"When I Grow Up"

Jillian's spring program was last night.  And when Jillian found out that she could wear a hat representing what she wants to be when she grows up, we made a phone call to our buddy Chief DaMoude. 

It pays to have connections.  (Blessing #451)

Chief DaMoude shared one of his hats with Jillian for a few days, and boy was she ecstatic!  She's been doing the Happy Dance since we picked it up Tuesday. 

And last night, she got to perform while wearing her dream hat.  (#452)  After seeing the movie "Courageous," Jillian dreams of being a Police Woman some day.  Mrs. Butler always does a great job with these kiddos!  She had the kids singing songs that I sang when I was little.  But my favorite song was the grand finale - This Little Light Of Mine.  (#453)

Jillian loves her first-grade teacher Mrs. Peterson.  She's awesome!  We're blessed by the great teachers our kids have had.  (#454)

Jillian was also anxious to show me her artwork, which was on display in the lobby.  She loves art, and is pretty good at it, too.  We searched for her artwork on the many boards around The Tassel, and found three of them.  The Queen, the Clown, and the Elephant.

 

It's fun to see her confidence grow, and witness the sparkle in her eye when she gets to show off her artistic side.  (#455)

Patience Required

Several years ago, my Grandpa Don gave me a "seedling" from his big Redbud Tree (Blessing #445), and said that it must have come up from either the roots or seeds, as he didn't plant that skinny little guy.  It was about 15 inches tall when he gave it to me, and very fragile.  However, I've managed to keep it alive and have been babying it for the past several years.  According to the internet, these trees grow 12-18" per year.  Thus, I've had to be patient as I waited for it to produce it's pretty pink blossoms.

It's now over 7 ft. tall!  And full of blossoms.

This special "gift" from my grandpa and grandma's tree will always remind me of them.  (#445)  I hope they make it to Jillian's birthday party this year, so I can show them how much it's grown.  Grandpa will be so proud of my efforts to keep this baby alive and growing. 

Another "gift" found in our yard is this Pear Tree.  (#446)  When we bought our home 15 years ago, we had no idea the big tree behind our home was anything more than just a tree.  So imagine our surprise the following spring when it became loaded with pretty white flowers.  We patiently waited to see if anything else would follow, or if it was just a pretty ornamental tree. 

And what to our wonderinging eyes should apear?  Pears!  I love this time of year, when it's loaded with beautiful white blossoms.  (#447)  It's so pretty!   I'm also thankful that the horrible wind we had yesterday didn't blow all the blossoms off the branches.  (#448)

I am now waiting patiently for another special "gift" to grow up.  Everyone knows how much I love the mountains.  And last year year, while Chad & I were in Estes Park, he bought a bucket of Aspen Trees for me.  (#449)  It's much cheaper to buy them in the Rockies versus our neck of the woods.  He got the size that would fit in the back seat of the pickup without breaking the branches.  In the bucket, were 4 beautiful Aspen trees, each about 5 ft. tall.  We planted them in the back yard last year, and I just noticed that it's leaves are beginning to appear!  (#450)  YAY ~ It survived the winter!

When it comes to planting trees, you've gotta be patient.  When well cared for, they'll result in an amazing gift from the Creator Himself. 

Prom 2012

Just because Jacob went off to college last fall, doesn't mean he's done with HS Proms quite yet.  This is Jacob and Sami's second Prom together.  I'll insert a picture from last year also (pink dress), just so you can compare how they've changed over the past 12 months. 

  

It was an absolutely gorgeous spring day yesterday!  (Blessing #443)  Much different from last year, as you can see from those in the backgrounds above. 

 

The tuxes have been returned, the dresses have been hung up, but the memories will last for these kids forever.  (#444) 

It's a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Chad fired up the lawnmower for the first time of the season this evening.  I love the smell of freshly cut grass.  (Blessing #435)  It's actually 2 weeks earlier than last year's first mowing. 

While he mowed one of "his" yards, the girls and I went to the North Park to enjoy another beautiful day.  We walked around the lake, enjoying nature and even Jenica kept up with her bum-leg.  I'm glad she could walk around the lake with us.  (#436)  Isn't the reflection in the water pretty?  I love this time of year, when all of the flowering trees make their grand appearance.  (#437)

Today is the second day in a row with absolutely NO wind.   (#438)  That is definitely a blessing that caught everyone's attention.  Everyone's talking about it. 

We think the swans have a nest by the waterfall, since we've noticed one of them sitting in that area every day for a few days now.  But as we got closer, the swan left it's nest and started walking quickly towards us. 

So we left it alone and headed the other way.  I see these yellow bushes around town, and they are such a vibrant color right now.  The nice thing about the our park, is that they label everything.  (#439)  It's called a forsythia.  I'd love to have one of these in our yard.

After a while, we noticed the swan left the area by it's nest and joined the other swan in the water.  It began swimming straight towards us, so we were ready to walk quickly backwards if it climbed out of the water.  Notice how pretty the eastern sky is with the pink hue?  (#440)

The swans are so pretty to watch, and we were hoping to see them get close enough to form a heart with their necks.  Didn't happen, but they were still fun to watch.  (#441)

We enjoyed watching them swim around, as we waited for Chad to finish mowing.  And Jillian even got an opportunity to try and break up a duck fight.  She watched one duck "bully" another duck and chased them in the water in her attempt to stick up for the smaller duck.  It gave Jenica and I a good laugh.  (#442)

Springtime Gifts

This time of year brings so many opportunities to look around at all the things we get to enjoy. So many reasons to smile.  I wonder how often we look past those great things?  Skipping right over them, because we didn't take the time to see it as a blessing.  Something to appreciate and enjoy. 

I decided to make a list of the "Springy" things that caught my eye, taking time to appreciate them.  And smile.

Blessings #414-434

~ Mud puddles
~ Robins, splish-splashing, in the mud puddles
~ Spring break, which brings my college-age son home for a week
~ Hanging sheets on the clothes line to dry
~ The fresh smell of those air-dried sheets
~ Trees bursting with new leaves
~ My neighbor's giant Weeping Willow tree
~ Opening the windows to let the fresh air inside
~ The smell of rain
~ Noticing how quickly the grass turns from brown to green
~ The pansies by my front door, shouting "look at me" each time I walk by
~ A symphony of birds, singing outside my window
~ A bird nest in the tree branches, right next to our deck, where we can anticipate the hatching of little eggs, nestled inside.
~ The early morning dew, glistening on each blade of grass
~ The bright blue sky - the perfect backdrop to the white fluffy clouds
~ Noticing more and more people outside, walking and biking, and enjoying the change of seasons.
~ The first spring flowers, popping up all across town
~ Farmers, beginning to work in their fields
~ Eating lunch outside on the deck with my family
~ Going outside without a heavy coat

What are YOU thankful for today? 

The Secret To Great Beef Stew

Today was a damp, dreary day.  We awoke to heavy mist and rain, and our 80 degree weather was gone.  After all of our recent almost-summer-like days, today felt cold.   But that's okay, because. . . It's perfect weather for beef stew!  (Blessing #409)

This is my favorite Beef Stew recipe.  And the secret to making great Beef Stew is. . .

My Pressure Cooker!

My mom always made the best roast with potatoes and carrots in her pressure cooker.  And after I got my own, I discovered this yummy recipe for Beef Stew.   It's got the best flavor!  I've been making it for a really long time.  Since BK. . . before kids. 

Some people are scared of cooking with a pressure cooker because of the horror stories of it exploding.  But technology has brought pressure cookers a long way.  There are multiple safety features built into modern pressure cookers.  Relief valves that trip if the pressure gets too high.  (#410)

Using a PC reduces cooking time by up to 75%.  That's huge!  (#411) What a time-saver!  My stew recipe only cooks for 10 minutes, and the meat and veggies are so tender that they practically melt in your mouth. 

Plus, the flavor can't be beat.  (#412)  Because all the juices and aromatic oils are trapped inside the pot, meats emerge tender and succulent, stews are thick and rich, soups and sauces taste as if they have been simmering slowly for hours. The short cooking time combined with the airtight cooking environment also results in maximum retention of nutrients.  (#413)  And moms love packing their kiddos full of nutrients without them realizing it!

If you have a pressure cooker, but haven't used it in a long time. . . GO GET IT!  And start using it again.  You might want to start with this recipe.  =)

Savory Beef Stew
1 TB oil
2 lbs stew meat
1 TB minced onion
salt and pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
2 cubes beef bouillon
1 TB parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. rosemary
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks
carrots, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 can of green beans, drained
1 QT tomatoes, with juice
2 c. water (more or less, according to "fill line" on PC)
2 TB flour
1/2 c. water

Heat cooker, add oil and brown meat.  Add onion, salt, pepper, parsley, rosemary, bay leaf, garlic, and beef bouillin cubes.  Peel and cut carrots and potatoes, then place on top of meat.  Add green beans and tomatoes (with the juice) on top.  Add water as needed.  Some of the water will be absorbed while cooking, so make sure you have enough liquid.  (I fill to just below the top row of the ingredients.  But be careful not to fill above the "fill line.") 

Close the lid and place the weight (regulator) on the pressure cooker according to your manufacturer’s instructions. Heat on medium-high setting until pressure is achieved (weight begins to rock back and forth). Continue cooking for 10 minutes. Keep the heat regulated so that the weight rocks gently and steadily throughout cooking.  (You may have to turn down your stove to medium.)

At the end of the 10 minutes cooking time, place your pressure cooker in the sink, and reduce the pressure immediately by running cold water on the top of the pressure cooker until the vent closes (about a minute or so).  Do not remove the weight until the cooker has completely vented. When the pressure releases, open the cooker and place it back on the stove.

Combine the flour and water, and stir into the stew to thicken slightly.  Serves 6.

Bon appetit!

Pesto Bread

Oh.  My.  Goodness.  I have just discovered an amazing new recipe.  (Blessing #407)  It's something I found on Pinterest.  My husband rolls his eyes every time I say "I got the idea (recipe, or whatever) from Pinterest!" 

I had Pesto Bread from Great Harvest Bread Company a couple weeks ago, and shared it with our small group one Sunday.  And a few days later, I was wondering around Pinterest.com and saw that someone "pinned" a recipe for Pesto Bread on her board.  I saved the recipe on my board and decided that today was the day to try it.  I'm so glad I did!

Pinterest gets credit for the whole meal tonight.  (#408)

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce

and . . .



Savory Pesto Bread. 

Pesto is green.  Which makes it perfect for St. Patrick's Day!

It's amazing!

Mouth watering; soft and moist; and smells wonderful too. 

It was hard to stop at just one piece.  So I didn't!

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce
Pasta - cooked (I used mostaccoili this time, but we also like it with farfalle)

While pasta is boiling, combine the following in a large pan and heat through:
1 jar Sundried Tomato Alfredo
2 TB white wine (or chicken broth)
1/2 c. fresh basil
1 jar oil-packed sundried tomatoes
Cooked chicken, cubed (Fritz' Meat sells pre-cooked cubed chicken breast in vacuum sealed packages that work great for things like this)

After pasta is finished cooking, drain and add to the sauce mixture. Toss to coat.

Serve, topped with grated parmesan cheese.

Savory Pesto Bread
Dough:
2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup skim milk powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon instant yeast
5 -5 1/2 cups bread flour

Filling:
2/3 c. Peso
1/2 c. grated Parmesan Cheese

In a large bowl combine the water, olive oil, sugar, skim milk powder, salt and instant yeast. Mix till well blended.

Add in a cup of flour and beat with a wooden spoon till smooth. Add in another cup of flour and do the same. Now, sprinkle a half cup of flour onto a flat surface and pour out the dough on top. Begin to knead and slowly add in more flour till the dough no longer sticks to the table. Knead for about 8 - 10 minutes.

Add a little olive oil to a large bowl ( about a tablespoon ). Place the kneaded dough into the bowl and turn over a few times to lightly coat all sides of the dough. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for an hour or till double in bulk.

Pour out the dough onto a very lightly floured surface. Cut dough in half. Using your fingers flatten out one of the pieces of dough.  Roll out the dough to a 9 x 14 rectangle. Spread half the pesto on top of the dough and sprinkle 1/4 of a cup Parmesan on top.

Bring in the short side by a half inch and then roll the dough like a jelly roll.  Pinch the seam closed. Take a sharp knife and cut the dough down the center length wise.  Open the jelly roll exposing the inside of the roll. Take the two cut pieces and braid them together with the cut side always facing up.
Place the bread into a greased 4 1/2 X 8 inch loaf pan. Now, repeat this whole process with the second piece of dough. Then cover both loaves with plastic wrap and allow to rest for an hour or till double in bulk. Place into a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 - 35 minutes. Check the bread about 10 minutes before they are finished to see if you need to cover with tin foil if they are getting to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack.

Click here for step-by-step instructions with photos.

Gifts Found In Giving

Today's challenge in the One Thousand Gifts "March Joy Dare" is finding 3 Gifts Given Away.



1)  Giving a car-full of gently used toys from our basement, which our children no longer play with, to our child care center and church nursery.  I love sharing things with others.  Especially when it helps clean out some of cupboards and toy boxes.  (Blessing #404)

2)  Delivering Mountain Dew Throwbacks and Twizzlers to my hubby-coach and his fellow-coaches before they headed to their first soccer game of the season.  (#405)

3)  A plate of St. Patrick's Day Cookies shared with our neighbors. (#406)

Super Soft Sugar Cookies
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
3 1/2 c. flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 vanilla
1 TB milk
Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Add baking powder, salt, vanilla, and milk. 

If making St. Patrick's Day cookies, add 1/2 tsp. Mint extract + 15 drops green food coloring + chocolate chips.  Mix well before adding flour.

Add Flour.  Mix well.  Chill 1 hour in fridge.  Roll into balls, flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. 


This is what they look like without a leprachaun's touch ~

A Repaired Heart

Last summer, Jillian had heart surgery to repair her aortic valve.  There were so many reasons to be thankful during that situation.  And we will always remember how God answered our prayers and gave us the strength we needed to make it through a challenging time.  (Blessing #397)  I truly felt the Body of Christ come around me at a time when I was having a hard time finding peace leading up to her surgery.  (#398)  We're also grateful that she was able to go home on day 4.  (#399)

Today, Jillian and I saw her cardiologist for another checkup.  It was a blessing that the doc flew into Hastings today, so we didn't have to travel quite so far.  (#400)  She got a great report, by the way and doesn't need to go back for 15 months.  (#401)  Oh, and Jillian was thankful she only had to miss a couple hours of school (#402). 

She loves school, and can't understand why most of the boys in her class don't like it.  Today, she recognized one little boy who was clearly faking a cough in attempt to go home early from school.  It didn't work. 

There's another kind of heart needing repaired.  It's ours.  We've all suffered a broken heart as some point, thanks to the fallen world we live in.  It's gonna happen.  More than once.  We all have pains and sorrows from our past that are affecting us today.  The good news is that Jesus came to heal the broken hearted.  (Luke 4:18)  He brings healing and freedom.  (#403)

He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.  Psalms 147:3

Be Careful What You Wish For

Remember when you were a kid, and you secretly wished that you could have a broken bone and get to wear a cast? 

Be careful what you wish for. 

(Jenica.)

Or it might come true.

Monday evening was Jenica's second soccer practice.  And it was also the last one for a while.  She isn't quite sure how it happened, but she fractured her ankle at the growth plate while she went to kick the ball.  Hence, the boot. 


The good news is that because of where the break is, it should heal rather quickly. (Blessing #391)  And. . . several years ago, they would have used a heavy, stinky, itchy, bothersome cast.  All she has to deal with in our modern world is a boot.  (#392)  She'll go back for another x-ray in two weeks to see if she needs to wear it longer, or if she can be done with it.

The bad news is that Jenica has just started softball practice, soccer practice, and track practice begins next week.  Plus, Jenica was looking forward to running the mile in PE today so she could earn her "Presidential Fitness Award."  Now, she's worried she won't get that award.  (However, I'm pretty sure Mrs. Borden will let her run the mile when she's out of her boot.)

When we left the clinic, Jenica said, "it could always be worse, mom."   Great attitude, Jenica!  (#393)

This was Jillian's response to Jenica's injury:
"First you change too much.  (I'm not sure what that means.) Then you get braces on the top.  Then you get braces on the bottom.  Then you get a boot.  And you're HAPPY all the time?!  I don't get it." 

That opened the door to a conversation with Jillian on being thankful at all times.  (#394) 

It's hard to be crabby (with or without a broken bone) when. . .  Spring.  Has.  Arrived.

What awesome spring weather we're having this week!  We had some light rain Sunday, which quickly greened up the grass and pushed even more green stems through the dirt.  (#395)  AND. . . We hit 82 degrees today!  (#396)

Naturally Sweet

My parents just returned home from Texas (Blessing #385), and look what they brought home for our family!  (#386)  
Fresh Grapefruit!

I couldn't wait to have one for breakfast this morning.  Sweet, yet slightly tart. (#387) Big and juicy. And nearly impossible to each just a half. 

I am also grateful for my special grapefruit knife that I got from Pampered Chef.  (#388)  It works really slick.  Everyone who eats grapefruit should have one. 

Grapefruits are full of health benefits.  Here are the top 10:
1)  Loaded with Vitamin C.
2)  Helps prevent kidney stones.
3)  Is a weight loss booster.
4)  Supercharges your metabolism.
5)  Helps your liver detoxify.
6)  Helps fight prostate cancer.
7)  Protects against cancer.
8)  Lowers cholesterol.
9)  Fever reducer.
10)  Reduces indigestion.

And after you're finished with your grapefruit, you can drink the juice.  (#389)

Thank you, mom and dad!  I'll think of you each time I enjoy one of these delicious juicy grapefruit, picked fresh from Texas.  (#390)

Signs of Spring

I just love this time of year. The changing of seasons is always refreshing. And I wonder . . . Would we appreciate spring so much, if it hadn't been absent for so long? 

It smells like spring. (Blessing #373)  We've enjoyed some rain, and the trees are starting to reveal buds ~ which our noses quickly recognize as a sign that spring is getting near.  Even though we've already had a tornado warning this year (the earliest ever), we are fortunate to have escaped damage (#374), unlike other parts of the country.  And very soon, the fragrance of tulips and daffodils will fill the air.

It's also starting to look like spring.  The grass around here is beginning to turn green.  (#375)  I've also noticed a few tulips and crocus breaking through the ground.  (#376)  It won't be long and we'll see some blossoms on those green stems.  And spring-sport practice has begun at the high school. (#377)  When I picked up Jenica from school the other day, I noticed a lot of the kids are wearing shorts and t-shirts. 

And pretty soon, it will sound like spring.  The cardinal isn't going to be the only bird on the block for much longer.  In the mornings, as the sun is starting to rise, Jenica and I enjoy listening to the owl "hooting" from the trees behind our house.  (#378)  And soon, a symphony of little birds will join Mr. Cardinal and Mr. Owl. 

Today, we are enjoying another day of Spring Break.  Sleeping in (#379) and enjoying time free from schedules (#380) are two of my favorite ways to spend break.  My nephews are spending the day with us today while their parents are at work.  Here's how our afternoon unfolded:

We enjoyed playing at the park this afternoon (#381), made and devoured a batch of chocolate chip cookies(#382), and Chad fired up the grill to BBQ burgers for supper (#383). 

Since today's Hayden's 12th birthday, we sang happy birthday to him before he bit into his burger.  (#384)

Some years, we celebrate Hayden's birthday with snow on the ground.  This year, it definitately feels like spring.