Home Organization

On the schedule today is taking the kids to school, the usual housework (laundry, floors, putting away), making a bag, baby sitting, and my "MUST DO" of the day is get together a daily/weekly/monthly Chore List/Schedule for myself and the children. I feel like I just never have it all together. The bathroom rugs need to be done or the sheets need changed or my desk needs purged . . . AGAIN. So today I will make a master list of tasks and organize them by the day, week, month and year.

Anyone who wants to chime in with their cleaning schedule and purging routine, I would LOVE to hear it!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Bus Visiting

After 8 months of Daniel not being a bus captain . . . . . . . WE'RE BACK!!!! This is our third week back on visiting the bus and I'm GRATEFUL!

I think we needed the break. I think it made us both appreciate the bus ministry more and appreciate the fact that it is a privilege to work the bus route, not a duty. We have found the joy again and its GOOD! We are also now picking up children from 3 different houses where we used to pick up the parent on the bus.

If you are so inclined, please pray we'll be able to get those parents to come back to church and back to God.

So with much joy, all 8 of us are getting ready this morning and loading up to go visit all the bus kiddos! Praying for a big day on the bus tomorrow!

My Version Of Chicken Pot Pie

Made some home made pot pie the other day and took pictures so for those who are interested, here goes.

I used to boil my chicken in water and use the water to make the gravy for the pies but I don't do that anymore. I start by frying my chicken on top of the stove (in some butter but you could use coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil) until mostly done.

While frying the chicken I boil potatoes that have been peeled and cut into bite sized pieces.















Once the chicken is mostly done, add flour until all the butter and juice from the chicken has been absorbed and makes a thick paste. Stir the chicken and paste to slightly brown the flour paste.

Once you have browned the flour (maybe 3 or 4 minutes of constant stirring), add milk. I don't know how much. Once you add the milk, you can add more if its too thick or add more flour or
cornstarch if its too runny. This creates a "gravy" of sorts for the filling of your pot pie. You want
it to be on the runny side because it will thicken up as it bakes and you don't want it to be too dry
once its done. Add salt, pepper, and some garlic powder. You can also add onions or onion powder to taste.









At this point, add all your fillings. I cheated when I made mine last and just added a bag of frozen vegetables, cheese and the cooked potatoes. I LIKE to do fresh carrots, celery and whatever else you like but I was in a time crunch. Stir it all together and spoon into a pie crust. I usually home make my pie crust but I bought the roll out crusts from the store this time, again, to save myself some time. Very busy day.

Place your 2nd pie crust on top and trim the excess dough from around the sides of your pie tin.




At this point you can pinch your edges to create that fancy fluting but I've never been able to master that so I use the edge of a fork to seal my edges.



I then cut 4 slits in my top and use the excess pastry and a cookie cutter to make a cute embellishment on the top of my pie. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. Usually takes about an hour "ish".

Unexpected Blessings At Unexpected Times

There are some who are going to think this is an awful post but this isn't so much about me as it is about bragging on my God.

When I found out I was pregnant with Malachi, I wasn't excited. Then Daniel started a new job where he was gone Monday-Friday, sometimes working Saturdays and I REALLY wasn't excited. I was basically raising 5 children on my own and I was already overwhelmed. I didn't get married and have children to do it all by myself. Add into that a "new" house that needed to be unpacked while I wasn't allowed to lift anything and trying to train and discipline 5 children . . . well, all I could see was another thing to do with a newborn. Breastfeeding is time consuming. Getting up in the middle of the night for feedings is exhausting, especially when you are driving children to and from school 3 times a day, including half day kindergarten.

I did NOT want this baby. At all. Sure, I knew I would love this baby but I was completely unable to see any joy forthcoming with his arrival. I already felt like I was drowning. How was I going to add a newborn to the mix?

The pregnancy was really difficult. I don't know if is because my body was just coming off a twin pregnancy or if it was because I'm getting older or because it was my 5th pregnancy or just a combination of all those things but it was the hardest singleton pregnancy ever. Falling flat on my abdomen during my ninth month while taking out the trash in the rain didn't help. Neither did the fact that my husband was 7 hours away when it happened. How in the world was I going to do this?

Then it came time to give birth.

With all my previous children, I have requested they be cleaned up a bit before they are given to me immediately following birth. For some reason, I didn't even think about this with Malachi. So upon his arrival they sat him on my chest. I'm so grateful I forgot.

I was in love. This screaming, icky, squirming, slimy little thing was mine and he needed me and it was wonderful.

Since his birth, he has brought inexpressible joy to our home. We NEEDED this baby. I NEEDED this baby. He is so happy. He is delightful. He is well loved. And God is good.

Since he has been born, Daniel's work schedule has changed and he is home more. I have more help with the children and I did need that. But even if he were still on that horrible, crummy schedule, I would still be grateful for God's foresight in giving us Malachi. He is a fabulous nurser. He is a good sleeper. He is content to watch the older children running around the house like idiots. I'll check on him in his play seat and he'll have dosed off only to check on him a few minutes later and he'll be happily watching all the activity again. He has enriched our lives so much and I can't imagine our lives now without him. The only word I can use to describe Malachi is "happy".

The only word I can think of to describe Malachi's Mommy is grateful. I'm grateful for Malachi. I'm grateful for a God who knows what we need before we have even considered it. I'm grateful for unexpected blessings at unexpected times.