Thank You!!

whoever you are!!!!



We had a surprise at our front door in early July.



I just can not figure out who bought us these GREAT pans!!!!!



If it was you and you are reading this



THANK YOU!!!!



We use them a lot!







Here is an example of one of our tasty meals



big family



and



big pan



style!



Here is what I call mom's 'what's for dinner' hot-dish



Mix this all together, put in one of these wonderful 12 x 17 pans and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes



3 pounds of cooked egg noodles

3 pounds cooked turkey sausage

2 14oz cans evaporated milk

3 cups water

2 14 oz cans mixed veggies

4 cups grated cheese (save some to sprinkle on top).







and for dessert raspberry oatmeal bars.



3 cups brown sugar

4 1/2 cups dry oatmeal

4 1/2 cups flour

2 1/4 cups melted butter

3 tsp baking powder

1 jar raspberry jelly/jam



Mix together the sugar,flour, and baking powder. Add the oatmeal and melted butter.

Put 2/3 of the mixture in a greases 12 x 17 pan. press firmly. spread the jelly over the mixture. Sprinkle the rest of the oatmeal mixture over the jelly. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. cut into bars while still warm.







No leftovers here at our house!



Thanks SO much!!!!



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

A King Size What??

I love our house.



It is nice and big.



It is old and has a lot of character.



As our family grows though we need to be creative in re-thinking the use of our space.



One of my grand ideas (notice I did not say one of our grand ideas) was to loft Jeff's and my bed.



I dreamed of all the quiet (sewing) space we would have...



So with the semi nervous support of Jeff we set out and bought this...







and presto!!



We got this!!







A work of art!!







I just LOVE it!!!!!!!









Look at all that space!!!







It was built partly by a plan, partly by my own ideas, and a lot by Jeff's strength and practicalities.



It is very stable.



I want to paint cute little flowering vines around the posts.



The kids and I thought it would be fun to paint the plywood loft ceiling dark blue or black and add glow in the dark stars.



I also think that I should add some beads (think 70's hippy flashback) somewhere compliments of my dad's influence.



Best part of it...no bed making!!!!



Ok, not that I did that anyway...



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy



P.S The loft happens to look crooked in the photos but it really are not. It is just my wonderful picture taking abilities.

What Does She Do?

You must wonder what a mom of many does when all the kids are at VBS?



Well, very important things.



Super important things.



Things like talking on the phone to her mom.



Hi MOM!!



Making dinner.



(Yes, we always eat buffet style these days. A little in site for those who wonder how we handle meals in our house)







Going that extra mile to cut the cucumbers (Thanks Margaret!!) into semi even slices and even sprinkling them with season salt.







Taking pictures of fabric.









Yes,and enjoying a lengthy use of the facilities in peace.



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Wuz Up...

Grant 16, Alan 14



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

VBS Time!!

Yesterday evening Vacation Bible School week started.



The kids were all excited.



Our seven big kids all helped as group leaders.



I wanted to get picture of the bigger kids in their staff shirts but funny how when the camera comes out the big kids are hard to find...



Our younger eight are participating in the VBS activities.



Ah,I did get a fun picture of them!







This was a milestone year because Lily went with.







Of course,I had to get it all in pictures. Lily was so excited.









Josiah was a leader for the preschool class and said that Lily was pretty shy and held dad's hand most of the time.







Lily came home and after eating two helpings of dinner she fell asleep just like this.







Too bad it was only a short cat nap...



Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Happy 7th Birthday Grace!!!!!

WOW!!!



She is 7!!!



Our sweet little African princess is 7!!!



In a blink of an eye I tell you...



She has grown in a blink of an eye!

















A bonus to the day was the finding of this plump toad.







Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Introducing

Skittles.

Lily's new best friend.



I was replaced.

I knew it would happen at some point

but I thought not until she was at least 15.

I miss calculated something.

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

A Few Great Finds

The other day there was a fundraiser garage sale at the fair grounds down the street.


I love those garage sales!


When one digs hard enough there are those few golden nuggets that make the search worth while.

Here are the nuggets I found.






Joel found a sweet gift for Grace.

Musical bears with pretty plastic flowers.



Anya, Ekie, and Lily thought a picture with the cute musical bears wrapper would be cute and I agree it is!




Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

A Question

Just a quick one...

Are these three beauties or what?!!

Odell (10), Joyce (15), Ekie (9)



No need to respond.

I already know the answer.

And

of course,

the answer is

a screaming

YES!!!

And they are mine!!

Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy

Notice Something?

Notice something?

That cool dude third from the right.

The one in the red?

(l to r) Alan 14, Grant 16, Cyrus, 12, Josiah 14, Nolan 11, Joshua 10



That is him!

That is our Josiah!!!

Our 7th Liberian.

He has been a part of our family for three weeks now

but it is like he was always here.

And

WE LOVE HIM !!!!!!

I can not even begin to express how perfectly he fits into our home.

How much he is loved.

God is very,very good.

God planned this.

God saved a place in our hearts and lives for this young man.

Have you ever heard the saying, "it fits like a glove"?

Well, this young man

Our Josiah,

fits our family like a glove.

Stepping out in faith can be VERY,VERY,VERY scary.

Sometimes when we stepped out in faith it is only BY faith that we could cling to God's goodness and wisdom because it was hard to see those things ourselves.

And sometimes like with Josiah, we stepped out in faith and God's goodness and wisdom became very clear.


Warmly,A Patchwork Mommy