Brown!

Brown Belt has been achieved! It took getting there at 4 AM,  running for 6 miles, 800 push ups, 800 sit-ups, punch out and kick out, displaying all the katas, self defenses and other things he's learned since beginnings and he did it!  I'm one proud Mommaofmany. 

Purple!

My youngest has been studying karate for a little over a year. I am proud to say that he is a natural at it and he has advanced quickly.  Last week he earned his purple belt!  He had to run 5 miles, complete 600 sit-ups and 600 pushups and perform all karate he has mastered. It's been an exciting thing to see him thrive, doing his *thing*.  

Phoenix Is Going Home!

I have some excellent news!  First some background.  A couple of years ago, my youngest son chose two boys listed on Reece's Rainbow to pray for.  He chose "Gideon" and "Phoenix".  Gideon is being adopted and should be home pretty soon.  It's been a joy to see him thriving at his "Happy Home" that is sponsored by Maya's Hope.  The work they do is amazing! 

Phoenix has finally, after 14 long years confined and even tied to a crib, been chosen, too! He and another young man, Denzel, will be joining the McQuinn's as beloved sons. The McQuinns are also adopting two other children.  They travel in a matter of weeks and still have about $10,000 to raise.  

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED 

I am blessed to be able to offer up a lovely Caron Cakes "Red Velvet" colorway afghan. This yarn is a very soft, long striped treasure.  It is an acrylic wool blend that can be washed in the gentle cycle.  Don't you love the way the colors blend? It's 57" diagonal; the perfect size to keep you comfy on the couch this winter. 

This is a very simple giveaway.  You earn an entry with each $5 you donate, so a $20 donation earns you 4 entries.  Paid entries are capped at 20, so the more you donate, the better your chance at winning.  Email your receipt to me by clicking here.  You can also earn a free entry by sharing this post, along with the McQuinn's FSP or YouCaring link. Leave a comment here telling me that you did!  

What a joy it will be to see these formerly forsaken children gathered into their loving home!  Thank you for helping make this a reality! 

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"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

Vic at 18

Can you believe it?  This dude is 18.  And graduating.  What a blessing he is! He works two jobs, leads worship at church, has big plans for autumn and I can't wait to see where the Lord will lead him after that! 

Spring Surplus

This is a picture of one of last year's many cherry flats.  We LOVE May and can't wait for fresh cherries. It's been too long! 

It is, however, strawberry season right now.  

This is last night's haul.  There is ONE advantage about living where we do!  You can't get so much fresh, perfectly ripe food for so cheap anywhere else in the nation. 

Happy SPRINGTIME to you all! 

And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Gen. 1:29

Long Overdue Update

Well, it's been some time since I've blogged!  Facebook took over the blogging world,didn't it. LOL  So, what's new around the old homestead?  

My friend Lauren added a lovely little (and I mean little!) eight year old named Victoria to her family. I was blessed to be able to be their family warrior. Isn't she adorable? You can follow her recovery at And Then There Was Hope.

We just redid the Second Bedroom.  Trixie, Polly and Missy now have a beautiful triple bunk that they love.  The walls are charcoal gray, with burgundy and ivory trim.  It looks very nice, and they did excellent work! 

We took the crew to the snow.  It's been FOUR YEARS that we have wished to go play in the snow, but the drought precluded our desire to play.  It was a very fun day.

I haven't discovered which child or family I should be benefitting over at Hooked on Hope.  Since Victoria is home, the Lord hasn't nudged me in any way with that. 

We are looking at joining with Safe Families to minister to hurting folks right here in our town.  More on that if we do begin that ministry. 

2013 Canning Inventory

I just realized that I failed to post my 2013 Canning Inventory here! I find it so convenient to refer back to previous years records to see how many of each item I made and whether I need to made more or less of certain things.  Notes to myself help me when I reuse a recipe.

6 pints lemonade jelly
3 pints grape jelly
95 quarts pinto beans
21 quarts chicken thighs
14 quarts vegetable beef soup
33 pints Creamsicle jelly
6 pints coleslaw (I love this, but my family doesn't care for it)
49 quarts applesauce
13 quarts pork and beans (too salty.  When using bacon, leave salt out of recipe)
12 quarts chicken breasts
6 quarts strawberries
17 quarts chicken broth
20 halfpints strawberry jam (gifts)
26 pints strawberry jam
6 pints mixed berry jam
7 quarts pickles
14 pints spiced peach jam
7 pints peach butter
17 pints pizza sauce
2.5 quarts peach honey (in fridge, not canned)
20 quarts green beans
1 quart, 4 pints, 8 12 oz. dill relish (WAY too much for a year for us!)
14 quarts chili verde (use less lime next time)
7 quarts and 5 pints white peaches
3 quarts and 2 pints picante sauce
5 quarts V8 juice/taco soup starter (Not nearly enough! That was GOOD!)
12 quarts Vintage Salsa (just enough, but more would be appreciated)
3 pints carrot cake jam
17 pints chili beans with meat
5 pints apple pie jam
7 pints apple jelly

I need more chicken broth, always.  I used up 2012's Zucchini Salsa, so it's time to make more of that.  Vintage Salsa is ever popular and needs to be bumped up another batch or two.  As always, I wish to make more meals-in-a-jar recipes for convenience.  2013 was a "lots of jam" year, so little is needed for 2014. Fruit excess will be made into roll-ups, gummy snacks, puree for breads, chunked for smoothies and frozen.  I am focusing on making beans in the crockpot at least once a week, so hopefully, less pintos are needed next year.

Darling Della

There's an amazing matching grant going on for "Della" right now.  For the next 72 hours, EVERY SINGLE DOLLER donated will be doubled!  If someone donates $10 it will be turned into $20. Over the next 72 hours, the sum of what ever is donated will be doubled at the end of the 72 hours  The FSP started out at 1007.78 so every dollar after that will count for the match! 

Della is being adopted by a very loving and experienced family. She'll be joining FIVE brothers!  I'm sure she will be a tough little tomboy princess.  Can you see her with pigtails, running around, chasing them?  I certainly can.  Please share this amazing opportunity an help the Feinland's bring her home as soon as possible!

Donate here!

http://reecesrainbow.org/70811/sponsorfeinland-2

Vintage Recipes

In our home, we LOVE to cook!  Recently, I found a site with all sorts of neat vintage recipes.  I am currently making an orange marmalade that is very similar in method to the citrus marmalade featured at this site.  

As I browsed around there were lots of recipes that caught my eye.  What a great resource!

Vintage Recipes

If you make something tasty or interesting, please let me know!

Praise His Mountains Majesty

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!

Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

For He commanded and they were created.

He also established them forever and ever;

He made a decree which shall not pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

You great sea creatures and all the depths;

Fire and hail, snow and clouds;

Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;

Mountains and all hills;

Fruitful trees and all cedars;

Beasts and all cattle;

Creeping things and flying fowl;

Kings of the earth and all peoples;

Princes and all judges of the earth;

Both young men and maidens;

Old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

For His name alone is exalted;

His glory is above the earth and heaven.

And He has exalted the horn of His people,

The praise of all His saints—

Of the children of Israel,

A people near to Him.

And He has exalted the horn of His people,

The praise of all His saints—

Of the children of Israel,

A people near to Him.

Praise the Lord! 

Psalm 148