Apple Pie Filling

Have you ever tried canning apple pie filling?  Do you have ideas or recipes on how to do it?  I tried this one:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Canned-Apple-Pie-Filling/

I did add more cinnamon, and skipped the peeling part, and haven't tried it.  I guess I'll have to make a pie soon!  It does seem to be counter productive to use one of your canned items so soon though.  Let me know if you have a better recipe or a tested recipe!

A Productive Kitchen (and Progress)

Well, I think I alleviate stress in the kitchen...in a few different ways:

~ I recently loaded my plastic-ware in my dishwasher and put away all the random dishes that our family needed to make it to a full load.  I have been doing dishes after each meal.  The girls often help.  I'll fill up the sink with soapy water, then load it up and have one girl wash those, then the next girl gets the next load and I finish up with all the large or sharp items.  After supper, I usually just do them.  It has given me a chance to get away (but not too far) from all the kids and the clatter that they make.  And also gives Kevin some time with them, with me just a room away.  

~ The destressing doesn't always come in cleaning though...but with other little extras.  We have gotten a couple coop loads of fruits and vegetables.  I spend a lot of time prepping that for meals and snacks, so that I can quickly fill a plate with these at snacks or lunch.

~ Tonight, I canned spaghetti sauce for the first time (technically pizza sauce).  It was easy, and I could read books to L in between each step, but I did.  Another day, I canned applesauce. 

There has also been other happenings in our kitchen.  Kevin and our dads came on my birthday and installed the first section of new cabinets.  I am about ready to order the island cabinets too.  I just have to decide whether I want drawers or shelves, or one of each.  Then I have to haul 4 kids to the store to drop off the check for half price.  That is the challenge that I am stuck at.  Maybe I can call ahead and have them meet me at the door so I can just pass the check through the door.  Hehe...

Bent Out of Shape

My life has been a little hectic lately.  In the middle of one Friday night, we accepted the call to take 2 foster kids for the weekend.  Well, that weekend turned into a week and that week turned into two.  Baby gates were needed, extra hands were needed, another pack and play, and three sizes of diapers.  My response has been roller-coaster-ish.  There has been laughter and tears.  I have tried to plan, but don't know the plan to plan around.  I am living in the moment.  Most afternoons are filled with two crying boys (one child that we took in moved on after a few days, so we are down to 2 sizes of diapers), and most evenings have been filled with less than loving responses to my husband's attempts to help.  I have had many broken moments, just crying out to God.  I can't do this!  Is that my selfish response or a right/normal/good response?  After the tears does come a peace though!!  Amazing how God works.  I broke, I told Him, He can fill me!  He can help me moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day.  My attitude and outlook is being adjusted (slowly).  After a impromptu fall break from homeschool, we are getting our school schedule adjusted and fitting it all in.  I still don't know the plan and what I do know makes me think that the weekend might run into yet another week.  I have had little encouraging things come at just the right moment: 

~At church on Sunday a verse was read in Second Corinthians 6 that mentioned "sleepless nights"...my response - God knows what I'm going through!!
~The sermon talked about all things giving God the glory, and are we doing any of this for our glory or for God's...my response - praying that this all is for the right reasons.
~A friend setting up meals for us (our family and another foster family)...my response - extreme gratitude!  It is getting easier, but it is amazing how little you can get done with 2 under 2.  
~This sweet face of our Mn:

 

So, after all that (hopefully it made sense), if I seem a little bent out of shape, forgive me!  I'm getting refined!  And hopefully my ring will be get the kink out soon too.  If you see that I'm not wearing it, don't assume that something is wrong between Kevin and I...I just felt securely claustrophobic!  He knows and he is very understanding!  Pray for us, would you!?  There are many scenarios that could play out and some of them require us to make a decision about the care of sweet boy (not pictured).