WINDY

Bet your bottom dollar we still had RECESS OUTSIDE.  I went to ask my principal about it, and she laughed.  I seriously tasted grit in my mouth.  I like the prairie, but it doesn't have a good taste in my mouth.
A fun conversation I had with a friend before work...

I told my Math kids (we switch for Math) that they were going to have to work extra quietly because I had to use twice as much glue on my wig due to the wind.  I referenced it a few more times, and the kids started believing me.  Fun times!
Fruity Pebbles Pudding Cookies
These were totally worth the late night run I made HH make to Family Dollar.  I love how colorful they are.  I think they would be fun to bring for a kid's birthday party at school.

Cookie Butter White Chocolate Macadamia Monster Cookies

Between moments of working and trying to finish LOST

This week went by so quickly!  It will be Christmas before you know it! Sixlet No Bake Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies with Candy Corn M&Ms

S'more Cookies (The Stonybrookhouse.com) (These cookies are going over to the ER later on today.)

How the heck can HH's shoe get stuck in his shirt sleeve after going through the washer?

Funny Moments with My Students:

I always talk with my kids about how everyone has a boss, and everyone has things that they don't feel like doing, but have to do, etc.  One day last week I said, "Guys, it could be worse, think about who Mr. F's boss is."  One of my girls says, "YOU?"  Haha!  I said no, but before I could say more, another kid says, "His boss is GOD!"

In Other News: I am taking Zoloft now.  I've had a lot of bouts of uncontrollable crying and mood swings in the past six months.  They have increased in frequency enough that it was beyond time not to do something.  I'm not depressed at all, and I really do love my life, but can't control some of this crying stuff.  It was even getting to where I was tearing up and crying in public (like while I getting my hair done sitting under the dryer).  Sunday after church was a breaking point when I said, "I'm feeling really sad and I don't know why." I had HH come back with me to talk with the doctor to make sure how I felt was adequately described. We are starting with Zoloft on the lowest dose, and will work to adjust things as time goes on, especially since I have the malabsoprtion issue to deal with. I can already see the results.  I'm feeling better than I've felt in a long time.

Mini Road Trip

HH and I left after church on Sunday for a mini-road trip.  We went to Pierre, and stayed the night.  Have I mentioned that I love the Clubhouse Inn and Suites?  NICE, especially for here!
We picked out three pumpkins.  I'm painting one, and HH will be carving the other two.
I got my hair cut and colored.  
I also bought five new cooking magazines (the special ones for the holiday), since I already subscribe to all the normal ones.
HH got a glowing dentist report, and I continue to be my mother's daughter.  I have one small cavity, but my very first crown (which I had a root canal on), has had decay, and must be replaced.  He mentioned that it will probably need a post.  That word freaked me out, but he says it is much easier than a root canal.  I keep saying "HE" because his wife, my normal dentist is out on maternity leave.  I'll be getting that done in November.
All around in the cooking/baking blogosphere I've been seeing these in recipes:

I'm already regretting only buying three bags since I'm seeing so many recipes with them!

Very Vanilla Sixlet Cookies

Apple Cider Caramel Cookies

Chewy M&M Sugar Cookies (with M&Ms White Chocolate Candy Corn)

My First Cross Country Meet

I have two runners in my class for Cross Country.  (I did have three, one quit.)  Native Americans have dominated running in South Dakota for a long time.  Here are some pictures from the meet:
Pre-meet silliness:

Getting Down to Business:

Xandria coming in first place:

Demi coming in third place:
Close up of Demi:

Xandria and Demi posing together after the race:

I can see that I'll have many more Cross Country meets to watch in my future.  These ladies rocked it!

A Busy Stove

HH brought me a Pumpkin Spice Blizzard from DQ today.  Mmmmm.  I normally only like my blizzards with lots of "stuff" in them, but this one didn't need the stuff to make a great taste.

Our "Luper":

Chicken Enchilada Lasagna from Go Ahead and Take a Bite

For Church Potluck:

Ribbon Jello from Brown Eyed Baker

I found out my fridge shelves are not exactly level creating this recipe.  The recipe is easy, and only requires about 30 seconds worth of work each hour to get the awesome effect.  Also, my dish did not have room for the last two layers.

Waffle Breakfast Casserole from Once a Month Mom

I said to HH, "Guess how the breakfast casserole is going to be different this time?"  He replies, "There are going to be waffles in it."  I say, "Oh, I forgot you bought the ingredients."  LOL  (This item is shown not cooked, as I am cooking it this morning during church.)

I also made a cake on Wednesday night that I forgot to post about:

Hot Fudge and Caramel Chocolate Poke Cake

 

Homecoming Week Wraps Up Today

We are ending our Homecoming week celebrations with a parade at 2:00 this afternoon.  My students can wear their Braves gear to show their pride.  Of course treats will be involved.  We have recess and and assembly after lunch (followed by the parade), but we are going to do our best to have a normal morning of learning!
I got flowers on Thursday from a FORMER student's mom.  :)  The card said, "Thinking of you."  I needed that!

Here are the treats I made last night while HH was preaching his first funeral here.  
Pumpkin Pie Muddy Buddies

Cherry Coke Cupcakes

Chewy Butterfinger Cookies

Chocolate Peanut Butter 7-Layer Bars

Salted Dark Chocolate Cookies

These cookies were the absolute BEST!!!  I loved them!
After 9 PM tonight, my three day weekend starts.  :)

New Baking Loves

I came home from work to see that HH had hung the sign on the door that I purchased off of Etsy.  I had considered painting the door.  Then, I consulted with my dad about what that would involved.  I decided that I don't want to have that type of investment just yet!

I made two recipes before going to prayer group:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Blondies
The ladies at prayer group really enjoyed these!  

Cherry Bars (I didn't wait long enough to put the icing on, so it seeped inside.  I didn't want to reicing the bars, for fear that they would become too sweet.  The result is they look pretty ugly.)

Cookie Butter Pretzel Granola Bites (I ran out of time before prayer group with the ladies, so HH actually did the last recipe for me.) Secret Weapon for this recipe:

Homecoming Week Begins

Yesterday was the beginning of Homecoming Week.  My high school back home never made a big deal of this, so this is new to me. Yesterday was dress like a pirate day.

I had to try on Demi's wig!

This boy is one of my favorite kiddos.  He loves to write, and always has a notebook with him.  He frequently says "That is confidential," when you ask him something.  I found a vendor on Etsy to create this journal for him.  For about the past week, I kept asking him, "Nathaniel, do you ever get the feeling that something good is about to happen to you?"  He would just shrug his shoulders, and look at me like I was crazy.  Well, yesterday something "good" happened to him.  He was elated, and must have said thank you a hundred times.

So I think part of this began when I read Almost Amish earlier this year, but now that I am reading 7 by Jen Hatmaker, I am certainly in the mode to simplify my life.

I have not done all the months of projects, and most likely will not.  I am doing the possessions chapter.    I just look around and see so much excess.  I have in total 433 items piled on that bed.  That is 433 items that I have let crowd my life.  Each day my eyes are becoming more and more open to what I need, and justifying why this is a "need."  Do we really need to own three salt and pepper shakers?  Do we really need an everyday set of dishes and a set of china (my china can be dishwashed, microwaved, and frozen).

Jen Hatmaker talks about meaningfully purging your things.  Sure, you could just drop everything off at a consignment store, but why not use these giveaways as an opportunity to build relationships with those around you?  I've done this twice now.  I gave about 15 country CDs to a lady I work with.  I access all my music digitally now, and don't have the need to keep the CDs.  I also gave away a very nice set of bowls (and serving bowl) that belonged to Ben's grandmother.  There is a lady I work with who had just moved into a new place.  I wrote her a note about why I was giving her what I did, and I hoped she would cook good things, and enjoy time with her family using these bowls.

 Needless to say, NOTHING is safe.  I'm constantly scanning for what needs to be moved into this pile.

Here is a video of the author and two of her friends discussing chapter 3:

7 - Month 3: Possessions Bloom (in)courage Book Club from Bloom (in)courage on Vimeo.

My STUFF:

I also had my first "virtual meet up" with other single staff church pastor's wives last night.  I found this community group through "Leading and Loving It."  I'm so excited about the chance to talk monthly with ladies who are in very similar positions as I am.  We also have a private Facebook page in which we can communicate needs/questions on a more regular basis.

Providing Comfort in a Crisis

The Happy Home Fairy has been doing a series of posts about providing comfort to those in need.  One way she talks about is through food.  I had mentioned that one of my friends has surgery, and I wanted to use part of my day to make her two meals.  She has two boys, so I'm sure this won't go to waste. Ravioli Lasagna

The Ultimate Mexican Lasagna

(There was enough leftover that I was able to make an 8x8 pan for HH and I.) Banana Chocolate Brownies with Peanut Butter Frosting

Peanut Butter Cookies and Cream Bars
(I forgot to take a picture of these!) One thing I've learned about as I'm reading on "how to bless people with a meal," is to make sure everything is disposable.  Don't forget paper cups, plates, silverware, etc.  I like this philosophy, and if you are going to do something for someone, I feel that you should do it well. I think one of the biggest misconceptions about doing this much volume cooking is time.  These four recipes took me under two hours.  (I did not bake the Ravioli Lasagna or The Ultimate Mexican Lasagna, as they were going to be "freezer" meals I'm delivering tomorrow.)  This includes having to wash dishes.  I'm really learning to get in a flow, and make the most of each moment in the kitchen. For Ladies Bible Study I brought: No-Bake Biscoff Cookies  (I added a 1/2 cup of oats to this recipe, it seemed a bit too soupy.  If I made it again, I would an an entire extra cup of oats.)