Humor Matters

Hello everyone!  Happy Early New Year!  I hope that everyone had a marvelous Christmas.  Our home was filled with family and we had a great time making memories together laughing, opening presents, sharing meals and playing games.  I really enjoy having a nice big home that we can offer up for family events.

Christmas Eve we went to a candle-light service at my in-law's church.  Afterwards we spent time at their home for an informal dinner.  We arrived home at 9:00pm and tucked the kids into bed because we knew it was going to be a long day.  Before doing so, I wanted a picture by the tree with our "best dress" on.  I handed my brother in law the camera and hoped for the best.  Everyone was tired so they kind of just cooperated "for mom."  We got at least one that was decent, but there's one that stands out from the rest as my favorite.  It really shows the light-hearted nature of our family.  We sure do love to laugh!

From our home to yours, wishing you all joy, love and laughter in the year 2012!

~Melissa

Very Merry Christmas Cookies

To start of our Winter break, we made Christmas Cookies on Saturday!  Everyone got to help with the fun.  DH mixed and rolled out the dough.  The kids took turns with the cookie cutters making fun shapes.  (We even have an Easter bunny or two in there.)  Then when they cooled we frosted and decorated them.  There ended up being plenty to share with neighbors, employees, and the girls at the bank!  As for the rest...well, I'm sure we'll figure out something!

Happy Holidays

One more hour left until the kiddos officially hit winter break!  I can't believe Christmas is almost here.  It's certainly been a wild ride in 2011!  I look forward to seeing what 2012 will bring.  One thing that I know for sure.  This year has really brought our family, and extended family closer together.  Between moving and opening a new store, we've really bonded.  In all the chaos of change, we've hung on to what matters most...strong family ties. 



RL-10, LR-7, CD-5, BC-8, JS-9



May your homes be filled with Peace, Love and Joy this Holiday Season!

~Melissa & Family

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 23

I can hardly believe that it is the first of December.  There has been so much change in our lives this year that the months have just flown by.  November was so full of excitement that I didn't even really have the chance to sit down and blog about it.  There were birthdays and concerts and vacations and Thanksgiving with both sides of our family.  Yes, there was a lot to be thankful for in November.  And now, the Advent season is upon us.  It is time to reflect on the one thing that will always be unchanging in my life...the everlasting love of God revealed to us in the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-2, 14 NASB

Last month, I chose a memory verse from Luke to remind me that God always fulfills the promises of His Word.  I was listening to Beth Moore one morning and this verse really sank in, right to the core of my being.  It was "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her." (Luke 1:45)  It is one thing to memorize scripture, but to believe that every promise in the Bible is true and still applies to me today, well now, that is something entirely different.  This year, God has really impressed upon my heart the relevance of His Word in my life on a day to day basis. 

He has upheld me when I felt I could no longer stand.  He has reminded me that I am never alone.  He has given direction where there was none before.  He has taught me to look to Him in the midst of storms.  He has given me courage to face uncertain change.  He is my strength, my motivation, and my reward. 

I could go on and on, but I think I will sum this post up with my second to last memory verse of 2011. 

 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name." -Luke 1:49

May you all be blessed by His Word,
~Melissa

Birthday Joy

Happy 7th Birthday to my sweet little LR! 

Your smile is contagious and your boundless joy brightens our lives!
We love you! 

Menu Plan

I didn't get around to posting yesterday.  Too much on my plate.  We finally had someone come out and take a look at our leaky pipes.  It appears that he was able to fix the leak, but he thinks maybe there is another one somewhere that we haven't found yet.  I guess we'll see what the winter brings.  That's what you get when you buy a house "as is."

Anyway, here's my menu for the rest of the week:
Tuesday:  Baked potato bar
Wednesday: Lasagna (I've been craving it...it's a super easy recipe, but not the cheapest.)
Thursday: Crock Pot Chicken Stroganoff
Friday: Ham and Hashbrown Casserole Bake (Shh!  If I call it a casserole my husband won't eat it.)
Saturday: Chicken Quesadillas (Per request of my 9yr old.)
Sunday: Leftovers

There it is folks!  I've done my weekly shopping and I'm fully prepared.  Love that feeling!  What's on your menu this week?

~Melissa

Wisdom Matters

We've hit a bit of a rough patch with rules, discipline, and obedience around here lately.  With five kids, we try to be very clear about what we expect, and as consistent as possible with consequences when there are infractions.  Lately though, limits have been tested, and buttons have been pushed.  What seemed to be working before is now broken.  You know that verse "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him?"  (James 1:5) Well, that's me.  I've been asking God to give us the wisdom that we need to make the right parenting choices.

If ever you're having a hard time as a parent, you should head straight to the book of James.  Talk about encouraging, and at the same time, very humbling.  I've been reading it, re-reading it, and now I plan to memorize one particular verse that I landed on today about wisdom. (Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 21)

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." -James 3:17

I am a person that naturally loves lists.  So when a verse in the bible has a list in it, I sit up and take notes.  In this verse, the list is instructing about what wisdom from heaven looks like.  Let's take another look.

Wisdom from above is:
first pure
then peaceable
gentle
reasonable
full of mercy and good fruits
unwavering
without hypocrisy

Anyone else have some difficulties with that list?  Reasonable, unwavering, and without hypocrisy are probably my top three that I struggle with.  Hmm...I can't pray for wisdom without expecting opportunities to practice the things on this list.  The good news is that I don't have to develop these character traits on my own.  God is helping me to become more like His Son every day.  He has given me His Holy Spirit as my helper, His word to instruct me, and prayer as a means of communication with Him. 

Yes, I have all the tools I need to be a Godly parent.  And the good news is, you do too!

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." -2 Cor. 9:8


Seeking to Know Him More,
~Melissa

My Trunk or Treators

We took the kids trunk or treating last night in a safe, well lit, monitored parking lot.  It was at my in-law's ACE, put on by the Milton-Freewater PTA.  I am so glad my kids don't care that their costumes were mostly homemade, and they didn't complain that they didn't get enough candy.  (There were only a little over a dozen cars participating.)  It was fun enough for them that we were all out together having a good time and there were even a couple of games set up for them to play.  When we were done we went inside to store to say hi to their Papa.  I love being in town with family!

*Not pictured here: JS*

BC the Pirate

CD "Bones"

LR the Good Witch

RL the Cat

Menu Monday

Well, it's the last day of October and I am ready to face a new month.  November is one of my favorite months.  Not just because we have three birthdays in November to celebrate, but because family gathers together for Thanksgiving, and this year, my Brother in Law is returning home from Afghanistan and he and his fiance will be joining us here in town for the holiday.

Tonight's meal is already in the crockpot, so it will be waiting for us after a fun round of "Trunk-or-Treating" in the parking lot of my in-law's ACE Hardware.  I also baked banana-chocolate-chip muffins for snack this afternoon.

Monday: Round Steak and Rice
Tuesday: Chicken Enchilada Soup
Wednesday: Tater Tot Casserole
Thursday: Chili and Corn Bread
Friday: Breakfast
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Pizza Night

Have a wonderful week!
~Melissa

Our First Break and other Fun Events

We certainly have had an interesting week here!  It all started on Tuesday.  The internet and our phones were down most of Tuesday because a construction crew hit a fiber optics cable line about an hour from our house.  It knocked out the entire region's internet/phones, which made work a little challenging.  We had to do most of the day's transactions off line at my in-law's ACE where I work, and our Dollar Plus store had to accept cash only.

A little after 1:00pm I got a phone call from the school that RL was in the nurse's office with a chipped tooth.  She had fallen off one of the toys at recess.  The school nurse told me it wasn't that bad of a chip but it was best to have it checked out because it was one of her permanent teeth.  After talking to RL and determined she would be ok to until the end of the day, got off the phone with her, and made a dentist appointment for 4:00pm that afternoon.

Not an hour later I got a call from the school again.  I picked it up thinking RL had gotten worse for some reason, only to find out that my 8yr old son, BC, had fallen off the spider toy at recess and possibly broken his arm.  Since we haven't experienced any broken bones here yet, I asked the secretary's opinion (the nurse had already gone home) about what I should do.  She said he could probably wait until the end of the day also, which at this point was only about 40 minutes or so.  I opted for that, instead of pulling all the kids out early and taking them all with me to the clinic.

I called my DH and asked him if there was any way he could make it home in the next half hour and updated him on the situation.  He told me he was already on his way home and he'd go with me to the school so that one of us could take BC to the clinic and the other could take RL and the rest of the gang to the dentist.

It was a long afternoon, but one tooth cap and one arm splint later we were all back at home for dinner.  Turns out RL chipped enough of her front tooth that they had to cap it to avoid further possible damage.  As for BC, they sent him home in a splint with a broken humerus bone (just above his elbow) because they needed to wait for the swelling to go down before putting it in a cast. 

The rest of the week was a piece of cake compared to Tuesday, but on Wednesday the internet was down again due to the same exact construction crew.  I think someone needs to be fired.  Then this morning I noticed that my rear right tire was low so I took it in to be looked at and get air.  Good thing I did because it had a pretty big leak and it was almost flat by the time I got there.

BC got his cast on this morning and he will have it for 4-6 weeks.  He chose Orange for two reasons.  First, Halloween is on Monday.  Second, his school colors are Orange and Black.  At least we won't lose him in a crowd!  Mom got first dibs on signing it.  I gave him a Sharpe mini to carry around with him and I'm sure it will fill up fast.

So that's my week.  I am glad it's the weekend.  I'm looking forward to an uneventful one.  Tonight I plan to take dinner to our neighbors that had their baby two weeks ago.  Other than that, I'm just going to hang out with the fam.

Have a great weekend all!

~Melissa

10 Things Tuesday on Friday

Ok.  So it's not Tuesday.  But sometimes a girl just has to stop and give thanks.  Otherwise, the events of a very trying week could consume her thoughts with negativity.  Why allow that when there are so many positive, good things to dwell on? 

1. Little man is feeling much better and so am I.  We spent lots of time cuddling this week.  Not that I would ever ask for one of my kids to be sick, but it really does bring out the "nurturer" in me.  Even when I'm not feeling well myself.

2. Fall has finally decided to show itself.  Last year I didn't get to savor my favorite season because it seems like we went from Summer to Winter overnight.  I really do love the many colors of the leaves and the warm days and crisp nights.  Not to mention the tastes of Fall like apple cider, and pumpkin spice muffins and lattes!

3. Although I am definitely not a morning person, I really have enjoyed watching the sun rise over the beautiful hills that surround us here.  We have a big picture window in our dining space that nicely frames them.  This morning was a particularly glorious sun rise with oranges and pinks and purples reflecting off of a few scattered fluffy clouds.  If only I could paint!  I would capture the image forever on canvas.

4. I've had some great dinner conversation with my kids this week at the dinner table.  I know that the days will quickly come when there will be kids missing from the dinner table due to activities and sports.  I want to cherish the moments that we spend together eating dinner as a family.  My favorite night was when we went around the table and showed our appreciation for each kid by highlighting something special about them and then giving them a round of applause.

5. We finally got half of our firewood delivered yesterday.  My garage is filled with the fresh scent of Oak.  I'm so thankful that we have two fireplaces to help heat this big home this winter.  When it does get cold here it gets really cold.  If I remember correctly from the last time we lived here, it can even get to sub zero temps.  That's without a wind chill factor.  I will say that I'm glad that those days the sun is usually shining bright.  It may not warm us, but I can face the cold days a lot better when the sun is shining.

6.  Here's a sad one from last weekend, but it's worthy of sharing.  I went to my dear friend's dad's funeral last weekend.  She was my babysitter growing up so I knew her dad pretty well.  I was so thankful that my husband watched the kids for me for the weekend so I could go and support her. 

7. While I was driving across the state to get there I had a lot of good worship and prayer time with God.  I really enjoyed the uninterrupted time (6 1/2 hours one way) in the car.  It felt like catching up with an old friend.

8. The funeral was in my home town so I got to stay at my mom's house.  While I was there I visited with my Grandma, who lives just down the hill.  I loved waking up in the morning to hug my mom and have a cup of coffee with her.  My sister joined us on Saturday and she and I went to see a movie together Saturday night.  That's something we haven't done in years!  It was wonderful to visit with my family, even though it was only for a couple of days.

9. While I was away, my neighbor had her baby!  I am waiting to go take a peek because I know how difficult the first week home can be.  I will eventually put together a meal for them and a basket of goodies for their other two children, but for now, they have family taking good care of them.  I am so thankful that God put us next door to them.  We've already become good friends.

10. We're going to try out our Pastor Friend's church again this weekend.  We've checked out a few other churches in the area and none have really been for us.  LIFE Church is very lively and they are seeing lots of people come to Jesus every week.  They have a really good kids' program and great worship.  I love to listen to the Pastor preach because he has a lot of passion for God's Word and how it applies to our lives today.  I hope that we can finally get plugged into a church that is right for our family.

Well, that's 10!  I sure do have a lot to be thankful about!  It's like I always tell my kids: When you're having a bad day (week), just be thankful!  Find something positive to think about and that will make it easier to walk through any trial that comes your way.

To quote the wise prophetess of the book of Judges, Deborah, during a difficult time of her life, "March on, my soul, be strong!"  (Judges 5:21b)

Have a great weekend all!
~Melissa

Menu Monday

Last week was a good menu week!  Everyone liked the dinners I had planned.  The sweet and sour meatballs was a huge hit.  I had a friend request the recipe so I'll just share it here.  I actually got the sauce recipe from a friend in a "freezer meals swap."  We got together with 5 other couples and each of us made our recipe for all the other couples.   So the meatballs and sauce are freezable, but make the rice fresh.  The meatball recipe I used is just a simple recipe from All Recipes.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs
Ingredients for meatballs:
2 T. Olive Oil
1 (20oz package) ground turkey
1 egg beaten
1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with the olive oil, and place it in the oven while preheating.

2.In a medium bowl, mix together the ground turkey, egg, and bread crumbs using your hands. Using an ice cream scoop if possible, form the meat into golf ball sized meatballs. Place about 1 inch apart in the hot baking dish. Press down to flatten the bottom just slightly.

3.Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then turn them over, and continue baking for about 5 more minutes, or until somewhat crispy on the outside. 

Ingredients for sauce:
1 (20oz) can pineapple chunks
3 T. vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
approx. 1/3 cup water
1 T. soy sauce
3 T. Cornstarch
1 large green pepper cut into 1 inch pieces
1 onion cut into chunks
1 clove garlic

In a large skillet saute onion and garlic. Add the green pepper and cook for a few minutes.  In a bowl, combine the pineapple juice with enough water to make 1 1/2 cups. Stir in the vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce and cornstarch. Add to the skillet and stir till thickened. Add the meatballs and pineapple. Simmer until the meatballs are hot and the green peppers are tender-crisp.  Serve over rice.

If you are going to freeze this, cool sauce completely and then just store it in a gallon freezer bag or a freezer safe container.  When you are ready to eat it, I recommend thawing it in the fridge over night.  I have never tried putting it directly from the freezer into the skillet.

And now, on with this week's menu!
Monday: Parmesan Chicken with rice and veggies
Tuesday: Italian sausage skillet with Penne Pasta
Wednesday: BBQ Chicken sandwiches (from last week because my in-laws surprised us with pizza one night)
Thursday: Turkey bacon paninis
Friday: Spaghetti
Saturday: Breakfast
Sunday: Leftovers!

Sometimes I end up doing leftovers mid week if our fridge is starting to fill up.  It's just nice to have a menu in place so I know that I have the ingredients and I don't have to think about what I have in the cupboard come dinner time.

I'm going to have to make some banana bread (oh darn...) this week because we didn't eat all our bananas in time.  I might even add a few mini chocolate chips if I'm feeling like a sweet treat.  There are also a lot of pumpkin recipes floating around out there this time of year that I wouldn't mind trying. :)

Have a good week everybody!

~Melissa

Our Student of the Month

I am so proud of my girl RL!  She has made quite the positive impression on her teachers and the staff at her school in her first 30 days there!  Each month they vote on a student of the month for the individual grades and RL was the first one to get the award for 5th grade. 

Here's what the teachers and staff had to say about her:  The Bulldog of the Month in fifth grade is a quiet, sweet student who is considerate and very helpful to those around her.  She works hard and is succeeding in all subject areas.  She can always be found doing the right thing and making good decisions.  She is new to Berney this year and is a delight to have in class.  Congratulations to RH!

Way to go RL!  We love you very much!

RL Holding "Berney" the School Mascot

Menu Monday

Whew!  It's been a hectic day, and I am posting this as I wait for the rice to cook up for tonight's dinner.  We are actually having last week's Sweet and Sour Meatballs tonight, because we had a couple of sick days in there last week when I had to alter my menu a bit.

Here's what I'm cooking this week:
Monday: Sweet and Sour Meatballs over rice
Tuesday: BBQ Chicken Sandwhiches
Wednesday: Stew in the Crock Pot
Thursday: Breakfast - French Toast with extras for the freezer
Friday: Steak and Potatoes
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Stroganoff

I'm still experimenting with muffins for snacks but this week I want to try pretzil bites also. :)

Last week's juice making session was fun, but I didn't get as much apple juice as I would have liked.  It turns out that it makes great apple cider though, so that's a bonus now that we are getting into fall weather.

Have a great week all!
~Melissa

Menu Plan Monday

This is starting to become a regular thing for me again, and I LOVE it!  Today's dinner, Crock Pot Italian Chicken and Potatoes, is already in the crock pot.  That means no fuss and no frustration for me around dinner time! 

Before I share the rest of this week's menu, let me just say that muffins for snacks and breakfasts have been a huge hit here lately!  I have to say, I never knew it was so easy to bake my own muffins from scratch.  I don't know exactly how healthy they are, but they've got to be better than your typical boxed kind, right?  (And cheaper.)  The favorite this week was blueberry muffins with orange glaze.  I have to give credit for these delicious muffin recipes to Tiffany, over at Eat at Home.  In fact, I get a lot of my favorite recipes from there, so if you need some menu planning ideas, hop on over there and take a look around! 

Monday: Italian Chicken and Potatoes in the Crock Pot
Tuesday: Green Salsa Chicken Enchiladas
Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Meatballs over Rice
Thursday: Baked Potatoes
Friday: Homemade Chili
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Waffles (Will make extras for breakfasts next week.)

I'm still working on apple chips.  They are a big hit with the kids and my dehydrator only fits 7-8 apples at a time, so I've been making a batch a day.  I'm also going to make apple cider with my MIL this week so I'll let you know how that goes!

Have a great week all!
~Melissa

The Fruit that Grows out of Discipline

"When you get home from school, you're mine," I said very firmly to my son this morning as we were getting into the van to go to school.  He knew that not getting his chores done before school meant that not only did he have to do them when he got home, but I was going to give him a chore or two extra of my choice.

Today being the first day of fall, I decided it was weeding time.  I haven't really had a chance to get to the back yard since we moved in so I handed him a pair of gloves, pulled the garbage can around to the back yard, and put him to work.  

I showed him exactly what area I wanted cleared and was ready to leave him to his work when I spotted a little yellow flower.  A closer look revealed that under all those weeds there were two pear tomato plants struggling to survive.  Just goes to show what you can find when you pull away the weeds and dead foliage.

Hmm...  I suppose my son is not the only one getting a lesson today.

Lately I have been reading a lot about the Lord's discipline in our lives.

Proverbs 3:11-12 says "My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, or loathe His reproof,  for whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights."

Paul quotes this scripture to the Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12:5-6, reminding them that the Lord's discipline is a GOOD thing.  He goes on to say "Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."  (Hebrews 12:9-11)

How does this relate to my son, our back yard, and weeds?  Remember the pear tomato plants that we found?  If I had not decided to discipline my son with the task of pulling weeds, we would not have found the tomato plants that were there, which currently have two tomatoes growing from them.  Perhaps now that the weeds have been pulled away, they will produce even more fruit.

The lesson that God taught me is this: Sometimes before "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" can be produced in our lives, we must first be disciplined to pull a few "weeds," or the sins that prevent us from growing more like Him.

I discipline my children because I love them, and I want them to grow into responsible adults with excellent character.  In turn, I accept the Lord's discipline in my life because I want to reflect His character and "share in His holiness."

Blessings,
~Melissa

Menu Monday

Last week worked out so well that here I am again, menu planning!  The favorite dish last week was Pizza Chicken over Rotini.  As my DH would say, it was "a keeper."  Here's my plan for this week:

Monday: Turkey, BLT Quesadillas (Carried over from last week due to leftovers night.)
Tuesday: Goulash with home made bread
Wednesday: Pizza Night!  The school is having open house and providing the pizza. :)
Thursday: Pulled BBQ Beef Sandwhiches (crock pot)
Friday: Meatball Subs
Saturday: Leftovers
Sunday: Breakfast

Things I'm baking for snacks and breakfasts this week: Bagels, Muffins, and apple chips in the dehydrator from the leftover apples.
Of course, now we have all kinds of peaches and applesauce for sides and snacks too! :)

If ever I get organized enough, maybe I will post recipes and grocery lists here too.  For now, I'm keeping it simple.

Have a great week!
~Melissa

A Pantry Filled With Love

Labor Day weekend we went over to my In-Laws and canned sweet pickles.  It is actually a three day process, and let me tell you, I'm glad that we did it at their house instead of mine.  Mostly because it stinks!  Her kitchen smelled like vinegar for hours!  I gladly endured the smell for a time though, in exchange for 16 beautiful jars of pickles. :)

After pricing out what a jar of peaches cost now a days, I talked my Mother in Law into helping me can some for my pantry.  I'd done it once before with my Sister-in-Law while living in Spokane.  There's something satisfying about grabbing a jar of fruit from the pantry that you know how much hard work went into it, and exactly what ingredients! 

The three boxes of peaches we bought on Tuesday were ripe enough a day early on Thursday to peel and can.  Luckily, my MIL was willing to change her plans and come over to take care of things!  We used the small kitchen in the basement to work.  I'm told that it's the perfect "canning kitchen." 

Originally my Sister in Law had planned to come out and can applesauce with us, but she was unable to make it. That left us with 4, 40lb boxes of apples to make into applesauce!  We gave one to a friend of mine and set to work on the rest yesterday, bright and early.  My MIL arrived at 8:00am, ready with the supplies needed.  We set up the kitchen and recruited everyone to help.  The kids removed stickers from the apples while my MIL and I sliced them for boiling.

Once we got the first pot boiled, my MIL taught me how to use the "Victoria."  It was a very impressive machine!  You put the boiled apples in the funnel, core, seeds, peels and all.  The sauce comes out one end, while the waste comes out another.  We took turns cranking the handle...even RL and JS gave it a try!  It was definitely a family event. :)

After we had enough applesauce, we poured it into jars and began the processing.  I would have to say, one of my favorite parts of the day was celebrating when we would here the "popping" noise of a jar sealing.  It was a very fun filled day and I am so thankful that my MIL is willing to come over and take the time to teach me the art of canning.  It is a very useful skill to have, and very cost effective.  

Cost of peaches including fruit and supplies: Just under $1.50/jar.  In my local grocery store right now, a jar of Dole Sliced Peaches goes for $3.59!

Cost of applesauce per jar including fruit and supplies: $0.58!  Yes, that's 58 cents per jar!  I don't know what applesauce is going for in the store right now, but it's not that!  It would have been even less, but we left some apples for slicing and dehydrating as snacks this week. :)

Time spent with family learning a valuable skill: priceless!

Now that I have all these wonderful jars of pickles, peaches, and applesauce, I needed a pantry space to store them.  I decided to make over a room at the bottom of my stairs that already has built in shelves.  It originally had paint in it, but it serves much better as a pantry!  Now, I have the perfect pantry filled with lots of love! :)

Before

After

The Other Side of After

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 18!

There's something really poetic about this verse that really stuck with me so I thought I would memorize it.  I continue to be in awe at the beauty of God's Word.

Psalm 65:8 "The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy."

May you be blessed by His Word,
~Melissa

Walkie Talkie Prayer

Yesterday my husband brought home some walkie talkies from our store.  They were the hit of the evening, but before the fun began a few kinks had to be worked out.  First we had to explain how you have to be on the same channel in order to hear each other.  Then we had to teach them to press down the button when you want to talk, and let go when you want to hear someone else talking to you.  Once they figured out how to use them, the kids all split up and thoroughly enjoyed the new-found ability to communicate with each other all over the house and outside in the yard.

Later that night, when I was tucking my kids into bed, I joked with the younger two as I spoke into my hands and pretended to have my own walkie talkie.  "Breaker, breaker, is anyone out there?"  (Insert fuzzy noise.)  "Can you hear me God?"  They giggled and said "Nooooooo mommie!  You have to PRAY for God to hear you!"  I laughed too, but that one little comment really got me to thinking.

How do we view our prayer life with God?  Do we see it as a two-way communication time, or do we forget to "let go of the button" and wait for His response?  Do we know that we can reach Him at any time, any place, night or day?  Are we on the same channel as Him, or do we just hear silence at the other end of our prayers?

All good questions.  Here's just a couple of answers from the Bible on the matter:

God listens when we call -  "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." -Jeremiah 29:12

God speaks to us when we call - "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." -Jeremiah 33:3

I have to admit, sometimes I'm better at the calling part than I am the listening part.

In the introduction to her book He Speaks to Me, Priscilla Shirer says "The Lord doesn't speak in a whisper or in a dark corner somewhere where people can barely hear; nor does He try to trick us because He knows we can't understand what He's saying... God doesn't have a case of cosmic laryngitis, and nothing is wrong with His transmitter.  Our receiving equipment, however, often leaves a lot to be desired."

I don't know about you, but I want to make sure that my receiving equipment is in tip top shape, ready to hear from God!  I will say to the Lord the way that Samuel did when he was a child "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1Samuel 3:10)

What We're Eating this Week

As a part of my new-found motivation, I decided to record my menu here, at least for the time being.  Something about publishing it on my blog keeps me accountable.  Everything I'm making this week is already in my pantry.  (Aside from fresh fruits/veggies) What a great feeling!

Monday: Pizza Chicken over Rotini
Tuesday: Cheesy Ham and Hash brown Casserole (Crock Pot)
Wednesday: Pork Chops with Potatoes and Gravy (Crock Pot)
Thursday: Stroganoff
Friday: Skillet Chicken and Rice
Saturday: Turkey BLT Quesadillas
Sunday: Teriyaki Chicken and Rice

Here's what I'm making for snacks and breakfasts:
Muffins: Banana, and Blueberry w/orange glaze
French Toast for the Freezer (Need to use up some bread)

What's on your menu this week?
~Melissa

Where I Find My Strength

This is such a beautiful song and the prayer that has been rising from my heart lately.  Just thought I would share it.  The name of the song is "Please Be My Strength."  Their new album "Ghosts Upon the Earth" comes out September 20th if you like their style.

I've tried to stand my ground
I've tried to understand
But I can't seem to find
My faith again

Like water on the sand
Or grasping at the wind
I keep on falling short

So please be my strength
Please be my strength
'Cause I don't have any more
I don't have any more

I'm looking for a place
Where I can plant my faith
One thing I know for sure

I cannot create it
And I cannot sustain it
It's Your love
That's keeping me

Please be my strength
Please be my strength
I don't have any more
I don't have any more

And at my final breath
I hope that I can say
I fought the good fight
Of faith

I pray your glory shines
This doubting heart of mine
And all would know that You

You are my strength
You are my strength

You and You alone
You keep bringing me back home

Oh, You are my strength
You are my strength

You and You alone
Keep bringing me back home
It's You and You alone
Bringing me back home

Company Girl Coffee - The Vine and The Branches

There are many things I love about my new house, but one of my favorite things this Summer has been caring for the grape vines that have gradually wound their way up the lattice to my second floor deck banister.  Part of caring for them has been carefully pruning them and guiding them as they grow.  They will not produce fruit this first year, but I am told that next year they might. 

When I was researching what to do to bed them down for the winter I noticed that expert gardeners recommend pruning them back 90% in their first year.  That seems rather extreme, but in order to help them produce healthy fruit in the years to come, that is what is necessary. 

It is just as necessary for the Lord to also do some pruning in our lives from time to time.  In John 15:1-6 Jesus explains why:

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

There is a relationship between the vinedresser (The Father), the Vine (Jesus), and the branches (us).  God the Father does His work, or "pruning" in our lives so that we can be even more fruitful.  We also cannot live without being connected to God the Son.  For apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.  We must both be pruned by the Father, and also Abide in the Son.

There are definitely times when I attempt to do things in my own strength.  Those are usually the seasons where I become weary and dry, badly in need of some TLC from the Great Gardener.  The good news is that Living Water is always available from the Father, flowing freely through His Son.  When we are tapped into the vine, abiding in Him, we are nourished, and able to produce good fruit.

I am reminded of this picture of love every day when I look outside my kitchen window to see the growing grape vines.  That is why I have chosen John 15:5 as my memory verse for the first part of September.

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

We are headed into a new season here.  I will take the necessary steps for my grape vines to survive through the winter.  I pray that God will do the same for me in the many seasons of my life.  Prune me Lord, that I may bear much fruit in Your Name!

From one branch to another - have a blessed weekend,
~Melissa

At Summer's End

There's only a few short days left of Summer before my kids go back to school.  We've been busy registering, touring the school, and even meeting a teacher or two.  Not to mention buying new shoes, clothes, and school supplies.  With four kids in school, I'm very glad that we own a Dollar Plus Store! 

I know I've neglected my blog this Summer.  It's not for lack of having something to say.  And I sure haven't lost my passion for writing.  I've just been so busy adjusting to a new town, home, and job (I'm working for my in-laws an hour or so a day).  I keep thinking life will slow down when the kids start school but we'll see. 

Today I took the kids (minus our oldest who went to work with her dad) up the street to ride their bikes and scooters.  There's a housing complex that only got as far as laying down the roads and walking trails.  It's a great place for us all to get a little exercise.  I might even make it a daily mommy/CD thing when the rest of the kids start school. :)



My little pioneers at Pioneer Park!



It's been really fun to explore the parks here in our new town.  That's one thing I love about living here.  They take pride in all of their parks and keep them up really well.  The kids' favorite park so far is the "one with the birds."  They have a bird sanctuary at Pioneer Park with everything from Peacocks to every type of duck you can imagine! 

Well, I've got to go for now.  I've got some batch cooking (burritos) that I want to get done this afternoon.  I'm trying to get back on a regular schedule of menu planning after a long summer of pretty much winging it!

Have a great weekend all!

~Melissa

Words, Deeds, and Giving Thanks

Ever since I picked up a few hours at my in-laws ACE store, I've been thinking a lot about work.  Not just my job there, but the tasks that I do every day at home.  I have been asking myself if I am I putting forth my best efforts, as if working for the Lord, the way that Colossians 3:23 instructs.  Proverbs 31 uses words like "eager, vigorous, and profitable" when referring to the wife of noble character's work.  I wonder, could my work be described as such?

Just as I began to seriously question and criticize the quality of my work, I came across Colossians 3:17.

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

A couple of things about this verse appeal to me.  One, it covers both words and deeds.  When I talk to my husband, my children, my co-workers, my boss, or whoever else I come in contact with, I should speak to them as if doing it in Jesus' name.  Whether I am reconciling the reports for a paycheck, or doing the laundry for my family, I should complete those tasks as if I am doing them Jesus' name.  Whatever I say or do, I must do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Two, it covers HOW I do these things.  "...giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  Did you catch that last part, "through Him?"   On my own, there is no way that I have the power or strength to give thanks for all the conversations I have or tasks that I complete.  I couldn't possibly be thankful for that tough reprimand I have to give my son, or the toilets that have to be cleaned, again.  BUT when I call on the strength of the Lord Jesus and give thanks through Him, all of a sudden the impossible becomes possible.

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  This includes giving thanks when I do not always feel like it.  For example, when I find myself grumbling about having to sweep and clean our hardwood floors, I stop and say a prayer of thanks for the beautiful, large home that the Lord has provided for our family of seven.  There are so many blessings in life to be thankful for, why dwell on the negative?

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great weekend!
~Melissa

Company Girl Coffee - Taste and See

"Hey Mikey!  He likes it!"  Anyone else remember that commercial for LIFE cereal?  Some things just stick with you over the years.  The point of the commercial was that Mikey was a picky eater, but sure enough, he liked LIFE.

I have five kids.  Very few meals that I serve receive the stamp of approval from all five of them.  When one of my kids doesn't like what's put on the dinner table I simply say "Just taste it and see.  You might like it this time."  They all know that I am not a short order cook, and you get what you get.  I do my best to serve them healthy meals with a wide variety of foods while their little taste buds are still developing.  With children it is often necessary to offer a new food half a dozen times before they approve.

There is one thing though, that every single one of my kids are hungry for every day:

The Word of God. 

They ask for it frequently and I am more than happy to give it to them.  There's nothing I'd rather be doing with them more than reading and discussing the Bible.   I love that they are developing a taste for God's Word early in life, because there is nothing more satisfying.

 "Taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him!" -Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

Have a great weekend!

~Melissa

 

Our New Home

This morning as I sat on the porch swing of our new deck drinking my coffee I felt thankful.  Thankful for the rich blessings of God.  What started as questions and dreams, became a reality to us.  He has blessed us with a new business, a dwelling place closer to extended family, and a beautiful large sized home that we will grow into over the years.  The waiting was long and the path was not easy, but it was all worth it.   

The unpacking is coming along, and I am beginning to decorate the little nooks and crannies of the house.  With every day it feels more like our own little sanctuary.   In the middle of all my unpacking and getting settled, I came across the perfect verse in my Bible, that then became my memory verse for this half of the month. 

"Trust in the Lord and do good.  Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness." -Psalm 37:3

That just about sums up my life right now.  Trust God, do good, and cultivate faithfulness.

Below are a few photos from the upstairs.  It also has a spacious downstairs where we have put an office, a guest bedroom, and RL now has her very own bedroom! :)  Plus there's a kitchen, another living room, and a space for the kids' computers/school work area.  As I said, plenty of room to grow! 

Have a blessed weekend all!

~Melissa

The Entry



Upstairs Living Room



My Kitchen!!

JS and BC's Room



LR and CD's Bedroom



Plans Delayed

I should be in my new house by now.  I understand that paperwork doesn't always go through when it's supposed to.  These things happen in Real Estate.  That much I know from when my husband was a Realtor.  Still, that drags our move out for another week, and here I sit with boxes and furniture piled up ready to be moved.  Though we were all disappointed, we weren't about to let this delay ruin our weekend.

Father's Day weekend was full of fun and laughter.  We didn't go anywhere, but just hung out at home, watched the Mariners, played some games, and ate Pizza on Saturday and BBQ on Sunday.  We had company over yesterday for the last time in this house.  They are such good friends and we will miss their family most of all when we move.  They are helping us move though, so they will also be our first company in our new house next weekend! :) 

This week I am planning easy meals and trying to keep life simple.  The older boys are each having over-nighters to say their last goodbyes to their closest friends.  I scheduled BC's annual check up on Wednesday so I can get it out of the way.  Other than that, I will tape up the last of the boxes and hang out with the kids until Saturday finally comes. 

Tomorrow we say goodbye to Spring and bring in Summer.  We're supposed to finally get some warmer weather, so there's lots of outdoor fun to be had!

Next time I post I will probably be in my new home!  Then, the fun of UN-packing begins! 

The Birthday Boy

Today is this guy's birthday...

He's very excited to be 8!  I took cupcakes and balloons to his class to celebrate and one by one his classmates all told me how much they like being his friend.  Some told me how much they are going to miss him when we move.  He's just a likable kind of guy.  That's my boy!

He's not having a birthday party this year because he wanted to wait and celebrate with his dad, after we move next weekend.  Isn't that sweet?  He offered to use some of his birthday money to treat the whole family to dinner...how generous!  (I didn't take him up on it, by the way.)  He often tells me what a great mom I am. Thanks, kiddo...I think you're great too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BC! 

WE LOVE YOU!  

Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 11

"The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and faithful in all He does."  Psalm 145:17 (NIV)

It is hard to define in human terms just how faithful God is.  Some versions of this verse say "kind" in all He does.  The word "faithful" appears countless times in the Bible when describing the character of God.  Here are a few examples from the New Testament: 

• He is faithful to call us into fellowship with His Son. (1 Cor. 1:9)
• He is faithful to not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. (1 Cor. 10:13)
• He is faithful to sanctify us completely. (1 Thess. 5:24)
• He is faithful to strengthen and protect us. (2 Thess. 3:3)
• Christ is faithful as the Son over God's house. (Hebrews 3:6)
• He is faithful to His promises. (Hebrews 10:23)
• He is faithful when we suffer for doing His will. (1 Peter 4:19)
• He is faithful to forgive our sins. (1 John 1:9)

And let us not forget:

• He is faithful even if we are not, for  "if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for He cannot deny himself." (2 Timothy 2:12-13)

Oh yes, God is faithful.  And I, for one will declair with David in Psalm 36:5 "Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness, to the skies."

Company Girl Coffee - Moving

I've known for 4 months now that I will be moving next month.  Slowly but surely I've been packing what we don't need and getting rid of what we will never need again.  I've taken countless trips to Good Will, and I've thrown away numerous bags of trash.  Now that we're down to three weeks, I am anxious to just pack it all up and be done with the moving part. 

I'm ready to close the chapter here and turn the page to our new life in another town, another home.  But oh, this home has been good to us for almost 7 years now.  It's given us room to grow from 3 children to 5.  We've been able to open our doors to family members, and help out a friend by letting them live with us.  We've had New Year's celebrations with friends and hosted many game nights.  There were BBQ's and S'mores in the Summer and snowmen and Hot Cocoa in the Winter.  Yes, we have lived well here.

I am looking forward to those things and more in our new location.  We are moving to a smaller town, with family only 5 minutes away.  We're looking at a quiet, safe neighborhood where I can let my kids ride their bikes without worry.  If we are blessed enough to get the home we want, it is even more spacious than the one we live in now, with plenty of room for my children to grow into teens.  It will be fun to re-connect with old friends from when we lived their before and meet their children.

There are a lot of uncertainties ahead of us, but this I know:  God has facilitated this move, and He is guiding us every step of the way.

"For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end." -Psalm 48:14 

Following His Lead,
~Melissa 

Company Girl Coffee - Trials and Crowns

I have a weapon, and I'm not afraid to use it!  It seems like lately more and more I am quoting scripture when I feel tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed.  I am not a Bible scholar, and I do not claim to understand everything I read in the Word of God.  What I do know, is that His Word is strong and His promises are true.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

I am on memory verse 10 for this year.  With each verse that I hide away in my heart I feel stronger, and better equipped for when I really need it.  Every one of them has been accompanied by a life lesson, to help me grow in my walk with Him.  I struggled to memorize my last verse, rehearsing it again and again.   Just when I was about to give up, He revealed the significance of the chosen verse in my life.  Because of His generosity, I am changed.

This verse is a long one, but when I heard it from a speaker, I knew I had to memorize it.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him."  -James 1:12 

If you are experiencing trials of any kind right now, take heart!   The greek word for persevere here is hypomeno, which translates "to remain, abide, not recede or flee:  to preserve- under misfortunes and trials to hold fast to one's faith in Christ."  (Strongs translation) Do you love Him?  Then "hold fast" to your faith when under trial.  In the end, you will receive the promised crown of life.

Seeking to know Him more,
~Melissa

Link up for more coffee with the Company Girls!

Housekeeping Matters

The words "She keeps her house immaculate" resonated through my mind as I worked swiftly, cleaning the kitchen and dining room this morning.  Questions like "Does she keep a schedule," "What supplies does she use," and "Did she keep it that clean when she had children in the home?" arose in my mind as I pondered what "immaculate" meant to the commenter.  I cleaned what I can only assume was boogers off my dining room wall today.  What more could anyone ask for than a booger-free wall?

Seriously though.  Could I do a better job at keeping my house clean?  Sure.  Immaculate, no.  But there is always room for improvement.  I asked my husband last week if there was one or two things around the house he wished I would do more often, or better.  I gave him complete freedom to hand out any suggestions he wanted, and told him I would take no offense whatsoever.

He suggested vacuuming 2x a week instead of one, and making sure the kids pick up their things before bedtime on a consistent basis.  How helpful!  Those are both easily done!  I don't think he expects me to keep the house immaculate.  If he did, that would be asking way too much at this stage in our lives.  I sure can do my best to keep a reasonable housekeeping schedule though.  It all goes back to my housekeeping mission that I revised at the beginning of the year.

"I want my home to be peaceful, simple, and cozy.  I will value my relationships with my husband and children by showing them unconditional acceptance.  I will maintain a reasonable housekeeping schedule and designate chores to keep clutter at bay.  I will decorate tastefully and affordably creating a relaxing environment for my family and all who enter my home."

Peaceful, simple, cozy.  These are attainable goals.  I think many of us look around and compare ourselves with others far too often.  What is a reasonable schedule for me may be different for a single mom, working mom, or otherwise.  If we set goals that are too unreasonable, then we are only setting ourselves up for failure.

Proverbs 31: 17 says "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."

There is always work to be done.  For me, what matters is that I decide what I am going to do, and then do it well.  Even if it's the task of wiping boogers off my walls! :)

Blessings,
Melissa

P.S. If you've never set up a house-keeping schedule of your own but would like to, pop over to Home Sanctary and start the process with this post.  You'll be glad you did!

Mother's Day Photos

A couple of years ago I started a tradition where I take photos with my kids on Mother's Day. One day I will put them all together in an album, but for now, I'm just going to post them here. :) What a fantastic Mother's Day I had! I feel so blessed to have five wonderful children.

RL (Almost 10)

JS (Almost 9)

BC (Almost 8)

LR (6 1/2)

CD (4 1/2)

My Lovely Gifts! :)