Recipe: Corned Beef and Cabbage

I made this for our Sunday dinner and it was so easy! I put it in the night before in order for it to be ready for a delicious Sunday meal! Add rolls and you have a great meal for your family!

Ingredients:

* 1 medium onion, cut into wedges
* 4 large red potatoes, quartered
* 1 pound baby carrots
* 3 cups water
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 bay leaf
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1 corned beef brisket with spice packet (2-1/2 to 3 pounds), cut in half
* 1 small head cabbage, cut into wedges

Directions:
Place the onion, potatoes and carrots in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Combine the water, garlic, bay leaf, sugar, vinegar, pepper and contents of spice packet; pour over vegetables. Top with brisket and cabbage.
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until meat and vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaf before serving. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Thoughts...

Today...just some thoughts.

Last evening, I had put my girls down for the night (big sigh of relief! :). I stepped outside the house to catch a breath of fresh air. I was able to view the last rays of light from the day as the sun had just about set behind the mountains. The air was cool and refreshing.

I took this few moments of quiet to pray for two different families. The first was the Gieseler family of Lowell, IN. Bro. Charlie Gieseler has cancer and has had a stem cell transplant. He has been in the hospital nearing a month now. This is the father of my brother-in-law - Josh Gieseler. We love the Gieselers like family. I prayed fervently for this dear family that God's hand would encompass them and hold them safe in His care.

The second was the Fourness family of Hammond, IN. This dear family recently had a tragedy occur. The mother and one of their sons (age 3) were driving on the interstate when a semi rear ended them. Their necks were broken and they were rushed to the hospital. If they live, they will be paralyzed from the neck down. The doctors do not have hope. I prayed for comfort for the husband and the remaining two sons in this family. May God hold them in His arms.

After these prayers, I started praying that God would give us a house soon. Just as I began, I stopped. I have a husband who is healthy! I have children who are healthy! Our family is blessed beyond all measure! What a reminder for us! Thank the Lord today for your family's health! You never know when it will be taken from you.

The Best and Worse BBQ Foods

The Best and Worse BBQ Foods!

Here is a helpful article on what to eat this summer when you are attending BBQ's with your friends and family! Enjoy!

Eat This:
Hot Dog with onions, relish, ketchup and mustard
270 calories
12 g fat

Hot dogs get a bad rap, but they score a resounding victory in the battle of American barbecue classics. Hot dogs benefit from two simple realities: First, the skinny bun makes for built-in portion control, which means unless you’ve fired up foot-long brats or have a penchant for chili and cheese, you’re unlikely to build a dog with more than 300 calories. Second, the traditional condiments for hot dogs — ketchup, mustard, relish, onions — are of the low-calorie variety.



Not That!
Cheeseburger with lettuce, tomatoes, onion, ketchup and mustard
600 calories
28 g fat

It may carry a fig leaf of lettuce, but it’s also overloaded with empty calories. And if you're among the half of Americans who slather their hamburger buns with mayo, you'll lump another 100 calories onto the total. Most burger meat is 20 percent fat even before you blanket it in processed cheese, so the calories add up quickly. Unless you’re willing to build your burger from 95 percent lean beef and ditch the cheese, you’re looking at 500 calories, minimum. (Go with 95 percent lean beef, though, and lose more than 20 grams of fat!)



Eat This:
Chips and Guacamole
175 calories
12 g fat

No, tortilla chips don’t beat out raw vegetables, but guacamole trounces ranch dressing (below). That’s because avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats, so they help fill your belly at the same time that they protect your heart. But make sure your guac is made from real avocados; many national-brand “guacamole dips” are made with less than 2 percent avocado. Your best bet? Make it at home; you can have a huge, crowd-pleasing batch ready in under 5 minutes. Our favorite recipe is right here.

Not That!
Veggies and ranch
200 calories
14 g fat

This ubiquitous summer appetizer is less about the vegetables and more about a sturdy delivery system to offload the ranch from bowl to mouth. Unfortunately, on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of solid nutrition, ranch registers a resounding 0. Want to make the ultimate snack? Ditch the ranch and the tortilla chips and dip your veggies in guac instead.



Eat This:
Baked Beans
150 calories
2 g fat

Beans are holders of the nutritional triple crown: They’re packed with protein and fiber, they're sultans of satiety, and they’re one of the richest sources of antioxidants on the planet. So for a mere 150 calories, you get a food that will fill your belly, rev up your metabolism, and help fend off the Reaper. Just make sure your version — whether homemade or store-bought — isn’t loaded with added sugars.

Not That!
Potato Salad
220 calories
12 g fat

Potatoes are already at the low end of the vegetable totem pole: they’re high in carbohydrates and low in fiber, which translates into a big spike in blood sugar levels. Want diabetes with that? But when you add a jar of mayonnaise to the mix, things go from bad to worse pretty quickly. Odds are that potato salad will be the most calorie-dense side dish at any barbecue you attend this year. Give it a wide berth, or grow a wider gerth.


Eat This:
Ice Cream Sandwich
180 calories
7 g fat
13 g sugars

If you simply must indulge your sweet tooth, do it with an ice cream sandwich. Unlike a piece of pie or a bowl of ice cream, which are dangerously undefined, size-wise, the ice cream sandwich comes in a small, pre-determined portion that rarely cracks the 200-calorie threshold.

Not That!
Apple Pie
400 calories
15 g fat
29 g sugar

Don’t be fooled by the wholesome association with "mom." Think "Eve," instead, and eternal damnation. The crust that holds those innocent apple slices is fashioned from lard and refined flour, and the fruit floats in a thick ooze of sugar sludge. Pie has more calories than an 8 oz sirloin and more sugar than most candy bars — and that’s not even counting that big scoop of vanilla ice cream you’re likely to flop next to the slice.

My Blessing!

I just wanted to tell you about a wonderful blessing my husband and I received today!

Blessings can mean many different things to many different people! The same things that I may view as a blessing...other people may not view the same way! That is the truly wonderful thing about blessings from the Lord! The Lord made us all different...with different likes and dislikes. I believe the Lord did this for many reasons...one being He will be thanked for almost everything He does because we are all thanking Him for different reasons and things! LOL!

Back to my husband's and my blessing...last night, we went on our weekly date. We had discussed his upcoming birthday and I had told him that I would prefer he pick out what he wanted. You see, he wanted ski equipment or golf clubs. Since I know nothing about these two things, I thought he would be able to get what he wanted if he just picked it out. So on our date, we finished birthday shopping for our oldest daughter who will turn five next Saturday. Then we checked the store for ski equipment and golf clubs. The store does not even stock ski equipment until Sept. We then checked online at a few other stores and the prices were outrageous!

Ladies, you know how it is...you really enjoy when your husband is able to have things he wants for his "hobbies"! (Golfing, skiing, sports...etc!) However, money can be tight and some things are just out of reach in the financial aspect! And let's face it...it is hard for us to put money into things that we aren't interested in and to us seem like a waste of money!

I had asked my husband what the ski equipment he would need would cost all together. He listed all the things and how much they would most likely cost while my mind was thinking...yea, I could buy a lot of groceries, diapers, formula, baby food, school supplies, clothes, etc. with that kind of money! But we kept on looking!

This morning, I mentioned checking on Craig's List for ski equipment. Just a few minutes later, he called me into the dining room from making his bacon and eggs to show me a set of ski equipment.

Just a few hours later, we were picking up a beautiful set of ski equipment in his size! And the blessing...for a grand total of $125!!!!! It was an expensive brand - Nordic - that would sell for $1,200 in the store.
All I can say...isn't God good!

*The above pictures are from a ski trip he took earlier this year here to Lake Tahoe. With him are Drew Redick and Josh Musser.

A Heart of Gratitude!

Last night, our church family was invited to visit one of our fellow Baptist churches here in Reno for their Wednesday evening service. (Yes, we don't play the game...we are from our church and you are from your church so therefore we must not fellowship, speak or say hello to each other! LOL! We have many, many friends that go to fellow Baptist churches in this area!)
The pastor is Bro. Steve Root and his wife, Cheri and their family of five kiddos! You will never meet a more sweeter or more friendly family than this family! They will make you feel right at home from the minute they say hello! We absolutely love them! We enjoyed a wonderful and refreshing service with their church family with some good food and fellowship after the service.

During the service, my mind was on how good God is!

You see, Bro. Root was Eric's high school principal when he attended his church's Christian school as a junior and senior in high school. Bro. Root and his wife had a tremendous influence on my husband as a teenager. No, my husband was not perfect by a long shot (LOL!)! However, the direction that he took with his life was directly influenced by the Roots. How my heart was full last night for thankfulness to this dear couple who took the time and love to influence my husband for right!
I owe a great debt of gratitude to them for the wonderful husband and family
that I have today!
Thank you Bro. and Mrs. Root!

*The above picture is our family with the Root family. The picture was taken with my camera phone so it is not the best quality! Sorry!

Seven Quirks!

Seven Quirky Things About Me!

This theme is going around in different blogs so I am joining in!

1. I always have to be doing at least one other thing while I watch TV! I look at a magazine, look up recipes, blog :), check my e-mail, clean, iron...there's so many things to multi-task! :)

2. I love the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I read them over and over! I also have the TV series and watch them over and over!!

3. I absolutely love bad weather! I love snowstorms, thunderstorms, windstorms...I love skies full of dark clouds, claps of thunder, lightning skies, heaps of snow! To me it is exciting!

4. For the most part, I love quiet! I am not a big conversationalist. Just enjoy the company!

5. I think that I could live in the remote areas of Montana or Colorado in a log cabin and love it!! It would be an adventure! I envy people who have this experience! :)

6. I love changing my hairstyle or hair color lots and lots! I mean, what else do we Christian ladies do for fun? LOL!

7. I love comfort! Soft lights, candles, good smells, clean home, good memories...I need it all!

What are your seven quirks? :)

Thoughts on Homemaking...

Today, I was watching Family Feud...(sorry, I love game shows!) One of the questions asked was..."What is something that a woman is glad she doesn't have to do for her husband anymore after they are divorced?"
The answers were...Do his laundry/Ironing...Clean for him...Cook for him...Massage/Rub his feet...Make love to him...Look at him...Listen to him...

Wow! What are we glad to do for our husbands????
We ladies need to stop looking at our needs and wants so that we can concentrate on the #1 person in your life...your husband! There may be ladies that spend their time rearing their children that their marriage has fell apart. Yes, it is very important that we rear and train our children but not at the expense of our marriage! Other ladies may be so involved in church activities that they are "married" to the pastor and their ministries. No matter how many godly things you are involved in, it will count for nothing once your marriage falls apart. You may be busy with a career or job. Many ladies do work outside the home but be very careful that you are still able to handle your responsibilities at home as a wife.
May the following article taken from a Home Economic book from the 1950's be an inspiration to you to renew your spirit to be the wife the Lord wants us all to be!

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE

Home Economics High School Text Book, 1954

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Our daughters sing a special in church! :)

On Sunday evening, our two oldest daughters, Addie (4 1/2 yrs.) and Autumn (2 1/2 yrs.) sang a special with one of our pastor's daughters, Erica (6 yrs.) They sang two songs..."O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See" and "Whisper a Prayer".
They did a great job and we are so proud of all three girls!

Building - Day 3, 4 and 5 - Liberty Baptist Church

Building - Day 3, 4 and 5 - Liberty Baptist Church

Here is the update on our building project for our new Sunday School classrooms! The men worked hard every evening as well as Saturday this week. We have nearly a finished product! It was so exciting to me to have a small part of this new work! I cherish the thrill of working together as a team of God's people doing a project for Him! It is an absolute amazing feeling!
Again, I am thrilled to be a member of Liberty Baptist Church!

The above pictures are as follows:
My crazy father-in-law, Sonny, eating pizza!
My brother-in-law, Neil, with our daughter - Sierra.
Addie, our daughter, climbs the ladder.
Our 9 month old daughter, Sierra, with her favorite lady at church, Miss Kathy!
Various pictures of the days of building the addition.

Recipe: Shredded Beef Sandwiches

As the men have been working on the addition to our church, the ladies have been taking turns bringing the meals each night. This is the recipe I used for my shredded beef sandwiches. I received rave reviews - especially from my father-in-law! It is a simple and easy recipe! Put it together in the morning and you get to smell it all day long! :) It would be great for a church potluck or a large family get-together! Enjoy! It is a keeper!

Shredded Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless beef chuck roast (about 4 pounds)
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke, optional
• 24 kaiser rolls or hamburger buns, split

Directions:

Cut roast in half; place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Top with onion. Combine the next eight ingredients; pour over roast. Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until the meat is tender.
Remove roast and cool slightly; shred meat with two forks. Skim fat from cooking liquid. Return meat to slow cooker; heat through. Using a slotted spoon, place 1/3 cup meat mixture on each roll. Yield: 24 servings.

Building - Day 2 - Liberty Baptist Church

Wednesday was day two of building our addition to our church building! The work is progressing at a wonderful rate! All the walls are up and the first layer of the roof. It reminds me of that verse in Nehemiah...
"So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah 4:6
It is wonderful to be a part of a church who are servants that love the Lord!
*The above pictures are as follows...
#1 - Eric Tastet - my husband! :)
#2 - Bro. Bob
#3 - Bro. Sonny - my father-in-law
#4 - Bro. Mark Campbell - our adult SS teacher
#5 - Bro. Steve Snow - our pastor
#6 - the new addition

Building - Day 1 - Liberty Baptist Church

The New Addition!

This evening, the men of our church started on the addition that we are adding on to our church building. At this time, we are in a store-front building that we share the other half of the building with a roofing company. There is very little space to expand. To the right side of the building, we are adding a 10x16 area that will be Sunday school classrooms for our children and teen Sunday school classes. It will also be used for junior church as well. The men are working very hard every evening this week to build this addition. The ladies of the church are providing the meals for the men this week as they work. Pray for our church as we do His will this week!

My Favorite Things

Rainstorm Hits Reno!

Today, I am taking pleasure in a very simple thing...rain!
What a wonderful thing it is! We do not receive very much rain here in Nevada - especially in the summer months. Yet one of my very favorite summer things is a summer thunderstorm! The kind where the wind starts blowing...the sky darkens...the temperature cools...then the rain, thunder and lightning begin! Today we had a whopper of a thunderstorm! Thank you God! It was a refreshing break in a time where I have been getting a little impatient and antsy.
You know...the days where it is just plain 'ol schedule and boring stuff! I took my car to the repair shop and made some calls to set up a policy for homeowner's insurance. Throwing in a load of laundry...starting preparation for dinner...etc. And here comes God in all of His power wanting to show off for me! :)
The girls, Dad and I stopped what we were doing to go outside...touch the raindrops...smell the clean air...feel the cool breeze and just have some fun! And what made this experience even more crazy is...I dreamed last night that it was storming right here in Nevada!
God is awesome!

Girls Night Out!

I am very excited today! Our church is having a men's campout at Frenchman's Lake in California tonight and tomorrow. So therefore...I am minus a husband and a father-in-law! Yes, I love them but a small break from cooking and cleaning is nice! My friend, Jenny, and myself and my daughters are going out tonight to the Marina and then to have supper at Chili's. :) And perhaps some shopping! Just a little girl time for sure!

We have been battling smoke from the many wildfires that have been burning in northern California. Yesterday, you were not able to see the mountains because of the smoke and haze. By the evening, the smoke burned your lungs when you took a breath and made your eyes red and watery. Most of the day, the sun was hid by the hazy skies. Our temps have been in the low 100's. Hopefully, it will clear in the next day or so!

Here are a few pictures of the Sparks Marina. Enjoy!

Buying a Home

Hello! I hope you do not think this post is too boring! :) We are in the process of purchasing our second home here in Reno. We owned our own home when we lived here in 2004-05 - a two bedroom, second floor condo. We loved it and have great memories of our short time there. Now we will be soon into our second home...making more memories! :) I always try to learn about things that I am not familiar with and the home purchasing process is one of them! So maybe you would like to learn along with me! :) We have made it to step 3! Yea! I will keep you updated on our progress as we go along.

Step 1: Contract Acceptance - Yippee! - Celebrate (briefly, and then let your Realtor get to work!)

Step 2: Escrow Opens - Selecting a title company is most often done by the sellers and the selling agent generally opens the escrow. Occasionally opening of escrow will be done during the listing period.

Step 3: Loan Application and Income/Employment Verification - Most buyers have started this process before looking for a home and if you were pre-qualified much of this work is complete. Make sure your Realtor and Lender are working together.

Step 4: Inspections - Most transactions require the seller to provide a Pest Inspection and good Realtors insist their buyers get a Home Inspection to verify the house systems are in working order and the building is in compliance with local regulations. Generally sellers will pay to have all section I items on the pest inspection repaired. Section II items on the pest inspection and items that need repair or replacing as found in the home inspection may be subject to further negotiation.

Step 5: Disclosures and More Disclosures - The mandatory sellers disclosures include California Statewide buyer/seller advisory, Supplemental Statutory Disclosure (SSD), Transfer Disclosure Statement (TDS), Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD) , Lead Paint Disclosure. Your Realtor will make sure you get and understand each of these.

Step 6: Preliminary Title Report - Provided by the title company this report will alert you to liens, easements, taxes and other items filed on the property.

Step 7: Property Appraisal - This is ordered by and is primarily for your lender to confirm the value of the property. Most often the appraised value will be the amount you have agreed with the seller to buy and sell. Read this report carefully, there is a wealth of information about your new home.

Step 8: Removing Financing Contingencies - Unless otherwise stated in the California Purchase Agreement this happens 17 days after the contract is signed.

Step 9: Removing Inspection/Property Contingencies - You, as the buyer, have, unless otherwise stated, 17 days to have the home inspected and review reports before you must remove this contingency.

Step 10: Deposit Increase - If asked this will happen after the inspection period and removal of property contingencies.

Step 11: Selecting and Obtaining Hazard Insurance - This is coordinated with the Lender and Title Company but it is your task to make happen. If this is your first home your Realtor and Lender will be able to guide you.

Step 12: Home Warranty - If the sellers agreed to acquire a Home Warranty as part of the purchase, now is the time for it to be ordered. If the sellers are not buying the policy, you may order and pay for one. They generally cost between $300 and $400 and are well worth the expense.

Step 13: Signing Documents - This will be scheduled by the title company and most often will be in their office or if you are not is the same town can be done at a title company in your city. If you have a good Realtor or Lender they will be there to help answer any questions you have. You will be signing more documents than you ever imagined!

Step 14: Final Walk Though - This is an important inspection made by you to make sure the home is in the same or better condition as it was when the Purchase Agreement was signed. Make sure your Realtor is with you and has a check list of items to review. This is where you can verify the seller made required repairs agreed to under the contract and subsequent amendments.

Step 15: Close of Escrow - This happens when all conditions of the escrow have been met including the receipt by the title company of "good" funds.

Step 16: Title Transfer - Often referred to as "Recording," this is when the actual title of the property is transferred from the seller to the new owner. It is at this point, you will have access, unless otherwise arranged, to your new home.

Challenge: Childlike Play

Being a Kid Again...

Has anyone ever said to you...you just need to grow up! Act your age! You are not a kid!

Acting like a kid sometimes is a good thing! :) Though probably not when you are supposed to be taking care of your responsibilities like going to work, doing household chores and taking care of your family... life can not always be fun and games. God made seasons of life...childhood, teen years and then we must be an adult. With adulthood comes responsibility and lots of hard work! So amidst our work, don't forget to take time out to "play"!

I have to admit... I am not a "kid at heart"! I like being an adult! :) Sometimes though, we need to do something fun and childlike. Yesterday afternoon, while Autumn and Sierra were napping, I stopped my work and went to the backyard with Addie. We just spent time together swinging on our homemade swings under the big, shady tree. We enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and the shade of the tree. We looked at Mt. Peavine off in the distance. We enjoyed "acting like kids"!

What is your favorite "childlike" activity?

Craft: Star-Spangled Batons

These batons promise to be the stars of any Independence Day celebration!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Scissors
	Pieces of red, white, and blue craft foam with a sticky backing
	Red, white, and blue ribbons
	Star stencils
	3/8-inch dowel
Time needed: 30 Minutes or Less

1. Cut a pair of 6-inch stars from red, white, or blue craft foam.
2. Cut a slightly smaller pair (ours were 4 inches across) from a different color of craft foam, and an even smaller pair (ours were 3 inches across) from the third color.
3. Press together the 2 sets of stars, sandwiching a 3/8-inch dowel between them.
4. Finish the baton by tying a length of red, white, and blue ribbon around the dowel.

***I made this craft for our children's Sunday School class this past Sunday. I traced and pre-cut the stars before class. All we had to do was assemble them in class. I had 2-6 yr. olds, 2-4 yr. olds and a 2 yr. old. This craft would be appropriate for Independence Day, Memorial Day or Veterans Day.
They all enjoyed having this star-spangled batons to celebrate Independence Day!

Holiday Traditions-July 4th

Holiday Traditions - The Fourth of July

Independence Day! I love the meaning behind this holiday...the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The declaring of our country's independence from England. What great men founded this wonderful country for us back in those days! July 4, 1776...On July 8, the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place in the Philadelphia Independence Square. It was read twice that day to the sounds of cheering crowds and pealing church bells. Even the famous Liberty Bell was rung that day! What a great time to live in history!

The actual first Independence Day celebration was held on July 4, 1777. To this day, we still celebrate with parades, picnics and fireworks all across this great land.

How do you and your family celebrate the 4th of July? Cookouts and BBQ's...swimming in the sultry July heat...watching fireworks displays...small hometown parades...camping in the great outdoors...fishing along a riverbank...church happenings - dinner on the ground...singing around a campfire...

Sign the comment page and give me your ideas and memories!
Happy July 4th! God bless America!