Meal Planning- Having a Menu

Well I must admit that this is one area where I am probably over organized, but it works for us! I have a 5 week menu that we rotate that include breakfast, lunch, dinners and snacks, and then also one dessert and cookie for each week. Having a menu makes it easier for me to plan ahead (which can help with the grocery budget) and also elminates the stress of what to make for dinner. My menu follows a pattern in that I have a certain type...

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On My Heart...

I haven't felt much like writing lately, I suppose I have just had quite a bit on my mind and have just felt, well, preoccupied.I had an experience here recently that reminded me that I am somewhat naive. And at first, I felt tempted to let this experience change the way that I do things, or feel about things, but then it occurred to me that perhaps being naive isn't such a bad thing. I have always seen the best in people, and taken their word...

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On the Question of KJV Only..

I have been asked many times about whether or not the King James bible version is the "right" one to read, or that sort of thing. I thought I would share our thoughts on this.Ok, first let me give you my family's stance on the KJV-only issue. I am sure I will make many others in the "Anabaptist" faith a little displeased with what I say, but this is just our take on it. We don't feel that there is one translation that is "perfect". In our minds,...

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Tuesday's To-Do's

I ended up having to change my dinner plans yesterday when time ran short, so I ended up making sausage mashed potato bake. The boys finished off the pie, so I am going to make a cobbler today. :) Morning- Fix breakfastFeed Joseph a bottleMake bedsGet everyone dressed (I love when I don't have ironing to do in the morning :))Clean up from breakfast (wash dishes, wipe table, sweep)School with boys Mid-day Cut up chickenLaundry-2 loads of clothesDust...

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To Do's

I broke out my list for today to make it easier for me to focus. Pink is done, purple is in progress. Ok, back to work for me :). Morning- iron shirts for todaymake bedmake breakfast (strawberry muffins, fruit)wake up childrenbreakfastclean up breakfast (wash dishes, wipe table, sweep)get children dressedfeed Joseph bottleprint worksheets for schoolschool time with boys Mid-day- Laundry-2 loads of clothes, 1 load of diapersFold Clothes and put...

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To Do's and a Few Thoughts...

1. Clean guinea pig cage. 2. Ironing and mending. 3. Work on Modest Melly newsletter (it has been way too long since I sent out the last one!) 4. Laundry (we fell so far behind last week with all that was going on) 5. Fold clothes and put away. 6. Sweep living room. 7. Refill lamps (we seem to burning a bit more oil now that it is becoming dark earlier) 8. Straighten children's bedrooms. 9. Work on file folder games. (have been putting some more...

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"Till the Storm Passes By" by Mosie Lister

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face,While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place.'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry,Keep me safe till the storm passes by. Chorus Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, Till the clouds roll forever from the sky; Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand, Keep me safe till the storm passes by.Many times Satan...

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Potato Bread

Red Geraniums said... Hello Melly! Is there somewhere on your blog you've shared your potato bread recipe...if not, will you share it? I'd like to find a nice bread recipe to make once in a while that is not whole wheat! Thanks! GlendaI had not shared my recipe for potato bread on my blog, but I am more than happy to :). Also if you are looking for other bread recipes I have others on my homemaking site.Potato Bread:Ingredients:1 med. potato,...

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Heavy Burdens

Dear sisters, I write today with a heavy heart. It has been hard for me to admit that I am struggling, I have never felt comfortable with exposing weakness. But yet here I am, feeling weaker than ever before, and coming to the understanding that I am in need of prayer from my dear sisters in Christ.I have been struggling to carry some heavy burdens that honestly I know I cannot carry on my own. But I have had difficulty in letting go of it enough...

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Our Thanksgiving

We had a nice little time of thanksgiving here at our home. My husband took on the task of making the turkey this year, and we had such a lovely time cooking together. The boys anxiously awaited dinner being ready. Oh how my boys love to eat :). They particularly enjoyed the cranberry sauce, the two of them ate nearly half the bowl! Jacob was especially excited for the pie, as he just loves pie! Joseph loved the sweet potatoes, and thought the cranberry...

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Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior

This hymn has been in my head and on my heart for weeks, so I thought I would share the words here. I have always loved singing hymns, I think it is my special time to be in worship daily.Pass me not, O gentle Savior,Hear my humble cry;While on others Thou art calling,Do not pass me by.Savior, Savior,Hear my humble cry;While on others Thou art calling,Do not pass me by.Let me at Thy throne of mercyFind a sweet relief,Kneeling there in deep contrition;Help...

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Thanksgiving Menu

I can hardly believe that it is already the week of Thanksgiving! I am curious about what other ladies are serving for their Thanksgiving dinners. Here is what we are having: Turkey (I season mine with melted butter with salt, pepper and maybe a few other little things added in) Corn Pudding (no on in our family likes dressings, so I always make this instead) Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (my husband's favorite) Green Beans Cranberry Sauce Rolls...

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Happenings Around Our Home

What busy, busy days around here! I have been baking a large amount of potato bread to fill our freezer. You would think that the family would grow tired of potato bread, but quite the contrary! Our family has developed a deep love for it, especially topped with apple preserves or apple butter. :) I sent a loaf with a jar of apple butter to work with my husband on friday, so that he could share it with his co-workers.Yesterday we went to a...

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The Virtuous Woman- For Unmarried Women

Several woman have asked me how the example of the Proverbs woman applies to them, if they are not married, or no longer married. I thought I would share this as an encouragement.I realize that some of the terminology here is inapplicable (at least on the surface) since we are talking about singlehood after marriage; however, if you look at the terms in ways that apply to the current situation, I think it will make sense. So in this case we will...

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My Precious Little Students

The boys have been really liking our new schedule, and being back into our routine...especially having school time. We rearranged things to have a separate school area and play area, as we were finding the toys to be too much of a distraction in the school room (which is also where we do our Family Worship Time and Bible Study). The boys love the new set up! I am going to repaint the walls in the toy room a pale blue and paint a picket fence...

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What do you do with 45 lbs of potatoes, half a bushel of apples and 4 large pumpkins?

...a lot of baking, canning and preparing foods for the freezer! What a joy to have such an abundance! The boys had quite a bit of fun "helping", although all of the apples near Joshua seemed to be mysteriously missing bites...The best part of all this baking and cooking is the wonderful smells that are filling our house. The boys have decided that they really like potato bread and apple butter (which is a rather good thing since we have so much...

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Feeling Overwhelmed

Good Morning Ladies I had a bit of a rough day yesterday-nothing serious, I was just feeling a little overwhelmed and tired. So I got a later start on really getting things done, but I did end up making 2 loaves of potato bread, 3 pints of Apple Maple Jam, and 3 pints of Apple Preserves, and a big container of Apple Baby Food for Joseph. I also made a batch of latkes which we ate for dinner with some sausage, a loaf of the bread, and preserves....

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Good Morning Ladies

I hope this morning finds all of you well. It is a chilly, gray morning here. Yesterday it was so cold in here that I had to try to turn on our little fireplace in the dining room to have a warm enough place for my bread to rise. I think I will have to do this again today, as it is awfully cold! I do like this nice fall weather though.Well today I am canning apple preserves, making more loaves and rolls of potato bread, and quite a few other things...

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Good Morning!

Good morning dear sisters in Christ! I pray this day finds you all well.We have had a busy weekend. A friend of ours came across a deal on potatoes for 15 lbs for $1! They are leftovers from I think she said a food service supply house. So we now have 45 lbs of potatoes that need to be used very quickly. We also came across a deal on apples, a half bushel for $5 ( I believe that is 25 lbs). And then a friend of ours had pumpkins left over from...

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Harvest Blessings

Our new friend is going today to a shop in town and is picking us up a few bags of potatoes, she found them for 15 lbs for a dollar! It looks like we are going to be having quite a few potatoes in the near future! She is also giving us a bunch of the pumpkins left over from her harvest gathering decorations, so I am going to be making some pumpkin recipes as well. It is so neat how God can provide for our needs, even when we are not struggling financially....

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Returning Good For Evil

It seems that no matter where I turn these days, this particular topic keeps popping back up. Believe me, I have tried to get away from it. The thought comes up in my mind and I instantly start scrambling to think of something else. Every time it comes back up it is as if I am screaming "No, God, ask me to do anything else and I will, but not this!"We have been through some very difficult trials with our extended family. We have been broken-hearted...

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Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Do you ever wake up with a song in your heart? I did this morning, I woke up singing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow". Perhaps it is because we have added the singing of this song to end our meals. When we have finished eating we all join hands, just as we do for prayer, and sing the hymn together. The children absolutely love this new tradition, even little Joshua is trying to sing along. There is something so beautiful about the sound...

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Stitching and Growing Up

I finished stitching my Bible cover to match the bookmark I made. I have been so blessed by a dear friend who sent to me a package of cross-stitching supplies, she was so kind and generous and her sweetness has truly been a precious gift. I know I will think of her whenever I am stitching!My little ones have been just blossoming it seems. Joshua is really beginning to talk in clear and understandable sentences. It seems like every day new words just...

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Stitching and Schooling

We've had some busy days around here. Some good, some not-so good. We have all been fighting through a yucky little cold bug. Nothing serious, just bad enough to make us not feel good, but not bad enough to have to stay in bed. It has made the boys rather cranky, which I am quite sure has made me a little cranky as well. I just keep reminding myself that this will soon pass, and that we will not feel this yucky forever :).I did finish the little...

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Silly Hats for Silly Boys

With all the excitement over the fireman hats, the boys have a sudden interest in all sorts of hats. They have found endless entertainment from wearing the different hats that they have found and pretending to be everything from farmers to baseball players to puppy dogs in hats, bears in hats, policemen in hats, train drivers, and many, many others. Joshua's favorite is a ridiculous looking circus hat. The funniest part is that he has no idea that...

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The Sweetest Things

It seems to me that some of the sweetest things in life are when little children are deliberately kind to one another. There have been so many little moments in the past few weeks that have just melted my heart.Joshua "reading" stories to his little brother, Jacob sharing his favorite toy and his beloved "nap" with Joseph. The boys telling each other "Good Morning" when they wake up, and hugging each other good-night before bed. These moments fill...

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A Neat and Tidy Pantry

In keeping with the theme of cleaning the kitchen, today I organized the pantry and cleaned out the refrigerator (my least favorite task:)-) But I do enjoy organizing! After straightening a few things the pantry looks less full, but I think that is because we have not been buying many pre-packaged foods. We are working through the last of the store bought items in the pantry and not going to be buying any more. Looks like I need to do some food preparations!...

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