Moving

Moving is a lot of work! All the sorting to see if you need this or that. Is good in itself but sometimes you go through something that makes you realize how you *should* have done things. Thats good too,though, because you learn from it. Store it away for another similar experience to be recalled at a later time. Life is a learning experience. So try not to take it too seriously!! Even when the pressures of life try to get to ya just remember this-laughter is the best medicine!!! That and a healthy dose of Jesus time! :)

So the house we are moving to has a separate laundry/office room(our current laundry is in our downstairs bath) one extra bedroom, and an upstairs open room that will become the playroom! I am so excited to let my oldest daughter have her own room and get the 2 babies in one room. Did I mention the amount of closet space? There is so much! Yay!!!
Our previous landlords have been so gracious to us and that is all we could ask for. We have simply out grown this house and need more room. Praise God we have it now! Plus a BIG back yard, big garage and a planting shed! So ready for this change!!! Keep your eye out for the post where I share the house with y'all!! Happy Friday everyone! May God bless you!!!

Dear November,

Hello November!
You greet us with mid 50s temps and I am loving it.
We are moving this month and I hope that the warm temps and agreeable weather sticks around till we can get settled in. Please?
I am also happy it is the month for Thanksgiving! I will miss my family while everyone I know will be dining with theirs. I do know just how blessed and happy we really are. We have the joy of The Lord and that is a powerful thing!
I love how thanksgiving comes before Christmas to remind us of what is really important. So that is why I love you November.
Luv,
Me

Memories & a Horseradish Cream Sauce

My girl loves looking at cookbooks. I remember spending hours pouring over my moms cookbooks. I have great memories talking with my mom about cooking. She was a great cook and taught me many things. I hope to be able to teach my kids some things about cooking. That's the stuff memories are made of.

I also have an easy sauce for you too!
You will need
1/2 cup olive oil mayo
1/2 cup nonfat yogurt
1 clove garlic minced
1 teaspoon- 1 tablespoon horseradish (depending if you would like it mild or strong)
S & P to taste
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar

Whisk everything together in a bowl ad dip chips in it or serve with a roast or just about anything you can come up with! Seriously I dislike strong horseradish but this sauce is perfect! So great with many things! Enjoy!!

Beautiful People

Don't ya just love to look a beautiful person? I know that the world pushes everyone to be beautiful. Sometimes though the most beautiful people I have ever met are so much MORE beautiful in the inside. Especially when I take the time to get to really know them. You know every person in this world has hurts. If I were to look at them and say well that person's hurts are ugly so maybe I don't wanna spend time with them or reach out. I guess all I am saying is this: take the time to reach out to people and over look their past and their hurts. You might be surprised! It seems like in this world people only like you if you look or dress a certain way. Take the time to get to know someone :) reach out and spread the love! :)
Have a blessed day!

October-I love you!

October is a special month for me. Let me explain. It is the month I first came to the Midwest. I moved half way across the country to relocate my family. You might ask if I just did that out of the blue. No I didn't. Well kinda but it was pressed upon my heart. By The Lord. I was doing things with people I shouldn't have hung out with. (I had an addiction) I couldn't stop myself from indulging in things most people don't do. People who loved me told me to get it together. I knew something had to change. I had battled this monster within me for years and I mean like 10 years. It was time to do something different. I had some family in the Midwest and decided to go and live with them for awhile. I left my home state and my life has never been the same and in a good way! God has been with me thru thick & thin. Like the time my mom got breast cancer and was sick and eventually passed away. I am so thankful that I asked Him to help me. I knew I was sinning. I was letting
God, my kids, & my family down. They all still loved me so much! I just didn't see it. Until I left. So I have much love for October and for the Midwest! 8 years baby!!! Feels good too!

Another reason I love October is that that was going to be my last born sons birth month! I instantly made the connection when I found out his due date! God had other plans for baby J. He was born in September. :) now I love September too!!!

If your going thru something you never thought you would just remember that The God who lives in Heaven knows what he is doing! Have patience and take heart! He doesn't ignore your cries-He hears YOU! He will answer
YOU! It may not be in your timing. His
Timing is perfect! His grace sufficient!
Until next time-many blessings to you and yours!!!❤❤❤

Also here are a few photos from my cell :) hope you enjoy!

Taking a break

Ahh it's been awhile since I blogged. Life is busy. Kids are growing and so is our family. Kids grow fast! With that in mind I have decided to take a break from social media (twitter•Facebook•Instagram) so that I can focus more. My relationships with my husband & my kids, relationships with friends. I wanna be an aware parent and in this ever socially open society we live in, I feel like real conversations are almost a lost art form. I don't spend a lot of time on those social sites but sometimes I find my self not really paying attention to what's going on around me.
I don't like it when I do that.
And we are moving to another rental in the next few weeks. Yay! There is an extra bedroom and a huge yard!!! It is a little more per month but if we need the room (and a we need a yard) then we can prioritize our finances to make it work. I think it's good when people are stretched beyond their comfort zone in any little way. It helps you focus on what is truly important. In this case a better home for our kids is our focus. We have been in a house that is extremely inefficient as far as heating and cooling goes. Plus a list of other issues that we have discussed with the owners and they seem unwilling to fix them as of now. We understand that that is their choice and are ever so thankful that we had the opportunity to live in this house in this area. Houses to rent are far and few between here. People don't move all to often here and it's a nice area. So we are happy to have found a house here that's a little bigger, more solid and cleaner. So thankful!!! Thank you Jesus!!! So kids & family & moving & my walk with God are reasons for my break away! I will embrace this season with joy and a thankful heart and rock this out with the grace of God.
Blessings to you friends!

new design

HELLO! How have all you lovely ladies and gents been? good i hope! you know i love meeting new friends and i have been blessed to meet many new friends thru instagram! The smart phone app-it amazes me that thru a small way so many people can get together and get to know each other thru pictures! it really does! Anywho...one day i was on and a girl   named Natalie over at her blog was posting some stuff about her blog. I am WAY fascinated with what she does because she is always changing up her design on her blog-literally every time i read her blog it looks different and i love it! so I was trying to change up my blog one day and bad went to worse(come to find out there was a widget and I couldn't find it) and Natalie helped me with it and added some features to my blog!  Thanks girl!!! Love ya! So you should head on over and check her out. If you need some designing contact her and i know she can put something together for ya!  She is very talented and so sweet :) Happy Wensday everyone!!! PS what do YOU think of my new design???

Under construction

I am trying some things out so please bear with me as I redo some features on the blog here :) thanks for your patience!

Birthdays Again

Tomorrow will be my youngest son's birthday and he turns one! So happy for this day!

Can I tell you a secret?

 I have not planned anything yet.

Oopsie! 

our school had a fundraiser and we all got busy with that and, 

oh & i don't know with the busy happenings of life, it just got overlooked...

Party planning again will begin shortly..

AND my oldest son turned 13...

AND my oldest daughter turned 11...

between the time my youngest daughter turned 3

and this little guy turns 1.... 

confused yet? LOL!

Thanks for stopping by &

Blessings!

❤❤❤Photo Dump❤❤❤

Just random photos from my phone over the last couple weeks :) enjoy!

Ratatouille and a weekend to remember ❤

So a dear friend of my hubby's gifted us with fresh organic veggies from their garden. YUM! so I made Ratatouille, you know like the movie? It was so good! I found a recipe on food network's site that worked perfectly! And all the right veggies are in season for it so why not go to your local farmers market and pick up some stuff to make it? You won't be sorry! :-)

On to other happenings this weekend! I got some much needed girl time with one of my closest girlfriends. Such encouragement she brigs to our friendship and I cherish that! I honestly hope I offer her the same encouragement and love. Sometimes God puts a friend in your life for just a season. It's a great thing but then for reasons unknown or known you drift apart. I believe every person is in their own season and sometimes those
Seasons don't line up. Anyhow other times He places a friend by your side at thee perfect moment. You just know that God has "got you back" because
He knows your heart! He knows the kind of friends you need to live his life with! The ones who you can lift up & encourage. The ones that will lift you up & encourage you! I have many dear friends who encourage and lift me up & I love them all! I pray that i am an encouragement to them too!! There is just something about that one friend whom you grow in your faith and your walk with, who just gets YOU! :) that's a great feeling!!!
So needless to say i had a great weekend of friends, my sweet family and lake-side time! Our Father God is
Just amazing! I feel truly blessed by where He has placed us! Iowa is like heaven on earth!!! Blessing to you all!!!❤❤❤
My friend Christy and I out for girls night!!!

Savory Crepes with caramelized onion & red pepper and sun dried tomato cream cheese sauce

Wow! That name is a doosey! Maybe I can work on re-naming this dish! I created this when we had nothing in the house. It turned out really good! The first time I made it I only did caramelized onions and sour cream as the topping. Many people roll crepes and I fold them in half and then half again so you have a triangle when it's all said and done. Then I put 2-3 on the plate and top it all. Onto the recipe!

To prepare your onions is so easy! Cut
2 medium sized onions thin and also 2 red bell peppers thin. They can be in rings or strips. Its your prefrance.
Put a good size skillet on a med high heat add a little of your fav oil and 2 tbs of butter. Let the butter melt and add your peppers and onions. Add a little salt & pepper. Once they start to soften and turn a little brown turn it down to medium heat and let it cook slowly, for another 15-20 min or longer. It really depends on how soft and sweet you want them. But really no longer than 45 min.

While that Is going you can prepare your sauce or use sour cream. The sauce (if your making it) consists of sun dried tomato flavor cream cheese in the tub (softened) and ya ready?
Milk. Put that in your big ol mixer and mix until smooth! Just a little at a time! Like 2 tbsp until its smooth & sauce-like. I put a little salt and pepper to taste also!

Then comes making the crepes!

Ingredients:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg

Directions:

Beat all ingredients with hand beater or stand mixer -sometimes i use my blender-until smooth. For each crepe, lightly butter 7- or 8-inch skillet; heat over medium heat until bubbly. Pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter into skillet; rotate skillet until batter covers bottom. Cook until light brown; turn and cook other side until light brown. Fold crepes in half and half again and stack on a plate and place in oven to keep warm. (sometimes I make a double batch depending on how many people/how hungry everyone is)

To assemble place 2 or 3 on a plate and top with the peppers and onions mix and drizzle the cream sauce on top. ENJOY! So good!

Our 4th of July

Well our fourth was aswesome and HOT! We went to the parade in our town and my daughter and husband were in the parade! The girl walked with her American Heritage Girls troop and my hubby was with his fire department in the fire and rescue trucks! Such a great parade! Everyone had a great mood and it was noticeable & contagious! 

Then off to my friend Rachel's house for a BBQ. GREAT food and even better fellowship!

Then off to the lake to watch the big firework show with some of our closest friends!

I am really sad to say with all the fun and shenanigans I got not ONE photo of fireworks! 

NOW thats the sign off a great time! ;)

Hope your 4th was memorable too!!

Love & Blessings

Kenzi has her third birthday!!!

                           

Kenzi as a newborn

Birthday Girl!!!

with her buddy T!

Us girls 

The water slide!

So SO much fun!

Opening gifts

3 Already?!?

She LOVED blowing the candle out! Thanks to all who could come, it really made her day so special!

Love----

Matthew

This week is busy busy busy! Lots of decorations to make for my daughters 3rd birthday. So happy to be making stuff to celebrate her day! Anyway I cant wait to post the photos and I am having my older kids take the pics so I can do other party stuff! Well I better get back to the crafting! 

Oh and by the way I want to leave you with a little nugget of truth:::God loves you the way you are and already accepts you as you are! Through his GRACE, MERCY and LOVE he will shape you to be the person you need to be. Not because you are 'bad' or anything but because He  LOVES you! 

Matthew 5:9 says---

 Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!

Blessing to you & Happy Monday!

Birthday

WARNING: this is a venting post & if you don't want something real & raw then please don't read this! Thanks!!!


Today is my birthday. I am happy to have life. Let's get that out of the way first. But I have only had a 3 birthday parties in all my 30+ years. All I planned except one. This is an area where i struggle because well, i don't know why-maybe all the promises as a child that my dad said that never came to pass...empty promises and pain...not even about material things but the fact that i am remembered. I don't want pity. I need to vent. It just hurts especially to a child but Jesus remembers me!!!
I don't understand why my birthday has never been a happy occasion. But Jesus sees me :)
Empty promises will equal an eternity of life because I put my trust in Jesus
My pain is too real for me not too.
I have nothing else to lose and everything to gain!
Also I am thankful for the people who do say "happy birthday" it brings a little healing to my soul. I am not perfect and God is working on me jut like everyone else. I know that His work in me is not complete-AMEN!!! I plan stuff for my children to have good memories and i pray that they do! I dont want them going thru this as adults-Thanks for reading
And have a good weekend!

Seasons

Seasons are great! Why are they good? Because they change. Just when you think nothing is happening after a long cold winter you notice the buds on the trees are forming. The creator himself is sending you a sign. A sign that says hang on this season is changing. That is so true in life! I have four kids and they are all in different seasons of life. I have one that will be a teenager and one who will be turning 2. Then I have the two girls in the middle and they are In different seasons too.
As so with friends who are in different
Seasons, I am in a different season then I was last year! Praise the Lord!
I am blessed by a circle of great moms who are all in different seasons of life! And because of that we are able to sharpen each others faith as the bible says "As iron sharpens iron, people can improve each other" -proverbs 27:17 ncv that's what's great about friends who are in different seasons! I love them all so much! One friend reminded me that sometime God puts you in someone's life because you are able to help them because you are able to bounce back and maybe they are not able to. That was something that helped me a lot!
What season am I in you ask? Well let me see, I am a mon to an infant who was born a little early and is growing and thriving and already crawling( he could have waited a little!) and also a toddler so I am MOM! But also mom to pre-teen/teens and that require my constant guidance! So mostly I am tired but I do know this is only a season! So beautiful! And of course i am a WIFE! I'm also learning many things from the Lord like being patient, loving people, staying consistent in prayer and reading my bible. It may not sound like a lot to some but with 4 kids I am pretty busy! Also I am in a season of longing. Longing to see my family own a a home. We live in the ugliest rental in town and I am not making that up! (BUT I am thankful for a place to live and call home!!!)
Longing to have a garden which we can't here :( no yard or way to water :(
The Lord sees my dreams and I believe he will honor them someday!
:) :) then I will have a garden and produce to eat, freeze and can!!!! Oh and a clothesline!!!
Happy Friday friends!!!

Camping, Party Planning and more!

HELLO FRIENDS!
I know its been awhile since I posted but with 4 kids you do certain stuff when you get the time right?? Ya I thought so too...
 So camping---we haven't gone yet. The weather for the weekend we planned it was not the greatest. Actually it was really HOT & Humid---not fun for tent camping! If you are lucky enough to own a camper trailer with A/C then no problem!! But not for us! I could;d see everyone being grumpy and sweaty and HOT(just keeping it real folks!) hopefully we will get to go soon! Probably not before my daughter turns 3 though. She will turn 3 on the first of July so I am in the middle of planning her party. I feel so alive with creativity for her special day! No store bought theme kits here! She told me her idea and I am making what I can so make it beautiful to match her beaming personality and of course her gorgeous-ness from her daddy! (is that even a word?! It is now!) I CAN NOT wait to post pics from her party! I am hoping all my local friends can come! :)
Also hoping my ankle feels better soon too! I sprained it last Tuesday---OOFTA! OUCH!

Enjoy some pics of the soon to be 3 year oild!!!

It was dumb really dumb---I was standing to kick my nikes when my ankle gave out. I felt SO stupid. I wasn't running or anything cool to warrant a response of ya that was cool. Nope not me. Oh well... any who those are the latest things going on with us!




Happy Tuesday!!!!

Planning...

I do believe we are going to plan our VERY first camping trip as Midwest dwellers! First we have to see if the tents we have work (we have never used them!) But there is murmurings! SOO if we do go I will keep yall posted! :)

just another day

hello everyone!

this week started out not so good

my toddler caught hand foot and mouth from somewhere

its going around here..

we have a pretty active social life and have many friends

many of those friends have sick kids right now
its a part of life right?!?

it is a hard one to witness 

because the first night she had a bad fever 

second night was fever and thrashing about crying out about her feet 

hurting itching burning

like there was sand in her toes

that's how she described it

during the day it was lots of tears and fussiness

except when we went outside to watch daddy play softball

i regret taking her to that though because that night we were up till 3am

last night she slept well to make up for the last 2 nights she didn't

PRAISE GOD!

everyone has had a fever at least once but then nothing else 

so maybe we are over this soon!

i have been using essential oils to sooth her symptoms

its only been one day but i see improvements

or maybe its just running its course...

blessings & love

Week in review

He loves that mirror!

one of the easiest going babies i know

lots of beautiful weather here

so tired lately but hanging on to the Lords promises

he wants to get somewhere

there he goes

howd he do that?!?

ahhh!

he wanted the nook!

see me m om? I did it!

look! I'm also pulling myself up in my crib too!

lots of walks

missing our beautiful home state!!!

friends!!!

my oldest daughters graduation from grade school to middle school :)

our week here was fast!!!  have a GREAT weekend ladies! see ya soon :)