Fruitful Living In 2010

It's so hard to think that I don't live a fruitful life. I don't see myself as not willing to take the plunge, or willing to do God's will when he wants. But it's the cyclical cyclone that I often find myself in wondering if I will ever grow. I feel like I am still in the same spot with my relationship with God. It's that daily struggle to get in the word, the lack of prayer, then to result in unsureness, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and then frustration. It all starts with my lack of time spent with Him. It seems like a simple solution but often times impossible to follow through on.

I have been belting out Who Am I? for the past 2 weeks. "Who am I, that you would love me so gently?, who am I, that you would recognize my name?, Lord who am I, that you would speak to me so softly, conversations with the Lord most high who am I?"

After going to church yesterday Patrick asked us where we were in our lives. What is consuming you and all I could think of was this song. For the past 2 weeks it has consumed my thoughts when cleaning, doing laundry, facebooking...whatever. I think that is my question. Who am I? Who am I in Christ? I know the many roles I play at home as a wife, mother, friend, hostess, daughter...etc. I always over look the role of daughter of the king, friendship with my creator.

For the next week I am going to follow through with Patrick's requests and re-read 2 Peter 1:3-9 and ask God to show me what I need to change, adjust, and mend to live a fruitful 2010.

Amish Friendship Bread

Start The Mix-Combine:

1 cup milk

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

Mix in a zip-top bag and squeeze it together until mixed in. This is day 1. Continue with the rest of normal instructions.
Note: Do not refrigerate the starter. Keep it at room temperature.

Amish Friendship Bread

Day 1: Receive starter from a friend.
Day 2-5: Mush closed bag twice a day.
Day 6: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Mush bag.
Day 7-9: Mush bag and release air twice a day.
Day 10: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. This is the day you make your bread.

First measure three 1 cup starters and put them in three separate bags. Save one for yourself and give the other two to friends.

Pour remaining batter into a large bowl and add the following ingredients:
1 cup oil
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 large box instant vanilla pudding

Mix ingredients well. In a bowl, mix together 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar. Grease two loaf pans. Pour batter into loaf pans, and sprinkle top with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Bake at 35o degrees for 40-50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. This does really well in the freezer.

Contentment

Why do I get bogged down so much with the status quo? After going to another huge house last night for a Christmas party I left feeling unsure as to why God blesses some people with so much and other's with just enough and some with not much at all. Of course I would love the house that is full of granite, hardwood floors, tall ceilings, crown moulding, and cabinet space one could only dream of. But then I was talking with Bill on the way home about how I felt and I was reminded that those people are just in the same situation we are in they just have more money. They all struggle with contentment, they all strive for the higher calling and yet still fail every day, they all want something more. I got up this morning to read this passage from Proverbs 16:18-20 which reads "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. Better to live humbly with the poor tan to share plunder with the proud. Those who listen to instruction will proser, those who trust the Lord will be joyful." I was once again reminded that I need to just trust the Lord because that is where my true joy comes from. I need to fix my eyes on Him and not on the beautiful, lavish things of this world. I have a beautiful home, a healthy family, 2 cars that we OWN, a job that is flexible, I get to stay home with my children and not even worry about our finances. We are blessed beyond measure. When I get looking around at everything people have and start paralleling our lives I get so bogged down and unsatisfied with my life. Never once do I feel discontent when my focus is right, when my gaze is fixed on Him.

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word. Ps 119:37

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith because of the joys awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;s then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4

Mother's Day 2009

I had a little pity party Saturday night because I was thinking that my family kind of forgot me when it came to Mother's Day. I didn't see Bill doing anything with Gabe to even recognize that it was Mother's Day so I started to focus on me and what I deserve. They obviously were over looking all the things that I do for them, the family. The planning, the cooking, the laundry, the dishes...etc. How could they not even think about ME for one day! After sulking, and cooking dinner and feeding the baby and cleaning up from dinner...Bill & Gabe finally left to go do "some things" and I realized how much I was focusing on me. The enemy had me so worked up over it. Why? What is the whole point of Mother's Day? I feel like each day is a gift from God & Gabe makes me things all the time, my husband does sweet things for me on a regular basis what makes this day have so many high expectations?

So...I woke up this morning to Gabe yelling about wanting to put up the flag pole...I tried to ignore his shouting but once it continued I started to giggle, the kind that just keep going and I couldn't stop. He just blew Daddy's big secret & he was just so innocent about it. I quietly asked what flag pole? He said the one we bought for you...so needless to say I got a flag & a flag pole for my front porch. It might be a silly gift to some but I love it! I was also given some beautiful handmade gifts. Since Saturday night I just keep thinking about what Mother's Day is really about...I am not sure if I have come up with a conclusion yet other than it is a day to show mom how much we care like every ad wants to put it.

I am so honored to even have the opportunity of motherhood and I don't want to over look that. So many women don't even get that chance & I am so quick to take it for granted. I am blessed to have two wonderful kids and an amazing husband who I just love so much. I feel like I am such a rich woman. After all my selfishness I had a great Mother's Day & I am a blessed Mother!

Pretty Princess

So Gabe thought it would be a good idea to dress Lily up one day. We got all this princess stuff from Bill's lovely co-workers when they plastic wrapped his truck one night & left this Easter basket on top with all this princess stuff in it. So, we decked Lily out.

March Fun

So, I just realized that I never blogged about some of our wonderful events in March!!! We have had an event full month! Bill has been very busy with work which is a huge blessing. So many people are being let go from their jobs, business are closing but Bill's business is booming-we can only praise Jesus for that! He has two wonderful employees who are very hard working and Bill has had the opportunity to pour into their lives which is another blessing.

Lily turned 5 months old, cut 2 teeth, and is a typical girl...high maintenance!

St. Patrick's Day was a big hit. I was working at the church that week so I tossed our corned beef into the crock pot and then cooked all my veggies when I got home. We decided to invite some friends over to enjoy our dinner. They had never experienced the fabulousness of corned beef & cabbage before so I was excited for them. I was hoping that it all came out alright and it sure did. We had a great night of conversation around the table along with yummy food & kids playing in the background. It couldn't get too much better!

Mrs. Shawna & Lily









Lacy & I got to hang out one night for a little girls night. We went & got pedicures! It was so nice!


We decided to leave the guys with all the kids! They did a fantastic job with all of them!

Then when we got home our toes were pretty and then we took some pictures of the girl before it was time for bed! It was a great night. Autumn & Lily are so cute together.

Favorite Recipes

I figured I would share some of our family favorite recipes since we are always looking for some new ideas I thought I would share some of ours and hopefully you will all share some of yours!

Slow-Roasted Chicken

Whole Chicken
Fresh Garlic
1 Onion
Salt/Pepper
Celery
Carrots
Potatoes

Wash & Dry whole chicken, stuff cavity with 1/2 of whole onion, fresh garlic as much or as little as you would like, salt & pepper on the inside & out. Throw some chopped celery, carrots, & potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker (I keep them kind of chunky so they don't get mushy) and then you set the chicken on top turn it on low & let it slow cook all day. Everything is done when you get home.

Mexican Shells (Thanks to Lacy)

Jumbo Pasta Shells
Refried Beans
Ground Turkey or Extra Lean Ground Beef
Salsa
1 cup Shredded Cheese
Taco Seasoning Packet

Cook shells to el dente. Brown ground turkey, drain. Add 2/3 cup of water & taco seasoning packet. Add refried beans to the meat. Stir in 1/4 of the cheese.

Lightly coat the bottom of the baking dish with some salsa. Stuff each shell with meat filling. Line up in the baking dish. (I usually fill one pan enough for dinner and then prepare the rest just like I would normally in different dishes so I can freeze them for a quick dinner one night) Spoon salsa over top and sprinkle on some shredded cheese. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 350. Serve with sour cream.

Chicken Pot Pie
1 bag frozen mixed veggies
1 can cream of chicken soup (low fat one) or cream of celery
1 can crescent rolls
1 cup cubed cooked chicken

I generally make this in a glass baking dish & I just cook everything right in it & just keep adding to it. Preheat oven to 350. You cook the frozen veggies in the microwave in your glass baking dish. When they are done add your cream of chicken soup, cubed chicken, stir and bake in the oven for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven, stir, unroll the crescent rolls & place on top of the mixture. Bake in the oven until the top is lightly golden brown. Generally another 15 minutes. This recipe doubles very nicely. Just use a bigger dish!

Lemon Pepper Fish

Favorite Fish...Tilapia, Salmon

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Fresh Lemon Slices

Olive Oil

Lightly drizzle evoo in a baking dish, lay your fish in the pan, sprinkle with seasoning, lay thin slices of lemon on top of fish and bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 10-15 minutes or until it flakes with a fork. Serve with steamed veggies, and brown rice. Yummy!

Time Flies

I have totally enjoyed being home since Lily has been born and since I am working this week I am noticing more and more that my moments home with my babies is going by way too fast! I enrolled Gabe yesterday into f/t pre-school for the fall. That means 5 days a week from 9:30-2:00 I am trusting that someone else is going to protect, teach, and help me raise a Godly young man. Then in just 1 more year he will be in school-Kindergarten! I cannot even believe it.

Then yesterday we finally settled on the conclusion that Lily is teething. She is only 5 months old...how can it already be that time for teeth?!? I feel like she was just born. She has that little bump on the bottom where her little tooth is trying to poke through. She doesn't even roll over yet but she can cut a tooth. Well, let my clarify she goes the easy roll from belly to back-just not the other way. Although she has come extremely close.

I am totally trying to enjoy this time that I have with them. Before I know it Lily will be going to pre-school.

Lily's 4 months

So, we ventured out this morning for Lily's 4 month check-up. Got ready to go this morning, diaper bag was packed with everything we needed for Lily some Highlights Magazines I could do with Gabe while we waited, a few snacks, a bottle of water and the ipod just in case I got desperate-Gabe could play a game or listen to some music. We got to the doctor's early hoping to get out a little early since I had both Gabe & Lily with me. My game plan was going great. We got in the waiting room and Gabe played a little bit before they called us back to the first exam room where you think great things are going pretty quickly. We get Lily undressed and weighed in which I was anxiously awaiting to hear the results. A whopping 13 lbs 3 oz. and 45.5" long. So, she is not as small as I thought. So, Gabe, Lily & I file back into the exam room where we start to wait and then the nurse came back and told us that we were moving exam rooms. So, I get my naked baby and all her belongings, the diaper bag, the car seat & my 3 year old and move to another exam room. Then I buckled down to get ready to wait since last time we came it was for over an hour long. Well, this room had some toys and books in it which was good since we blasted right through our first highlights magazine. Gabe played, I waited, and Lily had the sympathy cry for everyone else that started to cry in the hall. Great! So, Gabe shockingly was very good. We did the other magazine while we all still waited...11:00 comes and goes now. Did I mention that I got to my appt. 20 mins early hoping to get out a little early and it was scheduled for 10. So, we worked on the next highlights magazine, read a book, played a little more and then 11:30 rolls around still waiting. I console Lily a little more and finally get her to take a little nap. Then Gabe decided he was getting bored sitting in the same room for so long so luckily I brought a snack so he climbed up in the chair had a snack and then helped himself to another. I didn't mind as long as he was being good since we had been their for so long. For a second while he was being so good I thought I brought the wrong kid into the doctor's office because I didn't have to raise my voice once to him while I was there so far. Maybe we should go there more often. Well, 11:45 rolls around still waiting, Lily is awake now and then finally at 11:58 the doctor decides to grace us with his presence and gives us our 8 minute check-up, our bill, a screaming child from shots and a very hungry 3 year old who is anxiously waiting to tell me yet again where he picked to go to lunch-McDonalds-yuck! At least he was good and Lily was healthy, right?

What makes this a great idea?

I totally understand that boys are busy...but seriously where do they think of this stuff to do? This morning was Gabe's first day back to school. His lunch was packed, he was all dressed and ready to go. Bill was bringing out his work stuff to the truck, I was feeding Lily on the couch and Gabe had to go potty before leaving the house-which he is very capable doing on his own. Well, in the 30 seconds that I sat down and started feeding Lily & Bill going out to the truck Gabe comes walking out into the playroom with his pants around his ankles, and his head and hands full of mousse. He wanted to spike his hair up like Daddy's. He gets all cleaned up and then off to school he goes.



This afternoon while I was uploading pictures to Facebook Gabe had to run to the potty; which again, he is very capable of doing on his own-moments later he comes walking out with lipstick all over his mouth. At first glance I thought it was chocolate then as he got closer I realized that it def. lipstick.



Seriously though what makes them think this is a great idea?