Wednesday!

Yes!!!! Another week over 1/2 way completed!

I went to Curves. I placed our produce co-op order.

School didn't go according to our normal schedule this a.m. because we discovered we were out of TWO essentials: milk and dog food. While at Sam's, I picked up 3 types of cheese and 10 lbs of beans. I think I had a craving for beans and rice. ::snort::

Nolan and Zander carry 25 lbs of bird seed and dream....

of hefting 52 lbs of dog food!

We DID manage to school in the afternoon which is pretty amazing for the younger ones and I. We are typically useless for anything but crafts and games in the afternoon.

I decided to get some beans going in the crock pot. My thought was that I could later turn them into refriend beans. Josiah loves to throw beans and cheese in a tortilla for a quick snack/lunch. One thing led to another and before I knew it I'd thrown all the ingredients for our favorite refried beans into the crock pot...along with a cup of rice because I wanted it to thicken up and I didn't want to drain the spicey liquid. It worked wonderful. At 5 hours I had some savory beans and rice for dinner instead of a steak.....and at 8 hours I had only to stir to get refried beans...no fat. LOL

Jamin and I continued to work through the HUGE curriculum for driving in TX. I can't believe all the work that goes into getting a permit or license down here. Good stuff - but surprising - I've not noticed the drivers down here to be any better than any other state we've lived in...and considerably worse when it rains! ::snort:: ::ducking::

Mike came home and burned the steaks for me. I fielded several phone calls while making bisquits, fruit, and oven fries....Jamin threw a "man's salad" together. Do y'all know what a mans salad is? HUGE pieces of lettuce, quarters of red peppers, and quarters of carrots....very basic but manly, yes! LOL

While we were all bustling to get dinner on the table, Stacia came running in with Arielle following....

"I dit - I dit"

Oy vey - WHAT did she do NOW????? She went potty in the toilet! I think she is training herself....I'd best get on board. ::snort:: Quite the change from Zander who cared NOTHING about such things until he was past 3.

The younger ones, Michael, and I, headed to a new building area to find an errant rocket. We didn't find it. The older boys finished cleaning up dinner and met us. It was a great night for a walk.....lots of cool breeze...maybe fall will reach us here eventually.

Josiah had his first college exam today. He's not home but I trust it went well. He has another one on Friday.

I believe the Students are arriving back for Master's Commission this week. Bre and Krista both report being busy with preparations. The first week is always an orientation and a big trip up to the mountains/retreat etc. The second year students arrived last week. Bre was still trying to find a few more host homes for students last time I talked to her.

BBQ Meatballs (Freezer/Crockpot Meal)

Meatballs:
3 lbs ground beef (I use turkey these days)
1 12 oz can evaporated milk (I do whatever I think I should do)
1 C oatmeal
1 C cracker crumbs (or another C oatmeal)
2 eggs
1/2 C chopped onions (or more)
2 tsp garlic powder (use fresh)
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp chili powder

Sauce:
2 C Catsup
1 C Rapadura (brown sugar)
1/2 tsp liquid smoke (WHAT is this stuff - Zander won't eat this meal so I use it)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (I use fresh)
1/4 C chopped onion

To make meatballs, combine ingredients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut size balls. Place meatballs in a single layer on wax paper-lined cookie sheets; freeze until sold. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until read to cook.

To make sauce, combine ingredients and stir until "sugar" dissolves. Place frozen meatballs in a 13 x 9 inch baking pan; pour on the sauce. Bake at 350* for an hour.

Yield 80 meatballs.

I'm trying to get favorites on the blog s0 that I'm not at the whim of "I Don't Know" who puts my cookbooks in strange places. I use this sauce as our BBQ sauce - you can use LESS sugar. I've used this over meatloaf. It's WONDERFUL to have the meatballs in the freezer - you can make so many DIFFERENT meals with them. In a pinch you can even buy Sam's meatballs and top with sauce. LOL

I have a lot of sauce recipes to throw in a crock pot or oven with meatballs. LOL

For more yummy eats check my recipe index.

Menu for 17 September

Yeah - I KNOW it's Wed - but remember I couldn't do my Sat chores on Saturday. ::snort::

Monday - Shepherd's Pie

Tuesday - BBQ Meatballs & Rice - Crockpot

Wed - Steak Burn, Corn on the Cob

Thursday - Chicken - Crockpot

Friday - Pizza - HOMEMADE - I can do this even though Jamin isn't home. ::snort:: I'm not sure if I'll do deep dish or "normal", but we'll have fun!

**I'm not sure what I'll do with that whole chicken in the crockpot - feel free to send your suggestions! LOL

Tuesday

Woohoo! We're getting it nailed down. We finished school. That's about it. I made BBQ meatballs and rice for dinner. I left it in the crockpot and rice steamer and left for Bible Study. Bible Study was fun. We're doing one of Carole Kent's "Becoming a Woman of Influence" studies: Six Keys to Lasting Friendship. I talked with the ladies about what we'd like to do next. We have two homeschoolers, two retirees, one student, a busy mom or two, two working moms: none of us want to tackle a really in-depth study like Precept Upon Precept or Beth Moore. It isn't where this group is. After study Debbie and Sherri talked with me about doing another in this series - and I think that's a good idea. That would give us another easy 6 week study....and get us to Christmas....then we'll buckle down and study a book of the Bible in January.

Jamin and I began working through the parent taught driver's ed that TX requires. We did school. That's it.

Thanks to Cindy for motivating me to catch this first film! ::grin::

Zander tries to write his name for the very first time!

Yikes- what's this about? Too much stress already? Ah - the rascally "e" is not cooperating

The finished project

Our Egyptian Snack -

I think they like MY bread better - this was salt, water, flour - no fat, no sugar, no yeastNo wonder the mummies had no teeth!Jamin, the valiant, joined us....his verdict is that the hummus is good but the bread - well....Stacia ends the night by inviting me to come sit with her! I think she may be about ready to train...

A Rather Silly Prayer Request - I decided it was too silly to share on SHS - but for those who read my blog - well - they probably care about the silliness of me - or they wouldn't READ the blog. ::snort::

~I loaned out my new digital camera to folks I trusted.
~My camera was inadvertently left at Walmart.
~It’s gone (Yes, they have our name and number, we've checked various depts, we've called DQ as well)

Please pray for ME. My heart needs assistance. I’ve forgiven those involved. They really can’t pay for a new camera. It was an accident. Sure there are lessons there to be learned - and I'm sure they've been learned. I loved my new camera - but I can still use Michael's Nikon - which I did yesterday. Nothing I possess is worth more than people! Never has been, never will be.

Here's the thing: I’m having a tough time forgiving the person who picked up a digital camera at a drinking fountain and took it home instead of returning it to Lost and Found or the Auto desk which was 60 feet away.

I alternately find myself praying the person is so convicted that he/she returns the camera to Walmart, or that the camera is a blessing to them…but I need to forgive this person.

I’m having a hard time doing that. Which is plain silly as God has forgiven me for so much more than the price of a Cannon Power Shot…..I really don’t have a choice – do I? I need to simply forgive. The thing is I need to walk out the forgiveness and not just pray to forgive – so pray for me to settle this in my heart – not simply my mind – today!

Marvelous Monday

*If you didn't notice that I updated Destinee's entry twice today - please scroll up - she needs our prayers TONIGHT!

I'm telling you, I'm on a roll! LOL

I made it to Curves this a.m.

School went well.

We added speech therapy into the mix today.

Nolan and I ran to Hobby Lobby to pick up supplies for making clay lamps and Egyptian instruments later in the week.

I made Shepherd's Pie for dinner and then ran to Curves for the first class in the "6 week solution". I hope it is. I'm a bit doubtful - but maybe. LOL

Michael and I were able to have a nice talk with Josiah. We discussed our expectations (and his expectations) as he lives in our home as an adult. His plan is to move out this summer so that he is all set, if we get orders. A wise plan.

We played a rousing round of tag in the front yard.

Michael, the fantastic four and I went on a walk.

All are in bed....I'm going now.

Oh, Josiah just went to get Jamin from work.

School -

Woohoo! We got it ALL done....

I began talking about cows, calves, squares, the number 1 and the letter A with Zander. He decided today that he'd like to learn to write Alex and not Zander or Alexander. ::snort::

We did our TOG, our writing, our independent work....math....began studying butterflies....and we made Egyptian Bread and Hummus....which our book tells us are authentic. I'm not sure what the spices should be like in this Hummus - I used the Moosewood recipe. Nolan tried it and said it "takes your breath away". I'm not sure that is good.

As for the bread; I'm guessing we're making pita bread.

Arielle & Nolan enjoyed playing/working with the dough!

Trays ready to sit covered overnight, we'll make it in the morning. Stacia is our taste tester....and she is not wearing clothes because it works better that way when we are painting or cooking. ::snort::