God's Seasons

Hello friends!!

I am here for a short post to say we are alive and we are well. Posting on my blog is taking a backseat right now. With homeschooling, new diets due to allergies, summertime, and just being a wife and mom, my time is short. When I do have a few minutes, you can find me in my big chair with a good book. It is my outlet, my sanity. I do miss blogging. I miss it alot. I know God will bring me back here when it is time. I have learned to trust God in His timing with the different seasons of my life. Fighting it brings such a lack of peace and I just refuse to live like that. I know PEACE and I follow Him.

I will be back. It may be next week. It may be next month. I am honestly not sure. 

Until then, I will leave you with pictures of some graces in my life. Because you know me, I must share them!!!

Can you really put words on a pic like this?

Learning to eat with a spoon.

 



 Isaiah has to be with Abigail. He follows her everywhere!

 

 Cute and oh, so very healthy!!

 

The kiddos with the flowers they picked out for me for Mother's Day!

With my graces!!

My "HOOT"

Makes Momma melt

Water fun

Smiling for a picture for Daddy!

FUN TIMES!

 

Can she get any more beautiful?

My handsome and growing so very fast boy!

Last day of school

Lesson on the Trojan Horse Battle

Lesson on the Trojan Horse Battle

Nature Walk

 

 

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
     a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

15 Gluten Free Inexpensive Snack Ideas

No matter how much my kids eat, they still want more!! They are constantly asking for a snack and I need quick, healthy, GF snacks for our family. After a few months of this diet, here is a list of my go to snacks for everyone in my family.

1. mixed nuts (this is one you have to be VERY careful of the ingredients!! They use gluten alot to coat peanuts)

2. sliced apples and peanut butter

3. frozen grapes

4. chex mix (there are a variety of flavors and they are all good: FYI - my personal favorite is the apple cinnamon flavor)

5. dried fruit

6. mixed peanuts and raisins

7. all fruit (grapes, apples, oranges, pomegranates, pears, bananas, oranges, etc.)

8. bananas with peanut butter (slice the banana long ways and spread PB on it... kids love it)

9. celery and peanut butter

10. yogurt - we eat alot of Greek yogurt around here

11. GF granola - recipe to follow soon

12. GF crackers and cheese (find these crackers cheap at Walmart on the cracker aisle, don't buy them at a specialty store)

13. popcorn

14. bananas chopped up with GF granola sprinkled on top (this is one I eat ALOT, yum!)

15.  Rice cakes (eat by themselves or with peanut butter spread on top)

What are your some of your ideas?

I would love to hear them!! 

Easy Homemade - Gluten Free Breadcrumbs

We love fried chicken in my family.

 

Who doesn't love fried chicken?

 

Meatloaf?

 

Fried Eggplant?

 

What do all these have in common????

 

BREAD CRUMBS!!!

 

You have to have bread crumbs to make alot of yummy foods, not necessarily healthy, but yummy. And everyone needs yummy foods to eat sometimes.

 

If you haven't looked at the prices of GF breadcrumbs, DON'T.

It is kinda scary

.

But have no fear, this GF cooking, frugal Momma has the solution.

 

EASY HOMEMADE GF BREADCRUMBS

 

When you make GF bread at home, you will always have bread you have no idea what to do with. GF bread crumbles more easy after 3 days and is pretty hard to do anything with (grilled cheese are good to make at this point, fyi!!!)

 

Don't throw it away!!

 

1. Throw it in your blender.

 

 

2. Grind it down.

 

 

3. Put it is a ziplock bag and label.

'

 

4. Thow it in your freezer.

 

VOILA!!

 

That is it, the freezer will dry the bread out, so no need to cook it.

 

*If you do need the crumbs right away, bake them at 350 degrees for 10-12 mins and that will dry them out.

 

**You can also add Italian seasoning to make Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.

Save all your bread... heals, slices that don't slice right (you know what I am talking about Mommas), crumbs and throw it all in the blender. The more you save and don't throw away, the more breadcrumbs you will get saved up in your freezer. I have used these for so many different meals and they work great!! You never have to throw bread away again!!  ENJOY!!

Catch Up, Part 3 #1326-1343

1326. hearing the Lord and His answers on how to keep our schedule lined up with His will for our family - having to let go and some "good" things, but knowing it is for the best.
1327. Joshua losing his tooth!! YAY!!

1328. Isaiah saying, "Amen" whenever he hears, "in Jesus' name.

(take a few minutes and watch this cuteness)

1329. Enjoying time with neighbors outside.
1330. Joshua almost getting hit by a car, but God's angels all around him.
1331. When Abigail gets a nap - so happy!

1332. When Abigail doesn't get a nap - grows this Momma's patience!!

 

1333. another storm in the middle of the night - a chance to hear Abigail's breathing right next to me all night!
1334. Joshua growing so fast - knowing today is so brief and so thankful he is home with me.
1335. waking up at 3 am everynight unable to go back to sleep and falling on His word to get me through.  The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14
1336. Brent taking all 3 kiddos on a Sat. morning to get breakfast.
1337 beautiful weather and being outside
1338. "the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." - this promise as a wife and a mom
1339. getting some weeds pulled
1340. Park family fun
1341. picnic dinner with Daddy
1342. a long walk as a family
1343. getting grass seed down in our backyard


and some just cute pics this Momma can't help but post...

"ahh, let me think about that for a minute."

I know this is blurry, but you can just see how big he is here.

Beautiful!

 

This boy LOVES to eat!!

Catch Up, Part 2 # 1304-1325

1304. Christ is our Passover lamb. His blood covers me!
1305. salt water - truly helps a sore throat
1306. learning I don't need an antibiotic for everything
1307. Abigail dancing for us.

1308. resting at the end of the day in our big recliner, in my robe... at peace.
1309. Joshua not being able to sleep from thinking about something that scared him and on his own initiative, getting out of bed and coming to read a scripture on the wall that He knew would help him battle those thoughts. MY WARRIOR!!
1310. Isaiah falling asleep in my arms.
1311. our BSF lesson being on angels
1312. knowing that I haven't fully surrendered my will...yet... but thankful that He who began a good work in my will carry it on to completion.
1313. no couponing anymore - this GF diet has made shopping much more simpler.
1314. getting the rest of our curriculum on sale at Mardels for 40% off!!
1315. 2 days of staying at home without leaving
1316. hearing Cheryl Lange speak
1317. the Spirit speaking  to my heart and answering some questions I've been asking for awhile.
1318. making unleavened bread with my kiddos for our co-op Passover lesson
1319. making changes to our much to busy schedule
1320. preparing and teaching Passover to our co-op. What a blessing!!!

 

 1321. goint to Tulsa for a field trip to the Tulsa Aquarium after doing a study on the ocean habitat.

1322. staying in Tulsa with my parents for the weekend
1323. seeing my nephew Evan's first soccer game while we were there
1324. lots of fun eating out
1325. Mimi taking Abigail shopping for some much needed summer clothes.

 

Yes, I Am Still Counting!!! #1279-1303

It has been awhile. Life is life and life ALWAYS happens. As a result, this blog has suffered. It has not been intentional and for my readers, I am sorry. Many have asked where am I, where is my counting? My counting has continued. My journal stays on my kitchen counter. It is always opened with a pen on top and as I allow the Spirit to open my eyes to see what is infront of me, I write  them down. This blog is a place I rewrite them for others. I hope by doing this, it will encourage someone else. Life is messy and it is hard. The daily task, the schedules, the unexpected news... they can be a pit that we fall into and it is SO hard to get out of these pits when we fall into one of them. We get selfish and our focus turns to me, me, me!!! Why, oh why, is this happening to me???

Sound familiar???

It is to me. I will admit it. The only way I have found how to get out of a pit if I am in one or not to fall in them at all (if I am consistent with it) is to count. Pray and ask God to open my eyes and my heart to what I do have, what I wouldn't have it it weren't for Him. And then, to name them. I see gifts all the time, but giving those gifts a name and writing them down, it does something to one's heart. It melts away the hard stuff and softens you. You move slower, you move more intentional, you live in the moment that you are in and stop living for the next moment, never embracing now. Lately, I haven't been as intentional with this and it is amazing how quickly my heart begans to harden and I fall once again into the pit of ungratefulness. The only way to get out is to pick my pen up again and began writing.

His gifts, my friends are everywhere. They are EVERYTHING!!! The good that we see and experience as well as the not so good, and yes, even the terrible. You see, if you believe God's word and I do, His word says that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28-29) and that His gifts are good (James 1:17).

This is true, regardless of our feelings.

We  can trust and thank God for everything. He who spoke and the world was created, holds you and me in His hands. He is sovereign. He is good. He is outside of time and human reason. His thoughts and ways are not ours. He is love. He is here.

In everything.

Look for Him!!

And name that which He is giving you.

(I am playing catch up as I rewrite my blessings here on my blog. This is part 1 of my catch up counting post.)

1279. getting a 2nd opinion for Joshua's teeth after being told he would need surgery on his mouth.
1280. the 2nd dentist telling us that Joshua needed NONE of the work we had previous been told he needed.
1281. Joshua NOT having to have surgery!!!
1282. signs of Spring everywhere.
1283. Daddy and Abigail having speical time and going to get doughnuts.
1284. a yard big enough for the kids and I to play baseball.
1285. running like I haven't in years and not passing out!!!
1286. Daddy joining our game when he got home.
1287. grilling
1288. getting GREAT deals on our curriculum through eBay for next year.
1289. being outside more then inside for 4 days straight.

1290. schooling outside (so much fun!)
1291. the kids listening to the History lesson on Amenhotep IV and Nerfetti while sitting high in a tree (and I mean high!! Momma could barely concentrate on the lesson)
1292. continuing to realize my limitations and that I can not do it all
1293. continuing to pray about what I need to let go of and stop doing in order to slow down.
1294. God's grace that loves me through this same mistake over and over and over.
1295. the kids vacumning for the 1st time.

1296. getting strep - Brent taking off and taking care of the kids and house for me.
1297. new sheets for our bed - so, so, so soft
1298. getting paint for our bedroom? CAN NOT WAIT until  it is painted!
1299. AWESOME family pictures taken
1300. good attitudes during our photo shoot
1301. playing monopoly while Isaiah takes a nap

1302. thinking our heater broke again and learning it was only our thermostat needing new batteries.
1303. teaching our children about Passover and the truths about traditional holidays

I had to put this pic on here too. I just love it!!

Gifts #1238 - 1278

1238. Joshua's tooth extracted - him being such a trooper!
1239. Brent taking him to get it done so Mommy didn't have too!
1240. Isaiah saying, "I know"
1241. the GF bread recipe that I made up all by myself (I will post soon)
1242. finally hanging out with my sweet friend Melissa - my kids and I were having withdraws (LOL)
1243. making up a 6wk GF menu with Melissa
1244. Joshua being so excited that he learned how to Monopoly with his best friend.
1245. the very next day, God providing a Monopoly game through a friend who knew nothing about the day before. (God is in the details people!!)
1246. going out with all the couples of our home school co-op
1247. Aunt Kelly babysitting
1248. all three kids going to sleep for Aunt Kelly
1249. the kids loving the church we've been going to
1250. our garbage disposal breaking - getting a new one

Brent checking things out after he put a new disposal in and Isaiah making sure Daddy was on his game!!

1251. God being so patient with me on my journey of trusting Him.
1252. my gift from Melissa... the book, "Desperate" by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson... just because she loves me!!
1253. a hot shower after the kiddos go to bed
1254. fantastic new crock pot meal - definitely a new staple in our home
1255. going to Tulsa for my niece's 16th bday dinner
1256. seeing my Dad in the hospital while we were there
1257. Dad's surgery going well
1258. the kids playing with Unkie E's drums
1259. watching my kiddos and my brothers "jam" together
1260. Isaiah sleeping ALL the way home
1261. packages from Papa and Mimi in the mail for the kids
1262. Joshua telling me, "I'm ready for a book with no pictures." BIG STEP!
1263. Isaiah getting bronchitis again - this time NOT putting him on antibiotics
1264. a dear friend referring me to her chiropractor for Isaiah
1265. Isaiah doing better after only 1 visit with him and still no antibiotics
1266. Oklahoma weather - blizzard warning one day and 68 degrees the next... got to love it!
1267. Isaiah repeating everything.

Isaiah being himself... SILLY!!

 

1268. searching for our home school curriculum for next year
1269. so happy with our curriculum for this year - makes next year super easy to figure out

1270. humidifers - wonders for allergies
1271. celebrating Joshua's 2nd spiritual bday and thinking of how much he has grown in the LORD.

Joshua with his King David sword.

1272. new tennis shoes
1273. Brent working so hard to provide for our family.
1274. trusting God is who He promises to be
1275. God's countless faithful "show ups" in my life
1276. all the people in BSF safe after a threat at the church
1277. Ms. Christine taking us out for a suprise lunch after church.
1278. teaching our co-op Ephesians 6, the armor of God

Abigail and Alana putting on their armor.

 

 

Randomn pics that I must share...