Monthly Archives: April 2010

A Day with Melanie and Abby

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Earlier this week, we worked on taking pictures of a day that we were helping Melanie and Abigail so that we could show you what we are doing.

Aunt Sarah has the first turn, and it’s time for her to make breakfast.

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After enjoying a yummy breakfast, it’s now time for Abigail’s bath. Aunt Sarah has brought over her special bath toys, and Abigail plays everything from bug races to petting “Quack Quack” (her duck) during her bath.

Once Abby’s through with her bath, it is now time to get her dressed and fix her hair. Today she will wear the dress that Aunt Mary made for her. Aunt Sarah fixes her hair, and upon asking her how many “tails” she wants, she says “two”!

Aunt Sarah then goes home, and a little while later Aunt Anna comes over right in the middle of Abby’s blanket time. Aunt Anna starts the laundry, and then does school with Abigail. Today they will draw pictures. Aunt Anna also helps Abigail with her counting and numbers.

Next Abby has school with Mommy while Aunt Anna fixes lunch. Mommy helps Abby do the alphabet puzzle. Abigail likes the letters and can say all of them.

Mommy and Abby do blocks together, but Abigail prefers to sit in the tub during this time. : )

Now it’s lunch time!

After cleanup, it is time to change the laundry so Aunt Anna, Abigail, and “Na,” the baby doll, go down stairs.

Abigail helps by taking the sheets out of the dryer.

Now they move the wet laundry from the washer to the dryer.

“Hhmmmmmm is there anything left in the washer, Abby?”

Time to get the mail! Brrrrrr, it’s a little chilly outside so they won’t stay out for long.

Then it’s nap time. Aunt Anna helps Abigail get ready for her nap, and then Aunt Anna heads for home.

Grandma and Aunt Mary head back over after Abby’s nap to help again. Aunt Mary and Abigail are going to go on a walk with Gi-Gi and Grandad.

When they get home, Grandma helps make dinner and then reads books to Abigail!

Aunt Mary helps with dinner preparations and  other odd jobs. There’s always something to do over there, and everyone keeps very busy!

Then it’s time for Grandma and Aunt Mary to say good-bye and head home to eat their dinner. Daddy will soon be home, so Mommy and Abby will be just fine together until then!

“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” (Psalm 127:3-4)

A Taste Away from Home: GG’s Chicken Casserole

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GG’s Chicken Casserole
from a family in Gadsden, Alabama

  • 1 pan cornbread (I like sweet cornbread, but regular is what the original recipe calls for! I use the family size Martha White Sweet cornbread, it makes a 9×13″ pan)
  • 4 cooked chicken breast (I use boneless/skinless – easier! – but boned is ok too! Also, we like a lot of chicken in our casseroles, so I usually use enough chicken that when cubed it equals 4 cups.)
  • 1 can cream of mushroom
  • 1 can cream of chicken
  • 2 cans broth from chicken (I just pour the broth into one of the cream of … cans, I have made the mistake in the past to use canned chicken broth and 2 cans that size is too much)
  • 2 tsp. sage
  • 2 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 1 stick butter – melted

** Boil chicken for 1 hour (if frozen – until cooked through if not) and cut into bite size pieces.

** While chicken is boiling, bake pan of cornbread – the more cornbread you use the dryer the consistency will be, so bake enough for your liking (I use the full 9×13″ pan.).

** Crumble up cornbread and mix together with sage, poultry seasoning, and melted butter.

** In another bowl whisk together broth, cream of mushroom, and cream of chicken.

** In a greased casserole dish layer 1/3 of the cornbread, then 1/2 of the chicken, then pour on 1/2 of the liquid mixture.

** Again layer 1/3 of the cornbread, the rest of the chicken, and the rest of the liquid mixture.

** Top with the remaining 1/3 of the cornbread,

** Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes until top is brown and bubbly.

Hope you like it! This recipe usually will make two small casseroles, and they freeze really well too! The small casserole is enough for the three of us, but any more people and I go for a large casserole.

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We had this delicious casserole on our trip last fall. I have recipes queuing up that I need to post, so enjoy. The notes are not our notes but rather from the kind lady who sent it to us at our request.

Sarah

“The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever” (Psalms 22:26).

What’s Been Happening

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Life has stayed busy around the Maxwell house, and we’re down to only 2 1/2 weeks until our next trip (exciting!). The bus is making progress as Dad and Joseph have worked on several projects, including the tank issue. The tank appears to be fixed, and we also had a new one made that will be installed underneath Dad and Mom’s bed. It’ll be nice to have some extra water on board!

Some of our beds are taken apart as the bus work is being done! So, the beds are up on the seating area.

Dad
John made a great "floor" for the tank out of diamond plate.

Christopher and Joseph carrying the fresh water tank back to the bus!
Joseph has been helping Dad quite a bit on the bus (John has had another project right now).
Abby helping Joseph open a gift. We celebrated Abby's birthday early a few weeks ago, and so she's experienced opening gifts. 🙂
We are trying to get a new set of matching jumpers made before the trip, so the "race" is on! 🙂
Another project before the trip was to compile Chore books, so four of us spent time on Friday and Saturday compiling.
Jesse
What did Joseph have for his birthday dessert? Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake.

If you’d like to try the Ultimate Turtle Cheesecake, here’s a link to the post I did on Cookbook about it last week. If it’s anything like at our house, it won’t last long!

May the Lord Jesus bless your week!

Sarah

“Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered” (Psalms 40:5).

A Request

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We are looking forward to our next trip, and as we’ve been preparing, we’re working on expanding some of our workshops. One of these is the session for young ladies called “Learning to be Keepers at Home” that we girls give together.

Our goal for this session is to encourage young ladies to follow in the foot steps of their moms, choosing to stay at home and homeschool their children. We are suggesting that young ladies learn homemaking and mothering tasks, so that when they are married they are fully equipped for their responsibilities.

If you are a stay-at-home mom, we would be very grateful if you could just take a few moments to write out a testimony about how much you enjoy being at home. We are also wanting testimonies from ladies who have had a career but have now decided to stay home with their children.

You can then email any testimonies to [email protected].Thank you very much for your help! We think it will be a blessing to many young ladies.

In Christ,

Anna

An Afternoon of Sharing

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Friday afternoon, we had the privilege of sharing through music and testimony at a nursing home about an hour from home. The activities’ director used to be the activities’ director at the nursing home we currently have church services at. It was a joy and blessing to see her again and share with their home! We were warmly received and welcomed. It was a delightful time of ministering. It felt so good to be back in Uriah for the drive–climbing into the bus just feels like home away from home!

Setting up!
Shadow, was the "resident" dog, and much loved, from all appearances.
America, the beautiful. How I wish America would turn back to God!

(For those who may have noticed the absence of Mom, she stayed back at home to help with Melanie and Abby :-)). ..

Sarah

“The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31).