Cornstarch Paint

Last week we made some Cornstarch Paint using this Homemade Edible Finger Paint recipe from The Imagination Tree.

I had originally thought we would also use it as finger paint but neither Khristian or Michael wanted to put their fingers in it. They decided instead to use the popsicle sticks that I had used to stir in the food coloring. And that was fine since they were having a good time and enjoying the creative process.

Khristian especially loved the pinks.

Michael loved painting but was less than impressed when some got on his fingers.

After this recipe sits for awhile it becomes an almost pudding like consistency. We are definitely going to be using this again. One day soon I'm planning to let them take a batch of this outside to paint rocks and sticks and trees let their imaginations run with it.

~ Linking Here ~

SUNDAY – Craft Schooling Sunday, The Sunday Showcase, Link & Learn, MONDAY - Learning Laboratory, Made by Little Hands Monday, TUESDAY -  Noted Show and Tell Blog Hop, WEDNESDAY – All Things Wonderful, Kids Get Crafty, THURSDAY – It's Playtime, FRIDAY – Preschool Corner, For the Kids Fridays, Outdoor Play, The Play Academy, Fun For Kids Friday, High Paw, Read, Explore, Learn, SATURDAY – Living Life Intentionally



Morning Musing Over Coffee - Prayer

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

 

 

If man is man and God is God, to live without prayer is not merely an awful thing: it is an infinitely foolish.

~ Phillips Brooks

And yet, knowing that God is God, and that I am merely human, I all too often approach prayer in a very casual and perfunctory way. It far too often becomes something that I do merely out of habit or because it's a "nice" or "good" thing to do, when in reality it should be the lifeline I hold onto every minute of every day.

Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude. ~ Walter A. Mueller

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Cuteness

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La-La's Home Daycare, Linda's Lunacy, Mama to 4 Blessings, Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas,

Frugality Is Free, 3 Princes and a Princess 2, The Education of a Stay At Home Mom,

Verena Schone Welt, Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom, Say “Cheese” at It’s a Blog Party, A Beautiful Mess, Live and Love Outloud, Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday, Baba’s Farm Life, Nanahood,

Big Biscuit

A couple weeks ago I was trying to make biscuits for lunch. I was using biscuit mix and only had enough to make one recipe of biscuits. I'm used to making a double batch so without thinking I doubled the milk. I didn't want to throw it out so I decided to add enough flour to thicken it and see what happened. But the flour didn't give me the consistency I needed to form biscuits so I tried another experiment. I put all the dough into a big round baking dish and baked it as one big biscuit.

While it was still warm Amanda spread butter over the top of it.

The flavor was good although the texture was more dense than a regular biscuit. The kids loved it and have been asking me to make it again.

~ Linking Here ~

SUNDAY – Strut Your Stuff, Sharing Time, Creative Bloggers Party and Hop, So Sweet Sundays, Sunday Showcase, Not “Baaad” Sunday , Think Pink Sundays, Sunday Linky Party, DIY Project Parade, Savory Sundays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Sew Darn Crafty,{K.I.S.S.} Blog Bash, MONDAY – I Made It, More the Merrier, Inspire Me Mondays, A Marvelous Mess, Made By You Monday, Making the World Cuter Monday, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Motivate Me Monday, Sharing Monday, Making a Home, Muffin Monday, TUESDAY - Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday Confessionals , Let's Do Brunch, Teach Me Tuesdays , Tip Me Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Link-Up, Living Well Wednesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Reader Link Wednesday Foodie Wednesday THURSDAY – Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, It's a Party, Bake with Bizzy FRIDAY – Fridays on Remodelaholic, Feasting in Fellowship Fridays, Fridays Unfolded, Sweet Tooth Friday,SATURDAY - Weekend Wrap-Up Party, Sweets For a Saturday,

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Always There

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6

God's greatness flow around our incompleteness;
Round our restlessness, His rest. ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

In whatever direction you turn, you will see God coming to meet you; nothing is void of Him, He himself fills all His work. ~ Seneca the Younger

It should be so simple, this trusting God, and yet I sometimes make it so hard. What I know in my head takes so long sometimes for my heart to fully absorb. And yet, in my imperfect efforts at faith and obedience, God is there working His perfect plan even through my imperfections. No matter which direction I turn in my (all too often) mixed up human state, He's there, sometimes gently turning me around, sometimes reassuring, always there.

Our God is an awesome God!



Applesauce Bran Muffins

 Michael, CJ and I made these muffins for breakfast one evening for breakfast the next morning. I've never made bran muffins before and really didn't have high expectations for these, but I thought they turned out really good. Even my picky eaters took seconds so I'm counting them a success.

My photos aren't great because of the lighting in the kitchen but here are Michael and CJ enjoying mixing these up.

1 1/2 cups wheat bran

1 cup half and half

1/3 cup cinnamon applesauce

1 egg

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

Mix together wheat bran and half and half. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Beat together applesauce, egg, brown sugar and vanilla. Add to bran mixture.

Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into bran mixture until just blended.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.

Bake for 15 -20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

~ Linking Here ~

SUNDAY – Strut Your Stuff, Sharing Time, Creative Bloggers Party and Hop, So Sweet Sundays, Sunday Showcase, Not “Baaad” Sunday , Think Pink Sundays, Sunday Linky Party, DIY Project Parade, Savory Sundays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Sew Darn Crafty,{K.I.S.S.} Blog Bash, MONDAY – I Made It, More the Merrier, Inspire Me Mondays, A Marvelous Mess, Made By You Monday, Making the World Cuter Monday, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Motivate Me Monday, Sharing Monday, Making a Home, Muffin Monday, TUESDAY - Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday Confessionals , Let's Do Brunch, Teach Me Tuesdays , Tip Me Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Link-Up, Living Well Wednesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Reader Link Wednesday Foodie Wednesday THURSDAY – Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, It's a Party, Bake with Bizzy FRIDAY – Fridays on Remodelaholic, Feasting in Fellowship Fridays, Fridays Unfolded, Sweet Tooth Friday,SATURDAY - Weekend Wrap-Up Party, Sweets For a Saturday,



Menu Plan Monday

Breakfasts

Sunday - Cold Cereal, Milk, Juice

Monday -Cold Cereal, Bananas, Milk, Juice

Tuesday - Banana Wheat Muffins, Bananas, Cold Cereal, Milk

Wednesday - Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oats, Apple Slices, Cold Cereal, Milk, Juice

Thursday -Sausage Links, Cold Cereal, Clementines, Milk, Juice

Friday - Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oats, Apple Slices, Cold Cereal, Milk, Juice

Saturday - Breakfast Meatballs, Applesauce, Cold Cereal, Milk, Juice

Lunches

Sunday - Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Salad, Bread

Monday - Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Toast, Hash Browns, Fruit Cocktail (Austin)*

Tuesday - Tuna Salad Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks, Grapes, Jello

Wednesday - Cheesy Vegetable Chowder, Sandwiches,  Applesauce

Thursday - Make Your Own Plate

Friday - Hot Dogs, Buns, French Fries, Fruit Cocktail (Austin)*

Saturday - Leftovers

Dinners

Sunday - Leftovers

Monday - Oven Fried Chili Ranch Drummettes, Peas, Fruit Cocktail, Bread (Amanda)*

Tuesday - Chicken Patties, Corn, Salad, Bread (Amanda)*

Wednesday - Dinner at Church

Thursday - Bean Soup, Corn Bread, Pumpkin Pie Pudding

Friday - Pizza Night - Make Your Own Pizza and Salad

Saturday - BBQ Sandwiches, Spinach Squares, Applesauce

Snacks

Goldfish

Animal Crackers

Graham Crackers

Dry Cereal

Fresh Fruit - Grapes, Apples, Bananas, Clementines

Fresh Vegetables - Carrots, Celery, Radishes,

*Austin and Amanda each plan, shop for and prepare two meals each week.

~ Linking Here ~

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Friends

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen

A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

A true friend, one who will stay close no matter the circumstances is a rare treasure. And that rare treasure, once found,  is one of the closest representations of the love of Jesus on earth. 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Wordless Wednesday - Yard Work

~ Linking Here ~

 La-La's Home Daycare, Linda's Lunacy, Mama to 4 Blessings, Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas,

Frugality Is Free, 3 Princes and a Princess 2, The Education of a Stay At Home Mom,

Verena Schone Welt, Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom, Say “Cheese” at It’s a Blog Party, A Beautiful Mess, Live and Love Outloud, Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday, Baba’s Farm Life, Nanahood,



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Menu Plan Monday

Monday

Breakfast - Cereal, Bananas, Milk, Juice

Lunch - Hotdogs, French Fries, Peaches (Austin)*

Dinner - Cheesy Shells, Chicken Patties, Peas, Peaches (Amanda)*

Snacks - Raw Veggies, Jello, Peanut Butter Cookies, Milk

Tuesday

Breakfast - Bran Muffins, Cereal, Oranges, Milk,

Lunch - Tomato Soup, Cheese Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks

Dinner - Tuna Cheesy Pasta, Salad, Peaches (Amanda)*

Snacks - Raw Veggies,  Animal Crackers, Gingerbread, Milk

Wednesday

Breakfast - Pumpkin Coffee Cake, Cereal, Blueberries, Milk

Lunch - Chicken Teriyaki with Asian Style Vegetables, Rice, Applesauce

Dinner - Church Dinner

Snacks - Raw Veggies, Jello, Animal Crackers, Milk

Thursday

Breakfast - Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oats, Cereal, Bananas, Milk

Lunch - Homemade Hot Pockets, Herbed Potato Wedges, Applesauce

Dinner - Bean Soup, Corn Bread

Snacks - Raw Veggies, Applesause, Cinnamon Cookies, Milk

Friday

Breakfast - Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oats, Cereal, Bananas, Milk

Lunch - Bacon, Eggs, Hash Browns, Peaches, Toast (Austin)*

Dinner - Baked Fish, Baked Potatoes, Green Beans, Bread

Snacks - Raw Veggies, Jello, Soft Pretzals, Milk

Saturday

Breakfast - Oven Scrambled Bacon and Eggs, Toast, Strawberries, Milk

Lunch - Bacon Cheese Sandwiches, Salad, Oranges

Dinner - Creamy Baked Chicken Breasts, Baked Potatoes, Salad, Bread, Blueberry Dessert

Snacks - Raw Veggies, Animal Crackers, Milk

*Austin and Amanda each plan and prepare two meals each week.

~Linking Here ~

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Radical Change

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

If we all, as Christians, truly lived every day what we say we believe there would be radical change in our lives, communities, country and the world. 

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Do I Love Myself?

credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " Matthew 22:37 - 38

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14

If you really keep the royal law found in the Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself" you are doing right. James 2:8

The pastor at my church spoke on this briefly last Sunday morning and it's been on my mind at different times this week. This was not the focus of his sermon, but it was something that he felt was being laid on his heart to speak to us so he spent a little time on it before going on to the planned topic that morning.

We need to thank God for ouselves. Sometimes as Christians it's easy for us to be really hard on ourselves when we really don't need to be. We are taught to be humble, and to put others ahead of ourselves and these are principles that are important. But all too often it's taken too far, and we forget that God loves us just as much as He loves everyone else.

To be ungrateful for and unloving toward ourselves is like saying that God did not do a good job when He created us.

God created me to be the person He wanted me to be for this time and place. So as a Christian, as a child of God, saved through Jesus, I am loved. To not love myself is to say that God is making a mistake to love me; that He doesn't know what He's doing.

In the verses above we are commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves, but if we do not love ourselves we are incapable of loving our neighbor in the way God wants us to.

I am not talking about a selfish, conceited, everyone look at me kind of attitude. In fact, those attitudes do not come from a  truly healthy self love. Those kinds of attitudes come from a deep insecurity that requires constant reassurance from others. And true love for our neighbor is hard, if not impossible, with such insecurity. 

Instead, I am talking about an understanding of who I am in Christ, and the fact that he loves me so much that He thought I was worth dying for so that I could be with Him eternally. That, is God-given worth, and if God says I am worth that to Him, who am I to say otherwise. And by accepting that love I am than able to feel secure and kept by Him. This in turn allows me to be able to love my neighbor instead of feeling the need to prove myself to my neighbor.

And as I truly love my neighbor, I share God's love, the love that sets the captive free, brings sight to the blind, and brings salvation.

There is no greater love than this - the love of God. 

Easy Meal Planning

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Oven Fried Chili Ranch Drummettes

I've made this recipe twice in the last week and both times the chicken disappeared at an amazingly rapid rate. I think next time I'm going to double the recipe. Also, it is very simple to make which is always a good thing to me.



3 pounds chicken drummettes

1 tsp. black pepper

1 (1 ounce) packet dry Ranch dressing mix

1 (1.25 ounce) packet mild chili seasoning mix

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Rinse drummettes and pat dry.

Combine ranch dressing mix, mild chili seasoning mix, black pepper and flour in large ziptop bag. Add drummettes and shake until coated.

Place butter on a rimmed baking sheet. Place in oven until butter is melted. Add drummettes to sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Turn and continue baking for another 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

~ Linking Here ~

 SUNDAY – Strut Your Stuff, Sharing Time, Creative Bloggers Party and Hop, So Sweet Sundays, Sunday Showcase, Not “Baaad” Sunday , Think Pink Sundays, Sunday Linky Party, DIY Project Parade, Savory Sundays, Just Something I Whipped Up, Sew Darn Crafty,{K.I.S.S.} Blog Bash, MONDAY – I Made It, More the Merrier, Inspire Me Mondays, A Marvelous Mess, Made By You Monday, Making the World Cuter Monday, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Market Yourself Monday, Making Monday Marvelous, Motivate Me Monday, Sharing Monday, Making a Home, TUESDAY - Titus 2sdays, Domestically Divine, One Project at a Time, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tuesdays at the Table, Tuesday Time Out, Tuesday Confessionals ,  Teach Me Tuesdays , Tip Me Tuesday, A Little Birdie Told Me WEDNESDAY - Homemaking Link-Up, Living Well Wednesdays, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, {Wow Me} Wednesday, Reader Link Wednesday Foodie Wednesday THURSDAY – Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Creative Juice Thursday, It's a Party, Bake with Bizzy FRIDAY – Fridays on Remodelaholic, Feasting in Fellowship Fridays, Fridays Unfolded, SATURDAY - Weekend Wrap-Up Party,

October Snow Pictures

~ Linking Here ~

La-La's Home Daycare, Linda's Lunacy, Mama to 4 Blessings, Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas,

Frugality Is Free, 3 Princes and a Princess 2, The Education of a Stay At Home Mom,

Verena Schone Welt, Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes for Mom, Say “Cheese” at It’s a Blog Party, A Beautiful Mess, Live and Love Outloud, Wordy or Not So Wordy Wednesday, Dear Crissy, Baba’s Farm Life, Nanahood,



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Fun Fall Activities - Sorting and a Leaf Collage

We've been doing activities around a fall theme the last couple weeks and I wanted to share a couple that we did yesterday.

The first one we did was a fall themed sorting worksheets from Homeschool Creation's Fall Fun Printables. We sorted the apples into one box and the leaves into the second box.



Our second fun fall activity today was a leaf hunt and collage.

First I taped two pieces of orange construction paper for each child onto the picnic table.

Then we went on a leaf hunt.

When we had our hands full of leaves we went back to the table and taped them to our papers.

Simple fun in the sun and fresh air.

~ Linking Here ~

SUNDAY – Science Sunday, Craft Schooling Sunday, The Sunday Showcase, Link & Learn, MONDAY  Made by Little Hands Monday, TUESDAY -  Noted Show and Tell Blog Hop, WEDNESDAY – All Things Wonderful, Kids Get Crafty, THURSDAY – It's Playtime, FRIDAY – Preschool Corner, For the Kids Fridays,  The Play Academy, Fun For Kids Friday, High Paw, SATURDAY – Living Life Intentionally