Our First Date

Well, it was a long awaited evening. A date night with Denae. Daddy James and I had been talking for a while about spending some much needed alone time with each of our kids, but it just hadn't happened yet. Why? I don't know...we just need to put actions to our words! So yesterday I was thinking about it again. I asked Denae and Austin if they could go on a date night with mommy or daddy who would they choose to go with first and where would they like to go? Austin chose to go with daddy and go play in the creek. Denae chose to go with mommy and wanted to go to Chili's for dinner, the library so I could read to her, and Starbucks for hot chocolate...like mommy, like daughter! She had her whole evening planned as soon as I mentioned it! She was SOOO excited! Since Denae is the oldest she got her date night first. So last night she and I went out. We ended up at Chick-Fil-A (Chili's was a bit pricey for our budget last night), to TJ Maxx to shop for a birthday gift for a friend, and then to Barnes and Noble for a Starbucks hot chocolate and stories. I could see the sparkle in Denae's eyes the WHOLE evening!!! She felt so special. As we were sitting down to dinner she said, "I love this date night and you are my best mommy ever!" Soooo sweet! And all through the evening she kept exclaiming how much she just loved date nights! It was all in all a success and we will go again. Now Austin is looking forward to his time out with daddy...although, after some conversation with daddy while the girls were out he has changed he plans and wants to go golfing...THAT should be interesting! I am looking forward to another date night with any of my four kids. I look forward to hearing their hearts spilt out on date nights, to having them chat about nothing and I can focus on JUST them, to having time for character building and godly training. Last night was joy and blessing for everyone!!!

Homemade Granola

So the other day I decided to try a little something new...making my own granola! It sounded yummy and easy! It was easy!!!! The house smelled delicious and it tastes amazing! I was proud to know that we are eating great ingredients. I have gotten this recipie and others from www.granolamom4god.blogspot.com. Check her out! She has a week of give aways right now too because it is her blogs 1 year birthday!

HOMEMADE GRANOLA

INGREDIENTS
8 cups quick-cooking oats (I use regular rolled oats)
1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
3/4 cup chopped almonds (or any other type of nut you desire)
1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil
1/4 cup olive or peanut oil
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup dried cranberries, raisins, or dates

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a large bowl, stir together the oats, coconut and almonds. Divide between two large baking sheets, and spread into an even layer.Bake for 7 or 8 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly toasted. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then return to the large bowl.While the oats are toasting, combine the coconut milk, coconut oil, peanut oil, and honey in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until it comes to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in the vanilla. Pour the syrup over the granola in the bowl, and stir until the dry ingredients are fully coated. Divide between the two baking sheets, and spread evenly.Bake for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until fragrant and toasted. Cool in the pans, then mix in the dried cranberries or other dried fruit. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Please note: For every extra cup of ingredients add 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 Tablespoons of honey.

Well, hello again blog! It's been a while and so much has happened...I'll try to fill you in. First, the picture of the kids...taken a while ago, but I just love that one. They are such beautiful blessings!!! I am soooo thankful for them each day.

I had a Tupperware party...it was sad. Only people came...my mom and my grandma. It was a bit depressing because I had 43 invitations sent out and no one came...not many have ordered either. Sad... Why don't people try to make efforts to support their friends anymore? Do I have real friends anymore???

After the Tupperware party I started working very hard pull, sort, price, iron and tag kids clothes for a consignment sale. As a first time consignor I had to have at least 30 items...this concerned me until I sorted boys shoes. Over 30 pairs of boys shoes to consign!!! WooHoo!!! My quota had been met so the rest was just bonus! I continued to sort and price, tag and hang up kids clothes and maternity clothes until I had 184 items. WOW! I didn't even put a dent in the things I have to get rid of! I realized I have collected toooooo many things over the years. I realized my kids wardrobes are WAY out of control! So as a result, this year they are only owning a FEW items...a few play outfits and a few "going out" outfits, two pairs of shoes (one pair of tennis shoes and one brown pair) and pj's, socks, underware and the like.

Then, off to Eddinburg Outlets to shop for the few things everyone needed. How fun! My mom and I spent a day out! That doesn't happen much for me so it was nice. Let me just say we have been blessed over and over to have been given so many clothes for our kids. I didn't even realize HOW EXPENSIVE things have gotten!!! A pair of jeans for my kids (which are 1/20 of the material that mine are) are the same price or more expensive! YIKES! So purchasing clothes is really expensive. And on a side note, what ever happened to little girls looking like little girls (not hookers) past a size 7! Again, YIKES! I just might have to follow my dreams and learn to sew so that I can make clothes for my girls. Anyway, I'll get off my soap box...for now. So, shopping was successful, but there are still finds to be found because it couldn't all be done in one day.

Avery, my 2 year old, started speech therapy. He communicates with, "da, da, da, da, da." Tell whole stories or scenarios that way. He screams and acts out in anger a lot too because he knows what he wants and needs, but no one else understands him. Speech therapy is helping. The therapist comes once a week on Thursdays. Her name is Katie and I am very, very thankful for her. She is helping me and Avery get through some rough things! Avery is responding well so far and making some great strides during the week between sessions with Katie.

Mid month we went to a new doctor. We LOVED him! All those details will have to be in another post or this one could possibly become a book! :)

We enjoyed having a family from church over to get to know them better. They are a blessing to us and they probably don't even realize it! Our kids fellow shipped well...and very loudly the whole time! Other than the bees at dinner it went without a hang up and we had a great time!

I worked "shifts" at the consignment sale two different times so that I could earn more money back on the items I was selling. It was good, but exhausting.

Last Saturday we headed down to New Song (www.newsongmission.org ). A beautiful place being built to gives homes to the hurting children in central/south central Indiana. Again, more details about this can be in another post soon. Please check out their website though and pray for them! You can also sign up to be on their mailing list.

Yesterday was Gerrad's (Daddy James) 30th birthday!!! It was a good day. We had my mom and dad over for dinner. We enjoy homemade bbq...one of Gerrad's favorites and German chocolate cake for dessert. The kids worked hard on getting cards made for daddy (and everyone else at the party). Gerrad said he enjoyed his celebration! We are thankful for another blessed year and look forward to what God will do with us in the next!

So...after all of that this past month you can understand why today has been declared a day or rest in our house...a much needed one! If I don't rest I'm just sure I will be sick soon. My body, mind, emotions and spirit are just exhausted. So today we rest, rest in God. Have a great day everyone and rest in God too!!!

Thankfulness

I am just wanting to say that today I have sooooo much to be thankful for!

I am thankful for...God's saving grace, His Word to guide me, my husband, my four kids, health, my parents, my brother, friends, seeing my kids proclaim the Gospel because THEY love it, the calling to teach my kids at home, watching them learn new things, being able to nurse my baby, kisses from sweet little lips, the words "I love you!", smiles, sunshine, cooler days, the sounds from the wooded area we live in...God's creation, this house (we are so blessed by this house), God's provision for our finances, job security, children that repect and obey (well, for the most part...they are still sinners)...

I could go on and on and on, but my "time-limit" for writing today is up. Until next time, God bless you and may you find things in your own life to be thankful for!