"jewish penicillian" and God's blessings....

I'm sick. I seem to have caught what others in my family had...a bad chest cold that just drains you to exhaustion, makes your muscles and head ache....and gives you a nasty cough! As the day progressed yesterday, I just felt worse....some ibuprophen and a hot shower helped...but I caught it anyway. I've spent the past 3 days resting.

I managed yesterday to make 20 quarts of chicken stock....I think I put in at least 13 large cloves of garlic! I had heard that a Jewish grandmothers chicken soup would cure anything that ails you...and I've been making it for years! I only got up from resting to strain the broth, cook the rice and finish the soup. Delicious!

One huge blessing today, was that I was reunited with an old friend from my childhood, Jolyn. She and her family lived behind us when we were growing up, then they moved to Ohio. The last time I saw her, was in 1992 when Ron and I met she and her husband, Mike, for dinner. Then, we lost touch. I was overjoyed to hear that she found my sister thru the internet, then she and I emailed. When I saw her email address, I was thrilled...and immediately thought "She's a believer!"

Yesterday, she called me. She, also, was sick with a bad sinus cold...so we both climbed into our beds to rest and talked....and talked and talked! We talked for almost 2 1/2 hours! And probably could have talked much longer! We told each other our testimonies, the things the Lord has done in our lives, our struggles, all about our children, our churches...we laughed! We can't wait to get together! I found out that she is only about 40 minutes away from another friend of mine in Ohio! What a wonderful coincidence. I will be visiting both of them this summer.

How the Lord cares for me!!!! He provides the means for hot, healthy soup, He has blessed me with a wonderful, hardworking, caring husband and children who love and care for me when I'm sick(the girls helped with the Littles, and Meghan made yummy coffee bars that both girls brought to me in bed)...and He has been bringing me fellow 'sisters in Christ' as new friends a lot lately...as well as deepening and strengthening old friendships. He is so good to me!!! I am abundantly blessed! Now...to rest with my little ones and enjoy His blessings! Have a blessed Sabbath rest! ~Sue~

Movie Review: Kit Kittredge An American Girl

This highly anticipated movie came out July 2nd, 2008. Starring Abigail Breslin, Julia Ormond, Chris O' Donnel, and Joan Cusack; this movie is packed with a star studded cast. Loosely based on the six books in the Kit Kittredge series, this movie is beauiful, telling the story of nine year old Kit who dreams of being published in the Cincinnati Register. So when her father leaves to find a job, her mother takes in boarders, and hobos come to work for them; she finds a bunch of things to write about. But when a thief comes around, will Kit and her friends, Ruthie and Sterling, figure out the criminal before it's too late? And why won't her father write? These questions and more are answered in this phenomenal movie, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.

Good Parts:

It's terribly important to Kit that she solve the case and get back her mom's money, because if she doesn't, they'll lose their house and maybe their family. Family unity is a huge deal to Kit—and this movie. When her dad tells her he can't find work in Ohio and must go to Chicago for a while, Kit cries, "You said we were going to be OK. We're not OK if we're not together!" Indeed, it's not OK until Dad comes back home.
Kit struggles with embarrassment and shame when she and her family join the ranks of those who have to raise chickens and sell eggs to make ends meet. But by film's end, she's come fully to grips with her situation, and has found lots of ways to make sweet lemonade out of the sour lemons the economy has handed her and her neighbors. For his part, Dad becomes an object lesson in never giving up when times get tough. "Don't let it beat you," he tells Kit. "We can't let it beat us, sweetheart." Then he takes his own advice.

Bad Parts:

Very few. The thieves chase the children through the woods, finally trapping them in the hobo camp. There's a brief scuffle and then someone clangs the flat part of a shovel against a baddie's head. That dissuades any further confrontation. A "darn," a "holy cow," a "golly" and three exclamations of "oh my gosh." Name-calling is limited to one "moron" and accusations of "good for nothing" and "freeloader."

Summary:

I loved this movie and it is one of my favorites! The acting was great, the story line was very intriguing, and the message was good. I highly recommend this movie to anyone!

*Parts of Review taken from Plugged In Online. No Copyright Infringment Intended; for entertainment use only. I do not own anything*

Some Wonderful Friends

"A true friend shares your heart, your dreams and your faith-" Unknown.

Today was so much fun! While Ronnie and Anna saw a movie with our grandparents, Dad dropped Sara and I off at Michaela and Morgan's house. Our families have been friends for almost ten years. :) Sara and I have been especially close with Michaela and Morgan-who are, like us, the oldest and second-oldest children/daughters in their household. :)

Sara and Me

Michaela and Morgan

It all started in Keeper's at Home, a monthly mother-daughter Bible study run by Mum and our friend Mrs. Mckee. It was held in Pleasant Hills at a small church right next to the library. There were many moms and daughters who attended and to this day most of us are all still friends.

Morgan and Sara

To my memory, the first time I met Michaela was when we were studying the 'Friendship' chapter in our Keeper's at Home books. To mix things up a little bit, Mum decided to 'assign' each girl to sit and talk to another girl who they really hadn't met yet. I had initially wanted to sit and talk with my oldest friend, Alaina (so I wouldn't have to get out of my comfort zone) but since we were such good friends, Mum had me sit next to Michaela. I'm so glad she did!!!!! We have a picture, somewhere, of Michaela and I sitting there and talking. :) We both had the same hairdo. That infamous late nineties bowl-cut. :) I was incredibly shy when I was younger and still am sort of shy around new people today. Michaela and I, after sitting there for a few awkward minutes, began talking. About (what else!?) books we enjoyed, movies, etc. She brought up Sound of Music and I went, "OH! I LOVE that movie!" I told her my favorite character was Lisle and my favorite part was the 'Sixteen, Going on Seventeen' song. I really haven't changed much have I? :)

Michaela, in a little book she made me called, "The Fun/Friendship Files of Meghan and Michaela," had a slightly different version to how we met: We were in VBS class at the little church next to the library. (the same where Keeper's was held) The older group was so crowded full that Morgan and I got put in the younger group. On the other side! It turns out we were sitting right next to Sara. I don't remember who said, "Hi" first, but soon we were all chattering in quiet whispers. I remember Sara was telling me about you and even pointed you out. Being the unobservant 7 year old, I couldn't spot you, but pretended to politely. After classes we went home and told Mom all about Sara. (I still hadn't spoke to you!) Then, lo and behold, that next day after classes, our Moms were talking! I believe your mom invited Mom to some kind of Fish meeting, but I'm not sure. It was at your old house, though! When we arrived, I was so shy tomeet you, since I had only known Sara. Then your mom pointed you out; you had on a blue smock and were painting a picture on a pastic easel. I can remember the scene vividly. However, after the first "Hi's" I can't clearly remember what happened next. I just know that it was one of those friendships that just clicked.

It certainly did!

To sum it all up...the rest is history! Since then, we've been pen-pals and for about three-four years now, we've been saving each other's letters. :) Today, Michaela and I looked through my old letters and laughed uproariously about my many 'worries' and 'obsessions.' What made me want to cry was when after I asked jokingly, "How did you ever put up with my silly ramblings about High School Musical and my 'youth group woes'?" She just smiled her beautifully dazzling smile and said, "Meghan! You're my friend! I don't have to put up with you!"

Today, when we got together, we exchanged Christmas gifts. Albeit belatedly. Sara got an adorable picture and picture frame with a picture of her and Morgan inside of it. Morgan decopauged it herself and it looks wonderful! There will be a post by Sara a little later about her and Morg's adventure. :) Hee hee!!

Michaela's Christmas gift to me was a beautiful writing binder. She made it and designed it to suit all my writing needs. :) It was specially made for books and stories I write. I told her all about a plan for a series of books and sent her all the information about each girl, her life, time-period, etc. Unbeknownst to me Michaela used this information for the binder cover. Each book is going to be mainly about one young woman who has struggles and unique trials in a unique time period. And they are all going to be related. Each woman will have a daughter and then the next book will be about that daughter, etc. I'll let the pictures speak for the beautiful binder:

The beeee-U-tiful cover.

A wonderful surprise on the back! :)

The really cool character outlines Michaela put in the binder for me to write about any new characters in my stories. :)

An adorable folder where I can put all my stories, outlines and chapters. :)

A lovely 'character sketches' and notes. I am FOREVER losing my jotted notes or outlines about my characters so this is SO helpful. :)



A list of all the books in my series with the main character, ages, time period, etc.

Michaela is one of my dearest friends. I think it's safe to say that next to my family, she's my closest friend. I hope to be as good a friend to her as she is to me. She is such a wonderful person, sister-in-Christ, encourager and friend.

Love you always, Michaela!

Mercy, contentment...and quiet trust

This is not a 'political' blog....not that I may never share my thoughts, but it is a family blog...with an emphasis ( I hope!) on simple things, gratefulness and contentment....grounded in love and gratitude for what Christ, my savior, has done!

That said...I, along with many people, I'm sure...have been thinking about what the next 4 years may look like in our country under the new leadership of President Obama. I pray that he be led by our Lord....that his advisors also be guided by the Holy Spirit...and decisions are made prayerfully and biblically.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I seldom worry much. I used to worry about everything...but over the years, God has filled me with such a peace with His presence! I know WHO is in control...not just of my life, but of our country and the world...and I TRUST Him. All I can do is simply to live my life, minute by minute following in trust and obedience to what He is revealing for me and our family.

One of the things that the Lord has been continuously reminding me of recently is mercy. His great mercy towards me...and my obligation, again, out of love and gratitude to Him...to show mercy to others...whether that be my husband, my children....and our leaders. Last night, at our small group, a friend shared the following definition of mercy: "Mercy is the kind, sympathetic, and forgiving treatment of others that works to relieve their distress and cancel their debt."

How much mercy has the Lord shown me?! Oh, my goodness...it is immeasurable! How much more should I show it to others. Not because they deserve it or ask for it....because we are commanded to in scripture...and I WANT to obey... again,out of love and gratitude.

I am filled with peace....I do wonder what will happen with the economy... and how it will continue to effect us....but the Lord has been very, very clear that He will ALWAYS meet our needs...and we must not worry, but have a quiet reassurance of His care of us. He has been leading me, ( I feel) to quietly get prepared for some hardships....and I'm gratefully, quietly, preparing. What does that look like here? Well....we've always been fascinated by the time period of the Great Depression. We studied it extensively in history a few years ago...and have continued to study it out of interest. So....for us, it is getting some more clothes lines and clothes pins...for inside and outside. (I LOVE hanging clothes)....it is buying a few extra cans each week when we go shopping and filling up the pantry. It is learning to plan more meatless , whole grain meals....to fill bellies and be healthier. It is culturing more of our food, and buying less supplements. It's making our own laundry soap and cleaning products. It's planning on planting some veggies this year...and canning and dehydrating a lot this coming year...and planning for it. It is looking around at what we already have....and reusing it for something else. It's making homemade gifts as much as possible. It's making logs to burn in the fireplace out of old newspapers. ( will let you all know how that one works!) It's using a travel mug of our own coffee instead of stopping at Star Bucks. It's using more towels and rags instead of paper towels. It's always having an extra tank of propane for the grill filled...just in case. It's having people over instead of going out to dinner at a restaraunt. It's also reading about alternative ways of doing things....which, interestingly enough, usually are the 'old-fashioned' way of doing things. It's getting out in nature....walking, riding bikes, playing in the snow...instead of going shopping or to an expensive movie. It's getting "creatively frugal"...and getting excited about it! Looking at simplifying even more...and viewing it as a fun challenge to do as a family.

Again....I'm not going into any crazy "Y2K" emergency crisis thinking here. But...if the Lord is putting on my heart to do these things...then I'm going to quietly trust Him, and obey...and trust Him to handle the details. And, I'm going to teach my children to live simply...to trust in God, to learn to do things the 'old-fashioned' way....to get/stay out of debt...to work hard and save. To be creative. And...to always remember who is always, always in control of our world...and it's not President Obama, or any other world leader...it is and always has been simply.....Our God.

Now...I seem to have caught the cold that everyone else in my family already had...so before I completely cannot hold my head up, I'm off to get a pot of split pea soup simmering, and the ingredients mixed for some gluten free cornbread that the girls can finish when they get home....then I'm off to bed. Hopefully, I'll feel better tomorrow. I hate to be up in bed even when I'm sick...away from everyone. I miss them! I'd rather rest in the rocker or on the couch under a blanket so I can at least be with them. The girls are off visiting with friends for the afternoon, the Littles are at the movies with grandparents, Ron is shopping at Costco...then they will all be home again. The quiet is nice...but only for a little while! Have a blessed day...and Pittsburgh...enjoy the warmth of the sun while it lasts! ~Sue~

Today was.....a "Ty" day!!!!

I promise, I won't post quite so many pictures every time I have Ty! But...today was a "typical Ty day" at our house. Whenever we watch him...we are all so enthralled with him, that we just make a huge fuss over him. We say that in our house, Ty is a celebrity! For those of you who might not know...Ty is my sweet little nephew...6 1/2 months old. I thought it would be fun to post about Ty's day today! (especially for my Mom who is away in Alabama (where it is WARM) helping my aunt recover from surgery...and is missing everyone!)Look at these eyes....he is a heartbreaker, isn't he?!
As we were sitting at the table eating our oatmeal...I was surrounded by everyone wanting to be close to me....or is it close to Ty?!

Ty is also a huge 'Star Wars' fan...he comes by it honestly...his cousins are into it, and he inherited it from his dad...who still has all of his origional Star Wars figures and sets from when he was little!

This little boy gets tons of "tummy time" here....look at this smile!

When he is having tummy time or just playing on the floor...there are at least 2 or more others with him, encouraging his crawling skills, and entertaining him!

This is Sara and Ty making a video on her laptop! Scroll down to the end if you would like to watch the video. I am on the other side of the door playing "peek-a-boo" and making him laugh!

I love this one! Anna has helped all day with Ty! She helped with changing his diapers and here she is snapping him back up! He loves watching her!

Ty discovered 'Lightening McQueen' today! He talks...

This is the smile I got when I sneaked up on him to get him up from his nap! How sweet is that?!

Oh, my....either I am terribly out of practice with this or he is a messy eater! Peas go in.....

And....peas come out! He actually DID eat the whole jar...I just kept scooping them back in again!

Here he is with his favorite Uncle Ron! Every time he hears Ron's voice, he doesn't take his eyes off of him...it is so funny! I told them to put their bald heads together for a picture!

Now, Daddy ( my brother-in-law Todd) came to take him home. It was funny...he was playing with Ron on the floor, but as soon as he saw Dad...he got a 'boo boo' lip and wanted his Daddy! It was so cute!

Here he is ready to go home in what we call his "escape pod"!

~And....we get to have him again tomorrow! ( I hope she sends bananas instead of peas!) What a joy it is for all of us to get to have him all to ourselves a couple times a week! We enjoy him so much! I realize that there are no pictures of Meghan with Ty...but she took a lot of them, and she hates to get her picture taken! I'll get some of her with him tomorrow! Scroll down a little bit for the video of Ty and Sara. Now it is time to light a fire and relax with my little ones while the girls get ready for a busy day tomorrow! ~Sue~

Here is the video: hope you all like it!

Snow and Goodies

Today was great for me! Once I got all my school work done, I decided to call and ask a friend who lives up the street if she needed me to pick up her daughter from the bus stop (right down the street) rather than take her 1 year old out in the cold. She said they were planning on playing in the snow anyways, so I invited them to our house for some winter fun! Snow can be a menace, but it can also be great! Here are some pictures of our snow fun!Anna loves making snow angels, then making smiley faces on them!

Ronnie sliding down the hill on the toboggan! I think he was about to bail out!

Ronnie was making a, "Jedi Angel"... he made a light sabre on it!

After our snow day, we came back inside and just chilled (Ha ha, get it?) until dinner was ready. With a yummy dinner of lentil rice casserole (see previous post) and veggies, I cleaned up the kitchen while my mom went to Michael's to buy more yarn for her scarf. As I was drying a pot, I noticed a gluten free cook book on the counter. I picked it up and found a recipe that looked really easy, so I asked my mom if I could make it and she agreed. One stipulation: I had to clean every scrap up. I said yes, and got to work. It is also Tuesday, so this post will also be my taste tester Tuesday because I made successful gluten free brownies! They tasted real, and everyone loved them! Here is a picture of the dessert and one of me, holding my prize!

I must say, these were really tasty!

The cook book is Special Diet Solutions by Carol Fenster, Ph.D and it's a great book! She also wrote Wheat-Free Recipes and Menus and Special Diet Celebrations. The recipe for the brownies is on page 115. Here is the recipe and it's definitely a keeper!

Gluten Free Brownies

1/2 cup of brown rice flour

1/4 cup potato starch

1/4 cup tapioca starch

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 TSP. baking powder

1/2 TSP. salt

1/2 TSP un-sweetened gelatin

1/3 cup canola oil

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

2 TSP. Vanilla extract

1/3 cup hot water

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 11x7 pan. Stir together dry ingredients (From flour to gelatin) then set the bowl aside. In a large mixing bowl (This is where the K-Tec comes in handy!) beat the oil, sugars, egg and vanilla on medium speed until mixed. With the mixer on a low speed, add the dry ingredients and the water to the mix. Mix until just blended, and the mixture should look somewhat thick. Stir in 1/3 cup chocolate chips, then spread the batter in the prepared pan with a wet spatula. Bake for 25 minutes, then let cool for 10 minutes. Cut into nice size pieces, it makes 12 brownies.

Menu Plan Monday...sort of!

Ok...I KNOW it is Tuesday...but better late than never! We had so many leftovers from the party on Sunday and company yesterday...that yesterday was a leftover day! I'm back to trying to culture kefir, and the girls and I are racking our brains for menus including snacks that have the maximum nutrition for the least amount of money...hence, culturing our food and eating healthier! Even Sara, my favorite junk-food junkie, said to me last night " Mum....I can't wait to get back to really healthy, gluten free eating again....I'm sick of feeling sick and tired!"....for that to come from Sara was amazing! God is doing a work on her heart. Seems since Ronnie's surgery, we've all had SOMETHING...either the stomach virus that was going around or now...seems we're fighting off colds and coughs...no one is "sick in bed" sick....just tired, sniffly and coughing a little. Also, since Thanksgiving until recently, we've been eating the "SAD"...standard American diet...even fast food, which we normally don't eat... So....along with our menu, we're trying to make our carrot juice everyday, a kefir smoothy every day, fruit, salads, veggies....I'm getting a lot of cabbage into us....and hopefully, we'll start back on our "green lemonade" again as well. I don't list these things on the menus, because they are 'in-between' meals. The girls and I were talking about canning a lot this summer and fall....we want to make a plan starting with the greens in spring . We're just finishing up the grape jam I made last summer....it was so good this morning on gluten free crepes! Ok....here's the plan for the week! ~Sue~

Tuesday
gluten free crepes with homemade grape jam
leftover seafood salad and spinach dip on beds of romaine and spinach with cucumbers
brown rice/lentil casserole with green beans and steamed carrots

Wednesday
oatmeal, bananas and juice
gluten free pumpkin bread, vanilla yogart, and pineapple
venison steaks, mushrooms, peppers, salad and oven fries

Thursday
cereal, bananas, juice (have to be out the door early!)
cheesy eggs, pototoes, fruit
chicken and vegetables with brown rice pasta

Friday
gluten free blueberry pancakes
gluten free banana bread, yogart and fruit
chicken and rice soup, sweet potato biscuits (gf) and salad

Saturday
oatmeal and fruit
veggie omelets and potatoes
(Maggie's birthday party) at 6pm....have to think of a filling, healthy "appetizer" to take!

~Parties are tough....there is so much wonderful tasting food...most of it very unhealthy for us...but boy, does it take a lot of self-discipline! Wouldn't miss this party for the world, though! Our cousins, John and Kim's little girl Maggie turned 8 on the same day that Ronnie turned 7. Please keep Kim in your prayers! She is on high doses of chemo for a rare autoimmune disease...and after just speaking with her...in spite of the high doses...she is still having a flareup right now. Thank you for your prayers! Have a blessed day! ~Sue~

Abundantly blessed!

As a friend recently pointed out to me....I am abundantly blessed! Not only having all our family over yesterday....but, oh the friends that the Lord has blessed us with!!!! Some of our friends came to visit this morning and stayed for lunch....and others are stopping here for a short visit before leaving for Disney World tomorrow! ( she is graciously allowing me to "babysit" her new Taste of Home cookbooks for her while she is away!) And....tonight Meghan and Sara and I have our "Maiden's" bible study...more good fellowship, encouragment and friendship! I can truly say that "our cup runneth over...."with family, friends and fellowship! ( which is why my "Menu Plan Monday" is going to be a little bit late!) Here are some pictures from our morning visit! Here is my good friend, Danielle...another old neighbor...thank goodness, we still get together! She makes me laugh so much!
Here is her youngest son, Jude Francis...I love, love, love his 'Hanna Anderson' hat!

This is her beautiful daughter, Isabelle...I taught her to crochet today and sent her home with some cool pink yarn and a hook....she caught on right away!

Jude was hysterical with this little broom...he swept the whole time he was here!

Ronnie and Miles being "jedi"!

These handsome boys have known each other since birth...I love looking at the old pictures over the years from the time they were babies until now! They have a lot of fun when they get together!

Now....I am off to read 2 chapters and prepare for our study tonight! Thank goodness dinner is leftover from yesterdays party....I am wiped out! Tomorrow, it's lots of laundry and I think, a big pot of chicken and rice soup! ~Sue~