thanksgiving thursday 144-151

144. the public library and its free dvd rentals!
145. recipes found on the internet that work and are completely delish!
146. lots of dirt in the backyard for the kids to play in
147. an overcast day for the kids to enjoy the outdoors without sun
148. fresh ideas with cotton yarn

149. vaccines that are over until my wee ones are 11.

150. anticipating my bff and her family's visit

151. spring cleaning and finding more items to put in our garage sale

what are you thankful for today??

Pinned and Succeeded-Kumquat jam

I'm stealing my friend's title for her pinterest post for mine. Right now our Trader Joes has some BEAUTIFUL 12 oz packages of Kumquats. I buy them and snack on them, but cannot eat the whole package before they start getting old. Soo, I found this pin

Source: foodinjars.com via toastycrow on Pinterest

and followed the recipe. It's delicious. Mr T tried it and immediately had a smile on his face...a memory of Kumquat jam and black tea with the Russian side of his family.

It is definitely labor intensive..it took me about an hour and a half to prep the 12 oz. The recipe is for 16 oz but, I was DONE when I finished the first carton of kumquat prepping. I cut the water to 12 oz and the sugar to 6oz.

Here's Mine!!

Slaw made lovely in the lovely Salad bowl

Look good??

You should see the whole post over HERE at the Pyrex Collective III. :)

Wordless Wednesday-Having fun with my flowers

Grace in Weakness

I admit, I was rusty. It's been nearly six years since I've taught school. It's been since 1998 since my last job interview for my profession. (That's 14 years folks) So I was not just rusty, I was terrified about a job interview. Not only that, but it was going to be so different than my last interview.

My first professional interview was easy. I applied long distance, from my University to a school in my hometown. I went to the interview with just the principal. Right off the bat he loved me. His children both went away to the same private Christian college I went to...and he pretty much took me on a tour of the school and I had the job the next day. (I am so grateful for a principal that took a chance on a fresh from college teacher)

Well, 14 years later, there is not ONE elementary job position available. Yes, my degree is K-8, but I'd only used the K-5 portion in all my years teaching. 

I received a call from the business office, asking if I would like to be considered for the two middle school positions available. One Bible, the other Science. Because I absolutely loathe science fairs, I asked to just be considered for the Bible position.  I received a call about a week later that they would like me to interview for the position.  She said, "let me just find your name in the stack of papers here" so I knew there were a lot of applicants.  Some how I found out that there were a total of 16 applicants. 8 for science, and 8 for Bible. Oh, and the interview was to be a panel. of. five. people.

Oh my mercies. My stomach was in knots...I couldn't even remember what a philosophy of education was...but by the grace of God...His POWER is PERFECTED in our WEAKNESSES

2 Corinthians 12:9

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

I literally cannot boast in myself about the interview. I had prayer warriors all over the country lifting me up, I claimed the mind of Christ as I sat in the parking lot before my interview...the clarity and rapport that was built in the conference room was only through Christ who strengthens me and I tried to keep from being anxious the EIGHT days I had to wait (with the help of MR ToddlerWhisperer's gentle reminders) before I received a phone call.

I GOT THE JOB!!!!

the congratulatory flowers from Mr T.

linking up with Ruth at Gracelaced and women all over the world for Gracelaced Mondays 

Thankful 136-143

136. His Faithfulness is FOREVER and NEVER CHANGES
137. sweet encouraging friends
138. good news! i got the job!!

source

139. pyrex in the mail.

140. everybody feeling better Easter weekend
141. water guns and warm days
142. slipper sales
143. spending time after the kids go night night with my Love


Linking up with Carina

Scratch Banana Pudding

Last night I was really craving bananas, and I know my hubby had been too, so for after dinner I found this recipe that was missing some instructions and added some ingredients, and came up with something totally awesome. Never have I ever tasted banana pudding this good  in. my. whole. life.


Scratch Banana Pudding (printer friendly)
Ingredients:
3/4 c sugar (I thought it was a little sweet, so I might actually cut it to 1/2 cup next time)
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
2 medium bananas or 1 large chopped (I might smoosh next time, not sure I absolutely adored the texture)
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon


Directions:
In a cold saucepan, blend sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add cold milk, and whisk together until smooth. Turn on heat to medium/medium high stirring constantly.
It will begin to make thick bubbles, turn heat down, and add bananas until well combined.
Add a little of the pudding mixture to your beaten egg, then return the mixture to  your saucepan,  I turned the heat up a little and brought it to a bubble again.
Once it bubbles, turn off heat, then add butter, vanilla, and spices and stir until combined.
Place in custard cups or serving bowl (be sure it is tempered) and cool in the refrigerator.

I then crumbled some Trader Joe's cinnamon school house cookies on top, but vanilla wafers and a dollop of whipped cream would be divine!
This takes about 10 minutes to prepare, and serves 8.

Blogged Over at the Pyrex Collective Today

about the huge chip Goodwill was hiding in my pretty pyrex piece. boo.
http://pyrexcollective3.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-are-you-trying-to-hide-goodwill.html

and I got this cute little primary fridgie in the mail yesterday. sans lid. i need to look for one now.

Not Just a Pinner Challenge #2

Well Hello there!! It's that time again, where I link up with "I'm On My Way" and her Pinterest Challenge.
This time, I've had my eye on this project for some time. 

Source: sarahortega.com via toastycrow on Pinterest

I LOVE with a passion, wire wrapped jewelry. My "Mother Ring" Is from an etsy seller who wrapped two glass beads representing my babies' birthstones into a ring for me.
I had to think of a present to give to my mom for her birthday. I had recently bought a couple grab bags full of beads and had two cute polymer beads in blue and pink. I also had the wire from when we were doing fun crafts at Christmas time. It was time to Make a birds nest charm.

I'm pretty happy how it turned out...and being that my mom has a son and a daughter, a grandson and a granddaughter from me, and a granddaughter and grandson from my brother, I think it is quite appropriate. Next, I will work on one for my Bff. and maybe one for me!! I love this project!!

Have you found something on Pinterest that you wanted to try? Have you successfully made something on pinterest and want to share? Join the linky party and share with the world that You ARE NOT just a Pinner!!

Thanksgiving 128-135 (the interview)

128. My friend who's a lot like me in lots of ways. Taking time to help ease my nerves about an upcoming interview.
129. Sweet Mr ToddlerWhisperer, outfitting me with new clothes and shoes for my interview. Bringing outfit after outfit to the fitting room and spending his hard earned paycheck on me, to make me feel pretty.
130. My sister in law, who, after taking time to make my hair ombre aqua, chopped every last bit of blue out of my hair to make it fun and sassy.
131. My BFF praying with me on the phone in the parking lot before I went to my interview.
132. My Dad, praying with me and encouraging me right before my interview.
133. Mr ToddlerWhisperer staying up late with me to practice. It's been many years since I had to put myself out there!
134. The Lord, for giving me this opportunity. For calming my nerves. For reassuring me, that even if I don't get the position, there will be one available for me.
135. That I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be, gave clear answers and overall felt great after my 5 person panel interview! Hurrah

source

Linking up again with A Punk, A Pumpkin, and a Peanut blog for Thankful Thursdays. :)

Grace is

when each of us are feeling ever so badly;

he lets me rest in bed for hours

dreaming away fevers

while he makes lunch for the sweet little monkies

then we switch

and he's in bed

i'm downstairs feeling miserable too

making dinner

no one complains

over a bowl of noodles and sauce

an early bedtime

no complaints from the littles

darkness and sleep

coughing occasionally

taking turns shooing away monsters

and praying for sweet dreams.