A few days ago the boys found 3 little kittens in the barn.  We knew that our 2 calicoes looked pregnant a while back, these kittens looked like the  normal litters for our “barn cat club”- 1 tiger, 1 black, and 1 tortoise calico.  The little kittens just cried and cried all the time.  The boys found a mother who appeared to be nursing and showed her the kittens and she growled at them.  Cats can be so moody so I told the boys to leave them alone and their mama would find them and feed them.  The second day, I brought the kittens to the house to feed because their bellies just weren’t very full and I put them in the pet taxi.  When the boys got home, I had them take them back to the barn still thinking their mother was down there.  They made them a nice spot with a towel and straw  in the pet taxi and left the door open for the mama.  I didn’t check on the kittens yesterday while the boys were at school- forgot.  The boys went to the barn yesterday and the kittens were laying on a soaking wet towel (it rained hard that night/day and the wind blew the rain into the barn, I’m sure).  Two of them were dead and the little calico was just screaming her little head off- the sound that comes from a tiny kitten who is cold and hungry is piercing!!!!  How the other animals in the barn didn’t kill her just for being annoying is beyond me. . .  .

So, in the house comes a crying #1 child, a very sad #2 child, a very informative and willing to remove the dead ones #3 child, and one screaming kitten. . ..   We fed the kitten and held her close but she just kept screaming, that glass shattering cry for mama.  We took turns carrying her around and I finally couldn’t take it anymore!  We put in her in the pet taxi and sat her near the register in the laundry room and turned the light off.  After awhile she fell asleep. . . . . but only for a short while.  So, we repeated and repeated until bedtime.  At bedtime, I gave her a wipe down, dried her off, put her to bed and went to bed myself. 

At 6:50 a.m. this morning that ear piercing scream woke me.   I fed her again and did some research online.  I read that orphaned kittens will cry when they are hungry or cold otherwise they will sleep and be quite content.  I then read that at 2-3 weeks of age they need 90^ temperatures and at 3-4 weeks of age they need 80^ temperatures!!!!!  She was in that cold barn with her dead siblings for only God knows how long!  She probably stayed alive by managing to get on top of the pile of kittens- her brothers probably saved her life!!!  Poor thing- she can’t get warm!!!  My mom suggested a warm water bottle (since we are not turning the thermostat on the rurnace up. . . .lol) and it helps. . .  . . .

Anyway, why am I telling you all this with a title about God answering prayer?  That 6:50 a.m. alarm clock!!!!!  I’ve been needing a reason to get out of bed earlier than I have been and the little kitten did it!!  Now 6:50 is not as early as I should be getting up but I realized that once I drag myself out of bed it’s so much easier to get started!  Thank you Jesus!!!  Even screaming kittens have a purpose!!

Now, if you’ll all pray that she warms up and stays that way, we would appreciate it. . . .  (-;

Forgive me for not having the exact reference in front of me.. . . one of my bff’s reminded me of this the other day and I had to share it!!!

Did you know it says in the Bible that we are to consider it pure joy when we have trials??   Before you go running to  the porcelain princess to bow and pay homage (thanks for the visual aid- A!) at the thought of being joyful during trials, stop and think for a moment. . . . .

First off, it says the word WHEN not the word IF.  God knows we have trials!  God knows we are going to have more trials!  God knows He is capable and willing to help us through those trials!!  That’s where the joy comes in!! 

Every time something stinking, stressful, painful, or just outrageously horrible comes knocking at your door, consider it a perfect excuse to seek more attention from you heavenly Father!!  You know exactly what I mean, you mom’s out there reading this. . . . .

When your kid has a bad dream- who do they come to for comfort?

When your kid falls off his bike- who do they come to for a bandaid?

When your kid gets made fun of at school- who do they vent to when they get home?

When the cat gets hit in the road- who comforts the kids and helps with the funeral?

The kids parents do all that don’t they!!!!!!  As a parent, being completely honest with yourself- you actually enjoy being asked to help with all those things don’t you. . . . put aside the middle of the night awakenings, the fighting with them to get the road burn cleaned up,  the wanting to call the parents of the neighborhood bully and do a little bullying of your own,  the digging with a shovel to reach the exact “6 foot under” for the burial service. . . . .   

When your kid has trials. . . . . . .you actually like to and want to comfort them and help them through it don’t you!!!!

Now, stretch that a little further. . . ..

You heavenly Dad made you in His image so if He made you to want to comfort your own children don’t you think that He will want to and enjoy comforting you?  

Ask Him today!  Let Him set you up on His lap and hug all the nasties of life right off your back!  He Loves You!!!  Yes YOU!!

BROTH

When your turkey comes out of the oven, drain all that wonderful broth off and let it cool slightly.  You can then freeze it for use just like the stuff you buy in the cans at the store.  If your poultry has a lot of fat on it, cool the broth in the fridge until the fat rises to the top and scrape it off before freezing.  If you really like using everything, that fat can be used in cooking that requires a little fat- in recipes that can take chicken flavor (i.e. don’t use it cookies or other desserts, silly)- keep it in the fridge or freezer though.  I give the fat from my broth to the dog and cats- they love it!

Freezing the meat

Leftover chicken and turkey can be  frozen for later use.  I sometimes will freeze a whole turkey breast or will cut up the leftovers into bite size pieces.  Freeze this cooked meat with a little broth to keep it moist. 

Broth from bones

Once you have “gleaned” all the meat off the bones you can make even more broth by boiling the bones and skin.  Place the bones and skin in a large stock pot and put enough water to cover about half.  Add salt, pepper, a carrot, onion, celery stalk- if you have them.  Bring this mixture to a boil covered.  Leave it covered and turn down to a simmer and let it simmer for 3 hours or so.  Let it cool slightly and strain the liquid.  Cheese cloth works good but if you don’t have any, just use your strainer.  After you strain, let the broth sit for a while in the fridge.  The fat will rise to the top and the little bits of stuff that make the broth cloudy will fall to the bottom.  A good broth will set up like jello in the fridge and this makes it even easier to separate!

Turkey or chicken noodle soup

4 c. broth

1 c. turkey or chicken bits- already cooked

any combination of carrots, celery, onion, potatoes, peas, corn, cabbage, green beans, etc

a handful of fine egg noodles, broken spagetti noodles, or the like or a half handful of rice

If your veggies are raw, saute them in a small amount of butter and/or broth until crisp tender.  Combine other ingredients except pasta and bring to boil.  Add pasta and simmer,covered until soft.

If you don’t have enough broth, you can add tomato juice or tomatoes for a tomato based chicken soup or you can add milk for a cream soup.  If using milk, you may want to thicken it slightly.  (1-2 tbl corn starch stirred into 1/4 c. of the milk- add to soup and bring to boil stirring)  You can thicken this even more and serve over biscuits or toast.  May also add a dash of lemon juice or celery seed for extra flavor.

Chicken and Biscuits

See recipe above or:

1 c. chicken or turkey bites- already cooked

1-2 c. broth

2 tbl butter

2 tbl cornstarch

Melt butter in med. sauce pan.  Stir in corn starch to make a paste.  Slowly add broth, stirring well to incorporate (may need to use a wisk).  Cook on med-low, stirring until mixture thickens.  Add chicken and heat through.  Serve on favorite biscuits or toast. 

For a one dish meal, add a half bag of frozen or whole can of mixed vegetables.  ( frozen ones will need to be cooked thoroughly first)

Hot chicken sandwiches

2 c. chicken or turkey shredded or cut up bite size (already cooked)

1/2 -1 c. broth

Combine in saucepan and heat on low until hot.  If it’s a little too soupy or if you want it to stretch a little further, add some crushed up saltines or butter crackers (Ritz are excellent).  Some people also add a little mayonnaise.

Chicken and Rice dish

Use broth in place of water to make rice.  Before bringing it to the boil, add an appropriate amount of chicken or turkey and cook it all together.  If you have pre-cooked rice, saute it all in a frying pan.  Serve with cheese or soy sauce.  You can also add any veggies that you like.  If you like creamy casseroles, stir in an undiluted can of cream of celery, chicken, or mushroom soup.  Add milk to make it the right consistancy and heat through.

Take a thawed turkey and remove any giblets that might be inside.  Sometimes they are in a little bag in there and sometimes they are just laying in there.  If you forget this step- DO NOT PANIC!!  Just remove the cooked giblets when you get the turkey out of the oven! 

For a 12 lb or larger turkey; put the turkey in one of those turkey roaster pans or dutch oven an hour before bedtime or before work (you pick).  Add 9 cups of water.  Put the lid on- it must fit down flat on all sides.  Bake at 450^ for 1 hour.  DO NOT CHECK THE TURKEY!!!  DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT OPENING THE OVEN DOOR.  When the buzzer goes off at 1 hour, turn the temp down to 175^ (original recipe said to turn oven off- you can if you’re brave. . . .) and go to bed.  In the morning, your turkey is done!  (or when you get home depending. . .. ).

The original recipe recommends soaking the turkey in a sink of cold water that has 1 cup of salt dissolved in it, patting dry, and spraying the turkey with spray oil.  You can do this, but don’t think it won’t turn out if you don’t.  It may be a little tougher w/out this step but still muy delicioso!!

The other easy turkey recipe requires a Reynolds Turkey Roasting bag.  These are available at your local grocery store.  Mine are found in with the baggies, foil, plastic wrap, etc.  Follow the directions in the package for a wonderfully moist and flavorful turkey!

We raised our own turkey this year and ended up having to wait an extra month before we could get them processed by the butcher (had to wait our turn).  The turkey roasting bags produce excellent meat even if the meat  grew for an extra month longer than the butterballs you buy in the store!  The roasting bags are excellent for any meat!

Don’t argue with an idiot; people watching

may not be able to tell the difference . . . . . .

Ever worry too much?  Ever feel so overwhelmed that you don’t know where to start?  Ever have a friend or loved one in the hospital or going through a really bad time in their lives?  Ever been through a really bad time yourself?  Someone close to you ever died?  Someone you love seriously ill?  Are you seriously ill?  Are you mad?  Are you sad?  Are you in the depths of despair?  Learn from Jesus: Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane just before he was to be arrested and crucified and He knew what was coming. . . . .

Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took Peter, James, and John with him.  He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony.  He told them, “I feel bad enough right now to die.  Stay here and keep vigil with me.”  Going a little ahead, He fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: “Papa!  Father!! you can- can’t you?- get me out of this.  Take this cup away from me!  But please, not what I want- what do You want?”  Mark 14 : 32-36 (The Message Translation)

We eat spagetti weird around here. My husband’s allergies are such that he avoids tomato sauce, especially seasoned tomato sauce. So our spagetti is prepared in 3 completely separate pans: spagetti noodles, sauce, and meat. Then it is assembled on each person’s plate in the manner to which they are accustomed. Husband gets noodles and meat smothered in sprinkle cheese (parmesan). First born gets noodles, meat, small serving of sauce, small sprinkle of cheese. 2nd born gets the traditional noodles, meat, sauce, sprinkle cheese combo- the one you get in restaurants. 3rd born gets noodles, sauce, only a sampling of meat, and oodles of sprinkle cheese. I am a sauce lover so if there is not sauce left on my plate when I’m done with the noodles, something was not assembled correctly. I also occasionally stir-fry a few peppers and onions and maybe a slice of pepperoni or two and add to mine as well!

Oh, you wanted a recipe??? Oh, almost forgot!!!

We prefer angel hair pasta because it cooks in only 3 min. but any pasta will do.

ruralmomof3’s spagettie sauce? (this is also my pizza sauce recipe)

Take a  regular size can (12 oz or so? not the little can) or two small cans of tomato sauce and dump it into a pan.  Add the following:

• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp minced garlic or one pressed clove or equivalent of garlic powder (garlic is not absolutely necessary)
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley

Bring this to a simmer and serve.  If you are worried that your kids only eat spagetti sauce and ketchup for veggies, you can sneek some stuff in your sauce. 

• jar of strained baby food carrots or some shredded carrot
• finely chopped spinach and tell the kids it’s fresh basil (hee, hee)
• finely chopped onion (just get into the habit of ALWAYS putting onion in your ground beef)
• mushrooms
• bell peppers
• even corn or peas (if you think you can get away with it!  Good luck!!)

Meatballs

Our meat usually consists of browned hamburger that is browned with chopped onion.  You can make meatballs if you want to be fancy.  Just make your basic meatloaf recipe- turn it out onto a cutting board, flatten it into a rectangle, and cut it into desired meatball size squares.  Pick up each square, give it a slight roll in your hands, and throw it on a baking sheet or in a skillet.  Brown and serve!!  The trick to round meatballs is turning them often so I don’t recommend the baking method if you have to have round meatballs.  The smaller the meatball, the faster the cook time.  If your’s are golf ball size or bigger, be careful that you have cooked them thoroughly!  No one wants cold in the middle meat balls with their spagetti!!

Garlic toast-

I prefer to be lazy when it comes to garlic toast.  I wait for the sale on the already prepared kind in the freezer section or buy the clearance rack kind in the bakery!  If you prefer to make your own or have leftover bread, buns, etc to get rid of- Here you go!

Spread bread or buns or whatever out on a cookie sheet.

Butter each piece well.

Sprinkle with your favorite garlic spice blend (if you don’t have one, you can soften a stick of butter and stir in a tsp minced garlic and some parsley- don’t forget the parsley because the little green flecks will keep you from putting the leftover garlic butter on your cinnamon toast tomorrow morning!)

For a crisp toast, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake in 400^ oven until browned.

For a soft toast, sprinkle with mozzerella cheese (or american, or colby, or whatever) and broil for a minute or two until the cheese melts.

ENJOY!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a BIG mouth! But in this instance I’m speaking of all of our big mouths and not just my own. . . . awe. . . you were hoping for one big honking story weren’t you?!!!!!

James 3 (quoted and paraphrased portions of the chapter) says this:
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness. We all make mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. . .. . the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. . . . . . People can tame all kinds of animals but no one can tame the tongue . . . .sometimes it praises our Lord and sometimes it breaks out into curses against others. . . . blessings and curses from the same mouth is not right! You can’t draw fresh water from a salty pool.

Now think about that last sentance. . . . if you mix salt water and fresh water together what do you get? Salt water slightly watered down but it’s still salty. . . . .if you mix blessings and curses what do you get? Hmmmmmm? Got ya’ thinkin didn’t I!!!! (got me thinking too! LOL)

Lord, I ask you today to keep one hand on my shoulder and one hand over my BIG mouth! Thank you Jesus!

-amen

We must begin and end every day with praising God, we must give Him thanks every morning for the mercies of the night and every night for the mercies of the day; going out and coming in, we must bless God. – Matthew Henry.

I got up early one morning

And rushed right into the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I didn’t take time to pray.

Problems just tumbed about me,

And heavier came each task;

“Why doesn’t God help me?”, I wondered.

He answered, “You didn’t ask”

I wanted to see joy and beauty-

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak;

I wondered why God didn’t show me,

He said, “but you didn’t seek”

I tried to come into God’s presence,

I used all my keys to the lock;

God gently and lovingly chided:

“My child, you didn’t knock”

I woke up early this morning

And paused before entering the day;

I had so much to accomplish

That I had to take time to pray.

-author unknown- Taken from A Woman’s Call to Prayer by Eliz. George