Buhl Family Favorite Recipe #2

Chicken and Rice Casserole

        *From:  Kim Dodson

2 cups Instant Rice, uncooked (we use brown)

1 stick butter

1 cup milk

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of celery soup

2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts trimmed and halved

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Pour rice over bottom of 9x13 dish.

In a saucepan combine next 5 ingredients.  Heat over medium heat until butter is melted and mixture is heated through. 

Pour 1/2 soup mixture over rice. 

Place chicken breast halves over mixture.

Pour remaining soup mixture over chicken.

Cover with foil.  Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is no longer pink.

Hope you enjoy!

Baking With Love

Now that the girls are home with me all day, they are becoming very interested in what goes on in the Kitchen, especially when it comes to cooking and baking.  Lily asked me one day if I would save all of our recipes so that she would have them for her family one day.  A few weeks before that, my very dear friend, Jen, suggested compiling my recipes together into a cookbook.  So, I took both of those ideas and ran with them!  I came up with a project idea to use as part of our Home school.  Lily and I are working on a special recipe book called, "Buhl Family Favorites."  By helping me cook, she is learning Math (measurements, fractions, ounces, etc.) and by typing up recipes she is learning to become more familiar with the computer keyboard.  Lily and I are both visual learners so we are taking pictures of the food to include with the recipes.  We are hoping to have our recipe book finished and printed to use for Mother's Day and Teacher gifts this year!  As we are working on our project I am hoping to share some of our favorite recipes with you on our Family Blog.  Please know that none of these are recipes that we came up with on our own.  They are recipes that we have come across over the years through friends, magazines, cookbooks, recipe exchanges, etc.  I will try and make special note where they came from.  I hope you will enjoy them!

Here is Recipe #1 that we made recently and really enjoyed:

Creamy Baked Ziti

*from Kraft Food and Family magazine

4 cups ziti pasta, uncooked

1 jar (26 oz.) marinara sauce

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed

8 oz. sour cream

1 pkg. (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt. Remove from pan; drain. Meanwhile, add marinara sauce, tomatoes and cream cheese to same pan; cook on medium heat 5 min. or until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently. Return pasta to pan; mix well.

Layer half the pasta mixture in 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with layers of sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella and remaining pasta mixture. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake 20 min. or until heated through.



So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1Corinthians 10:31

Tangled!

My sweet husband took all of us to the movies as a special treat on Valentine's Day.  We saw Tangled for the second time and I have to say that we loved it even more than the first time!  We went to a matinee showing and were the only ones in the movie theatre!  We pigged out on butter popcorn and had the best time together.  Thank you, Jonathan for our treat and for loving us like you do! 

Dear Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1John4:11-12

Dance With Joy

Lily's Dance Studio, Angela Floyd School, always plans a Father/Daughter Dance week each year so that the girls can bring their Fathers to Dance class.  It is a special day that Lily looks forward to because she gets to combine two things she loves, dancing and her Daddy.  She was so excited to bring her Daddy to Ballet and Tap class on February 10th!  I took tons of pictures because it was so very sweet. They both had THE BEST time together!

They were both smiling ear to ear!

Then it was Tutu time!  Everyone had to put on tutus, even the Daddies!  Since they were too small for their waists, they put them on their heads! 

I don't know who had the most fun that day!  

At the very end, it was the Daddies turn to dance for their daughters.  Miss Mary Beth taught the Daddies a short dance to perform for everyone.  Jonathan and J.D. Sullivan really got into the music and put on quite a show...Jazz hands and all!  

Go Jonathan!!!

What a special time for Lily and Jonathan!  I love how Jonathan loves all of his girls unconditionally.  He always makes them feel special and completely focuses on them and what they're doing together! 

Thank you, Angela Floyd for planning this precious Father/Daughter time.  We can't wait to do it again next year! 

And from far away the LORD appeared to his people.  He said, "I love you people with a love that will last forever.  I became your friend because of my love and kindness.  People of Israel, I will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt.  You will pick up your tambourines again.  You will dance with those who are joyful."

Jeremiah 31:3-4

Daughters Are Special...

Especially Mine! 

On Friday, January 21st, Lily, Maddy, and I went on our first outing with our Home school Support Group.  It was a special Mother/Daughter Celebration at the Fountain City church campus.  Lily and Maddy were so excited to dress up and go out with their Mommy!
The girls had fun decorating treasure boxes.

We ate lots of special treats and then listened to all of the stories behind how each girl's name was chosen. 

Here is our precious first born, Lily Marie, and the story behind her name:

Soon after Jonathan and I learned that we were expecting our first daughter, we chose the name Lily. We both thought it was a beautiful, feminine name for our baby girl. When researching the meaning of the name Lily we discovered that it meant Blossoming Flower. The flower lily is a symbol of innocence, purity and beauty. These are words that we can use to describe Jesus. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2Corinthians5:21) We are praying for Lily and that she will set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. (1Timothy4:12b)

We wanted her name to include a part of me, so we chose her middle name after my middle name, Marie.

Here is our second-born, Madeline Faith, and the story behind her name:

When we found out that we were expecting another daughter, Jonathan and I decided on the name Maddy. We liked how our two girls who would be just 1 year apart would both have names ending in “y.” We named her Madeline and later found out that it meant High Tower.

Jonathan and I wanted her to have a strong middle name, so we chose the name Faith because of our strong faith in Christ alone. We love Hebrews 11:1 that says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We are praying that Maddy will stand strong and firm like a high tower and boldly defend her faith in the One who created her.

Lily and Maddy have always been close, but they are even more so now that they are at home learning God's Word together.  It makes me so happy that they have each other!

God was so sweet to me when He gave me daughters!  They are so special to me and I thank God every day that I have them to love and love me back! 

Here are all of the precious daughters that came to celebrate:   

I absolutely love our Home school Support Group.  I was so nervous when I went to my first Meeting in October and I prayed that God would wrap His loving arms around me.  Boy, did He ever?  They usually have a special topic or speaker, but that night in October was just a night of sharing, praying, and what I call "just being real."  It was exactly what I needed.  It was obvious that the Home school Support Group is one big family.  Everyone has made me feel so welcome and have opened their arms and hearts to our family.  I am so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful group of godly mothers!

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.  She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

Proverbs 31:25-28

A Toothless Tale!

On Sunday morning, January 9th, I went into Lily and Maddy's room to wake them up for church.  Lily jumped out of bed and said, "Mommy...I feel something funny in my mouth." I looked in to where she was pointing, and there behind her 2 bottom baby teeth were 2 permanent teeth growing in!  I was so excited for Lily because she has been waiting so long to get her first loose tooth!  But when I went to wiggle her baby teeth, they weren't loose at all.  This same thing happened to Jonathan when he was Lily's age, so when I realized that she was going to have 2 rows of teeth, I thought it best to call our Dentist, Dr. Darryl Phillips at Children's Dentistry of Knoxville. (LOVE them!) They wanted to see her Tuesday afternoon.  When we arrived, they took x-rays and said that her baby teeth were still rooted down tight and didn't show any signs of coming out any time soon.  So in order to give her new permanent teeth room to finish growing and move forward, they recommended pulling her baby teeth.  I was so sad for Lily because I knew how badly she wanted a "loose" tooth.  But, I knew that it was best so her permanent teeth would grow properly.  I was then given the option of having them pulled right then, or coming back.  Well, since we were already there, I told them to go ahead.  That way we wouldn't have to make another appt. and there would be no time for Lily to get scared about what was going to happen!  I hugged and kissed Lily and told her that we would be praying for her.  About 20 minutes later, out came my sweet Lily with a huge gauze filled smile!  She was so excited about her tiny, red treasure chest that held her teeth!

Here are Lily's 2 baby teeth.  I couldn't believe how one of them had the entire roots still attached!

Lily wanted to write a letter to the Tooth Fairy:

Lily couldn't quit smiling the rest of the night!  She was so proud!

She woke in the morning to find a letter from the Tooth Fairy

and $2.00 in quarters that she immediately said she wanted to give as offering at Sparks that night!  Lily loves sharing her Toothless Tale and we are thanking God for taking care of her!  

Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing. Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.

Song of Solomon 4:2

Buhl Academy

PRAISE GOD!

I can honestly say that I am thanking the LORD every day for placing desires on my heart and then making me wait on HIS perfect timing!  Oh how much sweeter it is when those desires are fulfilled! 

God had begun to put the desire in my heart to Home school our children back in October 2009.  I had finished studying a few books including Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham. I began feeling very convicted about our choice for education.  Then Parker was extremely sick that Fall/Winter. After numerous trips to the Pediatrician and Specialists, we had blood drawn and tested for Immune Deficiency.  His results showed a very weak immune system.  I was forced to be at home all the time, including refraining from church, because if I got him out at all, he would get sick and it would take him 2-3 times longer than a "healthy" child to get well.  I have never been one to run the road and have always enjoyed being home, but I thought that being confined day in and day out would wear on me, but it didn't.  I didn't mind it at all and I began to feel peaceful.  I remember telling Jonathan that I felt as if the LORD was preparing me for something that would require me to be at home more.  I had talked to Jonathan a few times throughout the winter about my desire to Home school, but at the time he did not feel the same.  He was at peace with our children at Brickey-McCloud Elementary School.  It was hard trying to understand why the LORD would place such a strong desire on my heart and not my husband's.  I began to pray for God's will and put my trust in Him that He would either fulfill or take away my desire in His time.  In the meantime our church, First Baptist Church Powell, had begun preaching on becoming Radical--transforming your life so that our main goal is to spread the Good News.  I read the book, Radical, by David Platt, and was yet again convicted about what we were doing with our children and the time we spent with them.  I knew that with the girls gone at school 7 hours a day and then afternoons/evenings filled with activities that we didn't have time to focus on what was important-studying God's Word and training them to be missionaries. Mark 16:15: He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."

Maddy began Kindergarten and Lily Second Grade in August 2010 at Brickey-McCloud Elementary School.  This was not what I wanted at all.  I could not even talk about school without breaking down in tears because I felt like I was being so disobedient to God's call.  Finally at the end of August I went to Jonathan and just sobbed and sobbed about my heart's desires.  We began to talk it through and pray and slowly the LORD began to change Jonathan's heart.  Please understand that it wasn't Jonathan holding us back, but the LORD felt that I wasn't ready yet back in Fall 2009.  He needed time to work in me and mold me into the person that He wanted me to be before I began Homeschooling.  So, during our 14 hour drive to Disney World during the 2nd week in September, we had come together as a family and made our decision to Home school starting in August 2011.  We thought it would be best to let the girls finish out their year so they wouldn't be pulled out of school.  I set up a time to meet with the Home School Administrator at First Baptist Academy whom we would umbrella under.  During our meeting she asked how we had made our decision and when we wanted to start.  When I told her everything and that we would just wait until August 2011, she asked me, "Why?  If this is what God has called you to do, then why wait?" She told me that I could very easily begin after Christmas Break.  Wow!  The "planner" in me got a little nervous.  I mean, how would I be ready to Home school 2 children with such a short amount of time to set up and make lesson plans, and how would we be able to purchase everything needed right before Christmas time?  I prayed that God would give me clear direction on what to do.  Well, after talking to Jonathan, he said, without hesitation, "Yes. Let's start in January."  So here we are!  Two weeks in, and I am LOVING it!  I am at such peace with our decision and can't wait to see what the LORD has planned for us through this wonderful journey.  And the best part is that Jonathan is 110% on board with us Homeschooling!  What an answer to prayer!  How much sweeter our plans are when they are prayed over and become God's plans carried out in His time!

After much thought and prayer, we set up "Buhl Academy" in our upstairs hallway.  I know that might seem crazy, but our hallway is actually called a "Study Nook" in our house plans.  When we first moved in our house back in August 2007, we had no idea what we would ever need a study nook for, but God knew exactly what it would be used for...Homeschooling and teaching God's Word to our children! 

Jonathan has been so very supportive and encouraging with all of my ideas.  Here is the wall outside of Lily and Maddy's room.  Jonathan hung a bulletin board for me that is 4ft. x 6ft.!: 

Every week we are studying and memorizing a Bible Verse to hide in our hearts:

Here is the little wall on the other side of the stairs.  It is perfect for a bookshelf!

The top shelf holds all of my teacher materials and the bottom holds Lily and Maddy's tubs full of workbooks, notebooks, and mini dry-erase boards.

Here is the wall outside of Katybug's room.  My father-in-law gave us a dry-erase board to use for our school!

I LOVE books!  I started my collection of children's books when I taught 1st Grade and it has grown tremendously.  Each month I hope to fill this basket full of books that go along with what we are learning.  We also use the Leapfrog Tag system which is a great reading tool:

Jonathan found poster stickers and hung letters up on the wall too!: 

At the end of the hallway we have a closet full of crayons, markers, arts and crafts supplies, games, puzzles, play-doh, etc. 

Jonathan moved my old filing cabinet in the closet that has all of my ABC files that I saved from when I taught 1st Grade.  It fit perfectly in the closet so I can get to it easily. 

We do the majority of our lessons as whole group in the Study Nook. Some of my inspiration for whole group learning comes from my sweet friend, Patti Bounds!  Being upstairs in the middle of the hall, I can keep an eye on the little ones in the Bonus Room, and they are joining in more and more.

I feel so extremely blessed that I am able to stay at home and teach my children a Biblical Worldview.  Many people have asked us "Why Home school?" Besides my testimony that you read above, I could give 100+ reasons why, but the only reason that matters is that we are being obedient to God's call.  I know that not everyone agrees with our decision and I am okay with that.  I am thankful that we only have to please an audience of ONE.  Do I think that Homeschooling is for everyone?  No, I don't.  All I know is that this is what our family is being called to do.  We have nothing negative at all to say about Brickey-McCloud Elementary School. It is a wonderful school and I know that each one of our girls' teachers were hand picked by the LORD.  Thank you to all of our sweet friends who have been so faithful in praying for us and encouraging us.  I am so grateful for all of you.  Please continue to pray for our family and that everything we do will glorify the LORD. I can't wait to share more with you as the year goes on! 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9