A Treasured Heirloom

Gabrielle's Christmas Letter!!

2011-12-04T09:16:00.000-08:00

With just a little editing and slight rearranging, this is all Gabrielle. She loves to write poetry and stories, so I thought it would be fun to have our Christmas letter be in the words of our oldest...I was a little shocked when she began reading me her version of:

An Ansolabehere Christmas

Imagine for a moment, yourself driving along miles and miles of golden, perfectly ripened wheat. There is a gentle breeze that is blowing along the fields and it appears they are waves rolling across the sea. This beautiful scene is wrapped in the glow of sunset causing the mountains to radiate a purple hue.

The scene is captivating and nearly causes you to miss your turn…a little dirt road called Winchester Dr.

And that is where our Montana story begins!

If you do not already know, this is Gabrielle and I am going to give you a little glimpse into an Ansolabehere Christmas! This is our first Christmas in the bigger house!! The house we moved out of was a small 3 bedroom so we are very excited to be in this MUCH larger home!! 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms!!

As you pull into our yard at the end of Winchester Drive, you will probably notice Abraham riding the family dirt bike. He loves that thing, along with every other mechanical device “that will probably result in a hospital visit” as my mom is always saying! And that pesky animal chasing him would be Noah. We got Noah the year Abraham was born, which would make him 77 in dog years as Abraham is about to celebrate his 11^th Birthday.

You have come for a visit at a perfect time because the weather is still mild, it is just spitting snow. BUT, just wait for what they call a “Montana Minute” because it will change very soon…I hope you brought 4 wheel drive!!

In the front yard, you see Ezra and Isabelle playing on our very old swing set. It is probably something most of you would have seen in your elementary school playground. Ezra and Isabelle are ALWAYS together…I think they probably should have been twins, they are best friends. They play like it…….and they fight like it!! ;)

Ezra turned 8 this year and Isabelle turned 6.

Amazingly, Ezra had no major accidents this year like the time he swallowed a battery and the Dr. had to x-ray him everyday until he…well,…ummmmm passed it.

Isabelle, however, did have a scary stay in the hospital. She had complications with croup and we got her to the hospital just in time…if it had taken much longer, they would have had to put a tube in her neck to get her to breath. YUCK!

Now, I will invite you inside!

Don’t mind all the Christmas decorations, put up “way too early” in my dad’s way of thinking. He also says it looks like “Christmas puked in here.” My mom DOES NOT AGREE!!

Can you smell that?

A mixture of pine and cinnamon candles with whatever mom is cooking now.

I do have to say that our California family, Papa and Nana Huang, have a church and rescue mission in San Francisco. That is where my mom met my dad because she was in inner city intern there and married their oldest son. “A hunk” I have heard my mom say too many times!

Anyway, we miss them a lot and still want to do things that we were blessed to be a part of while we were there so, mom says we cook. Thankfully, we all enjoy to cook! Mom gets us all together and we think of people we can give a meal to…dad helps too, mostly with giving mom grocery money and by taste testing!!

My brothers, sisters and I were able to do a bake sale this year…we earned almost $350 dollars and sent it to Red Cross for the Japan disaster. We hope to do another one and give the money to the homeless shelter in Havre, MT. It feels good to do those things.

God says, “To whom much is given, much is required”. And we are always being blessed with so much…so we should give as much as we can too, right?

I hope to go to San Francisco someday soon and serve with my Nana, Papa, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins!!

We haven’t been able to see them in a whole year.

The last time we went to California was to say goodbye to my dear Papa Jean. He is spending his 2^nd Christmas with Jesus this year but we have lots of wonderful memories of him…especially at Christmas time!

Sorry, got a little side tracked!!

Oh…did you hear that? Yup, that would be my littlest brother, Canaan. He is LOUD and LOVES his Trucks, Tinker Toys and Toy Guns…..A LOT!! If you had come a year ago, that little brute would have looked much different. Mom says we are all miracles, but Canaan is a real live honest to goodness miracle. You can always read his story along with many other stories on my mom’s blog: www.treasuredheirloom.blogspot.com.

Mom will have another little one March/April of next year and we are all praying that this pregnancy and delivery are smooth!

We will be naming her Joelle-Marie! A pretty French name…Joelle means Jehovah is God and Marie (which is my middle name) means wished for child.

Just so you know, I also have a blog and you can come visit it anytime! This letter is about my family, but there you can get to know me a little better!! By the title, you will know that I LOVE my horse, Dart, so much!!

www.horseheartsrule.blogspot.com

Oh, and now, here in the school room is Sophie!! All hours of the day, she will be found here coloring in her coloring books or her “school books” as she would call them!! Sophie turned 4 this year and I think she is the smartest 4 year old I have ever met (She can color better than me…seriously). The things she says sometimes are just so funny and crack me up!! She said in the car the other day, “Do you see this finger? It has magic in it, so when I point it at you, you are going to stop bugging me!” to Isabelle who is her buddy in the car.

If we had more time, I would take you to my Auntie Katy and Uncle Justin’s house. We ride our bikes there as much as we can. It is 1 ½ miles to their house and that is where my horse is. Him along with lots of chickens, rabbits, a goat, a couple geese and A LOT of dogs live there. It is a fun place.

I wish I could also take you to my Nana and Papa Darlington’s ranch. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen!! They live in the Bear’s Paw mountains. That is where our family likes to hunt and spend Thanksgiving and Christmas! We love when we get to spend the night, which is usually everytime we get to go out there because it is almost an hour drive from our house.

Then, we could go to my Auntie Kiki’s (she had a beautiful wedding this year in Lincoln, MT at my Great Grandpa Fred’s house) so you could meet my new Uncle Jim and my two beautiful new cousins, Maddi and Miyah.

I would even have my Uncle Jade take you hunting, he helps my mom and dad find their big bucks!! He also has a beautiful daughter named Aspen…I love to play with her when she is here!!

If we had lots of time, we could go to Arizona to see all my Papa Rick’s art. He is the best artist EVER and inspires me to draw, paint and write. I am not very good yet, but he just tells me my art is beautiful and to keep practicing!! Hopefully if we went there we would be able to see my Great Grandma Pat, Uncle Freddy and Auntie Senia too!!

Since there really isn’t enough time…or space on my paper…

There is one last thing I should show you before leaving! Our GARAGE!!

This is a place that for the first time, I DO NOT like to go in. But, I will just for you.

Hanging up are all the deer that my mom, dad, auntie Katy, uncle Justin, Uncle Rick and Papa Roger shot!! I did tell you that we have been so blessed, right??

They all gave us their deer this year so that we could fill up our freezers!!

The only bad part is we had to cut them…OOPS…I just got LOUDLY corrected….THEY had to cut them up!! I wouldn’t touch them with a ten foot pole!! I DID at least look at the disgusting things finally though!!

They all (well, my Auntie Katy, mom and all the other kids) just finished cutting and packaging the last of the 5 deer. You might wonder how they know how to do this…well, my Papa Roger is the best butcher ever (my family is full of the best) and taught Auntie Katy how to do it, so she taught all of us!! Mom remembered how to do most of it, just not as well, from when she was growing up.

Anyway, I had better go!! My dad just walked in from another long day in his autoshop (he never complains and is the happiest man I know, but we always try to make the house nice and peaceful when he gets home so he can relax) Also, Backstraps are ready and supposedly “calling my name”!!

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!!

With Love, Gabrielle and the Ansolabehere Family

Philip, Rossie, Gabrielle, Abraham, Ezra, Isabelle, Sophie, Canaan and Baby Joelle-Marie!

Christmas Cards and Bedrest!! ;)

2011-12-02T14:41:00.003-08:00

Makes for a great combo!! BECAUSE...I don't feel totally helpless!!

It would seem that I will be on bedrest for hopefully a short time, and while I am down, I have lots that I am finding that I can do while sitting on my rump!!

First on the list though are Christmas Cards!!

If there are any of you whom I don't have a recent address, would you either leave it in a comment or e-mail me at rossieansolabehere@yahoo.com!!

Thank you so much for keeping me occupied writing so that I do not have to focus on every crumb, clothing article and screaming child running in circles around me!!

I owe you all...

BIG TIME!!

The story behind the picure!

2011-11-25T03:30:00.000-08:00

If you don't remember

this video:

THE STORY BEHIND THE PICTURE

You will have to click and watch...this is sort-of what it looks like for a mom to take a photo of her 6 children.

ONE. SINGLE. PHOTO

Anyway, I am so thankful to have been able to call my little sister, Katy, to come and snap a few pictures...however, just in case she did not know what it would be like to take photos of a family of 8 (with a prego-military-style-mama heading it up) my only advice was to "Take A LOT of pictures!"

So, thankfully...she took A LOT!! Even the in-between shots!! ;)

So glad she likes my hind end so much...I am not so sure all of you will appreciate it, however,

maybe you CAN appreciate that even an "I don't want a traditional photo...I want everyone scattered and misplaced" kind of photo take a whole lot of placement!!

And again with the heiny.

Oh YEAH...keep going.......

But it really does all look serene in the end, right?!?!

So, after about 5003 photos...we got a few where no one has a weird face, running away, screaming, shivering, laughing or is flopping on the ground.

Those we will save for the next post!! ;)

Guest Appearance by My MAMA...A Journey Through Abortion

2011-11-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

This special story is one of many times our family has seen God work all things for the good of those whom love Him and are called according to His purpose!!

ALL THINGS

After being married one year and giving birth to my first daughter, my husband and I moved to Lewistown, Montana. I was working in the KFC drive thru when a woman about my age pulled up for her order. I had never seen her before but something about her made me purpose to remember her face. Something was different about this woman.

A few weeks later I ran into her at the grocery store. I started talking to her and found out that our husbands worked together in that very store. She invited me to her house for lunch so I gladly accepted. While there, she spoke kindly about her husband and children, her house was peaceful and her personality was joyful. Her son, Cody and my daughter Rossie were the same age. As I prepared to leave I blurted out.."Okay Karla, what is it about you?" She then told me about being a born-again christian. I had never heard of such a thing. I grew up going to church when it was my mom's turn to serve rolls. I took myself to church when I was in high school and felt good afterwards but had no idea what the guy in the robe was talking about. I knew I wanted what Karla had but when she asked me if I wanted her to pray with me I declined. I was so nervous and excited. I went home tho and hit my knees and asked Jesus into my heart. When my husband came home I told him what had happened but he wasn't impressed. That summer his little sister came for a few weeks and during that time I told her what little I knew about asking Jesus into your heart.

Jumping ahead 8 years, I was now the mother of 3 children and we were living in Casper Wyoming. After years of a rocky marriage, it ended. I was 9 weeks pregnant with my 4th child and he wanted nothing to do with it. He gave me $350.00 and told me to take care of it. Alone I went to the office, had the abortion, went home , took a nap and never thought of it again...

or so I thought.

In a short amount of time I had gone from a respectable mother of three to a hard-core alcoholic who hid schnapp's in my purse. I moved home with 2 of my 3 children only because I was told if I tried to take my son he would get them all and I would have nothing. So Rossie, Rikki and I moved in with my mom.

I spent most of my time in the bar surrounded by people who thought I was really 'something'. My mom spent most of her time taking care of the girls. She finally got sick of my behavior and kicked us out. I rented a house but like usual spent most of the time in the bar...drunk...hiding the pain.

Once I even went to the bar and left Rossie and Rikki home alone..8 and 5 years old. They would take care of me in the morning. Living like a lush, I became pregnant again. The babies father wanted nothing to do with it so I figured I would take care of it again. No one knew of my previous abortion. I had people calling me to give advice but I wouldn't talk to any of them. My mom told me to abort because I couldn't take care of the ones I had. The father's aunt wanted me to come live with her and her husband. They couldn't have children, They would cover all expenses if I would give the baby to them to adopt. I told them no way. Funny how I wouldn't give the baby to them but would rather have it killed.

I scheduled the appointment for a Monday.

Suday before I got a call from a woman who said that God was telling her and her husband to speak to me and for some reason I agreed. No one knew I had scheduled the appt but God knew. I met them at the Lutheran church and they began to show me pictures of how big my baby was (again I was around 9 weeks). I saw a baby not a blob like the doctor told me before. They then told me where I could go for help with food, clothing medical care,things that seem unimportant but are monumental when you are considering the life of a child. They then showed me pictures of abortion and the dam broke. I heaved with sobs as I told them what I had done and what I was planning to do. They lovingly told me truth. I knew right then and there that I could never do such a horrible thing again. I went to tell the babies dad but before I got the words out he asked me if I was ready to be a mom again!

On Thanksgiving Day (how appropriate), 2 weeks early, Katy Kay Heck was born. What a blessing! She was the apple of my mom's eye.

When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I would take her to her treatments. Afterwards she would want to go see the newborn babies. So Katy would crawl up in her lap in the wheelchair and off we'd go. It seemed important to mom to see new life beginning as hers was ending. When my mom took her last breath 4 year old Katy was holding her hand.

Katy and I testified at the Legislature on 2 bills ,24 Hour Waiting Period and the Woman's Right To Know, which both passed because seeing is believing. Little bitty Katy was as tall as a Mountain that day!

The best part of the story...the woman that talked to me that day ...was my ex-husbands little sister...the one I told about Jesus years ago. Full circle this story has come. God knew.

Introducing...Joelle-Marie Ansolabehere

2011-11-15T12:14:00.000-08:00

Little Miss Joelle-Marie Ansolabehere!!

Photo at 18 weeks gestation!!

So thankful for unborn children...especially the little one so ALIVE moving around in this body!

Seeing her precious face...only halfway into my pregnancy was both wonderful and grievous at the same time. To think that some would say she is not life, and would snuff her out should I be willing makes me sick with grief.

We have a story of abortion in our family...and I am hoping that that precious woman "whom believed a lie" will soon share her story with all of you on my blog. I almost wish I could share just a piece of her amazing story, but I will leave that for her...God is so good!!

AND...this is Ezra's first miracle story. They told us Christmas Eve 2002 that after an amnio, Ezra would be born with Downs Syndrome and we would have to move quickly should I want to terminate this pregnancy.

I WAS SHOCKED!!!!

Absolutely NOT, I replied....but then, with a more humble answer, we explained to the Dr. that this baby was a gift sent straight to us from God, and we would love and cherish him in whatever state and package we received him in!! God was entrusting us with another piece of heaven and we would never turn away that gift...let alone terminate it. Thankfully, because of my faith in God I knew what a gift he was....but also, because of the journey this special woman will share with you, I knew that ONLY God is the Author of Life!! Not me, nor the Dr. nor the government for that matter.

EZRA PHILIP ANSOLABEHERE

Ezra means "help"

was born May, 15 2003

He was supposed to have Down syndrome

He did not.

Gabrielle's First Bread Baking!!

2011-11-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

We all got a special treat the day Gabrielle decided that she was going to give a go at bread baking!!

You have to know though, that my first response when she asked me was a louder-than-necessary "NO, NOT TODAY!"

Which happens to be my first response, usually, to anything that will make a mess!! ;)

But, right after my "no", I do believe God spoke to my heart. A clean house was absolutely nothing without the children whom seem to always mess it up.

I need to be better at saying "yes" especially in times like these for four reasons:

1. She wanted to learn and do something that would be useful in life.

2. Really, when we tasted the delicious Pudding Infused Breakfast Puffs, the mess was more than worth it.

3. Because she accepted the help of the little ones, we all spent a good afternoon together...laughing, baking, quality time and eating together...precious memories.

4. Let them be little, let them make a mess..........................and then teach them how to clean it up! ;)

She also made cinnamon bread that was DIVINE!!

We have a few really good children's cookbooks...two of our favorites are:

Felicity's Cooking Studio (An American Girl Cookbook)

and

Better Homes and Garden's New Junior Cookbook!!

TIEBREAKER!!

2011-11-07T04:34:00.000-08:00

Today is the day...we will get to find out what our little tiebreaker is...if the little munchkin decides to cooporate!! :)

Stay tuned for a hopefully fun announcement!!

Question and Answer (Part 1)

2011-11-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

Do any of your older kids pick out their own outfits the night before? Or do you choose everyone's? And do they get to have any of their own clothes in their rooms, to have a sense of personalizing/ownership?

This is such a great question because I often wonder this of other mom's with family closets!

1. All our children definitely have a certain flavor ;) and that comes out in their clothing as well as their personality. I used to make 90% of my girl's clothing (I am now down to about 50%) but when I do make their clothing, usually they are right there with me helping with their own design, choosing their fabric and styles.

Within the liberty of being an individual, however, there are very firm and very clear boundaries. One of those boundaries for our girls is MODESTY. No extra skin showing, no skirts shorter than the knee unless leggings or jeans are worn underneath. For the boys, we emphasize RESPECT. All their clothing should remain respectful...not only for others, but for themselves.

2. None of the kids have clothing in their own room...even my clothing is in the family closet. The reason we decided to do this was because we were finding clothing everywhere...they will take things off and leave them where they lie...or try 50 things on before finally choosing what to wear and leave the 49 other outfits on the floor!! Clothing, for a family of almost 9, is an investment. And since I do not have the time to hover over each child to make sure they are taking care of this investment, I was going to do it in a manner where I am the example. I am the head sergeant of the Family Closet! ;)

But, many times I will send down one of the big kids to lay out every one's clothing for the next day...they enjoy this when I choose them. They are a little strange like their mama!!

Hope that helps with that question!!

Will you find out the sex of your precious little baby soon?

YES...in fact, we go in on the 7th of this month for my 20 week ultrasound!!

I have had a couple children that we have not found out, but I find that with my maniac planning tendencies...I HAVE TO KNOW!!!

Do you ever have a bad day?

Yes...many of them...and most days, a few bad moments are included. ;)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Philippians 4:8

This is a verse we as a family are working on memorizing together. On those bad days and in those bad moments...I have now come to realize that it is not because we have failed on that day or in that moment.

We are all human...we are all sinners and only by the grace and mercy of God do we have good days!! ;)

When we are in the midst of "bad", first we try to focus on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely good report, virtue and praise and then we adjust our lives a little in that moment in order to move that direction. If it means taking a little time off of school to play a game or do a fun science experiment or ever write a few thank you cards, then that is what we do...or if I am just needing to take a step back, I either put on a video for the kids to watch while I can have a moment or will put one of my big kids in charge for a bit. Usually it only takes a minor step back to regain perspective and we are good to go once again!

Puffy Paint

2011-11-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Saw this on pinterest!! Had to share...we use a LOT of puffy paint!!

Puffy Paint

1 c. salt

1 c. flour

1 c. water

a healthy squirt of food coloring

tempera paint. Put in squeeze bottles!!

We found clear squeeze bottles in Walmart!!

Question and Answer!!

2011-11-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

I have had quite a few messages and comments asking FABULOUS question and many of them I would like to post and answer here on the blog.

Not because I believe I have the best answer, but because there are some wonderful women, mamas and grandmas out there that I believe can also give wisdom in these areas!!

I don't have time at the moment, but hope to get to a few of these questions this afternoon...a few of those questions are:

With a family closet, are your older children still responsible for their clothing to give them a sense of individuality and ownership?

Do you ever have a bad day? ;) (Love this one!!)

Is your husband involved in your homeschool?

What does a typical day look like in your home?

What do you do with your younger children when you are doing school?

Do you ever feel overwhelmed and like you just can't do it all?

How do you keep your grocery budget around $600 dollars?

If any of you have any questions you would like answered, please leave a comment.....OR if you already have an answer, please either answer here or leave a link to your blog where you have perhaps already answered!!

Children's Morning Devotionals

2011-10-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

If you have gone through all devotionals with your children and can't (or don't want) to run to the store and buy the next latest and greatest children's devotional...here is what we use:

CALVARY CURRICULUM

We do not go to a Calvary Church, so I do not exactly know doctrine...however, these little studies are straight from the bible and have fun games and coloring pages to help reinforce what we are learning. We are using the 1st-6th grade curriculum....and the best part is that it is all FREE!!!

There isn't too much fluff and although they do not use scripture from the bible we use, which is King James, it just causes us to look up each verse and read it for ourselves...and that's better anyway!!

The Family Closet/Gun Room/Guest Room

2011-10-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

So......I had a $40 budget on this room in our house. First order of business was to collect all the dressers and hanging rods that weren't being used and put them in my office/schoolroom (my perfect work area). Then after a trip to Wallyworld, I came home with a laundry sorting unit, a few white tubs and some brown paint on sale because someone returned it.

My grand total: $36.50

I rewarded myself with a Candy Bar and a Soda. ;)

The room of choice: Phil's makeshift gun room. It is a catch all room that I can't stand!!

Yes, that is a leg lamp. A gift to my dear hubby from my dear mother!!

Next order of business...the muscles.

My little sister, Katy Kay!!

Nothing is off limits when you have paint!!

Paint makes everything beautiful.

I really should have taken a picture of the Star Wars mural on the wall. Was here when we moved in and now it is covered up with a beautiful chocolate paint!

FINAL PRODUCT:

All kids clothing, shoes and accessories...along with all of mine are in this room.

It cuts down on collecting dirty laundry, picking up clothing after the little ones and their friends decide to play dress up, folding and putting away in 5 different bedrooms, packing for trips and most importantly:

I set out clothing for the next day the night before, so I am able to do it all in one location...along with iron what needs to be ironed.

It is all in ONE PLACE!!

And EVERYTHING is labeled!!

This room also serves as Phil's gun room. Which means the door remains locked and little ones cannot go in and destroy my masterpiece!!

I ordered a bunch of our hunting photos to put on the cork board there and tried to keep everything looking on the masculine side so that Phil could enjoy being down there still.

The ugly blue tubs are now gone and there is a matching bench to the table in place so that Phil can work, but I took these photos before I finished that job!! ;)

We always have someone staying with us it seems, many times they are men...and most of them hunt, so we thought this would be appropriate. We have my daughter's large bedroom that is also used for other sleepover guests (not of the hunting world). ;)

Mid-finish of my job, I ran out of tape for my label maker...it was quite devastating...until my dear husband showed up with HIS bigger and better label maker!!

JOB FINISHED!! I am a happy woman!!

The Long Lost Art of Modesty

2011-10-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Sadly, modesty is a lost art. I say art because when people use the word "modest" or "modesty" it is usually with rolled eyes...believing that this word defines: frumpy sweats or always wearing long dresses (although I would LIVE in dresses forever...I love them) and baggy clothing. It is not. It is being feminine (not sleezy), neat and tidy (not sloppy and made up with an inch of make up), beautiful and sweet (not seductive and provocative). I have heard so many times "we can't control the boys looking at us" but we can sure do our part NOT to be a stumbling block. Protect those boys, protect their women, protect ourselves and save our goodies for the MAIN SQUEEZE (our hubby)!! Like I said...Modesty is an art.

I love clothes and fashion, hair and makeup just as much as the next lady, BUT I do believe that as a woman, it is our responsibility to be wise and modest. For our husband, for ourselves, for men, for men's wives, for our daughters and because God REQUIRES it.

Here is a little clip from:
~Stacy McDonald (Raising Maidens of Virtue)
'You know the old saying "birds of a feather flock together?" Well, it's true! We are surrounded by a culture that glorifies self, vulgarity, sloppiness, and perversion.
Though we are surrounded by this culture, we don't have to be immersed in it. We are not "of the same feather," so we shouldn't look as though we "flock together."
At the very least, we can certainly make sure we have enough feathers to cover ourselves.'

BIG cooking!!

2011-10-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

The key to big cooking is the prep. I work it into my everyday life, because the kids still need to do school, house needs to be cleaned and meals for the day prepared and eaten.

The shopping, I just work into my usual trip to the store. I plan ahead and have my list ready so that hopefully it goes on without a hitch. I will often times prepare small lists for my two big kids and they will go off on their own, sometimes with one of the little ones in their cart and shopping will go by even more quickly that way. The kids LOVE this!!

The night before I set out all the items we will need and prepare my TO DO list...as long as I have something to cross out and see my item pile decrease, I am a happy camper!!

I do all that I can the night before...in this case, I was able to put all my chicken (15 lbs) and my roasts (10 lbs) in the crock pots to cook over night. SO, first thing in the morning, I was able to see part of my list crossed off.

I be sure to label everything well so that there are never any surprises at suppertime.

Gabrielle was my right hand man for this day. The other kiddos helped out plenty, but she was there for the entire event!!

We try to use the same large bowls and pots for cooking...this keeps us accountable to wash them in between in order to keep our dish pile to a minimum.

Starting to fill up...

Isn't it gorgeous? This is made helpful by two freezer meal cookbooks that I have. Most are now my own recipes, but they helped me to learn what freezes well and how to "half way" prepare some of the items.

I had a comment about the health and old fashioned-ness of our meals so I will try to explain a little.
After 6-7 years of doing this, I have somewhat perfected this process and these recipes for OUR family...these meals are all favorites of OUR family. I had to keep in mind simplicity (you have to when cooking 50 meals), freezing ability, and easy preparation when coming out of the freezer.

Every family is different...and that is FABULOUS, so make what is acceptable to you and yours. My only advice is to research what freezes and reheats well. There are lots of things that are NOT yummy after being frozen and recooked...speaking from experience!!
All meals are served with fresh produce (most times from our family's co-op garden). These are just our core meals which cut down the shopping, cooking and cleaning time tremendously. All the eggs we use are from our family's co-op organic chickens and we soon hope to be butchering those chickens as well.
With a family of 9, you are bound to have a few picky eaters that refuse to eat their veggies...SO, I try to incorporate those "good healthy" items into our tried and true favorites.
For example: Our meatloaf, meatballs and shepherd's pies all have shredded carrots, fresh tomatoes, mushrooms etc "hidden" in them. ;)
Also, since we live in Montana and hunting plays a huge role in our diet, all of our meals include meat. Most of the meat is elk, deer and or antelope.
We made a grand total of 50 meals, which in the long run saves us about 100 hours in cooking, cleaning and shopping time.

Some of our meals were:

Spaghetti

Lasagna

Meatloaf

Meatballs (BBQ sauce and swedish sauces made)

Taco meat

Enchiladas

Pizza Burgers

Shepherd's Pies

BBQ Beef

Chicken Soup

Hamburger Stew

BBQ Chicken

Breakfast Burritos

French Dip

Pulled Pork in Gravy

Pork Stir-Fry

Any questions?

2011-10-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

THEY ARE AFRAID OF REAL MEN

By Coach Dave Daubenmire
September 2, 2011
NewsWithViews.com

I have a lot to say, but this is not the time to say it. I’ll save the details for another day. Stop reading now if you think Jesus was a sissy.

This is a time to vent...to air it out...to let some steam off ..to release the pressure valve.

Sometimes I feel like my head is about to explode. This is one of those times.

Americans have become so sissified. Everyone is afraid to hurt somebody’s feelings. It is the ‘wussification’ of the culture run amuck. Real men scare people.

I grew up with straight-talkers as my role models. John Wayne-types were the manly examples that the entertainment industry pumped into our homes. I have fond memories of sitting around the black and white Philco with my parents as the family watched real men gallop into our living room. Roy Rogers, Clint Eastwood, Paladin, Hoss Cartwright, The Lone Ranger, and their ilk left a masculine odor in my nostrils each night as I sawed logs in the bed I shared with my older brother.

The next morning we hit the yard running playing “Cowboys and Indians”, scalping redskins by morning, turning into Vic Morrow’s “Combat” and pretending to kill the Krauts by the afternoon. We lived out in the day what we watched on TV in the evening.

Pardon me for being so politically incorrect, but killing Krauts and scalping Injuns was a wonderful life for a young man to live. Today you can’t even use the name Indian. At least I wasn’t forced to play with Ken dolls and dance with Barney. The only Barney I knew was the lovable weenie on Andy Griffith. He was an endearing character because even my young eyes could see that he was a sissy-man who wished he was a real man. Somehow, I wanted to help him grow some hair on his chest.

But look at what they have on TV today? It is a steady stream of sissy-boys with moussed and frosted hair being offered to our impressionable young boys as “American Idols.” Instead of Gunsmoke and Matt Dillon we get “Dancing With The Stars” and Chaz Bono. Is it any wonder we have gender-confusion in America?

I am just going to say it. We have allowed the young men in this nation to be emasculated by women. No offense to women...I love them. I married one. I have two daughters and a granddaughter. They are the joy of my life.

But they are women. They think like women, they act like women. They like cooking...and shopping...and “Cake Boss” on TV. The get emotional. They cry easily. They hold grudges...they wear lace...and makeup.

But, I don’t want my son acting like them. I want him to kill bugs, and shoot varmints, and tell men off. I want him to open doors for women, to protect and defend his sisters, to learn to handle a gun in order to protect his family. Our children understand that the Father is the head of the house and that his job is to guide, guard and govern those God has entrusted to him.

Is that what they are teaching in your child’s school? Is that what they are teaching in your church? Is that what the young people are learning in your church’s youth group? Does your church have a “Gun Free Zone” sign on the door? Probably put there by a woman...or a pastor...or a woman pastor.

Or are they teaching the boys to act like girls? Just look around. The men don’t even look like men anymore. Fonzie would have beat them up.

Look at your child’s elementary school. How many men do you see working with those kids? My grandpa taught me how to spit. If a boy does that on the playground today he probably gets medicated. A woman can’t teach a boy how to be a boy. Only a man can do that. Do you want your son to be taught to ”be nice”...or to “be a man?”

Remember the Daniel Boone theme song from the weekly television show?

“Daniel Boone was a man, yes a big man. With an eye like an eagle and as tall as a mountain was he.
Daniel Boone was a man. He was brave he was fearless and as tough as a mighty oak tree.
From the coonskin cap on the top of old Dan to the heel of his rawhide shoes. The rippinist, roarinist, fightinist man the frontier ever knew. Daniel Boone was a man. Yes a big man. And he fought for America to make all American’s free.”

Daniel Boone and his cohort Davy Crockett have been replaced by Simon Cowell and Charlie Sheen.

I had a meeting today that sent me over the top. I spoke like a man. I called a spade a spade. I called sin, sin. I gave them a double-barrel approach to the Truth. They deserved a tongue lashing and they got it.

Needless to say, it was not well received. I was too “harsh”, “too judgmental”, “to direct”, “too self-assured”. I was just too much for the bossy women and the wimpy men they work with.

America, both men and women, no longer want to be spoken to by a man. They are afraid of men, real men. Instead of Davy Crockett they want Dr. Drew.

Ok boys. It is time to get your butt off of the couch and engage your son. Everywhere he goes he is being told how to behave by those who have no idea what it means to be a man. Don’t come crying to me when he comes home wearing skin tight jeans, moussed hair, earrings and a collar around his neck. Get him off the computer and take him fishing. Teach him to fire a gun and skin a rabbit. Watch the movie “Braveheart” with him. Teach him to be a man.

If you don’t teach him now, some 23 year old recent college graduate who minored in Women’s Studies at the University will.

I read somewhere that one of the first things Muslim children are taught in some of their schools around the Middle East is how to kill and dissect young animals. It teaches them to get over their natural revulsion to blood.

In America we are teaching our young boys how to get in touch with their feelings, how to recycle paper, and how to speak without offending.

We live in a dangerous world. I wonder if Putin, Ahmadinejad, and the Red Chinese fear the sissy-man President that we have? Are they afraid of Hillary...and Palin...and Bachmann...and the various members of The She Party?

For Papa

2011-09-07T13:24:00.000-07:00

Gabrielle and my mom created this dance in honor of Papa Jean (Phil's dad) whom passed away just a few months before.

She's at that age!!

2011-09-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

Our Gabrielle turns 12 today!! I remember her birth most vividly...probably because she was HUGE!! 8lbs 9oz was HUGE for this first time mama!! I had just celebrated my 1st Anniversary in May and turned a whopping 19 years old in July. I wanted to experience the birth naturally and instead suffered the humiliation of years people would remember and discuss my ~~kicking, screaming, biting, flopping and complete surrender to pain~~ rather loud cries of distress!! ;)

I thought that moment would stand to be one of the hardest moments of my life.

Boy, was I wrong.

Gabrielle, really, has been one of the easiest, helpful, quick learning and God fearing children... that isn't what was difficult in these 12 years.

It is the thought and realization that we need to protect our children. Even more than training them (although that is important) praying over them, instilling a love for the Lord and protecting them has been the most sobering.

The world seems to be on a mission to collect and destroy our children. With poor self images, lack of life knowledge, distorted views on dating and sex, no work ethic, and a lack of respect for others, parents, authorities and God.

When I turned 14, my mom took me to a special breakfast and we talked about purity and abstinence. I remember it to this day...we want to be the ones our children to go to with questions and concerns in this area and that means we need to beat the world at their own game.

12 seemed to be an appropriate age to do this with Gabrielle. Even though we have had the birds and the bees talk quite awhile ago, I knew it was important for her to have a specific day to remember when she learned what true purity and abstinence meant.

We prepared for her this little "coming of age" care package. Yes, that is a phone...something I NEVER thought we would do, but one more thing that goes along with turning 12...babysitting!! I am very proud to say that I believe she was ready for that quite some time ago. She even has a book and binder going on the subject of The Christian Girl's Guide to Babysitting!!

Anyway, in this little package were things she already needs and things she soon will.

Even better was this FABULOUS book!!

Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Mally

I highly recommend this if you would like your child to know the lies of dating and how special it is to wait for the one God has intended for you and then to save yourself for after you say your vows. Even more, how to pray for your future spouse before he appears!!

We need to be praying for our kids...petitioning on their behalf. We need to be on guard and ready to fight for them. The enemy is like a roaring lion out to steal, kill and destroy...and in our children's lives...this lion is most likely............THE WORLD!!

Happy Birthday to one of the sweetest girls I know...Iwish I had been more like you when I was growing up. We love you so much and feel so blessed that God gave you to us for a time!!

God is so good and merciful...that is more than evident when we look at our children...all glory to Him!!

ANSOLABEHERE MINI TRIP

2011-08-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

I have been on a mission to find the perfect packing system...

AND I FOUND IT!!

THAT is what my packing usually starts out like. And...this was just a couple day trip!!

After reading the Duggar book, I was excited to try out their packing system...using a little twist of my own.

The Duggar system rolls a certian type of clothing for each day and puts them all into one grocery bag. For instance:

All boys pants for Tuesday in one sack

All boys shirts in another sack and so on...

We don't have as many children, so I was able to fit all children's and my own outfit in each bag (which meant 7 outfits in each sack)...this is what it started out like.
OUR TUESDAY OUTFITS:

We ended up making that first pile look like the next photo...plus we had one bag with everyone's PJ's and then one more bag with everyone's Wednesday clothing.

The best part was Tuesday morning, I got out this bag and passed each member their outfit...they went to put it and brought me their dirty clothes which went into this now empty bag! I felt super organized!!

This is what what we took along on our 2 day trip...all clothing including socks and undies fit into one bag and our toiletries fit into the other little bag.

When we got home...all our dirties were packed neatly into 3 grocery bags just waiting to be put into laundry!!

What was our trip for??

The little girls had oral surgery and that is a WHOLE 'nother story!! ;)

Oh it's ON!!

2011-08-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

So, I have ~~yelled, kicked and pitched a fit~~ gently asked my children to PULEEEEEEZE pick up after themselves for 12 years now to no avail.

Now....it's on!! While preparing to go to the fair tomorrow (a surprise...I am attempting Jim Bob Duggar's efforts to be unpredictable in order to always keep the kids on their toes and continually wondering, what will mom and dad do next!) anyway, while preparing to go, a thought occurred to me!! I just went through the house, once again picking up favorite ball caps, purses, toys etc...and I decided I was going to do my very own "lost and found" box!!

The plan:

1. Collect over time all items I find lying around the house and place them in my lost and found.

2. Give the children their little allowance gift.

We do not pay for chores, but every now and then we will give a few dollars when we go out to do something fun...LIKE THE FAIR TOMORROW!!

(We also pay for jobs we would have to hire out...our children are not slaves, but they will know how to run a house (their house), expecting nothing, when they are ready to fly the coop!)

3. Bring out my lost and found!! I will show mercy by doing this all before we go to the fair so that they are able to bring their prized posessions...aren't I a nice mom?!?!

4. It will cost 'em baby!! $.25 per item to retrieve it from my special box.

5. Lesson learned...probably not...YET!! It may take a few rounds to get the hint, but I try to see things "Big Picture"!

The Hunt Is ON!!

2011-08-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

This is what Ezra looked at the end of this day!!

In an effort to catch upon all the blogging I have been unable to do because of computer issues...this is quite an old happening! May 15th to be exact!!

Every birthday,we try to make a banner, sign or in this case a flag!

We made a flag for Ezra's birthday because...we planned out TREASURE HUNT for him!!

Just like my mama used to do for us growing up (even on my 25th birthday) we mapped out the yard and house and provided clues that led them fromone place to another!

Every once in awhile he needed a little help with his reading, but very proudly he read almost all the chicken scratch clues on his own!!

The final clue provided him with an essential tool...you know it!! A metal detector!! What fun for this little (BIG) boy. I think his dad was more excited about this little part of the hunt than he was!!

See!! He had to joininon the fun!!

What could it be in there?!?!

A POT OF GOLD!!

Or in this case, Nana and Papa's gift...a tin full of quarters!!

The kids all helped make cupcakes and Gabrielle did a special photo shoot in order to make this Birthday collage!!

We LOVE anything homemade, so of course this fabulous card from a friend was a favorite...plus it had drawings of guns and knives!! It is still hanging on his wall!!

The Pantry System

2011-08-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

So, I finally feel like I am getting a hold of all the monsters in my home!

~~Laundry Monster~~

~~Grocery Monster~~

~~Cleaning Monster~~

~~Closet Monster~~

I still have a few monsters to battle...for instance the Toy Monster and the Yard Monster, but today...I focused on the Pantry Monster!!

Gabrielle is my "Food Lady". She loves food, not really the eating part. Although, she does enjoy that...it is more the cooking and shopping she loves!

This made it so easy to choose her to be the "Pantry Police" and she gladly accepted the task! Thank God!!

Anyway, we have the shopping part mastered and for those of you whom would like to know what we budget, I will tell you. I will also say that this year we had no garden...hopefully next year we will and also, we plan to purchase a whole beef to be butchered for our family which will lower our yearly cost tremendously! Not to mention, we will have 3 hunters in the family this year, which means we will have lots of yummy venison as well!!

For now, we have our grocery budget logged in at about $600 a month. About $500 is spent at the beginning of each month on our "Big Shopping" day and then the remaining is spent each week on milk, fruit and other perishables.

Here is a glimpse of about half of our pantry. The other is in the kitchen...we have a lazy suzan for breakfast, a lazy suzan for snacks, a shelf for our breads and a shelf for our chips and misc. items.

We also have two refrigerators. One in our kitchen that holds all our "normal" cold foods. And the other that holds all our drinks, eggs and leftovers. All shelves in those fridges are labeled of course. ;)

This is how I decided to go for inventory. It is just a spreadsheet with all our dry good items. There is a mark for each item that we have...for instance, if we have 8 tomato sauces, 8 of the boxes have a mark. Gabrielle and I are the only ones allowed in the forbidden pantry room and so when we need an item, it is highlighted or checked off. Next to each item is a number of how many we like to have on hand after shopping day. Also, Gabrielle is working on prices for each item...that way we will know almost exactly how much our grocery bill will be.

I just attached the highlighter using a Velcro dot...we all know how quickly things like that disappear if left to the hands of the little ones!! ;)

My apprentice photographer...Gabby Girl!

2011-08-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

For Christmas, Gabrielle received her very first camera from her Papa Rick..whom is a very talented artist and photographer in Sedona, AZ.

You can view his designs here:

Rowley Designs

Gabrielle has been tagging along for years with my mom and I on our countless photography appointments, but I was shocked when I viewed her memory card and edited photos. She is developing a style all her own and has a beautiful eye for photography.

The "how" behind our photography is nothin' special!

2011-08-04T20:02:00.000-07:00

There is a beautiful little town called Fort Benton here in Montana where we LOVE to take photos. I thought I would share a few and also let you know what photo editing we use.

Since we cannot afford a fancy editing program, we go for the cheapest...FREE!

It is called Picasa! It is wonderful and this is the program I use even for editing dance photos. You can adjust light, color, contrast, fix blemishes, crop and add special effects and fonts!

The best part about it is that it is for photo dummies, like myself! I just like to take photographs, I don't want to worry about a ton of complicated editing.

Another program we use is called PicNic. It has a small fee per year, but with this program, you can whited teeth, give tans, mascara...you name it and you can do it here. Also an easy program to use!

Gabrielle is our "Next In Line" photographer. I will post a few of her photos tomorrow. She has an amazing eye and is also pretty good (meaning WAY better than myself) on the computer.

She even helped with our dance photos this year...I paid her of course, because, I can't stand sitting on the computer for more than like 15 minutes. That is why most of my posts here are so short!! ;)
Her Papa Rick got her a camera for Christmas last year...a Kodak Cool Pics camera and she can take some pretty amazing photographs. You don't need a huge camera to take good photos!

We always just go with it when we take pictures of the kiddos. Sometimes the stressful moments make the cutest photos!

In case you are wondering what type of camera I use, it is a Nikon D60...I absolutely LOVE it. I am on my second one...the first accidentally (with the help of my dear husband's packing skills) fell from the trunk of the Yukon at Disneyland a couple years ago!

Ansolabehere News!

2011-08-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a LONG time and I am happy to announce that we once again have internet!! I have missed documenting our lives the most, so I can't wait to get back to blogging!! First things first...a little announcement!!

Watch the announcement by clicking on:

ANSOLABEHERE NEWS!

In the hospital with my mama...

2011-04-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

and we are praying for answers, wisdom and proper treatment. I would so love and appreciate your prayers!!

God is good and we, once again, have the privilege of seeing Him move!! I am so thankful for my sisters whom are watching all my children so that can be here.

I learned from my season with Canaan to journal everything, and since my mom doesn't blog, we purchased a journal and I am keeping notes...hopefully I will be able to share the details of one more of God's great miracles!!

The "Book Nook"!!

2011-04-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

So, I have been meaning to do this for a LOOOOOONG time, but have never had the space!! Now we do in the "Land of the Children" that we call our basement!!

We have since finished unboxing all of our book, so now we have but overfilled the bookshelf, thankfully we have lots of those and just added on!!

A few throw pillows from the thrift store to get cozy on and we have our

BOOK NOOK!!

The kiddos (and us parents) love it!

It is amazing what a little special spot can inspire!

I catch the kids here all the time, either reading to themselves or to one another (which happens to be my favorite way to find them.)!!

A not-so-fancy FANCY hairbow holder!!

2011-04-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

If you are addicted to hairbows like I am then you will LOVE my tip of the week!!

The pictures say it all!!

Any frame will do...just staple strips of ribbon to match your room and you have a piece of artwork!!

My newest hairbows!!

2011-03-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Our Montana Life

2011-03-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here is just a glimpse of our life here in Montana!!

This is out at my mom and stepdad's ranch in Big Sky Country...you can visit their website:

COUNTRY CROSS MINISTRIES

A Time For Tea!

2011-03-24T12:22:00.000-07:00

"Sharing tea with children is just one more tangible way of offering the gift of our time and our attention, sharing ourselves and passing on what we've leaned." - Emilie Barnes, If Teacups Could Talk

Tea parties are also a great way to teach manners in a fun way...who wants to burp and yell at a tea party??
Everything is dainty and polite..."Please pass the scones." and "May I have a little honey?" were music to my ears!! ;)

We had the kid's cousins, Maddy and Miyah, over for tea!! Thankfully, the kids have been in several weddings...so we had lots of "Princess Dresses" to go around!!

While the big kids were at Awanas the night before, the little ones helped me make Chocolate Chip Scones to have with our tea!!

Gabrielle read the kids an Easter Story. She tried to find something reguarding "Tea Parties" for them, but couldn't get the printer to work.

You will not see Abraham in any of these pictures.

He WAS there.

Apparently, tea parties are for girls.

Ezra did not agree.

Rest assured people.

That is "boy" jewelery.

At least that is what he told his daddy.

I am very thankful that he is very much a boy...just, at times, does girl things...boyishly. ;)

We are going to purpose to do this more often...with all our friends!!
Plus it is fun for us mommies to get to visit. I had a wonderful time with my sister Rikki!!

Date Night...a long over due Date Night!

2011-03-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, my little sister and brother-in-law teamed up with my mama and stepdaddy in order to give Phil and I a Date Night.
Katy and Justin watched the 6 kiddos and my mama and stepdaddy provided us with tickets to a Rotary dinner of Prime Rib!!

When Phil and I talked about the last time we went out, we determined it had been over a year and a half!!

This sounds just crazy, but truth be told, our lives are the best. Although it is a season where our alone time is only "after hours", our family time is WONDERFUL!! We wouldn't have it any other way. Everywhere we go and everything we do, our children are a part of it. It is such a blessing to have them in every crevice of our lives.

We thrive this way...our marriage thrives this way...our family thrives this way.

We had a blast on our Date Night and I am so thankful to know that even after 13 years, I wouldn't want to be out ALONE with any other person! I love and adore this man...STILL!

We only stayed for about an hour and a half, I think we were both thankful to get home to our munchkins...plus...

WE ARE "OLD" NOW AND 8:30 IS OUR BEDTIME!

"OLD" I say because I asked my sister, Katy, if I needed to dress up for this Rotary Dinner and do you know what she said?!?! "No, not really, it's just a bunch of old people!" She is 22.

I will have you know that 80% of the people there were my age!!!!!!

So, Katy...THANKS A LOT!!! ;)

Now, it will probably be another year and a half before this happens again, but that is OKAY!!

Our life of "peaceful chaos" (as my dear friend Jen would say) is AMAZING!!

An Ansolabehere Fieldtrip (Lewis and Clark Museum)

2011-03-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

This was our special guest...Dixie. My little sister's Great Dane Puppy.

This dog has the worst FARTS ever!! Sorry to use that "bad word" (at least in my house that is a bad word)

but to describe them in any other words would require VERY BAD ONES!!

Seriously, I think I barfed a little in my mouth about 53 times!!

Auntie Katy had the kids picking up trash in the Museum parking lot.

Everywhere we go, we try to do this...our baby steps toward being good stewards of our planet!

On this adventure...we made LOTS of very interesting discoveries about the state that we live in!

We visited 3 places all within a one mile radius of Great Falls, Montana.

We started with the fish hatchery and Giant Springs.

Canaan learned a new word...FISH. Only, he pronounced it "PIT"!

This took about 100 times of me pointing to the different species of fish and saying "fish"...he thought this was hysterical, until...finally he caught on and attempted to say the word!

The fish hatchery is used for trout...in which we learned they receive fertilized eggs at three weeks and keep them till they are 3 months old and approximately 2 inches long before they release them into our Missouri river.

Some they keep quite some time as you can see in the picture of my very photogenic Ezra!

Gabrielle was our designated "Note Taker"...she did an amazing job gathering about 10 pages of facts and data!

Then the beautiful Giant Springs!

Did you know that a spring is water that comes from underground?

This particular spring comes from another body of water in the Little Belt Mountains and take about 50 years to come up from the earth here in Great Falls.

We were very thankful to have Auntie Katy with us...she is so much fun!

We learned that we have the longest and shortest river here in Great Falls

The Missouri runs 2540 miles long...200 miles longer than the Mississippi!

The Roe river is 201 feet long and they connect here!

Boys love to run, so I had them do a fun race on what Ezra called the "China Steps."

Ezra might be a stinker...

BUT he is one smart stinker!! ;)

Isn't my lil' sister GORGEOUS!!

Then we entered the Lewis and Clark Museum.

And still note taking...

This little boat couldn't have been that hard to pull for Lewis and Clark!

Well, they let you see...and even our superwoman, Auntie Katy, couldn't get very far!!

Here we are with the very handsome Lewis and Clark...so buff pulling their very heavy boat.

The facts we learned were amazing. Lewis and Clark stayed in Great Falls for a whole month!!

Here is a buffalo robe they kept their "notes" on. Gabrielle's looked a little different!

Lewis drew up 2 maps and Clark about 125!

Lewis used triangulation to determine how far their journey was

and out of 4000 miles, he was only 40 miles off!!

Sometimes...I have no explanation.

My children are just

well...

WEIRD!

By the end of our adventure...everyone was beat!! We got in some GREAT naps!

When I saw this beautiful buffalo robe, I just couldn't help myself. I need a nap!!

Truth was...

IT STUNK...

BAD!!!

We got to watch a video on Lewis and Clark and were the only ones for a presentation on their map making. Pretty cool one-on-one lesson! For those of us whom could stay awake!

And still note taking...

After losing Abraham....this is where we found him.

Dead...due to an ancient avalanche!!

The poor dear.

All in all...it was an AWSOME day!!

Sometimes your deepest valley is really...

2011-03-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

...hope for a new beginning.

I have had lots of questions, e-mails and prayer requests about something I am very familiar with. A place in life where you feel hopeless, you are sick of yourself, you feel as if it couldn't possibly get any worse, you feel abandoned and so far away from God.

You are in a GOOD place.

We get confused between:

Hopelessness

and a

Clean Slate!!

Those prayers you say,

"Lord, where are you?"

He has brought you to a place where all you need is HIM!

"I just want to start over!"

He has brought you to rock bottom...a new starting point!

"Could it get any worse...could one more thing go wrong?"

He has brought you as far as needed in order for things to go "right" not always the way you would like, but if you are in His will and asking Him for direction, they will always lead you where you are supposed to be.

Sometimes that "supposed to be" place is not fun, is hard and trying, BUT it is where He has led you so you have peace and a sense of MISSION!!

Sometimes He leads you on a MISSION in the GHETTO of life!!

Have you heard,

"Keep your chin up?...It can only get better?"

That cliche for me interprets as:

Pick yourself up by the bootstraps, put on your big girl/boy panties, look to the LORD and start moving forward. Don't look at your circumstances, just focus on GOD...only He can see the big picture...through the fog in your life. Your only clear line of vision is through Him.

YOU HAVE BACKUP!!

Where you are is okay, even if you are in the deepest valley. It is a new place for you to start climbing!! A place where you can leave all the yuck in your life and start over.

We are all human, we all add and invite yuck into our lives...we all NEED a good valley every now and then.

Psalm 71:19-20
Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up!

What an Eggroll Session looks like in our house!

2011-02-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

The whole process starts with chopping...LOTS of chopping:

We've got, pork, chicken, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, ginger, garlic, cabbage, onion, bean sprouts, zuchinni, mushrooms. You name it...it was probably in there!!

And yes, we had a master chef...his name was Jimbo!! ;)

Jimbo's sidekick:

Nana

And then we have Smarty Farty whom thought if she stuffed her nose, the onions wouldn't make her cry. HA!! Boy was she wrong!! ;)

Dump it all in the pot and cook it up!!

We have some brave ones...

and some not-so-brave ones!

Seal those bad boys up with some starch water!!

Fry 'em!!

And then......

You get to reap the reward!! About 200 eggrolls divided up among the 15 or so people that were here to help!!

YUM

All in a good day...literally (it took nearly all day)!!

Supper Time!!

2011-02-21T09:03:00.001-08:00

I just noticed this "real" dinner bell outside the kitchen window of our new house!! Thought it was pretty cool and would make for a good backdrop for a family mealtime read!!HERE

is a little read on the importance of family mealtime!

We have a "Table Talk" jar that we pull out every now and then. In it are questions that the kids have asked or ones that we think will be a fun, interesting or important topic that we can discuss as a family at mealtime.

What do you do to encourage family meals together? What do you discuss? Do you eat every meal as a family or just dinner?

Master Menu List

2011-02-13T07:19:00.001-08:00

I am refining our Family Planner and thought I would post a few things that we have in there!!

I have a MENU section in it that contains: Master Menu, Weekly Menu, Grocery List Checkoff and Recipes. The Master Menu helps when I am planning for my weekly menu...I see most everything we eat on a page and don't have to try to come up with dinners off the top of my head.

Here is our MASTER MENU LIST:

Meatloaf

Crockpot Chicken

BBQ Meatballs

Porkchop Casserole

Breakfast

Spaghetti

Chicken Strips

Mini Pizzas

Stir Fry

Hamburger Stew

Lasagna

Manti Soup

Taco Salad

Indian Tacos

Ham and Broccoli Casserole

Teriaki Chicken

Steak

Blt's

Salsa Chicken

Tater Tot Casserole

Lasagna Bake

Pork Roast

Tuna Casserole

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Tacos

Sloppy Joes

Chicken Alfredo

Hamburgers

BBQ Chicken

Baked Salmon

Fajitas

Grilled Ham and Cheese

Tortilla Wraps

Chicken Quesadillas

Arroz Con Pollo

Breaded Porkchops

Potato Soup

Green Bean Hotdish

Stuffed Porkchops

Tritip

Venison Roast

Venison Finger Steaks

Fried Chicken

Ribs

Taco Bake

Pizza Sticks

Pasties

Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta

Enchilada Pie

Spaghetti Bake

A Few Fun Family Photos!!

2011-02-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

I would have much rather had Kate Moss model our new GBGD bandanas...but she's not returning my phone calls, so I guess you have to deal with Gabby and I!!
I LOVE MY KIDDOS!!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY TO OUR MIRACLE BOY!! Canaan, you are such a blessing!! If you haven't read Canaan's story, you can click on his UV picture in the right hand corner...just remember to read from the bottom up!!

Custom Tutu with Matching Tank and Flower Clip

2011-02-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

So...as you all know, there are seasons for everything. This is a season where I need to knuckle down and do my part to help provide and this is the only way I know how ;)

Phil is starting a new job, still in mechanics, but it is out of town.

We love Big Sandy, but it is small and he has lots of little mouths to feed, which led him to make the decision to close down his shop and go somewhere else. He has been the sole providor for our family and we have never been in want of anything...and he just wanted to be sure it remains that way.

Sad day...I am hoping and praying that one day he will be able to reopen it, but until then, I am going to attempt to do my part order to make his burden (he would NEVER call it that) lighter.

Soooooo, if there is anything I can do for you...Let me know!!

You can see prices on my website at: http://www.goodbuckgonedrag.com/

if you go to the Custom Children's Clothing Page!

Skirt/Shirt Sets

Ruffle Bottom Pants

Twirly Skirts

Pillowcase Dresses

Wipe Cases

Hats

Flower Clips

Just about anything...we can do it!!

JUST ONE MORE THING...IF YOU WOULD SEND YOUR FRIENDS THIS WAY, THAT WOULD BE GLORIOUS!! WE CAN USE ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET!!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Isabelle (Tink) Turns 6!

2011-01-28T05:34:00.001-08:00

Of all my peanuts, this one seems to be growing up the fastest.

She is just a pure joy to be around. Always (well almost...she's not perfect) happy.

She loves her friends and watches over her family.

She is very much delicate...tiny little features and when she speaks, it seems like her words should come out in bubbles.

Her friend, Ryan, nicknamed her "Tink" a few years back and it stuck.

She really does remind everyone of Tinkerbell. Sweet, pixie, and when she gets mad...it is almost cute!All that to say...Isabelle, aside from maybe Abraham, LOVES everything hunting, LOVES dead things and LOVES hunting and fishing!!

She has been known to sit in the same position for an hour, not moving, and never bringing in her line. Even I was skeptical...BUT she caught a fish!! The only one that day in the whole family to catch one.

This girl has mastered the art of patience!

Isabelle was born 5 weeks early and weighed 5lbs. 9oz. She was my "practice" for Canaan's arrival to come 5 years later! :)

A short stay in the NICU for about 2 weeks and the nurses dubbed her "Perfect Petite Princess".

She was the most beautiful baby (I cried when Gabrielle, my first child, was born... and TOTALLY did not look like the beautiful baby I pictured in my head before she was born. Terrible but true.) with perfect heart shaped lips and she literally NEVER cried!

She is always original...never wants to be like anyone else. She dances to her own beat, and so far that has done well for her ;)
We love you so much Miss Isabelle, more than you will ever know!
What a blessing you are to this family...God bless you sweetheart.

New house pictures...Part 1

2011-01-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

So...I HAD to put this up by the front door, just as a warning to all those that enter!! ;)

Here are the pictures I promised...or the first set anyway! I had to do it in parts otherwise, I'd be posting 5 million all in this post, and that would take FOREVER and a day!!

The Living Room:

This is one of my favorite little nooks!

I know you are dying to get a glimpse of our bedroom!! ;)

I loathe white walls, or in this case pastel purple, so we WILL be painting come spring when we can open up the windows!!

Your trash is my treasure!

I got these little windows from my sister and turned them into dry erase boards and found little horseshoe hooks at the flea market to hang keys on.

You can see we have a birthday coming up in our home!!
Isabelle will be 6 on Friday!!

The Dining Room...came with the little boy there!!

This was a really yucky old china hutch I got from my grandma...painted it apple green over some crackle finish...added a little chicken wire and voila!!

Out the front window....

Out the back window...bliss full huh?!?!

Part 2 hopefully comin' tomorrow!!

MOVING DAY!!

2011-01-20T06:07:00.001-08:00

We are finally getting to move into our new home...well, new to us anyway!!

Pictures and a video to come!!

Good Buck Gone Drag Website!

2011-01-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy to announce that we now have a website up and running!! Please come check it out. You may not be a hunter, but I'd still like to know what you think!!

Store should be ready very soon!

Good Buck Gone Drag

Happy Wife, Happy Life...may not be exactly what you are thinking!

2011-01-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

"She brings him good and not harm ALL the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12

Here is a little background on my life:
I grew up in an alcoholic family, my mom divorced when I was 7 and remarried when I was about 9. Many of you know what that is like and although many of the memories I have of that time in my life are not pleasant (Don't get me wrong...I have many wonderful memories as well), I believe God had a plan and He has used those years for the good of my life now.
When I was about 12, our family experienced one of those "revival" type turn arounds! We all started going to church, my mom pulled us from public school and we as a family started seeking God.

One thing I am so thankful for was that God led my mom to speak to me about abstinence and saving myself for marriage. Resources back then were not like they are nowadays and being a baby christian, she did her best in training us to stay pure.

As a teen, I developed the "Fake it till ya make it" mentality, and it has served me well. I took what my mom had taught me to heart and by the grace of God, my wedding night I was able to give my husband a very special gift. However, I must admit that it was purely the "act of intimacy" that I had saved. My heart was not pure. I was very vain, and I cared very much what people thought of me in my teen years. Flirting and a few kisses with boyfriends were not uncommon. I dressed to impress and used my emotions to manipulate those around me. I never had issues with dressing seductively, but I dressed to gain attention...sometimes even wearing bowling shoes to do so ;) Oh man, the things I thought were "cool" back then...ugh, how embarrassing to look back!
Being married at 18, I carried many of those things with me into my marriage. For a time I even looked down on my husband, thinking I was so obedient to God and saved everything for him only to be returned with having to live with "his" baggage. Many years I have struggled with wanting to control my husband and to make sure all those around me loved and adored me...not giving much thought as to how God would have me act. Using that manipulation and emotional control I had become so good at.
Well, I quickly learned that it was not working...bummer! And had to resort to plan B, which was "Fake it till ya make it." I knew what scripture said about how we are to come under our husbands, how we are to bring them honor and respect him and even lead others to do the same toward him.
So, I began a very long journey with the Father.
My first step was to bite my tongue...sometimes literally. I began to only give my opinion when asked, and even when asked, I had to take every thought captive before I spoke. Making sure that there was no condescending tone nor judgmental feelings in the words that came out of my mouth. Eventually I began to see what a good man I had married. He is so wise and even though many of our views are so vastly different, God had given him the ability to make good choices and to lead our family. I was just smothering him not allowing him to bloom because I thought I could do it better. I was learning true submission and that is not the "lay down and die" version, it is the joyfully sacrificing and surrendering to the man God had prepared to be my head.
Next, I smiled...all the time. I practiced everywhere I went, in every situation. I have been asked so many times, "Why are you smiling?" or "What's so funny?" If only I would have answered each time with, "Because God told me to!" What a testimony that would be. When he came home from work, no matter the day I was having, you better believe he would see me smiling when he walked in that door...even if the words, "IF YOU KIDS DON'T KNOCK IT OFF, I'M GONNA...!"...the minute that front door opened, I was smiling! Hey, I did warn you that I was faking it, right? Well, I began to see his demeanor change. He liked being home. He was able to leave the worries from the day at work and come home to a smiling wife, excited children, a good meal and a warm bed. This soon became my heart...I was starting to feel it, and even though sometimes I would love to let him in on how horrible my day was, God always gave me the strength to get through the next one without burdening my husband with the one I had just had.
I found myself gradually not faking it, I was making it! God was rewarding my efforts! It wasn't just my family that was experiencing the great joy from my not so happily given obedience, but I was experiencing that joy!!
Finally, with all the changes happening in my heart, it couldn't help but overflow in every area of my life. I was seeing everything in a new light. How we dress, what we teach our children, what we eat...I mean everything. I must explain that I have inherited the "extreme gene" from my mama! I wanted to share all these wonderful ideas with my husband only to be shot down with his practical thoughts or his "ohs" an "uh hums" I wanted him to be excited too!!
Then God revealed to me something very profound. Just as he had given my husband the needed gifts and abilities to put food on our table, a roof over our head and to be the head of our home, he had given me very unique gifts and abilities to manage the happenings in our home. I began to implement the things God put on my heart, even though I was a little sad that I was the only one excited. I learned something new in this too...actually, I learned a few new things. That unity is not the discussing every single topic that arises within a family or marriage, that can often even cause disunity. It is both parties acting in obedience to the Lord and using the gifts He has given them to create a unified relationship. When we are both reaching for the same common end result, no matter how we go about it individually, we are creating unity. I learned that my husband's silence is his approval. He has no problem with speaking out when he does not agree with something I am doing, and that provides the perfect opportunity for me to practice that "true submission" I have learned. I'm still working on adding the word "graceful" to true submission ;) I also learned that God has blessed me 6 children that will get excited with me...sometimes! Which leads me to my scripture verse again;

"She brings him good, not harm, ALL the days of her life."

About 9 years into our marriage I noticed the word "ALL" in that verse and just recently, my mom gave me a CD with that being the first thing out of the speaker's mouth.

I hate to admit that I did not bring Phil good all the days of my life, but as hard as it has been learning to do good, it has given me great wisdom to be passed on down to my daughters. Not just my daughters, but my sons as well. Oh that my sons would seek this kind of woman and strive to become men worthy of this kind of woman would bring such joy to my heart.
My daughter, Gabrielle (age 10), has chosen to save her first kiss for her wedding day. What a reward to me from my Father! Thank God, he has given me wisdom to train her that it is not just the kiss she is to save, it is a pure heart behind the kiss that God sees. She is called to do her husband good ALL the days of her life...even at 10 years old. Also, the knowledge that even when we fail, He is merciful and gracious, and "all things He works together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose!"

Every day I feel so blessed that God gave me such a wonderful man to serve. God has changed my heart from one that resented and disrespected my husband to one that joyfully respects his and seeks just to see him smile! For those of you who don't know him, his smiles are rare, but when they occur...they are GLORIOUS!!

Blessings to all of you and we are all in it together!

The Story Behind The Name

2011-01-17T07:00:00.001-08:00

So...Good Buck Gone Drag is not the ideal name for my business.

After painting my deer skull, adding pearls and finishing it off with some lashes, it seemed my deer skull was getting some grief for lookin' too girly.

I felt a little sorry for him.

In the middle of the night, I would love to say that God struck me with a lightning bolt (He does work in mysterious ways) but I won't pin it on Him...anyway, I shot out of bed, half scaring my husband out of his wits and shouted, "I know what his name is!!" I would have liked a bit more enthusiasm when he mumbled, "What?" but that didn't let any air out of my bubble when I (again shouted) "Good Buck Gone Drag!!"

It was not meant in the derogatory meaning of the word although I know very well what it refers to :)

It really is just meant as:

OVER THE TOP

BLINGED OUT

My mom and I have decided that we are redefining the word GONE DRAG!

We as women are so many things, we are mothers, grandmothers, teachers and hard workers, but most importantly, we add beauty to the world!

So, my goal is to no longer go about my business attempting to add beauty to whatever comes along...Now I'm going to purpose to add beauty to my husband's world. Whatever that might be and hopefully leave little traces of that "attempted" (I say that because I know I am not God's gift to the world...I am just attempting!) beauty along the way.

It is not just about putting lashes on skulls, it is about his family coming up along side him and no longer requiring him to be a part of us and our world, we are going to enter his and add as much beauty as humanly possible!

He has worked for 13 years, sacrificing for his family so that I don't have to work and so that I am able to stay home and provide my children with the most custom schooling one can give...at home!

Now, I hope and pray that I might have a little something to offer back in order to ease his burden a bit and hopefully add a little "beauty" to his world. The best part is that I can do it with the things he worked and sacrificed so hard for still intact...home, children and family.

My next Proverbs 31 endeavor might be a little controversial :)

2011-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

So, you all know the Proverbs 31 (Epilogue: The wife of noble character) chapter in the bible, but I am going to write it out anyway. Wives can never hear it too much!

PROVERBS 31:10-31

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She bring him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark;

she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously, her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes covering for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments an sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Now on to my controversial new endeavor...

It started out in California...I prayed for a way to be able to spend quality time with Phil. We had went through a dry spell of YEARS and I NEEDED a way to get into his world. It wasn't working trying to force him into mine.

"Do you know what I do all day?

"It's your turn with the kids!"

"I just need a little help around here!"

"Can't you ever just take me out?"

Sound familiar? That was everyday conversation in my home for a time.

UNTIL...

one night, I asked Phil if I could go to the stock car races with him. Sitting there on the stands, a light came on...or rather I think God konked me on the head!!

The words, "I would love to try this!" Came out before I even had a chance to think about what I was saying!!

A couple months later...I had my very own stock car!! Phil built it for me and that began a year of bonding for us. We spent countless hours together, and he ENJOYED it!! God provided me with a way into his world!!

THEN THE MOVE TO MONTANA...

Knowing how important it was to get into his world, I was looking for a new way...the closest race track here is 80 miles!!

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HUNTING...so, I DID TOO!!

We have had so much fun together, but, now I feel like I would like to take it even further and put into practice the:

"She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchant with sashes."

I do make clothing already, but I wanted a way to include ALL of my family and to do it still in my HUSBAND'S world.

Hunting isn't very profitable UNLESS you throw in apparel, clothing, accessories, unique skull painting etc!!

So, we are launching a new FAMILY business called:

Good Buck Gone Drag

It is a facebook page...website coming soon!

If you hit the "like" button after you click on the name up there, you can keep updated on all the new and excited things we are planning up.

The story behind the name is a whole other story...I will share tomorrow.

There in, lies the controversy :)

I have to give a special thank you to my brother, Jade, he believes in our family and gives us so much encouragement. He is the confidence behind this new adventure!

A thankyou to all other friends and family who have givin us so many ideas and continue to call, encourage and pray for us!! We love you all!!

Who would be the nutcase taking pictures of their fridge?

2011-01-12T06:14:00.000-08:00

Ummm...that would be me.

But in my defense, it is Wednesday.

Works for me Wednesday.

The day we share a tip with the world, or in my case, my 3 readers.

My tip for the day is a labeled fridge!I bought a label maker quite some time ago, and I label EVERYTHING!!
This helps in the fridge for several reasons.

#1. I only find sticky jelly on the second shelf of the door. Unless...some crazy person decides not to read the obvious label and puts it on the top shelf where the sour cream is supposed to go and I have to get a step stool on cleaning day to try to scrub it out!! And do you know how hard it is to get jelly to come off...especially the kind that has bits of strawberries with seeds!!

Sorry, got a little carried away.

#2. On cleaning day, I don't find leftovers from 1825 tucked away in the far corners of the universe I call my fridge.

#3. It is easy to find things. When Phil wants his salami and cheese, he knows exactly where to find it. And...he knows exactly where to put it back...if by chance he chooses to put it away. :)

If you are weird like me, and would like to see how someone else does their grocery shopping, you can click:

HERE

to read and see how our shopping day goes on a cold Winter day here in Montana.
If you have a post of how you do your shopping...Puuuuleeze, leave me a comment so that I can visit your blog. I love to see how others do it and I am always trying to master mine!!

This is a little picture of PART of the end result of a once a month shopping day.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE A'S (Nana's dance studio)

2011-01-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

Another shout out to my lil' bro, Uncle Jade, that gave me the fabulous idea to recap our days or weeks in little fun videos to share with everyone. He is BRILLIANT, little does he know that I am going to make him sit down and make one with me one of these days so that he can see what he has done to me!!!

I think I'm going mad, if I am not there already!!

Make Time for Courtesy

2011-01-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

"We must choose to be courteous and develop the discipline of courtesy each day.

We do not stumble into being a gentleman or lady.

The home that has no time for courtesy will always have time for rudeness.

The home that does not take time for compliments will always have time for complaints.

The home that has no time for smiles will always have time for frowns.

And the home that has no time for sweet loving words will always find time for harsh, critical words."

- Morris Chalfant

Heavenly Father,

2011-01-07T03:54:00.000-08:00

Help me to smile and laugh with my children today.

Help me to encourage them and compliment them on jobs

well done.

Please help me to remember to praise them more than

correct them.

Tie the heart strings of my children to You first

and then to Phil and I.

Give me:

Patience

Endurance

Joyfulness

Kindness

Gentleness

and

Self Control when it comes to the reactions I have to my children and their misbehaving.

Help me to be an example of you today. I will not ask for tomorrow, just today, for we are not guaranteed a tomorrow.

Help me to remember that.

Thank you for being You.

Thank you for the grace and mercy you show me everyday. Thank you for your forgiveness...help me to model that forgiveness today.

Thank you for every good and perfect gift you have given me...especially the 6 little blessing still sleeping peacefully in their beds...and for my hero here in earth,

Phil.

I love you Jesus.

Amen

The story behind the picture.

2011-01-05T20:32:00.000-08:00

So...I love to take a good photo every now and then, but have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes when I do?

Well, here you go:

(Forgive the watermark in the center...

I am trying out this program before I buy it!)

A good thing...

2011-01-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

A good thing...Gone....
Terribly wrong!

Weekly "Day In The Life Of The A's" video!

2011-01-04T16:42:00.000-08:00

Phil got me a video camera for Christmas and I have not a clue as to how to go about making a video, at least one that anyone would want to watch.

My brother gave me a great idea for my blog...to recap a day a week or the week over all and post it as a video here!!

This is attempt #1...terrible, so bear with me, I promise to polish my skills!!

Disclaimer for the video...my children are shooting guns. Abraham even kills a rabbit, which I kindly left out that footage. Please no calls to CPS. I promise we take every safety precaution and firmly believe that our children will learn how to properly handle a weapon. After all, they are holding life itself in their hands while a gun is in them and we take that very seriously.

These are our future hunters :) and what better way to train them than to allow practice!

So...this will probably be very boring, but I had to start somewhere.

FYI...it's not all guns, our days here are usually very diverse, so we ended on a MUCH lighter note! :)

Click here for the video:

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE A'S!!

I find comfort in knowing that testimonies come from trials!

2010-12-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

A few of my kids have had croup over the course of our family's life....but, nothing could have prepared me for Ezra's, "Mom, I think something is wrong with Isabelle!"

I looked in the back of my car and she was hunched over, drool coming from her mouth,taking the tiniest gasps for air and when I got the flashlight out to look better (it was late) her lips were blue.

It started out a fun morning of shopping in Great Falls. She had a little cough that afternoon, the barking kind, and I knew croup was coming on, so we finished up our shopping so we could get her home and under a steam tent.

Only, when we got back into town an hour and a half later...that is how I found her sitting in the back of the suburban.

We all thought she was sleeping.

Long story short, the almost had to airlift her to a bigger hospital, but were able to finally get her to breath with a steroid shot.

We spent almost 3 days and 2 nights in the Big Sandy hospital.

This all happening only 3 days after Sophie took that chunk out of her eye and just 4 days after that, Phil threw his back out!!

No sob story...these facts are just needed to prove my point!

Every trial we have as a family, we are reminded of 2 things.

We need God, He is REAL, He is faithful, He is watching and He hears our prayers!

Trials lead to testimony!
Everything we have in our lives is because He has shown our family mercy. Every good and perfect gift is from God.

Our children

Our job

Our spouse

Our home

Our car

The air we breathe

Health

Unfortunately, all these things are here on earth and earth is temporary. We are not guaranteed that we will have them tomorrow or even in the next hour.

Life is frail.

Knowing that, we could choose to live in fear, but it is no use. We know there are no guarantees. So we need to cherish them while we have them. Don't miss a beat! Be thankful for what you have knowing that it is by God's mercy that you have anything.

Don't live in fear.

Remember that:
#1

We need God, He is real, He is faithful, He is watching and He hears our prayers!

Trials lead to testimony!!

Now...THAT my friends is an indian taco!!

2010-12-15T17:49:00.000-08:00

Please forgive the name of the food...I didn't do it. That is really what they are called...well, either that or Fat Albertos if you eat at The El Comedor in Great Falls, MT!

Only these are better, easier and MUCH cheaper!

I will give you my secrets!!

First of all, an Indian taco is pretty much a glorified taco without a shell. In place of a shell is fry bread!
Don't know how to make fry bread?

NO PROBLEM

I am about to give you some top secret information!!

One little thing I don't like about fry bread, though, is that it is chewy. You have to have a knife to cut into it!

So...

Secret #1

Grands buttermilk biscuits!

Just roll them out as thin as you can and pop them in about of an inch of hot oil. I just do mine in a frying pan.

This is what they will look like:

Secret #2:

Make A LOT!!

In the morning you can heat them up...put on a little butter and honey or syrup and YUM!!

So, now you know...it is no longer my secret. If you become famous with these little tricks, please give credit where credit is due.

That being said...I must say that my step dad, Roger, did lead me in the direction of cheating with the fry bread using biscuits...I just kept trying till I found something

PERFECT!!

We top ours with:

Taco meat (usually made with deer burger)

Pico

Cheese

Lettuce

Avacado

Sour cream

Salsa

The sky is the limit my friends!!

Still sewing away!

2010-12-14T17:47:00.000-08:00

I don't blog about it much anymore...mostly because I have an on again - off again type of relationship with sewing!

But recently, my brother gave me a FABULOUS idea!!

Camo for girls!

So it's on again!!

DRESS #1

I drew out some patterns for hooded vests for the big girls...they will be made using faux fur and camo/animal print polyester lining. Super cute...I think! :)

Also, any outfit of mine isn't complete without the bell bottoms...I just haven't finished them yet! Pictures to come soon hopefully...unless I reach the off again anytime soon.

I can't read a pattern to save my life, so I never know what will happen with my homemade patterns...we haven't had any casualties thus far!I have also been figuring out these cute crochet hats...I had to pick quite a few apart, but I think I am getting it!! And my girls CANNOT be without matching bow, flower or ribbon.

It IS all about the accessories you know!!!

Hospitality

2010-12-06T04:20:00.000-08:00

I have been reading so many wonderful blog posts and books on hospitality and wanted to share a bit myself. For some this is a very difficult area, understandably so, but for me...I LOVE opening up my home to anyone that would want to enter. I am a more the merrier type and I love it when it is at my house that more come. I try to keep our home in a state of maintaining at all times so that it is about 10 minutes away from being company ready. I cook way more food than necessary and give away what we don't eat. If I have enough advance that someone is coming to our home to perform a service, I try to have a plate of cookies prepared for when they leave, or to at least offer them a beverage while they are working. I have a fabulous cookie bar recipe that I will have to post. It takes 30 minutes start to finish and anyone who comes to our house can enjoy warm cookies and a tall glass of milk.

I say this all because I want you to know where this gift of hospitality came from. God first and foremost, but it was my mom who instilled this in all of her children. We lived very close to poverty growing up, but I remember having new faces at our dining table all the time. Waking up to people I didn't know sleeping on our couch. She constantly threw open wide the doors of our home with a smile on her face, and along with that, my stepdad cooked glorious meals for the endless strangers my mother would invite in. It may or may not have come naturally to my mom, but she practiced it faithfully and in turn, trained us children that this was to be an important part of our everyday life.

Hospitality is something God asks of us to do whether it is something that comes naturally or not.

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, PRACTICING HOSPITALITY." Romans 12:9-13

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink." Romans 12:20

My mama couldn't resist giving me one of my Christmas gifts early...this book:You should all get it...or I should buy stock and send it to you all. I am finding that even though I think I am a pretty hospitable person, I have so much to learn, and even more I could be doing to show hospitality. This book is full of stories and ideas that can help us all practice hospitality.

They quote one author, Rick Renner from his book Sparkling Gems from the Greek, "Hotly pursue and never stop pursuing the goal of becoming hospitable until you have caught on to the idea of hospitality and have genuinely become a hospitable person."

I think I can be very choosy with whom I am hospitable to, however this is not the hospitality described in scripture. We are supposed to swing open the doors wide to all who would enter...within bounds of safety. I do believe in using Godly wisdom with who we allow enter, and this book goes into that as well. I do know I feel challenged and am excited with what I am learning! What a great time of year to be practicing the gift of hospitality!

Anyway, there is so much to share in this area, but I will begin with that...we will see where it goes from here.

Poor Sophie...

2010-12-03T17:10:00.001-08:00

Well, we had a full day planned. I need to address all my Christmas cards, make our Advent calendars, school, house cleaning, and map out our servant meals for the month of December...but, poor sweet Sophie had an accident.

I took her to the eye Dr. yesterday after she scratched her eye and he sent us away telling us it would be fine today.

It wasn't...It was another one of those moments when I KNOW mommy knows best. I left his office yesterday just feeling burdened and knowing that Sophie was just overlooked. So, this morning, after a night of screaming and pain....I took her in again and requested another Dr.

MUCH BETTER!

He was able to put a dye in her eye and look at it with a UV light so that she wouldn't be scared with all the machines. The Dr. yesterday was annoyed that my 3 yr. old(in pain and unable to open her eye mind you) was crying and afraid of all those machines.
Anyway, long story short, she gouged out a piece of her cornea!! She will be on antibiotics for 1 week and wearing an eye patch. If it isn't well on it way to healing, then she will have to go to Billings to see the specialist. We are praying that it does as the Dr. believes and

heals on it's own.

Just to give you a glimpse of what this particular child is like...the eye drops are painful and after much pleading, bribes and promising the moon, I finally say,

"Sophie, I am going to have to sit on you."

Sophie replies,

"Okay, mama, sit on me."

I did.

She did fine!

The next time I had to put them in her eye...even though she was crying and scared, she asked to do it herself.

I had to help her get her eye open...she hasn't opened either eye for over 5 hours, she squeezed the drop in herself!!

Anyhow, please keep our sweet girl in your prayers. She is afraid to open both eyes now, the Dr. said that every time she blinks...even just the other eye, it is like ripping off a scab. Part of the cells meant to heal are scraped off.

Phil calls her our "white" Stevie Wonder.

Learning about the Chistmas Tree

2010-12-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today I am linking up with Sugarplum Creations...a fabulous countdown to Christmas is going on over there!!

Today, the kids are learning about the Christmas tree. In short, I read a story to them about a man named Winfrid whom later became known as

Saint Boniface.

He believed that the three points of a triangular tree represented the Holy Trinity...Father, Son and

Holy Spirit.

Legend has it that one day he came upon a group of men offering a sacrifice to an oak tree as an act of worship. So angered was he by this idolatry that Winfrid swung his ax and felled the oak tree with one mighty blow. According to the tale, a fir tree eventually grew from the stump of the oak.

Struck by this occurrence, the missionary proclaimed that the tiny new tree represented Jesus' victory over death on the cross and the eternal life made available to us by the King of kings!

They also learned that the tree stands tall, pointing all towards the Father and all its branches are stretched out...just as we are to stand tall and point people towards the Father and keep our arms out wide in invitation!
If you don't already have the book The Adventure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel...YOU NEED IT!!
After I read today's lesson, we strung popcorn and berries and made an Animal Christmas Tree!!

The kids chose a tree with a nest in it hoping that the birds would easily find it!! Not they are keeping watch to see what comes in for a treat!

BBD for Mama!!

2010-12-01T05:59:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know...BBD stands for Big Buck Down!!

Never before have the words..."Holla", "Shut Up" or "Get the heck outta here" come out of my mouth, but this day, those and many more shocked statements came out!

I have not been hunting since I was 14 and the buck that I shot was like a 2x2. I haven't shot a gun...well, besides shooting clay pigeons with a shotgun, since then either!I had the pleasure of going out with my husband, whom I think is so stinkin' HOT in camo, and my little brother (actually he is quite a bit bigger). My brother has got to be the world's best scout!!

Needless to say, it was a BLAST. 20 minutes into our hunt, we spotted a little 2x2, but my brother wisely told us to wait. He suspected there was another one with him. Sure enough, a MUCH bigger one emerged!! They went running over the hill and we had to chase for a few minutes.

Then...he stopped in an open field about 280 yards (later, the boys told me that was almost 3 football fields away) and guess what ?!?!?!?!

I shot him through the heart (so no suffering for those of you whom this makes sad) and he dropped instantly!!

I was thrilled most of all to have impressed the boys with my sharp shooting skillz!! :)

Not only did I get my tag filled, my sister and my brother got HUGE ones all before noon the same day!!!

I know that a few of you will be sad with these pictures, but please know that this isn't just sport. It feed our family...it will feed us all well for the year!!

3 of my sisters and I will also be putting together the first girl team of Big Sandy (I think it's the first anyway) for the coyote hunt coming up next weekend!!

We have a few bets going against us, so you had better be sure that we are coming in with at least ONE stinkin' coyote even if it kills me!!

Christmas Cards

2010-11-30T14:42:00.001-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again...Christmas cards!!

I would love to send everyone of my dear friends one...even my virtual friends!! So, if you would like to receive a card from the Ansolabehere family, please leave me a comment with your address, or e-mail me at rossieansolabehere@yahoo.com.

May God bless your holidays!!

You have not experienced life until...

2010-11-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

You have not experienced life until you have come to Nana and Papa's beautiful ranch in the Bear's Paw mountains of Montana. It was a winter wonderland...45 miles from anything. Peacefulness is defined here.

Papa planned a full day of snowmen, sledding, smores, Christmas carols, spaghetti and good old fashioned small town hospitality!!
The location he chose was where my littlest sister got married! It is soooo beautiful and just an FYI...right above that hill there is where I shot my buck this year!! And yes...the kids HAD to choose the tallest hill! I finally just stopped watching when they brought out the snowboards. I was sure it was going to get ugly! But it didn't...THANKYOU JESUS!!

The sledding was FULL of near heart attacks for me, but everyone loved it!! Mimi even got Poppy to go down on the sled...not very often you see a 72 year old man go sledding!! He had a smile on his face the entire time!!

One of the most beautiful girls I know happens to be my sister...she can make anything look easy and everything she does is so stinkin' cute! She can even rock black and purple hair (which I did...and I'm proud of it!)

The highlight of any campfire are the smores of course!

With lots of "boyscouts" (these are the real ones...no badges, but they sure know what they are doing!) around, any problem could be solved. This is Uncle Justin heating up the Rotel dip in a pop can attached to a marshmallow stick.

Papa even had water boiling over the fire so that everyone could have hot coco!

We ended the night by singing Christmas carols around the campfire.

This is The Little Drummer Boy. We all sang in harmony as Kate tapped the drum of her daddy's guitar.