Whole Foods

I've learned a lot from my sis and brother-in-law about whole foods this summer. They truly are better for you. I'm stilling learning more everyday. We are going to start getting meat from grass fed animals, raw milk, and many more different foods that are natural and/or organic. We are starting slowly because it does cost a bit more buying natural and organic foods. But it's worth it because the better you eat, the better you feel.

Check out www.kellythekitchencop.com to learn more about whole natural and organic foods.

I'm very excited about this Fall. We are getting chickens!!!! I've been talking to my hubby about it for at least a year now, but have had little luck due to us living in town and the worry of the stink they give off. However, his we spent a week with his sis on vacation and she was able to explain to him benefits about having chickens. I only want 3....and even though we live in town, we have a great size backyard that is fenced in. He is now very much looking forward to getting the chickens and building the coop. We have had a garden this summer. We had corn, but the ants got the best of it, we currently have 2 watermelons growing and growing, we got 1 cucumber..lol..it was very tasty and fresh (and organic), and we have a blackberry bush. It has really grown since I've planted it. Hopefully it will flourish and produce next season. We've also got a big batch of okra. The okra has done the best. We had trouble growing any tomatoes, cantaloupe or carrots....and our pear trees didn't produce this year. But, we were very excited for the way things turned out for our first garden. We plan on having a Fall garden and my awesome hubby is going to build a coop over the spring garden that can be moved to the Fall garden when it comes time to plant another spring garden. That way the chickens can fertilize each one. We are so excited that we will soon be having fresh eggs:)

This morning I made some amazing waffles, if I do say so myself:) They are good for you too.

Check out the recipe:

~1 1/2 cups white flour or whole wheat flour

~1 cup old fashioned rolled oats

~1 Tbsp. baking powder

~1/2 tsp. cinnamon

~1/4 tsp. salt

~~~~Mix the above ingredients together

~~~~Mix the below ingredients together

~2 eggs

~1 1/2 cups raw milk

~4 Tbsp. coconut oil

~2 Tbsp. brown sugar

~~~~Mix all ingredients together and pour in waffle iron until done.

**I say they are good for you because most of the ingredients I used were all natural or organic. You can top these yummy waffles with maple or all natural syrup, yogurt, jam, or fresh fruit. They really are delicious and my kids loved them as well! I plan on making a double batch and freezing them to pop in the toaster on school mornings for a quick, nutritious meal.

I hope you all have a blessed day!

~My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

Sounthern Homecooked Meal

This is more like a fall meal, but it's easy and yummy. Ham, beans, and cornbread (from scratch.) I am loving summer. We haven't gone on our vacation yet....but in some ways I'm missing fall already. I'm drinking coffee today, making this delicious autumn meal, and listening to my Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosy, (and many more great singers) mix of music. I LOVE it!

I was browsing through my recipe cards looking for my cornbread recipe that I got online months ago. I thought I had found it when I realized that it didn't call for sugar. It was another cornbread recipe that we had tried but didn't like as well. We like it a little sweeter. So I got on the computer and started looking for the long lost recipe. I looked and looked and couldn't find it. I was getting sad; so I went back to my recipe cards and I FOUND it! I was so happy. My whole family LOVES this recipe. It is the best cornbread I've ever tasted! We used to use Jiffy, which is great, but I love making things from scratch. I don't remember where I got the recipe, but here it is:

-Mix together....

-3 1/2 tsp baking powder

-1 cup flour

-1 cup cornmeal

-2/3 cup sugar

-1 tsp salt

-Mix with that.....

-1 egg

-1 cup milk

-1/3 cup vegtable oil

-Bake at 400* for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and you can stick a toothpick in, and it comes out clean....enjoy!!!

Hope everyone has a blessed evening!!

"You will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord. Jeremiah 29"12-14

It's Been A While....Lots Going On!

Hello, All!!! How have you been??? Good, but busy here. Summer is here for me and my kiddos. The hubby is still hard at work. I feel so bad for him having to work in the heat. He's sure to drink lots of water, so not to get dehydrated. It's very important to drink lots of water.

I have been trying to keep the boys entertained. We have filled our little pool and they also love to play in the waterhose on the trampoline.

I have been using my clothesline so much this summer. I love it. I'm helping our earth as well as saving on our electric bill. I've also been keeping busy with our small garden. I'm so excited about it. It's getting bigger and bigger everyday. I'll post pics soon. This pic is of my homemade granola:) I was so very excited about making it. It is my first time making dry granola. I've made some chewy granola bars recently, but they didn't stay together very well. They were still very tasty though:)

This is the recipe in case you'd like to try it out: (It's very simple)

-3 cups old fashioned oats

-1/3 cup slivered almonds

-1/2 cup pine nuts

-1 cup dried fruit (I used cranberries and apricots)

-1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

-2 tbs brown sugar

-1 tsp vanilla

-2 melted butter

-Mix all together. Spray a cookie sheet, and spread the granola over the pan. Bake at 325*

-I took it out a few times and flipped it so it wouldn't burn. It was very delicious!

I've also been making dough for rolls and pizza dough and freezing them, and baking bread. I plan to make biscuits and pancakes to freeze as well. I'm trying to cut eating out altogether. I'm not big on it. But, times when I'm tired it seems easier to go and grab something that's already cooked. I hope I can do a little each day that helps me save money and makes me more appreciative of the things I have. Hope everyone has a blessed day.

~Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you hve, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

We have the feeling of Spring here!!! Yay!! I'm so excited! I love this time of year. Warm weather, gardening, getting ready to use my clothesline again, flowers, baseball, and many other things.

I hope you are having some warm weather as well.

I am looking forward to Easter. There are so many things in this life that distract us, when we should be focusing on the one and only Jesus Christ and His amazing love and gifts to us...His children. He died for each one of us...and He rose again for each one of us. I hope we all take time and reflect on all the blessings from our Father. Think about what really matters in this life. Living for God...letting our light shine for Him. Showing others kindness...spending more time with the love of our lives....Jesus Christ!

I hope you all have a wonderful God-filled week.

Blessings~

~"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

Farming On Faith Giveaway

Farming On Faith blogger, Carrie, has an awesome giveaway going on! An amazing thermometer! It is very easy to use and has excellent and precise results. You can learn more about it on her blog http://farmingonfaith.blogspot.com/ , or here http://www.temporalscanner.com/ to find out more on this product.

It is very easy to enter for this giveaway...just check out Farming On Faith for more info. I'm sure you'll find other great reads on her blog as well.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day!

~The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

Blessings From My Kids

I got a new dry erase board to help me with some school projects. My kids just love it. They've always loved to draw....and I think are great at it. I love their masterpeices!

One night, I was sitting at the computer and my youngest was sitting beside me drawing on the board. I looked over as he was finishing up and said, "What's that?" He told me it was a picture of Jesus dying on the cross...and the other men were the bad guys.

I just love how they think about God! I love knowing that my husband and I are teaching them about the most important person in life...our Savior! I love knowing they have Him on their mind! How innocent they are. It just makes my heart happy. I pray daily for my two blessings, that they will grow in Christ. My oldest one accepted Christ as his Savior earlier this year, and now I pray for my youngest. I have no doubt that he will accept Christ, when he is convicted by the Holy Spirit....when it is his time. I thank God for my family everyday....I am so blessed!

I will pray for your families as well....that we can all grow closer in Christ and be all He calls us to be for Him!

~Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Need Some Encouraging?

Lately, I've been doing a lot of driving...to work and school, and wherever else I need to go:) My radio has many different music stations with different genres programed in...mostly country, classic rock, and Christian.

There are days when I need a little pick me up. I try to do a little bit of bible study everyday, but that doesn't always happen. So, when I'm in my car I will turn it to KLove Radio Station. It always lifts my spirits. I listen to the words the Christian artists sing and feel the Spirit at work. I can feel how much God loves me and my family....and everyone. I just wish some people knew how much God loves them and wants a relationship with them.

There are other positive things about KLove. They have people praying everyday. On their website there is a place to sign up for prayer request. I love when I hear them pray on the radio...I just sit and wonder how many of my brothers and sisters in Christ are bowing their head at that same moment, praying with them....lifting people up in their prayers. AMAZING!! They have a phone line where people can call in and share touching stories about how Christ has done His awesome work in their lives:) It always brightens my day! There are many other awesome things they do for the Lord....I encourage you to check out their website...I guarantee you will be encouraged too:) http://www.klove.com/

There's no such thing as perfect people~There's no such thing as a perfect life~So come as you are, broken and scarred~Lift up your heart~And be amazed~And be changed~By a PERFECT GOD!!!

~~Sung by Natalie Grant

~~You make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:4