A Happy Halloween to You!

The long awaited day for Trick or Treating has finally arrived. My four-year-old has been begging to go ever since his favorite cartoon characters started talking about it weeks ago!

Traditionally, we make a great community event out of the evening. This year, my husband will be driving his International M and pulling the trailer with the hey (and us!). There are five families with kids. We have about 20 houses on our road and they are pretty spread out, so this makes it fun. If it's not too late when we get back, we'll have a campfire and roast marshmallows while the kids play flashlight tag. The weather is supposed to be beautiful!

See our pumpkins? I'm really proud of my two older boys. My middle one carved the leaf pumpkin, and my oldest carved the bat. It took them a long time, but they didn't give up, and their pumpkins look great!

I still have tons to do, so I shouldn't be on this computer. But I thought maybe one of you could help inspire me. I'm helping to organize the giant Trunk or Treat at our church tomorrow. And no, I still don't have an idea for my trunk yet (any suggestions????). Besides the decorated trunks to trick or treat around, we'll be offering refreshments, games--lots of games, and a story time with the gospel.

We sent out 2500 invitations to children in surrounding schools, and yes, there are two zeros in that number. I'm currently brain dead and on decoration overload, but I need to come up with two good verses (or phrases from verses) for the final bulletin boards. No clear choice has come to me yet. Do you have any ideas or favorite verses with outreach in mind?? I've covered the 4x8 boards with yellow, and red respectively, and I hung a fall garland at the bottom of each. So it is all ready to finish--I just need the words/idea to put up.

Even if you have no ideas for me, I would really appreciate prayers for this event. Lots of kids will be coming that have never been to a church before, and we want all the games and fun to reflect the God we love and serve.

My little guy went to smell this pumpkin lid and accidentally touched his nose with it. You should have seen the face he made! Yes, pumpkins are stinky! I love this age!

Election Time

Show me your ways, O LORD,

Teach me your paths;

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

My two older boys are running for Student Council offices this year. The older is running for President, and the younger for Vice President. Their speeches before the student body, as well as the actual election, are today. They are both excited and nervous.

The last few days, especially, have been full of tossing slogans and campaign promises around. Remember, in a house full of boys, most of the slogans are unmentionable here. You'll have to trust me that they are hysterical, though, even if totally unusable! And my husband has been just as bad! Really.

Anyway, I sent the boys off to school with this:

I'm so proud of you. Whether you win an election or not is not important to me. What is, is that you took a risk for a great a great goal. For each student who is running for an office, there are many other kids who wanted to, but didn't have the courage that you have shown. HAVE FUN TODAY! And remember why you are special--not because of any election results--but because of God and what He is doing in you and through you.

During our country's election, the same hope and truth sustain us daily. That will not change, regardless of the leadership we elect. God still works in and through us, He is in control, and He can still move the hearts of kings (any kings).

So I will (try) not worry over the outcome. But I WILL vote! And PRAY. Really PRAY.

For now, my little guy and I are off to decorate the church for our Trunk and Treat this Saturday.

Our Little Maple, All Decked Out

I just realized that it's been a while since I posted a picture of one of our "tree babies" and I wanted to share what color it turned out to be. This is one of our Autumn Blaze Maples.

For those of you who are knew to my blog, we're not nutty--at least not too nutty. It's just that when we moved in, our yard was a barren field. One of the first things we did was plant trees and then guard them as best we could from the cicadas and the deer (NO EASY TASK!). We're tickled they've established themselves, and now they are just beautiful!

Goose Neck Gourd Pumpkin Craft

About seven years ago, my father-in-law gave me a bunch of goose neck gourds. I researched tons of ideas on the Internet at the time and settled on making this pumpkin/ghost. I'm sorry, but it's been so long, I have no idea where I saw the idea. Whoever it was, though, was incredibly creative!

My version turned out surprisingly well, and I ended up making a bunch for Christmas gifts. Odd, I know to give Halloween decorations at Christmas, but they were a big hit! A few years ago, my dad made this cute little guy out of a gourd he picked up at a roadside stand.
They really aren't hard to make. Just take the gourd, sand it lightly, and seal it with a base coat. Paint the bottom orange and the top white and then add the details. I sealed mine with a topcoat of clear enamel so I can hang it outside.

Spooky Old Tree

Check out this tree we saw on a hike this weekend. Isn't it the coolest thing?
All it needs is a couple of eyes and moving branches and it could star in a spooky movie! I love trees with character!

If it weren't across the river and on the other side of the road, my boys would have crawled inside and pretended they were being eaten! LOL!

What on earth would make it grow this way? Any ideas?

Frugal Home-Made Camp Cot

Owning a pop-up camper would be really nice, but for our family, there are a million things that rank above that on our wish list. So we make the most of our tenting experience. To do that, the first thing we did was invest in some camp mats.

For the boys, the inexpensive self-inflating foam mats from Walmart ($19 each) worked fine. For my husband and I, we chose a double wide self inflating foam core mat from Cabela's --mainly because my husband had a gift card we needed to use. It is really nice, and well made and all (like what you would expect from Cabela's), but you still have to get up and down off the floor. For me and my TB (tiny bladder), that means lots of nighttime trips to the bathroom where my boys are lucky if I don't get dizzy getting up from the floor and step on them!

Thus, earlier this summer, we decided to look into buying a cot to put the mat on. Only, no one (not even Cabela's) sells one this big without having a tent or an air mattress attached to it.

We tried putting the mat on two of my friend's fold up camp chair style cots and they had too much sag. It made my husband and I feel like we were sleeping on opposite sides of a mountain. Not good. Plus, their leg structure made it impossible to use the space beneath.

So we decided to see if we could make something. Really, all we needed was a platform and something to support it. A piece of 1/2 inch plywood was soon cut to the dimensions of the mat.

We cut handle holes along the top and sides to make it easier to move around, and put it on top of four brand new five gallon buckets from Rural King. (We love Rural King!) All told, we spent around $15 for the plywood and $12 for the buckets.

It turned out great! There was even enough room under the bed for my boys to each slide their own camp mats and sleeping bags under to save space. It was kind of like a family bunk bed! The extra space was wonderful, not to mention the height (for me) was perfect! Not sleeping on the ground Works For Me! Accomplishing it frugally is icing on the cake! Oh, yes, and we packed other camp supplies in the buckets to transport them.

Besides camping in the backyard with it several times this summer, we also used it as a spare bed when we had large groups of visitors. When not in use, we just lean the plywood against the wall and stack the buckets in the garage.

I could/should end this post now, but there is more (unnecessary and impulsive spending) which I must confess.

We were all set to go camping this past weekend with our homemade cot, and I happened to see these Coleman Ridgeline Camp Beds at Walmart last week. (We probably should not have gone back to the camping section, but who can resist when you're all geared up?) Anyway, the more we looked at them, the more we really liked how lightweight they were and how nicely they folded up. Pretty nifty! Oh, and they came with their own little foam mat. They ran around $42 each (not so nifty).

Long story short, we bought two and tried them under our big mat at home. We then put the little mats on the big one and made the bed up with sheets and blankets. It was incredibly comfortable!! So this is what we actually decided to take with us this weekend.

Here's my little bundle of joy pretending to be sleeping on our bed. You didn't think a four year old would really take a nap while we camped, did you? Alas, no such luck. But he slept well at night in his own pack-n-play and for that, I'm thankful.

Sorry, I got sidetracked. Back to the cot thing. We didn't fully vet (is that the word for it?) the idea before we left. One big downside we found of using the cots instead of the buckets and plywood was that there was less clearance for my two older boys. The cots only gave them about 12 inches, whereas the buckets had given them 15 inches. O.K., lesson learned. But, if they would have simply stayed on their backs, they would have been just fine! Honestly. Rolling over is highly over-rated . . .lol!

Anyway, I set them up side by side when we got home and compared them, but it's hard to see in the picture.

For our comfort, either idea is far better than using the mat on the floor. But for the boys, the home-made frugal one works much better.

What will we do next time? Definitely take the plywood and buckets (maybe with a sheet of foam from Walmart for that luxury feeling!). It is nicer for the boys to have a little more wiggle room. Besides they'll probably go and grow over the winter and need the space even more!

Jack-O-Lanterns To Grace Our Camp Site

My friend (smart cookie that she is) brought along several pumpkins that had been scooped out and made ready for carving. How cool is that? She did the one in the middle, and the kids worked on the funny faces. The pumpkins looked so neat sitting around our site at nights. It was like they were enjoying the fire right along with us. My friend also brought some of the seeds she had roasted. Now you know why we like to go with her and her family! She is full of great ideas and always brings lots of great treats!

One morning, I couldn't find my visor. That is a problem since I use it to keep my ornery hair out of my face. We looked everywhere for it. Actually, I had my husband turning the camp upside down while I was cooking breakfast.

Do you know where we finally found it?? On Mr. Happy Face Jack-O-lantern's head. Hmmmm. Maybe the moon was in his eyes during the night?

Or maybe my son thought he needed a hat. . .

Tent+Tarp=Warm and Dry!

In the past, we froze on cold nights even though we ran an electric space heater and used electric blankets. The giant vents on this tent as well as the other one we use occasionally (a Columbia Cougar Flats) just let too much heat out.

This year, thanks to lots of advice, we decided to put a tarp between the tent and the fly. We bought a tarp that covered the entire top and went almost to the ground on two sides. It worked beautifully! We used bungees to pull it taunt to the four corner stake loops and then put the fly over it. It not only held the heat in, it also kept us much dryer!

I say it kept us dryer not because our tent leaks, but because with five of us stacked in there, you just can't help being up against the sides in places. That extra layer of tarp created a barrier that kept our bedding dry.

How well did it work?? We had to turn the heat down inside when the temps outside were in the upper thirties! Yeah!! We'll definitely do this from now on when camping in colder weather.

We're Back From Our Adventure!

First off, on a personal note, let me say that Dad is doing better. They placed a stint in the worst of the clogged arteries to give him some relief. Doctors will fix the other two they found when they feel his body is ready (hopefully within the next three weeks).

So, thank you for all your prayers, sincerely. We're not making an emergency trip east, at least not at this point. But we are keeping close tabs on things with Mom.

As far as our camping trip went, I'm glad we went! It was great to be out there in spite of the deluge of rain Thursday night and Friday morning! I'm anxious to share more about it!

But, alas, blogging will have to be done between chores today. I need to find my way out from beneath the mountain of laundry we made! It would be nice, too, to find my garage in all that camping gear. . .So, I'd best get at it!

Plan A or Plan B

These pictures were taken last year at Patoka Lake. It was wonderful to get away, and we're looking forward to getting away this year, too.

My boys thought tomorrow's departure for camping would never come, but come, it has! We are almost packed and are hoping to leave mid-morning. It's funny. I spend all this time getting everyone else ready and I'm too exhausted to pack my own stuff.

I'll probably roll out of bed in the morning, prop my eyelids open and do my best not to forget anything important for myself. Last year, it was my toothbrush. The year before, it was my underthings. Of course, I'll be the last one ready (like every vacation) and the boys will complain that I'm making them late and holding them up.

Do you see any injustice here??

Along with packing everyone else's things and cooking enough food for an army, I had to bake more pepperoni bread because my little food pits devoured what I made yesterday!

I'm looking at this picture of our tent from last year and realizing that the vents are much larger than I was remembering. I'm going to need to rethink the blanket/tarp thing I was planning to put over the tent under the fly. I'm not sure I have a tarp or a blanket big enough to cover all that space. I might have cover the top in halves or sections. It will make keeping it in place a little trickier, but it is what it is. We'll figure it out there.

My day wasn't all camp packing, though. In fact, I wasn't sure we were going to be going at all.

My Dad entered the cardiac ICU today as a result of a heart attack and is undergoing tests back in PA. So, I spent a bunch of time on the phone and packing four other sets of clothes and supplies (still none them mine ;)) for a plan B trip to PA.

I was back and forth a dozen times about what our plans should be, but it looks as though Dad is stable and will be in a holding pattern for a few days. Doctors aren't even close to being ready to determine what action to take. Mom (in typical Mom form) encouraged us to stick to our plans and let the boys have their fun time. So we're going ahead with the camping plans, knowing it could all change in a moment. God is determined to give me practice at laying my worry at his feet.

Lord willing, we will be at the park through Sunday, and Dad's heart will behave itself. But we'll be ever in prayer, and appreciative of your prayers as well.

Until we get home. . .

Blessings

Isn't it neat, by the way, to connect with other Christian women we don't even know, and feel like sisters because of Him? That for me, is what blogging is all about.

Repair Your Paved Driveway Before Winter

I meant to post this story/tip a month ago on Works For Me Wednesday (WFMW) but I got sidetracked by more fun topics.

Our Story

Five years ago, we unknowingly allowed an incredibly dishonest contractor to come in and blacktop our driveway. Naturally, he disappeared off the face of the earth and had all his phones disconnected long before we realized our how much he had shortchanged us in material and workmanship. We learned through that experience and paid for it dearly. Check, check, and recheck those references! But that's all spilt milk.

Presently, we're saving up to have it redone right. In the mean time, we do what we can to preserve the sad job he left us with. Each fall, we pick out the worst of the cracks and repair them before winter. If we don't, the water gets down in there, freezes, and opens the cracks further. Crack filler is O.K., but what we do is by far a more enduring fix, especially if there is still some tar left in the blacktop.

Normally, it is best to get repairs done in the late summer while the weather is still hot. But it's not too late to do some repairs before the really cold weather comes--the sooner the better.

Our tip

Use a propane torch to thoroughly heat the pavement along the crack, and then tamp it down hard to mend it back together. Spraying a little diesel fuel on the tools keeps the blacktop from sticking to them. For the smaller cracks, this is all we need to do.

For larger cracks, we use broken pieces of blacktop from other areas (unfortunately there are plenty), or add some cold patch to fill in the gaps. I lay small pieces along the top of the crack, and my husband then goes along and heats it for a while. When it is good and hot (you'll see it starting to smoke) he tamps the pieces down into the cracks. The heat softens both the patch material, and the existing road surface enough that they can be pressed together into a new smooth surface. This is pretty satisfying, by the way! (I know, I really need to get out more!)

If you have very large patches of cracked and loose pavement, it might be best to rent a saw designed for the abuse and "clean cut" back to solid pavement. Remove loose debris, and pack cold patch into the hole.

You can always use some sealer when you're done if it's still warm enough. For sealer, typically, the temps need to be above 50 for a day or two for it to cure properly.

By doing these basic repairs ourselves, we've prolonged the life of our drive and bought some more time to save up. We get most of our supplies at Rural King, but any home improvement store should have all you need.

Just something my husband and I have learned along life's bumpy road. Sorry, couldn't I resist!

Leave and Live

First, thank you. For all of you who emailed or left comments that you were praying for our family, it was greatly appreciated. Please don't stop. I'm trusting God to work out the details, but it's a moment by moment struggle to leave it at his feet.

Two familiar verses, today, are balm for my soul.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

. . . Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified;

do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will

be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

We all have burdens that we carry, and things we worry about. My tendency to try to handle them in my own strength only makes them seem heavier. It's awfully hard to embrace the blessings around me, and even harder to reach out and bless others, when my heart and hands are full of worry and burdens.

I invite you to join me today in placing those worries in his much more capable hands, and get on with today's living.

Getting on with it, for me, means cooking up a storm for our camping trip, and enjoying time with my boys--who only have a half day of school! Yikes, they'll be home soon!

What do you need to hand over to Him so you can enjoy living out today? Don't wait to do it.

Blessings

Hero For a Day

Meet "Turtle Friend." He doesn't even have a name of his own. Yet, my four year old considers him priceless (not priceless enough to keep track of him in our yard, mind you, but priceless nonetheless). Apparently Turtle Friend was riding in his pocket while he was helping Daddy drag brush to the burning pile from the far corners of the yard. Only, somehow, somewhere, he fell out.

My little guy was heart broken when he realized what was missing. He began to cry.

I looked out over the yard and I wanted to cry. At this time of year, our yard, all five acres, are covered with leaves. Of course the turtle had to be brown and yellow. And the leaves are falling by the thousands! There was little chance we would be able to find him, but we set out anyway. We walked the yard and swished the leaves in all the most likely places.

But we found no turtle.

I thought of how I had really wanted to get the mowing done before our trip and realized in frustration that it wasn't going to get done. I felt pretty sure I wouldn't be able to spot Turtle Friend before he came flying out the shoot, and I didn't think I could face my son if I let that happen.

So, out the window went my plans, and out came the leaf blower. I started at one end of the yard and worked to the other. I made enormous rows of leaves. My wrists were going numb and my shoulders were sore and I thought of how much easier it would have been to ride the mower around and chop them up.

With every row I made it became more and more evident that it was not going to happen. I wasn't going to find it. I don't know if I expected to find it, really. What were the odds, anyway, of finding a brown turtle in such a vast ocean of leaves?

But then, as I was rolling my last pile of leaves the final distance, I struck gold! Turtle Friend! Oh glorious little hunk of rubber Turtle Friend!

My boy hit me at a full run and threw his arms around my legs.

You know? It was all worth it, every sore muscle.

The grass can wait. Today I needed to be a hero.

Praying For God's Hands to Touch Those I Can't

At the playground, my son was yelling into this contraption at the top of his lungs to his daddy on the other end. "Daddy, can you hear me? Hey, Daddy!"

His earnest little face looking expectantly into the end of the pipe made me smile.

Sometimes I feel like that when I'm praying. Hey God, I need to talk to you, but I'm not sure I can speak. Are you there? Can you hear me? Can you hear my heart?

This morning was one of those mornings. We live 12 hours from my parents, something we've learned to manage with lots of phone calls and a few visits each year. They don't do email, so most of the time it's just calls, and as many pictures of the kids as we can send through snail mail.

This morning they called and needed more. They needed someone to share hugs over a scary diagnosis, and reassurance that God is still watching over things. I needed it, too. They needed someone to help them with physical chores they can no longer manage and someone to just be there. They wished I was closer. I did too.

When we moved here with my husband's work, we knew that these times would no doubt come, and the distance would make it difficult. But we knew then that it was the right move for our family, and we still believe we are where God wants us.

But what do you do on days like this, when the distance makes a "quick trip over" impossible? What do you do when your heart aches to give a hug to someone you can't reach?

Pray. It's all I can do.

I'm praying that God would encourage them. That He would comfort them. That He would show them they are not alone. That He would send someone to help with the physical chores I can't do. I'm praying that He would touch them in ways I can't and that He would take care of them.

It's all I can do right now.

That, and pray that He'll help me to Trust Him. That's the hard part, for I'm a worrier, and emotional burdens are often the hardest for me to lay at His feet.

I know that praying is much more than yelling into a finite pipe. It is bringing the burdens of our heats before an almighty, all loving, and all sufficient Father. That helps, but it's still hard.

If you think of us, pray for my parents (and our family), that we would feel God's love and provision in a special way this week.

Blessings

I Need Some Chilly Camping Advice!

We leave Thursday morning for a four day camping trip. The forecast is for highs around 60 and lows in the upper 30's with a 40% chance of showers each day. So, today, I'm thinking about things we'll need to stay warm in our tent.

We love our Electric Blankets!

For the two older boys, I'll put their foam core mats together and then put an electric blanket down over them (under their sleeping bags). We like the foam core self inflating mattresses because the foam offers insulation from the cold ground that plain air mattresses don't. There are some pretty inexpensive ones at Walmart. Anyway, the boys can wear some sweats, socks and a knit hat and be as snug as a bug.

For our four year old, we'll wrap an electric throw around his Pac-N-Play mattress (under a fleece sheet) and pile in several warm blankets. If its really that cold, we can put his fleece snow suit on. He is usually just fine, and we've had a night or two in the upper twenties before.

My husband and I use an electric blanket and sleep on a foam core self inflating mattress. The foam offers insulation that plain air mattresses just can't boast.

But here's where I could use some advice! In the tent, we usually run an electric space heater which helps some. But with the huge vents in the top of the tent, even a light wind can sail in under the fly and steal any warmth we've accumulated.

This year, I'm thinking of laying a light quilt over the top of the tent under the fly to cover up the vents. Or maybe a tarp. But do you think the tarp would be heavy enough? And do you think using clothes pins to hold it in place would be enough?

If any of you have done something like this or have a better idea, I would really love to hear about it!

Golden Principles in Proverbs

A word about words:

It is easy to make a mountain out of any molehill.

All you do is add dirt.

(Heartland Samplers)

When words are many, sin is not absent,

but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 10:19

'nough said.

Inspiration For Cleaning

While my boys were practicing soccer last night, we (my husband, Number 3, and I) headed over to the playground to do some exploring.

What an awesome playground! Not only is it vast and sprawling, this one has wild climbing structures unlike anything I've seen before. Check this red and blue thing out below. In the center of it, there is a rope net to climb across. How do they come up with these things??

We had tons of fun! You have to be careful when dads come along, though. You never know when they will swoop in and carry you off...

Anyway, on the way home, the older boys begged us to hang around next week after practice and give them a turn on the playground. Being the depraved mother that I am, I immediately recognised the opportunity to inspire some cleaning at home.

Time on the Totally Awesome Playground should be worth quite a lot of cleaning, no?

. . .especially in light of the fact that my oldest told me this morning he has NO long pants to wear.

Note to son: That's probably not the right thing to tell Mom if you don't want to draw attention to the state of affairs in your room. For, Mom knows there is a multitude of jeans--complete with tags--hidden in the heaps!

So, tonight we're having a room cleaning party. Want to come?? If ever my boys want to step foot on that playground, their room will need attention first. I'm confident that it will be organized and clean at to start out next week. Not that it will stay that way for long. . .but I imagine it will shine till at least till they've had a spell on the Totally Awesome Playground!

Busy Fall Nights Call For Charts

Last night we signed my oldest up for basketball. He is excited about playing for his school team. They will practice after school, and have games on Saturdays. He hasn't played in a formal setting before, so this should be good experience. Many of his friends will be playing as well.

Then it was on to soccer practice. Here's a shot of my two attempting to score on their coach. It is fun to watch them grow as players, and learn new skills.

Tonight, they have football club after school. That is just once a week on Fridays (Thank goodness).

There will be a few weeks where all three sporting activities overlap and it will probably get pretty crazy. But a little crazy is O.K. Sometimes having less free time helps them to prioritize and use time wisely. But I'll definitely be making up new charts to help them keep on top of things.

Currently, we are using one set of charts with two categories. On them, there are things that need to get done before school, and then after school (before play). But I need to include more of the basic stuff that gets forgotten in the rush, like emptying out their lunch boxes and getting their soccer socks to the laundry!

While I'm at it, I think I'll make one for myself! Did I mention that I got mixed up last week about who's turn it was to pick up the kids (3/4 miles away) at the bus stop? It happened to be the ONE day it was raining (figures). All 5 of the neighborhood kids were huddled together under a neighbor's tree. Fortunately, I realized before they were down there too long. But, I need a chart.

Charts are good.

We're going to need a bigger fridge this fall.

Creepy Dudes

My son made this Ghostly Greeter for our front door the other night. Darling, isn't it? Thankfully, it doesn't seem to phase his little brother, but I can't tell you how many times it has startled me as I walked by the door. My neighbor friend said there was something about it that reminded her of him--before she even knew who made it. Too funny. I think she's right!

Anyway, I go out for a walk today and look up and this Creepy Guy is watching me. Just watching me. He watched me go back in for my camera, come out and take his picture, walk out to the road to get the mail, and go back in side and CLOSE the door. Geepers! Halloween definitely seems to bring out the Creepy Dudes!

Yizards Aren't So Bad

This morning while I was moving things around, I came across two little lizards. There was one real active little guy, and the other was a big slow guy with orange spots.

I called son number three (in in the absence of sons one and two) to come take a peek. Gingerly he approached them and reluctantly pulled a stone off the little "tunneler" at my request. This was definitely not his thing.

My older two would have already carted the lot of them off to some new bucket home. They love critters!

In fact, on our nature walk Sunday night with the youth group, the kids were asked to pick up eight things from nature which they could press into clay the following week for a craft. They were each given little brown bags into which they could place their items. To the horror and disgust of every girl there (and there were dozens) my oldest arrived back at the pavilion with a bag filled with: one giant field spider, an unknown beetle, a cricket, and a cockroach. To his total delight (and the excited exclamations of his brother and two buddies), the cricket had been dismantled by the spider. Oh, YUCK!!!

But my third son only admires creatures from a distance. He would much rather throw a rock at something then get up close and personal. If it was a spider, I could relate, find him a rock even. But yesterday, I was taking pictures of the pretty tree out the window and looked down to see him about to toss a wood block at our kitty. Not a good thing. He got in big trouble for that, and promised not to do it e'er again. Heh-hem.But, that brings me back to where I started, with the lizards. This child, who has a dozen plastic lizards and dragons in the tub, who usually has a rubber snake tucked in his pocket, and who carries a play turtle around in his book bag, has little appreciation and gentleness for real things in nature.

That's why I called him out. I wanted to give him the chance to meet some harmless real life versions of his little friends and realize that they need special tender care.

After lots of encouragement from me, and protesting on his part, he let me lay them in his little hands. He stood impatiently while we talked about how they felt cool and a little sticky. We talked about how they needed a safe home, which was not in the grass I was about to mow. At that, seeing his chance to get them out of his hands, he dashed to the shed and threw them under. Well, so much for the gentle part.
But on the way back to the house, with the encounter behind him, he says to me, "Yizards aren't so bad, mom."

I guess that's progress.

Simplify Camp Side Cooking!

Let's face it. Mature stomachs can only take so many hot dogs cooked over the fire--no matter how much the kids enjoy roasting them! That's why we take along these two handy cooking items. Each opens up a whole new world of cooking possibilities, since most campsites have electric. All you need is an extension cord and one of these, and you're in business!

Oh, yes, and do you know what the best thing is about using these? Clean up is simple. Just wipe out any glumps, add some soapy water, heat, and wash! You can wash any utensils in the pot while you're at it! This definitely works for me!

Here are some things we cook up in the electric skillet:

• Bacon, sausage, eggs, and potatoes.
• Corned Beef Hash.
• Grilled Cheese with Ham.
• Italian sausages with onion, pepper and tomato sauce (Mmmm.)
• Sloppy Joe.
• Ravioli.
• Fried Chicken.
• Hamburgers.
• Chili.
• Cheese Steaks.

For the crock pot, I usually make whatever I'm planning ahead of time, freeze if convenient, and put it in the pot the morning we'll be eating it. Works great!

Here are some Crock Pot favorites:

• Again, Chili.
• Beef Stew.
• Potato Soup.
• Meatballs in Sauce for Sandwiches

There are just so many things you can do with both of them! Do you have any other suggestions??

By the way, we're going camping next week and I'm looking for a good Beef Stew Recipe. If you have a favorite, I'd love to see it! I've never made it from scratch before, but I have a bunch of stew meat in the freezer from the half steer we bought in the spring.

Don't forget to head back over to Works for Me Wednesday and see what other great tips you can find!

Planning the Camping Menu

In a little over a week, we'll be packing up to go camping over fall break. This year we are going to a state park about an hour south of us. When I say camping, I mean tent camping. No fancy shmancy camper for us, though we drool over them every chance we get! Some day I think I'd really like to have a trailer, but that's at the bottom of our priority list.

One of the first things I do as I begin "think" camping, is plan the menu. That way I can get the shopping done way ahead and just concentrate on cooking and packing the day or two before we leave. This year we have three dinners to plan. We like to have something hot for dinner at this time of year. Experience tells us that the end of October can be pretty chilly in the evenings. (UNDERSTATEMENT of the year!)

So, for dinners, we're planning to have Beef stew one night, Potato soup another, and a chicken casserole for the third. Since we go with several other families, we can divide the meal responsibilities up. I'm going to be making beef stew and potato soup. These will be easy to make ahead of time (freeze even) and then just heat up in the crock pot at the camp site. We've done chili this way too! Easy and delicious! That's the key when you are camping with the family. You want great meals that will be easy to prepare as well as clean up.

By the way, if you have a great stew recipe, I'd love to see it! I have the stew meat in the freezer, but I've never made beef stew from scratch before.

For lunches, we'll be doing the standard cold cuts, hot dogs and Italian sausages. I've had several requests for pepperoni bread, so I guess I'll be making four or five loaves of that! My boys would be happy if that was all we took!

Breakfasts will include hot and cold cereal for the kids since they rarely want to wait for cooking. But for the adults, we'll do Eggs, sausage and potatoes--and plenty of coffee and tea!!!

That's it for the actual meals. But of course, we'll need to pack plenty of snacks. Hiking around the woods makes for some extra hungry boys, and I can't keep them feed as it is. So, I'll be baking lots of Chocolate Chip cookies and pumpkin bread to fill in the gaps.

For drinks, we take plenty of bottled water in a cooler, but I'll also take a jug to make some tea and lemonade. We like the Crystal Lite tins of peach tea, and the boys love any kind of lemonade. I can't forget a variety of tea bags for my husband. He is a tea lover, especially in the evenings around the campfire. For me, I love a good cup of coffee with some pumpkin spice creamer. Aren't the creamers they've come out with wonderful?? What a treat!

So far, this is my menu plan. I'm sure I'll be adding to it as the time gets closer, but I wanted to post what I have so far, and see if anyone has a favorite recipe for beef stew they'd be willing to share with us.

Where's The Path, Lord?

Last night, we took our youth group on a hike through the woods to enjoy the beautiful autumn colors. One of the leaders has a beautiful piece of property with some well kept trails through it. We mostly stuck to the trails, but a few times we forged our own. After the hike, we gathered around a campfire for some smores and fun. It was a great night.

Afterwards, I got to thinking. It wouldn't be much fun (for me, that is) if I had forge my way through the woods without a path for very long. Dense undergrowth and thorns can be tricky and tedious to navigate. And yet, that's exactly how I feel sometimes when it comes to raising children and disciplining them--like I'm making little progress and getting all scratched up by the thorns.

Although God gives lots of general principles about raising up children, much of our day-to-day disciplining falls into that grey area of our own discernment within those guidelines. Some days I definitely have more discernment than others, and I long for more specific instructions, don't you?

But just because God doesn't give us a detailed instruction manual with our children, that doesn't mean we have to do it on our own and forge our own paths. As with every area of our lives, He wants us to constantly seek his wisdom in the decisions we make.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

For many of us including me, these verses are almost as familiar as John 3:16, and we've sung them around a campfire similar to the one we enjoyed last night. Yet, I find myself asking, how often do I fail to heed them in the rush of life? In the heat of the moment, when discipline is called for, how many times do I stop and pray first before dealing out the consequences? Those few times I do (mainly because I'm ready to explode), God is always faithful to calm my heart and help me focus on the real issues--which may or may not have been what caught my attention in the first place. So why don't I do it all the time? Why don't I acknowledge him all the time, in all my ways--especially when it comes to the most precious gift he has given me, my children?

I wish I had an answer. It's foolish not to.

I'm praying He'll help me to stop and seek his wisdom more faithfully, and in the process, allow Him to make the paths of raising my boys more straight.

Little Tikes Pickup Truck

This Little Tikes Pickup Truck has carried countless little boys and their friends to work. We bought it new for my oldest son 9 years ago, and the only place it shows wear is on the stickers. The truck is still in great shape! My four year old now considers it a staple of life. It is ideal for little ones 18 months and up, and depending on how tall the child is, he could use it for years.

Around here, the big kids (I'm talking 3rd-5th graders) still use it, although they can't squeeze inside it anymore. They sit in the back (with the tail gate down) and propel themselves backwards with their feet. If they're lucky, they convince their little brother to take them for a ride. I'm not sure what the weight limit is, but I know that at least 90lbs of boys have been on or in it at one time on many occasions!

The working tailgate is the cat's meow! My budding construction worker likes to throw his cones and tools in the back and head off to work. It's fun to watch him pull off to the side of the driveway to fill 'er up at the gas station we improvised by the shed. Sometimes he uses his pedal tractor/loader to fill the bed with mulch! I'm not so much in favor of this since it gets redistributed all over our driveway! But hey, who can complain when the little man is hard at work?

In short, this is a well-made toy that has been worth every penny! Your little one will love it! I think we paid around $50 dollars for it at a toy outlet (remember, nine years ago). But I see that Amazon has it on sale for $78.61. They are saying that this is a 21% savings off the list price of $99.99, still not a bargain in my book. But, you may be able to snag it cheaper off EBay or Craig's List. Then again, if you have several boys that will get use out of it, it may be worth it for you.

Our Little Maple is Growing Up!

During our first year here (five years ago), we planted hundreds of trees (literally). Our house felt like the proverbial house in a field. Not exactly what we were used to, and certainly not the way we wanted to keep it. Most of the trees we planted were small spruces planted for a wind block, just little sticks, really. Some of those didn't make it due to unfortunate mishaps with my lawn mower (heh-hem). But there were quite a few four-foot tall shade trees, too.

My husband's favorites of these were the oaks. There were pin, white, and red oaks. My favorites were the maples. One of the Maple varieties we planted was called Autumn Blaze. Sounds great, doesn't it? But a couple of the others promised beautiful colors, too. I love dramatic fall colors!

When we finally finished planting them, we connected up all of the hose and watered, watered and watered! We even had a nice (no, incredibly nice) neighbor water some more when we went on vacation! But probably the hardest challenge we faced in getting our little babies established was in keeping the cicadas and deer from decimating their tender new growth. Wouldn't it just figure that the year we plant dozens of shade trees would be the year of the cicadas? Anyway, the pests took a heavy toll on the first year's growth. With many of the leaves missing or dead, it was hard to tell what, if anything, our new little trees would do in the fall.

But they have been growing steadily ever since. Some of our little four-footers have now reached a height of 20-25 feet!

I have my eye on this maple, especially. I can't believe how big it has gotten, and its colors are beginning to shine! Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting more pictures of our little "tree babies" (lol!), so hopefully, you'll get to see their show, too!

10/11/08 Soccer Game

The boys had a great game today which ended in a 3-3 tie. My middle boy (above, after a head shot) scored 2 of our goals. He was tickled! Below, I caught (kind of) one of those rare brotherly moments where my boys were actually patting each other and saying "Great job!" Too bad the orange guys got in the way. Definitely a picture I would have framed!

I'm surprised the other team didn't score more than they did since there were overhead distractions that had my boys TOTALLY sidetracked! This Black Hawk made several low passes to and from our town's Fall Festival activities.
After the game, we came home and worked outside finishing up our winter's supply of fire wood. It feels wonderful to have all the wood stacked and under cover. Almost makes me want to shout, "Bring on the snow!" Almost. But when we have days like this where it is sunny and 83 and the trees are changing colors, I'd give anything to make fall last forever. I'm so glad we live somewhere where we get to enjoy each of the four seasons!

Moist and Delicious Jewish Apple Cake

This scrumptious coffee cake is the perfect way to use up all those apples at this time of year! My whole family loves it, and it packs well in lunches for a special treat. It's also a big hit when I share it with our Sunday School class for refreshments/donut time! So pick up some apples today and give it a try!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup Mazola oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 3 tsp. baking powder
• 4 eggs

Beat all ingredients together for 5 minutes on high speed.

In separate bowl, put 4-6 peeled and sliced apples. Make the apple pieces fairly small. Add 5 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of Cinnamon. Turn to coat.

Alternate batter w/apples and bake at 350 for about 75-90 minutes. Adjust the time depending on what type pan you use. I used a 13 x 9 glass cake pan and it didn't seem to need the full 90 minutes. Don't over-cook!

It's not in the recipe, but I like to dot the top with butter, and sprinkle with Cinnamon and sugar before I bake. It gives the top a sweet and kind of crispy coating. Beware, this is a stick to your hips kind of cake!

No-Fuss Plantings to Create Beauty Year-Round

As we head into fall, it is the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs!

When we moved here five years ago, there was very little done in the way of landscaping. It truly was a blank slate. What little we found, was overgrown and misplaced. We had our work cut out for us. But, that's also one reason we bought the house. We happen to love working in the yard and making it our own!

The first step is envisioning what the property can look like. Obviously, since we bought the place, we felt it had great potential. Then, we set about shaping it little by little, starting with planting shade trees and removing overgrown shrubs. It wasn't easy, getting settled in AND working so hard outside--especially with two little boys at the time--but we're so glad we did! The trees we planted those five years ago have begun to offer some wonderful (and welcome) shade!

In our landscaping, it is important to me that we choose perennials that fill in and require little care. I don't want to have to plant tons of annuals every year.

For example, to spruce up my wood shop (i.e. glorified shed, lol!) we planted an Arborvitae at each front corner. Then, we placed a Barberry, and some Goldenrod to form a loose triangle. The effect was beautiful--and it keeps it's interest year round! I especially like the color combination of those three together. Spring bulbs, Black-Eyed Susan, Burgundy and Golden Mums, a couple clumps of Sedum, and a variety of Irises keep it extra colorful through the growing season.

Here are the most common no-fuss perennials we like to use:

• Ornamental Grasses (big and small)
• Mums
• Irises
• Sedum,
• Pink and Yellow Yarrow
• Black Eyed Susan
• Pink Coneflower
• All kinds of Hosta
• Oh, and Spring Bulbs! LOTS of them! Planted in copious clumps!

Lots of people push off landscaping a new home until they feel settled in on the inside. But trees and plants need time to mature. So if at all possible, jump right in and at least plant any trees you have in mind. You'll be so glad you did, and before you know it, you'll have a wonderful yard in which you and your family will enjoy spending lots of time!

What is Freedom?

Our society values freedom. But what is Freedom?

• Is freedom the absence of absolutes?
• Is freedom the right to interpret (or reinterpret) the law to allow for an individuals self expression?
• Is freedom the right to train up your child in the way you see fit?
• Do our schools have to sift out all remnants of Christianity to protect freedom?

Your Christian world view (or lack thereof) will shape your response.

As a Christian, I'm leaning the way of my desktop calendar today:
(True) Freedom is not the right to do as you please, but the liberty to do as you ought.
The Apostle Paul said, You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:18

God hasn't called us to express ourselves, and thank goodness, because I have little worth expressing! Rather, He has called us to be expressions of His Righteousness. Somehow, we as a country, have distorted the word "freedom." If we are not careful, and prayerful, our freedom (in a Biblical sense) to do as we ought will be singled out and snuffed out. Our children will raise their children in a world that allows all "freedoms" but one--the freedom to worship God.

Just my thoughts. What do you think?

Don't Be an Apple Mom, Whatever You Do!

When I saw that Wendy's was selling those little coupon books for a dollar, I have to admit, I got excited! What a great idea! I could buy a bunch and hand them out on Halloween instead of gobs of expensive candy. These books are a far better value! When I told my oldest son about my plans, I received the horrified look I thought was reserved strictly for those times I forget and hug/kiss him in public.

"Mom, you can't do that! Who wants to get a piece of paper when they go trick or treating? No one, Mom! No one wants paper! That would be like, like one of those moms who gives out apples!" (big face) (Oh horrors...)

"But, the paper is worth a free Frosty!" I defended.

"No, Mom. You don't get it. It's still just paper! No one wants paper." (the look again)

Guess I won't tell him that popcorn crossed my mind before that. But, really, an apple is a bad thing? We certainly can't have me being one of those moms, now, can we?

He's not even a teenager yet, and already my intelligent thinking is questionable, and my right-standing in the world of public preteen opinion is hanging in the balance. May God have mercy on me.

Dinner Table Conversations Are Highly Over Rated

My middle son, the one with the creative costume idea, says to me at the dinner table, "Mom, do you know you are the oldest mom in my whole class?!" Snorts from the peanut gallery. "All the other moms are, like, 35."

"Reeeeeaaaly," I say (now there's a piece of encouragement...), "Then I must be the wisest one too, because with age comes wisdom. Now, eat your dinner."

Quick and Easy Scarecrow Halloween Costume

This costume is one of my all time favorites! It's not scary or spooky. It's just plain fun, and works great for any Fall or Halloween Party! That's why I'm sharing it at Works For Me Wednesday. We actually made two sets so my older two boys could both wear one when they were smaller.

Since it is really just a hat, 4 hay cuffs, and a few colorful patches, it can be worn by kids or adults, and yes, I've worn one myself for a couple fall functions! The kids love it when I dress up. The hat, by the way, sits nicely above the eyes, but I have it pulled forward for the picture.


To make it, you'll need are a few pieces of yellow felt for the "hay", a few bright scraps of felt or material for patches, and enough of one color to make the cone and brim of the hat!


Now, for the hat, make a cone out of paper (to start with) so you can adjust it and get the right size and shape. Then trace the pattern onto a piece of felt and cut it out. Sew up the seam, then attach a long narrow rectangular piece to the bottom of the cone for a brim. This is the most time consuming part, but you could use a straw hat if you have one the right size and skip this step. Whichever you use, attach lengths of yellow "fringe" to the brim seam and let it hang down like hay hair.

For the hay cuffs, cut several pieces of yellow felt into long rectangles. Cut fringe along one side, careful to leave about a half inch in tact, sew a bit of elastic to the solid edge, and, wahlah! You have easy to wear "hay" that won't fall out and isn't picky!

For the hay cuffs that goes on the feet, do the same thing, but leave a portion of the elastic in the back without fringe, so he or she won't be walking on it. It looks just fine having the yellow hay show only around the sides and top of the shoe.

Finally, take some colorful scraps of felt or material and cut out some patches to attach to his jeans, shirt, and hat. I tacked my patches on with a needle and thread at the corners, but you could simply safety pin (or tape) them on, so you can take them off in a jiffy when the party is over.


Besides how adorable he looks in it, the other thing I love is how easy it is put on and off. I can send him to school in his jeans and a flannel shirt and his costume is almost done! All he has to do is slip on his hay cuffs and don his hat!

For a fun touch, you could use some lipstick or face paint to add some rosy cheeks!

My Jehovah Jireh

Friday afternoon, my friend's mom offered to continue hosting the yard sale on Saturday (while I went to the Children's Ministry Conference) to see if she could sell the rest of our stuff. I didn't have many things left. I had a high chair and a preschool table, plus a few odd items. But there hadn't been any interest at all in those things Friday, so I had my doubts about whether it would be worth her time--at least on my account. But she insisted it was no trouble.

On Saturday, at the conference, I spent quite a bit of time looking over the tons of wonderful resources available for purchase. This is my downfall, by the way. Put me in front of a few tables laden with curriculum and activity books and I feel like a kid at the candy counter. Throw in some game books and teaching aids and I get positively giddy.

I was drooling over two books in particular that had tons of wonderful ideas in them. One was a game book, with games designed to correlate with stories throughout the Bible. How cool is that?? The other was a book full of skits portraying familiar Bible stories complete with adaptations for varying numbers of kids to be involved. Plus, that book came with a CD of sound effects! I could picture the kids having so much fun acting out the stories to the sounds on the CD! Both books could be used in any youth setting to supplement a whole host of devotional themes.

But, they would cost me just under 24 dollars a piece, and I only had 50 dollars in my purse--which I intended to use on milk and necessities this week. I didn't really want to spend the money on books. But, on the other hand, we've been looking for fresh ways to bring fun and creativity into teaching the Bible. So I bought them and figured I'd rearrange my shopping list and just make do. I felt good about the choice, knowing that the money was well-spent and the books would be well-used.

After the conference, I went by my friend's mother's place to pick up what was left of the yard sale items and guess what? There were just a few clothes left and she handed me an envelope with (have you guessed it?) $57 dollars in it!

God is faithful to provide even the simplest of things, if we put Him first. He is Jehovah-Jireh. One of my favorite stories is in Genesis 22. In this passage, God tests Abraham and asks him to offer his own son as the sacrifice on the mountain. Abraham, in one of the most significant shows of faith I can possibly imagine, proceeds to the mountain in astonishing obedience. He climbs the hill with his son, builds an alter, arranges the wood on it and prepares his son as the sacrifice. Can you imagine?? My heart aches just thinking about it.

Then, just as Abraham is about to take the life of his son, his promised son and the joy of his life, God calls out his name and stops him. Read with me:

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Hear I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide (Jehovah Jireh) and to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."

The small sacrifice I made in finances for ministering to the children is nothing compared to what Abraham was prepared to sacrifice. Yet, God chose to honor that by providing the money I needed for milk, cheese, bread and vegetables. God hasn't changed. He still asks us to give, and he still provides. What has he provided for you lately?

Why Should We Study Kids' Culture??

Yesterday was a day full of encouragement and fun at the children's ministry conference. There were five of us from our church and I'm sure we all came away with something different. We didn't plan it this way, but we had someone at the conference for almost each aspect of our children's ministry. Naturally, we each listened for, and sought out, ideas that we could use in our own areas.

Isn't the body of Christ neat? God uses each of our gifts and interests to compliment and complete the whole.


The theme for the day was creating a Faith that Grows in our children. That really is the goal of any healthy children's ministry, isn't it? And yet, where do we start? How do we go about it? The conference gave us 21 "Seeds" to plant, that, Lord willing, will encourage the kind of growing faith each child needs.


I want to share two "Seeds" with you today.


The first was the notion that we should study Kid Culture. Study it, they said. If you are anything like me, I'm constantly saying to my boys, what are you watching (on that TV)? Is it good? Do you need to change the channel? Are you sure? I give it half an ear while I'm cooking in the kitchen or catching up with my work, but I seldom sit down and watch their programs with them. Who has time? More often than not, my comment is, "Would you please turn that down?"


So when the conference leader suggested we study kid culture, my first thought was, really? Aren't we just supposed to monitor their intake for crude language and inappropriate material? Do I really have to sit down and watch what they are watching?? I can think of a million things I'd rather be doing than watching, say, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody on the tube with them. How could their TV interests possibly be relevant to my ministry at church? What does it matter?


But, before I answer that, studying kid culture is even more than that. It's getting to know, on a broader scale, the most prominent things which have influence on children in today's culture--the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Take a look at the Top Ten "Influences" as presented at the conference:

• Hannah Montana
• High School Musical (same Disney link)
• Avril Lavigne ??(Does anyone know what/who this is? Every time I try to open a site to explore it, my computer locks up! Hmmmmm)
• Naked Brothers Band "fully dressed, and on tour" ?? (I don't know much about this, either.)
• TV/Internet access: Most children actually have this in their bedrooms!
• 25% of all children multitask as a way of life.
• XBox, Wii, PlayStation 3 (in the order of their popularity)
• When asked to list their heroes in the order of their favorites, children listed their moms first most often, with dads being the second most common top pick.
• Children, lots of them, have weight and diet control issues.
• 70% of parents say they are effective in making spiritual growth happen, but something like only 20% are actively involved in regular church attendance.

You know, there were things on that list I couldn't even pronounce. But, kid culture is being influenced nonetheless by these things. Even if our children have no access to some them at home, you can bet their friends are talking about them at school.

When you work with children, you have to make a connection with them, which is the second "Seed", and the answer to "What does it matter?"

How can you make a connection if you don't know anything about their world? How can you break God's Word down and help them apply it to their lives, if you don't know what they're dealing with?

I'm afraid we have our work cut out for us in researching and staying current with kid culture. But watching some of their programs, reading kids magazines, and doing a little Internet research will help a lot when it comes to making connections with kids and helping them to understand the implications of God's Word in their lives. Using real life parables they can relate to really can help them develop a stronger faith. They made a believer out of me! I'm on somewhat of a mission now to get to know a little about some of the things on this list.

If you have first hand knowledge related to any of the things on the list, I'd love to hear it!

Children's Ministry Workshop

Tomorrow, I will be attending a 2008 National Children's Ministry Magazine Live Workshop, entitled Faith That Grows, with team members from my church. It's a one day seminar for anyone who works with children, from the novice, to the seasoned professional. It will cover such things as:

• Preparing your kids to grow spiritually
• Exploring the top 10 cultural influences that shape our kids
• Finding out more about our learning styles and how they effect our teaching
• Tools that dramatically increase teaching impact
• Keys to unlocking kids' motivation to listen, learn, and grow

I'm excited about this opportunity! Lord willing, I'll be able to report back and share with you some of the things I learn!