Snow Pictuers Febuary 12 , 2010

We had a snow fall here in our part of Texas on the Feb. 11th and 12th!! We got about 7in. in all. Our kids had a blast!! They made snow men and just had fun running around in the snow!! We haven't had snow like this in 4 or 5 years!! so it was a big hit!!! This is Samuel and Sarah by thier snow men.

Nathan having fun in the snow!!

Mommy , Clayton, Samuel and Sarah by a snow man Clayton built.

Mommy and the children ! All thought this was the greatest day ever!!!

Our Family pic. in the snow!! Just wished we had snow like this more often!! I guess I will have to move North for that!!

Mommy and baby photos

Momy mulitytasking!!! Baby Anna is just as content as ever, seems to know Mommy got things to tend!!

Oh sweet baby Anna!! she is 4 weeks here.

Anna not so happy here. Anna at 4 weeks.

Mommy and Anna at the hospital. Anna one day old here! Nothing like a new born baby!!! Oh wish they wouldn't grow so quickly!! What a beutifull blessing from heaven!!!

Brothers and Anna

Here ia a photo of mommy and newborn Anna , with happy big brothers Nathan and Clayton looking on!

Anna Mae

Our newest addtion has arrived! We now are a family of seven!!

Anna Mae arrived on Feb. 4th , 2010, at 9:10 PM. Weighing 7 lb. 3oz.s A beutifull baby girl! Big brothers are Nathan, Clayton, and Samuel, and big proad sister Sarah!
In this pictuer Anna is a couple days old.

That was a month ago today! Little Anna is doing so good and really gorwing. This month has been a busy one but also very fun an excting. Wished time didn't fly by so fast and little ones didn't grow so quickly though!!

I will post more as I have time.

So many wonderful things have been on my mind latly and want to share them here.

Books, I love reading to my children

Here I am again, over a month later!! Well whats my excuse this time? Just life I guess. Been thinking about alot of things I want to share though. Epesially when I wake at night, I start thinking of things I want to post, ( night is my best time to think!!) then come morning, I either forget till the next night, or just plain get too busy!!



This time my post is about books that I love to read to the children. I just love reading to the children so much. But for me it has to be material that is edifying, encouraging, uplifting, character building, instilling Godly principals, and so on. Yes, I know finding books like that can be very hard. Here I will share the books that I have and love , and a source where you can purchase them from Mennonite and Amish Pulishers.



My very first top chocie to read to them is the Bible!! Just love reading to them from the Bible. Of cource depending on the ages of children there is so much in the Bible that may be over thier heads at the time, but yet there is so much that they can understand, and you can explain the areas that they may not . At first that's what held me back from reading, I was thinking isn't this just wasting my time, they are to young to even know whats being read. But its the fact that they see you read it, and they see what is importian to you. And soon they will be understanding the word and gaining a love for hearing it. Your setting an example to them that will effect them for life!! Now we all look forward to our morning Bible reading time before starting school. The ages of mine right now are 9, 7 , 4 1/2, and 2. Its never to young to start reading God's word to them.



Here is a list of other books I am curently reading , the authors names, and a brief desription of each.



Story Time With Grandma by Mary Elizabeth Yoder

Character -building stories from everyday life and form the Bible make Story Time With Grandma a superlative teaching aid. Every page breathes fresh insights and truths for young listeners and readers too. Every story abounds in wit and wisdom clothed in childhood actions.



More Story Time With Grandma by Mary Elizeabeth Yoder

This book offfers more character-building stories from a grandmother. The author told many of these stories to her own children, stories from her own childhood, could-have-happened stories, stories of good times and bad- all are about familes and children and the importiant lessons they learned.



A Hive of Busy Bees by Effie M. williams

In a time when virtue and character seem almost old-fasioned, it is refreshing to find a little book of character-building stories. ( I would have to say this is both mine and the childrens top favorite book. It is so goood, and such wonderful and powerful lessons learned)



Mario a Belizean Boy by Elizabeth Wagler



Some more books I have but not read yet are,
Little Pete and Other Stories,
The Adventures Of Rusty and Ryan
A Horse Called Willing.



All of these are full of character-building and instilling Godly princpals.



All these I ordered at Christain Light Publications. The web site is http://www.clp.org/. They also have so many more wonderful books available like these. So worth your time to sit down and read.

Another source for books like this kind can be found at Rod & Staff Publishers, INC. They don't seem to have a web site, but thier phone number is (606) 522-4348. You can phone a request a free catalog.

If any any of my readers have books the you love reading to your childen please leave a comment and mention them. I am intersted in hearing of more good books!!
The time we take to read to our children is so worth while, and can be so powerful. So take a moment in your busy day and just sit and read and enjoy your self!! Your children will love you for it!!

Well untilll next time, In Christ Mae

Home Made Laundry Soap

I was gaven this recipe awhile back for home made laundry soap. I hvae made 2 batches just recently and it has turned out well for me. I wanted to share it here for others. Makes for cheap soap and with out a lot of effort either!!

Home Made Laundry soap
For one batch- you need a lg. bucket and a long handled spoon for stiring.
1/2 bar Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap, grated
3/4 cup washing soda
3/4 cup borax

Start boiling in lg. pot 6 cups water. Add the 1/2 bar grated soap. Stir untill dissloved. Remove from heat, and add the washing soda and borax. Stir untill dissloved.
Heat 4 cups water in a smaller pot or microvae till very hot. Pour this in your empty bucket. Then add your soap mix, And stir well . Next add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of very hot tap water, stir again. Then for several hours after stir occasionaly. Let set for 24 hours. I stir it again before I us it for the first time. Use about 1/2 cup per a load. It is a low sudsing soap.

Note. You can add more borax to the wash for heavier soiled clothes. I get the Fels- Naptha bar soap at my local haelth food store, along with the washing soda. The borax you can get at Wal-Mart.

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to leave me a comment and I wil get back to you on it as soon as I can.
Untill next time, Blessings in Chirst Mae

Corn bread and Whole Wheat bread recipes

Hi Everyone!

Well its been awhile since I posted anything. With school going and house work and cooking its takes up about all my time , plus shopping trips and park days in there too, I don't have alot of spare time. But I have grabed a few mintues to post a few recipes this mroning that others may have intrest in. The corn bread recipe I have had and used for several years and we all love it here alot, I make it to go with soups and stews or beans or just any time, hot with butter its delicous! The 2 wheat bread recipes have been gaven to me recently and I have used both several times and am very pleased with both.

Corn bread
1 cup flour
3/4 cup corn meal
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegtable oil
1 egg
1 cup butter milk

Mix all dry ingredients together, then add the oil and combine till fine & crubmly. Then add the egg and butter milk, and stir , just untill all is combined. Pour into 8in. or 9in. square pan, greased, or even a skillet. Bake at 375 about 25 to 30 min.


Whole wheat bread
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup & 1 tbls. sugar
2 tbl. yeast
2 1/3 cups warm water ( 110F)
Mix the flour with the sugar and yeast, then add water and mix with wisk. Cover and let set about 20 to 30 min. till very bubbly.
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup oil
4 1/4 cups whole wheat flour ( I use 2 cups white flour, instead of all whole wheat)
Add salt & oil to mix, wisk well. Add the flour and stir with spoon, till dough forms then put out on greased and floured board and kneed about 10-15 min. Sperate dough in to two potions and form into loaves, place in greased and floured pans. Cover and let rise untill double. Bake at 350F for about 30 min.


Homemade wheat bread
1 cup warm water (110- 115)
1 tbls. milk
2 tbls. oil
4 tbls. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
2 tsp. dry yeast

Mix into dough. Kneed about 10 min. From into loaf ,and put in greased and floured pan ( makes one) . Cover and let rise untill double about 30- 45 min. Bake at 350F for 30 min.

Hope you enjoy these recipes like I do! If you have any questions, leave me a comment and I wil get back to you as soon as I can.
Have a great day!! Mae