Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Butter
12 Tablespoons Cocoa*
4 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil*
2 Cups Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoons Salt
2 Cups Sugar
4 Large Eggs
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
Powdered Sugar
*or 4 Squares of Unsweetened Chocolate

Instructions:
Melt butter, then add cocoa and oil until smooth
Beat chocolate mixture and granulated sugar until combined
Add eggs and beat well
Mix in vanilla
Mix in flour, baking powder and salt and beat until just combined
Refrigerate dough until very firm, at least 2 hours

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease cookie sheet (or use parchment paper).
Place confectioner's sugar on a paper plate.
Roll dough into small balls and then roll in powdered sugar until completely covered.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, until tops of cookies are set.
Cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes and then transfer to rack to cool completely.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

Tis The Season!

Chex Mix

Ingredients:
  1/2 c butter
  2 T season salt
  1/2 - 2/3 c Worcestershire sauce
  2T garlic powder
  1/2 T ground mustard
  1/4 - 1/2 T curry, to taste (optional)
  6-8 c chex cereal: 2 honey nut, 2 rice, 2 corn, 2 wheat
  2 handfuls (approximately 2 c) pretzels
  1 - 2 c mixed nuts

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 250. While oven is pre-heating, put the stick of butter in your large roasting pan and put it in the oven to melt the butter at the same time.
• Remove pan once butter is melted and combine the rest of the ingredients together with the butter and mix well to coat the majority of the ingredients.
• Heat for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
• Spread on paper towels to cool for approximately 30 minutes to cool.

Christmas & Birthday Lists 2009

This is a list of things the girls have asked for and things that have been bought (as far as I have been informed.) Hope it helps!

Bella - Size 6 jeans, not slim | Size 7/8 tops | Size 12 1/2 - 13 shoe

• Zhu Zhu Pets: Mr. Squiggles Brown Hamster, Fun House, and Wheel (from Santa)
• Polly Pocket Roller Coaster Resort (Kim)
• Veterinarian Kit (Trisha)
• Goldilicious by Elizabeth Kann (Kim)
• My Amusement Park Leapster (Kim)
• Denim Skirts (Sheila)
• Best Friends Club 18" Doll - Addison (Sheila)
• Best Friends Club 11" Doll (Barbie Size) - Addison (Trisha)
• Outfits for an 18" doll 
• Three Musketeer costume for her 18" doll
• Purplicious by Elizabeth Kann - hardcover, please
• Roller Skates (the kind that fit over your shoes)

Bella likes Junie B. Jones Chapter Books by Barbara Park. We own books 1-12.
She is also starting to read on her own a bit, so the easy readers (Step 1 books or equivalent.)
She loves to play dress up, so costume clothing is great.
She's just getting into Barbie Dolls and loved Barbie and the Three Musketeers (she got Corinne for her birthday)
She enjoys crafts and art and will spend hours coloring, cutting, punching and gluing paper.
Her favorite color is pink (today).

Lili - Size 4 Jeans (adjustable waist) slim is okay | Size 4 or 4/5 tops | Size 9 shoe

• Zhu Zhu Pets: Num Nums Gray Hamster, Fun House, and Wheel (from Santa)
• Three Musketeer Barbie - Corrine (Sheila)
• If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff (Kim)
• If You Take A Mouse To The Movies by Laura Numeroff (Kim)
• If You Give A Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff (Kim)
• Disney Fairies Leapster Game (Kim) 
• Best Friends Club 18" Doll - Calista (Sheila)
• Best Friends Club 11" Doll (Barbie Size) - Katilin (Trisha)
• Crib for 18" Doll
  
• Outfits for an 18" doll 
  
• Roller Skates (the kind that fit over your shoes)

Lili loves to play dress up, so costume clothing, dress up shoes, jewelry and stuff like that are all great.
She likes the Disney princesses and fairies.
She enjoys coloring, cutting, punching and gluing paper.

Either / Both

• Leapster Games: Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and The Princess and the Frog  (If you want one of these, let me know. They were on sale so I bought them already)
  
• Paper Punches (the ones that are a bit more expensive, like $7-$15...Martha Stewart type, are easier than the cheap ones for the kids to push down on to punch the shape into the paper) we already have a crown, a dog pawprint, a sprig from a plant, and a flower.
• Stickers
  
• Stencils for tracing
• UNO Moo Game
• Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure DVD (Trisha)
  
• Ice Age 3 DVD (Trisha)
  
• Build-A-Bear Gift Card(s)

Trisha

• Super Mario Bros Wii Game
• GE Crock Pot with Cool Touch and Locking Lid (Walmart)

Mike

• Green by Ted Dekker (Trisha)
• Long Sleeve, Turtle Neck Under Armor
• Jeans

Love and Respect Conference

Revolutionary wisdom for husbands and wives

Marriage expert and best-selling author of Love & Respect Emerson Eggerichs presenting live in person at Northwoods Community Church in Peoria

When:
Nov. 13, 2009 • 6:45–10pm | Nov. 14, 2009 • 8:45am – 1:30pm

Doors open 30 minutes before start each day. Auditorium seating is general admission and first-come, first-served with overflow anticipated. Due to the high demand for this conference, there will be no refunds. Childcare is not available during this conference.

Excited and burdened about male and female communication, Emerson launched the Love and Respect Conferences in August 1999 to serve husbands and wives.

Sarah and Emerson are convinced that a truth hidden in plain sight for 2000 years can make a difference in every marriage. This truth is found in Ephesians 5:33. Husbands must love their wives and wives must respect their husbands.

Emerson writes, "You may remember how the Beatles sang, 'All you need is love.' I absolutely disagree with that conclusion. Five out of ten marriages today are ending in divorce because love alone is not enough. Yes, love is vital, especially for the wife, but what we have missed is the husband's need for respect. This Love and Respect message is about how the wife can fulfill her need to be loved by giving her husband what he needs -- respect. And the husband can fulfill his need to be respected by giving his wife what she needs -- love. Does this always work? No. But if one is married to a person of good will, I would bet the farm that it would work!"

How Can I respect That?

Emerson received his B.A. in Biblical Studies and an M.A. in Communications from Wheaton College and Graduate school. He was awarded his Masters in Divinity from Dubuque Seminary. Later, he earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in Child and Family Ecology. Emerson was the senior pastor of East Lansing Trinity church from 1980 to 1999. He loved the pastorate in this college town with nearly 45,000 students. When he came, the church had 450 in attendance, and when he left over 2000 attended. He oversaw a paid staff of 40. He also initiated a building program, relocating Trinity Church on 70 beautiful acres in the Lansing area. That was completed in the year 2000.

Focus on the Family is sponsoring many of the Love and Respect Conferences across the nation.

The book Love and Respect (The Love She Most Desires / The Respect He Desperately Needs) won two awards in 2005: the Gold Medallion and Retailers Choice.

The Love & Respect book has been selected as the 2007 Book of the Year for Family Christian Stores."

Northwoods Community Church
10700 N. Allen Road
Peoria, IL
(309) 243-1375

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce Recipe

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant - Recipes - Recipe Search

Ingredients
3 cups milk
3 cups heavy cream
1 cup imported Parmesan cheese, grated
1 cup imported Romano cheese, grated
12 egg yolks from fresh jumbo eggs
Salt and black pepper to taste

Procedures
1. HEAT milk and cream in a heavy bottom saucepan until it begins to simmer. Turn off heat. Slowly whip in cheese, then remove from heat.
2. PLACE egg yolks in a separate bowl and slowly whip in a portion of the hot milk and cream mixture. Slowly add egg yolk mixture back into remaining cream mixture. Place back on very low heat and continually stir until simmering. Take sauce off heat so it thickens. (This will increase temperature of egg yolks, known as tempering).
3. SEASON to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Serving Size: 8

Shared via AddThis

Italian Chicken

Ingredients:
Chicken breasts (6)
8oz Italian Salad Dressing
8oz Cream Cheese
14oz Chicken Broth
10.5oz Canned Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 teaspoon Rosemary
1/2 teaspoon Thyme
Angel Hair Pasta (or pasta of your choice)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

Put chicken breasts in a slow cooker and pour the dressing over them. Cook on low 8-10 hours. Remove the breasts from the slow cooker and discard the dressing. Put the cream cheese, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, rosemary, thyme and salt and pepper in the slow cooker. Stir together as the ingredients melt. Meanwhile, cut the chicken into small pieces. Put the chicken back in the slow cooker with the sauce. Cook together another hour.

Prepare the pasta according to the package directions and serve the chicken mixture over the pasta.

Cheeseburger Soup

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 small onion, chopped
1 tblspn beef bouillon granules
1 pound ground beef, cooked and drained
8oz process cheese, cubed
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/2 tspn salt
2 1/2 cups milk (2 cups & 1/2 cup)
1/4-1 tspn cayenne pepper (optional)
2 tblspns all-purpose flour

Directions:
In a large saucepan, combine: water, potatoes, onion, green pepper, garlic, bouillon and salt; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in beef and 2 cups of milk; heat through.

Combine flour and remaining milk until smooth; gradually stir into soup. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. While pot is heating, cube your cheese.

Reduce heat stir in cheese until melted.

Add cayenne pepper. Top with bacon just before serving.

TGI Friday's Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:
* 4 (4 ounce) chicken breasts
* salt and black pepper (to taste)
* 1 lb angel hair pasta
* 6-8 medium size roma tomatoes
* 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
* 2 minced garlic cloves
* 10tsp dried basil leaves or 10tbsp fresh basil leaves
* 2 garlic cloves, sliced into thin coins
* 1/2 cup tomato sauce
* 1 cup balsamic vinegar
* 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Directions:
1. Chicken Breasts: Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Grill 3-4 minutes per side for grill marks or until the chicken breasts reach 165 degrees F. Grill right before serving.

2. Pasta: Boil pasta as per directions on box until al dente.Drain and transfer to bowl.

3. Tomato Salad (Step 1): Wash, core and dice tomatoes to 1/4" pieces, save juices and place in small bowl. Wash, dry and cut basil leaves into thin strips. Combine tomatoes, basil, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, and minced garlic and hold for 2 hours before use.

4. Tomato Salad (Step 2): Heat heavy bottom saucepan under medium-low flame. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, heat oil for 20 seconds. Saute cloves of garlic, that are sliced into thin coins, in oil (if small use 3) for 45 seconds on each side until soft and tender - do not brown garlic (if brown DISCARD and start over). Increase heat and add tomato salad and stir.

5. Tomato Salad (Step 3): Add plain tomato sauce to pan and bring to a boil. Add pasta to sauce pan and toss with fresh sauce (sauce should just coat pasta). Transfer to a service platter or plate individually. Garnish with balsamic glaze.

6. Balsamic Glaze: Bring to a boil vinegar and sugar in small pan and turn down flame to a simmer Reduce by 75% until sauce turns to a thick syrup, hold at room temperature

7. To serve: Slice chicken breast into strips on a bias (45 degree angle) and place on top of pasta.Enjoy!


45 min | 15 min prep
SERVES 4

Sausage Gravy

INGREDIENTS

* 1 (12 ounce) package maple flavored sausage
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 3 cups whole milk
* salt and pepper to taste


DIRECTIONS

Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown.
Remove sausage with a slotted spoon, leaving the drippings in the pan.
Stir in the butter until melted. Add flour, and stir until smooth.
Reduce heat to medium, and cook until light brown. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook until thickened.
Season with salt and pepper, and stir in cooked sausage.
Reduce heat, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. If gravy becomes too thick, stir in a little more milk.

BBQ for Pulled Chicken or Pork

2 1/4 c chopped onion
3tbs oil
2 1/4 c ketchup
2 1/2 c chicken broth
1 c lemon juice
1/2 c + 1 c brown sugar
1/2 c + 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c + 2 tbsp mustard
2 tbsp salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper

Here's the bbq part of the recipe:

Saute onion in oil. Add to that the ketchup, chicken broth, lemon juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and black pepper. Cook 15 minutes and pour over meat.

Tastes best when cooked a day ahead so the meat can marinate in the sauce overnight.

Herb Crusted Pork Loin

Ingredients

1 (4-pound) boneless pork loin, with fat left on
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil or 2 teaspoons fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
brown sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees.

Place the pork loin on a rack in a roasting pan. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. With your fingers, massage the mixture onto the pork loin, covering all of the meat and fat. Sprinkle with brown sugar, about 2 tablespoons or to taste.

Roast the pork for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 425 degrees and roast for an additional hour. Test for doneness using an instant-read thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees, remove the roast from the oven. Allow it to sit for about 20 minutes before carving. It will continue to cook while it rests.

Love Believes the Best, Day 7

Challenge: For today's dare, get two sheets of paper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose and plan for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.

Journal: Which list was easier to make? What did this reveal about your thoughts? What attribute did you thank your spouse for having?

So, what room do I spend more time in? Yikes...Not sure I want to think about that, so lets move on to the journaling.

For me, the positive list was easier to make. I take this as a good sign!!I really am so lucky to have him as a husband. The list of positives by far outnumbered the negatives. And the list of negatives that I came up with were so very minor, that it hardly was worth it to write them down, tho it did make me realize how inconsequential they were in the grand scheme of things. I won't bore you with the entire positive list, but some of the things listed included the following:

* Patient
* Kind
* Hard working
* Trusting
* Loving husband and father
* Forgiving
* Thoughtful
* Honest

I won't bore you with any of the negatives, because I'm believing the best in my husband and not going to focus on them.

What does this reveal about my thoughts? I realized that if I were making the lists about ME, it would be easier to write negative things over positive things. It seems I spend more time in the Appreciation Room when it comes to my husband, yet when it comes to me I tend to hang out more in the Depreciation Room.

We were then supposed to thank our spouse for something on the positive list later in the day. Tonight when he got home from work, I thanked him for being so trusting. He never questions anything that I do or who I'm with.

Now to hide the lists and see what's in store for them!

Love Is Not Irritable, Day 6

Challenge: Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that you need to release from your life.

Journal: Where do you need to add margin to your life? When have you recently overreacted? What was your real motivation behind it? What decisions have you made today?

Today's chapter talks about how selfishness can take other forms, such as: lust, bitterness, greed, and pride. Out of this list of 4, I know that I have an issue with bitterness. I hold onto things and let them leak out when the smallest thing sets it off. I sit and I stew. I can hold onto things for days before either finding a way to let it go or go off. Grant it, usually I can end up letting it go, but there are those occasions that that doesn't happen. Since starting the Love Dare, I have tried to not hold onto things if they are not important.

Where do I need to add margin to my life...whew...most of you girls have seen my schedule! Is this question a joke? :) I probably need to add in some more "at home" time...the time where I just say "no" and stick to it. (This will probably kill me, so pray for me girls!)

When have I recently overreacted? That's a tough one because I'm a pretty easy going person. I suppose last week when Mike told me he was going to have to set up for VBS right after church instead of Sunday evening. That was not his fault, other than he didn't say no. He didn't plan that time, it was told to him. I did let it go and got over it...and I apologized for my reaction. My real motivation behind it was selfishness...that sounds so ugly.

What decisions have I made today? I'm going to let things go...not sweat the small things and not make mountains out of molehills. I also need to prioritize things and stick to my schedule, whether it's busy or has nothing on it.

Love is Not Rude, Day 5

Challenge: Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.

Journal: What things did your spouse point out about you that need your attention? How did you handle hearing it? What do you plan to do to improve these areas?

Okay, I didn't want to do today's challenge, of course, who does? Who really wants to find out what irritates their husband about themselves? Should I just take a fail on this one? Should I just blow it off...yeah, that's it! Okay, I didn't blow off the challenge all together, because I know how important it is and I really do want to better my marriage, I just went about it in a different way...I e-mailed him. I figured it would be easier for him to answer me honestly if he weren't telling me my faults to my face...I'm just hoping that he limits my faults to only three! I'll update with the results once he responds to the e-mail. Good luck with this one girls!

Update: Here was his response:
I don't know if I have three things that really bother me, but I'll give you what I've got.

One thing that bothers me (that you already know) is how you leave things lying around instead of putting them where they go. To sum it up lack of order.

As far as personality traits/character stuff, there really isn't anything that bothers me much. It used to bother me how you didn't think ahead or get stuff ready ahead of time, but since the girls have come along you seem to get better about that all of the time.

Do you HAVE to have three things?

Love is Thoughtful, Day 4

Challenge: Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

Journal: What did you learn about yourself or your spouse by doing this today? How could this become a more natural, routine, and genuinely helpful part of your lifestyle?

First off, I'm going to start by finishing off yesterday's challenge. Today I bought Mike a lovey-dovey card and put a little coupon in it for dinner at the restaurant of his choice next time we're going out together.

Now to Day #4...I must confess that this challenge is super duper easy for me because we do this already on a regular basis. We normally talk on the phone several times a day while Mike is at work. He calls to check on me and the kids, and I fill him in on the day's activities. I hate that he misses out on so much that we do, so I do my very best to help him feel connected, even while he is at work. Someone asked me a couple weeks ago if my hubby was very controlling because I call him to let him know what's going on...No, I don't call him because he wants to know where I'm at every second of the day or everything we do all day long...that would take more time and energy than it would be worth, I do it because I love him and because I want him to know that no matter what we're doing I'm thinking about him. (I also sent him a message on Facebook today, so do I get extra credit?)

Love is Not Selfish, Day 3

Challenge: Whatever you put your time, energy, and money into will become more important to you. It's hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."

Journal: What did you choose to give to your spouse? What happened when you gave it?

Okay, first off, I have to laugh because Friday I was feeling selfish...should have looked ahead in the book!

Day 3, and I have already failed a challenge. I did not buy Mike anything today. Nothing. Nadda. Zippo. Zilch.

Today Mike had to help set up the sound system for VBS so I went with my parents and the girls to the Air Show. There wasn't too much opportunity to buy something that Mike would need there. I should have planned ahead. I should have made it a priority to go buy him a gift. I didn't. I have my reasons that would completely validate why I could not follow through, but the raw truth is I did not make him a priority today, the Love Dare a priority.

Honestly, buying anything for Mike scares me...what in the world would he want or need? So, in the spirit of honesty, maybe I did not follow through not because of all my "valid" reasons, but because I have a hard time with this anyway so I just used those reasons to validate my failure.

I will complete this task, it just has to wait until tomorrow when I am not spending the day at the Air Show getting sunburnt. :) On to Day 4! Bring it! :)

Love is Kind, Day 2

Challenge: In addition to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at least one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

Journal: What discoveries about love did you make today? What specifically did you do in this are? How did you show kindness?

Okay, in my effort to accomplish Day 2, I was thinking about discoveries about love that I made today and I realized how we really need to make an effort to show acts of kindness to our spouse. I mean, if you think about it, we seem to really go out of our way to do this for others, even complete strangers...we will hold the door for someone entering a store, drop everything to reach out to others in our lives and communities, take on too much for others, but when it comes to our husbands and children we tend to give them the "leftovers". I feel like I try hard NOT to do this, but today I realized I am guilty of this as well. I get busy with anything and everything in my day to day life, I tend to be very tired or stressed or just too lazy to make an effort to give my family what I am more than willing to give to others, even complete strangers. Makes lots of sense, doesn't it? Why in the world do we do this?

I wanted to do something out of the ordinary today as my "unexpected gesture of kindness", but it didn't happen quite like I was hoping. Saying nothing negative to my hubby today was extremely easy, but I didn't see Mike for most of the day today. :) As an unexpected gesture of kindness, since Mike worked on a friend's garage all day, we went out for dinner as a family. It was a nice evening. I also left a note on the bathroom mirror,

"Mike, I appreciate all you do! Love, Trisha"

I know that doesn't seem like much, but as much as I do appreciate Mike I really don't tell him near enough.

I feel like today, as far as the Love Dare stuff goes, was a success. Day 2 down, life to go. :)

Love is Patient, Day 1 cont...

Okay, just got home from going into town, let me just say that the patience I have with my husband and my kids is tons more patience than I have for idiot drivers, but that's a entirely different issue to work on! LOL

Love Is Patient, Day 1

Challenge: The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

Journal: Did anything happen today to cause anger toward your husband? (What about your kids?) Where you tempted to think disapproving thoughts and to let them come out in words?

Today is Day 1, Love is patient. Oh boy...here we go! Patience is not one of my strongest virtues, it is something I know, and have known it is an area I need to really work on. Patience with my husband does not seem to be that much of a challenge for me, but patience with the girls ,and with life, well that is the real challenge.

The book states, "Love will inspire you to become a patient person.". Hmmmm...I never thought about it that way, that patience and love go hand in hand. I mean my mind can grasp the concept, but have I really led my own heart to make the connection, to inspire patience within me? I mean, I know it is the right thing to do, I have been taught this from the Bible, but it never really sunk in, and it is much easier said than done!

As I write this I realize what I said is not true. I do have issues with patience with Mike at times. (An epiphany perhaps...where's that little light bulb that's supposed to be above my head?) God speaking to my heart once again. I vowed when I took on this dare that I would be real. I would face things head on and acknowledge the truth about myself. Honestly, I have a tendency to try to seek the positive in everything and I sometimes neglect to realize the reality of things as they are versus how I want them to be.

Ok, so back to Mike. Let me rephrase what I stated above, most of the time patience is not an issue for me in regards to him. Now, from his perspective about me, well that's probably a whole different story, so we'll not ask!

My morning for Day 1 started off with a bang...Mike has been asked to help out with some of the setup for VBS at Harvest and that was fine. This morning he told me that the setup time is now following church. This didn't sit well with me and I as far as the dare goes I was successful in not "saying" anything negative to him, but my attitude was all wrong. Actions speak louder than words, right? The Lord reminded me again just how selfish I am and when he gets home from work, I know that I need to ask his forgiveness for being so selfish.

As far as how I did with the girls on the dare, well considering they weren't with most of the day I did great. My parents met me at the library and dropped them off at lunch time, afterwards we ran some errands and they've been playing great together all afternoon. Praise God! But I wasn't perfect, I did react in anger a time or two when they were getting on each others nerves (not taking into consideration how tired they are), and therefore getting on my nerves. The Lord is really working on me with my short fuse and I know that as I yield to Him that He will allow me to improve in this area.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and seeing what is in store and I am going to keep on working on Dare #1 until I get it right. (It could be a while!)

Make An Investment in YOUR Marriage...I DARE YOU!

Last year Mike and I went to see the movie Fireproof. It was awesome. The acting was decent, but the message was incredible. It really touched my heart and stirred up a longing to have a deeper, closer relationship with my hubby.

Earlier this week, while talking to some of the girls in the mom's group on the phone, we discussed the study book we were doing and some feelings about it. After those phone calls I was feeling led to suggest changing our study book for the time being. I had decided last week that I would do the Love Dare book myself and Kathy was going to do it with me, but after praying about it for a couple days I felt a great peace about suggesting it as a replacement study book. Fast-forward to today in our Mom's Group Bible Study we decided to switch gears and do the Love Dare book instead.

I’m determined to get through the entire book, be completely transparent with myself, and to make an improvement in myself and in our marriage. Please pray for me, and the other mom's that are taking on this dare, and look for my Day 1 post tomorrow!

By the way, Fireproof came out on DVD a few months ago. Check it out with your spouse and take on the Love Dare yourself. I’d love to hear about your journey.

Arby's BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roast Burger...FREE!

When life gives you lemons...

make some fresh squeezed lemonade!

22 oz fresh lemon juice (about 7 large lemons)
2 1/2 to 3 cups sugar
1 cup hot water
1 gallon cold water
strawberries (optional, but recommended)

In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed.


(Fresh squeezed lemon juice can be frozen in a freezer safe container for up to 4 months! So get them while they're on sale and freeze the juice for when you need it!)

Tastes great if you add pieces of strawberries either to your glass of lemonade or to the entire pitcher of lemonade.

New State Budget Eliminates Important Funding!

Please take time to read the information below (under the banner). I strongly encourage everyone to call the Governor Quinn's office and oppose cutting funds for early childhood! This could impact the future of every state funded preschool program, including Bright Futures/Headstart.

You can support children & families and help prevent the loss of jobs and closing of centers by following these simple steps:

1. Call Governor Quinn at (217) 782-0244 and voice your opposition to any cuts in the Early Childhood Block Grant.

2. Email or call your legislators

• Leitch- davidleitch@ameritech.net
• Gordon- repjehangordon@gmail.com
• Moffitt- moffitt@grics.net
• Koehler- dkoehler@senatedem.ilga.gov
• Risinger- senatorrisinger@yahoo.com
• Smith- mks@winco.net

and urge them to do the following:

- DO NOT pass a budget with cuts to early childhood programs including:

• Early Childhood Block Grant funded through the State Board of Education
• Home Visiting funded through the Department of Human Services, Healthy Families and Parents Too Soon budget lines
• Child Care
• Children's Mental Health

- DO reform the Illinois revenue system so that we can collect enough funding to adequately support early childhood programs.

- Tell leadership that you oppose the cuts and that you support revenue to fully fund programs for young children.


The General Assembly will consider both an operational and capital budget this week before their scheduled adjournment on May 31st. Unfortunately, both budgets may not include programs and investments vital to the lives of working families and children.

Capital Budget
In its current state, the capital budget does not include funding for early childhood facilities. Governor Quinn originally proposed $25 million for construction and renovation projects to keep up with the high demand for early childhood education. Without early childhood facility improvement and expansion, children around the state will lack the high-quality learning spaces they need to enter school prepared for success.

Operational Budget
Illinois is in the worst finacial crisis it has ever seen and there is real possiblity that legislators will pass the "doomsday" budget in order to meet the adjourment deadline. If the "doomsday" budget is passed, it could mean the following:

$1.5 billion cut to Education

• Elimination of the Early Childhood Block Grant which provides preschool for 100,000 children.
• Elimination of 14,300 teachers' jobs.

$769 million cut to Human Services

• Elimination of child care for 1,000 children and increasing co-pays for remaining children.
• Closing one out of every five Illinois Department of Human Services offices.
• Elimination of home services for 5,000 people with disabilities.
• Elimination of addiction treatment and prevention for 45,000 people.

We need you to take TWO urgent actions today:

1. Call your legislators today and tell them 3 things:

• Restore $25 million for early childhood facilities as a part of any capital budget.
• Pass an operational budget that includes $592 million for child care services and $392 million for the Early Childhood Block Grant (Preschool for All).
• Increase revenue in a fair and sustainable way to ensure funding for these vital programs. Illinois working families and children should not bear the burden of balancing the budget.

2. Pass this information on to everyone you know.

Click the link below to log in and make your call:
http://www.votervoice.net/groups/ACTION/advocacy/?IssueID=18124&AdminPreview=True&SiteID=-1

To prevent these devastating cuts, you can also:

• Forward the above information and encourage all your friends, family, coworkers, board members, and program participants to take action to protect funding for early childhood programs.
• Write a letter to your local newspaper so that legislators feel pressure from the community as a whole, including the media.

More information and helpful tips can be found on these sites:

• www.budget.illinois.gov
• www.ounceofprevention.org

Grilled Potatoe Wedges

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 potatoes, peeled and halved
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp season salt
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1tsp onion powder

Directions:

1.	Preheat grill for high heat.
2.	Place potatoes in a large saucepan with enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook 15 minutes, or until tender but firm.
3.	Drain potatoes, and pat dry. Coat thoroughly with vegetable oil and seasoned salt.
4.	Place potatoes on the preheated grill. Cook approximately 20 minutes, turning periodically.

PREP TIME 10 Min
COOK TIME 35 Min
READY IN 45 Min

Arby's Free Food Offer...

Arby's is offering free food with purchase on Wednesdays at participating locations. The best deal looks like the free regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase, which happens once a month. Call first to make sure your local Arby's is participating:

MAY
20 - Free Chocolate Malt Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
27 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

JUNE
3 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
10 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
17 - Free Regular Sidekickers with any sandwich purchase
24 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

JULY
1 - Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
8 - Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
15 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
22 - Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
29 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase

AUGUST
5 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
12 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
19 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
26 - Free Regular Beef ‘n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase

Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

INGREDIENTS
* 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
* 1 (4 pound) pork shoulder roast
* 1 cup barbecue sauce
* 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
* 1/2 cup chicken broth
* 1/4 cup light brown sugar
* 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
* 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* 1 extra large onion, chopped
* 2 large cloves garlic, crushed
* 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
* 8 hamburger buns, split
* 2 tablespoons butter, or as needed


DIRECTIONS

1. Pour the vegetable oil into the bottom of a slow cooker. Place the pork roast into the slow cooker; pour in the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and chicken broth. Stir in the brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, onion, garlic, and thyme. Cover and cook on High until the roast shreds easily with a fork, 5 to 6 hours.
2. Remove the roast from the slow cooker, and shred the meat using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, and stir the meat into the juices.
3. Spread the inside of both halves of hamburger buns with butter. Toast the buns, butter side down, in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Spoon pork into the toasted buns.

Note: The pork can also be cooked on Low for 10 to 12 hours.

PREP TIME: 15 Min
COOK TIME: 5 Hrs
Serves 8-10

Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:
5 pounds Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 to 3/4 cup milk (use more or less depending how thick you like your mashed potatoes)
1 egg, beaten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
2 pounds ground sirloin
1 can mixed veggies (or you can use a bag of frozen)
1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups beef stock
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 to 3 tablespoons chives, chopped
1 large onion, chopped

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Yields: 6 servings

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Preparation: Place the potatoes in a medium-size pot, cover them with cold water and bring to a boil. Salt the water and cook potatoes until fork tender, about 12-15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and allow them to cool slightly. Mash them with the milk then stir in the egg. Season with salt and fblack pepper and set aside.

While the potatoes are cooking, make the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add the meat and brown it well, about 5 minutes. Add the vegetables to meat, season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are softened, 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle the flour around the pan, stir and cook for about 1 minute. Add the stock and bring up to a simmer to thicken the gravy, 3-4 minutes. Season the gravy with Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.

Turn broiler on and place rack in the middle of the oven.

Transfer the filling to a medium-size casserole or baking dish and top it with heaping spoonfuls of the horseradish mashed potatoes so they completely cover it. Brown the potatoes under the broiler, about 2 minutes, garnish with chives and serve.

Real Moms...Real Jeasus

This coming weekend is the Hearts at Home National Conference in Bloomington. I'm very excited about going this year and know that it will be a very informative, refreshing weekend. To gear up for the weekend, I’d like to welcome author and speaker, Jill Savage. Jill’s recent book Real Moms…Real Jesus, just released, and I wanted to ask her about her real mom moments..

Jill, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

Mark and I have been married 25 years and we have five children. Anne is 24 and married to our wonderful son-in-love, Matt. Evan is 21 and married to our beautiful daughter-in-love, Julie. Erica is 18 and a college student at Heartland Community College. Kolya is 15 and in the 8th grade. We adopted Kolya at the age of 9 from Russia---the God story about his adoption is included in the Real Moms…Real Jesus book. And Austin is 12 and in the 7th grade.

Tell us about your newest book Real Moms...Real Jesus?

Real Moms…Real Jesus is a book designed to help moms understand that when Jesus lived on this earth he was fully God, yet fully man. We don’t often think about the fact that he was a human being and he lived the full human experience: pain, hunger, fatigue, frustration, betrayal, disappointment. He experienced it all!

There’s one verse in the Bible about Jesus that simply says “large crowds followed him everywhere he went.” Well, isn’t that the life of a mom? Large crowds follow her to the bathroom. They follow her to the kitchen. To the grocery store. She’s in high demand! And when Jesus lived on this earth, He was in high demand, too.

Why did you want to write this book?

Most of us long for a friend who understands. Yes, we need girlfriends who understand what our life is like. But we also need to understand that we have a friend who understands in Jesus. Too many of us think of God as being distant and unable to relate to our daily struggles. But nothing could be further from the truth! He understands and he wants us to build our friendship with Him. He wants to not only be our Savior, but also our Friend.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?

I hope that readers will gain a new perspective about their relationship with Jesus. I also hope to weave God’s truth into the daily life of a mom.

What unique elements will the reader find in Real Moms…Real Jesus?

Each chapter looks at some character trait in Jesus’ life that can help us in our life as a mom. In between the chapters are interactive vignettes that provide brief, refreshing glimpses into our real, messy, busy lives.

There are also questions at the end of the chapter for further consideration and suggested Bible reading in the book of Matthew. If the reader chooses to pursue the suggested reading, she will have read the book of Matthew completely by the end of the book!

There is also a leader’s guide in the back of the book so it can be used in a group setting.

This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?

Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free bi-weekly electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!

Any closing thoughts?

I am very excited about this book! I believe that if a mom can strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ, she will feel more equipped to be the mom she wants to be. I’m also offering an online book discussion on my blog beginning Tuesday, April 7. If you’d like to join us, you can subscribe to my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

I’d love to hear a reader’s thoughts after they read the book, too! You can connect to me through my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

Thanks, Jill, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your real mom, real Jesus moments with us.

You can purchase your own copy of Real Moms…Real Jesus by clicking here.

And be sure to check out Hearts at Home, their conferences for moms, and all their online resources here.

How to Calibrate a Leapster

Question:
How can I calibrate my Leapster?
(I’m posting this so I would know to recalibrate it when it goes out of alignment.)

Answer:
The following are instructions for calibrating the Leapster™ handheld.
1) Insert a cartridge, turn the unit on and wait for the sign-in screen to appear.
2) Hold down the Home, Hint and B buttons simultaneously.
3) When the screen changes, press the A button.
4) Using the Stylus, touch the center of the targets.

25 Random Things About Me

1. My favorite color is a tie...between orange and purple...just depends on my mood I guess.
2. I hate spiders...it doesn't matter how big or small, I dislike them all...not in a box, or with a fox...
3. Sweet Peas are my favorite flowers.
4. I like to be the first person to open a jar of peanut butter so I can stick my finger in it.
5. When I go to sleep, I like to snuggle under the blankets, but I always have to have one foot off the side of the bed, out from under the covers.
6. I love going to zoos.
7. I could eat pizza every day of the week.
8. I've been up in a hot air balloon 4 times and think it's an awesome experience.
9. I attended three different grade schools growing up, all of which fed into the same high school, so I knew lots of people once I got to high school.
10. Grizzly Bears are my favorite animals and I would love to be able to see one in the wild.
11. I love Wranglers...it's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.
12. I eat ketchup on my scrambled eggs.
13. My favorite color of Crayon in Brick Red, followed closely by Midnight Blue (I'm not even sure those are colors in the new boxes of Crayola Crayons though).
14. I used to have a pet cow named Sunshine.
15. My family is the most important thing in the world to me.
16. My friends follow a very close second to my family.
17. I wore glasses/contacts for about 25yrs (from 1st grade until I was almost 32yrs old)...then had LASIK and now have 20/10 vision and I don't miss my contacts and glasses at all.
18. I have my Associates Degree in Graphic Design, but my most rewarding job has been being a mother...also my toughest job.
19.White chocolate is my downfall.
20. My favorite TV show is LOST.
21. I'm a night owl...definitely not a morning person.
22. The sound of chalk or fingernails on a blackboard gives me chills.
23. I'm very thankful for my wonderful husband and cannot imagine life without him.
24. Someday I would love to take a cruise to either Alaska or Ireland.
25. I like regular Coke, not diet and diet Pepsi, not regular.

A little Stampin' Up! fun...

Ellen came over and did a party for me and some friends. Here are a couple techniques that she demonstrated for us...

Cracked Glass -
A closer look at the "cracked glass" detail...


And Faux Metal -
A closer look at the "faux metal" technique...


And here is what we made as our "make and take" -

Stampin Up Ideas

Just found Rachel's "The Scrappy Side of Life" blog tonight (see link in the sidebar to your right). She's got some really cute ideas and she's even running an awesome contest on your blog...be sure to check it out!

BOGO Meal at TGI Friday!

This coupon expires March 1st, so enjoy is soon!