Minding Thoughts November 30, 2007

The thousands of me-to-me conversations going on in my head throughout the day are labeled by psychologists as “self-talk.” Relentless, repetitive self-talk transforms our self image-for good or for bad. It modifies both our inner and outer worlds. We will do what our thoughts tell us to do. God knows that. That’s why God desires His truth to cover all our thoughts.

I don’t know about you, but there’s often a distinction between the thoughts I invite into my inner world and those God establishes. My thoughts are anything but stable. They waver and change. They accuse when they should praise. They mock when they should trust.

That’s why it’s so important for me not to trust my thoughts–but instead to seek God thoughts. There is really no mystery to how to do this. All you have to do is ask! Listen
to this:

“If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent you asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do” James 1:5-8

God knows that our lives, our families, and the training up of our kids can be transformed if we depend upon His thoughts instead of our own. Ask God to enrich your words and thoughts. Then, confess, talk truth, and depend on the Spirit within you. No great mystery about that–but the results will be astonishing!

by Tricia Goyer
for more information go to:
www.triciagoyer.com

Easy Homemade Donuts November 29, 2007

1 can of biscuits in refrigerator section (no layers)
Cinnamon
Sugar

Use your finger to poke a hole in the middle of the biscuit and stretch it out to make a very large O. Gently drop in hot oil and cook until golden brown. Flip to brown each side. Check to make sure the inside is not doughy. If it is still doughy put it in the oil for a little longer. When cooked through put in a bag of cinnamon and sugar. Have your little one shake it up until it is coated.

(I heated my oil on high and when I put my first biscuit in it burned. Simply lower the temperature and wait a couple minutes and try it again with another biscuit.)

Tuesday Tips (Kitchen Edition) November 28, 2007

According to the Flylady.com, if the kitchen is clean, the rest of the house stays clean, too. In other words, as the kitchen goes, so goes the rest of the house. Consider this: broken windows in a city. If a broken window is left unrepaired, the neighborhood goes down the drain. Crime rates go up and other buildings fall apart, but if these windows are fixed immediately, the neighborhood is not affected. Or shall we say  infected.

A dirty kitchen infects the remaining rooms. Strive to keep the kitchen tidy. Here are some tips she gives for it:

• Empty the dishwasher first thing upon entering the kitchen. (This way you always have a place for dirty dishes.)
• Always keep the sink spotless and shining. (If the sink is clean you are less likely to put a dirty dish in it.)
• Use a clean dish cloth and dish rag every day.
• Get in the habit of drying your sink after every use (with clean dish towel).
• Fill sink with hot soapy water when you start to cook. (This helps to clean as you go.) My Granny taught me this. If you don’t, the dishes pile up! Swish them good and put them in the dishwasher. The counter stays clear and when you are through cooking all you have to do is load the dishwasher with the china.
• Throw trash and recyclables away as you empty the container.
• Shut the cabinet doors
• Keep a can of Comet, bottle of Windex, and cleaning towels handy (for that little spritz that keep things shiny).
• Make table clearing everyone’s job. Have each person take their own plate to the kitchen. They rake their scraps into the compost bin and put their plate into the dishwasher. This is something else the kids can do!

Need New Lunch Ideas November 26, 2007

By Barbara Albright
Healthy Recipes from Family Fun.com

Children have ways of dealing with lunches they don’t like, and they are not pretty.

The fact is that what we parents may perceive as a delicious, well-balanced lunch box full of goodies may seem boring or weird to kids. The challenge for us is to create lunches that are reasonably healthful and extremely palatable.

The place to begin is at the grocery store, where you can involve your kids in food selection, a process that may require a little compromise.  At home, try brainstorming a rough list of lunches that you both agree on, and don’t forget to include a few fun items that your kids can help prepare. After all, if your kids have a little time invested in their lunches, they may be less likely to reject them.

Once in a while, be sure to pack a lunch-box surprise, such as a note, a sticker or a lollipop. It’s a simple gesture that will let your kids know your thoughts are with them even when they are at school.

And, if you’re looking for some new ideas for lunch at home OR in the lunch box, here’s a great list: 

Easy Lunch Box Stuffers

• Vegetable sticks with a small container of salad dressing for dipping
• Fresh fruit
• Pretzels
• Celery sticks filled with cream cheese or peanut butter and raisins (or peanut butter and chocolate chips!)
• Fruit yogurt
• Pudding
• Crackers–plain or with peanut butter or cheese
• Cheese sticks
• Graham crackers
• Fortune cookies
• Dried fruit
• Fruit leather
• Nuts
• Tortilla chips with a small jar of salsa
• Small bags of popcorn
• A note from you

Encouraging Word November 25, 2007

The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

Psalm 145:14-17 (New International Version)

Herb and Parmesan Monkey Bread November 24, 2007

1 1/2 loaves of frozen bread dough, thawed
1 c. Parmesan Cheese 1 tsp sage
1 tsp thyme 1/4 c. butter or margarine
1 tsp dried rosemary 1 tsp basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Grease a fluted Bundt pan. Combine Cheese, herbs and garlic. Divide thawed dough into 24 pieces. Dip each in butter and in roll in cheese and herb mixture. Placecoated pieces of dough into pan. Let rise until double in size.
Bake at 375 for 35 minutes and top of bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pan and cool.

Winning The Food Wars November 23, 2007

By Tricia Goyer, author of Generation NeXt Parenting

Many young children are timid about trying new foods. But, seriously, kids can’t live on macaroni and cheese alone! And while kids usually are better about trying new cuisine as they grow older, here are twelve tips you can use tonight.

1. Only offer one new food at a time, and in small amounts. Too much at one time can be overwhelming.
2. In every meal, include at least one food you know your child will like.
3. Let your child choose a new food to try. Or try an exchange- you choose one for him and he chooses one for you.
4. Don’t short-order cook. Making separate meals for you and your child is not only time consuming, but it also caters to a finicky eater.
5. Encourage your child to taste a small amount before making a decision. Some foods taste better than they look!
6. If your child is healthy and is growing adequately, don’t worry if he eats the same types of foods all the time. He’ll mostly likely outgrow it.
7. Don’t make mealtime a battleground. Remind your child that if he doesn’t eat what’s on the table, he’ll have to wait until the next snack or meal.
8. Snacking is okay, especially for small children. Since they have small stomachs, they need to eat more frequently to meet their high-energy needs. Yet, be careful of what snacks you choose. For toddlers, vegetable sticks, fresh fruit, low-fat crackers and cheese are good choices.
9. If your child doesn’t like a specific food the first time, don’t be afraid to try again. Children are often more accepting as they become more familiar with a new food.
10.Remember, children are natural observers and imitators. The old saying, “Do what I say and not what I do,” never works. If you have poor eating habits, then your kids will too. Come on, mom. Let me see you eat those vegetables!
11.Children need to know that all food can fit into a healthy diet. There are no “good” or “bad” foods. Every food can be enjoyed in moderation.
12. Finally, remember it’s easier to eat healthy if you shop healthy. Look for a wide variety of foods that are low in fat, sugar, and salt but high in vitamins and minerals. Resist the urge to shop when you’re hungry, and it will be easier to make good choices!
© Tricia Goyer. Used with permission from the author. For more information go to www.triciagoyer.com

Happy Thanksgiving! November 22, 2007

So, God’s people, shout praise to God, Give thanks to our Holy God!
Psalm 97:11-12, The Message

Craft night and updates! November 21, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

At our November 20th meeting we made chocolate covered pretzels and were able to packages those for gift giving. It was a huge success and so much fun! 

A few announcements: Our next meeting will be December 4th. This will be our annual cookie exchange and gift giving. For those who want to participate in the cookie exchange, please prepare 4 dozen cookies for the exchange. For the gift giving, please bring a gift wrapped in value of $10 or less for the exchange. This is one of my 2 favorite meetings of the year. This night has so much laughter and yummy food, Hope you can join us!

There will be a Christmas concert held at Northview on Dec. 5th at 7:00. Our own Beth Liller will be performing. With Beth will be Steve Quinn and others. What a great way to get into the Holiday spirit! We pray your Thanksgiving is filled with much joy and blessings all around!

Handprint Turkey Chains November 20, 2007

Supplies:
Paper (a really long piece is good)
Your child’s hand
Scissors
Crayons, markers, feathers, etc, to decorate with.

1. Fold paper, “fan style (back and forth, back and forth)” the width of your child’s hand.
2. Trace their hand onto the paper so that their thumb and pinkie touch the edges of the folds, even going off the page a tiny bit.
3. Have your child add feet and “gobbles” to the turkey hand, and then you cut out the turkey chain, keep it all folded together and don’t cut around the tip of either the thumb or pinkie, this will allow the turkey’s to remain touching, thus making a “Turkey Chain”.
4. Unfold the turkeys and let your child decorate them all up. Be extra creative and add a pilgrim hat or some Native American attire to the different turkeys!