Author: Anita Hochstetler

I'm a country girl at heart who loves coffee shops and bookstores, simplicity and the great Big Wonderful World...particularly Northwestern Montana and it's familiar spots and untamed beauty. It is where I fell in love with my husband Stephen. We brought three children into this world in the following years. Stephen is quiet and steady and crazy all in one handsome combo. He’s got an amazing brain and keeps my flights of fancy from blowing us away. Kierra , our Wildflower child, was diagnosed with NCS before she was a year old. It is an extremely rare genetic disorder with no cure. She passed away in January of 2014 at 3 1/2 years old. Kobe joined us 15 months after his sister and is our sensitive, math whiz child. He is kindhearted and loves the finer things of life. He talks about Kierra often and longs to play with her again. Kyrell is our youngest. Our Hope child. He charges through life with a dynamic spirit and lots of smiles. I share my heart here on these pages and pray they will bless souls far and near.

Special Kids

Trusting Radiance

November 17, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler8 Comments

Thankyou for your prayers for Kierra.

It’s Sunday morning here and the kiddos woke way too early 🙂 Time to get the coffee brewing and let it sink in that heading back to bed is not an option.

Kierra’s kidney function has definitely deteriorated since last time we did labs in August. Her creatnine levels are at 1.4. That’s high for a child. She had been at levels like 0.4 or 0.5 and that was pretty good. Even 0.94. But i think this is pretty much the highest they have been.

The Doctor gave us orders to cut back on her Lasix. This medication helps her lose fluid as long as her kidney vessels are functioning well enough to actually receive the medication into her kidneys. If her kidneys shut down, the vessels become so constricted, that medication will not reach them, thus the only option is a kidney transplant, which we do not plan to do.

If she has had an overdose of Lasix, this can cause dehydration which could also make her Creatnine levels rise, and reduce her urine output.

So our little girl could go two ways. Continually better. or continually worse. Her last few days have been amazingly well, although she is battling a cold. We are fighting back with lots of rest and Unker’s (or Amish Salve) and nose suctioning (uggh, poor girl). I LOVE the Amish Salve!!! Any mommy should have a bottle full 🙂 Her lungs still sound good and she is not gaining significant weight at this point. That is wonderful!!! She is urinating more again, which we take as a miracle and we give God Glory and Praise!

So our Montana trip is still on schedule! The Dr. thought it would be good to take her if we are OK with the extra stress of ‘what if she gets sick’, and we have a plan in mind in case that would happen. We feel good about going…so hopefully, it will work out!

Sometimes in life, you need to stop living with the fear of dying and live in the moment and make the most of it. (easier said then done at times !) So although we don’t want to take unnecessary risks with Kierra’s health, we also want to experience LIFE and Love and ties that bind and make good memories of the days we have.

So today, we will stay cozy and warm in our little house. If you think of Kierra this week, pray that she could stay well enough for this trip.

And you can pray for me also…that I would not let fear and worry consume me, but anchor my faith and trust firmly in Our Creator. I don’t want to live in the scary places of ‘what if?’ and ‘when?’ and ‘how?’… I want to live in the light of the Son , who is the radiance of His glory! (Heb. 1:3)

Recently i saw Kobe, chasing morning sunshine that fell across the apartment floor. Isn’t that just what God wants of us? Basking in His light…marveling at it’s transformation and warmth.

Wearing it like a halo of glory.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Special Kids

Prayer For Kierra

November 13, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler3 Comments

Kierra was feeling so well this week. Totally off oxygen for about 4 days!!! And yesterday, she had a ‘perfect’ day! 🙂

Today her oxygen levels kept dropping again and she slept for hours.

The worst thing is that her nephrodic syndrome seems to be flaring up again. She gained about 2 lb. since Monday 😦 She has barely had any urine output since last night. Not a good sign. So tomorrow morning, we go see the good Dr. S. first thing in the morning. Maybe she is catching a bug. Or maybe it’s her kidney’s having issues again. Or maybe she’ll be just fine by the morning.

So would you pray for her?

We have been planning to travel to Montana for Thanksgiving, leaving next week, and seeing family and friends we haven’t seen since we left, not to mention, sorting through the little, large pile of mis. stuff we stored out there.

Trusting God…and hoping and praying our little girl will start peeing again! (amazing what we mommies pray for 🙂 !!

Recipes

Delish Pumpkin Pancakes

November 11, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler3 Comments

“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day.

“Come over the meadow with me to play,

Put on your dresses of red and gold,

for summer is gone, and the days grow cold.”

As soon as the leaves heard the wind’s glad call,

Down they came fluttering one and all!

Over the brown fields they danced and flew,

Singing the soft little songs they knew.

Dancing and whirling the little leaves went,

Winter had called them, and they were content.

Soon fast asleep on their earthly beds,

The snow lay a coverlet over their heads.

I learned this beautiful poem in one of my first years of school. I still LOVE it! Although I have no clue who the author is…It captures the beauty of autumn so well.

The dance of life…and the easing into the folds of winter.

These autumn days bring out the best in pumpkin!

Here is my favorite Pumpkin Pancake recipe right now..adapted from Taste Of Home cooking magazine.

Pumkin Spice Yogurt Pancakes

1 1/2 cups flour

2 T. brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 eggs

1 1/3 cup milk

3/4 cup canned pumpkin

1/2 cup vanilla or plain yogurt

Whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin, and yogurt.

In a separate bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder , salt and pumpkin pie spice.

Stir the dry and wet ingredients together just until moistened.

Pour desired amount of batter into rounds on a hot greased griddle. Flip over when bubbles form on top. Fry until a golden brown.

Serve with Buttery Nutty Syrup…

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup chopped nuts.

Melt butter in sauce pan. Toss in nuts and roast lightly.

Stir in

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/8 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4-1/2 cup maple syrup

Heat to a gentle boil. Let cool slightly, then ladle liberally over pancakes.

Brew a big pot of coffee. Enjoy!

Money Savers

My Favorite ‘Homemade’ Cleaners

November 8, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler2 Comments

I was cleaning my house today.

It’s amazing how the most ordinary cleaning days can be So Much Fun!!!

Cheers to Living and Enjoying an ordinary day!

Caught! Sneaking cookies.

Doing breathing treatments. I could just sit and watch him! ❤

And pretending to be a photographer 🙂

As I wiped down the kitchen counter, I noticed my oil jar needed a MAJOR scrubbing. ( yep, i’m embarrassed to post this picture, but you need to see to believe!) 🙂

Yep, that’s baked on oil on the outside of that jar! Having a small kitchen makes me store things pretty close to our tiny stove that breathes heat like a monster when it’s turned on .

I pulled out my favorite household cleaner (recipe coming) 🙂

I sprayed. And let it marinate. And scrubbed.

The transformation was astounding.

Squeaky clean. Why didn’t I do this longgg ago? 🙂

The best part about this cleaner is that it’s super simple. Not to mention the fact that there is a two year old rampaging around here, and we all know that most store bought cleaners with chemicals and kids don’t mix so well.

I bet some of you make it already. Here’s my version. I use it all over the house. In the bathroom…shower, toilet, and sink…in the kitchen..counter tops, cabinets, and cruddy, baked- on dishes 🙂 in my mop water… and it would even work great for windows if you do a squeegee washing method.

Dawn Household Cleaner and Degreaser

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup Dawn dish soap

1 cup tap water

Heat vinegar in microwave. Stir in Dawn soap. Pour into empty spray bottle. Add water and swish gently.

This is just the right amount for my spray bottle. It seems to be fairly concentrated so if you have a problem with too many suds, you can always increase the amount of water.

I also use Dawn to make my Laundry Soap. I DID NOT ENJOY grating bar soap like so many recipes recommend, and I had a problem with my clothes fading. But I really wanted to save my husbands hard earned dollars in little areas that were actually do-able for me.

I like this recipe much better 🙂 It took the finger paint right out of Kierra’s clothes without even pre spraying them.

Homemade Dawn Laundry Soap

3 Tablespoons Borax

3 Tablespoons Washing Soda

3 Tablespoons Dawn soap. ( i like the blue because of the bluing and degreasing power)

8 cup water

Heat 2 cups of water. Stir or swish in your Borax and Washing Soda until dissolved. Dump in Dawn. Add remaining 6 cups water. Store in empty clean jug. Give a little swirl or shake before using.

Use approx. 1/2 cup per load.

Oh! and you can always add a dash of vinegar to that mixture too 🙂

Now you have a new idea to explore:) I don’t always use the full half cup and still have good results.

I also know that everyone’s opinions on laundering are different. We all know what works for me might not be OK with you 🙂 After my ‘always neatly dressed’ used- to- be neighbor lady shared this Dawn laundry secret with me, I jumped on the idea! And I’ve been so glad ever since!

Happy cleaning to you, my friends!

Special Kids

LIFE is GOOD?

October 29, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler4 Comments

Life Is Good.

That slogan has made me cringe and inhabited my mind , dredging up murky questions.

It seems so blithe and innocent. Like a perfectly loved summer child.

But where is the goodness of life in pain? In terminal illness? In lethal disorder?

Life is good for my just turned two year old. He blows out candles and runs into Daddy’s arms and eats cookies. He laughs and crys and tells me where his ouchies are. He insists on his monkey pajamas and begs for juice. He whirls around corners on his trike and writes long pages of tiny squiggles. He talks and laughs and feeds the rabbit.

But how can life be good for the single Mom struggling with all her energy and power to make ends meet? Or the single Dad juggling work and house and kids? For the children that miss their parents dreadfully? For the little ones, starving, or beaten; abused, or spoiled rotten? For the soul that has been crushed again and has no strength to get up? For the hospital rooms full of sick beds and the countless homes facing life and death.

And how in the WORLD can people walk confidently around in the streets with ‘Life Is Good’ em-blazed on their t shirts? Do they actually have such a happy carefree life that they can honestly say that Life Is Good?

Or could it be that they have chosen to rise above circumstances and embrace hope and bear evidence of a Good Life among the ruins of our universe?

Hundreds of years ago, a man named Paul was stoned by religious folks, dragged outside the city, and left for dead. Disciples of God gathered around him, and he stood up and walked back into that same city. The next day, he left with a friend to share the Good news of salvation, and the power of God to more folks in other cities.

I can’t imagine that ‘Life Is Good’ really described Paul’s life. What is good about being hated? Knocked unconscious with brutal rocks? Dragged out of a city that God led you to? Being ‘rewarded’ for following God with excruciating pain? Making enemies when you only wanted to share God’s love?

And yet, when Paul got home , he was rejoicing in everything God had accomplished through them, fully believing with joyful trust that He is Christ, the Messiah…the reason that

LIFE IS GOOD.

Because Life is a gift from God.

And God is Good.

Circumstances in life can be really crummy and they really truly stink and sometimes you really, really don’t want to go through the effort it takes to keep breathing and the discomfort and pain and fear that are inevitable. Life sometimes falls apart and shakes the very roots of your soul with it’s terrifying tremors. Voices of doubt declare that you’re too messed up and a total failure.

And the very sight of a ‘Life Is Good’ slogan makes you shake your fist.

Stop a minute and believe the ONE thing will always be true.

NOTHING!

will change it.

God is Good.

because of Him,

Life really IS Good!

Praying you would have the courage to choose the GOOD LIFE today.

DIY Projects · Kid's Fun

The Festive Scarecrow

October 7, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita HochstetlerLeave a comment

We needed some autumn colors in our house. Some country mood. Some crafty project. So we broke out the crate of scrap paper from behind the bed. (it’s no wonder it kinda collects dust bunnies since it’s a stand on your head, stretch your ribs, blood rush to your face kind of dive to haul it out!)

I had seen an idea to create your own scarecrows with old Pringles cans on a web sight recently. Since I didn’t have the patience to go find it again, I gathered supplies we had in our house and relied on my memory and imagination. We spread out on the living room floor under the furiously whirling ceiling fan and picked out bright sheets of paper. I love doing crafts with my kids, but their attention span seems a nanosecond. Maybe that’s a slight stretch since a nanosecond is actually only 1 billionth of a second, but you get the idea… sometimes it feels that way!

Out of the tearing paper and ‘It’s OK, Kierra, just relax.’ and the ‘Kobe! Do not play with glue’…

These little guys emerged. I was slapping them together at the end, so I’m sure if you have creative kids and more time and concentration, yours could evolve quite a bit more handsomely 🙂

1. Use an empty Pringles can for the body. (we used an empty powered drink tube)

2. Cut paper (or fabric) into strips and glue around the can to create the body.

3. Use burlap fabric scraps or torn paper scraps to patch the clothes.

4. Add a mouth, nose, and eyes.

5. Add suspenders or buttons or both.

6. Crumple a wad of paper and tape it to the lid of the can.

7. Cut a big round circle of paper (or felt or burlap) for the hat.

8. Cover the lid (including the paper wad 🙂 with the round paper and secure it with a piece of string. Trim off any excess hat paper and turn up the edges a bit to create a brim.

9. Use long strips of paper for the arms. Fold a small tab over on one end of the strip. Glue it to the side of the body. Then let the ‘arm’ hang down over the tab. I put a few folds in one guy’s arm to add some wiggle.

Enjoy your festive scarecrows! 🙂

Hint: (I’d love to see what your kids create 🙂

Family Activities

The Last Summer Fling

September 29, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler3 Comments

We discovered a lovely huge park in Lancaster City the other day. Since Autumn keeps steadily creeping in, we wanted to go on a little family picnic. It was a perfect day to be out. We took a walk through a small wooded area, then relaxed at the picnic tables, and ate “Our First” –apple wood pulled pork sub– from Subway. I saw that commercial a few times too often in the hospital and just HAD to try one 🙂 It IS VERY GOOD!!!

Kierra was feeling so sunny and happy. I can’t get enough of her smiles and sparkling eyes!!!!! Even if she wiggles so much her oxygen is constantly going crooked or coming off and her cheeks get too sore to tape up all the time .I was afraid she would never feel this well again. Now LOOK AT HER!!! God is SO MERCIFULLY GOOD!

She LOVES when you nuzzle her cheek and give her kisses. She closes her eyes and snuggles into your neck and makes the most adorable sounds ever 🙂

Kobe was so happy to have lots of space to run and bubbles to blow and Daddy to play with.

He wasn’t in the mood to pose with Kierra but he DID want to push her 🙂 Their love reaches around the words and ‘impossibles’ in life…right down into their hearts. Isn’t that the kind of love we should all have for others!

Then I caught her in a wave. And my heart melted all over again 🙂

A special prayer request for our little Wild flower. Steve and Kobe both had a really ugly cold this week. We tried to keep Kierra away from the germs but there’s only so much you can do in a small house:) So would you mind saying a prayer that she would stay healthy? She would say “Thank you” if she could 🙂 And I WILL say “Thankyou!!”

Thoughts On Life

Tupperware Beyond My Dreams

September 26, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler2 Comments

Literally. I never in my lie dreamed I would have so much Tupperware or that my pantry be more organized the any other spot in my house. When Rachel posted that she was having a Tupperware book party for me, I was excited 🙂 I figured I would get a few nice pieces. Like maybe MAYBE ten things.

I have never been to Tupperware Party before although I knew they had wonderfully life time quality products. Maybe it had something to do with living in Montana where any money you make is spent on keeping food on the table, elk in the freezer, and the heater running in your car. Yeah… I know. That makes Montana sound a bit hickish when it’s actually one of the most wonderful beautiful places God created on this planet!

When Rachel told me to make a list of things I could use or wanted, I didn’t know where to start since I only had a few pieces and a canister set my sister got me for my last birthday. I decided to dream big and literally made a wish/need/would be nice to have / list. I had just found mice in our big huge old pantry. I’m guessing this was never intended for a pantry but more for a closet since there are no closets in our house. It dates back to the 1700s. Did they even have hangers back then?

So here is a before shot of my pantry. It suffered over the summer since it was rather neglected while we kept the hospital rooms from getting lonely.

i was totally amazed. There are no words to describe the feelings when Rachel brought in 4 BIG HUGE boxes of Tupperware! This was the result…..

I can actually walk to my cabinet, and pick up exactly what I need without emptying half of it to find the bag in the far rear and discover it’s been the mouses’s favorite new crush. Then, I got all these fun gadgets…like little containers and a salad spinner and just SO MANY WONDERFUL things!! I have knives that ACTUALLY CUT now!!!

I think the most beautiful thing of all is the love and generosity that overwhelms me whenever I use my things. I did NOTHING to receive all these wonderful pieces. The kindness of friends reaches out and overwhelms me and wraps me in a hug when I roll out dough on the pastry mat or decorate a cake or toss salad . All I can say is THANKYOU!!!!! I hope I can pass on the kindness and love poured out on our lives to others! God bless each of you….And God bless each of you that prays for us. I now how it is not to have the funds available to give ‘expensive’ things to people. Then I try to remember that the POWER of prayer is even stronger and better then any thing money can buy or express.

Now hopefully there won’t be anymore of these to throw out 🙂 and no more chewed open chocolate chip bags 🙂

One more thing 🙂 Don’t you LOVE the old, green pantry doors!!? Rachel had a brilliant idea.

Paint inside of doors with chalkboard paint.

Chalk up your grocery list as you run low on things.

Shoot a pic with your phone.

Go shopping 🙂 (and you won’t forget your list if you don’t forget your phone 🙂

DIY Projects

Burlap Placemats

September 23, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler5 Comments

Golden Miss Summer is slipping away and rustic Autumn is ushered in with pumpkins and sheaves of drying corn dotting the countryside.

It seems the perfect time to break out the burlap and do a little crafting for the local benefit auction to support the Clinic For Special Children. They have done so much for us and Kierra. It was the tiniest way I could show my appreciation.

I know..burlap has been around for ‘forever’ but I seriously hadn’t gotten into the wonders of it until I tried this. Now I’m hooked 🙂

This is the finished project. It’s one of the most fun simple projects I have ever done.

I made my place mats about 16×19 in. There’s the coolest little trick to getting a nice straight edge without having your eyes go batty.

Measure your desired size of burlap. make a small snip at all four corners. Then pick a strand of burlap and pull gently and firmly. The fabric will gather as you pull. As long as the opposite end of your string of burlap is free from the large piece of fabric, it should pull all the way out.

Now you will have this….A nice straight gap down the burlap to cut through.

Cut down the middle, and remove extra burlap threads to create a nice rustic fringe. If you remove the same amount on all sides you will keep your symmetrical shape.

I used fabric paint for the letters, but I’m guessing acrylic paint would work as well. I was planning to sell these, so I wanted something that would not wash or smudge off. I picked up a big bag of foam letters at a yardsale this summer and have been dying to try to make my own stamps with them. It worked great! Especially after I realized you have to create them all backwards so your wording comes out frontwards on your project 🙂

And before I forget I need to show you how my little guy was driving me happily crazy while I did this project (i’ll mark the low quality photography up to him too since I had to hurry. LOL!!!)

Thankfully his paints were very washable 🙂 He painted his high chair, his ear, and his hair. I let him to his own creations 🙂 until he informed me that he was “DONE paint” Love him so much 🙂

I zig zagged the edges of the burlap with my sewing machine since I planned to sell them and didn’t want them to fray uncontrollably for folks. I think it would be fine to leave them raw for myself 🙂

Then I pressed them with a dry hot iron with parchment paper covering the lettering and burlap. That helped set the lettering, and smoothed out the wrinkles.

Just for fun i made coffee mug coasters to go with them.

I get all excited just thinking of all the fun things to do with this cool stuff:)

*monogrammed burlap

*foody words

*Christmas joy lettering

*kids drawings turned into stamps or

* kids hand painting pictures or

*kids hand prints

*personalized place settings

*party memories (with sharpie markers)

talk bout wide open possibilities!

Happy Autumn to you!

And just to give you an idea of the vastness and wonderfulness of the auction…

There were 7 auctioneers going at one time in the afternoon. Everything was donated. Including minibarn sheds, rabbit hutches, 70 quilts, wall hangings, tons of crafts and household items, farm and outdoor items, flowers, lawn furniture, park benches, swingsets, and food beyond imagination 🙂 salad bar, bbq chicken, pizza, soft pretzels, icecream, chili fries, bbq sandwiches, pies galore, doughnuts, vegetable trays and dip, fresh fruit cups, smoothies, coffee drinks, root beer floats,whoopie pies, and I’m not sure what all else i missed. Oh yes! breakfast. Scrambled eggs and pancakes, sausage links, fried potatoes, omelets, and toast.

It was totally amazing and overwhelming at the support and vast amounts of money and people that came out to make this day happen. These auctions are what help keep the Clinic running. They sold a special wooden bowl for $27,000 with all proceeds going to starting a new clinic in Big Valley. Also, a model tractor that actually runs and is the one in America that they know of. It brought around $20,000, I think.

this was only part of the crowd 🙂

We are so thankful for the support that makes it possible for the kind, knowledgeable and compassionate care Kierra has received! I think the thing that really makes a difference is how Dr. Strauss and Dr. Mortan care about each individual patient as a real person! You can’t beat that:)

Mom Life

The Family I Want To Be

September 9, 2013November 1, 2019 Anita Hochstetler2 Comments

It’s a place to come home to. A love that engulfs. The familiar comfortable bindings from years of growing and learning and laughing and hard times. The forgiveness for mistakes and misunderstandings. It’s what makes family special and loved and irreplaceable. It’s what makes us homesick for Heaven and that destination that will actually and truly resonate with our inner most being and we will know we are actually, truly, forever HOME with our Father, and the family of saints.

We took a quick trip to West Virginia last weekend for my cousin’s wedding. I hadn’t seen most of my cousins in a very long time, so I was very excited. It made it even more wonderful to visit the old ‘stomping grounds’ of my girlhood best friend, and “partner in crime”. That old farm-house is literally saturated with memories. From totally embarrassing to hysterically funny to teenage heart breaks. I could write a whole series of books on our stupendous and epic moments. Maybe another day I will begin that project 🙂

Now we are supposedly ‘all grown up’ with husbands and little girls and boys with happy or sad faces 🙂

Our girls are actually close in age, and just like us, they can wear each others dresses and hair bows.

Carly wore Kierra’s dress and we watched her quietly as she scooted all over the house on a trike, munching an apple.

Isn’t she just beautiful! My heart was all mixed up watching her. Thinking of how Kierra would look doing the same things she did. It was special. sweet. inspiring. and heartbreaking all together.

Two adorable little girls. Two totally different paths in life. Two mommys that love them fiercely and tenderly and wholly. Isn’t life just incredible?

Aunt Betty held Kierra for a long while. They got along very well 🙂

Everyone needs an Aunt Betty. She’s got a kind, thoughtful lovely heart that reaches out and makes you feel comfortable in your own skin…whatever type of ‘skin’ that is in life at the moment 🙂

The wedding day was lovely and the happy couple literally beaming with love and hopes and dreams.

The day after the wedding, we slept as late as our children did 🙂 then we ate steaming delicately crisp waffles smothered in favorite toppings, mine being peanut butter and syrup. (See, I still have part of that little girl in me somewhere 🙂

It was so refreshing to see happy faces and brave smiles and family warmth. To feel that we are loved and cared for. No matter what comes our way in life. That’s how family is meant to be. That’s the kind of family I want to raise. The kind of person I want to be.

Love your family today. They really do need it. And so do you!