My Dad

I actually started this post on Father's Day 2014...just couldn't find all the right words to say. Not sure I have the right words now but I really wanted to share how I feel.

We have some amazing Father's in our family! Bryan is a great dad and I am so blessed that God chose him to be the father of my children. My Father-n-law is a great father and grandfather. He likes to take the grandkids riding on the farm and spending time with them. My dad is the best dad I could ask for! 

I love this picture of my dad and Joanna! She looks so little and this is a true picture of my dad...he LOVES playing whatever the grandkids want to play, even if it is Minnie Mouse! He has always been this way. I remember as a little girl he would play with me for hours and it was always whatever I wanted to play. Barbies, baby dolls, dress up, or dancing to a silly song...you name it and my dad would spend some quality time with me. Those are memories that I hold dear! 

This time last year I thought we would loose my dad, he had two heart attacks. We were completely surprised and very unexpected. I thank God every day that he has given us more time to make lots more memories with dad! He is a very special man and he loves my mother more now than ever before. He would do anything for anyone, a very kind hearted man. Dad is very crazy about his grandkids and I know he wishes we lived closer and he could spend more time with them. Because we don't see them all the time it makes the visits we do have very special. He still calls me doodlebug and he would still drop whatever he is doing to be right there for me if I ever need him. My dad has been a great father-in-law to Bryan. Dad thinks of Bryan as a son and treats him like one too. I have seen God do great things in dads life and I can truly see that God has changed my dad's heart spiritually.

Dad, I love you more than words can say and we look forward to spending lots of time with you and mom. I am so thankful that God has given us these times to make more memories that will last a lifetime! Love you Dad!!  

Thankful!

I am thankful for...

225) Hearing my 6 year old read to his siblings.

226) Homemade instant oatmeal. We really like strawberry and banana. :)

227) Recipes.

228) Coloring with my 3 year old.

229) Face time with family.

230) reading through the Bible as a family.

231) Psalm 100

Make a joyful shout to The Lord, all you lands!

Serve The Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. 

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Thankful Thursday!

Thankful for...

218) Grandparents.

219) Measuring spoons.

220) An opportunity to rebuild our home.

221) Curls in my girls' hair.

222) Hangers.

223) Joanna is potty trained. 

224) How God provides our daily bread. (He amazes me!)

Thankful Thursday!!

The last time I posted a "Thankful Thursday" was the Thursday before the fire. It's been about two months but I still have sooo much to be thankful for!!

I am thankful for:
211) snow for the kids to play in!
212) A roof over our heads!
213) Our family blog!
214) Those who have been very faithful to pray for our family!
215) 100 days of school!
216) God who is my ROCK!
217) the family who has opened up their home to us!

Counting Our Blessings!

This is the sight we saw as we drove down the driveway on Tuesday, December 10. This was the first time the kids and I had seen the sight. The closer we got that morning on the drive over the more my stomach was tumbling. I was wondering how the kids and I would react when we saw whatever we were about to see. The amazing thing was that when we pulled up there was a peace that came over me and God was in complete control.

The kids and I had in our minds that when we got there we would be able to find something that had survived. The blue cooler you see in the picture was sitting outside, beside Bryan's car and half of it was melted. There was a board still in flames and the rubble was HOT! Needless to say NOTHING survived that fire.

In the days that followed we heard a couple of stories of families that had fires and there was a lost loved one. We realized that we had so much to be thankful for and that things could be so much worse. God is great....not one of us were injured in any way, not one of us was having to be in the hospital, and we were not having to plan a funeral during all of this. If all we lost was our home and "things" then we really hadn't lost much at all. I fought the thoughts "We've lost everything!" because we had NOT lost everything!! Praise GOD!!

The Next Few Moments and Hours

We made it to the end of our road as the fire trucks started rolling in. By this time we knew that our home was gone. As we watched the fire trucks come we also were surrounded by church members, friends, and other ministers. They were bringing clothes, shoes, toothbrushes, tooth paste, and lots of love. One of the men from the church went through the woods down to get the dogs. It made the kids feel better to see the dogs. A friend from church took the dogs to her house. The kids and I went to a nearby church members home and waited there for Bryan. Someone offered to run to Walmart and get a few things we would need the next few days, diapers and wipes for Joanna being the big item at this point. 

Bryan showed up to pick us up and I really wanted him to walk in and say that most of the house had been saved, instead the news was in an hour our home was nothing but 18 inches of ashes. We knew our next decision would be where to go for the night.

When we moved here 6 months ago we had not closed on our house yet so we were able to live with someone for about three weeks, these same people opened up there home to us again. Bryan and I decided that this would be a good place for our children since they had already lived here before. So we got the children and the items that had been given to us and went to Uncle David and Aunt Sandra's. It was around 11 or midnight when we arrived. The kids slept like babies and have ever since!

On Monday morning the first thing Bryan and I did was call our parents. We knew that if we had called the night before they would have not gotten any sleep. That was an emotional moment, our parents were very thankful that we were all safe and together. Then I took inventory of what clothes we had and what we needed. The kids were the biggest ones in need. The clothes we received the night before were mostly for Bryan and I. The kids had NO shoes and NO clothes. I found a few things for me and got dressed for a trip to Walmart. Another dear friend from church met me there and helped me pick out some things.

Thankful Thursday!!

I am thankful for:
204) having a meal in the freezer already prepared and just needing to be thawed and cooked.
205) a new recipe.
206) the children playing in the leaves.
207) a ladybug.
208) the rose colored lips of my children.
209) the peace of God that passes all understanding.
210) the compliments of my husband.

Thankful Thursday!

O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. 

Psalm 139:1-4

I am thankful for:
197) overnight guest. 
198) the windows being open and feeling the cool breeze.
199) baking for my family.
200) individual time with each child of ours.
201) an all knowing God. He knows EVERYTHING!
202) a note from a child.
203) the laughter of my hubby. I love to laugh with him!

Thankful Thursday!

I am thankful for:
190) making cookies with the kids.
191) parchment paper.
192) wheat berries. I thought I was running low and I found a whole bucket...yay!
193) Wednesday night supper at church. (What a blessing, means I don’t have to cook!!)
194) shelves in the basement for storing things.
195) pumpkins to make pumpkin puree. (See picture above)
196) freedom in Christ from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Thankful!

I am thankful for:
183) doing art with the kids.
184) warm potato soup with a hot grilled cheese sandwich.
185) the boys John Deere gator.
186) a home with two and a half bathrooms. :)
187) Jesus the Messiah.
188) a cool fall day outside.
189) the colors of fall.

Thankful!

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, 

because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:15-21

I am thankful for:

176) the kids playing soccer.
177) homemade apple butter.
178) making aprons with the girls.
179) a handmade quilt.
180) a new season (fall).
181) my crockpot.
182) God’s still small voice.

Thankful Thursday!

We enjoyed our pool this summer and are looking forward to enjoying it for many years!

Grape Jam made by The Camp Family

I am very thankful for:

169) gift cards.
170) my freezer for storing up food.
171) homemade grape jam that our family made.
172) sewing machine given to me by my mother in law.
173) The Great Physician.
174) a hubby who thinks about me.
175) our pool that we can enjoy with the kids.

Thankful Thursday!!

One of my friends from Shelbyville Mills gave me this Tortilla Maker as a going away gift. It was this friend and her mother that got me started with grinding our own flour and learning about eating healthier. I will always be thankful that God placed them in my life.

I miss Laura! Her son and Timothy were right about the same age and were friends. Timothy misses Lane too! :(

Here is the sweet note that was included in the box. We had been out of town on a trip to the beach in May and when we arrived home this was waiting for me on the front porch. We are so blessed with such special friends! :)

I am thankful for:
162) a visit with family.
163) a getaway with my hubby. :)
164) watching a movie with the kids.
165) our tortilla maker. (See pictures above) 
166) deer meat.
167) our children memorizing God’s Word.
168) a new school year.

Thankful Thursday!!

I am so thankful for:
155) a wreath for the front door.
156) cute ponytail in Joanna’s hair.
157) a field trip.
158) a new ladies Sunday School class.
159) bowling with church friends.
160) school books for the new school year.
161) the Holy Spirit who convicts me of sin.

Thankful!

I am thankful for:

148) empty boxes.
149) a dragon fly.
150) Jesus being the Light of the world.
151) a swimming pool at our new house.
 152) Isaac catching catfish for us to eat.
153) people that helped us move in to our new home.
154) Mrs. Judy that has been a huge blessing to us.

Thankful!!

I am thankful for:
141) jokes the kids tell.
142) a God who is my refuge.
143) frogs for the boys to catch. (Picture at top of Elijah holding a frog)
144) visiting Westwood Baptist Church (where Bryan and I were married).
145) being able to get ticks off. (Found lots already on us)
146) blackberry jam. (First time I have ever made any myself)
147) being able to be at home with my children.

Thankful Thursday!

Photo by: Isaac Camp

I am thankful for:
134) baby birds.
135) a playground at the park for the kids to play on.
136) corn stalks standing tall. (see picture above)
137) Uncle David and Aunt Sandra.
138) tears of sadness and joy.
139) the prayers of my children.
140) a husband that protects me.

Thankful Thursday!

127) garden fresh vegetables.
128) pizza.
129) homemade ice cream. (See recipe below)
130) a computer.
131) a God who is sovereign.
132) little toes that belong to my children.
133) safe travels.

Peanut Butter Homemade Ice Cream (6 qt freezer)
1 - 16oz container Cool whip
1 can Eagle Brand
white milk (May use Strawberry milk for strawberry flavor or Chocolate milk for Chocolate flavor.)
1 1/2 cups of crunchy peanut butter (omit if you are making strawberry or chocolate)

Melt your peanut butter just a little so that it is easy to stir. Mix peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk together and then fold in cool whip. Pour that into your ice cream freezer and finish filling it up to the fill line with white milk. Use a long handled spoon to stir all that together. Place into ice cream freezer bucket. Start freezer. Add ice with layers of ice cream salt. Enjoy!!

What is your favorite Homemade Ice Cream flavor?

Thankful!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
*Proof that Jesus is God.

I am thankful for:
120) the moon.
121) fresh Amish strawberries.
122) making new friends.
123) being able to worship with other believers on Sunday.
124) Jesus being the Word. (See verse above)
125) Youth Camp. (Even though this meant Bryan being away from us for a week, I knew that he was ministering to others and sharing God's word for the glory of God)
126) Vacation Bible School. (Although this week is a busy week for us it is just one more way that my children are learning more about God and His word)

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes!

We love pancakes...who doesn't, right? I like adding a little fruit occasionally, especially blueberries! I wanted to share this Blueberry Pancake recipe with you and if you are not in the mood for blueberry pancakes just use same recipe and omit the blueberries for some really delicious plain Buttermilk Pancakes!!

My parents were visiting when I made these (back in February) and my mother just had to take a picture of me with a stack of these yummy pancakes! Writing this post makes me think I need to make some buttermilk pancakes in the morning. :)

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes (Buttermilk Pancakes)
4 cups of whole wheat flour (I use freshly ground whole wheat flour)
4 tsp baking powder
2 TBSP of sugar (I use sucanat or sugar in the raw)
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking soda
4 eggs
3-4 cups of buttermilk (enough to make batter the right consistency. You may have to use more than 4 cups)
2-3 cups of blueberries (enough to your liking)

Mix all the ingredients (except the blueberries) really well together. Then fold in your blueberries. Heat up your griddle. I use butter to grease my griddle and then with a 1/3 cup measuring cup I scoop out the batter and pour on to the hot griddle. Once you see tiny bubbles starting to pop up then flip pancake and cook until both sides are golden brown. Serve warm with your favorite syrup or if you are like our Elijah you will just eat them as they come off the griddle. :)

*This recipe was given to me by a very dear lady at SMBC who encouraged me in the whole wheat flour journey. I am so thankful for Mrs. Rose and the mentor she was to me in many areas.