Safe In My Arms

I heard the song Safe In My Arms on midlandcitymusings.blogspot.com. Just click play on the side bar and you can listen to the song that speaks volumes. It has moved me to tears more than once today. Share with me your thoughts...

I find the song very powerful. I want to guard my 3 little guys with everything in my being against the cruelties in life. A lady sent me a note when my middle son, Luke was born. She wrote a prayer. It was the most meaningful baby gift I have ever been given. She wrote,

"...We pray that You would protect him and keep him safe from any unnecessary harm. We ask that You would redeem any hurts and hardships that he must face and use them for his good and for Your glory. We pray that you would equip him with Your Holy Spirit to be a mighty man of God."

This has become my prayer for all 3 of my boys.

"A cup of cold water only." Matt. 10:42

photo by peter bowers

"I know it takes a long time to read, but it's worth it in my opinion. Tell me your thoughts.



It isn't the thing you do, dear,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache
At the setting of the sun;
The tender word unspoken,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of your brother's way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time or thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.

These little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind,
These chances to be angels
Which even mortals find-
They come in night and silence,
Each chill reproachful wraith,
When hope is faint and flagging,
And a blight has dropped on faith.

For life is all too short, dear.
And sorrow is all too great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it's not the thing you do, dear.
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bitter heartache,
At the setting of the sun."
Adelaide Proctor
Streams In The Dessert

New Blog...

kids cooking set, photo by london mummy
I love blogging so much that I have decided to start another one. :) The name of it is "It's A Party In My Mouth." You can access it on my sidebar. It will hopefully have fun, family favorites along with some of those special dishes that I enjoy making every once in awhile. I also have included recipes from the great cookbook Deceptively Delicious, which are great recipes that pack in nutrients and vitamins in clever, well hidden ways. :) Now I have a way to keep up with our favorite recipes and share them with you too. I am also on a budget for groceries, so I'll include how to cut cost at the store and share our meal menu for the week. I am not great at doing this, but it helps me be accountable.

When Ben and I were dating, I made green bean bundles and he said, "This is a party in my mouth." How precious is that?! So, there you have it, the title of my new blog.

Barefeet, Camo and The Wedding...

My three precious darlings were as handsome as ever! We attended a high noon wedding and Benjamin and Luke accompanied me into the ceremony while Ben stayed with David in the foyer. My two eldest boys were both in darling white outfits. I had envisioned them going barefoot since the nice little white shoes they wear with knee socks haven't fit since 2006. I did manage to squeeze their feet into them anyway last Easter, but that's a different story. What was I to do? Buy new Oxfords? Nope, I'm too cheap. So, I went for the Southern look of bare feet and sweet linen outfits. I wasn't sure if this was o.k. since they weren't in the wedding. Oh well no other choice. We were being dropped at the door and my little Luke has on his Camo flip flops. Oh yeah, there is NO arguing now. I think he knew that would happen. People are buzzing all around and there would be sounds of hysteria if they were taken from his feet. So, being the proud mama that I am, held my head up high as my gentlemen walked me into our first wedding together; one barefoot and the other in camo flip flops, both absolutely adorable.

The Babysitter

I had a free babysitter show up at my house 2 days ago. Her initials are T.V. I was so excited because I could get to all of the things that I wanted to uninterrupted! She proclaimed to be like preschool 24 hours a day. Can you imagine? I let her watch the kids, but they were so grumpy by the time she finished with them it wasn't worth it. I thought she shared all of her friendly animal friends with them and taught them how to share, but by the time I had T.V. get ready to leave, they were fighting about who had what toy. She would tell me before each educator created activity what skill she would reinforce with my 3 precious little ones so I was certain they would come out of the session better than before they started, but NOOOOO. Today, she knocked at my door. I told her that I wouldn't need her today. Let me tell you, it was tempting. May I warn you? If T.V. knocks at your door today, limit her time with your kids. I let her stay way too long and it definitely back-fired.


Now, the boys wake up asking for her and spend any part of the day when they're not sure what to do wondering when she'll come over. When I tell them she can't come, they melt down, throw a fit and you would think they lost their best friend. I am sure she is a sweet girl with some good lessons to reinforce what we teach the kids, but for now, she is not welcome.

photo by aron escobar

Creme Brulee

Preheat oven to 350.

4 Cups heavy cream

2 tsp. vanilla

pinch salt

8 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

Heat the cream, vanilla, and salt

Combine the egg yolks and sugar

Mix hot cream and yolk mixture one cup at a time so as not to cook the egg mixture.

Pour into individual baking dishes.

Bake in wet bath (fill a couple of 9x13 glass pans with water to coat the bottowm of the dish.) at 350 for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Stand until cool. Chill 3 hours(can do overnight)

When ready to serve: Sprinkle sugar over the top of the brulee to cover.

I use a butane torch to burn the sugar on top, the boys think I am totally cool using fire in such a way. I have seen them at Ross Dress For Less Stores. If anyone else has seen one, let us all know. I use William Sonoma Creme Brulee Finely Ground Sugar. You can use regular sugar on top and burn with a torch or use brown sugar and broil it in the oven until sugar melts.

Try it out and let us know what you think!

~My friend, Sharri passed this recipe on to me. Thanks Sharri~

photo by:.kaishina

It Is Well...

You can click on the icon to the right and listen to the song It Is Well.

I have been blessed this week to have this song resound in my ears multiple times. Sunday night, our Sunday School class met for fellowship and we joined in singing this song as well as other hymns. We talked about the line, "My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho't, My sin not in part But the whole Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul!"

The reason I chose this version for this post: I heard all of the people singing It Is Well. Don't you know there were many people who came that night and things weren't good in their life. They may have lost a love one, a child might have been sick with cancer, they might have just fallen into the same sin that they continue to struggle with, perhaps they felt so alone and unloved, and yet, they were able to passionately sing "It Is Well." They might have felt far, far away from the Lord.

I love the book Then Sings My Soul. I went to get the book from our bookshelf and it was marked on this song.

Here is the history behind this beautiful hymn that was written in 1873.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Ps. 34:19

The great Chicago fire engulfed the Windy City in 1871. Horatio G. Spafford was an attorney and extremely invested in real estate and lost a fotune. Arond the same time, The Spafford's only son was killed at the age of 4 of scarlet fever. In his grief he plunged himself into rebuilding the city and helping the 100,000 that had been left homeless.
In November of 1873, he and his wife and daughters decided to go to Europe. Horatio was close to D.L. Moody and Ira Sankey and wanted to visit their evangelistic meetings in Europe and then enjoy a vacation.

He was held up in New York by a matter of urgency and decided to send Anna, his wife and their 4 daughters, Maggie, Tanetta, Annie, and Bessie ahead. He felt uneasy as he loaded them in the cabin on the luxury French liner Ville du Havre and moved them to a room closer to the bow of the ship. He assured them he would join them soon.

On November 22, 1873 the ship collided with an iron sailing vessel and water began to flood into their ship. Loved ones were ripped from each other, children vanished into the black waters, thus was the nightmare of the sinking of the Ville du Havre. She sunk within 2 hours. The 226 deaths included Maggie, Tanetta, Annie, and Bessie. Anna was found clinging to a piece of wreckage. There were 47 survivors. Upon her arrival in Cardiff, Wales, she sent a cable to her husband: "Saved Alone."

As Hortio sailed to meet his bride one cold December night, the captain took Horatio aside and said, "I believe we are now passing over the place where the Ville du Havre went down." As he went back to his cabin he was unable to sleep he said to himself, "It is well; the will of God be done."

Later he wrote the famous and moving hymn known as "It Is Well."

May it be so in our lives as Frances R. Havergal said, "now, "Thy will be done" is not a sigh but a song."

No ability to write today...Here we go anyway!

Benjamin and Luke enjoy their creative side!  Where is mine?????????

 

We're looking forward to having Ben's brother for dinner and the boys are THRILLED that Uncle Burt is spending the night.  They have a whole slumber party planned.  

Yesterday, was our 7th anniversary.   I love my husband and he is an incredible gift to me.  I am thankful that he loves me in my imperfection and challenges me to allow Christ to work in me all the more.  Thank you Lord for giving me one so gentle to lead me and with a GREAT sense of humor to help me not take life too seriously and full of God-given wisdom on raising BOYS!!!!!  He really is awesome. 

School is coming along.  I have finished my bulletin boards and the outside stuff.  I am going to work on plans now for the first week.  :)  I love to plan!  

A friend from school is in the process of adopting her little girl from China.  The little princesses name is Sophie.  They are in the final stages of the process.  PLEASE pray for their travel and for sweet Sophie's transition into her family that has been hand-picked for this special little one.  It makes me teary just to write about it.  Can you imagine such a gift?  

I haven't been able to get a complete post out since yesterday.   I am not real creative or intellectual today(you might be thinking, "today, try never!"), sorry probably a boring read, but it is what it is.  Blog rules:  It's my blog so I can do it the way I want to.  :)

We're having Creme Brulee tonight for dessert.  I can't wait!  Y'all it is SOOO easy and is delicious!  I'll post a recipe for you all tomorrow and you can try it out and let me know what you think.

The boys were in a photo shoot for a local magazine last night.  They are doing an article for Back To School. They were so well behaved and cooperative that we took them to Brusters and Toys R Us to pick from their "special" candy.  A big hit with my gang!  Oh, by the way, the candy and the milkshakes were their dinner.  :0)  

If you're wondering what the point of this post is, well there isn't one.  Can't blame me, I told you no ability to write in the title.  :)  LOL 

Thanks for letting me ramble.  Writing on my blog is about my only hobby that I can find time for right now.  Cleaning doesn't count.  :)  It was most discouraging to keep trying to write with nothing making sense.  So, now with a sense of accomplishment I will hit "publish post." (Accomplishment in the sense of a task completed!!!!!  :))

Thanks so much to Tonja at Gatherings for giving me this award. She is a fantastic friend and a blog expert. So, this is truly a special award. Especially since I was a blog "stalker" for so long on her blog before I ever started one myself. T-jator, what an honor to recieve this from not only a dear friend, but a fabulous mentor in many ways. :) You are a blessing and an encouragement to me.

*****
Here are the rules to pass this award on to someone you think is deserving:

Display logo and link to who gave it to you.

Nominate at least 7 blogs.Add links to those 7 blogs.

Leave the nominees a message that they received the award.
Drum Roll please:

Angbaylis -a great blog. Written with honesty.

The Maddox Family-you will laugh, you will cry. A must read blog! Abby, I love reading your blog. You are a gifted writer.

Life's moments with Robin -full of humor and love.

His Ways...are not our ways- a well-thought and well written blog.

The Thompsons-Kristen, your post about Poison Control... Loved it! Thanks for your encouraging comments!

Reba -Your profile is the funniest one I have ever read! You are a great writer and full of good humor.

Dona-A fun blog from a mom who has a great sense of humor.

Pictures Say a Thousand Words....

Benjamin warming up on the bricks. :)

David loving ice cream.

       Cooper and Luke having fun in the water.

          My four guys...enjoying each other and ice cream.

Last Week In Pictures

Thanks girls for the yummy cake!

Ben sharing a few moments with the boys and friends at Music By Moonlight.

    Joseph, Luke, and Benjamin
Susie and Me

     Dinner with family friends
Joe and Elizabeth

William, Judson, Luke, Benjamin

Music By Moonlight

********

Change...

Well, today I had a conference for Early Childhood Educators. I cried a couple of times-not real typical of me. I'm not tough, but not a softy either. I am going back to work after almost six years at home. The good news is, I will work until 12:00 each day of the school year and thankfully will be with my boys. It just hit me today I am re-entering a world that has left me behind and it is a big step. When I was a "young" teacher, I felt so on top of it. Maybe I was just naive, but I felt on top of my game back then. I have spent a lot of time up in my room and have accomplished very little. I am getting nervous about it and that is really out of my comfort zone. I usually feel prepared and ready for school to start. At least I did before kiddos. Now... I said, "Good Night" as I told my MIL goodbye this morning when I left at 7:15 a.m. for the conference. I can't think if the number still has a 7 in front of it. Good thing I don't have to be at school until 8:10! :)

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to go back. I LOVE teaching, I am just going through some different emotions. I am going to miss my Bible Study that meets on Weds. a.m. I have bid my coffee on Thurs. mornings at Atlanta Bread Co. goodbye along with the gals that made it so fun. :)

BUT, (yes, I am starting my sentence with but) I am gaining time with my precious children whom I don't know yet. I am praying for them. I know they will give meaning and purpose behind the time I spend preparing. I will actually be with my own preschoolers more...no tricken Mama on how we act at school. LOL. I love to teach. Teaching is breathing to me.

So, now I will just work through the emotions of change. That is what it is...Change.

I bet those kids will even like my rainbow with glitter letters even though it's not proportional.

P.S.-For you teachers. Have you seen the REALLY cute chart paper with polka-dot borders? I got some today....It makes writing happy. ;0) Great for class stories or Daily News.

Will post pics tomorrow of fun times last week.

Now In The Quiet....

I haven't posted the pictures from last week. I will, but for now they will have to wait. I have been in such a rutt spiritually. Perhaps you know all too well what I mean. That dry place that is only looking out for me. My eyes aren't absorbed with Him, but so much on what is going on around me. I have been buying a lot lately, trying to quench what can only be satisfied through the awesome Father, I call Abba. I have tried keeping a neat orderly house, which I love to do and delight that I can serve my family that way. But the Spirit in my soul, His home, has not been welcomed lately. I am so busy with my 3 precious little guys and my big 1 that I haven't met the Lord in the quiet moments in the morning, but He's waiting there. I will be there tomorrow, it's time with my Savior. After all, I am His Bride. I love going on dates with Ben, you know that. I take a lot of time to get ready, think about what to wear, paint my nails, even whiten my teeth :). Yet, my Savior, my Redeemer, has been waiting for me and I didn't show up. He has tried to reach me, but I am staying busy. So, now in the quiet, I will listen and look forward to my time with Him in the morning and for now, will fix my gaze on Him. I read the following verse on a friend's CaringPage. Their 2 year old little girl has a brain tumor (they were able to remove it). They are going through chemo right now. Her name is Hannah Grace. Please pray for her.

Anyway, I read this verse right before I read Tonja's post and Ang's post. Both posts spoke deeply to my heart and I wanted to share this verse with you all.

"The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper." I Kings 19:11-12

Listen....

Frantic Friday!

What a blessing to have so many fun things to do this week. Last night we went to our neighborhood picnic at our park. So many fun families and lots of kiddos. Then, we ran by Chic-Fil-A as that is about all David will eat right now. Funny how they go through those phases. We headed out to Landmark Park for Music By Moonlight and met some friends and got some great pictures of the kids having fun. I'll post pictures of the week tomorrow.
Today, I cleaned the house. You know how I love to do that. Washed, went to Sam's and then we had an adventure. We joined some friends and headed out to a REAL WORKING DAIRY FARM. It is run by a really neat family that immigrated here from the Netherlands. Hard working, both the people and the dairy cows. :)
The boys are down for naps and I have Creme Brulee in the oven and am about to make twice baked potatoes. We are having some friends for dinner. Ben is an expert on the grill-he could really open a restaurant. He is going to grill us chicken. We have had a busy, fun week with lots of good pics that I will post later. Have a great Friday night!
Update on Mom-We are just a few days out of surgery. She isn't really taking much for pain and is walking! :) She even took a few steps without the walker today. I am so proud of her. We are excited to welcome her home tomorrow. Well, I'm off to twice bake my potatoes. HAPPY FRIDAY.

Drum Roll Please.....

The answer from yesterdays question, "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

To get to the PED EGG!!!!! LOL! I crown the Ped Egg as Best New Invention! My friend, Emily, told me about this thing called a Ped Egg. For those of you that don't know me, I have struggled with cracked heels, really cracked heels. I love to paint my toenails and I have longed to have pretty feet...the problem WAS my heels. Problem solved. Solution: Ped Egg! You can get a Ped Egg at Bed Bath and Beyond. They cost $9.99! So, head over today and get your Ped Egg along with your Bona Kem for your hardwoods while you're there. If you are wondering what Bona Kem is, read an older post about cleaning. :)

Welcome my two new commenters! I am so glad that you came by and visited! :0)

P.S. This morning my precious Luke came in to tell me good morning. He put something in my bed next to my head. I wear contacts and can't see at all, so I looked really closely and it was a WORM! Good Morning! Gotta love those boys!

Uh Oh

glimmerfluff:  2 Many Doughnuts

THANKS for your prayers for Mom.  She did well during the surgery.  She is in a lot of pain, but the morphine pump is helping with that.  :)  I went by to check on her and she was pretty funny.

I am really tired, need to do laundry, and clean up the breakfast dishes so dinner can take place. The house is a wreck---I promise it IS.  :)  BUT to really top things off, I just ate 4 powdered sugar doughnuts, a jelly swirled honey bun, and 4 choc. chip cookies-hence the picture entitled Too Many Doughnuts.  I  swished it all down with a Happy Hour Cherry Limeade-Sonic's 1/2 price drinks from 2-4.  Maybe a sugar rush will occur and I will look like Wonder Woman getting my to do list done.  

BTW-David just got himself out of his highchair by himself.  Not a booster, a highchair PEOPLE!!! Glad he didn't fall.  He was having a snack, or so I thought and climbed right on out of the thing as I was typing this post.

Well, I wanted to give you a preview for tomorrow. 

 

****Why did the chicken cross the road?******

Come back and check tomorrow, it's not what you think!  SUSPENSE....gotta love it.  :)

A Heritage

Yesterday, during my quiet time I read the following in my Beth Moore book, Praying God's Word.  It is my desire, although I so often fall short, to remember this.  

"Father God, like Timothy's grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, help me to pass down a heritage of faith." (2 Tim. 1:5)

When I taught inner city school in Birmingham, I often said I prayed for patience in the morning and forgiveness on the way home.  I think being a mommy is like that.  Leaving a heritage doesn't stop after they leave the home either.  My mom still impacts my life for the Lord daily.  I see her serve others, love and serve my dad, cherish her friends, as well as adore and fervently pray her family. She truly is leaving our family a heritage of faith. 

If you would, please pray for my mom this morning as she undergoes a knee replacement surgery.  She is in great health and is very active.  We are hopeful for a successful outcome.  

We enjoyed a cookie cake I made (I will share the recipe later) last night with some great friends at our park near our home.  The kids had a wonderful time.  The grown ups managed a few conversations in between pushing people on the swings and trying to keep the little ones from torturing the kittens that came over to see us.  

Henry Paul, Luke, Benjamin, Perry

***********

Baby David

***********

David and Anne Marie

Cheesecake and Fireworks!

Well, today's post is going to be a bit random.  I have a lot to post about today, so let's get started.  First, I am going to give you a cheesecake recipe.  I didn't have the limeade concentrate when it came time to prepare my scrumptious key lime cheesecake, so I made a quick change of plans and went with a fabulous cheesecake that I made for my dear friend, Susie on her birthday.  I took a picture of it (above) Thursday night and it was a hit.  This recipe originally came from Mary Lise, she made it for our engagement party.  Enjoy!

Crust:

1 cup sifted plain flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. grated lemon peel

1/2 cup butter

1 egg yolk lightly beaten

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Filling:

5 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 tsp. grated lemon peel

1  3/4 cups sugar

3 Tbs. plain flour

1/4 tsp. salt

4 or 5 eggs (1 cup)

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup whipping cream, unwhipped

Glaze:

1 cup fresh strawberries, crushed

1 cup water 

1  1/2 Tbs. cornstarch

1/2 -3/4 cup sugar

2 cups fresh strawberries

preheat oven to 400 F.  Combine first 3 ingredients; cut in butter until mixture is crumbly; add egg yolks and vanilla; blend thoroughly.  Pat 1/3 of dough on the bottom of a 9 in. spring form pan (sides removed).  Bake 8 minutes, until golden brown; cool; attach sides; pat remaining dough on sides.  For filling, preheat oven to 450 F.  Beat cream cheese until creamy; add vanilla and lemon peel; mix next 3 ingredients; gradually blend into cheese.  Add eggs and yolks one at a time, beating after each addition; gently stir in cream; pour into pan; bake for 12 minutes.  Reduce heat to 300 F; bake for 55 minutes.  Remove from oven; cool 30 minutes.  Loosen sides; cool 1 hour; remove sides; cool 2 hours.  For glaze; combine 1 cup crushed berries and water; cook 2-3 minutes; sieve.  Mix cornstarch and sugar; stir into hot berry mixture; bring to a boil, stirring constantly until thick and clear; cool to room temperature.  Place remaining strawberries on top of cheesecake.  Pour glaze over and let run down sides.  Chill at least 8 hours.

~A few tidbits~

*Follow cooking directions to a T!

*You could try refrigerator cookie dough!?  I haven't, but it would cut out a lot of time in prep.

*I crush my 1 cup of strawberries with my hands.

*I might suggest increasing measurements for berry glaze, I didn't have enough to run down the sides, that would have been pretty.  

*I did slice fresh berries and arrange on top.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fourth Of July Celebration 

Country Club

Luke, Daniel (friend), Jacob (friend), and Benjamin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A moment with Grandparents

Luke is sitting on Mo's shoulders (my dad), Benjamin is sitting with MaMo (my mom), David is sitting with Mama Sue (Ben's mom), and Pop (Ben's dad).

Luke was especially excited about this photo opportunity.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a Great July 4th holiday!  I have had some requests for the Key Lime cheesecake recipe and will definitely post that for you.  I hope you have a wonderful day!  I am off to the grocery store.  Have a great day!  Don't just survive today, enjoy it.

Thank You

Land of the Free, but it has had its costs.  Men and women have given their lives, sacrificially over the course of our country's life.  It was worth that to them.  I love our country, at least the ideals that it is built upon.  I am sad at what appears to me as lack of pride in our country.  Or maybe it's just that people don't care anymore.  I hope that my children realize the gift that has been given to them by those that love the Land of the Free, it is my hope that we will love her again.  She is entrusted to us by the Lord, a gift to enjoy and work for.  

If you would like to help your children learn more about our country, a great book is The Pledge of Allegiance from Scholastic.  

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

*A few facts about our Pledge:

*The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892.

*It was written by a man named Francis Bellamy.

*The Pledge was written for a children's magazine called The Youth's Companion.

*Mr. Bellamy wanted to fly the flag above every school in America.

*He wanted the children to feel pride and love for their country as they said the Pledge.

*The Pledge of Allegiance, Commemorative Edition

photo by: kammeyjd

bougi's photostream

Good morning!  I am so excited to share this recipe with you all.  A friend of mine, Kimberly, prepared this when we were at their home.  I am not a real big fish fan, but this won me over! It was wonderful.   We are having Ben's parents along with his Aunt and Uncle for dinner and this will be the main course.  I am also making a Key Lime Cheesecake that is divine.  I'll post that recipe tomorrow.   Soooo, today is a cleaning day for me.  It will be a quick clean since I've got a cheesecake to get going.  

A few tips: 

*You can buy salmon at Sam's.  They have fresh Alaskan Sock-eye in right now in meat department, just delivered.  I love our family, it was too pricey for as many people as we'll have tonight.

*If you eat salmon weekly, get the wild salmon.  It is healthier!

*The omega 3 in the fish is wonderful for your heart, GREAT for your kiddos brain development AND some studies suggest it helps people concentrate.   

*Sam's carries wild salmon fillets in the freezer department too.

Recipe for Grilled Salmon

1/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup soy sauce

3 tbs. oil

3 tbs. ketchup

1 tbs. honey

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1 clove garlic

Refrigerate 1 hour.

Grill 5 minutes on each side or until done.

Enjoy!!!!  Even if you don't cook, this is super easy and a great "hands off" meal.

You've Got To Be Kidding

photo: momentsintime

Well, my solution to the ironing crisis turned out poorly-literally.  I am afraid to tell you that for 15 pieces of clothing, 8 of which were children's, I paid $46!  I got ripped off.  I can't even say it was worth it.  Now, I feel sick that I spent so much on something to get ironed that I can't enjoy wearing it.  (Note the picture is a bill made into a shirt! :)  It's not like it was dry cleaning, which you have no choice.  It was IRONING...something I CAN do, I just didn't have time.  So, I will try to iron.  Or at least call around for better rates.  :)   Maybe I'll start my own ironing business....haha!  Fiddlesticks!  I guess I haven't arrived yet, no ironing lady here unless her name is Andi.  When do you all iron? Do you iron as needed or before you put it away?  

My solution about the streaking iron problem I had a few weeks ago:

***the "rust" was burnt starch.  I will clean the iron well and avoid starch.  Or maybe just avoid ironing.  I am NOT going to pay that much again, so when you see us and we are all wrinkly, you'll know what's going on in our family.   Do you know that iron has four letters.  That makes it a bad word, right?!   By the time I have finished writing all of my complaints about ironing, I could have ironed.  So, I'll go do some.