{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook: Great Slow Cooker Recipes  by Phyllis Pellman Good


I picked this book up from the library a couple of weeks ago and have enjoyed browsing through it before I turn out the light each night.  Usually, I am too tired to focus on the other book I am currently reading, Age of Opportunity, but flipping over pages of recipes and crock pot tips was a fun wind down.


While there are many  recipes with ingredients that don’t fit the way our family tries to eat, I did find some basic soup  recipes that I am excited to add to my menu list.  Tonight we put a whole chicken in, “Chicken in a Pot”, to cook for soup & casseroles over the next week.  One time, quite awhile back, I tried cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot and none of us enjoyed the aroma or the taste when it was finished.  So I am happy to try again, using the dried herbs recommended. 


If you like to keep your crockpot working on dinner, while you work on all else that you have to do, I recommend the Fix It and Forget It Cookbooks for some fresh ideas for your menu plan!


Over the next couple of weeks I plan to follow the instructions for Chicken Rice Soup, Bean Soup and Heart Happy Tomato Soup. 


It is fun and good for our menu planning to have these new ideas added in and this book is full of different variations for common recipes.  Crockpot meals are a real blessing to me, for on those busy mornings when lessons are hard and I am tired, it’s nice to have something tasty bubbling away, ready for lunchtime or on those evenings when we have kids going in different directions, overlapping at home between for just awhile, it is great to set down my keys and serve up some warm goodness from “Pattie”.

By the way, do you name your maids?

Some of my favorite maids/appliances have names…Pattie, Zoi, Millie…

Proverbs 31:15  She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens (maids).

This is my first post discussing all the lovely reads I have planned for this year.  Other books I am currently reading and looking forward to discussing are:

One Thousand Gifts: A dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

Age of Opportunity by Paul David Tripp
Too Small to Ignore by Wes Stafford

Joining in the bookclub discussion over at Life As Mom.

That Archimedes is doing the lessons? 

On one of the homeschooling forums I visit from time to time I found a link to this article, written to help people understand the limitations & struggles of living with a chronic illness like Lupus, Depression, etc

Maybe it will be an encouragemen to you, if you are one with walking this life.

Maybe it will help you gain better understanding  if someone you know and love walks this life.

The Spoon Theory



Very little snow for all this cold



To join in on the fun go to Harmony Art Mom.

#318-365

318. Tea time with my girls

319. Expressive eyes telling me the story

320. One more hug

321. Another one’s one more hug

322. Electric blue, Marme, not bright blue

323. Freezer meals prepared

324. Another life to celebrate

325. Brisk walk with the dog.

326. The joy of sunshine & warmth, in January

327. Birds have found the feeders!

328. The sound of children playing in the sunshine, instead of reading history.

329. There is more time for history.

330. “I get it!” After watching the math lesson, again.

331. Colossians 1:1-3 is in my head

332. Household cleaners delivered to my door.

333. Herb garden in our living and learning room

334. Sisters reading together

335. Bookshelves, overflowing

336. Invitation for a short park visit with friends

337. Girls noticing notes to myself, and taking the challenge themselves

338. One by one, they ask me to pray

339. For Daddy to come home safe

340. For grandfathers to know Jesus

341. For a friend’s family’s house to sale, so they can move closer that which they need

342. He is home safe

343. Birthday celebrations with dearest friends

344. Puppy and kitten eating from the same bowl.

345. Remembering grace

346. School closure…the home school classes are cancelled too…giving us a puttering day at home. Such a gift.

347. Builder is home, and helping me with school. Chasing away the anxiety and “doneness” of this Marme.

348. Slower morning, time for a back rub.

349. Houseful of dog, puppy, kittens, cats, all playing and rolling around our feet.

350. Children getting an bit more snuggly sleep on this extremely cold morning.

351. Concern for the homeless on this extremely cold morning, and remembering, there is something I can do. Pray.

352. Very cold fruit & minerals smoothie, made with extra love because he made it

353. Hot showers on these very cold mornings

354. Builder’s gentle critique of our schooling routine. Kind words to spur me on to better use of our time.

355. Compassion International.

356. Sponsored kids, more kids to love and pray for. 

357. Art & craft projects all over the place. Messy, but so beautiful.

358. Builder holding my hand as I let go of some of my to do list

359. A very productive, but less stressful week

360. Lavender soap

361. Dinner by Mae, from start to finish, with Builder and me doing the dishes after

362. Knitting needles & wool, while Builder reads North or Be Eaten

363. Delightful Date Night with my Beloved

364. Good books

365. Saturday, a day for rest and joyful pursuits

joining SarahMae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee

Happy Birthday, SarahMae