Mom Stories #2 - If God Permits

The home next door to us was going to be renovated.  It really needed an extreme makeover. Someone had purchased it at a good price and was planning an extensive rehab before selling it again.  

Construction workers started working on it one day and then did not return for months, possibly a whole year.  We found out from our Village Hall the construction company did not have the necessary building permits, so they were shut them down temporarily until they secured the correct ones.

Otherwise, haphazard work could be done which is dangerous to the occupants or neighbors.  A collapsed roof, a door that opens the wrong way or windows that can't open could occur.

"And this we will do if God permits." Hebrews 6:3

Dear God, I want to know your heart and Word, so this verse will be true in my life every day.  In Christ's name, Amen

Am I ever quiet enough to listen to the Voice speaking to me and willing to hear? 

Mom Stories #1 - Because of the Rain

My car was in the body shop on a rainy day in September.  I needed a few specific groceries to finish a recipe for dinner, but it was raining too hard to ride my bike. Trying to get something else completed on my list, I went to the garage to clean a little. Deciding to make an area in the garage for the camping equipment, I opened my husband's vintage cooler he had taken on a father-son fishing trip in June. Inside the cooler, I found a lot of canned and boxed groceries.  He had obviously not used up everything on his fishing trip.As a family, we enjoyed a great dinner as we thanked God for his provision of unexpected food I discovered because of the rain.
"And my God will meet all your needs accourding to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Dear God, In the morning, afternoon, and evening, may I often thank you and tell others all that you have done. In Jesus' name, Amen
What three things has God done lately for you, your husband, your children, your parents or your siblings that you can tell someone about today? 

FIFTY SHADES OF PORN FOR WOMEN

BY CHERYL MOELLER

I am always interested in how we as women rationalize our sin and I certainly see myself in the reasoning at times. 

A seminary student told us she is going to the Fifty Shades of Grey Movie because anually she watches the Oscars. She likes to have watched each film that year, so she can make an honest opinion if the Oscars have chosen correctly on the winners.

Are there any redeeming characteristics to porn? No. Good porn is an oxymoron.

Some of my acquaintances have complained about their husband watching porn, but they have gone alone or with their husband to every PG-13 (yes some of them are raunchy at least at the plot level if not more) and R Rated movie, without saying, "No." Maybe they did not watch it to make their husband happy, maybe they wanted to watch it for themselves. They are now worried because their husband is watching porn even though they have been watching it with their husband for 25 years.

Porn is not going to help you, your husband or your marriage. The old excuse that it's "just the two of you" is not going to impress God. It's not "just the two of you", it's also the two or twenty people in the porn pictures or film.

Some feel as though because they have not said, "No" in the past, it would be hypocritical or too hard to start now. What if your kids used that reasoning about something they need to quit?

If you haven't started saying, "No," the time to start is now.

It's porn.

I have heard the compromise excuse that somehow there is only five bad scenes in a certain movie. If those scenes were put into flash frozen photos and made into a magazine, it would be 100 pages of porn.

At first many thought Fifty Shades of Grey was a man's fantasy, but actually the books and movies are targeted to women. In the interest of never denying ourselves in Modern America, isn't it interesting that instead of flourishing, we have encased ourselves as slaves from some time travel to the past, gone horrid, like torture chambers from the Middle Ages.

The truth or should I say, the trick here is that Hollywood is teaching to love a woman is to torture a woman. The real truth is a woman bleeding from being beaten with a whip is hate, not love.

God is against porn, but not to take your happiness away. Porn is like drinking a swimming pool full of pickle juice to quench your thirst.
 

In the end you will not be satisfied, instead it will bring destruction and death to a relationship.

A revival is a husband and wife turning to Christ in complete humility and saying we are lost and undone without you. We desperately need Christ in our relationship for He and He alone is the source of love, hope, honesty, and true intimacy.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalms 51:10

Leanne's Caramelized Onion Quesadilla

What's for dinner?   

Leanne's Caramelized Onion Quesadilla

Ingredients: 

5 large sweet or yellow onions, peeled and cut into thin slices, caramelized with 2 TB of brown sugar.  Caramelizing onions on stove top in a frying pan takes about 1 hour on low heat, stirring every 10 minutes.  Don't leave the kitchen!

                        Leanne and her sister waiting for their onions to caramelize

Package of soft tortillas (can use spinach tortillas)

Low fat Mozzarella Cheese  Some of the family will put a TB of

1/3 lb. of chicken breast cooked with taco seasoning/water, shred your meat

This is very good also with just caramelized onions and cheese and microwaved for 25 seconds.

To show you what the caramelized onions look like  Click here

I caramelize mine with 1 TB coconut oil and a little water and the brown sugar.

Serve with a chopped salsa, fresh tomato or avocado.

10 Reasons Why Mom Gets Distracted in December

Take a break for a bit of humor today.

During the holidays dads are thinking about playoff games and kids are dreaming about Christmas vacation, but Mom’s mind is definitely somewhere else…

1. While everyone else stampedes through stores at 4:00 AM the day after Thanksgiving to buy this year’s most popular toy, Mom is still trying to remember where she hid last year’s most popular toy.  Read the other nine.

My Hyperemesis Gravidarum was not glamorous and neither is Princess Kate's

My Hyperemesis Gravidarum was not glamorous and neither is Princess Kate's.

                                                          by Cheryl Moeller


The tabloids have whispered Princess Kate is trying to get attention with her inability to handle morning sickness.  I can tell you Hyperemesis Gravidarum is not morning sickness, unless it's morning sickness on steroids.

I threw up non-stop for a total of 24 months of my life.  On the ground, aisle #6 in the grocery store, padded church pew, hospital floors, friend's purses, and in my own lap.  This went on for at least four to five months with each of my six pregnancies, except for my second one which was less.

I learned the most wonderful people in the world love and care about me during my non-stop lock-ins.  For when I trembled as if the end was near, a loving person would make sure it was not the end.

With #6, as with the others, I was literally penned in my upstairs bedroom and unable to walk without aid.  Needled to my IV's and feeding machine, I thought I heard vacuuming.  I opened my eyes and there was the school crossing guard vacuuming our upstairs halfway.  She said, "Go back to sleep.  It's okay I got worried because I hadn't seen you for a while."

My gorgeous sister-friend and neighbor, Cecelia Feicht, R.N., came over daily with shots when I finally was allowed to be at home.
                                             

Cecelia Feicht

Faint from throwing up 1,000 times, a friend, family member, or stranger would give me the hope to continue.  They always went beyond "just showing up" by giving of themselves with acts of service, hugs, food, and gifts.

Hundreds of people helped our family, including me, in 1981, 1984. 1986, 1987, 1996, 1998.  I will stand up and thank them again.

Bob, my husband, and our children always went to great lengths to make sure I was watched.  Bob was the ever present friend and prayer warrior.

The kids all had to do things most children don't learn so young like knowing when to summon adult help, washing the same sheets for the fifth time in one day, and washing a sink full of really grimy pots and pans.

God always exceeded expectations.  For example with #4 pregnancy, the former Director of the Home Economics Board in the state of Ohio, volunteered to cook for three months.  Because I could not smell food, Virginia Wiley cooked at her home and delivered meals each day with her husband E.B.

There are so many friends and family that deserved to have one of our children named after them.  I apologize for not doing that and you know who you are.  Maybe I can sneak in your name for a grandchild's name.  For you, I will try.

And, I love the name Princess Kate.

                                          Worth it all and but, by the Grace of God alone.
                                                                RJ and Melissa
                                                                Mackenzie and Megan
                                                                Andrew and Brent

Summer Veggies Turkey Roast

Ingredients:

1 - 3 lbs. fresh turkey breast roast

4 stalks, fresh asparagus, cut into 1 inch slices

1 long stalk of rhubarb, cut into 1 inch slices

6 thin sliced large rings of purple onions

1/2 cup fresh mushrooms

1 packet dry turkey gravy mix

2 tsps. freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1.  Place turkey breast in slow cooker.

2.  Sprinkle veggies on top of meat

3.  Sprinkle dry turkey gravy mix and freshly ground pepper on top of all.

4.  Cover and cook on low setting for eight hours.

From Creative Slow-Cooker Meals by Cheryl Moeller

12 Mother's Day Frugal or Free Gifts

I have observed this through the years...  On Mother's Day people drive their cars real slow with mom in tow.  On Father's Day, dad's day, they blast around corners without braking and floor it out on the expressways.  

If you have more holidays than money this year, here's some options for Frugal and Free for Mom.  If she complains, tell her that she trained you well to be thrifty...

1. Coastal.com has free first pair of glasses.  Both of our two younger daughters took advantage of this and we are happy with the designer glasses.  Only had to pay for shipping

2.  About 1/3 of my Harvest House Publishers' cookbook is free every day of every week on amazon.com books, Creative Slow Cooker Meals:  On Amazon books and other online websites, you can get 1/3 my cookbook for free, seriously, this is true of most books on online sites and also on on google books.  To know my cookbook is to love it click here

3. Cool printables like banners and random stuff
Free Mother's Day Stuff on Freebie-Depot  
Pinterest Mother's Day Ideas 
Click here


4.  Free Admission to Local Public Gardens on National Public Gardens Day, Saturday, May 11, 2013.  Print off as many coupons as you need. Click here

5. Mom cute gift tags Neat labels Free printables from Paper Coterie Click here

Printables from Coolmompicks

6.  Chill your salad plates.  A simple gesture for Mother's Day means a lot.
Keep the thought going even after Mother's Day...  Stack and store glass salad plates in the frig on a bottom shelf.  Put foil over the top plate and all the rest of the plates will stay clean because they are hidden/stacked.  My fav salad is equal amounts of cut avocado and  cut tomatoes, served cold.       

7.  Free Marriage Conferences For Better For Worse For Keeps future events or buy CD 4-Part Set or DVD 4-Part Set of a conference 

8. Help! Mom's Stuck on Spin Cycle by Cheryl Moeller Moms laugh their way through Mother's Day

as Kindle 

as paperback  

9.  A perfect picture Mother's dream.  Give her free luggage tags (google to find some you can personalize, also) in a Mother's Day card to represent that fab vacation you are going to take her on this summer.  A luggage tag says 1,000 words (actually about 10 words) but you score big points on May 12 but don't have to redeem them until July.  Click here for newest printable luggage tags

Duct tape Trendy fabric Laminated fabric Luggage Tags on ehow

10.  DIY BUTTON RING on culdesaccool.com

Is your mom old?  

I mean is your mom vintage?  

I mean does youR mom like vintage?  click here

Picture from culdesaccool.com 
 

11. Andrea, the queen of momsaware.com
I love Andrea Fabry's Luscious Healthy Soaps.  I just ran out today. I know I better get some of Andrea's soaps on Mother's Day Sunday or I am ordering myself on Mother's Day Monday Click here 

12.  Nerdly Cell Phone Necklace
I don't care what anyone thinks; I can never find my cell phone when it's ringing.  My friend (mom and professor) Dr. Cheryl Ann Luczak wears one...So this mom Cheryl Anne is going too, also.  Click here 

Happy Mother's Day! Luv

Why Don't We Have Nice Things?

One of our sons (unmentioned name) asked the other day, "Why don't you have nice things in the living room from your wedding... designer mirrors... classical framed artwork... collectables from birthdays and anniversaries that you have added to through the years like NORMAL people?" My answer, "Because our boys were normal boys. My Three Sons... If it wasn't ninja kicks, inside football tackles, and out-of-control superballs, then it was 'Jack jumped over the candlesticks,' 'boys that climbed the Christmas tree to the top,' and 'sledding, yes on sleds, down the stairs." FYI It was not our three daughters who broke everything worth displaying. :) But, we do have real treasures of pottery that the kids created, a self portrait clay head piece of Brent's, lots of child-drawn artwork, children's portraits through the years, RJ's first grade hat on the coat hooks, and children's plaster handprints. I would rather go to my children's basketball games than to the Bulls, unless of course the kids want to go to the Bulls. :)

Cheryl's What to Get A Woman Who-Has-Everything Gift List!

I have a few on my Christmas list that are hard to buy for.  Here's some ideas I have used recently or I am going to use.  Or, you might find the suggestions humorous or it gets your creative juices going! :) 

1.  From Chicagoland's Morkes Chocolates... Chocolate Shoes, even if the lady's correct size! 

I bought these for Brent's girlfriend last Christmas in leopard.  I scored some points!
Click here for some solid chocolate royal styles



2.  A Book, Letters from a Nut by Ted L. Nancy (the real author is rumored to be Jerry Seinfield)

I can't even say the name of this book without laughing.  It's clean humor and fits ages 10 to 100.
There are lots and lots of sequels.  I am going to a Barnes and Noble right now, just to read these books again and I know I will exit with a purchase!  This is healthy for a person on your gift list to receive because laughter is great medicine.  Click here for all of the sequels


3.  Shi Shi Flip Flops

I love this idea.  Make your own One-of-a-Kind Flip Flips Online.  You choose the color, style, uppers, downers, fabric, doodles, and shine!  Click here to get started or to get a gift card.

If you love the Havaianas' Make Your Own Flip Flop Concept...  Then add an air ticket to São Paulo, Brazil, where your lovely gift card recipient, can make her own flip flops right in their store.  It's kind of like Build-A-Bear, except for the grown-up girls!

There are United States store locations, but there's nothing like São Paulo in January!

4.  Godiva Dark Chocolate Homemade Fudge

                                         Use Godiva Dark Melting Chocolate! :)

Ingredients:

4 c. sugar
1 stick organic butter (1/2 cup)
1 (12 oz.) half and half cream
1 1/2 (12 oz.) pkgs. Godiva dark melting chocolate pieces
1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow cream
1 c. chopped macadamia nuts; optional
Gold edible spray for top of fudge

Preparation:

1.  Melt butter (careful not to burn) in large pan and stir in milk and sugar.
2.  When everything is melted, boil for five minutes, stirring constantly.
3.  Remove from heat.
4.  Add Godiva Dark Melting Chocolate Pieces, marshmallow cream, and nuts in pan.  Stir well.
5.  Put wax paper in 9 x 13 inch pan and pour liquid fudge into pan.
6.  Cool and keep refrigerated until cutting.
7.  When fudge is hardened, cut into pieces with a sharp knife.
8.  Separate pieces of fudge and spray gold edible spray on top and side (not the bottom).
9,  When the gold spray is also hardened, place gold fudge on a fancy tray with a doily or gift box with some appropriate classy gift wrap.
10.  Makes 3 pounds.

11. A simple version would be the basic fudge recipe using marshmallows and chocolate chips, cut into small pieces, and spray with edible gold spray on top and sides, but not on the bottom.

5. Pride & Prejudice Spineless Classics Complete Novel Poster
from handpickedcollection.com
Jane Austen's classic story immortalized on this art print. Amazingly each word of this classic, favorite novel is reproduced over the area of the poster and cleverly laid out in an elegant silhouette. Beautiful, thoughtful and unique, not to mention utterly genius.

How to Become an Eternally Romantic Spouse for Real

 Yesterday's Post was some good humor on how to date your spouse. Click here

We have a book, Keep Courting:  100 Ways to Keep Courting After Marriage by Bob and Cheryl Moeller, for husbands and wives who have forgotten how to be fun, romantic, spontaneous...
It will soon be on Amazon as a paperback by the end of next week, but you can purchase it now
on Kindle... click here

Let the Laughter Begin

How Many Nights a Week Do you Have a Family Dinner with everyone present?  I hope more than five evenings.

Here's an easy meal menu planner that I designed.  I not only give you recipes, but with two slow cookers cooking, I create your menu for dinner (there is one chapter for breakfast, also). When you are all seated at the table; let the laughter begin.

The project began because I became concerned that most families were barely eating two or three dinners together each week.  We are able to have more dinners than most families and I wanted to share our secret.  Two slow cookers make sure there is enough food, an entree and a side dish, or two choices
for picky or allergen-prone family members.

I hope you try my cookbook written to make your life easier.
Perfect for lots of people on your Christmas list, including you!
So order five copies today and solve your gift dilemna. Click here

Not me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to MyCharmingKids; her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.  Click here

Not me! I won't break my New Year's Resolutions - not at least until next week!

January 1st: "I will learn to sleep standing up."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "I won't fall asleep behind the wheel."

January 1st: "I will find at least one pair of matching socks."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "Finding one pair of matching socks is statisically identical to being hit with a meteor, while vacationing in Florida."

January 1st: "I will use only one email address."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "I will go from eight to seven email addresses."

January 1st: "I will exercise every single day in 2009, for at least one hour."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "I'll buy a DVD of the 2008 Olympics and watch it for 30 minutes a day."

January 1st: "I will not only wash, but also dry all our dirty dishes, immediately after each meal."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "I will train my cat to dry dishes, the dog already washes them."

January 1st: "I will remember my own birthday and celebrate in a special way."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "I will somehow forget how old I am."

January 1st: "I will make a time for reading each day in 2009."

Not me! but this is what happens One Week Later: "I will read the back of grocery store receipts to see if I have earned enough points to get for free, the featured Teflon cookware."

  Not Me’s!

Help, Mom's Stuck on Spin Cycle CD and Mini-Book by Cheryl Moeller

Sample Page From the Mini-Book, that comes also with a CD: 

Proverbs 15:13 - "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." 



Ten Reasons Why Not All Your New Year’s Resolutions May Stick
Mom often makes well-meaning and noble resolutions at the beginning of her New Year, but if
we check in just one week later….well, we find reality has set in, and Mom has adjusted her goals slightly.

1. January 1: “My children and I will learn Modern Hebrew this
year.”
One Week Later: “My children and I will eat one dozen bagels with
lox.”
2. January 1: “I will get the kids the pet they’ve always wanted.”
One Week Later: “I will buy a collar and a leash for my Chia Pet®.”
3. January 1: “I will make homemade yogurt from only organic
ingredients.”
One Week Later: “I will allow my children only two Go-Gurts® in
their mouths at a time.”
4. January 1: “I will take my children to a museum once a month.”
One Week Later: “I will show my kids where I ate super chili dogs
in high school.”
5. January 1: “I will feature a Van Gogh painting each month on our
coffee table.”
One Week Later: “I will make my van go to Starbucks each day for
a coffee.”
6. January 1: “I will make a time for reading each day.”
One Week Later: “I will read the back of grocery store receipts
to see if I have earned enough points to get the free featured
cookware.”
7. January 1: “I will slow down this year and get the rest I need.”
One Week Later: “I will slow down so I don’t get arrested again this
year.”
8. January 1: “I will use only one email address.”
One Week Later: “I will go from eight to seven email addresses.”
9. January 1: “I will not only wash, but also dry, all our dirty dishes
immediately after each meal.”
One Week Later: “I will train my cat to dry dishes; the dog already
washes them.”
10. January 1: “We will never eat food in the car this year.”
One Week Later: “We will quit using our gas grill in the back seat.”
Buy Now

Crockpot Duets by Cheryl Moeller

1 Plus 1 = 2 Crockpots to Make 1 Dinner

I am very excited about my new cookbook. It’s not just a cookbook, it’s a whole new attitude and way of planning meals. Have you ever thought that you can’t use the crockpot ever again, because everything turns into a soup or a stew? Well, I am going to have you thinking differently about crockpots. My new cookbook is going to help you easily answer the proverbial question, “What’s for Dinner?” In Crockpot Duets, you use two crockpots to easily cook a healthy, homemade dinner. It works especially well for any sort of family or single individual. It will be published next month. Crockpot Duets features beautiful photography and recipes tasted-tested by our family of eight!

Make sure you have two crockpots for easy homemade cooking in 2010!

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Backyard Pool Party for Moms (With a Kiddies' Pool Table)

Cucumber Open-face sandwiches
Clothesline Fruit with Thai Dye
Blueberry Cooler
Chilled Herbal Tea


Recipes

Cucumber Open-face Sandwiches

Using a sharp knife, cut the cucumber into thin, but sturdy, pieces.


Clothesline Fruit with Thai Dye

Clothesline Fruit: Through wooden skewers, thread alternating, fresh pineapple mini chunks, watermelon mini chunks, and red and green grapes. Presentation: lay all the fruit wooden skewers, between two matching vases, as if a clothesline.

Thai Dye:
Mix 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth or crunchy), Juice of one lemon or lime,
1/2 cup coconut milk, 3 Tablespoons water, 3 Tablespoons soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon
Ginger, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder.

Mix all ingredients, except the cilantro. Add 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, just
before serving. Serve individual cups of the Thai Dye to each guest, for personalized dipping, with their clothesline fruit.


Blueberry Cooler

Blend 1 quart low-fat chilled buttermilk, 2 cups blueberries, and 1/2 cup natural honey in the blender. Place the glasses and drink, separately in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving. Add super cold drink to the freezer glasses, just before serving. Serve refreshing 6 - 8oz. Coolers, with spoons.

Chilled Herbal Tea

Bring 8 cups of water on stovetop, to a boil. Place 6 herbal individual tea bags in the water. Let steep for at least 30 minutes. Remove tea bags. Put the tea into a pitcher and place in refrigerator to cool. Serve cold with ice, for 6 people.

You Know Gardening is NOT your gift, if...

Your roadside stand customers offer to pay you, if you'll keep your vegetables.

Your pesticide company sprays you instead.

You hire a lawyer, to defend yourself, from the class-action lawsuit the locust file against you.

You're able to grow more mold in the desert, than veggies in your garden.

You hire the United States Secretary of Agriculture, as a consultant, to get a row of radishes to sprout.

Your heart tells you "yes!"; your knees tell you "no!"

Your weeds are your best friends, not your enemies. (You figure, at least with the weeds, something is growing.)

You don't have fourteen trillion zucchinis to pass out in late August

Your sweat is how you water your garden, causing flooding to kill your plants.

You buy veggies at the store and then lay them around in your garden, to impress others

Your woodchucks know your first name and you attend Junior Woodchuck's high school graduation.

You attempt to rototill your driveway.

Your neighbor's compost heap wins first place in the county fair, instead of your garden.

You drive your spade deep into the ground for the first time and lights flicker in the neighborhood.

You planted on New Year's Day, because the seeds were on sale.

Your rabbits actually prefer the plastic vegetable display on your kitchen table.

Your slice of cheese, in the bottom of the frig, is the only thing green growing on your property.

Your zucchinis are bought by the United Starts Defense Department, for artillery training.

The only Burpee in your garden is from indigestion.