Sorry this didn't go up at midnight - I thought I had written it already and it would post but, I didn't! :-)
Today's topic is purity - such a big burden to protect our boys from everything that assaults them in this world. From the TV, to friends, to just walking down the street. It is so important that we prepare them to look for the snares our enemy lays for them, give them tools to help them fight temptation, and make sure they have accountability that helps them stand firm. Too many mothers are in denial that their sons are old enough or sinful enough to face these temptations. We need to accept it as they grow, because they need our help! One of the things we can do from day one is to pray for protection for them and pray they'll be strong enough to flee temptation - and pray for the princesses they will one day claim!
Today's challenge it to commit to praying the ten prayers in the purity chapter during day six.
I'll include links and hopefully more ideas for you in tomorrow's post - I just wanted to get this one posted!
Enjoy your day :-)
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Happenings In This House
Here's what we've been up to this week :-)
This was extremely hot - at least through Wednesday. Our house was almost unbearable due to the heat and here is proof. Both Tuesday and Wednesday Josh zonked out cold after lunch. On Tuesday, he crawled up onto my hot and sticky lap with books. After reading one book, he turned around snuggled in and was out cold. I will confess, I choose to kick back in the chair, with the fan blowing on us and snooze for an hour too. On Wednesday, he laid down on the floor between the chairs and slept there for hours. . .. Darryl and I each took a chair and did nothing. It was so hot, that you would sweat while sitting. We were thankful for the break in the heat on Thursday!!
On Saturday, we had a family get together at my mother-in-laws. My husbands Uncle was up from Florida and it was the first time he got to meet the boys. Josh loved the golf cart. First, he and I took a ride with Grandpa Lebeck and than he and Darryl went for a ride. Nate wanted nothing to do with it - if we got him within 10 feet of it, he started screaming.
They loved these little chairs. True confessions - it took Nate about 15 minutes to figure out how to get himself out of that little chair and it was such a nice rest for us HA! Otherwise, he and Josh both ran like wind-up toys the whole time we were there. All four of us were exhausted by the time we left.
This was the very beginning of our attempt at a group photo. . . .than, after many mishaps (Uncle Jim kept forgetting to set his timer :-) ) . . . .
We almost got a perfect shot! Notice Uncle Jim on the right had side still getting into position LOL My camera was about 2 seconds faster than his was so HIS picture was perfect!
Finally, we ended our weekend with an Alive! concert and this is my wonderful hubby playing guitar. If any of you know someone famous who needs a guitar player - this is your guy :-) That would make his dream come true!!
Looking forward to another great week!!
Looking forward to another great week!!
21 Days of Prayer Challenge - Day 5 - Pride
Today's encouragement comes from Melissa Smallwood, created of Multitasking Mama:
"Praying for my boys has changed as they have gotten older. Watching their personalities, talents and spiritual gifts emerge provides the opportunity to pray specifically for the men they are becoming. My
mama heart used to pray, “God, help me be the kind of mom they need,” but as they have moved into the tween/teen years that prayer has changed. “God, help them become the men you created them to be” is what I utter now.
That man may not always be what I pictured in my mind, when they were toddling around and getting into everything. None of my three boys are anything alike and none of them are what I pictured they would be when they were still small enough to sit on my lap or welcome my kisses. And that is OK.\
Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Amplified Bible). Prayers for our sons must be individual to that child, and sensitive to the one of a kind man God has designed each of them to be. Whether my boys grow to be doctors, pastors, or drive a milk truck, as long as they are living their lives for God’s glory, my mama heart should be pleased and satisfied.
All three of them are uniquely and wonderfully created. Praying for God to shape their hearts, trusting the master Potter He is, has allowed me to relinquish control of the outcome and cherish my role in the process of learning who they will become.
As they grow, up and away – as is God’s plan – my heart’s cry to Him is that they will lead lives pleasing to their Creator {and that they will visit their mama frequently}.
Today's challenge is to read through the 10 prayers from the Pride chapter.
You can access the old posts HERE to get ideas on how to fit the prayers into your day. Or here are a few more ideas:
1. Take time on either your lunch break or during lunch at home to prayer through the prayers (I often read while I eat, so why not pray?)
2. The weather has turned nice - why not take a family walk and read the prayers out loud as you walk?
Enjoy!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Creative Memories Spotlight - Memory Manager 3.0
This program is designed to help you easily organize, cross-reference and prioritize your photos. I also love it because you can do simple editing to your photos as well. Here are just a few samples of how I edited some recent photos:
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| This was the original picture - a little washed out and far away. |
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| I pulled the boys closer, turned it to the sepia tone and that "brightened" the over all picture. Much better!! |
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| This one is almost perfect as it is . . . |
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| But I did brighten up the colors and pulled him in a little closer. |
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| Super cute, right? But it is kind of bland. |
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| I brought him closer and than played with the shading to really intensive the greens in the photo and change the shadows. |
If you are looking for an easy way to organize your digital photos - this program is for you! Feel free to check out my WEBSITE for more information.
Thanks and have a wonderful Day!
21 Days of Prayer Challenge - Day 4 - Avoiding Foolishness
Today, I would like to share the complete encouragement section from the Leader's Guide as written by Brooke. I think she really says it better than I could:
Encouragement from Brooke
In their book, Instructing a Child's Heart, Tedd and Margy Tripp have this to say about foolishness:
"The Bible's definition of foolishness is concise. The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.''
(Psalm 14:1). If there is no God, I am autonomous - a law unto myself. There is no consideration in
life more profound than, 'What will please me?' Children don't say those words, but such foolish
thoughts are the underlying justifications for hundred of impulses every day. It is expressed in all
the acts of disobedience, selfishness, willful temper, and compulsive self-love." (p 112)
He sits across from me with his head down, this little love of mine who steals my heart and breaks it all at the same time. I ask him for the fourth time that day to tell me how many kinds of men there are in this world. Hisanswer?
Two.
The foolish man, who says in his heart there is no God, and acts like a law unto himself.
The wise man, who fears God and obeys Him.
Foolish choices bring unpleasant consequences. But the wise man has security in loving God and all the power of heaven on his side. And I ask him again to tell me what kind of man he wants to be. His answer?
The wise man.
I know there will come a day when my little love will have to own this faith, but I believe with all my heart that teaching both of my sons to think in biblical terms now will help them choose in biblical terms later."
So, today's challenge is to read through 10 prayers from the chapter on Avoiding Foolishness. Again, you can look back at older posts by clicking HERE
Here are a few more ideas of ways to get time to pray:
1. Take time to actually knee beside your bed and prayer through the lists for your boys. Whether this be first thing in the morning, just before bed, or while your boys are napping.
2. Related to that - knee at each of your boys' beds, and pray the prayers for them right there. Don't be afraid to let them see you pray for them either :-)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Dark Chocolate Cake with Hot Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
Dark Chocolate Cake with Hot Chocolate Buttercream
Cake: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups granulated sugar 3/4 cup Dark Cocoa Powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs 1 cup strong black coffee 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare 2 x 9″ cake pans with butter and flour or parchment paper. Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl of electric mixer. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl. With paddle attachment on mixer, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed (you may need the plastic splash guard that comes with mixer). The batter will be liquidy. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 20 minutes, then rotate the pans in the oven. Bake 15 minutes longer or until a toothpick comes out clean – approximately 35 minutes total. Cool on wire racks for 20 minutes then gently invert onto racks until completely cool. Icing: makes enough to frost 24 cupcakes or one 8-inch layer cake. If you want extra icing for decorating the cake, I would make 1 1/2 times the recipe. 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons milk 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/3 cup powdered hot chocolate mix (I used nestle hot cocoa mix) Cream together butter, cocoa powder and salt. The mixture will be very thick. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the powdered sugar. With the mixer on low, mix in powdered sugar while slowly adding milk and vanilla extract. As the sugar incorporates, raise the speed of the mixer to beat the frosting. Beat until smooth. In a separate bowl, stir together heavy cream and hot chocolate mix. Turn mixer speed to medium and pour cream mixture into frosting in a slow, steady stream, until you’ve reached your desired consistency. You may not need the full amount of hot chocolate mix and cream. Here are a few notes: 1) I did not use dark cocoa powder - I had regular cocoa powder on hand and just used that - the cake was still fantastic. 2) Coffee always enhances the taste of chocolate so don't leave it out!!! (You can't taste it!) 3) I obviously made cupcakes - I set my timer for 15 minutes and checked them with a toothpick until it was clean. You don't want to over bake :-) When I make cupcakes for us to just eat - I don't frost them. I keep the frosting in the fridge and take it out after dinner ; when we are ready for a treat, it is soft enough to spoon on top :-) Enjoy! |
21 Days of Prayer Challenge - Day 3 - Integrity
Integrity can be defined as "Firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values or the quality or state of being complete or undivided". I personally think that one of the wonderful things that someone can say about an individual as that they have Integrity. To me, it means that a person chooses what is right no matter what the consequences. It could mean losing friends or, sadly, even family; or not getting to do something that everyone else is doing; or, in rare cases, it can mean losing a job or leaving a church. Brooke makes this statement in the leader's guide "I have a feeling that integrity is probably caught rather than bought." Yikes! That means, it is up to my husband and I to show our boys what integrity really means!!! Not only do they need to see these choices, they need to understand why we made the choice we did so it is important that we explain the choice we made - "Pausing to help our sons understand why we chose the way of integrity over what might have seemed to be a better or easier way trains their minds to ponder the blameless way." (again, from Brooke).
Today, commit to praying the 10 prayers in the Integrity chapter of the book. You can click HERE to see ideas on how to pray those prayers throughout your days. Plus, here are a few more:
1. Do your children play sports? Make sure and take the list with you and pray through the prayers while watching them practice or play.
2. If you have any appointments to attend to - grab that list and use the quiet time in the waiting room or office to pray through the prayers.
The more visible the list, the easier to pray through the list of prayers!
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