The Unexpected... Be Encouraged

Oh Blogland we have been distance friends for quite some time now. Though I have been absent, my thoughts have not been far from all of you! It is good to be back.

What a busy life my days produce. Mommy to five and among them a baby, wife of a Pastor, friend, homemaker, shower taker, meal maker, laundry doer and all else that fills my days. Seems that Blogger has not made it to the list of planned or that of the unexpected until now.

Oh the unexpected! From the spilled milk dripping from table to floor and atop the happy, no longer clean dog, to the uneven load in the washer that dances and jumps its way across the room, to a comb so tangled in your daughter's hair you fear the only solution is to make her partially bald. Yes I speak from actual experience from just this past week. The unplanned. The unexpected when it strikes it can derail the plans once held on a day. That has been the picture of my life. The shadow that hangs over every day. I have now begun to plan, make room, make allowance for the unexpected. I have come to expect, the unexpected. It almost always seems to make an appearance.

I am so encouraged by the truth we find in the Word of God. "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9. I am thankful to know that it is God whom guides my steps. It is He whom establishes what my day will be. I praise God that in that unplanned moment of untangling a comb from a little girl's hair, a memory was made that I would have NEVER put on the day's agenda. I became a star in my children's eyes as they watched me with great determination free the once, tightly bound comb. Valuable lessons were given platform in that unexpected moment. As my children watched me not give up but instead get creative. I cut the combs teeth, broke the handle with my "super mom" strength amazing my children and teaching them once again, not to give up when faced with a challenge. Along with also learning, never spin, twirl or twist a comb in your hair, they also learned of God's faithfulness. God was faithful to answer my plea for wisdom and patience to untangle the unplanned mess my day now set before me. It is God whom establishes our steps. It is He whom holds the final plan on our days and honestly I wouldn't want it any other way. Would you? Who better to have the final say, than the Creator of the Universe!

My prayers are with you... yes you! That we would welcome all that God has planed and not be frustrated when our day does not follow our attempt on planning a day we can not see. A future we do not know. But rather that we trust the one who does.

Here is a story of a little girl named Jessica Joy Rees (link to her Facebook page) and her family who had a BIG unexpected... not with in their plans for life.  On March 3, 2011 Jessica was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. On January 5, 2012 Jessica went home to be with the Lord. I encourage you, if you have not already, spend time seeing how Jessica and her family took the unexpected and allowed God to use it for His glory. I know you will be encouraged and humbled as I have been. My prayers and heart go out to Jessica's family.









P.S. The Rees family attend Saddleback Church in Southern California where her father is one of the Pastors. Also a church I once called home and my parents still do.




 
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Christmas Family Tradition

One of our family traditions that bring smiles and excitement to our kids year after year is the night we read, The Legend of the Candy Cane. We open up our "matching" pajamas, run to the tree and select a candy cane off a branch. Then to the table we go for home made hot coco, topped with whip cream and marshmallows. With candy canes in hand, we stir our hot coco creating a yummy peppermint coco. As we stir and sip we listen as daddy reads to us the meaning of the candy cane. "J" for Jesus, the red stripe the blood shed for us and the white stripe symbolizing the  washing away our sins leaving us white as snow.
I cherish our tradition as I think back over Christmases past, remembering the joy and love we share as a family. Family traditions help create long lasting memories. Memories that bring up feelings of joy, love, meaning and belonging. 

I  hope that in this busy season of Christmas you too are stopping and taking time with your loved ones and creating memories of peace, joy and love.
Merry Christmas

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Turkey {Shaped} Cake Pops

Gobble! Gobble! Is exactly what will happen to these cute, full of personality and delicious Turkey cake pops!









Here is what you will need:
Cake Mix
Frosting
Mini Marshmallows cut in 1/3 for the eyes
Candy Corn for feathers and beak
Red Starburst Candy softened in the microwave
Round sprinkles for the eyeballs
Lollipop sticks
Bark Coating Chocolate or Candy Melts
Wax Paper
Styrofoam

Google Cake Pops and you will find many great tutorials already exist on the "how to" of making Cake Pops. I used the method from Instructables which I believe is a Bakerella original.

Turkeys take shape...
After making cake balls, I pulled and formed the head from the cake ball. Once covered in chocolate I placed all the Turkey "parts" where they belonged. If the chocolate dries before you are able to place things on, use a dab of chocolate like glue. For the beak, cut the candy corn length wise. Break off the yellow end and white tip leaving you with an orange beak. The red Starburst candy needs to be softened in the microwave, flattened and cut into strips. I then twisted it.  The whites of the eyes are Marshmallows divided in 1/3. I then stuck a single sprinkle in the middle. I used both blue and green, to add to the different personalities my Turkeys were taking on.

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Maintenance Monday

Maintenance Monday is something new we are trying out around our Created Home. So far I am loving this simple addition to my kids regular daily chores. With a family of seven my daily upkeep of our home just keeps increasing. It dawned on me, along with the work increase so is the age increase of my kids. Translation... they are capable of doing more to help out. Oh happy day!

I am using my classroom chalkboard to write the job for each child. Each Monday may have different maintenance needs, so a chalkboard works out great.

Even my three year old gets in on the fun. She often comes to me during the week and asks me if she can feather dust. Oh and another fun dusting tip for little hands. Use an old sock. They simply place it on their hand and wipe away. You can let them decorate the top of the sock to make it even more fun.

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How to Make A Blog Button With A Grab Box

<a href="http://www.thecreatedhome.blogspot.com/" style="border: none;"><img alt="The Created Home" src="http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x372/TheCreatedHome/201009-1.jpg" style="width: 129px; height: 129px;"/></a>

When I set out to figure out how to make a grab button, I had a pretty good idea it was not going to be simple. After some searching I found this adorable blog The Little Hen House who I feel had the easiest "how to" tutorial out there. There is just one thing I will add. This will make more sense once you read the tutorial.
If you copy and paste the HTML code provided in the tutorial (she gives both codes for Wordpress and Blogger) then you need to, very carefully delete and then retype all the light colored " quotation marks. If you miss even one quotation mark it keeps the process from working. (Not that I know from experience ;>)
For me the trouble I ran into was everything looked like it worked on my page. Meaning the picture showed up as well as the HTML code box, but when I tested it, the process was incomplete. For anyone else to grab my button it would not show up on their page. Yet the button was on my page looking like it would work. Through much trial and error I figured out about the " quotation marks. My only experience is in Blogger so I do not know if the same is true for Wordpress. Also make sure for your Gadget you add the Text box and not the HTML/ Java Script option.
You could just type out the whole code and not copy and paste if you please. You just have to make sure everything is exact or else you have to start again.
So thank you very, very much to The Little Hen House for putting together such a wonderful, easy to follow tutorial! Much appreciated!

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Mod Podge Peg Hook

 Mod Podge + ribbon = a little something extra!
This peg hook couldn't be easier. Paint the hook the color of your choosing and then Mod Podge on the ribbon you choose. First paint the Mod Podge onto the wood, stick the ribbon on and paint the Mod Podge over the whole peg hook in nice even strokes.
I suggest spraying or painting the peg hook with a sealant if used for wet towels. 

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Yummy!

Okay are you ready for something delicious? A fast and super easy dinner that will have you going back for seconds. A recipe that you will keep in your rotation of, "what's for dinner?" It is that good. Do I have your taste buds watering with curiosity?

Blue Cheese and Honey Crisp Apple Salad:

Blue Cheese Crumbles
Iceberg Lettuce
Honey Crisp Apples
Chopped Nuts (almonds, peanuts and or pecans)
Blue Cheese Dressing

Bread Crumb Topped Sausage Two Cheese Pasta:

Tube Pasta
Block Cream Cheese (softened)
1 Can of Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/2 Yellow Onion Chopped
Jimmy Dean Sausage Regular
1/2 Stick of Butter
1 Cup Bread Crumbs 
Pepper

Brown the sausage, half way through add the onion. In a mixing bowl, mix the milk, cream cheese, cheddar cheese soup and pepper to taste. Add the pasta and meat to the cheese mixture. In a small mixing bowl add the bread crumbs and melted butter, mix. Put the pasta in a baking dish and top with the bread crumbs. Bake at 350degrees for about 20 minuets.



 

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