A giveaway!!

My Friend Lydia, is hosting a giveaway on her blog for one of my waldorf doll sweaters AND featuring my business and dolls!!  Thanks Lydia!  Go here to check it out!

Another daybook

FOR TODAY
August 1, 2011

Outside my window...sunny and bright, it's gonna be a hot one!  Heat advisory is on for the day!

I am thinking...about my husband riding the DAV van to Sturgis today for a doctor's appointment.

I am thankful for...how the Lord has blessed us with clothing in abundance from others for our children

From the learning rooms...on break right now.  Busy planning our year which starts up very soon!!

From the kitchen..Jeff and I are both watching our diets right now, wanting to lose about 15 lbs., so no baking yummy stuff! :)

I am excited about...news this morning of a dear friend's son being called to preach!!!

I am wearing...nightgown and robe.  I need to shower when I am off here!

I am creating...going to be dying bamboo velour today, making a dolly and lots of clothes to go in my Etsy shop

I am going..to town later to do a few errands

I am reading...the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,7)

I am hoping...to go on a date soon with my husband.  One week from today is our 19th anniversary!!

I am hearing...my boys at the table chattering and picking on one another

Around the house...I have a big to do list for the week!!  Summer is running out and I haven't gotten all of my cleaning projects done!!

One of my favorite things...sharing an iced coffee with a friend and doing our bible study together!

A few plans for the next week...order school books that I still need and buy supplies.  Homeschool group has our planning meeting tomorrow morning.  More church renovating and cleaning to be done on Friday, plus out of town visitors!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing: My precious new niece, Everly Brynne

Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

Here is another of our family's favorite recipes!  Very quick and easy too, as long as you have all the ingredients on hand!  In fact my 11 year old daughter made this almost all by herself for our supper this week!

1/2 stick butter
1 pint heavy whipping cream or half & half
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 c parmesan cheese
1/4 t nutmeg
garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb. fettucine noodles, cooked
Cooked chicken.  I usually just cut up a couple of large chicken breasts and brown in skillet.

Melt butter in saucepan, add garlic to taste.  Add cream, cut up cream cheese and slowly melt.  Add nutmeg, salt and pepper.  When heated and cream cheese has melted, add parmesan cheese.  Stir in chicken and pour over cooked noodles.  Toss and enjoy!  Also good with shrimp!

Join me and others on Comfy in the Kitchen's blog, for Feasting in Fellowship Fridays!!

Saturday's Daybook

FOR TODAY
July 2, 2011

Outside my window...sunny and bright, fog in the distance

I am thinking...about firecrackers and children!

I am thankful for...the way the Lord constantly molds and shapes me!

From the learning rooms...on break right now.  Still working on math facts and summertime science!

From the kitchen..making muffins this morning.  Another recipe from Dole Valley She has some great muffin recipes!  I have tried quite a few!

I am excited about...fellowship with our friends over the next couple of days!

I am wearing...long flowy denim skirt and turquoise t-shirt, plus my pretty apron I made out of Tanya Whelen roses fabric

I am creating...catkin shawl, may try to make my kitchen curtain today

I am going..to get groceries later today

I am reading...James in the bible and a new wonderful little book that I can't wait to share with my daughter, Beautiful Girlhood by Karen Andreola

I am hoping...that Jeff and I can coordinate our weekend in the Black Hills and get away together!!

I am hearing...my noisy dryer

Around the house...fairly clean, need to work on this computer desk though!

One of my favorite things...finding a great deal at a garage sale


A few plans for the next week...going to Hoven, SD for church tomorrow night.  They have asked Jeff to come and preach.  We are staying the night with them, then having a picnic and fellowship on the 4th of July

Here is picture for thought I am sharing:

Favorite Chicken Enchiladas

This is my first attempt at sharing a recipe and instructions with you!  This is a recipe that I came up with several years ago.  It was pretty much a combination of two other chicken enchilada recipes.  It also happens to be one of my husbands favorite meals (and mine too!)

Ingredients
4 or 5 chicken breasts, cooked (about 2 lbs.)
taco seasoning, 1 pkg.
small can green chiles
2 T butter
3 T flour
2 cup chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 can red enchilada sauce
8 oz. shredded cheese
tortilla shells

Directions
I cook the chicken one of two ways.  Sometimes I dice it raw, then cook in skillet and add taco seasoning.  Sometimes I cook the breasts whole, then cool and shred and put back in skillet with taco seasoning.  Next I make a white sauce with the butter, flour, and broth.  Once thickened, I add the can of green chiles and cup of sour cream. Next I fill the tortilla with the seasoned chicken and a spoonful of sauce.

Roll them up and lay them in the pan. Pour remainder of the sauce over the top and then pour can of red enchilada sauce over it.  Cover with shredded cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly.  About 20-30 minutes.

Enjoy the pan of enchiladas with your family!  Homemade salsa and chips go along with this great!

More bible study help

I wanted to share with you what I found this weekend that has been a great help to me already with my bible study.  It's a multi colored pen in PASTEL colors!!

I was so excited to find one that wasn't your basic, red, blue and black.  This one has pink, purple, lime, and turquoise.  I was glad to find the pens in these colors because they work well with my new bible.  I used to do the same idea with my old bible and highlighters, but found they bleed through too much on the pages of my new one.  Now I can do my markings again!  Here is what I use
 God's special verses for me : pink
 Verses on the family : purple
 Wisdom and Instruction : blue
 Salvation : green

  

 Here is a picture of my new bible.  I love the wide margins that it has.  Plenty of room for notes!  I also chose one that does NOT have study notes.  Not that I am opposed to that, but I was finding it distracting during my reading, and wanted something simple instead.  I do not like to change bibles, so I'm hoping this one lasts me a long time.  I bought a pretty nice quality one with some birthday money.


So there you have it.  A quick peek at my bible and how I use it in my daily study!

http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

Happenings

We had a lovely weekend on the road!  We traveled Saturday to Elk Point, SD to our dear friends the Haileys.  The Haileys are church planters and were the family that started the church here that my husband now pastors.  They moved on to plant another church in the Vermillion area and were holding their first services at Elk Point Baptist Church last Sunday, so we wanted to be with them on the special day!

We arrived Saturday afternoon, had a nice visit and then went to Sioux City, IA for supper.  We went to a Japanese Steakhouse.  What a fun time!!  The chef stands in front of your seat and cooks your meal.  He also puts on quite a little show!  The food was just delicious and we sure had some laughs!  Here we are waiting for our chef to arrive.  Melanie and Jesse Hailey are in the front and Jeff and I are in the back.

 The Haileys had offered to keep the children for the night at their house so Jeff and I went to the hotel that we spent our wedding night in nearly 19 years ago!  What a lovely little getaway for a night!  Jacuzzi and all!

Services were to be held at 11am on Sunday morning.  Pastor Hailey had been contacted by about 3 different people that they were planning on attending, so we were hopeful for just a few to show up for services.  There ended up being around 25 locals that came!!  What an encouragement!  We have prayed earnestly for the church there and that they would reach the community with the gospel and they are off to a good start!  Here is a picture of the little church.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend full of fellowship.  I'm so thankful for the Christian friends that the Lord has blessed us with!!