* The Reason for the Season *

This morning was our first Christmas as a family of 3. It was so much fun!

I got Giuliana up, gave her a big bowl of oatmeal and rice cereal, took some pictures of her in front of the tree and Daddy joined us for the fun morning to begin! :)

While watching the videos back I have come to the conclusion that I say "Woooooooooow" way too much to her.. ha. and have an overbearing "baby voice"... haha. I will cherish the Christmas morning videos of her forever.

We started with her stocking. As she pulled the things out (with a little help from Mommy bringing them to the top) she enjoyed sticking every single one of them in her mouth! :) Good thing "santa" knows good things for babies that they can chew on ;). She particularly loved the Little Cabbage Patch doll dressed up in the monkey outfit! First little giggle/cough (yes, she kind of coughs to giggle occasionally) of the morning! :) We opened present after present and she had a lot of fun. Daddy helped her open a few, then Mommy.

The most precious gift came last. She was SOOO excited about it. It just melted my heart, because it was the Veggie Tales Nativity that I got her.

I know she doesn't know the TRUE meaning of Christmas yet, or any meaning at all besides a more than normal quantity of things to put in her mouth, but the fact that she got the most excited about a scene depicting the birth of our Lord made my heart smile! **Video is on my facebook**

Enjoy, and may you all have a wonderfully blessed Christmas with your families as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!

Silver Bells..

Tomorrow is Christmas morning at our house here in Michigan :).

I'm so excited! Excited to watch Giuliana as she opens her presents. Excited to watch her little face as she tears the wrapping paper that she will most likely try to eat instead of looking for what is inside of it. :)

God is good.

All my life I have dreamed of this. Being a mommy, and waking up with our kids on Christmas morning. Showing them with gifts, telling them about the true gift. The gift of Jesus Christ born to us in a humble place, a place not fit for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A place where our Savior was born to a loving mother who anxiously await for HIS appearance as any mommy would.

As a mother now the song "Mary did you know" has so much incredible meaning. more than ever before.
How amazing to know that as the song says.. "when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God". Powerful.

I can only sit and imagine that first Christmas what Mary and Joseph must have been feeling. Sitting and looking into the face their King.

As we marvel at our TRUE gift of Christmas tomorrow we are excited to share it with our other precious little gift from God, Giuliana Noelle.

Mommy and Daddy love you G!

Merry Christmas Peanut! <3

*French Breakfast Puffs*

Hi guys!

One more recipe for the night and then I'm out. Just made this favorite of mine and thought I would share with you. If you haven't had these before you are seriously missing out! :) So pour yourself a glass of milk and get ready for some warm doughnut-like goodness! :)

French Breakfast Puffs

Muffins:

-1 c. sugar
-1/3 c. butter
-3 eggs
-3 c. flour
-3 tsp. baking powder
-1 tsp. salt
-1 c. milk

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:
-1/2 stick butter
-1/2 c. sugar
-1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350'.

Cream together the butter and sugar until mixed well.

Break up egg yolks in separate bowl and mix together with butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes.

In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.

Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture alternating with milk. Starting with dry and ending with milk. (3 intervals)

Line muffin tins with paper liners and fill 2/3 full with mixture.

Bake: 20-25 minutes.

(The first dozen I baked for 25 minutes, second for 23 1/2 minutes. ) Depending on your oven. Insert a toothpick and when it comes out clean, its done!

Melt 1/2 stick of butter in one bowl and mix cinnamon and sugar in another.

Right away when puffs come out of the oven dip top completely in the melted butter and then in cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Here are a couple pictures of mine. They aren't perfect because, I have to admit, I was in a hurry to eat one of them. :)

Hope you love them as much as I do! :)

~Mongolian Goodness~

So, upon request here is the recipe that I made tonight for Phil and my dinner. Mongolian Beef.

Couple critiques that I would make with the recipe..
*I'd say use maybe 1/2 the brown sugar that they say too. It was almost a little too sweet, and I like sweet chinese better than savory.
*More onions. I even added 3 instead of 2 and it could have still used more.
*More garlic. I am a big garlic lover, and can't say that I tasted a whole lot of it in this recipe.

Beyond that... Phenom. Love it. I hope you all enjoy! Let me know how you like it.

**Mongolian Beef**

Ingredients:

-2 tsp. vegetable oil
-1/2 tsp. ginger; minced
-1 T. garlic; chopped
-1/2 c. soy sauce
-1/2 c. water
-3/4 c. dark brown sugar
-vegetable oil, for frying: (about 1 cup)
-1 lb. flank steak
-1/4 c. carnstarch
-2 large green onions.

Make sauce by hearing 2 tsp. oil in small saucepan over med/low heat. Don't let oil get too hot.

Add ginger and garlic to hot oil. Immediately add soy sauce and water before the garlic scorches.

Dissolve brown sugar in the sauce, raise the heat to medium and boil the sauce for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat.

Slick flank stead into thin slices, or thin bite sized pieces about 1/4'' thick. (depending if you like strips or pieces you can do either, I did strips)

Dip steaks into cornstarch to apply a very thin dusting to meat.  shake off extra and set aside for 10 minutes to allow the cornstarch to stick to the meat.

While beef sits, heat 1 c. oil in either a wok or skillet. (if you use a skillet you may have to add more oil so that the meat is mostly covered with the oil, since the sides of a wok are curved, 1 c. should be enough for that type of pan) Heat oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking.

Add beef to the hot oil and saute for just a couple minutes until the beef begins to darken on the edges.
Stir the meat around a bit to ensure an even cook.

After a couple minutes remove the meat from the pan and pour remaining oil out.

Return pan to the heat, return meat to pan, and cook an additional 1 minute.

Add thickened soy sauce mixture to the meat. Cook for 1 minute while stirring.

Add green onions. Cook for 1 minute to warm onions through.

((My recipe says at this point to remove the meat mixture from the pan and leave remaining sauce behind, but we like our sauce in this house, so I just took my skillet straight to the table and we dished our plates directly from it. There is a LOT of sauce left. You could also just separate the meat from it and put the sauce in a separate bowl to spoon over the top.))

**This recipe would also be good with chicken breasts if you like that better than red meat. You're choice.

Enjoy!! :)

Peace, Love, and BEEF (it's what's for dinner) :)

Linz

*~Time to Give~*

Hello Everyone!


I thought I would write a quick post about what's been on my heart lately. 


Giving back, or giving in general. 


Some people have nothing, and are the happiest people I've ever met. I witnessed this many years back when I went with Grace Church in Des Moines to Jamaica on a missions trip. When you typically think of Jamaica you think of Sandals resorts right? All the gorgeous teal water... white sand... palm trees.. paradise really. Yes, it is that in parts, but definitely not all that. 


We spent about a week up in the mountains of Jamaica and it was I think thee most mild blowing, eye opening experience I have ever had. I remember when we started that week, I looked at the children who we would soon have for the entire week of Vacation Bible School. They all looked pretty well dressed, nice clean(ish) looking clothes, hair done up in braids.. this shouldn't be too hard on my heart this week, they must be doing ok. (I remember thinking)... until, the second day they came with the same outfit, and the third day.... and the fourth day... Some by the end of the week had a different outfit on, but some still had the same outfit on that they wanted to make their first impression with at the beginning of the week. I think of it like the "Sunday Best" that Laura Ingalls wore in Little House on the Prairie. It was the one nice thing that they had to put on for something special, and they were so proud of it. They were just that, so proud of their outfit. I remember them fluffing their dresses as if to say, wow, I look so nice.


I should have known it would be a challenging week as we climbed up the mountain in our bus. Make shift houses lined the dirt roads, made of metal sides, no windows, and barely a roof to speak of. Even the "nicer" houses would be considered unlivable here in the U.S.


Yet, these people were some of the nicest people that I have ever met in my life. The relaxing lifestyle of the Jamaicans continues up into the mountains. They are not concerned about time, or anything outside of their world. They are content and SO thankful for anything they have. 


Makes me think about us. Myself.. my family. What is it that I need right now? What do I WANT? The people in the mountains of Jamaica live so frugally, (because they have to) and yet we are always concerned about getting the latest and the greatest. Why? Because we have the resources and are CONSTANTLY surrounded with ads, billboards, tv shows, radio.. and everything else telling us that what we have is not good enough. We always need more. 


I have had this on my heart lately. Giving back. Giving to people that have less than we do. Giving to people that need a little extra help, because we can.  Even as the widow's offering in Mark 12.. she gave what she had, all of what she had.. it wasn't much, but the Lord said that she gave the Most! Even if we don't have a lot to give we should do what we can because the Lord calls us to. Whether it is tithing, giving to the poor, helping the widows and orphans, helping your neighbor or family in time of need, whatever it may be.... we should give.


Deuteronomy 16:17Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.


Whatever God has given me to give I should. I don't think the Bible's "giving" passages only talk about physical money giving... I think its giving of the blessings you have. Whether it's a blessing of cooking and you can make meals for a family in need, whether it's financial and you have the ability to help people are are struggling financially to get on their feet, whether you can build things and you can help do construction for a organization or family.. whatever it is, God wants us to be cheerful givers. 


I recently have been looking into an organization that accepts expired coupons that the troops can use abroad. They troops are allowed to use coupons 6 MONTHS past the expiration date! Believe it or not, even with all my great deals, coupons get away from me and I always have lots of expired coupons left at the end of the allotted time to use them. I'm have emailed about being matched with a military family that I can share my coupons with. 
** If you are interested in donating coupons to my stash of expired coupons to send, message me and I'll give you my address. They don't HAVE to be expired, but this is just the point of the whole thing is that they are able to use them for a long life after the expiration date. I will most likely be sending a package monthly to the family that I get matched to so you are always welcome to send me yours monthly and I'll send them along!


I'm really excited about this! I recently heard about it what a GREAT way to be able to show, even in a small way, to our troops that we are thinking about them and want to help them! I will post if I come up with a family match that we can send to!! :)


I am excited about the things that God has laid on my heart to pursue in giving, and giving back. 
We are blessed. We have everything that we NEED, and more. 
God has given me some abilities and I am anxious to see where He takes them. Where He can use me. 


I'm ready! Time to give.... and I'm SO excited about it!

*~Mighty Mommy~*

Hi Friends!


It's been a while since I last posted, I know, but I'm baaaack :)


Have been busy taking care of Giuliana, still trying to get more things unpacked (yes, we aren't done yet) and on top of that keep the laundry up, house clean and have dinner of the table for the hubby :) I'm doing just fine, but it keeps me busy for sure.


While running around yesterday, Giuliana was sitting in her swing, just as content as could be, snuggled up under a blanket, and just watched me so carefully. Little eyes peeking out from the blanket moved back and forth as I loaded the dishwasher and picked up around the kitchen. I started thinking...


Being a mommy is so much more than a title. It's a role. Yes I know what you're thinking.. "mommy=cooking, cleaning, bathing the kids, dinner on table.. here we go". Well, yes ;), but no.  Being a mommy is a gift. Something that shouldn't be looked at as just a title and jobs put being it. I feel like being a mommy is a lot deeper than that. I always go back to the Proverbs 31 woman.. Will I ever be that. I can't really sew, how am I suppose to clothe my own children? Well, I'm not sure how literal that verse is. However, I may not be able to make all my kids clothes, but I can coupon and scout out good deals so that I can save money for our family and buy clothes at a better price.  You see where I'm going?


I think being a mommy has more depth than surface. 


Feeding your family doesn't only mean putting chicken nuggets on the table and throwing some french fries in there and calling it good because you've got other things to do. I think we should do our best to make healthy meals for our family. Why? Because look at all the fruits and vegetables God has blessed us with! After all... the beginning of the Bible does start with a Garden ;) I know it's tricky, but we can do it! Sometimes healthy is boring, I admit it. However, I'm trying to start thinking of healthier ways to make meals. I don't always hit my mark (like the pizza I made last night! or the oreos I bought..) but I am trying. I think it's a process. I want Giuliana to grow up eating the things that will help her stay healthy and take care of the body that God gave her. anyways.. enough about food, I'm getting hungry!


Also, beyond food, I think "feeding" your family is much more. I recently ran across a Bible story book that I used to read when I was little. I remember reading a story every night and then we would answer the few questions that went along with the story. I have been praying for Giuliana nightly before bed, but as she gets older I want to not only be feeding her belly, but feeding her heart with the Word of God. Something that is far more satisfying. I desire that as she grows up, she will grow up to be a "healthy" Christian and I think that God gives us children so that we can have the privilege to instruct them and "feed" them starting at home. What a gift.


Being a mommy is more than just telling children what is right. It's being it. As I watched Giuliana watch my Every move around the kitchen.. I began talking to her. Telling her about what mommy can do around home to show daddy she loves him, etc. She just looked at me and listened so carefully. Obviously she was probably like.. Ohhh I like that color on the front of your shirt, which I could focus on if you would stop moving around! ha! But nonetheless, she was so intently focused on me, and what I was saying and what I was doing. I feel that I am very blessed to be able to stay at home with Giuliana. It's not something that everyone can do, but it's a true blessing to my life! Since I stay at home, I am with Giuliana 24/7. She sees everything that I do. I think it would be easy for me to go to work, "deal with people" and then come home with a perfect attitude and happy as ever. However, how I am at home is.. how I am. The good, the bad and the ugly :) We all have good days and bad days, let's be honest. I'm rambling now.. the point I am trying to make is. I'm an open book. What is my book saying or illustrating through my actions that Giuliana mimics and tries to be like? Obviously right now she isn't mimicing me, because I don't cry when I want food, etc. ;) haha. but as she grows up, I think our roll as mommy's and daddy's is so important. We are what our kids, or what they should, try and be like. That's a lot to think about. It's so important that we are feeding them what is right, and living what is right. 


Anyways.... just some mommy thoughts that I have been having lately. I am so blessed with my little lady. Love her dearly and I pray that God would grow her into a mighty woman of God that He would have her be. Also, that I would be the Mighty Mommy of God I should be for her!


Take Care Friends! :) Enjoy your kiddos!


Lindsey 

8 Weeks of Love

To my beautiful baby girl..

Giuliana, thank you for being such a gift to us. On June 28th when you came into this world and were introduced to us I couldn't believe my eyes. You were finally here! I had waited so long for you and finally could hold you in my arms!

For as long as I can remember I wanted to be your mommy. I prayed for you constantly that God would bless our lives with you. We waited and waited and in God's perfect timing found out that you were coming! Mommy cried and cried because she was SO excited!!! :)

Since you have been born you have been nothing but a joy to our lives! I can't imagine our lives without you.

Seeing you change constantly over the past 8 weeks is so much fun. Each smile you smile seems a little bigger and a little cuter (or a lot cuter) each and every day!

I love it that you cry whenever you barely have wet pants and as SOON as I mention a "clean panty" or barely start to change your diaper you get a HUGE grin on your face.
I love when I give you kisses you say "ooooooh"!
I love it when I get ready to swaddle you, you THROW your arms up in the air like.. "uhh uhh mom!"
I love when you sleep you tuck your bottom lip in just like daddy does when he sleeps.
I love that you watch me walk around the room like you are curious as to each and every move that I am going to make.
I love it when you are sleepy and I lie you down in bed you just look at me like.. thank you mommy! I was really tired and this is JUST what I needed.
I love it when I feed you, you look so content.
I love it when I pray for you, you just stare at me and listen. Sometimes coo-ing while I pray.
I love it when your daddy holds you and you snuggle into his neck and just lay there. (Yes, I love him too, I knew you would!)
I love it when I give you a bath and put your tubby towel on your belly to keep you warm you smile the biggest smile like I've just plopped you on a sandy beach somewhere under the sun! So happy!!

Overall... I love you peanut! Daddy loves you so much too! He's the best isn't he? I knew you would fall in love with him just as I did the first time I saw him!

We are so proud of you and each and every thing that you do. Whether a milestone or a simple grin first thing in the morning when you wake up.

You are the love of our lives and we can't wait to experience each and every moment with you beyond these first 8 weeks.

I love you nugget!

Love, Mommy <3

Another Blog

Well, it's time for another blog. Yes, I know. I feel like I keep starting blogs and then never follow through and actually write on them. I have a feeling this one is going to be different, though. Because Phil is working so much lately (and will be for the future years) I find myself at home a lot with lots to think about and write about. Maybe I'll use this as an outlet to get my thoughts out. :) This should not be confused as my ONLY source of letting my thoughts out. Phil and I enjoy our time together when he is home and will of course be my primary source of an outlet, but this will be nice for something on the side! :) Should be fun!


I thought I could also post fun things that G and I do. As she grows it will be so much fun to share all the fun milestones she reaches! :)


Anyways, that's about it for now. I may post lately tonight but as for now, I'm getting sleepy! 


G'nite for now!
Peace. Love. and New Blogs.