Praying

I sit here in my "happy" home with my "happy" son, knowing my husband is at work... And yet there are those that are sitting devastated at home right now... 2 different occasions of stabbings today! One in a Pennsylvania, USA high school and one in a Toronto, Canada office building! So far no casualties, but several in critical condition... Then, in trying to find out more information I learn there was a shooting that resulted in a casualty at the Marine Base where my brother is stationed (he's fine)... My heart is breaking for these families... Not only for the victims but for the suspects as well... All that I can say is that I'm praying and ask that you join me!

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. James 5:13 NIV

Knit, crochet and life

So what do I have going on almost half way through the first month of the year?
There isn't much going in life... Getting some laughs with my family (O usually has us in stitches), trying to keep my blood pressure regulated as much as I can (don't seem to be doing so well with that) and keeping on... I'm loving the 3 crockpot system I got for Christmas, I can make 3 nights of food at once and freeze them in proportions for one meal! Seems to be the perfect answer for when I need an easy meal, but don't want to sacrifice the nutrition (or have frozen pizza too often)...
I have been doing great at keeping up with my daily bible reading, and that makes me ecstatic! The devotional is behind some times but it's easy to get back on track and I do, so that is great...

On the hooks: I've made 3 dishcloths this month... I just finished an owl bonnet pattern test (although I need to disassemble it and resemble it)... I'm starting a dragonfly pattern test for the same designer...
I need to get a pattern tested wrote and posted (free scarf pattern) and I need to get another one that has been tested up (shawl pattern to sell)... Have a dishcloth pattern that I will need to write and possibly test by Aug...

On the needles: I have made a knit dishcloth (plus I learned some basic cable knitting by making a dishcloth at the end of last month), and working on a couple more... One is a mystery knit a long that will take the whole month, it seems like fun... It's hosted by The Domestic Dash, here is this month's "Riddle Me This" dishcloth...
I still have my personal shawl that I'm trying to finish, but it is my filler project and right now I have too many other things... I also want to design a knit dishcloth that will need finished and tested by Aug if I can (this will be a little harder as I am still learning almost everything about knitting)

As new things progress I'll share :-) 

I want to share my bible verse for the year with you... It is a great reminder to hear often :-)
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with what you have. For He Himself has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

New Year again

Yep, it's another year and yep I didn't keep up like I planned again last year!
Ah well, I said I'd write when I wanted and no more hehe...
In my home/family
I am reading the bible in a year, actually started on the first this year and plan to post every Sun on my progress to give myself accountability... I also started a one year devotional by Joyce Meyer...
I'll continue to sing in the praise team when I can, and try to be more diligent in realizing when I can't (instead of passing out on stage), when possible...
This year I'll be getting things ready to start O in Kindergarten... He is so smart, but there are some "requirements" that he still needs to learn...
Greg and I just celebrated 6 years of marriage! And we've been together for 13 1/2 years... Wow, that is almost half my age! Looking forward to many more!!!
In my crafting
I hope to start and use an etsy shop... And I'd like to do more designing... I want to continue to improve my knitting skills... Other than those broad goals, I'm not setting any specific ones for my crafts... Less stress and more options/flexibility!
Well the last thing I have is my verse for the year
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

An awesome crock pot breakfast casserole

So I was trying to find a fairly quick and easy crock pot meal as I wanted to leave and knew I had Praise Team practice, but the husband and son would want supper... I searched and found several breakfast casseroles but they used potatoes (afraid hubby would have a texture problem with that) or the reviews weren't very good (one was written on a blog by someone who didn't like the recipe)... So I decided to try my mom's tried and true breakfast casserole, that we make in the oven, in the crock pot... *insert nervous laugh lol* So I did... Then got home and had 15 mins to change, eat, run through with hubby what our son needed and get out the door... Needless to say I forgot a picture and since there is none left with only 2 adults and a 4yr old, I would say it's a hit!
So here is my recipe
1 lb ground sausage
1 box stuffing (we prefer cornbread flavor)
6 eggs
Approx 1 cup milk (honestly I never measure this, just use to thin out the eggs some)
A lot of shredded cheese (we usually use cheddar and you can omit as much of this as you want)

Brown ground sausage in skillet (wished I had some sage to cook into this). Place evenly across bottom of crock pot. Place half of cheese on top (if omitting some, but not all, I would omit this layer). Add the stuffing (straight from the box). Add the rest of the cheese. Whisk together eggs and milk (add salt and pepper if you like) and pour over the entire casserole. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. I don't think I would recommend much over 6 hours, and be warned that the cheese will burn at this length of time (my family loves burnt cheese).
That's it! The longest part was browning the frozen sausage and I was still done in less than 30 mins!

Hope you enjoy, I'll try to get a picture next time... I may also try seeing what veggies I could add to the sausage layer, but I didn't have much on hand...

Proverbs 31:27~ "She's watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness"

Please help this mom...

From Garrett's mom on Facebook:
PLEASE HELP US. We are using this a tool for several things for Garrett. We work on his skills for opening things when he opens mail. He also gets to see where it is from on the map. (honestly he doesn't really understand distance as you read further down you will see why) Then we also write thank you notes and he gets to sign them so he is very involved and he get them when he gets up to go to school which has been a very hard adjustment for him this year.

Even if you can't send a keychain then a postcard or letter (which I will read to him) will make his day.

Garrett doesn't get to travel alot. He is special needs and traveling can be a huge under taking.He is equal to about 3 to 6 year old depending on what he is doing.
He is in a wheelchair and is non verbal. But the happiest kid. (except when you mention the "school" word lol)

He loves trains!!!! snow globes and merry go rounds. would be lost without his ipad. it also has a small program that sort of talks for him.

we are working on the USA map we are missing a few states but getting close. Garrett sees the map and everywhere is 5 hours away (yes even New York from Texas) So we have been working on collecting and yes we mean collecting. We love all of them and we will post on here the pics of him getting his mail :) He smiles and loves to open every
envelope. Please try to help.

In all fairness I must say that yes I did start the collection because I love them but because the map is in the room that Garrett goes all the time he loves to look at them and play with them and he loves maps. So it is something we both love.
Our address
Garrett
2222 Viola Dr
League City, TX 77573

this is an update from the above original request:
Yes we are still collecting key chains of any sort. We are just about done with the USA map that we have but please if you want to send us your state or city etc feel free. For we will still put them on the map and video him opening your package. We are working on the world map and just in general key chains.

BUT Garrett loves any mail. Even just cards or notes. It doesn't matter. He loves anything and gets so excited when he sees he has mail. He is getting more than mom and that includes the bills lol.

John 15:12~ "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

Funny face I love you!

Went out caching on the trail and found these glasses in one... O says "do you like them?!"

Our fun "pinking" (painting)

O wanted 2 "pink" Mickey Mouse (aka paint Minnie Mouse)...

and when he was done with Minnie, he "pinked" Lightning McQueen!

So I decided 2 work on an Eagle paint-by-number... This is how far I got when I worked 20 minutes longer than O

On our walk/ caching adventure

It was such a beautiful day today, so Aunt and I took O out on the bike trail to blow off some cabin fever steam (and of course get some caches on the way)... This nice little rest took our fancy, and O just loved the stone :) Wish I could have gotten the picture that Aunt got of O sitting on the bench! (I'll try to get it from her later)

Praise the Lord!

So I have to share this story!
Saturday, we decided to head to one of our big cities (about 90 mins away) to do some geocaching and take pictures... We found a series that was dediated to churches and thought it would be fun, called my aunt that got us into caching and we decided we would go in her car... She will drive but if someone else is willing she will gladly let them! I was going to, but the very light flurries was making everything look wavy with my disease, so we decided Greg would drive... We got on the road and was about half way when a car went to pass us on the freeway, we were doing the speed limit and he was doing maybe 5 or so over... He lost control and did a 360 in front of us, hit the guardrail then continued to bounce off the guardrail while doing another 180! after the first spin his tire came bouncing across the road in front of us and went over the rail down into the embankment... Greg was able to use his SMITH training and somehow (I can only guess that it was God) kept us from hitting the guy... We also expected the guy to go over the rail and he didn’t! In fact he had no injuries at all! We stayed there because he was facing the wrong way in a travel lane (it was the shoulder being used for travel because of the construction) and the guys lights weren’t working... So we had our hazards on and Greg kept “pumping the brakes” to show approaching vehicles to get out of the lane... There were several times that we were worried we would be hit, we can only imagine how much worse it would have been if we hadn’t been there to warn other drivers! PRAISE THE LORD for keeping all of us safe!!

No details, and don't know what to say...

So I really don't have many details, but I am again in shock! Mom called me to tell me that Shawn's school was evacuated for a bomb threat! They took all the High School students to the "next door" Junior High building... They escorted all of the driving students to their cars and they had to leave right then, no going back into the building... Then they escorted all the walkers/pick-ups (they no longer bus the High School kids, no matter their distance) to the parking lot and they had to get into their ride's vehicle and leave, again no going back into the building... I am hoping that they let the kids get their coats before doing all this outside stuff, since they aren't allowed to get them now! Please pray for these students and the people that are doing these threats! This town needs God more than I could even possibly think they do!

Matthew 9:11-13: When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

My Crockpot Italian Sausage

So Wed night I need to have an easy Italian Sausage sandwich, that doesn't require a stove... My first thought was a crock pot with some peppers and a little broth, but of course I don't have peppers in my house :( So I went online to look up recipes and most of them required peppers and some even had onions (which sadly I do not cook with hehe)... Then I found one that uses spaghetti sauce and tomato paste and tomato sauce, but I used the last of my spaghetti sauce 2 nights ago- shoot! So I went into my kitchen and came up with this concoction:

8 Italian Sausages (I plan for left-overs for lunch the next day)
1 can tomato paste
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes with chilies
1 can diced tomatoes
approx (I didn't measure this at all) 3-4 cups Chicken broth (would have used beef if my chicken broth didn't need used up right away)

1. simmer sausages in some water (not enough to cover, but enough that it could boil- in fact I accidentally boiled mine for a minute) for about 7 mins (long enough for me to fiddle with figuring out what I wanted to put in the crockpot and put it in)
2. mix together in crock pot the rest of the ingredients
3. add in sausages and make sure they are coated
4. cook on low 4-6 hours, my crock pot seems to cook hotter than most so I will cook mine on low for about 4 hours
5. Serve on Hot dog or Hoagie buns

I'm thinking (and thought while I was adding it) that I added too much broth... so you really can't use the mixture as a "sauce" on your sandwiches, so maybe a little less broth would be better... I didn't take pictures, but the family seemed to like it! Will definitely try again :-)

Book from 'Grandpa-doodle'

O got out his book & laid down while listening to it

Freezer Cooking?

So I am trying the idea of freezer cooking... I spent about an hour and now have 6 meals in my freezer that all I have to do is thaw the night before and cook the day of, and these 6 are all crock pot meals! I will take another hour or so tomorrow and make up more (at least another 8-10) which will give me 14-16, but there will be 7-8 different meals as each meal type is 2 different evenings... I'm excited to see how it turns out! I'll let you know after I have tried some of them...

Snow fun @ night...

O building his "snow turtle"

Some goals

I have decided to make some goals for this blog and try to stick to them... I don't really do resolutions (which is one reason this was not posted on the 1st), so this is just some thoughts/plans...

I want to make 2 small projects each week, and have them posted no later than a week after I make them... If I don't do 2 mall projects because I am doing larger projects, I want to post progress pictures...

I also want to try to post at least twice a week... It can be about anything, but cannot include pictures from the cell phone- those are just because I want to share cute pictures of my family...

Anyway, these are what I would like to do, but I'm not guaranteeing anything :)

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Titus 2:11-12

Awwwww...

My sleeping boys! Lol

Coca-cola for nausea?

Why did no one tell me before today that drinking a can of Coke would help with nausea?! I might be a little mad that I am just finding out... BUT I am so thankful to my sweet husband for finally telling me today when I have been wretching so badly... So now I can attempt to finish these Christmas gifts... I was doing so well with them until I got sick, then I got behind :( But thankful that same dear husband is helping with the one that is a craft with O, but not crochet... I love my family hehe...

Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Big ouch!

My poor baby fell HARD on the arm of the sofa (not well padded) & he wasn't playing around... Went 2 take pic & he poked it as the camera took it lol... 2nd pic is w/out finger

Stupid Upper Respiratory Infection!

So I am awake at 12:30am because I have this stupid upper respiratory infection and can't breathe... my Dear Husband took a shower and his new body wash is kind of a stronger scent, and although it usually doesn't bother me, it made the breathing even more difficult :(

So I am up looking at all kinds of miscellaneous things and decided to write a post, that will cover ummm who knows, whatever come to my mind at the second... And of course anyone that knows me also knows that my mind could start with a shoe and without rhyme or reason to most people jump to Christmas Tree Lights! and yes, there are technically about 4 or more jumps to get to that point that when you hear the jumps you understand, but alas I probably won't write the jumps... HAHA be prepared to be confused :)

I can't believe that I have 2 large projects that need finished and 2 small projects to start and finish and I will have all of my crochet projects done for Christmas gifts! Oh yeah, be prepared for a mass posting of crochet projects after Christmas! Oh and I can't wait to show what I am doing with O for his Christmas gifts/cards! LOVE IT!!

Speaking of Christmas, can I just say "Thank you God for sending us Jesus!" (hey I told you the jump this time, consider yourself lucky)... I would be lost if I didn't have Him as my personal Savior and Friend!

Ugh, I need to decorate the tree still... Maybe that will happen tomorrow... All the decorations have been taken out of the basement, so that is a start...

I must also say, that I am still sickened by the events of last Friday in Conneticut... I will not go on and on about this, as I am sure others have already covered what I would say... However, I would like it to be known that I have a couple thoughts on this... First is that Gun control does not answer this problem! Look at how many things are illegal and yet still available... More to the point, a good history reminder is the prohibition... Second is that I cannot imagine the heartbreak that these families are going through! My heart and prayers still continue to go out to each of them... Third, I have read a few things that definitely make me question some things, but more to the point I scoured the internet ALL day long trying to get updates and answers and was baffled at how quickly the story changed and then the original information was "forgotten"... Just seems a little weird I guess... And Finally, why is it that not many really mentioned the 22 children that were stabbed in China the same day! I understand that they were not killed, but isn't it just as awful that someone still attempted to take innocent children's lives?! So my heart and prayers go out to them and their families as well... And I will jump off of my soapbox now...

I'm thinking I am going to try this new homemade "Shower Soother Discs" that I just found... My chest is killing me... now to see where I can buy Essential Oils in this podunk town...

Mary had a little Lamb, little.... OK just joking!

apparently the more I type the more I realize I am getting too tired to be doing this... So off I go to try to get some sleep, wish me luck...

But right before I go to bed, might I mention that the Bible specifically says "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Matthew 24:36, that means that NO MAN knows... And now that it is 2.5 hrs from being the 22nd EVERYwhere in the world, I guess the Mayan didn't predict the end of the world...


"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 and He is my Savior and Friend!

O's Birthday!

Wow! It is so hard to believe that 3 years ago, this little boy changed our lives forever! I went from dreams of being a career woman to being a Stay-at-Home Mama in the matter of no time...
So Friday was just a simple day of being home... Then Saturday we went to the store to pick up the fixings for his "Cake and Ice cream"... So we grabbed watermelon, grapes, kiwi and pineapple to make something similar to what I saw on this blog... Needless to say mine was not as pretty

So I will try something more like this one

He seemed to enjoy it anyway and that is the important thing...
All went well with the get together and O enjoyed his family and presents...

This week has been busy in a non-busy way, don't ask... so today is a day where I will try to catch up some laundry and cleaning out the office and foyer and get some more crochet done... Supper is in the crockpot, will post about it tomorrow when I can take a picture (this is something I will try to do from now on, but no promises hehe)
Now off I go to get some things blocked (and photographed), cleaned and crocheted...
Have a blessed day everyone!