What's Next?

I have been ask, "What's next?" along the adoption front.   We had a wonderful time this weekend.   On talking to our guest case worker she also had a great time.   Our plans at this point are to continue visits.  We are planning on next visit being Thanksgiving.  This will either scare her or she will just go with the flow.   I am thinking she will flow.  

I do have some specific prayer request.  

One that she get out of school on Tue for Thanksgiving, so we can get her that day instead of pie day.   :)   I am highly blessed with daughters and daughter in love that can do the pies, but I would love for her to get to help.

Two that dealing with our local cps will be positive.  I am not sure how much dealing we will have to do, but we will have some.   Pray for a spirit of corporation between all of us. 

Three is personal in that I am really struggling with that little voice on my shoulder that is filled with negativism.  It doesn't have to do with adopting, that I feel very at peace about.  It is dealing with our new cps worker. I have been battling this ever since she seemed to take a dislike to everything about us.   I need to continue to take every thought captive, reply with power from the Word.  Sunday morning God gave me a verse I keep holding to:  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret-it only causes harm  Ps 37:8 NKJV  I do well with the ceasing from anger and forsaking wrath.  The part that was convicting for me was the do not fret-it only causes harm.   I really have to work to not fret in some areas.  I do know fretting is counter productive, a waste of energy and just generally not healthy.   I do I do I REALLY do!   Yet it is a struggle and a battle.   Pray for me that I will stand and the little voice can't be heard over the praises I sing to God.

Four is that doors open or shut as His will.  We hear His will.  Most of all no hearts, especially children's hearts will be hurt.  

 

Ful Weekend in Review

No real order to thise pictures, just random pics and thoughts.

 

MN and Guest getting hay for the sheep.  She really did well and according to her case worker she had a great time.   She said she did, but I do know that sometimes that changes after they are out of ear shot.

Yesterday DIL made tortillas over here.  Grand daughter helped.  I loved these pictures I took as she cleaned out the bowl.

We were blessed with a couple of grocery sacks of green chilies that were pulled because of the freeze that was forcast.   We roasted them and T is working on peeling them. 

 Big dog loves the little girl. Little girl might love big dog.   She crawled over by him. 

Once he discovered her he turned around for her.

Put his head down to her level and allowed her to attack!  

All went well as long as she was attacking but once she lost interest he streached out his massive paw and patted her trying to get her attention to pet him more.   She didn't like that.

 

Tiny lamb is doing well.  She is still bucketed in the house at night, and has to be supervised outside as she goes through 4x4 like it wasn't there.   For those that don't know that is fencing that the holes are 4 inch squares.  Yes she is THAT tiny.

The full grown cat is sorta confused by this strange critter.  Is it a cat or a rat?   Does he pounce on it or avoid it.

Three year old grand even looks big by this baby.

My baby chicks I got a few weeks ago are growing and doing well.   They have a light and live in the barn.  They are about 1/2 feathered out and to the cute/ugly stage.

Just a few pictures ...

Life is good, prayers are so appreciated and peace reigns here.  Lots of first for our guest.  :)

First time to cook eggs.  She had never scrambled eggs.  She did great!   :) 

 

 

 Then while DIL and I roasted green chilies the girls drew at the table.  

After we migrated to the living room girls migrated also.  They then drew some more on the floor in the living room.   Just normal hanging out at our house. 

 

 

Big boys are busy helping dad work on the new bathroom/changing room, while D10 is working at catching up with school he doesn't want to do. On that subject D10 drags school out all day every day. Can he pass his lessons? Yes, if he reads them. The problem is he doesn't want to read them. He finally got caught up sorta Monday. He had failed two test, but when I looked at his average I just shook my head, his highest was a 93 his lowest was an 88, this failing two test. So I told him he could have it as long has he continued to work. Tue he promptly rushed through and was done with school, failing half of it. I didn't catch it until Wed. Back to the battle! He knows what to do, but he wants to do it HIS way. Including at times wanting the computer to have different answers to suit him. It is called Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or better known as ODD. Which is why he is setting at his computer today instead of helping build bathroom, or bake or even just play with the grands.

Once we were done with green chilies and dil was done baking her dh some brownies the girls started Cinnamon rolls.   Our guest has never cooked before so this is all new.  She is doing great.   She was so serious and focused on making it right.  I kept trying to get her to relax.  I finally got a sweet picture of her looking up laughing at me.   I can't share it, but she will have it to take home. 

Rolling the rolls up!  

They are now rising in the oven.  It won't be long until we have fresh hot coffee and warm Cinnamon rolls to eat.

They turned out well!   I think the Cinnamon rolls were a huge hit. 

Life is interesting...

I have a feeling I have blog post titled a blog this before.  It does seem life is highly interesting around here more often than not.  This morning we drove a little over 2 hours to pick up a weekend house guest.  She is a 16 yo who is looking for a home.   This is very muchly a weekend for her to just have fun.  No pressure on any part.

 

We got home and made a circle to check stock.  No suprises!  Then when it came time to check stock and hay we found this.....

 

 

It is a TINY lamb.  It had a big full size brother.  So we scooped it up.  MN tucked it in her coat.  Yes, it was wet and gooy.  She is my daughter. 

 

Our sweet guest is amazed at the tiny creature.   She has never saw a baby lamb.

Feeding the baby!  Yes, it is in a tub in the living room.  First feeding was with a dropper in it's mouth.  In about an hour it was crying and wanting a bottle.  That was provided with lots of help, or at least lots of eager eyes.  

MN of course is in heaven.  She has a 'baby'.  She has said she will take it upstairs and feed it during the night.   I did point out that she was NOT to put it in her bed.  Yes, I can see her doing that.   She assured me she won't. 

As always baby animals bring talking of babies, and then attachment and how it happens.  I do marvel at how amazing my 15 yo dd explained to our guest how this baby will only remember us as her mama.  Then how even babies if they are removed don't remember the bios, or not well and how new memories are made with new families.  I was touched and in awe.  What I found interesting is how guest got it, even beforeshe finished she was filling in how she doesn't remember her bios much.....  :) 

I will post more weekend pictures as life goes on.  I will be posting non face pictures of our guest.  Please pray as we feel out the weekend that God shows us what direction we should go, and most of all pray for hearts to be protected. 

Freezer Pie Crust Mix

Here is my pie crust recipe. I have adapted it from a make ahead cookbook. We make double the amount and just ball and toss in a ziplock to freeze.

Freezer Pie Crust Mix
6 cups WW flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 ½ cups coconut oil (not hard, not liquid)
1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups cold water

In a bowl combine flour and salt, with Pastry blender or heavy duty mixer cut shortening until mixture resembles corn meal in texture. Add 1 1.4 cups water all at once. Mix lightly with a fork until water is absorbed and mixture forms a ball. If necessary add additional water. Divide dough into 7 portions. Shape into balls. Flatten each ball slightly, Wrap each flattened ball in a piece of plastic wrap. Place wrapped ball on piece of foil, fold foil tightly against ball making an airtight seal. Store in freezer. Use within 10 months

My New Grain Mill

Several people have ask what brand grain mill I bought.  It is a  Nutrimill.  I bought it from Pleasant Hills Grain.  I really like this company.  I bought my Bosch there.  When the base started cracking 2 years later I emailed and ask them about it.  They gave me the number and the name to call to get it fixed.   It is also where I bought my first mill, which is the Family Grain mill.  I just don't think it is up to the task of grinding the amounts we grind, and does require double grinding.  

So for the new mill has been used twice.  First to make snicker doodle cookies by 16 yo son. They turned out yummy.  Then fresh hot melt in your mouth cinnamon rolls yesterday morning.  They were also yummy. 

I have bought a couple of cook books from them also. This time I bought

It has some interesting recipes.  De'Etta I thought of you and your journey in eating.  It uses beans as a flour, and also to thicken soups and other things.  I can't wait to try some of the recipes.

Another favorite book I bought from them is

  This has some really good bread recipes.  

First Lambs

My calender said that my ewes could start lambing on the 15th.  We have checked them twice a day.  Not because we expect problems, but because we run races to see who can see the first babies.  Today MN saw the ewe by herself so we stopped to check on her.  This is what we found. 

 

Sweet!  As MN said, "I love lambing season!"   I agree!   They are so cute and cuddly.  

In other news, 16 yo son made brown gravy to go with a roast he had cooked.  He did an awesome job.  I did laugh when I suggested he do it.  First words out of his mouth were, "I don't know how."  followed by, "I have never done it before."   I assured him he could and would some day teach his wife.  He made mash potatoes to go with it.   It was a huge hit!

Today I got my new grain mill.  I have had a cheaper one that would do flax seed, but it has again worn down and needed the burrs replaced.   We might grind a lot of wheat.   So after talking to dh about it.  He has wanted a better one for a long time. I ordered Sunday night, it shipped from NE early Monday morning.  It came today!  It grinds really fine!  MJ made snicker doodle cookies. 

Grand daughters Birthday present

Not the greatest picture as we were tieing like mad to get it done before they got home from produce. As soon as we tied the last knot I fipped it over took this quick picture and stuffed it in a sack to hid for a week.  

I think she will love it.  It is a busy jungle print with parrots and leopards and flowers and such with faded light green back ground.   I now have two grands that haven't gotten blankets.  One isn't here yet and the other is less than a year old.  I think I am doing pretty good.  

Pumpkin Pie Granola (Nut Free)

Ingredients

4 cups	Old fashioned rolled oats (use gluten free if your sensitive to gluten)
2 tsp	Ground cinnamon
1 tsp	Pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup	Baking stevia OR 1 cup sweetener of choice that measures like sugar 1
1/2 tsp	Salt
1 tsp	Baking powder
3/4 cups	Pumpkin
1/2 cup	Applesauce (unsweetened)
3 tbs	Sugar free maple syrup (or honey or agave nectar)
Optional	Add-ins: 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, 1 cup honey teddy grahams lightly crushed

The estimated time to make this recipe is 45 Minutes.

1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, and the wet ingredients in another. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry using a spatula, (or your hands), until everything is well combined and oats are coated with wet ingredients.

2

Place granola on baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, then stir granola around. Bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the granola is golden brown and is crisp. Take the granola out of the oven, and let it cool completely on the baking sheet. Stir in additional white chocolate chips or teddy grahams at this point if desired. Store in an airtight container for up to one week.
 

http://dashingdish.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie-granola-nut-free/

Homeschooling.... Country style!

I am pretty sure my really pretty bull is just a pretty boy, nothing more.  So to find out I needed to pregnancy test the cows.  There are 2 ways.  You can palpate, which if you know what you are doing gets instant yes or no, but my experience is it isn't that accurate.  Or you can draw blood, send it to a lab and have them test. 

 

Since I have a friend who has done it and wants to do something in the animal husbandry area I ask if she was untested with the help of my 14 yo.   Today was the day! 

 

What you do is draw blood from the big vein under the tail. 

 This requires someone holding the tail up while the other someone pokes.

 It was a school project, with lots of students watching.

 Love littles that love littlers! 

 

After they were finished in the barn the kids got to experience riding a donkey. 

According to Joy it was very different than a horse.

 We were all impressed with how well Tunia did since this was a first for her.  No one but MN has ever rode her except leading littles around a tiny bit.

Then it was time for them to leave!  They really need to come and stay longer so the kids can all be kids all over the place.  

Another Home Made Laundery Detergent

In my quest to find the easiest way to do home made laundry detergent I stumbled across this recipe. 

3 Tablespoons Borax
3 Tablespoons Washing Soda
2 Tablespoons Dawn Dish soap

Put these ingredients in a one gallon jug. Pour 4 cups boiling water into the jug. Swirl until ingredients are dissolved in the liquid. Let liquid cool. Then fill almost to the top with cold water. The bubbles will overflow out of the bottle.I love this because you can pick an awesome scent with the Dawn dish soap. This dish soap works the best because it gets grease out. :o)

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/no-grate-homemade-laundry-soap.html

 Because I am never happy with status que I had to tweak it just a tad.   I added oxyclean, and upped all the spoons to 3 table spoons.   This is the second batch I have made.   I use an old dawn pump bottle to store it.  I am on my second gallon of this.  It seems to work well.  

I posted it here so I don't have to go searching for it next time I want to make it. :)  There are several other neat ideas on this blog. 

My 14 yo dd's poem

Ever wonder what it is like to be adopted?  How it feels?   My dd has been writing poems again.  This one I found very powerful and touching.   I ask her to share it with me.  She knows I tend to share with the world.  If it touches you please leave a commit so I can share with her.  I think she is very brave for what she writes and shares.

Sometimes…

 

Silence is louder than a scream.

Being left alone leaves me to

Wonder if I am in a dream.

 

Sometimes I try too hard to cry…

Other times I don’t even have to try.

 

I wonder if I died if anyone would miss me…

Is there anything in this world worth trying to be?

 

Sometimes…

 

I wonder if there really is a God…

If so, where is He hiding? In the

Hazy fog?

 

I wonder if I am ugly…

Too stupid… too chubby?

 

I try to do the best I can,

If you can hear my cries…

Could you lend me a hand?

 

I wish I could rest…

But instead I have to take

 Life test after test.

 

I am scared…

I do some things that without

Your help, I wouldn’t

Have even dared.

 

Sometimes…

 

I want a hug…

Other times leave me alone

When I move away and shrug.

 

There is no reason why I feel this way…

My trust for people grows just a little

Day to day.

 

I forgive my past…

I want the present to last.

 

Sometimes…

 

I love you…

What I told you is nothing but true…

 

Saying goodbye and I love you

Is not enough… I know… it

Is tough.

 

I don’t even get a chance to say goodbye…

And just like that they seem to die…

 

I may never get to hug my birth mom and dad…

I am sad… and a little mad.

 

Sometimes…

 

Being adopted is like a heart that broke…

And grief, pain, rejection seems to leave

Me to choke…

 

It hurts… sometimes…

 

Overall, I am a happy girl…

My life is in a crazy whirl…

 

Sometimes…

MNJ *10/7/12*

From My Devotional this Morning

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,^[c] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders,^[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.  Gal: 5:16-26

This was my Bible verse in my devotional.   As I thought of it and started writing, I got this picture of an orchard.  We have fruit, an orchard has fruit.  The amount of fruit that is produced depends on the care of the trees, the orchard.  The trees need to be trimmed, the dead growth has to come out, or the parts that don't bear fruit. We have to be trimmed also.  We need to draw in and let go of things that don't bear fruit in our life, or even sometimes that don't bear enough fruit. Those low hanging branches that cause us to stumble and bump our heads.  Even if there is fruit, it just isn't right, isn't working, or causing to much stumbling.  Those branches need to go.   Our soil needs to be loose, so we can absorb the Living Water, just as the soil under the trees needs to be loose to absorb more water.   We need to be fertilized.  We need to be fed the Living Word.  That helps us grow.  We need each other.  Just as trees pollinate better and some must have another tree we need other believers to help us bear fruit.

There my musings for the day!  I really need to see myself as a God's tree. I need to see and allow God to prune me.  I need to be open to that pruning and not run hide, but open myself to His teaching, His direction in my life.  I need to remember that just because it is good doesn't mean it is God's plan in MY life.  I need to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me. 

Our Bible Time

I have tried many different ideas for doing Bible as a family of a morning.  We have taken turns reading, we have listened on the computer.  I have read devotionals.  I think for now anyway I have found a wonderful Bible time.  The kids look fwd to it.  They are growing and learning and I also get a peek at where they are and what they are thinking.   My latest idea was buy several different devotional books. Then each child is required to find a devotional and read it. I had a teen devotional, just a devotional and one called Battlefield & Blessings devotionals.

 I soon realized this was the favorite book, so I supplemented it with another one. 

 

The other two or three devotional books I had bought ended up on the table not being used at all.   Kids love the stories.  They aren't easy to read or hear some days.  They are real and not sugar coated.  They touch on life and death.   They ask that I get some of the others so now we have I think 5 of them.   Kids look fwd to Bible every day.

 

What we do is every child is ask to choose their devotional before Bible time.  They book mark it.  Then we choose numbers to see who reads first.  They read the story they picked.  I then ask why they picked that story.  How it spoke to them.   They share and the others join in.  Some times the discussions are very deep and very eye opening as to where their heart is or what is on their heart.  

 

There is lots of food for thought in these books.   They are very real, which is what my kids like about them.  They are history, which the boys really like.  They are human in the people share from their heart, not some sweet little devotional that is more fluff than meat.   

 

I have found the books on Amazon and buy which ever one is cheaper as I add to our collection.   I might even pay full price for them, they are that good.