Farm~School~Life

Showing posts with label church. Show all posts

I love to read! Always have...there is a story that as a child I would read the encyclopedia for fun.

OK it's not a story...it's the truth.

About a month ago I ran across a blog post from Rachel Wojo that sparked my interest.

It was targeted at bloggers and helping to grow your blog. One of the things she mentioned was doing book reviews. Well I love to read so I thought I would give it a try. I signed up, was approved and began scrolling through the selections. I picked on of my favorite genres...cookbooks. I found this gem in there.

My favorite quote from the book is simple and true. It's an overwhelming statement that evokes a flood of emotions and memories in me. "Good food has always been a way not only to nourish but to thank, encourage, console, serve, celebrate, and ultimately love," LeAnn Rice. I am so excited to use her Hummingbird Cupcake recipe for an upcoming church function, a new twist on a classic dessert.

This is a wonderfully complied cookbook with tasty recipes and a dose of Southern hospitality. This book had me highlighting from the introduction and bookmarking throughout. Rice has done a great job of ensuring no fancy equipment or grocers needed. Everything can be made with what you are already using and found at your local store. In addition to wonderfully written recipes Rice has included practical tips and encouragement throughout the book.

Each chapter begins with a short introduction that tugs on your heart, helping you to remember how much we can share God's love through simply delightful meals. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow allowing even the most inexperienced cooks to create magnificently delicious morsels to share with family and friends alike.

So friends I encourage to you grab your copy of "The Loving Kitchen" to grow your cookbook collection or share with a newlywed in need of simple, practical and encouraging guide to cooking with love.

Until we meet again,

Caci

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

I hope your day is full of bliss and uninterrupted potty breaks.

I have decided to take the Flats Challenge that begins today.

It was started a few years back by Kim of Dirty Diaper Laundry to test her commitment to keeping her kids in clean diapers. I know many people in our world, country and even in our county don't make enough to make ends meet. There is no federal assistance program for diapers (not that I believe there should be) but because of that some people take extreme measures to squeeze every last dime out of a diaper...down to reusing disposables. This challenge was created to show that where there is a will there is a way. You can cloth diaper your child from birth to potty training cheaply using things you probably have around the house or can pick up for less than $25 (the cost of a large pack of Pampers).

We make ends meet, occasionally we use disposables, and have a working washer & dryer...so why am I participating in the challenge? To show folks you can do it, if you want! You don't have to reuse disposables or leave a diaper on too long. Also I feel that I am in a unique situation..many of the moms I have seen are participating in the challenge stay at home, I on the other hand work a full time job outside the home, run an Etsy shop, help on the farm, have multiple volunteer commitments and an older child who has school and extra-curricular activities. (Please don't think I am discounting the value of a stay at home mom or her time...I'm just in a different situation) I want to someone who feels like they can't to know no matter how much is going on in your lives you can accomplish this. Even when ends barely meet and time is sparse you can diaper your baby without disposables and modern conveniences.

So there you have it. I pledge for the next 7 days to only use flats, no washer, no dryer on this little bum. Through church, t-ball, work, committee meetings, and a 12+ hour round trip to only use flats. If we can do this in our crazy family...you can too! Are you willing? It's not to late to join...check out the rules here and come ride the crazy train with me!

Until we meet again!

Caci

Easter is a huge thing for us. We believe that without Easter there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas. If Christ had not died on a cross, ascended into hell, and then rose to sit on the right hand of God...all for us...we wouldn't celebrate his birth. Easter is HUGE!!! Really think about it...the Son of God died a horrible death to save you, me and anyone else willing to believe in him from our sinful ways! That's pretty awesome!!!

So with that said we have been talking, praying, and preparing our hearts for Easter since early April.

We started off Easter weekend by having some yummy takeout on Friday night. Poor Farmer can't eat without the Farm Baby trying to steal his food.

Saturday morning the boys and I made Empty Tomb or Resurrection rolls. Afterwards we attended our church's Easter program and did some inside egg hunting because it was pouring rain.

Our boys don't really know about the Easter Bunny. We have never really gotten into that but we do fill their baskets for Easter morning. Honestly not to offend anyone but giving your kid a basket at Easter with $100's worth of toys and such is a little much in my world. Farm boy got a Veggie Tales DVD, bubbles, an Easter book, homemade playdough and some candy. Farm Baby got pacis, paci clips, a sippy cup, a Bible storybook and homemade playdough.

Farming doesn't stop because it's a holiday...the Farmer still had to get up early and milk cows. Actually he got the truck stuck before sunrise and had to borrow my car until he had time to pull the truck out.

After Sunday lunch with the family we did a small egg hunt in my in-laws front yard. The kids had fun but it was WET!!

Sorry for the sideways picture but it won't turn! As you see we color code our eggs based on the child so no one gets all the eggs...Farm Boy would not leave any if we didn't!