This is a collection of my favorite Christmas wreaths featured on Flickr. Click on the pictures for directions or more information.
To see who made this beautiful wreath, click on the photo.
This week's blog carnival theme is:
We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to review the brand new Wii game given to us by the JumpStart Company. I am very pleased with the all learning games that JumpStart offers. This review was a collaborative effort with all of my children enjoying it, but especially my eldest two girls who are great observers and helped me tremendously.
While we enjoyed the special effects from the first Wii game called Pet Rescue, I felt the graphics were even better in Escape to Adventure Island. The graphics were a little cleaner and more 3-D. My kids especially enjoyed the visual effects of the storm clouds.
JumpStart Escape to Adventure Island is JumpStart’s second Wii game and is scheduled to be on store shelves November 17. ESRB has rated Escape to Adventure Island “E for Everyone”. As players race to collect the pieces needed to repair their blimp, they’ll need to ward off the pesky fur balls known as Punk Punks and navigate 3D worlds both above and below the water. With 150 math, reading, and critical thinking skills used all while having fun this is a Wii game I’m happy to put on for my children. The adventures are exciting as well as educational.
When we first put the Wii game on, my children were excited about the new places to explore. They felt comfortable knowing exactly where everything was because of their familiarity with the online game and computer CD’s. This game is made to be a little more advanced than the last and may take some time learning your way around it. This is a good thing- they won’t beat the game too soon!
The kids loved swinging the Wii remote to move the characters instead of clicking a mouse. It made it more physically interactive using additional parts of their brain for learning.
They had new characters in this Wii game. John Claude, a new character, is the instructor. He was entertaining and my girls really liked him. They loved customizing their game character called Jumpies and choosing the hair, shoes, clothes and head/face.
Some favorite parts of the game were:
Bubble Trouble- is a maze. The kids loved the ABC’s and 123’s etc. When you get to the end of the maze you get your sand dollar coins as a reward.
The Jumpy Creator was the favorite of my youngest. She loved dressing up as animals and other characters.
The Egg Roll- you are helping the dodos get their egg back into their nest.
The Jet Pack- you are wearing a jetpack and you fly around looking for the answers to the math or English questions/problems.
Manta Ray- While riding a ray you are looking for the correct answers to addition problems, proper nouns, etc. There are three stages for this and the Jet Pack game.
Trendy Tides- under the water, you can be part of a fashion show. The child is to local specific items to dress in and then the “judges” determine if you followed the directions. The kids loved the feedback from the judges and laughed at the one that was supposed to be like “Simon” on American Idol.
Foot Frenzy- a dancing game where you choose a type of music. You can also choose the level you wish. You shake the Wii remote left, right, up or down to dance the jumpy.
Our family loves JumpStart and I highly recommend this Wii game as a terrific option for children ages 5-9 to encourage additional learning and wholesome fun.
Don’t miss this:
http://blog.jumpstart.com/win/escape/
Contest Details
The contest will be live from 11/2/09 to 11/16/09.
Each person will be allowed two entries into the contest (details on contest page)
The theme of the contest is “Time to Escape!”
We want to hear how your family uses imagination to escape the everyday and turn life into an adventure! Tell us your story for a chance to win.
Prizes
50 winners will receive a copy of JumpStart Escape From Adventure Island
3 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS will receive a family Escape Pack (over $1000 value)!
1 Nintendo Wii Console
1 copy of JumpStart Escape From Adventure Island
$250 in spa gift certificates
1 JumpStart branded flip camera
3 lifetime JumpStart memberships (1 for winner, 2 to share)
500 virtual coins for JumpStart.com
4 JumpStart pirate hats & 4 JumpStart kids T-shirts
http://blog.jumpstart.com/win/escape/
I often speak of motherhood on this blog and the spiritual and temporal importance of it. It is a subject very near and dear to my heart. I was the eldest of four girls and was the young age of thirteen years old when my mother crossed the line of reality and has never come back. My mind has come back to this recently after sharing a lesson my mom taught me with the sisters in church several weeks ago.
When I was a young girl getting ready to give my first prayer in church, I shared with her my nervousness and was worried that I wouldn't say the right things. She taught me to stop and before I ever began a public prayer to say a quiet prayer asking for the spirit and then begin the prayer. I've always taken her advice and it continues to bless me.
My mom was a convert to the church when she was in her early twenties. She had a strong testimony of the gospel. She raised me well and even homeschooled us for four years. She taught me so much in that short amount of time. It was just enough to help me through life as I essentially lost my mom at the age of thirteen. The things she spend a large amount of time teaching me will be with me forever.
After she started losing her mind I was angry and bitter towards her. She divorced my dad and our family was split. I blamed her solely. At that time I felt that she ruined our family and my life. I became not only the eldest sister, but a mother figure to my three younger sisters. For many years anger was a form of self-preservation for me although ultimately it had it's effects on my health.
Through the years I learned to forgive her and be at peace that ultimately God is still in control. That even though she only would have thirteen years to teach me, she did a wonderful job. I developed my own strong testimony through her example.
I look at my own eldest daughter who is now thirteen. She seems so young to me. Have I taught her as well as my mom taught me in these past thirteen years? They flew by in the blink of an eye. I'm so thankful for good health and that I am still capable of raising my children.
Life is precious and is shorter than it seems sometimes when we are going through the mundane, every day tasks. Something I learned from my mom is to make every minute count to teach and train. Mothers are so special. I love President George Washington's words: "My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
Mothers can change the world with their influence and love. Never underestimate your importance! Take some time to watch this video and be inspired:
By Shiloah Baker
“Children are affected from the beginning by what they see and hear within the walls of their home. Their environment creates their taste.” –Arthur Henry King
From the first day I learned that I was going to be a mother, I began collecting books, toys and things that I knew would benefit my child. I read every resource manual I could get my hands on. Like most women, I want the best for my child. I quickly learned that in addition to providing shelter, clothes, food and love, that the environment in the home is an important key to raising a well adjusted child.
Creating an Environment for Learning
Years later when I decided to homeschool my children I was introduced to the Thomas 
Jefferson Education or a Leadership Education. One of the suggestions was to build a library of classic books. I had maybe a small bookshelf full at that time and not surprisingly my kids weren’t big readers. I took the advice to heart and over the next four years I gathered and built a large “brain” storage of books for our home. We have over eight bookshelves now spilling over with fun, classic and educational books. More importantly, my children have caught on to this passion for reading good, wholesome literature-literature that educates. Not a day goes by that I don’t see the children pouring through books, rifling through the bookshelves or reading in a corner. We have a large bookshelf outside of my bedroom door which is at the end of a long hallway. When a child is waiting to speak with me, she naturally chooses a book, sits by my door and takes a little adventure with words on the pages. What joy it brings me to see the difference having a library of books in your home can make.
“Every single item is of relevance to our education and to the education of our children.”–Arthur Henry King
How many times have you noticed your baby would rather play with empty boxes or magazines than her own baby toys? Children always want to help mommy bake cookies and can’t wait to learn how to make their first peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Children have a natural curiosity and we should allow them to explore and learn within the safety of our home.
Children learn naturally through their own environment. Why should a small child fill out a worksheet on how to match socks, when they can learn that same skill only using all their senses: the smell of the laundry detergent used, the visual senses of colors and patterns, touching the various textures of socks and occasionally tasting the texture of socks. I have many fond memories of sock folding growing up and trying the over-sized ones on my hands and sliding around the bare floors with them on my feet. The natural learning experiences within the home are powerful.
I’ve made it a mission to keep the majority of commercialized toys out of our home. They do not foster learning like a set of plain building blocks or a life-like baby doll with clothes and cloth diapers. Even though they wanted them and got them for birthdays, my children have never treasured commercialized toys (such as Barbie dolls, Bratz, etc.). After the initial excitement wears off, I find those toys lying around unused with little to no interest. We have never had that happen with puzzles, wooden beads, blocks, or art supplies- the basics for foundational and explorative learning.
Organization and Structure
I used to cringe when I heard those words, but now as a mother of many I feel excited and inspired when I see them. After being a mother for nearly fourteen years I have learned that children, some more so than others, thrive when there is structure and organization in the home. We have seven children, two children with autism and two others with various disabilities. When things become chaotic in our home, not only do our family pets react (i.e. birds chirp frantically) but the children react to it too. Every family has a rhythm whether they realize it or not. The question is- is it conducive to teaching and does it promote family time?
I love reading Steven and Teri Maxwell who have written a couple of books on this subject. They successfully homeschooled and raised eight children and now write about how they did it- it involved scheduling, structure and organization. “God has given us a powerful example and analogy of scheduling in the natural world. Everything that He has created, from atoms to the universe, has a periodic cycle. There is a timetable God has applied to each part of His creation. This is easily seen in the weather. Year by year, each season comes at its ‘scheduled’ time bringing with it predictable changes.” (1) If God uses scheduling, I believe it is an example to us that using a family schedule is something we should do too.
While it is unnecessary and too constricting to schedule all of your time, coming up with a family schedule/rhythm for each day gives the home an organized environment while giving peace to each family member so they each can know what to expect in their daily routine. This is especially important if you have children or adults in the home with disabilities. Eliminate the disordered feeling and house clutter by prayerfully creating your own unique family rhythm complete with chore time.
Keeping a Morally Clean Environment in the Home is Imperative
"Parents now are concerned about the moral and spiritual diseases. These can have terrible complications when standards and values are abandoned. We must all take protective measures.” -Boyd K. Packer
Memories from books and the pictures in the books teach, mold and shape a person. Just as we should fill our homes with uplifting and wholesome books, we should be equally as careful about not bringing anything contrary to that in the home. I heard it once said that if a young boy were to view pornography in his own home he will be a customer for life. Is it worth it to allow anything pornographic in your home? Never. Aside from the fact that it is morally wrong, the risk is too great.
Regarding music-while I am fairly careful about lyrics to the new music, it is easy for things to slip by our notice from time to time. I find that I feel inspiration often to continually sift through the music my family and I listen to. We are all aware of the powerful effects of music on our moods. Music teaches and depending on the words and the beat it can teach negative or positive things. By my vigilantly reviewing music, talking with the kids about their feelings on the songs and reading the lyrics online my family is learning to do the same. Even though you may not always listen to the lyrics, your subconscious mind does and then records it. I think I would rather know what my subconscious mind is recording by paying close attention to what I or my children listen to.
Television needs a filter like the computer. We don’t watch regular TV because the morals portrayed on everyday television, especially the commercials, are not in line with ours. Instead we rent Netflix and buy the movies we enjoy the most. We carefully screen the reviews and ratings before watching and buying movies.
Raising children is anything but easy; but it is so worth it. Each child comes to our home with his/her own unique personalities. I find it fascinating to see how for the most part, children naturally pick up many qualities of their parents, whether it be the habits they pick up, facial expressions or one or a combination of both parent’s temperaments. I have three sisters and while we don’t look exactly alike anyone can tell we are sisters when they listen to us talk or see our mannerisms. It is an art to take into consideration all the differences of personalities in the family and apply the perfect mix of teaching, religion, and love. Children can’t help but to be influenced by the home environment especially when the parents care so much about making it a positive one.
Works Cited
1. Maxwell, Steven and Teri. Managers of Their Homes. s.l. : Communications Concepts, Inc., 1998.
"As we enumerate the many important responsibilities a woman has in connection with her duties as a wife, a mother, a homemaker, a sister, a sweetheart, or a good neighbor, it should be evident that these challenging responsibilities can satisfy her need to express her talents, her interests, her creativity, dedication, energy, and skill which so many seek to satisfy outside the home. It is impossible to estimate the lasting influence for good a woman can have in any of these roles."
N. Eldon Tanner, “No Greater Honor: The Woman’s Role,” Ensign, Jan 1974
We at the Homemaking Cottage believe that the woman's role in the home is the most important she can have
in this life. What we as women do today to tend to the spiritual, emotional, and physical health of our families will be remembered for eternity. Our goal is to inspire women in the home and to teach and share ideas needed for maintaining a home and family. We feature over 1000 articles on these subjects within our Deluxe Edition.
My children had a lovely time for Halloween. Four of the girls were ballerinas, my son was a scarecrow, Phoebe was a witch, and the baby was a piggy-boy (as she calls all pigs.)
Chloris and Calypso -ballerinas
Mercury- the scarecrow
Maia- a ballerina
Athena- a ballerina
Phoebe -the make-up didn't work well with the flash.
Calypso with Bella the Piggy
Ben and I- we're gyspies
*All kids names are pseudo names
Almost three years ago I was very sick just getting ready to give birth to my seventh child. After having her I felt worn out, sick, exhausted and wondered if I would ever feel good again- or at the very least have any energy. I had only one place to turn and that was to a loving Father in Heaven. I was ready to study and learn and do what it took to obey, but first I had to ask for help.
"Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I bask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness..." (2 Nephi 4:35)
Immediately, through research and people put into my life at the right place and time, I found the answers I needed to heal. When I needed to move on to the next step, the next step was provided. I had a lot of work to do. Many of my blog followers have watched me through this journey. Nearly 50 pounds came off as a side-effect of becoming healthy. While it's been a long journey, I learned so much that would never change any step of the journey. Sickness and the journey back to health through prayer and hard work made me strong not only physically, but mentally and will always be with me-a part of me that no one can take from me.
It was not easy. I did it alone without my husband home; he was in Iraq. I had seven children at home that were homeschooling. I knew that through prayer the answers would come. I found a wonderful chiropractor who also sees my children. Through him I found naturopathic doctors who gave me many tests that are different from those that allopathic doctors gave me telling me I was just fine. Through diet, herbs, natural hormones, and later exercise I became well. Today I feel more healthy that I felt as a teenager. I also learned to heal my emotions and rid my life of the terrible anxiety that plagued me due to tragedies during my childhood.
One of the reasons I wanted so much to be well, is to raise the family God gave me. Secondly, I had the strong desire to have more children if I became well. We've been so blessed. My naturopathic doctor will be available to me as long as I need her. She has changed my supplements due to pregnancy. I'm so thankful to have this support during this pregnancy. I also am healthy and strong enough to exercise my entire pregnancy.
One last thought for those who may be ill: don't ever feel that you are stuck in the condition you are in- that you just need to resign yourself to it. Ask for help through prayer and be willing to make the changes needed- you can be healthy too!
Our first give away for the Christmas Season comes from Sunbeams Stamps! Laura Cooke has a wonderful website and so generously is giving away one of these stamp sets:
Description:
What greater gift is there than being sealed to your family for eternity?
This set of 2 stamps includes a huge temple ornament image size is 2.75" x 3.25" or7cm x 8.5cm. The smaller coordinating stamp says "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" image size is .75" x .75"
For more information please visit: Sunbeam Stamps
BUY IT:
Retail value $9.25. More details can be found at Sunbeam Stmaps
WIN IT:
We're giving away one set!!
To Enter: Leave a comment on this post with your name and email address.
Bonus Entries, after the initial entry is complete:
Your name goes in again for each additional number. Please leave a separate comment including each number you did.
1. Follow Homemaking Cottage Sanity with Seven via Google or Network blogs!
2. Follow Homemaking Cottage on Facebook.
3. Follow Sunbeam Stamps on Facebook
3. Grab our button, put it on your blog and let us know where we can find it! (See sidebar)
4. Blog about this contest and leave the link!
5. Follow pinkginghamom on twitter and tweet this giveaway:
RT @pinkginghamom Just in time for Christmas. Join the give Away: LDS Christmas Ornament Stamp Set. http://bit.ly/oL2iA
8. Add me as a friend on facebook
Giveaway ends Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm EST. Winner will be picked using Random.org.
I've been suffering from heartburn and nausea per my usual pregnancy symptoms. This time, thanks to some fresh ideas from friends, I found the best cures for them!
Someone suggested Ginger-ale. I went one step further and went to my health food store and bought Reed's Jamaican Style Ginger Beer with the extra ginger. I'm not saying it's delicious, but it worked INSTANTLY and I only drank 1/3 of the bottle.
Sticking with the ginger theme, I bought some Gluten Free ginger snaps. These are delicious and did ease the nausea.
Because I love calorie free and beneficial herbal teas, especially Yogi teas, I was interested in trying this Yogi tea: "Woman's Mother to Be" tea. It contains peppermint, spearmint, and anise for nausea raspberry leave for the uterus. It has a great flavor. I used liquid Stevia for sweetening.
The Homemaking Cottage's Christmas Extravaganza has begun! We will continue to add articles, recipes, and crafts daily. Don't forget to save 50% off our Deluxe Edition subscriptions through the 3rd of November. It's the last 1/2 off sale of the year!
Read more...
By Shiloah Baker
He really should be called "Texas Snowman" since he's all ice. :) He was quick and easy to make. You could add a small scarf and really make him look even better.
Materials Needed:
2 medium Acrylic cubes (craft store)
1 small Acrylic cube
e6000 glue
Black and orange fabric paint (with the thin bottle tips)
Directions:
Glue the cubes together, placing the small one on top. Turn them each slightly at an angle. Allow to dry completely.
With the fabric paint, paint the carrot nose, black eyes and buttons.
We are so blessed. The prayer of our hearts has been answered. Can you guess what it is?
Psalm 127:4-5, "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
The Homemaking Cottage Series Presents:
Mothers of Large Families
Kimberly Olive, Mother of nine
I was born in Philadelphia while my father was finishing up seminary. Our family moved to Southern California when I was 6 months old. My father planted a church out in California and when I was 11 we moved east to Tennessee for my father to pastor a church. My mother was a stay at home mom who was diagnosed with cancer while she was pregnant with her fifth (and last) child. She was 35. Because of her initial diagnosis (6 months to live), my parents decided to homeschool me so that my mom could teach me what I would need to know. I blogged more about his story, but the short version is that my youngest brother survived and thrived, my mom is in remission to this day and our whole family is grateful that God "forced" us into homeschooling.
Her Husband
Mark is the type of person that everyone would love to have as a best friend. He is much better, more patient, more fun, with the children than I am and I'm very thankful that he picked me. :)
I'm a stay-at-home, homeschooling wife and mom. Mark is in technical sales.
Why The Decision to Have a Large Family?
My mom is the youngest of 10 children and my parents would have loved to have more than 5 if God had that for them, so I've always known that I wanted to have a large family. Mark is the oldest of 2, but his extended family is larger and he wished that he had more siblings, so he also wanted to have a large family from a young age.
The moment that, for both of us, changed the desire for a large family into a conviction that we should allow God to plan our family size happened before we were married. We had a godly pastor and father of 8 children counsel us before we were married. After the last session was over, we were all standing and preparing to leave, the pastor mentioned in a slightly off-hand way that he believed there was Biblical warrant to allowing God to plan family size.
Isn't it amazing how God sometimes uses little things like that? He didn't give us any chapter and verse, didn't make an exhaustive argument, just told us what he believed. I know that God had been preparing our hearts for a long time and He merely used the words of that pastor to drive home what He had already been teaching and preparing us.
It hasn't always been easy and we've had our doubts particularly when our first 3 children came in 2 1/2 years and then the fourth a year later. With 4 children 3 and younger I was busy, but we always knew and saw that God provided for us, money, energy, strength, health, etc. we did not want for anything.
Our oldest daughter Amber (13) is diligent, a great cook and takes initiative to help with just about every chore around the house. She is our current breakfast an lunch menu planner. Each year for her birthday she plans and prepares a big dinner for the whole family. This year she did Italian, including making all of the pasta herself.
Kaitlin (11) is every one’s friend and is one of the most generous and giving people that I know. She always has an encouraging word and is a deep thinker. Playing the piano has become one of her passions and she practices constantly.
Matthew (10) is always smiling and wants to be a missionary to India when he grows up. (Thanks to reading about and praying for the homeless street children in India when he was 4 years old.) He is constantly striving to work hard “just like Daddy.” He has recently begun to enjoy wood carving and is working on creating small carvings for Christmas gifts.
We praise God everyday for His mercy in giving Alyssa to us, in spite of our lack of faith. Our first 3 children were born in 2 1/2 years. I was tired, overwhelmed and scared about having anymore. We decided that we needed a space between our children. After a few weeks neither Mark or I felt comfortable with taking our “family planning” away from our sovereign God who loves us even more than we love ourselves. We trusted Him. This was our shortest space between children (14 months), BUT it was my only pregnancy with no trace of morning sickness and Alyssa was an angel baby. God knows and does what is best for us and sometimes it is different than what we think. Praise God for giving us this child, even when we thought that we didn’t want her.
We call Alyssa (9) our sunshine, she brightens our days and I can’t imagine not having her as part of our family. She is a hugger and loves to sit on my lap and snuggle.
Steady is the word that comes to mind when I think of Carter (7). He loves people, snuggling and is always aware when I need cheering up. God has given Carter a gift of encouraging others. He is best friends with everyone.
Sadie (6) is a bit of a loner but still loves to snuggle occasionally. She does an amazing job at whatever she sets her mind to, probably because she is such a hard, patient worker. Sadie if going to be a tremendous help with the younger children when she gets a little older. She can't wait.
Savannah (4) is our compliant child, a complete people pleaser, loving to snuggle and passing out compliments all ’round. She will most likely grow up to be a princess, probably Belle.
I have never seen or met a child who is more strong willed or active than Colby (3). He is also one of our most charming children and a complete momma's boy.
Nicholas (18 months) is a sweet, fun-loving little fellow, who has an opinion and knows how to get what he wants in our full house. He thinks that he is a big kid and is quite independent.
We would love to have any more children that God will give us.
Some joyful experiences with her large family
We love camping and being outside spending time together. We also love to hike. It is fun now that our big children are older, we all enjoy sitting around watching the younger one's antics.
A Funny Story
One Sunday during the morning worship service, one of our children whispered to me, "Mom, I need to go potty." "Can you wait?", I asked and the child nodded, so I was surprised a moment later when I heard whispering all down our aisle only to realize that they obviously couldn't wait. Mark headed out to get paper towels to clean the floor and I took the child to the back to see what could be done. Just as I was preparing to head home for a change of clothing, I remembered that I had brought some of our out grown clothes to another family at church. I rummaged through the bag of clothing and managed to find a too big t-shirt and a pair of shorts that were passable, so we headed back into the service.
You may think that is the end of the story, but in our church each row gets up to go to communion via the center aisle and then comes to sit back down via the side aisles. When our family was coming to sit back down I happened to glance at the floor of the row behind us. Right where the family would have to walk when they came to sit back down was a puddle, a large puddle. Obviously the church floor slants away from our row. I had to detour all the traffic while Mark ran to get more paper towels. *sigh*
Experiences or knowledge has helped her on her journey
I'm very thankful that I was homeschooled as a child. That has given me a lot of confidence as we homeschool our children. I graduated from homeschool and went on to college, so I know what the transition is like and I worry a lot less about it than if I hadn't had that experience. I also know that one of the best things that our parents did when they were homeschooling us was to spend time talking with us. I learned much more from our conversations than I learned from textbooks.
Another experience that has helped was the fact that my mom was so sick and unable to take care of the house beginning when I was 11 years old. I learned how to run a household and cook and that has helped me as I transitioned to managing my own home.
Her Mentors/Exemplars
I have been blessed with many examples. My own parents. Also, our previous church (we moved out of the area 4 years ago), although fairly small, was full of large families. When I was expecting our seventh child I was one of 4 women in our church who were expecting their seventh child. We still keep in touch with all of our friends from back home. God has blessed us with a great support network of other large families.
Her Housekeeping Tips
Schedule, plan, think it through and delegate. Include and train your children as much as possible. Do a little each day and things will never get away from you.
Favorite Quote and Scripture Verse
Psalm 128, "Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways."
Favorite Family Meal
This is actually one of our company meals, but we also enjoy it during the holiday season.
Cranberry Pork Roast
2 1/2 - 5 lb. boneless rolled pork loin roast
16 oz. can jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cranberry juice
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
2 TBSP cornstarch
2 TBSP cold water
Place roast in a slow cooker. Combine next 5 ingredients and pour over roast. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. Remove roast and keep warm. Skim fat from juices. Measure 2 cups of juices adding water if necessary. Pour into saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Combine cornstarch and cold water to make a paste then stir into gravy. Cook and stir until thickened. Add salt to taste and serve over sliced pork.
Favorite Family Dessert
We have a lot of favorites, but this one is also easy.
Peanut Butter Pie
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
16 oz. whipped topping
6 oz. cream cheese
1 chocolate crumb pie crust
Blend first 4 ingredients and pour into the pie shell. Freeze for at least one hour. Take pie out of freezer for 15-30 minutes before trying to slice.
Her Website
I created my blog Raising Olives to share my ideas and thoughts about managing and homeschooling a large family. www.raisingolives.com
Colorado Springs here we come! Life is going to be very crazy for me around Christmas time. Please bare with me as we are going to be super busy the next few months.
Don't forget to take advantage of our 1/2 off Deluxe Edition sale! (See a few posts below.)
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Still in my dreams, but one day a reality.
