I love snickerdoodles, but haven't made them since I was a young girl in 4-H. Snickerdoodles were the first cookie I learned to make in cooking class. Since becoming a lots-of-kids-want-lots-of-cookies mom, I haven't had a recipe that I liked. Until now...
My friend, Mindy, of Best Energies Best Affections came through for me. It started one night when I arrived at her house and there were fresh baked snickerdoodles on the counter. yummmmmy! My cookie recipe collection is not large, because I only bake WINNERS in the cookie department. This one is a keeper and got added to the collection!
Here is her delicious recipe:
Snickerdoodles
(also works for cut-out sugar cookies)
1 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 T. water
1 t. vanilla
3 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
Cream the first five ingredients; add the dry and mix.
Refrigerate dough for an hour or so.
Form balls and roll in cinnamon/sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Pour a glass of milk and enjoy!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
I am as flexible as a garden hose in July...
Flexibility is a requirement in my life right now. Byron's sister said the words in my title to me one time and I thought it was so funny! I am learning to be more flexible.
Some of you might be wondering how things are going with Levi, our student from Rosebud Indian Reservation. He has lived with us for exactly three months now. These months have been some of the most intense I have had. Some days are great, some days are stressful, some days are stable.
Levi is respectful, cooperative, and helpful. He has made attending school a priority and is working hard on homework. He is interested in life and asks questions all the time. There are so many things here (everywhere!) that he never experienced on the reservation. We have enjoyed having him with us and consider him part of our family.
He has had a few rough events in these three months. We have tried our best to work through them with him, helping him learn that he can trust us to look out for his well-being. We have shown him that we (and others) truly care about helping him make a better life here. We are excited to help him with plans for his future. It has been easy to come along-side him, since he is working so hard to do what it takes to succeed. It hasn't been easy for him, but he is making lots of good choices.
When we agreed to have Levi join our family, I could not have predicted some of the experiences we would encounter. I was prepared for things to be hard. For a while, just after making the final decision to have Levi live with us, I even had a day of panic. The unknown of what was coming filled me with fear. I believed the lies Satan fed me that said I needed to be completely available to parent my own four children, and no others. I believed the lie that said my children needed me too much for me to take on anything new, since three of the four were beginning public school and college for the first time. I was afraid to take a risk! We had arranged our lives to be predictable and safe. I knew that whatever came my way on a daily basis was likely something I could handle without problem.
Fortunately, God spoke truth to me and calmed my fears. He showed me all of the many people who have invested in my children over the years--friends, family members, teachers, coaches, church leaders. I realized that they would be just fine in their new educational experiences. He showed me how much my KIDS had to offer someone coming into our family. It wasn't just going to be my husband and I investing our time, energy and resources, they would be "givers" too. I realized how wonderful it would be for our family to do something for someone with no expectation of receiving anything back in return. God showed me that He would direct my paths.
I am learning not to plan for what the future days are going to look like. God is teaching me to take each day as He gives, and He is also providing what I need to get through what that day brings. I once said that hosting a teenager from Rosebud would keep me in God's word and on my knees. I didn't know the truth of my words at the time I spoke them. Thanks to God for providing for our every-single-day needs. I will try to let Him direct where we're going and I'm just going to keep working on being as flexible as a garden hose in July!
Some of you might be wondering how things are going with Levi, our student from Rosebud Indian Reservation. He has lived with us for exactly three months now. These months have been some of the most intense I have had. Some days are great, some days are stressful, some days are stable.
Levi is respectful, cooperative, and helpful. He has made attending school a priority and is working hard on homework. He is interested in life and asks questions all the time. There are so many things here (everywhere!) that he never experienced on the reservation. We have enjoyed having him with us and consider him part of our family.
He has had a few rough events in these three months. We have tried our best to work through them with him, helping him learn that he can trust us to look out for his well-being. We have shown him that we (and others) truly care about helping him make a better life here. We are excited to help him with plans for his future. It has been easy to come along-side him, since he is working so hard to do what it takes to succeed. It hasn't been easy for him, but he is making lots of good choices.
When we agreed to have Levi join our family, I could not have predicted some of the experiences we would encounter. I was prepared for things to be hard. For a while, just after making the final decision to have Levi live with us, I even had a day of panic. The unknown of what was coming filled me with fear. I believed the lies Satan fed me that said I needed to be completely available to parent my own four children, and no others. I believed the lie that said my children needed me too much for me to take on anything new, since three of the four were beginning public school and college for the first time. I was afraid to take a risk! We had arranged our lives to be predictable and safe. I knew that whatever came my way on a daily basis was likely something I could handle without problem.
Fortunately, God spoke truth to me and calmed my fears. He showed me all of the many people who have invested in my children over the years--friends, family members, teachers, coaches, church leaders. I realized that they would be just fine in their new educational experiences. He showed me how much my KIDS had to offer someone coming into our family. It wasn't just going to be my husband and I investing our time, energy and resources, they would be "givers" too. I realized how wonderful it would be for our family to do something for someone with no expectation of receiving anything back in return. God showed me that He would direct my paths.
I am learning not to plan for what the future days are going to look like. God is teaching me to take each day as He gives, and He is also providing what I need to get through what that day brings. I once said that hosting a teenager from Rosebud would keep me in God's word and on my knees. I didn't know the truth of my words at the time I spoke them. Thanks to God for providing for our every-single-day needs. I will try to let Him direct where we're going and I'm just going to keep working on being as flexible as a garden hose in July!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Hunting Season and a Birthday
Brandon turned 19 last week. Our family enjoyed taking him to Hickory Park to celebrate. I baked him a cake the night before his birthday, and we didn't even put candles on it. He's officially grown up, I guess.
He has enjoyed the dry fall very much. College life has brought him more time for deer hunting, one of his greatest passions in life. : ) He has been bow hunting and killed this buck in Missouri:
In Iowa over the weekend, he got another big one:
I think he will remember the fall he turned 19 as a memorable one--and not because of his birthday. :)
He has enjoyed the dry fall very much. College life has brought him more time for deer hunting, one of his greatest passions in life. : ) He has been bow hunting and killed this buck in Missouri:
In Iowa over the weekend, he got another big one:
I think he will remember the fall he turned 19 as a memorable one--and not because of his birthday. :)
Friday, November 4, 2011
Happy Birthday Ellyn
Ellyn turned 17 this week!
I didn't want her to.
Seventeen is just. too. old. Period.
Seventeen means she's closer to growing up and leaving home.
She is sunshine in our house.
She is fun, creative, dramatic, stubborn, smart, determined, talented, outgoing, and the list could go on and on.
I didn't want her to.
Seventeen is just. too. old. Period.
Seventeen means she's closer to growing up and leaving home.
She is sunshine in our house.
She is fun, creative, dramatic, stubborn, smart, determined, talented, outgoing, and the list could go on and on.
We love you Ellyn! I hope you enjoyed your special day.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Homemade Laundry Soap
I am trying an experiment--making my own laundry soap. We do a lot of laundry in this house, and I feel like we are running out of laundry detergent all the time. We'll see if this mixture gets the clothes clean.
I got the "recipe" from here: homemade laundry soap
I got the "recipe" from here: homemade laundry soap
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