This is going to be the title page in our family album.  I am currently working on pages for 2009.  I have added a few pictures of highlights of that year: pictures of the boys' on their birthdays and a picture of our newest family member that was born in 2009, our mini schnauzer, Titan. I have also listed some of the other highlights.

Can't wait to continue on!  Now if only the mail would come!

-Reading What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms

-A road trip

-Learning to trust

-Board games

-The look of trees covered in snow

-Tim getting a job at the university...adjunct professor in the journalism department

-The extra income from Tim's teaching job

-Zach taking one college course that he likes

-Tim in an upcoming movie, Big Miracle

{Drew Barrymore in Big Miracle}

{Tim with "his family" in Big Miracle}

-Warm muffins

-Reading The Hunger Games

So the pantry challenge is almost complete...just one more day.  This has been an awesome experience!  I have only spent about $300 this month on groceries and have greatly increased space in my freezers and pantry shelves. I feel like I have been so productive in using what was already here...however, I am eager now to restock!  I have some cooking ahead of me so that I can make meals for my family and for my friend's family (we exchange meals each month).  I am thinking that I need to do a pantry challenge at least once a year (or maybe even twice). I sure have saved a bundle and been a good steward of what we already have!

Have you ever done a pantry challenge? Go to Good Cheap Eats to read more...

I confess.  I am a good girl.  It isn't a matter of boasting.  It is more of a matter of wiring.  I have always been a rule follower, a people pleaser, and a perfectionist. So when I saw Grace for the Good Girl: Letting Go of the Try-Hard Life I knew I would eventually need to read it.  There were so many concepts and lessons that I needed to learn or be reminded of

like...

But the greatest lesson I needed to be reminded of is that there is grace for those that are so wrapped up in making life perfect.  Life isn't about perfection.  Life is about receiving God's grace in our weaknesses.  Abiding in His strength when we feel like we don't measure up.  If we are truly "saved by grace" then we don't need to do anything more to be accepted by God.  We are already accepted, already loved, already perfect in His eyes.

I am focusing on abiding in His grace and learning how to let going of the "try-hard life" and resting in His acceptance of me.  I am learning that what others think of me isn't as important as what He thinks of me.  I am realizing that when I totally accept His grace and love that my insecurities, negative emotions, and the masks that I wear tend to melt away.

Yesterday I tried a new recipe for chewy granola bars.  The results were awesome!  I didn't have any raisins so those got omitted, but even without them they turned out fine.

1 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup melted butter

2 t. vanilla

Mix the above in a bowl and then preheat the oven to 350.

Add the following:

3 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup coconut

1/2 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raisins

1/3 cup wheat germ

2 t. sesame seeds

1 cup chocolate chips

Stir well. Then press into a greased cookie sheet (or one lined with parchment paper) and bake 20 minutes. Let cool before serving.

{journaling and filler cards}

{Cardstock}

{The actual album}

{And the photos to get started}

Once I get the photo pages I am ready to start working on an album for Tim and I starting in 2009.  I am really hoping that this type of scrapbooking will speed up the process so that I can be more up-to-date.  It seems like with three albums in the works (one for Tim and I and one for each of our boys) that I am constantly behind.  Can't wait to get started!

If you want to learn more about Project Life click here.

I am using...

So we are finished with week three of the pantry challenge.  I have saved a fistful of cash in the process!  We have spent only about $275 this month on groceries.  Totally amazing!!!  My freezers are looking empty.  I have used up some blueberries, cranberries, and rhubarb in baked goods this past week. Most of all I have tried to stay away from the store knowing that I would only spend more!

Here is the recipe for the muffin mix I made before January started.  It has been a lifesaver and has forced me to use up fruit in my freezer (we pick blueberries and cranberries in the woods here in Alaska-so it is a free source of fruit!)

8 cups flour

3 cups sugar

1 cup dry milk powder

3 T. baking powder

2 t. salt

2 t. cinnamon

2 t. ground nutmeg

1/4 cup dried egg powder (if you have this...if not you can add a fresh egg when you mix the batter)

Mix all together.  Then put a little under 3 cups of the mix in a quart ziploc.  You should come out with 4 quart bags of mix.  On the bag label what it is and the following:

ADD: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup oil (can be reduced), 1 egg (if there is no egg powder) and "mix-ins" (fruit, nuts, etc.)

When ready to use...mix all ingredients together and bake in muffin tins at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.