Tradition and Recipe Link Up

Let me tell you about my new Raspberry Truffle Pie Reciepe
a couple of traditions we have around this house
Then please tell me about yours by linking up at the bottom.


How to Make a Raspberry Truffle Pie

...because I promise you want to.

Step 1:  Let your three year old daughter help you sew an apron because it is actually kid date night, and this is what she has chosen to do..."sew like a mom"
Kid Date Night is a tradition we have on Thursday every month we each take a kid and do something they want to do  for one on one time.  Kate got sewing and cooking- but she has been begging me to make and apron for her that is her size.  Sam and Dad went and drove the tractor around outside together.

Step 2:  Melt 1  large bar (10 squares ) of Ghiradelli Semi Sweet Chocolate finely chopped with 1 cup of Whipping Cream in the microwave for 60 seconds.  Stir and microwave additional 20 seconds until smooth.
Pour in ready made chocolate Oreo pie crust.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

Step 3:  One the truffle bottom has set up (4 hours or so later)  layer on top 2 cups of raspberries.  For your shopping help that is almost 2 of the small cartons they sell at the store.

Here Kate shows you what that step looks like.

Step 4:  In the Microwave for 20 seconds heat, 6 tablespoons seedless raspberry preserves, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon of water.

Here Kate shows you what this step looks like.

Take and intermission from pie making because Kate has decided we should also sew a Christmas purse for her.  Okay Kate, it is your Date Night.

Wrap silverware with "EAT-PIE" labels for annual pre-Thanksgiving Pie Palooza.
This is another tradition we have. The weekend before Thanksgiving we invite all the neighbors over.  Each family brings their favorite pie to share.  A prize for the best pie is awarded.  Everyone has their fill of pie before they are too full to eat all the delicious pie on Thanksgiving Day.  We throw a lot of parties, but this is one of my favorites because it is so low key and easy, and everyone loves it.

Step 5:  Top with homemade whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
I beat 1 cup of whipping cream, 2 tablespoons of sugar and a tsp of vanilla until light and fluffy (and delicious) for mine, then topped with more Ghiradelli Choclate bits.

Okay now it is your turn to share.
What are some holiday recipes or traditions your family has?
Be sure to link back to the post so everyone can see all the fun.

Family Mission Statement

Sorry for posting so late.
This morning was a oh so fun trip to the pediatrician's office.

Last night though we had a wonderful family evening.
We decided to revisit the idea of our Family's Mission Statement.

Having a Mission Statement is something we had done in the past,
but had let our statement become out dated and not something on the forefront of our minds.

Before we married, Jake and I decided that we would be conscious, aware, and educated about building our marriage and our family.
That we would put effort into making our marriage and our family strong, healthy and what we envisioned for ourselves.

Observing families we knew and were in, it became clear that the families that put effort and direction into their family had the kind of family life we wanted, and the families that did not have a focus, and just lived without purpose seemed to be weaker families potentially falling apart.

It was obvious what kind of family we wanted to be.

So Yesterday while baking my classic chocolate chip cookies we discussed what our new mission statement should include.

We created this.

FREEMAN FAMILY VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT

Vision: to have a heavenly home on earth and a family that lives together for eternity.

Statement:
I will do my best to do right by my family, my Heavenly Father and my community, and uphold the Freeman Family Values which are.

CHEERFUL: happy, fun, friendly and pleasant to be around
OBEDIENT: to parents, to the words of the prophets, to the commandments of God
LOVING: Speaking only kind words, respectful, showing others you love them through word and deed.
SELFLESS: putting other family members above self
FULL OF FAITH: turning to prayer and Heavenly Father at all times
DEVOTED TO FAMILY: loyal, putting family 1st, team member
RESPONSIBLE: with money, with work, with belongings, with our home responsibilities and in our community
FULL OF EFFORT: giving our best to all we have committed to, not giving up
SMART: making wise choices, valuing educations, loving to learn
TRUSTWORTHY: dependable, honest in all things
HEALTHY: active, eating healthy, obeying the word of wisdom, careful.

Being involved in the young men's, scouting, and young women's programs in our church we used the visions, statements and mottos they have as a model.

The process of making our family mission statement and vision was rather easy.

1. We decided on an ultimate goal for our family life, and made this our VISION.
2. We brainstormed together what values were important to our family.
3. We defined these values
4. We assigned committing words to the things that we deem important (family, God, and community)
5. We asked if each member of the family could commit to the vision and statement
6. We made family goals and personal goals based on a family value.
7. We will print and display the vision and statement prominently in our home.
8. We will review our goals quarterly and statement and vision annually.

Majesty is most excited about making our teenage children repeat the family mission statement before they leave for the evening to hang out with friends or on a date.

I am pleased with the sense of family that having a common goal and personalize vision and statement gives us as a family.

Tonight is Monday night. Family night.
If you don't have a family vision or mission statement try creating one tonight.