The Encouragement I Needed

I know I have linked to Holy Experience before but this really encouraged me. Uplifted me in the Fray!

So here's the link

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/09/when-you-re-feeling-burden-of-it-all.html

Snapshot Summary #10

Friday

10 - September, 2010

We all worked together to pack for our week vacation! After everyone else was in bed I finished these matching outfits for the girls.

Saturday

11 - September, 2010

We drive long and hard AND arrive at our family reunion! Terry and Eldon had already arrived. Matt, Michelle and kids got there shortly after us and a bit later David, Renee and kids pulled in. Above is a picture of David and Drew. It was great to see my sister and her family. 3 1/2 years is just TOO long!

Monday

13 - September, 2010

We visited Rough Dam Lake. It was an amazingly beautiful day.

Uncle Drew, drew a crowd for a read aloud

Tuesday

14 - September, 2010

We visited Kentucky Down Under. It was a really neat zoo type place.

A typical answer to the question "Did you have a good day Baruch?" is "Well, sort of, but no one played with me." It's not so much that no one played with him as it is that he likes to play different sorts of things. His cousin Julia enjoyed the same things. Here they are examining their catch. They built a home for it with a playground and really had a great time for hours with their pet before releasing it.

Wednesday Drew, Chloe and Lydia

15 - September, 2010

In the morning we found our way to "Lost Cave". We all took a really neat tour of a cave in a boat. The guides did a great job.

That evening we had our annual talent show. Here Jacob and Melvin played for us. Each of the children had an opportunity to perform. Then the adults had an opportunity to perform. Matt entertained us all with some hilarious antics. Then separately the children came up and quoted scripture. The night ended with a group song from David, Renee and family of the "Fifty, nifty United States". Below is their family.

David, Renee, Georgie, Sophia,

Julia,Lydia, Meleah and Davey

Above are some of the kids. Between Matt, Renee and I there were 16 children, 12 and under!

Thursday

16 - September, 2010 Uncle Chip and Morgan

Our family split up, well not the Drew and Beth family. Terry, Eldon, Matt, Michelle and children, David and Renee and children went to a train museum with a train ride. The rest of us went for a short, kid friendly hike in Mammoth Cave National Park.

Green River

Friday

17 - September, 2010

Is Aunt Terry keeping Chloe warm or vice versa?

Drew took Baruch and Abram canoeing down the Green River. They had an amazing time. The other children and I packed and organized then went to a pool for the day. We went back again that night after supper.

Abram - out to eat

Saturday

18 - Septemeber, 2010

We were off for the long sad drive home. If it weren't for the hope of our October visit with David, Renee and kids I think we all would have had a MUCH harder time saying goodbye to all the loving Uncles and Aunts and all the kissing cousins. As it was, good-bye was a big Boo Hoo!! When we pulled into town we went straight to a local grocery store that has an all you can eat buffet. I was SO thankful not to have to scrounge something up.

I REALIZE I AM leaving out huge events such as:

• Abigail's b-day celebration complete with gifts for all her siblings from Aunt Dawnie
• Uncle Matt's b-day celebration and gifts for all the kids from Grandma, Uncle Eldon and Aunt Terry
• More talent show pictures
• The pinata and hoopla that accompanied it

So I am hoping to get a slideshow of the reunion with more photos but since we upgraded our operating system I am not sure how to accomplish this at this time.

Weekly Menu Strategy!

Mary is helping me a TON with meals this year. Below is our weekly menu and the daily recipes which include her responsibilities. Two years ago Drew took over breakfast making. He continues to make breakfast to this very day! I am so blessed. That frees me up to help the little ones get dressed, put dirty diapers in the trash, help them make their beds and put away their pajamas. Then we have time to read a few verses together before I send Chloe down to ring the "it's time to eat" bell.

Sunday

Breakfast Pancakes

Snack leftover pancakes

Lunch Roast with Potatoes and Carrots

Supper Leftovers

Monday

Breakfast Rice (I do make the rice. I put it in the oven Sunday night and set the oven timer)

Snack Almond/choc. chip mix

Lunch Apple Cheese Burritos and Celery Sticks

Supper Autumn Sausage Casserole with Spring Mix with fruit/nuts

Tuesday

Breakfast Oatmeal

Snack grapes

Lunch Pizza Fondue with Chips and Carrot Sticks (or baby carrots)

Supper Slow Cooker Chicken, Rice Cooker Rice and Beans

Wednesday

Breakfast Bagels with Cream Cheese

Snack O.J. and raisins

Lunch PB & H Sandwiches with Apple Slices and Frozen Peas

Supper Goulash and crackers with Spring Mix salad

Thursday

Breakfast Farina

Snack peanut/dried fruit mix

Lunch Drumsticks, Cauliflower and Applesauce

Supper Creamy Beef over Noodles

Friday

Breakfast Toast and Eggs or French Toast

Snack ginger snaps

Lunch Sausage/ Cheese/Crackers

Supper Homemade Pizza

Saturday

Breakfast Meulsi

Snack apple slices

Lunch Burritos and leftovers

Supper Hamburgers or Sloppy Joes

Monday

Autumn Sausage Casserole

--1 pound sausage

--3 cups already cooked long-grain rice

--2 apples, chopped (no need to peel)

--1 yellow onion, chopped

--1/2 package baby carrots, no need to chop

--1/2 cup dried cranberries

--1 T brown sugar

--1 T dried parsley flakes

--1/2 tsp allspice

--1/2 tsp cinnamon

--1/8 tsp black pepper

--1/3 cup water

Mary's AM instructions:

LUNCH: nothing! :-)

SUPPER: Put 1 # sausage to cook in Black and White Slow Cooker. Turn Slow Cooker on #5.

Now get out the Red Crock Pot. Add rice and any leftover rice from breakfast. Chop apples. Add to the Red Crock Pot. Measure carrots, cranberries, sugar, spices, and water add to the Red Crock Pot. Turn the Red Crock Pot on low. Check and make sure Mom will chop and add onion.

Mary's 11:30 instructions:

LUNCH: make Apple/Cheese Burritos and slice celery.

SUPPER: Chop up cooked sausage. Unplug Black and White Slow cooker. Add sausage to the Red Crock Pot. Leave Crock Pot on Low.

Mary's 5:00 instructions:

SUPPER: Put Autumn Sausage Casserole on table. Put spring mix in salad bowl. Open a can of mandarin oranges. Add oranges to salad. Sprinkle 1/4 C chopped nuts on salad (if we have chopped nuts in white basket in pantry) Put salad on table along with any salad dressings we have. When Dad gets home have Chloe ring bell!!

Tuesday

Pizza Fondue

20 pieces pepperoni, diced

1 jar pasta sauce

2 can tomato sauce (8 oz. each)

1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese (4C)

1/2 t garlic

1/2 t oregano

2 dashes sea salt

Mary's AM instructions:

LUNCH: Using White Crock pot. Place all ingredients in crock. Turn on low.

SUPPER: Put a whole chicken in the Black and White Slow Cooker. Plug in. Turn to #3.

Put 3 C rice in rice cooker. Put 6 C filtered water in rice cooker. Add 3 T olive oil and 3 t garlic. Do not plug in. Mom will plug in at 4:30PM. Thanks. You are doing a great job!!

Mary's 11:30 instructions:

LUNCH: unplug White Crock pot. Put Crock pot on dining room table. Put bag of chips on dining room table. Put bag of baby carrots on dining room table. Set table. Don't forget cups. Pour everyone some water.

SUPPER: nothing :-)

Mary's 5:00 instructions:

SUPPER: Put 1/4 C filter water in largest of the one handle pots. Turn burner on med. When water boils add one package frozen beans. Set timer for 7 minutes. After 7 minutes stir. Set timer for 7 minutes again. After 7 minutes put in serving bowl and put on the table. Mom will put chicken and rice on the table.

Wednesday

Goulash

1# Ground Beef

1/2 onion chopped (large is fine)

1 t paprika

1/4 t garlic

2 jars pasta sauce

2 cans tomato sauce

3 C elbow noodles

1 can garbanzo beans

1 can corn

1 package baby carrots

Mary's AM instructions:

LUNCH: check to make sure there is bread in the bread box. If there is not, bring up a loaf from the deep freeze OR take out of upstairs freezer. Set on counter to thaw

SUPPER: Put frozen beef in Blue Crock Pot. Turn Crock Pot on High. Then coarsely chop onion and add to crock. Add spices also.

Mary's 11:30 instructions:

LUNCH: Make PB and Honey. Slice apples. Find frozen peas. Set table. Don't forget cups. Pour everyone some water.

SUPPER: Drain grease from beef. If it is easier take beef out and set on a plate. Add elbow noodles, pasta sauce, tomato sauce, beans, corn and carrots to crock. Break beef up into chunks. Turn Crock Pot to Low.

Mary's 5:00 instructions:

SUPPER: Slice a red, yellow and orange pepper. Put on table. Put some spring mix in salad bowl and put on table Put Goulash on table. Also put sour cream and any salad dressings on table.

Thursday

Creamy Beef Over Noodles

2 # stew meat

2 T butter

1 T Worcestershire sauce

1 T minced onion

1/2 t sea salt

1 T black pepper

8 ounces cream cheese

Use a 4 quart slow cooker. Put meat into crock; frozen is fine. Add the butter, milk, worcestershire sauce, onion, salt, and pepper. Cook on high 3 1/2 hours then switch to low for 5 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Stir in cream cheese. Serve over hot buttered noodles.

Mary's AM instructions:

LUNCH: put one bag drumsticks in White Crock Pot (small crock)

SUPPER: put stew meat in Blue Crock Pot along with butter, worcestershire sauce, onion, sea salt and pepper. DO NOT ADD cream cheese. Turn on High.

Mary's 11:30 instructions:

LUNCH: put White Crock on dining room table. Chop cauliflower and put in glass blue bowel. Put on dining room table. Put a bag of baby carrots on dining room table. Set table. Don't forget cups. Pour everyone some water.

SUPPER: Turn Blue Crock Pot to low.

Mary’s 5 PM instructions:

Get out two handled silver pot. Fill just under 3/4 ths with water from faucet. Put on stove. Turn burner on High.

Slice up cream cheese and ad to crock pot. Add 1 T milk. Replace lid. Set timer for 10 minutes. Stir in cream cheese and milk after 10 minutes.

When water boils add 4 C dry elbow noodles. Set timer (find second timer above stove) for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes drain noodles, return to pot and put on table.

Slice one each red, yellow and orange pepper while waiting. Put in serving bowl. Put on table

Supper is READY!!

I do the meals Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This week was a dry run and it went very well. I instructed Mary each work time this week as I didn't have the instructions typed up. I think next week will go even more smoothly as I will be less involved. I am sure we will find some bugs in the instructions too.

Game Time

Mary, Cob and I played a game of UPWORDS tonight. Abigail grabbed the dictionary to check a word. "Is this thing in alphabetical order?" she asked. "Yes!" we all practically shouted in unison. "Good thing, it'd be really hard to find my word otherwise."

We got back from vacation Saturday night. Drew took tons of pictures which I am hoping to post . . . I would say soon, but better say eventually. I cannot believe how busy my school day is this year. Whew, we have been hitting it hard for just three days and I am all pooped out!

Here are some sites that have encouraged me.

Visit Jennifer to listen to Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerich

Visit Amy to renew your commitment to delight in the Lord. Part One hit a little too close to home so I'm linking you to part two :-).

Have an awesome Friday renewing your mind through His Word.