Fruitiful Smoothie

This past week has been one of the hardest I have had in quite some time. This morning, I needed a healthy pick-me-up. So.... I pulled out my blender and ended up with the best tasting smoothie I have ever had! Here is the recipe for what I call, The Fruitiful Smoothie:

1 banana
1 cup strawberries (I used frozen)
1 cup peaches (I used frozen)
2 Tbs honey
1/4 cup Flax Milk
1 cup V8 Berry Blend juice
1 Tbs flax meal
dash of cinnamon

Blend together in blender, pour, and enjoy!! :) It's incredible. I promise.

Addicted to Drama

The other day was one of "those days" for me. My little boy was sick with the flu, my spring cleaning agenda was derailed, I fought an army of invading ants and, to top it off, one of my husbands' dogs got loose (don't worry, I came to the rescue and got him safely back in his pen!). Needless to say, my blood pressure was... elevated. When my husband called to check on everything, I suddenly noticed that I wanted to give him a hard time about my day. He was "safe" at work, far from the crazy, stress-filled day here at home. And let's not forget that it was HIS dog that got loose....

       

I had an urge to give him the cold shoulder; to exaggerate my "horrid" day; to blame him in that sweet-but-not-so-sweet nagging way. And I felt convicted.
  
Did I want to be dramatic??

Perish the thought!

To be honest, I detest drama. It annoys me to see petty Tweets and Facebook statuses that are simply subtle ways of stirring up strife and hateful feelings and actions. But there are other ways that drama can rise that even the most mature Christian can fall prey to. In the case with my husband, I unknowingly wanted to be dramatic. I wanted to be the victim. I wanted to be the center of attention. I wanted the power of making him feel like it was all his fault.

*shakes head*

I can just hear the Lord say, "Oh dear daughter....please grow up."

Drama hits every age. In tweens and teens, the drama is usually boys and popularity. In adulthood, it's social stance, power, and success. But drama is also a struggle with the wife, mommy, and homemaker. It creeps in quietly, but before we know it, we go off on our husbands and children over the silliest things that, quite frankly, are NOT that big of a deal.

No, I did not exactly WANT to go into battle for my home with 1,000 ants...but I can handle it.

No, I reeeeeally did not enjoy chasing down a crazy dog and being dragged around the yard when I did  finally catch him.... but it's not an impossible feat.

I guess I learned that I need to get a grip. If I allow myself to act so childish, crying over every little thing, then what will my children learn from me? What will I be teaching them?

May HIS grace continue to grow me....

Romans 12:10 says, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another."

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I FINALLY made my own laundry detergent. I've been wanting to do that for quite a while and today was the day. :) Here is the recipe I used:
 

Powdered Laundry Soap:

* 2 cups finely grated soap (Ivory, Fels Naptha, Zote, homemade, or a combination. As you can see in the picture, I used Fels Naptha.)
* 1 cup borax
* 1 cup washing soda

Mix and store in a coffee can or what have you. Use 1-2 Tbs per load.

Yes....it's that simple. :) I like using powdered laundry soap. However, if you prefer liquid (and I plan to try it out to see if I like homemade better than store-bought), then below is the recipe:

      
Liquid Laundry Soap:

* 2 cups finely grated soap
* 1 cup borax
* 1 cup washing soda
* water and bucket (1 gallon)

1. If you tried the powder version and want to switch that batch to liquid, cook it all in the saucepan together over medium until the soap melts OR if your ingredients are still separate, melt the soap over medium in a few cups of water and add the rest right after you take it off the heat and stir to dissolve.

2. Pour in pail and add enough HOT water to equal one gallon. Stir well.

3. Let set up overnight.

4. Stir. It will be a soupy gel.

5. Use between 1/4c and 2 cups per load.

This stuff also works well as a pre-treater.

Worship Like a Dog!

Our backyard is the home of about 10 dogs, due to my husbands' love for hunting.

photo credit

A few days ago, as I was washing dishes in the kitchen, I watched through the window as my husband walked outside onto the back porch. The puppies he had let out to play instantly ran to him, pouncing, barking, wagging their tails, and running in circles around him. I stood there, my hands in the dirty dishwater, staring at the little pups and how they worshiped my husband. It gripped me and I felt tears sting my eyes.

I love my Jesus. But do I worship Him like that?? When He graces my presence, do I run to Him with that much adoration and enthusiasm?

I have grown up in Churches and have seen many different types of congregations. Some openly worship the Lord with raised hands, closed or tear-filled eyes, happy smiles, or a sweet whisper (or shout!) of hallelujah! Others, however, sit still in their seats with clasped hands, and a deep-etched frown on their face. They appear utterly uninterested and complacent. When songs are sang or sermons preached about the amazing grace of God, there is no expression other than boredom.

I don't want to be like that! Oh God, may it never be so!

Psalm 150 says, Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

We were created to give the Lord praise! Not sit in a dreary stupor, watching the clock, anxious to leave His presence. When my Lord draws near, I want to run to Him, wag my spiritual tail, and "bark" my praise and worship!

......just like the dogs.

Do you?
     
Psalm 34:3
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
          

Sneak Peek: $500 Cloth Diaper Giveaway Starts Saturday!

Would you like to win a LIFETIME SUPPLY of cloth diapers?!

The Go Green ♥ Give Charity Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event sponsored by Booty Buns Cloth Diapers starts this Saturday, March 24th!

Over 175 blogs are coming together to present this fantastic fluffy giveaway hosted by Daily Mothering. Mark your calendar because you don't want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win an entire stash of one-size cloth diapers!

ONE WINNER will receive a gigantic cloth diaper prize pack valued at $546!

And, the winner will get to select their choice of diaper colors!

This amazing prize pack will include:

20 Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers

(these true one-size cloth diapers fit 3-45 lbs!)

20 matching flannel/terry cloth wipes

40 microfiber inserts

20 cotton flannel liners

Visit The Modest Mom for more info! Sneak Peek: $500 Cloth Diaper Giveaway Starts Saturday!

It's Fun Buying Cloth Diapers!

I am just loving cloth diapers. Even more, I love BUYING cloth diapers, diaper covers, and accessories.

LOVE IT.

Such fun! It takes restraint to keep from buying one (or two! or three!) of everything! Anyway, here is the latest of my cloth adventures.

Last week, I found myself in need of a few more diaper covers for Nathan. I currently own two Bummis Super Lite, (one small and one medium), one Blueberry Coverall, and two Imagine covers. The Bummis is great, but it is always possible that a leak may occur, so Nathan only wears that one at home. I really like the Blueberry coverall, especially the adorable pattern of monkeys that I purchased, but I do not like how the top usually turns inward, leaving a little mark on N's tummy from time to time. :( The Imagine covers have been my favorite, so I made a point to get one more. Then I decided to purchase a Thirsties cover. My friend has been raving about them, so I decided to give it a try. I was so happy when I found my package in the mail yesterday! Here is what I got:

I purchased one, Thirsties diaper cover (medium) for Nathan and I LOVE it!
Nathan is currently wearing it as I type this. It is very soft and easy to clean.
It is similar to the Imagine covers, but....different in its own awesome way.
Super awesome! Thank you, Sarah!

I knew I loved the Imagine one-size covers, so I bought another.

The only difference is that instead of the Hook and Loop closures that I

already own, I went with a snap closure. At first, it was a bit confusing

because the adjustable rise is also snaps! So.....yeah. But after a minute, all was well.

Next I purchased liners. I had never tried these before so I was curious

if they would meet a need I have. I have been afraid of taking off on the road

with cloth diapers because it is nearly impossible to clean the soiled (and dirty!) diapers

when you are not home, or have easy access to a washer. It's just.....difficult.

But I looked at the Flushable diaper liners and thought, "Hmmm, maybe?"

So I bought 100 of the Imagine Biodegradable Liners (for less than $6.00).

Today, I used them for the first time and....so far, so good. It needs a bit of

tweaking, but I definitely am happy with my purchase!

So there is the latest. I am planning to try out the Bumkins cover next, as well as purchase a second wet bag. I'll be blogging on those items next time!

Eleven Months Old

Next month, we will be celebrating Nathan's 1st birthday. I am so excited about the party and have been planning it for months! --my planning post to come directly after the party. However, I'm experiencing a pain in my momma-heart about my little baby growing up. Mmm. He's so much fun and so very sweet!

Here is the latest. :)

• He can stand up without pulling up now. He's so proud. :)
     
• He loves to eat. His favorite foods are currently: bread (biscuits, muffins, rolls, breadsticks...), yogurt, juice, scrambled eggs, sausage, Cheetos, oatmeal breakfast cookies, french fries, chicken, and hamburger meat. He doesn't like veggies much, so I will either juice them or sneak them in various meals (like stew or soup). It works.
      
• He will crawl to me and say, "Momm-ma-ma-ma-ma-mmmm-ma."  ....and I melt.
         
• When Grant comes home from work, Nathan....freaks.....out! It's hysterical.
        
• He enjoys being in the kitchen with me when I'm cooking. He will play with measuring cups and plastic containers....or try to crawl up my leg.
      
• Nathan loves music. :) He gets it honestly.
     
• His favorite things to watch are Veggie Tales and Little Einsteins. :)
      
• Bathtime is WAY fun! He loves splashing and playing with his toys and chewing on the washcloth.
       
• His sleeping is just excellent. Due to teething, he skipped naps for about a week and was restless, but now he is back on schedule and I can tell he is feeling much better.
     
• Nathan loves going outside!!! Grant will take him out to feed the dogs and we pull him in his wagon from time to time. When the weather is nice and warm, I will often take him on a walk or spread a blanket on the grass to play.
         

Now, pictures!

Playing with friends

straight country, bro!

being a boy.... it was his first "ow-ie"  :/

   
   waiting for daddy to come home
    
   :)

       
my boys :)
 
   filthy after playing outside!
 
    sweet boy
 
fast asleep :) <3

playing at the doctor's office


 
      precious boy, laying on "Blue" his stuffed puppy

   
my handsome son! :)
    
 oh dear me!
 
 
  
"I'm ELEVEN months old!!"

   

Freezer Meals || Classic Chili

Last week, as I began to pull out what I needed to make chili for dinner, I decided to make a large amount so I could freeze several batches for future meals. It helps. :) This was a new recipe that I had never tried before and it...was....delicious! So, I thought I would share it with you.

   

 
Classic Chili

6 lbs lean ground beef
4 cups chopped onion
1 Tbs minced garlic
12 cups Basic Red Sauce (recipe below)
8 cans kidney beans (I used two cans of chili beans)
4 cans pork and beans (I only used one)
4 Tbs chili powder
4 Tbs hot sauce
4 tsp oregano
4 tsp black pepper
salt to taste

Brown beef, onion, and garlic in a large stockpot over medium heat until beef is no longer pink, about 30 minutes. Drain and discard fat. Cool beef; divide evenly among the freezer bags.

Into each bag measure 3 cups basic red sauce, 2 cans kidney beans, 1 can pork and beans, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 teaspoon oregano, and 1 teaspoon pepper.

Seal and freeze.

Makes 4 entrees, 8 servings each.

---Basic Red Sauce recipe---

I drastically reduced the amount because I didn't want to make this much.

4 12-ounce cans tomato paste
8 cups hot water
½ cup dried parsley
½ cup minced onion
¼ cup minced garlic
¼ cup sugar (I used honey)
2 Tbs salt
2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried thyme (I didn't have this, so I just left it out)
4 28-ounce cans tomato sauce
4 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
       Mix together. Do NOT cook.

You can also freeze separately for later use. Makes about 40 cups (10 quarts)

NEW DESIGN!!!

I would like to take a moment and give a HUGE "thank you" to Sheila for my beautiful new design! She worked hard and was so gracious. If any of you bloggers would like a nifty design for your page, I definitely recommend her!

Changes Ahead!

Created to be His is about to get a totally new - and permanent! - look! It will be quiet around here for a few days while the designer "does her thing" but expect posts and news and all things "His" to come back very soon!
Until then....

Homemaking Quotes

I am a homemaker. I am a stay-at-home wife and mommy. Do I enjoy it? Yes!!

I grew up on the road and I dearly love traveling, but I also so love being home. I love waking up and seeing my little boy's smile. I love feeding my family, making coffee, and singing around the house as I fold laundry and do dishes. I love reading my Bible in the quiet of my boy's naptime. I love going on walks and playing outside with our dogs. I love cooking and having supper ready when my husband gets home. Home life is wonderful!  

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." - Lydia Sherman

     

"Thank God, O women, for the quietude of your home, and that you are queen it it. Men come at eventide to the home; but all day long you are there, beautifying it, sanctifying it, adorning it, blessing it. Better be there than wear a queen's coronet. Better be there than carry the purse of a princess. It may be a very humble home. There may be no carpet on the floor. There may be no pictures on the wall. There may be no silks in the wardrobe; but, by your faith in God, and your cheerful demeanor, you may garniture that place with more splendor than the upholsterer's hand ever kindled." - Reverend T. DeWitt Talmage, D.D

"I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England." - John Wesley

"I'm only a housewife, I'm afraid." How often do we hear this shocking admission. I'm afraid when I hear it I feel very angry indeed. Only a housewife: only a practitioner of one of the two most noble professions (the other one is that of a farmer); only the mistress of a huge battery of high and varied skills and custodian of civilization itself. Only a typist, perhaps! Only a company director, or a nuclear physicist; only a barrister; only the President! When a woman says she is a housewife she should say it with the utmost pride, for there is nothing higher on this planet to which she could aspire." - John Seymour

"The career of motherhood and homemaking is beyond value and needs no justification. It's importance is incalculable." - Katherine Short

Pray It Down

Several months ago, in Sunday School, my aunt repeated this phrase: pray it down. It has stuck in my head ever since. And in just a few short months of using her wise advice, I have seen God work.

I have been a wife for just shy of two years. I have been a mommy for ten and a half months. I'm new at this. I don't have it all figured out. Before I married Grant, I lived at home with my family. I had a few bills like car insurance and such, but I didn't pay the water bill, the electric bill, the house note, or the credit card bill. I didn't buy all the groceries for the family. However, now I help Grant in managing our monthly income and paying our bills, and it's up to ME to plan and shop for a month's worth of meals. At first, it sounded easy enough. HA!   It's not....

My husband gets paid once a month so, once a month, I make a big grocery-shopping trip. Before hand, I do some thinking on what meals I plan to cook that are healthy and filling, what ingredients I can buy that can go the greatest length, and I look for various coupons that can be used.

I'm not cheap. I'm just frugal, and I want to be wise with the money that my husband works so hard for. I want to stretch it and bless my family and my husband with how I manage it.
  
That being said, this one particular Sunday, my aunt's phrase of pray it down really struck a chord with me. I had run out of baby fruit for Nathan and I just didn't want to go buy more. Payday was coming up soon. It could wait. I had vegetables and beans but, in my momma-heart, I reeeeeeally wanted my boy to have fruit too.

Philippians 4:6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." I always seem to put my supplications into a priority list for God.

Asking for a new vacuum cleaner isn't as important as asking that He will heal my husband's headache.   
    
Ever do that?
    
But Philippians says otherwise. The Lord CARES about His children; just as I care about my little boy. As joint-heirs with Christ, we have the authority to come before our Heavenly Father and tell him our troubles, our concerns, our dreams, and our needs. He answers every prayer. Sometimes the answer we get isn't what we want, but He does give an answer and He ultimately has our very best in view.

So with that in mind, I went to God and prayed for baby fruit. Trivial as it sounds, I really wanted it for Nathan. So I prayed it down. Less than two days later, CASES (I will repeat, CASES) of baby fruit were on my kitchen floor. So much so that I still have some leftover that I will be giving away!

He is faithful!

It was such a "small" thing. But the Lord honores the fervent prayer of His saints... Yes, even the prayers of a mommy who simply wants baby fruit for her baby or new socks for her kids. So, ladies (and gentlemen too!), do not let your heart be troubled or burdened with your cares. Go to your Father with your needs and pray them down!
      
Psalm 116:1
I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.