Just Like Mama Used to Make

What's for dinner? Stuffed Peppers, Just Like Mama Used to Make

This cookbook was a fixture in my kitchen as a child. My Mom is a great cook, but I seem to remember a lot of Campbell's Soup in things growing up. I found this cookbook at the Ashville Library during their annual book sale a few years back. I was so tickled to find this, but WHY would anyone let this book go when it is so full of quality recipes?? I have looked on their official website for this recipe, and it is just not the same. The updated recipe uses a microwave.

So, here is the much loved recipe. I got a kick out of a few things in this recipe. "Add shortening if necessary", because there just isn't enough fat in ground beef to begin with... AND applying processed cheese to the tops of the peppers. I can assure you, my Mom used REAL cheese! I had to increase the recipe by a few, we need more than four peppers for our family, and Aaron likes left-overs for his lunches.

Family Size- That's us!

These looked so pretty before they went into the oven.

And so good when they came out! They were a huge hit! The kids loved this new dish, and Aaron and I had a great time nibbling our way down memory lane.

I wonder if my children will ever get a hankering for these.. and will they say, "Just like Mama used to make."?

Felt I had to share this with y'all..

I was in the midst of having a pity party..

cleaning closets + frustration= not good!

So, I heard the ping of an email, and prayed, "Dear God, Please, let this be something to take away these thoughts." It was about time for a devotion I had signed up for to arrive, but it wasn't... It was junk. Well, I kept on flinging things, being ugly and moved onto my dresser drawer where I found a message my grandmother had taped in the dresser when she gave it to my husband and I sixteen years ago.

I said a prayer for you today

And know God must have heard-

I felt the answer in my heart

Although He spoke no word!

I didn't ask for wealth or fame

(I knew you wouldn't mind)-

I asked Him to send treasures

Of a far more lasting kind!

I asked that He'd be near you

At the start of each new day

To grant you health and blessings

And friends to share your way!

I asked for happiness for you

In all things great and small-

But it was for His loving care

I prayed the most of all!

Thanks, Gram! She has been gone a few years now, but still is keeping me on the right path. I don't know where she found this, but the thought that she had surprised us and taped it there still makes me smile. I forget it is there, and seeing it always makes me remember her. This time it brought great big tears to my eyes and lifted a dark ugly cloud and gave me perspective on things that really matter.

This reminded me of the "God Sightings" we did at VBS this summer, and the little rubber bracelets that read, "Look out for God" or something... Just another little reminder, that He is everywhere, and hears my prayers, regardless of how ugly I may be acting or feeling at the time!

THANK YOU GOD!

I'm really good at thanking God for the beauty, still working on thanking Him for the chaos...

This Little Light of Mine

Yesterday, I was having a conversation with some friends about sharing our faith. I confessed that I didn't feel adequate enough to evangelize. I don't feel like I have enough "Bible Smarts" (I have never been able to memorize verses..). I might offend someone... I don't have all the answers.... One friend told me all I had to do was be myself, to show others Gods love through how I act, how I love my family and sharing God's love for me. Sounds reasonable, I can do that. But, I am a results oriented person and how am I ever going to know if I am doing it "right"?

Don't be afraid, for I am with you.

Don't be discouraged, for I am Your God.
I will strengthen you, and help you.
I will hold you up, with my victorious right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10)

This was the verse in the devotional I read when I got home.

It hit me hard. WOW! I had to write this down! SO, I got out my 3x5 card and wrote it down. Hey, maybe I could even memorize this one! Something about it was still itching at me, so I wrote it down on the white board our family uses as a message center. There, now I could share it with the kids. The day progressed, dinner, bedtime. Still, this verse needed my attention. SO, I posted it on Facebook. aaaaah.... Peace at last. I didn't worry about offending people or what others would think. I just did it!

When I woke up the next morning, I found out the purpose for my need to share it.

A friend of the family is going through a huge health crisis. She doesn't know they Lord. And it is paining my family, and they struggle to help her find him. It turns out, this verse was exactly what my family needed at this hour.

Our God is truly amazing!

This moment helped me so much. I have learned all I have to be is KIMBERLY!! God made me for a specific purpose, and I just have to have faith and carry on! Well, that and listen when he has a job for me to do... I just have to be ME and trust that he will take care of the rest!

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Everyday Adventures

SO, today I was doing a little internet "research". Checking out the other Mommy blogs to see what they were doing to get through these long winter days without losing their minds. Which reminded me that I had a blog..

But, the name of my blog is "Anderson Adventures". We haven't been adventuring in a long time... Life just seems so full. Keep the house and kids clean, cook meals, pay the bills, pray for deployed husband, try to squeeze in a run, do laundry, volunteer and on and on and on.... Who has the time or energy to adventure.

But, the reality is this. When you are an Army wife whose husband is deployed and a mother of three, everyday is an adventure. Maybe not the kind of adventures that you fill scrapbooks with, but an adventure none the less. Some of the challenges of motherhood beat out anything "The Amazing Race" could throw at you!

We are all doing our best not just to survive this year, but to THRIVE!

The kids are learning to do things they may not have learned to do at this season of life if their Papa was here. If Papa was here, he would clear the table and do the dishes. But now, my little helpers pitch in and do what they can. Even little Owen is learning to be a master of the dustpan. Katie is folding laundry and August loves shoveling snow. Without Papa here, August has learned to get a head start on his bedtime story while waiting for me to finish with Owen. Not only has he become a stronger reader, but has improved his retelling of stories by having to fill me in.

So, I guess these last 100 days have been an adventure. Some filled with laughs, others with tears- but we are sharing them TOGETHER. And that is the whole point isn't it?

Labor Day 2010 In Garmish

There is no more relaxing place in the world for us than Garmish-Partnachkirchen, Germany. Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, it is heaven on Earth!

Our trip here this time was a total last minute idea. How we managed to forget it was going to be a long weekend, I have no idea. But, we booked the hotel the night before. I had to do a bit more digging to find an available room this time, but I think we got extremely lucky! We stayed at the Familotel Leiner in Partnachkichen. It was listed as a family hotel, and I could not agree more. Now, it wasn't what you may think of as a family hotel. It wasn't like staying in a PreSchool! It was still quiet and peaceful. We got lucky (again!) and were given the best room in the hotel! (YES!) It was really an apartment, with a kitchen, living room and three bedrooms.

We spent three days relaxing, walking through the woods and eating incredible food! We cannot wait to go back!!

First Day of School 2010-2011

A Second Grader, and a Fourth Grader..... How did that happen?? Seems like they are growing up faster and faster...

They were both super excited for their first day of school in Wiesbaden. They had packed their bags and prepared all their clothes yesterday. I think Katie may have repacked hers three times... She was a little excited! They were very good about going to bed last night, and woke up very pleasantly this morning. But, they usually do on pancake mornings.

We woke up to a very soggy day. It rained all evening and was still raining and gusting when we walked out the door this morning. It was so cold, the heat came on!! The unpleasant weather didn't make very good first day of school pictures, and a yucky walk up the hill!

The reception at the school was super nice! The principals and staff were all there to greet us at the door and give us directions to our classrooms. The support staff lined the halls all they way up and down the hallways, decked out in their spirit shirts! What a fantastic way to make the best of a situation!!

We found August's classroom first. He has Ms Williams this year. She seems so very nice and organized, her classroom was very well prepared and seemed to be very spacious. He only has 18 classmates this year! Love that!! We think August will make lots of friends this year, a little boy was very nice and said "August, you sit right here!" aaawww!!

Next, we found Katie's class. She is at the very end of a very long hall way,,, seemed like we would never find it!! She has Ms. Ramsey this year, and has 24 classmates. Ms. Ramsey has a great smile and greeted each child with a friendly handshake. I think Katie was a little intimidated by the classroom. She came back out, because she didn't know where to sit. Judging by the stacks of huge books on each desk, she probably didn't WANT to sit at any of them!!

So, now it is just Owen and I at home for now.... And I didn't even get weepy this year! (well, I almost did... Only when I discovered they check IDs at the school gate!! Thankfully, the guard let me in. I won't make that mistake again!!)

Back In Germany

Forgive me blogoshere, for it has been nine months since my last post.....

WOW!! How did that Happen!?!? It wasn't that the last year was uneventful... DC was just a culture shock for us. BUT, God is good and returned us to Germany. Apparently, we have unfinished business here. I am eagerly awaiting the "Midnight Editor" to tap me on the shoulder and let me know what my mission is going to be here.

We are really looking forward to life in Wiesbaden. The city is gorgeous! Just in our few walks downtown we are already in LOVE. (Unfortunately, I forgot my camera a few times! oops!) We find ourselves staring out the windows in complete peace. We can feel the pace of our lives slowing and the joy returning to our lives. The children are loving all the greenspaces and playgrounds. Aaron has been finding great pleasure in discovering new running routes. (which I promise to test out SOON!)