It's FINALLY FALL...My FAVORITE season of ALL!

I can't believe it's been so long since I have blogged! 

It truly is therapeutic for me & I love it. 

September has been a fun busy month for our family. 

Our first field trip of the month started with an outing to Memorial Park...

The kids loved touring the zoo area and seeing all of the animals. They especially love the bears! 

We walked around the pond and fed ducks, packed a picnic lunch, & played on the play ground. The home school co-op that I started back in August has been a blessing to our family. This was our second co-op outing and it is so nice to get to know other families and share ideas! 

Our next field trip entailed a trip to Cleveland to visit Jaemor Farms and learned about apples & bees...

This was a great fun outing with our home school co-op as well. Jaemor is a beautiful farm where they grow just about everything that you can think of. The kids loved riding on the tractor hayride and touring the farm, learning where apples come from, seeing a live bee hive, going through a corn maze, visiting the market, sampling apple cider & apple chips, and my kids love the boiled peanuts! We will definitely have to plan a trip back! 

On to our third field trip to Stone Mountain! This was actually an event hosted by GA K12 which is the 

program we use for homeschooling! We were excited that Nana T (my mom) took the day off to go with us! She read the kids facts about Stone Mountain on our way up & quizzed them! They actually retained a good bit of information!  The event was large in attendance and we were able to meet several of our on-line teachers. It is nice to be able to put a face with a name. The kids enjoyed activities that they had planned such as crafts, hula hooping, bean bag math toss game, etc. After our meet and great we took the kids over to the mountain to walk around. It was a GORGEOUS day! We found the old bridge that had been moved from Athens/Clarke county. We took the kids over it to a lake area and had a great picnic that Nana had put together for us! The kids really enjoyed the day and couldn't resit getting their feet a little wet before we left! 

We also took the kids to see The Cole Brothers Circus  while it was in town.

They always enjoy our yearly trip to see the elephants, tigers, motorcycle stuntmen, & trapeze artiest!  

Our afternoon was full of cousins, face paintings, popcorn, cotton candy, funnel cakes, and lots of fun! 

Home school is in full swing and we are getting back into our daily routine. It has been an adjustment schooling two instead of one. Levi is loving Kindergarten and ask for more work when we are finished everyday and Madilyn is adjusting to the Third Grade work load! She is always talking about how much more work she has to do! She has also started back with her piano lessons and it is amazing to see how far she has come. Her teacher messaged me this week and said, "Madilyn is more confident and tries everything without hesitation!" We are so proud of her willingness to learn!

We were excited to welcome in the first day of FALL yesterday! As you can tell by the title of my post it is by far - hands down - my favorite season. I love cooler temperatures, pumpkins, leaves falling, spice lattes, autumn candles, nightly fires in the fire pit, roasting marshmallows, sweaters, & boots! 

We are looking forward to a quiet rest of the month & enjoying God's beautiful creation! 

Healthier...Quicker...Meal TIME!

In an effort to make healthier meals for my family I have set out on a journey 

to research foods! 

I have Googled, read blogs, & searched numerous web-sites! 

I wanted meals that were simple, few ingredients, easy to assemble, & cock pot friendly. 

As a stay-at-home homeschooling Mama many nights when dinner times arrives I am exhausted and the last thing I want to do is prepare numerous dishes over a stove! 

(I am sure Mamas working outside the home feel the exact same way!)

With all of that said this is a new journey of food preparation for me and I hope the meals turn out successfully!

Here is a photo of all of my meals ready for the freezer.

Here are the recipes that I decided to try out first: 

*On all recipes I went ahead and chopped up all of the chicken.*

*All ingredients are placed in the freezer bag raw.*

Crock-pot Nacho Chicken 

2-4 Chicken breast 

1 can Rotel 

1 package taco seasoning 

Place all ingredients in gallon size freezer bag. Seal and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Pull out in the morning and place in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve with tortilla chips.

Crock-pot Honey Garlic Chicken 

2-4 chicken breast 

3 garlic cloves; smashed/chopped

1 tsp. Dried Basil 

1/2 soy sauce

1/2 ketchup 

1/3 honey

2 cups carrots 

(I just use a bag!)

Place all ingredients in gallon size freezer bag. Seal and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Pull out in the morning and place in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve with rice. 

Crock-pot Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

2-4 chicken breast

Head of fresh broccoli; chopped 

1 jar Alfredo sauce 

1 green pepper; chopped 

1 basket mushrooms; chopped

Place all ingredients in gallon size freezer bag. Seal and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Pull out in the morning and place in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve over pasta.

Crock-pot Orange Chicken 

2-4 chicken breast

1 bag baby carrots 

1 bell pepper; chopped

3 cloves garlic; smashed/chopped

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

8 oz orange juice concentrate 

Place all ingredients in gallon size freezer bag. Seal and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Pull out in the morning and place in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve with rice. 

Crock-pot Maple Dijon Glazed Chicken 

2-4 chicken breast 

1 cup Dijon mustard

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 T. red wine vinegar 

Salt and pepper to taste.

Place all ingredients in gallon size freezer bag. Seal and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Pull out in the morning and place in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve with potatoes or rice. 

Crock-pot Chicken Teriyaki 

2-4 chicken breast 

1 bag of baby carrots

Red Onion; sliced

1 large can diced pineapples

4 cloves  garlic; smashed/chopped

1 cup Teriyaki sauce 

Place all ingredients in gallon size freezer bag. Seal and place in freezer. When ready to use thaw in fridge overnight. Pull out in the morning and place in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours. 

Serve with rice. 

Keep in mind if there is an ingredient that your family doesn't like, for example carrots or broccoli, you can simply not add that to the recipe! The main idea of prepping 7-8 meals at a time is you don't have to 'cook' for the entire week. Some women do them for months at a time. I do not have freezer space for that many meals so I decided to do it on a smaller scale! I hope to work up to 15 meals at a time that way I would only have to prep meals twice a month! As I get new recipes and try out new things I will continue to share with you all! I hope you all enjoyed reading this and have fun cooking or prepping should I say! 

Summer Camp 2013....

Summer Camp is always a fun time of the year.

It is the first major trip/outing we do with our children.

A great time of fun and fellowship. 

We left around 4 am on Sunday morning and 

had a wonderful drive down. 

We were traveling with 14!

We arrived ahead of schedule and decided to do lunch at a local mall and walk around before check-in!

After check-in we got unpacked, made our bunks, & got to know everyone in our cabin.

We have a chapel time where they lay out what is to be expected for the week ahead as well as the ground rules! All children need structure! 

We keep the same schedule for the entire week which I love! 

I thrive best when I know exactly what I will be doing! 

Here is what our days consisted of:

7 am - Wake Up 

7:30 am - Cabin inspections

8 am - Breakfast

9 am - Chapel 

9:15 am - Bible Class: They divide the youth up by age for these classes.

10 am - Pool/Archery/Tubing/Riflery/Fun Time

11:30 am - Prepare for lunch

12 Noon - Lunch

1:00 pm - Quiet Time

1:45 pm - Chapel Service 

2:30 pm -  Pool/Archery/Tubing/Riflery/Fun Time

3:30 pm - Snack Shack

4:00 pm - Craft Time

5:00 pm - Prepare to Chow

6:00 pm - Chow Time

7:00 pm - Team Games

8:00 pm - Gym Free Time

9:00 pm - Return to Cabins for night

10:00 pm - Lights out 

...and then we start all over again! 

The days will wear you out and wear you down but it is worth it. 

The theme this year was "Awesome Adventures through the Bible!"

The children were taught lessons on...

 Evolution vs. Creation

Adam & Eve - Their Instructions

Satan's Plan of Evil 

Man's Fall

Abraham Called & A Nation Promised

Moses & The Law 

Christ is Born - The Kingdom is at Hand

Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision 

Israel's Fall & Paul's Apostleship

Paul's My Gospel 

To gather all things together in Christ! 

Such great stories and lessons were taught to these children and teenagers. Lessons of truth.

Lessons that they will carry with them for a life time. 

Many children believed the gospel this week - That Christ died for their sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. 

~ I Corinthians 15:1-4 ~

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" 

What simplicity there is in salvation. 

Here is a group photo of the 90+ campers and councilors. It is great to work with such a unified body of believers who's desire is to follow the word of God! We look forward to taking our children and our youth group with us for many more summers! 

I have included a few of my favorite camp photos in this post as well as the links to Camp Horizon  (the facility we stayed at) & Florida Grace Camp (the group who puts on this camp yearly)! I hope you've enjoyed reading about our trip! We enjoyed our stay! 

Madilyn with her friend Emily ~ Tie-dyed t-shirts is one of the favorites for the week!

Everyone in the dining hall for Chow Time!

My sweet Levi at breakfast!

Tubing is one of the camper favorites as well! 

We end the week on Friday night with a bonfire & s'mores! 

This is also a time of fellowship, singing, & testimonies. 

We did it!!!

I can finally say...WE DID IT...we made it through our first year of homeschooling!!!

I know that I am far more excited about this than my daughter.

Our first year of homeschooling has come to an end. 

Last summer my husband and I made the decision that we would pull our daughter 

out of public school. 

She would began her 2nd grade year at home.

I was nervous. What if I didn't know the material, what if she didn't understand something, 

what if she hated me for this...lots of "what if's."

It took us a month or two to get the hang of things, how the day would flow, how much we 

could accomplish in a day, her favorite subjects, her worse subjects, 

it was all a learning process. 

There were days that I felt totally defeated. Days that I thought I couldn't do it.

Days were she did not enjoy it.

Days where I felt like a horrible mother for taking her away from her friends who she dearly missed.

However...we made our way through it! 

She is a super star in math and loves science. 

She is a hands on learner.

I loved watching her understand a concept. 

I love seeing her at the kitchen sink measure out different increments of water and make hypothesis.  

I loved seeing the excitement on her face as she finally mastered a spelling word.

I loved watching her read through chapter books.

I loved the joy in knowing that me, little ole me, her mother, had taught her the things that she knew. 

There is so much reward and joy that comes from that. 

She was not the only one learning. I learned SO much throughout this school year. 

There is much that I will do differently next year. 

I am so thankful for all of the resources available now to moms who home school. 

There is such a wealth of information out there! 

This week as everything has come to an end and we are SUPER excited for our summer break...

I am thankful.

Thankful I am able to stay at home to raise and teach our children.

Thankful that I do not have the fear that some have as they send there children off everyday.

Thankful that as a parent when I fail & mess up there is always forgiveness. 

Lastly, I am thankful we are putting this first year down in the history books! 

Looking forward to great things to come next year as I will be teaching a 3rd grader and a kindergartner!

My question to Madilyn as this year has come to an end,

"What was your favorite part of homeschooling this year?"

Her reply, 

"Being with my mom all day and science because it was fun. I also loved learning math!" 

When she said that answer and the first thing out of her mouth was, 

"being with my mom all day" 

my heart smiled. 

It is worth it...it is totally worth it!

Oh be careful little tongue...

Have you ever heard the saying, 

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me?"

Truth is...that's a LIE! 

Words do hurt.

Words are permanent and no matter how many times you apologize you can never take words back. 

I am reminded of this little song I learned in Sunday school as a child.

Oh be careful little tongue what you say...

Oh be careful little tongue what you say...

For the Father up above is looking down in love...

So be careful little tongue what you say! 

I think we as adults can learn a great lesson from the simplicity of this children's song.

Often times we speak before our brain has time to process what's about to come out of our mouths!

I know I have been guilty of this. 

It does not matter if you are right in an argument or a disagreement with someone... sometimes it's just best to be silent than to say something that you might regret. 

I love the saying, "Be careful about giving someone a piece of your mind...
you don't have too much left to give away!" 

There are times when our mouths are used to cut down others, back bite, & gossip .
Woman and men are equally as guilty of this.
This talk benefits no one. It only leads to heartache & pain.

Proverbs 16:28 ~ A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."  

Let's face it. We are all happier and nicer when we keep our nose in our own business. 

I read this saying just today, 

"If you think the grass is greener on the other side, get away from the fence and take care of your own lawn!"
There is so much truth in that! 

Often times we take out our daily stress on those closest to us. Our spouse, our children, our parents because we know that they will forgive us and continue to love us. We say things that we don't really mean. We yell. We try to hurt. We cut down. 

I am so thankful for Gods forgiveness and the forgiveness of others. 

I have surely come short in my day to day life.  

I am thankful for His grace. 

In Ephesians 4:29 Paul tells us how we are to talk.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." 

So today, let's think before we speak.
Let's let our words be those of grace, encouragement, compliments, love, & edification!

Often times this requires patience but we will see great rewards when we minister grace!

Post holiday recovery!

Have you ever noticed how holidays wipe you out or I am the only one?

Yesterday was a wonderful day for me...Mother's Day.

My kids love little holidays that come along throughout the year...let's party!

Let's face it though...Moms work hard every day of the year and there really isn't much of a break even on a day that is dedicated to us! 

Yesterday morning my husband did keep the kids off of me until 8:30 a.m so that was nice!

He also had my cup of coffee waiting on me... he knows me well! 

The kids stormed in after I was out of bed with cards, hugs, & lots of "Happy Mothers Day" cheers!

Then came the Sunday morning... Pastors wife... rush for your life... and GET READY!!!

I ironed four kids clothes (Madilyn had her cousin over), got myself dressed, fixed the baby a juice cup, located his lost blankie, tripped over a truck in the living room, packed all my children's church material, made print outs, fixed snacks, & ran out the door sweating to death and wondering if I put on de-odorant!

We had a wonderful lesson in Sunday school and I taught the 11 a.m children's church class. 

We made paper flowers and mothers day cards. I know for some of our moms at church this was probably the only 'gift' they received. It makes it all worth it when you put things into perspective.  

When we left church we had to pull off the side of the road because I hear Levi in the back of the car say, "Why is Candler sitting in the back seat buckled up?!" 

Talk about a parental failure! 

Needless to say we got him put into his car seat and buckled properly! 

I did get to choose our meal for the day so we went for Chinese take out. 

We came home and had lunch on our picnic table because it was such a gorgeous day! 

Then we had the yummy cake I had made the night before.

Let's face it ... sometimes you have to make your own mothers day cake! 

Here is where you can find the recipe for the Tres Leches Cake...it is time consuming but worth it!

I opted for strawberries instead of cherries!

After we were total stuffed I let the kids pick the movie for the afternoon. 'The Incredibles' was there choice! Madilyn said, "It reminds me of our family because there is a girl and two boys!" 

Unfortunately we didn't make it all the way through the movie. Everyone ended up in Mamas bed for a Sunday afternoon nap! Which I enjoyed very much! 

Our evening consisted of visiting my sweet Mama followed by dinner with Ryan's Mom.

We made it home by 10! 

I got the kids dressed for bed followed by hugs, kisses, and good nights. 

I headed for bed shortly after they did. 

My mothers day was really just like any other. Taking care of my family, seeing that their needs are met, & loving on each and every one of them. After all isn't that was being a mother is all about? 

Today I will be lucky if I even change out of my pj's!

So enjoy your Monday and Mommy on! 

Well, it's Mother's Day...So cheers to my Mama!

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing my post this past week. 

From writing about each of my babies, to my grandmothers, to my mother-in-law, and now to my Mama. My number one lady! 

I hope that she enjoys reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing and reminiscing! 

My mother became a mother in June of 1984 at only 16 years old. I am sure she was judged by many and scared out of her mind. She could have taken a much different path than the one she chose. She could have given me up for adoption, she could have had an abortion, she could have given me to her parents to raise, but she didn't ... she kept me. She and my daddy married soon after she found out she was pregnant & against all odds they are still married today! They will be celebrating 30 years this December. 

She didn't let marriage or a baby stop her from graduating high school. She got a job and she and my father built a modest home. She has always been a dedicated, hard worker. 

My childhood was a great one. She always seen to it that my brother and I had our needs met. We always went on a family vacation, I always had fun and exciting birthdays, Easter baskets that ran over into the floor, Christmas was full of excitement & anticipation, and most importantly love. Our home was filled with love.

 I knew she loved me. 

Our home was not perfect by any means, but it was ours. 

Our crazy was normal.

We ate at the kitchen table.

We ate out on Friday nights followed by a trip to Wal-Mart. 

We sang in the car with the windows down.

We made up silly songs.

We lived on a dirt road.

We visited our neighbors.

She would plant flowers in the Spring.

She would make our lunch on days the cafeteria served something we hated.

She would include a love note. 

She would spank us with the fly swat when we got out of line.

She would stay up with us if we were sick.

She threw me a huge surprise "Sweet 16!"

She took me to find my first prom dress.

She helped me through my first broken heart.

She cried when I tried on my wedding dress.

She held my hand when I had my first child. 

She takes me to lunch.

She loves my children.

She gets me a surprise every now and then. 

We talk every day multiple times.

If there is a such thing as a perfect mother she is as close as you'd get. She loves my brother and I with her entire being. Family is her life. She has sacrificed so we could have. She has made her home one that we love coming back to. She is my Mama!

I hope she knows how special and loved she is every day of the year not just on Mother's Day!

My Mama with my babies at the Zoo!