Henley on the Horn

God is with Us

2012-01-09T13:48:00.004-04:00

Do you find that it is difficult to let go of your children at different times? Perhaps it is difficult for you when the school year begins and you hand your child off to their teacher for 8 hours a day. Summer camp approaches and you can hardly imagine not seeing your little darling for 2 weeks. I have this fear of letting go at different times. In the end, my fear is really sin, because it is a lack of trust in our Lord. I am afraid to let go for fear that something could happen. Our Sunday School lesson yesterday was really powerful. I cannot do it justice, so I will not try. However, one of the points was that a disciple is called to let go or give away EVERYTHING we have. We have to be willing to give the Lord all that we own, including our relationships and loved ones. We must love Him above all things. One of my fears is that I will lose my husband or one of our children. In reality, they are not MINE but HIS. I have to trust Him to provide and care for them, and if He calls them home, then I will trust His plan but grieve mightily. Even as I write this I fear that it is foreshadowing. Isn't it funny how Satan tempts us to not trust? He plays mean mind games.

I am sure you wonder why I am telling you all of this. It's a bit heavy for a Monday morning, isn't it? Well, our youngest daughter was invited to library time today with a new friend. She was so excited, and I was very excited for her. We arrived early so that I could get my library card before telling Hurricane goodbye. Story time began before I was finished, so Hurricane went in with a friend. Once I was ready to leave, I could not get in the room to tell her goodbye without interrupting the whole story time, so I left without telling her goodbye.

At first, I was excited to shop alone for our groceries, but then my mind starting playing tricks on me. I started missing our youngest. Sometimes she whines and keeps me from concentrating, but she is my precious constant companion. She was not with me on a day we are normally together and I missed her. Then I began to worry. What if yesterday's lesson was meant to prepare me to let her go? What if she is in an accident on her way to her friend's home? We live on a steep mountain, and accidents do happen. I trusted my new friend, but I still began to worry, so I prayed for Hurricane's safety. Again, I had to confess my lack of trust. I kept praying for her as I ran my quick errands. Finally, I was ready to climb back up the mountain.

Just as I started my car, a huge firetruck came whizzing past me in the general direction of the library. I worried a little more. What if my fear was justified? Would I see her in some awful accident? I drove forward, hoping to find out why the fire truck was called. Again, I was troubled by my worry. We are told that the Lord takes care of us. Why can't I fully trust Him sometimes?

As I rounded the corner to go up the mountain, I saw in my rear view mirrow a car that I believe was my new friend carrying her daughters and my Hurricane. My eyes welled up with tears as I praised God for showing me that HE is real. He ALONE is our Great Protector. He loves Hurricane much more than I do. I climbed the mountain and watched her car climb behind me. I will pick up Hurricane in a little while, but the Lord allowed me to see her safely up the mountain! He hears our prayers, even when we are not full of faith.

Tuesday's Tip!!!!

2012-01-03T16:13:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year where we sadly take down all of the joys of the Christmas season and pack them in boxes to be reused next year. While living in Tampa, we would merely switch our Christmas wreath for a Gasparilla wreath and the decorating of pirates and beads would commence. I am tempted to break out our pirate gear just for a little winter fun. Nonetheless, our company is gone and so is our tree.

I carefully packed away each ornament and admired them for the last time until next Christmas. Which are your favorite ornaments? Mine are the ones our children have made through the years, especially those with their sweet pictures on them. I treasure them!

When I pack away our ornaments, I pack them in the box labeled with the child's name on it. EACH child has his or her own box of ornaments. When we decorate the tree, they can put up their very own ornaments that they have made or been given through the years. One daughter's godparents give her a sterling ornament each year, so I write her name on the small ornament box along with the year and who gave it to her. This helps us remember her godparents each year and we are able to remember and pray for them:). Then the ornaments all go back in the large rubbermaid box at the end of the Christmas season. I have DH and my ornaments in their own box too. It keeps all of us happy and organized. Happy Tuesday's Tip!!!

YOU guessed it!!!!

2012-01-03T15:06:00.002-04:00

Mama Henley's family is enjoying our new adventures in CHATTANOOGA!!!! We never expected to move around as we have the past three years, but it is always great to be in God's will. This move came about unexpectedly and has allowed DH to have a great job with an incredible boss. We are very thankful for the Lord's provision in all of this!

So.... we have left the beautiful Florida beaches to live on a mountain!!! We are enjoying life in a small town with all of the resources Chattanooga has to offer. Chattanooga has been greatly revitalized with fun shops and restaurants. Some new favorites are Public House, St. John's Restaurant, and Taco Mamacita!!! Life on the river is beautiful and the crisp winter days create lots of occasions for warm snuggles inside! Our children have enjoyed all kinds of adventures climbing rocks and playing in the creek. I have enjoyed our wonderful new kitchen where I have been able to experiment with lots of fun recipes. It is not easy to eat fast food here which is a good thing. Hopefully our waist lines will thank us! Unfortunately, it seems to be more of a license to enjoy more dessert at home! Ha!

I can't wait to share our new adventures with all of you. I have missed blogging. It was a tough spring with lots of change. Our prayer is that 2012 will be a year of little change and more of the SAME:).

Happy New Year!!!!!

2012-01-02T20:17:00.003-04:00

Happy New Year from our new home!!!! I hope 2012 has had a wonderful start for all of you. The holidays are a happy time for most people but can be a very difficult time as well. For some reason, more deaths tend to happen this time of year. We lost DH's daddy just before Christmas four years ago. It is strange to celebrate without him. I am praying for those of you who have experienced loss in the past or this year.

This year we began 2012 in a NEW CITY!!!!! I will give you some hints about our new place of residence....

-Our city is the fourth largest city in the state where we now live.

-We are at a much higher altitude than we were before

-Our city is home to a great aquarium, a river, and many fun restaurants and shops.

-Miniature golf, the Krystal hamburger, the tow truck, and the Moon Pie were invented in our city!

-Bessie Smith, the most famous female blues singer in the 1920s and 1930s was born here.

-Our city is absolutely beautiful but it used to be called "The Armpit of the South".

Can you guess where we live?!

Missing in Action or Where in the World is Mama Henley or Did you Quit Writing Your Blog?

2011-12-19T21:38:00.001-04:00

It is no secret. I have been quite remiss in writing on my blog. There have been weeks where I have completely lived without my blog world, and there are weeks I have missed it. I often think of things to write in my head, but seldom find myself sitting down to write. 2011 has been a huge year of change for us.
We watched our precious school close its doors for the last time in May. It had been an amazing Classical Christian school for 16 years. We mourned its passing. We mourned the relationships that were hurt or lost in the process of the closing. We cried many tears for our friends, our school, our students, and our own children. The Lord definitely knew our hearts for we spent a lot of time talking to Him. In that respect, it was a time of growth. He is always with us.

Our summer was spent praying over what to do next. We prayed about where to send our four oldest to school. We considered homeschooling since I am a former elementary school teacher. The Lord stirred up a group of people to start another Classical Christian school. That was our heart's desire. I followed DH's lead to help start the new school. It opened its doors just after Labor Day with an exuberant group of teachers and staff and a wonderful headmaster who had been there the last year of our former school. I was to be the French teacher. We LOVED the updated curriculum, the teachers, and everyone in the school. We bought new uniforms for four eager students and happily began a new adventure in Classical Christian education.

Just as I finished my first lesson plan for teaching French, it became clear that DH was going to have a new job. We rejoiced over the Lord's provision, though our hearts questioned why we had gone through the tears and efforts to start a new school that we would now have to leave. That's right. DH's new job would move us out of Tampa. We could not believe it!!!

While excited about this new opportunity and adventure for our family, the idea of leaving our friends and our church and our school was enough to undo us. We cried even more tears. Our days were spent trying to spend as much time with our dear friends as possible. We had gatherings and sweet dinners and lunches and playdates with friends. We cried some more. We prayed.

Just before Thanksgiving, the children took their last swim in our sweet Tampa pool. Our hearts hurt as we waved goodbye to palm trees, bay breezes, and sunny days. We are nesters. We like to burrow into our home and community and stay there. We lived in our Raleigh home for 8 years with no intention of adding on our moving. We were very content with our life there when we were moved to Florida. Our Florida home brought us so many sweet friendships and happy memories. Now we are off on a new adventure!!! I hope to live to tell you ALL about it!

Quite an Education OR Desperate Times call for Desperate Measures

2011-08-10T23:14:00.006-04:00

Our children have been receiving quite an education this summer. I mean, QUITE an education. You may have read about all of the school work we've been accomplishing this summer. Perhaps it made your stomach turn and thus made you not want to be my friend. I understand. I can't believe it myself. Well, lemmetellyou about a little education. Five children and no nanny or babysitter or long lost grandmother means 5 children go everywhere Mama goes. And I do mean EVERYWHERE.
Dear DH and I are going to have a little getaway this weekend. It is long overdue. There are some other, um, unmentionables that are long overdue as well. SO... I asked the children to please go to the bathroom, gather their DSi or a good book, and hop in the car. Mama Henley was desperate. I know your minds are racing, "For what in the world could I be so desperate? Did Mama Henley take the children to the liquor store?" No! I would never do such a thing as that.
Mama Henley simply stated, "Children, we need to run an errand. You are going to wait in the waiting room while I do something and then we'll leave." Well, Mama Henley has not raised any fools. They don't overlook details... not even the tiniest one. Once we were all in the car, our son asked, "Mama, what are you going to do? Does Daddy know?"
"It's okay, darling. Daddy will understand. It won't take long," I replied.
"Mama, what are you going to do? It sounds inappropriate," our attorney son stated firmly.
"Honey, it's none of your business. It's private," I calmly replied.
"Well, Mama, it sounds inappropriate. I think you are doing inappropriate things. It's giving me the creeps," the judge offspring let me know with disgust in his voice.
At this point, I can hardly drive because of our conversation. Now where do YOU think Mama Henley was dragging her offspring, ladies? Well, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I was overdue and I had to be all fixed up for my trip and that was THAT.
We drove to Melt Out, a darling walk-in day spa that allows children in the waiting room. I set up not one, not two, not even three, but FIVE children in waiting room chairs. I read the board to figure out that my treatment is called the Fine Tune. I signed in and waited. Finally, Miss M called my name and I went back into a quiet room, leaving my children to wait. Let's just say that I was not having a massage. You guessed it. I was there for a bikini wax. Before you call DFACS, the children were safe and well-fed and had no idea what I was doing back there. They thought I was having a massage. Honey, after the interrogation, I NEEDED a massage. For the first time ever, I think I laughed my way through the bikini wax hearing our conversation from the car in my head and wondering what they were thinking now. Thankfully it didn't take long.
I walked out of the room to find our children calmly sitting in their chairs and eating lots of Dum dum lollipops. Don't worry; they had lunch later. I decided to go ahead and have my brows waxed while I was there. They do such a better job compared to my over-tweezing self. As I reclined in the chair, I happened to sense people watching me. I opened my eyes to see not one pair, but SIX PAIRS of eyes staring at me while sounds like, "Ooo.... ouch... yuck" filled my ears. All 5 children and Miss M were looking at my poor eyebrows being waxed. I started laughing uncontrollably at the visual of them trying to watch my OTHER wax this closely. It was too much. I am sure Miss M went home to tell her family about the crazy lady who brought her FIVE children to a bikini wax. But you know what, that's okay. I haven't had a good story in a long time, so I am happy to share, even if it is TMI and I vowed never to talk about such things on my blog. You just can't pass up a good story now, can you?

Tuesday's Tip

2011-08-02T15:20:00.002-04:00

By now the golden days of summer may have turned a little bit long. Perhaps you have taken all of your fabulous trips, the children have been to camp, and the grandparents are no longer offering respites for Mama and Papa. School looms around the corner, but it's just far enough away that the whines and daily doldrums are getting to you. We have our moments at Mama Henley's house, and they are not always pretty. I can't tell you how many times I have walked into a room that I had recently organized for the 100th time only to find it completely destroyed. That scenario often happens multiple times a day in the Hurricane/Nature Girl room. Those two are more than a little to contend with at times! :)

To combat summer fights and boredom, we have adapted a summer schedule. I encourage the children to sleep in the mornings. They are all awake by 8am, and we have breakfast and clean up our dishes. Then, I do math or reading with one child while the others read, do math problems, practice typing, or practice piano. Everyone has to brush teeth and hair and make their own bed and straighten their room. Some mornings we have a morning Bible story time but sometimes that happens in the evenings or even the afternoon. Our children are not perfect. The Dsis and tv are a constant battle. It never fails that some of the children are not doing what I asked. However, overall, we have been able to accomplish a lot this summer. Everyone has completed their summer reading so everything we read now is just gravy. We are reviewing an entire math curriculum with one of our children, and it has been going remarkably well. Piano keeps us disciplined as well.

In the afternoons, the children play or swim or sometimes we run errands. The children use their imagination all of the time and it is wonderful to hear. I have been trying to do most of my errands at night once they are going to bed. A trip to Publix or Target is much easier solo than with 5 children. Keeping our days fairly organized makes them more enjoyable. I have been able to work with the children individually but I have also taken the time to clean some closets and cut coupons, etc.

Another great advantage of summer is the time to teach life skills to your children. Since we try to eat most of our meals at home, I have been able to let the children help me cook. Today I taught Tiny how to peel and devein shrimp. She took off all of the tails and arranged them on a baking sheet so that we could roast them for our shrimp salad. I didn't plan to have her help me. Rather, she came in the room and asked. So I stopped trying to rush and I taught her what to do. My inclination was to not let her hands get stinky with the shrimp smell, but I am so glad I let her do it. She learned a lot. Then our Nature Girl asked to shuck the corn. Again, I slowed down and taught that baby some life skills. Summer should be slow and enjoyable. Children need time to play. It's also okay to help them keep up the skills they learned during the school year.

I have learned that our best days are the ones that are loosely organized and I am interacting with them and not just living near them. What about you?

Thoughts

2011-07-26T22:54:00.002-04:00

DH is such a wise man. I love the way he leads our family and spends time praying about things and talking about them with me. Tonight we were having a discussion about our family. DH pointed out that we only have 9 more years (including this one) of having all of our children under one roof. Wow. He painted a picture for me when he said, "In 9 years we won't have 5 sleeping children in their beds in this house. Three of them will be in college." Wow. I can hardly believe that. Our time as parents at home of these precious babies is halfway over for our oldest three. That is crazy. Lord, how can that be? It seems like just yesterday I was using one spoon to quickly feed three babies their squash baby food! Now they are going into the fourth grade. The time does pass too quickly.

Therefore, we are going to carefully choose how we spend our time. Certainly we have tried to choose wisely how we spend our time in the past, but now we are going to go forward being even more careful. This is it. This is our chance to help our children grow in their love for the Lord. This is our chance to KNOW them well. One day they will leave us and no longer live with us. One day they will be adults. Gasp! This is our time to love them, know them, enjoy them, and to teach them about our dear Lord and all that He has done for us. We get one chance. DH and I don't want to miss a minute with them. Of course we will miss minutes with them, but you know what I mean.

If we spend time away from our family, we want it to be time well-spent. We want to enjoy our time with those who have been true friends, but life is too short to be with those who would not choose to be with us. Our relationship with the Lord and then each other is most important, but our children are next. They have been entrusted to us for a short time. While the days of summer can be long, I am trying to relish these sweet moments of swimming in our pool, going to the library, painting horses, and cooking meals. With the Lord's help, I am trying to carefully discipline when I see disobedience and to leave the room when I'm too angry. I am trying to mold the heart of a stubborn but precious 4 year old and to help a 7 year old with her reading. I am encouraging lots of reading, piano, and math facts. We are talking about the Bible, reading the Bible, and answering catechism questions. We are learning the 10 Commandments thanks to encouragement from Covenant Kids Class. Dh is also reading the first "Harry Potter" book to our oldest children. We are night swimming, playing on the beach, drinking an occasional sprite, and having too many popsicles. We are thanking God for every day we can enjoy these precious children!!!

Summer Corn Salad

2011-07-25T21:59:00.004-04:00

When we visited the fabulous Julia and David, we were treated to many gourmet meals! The best part is that they took place right there at her dining room table. Julia is a wonderful cook who carefully uses fresh produce and herbs right from her garden! One day at lunch, Julia prepared a delicious corn salad with fresh corn. I did not write down her recipe, so today I created my own summer corn salad. I think you can adjust it as needed and use fresh ingredients that you have on hand to make it even better!

First of all, you need some sweet summer corn. Shuck it and brush it to get rid of the corn silk. Then, carefully cut the corn off of the cob. I did not cook our corn, but those who prefer a hot salad could grill it or saute' the corn in olive oil. I thought the summer sweetness was just perfect without cooking it. I put the corn in a large mixing bowl and added a little olive oil, Maldon sea salt, and fresh pepper. Next, I used ingredients we have in our kitchen including a great tomato, red onion, and fresh basil. Avocado is great too, but ours was not yet ripe. You can use cilantro instead of basil if you want it to taste differently. Chop the ingredients you want to add to the corn and then add them to the large bowl. Taste it to see if you need more salt and pepper. Put it in your refrigerator so that the flavors mix. YUM! You have a healthy and easy side dish! Happy Summer, y'all! Thank you, Julia, for the inspiration!

Boca Grande

2011-07-23T21:35:00.002-04:00

I love my husband for many reasons, but one reason is his sense of adventure. He is not afraid to pop five little people in the car for a road trip. We are big advocates of being a tourist in your own state, so that is what we set out to do this fine Saturday morning! We drove about 2 hours to reach Boca Grande. Only DH had been to Boca Grande in the past. It was fun to drive around and see the little town and the Gasparilla Inn. The Pink Elephant, or "The Pink" as it is widely known, was dead, so we decided to eat on the beach at The South Beach Grille. My key lime grilled shrimp wrap was superb and DH loved his blackened grouper sandwich!

After lunch, we drove around and admired the beaches, homes, and the lighthouse. The Florida sun was so hot that we did not play in the sand. However, we DID stop at the Loose Caboose for some ice cream before driving back to Tampa!

An Email Every Parent Dreads...

2011-07-20T10:14:00.002-04:00

Hello,

LouseCalls is sending you this email anonymously from a friend of yours. Your friend cares about you and wants you to know that you may have recently been in contact with someone that may have head lice, and want you to be on the lookout.

LouseCalls, Florida's most experienced head lice removal service, suggests you follow our 4 C's to determine if anyone in your family has head lice:

First and foremost, remain Calm and don't "Freak Out." Head lice affect millions of people in the United States every year, of all socio-economic levels and backgrounds. Head lice are not a sign of un-cleanliness or an indication that you did anything wrong as a parent.
Check each of your family members for the presence of head lice. For information about what to look for and down to earth facts, visit our web site at www.lousecalls.com.
Communicate to other people in your social circle that head lice are around. You can also send this email anonymously by simply filling out the form at www.lousecalls.com/Register.aspx Remember, head liceï¿½s best defense technique is the fact that people are embarrassed to communicate to friends and family that they have had lice.
Contact LouseCalls with any questions or comments you may have, or to make an appointment. LouseCalls has helped thousands of families eradicate head lice from their lives since 2005, and we can help you too. Contact LouseCalls directly at 561-3760-1066 or amy@lousecalls.com.
Warm wishes for a head lice free future!

Amy Graff
LouseCalls, Inc
"No More Louse-y Days"

Can you say, "YUCK!!" I don't know about you, but my head has been itching ever since I read this!!!! Thankfully I have not seen any critters in any of Mama Henley's babies' hair, but rest assured I am on the lookout!!!!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-07-19T05:13:00.002-04:00

Are you enjoying summer travels? I know we are!! It is great to get out and explore the country when your children do not have to be in school. Whether you work or stay at home with your children, many people travel during the summer. Favorite destinations include the beach and the mountains.

When we travel, we love to send postcards to family and special friends. I actually like going in the junky tourist shops so that I can buy 10 postcards for $1. In "shi shi" Martha's Vineyard, the postcards could not be found for a bargain. Once I find my postcards, I am very excited. I sit and write while waiting in restaurants or at night in our hotel room or house.

Then what do you do? How do you know everyone's address? How do you mail the postcards. Certainly smartphones have made life easier for us as addresses can be stored right in your phone. I take a copy of our Christmas address list with me when we travel. I also go to the post office in our hometown before we leave and buy a sheet or more of postcard stamps. Then, once I write the postcards, I can drop them in the mail! Therefore the postcards will have the cool postmark of whatever fun place we are visiting at the time rather than the postcard of our hometown. Don't you just love it?! Go out and buy your postcard stamps right now before your next trip! You can even keep them at the ready in your purse! Don't forget a favorite pen as well:). Happy Travels!

Favorite Chef's Knife

2011-07-16T18:01:00.003-04:00

I have some nice Henkel knives that I have enjoyed. We have a set of them. They work well, but I think I may want a chef's knife or santoku knife for my birthday or Christmas gift. A local chef recommended Wusthof, which is what believe my chef cousin uses. What do you recommend? I would LOVE to hear your favorites!

Precious Leiby Kletzky

2011-07-14T11:01:00.002-04:00

After posting about NYC on Monday, I am so sad to hear the story of sweet Leiby Kletzky. The sweet 8-year old asked for directions as he walked just a few blocks home from camp. Little Leiby had begged his parents to let him walk home alone just a few blocks from camp. He became turned around and asked for directions. Unfortunately, the man whom he asked directions kidnapped Leiby and ultimately killed this sweet little boy. My mind cannot grasp it. It is my worst fear. I cannot understand such a horrific act on such a sweet boy.
I am left to just pray for Leiby and his parents. Dear Lord, please protect our children. Please comfort the parents of Leiby Kletzky. Please let them know that you are real and that you are their Savior who loves them. Please comfort this community. Thank you for loving us more than we can understand. Amen.

Start Spreading the News...

2011-07-11T22:59:00.003-04:00

Our precious miracle triplets just turned ten this spring. I still can't believe it! Our 2 pound babies are no longer babies! Can you believe that my sweet parents took these three to NYC to celebrate their tenth birthday?! What a trip! Thankfully I was able to go along as a chaperone due to the graciousness of my brother and sister in law who kept the little sisters.
When we arrived in New York, we were greeted by a limo. The children squealed and loved drinking a sprite on the way into the city! We had adventure after adventure, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Rustic Bakery Crackers

2011-07-07T21:21:00.004-04:00

I can hardly wait to tell y'all about the fun we've been having this summer! We just returned from a fabulous trip to Martha's Vineyard to see our dear friends. It was an INCREDIBLE trip and I will fill you in on all of the fun details later. Right now I need to wash off the airplane and travel scum and snuggle with my sweetie:).

When visiting Julia, everything is special from the sheets to the bathroom soaps to her house decorations. While shopping in Edgartown, we had these very special Rustic Bakery crackers. Wow! They were fantastic. We tried them at "The Black Sheep", a new cheese shop and charcuterie. I had the best brie I've ever tasted. The brie was even more fabulous with these special crackers. I brought home a package to share with guests here, but I am hopeful that I will be able to find them at The Fresh Market or some other local store. I hope you can find them to enjoy them too!

Tuesday's Tip!

2011-06-28T05:12:00.001-04:00

I sure have missed you all. Prayerfully I can get back in the swing of things! I have learned quite a few tips from others this summer. As we were leaving Raleigh recently for yet another 12 hour drive, my friend,Nancy, had a great recommendation for us. She said that they always visit their local Redbox prior to trips and rent a few movies. At just $1 each, you can rent several movies for an upcoming trip. The best part is that Nancy said she simply returns them along the way because Redbox locations are now so abundant! Do you not just LOVE that?! The best part is that it lessens the clutter in your car because you can actually RETURN THEM before you embark on your journey home. You can also decide to rent "just one more!"

I have missed you!

2011-06-26T23:31:00.006-04:00

Wow. Summer is here. She is going strong. I have been so remiss in blogging for the past several months. Life has really swept me along and I have missed blogging. As a stay at home mama, it's nice to have an outlet, and blogging is mine. I enjoy reading about others and writing as well.
Our last day of school was May 26th. It was also the day we left for Camp Greystone. Every spring, the girls and I can hardly WAIT to get back to camp! It's hard to believe our time there has already past for 2011. We would love for our two oldest to attend a longer session next year. They have been Junior Campers for FIVE YEARS!!! They are old pros. Greystone is an amazing place for girls. Everything has a purpose. That ultimate purpose is to glorify God in ALL things. Nonetheless, there is a reason for everything... the length of each class period, the evening programs, the meals, Breakfast Club, the placement of the bunk beds, et cetera. They plan well and carefully change those things that need tweaking. Greystone is a gift, a true blessing. I am so thankful that our girls are part of the Greystone family. They will be blessed by Greystone throughout their lives. If you have a little girl or a niece, you should look into Greystone. Tell Jimboy that Mama Henley sent you!! You will LOVE Jimboy's daily blog posts.

After camp, I drove home with our 4 girls. I can't tell you how HAPPY I was to finally make it home after our second 12 hour drive. Whew. It took forever, but we made it! DH was so happy to have his girls home again. We arrived home on a Friday night and the next morning our girls had their recital rehearsal. Their recital was the following day. What incredible ballerinas we have!

I can't wait to tell you more about our summer thus far. It has been very rich!

YUMMY to your TUMMY

2011-06-07T22:41:00.005-04:00

I just love summer recipes that are light and refreshing, don't you?! This past Sunday my sweet friend made these fabulous wraps for our church potluck. Let's just say that I wish I had taken two. They were THAT good. You can substitute a store-bought recipe as needed.

Asian Chicken Salad Wraps
Ingredients
1-2 teaspoons olive oil
6 (4 oz.) skinless, boned chicken breast halves (or you can use roasted chicken)
1 cup cucumber, chopped, seeded and peeled... I don't worry about the seeds
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon minced, peeled fresh ginger- if your store does not offer fresh ginger, then try 1 1/2 tsp. dried ginger
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce- low sodium is better for you
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
8 (8 inch) fat-free flour tortillas
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce

Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until done. Remove from pan; cool. Shred chicken into bite-size pieces. Otherwise, pull and shred roasted chicken. Place chicken, cucumber and bell pepper in a large bowl.
Process sugar, ginger, lime juice, soy sauce, salt, red pepper and garlic in a blender until smooth. Add peanut butter and water; blend. Combine peanut butter and chicken mixtures; stir. Add cilantro; toss.
Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon 1/2 cup chicken mixture and 1/2 cup lettuce onto each tortilla; roll up. Serve and enjoy!

You can also make a similar dressing and pour it over Japanese soba noodles and add fresh red pepper and cucumbers. I think it would also be good with peanuts or cashews in the recipe! Are you hungry now?

This recipe was altered but is similar to a recipe by ALL YOU magazine!

Tuesday's Tip... Camp Greystone and Alpine Camp

2011-06-06T22:52:00.005-04:00

The girls and I had the BEST TIME EVER at Camp Greystone. It is truly a taste of Heaven. Greystone is a wonderful Christian girls' camp in the North Carolina mountains. The camp has been owned and operated for 92 years by the same family for 4 generations. The 5th generation is growing into adulthood faster than I can blink! The Miller family is a godly family who truly put the Lord first in all that they do. The camp is the BEST of everything. The staff is the best in the country, the camp itself is just beautiful, the food that Gervais whips up is marvelous, and they offer every activity from sailing to horseback riding to glass bead making to fencing to puppy camp to cooking. It is truly incredible. Each day is more fun and lively than the next. I could go on and on and on, but I know you have other things to do! You really should consider sending your daughter to Camp Greystone. If you do, tell Jimboy that Mama Henley sent you! :)

Since Greystone is so wonderful, it was difficult to find a comparable camp for our boy. He has been with us to Greystone, so he KNOWS how special camp can be. After experiencing Greystone, you just can't settle for less. Therefore, we searched for the BEST BOYS camp for our precious boy, and we found it. Alpine Camp in Mentone, Alabama is for boys what Greystone is for girls. It is a camp run by the same family for 50 years and the second generation is now running the camp. It is also a Christian mountain camp and it is for BOYS. Our boy is there now, and from the looks of things, he is having a BALL!! So, my Tuesday's Tip is to check out the BEST CAMP FOR GIRLS and the BEST CAMP FOR BOYS! Be sure to tell them that Mama Henley sent you!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-05-24T05:15:00.000-04:00

Can you believe summer is just around the corner?! I know we can't believe it at Mama Henley's house. Before we know it, we'll be headed back to Camp Greystone! Oh, how we love that place! I love helping give first-time camp mamas some helpful hints. One thing I always try to remember to do on Opening Day is to carry a Sharpie black marker in my pocket or pocketbook. You never know when you'll need to put a name on a book, pillow case, or new pair of socks that you inadvertently forgot to mark. Plus,you may go to the Shoppe and buy your little darling a camp blanket or water bottle, and she'll need her name on those too! So, as you prepare to embark on your little one's camp journey, pack a Sharpie marker in your purse!

Carolina in My Mind

2011-05-20T15:50:00.002-04:00

I have loved our new life here in Florida. It really is a wonderful place to raise a family. However, the last few months have been extremely challenging. That is an understatement. The last few months have just about robbed me of any gusto and joy. I haven't blogged because I don't like to be Debbie Downer. I have tried to glorify God in this blog and to keep a heavenly perspective during earthly trials. I still have that perspective and know that my life here on this earth is temporary. Tampa, Florida is not my final destination. Heaven is. That makes the hard days much sweeter. Knowing that I am loved by a God who is much bigger than me and my problems is what has saved me.

Nonetheless, after weeks of tough days, today has been a really tough one. In all honesty, I am sad today. I have tried to have an upbeat and happy blog. I am upbeat and happy but not right this minute. I hurt. I long to live in a place where I am related to someone in the state. I have no kin in Florida. I'm not sure "my people" every ventured this far south. Sometimes I feel like an island. Jesus is my rock, but I still can feel like I'm floating at times. He doesn't waver; my circumstances do. He is firm, steady, always here for me. I have been seeking Him and speaking to Him so much He's about to discontinue my service plan:).

I do love Tampa, and I'll be all Tampa-crazy tomorrow. But for today, Carolina is in my mind. I miss it. The lyrics below speak to me:

Carolina in my mind
(words and music by James Taylor)

In my mind, I'm gone to Carolina.
Can't you see the sunshine.
Can't you just feel the moon shinin'
Ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind.
Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

Karen, she's a silver sun.
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'.
Watch her watch the morning come.
A silver tear appearing now, I'm crying - ain't I?
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

There ain't no doubt in no one's mind
that love's the finest thing around.
Whisper something soft and kind.
Hey, babe, the sky's on fire, I'm dying - ain't I?
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

In my mind I'm gone to Carolina.
Can't you see the sunshine.
Can't you just feel the moon shining
Ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind.
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

Dark and silent late last night I think I might have heard the highway call
Geese in flight and dogs that bite.
And signs that might be omens say I'm goin', goin'...
I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

With a holy host of others standing around me,
still I'm on the dark side of the moon.
And it seems like it goes on like this forever.
you must forgive me.
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind.

In my mind I'm gone to Carolina.
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't just you feel the moon shinin'
Ain't it just like a friend of mine to hit me from behind.
Yes, I'm gone to Carolina in my mind.

Gone to Carolina in my mind.
Gone to Carolina in my mind.
Gone to Carolina in my mind.

Tuesday's Tip

2011-05-17T05:49:00.001-04:00

It's that time of the year of Mother's Day teas, end of the year parties, and luncheons with the ladies. In fact, there is always an occasion for finger sandwiches! I will share the BEST cucumber sandwiches. My Tuesday's Tip is at the bottom of the recipe. If you prepare your sandwiches in advance or are taking them to a party, it is important that you dampen a paper towel and put it over the sandwiches. You can do this on the tray by covering the sandwiches in the paper towel and then with tin foil. Another idea is to place the sandwiches in ziploc bags with the paper towels on either side of the sandwiches. This keeps your sandwiches from drying out before the party!

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

1 seedless cucumber, sliced thin
¼ cup white wine vinegar
1T salt (divided)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
1 clove garlic, minced
6 green onions, roughly chopped
1T fresh lemon juice
1t lemon zest
½ t freshly ground pepper
1t fresh dill (or ¼ t dried), plus dill sprigs for garnish
1 loaf thinly sliced white bread

Place the cucumber slices in a colander set in the sink. Pour the vinegar and 2 teaspoons of the salt over them. Drain for 20 minutes, then remove the cucumber slices from the colander and pat dry.

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the cream cheese, butter, garlic, green onions, lemon juice, zest, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, pepper and dill. Process until the mixture is smooth.

Cut into the bread slices with a 2-inch round cookie cutter. Place the rounds in an airtight zip-top bag until you’re ready to assemble the sandwiches.

Spread the cream cheese mixture on the bread slices. Top with cucumber slices and garnish with a little sprig of fresh dill. Serve immediately.

(This recipe makes “open faced” sandwiches. I used a smaller cookie cutter and topped the sandwiches with another piece of bread. Assemble either way! If you prepare them ahead of time, cover the sandwiches with a damp paper towel in a zip-top bag – this will keep them from drying out.)

Tuesday's Tip!

2011-05-09T22:08:00.005-04:00

This week's tip can be used for both sad and happy times. When a baby is born or there is a death in the family, it is often a time when loved ones send flowers. Many times one receives a plethora of beautiful arrangements. The occasion itself may overwhelm one enough that you cannot remember which flowers were given to you by which friend.

Therefore, Mama Henley has a system that helps. Years ago after a sudden hospitalization, I received flowers. I took a picture of each arrangement. It is helpful to either have a separate written log with a description of the flowers and who sent them, or to simply photograph the card and the flowers together. This way, when write your notes of appreciation, you can mention what made the flowers special or which flower in the arrangement was most fragrant or your favorite. In fact, you may want to include a picture of the arrangement in your envelope. It pleases the giver to be able to see that his or her arrangement was indeed as beautiful as he or she hoped!

When we lost my sweet father in law, I took pictures of every arrangement, including the casket spray. We were overcome with grief and were not able to fully enjoy the flowers at their finest. However, we have been able to look at the pictures to see the pretty flowers and to remember how loved we felt. Happy Tuesday's Tip!!!

Tuesday

2011-05-09T22:08:00.001-04:00

Tuesday's Tip

2011-04-26T16:58:00.007-04:00

It is Tuesday and I have missed giving my tips! We have been road warriors as of late. It is no easy task to drive 12 hours with a family of seven! It is definitely not for the weak of heart. I have many tips that I employ on our trips. I always carry a cooler filled with fruit, yogurt, and cheese for healthier snack options. However, my favorite tip is to carry refillable water bottles with you whenever you travel. It makes SUCH a difference! I fill each child's water bottle with ice and water and place it in a cup holder near each of their seats. Then, whenever they are thirsty, they have fresh water available. We often stop at Zaxby's because they have drink stations. Many McDonald's do as well. We use the bathroom and then refill our water bottles with water and ice. I've even asked for a cup of ice to add to our cooler. We patronize the restaurant in some way by buying a drink or meal. Having the water bottles handle saves us on soft drinks and allows the children to stay hydrated. We will sometimes have a sprite as a treat or sometimes I carry lemonade in the cooler.
The triplets were given a fantastic new water bottle for their tenth birthday! Our dear friend gave them Bobble water bottles. Bobbles are great because they come with a built-in filter so that your little one's water is always fresh and filtered. We love our Bobbles!

Where Oh Where has Mama Henley Gone?

2011-04-21T23:14:00.005-04:00

Those who know me know that I love to write and communicate. The written word is a wonderful gift. Unfortunately, life has taken me by the tail and is just now loosening her grip on me! Mama Henley's house is never boring, and this blog has been a respite for me in the midst of daily chaos. As an aside, I adore the chaos that is our life, and would be sad and lonely without it! Anyway, our daily chores and to do's are enough to keep me busy for many years to come. Recently we have had some added things on our proverbial plate. Therefore, I have had no time to breathe, much less blog or keep a perfect house.

We are all well. We have just had some things going on which have led us to a lot of prayer and a time of looking at our priorities for our little family. Thankfully this has nothing to do with our health or Dh's job, but rather how we educate our sweet children. We LOVE a Classical Christian education. It has proven to be the best option for our children. They have truly grown in wisdom and knowledge. Their relationships with the Lord have also grown. They have learned Latin, Singapore Math, and grammar. Their school is a firm foundation, and we are so thankful. The school is going through some changes, so we are praying about where the Lord is leading us for next year. It may look a lot like this year, or He may have a new path for us. Thank you for understanding my absence and for being here upon my return!

This weekend we are excited to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Easter Sunday is a reminder of His gift of eternal life. He is RISEN, indeed! Happy EAster, y'all!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-04-05T14:16:00.005-04:00

At Mama Henley's house, we love to take our children out to eat. We don't do it as often as I would like, but whenever we do visit local restaurants, we try to arrive prepared. The best thing you can do for your children in ANY situation is to explain what they should expect. Our conversations are similar to this:

Mama Henley: "Children, we are going to visit a restaurant tonight for dinner. This is a big treat as Daddy is going to treat us and Mama Henley will not have to cook. It is very expensive to go out to eat, so you need to be careful when you order so that you will eat every bite. In fact, you may want to split a meal with your brother or sister.

We are going to walk in the restaurant and it will probably be fairly quiet. Do you think we should walk in the restaurant and talk loudly?"

Children: "NO!!! We should use our quiet inside voices."

Mama Henley: "That's exactly right. Now a hostess is going to seat us at our table and she will give each of us a menu. What do you tell her when she gives you a menu?"

Children: "We will tell her, 'thank you'."

Mama Henley: "Good! If the server asks you what you would like to drink, you will respond, 'Water please'. I will happily give you something else to drink at home, but unless the child's meal comes with a drink, you will drink water."

Children: "Yes, m'am."

Mama Henley: "You may then read your menu to determine what you would like to eat. They probably have chicken fingers, salad, macaroni and cheese, pasta with red sauce, or a hot dog or hamburger. They may have pizza. How many of you would like chicken fingers? " (I then go through the menu and determine what everyone would like to order. We try to share plates because our 5 usually cannot eat an entire meal by themselves.

Mama Henley: "Once you have ordered, you may sit quietly while we wait for our food to be served. Remember to keep your napkin and hands in your lap. When you eat, use one hand to hold your fork and be sure to chew with your mouth closed. When I was a child, we were told to thank the server up to three times throughout the meal. You do not have to thank your server every time he brings you something, but you should smile politely."

I let the children know behavioral expectations in advance. I also inform them if they are allowed to have dessert. We rarely have dessert unless it is included. In fact, I rarely serve dessert at home.

Our dinners are usually better if I have clearly outlined my expectations. When children understand that eating out is special, they are more likely to respect it and behave accordingly:).

I also try to bring crayons and paper into a restaurant. We have bought Doodle Menus and I keep a case of markers, crayons, and colored pencils in my car. What do you do when you take your children out to eat?

Hello!

2011-04-04T16:51:00.002-04:00

Life has been a bit fuller lately at Mama Henley's house. Thankfully we have had a very "well" winter and spring has welcomed us with her sunny skies and trees full of pollen. We dodged some tornadoes last week and are going forward. The tornadoes were actually literal and not figurative this time! :)

Our sermons at church have been so wonderful. We have been learning about being heaven-minded for those who believe in Christ as their Savior are actually citizens of Heaven rather than citizens of this world. What does that mean? How should my life look different than that of my neighbor? DOES it look any different? Are my personal convictions clear or do I live my life in such a way that no one can see my convictions? How am I training up my children? Am I using the lens of focusing heavenward when I walk with them, talk with them, and teach them?

These are the things that God is teaching me and that I am weighing heavily in my heart. My biggest prayer is that I will know the Lord and thus teach my children about Him and that my life will reflect the many ways He is working in me. Do others see me being sanctified or simply slipping down the slippery slope?

I know this is a bit of a heavy blog post, but as I wrestle with these things, I thought I would share. Perhaps I will lose readers, but that is okay. I will have plenty of lighthearted posts too for life at Mama Henley's house is never dull!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-03-29T05:49:00.002-04:00

I just love to cook!!! It is almost 10pm and I realized I am supposed to have dessert for one of the preschool teachers tomorrow. The 2 vegetable dishes will have to be taken care of in the morning, but I pulled together my supplies and just made 2 chocolate chess pies. Thank goodness I had one can of evaporated milk!!!

When baking cakes and pies, you will sometimes fill the pan too full. As the pie cooks or the cake rises, sometimes batter will roll down the side and onto your oven. I have had this happen one too many times. Now I make my pies and place the pans on a cookie sheet and then slide the cookie sheet inside the oven. Any spills will now drip onto the cookie sheet, and not my clean oven! Happy Tuesday's Tip!

Helping Children are HAPPY Children!

2011-03-28T21:53:00.005-04:00

As a mother of five children, I have a lot to manage. When everyone takes off their clothes for the day, I have 7 pairs of underwear, 12 pairs of socks, and too many pieces of clothing to count to wash. Our washing machine and dishwasher rarely take a break. In fact, most days I feel like I never leave the kitchen where both of those machines reside!
Therefore, I have been trying to think of ways to alleviate some of my workload. I just can't keep picking up the same puzzle or game board every day. Our children are now triplets who are almost 10, a 7-almost-8 year old, and a 4 year old. While it saddens me that they are no longer 5, 3, and newborn, life has marched on (right across my face!). Therefore, I expect the children to help me with daily tasks.

We do not have a chore chart at our house simply because I expect everyone to help whenever I ask. On certain days one child may carry the heaviest work load while having a lighter load or no load at all on another day. It's not ever going to be even, but we all must help.
If your children are age 2, then they can help you put away their toys and books. They can run and get a diaper for you for the new baby. They can even empty a trash can into the kitchen trash can. At around ages 3 and 4, a child can really help put away their toys in a neater manner. They can brush their teeth, go potty, flush the toilet, and fill a cup (or many buckets) full of water. They may be able to put away their underwear or socks if you direct them on how to do it.
A 5 and 6 year old can collect trash cans from around the house and empty them. They can make their bed, brush their teeth, and even begin to bathe themselves entirely! They can help you set the table or unload the dishwasher.
Seven and eight year olds are big helpers. Our big girls could take care of a young baby, feed a bottle, fold clothes, make their beds better than mine, and serve dinner plates at that age. Now that they are close to 10, they can make the water bottles for school, pack lunches, fill the dishwasher, fold clothes, put away clothes, vacuum, and mop. In fact, our 4 year old LOVES to mop!

Children of around age 7 or older should know how to clean a toilet. Buy the supplies and show them how to do it. We keep a pink sponge for the sink and a different sponge for the toilet and then I always microwave them to kill germs. Explain to your child that the cleaners are poisonous and that you want to wear gloves and old clothes when using chemicals. If your child is not trustworthy with chemicals, then you will need to oversee this chore.

Our friends just visited this weekend and her children loaded all of their dishes in our dishwasher once they were excused from the table. Guess what our children did tonight? They loaded the dishwasher! I am having to let go a little because I like my dishwasher loaded a certain way. I showed them how I like it loaded and explained why. They did a good job of doing it just that way!

What chores do your little ones do? Do you have any questions?

Oh Immersion Blender, how I love you

2011-03-26T22:43:00.002-04:00

My sweet brother and sister-in-law heard me say that I would love an Immersion Blender. Well, guess what those sweet things gave me for Christmas?! I LOVE it! I was just making our Sunday dinner in advance and I tried it in our mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes have never been mashed so effortlessly!

Do you have an immersion blender? How do you love to use it? I think it is the greatest invention!

American Girl Dolls

2011-03-21T22:48:00.007-04:00

American Girl Dolls are a right of passage for most little girls these days. Some families have whole rooms full of dolls, their dresses, and their gear. It is quite an overwhelming enterprise with the ability to buy your doll everything, and I do mean everything, from a wheel chair to a braces kit, to her very own horse with his very own saddle! At Mama Henley's house, American Girl dolls are IT. Our dolls have been the center of birthday parties, they have been to camp, and they've flown as much as our real live children have flown! They have had their nails "painted", had their hair professionally put in an up do, and have sat through the entire service at church. These girls live the life!

We have four girls. After our triplets turned 6, they were able to have their very first American girl doll. DH and I made a conscious decision that our girls would only be allowed to have one doll and that they could only have that doll if they were 6 years of age or older, in hopes that they would be able to take care of their doll. We think the dolls are wonderful, but we decided we wanted their one doll to be very special and we are amazed at how well it has worked. The girls chose their favorite doll and that year the two big girls received Emily Bennett and Rachael ( a just like me doll that D named after her soon-to-be-aunt) for their main Christmas gift. These dolls have delighted these girls ever since! The triplets will soon be 10 (I can't believe it!), and they love their dolls as much today as they did three years ago! Some of you may think it is silly for a 10 year old to play with dolls, but I love that our girls still enjoy their American girl dolls and take great care to dress them and play with them whenever possible. At 9 1/2, they each had one thing they really wanted for their doll for Christmas.

I believe that letting your daughter have one doll allows her to not be overwhelmed by having too many dolls to love. Having an abundance of the dolls seems to often (not always) make them less special. Our girls really treasure their dolls. Of course having a sister just 2 years younger created a problem. The Bug really wanted to be like her big sisters. She was 4 when they received their doll. We did not feel she was old enough to really care for the doll. Therefore, we bought her the mock American girl doll from Target. She loved dressing her and playing with her. However, the hair was cheap and became one big knot. She passed for 2 years, but she was not the real thing. A year and a half ago the Bug turned 6. We surprised her with a trip to the Atlanta store where she chose Kit as her birthday gift from her Mimi. Kit has been a delightful addition to our home and the Bug had a Kit themed party for her 7th birthday last summer. DH and I love to see our girls interact with each other and their dolls. As a matter of fact, Kit has Ray Ray and Emily Bennett spending the night in her room tonight!

The dolls are great fun. Yes, the store is considered cheesy and over-the-top by some. The NYC store is 3 stories and can be overwhelming. Nonetheless, it is great for girls to use their gift of nurture to love and care for a doll. We have kept this fascination in tow by not buying them everything they want when the catalog comes to our home. Of course they WANT everything, but we make them choose ONE thing. For Christmas, they each received just ONE American girl accessory or outfit. They pored over the catalog and truly chose carefully. They take care of what they have been given.

Now you know Hurricane lives here too and she was DYING for an "mercanguhldoll". She turned 4 this Christmas, which is not 6. So, she, too, received a mock American girl doll. Hers is a step up from the Target brand as it is a Madame Alexander copy which we found at Costco. She LOVES her doll and jumps right in to playing with her sisters. In two years, we'll have to make a trek to the store to let her choose her forever doll. Since she is my last little girl, we just may have to take all 4 girls to New York to the big store!

Blogger's Day of Silence

2011-03-17T14:17:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow many bloggers will be participating in a Blogger's Day of Silence in honor of the country of Japan. It will also be a day to remember those who were killed in this awful earthquake and tsunami. Please consider donating to your church or the Red Cross in order to help with humanitarian efforts to restore food, water, and shelter to these people.

On Friday, March 18th, I will not post on my blog and hope that many other bloggers will consider doing the same. Above all, please pray that the nuclear plant issues will be saved and for the Lord's good guidance in all things!!!

I WON

2011-03-16T15:53:00.003-04:00

I won! I won! I won!!! I won a $25 gift card to Firehouse Subs! That makes one HAPPY Mama Henley!!!! All I did was go online and enter their best sub contest! They are down to the final 2 subs. I can't believe I really won! The prize came in the mail yesterday. Guess where we're going to eat tomorrow night?!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-03-15T18:19:00.002-04:00

Honey, do you remember when we talked about rotisserie chickens? Well, I have another tip for you! Not only is it easier to pick your chickens while they're hot, but you'll be even happier if you do it with GLOVES covering your pretty hands! My friend, Wendy, is so smart. She bought a box of surgical gloves. Whenever she is deboning a chicken, she puts on a pair of these gloves. At first it may seem wasteful, but it is so smart. Wearing the gloves protects your hands and it keeps it more sanitary. When you are finished deboning the chicken, you simply throw away the gloves! Don't you feel smart now?! I know I do!

A Day at the Farm

2011-03-14T14:37:00.007-04:00

Our youngest, Hurricane, had the most fun field trip on Friday! We were able to visit a local farm called "Horsepower for Kids". It was the neatest place! The farm was filled with horses and all kinds of farm animals. They even had some more exotic animals like a llama! We had a wonderful morning "out in the country".

Life is so different for our children. As children, we had some electronics like Merlin, Math Professor, and Atari, but we were not inundated with them. Our lives were spent playing games outside like Tag, Red Rover, and Mother May I. We rode bikes, made potions, and played boys against the girls. Today's children spend less time in free play and more time in structured activities or with the tv, computer, or a handheld electronic device. Our morning at the farm was so precious because it allowed the children to enjoy God's beautiful creation. He made us! He also made donkeys, zebra, goats, pigs,and chickens!

The children delighted in chasing chickens, feeding carrots to the goats, and even riding ponies (we had to leave before the pony rides commenced!). Did you know goats like carrots? I did not, but apparently they do! One big goat literally chased us for the carrots we had brought to feed the horses!

Sound the Alarms! Mama Henley is going down!!!

2011-03-08T21:25:00.005-04:00

I consider myself somewhat computer savvy in that I have a blog and can search the internet with the best of them. Now, if you have a real technical problem, I am not the girl to call, but if you want cheap tickets to Paris, I'm your gal. I can navigate safari! This morning I had a little one to one at the Apple store because I have used up all but 2G of my 250G hard drive! Now what is Mama Henley to do? I just can't trust those external hard drives to really hold all of my info, so I met with an Apple Genius for some help.
We finished our hour lesson where I felt more like a fool than a wise man. My one to one man had moved on to his Snickers bar in the break room. I decided that my lap top needed a little charge while I waited for some files to be deleted. This was my mistake. Earlier I had realized that there was no place to plug my power supply, so I had used the cord that was plugged into one of the store's laptops. After a while, I plugged it back in to the Apple laptop. Well, I decided to use some of their power once more. The only problem is that I detached the wrong cord. AND IT SET OFF THE STORE ALARM!!!! Suddenly an alarm louder than all 5 of my children screaming at once began to sound. It was LOUD. IT was RELENTLESS. And it would not STOP. At this point, I was so nervous and afraid I was going to the slammer, that I could not plug the silly plug back in. I thought it was like a car alarm and would stop the alarm. I was not so fortunate! I told the Apple genius closest to me that I was so sorry but that I was so nervous I could not plug it back in the laptop. I looked around at people staring at me like I'm an idiot! The man closest to me looked at me while he covered his ears with his hands!!! At long last, a man arrived with a key and stopped the dreaded alarm. I asked him to please forgive me and told him repeatedly how sorry I was for sounding the alarm. He was very kind and told me it happens all of the time.
So, I felt like an old dinosaur who has no idea how to work these new-fangled computers, so dejected, I packed my bags and headed out into the Florida sunshine!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-03-08T05:10:00.001-04:00

I was honored recently to be asked to help a friend in the kitchen at a ladies' luncheon. I had nothing to do with preparing the food, rather, I helped her plate it so that 84 ladies could be fed in an easy fashion. The plates held quiche, green salad, pasta salad, and a muffin. I was not in my own kitchen, so it was difficult to know where utensils were located in this kitchen. It was time to scoop the pasta salad on the plates, so I looked around for a spoon. I did not find one, however, I DID find a one cup measuring spoon. It was the PERFECT size! I scooped 1 cup servings of pasta salad onto each plate. It was the perfect amount of food and looked delightful on the plates!

Hey Cute Readers...

2011-03-06T22:25:00.002-04:00

Happy March!

I feel so behind. What happened to February? And January? I mean, time is flying at Mama Henley's house. Time has me by the tail and I am losing! I haven't finished our taxes, I still have some Christmas cards I haven't sent, and my coupons are taking over. In fact, DH offered to help me because I have so many to cut. So, we've been fellowshipping over coupons and newspapers and scissors. I am one blessed girl!

I feel like I can never get our house in order. No matter how hard I try, I fail. I weeded so many clothes out of my closet that I hardly have any pants to wear! I just haven't finished my re-do. I have been trying to go through all of our closets and drawers and I purge and purge some more, but our stuff has babies.

I have a friend who keeps an amazing house. Clutter flees from her home like women running to a great sale at Target. She has mastered the art of caring for her home. I have mastered the art of working harder than any woman in America and looking like I must watch soap operas all day. If you can believe it, I haven't seen one Charlie Sheen interview. Not even one. I know he's been saying crazy things, but I haven't watched any of it. I've been too busy picking up the same toys in Hurricane's bedroom and trying to match our endless supply of socks! Do you ever feel this way? I feel like a complete failure in so many ways because I just can never do enough. How do you do it all?

Law too Loose for DUI?

2011-03-02T18:17:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago a drunk driver drove down our street and slammed into DH's car. Upon impact, her car was totaled. The story is hard to type, but she tried to escape, further damaging the property of others and her car. When her car would no longer move, she hopped out and ran away. For 2 hours, she managed to elude police until finally our neighbor found her and she was arrested. Despite the fact that we saw her driving the car and crashing into 3 things, the policeman did not check her blood alcohol level. This woman was driving with a suspended license, no insurance and a stolen tag with a sticker from someone else's car on it. She spent a whopping 6 hours in jail and was out on $250 bond. We spent more on our deductible to fix DH's car than she did no her bond. Wow.
As we slept innocently in our own home, she hurt our car, which in turn saved her life. Ahead were 2 huge trees and water. She never saw our car, so she never hit the brakes. She truly could have killed herself.
Today our newspaper speaks of a dentist named Moye who killed 2 people in October as he drove 89 miles per hour on a 30 mph bridge. 89 miles an hour!!!! He struck and killed 2 pedestrians who were walking on the bridge. He was arrogant when he was arrested and had no idea his foolishness had killed two people. His good time ended the lives on 2 people in their 20s.
Those of you from Raleigh have watched the sentencing of a Raleigh plastic surgeon who killed a young ballerina 2 years ago. What can we do to strengthen our laws so that this does not continue to happen? Why is it that we have repeat offenders? Both the dentist and doctor had previous records of speeding or DUI, I believe. What can we do to prevent this? Why does the law seem to protect the person who is drinking and driving more than it protects the innocent victims? Please join me in taking a cab if no one in your car is truly sober enough to drive. It's just not worth it to take someone else's life. I pray I never make the same mistake.

Tuesday's Tip

2011-03-01T05:05:00.001-04:00

Good Morning! Can you believe the rising gas prices?! I cannot!!! One day it jumped 14 cents a gallon, and then it has jumped another 7 cents per gallon in the past few days. Unbelievable! I am a little bit fanatic about not having an empty gas tank. My rule of thumb is to fill the tank whenever I hit half a tank of gas. I can't tell you how many times this has saved us from having to stop for gas when an unexpected trip comes along. We're able to hop in the car and GO! Unfortunately, now more than ever you want to keep your tank full because the prices are going UP every day! So, stop and take the time to fill your car with gas and you'll be glad you did!

Green with Envy

2011-02-28T09:10:00.000-04:00

All of the girls will be green with envy when they see you out and about with your new Neela bags. Ecodilly.com sells these fantastic bags. Now listen here to Mama Henley, you NEED a set. I know you're thinking that you don't need them because all you have to do is get a free one from a store or stock up on some reusable bags at Target or Harris Teeter or Publix for just $1 each. Yes, even TJ Maxx and Marshall's are producing cute reusable bags. The difference is that ecodilly.com sells bags that are not only green, but they are CUTE, and they are sold in a precious bag with 5 folded bags inside it! What a deal!

And, if you use your cute bags at stores like Target, they will give you 5 cents credit for each reusable bag! Honey, it adds up quickly! Imagine the fun you will have saving money by using your stylish GREEN bags! If you do decide to buy some market bags, tell Ecodilly that Mama Henley sent you! Thanks, y'all!

Smells Heavenly

2011-02-26T15:46:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago my two BFFs from Dallas came to visit. To say we had a great time is a HUGE understatement! They brought me the most wonderful hostess gifts! One of the girls brought me a Niven Morgan candle. It is truly heavenly! She sells them at Preston Road Pharmacy, the best pharmacy in Dallas, Texas! You can also find these candles at Neiman's and other fine stores. My favorite scent is the gold! It makes your entire home smell heavenly! Niven Morgan is an interesting man who travels the world to capture exotic essences. His inspirations are drawn from his extensive travels and happy childhood memories on the family farm in Louisiana. You will love everything about this candle from its gorgeous packaging to its beautiful scent! They're expensive, but sometimes you have to pay more to receive more.

Can't You Just See Me Now?

2011-02-25T14:35:00.003-04:00

Look at this adorable LILLY BIKE! How much fun would I have cruising the streets of Tampa on this beauty?!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

2011-02-23T13:27:00.004-04:00

Our sweet son turned to me after school yesterday and asked a good question. "Mama, were all parents that are alive now born in the 1900s?"
I had to think about it for a minute. Then I realized that he was right. "Yes, son, you are right. All parents who are alive today were born in the 1900s."
Then, I wanted to bow my head and cry. We are OLD!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-02-22T08:55:00.005-04:00

At Mama Henley's house, we love going to Disney. We have annual passes and Orlando is a whopping 73 miles away. We can go to the park for the day and sleep in our own beds! It is wonderful! As you can imagine, we are becoming real pros! One way that Disney sort of tricks you is with their kids' meals. When you visit a restaurant, it lists a child's meal with appetizer, entree, sides, and dessert. Most children under age 9 cannot eat all of that food. The cost is $8.59 and up per child, which really adds up when you have 5 children like Mama Henley does.
Well, guess what?! Even in special restaurants, they usually offer some "children's standard meals" such as chicken nuggets and fries, pasta with sauce, or a hamburger. These meals are around $5 and come with fries. Depending on the restaurant, drinks may not be included, but your little one needs lots of water to stay hydrated anyway. This allows you to feed your child more affordably when you want to splurge on better food for Mama and Daddy.
Of course Mama Henley always packs a huge bag full of snacks too, so often our children do not need a meal because they have been eating pb&j sandwiches, cheese sticks, frozen gogurts, fruit, pretzels, chips, apples, etc.. This is another way we save money at meal time. Our 4 year old eats so little that when I do order her a meal it is often wasted. So, I have resorted to feeding her from my bag of tricks.
Let us know if you'll be at Disney as we would LOVE to see you there!

How to REALLY Have a Life of Optimal Experience

2011-02-17T22:18:00.004-04:00

This afternoon I spent a nice bit of time in the waiting room of our pediatric dentist's office while each of our five children had their teeth cleaned. Actually, the office is so proficient that I did not have time to some of the things I brought to entertain myself! :) Thankfully I did get to flip through some magazines and analyze the other parents in the waiting room. I kid. However, I did notice that this really cute mama was reading an interesting book. I paid attention to what she was reading because she was very concerned about one of her boys who was in pain from some sort of illness and she had 3 stair step boys and I think I heard she has 2 daughters. She seemed like a great mama and a neat lady.
Anyway, the book she was reading was called, "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly. I came home and researched the book on Amazon to find out what in the world it is discussing. She had her highlighter out and was really reading the book in depth. I am sure it's a great book. Dr. Csikszentmihaly is a leading psychologist and I am sure he is a very smart man. Now I'm going to step on some of your toes. It greatly saddened me that this book is where this beautiful woman was looking to find a life of optimal experience. It literally broke my heart. She is never going to find what she is looking for in that book.
You will most likely disagree with me and some of you will write hateful things on my blog, but I can't help but share the REAL truth with you. There is only one way, ONE way, to have a life of 'optimal experience' or whatever else you may want to call it. There is one book that holds all of the answers. That book is the Bible and it teaches the truth. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life." John 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me." If you are reading "Flow" or another book like it, I invite you to read the Bible and see what you learn. It's what keeps me going every single day!!! :)

Billy Ray Cyrus

2011-02-16T23:44:00.002-04:00

Dh told me about an interview he heard with Billy Ray Cyrus. Billy Ray says his biggest regret in life is letting Miley star in "Hannah Montana". She has turned into a different girl than she was when she began and has lost her innocence (my words not his) and his marriage is in tatters as well. It's very sad to hear that. I am sure he thought he was making a wonderful decision at the time, but it was a decision that has cost them almost everything. What are your thoughts on the matter? Unfortunately the life of actors and actresses and singers is often one that is fast paced and leads to destruction. Is there a child actor/actress or performer who has truly stayed on the straight and narrow path?

Dear Loved One,

2011-02-16T15:53:00.001-04:00

I had no idea I was so popular until I just read over my spam folder!! Honey, DH and I are going on a trip because there were at least 25 different people with huge sums of money on their hands that have chosen little ole ME! I am so excited!!! All I have to do to get the money is give them every bit of my personal information and then they will deposit huge sums in my bank account! So, if Mama Henley is seen in the Caymans, you'll know why! (wink wink)

Tuesday's Tip

2011-02-15T05:29:00.001-04:00

I have some very wise friends who also happen to be great cooks! As our little ones were playing recently, we began discussing recipes. Specifically we talked about the value of the roasted chicken that you can buy at Sam's Costco, Publix, Harris Teeter, or the Fresh Market. Here in South Tampa, our Sam's Club has great chickens. They are juicy, big, and affordable. Never mind that our youngest will not eat it because it says, "bock" and lives on a farm. Oh well. I have started copying my friends and use the meat for tortilla soup, casseroles, salads, and as our entree. It makes life cheap and easy. Just don't call me that!

Anyway, one of my friends explained that she debones her chickens the minute she brings them in the house. The meat is much easier to pull off the bone when it is warm than when it is cold. Lesson learned. I removed cold chicken last night and I think she may have a point. So, try it next time you buy a roasted chicken!

You should not try what I did tonight for dinner. Between filling out tedious forms online, calling out spelling words, giving our youngest some "homework", assisting with piano, and cooking dinner simultaneously, I foolishly put the chicken in its STORE container in the oven to warm it. Folks, plastic + heat = melting. You know I would never be that foolish and distracted. Oh no. Not me. Never. Learn from my mistakes!

Update

2011-02-14T22:37:00.003-04:00

A million little blog posts have come to mind and faded into the bright Florida sunshine. The ability to sit down and gather my thoughts has not happened easily this week. My mind has raced in a million directions... do you ever feel this way? I feel this way most of the time!
We've had a fabulous winter thus far with great weather and even better guests. I love spending time with friends and family. It warms my heart. Our little ones are growing up faster that I can say, "Stop!" and we are cherishing the stages they are all in right now. Well, with the exception of our 4 year old's "let's get out every toy in the house, put playdough in it, grab all of the pieces from every game and add water" stage. That one's a tough one. It has lasted 3 years for her! And counting....

Our older children are enjoying ballet for the girls and lacrosse for the boy. Our oldest four are taking piano. I love hearing our home filled with beautiful music. It really does warm your heart.

Life is full and wonderful. The Lord has really been teaching me and challenging me through Bible Study and Sunday School and church. I am more aware of my sinfulness and need for Him than ever. I am thankful for a husband who loves me well and loves the Lord even more. He is a great example to me as he diligently has a Quiet Time every morning and starts his day off right.

We have lived here in Tampa for 2 years now. We have best friends and friends we are enjoying getting to know better and better. We love people. We are thankful for the ways we've been stretched, challenged, and loved.

So, that's a little update. I imagine it's a bit boring for you, and I'll try to return to a more entertaining post soon. I just couldn't sit here any longer and say nothing!

Happy Valentine's Day! I realized today that this is the TWENTIETH Valentine's Day I have spent with the most wonderful man in the world. We will not count the one or 2 where we were broken up during college. Ahem. I still have the teddy bear he gave me on our first Valentine's Day. I may or may not sleep with it every night. I hope you have a special evening with those you love!

Missing an Encouraging Blog... Everyday Adventures in Faith

2011-02-10T22:19:00.002-04:00

I miss the blog, "Everyday Adventures in Faith". If you are still blogging and are open to one more reader, I'd love to be invited! My email address is ahp5@aol.com. I thought you just hadn't updated lately, but now I see you have gone private. I hope all is well for you all!

How do YOU Share the Love?

2011-02-09T18:22:00.012-04:00

I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man. At this point in our lives, we're very content in our 15 year old marriage. In fact, I love DH more today and am more attracted to him than I was when we were married on the hottest day EVER in July 1995. Nonetheless, our feelings of contentment have not come without a lot of work and a big commitment. When we took our vows on that hot July day, we were serious. We promised to stand beside one another in the presence of God no matter what. Some days you may not "feel" in love, but yet you do still love your spouse. We have learned that we must put the Lord first, but that we must also invest a lot of time in our marriage and one another. We are far from perfect, but we try to look after our marriage.

So often I hear others say that they don't have time for one another because they have a new baby or a tough job, or their teenagers need them, or they must travel for work. I get it. We have our challenges too. Again, we are NOT PERFECT. All of us fall short of the glory of God. All of us hurt our spouses and feel like we fail. However, it's important to make each other a PRIORITY. Study your spouse. Get to know him. Know what he loves, why he loves it, and what sort of adventures he would like to pursue. When is the last time you asked your spouse about work? Did you really listen? Did you really delve into his current projects or clients or patients? Is he enjoying his work or drowning in it? Take the time whenever possible to have an untimed pleasant conversation with your spouse. If your children go to bed late, then tell them they have room time from 9pm on. I remember being a newlywed and my Bible Study leader said she had "couch time" with her husband EVERY day when he walked in the door. Her three little munchkins knew that Daddy came first when he walked in the door and that Mama and Daddy were going to sit on the sofa uninterrupted for about 15 minutes. Do you see what they were teaching the three boys by example? Of course you need to tweak it for what works in your home. The marriage relationship comes FIRST even when little ones are tired, cranky, and hungry. We MUST nurture our relationship with our spouses so that there is something to hold onto long after the children are grown.

It is important to spend time every day with your spouse if at all possible. Find even 5 minutes if your day is overly full. It's also important to show him how much you care by doing little things. When is the last time you cooked his breakfast or wrote him a love note on a post-it note? When he travels, do you put notes in his bag or call him each evening? How do you show your love in the little ways? I have been trying to be more purposeful about having DH's coffee ready for him in the morning. I don't drink coffee, so he usually brews his own. Lately I have been trying to brew it for him as it saves him a few minutes in getting out the door to work and it's such a simple way to say, "I love you".

I know you're tired. But your man needs affection and so do YOU, even if you don't think you do. Kiss him. Love him. Show him why he should love being married. Break the cycle and make the first move. Be tender with him, and most likely he will show you tenderness in return.

If at all possible, get out of the house with your man. Plan a surprise date night and find a babysitter. If you can't afford a sitter, then trade with friends. You keep their children one night and then they keep you in return. You can also do this by having the wife come to your house & then you go to their house one evening. Date nights do not have to be expensive. You can pack a picnic and go parking! You can spend an evening at the library or a favorite book store. You can spend a Saturday afternoon going to Open Houses. If there are things you enjoy doing together, then cultivate them! I also cannot recommend enough having at least one weekend a year away with your spouse. I am the first to dread and fear leaving my children. I've even spent a weekend in Martha's Vineyard with high anxiety over our five little ones. I have learned that they WILL survive. They actually will flourish knowing that Mama and Daddy love one another that they WANT to be alone together for a weekend date. It ultimately gives the children more security when they know their parents are still in love. So, how will you celebrate this Valentine's Day? How will you show your spouse love on the ordinary days?

Tuesday's Tip

2011-02-08T21:29:00.006-04:00

A few months ago I discussed problems we were having with our dishwasher. My dear friend, Karlyn, and sweet husband both came to the rescue. Karlyn knocked on our door one night and brought us some Lemishine! You put some in your dishwasher and it literally removes the white scum. DH bought Finish and it cleans like our old detergents used to do! We are so happy at Mama Henley's house! Hurry out and buy some Lemishine, honey! You need some Finish too.

The Scent of Spring!

2011-02-07T14:03:00.003-04:00

Here in Florida, we are blessed to have beautiful blooms in our yards year round. Our landscapes are often bursting with little dots of color here and there. In my native North Carolina, February and March begin the jonquil, daffodil, hyacinth, crocus, and lilly,and tulip season. I love these delightful flowers and loved planting lots of bulbs each fall to increase our beauty each spring! I hope the new owners of our former home will delight in spring this year as they are greeted by the flowers I planted.
This time of year, I love the fragrant hyacinth. With the impending arrival of my precious friends, I delighted in purchasing a pale pink hyacinth for the living room. When I bought it on Friday, its buds were tightly closed. Today the buds are open and the beautiful floral fragrance fills our living room and beyond. As I sit and type, the beautiful smell delights me. What floral scents do you love?

2011-02-04T16:53:00.003-04:00

Things are pretty exciting at Mama Henley's house today! My two BFFs from Dallas are on their way to visit Tampa! I can't wait to show them our beautiful town! They are leaving behind a blizzard to be welcomed by sun and 79*F!! Can you believe it?!

As I have been cleaning the house and getting ready for them, I've had time to think. Our house is very full. That must be quite obvious to you since we have been blessed with 5 little ones. Perhaps I should say our home is overflowing. It is overflowing with love and laughter and joy and tears and squeals and screams and stuff. A lot of the stuff is mine...paper paper paper. I purge and purge but my piles are still here. Some of the stuff is the constant laundry that must be folded and put away.

I had a little discussion in my head about what is most important. Yes, by all means, I want our house to be welcoming, uncluttered, and pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, I have found it difficult to keep our home complete uncluttered. I do try. I fight the clutter bugs every day. But, with no playroom and young children, our house seems to be full of toys and creations.

Some days I respond to the toys and stuff in the wrong way. I scream and beg for it to be removed. Other days I see it as a welcome blessing. There were years where we thought we'd never have even one baby. What a miracle that we now parent 5! It is true that we have many boxes in our garage, that sometimes backpacks overpower the world, and that I can't keep our house perfect no matter how hard I try.

But the Lord is teaching me an important lesson. The things of this world are fine, but my focus should not be on having House Beautiful. My focus should be on the Lord first in ALL things, then my precious husband, and finally on loving and molding our children and teaching them about Him. The hours that my hands toil are worth nothing if I have no eternal value. My love for orderliness and longing for pats on the back about my perfect house can often be idols for me. The Bible tells us that we should have no other idols before HIM. What idols have a stronghold in your life? How can you pray for the Lord to loosen their stronghold in your life and to turn your heart to Him?

Tuesday's Tip!

2011-02-01T00:06:00.004-04:00

Happy Tuesday! I have a nightly tradition that I rarely miss. When we were first married, I read lots of books about marriage. One of the books suggested a hot bath every night before bed. Therefore, I started taking baths when we were first married. Now I just love to have a hot bath every single night! Sweet DH knows how I love Molton Brown heavenly gingerlilly. I am so excited because he just gave me a new bottle after he returned from his recent business trip.
This week's tip is that if you don't take baths, you should try! It is amazing how it relaxes you and you fall into bed tired, warm, and ready to sleep.... I'm off to take a bath!

Poor Sad Mama Henley!

2011-01-30T15:31:00.003-04:00

We have had a wonderful weekend at Mama Henley's house. It has been a weekend full of friends, lacrosse games, good food, and pirates. Last night after I cleaned up from dinner and was ready to CRAWL into the bed, I decided to start the load of whites that had been accumulating in our washer all day long. I added detergent, moved the dial to hot water, and started our washer. Off I went to bed for a much needed night of rest. I do believe God has a sense of humor, so as soon as I fussed at one of our girls for not knowing where her Bible was before church, I couldn't find mine. I looked EVERYWHERE. Ever-so-gracious and one who is not prone to fall apart emotionally AT ALL (note the sarcasm in my type!), I did just that. I looked everywhere and couldn't find the cute Lilly bag that was holding all of my Bible Study stuff, including my Bible, so then I fell apart. Completely.

Our sweet children and my caring husband were all waiting for me in the car. I made us all late. Some of the children got out of the car to help me after I told DH, "I just can't go. I can't find my Bible and the whole house is a wreck and I just can't go because now I don't feel like going and I can't find my Bible and now we're going to be late and I won't be able to concentrate because I will be obsessed with finding this bag! And I know I didn't leave it anywhere because I remember having it at the kitchen table and the house is a wreck and no one made their beds well, including me, and I just can't go. I just don't feel like going any more now that I am so completely behind!"

My ever-patient husband calmly replied, "You'll feel better if you go and you need to be a good example for the children, so let's just go." I hurried around the house one last time and then gave up. Well, I sort of gave up because I asked DH to stop at the children's school so I could double check the office. It wasn't there.

I am so glad he encouraged me to go to church because our sermon was wonderful! I really was fed while I sat in church, and while our Hurricane did a good job of distracting me, the missing bag did not. Needless to say, I returned home and looked everywhere once again and still could not find my bag.

This afternoon I was going to move clothes to the dryer when I found my bag. It was IN THE WASHER. It was IN THE WASHER that ran last night as a full load because the bag was hidden in there and made the load look full. It was washed with hot water and I accidentally ruined everything in it... my Bible Study binder, my Bible, a brand new library book, a magazine, and some stationary. The good news is that I had removed my calendar and work from the bag,so they were spared. I cried and our sweet girls put all of my things out in the sunshine to dry. All is not lost, God protected my calendar and work items. I can buy a new Bible and beg a friend to let me make copies of the Bible STudy work. We did not suffer a flood or fire, and everyone is healthy. I just feel foolish for not seeing it. I learned that I often fail at showing the children how to react in a 'crisis' and that I need to pray through my responses to little things in life!

Mama Henley is the Last Woman in America Who...

2011-01-27T23:21:00.006-04:00

Mama Henley is the last woman in America who does not have a cell phone with texting. I do not have a qwerty keyboard, a cute pink Blackberry, or an I PHone. I just have my good ole beat up Samsung. Thankfully my contract has been up for 2 years and no one "owns" me. I can walk over to any phone company and become a new customer. So, that's where you come in! What phone do you have? Do you love it? Why do I need texting? I am attached to my computer. Is that not enough? How much do you pay per month for texting and internet on your phone? I am trying to avoid huge monthly fees.

Do you think I should get the new I Phone? As much as I love all Apple products, will I Love it?

Also, hubby mentioned buying me a Kindle or Nook over Christmas but decided to wait. Why do I need those? Can you get library books uploaded for free on Kindle or should I stick with hardback books? Tell me tell me. Mama Henley needs your help!

Detective Mama Henley Reports...

2011-01-26T13:56:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I ventured out to Target while everyone was in preschool. Armed with my coupon binder, I was ready to rock n' roll. The deals beckoned me to their aisles. I completed my shopping in time for one quick errand before I needed to do the preschool pick up. As I headed out into the parking lot, a young girl with a tattoo at the base of her neck came towards me. She seemed to be about to approach me to ask me something when she diverted her attention to a nearby elderly couple. My instincts told me that she was asking for money or a ride and for some reason, my sense of fear was heightened. This is not unusual for me, as I do tend to be paranoid, especially after a neighbor's rabid cat attacked me and I had to live with an IV for a month. Throwing grocery bags in the car, I kept my eyes on the young girl. She was cute but something was awry.

The elderly couple must have refused to help her. She walked away and then began hysterics. She talked on a cell phone, put her hands to her head, and made lots of distressing motions. Again, it seemed planned and rehearsed. It did not look like someone who was really in despair. I have no idea why I felt this way, but I did. She approached more people, acted hysterically, and then asked the next person. It just didn't sit well, so I found a Target employee who was eating lunch outside and asked her to ask the manager to come out and see if this young girl needed help. My feeling was that if she was truly in trouble, she would walk in the store and ask for help. Instead, she was canvassing the parking lot.

I drove around so that I could determine if she needed help or if she was faking it. Articles in the paper recently have discussed the rise in panhandling and the fact that several of the panhandlers, specifically the young ones, make $100 or more an hour and then DRIVE HOME. A man gave the girl some money and then a second man came towards her. I thought that he, too, was going to give her money. Instead he took the money, took her phone, and must have said, "Let's Go!" because she followed him and jumped in the DRIVER'S seat and drove to the far corner of the parking lot where they sat next to another white Sedan. Her car was a Toyota Camry. I left the parking lot at this point for fear that they realized I was following them. As I drove off, I called the Target store manager to report that her parking lot had solicitation going on that looked suspicious. She explained that the parking lot has a "no solicitation" rule, so even if the girl was indeed in trouble, she could not solicit like that.
All of this reminded me that these are weird times and that it's okay to doubt the sincerity of someone who asks for money. We should all be careful AT ALL TIMES and in ALL PLACES. I pray that this young girl will get the help she truly needs.

Tuesday's Tip!

2011-01-25T07:33:00.004-04:00

This is a fun time of year where you may be going to Gasparilla to see the fireworks, or a trip to Disney may be on your bucket list for early 2011. If so, this Tuesday's Tip will help YOU! Whenever we are going to be somewhere fun at night with the children, I go to the Dollar Store and buy the neon glow-in-the-dark bracelets and necklaces. They even have glow in the dark princess wands and guns! If you're at the circus, the fair, a parade or Disney, people will be selling fun glow-in-the-dark toys that will break tomorrow. Your little one will BEG for one! If your bag is filled with fun neon necklaces, then you can just whip them out and your child will be thrilled, while your wallet stays full!
Happy Tuesday's Tip!

Treasure Chest Cake

2011-01-22T09:13:00.007-04:00

Happy Gasparilla, Friends!

We are SO excited to attend the parade today with our friends and family! Gasparilla is such a fun time for our fair city. Admittedly, jolly rogers are not my favorite accessory, but they sure are cute during Gasparilla! Our house is decorated with wreaths and beads and beautiful hand-decorated jolly roger ornaments and hand towels. It's fun to be festive. Today we'll don our pirate apparel and leave super early for the parade and its surrounding entertainment. We can't wait!

To get into the spirit, we made a fun pirate treasure chest cake last night. We began this tradition last year when we made our first treasure chest cake. I have learned that I am not necessarily a neat cook, so I'm sure you can make your cake look even better than ours. The fun part of this cake is filling it with candy treasures. I had fun going to the Dollar Tree to buy candy necklaces, ring pops, gold candies, gummy worms, gummy coke bottles, wax bottles, et cetera to go inside our treasure chest.

I found this fun recipe on familyfun.go.com!!!
Ingredients
1 baked 13- x 9- x 2-inch cake
6 cups chocolate frosting - One container of store bought frosting will work
Edible treasures, such as chocolate coins, Rolo candies, chocolate almond kisses or Necco Wafers
Red Fruit by the Foot
Mini jawbreakers
Candy jewels, such as candy necklaces and rock candy and ring pops!

Cut a section approximately 2-inches wide in the center of the cake. The two remaining 5 1/2- x 9- x 2-inch rectangular pieces will form the bottom and top of the chest.

Slice the 2-inch section on an angle to form two long triangular wedges. Place the wedges on the bottom half of the chest, about an inch apart. Both wedges should face the same direction (tall end toward the front of the cake) as they will support the top of the treasure chest and keep it propped open.

Then frost the bottom half of cake, including the wedges.

To add further support for the top of the chest, stand a few large gold coins under the lid.

With the "hinged" end (left side of photo) at the back, place the top of the chest on the bottom and frost.

Wrap the fruit leather straps around the chest and press mini jawbreaker "nails" into the frosting alongside the straps. Fill the chest and the surrounding area with edible treasures and jewels.

Our Bug and Buddy

2011-01-18T22:54:00.014-04:00

When our Bug was born, we thought she was the most wonderful baby in the whole world. Of course we thought that same thing 2 years earlier when the three most wonderful babies ever were born. DH and I were enamored with Bug from the start. Compared to three babies, the Bug was easy. She was a happy baby. She was just so happy that DH and I always said, "Our Bug is just happy to be here." You see, it was a miracle that I could have a baby without a lot of poking, prodding, et cetera in a sterile operating room. The Bug was the miracle we had prayed for, hoped for, and had been told would never happen. She was given to us without medical intervention.

The Bug was born in the year 2003 when many of our friends were also having new babies. It was a fun time to be a mama to a little baby. Her playgroup had over lots of babies in it, and most of them were second born babies. From birth, she was drawn to a baby boy we'll call Buddy. You know his Mama and I didn't have a thing to do with their friendship. We didn't arrange it one little bit. No. Never. NEV-AH.

Well, Bug and Buddy became closer friends than his mama and I ever imagined. They were friends and co-conspirators. They played together, laughed together, ate together, and cut hair together the day before preschool pictures. Our Bug is not lacking in personality, and neither is her Buddy. They are quite a PAIR. They just seem to enjoy each other, not in a romantic way at all. In fact, we've never pushed that with these two because what 3 or 4 year old needs to worry about marriage? What we have encouraged is their sweet friendship. It really is sweet. Special. Unique. I mean, she never worried about wearing her bathing suit in front of him with that cute little belly of hers!

These two have enjoyed playdates and birthday parties together. They never tire of one another's company.

Buddy's not even afraid to wear a little gloss for the Bug. Well, 4 years ago he wasn't afraid. He probably wouldn't do it now that he's a big boy.

One of the most difficult parts of our move was that Bug had to leave behind her 4 best friends, including Buddy. It was heart wrenching. She just loves her friends. Bug and Buddy spent some nice afternoons at Pullen Park before we had to move.

Don't you just love how much fun they have together?

At Christmas, we stopped by Buddy's house to see him and his precious family. They are dear friends and we have missed them! None of us could understand why Buddy wouldn't come out and say hello to the Bug. She finally went upstairs with all of the children and they played and talked a little. Suddenly she was shoving money in my hands and telling me she didn't know what to do but that Buddy had given her the money.

"Oh, sweetie, we can't keep Buddy's money. That is so sweet but this is $6!!! That is a lot of money. I am going to give it back to his parents." She nodded and said, "I know. He doesn't need to give me anything."

I gave his Daddy the money. Buddy was still not acting like himself so his daddy went to check on him. Buddy's daddy came back and said, "I now know why Buddy was hiding. He was so upset because he did not have a Christmas gift for Bug. He told me that he couldn't not give her a gift but that he had not had time to shop for her. He wanted to give her something so he gave her his money. He gave her ALL of his money. So, if you've ever doubted his intentions for your daughter, you should know that he gave her every last dime he had!"
We all sighed a collective "Awww!!", and I wiped away some tears. Is that not the sweetest thing ever? Buddy gave our Bug everything he had. May it be so in all of our relationships. May we ALL give all that we have.

Tuesday's Tip... Gasparilla Pirate's Rum Punch!

2011-01-18T05:24:00.006-04:00

Aaargh... Maties!
It's that time again! Tampa will be invaded by pirates this Saturday, January 22, 2011 for the Children's Parade! Are you mateys ready? Just in time is a Gasparilla Pirate's Punch Recipe! Those who don't want the bang can enjoy Hawaiian Tropic's red punch with sprite!

Gasparilla Pirate's Rum Punch

1 part rum (Bacardi rum works just fine)
1 part cranberry juice (50 ounce bottle)
2 parts orange juice... the best kind is Tropicana with pulp
Mix all of the ingredients together and serve! I also like to add some Coco Lopez to it or use a little coconut rum to make it taste very island-y!

Cheers!!!

New Favorite in the Kitchen

2011-01-15T13:25:00.008-04:00

I love to cook. There are certainly days and even seasons where I do less of it, but on a good week we eat all of our meals at home. Hospitality is a gift DH and I share. We love to have others to our home, and try to do so as often as possible. Some of our favorite evenings are spent at home with a good meal and a game or deck of cards to entertain everyone following the meal. Great memories are often forged around the dinner table!

One of my new favorite ingredients is PANCETTA. Pancetta is an Italian bacon that has been cured with salt and pepper. It is much saltier than bacon. It is delicious! You buy pancetta in the deli section at the grocery store. Ask for a size 2 slice. At Thanksgiving, my dear friend, Rachel, who is an incredible cook, made the best appetizer! It was pancetta with arugula, goat cheese, and figs. I believe the recipe below is similar:

Pancetta Crisps with Goat Cheese and Figs
Makes 12

12 thin Pancetta slices

12 Arugula leaves

12 tsp. soft, fresh Goat Cheese

Fig jam or preserves

6 fresh Figs (You can substitute 6 plump dried Mission figs or 12 small fresh persimmon wedges)

You can add chopped thyme on top if you so desire

Fresh ground pepper

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pancetta in single layer on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool 15 minutes and transfer to platter. I have also cooked pancetta in the pan like you cook bacon and that also works well. I love the little rounds it makes!

2. Top each slice with 1 arugula leaf, 1 teaspoon of goat cheese and 1/4 teaspoon of jam.

3. Depending on the size of your figs, top with 1/2 a fig. (The figs I purchased were large, so I used 1/6 of a fig per appetizer). Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper. You may want to add the thyme as well.

Bon appetit!

Two Terrific Years in Tampa

2011-01-12T23:43:00.039-04:00

Has it really been two years? Was it 2 Christmases ago that we decorated our tree with our Christmas cards because we didn't have time to pull out all of our ornaments when we would be packing right after Christmas?

Has it been two years since dear friends gave us a going away party that we'll never forget?

Have we owned a painting by artist Shade Maret for two years? Sometimes it's hard to believe, and other times it feels like Tampa has been home for so much longer than just 2 years. Can I really not have a Raleigh Times salad whenever I want it?

Was it really two years ago that all of our worldly belongings were packed in boxes and moved to our driveway to be loaded onto a large truck for their transit to Tampa? Did we really stand in our driveway and hug our sweet neighbors and friends goodbye? To this day we have not had better neighbors than our old ones!

How did we ever have our last meal as Raleigh residents with the whole extended family? Did we eat or just cry in our pizza? How on earth did we load up all 7 of us, a dog, a computer, our sterling silver, all of our home movies, our wedding album, and special pictures of the children, fit all of it in one amazing Honda Odyssey minivan, and drive out of my parents' driveway? I'm not sure how we did it. But I do know that God was with us through every mile that we drove and every time that we stopped. Again. I'll never forget getting out of the car to take pictures at the first Florida rest stop. The temperature had completely warmed up and we began to strip layers of clothing. It was sunny and beautiful and WARM!

How were we brave enough to drive those 12 hours and then move into a local hotel for the week? How did we wake up on time to meet our new church family? God gave us the strength. Our first morning was filled with funny happenings, but look at how quickly our children made lifelong friends!!!! Can you believe that their best friends are in this first picture that we took after church? Despite the fact that we had a child vomit in the parking lot, I called someone a whore when I misunderstood their last name, and we smelled like dog doo, we still managed to make some friends! God does have a sense of humor!

How did our sweet 7 year old triplets bravely enter a new classroom where they doubled its size and knew no one? God gave them strength. He prepared them in ways we could not. They fit right in like they had always been at the school. God makes children so much more resilient than adults!

How did our little tiny 5 year old, Bug, face a whole new preschool all by herself? I don't now how she did it! She had never seen the school, we did not know her teacher, we did not know even one person at her school. But she did it. God gave her the strength and the personality to cope. She went right in and started making friends, just as our Bug always does. She left her very best friends in NC, and she did not immediately make new best friends. However, over the next year, she made wonderful friends and now has best friends here. We are so grateful.

Did our 5 monkeys really swim in January? Now that we are thin-blooded Floridians, I don't think they could do it! However, we happily obliged them when we arrived in the Sunshine State. We still love our pool. We are so grateful for this home. Most of all, we are grateful for the many countless ways the Lord has blessed us here. We never desired to leave our home in North Carolina. We were quite content. Sometimes the Lord has different plans for us. We knew we had to follow Him, and we're so glad that we did. Happy Two Years in Tampa!!!!!!

Tuesday's Tip!

2011-01-11T05:33:00.003-04:00

You know, you always need to listen to Mama. And MY Mama says that sponges are huge breeders of germs. She noted that a recent study found that sponges often have MORE germs than the toilet seat they are trying to clean. Can we say a collective, "EWWWWWW!!!!". Yuckers. Anyhoo, Mama has the perfect solution to kill those germs. Wet your sponge and ring it out so that it is damp. You do not want it to be dripping wet. Place the damp sponge in your microwave and put it on high for 2 minutes. This kills all of the germs on your sponge. You should do this DAILY. Once you open your microwave, you will find that any dirt in the microwave has been loosened because the damp sponge becomes a sauna of sorts for your microwave. The loosened food spots are now easier to clean and you have a damp sponge in hand that is is disinfected and ready to do more dirty work! Isn't Mama smart?!
Happy 1/11/11!!!!!!!

Our Sweet Baby Angel

2011-01-10T10:14:00.010-04:00

We had quite a scare this weekend. Our little angel, Hurricane, was put to bed on Saturday night and then came downstairs asking for milk. DH & I were selfishly looking forward to a date night with a movie a friend had loaned us. We asked our little Hurricane to go back to bed. As she walked up the stairs, she tripped and fell. We heard a loud cry. Bless her heart. DH reached her first and picked her up. Blood was pouring out of her precious mouth. We realized she had bit her tongue. I tried to look at it, but I wanted to pass out. She had bit it all the way across with multiple lacerations. It would not stop bleeding. Thankfully my dear friend rushed over so that I could ride with DH to the Emergency Clinic.

I was panicked by the time we arrived at the clinic. She was continuing to bleed, and we were all very afraid. It looked horrifying! The nurse brought us a pale pink tongue-colored ice pop for her to put on the tongue. You do not want a color that will mask the injury until the doctor has seen it. I sang songs like "Jesus Loves Me", prayed, and cried. DH kept telling me I needed to be strong for our sweet baby. The doctor finally came in the room. He examined her tongue and assured us she is going to be okay. He explained that she had a moderate wound and that it actually had good placement. We praised God that it was not severe (Trust me, you do not want to see anything more severe than this!). He said that he would not try to put stitches in in since it was not clipped on the side and that it would heal on its own. We thanked the Lord over and over that she is okay! The bleeding finally stopped after 2 ice pops. She came home on a diet of very soft foods only and no salt. Her tongue has healed in amazing ways. Thank you, Lord!

Frugal Finds for Dinner

2011-01-08T13:32:00.003-04:00

Eating at home often saves time, money, and calories! We love family dinner at Mama Henley's house and try not to miss one. Thankfully our move to Florida has allowed us to focus more on this grand old family of 7. Feeding a big family is no easy task as it's hard to find meals that please everyone while not eating Chick Fil A nuggets 6 nights a week! Therefore, I have started trying to make meals that make one child really super happy while most everyone else will eat it. I rotate so that everyone enjoys their favorites at some point during the month.
Coming home after a week away means lots of extra laundry and gifts to put away in a new home. We've been cleaning house, putting away the last of the Christmas items, and washing lots of clothes. I have also been trying to cook at home every meal. Last Monday night we had the frozen PF Chang's entrees. Tuesday morning I cooked 4 pounds of ground beef. I cooked 2 of those pounds with chopped onion and the other without. Cooking all of your ground beef at one time saves a lot of time! Sometimes I freeze some of the cooked ground beef, but this week I was able to use all of it.
The ground beef cooked with onion was used to make spaghetti sauce. I brown my beef and then add things like oregano, basil, garlic powder, chopped green peppers, chopped carrots, diced tomatoes, a little Maldon sea salt, and tomato sauce. I usually add a really big container of store bought spaghetti sauce as well. The brand depends on what is in our garage pantry! I buy pasta and pasta sauce on sale. We have not found a huge difference in taste. I probably had $3-4 in extra ingredients and $6.00 in the 2 pounds of ground beef. At most our meal cost $10.00. All 7 of us had spaghetti and then I made a spaghetti pie for some friends. I even had a little sauce leftover! So $5.00 for one meal for 7 people is great plus the $5.00 to feed our friends a spaghetti pie!
The other 2 pounds of cooked ground beef was used to make tacos on Wednesday night. Our children LOVE tacos. I have quit buying the store bought taco seasoning because it is cheaper and better for you to make your own. There are no preservatives when you make it yourself. I brown the meat and add LOTS of chili powder, some cumin, some garlic powder, and a little red pepper if we want it to be spicy. After the meat is cooked and covered in these spices, I add at least 1/2 cup water just like you do with the seasoning packets. I just shake the chili powder until it looks right and the tacos always taste great! We love to dress up our tacos with cheese, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, black or refried beans, et cetera. I made a taco salad over spinach and arugula and added some of the jasmine rice from Monday night! I usually just buy tortillas, but I had a really cheap soft taco kit from a buy one/get one free deal, so we used those tortillas for this meal. Since all of the toppings are things we keep on hand, this meal only cost around $7 or $8!
Thursday is a full day for our family with lots of activities. I am not home to start dinner until after 6pm. Therefore, dinner has to be prepared in advance or cooked when we walk in the door. This week I decided we would actually eat our leftovers rather than just say we were going to eat them! Some of us had pasta with red sauce or spaghetti sauce and others had tacos! Of course we had fruit and salads with our meals as fillers. All in all, it was a frugal week of eating at home!

Ahoy there, Matey!

2011-01-06T21:30:00.012-04:00

One of my favorite things about Tampa is that the winter blues never have a chance to begin here. As you begin taking down your Christmas decorations, you must start facing forward and planning for Gasparilla. Gasparilla now takes place over two weekends with a Children's Parade the weekend of January 22, followed by the crazy Gasparilla on January 29th. Virgin eyes should stay away on the 29th! The whole city unites for these fun events and doors are decorated with pirate wreaths and homes have pirate decor. You may remember that I made a pirate cake last year.

As I took down our very dead Christmas wreaths, I happily replaced them with our oh-so-tacky but oh-so-festive Gasparilla wreaths. I started to put away our hot pink tinsel tree until I realized it would look fabulous with beads thrown all over it. I saved last year's beads so that I would have plenty for decorating purposes. The children loved throwing beads at the pink tinsel tree and at our front hall mirror. It is fun to be festive!

While in one of my favorite local stores, Baby Sweet Pea, I overheard some women talking about what they'll wear to all of the YMKG events. I learned that gold is the color to be seen in this year. What fun the ladies will have in choosing their dress for the Captain's Ball and other events!

Of course, I love focusing on what the children will wear. My favorite children's line of all time is called Two Friends. Sadly they have had to retire due to the busy demands of life with children. Thankfully, Mama Henley's girls can STILL wear their pirate dresses from a few years ago! If not, I have been perusing the web for great ideas for your little one to be fashionable at the parade! I'll see you there!

Miss Nancy Minds Their Manners

2011-01-04T22:20:00.012-04:00

You all may remember that I wrote a post in May 2009 about the most fabulous Manners Camp in Hertford, North Carolina. Real life Nancy Rascoe is ever a Southern Bell. At 74 years old, she taught our triplets about manners, life, and fun in the rivah (river). They learned how to set and clear the table for dinnah (dinner), how to shake someone's hand and make introductions, and how to answer the telephone. Miss Nancy and her staff of Mr. Peter, Miss Blue, and Miss Anna were there to charm, love, and teach our precious little dahlins. At the end of the week, parents answered a handwritten invitation for tea by returning at noon on a Friday for tea and a presentation. Let me just tell you, seeing your child at Manners Camp simply melts your heart.
My heart was not the only one that melted. The fabulous duo of Martha Daniels and Caroline Paxton managed to make a documentary film about Miss Nancy and her Manners Camp houseparties. It is a modern day look at the South. Miss Nancy runs her camps in the summer, but her real work happens as a volunteer at the local elementary school during the school year. She is a true Southern lady, and I am privileged to know her. The talented Martha Daniels and Caroline Paxton have done an AMAZING job of capturing Miss Nancy and the precious children that have entered her life. You will love this movie!
Our son loved Miss Nancy and her camp so much that he requested to attend it TWICE. He did! In fact, at age 9 1/2, he said he would LOVE to go back! We recently watched the documentary on DVD Our family laughed and cried! We had a room full of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and baby cousins who watched this captivating film. If you love the South, are a fan of manners, or appreciate a true work of art documentary, then you need to order a DVD TODAY!
As always, the Southern Documentary Fund is a great place to donate to keep our southern culture alive! If you would like to order a DVD for your own enjoyment, Martha Daniel has offered a great deal for TODAY ONLY. The DVDS are usually $25 each. She is offering them for $18 per DVD and that includes tax and shipping. You will need to SEND check (not Pay Pal
online) to Martha Daniel at Daniel Design Associates with their name and address to:
Daniel Design
132 Candlewood Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Questions: 252 813 9103
Hurry, because Martha only has a few copies left before she is sold out until her next big order!

Tuesday's Tip

2011-01-04T13:49:00.003-04:00

Wow! December is over and I can hardly believe it. I will certainly miss the daily influx of Christmas cards with smiling faces of our friends and family. December is my favorite month to go to the mailbox. January not-so-much! December = happy smiling faces and January = bills bills bills!
However, December tends to be so FULL. We all find ourselves racing from one thing to the next no matter how hard we try to simplify. It just happens. While I opened and enjoyed every single Christmas card, I have not had time to really sit down and peruse each one in depth. So, this January I will keep our cards out. They are in a cute gold star basket. Each night we will chose a few cards and share the story of that person or family and then we will pray for them. What better use for these cards than for them to be prayed over for their year. None of us knows what tomorrow holds and we can never pray enough for those we love. How do you use your Christmas cards once Christmas is over?

Frugal Finds for Dinner

2011-01-03T20:44:00.004-04:00

It's January. Your heart is full, but your wallet is not. Perhaps you ate like a queen during the month of December. You ate well, attended many a party, and gave and received fabulous gifts. January 1, 2011 rolled around, and you realized it's time to reel it all back in. Perhaps you've put yourself on a spending freeze or you're vowing to be healthier in 2011. We could all stand to do both of those!
At Mama Henley's house, our move to Florida has really put our lives in perspective. Knowing God and enjoying Him is our first priority. Our next priority is the 7 people who live under this roof. We've enjoyed lots of good family time, and one of our favorite times together has always been dinner together. In the past two years, we've eaten at home more than ever. Now don't get me wrong, I love nothing more than to sit and be served and to not have to clear the dishes and put away leftovers. However, reality is that it is smarter to eat at home than to eat out. It saves money and is often healthier.
Last night we drove in from a 12 hour drive. I did not make it to the store today in time to buy dinner. However, I have always been a planner and a girl who is not afraid to store some food. In situations like today, it pays off. I knew that I had plenty of delicious jasmine rice on hand and that our freezer contained some BOGO (buy one, get one free) PF Changs entrees. Voila! We had dinner. We simply warmed the beef and chicken dishes in the skillet, cooked the rice, and poured milk for the children. Using my coupons, I am guessing we did not have more than about $6 or $7 invested in our dinner that served all 7 of us with some leftover rice!
This month I will try to tell you ways that we are cutting back and eating at home!

Pennywise but POUND FOOLISH!

2011-01-03T12:25:00.006-04:00

We had a wonderful Christmas filled with great times with both sides of the family. For that, we are thankful. For the 12 hour ride to NC and back, we're just thankful we made it. Sometimes I wish we could just push Georgia and South Carolina out of the way and be home. Whew. We're thankful to be home, sleeping in our queen sized bed instead of 2 twins! Ha!
During our brief trip to NC, we planned several visits and lunches and dinners with family. We had a great lunch with my mother's brother, and we looked forward to a huge visit with 22 of us on my father's side the following day. In fact, we had planned the lunch and made reservations for the 22 of us before Christmas to make sure it would all happen. My aunt and her children and their spouses and children all traveled 2 hours to be with us. While they were making their trek to Raleigh, we received an email that our lunch destination had to close due to an emergency situation: the main water main had broken and was being repaired. They had no water service and had told all of the servers and cooks to stay home. We quickly formulated a plan to eat somewhere else.
We've always loved Midtown Bar and 115. They said they could accommodate all 22 of us in their back room. Perfect. I called back to see if they have a Children's Menu. The person who answered the phone said that they do not but that the children could order a burger. I went online to discover that the burgers are gourmet $10 burgers that my children won't eat. They like little think burgers, not big adult burgers. So, I asked DH to run by Chick Fil A where I bought chicken nuggets with the intention of buying sides like chips or french fries or fruit at the restaurant. I was not trying to cheat the restaurant; they had 15 paying adults plus the sides for the children. It was our family Christmas lunch; revenue was guaranteed!
The server immediately told me I would have to hide the bag and use plates. I told her that would be fine. I figured they'd have plates for the side dishes anyway. We had two long tables of 11. Apparently an assistant manager came to my father and told him that the restaurant was going to charge $5 PER PLATE for the children to eat the nuggets in their restaurant. My father quietly explained that he was not going to pay $30-35 for children to have a plate and that we would have to leave if the manager chose to force the issue. Believe it or not, the manager would not waive the plate fee. The manager allowed TWENTY TWO PEOPLE to walk out of an empty restaurant at 12:30pm on the Wednesday after Christmas. There were maybe 2 or 3 other small tables. They had set up our tables with water and linens and they LET US LEAVE. IN fact, they basically ASKED us to leave!!!! All over $30!!!!! So, Midtown Bar and 115 lost a huge lunch tab on a day the restaurant was DEAD over $30. And that, my friends, is pennywise and pound foolish! As you can imagine, this dear struggling restaurant will never see Mama Henley's face again. There are too many good places to eat that are more than willing to accommodate their diners. Good luck, Midtown!

A Merry Disney Birthday

2010-12-29T10:02:00.011-04:00

Wow! What a fantastic week we had! Our baby girl turned 4, so we had to fete her in many ways. It's tough to be a December or early January baby. Everyone is so caught up in the frenzy that we call December, so these birthday boys and girls are often overlooked. DH and I decided when Hurricane was born that we would do all that we can to celebrate her well.

So, on December 20, we joined the rest of America at the Magic Kingdom. I was set on seeing the Christmas parade this year while we have annual passes. Unfortunately, we did not move quickly enough, so we entered the gates with a mass of humanity pushing through with us. I've never seen the park so packed!! It was unbelievable. We were thankful to not have to eat any meals there because I am not sure any of the restaurants had space for our party of 7.

The great joy in having annual passes is that there is no pressure when we go to the parks. Of course we WANT to do as much as possible, but when Dumbo has a 2 hour wait, we skip it and wait for our next visit. This day was spent tousling through the crowds more than it was spent riding rides.

Our little bit LOVED the movie Tangled and asked for Rapunzel dolls for Christmas and her birthday. What a thrill that Rapunzel and Flynn were at the park! We endured an hour and a half wait and then took some fun pictures with them. It was worth it to see the smile on her little face.

The 3pm Christmas parade was really cool with all of the characters in Christmas attire.

Tuesday's Tip

2010-12-21T05:18:00.003-04:00

Oh my goodness! Christmas is ALMOST here! Can you believe it?! I am so excited! The children can hardly stand it as we begin to really celebrate Jesus' birthday. Bring on the birthday cake! In just a few days, you will be receiving new gifts. Perhaps you will be given a new camera, a printer, or even a Mac Book Pro! Lucky you! Well, please learn from my mistake. Last year I was given a fabulous new wireless printer from my dear mother-in-law. It recently died. I could not find the receipt anywhere. Mimi shared with me what smart Papa, my father-in-law, used to do before he died. He would take receipts for big ticket items and either staple them to the appliance booklet or tape them underneath the printer or computer. That way, there was no doubt that you could find the receipt should you need to return it. I hope you'll employ this Tuesday's Tip this year! I know I will!

Gift Idea for the Little Fellas in Your Life

2010-12-16T23:40:00.004-04:00

Don't you just love to buy toys for children? They bring them so much delight and happiness. I miss having a really little boy. Our boy has grown up so quickly! I can't believe he and his sisters will be 10 this spring! If you have little ones at home, savor every moment. I remember how long the days can be, but the years pass in a flash.
If you have a little boy under age 9 who needs a great gift, look into Automoblox. What a great toy! They come in many different colors and shapes and sizes. You can interchange the parts to create a new look. They promote gross and fine motor skills, problem solving, and visio-spatial processing. What a great toy! Happy Shopping!

Tuesday's Tip... I've seen the Light Again!

2010-12-14T05:14:00.004-04:00

I love candles. Their fragrance makes your home smell wonderful. When we were first married and living in Dallas, Texas, my Bible Study leader, Laura, always had a candle lit. We could not wait to go to her here because it was always so welcoming. Something about those candles beckoned me! At the time, there was an Aspen Bay candle shop at Inwood Plaza (I may be remembering the name of the shopping center incorrectly). I would go and buy fantastic black gardenia votive candles and burn them at home. Laura tended towards coffee and vanilla candles. When using small votive candles, if you will put a drop or two of oil or a drop of water in the bottom of the glass votive, it makes it easier to remove the candle once it has depleted. I believe Vaseline would do the same thing. Happy Tuesday's Tip!

One Last Christmas

2010-12-13T16:34:00.003-04:00

If this doesn't make you get on your knees and thank the Lord for your many blessings, I don't know what will. Find your Kleenex!

Fat Friday!

2010-12-10T20:35:00.011-04:00

If you have not been to Philadelphia or the Main Line, you need to go. What an absolute treat to visit my dear friend, Julia, back in October. Wow! What a city. I enjoyed my time there immensely. The Main Line in incredible. Each home is more beautiful and interesting than the last. Of course Julia and David own the prettiest house of all. I loved the interesting architecture and gorgeous yards. It is also fun to see all of the universities and private schools and old churches in the area. I can't wait to go back!

While I was there, David treated us to a FABULOUS dinner at Barclay Prime. David was fortunate enough to secure tickets to see the Phillies in their final game, so he sent us to dinner with Julia's precious friend, Katie. The three of us had the best time at Rittenhouse Square's finest. Barclay Prime was quite a treat!
How fun that Katie knew our server from years prior! We began our evening in the bar where we had a fabulous St. Germaine (elderflower) cocktail with pineapple juice, St. Germaine, and vodka. I was introduced to elderflower by Julia on this trip, and I am a believer! After drinks, we were escorted to the fabulous dining room.

The dining room felt so very "Mad Men". I kept waiting for Don Draper to walk through the door. He did not, but I would not have been surprised! Julia ordered a wonderful fish from Australia. I had a fabulous wedge salad and the filet. I couldn't entice anyone to split the filet with me, as it was more than enough meat. The filet was prepared perfectly, and we enjoyed our sides served family style. The sides included truffle whipped potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and creamed spinach. Every bite was scrumptious! We left very happy girls! I was so thankful David was generous enough to send us to such a wonderful restaurant, but we did miss his company!
I can hardly wait to get back to Philly. I hope you'll visit Barclay Prime if given the chance!

Today...

2010-12-07T22:17:00.002-04:00

Today I will hug those I love a little harder, for I know many a mama who will not get to do that this Christmas (Amy, Priscilla, Elizabeth, and many others).

I will thank God for the little things like a misplaced Math book, for it means I have a child at home who is young enough to still need me.

I will praise God for my health, for I know so many who are struggling with their health. I will turn to the Lord and ask Him for a miracle for those I know personally, especially a young mother in North Carolina who is battling brain cancer. Our whole family is praying for her and for her family, for I have known them all as long as I can remember. Lord, please heal her.

I will thank the Lord for my parents, for we will spend our 3rd Christmas without my precious father-in-law. In remembering his wonderful life, I am praying for those who will spend this Christmas without their loved one for the very first time. A special family in Raleigh comes to mind, as do our family in Texas and Louisiana, and so many others. I continue to pray for my mother-in-law who has remained amazingly strong in her grief.

I thank God for His provision through my husband's job. I praise Him that we have even been able to give a little to help others, for so many will spend this Christmas with no job and no income.

I will especially pray for our former neighbor, Elizabeth, who died today. Lord, bless her. I pray she knew you well. I especially pray for Kate, Jack, and Emma Claire, who were well-loved by their mother.

It seems many die each year in November and December. I believe the suicide rate is higher in those months. May we all know the peace and JOY of Jesus Christ as we celebrate His upcoming birth.

Tuesday's Tip... I've seen the Light!

2010-12-07T06:10:00.001-04:00

Recently we had a bulb burn out in our hallway. I dread standing on the ladder to change them, but alas, that is what we did. My parents were here visiting so my sweet Papa said he would do it. Wouldn't you know the bulb broke in the fixture, forcing us to have to use needle-nosed pliers to remove it. Thankfully, Papa did a fabulous job. However, he did recommend putting a little vaseline on the metal base of the new bulb. This will prevent the same thing from happening again! Voila'! Our new bulb is happily in its place, and we know we will not face a mess when it burns out in the future.

A Truly Grateful Heart

2010-12-06T23:30:00.003-04:00

I believe in the power of the written word. Stationery and pens are my friends. I love them. I can sit and stare at a display of pens or papers for hours. There is nothing like the sense of accomplishment after penning a letter to someone you love. I believe in prompt thank you notes so that the giver knows the depth of your gratefulness. Wouldn't you know I am still behind on my October birthday thank yous? It kills me, but I have somehow not quite finished. My apologies to those I have not treated well. It really is not due to a lack of thankfulness! It is due to doing too many things at once and not finishing something well!

We recently celebrated a friend's birthday over dessert. DH and I were overwhelmed by the fine thank you note this gentleman sent us on Crane's paper. Yes, the friend was a male and yes, HE wrote a thank you note. He wrote it promptly. He wrote it well. Chivalry is not dead. We are so honored to call him our friend!

When You Know You've Had Enough

2010-12-05T23:45:00.004-04:00

This is when you know you've had ENOUGH......

Play it again, Sam

2010-12-04T22:59:00.004-04:00

You may remember that I wrote about our Hewlett-Packard printer that I was given last Christmas. Unfortunately, it broke exactly one year after it was purchased. I called HP, and they were unwilling to do anything to replace it. They told me that I could send them the printer and $90 and they would send me a replacement printer. There were no apologies and no disbelief for the fact that I had only had the printer for ONE YEAR. We were so upset.
DH and I drove to Sam's Club to buy a replacement printer. Admittedly, I was sad that Tampa does not have Costco. However, I have grown to really REALLY LOVE Sam's. DH and I bought our new printer. On the way out of the store, Doug stopped to ask the manager, Jason, if there was anything they could do to help us with the situation. Jason was fantastic. He asked if we had the receipt and the box. Sadly, we did not. He told us to find out my MIL's Sam's Club number and he would take care of it. We left the store not sure if it would work out or not. God is so good.
About 3 days later I called Jason with my MIL's membership number. He ran the report and found our purchase receipt. He told me to come to the store for a refund. I arrived just before closing time, and Jason gave me a FULL REFUND for the original cost of the original printer. I was floored!!! Sam's Club kept their commitment to the customer when HP would not. December expenses are always crazy, and God was so good to use Jason to bless us. I told Jason that I would tell everyone that the South Tampa Sam's Club on South Dale Mabry is the BEST!!! I will never buy electronics anywhere else!

December

2010-12-02T22:50:00.000-04:00

December is here. Like it or not, the streets are busier, malls are wild, and your to-do list just increased with things like wrapping, decorating, and buying. No matter how we try, December tends to be a busier month than a sweet, slow, cold month like January (unless you're heavily involved in Gasparilla, and then I don't know when you slow down!). Our minds are filled with things to check off the list... did I buy that doll? Where can I find the DSi case? What in the world should I send Great Aunt Martha?
The good news is that Christmas is always on December 25th. That date never changes, so we have a year to plan. I try to spread out our spending by shopping year round. It seems to help. However, no matter how hard I try, I have plenty on my plate in December. This rushing around to find Junior the perfect gift is not wrong.
But we need to SLOW DOWN. We need to stop and remember what it is that we are celebrating. What is the true meaning of Christmas for you? For Mama Henley's house, we are preparing our hearts and minds to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our SAVIOR! What a miracle He is. What a gift. The gift of a relationship with Christ is better and longer-lasting than any toy or gadget. I am so thankful for this gift.
However, I often get caught up in my list and focus on that rather than HIM. This year, I am praying that we will all slow down. I am praying that we will savor every day and not get caught up in the hustle and bustle. I want this year to be about the birth of Jesus, not about who has the best and earliest Christmas card or who has the prettiest festive outfit or who decorates like Town and Country. I am praying that my eyes will be on Him, and that I will enjoy my family this season instead of pushing them to the side to check more off of my to-do list. I struggle with putting the world first and Christ second. How do you balance and keep your focus on the true meaning of Christmas?

Tuesday's Tip

2010-11-30T05:03:00.003-04:00

Have you bought some brand new shoes for fall? I just love my Tory Burch revas, but boy, can they rub some blisters when they are new! Has this happened to you? If so, my friend, Victoria, has the BEST solution!! She recommends rubbing DEODORANT on your heels and any other places where blisters are typically provoked. She does this and has no blisters from new shoes! Make sure you use a deodorant solid and not the liquid. Give it a try, girls! Happy Tuesday's Tip!

I have a new love!

2010-11-30T00:04:00.005-04:00

I have told you peeps before of my love for Macs and their people. I mean, I wrote a whole post about One to One! Well, I have found a new love. My HP printer died after just one year. I am not finished with the folks at HP. They didn't even apologize when I called. Instead, they told me I can send them my old printer and BUY ONE JUST LIKE IT for $90. Does that sound like a deal to you? I don't think so, but that's a separate post.
My DH is the best and he feels my pain. He knew I needed a printer for work and home. So, we bought a new printer. Sadly, our desktop is old enough that it simply could not support the software installation for the new printer. The printer folks could not send me a CD that would work with our older operating system. I was stuck.
I had passed the iHospital many times. I had seen the signs for Mac and iPhone repair. I googled them and called them after finding out that I had to have a newer operating system and some more Ram. The iHospital said they could help me, so I drove to their store. It was clean and BUSY. I never knew how many people drop their iPhone in a day! I wish I had thought of this brilliant idea! The men were all dressed in doctor's scrubs. They were friendly and knowledgeable. I filled out my info on the iPad and went on my merry way. The computer was back in my hands in about 5 hours. They were fast, efficient, and guess what? They threw in the RAM for FREE and I just paid for my new operating system and the labor. They're nice like that! When I left my old faithful G5, they did not give me a claim ticket. I admit, it made me nervous. In fact, I told them so. I teased them that I am a blogger. They assured me that they would treat me right. And they did. If you live in Tampa or have an IHospital in your area, consider yourself blessed.

National Velvet

2010-11-27T05:54:00.000-04:00

Our D is blessed with 2 wonderful godmothers. Last Christmas Frances gave her a gift card to Blockbuster so that she could have her own copy of Elizabeth Taylor in "National Velvet". We tried to buy it and Blockbuster did not have it for sale. With my mind on Christmas once again, I pulled out her gift card and tried again. It was there! I ordered "National Velvet" and another horse movie for our sweet horse lover. She is going to be THRILLED!

Citiblocs

2010-11-26T11:19:00.005-04:00

It's Black Friday!! Many of you have just embarked on your Christmas shopping. Some of you finished in October. I have completed the bulk of our shopping, but still have some photo calendars to make and other items to purchase. All of us have that moment where we are stuck and have no idea what to buy our child or niece or nephew or godchild. Last year, I wrote a post about Magnatiles. They are still one of our very favorite toys of all times. I highly recommend buying a set if you haven't already!

This year I wanted to tell you about Citiblocs. They are an all-natural wooden block with pine from New Zealand. They are unique in that each block is the exact same size. Children can build tall buildings, ships, castles, and houses without the use of glue or magnets. They are safe for children which is a huge plus at Mama Henley's house! You can find a set on Amazon.com, Ebay, or by searching good toy websites like Fat Brain Toys or Back to Basics. Children of all ages will enjoy these blocks, but they are best for children over age 3! I love it that now you can buy cool colors or hot colors in a set to liven up your buildings.

In a world that is fast-paced and motivated by tv, internet, and video games, it's nice to find a toy that truly captures a child's imagination and helps them learn and grow. Happy Black Friday!

Psalm 100

2010-11-25T07:00:00.002-04:00

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 100

Today I am especially thankful for God's gift to us on the cross. I am thankful for a loving husband and 5 miracle babies. I am thankful for the soldiers who fight to protect our freedom and for their families who sacrifice along with them. I am thankful that I can buy what I need freely at the store. Though I am often tired, I am able to rest at night in a comfortable bed. All of our needs are met, and that is a huge blessing. God is my strength and refuge in times of trouble. He is the great Comforter, the Great Healer, and the Great Physician. He knows my heart before I speak. He loves me.

Today I will delight in the tiny handprints all over our doors and windows and mirrors, for I remember what it was like to long for a baby. I will delight over the mess I make in our galley kitchen because I am thankful to have a kitchen! When my feet ache at the end of the day, I will rejoice that I have the ability to feel pain and hot and cold. When my hair doesn't look right in the morning, I will rejoice that it is all mine. Too many I love are going through major heart ache, pain, and loss right now. I have been there too. Therefore, I will choose to count my blessings and to thank the Lord in all things!! His faithfulness endures forever!

As I write this, I am praying for those friends who have lost a loved one, who are fighting cancer or some other sickness, who long for a baby, who have lost a baby, who are overwhelmed, who know the Lord, who need the Lord, who have been betrayed by a loved one, who have lost their job, who are oversees at war, who would do anything for one more hug. You are in my heart and prayers. Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends! May you spend it rejoicing in God's bountiful goodness, even in times of trouble!!!

Talk to Me, Baby! I need your DSi wisdom!

2010-11-24T22:40:00.003-04:00

Our precious boy is about to die to have a DSi! We are the last holdouts in his circle of friends. They all have them and we have learned that it's hard to share. It just doesn't happen. So, Santa baby might bring our boy his dream toy. He has saved his money from his grandmothers to help him purchase one. We haven't started giving allowance, so this is quite a big feat. If Santa were to give him a DSi, what games do you recommend? What games would his sisters enjoy? Do we need a nerf case? Do they make one for the XL? What are the necessities and what are extras? Help Mama Henley, if you please!

Tuesday's Tip

2010-11-23T05:24:00.001-04:00

Do you just love s'mores? My friend, Anne, told me that she eats one almost every day after school. She is a teacher, so she has earned an after school snack! Well, my new Tampa friend, Cathy, taught me the neatest trick! Ritz crackers has some new chocolate-covered Ritz cookies. Perhaps they are trying them in Tampa and they haven't made it to other cities because I could not find them on the Nabisco website. Anyway, Cathy recommends cooking your marshmallow over the campfire and then placing it on chocolate-covered Ritz! This eliminates the need for a chocolate bar! Cathy said that you can sometimes find chocolate-covered graham crackers at Sam's Club or Costco, and you can also use these for s'mores! Your next camping trip will be much easier!

More Reasons to Give Thanks

2010-11-22T23:26:00.005-04:00

I am thankful that although our icemaker leaked frozen water all over our entire freezer, it's not the end of the world, and I can buy a new icemaker.

I am thankful that while our dishwasher leaves our dishes with a white film, I can try vinegar and Finish and get rid of some of the white stuff. Phosphate free detergents to not mean that life is over.

I am thankful that while our dryer was making a noise for DH and his mama this weekend, it has been reverently silent upon my return home.

I am thankful that while some little things were broken this afternoon, I was able to mend the little spirit that I hurt while not being the best mama in the world.

I am thankful for time away with my sweet mother because I know how blessed I am to still have her. I am thankful for a mother-in-law that I love like a mother and for her sacrificial love for our family.

I am thankful to have the children home for an entire week of rest and play and decorating for Christmas.

I am thankful that while sometimes he has to work really long hours, my husband is not deployed or working out of state. Most nights he is right here at home with us.

I am thankful that while I have lots of things to work on in this dear body of mine, I am healthy and happy. I can run and jump and sing and play with my children. I can empty the dishwasher and fold their clothes and take them to their activities and hold them in my lap and snuggle beside them in their little beds. I don't take these little things for granted.

I am thankful that while my "to be ironed" pile is overflowing, I know that I can be the one to wither it down to a more manageable size. It's a great accomplishment to iron the shirt that goes on dear hubby's back:).

I am thankful for a husband who loves me more than I deserve.

I am thankful for five miracle babies. I am especially thankful that our tiny 2 and 3 pound babies are taller than 4 feet these days and growing like weeds!

I am thankful for 2 brothers and 2 sisters (in laws) who I love deeply and who have given me our precious niece on one side and precious nephew on the other!

I am thankful for our niece and 2 nephews out west!

I am thankful for friends who show me the love of Christ in how they treat me and others.

Most of all, I am thankful for a Savior who chose to die on the cross for my sins. I did nothing to deserve His infinite grace and mercy. Thank you, Lord, for all that you have given each of us!

Happy Thanksgiving!

3 Things Mama Says All Women Should Have

2010-11-21T19:37:00.018-04:00

The things you learn when you put a bunch of women together! I just had the MOST fun on a Mother/Daughter trip with my Mama! We went on a trip with my BFF and her mama and several other friends were there too. These ladies are a HOOT!!! Do you readers know the three things every woman should wear in order to look fantastic? Well, if you don't, Mama Henley will enlighten you. According to my Mama, you should wear:

RED LIPSTICK

Every woman should wear a great shade of red lipstick. Mama says red always looks good. I am more of a ginger girl myself, but sometimes I do listen to Mama.

A GREAT looking handbag

If you wear a cheap handbag, dahlin', then you look just that... Cheap. So, stay away from the street knockoffs and buy yourself a less expensive bag that is the real thing and looks great. You will always feel confident if you have a good handbag....that's what Mama says!

A REALLY FANTASTIC haircut

Supercuts just does not do the trick. I should know as I've tried some cheap places. Pay for a good haircut. It plays up your facial features and just makes you feel good. When I was 13, Mama and Papa took me to New York. They made an appointment for me at Elizabeth Arden to have my hair and make up done. It was one of the best haircuts I've ever had! My face looked great after Constantine was finished with me. Honey, you do get what you paid for!

Now, do y'all agree or disagree with my Mama?

Start Spreading the News....

2010-11-20T09:43:00.006-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in the past few days... I am in New York City!!! I'm on a mother/daughter trip with my darling mother. While I'm here, I spent the night with my BFF who is also the author of 400 Square Feet and one of the TOP designers in New York! She works in the magazine industry and in designing and staging. She can transform a dump into a palace! When I arrived at her chic New York apartment, I was greeted by this:

How does she think of these things? She left me some New York favorites including a New York red apple, some really good chips, gourmet cookies, and a darling note on a stump. LOVE IT! We had the most fabulous dinner at the Standard Hotel. Then we walked around the Meat Packing District and had a drink at Budakan. If you haven't read Frances' blog, then you are missing out and need to stop everything and click NOW.

My other dear buddy lives here too and just happens to be the famous trainer to the stars, Joel Harper. Joel also happens to be pretty easy on the eyes.. He literally works out all day every day while training others. He met us for dinner last night, and the women at our table fought over him. I just love Joel. You will love his website,

So, get moving and visit these 2 sites! You'll be so glad you did! I'm off to see the CITY!

Thankful

2010-11-18T15:14:00.002-04:00

Wow! This week has flown! Sometimes I feel like life is moving forward without me while I try to hang on as tightly as I can! We've had a normal week with homework, activities, lots of hugs, laughter, ballet, golf, piano, family dinners, and school events. Life is full, but life is so good. I have been praying that I will delight in the mundane including washing clothes daily, emptying the dishwasher twice a day, and meal planning. I am much happier when I delight in these things rather than dread them. I am thankful that my body is healthy enough that I can do these things. I am thankful that I get to share my life with such a wonderful husband whom I love more each day and five beautiful precious children. I am so blessed.

As we enter Thanksgiving week and enjoy celebrations at school and with family and friends, for what are you thankful? Are you thankful for the mundane day to day activities? Have you been a good friend this week? Have you reached out to your parents and in-laws? What about your siblings and neighbors? Pray about how the Lord might use you in someone else's life. When we were first married, my Bible Study leader, Laura, said that she would often double their dinner. While she was making it, she would pray that the Lord would reveal who most needed the meal. I love this. What a way to love your neighbor! How will you show your thankful heart this Thanksgiving? Inspire me! Mama Henley can always be more giving and more thankful!

Tuesday's Tip

2010-11-16T05:19:00.002-04:00

Are you plagued with a dishwasher that leaves you with dirty dishes? Do your "clean" dishes often have a white film on them? This seems to be a constant problem here in Florida. Perhaps it is because of the salt content in the water. This past week our dishes were looking REALLY dingy. DH was particularly discouraged. I happened to talk to my friend, W, as we were planning a party together at her home. She commented that she did not know what she was going to do about glasses because her dishwasher was not working correctly. "What do you mean?," I asked. She explained that her dishes has a white film on them and looked dirty after being washed. I told her I felt her pain! We have the same problem!

Well, her dishwasher repair man gave her the answer we both needed. I do believe that Florida dishwashers have a shorter life span because of the hard water. However, he suggested filling a Pyrex glass measuring cup with 2 cups of white vinegar and then to place it in between the rungs so that it stands up. Then, you run the dishwasher. It will remove the film from your dishes. It has made a huge difference at Mama Henley's house! Happy Tuesday's Tip!

It's Better to Give than to Receive

2010-11-15T07:52:00.006-04:00

Christmas is right around the corner. Have you started your shopping? One of my sisters-in-law was wrapping all of her gifts yesterday! I like to buy gifts all year long, but I have only wrapped the ones I took to North Carolina during my 24 hour visit home for sweet nephew's baptism. Have you started your shopping?
This time of year reminds us first of all of the reason we celebrate: Jesus Christ was born and later died on the cross for our sins. Stores and the media encourage us to get wrapped up in Santa Claus and gift-giving, but Jesus' birth is the real reason we are celebrating. Our children receive 3 gifts since that is what baby Jesus received (gold, frankincense, and myrrh). They seem to enjoy thinking of three things they'd like for Christmas. They also know that all 3 gifts will not be huge gifts. In fact, the sisters have told our son that if he gets his DSi, that will count for all 3 gifts! Ha!
I thought I would highlight some of our favorite places to give. This year our church is supporting the Angel Tree Ministry once again. These children have parents who will spend Christmas in jail. DH and I allowed our children to choose some children from the tree that they would like to bless with gifts. It was sweet to watch them pore over the names and the sweet wishes of these children. We were saddened by the ones where there was no message from their parents. Our D chose a 9-month old baby boy. When she went to the desk to have our name put beside this baby boy's name, D asked about the baby boy. The lady from our church knew his whole story and shared it with the children. They were captivated by the story and couldn't believe a new baby had never met his father because his father is in jail.
Later that evening I thought our D was upset because she did not get the new bunk beds in her room. I called her name because I was going to hug her and love on her since I thought she looked disappointed. When she walked in the room, she said, "Mommy!", and dissolved into huge sobs. "Mommy, that baby doesn't even know his Daddy. It makes me so sad. I am also so sad for the family from home who lost their grandmother. Mommy, I have been praying for them because I am so sad." As you can imagine, my steel magnolia self (more like mushy oatmeal than steel!) joined her sobs with tears of my own. I sat and rocked our big 9-year old girl and held her and cried. How humbling to me. I thought she was sad over a set of bunkbeds but she was sad because of real brokenness and despair. Her heart had been touched through one baby boy's story on the Angel Tree. What will you be touched by this Christmas? How will the Lord use the heartbreak of others to teach you things in your own life?
If you are interested in the Angel Tree MInistry, just click here. This is one of many wonderful places to give this Christmas!