Hawaiian Slider Rolls

I tried a new recipe yesterday. These were great and I will likely make them for New Year's eve. They can even be made the day before and refrigerated. I could see having them for supper on a busy evening or for Sunday lunch. Great with soup or salad!

Hawaiian Slider Rolls

24 Hawaiian slider rolls
1 lb. honey ham (24 small pieces)
1 pkg. Swiss cheese (cut into 24 pieces)
1/2 c. mayonaisse

sauce:
(I didn't use all of the sauce)
1 1/2 T. dijon mustard
1/4 c. melted butter
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce
2 t. poppy seeds

Cut rolls apart and spread each with mayonaisse. Place a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on each, then replace tops of rolls. Place in cake pan or on heavy baking sheet.

Mix sauce together in small bowl. Pour or brush sauce onto each roll, just using as much as you need to cover the tops. Let sit approx. 10 minutes until the butter is set. (Can be covered and placed in the refrigerator until ready to use.) Cover with foil and bake 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees until cheese is melted. Remove foil and bake 2-3 more minutes. Serve warm.

After Christmas

Christmas is wonderful--one of my greatest joys in this life. I love to spend time with family, hang greenery and decorations, do extra baking, make homemade gifts, listen to beautiful Christmas music, and plan ways to offer gifts to the needy in my community. All these things bring richness to my life, but I sometimes find that they fail to satisfy my hungry soul. My soul longs for Jesus. He is the One who can satisfy. So I read books, listen to music, and open scripture to help me anticipate the coming of a Baby--the Savior of the world. What a gift He was for mankind! What joy Christ brings to my Christmas!

Unfortunately, most of us experience the other side of Christmas as well. The days after Christmas can bring gifts that don't fit, time spent with family that caused hurt or disappointment, exhaustion due to the busy season, more shopping for returns and exchanges, the list goes on and on.

In these days after Christmas, my mind keeps returning to the same thought: I am so grateful for what Jesus offers us AFTER Christmas. He didn't stay a baby in a manger. He became a man--a man with a purpose.  His purpose to redeem us changed my life forever. He loves us more than I can comprehend. He is life and light, hope and peace to me. During these days after Christmas, I hope you can join me in receiving a gift that doesn't end with Christmas. Thank you, Jesus, for the gift you brought us as a man. The promise of heaven to those who know You, and the hope You bring to each day is what truly satisfies the soul.

May the God of hope

fill you with all joy and peace

as you trust in Him,

so that you may

overflow with hope

by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 

A few of my favorite things...

Some of my favorite images from previous years. I framed this in my house this year.

Our Christmas card

This is the card we sent to friends and family this year. 

Merry Christmas!

 

Decking the Halls

I have been decking my home with holiday cheer. I love this season for so many reasons.

A few days ago, I had a chance to stay home and decorate a bit more. I found this free BELIEVE printable banner and had one up on my fireplace within 30 minutes. I printed it on kraft cardstock and then cut it out and threaded it on ribbon. It was just what my mantle needed, since we don't hang stockings on this fireplace.

Be sure and check out the wonderful blog at Second Street because she has multiple free printable banners. This year's is a MERRY CHRISTMAS banner which is also really cute.

My Redneck College Student

My redneck college student came home from college (like he actually ever left) and...

• got his first haircut in 3 months
• dropped a pile of dirty clothes in the middle of the laundry room floor
• trimmed his beard, because he hasn't shaved in 6 weeks
• took 2 naps his first day at home

• gathered siblings at 7:00am to wake up Levi by singing Jeff Foxworthy's Twelve Redneck Days of Christmas (plus "Jingle Bells, Levi smells...")

• loaded his truck with guns and traps, to spend the next week trappin' coons in Missouri for extra spending money
• cut his toenails in the dining room before leaving for Missouri
• shared a gallon of chocolate milk with little brother (did you both drink out of the jug???)
• lives in jeans, flannel, boots and carhart overalls 

Favorite Christmas Read-alouds

From last year in December...

Years ago, before I had any children, I started a book collection.  I read the books to myself, and I read the books to my classes when I was a teacher. I chose books that made me laugh and/or cry.  Our book collection continues to grow, and our home is currently at risk of being overtaken by books. 

When my kids were very young, I read an idea to use a Christmas book basket as a sort-of countdown activity.  I wrapped all our books in gift wrap and put them in a basket under the tree. We let the kids choose one to open each evening of December.  We bought a new book each year (and wrote the date inside the cover) to add to our collection. Choosing one or two each evening helped us get all the books read, and gave the kids the treat of opening a gift.  After 12 or more years of this, we have a huge collection of Christmas books, as well as a "favorites" list.  (Luckily I don't have to spend the time wrapping them anymore.)

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is an all-time favorite, because of it's longevity.  My teenagers still enjoy it, while most of the picture books don't keep their attention any more.  The copy I read from is 25-30 years old--mine from when I was a kid.  It takes a few evenings to read and has very few pictures, so it is probably best for school-aged kids. It will make you laugh out loud and will cause you to pause and consider the wonder of the birth of Christ in a fresh way.

One Wintry Night is a favorite chapter/picture book.  A boy is caught in a mountain blizzard at Christmas time and ends up staying in the cabin of an older woman who had known his grandfather.  She tells him the Christmas story, beginning with creation and ending with the resurrection.  It's like a condensed version of key events of the Bible, showing a big picture perspective of how the birth of Christ fits in with God's bigger plan for mankind.  The illustrations are large and amazing, but this book will take a few evenings to finish.

One of the earliest purchased Christmas books of our collection, set in the Appalachian mountains during World War I, is The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree  by Gloria Houston. Easy to read to young children in one setting.  I'm warning you mothers, have a tissue ready.

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski is a tender story of a lonely man whose wife and child died, and he has become bitter. He lives in the same town with a widow and her son and they ask Mr. Toomey to carve a nativity set for them. They begin spending time with him as he works on their nativity. In the process of carving the nativity set, Mr.  Toomey deals with some of his grief and his heart is softened toward making new friends. (sniff-sniff)

    

                                    

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard H. Schneider is a story of how the young tree, Small Pine, gives shelter to many creatures in the forest, but sacrifices a perfect appearance as a result.  In spite of the imperfections, the queen chose Small Pine as her tree for the castle, because she recognized these imperfections as the result of sacrifice for others.  It teaches that living for the sake of others makes us beautiful in God's eyes.

The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt is as much an Easter story as it is a Christmas story.  In this folktale, three trees are disappointed that their dreams are never achieved.  Each tree eventually gets his wish in a manner that only God could have fulfilled.

I will always love The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs. It is good for young children -- a great story of a family who generously gave away a prized possession.

When Washington Crossed the Delaware is an amazing way to include our nation's history with our Christmas season. It was written by Lynne Cheney, wife of former Vice President Dick Cheney. It retells a dramatic event that took place on Christmas night in 1776.  The book is lavishly illustrated, which makes it extra enjoyable.

Snow Globe Look-a-Like

I've been seeing mason jar "snow globes" everywhere this Christmas. They have such a whimsy about them that I love! When I saw the post by Ashley Ann Campbell from Under the Sycamore about how easy they are to make, I realized I had everything to do it.

 I also pulled out one I made probably 10 years ago. Maybe it's back in style???

Here is a picture of my new "snow globe."
(Old pickle jar with the lid spray painted red. Little deer and bunny from Meg's tiny animal stash. Old tree and fake snow from Hobby Lobby.)

Here is the old and new:

Now we just need some snow outside! Hoping for a white Christmas!

December Daily

Are you joining Ali Edwards and so many others and making a December Daily album?

You can see mine from 2009 on the right sidebar--just scroll down a bit and click on the December Daily 2009 link. It was one of my favorite Christmas projects ever. Also one of the most time consuming. So worth it to actually have a month-in-our-life during Christmas captured in an album.

It's not too late...keep your camera VERY handy and take lots of pictures--at least one each day. If you miss a day, fill in with a souvenir or memento or even a page of journaling (like a list of your favorite things of Christmas, etc.).

Many people have the album ready to go before December 1 and fill in each day as the month progresses. I did it differently and made mine during the week after Christmas. During the month I took pictures most days and kept some journaling for each day to help me remember what we had done once it was time to put it all together. I loved doing it in the more relaxing days after Christmas, rather than add something else to the busy days prior to December 25.  That's just what worked best for me. Very important--make it work for YOU.

So go take a picture and start your own December Daily!

Craft Day #4

We had our November craft day last week.  We had a big group, fun crafts to make, and an abundant lunch to share.

Cute Christmas trees:

 

We gathered lots of ruffles to put on bags or aprons, or make into flowers:

Mindy's adorable banner:

(Maybe she can show us how she made it sometime.)

Sheet music candles:

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a very relaxing weekend. Our family enjoyed plenty of food, rest and relaxation, time with friends and each other, food, a little decking the halls for Christmas, and some more food.

Thanksgiving day was so warm we decided to go cut our Christmas tree. It seemed wrong to be taking the "Christmas tree" picture with kids in t-shirts. No complaints though...it was awesome to be outside walking around the tree farm with the temperature in the 60s.

The time off provided opportunity for laziness...

I hope your weekend was full of blessings!

A Prayer for Our Homes

I read this prayer at Life in Grace today, taken from the Lutheran prayer book.

Lord God, our home is among the most precious

gifts we receive in this life.

We realize this all the more as we remember our Lord Jesus.

He set aside home and family.

Having no place to lay His head throughout

His ministry, He chose to sojourn among those

He came to save.

We prayerfully invite Him to dwell in our earthly abode

even as He continually invites us by Word and Sacrament to dwell

forever in our heavenly home, which He prepares for us.

Make us ever grateful for this shelter from life's storms.

Keep this house always the home of comfort, joy, peace and forgiveness.

According to Your will, protect this home from the spiritual assaults of Satan,

but likewise make our home a fortress against the calamities of nature

and the wickedness of sinful man.

Grant us the virtue of hospitality, the joy of harmonious living,

and the blessing of gathering around Your word

and bringing our families' prayers before You.

May all who dwell in our home be blessed

by your presence and your peace,

and may all who go forth give thanks for the grace

they receive from You,

through us, our dear children.

We receive your loving kindness in our home

as a reminder of the eternal home we inherit through Your son,

Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.

Amen

Giving Thanks

There are so many things I'm grateful for right now...

Having Byron as my partner as we parent 4 teenagers and 1 preteen. It's hard work and he's really good at the things I'm not so good at. I am thankful for 25 years of marriage with him!

Brandon is enjoying college and has made new friends who have so much in common with him.  I am especially thankful that he is close to home and we still get to see him often.

Ellyn is such a great sister and friend. She values the people God has placed in her life and makes relationships a priority. She's a good student and works hard to do her best.

Levi is learning so much at school and about life. I am most grateful that he recently made a decision to put his faith in Christ. We are missing him now, since he is spending Thanksgiving break back in Rosebud.

Ryan is growing tons and healthy. After our scare this spring/summer with his stomach cramps, I am so grateful that he is completely well. He's doing great at school and likes learning.

Meggan is also doing well at school. She has such great friends in her grade! She is always willing to go with me to run errands or help in the kitchen, so I get to talk with her a lot. I'm proud of the girl she is growing up to be.

All the kids have really great friends!

Byron and I grew up in families who loved us, provided for all our needs and gave us so many opportunities in life.

I am so thankful that Jesus changed my life one summer 30 years ago, and that He is still changing it today.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

more learning...

Just as Paul and Timothy prayed this for the Colossians, and I pray that it will be true in me.

Colossians 1: 9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

I was bought for a price. My life is not my own. So thankful for Jesus.

My Husband, the Rule-Breaker

My husband is a rule breaker. I am a rule follower. The following story illustrates my husband's belief that he only has to follow rules that make sense to him. : )

We buy goldfish by the dozen to keep Meggan's turtle fed. At Walmart, there is never an employee to scoop fish back in the fish department...or in any aisle remotely close to the fish department. While shopping this weekend, I sent Byron to get fish while I filled the cart with groceries. I explained that it was a good time to get fish, since he would have plenty of time to track someone down and wait for them to scoop out all the fish. After all, I had a LOT of groceries to buy. I was only half way through the grocery section when he showed up with a bag full of goldfish. I was so surprised!

As I questioned how he got the fish so quickly, Byron explained that he doesn't wait for someone to scoop his fish. He just does it himself. "But you have to have the numbers!" I exclaimed with great concern. He proudly produced a piece of paper with many numbers and the quantity of fish written on it.

Next stop, checkout line:
While teenagers unloaded the groceries from our shopping cart, Byron handed the fish and the paper-with-numbers to Checkout Guy. Checkout Guy punched in the fish numbers, nothing...punched in the fish numbers again, nothing...punched in the fish numbers a third time, nothing. Then he called a manager over to help. (I am stifling my nervous giggles at this point. Are we going to get caught???)

Checkout Guy explained to Manager that he didn't have the right numbers for the goldfish. Manager asked in disbelief, "they didn't write the code down?" Checkout Guy held out paper-with-numbers and said, "This is all I got!" I am thinking of crawling behind the cart at this point. Do-they-know-we-scooped-our-own-fish!?!?  Byron was standing with a casual, smug expression on his face, revealing no guilt.

Checkout Guy and Manager figured out the necessary numbers to allow us to pay for the goldfish. Which is great, because in Byron's words to our family on the drive home, "Hey, it wasn't like I was trying to steal the fish!"

Then the funniest part of the whole thing...Checkout Guy held out paper-with-numbers and said to Byron, "do you want this back?"

BUSTED!

Snickerdoodles

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!

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!

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. :)

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.

We love you Ellyn! I hope you enjoyed your special day.

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

Wordless Wednesday

Happy birthday Ryan!

Ryan is a teenager today. He was born in the wee hours of the morning on October 23, 1998...13 years ago! He was the tiniest and quietest of my babies. He has grown into such a neat kid. He's so unique and original, and we love him so much!

He has had so many interests over the years,

one of them being building really tall domino towers.

His current passion is running and he decided to run 13 miles this weekend!

We love you Ryan! Hope you had a great birthday!

Growing a Family

I keep thinking about the post by Ann Voskamp of the holy experience called what a family is really about.

Because our family is growing and changing, especially since Levi joined us, it was particularly meaningful to me. I love her descriptions of how individual members of a family change and grow. Over time we become more mature and more forgiving, but it's one step at a time.

It's comforting to me to be reminded that "It's not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7

I will keep tending the seeds, which seems overwhelming on some days, but I will rest in the knowledge that God is in the center of the process. It is He who will make things grow.

This and That Randomness

Meggan wanted to plant a garden this year. We are enjoying the fruits of her labors. She has made homemade salsa several times and it is fabulous--always gone within a few days. She is enjoying school and doing well. Sometimes homework is a drag. She is fortunate to have a great group of friends that make school more fun!

We bought a carton of eggs that was frozen. Most of the shells cracked. It was a mess, but Meggan enjoyed peeling the shell off of one to see what a frozen egg looks like. It looks like this:

Cross Country is over for Ryan and Levi. We had great weather for most of the meets.

Ryan is glad it's over, because he has his own running plan that he is ready to get back to. Sometimes working within the coach's plan was a challenge for him. He is very independent and self-motivated. He is also doing great in this new venture called public school.

Levi has cross country behind him and is looking forward to trying wrestling. We are proud of him for trying new things. He is getting into the swing of school and his classes. He has recently enjoyed some weekend trips with other families: one to K.C. for a day of fun, including a trip to a pumpkin patch; the other took him to MN for pheasant hunting.

Brandon has been enjoying fall hunting season by making a trip to Missouri. He brought back deer meat from a friend's kill. We ate it fresh last night, and a new friend of Brandon's joined us for supper. He is from Minnesota and is at ISU without a car. He hasn't sat around a table with a family for a while! I hope we weren't too overwhelming. This is the first fall in eight years that Brandon hasn't been playing football, which leaves more time for hunting.

Speaking of football...
Ellyn doesn't know what she's going to do when football season is over. She can hardly stand the thought of her football manager "job" coming to an end for the year. She loves football and the other manager/friends.  I bet she'll fill her extra time with something... like dance, the school musical, friends, etc. She never seems to have a dull moment in her life, which is partially due to loving her siblings so much and hanging out with them during her free time. She almost couldn't handle last weekend when Brandon and Levi were each gone hunting, and Ryan and Meggan were gone to a retreat.

Each week I say, "I think things will settle down a little around our house this week." Byron laughs now when I say it. There is always something unforeseen that seems to take the extra minutes of this season of our lives. 

The things I had planned to do once school started are still surrounding me. The piles of photos will have to wait. The messy craft table will also wait. This blog...it has to wait as well. :)

But Byron and these silly darlings will not wait...

Learning...

--learning that I don't know the future, but God does
--learning that He will provide all that I need
--learning to rely on the Word to restore my mind
--learning that the hope I have in Christ is such a gift
--learning how to "...fix my eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)
--learning that the Holy Spirit has equipped me with power (Acts 1:8)

Craft Day

Back in February,  Meg Duerksen, who is one of my favorite bloggers, held a craft weekend. She invited her crafty friends to her home for a weekend of craft making, antique/junk shopping and yummy food. I wished that I was one of her crafty friends.

There were no kids, no hubbies, only Waffle the Wonder Dog was allowed to stay home for craft weekend.

Waffle and Mandie would be such good friends. They both lay on furniture with children, have birthday parties, get dressed in various articles of clothing, and ride around with their people in vehicles.

Meg's Waffle:


 

Our Mandie:

I forgot this was a post about craft day...

After school started in August, I scheduled a craft day with some of my crafty friends, so that I could have fun like Meg Duerksen. We didn't spend the weekend together...just the day. We didn't get to go junk/antique shopping. We didn't stay up late into the night sewing. But we had a great time enjoying our crafts, a pot-luck lunch, and great fellowship. It was like therapy to me. I can't tell you how it felt to see my friends walking up my driveway carrying bags full of crafty goodness in one hand and sewing machines in the other! I wish I had a photo of it, but it is only a snapshot in my mind. Pure happiness!

My friends, Mindy of  Best Energies Best Affections and Nicole of Farmgirl Chaos, blogged about our August craft day in a more timely manner than I. Just click here to read and see more pictures: Mindy's Craft Day and Nicole's craft day post

We made fabric flower brooches, tile coasters, and gift tags hand-written in my friend Mary's beautiful font.

We just had our second craft day this week. (I am trying to host craft day once a month.) 

It was just as fun and therapeutic. If it weren't for craft day, I don't think I'd be making anything creative.  I had so much fun, that I only took time to snap one picture:

So far, our craft days have used a lot of chalk board paint. : )

These gals in the photo above are painting antique trays with chalkboard paint. 

Here is a picture of my final products. New pillows for fall, tile coasters (didn't get time to make any last time) and another flower brooche.  I started the white scarf prior to craft day...  a tiny bit more trim and it will be finished.

Please go to Nicole's blog and check out her pictures. You must see the adorable button bracelet she made...next on my list!