Order from Chaos

I  have been trying to create some order here in our home after the chaos that results after Christmas.  We still have lots of sweets in the freezer, but they can be taken out for treats throughout the next month.  All the Christmas trimmings and baubles have been gone through and put away for next year or to put into a yard sale.  The kitchen and dining room have been put back in order (except for my baking cabinet in the kitchen which will be cleaned today).  The den and schoolroom will get a facelift today and hopefully the bedrooms will have a turn tomorrow.  New books, games and puzzles need to find a home.   Laundry is always going here as I am sure it is in all large families.  It never gets caught up!

We made a Sam's run on Monday and bought up lots of salad items and fresh fruits to combat all the rich and fattening foods that have been consumed lately.  I have been losing some weight these last few months (I think due to my gall bladder surgery) but need to lose some more and Jeff could stand to lose a little as well.  We are gearing up for a year of change here in regards to diet and exercise.  We woke up one day and found ourselves overweight, out-of-shape and middle aged!  How did we get here??

We are also looking forward to sitting down and making out some plans for our family for this next year.  There will be a lot of traveling for Jeff and the older boys with The Homeschool Channel and we need to determine what trips the rest of us will try to make.  I have always loved attending homeschool conferences whether as an attendee or a KONOS rep, so Jeff's work with THC is right up my alley!  However, trying to school and then travel with the whole gang every other week?!  The travel is not really the stressor for me, it's the preparation and the return that involves so much work.    But meeting new people and developing relationships with them and deeper relationships with the family may be worth it in the end.  If you would, please pray for us as we start this new year.  We are wanting/needing to make some changes in our "school" that will be significant.  We desperately need to find a terrific buy on a 15 passenger van (so we can travel together in one vehicle) and we need to make some improvements to our home and property.  All will take discipline to set aside money and patience as we go through the processes.  We are also trying to discern God's will in finding a place to serve Him in a church setting.  Jeff misses being "in the ministry" in many ways and we really want to find a place for our children to learn to lead and serve others in worship and ministry.  The last three years have been very different for our family as Jeff had always been leading worship in our churches before this time.  He feels he is learning a lot right now, though.  However, we are all longing to find a home and fellowship.

As I type here Jackson stands beside me making a crown.  Cutting paper, using glue and glitter.... more chaos (not really, just a little messy), but he is so intent on his creation.   One thing we are striving to do is to encourage our children to be producers whether it be in the kitchen, with a camera, with a musical instrument,  with the written word, in a garden or in taking care of the home and property.  Always thinking and creating and blessing others with their creations and service.  It's quite fun hearing him explain to me each step that he is taking in making this crown.  I should have written it all down as narration!

I will continue to take comments for The Homestead Blessings DVD giveaway until tomorrow night (New Year's Eve) at midnight.  I will draw and announce the winner sometime on New Year's Day, so stay tuned!!

Homestead Blessings Giveaway!!

I am celebrating my 200th blog post with a very nice giveaway!!  Franklin Springs Family Media has produced a whole passel of great videos that my family has greatly enjoyed.  The Homestead Blessing Series has been great to encourage our family to create more items on our own and to get out and work harder on a garden this year.  The entire series consists of bread making, candle making, soap making, gardening, canning and herbs.  There has been one recently released on cooking and another will be released soon.

Jeff has become friends with Ken Carpenter, creator of Franklin Springs, and Ken recently gifted us with the entire Homestead Blessings Series.  Well, we already had the first 3 DVD's, so I am offering our second set to my blog readers.  These cover bread making, candle making and soap making.  The West Ladies host these videos and are so helpful and down-home.

From the soap making DVD cover:  "With warmth, hospitality, and southern charm, the West ladies offer great insight, encouragement, and a joyful picture of family unity.  This unique and creative DVD is sure to provide fun skills that will inspire families to work together, learn together, and enjoy the art of soap making."

These DVD's were part of a set and are not shrink-wrapped, but they have never been opened or viewed.  Leave me a comment and let me know what new life or creative skills you will be working on in your family this year and your name will be included in a drawing to receive all three DVD's.    They truly are a blessing!

Christmas Eve and Cinnamon Roll Recipe

I am having trouble with this post.  Sorry for the empty spaces!

This will be the last year we use this tree.  I am ready for a change!

I tried to take some "under-the-tree" pictures with the three little boys, but they wouldn't cooperate! Grandson Elisha, my Caedmon, Grandson Chase

My oldest daughter, Lauren, with her boys, Elisha and Chase.

Her hubby is a state trooper and had to work!

Needs no explanation!

My baby's curls.  So cute and they are really pretty after his bath.  He may be the first long-haired boy in our family!

My and some of my favorite men.

Chase looks angelic, doesn't he?  Looks are deceiving!!  He is precious, though!

Marshmellow Baby (Elisha)

He messed up his clothes and was wearing Caedmon's.  It's ok, though, all three of the little ones wear the same size!

Me and the best five-year-old in the world!

Caedmon is ready to tackle some paper work! (wrapping paper)

Elisha with Uncle Jack.

Kaelan opening a box full of Boxcar Children books from Lauren.  One of her favorite gifts!

My two oldest daughters, Lauren and Devin.  So thankful for these beautiful girls!

One last look at the tree before bed.  Can you see his curls?

Cinnamon Rolls

I had a couple of requests for my cinnamon roll recipe.  I use a recipe for pizza crust intended to be made in the Vita Mix, but I make it in my Bosch Universal Mixer.  (Love my Bosch!!)  The recipe can be multiplied.  I NEVER make a single recipe!

1 cup lukewarm water

1 package active dry yeast (1 tbs)

2 tsp. sugar (I use honey)

1 tbs oil

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour (I use all-purpose and whole wheat)

Mix water, yeast, and sugar until foamy.  Add oil, salt and flour, Mix and knead until it isn't sticky.  Turn out onto floured countertop and let rise for about 45 minutes.  Punch down and roll out into a rectangle about  1/4 inch thick.  Pour melted butter over dough and spread from end to end.  Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon and then spread with brown sugar.  Roll up carefully and then slice with a knife.  Place in a greased pan and let rise about 45 minutes.  Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.  We top with a cream cheese icing made with softened cream cheese and powdered sugar.  This is what we typically have for Sunday mornings.  We are so spoiled!!

A Makeover and Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls were lined up cooling for the freezer last night.  We will have cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning and at my mom's on Sunday morning.  The smaller pans will be given as gifts.  I partially bake my cinnamon rolls then freeze.  I will mix up icing in quart size bags and tape to the top of the package to give.  An easy and yummy treat!!

Last night I was trying to clean my blog up a bit and accidently took out the background which made it necessary to add a new background.  I had the other background since just after last Christmas so I guess a change is okay.    It's a little lighter than I would like, but I am going to give myself time to get used to it!

Today is a wet,  gray day.  I have the laundry to do, as usual, a couple of cookie recipes to make, a few pies to bake, several loaves of bread to bake and two kinds of jelly to make.  I also hope to sit down and play a game or two with some of the children and read to the little ones.

I'll soon be posting my 200th post and will be having a great give-away.  Stay tuned!!  Time to get the show on the road!!

What Happened?

In my last post, almost a month ago (!) I told you that my all night viewing on hulu while Caedmon was sick and needing to sleep upright ate up the bandwidth on my internet.  That prevented me from posting all this time and we have been busy with Christmas preparations anyway!    Well, we were sick back on Nov. 28 and we are still sick today!  Caedmon and I will be heading to the doc this afternoon and I think I will insist on an antibiotic this time for both of us.  Caedmon has never had an antibiotic and it's been a long while since I have had one, so I think it will be okay!  We have much to do this week and a little traveling as well, so I would prefer to have everyone as well as possible.

Some of us still have a little shopping to do, we have some baking and jelly-making to do, some games to play and books to read!  Kaelan hosted a small group of girls to make Christmas ornaments out of dominoes (thanks to raising olives for that idea!)  They turned out cute and Kaelan made enough to give to my extended domino playing family as well.

Mid-Christmas season the clutter that is in my home began to bother me greatly, so I started a great de-cluttering session.  I will continue to declutter as we get into the attic next week to go through boxes and eliminate unneeded items.  I am ready to organize for next semester and get things in good order for a great year.  I know we will have lots of traveling and times of meeting new people, so every bit of organizing and planning I do know will help to keep things going strong during the more stressful days ahead.

So much for my rambling!  Baby Caedmon (he's walking everywhere now, so not so much the baby anymore) is trying to climb into my lap.  He needs some mommy time!

Did You?

Go shopping yesterday, that is?  I had grand plans for awaking early and hitting a few of the early bird sales, but I was up literally all night, holding Caedmon in an upright position so that HE could sleep.  Stuffy nose was keeping him awake.  I did discover that I could watch HGTV on hulu.com and that made staying awake not quite so difficult.

The girls and I did manage to squeeze in a few hours of shopping yesterday afternoon.  Not really Christmas shopping, but buying up clothes bargains for the family.  I generally only shop a couple of times a year and this is one of those times.  The girls both got new boots (70 dollars originally, sale for 19.99, and extra 15% off of my entire purchase and then another 10% off as well....you can't beat that!!)  I did buy a new sweater for myself, a jacket and a new pair of jeans.  I have lost a little weight and all my pants are getting too big.. the baggy bottom is not a look that I am after!    All three items were each less than 15 dollars and some closer to 10!  I don't buy anything that is not on a GREAT sale!!

Most of my Christmas shopping these days in done online.  I was able to get some early bird prices from Penney's from the online store for some much needed shirts and fleeces (not Christmas presents) for some of the children.  And FREE shipping as well.  My school and book orders are almost complete and one order has come in.  My Vision Forum order should arrive soon along with my Timberdoodle order.  I love both of these companies!!  I still need to place my Christianbook order and that will finish up my school and great books purchasing for this year.  If you need any school items or books for next semester, please consider shopping through my blog.  In the right side bar you will see links to Vision Forum and to Christianbook and right now VF has a sale on that will end tonight.  Check it out!!

Today ALL the children are coughing, wheezing, hacking messes with some sporting sore throats as well.  There is tons of laundry to do, a turkey carcass to make broth and soup from, Thanksgiving decorations to put away and Christmas boxes to empty.  Jeff and the boys managed to get all the boxes down from the attic yesterday and they are all stacked in the dining room.  Jackson has already been investigating.  He is quite eager to get the Christmas tree up!  Tomorrow is the first day of advent and I like to have everything in place before then.  Jeff and Devin are headed to Memphis to get a quick adjustment to Devin's violin, so there is just me and some sick children to get everything done.  I know it will not all happen, especially if I sit here at the computer all day!!

Praying that you all took the time to reflect on the blessings and benefits that God granted you this past year and that you now look forward to the Advent season---anticipating the coming of the Messiah!!  May the Lord grant you all peace this day.

It's That Time Again!!

Traditions--Chamblee Style!

I had really intended to post this a few weeks ago, but got caught up in life and so, there's nothing like last minute!!  Most of our family traditions center around the holidays.  I have already posted about some of our food traditions, but we have several other traditions around here that I hope bring special memories to my children as they grow and leave home.  I not only hope that they have great memories, but they understand the reasons behind our traditions.

In the Chamblee home we bring out our Thanksgiving decorations and serving pieces in mid-September.  We spend one or two days putting the every day items away and placing our cornucopia, platters, pitchers, wreaths, Pilgrims and various foliage throughout our kitchen and living areas.  We have had this tradition ever since moving into this house over 11 years ago and we all look forward to it.  Last year,  as Caedmon was due in early October, I begged out of decorating for fall.  Everyone complained that it just didn't seem like Thanksgiving without all of our decorations.  Hoping that they realize the decorations don't make for a thankful heart, we decorated joyfully this year.

Not only do we decorate for fall, but we spend time studying the Pilgrims and do a devotional series from Family Life called The Thanksliving Box.  We listen to praise music that reflects a thanksgiving theme.  Every year Jeff reads Margaret Pumphries' Pilgrim Stories to the children.

Most years we have one or two bonfires.  We drink gallons of hot tea and hot chocolate when the weather cools.  We drink coffee with all the flavored creamers that are available now.  We make leaf and acorn shaped cookies and begin filling the freezers with hearty casseroles and soups.  I pull out our fall table cloths and placemats and we enjoy a little more formal table setting.  For our Thanksgiving meal, we will use our "fancy" dishes.   These are not my treasured China dishes that my granny gave me when I was seven years old, but some white dishes with golden trim that were purchased from a dollar store.  They look fancy and nice, but I will not worry about them being broken.  After Thanksgiving we will use them for most of our evening meals until after we put away our Christmas decorations.   Most Thanksgiving Days are spent here at our home with Jeff's parents and my mom joining us.  We don't watch the parade or any football, but eat and enjoy some outdoor time and fellowship.  Last year we even took the pictures found in my sidebar and tomorrow we plan on taking more.  Maybe I can switch the pictures out and you can see how my children have grown this past year!

The day after Thanksgiving may find the girls and I doing a little shopping, but we will definitely begin to transition our decorations from Thanksgiving to Christmas on Friday with the hanging of the Christmas ornaments on the tree coming Sunday afternoon after church.

My mother started the tradition of giving our oldest daughter a Christmas ornament (or  set) each year and she has carried that through with all of the grands.  (I am so very sure she never thought that we would have 7 children and there would be 5 other grands as well!).  We also purchase ornaments for each of the children and now, our own grandchildren.  The ornaments typically reflect each child's interests that year or reflect a family trip or vacation.  This year I purchased the ornaments in Gatlinburg and most of them have a mountain theme.

When recently asking our children what they like most about Christmas some of them responded, "Advent!"  About 15 years ago we were vacationing in the Ozarks (in the fall---we love mountains in the fall!) and came across a little store/bakery that was associated with John Micheal Talbot's (a singer) monastery.  There we found a beautiful hand-carved Advent wreath and decided then and there to establish a new tradition.  So each year we spend most nights around the Advent wreath singing and reading scripture that looks toward the coming of Christ.  Each week a new candle is lit until the final candle is lit on Christmas Eve.  It is a very special time for our family and helps to keep the focus on Christ at Christmas.   The Advent season begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so you have time to set up this tradition for yourselves if  you haven't done so.

Another tradition we started about 10 years ago was the Jesse Tree.  We have a small table top Christmas tree that is covered in white lights.  Each night during our devotions around the Advent wreath we also put an ornament on our Jesse Tree that reflects the prophecy from the Bible that we are reading that night.  I printed the ornaments that I found on the internet on cardstock, colored with colored pencils, cut them out and mounted on red or green cardstock and hang them with sparkling gold thread.   We also have some Nativity ornaments that we hang on this small tree.

Spending so much time focused on the true meaning of Christmas helps us to keep our thoughts from being quite so self-centered and more Christ-centered.  Santa doesn't come to our house, but we do get three or four gifts for each of the children.  The children also draw names for each other.  Christmas Eve the children open the gifts from each other and the gifts from us.  Christmas morning they have some small gifts that we put in a stocking, but each child from the very youngest knows that mom and dad put them there.  Our gifts are not big.  We are not into electronic gadgets or commercialized toys.  They are usually tools needed for a hobby or craft, items to put in a hope chest for our older girls, books, fun school supplies or outdoor play items such as bikes, basketball goals or roller blades (and these come very rarely--how many basketball goals do you need, anyway!)   This year the children have mainly requested books.  It seems they have read everything that appeals to them on our heavy-laden bookshelves.  Books are one item that I will happily invest in!!

Our Christmas Eve dinner has become a puzzle, but it seems our tradition has become to have take-out Chinese!!  I think that has come from the years that Jeff was in full-time church ministry and having candlelight services on Christmas Eve.   We generally have homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning and have a meal much like our Thanksgiving dinner on Christmas Day.

Speaking of Thanksgiving dinner, I have some more prep work to do and a house to clean as well.  I have some coughing, feverish children to take care of as well, so I am very thankful that we did not plan on traveling tomorrow.    Praying that you and yours will have a very special Thanksgiving and that you will make some special memories with your family.

Linking up at Learning to Live a Surrendered Life.  Check out the link for more Thanksgiving ideas!

More Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes

When we were poor college students and Jeff was minister of music and youth at our first church a dear friend made this pie several times and shared the recipe with me when we left for seminary in Texas.  It has become a favorite and is much requested by my chocolate-loving children.  (Thanks for sharing ALL those many years ago, Debby P.!)  Jeff even won a men's baking contest with this pie at one of our churches.

Chocolate Chess Pie


4 whole eggs
3 cups sugar
one stick melted butter
4 T cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
12 oz can evaporated milk

Mix all in the blender and pour into 2 unbaked pie shells.  Place a cookie sheet on the lower rack of your oven to catch any drips.  Place the pies on the middle rack (or mid-oven) and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until set.  Remove and let cool.  These pies freeze well.



My mother-in-law introduced me to this recipe many years ago and it has become a must for me at all turkey and dressing meals.  I do omit the pecans as we have allergy issues with nuts!  This exact recipe is also from a former church member.  Church folks sure know how to cook!!

Cranberry Casserole

1 c. peeled raw apples, chopped
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 c. uncooked oatmeal
2 c. fresh or thawed from frozen cranberries
1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Butter a loaf-shaped glass dish. Put a layer of apples, half of each sugar, half of oatmeal, and half of nuts.  Repeat layers.  (Oatmeal is next to top layer and nuts the very last top layer.)  Pour melted butter over all and bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Serves 8-10 people.
I use a little less sugar and you can par-bake this and freeze so make your Thanksgiving morning a little less stressful!

I cannot remember a time that we have not had this pie at any holiday meal.  My mom made this pie when I was growing up and I gladly carry on the tradition.  It is simple and oh, so delicious.


Blueberry Cream Cheese Pies

2 baked pie shells
2 blocks of softened cream cheese
powdered sugar
1 can blueberry pie filling
chopped pecans
whipped topping

Mix some powdered sugar into the cream cheese until it is sweet enough to your taste.  Yes, you get to taste it!!  When satisfied, spread the cream cheese mixture into both pie shells.  You may then put on a layer of chopped pecans, if desired.  I do not unless my mom is coming!  Pour the blueberry pie filling over the nuts, dividing evenly.  Top all with whipped topping  and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Simple and so yummy!!  It is even great for breakfast the next day if you can eat it without your children seeing you eat pie for breakfast.  I can't wait!!


Sweet and Sour Green Beans


This is another recipe that I grew up with and it is so good!!  This recipe can be multiplied and you probably will need to if you are having a crowd or have a big family like me.

2 14.5 cans of cut green beans
8 bacon strips
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vinegar

Fry the bacon in a skillet (iron works better).  Remove bacon, but leave grease.  Let cool slightly and add sugar and vinegar.  Stir until sugar melts.  Add DRAINED beans.  Cook until the beans are slightly shriveled.  Crumble bacon on top (if there is any left at this point!  My kids always sneak bites off it while my back is turned!!)  This is not a recipe for every day, but it is so good.  Perfect for a holiday meal!

Last night we had a simple turkey casserole that I pulled from the freezer.  Most of the children really liked it and Kaelan insisted that she MUST have the recipe for when she gets married.  I will share it with you now so that you can use it for your turkey leftovers.  As you can tell a lot of my recipes are not exact.  This is one of those.

Jalapeno Turkey Noodle Casserole

You will need 2-4 cups of chopped turkey or chicken.  Prepare 6 or so cups of macaroni.  Drain.  Mix turkey and noodles with 1-2 cans of cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup.  Add some chopped jalapeno peppers, salt and black pepper to taste.  Pour into greased casserole dishes.  Top with grated cheese and a layer of buttered Ritz crackers.  Cover and freeze or bake at 350 until bubbly.  Instead of adding cheese to the top you can mix it in with the noodles and meat mixture.  Simple and easy!!


Now, I am off to get busy with the laundry and then to the kitchen where the girls and I will get some more of our cooking done and in the freezer.  I am so very thankful for my helpers.  

Are you hosting a Thanksgiving meal in your home?  Do you go all out with table settings and decorations?  If you are posting about your Thanksgiving traditions leave a comment to let us know what you are doing!

What's Cooking?

Well, the shopping is done and I have begun cooking for our family Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.  We generally cook the same dishes every year with one or two different dishes added as an experiment.  This year we will have the usual turkey, dressing, ham, sweet potatoes, squash casserole, sweet and sour green beans, mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, homemade rolls, blueberry/cream cheese pies, chocolate chess pies and an apple/cranberry casserole that goes great with the dressing.  I cook WAY too much food, but we love the leftovers and the turkey carcass will be used to make soup and broth.  The ham bone will be added to season some dried beans and all will be delicious.

Today I made our dressing.  I like to make it early and freeze it so that there is a little less work for me on Thanksgiving morning.  I make a cornbread dressing that is delicious!  I save scraps of cornbread, biscuits or homemade breads in the freezer and use them in my dressing.  Today, however, there were no bread scraps, so I made two large pans of corn bread.  I had turkey broth in the freezer and added in a quart of chick broth to it.  I grate a little carrot, a whole onion and one or two stalks of celery in my blender and cook it in the broth.  My kids don't like to see any vegetables in the dressing!!

When the veggies are done I break up the corn bread in a huge dishpan and pour the veggie/broth mixture over it.   I mix that up well adding in two cans of cream of chicken soup, three eggs, salt and pepper and a little more broth or water to make it a little soupy.  I then pour the dressing into my greased casserole dish, cover and freeze.  I always make enough for two pans of dressing as there are generally pot luck dinners to attend and I like just pulling it out to thaw and baking it for a great meal.

Tomorrow I hope to make the squash  and apple/cranberry casseroles.  The chocolate chess pies can also be made ahead of time and frozen.  I will post more recipes tomorrow.

So, what are you having for Thanksgiving dinner?  Will it be the traditional turkey and dressing or do you do a non-traditional meal?  Do you have a new recipe that you would like to share?  I would love to try out some new ones.  Please post!

Cade's Cove--My Gatlinburg Finale

No words needed, but can I just say--- I want to move to Cade's Cove when I grow up!!  Gorgeous!!

The Forge

One day while on our vacation in Gatlinburg we took the Arts and Crafts Trail.  I had seen in the brochure that there were several stops where the artists were actually on-site and demonstrating their art or craft.  On of those stops was The Forge and I thought it would make an interesting stop.

This stop far exceeded my expectations!!  The Forge makes and sells recycled aluminum decorative plates and Christmas ornaments.  After seeing the ornaments I wished I hadn't already purchased ornaments for all the children at another stop.  They were really nice!  The artist (I don't recall his name) talked with us and told us that he had been featured in Southern Living a few years ago.  He was very friendly and joked around with us while we were looking at ornaments and plates.

My mom picked out a plate for my youngest sister and was choosing one for herself when the artist asked, "Wouldn't it be more special to you if the grandchildren made it for you?"  Of course, we were all excited for this opportunity and he took us back to his workroom.  Now, when we get creative here at home, we generally can make a real mess, but the mess at The Forge was well....really messy!

 Here we are going into the back room.  Lots of junk to walk through!

Kaelan is preparing to start the process at the automated hammer.  The artist has a template made with a raised design.  He places a square of recycled aluminum on this template and the automated hammer does it's thing.....with some help.

Kaelan directs the hammer blows under the supervision of the artist.

This process was EXTREMELY loud!

Now Aaron takes a turn.

Now Kaelan and the artist cut the hammered design out into a circle.

After the artist files the edges of the plate and wipes it down with chemicals to darken it,  we all walk out to the anvil where the children take turns pounding the edges.

The artist was very trusting of the children.  Throughout the entire process his fingers were in close proximity to hammers and cutters that the children were operating!

Kaelan's turn.

Jackson takes a turn.

That was fun!!  You can see the smaller ornaments just over Jackson's shoulder.

The finished plate!  Isn't it beautiful?  I think mom put it on her mantle.

If you go to Gatlinburg take the drive out to The Arts and Crafts Trail.  It's not as nice and neat as downtown Gatlinburg, but you will see real craftsmen and artists at work.  It is definitely time well-spent!