Grateful Acres

Hi! Today we discovered a new idea for Thanksgiving leftovers! I had a roll of biscuits (you know, the ones where you peel the paper and they pop :)) in the fridge. I flattened them, and put shredded cheddar, turkey and fresh parsley on the circle of dough, stretched the dough over the toppings, and baked them! Next year, my plan is to make those after the Thanksgiving meal, and leave them in my fridge over night, and while I "Day-after-Thanksgiving-sale" shop, and pop them in the oven when I get home! Any other recipes/ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers??

Sometimes I wonder if all that I'm pouring into is gaining any ground. Mostly I wonder this in the area of training my children... they are so intense! The last few months-ish I've been working to tighten things up- be finished with some, and create other new ones, and it's been lots of work! My dear, sweet husband is working hard to keep up with taking care of me, taking care of them :) I've had a little encouragement lately... some from a friend I've had for a long time. She's so concisely, gently upfront with me. I respect her resolve to be godly, and her willingness to be purposeful in all she does. She treats me like I am who I should be, which in turn encourages me to head that direction :) I praise God for her! Jonathan also encouraged me tonight. He didn't want to go to bed, he wanted me to, "stay with me, Mommy, I just LOVE you!" He coaxed me into snugglin' next to him, and he played with my hair, gently planted little kisses on my...

Mondays are my cleaning days. I was sweeping today, while my boys played with dry macaroni noodles in little cups at the counter, and I had Selah playing. I've mentioned them before, they are that band that has a really similar story to mine and Evelyn's. Aaaanyway, one of their songs triggered a brief moment of inner rememberance of my recent time of sorrow, and I got to thinking... " (Jesus) was despised and rejected- a man of sorrows, acqainted with deepest grief." Isaiah 53:3 The Message Acquainted:   -having personal knowledge as a result of study, experience, etc.   -brought into social contact, made familiar. ...Jesus KNEW sorrows, grief. It only makes sense that when we are becoming acquainted with sorrow and grief ourselves, that we should run to the Man who was "acquainted with deepest grief"! How incredible, to have the chance to walk SO closely with Him, that He would deeply share the experience of grief with us. I'm so drawn to th...

Today is my Momma's birthday! You know the saying, "If friends were flowers, I'd pick you"? Well... if people were food, my mom would be Ramen. Simple, enjoyable, and my regular go-to :) I have never once doubted my mom's love for me and my siblings, and she has poured SO much into us over the years. I wish I could've thrown a big, fancy party for my mom, but instead we had a small, pleasant family party for her tonight- which I think is more her style anyway :) We had Tacos, per her request, and carrot cake, and peach-blackberry pie! ..."Happy Pancake", Momma :) Blackberry-Peach Pie! Grandma and her grandsons I liked this, because I really like my mom's hands... I remember them so distinctly from when I was a kid, and no MY kid is holding her hand! :) Yes, my mom is 36. :) ...Happy Pancake to you... What a great smile!!

...sometimes I feel like I might only survive raising two boys who are 15 months apart- narrowly escape insanity, but just a few gray hairs. :) Sometimes everyone is crying noisily at once. Sometimes we all try functioning on way too little sleep. Lots of the time I'm flying by the seat of my pants, trying out whatever advice I can collect. Often I see how desperately I need the calm, peace, consistency of my Creator. Often I wonder if it's working- if my boys will turn out alright, or be little hoodlums forever. Sometimes I can only laugh (inwardly?) at what I find when I enter a room. Sometimes I call for backup. Always, always, every day, in the middle of WHATEVER, two sets of round, beautiful, blue eyes look into mine, and it all vanishes. They look up, up at me, with tears, smiles, naughty intent, curiosity, confusion, giggles... and I'm completely consumed with love again. Sometimes I hold them a little longer, just to savor the snuggles that will so...

When I hang up my apron after 10 pm, 3 days in a row- it's been a good week :) I've been canning like a wild-woman! The last few days has been apple pie filling (new for me this year!), crock-pot apple butter (also new), and crock-pot applesause (...also new. ). My mom and I have done applesauce together, but we've never tried it in the crock pot. So far, I love it!! After the apple pie filling, I did the apple butter (sauce is cooling on the counter right now)- chopped up 10 apples, tossed them in the crock pot with a little water, lots of sugar, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg, and turned it on high for 5ish hours (stirring occasionally). I put it all in the crock pot during nap time, and strained out the peels and canned it after the kids went to bed- easiest canning I've ever done.  ...also the only canning I've ever done by myself! My mom picked up a canning pot this week to be my very own, and my mom-in-law bought me the tongs/funnel/etc last year for Christmas....