52 Weeks Challenge

Well~ once again I have failed miserably at the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge. I read more books than are listed on the bottom of my blog, however, I forgot to add them to the list and now I am having trouble remembering what they were! Needless to say, it's been a crazy year. I am going to attempt to do the challenge again this year. Mainly because I love posting to the challenge blog and seeing what others are reading. On the 52 week blog there is a little survey that one of the members posts every year. So I thought I would fill it out so I can look back on it for next year. 


1) How many books did you read this year?
     I have listed 12 books (pitiful, I Know) but I know I read more than that I just can't remember what. (pitiful, I know) 

2) Did you meet or beat your own personal goal? I didn't meet or even come close to my personal reading goal this year- but hey- there's always next year.

3) Favorite book of 2012 (you can list more than one or break it down by genre)
My favorite book this year was The Witness by Dee Henderson. 

4) Least favorite book of 2012 and why?
My least favorite book was not "the least" because of any reason other than that it was the third book in a series, and I didn't realize it until the end. That book was The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne. I very much enjoyed the book, was a little slow at times, but really wish I would have read the first two books before this- would have explained things.
5) One book you thought you'd never read and was pleasantly surprised you liked it?
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. My only exposure to Pinocchio was the Disney movie. I really enjoyed the original story. The moral lessons to be learned are presented so much better in the book than the movie.
6) One book you thought you'd love but didn't.
I really enjoyed each book I read this year.
7) One book that touched you -made you laugh, cry, sing or dance.
The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson. It was a really touching Christmas story.
8) Any new to you authors discovered and you can't wait to read more of their stories?
Every book that I read this year was by a new to me author. I have several of Barbara Cameron's and Lisa Wingate books on the list today.
9)Name the longest book you read? Shortest?
The Mysterious Island was definitely the longest book I read and Christmas Dog was the shortest.
10) Name the most un-put-down-able book you read?
I could not put down The Witness by Dee Henderson or  A World I Never Made by Jame Lepore. Both very suspenseful page turners. 
11) Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
I guess it would have to be Raising the Perfect dog by Cesar Milan. It is helping us train our puppy Zoe.
12) What book would you recommend everybody read?
Pinocchio- especially if you've only had the Disney experience.
13) Share your most favorite cover(s) I love Amish themed books and love the covers!


14) Do you have a character you fell in love with?
Betty Kowalski, the main character in The Christmas Dog. She is what everybody wants as a grandmother.
15) What was your most favorite part of the challenge? Did you do any of the mini challenges? I did read three classic books this year as a mini challenge and at least 3 new authors as another mini challenge.

What are your goals for the new year? To read more non fiction? To dip your toes into a mystery of an urban fantasy? What book are you most looking forward to reading in 2013?
I am going to challenge myself to read the 52 books this year. I would like to read some books that I have on my shelves for starters, there are so many I haven't touched yet, and also finish a few of the book series that I started in 2012. I am really looking forward to reading Bill O'Reilly's books Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy. I have them on the shelf and have heard good reviews on them. I would also like to read a few non-fiction books and maybe be as brave as to attempt something sci-fi! Only time will tell.
Happy reading!

Blog Designing

I love visiting blogs. There are so many creative people out there and their blogs look amazing. Yes- I have blog envy. So I have decided to try my hand at redesigning my blog. I  decided to warn people ahead of time because I will probably mess things up quite a bit before it's finished. So please pardon my mess progress! This is my first attempt to make a collage on picmonkey. I was surprised how easy it was. Maybe there is hope for me yet! 

Summer 2012 Rehoboth Beach Sand Castle Contest

Christmas Snapshots

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. On Christmas Eve, Britni, Zack, and Alex joined Dan, Abi, Mom, and me for gift exchange, Cream of Crab soup(will post recipe soon) Oyster Stew, and It's a Wonderful Life. On Christmas morning Abi crawled in bed with us around 7:30 and asked if we could get up around 9:00! (we didn't wait that long). Our "Elf on the Shelf", Rachael, set the table for breakfast and left Abi a snowman (made from powdered sugar doughnuts) and a letter reminding her that the best gift of Christmas is Jesus. We spent the day relaxing together and watching movies. The fun continued on the 26th with a get together with the Benderoth side of the family at our beach house. It was such fun getting all the kids together and spending time with my siblings and their spouses.  Here's a sampling of the last few days for you to share with us.

We pray you all had an opportunity to make some special family memories this year. Family is a gift that lasts forever. Merry Christmas from the Drehmer's

The Tale of Two..... Gingerbread Houses

One of my very favorite Christmas traditions is the Christmas Eve building of the gingerbread houses. Both Dan and I have German decent and we've always looked forward to including this part of our heritage. Last year we bought a pre-made kit with everything included to decorate a sweet little house. This year, I decided to use the gingerbread house cookie cutters (that have been on my shelf for years, unopened) and make the gingerbread myself. I found a great recipe, everything baked perfectly, and dried nicely overnight. Abi and I chose a few candies from our quick outing to the grocery store this afternoon, including ready made frosting (which I don't typically buy) to use in the extravaganza! This year, since I made the dough from scratch, we had enough for both Abi and I to decorate our own houses this year...oh how excited she was.

Daddy fixing Abi's house

Well everything was going along just fine.....the houses were nearly finished......Abi stepped out of the room to go get my camera and as I was adding the finishing touches to my house........... Abi's house fell...SPLAT.....I was struck speechless as I began to feel the devastation Abi was going to have when she returned to the kitchen and......SPLAT mine caved in as well! After hugging away the tears I couldn't help the giggling that came forth.(from me, not Abi) 

My "Masterpiece"

Enter Daddy to the rescue.....Dan gently picked up the pieces of Abi's house, filled the center with crumbled newspaper and got it standing again. (we can't remove the 'Good n Plenty' box bracing up the roof on one side but other than that..she stands)

It reminded me of how our heavenly Daddy, gently picks up the broken pieces of our lives, puts us back together and helps us to stand again. May we all know His great love for us this Christmas Season. He sent His son Jesus for our peace, our health, our anything we need...HE is the Great I AM. 

Abi and her house!

Shalom & Merry Christmas

The Hard Things in Life

Sometimes God allows us to walk through hard places. This week was one of those for many people. People close to us, people far away we don't know, and even our family walked through hard things this week.  What can be learned while walking in the hard places? Lots if we let God speak. 

I've been thinking of the unimaginable suffering that the town of Newtown Connecticut faced this week. What a hard place to walk. The parents who lost their precious little ones will never be the same. When we are unjustly wronged our human hearts want an apology. There will be no apology for them. 

A family we hold as dear friends said goodbye to a loved one this week. Their comfort will come for they know where their loved one rests. And they hold the same promise. 

I think of my own hard place this week. Like the parents of Newtown I may never receive an apology but I know that I have to forgive. It's not easy but the healing is coming. God is good. I pray that the body of Christ in Newtown will reach out with the love of Jesus to these hurting people, probably many that do not know Him. 

God has a plan for each of our lives. Trusting Him with that plan is easy when things are going along a smooth road but it takes great faith to trust Him when the road gets rocky and the path ahead is uncertain. 

Speak Lord Jesus

Nutcracker 2012

 Abigail in the production of The Nutcracker.

Abigail as little sister Maria

The party's over

Baby Mouse (center right)

Courtier (center)

Ginger Baby

Abi, Britni holding Alex, & and; Zack

The Ginger Babies
(l to r) Karyme Arroyo-Flores, Hannah Pusey, Allison Harris, Abigail Drehmer, Anna Williams,
 Annelise Bynum

Abi was also a "little angle" but for some reason we didn't get a picture of her in that roll. 

A Family Thanksgiving

We started cooking on Wednesday for our 2 day event.....

The Family Thanksgiving/Reunion

Among the many dishes Britni and I made (11 sides plus a turkey and a ham) Abi made "Pilgrim Hat" cookies all by herself! (thank you Pinterest)

Britni did all the table settings- This was what she did for Thursday's dinner

I think she did a great job

Dan's parents and his brother Tim & his wife, Angela,
shared Thanksgiving Day with us.

On Friday  morning we added two six foot
tables on either end of our dining room table
so we could seat everyone Family style!

Dan and 3 of his siblings
(Rick, Tim, Carrie)

And let the feasting begin!!!

Mom & Dad with 4 of their 5 Children
Carrie, Rick, Tim, & Dan

And last but not least 9 of the 12 cousins
(front left) Grace, Abi, Wyatt, Nathaniel
(back left) Ricky, Dillion, Anja, Naomi, & Britni holding the
 1st of the second cousins- Alex

Everyone had such a great time- happy memories made. The day went by so quickly and before we knew it, we were saying good-byes.....

                                                                         .....until next time. 

Abi's New Room

Well after patiently waiting for several coats of paint to dry Abi got her new room!

Drum roll please...........

We hung the quilt Nonna made for her on the door

Purple bunk beds

Toy Shelf

Books and Legos

 Now she can look outside when
 she practices piano

Enough space under the bunk for tea!

She is pleased as punch! (And so is mommy)

Slow Cooker Sunday's

Well... last week came with a flurry of craziness including a trip to the ER so my wonderful husband took me out for a cozy dinner after church therefore....no slow cooker Sunday. This week I needed another quick to put together recipe using what I had on hand so I turned to my favorite low-carb cookbook. Today we enjoyed Carolina Crock Pork. This recipe usually calls for a pork shoulder roast but I used boneless pork ribs today and it was just as delicious. The recipe also instructs you to brown the roast before you put it in the crock-pot, which I usually do, however I didn't know how the ribs would hold up to the browning so I skipped that step. I honestly couldn't tell any difference. When the roast is done it can be shredded and served on your favorite sandwich rolls. Bon Appetit!

 Carolina Crock Pork

1 Tbs. Olive Oil
1 1/2 pounds pork shoulder roast
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tsp dry mustard
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 cup tomato paste ( I used a 6 oz. can)
1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar

In a skillet, heat the olive oil and brown the pork roast on all sides. Place in a Crock-Pot with remaining ingredients. Cook on high for 5 to 7 hours or on low for 8 to 9 hours. When done, shred with two forks and serve with Crock-pot juices.

Bathroom Make-over

I don't know about you but when November rolls around I start getting the make-over bug. I love to spruce up the place a bit before we decorate for Christmas. Some years it is just simple organizing or a small change like new curtains or simply rearranging furniture. This year the bug has bitten hard. I decided to start with the bathroom because I actually started changing things a bit last spring. I should have taken before and after shots but I didn't think about that until I finished. (I will do before and after shots of the other rooms when I do them later this week)

before Christmas decor 

another before shot

These are pictures I took a few years back when I made new shower and window curtains to change it for Christmas. The wall color is a light sage green, which I kept, and I white-washed the vanity and medicine cabinet a few years before this picture was taken. (It will give you the basic idea.)

The Reveal....

The Pictures really don't do it justice.The berry vine above the window was my inspiration piece. I purchased the "Berry Vine" shower and window curtains from The Country House last spring. I found the wall cling at an Amish market last summer....His Love Endures Forever...
We added wrought iron hooks in place of towel bars beside the sink and behind the door. 

This is my favorite find. I have been looking for months for something to put towels in. You'll never guess where I found this little retro cabinet...
.......My basement! It was left here by the previous owners when we bought the house 7 years ago. It was behind another cabinet. My husband noticed it and pulled it out. The bottom was a light cream color and was rusty. I sanded it down and we found a spray paint that was the perfect color. The top is agate, which is a perfect complement to the agate shelf I had purchased last year. (It is hanging above) I love the handles!

 I found this little wooden shelf at a yard sale a few weeks ago for $2 and bought it without having a use for it. But for $2 I couldn't pass it up. You can't see it but the stacked boxes on top are actually a lamp that I found at the Christmas Tree Shop on our trip to Lancaster in October. Live. Love. Laugh.









Abi helped me take down the medicine cabinet and in
its place we put up an antique mirror that my mom gave me years ago. I had it in my bathroom at our old house and it has only taken me 6 1/2  years to put it up. The vanity was originally a light oak color which I white washed when we moved in. I matched the color of the gingham in the curtains and painted away. 

I still have some more to do like add some more art work. I think it is so much prettier in person but you'll just have to stop by sometime and see for yourself. 

Next up.....Project Abi's Room......
                                            Stay Tuned!

Slow Cooker Sunday

I really enjoyed the '31 days challenge' that I took part in during the month of October and I didn't want to loose steam, so to speak, and fall behind with my blog postings. I really enjoyed the Five For Fun Series I did a while back so I thought it was time for another one. Introducing....

Slow Cooker Sunday

 Because of our responsibilities at church when we get home everyone is starving and if we haven't planned ahead we wind up going out or ordering in. So in an attempt to have a nice Sunday dinner waiting for us when we get home I am turning to my crock pot. Years ago, I used my crock pot every Sunday but when we combined households with my mom for some reason I got away from it. So for my first week I chose a "go to" recipe that I got from my cousin Angie. 

Easy Salsa Chicken

1 Whole Chicken

3 cups of your favorite salsa

Put the chicken in the crock-pot and pour the salsa over it. Cook on high for 4 1/2 hours or until done. 

 That's it. I told you it was easy! The chicken stays so moist and the salsa cooks out to make a wonderfully flavored sauce. We have served it over rice or pasta. Any of your favorite Mexican sides would go nicely or keep it simple and just add a salad. (It tastes like chicken cacciatore without all the work.)  This recipe gets even better. I have made this with a frozen chicken too. I keep a cleaned, whole chicken in the freezer for times when I know I will be out all day and need a quick dinner prep in the morning. Just throw it in the crock-pot frozen, pour over your salsa and cook on high for 6 hours. The sauce is thin but you could thicken it with some cornstarch before you serve it if you desire. I use medium salsa so it's not too spicy for the kids. Enjoy!