Foto Friday ( I know, it's been a while)

At our afternoon, "tea party". ( I say it with quotes because we actually used water instead of tea due to my little ones HATING tea).






Oatmeal anyone...

Strawberry jam...without pectin!

For the past two years, I have made our strawberry jam. My kids just love PB&J but this mama hates store bought jelly (and peanut butter but that is for another day). At least when I make my own, I know what is going into those little bellies!

Anyways...here it is!

I started with 4 quarts of strawberries (you can use as many or as few as you would like)

1. cut the green off your strawberries and place them in a measuring cup.
2. Place in a large sauce pan and mash with a potato masher
3. Add 3/4 cup of sugar per cup of strawberries.

4. mix, mix, and mix some more while mashing until the jam starts to foam.
5. put in 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice per cup of strawberries (mine was 2/3 cup)

as you can see, mine got a little too foamy due to a missing child....

6. mix, mix, and mix some more until it really starts to boil.
7. Turn heat off and poor into your jars.

8. Boil jars for 10 mins...and there you have it...strawberry jam for the whole year!

* This recipe was orginially given to me by Joceyln over at Tillaboro Orchard.

She's pretty cute...

My good friend Jen is an AWESOME photographer...really..check out her stuff!

Well Jen took some super cute pictures of Addy...

She is one talented lady I tell you.

I love me some baby toes
Fluffy tutus rock!
Seriously???!!
SUper cute
Beautiful little girl
Thanks Jen!!!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...(or country)

The sun is shinning. Yes it is! And I am actually being productive today. Even so I have a to do list the size of Texas...

You as what it is?

Well....

wash diapers and hang out
wash MOUNDS of clothes
clean the bathrooms (all three of them)
prep for making cushions for the cottage sofa (a larger task than I had anticipated)
read a chapter in CRAZY LOVE
get raw milk from my super secret, yet awesomely close dairy farm
clean up EVERYTHING and when I am done with that, do it again
weed the garden
wipe things...butts, counters, windows, etc
fix water damaged landscaping in the front yard
prep chicken for this evening
prepare for and go to last soccer practice of the year
give my babies some much needed mama time with a nice long walk!!

Yes, this is just a glimpse of my everyday life. It's crazy, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Call me crazy!

As I said before, I am reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. And YES you should ALL read this book..seriously!

Well God is speaking to me. It's funny how he does that right? And then we are all surprised when God changes something in our lives.

Tonight I came across this line in the book, " Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy".

How many times have you (or I) done something or said something that we knew wasn't what God would want? I mean deny Him or His work just because we don't want to be social awkward?

I got news for you folks, that is NOT what God wants. It truly hurts him when we straight up deny his works. So, guess what? I WILL be the crazy girl now. The one who says what might not be what others want to hear, the one who helps the "annoying" person of the group, the one who loves the unlovable, the one who gives her seat up for the elderly, the one who SERVES Jesus!

My personal challenge this week is to look for those situations where I would usually ignore and GO FOR IT!

so you ask, "What HAS Kara been up to?"

Yes, I have been taking the cheaters way out these past few weeks and just posting pics on my blog with no real content of what we have been up to...

So here is the deal. We (I) have been up to a lot. You ask what that may be...while here it is.

1. My baby turned one! What you didn't know?? So we have been partying it up here. Unfortunately, my little one was pretty sick the week before and up to her party. After four days of anitbiotics, she started perking up a bit. BUT, she had a HIGH fever for almost a week before it broke. Anyways..the theme was strawberries and she was pretty sweet ;o)

2. My big princess got the results of her Kindergarten screening and her teacher for the fall! WOW. Can you believe my baby is turning 5? Well, I cannot!! PLUS..as you know, we struggled with the decision to send her to school. I was very very VERY willing to homeschool my little bug but after much prayer we decided school is where God wants her to be. My stubborn self STILL shudders when I think about sending her but I know God will take care of her.

3. I have been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and WOW is it the best book I have ever picked up. I have to be honest with you and tell you that most non-fiction/spiritual books bore me. Not because they aren't filled with great stuff, but because my attention span is nil.. This book IS GREAT! I cannot stop reading and re-reading it! SO I highly recommend it to ANYONE who needs or wants to change their life. God is changing me through this book.

4. I am in the process of finding some raw milk in my area. If you want to know why go here or here and you will see...

5. Planting, growing, and starting my summer canning! Strawberries are out here and I need to get my butt in gear and pick some for my jam. Last year's canning made it through the ENTIRE year as well as leftovers for xmas gifts. There is something very rewarding about growing your own veggies and feeding your family with them all year long.

Well hopefully I didn't bore you...just an update my friends. Happy blogging!!

I know, I have been MIA...

I really really REALLY have some things to blog about..

but...

I have had my hands full lately with lots and lots of things.

What are those things you ask?*

Well....

*We celebrated Addy's dedication/first birthday this weekends with the whole fam! Pics to follow!