Treasures at Your Local Library {Thoughtful Momma Monday}

Thoughtful Momma Monday

When I moved to the small town we currently live in (although we are really outside the city limits) I knew no one except my in-laws. I longed to make friends and to have little buddies that my children could grow along side. I would venture to the park or the store but those aren't places to make fast friends.

So I took my little girl to the library - to find some good books to read! And, while making friends with Harry the Dirty Dog and Madeline, we made real, live friends too!

Moriah and our children's librarian

It took some time but now we feel comfortable at our local library and know our way around! We invited our neighbors to visit story time and now they come weekly to join us for the stories, short videos and crafts.

April 2011

November 2011

Besides being a great place to meet storybook friends, the library is also a great place to meet people in your community. My kids and I now know some sweet families who live close enough to get together for picnics and playground visits!

A few of our favorite library story time friends!

I encourage you, mommas, to visit your library often. Share the love of books and reading with your children. You may not be able to purchase many books, because they can be expensive. The library allows you to "try out" various authors to find your favorites... then you can purchase those! Buying books at a discount store such as Half Price Books will save a few bucks as well!

Mo enjoying her favorite book at the park

Don't know where to start? Here are a few of our favorites (for pre-school kids):

• Most anything by Margaret Wise Brown - Goodnight Moon, Big Red Barn, Scuppers The Sailor Dog, A Home For a Bunny

• Angelina Ballerina Series - by Katharine Holabird

• Madeline Series by Ludwig Bemelmans

• Harry The Dirty Dog by Gene Zion

• Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

• Winnie The Pooh Series by A.A. Milne

• My First Little House Book Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Hunting for Easter eggs among library books... so much fun!

Here's to happy reading and new-friend-making!


Blessings,


PS - As thoughtful mommas, we need to be open to encouragement, fresh ideas and like-minded fellowship. I believe that you will find all of these things at the upcoming Mom Heart Conference 2012! It will be held in three locations in the month of February. I hope to attend the one in Irving, TX. Check it out and maybe you will find the dates and locations work for you to attend too!!! I know that the ladies who will be sharing at the conference are mommas who love the Lord God and love to share their experiences with others!

Hash Brown Quiche and a Thankful Heart

I hope that you had a very Happy Thanksgiving! We enjoyed the evening with my in-laws. The kids played and laughed, we ate and ate, and then headed home around 9pm. What fun!

I've been saving this recipe to share with you - it's an easy one that is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Thank you Paula Deen, yet again, for a tasty recipe that my family loves!!!

So colorful and delicious!

This is a simple, yet delicious quiche that you can add any meat or veggie to. Here is the original recipe, as I've adjusted the recipe below to what we had on hand.

Hash Brown Quiche

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

3 cups, shredded frozen hash browns, thawed and drained

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted

3 large eggs, beaten

1 cup half-and-half

3/4 cup browned sausage

1/4 cup diced red onion

1 roma tomato, diced

1/2 cup fresh spinach, sliced

1 cup shredded Cheddar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Gently press the drained hash browns between paper towels to dry them as best as possible. In a 9-inch pie plate, toss the hash browns with the melted butter into the plate. Press them into the bottom and up the sides to form a crust. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and starting to crisp.

After browning the sausage, remove meat to plate. Cook the onions, tomato and spinach (or any veggies you prefer) in the pan on Med heat.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Stir in cooked meat and veggies. When the hash brown crust is ready pour the egg mixture over it and return to the oven.

Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for about 30 minutes until the quiche is light golden brown on top and puffed.

Perfection!

I have so much to be thankful for... here are a few of those things:

 New life, after stray dogs killed two of our laying hens

Fun times making cookies with a house full of girls!

Blessed to have Grammy and Grandpa here with us for a couple of weeks!

Cousins nearby for my kids to enjoy!

A healthy, happy family!

 God bless you and your family with peace and health,




PS - This one is for you, Momma...

I love you!

I tried my hand at a pecan pie this Thanksgiving and it was a hit! Not too sweet and oh so tasty! It calls for brown and white sugar instead of corn syrup. Mmmm...

I found the recipe on Allrecipes.com and it's a keeper!

Pumpkin, Chocolate, and Pecan Pie!!!

Linked up with:

Happy 1st Birthday Josiah! (Thoughtful Momma Monday)

Thoughtful Momma Monday

Birthdays are an opportunity to celebrate your children! Whether a picnic at a park, a swimming party at the local pool, or a simple cake at home, making your child's birthday an event is important.

I have many fond memories of my childhood birthday parties. Each one was special and unique - my mom thoughtfully planned and prepared for each one. Now it's my turn, as a mother, to bless my children and celebrate their lives!

My baby boy just turned one and we waited to celebrate when Grammy and Grandpa could join us from Oregon.

Our house turned into a noisy barnyard. Twenty-five people piled into our little home and we partied!!!!

Here are a few highlights from the event!

The birthday boy - ready to ride!

Waiting for guests to arrive.

The family enjoying mild temperatures in November - thus the bare feet.

(crazy Texas weather)

 Found this decoration idea on Pinterest and now I can use it to decorate in his room!

Tasty sides to go with grilled burgers and hot dogs... mmmm...

A stampede of banana sour cream cupcakes :o)

He blew out the candle on his own!

And ate his cupcake all by himself too!

Where's the big boy?

There he is!

Our friends brought thoughtful gifts... here's his first farm set!

I love making sweet memories with my children. I know my son won't remember this party but pictures will remind him that he is loved and important. We are thankful for his life - his tender heart and affectionate ways. He is our cuddle bear through and through and is learning quickly to obey and please Mommy and Daddy. I look forward to watching my son grow into a young man!


Have a blessed week,

Longing to Linger - GMG

I feel the pressure. I feel pulled in all directions.

I feel the holidays coming.

Why is it that the time of year when family should rest with one another and relax has become the busiest, most stressful time of year?

Finances get tight and tempers get short. We lash out at those we love most.

I pray for PEACE this Thanksgiving and Christmas - PEACE and JOY for my family and for yours.

I hope that we would take time to reflect on the reason for these holidays and not get sweep away by materialism, as every commercial on TV screams that we should.

My heart is feeling the pressure to do and be more, yet I long to linger. Linger with my children over a puzzle, linger with my husband over a cup of coffee, linger in the WORD and let Christ fill me!

I'm so thankful for my Good Morning Girls group - without them I wouldn't be as encouraged to read the Word each day.

My morning time in the Word seems to be cut shorter each day with interruptions - that's life. Yet when I pick up where I left off, later in the day, I'm so blessed by what I read.

Ready to linger...

Today, the sweet gift of the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me...

1 John 4:13
"By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit."


And a few days ago, the reminder of the gift of the Son blessed my heart anew...

1 John 4:9-10
"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

All for love, God SENT His only Son.

All for love, Christ CAME.

All for love, God SENT His Spirit!

Thank you, Lord for coming to this world - for loving a people who didn't know you. Thank you for loving me and for giving me the greatest gift... yourself.


Have a blessed week,

I'm linked up with the lovely ladies at:

Thank you, Angela, for showcasing our GMG group today!

We ladies are blessed to have one another and to be able to connect daily.

Crock-Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

I came across this WONDERFUL Crock-Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe through a Facebook group. The group is called Crockin' Girls. They have so many great recipes to make delicious, easy meals. They also have a new website up! Stop by and be inspired. 'Tis the season for crock-pot meals!!!

So delicious... warms you to your toes!

Here's the recipe, with a few of my own additions/subtractions! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2-3 cups of raw chicken cut into 1 inch pieces

1 can rotel

1 8oz can tomato sauce (optional)

2 cans chicken broth (14 1/2 oz each)

1 can cheddar cheese soup (optional)

2 cups carrots (I used my potato peeler and "peeled off" thin rounds of carrot)

1/2 bag frozen corn

1 large onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

***

Seasonings: Add these in with the soup while cooking... I added the following spices but feel free to adjust to your own taste.

Ground cumin: 1/4 tsp

Chili powder: 1/2 tablespoon

Cayenne Pepper: 1/4 tsp

Cilantro: I chopped up a handful of fresh 

Garlic Powder: 1/2 tsp

Salt and Pepper to taste

***

Cooking away... without my help!

Garnishes:

2 avacados cut into small bites

Shredded cheese

Sour Cream

Home-fried corn tortilla strips

To make crunchy tortilla strips:

Cut corn tortillas into thin strips, heat olive oil in pan on med-high heat,

and fry until lighly golden.

Remove strips to a paper towel to soak up the oil and sprikle with salt.

Break into smaller bits and garnish each soup bowl!

I cooked my soup in a 5 quart round slow cooker. My husband and I enjoyed a generous bowl each and there was probably that same amount left over for another meal. So I'd say it serves 4-6 hungry people.

Cook all ingredients (except garnishes) on high for 5-6 hours or on low for about 8 hours.

Ladle into bowls and garnish with cheese, sour cream, avacado slices and tortilla strips! It's heavenly!!!

I also enjoy making this soup on the stove, in about 30 minutes. In that case, I cook my chicken on the stove in a little oil and add it to the soup towards the end. It's still SO very delicious!

*** Next time I make this I will probablly leave out the canned cheese soup, as I prefer a clear broth for Chicken Tortilla Soup and I add cheese to each bowl anyways. Also, I added a chopped up zuccinni to the soup because I had it on hand. It was SO good! Feel free to try adding your favorite veggies too!***

Yum! Can't wait to make this again soon!

God bless your weekend,

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