Making Room For Daddy September 29, 2008

Okay ladies, this one is for you. As Gen Xers we’ve grown up to believe we can have and do it all. We learned if we just try hard enough or want it bad enough we can accomplish anything. As young girls we were told to be assertive and independent, to show our power. And the young men? Well they were trained to let us.

For example, when I had my son, I discovered that I had a much easier time letting my husband be my husband, than letting him be my son’s dad. As the mother, I spent the most time with our son and pretty much figured I knew what was best for him. I wanted things done my way and I wasn’t afraid to tell my husband which way that was!

Even though “mom in charge” seems natural, I’ve learned by experience that the control we think we want is actually a conflict of interest. When it came to raising our three kids, I thought I knew best. But after a while, I resented my husband for not taking more of a stand and leaving all the work to me.

Have you ever felt that way?

I can’t tell you the number of times I prayed for my husband to be the spiritual leader of our home and interact with the kids more. Then one day as I prayed, I felt God saying, “Well then step back. Stop trying to run the show.” And you know what? As I stepped back, my husband stepped up to the plate and I’ve been thankful ever since. 

Dads may do things differently than moms would, but different is okay. No, wait-different is exactly how God designed it! 

© Tricia Goyer 

By Tricia Goyer, author of Generation NeXt Parenting

Apples! September 28, 2008

Did you know this year has been a banner year for apples? If you haven’t yet, take the kids to an orchard and pick some apples. (Unless you’re like us and people keep GIVING us apples and you can’t figure out what to do with them all so you’re looking for anything possible!) Once back, here are some ideas of what you can do with the harvest.

Here is a list of different types of apples and how to best use them.

Apple Crafts

This site has directions on how to dry your apples and make an apple wreath or garland with them.

Did you know if you cut an apple in half horizontally, you’ll see a star? (I thought that was cool as a kid!). You can then use that as a stamp. For smaller kids, just putting it in paint and then on paper is a great craft. You can then save those papers for Thank You or Thinking of You notes or Birthday cards (our family has a large number of birthdays this time of year!).  If your child is older, you can make T-shirts or bags with them.

If you have older kids you can try making an apple doll (the kids will probably get a kick out of watching the face shrink) or apple air freshners or apple candle stick holders.

Apple Cake Recipe
Pull a stool or chair up to the counter and let your children help you make a recipe.  (Yes, it will be messier and take longer than doing it yourself, but your children will enjoy and learn from the process, and they are worth it!) 

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 ¾ cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (or applesauce)
4-5 peeled apples (Try to make the peel a long line. Show the kids your peel smile or peel mustach! You’ll be surprised how kids who won’t normally eat apple peels enjoy eating those.)
Directions:
1.  Give your children plastic knives and instruct them to cup the apples into small cubes.
2.  Next, measure the first 4 dry ingredients and mix them together in a small bowl.
3.  In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until well blended.  Add the oil (or applesauce) and beat again.
4.  Stir in the dry ingredients until moist.  Fold in the apple cubes.
5.  Pour the batter into a greased 11”x 15” baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Let cool, then cut into squares.

(Or, last year I put up a recipe for a Carmel Apple Cake last year you could try.)

What’s for Dinner? Low Fat Fettuccine Alfredo September 27, 2008

Also from Sandy, Mentor Mom. I liked the “low fat” part, since I usually avoid this meal for calorie reasons. Note this only serves 2 so you’ll probably need to double it!

4 oz.    Uncooked fettuccine
1 ½ tsp. Butter
1 clove  Garlic or 1/4 tsp. Garlic powder
1 ½ tsp. Flour
2/3 C  Skim milk
1 Tbsp. Light cream cheese
1/3 C  Grated fresh Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp.  Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Cook fettucine in 3 C. salted boiling water or 10-12 minutes until al dente.  Drain off excess water.  In a medium saucepan melt the butter and saute the garlic for 1 minute.  Stir in the flour to form a roux.
Gradually add the milk stirring with a whisk until blended and continue cooking until the sauce is thickened and bubbling slightly around the edges of the pan.
Stir in the cream cheese and cook  2 minutes.
Add Parmesan cheese stirring constantly until it melts.
Pour the sauce over the hot fettuccine and toss well to coat.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley on top.

Serves 2

One Place to Be This Weekend September 26, 2008

Okay, Friday is quickly approaching already here!. There’s a presidential debate you want to see. And then Saturday, all kinds of yard work needs to get done. And Sunday after church, a nice relaxing afternoon at home sure sounds nice.

But why make this a typical weekend? For the first time in two years, a truly must-see movie is opening … and it needs your support. Opening weekend for FIREPROOF is the time for you to see this film.

• Don’t wait for the second weekend … it might not have a second weekend.
• Don’t complain about the 7 p.m. showing being filled … celebrate the lives being changed then and go to a show time that’s a little less convenient.
• Don’t go alone … there are couples in your world that need to see this film.
• Don’t wait to get tickets … go online or go to your local theater and get your tickets today!
• Don’t wait for it to come to DVD … if you want movies like this to be made, you need to support them first in theaters.

Why Opening Weekend?
FIREPROOF opens this Friday. Kris Fuhr, the Vice President of Provident Films, explains why it’s so important for people to see this movie on Opening Weekend, September 26-28.

“There are all kinds of ways to measure a movie’s success. With a movie made by a church, the first place to start is with the ministry impact.” Kris says. “We are trusting that God will use FIREPROOF to impact countless marriages on Opening Weekend … and for years to come.

“From a business perspective, the most obvious starting point for determining a film’s success is the Opening Weekend box office. If you look at USA Today or your local paper on Mondays, they list the top 10 movies from the previous weekend based on box office revenue. I heard one well-known Hollywood producer say that within 24 hours, he knew if the previous two years worth of work had been worthwhile.

“Combining the business and the ministry aspects, you realize that every person that sees the movie on Opening Weekend is someone whose relationships may be impacted by the story. And that’s exciting!”

A strong first weekend ensures a long-playing movie, which helps in other ways as well.

“With seven movies opening in wide release the week after we open, there is even more riding on our Opening Weekend,” Kris says. “Hollywood looks at the success of Facing the Giants as an anomaly. FIREPROOF is flying under the Hollywood radar screen. This is a wonderful opportunity to show that there is an audience for authentic, inspiring, and entertaining stories that are created by people of faith.”

So, DVR the debate … and the weekend football games while you’re at it. Let the grass grow a little longer. Relax at the movie theater instead of at home.

And thanks for making a difference by seeing FIREPROOF this weekend!

Girls Night Out September 23, 2008

Join us September 30th at Arni’s (at 4705 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240) at 7 pm. We’re going to meet for dinner, desert, or just a time to chat. You should have gotten an e-vite about it today, please RSVP for it by Saturday so we can let them know how many people to expect. If you did not get one and you want to come, let us know in the comments.

MOPS 9/16 Meeting September 18, 2008

Yea! Another year has started!

We were so happy to see all of you Tuesday night. I’m going to share some pictures of the fun night and then put the annoucements down below. So if you don’t care about the pictures, scroll down (or click on the Annoucement Tab above) to get the important details.

First, we need a big shout out to our hard working Hospitality girls who did such a great job setting up the room with our Adventures in Mothering Theme!

Thank you Brandi and Michelle for your hard work!

The Steering Team did a skit to introduce the theme and each person’s job to the group (in case you missed it, that was the point of the skit). We need to thank Melissa for being in charge of it. And it went pretty good for us only practicing one time!

See, the theme is Adventures in Mothering with a Roller coaster, and we’re all in cars on the roller coaster, as we go through the ups and downs of life. 

Then Sandy, one of our Mentor Moms led us in a short devotional. She focused on the verse that goes with the theme this year. Here is the passage the verse comes from–Ephesians 3:14-21 (the Living Bible Translation):

When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God…that out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner strengthening of his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as of all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.

She said this is the prayer we all have for all the moms in our group.  She also led us in prayer.

Then we did some announcements and the Cracker Basket (where we find out who is expecting–just a head’s up, we’re going to be busy with meals in December and January!).  Then it was time to make the name tags! Allyson and Marcy did a great job organizing those. 

There was plenty of time at the end to do what we really wanted to do–talk and eat with out little ones interrupting us!

Annoucements:

• If you are intersted in Child Care for the next meeting, let Carrie know ASAP!
• Girls Night Out will be Tuesday, Sept. 30th @ 7pm. Watch for an e-vite letting you know where we’re going to meet.
• If you want to be part of a play date group, fill out the yellow form and give it to Krisit at the next meeting.
• On Eagle’s Wings is a group at the chruch that reaches out to women survivors of childhood sexual abuse and other abuse backgrounds. Their goal si to help these women experience healing and freedom through Jesus Christ so they can live an abudant and victours life through Him and for Him. They begin meeting next Wednesday, the 23rd at Northview.

Hill Fest September 18, 2008

For our second year, we hosted a Diapering Changing/Nursing Tent at Hill Fest. We were thrilled to see the number of moms who were able to use the tent!

We’re Getting Ready! September 4, 2008

The Steering Team and the Table Leaders are getting ready for the new MOPS year! The schedule has been set (but changes could occur!), the welcome folders are made and we’re getting your registrations in the mail!  We’re getting excited and can’t wait to see you September 16th!  If you didn’t get a letter or can’t find the registration form, look for the MOPS booth in the lobby at the church or at Hill Fest–we’ll be there!

You can see we’re taking it very seriously!   Sorry for the blurry picture!

We can’t wait to see you!