Where are my children????

Last Wednesday I was cleaning house and notice a strange quietness in the house. Which anyone with children knows this can be a dangerous situation. Something has there attention so strong they are actually not yelling. I went to my son's bedroom to investigate what could be so enthralling. I was shocked to only find one of my children. Curious, I asked Peter where Wendy was and with his Dennis the Menace smile he said, "right here". I looked around the room to see only every toy he owns scattered as if a tornado, or should I say two, came through.

Then with a lift of the lid, of what is suppose to be holding his toys, he revealed his sister had been 'right here' all along. They both laughed hysterically. Kids and there imagination. This actually kept them busy playing together for about 20 min. Just taking turns getting in and closing the top. To think, they were actually sharing. After a few minutes I heard Wendy saying, "keep your head down Peter, just put your head down!!". I thought, 'oh no he's stuck'.

Of course, he wasn't. Wendy just thought it would be funny to squish her brother in as far as she could get him. I couldn't get any cleaning done for having to stop and grab my camera to capture these moments in time. I will look back on days like this one and laugh and remember the beautiful gift of children God has given me.

Cold Weather

I can't believe it has been as cold as it has been without snow! I mean it was 9, yes that's right 9 degrees the other night. Not to mention the wind chill factor. My little ones are so ready to go outside and play. And momma is ready for sun and tanning lotion! Don't get me wrong I love the winter as long as we get snow to play in. I love making snowmen and women and of course snowbabies!

Thursday will be fun. A friend of mine and I are taking our total of 4 children to a museum not far away. It will be nice to get out of the house and the kids will play. This is going to be an all day event. I can't wait to see how excited the kids are going to be! I'll will definitely post pictures from our 'field trip'.

Sunday Church Service

Our church is doing a really good series right now "Happily Ever After". Yesterday's service was on submitting yourself to your spouse. Obviously, the husband is the head of the household and makes the final decisions. This is relating to the selfishness that can easily creep into any marriage. If you are a proud person and don't say you are sorry or always have to have your way or the last word your heart can become hard toward your spouse and ultimately to God. You will no longer hear God. I have experienced this in my own marriage. When I feel like I'm right or that things would be 'easier' my way I can get a little flustered and everyone knows it. I've had to tell my husband and my children that I'm sorry and ask them to forgive me for my actions and/or words. I know for sure that when I 'bite the bullet' and humble myself to them that God gives me His grace. I can feel His love again and I can almost see the repair it does to my relationship with my husband and children. When my children aren't, well lets say, don't get along it is very difficult to make them humble themselves and sincerely say they are sorry. This then becomes a heart matter. I have read some of "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman. There is also an enlightening 'Wise Words for Moms' biblical chart that hangs on the front of my fridge. She provides you with heart probing questions for your children. I have found this is the best way to talk things through with a child. You aren't 'preaching' at them or lecturing them on something but involving them in conversation with you on the issue. From the appropriate questions the child can think through what they have done or said and search their own heart for the disobedience along with providing the parent with Scripture to teach pretaining to the particular behavior and thus 'training a child in the way he should go'. I want nothing more for my children than to always know what it means to 'humble yourself'. And to know what grace means at a young age. To know that this can only come from God. For this to happen my children have to learn it from the most important people in their lives, Mom and Dad. Yes, that means me and Hubby. They have to see us living this out. They have to see us humble ourselves and submit our will to one another and most of all God. I pray everyday for Jesus to help me live like Him. I would like to say this is not an easy task for me to do. By which I mean living like Him. Everyday is a different day with the same choice, my way or God's? I believe God knows best. It's not easy to let go and let God lead my life and decisions. I'm really trying to pray and grow in this area of my life.

Home Made Pizza

Okay, here it is. It's time for me to release this recipe so that it can bring families together for a good meal. This can be made as a deep dish if you use a 13x9 glass baking dish. Or if you like a thinner crust divide the dough in half and roll out onto pizza pans. Also Stuffed Crust.

Dough:

1 (.25oz.) pkg Active Dry Yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. oil

2 1/2 cups flour

Sauce:

1(14.5oz.) can of diced tomatoes......or 16oz. can of tomato sauce

1 tsp. minced jarred garlic

1 tsp. dried basil

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

Toppings:

Mozzarella Cheese

Any you like. (Bacon, Ham, Mushrooms, Onions, Green Pepper, Pepperoni.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl. Add remaining dough ingredients. Let sit while you make sauce. Mix all sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl. If using diced tomatoes, I have found it best to not drain the liquid. The dough absorbs it and makes it that much more yummy!

If using a 13x9 glass baking dish spray with non-stick spray. Sprinkle some flour onto ball of dough to keep it from sticking to your hand. Spread dough on bottom of dish and pinch up on the edges. If making two thin crust, spray pizza pans with non-stick spray. Sprinkle some flour onto balls of dough to keep it from sticking to rolling pin. (If you don't have a rolling pin you can use a drinking glass, like a tumbler.) (Stuffed Crust instructions at bottom.)

Spread sauce over dough. Top with Mozzarella cheese and other toppings you prefer.

Bake deep dish for 20-25 min. Two thin crusts--place two oven racks in the middle of the oven. One pizza on each rack for 10 min. then alternate and back for another 10-12 min.

Note: You can also make Stuffed Crust. Using a 12-inch pizza pan roll out dough (without dividing). Spray edges with Parkay Butter spray. Sprinkle a little Mozzarella cheese at edge and fold dough over. Pinching to make sure crust is sealed. Working all the way around the edges of the pizza. Spread sauce and top with toppings. Bake at 425 for 23-27 min. Watch closely.

More Snow Pictures

Look at these babies! That's George climbing up the rock wall in such dangerous weather conditions. Followed by our canine family member, Goldie. She loves the snow. My Nephew made her a snowball to eat. She was having a 'ball'! Peter was going to brave the snow covered slide. Another beautiful snow angel by Stuart. "This is for my mom", he said.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow........

We woke up this morning to snow falling!!! Immediately my little ones and my neice were so excited. They couldn't wait to go out. These are some pictures from this morning. The first is Peter, Wendy, and my neice Angelina looking out the window at the snow falling. Over from that is my nephew Stuart making a snow ball. Then one of all the beautiful little children. Then you see Wendy and my other nephew George trying to make a snow man. And last is my beautiful neice Angelina again! Doesn't she look like a snow angel? I'm so proud of them for playing so well together. I don't think it would be better any other way than to have them all together out burning up the energy. After lots of snowballs and running noses and wet cold fingers we came in and made some yummy hot cocoa with marshmallows. We will be going out again later to play some more.

Today

Ok so my mom left this morning. (sigh......) Can you tell my bottom lip is stuck out? I really loved having my mom here. We got up and drank some coffee sitting at the kitchen table talking and enjoying each other's company. Then I fixed us some breakfast. Homemade pancakes with butterscotch chips and sausage links. Okay, I won't lie. The pancakes were boxed just add water kind! But they sure were fluffy and yummy! My babies were so hungry they ate like pancakes were going out of style. Then proceeded to run like maniacs around the house from all the sugar that their very loving and smart mommy gave them. Pat on my own back!

Hubby has to work tonight again night shift out of town. And we are suppose to get some icy,snowing,freezing rain weather tomorrow. I pray for him to be safe on the roads on his way home tomorrow. OHHHHHHHHHH!!! I can't wait for him to be home! I will spend today cleaning my house and preparing for him. We will be having homemade pizza tomorrow. And I mean this is really homemade! Sauce and dough. I'll post that recipe soon.

Tonight I will be myself with these children.........may God's grace be with me!