Ben 10

Tonight I’m sad and happy and wistful.  My baby, my last baby turned 10 today.  There is something sad about having all your children being DOUBLE DIGITS.  It means they’re all big kids.  No more little kids in my house and while I’m enjoying this new stage of life I have to admit it is a little sad too.

You are my sweet gift son and I can't wait to see how the Lord uses you!

Mmmm Smells Good

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes and Asparagus.  I love COSTCO. 

I found a recipe online for scalloped potatoes and changed it up a bit and here is what I came up with:

Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes:

▪    2 sticks butter; divided

▪    2/3 cup all-purpose flour

▪    salt & pepper to taste

▪    4 cups milk

▪    4-6 cups shredded cheese – I used a combination of Monterey Jack, Cheddar and Parmesan

▪    3-5 tablespoons dry sherry

▪    8-10 medium potatoes, scrubbed and thinly sliced (I used 8 COSTCO Russets and that filled my Crock Pot)

Peal potatoes and if you have a food processor use to slice and they will all look uniformly nice – if not thinly slice and layer in buttered Crock Pot (use about a half a stick to generously butter) cut remaining stick into pats and layer in between sliced potatoes.

Next in a heavy saucepan melt 1 stick of butter and whisk in 2/3 cup of flour until smooth and bubbly.  Add in salt and pepper.  Slowly stir in milk and whisk until thick.  Stir in shredded cheese(s) and then add Sherry to taste.  Cook over low heat for 5 minutes until hot stirring constantly.  Poor over potatoes and stir gently to make sure they are all well covered. 

Set cook time on Crock Pot based on your timeline.  I did mine for 6 hours.

Ham is in the oven warming and asparagus is ready to be grilled.  Going to be an excellent dinner tonight

Pop – Pop – Popcorn

When I was in second grade we had to learn our multiplication facts and we had to know them like POPCORN.  We had to pop the answers off just like the kernels pop.  For each number series we got through Mrs. Tate would reward us with a small baggie of popcorn and at the end when we knew our 12’s like popcorn we got the coveted bag of caramel popcorn. 

Today I made homemade caramel popcorn and divided it into small Ziploc baggies for Ben.  He’s been stuck on his fact memorization for a while and I thought this might just be the motivation he needs.   He’s already studying and practicing trying to get the prize!!  Whatever works people – don’t judge – I’m not above bribery.  The child is in 4^th grade and it’s mission critical at this point to get these facts memorized.   

The recipe is super easy and VERY good.

Caramel Popcorn:

8-9 qrts Unbuttered popped popcorn

1 cup butter

1 cup light Karo syrup

1 ¼ cup packed brown sugar

1 can sweetened condensed milk

In a medium saucepan melt butter, syrup, and sugar, stirring with a wooden spoon.  As soon as mixture starts boiling – DO NOT STIR – and allow to boil for 8 minutes.  After 8 minutes remove from heat and add sweetened condensed milk and return to heat and bring back to boil.  As soon as it boils remove from heat again and then pour caramel over popcorn and toss to coat.  I divided my popcorn into two large bowls and then used two large spoons to toss.

Once it was cooled completely, I divided it into sandwich baggies.

We had some extra caramel so we used that as dip for apple slices for snack. 

It’s been a good Monday.

Essay

My girl will get into college perhaps not the one she dreamed of getting into way back east, but I have faith she will get in to the school God has picked for her.

Her narrative explains her well but she struggled with this assignment because it’s forced her to write about herself in a positive light.  She’s been struggling with feelings of disappointment and regret.  Nothing scandalous - just teenage regrets of wishing she'd made the most of some of the opportunities she'd been given. 

I have a confession to make. I am a reader. Don’t underestimate this statement. Just because one can open a book and sound out a few syllables doesn’t make them a reader.  I am a reader because I am as varied as the titles upon my bookshelves.  To me the books I read are not merely excursions into the world of imagination, but a contemplation of the person I can become. So, who am I?  Let’s take a look at my bookshelves and the genres within.
     I am like the legal mysteries by John Grisham, curious and skeptical.  I ask big questions and dig deep for answers and I’m not always willing to take the first answer given.  Justice is important to me and I will fight for the rights this country was founded upon.  While in college I long to study political science, law and history.

     I am a dreamer, cleaver and passionate, strong and a force to be reckoned with. Like Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, my tenacity and compassion dare me to dream big dreams.  I am excited to explore great authors, artists, poets and theology and to take college by storm.
     Like the books of hope and religion, I am like Christian from Pilgrims Progress, always on a journey seeking answers and truths that may or may not be easily apparent. I have a growing faith and rest in the knowledge that the experiences life doles out allow me to grow into the person I’m meant to be.

     Like self-help and instructional books I work hard to learn about myself and learn from others. I live by the saying that there is something new to learn every day; you just have to be willing to find it. 

     My historical novels allow me to get lost in the past but be thankful for the present. Just like Laura Ingalls Wilder I am a hard worker, and a quick learner. I strive to please those around me, but always stand up for I believe in. I have been known to put the needs others in front of my own but I’ve been learning recently that I can’t always put others needs ahead of my own.

     The biographies and autobiographies of those who lived and lead before me inspire me. I appreciate the value and example of their teachings and contributions and it is my desire to impact my college, campus, community and world.

    Finally I have my futuristic section. These books show me that change is coming. Ingenuity is not dead and great things await us.  I will be part of the future and I will help make it great.  By immersing myself in colligate life and my studies I will sharpen my skills and hone my understanding.

     So you see, I am a reader.  Books have opened the world to me. They’ve inspired me, guided me, instructed me, frustrated me and motivated me. Books allow you to get lost in a maze of wonder, find an escape in the blazing heat of the deserts or experience the emotions of war torn fields of Gettysburg, or venture to the flower filled fields of Narnia.

     I will be a lawyer one day and hope to work in our country’s government to help make our world a better place. The pages of a book are the gateway to everything. And just as some books, I’ve started off slow; but I’m finding my voice, my rhythm and my rhyme.

She’s still editing but I think it’s coming along well.

Give | Save | Spend

A couple of weeks ago I pulled out the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Jr program I purchased a few years ago.  It's been on my closet shelf collecting dust because I could never find the time to sit down and go through it with the kids.

Well, now that we actually have time, there are no excuses to be made!

We created our commission sheets and the kids wrote down what they wanted to save for.

There was only one set of GIVE SAVE and SPEND envelopes so we had to make more.

We went to the stationary store and found some colored envelopes that opened at the top and the kids picked out some stickers to decorate.

Here is what we came up with:

It was a fun project and has been a great lesson.  The kids are motivated to keep up with their chores which is new to us - and they are learning that there is a reward for working hard.

Hanna and Ben each have the opportunity to earn up to $10 per week.  Not all chores have an amount to be earned - there are some things that I feel just need to be done with a good attitude to contribute to the family.  Some jobs are optional - they can choose if they want to earn the money or not and some are non-negotiables - they have to be done, daily/weekly.

Last week Hanna finished all her chores and asked if there was anything else that I needed done - what a treat.  I really needed the hardwood floors cleaned and I told her I was willing to pay her extra for this big job - so to my delight, while Ben and I were at football practice Hanna cleaned the floors.

Things are going well.  I love this time of year, the days are still warm, but the nights are cool almost cold.  Tonight the low is 54. Yay!

Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness and grace.  Thank you for patience with me.  I love you so much. Amen.

Daughters - Sisters

I have two daughters.  Having grown up with only a brother watching the dynamics between these sisters has been interesting.  They love each other intensely but couldn't be more different.  They are both amazing, but so completely opposite it is sometimes hard to believe they truly are flesh and blood sisters.

As I tucked Hanna into bed tonight I saw this written on the whiteboard in her room. (you can click on the photo to enlarge.)

You see Haley is struggling right now - she is trying to figure out who she is and where her place is going to be in this world.  She is a senior in high school and  her life is about to change - she is having to make grown up decisions and that can be overwhelming and scary.

I'm praying for her too Hanna....

180 Movie

This is very powerful!