White Chili & Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

Today is a perfect autumn day.

Bright leaves have begun to fall. The cool, crisp air smells like wood-fire stoves burning. And since early this morning the fog has been shifting through the hills and over the valley.

Its a chili-and-cornbread kind of day.
Here's our favorite...

White Chili

4-6 Servings

• 1-2 Cooke Chicken Breasts (Chopped or shredded)
• 1 1/2 tsp Chili Powder, Cumin, Oregano {I just do an even blanket of each across the onion}
• 1 tsp Salt
• Pinch of Garlic Powder
• 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 yellow onion
• 1 Can Chicken Broth
• 2-3 Cans White Beans {Great Northern}
• 1 diced Tomato
• **Grated Cheddar Cheese and classic Cornbread Muffins.

1. Brown diced onion in a large pot with a little oil. Blanket onion with each of the spices and Worcestershire Sauce.
2. Add remaining ingredients, excluding cheese and cornbread. Warm on medium-high heat.
3. When ready to serve,  top each portion with shredded cheddar cheese and mash in a cornbread muffin.

For dessert.

Soft Peanut Butter Cookies

• 1/2 Cup & 2 tbsp Butter
• 3/4 Cup Peanut Butter
• 1/2 white sugar & 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 & 3/4 cups flour

1. Combine butter, peanut butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla. Blend together.
2. Add baking soda, salt, and flour with mixer.
3. Chill dough 15 minutes in the refrigerator. Preheat oven 350 degrees.
4. Roll dough into balls and bake on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, 7-10 minutes {Until edges are very lightly browning- don't overcook!}
5. Chomp, chomp, chomp... enjoy. 

Little bit of Fall- 2013

My favorite thing about Fall is the decorating.
And the baking. And the eating.
And the fall candles from BBW.
And the cool {rainy} days that call for a good book and comfy blanket.
And the cuddling that comes with that.
And the natural inclination to make family time, both at home and extended.

But mostly... it's the decorating.
Creating a welcoming and cozy environment, and then savoring in all its pumpkin-y splendor.

Come on in for a quick, fall home tour.

Starting yesterday- new built-in book cases going in around the fireplace. Woohoo!!! Happy, happy.

Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Fall!

When God Made Daughters

 When God created daughters, He took very special care

to find the precious treasures that would make them sweet and fair

He came them smiles of angels, then explored the midnight skies

And took a bit of stardust to make bright and twinkling eyes

He fashioned them from sugar, and a little bit of spice

He gave them sunny laughter, and everything that's nice

 He smiled when He made daughters...

 because He knew He had...

Created love and happiness for every mom and dad.

-Unkown

Yesterday

Yesterday was kind of a big deal.

After almost two years of Nick's youngest sister Rachel living with us, we packed up her belongings into two cars and moved her into her new {beautiful} apartment.

Hadley, Rachel, and Nick- moving her in

Her amazing view

Two years is not a lifetime... unless you're Hadley Grace.

Since Rachel moved in when Hadley was just four months old, she has been with us as long as Haddie can remember. And Hadley simply adores her "Tee Tee" Rachel. And her shoes. And her purse.And her socks. And, well... anything  that belonged to Rachel.


Most evenings Hadley would work her way into Rach's room to distract her from homework by jumping on the bed while singing, "No more monkeys jumpin' on the bed!" Or sometimes she would go in and cozy up with TeeTee {auntie} and chat for some girl-time. These were their special moments together.

We are thrilled for Rachel and this new chapter of her life- but we sure will miss her!!!

During her time with us she became one of my very dearest friends. We've walked through some life changes together, and I am ever thankful for her support, honesty, encouragement, and the bond we now will always share. My sister and my friend.

So yes, it may have been just a Monday... but yesterday was kind of a big deal.

Thankful Thursday: a Piano story

When my older sister, brother-in-law, and their three kiddos packed up and moved across the country a couple months ago- we inherited the family piano.

It is well-worn and has been well-loved by three generations of my father's side of the family.

And its a big part of my story.

This is the piano my sisters and I first learned to play. It was our place of expression when we were happy, stressed or upset.

Yes, we're old friends this piano and I.

And now here she sits, in our home.

Adorned with a young picture of my grandmother, and a cheerful little bowl that currently holds all of Hadley's "dol-yers" she begs from her father.

Above the piano are framed four of our favorite hymns... which seemed appropriate with this heritage piece.

And now I am blessed with the great privilege of teaching the fourth generation....

...to sing and make melodies in her heart unto the Lord.              

And for that, I am truly thankful.

Thankful Thursday: February 7th

Today I am thankful for blue skies and sunshine. 

{They make washing dishes and folding laundry cheerful chores.}

And nose-scrunch smiles like this one. 

And sweet potato fries. They're a household favorite.

 And this verse:

Psalm 28:7



What are you thankful for today?

A Season for Change

Those of you who faithfully follow this blog may have noticed a change or two. Or maybe you concluded that some new blog had popped up in your feed you never remember subscribing to. Thanks for reading anyway. :)

Back in October we decided to take "Kaylee At Home- Journal of a Homemaker" and restructure it a bit. Rather than from just one perspective, we determined that together we want to share with you the stories of our life with this online family journal.

Of course we needed a new title to fit, and were careful in our choosing.

So, why "A Family Planted"?

We felt the title should be a reflection of us. Not just in our current state, but-by the grace of God - who He's calling us to be.

Psalm 1:1-3 AMP

" Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. 

 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.

 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]."

This is our desire: to be like that tree firmly planted- our roots grounded in the Word of the Lord and our lives yielding the fruit of His Spirit- that we may be stedfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. {1 Corinthians 15:58}


The intent of this blog is not to lead you to believe that we have a perfect life, have it all together, or you should think like we think and do as we do. Neither is our goal to attain a large following or sponsors to acquire additional income.

The purpose for this blog is :

• a place to keep our families and friends informed on the happenings {big and small} of our home
• to share our stories and encouragement to those who can relate to the seasons of our life
• a place for Kaylee to share her homemaking passions- recipes, crafting, organizing, and DIY home decor
•  to testify of the faithfulness and goodness of Jesus Christ; and share our hearts in a simple, honest way as we grown in Him  

At times you may hear from us often; at other times we may post sparingly. We hope to inspire some, as many have inspired us.


Love,