Cranberry Jell-O Salad
I’ve been using Pinterest to find/try new recipes. It’s become a total crutch for me though, because I can access it from my phone. We’ve tried a ton of new things lately, but I’ve realized it would be super handy to have instant access to my fav “traditional” recipes on my phone too. I suppose I could use dropbox, but I thought I’d try posting my favorite recipes on my “Mom blog” and then pin them back to my Recipes board on Pinterest for quick and easy access. So… my Cranberry Jell-O Salad I’m making to take to a friends on Christmas day will be my “test-run.” Who knows! Maybe someone else will find it useful too!
Cranberry Jell-o Salad
1 12oz bag of fresh, whole cranberries
2 Cups water
2 Cups sugar
1 6oz cherry jell-o
1 20oz crushed pineapple, drained
1 Cup chopped walnuts
8oz cream cheese
½ pkg mini marshmallows
1 pint heavy whipping cream
Wash cranberries. Boil in (2cups) water until they pop +5 minutes. While hot, stir in sugar, jell-o, pineapple, & nuts. Pour into 9×13 pan and refrigerate overnight.
Prepare whipping cream mixture: In a separate bowl, crumble cream cheese. Add marshmallows. Pour whipping cream over all and refrigerate overnight.
Before serving, whip cream cheese mixture until it thickens and is smooth. Spread over jell-o. Serve!
the CROSS(‘)
About this time every year we recognize both the tragedy and the beauty of Jesus’ work on the cross, and celebrate His Resurrection on “Resurrection Sunday”. I assume that if you are reading this, you are believer and understand the implications of the cross… I’ll quickly quote one of my favorite hymns and then get to the point of this post…
“Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe… sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”
I noticed one day as I drove by a small church close to our home the three crosses we most often see on display in the yard of some churches at Easter, one adorned with the royal purple sash that portrays Christ’s royalty. As you know, there were three crosses at Calvary, and two men crucified next to Jesus. One man taunted Jesus, insisting that if He were really the son of God that He would take Himself down off the cross. The other man said to Jesus, “I am a sinner and my punishment is just. Forgive me, Lord, and remember me on your throne. Jesus told the man, “This day you will be with me in paradise.”
I love that! Redemption literally ON the cross! But as I drove by the small church by my house, with 3 crosses in the yard I wondered to myself… “Why would they put up all 3 crosses on display? Isn’t the one cross the one we celebrate?”
As quickly as I thought the thought, I was reminded of the truth that Jesus died for BOTH men on both of the crosses; the one who repented and the one who taunted. The only difference between the two was whether they accepted the gift of forgiveness and eternal life, or if they refused. It’s a choice we all will make. I’ve been both of these men. I have spit in the face of Jesus, yet he still died for me. While I was still sinning, He died for ME.
We all carry a cross in this life. Either the one built from our own sin, or the cross Jesus carried up to Calvary; the cross where my sin debt was paid in full. The cross I gladly pick up and follow after Jesus with. Following Jesus isn’t easy. We aren’t guaranteed a better life as a believer. We ARE offered an eternal one…
The best part of the story remains… Yes Jesus died… but the story doesn’t end there! Glory to God, 3 days later he rebuilt the temple, and walked out of the tomb! He lives today, I spoke with him just this morning…
Tia Choo-Choo
She’ll be so thrilled to have a post dedicated just to her… OK, probably NOT. Had to share this photo though! This is a picture of Eli walking himself up to Tia Choo-Choo’s house. Tia Choo-Choo is better known as Chris to her friends and family, but that’s Eli’s name for her. It was just “Tia” but Tia has the most amazing collection of Thomas the Tank Engine trains and track, hence the added Choo-Choo to her name.
Eli goes to Tia Choo-Choo’s twice a week now for about 5hrs each day. He LOVES Tia and LOVES going to her house. She was coming to the car to greet him, but he now runs to her door to knock and greet her. She’s pretty awesome.
Organic v Natural
Since going Organic/All-Natural, I’ve learned that there is a difference. A BIG difference. If you haven’t read or researched the difference yet, this page made it the easiest for me to understand. On some things, Organic seems to be the better choice for our family. On others though, we are choosing all-natural. I guess you have to weigh the pros/cons of each individual product and what it (or rather DOES NOT) have included. … continue reading this entry.
Organically Yours
John and I decided last week to go completely organic with our food. I wouldn’t say I’ve been anti-organic, but then again that is exactly what I was. I so don’t want to be associated with the weird fringe in the organic circles that it was easier for me to just turn my nose up at it all. But now knowing several “normal” organic living friends and family, AND knowing someone from the fringe, I know I can eat and feed my family organically and still be miles away from where my “fringe” model is. … continue reading this entry.
Summer 2010
We had a whirl wind of a summer. We had so much fun, and enjoyed so many adventures! Below are some of our favorite memories.
This summer we…
Visited the farm (Deanna Rose)
and saw a few 3D movies!
We loved visiting the model train station.
For extra adventure, we took the back road to Colorado
and had a blast doing so!
We ALL got spoiled by our Grammy & Grampy.
Had the adventure of a lifetime riding the Zepher to Glenwood Springs,
then risked our lives riding the gondola up the mountain (YIKES!)
We rode all the rides,
played all the games,
enjoyed all the scenery,
but always looked out for bears!
John & I FINALLY got our wedding picture taken!
Then we rode the rides again!
We celebrated Drew’s 11th birthday, and as you can see the cake nearly set on fire!
And the very next day… we sent him off to 10 day boy scout camp.
We enjoyed visiting Drew at camp, ’till he nearly killed us on the “scenic” route (over the river & through the woods) to the infamous “lookout point”.
John finally got to go on a couple of the campouts with the boys too.
And of course we did lots of realxin’!
But through it all… we PRAISED GOD!
Wildlife Rescue
One of our favorite things to do when we visit Mimi at her country home is check all of her window wells for animals that have managed to find themselves stranded down there. You name it, we have found it. Some things like turtles, frogs, and bunnies the boys like to rescue. We save the snakes, skunks, and any animal larger than the baby for Uncle Chris to rescue…
During our most recent trip the boys rescued one tiny, and adorable, baby turtle and three frogs. This was Eli’s first adventure in Wildlife Rescue at Mimi’s. It was pretty exciting for him!
My favorite part is the Wildlife Release. Mostly because the beautiful pond at Mimi’s makes for pretty amazing pictures!
Thomas the Train
Three boys later, I finally “get” the Thomas the Train craze… Eli is all about Thomas, trains, and anything with wheels. I don’t know how or why some kids get the thomas bug, but I have to admit John and I are as crazy about Thomas as Eli is!
Last weekend we were able to take Eli to his very first meeting of Thomas in Baldwin City, KS. He was over the top excited when he saw the life sized version of his favorite Train. There were lots of fun activites while we waited to take a ride on Thomas. Eli’s favorite was just watching the model train run on it’s track. I think he could have stood there all day! We got lots of cute pics!
fun, rain, & worship
John surprised us with tickets to “Shinefest 10″ this spring at World’s of Fun. The tickets included admission to World’s of Fun plus a special concert in the evening featuring 5 different worship bands, including Toby Mac amongst others! He purchased the tickets months in advance, and we were literally counting down the days!
As that Saturday approached, so did a lingering rain storm. Determined to get our money’s worth despite the rain, I took the boys over to enjoy the rides early that Saturday morning, with plans for John to meet us after Eli’s nap. It sprinkled on and off the entire time we were there. The boys, including Eli, were troopers though! The rain made it quite an adventure!! Above is one of my favorite pics of the day of all the English boys in their rain ponchos; wet but happy! Below are a couple more of my wet crew during the concert. We had so much fun!
Coincidentally we also discovered that the Train at World’s of Fun is named ELI! How cool is that?!
