Iditarod 2010

Interested in the Iditarod? you can learn all about it with your children, using a great packet from Currclick and Fortunately for you books....click on the link below and download for only 85 cents. Starts March 6.....

recipe for mixed berry jam

1 cup frozen strawberries , thawed                                            
1/2 cup frozen cherries, thawed and remove the pits
1/2 cup frozen blueberries, thawed
2 15 oz cans of pears in pear juice,drained
1 packet of freezer jam pectin
1 cup of sugar

place thawed fruit in food processor, blend til smooth. add packet and 1 cup of sugar. Mix well and let sit for 5 minutes. place in freezer containers and put in freezer. It is YUMMY!

Emily's birthday present, Valentine pillow

the joy of painting

1. I have not painted my own bedroom since I was 13 yrs old.
2. Most of the places I have lived in were rentals that were painted white and I was not allowed to paint them .
3. Having 4 babies in 6 yrs -therefore being pregnant and nursing for the first 8 yrs of marriage is not easy. I had no desire to paint much of anything....

see this color, this is the color of my new bedroom. I have been wanting to paint it for a few years. My lack of knowledge and fear of failure have kept me from jumping in and working on this project. With the help of Greg and the children, the room is now finished. It was a lot of work and it looks cozy and clean. The children were a big help, they all took turns, helping with tape, cutting in/rolling the paint, bringing me cups of water to drink, using spackling and other tools, putting on music for me to listen to while I was painting. It took 3 coats around the room and some trim work to get this deep cranberry color .I just really wanted to do a good job and make it look nice. Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do , do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men. My research before taking on this project included  asking questions about painting from friends at church. I took a class at Home Depot to find out more. Books from the Library and reading on the Lowe's website was some help too.  It took more than 2 weeks to complete and I had some trouble with the blue tape not wanting to come off. I will post a picture of my new cozy bedroom retreat.

Jon playing with my camera, self photos

Adyson 1 year old

This is our granddaughter Adyson Stedman. She is 1 year old. what a cutie.

This is Josh and Ady

getting ready to eat cake

the biggest cake I have ever seen for a 1 yr old!!!

This week

Psalm 32: 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not Abram: I am thy shield, and they exceeding great reward.

Psalm 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God for the living God, when shall I come and appear before God.

Happy Thanksgiving and recipes

Happy Thanksgiving. I get the idea that every American woman is supposed to know how to put on a beautiful, delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Since I am still a student in the cooking department (I am known to treat my husband as a god, I serve him burnt offerings 3 times a day LOL) I need all the cooking help I can get. I get a lot of my recipes from ALL Recipes.com . and Taste of Home magazine.
Here is the Menu for Thursday at the Stedmans
Turkey
Stuffing
Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
sweet potatoes with marshmallow
Dessert: Pumpkin pie and Cheesecake
Here is the recipe I am using for the Cheesecake from Allrecipes.com  and some other recipes of my own.

Easy Sour Cream Cheesecake
Original Recipe Yield 1 - 9 inch cheesecake

Ingredients

1 (9 inch) prepared shortbread pie crust
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 cup white sugar
 2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 1 cup sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Cream together cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs one at time, blending well. Add vanilla and sour cream. Pour into shortbread crust.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cake jiggles evenly across the top when lightly shaken. Run a knife around the outside edge, but leave the cake in the pan. Let cool on counter, then place in refrigerator. Remove from pan when completely chilled, and serve.


Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes
4-5 large sweet potatoes or yams, washed peeled and sliced
2 tbs butter in the bottom of the crock pot
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Place all ingredients into crock pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Add marshmallows shortly before serving.

Ezekiel Bread stuffing
Begin saving small pieces and  ends of Ezekiel bread throughout the year, add them to a freezer bag, place in the freezer. The day before you want to use it, take the bag out of the freezer.
When thawed, tear up in pieces and add Ezekiel bread to pot of:
1 stick butter
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 small can of mushrooms
1 box seasoned stuffing mix
Heat and add extra water if needed. Cover with foil and chill overnight. Warm in the oven about 20 min on 300 and serve with gravy.

Graphics by Emmashome.com

Psalm 92:1 Its is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name O most High.

Psalm 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving: and pay thy vows unto the most High.

Psalm 121:1,2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Holiday Homeschool savings and random Bible verses

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.