Family memories....

My hard-working husband was on vacation last week, so we tried to do a couple fun things, relax at home and get some projects done....but the first thing we did was spend the day making a special family memory.

We packed snacks, drinks, extra water and lunches and headed out to Living Treasures Animal park. I really like packing all of our food...it's healthy and frugal..and picnics are fun! The day started out raining...but we decided that rain or shine, we were going to have fun! And...when we pulled into the Animal park...the rain stopped. What fun we had! Meghan and Sara were busy taking lots of pictures on their own cameras and LAUGHING....while Sara took home movies on her new FLIP camera.

Anna was enthralled with the kangeroos....the one on the left had a little baby in it's pouch and Anna wanted to take them home!

Ronnie fell in love with this big guy. He named him "Shellvin"...and spent quite a bit of time with him.

Afterward, as we were walking to the car...the rain started up again! We drove just a couple minutes to Morainne State Park...and by the time we pulled into the parking space at the lake, the rain stopped. We had a wonderful picnic lunch, then headed for the sand! Sara, Ronnie and Anna ended up putting their suits on and swimming, looking for rocks and playing in the sand. The blue gill fish were swimming around their feet, while Ronnie & Anna tried to catch them by hand.

I simply relaxed with a little bit of knitting...it was so peaceful there! I WILL be getting a nice, big straw hat to keep the sun off of my face though!
Meghan kept me company busily crocheting away....while the clouds rolled away and the sky turned a beautiful shade of blue!
Dad enjoyed the peace and quiet for a little nap while the little ones played...

The rest of our week, we watched Ty, went bowling one afternoon, finished our bathroom project! Then...from Friday on, it was BUSY! We had the highschool evaluations for Meghan and Sara (always wonderful, our evaluator, Diane is such a wonderful friend!)...then we went to a very special celebration...and adoption party for our friends, the Porcari's, who adopted Alanna! What fun we had! After the year they have had, since Alanna was placed with them when she was 3 days old...the ups and downs, the uncertainty, the joys...and the trust and faith that they placed in God....it was a joy to celebrate with them! It was such fun seeing all of our mutual friends, the older girls hung out with all of their friends, the little ones played on a big playground with tons of their friends...and Ron & I had a great time catching up with OUR friends, as well!

Saturday, we had my nephew, Shayne's graduation party. I have to say, my sister Lori is a pro at planning parties! It was such a special tribute to Shayne...the decorations were perfect, the food was incredible (my mom made most of it...pulled pork, meatballs, sauce, rigatoni, roast beef....all homemade from scratch)....even with the rain that poured down (it IS Pittsburgh, after all!) everyone had a great time!

We ended our week with Father's day! My wonderful husband enjoyed a special week with his family, we had my Dad and step-mom, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law for dinner (Ron's favorite...slow cooked barbecue ribs with my honey barbecue sauce)...then Meghan made 2 banana cream pies for dessert. A sweet ending to a special week!

~Now....tomorrow, our dear friend Gabrielle is coming to stay with us for 3 weeks...a nice, long visit! Then...on Wednesday....I am leaving for Ohio with Meghan, Sara and Gabrielle for 5 special days...time spent with good friends, a large homeschooling conference where we will have the privilidge of hearing Dr. Voddie Baucham speak...then more good friends, and home on Sunday!~ I have a couple posts scheduled to post while we're gone, then it's back next week to document our trip! Ah....summertime!!!! Have a blessed week! ~Sue~

Culinary endeavors....

One of the many lessons my daughters are learning, are the culinary arts...I am so proud of them! They each are not afraid to try new techniques or recipes...and genuinely love being in the kitchen...usually together! They are going to be responsible for preparing many, many meals over the course of their lives, so I'm glad they enjoy it! Here are some of their culinary masterpieces!

Meghan's curried carrot soup with fresh chives...

Sara's 'famous' omlet and homefried potatoes...

Sara's rasberry tarts...
Ronnie "helping" Anna make her 'famous' pizza bagels for dinner! Even Anna is loving preparing meals! I'm looking forward to more culinary endevours from my girls in the future! ~Sue~

Bagels!

Part of our lifestyle is making as much as we can from scratch...rather than buying everything. If it is food, then I know the ingredients (and can usually pronounce them), and it is much cheaper and healthier. So, Meghan and I set out to make homemade bagels...she whole wheat and I gluten free. We had so much fun! Her's turned out much better than mine did, so I will probably not try gluten free bagels again....our next project...english muffins, regular and gluten free! Meghan, kneading her dough.

Dividing it into equal pieces..

My gluten free bagels rising....

Meghan's whole wheat bagels rising...

The finished products...the gluten free version on the left and the whole wheat on the right. Since she mastered the whole wheat, this something that she'll be making for her dad and everyone occasionally as a treat. (we don't buy bagels too often)

As part of the girls education, they are being trained in the culinary arts...everything from canning, baking, cooking, preserving to menu planning, shopping and budgeting....along the way, they are mastering cake decorating, candy making, drying herbs for spices and teas, and natural remedies as well. Next stop...english muffins! ~Sue~

Civic duty....

We are loving the cubscout program that Ronnie is in! Especially the wonderful leadership in Pack 215! Everything he is learning (and having fun doing) is very patriotic and civic minded. Ron & Ronnie were able to participate in a flag retirement ceremony at the boy scout cabin recently. There were 3 branches of the military there, as well as veterans from a nursing home who came to pay tribute to our flag. That was so touching to see the emotion on those veterans faces. Another thing that we love, is that Ron and Ronnie get to do most of these meetings and activities together...wonderful father and son memories. Who better to mentor Ronnie than his dad?

There were cubscouts and boyscouts from every rank...

Ronnie helping with the flag....he has learned proper flag ediquette as well respect for our country and flag.

And he gets to do these things with his friends...this is his friend, James.
One of the best parts of the day was sharing it with his grandfather! My dad was in the Marine Corp when he was younger, and came out to participate with Ronnie.

One of the many fun learning activities we are doing with the cubscouts. ~Sue~

Strawberry Jam! First canning of the season!

Making memories, having fun, preserving the harvest for wintertime...some of the things I love about summer! We had the opportunity to pick strawberries with friends recently, and had so much fun!
Our "Peony" in a strawberry patch!

Sisters...doing everything together. It was so beautiful...cool & comfortable with a pond in the background...

Anna and Hannah...

Ronnie and his friend, Aaron...

(sorry about the steam) mashing the cooked strawberries, which yielded....

20 1/2 pint jars of jam! Since Meghan made dinner (simple salad and black bean pie, recipe courtesy of Dayna http://pleasantboundaries.blogspot.com/ )...I am going to rest for a little bit, shower...then it is off to my nephew's highschool commencements. Have a blessed weekend, everyone! ~Sue~

21 Years

Looks like we made it,

Look how far we've come, my baby

We mighta took the long way

We knew, we'd get there someday

They said, "I'll bet, they'll never make it"
But just look at us holdin' on
We're still together-still going strong

You're still the one!
You're still the one I run to

The one that I belong to for life
You're still the one I want for life


The only one I dream of
The only one I kiss goodnight
Ain't nothin' better


We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen

Look at what we'd be missin'
They said, "I'll bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holdin' on

We're still together, still goin' strong
I'm so glad we made it
Look how far, we've come my baby
-Shania Twain, "You're Still the One"-
~~~
21 YEARS SINCE THEY SAID "I DO"

The Lord has brought them through the good times, the bad, the desert years, and the years of plenty. He has led them through the seasons of pain and blessed them with many seasons of joy. Only by Jesus' wounds has the Lord grown, changed, blessed and showered His mercy upon Ron and Sue during their 21 years of marriage.

~~~

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful parents who will (hopefully) forgive me for hacking into Mum's Blogger account to write this. Love, Meghan

What is wrong with today's "youth groups"?!

I heard a story recently about a large "mega church" having a "hazing" to initiate incoming freshman to the senior high youth group. These young people (in order to "join" the youth group) had to pass a series of tests, including drinking a "mystery drink" (which turned out to be ketchup mixed with Sprite) and being forced to sing into a microphone in front of a ton of their peers. All of this and more with the blessing of the youth leaders! What is wrong with some churches today?! This particular young lady, is shy and left in tears...with a few of her peers jeering at her as she left. What damage has been done to this young ladies spirit?!

Here is a link for a sermon by a pastor named Dr. Voddie Baucham.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=5209234630

Please, if you have young adults in your home....or any children, please listen to this sermon...or (if you are like me and technically challanged), print off or read the pdf file. It is the 'centrality of the home' where our young people should be discipled! It is not the churches JOB to disciple our children...many times by youth pastors who have never parented themselves!

We had a rather bad experience at a church that we used to attend in the youth program. Both of my older girls were not included, whispered about and were hurt and made to feel uncomfortable in a place where the leaders should have made sure that every single young person there was accepted and included. Church is supposed to be a safe place, a place of acceptance. The scars are still there.

The church that we attend now has a great youth program....but, it is referred to as a 'youth/parent' group, where twice a month, a parent and their youth attend a youth function where we worship together, listen to the teaching together, discuss together and fellowship together....WITH our child. One night a month is Mom's night and one night is Dad's night. This was such a refreshing change for us! And, our church recognizes that the primary influence in our children's lives is us...the parents. We, as a church, support each other and accept each other. I know, no church is perfect, but for us...this is a good fit, and is God's will for our family.

I have been so very blessed by the teachings of Dr. Voddie Bachaum! I wish I could give a copy of 'Family Driven Faith' to every family! My oldest daughters and I will have the pleasure and priviledge of going to a homeschool conference in 2 weeks where he is the keynote speaker. We're very much looking forward to sitting under his teaching. You know how some pastors just seem to "click"...and you feel very comfortable with them and their preaching style as well as the Lord simply speaking more powerfully into your life thru one person than another? Well, for me, it has been this man. I encourage you, if you can, please go to his website...http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Blog.html Read the resources available, go to the link above and listen to his sermons, download and read the pdf files....you will be blessed.

I'll leave you with the words to a Casting Crowns song "If we are the body"....this song came out when we were experiencing troubles at our former church and youth group...it illustrates, I think, how we, as the church, should be reaching out to each other...not hurting each other. ~Sue~

It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in Trying to fade into the faces
The girls' teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know Farther than they know

CHORUS
But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way There is a way

A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coatAnd quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances tells him that his chances Are better out on the road CHORUS

But if we are the Body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the Body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way

Jesus paid much too high a price For us to pick and choose who should come And we are the Body of Christ Chorus (2x) If we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching Why aren't His hands healing Why aren't His words teaching And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going Why is His love not showing them there is a way Jesus is the way

What to eat...what not to eat...

Even since the Lord placed the desire in my heart to live simply, eat and live in as healthy a manner as we can...I've struggled with the fact that, let's face it...eating and living organically can be rather expensive. After much prayer, here is what our family does:

If we can afford to buy organic that week...then we do. We've found what works for us, is to research and read labels of ingredients in anything that we can't make ourselves, and we make our own laundry soap and cleaning products. More than anything....we pray, do the best we can following the Lord's leading for our family and trust Him for the our health.

That said, here is a link to a WONDERFUL resource from Kitchen Stewardship.

http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/06/03/the-list-what-to-eat-what-to-avoid-how-to-compromise-2/#more-6457

She has answered the questions about what to avoid, how to compromise if you have to, and the optimum things to eat/buy/make if you can. What a great resource! I have printed out a copy for myself to refer to in the future and just wanted to share this great resource with all of you. Sometimes, it is very hard to know what is best...especially if money is not exactly unlimited.

So check out Kitchen Stewardship! Thanks, Katie, for great information and resources! ~Sue~