You Don't Want to Miss This Contest!

http://multnomahemails.com/wbmlt/Emails/dragonanturtle-safari.html


The link above is for a REALLY fun contest corresponding with the Dragon and the Turtle books (My last book review entitled "Dragon and Turtle Friendship" on January 11th).

You don't want to miss this one....the prize is one any child would be thrilled to receive!

A Healthy Bite...for both of us!

In a renewed effort towards greater frugality,

I am trying to do better using up food in the fridge

especially things like

hummus

and

pita bread

that usually go stale or moldy after a while.

SO,

for lunch today Jonah and I had

Cheesy hummus pitas!

Spread a medium-thick layer of hummus (I used TJ's sweet roasted red pepper hummus)

on the inside of a pita, and sprinkle with cheese (cheddar is our favorite!)

Close the pita, and pop into the toaster oven until heated through and a little crisp on the outside.

Remove from toaster, and place baby spinach leaves inside.

Enjoy!

Get your chocolate fix the healthy way!

Here is a very yummy recipe I just found and made today. So healthy, delicious, and great for kids and adults alike!

Chocolate Coconut Haystacks
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. sea salt

2 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Melt the coconut oil over low heat in a saucepan. Stir in peanut butter, honey, vanilla and salt. Remove from heat; add coconut and cocoa powder...mix. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet (or one lined with parchment paper). Refrigerate until firm. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

I found this recipe here: http://carriedonthewind.blogspot.com/

Dragon and Turtle Friendship...

The Dragon and the Turtle, by Donita Paul and Evangeline Denmark, is a fairy-tale story of godly friendship. The cover photo is a cute picture of the main characters that excites you to open the book and read. Inside you'll find soft but engaging pictures illustrating the story line. In the story, Padraig the dragon goes searching for "creeping bugs" to eat, but instead finds a forlorn turtle who cannot find his home. Instead of pleasing his hungry stomach, Padraig decides to help, and flies away to search for Roger the turtle's description of his home. Each time, it is the wrong house, and Roger tells Padraig a new sensory description of his house to help him find it (i.e. "it smells like cookies and feels like the beach"). There is alot of good repetition of story elements and phrases, as well as those that build on one another (like the descriptions of Roger's house). I was a bit disappointed with the ending to the story. It is a long story, and builds to the point where you imagine a nice twist at the end, but the ending is fairly logical. However, the characters do set forth a nice example of selflessness, friendship, and kindness. The end of the book also has some nice extension activities and discussion, which is very nice.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Book Review...God's Amazing Love!

God Loves Me More Than That, by Dandi Daley Mackall, is a beautifully illustrated rhyming book, prompting children to think of down-to-earth examples of ways God's love is greater than things on this earth. I absolutely loved this book. The examples given that answer the questions ("Is the Lord's love wide?" or "Just how deep is God's love for me?") are things that kids can relate to and get excited about. The illustrations by David Hohn are colorful but fairly muted, giving the book a gentle calming feel. They are engaging and can prompt good discussions with your little ones. One of my favorite parts in the book is how God's love is "much much softer than a kitten's sneeze". This book is one I read to my 11 month old, but one that preschoolers and young elementary children would enjoy as well. It would be a fun enrichment activity to find Scripture verses that illustrate the book's examples of the depths of God's love.

Merry Motherhood...

All my life I dreamed of being a mommy. My sister and I spent countless hours feeding, rocking, changing, and caring for our baby dolls. We thought up names for our future babies, and of course spent lots of time taking care of real babies...whether they were our brothers or babies from church.

When I got married to my dear husband, we prayed for children. The road to parenthood took longer than we had hoped, and involved lots of tears as we endured a loss and some waiting. But then, our hearts were filled with joy at the conception and birth of our precious baby, Jonah.

Now we are parents.

There are days when motherhood is fun, exciting, and so full of joy. Preparing for the birth and homecoming of your firstborn...well, there is probably nothing like that! Then you bring your newborn home and your sleepy days are filled with cuddling, dressing, nursing, rocking, and soaking in that sweet-smelling little baby! As your baby grows, there are new joys each day as they discover the world around them and reach those exciting milestones.

Then there are days that motherhood is exhausting, frustrating, or sad. Your little one is sick, and you wish you could bear the pain and discomfort for them as you try to soothe with rocking, singing, cuddling, or even medication. Or as your baby grows, that sin nature reveals itself and you find yourself crying out to God for wisdom to train that never-dying soul and point your little one to Christ. Or teeth are coming through, and you are up in the wee hours for several nights, praying for strength to make it through the next day's tasks of cleaning, caring for a home and family, and giving your baby the love and attention they need.

It is in those times that I remember the words of a revered Pastor:

"Bein' a Mama aint all coos and gurgles.'"

No, it is not. And I speak as an inexperienced parent, only being a mommy for less than a year. I'm sure there are many dark and tiring days ahead.

BUT, despite the circumstances, whether they are joyful or sad, easy or frustrating, exhilerating or tiring, motherhood is a blessing. For, as the Lord says, "Children are a gift from the Lord." Even in the difficult times, one look at that little one, one moment of having them reach up their hands to be picked up, one slobbery baby kiss, one moment of snuggling, makes it all worth it.

And what an awesome privilege and responsibility, to have the job of molding and nurturing a human life, a mind, body and soul created by God. To be entrusted with a precious child...to instruct them in God's Word and ways, to sing to and love and cherish, to teach them the difference between right and wrong, to shepherd their hearts.

The road will not always be happy or easy, but God will always be there to give wisdom and grace and strength.

How thankful I am to be a mommy.

How good God is.

Merry Christmas!

It has been a wonderful year.

God has faithfully provided both spiritual and earthly blessings,

The newest being our precious son, Jonah.

As we reflect on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

We are ever-grateful for the salvation that comes by grace, through faith in Him.




Yes, Lord, You have "crowned the year with your bounty." (Psalm 65:11)

Merry Christmas!