Recipe: Quick Chicken Stir-Fry

Recipe: Quick Chicken Stir-Fry

1 tbsp. canola oil
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 package frozen broccoli stir-fry
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tsp. cornstarch

Hot cooked rice

In a deep-sided 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; stir-fry until no longer pink. Add frozen vegetables. Cover; cook 4 - 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, pineapple juice and cornstarch. Pour over chicken and vegetables; cook 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve immediately over hot, cooked rice!

* I use reduced sodium soy sauce for a healthier alternative.
* An easy way to get 1/2 cup pineapple juice without lots of leftovers...drain one can of chunk pineapple. Use the juice in the recipe and save the pineapple for a fruit with your meal!

This is one of Eric's favorite meals. I hope you will enjoy this meal as well!

Spring Cleaning: Clothes Closets

After a long winter, are your closets disorganized and in need of a purging? Take the time to do a little spring cleaning on your clothes closet.
Here are a few tips to remember:

1. Have three boxes for the following:

* Yard sale/thrift store
* Garbage
* Repair/alterations

2. First, discard any clothing that is stained or non-repairable.

* Ex. I threw out my husband's old work clothes that he cleaned kitchen exhausts in when we had our business. They were too greasy to use for any other type of work and therefore unusable anymore.
* Also ladies, throw out those socks that have holes in them or the one with no matches! Do we think we will buy a matching sock for the one with no mate?

3. If the item of clothing does not fit properly, put it in the yard sale/thrift store box.

* If you are keeping it until you lose those extra pounds, don't! It will most likely not be in style when you achieve your desired weight.
* If it fits but does not flatter, get rid of it! Why wear something that you don't look good in?

4. If there is any item of clothing that needs repair, put it in the repair/alterations box.

* Items such as a missing button, a slit that needs sewn, a seam that is coming undone.
* Decide if the cost of the alterations is worth the outfit. Ex. My brother-in-law has lost some weight and his black suit was too big on him. It would cost $85 to make the needed alterations to it. They decided to go with the alterations because of the value of the suit and the length of wear left in it.

5. If the item of clothing is outdated, get rid of it!

* Older people need to be cautious about this issue. Just because you are a grandma doesn't mean you have to look like one! :)

6. Lastly, make a list of items needed to complete your wardrobe.

*You may have a skirt with no top to go with it. Write the item that is needed so the next time you are out shopping, you know what to look for.

I just cleaned out our clothes closets. I hope you have fun doing yours!

Devotional: Storms of Life

Just Before the Storm...

In June 2003, my husband and I took a road trip/vacation to the South. We traveled from Indiana through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. As we neared the border of Florida, we hit torrential rains! A storm was coming off the Gulf of Mexico and we were receiving the results of it! We basically were forced to pull over to the side of the road and wait it out. We just could not see our way to continue on in the storm.

Today, you might be facing a "storm" in your life. A storm is a circumstance that causes turmoil and you do not have control of its damage. Your storm may be losing a family member in death. Your storm may be an illness or disease. Your storm may be a hurt caused to you and your family. Your storm may be financial hardship.

What storm is raging in your life and heart today?

Please remember these thoughts as you weather your storms of life:

1. Strengthen your relationships with others during this time.

2. Find the lesson that God would have you to learn during this time then learn it!

3. Sometimes you may have to pull over and slow way down until the storm passes.

4. Storms do not last forever. Keep your eyes looking for the rainbows after the storms.

As I am writing this post, a thunderstorm is brewing outside! It will be over soon and I will look for the rainbows!

Money Matters: Stewardship Suggestions

Have you ever lost your wallet or purse or even just thought you had? That is a very unsettling thought! I personally have not and I praise the Lord for that! However, many people have gone through this experience. A lady friend from church relayed her story to me. Her mom had given her money to go shopping for new shoes for her four young children. Upon leaving the department store, she left her purse in the shopping cart. When she got to car and realized it, she raced back to the store only to find her purse gone! Not only was the money for new shoes gone but her driver's license, debit cards, credit cards, make-up, etc! How upsetting! This world can be a very unfriendly place and we should take precautions should we be placed in a predicament like this.

The following in an article written by our Stewardship Director of our church. I hope that it will give you some ideas to help you on this matter.

Stewardship Suggestions

Stewardship involves not only using one's possessions wisely but keeping those possessions safe. The following are some valuable suggestions made by an attorney:

1. The next time you order checks, have only your initials (instead of your first name) and last name imprinted. If someone takes your checkbook, he will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know!

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "Photo ID Required."

3. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

4. Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO box, use that instead of your home address. Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks. If you have it printed on your checks, anyone has access to it. You can add it if necessary.

5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Copy both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.

Parenting Ideas: Chores

Do your kids fight over whose turn it is to wash the dishes...take out the garbage...feed the dog...sweep the floor? I fondly remember those days! Yes, there were three of us girls in my family. I was the oldest, then Rachel, then Rhoda. The main chore that we fought over was doing the dishes! We were supposed to take turns washing, drying, rinsing and putting away the dishes. However, it seemed we could never agree on who did what the last time! Sound familiar in your family? Here is an idea that might work in your family. Give it try!

Chore Sticks

Write the daily chores on craft sticks and put the sticks in a cup along with a few blanks. Every day, each child chooses a certain number of chore sticks for that day. The parent may draw the same amount of sticks so that you are working together as a family. (And to supervise!)
The benefits: Children enjoy that their chores are totally random each day. The process is fair and there is no charts or schedules! Best of all, they may choose a blank stick which means a freebie! Who wouldn't love that?!

Perhaps this idea will work for your family! Have fun!

Recipe: Rebekah's Hamburger Helper

Here is a quick and simple hamburger helper recipe that my kids and I enjoy. I use ground turkey in many of my recipes - it is lower in fat and much healthier! My kids don't even know the difference!

Rebekah's Hamburger Helper

1 lb. ground turkey
1 package egg noodles
1 can diced tomatoes w/ green chilies
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
shredded cheddar cheese

Brown the ground turkey. Cook the noodles according to the directions. Drain the noodles. Stir in tomatoes w/ green chilies and soup. Heat on low until warmed through. Serve with shredded cheddar cheese on top. Enjoy!

A Devotional-Peace

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
Isaiah 26:3

"Pass the Peace, Please!"

A peaceful marriage, a peaceful family, peaceful children, a peaceful life! Isn't that what we all would like - a life of peace? Even the world wants world peace! (At least that is what all the pageant contestants say! LOL!)
It is our job as moms and wives to create this longed-for peace for ourselves and others. Our spirit will spill over to others around us...our husbands, children, friends, associates.
Will you pass the peace or provoke peril?

Here are a few thoughts on peace I jotted down in my Bible from a sermon from our pastor, Dr. Jack Schaap:

1. All instability is caused by leaning on something or someone other than God!

2. The Christian life is to find out areas where I am not leaning on God and then putting Him there in that area.

3. Learning to lose the people and things I have my confidence in is fruitless if I don't learn to lean on God through it.

4. Calmness in my soul shows my stability in God!

How do you promote peace? Please sign the comment page with your thoughts and ideas on peace! I would love to hear from you. Thank you!

I hope you have a peace-filled day with the Lord! God loves you!

*My pastor's wife recently published her newest book - A Peaceful Marriage. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, go to www.christianwomanhood.org. I highly recommend her writing!

Challenge: Start a Journal!

Kids say the funniest things, don't they?

This evening, Eric was giving the girls their bath. He was making funny shapes with their sudsy hair and letting them look at themselves in the mirror. He reminisced how Daddy "used" to have hair and do funny things with his hair; however, Daddy's hair has gone away! Then Addie pipes up... are you ready for this...

"Where did it go? To Heaven?" Yes, kids say the funniest things!

Today's Idea for Mothers/Grandmothers:

Start a journal in a notebook of the funny things that your children or grandchildren say or do! Buy a simple notebook and start writing! Feel free to decorate the outside...names of the children, funny photos, stickers, etc. Then all you have to do is write down the funny thing that the child said or did and the date it happened. The great thing about this is it doesn't take lots of time - like scrapbooking! (Yes, I admit...I have been meaning to create a scrapbook of my honeymoon - well, it has been six and 1/2 years and no scrapbook! Don't act like you haven't done the same thing too! :) The key to this project is simply - write it down when it happens or you will forget and the moment will have been lost! I started my notebook some time ago. It is growing slowly but I am looking forward to having something that my children can look back and smile at themselves! I hope you will too!

Craft Project: Mother's/Father's Day - Photo House Card

Here is a fun and easy card to make for someone you love for almost any occasion! This would be a great idea for a Mother's or Father's Day card which is just around the corner! It is an easy card to make with toddlers or young children with just a little help from Mom!

Photo House Card

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Heavyweight white paper
	Markers or crayons
	Photographs
	Craft knife
	Scissors
	3-inch-wide cardboard strip
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Use crayons or colored markers to draw your house on the paper. Include a window for each family member.
2. With a craft knife (adults only), cut out window openings.
3. Place a photo behind each window and tape the photo edges in place.
4. Use scissors to cut along the house outline. Place the cutout face down and spread glue along the outside edges.
5. Mount the art on a piece of cardboard and trim the backing so that it is flush with the art.
6. To make a frame stand, cut a 3-inch-wide cardboard strip that is half the height of the house. Fold the strip in half vertically, line it up with the frame bottom, and glue one side to the back of the frame.

Recipe: Fast Fiesta Soup

I love cooking and trying new recipes for my family. I devour cookbooks in my free time! I will be including lots of easy, simple and delicious recipes in my blog! Here is a recipe I recently tried that we enjoyed. It is a great side for any Mexican main dish!

Fast Fiesta Soup

2 cans (10 ounces each) diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
Shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream

In a saucepan, combine tomatoes, corn and beans; heat through. Garnish servings with cheese and sour cream.
Yield: 4 servings

Welcome to my blog! I am happy to have you!

Hello! I am starting a new personal blog site for myself. I hope you will enjoy reading it as much as I anticipate writing it!

I have always been a shy, introverted person. This has been something about myself that I did not like! I mean...who doesn't want to be the funny, out-going and spirited person that everyone wants to be around? Well, no matter how hard I try - I just will naturally not be that person! My husband, yes. Me, no! It is something that I want to work on. To learn how to be open, transparent, not worrying what others are thinking about me. Eric and I feel that one day in the future, God's will for our family is to pastor a church. This thought is wonderful yet scary! One day, I will be expected to be a leader of ladies in our church. I will be expected to teach these ladies in the areas of marriage, child-rearing, having a walk with God, being effective homemakers, serving the Lord, etc, etc. It is a large and great responsibility and I want to be prepared when that time comes. At that time, I need to be a leader of ladies so that my husband's ministry may grow and flourish. I won't have time to have feelings of inadequacies! My husband will need me to be able to be strong for him, our family and our church. My goal is to use this blog to help myself to reach this personal goal. I hope you will help me on my journey!