Happy Turkey Day

The day before Thanksgiving I spent my day in the kitchen.. first I made this.. my Grandma King's Pecan Pie!!

Then I made this Apple Cobbler that is Elise friendly. I found an "apple goodie" recipe of my mom's and put it in a pie pan and ta-da... apple cobbler goodie!

Next came the enormous amount of stuffing.. this of course is Great Grandam Kit's recipe (Lucy's Grandma)

As you can see.. I was not joking when I say massive amounts of stuffing!  

While I was working the neighbor girls were over keeping my girls busy so I could work.. Natalie and Olivia.. such sweethearts!

Once we got to Myrna's Thanksgiving day it didn't take long before the kids were outside and wanting to shoot the clay pigeons..

Lauren gets her lesson from Dad.. and then said her shoulder hurt..a little kick back from the gun.

Next Elise gets a turn..

Lauren and Gavin are out gathering all the clay pigeons that we all missed.. Eric said he picked up 12 that he alone missed.. he also said he got shown up by 12 year old Austin who couldn't seem to miss!  Pretty funny stuff.

Climbing up the silo!

Amber and Elise... they were BOTH thrilled that they had each other to play with today.. they are such good buddies!

Such a face miss Lauren!

The Girls (well most of them.. Caroline had the stomach flu and didn't make it today)
Haley, Elise, Jessie, Lauren and Amber

Grandma Kit's Stuffing

I stole this from my sisters blog because I can't find my recipe.. I do this every year..uugghh.. now I have it permanently.  I know I put it somewhere that I wouldn't forget last year.. uuuummm????

Grandma Kit's Stuffing

With Thanksgiving coming up, there are all sorts of stuffing recipes out there.  I had one blog I follow

 go on and on about how good their mother's stuffing was.  Ha!  I want to throw my head back and laugh.  

There is only one stuffing that beats them all.  I've brought this stuffing to family's, friend's, acquaintance's, 

boyfriend's parent's- now in-law's houses for Thanksgiving and I've never met anyone who likes stuffing that

 doesn't say it's the greatest.  This recipe comes from Lucy's grandmother Kit.

Grandma Kit's Stuffing:

1 stalk celery
3-5 medium white onions
4-5 tubes Jimmy Dean Sausage - preferably sage flavored, but you can mix (I use sage, maple and low fat)
4 bags seasoned bread cubes
3 sticks butter
3 boxes assorted stock (or 8-9 cans)

Simmer one stalk of celery in 2 cups water.  In another pan saute 4-5 white onions in 1 cup of water.  Simmer until glassy.  Combine and add 3 sticks of butter.

Brown 4-5 Jimmy Dean Sage sausage packs-drain 

Take half the veggies (with liquids) and half the sausage and combine with 2 bags seasoned bread

 crumbs (I like pepperidge farms)

Stir in mixture of broths .  I use a combo of no-salt added chicken  and organic vegetable broth.  
You can use mixture of chicken, beef or veggie.  My only tip would to make 

sure it's at least low-sodium.  This stuffing is plenty salty.  Stir until desired wetness - you can add more as 

needed, but I wouldn't use much less that that.  Now, do the same  with the other half.

Spray pam in your casserole dishes and fill with stuffing.  This recipe fills all of my casserole dishes.  I

 make this stuffing for thanksgiving and then freeze some for Christmas.  I also usually make a little 2

 person portion for a special surprise treat for Matt some time.

To freeze: cover with plastic wrap, cover with foil and put casserole lid on.

File under Freezes beautifully (catch the reference?  Anyone?) (This is from Mollie.. of course I know..
Steel Magnolias!)

Bake at 350 uncovered for about an hour- make sure to at least partially thaw it before baking. 
Stir occasionally.  Basically bake it until it's as yummy and crispy on the top as you like it. 

I am thankful

Today.. I am thankful

Today I am thankful for so many things.

I am thankful for my two beautiful, healthy daughters. I am thankful for their innocence, their health, their infectious laughs and Faithful spirits. I am thankful that they are children of God and truly know what to say when others are having a hard time. One of my best friends daughter has a horrible terminal disease called SMA. They have two other daughters who are in perfect health. Miss L (as I will call her in this post) can't fight off the common cold like other healthy children, she can't cough or swallow and her little body works so hard to fight a simple virus. Today, a cold virus has gotten the better of her and they had to take her to the hospital. She is currently on 8 LITERS OF OXYGEN, just to keep her oxygen where is should be. She will most likely end up on the ventilator within the next day or so.  She has always been able to turn things around and fight the virus.. and I hope she does it again this round.  Miss L's older sister came over after school today so her parents could be at the hospital. I am thankful for the girls friendship and I know they are going to be life long friends. I am so very thankful that we are here and that we can help this amazing family in really tough times.

Today made me think really hard about the pity party I have at times with myself.  I don't like my weight, my looks, my carpet, my kitchen, my walls, my clothes.. and the list goes on.  But.. does it really matter about those things? In the long run.. absolutely not. They seem so important at times and it IS a little important because if we like our home and it makes us feel good.. it makes us happy.  However... this by no means defines happiness and it's so easy to fall into the trap of what I like to call.. "the gimmies".  Gimmie this, Gimmie that.. I want it all NOW.

As I was driving home from Kansas City this weekend on Sunday morning I tuned in to a Christian channel and was just browsing the stations... and something caught my attention. There was a man talking about temptations and patience. The patience is what really caught my attention.. because I don't seem to have a lot lately.  And it just put everything back into perspective for me that in time.. and that is in "God's time" I will have the things I need.. maybe even the things I want, but I need to put it in God's hands so that He can take my burdens on. I tend to get really caught up in something that I really WANT. In fact, I become a little obsessive and then it becomes all consuming and then I am mad, sad, disappointed etc.. that I didn't get what I want. But what I really want is "Peace in the Valley". Life becomes so all consuming and busy that I find myself losing focus on what I REALLY want.  I want peace in my heart, patience in my soul and love of life that pours out to others... that is not accomplished by what I have in my home, but what God leads me to.

I kind of got off on a tangent there.. but the words just flow sometimes! :)

BUT.. I still want to list some more thankfuls below.. because I really am blessed to have so many people in my life and the things I need.

TOP Thankfuls.....

1. I am thankful for my awesome husband who supports me and loves me unconditionally.

2. I am thankful for my girls.. can't imagine life without them

3. For my awesome sister who knows me better than just about anyone else.. 

4. For my job that allows me to work school hours
5. For my wonderful Dad and Step-mom Lucy.. who always have the best advice and support!

6. For my amazing mother and father-in-law, I have known them for just about 21 years and they are like         my second set of parents... LOVE YOU!

7. For the roof over my house.. even with all the things I want to change.. I am thankful

8. For my great neighbors and friends who make living in this neighborhood...Aw..Some!

9. For my adorable little Dudley.. he may be a stinker.. but I love him.

 Brief pause... my oldest is throwing a fit because she can't have a snack right now.. DEEP BREATH.. I am supposed to be saying what I am thankful for.

10. For my health, that I take no medicine, I exercise 3-4 times a week and get stronger every day.

FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS (AND MANY MORE) I AM THANKFUL.. now I have to go deal with my 9 year old.. I think this is where the patience comes in.  I remember a wise woman once told me (and yes Sharon, I am talking about you) that if you pray for patience.. God will test you.. let the test begin!  :)

They will be racers.. if their Dad has anything to say about it!

Warming up for the race.

A little chatter at the start line

Getting tuckered out up the hill...

On her way to the finish line!  3rd Place!

Elise was soo tuckered out at this point and needed her inhaler.  It was SOOOO windy today, it would have been a gorgeous day if it weren't for the crazy wind.

Fall is here..no doubt.

Today was a PERFECT fall day. The weather was chilly but sunny and the kids played outside ALL afternoon. They worked so hard to gather all of the leaves.  I have fond memories of massive leave piles in our backyard on 13th Avenue. Nothing beats a pile of leaves.. and the sound is even better!

Neighbor girls helping out.

The Dudster

Lauren, Olivia and Natalie Freundl, Gabi Grimes, Elise, Giada Grimes

Time to start throwing leaves!

I LOVE Elise's face ... she is having so much fun.