Kkrazy Busy!

Here we are mid September... AWANA starts back up tonight and I am now the T&T Director!

Christie, Kari and I did the first craft with the first grade class yesterday and I have been asked to do crafts for the upper grades Enrichment time. I love crafting with kids...well with anyone really!

First PTO meeting was also yesterday and we will have a fundraiser going come the end of October!

Christie and I are also preparing for our first monthly Crafty Chatter at church in another week. It looks like we will have a great turnout and we are really looking forward to it. We will be making a Fall Rag Wreath. I will post some pictures here soon of some of the crafts we have been up to lately.

We also have a weekly bible study starting in a little over a week at church. It's Beth Moore's study..A Woman's Heart. Doesn't that just sound great? I am looking forward to it. It's been a couple years since we have done one of her studies and I sure did enjoy Believing God. Highly recommend it! I still refer to my book.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the change in season. The kids and I have spotted some leaves changing and we are enjoying the milder temps. School for myself and the kids is going well and as you can see we are busy bees. The day is getting away from me so I better get back to the house. Before I know it, it will be time to get the kids from the bus. Happy Wednesday!

Calling all pumpkin fans!

The following article was posted on a blog I follow:

MOM Tip: Pumpkin Shortage

from: Susan Fox
24/7 MOMS Family Life Editor


I don't know if you've heard about the "Great Pumpkin Shortage"??? in 2009 many pumpkin crops were apparently lost due to flooding fields, caused by too much rain and too little sun. Libby's, a Nestle company is the primary supplier of canned pumpkin in the US. Most of their supply is grown in Illinois. There is still concern about shortages of pumpkin this fall. Hopefully store shelves will fill up again after harvest later this fall.


I am reading stories about 16oz cans of pumpkin being sold on E-bay for as much as $30. Locally, here in the Seattle area, most stores are completely out. However I have been able to find a small amount of Farmer's Market Organic Pumpkin on some store shelves. I bought a 15 oz. can at Safeway for $2.59. The same product, same size is being sold on Amazon for $5.99.


So if you are getting in the fall baking mood like I am, if you see pumpkin you might want to stock up. Let's hope for more supply coming by Thanksgiving!


Here is a link to an article run by the Washington Post concerning the shortage.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/01/AR2010060100801.html
 
So I had to see for myself and here is the link to ebay  ..yikes! All I have to say is if you see some pumpkin in the store stock up! Cassie was already finding it hard to find it in Colorado.

Recipes!!

My new favorite blog! For those of us who are sick of trying to figure out what is for dinner. This gal has done the work for us!

Nine Years Ago

Nine years ago today a terrorist attack took place on this great nation. It was indeed a sad day in our nations history and for a time I think it changed how we thought about our country. After 9/11 there were flags flying in nearly every yard in America. Today on our street there are just two..ours and our neighbors. What happened to that pride in our country?

Nine years ago today my love Jeff was alive. Cassie was 15 and Grace was 2. Jeff and I were still in bed when Cassie who was getting ready for school came in to tell us about a plane flying into the Pentagon. We were sure she had mistaken what she had heard. So we got up turned on the news and there it unfolded before our eyes the devastation.

Nine years ago today my husband was still in the National Guard and it wasn't long before they were called to active duty to guard our bay area bridges.

Nine years ago today we had a flag flying in our yard showing our pride for our nation. And today we still have a flag flying in our yard showing our support for our nation and the men and women who have served and who continue to serve.

frəs-ˈtrā-shən

frustration noun
Main Entry: frustration (+)frus-!trA-shun
Pronunciation: \ (ˌ)frəs-ˈtrā-shən \
Function: noun
Date: circa 1555
1. 1the act of frustrating
2 a. 2 athe state or an instance of being frustratedb. ba deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs
3. 3something that frustrates

This post comes on the heals of a post that I made on facebook regarding my frustration with the amount of homework that Grace has had. She literaly comes in the door at 3:30 and is at it till at least 8:30 which is past her bedtime! So yes I am frustrated! Grace is a good student and other Mom's commented on my status whose children are also in class with Grace and good students..these are the kids that make Principles List or A honor roll, Spelling Bee winners, active in sports and church...no slackers here they are bright kids who work hard.

So this morning I open my fb to find a message from a church member saying that I shouldn't be talking about this on fb. It is however my facebook. Yes, I am a christian..saved by grace...not perfect just forgiven. I honestly don't feel like I made an error here. Not one of us mentioned anyone by name..we were not addressing the teachers or staff at the school. Just voicing our frustration with the homework. The last time I checked this was a free country and fb is a social networking site. And we are Mom's venting! I don't think I was a bad example to anyone my goodness Christ got frustrated and even angry at the Pharisees..Let's be clear I am not calling anyone a Pharisee! Just saying it is a normal response and feeling to have.

Blessed

The Lord never ceases to amaze me. The whole mess with my schooling and VA not being funded due to human error...had me a bit stressed but I just kept resiting..

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

We serve an awesome God!I am indeed blessed!

Smells like fall!

Years ago when I worked in the OB/GYN office we had a patient and every December she would bring in a wine cake. Oh my goodness best cake ever! Well, it has become a Chrisman Family Favorite! Even my son in love who is not a cake person loves this cake! So seeings how much it is loved I thought I would share the recipe. Happy Eating and oh it makes the house smell like fall when it's baking! YUM!

Wine Cake

1 package moist white or yellow cake mix
1 (5 ounce)package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup white wine
4 eggs

1.Preheat over to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 10 inch bundt pan.

2. In medium bowl combine the cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, nutmeg, vegetable oil, white wine and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer for 5 minutes.

3. Bake at 350 degrees f(175 degrees C) for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool on rack in pan for 10 minutes then remove cake from pan to rack. Let cool completely before slicing.

Cover in powdered sugar and eat!

Busy Fall ahead!

Well, school is in full swing..which includes a lot of homework for Grace. She is feeling a bit frustrated with one of her classes as the teacher seems to move a bit fast for her. This bothers me because Grace is a great student always on the A honor roll. So we are praying things get into some sort of a groove for her. Jeffrey is loving first grade and his teacher is so sweet! I am looking forward to starting crafts with them soon.




As, for me I have had to drop one of my classes..the anatomy class was a drive to Weed twice a week and the financial aid office didn't get my VA submitted in time which means no funding from them...which means the cost in gas to high for me without it. So I will take it next fall. The reason for next fall is that Cassie is due in the spring and I hope to be spending a few weeks out there with them.




Other news..I have gladly taken over the roll of T&T director for our AWANA program. We will start that on the 15th and really look forward to learning all the T&Ters names..other than just my group of girls. I am excited as we have new leaders this year as well. Really looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for these young people.









Crafts! Christie and I will be doing crafts with the first grade once a week and once a month (the planning takes place tomorrow)at the church as a fellowship outreach. We are excited about both of these opportunities. Christie..just love her! My crafty friend! As I am typing she just text me a picture of a magnet she mod podged! We are becoming addicted to Mod Podge!









Bible Study! I hear that we are going to be doing another Beth Moore study this fall. I am so excited about this! Love Beth Moore! Looking forward to seeing what blessings will come from this study with a great group of women.




Oh and I don't want to forget the upcoming Montague Balloon Fair coming September 24-26 right here in our little town. It is a lot of fun watching those balloons go and up and the best part is inviting over friends for breakfast that Saturday morning. Love the fellowship and the noise from the kids!

So..yes we have a busy time coming up but i wouldn't miss any of it for the world!