Our Naval Commander and his first weekend of boat building

This is D12.  He is a boat builder.

This is his "boat".  If you look close, or maybe not to close you will see the holes in the bottom.  It is a former water trough.   It lost it's job when the whole bottom started rusting out, and would no longer hold water.

Setting the main sail, or wait the only sail.  

Some of the many helpers and advisors involved in this epic adventure.

 Coverning holes with boards. 

 This would slow the amount of water that comes in at any given time.

Setting the sail. Notice it is a paper calender. 

 Nothing like having an older brother willing to help you and encourage you along.

 And give you a much needed push when it is required.

 Sail has already been lost, but he is using arm power to power across the pond, then from one end to the other. 

 Notice the white thermal undershirt under the wet blue t-shirt.  He had matching bottoms on.  They can be seen through the knee holes in the jeans.   It was COLD today.  Wind was about 20mph with gust to 45mph. 

His boat did end up at the bottom of the pond a few times.  He came in changed clothes and spent all after noon working on patching holes.

He is waiting for a warmer day to set sail again.  For now he is content with what he did accomplish.   I was very proud of him.  This is the child that was afraid to put his face in the water in the pool 2 years ago.  For him to set sail across the ocean of a pond in a leaky water trough shows lots of growth in boy like smarts.   

I see lots of fun adventures for him in the future as he discovers that life can be fun and not totally frightening.  

Baking Brown and Serve Rolls

I decided to try brown and serve rolls for Thanksgiving.  I got the first batch in the oven without help. 

I had to grind more wheat for the next batch.  Grinding wheat is like a beacon of sound for my youngest cook.    He heard it and here he came, "I help!"

He really does love to cook.   He then helped taste test celery that was being chopped and after the fun was over went back out to play while they cooked.  He will be ready to taste test them.   Hot rolls and butter for lunch. 

Thinking Thanksgiving

It's that time! 

Pouring the mixture on the cereal to make it yummy.    MN caught a really cool picture of it.

 Then you mix.......

 And mix more more...

Then you bake it and mix every 15 minutes for the next 2.5 hours or so.   I can't "mix" so we dump from one of Grandmothers roasters to the other and back and forth each time.   Hey it works!   We still end up with trash on the table and such, but it seems to be sucked up like a vacuum going. 

My mom's Pictures

Grandmothers Pictures
If you like old pictures, or are related to me.  Check out these pictures from my past.  I could really use help IDing many of the faces.  I will start working on the ones I know tomorrow.  If there was information on the pictures I copied it. 

Pictures

Love these two pictuers.   This is Aunt Roxie and Dakota.

This is her great cousin, :)   How about Maybe second cousins.   He is praticing to be a first time grand dad.  Think he is doing good. 

Who's Who??????

Baby A:

Baby B:

Baby C:

Which baby is which on here?  They are all three about the same age in the picture.  

Birth years are  2007, 2009, 2011

Check back for the answer in a day or so.  I want mommy and daddy to guess also.    Post your answer in the commits.   

Red Enchilada Sauce

I made this sauce for supper tonight.   It is really good. 

http://www.food.com/recipe/the-last-red-enchilada-sauce-youll-need-188644?scaleto=8&mode=null&st=true

The Last Red Enchilada Sauce You'll Need

By Jamie Renee on October 02, 2006

Photo by ~*Miss Diggy*~

16 Reviews

• 
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Serves: 12-16, Yield: 8 cups

About This Recipe

"This is the tastiest red enchilada sauce I have ever had! I could literally just eat it with a spoon. The secret is cocoa powder, do not miss that step! I found it on the Texas Monthly cooking forum. A lot of times I double the recipe since its so good. Serve it over enchiladas, burritos, or grab a straw! Its scrumptious!!"

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons chili powder
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 6 cups water
• 1 (16 ounce) cans tomato sauce

Directions

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Stirring constantly, slowly add enough of the water to make a thin paste.
3. Pour into pan and add rest of water.
4. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens.
5. Stir in tomato sauce.
6. Use in your favorite enchilada recipe.
7. The amounts on the ingredients are very flexible.
8. For instance, if I am feeding my kids who do not like"spicy", I will halve the chili powder and double the tomato sauce.

Pictures

She's a GIRL!!!!

She is 8.5 lbs don't have a length yet.   About 12 hours of labor.  

When God’s Answer isn’t What You Expect

For 2 years D9 has struggled with anger and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).  Honestly he has struggled much longer, but I have only struggled for 2 years.   Imagine every time you tell your child to do the simplest thing it is a battle.   Choose your battle has always ben my motto.  I would choose even more carefully with him but most days were filled with defiance.   It wears on you.   It truly makes you not like the child.  Even when you know it is not his fault, but a product of his environment for many years that cause the issues.   Remember that he came on I think 5 meds, meds that weren’t working.   We got him off the meds and saw a dramatic improvement in him not trying to crawl out of his own skin.  It didn’t help his anger.   It didn’t make it worse either.  It was just there, the guiding force of his life.

As I have cried out to God for help with his anger I finally came to understand he needed something to cut the edge off his anger.  It was all consuming him.  He couldn’t heal until he could function outside the anger.   I still didn’t want to go the heavy duty meds that you get  from a doc.  After much prayer I felt I needed to search for homeopathic meds.   I know that many homeopathic meds work well.  I have used some of them over the years for different things.   After looking lots of places I ended up at Amazon.  Yes, Amazon!   Why?  They have reviews!   J   I typed in homeopathic ADHD  into the search.  It came up with lots.  I then tweaked it by only looking at those that had 4 stars or better.   Once I had it down to that I read the info.  Then read the reviews.   I arrived at a decision.   I ordered and prayed.   I ended up with  Brightspark For Children Add And Adhd Native Remedies   and  Native Remedies Triple Complex Mood Tonic Tablets, 360-Count Bottle    . These two fit what I felt would help him the most. 

I started giving them to him as soon as I got them.  It took a couple of days and I thought I saw more improvement in attitude.   After close to a week I knew I saw an improvement.  I knew he was getting school done better.  I saw less totally ODD behavior.  The down side was he was sleepy in the afternoon.  I backed off of the meds and the attitudes started coming back, so I went back on the amounts.  He didn’t get sleepy then.  I guess his body had to adjust to it or something.   He has been on them close to a month.  He hasn’t had a melt down in almost 2 weeks.   What I find most interesting is his ability to process things and own things.   He had called someone a name outside a bit ago.  I called him in and instead of having a melt down arugument over he didn’t say …..   He told me exactly what he said.  I told him to stop.  He said ok and off he went to play.   Today he swept the living room.  Instead of HOURS to sweep it and many redo’s he did it once in a reasonable length of time and did a good job.  

He told me today he had thought about doing right and it is harder, but when you do right you get to do more things and have more fun.   Yes, he is processing.   I am hearing lots of these discussions.  He was telling me today that as a mom I don’t have to be his friend.  I need to be a mom.   I told him I can be both, but when I have to choose then I need to be a mom first.   He agreed that was true.   These are out of the blue discussions.   I am finding I am really enjoying his company.   The sweet young man I knew was in there is shinning.  He is loving, and joyful, and caring to everyone, but especially the littles.  

We have an old geo-safari that we have had for 20 years.   HHe use to “play” it which was punch the button, watch the lights and listen to the sounds.  No playing or trying, just repeating that  over and over and over until I blew up.  Now he gets it and plays for long periods of time.  Often he has  1-3 littles watching and helping him.   He tells me the scores and is proud of them.  He helps the littles play and tells their scores too.  He is just a totally different child.   He still does wrong, but if doesn’t become a huge issue.  It is kid like, gets a kid consequence and life goes on.   I am so very thankful that I tried the homeopathic meds as they were an answer to prayer.  They are the tool God is using to transform him into a likable child.   His self control is so much better.  I laughed this morning as grandson was having a fit and D9 sweetly told him he didn’t need to throw a fit all the time.  Talk about the pot calling the kettle!    J   He is helping with chores and the others aren’t coming back screaming about and at him.  In fact they even said he is doing good at getting cow feed.   Little things like the other day I was taking clothes off the line.  He came out to swing.  I ask if when I finished taking clothes off the line he would open the door for me.   He swung until I had one or two pair of pants left.  Then he came to the door and opened it when I got there.  I ask him to get the pins and he brought them in.   Such a simple thing, but it was done RIGHT and with joy.  A month ago he would have saw how many ways he could do it wrong and make me mad.   I can rave on and on about the changes.  Each change doesn’t seem big, but roll them all together and life with him is a lot less stressfull and tough.    I give God the glory for it!   He is the healer!!!

We invite you ….

H.O.M.E.

Heart of Motherhood Enrichment

 Friday, February 3, 2012- Sunday, February 5, 2012

1 Thessalonians 2:7 “…we cared for you the way a mother

cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just

 pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. (The Message Bible)

                                “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest Walk with me and work with me, watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message Bible)

                                If you occasionally need a “pick-me-up and “fill-my-cup Lord” weekend, then join us as we look to God to give us a clearer, burden free path of raising and discipling our families. God desires for us to have peace, joy, and even rest on our motherhood journey!  The Heart of Motherhood Enrichment retreat is a retreat for moms that need to be encouraged, inspired and uplifted by the Word of God.  Join us this year as we welcome a group of Godly women as our speakers:  Elaine Russo, Vanessa Simon, Kristi McClellan, Cindy McCloy, and Nola Jones, and Julie Zesch. 

                                                Where: Heart of Texas Bible Camp, Brownwood Texas

Cost: $110.00  This cost includes: your lodging, 6 meals (Dinner Fri. evening through Lunch Sun. ) many blessings and a retreat packet. Registration deadline is January 20th .  Earlybird registration $100.00 – due December 31^st.

Unable to attend all weekend, consider coming for the day on Saturday.  The cost for one day will be $50.00

 As a part of our ministry we believe in feeding your body with God given healthful foods. Our meals will be served with whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables, preservative free, home-baked, nutritious and delicious!!!

What to Bring: Bedding, toiletries, free time projects, ears to hear, a heart to receive and your Bible.

Friday:

5:00 to 6:00         Arrival

                6:00                     Welcome

6:15                     Reception Dinner -prepare to be pampered

7:00                     Praise and Worship

7:30                    Session#1            

9:00                    Tea Party and Style Show!           

               

                

Saturday:                                                

8:00 A.M.         Breakfast                        

9:00                 Praise and Worship        

9:20                 Session#2            

10:30               potty break                      

10:45              Session #3  

12:00              Lunch                             

Free Time                                                

 3:00              Session #4

4:30               Open panel discussion

6:00               Dinner                               

7:00               Praise and worship            

7:20               Session#4   -              

                9:00               Prayer and candle lighting                     

Sunday:                                                 

8:00                Breakfast                         

9:00                Praise and Worship

9:30               Session #5 –

10:30             Testimonies and sharing

12:00             Lunch   -   Pack up and head home!                          

We will have a selection of helpful books and nutritional supplements available for purchase!

Registration  Information: 

Please e- mail your registration information to HeartofMotherhood@gmail.com

include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.  e-mail for payment options

We do have a scholarship fund.  Our desire is  for anyone wanting to attend to be able to.  Contact Julie for scholarship information.

If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund you can when you register.  If 10 ladies contribute $10.00 you will bless someone with a full scholarship to retreat.