Shocking and Exciting!

It has been awhile since I last posted on our blog. Life has been busy, shocking and exciting lately. It will take me a couple of posts to get you all caught up.

Little did we know Easter would bring about "new life" in our family.

After visiting family in Ohio for the holiday, we all came down with the stomach flu. Somehow Leona and I were spared from the worst of it. Well...actually I was completely spared. :)

You guessed it...around the middle of April we discovered that we would be expecting our third child. We were well...shocked and surprised.

Several weeks prior we had cleaned out my Mom's house and gotten it ready for the market. We had planned to get ours ready for the market as well. We were hoping to get a larger home to fit all 5 of us (including my Mom) in a year or so and now suddenly we REALLY needed a larger space. With our current home we had no place to put the new baby. (I will get to more about the housing situation in the next post.)

The new baby was destined for a surprising name since s/he was unexpected, so we named this baby "Baby Boo!"

At my 12 week appointment, the doctor was unable to find a heartbeat with the doppler, so I was sent for a quick ultrasound. The heartbeat was around 160 and the due date was confirmed for December 13, 2013.

Unexpected or planned, every child is a part of God's plan. It took a little while to wrap our minds around what God was doing, but ultimately we feel blessed and have faith that God's timing is perfect. Our biggest prayer is that my back will hold up to the demands of packing, moving and carrying a child while J is still learning to walk. Thank you for lifting us up.

2 Years Later: Homemade Laundry Soap

In September 2010, I started making my own homemade laundry detergent. Here is my post about how I got started: Making Laundry Soap. You can find step by step directions there.

Honestly, I still love making and using my homemade laundry soap. It continues to save our family money each year and it is really simple to do. I have learned a few things along the way that I thought I would share with you.

This is one year supply of homemade laundry soap

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1. I make two double batches and it lasts me a full year with my family of four. I just make one double batch after another. I love that it's less clean up and I don't have to worry about detergent until the following year! The total cost for these 8 gallons was $2.43! You can't beat that! If I had a front loader, that would be 2 years worth of laundry! WOW!

My canning pot while making my homemade laundry soap.

2. I LOVE using my canning pot. It gets the job done and it is easy to clean up because I don't use it for cooking. I also use a cookie sheet underneath the containers while I pour into them for an easier clean up.

3. Make sure to really melt the grated laundry soap. I find that you need to warm it longer than not seeing any flakes. This will help it to not have little "boogers" floating around.

4. It helps if you can put the 3 gallons of water in the bucket or pot first so that the soap doesn't stick to the bottom. This means that the 8 cups of HOT water would go into the pan you used for warming your soap. This would require a pan that is 5+ quarts.  This also helps your soap to not have any "boogers" floating around.

Love this large glass pot for the stove top!

My Mother-in-law got me this awesome glass pot for Christmas last year. I love that it can go on the stove top and in the oven. I love it for making large batches of soups, cooking my Grandma Robinson's Yams & Apples, and making my homemade laundry soap.

I use these large detergent jugs.

5. I have started using those large detergent jugs for my soap. For a double batch I can fill 2.5 of them. Your detergent needs to be a little more watery. I always put 1 cup of water in them before I start filling them. When they have cooled down 24 hours, I shake it up really good and try the spout. Sometimes I have to add another cup or so of water. (It seems like the white Zote bar has a thinner consistency.)

6. Most laundry soap containers have a lid that is already a half cup, so just measure it and use it instead of a measuring cup. Don't forget to shake your container well before each pour.

Zote Laundry soap bar

7. I tried the white Zote bar, as opposed to the pink, and I like it a lot better. The pink one has a stronger cleaning smell, where the white one seems to have a softer scent. It also seems like the white bar makes a thinner consistency making it easier to measure and work with. (Beware though that the white one is a lot harder to grate.) You can also buy the white Zote bar already grated. I saw it in Wal-Mart. It seems like one of these would make a regular batch. It was $2 when I saw it.

Zote Laundry Flakes

8. I also use a laundry soap bar directly on my stains. Sometimes I will get a stubborn stain that requires a stain stick, but I love having a bar in a Glad dish on top of my dryer for everyday stains.

9. I used lavender essential oils last time and I was not impressed. You really couldn't smell it on the clothes and I didn't like the smell. I like just using my detergent & a nice fabric softener.

10. This recipe may not be natural. I have not confirmed it, but it seems that Borax may not be completely natural. On 20 Mule Team's site they claim it is. Either way, this recipe is definitely more natural than the leading laundry detergent on the store shelf.

As I mentioned in my previous post, once you try making your own laundry soap it is a slippery "soap" to making other cleaners. Honestly, I have tried several things and nothing seems to live up to the stuff on the shelf like my laundry soap. I hope to find a homemade cleaner that is worth sharing. If you have one you use, please send it my way! Enjoy!

Here is the copy of the recipe I use for my homemade laundry soap.

Dance Parties

As some of you may know, one of LJ's favorite things to do is dance. She dances in the car, her room, the living room; she dances all over, all the time. She has been dancing since she was in the womb. While I was pregnant, she would move all over during worship music at church and chapel. Obviously, she is still showing off her dance moves!

J has joined in with her love for music and moving to the beat!

Today we had a "dance party" together. Take a look at our video here.

Here are some cute pictures too. Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day

We hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

As a family we made some valentine holders out of paper plates and exchanged valentines with each other. It was such a blessing! The kids and I took pictures to make personalized valentines for Mimi and Daddy. It was so much fun.

Here are some of the pictures we took:

 

 

Leona colored like 20 valentines and sent them out to many friends and family members. It was so much fun!

We also spent some time working on heart patterns and beginning sounds in this Preschool Valentine's Pack. I am just enjoying all the learning time with her knowing that my time with her one-on-one is just flying by. I was inspired by this love bible verse set to create 56 bible verses for us to study together the next 2 years. We put them in the shapes of hearts as a reminder of Psalm 119:11.

For Valentine's Day, we are working on "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" Deuteronomy 6:5. 

If you'd like a copy, here is my "Stored In Your Heart" set.

My Journey to 80: He is There!

This is Part 4 of my series "My Journey to 80".
Read Part 1: The Beginning.
Read Part 2: After Pregnancy.
Read Part 3: Answered Prayer.

Corrie Ten Boom quote... such truth!

Surgery came.

You expect that when you go in for surgery that you will come out all fixed and feeling better. You know there will be healing time, but you expect to... well... heal.


I followed directions. I stayed mobile as best as I could. Some days I barely made it one trip around the kitchen table, but I eventually grew stronger. I didn't lift anything heavy for 8-10 weeks. It was hard, mind you that I had a four week old baby that needed fed and comforted. Still, I was very careful. The pain was never completely gone from my leg. There were a couple of times that I laid in fear wondering about the pain and why it was still there!! I remember eventually admitting to Ben that it just didn't feel fixed. I was terrified when I thought that the pain could come back again.

"I sought the LORD and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4 (NASB) 

The doctor said it would just take time. In fact at my post-op appointment he basically scolded me for not having enough activity. What was I suppose to do? Push myself? It still hurt! Why did it still hurt? Oh...the fear...fear of the pain returning!

Time came and went. I went to physical therapy again! I made some progress, but I still had some pain. A new MRI was scheduled for December 2009.

The news??? My two disc herniations were just about the same size. Really?!?!?! A microdiscectomy and doing almost nothing...not even a load of laundry and another herniation in the same spot!!!

Devastation... shock... fear... How can this be?

I did some research and discovered that it was quite common.

They ordered another epidural shot. I hoped it would help more than last time. It actually hurt more for the few days after my shot. The epidural is a steroid shot, so I finally asked if I could just try an oral steroid pack. I wasn't going back for another shot after that. Plus, the shot was like $2,000!! 75 cents later...my steroids kicked in and I started to feel better. I was so relieved.

I will be honest. The fear was stronger than my faith at times. I wondered how I could carry another pregnancy... how I could ever work again... how I could take care of my family when I still couldn't fill the dishwasher or do a load of laundry or even put my baby in her crib.

I found new ways to do things. A new normal emerged. I started to live my life thankful for the blessings God had given me. I couldn't take anything for granted. When I sat Indian-style on the ground for the first time in over 2 years... I was humbled... even when it lasted only 10 min. When I did my first load of laundry... I was so thankful...even though one load for that week was my limit. I craved to do the dishes. I craved to lay my child in her crib without help. Suddenly so many things mattered. So many things that would have been burdens or potentially annoyances were dear to my heart. God had changed my heart and my look on daily life. Soon the fear subsided and peace abounded.

"Thy loving kindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness reaches to the skies." Psalm 36:5 (NASB)

It wasn't perfect. The pain would grow and the fear would pop up again. But something had stuck through the whole surgery and post-op time... the true knowledge that GOD WAS THERE! My God was a big God... a God I could see working... a God who was faithful. God had become more real to me than ever before. When the fear came or the doubts rose, I could look back at that time in my life and KNOW with certainty that... "...He will never leave you nor forsake you (me)." Deuteronomy 31:6b (NIV)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (MSG)

He created me. My 80 year old body is a result of this fallen world marred by sin, but it is the body He gave me.  He created me to give Him glory. He asks me to walk through trials (floods or fire or back pain) but I am not alone. He is with me. He is my Savior and I can trust Him completely... and SO CAN YOU!

"But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. ² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. ³ For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; ... ⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you; ... ⁷ everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:1-3, 5a, 7 (NIV)

Isaiah 43: 1c

Making Memories during Christmas

Christmas...it's such a blessed time of year!

Last year during Christmas time, LJ was 2 years old. Suddenly Christmas started to have meaning. She realized that there were gifts to open and special songs to sing. Of course the word Christmas was a little blurred. Every time she saw a picture of Santa Claus, she called him "Christmas". I found this very odd as we don't emphasize Santa.

Sooo...this year I was on a mission. I wanted to share the true meaning of Christmas...the babe in the manger that came that very first Christmas day.

We started by memorizing Matthew 1:21 together as a family. I love this verse because it emphasizes not only was Jesus born, but that He came to save us from our sins. This was the perfect verse to use with a 3 1/2 year old!

On December 1, we started Advent. The word advent means arrival. It's emphasis is on preparing our hearts for when Jesus comes back again. For the Advent season, from 1st-24th, we focused on the story of Jesus. Each day we read a passage and focused on one part of the Christmas story. We used a fantastic curriculum called Truth in the Tinsel.

We loved it! It was perfectly geared for preschoolers. We will be using it in coming years for sure! We did some crafts and sang some Christmas carols together, too. Every Sunday we also had a time where we lit a candle and were reminded of some simple truths: hope, peace, joy, love and Christ.

A larger version I used in Chapel.

I designed and made some felt pieces for our Advent lessons. I am still working on finishing the Advent calendar part. My inspiration came from a stained glass type look. I can't wait to finish the background and use it next year.

Here is the template I designed. Click here if you'd like a copy.

LJ loved learning the true story of Christmas! It was so neat to hear her talk about baby John, Mary and baby Jesus. In fact, after our first lesson about Jesus being the light of the world, she kept running to the door and saying "Jesus is here!" Every noise outside must mean that Jesus is here! It was so precious to my heart! What a reminder that He could come at any time...that we should be awaiting his arrival!

A friend of mine also wrote some lyrics to the ever famous "Jingle Bells". We sang it in Chapel and I couldn't stop singing it! Our family has enjoyed singing every night of Advent. It was such a blessing to hear such truth being sung around the table! Thanks Karin!

Lastly, we started a tradition of giving a family gift Christmas Eve and matching pajamas for the kids. We bought the book Song of the Stars by Sally Llyod-Jones! What a beautiful book about the coming of Jesus as the babe in the manger! It is wonderfully written. All of the animals echo that "it is time" and use the different names of Jesus!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season!

Stromboli or Calzone??

So what's the difference between a calzone and a stromboli? It seems that they are used interchangeably. Maybe the only difference is that calzones are folded in half where strombolis are rolled.

Well... according to Man vs. Food the difference is calzones are filled with cheese. I can't find any confirmation on what really makes them different. I always thought that calzones had sauce inside, but I am finding that some stromboli recipes do too.

Well...I've always called my recipe Stromboli...so here it is...meat, cheese and toppings rolled in pizza dough. Yum!

Take a look at the bottom of this post for freezing directions too! It's a great meal that you pop out of your freezer.

Here are the ingredients! Yummy!

Rachie's Stromboli
-pizza dough (2 crust recipe or  2-16 oz. refrigerated packages)
-1/4 lb. deli salami, thinly sliced
-1/4 lb. deli sandwich pepperoni, thinly sliced
-1/4 lb. deli Virginia ham, thinly sliced
-Parmesan cheese
-Mozzarella cheese, shredded (fresh has the best flavor)
-1 small onion, minced
-1 green pepper, minced
-1 package fresh mushrooms, diced or sliced
-pizza seasoning (my recipe below)

Roll out the dough onto a a floured surface or a plastic pie sheet. Cut into two equal rectangles.

Put an overlapping layer of salami down the middle. Follow up with an overlapping of the sandwich pepperoni.

(Sandwich pepperoni is so much easier to work with and so yummy. You can substitute little slices if that's all you have to work with.)

 Cover the pepperoni with a little layer of mozzarella. Be careful not to add too much or it will come spilling out while it's cooking!

Sprinkle some pizza seasoning on top.

This is where you put in your toppings. You can use really any pizza toppings you like. I love mushrooms, onions and green peppers with mine. You can even skip the toppings altogether if you aren't a veggie fan.

Next, top with some Parmesan cheese. Mmm!

Now comes the secret! Add the deli ham on top of everything. This will secure your cheeses and toppings inside your stromboli.

Now gather your long sides together. I kind of roll and pinch them together. Then, roll in the small ends. I normally find some extra dough at the end and I pull it up towards each other to cover any holes in the dough.

Right now you are looking at what is called the steam side. It is the part where your steam can escape. This side will be face down on your ungreased cookie sheet or stone. I prefer a stone for my pizzas and strombolis.

Top each stromboli with a spray of cooking spray or a light coat of melted butter for a great golden crust.

Here are two ready for the oven. Notice that I have not cut any holes in the dough. Some recipes I have read suggest cutting slits for the steam to escape. This has just left lots of oozing cheeses, so I don't bother.

I normally bake them at 425' for 20-25 min., but you can follow your pizza crust directions to make sure. You will know they are done when they are golden brown.

Serve the stromboli in thinly cut pieces and dip in your favorite sauce or dip. We love this Cheesy Pizza Fondue or dipping it in some melted butter with garlic butter.

Pizza Seasoning
2 1/2 T paprika
2 T salt
2 T garlic powder
1 T black pepper
1 T onion powder
1 T oregano*
1 T thyme*
1/2-1 T cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper

-Combine thoroughly. Store in airtight container.

*can substitute the oregano and thyme with 2 T Italian Seasoning


Each recipe makes about 4 strombolis depending on your pizza dough recipe, which would serve 4-6 people.

This recipe is a perfect freezer recipe. Follow the directions until they are all rolled up. Wrap in plastic wrap. Then, wrap in foil. Place in a freezer bag. Write cooking directions on the bag (temp, time and adding the butter or cooking spray). When you are ready to use them, pull what you need out and put right into the pre-heated oven. Add about 10 min. more cooking time than the original recipe.

Hope you enjoy this fast, easy and yummy recipe! It's a staple around here!!