Mom Tip: Layering Bed Sheets

Here is a little tip that I was told about a few years ago and it was one of those tips that I thought to myself, "why didn't I think about that?".  So, here it is:  on your kids beds...layer their sheets to make accident clean ups and sheet changes quick and easy.

What we have started to do at our house on our boy's beds is to start with a waterproof mattress pad, add a fitted sheet, mattress pad, fitted sheet, etc.  I usually do three layers. So, if one of them wet the bed or get sick at night - it's an easy fix to just peel off the top layer and the bed is still made for them to crawl back in after adding a new top sheet.  This also helps with storing sheets:)  They get stored on the bed and just the extra top sheet is in the linen closest.

This was a huge lifesaver when we were potty training our kids and makes for a quick fix when you have to get up in the middle of the night.

That's it!  Have a great day!

Fall Comfort Food: Taco Chicken

Alright, here we go with another one of my favorite recipes.  This one came from my friend, Kimberly Cipkowski. Super easy!!  Get your crockpot out for this one. 

5-6 frozen chicken breasts
1 packet of taco seasoning mix
1/2 can of chicken broth

Put the frozen chicken in the crockpot and pour in the chicken broth.  Sprinkle the taco seasoning mixture over the top of the chicken (no mixing needed). Turn the crockpot on low for 7-8 hours. After 7-8 hours take two forks and shred the chicken. Stir it around in the broth and let it sit for another hour. That's it!  Easy and yummy!!  Add your favorite taco toppings to your table and it's an easy fall meal. 

We also use the chicken for the following:
- taco salads
- taco soup
- chicken enchiladas

Enjoy!!!  Also, feel free to email me some of your favorite fall recipes and I'll post them as we go....we can all learn from each other. 

Refine Me

I'm not sure where you are on your Road to Here.  Some of us might be at various stages in the adoption process and the waiting is seeming like an eternity.  Some of us might be struggling with loneliness and finding a place to fit in.  Some of us might be trying to figure out what is the next step in our journey.  Some of us might be growing weary in our marriages.  Some of us might feel like we've been walking in the valley for a long time.  Wherever you are and whatever it is that you are facing, it is my prayer that together, we will ask the Lord to truly refine us.  Not only do we need to ask the Lord to refine us but we need to be open to being refined.

What does it mean to be refined?  According to dictionary.com, refine is define as:
Re·fine

1. to bring to a fine or a pure state; free from impurities.

2. to purify from what is coarse, vulgar, or debasing; make elegant or cultured.

3. to bring to a finer state or form by purifying.

4. to make more fine, subtle, or precise: to refine one's writing style.

One of my favorite artist, Travis Cottrell, has released a song on his most recent album called Refine Me. It has become my "theme song". With permission from Travis's team, I wanted to share the lyrics with you. I highly recommend that you download this song from iTunes or from wherever you purchase your music. If you can, listen to it before you read the rest of my post.  If you can't download it - take a minute to click on this link and listen to it on Youtube.com

Refine Me - Travis Cottrell

Your so patient with me
Faithful and sure
To make me into something better
You know prayers that I've prayed
The tears that I've cried

Lord you know my heart's desire
Oh, to know You
To be more like You

Do what You need to
Help me to trust You
Even if Your love brings me suff'ring
Help me to hold on
To know that You're strong enough to see me through completely

Refine me

Your joy will be my strength
while I'm in these flames
I'm becoming Your reflection
Your kindness will be my song
Though I'm not alone,
Your presence is my consolation

Oh, to know you
I'm longing for you

Do what you need to
Help me to trust you
Even if Your love brings me suff'ring
Help me to hold on
To know that You're strong
Enough to see me through completely

Refine me
Oh God! My God!
Refine me
Oh God! Merciful God!

All for Your glory,
All for my good
To know Your love much deeper
Than I thought I ever could

Refine me, Oh!

Do what You need to
Help me to trust You
Even if Your love brings me suff'ring
Help me to hold on
To know that you're strong
Enough to see me through completely

Refine me,
Oh God! My God! Please!
Refine me,
Oh God! Merciful God!

Your so patient with me
Faithful and sure
To make me into something better.

If you are anything like me, I tend to ask the Lord for something and then expect him to do it for me right away and in the way that I seem is best.  I don't like to wait.  I'm not always a patient person.   I want to get things done and get them done right away. This song helped me to see that it is not about what I think I want or need but that it truly needs to be about what God wants for my life.  As I listen to this song on repeat 20 times a day, it is these lyrics that always stop me and make me think...

Do what You need to

Help me to trust You

Even if Your love brings me suff'ring

Help me to hold on

To know that You're strong

Enough to see me through completely

Do I really trust the Lord enough to be open to whatever He wants to do in my life?  For my friends in the adoption process, this journey is long.  The waiting is hard.  The Lord is doing a work in your life and He is not done working yet. No one said this journey would be easy.  It is not easy.  It is hard.  It is draining.  Be patient.  Trust His timing.  Even when we don't know what is happening and why things are taking so long - we have to trust that the Lord isn't done doing what He needs to in your life and in the life of the child coming into your home.

This is not only for my friends in the adoption process but for all of us, no matter what we are going through.  May we each take some time to relect on what the Lord is desiring to do in us and are we being open to the refining that He is trying to do? 

So, go listen to the song again and re-read the lyrics.  Maybe this can be a step that we take in the right direction of learning to be patient, trusting the Lord, and being open to being refined into something much better than we are today.  Sometimes it is the "waiting moments" of our lives where the most refining can take place.

Family Time

Ladies - time for some sharing!!!

Having some dedicated and intentional family time is so important - cell phones off, iPads off, computers off - true family time.  If we are being honest...that can be hard for us over here. At our house, we are so busy during the week that we recently have tried to set aside Friday nights for family pj party and movie night!!  Yesterday, we watched The Lorax with the boys...cute movie. It is a fun and easy/cheap way to spend time together. Usually, we are all in our pjs as soon as we get home from work/daycare and we are ready for family night to begin. I love how excited our kids are!

What are some of your family time ideas or traditions...small or big?  I would love to get some other ideas...

Also, I started a Facebook page too if you are interested in joining:  Facebook.com/aroadtohere

Fall Comfort Food: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

It is almost fall and my favorite season of the year.  As we are working on growing in our spiritual lives it is also important that we eat well - Ha!  One of my favorite fall comfort foods are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins and the recipe I have is super easy…only calls for 3 ingredients!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 boxes of spice cake mix (I use Duncan Hines)
1 large can of pumpkin
Chocolate chips (as many as you want to add – I tend to add a whole bagJ)

Follow the directions on the box for heating up your oven.  While the oven is heating, combine the two cake mixes and the can of pumpkin (it’s going to look like you have way too much cake mix – but be patient – it’ll all work out).  Add as many chocolate chips as you want and stir them in.

Put the mixture in greased muffin pans (they do not expand very much so what they look like going in the oven is similar to what they look like coming out).  Use the baking time listed on the cake mix box…That’s it!

Curl up with a cup of coffee, your Bible, and enjoy!

(Picture borrowed from web)