Strawberry Jam

I have been wanting to make homemade strawberry jam forever, but never knew how. I didn't realize how easy it actually was. A website called Intimate Weddings caught my eye because they had a recipe for strawberry jam that looked really simple to make.

We have made it twice now and it is WAY better than store bought jelly

I halved the recipe that was listed on the website, because they jarred theirs. I just keep mine in a tupperware container in the fridge because we eat it so quickly. I base my food around whether I can add jam to it (seriously). I would like to jar some soon that way when strawberries are all out of season, I can still have some in my cupboard. You can click on

The ingredients:

6 cups of fresh strawberries

3 cups of sugar (i used turbinado)

1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice

The directions are simply to mash the strawberries in the pot then add the lemon juice (through a strainer) and sugar. Boil for 20-30 minutes, stirring constantly. Skim the foam off the top periodically. Keep checking for thickness then remove from heat. To check for thickness their idea was to spoon some jelly on a plate and if it runs like syrup it is not ready yet; but do not overthicken. For more detailed information you can read their post.

Haircuts, Yay

1. Before

2. During

3. After

1. Before

2. During

3. After

It is not a drastic change, but it is nice to have a good, clean cut.

Share the Road

This is not that big of a deal, but we just finally got our tag for our new car. We went with a semi- personalized tag. It says "Share the Road"; the proceeds from these license plates are donated between Bike Florida and the Florida Bicycle Association. This is an example below.

We didn't go for the "vanity plate" that is so common in Va. When I lived there, just about everyone in Va. had a personalized vanity plate. It is still only $10 in Va. for your plate, so why not i guess. When i googled crazy Va license plates, this one appeared and made me laugh.

Prayer Request

This Family could really use our prayers. Maggie Stinziano was a 37 year old woman of God who lost her battle to breast cancer on Sunday, July 5th, 2009. She is survived by her husband, Jordan, and their 4 young children. Maggie and Jordan were the first people to invite us over for dinner when we started going to Summit Church. I also had the privelege of helping Maggie with Physical Therapy treatments before they moved to Syracuse. Her amazing faith in God has been such a testimony to me. When talking about Maggie, Jordan explained how Maggie would say she didn't want people to pity her because she was always taught that the Joy of the Lord was her strength, why would it be any different now just because she had cancer. You can read some recent posts on Jordan's blog here. Jordan is the pastor at Missio Church in Syracuse, NY.

Exciting News

The brides maid dresses are ordered!!!

Wedding is 6 months from today.

There will be six of us gals; some wearing strapless, and some wearing straps

the color is spiced wine

and they are from JCREW

thanks Hopey, i love 'em!

Crazy Days

Since i have been working more, the boys have fallen in love with Kylie, their babysitter!

The other day she brought over a slip-n-slide which they thought was the coolest thing ever.

Naturally, I let them play on it the next day too, because i figured it would be great for capturing pictures. I am not too fond however, of the boys calling me Kylie instead of mommy. Although it is probably a compliment to me, because she is gorgeous and super sweet.

Today was a crazy day and i feel just like C looks in this next picture......frazzled!!!

I went to Dr. "G" today and learned all kinds of things about my thyroid problem that I never new. 1. stay away from SOY and WHEAT, 2. drink only reverse osmosis water (never chlorinated water), 3. no Bromine which is found in flour, 4. No Caffeine, and 5. use Sea Salt instead of regular salt

My thyroid is enlarged, so i had to have an ultrasound test on it. then i also need to do a 24 hr. urine sample, a blood test, and a basal metabolic temperature test ( think that is how you say that). He actually listened to me and all my crazy symptoms for 30 minutes then at the end of our time, he prayed with me. I had tears in my eyes. I have been on a form of synthroid for over a year and although i feel better than i did before i went on the medication, my recent miscarriage and hormones have gotten my body and system all out of whack again and I think he will help me get back on track....without the use of a bunch of prescriptions.

Meanwhile i have had this darn heart monitor since 3 pm yesterday and it will come off at 3 pm today. The palpitations have stopped but my discomfort and chest tightness hasn't.

I have felt more like a 73 year old than a 33 year old today and I am ready to be normal again.

My life lately

I have had some ups and downs these past few weeks and it seems like just when I want life to slow down a bit, it throws us on a roller coaster instead.

I haven't been feeling so well lately due to an early miscarriage a few weeks ago combined with a change in Thyroid medication. I was on track with exercising and eating right and feeling good and now I have taken 10 steps backward. This week i have some more doctors visits to check out my heart and thyroid, so I would appreciate some prayer. Our family took a much needed vacation this past week and I haven't been this relaxed in a long time. Although that could have been because of the bubble bath i took last night:) We spent a day at Busch Gardens in Tampathen stayed in my parents RV at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. We stayed up late, and slept in late; we rode bikes, trains, buses, horse wagons, ponies, and boats; we swam in their pool and played in their new kiddie pool everyday; we grilled and ate outside; we enjoyed family time, just us and it was awesome.When we got back yesterday, we came home to a house with no running water. So we stayed at my parents house last night, now one day and 900 bucks later, we have water again.

In other news, Mike and I have been pursuing options of buying our own RV Park. It looks like one might actually work out, but I won't say where or when just yet.

If you ever get the chance to study Experiencing GOD by Henry Blackaby, do it! I went through it the first time about 15 years ago, but am enjoying it all over again and appreciating it much more. Here is a recent excerpt that hit me hard the other day

The authors says."Each day I have an appointment with God. I often wonder what happens when the God who loves me comes to meet with me. How does he feel when He asks, 'Henry where are you?' and I am not here (see Jer. 7:13). I have found this to be true in my walk with the Lord:I keep that time alone with God, not in order to have a relationship but because I have a relationship. because I have that love realtiosnhop with my Lord, I want to meeet with Him and spend time with Him. Time with Him enriches and deepens the relationship I already have with Him. I hear meany people say, 'I really struggle trying to have time alone with God.' If that is a problem you face, let me suggest something: make the priority in your life to love Him with all your heart. That will solve most of your problem with your quiet time. People who struggle to spend time with God don't have a scheduling problem; they have a love problem. You have a quiet time because you know Him and therefore love Him, not just because you want to learn more about Him. The Apostle Paul said Christ's love compelled or constrained him

(see 2Cor. 5:14)"

taken from unit 3 day 3

bold letters done by me for emphasis

I don't want to let all other "inconviences" and "interupptions" in my life to crowd my love for God. My priority needs to be pursuing my love relationship with God above all else.

Library Books

It has been a while, but we finally made a trip to the library again.  These are the books we have been reading the last 2 weeks.  The last two are some repeats, and favorites of the boys.  All of these books are so imaginative and fun to read

Circus

Roller Coaster

Go To the Doctor

Look out, Suzy Goose

Emergency

Dig Dig Digging

cement day

This is for Gail...:)

it is no suprise that the kids ideal day would be to spend all day at the Campground with Daddy.  As well, they both have a great love for Cement Trucks.

This was last years cement day at our house when we first started our addition.

And these are some pictures from Woodsmoke the other day when the men were pouring a cement pad.  We got the kids up early, picked up some bagels from Panera and brought them to the guys, and they helped Daddy pour cement.  What a fun day!

What the boys are loving right now!

Getting Soaked and Filthy!

Owen's required item for playing outside: sunglasses 

Caeden's required item for playing outside: shovel 

Puddle Splashing!

Playing in the rain

Fun with the hose