Late Gratituesday!

For me it's still Tuesday as I haven't made it to bed yet (going as soon as I finish) but I wanted to make sure that I posted today's gratefulness.

I am grateful first and foremost that God is God and He is so good to us.

But today I am particularly grateful for the wonderful bounty of apples we were able to pick on Monday. The boys and I went with some friends from our homeschool co-op and spent the beautiful morning outdoors enjoying the sunshine and cooler temps. At various points my heart was bursting with thanks to the Lord for it all. With sweet apple juice running down my chin, I held an apple in one hand to munch on while I picked some large delicious apples for our family. Healthy and gorgeous. Some as large as baseballs and softballs.

I am also thankful for the knowledge of friends and Godly women who share. On a site I belong to, one loop for homesteading had a yummy recipe for apple butter (mmmmm). I am going to try my hand at not only making apple butter but also canning it. The recipe calls for cooking the apples overnight in the crockpot, so the apples and spices are all in there now, simmering away while we dream. The house will smell so delicious in the morning, I can't wait!

If you're interested, here's the recipe link:
http://www.simplycanning.com/canning-apple-butter.html

So, with much love and happiness, I wish you all a blessed week and pray that you can find gratefulness to our Lord for even the small things.

Like a sweet apple.

A little Friday fun!

Good afternoon, I hope you all are doing well. Today is a bit of a lazy day around here. My darling groom decided to take a vacation day. While I enjoy his company (and his strong arms to carry the laundry for me), have got to say that it's a bit more difficult to get things done when he's home.

So, today have a big list, but we are not going to let self-condemnation over not accomplishing something rob our joy of God and togetherness. We'll simply do what we can. So, I have broken my list into MUST do and WANT to do today.

Daddy helped with homeschool today so I could take that off my plate (he's a big blessing in this area). Right now he's downstairs working out. Taters is in school at the boys are enjoying the extra free time today. They discovered an older video game and are playing it now. Need to shoo them outside for some fresh air in a bit.

I've managed to get some laundry in the washer and have swished/swiped the bathrooms. Now I need to go clean a duster and do the dishes. Then one more load of laundry. If can do that, all will be well today. Mostly though, cleaning will wait.

Tonight our church youth group is holding a fundraiser (Parents' night out) so we are going to dinner with some friends. Looking forward to some good food and fellowship!

Then tomorrow is the ladies' prayer breakfast at church for me and a Tae Kwon Do tourney for my husband and the boys. Which reminds me, need to call my mother and let her know both Roughy and Toughy are competing. And, need to set the pot roast out for dinner tomorrow (love the crock pot on days like this).

For the ladies' breakfast am doing a card/stamping display table to show how you can use crafts to bless others. Please pray that I can finish a scrapbook for my friend's table as well as get one or two other little projects I wanted to get done finished.

Then Sunday, my husband is getting baptized.

It will be a big weekend all around, so might need to wait until Monday to post again. Wanted to touch base with you all and make sure that you know while we are to be good stewards we are not to make ourselves crazy (unsound mind) while we do it. Some days, we just need to have fun!

God loves you!

Blessings for you and your beautiful families,
Tamara

Verse for the Day: Proverbs 18:24

Thank you, Lord for being You and for all the friends you've given me.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."

Gratituesday!

Heavenlyhomemakers.com hosts Gratituesday every Tuesday and asked bloggers to join in the fun and share what we are grateful for. I think this is a great idea, so will try to do so every Tuesday and encourage you to do the same.


Today I am grateful that the Lord remains the same today, tomorrow and forever. No matter how I'm feeling or what the day brings, He's constant and He's there--all I have to do is reach out to Him. He's so wonderful.

I'm also grateful for homemade bread! Just adore the smell and taste of fresh, warm bread. My MIL gifted me with her bread machine so I'm anxious to try it out. Hoping today is the day (depends on how homeschool and homemaking go first).

What are you grateful for today?


Update: I want to say that I am grateful for the people the Lord brings into my life. Even if they are not always there or must leave early, they have some of His love to share. Lori and Jen, I pray God has our paths cross again soon. Tammy, I am grateful every day for a friend like you!

Menu for week of 9/20

Sun - B - Donuts
L - Sandwiches
D - Chili, cornmuffins

Mon
B - Hot Cereal
L - Leftover chili and cornmuffins
D - Spaghetti, bread, salad


Tues
B - Cold Cereal, Fruit
L - Tuna Salad, fresh fruit/veggies
D - Breakfast for Dinner

Wed
B - Hot cereal
L - BLTs
D - Pot Roast, veggies

Thurs
B - Cold Cereal, Fruit
L - gone (sack lunches)
D - Make Your Own/Leftovers


Fri
B - Muffins
L - Grilled Cheese and apples
D - Parents' night out - Bonfire


Sat
B - Your choice (cereal hot or cold, or muffins if any left)
L - Chicken nuggets, veggies
D - Turkey breast, mashed potatoes, veggies

Verse for the Day

I pray this verse gives you comfort and strength for whatever you are going through...


Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. - Deut. 31:61

Home Management Binder - Starting Out

A little later than promised, but here are some promised photos of the Home Management Binder I'm in midst of creating.

The graphics on here come from cutecolors.com. She has some awesome freebies that you can use for personal use and I really enjoy them. The fonts are from my own font library.


Here's a pic of the front of the binder:




Here's the spine:




Here's the back cover:



On the back are more images from cutecolors.com as well as some of my favorite quotes and verses, as well as inspirational ones.

Verses: Ezra 10:4; Proverbs 16:3; I Corinthians 13:13; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Psalm 30:5; and Psalm 28:7.

Phrases/Quotes: "F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely On God"; "God, the best maker of all marriages, combine your hearts into one. William Shakespeare"; "What is right to be done cannot be done too soon. Jane Austen"' Treat Your children as if you won't have them next year. But, train them as if they won't have you. Renee Ellison"




Here's the inside of my binder with my supplies pouch. In the pouch are pencils, pens, eraser,stamps, small calculator and post-its, small pair of scissors and a perm marker. For the pockets, I used some stickers from my crafting stash (that match the colors of my cutecolors.com images).




And that's the outside and basics so far. I'll post more as I get more pics up. How are you doing on Home Management?

Recipe! - Angel Lush with Pineapple

A friend of mine turned me onto this recipe. It's very simple to make and any time I've made it people have raved over it. it will look like you spent hours making it and in reality there is little fuss and muss. I'm not exactly sure how many it serves, but we have plenty for seconds at home, and I know we had leftovers when I made it for a dinner party of 8 adults.


ANGEL LUSH with PINEAPPLE (Dessert)

Ingredients:
Angel Food Cake (can buy or make; if make your own, let cool completely)
1 pkg (3.4 oz) of instant vanilla pudding mix (do not make pudding, only need the powder)
1 cup (or more, to preference) of whipped topping like cool whip
1 can crushed pineapple in juice (unsweetened)
8 fresh medium-sized strawberries (washed, but not stemmed)

Directions:
Pour crushed pineapple (make sure you add juice) into mixing bowl. Next, add instant pudding powder and stir with spoon until the juice thickens. Next gently add in/fold in whipped topping. Set aside. Cut angel food cake into three layers. Put bottom layer on the cake stand or plate and top the layer with some of the mixture. Add second layer on top, more mixture. Add top layer and cover with remaining mixture. Add berries in a ring around the top. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.


NOTE: To make a more diabetic-friendly version you can use sugar-free instant pudding mix and sugar-free whipped topping.


Enjoy!