7 Tools Book Club - Preparing the way

 Our Mission is to prepare them (our children) to fulfill the God-ordained places in this world – their occupational calling, their calling as future spouses and parents, their calling as citizens, and their callings as Christians.” -pg. 20

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isaiah 30: 21

“And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness…but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 38:8-10

In our family - we've decided that time is one of the main factors in training and preparing our children to lead the life God has for them. Each of them has special gifts and character traits God intends to use for good in this life. It's our job to nurture and encourage them. 

God puts families together in various ways - through birth and through adoption are the ways He chose to put ours together. As parents, we need to believe that He gives us the resources and abilities we need to nurture and train our children to serve Him. 

  “Train up a child in the way he should go,

 and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 

We lead by example. Our children are ever watching and listening to the way we handle life's challenges. When the going gets tough . . . they see to Whom we turn for direction. When others don't see . . . they do. Our children know our hearts and they follow our lead. 

By investing time in our children, by leading a good example and continually turning to the Lord - by listening carefully to their needs, thoughts, and desires - and loving unconditionally  we can show them Jesus. 

We prepare and teach them in many ways including discipline, responsibility, accountability to God. We teach obedience to God, and personal relationship with Him. We lead the way by digging in and sharing the Word with them. 

We can't be afraid to admit when we are wrong, and to ask them for forgiveness. We must be quick to forgive and quick to point to Jesus. We must open our hearts and share our failures, not be (or appear to be) something they can never live up to. 

We must remind them in word and deed that God has a plan for their life and expect them to live up to that potential. We must encourage and build them up. 

God has placed our children in our homes because we have what it takes to train them. If we only lean on Him - seek His truth for them and rely on God's Word and the Holy Spirit to  guide us- His plan will be fulfilled in our families.  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3: 5-6

Linking with #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - The Better Mom
From My Mountain View Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows - Good Morning Girls

   

                            

Kids in the Kitchen- Link up #22- Chewy Sugar Cookies

Joining together with Carrie @YoungLivingOilLady to bring you this fun family link up! 

Our goal is to encourage families to cook and eat together - food is healthier when made at home 

Family friendly recipes welcome - especially healthy food - but treats are good sometimes too. 

We encourage real food, fresh food, and whole grains! We love to see your cuties in the kitchen 

but pictures of your children are not required for the link up - 

won't you help us encourage families to spend time together at the table? 

Chewy Sugar Cookies 

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups margarine
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup white sugar for decoration

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until just blended. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in remaining 1/4 cup of sugar. Place cookies 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets and flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly browned at the edges. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Please join us: 

Grab a button from below or with the code on my side bar - 

Text links are fine as well - please leave a comment & visit a few other participants to pin and share 

recipes we can enjoy with our families - Kids not required in the pictures - but we sure do think they're cute!

Be sure to visit my friend Carrie @YoungLivingOilLady to find something yummy! 

I'm linking with these fine blogs: Today's Creative Blog, Making Memories with Your Kids

                     

                               

Kids in the kitchen - Link Up #21 - Roast and easy homemade bread

Linking with my good friend Carrie @YoungLivingOilLady to encourage families to get back to the table! 

Food made at home with the family is healthier and families spending time in the kitchen together is fabulous. 

This week from our house: 

Chuck Roast with veggies and homemade bread! 

Season a generous roast (left overs are yummy too) with sea salt, garlic, pepper and olive oil

Put one cup water in bottom of pan for juices - and put in 350 oven to cook for 1 1/2 hours 

Chop celery, onions, potatoes and carrots to add to roast (or cook potatoes separately and smash 'em)

Add chopped veggies to roast pan in juices and cover with foil - cook for another hour - hour and half. 

Easy Bread - 

Mix 3 cups non-bleached (whole grain if possible) flour in bowl with 2 tsp oil + 2 tsp active dry yeast + 2 tsp honey + 1 1/2 tsp salt + 3 tbs dry milk - 1 cup warm water-  roll in ball and place in greased bowl covered with towel to rise for 30 min - 1 hour - punch down & lay out on greased/ floured counter to knead for 5 - 10 times. Place in greased bread pan, covered on top of stove to rise for 15 minutes -

 cook in 300 oven- 16 min or desired crust color is reached (I turned down the roast and cooked together)

Enjoy with butter and your family! 

Grab the button below or from code on my side bar and link up your family favorite and kids in the kitchen posts! Kids are not necessary in the post - but we sure do think they are cute. Please be sure to link back here and to visit at least a few others who are joining. I can't get around to leave comments on all the posts- but I am doing my best - pinning and tweeting away! Y'all are a talented bunch - thanks for joining us! 

I'm linking with these fine blogs: Today's Creative Blog, Making Memories with Your Kids

                     

                               

Proverbs 31 Woman - Week #7 - Beauty Matters

I'm joining with Amanda @The Pelsers as we study the ebook from Good Morning Girls 

Taking our "cue" from the Creator of the universe - beauty matters! Don't get me wrong - I'm not talking about petty, shallow kind of beauty - the kind that competes for attention. But God took time to surround us with beauty in the world and we should take time to make our homes beautiful and peaceful; a respite from the rest of the world. We don't have to own the finest china to surround our family with quality and finery.

The most beautiful woman in the room isn't always the skinniest, or the one with the best hair. She is the one who radiates love; the one who genuinely smiles and reaches out for those who enter. She is a joy to be with because she makes those around her feel welcomed and important. She cares.

You don't have to have the finest things money can buy to be the Proverbs woman for your family. Your home can be filled with music, peace and love on any budget.
You don't have to be a beauty queen to radiate beauty - but making an effort to pull yourself together can make a big difference for a weary momma. I want my children to see me putting forth my best effort. I want them to be surrounded by beauty. 

A touch of lipstick and a bit of mascara brightens me when I'm tired. I deal with constant pain. There are days when I don't feel beautiful and when I don't look it either. On those days, it's that much more important for me to make an effort to present myself to my children and my family in a way that is beautiful. 


I have several "go to" outfits that are comfortable yet help me look and feel pulled together. Colorful accessories help me present an up-beat mood. With clean hair and the right lipstick - I'm a new woman; or at least I can look like one!

I don't have the energy to clean my house all the way through each day. With a simple routine - I manage to keep things from getting out of hand. Fresh clothes in the dryer, dishes cleaned and put away with a good smelling clean sink and counter-tops can make a world of difference.
A pretty bowl full of red apples, or a well placed vase of inexpensive flowers

Reading scripture with my children - these are all easy ways I bring a little beauty into my life and into the life of my family. 


Do you have any special tricks of the trade to bring beauty into the life of your family?


Gratitude journal #330 - #339 
*Christian music - Joy FM radio station
*Bright flowers
*Dryer sheets
* Fresh salt air at the beach
*Bowls full of pretty shells
*Loreal colour riche #250 & Voluminous mascara
*My Jackie O's (that sometimes hide many flaws)
*Fresh food baking in the oven - filling the house with smells of home
*Sunset out my window and sand between our toes
*Holding hands with my husband after all these years - knowing he'll continue reaching for more of me

Linking with #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - The Better Mom
From My Mountain View Titus 2's Days  Raising Mighty Arrows

   

                            

Mundane and Beautiful - Proverbs 31 Woman

Psalm 54: 4 " Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." 

I gather my energy to begin the day. It's no easy task. My body doesn't want to co-operate with me and my list of things to do is ever growing. Before I can begin for the day - I must finish those tasks left undone from the day before. There are dishes in the sink. Abandoned cereal bowls - spilled milk - crumbs discarded,  have been left to rest where they lie as the children blissfully ignore the destruction they've left in their wake. 

I see the mountain of laundry waiting for me. Some of it is clean and simply needs to be put away. It won't happen without my asking - demanding even -  that the boys carry their freshly laundered clothing to their rooms. I'll need to follow up to be sure it is placed carefully in the drawers.

Sometimes I wonder if these children of mine walk around with their eyes closed.

How can they not see the mess they create?

When I say this out loud - I'm met with blinking blue eyes and vacant stares. Who me? What mess? 

I'm weary, overwhelmed, broken down. There isn't enough time in the day - or energy to even put a dent in the tasks at hand. I often wonder how long it would take for them to notice if I just stopped doing the everyday things that must be done to keep the household running. 

Would they see? Would they begin to pick up the slack, lend a hand without being told?  

My brief experiment with this notion did not bode well. 

A mother's work is never done. 

Although I love my family - I must remember it is not them I serve daily. As I sweep up the floor, put away dishes, and start more laundry.  I put on some praise music to lighten my load. My spirits lift with the voices and the music.

 I serve a living Savior. 

Col 3: 23-24 

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: 

for ye serve the Lord Christ."

Suddenly the mundane doesn't seem so irrelevant. I begin to see the beauty around me. I smile as I see the pride on the face of my little one because he put his clothes in the drawer all by himself. We check off the list together - and I know that they are learning to care for our home, to appreciate hard work. 

On our list today is to bag up clothing that the boys have outgrown. We will take it to the shelter to share with those in need. We are blessed to have extra clothing. We have running water, air conditioning and food in our bellies. The children are learning to appreciate what they have and to care for others.

I hear this as we bow for lunch and they pray - thanking God for His provisions. God is good. 

As I clear away the lunch dishes and remind the boys not to run in the house - my cup runneth over and I love knowing that we will do it all again tomorrow. 

This mundane life God has blessed me with is beautiful. 

Isaiah 66: 12

"For the Lord says, See, I will make her peace like a river,

 and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream,

 and she will take her children in her arms, gently caring for them on her knees."

*and I count to #1000 and beyond: 

#320 - #329 

- praise music lifting my spirits 

- more crumbs means we have food to spare

- little boy prayers at the table 

- clothing we need

- growing boys because they are healthy 

- hard working daddy providing for us

- summertime at the pool 

- ocean breeze and time to enjoy it 

- air conditioning in the tropics! 

- finding the beauty in what seems mundane 

Linking with #ifellowship Seeds of Faith - Thought Provoking Thursday - The Better Mom
From My Mountain View Titus 2's Days 

   

                            

Join Amanda and I and link up your Proverbs 31 Woman posts about home and family!