Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day Pops!!  Yep, this is my dad (aka as Pops).  He's a pretty great guy, if I do say so myself. Besides being the best dad in the whole world, he's also a great pastor, and a FANTASTIC Papa!  I think I'm pretty lucky to have been blessed with such a great man as my dad!!  I could list all of the wonderful things he does but . .that would take years but here's a snapshot: He fixes anything I ask him to and paints rooms for me, even when I pick out the wrong color; he drills holes for my cabinet handles (and even left a special reminder on one of the cabinets . . .so I wouldn't forget who drilled them LOL); he calls me sometimes and practices his sermon on me (whether I want to listen or not :-) ); he wore an outdated, extremely wide Snoopy Tie long after anyone should have, all because every Father's Day for years I asked him if he was wearing that tie; he makes sure that my brothers and I are all well taken care of by picking up the dinner tab, filling up gas tanks, or going to Lowes/Home Depot with us to buy one thing and comes home with 10 . . .and he does this even when we don't always say thank you!  So with all of that said . .. THANKS dad for always being the one to make sure that everything is where it needs to be and that we always have what we need.  I love you TONS and so does your son-in-law AND your two grandsons!!  And, I think Josh has hit the nail on the head when he says  .. ."Papa, Church?" - he already knows that Papa and Church are two very important things!!!

To me Father's day is a day to honor our fathers . . .my husband is not my father :-) LOL  BUT with that said, I do have a few things up my sleeve for my husband . .. from his boys of course!  I'll share it all later, after the fact, since he sometimes reads my blog. He is already scratching his head because I made him stay out of the kitchen for awhile and he keeps asking me what I was doing (hehehehe) . I just told him, sometimes, questions are better left unasked. 

The 21 Days of Prayer - Day 11 - Peace

Oops - I forgot to post this on Friday night . .. sorry for the delay for those of you that are following this challenge!!

Thoughts from Laura Lee Groves

(Author of

I'm Outnumbered! One Mom's Lessons in the Lively Art of Raising Boys)

Most of us are actually outnumbered by the males in our households--for me, it’s been five to one! But it’s not just the numbers that bring that sense of being overwhelmed. For the mom of just one baby boy, a baby’s demands can be overwhelming. For the mom of a toddler boy, the constant busyness, discovery, and rebellion can wear mom down. For the mom of a school age son, making sure he’s keeping up with learning and homework can be taxing and worrisome.  For the mom of a middle schooler and teen boy--oh, there’s so much to worry about!

But you’re not the first mom. It’s pretty clear to see we’re in this thing called mothering together. That means others feel--or have felt--that same need for peace.

What can you do to help yourself?

First, find someone to confide in--

someone who’s walking your same path, or someone who has walked it before. My biggest support when my boys were small were two boy moms whose sons were a few years ahead of mine. Find someone you can be honest with about the trials of mothering.

If at all possible, step away from the demands--

for an hour, for an evening, even for just fifteen minutes. Let someone else hold the baby or chase the toddler for just a bit, and don’t feel guilty. If your son is school age, find a project or lesson that Dad or big brother or someone else can step into in your place, and take a break. Or just step back and give your son a little more responsibility--see if he can handle it. We too often see ourselves as indispensable when our sons can do some things on their own.

You can help yourself by shifting your perspective as he grows.

We have to accept that they’re growing and changing, and if we resist that, it just makes everything more difficult. As he grows, do whatever you can to stay close to him. When he hits those middle and teen years, keep him talking. Do the one thing you know he enjoys doing, even if it’s not your favorite. Build a bridge, strengthen the connection between the two of you. Stay close but don’t smother, and love unconditionally. You’re poured a lot into your son. The proof of the pudding comes

as he spreads his own wings and tries them. Sometimes he has to take a hit before he realizes it’s “real world time.” Don’t save him every time, or he’ll never be the man he was created to be.
And last--but most importantly--pray for him and for your relationship.

Pray for the faith to let go, for confidence in your and his abilities. The One who made you and loves you is waiting to give help and comfort and peace all along the way. No, He doesn’t take away the pain and the frustration, but He gives us a way to deal with it. When we begin to think about ourselves and our children in His scheme of things, we begin to think big. We see ourselves and our

children in His plan and our “today” perspective changes.

What’s important for me to remember

Motherhood has many demands, but I can’t do everything. In fact, I don’t need to. There’s One who knows better than I do and He’s waiting to catch me and my son when we stumble. He gives me grace to do all I can each day … then His grace provides for all I didn’t get to, as well. It’s hard to believe anyone loves my son more than I do. But He does. Knowing that, I can “Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” (Psalm 105:3,4)

And I can help myself to peace--from above.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee."

~Isaiah 26:3 (ASV)

Today's challenge is to pray the 10 prayers from the chapter on Peace :-)

Layered Lime Jell-O

This is one of those odd recipes that you eat somewhere, kind of out of "duty", and are amazingly surprised by how good it is.  I can honestly say that had I seen this recipe in a magazine I would have turned the page but, after tasting it, I had to have it!  I was even slightly put off when I was given the recipe HA!  With that said, my husband, who really is not a fan of "Jell-O Salads" eats at least two helpings of this one any time I serve it.  Yes, it really is that good!  (my kids love the green Jell-O part but skip the topping . . .imagine that!)

Look at those three lovely layers!!!!  It will help if you like Lime Jell-O, which I do!  BUT I am not a fan of things like carrots (who puts veggies in Jell-O?? YUCK) put in Jell-O.  Just because it wiggles, doesn't mean you can hold weird things hahahaha. 

Three Layered Jell-O

Ingredients
6 oz box of Lime Jell-O
3 3/4 cups hot water
1 cup drained crushed pineapple, juice reserved

Mix the above items and then pour into an 8x8 dish.  Place in the fridge until firm.

8 oz cream cheese (Softened)
1 cup cool whip

Whip together and spread on top of Jell-O

Mix together:
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup pineapple juice

Cook until thick, then let cool and put on top of cream cheese layer.  Chill  (Note: This needs to be heated slowly as to not scramble the eggs; once it is hot, turn up the heat enough to bring it to a very slow "bubble" so it will thicken.  It will happen quickly once it gets to this point so keep an close eye on it!)

So, here are a couple of things I learned :-)  The first time I made this, it was a total 100% fail.  This is a plan ahead recipe - one that needs to be started in the morning but, it is also quick because it is just a quick 10 minute mix of a layer and then walk away for a few hours.  I tried to rush it, on a very hot day, and my Jell-O never set up.  It was sad :-(  BUT the second time around, I was patient!

I hope I didn't scare you away :-)  This is really is a very tasty, easy, recipe!

21 Days of Prayer - Day 10 - Joy

Encouragement from Brooke:

What is joy really?  And if my strength comes from the joy of the Lord (Psalm 28:7, then what does joy of the Lord really look like? As I write these words, I'm struggling with a deep desire to be grumpy and complain. Most days I handle my husband's crazy shift-work schedule pretty well. But today? Well, today I feel like complaining. So how do I find joy and strength from the Lord? Enough to make me "burst out in songs of thanksgiving?"

How do you?

Here's the secret:

Focus on Christ. Focus on what He did for you (and for your sons) on the cross. I suspect we

Christians have a tendency to misunderstand the phrase, "placing our trust in Christ." Placing our trust in Christ isn't something we did once and never do again. Salvation may be a once and forever event, but trusting in Christ is ongoing. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross to be important enough to change my grumpiness to gratefulness. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross to get me through a rough day with my children. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross to be enough when I'm enduring tantrums in thegrocery store. Trusting in Christ's work of grace on the cross when my sons choose their own will …

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my

heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him." ~Psalm 28:7


So what's the challenge:  Read the 10 prayers about Joy, of course!  I think we can probably pray them for ourselves too!!

Tot Time - The week I made a teaching tool and looked for new ideas

I'm not sure about the rest of you but I'm old school when it comes to teaching - summer means schools out :-)  Nope, I never taught at a year round school and I really don't care for the concept - I enjoy the long summer months as much as the kids do!! 

Instead of focusing on structured teaching, we are focusing on a lot of reading and just using moments to teach as they come up in every day life.  My 2 1/2 year old is intrigued with bugs so anytime we are outside we try to find them and talk about them.  Personally, I'm using the summer to get more ideas, organize some things for the fall, make some teaching "tools" and, hopefully, be able to pick up some of the learning toys I would like to have to use in the fall.

First up, I found another great site for teaching ideas and I plan on making the very first one that I saw!  The site is I Can Teach My Child and has a variety of ideas for teaching as well as just general ideas as well.  I also noticed a link-up party which means you can find even more ideas from other people through this site as well.  Look at this great idea for teaching Colors!

This project using Toilet Paper tubes, scrapbook paper, and some tabbed dividers.  Plus, she took pictures of her son in each color to add to one side and, she'll be adding more to the tabs as well.  What a fun, personalized way to help your child learn colors.

Something else I really like about this site is that she has tabs based on age.  This is helpful so you can just click on the age you need and read through her list of ideas.  For example, in the 1-2 age group category is this great idea for Teaching Numbers (and number order).

In the 1-2 year category is this idea for teaching Body Parts using pictures of the child and a Baggy Book.

I really love finding additional sites where I can glean ideas to use with my kids.  I'm the first one to admit that all of my creativity comes from someone else's idea so the more ideas I can find, the more creative I am!! 

Right now, as my kids enjoy summer (well, I'm enjoying it too), I'm working on a plan for the fall to do with my boys - tossing around the idea of "theme" days (i.e. Monday is letters, Tuesday is numbers, Wednesday is reading, Thursday is Bible, and Friday is FUN - cooking, games, crafts, etc.) Just ideas forming in my head - I love structure so I do better with a plan, and so do my kids!!

Now, one last thing - here is my latest craft :-)  I've been wanting to make a can to use for sorting so I finally put it together.  I used an empty can of rice cereal for the base, cut scrapbook paper to fit around it and Modge Podged it to death :-).  I sliced a decent sized hole in the lid and it was ready to go!. 

To create our first two games to do with our sorting can, I pulled out scrapbooking paper in all of the basic colors and using my Creative Memories shape punches for some shapes and good old scissors for others, I cut shapes out of the colors.  We will be able to practice shapes and colors this way. 

We plan on using that can a lot.  You can also use it to put things in, have your child pull out one item, and make a matching game.  With the younger ones (like my 18 month old) we use it to teach "in" and "out" too!

What are your plans for the summer?  I'd love to hear them!

 

21 Days of Prayer - Day 9 -

This is short and sweet today :-)  Today's challenge is to pray the 10 prayers from the love chapter of the book :-)

What I'm Reading

First up are the books I'm using for my daily devoations.  I will admit, I've slacked off over the last week or so and need to get back into my normal routine of bible reading and book studies but, these are what I'm trying to get through this summer.

I have had to put "The Ministry of Motherhood" on hold - I got it from the library (trying to NOT spend money on books right now) assuming I could just renew it every two weeks.  What I did not anticipate was that it would be on hold and I could not renew it!  I've decided to finish Reshaping it All  and  The Power of a Positive Mom; then I will get The Ministry of Motherhood and also use another book with my Bible Study.

Books I finished this week:

I did finish The Total Woman last weekend.  The first 3/4 of the book was more enjoyable to read than the last 1/4 of it.  Honeslty, I kinda skimmed the end of the book.  I don't really plan on keeping this book on my shelf - it was fun to read just to say I've read it but I have other marriage books I'd rather keep around and, with limit shelving space, I must be choosy :-)  

I don't really like to give a poor review of a book because reviews are based on one person's opinion (in this case, mine) but, I have to be honest and say that How to talk so your kids will listen bored me senseless.  I did not even read the entire book, I skimmed it and kept waiting for it to get more interesting.  To me, it was more an overview of the differant personality types with examples of each type of personality through out each chapter.  I enjoy books that offer more thought provoking ideas; not just general information.  This is not a book I will be keeping - it will be sold on Half.com soon :-)

The Duet is a wonderful book!!  This was my "fun" book this past week.  It is based on the life of a widowed piano teacher who takes a leave from her job as a music instruction at a large college on the East Coast to move to the West Coast in order to be near her first grandchild.  While there, she meets a gentleman who helps to change her perspective as much as she changes his.  During this story, you get to know each of them but also learn about struggles within each of their families.  I would highly recommend this book to any one - as a matter of fact, I've given this book (as well as the sequel) as Christmas gifts to people I know that love reading as much as I do.

Books I'm reading right now:

Parenting in the Pew has already grabbed my attention and I'm only a few pages in to the book.  The author is talking about the importance of teaching our children true worship in church - not just to be quiet in the pew.  I'm looking forward to learning what this book has to offer - I think it will help me personally as much as helping me teach my children about worship.

The Recital is the "sequal" to The Duet.  I've read it before but remember no real details about it so Im looking forward to getting back into this story! 

I often have at least one more book I'm reading but I have a large stack of magazines I want to catch up on right now so I'm using my time to try and read at least one a day :-) 

Are you reading any thing fun?