Craft time-finger prints

Draw brown lines with a marker, and add the puffs with your fingers and a stamp pad.

Happy Crafting! :)

Devotional Thoughts- Psalm 73

Psalm 73 (Click the link to read the whole chapter)

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I found myself agreeing and disagreeing with what may be the wrong areas.  But then I came full circle in the end understanding, and seeing where and what I need to change and fix in my heart and thoughts.

Psalm 73 begins nicely....God is good to those whose heart are pure. Ahhh, sounds encouraging. 
But then the psalmist starts in right after that on how his heart is maybe not pure, by how much he is envious of others and the things they have.  So here I'd have a agree....and maybe that's not so great.  He says, "I envied the proud when I saw them prosper." (vs3), and "They have everything their hearts could wish for." (vs7)  I feel that way a lot.  It always seems like the grass is greener on the other side doesn't it?  We see it for what we want it to be, not always for what it is really worth.

A little further on he asks a question, that I'm sure we have all thought about at some time concerning someone or something. "Does God even know what's going on here?" (vs 11)  These people are enjoying a life of ease, while I who keep/kept my heart pure and from wrong, am getting trouble all day long, and every morning brings me pain.  (vs. 13-14)  Maybe not every day....but it sure can feel like it sometimes.  And when we are in that pit, those are the words we tend to use.  EVERY, ALL, TOTAL, these are 100% words. :)  I'm almost sure not every day brings him pain, or that all day long he feels trouble.  It's just that when are you in the midst of it, those 100% words seem to make you feel better (although not really).  We must think that at the time(even for a split second), or we wouldn't choose to say them if it wasn't true would we?

Now verse 15 gets me..."If I had really spoken that way...."  Huh...this whole time I was believing him.  I thought he really was speaking this way.  But I guess he was just being transparent in his thinking....here's what I could have thought or done...but I will choose not too.  Instead in the next few verses, he says the right way to handle this instead of everything he just said, is to seek to understand the truth of the matter.  I need to do this more, instead of looking only on the surface and coming to those conclusions, like he alluded to in the beginning of the chapter.  The truth of the next few verses (16-20) is kind like a wake-up call.  Here's what is really going on.  Not all the things I said before, which were my lies to myself about these others having it "good'.  But their real fate, and it's not as pretty as before.

"Then I realized how bitter I had become, how pained I had been by all I had seen.  I was so foolish and ignorant..." (vs 21-22)  I unfortunately might have to agree with this part too.  How foolish I am to believe some of these lies.  To look at the surface and see what I want to see, instead of digging for the truth.

But the best part yet to come vs 23-24.  Through this all, the bad thoughts, the foolishness, the bitterness in my heart.... "Yet, I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand."  What a great comfort it is to realize that through all that "stupidity" we choose to do, God is not walking away.  He is still right there holding our hand, holding on to us.  Wow.  I'm so grateful.  Because I make a lot of stupid mistakes, and to be more honest, a lot of stupid choices.  (Which would imply not an accident, but a thought out process.)

And we're not done yet....there's then, what I think is a challenge in verse 25.  He states, " Whom have I in heaven but you?  I desire you more than anything on earth."  Can you say that?  Do you desire nothing more than God?   What about, wealth, health, happiness, children, healed hurts, reunification....and the list could go on.  I might have to admit to something in my list there, that I may be desiring more than God.  And the reality for me is; that needs to change.  God needs to have that first place spot. 
(Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4)

vs 28 "But as for me, how good it is to be near God!  I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

I hope you enjoy reading Psalm 73, like I did.


 

Apple painting

Cut two apple in half....both ways.  Like so....

Put different paint colors on paper plates.  Dip in the apple and paint.  We used a fork stuck in the apple to help lift the apple off the paper to not smear it as much.

Wha-la.  Our artwork!

*Helpful tip....make sure you cut the apple very straight.  If the cut is crooked  the print from the apple paint is not going to show up as well.


 

Experiment-Carbon Dioxide

 Make your own gas... :)  Ok now that you're done laughing, I'm talking about carbon dioxide.

Use a narrow necked jar, vinegar, baking soda and a balloon,  Then stand back and watch these molecules and atoms join together to make something new.  Carbon Dioxide....a gas you can't otherwise see.

Fill a jar 1/4 of the way with vinegar.  Put some baking soda in the balloon.  Don't let any soda spill into the jar yet, while you are putting the balloon on the jar.  Now quickly lift the balloon to tip all of the soda into the jar.  The vinegar will react making bubbles, and filling and blowing up the balloon.


See for yourself.

Happy Experimenting! :)






 

Five Chip Cookies

Five Chip Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips
2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup peanut butter chips
2/3 cup vanilla chips
2/3 cup butterscotch chips

 In a mixing bowl, cream butter, peanut butter and sugars.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine flour, oats, and baking soda.  Gradually add to the creamed mixture.  Stir in chips.  Drop on pan 2 in apart.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks.

 

Dipped Strawberries

What a simple treat!  And it looks so fancy.

Melt chocolate almond bark, or a bag of chocolate chips.  Clean, pat dry, and dip in the strawberries.  Lay on wax paper to let the chocolate harden.  After dipping in chocolate, melt a small amount of white chocolate.  Pour into a baggie, and then using the baggie trick, drizzle the white lines over the strawberries for added flavor and design! :)

Enjoy!





 

Flash Card-Sight Words

I'm introducing you to cheaply made sight word/reading flash cards.

It doesn't have to be fancy, it just needs to work!  So you don't need to waste money on ink and bunch of printing, when you've got paper and markers already standing by.

Click on the link below the pictures to go directly to each flash card word set.

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

 

Flash Cards Sight words #1

I made 6 different sets of cards for my boys to work on learning.  Here's the breakdown:

Set #1 written in red marker

the
go
my
big
can
one
find
run
blue
not
me
away
and
make
little
you
look
a
up
in
we
is
play
come
said
for
down
red
funny
see
three
help
to
here
I
two
where
it
jump
yellow


I used a small envelope, licked it shut and then cut a very little slice off the top.  Now it's a pocket.  Then cut cardstock paper to fit in the envelope pocket.  Now you have your first set.  Write on both sides to not use as much paper.



Click here to go back to main page of all 6 sets.


 

Flash cards sight words #2

I made 6 different sets of cards for my boys to work on learning.  Here's the breakdown:

Set #2 written with blue marker

went
like
must
what
yes
our
are
pretty
at
ran
but
so
brown
she
say
black
be
saw
ate
ride
he
was
have
want
came
soon
did
that
do
there
eat
they
four
this
get
too
now
will
all
out
am
please
under
good
who
no
white
new
with
on
well
into

I used a small envelope, licked it shut and then cut a very little slice off the top.  Now it's a pocket.  Then cut cardstock paper to fit in the envelope pocket.  Now you have your second set.  Write on both sides of the cards to not use as much paper.


Click here to go back to main page of all 6 sets.


 

Flash cards sight words #3

I made 6 different sets of cards for my boys to work on learning.  Here's the breakdown:

Set #3 written with green marker

put
fly
once
by
know
after
over
every
of
as
old
ask
live
an
may
any
let
again
walk
just
think
how
then
his
give
some
from
round
take
had
were
has
open
could
if
when
thank
her
stop
giving
them
him


I used a small envelope, licked it shut and then cut a very little slice off the top.  Now it's a pocket.  Then cut cardstock paper to fit in the envelope pocket.  Now you have your third set.


Click here to go back to main page of all 6 sets.



 

Flash cards sight words #4

I made 6 different sets of cards for my boys to work on learning.  Here's the breakdown:

Set #4 written with orange marker

upon
don't
those
does
these
cold
buy
tell
call
their
sleep
both
made
would
or
always
before
sing
best
sit
us
fast
been
right
your
off
many
write
read
because
wish
green
why
goes
it's
work
around
pull
use
first
very
five
wash
found
gave
which


I used a small envelope, licked it shut and then cut a very little slice off the top.  Now it's a pocket.  Then cut cardstock paper to fit in the envelope pocket.  Now you have your fourth set.



Click here to go back to main page of all 6 sets.

Flash cards sight words #5

I made 6 different sets of cards for my boys to work on learning.  Here's the breakdown:

Set #5 written with purple marker

hot
today
shall
fall
grow
start
drink
pick
keep
try
hurt
together
draw
own
kind
warm
eight
seven
ten
hold
far
show
full
six
got
small
about
laugh
better
light
bring
long
carry
much
myself
clean
cut
never
only
done


I used a small envelope, licked it shut and then cut a very little slice off the top.  Now it's a pocket.  Then cut cardstock paper to fit in the envelope pocket.  Now you have your fifth set.  Write on both sides of the cards to use less paper.

Click here to go back to main page of all 6 sets.

 

Flash cards sight words #6

I made 6 different sets of cards for my boys to work on learning.  Here's the breakdown:

It doesn't stand out that much in the picture, but it is easy to read in real life. :)

Set #6 written with yellow marker (nouns)

girl
car
garden
cake
game
brother
floor
bread
chair
grass
cat
good-bye
boy
fish
eye
bed
egg
bear
duck
ball
door
back
doll
baby
day
apple
ground
chicken
fire
box
father
birthday
farmer
bird
farm
bell
hill
corn
feet
boat
flower
cow
head
coat
hand
children


I used a small envelope, licked it shut and then cut a very little slice off the top.  Now it's a pocket.  Then cut cardstock paper to fit in the envelope pocket.  Now you have your sixth set.  Write on both sides of the cards to use less paper.

Click here to go back to main page of all 6 sets.

 

Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken

Marinade and sauce:

¾ c.  chicken broth

¾ c. freshly squeezed orange juice (* I used concentrate)

1½ t. finely grated orange zest

6 T. white vinegar

¼ c. soy sauce

½ c. brown sugar (dark or light)

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. fresh ginger, grated

¼ t. cayenne pepper

2 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 T. plus 2 t. cornstarch

2 T. cold water

Coating and frying:

3 large egg whites

1 c. cornstarch

½ t. baking soda

¼ t. cayenne pepper (I left this out because I didn't want my kids to think it was too hot)

3 c. peanut or canola oil (I used regular vegetable oil)

1. To make the marinade and sauce, combine the chicken broth, orange juice, orange zest, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and cayenne pepper in a large saucepan; whisk to blend well.  Measure out ¾ cup of the mixture and transfer it to a large Ziploc plastic bag.  Add the chicken pieces to the bag, pressing out the excess air and sealing well.  

Refrigerate and let marinate 30-60 minutes, but no longer.  Place the saucepan with the remaining mixture on the stove and heat over medium-high heat.  Bring to a simmer.  In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth.  Add the mixture to the saucepan with the sauce.  Continue simmering until the sauce is thick and translucent, about 1 minute.  Remove from the heat and stir in the strips of orange peel, if using.

2.  To prepare the coating, place the egg whites in a pie plate and whisk until frothy, about 2-3 minutes.  In a second pie plate combine the cornstarch, baking soda and cayenne pepper; whisk to blend.  Drain the chicken of the marinade in a colander or large strainer; pat dry with paper towels.  Place half of the chicken pieces in the egg whites and turn to coat.  Transfer the pieces to the cornstarch mixture and coat thoroughly, shaking off the excess.  Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.

3.  To fry the chicken, heat the oil in a 11- or 12-inch round Dutch oven or straight-sided sauté pan until the oil reaches 350˚ F.  Carefully place half of the chicken pieces in the oil and fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through cooking.  Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.  Return the oil to 350˚ F and repeat with the remaining chicken pieces.

4.  Reheat the sauce if necessary and toss with the cooked chicken pieces.  Serve over rice, if desired.  Enjoy!

TJ gives this a 9 out of 10.  This was super delicious!  Yumm!

this recipe from the Farm Girl.






 

Marinated Pork Chops

Marinated Pork Chops

6 pork chops
2 Tbsp steak seasoning
1 can dark soda
1 (18oz bottle) barbeque sauce
1/2-1 cup onion

Sprinkle chops with steak seasoning.  Brown both sides in skillet.  After the pork chops have been browned, remove them from the pan.  Pour soda into skillet.  Stir around the soda until all the particles on the sides have been incorporated.  Pour in barbeque sauce and place the pork chops back into the pan.  Add onions and cover.  Simmer on low for 2 hours.