Vacation Photos

On Friday, June 19th, we headed up to Missouri for a family vacation with my parents and my brother’s family. We spent Friday night in Oklahoma and then got up early Saturday to make it to my brother’s house in Oak Grove, Missouri. We spent Saturday visiting with everyone. Sunday (Father’s Day), we went to my brother’s church and listened to him preach. Afterwards, we went to eat at Culver’s and enjoyed a “butter burger” and ice cream. Monday, we headed off to Truman Lake and we spent the remainder of our trip there camping as a family…all 10 of us! You know me, I took lots of pictures and am going to share a few with you =)

Here the kids are playing in the camper. Our first day there was extremely hot and humid.

Riley and my niece Abby (I have 2 nieces named Abby, this is my brother’s daughter, not Marty’s brother’s daughter).

Riley playing with water gun while waiting to go on a boat ride.

Tuesday, the ladies all ran to town to visit quilt stores and to take my niece and nephew to gymnastics. After that, we went to watch Elijah’s (nephew) baseball game. It was SO hot! Abby built herself a “tent” with our umbrellas and kept nice and shaded.

The camping area we stayed at the Harry S. Truman Lake was really nice (except there were not water hook ups!). There was a park for the kids to play in. Riley enjoyed the slides.

Abby also enjoyed the slides.

The view of the lake from our camp.

My brother and his kids fishing from the boat on the shore.

Riley and Abby taking it easy down by the lake holding hands.

While at Truman Lake, we took the kids fishing at the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery in Warsaw Missouri. Riley and Abby taking a peek at the fish.

Colt, Elijah, Riley & Abby posing in a big shell at the fish hatchery.

The fish hatchery had a really nice, large fish tank that the kids to could sit in the room and watch.

More fish =)

The fish hatchery had some nice activities for the kids and had lots of educational material…would make a great homeschool field trip! So if you’re ever near Warsaw Missouri, check it out!

This is the fishing tank at the hatchery. Kids (15 and under) can fish for free and they provide the fishing pole, tackle box and bait for free. Colt couldn’t fish, so he helped the little ones reel in their fish.

Everyone getting ready to fish!

Riley caught the first fish of the day!

My sister-in-law, Kathy Jean, helping Abby real in a fish.

Abby and the fish she caught.

Riley’s 2nd fish.

My mom (Kathy Lee), my brother (Jack Jr.) and my dad (Jack Sr.). It gets confusing because my parents are Jack & Kathy and so are my brother and SIL…lol!

Colt and one of the fish he caught while out fishing with Marty.

Abby and my brother.

Colt and Marty posing by some of the fish they caught.

Riley and Abby hanging out.

On our way to the lake, we passed through this town called Tightwad Missouri. We really cracked up over that. But we were all rolling in the floor when we passed the Tightwad Bank!

The Tightwad Bank building

Abby, Elijah and Jack Jr posing with the fish they caught.

We headed back home on Friday and spent the night in McAlister Oklahoma. We made it home on Saturday by 2:30 p.m. The remainder of the weekend, we spent running some errands and getting unpacked. Today, I’m going to be doing laundry and getting back in the swing of homeschooling. I came home inspired by quilting and plan on “trying” to get some quilting accomplished. I’m still working on my crocheted afghan and hope to have it nearly done by this coming weekend. I hope everyone had a GREAT week and I should be back to posting as usual this week. Missed y’all!

Do’s and Don’ts for Planning a Meal

I found this in a notebook that my Mother put together for her Homemaking class in 1957.

1. Avoid using all one type of food in one meal.
2. Don’t serve more than one strong flavored food.
3. Have a good balance between soft and solid foods.
4. Serve several foods easy to digest in the same meal.
5. The courses should contrast hot-cold and tart-sweet.
6. Avoid serving so much you have leftovers.
7. Avoid overcrowded tables, they are not attractive

Spicy Okra Stew

Growing up, I REALLY didn’t like okra cooked any way other than fried. I loved fried okra, but put it in a stew or gumbo and I was totally grossed out by the slimy texture of it. It’s taken me years to be able to eat cooked okra, but my boys just LOVE it! So this is a family favorite around here!

Spicy Okra Stew

2 lb. ground beef or ground turkey
1 lb. frozen or fresh sliced okra
2 cans rotel style tomatoes

Brown the ground meat until cooked through, do not drain. Stir in okra and tomatoes and let cook for 10-15 minutes longer. We eat as is or serve over rice.

Turn Housework into a Workout

This was an interesting article that was in the magazine put out by our local hospital.

Is exercise a part of your daily life? Not if you’re like most U.S. Adults. More than 50 percent don’t get enough physical activity to reap any health benefits. That may be hard to believe when days are a blur of work, household chores, errands and family time. Unfortunately, busy-ness is not the same as fitness. But you can find plenty of ways to stay in shape and accomplish all you need to if you look in the right places.

Try these tips to fit fitness in your daily routine:

Make cleaning count. The stretching, lifting and sheer physical work involved in mopping floors, scrubbing tubs and other housework can get you moving. Put on your sneakers, play some lively music and pick up the pace.

Wash the Car. This can be a refreshing chore on a warm day.

Mow the lawn with a push mower. Sorry, ride-on mowers don’t count.

Make your garden grow. Raking, hoeing, pruning and digging are great exercises to strengthen your arms, legs and back. A vigerous hour of gardening can burn up to 300 calories.

Walk the dog. Share a twice-daily constitutional with your furry friend. Choose a hilly route and keep a brisk pace.

Work out while watching TV. Pedal a stationary bike, walk on a treadmill, use a stair climber, lift weights, or use other home fitness equipment while you watch TV.

Paint it pretty. Don’t hire painters; get a good workout and save money by taking on home repairs and improvement projects yourself.

Walk the talk. Ge up and move around while talking on the phone. Even better, grab your cell phone and take a few laps around the block as you chat.

Run errands on pedal power. If you live far from your town’s main strip, drive to a central location and head out on foot or bike (or scooter!) to swing by the bank and post office, drop off dry cleaning, return videos and library books and pick up fresh vegetable for dinner.

Aim to find at least 30 minutes a day for moderate physical and aerobic activity that gets your heart pumping faster and your lungs taking in more air than usual. Regular exercise can lower cholesterol and triglycerides and help reduce stress from a hectic schedule. Pumping up the fitness volume of ordinary chores not only provides health benefits but makes accomplishing tasks more enjoyable.

The Beatitudes

Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
~ Matthew 5:3-12

1. Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – we are to be humble, sincere and penitent (sorrowful on account of our sins)
2. Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. – we are to express sorrow and grief for our sins
3. Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. – we are to be submissive to God’s will. We are to rely on God for all our needs and be thankful for His providence.
4. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. – we are to want and desire righteousness (purity of heart) and holiness. We are to strive to follow God’s law
5. Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. – We are to be merciful and compassionate.
6. Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. – we are to be without spot or blemish; incorrupt. We can only achieve this through Christ.
7. Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – out of our love for God we are to do good for all people. We are to show peace, be peaceable and make peace with all people.
8. Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. – we will be punished persecuted and harassed for our beliefs. People will speak falsely and negatively about us, all because of our belief in Christ. But we should rejoice in this persecution because we know that the Lord is alive and doing His works through us.

Mexican Style Baked Chicken Legs

This is an absolutely YUMMY recipe that my family REALLY enjoys! My husband and boys like nearly everything “Mexican” when it comes to food.

Mexican Style Baked Chicken Legs

2 eggs
1/3 cup taco sauce
¼ tsp. Salt
1 ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 ½ tsp. Chili powder
1 ½ tsp. Ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. dried oregano
3 lbs. Chicken legs
6 tbsp. Butter (raw or organic)

In a bowl, beat the egg, taco sauce and salt until blended. In a ziplock bag, combine the parmesan cheese, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder and oregano. In a shallow rimmed baking pan, melt the butter as the oven preheats to 400 degrees. Remove pan from oven once butter melts. Dip the chicken legs into the egg mixture and then shake in the bag with the Parmesan mixture. Add chicken legs to the baking pan and turn to coat. Bake, uncovered for 35 minutes, until no longer pink.

Leg Quarters, Broccoli & Rice Casserole

This turned out pretty good, not an absolutely family favorite, but certainly edible. I will probably fix this again sometime, but don’t think it will make it into regular circulation =)

Leg Quarters, Broccoli & Rice Casserole

1/2 cup brown rice, uncooked
Enough water to cover rice
2 tbsp. whey
4 chicken leg quarters
2 cups water
2 cups white sauce (butter, milk and fresh ground whole wheat flour)
1 cup yogurt
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 cup chopped broccoli

Soak rice overnight, 18-12 hours covered in water and whey. When ready to prepare, drain off the water from the rice. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place chicken quarters in a 9×13 inch baking dish and bake in preheated oven, covered, for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine rice, water, white sauce, yogurt, crushed garlic, minced garlic and broccoli. Mix well. Remove chicken to a platter and drain oil. Spread rice mixture in the bottom of the baking dish, then arrange chicken on top of rice. Bake uncovered for 30 to 45 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.

Our Weekend

Well nothing too exciting has happened since last I posted. =)

Friday, we went to town and met Marty for lunch, we ate Pizza as usual. After I took Marty back to work, the boys and I ran some errands and hit a few garage sales. We’re going camping this coming Friday, so I needed to get some things for that. We didn’t do real well at garage sales, but I was able to buy Riley a swimsuit, so I didn’t have to buy him a new one. I also got him a small puzzle. That was it =( . I also hit Dollar General and Family Dollar and got some things for our trip. While we were out I got to enjoy a peach iced tea from Sonic…luv ’em! Colt got a vanilla root beer and Riley got a Powerade Slush. After that we came home and hung around for a couple of hours until Marty got home. He got home a little bit early, so he and the boys worked on the homemade air gun they’re making. It seems to be pretty powerful too!

After puttering around the house, we had to go to Walmart to get a few more things for our vacation/camping trip that starts on Friday. While at Walmart, I got the yarn to start the afghan I’m going to work on while we’re gone. I just love the colors I picked out! It’s going to be an adult sized afghan this time, instead of a baby afghan and if it turns out as neat as I think, it will go into my new etsy store! Marty had to work on Saturday, so we all went to bed a little early, except Marty couldn’t sleep and ended up staying up most of the night and left for work around 7:00 am.

I let the kids sleep in a little while on Saturday and then we had to go back to town to get the goat feed and dog food I forgot to get Friday. While there, we hit a couple more garage sales and got a complete set of Little House books at one for $2!! Yippee!! I’m so excited, because I really wanted to read them to Riley next year during homeschool. We also got a brand new copy of the movie “Left Behind II”. Marty got home early and we ate dinner and went to bed early to watch a movie. Everyone piled on our bed and we watched Left Behind II. Marty and Riley fell asleep really quickly and so it was just Colt and I who watched the whole thing. We were all in bed and asleep by 10:30.

Sunday, we spent all day doing laundry and being lazy. It was SOOO hot and humid so we hung clothes as a family and then went right back into the air conditioning and sat around watching tv and movies. That’s what we did ALL day. We had so much fun working together as a family, as well as just relaxing together.

Now it’s Monday and we’re back to our regular schedule. We’re finishing up the laundry and then we need to start packing for our trip. We are going to Missouri with my parents to visit my brother and his family, as well as go camping with everyone. It’s going to be so much fun and the boys are excited about seeing their cousins and going to Missouri again. Well, that’s about all the stuff going on around here! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and have a great week ahead! God Bless!

Colt’s Essay on Robinson Crusoe

One Positive and One Negative Character Trait of Robinson Crusoe
By Colt Godfrey

The book “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe is about a man named Robinson Crusoe who, after a shipwreck, was washed up on an island. This is an essay about one of his good qualities, and one of his lesser qualities. His good quality, was that he was a Christian. His lesser quality was that he worried too much.

One of Robinson Crusoe’s good qualities was that he was a Christian. Because of this, God helped him to live on the island. Crusoe told Friday how to be saved by Christ. Every anniversary of the shipwreck, Crusoe would thank God for his life. When Crusoe learned that savages come to the island from time to time, he planned to kill them. But, instead, he didn’t, because he knew that would be the wrong thing to do.

One of Crusoe’s lesser qualities was that he worried a lot. When Crusoe first washed up on the island, he worried about being attacked by wild animals. Crusoe wasted so much time worrying over things he couldn’t control, that , some times he just stayed inside and did not take care of his farm or goats.

As you can see, Crusoe had both good and bad qualities. One of the good qualities he had was that he was a Christian. His bad habit of worrying was one of his lesser qualities. Crusoe wasn’t perfect, just like the rest of us are not perfect.

~ This isn’t the best paper ever written, but I’m happy with it considering this is the first paper he’s really ever written. I think each additional paper will get better and better. At least he tried hard and didn’t give me a hard time about having to write it! ~ Susan

Oatmeal Facial Scrub

1 cup oatmeal
water

Mix water into the oatmeal to create a paste. Rub onto your face and rinse with cool water.