in the pain and strength in the struggle.

No matter what you've been through, no matter the secrets you've been hiding or accusations you've been listening to, God is able to redeem you.

It's time we quit chasing the interests of others and start pursuing the passions that were written on our hearts.

God loves you. God knows you. God wants you. God chose you.

The great adventure of life is our pilgrimage to God's heart.

Do not waste your time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor, act as if you did.

God's word is as fresh as this morning's cup of coffee.

God wants you to move beyond your comfort to your call.

Ultimately, the Love of God that radiates from your story will result in a reflection of that love back to God and to others who are desperate need of His healing.

Super Bowl Food Line-up

2014-02-02T10:39:00.002-08:00

Well, our Super Bowl Sunday plans got altered when my daughter & I caught the cold, bummer. We will not be spreading the love, but that doesn't mean we can't have our own little fun & tastes family Super Bowl party. My hubs and I like to go to a local restaurant for their Happy hour, not for the drinks, but the 1/2 off appetizers. It makes for a unique, varied & cheap meal. Taking inspiration from there, this is what we are going to be snacking on tonight. Click the links for the recipes I'm using.

Chunky Homemade Guacamole, the only way you can go with guac!
Queso Fundido, from the Pioneer Woman, the picture looks amazing, hope it is!
Classic, simple Sliders Football + burgers a must! (It's nice they are small so you can try other things)
Buffalo Wings & fixings , by Alton Brown
Twice Baked Potatoes, by Giada, not gonna lie I'm looking forward to these the most!
Fluffy, Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies, by Women Living Well, I love my usual "Baker's Chocolate" recipe, but she had these up on Instagram last night & I just couldn't resist, I'll let ya know!

Year 29

2014-01-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

Well this past weekend I celebrated my 30th birthday, so I thought I would share my birthday list. No, it's not a wish list, it's a reflection-of-the-previous-year list. My friends Stacey & Kim do this every year, they write down a list of special moments, events, things they are proud of & inspiration from the year before. Your list gets longer each year, to mark what age you are leaving behind, you think of that many highlights. So in celebrating my 30th birthday, I will have 29 items. It's a neat way to keep track of what I was up to when I was 29. Lastly, I write down 1 goal for the next year. So here is my list, in no particular order :)

Year 29

1) Family trip to Chicago (We had many great moments Navy Pier, Ferris Wheel, Fathers Day Fest, Boys met Paul Jr., Willow Creek & The City Church, Intelligentsia Coffee, Chicago beach, American girl it was a blast!)
2) Found out we are expecting our 3rd child (Due May 8)
3) Saw Hillsong Live (Favorite band) twice!! Both times for free!
4) My oldest child, Drew started Kindergarden
5) My daughter Emma got potty trained & isn't having any more accidents! Big deal over here!
6) Got to drive my dream car for the first time in my life, White Jeep Wrangler (It was the entire family's favorite car ever & we loved taking it off road, we've since said good bye, but the fun memories live on! Lol)
7) My husband & I visited New York City for a weekend. (What an amazing experience, from the free stay thanks to our good friends, to Hillsong NYC church, to seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time & all the places I've grown up watching on TV & movies....surreal & fun!)
8) Watching Drew be a wiseman in his Christmas play, said his lines so sweet & sang loud & proud.
9) Visiting Elevation Church in NC (Always love Furtick's teaching, great to hear in person & experience their church.)
10) Meeting my mentor, Linda, what a blessing she is to me!
11) Taking Emma to her first mani & pedicure, oh was she in heaven!!
12) The Lord getting me through some discouraging circumstances, so thankful for His Love. He used these 2 passages to see me through:
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31
13) Seeing 2 of my dear friend coming to Jesus as savior & watching God become more real than ever, Sarah & Melanie. I cried tears of Joy !!
14) Watching my kids plow through their Summer Challenge lists. It encouraged them to try new things & kept us having fun all summer!
15) Successfully sewed my first outfit for Emma & my nieces.
16) Read 9 books, inspired by my reading list (which is definitely a record for me in one year. I typically read around 2 or 3!)
17) Was inspired & given hope through these songs: Come to me, Cornerstone, Give me Faith, Whom shall I fear?, Hold On, Oh you Bring
18) Speaking on God's Love at a women's event.
19) Restful family retreats up north.
20) Some pretty special babies were born, my adorable nieces Lydia & Sophia, and 3 of my dearest friends (Casey, Holly & Maria) welcomed 3 precious boys: Zane, Bruno & Isaac. So fun being preggo with them!
21) Going deeper with new & re-kindled friendships, over coffee, laughs & a whole lot of Jesus. I can not imagine doing life without my girls.
22) Watching Drew & Emma make HUGE progress in the pool, Emma swimming solo in her life jacket across the pool & Drew learning to swim in the deep end, length of the pool & jumping in all in the same day. They were both so proud!
23) Watching my kids interests begin to flourish: Drew is a bicycle & motor boy ALL the way, he loves knowing how things work & only gets science & nonfiction books from the library. Emma is a girly girl, loving to dress up in princess clothes & do her hair, make up & nails. She enjoys taking care of her "babies", making food, having picnics, singing, talking & arts & crafts. They love playing doggies together & LOVE their stuffed animals. It's a fabulous stage!
24) Winning tickets & going as a family to Unity Christian Music Fest (I loved having the kids sing along at the concert to all the songs we always here at church & the radio.)
25) Holiday tables & Christmas brunch, one of my favorite Holiday traditions.
26) Singing karaoke & spending time with my family back home.
27) Watching & laughing at Duck Dynasty with our whole family & enjoying seeing all the little cousins play sports, color, have fun & be super heroes together.
28) Fun family day trips to: Mackinac City, Frankenmuth, Detroit, Grand Haven, Holland
29) And 2 bible verses God gave me for year 30: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19
The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

Goal for year 30: To make an effort to really listen to my children & be into what interests them.

Yummo Gluten-free Macaroni & Cheese

2014-01-21T19:19:00.002-08:00

My husband and I LOVE good food. Before we go to a new city we research the best food spots, not so much what to see, but what to eat! So I love having REALLY good food on our weekly menu, but my kids aren't always as excited about my exquisite dinner choices like Thai Express, which reminds me I really need to make that soon, cuz it's stinkin' good!! So, I'm trying to ask the kids what they would like to eat once or twice a week to let them know "I care what you like." This way we are eating new fun recipes, as well as timeless kid-friendly classics.

I adapted this macaroni & cheese recipe from Barefoot Contessa, Ina garden. She swears white sharp cheddar & gruyere cheese make the best Mac n cheese. I had to try for myself. We are avoiding gluten for my daughter Emma right now, so this is completely gluten-free (GF).

Ingredients:

12 oz uncooked brown rice noodles, I love Trader Joe's 1.99 yeah, baby!
4 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons GF flour, I used King Arthur's GF All purpose flour, worked fabulous!
2 cups whole milk
8 oz Sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded, 1/4 cup reserved for topping
8 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded 1/4 cup reserved for topping
1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional: Sliced tomato

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook noodles according to directions & drain. In a separate pot, melt butter, add flour & stir until bubbly for about a minute. Slowly add milk & salt, whisk constantly until thickened, remove from heat. Add cheeses & stir until melted. Pour mixture over noodles & stir. Sprinkle with reserved cheeses & sliced tomatoes if desired. Put in oven for 20-30 minutes, I turned on the broiler at the end for a tad more browning. Enjoy!!

Oh my amazing! And you don't miss the gluten at, seriously!

Love shredding my cheese in a food processor, saves so much time!

Love using this when making gluten free rue's.

The tomatoes were just the right touch, if that is your thing, of course I left them off the kids side.

ENJOY!!

LEADING on & off the field

2014-01-18T18:23:00.000-08:00

No, this not a post about sports.

Tonight our pastor was sharing how his college football coach said they needed to be men who would "Be a Leader on and off the Field." Ok, maybe I am going to slightly talk sports so I can set up my point...Basically what the coach meant was just as you lead when the fans are watching, when you are in the arena, when your team is following you in the big game, you need to be a leader in your personal life & personal time as well. Make choices of integrity at ALL times, not just when people are watching.

Now bringing my point home....I don't know about you, but I find it EASY to be sweet, slow to get angry, friendly & patient when I'm "on the field" aka in public, at church, around friends. But in my personal time, when I'm off the field, home around my nearest and dearest I don't always lead peacefully. For some reason I can let my emotions run me easier behind the scenes. But I decided that has got to stop & in Christ I have strength for all things. (Phil 4:13)

I have chosen the word PEACE to be my theme for this year. I want my heart and mind to be at peace at all times, so that overflows into our home. I am praying for strength in Christ to be calm & collected regardless of the circumstance, in public or private. The truth is there is no such thing as "private" because someone is always watching: people you aren't even aware of, your husband, your kids, the Holy Spirit.

So, as I begin to feel anxious, frustrated or overwhelmed, instead of letting my emotions lead me, I try to remember the following verse, apply it to my situation, and lead my emotions to the throne of the almighty. It is amazing to see the power that comes along with the Word of God & talking with Him.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7