Simple and Delicious

It seems inevitable to be on the go more this time of year. For our family that can mean a homemaking disaster if I don't prepare ahead of time for our absences, especially when it comes to meals. Here's one of our favorite simple but delicious meals, and I especially like it because it puts an end to overcooked ravioli and ravioli that gets cold before it even gets to the table.

Easy Ravioli Bake

~from Betty Crocker

1 jar (26-28 ounces) tomato pasta sauce

1 pkg (25-27 1/2 ounces) frozen cheese-filled ravioli

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9 pan with non-stick spray.

2) Spread 3/4 c. of the sauce in baking dish. Arrange half of frozen ravioli in single layer over sauce; top with half of the remaining pasta sauce and 1 c. of the cheese. Repeat layers once, starting with ravioli. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

3) Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 min. Remove foil; bake uncovered for 15-20 more minutes or until bubbly and hot in center. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

~Variations: use meat-filled ravioli instead or add 9 ounces of frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to drain, or 1-1/2 ounces sliced pepperoni on the first layer of ravioli

This is great made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

The Smallest of Things

It's always refreshing to experience those days when good news abounds, and we find joy in the
smallest of things...

~My OB appointment today went very well. Everything is looking great, and we tentatively selected a date for the c-section. It's February 17, which also happens to be my brother's birthday.:)

~It seems like so many favorite places of ours are closing their doors these days. We used to love going to a restaurant called Wingstop. Their wings were the best, and the atmosphere was family-friendly enough that we could enjoy going there with the whole family and meeting friends, too. The only one in Albuquerque closed down some time ago, but we were delighted to see the "Coming Soon--Wingstop" sign at a building on our way to the doctors. Hopefully, they'll still be as family-friendly. The building is just a few blocks from where I'll be delivering Next Girl, so I already know what I'll be asking Mountain Man to bring me if their doors happen to be open by then.

~We decided to eat lunch at Pizza Hut today so Reaches Up, Whistler, and Little Big Man could redeem their "Book-It" reading coupons. That's a program in which students get a free personal pan pizza each month after reaching a reading goal. Now, none of our children need incentive to read, but it's fun getting a free pizza as a bonus. Anyway, we were greeted by the very kind waitress who knows us and seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant. I guess walking in with six children and being 7-1/2 months pregnant does turn some heads, but we were so shocked to hear, after placing our order, that one of the customers was paying for our meal! I approached her to thank her, so surprised by her generosity. She told me that she thought it was wonderful that we had so many children and that I homeschooled (the waitress told her that). She wished me a Merry Christmas and then left. The older children rushed out the door to thank her, and she told them "Merry Christmas and God Bless You." I pray God will bless her over and over for her kindness which was simply a glaring reminder of God's goodness to us in the most unexpected of ways.

~A trip to Target to look for shoes for the boys resulted in being able to buy several cute newborn outfits for Next Girl at clearance prices! Because you know, come February, all of the Spring clothing will be out. :)

Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for the many unexpected blessings you showered upon us today...reminders that no gift or experience is too small for which to give thanks.

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

Saint Ambrose (340-397 AD)

"Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Holiness~Chapter 3 Part 3

~Queen Mom here finishing up our discussion of chapter 3 of J.C. Ryle's Holiness.

Ryle ends this chapter with some hard questions to help us apply what we're reading and learning. "Are you holy?" he asks. He then discusses a host of things that he's NOT asking when inquiring about our holiness...

~not whether you attend church regularly
~not whether you've been baptized and take of the Lord's Supper
~not whether you have the name of Christian
~not whether you approve of holiness in others
~not whether you like to read about the lives of holy people or talk of holy things

But, "Are you yourself holy this very day, or are you not?"

He explains that his asking and pressing this question "so strongly" is because Hebrews 12:14 is so very clear that "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Yet, so many Christians reflect nothing of Christianity besides the name. His desire is for us to consider this text and search our hearts, examine ourselves.

There will be many objections to his questions, he states, as he addresses the many excuses we might have to offer...

a) Well, I think about holiness a lot...more than most people. His response is that this is "not the point. The poor lost souls in hell do as much as this. The great question is not what you think, and what you feel, but what you do."
b) Not everyone is meant to be holy. That is a gift that only some Christians have.
Ryle counters this objection with the reminder that 1 John 3:3 states that "every man who hath hope in Christ purifieth himself." Once again, Hebrews 12:14 is mentioned, too, reminding us that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord."
c) You can't be holy and do your duty in this life, too. Then, Ryle states, you must remember that "with Christ on your side, nothing is impossible. It has been done by...David, Obadiah, Daniel.." who are just some examples from God's Word to prove it.
d) But I wouldn't be like everyone else if I were so holy. Exactly, replies Ryle. True servants of Christ should be unlike the world around them..."a separate nation, a peculiar people."
e) Then very few would be saved. "I know it," answers Ryle. He reminds us that Jesus told us in Matthew that narrow is the way that leads to life, and there will be few that find it." "Men will not deny themselves the pleasure of sin and their own way for a little season." We must be willing to take up our cross daily, for "that which costs nothing is worth nothing."

He next asks us if we "feel the importance of holiness as much as should?" He thinks most Christians do not consider the subject of holiness very much and reminds us that "Judas Iscariot seemed very like the other apostles." Yet, we cannot neglect speaking about the character of God's people, nor should we constantly bemoan our corruptions as an excuse to "cover spiritual laziness." "If we say with Paul, 'O wretched man that I am,' let us also be able to say with him, 'I press toward the mark."

Finally, he offers advice to those who desire to be holy...

1) Christ must be our foundation. This cannot be done in our own power. You must be joined to Him. He quotes Traill's statement that "wisdom out of Christ is damning--righteousness out of Christ is guilt and condemnation--sanctification out of Christ is filth and sin--redemption out of Christ is bondage and slavery."

Holiness is God's gift to HIS people. "It is the result of vital union with Him. It is the fruit of being a living branch in the true Vine."

2) To continue to be holy, you must abide in Him. We're told in John 15:4,5 , "Abide in me and I in you. He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit." God is our Physician, to whom we must daily go to keep well. He is the Manna which we must daily feed on, and the Rock from which we must daily drink. We must be "rooted" in Him and "built up" in Him.

Ryle then encourages us with this closing thought..

"Whether we live, may we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, may we die unto the Lord; or if He comes for us, may we be found in peace, without spot, and blameless!"

The Real Thing

After a couple of years of using an artificial pre-lit tree, (I know, it seems criminal to some of you...), we decided to buy a real one this year. Yes, the ideal would have been to drive to a forest and chop/saw down our own tree, but without a chain saw, this wasn't an option. We are hoping to tag along with some friends next year and make a party out of getting our trees together while we use their chain saw. :) Nevertheless, the children enjoyed even this adventure, and we have a lovely Christmas tree, with special thanks to Whistler and Reaches Up for all their hard work.
The big guys strung the lights, and we realized 400 little lights really aren't that much.

Even Little Bit did her part helping decorate.

We love the colored lights and the variations (flashing, twinkling, still, etc.) available. It was a nice change from the still white lights, and it's such a beautiful sight in the evening.

It's What They Love to Do

Wrestling with Daddy, that is....Last night we watched Wall-E together, and then the children enjoyed piling up on Daddy. It's one of their all-time favorite activities, and they'll tell you they never get to do it enough.

Even Little Bit tried to get in on the action, but her efforts were more of a protective nature. She kept trying to get her siblings OFF of Daddy.

As you can see in the background, Boo wasn't too keen on the pile-up and wrestle concept. She preferred a more restorative activity as seen below.

Nurses Boo and Little Bit kindly give Daddy their homemade remedy for body aches and bruises. He patiently took the medicine.

Not limited by conventional medicine, the little nurses decided to try the benefits of an ipod charger and wooden rulers to help their patient quickly recover.

After all of the pummeling was over (well, it wasn't that bad..), we settled down for some snow cream and a game of Yahtzee, and Mountain Man was the big winner.

We're Proud of You, Scribe and Little Big Man!

Scribe and Little Big Man reached some amazing goals this week, and we're so very proud of them. Scribe finished copying the entire book of James. It took awhile, as he and Jake (who is copying it as well) added beautiful embellishments along the way. Here's a look at how many pages of copywork it took, as well as some of the art he added.

Little Big Man finished reading through the Bible (with just a few edits by Mom and Dad...passages he'll read later.) We printed out a schedule for him to follow early in the year, and he was so diligent each day to have his Bible reading time.

Just as God so graciously blesses us, we chose to bless the boys with a book or books of their choice. Scribe chose a trilogy written by Lloyd Alexander, and Little Big Man chose a series called Archives of Anthropos by John White. We're so proud of you boys! May you always strive to use your time to the glory of God, loving His Word and investing in that which has eternal value.

It Could Be Worse...or Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2)

I had my stitches taken out yesterday. I don't want to bore you with details, but I'll sum things up by saying that it didn't go as I hoped, expected, wished, prayed, etc. It made me reflect on my medical experiences, from taking a prescribed medication and having the reaction that only less than 1% of the population would ever get, to having major surgery and coping with complications that just aren't typical, as well as a constitution that seems to require much more pain medicine than the average Joe. I sometimes feel like the poster child for Murphy's Law (if anything can go wrong it will), but as a Christian, the reality is that I'm simply the clay being molded by the Potter.

I asked Mountain Man what lessons he thought I should be learning from repeated struggles with medical procedures and medications not working as they're supposed to, and he reminded me that "It could be worse." Instead of being frustrated that it was painful to have some of the stitches removed, I can be thankful that all of them weren't painful. Instead of being distressed that part of the wound is still open, I can be thankful that some of it closed up. Instead of being weary of this not being over, I can be thankful for the gift of time and for God's purposes in all things. I know....perspective changes everything.

That thought made me wonder (kind of sounds like "If You Give a Mom a Muffin..") why my initial expectations are so easily frustrated to begin with. Why do I expect a certain medication to do a certain thing, or a certain procedure to be easy or difficult, painful or not. It's because I wrap my expectations tightly around everyone else's experiences or advice and hold loosely to the fact that God's plan for me might be very different.

Just because one friend had no complications from surgery doesn't mean I can expect the same. Just because the doctor's say all will go well doesn't mean I can hold that as a promise. The only sure thing in any of it is God's love for me, and His promises abundantly found in His Word. When my eyes are fixed on everyone else's experiences, I can't have them fixed on Christ and His provision for whatever I'm facing.

There's much comfort in hearing how things have gone for others...things that we're facing ourselves. It doesn't just have to be medical procedures. We want to know if a certain curriculum worked, if a certain parenting approach was successful...we want guarantees ahead of time that if we do A, we'll be certain to get B. Learning from each other is very edifying and beneficial, except when a certain result becomes such the expectation that anything else causes discontent or defeat or discouragement. My life is in the Hands of my Sovereign Lord...it is molded by His will, not by my friend's experience or what everyone else says should happen.

My life is also a loud reminder that God has worked the opposite way as well, often defying medical expectations with His healing and deliverance. I've discounted much advice from medical experts, choosing to wait instead on God's healing. Mercifully, He's done that many times...the unexpected, the welcomed surprise. I didn't question those times. I just eagerly grasped His will for me, certainly not whining because things didn't work out as miserably as everyone said they would.

But my flesh isn't so gracious when things don't go as I hoped, planned, or was told. And so I let go of those expectations, and instead patiently wait for His will to be done, not rushing through what He has planned for me and the wonderful opportunities to grow in my walk with Him, but instead, keeping my eyes fixed on Him, knowing His plan is working for me a "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," (2. Cor. 4:17) than I, in my own wisdom, could ever design.

"Ah, sirs, let me tell you, there is not such a pleasant history for you to read in all the world as the history of your own lives, if you would but sit down and record from the beginning hitherto what God has been to you, and done for you; what signal manifestations and outbreakings of His mercy, faithfulness and love there have been in all the conditions you have passed through. If your hearts do not melt before you have gone half through that history, they are hard hearts indeed. 'My Father, though art the guide of my youth' (Jer. 3:4)."~John Flavel, The Mystery of Providence

Love,
Queen Mom

Comfort Food~Potato Soup and Garlic Cheese Biscuits

As a potato lover, you would think I would like potato soup, too. But I don't. However, since most everyone else in my family loves it, I do enjoy making it for them, and I'm continuously trying to find that "perfect" recipe. I already have a recipe that they all love, but it is very time consuming. Thus, it doesn't get made as often as my family would like. I recently made this version, and Mountain Man loved it. The reviews were mixed from the others, but I have to say it was quite easy to put together. Served with garlic-cheese biscuits, it makes great "comfort food."

"Restaurant-Quality Baked Potato Soup"

(We don't like this name, but I guess it says a lot about the fact that people don't cook at home as much as they used to...)

(This makes 6 servings. I made 1-1/2 times this recipe for our family.)

2 potatoes

3 T. butter

2 c. chopped onion

2 T. all purpose flour

4 c. chicken stock

2 c. water

1/4 c. cornstarch

1-1/2 c. potato flakes

1 tsp. salt

3/4 tsp. ground pepper

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1/8 tsp. dried thyme

1 c. half and half

1/2 c. shredded cheddar

8 oz. bacon, cooked and crumbled ( I just used real bacon bits)

2 green onions, chopped

Cook potatoes at 450 for 45 min. to 1 hour, or until done. Set aside to cool. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Saute onions until tender and golden brown. Stir in flour, and cook 5 minutes to make a roux. Pour in chicken stock and water. Add cornstarch and mashed potato flakes. Season with salt, basil, and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove skin from cooled potatoes and discard. Dice potatoes into 1/2 inch cubes, and stir into soup, along with half and half. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until thick. Spoon into bowls and garnish with cheese, bacon, and green onion.

~from Allrecipes.com

Of course, we needed a yummy bread to serve with the soup, and my garlic-cheese biscuits seemed perfect. The basic biscuit is from Martha's Family Cookery Book, and I've combined suggestions from other recipes to come up with this final one.

Queen Mom's Garlic-Cheese Biscuits

2 c. unbleached flour

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. garlic powder

4 T. shortening

1 c. buttermilk

3/4 c. shredded cheese (more to your liking...)

Mix flour, soda, powder, salt and garlic powder together. Cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Add buttermilk and stir gently to make a soft dough. Add cheddar cheese. Roll out dough on floured surface, and cut out biscuits with biscuit cutter. Place on baking sheet greased with butter, and bake at 400 degrees on top rack for about 12-15 minutes, or until done. Mix 1/4 c. melted butter with 1/2 tsp. garlic powder and brush over tops of biscuits.

I double the recipe to have enough for our family. Enjoy!

Snow Day Fun

The children were excited to wake up and find snow on the ground yesterday morning. They were even more excited when Mommy said they could go out and play after breakfast! Scribe took Little Bit out to let her taste the snow and put her little tootsies in it, too.

Here Reaches Up and Little Big Man enjoy throwing snowballs.

Even Boo got out there and played with the rest of them, amazingly managing to keep her dress dry the entire time!

The children attempted to build a snow fort a block at a time, as Little Big Man shows you here. But, there just wasn't enough snow, though it was lots of fun trying.

One of our favorite winter treats to make is snow cream. Scribe decided he'd do something a little different for everyone and make snow-cream shakes instead. Everyone loved them...

even though they had to share.:)

Finally, the children tried their hand at paper snowflakes. Surprisingly, it's not something we do every year, so it was a bit of an adventure. We pasted them to the dining room windows, and they look lovely, especially when the sunlight shines through.

Beautiful snow....playful children...great memories.