Saturday Ponderings
Stephen III has been weaning the past few weeks. This has been quite an ordeal. It was not this difficult when Lily was weaned, because I was already expecting Stephen, then. Stephen has not nursed in 10 days now, and the pain was getting worse. Thankfully, it is not quite as bad today. Last night I could barely sleep, the pain was so intense. But blessed be God, for leading me to an online article that suggested sage tea, to help with an overabundant supply. I also recommend ice packs, and others speak of the glories of cabbage leaves. Some people say to pump, others say it will just get your supply going again. In my desparation, I had even tried getting Stephen to nurse again, but alas, he appears to have forgotten how! If anyone has any other helpful weaning tips, I would be delighted if you would share them.
One thing that God laid on my heart lately is to start a journal of letters for Lily. I want to share with her the thoughts of my heart to/about her (precious stories), as well as any homemaking and mothering tips I have found to be useful. Imagine what a lovely treasure this would be for one's daughters. (or sons) I want to find ways to bless them in the future, today.
We just returned earlier from the library, which was a real blessing. I have even found some science books and Moody videos there, which are from a creationist viewpoint. (Only in the Bible Belt) My children love the Signing Times dvds, which we have found there, as well. We enjoy visiting the various libraries in our county, and gleaning from their vast supply. I often peruse homeschooling catalogs for supplemental things I would like, and I have found some of those items at the library. What a surprise to me! I also enjoy borrowing their cookbooks, and copying the recipes I enjoy. Isn't it frustrating to buy a cookbook, and find out you only enjoy one or two recipes? This is a very frugal solution.
For those who have enjoyed my post about lapbooking and would like to see more information about it, please visit this page.It has a lot of information on lapbooks and timelines, which are both excellent aids in learning history.
I hope that the rest of your Saturday is blessed! May your Sabbath day be one of joy and rest in the Lord. Blessings!

Frugal Fridays: Energy Savings
Doesn't it get frustrating to receive an expensive energy bill each month? My husband and I always try to cut corners to ensure that our bill will be as low as possible.The following is a list of a few ways we try to cut costs.

* Keep blinds/curtains closed on the side of the house where the sun is shining in.

* Unplug appliances when you are not using them. Even a coffeemaker which is just plugged in, can use a lot of energy.

* Use florescent rather than incandescent bulbs.

* Remember the old adage, "turn it off if your aren't using it". Our desktop is connected to a power strip. We turn off the main power to the power strip when we are finished using it. We also have one for our tv and dvd player.

* If I want water for myself for afternoon tea, I use the microwave rather than the stovetop. I try to use my tea kettle on the range only if there are enough people to make it worthwhile.

I hope these tips have been helpful to you. What new ways have you found to save money on your electric bill?

A Woman's Journey Home
I recently happened upon a beautiful story of a young lady who decided to be a full time homemaker. Being able to devote oneself wholly to one's husband is a true blessing. I hope this story brings joy to your day. I really loved how this young lady was given "coming home" presents. What an encouragement to a woman, who made such a noble choice.
Coming home and serving is a blessing, because one no longer has to have a divided heart. I worked before I had children at a Christian school, and there are times where your boss' instructions differ from your husband's. It is so hard to give utter fealty and devotion to your spouse when you have to do the will of another. It is a great blessing to truly tend to the needs of your husband, regardless of whether you have children or not. I wish that I had been a stay-at-home wife, before being a stay-at-home mom. The transition from having a job and being married, to tending to the needs of husband and child was rather difficult for me. I would have adapted better if I had stayed at home from the beginning of my marriage.
Homemakers are not glorified in our society. Rather, if they are depicted on television or in movies, they are portrayed as bizarre, even freakish. But this is not the reality. Our culture is blind to the beauty in simplicity. There is beauty and great impact in the little things. How would any man be successful without a dear wife to take care of the details? It is not about our status quo, but about faithfully fulfilling our role's as the women God created us to be.

"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it." - Matthew 10:39

Autumn Blessings!
I hope your fall has started off in a most blessed way. Isn't the crisp evening air and a mug of hot apple cider a pleasant delight? It is just so lovely to take a brisk evening stroll ; either contemplatively, alone, or with your dear family. Treasure this respite of mild weather. I am planning on taking my children on a nature walk tomorrow. I plan on collecting leaves, and placing them between pieces of wax paper, besprinkled with crayon shavings. These make such fun and beautiful window hangings. We are learning about the senses, and I want them to have memories of autumn delights. Hopefully, we can gather a few hints of autumn. I do need to wait a tad longer for the leaves to turn colors, near me. I also want my children to focus on Thanksgiving, as it is rapidly approaching. I want to lead their hearts to see the blessings of Him all around us. May our hearts pour out gratitude for His profound graciousness towards us. I think the pleasures of fall to be my favorite of all seasons: pumpkin pie, apple cider, and the array of leaves in various hues. Make a treasured autumn memory today!
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A Fall Contest

I simply cannot get enough of Vision Forum products. If you are like me, you enjoy their lovely and edifying materials which promote so many facets of the Biblical Family. Kim , whose husband is Warehouse Manager at Vision Forum, is hosting a contest to win $700 worth of Vision Forum Materials. Isn't that a dream come true? All you have to do is guess how many products are in their upcoming catalog. What an exciting contest! If I won, all my birthdays would come at once. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

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My Autumn Verse

"For this cause also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His Will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." -Colossians 1:9-14

(Paul's beautiful prayer for the Colossians)

Important Essentials When Teaching Your Children:

I found the following statistics online, recently.
We retain 10% of what we HEAR.
We retain 20% of what we READ.
We retain 30% of what we SEE.
We retain 50% of what we SEE and HEAR.
We retain 70% of what we SAY.
We retain 90% of what we SAY and DO.

These statistics have challenged my previous methods. I contemplated my own education, and found these facts to be quite true. Mainly, in high school and college, I was lectured to at school. Even though I took copious notes, I still did not retain much. I think I was just writing everything down so fast and never really got to digest the information. When I would study the notes before a test, there were about a 100 pages full of notes, which overwhelmed me. I believe that if I could have done something with the information I learned, I would have remembered it better.
As parents, we need to involve our children in hands on type activities in order for them to remember more. As Charlotte Mason taught, we never fully "own" a piece of knowledge until we do something with it.
There are many hands-on type activities we can do with our children. If you are learning a particular bible story, help them to act it out. The more children, the merrier for such activities. I remember meeting, several years ago, a very zealous little boy around four years old. He was dressed like John the Baptist, and he said, "Repent. The Kingdom of God is at hand." He was not even a master at the English language, yet he was enjoying dressing up as Bible Characters. This boy will always remember what he acted out. Perhaps you can act out a Bible scene/historic event as a family. The more senses you evoke, the more of an impression it will make on a child's memory. This has been very eye-opening, especially as my husband and I endeavor to diligently fill our children's hearts with His Word.
Normally, I would read to my children out of a Bible Story Book. (without many pictures) But sice they are so young, it is important that we provide them with reverent and accurate biblical images. One can make or purchase felt bible scenes and characters. There is a variety of suppliers, such as A Beka, and Veritas Press , which have bible story cards. Another option is to read the bible story to your children, and let them draw a picture of the scene. There are a multitude of crafts, recipes, and coloring sheets you can find online. A few of my favorite FREE bible activity sites are: here and here . Your goal should not be "busy work", but to use manipulatives and resources to enhance their learning. This does not have to be a costly expense; don't be afraid to use your imagination.
Lately, during family devotions, we have been learning about Ephesians 6:14-17, the armor of God. We read Scriptures and learn about each piece of armor every evening. The next day, the children and I make that particular piece of armor out of household supplies.So far, we have made the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. While we make our armor, we sing bible songs, recite bible memory verses, and discuss how that piece of armor protects us.
In Deuteronomy 6, God instructs parents to diligently teach their children His ways. They were to be spoken of, as much as possible. He also wanted His words written on the posts of the house and on the gates. He wanted His Word to be written, heard, and spoken, as we naturally go about our daily work.
Jesus, our Master Teacher, taught in many ways. He spoke in parables, performed miracles, and used very pertinent/tangible analogies. He is our greatest example of effective teaching.
Some additional ideas for hands-on teaching include: lapbooks , dioramas (make clay figures and decorate a shoe box as bible scene, games, maps, mobiles, and songs.

Math Lessons:
Lily has really been enjoying her math lessons. Her little brother loves helping her out, as well. We have been using Earlybird Singapore math for 4 year olds. We just received the book a couple of weeks ago, and we are almost finished with it. The activities and exercises really require one to think, rather than just hurriedly complete the lessons. In this particular hands on exercise, Lily had to see how many mugs of water it would take to fill the tea kettle. She would color the corresponding pictures of mugs for each one she used to fill the kettle. Math is definitely her favorite subject right now. I pray she may always find joy in learning.

WFMW: Children and Chores
Having two little dears, who are quite young, I try to keep them busy helping me with my chores. I bring them to whatever room I am cleaning, and find a task for them to complete. For example, Tuesday is my bathroom-cleaning day. While I am cleaning the mirrors and sinks, I give each of my children a wet cloth, and have them scrub the bathtub. This actually helps my bathtubs to be quite a bit cleaner, and it keeps them occupied so they won't "get into anything" while mama cleans. No matter what my main daily task is, there is almost always something I can have the children help me with, even though they are so young. On laundry days, they switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer for me. (Another benefit of front-loading washers.)
If you are concerned about your children working with chemicals, you can always give them a damp/microfiber cloth to wipe the floors or walls. By helping with chores, children learn diligence and teamwork. Who knows, with their help, your house might sparkle.

County Fair:
Last Thursday, we attended our local, county fair. The children had a delightful time. This was the first year that Stevie really got to enjoy everything. Oh, how precious are children at this age. Isn't smiley girl funny? She smiles just like her daddy did when he was a little guy. They had so much fun with the girl in overalls. They buried potatoes and picked apples. If only they would stay this little.

Recipes:
Due to popular demand, I am posting a few of this week's recipes on my blog. I have gleaned these recipes from cookbooks and from the internet.

Thai Peanut Noodles:
1 pound chicken
1 cup light Italian salad dressing, divided
2 Tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon ground ginger
2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro
1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 carrot, shredded
1 cup green onions, chopped
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
8 oz. package of angel hair pasta, cooked
optional* 2/3 cup peanuts
Coat chicken with 1/2 cup Italian dressing, refrigerate 30 minutes. Whisk remaining dressing with peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, ginger, and red pepper till smooth, set aside. Saute carrot, green onions, and chicken in sesame oil until chicken is done, about 5 minutes. Toss pasta , peanut sauce, and chicken in a large bowl, sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts if desired. Serves 4.

Amish Skillet
1 pound ground beef
1 cup potatoes, sliced
1 cup carrots, sliced
1/2 cup onion, sliced
10 oz can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. package of shredded cheese
Spread ground beef in a 12" skillet; layer potatoes, carrots, and then onion on top. Add soup, sprinkle on cheese. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender; about 30 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings.

I am sorry, but I will not be posting a chicken and broccoli casserole recipe because I am still tweaking mine a bit. I will try to post it once it is better. I marvel at how God can teach someone how to cook. Just about 4 years ago, I was terrified that the director at the daycare I was working at might ask me to make macaroni and cheese for the childrens' lunches. If you feel inadequate in the kitchen (as I still can feel occasionally), just persevere and try a variety of recipes. Your diligence will pay off. Blessings!

Thank you so much, Laura , for Menu Plan Monday! I am very excited about participating. This is a great motivation for planning one's meal schedule!

Monday: Beef Burritos

Tuesday: Thai Chicken Peanut Noodles and Salad

Wednesday: Off- Every Wednesday, my family and I go to my sister-in-law's house to spend time with hubby's family. We rotate in cooking, so I only have to cook about once every five weeks on Wednesday. The only thing I might be making is a decadent chocolate cake for my sister-in-law's birthday.

Thursday: Amish Skillet

Friday: Homemade Pizza

Saturday: Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Sunday: Beef Stew (I like fixing meals in my slow cooker, especially on Sunday. This makes it more of a restful day for me. This also is more convenient for my family, since we attend church at 3 p.m. on Sundays, and we are starved when we get home. There is nothing like a piping hot, homecooked meal, when you get home from church.

Meal Preparation Tips:

1. Cook a large quantity of chicken, divide into separate portions, and freeze.

2. Defrost meat the night before, by placing it in the refrigerator. This will save on cooking time.

Blessings to you as you lovingly prepare meals to nourish your precious family. You truly do the work of the Lord!

Technical Tip Tuesdays:
Do you struggle with computer frustrations, like I do? Would you like tips on limiting your children's computer times, quick keys, spyware protection, and many other computer- oriented topics? My husband, who is an absolute computer guru, is starting Technical Tip Tuesdays on his blog . Please stop by and ask him any computer questions you might have. He is a such a thorough, competent, and diligent computer technician. He sure has gotten me out of a computer bind a time or two! I was sure glad he wasn't charging me for all of my errors! Blessings!

Frugal Fridays: Debt-Free Living
While browsing around the blogosphere, I often see so many charming things I would love to make/have. I would love to bedeck my home in the gorgeous splender of autumn. But my budget does not allow for much money to be utilized this way. My husband and I have purposed to become debt-free as soon as we can. As Romans 13:8 states, "Owe no man anything but to love one another." As Americans, it is easy to be seduced into instant gratification. "Buy now, pay later" is an omnipresent theme. But saving for, and then purchasing an item, is far more gratifying than buying on credit. Only when you use your own money will you truly own what you purchase. As for my husband and I, we are diligently trying to pay off the small amount we owe on our two vehicles. After we have paid them off, we are going to use the money we had put towards car payments each month (around $300) towards paying off the house. With God's grace, we will be delivered from the bondage of debt. When I am tempted to pay $20 for an "oh so cute" skirt, I think about how much more rewarding it will be when we experience the freedom of being debt-free.
"Godliness with contentment is great gain." - 1 Timothy 6:6

For more information, please see: Debt Free Living .

My Children Helping Mama



Stevie was so excited to be able to help mama with the laundry. Lily and Stevie often fight over who gets to switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer. He can do it all by himself, except for any heavy bedding.

Lily Marie loves/adores/enjoys cleaning the toilets. The whole time she cleans the toilets, she thanks me for letting her. She is such a dear. Children at these ages have such a natural propensity to want to help. As a busy mama, I can use ALL the help I can get. I never dreamed I would have such a tremendous helper at 3 1/2 years of age.

Baby Godfrey Update

Tonight my heart goes out to a wonderful family, the Godfrey's. Their precious son, Gabriel Paul, was born September 12, into the arms of the Lord. They have been so strong throughout this great suffering. They are a testimony of faith and childlike trust in the Lord. May they be comforted by Him in their grief. May He fill their hearts with His joy and peace. Please visit their website and see the many beautiful pictures.

Meal Planning:
Planning weekly meals may be easier if you do it on a particular day each week. I gather all my cookbooks and/or look online to find meals. I use an index card to keep the meals organized. I write the days of the week and planned dinners on one side of the card. On the other side, I write my grocery list. It is much easier this way to group the ingredients you need to purchase. This may sound quite simple, but it is amazing how the little things really help a lot. Blessings to you!

Lily's Bible Memory Verses:
A while ago, Mrs. Wilt did a post on the Bible memory verse booklet she made for her son. I just adore her idea and wanted to share with you Lily's booklet. Sorry it is a little worn... but that is actually a good thing. I made these by typing verses on cardstock and covering them with contact paper. I used a small hole punch and put a ring through it. These rings can be found at Walmart in the school supply section for .96 cents a pack. I also write the verse reference on the back of the card so I can quiz her. You can add to these rings as many verses as you want. I try to recite/ sing verses to my children throughout the day, but especially at meal time. Sometimes Lily might be stubborn about saying them, but she will often finish saying the verse when I have started it. (So I know they are sinking in.) There simply is NO better investment in our children than to hide His word in their hearts. (We must consistently hide His Word in our hearts as well.) If you want your children to bear great fruit, they need to be nourished with His Word. Remember the precious words of Psalm 119:11,
"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."
His word should be our meditation night and day, as it was for David. Meal times are a wonderful time to review verses and nourish one's body and soul. The great evangelist, Ray Comfort, highly encourages Christians to share bible stories and verses with their children at meal times. We should seek to feed their souls as often, if not more frequently, than their bodies. The following are some quotes in Lily's memory verse booklet. I encourage you, dear parents, to search the Scriptures and beg Him to lead you to verses to fill your children's hearts with.
The most critical verse I always put first is: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." -Genesis 1:1. Blessings!
VERSES:
Genesis 1:1
Psalm 119:11
Psalm 23:1
Psalm 118:24
Proverbs 3:9
Proverbs 30:5
Psalm 34:13
Proverbs 3:27
2 Peter 3:18
Romans 5:8
Joshua 1:9
Proverbs 3:5-6

What are you filling your children's hearts with?
Jeannie Fulbright , who has written a beautiful science curriculum, wrote a very insightful article. We must fill our children's hearts with His Word daily; nothing else is of as high of an importance. I am sure you will be edified by her piece on memory work. Blessings to you as you nurture and train your children for the Lord.
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." - Matthew 4:4

Whew! I finally finished my flour sack towel for my sister-in-law. I sure hope she likes it. I am also giving her the pretty apple pie dish I purchased at Kohl's. I had so much fun making and picking out gifts for her.

Congratulations to my dear friend, Kelly Russell, who had a baby boy last Wednesday. Prayers for your dear family!

"Lo children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." -Psalm 127:3-5

Frugal Fridays: Family Entertainment
Thank you, Crystal for starting a new, fun, weekly column, "Frugal Fridays".
Americans in general tend to spend a lot of money on entertainment. Just a simple movie at the theater and some snacks can cost $25-$30 for two people! Having two little children, we don't enjoy the thought of taking them to the movie theater. So, instead, we enjoy Friday Family Fun Nights. If your family wants to watch a movie, you might borrow a dvd from the library or from a friend. How about having a picnic in the backyard or playing a board game? On Friday evenings, we enjoy making our own snacks and supper with our bread machine. Usually, we make homemade pizza. The possibilities are endless. Remember, having family fun doesn't have to be expensive.

Thirteen Scriptures which Have Deeply Impacted My Life:
1. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thy heart." -Psalm 37:4
2. "That they may be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the Word of God be not blasphemed." -Titus 2:4-5
3. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him."-Colossians 2:6
4. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."- Philippians 4:19
5. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-10
6. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith." -Galatians 6:9-10
7. "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." - Galatians 4:4-5
8."My grace is sufficient for me for my strength is made perfect in weakness." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
9. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." - Romans 10:13
10. "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward." - Psalm 127:3
11. "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." -Deuteronomy 6:4-7
12. "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." - Ruth 1:16
13. "He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30

Mama and Lily's Tea Time
On Tuesday, Lily and I had a lovely tea time. I laid out our freshly ironed, crisp, white tablecloth. The inviting aroma of my favorite Yankee Candle scent, ****Home Sweet Home**** wafted through the air. We brought out our loveliest tea cups, of the Old Country Roses variety. Lily has the traditional patterned one, and mine is "Ruby Lace" of the same style. I heated the water for some piping hot apple cider. We pulled our chairs next to each other, and we sipped and read stories. These are such precious moments I will always savour with my Tiger Lily. (as Daddy calls her) I urge you today to pull out the finer things and enjoy them with your loved ones. An object is never fully beautiful unless sweet memories have been made with it's usage. Treasure each day and every moment with the blessings He has sent you. I pray that I will never take for granted all He has given to me. When I am tempted to think "woe is me" or when thoughts of jealousy strike, may I turn to Him in gratitude for His lavish blessings. For joy is never in a thing, but in resting in Him.
"For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of live unto life."-2 Corinthians 2:15-16
"But godliness with contentment is great gain." - 2 Timothy 2:15

Pray for Baby Godfrey and Family
I am sure many of you are aware of all that the Godfrey has been going through lately. They found out in June that their unborn baby has Potter's syndrome, which means that he/she has no kidneys. Thus, the baby is only expected to live a few hours. Susan will be induced September 12, around 7 a.m.. We serve an amazing God who can do what man calls impossible. Please fervently pray for this dear family and for a miracle on this baby's behalf. Amy at Dandelion's Seeds has started a 48 hour prayer chain to cover their family in prayer. Remember how much good can be wrought by praying and fasting. Please visit her site and sign up for prayer. My heart goes out to this dear family. May God use this, as all things, for His Greater Honor and Glory.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." -James 5:16
"For with God NOTHING shall be impossible."
-Luke 1:37 (emphasis mine)
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8 :18
"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" - Romans 8:32

Works-for-Me Wednesday

Recently, I was pricing dry-erase boards. They were a little expensive and sometimes hard to hang up. So, I was quite ecstatic when I realized that I could use my refrigerator as a large dry erase board. It is a dream, especially for solving a very long mathematical problem. (Though I would not recommend using it on the stainless steel variety.) If you happen to be hungry while you are solving the mysteries of the world, you can grab a quick, convenient snack. What could be better? Thank you, Sharon, this was a lot of fun!

Please Pray!
My dear friend, Kelly Russell is probably going to be induced today. The poor dear had been going through a lot lately. I pray that her little bundle of joy, her first boy, arrives safely. May he do great things for God's glory. Blessings!

Play Clay:
Are you looking for some inexpensive fun for your children? Well, how about making them play clay out of common household ingredients? It is a little messy, but well worth it! Your littles will definitely have a ball!

1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

1. In a boiling pan, mix salt and hot water and heat to a boiling point.
2. Stir cold water into cornstarch in a small bowl.
3. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling water. Stir vigorously to break up lumps.
4. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is stiff like pie dough.
5. Remove from heat and turn out onto a breadboard to cool.
6. As soon as the mixture is cool enough to handle, knead dough until smooth
and pliable.
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When dry, it can be painted with enamels. To speed drying time, bake on a cookie sheet @ 200 degrees F for 1 hour. Store in aluminum foil or air tight container.

My two babies enjoying a pajama party at home!

Mama and Lily making Cinnamon Rolls! We rolled out the dough, which had been made in our bread machine.

Lily sprinkling the sugar on the dough. She will be a great homemaker one day!

Mama rolling up the dough into a 12 inch roll.

Hooray.... they are oven ready!
This was my first experience with making homemade cinnamon rolls! Boy, was I missing out eating those aluminium ridden, store-bought ones! Making them from scratch would have been quite a chore, but my bread machine is my new found friend. I am looking forward to using it to make pretzels, bread sticks, croissants, and a variety of tasty breads. We are definitely getting our $20's worth out of our bread machine. Did I mention... homemade pizza was so delicious last night that hubby wanted to make some again tonight? We are making two... one for tonight, and one to freeze for another night. Aren't I just so blessed to have Lily as a kitchen helper? She is such a doll; she always wants to help mama. I hope your weekend is blessed!

Friday Fun Nights
Yesterday, UPS delivered my "new to me" bread machine hubby ordered for me from Ebay. This bread machine is just lovely and was only used twice before. We really got an amazing deal on this treasure; it only cost $20 including shipping. Last night, hubby put all the ingredients in and set it to make whole wheat bread. It was diligently making bread while we went to sleep last night. We were so sad this morning to see that the hurricane caused our power to go off and all that was left was a hardened dough ball. Tonight though, is going to be better. We are going to start a new tradition, namely, Friday pizza nights. No, not the kind with 100 preservatives, but the much healthier variety, whole wheat from scratch, with the aid of my bread machine. I like to think of all my little machines as diligent servants, who make my workload easier. We are so blessed to have washing machines, ovens, bread machines, microwaves, and so forth.
Family Fun Nights are perfect for families with many active children. Some Fridays, we may play card or board games. Other times, we might watch a fun family movie together. Regardless of what we do, what is most critical is that we enjoy some quality time together. I am just so excited and I encourage you to start a new tradition with your family. They truly are our greatest blessings.