Fantastically Delicious....

I have mentioned before, I want to start doing one new recipe a week. I really enjoy cooking and baking. I delight in making a satisfying meal for my family. Now, with three kids, that's not always an easy task. Sweetie Pie, is my what is that smell?...I am not eating that, child. She doesn't even like potatoes. POTATOES. It's only the best vegetable ever.  It's so versatile, you really can do just about anything with it. She gags if she thinks she smells a potato(aside from a french fry). Or ketchup. Or mustard. The only condiment she likes is bar-b-que sauce. sigh. I love her. I have no idea where she gets it from. Not her mother. ;) The boy. He loves to eat. If you can slow him down long enough, you can usually sneak something new on his plate and trick him lovingly convince him to eat it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. P.S. If it has ketchup and mustard on it, he's more likely to try it. I. Don't. Even. Know. Why do kids love ketchup so much?!  I mean, it's good on a burger and fries, but come on! Then there is Sweet Pea. She is my culinary saving grace. She will try anything once. And really, this is all we ask. Try it once, if you like, great! If you would rather poke your eye out than ever again eat what I put on you plate...at least you tried it! This is something, over the last 8 years of marriage, I have really had to work on. I would look at something, crinkle my nose up, and turn my head. I am so glad, I'm over that. For the most part.... ;) And of course, there is my husband. He will try anything once and lovingly says I'm one of the best cooks, he knows. I paid him $10 to say that.  He is my true inspiration for trying new foods. (Eating them and cooking them!). So, now that you have my life story, you have a little back ground information, I'll move on to the point. I want to start making one new recipe a week. I want to try new things and I want my kids to try new things. I decided, to start a new blog in addition to Life, Love and Laundry. The name of the blog is....
wait for it.....
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wait for it...
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Aprons and Hard Hats 


Cute, right? Why Aprons and Hard Hats? Because, apparently, I am a bit dangerous in the kitchen. I do not admit to anything. What's that big scar on your arm, you say? I have no memory of almost dropping a fully baked cake on the floor, only to catch it with my bare arm. No clue, what your talking about. I also did not take this incredibly cute picture of my kids while they were baking with me one day. They're such comedians. They are looking cute with their aprons on....and their hard hats. 

Cute, right? P.S. At least two of them are looking at the camera...It's a miracle!

So, I'm going to try really hard to complete one new post a week over at apronsandhardhats.blogspot.com
I really hope you join me on my documentation of new recipes. I hope to have enough recipes to print my own "cookbook"(you know the blog to book prints) at the end of the year. I think it will be a lot of fun for my family to have a copy of all of my successful....or as some cases may be...unsuccessful recipes. So head over to the new place and start following me. It will be simply delightful! :)



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Better Mom Monday...Week 2

I decided to do another post and link up over at The Better Mom. If you would like to link up and join in, just head on over to the website and you'll find every thing you need!

I really love the start of a new week. Like I said last week,  we have so much to be grateful for. It hasn't always been this way. I would dread getting up to go to work. (before kids, when I worked outside of the home.) Some days, even after the kids came and I was already a full time homemaker, I would still dread Mondays. I would think, what am I going to do without my support team(my husband) here with me. I can't do this. I, of course, made it through. But now, after really diving into the Word, I find my self anticipating every new day. Every night before I fall asleep, I'm thrilled with the start of a new day.  Every day is a blessing. Every day, I long to know our savior more. I want to do what he wants me to do. Some days, I know exactly what that is. Other days, I haven't the slightest clue what it is. I just struggle to get through, because, I can't take one more minute of fighting children and whiny hiney's!  Sometimes, I'm just firing off questions and rambling on to God and think, " Are you there Lord?" Then the verse Psalm 46:10 pops in my spirit: He says, Be still, and know that I am God.... And that makes me giggle. Because it's enough. It's enough to know that God is there, that he is the great I AM. Then, I think about how I tell my kids at least 10,000 times an hour,  a day to please be still and quiet for just a minute. Mommy, can only hear one of you at a time. Thank God, we serve an Almighty God who can hear us all at one time. I'm just human, but he's God. He can handle anything we throw at him. Whiny hiney's...no problem. Kids having a stuffed animal fight, after I just cleaned their rooms....no biggy. Your son, filling the sink up with water and splashing to his hearts desire...probably makes him laugh. (After all, I probably should have known it was too quite!) Jesus said in John 16:33," I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Thank God, he has overcame the world. This is the peace and hope I cling to if ever I think, I can't possibly face another day. Guess what? You can. Put your faith in Christ, he will see you through! Take heart! He has overcome the world. Happy Monday to you!


Love in Christ,


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Happy Friday!

Yay! It's Friday! I love Friday's, don't you? It's the end of a week and the beginning of relaxing, family time. It has finally gotten cold here, after all it's January! I think we dipped into the 20s last night; much colder than the 50-60s we've been having. So here's the recap of the week.

• We've had a great week in home school. Ever busy-ever learning. We had only 1 meltdown of "Can I just do one page of work today?" I am so proud of all that my kids are eager to learn. They are a vessel, ready to be filled. It makes me take a step back and say, "What do I want them to be filled with?" Love, hope, peace, kindness, being grateful or Hate, hopelessness, bitterness, fear, strife, not thankful for the small things? Yes, they have to learn things to get them through life(it would be foolish not to) but they need even more than that, the word of God. The peace, hope, and love that comes from Him.. "Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7   Even if you don't home school, you can still teach your kids the word of God. We do one memory verse a week. We say it every night before they go to bed. (Although, this week, I think we've only done it once.) Impress on their hearts the words of God. 
• We started a new bible study in Sunday school. It's called James Mercy Triumphs. It's really insightful and I'm learning a lot. 
• I got a hair cut yesterday. She took about 9 or 10 inches off.  My hair now drapes just past the top of my shoulders. I didn't realize how much hair I had. I mean I knew...I just forgot? Anyway... She fixed it and it looked great! Then I walked outside into the very windy day and well, you know... I hope I can get it fixed like she had it again. I think I can. It's a lot more manageable than longer hair. I am very pleased! Thank you Katie! (P.S. if you ever need your hair cut, go to Katie at Salon 2000, she does a great job!) Note to self: Fix hair and take a picture to post to facebook, since you forgot to take a picture yesterday while it was styled and lookin' good! ;)
• Tomorrow is Operation: Clean the Kids Toys Out. Pray for me. I may or may not come out alive. There may or may not be tears. Those tears may or may not come from me. It should make for an interesting day. At least we will be getting some of the clutter out! I do love a clutter free space. Please don't ask to look at my office or my desk. I will completely deny it's mine.  And while we're at it, please don't ask to look in my cabinets. I will not let you. mkay? Okay!
• I'm in need of a good cleaning today. Well, my house, not me. Silly....
• Thankfully, I've been doing better with the house. So my  new year goals are going great! The house is much easier to clean when you keep it that way through the day. (I'm not OCD about it, but I am more away of the small things that should just go ahead and be done and over with.)
• Speaking of new year goals, I've been digging deeper in the Lord's word. It is awesome to be re-discovering the awesomeness of God. It's making me a better person. A perfect person...absolutely not. I can never be. But I can be better than I was when I allow God to work in me. 
• Speaking of new years goals,(part 3) I have been eating better and working out everyday. Well I didn't actually start exercising until this week. But I have exercised 4 days this week, which is 4 days longer than last week....or the week before that. I love that it makes me feel so much better. I feel more prepared for the day and what my kids throw at me. ( Cutting up important documents, anyone?)
• I want to start posting one new recipe a week. It's good to stretch your "culinary talents" every once in a while. So I'm going to work on a new recipe this weekend and post pics.( I hope!)
• Speaking of the weekend, I hope you have a wonderful one! 

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Better Mom Monday....

I came across the blog The Better Mom through another blog. (Her name is Miranda, and is a friend from way back when, I couldn't drive. That was ...... years ago.  If you would like to check out her blog His path, My steps, you will not be disappointed!) The Better Mom blog is really a great way to be encouraged. They have a link up called Better Mom Monday. I thought I would give it a shot. If you would like to join in the fun go Here and link up!

Welcome to Monday! A day most people dread and hate. How can you hate what God has given us? This is the day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.(Psalm 118:24) You are so blessed! Even if you don't think so, you are. Let's start by asking ourselves a few questions. Ok?.....Ok!

1. Are you alive today? If you're reading this, you are. Are you breathing? Are you able to get out of bed and live your life? Life is meant to be lived on Monday's too! Even more so, actually. If you are a believer in the Savior and you attend church, you should still be overwhelmed from the previous day's worship service. It's true that the service isn't meant for us, it's meant to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus! But the bible also says that "Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17) You have been around others who have been in worship with the King! You should be happy that you live in a country, that you can go to the church of your choosing and that you do it freely, with others who believe the same! Many countries have to attend church in secrecy. They can't even associate with other believers, in fear that they may not make it to Monday. That their children may not make it to Monday.

2. Do you have a warm bed to sleep in? Or how about, clothes that keep you warm when it's cold, AND clothes that keep you cool when it's hot? Do you have shoes on your feet? Do you have more than one pair of shoes? How about, a shower? Did you wake up this morning, in a bad mood, because you have a warm bed you slept in last night, a nice hot shower, indoor plumbing, clothes that are worthy of snow, multiple shoes to choose from, a job to go to, a family that is well? When you think about it, it really shouldn't be that bad of a morning. It could be a lot worse. You could have slept in a house with flimsy walls, no indoor plumbing, not even a shower to clean yourself in, no clothes except the ones your wearing, and maybe a pair of shoes. Blessed. That is what you are!

3. Are you hungry? Did you go to bed with your belly full last night? Did you kids go to bed complaining about being hungry(and not just because you wouldn't give them a bowl of cereal at 8:00 pm because they WANTED it, just because!)? Did you wake up this morning and have a cup of coffee and a nice warm breakfast? I did. My kids will. Do you worry where your family's next meal is coming from? Or do you go to the pantry and contemplate over the many choices to choose from?


4. Do you have a Savior, who willing gave his life so that you may live? I do. He loves me." For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Good news! I believe! He calls me by name. He is my provider. He is my help in time of need and when my kids think I need to clean up a bathroom full of water because they wanted to go swimming(which trust me, is a time of need!). He is everything I need. He is the peace in my life when fear tries to creep in. He is the reason, I rejoice in a new day. A new day to teach my kids about his mercy and his grace. A new day, to clean my house with joy, because this is the calling of my life, to take care of what he has given me. A new day to cook supper for my husband, because he deserves it after a long day at work. A new day to teach my daughters and son how a wife, a mother, a lady should act. A new day to worship my God. He has given me everything in my life, the very least I can do it be grateful for it!  


I hope that you would step back and take an inventory of all that is good in you life on this Monday morning. That you would for just a minute make a mental list of all you have to be thankful for and not say one negative thing about anything or anyone on that list. When you put things in perspective, your attitude tends to change. If you have a great attitude about the upcoming day(even if it looks like you're not going to stop for 5 minutes, because you son just brushed his teeth with dial soap...again) you will rub off on the people around you. Remember, you kids learn just as much from watching you, as they do from listening to you. Happy Monday! You are blessed!






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The week in review....

Today is Thursday. What? Oh, you already knew that? Of course, you did! I was just testing you. :) This week has been a blur to me for some reason. It's been a blessed week but for some reason, I can't remember what day it is. Oh, well! This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. That's all we really need to know, right? Right!

Home school. This week we started back with home school. We started on Monday. Public schools started yesterday. I don't like starting in the middle of the week. I like our schedule. We can do school, when ever we choose, as long as we get the required amount of days in, we're good. We usually school Monday-Friday. Sometimes only 4 days, sometimes 5. Sometimes on Saturday's. Never on Sunday. (Sunday = a day of rest for everyone) Yesterday we went to the grocery store(s) and then home to rest a bit then to Wednesday night service, so we didn't do school work. GASP! It's all good. We can make it up today or tomorrow or Saturday. The privileges of home school. I love it.

Grocery Shopping. Yesterday, we went to the grocery store(s). I try to find the best deals I can. If this means going to multiple stores, I do it. I have set a budget in my head, that I was determined not to go over. That kind of went out the window over the holidays, with the extra baking, etc. So now I am going to reset my budget. I usually am a big advocate for Aldi. They, most of the time, have the best prices on canned/dry goods, dairy products, and produce. But lately their prices have been crazy high. Like, I've walked into Aldi but it's really Wal-Mart. I'm not thrilled with this at all. I'm going to have to do some more research and see who has the better price on some of this stuff. Maybe, it's just because of winter, I don't know. I am going to, however, work very hard at sticking to a stricter budget. Which brings me to my next topic.

Fowler Family Farm This is a dream, or vision really, that Micah and I have had for a while. Is it a big farm? No. Is it just the right size for us. Yes. I really want chicken's.(especially, after seeing the ridiculous prices yesterday!) We are some egg loving people. We go through 2 dozen eggs, easily, in a week. I think we could profit greatly from a chicken coop. I would like to have a fainting goat for entertainment purposes only. It's wrong, isn't it. They're just so darn funny, when they go stiff and faint. hahahahaha...haha..ha Ahem. We've also thought about rabbit's. To eat. We had rabbit's when I was at home, before I got married. A garden is also in the picture. I love the fresh produce. And the fact that it's a lot cheaper than buying it from the store. We have plans. They are great. I'm excited to see what comes from this. It may take a few years to get it the way we want it, but that's ok. It will be worth the wait. :)

Coffee. Thank you God for putting coffee beans on earth. And thank you for letting man discover how to roast them and brew them. I really like coffee. :)

Potty Talk.  This week my son, my precious little boy, who likes to keep his mama on her toes, finally pooped in the potty. Signal hallelujah chorus.  There will never should never be another incident like Here on this very unfortunate day, where my son missed. He finally figured it out and I am officially done potty training. Signal hallelujah chorus again. In the last, almost 6 years, this has been the worse part of parenting, in my opinion. I have never liked potty training, except the part where they actually start using the potty. So here's to having "big" kids. It's very bitter sweet.

The natives are hungry. The natives are hungry and demanding breakfast. Well, not really demanding, more like we're up, where's breakfast? If we don't feed them, melt downs occur. I don't know what's up with that. ;) So I hope you  have a wonderful Thursday. Only one more day away from the weekend. Bring on the family movie nights and board game extravaganza!







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