Hot Dog Pie

There was a BBQ. And at the end of the BBQ there were many, many hotdogs.

They came home with us. And I began to wonder what to do with all the hotdogs, as they aren’t on my list of things to eat all the time. The burps are deadly.

I came across this recipe and wanted to pass it on. It’s just the right amount for four kids an adult for lunch.

Hot Dog Pie

2 potatoes

3 hotdogs

1 can kernel corn

1/2 c. shredded cheese

garlic salt

chili powder

seasoning salt

I sliced my potatoes - but I'd recommend chunks if you do this at home.

I sliced my potatoes – but I’ll do potato chunks instead of slices next time.

Slice your hotdogs into little medallions.

Layer your potatoes and hotdogs in a pie pan. Sprinkle some garlic salt on the top.

Drain the can of corn, spread it over the top of the hotdog and potato layers. Season with chili powder and seasoning salt.

Add cheese over the top!
Bake in oven at 350* for 30 – 35 minutes (until cheese is melted and potatoes are soft).

The finished product. Looks kinda gross, but tastes yummy!

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Copyright © StealingFaith.com 2010-2013 | All rights reserved

That Ain’t Bambi

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The past bit of time has been extremely hectic and filled with Concerns, so tonight I sat down and thought about things that make me laugh.

I took a look at Samba the Great Dane, who is roughly the size of a pony, and remembered the story of the deer who attacked a hunter. Take a moment to watch this video: Deer Attack.

Now. I’m not sure about you but to me there were two items giving this story a certain comic appeal:

A) Urine. I understand commitment to a hobby, but the guy sprayed the urine of another creature all over his body and into his mouth. That takes a special kind of crazy and it absolutely a respectable reason for getting his head hammered by a hoofed grazer.

B) Matrimony. This dude has obviously spent so much time hunting his wife has decided he has whatever he gets coming to him. The lady didn’t drop the video camera and run to assist… nope… she kept the camera rolling while her husband got molested by a wild animal.

As a child I visited a Deer Farm located near our home. I always loved petting and feeding the deer, their black, shiny, snotty noses snuffling after me for bits of corn. It was a highlight!

Now, I don’t think I’ll take my kids to the Deer Farm for quite awhile. I had never realized how vicious one of those animals can be,but lesson learned from my urine swigging friend, I will avoid the stag at all costs until my children are old enough to take one for the team themselves.

What stuck out to you about this video?

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Copyright © StealingFaith.com 2010-2013 | All rights reserved

Comforted

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We’ve been gone to a rabbit show, which was pretty fun. I have a saucy competitive streak in me and we were able to do well with several of our rabbits, so that made me very happy.

On the way back from the show we decided to take the kids through some of the national parks. And now, tonight, we find ourselves stuck in a ridiculously over priced hotel in Sequoia National Park because of a snow storm.

We pulled a 5th wheel and it’s been absolutely awesome… until tonight when the sleet and hail had us sliding out of control on the roads with sheer mountain drops on the side.

I prayed. And prayed. And prayed some more. Lizard was extremely tense and said he was having visions of looking at me and saying, “I’m sorry!” as we all fell to our death. It was pretty… out there. The kids were watching Anne of Green Gables and had no idea of what was happening.

We saw some bears. And some deer. And then we saw the road sign advertising a hotel and decided we’d take it regardless of the price. My, oh my, is this hotel making a killing tonight. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

After getting everyone in the room and learning long distance calls were charged (of course our cell phones aren’t working here in the park), I discovered the wireless was working! Of course I checked Facebook to distract myself from the last hairy bit of time we’d had…

… and learned the boys my kids played with all weekend and their mom were killed in a head on car accident on their way home.

I’m so rattled I feel like I can’t breath. I’m shocked and terribly, terribly upset. I know life is fragile. I write life is fragile. I recognize that as humans we don’t function well unless we pretend we’re tough, we’re strong, and we can do it.

But then life comes along and knocks the breath out of us.

I find myself obsessing about this horrible, tragic event. My hands shake, my stomach is in knots, I’m crying. This isn’t a tragedy that’s about me, or my family, but having walked so intimately with fear while driving in the snow this afternoon I know that, but by the grace of God, it could have been us.

I know that obsession is not useful, that I need to take a breath, think about something else, and then come back for more processing. So what do I do?

The best way to replace a thought in your head is to concentrate on something else. It’s rarely successful to stop a thought by thinking, “I can’t think about that anymore.” So, instead I need to actively choose another thought pattern.

As you know, I’ve been memorizing the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) So I might as well start there, reviewing what I’ve already learned.

“And when Jesus saw the crowd gathered he began to teach them… blessed are the poor in spirit…

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted…”

I don’t understand why this crash happened. I probably never will, but I do trust and believe that those who mourn shall be comforted and that there is a good out of the most awful circumstances.

I got distracted, wanted to see if anyone from her family had posted on her Facebook page. Want to know what I found? A cover photo that said “FROG” – Fully Rely On God with the verse “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

That wasn’t changed today as someone scrambled to find something relevant to this situation. She’s always had that on her facebook page because that’s how she chose to live her life.

I bet she never knew she would minister to someone posthumously with a Facebook cover photo. But she did… Because, strangely, those who mourn are comforted…

If you can, send a prayer up for the Howell family, and hug those around you for a second longer. Life is fragile.

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Copyright © StealingFaith.com 2010-2013 | All rights reserved

The Tired Mother’s Creed

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“I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.”

I came across this credo about a year ago… then today as I am frantically going through my email to make sure I don’t miss anything before we leave for a Rabbit Road Trip it popped up again. And it hit me at just the right spot so I wanted to share it with you!

Thank you to The Gypsy Mama, Lisa Jo Baker!

Repeat after me:

I shall not judge my house, my kid’s summer activities or my crafting skills by Pinterest’s standards.
I shall not measure what I’ve accomplished today by the loads of unfolded laundry but by the assurance of deep love I’ve tickled into my kids
I shall say “yes” to blanket forts and see past the chaos to the memories we’re building.
I shall surprise my kids with trips to get ice cream when they’re already in their pajamas.
I shall not compare myself to other mothers, but find my identity in the God who trusted me with these kids in the first place.
I shall remember that a messy house at peace is better than an immaculate house tied up in knots.
I shall play music loudly and teach my kids the joy of wildly uncoordinated dance.
I shall remind myself that perfect is simply a street sign at the intersection of impossible and frustration in Never Never land.
I shall embrace the fact that in becoming a mom I traded perfect for a house full of real.
I shall promise to love this body that bore these three children – out loud, especially in front of my daughter.
I shall give my other mother friends the gift of guilt-free friendship.
I shall do my best to admit to my people my “unfine” moments.
I shall say “sorry” when sorry is necessary.
I pray God I shall never be too proud, angry or stubborn to ask for my children’s forgiveness.
I shall make space in my grown up world for goofball moments with my kids.
I shall love their father and make sure they know I love him.
I shall model kind words – to kids and grown-ups alike.
I shall not be intimidated by the inside of my minivan – this season of chip bags, goldfish crackers and discarded socks too shall pass.
I shall always make time to encourage new moms.
I shall not resent that last call for kisses and cups of water but remember instead that when I blink they’ll all be in college.

~ with love from one tired mother to another.

This was originally printed on June 20, 2012 at LisaJoBaker.com

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Copyright © StealingFaith.com 2010-2013 | All rights reserved

Great Apps for a 7 year old

Favorite Apps Around Here

I just finished updating our iPad, deleting the apps the kids don’t use and downloading new ones.

We are big believers that technology, when used in wisdom and moderation, can be incredible educational tools. We’ve used LeapFrog’s Tag Readers, iPad, iTouch, you name it – and we have iPhones, so our lives are very much tied up into technology. Particularly if it has an apple emblem!

However, technology only works well if you are its master and it doesn’t master you. And not all apps are created equal – so here are a few that have worked well for us; specifically what’s fun for our 7 year old, Uno, to use right now. (I should mention we got all of them free.)

Pocket Zoo

1. Pocket Zoo. This app allows you to explore a virtual zoo with links to live cameras at zoos all over the place and links to educational videos about the animals. Just this morning I learned Orca’s have ears and can hear through their jaws because of Pocket Zoo!

Rocket Speller

2. Rocket Speller. This is a hit in our household! There are various levels of play, in the early levels you drag letters to the word and it’s basically matching; in harder levels you spell it out with prompts only. After getting a few right you get to choose a portion of the rocket ship and “build you own.” It’s exciting enough that the girls were fighting over what made the best looking rocket ship – and plugging along through spelling words the whole time.

Sushi Monster

3. Sushi Monster. This strange little monster will chop and dice his way through math problems, creating food as he goes. We really appreciate all of the Toco apps. They’re entertaining and fun for the girls.

Gymnastic

4. American Girl Gymnastics. The premise of this game is simply – a girl runs along balance beams and you make her jump and flip over obstacles. Thats it. Simple. But I sat with Uno for more than 15 minutes playing it just because we were having fun and laughing at the gymnast splat when we messed up.

Port to Port

5. American Girl Port to Port. The American Girl people have put together some cool apps as part of their marketing strategies! In Port to Port you have to sail your ship across a bay to pick up goods for the best price – without getting waylaid by pirates. It’s fun and makes you use your noggin to do math and be a smart shopper.

Shapes

6. Shapes. We’ve had this game for a long time – in fact, I think Uno was two when she started playing. Over the years it’s been a go-to game to pass the time while we’re in a check out line or even waiting for dinner in a restaurant.

Fit It!

7. Fit It! Another of our go-to games, the problem solving required here is great for logic and reasoning skill building. (Which I may need a bit of practice with myself!)

Talking Tom

8. Talking Tom. This is one of the most annoying apps I’ve ever seen. However, our children – all of them – love it. You say something and the talking cat says it back to you. It’s like a horrible game of copy cat. But, it’s engaging. Thus it makes my list.

Netflix

9. Netflix. Our Netflix account has been wonderful for watching shows, movies, etc. of both an entertainment and educational nature. The app is free, though the account is a monthly fee. We use this every day and the girls will often huddle together to watch something… who doesn’t love Dora the Explorer and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman on command?!

iBlow

10. iBlowFish. Another game with little to no educational value but useful in developing motor skills. You blow bubbles and if the poky fish poke the bubbles they pop. That’s all. Simple. Fun. The End.

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Copyright © StealingFaith.com 2010-2013 | All rights reserved

10 Spot Ramble: Checkers!

We all know this kid will be terribly embarrassed of this photo someday.

We all know this kid will be pretty embarrassed of this photo someday.

Someone found StealingFaith by typing in “are socks older than checkers?”

Call me crazy (I know that’s the most tame of all the terms I’ve been called in my lifetime) but I think that’s a fantastic question to ask! (The answer is, “No.”) I’ve already explored fun facts about socks, and I think this random search engine term is the perfect diving board to discover more about checkers, everyone’s favorite childhood game.

10 Spot Ramble: Checkers!

1. Checkers does not care about Prime Numbers. If the creators of checkers cared about prime numbers, which are numbers only divisible by 1 and themselves, they would not have chosen to have 64 squares on a checker board. They further thumbed their noses at mathematicians across the centuries by designating 12 playing pieces per opponent. Oh! The nerve!

2. Checkers is not a drink, nor a drinking game. It is, however, called “draughts” in many countries. Which explains why some people might find playing Checkers with a malted beverage alluring. Personally, I find a level head increases my competitiveness, so I will not be drinking a draught while playing draughts.

3. Checkers is not from New Mexico. Scholars believe the modern Checkers game evolved from a similar game played as far back as 1400 B.C. called Alquerque or Quirkat that was played in ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece and India. It’s important to note that Egypt, Rome, Greece, and India are not in the United States or New Mexico (which I think is an independent country in all ways that really matter) but it’s obvious “Alquerque” has influenced the name choice of Albuquerque.

4. International Fame and Fortune. World checkers champions have been recognized since 1847. I’m not sure why someone would travel the world for a checkers tournament, but I suppose there have been lesser rationales for going abroad. Just ask Hemingway.

5. Checkers are not Chinese. Though they share a name and similar concepts, Checkers and Chinese Checkers are not related. Chinese Checkers has nothing to do with China, and originated in Germany. The game was put on the market in the early 1900s and was called “Chinese Checkers” to capitalize on the public’s familiarity with checkers and to give the game an oriental flavor, as a marketing ploy.

6. Checkers is for Predestinationers. In the 1500s the rules of Checkers were rewritten so that, if given an opportunity to “jump” an opponent, the jump must be taken. This forced capture rule removes free choice. And the reference to predestination and Calvinism is quite obscure unless you happen to be married to a guy with a degree in Biblical Studies. Which I am. So I do know the differences between Calvinism and Armenianism, though I won’t go into that now because we’re talking about Checkers, not religion. Sheesh!

7. Checkers is Obsessive. Perhaps every hobby had its proponents who are more fanatical than rational… there is no doubt that Checkers has drawn its own following of cultic red and black square hoppers who have access to the internet. Want proof – this page, dedicated to “Leon H. Goans, who trained me in the traditional manner of (1) defeating me game after game by mail, (2) offering advice and encouragement, (3) losing to me now and then as his health deteriorated, and (4) giving me much of his checkers library.” The idea of playing Checker by mail gives me hives. But that’s because I’m not obsessive. About Checkers.

8. Level Playing Field. There are a few moves so aggressive, so cunning, so… divine that they have been banned from formal Checkers games. I don’t know what they are. I will likely never need them, as I rarely find myself in a cutthroat Checkers game. But it’s nice to know these moves exist and are banned.

9. Families that Play Together, Stay Together. Truth is, as a child my mom got so mad at my uncle over a game of Sorry she refused to let my sister and I play it as children. So the idea of board games ensuring domestic, familial bliss is a bit bogus. That being said, it makes sense that if you can play board games together there’s a decent chance your family is liking one another and communicating. So it’s not that much of a stretch to assume Checkers = Family Values.

10. Ridges are best. As an informally trained Checkers player I have experiences three different Checkers boards and playing pieces in my lifetime. This obviously makes me an expert. As an expert I’m just going to put it out there that the playing pieces with ridges are absolutely more awesome than the smooth fellers. If you’ve got a King or Queen that keeps losing its crown you’ve got a problem on your hands. Ridges make them stick better and that’s a good thing.

Thanks for enjoying your most recent addition of the 10 Spot Ramble. May all your checkered days be fruitful and full of victory.

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If you like this post, feel free to share it (with attribution).
Copyright © StealingFaith.com 2010-2013 | All rights reserved

My Soap Box

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I just read that four boxes keep us free:

The Soap Box

The Ballot Box

The Jury Box

The Cartridge Box

Keeping this in mind, I would like to exercise my right to the Soap Box and mention something that’s limiting my freedom: my Pampered Chef pizza stone and my cast iron griddle.

I utilize both of these kitchen items regularly and yet I struggle every time with the clean up. I get it that you’re not supposed to go after them with soap and such, that the build up of oils act as a “seasoning” for the baking…

… but truly, it’s gross.

My pizza stone has burn marks from pieces of cheese. And if I can see a mark on the stone that means there is a bit of decomposing cheese stuck to the very same surface I’m using to feed myself a freshly cooked pizza. That’s just not right.

It’s the pure fear of eating pizza that tastes like Dawn soap that keeps me from scrubbing away at that stone. And I have to admit, really quietly…

~~I put my pizza stone in the dishwasher once.~~

Did you hear something? No? Me, either.

The cast iron griddle offers the same conundrum for me. It sits in my sink after use for many hours while I decide if today is the day I’m going to break out the steel wool and go to town. Right about the time my hand itches for that strange combination of SOS pad and blue soap I think of the joy my husband had when we opened the box to that griddle (it was a wedding gift) and he imagined the character it would gain as we used it over and over for our family meals.

The voice inside my head says, “That’s salmonella, buddy, not character, it’s giving us.”

But, once again, I ignore the voice that screams “GERMS! GERMS! GERMS!” when I look at the pan, wipe it down thoroughly, and put it away.

I always heat it up to scorching hot before I cook anything new on it.

Why, oh why, must I actually take care of these kitchen items as directed? I can rebel in so many ways, and yet I’m inhibited when it comes to my naturally cleaning inclinations in this area.

It’s true. Life is just not fair.

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Deliberately

Look ‘em in the eyes!

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

I spend a lot of time thinking about if I’m doing things On Purpose.

Perhaps it’s because my sophomore English teacher made us read Henry David Thoreau and I really connected with his explanation of Where he Lived and What He Lived For at Walden Pond, or perhaps because I’m a bit more controlling than the average person; I always had a feeling that to truly live you have to passionately participate in life.

Do you ever envision LIFE as a real, practical, tangible thing?

I imagine LIFE to be a bucking bronco, itching to go at the starting gate and waiting to see who can ride the longest – with the most flair – without falling off. In my own life I’ve been thrown a time or two from that bronco – which (after catching my breath) only makes me more determined to get up on my feet and step up to ride again!

The problem with LIFE, the bucking bronco, or however you imagine it, is that it never stops moving. It’s like driving on San Francisco hills: you’re either rolling backwards or actively driving toward a destination. There’s no coasting. With LIFE you’re either managing it or it’s managing you.

I spent time thinking about that this afternoon because I got to drive home from The Big City all by myself, Stella the Suburban was empty of any bodies besides my own yet filled with a trunk load of Costco toilet paper.

I’m not used to the quiet time, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Lizard was ahead of me in our new-to-us vehicle that doesn’t fit every member of our family at once but does drink fuel like it’s a tiny shot of expensive malt, as opposed to Stella, who guzzles like a sailor set ashore after a long trip at sea.

The quiet time, combined with the celebration of Tres’ third birthday and the sudden realization Uno is in her eighth year of life, had me questioning myself:

Am I living on purpose?

What are my purposes?

Do I need to tweak what I’m doing right now in order to align more closely with the calling on my life?

Am I doing what needs to be done to satisfy the call I feel compelled to answer?

My personal good news is that I think I’m in a sweet spot of letting God be in charge. The sad news? This time I have with my kiddos is flying by and I’m letting my own impatience and exasperation lose opportunities to know them while they still want to be known.

That is damning news, my friends. Damning. It bears little resemblance to the deliberate, intentional parenting I chose when we decided homeschooling was the right choice for our family.

I’ll be working on this concept for quite awhile, I’m sure, but I wanted to let you know these thoughts are on my mind because I wonder if you’re living deliberately?

Are you living on purpose?

If someone asked you for three things that make you passionate, make your face light up and your heart happy – could you rattle them off? Or would you have to think hard?

Are you living a life on purpose?

When it’s all said and done, these questions, the ones about how we choose to live, they’re the ones that will haunt us when we’re in the nursing homes wondering if this is all there is. They’re the questions whose answers make life worth living.

So, are you? Are you living on purpose?

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It’s Worth Fighting

Samwise Gamgee

A Note from Middle Earth (a.k.a. The Lord of the Rings):

Frodo Baggins: I can’t do this Sam.

Samwise Gamgee: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are.

It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened?

But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.

Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.

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Unpleasantness

So… yesterday I jabbed myself in the eyeball with a piece of rebar that was sticking out of the side of a rabbit cage.

It wasn’t a pleasant experience. However, I survived and live to tell the story, no pirate patch needed.

Another unpleasant experience this evening? Dos’s pants fell down. We were walking the parking lot and one minute she was clothed, the next minute she wasn’t.

I don’t understand how these things happen. And why is she always the one who ends up nekkid in public?!

My silly troubles faded away quickly when I popped over to the World Wide Web and read an article about Kermit Gosnell, the Pennsylvania doctor who is being charged with murder for performing live birth abortions.

If you have the ability to experience, to truly feel outrage, this case must make your blood boil and your stomach heave.

The article I read is one of many surrounding the story of this macabre business as the testimony in the case is revealed. Details of late term abortions resulting in live infant death are being revealed, along with the callous disregard of Gosnell and his willingness to end those lives by severing the spinal cords of the littlest ones.

I think of it and remember how I felt the moment I heard my child’s first, gasping cry. And then I imagine that whimper cut short, and the confusion that tiny human felt, along with the pain.

It makes me cry. But who am I, just an emotional mother.

Assuming you’re unemotional, no matter how you look at it, this case is chilling.

So, after learning of this story, my family went to dinner. While we were there we noticed two families in the restaurant with very little newborns. They were so tiny! The eyes had that disoriented, unfocused look and their cries were so soft they were almost laughable. I held my own baby, a robust 9 months old now, and remembered back to the days I was just getting to know him. I looked at my 7 year old daughter and marveled at how she has lengthened and matured.

I don’t know what history will say of us for our culture’s ability to overlook the death of innocents, but I do hope the outrage over this particular story spreads deep and wide – and is loud!

If statistics are true, 25% of American women have received an abortion… and while I can’t even begin to know or understand the circumstances that led to these decisions as women and doctors exercised their “right to choose,” I do believe there is a trail of unhappiness and pain littering that right to choose.

My response tonight, for a bit, was to hug my children tighter and hold them just a little longer in gratitude that they are here, present, in my life. They enhance everything I do and I would be lost without them.

Even when they drop their drawers in the parking lot of the China Star Buffet.

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Stealing Faith

humor for relationships, family & life

Category Archives: Vive!

Hot Dog Pie

That Ain’t Bambi

Comforted

The Tired Mother’s Creed

Repeat after me:

Great Apps for a 7 year old

10 Spot Ramble: Checkers!

My Soap Box

Deliberately

It’s Worth Fighting

Unpleasantness