Cook's Cottage

Is Your Fridge Running {Efficiently}?

2012-02-29T23:38:00.000-08:00

...or is it overrun with papers, magnets and the like?

For most families the fridge becomes the stop place for all of the memos, spelling tests, invitations, pictures, appointment reminders...you name it!

In a household our size, and I believe in most households, it can get a bit out of hand! When Isabelle was in kindergarten {before we home schooled}, her teacher Ms. Bowker, had the children do a genius first week project ~ the personal clip magnet!

Today I'm sharing some refrigerator renewal with a tutorial of that cute magnet to hold each child's personal paperwork.

Here is what you will need:

Little People Cutouts

{Mine are for calendars ~ purchased at Lakeshore Learning}

Clothes Pin

Magnet Strip

Hot Glue Gun

After having your child decorate their person cutout to look like themselves, place a strip of hot glue onto one side of your clothes pin.

Then add the the cutout to the glue strip - pressing firmly!

Next, add about 1" of the magnet strip to the back of the clothes pin using the same hot glue method.

We created one for each of our Littles that are home schooled because they are the most likely to put items on the refrigerator! {The girl second to the left is the original one Isabelle made 3 years ago!}

Voila!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

I'm Drivin' In My Car...

2012-02-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

OK! I totally have to laugh! Do you know that, next to "Are they all yours?", the most frequently asked question I hear is, "What kind of car do you drive?" {Said with jaw dropping, eyes popping, wonder.}

Honestly, we have driven a number of cars over the years and loved our Chevy Astro Van for most of those years. Then blessing number 6 was due to arrive, and we no longer could fit our whole family into an 8 passenger vehicle. So, we moved up to a full size, 12 passenger van. It is equipped with a "lovely" back up beeper and everything! {Seriously, the warning sound on this thing is louder than most construction vehicles!}

To say it was easy to move into such a vehicle would not be completely forthright! Besides the obvious challenge of learning how to drive such a large vehicle without rolling the backend over every curb, there was a small amount of pride to overcome! Many of us know friends who don't want to move to the "mini van" because of their image...it was sort of like that...sort of...

Once I fully embraced my new "look", I learned to have fun with it! The kiddos affectionately nicknamed our van "Great White!" We began adding fish to represent each arrival of a new baby. {I even had a gentleman at a gas station mention to me that I was driving a "school bus". Cute!} I actually find that my negative pride has changed from a focus about my image to pride in my children and the blessing that they are to our family! And bonus...I don't fit in the parking garage at the mall, so I have to park in the space reserved only for oversized vehicles...a huge benefit at Christmas time!

I often hear, "We'd like to have more children, but we just can't afford a bigger car." To that I say, "Are you sure?" "Are there other areas where you could sacrifice?" "Is it a bigger vehicle you can't afford, or can you just not afford a newer, bigger vehicle?" "Could you sell both of the vehicles you now own and purchase one large capacity vehicle?" Actually, I know a beautiful family that drives two cars when they need to go somewhere... No, it's not practical or even "green", but it is making due with what they have - trusting that God has a plan for their future.

In a poignant article by Above Rubies editress Nancy Campbell, she speaks about God's provision for another baby. In it she points to different aspects of God's provision, but I especially love how she points to the promises God makes with those who will follow his commands in Dueteronomy 7 and 28. The reminder is on how God provides the blessing in the fruit of the womb in these verses before he blesses the land, crops, and livestock! If we truly believe God's word about children, then we believe that He will provide for them!

Oh sure, I dream of the day that Nana drives a cute, little, easy to drive, car...but seriously, by then I'll have so many grandbabies to tote around, I'll need the van to get us all there! It's a burden I'm happy to carry!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Bring Me A Higher Love! {Day 4 ~ Final Lesson of Love Series!}

2012-02-14T08:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I absolutely adore Valentine’s Day! I love the colors, the hearts, themessage! In our home, Papa takes care ofthe girls and Mama takes care of the boys. Traditionally, Papa buys all the girls a single rose and a box ofchocolates…as they grow, so does the size of the box! Our oldest daughter is married and has twochildren of her own, but Papa still buys her a rose and candy…his way ofsaying, “You’ll always be my Valentine!”

For dinner, we always have homemade HeartShaped Pizza! {I was inspired by our local pizza shop one year, when they wereselling pizza in a heart shape ~ only it cost $1 more! That was the year I said, “No way! I can makethat myself!”}

Another reason I love Valentine’s Day isthat it is fairly easy to lavish a little love on others without breaking thebudget! Just a sweet mid-winter pick meup!

If nothing else, teach your kiddos how tocut out paper hearts {you could add a lesson on symmetry}, give them great bighugs and love, love, love!

For our final lesson in love, I’m going totouch on the topic of Eros Love

Eroslove is physical love…where our word erotic comes from!

I believe it is a natural part of the beginnings of arelationship between a man and woman. God designed us this way! Butwhere would I find a scripture reference? Read the whole book of Song of Solomon ~ one of the greatest lovestories ever written, and it is full of Eros Love!

Unfortunately, this is the foundation that many couplesbuild their relationships on! While itis a good magnet of attraction to draw two people together, we must use cautionto discern between our feelings and true love!

Eros love will fade if the foundation of a relationship isnot based on the other two loves I’ve already spoken about! In fact, my experience has been that as theAgape and Philos love grows between Ken and I, then the Eros love tends to stayintact…maybe because it morphs into the others…

A few final words…

By now, you have discovered that only True Love can comefrom The One who is love! Whether youare married or single, your quest to fill that void in your heart will nevercome from a worldly relationship! Yes,you may feel temporarily fulfilled, but eventually it will fade…

That void in your heart was created by The One who createdyou…so that you would yearn to fill it with Him! {Ecclesiastes 3:11}

The problem is that we are a selfish people, filled withsin. Not one of us is good enough to bein the presence of a Most High God! {Romans3:23}

The good news is that He sent His Son to take on thepunishment for that sin, so that we may be in His presence. {Romans 5:8}

We don’t have to get our acts together or clean ourselves upbefore we can go to this God who promises us fulfillment in Him. We simply have to confess that we aresinners, we’re not perfect, but we desire to turn from that “old way” and wantto “put on the new” ~ which, through Christ, becomes our righteousness! {Acts3:19}

Then we seek to grow in our knowledge of who He is! He will do the transforming work…we just haveto obey!

This Valentine’s Day, love on the people whom God has given you…but,Choose Him to be your Forever Valentine!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

PS ~ If you’re finding your heart yearning to be eternallyfilled, but don’t know where to start, please feel free to email me, and I willgive you some resources to get you started on your journey! If you simply have questions...I'll do my best to answer, and get you going in the right direction!

I Want to Know What Love is...{Day 3 of Love Series}

2012-02-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

Philos

~Brotherly love ~ a love based on friendship~

Incidentally, Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love,based on this word!

“For the Father himself loves you, because youhave loved me and have believed that I came from God.” {John 16:27}

In this verse, the Greek for love is Philos…basically, inscripture, when God is entering into a relationship with us; He uses the Philostype love to describe that “brotherly/Fatherly” love.

Think about the mostsolid relationships you have in your life…they are usually based on a deepfriendship. Of course for our spousal relationships, this is the best place tostart!

So, a few weeks ago, I was doing some volunteer work for ourchurch, when a wife of one of the Pastors stopped to chat with me. God, in His perfect timing sent her to speaksome truths into me that day! One thingshe spoke was, regarding seeing her husband as her “brother in Christ” when sheprays for him, not just as her husband!

This actually became a “light bulb” moment for me! If I am praying for my husband as my brother inChrist, I tend to pray solely for his growth and benefit. On the contrary, whenI pray for him as my husband, I pray {though not intentionally} with a personaloutcome in mind. “If this changes inhim, it will benefit me.”

One thing I want to point out…God loves us both with anAgape type love and a Philos type love – they are not necessarily exclusive ofthe other. We are to emulate Hisexample, so strive for both and ask Him to fill you with both in yourrelationships!

Now for the Giveaway!

{Drum Roll Please…}

The winner of thediapers is:

Annika!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

What is Love Anyway? {Day 2 of Love Series}

2012-02-09T07:51:00.000-08:00

www.kellywang.tumblr.com

There are three types of love:

Agape

Philos

Eros

Over the next few days, I am going to try to unpack these three different types of love and how they relate to our relationships.

I'll begin with Agape!

Agape love is an unconditional love! This is the love that the Heavenly Father lavishes upon us ~ being the very nature of who He is! {1John 4:8} It is sacrificial love ~ clearly shown in Christ's death on the cross for an undeserving world. {Romans 5:8}

Agape love is choosing to love with no expectation of receiving anything in return!

This, my sweet friends, is the type of love that God calls us to extol upon our mates!

One practical way to do this is to rid yourself of what I like to call "Stinkin' Thinkin'"! {I know I didn't come up with that term originally, but I currently can't recall where I first heard it.}

"Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ!" {2 Corinthians 10:5}

Years ago, my husband and I were part of a small group of fellow church attenders. We met every week, and went over a Bible study that we were all doing. Occasionally, the men of the group would get together and have some fellowship time without the wives. One particular night, they met at a local restaurant. My husband had agreed to be home at a reasonable time since we had not had any personal time together due to his heavy work and school load. As the night continued, he was not home. Hour after hour passed, and I began feeling more and more discouraged in his lack of consideration for me! Let's be honest...I was pretty angry! As bedtime approached, I was having very harsh thoughts around not speaking to him, or giving him "what for". My own personal Stinkin' Thinkin' kicked in, and I was having thoughts like: "He doesn't love me!" "He has never cared about me more than himself." "He never puts me first." "He never follows through on his commitments to me." "We are hopeless." But, the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit and reminded me of the verse, "Do not sin in your anger." {Eph. 4:26}

"Wait! What?"

"Do not sin in your anger!"

Umm...you can imagine I was blindsided...yep, blindsided by the Word of God! In that moment I started changing my thinking..."I am disappointed, but he probably has a good reason." "I will give him grace and listen." "I will not sin in my anger!"

What came of that situation? Well, he came home full of apologies. I didn't let him off the hook though. {I'm not saying this was right or wrong.} What I did do, was tell him how disappointed I was. I told him how his actions made me feel unimportant to him. I said these things with grace, a gentle spirit, and love. Not because I wasn't angry, but because I was choosing to love him whether he deserved it or not! I could only take responsibility for my part!

Don't let your own Stinkin' Thinkin' come between you and a beautiful relationship with your loved ones! Take those thoughts captive. Give the other person the benefit of the doubt! Choose to love them, whether they deserve it or not! Love sacrificially! Show them Agape love!

Usually the effect is you become irresistible. They become "won over by your gentle and quiet Spirit." {1Peter 3:4}

Come back tomorrow as I unpack Philos kind of love...

{Oh, and finally give away those diapers!}

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

What's Love Got To Do With It? {Day 1 of True Love Series}

2012-02-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day approaching, we are deep in the "Season of Love"...only how many find themselves disappointed by their lack of:

a spouse/boyfriend who really knows them enough to buy the right gift, flowers, etc.
"Sweet Nothings" spoken in loving adoration
"I would walk 1000 miles" kind of devotion
a spouse or boyfriend at all!

This is only a limited list of why Valentine's Day can be such a disappointment if we don't have a true understanding of what love really is!

I tend to really dislike "chic flicks" because they portray relationships in a Hollywood light where unrealistic expectations are sold to women as the norm to strive for!

So what is love?

How do we have right ideas about it?

How do we find True Love in a fallen world?

First, we should start with what True Love isn't!

True Love is NOT a feeling!

While it is true that one can have emotions around loving someone, it is not the source of our love. Just because I felt butterflies when I first met my husband, does not mean I was in love with him. I get butterflies when I ride roller coasters too and while I do love a good roller coaster ride, I'm certainly not committing my life to one! {Well, maybe in one sense, but you know what I mean!} So often I hear, I just don't have that "loving feeling" anymore! But really, those first feelings are immature and not the stuff to build lasting relationships on!

True Love is NOT words!

"He doesn't tell me he loves me anymore!" "He used to compliment me and build me up!" "Maybe we're just not in love anymore!" Ladies! If this is you...stop right where you are...I want you to focus on the object of these statements. It is Me! Me! Me! Me! Only God can be your true source of love, get in His word - know how He feels about you - be filled by Him - when you are, your spouse's words won't define you anymore! {I am not saying that hearing an "I love you" from our spouse isn't an OK desire, but don't dwell on it too much.}

True love is NOT self serving!

What is the Golden Rule? Love your Neighbor as Yourself! This is also one of the greatest commandments with, Love your God with all your heart, mind and strength! {Luke 10:27} Again, I am back to what the focus of who our love should be ~ others! This actually means putting your spouse and their desires above your own! Practically this could simply mean asking your spouse what he wants to do with your spare time, money, talents...then doing it!

True Love is not found in a mate!

Simply ~ God is love! We will never find our long term satisfaction anywhere else!

{I will elaborate on this point in a later blog, but if you are single or in a lonely marriage this series applies to you too! Your true source of everlasting satisfaction will only ever come from the One who pours out His love by the Holy Spirit! Trust me - you want this kind of love!}

I hope I am not leaving you disappointed...I can feel the "but, what is love, how do I get it..." thoughts. Hang in with me...come back...I pray you will be fulfilled!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

I'm a Genius When it Comes to Bums {Diaper Danger and a Giveaway}...

2012-01-31T16:26:00.000-08:00

Oh Man...I'm so punny...how do you all put up with me?

So, I have been inundated lately with "cloth diapering" questions. So, I figured it was time for a post on the subject!

First, I need to thank my good friend, Kathy, for introducing me to cloth diapering and supplying me with my first "stash" of diapers! {She also washed my newborn diapers for me when Isabelle was a baby! Wow!!!}

When I started out, I used cloth diapers that you put a wrap over the top. What I loved about this system, is that they never leaked! Those wraps held in moisture like water in a bucket!

Eventually, as those diapers wore out, I started replacing my stash with All In One diapers...the only problem I found with the AIOs is that the covers on them tended to get holes, thereby causing leaks!

Finally, I found a terrific deal on Bum Genius 3.0's {one size} on Craigslist. The lady I bought them from tried them on her newborn and after leaving him at home with her husband, and then said husband not rinsing the diapers, she said, "it's just too much of a hassle!" Blessed me! I purchased 3 dozen diapers with only two used at second hand prices!

I have loved Bum Genius ever since! They are what are referred to as Pocket Diapers...where there is a pocket in the diaper cover to insert a liner. They usually come with an additional liner for extra absorbency.

I purchase the ones with Velcro tabs...yes, they do wear out after a while, but you can purchase refresh kits that come with new Velcro and elastic for the legs for $1/each on EBay.

What about washing? Here is what works for us:

I have two diaper pails: one upstairs next to the changing table ~ a larger one downstairs next to our hamper.

Wet diapers are put in the upstairs pail {if I'm changing upstairs}, and diapers with solids are brought downstairs, rinsed {with a diaper rinsing attachment hooked to the toilet}, and placed in the larger diaper pail.

The diaper pails DO NOT have liquid solution in them! I do line them with a "wet bag" that I throw in with the diapers when I do a washing.

Once or twice per week, I wash the diapers:

Cold Water Rinse {no detergent}

Hot Water Wash {1/8th cup detergent, no bleach or fabric softener, heavy cycle, and extra rinse}

Dry in dryer in winter ~ Sun dry in summer {the sun bleaches the stains naturally!}

Easy Peasy!

I recently purchased some Fuzzi Bunz diapers with snaps...I haven't had the best of luck with them, but have heard of other people who swear by them! It could be that my girl simply has slim thighs and they tend to leak...or it could be that I don't have them adjusted right...I'm not sure!

If I were to purchase more, it would definitely be Bum Genius with Velcro! These adjust from newborn to 35lbs., and the Velcro makes it easier to adjust the waist. Plus, they tend to be the most like disposable diapers, so other care givers are not as intimidated by them.

So, for the giveaway:

When I purchased the Fuzzi Bunz I received two bonus diapers with my purchase:

One Pink

One White {with a logo on the back that says: Does this diaper make my butt look big?}

Leave a comment about why you would like to try cloth diapering, leave your best cloth diapering tip, or cloth diapering question and you will be entered into a drawing to receive these diapers.

{One winner receives both!}

Linking to Growing Home's Teach Me Tuesdays!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

"Throw off everything that hinders...

2012-01-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

...and the sin that so easily entangles." {Hebrews 12:1}

I'm writing this post to one specific person today! Why? Because I can ~ it's the benefit of "owning" the blog! It will likely apply to many of you...and I pray that others of you will also receive the message: NOTHING you have done is beyond forgiveness!

So, I have this friend who has been trapped by guilt and shame from a sin in their life. I know, I know, we are all sinners {Romans 3:23}, but this is one of those BIG sins! You know, the kind that you quantify as big because the majority of the population would agree that it is!

Only - there in is the lie! Not one sin that any of us has committed is bigger than another! They are all sin! They all prevent us from being in the presence of a Holy God if we do not have the righteousness of Jesus!

My friend thought that if they just worked hard enough, they could overcome the entrapment of this sin!

There is the second lie! Our work will never make us clean enough or cleanse our hearts without the atonement of Jesus! {Ephesians 2:8-9} Besides the enemy would love to have a foothold by making us think that keeping our sins a secret is best for everyone! {That is the third lie!}

The good news is you can be free! Come to Christ with a deep repentance for the sin that has entangled you...run from that sin...and live in His freedom! Return to the joy of your salvation!

I am praying for you daily!

I love you beyond measure ~ but He loves you more!

I am celebrating in victory with you!

Beautiful by Mercy Me

Listen to this song ~ absorb the lyrics ~ they are for you today!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Rain, Rain Go Away...

2012-01-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

Last week, my friend Ashley introduced her first recording! It was a complete hit in my house...my girls have been singing it daily!

Of course, I think it is absolutely wonderful! As I've been repeating the chorus in my head...it has brought me to some reflection on what the lyrics mean to me.

I think the song is probably literally about the sun... but for me I've changed that "u" into an "o", and the song takes on a whole new meaning!

"Rain, rain go away. Come again another day. 'Cause it's me and the Son right now."

To me, it's speaking against the enemy and saying..."Go Away..you can't have a foothold!" "It's me and the Son right now!"

Just a great reminder to stand firm ~ letting nothing move me!

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

Now, go play the song...you're sure to be singing it!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Who Are Those Winners Anyway?

2012-01-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

Last week I had two giveaways going simultaneously ~ one for the Canyon Hills MOPS ladies, and one for everyone who wanted to be in the drawing for a Seeds Worship CD.

I bet you thought I would never announce a winner!

Blame it on this:

You'll never guess who created our snow soldier...

Hee! Hee! For those of you reading from outside of Washington State, you might be thinking, "What, snow? Really?" But honestly, when Seattle gets snow, the whole world comes to a screeching halt! Seriously, our local grocery store was cleaned out of milk in our "state of emergency"!

For us, while we still homeschooled and went about our days as normal...there was snowball fights to be had ,snow angels to make, sledding, and of course a snowman and snow castle to be built. {Conveniently, we just finished a study on medieval times, so a castle fit right into our homeschool day!}

So onto those winners!

For the MOPS giveaway:

Maria & Lisa

are my winners!

{Send me your addresses, and preference for Large Family Logistics or The Tightwad Gazette and I will pop them in the mail this week. In the case that you both pick the same book, I will draw names.}

For the Seeds CD giveaway

Blessed Mama & Keylade

are my winners!

Thanks to everyone for your comments and encouragement! I am blessed!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Be Content!

2012-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

I know ~ easier said than done!!!!

Last Friday, I spoke at a local MOPS group. My topic was titled: Frugal Living without Fear or Frump! Basically it was a talk on my different tidbits around money saving!

So, Friday morning I was praying for the women I was to be speaking to, and God started speaking to me! He basically said, "Tell them that they are beautiful!"

I started thinking, "Um, ok?!? Where does that fit into a budget speech?" But, knowing how God works with me, I chose to obey - believing that if the message was just for one woman in that room, then I was not going to get in the way just because it didn't make sense to me!

So, first, let me say, "God has the same message for you!"

His word says:

Psalm139

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

1Peter 3

³ Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— ⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

God's Word is good ~ ALL THE TIME!

So, what does it look like practically? I will tell you what I told the MOPS ladies...Be Content!

Be content with what God has given you...in possessions, family members, appearance! Stop comparing your life to others around you!

You've heard the term regarding the grass beinggreener on the other side, I like to say, "If the grass looks greener onthe other side, there's probably a whole lot more crap over there!"

Think about how this applies in your own life! Does it mean staying out ofthe mall? Or, not perusing 100 different decorating websites/Pinterest pages? {These things only bring temporary happiness anyway!}

Could it mean accepting that God has a purpose and plan for your life(Jeremiah 29:11), exactly where and when you live (Acts17:26), believing that He created you perfectly (Psalm 139:14).

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Finally ~ Pray!

He has sent us a counselor, the Holy Spirit! If you are struggling with contentment, God knows! Seek him for guidance in this area...He promises to answer! (Luke 11:10)

{Having an accountability partner wouldn't hurt either!}

"As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17

Praying that each of you finds contentment today!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Monday Morning Tidbit {Planting the Word in Your Heart}...

2012-01-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

One of my all time favorite worship CD's is from these guys:

Seeds Family Worship

I love these guys! All of their music is straight scripture, so while you and your kiddos are singing fun songs, you are planting verses in your heart and theirs! Plus it's catchy!

Want to know the best part? When you purchase a CD from Seeds Family Worship, they send you an additional one to give away! That's a ministry living out their faith!

So ~ don't you think it's time for another giveaway?

Post a comment about your favorite worship music, or a trick on how you get the word in your heart, or just say hello, and Friday I will pick two winners to send a Seeds CD too!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Linking to: The Better Mom

Canyon Hills MOPS ladies...

2012-01-13T13:40:00.000-08:00

Here's the post for the CHCC MOPS ladies!

Feel free to comment on whatever you like:

Share A Tip

Ask A Question

Let me know where you think I could improve!

I love feedback! Come back for a Friday Fast Tip that I will post this afternoon!

Remember He clothes the Lillies of the Field! {Luke 12:27}

Great to see all of you lovely ladies and all of those sweet blessings!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Lullabye and Goodnight...

2012-01-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

So a while ago, I was asked about my philosophies on babies and sleep ~ do I let them cry it out, do I co-sleep, etc.?

I know this is a very controversial subject, so I want to go into this conversation saying, "We need sleep! We all do, babies, children, teenagers {though mine might beg to differ}, adults. When our sleep banks are empty, we can experience all sorts of ailments, including mental health issues. So, sometimes you have to do what is right for your family."

OK - that said, here is what it looks like in our family!

When our babies are brand new and until they are about 6 months {give or take} old we co-sleep with them. Now, I can hear some of you saying, "that is so dangerous!" and "Don't you worry about you or your husband rolling over on the baby?" Remember...we are doing what works for us!

I discovered co-sleeping long before the term was popular, when our 22 year, Tristen, was a baby. At that point in my life, I was a die hard, "they should be in their own bed" person. Then one night, in a state of sheer exhaustion, I brought her to bed to nurse. While nursing her, I ended up falling asleep! The next morning, I awoke completely refreshed with her by my side and she didn't sleep in her own bed another night until she was about 6 months old.

Now, we usually have a bassinet in our room. I will change the baby and nurse him or her, and put them to bed in the bassinet. When they wake up, I bring them to bed with me, and we spend the rest of the night together. When the baby is between my husband and I, I put my arm around the baby so that if he were to begin to roll our way, I simply swat him a couple of times and he rolls back.

This method has worked for 8 babies. We have never even had a close call with one of us rolling over onto the baby. (I do want to caution, that if you use any sort of drugs, including prescription, or alcohol - you SHOULD NOT co-sleep!)

This has worked for every baby but one ~ Hudson! From day one, Hudson would not nurse in a lying down position! I spent our first night home with him sleeping in a rocking chair while he nursed in a more upright position. It wasn't until he was a year old that we discovered he had acid reflux...but that is a story for another day.

So, how do we transition?

Somewhere around the 6 month mark, I start finding that the tossing and turning of the baby causes less sleep than getting up with them in the middle of the night would. So, they get the privilege of sleeping in their own cribs!

This has looked different for different children! I AM NOT a "cry it out" mom!  My husband feels even stronger than I do about this! Honestly, I have asked myself, "would Mary have allowed Jesus to cry it out?" To which my heart tells me, "no"!

Does this mean that my kiddos don't do a bit of crying in their cribs?  Well, sometimes... Sometimes I have had a kiddo that is obviously fit throwing and not simply needing food or comfort. Sometimes I have turned down the monitor intending to get out of bed and then find myself waking later with a baby that went back to sleep. Sometimes I have allowed a few short minutes of crying to see if my child will settle themselves.

Some of my children have been champion sleepers! Some of my children have needed Mama multiple times in the night. I go with my heart!

There are some tips for getting children to be more on your schedule than their own:

Routine, routine, routine! I am not saying, "schedule, schedule, schedule!"  {In my experience, mommies who have strict eat/sleep schedules for their babies end up losing their milk supply early.} But, a routine is important. We all have natural routines that bring us comfort and will awaken our systems - the morning shower, coffee, breakfast - or tell our systems it's time for sleep - changing into jammies, reading for a short while, prayer.

The same goes for children. They will know when it is bedtime if you have the same routine every night. Currently with Claire {11months} we get in our jammies, nurse, read a few stories, sing the same three songs, then lie down in the crib {with her dolly and the same blanket every night}. She rarely fusses! While I am working through this routine, I say, "it's time to go nigh - nigh" multiple times.

My older "littles" get a similar routine - except they don't nurse! Papa usually does their stories while Mama is putting baby down.

Remember ~ "Longest days, shortest years!" Try to keep your lack of sleep in perspective! When my "olders" were little, I was constantly working for them to sleep through the night! I longed for it! I felt like a bad mom if I couldn't get them on my schedule. As I have had more babies and more years to work through it, I realize that this time passes so quickly and those middle of the night moments are fleeting!

One last thought! I do believe the Bible speaks to some of these topics!

Regarding co-sleeping: Luke 11:7 "Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed." {Ken tells me it's because they didn't all have beds to sleep in - it still sounds like co-sleeping to me!}

And of course there are multiple references to "the night watches":

“Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19a)

“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises” (Psalm 119:147-148)

Embrace the night watches! Use the time to pray and meditate on His word! See what God may have to speak to your heart as you are comforting your precious blessings!

Please, please send me your questions! Surely many have arisen! I will answer them in the comments section!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Fast Tip Friday (Pie Crust)

2012-01-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

Maybe this post should be under the Confessions page, but I do have to admit that one of the areas I just can't get the hang of is the edges on pie crust! For years I have simply tucked the excess crust over and pinched haphazardly until it was sealed all the way around. The result was very...let's say...rustic!

Then my fabulous husband bought me a set of "crust cutters"! Now I simply role out the dough and cut the excess off the edges. I then roll the excess out and cut little decorations to trim the edge of my crust!

Voila!

Tonight's dinner was Chicken Pot Pie!

Here's my "no fail" crust recipe (the secret is the vinegar, so don't leave it out!):

3 Cups Flour

1 1/2 teas. salt

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 cups shortening

1/2 cup cold water (add last a little bit at a time)

1 egg beaten

1 Tbsp. vinegar

OK, I'm lazy, so honestly I just mix all of the ingredients together adding the water last until it is the consistency I like. You are supposed to refrigerate it, then roll it out - but again, I never plan that far ahead so I just roll it out right away.

This makes a double pie crust for a 10" pie! Yummy!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

The Year of Jubilee!

2012-01-04T15:59:00.000-08:00

OK! OK! You can call off the search and rescue team...I haven't disappeared completely!

With the holiday season, my sweet husband took some much deserved time off - and being the woman I am, I HAD to honor his time at home! Which means no blogging, no Facebook, no emails...

But now I'm back! Thanks to all who put out the All Points Bulletin for me - sorry to leave with no notice! {As it turns out, the length of this post will make up for my absence!}

So anyone who has been around here for a while knows that late November/early December met our family with some very difficult situations to trudge through...though I have left no details (to protect my loved ones) let me say it has been one of the most difficult end of years that I have seen in a long time!

God has already brought us a long way...and I trust He will bring us to completion! Tomorrow I will post a page {listed as Confessions above} describing one area where He has brought unbelievable refinement! I won't be linking to this page via Facebook - it's a personal, deep waters, kind of issue. Feel free to visit here to read, but I'm not "advertising" per se!

As Christmas drew near, I found myself walking through the season with a less than motivated spirit! Still celebrating all that Christ is to me, but the extras just weren't there! Praying and praying and praying for renewal - but God intended more!

Then this morning - with the downpour of the earthly rain, I felt the downpour of God's sovereignty! On my way to Bible Study {the one I honestly had to convince myself to get out of bed for} our local radio station announced my daughter Stephanie's name as the name to call in to win the Name Game! With a frantic search for my phone, I sent up a "please let us win" prayer! Dial...busy! Dial...busy! Dial...pause..."please let us win", I implored...ring..."Hi! Who's this?"

We won!!

As I described my sweet Stephanie, I couldn't help but cry! God, in one of the littlest things, let us win! He answered my prayer! I know - pretty insignificant, right? Not this time! Words cannot not explain how it felt to feel Him say, "I hear your prayers Lora. I hear you!" {To be honest - I don't even know what we won...just that God had heard and answered...}

Fast forward to worship time during our Bible Study and what song begins to play?

Days of Elijah

{Click here to hear the song!}

In this song there is a great verse that says: "Lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee!" YES!!! It's the year of Jubilee!!!! It was all I could do to contain myself in this group of put together women!

2012 is my year of Jubilee!!! Bring it on!!!

So to start off the New Year I'd like to introduce to you the newest addition in our family!

On January 3rd @ 9:23AM - River Evelyn Haertel was born!

Here's Papa holding his sweet grand baby!

{His shirt reads: Changing The World One Diaper At A Time}

Praying for all of you that this is also your year of Jubilee!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

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

2011-12-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we put together a photo shoot for our Christmas cards!

Now, you need to understand what a feat that was, we haven't done Christmas cards since Isabelle was a baby over 6 years ago! Every year I think about it, come up with an idea in my mind, and then Christmas comes and goes and it's the item from my list that doesn't get done!

This year I saw a Facebook post from Keilah at Vanilla Bean Photography with a link to a photo shoot she loved, and I just had to try it! I mean snow? ~ In my own back yard? ~ Who could resist?

Here are a few pictures:

I love Sarah's tongue out in this one!

Here's how we made snow...in the Pacific Northwest, no less!
Warning! The potato flakes make quite a mess - in your hair, on your clothing, in your clothing! Oh, and they don't melt like real snow when they get in your eyes!

But the laughter is worth every last flake!

Any other crazy photo ideas out there? {Careful, I may copy them on our next Christmas card!}

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Friends and Gingerbread Houses...

2011-12-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

One of my very best friends, Melanie, is expecting their 5th blessing! Last Thursday was their 12 week appointment. So while she and her husband were off, all of the kiddos made Gingerbread Houses!

For the sake of keeping it simple, we used graham crackers for the structure of our houses, a ton of frosting, and two tons of candy!

This project kept 10 kiddos entertained for just under 2 hours!

Let me say, one of the great things about gingerbread creations is the ingenuity that goes into them. From a homeschooling perspective, there is a vast array of subjects that creating houses can cover ~ math, art, science, history (one house was a medieval castle), occupational education, etc. Besides they are just plain fun!

This is what Claire did while the big kiddos were busy!

It's never to early to start training them, right?

Oh, and how did I cope with the effects of all that sugar?

Some good old fashioned, hard work! {Our neighbor is 87 years old, so my kiddos help care for her yard!}

What other Christmas craft or game ideas to you have?{My other neighbor used to host a children's Christmas party every year - I'll need to pick her brain for some entertaining ideas!}

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

The Things Children say...

2011-12-16T07:34:00.000-08:00

When Connor was 3, we were driving along in the car when he piped up and asked, "If Christmas is Jesus' birthday, why do we give each other presents?"

Just as I was formulating a response in my head, he piped up again:

"Oh, I know - because Jesus is in our hearts!"

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 18:2-3

Happy Weekend Everyone! Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Feed the Machine Day...

2011-12-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

If you walked into our home on any given Monday, this is what you would be greeted with!

My smiling face!

OK, and then this...

Monday is what we term "Feed the Machine Day" at The Cottage. I have tried many different laundry routines over the years, but I always come back to doing it all on one day - all day - and then not thinking about it until the following week! {Of course there are a few exceptions, but not many!}

What you see in this picture is all of the kiddos baskets lined up and the white chair where the pile to be folded is dumped.

I can already hear you saying, "I only see 8 baskets?" That is due to the fact that Brandon does his own laundry and Mama and Papa share a basket.

The routine goes a bit like this:

Big kiddos bring all laundry to the furnace room. {Stored in bedrooms during the week.}
Mama and little sort laundry.
Little stuffs machine full and helps Mama with the detergent. {Start}
Alarm sounds when wash is done - Mama calls to little {usually Sarah} to move laundry to dryer.
Mama meets little with next load ~ repeat!
When first load is dry - Mama calls to little to bring load to chair and move load from washer to dryer.
Mama meets little with next load ~ repeat!
Mama and helpers fold and sort each load as they come from the dryer!
Repeat! ~ Repeat! ~ Repeat!

{Our routine is a bit different in the summer, as I hang the clothes to dry.}

Monday is also our "Recoup from the Weekend" day, so I very rarely make any extra plans! We spend this day hitting our home school hard, doing laundry and picking up the house so we have a calmer week.

OK - I know someones laundry routine is not the most fascinating post...but you would be surprised at how often I'm asked about it! And, how many times I've searched to see how other large families manage this area.

Hopefully someone is inspired! Has anyone else found a good system for laundry?

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Mama's Little Helper...

2011-12-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, my friend Megan was shocked to know that I didn't typically have my kiddos help in the kitchen. {My reasoning was that I could do it so much faster and get a few minutes to myself if I simply worked alone.} That day I was convicted that I was doing my children and myself a disservice!

Since then, I try to find ways to include my kiddos as much as possible!

So, while Mama was doing this:

Hudson was doing this:

Then, after popping the first couple pizzas in the oven, I went to do a quick check of email. Reminding Hudson NOT to get the flour out of the bin, it turned into this:

and this:

Who could be mad at this cute boy?

{Notice the "grey" pants...they were originally navy!}

The moral? Never leave children unattended in the kitchen!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed...

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up with String...

2011-12-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

...these are a few of my favorite things! {Can you just see the von Trapp children dancing in Fraulein Maria's bedroom?}

I digress...

This weekend we did a little shopping for Christmas. Only when I say "little", it's never as little as I'd like it to be!

We purchase 3 gifts for each child ~ to represent the gifts of the wise men. But, just with the sheer number of children we have that's at least 24 gifts to wrap (we do a family gift for the oldest), not including extended relatives, friends and neighbors!

Last night I began the daunting task of wrapping said gifts! While I was cutting, taping, and curling ribbon, I was thinking, "I've had this roll of paper for over 5 years now!" Then it occurred to me that others might like to know of the little trick I have when it comes to packaging...

Keep It Simple!

Every gift I giveaway is wrapped in brown paper. I purchased this roll at a local paper supply store, as well as the roll cutter. The cutter is an investment at first, but is well worth the price for storage and ease of removing the paper.

I keep a supply of ribbon on hand. What you see in the picture is some Cotton Curl Ribbon in red for our Christmas packages. {I love all matching gifts under the tree!} I usually have a role of pink and a roll of blue/green ribbon as well for birthday, shower, thank you, etc.

I simply have this roll stashed under my bed with scissors, tape and ribbon...no clutter and quick access!

What other gift wrapping ideas to people have? Do you like all of your gifts to be the same, or do you prefer variety?

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

I Want To BE Beautiful…

2011-12-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

No Fast Tip Friday...and I promise not to be a Monday/Friday blogger!

Today's post comes from a journal writing that I came across. I wrote it a few months ago and, by the Holy Spirit's prompting, felt it was something that needs to be posted! So, believing that He intends for someone out there to read it, I post with an open heart today! God has definitely been refining some areas in me, and our household!

So, there is this song by Bethany Dillon:

“I want to be beautiful, make youstand in awe. Look inside my heart and be amazed. I long to hear you say who Iam is quite enough…"(forgetting the final verse to the chorus).

Anyway, sometimes this song plays in myhead! It’s who I am! I know all of the ugliness inside of me. Something that Ken and I always discuss isthe radiance of people who have Jesus on the inside…how it creates the mostbeautiful of creations on the outside. Iwant to be that!!! Yet, I amcritical, impatient, jealous, insecure…Iam sure it is a matter of getting to the heart of the issues…but the processseems so slow.

Lately I have been solooking forward to the day I am in Glory…that will be the day that I am fullyrefined and my beauty will be completely radiant as I no longer have theugliness on the inside!

My prayer isthat Christ will refine that person inside of me sooner than later…ahhh,refinement!

I want to be beautiful….

I think societies idea of beautiful and God's idea of beautiful are polar opposites! To the woman who just watched this video and sees herself, my prayer for you is this:

"May you 'have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ'! (Ephesians 3:18) The Lord of Heaven has created you in His image (Genesis 1:27) and you are fearfully and wonderfully made!(Psalm 139:14) May you embrace who you are in Him and commit to living a life to glorify Him daily! He will refine you and His beauty will radiate through you!"

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

"Train them up in the way they should go..."

2011-12-05T23:22:00.000-08:00

For those of you waiting {ever so patiently} for a winner to be announced, I'm posting it first today! Then onto a "Welcome Home" to my 3rd born!

So, today's winner was drawn out of a crystal Christmas bowl that my friend Kelley gave me. It is one of those gifts that makes you think of the giver every time you see it! See, Kelley gave away one of her own personal crystal bowls in a White Elephant Gift Exchange that we both participated in last year...she sensed that I really wanted to win it and then I didn't! So, low and behold, she bought me one! Isn't that the sweetest? It's a gift I absolutely treasure!

First of all, thank you all for the comments! I absolutely LOVE them!

So, without further ado ~ the winner is......

Congratulations Susan! Send me your address!

Here is the boy whom we are welcoming home today!

This is my Connor! He is my warrior! He is passionate, protecting, and tough on the outside but soft on the inside! Today he returned home from a 12 day mission trip to Chile with a group of kiddos from our church. {Here he is snuggled up on the couch and crashed out!}

Connor is the child that has taught me the most about myself and God has used him to refine areas in me that I thought I knew best!

When our boys were little, we had a "no gun" policy. That meant no toys, Legos, or toast could be a made into a gun! With our first boy, it was easy - he is my love to please, easy going one. {I thought, "ha - this is going to be fine!" } Then came Connor! He is all of those things I described above and full of "boy-ness"! So - everything was a gun.

One day I mentioned this to an older, wiser, woman in my life, telling her of the struggles I was having with him. Her answer was, "Did it ever occur to you that God created him to be a warrior?"

What? You mean God has a plan for him that may not fit the plan that I have laid out?

So, that day I took her advice and took the first steps in allowing Connor be who God created him to be. Turns out most of what Connor thinks about now is being an Army Ranger. I hear it takes a special kind of person to fill those shoes, and you know? Connor fits the bill!

I am proud of him for so many things...

I am excited to see what a terrific man he is growing into...

I anticipate mighty deeds to come of his willingness to follow where God leads...

Our job is to help our children discover the path that God intends them to walk, and train them to go that direction! Embrace God's plan for each of your children individually - and then encourage their steps!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

So, The Bed's Not Made...{warning, I'm feeling a bit silly! Oh, and a great giveaway!}

2011-12-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

In my house, when the bed's not made- it's Ken's first sign that the day has gone a bit catty wampus!

I know it's been quiet around here this week - well, at least in my blog world! This week has actually been one of those catty wampus weeks! God has been walking our family through a very difficult trial, but has grown us in many ways! I can see an area of refinement that He is "putting the fire to", and I'll admit, I'm very resistant! But, God will have His way! He always wins! I'm thankful for that!

So, I'm sitting here thinking about putting together a quick Fast Tip and what to giveaway! But, my week looms in my head...So, literally, the thought "What to giveaway, what to giveaway..." keeps tumbling around and around!

So, as I'm thinking, I send up one of those quick arrow prayers and say, "God, what would you have me giveaway this week?" And the thought, "In God We Trust" comes back to me just as quickly!

"Yeah, OK God, but what should I giveaway?" {Are you catching on to how quick I can be?}

"In God We Trust!"

OH!!! "In God We Trust!" "I get it...you want me to give away cold, hard cash! Well, OK!"

So, there you have it! This week's giveaway is some money! {Let's say $20...who couldn't use $20!}

This week, I'm putting my money where my mouth is!

"IN GOD I TRUST!"

To enter {as many times as you like} simply leave a comment...it can be about anything you like...maybe an encouraging word to the other blog readers out there! Oh, and if you share this link on Facebook, you receive an additional entry!

I'll announce a random winner on Monday. {I actually do draw names - in case you were wondering!}

There, now I feel better! Off to make the bed...

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree..."

2011-11-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

Many years ago - OK, like 10 to be exact, I purchased this tree! My friend had found them at a local Christmas Store at their after Christmas sale for $5! Five dollars? Now that I could afford! We have lovingly termed the tree ~ The Chimney Sweep Tree, because without the ornaments and lights, it looks just like one! It is only a tad more than 5 feet tall and tilts a bit to the left, but with a few shims and a tree skirt, you would never know!

OK, so the thing is, I get a TON of compliments on this tree! And of course I can't just say thank you. No, I have to tell everyone it is my $5 tree! But, really, I've done the math, that's only .50 per year so far! I'm so excited about how much money this tree has saved us over the years, that I want to share my excitement!

So, this tree sits in our living room. It has Mama's Touch...basically, only Mama is allowed to touch it!

On this tree I have some very special ornaments:

My very first ornament {from the year I was born}- she's lost her bonnet, but she sleeps under a bough every year!

The billum from missionaries in Papau New Guinea ~ where Ken took his first mission trip!

An angel made by my angel - Tristen!

And of course an Acorn - a gift from Ken embracing my "nuttiness"!

Every year one of my older children mentions us getting a new tree, but I really enjoy the transformation! And I'm also enjoying the process of seeing just how much it's yearly cost decreases! And who can resist the endearment of a "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree?"

Don't worry - we have a "kids 'tree'" in the playroom...well, not exactly a tree, but I will blog about that later this week!

The point is - you don't have to have the greatest, most expensive decor to make your home beautiful! A little love goes a long way! I'd love to hear your ideas! Any other $5 trees out there?

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Fast Tip Friday {and the Chocolate Winners - Finally!}...

2011-11-25T22:41:00.000-08:00

So, we spent the last few days preparing for hosting Thanksgiving, - then the big day - then sending our 3rd oldest off to Chile on a mission trip - and finally the annual "D-day" as my kiddos call it, which means Decorating Day {for Christmas, that is}!

Anyway, last year I came across this poem about Christmas that is a great reminder as we are heading into the Christmas Season! Remember "The Reason for The Season" and everything else will fall into place!

FirstCorinthians 13 - The Christmas Version

If Idecorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights andshiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparinggourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime: I’m justanother cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that Ihave to charity; but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend amyriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ,I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kissthe spouse. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love does not envyanother's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they arethere to be in the way. Love does not give only to those who are able to givein return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.Love never fails.
Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, butgiving the gift of love will endure.

--Author Unknown

And now for the moment you all have been waiting for...

The Chocolate Winners!

Marsha Van Eaton Tristen Haertel Annika Manchester

Congratulations! Send me your addresses ladies, and I will send you some chocolate! {Well, Tristen, I will give you yours on Tuesday! }

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Only by the Spirit in me...

2011-11-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Last year at this time, I had a very upsetting thinghappen to me in the parking lot of Costco. At the time, I told very few people about it because I truly felt likethe Holy Spirit had moved in me that day and I feared that telling the storywould somehow come across as me taking credit for what only Christ deservescredit for! I did share my story with alocal radio station through email and did so anonymously. Today I am sharing this story to all of youfor two reasons:

1 ~ Be open to the Holy Spirit in your own life! As we become more aware of his promptings, weare able to walk in obedience more easily!

2 ~ It’s the holiday season – be careful out there! It is cold, people are desperate, and will dodesperate things! I pray protection overeach one of you as you go about your days!

Here is the story {as emailed to the radio station}:

Not the actual man - but one just like him!

Today, I was shopping at Costco with my 18yo son and 3 ofmy little ones. We were parked right atthe front door 4 spaces from the carts. As we were leaving, my son was pushing my daughter in the cart ahead ofme with my other daughter right next to them. I was lagging by about 20 feet as I had my 20 mo old on my back and ampregnant.

As my son was approaching our van, I heard him say,"Hey Man! Give me a break!" whilelooking towards the driver's side of the vehicle.

I said, "What’s going on?"

He said, "These guys are siphoning ourgas!"

By then I was to the vehicle...I stood right in front oftheir car and slammed my hands on the hood and called the man a foul name. I told my son to call the police and wasprepared to stand my ground so that they couldn't leave. That is right when the Holy Spirit took overin me...I said, "Why would you do something like that?"

To which the man answered, "I'm just trying to gethome. I live in Seattle and I'm out ofgas."

I then responded, "Do you need money?"

And he said, "Yes!"

I told my son to hold on a minute as he had not yetcalled the police.

I approached the driver of the car... as I approached; Inoticed a passenger on the other side, and another passenger lying down in theback.

I said, “I’m sorry I called you (that name). But, why would you do that? You don't know my circumstances, you don'tknow if I'm not on my last bit of gas. Why didn't you just ask somebody for money?"

He said he didn't know, it didn't feel right to him.

So I said, “Hold on a minute, I'm going to give you somemoney.”

I grabbed $20 {a rare occurrence for me to have cash} outof my wallet, and headed back to him. AsI squatted down next to him, he said, "I can't take your money."

So I asked him if he knew Jesus Christ.

He said, "Yeah, kind of."

I said, "Well, you are obviously not walking withhim right now. But I want you to knowthat He doesn't care if you are stealing gas, or lying, or doing drugs, or whatyou are doing, if you are willing to turn from your ways and admit you're onthe wrong path, He wants to rescue you!"

I apologized another time for calling him (that name),and he apologized to me for stealing my gas.

I said, "I know that I look like a middle classwoman with everything going for her right now, but you need to know that I hada baby at 17, did my share of drugs and alcohol and was completely down andout, but Christ changed all of that for me, and he will do it for you. So when you are in that place where you findyourself with nowhere to go and nothing to eat and totally strung out and yourthinking, "what the heck did I do with my life", I want you toremember the face of this woman who you were stealing gas from that gave you 20bucks, and told you about Jesus and cry out to Him because He will rescue youfrom that place."

He again said, "I can't take your money and I'msorry for stealing your gas."

I handed him the money and said, "I would give youmore, but this is all I have. I want youto have it, because this is what Christ would do for you!"

He asked me if I was sure and I told him that yes,because Christ loved him and wanted me to give him the money. He apologizedagain, and left.

Two things struck me:

The passenger next to him dropped hischin to his chest when I mentioned Jesus, and looked up and looked me straightin the eye when said, "I want you to remember the face of thiswoman..."

I'm praying for those three young men...even as I was onmy way home, that if I didn't do the right thing, if they were meant to be injail, then God would allow something else to happen so that they would bepulled over.

Please join me as I pray for those men, they aresomeone's sons, and Christ loves them too...they may end up doing mighty thingsfor His kingdom one day, remembering a face that hopefully reflected the trueheart of Christ!

All Glory to God!

Photo: "Running Out of Time" by Tom Stone Art

Bread Baking in Process...

2011-11-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

Good Monday Morning to Everyone! Remember that there is still time to enter the giveaway!

Who knew that the process of bread baking would cause so many questions to arise? Must be the yeast! Oh, I am so punny!

Per many requests, here are a few pictures of bread baking in process...

Here is the wheat grinder in action! {It sounds like the high pitch of a jet engine!}

We use The Blendtec Kitchen Mill by Ktec. My sweet girl bought this for me after my other mill had water poured in it! I can grind 12 cups of wheat at a time in approximately 2 minutes! There are a lot of options in mills out there, but this one serves us beautifully...{they run about $180 dollars through Amazon, but you may be able to find it less expensive through a web search!}

For loaf pans, we use these 2 Pullman Loaf Pans + 3 Standard Loaf Pans. Pullman Pans have straight sides,produce a longer loaf, and make great sandwich bread! My hubby bought these for me a few Christmases ago...{Again, I found these on Amazon for $16.00!}

Then there is the big red bowl! This one is another Christmas gift from my husband from Crate and Barrel. They don't sell this exact one anymore, but do sell some other similar items. It is nice to have an over sized bowl for allowing the dough to rise - then you don't end up with the "spill over" that happens with smaller bowls. If you do not have a large bowl, you could improvise with a large pot or bucket. I also have separated my dough portions into the pans, let them rise, punched them down and let them rise again!

Each of these items I have acquired over time! You do not NEED each of these items to begin making your own bread. Improvise! I used to have a stand mixer, which made my bread making super convenient, but I burned up the motor with the quantity of bread I was making in it! {Literally, I had to take it outside because of all the smoke pouring out of it!} I am saving my pennies to buy a heavy duty mixer (Bosch), but in the meantime, I'm getting my workout kneading the dough by hand!

OK, there you have it! Feel free to comment with any more questions, and I will respond through the comment section.

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Fast Tip Friday ~ Cups and Littles:Keeping Them Corralled {Plus a Little Giveaway}...

2011-11-18T08:28:00.000-08:00

So, I don't know about you, but one of the little frustrations about having so many "Littles" is the constant use and toss of cups! Seriously, we own 14 child size cups, and, in the past, by dinner time, they ALL would be in the sink or dishwasher!

One day, Mama said, "No More!"

And so birthed the "Cup Corral":

It consists of a little, plastic, white tray that holds 5 IKEA kids cups comfortably. Each morning the kiddos pick their color, and use and replace their cups to the tray through out the day! If you look closely in the picture, you can see a bit of water in the tray...Hudson is just able to reach his cup {usually the green one}, grab a drink of water, and return the cup - this usually also results in a little spillage! No worries - the tray holds it nicely - and Mama never has another thought about it!

Tray: JoAnn Fabrics - $3.99 {came with some condiment compartments and spoons}

Cups: IKEA - $1.99 {package of 6 - I believe}

No more frustration!

Now for the giveaway!

As I was standing in line at Trader Joe's yesterday, I saw this 3 pack of Dark Chocolate Bars! I thought of all of you and how grateful I am for all of the wonderful feedback and support I have received on my new blog! So, for this giveaway, simply enter a comment about what you are thankful for! {I know some are going through some yucky stuff right now, so this might be difficult! Come on! I know you can do it!} Three winners will be randomly drawn and announced next Wednesday!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

My Number One Marriage Tip {with some tips for "singles"}...

2011-11-16T15:30:00.000-08:00

First, I want to check in and see how you are all doing onthe challenge I presented a couple of weeks ago? Honestly, I’m still praying that God will makethe holding of my tongue a habit and not something I need to focus ondaily! I’ve not done perfectly. In fact, I’ve been presented with a couple ofareas that I’ve really not been doing well in, but I’m still committed to continue…

Now, I think I feel a preachin’ coming on…

Seriously, a question that came up privately the other day was:“What is your number one marriage tip?”

Now, that can be a tricky question to answer! We all comefrom different backgrounds with different examples of marriage. So specific details around daily life issuescan vary from one family to another!

That considered; my number one marriage tip is to look tothe proper source for your fulfillment! Seems simple, right? Well, it’seasier said than done! Often times wewomen come into marriage after being swept off our feet by our knight inshining armor, and we have expectations of how that person is going to fulfillour inner most needs – both physically and emotionally. It’s an expectation that no man could evermeet…plus, it’s a lot of pressure on them!

So, who is your true Knight in Shining Armor? The One that created you before timebegan! The One who knows every hair onyour head! The one who will fulfill yourEVERY need!

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches inglory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Now, this Knight in Shining Armor does not take the place ofyour husband, but, your husband should never take the place of thisKnight! Put Christ first and the restwill follow! {I promise to blog more practical ideas on this later!}

My number 1.1 marriage tip?

The “S” word…

No, not what you’re thinking, but it often is thought of asa “dirty word” – SUBMIT!

When I was in my 20’s I attended a mentorship group calledP.U.S.H! {Pray Until Something Happens} It was made up of a group of 13 young womenbeing lead by 3 older women. The veryfirst meeting, one leader said, “Today we are going to talk about submission!” I thought, “Seriously? Submission? I’m out ofhere!” But I stayed, listened, andlearned a bit. Then I started putting itinto practice…

I have come to realize that submission has it's benefits! Mainly, when I submit to my husband and his desires for our family, I come to enjoy the comforting protection of being under his care. Basically I'm allowing him to be my knight in shining armor!

15 years later, I’m still practicing submission – here aresome practical ideas:

*Ask your husband his opinion! Not just with a “what do you think” and then doit your way anyway. Really ask and thenput it into practice. Ask in all areas – some he will have an opinion, some hewill say he is willing to let you decide, some he will need your input in orderto make a decision.

*Be willing to let it fail! Sometimes we want our husbands to be leaders, but then we don’t actuallylet them lead because we don’t want the issue to be a failure in our lives. Sometimes we need to allow our husbands thefreedom to make poor decisions so that they learn and make better decisions inthe future. (Sometimes a husband won’t actually move until the whole ship hassunk…while this is difficult to live through, trust that God has your bestinterest at heart as He is teaching your man some lessons. You will be in abetter place on the other side!)

*Make “Let me check with my husband/your dad!” a dailymantra in your life! You are speaking aloud what you are putting intopractice! Be prepared for a few eyerolls or laughs if this is new, but trust me, others will catch on soon enough!

*Finally – don’t fall to temptation! You know what I’m talking about – there is adecision to be made, and you feel very strongly that you KNOW the right answer,only this is one of those decisions that could have lasting ramifications! So, you pretty much force the issue – usuallyby manipulation (crying, pouting, silent treatment, nagging, etc.) In our house we call this “Eve-ing him intoit.” Since the fall of man, we have had great influence over our men. All I can say is: RESIST!!!

If I know I have a strong opinion about something, I willusually give Ken a few days to think about something before I give ANY input…sometimeseven saying, “I don’t want to Eve you into it!”

As promised, I do have a word for you single ladies…

Be preparing for the potential of being a wife one day! Pray for your future husband! Practicesubmission – this can be towards your dad, Pastor, brother or other authority figure inyour life. When considering a future spouse, consider your willingness to fallunder their authority (do they make wise decisions now?) You won’t be able tochange them in the future!

For those that may be called to lifetime singleness…you area special league of women! Do not bediscouraged, but rather embrace this unique calling! Remember you’re an exampleto other, usually younger women! Beintentional to live out your submission to your ultimate head as the Bride ofChrist! You will be richly rewarded!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Late Fast Tip Friday {with Bread Recipe}...

2011-11-11T23:31:00.000-08:00

You’ll have to forgive the tardiness of this Fast Tip Friday post. Today my sweet cousin from California came to visit. She is expecting her first baby and we had a ton of catching up to do!

While she was here, she was witness to the weekly bread baking! Her words were, “You know, I do a lot of cooking, but not much baking. I was watching you and that seemed really easy!”

So there you have it! Mama Cook’s Homemade Whole Wheat Bread is really easy! No, really, it is! {And yummy too – if I do say so myself!}

So here is the recipe {originally from The Family Homestead – but with a couple of revisions.}

Mama Cook’s Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

2 cups warm water
1/3 cup honey
1 T yeast
1/3 cup oil (I use coconut oil, but any oil will do)
2 t. salt
1/3 cup gluten flour
7 cups whole wheat flour (freshly ground is best, but if you do not have a mill, whole wheat flour is better than white flour! I grind Hard Red Wheat Berries – my family likes the texture better!)

Mix 1^st four ingredients in a large bowl. Let sit approximately 5-10 mins, until bubbly.

Add remaining ingredients. Mix! If you have a stand mixer, you will want to knead this about 7 minutes. I currently do not have a stand mixer, so I knead mine by hand approximately 10 minutes.

Let rise until double in size – approx. 30 minutes. {I have skipped this step with much success, but recently my loaves have been “falling” after baking unless I do a double rise.}

Punch down and divide into 2 balls. Press into 2 greased loaf pans.

Let rise a second time in your oven. Then turn on oven to 350 and bake for 30 minutes! Remove from pan onto a cooling rack so the bread can release its moisture.

Cut and enjoy!

I usually bake 6 loaves of this bread per week. I simply triple the recipe, so it is the same amount of effort with bigger results! Each loaf costs about .75 cents per loaf. You will want a really sharp serrated bread knife for cutting slices thin enough to make sandwiches. Try it once…you may never go back!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Food Budget Tips…

2011-11-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

First, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful responses to my {challenge} last week! The number of responses I received was overwhelming – and I am so excited to be on this journey with so many of you! Keep it up!

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

A couple of Fridays ago, I posted asking what people were interested in me blogging about. The number one response was “budgets and recipes”. I do intend to respond to each person’s topics, but I figured this was a good place to start!

So, our family of 10 {at home}’s budget for groceries per month is:

$600

That works out to $60 per person per month! This includes food, hygiene, cleaning products, and paper goods. So, how do I do it? COSTCO!

Actually, while Costco does tend to be my “go to” store of choice, there are two strategies I incorporate into my food budget – buy in bulk and make it from scratch! Cooking like your grandma used to do!

There are a few tools that will be helpful to invest in:

*Freezer

*Food Grade Buckets

*Grinder {if grinding whole wheat for bread}

*Roasting Pan

*Tightly sealing containers for dried good pantry storage {i.e., canning jars, tupperware - like containers, etc.}

*Stand Mixer {Heavy Duty is best!} - although currently I am kneading bread the old fashioned way - by hand!

Your number one investment for purchasing in bulk will be your freezer! We actually had one for many years that we picked up at a garage sale. When it died, we had some sweet friends give us one that had been their father’s. Even if you live in an apartment, I highly recommend finding space for even a small freezer.

I have done my fair share of canning, and I still think it is a great hobby and a fun way to put up the harvest, but freezing is so much easier and fewer nutrients are lost in the process.

I have two rules of thumb for pricing: Meat is no more than $2.00/lb. and Produce is no more than $1.00/lb. Occasionally I will splurge, but typically if you buy in season and in bulk, you will be able to stay close to these ranges. (Here in the Pacific NW!)

As I am typing, I have a batch of Pork Butt in the roasting pan.

While this picture doesn’t do it justice, trust me – the aroma is Heavenly! {This pork will be “pulled” and then used for a number of different dishes like BBQ Pulled Pork and Pulled Pork Tacos-to name a couple.}

Some other tried and true hints are:

*Use rice as filler – we usually use brown rice for a higher nutrient content

*Bake your own bread – I make a yummy whole wheat bread for about .50-.75/loaf {I recently discovered Azure Standard for purchasing my wheat in bulk. I also purchase other ingredients like Peanut Butter, Oats, Coconut Oil, and more from them.)

*Make as much from scratch as you can: muffins, granola bars, granola as cereal, seasoning mixes, salad dressing, breakfast foods, pizza the list is endless! I figure my time is money…my savings per meal add up to a good wage per hour!

*Eat simply! Pick a few simple dishes, perfect them and use them over and over! {Wednesday night is Oatmeal Night at The Cottage! I’ve heard of others doing Taco Tuesday, etc.}

*Plan! Plan! Plan! {This uses what you have and prevents you from doing the last minute grocery store pickups, which we all know usually includes at least one item you didn’t know you needed!}

*Beans! High protein – high fiber – low price! Buy these dried, they are less expensive this way, have more nutrients and can be precooked to save you time in the dinnertime dash to get something prepared. I have a ton of fun recipes, but so does the internet! {Be careful regarding price here though – DO NOT go over the $2.00/lb mark for beans…you can usually find dry beans for less than $1.00/lb!}

*Be willing to substitute ingredients…just remember to use a “like” item…vinegar/lemon, Italian seasoning/oregano, basil, rosemary, teriyaki sauce/soy and brown sugar, etc…I’ve had great success in this area, only I can never duplicate the recipe! J

*Drink water instead of milk or other beverages (I posted about this here!)

This is just a sampling of our food strategies… I will continue with other budget saving ideas in future posts! Feel free to shoot me a comment with any questions or challenges…I may have found a solution along the way!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Fast Tip Friday {and the winners}...

2011-11-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to:

Brandan Haertel

Charity Mass

Congratulations you two!

{Please email me your addresses and I will get your packages in the mail right away!}

If you didn't win, next week I will be letting you know how to get your hands on some yummy Harvest Spice Tea of your own!

So my fast tip is actually an answer to Kari Termont's comment: How do I respond to people who question how many children we have?

Well, this has developed over the years! When we only had 4 kiddos, I was often offended by some of the comments that people would make:

*You know what causes that right?

*Are you done?

*How many are you going to have?

*How can you afford so many kids?

*Don't you have a t.v.?

*Are you going to get fixed?

I'm sure there are many more! My responses have been different in different settings:

*Kissing?

*No, we're just getting started...

*We aren't sure?/It's up to God!/We're open!

*Good budgeting!/Ummmm...none of your business!/We don't consider ourselves the providers!

*(I shouldn't post how I've responded to this one!)

*As you can see...we're not broken!

Nowadays, I have come to realize that people are usually genuinely curious. So, I usually answer any questions with a smile and a genuine answer. If someone is being snarky, I'll simply laugh them off and move on! I just don't have time to take anyone too seriously! {This has taken a lot of growth and refinement on my part - I don't pretend to have started here!}

Never be offended by others opinions about the number of children God has blessed you with! So many people simply don't understand that they are truly a blessing when we embrace them as such! And so many more long to have just one of those blessings to call their own...

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

My Lovely Assistant!

I've got something on my mind {with a challenge}...

2011-11-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

First a little eye candy!

{Dessert first...}

OK, so usually my posts are pretty light, with a quick idea, tip or encouragement and a few pictures. This post might be a little more heavy…a bit of “meat” to chew on per se!

We’ve all heard it – the wife that reveals a small idiosyncrasy about her husband in public, the husband who jokes about a wife’s spending, cleaning habits, {fill in the blank}, the mother who outwardly criticizes her child in front of watching eyes…

Sometimes I’ve thought – “phew, glad I’m not the only one.” Other times I’ve thought – “ouch!”

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those wo love it will eat its fruits." Proverbs 18:21

God has really been convicting me of this lately!

A few weeks ago I was sitting in church listening to a sermon when the Pastor said something that might be taken from a couple of different perspectives. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at a woman that I know and saw her husband turn and smile at her. Her response to him was a look of distaste…I could almost see his body shrink as he turned back to look at the Pastor. My thought was, “If she only knew how much good she could do herself and family if she built him up a little more.” And almost immediately God impressed upon me how much good I could do if only I built up my husband more!

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and I am standing in a crowd and talking with a few friends. One of the wives begins {jokingly} complaining to her husband about how little he does to help her around the house and with the children. I watched him go from a talkative, smiling participant to a silent, downward looking “extra”.

I wondered, “Does she think that will inspire him to do more?” And again, the conviction of the times that I have not protected my husband from airing my frustrations came flooding to mind.

We have the power to bring life or death to those whom we love!

Think about it! People become who we say they are! Tell someone what you love about them, and they are excited to continue to do or be that person. Tell someone what annoys you about them, and they become defensive and bitter.

At times, our words are an overflow of the bitterness in our hearts over unresolved hurts.

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

Often our speech is simply a matter of habit. We have cultivated a habit of negative thinking and talking.

As I’ve been pondering this post, I’ve been thinking how to keep it as an encouragement to all of you. So, I’m creating a challenge…

From now until Thanksgiving I’m challenging each of us to start a new habit {choose one or all}:

· Speak a word of edification into someone daily.

· Write down at least one thing you are thankful for in another person in your life (maybe the one you choose to criticize the most). Better yet, tell that person!

· Simply bite your tongue every time the temptation to speak negatively arises!

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

Finally! Get an accountability partner! Let someone close to you know you have accepted this challenge and have them hold you to it! Think you don’t know someone who will truly hold you accountable? Email me! Seriously…even if I receive 100 emails…this is so important to me I want to keep all of you encouraged!

Or simply post a comment that you've accepted the challenge, and I commit to be praying for you!

Remember, 2 winners will be chosen tomorrow for the giveaway – there is still time for your comments!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

No Fast Tip Friday...but a Giveaway!

2011-10-29T23:19:00.000-07:00

Last week you saw a sneak peak into what was brewing in Mama Cook's Kitchen.

After much trial and error, I present to you: Harvest Spice Tea!

Here is the beautiful reveal...

This tea is reminiscent of Pumpkin Pie with all of those same yummy spices in a Vanilla Rooibos Tea.

Naturally caffiene free, and all organic!

To gain the pumpkin flavoring, simply add a teaspoon of Pumpkin Butter! Mix with a splash of cream {or Rice Milk, in my case} and a sprinkling of nutmeg. Ahhhh...dessert in a cup!

So onto the giveaway...

This week there will be two winners! Each will receive a package containing: a bag of Mama Cook's Harvest Spice Tea, a jar of Trader Joe's Pumpkin Butter, and a tea strainer.

To enter, simply post a comment on a question or topic you would like to see me blog about! You can enter as many times as you wish! If you share a link to my blog via Facebook, you receive an additional entry!

Winners will be randomly selected and announced next Friday!

Be Refreshed!

Let me introduce myself...

2011-10-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Today I’m joining the Women Living Well Blog Bash {See link below}…

The assignment is to write a blog post introducing ourselves and posting a relevant picture. So here goes…

Lora… Lora Cook, but you can call me Mama!

Actually, years ago I was delivering Meatball Subs for a “Blessings Meal”, and needed a catchy name for them…along came Mama Cook’s Meatball Subs. Fast forward a few years, I was delivering another meal, only this time pizza! Well, the friend I was delivering to was so astounded that I was delivering homemade pizza, that she termed it Mama Cook’s Pizza. That was when it stuck! Word got around, and pretty soon even my kiddo’s friends were calling me Mama Cook.

So, what is the inspiration for the blog? Life! Well, actually a Victorious Life! With 9 kiddos, 1 {soon to be 2} grandbabies, one terrific son-in-law, and the world’s best husband…I’ve learned {and am still learning} a lot along the way! Why re-invent the wheel, right? Over the years I have looked for inspiration from those who have gone before me, and you will still hear me say, “9 babies later and I’m finally figuring this out!”

Along the journey, God has really shown me the meaning of the verse: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

This blog is not about me, but the One who created me and His workings in my life...poured out in order to minister to others!

I want my readers to feel like they just stepped into my home and can glean a quick tip or moment of refreshing.

So, stop on by, and Be Refreshed!

{Oh – and don’t forget that I love giveaways! They are a tangible piece to “take home!” So look for those here too!}

Under Attack...

2011-10-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well, The Cottage has been hit with strep throat! {OK - only one of us, but still!}

With a household our size, if an illness takes over, it can keep us out of commission for weeks. In 2010, we spent 5 weeks not going anywhere because one child after another got sick!

Not this year! This year I have a tool in my belt that will, hopefully, prevent the rest of us from getting strep - or at least speed up the recovery process.

"What is this incredible tool," you ask?

From HerbWisdom.com: Elderberries have been a folk remedy for centuries in North America, Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, hence the medicinal benefits of elderberries are being investigated and rediscovered. Elderberry is used for its antioxidant activity, to lower cholesterol, to improve vision, to boost the immune system, to improve heart health and for coughs, colds, flu, bacterial and viral infections and tonsillitis. Bioflavonoids and other proteins in the juice destroy the ability of cold and flu viruses to infect a cell. People with the flu who took elderberry juice reported less severe symptoms and felt better much faster than those who did not. Elderberry juice was used to treat a flu epidemic in Panama in 1995.

Elder Berries!

Well, Elder Berry Syrup to be precise!

I actually had a dear friend introduce me to Elder Berry Syrup a couple of years ago, and our family has used it with great success. You can purchase this product premade at a local natural food store. But - it can be VERY expensive for a family our size to take a daily dose. So, I researched how to make my own!

Here is my recipe - hopefully you will find the same success our family has!

Elder Berry Syrup

1/2 Cup Dried Elderberries
3 Cups Water
1Cup Honey

Optional
{Adds more flavor, but causes mix to only last 2 weeks!}
1 Clove
1Cinnamon Stick
1 Tsp. Ginger

Heat berries, water and optional ingredients to boil, simmer 30-40 minutes.
Mash berries, and strain into bowl.
Add one cup of honey.
Transfer to storage container.
Refrigerate!
{Our family takes 1 Tbs. per day/ 2Tbs. per day when sick. You should do your own research for what will work for your family!}

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed {and well}!

Fast Tip Friday...

2011-10-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

One thing that people always say to me is, "You must be so organized!" Well, not by gifting...but God does give me inspiration...

Here is some inspiration for what would be a mountain of towels:

It's simple: Eight Towels, Eight Bumble Bee Towel Hooks - mounted to one white painted board {created by my hubby} decorates our bathroom wall. There is also a single Bumble Bee Towel Hook mounted to a matching smaller white plaque hung by the sink for the hand towel.

We actually only have enough bathroom towels for each person in the house. The two not shown are hung on the back of the door when they are used. {Claire and Hudson are not bathed everyday.}

A place for everything...everything in it's place!

{Here is a sneak peak at something I'm brewing up for next week's give away!}

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed {and inspired}!

I'm a Nut...

2011-10-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

At least that is what I've been told my whole life...

It started with elementary school...you see, my maiden name is Alcorn, and kids {being kids} always changed it to Acorn...
"Lora Acorn - you're a nut!"

Well, there IS power in the tongue...most people that know me would say I'm pretty "nutty"! You almost have to be to have so many children! I have other quirks too...but, I'm not sure I should confess them all right here, right now!

So, when I was a kiddo, I really hated being called a nut. Simply, I just wanted to be like everyone else and even though they really didn't mean anything by it, I didn't want to be teased.

Now as an adult, I'm proud to say, "I'm a nut!" You will find acorn decorations scattered around our home as a personal icon that reminds me of something that I believe in...

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." John 12:24

{Some Bible translations use the term "seed" for "grain of wheat"}

Think of the acorn, it falls from the mighty oak, to die to itself, that it might sprout a new life and grow anew into another mighty oak, which in turns produces more and more acorns...bearing much fruit!

I believe this is how we as mothers need to be; dying to ourselves that we might bear much fruit. It goes against our selfish nature to give up what pleases us - our personal time, our figures, the cleanliness of our homes, our finances, our careers, our friends. But in order that we might not "remain alone", we need to be willing to die to this selfishness and sacrifice ourselves in order to "bear much fruit."

Our children will reflect our attitude towards them - like it or not!

Is it easy? No! Is it worth it? Every last minute, penny, and pound!

Now, set down your computer and go play with those precious kiddos! Or get some sleep so you're ready for them in the morning!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

A Day at The Farm...

2011-10-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

I know lots of people are blogging about pumpkin patches these days, but I just couldn’t resist…

This past weekend the Children’s Department at our church organized an outing at a local farm. Approximately 20 families showed up to “brave the maze”!

A fun time was had by all…

Or at least some great memories were made!

While I have your attention, I have to rave about Bob’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm. This is the 4^th year our family has ventured to Bob’s! Some years we have been successful to finish the maze and other years we’ve cut through the corn and gone around the outside!!!

What I LOVE about Bob’s is that it is family owned and operated. Yep, you will see the same young Abi that is in the brochure, supervising the Cow Train. Every member takes part in some fashion and if you watch closely, you will see their great camaraderie! Bob’s offers many fun activities, refreshments, and best of all, they LOVE large families! Maybe because they are one, or maybe because they are sympathetic to the cost of entertaining a massive group like ours, but their maximum pricing for families (2 adults and ALL of their children) reflects this attitude and is one reason we keep coming back year after year.

Harvest time is a fabulous opportunity for creating some fun, family memories…

Visit a farm, check out the animals, take some great photos with the pumpkins, enjoy a picnic or cider and if you are feeling brave – test your navigation skills in the corn maze!

Thanks for stopping by! Be refreshed!

(No compensation {beyond muddy boots} was received for this endorsement!)

If it looks good on the outside...

2011-10-13T22:55:00.000-07:00

{aah, the "big lie"} - it must be good on the inside!

This sentence alone has so many implications. We have all seen it: the seemingly happy couple with the marriage falling apart, the "Sunday Morning Smile" when the person's world is upside down, the beautiful home and cars with a debt ocean so deep there is no hope of getting above water.

Yet, many of us still walk this way. Of course no one likes to be the "Debbie Downer", but when we put on our happy face and never share what's troubling us, it leads to isolation, depression, and ultimately destruction!

Now, hear me say this, "I love the motto - Fake It 'til You Make It!" But, what I am saying is we DO need to practice the chords of contentment rather than the chords of bitterness, envy and discontentment! Practice makes perfect...perfect habits that is! When we focus on negative, we are negative. When we focus on positive, we begin to form the habit of looking for the positive!

But, should we hide our deepest troubles? I say, "absolutely not!" Someone out there has been through what you are going through! Everyone needs encouragement now and again. When we allow our lives to only be viewed as perfect, we perpetuate the cycle of devastation not only in our lives, but in those who are watching and thinking they wish the artificial turf on our side of the fence was the grass on theirs.

Ultimately only Christ can heal those hidden areas in our lives where we find ourselves longing. His word says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." Revelation 3:20

It's a promise! He is there, waiting for us to open the door! If He says it, He will do it!

WOW! So, I started this post in reference to a muffin recipe that I tried that turned out horrible! But, as I started typing it took on a life of it's own! That's my intention, to be led by the Spirit, and hopefully many of you will be blessed along the way!

So here they are:

You can practically taste these ~ moist fall-spiced pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling and crunchy crumble topping!

Only, in reality, they were HORRIBLE...seriously - my kiddos wouldn't even eat a second one! They were actually too moist and the cream cheese tasted like cream cheese you would put on a bagel {not the sweet gooey filling I was imagining}! I have to admit, the crumble topping was actually pretty good though.

Maybe someone would be willing to take a look at the recipe and see if they can figure out where I went wrong?

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Our chair wears a shawl?

2011-10-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

Those were the words spoken by my husband last night as I was directing our daughter on how to place the blanket over both the arm and the back of the chair simultaneously.

You see, I love this chair! It adds seating and definition to my living room, it fits Mama comfortably, and I have fond memories of MANY sleepless nights, nursing this sweet little girl.

But one day, said child, put this not so sweet little mark on the arm…

{“yep, that’s permanent ink”}

And so – not having the heart to kick the chair to the curb (bleach, peroxide and Goof Off haven't removed the spot), “our chair wears a shawl”!

Just one little way I've made do with what we have...I'd love to hear about some of your household "spots" and how you've dressed their imperfections!

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

And The Winner Is...

2011-10-10T23:34:00.000-07:00

~Tammy Q~

(I will package these bottles up and send them your way! Congratulations!)

On another subject, today I want to talk about a ministry that is dear to my heart...Meal Ministry! Today I had the wonderful privilege of providing a meal to a new mommy and her family to celebrate the arrival of their baby girl.

Meal Ministry is one of the easiest areas to serve in as a family and can be such a HUGE blessing to the recipient! Creating a meal to deliver is a perfect opportunity to train your children to be thinking of others and what needs they may have that your family can fulfill. We have been on the receiving end on many occasions as we have welcomed new blessings into our home. We also have been on the delivering end as we have celebrated new babies, provided relief during times of sickness, and comfort during times of loss. This is actually one area that shouldn't take much extra time out of your current family schedule - if you are making a meal for yourself, make bigger portions, package them up, write a sweet note, and deliver it with a smile! No need to stay long, most recipients are needing their time to rest and recuperate so a few minutes of encouraging conversation, and you're back on the road again!

Don't think you're a great cook? Pick one simple meal and practice until you are ready to bless a family with it! (I'll post a quick and easy one below!)

Here is a list of my favorites:

BBQ Pork Ribs

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Salmon in Foil Packets

Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Crunchy Bread

Mama Cook's Pizza {this one is actually the meal that earned me the name Mama Cook}

and the one we delivered tonight...

Mama Cooks Meatball Subs!

I had intended to take a picture of all of the subs before they were eaten, but alas, when I remembered this was all there was left! Needless to say, this is a favorite in my house and I usually receive rave reviews!

So, here is the recipe:

Mama Cook's Meatball Subs

Meatballs - I use Costco's premade ones

Diced Onions

Tomato Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese - grated

{Maybe a bit of Parmesan - if you have it on hand}

Sandwich Rolls

Throw the frozen meatballs and diced onions in a pot. Cover with tomato sauce. Bring to boil then reduce to simmer. Let cook approximately 20 minutes or until cooked through.

To Assemble: Sprinkle some grated mozzarella on each bun and broil for 1 minute. {Putting the cheese in first prevents the buns from falling apart.} Add 4-5 meatballs with sauce per roll. Sprinkle some more cheese on top. Broil a second time - 1 to 2 minutes, and they are done!

Package all items separately, throw into a bag with assembly instructions, add a side salad and perhaps a dessert, and your meal is complete! Simple, right?

Depending on the circumstances, you may also want to include breakfast or snack items...

Get creative, have your kiddos draw pictures or make puzzles for kiddos in the recipients home to color or solve. Add some flowers from your garden. Share a book your family loves...this one is especially great for those families with new babies so the older kiddos have some time to sit next to mom and enjoy being read to while she is feeding the baby.

What other ideas or recipes do you have to share? I'd love to hear them!

Thanks again for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

Refreshing...{with a Giveaway}

2011-10-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Years ago, my friend Janice brought a post baby meal – tacos! But, let me say, these were no ordinary tacos…they were melt-in-your-mouth delicious! Seasoned meat, refried beans, shredded cheese, diced onion, sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, and sour cream, with a warm tortilla to wrap it in.

Wait!

I hear what you’re thinking, “those sound like ordinary tacos.”

Well, one thing {among many} Janice taught me was, “presentation, presentation, presentation”! My husband went on and on about how delicious everything looked! This secret has served me well over the years…Wednesday Night Oatmeal never tasted SO GOOD! {Seriously, my kiddo’s friends love joining us on Oatmeal Night – I’m positive it looks better than it tastes!)

So here’s a budget sparing idea that will add some charm to your dinner table and save a bundle in beverage costs, not to mention it’s “green”! There is something so grand about drinking out of these bottles that everyone will be clamoring for the “fancy water”!

I took these ordinary beverage bottles that previously held some fancy–schmancy juice and turned them into our nightly beverage {we were previous milk drinkers}.

I purchased these at my local Grocery Outlet for $2.49 each. You can also find similar bottles at stores like Pier One or World Market, but these were a bit more sturdy and ¼ the price!

4 Simple Steps …

*Consume bottled beverage

*Remove labels {I used Goof Off or WD-40}

*Wash bottles thoroughly and refill with tap water

*Refrigerate for a refreshing beverage anytime – dinner table, picnic, park date…

and Voila!

I LOVE giveaways! So, as promised, here’s one! The winner will receive the two bottles filled with juice pictured above! To enter, leave a comment below before Sunday @ midnight and one will be chosen randomly! I will announce a winner on Monday! {If you have troubles posting a comment, you may need to adjust your cookies settings.}

Thanks for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

To Shower or Not to Shower...

2011-10-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

No! I'm not talking about my morning routine {I'll save that for another day}!

Today I ran across a survey on whether or not moms should be given a shower on subsequent babies after their first. I was surprised to see what a controversial topic this can be!

I recently attended a shower for my sweet friend Cristina to celebrate the impending arrival of her 5th baby. It was an intimate gathering with these lovely ladies.

To recognize Cristina, each woman brought a bead and spoke a prayer or scripture over the future of her newest son, Isaiah James. The beads would then be made into a bracelet and worn during the upcoming birth. Each prayer had also been hand written and bound together as a keepsake.

To celebrate Isaiah, each woman also brought baby items to be donated to the local food bank!

I have also been honored to have others celebrate with me in this way as we've anticipated the arrival of a new blessing. During my last two births I was honored to wear both a Bead Necklace and Bead Bracelet that were a reminder to me of the prayers and support that my sweet friends had spoken over me.

These birth experiences were more peaceful as I concentrated on the verses and prayers that brought Christ to the center of my mind instead of the pain of labor!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" ~Philippians 4:13

My thoughts are that each child is a blessing and should be celebrated! There are so many options for what this could look like:

Spa Party
Blessing Shower
Freezer Stocking
Monogram Themed Gift Giving
Food Bank Pantry Pounding
The list goes on...

I'd love to hear your opinions and ideas! Are subsequent showers an etiquette "no-no"?

Be Refreshed!

PS - Those flowers in each ladies hair were a little take home gift, hand made by me! I'll be giving some away in the upcoming weeks, so come back for your chance to win!

Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother...

2011-10-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

Today I am sharing a letter I wrote to my dad a few years ago for Father’s Day. All of us walk through different seasons in our lives, and have to come to a place where we accept our past for better or for worse. Accepting my past for the better was part of a refinement process God walked me through! For me, this letter came from a place of healing, contentment, and belief in God’s Sovereignty. I meant it then and I mean it now!

H a p p y B i r t h d a y D a d! ! !

Dear Dad,
I have been praying that God would show me a way to honor you for Father's Day. In a way that would be more than just a Hallmark card, phone call, or tie that you would never wear. If I were with you today, I would buy your round of golf, take you out to a nice steak dinner and sit on the back porch with you and share conversation as you refresh yourself with some nice cold “little buddies”.

Let me start by saying what you are to me...
You are my dad! My hero! My warrior! My cheerleader! When I was a little girl I wanted to call you Pa, because it was something different, something more, something special that you mean to me. It never really fit, but my heart was in it!

I have your dark, curly hair. Your brown eyes. Your tenacity. Your determination. Your fight (sometimes that's a good thing)! You showed me how to catch fireflies, ride roller coasters, put salt on my watermelon, eat corn, be wise with my money, make my bed every morning and not care what other people think, but to follow my heart. You taught me to work hard, be tough, to have pride in all I do, and to have integrity. You raised me to believe that in life you might be down, but your never out!

There are two times in life that I remember seeing you cry...
~When life took you back to Ohio, and you had to leave your kids behind.
~When life took me back to Washington, and I had to leave you behind.
There are times when I miss you so much my heart aches and every man I see on the street looks just like my dad - Ken always thinks I'm crazy when I say that!

Some of the things I love about you are...
*Your “furry” arms. *Your tan legs with sock marks. *The way you wear loafers with no socks.

*Your constant venture for a good bargain. *The way you love to do and see everything in one day. *Your love for searching for treasures. *Your presence. *Your passion for race horses (I hope I turned out to be your best bet)! *Your work ethic. *Your intelligence. *Your GE belly (which you haven't had in a while, by the way). *Your strong arms. *Your confident voice. *Your smile! *The way you’re tough on the outside, but I know your soft on the inside. *I could go on forever!!!!!

I know there are times when I haven't always made choices that you understood; I will probably make many more of those choices, but I hope that I will continue to make you proud.

I want you to know today that I am proud of you! I am proud to be your daughter! I am thankful to have you as my dad ~ I couldn't have asked for anyone better!

Know that I am praying for you every single day! That God would continue to give you good health and happiness (but not too much that you wouldn't seek Him). That you would continue to honor your wife, and have children and grandchildren that make you proud. Mostly I pray that He would reveal Himself to you in special way that you would KNOW that He is your Father that looks down on you and is proud of who you are. He created you with a purpose and plan for prosperity and hope! (Jeremiah 29:11)

I Love You More Than Words Can Express!
**HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!**
Love,
Lora

And Happy Anniversary! Now go buy your wife some flowers, she’s worth it!

Longest Days...Shortest Years!

2011-10-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

People hear me say this often. Why? Because I KNOW it is true! This saying has become reality for me on both ends,

as I rock my precious baby girl at 2AM...

then welcome my other precious 22 year old girl through the door at 9AM.

Being the mother of 9 has taught me many things…one of the biggest being: Slow down, enjoy EACH precious moment! I consider it such a blessing to know this truth while I am still raising little ones.

Those sleepless nights quickly become a distant memory as you watch their first ballet recital, soccer game, choir concert, driving lesson, boxes packed up for college, wedding, arrival of the first grandbaby!

I remember the first time I heard Longest Days…Shortest Years, I thought, “Easy for you to say, you’re not dealing with a fit throwing toddler that you aren’t sure how to discipline while your infant is screaming to eat! You have your hands free to make beds, dinner, projects… Surely your children didn’t behave quite as difficult as mine!”

But now I GET IT! I actually cherish those precious rosy cheeks at 2AM. I can laugh over the tantrums! I want to relish every moment while they are still mine!

{And just so no one thinks things are always peachy at my house…yes, I was up from 1AM-2AM…repeating the phrase, “longest days…shortest years, longest days…shortest years…”}

Thanks again for stopping by! Be Refreshed!

It's A...

2011-10-02T00:36:00.000-07:00

Blog!

Starting a blog is somewhat like starting a family!

First is the conception of the blog. Once you have decided that you are going to take the plunge into parenthood {Blogdom}, you begin thinking of names, and what your parenting {blogging} philosophies will entail – I mean you want to be sure this baby makes it to college, right?

So, today starts my first post for what will, by God’s grace, be an exciting journey – likely with labor and growing pains along the way! Drop by for a moment of quick inspiration, encouraging conversation, and a breath of fresh air.

And what celebration would be complete without “presence”? We have a “no presents” policy when it comes to playmate parties at our house because we want to teach enjoying the presence of the guests who come to celebrate! Now, before I start a controversial, Mommy Dearest conversation – our children do receive gifts from Mama and Papa and sometimes siblings…but onto the “presence” reference above…

To celebrate my very first blog post, the first 5 people to post a comment will receive a little gift from me! A package of my favorite tea!

{Bigelow's Constant Comment}

And since the first 5 comments will probably be from family or close friends, I probably already have your address, but, just to be on the safe side shoot it to me via email anyway!

Thanks for dropping by and come again soon!

{I promise there will be plenty of give aways!}