moving ...

I've decided to switch my blog over to wordpress. I was thinking of doing this anyway, and then this past week Callie did something to my settings that wacked up my blog. So I figure now is a good time to make the switch!

You can come follow us at:
http://theherrfamily.wordpress.com/

homemade frappe

Today is a perfect day to enjoy a frappuccino ... so is tomorrow, and the day after that. But since I happen to have 5 kiddos at home and really dislike spending money on frappuccino's, I decided it would be much easier to make my own. I've had many requests for the recipe, so here it is!

Homemade Frappe (this makes a good 3 cups)
~2 cups milk (any kind works)
~1 1/2 T. instant coffee granules
~1 T. sugar, or other sweetener
~5-6 ice cubes (I use coffee ice cubes from leftover coffee that I freeze into cubes when I have them, but using regular ice cubes works fine and doesn't water it down too much)
~Optional add-ins for mocha or vanilla frappe (see notes below)*

Put all ingredients into blender (I use a vitamix, but I'm assuming any blender will work) and blend for about a minute until all ingredients are combined and drink is frothy.

*For a mocha frappuccino add 1 heaping T. cacao powder (or you can use whatever cocoa powder you have and/or chocolate syrup ... but if using syrup you probably won't need to add any other sweetener); to make a vanilla version add 1 T. vanilla.

Enjoy and stay cool!

family reunion.

This past weekend we had a Miller Family Reunion (my mom's family). We had perfect weather and a great time hanging out, eating yummy food, playing games, catching up with family members ... including grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins and taking the yearly family photo (which gets more chaotic and crazy every year)!

Here is the entire Miller clan (minus my one cousin, his wife and their son who came down with croup the night before) ... this includes my Pop-pop and Nana, their 4 children and spouses, 10 grandchildren and spouses (we were missing one and my little brother is the only one not married), and 22 (since we were missing one) great-grandchildren! By the end of the year there will be 26 great-granchildren (unless one of my siblings or cousins is holding out on telling us something)!

And here is the Mellinger family (well, everyone is a Mellinger except for the Herr's!) ...

more books.

Since my posts with book recommendations seem to be a high request, I thought I'd mention our new favorites:

Hailey has been loving The Building on the Rock Series. She is often asking for more time to read before bed because of this series. The books are laid out as devotionals with questions at the end of each story. "The stories themselves include a good mixture of historical adventure, childhood experiences, remarkable instances of conversion and dramatic, edge of your seat, rescues from danger. The topics from the 5 books include missionary tales, remarkable conversions, living for God, the value of scripture, honouring God, dramatic deliverances, faithful witnesses and childhood faith."



All of our kiddos thoroughly enjoy listening to the CD by Aussie Colin Buchanan from Practise Being Godly. They enjoy reading the book too, but listening to the CD is a favorite.



Another fun favorite as of late is Seven Silly Eaters. Our kiddos are convinced that Emma is a silly eater since she only likes egg yolks which is probably why they get such a kick out of this book. Thankfully, my other children aren't very picky eaters (although I still empathize with Mrs. Peters!); but even I enjoy this silly, engaging story!



My new favorite cookbook that I've been putting to good use is Gluten Free Cupcakes by Elana Amsterdam. Even though we don't eat gluten free, I enjoy mixing it up in the kitchen and use many different grains/flours for baking and cooking. I love, love, love the recipes in this cookbook for muffins/cupcakes that use coconut and/or almond flour. They are delicious and loved by all who eat them!

While I'm talking about coconut flour, if anyone is looking for a good place to buy coconut flour, Tropical Traditions is a great company to buy from that will often have free shipping days and also has great sales that are always running on different items. They have a ton of other great coconut products too.

Speaking of baking; we ran out of bread and english muffins this morning so it's time to get baking!

my moms.

I am one blessed Momma. Not only do I have a wonderful husband and five precious little ones who have doted on me all day long, but I have also been blessed with a wonderful Mom and Mother-in-law of my own!

Mom - Thank you for how you tirelessly serve our family. Your trips to our house twice a month for the past (almost) 10 years have been one of God's kindest blessings in my life since getting married and moving away (and Dad - yes, I'm fully aware that I owe you big time). You enable me to run errands, go shopping, get out with one kiddo for a little date, have doctor/dentist appointments without lugging along 5 kids, and most importantly - have date nights with my love! You are quick to serve me in any way you are able and any time we have a need (including coming to help when Brian travels, babysitting the kiddos for overnighters, taking my little ones when I have projects to get done, helping out with school and any random jobs around the house). You are the greatest example in my life of showing what it means to serve others in such a way that is completely selfless and in complete joy. You have played such a part in making me who I am as a wife, mother and homemaker as I have had the privilege to watch you in action as your daughter (and Brian thanks you!) ... I pray that one day I can bless my daughters in the same way that you bless me! Thank you for being the best Mom a girl could ask for; I love you!

Mom #2 - I am so grateful to you for how you have raised your son to be a Godly man who fears the Lord and desires to honor Him above all else. I am a direct beneficiary of your hard work, time and investment that you made as a Mom. We have been so blessed by your care for our family. We love your trips when you come and visit to spend time with us and I love that you are always bringing something along that you know will bless me and the kiddos. Thank you for serving our family by sharing produce from your garden, lending a helping hand with applesauce and corn, delivering my poultry to me (often times already broken down by pound and bagged for me!), cleaning places in my house that only get cleaned when you are here, investing time with the kiddos and loving me like your own daughter; I love you!

Happy Mothers Day to both of you ... I am blessed indeed!

Risen

Jesus lives and so shall I
I’ll be raised from the dust with Christ on high
Jesus lives no more to die
And when He returns, with Him I’ll rise
Jesus lives

I completely forgot to mention our new favorite CD yesterday ... Sovereign Grace Ministries recently released Risen, a CD celebrating the resurrection of Christ. It is outstanding and we have been thoroughly enjoying it (and will continue to long after Easter).

Here is my best attempt to get a pic of our 5 munchkins this morning before church (anyone who wants an almost impossible challenge can volunteer to try and get a good shot of all 5 of them ... in the same picture). I'm also accepting any offers to fill my pots with pansies (or anything else that resembles spring now that my greens have been taken out) ... Mom (either of you)??

My girls.

And ... the kid that makes us laugh the most these days.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Easter Resources

Here are some of our favorite Easter resources ...

Jesus, Keep me Near the Cross by Nancy Guthrie is a collection of short writings and sermons by 25 classic and contemporary theologians and Bible teachers, focusing on the wonder of Christ's sacrifice. This is a perfect companion to use in the days leading up to Easter as we linger near the cross.


The Very First Easter by Paul Maier is a favorite for the kiddos. It is a bit lengthy, but our 3 older kids (ages 5-8) especially love to sit and listen. In this book, a Dad and Mom tell their son all about the real meaning of Easter. Passages from scripture are weaved throughout the story, along with many questions from Christopher (the boy in the story) and answers from his parents. The full page illustrations are beautiful as well.


Journey, Easter Journey by Dandi Daley Mackall presents the story of Christ's life, death and resurrection. This book is geared towards younger children as it is much shorter and has a rhyming/singing kind of text that is easy to read and very engaging. Callie (age 2) loves this book, although all of the kids will sit and listen.


Resurrection Eggs - this is something that you can buy or make as a fun resource for teaching children in the days leading up to Easter Sunday. Our set is homemade, but I know there are places (such as Family Life) that sell them too. To make your own set, here is what you'll need:
~12 plastic eggs, labeled 1-12
~1 egg carton (to store them)
~The following items (there are different options; what we use includes the birth, life, death and resurrection):
straw, wood, mustard seed, cloth, bread, flowers, three dimes, thorns, nails, cloves and heart
~A printout with descriptions of each egg/item/description/scripture reading; here is what ours looks like:

The Story of Easter

Egg 1: Straw - Jesus was born in a manger. A manger is what animals eat from in a stable. Luke 2:1-12

Egg 2: Wood - Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was a carpenter. Jesus learned carpentry from Joseph. Matthew 13:54-58

Egg 3: Mustard Seed - Jesus helped us understand that even small is big in a way. Matthew 13:31-32

Egg 4: Cloth - An old woman was sick for a long time. She believed that if she only touched Jeses' clothing that she could be healed. She did, and she was healed! Matthew 9:20-22

Egg 5: Bread (we use a crouton) - When Jesus had the last supper with His disciples He said that the bread was the symbol of His body being broken for them. The disciples didn't know it yet, but Jesus was going to die for their sins on a cruel Roman cross. Matthew 26:17-30

Egg 6: Flowers - Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray the night that He was taken by the Romans. Matthew 26:36-46

Egg 7: Three dimes - Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins. Judas told the chief priests where Jesus was so they could go and arrest Him. They wanted to arrest Him for blasphemy because He said that He was the Son of God. They did not believe Him. Matthew 26:47-50, 27:1-5

Egg 8: Thorns - Jesus was tortured by soldiers and they made Him a crown of thorns to press into His head, to hurt Him and to mock Him. They said "if you are the King of the Jews save yourself!" John 19:1-6

Egg 9: Nails - People didn't want to believe that they were sinners and that they needed to repent from their sins. Jesus, who is the Son of God, came to die on the Cross to take the punishment that all of our sin deserves. John 19:16-27

Egg 10: Cloves - After Jesus died on the Cross, Mary Magdalene went to take spices for Jesus' body but found that the tomb where they had laid Jesus' body was empty! Mark 15:42-47

Egg 11: Empty - Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death once for all! John 20:1-18

Egg 12: Heart - Jesus took our punishment for our sin when He died on the Cross! Jesus is God; He can't sin. He loves us so much that He took our punishment and died for us. We need to ask His forgiveness for our sin against Him as our holy God and surrender our lives to Him. John 3:16

.8 months.

I can't believe our little Emma bug is 8 months old! She is such a joy to our family and is loved on all day long.

Here are some recent Emma happenings ...

She is following in the footsteps of all 4 big siblings and doesn't have a single tooth yet (the first one appeared between 9-11 months for the other munchkins).

She is crawling all over the place, and although she's been able to get where she needs to go by scooching for a couple months, she is much faster now.

Since starting solid food about a month ago she has decided that egg yolks are the only food she will eat. And let me tell you; when the girl doesn't like the food I'm offering there is no getting it in her mouth.

I've given up on getting our girlie to take a bottle because she loves her sippy cup and because she despises the bottle - with a passion.

She does not like to be left alone in a room; she is all about being a part of the action. I'm thinking this has something to do with being #5 (it's not often quiet around here).

She babbles da-da all day long.

She absolutely loves being outside.

Emmy (as Callie calls her) is a peanut (like her big sis Sydney) and weighs just under 15 pounds.

And last but not least ... just this week she figured out how to climb up the steps in between the family room and kitchen; after wiping out once (she wasn't a fan of that part), she quickly mastered the climb without wiping out. So much for the family room being her playpen!

snackin'

Having lots of kiddos means lots of hungry mouths. I am always trying to provide healthy snacks that will actually fill them up until the next meal to prevent constantly hearing "Mommy, I'm hungry" all day long. The latest and greatest snack has been my homemade "Larabars." And I'll admit, they make a pretty good snack for Mommy too! The recipe possibilities are pretty endless depending on what you like, but below are some of our favorites!

For all of these recipes I used medjool dates. The instructions are the same for each recipe; put nuts in food processor and process until finely chopped. Add chopped dates (pits removed) and all other ingredients then process until a paste forms and all ingredients are combined. Remove and shape into bars on plastic wrap. I label a ziplock baggie for each kind and store them in the refrigerator. I make multiple different kinds back to back and don't wash my food processor until I'm completely done to save time.

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookie Bars (makes 4)
1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. cashews
1/2 c. coconut, shredded and unsweetened
2 T. chocolate chips
1 tsp. coconut oil


Coconut Cream Bars (makes 4)
1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. cashews
1/2 c. coconut, shredded and unsweetened
3 tsp. coconut oil


Chocolate Coconut Chew Bars (makes 4)
1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. walnuts
1/4 c. coconut, shredded and unsweetened
2 T. cacao powder


Cashew Cookie Bars (makes 3)
2/3 c. cashews
1/2 c. dates


Double Chocolate Brownie Bar (makes 4)
1/2 c. dates
1/3 c. almonds
1/3 c. walnuts
1/4 c. chocolate chips
2 T. cacao powder


Cherry Pie Bar (makes 5)
1 c. almonds
1/2 c. dates
1/2 c. dried cherries


These make for a great high protein snack that will fill up little and big bellies!

my life.

My days are somewhat crazy, chaotic and mundane these days. I feel like I pretty much do the same thing all day long, every day. Things like making breakfast, cleaning up messes, homeschooling the older kiddos, training a toddler, caring for a baby, making lunch, cleaning up more messes, keeping said toddler out of trouble, doing more school, wearing said baby on my hip when she's a crank, making dinner, and then welcoming home my wonderful hubby with joy, kisses and any extra energy I have!

I'm more convinced than ever that being a mom is really all about my own personal sanctification process. It is in these daily, mundane moments that I know God is after my heart in so many different ways. Here are some things I've been learning and reminding myself of recently ...

1. I need to be dependent on God each and every day. "In the end, our highest goal each day is not flawless execution of our plans or increased productivity. It's our relationship with God, walking in dependence upon Him throughout the day. We should not be more consumed with the completion of our to-do list than pleasing and glorifying the Savior. Whether we're sitting down to map out our day, simplifying our to-do list, or receiving an interruption as a "sovereign delivery," we must, above all, plan to depend." Carolyn Mahaney

2. I need to grow in patience. "Impatience is a form of unbelief. It's what we begin to feel when we start to doubt the wisdom of God's guidance. It springs up in our hearts when our plan is interrupted or shattered. The opposite of impatience is not a glib denial of loss. It's a deepening, ripening, peaceful willingness to wait for God in the unplanned place of obedience, and to walk with God at the unplanned pace of obedience - to wait in his place, and go at his pace. And the key is faith in future grace. ... the strength of patience hangs on our capacity to believe that God is up on something good for us in all our delays and detours. This requires great faith in future grace, because the evidence is seldom evident." John Piper

3. I need to remind myself of what I deserve; I have been given so much more than I deserve. "Jesus died as my substitute. He went to the cross in my place. Therefore, the cross proclaims this truth: I deserve crucifixion. I don't deserve good things from God. Anything short of crucifixion is infinite grace bestowed by a loving God on someone utterly unworthy. The cross not only removes just punishment, it brings all joy ... so, rejoice! No matter how bad your circumstances, you are getting better than you deserve. Anyone who sees self-pity through the lens of the cross will increasingly detest this sin and flee it. The alternative to the self-imposed misery of self-pity is God-given joy and thankfulness." William Farley

4. I need to daily remind myself of my primary responsibilities as a mom:
~Use every opportunity to point my children to their need for Christ
~Train them to obey God by honoring and obeying their parents
~Teach them wisdom
~Train them in righteousness
~Pray for them
~Be a godly example

*This means that it is ok when the house doesn't look perfect, the laundry isn't caught up, the kitchen floor is sticky and we have breakfast for dinner (for the 2nd time in one week).

He will tend to his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom,and gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11

I am so thankful for my daily portion of grace.

for the health nuts.

I get a lot of questions about the way we eat, and why we eat the way we do.
Probably because I make a lot of what we eat from scratch, and avoid the grocery store as much as possible. Or someone will hear that we pick up farm fresh eggs and raw milk every week and ask why.
Most think I'm crazy considering I have 5 kiddos and we homeschool, but I love being in the kitchen and enjoy learning new things. Like anyone, I have my limitations in different seasons of life since I'm not superwoman (try as I might ... ha)!
And in case anyone is wondering ... we don't eat healthy all of the time, just most of the time.
As to the why part; I think that we tend to feel better and stay healthier when we're eating well ... and that enables me to fulfill my role as a wife, mother and homemaker much easier.
As to what we eat ... I just found out that the Weston Price Foundation recently released a free e-book called Healthy 4 Life that discusses much of what we eat and what I use to cook/bake. If you're at all interested you can check it out here ...

Healthy 4 Life e-book

And don't worry, I'll still be your friend even if you think I'm a crazy health nut. I'll even eat chocolate (especially dark) with you!

.snow day.

We love snow days ... but they are even better when daddy decides to stay home from work (our road not being plowed this morning had something to do with that)! Hailey, Justin and Sydney are at an age where they will stay outside for hours and hours playing in the snow. And with daddy home to help them build an igloo and a snowman, they were entertained pretty much all day!

Hailey
Justin
Sydney
Callie
Daddy digging us out!
Thankfully, eventually our kind neighbor offered to let us use their snowblower!
The walk was the easy part!
My 3 big kiddos!
Callie hanging out with daddy.
The igloo ... this thing is massive (and has 2 tunnels to get into it)!
One of the entrances/tunnels ...
the other tunnel ...
It's kind of hard to see the kiddos in there! And just in case anyone is worried about the igloo collapsing on our kids, you can take comfort in knowing that my hubby spent hours engineering this thing!

While the big kids were outside with daddy having a blast, I stayed inside and had fun hanging with my little love! Of course, since much of her life is spent sleeping ... I also baked, cleaned, tidied up the school room (a much needed tidying up!), did laundry and supplied the needed food, drinks and dry socks for the snow troops! Here are some pics of our happy little scoocher (she doesn't like to stay put)!

She loves to play on her belly ... and do push-ups ...
and look at herself in her turtle mirror ...
But eventually she scooches to a completely different place ...
Which is why she hangs out in the megasaucer pretty often!
She also recently decided that it's fun to try and get up on all fours .... yikes!

I love family snow days!