Several years ago my dad and step-mom gave us a twin-sized mattress that someone had given to them . It was in great shape and we had high hopes that it could replace one of the twin mattresses in our home that had seen one too many middle-of-the-night accidents.
However, our newly-used twin mattress must have been specially made because it was oddly large, and we just couldn't make it fit. So we put it in our spare, catch-all room (affectionately called the yellow room) while we pondered what to do with this odd-sized, perfectly good, very comfortable mattress.
I'm glad that we decided to keep it.
Over the years we have used this mattress many, many times. Often on weekend nights, summer vacation, and Christmas break we'll pull our mattress out of the yellow room, down the hall and into the living room. And there, some or all of my children will pile up on the couches and beloved mattress. This mattress has served us well and been a big part of our ability to make sweet memories with our kiddos.
Just this past summer, we pulled the mattress into our tent in the backyard and had a camp out. The mattress has been known to stay in the living room the entire week of spring break. And of course, it's what we use on rainy or snowy movie-marathon days.
As I write this at some unholy hour of the morning, I hear the heavy breathing of Jeff and the boys sleeping in the living room in front of the fire...Colton and Shellby snuggled up together on the mattress. They must have had a great 'boys night' together after we girls went to bed because strewn around the room are Battleship game pieces, Nerf guns, Wii remotes, a shot-gun instruction manual (JD got a new gun today, from my dad) and various snack wrappers. Memories made.
I know when my kids are grown they will remember these simple, happy childhood memories. And if they happen to read this post, maybe they will remember the oddly-sized mattress that helped make it possible.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Remembering
 |
| Forrest and Virginia Davis's tombstone. Gina's dad's parents. |
Then off we went to Harrison County to see the grave site of Jeff's grandmother.
 |
| Lily DeBruler's tombstone. Jeff's father's mother. |
 |
| Summer and JD, B.A.F..... Best Amigos Forever |
Then we went to visit Jeff's papaw, Joby DeBruler, Lily's widowed husband. Joby is now remarried to Jean, the sweetest little lady, whom Jeff's family just loves! Then on the way home we stopped for some cold drinks. Those who were allowed to purchase caffinated drinks were chatty and playful...
Those were not allowed to purchase caffinated drinks are now well-rested and will, no doubt, be up till midnight...
And this is the man who made it all happen...
 |
| My Baby-Daddy |
Friday, May 4, 2012
Leftovers...The Ultimate Convenience Food!
Here at the Taylor-DeBruler home we eat a lot of leftovers!
I *believe* in leftovers. I believe in "waste not, want not." I believe in "use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without". I believe there are still starving children around the world who would graciously eat any and all leftovers that my family may lament about.
I believe if you do not eat what I put on the table, you may go fix yourself a PB and J sandwich and a glass of milk.
I also believe that I have better things to do with my time than stand in the kitchen 28 times a week (breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack for 7 days) and cook up new and exciting meals.
So I cook in bulk, freeze some, refrigerator some for later, and cook up some for the next meal. Here is an example:
I find chicken breast on sale so I buy a bunch. I mean a BUNCH, shamelessly emptying out the chicken breast freezer display while other people stand behind me waiting their turn to choose their package of chicken breast, only to find that the lady in front of them (that would be me) with the brood of kids (those would be mine) has taken every last package.
Then I take my chicken breast home and put the majority of it in the freezer. In celebration of finding a great deal, I decide we should have Ranch Chicken and Pasta for supper (my husband has convinced me it is called supper, not dinner. He is currently trying to convince me that what I call lunch is actually called dinner. I have explained to him that his brainwashing is not working, I have compromised on the whole dinner-supper issue and a girl has to draw a line in the sand eventually...I digress.)
I fix enough Ranch Chicken and Pasta for supper that night, lunch the next day and supper the following night. See how this works? I cook one HUGE meal and it lasts for 2 days! And I still have a ton of chicken in the freezer.
Let's say whole chickens were on sale, about twice a year I can find them for $.49/lb. That's cheap, people. I load my cart up with whole chickens as I listen to all the whispers around me regarding my shopping habits. I often turn to the gathering crowd and explain that we have a 10 foot pet alligator and it's either whole chickens or the kids. At this point, people start putting their whole chickens in my cart because they feel such pity for the dangerous situation my children are living in. This is my goal. Whole chicken may not be this cheap for a while so I gotta do whatever I can to stock up! Don't judge me!
That night I fix a whole chicken in the oven and serve it with a couple of side dishes. If there is enough left over, I'll fix chicken casserole the next night. But if there isn't much meat left, I'll throw together a pot of Tortilla Soup and we'll eat on that for a couple of days. Essentially, I've make 2 meals and fed my family for 4-5 days. That Rocks!
Ya can't do that with laundry! Boy that would be wonderful...to make two outfits last five days. My laundry room would look a lot better than it does right now. Here, I'll include a picture... nevermind.
Leftovers are a mom's best friend! Think ahead and make good use of them!
Amen.
I *believe* in leftovers. I believe in "waste not, want not." I believe in "use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without". I believe there are still starving children around the world who would graciously eat any and all leftovers that my family may lament about.
I believe if you do not eat what I put on the table, you may go fix yourself a PB and J sandwich and a glass of milk.
I also believe that I have better things to do with my time than stand in the kitchen 28 times a week (breakfast, lunch, supper, and snack for 7 days) and cook up new and exciting meals.
So I cook in bulk, freeze some, refrigerator some for later, and cook up some for the next meal. Here is an example:
I find chicken breast on sale so I buy a bunch. I mean a BUNCH, shamelessly emptying out the chicken breast freezer display while other people stand behind me waiting their turn to choose their package of chicken breast, only to find that the lady in front of them (that would be me) with the brood of kids (those would be mine) has taken every last package.
Then I take my chicken breast home and put the majority of it in the freezer. In celebration of finding a great deal, I decide we should have Ranch Chicken and Pasta for supper (my husband has convinced me it is called supper, not dinner. He is currently trying to convince me that what I call lunch is actually called dinner. I have explained to him that his brainwashing is not working, I have compromised on the whole dinner-supper issue and a girl has to draw a line in the sand eventually...I digress.)
I fix enough Ranch Chicken and Pasta for supper that night, lunch the next day and supper the following night. See how this works? I cook one HUGE meal and it lasts for 2 days! And I still have a ton of chicken in the freezer.
Let's say whole chickens were on sale, about twice a year I can find them for $.49/lb. That's cheap, people. I load my cart up with whole chickens as I listen to all the whispers around me regarding my shopping habits. I often turn to the gathering crowd and explain that we have a 10 foot pet alligator and it's either whole chickens or the kids. At this point, people start putting their whole chickens in my cart because they feel such pity for the dangerous situation my children are living in. This is my goal. Whole chicken may not be this cheap for a while so I gotta do whatever I can to stock up! Don't judge me!
That night I fix a whole chicken in the oven and serve it with a couple of side dishes. If there is enough left over, I'll fix chicken casserole the next night. But if there isn't much meat left, I'll throw together a pot of Tortilla Soup and we'll eat on that for a couple of days. Essentially, I've make 2 meals and fed my family for 4-5 days. That Rocks!
Ya can't do that with laundry! Boy that would be wonderful...to make two outfits last five days. My laundry room would look a lot better than it does right now. Here, I'll include a picture... nevermind.
Leftovers are a mom's best friend! Think ahead and make good use of them!
Amen.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Chicken Tortilla Soup
This is a hit with my family...even Colton, my picky eater, loves it as long as I omit the "spicy stuff". Hope you and yours love it too!
Ingredients
2-3 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 packet of McCormick's fajita seasoning
1 cup of taco sauce
1 can of Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies, mild (juice included)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cans of corn, drained
2 cans of seasoned black beans, drained
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. each: cumin, chili powder, salt, onion powder, cilantro, paprika, and garlic powder
1 bay leaf
Optional Ingredients (aka: things I would like to included but my family will not eat!)
1/4 cup each (diced and sauteed): red and green bell peppers, and onion
1 can of diced tomatoes (juice included)
Toppings
4 soft flour tortillas
Mexican blend shredded cheese
Instructions
Boil your chicken until cooked through, drain then shred.
Combine all ingredients listed above, including cooked chicken.
Make sure everything is mixed well.
Heat until right before boiling, then turn down heat and let it simmer for at least an hour.
While your soup is simmering, cut the flour tortillas into strips and fry over medium heat with a little butter until barely brown and crisp around the edges.
Top each bowl with a few tortilla strips and a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese. Enjoy!
Options
*You can make this soup as hearty as you would like by adding more chicken, corn, and/or black beans.
*You can make this soup as spicy as you would like by replacing the fajita seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, and/or taco sauce with "hot" instead of "mild" ingredients.
*The seasonings listed are the minimum measurements, feel free to add as much as your taste buds crave!
Ingredients
2-3 whole boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 packet of McCormick's fajita seasoning
1 cup of taco sauce
1 can of Rotel diced tomatoes with chilies, mild (juice included)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cans of corn, drained
2 cans of seasoned black beans, drained
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 tsp. each: cumin, chili powder, salt, onion powder, cilantro, paprika, and garlic powder
1 bay leaf
Optional Ingredients (aka: things I would like to included but my family will not eat!)
1/4 cup each (diced and sauteed): red and green bell peppers, and onion
1 can of diced tomatoes (juice included)
Toppings
4 soft flour tortillas
Mexican blend shredded cheese
Instructions
Boil your chicken until cooked through, drain then shred.
Combine all ingredients listed above, including cooked chicken.
Make sure everything is mixed well.
Heat until right before boiling, then turn down heat and let it simmer for at least an hour.
While your soup is simmering, cut the flour tortillas into strips and fry over medium heat with a little butter until barely brown and crisp around the edges.
Top each bowl with a few tortilla strips and a generous sprinkle of shredded cheese. Enjoy!
Options
*You can make this soup as hearty as you would like by adding more chicken, corn, and/or black beans.
*You can make this soup as spicy as you would like by replacing the fajita seasoning, Rotel tomatoes, and/or taco sauce with "hot" instead of "mild" ingredients.
*The seasonings listed are the minimum measurements, feel free to add as much as your taste buds crave!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Curse you, Stomach Virus!
For the last two days I've been sicker than a dog.
Sicker than a baby with reflux problems.
Sicker than my son when he gets co-hearsed by his big sister to get on one of those fair rides.
Sicker than a cat with a hairball.
Sicker than a person getting ready to have a colonoscopy who has to drink 4 of those awful lemon-lime carbonated drinks to "clean them out", as the sweet doctor likes to put it.
You get the picture. Other than a run to the local fast food joint to pick up supper for everyone else because the smell of anything made me sicker than a...(see list above), I have been on my couch, in my bed, or in the bathroom for two days and two nights.
But (so far) today I feel wonderful, and despite the fact that my home needs a good clean-up and the laundry is backed up and the linens need to be changed, I took a much needed walk! And it felt great.
So, I would just like to say HELLO WORLD! Momma's back in working order!
Until tomorrow, when the soreness sets in from that speed-walking aerobic work-out I just did.
I may have over-done it. Oops.
Sicker than a baby with reflux problems.
Sicker than my son when he gets co-hearsed by his big sister to get on one of those fair rides.
Sicker than a cat with a hairball.
Sicker than a person getting ready to have a colonoscopy who has to drink 4 of those awful lemon-lime carbonated drinks to "clean them out", as the sweet doctor likes to put it.
You get the picture. Other than a run to the local fast food joint to pick up supper for everyone else because the smell of anything made me sicker than a...(see list above), I have been on my couch, in my bed, or in the bathroom for two days and two nights.
But (so far) today I feel wonderful, and despite the fact that my home needs a good clean-up and the laundry is backed up and the linens need to be changed, I took a much needed walk! And it felt great.
So, I would just like to say HELLO WORLD! Momma's back in working order!
Until tomorrow, when the soreness sets in from that speed-walking aerobic work-out I just did.
I may have over-done it. Oops.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
A Servant's Heart
My son, JD, has a servant's heart! I could just shout it from the roof tops! Thank you, Lord!
Trust me when I say it is NOTHING I have done. I don't have any amazing parenting strategy that taught him that quality. The truth is I don't have a clue how it happened. I've come to realize that it's just one of his spiritual gifts. (By the way, if you've never read the book, The Five Love Languages, I recommend you do! It's how I first recognized that "Acts of Service" was JD's love language.) I think God just instilled a spirit of service in JD and it's how he best shows love to others, and receives love as well.
I also think JD is a "fixer". I think most men are. If I'm sad about something, he wants to know what he can do for me. If he senses that I'm aggravated, he will find something that needs to be done and start working on it. If there is something that I'm struggling with, he is the first one to jump in and try to help. He knows that by helping me in some way, he's going to be able to make me feel better. I remember JD's preschool teacher sent home a note on his progress report that read something like this, "JD's is always willing to help. He is my second set of hands in the classroom. If something needs to be done, he is willing to do it." He's been this way all of his life and I am so thankful!
Maybe you also have a child who is naturally in tune to the needs of others and wants to help. Maybe you don't. The good news is, that's OK. Your kiddo has their own gifts and talents that I bet you can already recognize. The other good news is that you can teach and nurture service to others in your children. They don't have to be born with a tendency to serve in order to grow into a person/persons with a servant's heart.
As I look back over the short time that Jesus was in ministry, actively calling people to accept him as Christ and pursue a deeper relationship with the Father, Christ's way of showing love was first to serve. If someone was hungry, he fed them. If someone was physically ill, he healed them. If someone was ashamed and rejected, he comforted them and spent time with them. Jesus served people.
In Christ's wisdom and love for people, he knew that the way to tender someone's heart and to get them to listen to what you have to say, you must first show a willingness to serve that person's needs. I am reading a book by Sally Clarkson, entitled The Ministry of Motherhood. Mrs. Clarkson says that if our children are to willing be lead by us, and if they are to willingly accept our counsel and advice, they must first know that we are attentive to their needs and are willing to serve them. Kind of like the old saying, "You catch more bees with honey, than you do vinegar."
By observing Christ we also know that a person who is willing to serve is an excellent leader because they are willing to make decisions that are in the best interest of others and not themselves. I learned this lesson in the work place as a young woman when I was waiting tables as Cracker Barrel. The best manager I've ever had was a man named George Brown. There wasn't anything that he would ask me to do that he wasn't willing to do himself. I respected him so much that I transferred stores two different times in order to work under him. He was a great manager because of his concern for everyone around him, employees and customers alike.
See, if we raise our sons to have hearts willing to serve, that won't make them doormats or pushovers as the world would have them to believe. No! The fruits of service are respect and admiration and love! A godly man with a a servant's heart will rightfully inherit a wife who trusts him to make the hard decisions because she knows that his intentions are not selfish, but his intentions are to do what is in the best interest of her. A man with a servant's heart will have children who respect him and accept his advice because they will know that he wants good things for them...and is not looking out for himself first. A father who has a servant's heart will be adored by his daughters because they know what it feels like to be the first priority in a man's life and so that is the standard that they will compare every relationship to.
And by first serving his family, he then inherits the God-given position of leader of his home. He will become the most respected, most loved, most adored person in the household. Not because he demanded it, but because he puts his family first and they all know it, and love and admire him for it. He will be their HERO...and isn't that what every little boy and every grown man wants, to be someone's hero?
My dad was this kind of man to his family and to this day he is my hero...one of them anyways.
My husband, Jeff, is my hero also. Everything he does everyday of his life, every drop of sweat from his brow, every ache and pain, every decision he makes is for the benefit of me and our kids. And because he serves us...he leads us.
But ultimately, my hero is Christ. He served me in such a way that no other person has ever done. Christ knew that in order for me to receive forgiveness that a sacrifice had to be made, and he willingly made it with his blood.
So because Christ served me...He leads me.
Trust me when I say it is NOTHING I have done. I don't have any amazing parenting strategy that taught him that quality. The truth is I don't have a clue how it happened. I've come to realize that it's just one of his spiritual gifts. (By the way, if you've never read the book, The Five Love Languages, I recommend you do! It's how I first recognized that "Acts of Service" was JD's love language.) I think God just instilled a spirit of service in JD and it's how he best shows love to others, and receives love as well.
I also think JD is a "fixer". I think most men are. If I'm sad about something, he wants to know what he can do for me. If he senses that I'm aggravated, he will find something that needs to be done and start working on it. If there is something that I'm struggling with, he is the first one to jump in and try to help. He knows that by helping me in some way, he's going to be able to make me feel better. I remember JD's preschool teacher sent home a note on his progress report that read something like this, "JD's is always willing to help. He is my second set of hands in the classroom. If something needs to be done, he is willing to do it." He's been this way all of his life and I am so thankful!
Maybe you also have a child who is naturally in tune to the needs of others and wants to help. Maybe you don't. The good news is, that's OK. Your kiddo has their own gifts and talents that I bet you can already recognize. The other good news is that you can teach and nurture service to others in your children. They don't have to be born with a tendency to serve in order to grow into a person/persons with a servant's heart.
As I look back over the short time that Jesus was in ministry, actively calling people to accept him as Christ and pursue a deeper relationship with the Father, Christ's way of showing love was first to serve. If someone was hungry, he fed them. If someone was physically ill, he healed them. If someone was ashamed and rejected, he comforted them and spent time with them. Jesus served people.
In Christ's wisdom and love for people, he knew that the way to tender someone's heart and to get them to listen to what you have to say, you must first show a willingness to serve that person's needs. I am reading a book by Sally Clarkson, entitled The Ministry of Motherhood. Mrs. Clarkson says that if our children are to willing be lead by us, and if they are to willingly accept our counsel and advice, they must first know that we are attentive to their needs and are willing to serve them. Kind of like the old saying, "You catch more bees with honey, than you do vinegar."
By observing Christ we also know that a person who is willing to serve is an excellent leader because they are willing to make decisions that are in the best interest of others and not themselves. I learned this lesson in the work place as a young woman when I was waiting tables as Cracker Barrel. The best manager I've ever had was a man named George Brown. There wasn't anything that he would ask me to do that he wasn't willing to do himself. I respected him so much that I transferred stores two different times in order to work under him. He was a great manager because of his concern for everyone around him, employees and customers alike.
See, if we raise our sons to have hearts willing to serve, that won't make them doormats or pushovers as the world would have them to believe. No! The fruits of service are respect and admiration and love! A godly man with a a servant's heart will rightfully inherit a wife who trusts him to make the hard decisions because she knows that his intentions are not selfish, but his intentions are to do what is in the best interest of her. A man with a servant's heart will have children who respect him and accept his advice because they will know that he wants good things for them...and is not looking out for himself first. A father who has a servant's heart will be adored by his daughters because they know what it feels like to be the first priority in a man's life and so that is the standard that they will compare every relationship to.
And by first serving his family, he then inherits the God-given position of leader of his home. He will become the most respected, most loved, most adored person in the household. Not because he demanded it, but because he puts his family first and they all know it, and love and admire him for it. He will be their HERO...and isn't that what every little boy and every grown man wants, to be someone's hero?
My dad was this kind of man to his family and to this day he is my hero...one of them anyways.
My husband, Jeff, is my hero also. Everything he does everyday of his life, every drop of sweat from his brow, every ache and pain, every decision he makes is for the benefit of me and our kids. And because he serves us...he leads us.
But ultimately, my hero is Christ. He served me in such a way that no other person has ever done. Christ knew that in order for me to receive forgiveness that a sacrifice had to be made, and he willingly made it with his blood.
So because Christ served me...He leads me.
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