Thankful Thursday- March 22

Tuesday afternoon was filled with together time with my kids for which I am very thankful.  My husband and I had picked up some garden soil over the weekend and the kids took great pride in getting it all in the garden and leveled out.

After they finished, we emptied out my van and drove to a local carwash and used the vacuums to get it looking like new (well, almost!  lol)  :-)

It was awesome how, in both instances, they worked like a team and were having a lot of fun doing it!

So, I am grateful today for a special (and very productive!) afternoon with the kiddos.

I am linking up today with Theresa at Red Oak Lane for her Thankful Thursday linkup.  Come over and share something you are thankful for today.

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- March 20

This recipe is for Apple Cake.  Some call it German Apple Cake.  Some have called it Jewish Apple Cake.  I don't know exactly which one it is, lol, but my family loves it.  :-)

You will need 3 separate bowls.

3 cups flour
4-5 apples cut up
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
4 eggs
1 cup oil
1/4 cup of orange juice
3 teaspoons of baking powder
2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla (I use 3)

In bowl #1
sift the flour (you can skip this part if your flour comes pre-sifted)  :-)

In bowl #2
Mix apples, sugar and cinnamon

In bowl #3 (large bowl for mixing)
Mix sugar, eggs, oil, orange juice, baking powder, vanilla with electric mixer.  Add flour slowly while mixing.  Add 1/2 of the apple mixture and mix by hand.

Pour 1/2 of that batter into your greased baking pan.  Add the remainder of the apples into the pan.  Then pour the remainder of the batter into the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes. 

(this is a photo from the apple orchard where we went in October.  We made all kinds of apple recipes including the cake)  :-)

Now it's your turn!  What favorite recipe are you going to share with us?  I have really enjoyed reading (and trying!) the great recipes that are shared here each week.  Spread the word, grab a button and join in on the recipe-sharing fun!  :-)

Make Life Meaningful Monday

Sometimes, the simplest things can be the most meaningful.  Friday night, we had an informal "family fun night."  Everyone was kind of doing their own thing, but we were together and it was fun.  I liked that there was much laughter and creativity and it was just spontaneous and unplanned.  There were kiddos making clay sculptures, bead designs and then there was their dad taking his turn with the Wii hunting game that the boys and he like to do.  I was enjoying myself taking pictures of them all!  Family togetherness is a precious gift for which I am very grateful and it certainly made the day meaningful!

I am linking up today with Michelle at Changed by the Maker for her "Make Life Meaningful Monday."  Come over and share what has made your life more meaningful today!  :-)

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up March 16

In my life/homeschool this week: On Friday, the kiddos worked on their powerpoint book reports.  It was awesome to see Kiddo #3 giving Kiddo #1 some pointers about animation.  Kiddo #3 does a powerpoint presentation every single night for our family before bed.  :-)

On Saturday, we made some homemade chocolate chip muffins.

You can find the recipe for the muffins here.  :-)

On Sunday, during church, our 12 year old son collapsed.  It was extremely scary, but I was so truly grateful for the help and support we received.  I truly believe that the Lord places angels in our midst.  You'll see what I mean when you read what I wrote about it here.

On Monday, there were music lessons for everyone (piano for Kiddos 2, 3 and 4 and guitar for Kiddo 1) and dissection class for Kiddos 1 and 2.  They finished their grasshoppers, working on the internal organs this time.

The kids did really well during their bowling league on Tuesday.  Kiddo #3 broke 3 figures!  :-)

I also hosted my weekly link-up for recipes.  There were many delicious ones shared!  Come see them and my recipe for homemade Italian bread in the breadmaker here.

On Wednesday, we did a special craft to remember St. Patrick and how he taught about the Trinity by using the shamrock.  You can read all about it here.

We also baked some homemade bread, cake and frosting.

On Thursday, we went to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to have Kiddo #2 evaluated in the cardiology department after his fainting episode on Sunday.  He has something called "Neurally-mediated syncope(NMS)" We are thankful to have a diagnosis and are SO thankful that it is a treatable condition.  The doctors at staff at Children's were wonderful and so thorough.  Kiddo is wearing a 24-hour monitor and we will return for more testing in a couple of months to determine if the current treatment is working or if we need to try different medications.

What I'm reading: I am continuing the Lenten readings with the kiddos.  I also am reading "The Imitation of Christ" and "A Mother's Rule of Life."

What I am praying for: This week, I was praying for my son.  I also was praying for all of the victims of the tornadoes of the past couple of weeks and for many who are sick, suffering or have asked for prayers.

A photo or quote to share:  I have a photo and quotes this week.  Kiddo #1 took this beautiful photo of the sky:

"Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants." -- William Penn

"Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."-- William Penn

I am linking up this week with Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers.  Come over and share about your week!  :-)

Thankful Thursday- March 15

On Sunday, our 12 year old son passed out cold toward the end of church.  Seeing my husband rush out with his lifeless body is something I will not be forgetting anytime soon.  I am so thankful for my husband's quick reflexes, saving Kiddo from hitting his head on the cold, hard floor. 

I truly believe that the Lord puts angels in our midst.  You see, soon after we rushed to the vestibule of the church, a man came up to us, told us he was a neurologist and offered to help.  Then, out of nowhere, a woman who was an ER nurse came to the doctor's aid.  It was like they set up a triage in the back of church.  How wonderful that they left their own families in church to come help someone in need, someone they didn't even know.  They worked methodically, yet with kindness and compassion.  I am so grateful!  They told us that he had a sudden drop of blood pressure.  It took some time, cold compresses and some water, but he came around.  By the time we got home, Kiddo #2 was back to himself and ready for his lunch.  When I told him that he had Daddy and I pretty scared, he responded, "I had myself pretty scared, too, Mom."  :-)

I am just so touched by the help we received, all of the phone calls from friends at church to check up on our son, and even a friend who took our daughter for the afternoon so we could concentrate on Kiddo #2. 

We are going to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia today (Thursday) for a cardiac evaluation, at the advice of our pediatrician.  I would appreciate your prayers!  :-)

Linking up with Theresa at Red Oak Lane for Thankful Thursday.

Look! What we did! Wednesday

When St. Patrick felt the call to go back to Ireland and bring Christ to the pagans, he used the three leaf clover to teach the concept of the Trinity.  So, what better way to celebrate St. Patrick, than to use the symbol he introduced with my own children.  I found this craft at Oriental Trading.

I also made up a worksheet with a biography of St. Patrick and a word scramble.  If you would like it, just click here.  I am happy to share.  :-)

I am linking up today with Theresa at Red Oak Lane for Look!  What we did!  Wednesday and with Michelle at Changed by the Maker for Make Life Meaningful Monday. (yes, I'm a little late, lol!)  Come over and share something special you are doing today.

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- March 13

I love my breadmaker.  There is no smell quite like the smell of freshly baking bread permeating the whole house for an afternoon!  :-)  I received the breadmaker 16 years ago (yegads!) for a bridal shower present and it has to be one of the best (and most used) gifts I ever received. (other than my laptop and camera, of course, lol!)

I came up with a recipe for Italian bread in the breadmaker that really is delicious.  The olive oil gives it a great taste and wonderful crust.

1 cup warm water

2 tsp. yeast
3 tbls. sugar
1 ½ tsp. salt (I use sea salt)
¼ cup olive oil
3 cups bread flour

(I use the sweet setting and have baked it at both the regular and rapid speeds.  They both come out just fine.)

The kiddos just LOVE fresh bread!  :-)

Now, it is your turn!  Linkup a favorite recipe to share!  If you can, grab a button or link back to this post, so others can join in, as well.  :-)