Encouraging

A busy summer means that I didn't share the second two videos from Jeff and Becky Raymond. 

The good news is, you can still see all of them on their website. 

Today though, I want to share their final video.  They say it's their favorite.

Well... it's my favorite too.  The stories shared are simply God inspired!  I was actually crying while I watched.  And it's only 5 minutes and 23 seconds.  So I'm curious.  Is it because I'm emotional like that???  Or will you cry too?  Anyone have five and a half minutes to find out???




What did you think???  Isn't our God amazing?

I'm so excited that I get to support this ministry! 

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 5:30 AM 0 Comments

Hundred Acre Wood Baby Shower... and giveaway!

"Pooh Corner"... aka the gift table.  Honey at the right were game prizes.

So, back in January, I had the joy of planning a baby shower for a friend of ours.  (And I'm the new "shower lady"... so cool!!!  There's another one next weekend.)

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."  ~ Pooh

She had chosen a Winnie the Pooh theme for the nursery since they didn't know boy or girl, so I decided to go with a slightly more sophisticated "Hundred Acre Wood" theme for the baby shower.  

"Time for a Little something." ~Pooh

 I started with the food table, making the garland at the front and planning the perfect foods. 

Hunny Snack Mix

Hunny Wheat Pretzels

"Pooh Sticks"... chocolate dipped pretzels.

Oak Leaf Rice Crispy Treats (also dipped in chocolate... why not?)

Hunny Bee Cupcakes

Aren't they cute??  Mini marshmallows for wings.

And some other sweet things... Kettle Corn.

Chocolate Mousse... again, why not???

Ribbon accented half pint jars in brown, yellow and white serve as cups.

 

 One last little detail... the subway art.  I came up with it myself and was really happy with it... except when My Beloved pointed out that Pooh would have spelled it "hunny".  Oh well.  It's fixed now.  I put it out as a decoration on the gift table and then gifted it to the mommy (without the borrowed frame.)

For a game I came up with a bunch of "Pooh Trivia" from the original stories.  It was great because many people know the newer versions of things, but few know the real story!  And store bought bottles of honey were the prizes... very simple!


You can find the printables I used for the shower here.

The Giveaway!
And now... if anyone is interested in the word art (subway art) in that last picture, I'd love to give a few away.  Leave a comment about your favorite party theme (for a kid party, baby shower, bridal shower... or whatever!) and I'll pick a winner next Wednesday.  (That's the day I'm hoping to be nursing again... you can help me pass the time until then!) Winners will get a JPG image to print yourself.  I used a lab to print mine, but you could do it anyway you want.

Labels: Party Planning, Passing it On, With These Hands

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 4:08 PM 4 Comments

Please pray

A post came through my feed this morning asking me to pray and I'm passing it on...

The Mouro Family: Urgent prayer needed

This link is just to the latest post as of now.  You'll have to poke around for updates or for the story behind it.

Short version... a little guy (13ish months) fell into a 5 gallon bucket and drowned.  He was found by a sibling, pulled out, and later revived by EMS.

The same minute I read it, I sent my 5 year old out to turn a couple 5 gallon buckets in our back yard upside down, emptying the little bit of water that accumulated in the rain overnight.

I'll be praying for this family I don't know... I ache for them!  Will you join me???

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:42 AM 2 Comments

My Weakness, My Sin

I really can't remember the last time I said no to a piece of chocolate. Or just five more minutes of reading (or ten, or fifteen, or twenty... you know how that goes). I eat what I want when I want, and I do what I want when I want. As a stay-at-home mom, I am my own boss. No one is looking over my shoulder, checking up on me.

I am selfish and self-indulgent. I consider my own desires to be more important than the desires of others, and allow my indulgences to inhibit my service of others. Like indulging myself in wasted time when I should be serving my family by cleaning my home or making dinner.   (The Purposeful Wife)

I didn't write this... but I certainly could have.  Except replace the time reading with sitting at my computer.  And the "piece" of chocolate with "bag".

Ahem.

Self-indulgence is certainly not the only sin I struggle with, but it's a big one... and one I struggle with daily... as in right now.  And not only does it grieve God, it is dishonoring to my husband and unloving to my children.

In the week since I read this post and felt the full conviction of my sin, I've lost 2 pounds.  Crazy, I know.  And I'm not doing anything real special.  I haven't started exercising like I had hoped and I've had a decent sized dessert almost every night.  For the most part I've still eaten what I want, when I want.

The difference?  "What I want, when I want" just isn't the same when I keep Jesus in my sights and repent over-indulgence.  Am I done with this sin?  Certainly not.  I'm not so proud (one of my other sin issues) to think I won't fall in this area again.  But by His grace I'll take it one step at a time.

Hop over to The Purposeful Wife to read the whole article.  You won't be sorry... or maybe you will.  Either way, it's a good thing.

Labels: Life Lessons for Mommy, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 5:00 AM 1 Comments

Empowering

This past Fall I shared the ministry of Jeff and Becky Raymond.  They have the amazing opportunity to come alongside missionaries to tell their stories, making those missionaries more effective in communicating heir ministries.

And now, they have released the first of a series of short videos that share their story... their ministry.

I've never heard of a ministry quite like it.  You've got to check it out!!! 


Empower from Jeff Raymond on Vimeo.



What do you think?  I'd love to hear your comments.  Have you every heard of a ministry like this?

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 5:00 AM 0 Comments

Returning soon...

... at least that's my plan.

In the mean time, this post really spoke to where I am these days! 

Labels: Passing it On, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 4:29 PM 0 Comments

A chance to get some great homesteading stuff free! I'm in!

I'd love to know how many of my readers are of a "homesteaders" mindset. 

Anyone? 

Well, anyway... you could say that I am.  I want chickens so I can collect my own eggs (or rather so the kids can).  I want goats (or even a cow would be awesome!) so we can have fresh milk.  I want land and gardens and fences and even a barn... if we're lucky. (Not that I believe in luck.  'Cause I don't.)

I had to share this bit of my dreamland so you'd understand why I'm bopping in here during my baby-moon simply to share this with you. 

You see... the new owners over at Homestead Drying Racks have come out with an Ezine about homesteading.  And it looks to be absolutely beautiful inside.  And the first one is free!  Go get it... check it out... and enjoy!

But, ultimately, as cool as that is... it's not really enough to get me back here blogging when there are babies to care for and a house falling apart. 

Nope, but the huge and amazing giveaway they are having to celebrate the debut of this online magazine IS enough to break me away for a few minutes. 

I'd take just about any of the 10 prizes they're offering... but I'm really torn about whether I am desperate for the 1st or 2nd prizes.  I really want them both... as in, I've been wanting both for a long while and it probably won't be in the budget for either anytime soon.  :( 

So... here I am spreading the news about both.  Go over there.  Get your free magazine and enter this giveaway!!!

Labels: Homesteading, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:30 PM 2 Comments

Homestead Blessings: The Art of Cooking

This video series has been high on my list of things to own and watch for a long while.  I was just afraid of whether or not they would actually be worth it, so I keep putting off spending the money.  But this year for Christmas two of them appeared "under the tree".



The first one I viewed was The Art of Cooking.  I have to admit that, I was a little afraid it would be a silly waste of money.  Is it really going to be worth it?  I already know the basics of cooking (not that I'm good at it)... and my daughter isn't old enough to get anything out of it yet.  But I watched... wondering if the Candle Making or Crafting or, even Gardening, videos would have been a better first pick.  But I watched.  I figured that if I like the basics premise of how they teach and the "southern charm" everyone keeps talking about, then I could just go ahead and get the rest I don't have.

But let me tell you... I am a visual learner!  I get so lost in reading recipes and hearing how people do things.  These ladies walked me through several recipes for each meal of the day.  And they all look so good.  Best of all, they made it look so simple.  Now, of course, I know they did some time lapse stuff, skipping the longer parts of sifting, etc.  But still, it has encouraged me that I can get in that kitchen and do some nice things for my family!

My favorite part???  They use many of the ingredients we've started using in our own kitchen... fresh ground whole wheat flour (though they use unbleached white sometimes too), coconut oil... and of course the cast iron pans!  I wondered how much of what they taught would really be transferable, but in reality... from homemade salad dressing (which I actually feel brave enough to try now), to apples and onions (a recipes I first read about in the Little House Books), to a new pancake recipe I may just have to try (and many more), EVERYTHING should transfer quite nicely into our home!



I look forward to watching these again and again... and to interjecting what I learn from them into my own kitchen... my own opportunities to bless my sweet family with home cooked meals!


(I'm sure my husband just got excited that I got this video first!!)  :)

Labels: Homesteading, In the Kitchen, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:51 AM 0 Comments

I love this!

Ok... I'm loving two things today.  (Well, besides reading to the kids, dinner from the freezer, and a slightly caught up kitchen!)

Oh, yes, back to those two things!  Sorry.

First, is entrepreneurial opportunities for our kids!  I just love that.  I love the idea of five year olds growing and selling sun flowers, raising produce for a road side stand, and now, young girls selling beautiful things!  Growing entrepreneurial spirits in our children does a number of things for them.  In running a business (or helping alongside a family business), children learn about money, business, and work.  I'm sure there is more too.  In a sewing business, they are learning and practicing valuable skills... as they are in a cookie baking business, or other crafts.  Domestic skills, gardening, creativity... all these things can be fostered.

In addition to all these, potentially more obvious, benefits, our children (and especially our daughters) are being given experience and opportunities to help make some money from home for future families... enabling them to bless their husbands while being a keeper at home!  I love this! 

Credit

And the other thing I'm loving today???  Lilla Rose!

Have you heard of it?  I have a hard time believing you haven't heard yet because I have been seeing them around for a while now (around blog land that is).  I think they are just stunning, and I've given my hand at a few giveaways here and there, but otherwise I haven't paid too much attention.

Credit

Until last week that is... and for real, today.  Just today I was reading over at one of my favorite blogs and this was the post.

Two girls in this sweet family are now consultants for Lilla Rose!  (Ah, now you see how my two things I'm loving today are related!)  They directed me over to some videos on You Tube to see how hair can be styled with these special hair clips.

The kids and I watched all the videos they had... and I so totally want one!  Or three.  Or more.  Maybe.

I have plans.  I may just use birthday money to get a couple.  Or maybe I'll leak the information for Christmas (um... I believe I just did.)  But Christmas is so far away! (Ok... maybe not.)  For now, I'm trying to win a couple over here!

Credit

But this is huge for me... for me to find something I'm willing to spend birthday money on is a big deal!  So why do I want these?  Especially when I could hit Target and find 2 or 3 various hair clips for the same price???  Let me count the ways...

1. I have a ton of very thick hair that comes to just about my mid back.  Not layered at all.  Traditional clips don't work great for me.  I have one (in all the years of my adulthood) that I can use just to put it in a "ponytail" without using a scrunchy.  All others have broken over the years.  I have no idea where this one was gifted from... and it's not anything special.  Just brown.  No where near this pretty!
2. I always wear my hair up!  I bugs me around my face and it bugs the kids down around my shoulders... not to mention the little hands that want to play in it.  Then there is the fact that I don't spend a lot of time (read: any time) on my hair in the mornings.  A bun is easier, faster, and totally do-able!
3. My husband really hates scrunchies!  I mean really.  For that very reason alone I should have burned them all years ago.  Yet, as I type, one holds back my hair in a low, thick, unbrushed (I'm going for full disclosure here!) ponytail.  Some little hair pretties that can actually hold all this hair in an attractive way... I'm not sure why I don't already have some!

I could probably go on... but these are the big ones!  I'd encourage you to head over and look at what Lilla Rose has to offer through Amber's (15), Kaitlyn (13) and Alyssa's (11) site!

And take a minute to enter for a chance to win a couple!

Labels: Homesteading, Passing it On, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:04 PM 1 Comments

Missionaries... what do they really do over there???

photo by Jeff Raymond

Isn't that the question we all want to know?  Missionaries visit our church and send prayer letters, but often times the question goes unanswered.  Or, at least, we don't catch the answer.  Joe Missionary and his wife stand up on that stage sharing story after story of their experiences with people in West Africa, but after the first bit, we sort of tune out.  Lose focus.  We admire this family for giving up everything to go serve in a difficult place, but their skills are obviously not in storytelling.  Nor photography.  We see blurry pictures of market square, cows eating socks (I kid you not) in the middle of busy roads, and a group shot of the new church, but we are detached.

photo by Jeff Raymond

Our culture is used to fast-paced technology.  Programs broken into 10 or 15 minute increments and cluttered with 20 second commercials.  Anything longer and we'd turn it off.  High graphic video games keep us riveted for hours, but try to sit and listen to a five minute presentation on what God is doing in the Czech Republic and we zone out completely.

photo by Jeff Raymond

And we can hardly blame the missionaries... though we usually do.  What are they doing over there?  Are they there to study the latest trends in media?  To photograph the people who desperately need to hear about Jesus?  No.  They are there to love those people and to tell them the Good News of Jesus.  A couple working alone in Slovakia doesn't have the time or the energy to take a quick picture of the ministries they are involved in... they are immersed in the work.

photo by Jeff Raymond

So what are they supposed to do when they return home on furlough and are faced with the task of turning everything they have done over the last 4+ years into a presentation for churches across the country.  They use what they have because there aren't any other options.

Photo by My Beloved or I... but we don't remember doing it!

Enter Jeff and Becky Raymond.  Jeff has a long history as a professional photographer, and after 12 years working in the home office of their mission board as Director of Photography, God made it abundantly clear that it was time for Jeff to take his ministry to the next level.  In July of 2009 they were appointed as career missionaries dedicated to helping missionaries tell their stories.  They travel overseas to learn and capture the stories in photographs (as well as other forms of media) that can then be made available to those missionaries.  They train missionaries, pastors, and Christian workers to be more effective in communicating their ministries.  They mobilize others gifted in photography and other visual media to go collect stories overseas as well.  And they stay up to date with the ever changing world of multi-media so they can implement them for missions and help the missionaries learn how to use them themselves. 

Together with their family, Jeff and Becky have been traveling the countryside since their appointment in 2009, reportedly traveling through 26 states as of this week.  In September, they departed on a 6 week, 13 state tour, traveling to churches and meeting with individuals to share their ministry and light a fire of excitement about the job the Lord has given them to do.  At 56% of their support needs (before they can pick up with their ministry to missionaries around the world), they are praying the Lord will provide through His people and bring them to the needed 85% by the end of October to meet their deadline for necessary training. 

photo source unknown

Through the rest of this month they will be continuing to travel through the plains states... and they'd love to fill in their schedule even more.  Would you like to meet with them to hear the amazing details (I only touched on it) of their ministry?  My family and I already have the opportunity of supporting this amazing ministry, but my heart is to help them more than that... I want to introduce them to you.  Maybe you know you can't help them financially, but you're still interested in their ministry.  They would love a chance to meet with you and/or to share with your church!

Want to sponsor one of the fields they aim to support with this ministry?  Go here now!

Or visit their website for more information!



One last thing to leave you with... an example of this amazing ministry.  All the audio and visual elements are done by Jeff himself.  The following is what Jeff tells his audience before playing this video:

The reason I like to show this video is that it’s an example of where missions communication is going – where you start with an end result of something God did in somebody’s life and tell the story behind it.  Instead of the typical missionary approach of standing up in front of a church and for 30 minutes giving a list of facts about their country and details of everything they’ve done for the past four years.  By telling stories, people hearts can be moved in only a few minutes.  Missionaries have stories, they have amazing stories.  But very few have the resources to tell those stories in a compelling, visual way, so that people can see with their own eyes what God is doing around the world.  I’m convinced that when people see with their own eyes, their hearts are drawn to find their role in missions and become more involved with what God is doing.

Fusini's Story from Jeff Raymond on Vimeo. 

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:08 PM 0 Comments

Encourage Hollywood to Make more Quality Movies!

Calling all Families! Calling all Moms! Calling all Homeschoolers!

Join thousands of families nationwide to see the movie Dolphin Tale on September 23 together. It makes a statement to Hollywood to rally behind movies that “get it right” and tell great stories without all the junk, twaddle, and moral compromise! This movie has all the good stuff we want more of and is truly entertaining and inspiring from ages 5-95!!!
It’s time the conservative Christian Family and Homeschool community shows Hollywood we have a voice. But how? We need a story we can support and get behind, a story that affirms who we are and what we stand for.

Dear Friends, Dolphin Tale is such a story!

This is a family movie that will inspire, instruct, and bring you to tears because of the great story line. This movie even has two homeschool kids who play the main roles! (The casting agents went to a local support group in California and found them!)
The bottom line is that the Homeschool Movie Club wants to show Hollywood that the those of us with Christian and strong family values are a big enough market to support other great movies with traditional, conservative family values. I am hoping you will be a part of this great opportunity with me!

Watch the Movie trailer as seen on my side bar.

Watch a short clip from movie about Cozi being homeschooled.

Visit the Homeschool Movie Club website.

Visit the Homeschool Movie Club blog.

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 2:05 PM 1 Comments

Coming in May... um... tomorrow?

Ok... so how did that happen??? How did tomorrow become May? Or is it the other way around? How did May become tomorrow? That one sounds more like it.


So (since I've procrastinated it for a week or so), "coming up in May"... I'm going to be participating in "31 Days to Clean" with Sarah Mae. I've purchased her new ebook (and looked over it too... it's worth it from what I see!) and I'm ready to go. It may be just what we need to help us along on this Suzy meets P31 project of mine. Regardless... it should help get things clean around here. Will you join me???

(UPDATED: Join over at Joyful Mothering to do this with a group!)


Also in May is this great series on "homemaking for girls"! This woman has my heart! Just as we've been talking about in Suzy meets P31, so many of us never really learned to keep our homes. This month Homegrown Mom is helping us train our daugthers! YEY for her! Hop over and read her vision! :)

Labels: Home Making, Keeping My Home, Passing it On, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:15 AM 0 Comments

So Distant!

The news is full of pictures of the tornados that have swept through and destroyed so many places in the last week or more. Add this on top of earthquakes and tsunamis the world over and it's easy (for me at least... isn't that horrible?) to get overwhelmed by it all and focus back inward to my own corner of the world. To the parts that are real.

When it's so far away... so distant... it becomes stories. Not real.


Then you learn of someone specific who has been affected. Read more personal accounts. Mourn with them for the loss of a father (to 13!).

Suddenly it's not so distant. I'm sobbing at my computer.

I gather my littles close to me, explain to them a little of what happened, and we pray. Together.

For comfort.

For salvation.

Protection.

Wisdom.

Guidance.

Provision.


My heart is full for them all... and so many others I now remember are represented by these few stories.

Won't you please remember to pray... give... and serve to help our brothers and sisters in hard times?

Labels: As it happens..., Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:27 AM 0 Comments

Stuck???

Do we seem stuck in a rut here?

Why haven't we taken that next step in this series?

Well, I mentioned some struggles I've been working through. That has slowed me down some. But really, the main reason we haven't taken the next steps here is that I haven't taken the next step *here*... in real life.

So why not??? What's the problem?

Truly, the main problem comes down to the original problem. Laziness.

I'm lazy.

I hate it... but I am. I've not yet been able to put off this sin. It's a tricky one to put off too... and you know why? Because I have to put off laziness in order to put off laziness.

That's right. I have to get up.

Then I have to stay up.

I have to "do it enyway!"


Sitting back down to read one more blog is easier than getting everything out to mop the floor.

Thumbing through a catalog is way more fun than washing toilets.

Searching online for encouragement in housework is less work than actually doing it.

Seeking out other's suggestions for child raising and spiritual growth takes way less faith (and sometimes time) than sitting quietly before the throne of the one who knows the answers and seeking them for ourselves!


A couple articles I've happened upon in the last day or so have helped me see this and I wanted to pass them on for your own edification!

Rising to the Challenge
Lara's Dos and Don'ts (I'd read through these soon... she's fazing out her blog and has already deleted much of her archives.)


My goal this week... my number one focus... isn't on keeping my schedule (though that would be great!) and isn't getting everything done. This week my focus is on getting back up... working hard... and not eating the bread of idleness!!!


Linking to...

Labels: Life Lessons for Mommy, Passing it On, Suzy meets P31

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:34 AM 1 Comments

Raising Older Women... check it out!

A week or so ago, I stumbled through bloggyland and was delighted to find a real life friend from my college days!

When I left Southern California 6 years ago, I really left. And am in touch with hardly anyone from those days (which is my whole life). I didn't do it on purpose. No bridges were burned. It just sort of happened. This became my life. My Beloved became my life. And now, my babies are my life too. I am blessed that a couple friends from that world (my life before marriage) still keep long distance company with me now and then (Thanks Fern and Jens!) but neither of them live down there anymore anyway. I'm not even sure it's my fault. I send "updates" via mass email to a number of people down there. I guess you could say I keep in touch (though not personally), but I rarely ever hear back.

So what a treat to find that I recognized one of the new contributors over at Raising Homemakers! I clicked right over and made contact. And what do you know... she remembered me too! She even added me to her reader. Isn't that sweet?!? And I check over there regularly.

This morning I clicked over to Raising Homemakers (as I often do) and read one of the best posts about raising daughters I've ever read. Truly. As I scrolled down and wrapped it up, there was her name. My real life friend Veronica!

Click over here to read her post on raising an older woman!

Then bop on over and check out her blog... I have found a number of things I just love over there already. And she's so very thorough in studying and applying Scripture to her posts!

Labels: Passing it On, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:14 PM 3 Comments

Try this tonight

Ok... so I'm not a food blog. If I were, I would have put these delicious bread sticks on a pretty plate and made them look all special. Instead, you're seeing exactly what we did. Bread sticks on parchment paper on the cookie sheet on the stove.

Yeah.

Pretty much.

In my defense... they were not part of dinner. Not even planned.

Tuesday evening, I made hamburgers. Which means, in this "we don't buy bread" household, I made hamburger buns too. Sometime this past year we found and tried this very yummy and better than anything I'd ever tried recipe for Whole Wheat Rolls. Way better than using my favorite bread recipe and shaping it into rolls (we use this one now!).

A week or so ago, I was reading over at Raising Olives and had left the page open to go about my daily activities. Before I knew it, My Beloved was sitting at my computer and he had clicked through... at Raising Olives. Not in a new tab like I had thought.

"Let's make these!" He said with a tone in his voice I've learned to understand as "Why haven't you made these for me before?"

I came over to see that he had clicked, only to see that he had his eyes on Kimberly's Hamburger Bun Recipe. Oh sure, I'd seen the tutorial link in her sidebar a bunch of times. But I already had a "Bun" recipe that worked well... or so I thought.

What hadn't ever occurred to me is that I was using a recipe for rolls... one that worked, but still rolls.

This recipe actually claimed to be buns!

I assured him that it was in no way a deliberate breech in my vows and that I would try them the next time... and then I made plans for "the next time" to be soon.

Fast forward to this week. Tuesday. It was time.

I hate new recipes. It's so much easier to make an old recipe... no matter how imperfect. At least I know what I'm getting myself into. But I tried it. And you know what? It was easy! And reasonably fast!

The first thing that stood out to me was that I wouldn't be rolling portions of dough into balls to flatten out later. No... she rolls her dough out and uses the ring from a wide mouth mason (canning) jar to cut them out. I was skeptical, but I L.O.V.E. it. It worked wonderfully and was a great size. For kid sizes, I used the regular mouth size. (Note: this recipe is from a mom of many... it makes a bunch! I baked 12 of them for eatting and freezing and froze the rest of the pre-cut dough for "fresh" baking later... 30+ of them!)

I had to re-roll the dough several times to get them done until I decided I didn't care about the remaining dough. I was afraid to roll them out one more time anyway. Instead, the kids and I rolled them "snake" style and put them on a cookie sheet to put right in the (still) preheating oven.

15-20 minutes later, they were out and we were tasting them. My Beloved took the first taste and was unimpressed. Boring. I wish I could say we had the next thought at the same time, but I'm pretty sure he had me by several moments.

Before I knew it I was spreading butter onto the hot bread sticks. It was melting as fast as I was doing it. Then... with the precision of a man with a jar of seasonings, yum was being sprinkled over the top.

And by "yum" I mean Nora's Spice Rub-Mediterranean.

Yum!

Did I already say that?

We picked it up at the farm show on Sunday... and Y.U.M!

You should really peruse the site and get some for yourself! We met the owner of the business and talked with her for a few minutes while she was grilling us up some bread to give us a sample of this very yummy seasoning mix, but she was busy. I didn't get to ask her all the questions going in my head about her little business. (All this to say... she doesn't know me and I'm getting nothing for my words here!)

At the very least, try the buns (which were better than store bought, by the way... and whole wheat) so you can make those bread sticks. Brush them with butter and sprinkle with your favorite seasoning!

And I promise not to judge you if you eat them from the pan on the stove... even if they are planned!

Labels: In the Kitchen, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:46 AM 0 Comments

Merry Christmas!

This is a cute little video they shared at our Christmas Eve service tonight. I had to find it on You Tube when we got home to watch it again... and share it with you. Ever imagine what it would have been like if Mary and Joseph had Facebook way back then?



Funny thing is... I learned a lot about how facebook works by watching it. I had no idea the intricacies! Not sure I could handle it if I were on. :)

Merry Christmas!

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:33 PM 2 Comments

Tattler Giveaway!

I've been busy busy around here... we were away for the weekend (last minute trip to spend time with My Beloved's family!) and I've been working feverishly on getting the house in order (it's kinda needed it these last few years). On top of that, I'm working on pictures from a family session last week... and that is so not my priority these days. So it's hard to make myself do it. Oh, and working on being consistent with my children... even when it means sitting one on one with a particular girl who won't swallow a bite of her dinner for nearly 45 minutes. Did I mention I've been busy?


At any rate... I'm busy. But not too busy to enter this giveaway for Tattler Reusable Canning Lids. Head on over and enter. Actually... don't. Don't go over there to try for a chance to win 2 dozen of each size lid.

Ok, ok... you can go. And let me know if you win!

Happy Canning!

Labels: As it happens..., Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:31 PM 2 Comments

More you should know about flying this holiday

I have a feeling this mistreatment by TSA isn't going away soon. As it turns out, as we stand up and say we won't accept one thing, it just keeps getting worse. As I was sharing with a lady here recently, about how TSA is going right up lady's skirts to "search" and touch everything, she stated, "Well then, I guess I'll be wearing pants on my flight." Now it seems, that isn't going to matter... they're reaching right down our pants!

I've also just heard a story about a little girl, three years old, who screamed as she received a full pat down. My heart aches as I hear her scream in the video, "Don't touch me!" I don't know about you, but I teach my children that no one except mommy and daddy can touch them if they don't want them too. In fact, in light of this video (they overheard the girl crying while I watched), I've started explaining to them that if anyone else touches them they can and should scream as loud as they can. Let's not mix messages here... are they or are they not supposed to let strangers touch them? Any strangers?

My Beloved brought my attention to a very interesting thing last night... a little good in all this bad. Apparently, when TSA was brought into airports after 9/11, it was a short term thing, and after 2 years, airports could choose between TSA and private security. Perhaps there is something we can do after all. I'd encourage you to call your local airport/s (or even non local airports) and request that they change security teams. Let them know you won't be flying until they do.

Other things we can do... participate in Opt Out Day (though I feel even more strongly about this one than the scanners). Some are saying that when you opt out, refuse to go to the back room where they do it in private, but make sure you stay in public. This makes sure others know what they are doing to you... and may just be a safer option.

My preference to the whole thing is to "opt out" of flying that day all together... or more than that, not to fly at all until this is done away with! Vote with your dollars... they can't argue with that if we all do it!

Do you have any stories of your recent flights??? The more we share, the more we can encourage each other... and maybe, just maybe see change!

Related:

Are you flying this holiday season? A violation of more than our 4th amendment rights

Labels: Passing it On, Rants

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:14 AM 2 Comments

Are you flying this holiday season? A violation of more than our 4th amendment rights

It seems the government is asking the American people to succumb to m*lestation for an opportunity to travel by air. I sit here staring at my screen after what I just learned... searching for words.

Dumbfound at the audacity.

Visually upset.

Angry.

I know I have to get the word out. All you beautiful women. My throat closes at the thought.


This secular video clip from infowars.com shares the latest in TSA's regulations:



We're conditioned to let it happen. What can we say? It's in the name of "national security". We're conditioned to let them do whatever they deem necessary. For a long while now, security officers have been "checking" us with the backs of their hands brushing against clothes. With the advent of the "n*ked body scanners", it occurred to many of us that they had gone to far. But we could always opt out, then succumbing to a more thorough physical search. Now they've taken it a mile further.

It seems that when we choose to "opt out" of the n*aked body scanners (and possibly regardless), a more invasive hands front "pat down" is the alternative. Touching. Groping. I'm not sure what I would have done if I'd been Michelle from the video interview. Would I have had the presence of mind to stop that security man in his tracks when his hands, touching/feeling/squeezing their way up, had moved their way up past my knee? Beyond mid thigh? Reaching between? Or would I have been dumbfound in my horror? Too embarrassed to speak? Humiliated?

If it had happened to me, would I ever forget it? Would my children? Who cares if it's a woman who does the groping? By the way... the woman in the video wasn't working with a woman... but a man. And she didn't say anything about it, but I'm having a hard time believing that he told her everything he was going to do before he did it.

Everyday women and children are violated in this way by strangers and trusted friends and family alike. It's called m*lestation. And they are too embarrassed to ever mention it to another human being again. They walk through life scarred. Shattered.


What do we tell our children after something like this happens? This mother did the best she knew how, but how can we teach our children that it is never ok for someone anyone to touch them in those places, only to let government officials do so? Will it be something that gives my children nightmares for years to come? Will it affect my daughters future marriage bed? Even I feel like I may be going too far with this now... but am I? What's the difference?

And which would I prefer? For my daughter to be forever scarred by this "security search" of her private areas? Or for her to feel it's completely normal for a complete stranger to touch every inch of her body because it's protocol? I'm not sure I have an answer for you on that one.

Alex Jones calls it humiliation... but as a Christian woman striving to be a virtuous woman, I'm going to have to call it worse than that. I just can't come up with anything strong enough to put into words.

I'm begging you, beautiful women crafted by God, be aware. Protect yourselves. Protect your children. Know that this is happening. Know that this could happen to you and your children as you travel this holiday season, in some cases whether or not you "opt out" of the body scanning. Stay home... travel by car.

More importantly though, tell everyone you know about this. I'm angry about what is happening, but I am grateful to know about it before being in the terrible position myself.


Have any of you seen or heard about this already? Has it happened to you? If you are willing, please share it with us.

Labels: Passing it On, Rants

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:13 PM 5 Comments