What's cookin?!

Cooking from scratch gives such an incredible sense of accomplishment! I enjoy cooking any way ... but to know I didn't just tear open a box & throw it's contents in to water, is awesome!!! Having a house full of sick loved ones, I decided to make chicken noodle soup. I also decided that a pot of chicken & corn chowder was necessary. Both soup turned out delicious & my entire family raved about them.

Chicken boiling ... with a pinch of salt, some pepper, garlic and some Lawry's ... YUM! I took half the chicken for the chicken noodle & the other half for the chowder. Unfortunately I didn't have boneless, skinless so I just boiled it on the bone, until the meat was almost falling off.

Making the soups motivated me to do another BIG cooking day. I would have done it last night but I just didn't have the energy. I have had about 6 hours sleep in the past 72 hours ... from taking care of everyone here with the sickies. I seem to be recovering well from the flu ... a 10 day battle with half having a fever of over 103* Crazy but that's not as high as a few of my children. Fevers reached 105.6* in one child. Another was 104.6* .. we're treating with vitamins & herbs.

A project I'd been doing the day before we had rebound illnesses, was organizing my cupboards. That seems to be a weekly job here. Apparently we (read - kids) take things out of the cupboards but don't put them back where they belong. This picture was taken a few days before some friends called to see if we had any room for some canned goods that they didn't want. What a blessing to my budget!

My current project is making the menu plan for next month ... that will require input from all my other little cooks. Each child gets one day to plan/cook meals. They are responsible for all three meals as well as a snack. Each one has been able to take on that responsibility at a different age ... and each one very excited to their day arrive.

I'll be pulling another all nighter ... it's 3:45 a.m. & baby is still waking off & on with a high fever. I really hate giving Tylenol & Motrin but he can't have a fever! It sounds like his nose is a bit stuffed too ... so Vicks Baby Rub it is. (I can't rub him down with it though, as I'm allergic to it). Very little sleep in the past 3 days, less sleep tonight, cuddling my little guy, trying to soothe what ever it is that makes him cry ... tiring? Yes ... but there's nothing better than being a mom!

Perfect place on earth

My husband & I have been discussing our dreams a lot lately. Farming, living off grid, living a more simple life is such a strong desire for both of us. We have been discussing options of where our dreams might take us. The perfect place, as far as I'm concerned would be some where that:

• has no tornadoes
• has no earthquakes
• has no hurricanes
• has a longer growing season (longer than the 2 or 3 months we get here)
• has no poisonous snakes or spiders
• is home school friendly
• has no building codes
• has grass

God does say to be specific when we pray LOL

There are things we'll compromise on but some things we won't. Either way, I just can't wait to see where we land. We plan on building an earth oven. I can almost smell all the bread & pizza dough we'll make that for. I can see cob structures on the land too. I just get so excited when I think of all the possibilities! We've talked about this journey for years & we've taken small steps toward that direction but come Spring, we'll jump in.

Our children are really looking forward to jumping in as well. This year was our first garden & each picked a veggie to care for ... from getting the garden started to sowing seed to harvesting to preparing/freezing/canning they stayed very excited & willing to help. They took their "jobs" very seriously. The looks on their faces as their veggie grew was such a blessing. They learned first hand that hard work pays off. There's not much (if anything) better than growing your own food!

It's "those" moments

I'm sitting at my computer, the music is blasting & I'm doing some paper work. I do a glance around the house to "check on" all the children. My 12 year old is dancing to the music with a big smile on her face. She gets so lost in the music some times. I just love watching the freedom she feels when she listens to the music! It's those moments that completely erase the bad days! I put my work aside so I could just sit and take in the scenery. Drink in the belly laughs of a toddler, toddling around with his favorite book in hand. Or sneak a peak of an artist, coloring the best picture ever! Life is good!

Still sick ...

I'm still sick ... chest congestion, sore ribs (feels like they're broken) from coughing so hard & so long, fever of 103* & body aches. I can't wait to be able to breathe with out coughing & wheezing!

Burning?

Something strange has been happening at our house & it's really quite concerning! Every once in a while we can smell some thing burning. We originally thought it was coming from a ceiling fan in the master bedroom ... there were wires that had been burned, so that *was* a problem. How ever ... tonight, we had the heater on & the washer and dryer going ... all the sudden a burning smell was very obvious. We shut down everything & the smell went away. It hasn't happened since my husband got home ... ugh ... I hate it when that happens!!! Hopefully we'll figure out what it is quickly & every one will continue to be safe!!!

Sharing is caring!

So my oldest had a "cold" for a while ... he seems to be better, thank God ... but me ... I'm just starting. I have a fever of 102* with body aches, pounding head, chills, tightness in my chest & a cough.

My husband has been in California & was schedule to arrive home tonight at around 6:30 p.m. Due to an airline error, he missed his connecting flight. He just walked in the door a few minutes ago.

This too shall pass

It appears that the symptoms of a yucky chest cold is knocking at the door of my lungs. I have a fever, achy body & tightness in my chest .... wheezing as well. We have so much to do this week! I'm going to increase my Vit C intake, add Rose Hips, Echinacea & a few other things as well.

I. CAN. NOT. BE. SICK.

I've tried to live "healthy" and for a while it was working. I get tired of discussing the things that ail me ... I always wonder if people get tired of hearing about my health & what's going on. I'd been "ok" off & on for a while .. some times only having a minor headache ... others, a minor flare. It appears though that quite a few health issues are in full force now. I find myself to be completely exhausted again ... requiring much more sleep than average ... a 4, 5 or even 6 hour nap is not foreign. I've always napped but lately, the length of those naps has been getting longer & longer. This too shall pass!!!

My husband has been gone for the past few days. I can't wait for him to get home tomorrow. He's been in California, at his sister's wedding. I miss him!!!

Being a mom

Prayer works! It's not easy being a mom ... especially when it comes to our children spreading their wings. I am excited to see my children grow ... and I'm not one to hold them back. I encourage my children to look to God & ask His direction in their life. We pray ... and counsel ... but will not make their decisions. With freedom comes great responsibility. It blesses me when they show a willingness to follow God ... no matter what He asks of them. It blesses me when they pray & ask Him for something .. and though they may not like how He chooses to work in their lives (and some times it may even sting a bit) ... that they accept it & want to continue growing. I truly am honored to be the mom of all these wonderful children!!!

Growing

God is moving ... I can feel it. I have such an incredible peace right now. It's amazing how, in the midst of the craziness, life can be calm when you keep your eyes on the Lord! See Father ... I hear you!

I am a blessed woman!!! I have been given the gift of a man created just for me. We had our issues ... but if I would keep my eyes on Jesus, I'd see (during those times) that my husband tries to guide me in the ways of the Lord. My flesh can certainly get in the way! I'm learning ... and desiring to be who God designed me to be.

My children are amazing gifts from the Lord. Growing daily ... in so many ways!

Life is an awesome journey!!!

Pumped!!!

I am pumped! I think today has been the best creative day in my entire writing career! Woooooo, God ROCKS!!! I decided to release a poem I wrote, for lyrics. I am really excited to see what God does with it. Once I did that, it was as if the flood gates opened ... I started 3 new songs & finished 3 old ones. A very productive day!!!

Life is just moving in so many different directions. I know I've talked about this a few times with out going in to a lot of detail. I'm not free to do so just yet ... but I am just really excited!!!

My husband's sister is getting married. My 15 year old daughter made her a card saying congratulations & then wrote in it, "Ok, so when will I have cousins?" LOL

Plans

Plans, plans & more plans ... we have so many different plans in place for our life that honestly, I have no clue where the plan ends & life starts. I'm not complaining though ... it's all very exciting. The closer we get to them all falling in to place, the more excited I get.

Detoxing!

Ever had toxic people in your lives? The kind that look you in the face & are sweet as pie but then trash you behind your back? Or maybe they even belittle & bash you for everything you do,say or are. You'll never be good enough or do anything right ... well ... you do & they know it ... but very rarely do they ever let you know. They spend all their energy in to trashing you or being angry at you for one reason or another. Well ... I've been weeding people like that out of my garden of life for the past year & honestly .. it has strengthened me! I have few more to rid my garden of ... and I can tell that when I do, I'll feel so much better. I don't need people in my life who have a sick & twisted idea of love!!!

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I will be blogging every day in the month of October ... NaBloPoMo ... (National Blog Posting Month)