Halloween Costumes

If you have a household full of kids you know that life may need to be a bit different for them than households with just one or two. Some kids get brand new Halloween costumes every year from the store with all the accessories to match. And that might be a good idea for the first few years. But my kids know they aren't getting new costumes and enjoy figuring out how to put together or make one for themselves. It makes the season so much more fun....and so much less expensive!

Easy Enchiladas!

This enchilada recipe starts with a sauce made with the large size can (26 oz) of Cream of Chicken Soup and about 1/4 cup of tomatillo salsa. Mix together and spoon half into bottom of casserole dish. Save the other half for topping. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown 1 lb of ground turkey or beef with 1 tbl minced garlic and 1 tbl Taco Seasoning. Add cilantro and green onions to your liking. Spoon mixture into flour tortillas, add jack cheese and roll. Place rolled enchiladas side by side in pan. Spoon the remaining soup/salsa mixture over the entire dish and cover with cheese. Bake until cheese is bubbly. Yields approx 8-10 servings.

Daily Affirmations

Children (and adults) will meditate on what is said to them most. So it's our job to make sure they're meditating on something Godly and meaningful. Having a list of daily affirmations and reading them each day to each child helps to give them positive messages to cling to. Our having a scripture of the week that we all have running through our minds will keep us more centered. This is a tip I need to work on too, but that's the best we can do, right?

Grief Share

It's important to remain aware of your children's grief process. Losing a sibling or a parent will most likely be a lifelong process of grief as each person is tossed about in a personal trial. Keeping their focus on a loving and caring God is key. They need to have the hope of eternal life and can use their tests to create their testimonies. Giving the death of a loved one some sort of purpose in this world will help them to keep their eyes on Jesus and His promises for us. Evil is a very real entity and we aren't supposed to be removed from our loved ones. But God can create goodness and light from the darkest circumstance, if we allow Him to do so.

Family Fun Nights

Just about every Friday we have Family Fun Night. We order pizza and a movie, make popcorn, or have a family dance party complete with decorations, or a game night where we play board games/wii. It doesn't really matter what we do as long as we spend time together! Hopefully, this will become a tradition that our children will do with their children. Maybe they'll even let grandparents come. :-)

Mexican Lasagna

Want an EASY but yummy recipe? Try this one. It's inexpensive, easy and serves 12-15! Take large casserole pan and layer the following: Sauce (canned tomato sauce, taco seasoning); corn tortillas, meat (browned ground beef and chorizo with minced garlic), cheese (Jack's my choice). You can also add corn, black beans, and green onions if you wish! Once you've made enough layers to fill up your pan top with cheese and back at 375 degrees until bubbly (usually about 20 min).

Easy Quiche- 8 servings!

Take a pre-made piecrust and bake in a pie pan until golden brown. While it's baking, brown a small tube of sausage in a pan, mix together 6 eggs and about 1 1/2 cups of milk. Stir in sausage and 1/2 cup sharp cheddar. Pour over crust and bake at 350 degrees until firm and nicely browned on top. Let stand 10 minutes before serving and top with sour cream and green onions if you wish. I like to serve it with a side of fruit. This breakfast costs less than $3 and serves 8!