Essie's Blessings

Pardon the dust...

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:36:00 +0000

And the boxes. I'm moving over to Word Press, and my own domain name!

Big thanks to Pam for the inspiration and help!

50 Things

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Thanks, Amy. You know I love a meme!

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?

Wow. That's some awesome hair.

2. How much cash do you have on you?

I have $23. $20 of which I'll spend on my haircut tomorrow.

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?

Bore.

4. Favorite planet?

Uranus. Because I'm a 12 year old boy. Ha!

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?

Pam. She called when I was still at work. Even though she shares my Google calendar with me. ;-)

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?

Ooh, hard question. Probably one of my many clips from the movie Elf.

7. What shirt are you wearing?

A black tank top.

8. Do you label yourself?

It's hard not to, when you're the pastor's wife.

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?

I'm not wearing any!

10. Bright or Dark Room?

Bright.

11. What is your favorite color car?

Black.

12. What does your watch look like?

I don't wear one. I don't like things on my wrist. I use my cell phone for a watch.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?

Sleeping.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?

It was a tweet from my PW friend @Weakandloved: "RT @PYOEbooks: Here's a Quick link to Kindle Indie Bookstore- http://t.co/f7Zm7NOG #indieauthor"

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?

We don't have 7-11's around here. Our new Kwik Trip opens tomorrow, though!

16. What's a word that you say a lot?

Seriously!

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?

Ethan, as I put him to bed.

18. Last furry thing you touched?

Bunny, our cat.

19. Favorite reality TV show?

Real Housewives of New Jersey.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?

None, but I have TONS of digital pictures that need printing.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?

I'm liking 35!

22. Your worst enemy?

Worry.

23. What is your current desktop picture?

A calendar from Leelou Blogs.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?

"Goodnight!"

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?

A million bucks!

26. Do you like someone?

Like, like like someone? There's this boy named Dan...

27. The last song you listened to?

Don't really remember. But the last hymn I played in church tonight was "Eternal Father, Strong to Save."

28. What time of day were you born?

6:45 pm.

29. What’s your favorite number?

4. Nice even number.

30. Where did you live in 1987?

Chaska, MN.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?

Sometimes, when I want to go shopping.

32. Is anyone jealous of you?

Not that I know of!

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?

At work at Cornerstone Daycare, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Dan was in his fourth year of seminary.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?

Suck it up and take it.

35. Do you consider yourself kind?

Yes! Don't ask my kids that question, though.

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?

Maybe a Jesus fish. I saw a Pooh Bear one on Pinterest the other day that was cute.

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?

French or German.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?

Yes. I have before!

39. Are you touchy feely?

Yes. I'm a hugger.

40. What’s your life motto?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?

Cell phone, keys and lip balm.

42. What’s your favorite town/city to visit?

Seattle, Washington.

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?

A movie ticket on Sunday night.

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?

Hmmm...A thank you note to someone who gave us a flat of strawberries, I think.

45. Can you change the oil on a car?

Nope.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?

Not living a lifestyle I agree with. I'm just going to leave it at that.

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?

My father is full blooded German, and I still keep in touch with family of ours in Germany. On my mother's side, quite a ways back, but I'd love to learn more.

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?

Does church count? Last Sunday I wore a dress and pretty sandals.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?

My feet. My feet always hurt.

50. Best food ever?

Any food? I love food. It's hard to pick. If I have to choose, probably BBQ. Or cheesecake. Or Italian. See?

Let me know if you participate--I'd love to hear your answers!

What I'm Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:31:00 +0000

Now that I'm working at the library, the question I get asked most is, "So. What are you reading?" Just this morning I was chatting with my bestie Molly, and she asked me just that. I haven't done a reading post in a while, so I thought I'd get you caught up.

I just finished three GREAT books:

Diane Chamberlain has become one of my favorite authors. This book was no exception! I read it in two days. I love how her stories always leave you wanting more. And I found myself thinking about the characters for days afterward!

Stephanie Nielson is a blogger who burned 80% of her body in a plane crash in 2008. This is the story of her survival and recovery. If this story doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will.

I heard about this book when the movie first came out. When it came through the circulation desk last week, I couldn't resist checking it out. I wasn't disappointed! It's another great story of survival and love. I can't wait to watch the movie now!

And right now I'm reading:

Yes, another Diane Chamberlain book! Right now I'm just barely into it, but I'm already hooked. I'll let you know how it is!

And on my to-read list:

How about you? What are you reading right now? Any recommendations?

True Confessions

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 22:06:00 +0000

I think it's time for some true confessions. Confession is good for the soul!

*I had to clean my pantry today. I have a walk-in pantry, and it's one of the things that sold me on the house. But the problem was that there was no counter space, and we couldn't open the freezer because there was too much stuff on top. My husband calls me a hoarder. I don't think it's that bad, but I do have a plastic container collecting habit.

*Tomorrow I have to clean my hall closet. I may also have a box collecting habit. You never know when you'll need a nice sized box. Or if you'll need that Pampered Chef box again. To tell the truth, that hall closet is usually where I stash stuff that I don't know what to do with. I don't really want to clean it.

*I still have a Christmas tree up in my basement. It's a small tabletop one, and it has our Packers/Vikings ornaments on it. I kept it up until the Super Bowl, then just never took it down. Since training camp starts on Thursday (!!!!!), I think I'll just keep it up.

*I'm DYING to buy school supplies. I LOVE buying school supplies. School supply shopping is my favorite shopping EVER. I know I should wait, though, because things always go on sale the closer to the first day of school that we get.

*Our TV broke about a month ago, and it's still sitting down in the basement. We're watching TV on a tiny little TV, because we're too cheap to buy a new one right now. We want to wait for an awesome deal on the day after Thanksgiving! Because the little TV is so old, we have to watch movies on our Play Station 2. At least we have a TV, right?

*My flowers outside are dying, because I'm lazy about watering. I tell myself it's because I want to save on the water bill, but it's really because I'm lazy about watering. And it's too darn hot to water. So when (if) it rains, I just stick the pots out in the rain and hope for the best. I should probably just have fake flowers next year.

How about you? Any true confessions you'd like to share?

Recycled- Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:11:00 +0000

Recycle a favorite post from July of any year that you have been blogging.

This post is from July 22, 2008. I can't believe my sweet Emma has grown so much!

My Dear Emma,

As I write this you are blissfully asleep in your crib, laying right on top of your favorite blanket. The flannel one with the Care Bears on it. It's so quiet in the house, mostly because your brothers are watching a new video from the library, but I'm basking in the peacefullness of it all. But yet I miss you! It's so quiet during naptime, without you under my feet or peeking around the door or table leg smiling at me.

Another month has passed in your life. It all seems to be going so fast. Two more months and you'll be ONE WHOLE YEAR OLD! My, oh, my, baby girl, have you done a lot in a month.

You are now army crawling across the floor. In a very quick fashion, I might add. You see something you want, and you go for it! On Saturday the boys were in the tub, and off you went, to investigate what they were up to.

We don't call you "Nosy Nellie" for nothing! You are very observant of the world around you. I love to watch you make discoveries and figure things out. You're very quick to learn, and I know you'll enjoy learning every step of the way! In the meantime, though, you're going to conquer the house step by step. (Or should I say crawl by crawl?) We have to be so careful of what we leave on the floor, because whatever is on the floor is fair game to you! You're always on full investigative mode, and enjoy this newfound freedom you have.

You got two teeth this month too, and they weren't so bad. They keep you up at night, but after a dose of Tylenol, you go back to sleep. The only thing is that your Daddy is the only person who can lay you back down when you wake up at night. If I try to put you back in your crib, nothing doing. But if Daddy lays you down, you go right to sleep. I guess you're a Daddy's girl!

When you wake up, I hear you singing in your crib. You're happy in there, and will play with your toys if I can't come and get you right away. But when I open the door, you get so excited, kick your legs, squeal and smile. It's like you're saying, "Hi Mama! I missed you!"

You continue to be the sunshine in our house. I can't wait to see what you discover and learn in the coming months!

Love,
Mama

Wordless Wednesday: Summer's bounty

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

License Plate Game- a little contest for you

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

UPDATE: WOWZA! DAN'S COUSIN (AND MY FRIEND) MONICA JUST WON THE CONTEST! SHE NAMED ALL 22 STATES. GREAT JOB, MONICA! I'LL GET YOUR PRIZE SENT OUT SOON!

The ride to Grand Marais is a long one. Because of the amount of stuff we took, we had to take two vehicles. Dan, Emma, and Zach rode in his car, and Ethan, Katie the Dog and I rode in mine. To pass the time, Ethan and I played the License Plate game. We ended up with 22 states!

So for a little fun, I thought I'd post pictures of the states that we collected, from a site I found on Pinterest. Can you name them all? I have a fun prize for the first person who does...

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

Give it a try! If no one gets all 22, I'll choose the first person to get the highest number. Have fun honing up your geography skills!

And just so you know...the prize will include chocolate. :-) You have a week to enter!

Review: eFoods Direct

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's not a mystery that around our house, we like to eat. The bonus is that I love to cook, so we do just fine around here. I try to keep my pantry full, but with a family of five, it can be hard.

This time of year, too, brings thoughts of tornadoes and severe storms. In the Midwest, there's always a danger of severe storms, and being stranded without power or water for a while. We try to stay prepared and keep bottled water, batteries and flashlights ready, but you never know.

That's where the nice people at eFoods Direct come in. Hannah contacted me a while ago and asked if I'd like to try some of their shelf stable, easy-to-prepare foods. About eFoods Direct, from their website:

Over the past 30 years the founders of eFoodsDirect have helped people become more secure and confident with their greatest dependency—food.

When a major emergency strikes, imagine your peace of mind having a convenient, just-add-water-and-simmer food supply on hand. And if a minor emergency pops up where you’re simply trying to feed the kids, you'll appreciate the best-tasting, most versatile food in the world.

eFoods Direct sent me three packages of their easy-to-prepare food to try: Creamy potato soup, tortilla soup, and cheesy chicken rice. I was skeptical, especially since all I had to add was water. You never know with some shelf stable foods--I was wondering if the food would be bland.

Not so! Each package we tried was full of flavor and so delicious. It was easy to prepare, truly needing only water. We actually brought the tortilla soup and the cheesy chicken rice with us when we went camping, and they were so handy to have along! The tortilla soup hit the spot on one of our rainy nights, and the rice was perfect alongside some steak. Dan and I both said that the next time we go camping, we'll probably purchase more from eFoods Direct.

There's lots to purchase, too. Their purchasing plans range from a seven day pantry pack, a soup pack, to a full year of food storage! They have tons of food, including cereals, soups, and even drinks. The best part is that they're offering some great savings on food right now--you can get 50% off on a seven day supply of food! If you're interested in trying the food like we did, you can even try 6 free meals, plus the cost of shipping. Click here to check it out.

eFood Direct's mission is to empower every family to have food security in the case of storms, natural disasters, or even financial crises like shrinking income or the loss of a job. I'm glad we had the opportunity to try it! If you'd like even more information, feel free to contact Hannah Phillips at hannah@efoodsoffer.com.

*eFoods Direct provided me with three packages of food for my review. However, my opinions on the product are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards eFoods Direct or their products.*

Devil's Kettle

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:06:00 +0000

It's no secret that we love hiking while we're camping. So when we woke up on July 4th looking for something to do, visiting Judge C.R. Magney State Park was an easy answer. It's the most difficult hike we do as a family, but also the most beautiful.

Our husbands usually lead the group. We always come to hikes prepared with backpacks filled with water bottles and granola bars. You don't want to get dehydrated, especially on a hot day like this was. It's important to hike at your own pace, resting frequently for water breaks.

You start out by crossing a bridge over the Brule River.

A lot of the beginning of this hike is uphill. It's hard, and the kids complain every once in a while, but if you have an older brother, you may just get stuffed in a backpack.

Going up all those hills, though, has a great benefit:

Look at that view!

And then there's the stairs. 137 stairs, to be exact.

You climb down the stairs to see Devil's Kettle, where the river splits around a mass of volcanic rock. Half of the river plunges 50 feet into a pool, while the rest pours into a huge pothole. No one has ever been able to figure out where the water in the pothole goes, hence the name "Devil's Kettle."

We loved the water spray--it felt so good after being in the hot sun.

It really is gorgeous. The only thing that ruins the view is the thought that you have to go back UP all those stairs.

So the spot by Devil's Kettle is perfect for resting, sitting and having a granola bars, and posing for pictures.

Aaannnddd once we got to this point in the hike, my camera promptly lost memory. Because I forgot to put in the memory card. Oops. But really, I was too busy sweating and huffing back up the steps to take pictures. Once you get up the steps, though, all the hike is downhill. And when you finish, you have the endorphins running--the hiker's high of, "I DID IT!"

It wouldn't be camping without hiking, that's for sure. What's your favorite activity to do when you're camping?

The Lighthouse

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 21:24:00 +0000

First of all, I want to assure you that you're not at the wrong blog. Remember my quest for a new blog name a couple of days ago? Well, my good friend Karrie came up with a WINNER. I loved her suggestion, "Essie's Blessings." Isn't it great? Thanks, Karrie. Love ya!

Now, on to more of our memories of Camping Trip 2012. A trip to Grand Marais is never complete without visiting Artist's Point and the Lighthouse. It was actually the first thing the kids begged to do--"Can we go out to the lighthouse? PLEASE?" The scenery is beautiful, so we were quick to oblige.

Katie the Dog was excited to go too.

I love the little town of Grand Marais. It's so picturesque.

The kids thought it would be so fun to live on this house boat.

The first part of the walk out to the lighthouse includes Artist's Point. Artists from across the world come here to find inspiration. There's also tons of unusual rocks, which people use to make unique sculptures along the shoreline. My boys enjoyed making their own.

The walk out to the lighthouse can be nervewracking. The walkway is steep and narrow, and watching my kids navigate it gave me more than one heart attack. But the views are so gorgeous, it's so worth it.

The kids love walking around the lighthouse. Again, it makes Mama super nervous. But they had so much fun...

And we had to take time for a family photo, too.

We made some great memories at the lighthouse. I have one more adventure to share with you tomorrow--see you then!

Still unpacking...

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:40:00 +0000

I made a dent in the unpacking yesterday. We got the tent and screen tent dried out and put away. The coolers have been washed and are drying out. I've done eleventy million loads of laundry and have about eleventy hundred loads left.

As my mother says, "We're getting there."

So while you wait for regular programming to begin, here's some fun pictures from Camping Trip 2012. Today's pictures are brought to you by the beautiful Cascade River State Park.

One of our very favorite things to do while we're camping is hiking. The Grand Marais area has tons of beautiful hikes, and almost all of them include beautiful waterfalls. You wouldn't know it, though, unless you get out there and discover them!

Hiking is a very family friendly activity. We did it back when I was pregnant with Emma and Zach was 2 years old, and we did it last week with nine kids, aged 16 to 2 years old. The nice thing is that you can hike at your own pace. Hiking with two year olds means you spend lots of time enjoying the scenery! Scenery like this:

Beautiful, right? This waterfall is called "Rootbeer Falls," because of the color of the water. It looks just like foaming rootbeer! My kids loved the bridge:

Although I have to admit the bridge made us Mamas very nervous. Something about watching our children perch above a rushing river or some such silliness. Can you imagine?

After viewing Rootbeer Falls from the bridge, we hiked farther down to the water's edge. It was a hot day, and everyone enjoyed wading through the water and playing by the edge.

My favorite thing about this hike is right here on the river's edge, where you look through the highway bridge and see the endless view of Lake Superior.

And our kids' favorite part? Big Butt Tree, of course.

There was no shortage of giggles when we suggested they kiss the big butt. Don't judge, people. Of those nine kids, six of them are boys. Potty humor is up high on their list.

If you're ever in the Grand Marais area, be sure to hike Cascade River. You'll marvel at the beauty of God's world!

Now I'm off to do more laundry. Look forward to pictures from another great hike tomorrow!

We're home!

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 20:28:00 +0000

We got home yesterday from our camping trip.

We had a wonderful time.

You know what's not a wonderful time? Unpacking.

And doing laundry.

In the meanwhile, I'd like to re-name my little blog here. I'm going to be making some changes, including having my own domain (!), and I think the name needs some spiffing up.

Any suggestions for me? I'd like it to possibly include the name Essie. (Pam's twins called me "Auntie Essie" this past week. It made me melty.)

While you're being creative, I'll be unpacking.

And doing laundry.

This is what happens when two bloggers go on vacation together.

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

It's been a great week. :-) Love you, my sweet Pam. Mwah!

Making lemonade out of lemons

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:41:00 +0000

Be still sad heart and cease repining

Behind the clouds the sun is shining

Thy fate is the common fate of all

In every life a little rain must fall

Some days must be dark and dreary.

-Longfellow

We've been camping now since Monday. Since we have 9 children between the two families, Pam and I have learned that our expectations cannot be too high. Children will cry. Clothes will get dirty. Not everyone will be happy at all times.

And sometimes, like twice now since we've started camping, the rain will fall.

Yesterday afternoon was one of those days. We had a lovely morning. We hiked Devil's Kettle at Judge C.R. Magney State Park, and saw some beautiful waterfalls and the beauty of God's Creation. Everyone ate a good lunch. The kids went swimming at the beach. (How they can swim in frigid Lake Superior is beyond me. But that's another post entirely.) When they got back from the beach, we were all doing are own thing...reading, playing quietly, and Pam's girls were napping. Around 4:00, I heard raindrops on the roof of the tent, and noticed the clouds were blowing in. Once I heard the thunder, I knew it was time to batten down the hatches. We got the electronics inside, put away the shoes, closed the van doors. At one point it started raining really hard, and we went in the car to wait it out. Dan decided that we should eat dinner, so we brought the camp stove into the screen tent and had some steak and mashed potatoes.

It was getting soggy at that point, so we went in the tent. And it rained. And it rained. And it rained some more.

You know what, though? It wasn't that bad. The kids had their DS's, I had my Kindle. We had library books. We changed into our warm and dry pajamas. We cuddled.

It could have been terrible. We could have gotten crabby, we could have lamented the fact that the 4th of July parade was now not going to happen. Everyone could have been fighting. Mom and Dad could have been in a bad mood. But we knew, as all campers should know and be prepared for, that the rain does fall. And there's not a darn thing you can do about it. Complaining doesn't help. Getting ticked off about it does not help.

We learned yesterday to embrace the rain, and get through it. Eventually, the rain stopped. We lit a fire and had s'mores. We watched the fireworks and enjoyed each other.

And today I went to the laundromat to dry the soggy clothes and socks.

Into each life a little rain must fall. It's called making lemonade out of lemons.

What about you? What lessons have you learned while camping?

Happy 4th of July!

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Good Eats

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:07:00 +0000

Greetings from the beautiful North Shore of Lake Superior!

(Side note: I'm so excited about this picture. I've never really captured a great sun flare before. Isn't it AWESOME????)

So Pam and I have been here since yesterday. We would have liked to been online blogging yesterday, but we were so busy setting up camp. And then there was a thunderstorm, which we weathered just fine. With a bottle of wine. Too big of a bottle of wine.

Essie didn't feel so good this morning.

But here we are, sitting at a picnic table, with our husbands chatting about nerdy stuff around the campfire, citronella candles burning, blogging together from our campsite.

Since we're doing a camping themed week from our blogs, I thought I'd start with the most important part of camping for us--THE FOOD.

We have a pretty simple camping menu. We always buy the little boxes of cereal for breakfast, and I make pancakes and sausage. Lunch is easy, usually sandwiches and chips, cheese and sausage, or leftovers from the night before. Our evening meals revolve around the meat--brats, hot dogs, burgers, pork steak, beef steak, and hobos made with ground beef. Side dishes are easy--baked beans, minute brown and white rice, instant mashed potatoes, and fruit like watermelon and strawberries.

It can feel overwhelming to plan a week of meals when you're camping. But if you organize your food, it can be easier than you think. The key is planning ahead. Groceries here on the North Shore are WAY more expensive than they are at home. So we really stocked up. We stopped at two different grocery stores and also Sam's Club the week before we went camping. Once we get home, I get organizing.

I have two long under-the-bed containers that I use for groceries:

We keep buns and bread in there, produce, and canned goods. These containers stay in the back of our van for a pantry of sorts. Also in the van is our loaves of bread, bottled water and juice boxes.

I have a three drawer stacking unit for an additional pantry:

I keep apples in here, and also granola bars, lemonade mix and pancake mix. The top drawer holds our plates and silverware. As you can see from the top, that's a snack station of sorts, with the rice krispie bars I always remember to bring for my Pammy.

We always bring two coolers:

The cooler on the left is our refrigerator. Milk, cheese, butter, fruits, etc. are in there. The cooler on the left is our freezer, and holds our meat, mostly. We freeze all of our meat before we leave, and it keeps quite nicely. We make sure to change out the ice every day, and drain the extra water. We've never had any problems with our food getting cold.

Now this is my favorite part: my kitchen.

This is the first time I've used this unit, and I ADORE it. It has a sink with a removable basin, nice areas for my tools, and a side table for our camp stove. You have to have a good area to cook in. We also really make good use of the campfire and grill:

Dan's the official grill master, and these happen to be pork steaks that were DELICIOUS.

Cooking while camping is really my favorite thing. I was just telling Pam today that I feel a little like Caroline Ingalls when I set up camp. I love getting my kitchen all set, and spending the day outdoors makes appetites huge for meals.

And speaking of setting up camp, Pam's blogging today about setting up our camp! Be sure to head on over there now and read all about it.

And if you have some great ideas for campground cooking, be sure to chime in at the comments!

I'm packing...

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:21:00 +0000

...and working, and doing laundry, and cleaning, and packing some more.

We're going on a camping trip with Pam's family on MONDAY.

I'm so excited to bring my blog to camp with me, and to share the fun we're going to have.

But until then, you won't hear much from me.

Because I'm packing...and working, and doing laundry...

You get the idea.

Wordless Wednesday: LOOK! THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING!

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 20:27:00 +0000

Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Whoops, sorry about that little blog break! We've been busy around here, getting ready for the big camping trip with Pam and her family, and also taking a trip yesterday to Noah's Ark at the Wisconsin Dells. We had a great day there with tons of sunshine. And since my kids are practically fish, they were the happiest kids EVER.

Now my brain is onto organizing all our things for camping this week. I'm sure I'll be perusing Pinterest for all the lists of the things I need to bring. And while I'm there, I'll probably be perusing for other inspiration, too.

On the subject of inspiration, BlogHer's Life Well Lived asked me the following question last week:

What are your favorite resources for inspiration on style, fashion, beauty and living life well?

Here's some of my favorite places to find inspiration:

1. Pinterest.

It's no secret here on my blog that I love Pinterest. Whether it's fashion ideas, tips for my house, or even great recipes, there's so many great ideas to be found there. I've even been keeping track of the things I've made after finding them on Pinterest--hoping to share them with other people!

2. Blogs.

Since I started blogging myself, I've been an avid reader of other blogs. Isn't wonderful that we have a blogging community where we can draw inspiration from other people? I gain parenting advice, recipes, fashion ideas, and most importantly, friendship from the blogs that I read. Want to know my favorites? Just look over there ---------------> on my blog roll.

3. Magazines.

I've always enjoyed having magazine subscriptions. They keep me up to date on what's going on in the world, and hold both entertaining and informative articles. Here's a list of the magazines I subscribe to: Family Fun, Parents, People Weekly, Taste of Home, Simple and Delicious, and The Lutheran Witness. I don't always have the time to read them, but I try to make time. Sometimes it's a nice break to sit back with a good magazine.

I guess this isn't much of a list, but it's the three places I thought of when I thought of places to find inspiration. How about you? Where do you find inspiration for Living Well in Your life? Why don't you head over to BlogHer and add your two cents to their article on Inspiration? Be sure to enter the sweepstakes while you're over there--you could win an iPod Touch! I hope my tips help you find your own inspiration!

Life lessons from Children's books

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:01:00 +0000

I received this in a library email today, and it was too good not to share.

LIFE LESSON: Above all else, be kind. Also, your dog is never thinking what you think he's thinking.

LIFE LESSON: There are fearsome monsters out there, but if you stare into all their yellow eyes without blinking once, you can tame them and temper them and get home before supper gets cold.

LIFE LESSON: Don't be afraid to question the cultural dogma. You might like what you come up with.

LIFE LESSON: You never know what other people have in their closets.

LIFE LESSON: When we were kids, we thought this was a story about idiot compassion. Now, it just makes us feel grateful to our parents.

LIFE LESSON: With a little creativity and a steady hand, you can make your entire world.

LIFE LESSON: Whether you're the smallest, the tallest, the bravest, or the strangest, there's nothing wrong with stepping out of your straight line every once in a while.

LIFE LESSON: Some days are like that. Even in Australia.

LIFE LESSON: No matter what your vice is--gluttony, avarice, gum-chewing--be prepared to curb it or pay the price.

LIFE LESSON: If you let oddly-dressed strangers into your home when your mother's not there, they will entertain you and clean up after themselves and everything will be fine. No, wait.

No matter what your age, you're always learning!

May the force be with you...

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I graduated from High School in 1995. 17 years ago, to be exact, eek. Every year when my kids bring their yearbooks home from school, I page through and enjoy the memories they've made and the signatures from their friends. It's always fun to look back in the yearbook and see what my own friends wrote to me.

One signature, from my Senior year, will always stand out:

Esther,

And Saint Atala rasied the hand grenade up on high saying...

"Oh Lord, bless this thy hand grenade with it they may blow they enemy to tiny bits in they mercy." And the Lord did grin and the people did fast upon the lambs and sloths and carp and antribules and orangatanges and breakfast cereals and fruit bats and large...

Skip a bit brother

And the Lord spake then...

"First shalt thou take out the holy pin, then shalt thou count to three. No more. No less. Three shall be the number thou shalt count and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count nor shalt thou count two excepting thou then proceed to three.

Five is right out!

Once the number three, being the third number be reached then rubbist Thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thy foe, who, being naughty in my sight, shall snuffith.
Amen.

Esther, let these words of Monty Python guide you through life. If you take any International Relations or government classes in college remember..."Strange women lying in ponds, distributing swords, is no basis for a system of government."

May the force be with you, Elycia.

If you're a Monty Python fan, well, you see the humor in this. (If you're not a Monty Python fan, well, then, just come back tomorrow, because this isn't even funny to you.) But the thing that makes me smile the most about this signature--apart from the fact that my friend Elycia once did this speech at a speech tournament--is that around 9 months later, I'd meet my future husband at college, and he would also be a Monty Python fan.

And we'd entertain each other during long car rides with random Monty Python lines.

I don't know where Elycia is now, or what she's doing, but I'll always remember her signature in my yearbook.

Dig out your high school yearbook and share a message a friend wrote that stands out to you.

Wordless Wednesday: Sand Castle

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Camping 2012: Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:22:00 +0000

Two weeks from today, I'll be waking up in a tent, and sitting at a picnic table with my BFF, drinking coffee and eating (hopefully not raw-sorry, inside joke) pancakes. We love camping, and are so excited to get on the road and get our summer vacation started. But before all that fun, there's some planning that needs to be done.

When we took our first large camping trip five years ago, the planning seemed endless. It seemed that every time we turned around there was something that we'd forgotten and needed to go pick up from the store. The nice thing is, though, that once you get all those camping supplies, you're set up for a long time.

The best part of camping this time around is that we have Pinterest helping us plan. Pam and I have even created a "Camping is Fun" board so we have a place to put all the great camping ideas we find. Here's some of my favorites so far:

Source: squidoo.com via Esther on Pinterest

This site has quite a few handy checklists for when you're getting ready to go packing. I love lists like these, because they answer the eternal "What am I forgetting?" question. There's even links to things you might need to purchase.

Source: Uploaded by user via Esther on Pinterest

Nobody likes the one pest that comes with camping--mosquitoes. Where we camp on the North shore of Minnesota, flies can get even worse. I loved this tip for catching- and trapping- mosquitoes. I'll let you know if it actually works!

Source: applevalleygirl.blogspot.com via Esther on Pinterest

Pam and I are foodies, so one of the most important things to us when we're camping is the food. And camping food doesn't have to be boring! This pin has EXCELLENT food tips for camping, and some great recipes too. I'll be writing out a detailed menu this week, and Saturday Ethan and I will be hitting the grocery stores to stock up for our trip. (Don't worry, Pam, I'm not forgetting the Frog Eye salad!)

Source: thetaylor-house.com via Esther on Pinterest

The other thing we do A LOT of on camping trips is hiking. Between the two of us, we have 9 kids, so an important thing is to keep the kids busy during our hiking adventures. I loved this scavenger hunt idea--and we may even have some fun prizes for the kids if they complete the hunt. Last time we went camping our husbands even created a treasure hunt, complete with compass instructions and treasure chest to find. The kids loved it!

Actually, looking at it now, the planning of a camping trip is almost as fun as the camping trip itself!

How about you? Do you camp? How do you like to plan for your camping trips?

Messy Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000

I've found myself being very relaxed so far this summer. If I want to read a book, I read it. If I want to sit and crochet all afternoon, I'll do that. If my kids beg to camp out in the living room instead of sleeping in their rooms--sure, why not? It's SUMMER.

Hence my Tweet yesterday:

My house is a mess. You know what? I DON'T CARE.
— Esther (@EssieBurns) June 17, 2012

I'm embracing this summer as the summer of memories. We're making memories, here, folks, not setting records for clean houses. Of course, I do straighten up. I did mop my floor last week, and I'm keeping up with the laundry. I'm not talking disgusting, dirty mess. I'm talking kid mess.

Mess like this:

And this:

Notice the key placement of the random shoe. Very important.

Yes, by the end of the week I'll make them clean up their messes. But then they'll make more.

And I'll let them.

'Cause I really want to finish that book.

You're not alone! For more Messy Mondays, click here.

Barbeque MUST-HAVES

noreply@blogger.com (Esther) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:56:00 +0000

List the top 7 things you need for the perfect barbecue.

1. FRIENDS.

Whenever I think barbeque, I think friends. Of course, Pam would be my first choice, but since she lives eleventythousand miles away, I depend on my close-by friends. I look forward to some great times over the BBQ while we camp, though!

2. MEAT.

Steak, brats, hotdogs, hamburgers, whatever. There has to be meat. Lately, for us, it's been pork steak. YUM.

3. BEER. OR WINE. OR WINE COOLERS. DRINKS.

That sounds like I'm an alcoholic. I'm not. But it's nice to have a frosty beverage while having a BBQ with friends.

4. POTATO SALAD.

You need something to put on the side of that meat, right? Potato salad is the best. And my recipe--with bacon--is my very favorite.

5. WATERMELON.

You're outside, the juice can run down your chin, and bonus- you can have seed spitting contests!

6. GOOD MUSIC.

Good music keeps the party hoppin'.

7. FIREWORKS.

Of course, at the regular backyard BBQ you don't have fireworks this big. But the kind we have here in Wisconsin are so much fun. From a distance. Safety first, of course.

How about you? What's your MUST-HAVE for any BBQ?