Into the future....

Today I am raising my daughter (and my sons). 'Tomorrow' she will be raising her children. I have been studying Proverbs 31 (yeah, that woman we love to hate). It has been GOOD for me... I have growing to do. Right now the convicting question that I am hearing the Holy Spirit asking me is: "Am I spending my time the way I hope Robyn spends hers while she is raising my grandchildren?" !!! Answer: YIKES!! Some days, yes. Other days, NO.

How is she seeing and experiencing me spend my days. Am I spending more time nurturing them or being 'busy'? Do they see too much of the back of my head while I am on the computer?? Do they feel like they are interrupting me while I am busy at tasks?? Do I make them feel second fiddle to all the things I do? Am I more focused on ME or THEM?? Am I wasting precious time I have with them?? Am I TRAINING her up to be the home manager of her home?? Am I equipping her with the tools and skills she will need? By watching me does she know what is the most important?? ON and ON the questions go!

I have always heard that things are 'caught not taught' when it comes to parents passing things on to their children. How am I measuring up?? The Proverbs 31 does not 'Eat the bread of idleness'... do I?? Hard questions.... Am I being WISE in the way I use my days, my energy, my resources??

To read more please visit Tammi, for the True Woman series. I haven't kept up with it like I should... but I am doing a Proverbs 31 study with my Friday morning 'mom's group'. Proverbs 31 is such a GOOD study... not pain free, but good! Do you love her?? I am starting to......

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Another reason I enjoy growing FLOWERS!

Fresh flowers on the table..... Simple... BEAUTIFUL!
God sure did a wonderful job creating fantastic beauty for us to enjoy. It has been my goal to create flower beds that give me fresh flowers for the table from Spring to Fall. The Holly bush gives me pretty foliage in the winter.

All the hard work in the flower beds are worth it! Nothing is better than God's creations!!!! Cultivating flowers (and veggies) makes me feel close to God. I pray more in the garden than anywhere else. Passing by the table and seeing the flowers is a constant reminder to me of Gods love!

What is your favorite flower?? Does gardening also cultivate your relationship with God?? Do you have a flower to recommend for me to grow??

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

This was just too funny!!

We saw this sign next to a Church we passed last Sunday when we went on a family day at the State Park beach. My husband loves to laugh and got a good chuckle out of this....... HAD to stop to take a picture!!! The Bible verse next to it makes it even funnier!!!



Just so ya know... Please don't take offense.. I have high respect for Churches... just the name is too funny!

Home made flavored iced coffee!

Enjoying the fun things in life without going broke! I LOVE coffee.... and ICED coffee on a HOT summer day just calls my name. The coffee shop prices are just out of this world and even the McDonalds prices are too much for me. However, I have perfected my home made version and can make it for a fraction of the price. The best part is that I can make them with DECAF coffee.... better for me. Look at Sams, Costco or Gorden's for flavored syrup. It doesn't take that much... an man.... yummy!!!!!

Home Made Iced Coffee:
All you need is four ingredients:
Freshly brewed coffee... double strength
Ice
half and half or milk
your choice of flavored syrup ( they come unsweetened, sweetened and sugar free)

Directions:
1) Brew your coffee in your coffee pot, just use double the grounds.
2) Pour your fresh coffee over ice to cool
3) Place some ice in a cup (I use an insulated mug) and pour in the cooled coffee. Add to it the half and half or milk (use as much or as little as you like). Add in the flavored syrup. (I started off with a TBL of syrup and went up from there... find the level of flavor that you love... I use 1/8 cup for a LARGE cup) Stir and savor!!!

ENJOY!!!!! Good simple things in life without going broke!!! YEAH!!!

For more frugal tips visit Lifeasmom.com

Need a Speaker??

Are you part of a MOPs group? Women's Bible Study? Women's Minisrty? Home Makers Club?
A part of a group of women??

Pass on some encouragement to your group!
If you are located Within 3 hours from Lafayette Indiana I would love to speak to your group.

Encouraging Topics:
* The BLESSINGS of the family meal
* Money saving on the grocery budget
* Nitty- gritty on Meal planning
* Let's get cooking! Basic, easy cooking skills.
* Cooking from the garden
* Home made bread
* Training up the next generation. Skills and recipes to teach to our children.
* Fabulous and simple deserts
* "Old-Fashioned" Kitchen Skills

Contact me:
Heather Corbin
simplefamilysupper@ffni.com


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Home made chocolate sauce

My grandmother gave me a recipe for home made chocolate sauce when I was first married. I made it a lot and always got rave reviews.... then I LOST the recipe!!!!! GASP!! For some reason, grandma couldn't find her copy either!!! Weird. Anyway, I finally found one that is just as easy and tastes just as good. I made it yesterday and we enjoyed it with ice cream and made chocolate milk with it. I will NOT loose this copy!!!

Home Made Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients:
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 2/3 cup sugar
2 TBL flour
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 TBL butter or margarine (optional)

Directions:
In a sauce pan combine all dry ingredients.
Whisk in milk. On medium low heat stir until smooth.
Bring to boil (stirring often) and let boil 1 minute.
Remove from heat and add vanilla and butter.

Enjoy warm over ice cream or cold in milk.
Store remaining syrup in the fridge and use within a week.


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Rite of Passage Milestones

Certain milestones are extra special.... ones that are the "Rite of Passage" kind, marking a definitive step towards adulthood. The 'Special Plate' has been put to a lot of use lately! Three of our four children have passed such milestones in the last week. Wesley went to work with Chris for the first time.... becoming a working man! Robyn has smooth legs!!! She is officially a leg shaver!! Ethan lost his first tooth!

Each one of these milestones merited a family celebration.... building memories, enjoying their journey from child to adult!!

How do you celebrate milestones? Any fun ideas you could share??

Creating 'Rites of Passage' has to be done as a family, our culture has vastly reduced the number it recognizes. Kids resort to drinking, smoking, drugs, petty crimes and s*x to feel 'grown up'. It is my desire to give my children many affirmations of their increasing maturity so that they don't have to create it for themselves. Celebrating their milestones is worth every effort. It is my belief that children will live up to expectations... expect great things and they will give them to us. It is a blessing to a child to expect great things of them.

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Redneck FUN!!!

Redneck Slip'n Slide!!!! All my fellow redneck friends KNOW how much FUN you can have with a Tarp + Water + Dish Soap + Oil!!!!!! I'm telling you redneck FUN is the way to go. These pictures were taken Wednesday for Wes' 12th birthday. His friends (and siblings) had a BLAST!!

They even managed to slide PAST the edge of the tarp.... grass does leave some rug burn! LOL!!























































Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The BIG twelve!!! Birthday time!

Happy Birthday, Wesley!!!
My first born is TWELVE today!!!!
My life has never been the same since that amazing day.... I have GROWN so much... right along with him. Anyway, in tribute of his big day I thought I would share with you some of his favorite songs. Wesley is a great kid, with a HEART for God and others. He is a blessing to all those that have the privilege to be in his life!! Here he is with his Dad.. . they really have a blast fishing...
Enjoy these songs that he picked out!










Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The best time of the year!!!!

The famous song claims that Christmas is the "best time of the year", but NOT in my book!! What could possibly be better than a sunny warm day and a big bowl full of strawberries fresh from the garden patch??

Canning strawberry jam is my favorite way of locking up a little summer..... then in the dulls of winter we enjoy the jam and relish in the memories of a fine summer day!!! I just feel so much more ALIVE in the summer!!!!!!!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

They have SIX up!!

The official count is up to six of these things up in our neighborhood! I will try to get a 'real' picture today...... the ones that are up are the farthest from our house... about 5 miles away, but we can see them just fine from here. The construction noise on our road is CRAZY people!!! In fact they work around the clock and I have had more loud trucks in my dreams than I would have ever guessed! Also, nightmares about my alarm going off... all that back up beeping gets old!!! LOL!!! The good news is that they will be done by AUGUST!!! Yeah!! So, next summer I will have my quiet country life back... just with a different view. I really am TRYING to stay positive about all this... really, I am! LOL!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Praying to be a sponge not a rock!

Yesterday was one of those "mommy days" that I am not so proud of. You know the kind you wish you could just start all over and do EVERYTHING differently! It was also somewhat emotional for me as I dropped off my oldest for his first ever 3 day 4-h camp experience. My 'baby' gone to camp for THREE days! He is quite capable and will have a blast..... it is just a little harder on this Mama than I thought it would be.

Put together the Mama emotions and the other stresses of the day and by night I was spent. Ever been there? I was actually exhausted and extremely upset with myself. All day I had been mad.... mad at the kids, mad at me, mad at circumstances. Surprise, surprise I didn't sleep well last night. Every time I woke up I felt the anger start to rise again... YUCK! So I just started praying. I prayed for forgiveness, for my son's camp trip and for a soft heart. I want a heart like a sponge not a rock. By last night my heart was so hard that it just felt like a rock.... I don't want to live that way. I want to be able to soak up life rather than let it all run off of me. I don't want anger and stress turn my heart into a rock so that I can't feel simple joy and feel the warmth of a gentle breeze....... I want to be sensitive to the feelings of others, open to opportunities to serve others rather than self.

Today has been MUCH better!!!! I got the day started off right... in the WORD! God does hear our prayers and His word is life! His word is the same regardless of my *feelings*. I can stand on HIS promises, I get my strength from him. I have so much to do, but am not letting it get me stressed... I am going to ENJOY today..... I can't re-live yesterday, I am not guaranteed tomorrow, my life is TODAY!!!! Smile, hugs, kind words and loving discipline. I read EXTRA stories to the little ones at nap time and spent time in my flower beds.... life is good!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Adventures.....

Daily Adventures! It is Vacation Bible School Week and my sister's kids are staying with us for our 3rd annual adventure. Ever sat out a tornado warning in McDonalds??? We did that one yesterday. We had been just waiting in the parking lot to meet up with my sister (to pick up my nephew for his ball game), but had gone into the playland when my husband called to say there was a bad storm on the way. The staff gets an "F", but I am very PROUD of my kids (including my 6 year old niece that was with us.) The staff had NO clue what to do in a tornado warning and so chose to do NOTHING!!! NOTHING!!! I sat the kids in the booth next to the bathroom since I knew that the bathroom would be the safest place to be. However with 3 boys with me (ages 12, 6, 4) we couldn't just set up camp in the women's room. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be sitting in a "glass box" hearing the sirens going off and watching the wind blowing the rain everywhere while at the same time having NO INFORMATION about where the tornado is heading?? Sheesh.....

My sister had picked up my nephew during a lull in the storm (we thought it was passing), but soon after she left the storm picked up and the tornado sirens went off. They waited it out just down the road at Wendy's and Wendy's gets an A+!! They moved EVERYONE into the women's restroom and had an emergency radio! Then after it was all done gave them FREE food!!!!! I was so grateful that my sister called to let us know that the storm was moving SOUTH and away from us.

Memories!! I know that the kids will never forget that experience!!! We always have a knack for adventure! Last VBS week I killed a snake in the front yard! Hey, we have the rest of the week left, maybe we will kill another snake! I just wish I would have had my camera with me....

Darn, I would have loved some free fries.... another reason to go to wendy's!

But, I can't really complain......... Yesterday I did WIN the blog design makeover that Tammi was giving away!!!!! Thank you, Tammi!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

Chicken Recipe Question/Answer

Leanne asked if the chicken recipe I posted earlier today could be made in the crock pot. Good Question!! Since I am all about simplicity and doing what works for the family I often re-vamp recipes. YES, it can be done in the crock pot with just a simple modification: Use boneless skinless chicken meat rather than bone-in. (also add in 2/3 cup water) You also could reduce the amount of meat by a third (since the bones do weigh a lot). It would be easier in the crock pot... but a little more costly. Sometimes it is just plain worth the extra money!! So if you are really watching the pennies use bone in meat. (my local small town meat department often sells leg quarters for 49 cents/lb.) If you need an easier version use boneless skinless chicken. Enjoy!


Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather

The JUNE Simple Family Supper menu plan kit is ready for you to print off.

Summer is my FAVORITE time of the year, but I know it can be extra challenging to get supper together for the family. Summer is BUSY!!! Simple Family Supper to the rescue. Eat a healthy supper before (or after) you spend the evening at the ball park.

Read what Kathy, from TN,
had to say in a recent email she sent me:

" I love your idea and the detail that you put into monthly meal planning. I've never in my life gone to the grocery store only once a week and had no idea how to start. Saturday was my first attempt and you made it very easy. I love your system!! I've been telling everyone I know about it. Best of luck to you and your stay at home business- I am a big fan and supporter!"

Thank you, Kathy! It is my heart's desire to reduce stress and bring families closer together.

I am always open to comments and suggestions. I want Simplefamilysupper.com to be a blessing to families.

Here are two recipes from the June menu. The first recipe is an
"Efficient" recipe. You will prepare extra meat that you will use
in the second, "Fast Track", recipe. Be a time saving cook!!

Southwest Roasted Chicken

***Efficient Cooking*** Slice and freeze extra meat
Oven
Ingredients:
7 pounds bone in chicken pieces (remove skin if desired)
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp onion powder
½ - 1 tsp garlic powder
3 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper
1/3 cup lime juice (fresh or concentrate)

Roasting Bag

Directions:
1) Prepare Roasting Bag according to manufacturer's directions.
2) Rinse and pat dry chicken with paper towel.
3) Place chicken in roasting bag, skin side up (or you can
remove the skin)
4) Mix together all the spices and rub on to chicken.
5) Sprinkle lime juice on top of meat. Close bag with
provided tie. ( you may have to layer up the chicken to get
it to all fit in the bag. Try to get as many possible pieces on
top for the best tasting skin. Use the bottom pieces for the
chicken you will freeze for later)
6) Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Cut open bag and
allow meat to cool 15 minutes before serving.

Side Suggestions: Baked potatoes with favorite toppings,
steamed veggies

Efficient Cooking: Remove the extra meat from the bone.
Freeze it in a labeled freezer bag for later!


Classic Chicken Salad

***Fast Track: Chicken meat from Roasted Chicken**
This can be mixed together early in the day for flavor to blend.

Ingredients:
**Fast track cooked chicken (2-3 cups)
1/4 cup plain yogurt
¼ cup mayo or miracle whip
1 TBL cider vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1) In a small mixing bowl whisk together the yogurt, mayo
and seasonings. Add the chicken, stir well.
2) Refrigerate till serving. Serve on rolls or in pita bread.

Side Suggestions: Rolls or pita bread, baby carrots, bagged salad


Enjoy these simple suppers with your family!
Visit www.simplefamilysupper.com to print off your complete June
Menu plan. Save time, save money, reduce stress, build memories!!!

Have a BLESSED day, BE a BLESSING!
Heather