Kitchen Kapers

This year, Kylee has decided that she would like to do more cooking and baking. We enlisted the help of our Kitchen Mentor, Tami Mills. She has been so gracious to help Kylee where her mom falls way short of the measuring spoon. I don't know what it is about the kitchen that scares me, but I just fumble around in there most of the time. I can't substitute this for that or that for this. I just eat it plain and dry. Boring, I know.

Anyway, Kylee has learned lots. She has even taught me a thing or two. For instance, did you know that when you are baking cakes and cookies, you should always use jumbo eggs? I sure didn't. She has made Ravioli Lasagna, Chocolate Reese's Cookies, Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Soup, Oreo Brownie Cupcakes, Cranberry Orange Chicken, and Candy Corn Sugar Cookies. All were delish! She and her dad like a lot of chicken in their soup, so she doubled the amount she added. The Cranberry Orange Chicken recipe is from a friend. Kylee has amazed me with her skill and determination. She is still going strong.

Can you see the smile on her face?

We are going to add "Sandwich Night" to our weekly menu. Mike (formerly Little Mike) is going to start practicing sandwiches for the Sandwich Shop he wants to open after he "finishes" school. (I have always said "school" is what we all do everyday. It is just learning.) Anyway, he wants to make burgers and sandwiches in his place. So, let the practice begin! Big Mike (formerly Mike)  takes us to Chick on Wednesday nights after church meetings so that we can hang with the teens, So, that is three nights of no cooking for the momma. She is thrilled.

I'll let ya know how the first Sandwich Night unravels. Stay tuned.

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^

Pinterest Inspires

Who doesn't love Pinterest right now? It has inspired friends to bake, make, and take (junk they never would have taken before). I remember the day I discovered it. I sat for a couple of hours just creating boards and pinning pictures to them. It was so much fun. It is what I have done for years. Only, I've done it with magazines. I have had a 3-ring binder filled with page protectors full of ideas "stolen from magazines." And, yes, they were categorized. Now, I have them all at my fingertips, pinned neatly to boards I named just the way I wanted to.

I have been inspired to do many things this summer. I now use my entry way table as my seasonal spot, all because of pictures from Pinterest. The very first project I did was for it. All you have to do is get a 2x4 and have the man in your life cut it into random sizes. You need some scrapbook paper, modge podge, a paint brush, a paper cutter, scissors, and a sanding block. I also used some stickers and made a few extra blocks.

The next project I "stole" was for my son's swimming lessons graduation day. He gave lessons to 6 kids. He did a fantastic job and they all finished around the same time. So he had one graduation party for all. Fruit Kabobs were delish and beautiful!

Watermelon on a stick. Great idea!


We even made our own water bottle labels.

I made a anklet out of an old t-shirt. Pretty cool. I would like to make more, just haven't yet. All you need for this is an old t-shirt that you like the color.

I even cleaned my washing machine. Brace yourself for the nasty pictures.


But, oh the beauty of it now! My laundry smells better than ever.

I made some post-it note holders to give as thank you gifts. I made mine with coasters, scrapbook paper, modge podge, a paint brush, sanding block, binder clip, ribbon, and post-it note pad.

My final project this summer was for my new themed entry way. I made my very own subway art for our Back-to-School entry. We each thought of a few words that say "Back-to-School" to us and I added them in different fonts. I sent a request out via facebook and got a few more inspiring words. I absolutely love the end result.

With only a week and a half left of my summer break, I must get busy on those lesson plans. I'll go check Pinterest for ideas first. : )

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^

Tah-Dah

Summer is quickly winding down and we are having to gear up for school. It is time to actually begin using the Tah-Dah list that I love so much. I want to share it with you here, but am so new to this that I am not exactly sure how to do it. I have gotten tons of ideas and inspiration from others and want to do my part to inspire someone.

It is fun for me to write things on this list and I love to look at it.

I write the day's date at the top of the page. Today's MIT's are "Today's Most Important Things." They could be "Smile, Laugh, and Pray." They could be "Pray to God, Kiss my husband, Hug my children." They are the three things that you absolutely know you need to get done that day!

I try to write down the other things that I need to do under the Tah-Dah heading. I like that name. It reminds me that I have accomplished something in my small part of the world. Insignificant to others, but achievement to me. I highlight through the things I have accomplished for the day.

I try to work on memorizing scripture. It gets more complicated the older I get. So, I read the scripture each time I see my list. My scripture for the day might change or it might stay the same for a few days or weeks.

Under the Miscellaneous Notes, I put just that. It might contain things that need to be added to tomorrow's Daily Docket, or a movie a friend mentioned, or a song I want to download, or a word I want to find in the dictionary.

I love it as it is today. Next week, I might add something or change it. I do love change. Feel free to use it as inspiration to make your own with whatever makes you smile when you see your mundane list of things that need to get done that day.

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^

In Our Home

Is it even possible that school is starting in just more than three weeks? I can't imagine that it is. But one glance at my calendar tells me to believe. So, press on, I must. Time is slipping by at break-neck speed. Not only is my summer just about gone, but my kids are not slowing their roll either. As I sit and look at 5 boxes of books lining my fireplace, I just can't imagine where those little people who needed those books have gone to.

With one beginning middle school and one beginning his junior year, I am becoming progressively unnecessary. It becomes more and more evident just about daily. Sometimes it makes me smile and sometimes it brings tears to my eyes. I miss those days and yet I look forward to the new things God has in store for my life. As the relationships within my own home change, it amazes me. I know that God is working here to grow each of us to be more like His Son, and I am so grateful. We all make messes, slip and fall, toot our own horn, cry, act sinfully, and have a blast together. We also seek forgiveness and offer forgiveness. All of that happens in our home. Together. One of our favorite places to be.

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^

Fond of My Family

A friend inspired me today. I am glad to remember that I have a blog and start using it.

Tonight we were going to have hamburgers for supper. I have been thinking about them for over a week. Went to the store to get the patties and whole wheat buns, but they were out of the good stuff. So, my sweet man decided he wanted to take the family to Cain's. He loves that place, so it was an easy decision for him. Because I am just a country girl at heart, but stuck in the big city, we hit tons of traffic. My man does NOT like traffic. We ditched the highway and took the back streets. The view along the way was quite interesting. There were many people out on the town. Since spectating is one of my favorite things to do, I was taking in all the people and their surroundings. I wondered if they were happy, if the were married, if they were Believers, if they had kids, if they grew up here, if they knew who they were talking to, if they wished they were somewhere else, and even if they smiled like that on Mondays.

In the midst of all of that, I was thankful for my guy and for his love for the Lord and for his family. I was thankful for my children and for our "boring" life. I was challenged to have a good time without the alcohol, without the crowds, without the immodest dress, and without the craziness of it all. We succeeded. We ate our chicken and fries. We drank our sweet tea. We ate our bread that was toasted on one side. And we had a good time just being together. I love my family and am thankful for them.

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^

Simple Job

Everytime I read or hear about forgiveness, I am reminded that it is not something I am allowed to withhold. It is my duty as a Christian to give it willingly. It doesn't matter what I feel like doing or even what the offense was. I have to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 instructs us to forgive just as we have been forgiven. Sounds easy rolling off the tongue. It even sounds easy before you have been sinned against. But, in the moment, it is not quite as easy, at least for me. My intentions are usually well meaning, however, somewhere between my intentions and my actions, the signals get crossed.

Lately, I have found myself hoping in my heart that God will grant me the mercy I definitely don't deserve. My job is easy. It is simply to offer the balm of forgiveness. Simple in theory. What about in the execution? Only time will tell.

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^

Goodbye to 2008

Another year is drawing to a close. They seem to do that with much more speed than they used to. As I think back over 2008, I am reminded of countless mistakes, many happy memories, sad days, numerous blessings, lessons learned, friendships strengthened, family ties bound, and countless times forgiveness was granted.

I have been granted forgiveness from peers, siblings, strangers, authorities, parents, children, my soul mate, and my God. Each time I am undeserving, yet so needy. I am so thankful that God sent His only Son to be born of a virgin, live a perfect, sin-less life, and die on an old-rugged cross for MY sins. He didn't have to do it, but He did it. He loved and still loves me enough to pay the price for my foolishness. Sobering!

I hope to be more willing to forgive others next year. Two-thousand-nine brings with it new opportunities to be different than last year. I am going to try to be.

findJoyintheJourney

-kym^