Simplifying Christmas

Over at A Heart Of A Mommy a meme is starting up tomorrow about making a simpler Christmas. This is something I've been thinking about quite a bit this year. I don't want the focus to be on what we're going to get. I want it to be about making memories. As my children get older and move out I want them to look back and remember happy memories...not the things they got. I'm looking forward to seeing how others are going to be simplifying their Christmas'.

Unplugged Project

The Unplugged Project for this week was Hands. We did a handprint Christmas tree similar to this one over at The Adventures of Bear. I will upload the picture I took as soon as I can get my camera to work.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Simple Woman's Daybook

November 30th
FOR TODAY...
Outside my window... beautiful red roses
I am thinking... of the many things on my to do list
I am thankful for... my husband and my children
I am wearing... black jeans and a green sweatshirt
I am remembering... our Thanksgiving get together. It was a blast!
I am currently reading... book five in The Left Behind Series
I am hoping... to be more organized for the holidays
From the kitchen... making a big batch of burritos
Around the house...Christmas stuff is slowly being pulled out
One of my favorite things~ watching dd23 sitting with her sleeping 2yo sister

Thanksgiving is over

Yes, I know Thanksgiving was over days ago. I'm just slow. We had a wonderful visit from family (19 of us total). I feel so old as I saw my nephews tower over me and talk about their college experiences. I remember when they were just babies! At times the conversation got so loud you could barely hear yourself talk. The food was plentiful and delicious if I may say so. The turkey melted in your mouth and the new recipe for mashed potatoes I tried had me sneaking tastes before everyone got there. I really love getting together with family, though. I wish it could be more often...

Now, on to Christmas.

Open Ended Art

Over at Letters and Numbers and Books, Oh My! they are doing a meme on Open Ended Art. I've always been a fan of allowing children to create what they want from different materials as well as present them with different craft ideas. That way the get the best of both worlds.

Anyways, the theme for this week is Hans Hoffman. Dd is young so we talked about how Hans Hoffman was an artist who liked to do his art with different shapes. I had her repeat his name and she was able to tell me that the shape we used was a square. She also recognized the colors yellow, green, pink, white, black and orange. She's been showing her picture off to everyone who will use it. :)

Kiddos Create Challenge of the Week

Over at Mama Jenn's there is a blog carnival each week where you use an everyday item to make something creative that is made by, for, or with your children. She posts an item for the week and you get creative. My little one is only 2 1/2 so for now things are going to be pretty simple. We did clothespins in a container. She's been playing with it all week.

Muffin Tin Monday

We're participating in Muffin Tin Monday this week. There isn't a theme for the week so it's gonna be baby girl's favorites..burritos, carrot coins and oranges.

Fasting

I've been fasting and praying today because of a blog post over at A Place Called Simplicity. I've never really fasted before...although I've skipped a meal.

It seems that the Canadian government has decided to stop all Visas allowing children from Africa who are waiting to be adopted by Canadian families.

As I've been pondering and praying about this I find myself wondering why it has become so difficult for families to provide a home for children who need it. Why are they made to jump through so many hoops? Why is it so expensive that it keeps many families from being able to adopt?

I've begun to get that head-achey feeling and hollow stomach that you get when you miss a meal. But, I know that I have the option to have dinner later. I know this isn't my day to day reality. It is for so many children in this day and age.

Each of us has the obligation to do something about this...even if you don't believe in the Bible that says we are to take care of the widows and orphans...it is just the right thing to do. What are YOU going to do to help someone today?

English Muffin Bread

Today I tried a new bread recipe that I saw over at A High and Noble Calling. It turned really good...after a failure for the first try.



Here is what happens when you don't proof your yeast...those little packets are not always reliable. (My daughter thought it looked like playdough). And yes, that was after it was cooked!




And here is what happens when you do things right.



This recipe is definitely a keeper. I have all the ingredients in my food storage and it was not difficult to make.

Here is the recipe:

Recipe makes 2 loaves. To get the true english muffin texture, make sure you don’t over mix and there is no kneading. This is one bread recipe I don’t use my Kitchen Aid on! I put my ingredients in a mixing and use a wooden spoon to mix it by hand.
6 cups of flour
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 cups of milk (I only had instant dry milk and it came out fine)
1/2 cup of water
1 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp. salt
Grease two 8″ loaf pans and sprinkle with a little cornmeal to coat the bottom and sides.
Combine 3 cups of flour, yeast and baking soda an set aside.
Warm the milk, water, sugar and salt until just warmed. You can do this in a saucepan or microwave.
Combine the milk and flour mixture using wooden spoon. Add the remaining three cups of flour and mix.
The dough will be very sticky and hard to work with, so just scoop it out and put evenly into bread pans. I try to shape the tops a little with my spoon. Sprinkle with a little more cornmeal.
Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Cook in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Take out of pans immediately and cool on a wire rack.

Menu Plan Week of November 17th

Breakfast

Oatmeal, cold cereal, English Muffin Bread and sausage

Lunch

Sandwiches, leftovers

Dinner

Fettucini Alfredo with ground beef, Nachos, polska kielbasa, rice with ground beef, breakfast for dinner, Chicken Stir-fry (all served with some sort of vegetable/fruit)

He is my refuge

Psalm 91 (New International Version)

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."

Kiddos Create: toilet paper tubes

Over at Mama Jenns she has a challenge going on to do something each week with a particular item with your little ones. This week was toilet paper tubes. Well, our little one is only 29 months so I went for simplicity. We made a kazoo! Well, I made a kazoo and she watched. You only need a toilet paper tube, wax paper and a rubber band. I put it together and had to demonstrate how to use it. At first she wouldn't have anything to do with it. Then she tried and got the sound you're looking for when you hum correctly. Boy, did her eyes light up!

I do feel a need to post a warning though...when you give your children noise makers...be prepared to listen to them go on and on and on......

Name Change

I've decided on a name change for my blog. As I look around at what's happening in this world today and see the stresses my family has to deal with on a day-to-day basis, I've come to realize the importance of having a safe haven to retreat to. This is going to be my new focus for this blog...creating a safe haven in our new home.

Update: Shortly after changing the name I clicked on the Heavenly Homemakers blog and look what I found....many words of wisdom...just what I needed to hear.