Coming back!

I've been praying about contributing to this blog again and I will start posting again soon! I have some ideas for posts already and some posts started. Life has been really busy as a homeschooling mother of 10 children, but I really miss my blog and the other blog I tried starting just over a year ago just didn't work out. I'm not sure how often I will be posting, but my prayer is it will be at least once a week. So I hope to "see" everyone soon!

Virtue Training Bible *Giveaway*

I've been gone for quite a while from blogging. Part of it was because of a busy life with a newborn, canning season, school and just every day life. The other part of it is because I am still having issues with my computer connecting to Google.

While I've been away, I have been blessed with a copy of the Virtue Training Bible to review.

The kit arrived about a week before Ford was born. I ordered the Bible to use with the kit and it arrived just days before he was born so I didn't have time to get it all put together which delayed our use of it. Then, due to some difficulties and the above mentioned things that kept me busy, it took me much longer than it should to finish putting it together.

Once it was all put together, we started using it immediately.

The Bible is marked with the verses that pertain to 43 different virtues such as trust, self-control, holiness, and mercy.

The girls and I chose a virtue and then proceeded to read all the marked verses and discuss it. It was great to be able to read various verses on one topic to show not only how the Bible doesn't contradict, but also how important the virtue is based on how often God talks about it.

We started using it for our family devotional time and it is wonderful! The discussions we've had are priceless. Often times, the discussions of one virtue move into discussions about salvation and how to live a life for Christ. Our girls have really opened up in discussing their faith.

The Bible is great for the girls to do their own study as well because it already has the verses marked for whatever they want to learn more about. They can easily and quickly learn what God has to say on a topic just by looking at all the tabs marked for the virtue they want to learn more about.

I highly recommend the Virtue Training Bible for every family! And to help with that, you can enter to win your own copy! You will receive the kit with instructions for how to put it together and the double-sided tabbers. You will need to provide a 9" x 6" Bible of the version you wish to use, 7 colors of highlighters, 7 matching colors of post-its, double-sided tape and a pencil.

Enter by using the form below!




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The Real Reason I Have So Many Children

The Real Reason I Have So Many Children

Are You Burned Out Because You're an Introvert?

I'm so thankful for Kelly writing the following post! I am definitely an introvert and seeing it laid out like this helps me to understand myself all the more. Even if you don't think you are an introvert, please read so that you can better understand those around you who are introverts. There are many myths about introverts and she tries to explain how those are actually myths and the truth behind the misconceptions.

Are You Burned Out Because You're an Introvert?

Who's in Charge? The Hard Work of Raising Children Into Adults

Who's in Charge? The Hard Work of Raising Children Into Adults

March Reading

My reading time really slowed down in March due to many family and church commitments. We had a baptism service with pot luck following, a family birthday, our yearly communion service in which we did a Seder meal, and then Easter. I felt like I never sat down for two weeks!

I finished Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I was hoping to have time to write posts on things that stood out to me, but as I said before, that just didn't happen. I still might try to write a post or two. It is a great book for Christians and non-Christians to read. In fact, I think I will be adding it to my girls' reading lists for school. I just have to decide which year I would like them to read it.

I am still working on Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham. I'm taking my time and making notes. I would love to have my husband read it along with me, but time just hasn't allowed it yet. I read him portions and we discuss things, but I am hoping to read it a second time along with him soon.

Planting Potatoes

The following story was in one of our church bulletins and it was so good that I wanted to share it.

When I was a boy growing up we had several gardens around our old house. The largest one of all was used just for growing otatoes. I can still remember those potato planting days. The whole family helped. After my Dad had tilled the soil, my Mom, brothers, and I went to work. It was my job to drop the little seed potatoes in the rows while my Mom dropped handfuls of fertilizer beside them. My brothers then covered them all with the freshly turned earth.

For months afterward I would glance over at the garden while I played outside and wonder what was going on underneath the ground. When the harvest time came I was amazed at the huge size of the potatoes my Dad pulled out of the soil. Those little seedlings had grown into bushels and bushels of sweet sustenance. They would be turned into meal after meal of baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, and my personal favorite: potatoes slow cooked in spaghetti sauce. They would keep the entire family well fed throughout the whole year. It truly was a miracle to behold.

Thinking back on those special times makes me wonder how many other seeds I have planted in this life that have grown unseen in the hearts and minds ofothers. How many times has God used some little thing that I said or did to  grow something beautiful? How many times has Heaven used these little seedlings to provide another's souls with sweet sustenance.

Every single day of our lives we step out into the garden of this world. Every single day we plant seeds that can grow into something wonderful. We may never see the growth that comes from the kinds words or loving acts we share but God does. I hope then that you always tend the garden around you with care. I hope that you plant only goodness, peace, and compassion in the lives of everyone you meet. I hope that everyday you hell miracles to grow.

Delicious Gluten Free Pizza!

Crust:

Pizza with venison sausage

2 cups Organic Tapioca Starch
2/3 cup real Romano cheese (real Romano cheese is made with sheep milk so it works for those of us who have dairy issues)
1/2 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp water
2 organic pastured egg

-Preheat oven to 390 degrees with stone bar pan in oven.
-Combine all crust ingredients into mixing bowl and stir/knead with spoon

 -Cut two pieces of parchment paper to fit your bar pan
-Place one piece on the counter, apply some oil to the paper, and place the dough in the center.
-Push the dough out as flat and apply some more oil to surface of dough.
-Place 2nd piece of parchment paper on top of dough and roll out with pin until the crust touches the edge of the paper on all four sides (or close to it)
-Remove top parchment paper (save it for next time)
-Use finger to push a crust up around the dough

I cut these into 8 large pieces

 -Apply sauce and toppings
-Transfer pizza (parchment paper and all) onto stone.
-Cook for about 20 minutes.
-Remove pizza (and parchment paper) onto cooling rack
-Allow it to cool, cut and serve!

Sauce:

Open jars of homemade tomato sauce or store bought sauce. Add Italian seasoning blend, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil and a little sugar to taste. Simmer on stove until thickened.

Toppings:

Whatever you desire--ground meat, sausage, veggies, etc. and shredded mozzarella (homemade mozzarella made with goat milk is great!) or provolone cheese (or combination).

I make four of these to feed my family of 11.  The first time I made these the girls asked me how I got gluten free store bought pizza--it's that good!

Lemon Bars

2 c gluten free flour

1 c butter or coconut oil, softened

1/2 c powdered sugar

Mix the above ingredients press into a 9x13 inch pan.  

Bake for 20 min at 350.

2 c evaporated cane juice crystals

4 tsp grated lemon peel

4 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt 4 large eggs

Beat the above ingredients for about 

3 min or until light and fluffy.  Pour over

 hot crust. Bake 25-30 min at 350.  Cool completely on a wire rack, about

1 hour.  Dust with powdered sugar.

Homemade Yogurt

I had a few people ask about how I make my yogurt, so I thought I would do a post on my method.

Yogurt

1 gallon milk (I use goat milk most of the time)

2 ½ tbsp plain gelatin

½ cup cold water

1 cup plain yogurt (I started with store bought, but now keep some from a previous batch)

1 ½ cup evaporated cane juice crystals (optional)

Heat milk in large double boiler to 180 degrees. Remove from heat, let cool to 110 degrees. I put the pot in a sink full of ice water to speed up the process. Meanwhile, soak gelatin in cold water. When milk reaches 110 degrees, stir in gelatin, yogurt, and sugar. Beat until smooth. Set back into double-boiler and cover with a towel and set aside

for 4-6 hours. When yogurt has set for 4-6 hours, beat again and chill for 4 hours.

Eat plain or add fresh or frozen fruit. Thicken any thawed frozen fruit you add by combining 1 cup cold water and ¼ cup arrowroot powder and whatever fruit and cook until thick. Cool before mixing in with yogurt. Make sure you reserve 1 cup of plain yogurt first for your next batch.