"It's raining Bean Juice!"

Bean rain!  This is what 3 of my 4 children were laughingly  yelling today as bean juice became a misty volcano and then rained down on my kitchen!  That picture is Ronnie & Anna pointing to the ceiling where evidence of my folly was dripping down.

Let me back up...it is cold here...like single digits cold...so I decided to make a large amount of chili and let it simmer all day.  So...after soaking 2lbs of dried pinto beans overnight, into the pressure cooker they went.  Well...as I usually do, I used the 'quick release' method and removed the jiggler from the pressure cooker...apparently, I had a lot of liquid in there and it spewed all over...looked just like a volcano! LOL  As the jiggler was hot...I was frantically trying to get it back on to stop the explosion while the kids are laughing hysterically!  Ronnie says "We are SO lucky!  I bet we're the only family in the world to have it raining bean juice in our kitchen!"

Sara said " Wow....Meghan and Dad don't know how much fun they miss while they are at work!"....This was before she had to clean the ceiling since she was the only one who could reach.  Fun times, fun times!  LOL

What silly 'unique' to you memories have you made in the kitchen lately?  Blessings!  ~Sue~

Yarn Along....

Joining with Ginny over at Small Things for her yarn along.  Anyone with a love of reading and 'fiber' love...knitting or crocheting, please feel free to join along  or head over to see what everyone else is reading or working on!  (I love checking this out...I've gotten great recommendations for books for myself and the children...and lots of inspiration for relaxing, fiber fun)

Well...over the holidays, I'm sad to say, that I only made 2 hats...between my RA and Fibro in major flares, just making memories happen for our family was about all I had in me.  I am still working on my nieces afghan...although it is slow until these flares are under control.  I did promise my little one, Anna, that I would make her a hat...with a couple stripes she said...and ear flaps...and braids...and a tassel...so that is what I am working on finishing right now...in warm wool.  Hopefully, next week I'll have a picture of Anna IN the hat! LOL  The little ones and I started a nightly read-aloud of 'Little Men'.  I wasn't sure at first if both my son and daughter would like it...and it is rather old fashioned, but it is quickly becoming much beloved by all of us.

Enjoying the fiber and the fire tonight with temperatures in the low single digits.  Keep warm everyone!  ~Sue~

10,000 small resolutions....

‎"So, we wake up each day committed to live in the small moments of our daily lives with open eyes and humbly expectant hearts." 


It's the day by day...moment by moment quiet 'resolutions' that make up change...spirit led change...excellent article for this time of "Resolutions" for the New Year.....small steps...moment by moment.

Desiring God

Operation Deepen Faith 2012

It's "Operation Deepen Faith" in the Gorecki home this year!  After much prayer...our family has felt led to read thru the Bible in one year....and this is the year!  We are very excited about what God is going to do thru His Word.


We are excited and blessed that our church, The Bible Chapel is encouraging everyone to do this as well...and will be sending out daily email devotions along with the scripture reading schedule...I can only imagine, since God's word never returns void, how this will impact our family, our church and our community.  I'm thinking revival...personal and corporate...and community wide!


We are also availing ourselves of the Bible reading schedule and daily emails from www.familymatters.com...with 6 of us and our individual schedules, when we come together in the evening for prayer, these resources will allow all of us to "be on the same page"...to hold each other accountable and strengthen each other on our walk with the Lord.

What I feel led to do with my little ones, is read thru this with them every morning ...

And use this resource (which is very cool...timeline, archeological photos and history)  and...

This resource to really 'bring it alive' and flesh it out for them.    My 10 year old may do the regular reading with us as well.

If you would like to join us and receive these wonderful daily devotions and readings, please go to  thebiblechapel.org and sign up for our pastor's blog.


We are blessed to have my "daughter of my heart", Gabrielle, in Idaho joining us for this spiritual journey this year.


May 2012 be a year of many, many blessings for everyone!  ~Sue~

Thoughts on a new year....

So...like most people these days...I've been thinking of fresh starts...a New Year...and realizing that I need to prayerfully plan....day by day and allowing the Lord to reveal His will for that day...not try and jump ahead to 'plan' out our whole year...oh, goodness....I NEED to walk with Him moment by moment even...and these are just some of my thoughts....

In my quiet time this morning, I opened to 1John 2:15-16 "Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions." Ouch! I had really been bemoaning that fact that I NEEDED a small, portable electronic 'device'...with my RA, this old laptop I am typing on is so heavy, sometimes I'm afraid of dropping it....but I'm so grateful to be able to sit in a comfortable recliner when necessary...rather on a hard kitchen chair at the desktop computer that died this year.... So the fact that the new Kindle Fire...or an itouch....or any other tablet is NOT in the budget...it's ok....I'm grateful and content with the very old laptop that I have...right now, it works and meets our needs.

Ok...so this cute, PORTABLE little 'netbook'...that would PERFECTLY meet my needs...is also...not necessary...and not in the budget.

Redoing my kitchen...removing a wall, opening it up...and making it more workable...is also....NOT in the budget.  (BUT...it has a new refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave...all of which makes my life much easier)  And for these things...I am very grateful!

Hmmm....having a workable solution for homeschooling my "distractible" little ones from distracting each other, short of having a seperate homeschooling room/library to house all of our books...actually...this might work!  I'm going to have to try this! LOL

Planning....planning our schoolwork for a graduating senior, and 2 little ones for the rest of the year....planning schedules for 6 people of who needs to be where, who needs a car/ride...and planning meals...healthy meals...for people who have special dietary needs...and adding my new restrictions in...AND making 3 meals and at least 2 snacks HEALTHY....and hearty and pleasing to my husband and children....planning/revamping chore charts...to reflect added responsabilities for little ones...and an oldest daughter who is now working outside the home 20 plus hours a week, as well as volunteering....(sigh) lots of planning....but yesterday, a wise friend said to me "just plan one thing at a time"....plan out meal plans that meet all of your needs....done....then rough out the rest of your schoolyear....done...just like relying on God moment by moment....planning WITH HIM....one thing at a time.

Now this...this is what I am focusing on for 2012...counting my blessings...a year of graces...contentment, gratefulness...simplifying....prayerfully planning...prayerfully making relationships my priority...my relationship with my Savior....my relationship with my husband...and my children...top priority.  Prayerfully,  mindfully...focusing on the meanful...sharing and discussing Gods word...and His work in our lives...making memories....giving thanks...in ALL things...you can go to www.aholyexperience.com where many wonderful resources are provided to help you do that.  A year of graces....daily....even a free app for those of you who would like to use your phones...counting blessings, photographing them...and even counting them for you....visit Ann's blog...I promise, you'll be blessed.

We are blessed with a wonderful church, where the whole church is encouraged to read thru the Bible in one year...together...where the children are led each month thru a particular virtue...which we will be studying at home as well...it's all simple....it all goes together.

I'll be writing more on my health as well...sort of like a journal...also,  sometimes it helps to know you are not a lone when you have a chronic illness...live with chronic pain...and really, this is a big part of who I am....God alone knows why I suffer with Rheumatoid Disease and Fibromyalgia....but I know He is working all things for His good...He is refining me...and carrying me thru this...moment by moment....so I am looking for the graces...the blessings...moment by moment.  ~Sue~

Christmas Memories 2011...in pictures...

The joy of childhood...Anna was so happy to get a  hairstyling chair and set for her dolls!

Anna was "in charge" of gf pecan tassies this year...she particularly loved the filling!

Sharing earbuds is fun!

and silly!

Bobalki making by everyone this year!  Now there isn't a bobalki left in the house!

Ronnie, almost 10 years old

Anna, 7 years old

Sara, 16 years old

Meghan, 18 years old

My precious blessings!

Our 25th Christmas together!

My dad and I on Christmas Eve

My missing angel...Gabrielle Nichole!

Twas the night before Christmas!

LEGOs (Ninjago) always make him smile!

She's all grown up...when did THAT happen?!

I had no idea how BIG this was when I ordered it! LOL  (she loves it...can't wait till the movie)

My mom and her girls!

Decorating the tree...it was so nice to have my helpers!  I simply relaxed and "directed"! LOL  And laughed...a lot!

We didn't have a lot of parties and activities this year...which was nice...but we did  do a couple of special activities...took the kids to a special display of over 280 Creche's from around the world...wow....beautiful!

A live Nativity/Journey to Bethelehem was another special outing we had...

Hats were made for winter warmth....

Cousins at Grammy & Buppy's house

The annual "sister picture" with my sisters...

My sister Pam and her twins Justin and Tina..

My mom and one of her Christmas traditions...Polish Blintzes!  Yum!

My beautiful mother and I!

~We had a wonderful Advent season...quiet, simple...focused at home and on preparing our hearts for to celebrate Jesus birth.  Seems what has mattered most to my children has been the nightly devotions, reading, candles, singing...unit studies of the names of Jesus....the 'getting ready' for our savior...makes us want to keep doing this...wanting more of Him...and less of the world...less of focusing on ourselves.

After a beautiful candlelit Christmas Eve service and a traditional Slovak dinner with my dad visiting...we had a quiet, 'silent night'....and a joyous Christmas day!  After cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa....singing 'Happy Birthday' Jesus....stocking were explored...then a tradition we started when our children were very young....3 gifts...hidden....clues read and followed...gathered....gathered around the fire as each one takes turns opening and appreciating each others gifts....the kids always look forward to "finding" their gifts each year...as they 'journey' around the house.  Of course, we now let the little ones read them and figure them out...the big ones just tag along!

Then....after brunch....onward to visit!  We were blessed to visit with Aunts and lots of cousins....many in Pittsburgh from out of town....then more aunts, uncles and cousins....then down to grandmothers for yet more relatives...what a blessing family is!

Now...this week...we'll quietly reflect on the season...as we prepare for the new year...new chances...new blessings...and more visits this week!

As we finish out 2011....what are some ways that you are preparing for 2012?  

May you have a very blessed week!

Bobalki...A Slovak Christmas Eve Tradition

Bobalki

One of the traditions that we share with our children and extended family every Christmas.  I had the extreme blessing of living with my grandmother for years before I married...and then only living 5 minutes away until she passed.  I've always been fascinated with all her old stories and traditions and have passed them on to my children....and Christmas Eve dinner wouldn't be quite the same without our Bobalki!

I was asked to post the recipe, and since now, after making them for so many years I simply don't measure, I had to look it up, but here is how we make my grandmother's bobalki.

• 2 cups water
  • • 3 tablespoons plus 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2teaspoons salt
• 5 tablespoons canola oil or butter (if not fasting)
  • 2 packages active dry yeast
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour

Mix the water (making sure it is very warm...almost the temp. of bathwater) with the sugar and yeast, stir and allow to 'proof' or foam up...then add the oil to yeast mixture and mix the whole thing with the flour...mixing and kneading on an oiled surface until smooth and elastic.Place into an oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap and a towel.   To ensure a good rise in this cold winter weather, I preheat my oven to 200 degrees, then shut it off, put a pie tin filled with boiling water on the bottom and place bowl of dough in oven.  Let rise till more than doubled in size.  Punch it down.  

Now...this is when the fun starts.  Gather helpers or in my case...children and give each one a butter knife.  Break off small pieces of dough....roll into thin "snakes" of dough, then cut each 'snake' into little nuggets and place onto a lightly floured jelly roll pan.  When pan is full, let rise again.  (then work on more pans)  When risen, bake for 10-20 minutes (depending on the size of your bobalki) until light golden brown...then with spatula, turn so they brown on all sides...bake for just a few minutes more.  When done, let cool and store in a large container, tin or ziplock bag until ready to mix for dinner.

Now some people like to mix theirs with honey and poppyseed...but that is not our families tradition.  We like ours with browned butter and sauerkraut.  So  on Christmas Eve morning....

Place a large pot of water onto boil.  While waiting for the water (because a watched pot truly does NOT boil), you will drain and rinse your sauerkraut in a colander.  Rinse very well, and squeeze most of the water out.  Set aside.  In a large pan, melt butter....watching very closely as it turns a beautiful light brown color and smells almost "nutty"...then add your sauerkraut to pan and stir...turn on low.  Now, I am not telling you how much butter or how many cans of sauerkraut, because it depends on your preference and how much bobalki you've ended up with...we like a lot of butter and sauerkraut and use at least 1lb of butter and 3 large cans of kraut.

Ok...you are ready for your final step....once water has boiled, add salt, stir and now dump all bobalki 'dough balls' into boiling water and stir gently JUST UNTIL SOFTENED...then drain in colander gently and slowly...and when drained fold into the browned butter/sauerkraut mixture....and ENJOY!

We will have this on Christmas Eve with traditional mushroom soup (even though I am the only one who likes it..everyone must have at least a spoonful), pierogies, fish and peas.....and then we'll have our bobalki again Christmas morning with our Polish traditions from my mother's side....fresh kielbasi, bobalki, eggs and 'palacinta'....or blintzes filled with a dried cottage cheese mixture.

And there you have it!  I've found that for our family....it isn't the presents and parties that make Christmas special for us...it is following our Advent devotions and traditions leading up to the birth of Jesus...and then celebrating His birth with the same traditions that our ancestors did...giving thanks for our Savior and giving thanks for the blessings of family.  Enjoy!

(PLEASE FORGIVE HOW THE TEXT POSTED...I CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THIS, MY APOLOGIES!)

(and yes...I've figured out a way to make gluten free versions of all of this...has taken me years, and I have to make both versions...but it is so worth it! LOL)

Wishing and a hoping...

Wishing and hoping to slow down this Advent season!  Christmas is coming too soon!  This was the conversation I had with my 9 1/2 year old son this evening....he decided that he loves this season leading up to Christmas, he wanted it to slow down and last longer!  Oh, how I wish it would, too!

Just some notes from around the home....homeschooling is going well...just doing the basics of math drills, daily grammar and spelling...but lots of reading, devotionals, names of Jesus and unit studies going on...picking out gluten free cookie recipes...traditional Slovak and Polish foods (and  how to make them gluten free)...some shopping...hoping to finish up this week....lots of get togethers...church activities...doctors appointments...RA flare up that never ends...just now getting off of a methotrexate "hangover" headache that has lasted too long....have chronic auto immune diseases makes things tricky during holidays...ok...pretty much makes life tricky all the time...but having these really makes me be more purposeful...to prioritize and adapt...and to count my blessings.

With a week very full of activities (including bloodwork, doctors and a root canal for hubby)....I am going to try and only focus on the most important things...my family.  After the 18th....our lives slow down considerably...just in time to breathe a sigh of comfort...get some baking done together and really slow down and focus on Jesus...as we follow the star that last week leading up to Christmas.  Lots of pictures and recipes to post...as time allows.....I pray you all are having a very, very blessed Christmas time!  God bless you all!  ~Sue~