Happy 14th Birthday, Sara!!!!!

My beautiful daughter, Sara, turned 14 years old yesterday! Happy Birthday, Sara!!! We celebrated ALL day! She had her birthday breakfast request of chocolate chip muffins, then her grandfather took her to lunch...then a friend came over, had dinner...then the girls got ready for a small costume party with her very dearest friends. It was much smaller than last year...but equally as much fun! Sara was "Cinderella"...she looked so beautiful!
I love this picture of Sara and our friend, Alaina, getting "dolled up" for the party.

Loved this image of Meghan getting ready as well...

Above: Elissa, Michaela, Tess, Morgan and Rachel

The girls all had tons of fun, playing games like 'charades', 4 on a couch, and 'catch phrase'....lots of laughs and lots of snacks, too!

Above: Sarah, Alaina, Meghan, Ariana, my niece Tina ..and little crazy Anna
My wonderful daughters, Meghan & Sara....best friends!

Sara and Mom
The Gang....

Everyone had a fun time....I love having all the girls friends over! What wonderful memories were made last night.

Tomorrow...is my little Anna's 5th birthday....I cannot believe my baby will be 5!!! You know this means....another party! This one should be around 30 people...a big family party for both of the girls. We're celebrating my mother-in-laws birthday as well, since hers is today. Today was spent sleeping in from last night...then cleaning and lots of cooking for tomorrow...twice baked potatoes, pepperoni roll, buffalo chicken dip...and I made 20 quarts of turkey stock for soup for dinner....I AM WOOPED!!! My niece is spending the weekend with us, so tonight the gang is going to watch a special movie...then it is early to bed for everyone! Thanks for celebrating with us! ~Sue~

Baby Love! Abigail Anne Goettel

Welcome to God's world, Abigail Anne Goettel!!! Born Tuesday November 3, 2009 Abigail weighed 10lb 1 oz!!! She is the 7th daughter and 8th child of our dear friends, Brint and Marla Goettel. I had the great pleasure and privilege to visit with Abigail and Marla last night at the hospital. Oh, how I loved snuggling her!!! Below, here she is wrapped in the flannelette blanket I made for her....look at those cheeks!!! Isn't she beautiful?!

And my very dear friend , Marla, and Abigail. I kept telling her she was just glowing...Marla is truly an inspiration to me as a mother. No one is perfect, but she is truly a joyful mother of children...patient, gentle and cherishing each one. It is her oldest daughter, Courtney, who is getting married in December.

Newborn perfection! (the newborn diapers were too small, she needed a size 1)
OH, how I loved snuggling her! I got to change her diaper, and her little onesie, wrap her up and burp her.....I thought my baby craving days were over, but Abigail brought it all back again. I am so grateful that Marla asked me for the wedding to be in charge of Abigail...just to give her to her to nurse, and I'll take care of her the rest of the day. My arms and heart will be very full that day! God bless you, Abigail!!! We love you! ~Sue~

P.S....Mr. Fix It!

Well...today, he fixed the dryer completely, and the toilet...and rewired a plug in the livingroom...I am amazed at his abilities! I thank God for giving Ron these gifts! ~Sue~

When it rains...it pours...but he can fix it!

Well....seems like when something goes....lots of things start going! LOL I thank God everyday, that he gave Ron the mechanical mind to know how to fix things....I do NOT have that kind of mind, so it boggles me when he does it!

Our toilet is now running sporadically....he says he can fix it. Our 12 year old Chevy Suburban was leaking anti-freeze everywhere....he fixed it. Now, our 20 year old washer AND our 20 year old dryer are starting to bite the dust...and he can fix them!

He found the part he needs for the washer...only $29....lots less than a new washer! (But...since I wrote this...he fixed the washer himself...with stuff he had in his workbench...for FREE!!!) And....amazingly enough....he found a motor for our dryer for $100...and he can fix it....right now $129 dollars sounds like a lot...but compared to buying a new washer and dryer....it is saving us so much money!

I used to want those new washers and dryers....but now, am so grateful that I have a husband who can fix almost anything...and 3 long clotheslines in the basement for line drying inside! LOL

I guess this is another way to "go green"....or use some of the old fashioned depression wisdom ..."Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without"....I do NOT want to go without my washer and dryer...but I do love hanging clothes to dry...so until the motor and/or parts come in...I'll keep doing what I am doing and counting my blessings!

Now...I have to run out, in my 22 year old car (which gets the best gas mileage out of any of our cars)....which Ron paid $300 for...and yes, he can fix it! ~Sue~

Lessons from Grandma...Haluski!

I have learned so many life lessons from my mother and grandmother...and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could still talk with my Gram...she was truly one of my very favorite people, and I miss her terribily. So, I decided that I would periodically post a lesson from my Gram, whom our children called "Baba"...Slovak for grandmother. Today is a lesson in practicality, tradition and frugality...called Haluski. Now, my Great-Grandmother had 8 living children...and her husband and 4 sons all worked in the steel mill, so they had very big appetites...and very little money. This was a staple in their home....cabbage and onions were very cheap as were potatoes....add a little butter and a little flour...and you can feed a lot of people. To me...this is comfort food! Here is Baba's Haluski recipe. (and for those of you who only think of cabbage and noodles...think again!) Sautee chopped cabbage and 1 onion in lots of butter until translucent and soft...add salt and pepper
In the meantime, here I peeled 3 large potatoes and added them to my food processor along with 4 eggs, salt & pepper, 2 tblsp oil...and processed until fairly smooth. Now Gram, never had a food processor...and as she taught me to cook since I was a little girl, I have many memories of scraped and bleeding knuckles, and sore muscles from grating the potatoes by hand and mixing the flour in until it felt as if my arm would fall off....technology is good for some things! LOL

Gram also didn't have this handy pot with holes in it and a handle. She would put the dough onto a dinner plate, and we would use the back of a spoon to scrape little bits into a pot of boiling water...hence, scalded fingers, too! But...I brought a large pot of water to boil, then dumped the dough into my handy dandy pot and simply turned, and got beautiful, all the same size potato dumplings. These are also delicious with butter as a side dish, and especially with pork, sauerkraut and gravy....yum! Then, after they cooked for just a minute, I drained them, rinsed with hot water, then added to the cabbage and onions....

Stirred them up...and DINNER! This will fill a lot of bellies....I love it with a glass of cold buttermilk! LOL I know...this is not the healthiest meal, but it is very, very cheap, filling and for me...traditional and comforting...we made sure we had a salad for lunch and lots of healthy foods thru out the day...including some raw apples before dinner.

Now...it is off once again to dance class! Last night, it was dance for Anna, then hockey for Ronnie...tonight it is dance for Sara, while Ron works his second job fixing cars...at least he will be fed well before he goes! Enjoy! ~Sue~

Traditional Sunday Dinners...

I grew up with the traditional Sunday dinner....either at our house or my Gram's. Sunday was always "family day"...usually the grandparents and/or aunts and uncles. Since Ron was raised the same way, we have chosen to carry on the tradition.

Last Sunday, we went to Ron's mom's house for chicken and potatoes. (Viv, I can hear you laughing!) My sister-in-law was there, we had 2 desserts...tea, and lots of laughter!

Today, after church, we were origionally only going to have my dad and step-mom...but then we added my sister and her new "beau"....then my other sister, brother-in-law and Ty came over for dessert. What fun we all had!

We had a wonderful traditional dinner of roast chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, carrots and rolls. Then....3 desserts tonight! Trifle, brownies and apple crisp! Yum!

The best part is my daughters and I all in the kitchen together preparing...then talking, reminiscing, laughing, sharing time together and making memories. I think that is my favorite part of Sunday dinners...the memories. Time with family, grandparents and cousins is precious. Sometimes, in today's society, everyone is so very busy and running around...some people work on Sundays, people living out of state...that I think it is nice to stop, slow down...and take time to spend with the people you love and make memories...time flies much too fast. My daughter has been playing a song called "Legacy"...and the words have been stuck in my mind...."I want to leave a legacy....how will they remember me?" There are so many 'legacies' I would like to leave my children, nieces and nephews....but the most important one is a Godly, biblical worldview...one with His word first...and of course...family and memories.

Hope you all have special family memories from your Sundays! God bless! ~Sue~

Friday night mystery...a "Clue" party!

First, I would like to say that I LOVE having my children's friends over! The laughter, the fun and conversations are great...and the memories are precious. Tonight was the girls "Clue" party! I think our friends the Hendersons created monsters by introducing us to "Clue"! LOL Origionally....our dear Gabrielle was going to be with us from Idaho, but she is currently serving her family at home, due to her brother's recent surgery...we miss you, Gabrielle! Ok....mystery #1....what is the mysterious 'blob' in the bowl above you ask? Beautifully risen pizza dough! All the girls as well as Ronnie, Anna and our little friend, Luke made their own calzones.
The prep work...before folding!

Our budding chefs....this was so funny watching them all make these...and trying to roll/fold them and get them onto the cookie sheet! I was laughing so hard!

Ronnie and Luke working on their dough...

The girls with their culinary creations! Meghan, Sara, Sarah and Alaina
Our Peony...after licking the spoon from mixing up the brownies! My "sweet" girl!
The boys playing outside in the dark....David, Ronnie and Luke
Ronnie and David....cool story....David's mom and I found out we were expecting the same day, had the same due date...and delivered same day, same hospital only hours apart. Her husband wheeled her and the baby down to visit us just a couple hours after Ronnie was born...and friends ever since.

The "clue" party! The cast of characters.....left to right....Miss Scarlett (Alaina), Colonel Mustard (Sarah Elaine), Miss White (Meghan), Miss Green (Michaela), Miss Peacock (Morgan) and Professor Plum (our Sara).

~What a fun evening! The laughter, the fun...all the kids having fun at all the same time. What better way to spend a Friday night than with your friends, have fun. I love having them here! Almost time for bed...tomorrow....bonfire and/or game night with friends! Another memory to make. God bless! ~Sue~

Gratitude...and Contentment

I had a "mini meltdown" this week...I felt so overwhelmed with "things"...driving to activities a lot, homeschooling 4 children, babysitting my 15 month old nephew....not sleeping....not to mention being behind in laundry, cleaning...you name it. One day of feeling like my head was going to pop off and spin around....of feeling sorry for myself and wishing my life were different. I guess, if I could, I would just stay home, take care of my family and home and rarely go anywhere or do anything outside of my family....I'm not one to enjoy running around. I don't know how most of the moms I know do it! LOL

But...God is SO good to me...He didn't allow me to be in that place for very long, He had me counting my blessings and He kept putting reminders in my path about self-sacrificing love...and that is just what I needed to remind me to die to self, care for my family...and look for ways to cultivate gratitude. The roses above were a surprise from my wonderful husband...he took my 2 little ones to the store for a couple of things, and they wanted to 'cheer me up'. Aren't they beautiful? And yes....they make me smile whenever I look at them.
Our little Anna "Peony"...she was so excited to get to go bowling with Ronnie and the cubscouts this week....they all had such a good time...I'm grateful for good friends, and the fun activities our family is involved in thru Cub Scouts.

I am extremely grateful today, because we took Anna to have her hips x-rayed today. The orthopedist wants to check her yearly to make sure the angles don't change in her hips, like Ronnie's did. With the history with Meghan and Ronnie...we are especially watchful...and today....grateful...Anna's x-rays were perfect!

Had to put this in...homemade french onion soup! I was VERY grateful for this yesterday, when it was very chilly and rainy...the bread was homemade zucchini onion bread....homemade beef broth and melted swiss cheese....Oh, it was so warm and comforting!

This is what we came home to tonight! How cute is that?! I was grateful that Ron and I had a "date" tonight. We met our friends, the Calano's, at Eat N park for coffee tonight...just to talk, catch up and to see how we could pray for each other. I am grateful for the time with my husband...and for good, caring friends. When we came home, Ronnie and Anna had helped Sara make oatmeal bars and had mugs of hot cocoa, while Meghan straightened up the house.....I am so grateful that my children are healthy AND for what helpful, caring daughters I have! I am also very grateful to have 2 teenage daughters to babysit when needed! LOL

Now....I am off to bed. I will leave you all with a quote from my favorite devotional "Streams in the Desert"...this spoke to me so powerfully recently....what am I willing to give up, to be more like Him? : (speaking of Jesus' disciples) "Their life from that moment on was one of inexpressible fellowship solely with Him above. They were willing to live without possesions that others owned and that they could have had, in order to be unlike others...so they could be more like Him."

God bless! ~Sue~