Cool Video Clip

Some Personal Thoughts

I usually keep this blog pretty light reading, but tonight I need somewhere to express some personal feelings. Most people who read this blog are my friends and family. On October 2, 1998, I received a call around 10 pm at my home in Nashville from my hysterical mom. They were at the hospital with my brother who had just been murdered by an acquaintance. My life changed forever that night. JP and I loaded the car up and headed home. Those were the longest 4 hours of my life. The Lord gave me two scriptures Psalm 34 and Psalm 41 that helped me through those dark hours.

We moved home the next year just in time for the trial of the man who had committed that crime. He was convicted and sentenced to 24 years in prison. My mom and brother received letters today that this man is up for parole. The hearing will be right after Thanksgiving. We have known this day was coming for the last 8 years and yet we are still not prepared for it. JP is in a probationary period for work, so he cannot take any days off of work during that whole time. This means that I cannot go to the hearing. I have always wanted to go especially to support my mom and brother but it looks like I'll have to do that from home. I am allowed to send a letter of protest in lieu of attending and since I express myself better in words I guess it will be better in that regard. My brother already has several friends going with him, so I am so glad the Lord has went before me to give them extra support.

All the feelings come rushing back. It feels like we going through it all over again. I miss my brother and the fact that he will never see his nieces and nephews. We will never see him again in this life but John reminded me tonight "We will see him again someday". I thank the Lord for that.

Hamburger Quickie

This is the first recipe I ever made after I was married. It also comes from Mrs. Eby's Man Holdin' Recipes. I made it for my kids this week for the first time ever. My son was asking for another piece before he even finished the first.

Hamburger Quickie

Fry:

1 lb. hamburger(ground beef or turkey)
green onions (a.k.a. scallions for those kids who dislike the word 'onion')
Season.(we have used taco seasoning in the past) Drain.

Blend until smooth:
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 cup mayonnaise

Add: 1 cup shredded cheese, meat and onions. Pour into 9 inch unbaked deep dish pie shell. Use prepared shell if easier instead of making from scratch. Garnish with cheese slices if you want.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 or 40 minutes or until knife comes out clean.

Oatmeal Crispies

I have sent these to work with my husband several times to rave reviews and an empty plate at the end of the day. Hope you enjoy!

Oatmeal Crispies- Taken from Man Holdin' Recipes

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup shortening

3 cups quick oatmeal

1 1/2 cups flour

2 eggs

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup nuts, raisins or chocolate chips or all 3 if you like (I just use 1/2 cup raisins)

Cream shortening with the white and brown sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla and eggs and continue beating. Sift together flour, salt and soda. Add to creamed mixture, 1/3 at a time. Beat in (by hand) the 3 cups of oatmeal and the nuts, raisins, or the chocolate chips.

Divide dough and put on 2 pieces of wax paper or foil and roll in long, 2 inch diameter rolls. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Slice 1/4 inch thick and bake at 350 degrees until brown.

Makes 5 dozen cookies.

Good to take on trips. If kept in tin containers will keep for a long long time.

My Ultimate Cookbook

My Ultimate Cookbook is:

Man-Holdin' Recipes by Carol Anne Eby

This cookbook was given to my husband and I by Mrs. Eby for a wedding present. The first thing I ever cooked from a recipe after we were married came from this book. The best Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe I've ever eaten comes from this book. It is awesome and every recipe is tried and true.

Oreo and Fudge Ice Cream Cake

This is Daniel's Birthday Cake. I showed Daniel the picture from the Kraft Food and Family magazine and he said that was the cake he wanted. It looks and tastes awesome. It is easy and inexpensive. The cake costs around $6 versus the $15-$20 store bought cake. The kids and JP loved it. Tera said she wanted the same cake for her birthday. The white layer is ice cream sandwiches. The fudge layer is a combination of chocolate fudge, cool whip, oreo cookies and chocolate pudding mix. You ice the outside with cool whip. This was our dessert for the last 3 days so it will serve 12-16 people at one time.

The recipe can be found at http://www.kraftfoods.com/. Put in Oreo and Fudge Ice Cream "Cake" in the search.

Happy 5th Birthday Daniel!

Where does the time go? Daniel turned 5 last Wednesday. We had his party on Saturday. As you can see we all had a great time! Our tradition is that the kids always receive one similar gift on their siblings birthdays. This year they got Giggle Gear. And trust me Mommy and Daddy were the ones giggling the hardest!

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Cool Food for Hot Days

This was a dinner I came up with for the kids during the latest heat wave. Tortilla rollups with grapes, veggies and pretzels. Tera prefers ham and cheese and Daniel PB and Jelly.

Back to the Grind

Fridays- we have an indoor picnic for lunch with a cool video.
Tera discovers talking into a fan is awesome sounding.

We have been in school one month and I guess that is why I haven't blogged in a month but since we had the day off, I am feeling inspired. The kids are doing great in school. Tera is doing awesome in math and reading. Daniel is reading sentences after one month. His latest sentences are: the ram is sad, see me read, and others along that line. They are learning about Russian composers and Leonardo Da Vinci. Daniel went crazy in Walmart because he saw a poster of Mona Lisa and wanted it to hang up in his room. He saw a puzzle of the Last Supper and could correctly identify it. We have studied Japan this month and they learned to sing the numbers in Japanese. They are so bright and learn so well, it's awesome.