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Feb

I just threw it together the other night – and it was SOOOO good. I’m all for fast and easy, and this did the trick!

My Best Lasagna

1-16 oz box lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 jar Spaghetti sauce
1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
1-15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 16 oz container ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan romano cheese blend
2 tsp. garlic & herb seasoning
3 cups shredded mozzarella

1/2 cup water (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 9×13 pan with fat-free cooking spray.

In medium bowl stir together spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and ground beef. In another medium bowl, blend together ricotta cheese, parmesan and garlic & herb seasoning.

Spoon about 1/2 cup of beef mixture and spread in bottom of plan. Place first layer of uncooked noodles to cover bottom of pan. Spread with 1/3 of ricotta cheese mixture, then 1/3 of remaining beef mixture, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers twice. Pour 1/2 cup of water around edges of pan. You can sprinkle on extra parmesan if you’d like.

Cover with aluminum foil (spray lightly with cooking spray to avoid sticking), and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes (depending on how well you like your noodles & cheese done).

Allow to sit for at least 5 minutes before cutting into portions.

*FYI – you can use whole wheat noodles, ground turkey (or skip the meat altogether if you want) to improve some of the nutritional value. If I’d thought about it, I would have thawed out some frozen spinach yesterday and added it to the ricotta cheese mixture, but didn’t have time when I came to putting it together…

Category: Family, Favorites, Food Tags: cooking, Recipes One Comment

Feb

Happy Groundhog Day

queenmommy

If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;

Half the fuel and half the hay.

I happen to be a humongous fan of Punxsutawney Phil. Maybe it has something to do with the movie, Groundhog Day, which I thoroughly enjoy – and maybe it has something to do with the fact that since I’ve been married I’ve developed a great fondness for groundhogs in general.

Why you ask?

Well, I’ll tell ya. Before our girls came along, Roy & I were on a drive to my parents house. We were traveling on the turnpike and having a very intense discussion (at this point, we can’t even remember what the discussion was about) – but it was growing somewhat heated, and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a flash of brown ahead along the side of the road. It was different from the other brown of the weeds, and I stared at it as we drove closer. I could not figure out what it was.

In the midst of a passionate discourse from my husband, I uttered the word “Groundhog”, stopping Roy in his tracks. We both kinda sat there silent for a moment, and Roy says, “I’m in the middle of telling you something really important and all you have to say is ‘Groundhog’?” And with that, we both started laughing and ever since, I’ve LOVED groundhogs…

I know…

Anyway – did you know you too can enjoy the festivities at Gobbler’s Knob? Or that Punxsutawney Phil will gladly text his spring forecast to your cell phone? Or that you can celebrate the day by baking Groundhog Cookies? How about Chocolate Groundhog Cookies?

If you’re looking for something to keep your kids busy today, why not offer this coloring page (or the host of others available), study some history of Groundhog Day, or visit the official Groundhog site?

While some people are willing to (gag) eat groundhog, I’d much prefer to watch them waddling across the grassy hillside along the roadways and celebrate the day with cookies!

Category: Family, Holidays Tags: Groundhog Day Leave a Comment

Jan

Homeschool! Who, Me? You’ve Got to Be Kidding!

queenmommy

Our girls, Curly & Georgie, are 4 and 2. Curly is in Christian PreK right now and she loves it. Both girls enjoy being read to and Curly & I have recently made a game of writing her letters or numbers, identifying them, trying to sound them out and more on the big Magna Doodles she got for Christmas.

So when I felt like God was saying that as part of the Mothering experience for me may include homeschooling, I laughed. (Yep, call me Sarah.)

Who, ME? God – do you know who you are talking to here? Me? Miss Love it for 3 weeks and then lose it somewhere in the house? Me – miss plant the garden (late) and not reap all the goodies. Me – miss fall in love with a product only to toss it out 6 weeks later.

Me – Miss Love The Thrill of the New Experience, Tolerate It Until Its Gone. Really, Me? Every single semester with Liberty University Online I’ve threatened to quit. Seriously.

So I’ve been investigating, asking questions, reading curriculum reviews, and talking to some homeschool moms. In fact, I’ll be meeting with some next week, and have some interviews prepared for blog posts to come. I know my nature – I know my inclination to jump in full swing and then lose steam…

So when my husband mentioned his concern that I would follow my pattern with homeschooling – well, it hurt my feelings. But only for a minute. He wasn’t being mean – it’s a valid concern and he did everything he could to be gentle about it.

But it’s true. I am that way.

Sometimes.

While I do threaten to quit going to school every semester since I started my Bachelor’s – I haven’t yet. And I’m mapping out the next few semesters to see how and when I will complete my degree. Despite last semester’s difficulties with Algebra (which I will get to retake) and the miscarriage.

While it is sometimes challenging, I’ve been a pretty committed blogger for 4 years now – and love it. That may not seem like much to some people – but it’s a big deal for me. Blogging is hard work some times – and building a blog with good content challenges me – even if its not the most popular blog out there or if I don’t always do everything right all the time.

My husband’s comment hurt because I believed the worst about myself – for just a moment. He didn’t say it’s what WOULD happen, he was just concerned it might.

I laughed at the first notion of homeschooling BECAUSE I know myself and my tendencies. It’s not a small thing to take your child’s education into your own hands – when it can be so easy to relinquish it to “trained professionals” and just do my part when she’s home. Of course, I want the best education for each of my children, and of course I have questions and concerns about homeschooling myself.

But I do think God challenged me – whatever the outcome – because He wants me to EMBRACE my role as Mother to my children. It is as much about committing to raise them up in a way that honors God as they learn and grow – whether they continue with their Christian education outside the home – or not. And even if my husband leads us in a different direction, I will trust that He is following God – even if it’s a different path than I might have chosen.

That does not make him the bad guy – it makes him the Husband & Father he is called to be – and my role is to be the Wife & Mother I am called to be – whether my children get their education at home or in school.

Homeschooling is a challenge to consider – given my current “plate”. It’s a challenge to consider – given my Sanguine penchant for fun. It’s a challenge to consider – given the strong (my husband calls it “dominant”) natures of each of my very different girls. and their mother who is much the same.

But it’s not an impossible challenge given my faith in God, my husband’s feet planted in practical reality, and my love for my children.

And maybe God just wants me to trust Him more – wherever He leads us…

More to come…

To see what’s going on with the other Company Girls this week, visit Home Sanctuary by clicking the pretty link below:

Category: Family, Favorites, Home, Life, Parenting Tags: homeschool, homeschooling 18 Comments

Jan

Seize the Day

queenmommy

Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!

After a warmer few days and rainy weekend which melted all our snow away, we’ve awakened to a light fresh snowfall again. It is beautiful coming down. Big white snowflakes blowing around in the wind – looking like powdered sugar dusting a chocolate-colored landscape.

I’ve been attending the A Woman Inspired Conference, Nurturing Creativity & Efficient Living, this week. I won a free ticket (Thank You Lord!) God knows how much my creative nature can both benefit and hamper my efficiency. I often daydream, which distracts me from the work that needs done. And yet, yesterday, I was encouraged to dream and to write, AND to do the work of our home – without feeling guilty if the house isn’t spotless.

Oh, I don’t struggle with that the way I used to. That’s for sure. But I am enjoying the order that I’ve been maintaining in my revamped desk in the kitchen, and like to see my living room as cozy and welcoming (rather than cluttered and confusing) – and my creative nature fuels my desire to see more order in my home. I’m loving it.

So today – I’m going to take my own advice and Seize the Day! I have some work to do – but I am going to relish the online sessions that feed my creativity, my love for writing, and the ministry of writing God is calling me to… I am so thankful to be a Stay at home Wife & Mom – and while I do often fail and flounder, and I struggle with feelings of resentment and need for the spotlight, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to make a real difference in my home every day. To have the chance to listen to godly women who follow God with their whole hearts in creative and lovely ways. And who find ways to serve and please God in simple, everyday tasks.

You can still register for the online conference and even if you miss sessions, you’ll have access to the handouts and mp3s to download later. You’ll even have a chance to buy those mp3s later if you can’t buy the ticket for the live conference! I highly recommend it!

Category: Faith, Family, Home, blogging Tags: A Woman Inspired Leave a Comment

Jan

Monday Bliss

queenmommy

Today – my hubby is home and we are going to spend a lot of time together today. Curly made breakfast this morning (PB&J) and now Roy & I are enjoying a cup of coffee together. My cough is FINALLY letting up – after feeling like I broke a rib or two yesterday… Yes, I exaggerate.

This week, I’ll be writing more about making some healthy lifestyle changes. Some that I’m personally making, and other suggestions and ideas for eating and living better to improve the way you feel. Stick around – subscribe if you haven’t already so you don’t miss a post – and please feel free to add YOUR healthy choices in the comments as we go along!

Category: Family, Food, cooking Tags: dieting, healthy choices, healthy eating, Healthy Living 2 Comments

Dec

Christmas Traditions of my Adolescence

queenmommy

Yesterday I wrote about the childhood Christmas traditions I celebrated with my family. Today I’m writing about my Christmas remembrances as a teenager…

As we got older, of course my mom was able to incorporate us into some of the holiday preparations – and this is when Christmas REALLY got fun for me.

Through the years, my mom had collected BOXES and boxes (and boxes) of Christmas decorations and collectibles that always came out as we began decorating for Christmas. The disorder and chaos (and our intense enthusiasm) often drove my dad out of the house! We would begin opening boxes and talk about the candles that mom got from “so and so” that I didn’t remember seeing before because she received them just last year. Or finding the ornaments and decorations my brothers and I made as a child and how special they still were to my mom and how they would find a place of honor among the decorations.

The years that mom let my brothers and I have free reign with the Christmas decorations were so much fun. On some levels it gave her more time to spend in the kitchen – but I’m sure it was still crazy-busy for her because we’d be trying to do 3 things at once!

We ALWAYS put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. That was the beginning of the Christmas season for us.

My brother Dan was so talented, and the year he painted a huge Christmas display on our front window was so awesome. I got to put out all the candles and knick knacks and collectibles as I packed away our everyday things. One box at a time – each new box revealing treasures and trinkets that added to our Christmas festivity!

Getting to help make the Buckeyes, English toffee, Monster cookies, Haystacks, decorated Sugar cookies, Chocolate-Dipped Ritz & Pnut butter cracker sandwiches, White bark pretzels, Fudge, Church window candy, Graham cracker cookies, Date cookies, and more – oh was THAT great!!! My mom kept cooking and baking and pulling out more recipes – and our freezer was PACKED full of sweet, sugary, chocolatey goodness. Sometimes we’d plate them up immediately and take them in boxes to church to pass out to our friends. We’d have plates of goodies for neighbors, too – and of course, we’d sneak a few goodies every chance we got! Being part of the baking & cooking was great fun for us and I really learned to love baking during these times!

When we had the chance to visit my grandparents – who lived in New Mexico at the time – we had even MORE special memories. We didn’t often have Christmas with family because my dad was in the Air Force and we were stationed miles away from them. But during high school – while we lived in Washington state, my grandparents lived in New Mexico.

My grandmother was a preacher’s wife. She was always giving away stuff to people in need – she was always so generous and loving. And she ALWAYS had a pot of coffee on…

She & my grandpa drank coffee all day long – and when we’d hug or kiss – I’d get that whiff of coffee on their breath – and I think that’s when my love affair with coffee really began! My grandma’s soft cheek mingling with the smell of fresh coffee – now THERE’S comfort!!!

My grandma’s house was often decorated in lots of beautiful and sweet and whimsical Christmas items, too – many of them gifts from friends and family (including the 3 of us kids). She made Hard Candy, fudge, church window candy, date ball cookies, and we could eat our fill. Like many grandmothers – she’d sneak us an “extra” of whatever it was we wanted – and grinned while she did it.

I can remember the last Christmas dinner we had with her. She used her special china and let me set the table for everyone. It was SOOOOO incredibly beautiful. I was in awe of the lovely plates and dishes and she let me have my way making the table pretty. We had these Christmas goblets and mugs that she collected from McDonalds (do you remember those?) and when we got to drink eggnog out of the goblets, it was BIG stuff!!!

There was more food than we could possibly eat, and again – even if we didn’t clean our plates, she was handing us sweets as we’d walk past her. What a woman!

When I think about Christmas as a teenager – this Christmas with her was really very special to me.

Do you have any special Christmas memories as a teenager? Was your celebration any different than that of your childhood?

Category: Family, Food, Holidays, Home Tags: Adolescence, Christmas, Christmas traditions Leave a Comment

Dec

Christmas Traditions of my Childhood

queenmommy

Oh how I loved Christmas!

My earliest memory of Christmas was when my family lived in Long Beach, California. I can remember walking outside with my mom and looking up at the sky seeing red flashing lights and just KNOWING it was Rudolph leading the sleigh as Santa was coming!!!

We had real Christmas trees for a few years – with those great big bulbs that (if I remember correctly) clipped onto the branches of the trees. They were HUGE and had fuses (think “A Christmas Story”) and I loved all the multicolored lights on the tree – with the brightly colored tinsel – and the growing collection of hand made ornaments my brother Dan and I brought home from school.

We always had stockings – stuffed to the brim on Christmas morning – and it became tradition that we were allowed free reign to empty our stockings before my parents got up and before we could open any other presents. We’d always have nuts in the shell, an orange or apple, a candy cane, some chocolate, a new toothbrush, and sometimes small wrapped gifts hidden within our stockings.

After Dave came along, we figured out that we could get HIM to ask my parents to get out of bed and get them downstairs and NOBODY would get into trouble. lol…

We opened gifts from one another on Christmas eve, and opened all of our “Santa” gifts on Christmas morning.

BUT my favorite Christmas tradition of ALL TIME – was when my dad started reading Luke 2: 1-18 to tell us the REAL Christmas story – and every time he would read it I would get choked up.

Can you IMAGINE seeing the host of angels in the sky proclaiming God’s promise born to man?

But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior, Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord! And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find [after searching] a Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. [I Sam. 2:34; II Kings 19:29; Isa. 7:14.] Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor]. (Luke 2:10-14 ~Amp)

Can you imagine being Mary, his mother, and receiving the host of visitors who not only honored but worshipped the child you’d just brought into the world? Oh my goodness – I would just get goosebumps thinking about it.

And then we’d sing, “Happy Birthday” to Jesus – which would again fill my eyes with tears and we’d celebrate Christ’s birth.

Dad would select one of us kids to play Santa by handing out presents – and in a very neat and orderly fashion (think Marine Corps Drill Instructor!) we’d each open a gift while the others watched and pack our wrapping paper into the trash bag as we went. =) It was all good fun and now I understand that at least one of my brothers continues this tradition!

We’d usually spend the day together as a family – being away from my parents’ families, we often found reason to spend time together – we’d go sledding or build snowmen – or eat the vast array of goodies mom had spent making or we’d spent decorating. We’d watch movies together and try out our new gifts. We’d talk on the phone to our grandparents and maybe some aunts & uncles – and it was always a really special time together.

I often remember my childhood Christmases with the misty fondness that is sweetly portrayed in one of my – now favorite – Christmas movies: A Christmas story. The innocence and sweetness of those Christmases past are precious to me.