Sisters

Charlie...2 1/2 years old

Cori...4 1/2 months old

My babies are getting big fast!

God bless!

Just because.....

God bless!

Multitude Monday

I've been spending a lot of time over at A Holy Experience (Ann Voscamp's blog) reading and reading and more reading. She has an ongoing project - One Thousand Gifts - and it has really made me think about all the gifts our Father has provided for me and for my family. And not just the big things, but those everyday gifts that make me smile and feel all fuzzy. And even those things that may not seem like gifts at the time.....a chance conversation with a stranger, a flat tire, even an upset child.

I'm still thinking about Thanksgiving and giving thanks in all things and this just seemed to fit into that perfectly.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 5:20 - "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I am going to try and post something each Monday for Multitude Mondays at A Holy Experience. My weekly list may be short or it may be long.....we will have to see as I go along.

So, to begin my list of gratitude and thankfulness.....

1. Little kitchen helpers

2. Licking the spoon

3. Lessons to learn about having enough

Lord, may I always be thankful!

God bless!

A whole bunch of randomness

When I cook a beef roast, I normally just put it in the crockpot with a can of Coke and let it cook all day. But, I found a new recipe that sounded interesting...it had one of my favorite things...coffee! So, I gave it a try. It was pretty yummy and easy. I love my crockpot and am always looking for new ideas.

Java Roast
3 lb chuck roast, trimmed of fat
3/4 cup brewed coffee
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
8 oz sliced mushrooms
1 t garlic powder, or 4-5 chopped cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 black pepper
1 T Worcestershire sauce
3 T red wine vinegar
4 oz cream cheese (to add at the end)

Use a 4 quart or larger crockpot.
Put the vegetables on the bottom and then added the meat (still frozen, so I didn't trim it at all).
Add the coffee, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, and spices. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 4-5. I cooked it on low all day, probably 8-10 hours.

Carefully remove the meat from the pot, and stir in the cream cheese. It made a yummy gravy. I will probably use less cream cheese next time and add a little bit at a time. It didn't blend real well and left little small bits of cream cheese that didn't mix in, but still tasted good.

Remember the "Faith Cake" from Amanda's blog that I attempted for last weekend's Christmas party? Well, it sort of turned out like it was suppose to.....not nearly as pretty as Amanda's. It was good practice and the next one should turn out better...I hope.

The Christmas gathering with dad's family was great, everyone had fun. Charlie was having so much fun, she threw a horrible fit when it was time to go home.

Winter has finely arrived here. Joe spent the majority of 3 days last week moving snow (plowing, hauling, salt sanding, etc). He loves it. I don't know if it's the adrenline rush of it all.....no sleep and too much coffee.....or that it is money coming in all winter.....or something to get him out of the house during the long winter days. I don't know what it is, but I so appreciate that he is willing to leave the house at all hours of the day and night, when it is cold, windy and icky out just to provide for his family.

And.....it is suppose to start snowing again any time now, so Joe is over on the phone right now getting the boys all lined up to go.....it takes awhile when you have 8 pieces of equipment out running each snowfall!

God bless!

A Girl and Her Daddy!

On Monday, we needed to bring some material to a jobsite for Joe. Charlie asked all the way there if she could get a ride in the bobcat. She loves spending time with her daddy and loves to ride in the skidloader and the tractors.

Daddy loves it too!

God bless!

Fun.....Friends.....and Frosting

The girls and I recently spent a day baking Christmas treats with my sweet sister-in-law, Susan and good friend, Tina. We had a blast and actually got a lot accomplished.....even with 6 little ones all 3 and under!

It is possible to hold the babe, help the 2 year old

and put cookies on the pan!

There was a lot of taste testing going on.

Can you have too many sprinkles?.....

.....Charlie didn't think so!

We had so much fun and look forward to doing it again! Thanks for having us Tina!

God bless!