~Music Mondays~ "How Much" (You Are Loved)!

Happy Monday! And time to turn on the music to get the week off on a good note! Head over to Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace" to hear some great music and join the fun!

A while back "Raindrops and Rainbows" shared a lovely song and I wanted to share it here one Monday, but forgot about it last week! I must be one of those rare people who does not watch American idol, so I had not heard Mandisa sing before! She has an amazing voice and I love her inspiring songs!

I want to challenge you all this Monday! After listening to this song, tell at least one person today that God loves them! And if you have time, remind them how much!

God bless your Monday!

~Hannah

"How Much"
By Mandisa
Album: Freedom

Lyrics:

"How much, how much
Do you really know
How much, how much
Well, let me tell you
How much, how much
You are loved

These words go out to anyone
who's ever felt so unlovable
I'd just like to say to you
That lie is so not true
This message is for the broken down
They say you can't turn your life around
No matter what you do
Well, that lie is so not true

CHORUS:
How much, how much
Do you really know
How much, how much
Well, let me tell you
How much, how much
You are loved

Take the depths of the deepest ocean
and go deeper
Take the top of the tallest tower
and go higher
Take the best day that you've ever had
Try to imagine better than that
And it still don't come close
To how much you are loved

Don't worry about what you've done
God's love goes out to everyone
And here's the wonderful, beautiful truth
That includes me and you
So, let it find you where you are
Wrap its arms around your weary heart
And all the love you're longing for You'll find all that love and more"

~Menu Plan Monday~ Cooking On A Wood Cook Stove!

Well, last weeks breakfast was mostly cereal, but I am trying to be more creative this week!....Okay, not very "creative", but hey! It's something! With homeschooling, I prefer something quick for breakfast! But I am also trying to get up early in the mornings too.
We finally got our wood cook stove last week!! I am so glad I have an oven again!!! I hope to make some muffins on Wed. and Sun. and maybe even make rolls on Thur! So, all of my baking will be done in the wood cook stove and most of my cooking will be done on it too! It really saves us money on the electric, between the cooking and heating! I just love it! Being from the south, when it is 60 degrees, I am cold! So I enjoy the heat and splitting the firewood is a good work-out!

After my family moved to this area (in '97) we lived without electricity, (my family still does, though they have some solar now). So cooking on a wood stove is nothing new to me. I actually prefer food cooked on a wood stove and it is great for canning!
I have posted some photos of our new Kitchen Queen stove below my menu plan today!

I really enjoy joining Menu Plan Monday every week! I hope you will head over to Organize Junkie to check out the hundreds of great menus and a lot of the ladies post recipes and recipe links too! Lots of fun and good ideas!
Also if you share recipes on your blog, link up with me on Jess's blog, "It's All About The Savings" for "What's Cooking Wednesdays"! I will be sharing 2 or 3 recipes this week!

Happy Menu Planning and Monday to you all!
~Hannah

P.S. Hope you check out my giveaways (links on the sidebar)! They end next week and have low entries!!

Mon.
breakfast= cold cereal and bananas
lunch= spaghetti
supper= leftover Chicken casserole

Tues.
breakfast= cold cereal & fruit
lunch= spaghetti
supper= pork, cabbage & rice

Wed.
breakfast= sausage patties, gravy and biscuits
lunch= spaghetti
supper= pork, cabbage & rice

Thurs.
breakfast= muffins & fruit
lunch= veggie & pork soup (from home-canned food)
supper= marinated chicken breast, mashed potatoes, corn and sweet peas

Fri.
breakfast= cereal and muffins
lunch= leftover veggie & pork soup
supper= leftover marinated chicken breast, mashed potatoes, corn and sweet peas

Sat.
breakfast= muffins & fruit or cereal
lunch= tacos
supper= leftover veggie & pork soup

Sun.
breakfast= fried eggs and toast
lunch= tacos
supper= leftover veggie & pork soup

Here is our new stove! She's a beauty!

The wood box in it is Huge! Yippee! That means you can burn bigger would (less wood splitting) and it will hold a fire for a Long time!

Here is the oven! It is pretty big for a wood cook stove oven too! My big cookie sheets fit in it!

There are two, big water reservoirs on the back and it came with a bunch of pipe pieces and things to hook them up, so if or when we need to use them, there they are!

~Spiritual sundays~ Trust in the Lord

To join "Spiritual Sundays" and read more inspiring reads each Sunday visit Spiritual Sundays blog!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

I have started reading the new book by Shelia Walsh, "Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trust God" (I will post the book review on my blog soon!). I have really enjoyed it so far. When I first read the title I knew it would probably be a good book and wanted to check it out!

I grew up in a troubled home, very disconnected and emotional train wreck. Our family is still disconnected and in a lot of need of prayer and mending, but I have put that in God's hands and pray that things work out the way they should and on His timing.

From my growing up and experiences in my short lifetime, I quickly built up my own wall and defense that keeps me from trusting people. I have very few people even in my life right now whom I trust. But thankfully my trust in people is very different from my trust in my heavenly father! In Him I put all my trust! He has proven Himself over and over and every time I put something in His Hands, He never ceases to amaze me!! Praise His Most Holy Name! I can always rest on Him and know that He is leading me and will direct me in the right path!

A lot of things seem so uncertain and scary about the future. I see and hear of so much going on, that might go on, what ifs and might be, but all along I have had a deep peace and complete trust that no matter what, God will take care of His own! He always has and He always will. He is faithful. I trust Him.

I wanted to share the song, "Trust in the Lord" by Jaci Velasquez today, but could not find a youtube of it. But while I was looking I found this beautiful version by Sixpence None The Richer. I hope you enjoy it.

God bless!

~Hannah

"Trust"

By Sixpence None The Richer

Winner for Superstructs Giveaway!

We have a winner for the Superstructs Building set!

The Random Number Generator (Powered by RANDOM.ORG)
gave the result:
Result: 30

RR said...
"I like the Guidecraft Moon & Stars Kids' Table and Chair Set."

Congratulations Ravenous Reader!
The winner has confirmed and CSN stores will be shipping the price!

Superstructs Building Set Ends Tonight!!

The Superstructs Big Builder Building set Giveaway ends tonight at midnight!

Hurry up and enter HERE for a chance to win!

~What's Cooking Wednesdays~ Easy Sloppy Joes!

A couple of weeks ago, I saw Kellie's Southern Sloppy Joe's, on her blog, "Kellie's Healthy Recipes" and decided I just had to make some! It is terrible, because I have not made sloppy Joe's before! But I had an idea of how I could make these easy and should be good! Well, I tried it about two weeks ago and it was sooo yummy!!! I just loved how fast I could make this hearty meal and it is pretty healthy too! Yippee!
You can try it the way I made it or visit Kellie's blog to make it the way she did (with ground turkey, etc.)!

Sloppy Joe's

2 Tbsp.olive oil (optional)

1/4 cup onion minced (optional)

2 lbs. sausage

1, 16oz. jar of salsa (I used mild, but you can use whatever heat you prefer)

2 cup Velveeta cheese ( I used the cheap, store brand) cubed

1 (10 oz. can) rotel (optional)

Your favorite sliced bread or buns

In large skillet cook onion in olive oil (optional). Cook sausage till done, add salsa and cook till heated thru. In saucepan melt cheese and add rotel (optional). Serve sausage mixture on your favorite bread or buns and top with cheese sauce!

Hope you enjoy!

If you have a recipe to share, please link up at Jess's blog, "It's All About the Savings" for "What's Cooking Wednesdays"! Hope to see you there!

God bless your cooking!

~Hannah

~Music Mondays~ We Need God!

The need for God in your life is strong.
It is the empty spot. That hole that you feel. HE is what is lacking. "No. No." You might say. You may deny it for years, you may try to fill it with all the pleasures in this world, but that huge hole, that ache and maybe even pain will always be there, till you let Him in! He stands and knocks. He does not barge in or sneak in like satan. He ask and waits. it is your choice. Your decision, whether you open the door and let Him in or not.
You will always have a huge hole, until He makes you whole!
God wants you. He loves you. He gave everything for you and all He ask is for you to live for Him! He ask you to need Him and want Him! He wants to bear your burdens with you! Why should you continue to do it all alone? He is only a prayer away!

Hope you enjoy the song and the beautiful pictures on this youtube! Great for this time of year!

"I Need You"
By JarsofClay
Album: The Eleventh Hour

For more great music to start your week out on the right note, head over to Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace"!
Hope you will share a song too!

Hey, and don't forget to enter my blog giveaways while you are here! I have 4 now and 1 ends this week!
Happy Monday!
~Hannah

~Menu Plan Monday~ Week 7!

I am not creative with breakfast, so I have left it off the post this week! It will probably be mostly cereal though! (If anyone has some breakfast recipes to share, please do!)=)
I need to restock on some groceries finally this week! And have a birthday this weekend so have some special meals planned for that and have to buy some special food! =)
I also hope to get our woodcook stove in this week, (it would be good to get the electric oven fixed too), so that I can bake a cake!
I think I will do a cake mix devils food cake with homemade German chocolate icing! Love 'em!!
I really enjoy joining Menu Plan Monday every week! I hope you will head over to Organize Junkie to check out the hundreds of great menus and a lot of the ladies post recipes and recipe links too! lots of fun and good ideas!
Happy Menu Planning and Monday to you all!
~Hannah

P.S. Hope you check out my giveaways (links on the sidebar)! One ends this week!!

Mon.
lunch= chunk pork & vegetable soup
supper= chili dogs
Tues.
lunch= stir fry pork 'n rice
supper= soup
Wed.
lunch= soup
supper= leftover stir fry pork 'n rice
Thurs.
lunch= pizza
supper= leftover soup
Fri.
lunch= shrimp & pimento cheese sandwiches
supper= salmon (baked), coleslaw and rolls
Sat.
lunch= leftovers
supper= Swiss Chicken casserole (I will share the recipe next Wednesday!)
Sun.
lunch=spaghetti
supper=leftover casserole

~Spiritual Sundays~ When I Survey

For more Spiritual Sunday post, visit Spiritual Sunday's Blog!

With the warm sunny days we have had lately, I am looking forward to Easter! So this Sunday I wanted to share a very special chapter from the Bible and hymn! I hope you enjoy and are in the spirit of Easter and celebrating God's love and Christ sacrifice for YOU!

Isaiah 53
"Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they[a] made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul,[b]and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors."

"When I Survey the Wonderous Cross"

Words by Isaac Watts
Musuc by Lowell Mason

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all."

John Adams ~The Words of Our Founding Fathers~

"No man will contend that a nation can be free that is not governed by fixed laws. All other government than that of permanent known laws is government of mere will and pleasure." - John Adams

In the book "The 5000 Year Leap" this quote by the famous John Adams is under the "22nd Principle, A Free People Should be Goverend by Law and Not by the Whims of Men." (page 243).



If you have not watched the HBO mini series of John Adams, yet, I highly recommend it! I love it, but cry thru most of it!

Every time I read a quote by John Adams now, it is the voice of Paul Giamatti! Lol!

~Friday Follow!~ Welcome to My Blog!

Have you heard about "Friday Follow" yet? If not, hope you join! It is lots of fun! And if you have, thanks for stopping by to say Hi!
Hope you will check out the 4 giveaways I have going on while you are here!
Thanks and God bless your weekend!

~Hannah


Welcome to the Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:

--Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.

--Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.

--Follow as many blogs as you'd like.

--Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.

--Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

~Oh Nelly~ Tea Set or Checkers Set Giveaway!

I am so excited to share this one-of-a-kind Etsy shop with you! OhNelly specializes in all things whimsy!
The first thing that caught my eye is OhNelly's great line of felt tea sets! These are just adorable! And I have never seen such neat checker sets!
OhNelly's sells customized and personalized products. So not only can you give (or buy for yourself) a very unique gift, but you can also have it made especially for that person! The monogrammed felt tea set would be a great birthday or Easter present! And you can get that Personalized Girls Apron and Chefs Hat for the little kitchen helper or a Hostess Half Apron for the chef! ;)
If you are looking for baby gifts there are Personalized Baby Pillows, and adorable baby gifts and clothing!
Also Embroidered kitchen Napkins, totes and much more! It is your one stop shop for unique gifts!
My personal favorites are the aprons, the scrappy shaggy raggy rug, princess checker set and All of the tea sets! Lol! How cute! But I could do all my birthday and Christmas shopping here, easy!


Meet Our Featured Etsy store and Owner!
Here is what owner shared with us:

What inspired the name of your Etsy store? All the names I really wanted for my shop were already taken. Out of pure frustration I said, "Oh Nelly!" I typed it in as a store name and it was accepted!

What inspired you to open an Etsy store? My sister has breast cancer, 6 kids and her husband is a school teacher. I wanted to see if etsy would be a reliable outlet to make some extra cash for her to pay the bills. My first try produced no results and I took everything down from my shop to sell at an auction on behalf of my sister and her family. Recently, I decided to give etsy another try with some helpful insights from a friend who is also an etsy seller. I love to create and etsy gives me a place sell my creations rather than have them pile up in my closet.

Would you like to share a little bit about yourself? I am a stay at home mom of 3 awesome kids! I love to read, travel, sew, dance, be with my family and did I mention sew? I love bright cheery colors and all things whimsical and imaginative.


Big thank you to OhNelly's store who has offered two exciting sets for my bloggers to choose from in a giveaway!

The first set:
Alien Invasion Mini Checkers Set! (mini because it only has 12 playing pieces as opposed to the normal 16). The checker board is made from fabric and is great for floor or table that measures about 15"x15". The playing pieces are wood, painted, glittered and finished with a clear finishing. It comes with a storage bag for the playing pieces.

The second set:

Butterfly Felt Tea Set!

It comes with 7 pieces which include a teapot, 2 tea cups, 2 saucers and 2 cookies. All but the saucers have a pink butterfly embroidered on their fronts. The tea cups are about 2" high and the teapot is about 5 1/2" high.
Now for the Giveaway!
One winner will get to choose the Alien Invasion checkers set OR the Butterfly Felt Tea Set!

Mandatory Entry:
Leave a comment telling which toy you would choose if you won AND visit OhNelly and tell me another product you would like to purchase.
Please leave your email address in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

Extra Entries After completing mandatory Entry:

-Follow my blog (1 entry)

-Add my blog button to your sidebar and leave a link of where I can find it(2 entries)

-Heart OhNelly Etsy Shop (1 entry)

-Purchase a product from OhNelly during the time of this giveaway (5 entries per purchase)

-Write a blog post about this giveaway and leave the link to your post below (5 entries)

That gives you 15 chances to win! Have fun!
Please leave a comment per entry that you qualify for, for each entry to count!
This giveaway is open to the US and Canada and Ends on March 11th at 12 am central. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
The prize will be sent directly from OhNelly to the winner.


Disclaimer:
I did not receive a product or any form of compensation for this post.

~AllegrasCloset~ Lavendar Tutu Review & Giveaway!

Welcome everyone to my new blog feature....AllegrasCloset!! We have teamed up to offer a great giveaway that is any little girls dream and will bring joy to your heart!
As a mom of girls, AllegrasCloset quickly caught my eye! Like most little girls, mine love to dress up and be and feel pretty! They love to be princesses, and to spin and dance! So when I see pretty dresses, dress up clothes and princess-like clothing, I just have to check it out! At AllegrasCloset you can find the sweetest tutus for your little girl and get one for her doll or teddy bear to match! You can also find beautiful dresses and skirts that will make any little girl feel special and some adorable two-piece sets, etc! The Heather Bailey Dress would be great for Easter! And my oldest would love the Redondo Skirt!

Trying to come up with a good Birthday party or know someone who is? You will want to see the "Birthday Party Pack" of tutus!
This would make an excellent party idea for us, since we know a lot of little girls and they would absolutely Love this! We received a lavender tutu from AllegrasCloset yesterday and my girls were beside themselves with surprise and excitement! It was so wonderful to see their faces and since then, watch them twirl and play! I love how the tutu is one-size that fits ages 6 months to 6 years, so that it fits both my girls and it is very easy to put on and take off.

Meet Our Featured Etsy store and Owner!

Here is what Laurel shared with us about her and her store, AllegrasCloset:

What inspired the name of your Etsy store?
My daughter's name is Allegra, and when I started making clothes it was exclusively for her. So when I needed a "name" for myself, I thought Allegra' Closet fit well.

What insipred you to open your Etsy store?
Before I opened my Etsy store I was really enjoying myself doing craft shows. I loved talking to other crafters, and getting encouragement and feedback and ideas from them. I really wanted to expand and do more shows, but with three children and a part time job, I really couldn't fit anything else into my schedule. When I heard about Etsy I was thrilled to have an online outlet for my creativity. (And another reason to need to buy fabric :)

Would you like to share a little bit about yourself?
I was born and raised in sunny Santa Barbara, CA. I grew up in a very creative atmosphere. My Mom was a seamstress and my Dad an engineer and they always encouraged me to make things rather than buy them. My ballet teacher always used to let up help with the costumes for our performances, and before long I was spending all my free time creating something or another. After high school I moved to Indiana to go to Butler University for Dance Pedagogy. There I was able to help out in the costume shops, learn more sewing techniques,and work with more lovely fabric. I also met my husband Nate while we were at Butler. We were married in 2003, and Allegra came along about a year later. I guess you could say she redirected my sewing and creative habits.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
God has really blessed me in the past few years. We have been so lucky as to have 3 healthy children and another on the way, we have a wonderful church; Calvary Tabernacle in Indianapolis, and a great creative outlet on Etsy. I hope that all your readers will become familiar with Etsy, even if they don't find what they're looking for in Allegra's Closet, let's all try to support the handmade movement!

I agree! Etsy is a great way to support other moms and families just like you! And if you are not familiar with Etsy, here is a great way to visit and start checking it out!

Now for the Giveaway!
One winner will receive a lavender tutu, like the one I received for this review!

Mandatory Entry:
Visit AllegrasCloset and tell me another product you would like to purchase.
Please leave your email address in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

Extra Entries After completing mandatory Entry:

-Follow my blog (1 entry)

-Add my blog button to your sidebar and leave a link of where I can find it(2 entries)

-Heart AllegrasCloset Etsy Shop (1 entry)

-Purchase a product from AllegrasCloset during the time of this giveaway (5 entries per purchase)

-Write a blog post about this giveaway and leave the link to your post below (5 entries)

That gives you 15 chances to win! Have fun!
Please leave a comment per entry that you qualify for, for each entry to count!
This giveaway is open to the US and Canada and Ends on March 11th at 12 am central. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
The prize will be sent directly from AllegrasCloset to the winner.


Disclaimer:
For purposes of this review, I received a product from AllegrasCloset.

~Beautiful Blogger Award!~

I was very surprised and excited to receive a blog award yesterday from Buttons and Bows!! Thank you so much Rebecca, for giving this to me!

I am looking forward to giving the award to some fantastic bloggers!

The rules for accepting this award:

1.Thank the person that gave you the award

2.Pass this award on to 15 bloggers you've recently discovered
and whom you think are fantastic!

3.Contact the Bloggers you pick to let them know they've won

4.State 7 Things about yourself!

How fun!
Here are the seven things about me:

1. I grew up in a Christian home, but it was also very troubled. I finally accepted Christ as my personal Lord and Savior when I was in my late teens.

2. As a teenager, my family lived very primitive and I got to do a lot of hard physical work. Some of the things I did: cut down trees, cut and split firewood, harness mules, milk cows, garden by hand, haul water and help Dad do carpentry work.

3. I love all things cooking! Recipes, chef shows, cookware, and my dream kitchen is loaded! Lol!

4. I love the outdoors and being close to God's amazing creation! Gardening, plants, animals, etc!

5. Our two children were born at home and breastfed till they were 17 or 18 months old!

6. I enjoy learning about herbs, natural healing and making home remedies!

7. I spend way to much time on the computer, but I love blogging and most of my friends are online!=)

Now here are the 15 blogs that I have chosen to give this award to:

1. Sunflower Faith

2. Training Up My Children

3. The Well Trained Homeschool

4. Aspiring Homemaker

5. Yellow Tennessee

6. Shepherding Kind Hearts

7. The Mahogany Way

8. Thyme At Home

9. Finding Joy in My Kitchen

10. Living Life on His Terms

11. A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

12. Life As A Wife

13. Emmy Mom--One Day At a Time

14. It's All About the Savings

15. Running Away? I'll Help You Pack

~Music Mondays~ "You Put this Love In My Heart"

Hello Music Monday friends! Hope you all had a lovely Valentines day!

I wanted to share a song about love today, since I did not make it for Spiritual Sundays, yesterday. You may have heard other artist sing this great song, but this is my favorite version! Hope you enjoy it too!

"You Put This Love In My Heart"

By A Capella

For more great Music to start your week out on the right note, visit Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace"!

And don't forget to enter the giveaways that are going on here at my blog!

Superstructs Building set (ends 2/25)

Ultimate Lego Crayon set (ends 3/8)

Have a Happy Monday and God bless your week!

~Hannah

~Menu Plan Monday~ Cooking From The Pantry!

We are getting more snow here in the south today! It is so pretty!
Made donuts for a treat today and had our leftover Valentine meal for lunch today! Yum! And very stuffed now! =) Hope everyone one had a great Valentines and is staying warm and safe!

There are hundreds of blogs to surf and great menu plans and recipes to find, and they are all linked up at Organize Junkie! I always wish I had more time to check them out each week! I always find new ideas and recipes that I can try! It is lots of fun and helpful!
Also be sure you enter my blog giveaways while you are here! The links are on my sidebar. =)

Here is my tentative menu for this week! And once again I am using food from our pantry: canned and pickled veggies, canned pork and chicken, sausage from the freezer, beans, rice, oats, etc.

Mon.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= leftover ham, heart shaped cheese scones, & green bean casserole
supper= ? probably sandwiches
Tues.
breakfast= oatmeal
lunch=left overs
supper= chili
Wed.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= I may make asparagus crepes if I have enough ham!
supper= chili
Thurs.
breakfast=pancakes
lunch= stir fry chicken 'n veggies & rice
supper=chili
Fri.
breakfast= pancakes
lunch= leftover stir fry chicken 'n veggies & rice
supper=chili dogs
Sat.
breakfast= cereal
lunch= pork chops and dressing
supper= vegetable soup
Sun.
breakfast= oatmeal
lunch= pork chops and dressing
supper= vegetable soup


If you are looking for a great Planner that you can print out, to help keep up with your menus and daily and monthly goals, you should visit, "If Mama Ain't Planning"! I just love this planner! It helps me with my daily devotions too!

~GaddyNipper Crayons~ Review and Giveaway!

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED*
I am so excited to feature an Etsy shop for you all, here on my blog!
I love Etsy shops and I thought my blog would be a great way to help get the word out about some of these really neat shops!
So I present to you today......GaddyNipper Crayons! I was very happy to find this shop that sells the neatest crayons! "Encouraging Creativity" is her motto and she has over 100 crayon sets to choose from and custom makes sets for you also!
Children love to see their names and the letters of their names and at GaddyNipper, you can buy "Your Name in crayons" set, or for a birthday, how about the "Lollie" crayons with your child's age!

So whether you have a girl that likes princesses and cupcakes or a boy that like trains, cars or spiderman, you are sure to find the perfect gifts at GaddyNipper crayons! I am very excited about the Easter sets that will be a perfect addition to the Easter basket this spring or perfect size to hid with the Easter eggs! =)

Want to learn more about GaddyNipper Crayons?
Here is what the owner shared with us:

What inspired the name of your Etsy store?
I don't remember exactly where the name of my store came from. It's just something my kids came up with and it stuck.

What inspired you to open your Etsy store?
I was planning my son's 1st birthday and was looking for Thomas crayons and couldn't find what I was looking for so I decided to make them myself. I had so much fun that I decided to sell my work on Etsy. It started with three designs and has just grown from there.

Would you like to share a little bit about yourself?
I am a stay at home, busy mom of two beautiful children. I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. My children are my inspiration. They give me advice and criticism for all of my creations.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
I love what I do and hope to keep bringing smiles to children all over the world.

Now we have a Giveaway from GaddyNipper Crayons!!!!
Giveaway:
One winner will receive a Ultimate Lego crayon set like the one I received for this review!
The ultimate Lego crayon set comes in ten colors: red, blue, green, yellow, orange, light purple, lime green, teal, brown and pink. Each crayon measures approximately 1.75" x .75" and is approximately .5" thick.
My children loves these! They are the perfect size for little hands and they are so much fun to color and play with! The colors are bright and the shapes are new and exciting!

We were very happy to see these in the mail yesterday and I really liked the label on the package, which read "Thanks for building memories with us"! How cute and true! My children have really been into playing with blocks lately and the youngest is wanting to color pictures more while we are doing homeschool, so these were perfect!

Wouldn't you love to win a set of these for your children?Mandatory Entry:
Visit GaddyNipper Crayons and tell me another product you would like to purchase.
Please leave your email address in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

Extra Entries After completing mandatory Entry:

-Follow my blog (1 entry)

-Add my blog button to your sidebar and leave a link of where I can find it(2 entries)

-Heart GaddyNipper Crayons Etsy Shop (1 entry)

-Follow GaddyNipper Crayons blog (1 entry)

-Become a Facebook Fan of GaddyNipper Crayons (1 entry)

-Purchase a product from GaddyNipper Crayons during the time of this giveaway (5 entries per purchase)

-Write a blog post about this giveaway and leave the link to your post below (5 entries)

That gives you 16 chances to win! Have fun!

Please leave a comment per entry that you qualify for, for each entry to count!
This giveaway is open to the US and Canada and Ends on March 8th. The winner will be chosen at random using random.org.
The prize will be sent directly from GaddyNipper shop to the winner.


Disclaimer:

For purposes of this review, I recieved a product from GaddyNipper Crayons.

~Benjamin Franklin Fridays~ The Words of Our Founding Fathers

"The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to
the creditor, disdain the chain, preserve your freedom; and maintain your independency: be industrious and free; be frugal and free. At present, perhaps, you may think yourself in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but,
For age and want, save while you may;
No morning sun lasts a whole day,
as Poor Richard says."

~Benjamin Franklin "Way to Wealth"

"Valentines Tree"

Living in the south, you often hear of or can see people's Christmas lights left up all year round! But I have never been one to try it, till this year, King Ed suggested again (we had talked about it after Christmas in '08), that we leave the Christmas tree up and have it for a celebration tree! That way we can decorate it for other Holidays and Birthdays, etc!

I took off the Christmas decorations after New Years, and the girls have been hanging their homeschool crafts on it till earlier this week. Then we took a heart shaped cookie cutter and made a bunch of hearts to hang on it! The girls love it and it is pretty!

I think it would be great in future years for Valentines, that we write Bible verses about love on each heart, or just write the passage on each heart and for Valentines day, sit and read each passage as a family!

What unique ways are you celebrating Valentines this year?

~What's Cooking Wednesdays~ Asparagus Ham Crepes And Strawberry Cake Roll!

Happy Valentines Week! =)
I hope you all can take a minute to share a easy, frugal and healthy recipe on your blog and link up to Jess's blog, "It's All About the Savings", for "What's Cooking Wednesday"!!
Today I am sharing one of our favorite and special meals (asparagus ham crepes) maybe not very frugal for some, but it is a good treat for a Valentines breakfast or brunch! I usually serve it with scrambled eggs!
The other recipe, below (Strawberry Cake roll) I have not tried Yet! But it looks very simple and easy! I have never used marscarpone cheese, but cream cheese should work! =) Also could make it with a sugar substitute like splenda or honey....Hummm.....I need to try that!!
Both recipes are from Taste of home! And if you hit the recipe name, the link should take you to the page, where you can see a picture of the dish!
Hope you enjoy!
God bless and Happy Valentines to you and yours!
~Hannah


Asparagus Ham Crepes Recipe
8 Servings
Prep: 25 min. + chilling Bake: 20 min

Ingredients
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
24 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
8 thin slices deli ham
8 slices Swiss cheese

MUSHROOM CHEESE SAUCE:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1 cup water
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup half-and-half cream
1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1 tablespoon minced chives
Directions
In a blender, combine the first six ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet; pour 2 tablespoons batter into center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Remove to a wire rack. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing skillet as needed. When cool, stack crepes with waxed paper or paper towels in between.
In a large skillet, bring 1/2 in. of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and immediately place asparagus in ice water; drain and pat dry.
On each crepe, layer a ham slice, Swiss cheese slice and three asparagus spears. Roll up and place in a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish.
In a saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour and bouillon. Gradually stir in water. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; stir in cheddar cheese until melted. Stir in the cream, mushrooms and chives. Pour over crepes.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 8 crepes.



Strawberry Cake Roll Recipe
12 ServingsPrep: 45 min. Bake: 10 min. + chilling

Ingredients
4 eggs, separated
2/3 cup sugar, divided
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

FILLING:
1 carton (8 ounces) Mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
Directions
Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Coat a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with cooking spray; line with waxed paper and coat the paper with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, milk and lemon peel. Gradually stir in flour. Add cream of tartar to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Gradually fold into egg yolk mixture.
Carefully spread into prepared pan. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes. Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Gently peel off waxed paper. Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Cool completely on a wire rack.
In a small bowl, combine cheese and lemon juice. Unroll cake; spread filling evenly over cake to within 1/2 in. of edges. Sprinkle with sugar and top with strawberries; roll up again. Cover and chill for 1 hour before serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Refrigerate leftovers.
Yield: 12 servings.

"Love Your Heart" by Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas (Book Review)

"Love Your Heart" By Tim McGraw and Tom Douglas

Illustrated by Abigail Marble

Forward by Faith Hill, Gracie, Maggie & Audrey McGraw

My Review:

With bright and beautiful illustrations and font that catches the eyes and brings the pages to life, this children's book will easily finds it's way into the hands and hearts of the young and old alike.

Young Katie is excited about her school talent show! But she has one dilemma, which talent to choose? She has so many! With loving advice from her dad and help from her dog, Palio, she finally has a one-of-a-kind performance picked out! However when the night of the show arrives Katie finds her friend backstage crying. Katie quickly comes up with a plan, and what happens that night becomes a selfless act of kindness.

Amusing and realistic, children will learn valuable lessons about unique, individual talents, kindness, love and beauty that is on the inside!

I highly recommend this book!!!!

Disclosure:
I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

~Music Mondays~ "Just Between You and Me"

In homeschool, Princess S. has been learning about "feelings" and today's was "anger". The verses to read were Matthew 5:21-24 and Ephesians 4:26.

I am a firm believer in making things right with whomever you have had a disagreement with, before you go to bed at night. We never know what tomorrow may bring. We never know when it will be someones last day. Life is just full of uncertainties. But one thing is for sure, it does no one good to hold bad feelings or to keep from telling or doing something for someone. If you want to do something good for someone, you do not need to put that off till tomorrow either! So whether you need to make something right, or tell someone how special they are, do it before the sun goes down!

I also believe that we must take time to talk to God Everyday! The time we spend with Him is SO Important! On days where I get carried away and do not spend some of my time in prayer and reading my Bible, I can really feel the lack of spiritual food! My time talking to God and listening to His Words is very vital to my life.

Here is a song that was so much my hearts cry as a teenager, as I struggled with all that was pulling me in a million directions. In the end I always found myself at the foot of the cross, knowing that this was the only way to have peace in my life.

"Just Between you and me"

By dc Talk

For more great songs to get your week going on an upbeat, visit Shawntele's blog, Saved By Grace and the great blogs linked up there!

Oh, and if you have not already, check out my great giveaway and enter for a chance to win!

~Menu Plan Monday~ From The Pantry & Recipe Links!

We had some company last week, so made a lot of pinto beans and had a lot of burritos! Yum! I did not get around to the chicken and dumplings or corn casserole, so trying the casserole today! And I am planning on doing BBQ this week instead of dumplings!
Last night for supper we had leftover steak, scrambled eggs and toast! It was sooo Good!
I hope to make some goodies for Valentines day, but have not decided exactly what yet.....I do have a big meal planned for that day though!
For hundreds of blogs to surf and great menu plans and recipes, visit Organize Junkie.

Here is my tentative menu for this week!

Mon.
breakfast= oatmeal and raisins
lunch= corn casserole
supper= salmon patties & pinto beans

Tues.
breakfast= corn casserole
lunch=left overs
supper= BBQ chicken, mac 'n cheese, and purple hull peas

Wed.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= Southern Sloppy Joe's
supper= leftover BBQ, mac'n cheese & peas

Thurs.
breakfast= oatmeal
lunch= vegetable soup
supper= Sloppy Joe's and home style french fries

Fri.
breakfast= cold cereal
lunch= leftover soup
supper= sauerkraut and sausage

Sat.
breakfast= omelets
lunch= leftover soup
supper= sauerkraut and sausage

Sun.
breakfast= cereal
lunch= leftover soup
supper= ham, heart shaped cheese scones, and green bean casserole


Don't forget to check out my blog giveaway and enter for a chance to win!
Happy Menu Planning and happy Monday!
God bless!
~Hannah

~Spiritual Sundays~ Though None Go With Me, Still I will Follow

For more Spiritual Sunday post, visit the great blogs linked up HERE.

Way to often I feel like Elijah, crying out to God, wondering if I am the only one!

Am I the only stay-at-home, mom and wife who is committed to her family and enjoys being home?
Am I the only 20 something yr. old who is extremely pro-life and believes that birth control is bad?
Am I the only woman like this around where I live, or in the whole world?
Am I the only one who is grieved at the sinfulness of this country and the thousands of babies that are killed everyday?
Am I the only woman who is God-fearing and trust God with every area of her life and seeks to live daily by His laws?
Praise the Lord that I have my faith and my God! I am comforted knowing that God is here for me and with Him and my family, I am never alone! "Though none go with me, still I will follow"!

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, even though none may go with, even though the way may be narrow and lonely, with the cross before me, I will put the world behind me! He is my strength and my best friend. God is so Good!
Here are the lyrics to the song, "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" below (though I have sang some of the verses a little different). May you be comforted knowing that even though you may feel alone at times, God is always there with you! And the rewards for following Him are the greatest!

I have decided, to follow Jesus,
I have decided, to follow Jesus,
I have decided, to follow Jesus,
No turning back, no turning back.

VERSE 2
Though I may wonder, I still will follow,
Though I may wonder, I still will follow,
Though I may wonder, I still will follow,
No turning back, no turning back.

VERSE 3
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
No turning back, no turning back!

VERSE 4
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
No turning back, no turning back!

VERSE 5
Will you decide now, to follow Jesus,
Will you decide now, to follow Jesus,,
Will you decide now, to follow Jesus,,
No turning back, no turning back! "

Coming Soon- Yogurt Maker Product Review!

I love kitchens, and I have a Long wish list of things I would have in my dream kitchen! Some bar stools and a island is on the top of the list, then a Kitchen Aid Mixer, sprout grower, and on and on! I am very excited that CSN stores is giving me the opportunity to mark off one item on my list! They have offered me a review on the Tribest Yolife Yogurt Maker!!!! I can hardly wait!

Follow my blog and come check back often so you can read the review!

Snow Days! And Frosty the Snowman Troubles!

We had a great snow last week! It lasted for 3 days and was very pretty and a lot of fun! I guessed we had 8 in. of snow, and they said there was 9 in. in Jackson, TN. so guess I was close! I think it was the most snow I have ever seen, unless I saw some when I was little and just do not remember it!
The above picture is a view from our kitchen window on Fri. (29th) while it was snowing!
We did not get out and play in it on the first day much. But on Sat., the girls and I went out to sled in the front yard for a while! It was pretty fun, but I do not remember it being that much work! Lol! I also do not remember sweating that much! =) Princess S. had a great time, but Princess A. kept landing flat on her back, so she did not enjoy it much, but still was upset when stopped playing!
I did not take any pictures of us out sledding and thankfully King Ed does not use the camcorder much, since he got a big kick out of me sledding down the hill!
We did go out and build snowmen on Sunday afternoon! Sarah was happy about that, till....well, read on and you will see!

Princess S. said we had to make 10 snowmen! Mommy got to make them all (don't laugh, I have never claimed to be a good snowman builder!), with Princess S. helping and finding rocks for the faces and sticks for arms!

Here is her first "frosty the Snow man"! It was fun and then after we put the hat on she got upset, because he was mot moving! Uh-oh! Poor little girl! She was sooo upset, she cried! It made me sad! So, we tried on a different hat!

Still no movement! Well, maybe it was because mommy was helping? Any tips?

Maybe do not read or watch Frosty the snowman? Lol!

Well, I hope she does not get upset about it again. I am glad she has a great imagination, but it is hard to explain stuff sometimes! =) I guess I will continue to learn as I go. *Sigh*!

Hope you all had a good time playing in the snow with your children, and learning lessons!

God bless!

~Hannah

Join me for a Melaleuca Presentation!

I was very excited to receive our two huge boxes from Melaleuca! One box had a ton of their products for us to start using and try out and the other box has Membership kits so that I can help others start their own Melaleuca, home business!
I have started giving online presentations, so anyone who would like to see it and learn about this wonderful opportunity and their excellent products, please send me an email to hannah@saferforyourhome.com and I will set up a presentation for you! Presentations are easy and do not take long. Just send me an email and let me know when would be a good time for you, I set it up and send you the link and a passcode.
Hope to hear from you soon!
~Hannah (Above is a few of their products that we received!)

~Giveaway!~ Superstructs Big Builder Building 126 Piece Set

*GIVEAWAY CLOSED*

I love to reminisce on the happy memories I have of playing at my grandparents houses! Sitting on the high bar stools at one grandparents and playing with my dad's old toys at my other grandparents. Some of my favorites of those old toys was the old Fiddlestix in a Canister!
So when CSN contacted me to do a giveaway with them I was thrilled to find Superstructs and knew right away that they would make a great gift!

Before I get to the giveaway, I wanted to tell you a little bit about the CSN stores! I was very excited to find them! They have over 200 stores that carry just about everything you can imagine, from bedding, furniture and office supplies, to games, toys, dishes and shoes! And all at really good prices! After you visit their online stores you can easily see how they are one of the Top 3 online shopping sites in the U.S.!

Now for the Giveaway! One winner will get a "Superstructs Big Builder Building 126 Piece Set"!
Made of durable plastic and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, this building set will keep creative minds busy making a working forklift, dump truck, crane, and utility truck! Comes with a kid friendly, 32 page Illustrated construction guide.

To enter giveaway:
Mandatory entry:
Leave a comment telling me something else you found at one of the CSN stores that caught your eye.

Please include your email in your comment or have it visible on your profile.

For extra entries (after you do the mandatory entry):

Follow my blog (1 extra entry)

Grab my button and place it on your blog and leave address where I can find it (2 extra entries)

Blog about this giveaway and leave address where I can find it (2 extra entries)

That is six chances to win! Have fun!

This giveaway is open to US and Canada and will end on February 25th at midnight. All entries will be added up and one winner will be chosen using random.org.
The prize will be sent directly from CSN to the winner.

I did not receive a product or any other form of compensation for writing this post.

~What's Cooking Wednesdays~ Heart-Shaped Cheese Scones

While looking for some heart shaped goodies to make for our Anniversary one year, I found these Heart-Shaped Cheese Scones at Taste of Home.
After making them once, I fell in love with them! But then again I am a bread lover anyway!
These are a great alternative to plain biscuits or rolls and with Valentines coming up, would make a pretty addition to your special dinner! As I mentioned, I like making them for our Anniversary and other special occasions! Hope you and yours enjoy them too!

Heart-Shaped Cheese Scones
12 Servings
Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Ingredients
2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 tablespoon milk
Directions
•In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking
soda; stir in cheese. In small bowl, combine egg, sour cream, oil
and milk. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients; stir in
egg mixture just until moistened.

•Turn onto a floured surface and knead gently 10-12 times. Gently pat
out to 1/3-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. heart-shaped
cutter. Place 2 in. apart on a greased baking sheet. Bake at
425° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to
wire rack. Serve warm.
Yield: about 1 dozen.

For more great recipes, visit Jess's blog for "What's Cooking Wednesdays"!

~Music Mondays~ I Understand

Wow. This is amazing. Another great moment in my day that you can clearly see God's hand!

After reading a very powerful testimony of a friend, I decided to find a song for Music Monday, and after going over some A Cappella songs I stumbled upon "I Understand"!! I have not heard this song since I was a child! How great is that! PTL! PTL! I have posted the lyrics below since I think you will want to read them, as you hear this song over and over!

For more great songs, visit Shawntele's blog, "Saved By Grace"!

"I Understand"

by

A Cappella

From the album: "We Have Seen His Glory"

Thank you Jesus for saving my soul
Thank you Lord for inviting
You're preparing my heavenly goal
Hardly wait, so exciting
Now I'm part of the family
This is something to live for
You're provide my liberty
Making me want to give more

Thank you Jesus, you opened my eyes
Showing truth from the fiction
Help me better to realize
There's no contradiction
You are God You became a man
Came to love and to heal us
Now the gospel I understand
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Chorus:
You are God you became a man
Now this gospel I understand
And you've done everything you can
Now this gospel I understand

Thank you Jesus, for loving me still
Ways that we cannot measure
Give me courage for doing your will
Serving you is a pleasure
You've created my heart to sing
All the world's gonna hear it
You're Creator of everything
Fill me now with your Spirit

Thank you Jesus, for taking me home
You're the one who is knowing
Stay with me so I'm never alone
Everywhere that we're going
Guiding me down the narrow road
Showing me the direction
Taking over my heavy load
Promising resurrection

Repeat Chorus (x2)

I understand, I understand
I can, I can understand it

Thank you Jesus, you opened my eyes
Showing truth from the fiction
Help me better to realize
There's no contradiction
You are God You became a man
Came to love and to heal us
Now the gospel I understand
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Repeat Chorus (x2