Home with Tracy

I wrote last month about being chosen to host a Chex Party Mix-Change.  One of the recipes from the Mix-Change was Chex PB and Chocolate Blast.  It was a big hit!  YUM! Along with this recipe there were recipes for; Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch, Hot Buttered Yum Chex Mix and Chex Caramel-Chocolate Drizzles.  You can get all the recipes by clicking here Chex Party Mix-Change Recipes. The Chex PB and Chocolate Blast took just minutes to make.  There are a couple things I did, or would do differently next time.  I don't have a huge refrigerator so when it said to line 2 cookie sheets with waxed paper, I knew I wouldn't have room.  Instead, I only used one.  I simply put another piece of waxed paper on top of the first coated cereal, and then put the other coated cereal on top.  It turned out great and took up less room.  Next time I think I will add the peanuts to the peanut butter coated cereal before it goes in the refrigerator to cool and I will add the M&Ms to the wh

Sunday at church, God sent a message through the pastor that I needed to hear.  The message was from the first chapter in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah prayed.  He prayed that God would be attentive and hear his prayer.  He prayed and confessed his sins.  He acknowledged his wrongdoings.  He asked for a miracle.  The pastor was talking about a new building project that the church is about to start.  He talked about his fear.  He talked about the fear of taking on such a big project.  That comforted me. I felt comforted because I have had fear over turning in our adoption application.  I have felt guilty because I had fear.  We see no way that we will get approved to adopt.  We see no way that we can afford to adopt.  We see obstacles.  We have doubt. The pastor was talking about miracles that God can perform.  He said "I don't want to get to heaven and have God show me a room that is full and when I ask him what it is, have Him tell me that those are all the miracle

I was recently contacted by  Forgotten Voices . Their organization has a mission ... "to demonstrate the love of Christ by equipping local churches in southern Africa to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children orphaned by AIDS in their communities." They sent me a link to one of their Thanksgiving Cubes that they created for children in order to encourage children to think of how they can give back to others.  What a great idea! I printed off the children's cube and right away my 8 year wanted to complete it.  He took it in his room, answered the questions, completed the dot-to-dot, colored it and taped it together.  He loved it.  I liked it because it made him reflect on what he can be thankful for when it comes to our family.  I liked how it made him reflect on what he could do to help other kids. I liked how it told him a story of a child a little older than him and how he was blessed by received 2 rabbits.  We teach our children about orphans

There has been a question going around facebook for a while now.  "What if you only had in the morning what you thanked God for the night before?" What would I have? What would you have? That question changed the way I pray.  First and foremost I am thankful for all my Heavenly Father provides for our family.  He supplies all of our needs. I am thankful for ... My Heavenly Father who has loved me longer than anyone.  He knows all of my sins, my faults, my thoughts and He stills loves me more than anyone. Jesus.  That He came to earth to die for my sins that I may be forgiven.  He took up the cross for me.  Praise the One who paid my debt!  That He rose again.  That one day His Father will say Son, go get my children.  That I am one of His children. My Husband and our marriage that God has transformed.  Only He could give us the marriage we have today. Our children.  Our children are blessings.  Our children are the next generation that we need to train up so t

You still have 5 days left to get this great deal!  Living Social has a great deal today.   You can get a set of 6 Baby Genius DVDs for $25 (regularly$60).  What a great savings and just in time for your Christmas shopping.  Baby Genius DVDs - click here to get your deal My kids loved these DVDs when they were younger (and still today).  They have great animation, lovable characters and songs that your kids will love to sing. Click on the orange link above to get this great deal! (The link above is my affiliate link.)

This year I am participating in a Jesse Tree Ornament Exchange.  The ornament I am making is wheat to go with the story of Ruth and Naomi. I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up all the supplies I would need to make the ornaments.  I should mention, I love Hobby Lobby.  I could spend hours in the store dreaming of projects I could do. This time, however, I went with all four of my children, so it was a quick trip. I picked up 2 bundles of wheat from the dried floral department.  I then picked out a pretty sheer dark red ribbon.  I also bought little rings I found in the jewelry section to put on the ornaments to make it easier to attach a hook. I first separated the wheat and cut off the ends, leaving just about 1 to 2 inches left of the stem.  After I separated one bundle and cut the tops off, I realized I only needed 1 bundle of the wheat.  It made 30 ornaments and I still had a few pieces left.  After I cut the wheat, I then cut 30 pieces of ribbon, 12 inches in length. I the

I can no longer wear my wedding ring.  I took it off over a year ago and then I gained so much weight that I couldn't fit it back on.  Honestly, at the time I took it off,  I didn't really want to put it back on.  It had no meaning to me. My husband and I met and married in 4 months and one week.   When we got married we were both broken.  We both had a lot of baggage that we brought with us.  In that short time of getting to know each other, we didn't discuss our brokenness.  Looking back, we weren't very smart about it.  Seriously, who meets someone and marries them in 4 months and one week! The first six years of our marriage were the worst.  I didn't want to be in the marriage.  But I also didn't want my children to grow up with divorced parents like I did.  I think I speak for both us when I say that we weren't committed to each other.  We weren't committed to our marriage.  We weren't kind to each other.  We lived selfishly.  We didn't

I just purchased $5 Dinner Mom's Holiday Entertaining Guide. And I must say, I am extremely excited that I did.  Not only does it have yummy recipes I can't wait to try, but it also has ideas for decorating, budgeting, what to do with leftovers, printables to keep you organized and so much more! Click on the orange link to get your copy.  Use the code THANKS and get it half price!  While you are there, check out her site, she has something for everyone. (This is my affiliate link)

About three years ago we went to an outlet mall and I picked up three bottles of foaming hand soap from Bath & Body Works.  They were in the clearance section, and if I remember correctly, I only paid around $5 for all three. I love having foaming hand soap for our children.  It is less messy and it doesn't get all over. Even if they put too much in their hands, it still doesn't make a slimy hard to clean up mess.  I don't, however, like the price.  I know $5 is a good deal for three Bath & Body Works soap.  And I will splurge on occasion and get a bottle or two, but I can't justify having it for every day use. I decided to reuse those foaming hand soap bottles and make my own.  I went to Sam's Club and picked up a pack of two 80oz bottles of liquid hand soap.  This pack sells for around $6.50.  To make the foaming soap, I first put in warm water, about 2/3 to 3/4 full.  I will then fill the rest of the bottle with liquid hand soap, leaving enough r

There are two things that I absolutely love for homeschooling; printables and my laminator. This is my laminator that I purchased from Amazon last year during their Christmas deals.  I think I bought it for around $20.  The price isn't down there yet, but keep watching. Scotch Thermal Laminator     Here are a couple sites that I regularly visit to get printables.  They are a great quality and my kids love them. www.homeschoolcreations.com www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com www.2teachingmommies.com I will start by printing out one of their printable packets.  They have several to choose from and usually have one for each season and/or holiday.  I will then laminate each sheet.  Once they are done laminating, I will sort them by which ones need to be cut and which ones don't.   After I have them all cut, I will put the pieces in envelope and write on the front what it contains.  I put each printable pack in a two pocket folder.  I stock up on them during back to sch

Growing up, I have great memories of smelling my mom's coffee cake baking in the oven.  Especially on a cold day, the aroma would spread throughout the entire house. This recipe is great because you can mix it all together and put it in the refrigerator overnight and bake it in the morning.  Perfect for the holidays coming up! Cake 2 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup butter (softened) 2 eggs topping 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon glaze 1 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp almond extract or vanilla extract 1-3 tsp milk (add one at a time until glaze consistency) Combine all ingredients for cake in a large bowl.  Mix together for 2 minutes.  Pour into 9x13 pan.  Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle over top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 mins.  Drizzle glaze over top.  Enjoy! I meant to get a picture to put on here, but my family dug into it too fast, so I wasn

This year I have been invited to participate in a get together called, Jesse Tree Ornament Exchange.   Jesse Tree Ornaments are used during Advent as a devotional tool. The whole idea of the exchange is that each woman makes ONE kind of ornament, saving everyone from doing each one individually. First, you'll need to figure out how many dates are in the Advent calendar for your year. (2011 has 29 days of Advent so we will make 29 ornaments.) After you figure our how many days of Advent there are, you assign each woman an ornament and the devotion that goes with it.  I have been assigned the 13th day, which is wheat.  I am going today to buy my supplies to make the ornament.  I am so excited!  In my mind it is going to be really cute.  The devotion that goes along with my ornament is Ruth and Naomi.  Our gathering is going to take place in the evening on the 30th of November.  We are going to all bring appetizers or a dessert to share.  What a great way to fellowship d

Tell Your Time (instant download version only) by Amy Lynn Andrews is going on sale TONIGHT (Nov. 10) at 8pm (Central). First 100 copies will be FREE with coupon code: FREEDOM After that, ALL copies will be $.99 with coupon code: ONLY99 The sale ends Monday, November 14th.  Just click on the orange link above to get your copy.  It is a great book on time management! The link above is my affiliate link.

Since November is National Adoption Month, I thought I would take the time to tell you a little bit about an organization that is very close to my heart.  "Show Hope exists to mobilize individuals and communities to join God's revolution to care for orphans in their distress, helping to provide waiting children with food, shelter, medical care and forever families." Show Hope runs out of Franklin, Tennessee.  They provide orphan care, adoption grants, and have three Special Care Centers based in China that provide specialized medical care for at risk children.  Show Hope's Special Care Centers, such as Maria's Big House of Hope, provide life-giving care for at-risk orphans living with acute medical needs.    There are several ways, through Show Hope's site, that you can support their mission.  They have sponsorships, you can donate supplies, or you can even apply to go on one of their short term trips to care for orphans.  There is a way for everyone

I just got done reading the eBook Blogger Behave: Make your blog benefit your life so you can love both . After reading this eBook, I can honestly say it is not only for bloggers, but also non-bloggers.  The content can apply to everyone. The writer, Laura Booz, uses her life experiences as examples throughout the eBook.  She uses those examples to show you how to use your life experiences throughout your blog.  She tells how you should love what you write and take care of your words.  Blog with purpose so that you may grow as a person. She tells of how her family has a vision statement which inspired her to create a blogging vision statement.  I thought that was very clever.  She speaks of time management and high standards. Love your blog, love your life. I loved this eBook.  I love how it was personal.  I love how she wrote about being true to yourself.  This eBook also inspired me to rethink how I live each day.  Am I true to myself?  Do I speak things that are true to

Two weeks ago I joined 20 other people, some of them strangers, for a biggest loser challenge.  The challenge last 12 weeks, and yes, it goes through the holidays.  I have done this challenge before and I gained.  This time it is different.  Not because I am "dieting" but because I am changing the way I see me.  My old thinking was that I deserved to be overweight.  I used my obesity as a shield to protect me.  It was an odd security blanket.  It was easier for me to be obese.  In my mind I held on to the obesity in order to have excuse should something from my past happen again.  God is working wonders in my life.  He is changing my thinking. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 I am His workmanship.  I don't need to hide behind my weight.  He made me to do His good works.  I have been changing my eating habits and I am starting a Couch to 5k.

"the older women, likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5 I pray for a mentor.  That God will send a woman to guide me on my journey as a wife and homeschooling mom, homemaker, and most importantly a child of God. A woman who has been where I am.  A woman I can learn from. An encourager. A teacher. A woman who speaks wisdom. I pray. I also pray that through this journey God will train me to be a mentor.  That He will show me who He wants me to be through Him. That I may be reverent in behavior, not practicing slander or gossip.  That I may be faithful, loving and full of patience.  That I may be an example in all these things so that younger women may see how God wants us to be. 

This video is a testimony of Katie Davis, the author of Kisses With Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption .  She gave everything to serve Christ in Uganda.  This book is on my wish list and I cannot wait to read it.  Wow!  What a testimony.  What a great role model for everyone.  She was a teenager when she first went.  A teenager!  Now she is caring for all of these children.  She is their mother.  She is doing exactly what God has called all of us to do.  National Adoption Month  - What are you doing for the orphans in the World?

Every year when I was a child, my mom would make these homemade Deluxe Sugar Cookies.  I remember watching her roll out the dough, cut out the shapes and then I would anxiously await them being done so my brother, sister and I could frost them.  It is a great memory from my childhood.  And it is a memory that I am passing along to my own children. These cookies are light and fluffy, yet have a little crunch around the edges.  They are my all time favorite.  I frost them with an almond butter cream frosting. Deluxe Sugar Cookies 1 cup butter (softened) 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp almond extract 2 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cream of tartar Mix together butter, powdered sugar, egg, vanilla and almond.  Add in flour, baking soda and cream of tartar.  Mix well.  Place dough on a piece of plastic wrap, wrap it up tight, place it in the refrigerator 2-3 hours. On a lightly floured surface, roll 1/2 of the dough at a time 1/8 inch

This month we are studying Thanksgiving, obviously.  We are going to read through Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret B. Pumphrey.  We are also going to turkey placemats (have I mentioned how much I love my laminator!), and make Pilgrims hats. This month is known for the holiday, Thanksgiving.  But did you know that it is also National Adoption Month?  Adoption is something that is very close to my heart.  So along with studying Thanksgiving, we are going to be learning about orphans and adoption.  I don't want my kids to grow up not knowing about all of the children in the world who don't have forever families.  I pray that as they are learning that their hearts will be filled with a love for orphans and that they will grow up to be an advocate for orphans.  There are a few organizations that provide orphan care that God has placed in front of me. Show Hope is an organization founded by Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman.  Their organization provides medical care for

Having 4 children so close in age, I decided a few years ago to assign each of them a color.  This color is for everything from cups to pencil boxes to folders.  Each of the kids know what color is theirs, which limits some of the fighting. YAY!  I knew I would need some sort of organization in order to keep the house running (somewhat) smoothly.  They each have their own "space" on the homeschool bookcase and each space contains their pencil box, 3 ring binder (with their name printed in their assigned color), folders for their subjects, also in their color, and any workbooks that they are currently working on. It's not only a good learning tool for them, but it has been extremely convenient for me.  In the kitchen, each child has their own color coded cup.  So when there is one left on the table, I know exactly who to call to take care of it. Another bonus is that it has also been a tool in teaching them their colors and their names.  I am, by no means, an expe