Thursday Tip #4

Earlier this year I really got into the juicing craze.  I started juicing every day, sometimes several times a day.  I went from using lots of fruits and a few vegetables to using just a few fruits and a lot of vegetables per juice.  Just like most crazes, they come and go and unfortunately I have slowed down on juicing.  The benefits are amazing and it really is something that I should keep up, but between two young children, being pregnant accompanied by morning sickness and the fact that fall is here and fruit and veggie prices are higher I have come to a slower point in my juicing days.  With that being said, I still juice at least once a week.  I don’t necessarily do it for the health benefits anymore but because I need to clear out the fruits and vegetables from my refrigerator that are about to go bad.  This has become my way of making sure I don’t waste a lot of food, or at least makes me feel better about what little food I do waste. So my “Thursday Tip” is to clean out all of the fruits and veggies in your refrigerator at the end of each week and juice them.  I happened to buy three whole pineapples a few weeks back, we managed to eat two of them but I still had that third one lingering around and we were kind of pineapple-ed out as I say.  This was a perfect base for a juice.  I also had a few grapes, some baby spinach left over from a salad, and a bag full of fresh broccoli, cauliflower and baby carrots (they were originally meant to be steamed) and some already cut up apple slices that were starting to brown.  Who cares about the browning and the discoloration of the produce, you will never know once it is made into liquid and poured in a cup.  Not only did I enjoy this juice but both of my boys did as well. 

Hint:

You can use almost any fresh fruit or vegetable for juicing, even if they are getting to the end of being on the edible side.  Also, adding some ginger root or fresh ground ginger to your juice has many beneficial health effects, all the while adding some unique flavor to your juice.  Enjoy and experiment often.

How often do you juice and what do you like to put in it? 

Holiday Traditions~Part One

As cliché as it sounds, the minute I start hearing that Starbucks Coffee is serving their famous Pumpkin Spice Lattes I know that fall is in full swing.  Although, I don’t splurge on fancy coffee drinks very often, just the thought of drinking one makes me feel nostalgic.  I just love the holidays.  Not just fall and winter holidays but spring and summer holidays as well, although, the fall and winter holidays probably top my list of favorites.  After the fun of Halloween, I turn my attention towards Thanksgiving and Christmas.  To me, Thanksgiving and Christmas represent more than just food and Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  Thanksgiving is our time to be thankful, even though we should be throughout the year; it is nice to have the one day where we really concentrate on our blessings.  Christmas represents Christ’s birth and to be honest, it also corresponds to gift giving and receiving.  One thing that all holidays signify for me is FAMILY and GIVING.  For those of you who know me well, know that I love to give.  For those of you who don’t know me well, will learn through my blogging that I love to give.  November and December offer many opportunities to give and help out in your community.  I have been blessed beyond measure and it is my life goal to always take my blessings, pass them forward and bless someone else.  Therefore, every November my boys and I pack shoe boxes for “Operation Christmas Child” or OCC.  For those of you who are not familiar with OCC, here is the link to the Samaritans Purse website where you can find all the details. www.samaritanspurse.org  In short, the idea of this program is to fill a shoe box (or plastic tote with likewise measurements) with toys, accessories, hygiene items, and school supplies.  These boxes get delivered to 3^rd world countries to the less fortunate children.  Usually this shoe box is the only gift these kids will receive this year and for many the items inside are things that they will never get again, so they are very special.  With each shoebox we include a personal letter to the child receiving it and a picture of our family so they can see who sent it.  This activity has a special place in my heart, because not only do I love helping other kids, but I love teaching my own kids to help others.  I encourage each and every one of you who read my blog to consider donating a shoe box or two.  Each year we chose to bless a young boy and a young girl, and usually my oldest son (who is 8) picks the age range for each.  We then get busy gathering gifts to put inside. 

Here is how Operation Christmas Child Works (and again the link will take you to the website where you can find all this info as well.)  

You pick whether you want a boy or girl (the website contains printable boy/girl labels for the top of the box)

Next you pick an age range: (2-4yrs) (5-9yrs) (10-14yrs)

Fill with Gifts-

·         Toys

·         School Supplies

·         Hygiene Items

·         Accessories

·         A Personal Note from You

Keep in mind there are a few things that cannot be shipped in a shoebox.  Those items include damaged items, war related items such as guns, chocolate or food, out of date candy, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as glass containers or aerosol cans. 

The website also offers suggestions of items that are great for sending should you question what would be appropriate to include. 

Include a $7 donation per box (this is used for shipping)

Drop- off shoebox at a local participating drop-off location (Call 1-800-353-5949 to find locations)

 
Once your shoebox is complete and you have dropped it off, the most important part comes into play.  PRAY, PRAY and PRAY some more for that special child that is going to receive your shoebox.  You are going to be the biggest blessing to them this Holiday and even though you have blessed them by sending them the shoebox, continued prayer will end up being the biggest part of your blessing. 

Towards the end of this week my boys, husband and I will have our packing party.  I will take photos then to share with all of you.  If you choose to help, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping reach a young child in need.    

 

Thursday Tip #3

I have said it many times before and I will forever say that I just love essential oils.  I love being able to clean my house with a pleasingly fragranced cleaner versus a harsh scented cleaner.  Plus, knowing that my kids aren’t inhaling awful fumes and can be around while I clean is satisfying as a mother.  Remember, essential oils have been recognized as having antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties as well as being super efficient in deodorizing.  Like I mentioned last week I use glass cleaner a ton, then comes floor cleaner.  It feels like I spend half the day cleaning floors.    I have little ones that crawl, slide, run, and lick my floors so it is super important that my floors be clean, and at that, that they are completely disinfected too.  Here is an easy, natural, and safe floor cleaner.    

All natural, floor cleaner

What you will need:

• Spray bottle 32oz/947ml
• Distilled Water
• Essential oils of Eucalyptus, Lavender and Sweet Orange

Directions:

Add 7-10 drops of each oil to the spray bottle and then fill with distilled water. Shake and you are ready to go. 

Not only can you be rest assured that your floors are clean but it is also clean without the use of harsh chemicals.  This cleaner won’t hurt your children or pets and this cleaner is safe on virtually all hard floor surfaces such as linoleum, tile, and sealed hardwood.   

Hint:

If you find that one of the cleaners doesn’t have a scent that you like, add a few drops of an essential oil that you find has a pleasing scent.  It won’t ruin the cleaner; in fact it will just add to its cleaning and deodorizing power. 

How often do you find yourself cleaning your floors every day?     

  

8 Surprising Uses for Breast Milk

National breast feeding month is finally upon us! I love this month because it raises so much awareness and allows those who chose to breastfeed the opportunity to be recognized.  Many of you know that I am working on becoming a board certified lactation consultant because I truly believe in the benefits of breast milk and I want to educate moms on the benefits of it to their babies and to themselves as well.  Many people call breast milk “liquid gold”, I call it a precious commodity, and after nursing my oldest son for a year my mom dubbed it “mama moo!”    Not only does breast milk provide your child with nourishment but provides countless other uses.  So, in honor of this monthI am going to offer some non-traditional ways to use breast milk.

1) Conjunctivitis (commonly known as pink eye)- Dip a cotton ball into some breast milk and rub on the affected eye, 2-4 times daily.  To prevent it from spreading to the other eye it can also be used on the non-affected eye.

2) Cuts (minor cuts only)- Pour a small amount of the breast milk on small cuts or wounds and then cover with a band aid or gauze.  Use in lieu of antibiotic ointments or washes.

3) Burns (minor burns only)- Pour a small amount on the burn, several times a day.  Great for sunburns!

4) Psoriasis- This may sound weird but it has been said that breast milk can help tame psoriasis.  I can confirm that this is true.  My mother-in-law has severe psoriasis and uses left over breast milk that I have frozen.  Her body is 90% covered in psoriasis, and so she just uses it on the more severe and inflamed parts.  She dips a cotton ball in it and dabs it on several patches after her shower every morning.  It helps the itch and the redness to go away.

5) Eczema- Just like psoriasis breast milk can also help with eczema.  Both of my boys have eczema, my youngest sons is more severe (mainly on his legs) and so every night before bed I rub his legs down with a cotton ball that has been dipped in breast milk.

6) Colds/Illness- Breast milk contains antibodies from the mother and so I still give my youngest son breast milk when he is ill.  It helps them fight off colds, the flu, stomach bugs…you name it and it will help!  Dab a bit under their nose before bed and it helps ward of a cold as well.

7) Gastrointestinal Problems- Breast milk coats the stomach while also providing antibodies to fight viruses that might be interrupting the good flora in your gut. Even older children benefit from a drink of breast milk to help fight off stomach bugs and ward of problems that taking antibiotics can cause.

8) Diaper Rash or any other form of rash- Dab some on the affected area at each diaper change or several times a day.  Something to keep in mind- if the diaper rash does not seem to go away or get better it could be yeast.  Breast milk will only make the yeast infection worse. When using breast milk on a diaper rash be sure to watch for worsening rash and redness and discontinue use of the milk if it gets worse and then seek care from your pediatrician. 

Keep in mind that I am not a doctor and some cases are more brutal than others.  Please do not use breast milk in exchange for a doctor prescribed medication and also seek help for severe burns and cuts and scrapes. I hope that you find some of these uses helpful in your future!

What have you used extra breast milk for?    

Thursday Tip # 2

Here is another “recipe” for an easy cleaning solution using essential oils. Remember, essential oils have been recognized as having antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties as well as being super efficient in deodorizing.  I go through glass cleaner like crazy around here.  Between my boys touching the windows ALL the time, and my husband splashing water on our bathroom mirror everyday, I feel like I use glass cleaner way too much.  The good news, I have created a great all natural glass cleaner concoction.    

All natural, glass cleaner

What you will need:

• Spray bottle 32oz/947ml
• Distilled Water
• Essential oils of Rosemary, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Lavender and Lemon

Directions:
Add 7-10 drops of each oil to the spray bottle and then fill with distilled water. Shake and you are ready to go. Not only can you be rest assured that your house is clean but it is also clean without the use of harsh chemicals.  This cleaner won’t hurt your children or pets and leaves a streak-free shine on your windows, glass and mirrors.    

Hint:
Most of the all natural cleaners I make use the same oils, or at least a few of the same oils.  This is great because even if you won’t use the oils for anything else, at least they will not go to waste because you will use them for another cleaner. 

What cleaner do you use around your house the most?

      

  

Thursday Tip #1

Today is the first of a series I am going to do for “Thursday Tips” regarding essential oils.  I have long used essential oils for many things, including cleaning.  Hence, my tip for the day is how to make an all purpose cleaner with essential oils.  Essential oils have been recognized as having antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties as well as being super efficient in deodorizing. 

All natural, all purpose cleaner
What you will need:

• Spray bottle 32oz/947ml
• Distilled Water
• Essential oils of Rosemary, Peppermint, Eucalyptus

Directions:

Add 7-10 drops of each oil to the spray bottle and then fill with distilled water. Shake and you are ready to go. 

Not only can you be rest assured that your house is clean but it is also clean without the use of harsh chemicals.  This cleaner won’t hurt your children or pets and it is safe on virtually any surface because it is pH balanced, meaning it is even safe for use on granite. 

Hint:
Essential oils were once only sold at specialty shops, but since they have gained popularity over the years they are now readily available at most grocery stores.  Just find them in the organic/natural section of your favorite store.     

What do you use essential oils for?

       

Just So You Know...

Earlier in the year I posted a blog on what motherhood has taught me.  With an almost 8 year old and almost 2 year old there is never a dull moment around this house!  I hope this Friday is treating you well.  Here are a few laughs to end your work week!

Even though a toilet says 1.6 gallons per flush, it can flood a large bathroom four inches deep. 

An eight year olds voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke…and lots of it.

When you hear the toilet flush and the words, “uh oh,” it’s already too late.    

Most small Lego’s will pass through the digestive tract of a 2 year old with no problem.

Playdoh should never be placed in the microwave.

Super glue is FOREVER!

VCR’s do not eject peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

You probably do not want to know what that odor is.

Always look in the oven before you turn it on.  Plastic toys do not like the hot temperatures that an oven can produce.

Be careful when letting your child play with your cell phone.  The numbers 9 and 1 are easily assessable to little fingers.

The police department in Greeley, Colorado has a 5-minute response time. 

 

Being a Good Neighbor

My family and I just had the exciting yet challenging task of moving to a new home.  As most of you know moving is emotionally, physically and mentally draining.  First you have feelings of melancholy because you are leaving your old “home” behind, and those feelings are mixed with exhilaration because you are moving to a new house that you will soon make your home.  After those mixed emotions pass you have the feelings of weariness varied with vigor trying to get your belongings moved and unpacked.  Once you are officially moved and your house is now your humble abode, you face the pleasure of meeting your neighbors and finding your place on the block. Of course meeting your neighbors may be the last thing on your mind after such a draining task, but I find it very important. Did you know that eight times in the New Testament of the Bible we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves?  It might be seem difficult to even fathom the idea of “loving” someone we don’t even know, or someone we have nothing in common with other than living next door to each other.  But the truth of the matter is that God commands this of us.

When we finally got moved in I had tons of ideas running through my head, from baking mini loaves of banana bread to making one of those “jar recipes”.  I have all these ideas but can’t seem to settle on just one.  I want to make a jar recipe, bake bread, buy mini candles and bring a bouquet of flowers, but let’s face it, I don’t grow money on the tree in the backyard and all of my ideas could end up costing a ton.  Whatever happened to going next door, introducing myself and letting them know that I am always around if they need anything?  Most likely, they could care less whether I bring them a gift, but it is more reasonable to believe that my words and actions have a better chance of leaving a lasting impression.

I am very lucky in the fact that I have always have fantastic neighbors and I encourage you to reach out to yours and hopefully find that camaraderie that I have always found with my next door neighbors.   

How are you “neighborly”?

The Lighthouse

Since I can remember I have always had a fondness for lighthouses.  I think they are beautiful, especially at night when they are lit up.  I started collecting figurines and lighthouse bits and pieces about 12 years ago and to this day I still have a curio cabinet filled with lighthouse collectables.  Through my journey with collecting these lighthouses it didn’t take long to run across a short story called “The Lighthouse”.  Let me share it with you…

“The Lighthouse”

A lighthouse stands alone. Its greatness towers over tormenting waters and rocks of destructive power.  Its beacon shines through black night to each oncoming vessel. The Lord is the LIGHTHOUSE in the lives of each Christian.   The life of the Christian travels like the ship through waves of trials and rocks of tribulations.  The beacon of light is the Word of God, directing each ship to a worthier, safer place.  Currents form raging waters tempt each ship to turn away from the light and travel recklessly throughout the blackness of night towards the ultimate destruction.  This temptation can only be overcome by putting complete faith in the Lord’s beacon and allowing Him to be the Captain of the Christian’s soul.

~Anonymous

Not only do I love lighthouses for their aesthetic appeal but I can apply the concept of a lighthouse to my real life. If we allow God to be our lighthouse, He has the power to steer us down the right path and to get us get out of trouble.  We just need to turn our eyes towards Him and then allow Him to do what He needs to do. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  ~Psalms 27:1    

Practicing Hospitality

In many of my previous blogs I have mentioned that I love to have people over; for family dinners, game nights, coffee and dessert, you name it I love to have people over for it.  Entertaining is one of my favorite things to do and over the years I have learned how to be a proper and prim hostess.  As hard as it is to admit this, I have not always been a genteel host.  When I was younger, after buying my first home, I had to have it perfect.  I didn’t invite anyone over because I was always worried about how my house would look.  You must remember this is previous to having children, so having a house in perfect and flawless condition was actually attainable.  At this point in my life I was able to get up and have a regular cleaning regime every morning and my house was as squeaky clean as it could possibly get, yet I was still fearful of having people over.  I wanted perfection but I never felt like I could achieve that perfectly clean and spotless house.  Now almost 10 years later, I feel like I have achieved my goal of being a refined hostess.  Of course having children may have been the turning point.  I have come to the realization that my house will never be spotless.  I will always have toys strewn about, a sink with dishes in it, stains on the carpet and crumbs on the kitchen floor.  It has taken me a while to be okay with such things but I am finally there.  I will invite people over now regardless of the condition of my house, and I don’t worry about what they are thinking when it comes to my house, now I am worried about whether I was a hostess as God’s own heart .

If you are like me, you may have or currently view hospitality as a succeed/not succeed accomplishment.  Viewing hospitality is not a way to show off our most precious treasures and elaborate food, but rather true hospitality is just merely sharing our true selves with other people.  When someone visits your house make sure they feel at home.  It is better that you have a guest who feels comfortable while noticing a few toys on the floor than a guest who feels completely uncomfortable but praises you for your housekeeping skills.   

The Bible talks a lot about hospitality; in fact, it is stated very clearly in I Peter 4:9, “Offer hospitality to one another...”  Just like we are told to love one another and to pray continuously, we are also told to be hospitable. When you dig deeper into the meaning of “hospitality” you discover that it comes from the root term “hospital”.  People visit hospitals when they are sick, when they need healing and when they are hurt.  It is possible that God wants us to provide hospitality to those who are sick, who need healing and are hurt?  I am not talking about someone who needs stitches, or who needs their gallbladder out, I am talking about the single parent next door who is tired and worn, or the lady who just lost her husband a few weeks back.

If you are ready to become the hostess that God intends for you to be a good place to start is following the directions that God laid out before us.  “Then Jesus said to His host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.  But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind and you will be blessed.  Although, they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteousness~ Luke 14:12-14 I think this scripture is trying to say, don’t be hospitable because you want the favor returned, but do it because it is asked of you. This scripture isn’t saying that we can’t invite family and friends over for family dinner, because I truly believe God loves it when families get together, but more specifically, look around you and see where your hospitality is needed.   

How do you practice hospitality?

10 Ways to Feel Healthier Now

Like most of the population I am always trying to do little things on a daily basis to make myself healthier.  While actually getting into shape and losing weight or whatever needs to be done can take a few months there are several things that can be done daily to help you feel your best. 

1.       Eat as if you are in the Garden of Eden.  Enjoy more fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. It is best that you consume these foods in their most natural state as possible.

2.       Start walking at least 30 minutes a day.  If you only have 10 minutes, then walk 10 minutes.  Any amount of time spent walking is better than no time spent walking.  A moderate walk is the most effective and cheapest form of exercise.  If you have a friend to walk with, even better.  You can both hold each other accountable while enjoying your friendship!   

3.       Drink more water.  Avoid soft drinks and too much coffee.  Most people are chronically dehydrated and it is slowly killing them.  Experts suggest that you drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day.

4.       Get enough sunlight, but not too much.  We need sunlight for vitamin D production, better rest and sunlight is a major mood booster. Please remember to wear sunscreen any and every time you are out in the sun. 

5.       Avoid caffeine, nicotine, sugars and other drugs.  These ingredients can destroy immune function and age your prematurely.  If you are like me and love your cup of coffee and sugary snack every day, just be sure to use in moderation. 

6.       Find time to breath in clean air.  Oxygen is the most important substance for life and health; go to where it is purest and breath deep. 

7.       Honor the Sabbath Day.  Fellowship and worship at church and place your worries with God.  You will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the week ahead.

8.       Get enough sleep.  Maintain a regular bedtime and be sure to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

9.       Slow down! Keep stresses at a minimum. Avoid debts and spend within your means. You will be a lot happier with less stuff to worry about.

10.   TRUST IN GOD!!!  Pray and read your Bible daily. Remember that you have a friend in Jesus and can claim His promises.     

What do you do on a daily basis to stay healthy? 

Stresses of Daily Life

Before you read this blog, I want to say that I am not condemning anyone and I don’t want to step on any toes.  The whole point in my blog is to write down my feelings.  I don’t judge and this blog has nothing to do with anyone single person, but rather a thought in whole. 

I often wonder where stresses come from- is it from my kids or the mess they have made throughout my house, or is it my husband and the many long hours he works every day?  It could also be the pile of bills on the desk, the many errands I need to run today or the fact that I only got a few hours of sleep last night.  Many things in our lives can cause stress, but have you ever wondered how much stress comes from social media?  Take Facebook for example.  You see everyone’s “status” updates, from happy updates to the most bleak and sad updates.  You can subscribe to pages that offer support to families going through cancer, or support for a cause such as epilepsy.  Have you ever thought that maybe seeing all the sad facts of life could be hindering your life?  I am not here to try and convince anyone to say “no” to Facebook, Twitter, or any other type of social media, and even the news stations, but I do want to bring notice that this type of media could be affecting our stress levels, and therefore affecting our lives considerably.  I do believe social media has a good side too.  It is a way to connect with people you may not otherwise stay in contact with or a way to meet new people. It is a way to share your life with family and friends that live states away.  It can also be a good way to advertise your business or share your passions. 

I am a Facebook junkie.  I check it every day, several times a day.  I love to see new babies that have entered the world, pictures of my out-of-state friends and family, and updates on the lives of the people I care about.  On the latter though, I also see updates on the not so happy things.  Some people find social media to be a way to degrade other people, instigate an argument with someone, or enlighten the world about their horrible, no good, very bad day.    I do not believe a public site is the place to do such things.  Social media should be filled with happy and good things.  Everyone has their own problems; not many people have enough time to worry about everyone else’s troubles.

With that said, there are many “pages” on Facebook where people ask for prayer, for their child, mom, brother, wife or dog because they have cancer, epilepsy, or some other devastating medical condition.  While I believe in the power of prayer I appreciate these pages because God does say, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”~Matthew 18:19-20 However, reading about others people’s burdens can sometimes run you down.  I am one of those people that carry the weight of the world on my shoulders.  Reading about children with cancer hurts me so bad.  My heart hurts for the parents and the child so much that I dwell on it.  Then my mind starts to wander.  What if it was my child or my husband?  What would I do?  That thought alone, wears me out and thus, brings stress into my life.  I know I am blessed and I thank God for my family’s health everyday!  But because I am the way I am, I have to be careful because my poor heart can’t handle worrying about everybody else’s problems, whether big or small. 

I guess what I am trying to say is guard your heart.  Your family and your sanity come first.  God is in control and you can pray for other people but if seeing daily updates about how bad someone else has it is hurting your life, then cut it out.  Or if you are like me and can’t just cut it out of your life there is hope.  We serve an astounding God.  In fact He says, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”~Matthew 11:28 When your heart is heavy from all the problems in your life and those problems of others, take them to God. Allow Him to give you the peace and strength you need to make it through.

So I will continue to be a Facebook junkie, and I will continue to see the good and the bad updates.  I will be sure to take all of my worries, concerns, and apprehension to God so that I am not weighed down by the worries of the world. 

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” ~Matthew 7-8

Easter Festivities

Easter starts at an early hour in our house...of course my oldest is always up at the crack of dawn to see if/what the Easter Bunny brought.  This year was super fun because my youngest is now old enough to hunt for eggs.  Once he saw his brother find a couple, he started looking for them and before I knew it, they had found all 5 dozen eggs!

I have said it before and I am sure I will say it a million more times in my lifetime...these are the days I live for!

 They discovered that there were gifts too!

 

 

This is only the beginning.  Family starts to arrive mid-morning and we start on the appetizers and hang out.

We stuff ourselves with the appetizers to the point that we aren't ready for dinner until late afternoon.  Nevertheless, we all enjoy sitting down to a Hliday dinner.

Dessert doesn't happen until later in the evening!

I always love the Holiday's and I love to share "the days of our lives" with others. I hope you enjoyed your Easter with friends and family.

~Consistently Delightful

 

 

Recipe for a Happy Home

I used to have a picture hanging in my kitchen that had a “Kitchen Prayer” on it.  I no longer have that print but the prayer stays with me daily, after all, I spend 90% of my day in my kitchen.  I cannot take credit for this prayer, but I wanted to share it anyways! 

Dear Lord,

Sift together our lives with love and understanding.

Add generous amounts of patience and forgiveness.

Combine caring discipline with respect and trust.

Blend in gentleness and kindness,

Mix well with laughter and pour into a warm happy home.

Bake with your watchcare and everlasting love for a lifetime.

AMEN

~Anonymous

Decorating Eggs for Easter

We start with 5 dozen eggs!  It may seem like a lot but when you have 12 different colors of dye, it really only equals out to 5 eggs in each color.

 I can remember when I was young and my sister and I used to dye eggs, we were lucky to have 3-4 colors to choose from.  If you wanted a special color outside of the primary colors, you had to put the egg in one color and then transfered it to another color to get your secondary colors.

 Ready, Set, Go....

 Malachi is finally old enough to put the eggs in and taken them out by himself.  He had fun this year being in charge of his own eggs.

 Jacob thought the eggs were ready to eat and when he realized they weren't he decided they were "balls" so he tried to throw them.

 That meant it was time to give him plastic eggs to play with. 

 I made special eggs for the 3 boys in my life!

Look at all those different colors...I was surprised to see the color gray.

Just about done!  We had a blast...Jacob not so much, I don't think he really realized what was going on.  Next year though, he will understand more and he will too, have a blast dying Easter eggs with the family! 





Watch for pictures to come of the Easter Egg Hunt! 

Praying for Those You do not Know

To make a long story short, in January I started walking 5 lengths of our local mall everyday in hopes of getting into a healthier lifestyle.  From the beginning I started noticing the regular walkers.  Of those regular walkers I especially noticed three gentlemen that walk daily.  Although I don’t “know” them personally, I am guessing that they are three generations; the grandfather, the father and the son.  Over the last three months I have gotten to “know” them better, knowing when they arrive at the mall to walk, how many laps they go, and I enjoy seeing them every day and saying “hi!”  A few weeks ago the oldest gentleman (the most talkative of the three) stopped me and asked a question about my youngest son and told me about his horrible cough/cold that he had and couldn’t get rid of.  At that time something in our conversation prompted me to share with him the fact that I am working on my health sciences degree in hopes of becoming a nurse but since then we haven’t had much conversation. Today, out of the blue, the oldest gentleman, stopped me and said, “I know you are working on becoming a nurse and so I just have a question for you.”  He proceeded to tell me that his wife has cancer and they are going to ensue with trying some new treatment plans.  I am not sure why he chose to stop me and share this with me.  I can only guess that he felt like I may have some knowledge because of my education, or maybe it was something deeper.  I don’t know!  As we finished up our little conversation (which only lasted three minutes at the most) I told him I would be praying for her.  I don’t know her name, I don’t know his name, but I know she has colon cancer that has spread to her liver.  Since that conversation this woman who I know I nothing about, is weighing heavy on my heart.  God tells us to pray for everyone, even our enemies, so why not pray for a complete stranger.  God also wants us to have empathy for one another.  In fact the Bible says “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” ~Romans 12:15. We are also supposed to love and care for other people the way that God loves and cares for His children.  I Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

This odd conversation this morning has taught be a very valuable lesson.  We can pray for “unknown” prayer requests because God knows the whole story and, believe it or not, God will lead you to pray when you don’t know the whole story.  I believe in the power of prayer and so today, I will be praying for someone I don’t know and I will have the peace of mind that I did my part, and I will remember that God knows what tomorrow holds and therefore, He knows the plans He has for this woman. 

One of the shortest verses in the bible says, “pray continually;” ~I Thessalonians 5:17 and that is just what I will do!        

  

A Thought for Today...

Have you ever wondered what this world would truly be like if everyone treated each other like they would want to be treated?  By nature I am a “people pleaser”, I like to please people and in the same manner I try to avoid conflict.  For this reason I don’t understand why some people (because honestly, there are millions of nice people out there) think that not being considerate to others is appropriate.  While I cannot change the world and my one little blog isn’t going to do anything, I can raise my boys to be respectful and to treat others as though they want to be treated.  After all God has put this law before us and although it is not one of the 10 commandments God wants us to follow it as though it is.  By definition, commandment is as a divine rule… or a rule to be observed strictly.  Treating others like we want to be treated isn’t a suggestion or what we ought to do, but rather, what we ARE to do!

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” ~Matthew 7:12 (New American Standard Bible © 1995)

 

Hosting for the Holidays: Easter

Easter is upon us and I love this Holiday!  The traditions I have set with my children and the family dinner we have every year just makes this holiday exciting.  

Many people, including myself, get distracted by this holiday.  When I think of “Easter” I think eggs, bunnies, pastel colors and family time; however, there is a much deeper meaning behind this holiday.  For millions of Christians (and non-Christians alike), the meaning of Easter is that of glorification and acknowledging Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, and His magnificent promises of eternal life for those who believe in Him.  I have made it my life mission to make sure that my kids don’t overlook these holidays and what they truly represent.   

Nevertheless, even though I DO know what this holiday signifies, I still like the traditions I have started and enjoy them every year.  

My kids, husband and I dye and decorate roughly 5 dozen eggs every year.  I look forward to the night before when we gather around the table for hour’s beautify-ing our eggs.  The next morning I get up early to make sure the Easter bunny has come and hid all the eggs and lay out a few presents that the he has left.  Watching the surprise on my boy’s faces when they see that the Easter Bunny has come, is priceless and one of the many reasons I live for! 

I also host a family dinner (they are very prominent in this house) and do crafts with the kids. Unlike St. Patrick’s Day where I prepare most of the meal, Easter is more of a potluck style where our friends and family bring their popular side dishes and desserts.  It is an all day event where we start of by eating appetizers, then dinner a few hours later and finish with dessert later in the evening.

On the Menu: 

Appetizers:

Deviled Eggs (my mom’s recipe)

Spinach Artichoke Dip 

Dinner:

Ham with Maple Glaze

Mashed Potatoes and Ham Gravy

Sweet Potato Soufflé (my mother-in-laws recipe)

Macaroni –n-Cheese (my mom’s recipe)

Country Green Beans

Dessert:

Apple Crisp 

 

Spinach Artichoke Dip

There are so many different dip recipes out there that use spinach and artichokes.  I have used this recipe for years now and I have always had good luck with people liking it. 

·         2 tablespoons butter

·         1 10oz package frozen chopped spinach

·         1 can (14oz) artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

·         1 package (8oz) cream cheese

·         1 16oz container sour cream

·         ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

·         Garlic salt to taste

Over medium heat melt butter in large saucepan, add spinach and artichoke hearts.  Cook until spinach is thoroughly thawed and artichokes are tender, roughly 10 minutes.  Mix in cream cheese and sour cream, once incorporated, add the parmesan cheese and garlic salt.  I serve with pita chips, tortilla chips and carrot sticks. Garlic toast is also a fantastic way to serve this dip and almost makes it a meal in itself!    

Ham with Maple Glaze

·         I cup maple syrup

·         ¼ cup brown sugar

·         2 tablespoons honey

·         2 tablespoons butter

·         1 can pineapple rings

·         Several whole cloves 

I prepare the ham by placing the pineapple rings all around the ham, securing them in place with toothpicks.  I also press several cloves into the top. I always prepare my ham in our roaster, I heat it through at about 300 degrees Fahrenheit and it usually only takes a couple of hours (it would probably work the same in your oven, but I would adjust the temp to 350 degrees.) To make the glaze, combine the butter, syrup, brown sugar and honey in a saucepan over medium heat.  Once the sugar is dissolved pour half of it over the ham.  Baste the ham frequently during cooking with the remaining glaze.  

Mashed Potatoes and Ham Gravy

·         Potatoes (I peel 2 potatoes per person that I am serving)

·         Flour

·         Heavy Cream

·         Water

The secret to my mashed potatoes is reserving some of the liquid I cooked them in and using that in to mash them.    I also add some heavy cream which makes them ultra creamy.  Add salt and pepper to taste. 

To prepare the gravy I make a roux with the ham drippings and flour.  I then add cold water, and slowly bring to a boil until gravy thickens.

Country Green Beans

·         1 pound fresh green beans

·         ¼ cup chopped onion

·         ¼ cup chopped cooked ham

·         ¼ cup butter

·         ¼ cup water

·         1 clove of garlic

·         Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan; simmer over low-medium heat for about 20 minutes are until desired tenderness.

Apple Crisp

Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit

·         3 ½ pounds apples, peeled, cored and sliced

·         ½ cup brown sugar

·         1 cup flour

·         3 packets instant maple and brown sugar flavored oatmeal

·         ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

·         ¼ cup maple syrup ( I used artificially maple flavored syrup to save on cost)

·         Pinch of salt

Prepare a 9x13 inch baking dish by spraying with a non-stick cooking spray.  Place all the apples on the bottom.  In a bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar.  Stir in flour, instant oatmeal and salt.  Fold in walnuts.  Sprinkle the oatmeal mixture over the apples and then drizzle the maple syrup over the top.  Bake for 50-70 minutes or until apples are tender and the topping is golden brown. 

 

 

What are your favorite Easter traditions?