Our Family Thanksgiving 2014

Well, first a couple of pictures of the bug-a-loo

Thanksgiving Day evening.  Wearing Mr. Potato Head glasses.  :)

Recipe at the bottom

And this one, too.  This one especially caught my eye because they're called spoon bread muffins.  My Weesie used to make spoon bread and it was one of my favorites.  These were really tasty.  Not exactly the same, but similar.

Meal time!

Fancy plates huh!!!  :0)  We do have nice china, but it just seemed like too much work after a long day of cooking.  

Hailey had puffs.  I think Daddy may have fed her spoon bread muffins, too.

Both recipes from Southern Living Nov 2014 Issue

Spoon Bread Corn Muffins 

Ingredients

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1 1/2 cups finely ground white cornmeal 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon kosher salt 

2 large eggs, lightly beaten $

2 1/4 cups buttermilk 

1/4 cup freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese $

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 

Unsalted butter 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk eggs and buttermilk into cornmeal mixture, stirring vigorously until smooth. Stir in cheese and chives. Pour batter into a greased (with unsalted butter) 12-cup muffin tin.

2. Bake at 425° for 13 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pan to rack; cool 5 minutes.

Cheese Cracker Topped Squash Casserole 

Ingredients

3 pounds yellow squash, chopped 

2 pounds zucchini, chopped 

1 medium onion, chopped $

2 tablespoons kosher salt 

1/2 cup sour cream $

1/2 cup mayonnaise $

1 large egg $

1 (8-oz.) block extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, grated 

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 

2 cups fish-shaped Cheddar cheese crackers 

2 tablespoons butter, melted $

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Place first 3 ingredients in a Dutch oven; add hot water 2 inches above squash-and-onion mixture. Add salt to Dutch oven, and stir to dissolve. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil 10 minutes or until squash is very tender when pierced with a fork. Drain vegetable mixture well; let stand at room temperature 15 minutes to cool slightly.

2. Stir together sour cream and mayonnaise in a large bowl. Lightly beat egg, and stir into mayonnaise mixture. Gently stir in cheese, pepper, and cooked squash mixture; spoon mixture into a greased (with butter) 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

3. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until bubbly. Combine cheese crackers and melted butter, and toss to coat. Arrange over casserole. Bake 10 more minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Note:

Gerri Ellis, Hazelhurst, MS, 

NOVEMBER 2014

Advent Activities for the Kiddos

http://www.thrivingfamily.com/advent


I just printed out the calendar, all the daily activities, the characters, and the daily Bible studies.  We've never done this before, but it looks like fun times to spend as a family, so I thought I'd pass it along.  Happy Thanksgiving!

No Baby

The follow-up ultrasound did not go as we had hoped and prayed for.  Still no baby; just debris.  Measuring at 8 weeks.  Doctor said miscarriage.  I felt so silly for thinking it was going to go differently.  I really believed we were going to see a baby and hear a heartbeat. 


He gave us the option of a D&C or doing it naturally.  He scared me into doing a D&C because he said if it happened on its own, I would probably end up in the ER and having to do a D&C any way.  We also rushed into thinking this was the better choice because honestly I just want all of this to be over with.  I don't want to feel pregnant anymore - nauseous and tired.  I just want to move on.  I wanted to do what we think is more convenient for us and on our own schedule. 


I was so angry at God yesterday.  Wallowing in my own sorrows and disappointments.  I went home and went to bed with a horrible headache, a tummy ache, and a bad attitude.


However, I had managed to ask God to give us a clear sign on whether we should go ahead with the surgery.  Other than that, I honestly didn't want to talk to Him.  So childish. 


This morning, we got our answer.  Because I had a few sips of liquids after midnight, they wanted us to come in at 11, but then wait in the OR waiting room till at least 6 p.m. for the surgery.  That did not sound like a good idea to Sean and I.  I cried and cried, but realized God had closed the D&C door. 


So we wait.  Sitting here, teary eyed, I realize God is love and He does want what's best for all of us.  I know this is His best plan and if He had wanted to change the situation to what we wanted, He could have. 


I'm sad still.  But not angry.  I do feel comforted.  I am reminded to be still and know that He is God.  Through this year of hardships, he must want me to learn something or lots of somethings.  Maybe I'm not quite there yet.  I don't know.  Maybe never to know. 


Now to pray for a safe passing of what should have been our new baby.......in God's timing.  I would like to tell Him to hurry up and make it happen, but I am going to be patient. 


I'm gonna try to remember that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for. 


The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

Rental Home

As some of you already know, our house has been up for sale since January.  Our lease ran out in June and since then, the owners have agreed to do a month by month while they wait for a buyer.  I'm not gonna lie.  It's been a little stressful - having to show the house and not knowing when we will need to be looking for a new place to live and only having 30 days to do so if the house sold. 


Well, I have been praying for close to a year now specifically that God would allow us to live here until Sean graduates.  God answered that prayer yesterday!  The owners are taking it off the market and won't put it back on until August.  And we get to sign a year lease until December 2015, which is when Sean graduates!!!!!  What a testimony to God's goodness.  We are certainly excited and we also feel like a burden has been lifted!  Now, we can plan and move next December!


"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever" (Psalm 107:1). - See more at: http://www.allaboutgod.com/gods-goodness-faq.htm#sthash.rGHtccB0.dpuf

Poison Ivy

This was like day two of Ryan's bout of poison ivy

Break for a cute kitten picture!

This is day 7

And this is yesterday (day 8).  OK time to visit his pediatrician.  Benadryl is not helping. He screams when I try to put anything on it.  He looks pretty pitiful.  He was put on steroids and is looking much better.  I don't have a picture of that though and he is in bed.  He's been a trooper, though.  Poor lil man!

Yay and Hi

Hailey has lots of news firsts.  She waves.  She claps.  She army crawls.  She can sit up from lying down.  She pulls up to a standing.  She is growing fast!

Maybe Baby

On October 25th, we found out we were expecting baby #5!  Today was my first appointment.  On ultrasound, there was an empty gestational sac.  I am measuring about a week earlier than my LMP.  So, either it's too early and next ultrasound on 11/25 will show a precious new life or it will still be an empty sac.  We definitely would have preferred a better appointment with a baby and a heartbeat, but we are thanking God any ways.  Right?  We have to.  In good and bad.  God is always good.  Sean and I are going to rely on God and his goodness and mercy and grace and have faith and hope that our next appointment will show that new little one.  In the meantime, prayers are asked for.  I'm definitely feeling nauseous and tired aka pregnant. 


And before I go, we do have a testimony.  Close to the same thing happened with Hunter.  I started bleeding, went to the ER, had a subchorionic hematoma, did ultrasound, and empty sac.  Did another ultrasound at OB a few days later and still nothing.  Dr. says my body thinks I am pregnant, but not really.  Sent home to wait another week for another ultrasound and this time.....A BABY!  And this baby who is now 3years old is sitting on my lap as I type this.  So we have one miracle already.  Well, if anyone knows my pregnancy with Ryan, you would also know that was a miracle. 


So we wait.  Hopefully for a new little Thanksgiving blessing. 

Vet Day 2014

Thank you to all of our veterans!  We plan to get free Starbucks, a free meal at Chili's and a free car wash.  All of this is nice, but hopefully we can remember the real reason for the day.......all the men and women who have been willing or who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of our freedom.