A Southern Belle in Missouri

Baking For the Freezer

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Saturday I spent the day bulk cooking with a friend. We made crock-pot freezer meals, which I have planned to use mostly for noon meals. That way I can just dump the bag into the crock-pot early in the morning, and we have a nice hot meal ready in the middle of the day...no matter how busy it's been!

This fantastic idea made me realize that it would be easy to solve the other problem spot in our day- breakfast. So, I decided to bake up a storm and fill my freezer! We also made a couple of non-breakfast items that will help out with menu planning.

Here's what we made:

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins

Dinner Rolls

French Breakfast Puffs

Whole Wheat Breakfast Bars

Apple Breakfast Bars

Granola

Pizza Dough

I've already gotten a lot of requests for recipes from posting about this on Facebook- I'll try to get the other recipes up very soon!

It was a great feeling to get so much accomplished. I'm also truly thankful for the world's greatest sous chef!

To store my baked goods, I wrapped them in a double layer of plastic wrap, and then a tight layer of aluminum foil. I also labeled them with the contents and date.

There's really two ways I defrost them. If I'm not in a hurry, I'll pull out what I need the day before and just let it thaw out overnight. Then I can just reheat. But, if I need something right away, I do use the microwave. Surprisingly it tastes just as fresh as it did when first baked!

I'm sure I'll be doing much more of this in the future. I'm so thankful for these little tools to keep my home running smoothly!

Crock-pot Freezer Cooking with a Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Tue, 29 May 2012 20:11:00 +0000

My friend Christephi and I got together this Saturday to put together crock-pot freezer meals for our families. I hadn't heard of this concept until recently, and I was quite eager to give it a try! I've found myself getting busier and busier as the children are getting older, and as schooling takes up more and more of my time. I knew that the crock-pot was about to become my new best friend- but this idea makes it even more efficient!

The idea is rather simple. You assemble all of the ingredients for the recipe into a freezer bag. That's it. For the recipes Christephi had chosen there was no precooking involved. We simply chopped and diced all of the vegetables, and then placed all of the ingredients into a labeled freezer bag.

Here's what we made:

Healthy BBQ Chicken
Goulash
Chicken Curry
Teriyaki Chicken
Savory Chicken
Busy Day Stew
Sweet & Tangy Meatballs
Savory Vegetable Beef Soup
Cilantro Lime Chicken with black beans and corn

Shopping by the ingredient list for the recipes, the total cost was right at $200, or about $10 a meal. This is more than I'd typical spend for something like this, but now that I've seen how the recipes go together, I think I could do it again for much less.

Now that I've learned all about this idea, I'm excited to see what else I can do with it. This is something I'll definitely be doing more of in the future!

Bulk cooking is definitely more fun with a friend! It was such a blessing to be able to put away so many meals for our families. Be sure to check out my friend's blog where she will be sharing links to the recipes that we used!

Pax Christi,

"White Sunday" Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:56:00 +0000

Pentecost, also known as Whitsunday, celebrates the birthday of the Christian Church, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. In honor of this special day, we made a "White Sunday" cake.

We used white frosting in honor of it being "White Sunday". The large candle in the center is to symbolize Christ, Who had promised to send the Holy Spirit.

"But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

The 12 smaller candles surrounding the center candle represent the Twelve Apostles and the tongues of fire.

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Acts 2:3

The seven hearts represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

"And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:" Isaiah 11:2-3

And the twelve strawberries surrounding the cake represent the Fruits of the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:22-26

We sang Happy Birthday to the Church before blowing out the candles with a "mighty wind".

Blessings Abound,

Celebrating Pentecost

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Mon, 28 May 2012 19:04:00 +0000

Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Ten days after our Lord Jesus had ascended into Heaven, the Twelve Apostles, His Mother Mary, and others had gathered to pray. Like a mighty wind, the Holy Spirit descended upon them. The apostles began to preach to the Jews that had gathered and each heard in their own native tongue. It's said that around 3,000 people were converted and baptized that day!

The boys made wind twirlers as we learned about the "mighty wind". They boys thought these were great fun!

We also made stick puppets of the Twelve Apostles.

We made a special Pentecost Feast! We used recipes that would be symbolic of the amazing things that happened that day.

Daddy made "Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Bean Dip". You can use any basic seven layer bean dip recipe for this.

The seven gifts are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

We also made a "Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit Fruit Salad". You could use any twelve fruits, but we chose pineapple, banana, watermelon, peaches, kiwi, green grapes, red grapes, cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries, black berries, and apples. The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Benignity, Long Suffering, Mildness, Faith, Modesty, Continence, and Chastity.

We also made Tongues of Fire Cookies. "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." Acts 2:3

The Catholic feast of Pentecost has also been known as Whitsunday, from “White Sunday,” in reference to the white garments worn by those being baptized on the feast day. We decided to set our supper table with white linens, and use our white china, white candles, and white floral arrangement in honor of this tradition.

Our "Twelve Apostles" even joined us for supper!

We thank God for the beautiful celebration, and for each of the gifts that He has so graciously given to us!

Pax Christi,

Ascension Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:34:00 +0000

Happy Ascension Thursday! Today, we celebrate the bodily ascension to Heaven of our Lord Jesus. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of Our Father.

We celebrated this joyous remembrance with a picnic lunch on our front lawn. We made a "feast" of pepperoni pizza, sliced apples with peanut butter dip, and chocolate chip cookies. It was the perfect day for a picnic!

Mama read the story of the Ascension from the Bible.

"And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." Luke 24:50-53

We played fun games to help remind us of why we were celebrating! Can you keep the balloon up in the air by hitting it forty times?

We also made a fun craft. But, the boys were most excited about getting to go to church that evening! Feast days are so grand!

Transparent Motherhood

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:52:00 +0000

I'm a stay at home mom. I'm also a mom who homeschools. That means, yep, you guessed it, I'm pretty much always home with my children. Yes, I'm around my children all day, every single day.

This is an awesome thing. I get to see first hand all of the "firsts", all of the joys of learning something new, all of the sweet moments and triumphs. We spend so much time together that we can know what each other is thinking, and feeling, without saying a word, It's a wonderful closeness. I wouldn't trade it for anything...

With this closeness comes another side though. Because we spend every.waking.moment together, we also get to see every failure, every shortcoming, and every mistake. There's a transparency that I don't think could really compare to anything else.

My children see nearly everything I do. Good, bad, or ugly, they are usually right by my side. When the two year old writes all over my favorite planner, they see how I react. When I stub my toe, they're watching. I'm a real person, with real emotions, and my actions and reactions aren't always perfect. I fail, every day, and my children are right there to see it.

My children also like to talk. A lot. I'm a rather quiet person, so this can be a test for my patience. And, I don't always pass the test.

It's not easy, always having that responsibility. But, something amazing has also come out of that. You see, I realized that even though they see that I'm not the sweetest person before my morning coffee, and that I tend to skip breakfast, and that I really really don't like being poked in the face, they love me. They really love me. They want to be around me. They don't want to not be together all the time. It's amazing. They know my every shortcoming and they still love me. It's nothing short of amazing. It reminds me of another Someone who loves me. Another Someone whose love for me is unconditional.

Having that transparency keeps me accountable. Do they see me pray? Do they see me read my Bible? Are my actions honoring to God? Am I kind? Do I have a bad attitude? Do I do my best in my work around the house? How do I react when no one else is looking?

It also reminds me that it's ok to not be perfect. I'm still lovable, even as a flawed human being. I can be loved and love others, without having to be perfect.

I'm thankful for the transparent relationship I have with the boys. I pray that our closeness will remain as they grow older. I am thankful that they know how much I love them. I'm thankful that I know how much they love me.

Pax Christi,

A Little Family Update

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:55:00 +0000

Well, I hadn't intended to go so long without writing, but it's been a busy time of moving and settling in to our new home. We've been here about a month now, and there's still some small things left to do...but we are mostly finished unpacking. It's been a huge change from our old farmhouse in the country, but we just love it here. It's amazing to see how God works. Sometimes we can see where He's taking us, and still be shocked at the path He chooses to take us there!

The boys are loving their new home as well. I'm amazed at how much they each seem to be growing right before my eyes!

Jacob has started second grade. He was just so excited to begin a new adventure! He's also been really working hard as my kitchen helper. He has such a desire to learn to bake and cook. I enjoy having working with him. His favorite task is making bread. Jacob has been learning how to read a recipe, and follow the instructions on his own. It's just amazing to me to see him doing such things!

Joshua is a first grader now! He'd been full of eager anticipation to begin. It's so neat to see his little mind soaking up information. He's hit the phase of asking a million (it might not actually be a million, but it sure seems that way some days!) questions, and wanting to understand every thing. Just the other morning he asked Daddy, "Would it take all day to brush a shark's teeth?" He wasn't asking in a silly way, but rather had just been pondering. I think his mind is just always going.

Little Joseph is becoming not-so-little anymore. His face is beginning to lose the preschooler chubbiness, and he's sprouting up like a weed! He's excited to begin violin lessons with his brothers. Joseph is quite proud of his newly perfected bed making skills. I love the way his face lights up when he feels good about a job well done!

James has been such a mama's boy lately. Well, I suppose he's always been a mama's boy, but lately he wants to cuddle, hug, and climb into my lap at every opportunity. He is always right by my side, like a chubby adorable shadow. It's just precious when he looks at me and says, "Kiss me, Mommy!" Or, when we sit down to eat he says, "We bless the Lord now!" He's also found the joy of singing. His favorite song is Jesus Loves Me. It's just precious how he always wants to add "Amen" to the end of the songs!

Baby John David also seems to be in a hurry to get big! He's such an active little one, always rolling around and playing rambunctiously with toys. I put him in the walker yesterday and he immediately began scooting all around the school room. He just wants to do and see and be right in the middle of everything! I have never seen a baby who smiles so much, or so easily.

This month we attended our first homeschool conference. I was amazed to see so many homeschooling families all in one place! The curriculum fair was awesome. We were able to purchase first and second grade books and character training materials and leave feeling inspired!

Well, I'm sure there's so much more to update, and I'll be adding pictures and such as time allows. Now that we have regular internet again, I look forward to being able to blog more frequently. :)

Love and Blessings,

Hello Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:02:00 +0000

After taking a little blogging hiatus, I'm back with a brand new design! Over the years I have had several blogs, and I decided to compile all of my writings into one new location.

We've had lots of exciting things happening in our family. In January we welcomed our fifth son, John David. We feel so blessed by this precious new life. His brothers all adore him and I'm quite sure he's smitten with them as well.

February is our busy birthday month. This year Joshua celebrated his fifth birthday, Joseph celebrated his fourth, and Mama celebrated an un-birthday (since my years are now going backwards, lol!)

In the next few weeks we will be moving into our wonderful new home. We've been busy little bees packing and shopping for furniture and decor and making plans for the new house. We are thrilled to be moving closer to so many of our dearest friends!

I don't have the words to express the immense gratitude that is in our hearts for all of the blessings God has showered upon us. The year 2012 is off to a rockin' good start, and I do believe it's going to be a fabulous year!

Love to all of you!

Homemade Samoa Bars

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 03:32:00 +0000

For the shortbread crust:
Ingredients:
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. butter, softened
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 pan. Using the mixer, cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla. Working at a low speed, gradually add in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly.

Pour crumbly dough into the prepared pan and press into an even layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes until base is set and edges are lightly browned.

Topping: Ingredients:
3 c. shredded coconut
12 oz. chewy caramels
1/4 tsp. salt
3 T. salt

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread coconut evenly on a cookie sheet. Toast for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes till golden.

Place caramels, milk and salt into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 3-4 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until melted. When smooth, fold in coconut.

Place dollops of topping onto shortbread base. Spread into an even layer using a spatula. Let topping set until cooled.

Once cooled, slice with a knife into bars.

Melt 10 oz. of chocolate chips. Dip the base of each bar into the melted chocolate and then place on clean sheet of parchment paper. Put remaining chocolate into a frosting bag and drizzle the tops of each bar.

Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Blessings,

October Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:50:00 +0000

October has been a month full of many blessings. Fall has brought with it a pleasant change in weather and scenery. Fields have been harvested and turned into golden and black plains once again. Green leaves have changed color and many have already fallen. Warm weather has turned into breezy chilly days...well, most of the time. Occasionally Missouri shows her spunk with random spikes and drops in temperatures. :)

Our washer and dryer bit the dust, and we decided it was finally time to invest in decent machines! I was a little (ok, a lot) hesitant because I can be a bit cheap, I mean, frugal, when it comes to things like that. But, I'm so glad we bought a nice set! I'm amazed at the difference! We can wash about twice the amount in one load, and it's so much faster and quiet, too!

We took a little trip to the pumpkin patch and the boys loved being able to play on a combine. They love watching all of the farmers working around us, so it was an extra special treat for them.

October has been a busy month of sprucing up around the house. We have repainted the living room, dining room and master bedroom, as well as various rearranging and organizing projects all around. It has been so neat to see this old farmhouse really come to life!

Recently we were talking about what toys I had when I was little, and Jacob asked if I still had any of them. It occurred to me that my special Molly doll was in a box in the basement. I pulled it out to show him, and now she's become loved once again! Both and Jacob and Joshua thought she was the most beautiful of dolls and want to take special care of her. It's so sweet to see one of my most special childhood treasures being treasured by a second generation!

We've been enjoying the local library. Boys who love books tend to love the library! I think we could spend hours looking through the books. I'm so thankful for children who love to learn!

One of my favorite things about changing seasons is decorating! I love the colors and smells associated with Fall. Little touches make a house a home, and I love being able to create the little touches!
I think it'd be nearly impossible not to enjoy this Fall weather! It's not yet too cold to be outside most days, and there's an almost constant breeze. The air just smells like heaven! The sun's light reflects beautifully off of the golden fields. It just feels good to be outside!

Somehow we managed to go the entire Spring and Summer with only wearing "real" shoes to church! It's kind of embarrassing! When the weather changed we suddenly realized that we couldn't find shoes to fit the Bear! It was clear that we needed to sort through shoes and get organized! I can't believe Jacob and Joshua are only about a half size difference!

Yesterday we enjoyed a yummy Fall treat of caramel apples with our friend Linda. The cold windy day was a nice break from the fiercely hot salsa being canned in the kitchen!

All in all, October has been a busy month, but one full of blessings. I look forward to seeing what all the Lord has in store for us the rest of this year!

Love in Christ,

Super Spicy Jalapeno Salsa

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:40:00 +0000

I still had quite a bit of peppers left over, even after making around 800 poppers, so I thought I'd try a batch of jalapeno salsa. I'm not sure if the salsa always turns out this spicy, or if these peppers were especially hot, but we ended up with the spiciest salsa I've ever tasted! It was quite good, if you could handle the heat!

Ingredients:
3 c. tomatoes, chopped, seeded, peeled and cored
3 c. jalapenos, chopped and seeded
1 c. chopped onion
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 T minced cilantro
2 tsp. oregano
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cumin
1 c. cider vinegar

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large sauce pan. Bring mixture to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Ladle hot salsa into hot jars, leaving 1/4 in. headspace
Place lids and rings on the jars.
Process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath canner.

***NOTE*** Definitely, definitely wear rubber gloves when chopping peppers! We wore double layers of rubber gloves and still had some burning!

Love in Christ,

Jalapeno Poppers

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:34:00 +0000

We were blessed with the excess peppers from a friend's garden this week. She had called to ask if I'd like two gallons of peppers...it ended up being several very full grocery bags worth! So, what to do with all of these peppers? We had already made hot pepper jelly, and thought making poppers for the freezer sounded like just the right idea.

My friend Linda shared her recipe with me. They are delightfully yummy, and easy to freeze for a great snack to have on hand.

Ingredients:
1 lb. jalapenos
1 pkg. cream cheese
2 c. shredded cheese
6 strips of bacon, fried and crumbled
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt

cracker crumbs for rolling

Directions:
Slice jalapenos lengthwise and remove seeds.

Mix together cream cheese, shredded cheese, crumbled bacon and seasonings. Fill jalapenos with cream cheese mixture.

To freeze:
Place on baking sheet and put in freezer. Once they have frozen individually you can place them in a freezer bag to store.

When ready to cook: defrost and then roll in crushed cracker crumbs. (the crumbs really only stick to the top part)

Bake at 300 degrees.
20 minutes for hot poppers
30 minutes for medium poppers
40 minutes for mild poppers

In His Precious Name,

Hot Pepper Jelly

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:24:00 +0000

My dear friend Hannah gave me a gallon of hot peppers from her garden, so I thought I'd make a batch of hot pepper jelly.

The jelly was so pretty. It turned out mild and the children really liked the taste.

Jacob enjoyed helping me chop the bell peppers.

Ingredients:
2 1/2 c. red bell peppers, chopped and seeded
1 1/4 c. green bell peppers, chopped and seeded
1/4 c. hot peppers, chopped and seeded
1 c. apple cider vinegar
2 pkg. pectin (or 1 pkg. if runnier spread is desired)
5 c. white sugar

Directions:
Place peppers, vinegar, and pectin in large sauce pan over high heat. Stir constantly. Bring to a full boil. Quickly stir in sugar, return to a full boil. Boil for exactly one minute. Ladle off foam and put into hot jars. Leave 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and place lids and rings onto the jars. Process in boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

In His Name,

Picnic at the Eicher's

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:13:00 +0000

The church had a picnic gathering at the Eicher's home yesterday. There was grilled chicken and green beans and lots and lots of yummy pies!

The children ran and played and the youth played volleyball. Once the sun went down we all sat around the fire. It was cold, but the fire felt nice. The children enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the fire, and we sipped coffee to keep warm.

What a nice evening of fellowship!

Blessings Abound,

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:37:00 +0000

A friend of mine had mentioned making pumpkin pie oatmeal and I thought it sounded like a breakfast treat that my little clan would enjoy. The result was a warm and delicious Fall breakfast!

Here's what I put together:
6 c. water
3 c. quick cooking oats
1 c. pumpkin puree
6 T brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

It was taste-tested by all of the Goodman men, and they approve!

With Love in Christ,

James is TWO!

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:58:00 +0000

I can't believe my baby boy is two years old today! He has grown from our 8lb preemie who loved the cuddles of his brothers to a determined little boy who wants to do everything they do! It's such a joy to watch him blossom into his own personality.

It was especially sweet to watch his excitement over his birthday. This year he understood that this was a special day all about him! As soon as he woke up, his brothers showered him with attention and birthday blessings. He excitedly chattered all morning "It my burtday!" He was very excited as we put up birthday decorations and kept singing Happy Birthday to himself.

James' favorite thing to do is play outside, so we spent a big part of the day doing just that! We were blessed with perfect Fall weather, and a bounty of colorful leaves on the ground to enjoy!

What could be more fun than a tractor cake for a boy who loves to watch tractors?

He quickly figured out that opening presents is not only fun, but rather rewarding as well! Such fun to pull brightly colored paper from the bags! It was also really neat to see his brothers excited to give him their presents. Joshua picked a special bear from his bear collection and Jacob a dog from his dog collection. Joseph gave him "nannies" with monkeys (because Joseph loves monkeys!).

Happy birthday little James!

The Big Boys' Room

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:35:00 +0000

We had a bit of a challenge when planning out the decor for our big boys' bedrooms. So much of what's available for boys is character themed. Since that's not something that's a part of our lives, we didn't really want it in our home. When we first moved to Missouri, we found this bedding set. We really liked the colors, and since we have a Bear who lives in the room, it seemed rather fitting!

Jacob's bed.

Joshua's bed.

I started this cross-stitch project during our first year of marriage, and it took nearly three years, off and on, to finish it! It's the most detailed one I've ever done. It doesn't look nearly so complicated, but there was so much subtle detail work in it. It was quite satisfying once it was finished. When we decided on a bear/camping/lodge type them for the big boys' room, it just seemed to belong on their wall.

A nice little reading corner! Joshua picked out these rock posters from Mardel for his fourth birthday. You have to love a little boy who loves the rock cycle! He's been asking for a rock tumbler...I may just have to start looking for one!

I'm also quite thankful that this old house actually has closets in the upstairs bedrooms. Actually, even better than just having closets, it actually has big walk-in closets! It almost makes up for not having a closet in our bedroom. ;)

Blessings,

Fall Crafting

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 22:02:00 +0000

Making glitter pumpkins has become almost a yearly tradition in our family, ever since I came across the idea six years ago. It's a really simple craft, but one that we always enjoy making. It adds sparkle and fun to our Fall decor! I have learned though, that this is one project best done outside!

I wasn't sure if James would actually make one himself, but he got right in there and picked up a brush and started painting the glue onto his pumpkin! I was quite impressed. He actually really enjoys crafts! He really didn't make that big of a mess either...

Little Bear always takes his projects very seriously. He likes to make sure to do a thorough job! I love watching him carefully paying attention to detail...it's such a contrast from his often rough and tumble ways.

Sometimes you just have to get a little glue on your hands and a little glitter in your hair, but it sure makes life enjoyable!

Mama made one, too!

Our finished pumpkins, ready for the dining table centerpiece!

We also decorated our pumpkins for the outdoor display. The three large pumpkins say "Count Your Blessings", and each child has a small pie pumpkin with their name on it.

Love in Christ,

Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Nothing says "Fall" like a day at the pumpkin patch. The weather was perfect for a day of fun at Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch.

We had a lunch of brats, kettle corn and apple slush before heading into the petting barn where we saw all sort of cute farm friends.

The boys had a blast riding the big tractor trikes around the race track! Then we meandered our way through a hay bale maze before taking a hayride out to the pumpkin patch!

The boys each picked out their own pumpkin. They were excited to take them home to use them in creating a Fall display!

We played on the playground and then finished off our fun with a train ride and a pumpkin doughnut!

Fall Blessings,

September Happenings

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:00:00 +0000

I finally finished a project that's been on my "to-do" list for nearly nine years. Yes, nearly nine years! When we bought our dining room furniture, I loved the furniture itself, but didn't like the white upholstery on the chairs. White plus dining room chairs equals disastrous as far as I'm concerned! (not to mention a house full of boys only multiplies that!) A few months ago I was so blessed to be invited to an estate sale with two of my favorite ladies. The sale was all sorts of fabrics and notions from a man who'd been a tailor for many, many years. I found a roll of upholstery fabric for $10. As soon as I saw it I just knew it was perfect for the dining room chairs! I was even further excited when I saw the original price...$29 a yard! I figured out that I had well over ten yards on the roll! What a deal! I had never actually recovered chairs my self, but I remember watching my mother do it when I was a little girl. I just knew it was something I'd want to try! I'm so glad I finally can cross this one off of my list. I love the finished result!

We were so blessed to attend the birthday party of a friend's little boy. We'd been at his first birthday celebration as well, so it was extra special to be there for his second! I'm so blessed by all of the friends that God has placed in our lives!

Our friends sent these tool belts home for the older boys. So fun!

This beautiful girl wandered into our hearts this month. She showed up mysteriously on our road and we were never able to locate her previous owners. We decided to let her stay and she has made herself right at home. She adores the boys, and his such a little "mama" dog. She loves to watch over them as they play outside. We had wondered where she came from, or how she ended up here, but the longer she's been here, the more I've come to believe that maybe God sent her to be a part of our family!

My little boys are getting big! Where does the time go?

Blue tongues! We had some fun with blue slushy drinks. The boys thought their "polar bear" tongues were quite cool!

We've been hard at work on painting and decorating projects around the house. Now that we have been in the house almost a year, it's about time to start making it truly a home!

This month little Jamie has been busy with becoming big Jamie! He's been eagerly watching how his brothers do things and jumping in to do it, too. He seems to be growing by leaps and bounds right now.

Love in Christ,

The Last Days of Summer, The First Days of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:54:00 +0000

We've been cherishing these last warm days as Summer draws to a close and Fall's door opens. Since moving to Happy Hearts Farm, we've really discovered the simple joy of just being in God's creations. The smell of the earth around us, the sounds of the birds and breezes, the beauty of this land He created. It's hard not to be joyful!

Joseph has learned to ride his big boy bike and he's quite proud of himself! He can keep up with the other two, now! The boys new favorite thing is to race their bikes down the gravel driveway (and give Mama a small heart attack!)

I think we could just about live outside when the weather's nice. We are trying to savor every minute of it before it gets too cold and snowy!

A picture of brotherhood...Joseph scraped his ankle on his bike pedal. Jacob immediately offered to run get him a band-aid, and Joshua got into the chair with him to hug on him. It was precious to watch his brothers show him such kindness. A little while later, Joseph was trying to ride his bike back up the hill, but was struggling to make it. Jacob got behind him and helped to push him up the hill. It just made Joseph's day! Yes, my heart felt very full!

In His Abundant Joy,

Canning Peaches

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:31:00 +0000

What do you do with seventy five pounds of peaches? Why, can them of course! :)

Jacob helped me to peel the first half bushel. (Don't throw out those peels, we can use them later for Sunrise Jelly!)

After peeling, simply slice the peaches as desired. I like to slice mine in slightly smaller pieces than store bought canned peaches since we are in the "young children" phase of life and I'd need to slice them again before giving them to my "littles". (When slicing, save those pits, too! Just add them to the bowl with all of the peels.)

Prepare jars and lids as usual for water bath canning.

You'll want to treat the peaches to prevent browning after they are canned. You can use a product like Fruit Fresh, or you can use a solution of lemon juice and water. I use 1 T of lemon juice per cup of water.

While the peaches are soaking, prepare the syrup. I make a light syrup using 9 c. of water and 2 1/4 c. of sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat and keep at a simmer.

Drain the peaches and place into the simmering pot of syrup. Bring to a boil. Boil for five minutes and then remove from heat.

Fill hot jars with hot fruit mixture. Leave 1/2 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles by sliding a spatula along the inside of the jar and gently pressing against the peaches. Using a damp cloth, wipe the rims of the jars. Place lids and rings on jars.

Process for 25 minutes in water bath canner.

Delicious home canned peaches to enjoy all Winter long!

In Him Who First Loved Us,

"God's Little Worker Bee"

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:56:00 +0000

The other week someone referred to me as "God's little worker bee". I thought it was such an interesting thing to say. After thinking about it a while, I realized, yes, perhaps we are called to be God's little worker bees.

But, how am I doing God's work? I am just a homemaker, just a mama, just a wife. My days would be considered mundane to many, full of diapers and baby rocking and meal making and laundry and nose wiping and cuddles and school and cleaning and child training and, and, and... Nothing that's "exciting", just simple things. Gathering eggs or pulling weeds. Having a talk about being kind to your brother. Teaching letters and numbers. Singing songs about joy. Baking bread. Canning peaches. Fixing a hem. Sewing a button on a pajama shirt...

Oh wait! These are the things God called me to do! These are important works in God's Kingdom!

Yes, we've been busy lately. I've been busy lately. With the garden doing well, and our friends' sharing their excess with us, there's been lots to can! With growing boys there have been new pajamas to sew. With eager minds wanting to learn, there has been lots of school work to do. With boys who are learning and growing come characters that need developing! I suppose I have been busy with being God's little worker bee. :)

I am so blessed to be a worker bee in God's Kingdom.

Love in His Precious Name,

Canning Peach Pie Filling

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Prepare lids and jars as usual for water bath canning.

Ingredients:

6 qts of sliced peaches

7 c. sugar

2 c. plus 3 T Clear Jel

5 1/4 c. cold water

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 3/4 c. lemon juice (plus lemon juice for soaking)

We had frozen a 25lb. box of peaches (we ended up using all of these for this recipe!) due to not having enough time to can them immediately. Rick had read about a neat trick to peel frozen peaches. I have to admit that I was skeptical, but it worked like a charm! Simply hold the peach under cold running water and rub gently. The skin comes right off!

After peeling, simply slice to the size you want for your pie filling, and remove pits. Soak sliced peaches in water and lemon juice (or a product like Fruit Fresh) to keep them from turning brown. I use a solution of 1 T of lemon juice per cup of water.

Combine water, sugar, Clear Jel and cinnamon into a large kettle. Stir and cook over medium high heat until the mixture thickens and begins to bubble.

Add lemon juice and boil for one minute more, stirring constantly.

Add in drained peaches, and heat mixture for three minutes. (Note- I had to change kettles due to a slight miscalculation on the size I'd need. Oops!)

Fill hot jars, leaving one inch of headspace. Gently tap jars to remove air bubbles. Wipe the top of jars with a damp cloth to clean, and then place lids and rings on the jars.

Process for 30 minutes in a water bath canner.

The final result is a delicious peach pie filling that will be such a blessing all Winter through!

**From the half bushel that we used for this recipe, we yielded 8 qts. of pie filling. **

Corn Cob Jelly

noreply@blogger.com (Melly Elizabeth) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:25:00 +0000

This time of year sweet corn is everywhere we look. We're surrounded by corn. Fields of corn or soybeans seem to line every road and highway around. Delicious creamed corn has become a staple on our menu!

So, then what to do with all of the leftover cobs (aside from letting the little one play with them)? I saw this recipe for Corn Cob Jelly and just had to give it a try! The result is a delicious jelly that tastes just like honey.

I do believe we've found a new tradition to our Summer...making creamed corn for the freezer and corn cob jelly for the pantry!

*Warning* This recipe does contain an unreal amount of sugar!

Ingredients:
24 cobs of sweet corn
8 cups of water
2 boxes of powdered fruit pectin
8 cups of sugar
yellow food coloring (optional)

Directions:
While preparing the recipe, heat jars and lids as you would for any water bath canning recipe.
Use cobs after the corn has been cut off for another recipe. Place cobs and water in a large stock pot. The water will not cover the cobs, but this is fine. Bring to a boil.
Boil for ten minutes.
Remove cobs and throw away.
You should have about 6 cups of liquid. You can add water if you are short.
Return the water to the stock pot and add the pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil.
Add sugar and return to a rolling boil. Boil for one minute.
Remove from heat and skim the foam from the top. You can reheat this foam to make a little extra jelly for the refrigerator.
Pour hot jelly into hot jars. Place the lids and rings on.
Process for ten minutes in a water bath canner.
Add a few drops of yellow food coloring.

In Him Who First Loved Us,