The Snow Finally Came...

It was wonderful to have peaceful,  heavy, wet lake effect snow today.  We got a lot of snow and the kids had fun outside all day building tunnels, snowmen, and shoveling.  The temperature was warm enough that even I enjoyed playing outside with the kids some of the day.  My husband commented just how beautiful it was.

How To Can Fresh Veggies and Fruits When Having A Garden Is Impossible

I live in an area that is full of wildlife, especially deer and black bear, making it very hard to have a garden.  In addition, we have little sunlight because of the many pine trees on our property, little land because our parsonage and the church building are on the same property, no spicket, and very short growing seasons (due to long winters).  Put all of this together in addition to a husband who says no and the answer is no to gardening.  So, I ask the question, "how do I feed my family fresh fruits and veggies year round while maintaining to be a frugal mom?"  After talking to a dear lady in our congregation who owned her own farm for many years in central NY (2 and a half hours away),  she suggested that I could still can and freeze fresh fruits and veggies with out having a garden.  She said to find a local farmer (even if I must drive a little ways a way) and support him or her and buy large quantities from them.  So now, my plan is to find a local farmer and support them, pick wild berries in the summer (our favorite summer activity), try and learn how to hunt or find a farmer who will sell us meat, buy local maple syrup (in about a month it will be tree tapping time), and just be thankful that God has placed us here to bloom.

What Came In The Mail And Why We Were Excited

The day our mail arrived it was like receiving Christmas presents when Dad walked in the door with this letter and 2 small packages.

A year ago, our oldest son wrote a letter to the President of the United States about why they let the bomber of the U.S.S. Cole go free.  This letter made his day!

My husband, being a pastor, loves to read books.  He recently has been preaching through Titus and has covered the roles of deacons and elders.  Hence, the thought these two books would be helpful to him in his studies.  His favorite company to order through is Reformation Heritage Books.

I have been looking at Sonlight curriculum for a while and could never justify ordering it because of the price.  We are a family who loves to read.  In my journey to find a supplemental curriculum, I have discovered a blog http://blogshewrote.blogspot.com/ in which she uses Five In A Row and highly recommends it.   After much examination, I decided to take the plunge and order this curriculum.  It was only $35, so I figured I could be happy with that.  Most of the books are available through the library and I can also purchase them through used book sellers.  I also found a book crossing site that enables me to basically swap books like paperback swap with just the cost of postage.  The basic concept behind FIAR is to use a book a week and to teach through literature, art, science, social studies, and math while reading the same book every day for the entire week.  Heather over at http://blogshewrote.blogspot.com/ says that the main difference between the two curriculums (she has used both) is that Sonlight devours through books (creating a love for many books with quick reading), while FIAR savors the books the children read (creating a love for great books and teaching them how to deeply read a book).  Needless to say, I am very excited to get started in FIAR with my 5 year old.  If there are any other FIAR mommies, I would love to hear your feedback as I am brand new to FIAR.

Thursdays: From Scratch

This week I took on a challenge from Sarah over at http://8-muddyboots.blogspot.com/ to make as many things from scratch as I am able and then post about my progress every Thursday.  For the first time ever this week I made homemade whole wheat hamburger buns.  My family liked them so much that I made them 3 times this week.  I also made whole wheat buttery pan rolls (with the little bit of butter I had left), whole wheat tortillas, and navy bean and ham soup.  My sewing machine was also brought out this week.  I decided that it would be a fun thing to make aprons for all of my children.  The only apron that I was able to finish this week was for my oldest daughter.  I used material that I had left over from the curtains that I made for the girls room several years ago.  I am still planning on stitching on her name.  This is my favorite material.   Lastly, I am learning how to patch jeans.

I've Got Helpers, Yes I Do! I've Got Helpers! How About You?

On Having A Grateful Heart

This week my husband was scheduled to go on a missions trip to Mississippi for construction work with most of the other men in our congregation, but one of our members who has cancer has been in and out of the hospital.  After spending much time in prayer and talking with the other men the decision was made that it would be best for him to stay.  It ended up being a very wise decision because our sweet member is back in the hospital again and my husband may be driving to the hospital to see her.  He is currently taking care of their home while they are away.  I am very thankful that I have a husband who spends much time in prayer before making decisions and that he is home.

Another thing for which I am thankful for is our well stocked freezer and pantry.  Because the Lord has blessed us with an abundance of food that I was able to stock up on this past summer and fall, I only needed to spend $17 on groceries this week for our family of 7.  It is my goal to not spend more than $25 a week at the grocery store over the next four weeks.

I am thankful that the Lord has allowed us to be able to purchase our I-Mac.  We had our hopes set on purchasing the Flip this week, but because of bills that needed to be payed we were unable to purchase it.  However, I am okay with this.  I am learning to be grateful for the things that I do have.  The Lord is supplying our needs and I am grateful for this.

So many times, we see things that are around us and desire them above all other things.  We should treasure Christ above all other things.  Our thankfulness should flow from a heart that is overflowing with Christ's love.  What really matters in life?  Is it that we get the latest technology available or is it that we love Christ more and more?  Are we making the most out of the things that we do have or are we complaining about the things that we do not have?  This week, I could have spent time complaining that I did not have butter, but instead I was thankful that I had shortening.  In fact, I was thankful that I have been reading, By The Shores Of Silver Lake, to my children during oral reading time.  I just read about how that  the Ingals family had surprise visitors for Christmas and how that they made due with what they had and ended up having a grand time and had more than enough.  Mrs. Boast had just asked Laura how she managed to make such good sour dough biscuits when she had no butter and very little milk.  Laura went on to explain that she took a little flour and a little warm water and put it in a bowl and covered it with a cloth and then placed a plate on top of the bowl.  When the dough was sour, it was ready to use.  She then proceeded to take out a little sour dough, soda, salt, and flour and roll them out on a board to make sour dough biscuits.  She places the scraps of dough back in the bowl with the extra flour and the starter continues.  The Little House books are full of ways to use what you have and always have a grateful heart no matter what trial comes your way.

How are you handling the trials that are coming your way?  Are you secretly angry at God that he has given you more responsibility than you think that you can handle?  Do you think that by living in a certain part of the country things will better for you and you will be content?  If so, your contentment is based upon outside circumstances and not upon the finished work of Christ.  Delight in Christ!  Make Him your true joy and contentment.  Whatever trial is in your life right now that you do not feel as though you can handle, ask God for wisdom.  He gives wisdom liberally to all who genuinely ask of Him without exception.  Just as He gave my husband wisdom on whether or not to go to Mississippi, He will give you wisdom in your trial that you may be going through now.  He is the God of all wisdom and knowledge, look to Him today and rejoice.  Be thankful for this day today.

Granola Bars, Yogurt, and Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

Today, I decide to search and see if I could find a healthy recipe for granola bars using steel cut oats.  Steel cut oats have become a favorite around our house lately since I bought 50 lbs. and we eat them most morning for breakfast since I can cook them in the crock pot.  Anyhow, I found a recipe that is very versatile.  It is also tasty, healthy, and economical (using only ingredients that I already had).

Granola Bars

21/2 cups rolled or steel-cut oats

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup flax seed meal

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 cup dried fruit, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup water

2 tsp. vanilla

2 large egg whites, lightly beaten (I used the whole egg)

1. In a large bowl, mix together everything except vanilla, eggs, water, and peanut butter.
2. Add beaten eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter.  Mix well.
3. Add water a little at a time until mixture is just moist.  Be careful not to make the mixture too moist as it will not bake correctly.

While I was busy cooking, I decide to use my yogurt maker.  It was very easy.  I brought 7 jars of milk to boil on the stove top and then cooled it to 95 degrees and mixed in 5 Tbs. warmed home made jam with 5 Tbs. plain yogurt.  Then, I poured it all back in the individual yogurt cups and let it warm for about 10 hours and placed it in the refrigerator.  We will enjoy yogurt with blueberries for breakfast in the morning.

The final thing we made today was home made whole wheat flour tortillas.  I got this recipe from my friend Janelle over at www.financiallyfree4ever.com  This was my first time to make tortillas and they were a big hit!  I just need to figure out how to roll them out thinner with out having a tortilla press.  If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to take them.