Yes, I still blog ;)

Hi Friends!!! It has been so long, I’m not sure anyone is aware of this little blog’s existence 🙂 I have been debating closing it down, but then I feel like I should keep it up. So for now, and for today, since I felt like it.. I am doing another post.

It will be a random hodge podge, but here we go!

I’ll start with a story. You might find it funny. I did not! Although had I been driving past, I may have laughed 🙂 Had you drove by our farm the other night, you would have seen the Amish man( Or boy. It all happened in a blur), go whizzing by on his scooter. And you would have seen a ball of fur running after him, barking ferociously. You would have seen the traffic stop in both directions. And you would have seen me, running across the very cold and muddy field, with only socks on my feet, because I was sure she was going to get hit. Sigh. It ended well, with only muddy socks to soak, and a pounding heart. And I probably should have a dog trainer 🙂

This little man has been busy giving me snuggles, heart attacks, and a whole lot of laughs and frustration 🙂 Honestly, I love just having him at home with me! But he has been giving the twos, the terrible 😉 The other Sunday, he threw his fathers phone in the toilet. He got into nail polish one night, but I saw it before too much mess occurred. I find random scribbles on things like my dryer 🙂 He is busy with a capital B, which is why naptime makes me sooo happy!!

There was a short time that the ice was thick enough to skate, so the children were happy for that!
A winter morning on the farm..

It was so cold and beautiful!!

These 2 love to wash dishes 🙂

Morning snack…

And this month only, I have free codes that you can use to try the healthy pink drink that has helped me so much, as well as other great supplements I use daily! It is a wonderful special ($39.95 off!!), plus the 1st month you try it, you can get products at an even better price than I do 🙂 And if you’re not happy, you can get your money back! I would love to chat with you if you have questions!! I only share because it has made such a difference for me!!

That’s all for now. I just took a car ride with my teenager, we argued. And I sighed. I am the mom of a 16 year old now, and that has been a small stress in my life 😉 Life has a way of moving so fast, sometimes I am not ready for all the changes!!

Many blessings to you, friends!!

Chicken, ranch, and bacon stromboli

Sometimes I wish I was  Betty Crocker and the Pioneer Woman, all rolled into one amazing cook, who baked all her own bread, made healthy meals every day, and took killer photos to document.

But in reality, some days I’m just trying to come up with a quick, easy meal, that I need for my famished crew 🙂

Stromboli is something I can make, and have no complaints. But this is the 1st time I have tried this recipe. And in fact, its not a recipe, but some thrown together ingredients.

I worked very hard at making the dough 😉 I went to the store, and bought frozen bread dough. I know, nothing to be proud of. I rolled it out, snapping quick photos as I went, under poor lighting conditions. sorry if you came to see pretty photos 🙂 Perhaps another time!Next, I added Ranch dressing, spread it down the middle, added crumbled, cooked bacon, and mozzarella cheese.

After that, I added the chicken. You could cook your chicken, and use that. You could use rotisserie chicken. Or, you could do like I did, and get canned chicken at the store. Yes, I should can my own chicken, and maybe I will eventually do all I set out to do with canning and freezing 😉 But this works for me, as I am all about quick and easy 🙂You could use whatever cheeses you like. I added a little cheddar cheese as well.I struggle with rolling the dough out evenly too 🙂 So for the last step, pull dough together, making sure there are no holes. Flip over, and add butter, seasoning, etc. to the top. And its ready to bake!

I actually just used butter on the top of my chicken Stromboli. I also made a ham, cheese, and salami version, and this is how that one looked, right before baking.And then, what is really nice, is when you have a daughter taking home economics class at school, and she brings home a salad 🙂 And that’s a wrap!

Thank you for stopping by! Share in the comments some quick meals you love!!

Puppies

Hi! It’s been awhile 🙂 We are enjoying summer, and all the busyness it brings!! Just thought I will share a few photos of the cute little puppies we enjoyed for awhile!! I did not take time to edit 🙂 I love Darian’s face in the middle picture 😉

Jazzy, the mother, is a fabulous mom to her 6 cuties!! There was lots of chaos 🙂

And a few photos I captured with my phone.. So much action!!They were very loved 😉

Hope your week is full of good things!! ♡ Jo

Tips on prepping for the week

I try to be organized. Try is the word 😉

But there are a few things that I’ve been doing, that I noticed  are helping, so I thought I would share here!

Our 3 school children pack their own lunches, thanks to my husband implementing that. He said they can, and it helps me, and I sure like that! 🙂 So prepackaging snacks for the week is very helpful! Plus they love to grab it, and add it to their lunch.

Another thing I am doing, is planning my meals for the week. Not detailed. And sometimes plans change, and I swap out one day for another. If you know anything about farming, plans can change very quickly 🙂 I think that is some of the reason I held off on trying to meal plan. But this way, I have a good idea what we’ll have, and I can make sure the ingredients are here. I usually sit down, and do this Sunday, or Monday morning.

I also love my planner! I need lists, or the running “to do” list in my brain makes me feel scattered and stressed. My planner has an area at the top for main things that need to be done during the week, and when I think of something, I write it down. That has really helped me!

I still struggle with feeling like my brain is in 10 different places at once, but perhaps that is because I have a busy toddler 🙂

So I would love to hear from you all! What tips do you have for being organized? Share in the comments!

And to close this post, just a few pictures of Spring, here on the farm!

Showing me the airplane 🙂Our oldest son, and his 4H calfAnd beautiful buds!

Have a blessed week!! ~ Jo

 

March

March felt like it came and left in a hurry 🙂 Although it still seems like Winter around here.  Two highlights of our March…

A cabin trip with family… We had not been away in awhile, so it was great!! We were glad our weekend did not end like last year 😉 Yes, very glad! 🙂

The other highlight was promoting in my company 🙂 I had worked and prayed for this for awhile, and it all felt like a big hug from God!! The joy of sharing with others, and seeing their lives change, as well as  wanting to give more, and help pay off debt quicker, has been such a driving force in my why!!

And the bonus will be such a huge blessing! 🙂 I am so grateful! We counted down my points I needed, and it was so fun to have the children share in the excitement 🙂 I felt so much love and support!!Some random things…

We have a cardinal friend who flies up to our window every day, and taps on it 🙂 We love watching him!!My babe and I ❤We love this for a quick lunch!! Flatbread, ranch dressing, bacon bits, canned chicken, cheese. So tasty 🙂

Also, this Caramel French Toast is a favorite at our house!And this boy keeps me running 😉😉Happy Wednesday, friends!!!

The Farmer

If you aren’t aware, the dairy industry is struggling right now. Has been for some time. And its not getting better 😦  Milk prices are low, have been for awhile, and costs have not gone down. Makes me sad to hear that we have farmer friends who can’t pay bills. Who look at the bills, and have to decide which one to pay first. It’s not easy here either. We are blessed to be on a family farm, and thankful for supportive parents. Not something everyone has.

There are far to many rumors that go around about farming, and the public buys into it. Too many people drinking soda, and sugary drinks, and non dairy milk.

Too many people who think farmers don’t care, and are just in it for the money. To us, farming is about family. About teaching our children the value of hard work, and responsibility.

By the way, in case you are new here, I have taken a trip down memory lane for some of these photos 🙂 I love looking back!

This photo reminds me of the promise of God. That someone else is in control. And He is faithful! Through good times and bad. Through profit and loss.

And we realize that our children have so many blessings, growing up on a farm. It might not always seem that way 🙂 We don’t get to vacation like others. My children don’t always enjoy chores 🙂 And I know they work harder than some children have too. I’m proud of them for it. 

They also get to experience things that so many other children don’t. Like land to explore, and room to roam 🙂

So we keep doing what we do, keep praying, and hope the future changes for our children. For the next generation of farmers.This photo was taken in 2014, because we hosted a county field night. Look at them, so little 🙂

Press on, friends! And thanks for stopping by!

A peek into our life

1. Sundays just might be one of my favorite days of the week 🙂 It gives me time to unwind from the week, be encouraged, and take a nap 🙂 Today though, was a day at home for me. Baby kept me awake so much last night, as he has a cough that just would not allow him to relax. Poor thing was so exhausted 😦

Now it’s Monday! I love Mondays, and the opportunity of a new week to tackle goals, and check things off that “To Do” list 🙂

Thought I would share some of what is happening around here lately, along with some photos of course  …

These 2 photos of my 2 youngest sleeping are some of my favorites! There is just something about that innocence. I always want to take their pictures when they sleep 🙂 Anyone else? Look at this one from awhile back!Be still my heart ❤

We are currently doing some small improvements to our rental house. This was the day they brought the puppy over 🙂 Double trouble! I was painting yesterday, and this was my “helper” 😉 He is the biggest climber out of all our children! I may get gray hair soon 🙂

Actually, when I came back from painting, my daughter said, “Mom! Do you have a gray hair?!” She said it like it was some sort of sin. My heart stopped for a second, because I am not ready for that 🙂 And then I remembered I brushed against wet paint. False alarm 🙂

I love this picture of my hubby and Darian at breakfast! He loves to crawl on his Daddy’s lap, and snitch food 🙂 And the cutest thing.. He calls him Papa. I have no idea why, because our others all call him Dad or Daddy 🙂 I never get tired of hearing him say that. And momma. So sweet!! ❤We had a snow day this week, no school. I caught Darian’s look of awe at the snow and watching the dogs play in it. This is another favorite of mine!

I didn’t decide yet, but I have been toying with the idea of closing this blog down. I love sharing photos, and writing, but I also have Facebook and Instagram, and have much more interaction on there, which I enjoy! As a mom who doesn’t always get out much, social media has allowed me to connect with so many people, and it has really been fun!!

I also have been growing my health business, and that, along with being a mom, and helping on the farm, keeps me quite busy. So it’s something I need to pray about 🙂

One last thing… I would love to talk with you if you struggle with health issues! I have had so many people reach out in this new year! People who sometimes look the picture of health, but are struggling. So if you have questions, let’s chat 🙂 I love sharing with others!!

And I will send a sample of this yummy, body balancing drink to the 1st three people who comment, or contact me!! This is only for someone who is new to this product, or is not working with someone else.Just a few things I hear from those who have reached out to me, and seen changes… Better digestion, less gut discomfort, no more migraines, less discomfort, better sleep,H weight loss, energy 🙂 Such fun getting messages like that!!!

Thanks for stopping by, and have an amazing week!! ❤ Jo

Sunday musings

The sky is grey today, with muddy ground, and muddy boots at my door. We were blessed to go to church, and hear the Word, even though sometimes I feel like I don’t always catch a whole lot with a wriggly babe on my lap 🙂

On our way to church, we listened to a radio preacher talk about worry. He mentioned how worry is a sin, but we don’t always think of it that way. It was something good for me to hear, as I can tend to be a bit of a worrier.

I know I am not very active on here. Life is full, and even though I love to write, I don’t always feel I have much to say, or maybe I don’t always take time to put it together 🙂 I want to invite you to check out my friend Rachelle’s blog. She writes so well, and with such grace as she takes you through the hard she and her family experienced recently.

I saw a post on Instagram today that made me think a bit. A mom who shared that she avoids following some people because their lives seem perfect. I too can tend to compare my life to others, and see areas that seem ‘lacking”. And although I generally use my social media for uplifting posts, I hope I never come across as having it all together. Because I am so far from that 🙂

The kiddos enjoyed the snow we had, so I must share a few photos. I have not edited photos in so long, and didn’t take time to do these either 🙂 My favorite is the last shot of my snow babe with his” face” that I see so much of 😉 He is such a busy boy that I sometimes think all I do all day is clean up from him, save his life, and bathe him after his eating or whatever escapade he got into 🙂

I hope you have a week that goes well. I am working on my mindset, trying to CHOOSE the joy in the chaos and messes of life, and not complain about them so much. I have got a LOT of work to do in that area 🙂

May God bless you all! ~ Jo

Hello 2018!!

2017…

Full of good things, hard things, stretching things, and teachable moments.

I am so THANKFUL for God’s grace and patience with me through it all!!

I also want to say how happy and blessed I am, when I think of the lives I have  helped change in the past year! Customers, friends, teammates, who sent me messages of hope!! No more stabbing headaches, less sensitivity to gluten, tired moms who tell me they FEEL better and have more energy, fewer cravings, weight loss, better moods, less pain.

When I started this little business, I always said, if I can help ONE person, just one, it will be worth it!! I am excited to say it’s been a JOY to see God work, and all the growth on my team! I also hope that I have blessed someone, by caring for them in other ways, not just in the health aspect. I want to serve God, and share His love with others. In the mundane, daily moments of life.

My prayer for you, my readers, and friends, is that God will bless you BIG in 2018! 🙂

Thanks for following me here, and for all your support!!*photo credits.. Danelle’s Photography

Puppies, Christmas cookies, and musings

Hello once again! I have not blogged in awhile, but today I decided to share another post with you all 🙂

We’ve had a puppy explosion over here, and it’s fun watching them grow. And a little stressful 🙂 They are ready to go to new homes, and I find myself torn between happiness about that, and also feeling a little sad. These are the  mini labradoodles, and they get played with the most, because they have taken up residence in the garage 🙂 I will miss my welcome committee every time I come home 😉

There are 5 in the litter, but “George” is my favorite!There is lots of chaos here 🙂We also have a litter of mini golden doodles. They are so sweet and cuddly.

This is “Rosie”This one is “Oreo”And this is “Joe”We have more, but this post might get too long 🙂 It will be nice for the children to be home from school this week to help more with them.

We had cookie exchange here with my mom and sisters, and made some candy. It was a full day, but went too fast 🙂These oreo truffles are a favorite here!

Then we had the “helpers”And the snitchers 🙂His face when we slide the goodies out of reach 😉Cousins..So many yummy treats! The chocolate are a favorite at our house!! Here is the recipe!

Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies

• 1 3/4 flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 24 large marshmallows, halved

Glaze..

• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
• 3 tblsp. hot, strong coffee
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Combine flour, soda, salt,& cocoa. Cream shortening and sugar, beat in egg. Add flour alternately with milk, beating well. Add vanilla. Drop by teaspoonful onto greased cookie sheets. Bake 350* for 8 min. Top each cookie with a marshmallow half, pressing gently onto partially baked cookie. Bake 2 min. more. Cool and Glaze. Yields 4 doz. cookies.

And the taste testers 🙂I think it’s safe to say they were quite tasty 🙂It is nice to have a big selection to hand out cookie plates! So glad we do this every year!

Now for the musings part 🙂

My children came home from school the last day before Christmas  vacation, with reports of all the school festivities, and who all was going to Florida over vacation. I could see the jealousy in their eyes, and I admit I joined them in their jealousy for a bit 🙂 Somewhere warm and sunny sounded quite divine, and we have never gone on any big family vacation. My mind went to how hard we work at farming, the low milk prices the past while, and how it seemed unfair that we can’t do more “fun” things 🙂

But my mind didn’t stay there long, as I thought of ALL my blessings!! Good health, my family, plenty of food, a home, a farm that we are working on buying, my home business, and so many more things that I can take for granted!! Life shouldn’t be all comfort and ease, should it? Because worthwhile things take hard work, and faith, and patience. Ahh, that last one is something I lack 😉

I admit to being extra stressed in December, allowing the STUFF to get the best of me at times. I think it was last Saturday night, after another round of cookies were being finished, and I was cleaning up yet another mess, the children heard me say, ” Well heaven is looking sweeter all the time!” 🙂 As it should be, right?

It is far too often I allow the daily things to weigh me down, and let that spirit of discontent in.

Friends, I challenge you to count your blessings this Christmas season! And share a bit of that Christmas joy with others!! Blessings, Jo