Happy Birthday, Jagger!

In honor of my nephew Jagger's 9th birthday, I thought I'd share some pictures!  Enjoy!!!

Jagger being Jagger (I think!)

Jagger and his cousin, Eliya...best buds!

Jagger with his siblings and cousins

(l-r) Josiah (who didn't want his picture taken), Eliya, Jagger, Teagon, Jade, Hannah

 Jagger at the town's fair with Josiah

Jagger with Uncle Jared on the boat in Minnesota

Jagger being a boy and sticking his finger up the tree's nose! (those trees are loving called the "uncles"...see any family resemblence?)

 Jagger and Grandpa

Jagger and his cousin/best bud Eliya

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!  Have a wonderful birthday, Jags!  Hope it is everything you want it to be and more.  We Love You!!!

Wordless Wednesday...Christmas Style

I'm still here!

I feel like I sort of disappeared for awhile.  I have been super super busy and then my computer was/is having problems. (as we speak I am in the cold basement on the desktop...so not convient but oh well).  Let me tell you what has been going on....

First of all, I think I mentioned that our children's ministry at church did our 3rd annual Candy Cane Festival.  This is a special time around Christmas where the kids (ages 3-11) get to do games, a special story time, a special snack, and get time to shop for their family members and wrap the gifts themselves (with help).  It is so much fun.  We set up a little store filled with things that people have donated.  The parents give their children a couple of dollars and then the kids get to shop with help and find gifts for their loved ones.  I think that it gets their mind off of themselves and onto what they can give to others.  It also (tries to) help them realize that things cost money and if you want something, it is not necessarily just given to you.  We had a blast at the Candy Cane Festival (even santa-my husband-showed up for pictures!) and as soon as I get my other computer back, I can post some pictures.

Next, I have been working on word designs.  In fact I have had 7 to do in the last week!  I made one that we put on a large canvas and is going to hang on the wall in the girls' bathroom in the big kids children's ministry.

I also did 5 more for the 10-11 year old girls that I teach on Wednesday night for their Christmas present.

I am also currently working on one for a friend of mine to put on a tote bag for her mother-in-law.  It has been busy but fun.  It has reminded me how much I love to create!

The last thing that has been going on is actually going on today.  I have to make cookies for a teacher reception we are having at church tomorrow.  So I am going to be making cut out cookies with my oldest daughter and her friend (they are also making Rice Krispie treats for me).  I really need to make pfeffernuesse (german christmas cookie) since we are almost out but that is at least a 3 hour project and is definitely going to have to wait until next week!

Anyway, sorry for the absence.  I am going to try to be better!!! Hopefully I can get my laptop back today (?) and then it will be easier.

P.S.  I wanted to add what pictures I had on this computer but it seems like it will only let me add the one.  Sorry! I'll try to add more later!

Way Back Wednesday...cuteness alert!

So far behind!

I am sooooooo far behind in my blog writing.  Sorry about that.  I've had zero inspiration/motivation to write anything.  But alas, I am back on. 

I have much updating to do.  First on the top of my "blog to do list" is to finish up my 30 days of Thankfulness.  So without further adooooooo....

30 Days of Thankfulness....days 21-30...

Day #21 Today I am thankful for the ability to give-give of my time, give of my money, give of my stuff...Thank you God for giving me people and things in which I can sow into.

Day #22 Today I am thankful for the Good News Club that my children are able to attend right in their own public school. I am thankful that they get to learn the word of God and fellowship with other christian children right in their own public school. Thank you God for the Good News Club and for the blessing that they are to us.

Day #23 Today I am thankful for all the blessings my Heavenly Father has given to me. As it is written in James 1:17 (New King James Version) "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." Thank you God, for giving good things to your children.


Day #24 Today I am thankful that we don't have to choose who to spend the holidays with. I am grateful that all of our parents live relatively close to each other so that we can see them all. Even though it means 3 thanksgiving meals and 3 Christmas meals, it is far better than not getting to see someone!


Day #25 Today I am thankful that I get to spend time with my family and make memories that hopefully will not grow dim anytime soon!


Day #26 Today I am thankful for my dad, Dave Horken. He is the only one crazy enough to go black Friday shopping with me year after year and then buy me breakfast afterwards. He spoils me but we both enjoy it!


Day #27 Today I am thankful for my house. Although it is getting small for our family, it has been a blessing. I love the area and the people around us and I love that it is 5 blocks from an awesome school so my kids can walk home!


Day #28 Today I am thankful for my pastors-Pastors Hank and Brenda Kunneman. They preach it to you straight and I am grateful for that. I have learned so much from them and I am excited to hear what else they have in store for us. Thank you God for giving me pastors that help me and expect me to grow.


Day #29 Today I am thankful that I don't know any different. I am thankful that for all my life (since I was 3...) that Jesus has been my savior and Lord. I don't know what life is like without him...and I am truly thankful for that!


Day #30 Today I am thankful for all my friends-both here on facebook and in "real life" (and those of you who are both). "I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3


 
 
I had so much fun doing my 30 Days of Thankfulness.  Hopefully I can remember to do it next November.  Anyway, I have so much to do this week:  My husband's company party (I don't have anything to wear yet...yikes!), my discipleship group's christmas party (must make biscotti), and our church's children's ministry's Candy Cane Festival (I'll get into more about that later...hopefully with pictures of my kids at it).  But even though I have a lot to do, I promise to be back this week and do a blog update....Besides, I must do my Wordless/Wayback Wednesday!  :)
 
 

Way Back Wednesday...Then and Now

Then

Now

Happy Birthday, Teagon!

In honor of my nephew, Teagon's birthday...I decided to post some pictures of him.  Some I had, some I got from my mom.  Enjoy Teagon!  And have a wonderful birthday!

 Teagon and his brother, Jagger



watching his sister's game 

Teagon holding his baby cousin, Hannah

 Teagon with his dad, brother, and cousin



Teagon during one of our christmas celebrations 

Teagon and his sax 

Teagon and his cousin, Josiah 

Teagon and Jagger during a pizza making competition at Grandma and Grandpa's 

Teagon showing off his book that his brother made him for a birthday present last year

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Happy Birthday!!

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 13-19

Welcome to my next installment of 30 days of thankfulness...its my way of not overlooking the true meaning behind the Thanksgiving holiday and to keep in mind all that I am truly thankful to God for.

Day #13...Today I am thankful that God answers even the little prayers. It doesn't matter how insignificant I think something is, God still cares and still answers me. Thank you God for all the little (and big) prayers you have answered in my life. I love you, God!

Day #14...Today I am thankful for the ability to serve. I am so grateful to be able to impart into the young lives in our church and to watch them grow up in the things of God. Thank you God for using me!

Day #15...Today I am thankful for memories. Those that have already been made and the ones in the making.

Day #16...Today I am thankful that God gave me the gift of time....time to be with my husband, time to spend with my kids, time to serve, time to make memories, time to spend with my parents and in-laws, time to do what God is calling me to do. Thank you Lord for the gift of time.

Day #17...Today I am extremely thankful for makeup. God knew that I would need some color for my really white skin, my clear eyebrows, and my strawberry blond eyelashes. I don't know what I would do with out makeup...maybe stay in my house more! :) Thank you God for makeup!!!!

Day #18...Today I am thankful for God's provision. Anything that I need, he provides. I'm thankful that He cares for even the sparrows and if he cares for the little birds, how much more does he care for me? Thank you God for your provision!

Day #19...Today I am thankful for my niece, Jade, and my nephews, Teagon and Jagger. They have fullfilled another one of my dreams of becoming an aunt. And even though we don't get to see each other as often as I would like, I'm so glad they are in my family. I love you guys!

 

 

Wordless Wednesday....sister style

In a rut...

Okay, so lately I've been in a rut with this blog.  Or maybe its just routine.  I've been kind of doing the same type of posts over and over again.  Anyway...I need to get out of it.  Have a little fun.  Do something different.

So maybe I will start by telling you all about what I've been doing this week.  Monday, I made the trip up to Sioux City to learn how to make pfeffernuesse (German Christmas Cookie) with my mother-in-law.  My mom even joined us.  I learned some tips and now I think (notice I said "think") I can make them on my own.  After completing a successful batch of cookies, my moms and I went out to a girl lunch at Panera Bread.  It was so fun to spend time with them and just talk.  I will definitely have to go up again sometime.  I like that on Mondays when my kids are in school and then they have a bible group at their school right after school ends (gives me just a little more time) that I can go up and visit my family...just me...on my own.  Not that I don't love having my husband and my kids with me, but its also fun to be able to just go myself.

Today, my husband stayed home for a little bit this morning and we went to spend his birthday gift cards on clothes that actually fit.  You see, we have both been losing weight lately and I have the ability (and the need) to get clothes slowly.  But Jared needed a ton of dress pants.  He's lost almost 50 pounds and his original pants were WAY too big.  It was fun to be able to go with him and see what size he is down to!

Tonight, we made an impromtu visit to Chili's for the kids' school.  They had a Chili's night where if we go and eat and give the waiter the school flyer, they will give the kids' school 10% of the proceeds.  We weren't really planning on it but they tonight we thought "why not"?  It was fun to spend time as a family and for the kids to see their other classmates.

Well, that is what my week is like.  Come back tomorrow for my wordless wednesday and Friday for my 30 days of Thankfulness.  I leave you from a funny quote from my 7 year old...

"When I was a dog, I sat in one place"

(mmmm...didn't know he was ever a dog!)

30 Days of Thankfulness Day 6-12

Day 6-I am thankful for my brother-in-law, Jesse Ellwein who is over in Germany right now for the army. He is a wonderful friend, brother, and uncle and even though he just went overseas, we can't wait to have him back. We miss and love you, Jesse!

Day 7-Today I am thankful for my church...its a wondeful place to learn, grow, fellowship, be fed, and meet God. I am so blessed to have Lord Of Host Church in my life!!

Day 8-Today I am thankful for my husband's job. It has been a real blessing. It allows me to accomplish my lifelong dream of being a stay at home mom and gives me a sense of financial security. Thank you God for giving my husband a job that he loves (most of the time!) and for giving me a job that I love!

Day 9-Today I am thankful for the time change...it has caused my kids to wake up early and be ready to go earlier. Today, my kids were up at 6:30 and ready for school before 7:00. Now Jared can take them to school so I can hit the gym earlier and start my day earlier. YAY!!!

Day 10-today I am thankful for my kids' school...I absolutely love it. And even though it is a public school, my children are thriving and they are being lights to the teachers and the other students. Thank you God for placing my children in the school that they need to be in so that not only can they be served but they can be your servants as well.

Day 11-Today, I am going to take a lighter note and say that I am thankful for my diet coke...There are days when I NEED my diet coke! Its like how some people can't go a day without coffee, I don't like to go a day without my Diet Coke. I may only have one (if that) a day, but its my littl...e pick me up...Thank you God for Diet Cokes!!

 
Day 12-Today I am thankful for the ability to reconnect and stay in touch with friends and family. Facebook might be addictive but it has also been a blessing to me. Thank you God for the ability to stay in touch!



That's my past week of my 30 days of Thankfulness...check back next Friday to see what I am thankful for next week.  What are you thankful for?
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 

Sneaky Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

I found this really yummy gingerbread recipe (from the cookbook "The Sneaky Chef to the Rescue" by Missy Chase Lapine) that sneaks in vegetables (I'm always trying to get my kids to eat veggies) and are only about 60 calories a piece. Thought I'd share...(by the way, my kids love them!). You start with a couple of purees that you make ahead and add to the recipe. In this recipe you need the orange puree and the flour blend...

Orange Puree

1 Medium sweet potato, peeled and chopped
3 Medium to Large carrots, peeled and sliced into thick chunks
2-3 tablespoons of water

Boil the chunks of carrots and sweet potatoes until they are soft. Drain. Put them into the food processor with the water and puree it until it is soft

Flour Blend

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup unsweetened wheat germ

Combine all the flour and wheat germ and mix well.

Gingerbread Cookies

3 Cups flour blend
1/2 teaspoon each baking soda and salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 cup Orange Puree

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour blend, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, and cinnamon, and set aside.
In another mixing bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, molasses, and Orange Puree. Add dry ingredients to the wet and mix well (using your hands) until a moist dough forms.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Form the dough into small balls and place them on the cookie sheet. Then use the palm of your hand and press the dough down until they are about 1/8 or 1/4 inches thick. Bake for 10 minutes then let cool.

30 Days of Thankfulness

The Thanksgiving holiday seems to get overlooked. I think that a lot of people view it as a chance to get off work, eat too much, shop, and watch football. While those things are fun-and sometimes needed-the true meaning of Thanksgiving gets overlooked. We tend to forget that it is a time when we are suppose to give thanks to God for all of the blessings that he has given us.

So....that being said, I had this idea to post everyday in November on Facebook something that I was thankful for. Then I thought that it would be a good idea to do a blog post on Fridays of a review of the things I was thankful for. I decided to call it...

3o Days of Thankfulness

So...without further ado...numbers 1-5...

1. my husband-he is truly a blessing and I feel priviledged that God would love me so much to give me Jared. He brings out the best in me and causes me to grow while being the perfect compliment to me. I love him so much and I can't imagine my life without him.

2. my oldest daughter, Eliya-she is the one that helped me fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a mom. She is my helper and my sidekick. She is my shopping partner and thus, my partner in crime! I love my Eliya...she is the greatest big sister and first daughter ever!

3. my one and only son, Josiah-he is my kid that keeps me on my toes. He is a hoot and a half and you never quite know what idea is going to come out of his head next. He has taught me what true childlike faith is...that he truly expects to recieve all that he asks for...and usually does (not by us, mind you...there are things that he asks for that I would rather he didn't get...i.e. noisy toys...but somehow, some way, someone gives it to him)...I think that God gave Josiah to us to show us how to pray and expect to recieve.

4. my littlest big kid, Hannah-she is my "mini me"-my creative, dancing, singing, child. She is the one that makes us laugh all the time with the things that she says or does. I truly believe that God looked at our family and decided that we were too boring, so he sent us some adventure and we named her Hannah!

5. my mom-my mom is the best mom in the world. She was great when I was growing up but now she has turned into my best friend. It is odd if a day goes by and we don't talk somehow, either by phone, facebook, or email. My only complaint is that she lives too far away for us to get together everyday. At least two hours isn't too far for a visit every couple of weeks or so!

That is my 30 days of Thankfulness for this week. Come back next Friday for the continuation!