Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As I was sitting down this afternoon working on "Homeschooling With a Meek & Quiet Spirit," a few thoughts were brought to me that I'd love to share with you all.  Sometimes, it's really easy to come up with the "why" of homeschooling.  There are tons and tons of reasons we choose or are chosen to homeschool. When we get to the "how" it seems pretty simple in principle but, in fact, can be quite much more complicated in presentation!!  Sure anyone can choose a curriculum and implement it.  That doesn't require much sacrifice, but the "act" of homeschooling and doing it according to God's will and for the good of your family and children does!  After reading the first chapter (I might add for around my 5th time or so of reading this awesome book!), I came up with a list of words Teri uses that we can put into a definite list.  Look at these words and remember your first days of homeschooling and the ideals you possessed and then, often times (hopefully not too often) how we may feel on certain days..

  Some words for thought…..

 Adventure, delightedly, enthusiasm, looking forward, help, develop a love, no pressure, dream, patient, loving, meek, quiet, spirit, smiling, change of spirit, praise….

Vs.

 Trouble, too fast, negative, reluctant, attitude, stuck, exasperation, frustrated, short, irritable, struggled, failed, impatient, angry, disappointment….

Did I get any smiles there? Teri briefly brings up expectations in this section of the book..she was telling a story about her child and the expectations she had upon bringing him home from public schooling to homeschooling.  I circled the word "expect" and then looked it up in the dictionary for how many times do we as homeschooling parents tout the words..."It is our expectation, I expect you, etc..."  I was surprised to find the meaning of expectation quite entirely different than how I have used it in context with my children's educational experience..I might add here, that I feel I have been in grave error and will now use this definition much more whole-heartedly:

EXPECTATIONS….a looking forward to, anticipation, prospect for the future,

My challenge to you is to have great expectations about homeschooling!  Let's continually look forward to in anticipation of the great prospects we are forming for future generations!

My next thoughts were but how is that accomplished?  How do I always feel that spirit of homeschooling that I felt in the beginning.  The Lord led me to a wonderful website with His wisdom already spelled out so clearly for me (www.teachinghome.com)

  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33 KJV).

This is the essence of the daily Christian walk, and applies to child training as well as to any other area. God has the answers to all our child-training questions, and we need to be in communion with Him to gain His wisdom and the strength to use it.

Remember, God “knit” your children together, so he knows them better than any child-training “expert,” His advice is free, and He's never busy! Throughout the day, when you are puzzled by your children's behavior, wondering how to direct their activities, or overwhelmed by the great task of teaching and parenting, take advantage of the guidance of your perfect heavenly Father.

How often do we as parents, get down on our knees when our children have frustrated us or we are frustrated and pray to God for His guidance? or do we just give in to the ease of being able to fuss at our children..which is far easier and unfortunately happens more often than most of us moms would care to have happen..I think of those moments when I am so excited about teaching something..like poetry.  I'll not forget, I was really into teaching William Wordsworth and thought his life story was so interesting and his poetry quite beautiful.  My kids looked like they could care less and no more wanted to recite Wordsworth poetry than be guillotined.  I really wanted to lose my meek & quiet spirit at that moment.  I did not; however, I wanted to know what could I do to get them to that point.  What was I doing that wasn't effective.  Once again, I was brought to scripture and some thoughts on that...

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).

This verse implies being proactive in teaching our children to walk in the ways of the Lord, guiding them in the steps they should take, not just letting them go until they do something wrong and then correcting them.

If your day is filled with frustration and bad attitudes, maybe you should stop teaching for a while and go back to training. Learning can be such a joy to them when they have been taught to quickly and completely obey with a joyful, content spirit. If they have not got that down, put the books on the shelf and work on getting them under your authority. They will be better students and you will enjoy your teaching much more. And what a joy it will be someday when they can transfer that obedience to God, doing His complete will immediately with a happy heart! Then you will know you have taught them the most crucial lesson, one that has eternal value.

Sometimes, I think, we get so caught up in "teaching" that we forget about "training." This teaches me that it is okay and as a matter of fact, it is necessary, that our children have character education even more so that academic education (if you allow me the term). 

Sacrifice.  It is a sacrifice and a blessed one.  Sometimes though, if we are struggling we must cut out something in our lives to make the very essence of what we are trying to accomplish easier to achieve.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 KJV).

For this Scripture to be real in your life, you have to be with the Lord a lot and be with your children a lot. Also, you have to be diligent in teaching them to pray and know the Word, incorporating it throughout the day.

Just as it appears, this does not leave much time for other activities. This may mean giving up a favorite hobby, an exercise class, or working outside the home. It may be painful (as giving up your will for God's usually is--Matthew 26:39), but you will reap the benefits years later when you invest in the eternal instead of the temporal (II Corinthians 4:18).

If you are unsure about the value of a certain activity in your week, take it to the Lord and offer to give it up, then pray and see what He would have you do. Freeing up your schedule to devote to your children really helps in child training, because as you are active in teaching your children the Word and spending more time with them, they will not have as much time to get into “mischief.” You will be the one coming up with ideas and activities, not they!

God has really put it on my heart today that with all things...

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5 KJV).

Some thoughts to ponder....

Romans 12:1

So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer yourlives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. 2 Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking!

Isn’t the essence of having a meek & quiet spirit nurtured and born from an inner change?  A change in self for the good of all and Glory of God….  May God work in us all this week and in the weeks to come to change us from within with and help us form, nurture & grow our meek & quiet spirits…

 from Romans 12: 3…..You must decide what you really are by the amount of faith God has given you.

 & Romans 12:12….Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.

Happy Homeschooling with a Meek & Quiet Spirit!!!

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Just a quick moment before the rest of the day begins again... We made a super easy corn chowder this weekend that was delicious and super busy-mom & dad-friendly!  Of course, I might add that it uses canned food and as a general rule, we don't use canned food in our house--canned meaning processed from the grocery store :)  However, this was low on cost, high on taste & ease!  It's super filling and yummy for those cold days the nation seems to be having at the moment!

2 (11oz) cans of mexican style corn, drained

1 (10.5oz) can of cream of potato soup, undiluted

1 1/3 cup of milk

1 tbls of butter or margarine

1 tsp of pepper

crumbled bacon

chopped green onions

Mix first 5 ingredients together and warm thoroughly.  Add crumbled bacon and chopped green onions if so desired.

Voila!  How easy is that?  It also passed my husband's taste test--he LOVED it and he rarely likes anything from a "can!"  My only suggestion, would be to double it to make 4-6 filling servings or triple it for those of us with larger families!  It would be great with corn bread!

Blessings!!

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I chose that title not because I actually have any real inspirations that would cause an enlightenment in others, but because it caused an enlightenment in me.  I LOVE the following scriptures and claim them for our Homeschool this year:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, 
and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 6:7

And,ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in 
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6:4

These scriptures help me to remember that when I feel "bone" tired, that is good.  Job well done for I should be diligent to the education (not just book learning here!) of our children and that, my friends, seems to be a 24/7 job and well it should be because scripture also deemed it so!  I will post these scriptures around my house and when I get tired, or down, or frustrated, whatever the feelings associated with being a wife, homemaker, mother, educator, friend, etc can provoke, I will see a wonderful mission of my life in two such tiny scriptures with a very BIG impact!

Along those lines, I'm doing the Beth Moore "David" study.  She was talking about the choice in David.  How he was the unexpected.  Probably the ridiculed one, the one they disapproved, discouraged.  In my tasks of daily homeschooling, homemaking, etc. I often wonder how often my children think I am discouraged or that they discourage me?  Beth Moore makes a poignant point when she says that  she's not sure that "anyone can encourage or discourage us like family. "  She points out that the views of our family--our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, etc. are very convincing.  She lets us absorb that thought.  That doesn't necessarily mean convincing in a positive way.  The point that I want (and consquently want other mothers) to embrace the most is: 

" If people who know us the best encourage us the least, we have few chances to develop confidence."

I leave you with that thought and prayer.  That we encourage our children to be the best and all that God has destined and designed for them.  May we not be convincing enough to get in the way of what God has designed for each of our unique, wonderful children!

Blessings!

(Did I mention how incredibly cold it is here in NC!  I know I have some blogger friends from the North so I write this with shame & a blush! LOL!  But really, below freezing here is almost unheard of and frankly without the snow to accompany such temperatures, I'm not sure I'm liking it!  )

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We had a great time ushering in the new year and celebrating our Lord, Jesus Christ!  We had such a blessed Christmas.  All I can say is God is alive and well and in our world.  He is here.  Sometimes we have a really hard time believing it--I mean really believing it.  You know, often times we so quickly say we believe, but I'm talking about that in your face HE is alive and well and I know it type of believing!  If you know what I am talking about then trust me when I say our family saw His work first hand this Christmas season and we are so humbly thankful and grateful to Him and the people who do His work!  The world is not entirely lost.  We have hope.  He is our hope and He knows our needs!  My new years wish for all is to be still enough to hear Him and continue His work in all you do!

We are finally back to school.  Papi is on a new work schedule and that is awesome!  It helps mommy to get up and stay up at 5am which has done wonders for our schedule!  I feel so prepared in the morning--and yet so ready for bed at 9pm!!  LOL  The kids have had some adjustment, but it's really been an all-round blessing!  We started back school this week and despite my horrible cold, did pretty well.  It always seems that the first week back homeschooling whether it's after Christmas break, Easter or summer, I always get a cold or something to set me back.  I will not succumb!  We headed forward like troopers!  Did I mention, my kids are awesome?  My hubby too!  All those vapor rub back rubs to get rid of this mess really helped!  Can you get addicted to VaporRub?  Ha ha!!  I still need to sniff it to breathe every once in a while!  I better not spread that rumor--we'll have to be signing for it at the local pharmacies soon.  I say that in jest, but in all reality.  I digress. 

Henry Cruz turned 5 in December and is thrilled.  Of course,  he said "I'd like to turn 7."  Ha ha!  How they want to spread their wings and fly so early.  The twins and Cruz grow and develop and delight us everyday!  Our favorite is when they race and Cruz runs in and says "I win!" with such glee and Emma Grace runs right behind him and screeches "Momma, Momma, I Lose!!!" with even more delight in her face!  So sweet!  James is growing into such a young man.  My mighty man of God.  I've been telling him that since he was but a wee lad and he's growing right into it!  Catherine is continuing to find her servant's heart and is such a joy to be around.  She's a true blessing and loved dearly by her little siblings. My favorite story as of recent is her desire to help me get well this past week and she begged me to take the herb echinacea--I always make her take some right at the start of her cold and it pretty much takes care of it.  Well, instead of pronouncing it echinacea--she said "euthanasia!"  LOL  I'm sure she really didn't want to "put me down," but we had a great laugh over it!  Our oldest is engaged!  Her gentleman asked my husband for her hand in marriage this Thanksgiving.  We were pleased with the respect and are in prayer for their marriage.

SMILE coop has started!  We are excited to be back and have a lot of new families!  I am teaching Spanish this time around!  It's exciting.  We had a great class today and the kids got to eat pan dulce as part of their cultural experience!  They smelled chile arbol, chile ancho, chile pulla, hepazote, hierba santa and other spices used in hispanic cooking!  They had a great time--at least I did!!  They were a little nervous about the total immersion language teaching section, but they did so well!  I was very proud of them all! 

My big bargain for today--went to a Habitat for Humanity in Clayton NC and found a brand new pair of shoes for $2.  They have never been worn and are Hush Puppies--I am estatic!!!  Bargain of the week!!!

Blessings to all!

I love the WOW looks!!!!!  We didn't put any presents under the tree until Christmas morning!!!

Our princess!

Our other princess!!

Look at that handsome boy!

Our oldest "baby!"

Cat atop Grandfather Mountain on our trip this December!  WOW!!!!!!

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We had an awesome, albeit, long day in school today.  However, just wanted a quick post to share this neat site where your student can create an exhibition about their thoughts, feelings, etc. surrounding slavery and the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain during the life of William Wilberforce.  This site actually takes you on a tour of High Street and by William Wilberforce's house.  It is really a neat resource and the students can learn so much through seeing (of course virtually) and doing the exhibition really invokes them to think as well as write.  (& don't all homeschooling moms worry about our children's writing skills :))

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/freedom/beginSlides.cfm

This is the site that might allow you to see my son's exhibition.  If not, the main link to the site is :

http://www.nmm.ac.uk/freedom/

Disclaimer:

Please use your own parental discretion while using this site.  I did come upon a tutorial about the UN "rules and rights of every child", which I find to be a bit controversial and "out there" (especially in regards to homeschooling rights).  I went through them with my son and we talked about the infringement of "parental" and "religious" rights (based on our own christian beliefs)  that this could cause.  It was a good experience, but definitely one that parents need to look through and make your own decisions before sharing with your child.  The exhibition though is really great for an older child (middle school through high school).

This is James' Exhibition in print form.

My Injustice Exhibition

As you can see slavery is a very unjust institution.

'Separation of Families'

Maker:	unknown
Date made:
Materials:	etching and engraving
Credit:	National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Michael Graham-Stewart Slavery Collection. Acquired with the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund

The image I have chosen is: This pictures shows families being separated.

The object shows us that: Would you want to be separated from your family?

I chose this object because: It just doesn't seem fair to be separated from your family for money, and it puts a lot of stress on everyone in the family.

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I received this inspiration through a yahoo group I"m a "silent" part of.  I thought it was absolutely beautiful & wanted to share it with you all.

The Road of Life

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I
did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was
out there sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it,
but I really didn't know Him. But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as
though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I
noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when
it was that He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same
since.

When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable it
was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He
knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at
breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on!

Even though it looked like madness, He said, 'Pedal!" I worried and was
anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer,
and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into
the adventure, and when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my
hand. I gained love, peace, acceptance and joy; gifts to take on my journey,
My Lord's and mine. And we were off again.

He said, "Give the gifts away. They're extra baggage, too much weight." So I
did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still
our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck
it; but he knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to make sharp
corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten,
scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest
places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face
with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do it anymore, He just smiles and
says......"Pedal"

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I am....

Enjoying the wonderful Fall day.  It's snowing leaves here in NC.  It's just a beautiful day and one perfect for a nice cup of java. 

In the Kitchen......

Tortilla Pie tonight!  Yummy--we'll I say that and I've not yet made it so we'll see. ahem. Pear sauce is done and very yummy and 9 fabulous quarts canned!

It's quite delicious!

Finally started putting up some more dried herbs.  I have tons more Rosemary, but little by little.

Hepasote, mint, & a teeny bit of Rosemary.

I also "invented" my kitchen island.  Let me start by explaining that I had a kitchen island when we moved into this house.  It was custom built (and I use the word custom very loosely here) by the previous owners.  It was huge.  It was not an island, but rather a continent--a large continent.  We used it though until I got so tired of having to move it (did I tell you it was on wheels?  part of the "custom" design) that we disposed of it in a humane way.  In any case, time goes by and my counters become full.  In my quest for simplicity and my current anti-clutter movement, this really rubbed against the grain.  So. I went shopping.  At my house.  I found my island in the bedroom furniture department.  It was my "night" stand.  I did no more than drag it into the kitchen, give it a loving dusting, and added five screw in hooks underneath for 4 pots/pans and my old "bucket" in the middle.  I added my crock of utensils, a lovely scale my neighbor gifted me, the egg basket my son gave me and the dish rack gifted by one of my friends.  It also houses a lovely plate my mother recently gave me with a candle on top.  As a matter of fact, the entire "desk-night-stand-island" was given to me as well.  Talk about thrifty!  Anyway, without further ado.....my kitchen "island".....

yet another view...

Around the homestead......

I have organized and re-organized our toy closet to the "n"th degree.  Well, since we are on our anti-clutter movement--we once again had to tackle this monumental task.  I was not without help though.  My trusty task force of five are always on the ball! (they just don't always put the ball back in the right spot which is how we, once again, got into the same predicament!)

Here is a before picture...

Task force "Work-in-Progress" picture

And...Mission Accomplished picture.  4 of my task force members posing for the picture. 

Unbelievable that all four of them have space to sit there and not have a toy disturbing them in the most disturbing of ways :)

The family enjoying a marshmallow roast after their hard work.  It's always good to reward your task force!

Henry-Cruz roasting his first marshmallow!

The twins helping add to the fire :)

James enjoying his marshmallow--looks a wee burnt for my delicate marshmallow tastes--but each to his own!

My kids are reading.....

Catherine--The Early American Republic by Paul Johnson

                  ---Antebellum America by Greenhaven Press

                 ---- Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper

               ----- Sacagawea

James---  This Country of Ours by H.E. Marshall

             ---   The Struggle for Sea Power by M.B. Synge

             ---  Sacagawea

            --- The Journals of Lewis & Clark

              --- A Journey Through the Life of William Wilberforce by Kevin Belmonte

Blessings to all~~

The Gallegos'

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

In the Kitchen...

I reached the age of enlightenment about two months ago.  I discovered the joys of menu planning.  I know, I know, with a large family you would have thought I would have discovered that a while ago.  However, for some undescribable reason I did not.  Okay, did I say joy?  Well, it has brought joy both to me and my family which is awesome.  Who knew?  It helps to keep us on budget (for a family of 8 in these times everyone needs a budget) and many other benefits.  The children actually get fed.  LOL.  Just kidding.  Really. Actually, the children enjoy the menu planning.  It used to be the everyday question "mom, what's for dinner" and my, often exsasperated voice stating "I don't know just yet."  Now, I can happily say "Let's check the menu!"  They love it, I love it, we all love it!  Menu planning not only brings order to our lives, but keeps a joyful spirit in our house (and full tummies)! 

I also should mention the awe-inspired looks for the cashiers at our local super-wal-mart.  One in particular seems to work each time my husband and I shop (it's also our weekly date night), and she often states she's never seen anyone with a menu.  She even asked if I worked for a restaurant--yes the Gallegos Cafe!  Ha ha!  I loved to be able to share with her the benefits of menu planning--maybe one day when she's a little bit older and has a family of her own, she'll remember us.  Plant a seed.

Anway, here is our menu plan for this week.  (I forgot another benefit--the motivation to try new recipes and fun ideas in cooking--plus the kids love to help--it's just such a positive experience ((most days))--let's be realistic, I'm not doing jumping jacks everytime I cook, but the menu planning has really helped to bring the joy and fun experience back into cooking--it's no longer a drudgery (much) Just kidding.  

Weekly Menu From 11/11 (Tuesday-Monday) to 11/17

Monday 11/17

Breakfast-        fried eggs & corn bread

Lunch--            Veggie soup & homemade bread

Dinner--          Grilled chicken caesar salad & corn on cob

Tuesday 11/11

Breakfast-        Pancakes

Lunch--            Hot dogs & applesauce

Dinner-            Chilaquilles & homemade tortilla chips

Wednesday 11/12

Breakfast--        Omelette (ham & cheese)

Lunch--              Flour Tortilla grilled sandwiches & homemade pear sauce

Dinner-              Chili & corn bread

Thursday 11/13

Breakfast--          French toast

Lunch--                Grilled cheese

Dinner--               Tortilla pie & salad

Friday 11/14

Breakfast--           Muffins

Lunch--                 Sandwiches & fruit (Homeschool co-op)

Dinner-                  Rotisserie Chicken, Rice & beans (crockpot)

Saturday 11/15

Breakfast--            Cereal & toast

Lunch--                   PBJ & fruit

Dinner-                   "Carnitas", rice & beans (pinto)

Sunday 11/16

Breakfast--               Oatmeal

Lunch--                      Raviolis

Dinner-                       Fried Chicken, green beans, potato salad & corn on cob, home made bread

Our meal tonight was very easy and super yummy.  Who doesn't love chili, right?  I made corn bread to accompany the chili and made it with 4 eggs instead of the usual two--it turns out extra yellow and very yummy! 

Easy Texas Chili

Prep: 2 minutes   Cook:  20 minutes

1 lb ground chuck

1 small onion chopped

1 tsp minced garlic

1 (16oz) can chili beans, undrained

1 (6oz) can tomato paste

1.5 c water

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon salt

Combine first 3 ingredients in a dutch oven/ cook until beef is browned, stirring until it crumbles.  Drain and return to dutch oven.  Add beans and remaining ingredients; cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

This recipe will yeild 6 cups--I double it every time for my family.  Tripling would be great for leftovers for lunch the next day.  I never have left overs even after doubling. I also add a can of kidney beans because I love them and they add too the recipe!

In the Garden...

Almost the last of my herbs are dried or are in the process of drying.  Put up some rosemary, hepasote & mint for tea.  Yummy!

Around the homestead...

Put up 9 quarts of pear sauce!  It turned out lovely.  Will post pics soon! We will be pecan picking soon and can't wait for that!

Created a kitchen island from a piece of furniture I already had--it turned out so lovely.  Will post pictures soon!

In the Homeschool...

We are advancing nicely in Tapestry of Grace (www.tapestryofgrace.com)  We LOVE this curriculum.  I can't sing its praises more.  Today we listened to violin music and took a tour of Monticello from our laptop.  It was so neat.  Even the little youngers listened in.  Preschool is going well.  The kids and I went to Smart Start and got a subscription to their lending library.  It's so cool. For $20 a year, I can check out up to 10 boxes of learning toys for 3 weeks at a time.  We got a multicultural doll kit, lincoln logs & a marble maze this time.  The kids, big & small have really enjoyed it.  I store them in my room to keep parts and pieces safe and sound and then they are "played" with during our preschool together time.  Catherine will be performing at the Festival of Trees in Smithfield along with other talented children in our homeschool group in December. She will perform her colorguard rifle routine.  She's very excited and we're very proud of her.  The children will participate in a service project at Mt. Herman Church by staining their deck the week before Thanksgiving.  We are so proud of our little seedlings.

I am reading...

The Mom Walk Keeping In Step with God's Heart for Motherhood by Sally Clarkson.  It's quite good and a real grounder.  My husband and I actually read from it each morning for our time together.  It's set up very well and has thoughtful questions and prayers.  Perfect for a study...hmmm.

The children and I read The One Year Book of Family Devotions by Tyndale house publishers.  www.tyndale.com  This is a great book for pre-teens/teens.  It has bible stories that appy to everyday life and help bridge connections.  We love it!

Blessings to all!

I leave you with these thoughts from The Mom Walk by Sally Clarkson

Matthew 7:24-27

Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall..

.......A life built apart from the Word of God is a life doomed to crumble . But, if we, as moms, walk this journey with God's Word as our source of wisdom and life; if we listen to and apply the words of Jesus, we will indeed have a house (family) that stands through trials and difficulties. We will have a spiritual legacy that will last through eternity.

That sounds wonderful to me friends.  Let's help to build that legacy.

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Just another photo journal of Fall Festival times.  We had a lovely time and the kids so enjoyed themselves.  We've been busy this week with school--more so than usual it seems.  How the fall days fly by and turn into winter, although today, with the high in the mid-70's (sorry to all you cold-weather-staters), it hardly seemed like fall. 

My "plain" girl having a snack and some juice before the festival.  Doesn't she look lovely.  Emma Grace you have the face of an angel!

Look at that mischevious smile.  She's a curious cat my Hannah Faith!

Here's my superhero!  Henry Cruz--you are mommie's superhero--one of my miracle babies!

Beautiful colors of Fall.  A wonderful blanket of rich colors!

Thank you Lord for this season of life!  Help me to cherish it as You would see fit!

Blessings to all!

Matthew 6:34So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Tis the Season to eat soup, fa la la la la, la la la la!

I've been making lots of hearty soup now that it has turned a bit colder and thought I'd share two super easy recipes that are very yummy and super easy to make! 

These are for those co-op days, or just plain busy-I'm-going-be-out-of-the-house-all-day-long-the-kids-are-making-me-lose-brain-cells-days!

On our Menu tonight.....

Green Chile Soup

Prep:  13 minutes

Slow cook: 4 to 8 hours

1.5 lbs skinned, boned chicken breast halves, cut into 1 inch cubes

3 (4.5oz) cans chopped green chiles, undrained

1 (15oz) can pinto beans, undrained

1 (14.5oz) can stwed tomatoes, undrained

2 cups water

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1 large onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

Toppings: sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped avocado, sliced green onions, tortilla chips, tostados,

Place first 10 ingredients into a 3 or 4 quart electric slow cooker.  Cover, cook on HIGH 4 to 6 hours or on LOW 8 hours.  Serve soup with desired toppings. Yield: 10 cups

Ever so yummy and awesome with tortilla chips or tostados! Easy to double and great to add your own from the garden tomatoes, chiles, etc.

Another Favorite...

Texas Stew

Prep: 5 min

Slow Cook: 5 to 10 hours

2 lbs beef tips, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 (14.5oz) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 (10.5oz) can condensed beef broth, undiluted

1 (8oz) jar medium or mild picante sauce

1 (10oz) package frozen whole kernel corn

3 carrots, scraped and cut into 1/2 inch slices

1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 c. water

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

Combine first 10 ingredients in a 3 or 4 qt. slow cooker.  Cook on HIGH 5 hours or on LOW 10 hours or until meat is tender.

Combine water and flour, stirring until smooth; stir into meat mixture. Cook stew, uncovered on HIGH 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring often.  Yield: 10 cups!

This is an easy recipe to double and put into a huge crockpot (I need to do this for my large crowd), plus I love adding my own tomatoes and other fresh goodies if I can from the garden to give it that homemade taste we all love!

I love to serve this with homemade bread--devoured a whole loaf last night--my crowd was hungry!  or cornbread is also quite yummy as well! I also threw mozzarella cheese on top and some sour cream!  Sweet!

Enjoy!!!!