Seth's smiles

I really think I have the smiliest baby.

 When he sees the camera he actually stops, poses, and smiles....almost every time : ).

 Today is my smiley boy's first birthday.

 We're so thankful for the life of this little guy!

Happy birthday, Seth!  We love you!!

Reviewer's bookshelf: Shattered by Dani Pettrey

*I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers to give an unbiased review*

"Shattered" is book 2 in the Alaskan Courage series by Dani Pettrey.  The book begins with the murder of competitive snow boarder, Karli.  Reef McKenna is covered in Karli's blood, but claims that he did not kill her.  In a small Alaskan town, the case seems open and shut...Reef is put in jail and charged with murder.  But his sister, Piper, is convinced that Reef is innocent and she's going to prove it...even if she's the only one who believes him. 

Landon Grainger, close friend to the McKenna family, is the deputy in charge of the case.  He knows he has to put personal feelings aside to discover the truth.  His past makes this almost impossible.  His love for the McKenna family...one of the members in particular...and his trust issues cause him to second guess everything.  When he learns that Piper is going to do her own investigating, and possibly cause problems with the case, Landon decides to team up with her to find the truth. 

We are then taken on a whirlwind journey filled with danger, excitement, and growing romantic feelings between different members of the McKenna family and those who are working with them to prove Reef's innocence.

This is the first book I've read by Dani Pettrey.  After starting with book 2 of the series, I think it would've really helped if I would've read book 1.  Even though I was able to put together the majority of the background information, there were definitely some events that had occurred in book 1 that would've helped.  That said, I really enjoyed this book!  There were moments when Piper's persistence and defiance of Landon's professional advice started to get on my nerves a little...because there were obvious danger issues...but gradually I started to like her more and more and by the end I was rooting for her. 

One thing I loved about the story was that it was suspenseful without being creepy or too psychological.  I've read a few books in the Christian fiction genre that are like that and honestly I finished feeling nervous about turning out the lights at night!  This was not one of those types of books, but it had enough suspense to keep my pulse speeding up and the pages turning. 

Another aspect of the story I really liked was that the ending was not what I expected.  You were figuring out the clues right along with the McKennas and their friends, but here and there you'd get the perspective of the "bad guy"...but it didn't give anything away.  It's kind of disappointing when there too much given away throughout the story and by the end you have it all figured out.  Some of the loose ends didn't feel resolved though.  Such as *spoiler warning* Rick Masterson's full role in Karli's life and why he paid for all of her physical therapy.  And what was the deal with Jake?  The book kept referring to him as a "good tracker" and his being so secretive about himself...but there was nothing really revealed about him.  I guess that's an opening to another book?  I just wanted a little more resolution there.  *spoiler over* : ) 

The fact that the characters had their issues and seemed more realistic was also something I liked about this book.  They were flawed...they made mistakes.  Some of them turned to God for help with their struggles...others in the story totally rejected God.  It was believeable that someone would respond that way to different circumstances and not everything was tied up nice and neat in the story.  I was hopeful that we could read about their lives changing in future books.  There's definitely some possibilities...spiritually and romantically : ).

Dani Pettrey is definitely a contemporary Christian fiction author that I'd like to check out more!

Happy reading!

My Go-To Granola Recipe

There are so many options for granola out there.  Basically all you have to do is Google it or go to your favorite recipe site and there you go.  To save myself from wading through all of that, I am just going to stick with my favorite granola recipe. 

A little background.  Isn't it funny how God does stuff in your past that can really affect the present?  Years ago while I was in Thailand my dear friend, Melody, was really into health, healthy eating, and was sharing all that she was learning with us.  We all started making some big changes.  We all got juicers, started juicing, cut caffeine, and...started making granola.  : )  Among other things.  I think it was honestly the healthiest I've ever been.  I was exercising, going to the gym, drinking pretty much only water, etc.  I lost about 40 lbs over the course of a year or two and felt great.  Good times.  Now I want to get back to those good times.  My family aren't huge granola fans, but I think this would be a good snack and something we can put on our yogurt or something like that. 

This recipe is also one that you can adjust to how you or your family likes it.  I don't add ALL of these ingredients, but I add the ones that we like.  But you can add them all if you want to.  I think I'm also going to try cooking mine on parchment paper this time...just to avoid having it potentially stick to the pan.

Granola

Ingredients:

3 cups oats

2 1/8 oz sesame seeds (I'm not sure why it's this amount...maybe that's how big the package is?)

1 pkg. salted sunflower seeds

sliced almonds

1/2 cup coconut (optional)

3/4 cup honey

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup dates

Directions:

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl

2. Put honey and next 5 ingredients in another bowl

3. Pour honey mix over oat mix--stir

4. Spread onto pan.

5. Cook at 325 for 20 min (may need to flip granola over mid-way)

6. Add raisins after cooking.

It really is delicious and after chatting with some friends at our weekly homeschooling group this morning about it...I think I'll make it this week!  : )  I also really want to make Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Bars.  They are SO good and make great snacks.  If I use the healthier versions of some of the ingredients, it'll be soy-free and a little better for us.  Yum!

I'll be doing another giveaway soon so stay tuned!

~God bless~

Early birthday gift

One of the things I know I got from my mom is our inability to keep gifts a secret.  I know if we HAD to, we could, but we both just get so excited it's really hard to hold it in.  Thankfully, I don't mind getting birthday gifts about 4 months early : ).  And thankfully my husband doesn't mind getting early Christmas/birthday gifts. Pretty much every year I've ordered something or got something for him before Christmas I end up giving it to him early because I just can't wait to show it to him! : )

With that said, yesterday I was at my parent's house visiting and my mom told me she had my birthday present.  She gave me the option of waiting or I could just get it now.  Well, you know how this story is going to go.  I absolutely LOVED what I saw when I opened the box!

This isn't the best picture...my camera wouldn't take a good picture of it, so I had to get one with my phone.  It's a necklace on a copper chain, with three different "charms" on it.  One is a pendant with a small map of Thailand inside.  The other is a key (a real key) with the words "road trip" engraved on it.  The last is a small leather journal..with real paper pages in it.  My mom wrote me a sweet note in there and I plan to put each of the kids' thumbprints inside.  Each charm fits me perfectly! 

Thailand: I used to live in Thailand as a missionary for almost 4 years.  My friends who still live there, the country, the Thai people all still have a very special place in my heart.  I hope one day our family can go for a visit so they can see this beautiful place!

road trip:  Joe and I LOVE to go on road trips!  It's one of the things we've enjoyed doing since we were dating...even if it's just a short trip. It's a great opportunity to talk, have fellowship, and get out of town for a while.

journal:  I love to write.  I have been a journal writer for MANY years....and I have piles of filled up journals to prove it.  I've also attempted to write some fiction of my own.  I've completed one story and have started another...but haven't really regained my momentum since I got pregnant with Seth.  I hope that one day I can pick it back up.  It's definitely something I enjoy.

Caroline Sandlin is the artist who made the necklace.   Here is a blog post I found that shows some of her jewelry.  Her website is http://carolinesandlinjewelry.com/ .  If you're a GA native and live close to Macon, the annual Mulberry Street Craft Show will be coming up on March 23rd and Caroline will have a booth there.

If you're interested in other Cherry Blossom events, here is a link to the daily schedule.  There are lots of fun (and free!) things to do.

Blessings!

The Little House That Stood...review and giveaway! *winner announced!*

*Thanks for reading and commenting!  My Isaac helped me draw the name today...and the winner is....Melody!*

We love those fun little veggies!  For our family, Veggietales movies are a source of entertainment for the whole family, especially the kids.  Not only do they have fun little ways of communicating how to act towards others, but they do it in such a way that also communicates what God's Word says.  "The Little House That Stood," the newest release from the creators of VeggieTales, is no exception.  Here is a little synopsis of the story:

When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the Master Builder's Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses - and their lives - on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God's blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come!

Also included in the dvd is a silly song from Larry and "The Good Egg of Gooseville," a retelling of the classic Humpty Dumpty story...with a veggie twist : ).  And now for the trailer...

Honestly, my favorite story on the dvd was The Little House That Stood.  I thought the story had a solid Biblical message, as Scripture was quoted in the actual story, not just at the end.  I also loved the way that the story of the Three Little Pigs was woven together with the parable in the Bible about a house having a strong foundation and not a foundation of sand.  Several aspects were presented in a creative way, like the "wolf" being the "Wolf River" that flooded the town.  I especially loved the Three Little Pigs...their personalities and actions were updated to reflect the current trends (one drank a coffee, the accents were cute, etc), which the kids didn't necessarily pick up on, but I thought it was funny.

The kids, however, expressed that their favorite story was "The Good Egg of Gooseville," which I thought was interesting.  This story rhymed the whole time, just like a Mother Goose rhyme would, which apparently the kids really enjoyed.  I didn't find it quite as entertaining as The Little House That Stood, but it still had a good message.  

I also checked out the bonus features on the dvd, which included a discussion guide.  I thought this was a great way to follow up with the kids about what truths from God's Word are being taught through the movie.  Let's just say that my kiddos paid attention to the first question or two, but after that their interest was in other things.  Good try, though.  For older kids this might be a good feature.  There were other bonus features that might be more little kid appropriate...like the sing-alongs.

Would you like a copy of "The Little House That Stood?"  Just send a comment on this blog post telling why you like VeggieTales and you'll be put in a drawing to receive a free copy of your own!  We'll draw names on Sunday.  Also include your email address so that I can get in touch with you to send you a copy.  Hope you have a great weekend and hope to see lots of comments!  God bless!

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Friends for dinner

I'm trying to think of other descriptors for some of my favorite recipes besides "yummy"...but it's hard : ).  It's the first word that comes to mind when I think of some things I made the other night when we had friends over for dinner.  I'm glad that we're trying to do this more.  It's good fellowship for Joe and I, it's a chance for the kids to learn how to act around guests (I really think that my kids don't have a clue about what "personal space" is), and we also work together to get the house straightened up.  Here are some recipes for a couple of things I made.  I may have posted these recipes before, but I was too lazy to try and scroll through past posts to find out (it's been that kind of day).  I hope you enjoy.  I know that these are not necessarily diet friendly.  Does taco seasoning have bad stuff in it?  I'm not sure.  I think there are recipes for homemade taco seasoning, though.  I guess I need to do more research : ).  Like I said...it's been that kind of day...and really that kind of week.  I'm exhausted.  But I still wanted to post these and you can adapt them as you see fit.

Caramel Fruit Dip

Ingredients:

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

8 oz cream cheese, softened

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients together in a food processor, blender, or with a mixer (I did a mixer and it works great)

2. Make sure to blend the cream cheese.

3. Refridgerate until needed.

Easy, right?!  And it is delicious!  I served it with lots of fruit...strawberries, apples, and oranges.  It's also great with grapes and bananas.

Wontons

(This is the official recipe, but I adapted it to make it a taco wonton.  I'll put my adaptations in parentheses.)

Ingredients:

1 pkg of wonton wrappers (I found some round ones and they worked great!  I also got them in the organic section and there was no soy listed on the ingredients.)

1 lb mild sausage (I used ground beef cooked with chopped onion and a chopped garlic clove)

16 oz sour cream (I lowered it to about 8 oz)

1 pkg dry ranch mix (I used a little less than 1 pkg of taco seasoning)

12 oz cheddar cheese, shredded (I used about 1 cup)

12 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded (I didn't use any mozzarella)

black olives, diced (I didn't use these, either)

Directions:

Cook and drain sausage (for me, beef, onions, and garlic in olive oil).  Mix sour cream and ranch mix (taco mix).  Add cheese.  Add olives.  Add meat.  Mix well.  Place wonton wrappers in muffin pan (I used a mini muffin pan), dip spoonful of mixture into each.  Bake at 375 for 7-8 min.

I love how these come out.  The wonton hardens and you can just pick them right up.  Perfect for a party or finger foods.  I did the taco ones, so I served it with lots of lettuce, cilatro, and salad fixings.  You could basically do a deconstructed taco thing.  They are addictive!  : )  You could really do all kinds of fillers of your choice.

Now I will hopefully head to bed soon!  On Friday I will be posted a review of the new Veggietales movie...and will be giving away a free copy!  Just come by and post a comment on that blog post and you'll be put in the drawing. 

Happy munching! : )

Easy, fast and yummy tomato soup

If you didn't notice....I have a new blog design.  I love it!  When I was trying to think of some graphic that would represent our family, the thing that made so much sense to me was a roller coaster.  There are ups and downs, exciting parts, slow parts, new beginnings, closure and scary parts...but when I think of a roller coaster I always have fun memories.  I love roller coasters.  I love the life God has given me....the good, the gross, the bad, and the amazing.  That's the story....and I hope you enjoy the ride! : )

Now for a new recipe I tried tonight.  We had a church soup fellowship tonight and I didn't realize until it was the last minute...as always.  How do I always manage to miss stuff like that?!  Part of the adventure, I guess!  I jumped on the internet, searching for something good, easy, and soy free.  I ended up on www.chow.com ...a site I've never visited before.  But I decided to use this recipe and it tasted so good!  I think I added a little to much salt, though.  It doesn't taste salty when I'm eating it, but my lips have that too much salt feeling...and I think I need a drink of water.  So don't add too much salt ; ).  I don't think this has soy...there was none listed on the ingredients on the packages I used (the broth, tomatoes, and cream).  I'm new to this, so if I made a mistake, please let me know!

Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium sweet onion, coarsely chopped
1 (28 oz) can of whole peeled tomatoes in their juices
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
2 bay leaves
1/3 cup heavy cream

Instructions:
1. Heat oil and butter in a medum saucepan over medium heat.  Once butter foams, add onion and a big pinch of salt.  Season with freshly ground black pepper.  Cook, stirring occasionaly until onion is completely soft and just beginning to brown, about 15 min.
2. Add tomatoes and juices to the pan and stir to crush up tomatoes.  Add broth or water and bay leaves and bring to a simmer.  Simmer until tomatoes begin to fall apart, about 10 min.
3. Remove from heat, discard bay leaves, and allow soup to cool slightly.  Carefully puree soup in a blender until smooth (you may have to do this in batches).  Return soup to the stove over low heat and stir in cream.  Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

Yields: 4 servings (I doubled the recipe for tonight's church get-together...and I think it was definitely more than 8 servings!  We have A LOT left over!)

Hope you enjoy!