Don't you love pinterest ?

 

This is just one of the recent pins I made from Pinterest... Apple Dumplings. I have made several recipes from Pinterest and everyone of them has been very delicious and amazingly simple to make. These apple dumplings were shared first to me by my friend, Shelly on her blog for foods that are easy for kids to make. These would be a fun and simple dish for children to make.

Ingredients-

2 whole granny smith apples ( any tart kind would do)
2 cans of crescent rolls
2 sticks of butter
1 and 1half cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
cinnamon to taste
1 can Mountain Dew

Prepareation-

Peel and core apples
Cut each apple into 8 slices each
Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll and place in a buttered pan
Melt the butter and pour over apples
Pour Mt. Dew ( 12oz. can) around the edges of the pan
Sprinkle with cinnamon
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes
Serve with ice cream- spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top

I tell you they were " out of site" in no time...yummy.

Please share any recipes your family likes.....

The Price of A Child is Costly- " Thank you for wanting me"

 

We watched the movie, October Baby last week. It was a good movie and one that even made me reflect deep into my heart and soul about my children.....especially the very last sentence spoken by the woman to her adopted father- " Thank you for wanting me." After the movie was over I watched as each child of mine still at home passed by me and gave me a hug good nite. I looked more deeply into their eyes and I wondered...did they to feel that no one wanted them? More importantly do they know how deep was our desire to love them as our son or daughter? Did they know how special and precious was the day we heard their new last name as Briggs ? To be able to say to them, " You are my son/daughter today. I am your momma or dad" was as life changing for us as it was for them. It was the same as I gave birth to my bio. children. I have been thinking of many thoughts I've wanted to share here and I hope it comes together like my thoughts are in my head and my feelings are in my heart.

 

We have some adoption news to share but can't just yet.I have heard about the conversations surrounding a family's decision to adopt. Often adoption is not well received by the ones who are closest to us...at least not always at first. Some comments are said that can really hurt the family who have stepped into the journey of adoption. Many times these comments are said in innocence but often they are not. We have heard very few of them if you can believe that...maybe people think them but don't share but, I am aware of others who have and it hurts me. It hurts because the children who are birthed thru adoption are no less a child in the momma's heart. To hear comments that reflect this hurt. I think all children are a blessing and deserve to be celebrated for the new life God has given to the family. Comments surounding the cost of the adoption can also be insensitive...like, " It's your money you can spend it how you want. " cut deep to the core of a momma's heart. It sounds almost like they are comparing the adoption of a child to the adoption of a dog, buying a car, or spending money on a vacation when it is said like that. Adopting a child is costly. It is costly in more ways than just money. The process of adoption is very emotional with all the ups and downs of the legal process...We have experienced many times the joy of getting a referral to the deep pain of losing the child we had already begun to bond with in our heart. I also have experienced the loss of a baby during my pregnancy and the pain of a miscarriage and loss of the opportunity to adopt a specific child are a similar pain. I have also invested much in the lives of my children and have had some lost to my life by their own choice and walk. They are always in my heart but not in my daily life . I miss them but understand their choice. It still is a cost paid for deeply in my heart. Life can be challenging to adopt 25 children ( many with special needs) and to have given birth to 5 bio. children ....but when I look in the eyes of my child I know that they were wanted. I know how deep I ached to hold them in my arms. I remember my tears of joy and pain as I have watched them struggle to overcome a past that I had no part of...but I am encouraged by the child that is before me for I know they are given to Paul and I as a blessing...and I would hope I would never think of them as any less than this. Yes, the price of a child is costly but the joy of knowing that they know they all were wanted ( bio. and adopted) is worth all the cost and pain.

 

We often get asked, " How do you do it?" Our response is from 2 Corinthians 5:14....for Christ's love compels us. Are you feeling the love of Christ in your life ? What might he be challenging you to ? What is so convicting to your soul that you can too say, " for Christ's love compels us."

Ghana Girls Rock

Lila, Selah, Sari with Mady and Kloe all had their Ghana headress on Friday when I came in from Sam's Club. These girls crack me up with their silliness and creativity. I also love that Kloe enjoys being included now in what they play. She wore hers for hours....Ghana girls rock.

Butterflies and Caterpillars is what we studied last week

These were some of the crafts we made for our study of butterflies.

Leah and Rachel are in charge of art for me this year and they have been able to do some projects that go along with some of the unit studies we are doing.

Then I let the kids have my camera to take pics of butterflies and caterpillars around our home that we could identify. These are just a few they found .

 

 

This week we started to study a science unit about molecules, atoms, scientific formulas, solvents and solutes. We started an experiment for 2 days and one that will go for 10 days. I love teaching this way. It is way more exciting than just doing workbooks. What are some units or things your family has enjoyed studying ?

Sadie can be so funny

Sadie will sit by the back door when she wants outside.

We looked over at her and the curtain was hanging over her head like a nun.

Then she decided to lay her head on the red shelf....We sure love our puppy dogs. They add so much to our lives with their personalities.

We had a rockin time of it tonite....

Playing Simon Says....

Even little Zoe got into it :)

Kloe thought they were so good she clapped

We played pin the nose on the pumpkin and ended with candy corn bingo. This was after a dinner of some new recipes I tried tonite that were a hit- Taco Casserole and SouthWest Corn Bread Salad.

It all started with donuts this am- thanks Joseph

Joseph worked last nite and came home at 5:30 . On the island he had bought donuts, fruit, oj and cranberry juice. It was a fun way to start my day with my "grand" babies.

Although they really aren't all babies anymore...they are growing up.

Eli really got into this toy that I bought at the last consignment sale in NC.

 I caught Caleb playing with his neice, Kloe.

Ella and Mya love to color.

We made caramel apples tonite...and one point as we all were eating them...It was actually very quiet with all 37 of us in the kitchen eating them :) Yep you read that right with Jenn and her kids and Mary Kate's family there were 10 more of us and I have been cooking for that amount 3 times a day :) but as I shared before - One way I love on my family is thru food.

Ezra and Mady enjoying their caramel and then eating the apple sort of.

They all loved them .

My older kids were having just as much fun as my littles did making them.

Even Kloe shared Nana's caramel.

Then tonite Zoe let me rock her and sing to her....aahh. I love having them around.