Wordless Wednesday

This makes me happy.  My son has had a difficult time comprehending multiplication.  Today he's happily working on multiplying 2-digit by 2-digit numbers.  

And he understands it!

What has made you happy today?

Thankful Thursday

51) A God who provides for all my needs. Phil 4:19-20.

52) Neosporin and Hydrogen Peroxide.

53) Adults willing to teach my children in Awana and Sunday school.

54) Non-rainy days.

55) Coffee.  Enough said.

56) Quiet time to spend with the Lord.

57) Friends who continue to challenge me to grow in my walk with Christ.

58) Phineas and Ferb.  That is one funny cartoon and my kids love it!

59) A glorified body when I get to Heaven.

60) Daily hugs from my kids.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy National Cream Filled Donut Day!

How 9/11 Influenced My Day Today

Today is the 10th anniversary of the attack on the United States.  I was asleep as the first plane crashed.  My husband, son and I were living with my mom in California, so for us, the attack started before 6 am.  Mom woke us up and we watched in horror as the second plane crashed, the Pentagon was hit and the plane went down in Pennsylvania.  I tried for hours to contact family back on the east coast, finally reaching them later in the afternoon.  It was a stressful day, not wanting to leave the television, but needing to care for my 9 month old son.

The next day, my husband contacted the Marine Corps and tried desperately to re-enlist.  It wasn't meant to be at the time, but that day set things in motion.  In 2003, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves and spent some time in Iraq with them.  After he returned, he enlisted in the PA Army National Guard, went through Officer Candidate School and is now an officer with them.  He spent last year in Afghanistan and is getting ready for another deployment in the near future.

All of this has shaped my life today.  Specifically today.  Today I spent part of my afternoon in a meeting with other family members of my husband's troop.  Today was the first Family Readiness Group meeting for our troop.  The very first one.  I have to admit, I was nervous.  I've never been a part of an FRG, in fact during my previous two deployments I had no contact from any FRG group.  So when I was asked not only to be involved but to be President of our group, I readily said yes.

Why would I agree to not only be a part but be the President?  After going through two deployments with the only information I receive being from my husband, I don't want anyone else to go through that.  I want this deployment to be different.  I want the families to be able to rely on each other and step-up to help each other.  I want us supported so our soldiers will KNOW that their families back home are being taken care of. They will feel better knowing their families are being looked after.  No, I cannot be everything to everyone, but I've got a shoulder and I can listen and empathize with the other family members.

I am already feeling better about this deployment.  I know I'll have other wives to talk to, other mom's who are dealing with the same child separation issues that I'll be dealing with.  I can't tell you how good it feels to know that I won't be alone this time.

I don't know that my husband would be back in the military had 9/11 not occurred.  I did know from our first date how much my husband loves his country and that he had served in the Marine Corps in the 90's.  But I had no idea I would be a military wife and be so involved with the families.  Would I change it?  No.  I'm glad to be here.  I'm glad to support my husband.  I'm glad he helps protect my freedom.  I'm glad I am able to work with the families.  I'm glad to be exactly where I am today.

Ham and Broccoli Ring

I haven’t made this meal in a long time.  It’s a very simple recipe and very tasty.  I’ve decided to go ahead and post this here for anyone who is interested.  Did I mention it’s soooo good?  Well, it is!

2 cans crescent rolls (keep refrigerated until ready to use or they get sticky)

1 lb. sliced deli ham, chopped

½ lb fresh broccoli, finely chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 block Swiss cheese, shredded

4 Tbsp Dijon mustard

4 tsp parsley flakes

2 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix all ingredients in bowl except for garlic.  Place your crescent rolls on your round stone.  Looking at your stone like it is a clock, place the first can of crescent rolls at 12, 3, 6 and 9, then place the remaining rolls in the first can in the gaps.  With the second can, fill in the rest of e gaps so you have 16 pieces around the stone.  There should be a well in the middle and the rolls should hang off of the stone.  Press the rolls together to make a flat ring on the stone.  Spoon in your mixture and then wrap the excess rolls around the top of the ring and press into the center to close the ring.  Press your minced garlic on the top of the ring and bake for 20-25 minutes or until mixture is heated and rolls are golden brown and cooked.

Very simple, very good, and the one I made for dinner tonight is very gone.  Enjoy!

Thankful Thursday

41) Rain to water my grass and plants.

42) A working dehumidifier and sump pump in my rained out basement.

43) A good first week of school for my kids.

44) A first job for my oldest daughter.

45) A freezer full of meals.

46) Healthy, growing children who eat all of our food.

47) Books to read to help me grow closer to God.

48) Tylenol.  Yes, I’m thankful for Tylenol.

49) The sound of kids playing happily.

50) A husband who loves me and shows it in his actions towards me.

Back to Cooking

With summer over and a full schedule of kids activities looming ahead, I absolutely need to get back into once-a-month cooking.  I've taken parts of the summer off but now I'm back into full freezer mode.  Here is what we'll be eating this month.  As always, if you'd like a recipe, please let me know which one and I'll send it to you.

1.     Bacon Wrapped Tenderloin

2.     Bird's Nest Pie

3.     Chicken and Dumplings

4.     Chicken Enchiladas

5.     Chicken Manicotti

6.     Chicken Pie

7.     Crock Pot Corn Chowder

8.     Crock Pot Cowboy Stew

9.     Dried Beef Casserole

10. Fragrant Sticky Chicken

11. Ham & Broccoli Ring

12. Maple Glazed Stuffed Roast Pork

13. Marinated Flank Steak

14. Meal-in-One Potatoes

15. Oven Baked Pork Chops

16. Parmesan Dijon Chicken

17. Pasta and Sausage Bake

18. Pesto Chicken Packets

19. Pork Tender Wellington

20. Saucy Chicken Sandwiches

21. Steak Fajitas

22. Stuffed Sausage Balls

I realize I'm only doing 22 meals, but with leftovers, it rounds out to about 30.  The only problem now is that I need to shop today, and it's raining.  In fact, it will rain all week here.  So, I guess I'm just stuck shopping in the rain this month.  Oh well, at least I'll have something to do inside of the house in the rain over the next few days!

Oh, and if you're on facebook, check out these two pages:  Eat Now, Eat Later:The Art of Planning Meals in Advance, the owner of this company is who I learned to once-a-month cook from.  Also, one of my newest favorite pages, Crock Pot Girls.  Lots of recipes there and they are all crock pot meals!  A big time saver since 3 days a week I'll be gone during normal cooking times.

Summer Vacation

Today is officially the last day of summer vacation.  #2 and #3 start back with their cyber school tomorrow and #1 starts her first job tomorrow.  It's been a fun summer and we're spending our last day with Grandma coming over for a birthday dinner for my husband.  Here are some pics from our fun summer.

#3 in her ballet recital.

#2 playing chess with friends.

Seth, #2 and Grandpa shooting BB Guns.

Seth and his mom eating crabs.

Me with 2 friends in Kentucky at the National Volunteer Workshop for the Army National Guard.

Kid #1, my brother Sam, #3 and #2 at a Phillies game.

Kids #1 and #3 at a special Tinkerbell Tea party.

Labor of Love

Picture from fanpop

I'm blogging today over at Today's Housewife.  Come read about my Labor of Love and how you can labor with love.

Thankful Thursday

31) Birthday celebrations.

32) My whole family living together.

33) One more weekend of Summer vacation.

34) An undamaged house after the hurricane and earthquake last week.

35) 2 devoted cats.

36) Friends for my kids.

37) My friends.

38) A God who loves me when I don't deserve it.

39) The gift of peace working in my life.

40) Going out to dinner and getting dessert just because it was my hubby's birthday.

What are YOU thankful for today?