SNOW!!!!

I didn't cancel school this morning - I honestly didn't  believe we would get snow.  God proved me wrong!  Oldest came home from high school just after noon and I called home school off about the same time.  Honey just arrived home four hours early and we've got a long snowy day ahead of us!  We're so VERY excited! 


This is our first real snow of the winter season and it looks like it's going to be a good one!  I'm thinking some snow ice cream may be in order.  I remember my mom fixing that when I was growing up as a special treat. Maybe we'll break out the board games, pop some corn, watch a movie...

Yummy White Chicken Chili

Only was so excited.  She had watched Rachael Ray Show Monday morning and saw a recipe they fixed and said it looked so yummy that she wanted to make it for dinner.  Since I was in town, I stopped at our local Aldi store for most of the simple ingredients and then a quick stop at the grocery store for the chicken breast. Almost as soon as we got in the house, she was in the kitchen working on dinner, making the homemade salsa, chopping cilantro, adding ingredients, and finally mixing up cornbread from scratch... I must say that it was a HUGE hit with our family!  Only did a fantastic job organizing, preparing, and serving a great new recipe on a cool day.   We had plenty for our family of five, with a little less than a gallon to put away in the freezer for another day.  Of course we had to have our Fritos and some extra Montery Jack Cheese on the top.  We got so excited about trying it that I forgot to put out the sour cream!  Here it is - give it a try and let me know what your reaction was.

Mandi Forester’s White Chicken Chili

Ingredients

• 1 32-ounce box chicken stock
• 3 cans white beans, left undrained
• 5 cups cooked chicken (rotisserie or boiled)
• 1 16-ounce jar salsa
• 1 8-ounce block pepper jack cheese, grated
• 2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Black or white pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup finely crushed corn chips (optional, if you like your chili thicker)
• Sour cream, for garnish
  
  We added a tbsp of fresh lime juice for a bit more Southwest flavor (because we have a hard time following a recipe "by-the-book")
  

Yields: 6 servings

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients except the corn chips in a crockpot. Cook on high until the cheese is melted.
2. Chili may also be cooked on the stovetop over medium-high heat until cheese is melted.
3. When the chili is ready, add the crushed corn chips, if using, and simmer for 10 minutes to thicken. Garnish with more chips, cheese and/or sour cream and serve. 

 The salsa recipe is from a friend of ours and I posted it the first of this month here, but here it is again.  So good with all fresh ingredients!  

Pam's Salsa
1 29 oz. can stewed tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
Season with salt
Add 1 tsp - 1 Tbsp cilantro (fresh is best) to taste.
Dice up 1 jalapeno, de-seed if you don't want it as hot
Garlic - only take a few cloves (or you can add minced garlic if you don't have fresh)
Sugar - a handful or about 2 tbsp. This is to taste as well.

Put into food processor and pulse a few times. 

Blessed be Your Name

This morning, as I woke up, a Hillsong song that we rehearsed at Worship Practice last night, Salvation is Here was replaying through my heart.  It is a song so filled with energy, passion, and truth.  Now many times I really don't know what the words to songs are because when I play my flute during Worship time, I'm playing not singing.. that and I have problems with remembering stuff... I blame it on my kids.

God above all the world in motion
God above all my hopes and fears
I don't care what the world throws at me now
It's gonna be alright

Hear the sound of the generations
Making loud our freedom song
All in all that the world would know Your name
It's gonna be alright

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

God above all the world in motion
God above all my hopes and fears
I don't care what the world throws at me now
It's gonna be alright

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

But as I was giving The Princess her breakfast, I received a phone call from a friend, whom I have known since Kindergarten.  She told me that one of our classmates had passed away last night.  I was shocked - I mean I still feel we're young, though we've been out of school for 26 (where did time go) years.  I was so thankful when she told me that he was a Believer. So in the past 24 hours, my highschool English teacher, Ms. Zimmerman and Shawn... I wasn't ready for the news.  It took me back a few years when John Relyea, missionary to the Tiap Village in Papua New Guinea, passed away from a massive heart attack just after the New Testament he and fellow Pioneer Bible Translators sent to the printer for publication.  During the service celebrating his life, one of the songs we sang was Blessed be Your Name by Matt Redman, and I stood there watching the tears pour down the faces of his wife and three children, the words were etched in my heart, and their lips mouth the words " Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise, When the darkness closes in, Lord Still I will say Blessed be Your Name..."    I must say that every time I hear that song I think of John.  Everytime I hear that someone I know has passed away, I think of that song...

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful 
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out 
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering 
Though there's pain in the offering 
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out 
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

These are a few of my Favorite $$ savers

Do you have some favorite things that you use or do to save money?  I always love to hear how others save money - whether it's on clothing, food, bills, or eating out, so I thought I would share with you some things I do to help save money at the Hardwick Home.

1.  Years ago, when Oldest and Only were little, I needed a coupon system that was very portable (stick in purse, diaper bag, or in console of vehicle) wouldn't fall to pieces or coupons fall out if little hands grabbed it, and easy to use.  I tried the expandable pouches, the notebooks with clear baseball card type holders, and even ziplock bags. But what works for me is Price Planner from Coupon Organizer.com
I've had mine now for a little short of 10 yrs and the only part wearing is the snap on the outside. Before each shopping trip, I put the coupons I'm using in the middle pocket and the coupons I don't use during that trip I slip to the back front pocket.

• Compact size, yet can securely store 300+ coupons.
• Storage pockets for your receipts, discount cards, etc.
• Exterior pocket keeps coupons handy for check-out.
• 21 dual-sided clear pockets for organizing coupons
• Calendar for meal planning, tracking sales events, etc.
• Bargain Reminder pad & 27 Price Comparison pages.
• 21 category tabs with blank labels for customizing.

2.  Don't take the kids with you and Don't let Hungry Honey's stop for groceries on his way home from work! When Oldest and Only were little, I taught them "When you ask/beg for something at the store, it's an automatic NO."  This lessened the fits and whining.  This even works at the gas station when they want a drink.  I was amazed when Youngest came along, they taught him without my prompting! 

3.  If it's not on THE LIST, it doesn't go in the cart.  Now, my teens have gotten silly with me before and will take their part of the list and write it down when they're at the store.  The first time this happened, I almost laughed my head off!  I keep a magnetic note pad on my fridge (the Dreaded List) where the family knows they need to write needs or things we've run out of down.  If they don't write it down, my ESP doesn't kick in!


4.  This last summer I got an iPhone and I LOVE IT!  I found this great application that I can manage online with my computer and it syncs with my phone automatically when using a USB cable. It is called Grocery Gadget. 

• On it: 
• I have a list of the stores that I frequent, 
• what items (grocery and non-grocery items)
• a rough home inventory list (products we use in our home and what is their normal cost)
• my shopping list for multiple stores. This is great when there are special deals, coupons, or items are found only at those stores. 

 Grocery Gadget:

• lets me know when I have a coupon for a certain item
• size and packaging, how many items you need
• what category/aisle it is found (baking, produce, paper, snacks, cleaning, etc)
• tells me when you have put an item in your grocery cart and what you still need to get. When you put an item in your cart, tap the box next to the item for a green check, and it moves it to the bottom of the list.
• It keeps track of the cost of the items I've put in cart
• How much my estimated on list cost is 
• Lets me view my items by ABC order or by category and I can have multiple stores, which helps me in price comparison.
• allows me to email my list to a family member (no more "I didn't have the LIST with me")
• allows you to print out your list if you don't have an iPhone and still use it online.

Each Sunday, when I get my coupons, I clip, sort, and file them in my Price Planner. Then I'm able to quickly go through, and add in new coupons to Grocery Gadget. I love seeing how much I'm under by using coupons and taking advantage of real sales!  You can also push a little button at the bottom when you are finished shopping and you can delete or remove the items you just bought so you know what you didn't buy and leave them on the list for next time. 

It takes a little time to set it up and enter prices in, but it has saved us tremendously when comparing "Sunday Ad prices" and even "in-store specials" to know if it is REALLY on sale or not. It has been wonderful for eliminating those annoying scraps and list on paper. Another plus, if you happen to use Big Oven, you can import your shopping list from your recipes as well.

I really don't have enough room here to tell you all the great features on it! They It cost me $4.99 and it has been worth every penny as I use it almost daily! They have a video on their website that shows the many wonderful features. 

5.  We make our own dry laundry detergent.  There are many ways and formulas (liquid or dry), but this link tells you how we do it. I make a gallon of detergent at a time and make it only FOUR times a year and less than $12 for each batch! 

6.  Homemade baby wipes.  When my kids were little, they tender bottoms broke out when I used store bought wipes, so I made my own using water, baby oil, baby bath, and Bounty Paper Towels.  Now that I am keeping The Princess, I've began making and using them again.  I've even given them as baby gifts to moms that love this sort of thing. If you want to know more, head on over here.

7.  The internet is a huge source of online ads and printable coupons.  I found that if you take your re-usable bags into Target, they will take $.05 off for each reusable bag (not the plastic kind). I keep about 5 fabric bags in my car.  You can even make bags if you have a sewing machine at Morsbags.  Every penny counts!  Target will also allow you to use their printable store coupons with a manufacturer coupon for even more savings!  Places like CVs has online ads and coupons that you can shop their sale adds, add items to your list and print them off. Some stores offer reward cards as well.  You do have to be careful because some stores will not take printed coupons. 

8. Blogs:  There are bloggers out there that specifically help you save money by posting great bargins and sales!  Here are a few:

• http://www.918couponqueen.com/
• http://www.printablecouponsanddeals.com/ 
• http://savingourcents.blogspot.com/ 
• http://www.frugallivingandhavingfun.com/ 

This is really getting long, so I'll stop for now.  If you have a great way you save your family some $$$, leave me a note and tell me how! Works for me!


** I really like the way that Jamie at Chattanooga CheapSkate divides the specific printable coupons for specific stores: Target, CVs, Big Lots, Walgreens, etc.  Great Idea!  She has shared great storage system ideas that work for her and says "manage to save 50%-90% per shopping trip." 

Living with a Princess promotes healing

I cannot believe it has almost been a whole year since Princess Izzy (Isabella) came to stay with us each weekday as her parents go out to teach.  We have been blessed beyond words at having her in our home.  I think we have laughed more, baby babbled, taken more pictures, and look forward to the mornings more than we have in years! 

After more than 9 years of being out of the baby stage, we now are baby proofing, tripping over the toys, washing bibs, have dirty diapers in the trash, a car seat occupies the middle back seat, sippy cups, baby spoons, and baby wipes. I have missed the baby stage!

You see, after we had Youngest, we found we couldn't have any more children. It was a struggle to know why, but God had His plans in motion, and since then we have seen how He worked out His plans...

So if you come to my house and see baby toys scattered, wipe container on the couch and if there is an unpleasant odor of the most horrible diaper emitting from the bath trash, please don't think that I'm a horrible housekeeper. Okay, so I don't dust each week, but the trash is emptied each day and I vacuum twice a week. I like to think these are reminders of a beautiful little girl, we call The Princess, that has taken hold of our hearts and been the biggest blessing.  We love seeing the new things she is learning, her sweet silly smile, her little finger wagging "no,no,no", and those sweet hugs.  Sure she gets grumpy, but that is something we can live with.  My kids are learning about babies, making silly faces, waving bye-bye, and loving greatly.  I love hearing her refer to my kids as Bubba and Sissy, teaching her new signs (American Sign language) and everything she sees is CAT, CAT! Just this morning, as her daddy was dropping her off, I enveloped her in a gentle hug and breathed in that sweet baby smell... Ah, yes!  He has turned my mourning into dancing!

Psalms 30:11-12 You did it: you changed wild
lament into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song;
I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can't thank you enough. (The Message)

God knows better than I

Last night I lay awake thinking of the kids.  It's not as if this were the first time this has happened, but this time I pondered God God has in store for them and how He has been working in their lives and I'm thinking I had more than a few things wrong!

Oldest came home yesterday from school excited... Okay this rarely happens - Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I saw him excited after coming home from school.  He is so excited about returning to Belize for another Mission Trip the first of August! Talking about when they would go and what they would do.  He even talked to his band director (they start practicing early - sometimes in July) and got his okay!  He's looking at colleges, thinking of life ahead and my heart trembles at the thought of him walking out that door... I know God has great plans for him.

  Oh God, keep working on my little boys heart, capture it, guide him, nudge him, and mold him to be a man after Your heart, a Warrior for You. Reveal Yourself to him - your plans for him...

Only is turning 16 this Friday.  Time has flown by far quicker than I ever imagined.  She is the more than I ever imagined I would ever have in a daughter. She is mature beyond where I was at her age, a helper.  She has an eye for arranging things and making them beautiful, she sees a need and sets about to help out.  I love having her with me and yet my heart trembles at the thought of her walking out that door.  I know God has great plans for her.

Oh God, Only is is so special to me, because she is my only girl, but yet, she is such a tremendous gift to us.  Thank you for lending her to us.  Guide her, capture her heart, show her how to be a young Woman who continually seeks after you.  Reveal Your plans to her... Let her not be anxious. We give her to You...

Youngest is eleven now and so full of energy - so much more than I ever have.  His mind is a constant whirl wind of ideas, thoughts.  He has a heart for adventure!   He fills our lives with wonder.  Oh this son that we almost lost... I know God has great plans for him.

Oh God, keep working on Youngest's heart, guide him, nudge him, and mold him to be a man after Your heart, an Adventurer for You. Keep his heart strong in your Word. Reveal Yourself to him - your plans for him... 

Come to think of it, why did I lose sleep over the kids!  God has them right where He needs them and they are His!  

Happy Birthday Honey

Forty-four years ago a miracle happened.  After more than two months in the hospital, She delivered a sweet little boy was born in Indiana.  Because of issues with the pregnancy, Joyce spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in the hospital, fighting to prevent early delivery.  Her husband would bring their 10 and 7 year old to the parking lot so they could wave to their mom in her room.  He worked hard to take care of those two boys and they were happy when Mom finally came home with their little brother.  As the years passed, they would complain that "He's getting into all our stuff" and "he's bothering us again!".  I'm not sure who was tormenting more, Dave or his brothers.  He was known to sneak out of the house when mommy was taking a nap and hiding in the tree out from of their house... Many of his teachers claim he was perfect, but I know a few people that would say differently! He was a prankster at his best in HS and college! 

 That boy eventually grew up to be a fantastic man that I fell in love with in college.  Now, 20 years late, he has become more loving, thoughtful, a daddy, friend, comforter, provider, teacher, and is a pretty good repair guy to have around when something breaks!  He was the first one to welcome each of our children into the world, tenderly hold them, and rock them. He is the "fun" one in our family... I love his boyish charm and the twinkle in his eyes.  Today we celebrate the arrival of the wonderful Christian man that we love so much!  Happy Birthday Honey!

Girls' Night Out

I must confess that I love Girls' Night Out (GNO). Honey encourages it. The reason? He knows that I need time with the girls and he trust that we won't do anything to get arrested... Okay, I can honestly claim we are not a threat to society, but maybe you should ask our kids. Sometimes we go out to eat. We've done Olive Garden, Sweet Bay Coffee Co., Cajuns Back Door (they have a great atmosphere and yummy alligator tail bites), Teds Cafe (the most yummy mexican food), Sister's Bistro. We're usually the loudest, share lots of laughter, try each other's meal, and are the ones having the most fun. I'm sure this is a shock... Sometimes we go to an event. Once we all went to Tulsa to see Mamma Mia, the Broadway musical. We even took the church van - they called it a Fellowship Outing! I must say that while the musical was fun to see, I think I'll stick with the movie. Sometimes we go to each others homes. We've had a spa party complete with massage chair, piña coladas, and awesome foot soaks. None of us wanted to go home, but it was "slightly" past our "curfew". During Christmas break we had a game night (Imagine If) with awesome snacks - see the previous post for Pam's Awesome Salsa. Why GNO? Because this group of Sisterchicks are honest, we can laugh at ourselves and the things we do/have done, there is honest sharing because we know our thoughts and things we share about stay within the group. I really trust this group and though we don't talk about our Faith, all of us are Believers, but all of us are real - does this make sense? They don't judge. It may be about kids, marriage, our Honeys, jobs, parenting, things that stress us, temptations, but no Honey bashing here! One of the girl's Honey always tells me when he is going to be out of the state or country so we can plan a GNO or just call to check in with her. Who? We have nurses, teachers, city employees, SAHMs, you name it, we're there. These are such smart ladies and they can really chew on you if they feel you being hard on yourself. They are encouragers, supporters, prayer warriors, and sisters. Sometimes our teenagers want to come and a few times we've opened it up to include them, but for the most part, we need to be free to talk and share. They've shown me how to be a more gentle mom, to open my heart and listen, to focus on others, and to be open to receiving their love and care as well. We've never signed a pact saying "What happens at GNO stays at GNO" or pass around a prayer list. I love these ladies because they accept me for who I am and STILL include me! Some of us are rebels at heart, some are so quiet you wonder if they are having a good time! Sweet Honey always ask if I had a good time, each evening I return. He does this to be polite - I know he does. He knows that each time I get out with the girls, I'm more relaxed, I can vent, cry, laugh, be rowdy, and I come home with a lighter heart and spirit. Thanks ladies for helping me keep life real, encouraging me, and letting allowing us to be who we are... friends.

Salsa Addiction, bad dog, and Being a "No" Mom

Sigh... My name is Lynnet and I'm addicted to Pam's Salsa. As I sit here facing you now, I have a cup of Pam's Salsa and Chili's chips in front of me. I can't say that I really want to be cured of this... I'm not a huge salsa fan, but my dear Sisterchick Pam does an awesome job (her hubby is an awesome griller as well). She can be brutally honest, very open, has the best sense of humor, and is TONS of fun. I very much appreciate her friendship. She's my kind of cook - a little of this and a little of that... She is often heard saying "Oh I don't measure - just taste it and add what you need."

Pam's Salsa 1 29 oz. can stewed tomatoes 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce Season with salt Add 1 tsp - 1 Tbsp cilantro (fresh is best) to taste. Dice up 1 jalapeno, de-seed if you don't want it as hot Garlic - only take a few cloves (or you can add minced garlic if you don't have fresh) Sugar - a handful or about 2 tbsp. This is to taste as well.

Put into food processor and pulse a few times.

Today we came home from church to find Lady, our German Shepard, somehow pulled my favorite cast iron skillet off the counter and the handle BROKE off in the process... BAD DOG! Yes, this is the dog that has discovered that the sound of Styrofoam equals ribs from Chilis. She even gets excited when we get eggs from the fridge... We need a 911 Nanny for our dog! Last month I began planning what kind of baby gift to give a dear friend who is expecting in late March and I finally came up with a Rag Quilt after seeing it in Just for Fun fabric store . Of course I have to make one before I do the baby quilt, so I started last week with some denim I had in my fabric stash. It looked easy enough, and I was able to find great directions in two different blogs: Green Apple Orchard and Jen Yu. I Hope to have it finished this month. Thankfully the baby quilt will be on a MUCH smaller scale! Here are some really cute rag quilts that I've found: Girly Modern, The Green Room, Girlie Rag, and Little Boy Blue. Okay, I'm just going to say that I wouldn't trade being a mom - my life has been changed drastically and enriched so much by being a mom to our kids. Now that that is said, there are days that I don't like ALL that comes with being a mom. Like having to be the Movie Monitor... They know better to ask me because I always look the movies up on Plugged In Online... Oldest came to me while I was working on lesson plans. I knew he wanted something because he came in and stood there grinning. The boy DOES NOT talk much - I think he's afraid he's going to use up those 25 words that God allows him each day! So he mentions that he, Only, and another friend wanted to go see a new popular movie out. Patiently he planted himself in the recliner as I began to read... I finally told them they could go watch the movie they wanted if they would eat my special brownies... that's another story. It must have taken almost an hour of searching RedBox, and Flixter before they finally decided to skip the theater and just rent a movie... If you'll excuse me, I have to get some more chips so I can eat the rest of this salsa and finish lessons plans.