My Daughter Is One of My Biggest Bessings

This is me and my daughter, Madeline. I love this picture; I love this young lady.

   My daughter is one of my biggest blessings; she is full of love for me and shows me her love in many ways. Her love is unconditional. She has a servants heart and finds great joy in doing for others. I thank God for the gift that she is to our family.

Hearty Chicken Soup, It's What's For Dinner!

When I did my menu planning last week for tonight's dinner, I had no idea what the weather was going to be like, but after a very cold and windy day, I sure am I glad I jotted down my daughter's Hearty Chicken Soup recipe for tonight. Too good not to share.

The Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 3 medium carrots, sliced
• 1 box Uncle Ben's Wild Rice (along with the seasoning packet!)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 cup cut fresh or frozen green beans

The Directions:

•  In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook chicken until no longer pink, drain fat.
• Add 2 cups of water and 2 cups of Chicken Broth, tomatoes, carrots, onions, wild rice (and seasoning packet), celery, salt, pepper, and oregano
• Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered until carrots are tender
• Add beans, cover, and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes
• Eat and enjoy!

Our Verdict:

• We all love this soup, it's great for cold days like today. I would rank it a good comfort soup. Madeline made this while I was on bed rest and it not only tasted good but made me feel good. You could certainly crock pot this, but it is so quick and easy that we don't. Madeline made this today around 1 o'clock pm and we let it sit all day which I think helped the flavors to mesh together well, because we all agree that it was better this time than the last.

Something New for the New Year

A few posts ago I mentioned something about menu planning and the struggles I have with it; well last week I got a jump start on January's menu and we're trying something new, new to us that is. I don't know how often you use your crock pot, but in our home I normally only use it on Sundays for church fellowship meals; however this month is going to be different.  In an effort to save time, I have come up with a menu using my crock pot for almost every night in January. We started on Sunday by making Paula Deen's Sloppy Joes recipe. We get home from church normally around 3:30pm on Sundays, and it was so nice coming home and having dinner done. The recipe was not our favorite, we're used to Manwiches for our sloppy joes, but this one wasn't bad; however I most likely won't repeat it as it didn't receive rave reviews from any of us. Last night was a different story, I threw the main dish in the crock pot around noon and let it do most of the work for me. At the last minute, I cooked up a pot of rice (seriously considering getting a rice cooker) and warmed some collard greens. Easy schmeasy. Most of the recipes we will be trying this month come from crockpot365 website, which by the way, all of the recipes there are gluten free unless otherwise noted. Since I knew that my daughter and I would be doing a yeast cleanse this month, I was thrilled to happen upon this site. So beginning with last night's dinner...

The recipe: CrockPot Bacon and Cheese Chicken

The ingredients:

• 2 T olive oil
• 4-6 chicken breast halves, or equivalent bird pieces (I used 6 frozen breast cut into thick strips - but you don't have to cut them, I just wanted to)
• 12 pieces cooked and crumbled bacon (I find it easier to cut the bacon into pieces prior to cooking - and used maple bacon)
• 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1/2 cup Ranch salad dressing
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used more than 1 cup)

Directions:

• Put the 2 T. of olive oil into the bottom of your crock and spread around. Note that if you are using fattier cuts of meat, you can probably omit this step.
• Add chicken to crock.
• In a small bowl, combine the teriyaki sauce and ranch dressing; mix well. (Okay, I have to admit I wasn't real sure about this combination, but after tasting it I couldn't stop. It's good. Stephanie, from crockpot 365, of this combination said, "the flavor is so  bizarre and tasty; I've never had anything like it." I agree.)
• Pour sauce over the top of chicken.
• Add shredded cheese and the crumbled bacon to the crock, getting between the chicken pieces.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4. The cooking time will depend on how thick your chicken pieces are, and if they are fresh or frozen. My chicken was frozen and it cooked on low for 4.5 hours and was done, so at that point I just kept it warm until we ate.

Our Verdict:

• We all LOVED it. It's definitely a keeper and one we'll do again.

Have a favorite crockpot recipe you'd like to share? We're still short on a few days this month and would love to try something new.

Creating Opportunities

Sometimes life gets busy and before we know it, too much time has gone by and we didn't make time or create opportunities to do the things we wanted or meant to do, and we are left with regrets. I don't know about you, but all too often I have regrets. Regrets of not finishing what I started. Regrets of not making time for a child, relative or friend. Regrets of speaking harshly to my husband, son or daughters. Regrets of not reaching out to that new person at church. Regrets. Plain and simple.

We've been in North Carolina for a year now, and as I continue to reflect on 2011 and even years prior, I am filled with regret for not doing or creating opportunities to do some of the things I wish I had. I'm not loomy, gloomy about anything, it's just a fact and one that I am going to change; so I am resolved to create opportunities in 2012. We desire for our home to be one of hospitality, and therefore we will be creating opportunities as a family and as individuals to have friends over for fellowship, and as a matter of fact, we've already gotten a head start on 2012 in this area  We will begin scheduling time in our days, weeks and/or months to be of service to other families, to learn something new, to get better at something we already know how to do, to keep in touch with friends and family who aren't close by better, to be slow to speak and quick to hear and to live, prayerfully, with no regrets but with creativity.

In what ways will you create opportunities in your family?

A New Year is Coming...Reflecting Back Over 2011

A new year is only a few days away, and last night at prayer, our elders Scott Brown and Dan Horn challenged us to look back over the last year and give thanks to God for specific things that He had done and pray boldly for the things we want Him to do. As I sat there reminiscing over the past year, my heart became so full of joy and I continue to stand in awe of Him for all that He has done for our family over the course of several years. In looking back over the year, beginning in October of 2010, God closed a door by shutting down the place of business where my husband worked. While that wasn't easy, because it affected not only our family but also my father and mother-in-law as well as Chris' brother-in-law & sister, we clearly saw God's hand moving, and just as quickly as He shut that door He opened another.

I can remember like yesterday waking up that first Monday in January of this year and while still in bed, talking to my husband, Chris looks at me and says, "I really think we should try to move this week, if it's not asking too much." He was being serious. I sat there for a minute thinking about what all would have to take place in order to move, everything would have to happen. Literally. I responded with, "Well, yeah that is asking a lot, but we can do it." We immediately started making phone calls to two different Realtors on two different houses that we had looked at the week before; both were for rent and both needed to be occupied. We made an offer and one was immediately accepted, so we packed up beds, clothes, and the kitchen and made the first of several moves the very next day. 
God provided the church, the job, the home, new friends and a new family. During this past year I have so clearly seen His hand working in our lives. Below is a timeline of remembrance.

January

• Moved to NC

February

• Chris started work and worked mostly out of town
• Made new friends and began spending a lot of time at their home helping out with projects

March

• Unbeknown to all inside the house, Hadassah wondered outside and took a walk. She was returned to us by what we believe was an angel.
• House in VA went from short sale status to going on the auction block not once but twice and within 24 hours was pulled off the auction. No one could explain why; we could.

April

• House sold via short sale
• One of my favorite uncles passed away
• Friends from VA moved into our backyard and lived in our camper

May

• Chris began a new business delivering pool water while continuing his other job. Pool water delivery went really, really well.
• Found out about a home coming up for rent that would allow for us to bring our goats.
• Got the house mentioned above but had to help the owners move out, rip up carpet, sand & paint plywood, painted upstairs.

June

• Moved into new house
• Friends from VA living in our camper continued living in our camper at the new location

July

• Chris had knee surgery and was out of work for 9 weeks
• Hadassah jumped in our pool while no one was outside, I saw her hair floating and ran to get her. She had jumped in right beside the ladder and climbed up just as I got to her with a big ol' smile on her face. Scared me to death. Thankfully, God was with her.
• Pool water business continued to provide an income with the help of a friend and our son, who made the deliveries
• Chris and I signed up with Norwex
• Friends living in our camper had TWINS!

August

• Chris still out of work
• Barn built for goats
• Goats brought back from VA
• Went to Minneapolis for a Norwex convention

September

• Chris back to work
• Chris launches a business idea to a friend and potential investor
• Friends living in our camper moved out

October

• Chris and Seth begin Underground Solutions of North Carolina
• I found out that I was pregnant
• NCFIC hosts yet another awesome conference: God Centered Marriage Conference

November

• Danaher's came for a weekend visit
• Thanksgiving with my family

December

• My grandparents celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary
• Learned that my Mom has breast cancer & will have to undergo a double mastectomy
• Miscarried my baby at 12 weeks
• Hadassah broke her collar bone

I am quite sure that I have forgotten and left out a few here and there, but these are the events that I remember. However, there is one that I remember more than all the others and consider it to be one of the most important and that is the new birth of our son, Seth, who last December at the Love the Church conference, recognized his depravity, his need of a Savior and after repenting and giving his life to Christ, Christ accepted him as His son. Praise the Lord from Whom ALL blessings flow.

I would like to encourage you to look back over 2011 and remember all that God has done for you. Talk about these things with your family; help them to see God's hand at work and thank Him for each thing.

May the Lord richly bless you and yours in the coming New Year!

Confessions

Hello. My name is Shelly and I'm a pile-er. I come from a generation of pile-ers. My Mom is a pile-er as are both of my sisters. A pile-er is someone who has piles of things (i.e.: clothes, books, magazines, toys, trash, etc.) all throughout their home and/or car. These things have homes mind you, but I get so scatter-brained or busy that I fail to put them where they belong and thus a pile begins and sometimes it grows and even multiplies. I find piles on my table, the floor, the stairs, dining room table, office desk, craft table, my dresser, nightstand, and basically anywhere and everywhere. It's like cancer, it grows and grows and will continue to unless we find a cure. Why is it so hard to simply put stuff away where it belongs, right away? Speaking for myself, I will be working on something and get called away from whatever it is I'm doing before I am done, and so I stack up my papers and books and stick them somewhere, or rather than take the time to hang a shirt I will lay it on my dresser with the intention of hanging it before bed, but then bedtime comes and I'm tired from the day's busyness so I just go to bed, and somehow from the time I laid that first shirt till bed, my dresser pile has grown and so I close my eyes and say, "I'll just get it in the morning." Morning comes and most of the time I am able to tackle my room first thing, but why am I tackling anything? Here is a glimpse of what I'm talking about... my bedroom. Please keep in mind that it wasn't this bad before I was put on bed rest last week and so my bedroom became my littles room as well, but it has been this bad before and has the potential to get this bad again unless I change.

Do you know a pile-er? Maybe you are like that yourself and you just didn't know there was a name for people like us. Well, it's the name I've dubbed this syndrome because it sounds better than sin. *gasp*. Yes, I did just say sin because that is exactly what it is. It's the sin of laziness and unfortunately there isn't a 12-step program for this problem. Don't be discouraged though because there is a cure! Jesus said, "Go and sin no more." He did not say, "Go and try to not to do that next time" or "Go and work on it", no clearly He said, "Go and sin no more." Ouch. I know, I know; I didn't like hearing that when a dear friend and mentor shared that verse with me over other sins that I have committed. But think about it; that one little verse is applicable for pretty much every sin we commit, isn't it? So rather than starting little piles here and there with good intentions of putting things away later, I should be showing more diligence in putting those things away right away and setting a good example for my daughters. When they see my diligence being acted out I am teaching them to be diligent also and therefore breaking the generational sin of piling! WooHoo! That's what I'm talking about, Friends, breaking generational sins. *high fivin' myself*

Webster's 1828 dictionary defines Diligence as, "steady application of business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention, industry, assiduity. care, heed."  

ATI's working definition of Diligence is, "Visualizing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it." They go on to say, "Diligence is pursuing a goal with eagerness, energy, and determination to see it accomplished...[it] requires expending an amount of energy that is not a "natural" choice. We tend to make easy choices and choose to avoid hard work. True diligence requires working hard, with the motivation of love and an attitude of joy. ""Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ"" (Col. 3:23). It is important to realize that we are serving the Lord in EVERY task. The Lord looks on the heart and will reward those who serve wholeheartedly."  

We have to learn to be diligent, especially when we have a lazy spirit about us that looks for the easy way out (i.e.: hello, look at your piles!). If we don't learn diligence how can we expect our children to be diligent in their school work, cleaning their room, putting away their clothes/shoes/toys, etc.? We can't. Children learn by example and I confess that I have been a very bad one for my children. However, I am determined to break that cycle, that sin cycle of laziness. As a matter of fact, I already started (see below). Care to join me?

I was so inspired after reading just a few chapters in the Large Family Logistics book that Monday morning I decided to tackle the "Laundry Monster", my office/craft room (you shoulda seen the pics of that room's before and after), and my bedroom. I found it very helpful to set the timer for 20 minute increments and accomplish one pile after the other. My bedroom was the last on the list; after doing away with all the piles - and yes, I did put everything away where it belonged - I swept, dusted, and washed my quilt. It looks better, smells better, and feels better. My daughters were impressed with all that I was able to accomplish yesterday due to diligence on my part to complete each task that I started and I took great joy in slaying the piling dragon; may he never return!

May the Lord greatly bless your efforts in slaying the piling dragon in your home as well.

Organization 101

If there is a class, sign me up! This is an area in which I struggle. I desire to me more organized in every area of my life but I am just not sure how to get there and keep it going. I have a very dear and good friend, Michele Gill, who is my organizational hero. She is on top of things in her home; well most things that is and with what she hasn't conquered she will, because it's her personality to do so.  Her secret? I don't know them all, although I intend to interrogate her thoroughly, I do know that a big secret to her success has been the book Large Family Logistics the Art and Science of Managing the Large Family by Kim Brenneman. Michele has read through the book twice and once they moved out of our camper (that's another story, but one that will inspire you so I will post about it later) and into their current rental home, she was able to begin implementing many of the suggestions given by Mrs. Brenneman. I recently purchased my own copy and it is sitting by my bed waiting for me to crack open the pages and dive into the world of organization.

One area that always seems to be a struggle is meal planning. I know, it really shouldn't be that difficult but for me it is; it's not just the meal planning but also the grocery shopping planning that's involved. . I get stuck in a rut of cooking the same ol' same ol' and when I look at the empty squares on my calendar I go blank. Well, I have good news, Friends! Last week I managed to both menu and grocery shop plan for two weeks. *insert happy dance* With the events of the week, some things have gotten shuffled and with the help of leftovers and a few dinners from friends, I have been able to shift things around and extend our menu through the 22nd of this month. I am so excited to have accomplished this small task and cannot wait to tackle other areas. For now, I would love to share with you our menu.

Sunday: Chicken Tetrazzini, Salad

Monday: Chicken n Pastry, Sweet Potatoes, Salad

Tuesday: Leftovers - we had a lot of them -

Wednesday: Pizza treated to us by Chris due to long day

Thursday: Dinner brought to us by friends

Friday: Hamburgers, Beans, Chips

Saturday: Ham, Potatoes, Salad

Sunday: Chili

Monday: Mostaccioli Casserole

Tuesday: Black Bean Skillet w/ Rice

Wednesday: Chicken & Broccoli w/ Salad

Thursday: One-Dish Chicken Bake

Friday: California Casserole

Saturday: Mexican Chicken

Sunday: Mushroom Beef and Noodles

Monday: Chicken Spaghetti

Tuesday: Lasagna w/ Bread and salad

Wednesday: Mexican Chicken Stew w/ Rice and Cornbread 

That gets us to the 21st of the month and on the 22nd we can have leftovers! Now if I can just keep this going and STICK TO THE MENU, we'll be making progress.

My organizational wish list, in no particular order:

            Office, Laundry, Kitchen, Cleaning, Gardening, Meal Time, Bathroom, Bedroom

And the list goes on...but there is hope and that hope is that the Lord will be faithful to help me be organized because He desires me to be. Also, there is this fabulous tool, Large Family Logistics and my fabulous friend, Michele, who will help as well, partly because she wants to and partly because I told her she has to, but mainly just because she is such a good friend and takes the Titus 2 mandate seriously (you know the part where it says the older women are to teach the younger women and she is older than me so) and wants to see me succeed in this area. Love you Michele! ;)