Zechariah 13:9

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried; they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:9

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Georgie's Idea

Sunday, 24 January 2010

  • Georgie's Idea

     Poor Georgie!  The other day, he had such sinus congestion and was continually running for the tissue box and then the trash can.  Next thing I knew, there he was, showing me how he solved this issue.
    Georgie's invention
    He cut slashes in the back of the tissue box and looped it through his belt and tied a garbage bag to his belt on the other side.  What a grand idea!  And he walked around like that as long as he is could.  So next time you have a problem with a runny nose and need the tissue box constantly, give Georgie's idea a try.  But, remember to pay him his royalties!
    Until next time...............

Monday, January 18, 2010

Little Sweet Pea & Homemade Bread

Monday, 18 January 2010

  • Little Sweet Pea and Homemade Bread

    I just had to show you this picture of our little sweet pea.  She is growing so quickly!  She is almost 16 weeks and so smiley.  We can just squeeze her!  Grandpa takes pride in being able to settle her down when she has her times of fussiness.
    Oakley 3
    I thought I would also share our favorite homemade bread recipe.  This is so simple and always turns out successfully.  I have made this with all white flour, all whole wheat flour, and also half white and half wheat and no matter how I did it, everybody loves it.  The recipe calls for sesame seeds or poppy seeds on top, but you can leave it plain and then after you get it out of the oven, just rub the top with butter.  Also, you can shape loaves and  put them on a cookie sheet or put them in a bread pans.  Here is the recipe:
    Easy French Bread
    combine following ingredients and allow to foam
    2 T. instant yeast         2 1/2 C warm water      2 T. shortening ( I usually use lard)       2 T. sugar     2 tsp. salt
    foaming yeast
    Stir in 7 1/2 - 8 C. occident flour.  Knead until smooth.  Shape into loaves (this recipe only makes one large loaf or 2 smaller loaves, so I usually double this) (also, I use a rolling pin and roll dough into a rectangle shape and then roll it up).  Place on greased cookie sheet or into greased pans.  Make slashes diagonally across tops.  Let rise until double (I have found that if you let rise too long it developes a pocket at the top of loaf, also, I sometimes do not even let it rise the full way, for it will rise in oven).  Before putting into oven, brush tops with 1 beaten egg, 2 T. milk and poppy or sesame seeds.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned on top.  Take out of oven and hide them, or they will be devoured immediately!
    unbaked loaves
    baked loaves


    Until next time..........   

Sunday, January 3, 2010

He's 21

Sunday, 03 January 2010

  • He is 21!!!

    Benjamin Oak, our oldest child, is now 21 as of January 1st.  Ben's beginnings were not that as other newborns.  When I was 27 weeks along in my pregnancy, I went into labor.  I was, of course admitted to the hosp., put on medication, strict bedrest, and with the news that I had an incompetent cervix and would be in hosp. till I had the baby.  My due date was March 30 - 3 months away.  However, after 2 days, it was obvious that this baby was not going to wait and I had an emergency C-section.  Ben was born weighing 2# 4oz.   It was a very rocky road, with times of him having to be put on life support and weighing as low as 1 # 15 oz..  To make a long story short, he spent 98 days in the neonatal intensive care and was finally able to come home (2 days after his actual due date), weighing 4 # 6 oz., on several meds and a heart monitor.  Ben suffered with alot of respiratory illnesses and spent time in the hosp. quite a few times.   He slowly outgrew most of the health issues.  Now Ben is 21!  And a very nice young fellow!    We are very proud of him and love him dearly!  We know that God had a purpose for the journey that Ben traveled in those early years and He has a plan for his future.  God has been good!
    This is Ben at 6 weeks old, weighing 2# 14 oz..  Dave's finger tip was the size of Bens hand.
    Ben as a preemie
    This is Ben now!  A very handsome dud!
    DSC_7795
    Happy Birthday, Ben!
    Until next time...............