Thy Hand Hath Provided

Intimidation

2012-01-26T08:52:00.000-05:00

Evidently someone was not in favor of what I had planned for dinner.

Crafty Sisters: Marshmallow Shooter

2012-01-25T08:23:00.000-05:00

Do you remember my Crafty Sisters series? The one where I share the crafty things my sisters and sister-in-laws make? Well, I have another very important installment. For Christmas, my sister-in-law made and gave Sam a marshmallow shooter.

We're Mennonites and don't condone violence, but firing off a mini marshmallow with your breath and getting pegged with one with the chance to eat it quick before the shooter collects it...well...that's just fun.

I asked my sister-in-law to share a bit here on how she made hers... just in case you need a project to liven things up this winter.

How to Make a Marshmallow Shooter

Cost Breakdown:

Cost of pvc pipes and connectors, $2.00
Cost of a bag of mini marshmallows, $1.00
Fun your kids can have with a marshmallow shooter….PRICELESS!

Supplies Needed:

29 inches of 1/2" PVC pipe

A pipe-cutting device (see below)

Bag of mini marshmallows

Two lumps of play dough

Spray paint or colored duct tape (purely optional)

**You need a total of 27" length of pipe, add an extra inch or two to allow for cutting

Directions:

1) Cut the pvc pipes to desired lengths (listed below) with a chop saw and it worked great (but wear goggles). You could also use a hack saw or a pipe cutter.

2 -- "L" connectors for 1/2" pvc pipe

2-- "T" connectors for 1/2" pvc pipe

2-- endcaps for 1/2" pvc pipe

5--4" long 1/2" pvc pipe

1--7" long 1/2" pvc pipe

2) Sand the edges if needed before putting pieces together.

3) Use two lumps of playdoh to block the pipes not in the natural passageway for the marshmallow to travel, making the air pressure greater

4) If your PVC pieces have a lot of writing on them, you can paint the pieces with spray paint. You could also decorate them with colored duct tape or electrical tape.

5) Fit the pieces together according to the diagram found here on pages 3 and 4. Important: Do not glue or paint closed the shooter pieces. If the marshmallows or pipes get wet, it can become sticky inside and you want to be able to take it apart to clean it out.

And of course, marshmallows will become sticky on your carpets and if left to get stale, they become hard and can hurt when you're struck by them. So, use YOUR best judgement- you are the parent!

6) Insert marshmallows into the mouthpiece and BLOW! Let the fun begin:-)!

(She used plans from Family Capers.)

Heating Our House: Wood Stove or Outdoor Furnace?

2012-01-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Heating Our House: The Problems
Heating Our House: The Inspection & Results

Once we felt like we Jamey had most of the tightening up projects done or planned, our thoughts turned (naturally) to how we would heat the house. Our goal was to implement the plan this summer so we'd be ready to ditch the oil heat by next winter.

But deciding proved to be quite the process. We knew we wanted to heat with wood (surprise, surprise) but the question was how. We needed to decide between an outdoor furnace and an indoor wood stove (we do not have a fireplace in spite of our three chimneys). There were pros and cons to each choice and they really balanced each other out (in our minds), so deciding was tough. Here are things we considered...

Outdoor Furnace

~ larger pieces and more junk-type wood could be used, making for less cost as well as less work cutting and splitting
~ all the wood mess would remain outside
~ no chimney is required
~ our existing duct work would be used, so heat would be blown into all rooms (as it was with oil heat)
~ the hot water generated by the furnace could be used to help heat our water, so less electricity for hot water would be used
~ our homeowner's insurance would not be affected if the stove passed inspection
~ the furnace would require electricity to function (to blow the hot air into the house)
~ if the electricity went out, we would have no heat
~ the fire is outside the house (less chance of a house fire)
~ a thermostat would still be used to control the temperature in the house
~ the furnace would need loading only once or twice a day (per a friend who has one)
(photo credit)

Wood Stove

~ quality wood (both in species, size and moisture content) would be required (to prevent the build up of creosote in the chimney) which would increase the cost of the wood
~ would require us to repair or rebuild (if possible) one of our old chimneys or have a stove pipe installed up through the house
~ heat would likely not be even throughout the house
~ we would always have at least one warm room
~ it would need to be fed more often throughout the day
~ requires no electricity to operate
~ if our electricity went out, we could still heat the house and boil water/heat food on the stove
~ we wouldn't have "blown" air anymore, allowing for a warmer feeling
~ wood "mess" would be inside due to loading the stove and bringing wood in from outside
~ temperature would be regulated by feeding the fire (and outdoor temps) versus a thermostat so we would not know for sure how it would heat the house until it is installed
~ there would be the risk (albeit small if we're conscientious) of chimney fire
~ our homeowner's insurance would not be affected if the stove passed inspection
~ we would enjoy the ambiance of a wood stove
~ air quality might be an issue (both in moisture content and unknown potential allergies)
~ the cost of the stove could be as much as half that of an outdoor furnace
(photo credit)

Now, I can't promise that we'll listen to you, but we are incredibly curious what you all think. Do you heat with wood? Do you have an outdoor furnace or wood stove? How do you like it?

Given the points above, which would you choose?

My Take on Baby Needs

2012-01-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

A darling reader asked me the other day...

"one thing i've been wanting to know from you is your list of baby "essentials". i so (SO!) admire your family's goal of living simply. we are expecting our first kiddo in about 7 weeks...& are trying hard to stay "minimalist" in the 'stuff' that seems to accumulate just for the pooping/screaming little squirt :) anything in particular on your "baby essentials" list (& seriously now, let's get specific...not like "onsies"-because obviously i'm not going to keep my baby unnecessarily nakie...)"

My response to her turned into a post of it's own. So, this here post is dedicated to j and any other expectant mothers out there. Other than love, love, love, attention, devotion and the grace of God, here are some suggestions....

Waiting for Miriam...

*************************

Dear Sweet j,

When our son was born (9 years ago), I didn't have as much of a "living simply" attitude. To be honest, I got caught up in all our culture told us we needed to have a baby. As you can imagine, our small home was a bit over run with baby goods- as most expectant parents' homes are in this country!:-) With three kids under my ~~feet~~ belt here are a few suggestions I would make....

1) Forget the standard behemoth of a high chair. We used and love (and are still using) a feeding seat that straps to a regular chair. Some have backs that tilt back for when they are young, most are portable and the tray can be taken off so it can be used as a booster seat (just pulled up to the table) when they get older. When they outgrow them, they can be easily stored in a closet for when guests come with little ones. I HIGHLY recommend these over big high chairs.

2) Don't be tempted to buy lots of toys. Our kids favorite things were pictures of baby faces (I cut them out of magazines and glued them to a piece of construction paper and laminated it), empty yogurt cups (they loved knocking down the towers- and then they could be recycled when they outgrew them) and books, books, books! Standard rattles little fists can grab and shake are precious, too.

3) Use a sling/baby carrier for when they're small, then an umbrella stroller for when they're a little older/heavier. Big, huge strollers are such a pain (to move, store, and buy).

4) Breastfeed. You may be choosing to do otherwise, but breastfeeding simplifies so many things (in my opinion). It forces you as a mom to slow down and sit and spend time with your baby. I loved disappearing into a quiet room in the midst of a house full of people with the excuse that we had to nurse. It gave us one on one time that we both needed. I had the luxury of staying home- I know that working/pumping can be a pain- but I still think it has so many benefits including the money saved and the lack of bottle paraphernalia. I did find that lanolin, sports-type nursing bras (the next size up- for cup size changes) and a boppy were helpful. Here's a post I wrote on why I loved it.

5) When they're ready, make your own baby food. In the side bar you'll find a link to my Homemade Baby Food posts. It doesn't take much work at all, but gives you peace of mind and saves you money.

6) The biggest one is to resist the urge to buy everything BEFORE the baby comes. All you really need is: the car seat, some diapers and wipes, a bassinet/cradle/crib, some warm sleepers (caps and socks) and receiving blankets, and a thermometer (assuming you're breastfeeding). Once you're living it, you can make purchases as you see fit. It's easier to add them than make them disappear or feel guilty for not using them:-).

Oh, my. I hope this is helpful. If you have more questions, please feel free to email me at thyhand123@gmail.com. I'm so excited for you to meet your baby!!! Both my sisters are expecting right now so I have babies on the brain, too.

Who am I kidding? I usually have babies on the brain anyway.

Blessings, j.

Jane

The First Step

2012-01-19T08:38:00.000-05:00

I'll admit it. I'm guilty of sometimes asking for a sign when I'm praying about something particularly difficult.

Who do I think I am? Moses?

Not that God can't use signs with me. Goodness. He can if He wants. But am I wrong to ask for them? To sometimes expect them? To test my God (Deuteronomy 6:16)?

Shouldn't it be enough that when I'm honest with myself I know how a Christian should live, the choices a Christian should make? Shouldn't it be enough that, thanks to the Bible, I know what's important to God and therefore know the things that would please Him?

Sometimes we just need to get off our duffers and take that first step of faith. Go in the direction we know would be pleasing to God and trust that He will be with us each consecutive step.

But, oh, it can be hard. It can make my heart race and cause those tension muscles in my shoulders and neck to seize up and throb. It can make me lay awake at night and scrutinize every comment, every interaction with others, wondering if I did the right thing.

A sign would be easier but maybe He's trusting us to take the path on our own. To pray and ask for clarity, to invite Him along and then take one (sometimes even small) step in the direction we know is right. Even when it's scary. Even when it may cause us difficulty.

Our lives are short. Are we living them adventurously for Christ? Or are we playing it safe and waiting for that sign?

While I'm all for adventure, I can say with certainty that I'm glad I'm not Moses. Goodness. That man deserved himself some signs.

So, let's begin this year of 2012 with courage and faith and chose to step out. We might miss the wonderful things He has planned for us if we don't.

(This faith-based pep talk is as much {or more} for me as it is for you.)

Turkey (or Chicken) Garden Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits

2012-01-17T07:51:00.001-05:00

It's January and while it's taken it's time with it, it's finally cold, cold, cold. Soups and stews and steamy comfort foods are what I want. Oh, and I want them to be pretty easy to make. And not call for weird ingredients or use cooking techniques I haven't heard of. And I want my kids to eat it without fussing. And I want to be able to use up ingredients I have that came from our garden this past summer. See. I'm not fussy.

Well. Here's a cold-weather recipe that meets all my {fussy} needs. And it's plenty tasty, to boot.

Turkey (or Chicken) Garden Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits (adapted from Yankee magazine, January/February 2012 issue)
Yields 6 servings. This recipe calls for making individual pot pies in six 8-10 ounce oven safe bowls. I used smaller ramekins and random glass storage containers I had on hand. It was fun making individual servings, but you could also make one pot pie instead. Also, sweet potatoes could be substituted for the squash beautifully.

Filling:
3 cups chicken broth
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 1/2 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced (seeds removed)
4 tbsp. butter
1 celery rib, diced (optional)
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp, salt
5 tbsp. flour
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp, freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. dried parsley
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked turkey (or chicken)
1/3 cups frozen peas

Biscuits:
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
5 tbsp. butter, chilled and chopped into small pieces
2/3 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk (I keep Saco Buttermilk on hand)
milk (for brushing biscuits)

For the filling, in a medium sized saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the diced carrots and butternut squash. Reduce heat and simmer until vegetables are tender (5-7 minutes or so). Drain, RESERVING THE BROTH, and set aside (I'm sorry I yelled). In the same saucepan, melt the butter and saute the onions and celery with the salt until soft. Add the flour and cook, stirring for a couple minutes. Then, slowly add the milk and the reserved broth while you keep stirring until it thickens. Add the pepper, parsley, turkey (or chicken), cooked carrots and butternut squash, and peas. Divide among six 8-10 ounce oven safe bowls (or whatever other oven proof containers you have), leaving about a half inch at the top for the biscuits.

To make the biscuits, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add chilled, diced butter and cut in with a fork, a pastry blender or your fingers until it's a course meal with plenty of lumps. Still in the shredded cheddar. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and the buttermilk together, then add to the flour mixture. Stir until just blended and turn out on a floured surface. Knead to pull it together, then roll out to a half inch thickness. Using a drinking glass or a knife with the help of your keen eyes, cut out the dough to match the size of your baking dishes. Form additional biscuits with extra dough and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Brush the tops of the biscuits with milk and bake individual pot pies at 425 degrees on a cookie sheet covered with foil for about 20 minutes or until the biscuit tops turn a light brown.

Heating Our House: The Inspection & Results

2012-01-16T08:06:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, here is the first installment in this series...Heating Our House: The Problems

Our friend showed up on a cold day in early December and commenced his inspection. This was fascinating. First, he had us shut off the heat. Next, he propped open the back storm door and placed in the doorway a special frame with adjustable sides so it would fit the opening of our back door perfectly. Across this frame was stretched tarp-like material, with a very large hole at the bottom of the frame near the floor. In the hole (on the floor), he set a large circular fan, aiming it outside.

Then, he turned on the fan.

The fan pulled outside air in through all the cracks and crevices of our house and then blew it outside again. Can you picture it? Needless to say, it soon got very cold in our house. Next came the really cool part. He had with him an infrared camera that could be pointed anywhere in the house and SHOW us where the cold spots were (where the most cold air was seeping in) - those areas showed up dark purple. The camera could be held like a gun, so he and Jamey took turns pointing the camera over all the areas of each room in our house, noting the spots where significant leakage was occurring. The cold spots could also be discovered by focusing a point on the camera to read the temperature in specific spots.

I followed them around, making notes as he told Jamey the best ways of remedying the holes. He also suggested Jamey use little pieces of blue painter's tape that he had brought along to mark certain cold spots (so we wouldn't forget about them). We moved through each and every room of the house this way and then he and Jamey went up in the attic and down under the house.

Looking at our house through this camera was sobering and overwhelming, but it also gave us hope. Most of the remedies would be relatively inexpensive to carry out. While we thought that our remaining old windows and old doors would be major culprits, they really weren't. Our combinations of storm windows on the outside and plastic on the inside made them semi-comparable to our newer windows although some better weather stripping was needed.

And, while we were worried that most of the walls were uninsulated, we discovered (via the camera) that only relatively small portions were without insulation (at some point, one of the owners had insulation blown into the walls).

The major culprits were these...

1) We had major leakage under the baseboards on all the outer walls, both upstairs and down. Evidently, in these old house, care was not taken to seal together where the walls and floors joined. Baseboards that don't sit flush to the floor (nearly impossible with our old, hardwood floors), leave ample space for heat to escape. This problem was even noticeable in the upstairs, carpeted rooms.

Thankfully, fixing this problem is simple and involves caulking under the baseboards or removing them to insert expanding foam, insulation board or ample caulk.

2) Outlets, recessed lighting openings and heating vents also proved to be major leakage points as well.

Did you know they sell these thin, foam insulation plates to place behind your outlets and energy star casings for recessed lighting? Caulking the seals of heating vents keep cold air from our attic or basement from finding it's way into the house around the duct openings.

3) In our house, the heating duct work is almost entirely under the house (blowing up through the floor) and in the attic (blowing down through the ceiling) except for the duct that takes it from the basement into the attic up through the center of the house (next to one of the old chimneys). All this duct work was lacking seals at the seams and insulation, leaving in some areas, significant openings where the duct was bent or twisted and therefore didn't fit/seal properly into the next section of duct work.

Foil tape seals the seams and insulation boards cut to fit or spray foam to cover the ducts will prevent precious heat from sneaking out and into the cold basement (actually crawl spaces and cellar, in our case) and attic.

4) We needed an additional 7 inches of insulation in our attic in addition to the 6 inches we already have. Jamey has plans to blow this in himself sometime this winter.

5) Trim surrounding doors and windows needed caulking (to the doors/windows, the walls and adjoining trim pieces) and some weather stripping needed updating.

6) The wood hallway floor upstairs proves to be very cold to the touch. When the fan was turned on and was sucking air in from the outside, it was amazing to feel cold, rushing air coming into the house through multiple knot holes in the wood flooring. The inspector surmised that this section of our second story was likely channeling cold, outside air in through where our front porch roof is attached to the front of our house.

Jamey removed portions of the ceiling of the front porch roof and used spray foam insultaion to seal the area where porch and house adjoin.
Having the inspector spend three hours with us to show us all these issues was well worth the $300 it cost. $300 is a lot of money, but I hate to think how much we've wasted by heating the outside. While some of you may not be able to afford this type of inspection, my hope is that this outline of our trouble spots and the solutions will inspire you to tighten up your own house. All of us who live in drafty houses know those spots where we feel a little breeze when we pass by. Taking the time, on a windy day, to identify those spots and do something about them will lead to savings on your heating bills. And who doesn't want that?

Jamey has (obviously) been very busy caulking and insulating. Some might possibly call it an obsession, but hey. It's productive and will lead to savings and a warmer house. The next installment in this series will look at the new heating options we were considering (with their pros and cons, in our opinion) and what we decided to do. Stay tuned!

A Quilting Project for Now

2012-01-12T08:40:00.000-05:00

A little while back I wrote about how it can be challenging to work on projects with all the interruptions of life. One of my favorite projects/crafts is quilting. I love putting fabric and print together to form design. I love the methodical stitching, watching faint lines form and fabric puff ever so slightly.

It really does pain me to imagine that it will be a long time until I'm able to make a full-size quilt again. It pained me, too, when I really wanted to make a quilt for my best friend and her groom but knew I didn't have the time. My mom came through with the simplest of ideas and it was as if the heavens opened up and the angels began to sing. I could quilt. I could finish pieces. I could do it!

"Old Home"

And so I did. This past fall, I made three quilt squares and framed them with Jamey's help. He made the frames and some of the glass even came from our old windows. All the fabric was leftover from previous quilts. I love it when projects come together (and don't take years to complete).

"Robbing Peter to Pay Paul"

The project was quite simple. I pieced the top and used thin batting (to sandwich between) and leftover (less-than-lovely) fabric for the back (which no one will ever see). I quilted the square, then wrapped it over a piece of sturdy cardboard, taping the edges to the back of the cardboard with masking tape. Jamey hammered in flat little brackets to keep the cardboard-covered square in place, then we covered the back with brown paper, gluing the edges to the back edges of the frame with rubber cement glue and attached a picture frame hanger. We chose not to use spacers to keep the quilt off the glass. Some feel this is important. We did not.

Don't give up. Find a manageable way to keep doing the things you love. Let's not completely extinguish the talent and joy God gave us. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Giving Idea: Sewing Kits

photo credit: mcc.org

"Sewing kits provide basic tools to make and mend clothing. These tools will be used often and must be of good quality. People in such countries as Bosnia, Haiti, Liberia, Nicaragua, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine receive sewing kits from Mennonite Central Committee."

Go here to learn what's needed in each kit and where you can drop off or send the contents.

I am...

2012-01-11T08:41:00.000-05:00

in awe,
humbled,
baffled,
honored,
surprised,
touched,
weepy,
overwhelmed,
thankful,
shocked,
flabbergasted,
paralyzed,
astounded,
and amazed

that so many of you read me.

When I notice even the slightest surge in readership, I often ask Jamey, "Why do they come? Why is it that they want to read what *I* have to say?"

I am bowled over every day and am so appreciative of each and every one of you. Thank you for coming.

Love,

Jane

Meat Miser

2012-01-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

We don't eat a lot of meat. It's expensive. It's also not the healthiest thing for you. Jamey and I were both vegetarians for a period of about five years (I was for the three or four years before that as well), so we learned to cook (and eat, obviously) without it.

We started eating meat again when we were trying to get pregnant the first time. While the extra protein may have been a good idea, it was likely an excuse. We were ready to start eating meat again. What we weren't ready to do was make it the main focus of every meal. Fast forward nine years and we're still not eating much meat. Maybe once or twice a week, we'll incorporate a little into a meal, but it is almost never a stand alone.

diced turkey

Instead, we try to make meat go as far as we can make it. For example, we were given some turkey leftovers to take home after Thanksgiving- a whole cool whip container full. And, recently, a neighbor gave us an even larger container of honey-baked ham that he knew he wouldn't be able to eat. In both cases, I treated that meat like gold, dicing it up into small, bite-sized pieces, dividing it into sandwich-sized plastic bags, and squirreling those bags into the freezer. I do this with our own chickens as well (cooking the whole bird and then shredding and freezing small portions). There is no way we were going to sit down to a huge meal of turkey or ham, using it up in a day or two.

diced ham

A little meat goes a long way when it comes to flavor and protein. Having smaller portions on hand to add to pot pies, stews, quiche (think ham and asparagus or broccoli), pasta, you name it, makes working with meat easy and it regulates our intake so we're sure not to over do it. And this makes holiday meals with family really special.

If you'd like to make some changes and eat less meat for your health and your wallets and need some ideas, I have a Vegetarian Main Dishes section in the "Recipes by Category" link just below the header picture at the top.

C'mon. Be a miser with me.

Fondue for Christmas

2012-01-09T08:17:00.000-05:00

We ended up being able to go out of town for Christmas after all this year. It was a short trip, but still wonderful to celebrate with extended family that we don't get to see enough of. To be honest, I had worked myself up to actually looking forward to our little family celebrating together on our own. The kids and I planned out what would make it special and it saddened me to abandon our plans. So, we decided to stick with the plan as best we could anyway.

We waited until Christmas week to make the cookies (with each family member getting to chose a kind for us to make). We ate only a couple, saving the bulk of the cookies for "our Christmas" which ended up being Christmas Eve Eve. When I asked the kids what they'd like for Christmas dinner, it was unanimous. Pizza. Pizza? That was a little too casual for Christ's birth, if you ask me. Now, I knew they wouldn't ask for a ham or a turkey (what *I* think of when I think of Christmas dinner). I also knew that I didn't want fussing and scolding at our Christmas dinner table, so I suggested fondue. It was something different and special and could be catered to the kids' tastes.

It also proved pretty easy to prepare when I did all the prepping of the fruits and vegetables the morning of our meal, leaving only the making of the actual sauces and steaming of the veggies for right before hand. We had two courses, cheese and chocolate. With the cheese course we served steamed broccoli and carrots, cubes of crusty bread and cooked, cubed turkey. With the chocolate course, we ate fresh pineapple, strawberries and banana chunks along with our heaping plate of Christmas cookies.

It felt like an international meal with the pineapple from Costa Rica, the bananas from Columbia and the strawberries from Mexico. We don't usually buy produce out of season, so this made for a pretty special meal.

The cheese recipe was very tasty, but proved a little too thick for our fondue pots heated via tea lights. The chocolate recipe was just right and can be found below.

To make the evening even more special and memorable, my dear cousin, her husband and two children were in town and joined us for the afternoon and fondue meal. She and I caught up all afternoon after a year apart while Miriam napped, the four big kids played outside and our husbands we off doing work-related things. Our time together was such a blessing!

After they headed out of town, we opened gifts and went to bed with bellies full and hearts warmed- feeling so thankful and blessed and undeserving.

Chocolate Fondue
Serves 20 (more or less). If you have a lot leftover, let the fondue cool, then roll it into balls and dredge in cocoa- instant truffles.

10 ounces milk chocolate chips
6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Melt chocolate and heavy cream together in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat until the chocolate is melted, stirring often. Add the vanilla and blend. Transfer to your fondue pot (over heat) and enjoy.

Heating Our House: The Problems

2012-01-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

We've been living in this old house of ours for just shy of seven years. The original portion of this house is thought to have been built in the 1890's, making part of this house well over 100 years old. There are two energy-related issues about this house that we haven't liked ever since we've moved in.

One, it's heated with oil (forced air). Two, it's like living in swiss cheese- the house is drafty, drafty, drafty- hotter than necessary in summer and colder than need be in the winter. Also, the temperature extremes within the house are comical. The living room thermostat can read 68 degrees while the temperature in the kitchen (on the opposite side of the house, both on the first floor) can read 52 degrees. And you wonder why I bake.

Relatively soon after moving in, we replaced 20 out of the 25 windows. This helped quite a bit and made actually opening and closing the windows as well as cleaning them much easier. It also meant less storm windows to deal with. Over the years, Jamey has worked off and on at insulating some of the trouble spots, but, oh, what giant project to tackle.

We knew once Jamey was out of school we wanted to think more seriously about improving the two major beefs we have with this house. We want to save money and live more sustainably. We have had countless discussions on the topic over the years with an incredible increase in frequency and duration in the past few months as we saw another winter looming.

Before making a decision about heating the house, we needed to get the house ready by tightening it up as best we can. I say "we", but of course I am referring to Jamey. It's not as if I don't want to help, it's just that he's so much better at it than I and someone needs to watch the three little ninnies that live here with us.

The first step of this process was a no-brainer for us. We wanted an expert to come in here and show us the holes, show us what we needed to do to insulate and tighten up the house. Who wants to set up a new heating system only to help heat the outside? The husband of a friend of mine is a building inspector and has become certified energy auditor (specifically, a RESNET Energy Rater). We gave him a call, asking that he come show us what we might not want to see but knew we needed to.

And show us, he did.

I'm so sorry to tease, but you'll have to come back for the next installment of "Heating Our House" to find out what happened next.

What to Do With Christmas Cards AFTER Christmas

2012-01-05T08:17:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's and I've enjoyed my little blogging hiatus. I'm ready to jump back in, having accumulated quite the list of post topics in my queue. That said, I feel like I might be a little "uncool" writing this come-back post.

I mean, everyone else seems to be talking about the New Year (goals, resolutions, etc.) or have even moved beyond that, but I'm still a bit stuck on Christmas. So, please don't tell me I'm too late. Please don't tell me you've already pitched those Christmas cards into the recycle bin. Pretty pleeeease.....

A few weeks ago, I shared my method for displaying the Christmas cards we received this year and I promised to offer you some suggestions of what to do with all those treasured cards after Christmas. Obviously, there may be some special cards that you store away for safekeeping, but here are a few ideas of what to do with the others....

1) Many of our friends and family send photo cards. I can't bear to throw their smiling faces in the trash, so I trim away the "card" part, saving their photo and/or faces and display them on our fridge. When next year rolls around, I replace the old ones with the new!

2) The more traditional cards (without the photos), can be cut down the fold to make sweet little thank you cards that your children can write in and/or sign (adding a drawing if they like) and send to friends or family who gave them gifts.

3) Another idea to ponder is storing your cards in a basket on your dining room table. Each evening meal time, pray for the family or individual who sent you the card on top. Pray for their health, their relationship with God, that they would hear God's call for their life, for their children, their jobs, their marriage. Then, tuck their card to the bottom so your all set to pray for the next person/family who sent you the next card on the pile.

4) Toddlers love looking at pictures of people, particularly those they know or that you'd like them to know if you live far away from family and friends. Simply stapling the photo cards together to make a book or cutting them to fit a small, inexpensive brag book can be the perfect way to let them look at photos of loved ones and learn their names. I kept little brag books like this for our older two kids when they were small (Miriam still looks at Sam's and Sadie's) and they love them.

Since I Can't Send a Card

2011-12-21T08:54:00.000-05:00

What I really want to do is send each of you a Christmas card. But, seeing as that might not sit well with your (and my) privacy issues, this post will have to do.

I love getting Christmas cards and Christmas letters. We have been sending out a Christmas letter every year now (at least since Sam was born) and I treasure the extra copies I've kept. A dear friend whom I used to work with told me that she has kept all her family Christmas letters since her (now adult) children were small. She keeps them tucked away in the clear sleeves of a binder, handy at Christmastime to leaf through and reminisce over.

And, so, even though you all may be plumb sick and tired of reading about my life, I'm going to go out on a limb and publish our little Christmas letter right here. Because I want to and because you all are a special kind of friends and family to me.

*******************************

2011

Dear Friends & Family,

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ! We hope that you and your family are well and enjoying this Advent season as we celebrate God coming down to earth through His Son, Jesus. This past year we've experienced the transition from academic life to the working world and we are thankful that the school-leg of the journey is complete.

In May, Jamey graduated with a doctorate in pharmacy. In an answer to prayer, he was hired on as staff pharmacist at a local hospital right after gradation. It's taken some getting used to his schedule as his shifts are different every day, but thankfully most are during the day with some evenings and every fourth weekend. He loves it and we are so thankful for that and the job itself! God was with us on the four-year journey and we praise Him for taking such good care of us.

Sam is almost 9 years old and in the fourth grade at home. He's taking mandolin lessons from Jamey and he loves it. Sadie is almost 6 and is doing kindergarten at home. She lost her first tooth recently- the first when I pulled her sweatshirt off over her head. We can't believe she's old enough to be losing teeth! Miriam is two and a half and quite the character. This fall, she potty trained, stopped sucking her two fingers (two major hurdles!), and learned to climb out of her crib. Hence, I got a crib tent as an early Christmas present :-). Thankfully, when she can't get out, she takes great, long naps.

I spend most of the day doing school with the kids with laundry and meal prep in between. As taxing as it is some days, I wouldn't trade any of it. My extended family is blossoming as my parents expect their 11^th grandchild this July. The little people seem to be taking over!

We continue to pray for God's leading and guidance in our lives. It's not about us, it's about Him and we are excited to see how He will use us in the months and years ahead. May you experience His love and care this season.

With Love,

Jane & Family

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him." May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:12-13).

********************************

I'm taking my usual Christmas break from blogging and will be back in a couple weeks. I'll see you in the New Year!

Pecan Tarts

2011-12-20T07:51:00.000-05:00

Yes, yes, I know. Right after I tell you that I try not to post too many sweet recipes, I inundate you with exactly that. But I promise, it's almost over. I want to post these recipes for you as much as for me. What would I do if my half hutch suddenly burst into flames and all my cookbooks and binders stored on it's shelves went up, too? I'd come here, that's what. Well, after mourning the loss of my half hutch, of course.

These "cookies" were Jamey's choice this year. My mom makes a mean pecan pie and her pecan tarts can hold their own just fine as well. I'm not a big nut fan, but these, well, these are good.

Pecan Tarts (from my mom, once again)
Makes 24 tarts.

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tbsp. flour (have you ever heard of such a thing?)
1 egg
1 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and 1/2 cup softened butter. Add the flour and beat again until well blended. The dough will be sticky. Form the dough into balls a little bigger than large marbles. Then form them into little nests with you fingers before placing them in a greased mini muffin tin, molding them into place across the bottom and up the sides, forming a mini pie crust (no fluting required).

In the same bowl (once empty), mix the sugars and flour. Thoroughly beat in the egg, milk, vanilla and melted butter. Fold in pecans. With a teaspoon, carefully fill your mini pie crusts with the pecan filling. Fill not quite full. Bake 15-20 minutes at 425 degrees or until the tarts are set. If they bake over a bit, use a sharp knife to release the over-baked filling while the tarts are still warm. This will make them much easier to remove from the pan once they're cool.

This batch doesn't look very pretty, but they taste just fine:-).

Peanut Blossoms

2011-12-19T08:42:00.000-05:00

These were Sam's choice this year. If he hadn't chosen them, I would have had to claim them as my choice. I think probably everyone knows about these- the peanut-y cookie with the Hershey's kiss on the top- but just in case you don't or just in case you don't have the recipe in your repertoire, you'll find it below.

Even though there isn't anything Christmas-y about these, I only think about them at Christmastime because that's the only time my mom made them. Everyone has their own method of eating these cookies. What's yours?

Peanut Blossoms (the recipe my mom uses)
Makes about 3 dozen.

1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter (we like chunky)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup sugar for rolling
about 36 Hershey's kisses, unwrapped

Sift flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the shortening, peanut butter and both sugars together well. Add the egg, milk and vanilla. Place the 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl. Roll a heaping tbsp. of cookie dough in your hands, forming balls. Roll the balls in the sugar, coating them well and place them on greased cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake them in a 350 degree oven for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and place one Hershey's kiss in the center of each cookie, pressing it down firmly (you don't want the kisses to fall out/off when the cool). Return the cookies to the oven for 2-3 minutes or until they are just starting to turn light brown. Cool completely before storing in a covered container. They freeze nicely. Feed the extra Hershey's kisses to your bush outside if you don't think you can keep yourself from eating them.

Artful Accents Earrings Winner!

2011-12-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a really good week and that in spite of all there seems to be left to do before Christmas you are keeping your heads and remembering the real reason we celebrate this time of year. When I find myself getting too focused on the here and now, I picture myself walking on this huge, round earth with my eyes parallel to the ground. Then, I picture myself looking up. If I can go about my activities with my face and eyes turned toward God, how much more perspective I will have! With this simple lift of my head, I feel loved and this helps me to love others (otherwise, I fear I would simply run out of the good stuff).

So. Let's lift our faces and eyes and give God all glory, laud and honor!

And, now! The winner of one of the beautiful pair of earrings above from Kathy at Artful Accents is....

Lori F.

("I really like the pink French quarter bracelet. If I won I'd have to go with the blue haze earings. Cute stuff!")

Congratulations, Lori !!! Please email me your name, mailing address and please confirm your color choice (green haze or blue haze). If I don't hear from the winner within two weeks, I will draw another name.

Don't forget! Today is the last day to use coupon code DEC13-16 at checkout to receive free shipping on anything from Kathy's shop!

Thank you, Kathy! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Dipped Gingerbread Cookies

2011-12-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

This year I became wiser (in this one respect, at least). I'm waiting to bake until the week before Christmas so all those goodies aren't hanging around.

Goodies hanging around + Kids who are already getting excited for Christmas (and therefore a little bit crazy) = A mama who wants to self-medicate with goodies.

I also decided I would let Jamey and each child chose a cookie and those four choices would be the kinds I would make. Jamey chose my mom's pecan tarts. Sam chose peanut blossoms. Sadie chose sugar cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles and, as a group, we chose dipped gingerbread cookies for Miriam. I made these gingerbread cookies last year but forgot to share the recipe with you, so you'll find last year's photos and the recipe below.

These cookies are soft and chewy and I love the gingerbread-chocolate combination (and the chocolate is so much easier than icing them, in my opinion).

Dipped Gingerbread Cookies (the cookie part is my mom's recipe)
This recipe makes a lot, just so you know. You can freeze the dough wrapped tightly in saran wrap if it's too much for you at once.

1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/4 cup molasses (or 1/4 cup molasses + 1 cup dark corn syrup)
3 eggs
1 cup shortening
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tsp. each of salt, cinnamon, all spice, cloves and ground ginger
3 cups flour
AND
5-6 cups flour
melting chocolate
Christmas sprinkles

Mix ingredients brown sugar through the first 3 cups of flour in your electric mixer on low speed until well mixed. Switch to a dough hook if you have one. Add 5 cups flour to make a stiff dough. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour until it can be worked with easily. If it seems too soft, place in fridge to stiffen it up a bit, otherwise, roll out into 1/4 inch thickness and cut into cookies. Place on greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Don't overbake if you like them soft and chewy. Dip in melted chocolate, lay on waxed paper and decorate with sprinkles before the chocolate has a chance to set. Store in a covered container once chocolate has set completely.

Chocolate Mint Brownies

2011-12-14T08:29:00.000-05:00

I feel a little bit guilty introducing you to these. If you've been around here awhile, you may have noticed that I don't post as many sweet recipes as I used to. It's not because I don't like sweet things, it's because I do and when I read blogs that post sweet things all the time, I tend to get a little upset. Not at the blogger, of course, but at myself for being tempted so. My metabolism isn't what it used to be so I need to avoid the temptations. Hence, I've tried to post more recipes for dinner and such. I hope you don't mind.

In light of all that, occasionally I just can't hold back. The pull is too strong and I want to share the {sweet} love with all you dearies. I hope this doesn't put you off but instead is something you file away in that sweet head of yours for a time when you want to wow and impress friends or family with something scrumptious this Christmas season. Let me be super clear: this is a dessert you must share, take to a function, not keep all to yourself. Understand? If you don't now, check the total butter content and you'll get my drift.

Making bars are generally easier and quicker than dealing with cookies, but this recipe calls for three layers. Do not be deterred! Each layer is super easy to whip up and the chill time between each is minimal. The brownie layer is more of a really moist cake than a brownie and it isn't as sweet as brownies come. This is a good thing because the mint layer is like icing and the chocolate layer...well, it's chocolate. If you like peppermint patties, you'll love these.

Chocolate Mint Brownies (from my mom)
Makes 30 petite-sized brownies. The mint layer calls for green food coloring which my mom always uses. It makes these brownies look very festive, but it's okay to leave out (as I did) if you'd rather not use it.

brownie layer:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups Hershey's syrup

mint layer:
2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tbsp. water
1/2 tsp. mint extract (I used peppermint)
3 drops green food coloring (optional)

chocolate layer:
6 tbsp. butter
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

To make the brownie layer, beat all the brownie ingredients until smooth. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the middle is no longer shaky. The top may appear a little wet- that is okay. Cool the brownie layer completely and chill it for at least15 minutes. Wash your mixing bowl, paddle and spatula in the meantime. You're going to use them again.

To make the mint layer, beat all the mint layer ingredients in your mixer until smooth. Spread over the brownies (like icing) and return the brownies to the fridge for another 15 or so minutes.

To make the chocolate layer, place the 6 tbsp. of butter and chocolate chips in a medium-sized glass bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until the chips have almost completely melted. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over the mint layer, using the back of your spoon to spread it over the top completely. Return the brownies to the fridge until ready to cut and serve. Store in the fridge.

Artful Accents Earring Giveaway!

2011-12-13T07:47:00.003-05:00

This giveaway is closed. To see who won, please go here.

The jewelry I wear most (not counting my wedding rings) are earrings. I have about eight pair and I love each of them dearly. Shoes and earrings share this similarity with me- the few I have I love and wear a lot. If you're gathering that I'm a little bit picky, you're right.

Probably my most favorite pair of earrings right now is a pair from Kathy at Artful Accents. They're called Green Haze. They are the perfect size (not too small, not too big) and they provide the perfect splash of color. They're earthy and pretty and, well, I just love them!

Kathy, who blogs here, was kind enough to offer a pair of Green Haze (or Blue Haze- your choice!) earrings to one lucky reader this week. She's just great that way. Here's a little more about Kathy...

"I have always enjoyed being crafty, even as a young girl when I made fancy mud pies, assembled daisy chain necklaces, and embroidered pillowcases. Over the years, I have experimented with making fresh and artificial floral arrangements, decorating cakes, and making handstamped cards. But when I discovered jewelry making in 2006, I knew I had found my niche! I had attended a neighbor's open house for her daughter who made jewelry. I took one look at the handcrafted jewelry and decided that I could do that too!

So I took a basic jewelry making class at a local craft store, but am mostly self-taught through my own research and various tutorials. I spend hours studying designs in magazines and online. Currently, I mainly do bead stringing and some wire work. Sometime down the road, I would like to learn how to get creative with a torch! My favorite materials to work with are Vintaj Natural Brass components, gemstones, and glass.

Most of my creations are one-of-a-kind, although I do make limited editions of select designs. My hope is that the jewelry I create will be affordable, classic in style, and an accent to your total look."

Would you like to see those earrings now???

Green Haze

Blue Haze

Don't you just want to put them on??

To Enter:

To enter to win your choice of a pair of Green Haze or Blue Haze earrings, all you need to do is hop on over and visit Kathy's Etsy shop, Artful Accents. Browse around and then come back here and tell us two things in the comments..1) what your favorite piece of jewelry is in her shop and, 2) if you'd like the Green Haze or the Blue Haze earrings if you win. That's it!

Please only one entry per household. If you comment anonymously, please leave me some initials so I can identify you if you win. If you're having trouble commenting, please email me your entry and I'll post if for you (I really don't mind!). I'll draw one lucky winner sometime Friday afternoon. If the winner does not respond within a week, I will draw another winner, so check back!

Also! Between now and the end of the giveaway, Kathy is offering free shipping on any item in her shop. Just enter the coupon code DEC13-16 at checkout!

Now, what are you dearies waiting for? Go on!

Sweet Potato Spoon Bread

2011-12-12T07:16:00.000-05:00

I can honestly say that I have never made spoon bread before, nor eaten it for that matter. In my mind, I imagined this recipe would produce something similar to a sweet potato casserole, but it really did not. Had I looked up the definition I would have known better what to expect. From My Food Lover's Companion:

spoon bread; spoonbread- A puddinglike bread usually based on cornmeal and baked in a casserole dish. Spoon bread is generally served as a side dish and, in fact, is soft enough that it must be eaten with a spoon or fork.

As compared to eating it with an knife? Anyway. It turned out to be a very soft, very moist cornbread mildly flavored with sweet potato. I expected it to be rather sweet, but instead it was an all-round mildly sweet, tasty comfort food that proved to be a nice side dish (think in the place of rolls or potatoes). But, one day for lunch I ate it topped with some leftover chili and the next day, topped with leftover sauerkraut and peas. Both were delicious. I decided I like it better topped. Jamey is smitten with it all by itself. The kids weren't very impressed. Such is life.

Shotty photos are inevitable with me when it's dark outside at dinnertime.

Do you do spoon bread? It intrigues me.

Sweet Potato Spoon Bread (Better Homes and Gardens, November 2011 issue)

4 tbsp. butter
2 medium sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
2 1/2 cups milk
1 tbsp. thyme
1 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. coarse sea salt (I used 1 1/2 tsp. regular salt)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 cup yellow corn meal
4 large eggs, separated
2 tsp. baking powder

In a large saucepan, bring milk, thyme, sugar and salt to a low boil over medium heat. In a slow and steady stream, whisk cornmeal into milk mixture. Cook, stirring constantly for 4-5 minutes until the mixture is think and starts to pull away from the sides (mine pulled away in about 3 minutes, so I stopped and moved on). Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add potatoes, egg yolks, 3 tbsp. of butter and baking soda and mix. In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the eggs whites on high until soft peaks form. Fold into potato mixture. Spoon into a greased 2 quart baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes. (I doubled the recipe, using a 9 x 13 inch pan.)

How to Display Christmas Cards

2011-12-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

Christmas cards are staring to roll in, so what to do with them? This is my conundrum every year it seems. I don't want to spend money on some card-displaying apparatus that I'm then going to have to find a place to store the other eleven months of the year.

I've tried putting tape donuts on the backs of the cards and sticking them to wide ribbons hung vertically. That looked nice, but the tape lost it's gumption and they soon started falling off. I've tried displaying them along the bottom of my hutch like I do our birthday cards, but since so many people send photo cards that don't actually open, this didn't work well either. Then, one year I just stuck them all in a basket, but then I couldn't see all the beautiful smiling faces, so I was unhappy with this solution as well.

This year, I'm trying something new and I really like it. Using twine we already had, I strung three pieces of twine across the front of our hutch and am clothes-pinning the cards to the twine. Now, if you don't already have a hutch this solution will prove very expensive for you, so I wouldn't recommend it. But! If you already have a hutch (or similar type piece of furniture) give it a try.

A couple things to keep in mind...once you string these up, it will be very difficult to open your hutch doors. I pulled out the items I knew I'd use between now and late January and put them below the hutch or up on top. You also don't want to use tape on the face of your hutch in case it leaves residue or effects your finish or paint. The way I worked around this was to thread the twine around the hinges, tying them off for the top and bottom rows. For the center row, I threaded the twine between the door and front frame and taped the end to the inside of the door.

You can hang as many rows as you think cards will come your way. Since our hutch sits the end of our dining room table (where we eat all our meals), the lovely cards will be in plain view for us to enjoy.

Need an idea of what to do with them once you're ready to take them down? I'll tell you come January:-).

Art Roll Winner!

2011-12-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday to you! I've had a rather rough week, but am feeling the antibiotics kick in...finally. An easy supper of pizza is planned for tonight along with my last couple Christmas-related errands. I'm looking forward to this weekend of feeling better. And what a wonderful way to start it off- giving away one of Margo's Art Rolls!

Just so you know, on Tuesday, I'll announce our last giveaway for the year and I'm so excited about it, so come back next week for some gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry (as well as recipes and the usual ramblings):-).

Without further ado, the winner of the Art Roll courtesy of Margo at Thrift At Home is...

Plain and Joyful Living

Congratulations! Please email me your name and address and we'll get your prize out to you. If I don't hear from the winner within a week, I'll draw another winner.

Don't forget!! For the rest of the only... use THYHAND11 at checkout to get free shipping on any order from Thrift At Home. Christmas shopping anyone?!

Thanks, again, Margo. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

The Young Woman At My Door

2011-12-07T08:35:00.000-05:00

I told you last week how Jamey put a sign up by the road asking for bagged leaves. I had grown accustomed to strangers (men) coming to my back door asking where we'd like the bags placed or leaves dumped. I had gotten used to keeping an eye on our driveway (clearly visible from our school room and kitchen) so no one would catch me off guard. I am mama bear, you know.

One day, I heard the rumble of a loud truck coming in our lane and looked out in time to see a beat-up light blue pick up truck pull in behind our house with leaves in the back. There was a knock at the door and I stepped outside to speak to (to my surprise) the young woman standing there. She must have been in her very early twenties. She was thin and dressed in outdated, worn clothes, including a thin flannel that could've been a man's. Her light, frizzy hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail.

She asked if we were buying bagged leaves. I said, "Oh, no. I'm so sorry, but we're only taking them if people just want to get rid of them." She said okay (but didn't offer me her leaves) and very politely asked if I would like to buy any eggs. Again, in my most apologetic tone I said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. We have chickens," and I gestured out to the chicken yard where they were ranging. She followed my arm, glanced at the chickens, said thank you, and left.

The one thing I could not get over while speaking to her was the state of her upper teeth. Not only were they crooked, but where tooth met gum, there was blackness. Large, black splotches that unnerved me. "How does that happen?" I wondered, imagining a toothbrush never having entered a mouth like that. I felt so badly for her.

As soon as I heard her rumble out the driveway I felt wave after wave of instant regret. Why in the world didn't I buy leaves from her? Why didn't I buy some of her eggs? All of her eggs for that matter!? Who cares if I didn't need them? She clearly needed money. I was devastated and so very disappointed in myself to the point of feeling almost shame. What was wrong with me?

That young woman and my regret haunted me for the rest of the day.

That evening, after things calmed down, I recounted the story to Jamey, filling him in on all the details, including the state of her teeth. He reached for his laptop, pulled up some photographs and asked me if her teeth looked like the pictures. They did- they were almost identical. He told me that is was good I didn't give her any money. What she likely had was "meth mouth", a condition that occurs with heavy methamphetamine use.

My heart sank. My regret didn't abate, but shifted. I was now glad I hadn't given her any money, but I could have reached out in some way. I could have asked her name and gotten to know her a bit. I could have offered her some food- my pantry and freezers are overflowing! I could have told her that I was glad she stopped by and that I cared about her.

For awhile the guilt and regret was all I could see when I thought about her, but then just the other day something occurred to me. I don't know her name, but I know her face. I know she exists. And maybe, just maybe, God placed her in front of me just for those few seconds so her existence would leave a mark on me.

Maybe He placed her at my door so I could pray for her.

At the thought tears welled-up in my eyes and I began to pray. I didn't do many of the things I wish I would have, but with God as my witness, I'm going to pray for this young woman. And maybe that was the point of all this after all.

While we're thanking God for coming down to earth through His Son, Jesus, this season, let's not forget those who haven't met Him yet. Let's keep our eyes open and sharp. May God place before us those who need Him and instead of turning away, feeling regret or helplessness, let's pray for those that are lost.

My prayer is that one day this young woman and I will be standing shoulder to shoulder in front of The Throne of God, offering Him praise and thanksgiving.

Lord, let it be so.

Turkey Thanksgiving Favors

2011-12-06T08:04:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. I'm a little late here, but it's never too early to be thinking about next Thanksgiving, right? And, yes, I know. I'm absurd. But I really want to share this with you in case I forget come next November.

My mother-in-law has quite the creative streak. She and one of my nieces and a nephew made these cute little turkey creatures and placed one at each plate on our Thanksgiving table (inspired by Taste of Home magazine).

I think it's pretty obvious what she used for each part, but I will tell you that she used melted chocolate to adhere everything together and the body of the turkey is rice crispy treat rolled into a ball. Our kids thought these were the coolest thing and thoroughly enjoyed eating them.

Bookmark or pin away if you're afraid I'll fail to give you a reminder next November. It really could go either way with me :-).