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2012-01-09T06:50:00.000-08:00

Things I Believe... Discriminated for Conservative Beliefs

2012-01-09T06:47:00.000-08:00

Lately I've seen a lot of stuff from some of my more liberal Facebook friends about supporting the gay lifestyle and things that profess it is not a choice to be gay or not. I don't mean a thing or two here or there, I mean these friends are findnig every pro-gay, anti-Christian slogan on the internet, and posting it to Facebook, where I get the joy of reading it. Yes, I could block these messages from appearing on my feed, and I think I probably will, but the whole thing has me thinking.

I do not believe the gay lifestyle to be appropriate in any way. I believe man and woman were created to pair in heterosexual fashion. And I believe those who profess religion to be useless have a lot to learn.

Nevertheless, I hold no ill feelings towards people who live those lifestyles or support those beliefs. I profess to meet everyone where they are and love them regardless of the choices they make. I would treat a gay athiest neighbor no differently than a van-driving, casserole-wielding member of my own church.

My problem comes because I feel discriminated at times for my belief, especially by the pro-gay, anti-Christian community. This feeling comes from seeing those different slogans on Facebook and elsewhere, and knowing that if I expressed my views, briefly described above, in such a public forum, which I probably am doing right now, I would be labeled with some pretty harsh words describing me as an intolerant bigot. I assert that I am not intolerant, nor a bigot, I just have different views. I don't have to love every choice a person makes in order to love the person.

Try this! I did. - Slow-Cooker Pork Stew on the Food Network

2012-01-05T13:01:00.000-08:00

Slow-Cooker Pork Stew on the Food Network

Oops... we ate it before I got a picture. But it was super easy and tasty enough to make again! Instead of using fingerling potatoes, I just cut up regular potatoes. Instead of a whole pork roast, I used pork for stew (already cut into chunks) from Sam's Club. I prefer to use what I have on hand than to go buying more groceries.

Definitely give this one a try! Maybe try adding green chiles if you like :D

Mom versus Kix

2011-11-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

Every day before school, I wake David up and ask him what he wants for breakfast. Then he gets dressed while I prepare it. Sometimes he has cereal, sometimes eggs, sometimes oats, and he varies it up pretty good. But over the last 2 weeks, he has been eating Kix... every day... and asking for seconds... every day. I didn't think anything of it, kind of convenient that I don't really have to prepare anything. He always eats with the box in front of him so he can look at it.

This morning, he again asked for Kix. I poured the last of it into his bowl, and he ate. When he finished, he asked for seconds.

Me - "Sorry hun... they're all gone."
David - "Oh thank goodness!"
Me (confused) - "Why are you happy the cereal is gone?"
David - "Now we can cut out the coupon for the toy on the back!"

And the lightbulb goes off. There's a $5 coupon for the Tag Reading System by LeapFrog on the back of the cereal box. Ha! What a weird kid! I don't even know if he likes Kix, but he was determined to eat them all. Braden would've just dumped them on the floor if he wanted something like that.

To continue the story, I then also found a $10 target coupon for the toy, and adding my $5 manufacturer coupon and my 5% off for using my RedCard, I got the thing for almost half off! I'm putting it up for Christmas though.

Try this! Gluesticks: Homemade Tootsie Rolls

2011-10-31T10:13:00.000-07:00

Gluesticks: Homemade Tootsie Rolls

I'm totally gonna try this... await an update!

Adventures in Motherhood... Mom versus the dump truck

2011-10-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

So today I spent a TON of energy cleaning, dishes, laundry, sweeping, wiping, etc. Who knows?... I'm 6 weeks along now, maybe I'm nesting! So I was cleaning my bedroom closet, David was watching TV, and Braden was outside in my garden playing with a Tonka dump truck. No harm right??? Wrong! Never underestimate the power of children to ruin a perfectly productive day!!! I came to the living room to check on the boys. I found that Braden had come in from outside, and brought a TRUCKLOAD of dirt with him in the dump truck... and he dumped it on the ottoman, on the couch, and on the carpet. AAARRRGH!

I love my kids :) and I love this job :/

Try This! Cookie Pizza

2011-09-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

My grandmother gave me this recipe.

Press sugar cookie dough, store bought or homemade, into the bottom of a tart pan. Bake 375 for about 10 minutes.

Melt 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips and 1 can sweetened condensed milk on the stovetop. Pour over cookie and spread. Then top with M&Ms, peanuts, and marshmallows.

Enjoy!

Things I believe... school uniforms

2011-08-19T21:13:00.001-07:00

Call me crazy... but I'm all for school uniforms and wish we had them in my kid's school. I think it really levels the playing field between the "haves" and the "have nots" and cuts down on behavior problems at school. Not to mention it would be TONS easier at back-to-school shopping time and when getting dressed for school in the morning :D

What do you think?

I never thought I'd have to say...

2011-08-19T21:12:00.001-07:00

I never thought I'd have to say, "Don't put that tazer in your pocket!" ... but I did.

Adventures in Motherhood

2011-08-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

Braden has been a walking mess for the last several days. He broke my vaccuum, poured Shower-to-Shower powder all over my bedroom (at least my room smells good now!), smeared ketchup through his hair, and got mascara EVERYWHERE! As much as I've attempted to childproof this house, the little Houdini still manages to cause chaos!

This morning he tried to change his very dirty Pull-Up by himself, and you wouldn't believe the mess I had to clean up in his room, and trailed all the way into the living room where he FINALLY asked for help!

I just LOVE this job! :/

We Love Chicks!

2011-04-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

We Love Chicks! I'm sharing this from another blog that I found... and it's too cute! Always looking for something fun to do with the boys. I'm not too sure mine will turn out as cute as hers did, but we'll have fun trying!

Things I Believe - Easter

2011-03-31T10:28:00.001-07:00

Apparently, a town in Ohio is up in arms about the name of the "Easter Egg Hunt" for it's children. http://www.wkyc.com/news/article/183128/45/Geauga-County-Should-Easter-be-in-egg-hunt Some want to be politically correct, and refer to it as the "Spring Egg Hunt". Here's what I believe... If you can't handle Easter, as it is, then DON'T CELEBRATE IT! Keep your kids away from the Easter Egg Hunt, and the Easter Celebrations, and don't turn our traditionally Christian holidays into something they were never meant to be. Believers or not, you're welcome to participate in our traditions, but keep you nose out of trying to change them. Don't like it, you're not required to participate.

Mexican Pork Roast

2011-03-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

Recipe coming later today

Things I Believe

2011-03-23T20:24:00.001-07:00

We should be careful not to exhaust our available time on things that are merely good and leave little time for that which is better or best. We have to forgo some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.

Cook This! Green Chile Chicken Enchillada

2011-03-21T12:38:00.002-07:00

My husband's mom gave me this recipe, which she got from Aunt Shirley. I don't provide the measurements for some of the ingredients, so just put in what looks good. This is a good recipe to play around with.

What you need:

1 can of Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken soup
1 can of Evaporated Milk
1 package of corn tortillas
1 4-oz can of green chiles
Shredded cheese (Mexican blend or Colby and Montery Jack)
Chopped onion
Shredded or cubed cooked chicken

How to do it:
1. Mix soup, milk, chiles, onion, and chicken in a bowl.
2. Line an ungreased 9 x 13 casserole dish with tortillas, torn if needed to make them fit.
3. Spoon soup mixture on top of tortillas, just enough to cover.
4. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Repeat until you run out of soup mixture. I usually only get 2 layers.
6. Bake at 350 about 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Variations:
1. Omit onions
2. Use tortilla chips instead of corn tortillas

Make This! Chicken Tortilla Soup

2011-03-21T12:38:00.001-07:00

coming shortly

A 5-year-old's thoughts on his Aunt Jessica's wedding

2011-03-21T11:13:00.001-07:00

On Saturday morning, the day after Jessica's wedding, David describes his previous night.

"Mom... I have a new uncle. Charlie is my uncle now. Last night in bed, I tried out saying 'Uncle Charlie' and it made me laugh in my sleep."

Things I Believe

2011-03-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

I believe it makes you feel good when someone stops by just to drop off a pretty bag of Hershey's Kisses and say hello. I'm going to have to remember to do that to people once in a while.

Things I Believe

2011-03-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

My hubby is a police officer who was injured on the job on February 17, 2011. At this point, he is still home, and he is completely useless, not being able to bear weight on his left leg. The kids, David - 5, and Braden - 2, are doing really well with it, but I know it's hard on them that Jared cannot play and do the things he's used to doing with them. As the mom, and the only capable adult in the household at the moment, lots and lots of responsibilities fall to me, but I think the biggest one is keeping up the spirits of my family. I believe that, at most times, the mood of the entire household is directly related to the attitude and demeanor of the mother. (I believe that applies whether or not dad is fully capable or incapacitated.)

I also believe that, while this isn't easy, it is SO much easier with the help of family, friends, fellow police officers, and my church family. I quickly decided to count my blessings one day, literally, and I wrote down the names of everyone who has helped us in any way since this happened. The number is currently in the 50s. That is nothing short of amazing, and I truly don't know how people who may not have the same support get through tough times. I've certainly learned some things about myself and I wish now to seek out opportunities to help others rather than waiting for them to request it. Currently, I'm babysitting a friend's dog, which isn't all that huge of a favor, I know, but it's a start. And Chloe (the dog) is simply delightful to have around!

... more to come...