Happy New Year!!!!

 

I'm putting together lots of pictures from 2012, but for now I will be spending the rest of the evening with my dear hubby.

Have a safe and wonderful night!!

 

May the Lord bless all of you in 2013!!

 

Happy New Year!!

Beautiful For Me...

Once a year I love to play this song as a reminder to myself and my children that they are so special to God.  With all the talk about weight loss this time of year, I like to remind my family they are beautiful to God no matter what. 

 Enjoy!

 

Blessings,

Pamela

Ideas for New Year's Eve Food...

With New Years Eve and New Year's Day just around the corner, I wanted to share some healthy food recipes that I will be making for my family. We celebrate Christmas in our home until January 6th so we are all still in festive moods around here.  We put some of our decorations away, and start to freshen up our home for the New Year, but it still feels and looks like Christmas.

So lets talk party food family style!! We feed 11 in our home so the amount of food we buy to feed our family is more than most. When I give my recipes to families not as large as ours I always remind them there will be enough to freeze for later or save for another night! Our meals last us 1-2 nights, it all depends on how hungry everyone is. For a family of 6 what we make in our home would be 2-3 nights of food for sure!

This year like last year we are starting our New Year's Eve night bowling with our church family. We plan on having pizza after as a group which should be fun. Are plan is to open gifts when we come home since we allow the kids to stay up anyway.

So, munchies will need to be ready for sure, someone is always hungry in our home!  I am always given a list by family on what they would like me to make, and this year is no different.

Here is our Menu for New Year's Eve Night..

Pizza with our Church family (not so healthy, but so much fun)!!
Organic Popcorn
Cheese and Gluten Free Crackers
Vegetable tray with Yummy's!!
Hummus Tahini Recipe with Spiced Olive Oil
The Best Rockin' Guacamole with Tomatillos + Lime
Mess-Free Banana Split Bites

New Year's Day...
Shrimp Cocktail
Easy Cider Roasted Vegetables - Vegan and Gluten-Free
Gluten-Free Turkey & Sweet Potato Enchiladas
or Stuffed Green Cabbage Rolls
Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze

Oh, and don't forget all the fun drinks for the family,

New Year's Eve Punch
 cranberry juice
 orange juice
 pineapple juice
 lemon juice
 water
 sugar
 almond extract

 Shirley Temples

and Banana Split Power smoothies
Flax milk
Cottage Cheese
Banana
Strawberries
Pineapple chunks

Hope you all have a wonderful News Year's!!!

 

Bye, Bye 2012.. Hello 2013...



From Crosscards.com

2012 is almost over and I just can't believe in a couple of days we will ring in a New Year!  What a crazy year we have had as a family, I'm looking forward to the fresh start of a new year, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us!! Praying that 2013 will bring peace and love in my family, with great health and wisdom!

In 2012 I was given the best gift any women could ask for, the Lord blessed our family with a son!! We have 7 daughters so having a son was just such a treat!! My pregnancy was far from relaxing with Placenta Previa and worries, but in the end everything worked out well!

My husband and I grew closer this year, after 15 years of marriage I think we are both finally figuring out how perfect we are together.

In 2012 my husband decided to answer Gods calling, and change carrier paths. He is feeling called to attend Seminary in 2015 after in finishes his BA. I am scared and alive all at once! Being a full time student with 8 children will be challenging, but between blogging and 2 family sides jobs we will be just fine, the Lord is our strength. It does help to be about 90% debt free, I'm not sure we could do this with lots of debit hanging over ús. 

This year New Year I hope to make changes in my life to better who I am as a daughter, wife and mother. All I want is my heavenly father to say well done! When I make decisions now I always keep in mind that not only are my children watching me but also my father in heaven. It really changes the way you handle things, keeping your mind fixed upon Jesus and remembering that everything you do is seen from Heaven!

I have some new challenges in 2013 to take on with my health, nothing to serious but challenges. Watching my Gluten in take for myself and my daughter Victoria is a must. We both feel horrible when we eat too much, but I feel this is a blessing since eating a Whole Foods diet is 100% better for you! The cost is a little higher but not by much, I have done the math over and over again. It's way cheaper than doctor visits, and taking time off of work!

Still home schooling in 2013, this will be my 14th year as a stay at home mom, and my 11th year as a home school mother!! In Feb I start making plans for the upcoming year and I can't wait to share it all with you!

Down below I have come up with a new Blogging schedule so you know what I will be posting on which days. Now, I am a real mom with a real family and the strange thing is I do have things to do other than blogging, I know crazy! Really if I forget a post or two I am still around just most likely caring for the family. Of course we will be blogging other things than my 5 topics but my goal is at least a post each day except on Sundays.

Monday - My day book a log of my upcoming week

Tuesday - Gluten Free/Organic meal plans For Large families

Wed - Snap shots of Life

Thursday - Home school ideas and plans

Friday - Preparing the Heart

What are some of your plans in 2013?
Blessings,
Pamela

{This Moment}

 

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{this moment} - A single photo, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

To see more visit Soule Mama.

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Thomas at almost 4 months old
 Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether,  
He loves this little girl!!


 Blessings,
Pamela
 

 

The 12 Days of Christmas the start of the Christmas Season...And a Little History behind it...

The twelve days of Christmas is coming up and I have some new plans this year! It is so sad that everyone celebrates the 12 days of Christmas before Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas is celebrated from December 26th- January 6th, which is after December 25th. It is so sad to see everyone get really excited in November and celebrate through December 25 than just stop. Everyone goes onto a New Years Eve mood with parties and than back to normal lives.

The musical origin of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is that of a "catechism song." Between the years 1558 and 1829, those of the Catholic belief in England were not allowed to practice their faith, in public or private

Without regular mass, sacraments, or catechism lessons from the priest, there was little parents could do to help their children learn and remember the Catholicism the 12 days of Christmas was created in order to keep Catholic beliefs alive.

In our home we do a lot during the time of Advent but we do more after Christmas. We are not Catholic but love the meaning behind the 12 days. It's wonderful to hear schools and non believers sing this song loud and clear during the Christmas season. I kind of laugh "and smile to myself inside and know that the song they are singing has Christ filled meanings behind it.

Christmas Eve we prepare the whole house for the big day! We finish cleaning, cooking and setting up. I really want nothing to do on Christmas, sometimes easier said than done.

Oh, I heard that Christmas Eve is the second biggest shopping day of the year now next to black Friday. I sure hope I heard that wrong!!

Here are all the wonderful things we look forward to Christmas Day and the 12 days after.

December 25 Christ is born!! A day in our home that is set aside for our Savior! It is his birthday not ours it's his day not ours, let us give him the gifts of love and peace today Rejoice and praise our great Father in heaven for the best gift anyone could ever receive!

We open new pj's Christmas Eve and stockings Christmas morning. I will miss going to Christmas Worship Christmas Day as our church does not have a service on this day:( Maybe next year, but this year we will just spend quite time as a family with a party for our savior.

December 26 is the feast of St. Stephen—a traditional day for giving leftovers to the poor (as described in the carol "Good King Wenceslas").

December 28, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Innocents, the children murdered by Herod. These were not martyrs like Stephen, who died heroically for Christ. They were not inspired like John to speak the Word of life and understand the mysteries of God. They died unjustly before they had a chance to know or to will, but they all died for Christ! I think this is kind of a important day to remember don't you!

January 6th - finally in our home the day we open gifts a day everyone gets to enjoy! We may even open gifts on New Year's Eve this year since my girls are having a hard time waiting but January 6th is the goal! The celebration of Christmas comes to an end today. The ultimate celebration of Christmas is now behind us. Epiphany is the beginning of the Gospel, Christ is born the Magi have visit a great time to thank our great creator. A perfect time to celebrate with family and friends!

 

Xavier Romero-Frias

Here is my list for The Twelve days of Christmas 2012-

This year we will be keeping the cost of what we buy and do low! I love to give my family a little gift or make a special food, since we are a family of 10 now group gifts seem to work much better!

 

To start-

I found this really cute 12 Days of Christmas Cupcake Kit By Meri Meri I may use these for my Ladies fellowship or maybe our Church fellowship meal. ( I thought the price on this was good)!

 

Day 1 - A Partridge in a pear tree (Pears) - Jesus Christ, the Son of God

Day 2 - Two Turtle Doves (Chocolate that is) for each child - the Old and New Testaments...gifts from God

Day 3 - Three French Hens (Chicken Noodle Soup) - Faith, Hope and Charity sometimes referenced as Faith, Hope and Love...the three gifts of the
"Spirit that abide" (I Corinthians 13). The French hens may also represent
God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Day 4- Four Calling Birds ( Cardinal Beaded Safety Pins) , pencils and post it notes:) - the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Day 5 - Five Golden rings (Pineapple Rings ) - first five books of the Old Testament

Day 6 - Six geese a-laying 750 Piece Panoramic Jigsaw Puzzle: Winter Songbirds - Six Days of Creation

Day 7 - Seven swans a-swimming The Twelve Days of Christmas in Wisconsin . This looks like such a cute book! - Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit or is it really 6? Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)

And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord

Day 8 - Eight maids a-milking (Little individual chocolate milks and milk duds) - The Eight Beatitudes

THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Matthew 5:3-10

Day 9 - Nine ladies dancing (Nine candy cane cookies) - Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit -Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Day 10 - Ten lords a-leaping (Have the girls write out the Ten Commandments) - The Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:1-26 (KJV)

Day 11 - Eleven pipers piping (Study the names of the 11 faithful apostles)

Day 12 - Twelve drummers drumming (Learn the 12 points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed)

If you are looking for some healthy food ideas check out Beneficial bento, (I don't know much about the author of the blog, but she has some really cute gluten free lunch ideas for kids)

Blessing,

Pamela

Merry Christmas...

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!!

 

 

Many Blessings to all of you at this wonderful time of year!!

Today our Savior is born, thank you Father for the best gift anyone could ever receive!!

Help all of us to keep our eyes fixed upon you Lord as we go about our day with family and friends!

Amen!

All is calm, all is bright or Will be...

My favorite time of year next to Easter is Christmas a time for faith, food and fun. Oh, and colds and coughs!!! Here I sit in a home full of Christmas cookies, trees trimmed and Nativity's laid out. My whole family has been hit by this cold and it has been really rough. You know when my husband lays around not moving something is wrong.

I thought at first with a house full of sick family members I would just be able to sit around in a quite house and blog, but moms really never rest! With 8 children and 1 sick husband you don't have much help like your used to so sitting around just don't happen. I'm not feeling 100% myself but the Lord has spare me the worst of this flu, someone needs to be well enough to run the house. Glad the Lord picked me!!

I hope to catch up on some blog posts that I have started as soon as we are all better, and we hope before Christmas!

I love putting up pictures that I find floating in our Computer. We have so many pictures now that we download everything we snap. I think one of these days I will have to print some off and start filling all the scrapbooks I have!

Katelin 9 years old
 

Advent blessings,

             Pamela

Jesse Tree Devotionals and Pictures Days 13 -18 with Added Prayers Please

Sorry for not posting in a while, I took a few days off to help my husband get his college papers put together. Praying very hard for the my husband as he has felt a calling to go into Seminary school in just a couple of years. We have talked about this for a very long time, we just had to wait for God's timing. We will have to make big changes in our family, changes we can handle but life will be different. We are thinking he will have to go down a lot in his hrs at work, he is an A and B student but needs to be able to study and learn. The amazing thing is the Lord has given him work to do in the home where he can study full time and keep making some money. With almost zero debt I know we can do this!

Staying at his current job put putting in different hours or shorter hours will be a must, 50 -60 hrs a week will be too much. I am really excited for Larry and will do whatever it takes to help him serve the Lord. My family has been great about all of this, as they have said for years he should do what the Lord is calling him to do. The Lord has been tugging at my heart to help him with this calling for so long now, so could I ask all of you to please keep our family in your prayers.

 Here are the next 6 nights from our family Jesse tree nights. Find a extra 10-15 minutes each night you will be glad you did. Since we have 3 set's each set does things just a little different. The handmade set was given to me from some dear friends on-line. The fleece set was made by my husband and I, and the Wooden set I bought from a Etsy store , and each set does a wonderful job!

*Just a little note we are only reading from the new set this year the first picture in the groups, when you buy 3 sets you can only study one at a time. I do ask the kids to guess what the other symbols stand for, it is so great to hear them answer correctly.

Day 13 December 13th
Prophecy of shoot form the Stump of Jesse
Symbols: a stump, the oil lamp, (bottom picture the tablet with numbers)
Memory verse: John 1:14
Children's devotional's: Isaiah 11:1-5 John 1:14
Adult devotional: Isaiah 11:1-5, 10, John 1:14, 1 Samuel 16:1-3, Revelation 5:5
For the Oil lamp: 1 Samuel 3:1-17

 

Day 14 December 14th
Prophecy of the Lion and the Lamb resting together
Symbols: Lion and Lamb, The Harp
Memory verse: Isaiah 11:10
Children's devotional's: Isaiah 11:6-10
Adult devotional: Isaiah 1:6-10, Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 21:1-7, Philippians 2:9-11
For the Harp: 1 Samuel 16:1-23

Day 15 December 15th
Prophecy of the Prince of Peace
Symbol: Dove, The Crown of Solomon, (bottom picture the oil lamp)
Memory verse: John 14:27
Children's devotional's: Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27
Adult devotional's: Isaiah 2:2-4, 9:2-7, John 14:27
For the Crown of Solomon: 1 Kings 6:1-14

Day 16 December 16th
Prophecy of a Gentle Shepherd
Symbol: Lamb and Staff, The Stones of Elijah
Memory verse: John 10:27
Children's devotional's: Isaiah 40:11, Psalm 23:1&2, John 10:27
Adult devotional's: Isaiah 40:9-11, Psalm 23, John 10:27, John 10:11-16
For the Stones of Elijah: 1 Kings 18:1-39

Day 17 December 17th
Prophecy of the Suffering Servant
Symbol: Cross, The Temple of Nehemiah, (bottom picture the sling shot)
Memory verse: John 10:15
Children's devotional's: Isaiah 53, Luke 2:8-18, John 19:11-18; John 10:15
Adult devotional's: Isaiah 53, John 19:11-18, John 10:15, Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:22, Romans 5:9&10, 1 Peter 1:1 &19
For the Temple of Nehemiah: Nehemiah 1:1-7:73

Day 18 December18th
Prophecy of the New Covenant
Symbol: Heart with Writing, The Scroll of Isaiah, (bottom picture the Crown)
Memory verse: Jeremiah 31:33
Children's devotional's: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Acts 16:31
Adult devotional's : Jeremiah 31:31-34, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Hebrews 8-10
For the Scroll of Isaiah: Isaiah 40:1-11

Blessings!

Praying for the Families and Children of Connecticut

Praying very hard for everyone with children around the world today. I found out from a friend yesterday about the horror that took place in a elementary school, that left me without words. I already am a little numb to all of this seeing that this is happening all the time now. Just not with K-4th GRADERS!!!! I sat down and just wanted to do nothing but hug my friend and just cry. We both have small children 13 children between the both of us, what a blessings. 2 friends praising our husbands for leading us to home schooling!! 2 friends that could have lost their children if we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I pray as a country we learn from all of this, I just wish it did not have to be at the hands of small children. Even in these hard times we must always remember that the Lord is in control at all times he never loses control EVER!!

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3 KJV

Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus never take them off, I know it's hard when things just are not going the way we think they should. My prayer for myself is to remember this always, since I will without a doubt go through hard times in the future.

Hold your children tight and never forget that we are not alone in this world, we are surrounded by Heavens Angles, and Jesus Christ.

Blessings, and many prayers to you and your families.

Pamela

{This moment}

 

 

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{this moment} - A single photo, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. To see more visit Soule Mama.

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A Look from our Last Week

Since my mom can't be with us this year for Christmas my blog is a little heavy with pictures. She may not see us for a very long time, since she lives 1200 miles away. Like most weeks in December we had a full week of plans staying busy doing all kinds of things and loving every moment of it. If you look at my post on our Advent books and Plans for 2012  you'll see we do a lot as a family. After my husband worked 12 hours he still smiles as he carries our family tree in from the cold, what a man!

 

  In past years we would normally wait till the week of Christmas for our tree, but my husband and children love the Christmas tree so we decided to go ahead and enjoy it much earlier  this year.  We have our lights up but I think we will wait till Christmas Eve for the Ornaments, a fun way to surprise the children Christmas morning!

 

We had a visit from my sister Laura and her 2 wonderful children, which was such a fun time. It has been almost 4 months since we have seen her, way to long. Since my sister came up on December 8th the night Hanukkah starts we decided to have a little Hanukkah party, with Potato Latkes and games, such fun! We played the game War with our Gold chocolate coins, and laughed into the late evening. My sister had to leave early the next morning since we woke up to the falling of snow, with a 4 hour drive home in good weather we understood. 

 

So,  like I said early the next morning we woke up to snow which was so pretty to see, we should have snow in December it just makes since.  We went to church where we spent the day in worship, fellowship. After lunch we spend the afternoon in our church bible study which I have grown to really love! We are going over a new book together  The Enemy Within: Straight Talk About the Power and Defeat of Sin  what a great book! If you have a chance pick this up and read through this with your spouse or church family, you will be so glad you did!

 

The snow we received from our great Creator was perfect for Snowman, which my husband and children made before we even walked through door after church. The next morning we had to fix our snowman up a little which my girls did not mind. I  was reminded that the next time it snows my family would like to add buttons, scarf and hat. I think the thrift store would be a great place to find all of that!

 

Okay my blog post would not be complete without pictures, so I took a few pictures to share with you all!

 

 

My wonderful husband looking great as ever!

Waiting for daddy it seems like forever when your little!

Thomas wearing his lumberjack outfit for the occasion

Daddy and Thomas

Counting our chocolate coins
Oh, that mess in the glass bowl is a chocolate trifle which was worth the pound I gained from eatting it!
Most was gluten free, so mommy felt okay

Dessert on our Haunakka plates

Let the fun begin!!

Juliana was the first one out the door to fix our snowman

 

Advent Blessings!

 

Jesse Tree Devotionals and Pictures Days 11 and12

Here are the next 3 nights from our family Jesse tree nights. Find a extra 10-15 minutes each night you will be glad you did. Since we have 3 set's each set does things just a little different. The handmade set was given to me from some dear friends on-line. The fleece set was made by my husband and I, and the Wooden set I bought from a Etsy store , and each set does a wonderful job!

*Just a little note we are only reading from the new set this year the first picture in the groups, when you buy 3 sets you can only study one at a time. I do ask the kids to guess what the other symbols stand for, it is so great to hear them answer correctly.

Day 11 December 11th
King David
Symbols: Slingshot and The Sheaf of Wheat (bottom picture the plague of frogs)
Memory verse: Psalm 23:1
Children's devotional: 1 Samuel 16:1, 13, 17:1-9, 40, 45-50
Adult devotional: 1 Samuel 16-17
For the Sheaf of Wheat: Ruth 1:1-4:22

 

 

 Day 12 December 12th

Josiah Finds the Law



Symbols: A Scroll and The Tree of Jesse (bottom picture Parting of the Red Sea)
Memory verse: Psalm 119:105
Children's devotional: 2 Kings 23:1-3, Psalm 119:105
Adult devotional: 2 Kings 22-23:25, Psalm 119:105
For the Tree of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1, 10