Why You Should Let Kids In The Kitchen

Time after time,

I've blogged about the messes my kids made in the kitchen.

I've had  burned steaks and

a melted cutting board.

My burner covers have been charcoaled beyond salvation.

I've had spilled spices and

broken eggs.

But, there's

always,

always,

always,

  payback

after all the cleanup.

Homemade Krispy Kreme Donuts?

MMM GOOD!

Strawberry Shortcake?

DELICIOUS!

The best pay-off comes at Thanksgiving.

I haven't cooked in years.

In fact,

I don't remember the last time I cooked the entire meal.

In fact,

I don't know if I even have ever cooked the entire meal.

The kids are in the kitchen as soon as those

little hands can grasp the mixer.

Just because a little hair was also wrapped around the mixer,

I didn't banish them from the kitchen.

No sirreee, not me.

This year our 15 year old son, Jon, took charge

of the entire Thanksgiving meal.

Well, let's clarify. 

He didn't want to get up early enough to put the turkey in,

so Dad started that for him.

But, the menu and the shopping were up to him,

with a help from the people with wheels and a debit card.

He chose very traditional Thanksgiving foods.

The day before he made

a double-batch of white dinner rolls.

Since we usually eat wheat bread,

he loved having an excuse to use white flour,

'cuz he was in charge, ya' know.

The rolls were amazing.

 

Jon was great about CAYG,

Clean As You Go.

By the time dinner was served,

the kitchen was clean,

with a little help from big sister.

Since we eat our meal at 2pm,

he even planned and prepared snacks for the evening,

including this delicious salmon dip.

We make our guests help in the kitchen.

Friend Josiah had to ladle the gravy and walk it to the table.

He also helped with the dishes.

Hubby also made the gravy.

Like previous years, I just had to set the table.

Since I'm still recovering from my Thanksgiving last year,

I went very simple.

Thanksgiving Dinner:

Herb Encrusted Turkey

Red Skinned Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potato Casserole

Olives and Pickles

White Dinner Rolls

Spaghetti Squash

Homemade Stuffing

Evening Snacks:

Stuffed Mushrooms

Deviled Eggs

Salmon Dip

Cheese and Crackers

I hope you're a wee bit jealous about my

amazing, handsome, 15 year old chef.

Maybe jealous enough to buy a fire estinguisher

and let your kids in the kitchen,

to spill, drop, break and burn.

There's payback,

I promise.

Someday,

you could be writing about your

amazing, talented kids.

Thanksgiving is Never Really Over

Thanksgiving is never really over.
I don't mean because of the pounds of dry turkey
you'll be eating for months and months and months.

Turkey soup,
turkey sandwiches,
turkey and rice,
turkey cheddar broccoli casserole,
turkey and cranberry casserole
are ways we try to get rid of the poultry.
We should never try to get rid of the
spirit of Thanksgiving
we've been feasting on for the past week.


We've discussed it's the Lord's will that

in

everything
we

Give Thanks.

Easy to say,

hard to do.

The spirit is willing,

but the flesh is weak.

(Stone from Dutch Mill, Inc.)

As parents, we understand

thank you.

More than a bajillion times in our parenting history

we'll remind, instruct and downright nag our kids to use these

two very lovely words.

They're two words that mean so much.

But giving thanks is more than just vocalizing the right words,

it's to be grateful or to feel thankful.

It's an act that emcompasses body, soul and spirit.

It isn't true thanksgiving without this trinity of our humanity.

When someone has given us a gift that we 

couldn't afford,

didn't expect,

don't deserve and

couldn't provide for ourselves,

we feel indebted to them.

In fact, sometimes our words seem lame,

compared to the gratitude welling up within our hearts,

but we say them anyway,

hoping, in our weakness, to convey the depths of our thanksgiving. 

The Lord has given us a great gift that we

couldn't afford,

didn't expect,

don't deserve and

couldn't provide for ourselves.

It's right that we feel indebted to Him.

It's right that we go through life

thankful for our beautiful Savior,

the Lord Jesus Christ.

Long after you've eaten the last turkey leftovers,
may you still be consumed with thanksgiving,
because Christians understand thanksgiving isn't a holiday,
it's the Lord's will for our lives.

In

everything

give

thanks.

'Cuz, ya' know,

thanksgiving is never really over.

Thankful to the LORD~

1 Chronicles 16:34

O give thanks unto the LORD;

for He is good;

for His mercy endureth for ever.

Psalms 97:12

Rejoice in the LORD,

ye righteous;

and give thanks

 at the remembrance of His holiness.

Thankful for YOU~

1 Thessalonians 1:2

We give thanks to God always for you

all, making mention of you in our prayers;

May my dear friends, family members

and followers continue to enjoy

the holiday weekend.

Blessings!

Give Thanks IN...

Being thankful is not just a suggestion...

not just a holy hint...

not just a good idea for a good life.

Yesterday we learned it's God's will that we're thankful.

(Stone from Dutch Mill, Inc.)

The Lord even gives us a few guidelines for abiding in His will.

Today we're going to talk about one simple word.

Just one.

One eensy, weensy, little word that should cause us all

to quake in our boots.

IN

The verse begins by telling us when to be thankful.

A simple two letter preposition gives serious time parameters.

It means being thankful

"in the midst, in the middle, in that time."

OK, you're waiting for a great revelation

because you know what in means.

Let's talk about what it doesn't mean.

It doesn't mean being thankful underneath the trial,

hiding out from the circumstances in quaking disbelief and fear.

It doesn't mean being thankful beside a situation,

sidestepping spiritual responsibility and the work of the Potter's Hands.

 

It doesn't mean being thankful after a situation,

when you've seen the outcome and understand God's purpose.

It means being thankful right

in

the

middle

before you know the outcome, the purpose or the fruit.

Right

in

that

time

when the flames are the hottest,

the loneliness is the deepest,

the pain is the greatest,

the tears are the saltiest.

That's when we're to give thanks.

Do you believe that whatever you are

in 

the

middle

of God is there?

Do you believe it's His plan for you to be there?

There is a simple way I can test my heart

in the midst of a trial or hardship.

Can I lift my head and heart to the Heavens

and honestly thank the Lord?

Right when I'm

in

the

middle?

**********

Feel like crafting to show your thankful heart?

There's still a few days left to Thanksgiving.

Summit Street Joy is offering this free printable.

Isn't it perfect?

If you use this, please stop by Lauren's blog

and thank her, since we're talking about being thankful.

 I know you'll appreciate her creativity.

 Myra at My Blessed Life

is highlighting many beautiful, free printables for Thanksgiving.

Myra also has a wonderful list of fall projects and decorating.

Stop by for some last minute inspiration.

Just remember to

give

thanks.



What's God's Will?

(Stone from Dutch Mill, Inc.)

It's easy to sail amiss in our Christian lives,

 like ships without rudders,

trying to find the center of God's perfect will for our lives.

We pray, seek counsel, pray, seek more counsel,

but sometimes an evident answer from Heaven isn't heard.

It's never that God isn't listening,

I think we're looking for the wrong thing.

In the Scriptures, God's will is not a carefully architected

blueprint of where we'll go to school,

where we'll live, which car we'll buy or who we'll marry.

Before you think I've gone all apostate on you,

think about this.

Look up some verses.

God's will in the Scriptures is His moral and spiritual will for your life.

It's how he wants you to walk the path of life,

 not merely the actually stones in the path.

So, I'm saying God doesn't care about those things?

No, I'm not saying that.

He guides and directs and longs to be the center

of all these decisions.

But, blessing doesn't come from choosing the right college,

although the Lord may bless you at the college you choose.

Blessing comes from obedience.

Joy doesn't come from having the right job,

although there could be joy in your job.

Joy comes from our salvation.

Thanksgiving is not a one day holiday,

nor is it only a nicety of the Christian life.

It's an absolute, expected way of living,

the act of a heart grateful to a holy and mighty God.

It's God's will.

It's that mysterious plan for your life you've been seeking.

If you're seeking answers for decisions in your life,

look at how you're defining God's will.

Once you start living according to God's will,

you might have more answers and guidance from Heaven.

This week we'll be looking more at

giving thanks

because we all want to be in

God's will.

How do I know?

The rest of the verse inscribed on the stone above is

for this is the will of God

 in Christ Jesus for you.

All That Glitters Isn't Gourd

At the end of October,

my daughter and I ran to the Farmers' Market

for simple Fall decorations.

I didn't have the mental capacity

to climb into the attic for things

I'd just have to put back up there.

Maybe I'm still recovering from last Thanksgiving,

when I decorated the whole house.

If you wanna follow the rabbit trail of

sewing, crafting, praying and decorating,

start by reading this blog.

Last Thanksgiving truly was amazing.

I may never be that amazing again.

This year, I'm settling for small touches

as I have inspiration and ambition.

Starting with the pumpkins and gourds,

 and adding two packages of fake ones from a clearance bin,

I simply painted them with glitter glue.

That's it.  Easy Peasy Puddin' and Pie.

The idea is from a blog I read,

but now I can't remember who gave me this idea.

If you posted this, please leave your name

and the url from your blog so I can direct traffic your way.

Since I need to catch up on the classics,

and couldn't stay awake to read all of Wuthering Heights,

I watched the movie.

I toldja' ~

 all that glitters isn't gourds,

my pumpkins are glittering, too.

The 48 Hour Attack on Thanksgiving

This year my daughter, Bethany, volunteered to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Her forte is 

 procrastinated organization.

She didn't do anything until 48 hours prior to the holiday.

On Tuesday she wrote out her menu plan and shopping list, shopped,

and made three pies, two pumpkin, one sweet potato.

Wednesday evening she prepared the side dishes, roasted potatoes,

green bean casserole,dill carrots, and sweet potatoes,

and put them in disposable aluminum foil pans with lids in the fridge.

She rolled out previously frozen homemade bread dough,

 and put in little balls in a circular foil pan and put in the fridge.

Thursday morning while she drank Holiday Roast coffee,

she pulled out the bread to raise, started the turkey in electric roasting pan,

and put the prime rib roast in the crock pot, leaving the oven free

for everything else later in the morning.

I set the table, greatly enjoying the fact that I was able to spend

a lot of time on frivolous details like rolling my napkins perfectly,

 tucking a little  floral spray into each napkin ring,

and lighting every candle in the house.

I planned for months for my end, sewing, decorating and crafting,

and she planned for two days.

She was calm, peaceful, cheerful and very efficient.

It was amazing to watch her in action.

The tables were turned, I was learning from her.

Over the years, I realized you don't have to  master a skill

before you teach it to your children, you just give them opportunities

 to learn, grow and succeed.

She pulled together the final preparations,

heating up the side dishes,making relish trays, setting out the butter dishes,

 and finding serving dishes and spoons.

Her younger sister, Grace, started at the sink

utilizing the Clean As You Go (CAYG) method we love.

Minutes away from serving...

...Dad carving the turkey, of course.

It was truly an amazing meal, both in the orchestration from the maestro,

Bethany, to the variety of flavors, and the perfect timing of all the foods.

I realized it wasn't really procrastination,

she didn't need to make lists upon lists for months upon months.

She has confidence and the ability to pull together a big meal in 48 hours.

There wasn't a better compliment than the one my MIL

frequently said, "Everything was just perfect."

Psalms 69:30

I will praise the name of God with a song,

and will magnify Him with thanksgiving...

for our wonderful Thanksgiving.

Just Had to Make One More Thing...

After preparing for Thanksgiving with the in-laws almost one full year, things were ready.  The house was decorated, the meal was planned, the groceries were purchased, the house was clean.  It was nearly, practically perfect.  We just had to pick up Gramma and Grandpa from the  train station.

Good thing we checked first.  Instead of arriving on the West Coast at 9am, they were still stuck somewhere in Idaho.  They were not going to be into Spokane until around 6pm, then they would have to take a bus for the rest of the journey.

I had a full day to myself.  So, I did what any woman would do, I found something to do.  It's all Steph's fault.  But, she could blame it on Jen, who created the original Thankful Garland.

My dear hubby drove his 4x4 Jeep down the icy streets to Michaels.

I went for this.....

...and came out with this. 

That's what you get for shopping after a major snow storm, when everyone else is at home. Michael's was selling out all their fall clearance for $2. I bought three heavy boxes and three very full bags.

When you follow someone's ideas, there are certain areas you shouldn't deviate from. Jen recommended Gorilla tape. I thought I could work without it. Maybe I'll get some of this tape for Christmas.

The longer I worked trying to get my garland to stay along the edge of my mantle, the less thankful I was.

I tried taping loops of fabric underneath my mantle cloth.

It didn't work.

I tried nailing  the little cloth slips to the mantle. 

It only worked on one loop.  The rest kept bouncing up.

I was wondering if I should have tried to straigthen the grapevine

before using it.

Then, I remembered these vintage babies in my craft room.

Yea, they're lick-'n-stick. How old-fashioned are these? But they worked. I licked and sticked a row of them along the top of the mantle, taped them down for extra good measure until they firmly dried. Thin wire was threaded through the metal triangle and around the grapevine.

It worked!

I won't tell you how long it took, or how many times I checked back to the other blogs, to get ideas for making this work. I was almost going to rename my garland THE CRABBY GARLAND.

After I realized I did not buy any floral sprays in my bags, my dear hubby drove me back to Michael's to spend $4 on two more humongous bags  filled with fall foliage.

Yea, he's a keeper.

Little floral sprays were tucked along vine.  Jen made beautiful roses and put glitter on her clothespins. That might have to wait until next year.

Leaves were cut out from scrapbook paper using this template, and placed in a wooden bowl with tiny, wooden clothespins and a permanent marker.

We began filling out  the leaves with thankful thoughts. By now, I had renewed my thankful heart, after apologizing to my hubby for getting crabby.

It turned out just fine, and didn't fall into the fire.

Little Rebekah filled out the center leaf first.

She has her priorities straight.

******************

Meanwhile, my in-laws were on a nightmare journey. Because it was so cold throughout the entire midwest, the trains had to move slower than usual.  Much, much slower.  For hours of the trip they were behind a freight train going 10 miles per hour.  Since train engineers can only drive for 12 hours at a time, they repeatedly ended up waiting for a new conductor.  If he was three hours away, his work day began when he jumped in his car to drive.  By the time he arrived at the train, he could drive the train 9 hours, when his shift was done, they waited for a new engineer to drive in from another city.

Toilets froze up and blow torches were applied.  Food supplies were low.  The train kept chugging and chugging along.

The bus ride was worse.  They ended up having four drop-off/pick-ups, so instead of a three or four hour interstate ride, it became nearly a 9 hour drive into small towns and smaller roads.

Yes, at one point the GPS led the bus driver into a small road where he couldn't back up.  He had to wake up the owner of the house at the end of the road and have him bring out a flashlight and help him get the bus back on the road.  Then, the people they were supposed to pick up in this small town way up in the mountains in WA, were not there.

Meanwhile, hubby and I were waiting in our car at the locked Amtrack station where they were supposed to arrive at midnight.  Ever try to find a bathroom open at 2:30am?  Even if a business is open, their policy is to NOT let anyone use their bathrooms because of the kind of people that are usually on the streets at that hour.  By 3 am, I was looking like one of those people.

But, their bus finally arrived and we finally got a few hours of sleep before Thanksgiving Day officially began.

But, my home and heart were ready,

complete with a Thankful Garland.

True Measure of Thanksgiving

I had one last decorating trick up my sleeve.

Several yards of this soft, sheer, crinkly gold material had been purchased last year

at a thrift store,  for this year's Fall decorating.

(click on any picture to enlarge)  

 I simply folded the material in half lengthwise, and cut it in half.

This was repeated with the two pieces, so I had four long, narrow strips.

 One piece was swagged along the top of my buffet with garland.

Another piece was swooshed along the bottom.

Recognize the flowers?

I still had some left over after making

wreaths for the front doors and

wreaths for the chairs.

Can you believe I am buying Avocado Green dishes? 

When we got married, everything in our early apartments

and rented trailer home was green.

Toilets were green.

Sinks were green.

Linoleum was green.

Carpeting was green.

Stoves were green.

Fridges were green.

And somehow, just when all the Avocado green was finally removed from my life,

because we purchased homes with newer appliances,

I began missing it.

This particular green glassware looks amazing when the light shines through.

My buffet is now ready for Thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks

 to God the Father through Him.

Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer

the sacrifice of praise to God,

that is, the fruit of our lips,

giving thanks

 to His name.

*****

"Not what we say about our blessings,

but how we use them,

is the true measure of our thanksgiving."

W.T. Purkiser

*****

Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday we celebrate with dry turkey
and the can-shaped cranberries nobody really likes.

It is a state of heart, mind, body and soul that Christians should embrace.

*****

Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer

the sacrifice of praise to God,

that is, the fruit of our lips,

giving thanks

to His name.

Let's celebrate this kind of thanksgiving,
every day.

*****

Wanna' see what I did next?

My Chairs are Ready for Thanksgiving

Last year I had this vision.

I wanted to create small wreaths to hang on the back of each dining room chair.

The wreaths just couldn't be found.

The local craft stores were scoured,
they just weren't selling the size and kind I envisioned.

I checked online.
If I could find the size I wanted,
I didn't wanted to pay their price.

I gave up.

The Thanksgiving food was still delicious,

despite barren chairs.

This summer I found the wreaths.

They were $.25 each at a thrift store,
and there were just enough for my chairs.

Praise the Lord!

I had some of my fall fabric left.

The same scalloped decorative stitch was sewn along

the edges, and the material was unraveled.

I had some of my silk flowers left.

And I created these.

The fabric strips are simple pinned over the chair with brooches,

mostly vintage.

The long-dreamed vision,

has become a reality.

Even my dining room chairs are ready for the holidays.

Maybe one of these days I should start thinking about the food...

*****Wanna see what I did next?