Logan is reading!!!

Green Beans in January???

Who can's green beans in January??? WE DO WE DO!!! We were fortunate to find a great deal on green beans $5 for a bushel so we had another canning day. We brought in two extra ladies to give them some hands on experience with the pressure cookers. The children liked bean snapping. We call them "The Whippersnappers." Green beans are a really easy plant to grow so look for us to have a gardening class soon too!!

We ended up with 13 quarts and 20 pints of green beans out of one bushel.
The best part... this jar contains green beans, salt and water... What's in your green beans?

Vickie is washing the beans....

Here we have "The Whippersnappers" snapping beans...

Happy Whippersnappers ;)

Adding the canning salt...

Babysitting the cookers....

I love the difference in colors...

Before and after a dip in the cooker...

Clean The Fridge Soup...

What do you do with your leftovers? Well here's an idea... Make soup! Tonight I had some various left overs that I threw together and waaalaaa SOUP.

Last Sunday we had roast for lunch. I took the left over roast and put it in the food processor and turned it to mush. I froze some of it and one container I put into the fridge for a soup base this week. I took the left over taco meat, beans for taco's and rice for taco's that we had for dinner Wednesday evening, combined it with the roast soup base and threw in some frozen chicken stock cubes. (I freeze my chicken stock in ice trays so I have handy sized cubes to use in different dishes.) I chopped 3 fresh carrots and one good sized potato to add to the soup and now we have a yummy meal that's enough for the family and a clean fridge! :)

Local Cannery Getting Started....

What a fun day! I had the privilege to gather with some of my good friends and can some BEANS! We had three pressure cookers going and canned 48 quarts of beans in 8 hours. If I had tried this with one cooker it would have taken three times as long!!! This is also a much cheaper and healthier way to process food.

I bought a 50 pound bag of beans for $32 which makes the beans around .64 cents a pound. I soaked 20 pounds of beans over night and some of the other ladies brought about 4 pounds of beans with them. This means there is about a half pound of beans per quart container. We used peppers I had frozen from my garden so that didn't cost us anything. We figured it up that each quart jar cost us .32 cents. We all brought our own jars and lids. We're going to work on a system for collecting jars and keeping tabs on how many everyone has so we don't have to haul them around everywhere. We're so blessed to have our local church facility to gather in to have canning days and store some supplies.

This is just one thing we're doing in our local community to help teach others how to live cheaper and healthier. These beans have very little salt and no preservatives. My challenge to the rest of the world... Find like minded people and start doing things together. Work together to enrich each others lives!!! I was so blessed today and I got some canned beans too ;) How about you?

The Canning Crew

Two easy recipes to use your canned beans!
Bean Dip
Take one jar of beans put them in a food processor with a quarter
block of cream cheese and half teaspoon of salt. Process it up and
you have instant bean dip.

Fancy Beans & Rice
Cook 2 cups of rice in a rice cooker with a quart of tomato juice.
Combine rice, one quart of canned beans a quarter of an onion
and some bell peppers. Add a little cajun seasoning, salt and pepper.
Cook on stove top until the onions and peppers are soft.

The Pepper Processing Station (Don't Rub Your Eyes)

Roomy Kitchen

Beans Ready For Canning

Getting the beans into the jars...

Getting the jars into the pressure cookers....

There are three pressure cookers working here and one pot of beans...

This is what the beans look like before and after... aren't they pretty?

The finished product...

We Will Survive!!!

(Singing to the tune of "I Will Survive" You know you know it)

We.... will survive!!! No matter how high gas prices go.... We know we'll stay alive..... We eat all our meals at home.... McDonalds is a no zone.... We will survive!!!! :p

Ok all silly stuff aside... Yesterday I filled my mini van full of gas and the grand total was $51.74... It hurt my heart. I know there's others out there with bigger vehicle's that are hurting too but I drive a mini-van... I hate paying so much for gas... :( Now we'll have to be spending many more days at home and no more eating out... We really want to get out of debt and living on one income means we have to budget and save to pay off our debt.

As I was preparing lunch I started to feel encouraged that YES WE CAN!!! save our pennies! For lunch my four children and myself are eating yummy stir fry noodles for approximately $1.74. That's like .35 cents per person! Now that is encouraging!!! I have smaller children so they don't eat massive amounts yet but from what I made today there will be no left overs. Here's how I did it...

I shop at discount grocery stores and I have a circle of friends who scout out good deals where ever they go as well. When they find a good deal they'll call and pick me up what they're getting too. (Thanks Vickie & Jennifer!) The ingredients I used break down like this...

Stir fry sauce $1.35 10 servings in a bottle = .13 cents
Soy Sauce .85 cents 10 servings in a bottle = .08 cents
One package of spaghetti noodles = .60 cents
1 lb bag of (12) carrots .69 cents = .11 cents (2 carrots used to prepare meal)
3 lb bag of broccoli $2.00 (I'm estimating this will be enough for 6 meals) = .33 cents
1 onion regular grocery store price .99 cents a lb and I'm estimating it will be enough for 2 meals and I'm not sure if it weighs a whole pound so this is estimating on the high side = .49 cents.

If I can do this and make my kids happy with their lunch for $1.74 then so can you!!! Start today!!! Talk to your friends, neighbors, co-workers... Start a network of people that you are involved with and utilize the discount grocery stores. Coupons are great but they take a lot of work (I've still not figured it out) but finding a good deal without the coupon isn't so hard if you're looking in the right places.

I used more broccoli than shown but I had to take a photo of the ingredients :)

Yes you can eat broccoli with a missing front tooth ;)

Ignore my messy kitchen and instead focus on the smiles of happy, well fed children :)

Want a bite???

We will survive!!! :)

Slow down... take time... wake up world...

Sound Teaching

We need sound teachers who are learned in the scriptures and teaching what God tells us without twisting things to meet their agenda. I'm so thankful for the sound teaching of No Greater Joy Ministries. Praise God he sends preachers and teachers!

The New Year...

The first day of the new year 2011 brought about a stirring in my heart. I am not going to start off a new year with strife and bitterness. Praise God I don't have to. In reflection I look back to October 26th of the year 2000. I am thankful for the crazy habit of journaling that I have. I am able to actually read what I wrote on that day and I wanted to share it here on my blog. :)

October 26th 2000 Thursday

We went to the church revival tonight. I'm so glad we did. I'm going tomorrow night and Saturday too. I really believe I'm saved. I was really unsure after the sermon tonight. I was confused because I didn't go up last time to pray to God. I went because Brenda went. I do believe that God made it happen that way. He made it easy when Brenda went up there so it wouldn't be so hard for me to go for myself. I've been saved and I'm a child of God and I'm going to Heaven. I just need to spread the word of God and help people who are lost to see what I've seen and realize this is the true and only way to Heaven. I'm really scared now because I know the devil is going to be working against me and try to drag me back down. There's going to be so many hardships and temptations I'm going to pray more so I can be true to God and be a true Christian. God is with me. He is on my side and knowing that I truly believe I can make it!

I was saved listening to Reg Kelly preach this sermon on the Hell of Hells.

This is such a blessing to read. I was born again that night. I knew I was a child of the Living God and that He saved me. Praise the Lord I have grown so much and learned so much. I've made many mistakes and fallen many times but I look forward to many more years of growing in grace and knowledge of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory! Both now and forever Amen!

Genesis 3:1 thru 3:8 – Week 6 | Contend For Your Faith

Genesis 3:1 thru 3:8 – Week 6 | Contend For Your Faith

Not knowing is no excuse...

Proverbs 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

When I was in middle school I lived in Las Vegas Nevada. One year we moved three or four times and each time you move you get to go to a different school... I remember at each school they would hand out the "school handbook." I would be admonished each time to read it because, "If you break the rules not knowing the rules isn't an excuse." This is something I tell people I encounter when it comes to reading God's Word. We have the Bible and not knowing what it says doesn't excuse us in the end.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

There are places in this world that don't have the privilege of owning a Bible, yet I have at least ten in my own home. I've been given MUCH and I believe more is required of me because of this great blessing. Not knowing God's Word is not an excuse.

The Power of Prayer...

The power of prayer never ceases to amaze me... So often I feel so insignificant... like the problems of my loved one's and the world are just too big... I think... "What can I do? What can I do?" Always there is end though, "All I can do is pray." But why can't I get it through my head that prayer is not the end result when there is nothing else I can think of to do. Prayer should be my first option in all things.

In my last blog post I wrote about my obsessive journal keeping habits. Well this habit is a constant source of comfort for me. I like to read back and I'm always seeing God's handiwork in life around me. Last night I talked to my husband who is away this week for work, and I learned he had the privilege to have dinner with the owners of the company he works for. The night before in my prayer journal I had taken time to pray for him. I pray for Chris often but this felt special because I remember the thoughts as I was writing this prayer and I know that God was sending Chris special grace. I just thought this was so cool to hear Chris tell me about his dinner and know that God had already answered my prayer from the night before.

As I look around and see families in need and so many souls suffering I know I don't have to feel helpless because I don't have enough time, energy and money to help them all. I have the power of prayer and the true living God who works all things together for good who I can turn to for help.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Journal Writing....

I am ever so thankful for my crazy journal keeping habit. I currently keep a personal journal that I write in almost every night. I also keep a prayer journal, prayer request journal, bible study journal and a journal for each of my kids and my husband. Yea yea I know... that's why I called it a "crazy" habit.

Keeping a journal is a very useful tool in looking back at the past and learning life lessons. I asked my husband Chris the other night, "do ya wanna know what you were doing a year ago today?" Of course he said yes and I proceeded to read more than just one entry. I even dug out the really early years when all I ever wrote about was how mad he made me. I love those one's because it makes me really appreciate my family now. I was on the verge of giving up right at the beginning. I would have missed out on so many blessings... I'm very thankful God gave me wisdom to become a better wife and mother. It's a wonderful thing to be able to look back at these times in my life and know that I made it through and I'm doing better. I give all the credit to God, without the wisdom of scripture and help from other faithful Christians I wouldn't be where I am today. I'm sure in five years I will take another look back and say "oh wow I've really learned so much since then."

Blessed By Fashion Sense!

Anyone who knows my 10 year old daughter will testify that she has a "unique" sense of fashion. Many times I have cringed as she presented herself "ready for church" or other events. Sometimes I let it slide but there are times I just have to make her change... Candy striped toe socks, flip flops, and orange skirt and a blue shirt... These are the atrocities I try to make Emily notice, but things like that really don't bother her. She really just likes to wear all her favorite things at once. She is also a fan of all things comfortable. She would live in sweat pants, stretchy pants etc... if I'd allow it. It's now a standing rule at our house that when I say to get dressed because we're leaving the house, there are no sweat pants allowed!

If you really know Emily you will also know that she is my biggest helper. I was very blessed to have a daughter as my first born. Especially since the next three are crazy little boys! Emily is know as "Memy" by her littlest brother Taylor. He sometimes even prefers her over his Mamma when things aren't going his way. Emily spoils him rotten! One thing Emily does super well is when things are hectic and busy during getting ready to leave the house, she will always help by getting Taylor ready to go. Today was no exception. When Taylor came into the bathroom to get his hair combed I took one look at him and was just overwhelmed with thankfulness. You might think I'm crazy but everything about what he was wearing shouted "MY SISTER LOVES ME." So as I'm typing and holding back the boohoo's I just have to smile and brag on my sweet Emily. It's funny how something so silly as what my son is wearing brought a huge blessing to my day.

Notice the too small tucked in dress shirt paired with sweat pants and snow boots...

Taylor removed his snow boots to reveal his colorful, totally Emily, mismatched socks...

Everything about this picture says to me.... "My sissy loves me!"

Black Walnuts Life Change!

My sweet sister told me a few months ago that instead of a "diet" her and her husband doing a "life change." I thought that was so cool and I ask her often if she's still on her "life change." She's doing very well and seems happy.

My husband Chris is about to experience a "life change." We're a homeschooling family and the kids and I are making him our project for the next few months. I'm slowly picking up bits and pieces of information to begin the process. Of course we will all be doing this "life change" with Chris because as a family we all eat together.

One interesting thing I picked up while watching a documentary called "Food Matters" is to drink one liter of water first thing in the morning before you eat anything. So we're going to start trying this. Now the kids won't be able to drink quite that much but I think a glassful will do just fine. This is supposed to help your digestive system clean itself out... We'll see. I thought it sounded like something easy that we could add to our "life change." Things have to be easy and habit forming because otherwise I don't see us sticking to it.

The next thing I thought of was while I was shelling Black Walnuts. Normally this time of year I shell them and sell them! Well not this year. Instead we are going to keep all the nuts we shell and use them in our "life change." Black Walnuts are rich rich rich in nutrients. I had thought about starting a multivitamin but they cost money. The Black Walnuts were laying all over our lawn for free. It just took a little elbow grease.

So for Chris and I we will start our day off with a liter of water and 3.5 Tbs of Black Walnuts. The kids will have lower doses of both. Black Walnuts contain essential minerals, like magnesium, copper, selenium, iron and potassium. The amount we're going to work with has 175 calories which I have no idea if that's high or not but they also have 6.8 grams of Protein, 11.9 grams of Fiber and 11 mg. of Vitamin C. I haven't researched yet to find out what the recommended daily intake of all these nutrients is but this is a start. Isn't that what a "life change" is all about? Taking the first step and actually STARTING! Black Walnuts also have good cholesterol and are good for lowering cholesterol and decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Wish us luck and I'll keep ya posted in the next week or so to see if I notice a difference.

Tell The Truth Mamma!

***DISCLAIMER***
I've had this on my heart the past few days. I'm not judging anyone or trying to pick a fight. It's just what's in my heart. If you disagree that is fine we all have the wonderful freewill to believe as we choose. This is my belief...

She could see from the slump of his shoulders, and the droop of his little head as he climbed off the school bus that something was bothering her sweet little boy. He’d been attending kindergarten classes for three months. Each day she’d watched him skip happily down the bus steps, but not today. This was the first time he’d been unable to meet her with a smile as she greeted him at the bus stop.

“Whatever is wrong big guy?” Mamma asked, when her son buried his face in her hair as she leaned down to hug him close. “It isn’t true,” Johnny sniffled. “They’re liars, all of them!”

Mamma was more confused hearing his words. Johnny was friends with everyone. He had never known a stranger and had been overjoyed to get to see all his playmates when he started school.
“Come on sweetie, we’ll talk over milk and cookies.” Mamma led him down the gravel road to their home in the country and into the welcoming glow of the kitchen.

“Now tell me who lied to you?” Mamma said as she poured a big glass of milk for them to share. Her son looked up into her eyes as his own overflowed with tears. “They teased me Mamma. They said I was a baby and that Santa ain’t real. But I know that’s a lie! I know cause my Mamma don’t lie and Mamma, you said Santa comes if I’m good, and I’ve been so very good.” Johnny looked up into his Mamma’s eyes with so much trust and hope. If a boy can’t trust his own mother to tell him the truth, who can he trust? "What do I say?" Mamma thought as she stared back into her son’s chocolate brown eyes.

“Oh Johnny, I’m so sorry honey.” She hugged him close and decided she’d have to break it to him gently. She wished this could have waited a few more years. She recalled the time she learned the truth about Santa, the Tooth Fair and snuggly Mr. Easter Bunny. But she had been in the third grade! “My if kids don’t just grow up too fast,” Mamma said with a sad look in her eyes.

She turned to Johnny and told him the truth. “Honey, Santa was real a long time ago but not in the same way that you’ve been told. The story of Santa Clause comes from a wonderful Christian man named Saint Nicholas. I suppose the story has been changed and added to over the years. No, Santa is not real in the way that you’ve been told. There are no reindeer, no elves or magic sleigh. I really thought you’d be much older before I had to tell you this."

Johnny could see his Mamma was hurting but he didn’t understand why. He was a good boy though who didn’t want to make things harder on his Mamma so like all young children he easily forgave her.

Life goes on and the days came that Johnny learned many things from his great pals at school. They weren’t always gentle and kind with the telling, like Mamma was. Unfortunately for Johnny it was a rare occasion that Mamma got to be the first to tell him something. Most of the incidents mirrored the first.

Johnny began losing all his teeth in the first grade and he was saddened when he came home to have Mamma confirm, “Yes honey the Tooth Fair is just a story too. But it was just for fun we can still play the game.”

Then the day came that Johnny surprised the Easter Bunny in the restroom at the park. Only Mr. Easter Bunny had ducked in for a quick break and he didn’t have his head on. Mamma had to tell him then that, “Yes Johnny, the Easter Bunny was just for fun too.”

Mamma did admit one thing from the beginning though, or so she thought. “Honey Halloween isn’t real. It’s just a fun day for us all to dress up and get candy. They call it the Devil’s Holiday but it’s not real so it’s ok.”

Johnny remembered all of this as he sat in church one Sunday morning. It was strange that these things would all come to his mind at a time like this. He was no longer the innocent little boy from the day’s of Santa Clause and Trick or Treating. He was “almost a man” as Daddy would say. In just a few weeks he would be able to drive on his own. Oh to be sixteen and be free! Johnny’s thoughts had begun to wander but something drew him back. “Today is the day,” said the preacher man. “Jesus is the only way.”

Johnny began to think back to the stories his Mamma would read to him. He’d always been taught about Jesus. He did some amazing things. He even walked on water! “Wow,” Johnny thought. “I’d sure like to be friends with someone like that.”

“Repent! Don’t leave today without everlasting life. You’re not promised a tomorrow.” The preacher just kept going. Johnny couldn’t make up his mind. “Mamma told me about Jesus,” he thought. “But she told me about Santa too and all the rest of those guys. Jesus is probably the same so I’ll be smart this time and Mamma won't have to feel bad when she tells me the truth. I have better things to do than waste my time with kid stuff.” As Johnny left his seat at the end of the service he felt a strange tugging at his heart. But it was easy to ignore the thoughts of the past entered his mind.

Years passed by and Mamma watched Johnny lose his way. She cried and prayed for him day and night. “Lord I taught him, I read to him, I took him to church. Lord please rescue my son!”

Mamma jumped as the heavy metal door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang. She stared around the room at all the strange, scary men in brown jumpsuits. She spotted him after just a moment. She would never forget those beautiful chocolate brown eyes. She made her way through the maze of tiny box tables to her son. Mamma spent the next five hours visiting with her sweet brown eyed boy, no longer a boy but a man. She’d brought her worn leather Bible in the hopes that he’d listen. But as soon as she began he’d stop her just like all the time’s before. “Aww Mamma, enough with the preachin’. Jesus is just a story, it’s not real. Even if he was how could he help me after all the wrong I’ve done? I deserve to be here Mamma and no one’s gonna set me free anytime soon.”

They hugged as she stood to leave. Visiting hours were over. It was time for Mamma to go home. “I love you my sweet boy.” Mamma said as she kissed his cheek. It was hard to leave him. She jumped again at the bang of the heavy metal door slamming behind her, separating her from her son.

The story is a sad one yes it is true.
But listen closely Mamma, it could happen to you.
Are you lying to your children thinking, “oh it’s just fun.”
Don’t you know there are some things that can’t be undone?
The stories you tell them, make sure that they’re true.
So when you get to Heaven they can come too.

Amazing Baby Doesn't Flinch While Cast Is Removed!

I'm Growing FOOD!

This morning I opened up my Facebook page to get "in touch" with the world. I love Facebook but this is about FOOD. So I viewed a YouTube video on the Senate Bill S510. Basically from what I understand the government is looking to regulate our lives a little bit more.

This past summer I helped organize a local Farmers Market in our community. You would be surprised at the long list of rules already in affect for people to abide by if they want to sell their home produced products. You need a license for EVERYTHING. Last time I checked it was the major food producers that were shipping out products that made people sick. I've been buying local raw milk for the past 6 months or so and LOVE it. The government has placed limits on farmers wishing to sell their milk to others. I have to drive out to the farm to pick this up each week.

Anyway basically my point is that we have so many problems in this country WHY is our government wasting time and money trying to prevent people from taking care of themselves? Would it be better if the government was in charge of raising all our food? Would we never get sick from bad food if it were in their hands? I think not. Mass production of food products is not healthy. I don't want to eat what they're shelling out which is why I've been trying my best to learn to produce my own food. I am far from being self sufficient but I grow a lot of my own food and preserve it myself. I know what is in it and I feel confident in feeding it to my family. It gives me shivers to think that some day the police could come knocking on my door and purge my home of my heirloom seeds, canning jars and food processors. Seriously I'm just growing food not making METH!

I thank God that he placed in my heart the desire to learn to grow my food and preserve it. It's been almost 8 years since my first attempt at home made salsa and I'm learning more all the time. My family is healthier because of it and I'll keep growing and preserving even if they pass laws banning this freedom. It's scary to think that some day my backyard garden could get me in trouble with the law....

Isaiah 5:20
²⁰Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Oh Blog world... I have forsaken thee!

I received an email from YouTube this morning letting me know that one of my video's is popular enough for them to wanna put some ad's on the page. This reminded me of my blog and the adsense account I started oh so many years ago. I thought it was so cool that I could put ad's on my very own page and earn money! I think I began blogging around 5 years ago and in that time I've made a whopping $18.71. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm always trying to come up with creative ways to add to our families income. My husband works hard and takes care of us just fine but I like to feel like I'm contributing so I work at odd little tasks here and there, sometimes spending more than I make but I'm always busy :) The adsense was another one of those inkling idea's I had that might earn me some money. So now that it's back on my mind again I'm here for another 5 years to start raising pennies again. That's what started my blog adventures to begin with and that's what's re-sparked my interest in the blog world. So oh sweet blog of mine with very few readers... I have returned! LOL

Ready For Valentines Day!!!

I have spent the last two days helping my children build their Valentines boxes. I have to admit I built Taylor's all by myself and yes I obsessed just a little. The past two days have actually been a LOT of fun for me. Who knew crafty stuff could be such fun!

Now I'd like to introduce you to our creations. Emily shares my love of reading and so the idea for her box was of course, a book! I helped her with the poem but it was her idea to name it "Guido Guido" (pronounced GWEE DOUGH) It was also her idea to have it be about all the cats. I did help her with the poem and writing and the general construction of the book box.

The poem goes...
"Old Lady Tweedo, names all her cats Guido"
"And she has too many to count"
"She waits each night, as they begin to fight"
"What is this all about?"
"Guido Guido, he wants Tostito's"
"But Old Lady Tweedo only has Dorito's"
"Guido Guido don't like Dorito's"
"So he settled instead for a burrito"
"Now Guido Guido has to go Pee-Dough"

Logan built a dragon!

Brett built a Turtle!

And this is my creation for Taylor. He loves the movie "Cars" so this is perfect for him.

So these are the Valentines boxes we had tons of fun building.

"Rescue Me"

Just another song I wrote.