Sick Day

This morning my two year old woke up with a stuffy nose, congested cough, red eyes, fever and a less than sunny disposition. No doubt about it, she was sick. I felt bad for her, but must admit that I felt a little bit bad for myself too as I now had to cancel lunch with friends. When my husband asked her if she was sick, I was surprised to hear her answer 'yes!' She always says 'No, not sick. I better,' regardless of how sick she actually is. Probably because she does not want to be sick, especially since she knows that usually means not going outside to the playground, not playing with her friends and not getting to hug and kiss her baby brother. I thought she must be feeling really awful to actually say she was sick. And regretted my slightly selfish thoughts earlier.
After breakfast when I started to give her medicine to reduce her fever I was surprised again when she vehemently resisted and said, "NO!" She loves the taste of the medicine, and would take it every day if I let her. I reminded her that she liked the medicine and that it would help her feel better. "No, I sick," she said.
"Don't you want to feel better?" I asked, nodding myself and prompting her to say yes. Her reply surprised me yet again and sparked a conversation that went something like this:
"Don't you want to feel better?"
"No, not want better...I sick."
"You want to be sick?"
"Yes!"
"Do you like to be sick and feel yucky?"
"Noooooo."
"So you don't want to be sick then."
"Yes, want sick." (she was almost in tears at this point)
"Ok, why do you want to be sick?"
"Watch lotta shows, sit wif momma."

Ah Ha!! I had to suppress a chuckle, because she was dead serious. Even though she did not feel well and admitted that she did not want to feel yucky, she had no desire to feel better immediately as she did not want to miss out on the special privileges that being 'sick' afforded her. Namely, getting extra attention from me and being allowed to watch more that her usual one show (DVD/video of her choice). I assured her that even if she took the medicine she would not be better right away and promised to give her lots of extra hugs no matter how she felt that day. As the day wore on she seemed to get worse, cried a lot and her fever went up. Sitting quietly on my lap while she watched a favorite show she looked up at me and said - "No show, I better!" She seemed to believe that if she said she was better she would be and obviously felt so miserable that she decided that even watching as many hows as she wanted and sitting with mommy was not worth being sick!!

If only we could be sick or well be just speaking the word!! Perhaps that does not always work with our physical state....but it can sometimes work to adjust our mood or attitude. Speaking it, is like making a decision that it will be so. Remembering that, I have decided to be joyful and patient today, even if I did miss lunch with friends, have a sick crabby little girl and lots of housework!!

Friday Night Recipe and Super Fun Recipe

Asparagus, Sweetcorn and Red Pepper Quiche
**This recipe is from "Cook's Companion" by Carole Clements

8 oz. fresh asparagus, woody stalks removed
1 oz. butter or margarine
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, seeded and finely chopped
4 oz. drained canned sweetcorn, or frozen sweetcorn, thawed
2 eggs
8 fl. oz single cream (I use half and half)
2 oz Cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper

Pastry -- *You can substitue a frozen pie crust, just pre-bake at 400 degrees for about 5-10 minutes*
6 1/2 oz plain flour
1/2 tsp salt
4 oz lard or vegetable fat (I use shortening and butter or both)
2-3 Tbsp iced water

1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2) For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in the fat until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Sprinkle in the water, 1 Tbls at a time, tossing lightly with your fingertips or a fork until the dough forms a ball.
3) On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough. Use it to line a 10" quiche dish or loose-bottomed tart tin (I use a pie dish), easing the pastry in and being careful not to stretch it. Trim off excess pastry.
4) Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and weigh it down with pastry weights or dried beans. Bake 10 minutes. Remove the paper and weights or beans and bake until the pastry is set and beige in colour, about 5 minutes longer. Let cool.
5) Trim the stem ends of 8 of the asparagus spears to make them 4 " in length. Set aside.
6) Finely chop the asparagus trimmings and any remaining spears. Place in the bottom of the case.
7) Melt the butter or margarine in a frying pan. Add the onion and red pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sweetcorn and cook 2 minutes longer.
8) Spoon the sweetcorn mixture over the chopped asparagus.
9) In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the cream. Stir in the cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Pour into the pastry case.
10) Arrange the reserved asparagus spears like the spokes of a wheel on top of the filling.
11) Bake until the filling is set, 25-30 minutes.

Super Fun Recipe!
Butternut Squash Soup and Rosemary Breadsticks
**The soup recipe is from www.wholefoodsmarket.com --their butternut squash soup is unbelievable! I just leave out the celery because my husband and I don't like celery!

Butternut squash soup is the perfect fall soup to warm you up, and pairing it with rosemary breadsticks only makes it better! I realize that being it's Halloween I should be putting up some special themed recipe but I've never really made any. The soup is orange though, so that's a little festive!

Soup
2 Tbls. olive oil
2/3 cup diced carrot (about 1 (8") large carrot)
1/2 cup diced celery (about 1 (11") large stalk)
2/3 cup diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
4 cups cubed butternut squash (about 1 medium squash)
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (I substituted 1/4 tsp dried)
4 to 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
Sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1) Heat olive oil in a large soup pot. Add carrot, celery and onion. Cook until vegetables have begun to soften and onion turns translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add butternut squash and thyme. Stir to combine with vegetables. Stir in chicken broth and season with salt and pepper.
2) Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until squash is fork-tender, about 30 minutes. Use an immersion blender to puree soup. Alternatively, let the soup cool slightly and carefully puree in batches in a traditional blender.

Breadsticks
1/3 pizza dough recipe from Thursday night
2 Tbls chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbls. coarse salt

1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2) Set aside 1 teaspoon of the rosemary and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Knead the remaining rosemary and salt into the dough until it is thoroughly incorporated.
3) Lightly oil a baking sheet. Flour your hands and press the dough onto the oiled baking sheet, spreading the dough out as far as you can.
4) Bake for 15-25 minutes. Start checking at 15 minutes to make sure the bread doesn't burn. It should be golden brown on top and lightly crisp on the outside. Cut into 1" wide strips before serving.

Any Ideas?

As the cold weather is creeping in, it's been a challenge trying to find fun things to do with my little ones indoors. I try to steer away from Elmo or Little Einstein DVDs, but after a few attempts in trying to entertain especially my toddler, I find myself giving in too many times. So, I have decided to do some research, and I found one website that provides many ideas. It's www.preschoolrock.com . If you also have any fun ideas, please share with us by leaving a comment below.

Thursday Night Recipe

Pizza Night - leftovers make great pizza toppings!
We'll use leftover tomato sauce from Monday night for a marinara pizza, and leftover chicken from Tuesday night for the onion, pepper, chicken pizza. You can save the other third of the dough (wrapped in plastic wrap in the fridge) for breadsticks that are made with the super fun recipe of the week!

Pizza Dough (makes enough for three pizzas)
**This recipe is from "Every Day with Rachael Ray", (or www.rachaelraymag.com) recipe by Teri Tsang

One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
4 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt

1) Place 1 1/2 cups warm water(110 degrees) in a medium bowl. Stir in the yeast and sugar and let stand until foamy, about 10 minutes.
2) In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour and the salt. Make a well in the center, pour in the yeast mixture and stir with a wooden spoon; the dough will feel sticky and elastic. Transfer to a floured work surface and dust with some of the remaining flour. Knead for 7 to 8 minutes, adding flour a little at a time as necessary until the dough is smooth and springy. Wash and dry the bowl, then lightly grease with oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
3) Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and cut into thirds; wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough until ready to use.

Caramelized Onion and Sauteed Pepper Pizza with Chicken

1/3 pizza dough from above recipe
Olive Oil
3 med. sweet onions, thinly sliced
2 bell peppers, any color, thinly sliced
3/4 tsp. Dried thyme
3 Tbls Parmesan Cheese
Leftover chicken from Tuesday Night, cubed

1) Warm 2 Tbls olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the onions and stir to coat with oil. Add dried thyme and stir in. Lower heat to medium and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, very soft, and sweet.
2) In another small skillet, warm 2 Tbls olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute peppers about 5 minutes, until tender, but not mushy. Put onions and peppers aside to cool off a bit. Meanwhile, warm the chicken in the microwave for 45 seconds on high.
3) Preheat the oven to 500°. Invert a baking sheet on a work surface and cover it with a sheet of parchment paper. Stretch the pizza dough to fit the parchment paper. This is much easier to do if the dough has been refrigerated for a little while (at least 15 minutes).
4) Sprinkle the dough with the parmesan cheese, then spread the onions across in an even layer, leaving a little bit of a crust at the edges. Scatter the peppers evenly over the onions. Place the chicken on top of that.
5) Bake 8-10 minutes until the crust is golden. Use the same baking method for your other pizzas. Some sources suggest preheating a separate cookie sheet in the oven and transferring the pizza (and parchment paper it's prepared on) onto the preheated cookie sheet and baking it that way. See what works best for you! Have fun!

Marinara Pizza

1/3 pizza dough from above recipe
leftover tomato sauce from Monday night
1/8 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups Mozzarella cheese

1) Preheat the oven to 500°. Invert a baking sheet on a work surface and cover it with a sheet of parchment paper. Stretch the pizza dough to fit the parchment paper. This is much easier to do if the dough has been refrigerated for a little while (at least 15 minutes).
2) Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, then cover with tomato sauce, leaving a thin crust around the edges. Sprinkle with the Mozzarella.
3) Bake 8-10 minutes until crust is golden.

Getting Kids to Eat Right - some tips from Sue

As a nutritionist and a mother, I especially feel I am doing a good job if my kids are getting nutritious meals throughout the day. As kids become older and more exposed to how others eat it becomes more challenging to keep their diets healthy. For years the only bread we offered in our house was whole-grain bread. I never thought I would buy white bread, but one day someone else’s white bread accidentally ended up in our shopping cart (or did it!) My daughter really enjoyed it and wants to have all her sandwiches on white bread now. I have actually found a white, whole-grain bread with fiber so I do not mind buying it for her. I have learned that I really have to pick my battles as they get older. Better for her to eat white bread than nothing at all!

There are some principles I teach my clients and my family in order to maintain good nutritional balance and a healthy weight! I would like to share some of these with all the moms out there.

Good breakfast = good whole grain carbs & good protein: For breakfast, the body craves carbohydrates for fuel since we have been fasting all night. Whole-grain carbs such as whole grain cereals, breads, waffles or pancakes, fruit and dairy are great sources of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates alone will leave you feeling hungry in a short time though, so be sure to have some protein too. Good breakfast sources of protein are low-fat cheese, turkey or soy bacon, and vegetarian sausage links. Eggs are considered the gold standard for protein. If you are looking to cut back on the fat, you can make scrambled eggs using one whole egg and one or two egg whites. There are also some high-protein yogurts available such as Greek yogurt.

Protein at every meal: If you find it hard getting your child to eat protein-rich foods, you can add protein powder in the form of whey or soy. Organic whey protein powders are available as well as inorganic. You can blend a scoop of protein powder with 8 oz. of skim or 1% milk and a cup of frozen fruit (mango and strawberries are our favorites). This will give you the protein equivalent in a 3-oz. piece of meat, and this shake tastes yummy. Sometimes I make hot cereal such as oatmeal and add some protein powder to the pot after it is cooked and stir it in. Having protein at each meal is a great practice as it is not only filling but also helps keep blood sugars regulated for a longer period of time than just carbs alone. You and your child will not crave refined sugary snacks as much if you are getting protein with each meal.

Fruit and Veggie Tip: When choosing fruits and vegetables try to get a variety of color during the week. Each color offers a different vitamin and all are needed to maintain good health. If it is hard to get vegetables into your kids, try adding blended vegetables in meatloafs, stews, sauces and meatballs.

Hope these tips are helpful to you and your family!

Wednesday Night Recipe

Shepherd's Pie - ultimate comfort food!

Leftover ground beef and onion mixture from Monday night
(comprised of approximately 1 1/4 lb. beef and 1/2 an onion)
3 gloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 Tbls. tomato paste
2 heaping Tbls. flour
About 1/8 cup Worchestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups chicken or beef stock
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
2 Tbls. butter

1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat a large pot of water to boiling.
2) Heat 1 Tbls. olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and thyme and saute a few minutes until softened. Add the leftover meat mixture and warm through.
3) Stir in the tomato paste, then the flour. Make sure the flour is mixed in thoroughly. Stir in the Worchestershire sauce, the chicken stock, the peas and carrots, and simmer for about 20 minutes.
4) Meanwhile, boil the potatoes until soft, about 20 minutes. Mash with a potato masher with the butter.
5) Grease a large baking dish with a little olive oil. Pour the meat mixture into the dish, and cover with the mashed potatoes. Cook in a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes, until very hot and the top of the potatoes is lightly browned.

The Love Dare

Recently, I have been noticing how much my mood and the mood of our home affects my mothering. If I am stressed, I tend to be short with my children. If I am calm and happy, I tend to enjoy my children more. The same goes for the state of my marriage relationship. If things are tense between my husband and I, the kids pick up on that tension. When we openly show each other love and affection, the children pick up on that too. I want the love, friendship and understanding between my husband and I to rub off on our children. Building a strong loving marriage lays the foundation for a loving home....and allows me to truly show love to my children.

Following are my top three 'must reads' to help build and keep a strong loving marriage.

*The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman, teaches you how to truly show love to your spouse, in the specific language that touches them best. This book has has been around for a while, so if you have not read this, you have probably at least heard of it and it is worth your time if you are not sure 'exactly' how to speak your spouse's language!!

*The Love Dare, by Stephen & Alex Kendrick, challenges husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love for one another with specific tasks and concepts ('dares') for 40 consecutive days. Whether your marriage is struggling or solid this book will teach the keys for expanding your love and intimacy with one another. I admit that I have not done all 40 days of this book yet, but just completing the first two brought me closer to my husband and we were both happier (even though he did not know I was trying it out). This book teaches you to fireproof your marriage!!

*For Women Only: What you Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men, by Shaunti Feldham, is a short, fun read with depths of insight into a man's mind. This book really helped me begin to understand how important certain things, like respect, are to my husband. I learned how to communicate and relate in a better way after reading this.

Challenge yourself to read one of these books and spend some time focusing again on loving your spouse. It is an effort that will be rewarded!!

Tuesday Night Recipe

Breaded Chicken with Creamy Rosemary Polenta and Garlicky Green Beans

Breaded Chicken

Olive Oil
1 1/2 lb. chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/2" thickness
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups Italian-seasoned bread crumbs

1) Heat 1 Tbls Olive Oil over medium to medium-high heat in a large skillet.
2) Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then into the breadcrumbs, pressing the breadcrumbs on firmly. Place in the pan, and brown on both sides. This should be done in batches, so that the chicken does not crowd the pan and cooks more efficiently.

Creamy Rosemary Polenta
**This recipe is from "Barefoot Contessa at Home" by Ina Garten

4 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup Philadelphia whipped cream cheese
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving (I use Kraft, not fresh cheese)
2 Tbls. good olive oil
1 Tbls. chopped fresh rosemary (I substitute 1 teaspoon dried)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1) Heat the chicken stock in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and cook over medium-high heat until the stock comes to a boil.
2) Reduce the heat to medium-low and very slowly add the cornmeal, whisking constantly with a wire whisk to make sure there are no lumps.
3) Switch to a wooden spoon and simmer over very low heat, stirring almost constantly, for 7 to 10 minutes, until thick. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pan thoroughly while you're stirring.
4) Remove the polenta from the heat and stir in the cream cheese, Parmesan, olive oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and serve hot sprinkled with extra Parmesan cheese.

Garlicky Green Beans

2 cups frozen green beans
1 large shallot, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbls. Olive Oil

1) Cook the green beans in a large pot of boiling water until warmed through, about 3 minutes. Drain well.
2) Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skilled over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and garlic and saute, lowering the heat if necessary, until softened, a few minutes. Do not let the garlic brown.
3) Add the green beans to the pot and saute a minute with the shallot and garlic.

This Week's Menu and Shopping List

Hooray it is Meal Planning time again! Check out these great recipes and print the shopping list to get everything you will need for the week!

This Week's Menu:

Monday Night: Spaghetti and Tomato Meat Sauce
Tuesday Night: Breaded Chicken with Creamy Rosemary Polenta and Garlicky Green Beans
Wednesday Night: Shepherd's Pie
Thursday Night: Pizza Night: Marinara Pizza and Onion, Pepper, Chicken Pizza
Friday Night: Asparagus, Sweetcorn, and Red Pepper Quiche
Super Fun Recipe (2-for-1): Butternut Squash Soup and Rosemary Breadsticks

Shopping List:

Produce
1 large onion
4 med. sweet onions
1 small onion
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
2 other bell peppers, any color
2 large carrots
1 (11") large stalk of celery
2 heads of Garlic
1 large shallot
4 large potatoes
8 oz. fresh asparagus
4 cups cubed butternut squash (about 1 medium squash)


Baking and Pantry
Olive Oil
2 1/2 tsp. sugar
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 cups Italian-seasoned bread crumbs
2- 28oz. cans crushed tomatoes
2- 15 1/2 oz. cans diced tomatoes
3- 6 oz. cans tomato paste
1 lb. spaghetti
8-10 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups chicken or beef stock
One 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
6 cups flour
About 1/8 cup Worchestershire sauce
4 oz lard or vegetable fat (I use shortening and butter or both)
4 oz. drained canned sweetcorn, or frozen sweetcorn, thawed


Spices
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 tbls. dried oregano
1 tbls. dried parsley
Salt and Pepper
1 Tbls coarse salt
3 Tbls. chopped fresh rosemary (I substitute 1 teaspoon dried)
1 3/4 tsp. Dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (I substituted 1/4 tsp dried)

Meat
2 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 1/2 lb. chicken breast halves, pounded to 1/2" thickness

Dairy
1/2 cup Philadelphia whipped cream cheese
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving (I use Kraft, not fresh cheese)
2 cups Mozzarella cheese
2 oz Cheddar cheese, grated
4 eggs
4 Tbls butter
8 fl. oz single cream (I use half and half)

Frozen Foods
2 cups frozen green beans
1 cup frozen peas and carrots

Monday Night Recipe

Spaghetti and Tomato Meat Sauce

1 Tbls Olive Oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
1 green pepper, chopped
1 med. carrot, peeled and chopped
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2- 28oz. cans crushed tomatoes
2- 15 1/2 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2- 6 oz. cans tomato paste
1 tbls. dried oregano
1 tbls. dried parsley
salt and pepper
1 tsp. sugar, optional
1 lb. spaghetti, cooked according to package directions

1) Warm oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add half the onion and all of the ground beef. When the meat is browned, remove from the heat. Add the rest of the onion, pepper, carrot, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes into the pot and saute until softened.
2) Add all six cans of tomatoes, herbs, salt and pepper. Add sugar, if using.
3) Simmer as long as possible, at least one hour.
4) When ready to serve, portion out the spaghetti and half of the sauce and divide half of the meat mixture between the portions. Save the other half of the meat for Wednesday night's meal, and the other half of the tomato sauce for Thursday night's meal.

The Case For Straight Teeth - by Nina

Orthodontist offices, braces and retainers are foreign to me. I was blessed with good teeth and when the rest of my peers were getting braces, I was chewing trident gum. So, what went wrong? All three of my children have orthodontic appliances in their mouths. My oldest just got his braces off and is wearing a retainer, my middle child has braces and my youngest has a palate expander with a lip bumper.

It's interesting that we as parents have a thing about straightening our kids teeth. Whatever one's ethnicity, religion, or socio economic background, most of the population goes to the orthodontist at one time or another. What is the hype about a "perfect smile"? First impressions are important and I have proved myself to be of this persuasion with three metal mouths living under my roof, however I wonder at times if we as a culture have taken this external value a bit too far.What if we spent the same enthusiasm, time and resources on internal values such as character development? "...Don't judge by his appearance or height (or straight teeth - my add on).... The LORD doesn't make decisions the way you do!
People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a persons thought and intentions." (1 Samuel 16:7) Proverbs 22:6 tells us to 'teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it.'Giving our children the most valuable gifts means giving them love, purpose and hope. Teach them to guard their hearts, for it affects everything they will do - this is the most important part of your job description as parents. If you are a parent of a young child, please begin thinking about these things and implementing them. Sooner or later you too will be at the orthodontist office, and you have a few short years to learn the bent of your child and teach them how to live a fulfilled life.
A word of caution if a child does not wear his or her retainer after the braces come off, the teeth will become crooked again. This is the same with the fulfilled life, if it is not attended to everyday, our lives will look like crooked teeth. We need the Word of God. We need Jesus. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to reside within us.

"Lord, I pray that (name of your child) will find his(her)identity in You. Help him(her) to view himself(herself) as Your instrument and know without doubt that in You, he(she) is complete. Give him(her) a vision for his(her) life when setting goals for the future and a sense of purpose about what You've called him(her) to do. Help him(her) to see himself(herself) as You do. Teach him(her) to look to You as his(her) hope for the future."Amen.
(The Power of a Praying Parent -Stormie Omartian)

Guess How Old?

A few days ago as I was cleaning out my desk, I came across a gift package that my soon to be 5 year old had given me for last Mother's Day which brought me so much laughter. At school, he spent an entire week making cards, drawings, a bouquet of tissue paper flowers, and a laminated "This is my mom, she is special" letter that he wrote about me. There were questions and he had to fill out the the answers. I got such a kick out of it, I thought I must share this. This is what it says:

My mom's favorite thing to do is: play hot wheels (miniature cars) with me.

My mom has a nice smile. I like to make her smile by: giving her a present on her birthday.

My mom is so smart! She even knows how to: cook pancakes.

My mom's age is: 99 years old, I think.

I love you mom!

Haha... I just love the ways kids think. I'm glad that he knows how much I enjoy spending time with him (we usually play with his hot wheels). I was taken back though when he though I was 99 years old. So, after reading this I asked him, "Do you really think I'm 99 years old?!" He said, "No way!". Then I asked, "How old do you really think I am?" With a confident smile on his face he said, "I know! You're 90!" I then decided to leave it at that :D

Pumpkin Story

Thought this was a wonderful illustration for the season, and a great story to tell when picking and carving pumpkins with our children.

One friend asked another, 'What is it like to be a Christian?'

The friend replied, 'It is like being a pumpkin.' God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.

He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face, and eyes to see His beauty and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.'

'Me' Time?

So many mothers and women use the term 'Me Time'. It is usually referred to as a coveted treasure, an elusive prize, or a hard eared reward that they can't wait to get. And I, myself, have felt that I deserve or even need 'Me time' once in a while. Particularly the last two weeks as my daughter has basically stopped napping and I no longer have time for myself. But just what exactly is 'Me time?' And do I really need it?
I like to think of 'me time' as time that I can relax, unwind and take care of myself without having to take care of anyone else. That definition sounds good, and beneficial......but sometimes is not very accurate. Rather than resting, exercising, planning or whatever else I should do to take care of myself I often squander my 'me time.' What is mean is that I might waste the time watching meaningless shows, chatting on the phone just to kill time or run around trying to complete too many tasks in a tiny time frame. Then my time for myself has not been beneficial at all. And in fact, has merely been an expression of selfishness. Not to say that watching a short TV show to relax, talking with a friend to connect or completing one specific task is a bad thing.....but just mindlessly doing these things uses up time. Time that God has given me. Time that, therefore is not mine, but God's. Wait a minute...God's time, not my time. Not 'Me Time' either.
The conclusion I have drawn is that I am not that good on my own. I do not actually need, deserve or even benefit from so called 'Me time,' unless I am firmly rooted in the fact that I am always operating on 'God's time.' When I realize this and willingly surrender my time to Him, He provides the perfect opportunities and places for me to relax and be renewed. Whether I am serving my family, playing with my children, talking with my husband, connecting with friends, doing work or reading the Word, time with God provides the best care for my body, mind and soul. Time with myself can often feed my flesh and my selfishness.
We don't need more of ourselves, we need more of Him. So next time you crave 'Me Time,' ask if what you really need is 'God Time.'

The Ultimate Balancing Act - by Beth

I love the thought that raising children is an art, but have also thought of it as stewardship. These wonderful, unique, limitless little lives come to us, uncharted and undiscovered, and we as moms are stewards of their well-being and their precious potential. How do we engage them with the world's delights, and also protect them from the world's dangers? The idea of achieving a balance between rules and grace -- opens a flood of memories for me about hundreds of my own parenting struggles over the years.

One of those memories brings me back to a time when my daughter and I had a disagreement about a rule. It involved something that "all the other kids" got to do, but was not permitted in our family. My daughter was understandably distressed, but I had to remain firm. This was one time when bending he rule would bring consequences and set up wrong expectations. We got through the moment, but my little girl was hurt and angry. Soon afterwards we were driving down Jericho Turnpike in Mineola. The street dips down steeply at one point to go under the railroad overpass. Next to the street, the sidewalk actually doesn't dip so steeply. As a result, there is a sizable vertical drop-off at the edge of the sidewalk. A steel railing is there, just for a hundred feet or so, to keep pedestrians from falling a few feet down into the path of cars.
We happened to be waiting there at the traffic light, under that overpass, and my daughter was watching a person walk alongside us - actually just watching their feet, because only their feet were at eye level.
A thought struck me and I told her: "See that railing? Normally, there's no guardrail between the sidewalk and the street. Because normally, the curb is just a few inches high and it's not too dangerous. Here, though, if you stepped off the sidewalk into the street, you would fall and get really hurt. So people put a guardrail up for protection."
"Honey, that's how God's rules work. He wants us to have a great walk through life. But in places where it might get dangerous, He puts rules, like guardrails, to keep us safe so we won't get hurt. I want you to stay safe, too. When God made me your mom, He put me in charge of your well-being, to keep you safe so you can grow up into the wonderful person He meant you to be. That's the most important thing to Him, and that's my most important role in life. So - do you understand why I say no sometimes?"

Over time, and as a result of much mercy and soul-searching, I was able to establish a pattern of credibility in my rule-setting. My kids learned to trust my judgment about boundary-setting, because there were usually pretty evident reasons behind the rules -- reasons that linked right into their own well-being. But even when they weren't so sure that old Mom really knew best, they still trusted my motivation. They knew I was not trying to ease my stress or prove my worth, somehow, by manipulating the boundaries to fit my hidden agenda. They were able to see, reflected as clearly as possible in my murky human sinner's heart, the spark of stewardship behind the "no's" that I imposed.

As mothers, we are also bound by the rules, yet under grace. Our kids need to see us obeying God joyfully, taking their needs seriously, and administering love in both the rules we enforce, and the exceptions we permit. If we are parenting from the perspective of stewardship, then we will be loving, reliable, authentic people to our kids -- with no shadow of a self-serving agenda. And hopefully, our kids will learn to navigate their futures with God's chart and compass, as they watch us navigate all the nuances of everyday family life.
Let us then be loving, reliable, and authentic to our children. Let us reach their hearts with God's love in all its forms -- tender hugs and smooches, focused attention, fervent validation, kooky humor, occasional indulgences, and the steel-riveted guardrails of protection and safety known as "rules." And let's always take the time to tell the difference between a sudden drop into traffic that's a few feet steep -- and an ordinary curb that's just a few inches deep.

Setting the stage for great things in our kids' lives does take wisdom. It's a good thing He is faithful to give us in-the-moment "mom inspirations", like my story of the guardrail. Let's trust Him to fill our awareness with special ways that we can communicate His truth right into the depths of our kids' unique souls, and plant seeds of understanding there that will bear fruit all life long.

Much Ado About Buttons

Buttons might be a background little detail for you, but since my kids were babies, one of the awesome fascinations in our home has been a very large plastic bag filled with hundreds of different kinds of buttons. One project that I've enjoyed over the years has been to remove ordinary or cheap plastic buttons, and replace them with something a little more creative and original looking. I thought it would be fun to share a creative outlet that can save you a few bucks. New buttons can completely change the look of a shirt or a dress, and can make you feel like you have something new, for very little cost. Sometimes I'll pick something up at a garage sale just for the buttons! Once you start to look for them, they really begin to stand out. If you're still with me...here we go! :0)

Picking out buttons involves the obvious decorative considerations, but you also want to think about whether a button is washable or dry-cleanable, so that it can accompany it's new garment 'home' when it's being cleaned. Then there's the thread and needle, your necessary tools! I like to use a heavier "button" thread. It's thicker, so you don't have to spend as much time stitching loops, and it sometimes has a waxy or polished sheen to it, or a more natural/raw look. You can pick a color that blends, or one that stands out in contrast to the button. You're needle then, will need a larger 'eye' for the thread to fit through, but the needle should not be so large that it can't pass easily through the button's holes.

Once you've got everything you need, there are even more opportunities for creative choices. Buttons can be sewn on in an 'x', or in two straight lines (upright or sideways!), or like a 'birds' foot' (see sketch below). The birds' foot can even look a little floral depending on it's position, and the style of the garment your finishing. You can mix or match your buttons! One of my favorite dresses had 9 buttons down the front. They were all brown, and all the same basic size, but each button was different from the next in texture and appearance. I also altered 2 and 4 hole buttons. As you can see...lots of creative possibilities!

When you finally get to the actual business of attaching the buttons, there are a few tricks to a clean finish. You can get a nice clean look on the outside and on the inside by getting a trim neat knot at the end of your thread, and piercing the TOP side of the fabric first so that the knot hides under the button, and you have nothing but neat loops on the bottom side, and a pretty button on the top. Like this...

Try to keep the thread comfortably firm, not too tight (the fabric will pull and get bunchy), but not too loose either, so that the button fits snugly on the top of your new piece!

Have fun...I would love to see pictures of anything you guys come up with!

Don't Blend Into the Crowd - By Jill

In the book of Daniel we learn that when the king of Babylon captured Judah, he ordered youths (from the royal and noble families) in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, .... to be brought back to Babylon. They were then indoctrinated with the wisdom and knowledge of the culture they lived in (Daniel 1:3-4). WOW! Doesn't this sound like the very ideals of our world? We are so indoctrinated by the world's system of values that we idolize image, pursuit of youth, intelligence, social status and economic status. Yet this is not what God has called us to be: ambassadors of Christ, salt of the earth, light of the world. Instead, too often we are tolerant of the world and even believe its lies. What set Daniel and his 3 friends apart from the wordly society they lived in, was that they made up their minds not to defile themselves in the world they lived (Daniel 1:8). Instead of conforming to the world, Daniel kept his eyes on God.
God's word tells us that we are to turn from idols to serve a living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). We are to present ourselves as a living, holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship (Romans 12:1). We are to be a living sacrifice because we are to die to own values, desires, rights, .... and instead deny ourselves and follow God. We are to be holy - set apart for God, not the world. We are to ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name (Psalm 29:2). We are to represent God to the people around us. God's word tells us in Proverbs 3:15 that nothing you desire compares with His wisdom.
So what about you? In what ways are you conforming to the world instead of transforming it? Join me in studying His word. Remember, your children are watching and learning from you!

Washing Your Family's Feet- by Sue

It was just before the Passion Feast. Jesus knew the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. - John 13:1

. . . He now showed them the full extent of His love. These words precede Jesus’ foot washing ceremony with His disciples. He was about to show them just how much He loved them by washing their filthy feet!

I have the opportunity to “wash my family’s feet” everyday when I pick up the dirty laundry from the bathroom floor, clean dog poop, cook, wash dishes, tidy up a room I did not mess up and so on. There are so many opportunities to show them the full extent of my love, yet love is not always exactly what I am feeling! I say things like: “they must not love me because if they did, they would help me more” or “why do I have to do everything around here?” I cannot say it is love I am exhibiting when I serve my family because my attitude is anything but loving. I feel burned out, tired and annoyed. Yet, deep down, I want to have the same attitude that Jesus had as He washed His disciples’ feet. He did not have to wash their feet, but He did. He showed them the full extent of His love in this humble act of service.

When I do follow in His footsteps and serve my family in the menial tasks, with love in my heart not expecting anything in return, then this becomes a true act of service – one done in secret! There may not be a “thank-you,” but if done with the attitude of Jesus, then my reward is that I became a little more like Him today than I was yesterday! And that is a gift from God.

Lord, help all of the moms who read this today to show their families the full extent of their love in their humble, unnoticed acts of service, knowing that their reward is eternal and brings You great joy. What we do in secret does not go unnoticed by you, for you know even every thought we think before we think it!

In Jesus’ name, amen.

On Becoming Babywise II -Parenting your Pretoddler

As a mom and, and an avid reader, I have read a large variety of parenting books. Some have been interesting, but not that useful to me while others have been invaluable and played a huge role in the happiness and development of my children....namely On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep by Gary Ezzo M.A. and Robert Bucknam M.D. This book was a wonderful guide for me. I followed the principles laid out by Ezzo and Bucknam and both of my children ate well, and slept well from early on. My children also are generally happy and adjust well when needed. All children are different, but the principles of parent directed feeding (while understanding your baby's cues) good sleep training, and distinct patterns of sleep time/wake time are beneficial for every family.
Currently, I am reading Babywise II: Parenting Your Pretoddler and am amazed and how helpful it is. One of my favorite concepts introduced in the book is that of "train, don't re-train." This really hit home for me; why teach my baby that spitting food is acceptable behavior now at 7 months and then try to teach him at 1 year that it is not acceptable. This book expands upon the basic Babywise principles by teaching you to help your child develop a foundation of right learning patterns that he can build upon in later years. The book focuses on "taking advantage of natural learning opportunities presented during feeding time, awake time and sleep time" and learning how to "instill solid fundamental skills that will equip your pretoddler to successfully manage instructions, directions, freedoms, limitations and relationships." The authors define pretoddler as 6 - 15 months, but I have found their learning methods apply, and are useful, well into toddlerhood!

I highly recommend Babywise and Babywise II for anyone who would like to be a bit more 'wise' about parenting and teaching their babies!

A Nice Cold Weather Meal

Around here, fall is slowly coming in and the mornings and evenings are getting colder. I thought that today I would post one of my favorite recipes to welcome the fall weather: A rich, red wine and rosemary beef stew. This is a delicious meal that will warm you through and through and satisfy your belly at the same time! I just made the first batch of the season last night and my husband was so happy! This is great served with crusty bread for dipping. The final consistency is rather thin, which is why it is so good with the bread. If you would like to make it healthier, you could use olive oil to fry the beef instead of butter, add more carrots, use less red wine, and add frozen peas at the end and simmer until they are tender and heated through. You could also serve it with whole wheat/grain crusty bread!

Red Wine and Rosemary Beef Stew
This recipe is adapted from one featured on the show, "Good Deal with Dave Lieberman"

3-4 Tbls. butter or olive oil
1.5 - 2 lb. beef chuck for stew, cut into bite-sized chunks (kitchen shears work great for this)
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and chopped into 1.5" chunks
4 Tbls. flour
1 (14.5 oz) cans beef stock (I use low fat, low sodium)
2 1/4 cups dry red wine (anything you would be happy to drink, but cheap wine is fine)
1 1/4 cups canned crushed tomatoes
3 sprigs fresh rosemary, whole
2 large Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1" chunks
Loaf of crusty bread

1) Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven (or comparable pot with lid) over medium heat. When the butter starts to brown, add half of the beef. Brown on all sides, flipping the pieces over individually as they brown. When they are all evenly browned, remove with a slotted spoon to a large bowl and repeat with the remaining beef.
2) When all the beef is removed, add the onions and carrots and raise the heat to medium-high. Saute until the onions start to soften, about 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the flour and quickly stir the flour in until you cannot see it anymore. While stirring, slowly add the beef stock. Add the red wine, crushed tomatoes, rosemary sprigs, and the beef and their juices back into the pot and stir.
3) Bring the stew to a simmer, then lower the heat and partially cover the pot, simmering for almost an hour. Stir occasionally and scrape the bottom of the pan while you are doing so.
4) Meanwhile, peel and chop the potatoes. After the stew has simmered for almost an hour, add the potatoes and stir. Cover the pot completely and simmer about 45 minutes, or until the potatoes and beef are tender.
5) Scoop into bowls and serve with the bread. It is delicious!

Who Is Your Mentor?

'...Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'

Zechariah 8:23

I have always been interested in the concept of mentoring. When I was growing up, I always wanted to tag along with my youth group leaders because they were cool without being a parent or therapist, and I knew I could trust them to give me sound advice, support, and friendship. Later in graduate school, I began to look for mentors who were in my field of study, to help me down the road that they had already traveled down. When I became serious about my faith journey, I was vigilant about finding women who I looked up to, to help and guide me in my spiritual development. These women never mentored me for personal gain. They served selflessly and ever so patiently as I, a baby in my faith, cried, fell down, scraped my knees, and began to grow in my hunger and thirst for Jesus.
I did not find these women in the yellow pages. I looked for them in my world. I prayed to God to provide women who were more experienced and wise to help me to become the woman I am today and who I am becoming. For different stages of life, God provided new mentors. I thank God for the way in which these women have made themselves available to me as a young woman, a wife, mother and now a mentor to other women.
Elijah mentored Elisha. Elisha became one of the greatest prophets in all the bible. One of the primary reasons for this was Elisha's hunger. Elisha wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit. It was this hunger that drove Elisha to be sold out to God's purposes for his life.
As a woman, wife, and mother, you will need people to provide you with good advice and examples, and become a trusted friend. Who is your mentor? Who are the people God has placed in your life? What are you learning from them? Is there anything preventing you from gaining their wisdom and experience? Ask God if there is someone He would have you mentor or be mentored by. They may be someone in your world already. God bless as you grow.

Blog Showcase

Here's another great mom's blog worth investing your precious time on. If you only have 5 minutes to spare, this is for you. It's www.5minutesformom.com

This is a great Christian mom's blog and plus they do really nice giveaways, so check it out and have fun :)

Our Tribute To All The Moms

I dedicate this song to all the moms out there! I hope you can find some encouragement from this as much as I did. To listen to the song, click on the play button above.

One Heartbeat At A Time

You're up all night with a screaming baby

You run all day at the speed of life

And every day you feel a little bit less

Like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours

And you wonder if anything worth doing got done

Oh, maybe you just don't know

Or maybe you've forgotten

You, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

Making history with every touch and every smile

Oh, you, you may not see it now

But I believe that time will tell

How you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

With every "I know you can do it"

Every tear that you kiss away

So many little things that seem to go unnoticed

They're just like the drops of rain over time

They become a river

And you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

Making history with every touch and every smile

Oh, you, you may not see it now

But I believe that time will tell

How you, you are changing the world

One little heartbeat at a time

You're beautiful

You're beautiful

How you're changing the world

You're changing the world

(Repeat Chorus)

Steven wrote this song for his wife as they were raising their 1st adopted daughter. For the video that explains more about this song, please click here.

Choosing Not to be Alone

This morning I came to a realization that I have had before, one that many mothers probably have, but it really hit home. I cannot do it all alone!! I get help from my husband who is a great support and of course rely on Christ as my life line....so then why is it that I often feel so alone? Today I realized that it is the companionship, advice, encouragement and support of other mothers and other women that I crave. I admit that I tend to put on a happy face (ok, not always if you ask my husband) and just be determined to get through my struggles.... I had convinced myself that I had God and so I did not need anyone else. I am tearing up now as I write this and finally give voice to the small aching that has been in my heart. Though I truly am happy to be a wife and mother, I have not made connecting with other moms and women a priority....as there are always so many other things to do. Sure I have friends, and do connect with women, but have allowed it to be too much on the surface, not the kind of connection that really speaks into my life or theirs.
This morning I went to my second MOPS meeting (Mothers of Preschoolers) and was blown away. I admit to debating whether to go or not, as my baby was up several times last night (which is an unusual occurrence) and I was out of sorts this morning. Also, I knew that the baby would miss his nap and we would all be later for lunch and afternoon naps if we went. I am so glad that I did not let that keep me home. We started by listening to a new Steven Curtis Chapman song that spoke directly to my heart. I did not break down and sob....though I thought about leaving the room so I could....but I did let a few tears trickle down my face.
Next some of the more experienced moms ('mom mentors') began sharing. I witnessed such love, wisdom, honesty, godliness and heart from these women that I actually felt a bit foolish over all the times I have tried to 'go it alone.' I don't know if it is pride or embarrassment that has held me back, maybe both. The Lord has so perfectly placed such a wealth of mothering knowledge and love right in front of me... I have finally decided to take advantage of it! Of course I did not run up and tell any of the mentors this at the meeting. I maintained my typically calm and happy exterior. But next time I am struggling and know I need help, I will be calling one of them for advice or maybe just to pray!!

Thank God for such a wonderful ministry.

Sewing Project: Leggings for the Little One

I have a new found obsession with looking at craft-related blogs online. I didn't realize, until recently, that there are so many cool, young moms (and non-moms too) who are into crafting and sewing and making really cute things with their skills! I have tried and sometimes succeeded with a few of the many great projects I've seen. Recently, I came across this really cute project on the "Homemade by Jill" blog (there's a link to it on our list of blogs we like) and tried it out. It was really easy and pretty quick. Jill put a link on her website to some instructions on how to make these, but I'll put some in here as well. They are baby leggings made from a pair of tube socks! All you need is a pair of tube socks (preferably cute ones), a sewing machine, scissors, and a ruler.

First, you cut the heel and toe off of each sock (as pictured below left). Just eyeball it. Then, take the bottom/foot portion of each sock (as opposed to the top/ankle portion) and cut it lengthwise so that it is only 2 1/2" wide (watching the direction of the hearts may help if there's any confusion as to what I'm doing). Next, take one of those bottom pieces and fold it lengthwise with the right sides facing each other. Sew along the longer side using a 1/4" seam (below right). Repeat with the other bottom piece.

Then, trim off as much of the excess fabric you can, being very careful not to snip through your stitching (below left). Next, you are going to make a cuff by making each piece into a tube and folding the fabric up. This can't really be put into words, so just look at the center picture below. On the left is one in the process of being folded up and on the right is how the cuff should look. Now, find four equi-distant points in the end of the cuff with the rough edge and mark those spots with pins (below right photo, right side). Then, take the top/ankle piece of the sock and turn it inside out. Mark 4 equi-distant points on the rough side with pins (below right photo, left side). (I know, I should not have used the smallest pins in the world for this).

Next, you are going to tuck the little cuff inside of the larger tube that is the top/ankle part of the sock, with rough edges lined up and right sides facing each other. Line the four pins on the cuff with the four pins on the ankle piece and pin both pieces together at those points (below left). Now you need to slide this whole mess under your sewing machine and stitch both pieces together around the rough edge using 1/4" seam again (below middle). Repeat on the other side using the other cuff and ankle piece. Then, turn the top piece of the sock right-side out and you have made little leggings for your baby! (below right). These are ideal for probably around 3-12 months, when babies are moving from tummy time to crawling and all areas in between...and they're great because you can stretch them or scrunch them any way you want. I also bought some cute socks for this that are a lot shorter than I realized, but they would be ideal for newborns! It's so much easier for diaper changes than pants or tights. Let us know if you try this fun project and tell us how it comes out!

Chores!

Every so often I find myself re-evaluating the chores system in our home. I grew up with chores, and its one of those things my mom gently reminded me about when my kids were toddlers...and then again as they approached school age. For a good reason. There is no more practical a way to grow normal, helpful, responsible kids than to give them chores! I find though, in spite of how much I have piled on my plate,that it's really hard to dish them out. Weird? I don't know if it comes from laziness--I can get it done faster--or from the need to be liked. I don't know about your child, but mine don't WANT to help sometimes, especially if the newness of the chore has worn off and they just don't FEEL like doing it today. We are also very busy, and between my work schedule, volunteering, their sports & miles of homework, church activities and very late "fun nights"...it can be tough figuring out when to expect them to get them done.
So, it's time again. My system is breaking down. Three kids have moved out now and it's time to re-assign chores. My 9 year old has been emptying the waste baskets since she was 3, maybe I need to update her "main chore" on Saturday morning! I found a website that was all about the assigning and charting of chores...maybe that will help. I'd love input here! Where do you find age appropriate guidelines? I'm usually underestimating what my kids can do. I think I also get too flexible about when things gets done, or I'm not specific enough about when it should be done. Often everything gets left for 3:00 PM on a Saturday. I think that's too late for starting chores, by then I want to start winding down or we want to get out a little bit as a family, but we have to stay around for someone who's still got chores to get done.
So, here I go...

Be Still....and Know - by Jill

Psalm 46:10 BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Recently I was asked to write about the experience I had with breast cancer 3 years ago. Those of you who know me know that although I was fearful, my experience was a time of hope, undaunted faith and complete surrender to God. To me it was the best spiritual time of my life. As I prepared to write about this time of my life, I searched my journals
for entries during that time period. As I did, I was filled with a terrible sadness, a feeling of deep loss. However, I wasn't sad because of the trial I went through, quite the opposite; I was sad because my current relationship with God just doesn't measure up. You see during that time period my eyes were completely focused on Him. The "cares of the world" were not my cares. Instead I relied totally on God for everything - from finding the doctors He wanted me to use, guiding all the surgeon's hands, praying for my hospital roommates, and deciding what my treatment plan was... I even asked Him to help me further His kingdom as I shared my faith and trust in God to the people I met inside and outside the church. In fact, I can't remember a thing I didn't talk to Him about or ask for His guidance. Because my heart was so fixed on Him and teachable, He revealed things to me I never dreamed of. Some of those things I will discuss at a later date. As I reflected on this I realized the constant communication I had with God stopped somewhere along the WRONG path. I allowed the busyness of my life to replace the continuous discussions I had with my Father in heaven. I have substituted hurried prayers for sitting at the feet of Jesus. This was just the thing God warns to us in Hebrews 12:1-2, "Let us also lay aside every hindrance and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." Yet, I am grateful for this eye-opener. God is calling me back.
So what about you? Are you allowing the cares and worries of life to snuff out precious time with our Lord? Are you giving Him your time? Your life? Are you waiting for Him to answer you? to open doors? to show you the way? If so, be still and know that He is God, that He is the Lord of your life. Just run to His feet and into His arms.

Just Ask!- By Sue

"... not my will, but thine be done..." (Matthew 6:9-13)

Have I truly surrendered my will to Jesus? Or, do I have my own way, follow my plans, give into my desires, and feel justified when I get mad? How often do I say to myself: "is this thing I am about to do, Your will Lord?? Must I ask about everything I do throughout the day?

If I cry out to Jesus before I do anything and pray the Lord's prayer including "thy will be done", then I am covered, right? Everything I say and do will be His will! Well, if that is true, why at the end of the day, am I grieved over yelling at the kids or my husband for the things they did or did not do? Why do I feel guilty about the extra money spent on myself? Was that cash needed to pay for a necessity? What if I pray "Thy will be done", do I still end up doing my own will? Because I am forgetful and yes, selfish- it is my human nature. But I do nothing as a mom but give, give, give, don't I deserve some respect and gifts once in a while? Is "Thy will be done" truly my attitude in glorifying Him?

The solution is to pray before we are faced with temptation (and we might know when that is based on the previous day's experience!). Lord, grant me the grace to do Your will when I walk in the door and be accepting of what I find there. This worked for me last night. After being gone for several hours, I knew when I walked in there would be a mess in the kitchen. So, I prayed. There was a mess, but I didn't get angry! I just cleaned it up (which was a huge success for me). I didn't mention it either. I just thanked God for those victories. If you can ever relate to a situation such as mine, please remember that God is faithful to provide the way out of sin every time- we just need to remember to ask!