Thursday, June 30, 2011

Yummy Snack~~Blueberry Oatmeal Bars

I made these bars this morning as a snack for the kids.  They were pretty easy to make, and they taste very yummy.  It probably helped that they were slightly warm yet when we ate them, but I will definately be making these again.  Here's the recipe....

1 1/2 cups flour (I used whole wheat)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups uncooked old-fashioned oats
1 pint (2 cups) fresh blueberries (I used frozen, turned out fine!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until well mixed.

In a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed, beat together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter until fluffy.  Beat in the oil, eggs, and vanilla.  With a woodedn spoon, mix in the flour mixture until blended.  Stir in the oats and blueberries.

Use a spatula to spread the batter evenly in the pan.

Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes.  Cool completely.  Cut into 24 bars.

Enjoy!!



Blessings,



Thursday, June 23, 2011

What Others Think Of Children

This week our oldest two children left for church camp.  They left Monday and we will pick them up on Saturday morning.  For me, this is a long time for my children to be gone.  For them, they are loving every minute of it!  They are with other children from Wisconsin and Illinois who are part of our church's denomination.  They make new friends, catch up with old ones, swim, canoe, play lots of games, and enjoy praise and worship time.

One thing I have become aware of this week is how other people see their children.  I can see this through their words.  I have said to several people this week that our oldest two kids are at church camp this week.  After I say this, I'm almost always told "So you get a bit of a break this week".  I know the people who are saying this really don't mean anything bad or insulting by it, but it got me to thinking.

While I know that my kids are having a great time at camp, I miss them.  I miss seeing them, talking to them, just having them around.  Why is it that because we have many children, people think that we won't miss a few when they are gone?  Or that because we have many children, we need a break from them now and then.  I didn't have children just to find ways to be away from them.  Even though we have 5 children, we love each of them.  They are each individuals and contribute something to our family.  We have several children, yes.  But we have different personalities and different children. We love them all and do miss them when they are gone.

It makes me a little sad when I hear other's ask me if I'm glad to get a "break" for the week.  I became a mom 14 years ago, and will never have (or need) a break from my children.  How many other's are looking for that "break" from their children?  How do those children feel knowing that Mom or Dad are looking forward to them being gone for a while?  It is a sad thought.

Enjoy your day, and enjoy your children!

Blessings,

Monday, June 20, 2011

The Simple Woman's Daybook



FOR TODAY~June 20, 2011
Outside my window... raining and a bit cool for the middle of June
I am thinking...about a necessary attitude change (for myself!)
From the learning room...done for the summer, planning out fall's schedule
I am thankful for...the father's in my life~my own, my father-in-law, grandfather's and of course the father of my children
From the kitchen...taco's
I am wearing...capri's and black shirt
I am creating...nothing right now 
I am going...to start working on that attitude adjustment
I am reading... Bible
I am praying...for our oldest daughter and son~they are leaving for church camp this afternoon and it is the first time our son has been away from home
I am hearing...fan running
Around the house...working on the kitchen today, and have started a sourdough bread starter...hoping that turns out! 
One of my favorite things...time spent in prayer
A few plans for the rest of the week...an appointment with OT for our son, a follow up appointment for myself and picking up the oldest kids from camp on Saturday
Here is picture thought I am sharing...
A flower from one of my pots
Thanks for stopping by!  For more daybooks, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.  Have a great week!

Blessings,

Monday, June 13, 2011

When Mamma Isn't Well.....

This past few days I have not been well.  I had hubby take me to the ER and found out I had strep throat.  I couldn't believe how much it took me out!  I had a very high fever, terrible headache and body aches, upset stomach and of course the sore throat.  I believe it took everything out of me because I have been running full speed for several weeks.  After my miscarriage and surgery, I took it easy for the first couple days, but then we started last week running almost every day with appointments, graduation party, etc.  It was a busy week, plus the temps for most of the week were in the mid 90's!  I am convinced that God was telling me if I was not going to take it easy, he was going to make me!  And make me He did!  Thankfully I am starting to feel much better now, but I learned some things the past few days....

When mamma isn't well...

  • the kids enjoy sharing a bag of oyster crackers for their snack in the middle of the living room floor!
  • It only takes a few hours for the living room to look like a hurricane came through! (Really, I already knew this one!)
  • Having all the kids watching a movie isn't really a bad thing
  • phone messages are "forgotten" for several days ("Mom, I was going to tell you, but everytime I would want to, you would be sleeping!")
  • the older kids found out they are perfectly capable of handling their younger siblings~and even did so without being asked a few times!
  • But the best thing....Daddy found out he not only CAN do laundry, shopping, and making meals.... he's actually pretty good at it! (He willingly did it and did a great job!  I was very thankful for him this weekend!)
We're all glad that I'm back on my feet, and I don't want to feel like that again anytime soon!
Hope you have a great week!

Blessings,

Monday, June 6, 2011



FOR TODAY~June 6, 2011
Outside my window... sunny and very warm and humid....It's summer!!
I am thinking...about way to many things!
From the learning room...done for the summer, planning out fall's schedule
I am thankful for...kind, compassionate, caring doctor's and nurses; and a hospital that values human life at all stages
From the kitchen...creamed turkey sandwiches, chips, finger jello
I am wearing...capri's and black shirt
I am creating...nothing right now 
I am going...to take care of bills this afternoon~yuck!
I am reading... Bible, All The Way Home by Mary Pride
I am praying...for a friend with cancer, my grandparents, and ourselves as we grieve this loss
I am hearing...fan running, and PBS Kids in the other room
Around the house...oohh, too much to do and not enough time to do it! 
One of my favorite things...family time
A few plans for the rest of the week...a few appointments, and my nieces graduation party
Here is picture thought I am sharing...

a cute turtle we saw when we went to a nearby nature center
Thanks for stopping by!  For more daybooks, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.  Have a great week!

Blessings,

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Resting in His Arms

Today my heart is heavy.

We found out last month that we are expecting another baby!  Even after having 5 children, it is such a joy to see the + on the pregnancy test!  We have been blessed many times over.

But today, we found out that our dreams and prayers for this precious child would not come true here on earth.  Instead of holding this child in our arms, we have had to release him into our Father's arms.  This is our 5th miscarriage, and you would think it wouldn't hurt as much.  Each miscarriage has been hard.  Each miscarriage has been a loss and a hurt to our hearts.  And as we received the same news about this child as we have received several times before....our hearts hurt just as much.


It has been a privilege to hold this child for the past 8 weeks.  It has been a joy to think about what he or she would look like.  It has been nice to think of our family with 6 children.  It has been wonderful to say I'm pregnant.  And it has been a blessing to pray for this child.  A child I will now return to the One who gave him to us.

Blessings,