A couple weeks ago, we enjoyed hamburgers made with homemade buns. They were fabulous! The recipe used was from the Tightwad Gazette for Cuban Bread.

This a quick yeast bread. It takes half the time than normal yeast breads and it is super easy!

Ingredients
5-6 cups flour
2 T. dry yeast
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
2 c. hot tap water
1 T. sesame seeds, oats, or poppy seeds (optional)

1. Mix 4 cups of the flour with the yeast, sugar, and salt.
   
2. Pour in hot water and beat 100 strokes, or 3 minutes with a mixer.
   
3. Stir in the remaining flour until the dough is no longer sticky.
   
4. Knead 8 minutes.
   
5. Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with damp towel.
   
6. Let rise 15 minutes.
7. Punch down.
   
8. Divide into 2 pieces, shape into loaves and place on baking sheet.
   
9. Cut an X 1/2 inch deep on top with sharp knife.
   
10. Brush with water and sprinkle with oats.
    
11. Place on the middle shelf of a cold oven.
    
12. Place a cake pan of hot water on the lowest shelf.
    
13. Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Bake 40-50 minutes until deep golden brown.

Tags: Food, recipes

In lieu of our 24th wedding Anniversary, I thought I’d share something my husband wrote a few years ago.

Once upon a time, there was a mighty King who had dominion over a vast estate. This King was most terrible and handsome and had little need for armor in battle, because of his great strength and strength of his purpose.

As time went by, he became lonely. He realized he needed a companion. The Great King reviewed all the creatures of his estate and while he tried out different creatures for a companion, none were found to be adequate. While he was in this miserable condition, the Emperor beyond the sea, beyond the mountains, beyond space and time, who made the Great King, saw the sadness of the great king and decided to make a companion of the truest metal that could be found. Not hammered from dirt and steel as he did with the King, but fashioned and shaped from precise ingredients. The Emperor caused the Great King to fall into a deep sleep. Once the king was asleep, the Emperor reached across space and time, mountain and seas, and pierced the great king’s solid breast and brought from it a single rib and attached to this singe rib, was soft tissue from the inside of the Great King’s steel breast. From this soft tissue, the Emperor fashioned a queen, a high queen. Beautiful in form, ingenious in functionality, endowed with intelligence equal to the Great King, but soft to the touch, to compliment the Great King’s strength and mass.

Time passed and the Great King awoke from his deep sleep. Lying on his back, he stared into the sky and felt his great loneliness; he also felt an ache in his side. He now knew the ache of loneliness. The Great King arose from his repose and went to his house. As he approached, all the creatures were lined before him, watching with knowing looks, and hidden smiles upon their faces. But because of the ache of loneliness of a true companion, the great king did not notice. As the great king entered his hall, the creatures crowded after him so that all could see as he entered his throne room. And there, to the right of his throne, stood a creature so fair, so beautiful of form, with a look of high intelligence in her eyes. She looked to be chiseled from stone, but no, this was no stone, this was much softer, and from the area in his great breast, where there was once the ache of loneliness, his heart gave a great leap. And from beyond time and space, from beyond the mountains and seas, came the voice of the Emperor to the Great King.

“I knew your loneliness, because I understand it. And from your breast I took a rib and fashioned for you a Queen. But as I tore the rib loose, with it came a piece of your heart. And because the Queen I made for you were made of softer stuff, that piece of heart grew. And because your Queen’s breast does not have the strength out of sinews, as yours does, her heart has grown large, and with it, she feels deeply and understands. She understands love, compassion, and care. She sees beyond the exterior and instinctly looks to your heart. My son, love her, understand her, protect her. Cherish her, hold her in high esteem, and seek her best. Although you are her king, she is not your servant. And although you are her king, she is your equal. I have already charged her to love you and obey you; to be dignified, quiet, and respectful. She has a full share in my kingdom beyond the sea, beyond the mountains, beyond time and space, for all eternity. And to this I will hold you account.”

And when the Emperor, the great king’s father, had left, the queen came before him and knelt with her face looking to his feet. The great king reached down with his battle-scarred hand, hands that had done great things, and within it, the power to do great things, he gently, lightly, touched the new Queen’s chin and gently lifted it until he could see into her eyes. He saw the love and adoration shining in her eyes and then she spoke aloud in a quiet, beautiful voice.

“My lord, my king, command me.” And with wonder and pride on his face, the Great King, before all the creatures, rose her up and said, “You are my Queen. Stand beside me.” And as they turned to face the creatures, he put his arm around her, and he realized the ache and the loneliness was gone. And because she stood beside him, he was now made whole and complete: And better than that, what was missing from him had grown more in his Queen than it could contain in his breast of steel. The creatures, for their part, were struck with awe. For their King, who before this was quite noble, now looked satisfied and complete; and if it were possible, even more noble.

And the Great King and his Queen went out, and ruled with steel and velvet and the Great King never tired of learning the complex nature and character of his Queen. For this he knew, his Queen was not a conquest to be won easily, but a companion to be won again and again.

By Dennis McLean, 2002

Tags: Dennis, marriage

During the chat on October 27th, we will be doing some drawings for some prizes donated by some great sponsors. Please take a few minutes to check out these fabulous and generous prizes!

If you are a member of the cmomb forum, you will note that there is a discount code for one of these items, so be sure to check out this same post there.

The Growing Homeschool
Integrating Babies and Toddlers into Your Already Busy Schedule
by Cynthia Carrier

We homeshooling Moms wear many hats. We often feel pressured to perform and wonder if we can truly do it all. Throw little ones into the mix, and our days can quickly become overwhelming. The Growing Homeschool can help!

Defeating Depression Audio Seminar
Cooperating with God to Experience Victory over Negative Emotions
by Cynthia Carrier

The Blues. The Blahs. Discouragement, Despair, Depression. Whatever you happen to call those feelings, we all experience them at one time or another. Whatever the cause, there is no easy cure and no “quick fix.” However, there are some practical steps you can take to fight back against emotional negativity. Do the practical things, and then get to the root of your emotional struggles by focusing on God and His Word. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood–and the battle is ultimately the Lord’s. Cooperate with God to experience victory over your negative emotions!

Growing to be Like Jesus
A Color & Learn Activity Book
by Cynthia Carrier

This 54-page Color & Learn Activity ebook is a perfect first step for your little ones!

Designed by a homeschooling Mom of 6 children (and former preschool teacher), this coloring book invites children to learn more about the truths of God’s Word by focusing on twelve key character traits: faith, surrender, love, faithfulness, wisdom, self-control, righteousness, holiness, humility, diligence, generosity, and praise. There are four coloring pages for each trait, which include a Bible verse and a simple affirmation so that children can apply God’s Word in practical ways to their own lives.

Also included is a short letter to children, explaining to them how God wants us to grow to be more like Jesus each and every day. You’ll also find a Character Training Dictionary for parents, with definitions and Bible verses for study that will help parents and children alike to grow in the twelve character traits covered in the coloring book.

A Play What You Mean Activities eBook
By JoJo Tabares of Art of Eloquence

Children love to play and play is how the Lord intended young children to learn. It is through play that children learn best. The more fun and entertaining something is, the more a child will be willing to learn and the more the child will retain.

This eBook is designed to help parents foster communication skills in young children. Some of these are blasts from the past (with new variations), games that I played as a child…only I didn’t know what they were teaching me! In today’s techie society, our children have lost touch with these old fashioned games that taught so much about life. I bring them back to your memory and tell you what communication skills they teach.

Of the People… Election Process Unit Study
by Linda Coats

Of the People, By the People, for the People unit study is just the ticket to help your kids understand the entire process from nominating primaries and caucuses to the electoral college.

Geared for upper elementary and middle school ages, this fascinating study includes resources for both older and younger learners, making it easy for families to study together.

Clean ‘N’ Flip Combo (set of all three flips)
by Trigger Memory Systems

This fun & unique system is designed to help children visually and systematically work through cleaning the three main rooms of a house independently, and with ease.

Step-by-step illustrations make it easy — non-readers can easily follow along and work independently! Simply flip to the first page in the laminated flipchart and follow the illustrated instructions. Mark with a check when completed and flip to the next page!

Children love knowing exactly what to do and enjoy the immediate sense of accomplishment as they flip the page.

Full color flipchart is divided into Living Room/Entry, Bathroom and Kitchen Zones. Each Zone offers blank lines for daily jobs that Mom can customize to fit perfectly to your specific family needs.Includes everything, right down to the dry-erase marker!

Zebra Lap Book
by In The Hands of A Child

In the 49-page Zebras Project Pack from In the Hands of a Child, you will find a 9-page Research Guide and 16 hands-on activities that explain the anatomy of a zebra, different types of zebras, range and habitat, diet, behavior, and much more. Is a zebra really just a horse with stripes? You will also find the answer to that question!

ABC’s of Proverbs 31 for Girls
by Susan Sikes

Let your daughter discover how Proverbs 31 applies to her. This e-book is written in the simplistic approach of an A,B,C book. However, the vocabulary and application is directed toward the teenage years. Because of the simple A,B,C format, it is a book you can read when you are short on time, or you can sit down and spend hours in it.

Bath And Body Works
by Gwen

8 fl. oz. Cherry Blossom creamy body wash
8 oz. Cherry Blossom body cream
8 fl. oz. Cherry Blossom body splash

Pregnancy Journal
by Faith And Family Books

A personal journal for you to keep during your pregnancy and pass onto your children.

Bee Strong Bee Pollen Superfood
by Supermom’s Health and Wellness

Bee Strong: Bee Pollen Superfood – 250 Capsules – 500mg each.

Classified as a superfood, our Bee Strong bee pollen contains: 22 amino acids (including the essential eight), 27 minerals, all the vitamins, hormones, and fatty acids you need, and best of all, more than 5,000 enzymes and co-enzymes which health experts credit for healing and regeneration from virtually any health problem but which are mostly absent from today’s diet.

Bath And Body Works
by Gwen

4 fl. oz. 4 oz. bottle of White Cherry Blossom Body Lotion

Tags: CMOMB

Horizon Wireless

Tags: Eric, Joe

Married for 60 years and daughter of John R. Rice (An evangelist and editor and author of many books.), Mrs. Handford’s has a burden for serving God.

Mrs. Handford and her husband have seven children (all adopted), eighteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchild.

For many years she edited the magazine for Christian Women, The Joyful Woman. She’s written a number of books and Bible studies especially for women and children, but probably best-known (and sometimes disliked!) for Me? Obey Him? (650,000 copies sold). She is currently writing Find-Out-for-Yourself Bible studies of women in the Bible. Eleven volumes are finished; with one more to go to cover every woman we’re told something about in the Bible.

PLUS, during chat, we will do some drawings for some great prizes!

(details to follow)

If you are not a member of cmomb’s forum,

consider making application and joining the fellowship.

Tags: CMOMB