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FOR TODAY February 8, 2009…
Outside my window…the peaceful quiet of the morning air in the country. well, and the traffic sound of those driving to and from work…along with birds, dogs, cows, and who knows what else might actually be making sounds out there! 
it just LOOKS quiet and peaceful.
I am thinking…that i love mornings, but it just doesn’t seem i like them as much as i like my evenings at this point in life. once the kids are in bed, i thrive on my ME time…and my mornings seem to suffer. 
I am thankful for…antibiotics for the baby.
From the kitchen…my menu planning for week 2 begins!
I am wearing…earrings and finger rings. nothing else is of relevance here.
I am creating…a paper scrapbook page i started some 3 years ago. are you surprised, proud, or disappointed in me?
I am going…to finish my driving week with smiles on my face!
I am reading…my devotion book. i really need to start another book. guess i’ll just have to go out and get me another book one of these days.
I am hoping…and praying for the week to go smoothly. theres enough planned to fill it up…and i don’t need any distractions!
I am hearing…the cooling fan under the laptop. i like the sound.
Around the house…is the aftermath of a weekend. nothing terrible, just the aftermath!
One of my favorite things…is driving alone in my vehicle. i love the peace and quiet, or the option of listening to my kinda music.
A few plans for the rest of the week: monday night is bible study night (might not happen this week), tuesday morning is mom’s program, wednesday night is clubs for the kids, thursday is the oldest baby’s birthday with i’m sure a party or two after school, and then we’re till friday. wow, and it’s a long weekend, isn’t it!?!
Here’s a picture thought I will share with you! hope you enjoy your weekend, and the plans you have!
FOR TODAY Monday, January 19, 2009…
Outside my window…bright white snow, and the warmest sunshine we’ve had in a few weeks!
I am thinking…what to do for dh’s birthday tomorrow?!
I am thankful for…my girl friend who got me motivated to work on the retreat we’re planning this saturday!
From the learning rooms…photoshop. just one word to describe that one! LOL. it’s all i’ve got time to learn these days, and it’s a big enough job! one of these days you’ll see the results of me learning it, and learning it well!
From the kitchen…left overs. oh my how i need to plan. do you have a plan for the week? can i borrow that plan?
I am wearing…capri’s, sox and shoes, and a t-shirt.
I am creating…um…nothin’ really. i guess i’m creating and organizing a retreat this weekend! (a day retreat)
I am going…to stay home all day today! yehaw!
I am reading…nothing! i finished my john grisham book over the weekend, and passed it on to my sister! it was pretty good!
I am hoping…that i can accomplish everything i need to before saturday.
I am hearing…my girls have a quiet time (nap time hopefully)
Around the house…are many things to do. a pile of this, and a pile of that. a few loads of laundry, and most of all, a clean bathroom! that makes me smile. what makes you smile?
One of my favorite things…the feeling of accomplishment. don’t you just love having had accomplished something?
A few plans for the rest of the week: tuesday is the first moms program in town, wednesday my GF is coming to work on retreat stuff and staying for lunch plus clubs for the girls in the evening, thursday is nothing, and friday is a meeting for the retreat volunteers to wrap up the plans, and get prepared for the event!
Here is picture thought I am sharing… here’s one that goes way back. back to 2005-2006. I have always loved this bedhead morning picture. it just makes me smile!
FOR TODAY Monday, January 12, 2009…
Outside My Window…morning dew on the new growth of life starting to form. ok, i’m kidding. it’s still all white and cold out there.
I am thinking…it would be nice to exercise. one of these days i’ll start. should it be today? maybe i’ll start today. we’ll see!
I am thankful for…a loving husband, who loves me for me.
From the learning rooms…to be more gracious. God is grace, and if i want to be more like Him, i need to extend grace more.
From the kitchen…today is menu planning day, but i REALLY want to make cauliflower soup again. hmmm, it was SCRUMPTIOUS last week!
I am wearing…my pj’s.
I am creating…cleanliness. my house is a disaster, and if i want to possibly do a girls coffee tonight, i’ll have to clean this joint up first! 
I am going…to drive the kindergarten girls TWO more days…then i’m done for another week! oh the joy that fills my soul! LOL.
I am reading…my John Grisham book. getting further and further…one chapter at a time. i also want to finish reading my book for bible study (that’s starting up again on thursday) by philip yancey called what’s so amazing about grace.
I am hoping…and prayin’.
I am hearing…the laptop cooling plate, doing it’s job. this thing’s been working SO much better since i started using that thing. who’de have thought?
Around the house…lets not talk about it, ok? maybe tomorrow i’ll be able to talk about it again. we’ll see how much i actually get done today!
One of my favorite things…order. next to order would have to be contentment. i love feeling content with my surroundings, my faith, myself, my family, and most of all, my everyday. i have a wonderful life.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: monday is girls coffee night (if i plan it i guess), tuesday is ladies meeting at church, wednesday is the girls clubs program at church, thursday is bible study, and friday is off to winnipeg for the weekend for two nights. oh what a FUN and full week! what are YOU doin’?
what are YOU doin’?Here is picture thought I am sharing…
messy baby enjoying her first baby cracker
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January 1, 2009. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
WOW, isn’t it amazing how the years fly by as you get older? I’m not old by any means, LOL, but they sure don’t drag like they did when I was just a wee little tike!
I look in anticipation at the events scheduled in the new year, (it looks kinda empty, but I know each week will fill up fast)
Family Birthday’s (our oldest turning 6, and the youngest will turn 1. Dh and I will both turn 33)
New Family pictures (here’s to dreaming!)
Weekend getaway to the City with friends
All the regular scheduled appt.’s (dentist, doctor, chiro, etc)
Kindergarten for the second daughter (wow, that didn’t take long…i’m kind of scared actually)
A day retreat with the Ladies of the Church
The Kids Clubs Program resuming it’s weekly event
Camping with the kids…and all of us enjoying it!
Dh’s work continuing, or the Lord providing a new alternative
More time with my parents and DH’s parents
Renewed relationships with sibblings. (and more effort and interest on everyone’s part)
And most of all, making memories in the everyday things. Memories that will last a lifetime.
I remember with fond memories some events from the last 365 days:
The first day of kindergarten.
Putting our first child on the school bus for the first time (as much as it scared me, I pray for her to grow and learn)
Birthday’s (dh and my 32!)
The birth of our third daughter
Camping with a new baby
The purchase of a van (still can’t really believe how I convinced dh…well, i shouldn’t really take the credit, it goes to his good friend Pete) Thanks Pete
A quick recovery after our third child.
My health, and my families health.
Our annual trip to the Hills for a ‘hike’ and picnic with friends.
The valuable time my children have had with grandparents and aunts/uncles
Taking a road trip to my sisters and BIL’s for Easter with my family
Taking a weekend getaway to Grand Forks as a family.
And so much more! Take some time to browse this year in review collage! Ask me if you have any questions!
not in cronological order, just random shots of the year
we organize an annual cookie exchange and cookie hamper at our church, and well, this week it was time once again to gather, trade, share and taste our goods!
I’m going to list some recipes, along with some photo’s of cookies i will be bringing to either trade or share. i hope it doesn’t complicate things if they’re all in one post. if you want to print them out for yourself, copy and paste them to a word processing document for yourself and edit the font to fit your printing style!
Carrot Cookies- from a church cookbook called Taste of Homemade – submitted by Barbara Penner
3/4 cup margarine Grated rind of 1 orange
1 cup sugar 2 tsp baking powder
1 egg pinch of salt
1 cup grated carrots 2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla
Mix ingredients in order given. Drop by spoonful onto a cookie sheet and bake at 375 F for 12 minutes. Make icing with icing sugar to spread on cookies. Very good cookies.
i used the pampered chef medium scoop and topped with the betty crocker cream cheese icing. oh my…those are SO delicious!
Next is the Brownie Sandwich Cookie. i found this recipe in “The Great Canadian Cookie Cookbook” i once got as a gift from a prayer sister at church. it’s absolutely HUGE, and has wonderful pictures for many of the recipes. this recipe is easy bo breezy, and is found on page 438.
Brownie Sandwich Cookies
Brownie cookies
1 package Duncan Hines Chocolate Lovers Double Fudge Brownie Mix
1 egg
3 Tbsp water
sugar
Filling
1 container cream cheese frosting
red food coloring (optional)
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease cookie sheets. For brownie cookies, combine brownie mix. fudge packet from mix, egg and water in large bowl. stir until well blended, about 50 strokes. Shape dough into 50 balls (1 inch). Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. grease bottom of drinking glass; dip in sugar. press gently to flatten each cookie to 3/8 inch thickness. repeat with remaining cookies. bake for 6 -7 minutes, or till set. cool 1 minute in pan, and remove to cooling racks. cool completely.
for filling, tint frosting with food coloring if desired. stir in chocolate chips. spread 1 tbsp. frosting on bottom of one cookie’ top with second cookie. press together to make sandwich cookie. repeat with remaining cookies.
makes 25 sandwich cookies.
This recipe is also from “The Great Canadian Cookie Cookbook” found on page 342. i don’t have any pictures to share, but it’s a thumbprint cookie with a chocolate filling. looks simply delicious!
Chocolate Fudge Cookie Cakes
Chocolate Filling
1 square (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate 3 tbsp water
1 tbsp light corn syrup 2 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp vanilla
Chocolate Dough
1 cup sugar 1/4 cup dried plum puree OR 1 jar first stage baby food dried plums
2 egg whites 2 tbsp water (*omit if using baby food dried plum jar)
1 tsp instant espresso coffee powder 1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt
Filling: in a small heavy saucepan, melt chocolate with water over very low heat, stirring until smooth. remove from heat; whisk in corn syrup, sugar, cocoa and cornstarch. bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly, until slightly thickened. remover from heat; stir in vanilla. let cool, stirring occasionally.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat baking sheets with vegetable cooking spray. To make dough, in mixing bowl, beat sugar, dried plum puree, egg whites, water, espresso powder and vanilla at high speed for one minute until fluffy and light in color. combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into dried plum puree mixture until well blended. shape dough into thirty balls. (if dough is sticky, moisten hands with cold water) Place on prepared baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake in center of oven 11 – 12 minutes. Remove from oven; immediately make a 1 inch wide indentation in each cookie with handle of wooden spoon. Spoon scant 1/2 tsp filling into each cookie. cool completely on baking sheets.
makes 30 cookies
And made new years cookies (Portzelky). hmmm…..they can be found on the link below for Lovella.
Finally, i’ll finish with some links to some great cookie recipes!
Lovella (an author of mennonite girls can cook, but her own site)
i had never really thought about it from this perspective. it makes me think, how healthy am i? i mean all around. not just one side of the box.
(here’s my version of their analogy…not trying to copy, but to give you a visual. the visual really helped me put it into perspective!)
i’m off to evaluate my health, from all 4 sides!
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