Divinity 101

Divinity pointer # 1:
Make sure you follow a good recipe..and not just some quickly scribbled recipe you jotted down once upon a time..

Divinity pointer # 2:
Don't let your two yr old get ahold of the candy thermometer.

Divinity pointer #3:
After your first failed attempt at divinity-making..you will realize you only have one more chance since you forgot to buy sugar when you stocked up on chocolate chips. And there is a blizzard outside (literally)..so you're not going to the store.

Divinity pointer #4:
Don't leave the room when you're mixing the sugar mixture with the egg whites....and if you even THINK of putting the kids to bed during these few minutes, have your head examined.

Divinity pointer #5:
Just to warn you..the phone will ring while you're pouring boiling hot syrup over your egg whites. Both times.

Divinity pointer #6:
When you start out thinking you will make divinity like your Grandma did, you will end up with fancy marshmallow cream instead.

Now..on to the divinity lesson...

Gather your ingredients

2 egg whites
2/3 cup corn syrup
2/3 c water
3 cups sugar (stock up!)
1 tsp vanilla
CANDY THERMOMETER -Don't try to be a hero..use a candy thermometer. That's what they're for.
Nuts... if you remember them. I did not.
turn off your cell phone.

Separate the egg yolk from the egg whites. Do NOT get any yolk in the white or it will not turn out. Now....first things first. You're going to whip those egg whites in your KitchenAid mixer. If you do not have a KitchenAid mixer, stop now, put away your ingredients..and make fudge instead.

Beat those egg whites till they're stiff.They should look like this:Cook the corn syrup, sugar and water in a pot, WITH CANDY THERMOMETER clipped to the side of the pot till boiling and 260 degree F. Add the vanilla. Once it's reached the 260 point..pour over the egg whites while beating on high. This should only take about 10-15 minutes, tops. If you're still mixing after 30 minutes..you did something wrong. Trust me on this. The divinity should start to lose it's glossy-ness, and start to look crumbly..like this:
It should not look like this... This is why it is important to heat the corn syrup/sugar mixture to 260 degrees. (and to get your eyes checked occasionally if you're having trouble reading tiny print)
Now..what you do from this point on is up to you. You can drop it by spoonfuls onto wax paper, or scoop it out in a small pan, on wax paper..and press it even in the pan (like fudge) and cut into squares. I was feeling adventurous and put M&M's on top of mine..and some chocolate toffee bits. The toffee bits were good! (the M&M's just fall off the divinity when you cut it)

Enjoy!

Yogurt 101

I recently read an article in Better Homes and Gardens magazine on the different types of yogurt (Yogurt, Explained -Taking the Confusion out of the dairy aisle, Sept.2008).. I was a little miffed that they didn't share how EASY it was to just make the yogurt yourself!

I figure it's about time I just BLOGGED about it.



What you need to make vanilla yogurt:

milk- fat free, skim, 2% or whole-however much yogurt you want to make. Try a half gallon.

candy thermometer

Dannon vanilla yogurt with live active cultures as your starter. You only need this the first time you make yogurt.
Vanilla. Real vanilla is preferable. Use whatever you have though.

Sugar to sweeten.

Powdered milk-to thicken

saucepan to heat milk in

tupperware containers to store yogurt in

cookie sheet and kitchen towel to cover the bowls with

stove and electricity..or gas, or a wood burning stove. whatever.

What I do and Why.

I pour the milk into the pot and clip the thermometer to the side. I heat it on low, stirring frequently until the temperature reaches 180 degrees. You want to kill off any bad bacteria..so your new good bacteria can thrive. Once it reaches 180, I turn off the burner (important..I frequently forget to do this). Remove it from the burner and add half a package of powdered milk. It's about 1/2 cup. I whisk this in. Then I add about 1 TBS of vanilla..and about 1/2 C of sugar. Stir well.
Let the milk cool to 100 degrees exactly! Important! If it's too hot, it will kill your yogurt starter and it won't set up. Ask me how I know this.

Once your milk is cooled to 100 degrees..take about 1/2 to 1 C of the Dannon yogurt and whisk well into your cooled milk. Pour the milk into a couple tupperware containers. Place them on a cookie sheet and set in your oven. Do.Not.Turn.Your.Oven.On. Someone did this once. Not pretty. (and no it wasn't me) Cover the bowls with your towel. Let this set in your oven overnight with the oven light on. The light will give just enough warmth to help set your yogurt. By morning..you should have nice thick vanilla yogurt at a fraction of the cost.
Cover and store in your fridge..and enjoy!
:o)

notes

*I did not use the powdered milk until just recently. I found that the powdered milk makes the yogurt nice and thick..just like store bought. I could not get my yogurt to turn out that way before. Thank you MOMYS. :)

**If you want plain yogurt, skip the sugar and vanilla step, and use Plain Dannon as your starter.

*** If you have made yogurt successfully using soy milk or rice milk, please send me the recipe. Thank you!

November

It's been 71 days. I can't believe it's November already.

Take these hands...and lift them up. For I have not the strength to praise You near enough. I have nothing...I have nothing....without You.

And take my voice....and pour it out. Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found...For I have nothing...I have nothing....without You.

(Bebo Norman)


I still have tears that are ready to break thru at any given moment. Usually unexpected..and usually when I'm alone...but not always. I think about her every day..throughout the day. Every time I turn around there is something or someone there to remind me of her....I want to talk to her, and share things with her...and there is an ache in my heart that won't go away.

If you've been up all night and cried till you have no more tears left in you-you will know that there comes in the end a sort of quietness. -C.S.Lewis The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

It's so easy to keep so busy that I can just ..put the crying off till later..till a "better" time. But I find when I do that..there really is no better time..and it comes upon me in the most public places.

There is no way around the pain that you naturally feel when someone you love dies. You can't go over it, under it, or around it....Going through it is what will help you heal. (Therese Rando)

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
What did our Lord mean when He said, “Enter into your closet to pray?” The word “closet” simply means some place where you can shut the door on the world and open the windows to heaven. As you study the life of Jesus, you’ll discover that Jesus sought times to be alone. Sometimes He would go on a mountain, sometimes into the wilderness, and sometimes into a garden. It is the secret place that is the sacred place. The mark of your prayer life is not really how well you pray in public, but in private-.LWF

A New Table-updated pics :)

Table progress... :o)




Our dining room is the "hub" of our home. Since we homeschool..we spend hours here every day..for meals, schoolwork, crafts, and playing. With a large family, and decent sized table is a must! My awesome husband has decided to build one himself (after seeing how much they cost in the stores!) Besides..he enjoys this. He would love to do this for a living. :)
Here is the first pic of the "skeleton" of our table. It's 8 ft long, the top will be 4 ft wide..and oak. :)

The Midnight Cry

Click the title above to see the video :)

A Day in the Life of a MOMYS

Here's a slideshow of our day, with captions.

http://picasaweb.google.com/wtsncrew7/DayInTheLifeOfAMOMYS?authkey=XGehKOokYMA#slideshow

Our visit..

Well..Dad and Kevin are on their way home. They made the trip..driving straight thru (from WA, thru Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota) 28 hours!!
I'm so glad Dad and Kev came. It was just really weird (hard) to not have mom here too. I didn't quite know what to do with myself. It felt so good to hug my dad. Been wanting to do that since she passed away. Dad hadn't been here in 4 yrs (since Mikey was born!) And Uncle Kev has never been here!
That said..it was a good visit. The kids took to Papa and Uncle Kev right away...
Here's a couple pics..

Obie fell asleep on Uncle Kev...

Eliahna and her Papa..
Dad with the crew...


Also..on "reclaiming my kitchen"..boy, that didn't work out so well! Shortly after I posted that, we all came down with some super-bug enterovirus (awful!). We were down for the count for nearly 2 weeks!
I might give the menu a try again though.

Issues

Planned Parenthood Exposed on O'Reilly Factor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP5fNsPKnpE

Jill Stanek on the O'Reilly Factor--

babies born alive, and allowed to die, in our hospitals. This just brought me to tears...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9duXeLahkV4

Reclaiming my kitchen!

That's it. I've had it. I'm reclaiming my kitchen!
or more appropriately, my fridge.

The boys go in and take whatever they want..whenever they think they're hungry. It's getting ridiculous...and it's hard on my grocery budget. (my children are far from malnourished!)
The hardest part is remembering snack times, and making sure my oldest three remember not to walk in and take an apple whenever they feel like it.

I've made out a lunch & snack menu for Mon-Fri:
fruit is either apple, banana or orange..or applesauce

Monday-
snack (10am) pb on crackers
lunch (noon) cheese tortillas and fruit
snack (2pm) fruit and crackers, homemade yogurt

Tuesday-
snack-apple slices and string cheese
lunch- top ramen and baby carrots
snack-cream cheese graham crackers

Wed.-
S-pb crackers/cheese n crackers
L- tomato soup or pb and jelly sandwiches
S-fruit/crackers/yogurt

Thurs-
S-raisins/fruit/dry cereal
L- hot dogs on buns, pickle slice
S- string cheese and popcorn

Fri-
S- meat and cheese on crackers
L- grilled cheese sandwiches and applesauce
S- yogurt and fruit

C.H.Spurgeon..Morning by Morning-Aug.17th

August 17th
The mercy of God."—Psalm 52:8.

Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tender mercy. With gentle, loving touch, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of His mercy as in the matter of it. It is great mercy. There is nothing little in God; His mercy is like Himself—it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God. It is undeserved mercy, as indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice. There was no right on the sinner's part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself. It is rich mercy. Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart. It is manifold mercy. As Bunyan says, "All the flowers in God's garden are double." There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies. It is abounding mercy. Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted; it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever. It is unfailing mercy. It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be with thee in temptation to keep thee from yielding; with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking; with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance; and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast.

The crew..

Mom used to do crosswords to keep her mind sharp, from being on chemo. She was pretty good at them! She'd bring some with her when she came to visit. I tried one, but I stink at them!
When she wasn't in the room..I flipped thru her book, and wrote things in various places, such as .."I love you".."I miss you"..."Kisses"..."Hope to see you soon!"..

Well..when Christmas came around she sent me one with sweet notes written throughout it.

While I was cleaning out my homeschool shelf the other day, I came across that crossword book. I'd been doing pretty well..and feeling pretty good. Then to see her handwriting again..and the words.."To Andee Beth! I love you"...and various notes throughout it. The last page said.."I'll see you soon! I hope!"

13 days --8/6/08

It's been 13 days since Mama passed on.
I've been up and down. More up than down, though. Yesterday was not a good day for me. I cried twice. I can hear her voice in my mind. And then my eyes sting because I realize I won't hear that anymore (here on earth).

Her celebration of life service is on the 30th of this month. And I can't be there. But I'm going to write something.
I haven't even started it yet. That's so not like me..but I can't bring myself to write it yet. How do I put my emotions/thoughts/memories into words? I want to honor my mom, and honor the Lord.

I started a book by Randy Alcorn titled Heaven. It's very good. Totally blows away any preconceived ideas I had about Heaven. I really want to buy a few copies..but they are pricey.

I'm having a hard time getting back into a routine. With 6 little ones, and homeschooling..I just have no motivation to teach. I'm having a hard time in that area...praying the Lord to help me.

I need a shirt.. 7/28/08

Sometimes I wish I could just wear a t-shirt that says "My mama just died..please be patient with me".
..it would explain why my eyes are red. Why I look tired. Why my hand is shaking while I sign my name. But I don't say anything..I just let everyone think I'm this tired mommy of many little ones.
:(

Another day..

I miss her.
I've missed her for months. But there was always that hope..that chance, that she could call me when she felt up to it. So when the home phone rang..I jumped. Once in a great while, it was her.
Now that she's finally gone..I'm allowed to just cry. Before I cried because she was leaving..and now I can cry because she's gone.
Yes..she is in a better place..and yes I'm crying for myself. I cry for my family who misses her too. It's not the same as it was two days ago. It's a fresh new pain... and my heart hurts.

It's 5:19 a.m.

It's 5:19 a.m. I can hear a lone bird singing outside my back door. My sister called me at 340 a.m.
My Mama is with Jesus now.

She is finally at peace..no more pain..no more cancer. Her body is whole again.

It's still kinda hard to wrap my mind around. It's hard to believe that when the phone rings..it will never be her voice on the other end again. But at the same time I know I'll see her again someday. It's hard to figure out how to grieve. I think of 2 Samuel 13..when David's son finally died..and he stopped weeping and fasting..got up and said he will see him again with the Lord. But then my flesh misses her so much..the tears spill over. I think about times she was here..little things. I just want to remember every little thing I can about her. The memories are good..they hurt..but they are good. They make me cry and my head pound..but the tears are worth remembering every little thing.

I first got a call yesterday afternoon..it was a library field trip day..and we had walked to the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum down the street from my house. It was hot..I had Eliahna on my back, and holding Obie's hand when my sister called my cell. I had to call her back once I got outside..and she was crying. They had removed Mom's feeding tube. Her body had shut down completely. So here I was..sitting outside this 100+ year old church..the same church Laura and Almonzo attended..weeping and praying. Fortunately..everyone else was in the building. My brother called me a few minutes later to make sure I knew. He said he didn't believe she'd last another week. I am glad for that though..I'm glad it was only a few hours..and not days and days. I'm assuming it was peaceful.

So now I have to move on in this grief thing..I don't even know how to do that but the Lord will lead me thru it..

Deleting the message...

Ever have a hard time deleting a message on your answering machine?

Normally it's not a problem..but my mom left me a message over a week ago. It's been on my machine since and I hadn't brought myself to delete it yet.

I listened to it one more time today..and before I had a chance to walk away..I pressed delete. I nearly started crying..but I knew I had to do it. I can't hang on to these things..

I will see her again someday..

I feel over whelmed with emotions today. Between not knowing how my mom is doing, and praying desperately for a little girl name Rachael Kligmann, as her life hangs in the balance...

The balance..between here and there.... because it's not just life..or death. It's here (where there's only death)..and there (where there's life if you belong to Jesus)

Update: Sweet little Rachael is with her Lord as of July 2nd, 2008. Lord, please ease their broken hearts and help them grieve well.

I Will Lift My Eyes..

http://search.playlist.com/tracks/I%20Will%20Lift%20My%20Eyes
Bebo Norman -

God, my God, I cry out
Your beloved needs You now
God, be near, calm my fear
And take my doubt

Your kindness is what pulls me up
Your love is all that draws me in

I will lift my eyes to the Maker
Of the mountains I can’t climb
I will lift my eyes to the Calmer
Of the oceans raging wild
I will lift my eyes to the Healer
Of the hurt I hold inside
I will lift my eyes, lift my eyes to You

God, my God, let Mercy sing
Her melody over me
God, right here all I bring
Is all of me

‘Cause You are and You were and You will be forever
The Lover I need to save me
‘Cause You fashioned the earth and You hold it together, God
So hold me now
_________________

Pictures from my visit to WA..

In April, I flew back to WA to see my mom, so she could meet little E. Here's a few photos..

My siblings..oldest to youngest..


Mom, me and lil E..Dad, Mom, me and lil E



Me, brother Jay, lil E, and mom in her bed


My 17 yr old nephew Cory and lil E sucking on his arm..

Dad and Mom..

Holding hands..

Me and Dad..

Linking Eclipses to the Timing of the Second Coming of Messiah (Jesus Christ)

Are you watching??

What I mean is..are you WATCHING the signs of the times? We recently watched a video called "The Star of Bethlehem" http://www.bethlehemstar.net/
AND, then we came across this video here.. http://www.elshaddaiministries.us/
Linking Eclipses to the Timing of the Second Coming of Messiah.
Fascinating!! We are living in some exciting times. Just watching CNN, with all that is going on in the world. See Luke chapter 21.
It's happening..please be ready!

Going back..

Since yesterday it's been pressing on me to go back. This urgent feeling that I must do this..I have to go back...until this morning, while my dh was at sunday school with the children..I cried out to God to please send me back with Eliahna. Somehow..someway. I just knew I needed to get back there. She had to know I was coming. I prayed for my family here..that it would work out. ...if it is His will.
The Lord's hand is in all of this..he never ceases to amaze me. When I told my Ma (mother-in-law) that I had to go back. The Lord told her ..."Go". She said she would go with me. I wasn't expecting that..the Lord is good! So good. We're also bringing my niece. She needs to go to. We're going back as "ambassadors of the Lord".. and so my mom can see and meet little Eliahna..I can hold her hand and say good bye ..and see you soon! In Glory.
No..it won't be easy. It probably won't be that light-hearted either. It's hard to type what I feel. I am a little bit afraid to see my mom so fragile. Living so far away, I'm removed from her physical sufferings a bit. I have to almost pry the details of what is truly going on from my siblings..
I pray for the Lord's strength, and wisdom, and peace..and guidance. I know this isn't "just" about going back to see my mom..the Lord has much more in mind, I'm sure. We will be staying at my husband's grandparents (mil's parents)..which is still quite a distance from where my mom will be..but it will be good.
I pray for my dad. He's losing his wife of 40+ years...please pray he will turn to Jesus for comfort.

And here I....cry

It's 11 at night. I know my family is gathering around my mom tonight. She called me earlier this evening..to say our "good byes". What are these good-bye's I speak of? She's been fighting ovarian cancer since 2002.
"Take care of my babies.." is still ringing in my head. I'll forever hear that voice, her voice..the one I love so much my heart feels it could burst right now. She met every one of my sons..then I had a daughter, who happened to be due on her birthday, Dec.14th 07. She was born on the 11th. She's 4 months old today. My mom loves that age. When they start to smile and laugh..and roll over. "It's one of my favorite ages" she said once. She would've loved to have met Eliahna..or, Lily..and she calls her. But it's ok..she will meet her someday. Soon my mom won't be gone..only gone from here, on earth. Soon..she'll be THERE. She'll be THERE and not HERE. That's the way I look at it..that's the way it truly is. My mom belongs to Jesus.

It still hurts. It's still hard..and I'm grieving. I'm waiting..and I hate waiting. Waiting for that phone call that says it's over..she's gone. But I'll say she's not gone..she's THERE. We're here and in pain and grieving..but where's she's going there are no more tears or pain.

I hate grieving. I'm not sure how to embrace it..this gnawing, aching, empty, raw feeling deep inside..I almost feel like I will throw up but then the tears spill over and it's relieved for a few moments....this is not new to me..this grief. I've felt this before. The physical symptoms are the same..except I know the hope now.
I don't know why mom has to die of cancer..she is only 59..I do know we live in a fallen world. Death wasn't the Lord's plan. It came as a result of sin....it wasn't His original plan.
But I'm thankful for the last few years..there have been so many blessings....so many..

Dec. 06, Mom, me and Obie

Without Jesus I would just crumble...

The LORD Is My Light and My Salvation

27

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came [1] upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty [2] of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; [3] I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain [4] path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

An update on us..

It's been awhile since I've blogged on here! Bear with me..my keyboard is having serious issues..so if I'm missing letters in words..you'll know why and you'll not question my ability to homeschool. :o)

The Kashon puppies are now 7 weeks old. They are both "sold"..deposits have been made and we're just waiting for them to be old enough to go to their new homes. I'll miss the little scrappers..they sure are cute! Even when they're attacking my toes while I'm trying to cook supper.


Eliahna is 3 months old already. I can't believe how quickly they grow. Her new baby cousin "Shell" was born last month..she's so tiny compared to Eliahna!

The weather has warmed up a bit here in MN..in the 30's..we even saw the upper 40's the other day! So we went for our first walk of the year. Here's a pic of Eliahna after our first walk outside. She loved it in the Baby Bjorn!

Here is what you get when you send 5 boys outside to play and there is melted snow on the ground (aka-a big lake in the yard)

Eliahna and Obie....and yes! She's got a bow in her hair!Obie loving on his baby sister...
.the older boys and their lego creation..
..we definitely need spring to come..(Noah)..


..and last but definitely not least..Mikey aka "Robin Hood"..(yes, that's a trampoline in my living room..the only kind the children will EVER have)
Alrighty then..I think that's an update on all the kiddos...Grammy Cilla sent these from WA. As you can see from the pics far below..they went thru a horrible flood and lost so much. But their home is being "redone"..and it looks SO nice. I'll post a pic soon on that. But she came across these jello molds. MY gramma used to make jello in these for my mom and her siblings..so they're REALLY old. (ROFL!) Grammy sent these for the boys..with jello included of course. So I had to whip up a batch.


Mmmmmm...And since the Easter season is upon us..here is the link to a wonderful Easter message..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQh1cjZLmUo

Kashon puppies!

Taffy had her "Kashons" last Saturday, the 26th of January. They are Cairn/Bichon Frise mix. The two little girls are doing fine and gettin chubby!


At birth....



Few days old..


Today 2/4/08