mom2mom cafe

Smartphone Pictures Pose Privacy Risk

2011-03-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

Did you know that pictures you've uploaded to Facebook, Twitter or even emailed to your friends and family from your smartphone could leak information that could threaten the safety of you or your children?

Please take a few minutes to watch the following news story explaining how that information is leaked and what you can do to make sure your privacy is protected when sharing your pictures.

Christmas Card Drive

2010-11-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, can you even believe that it is already the eighth day of November? NOVEMBER! And before you know it, it will be Christmas. Which brings me to the point of this post.

Each year I have made a point to help my children (and now my grandchildren) find ways to reach out to others during the holidays and share the love of Jesus. When I saw this Christmas Card project that Compassion International is doing, I got excited because this is something that anyone can participate in. Even if you have nothing financially to give. All you need is a computer with internet access, or a public library computer to borrow.

If you are not familiar with Compassion International, they are a Christian organization that provides spiritual, medical, educational and financial support to children in impoverished countries. They connect the children with sponsors who commit to send letters to the children, pray for them and give monthly financial support. One of the things I love about them is that the centers work with local churches to meet the needs in each community. If you would like to find out more about how you can sponsor a child of your own click here.

Now, back to the Christmas Card Drive....Compassion has teamed up with Dayspring to make a way for the kids in Equador to receive cards. And here's where you come in.

From now through November 29th (the Monday after Thanksgiving) Studio DaySpring will be hosting a Christmas Card Drive for the children of Ecuador.

You design the card, Compassion will translate it, DaySpring will print it, and a team from both organizations will travel to Ecuador to deliver it in person in time for Christmas!

Four student projects with more than 100 unsponsored kids are looking forward to hearing from you.

(Courtesy of Compassion International: http://blog.compassion.com/send-christmas-cards-a-christmas-card-drive-of-epic-proportions/#ixzz14j0cOz8f)

Won't you join us in being a blessing to these kids? You can find the complete details and the links to the card making by clicking here.

Brown Butter Pumpkin Layer Cake

2010-10-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there bloggy friends!! I know it's been a way too long since I've posted, but since I've already confessed to you all that I am quite possibly the world's worst blogger, we'll just skip right over that part and get to the yummy recipe that inspired me so much that I just had to share it.

A few days ago, my sister sent me a recipe that she said is her new favorite, so of course I couldn't wait to try it right away. As it turns out, it's my new favorite as well. In fact, this cake is so good that the friend we had over tonight said it was the best cake she'd ever had. Yes, it really is that good.

So if you're looking for a new recipe to use this Fall, you definitely want to try this. The original recipe came from the Fine Cooking Magazine that is currently on the stands in the grocery checkout aisle. Here is the recipe after I changed it up a bit....

Brown Butter Pumpkin Layer Cake

Make the Cake

1 ½ cubes butter

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

2 ¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice

¼ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups sugar

⅔ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

⅓ cup butter milk

1 ½ cups pumpkin puree

Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour two 9” round cake pans.

Melt the butter in small sauce pan over med heat. Cook, swirling in the pan until the butter turns a nutty golden brown (about 4 minutes). Pour into a small bowl and let set until cool but not set.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda and spices. In a large bowl mix pumpkin, sugar & buttermilk until very well blended. With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Gently whisk in the brown butter until completely incorporated. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake the cakes approx 28 minutes until tester inserted comes out clean. Let cool in pans about 10 minutes.

Make the Topping

1 ½ Tbs. butter

1 cup pecans (I used walnuts)

2 Tbs. firmly packed light brown sugar

¼ tsp salt

Melt butter in skillet over med heat. Add the pecans (walnuts) and cook until slightly brown (about 2 minutes). Sprinkle in the brown sugar and salt and stir until the sugar melts and the nuts are glazed (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool in the skillet.

Make the Frosting

4 oz. butter

8 oz. cream cheese (at room temp)

¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 ½ cups powder sugar

Melt the butter in a small saucepan, over medium heat. Cook, swirling in the pan until the butter turns a nutty golden brown (about 4 minutes). Pour into a small bowl and let set until cool but not set. Pour into a small bowl and let stand until the solids settle at the bottom of the bow., about 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the bowl to the freezer and chill until just firm, about 18 minutes. Using a spoon, carefully scrape the butter from bowl, leaving the browned solids at the bottom; discard brown solids.

Beat the butter, cream cheese and brown sugar on medium high speed until light in color and the brown sugar has dissolved, 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the powder sugar and continue beating until fluffy, 1-2 minutes.

Assemble the Cake

Frost bottom layer (I put some of the topping mixture between the layers); put 2nd layer on and frost top and sides. Garnish with nut topping.

Enjoy!!

You're welcome....

Mason Jar Lanterns

2010-05-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

With summer coming (it has to come sometime, right?) I start thinking about barbecues and backyard gatherings. And then I start thinking about all the fun things I can do to decorate and set the stage for those barbecues. And I like to do it with the least amount of money possible.

I love to look through catalogs and get inspiration ideas for decorating. A couple of weeks ago I was looking through a Pottery Barn catalog and found these really cool mason jar hanging lanterns for $7.00 each that I fell in love with.

And then it hit me. I could make my own for a fraction of the price. Because I'm really cheap like that. :) So I went to Walmart and got a case of 12 one pint mason jars for $7.70 and then headed to Home Depot to get some 18 gauge aluminum wire for $3.48/50 feet. I spent that evening crafting away.

Here's how I made the lanterns. For each jar, I cut 2 pieces of wire, one 28 inches and one 24 inches. I twisted the wire and used a pair of needle nosed pliers to twist a two loops opposite each other and tuck the excess wire ends under to hide them. I then twisted the 24 inch piece of wire and made handle with hooks on each end to loop through the jar loops.

And here is my finished product....

My twist in the wire is definitely not as perfect as the inspiration jar, but since I'm not a perfectionist I'm really happy with the way they turned out. The best part is that it only cost me $11.18 for the supplies to make 12 jars, so I decided to get a box of these small mason jars to use as tealight holders. Just because.

If you would like more ideas on what you can to with jars, check out this Family Fun link.

Running On Empty? Take Time To Fill Your Tank!

2010-03-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

In the past few months I have had several Moms come to me with their feelings of being overwhelmed with the circumstances of their lives so I felt it is an appropriate time for this post.

We Moms have a gift for loving people. With that love comes the desire to serve. Especially when it comes to our spouses and children. We do everything in our power to make sure their needs are met. We get up early and we stay up late to meet those needs. For some reason, we feel pressured to be perfect. For some of us it comes down to the need to be needed. And if we compare ourselves to the woman in Proverbs 31 we can really feel pressured.

But what about the needs of a Mom?

When is the last time you made sure your own needs were met? Please don’t misunderstand me here, I’m not talking about becoming self centered and putting our own needs first. What I am talking about it this ~ we Moms have got to put aside a little bit of time to take care of ourselves. If we don’t, eventually we find ourselves running on empty.

I have been parenting for a long time; twenty nine years to be exact. Our youngest son, who has special needs is still living at home. I have had up to six children living in the home at a time while we were doing foster care. Believe me, I have learned this lesson the hard way.

I say that to say I know how hard it is for a Mom to find time for herself. In fact, at times it can seem virtually impossible. I know what it feels like to have so many things that have to be done in a day that you put aside your own need for replenishment. But, I also know it is absolutely vital to make it happen.

I’ll share with you an analogy that helped me with a proper perspective when my children were younger.

First picture the gas tank on a car. Imagine that you fill it up and begin driving. If you continue driving the car without ever going back to the gas station for a refill, eventually you run out of gas and end up stranded on the side of the road somewhere.

Our lives are the same way. Picture your life as having the following three tanks:

~ Spiritual tank

~ Physical tank

~ Emotional tank

In order to function at our best we must make sure to fill these tanks on a regular basis.

There was a point in time when my children were younger and my husband was traveling a lot that I became so overwhelmed with the circumstances in our life that I ran out of gas and stalled out. Literally, I reached a point where I had absolutely nothing left to give. For the only time in my life, I became paralyzed with depression for a couple of weeks. It was at that point I realized that my putting my own needs on a shelf & meeting everybody else’s needs was definitely NOT WORKING. Like I said, I learned this lesson the hard way. Hopefully you won’t have to.

I want to encourage all of you Mom’s to take time to take care of yourself. For your family’s sake as well as your own.

Begin by answering the following questions:

When is the last time you spent time alone with God?

When is the last time you put aside time to exercise?

When is the last time you spent time with girlfriends?

I know we all lead busy lives, but if it has been too long, then I encourage you do something to change it.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

First of all, if you are feeling overwhelmed, please do yourself a favor and find someone you trust to talk to about it.

Make sure to spend time alone with God to replenish your spirit daily. If you don’t know where to start and it sounds overwhelming, you can click here and follow PURSUEGOD on Twitter or click here to follow on Facebook. Each day they post a simple daily reading plan and a daily declaration of faith for your life. You can even buy one of the Pursue God Journal’s through the Generation Unleashed Store if you like.

Make time to get some exercise a few times each week. A simple walk through the neighborhood several times a week can be very therapeutic. If you have little ones just put them in a stroller and take them along. The fresh air is good for them, too. If you live here in Portland, you may have to improvise when it’s raining and take your walk indoors at the mall ;). But you can still make it happen if you set your mind to it.

It is vital to spend time with girlfriends. We meet a social and emotional need in each other that our husbands will never be able to. Not because they don’t want to, but because they aren’t made that way. You can always fill two tanks at once by getting together with girlfriends and walking together. You can create a network with other Moms and take turns trading childcare so each of you can get out and have a date night with your hubby or alone time.

I hope that in some small way this helps.

Have a great Saturday!!

O Lord, hear me as I pray;
pay attention to my groaning.
Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God,
for I pray to no one but you.

Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:1

My Grandson ~ My Joy

2010-02-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

Eight years ago today was truly one of the most joy-filled days of my life. The events of that day changed me forever. It was the day that a precious little bundle in blue would wrap me around his little finger and never let me go.

Eight years ago today was the day I became a 'Grama'. My firstborn grandson, Isaac, made his way into the world and I have never been the same. One thing was sure, this little man put his grip on my heart and he has never let it go. It's so true what 'they' say. Being a grandparent brings a feeling that you can't begin to put into words for someone else. It's one of those things you have to experience to really get.

Isaac is one of the sweetest, most caring and funny kids you will ever meet. His name means laughter, or he who laughs. Boy, has he lived up to his name. In fact he is the one person who can make his 10 month old cousin laugh harder than anyone else can.

One of the most precious things is that Isaac (and all of my grandchildren for that matter) loves to write and draw, just like his Papa. Every day he makes a new 'book', complete with story and illustrations. He pretty much just writes whatever he's feeling at the moment.

Yesterday he presented this card to Marc and I....

Don't tell anyone, but I think my hubby looks a little like a Ninja Turtle here ;)

Seriously. This child has such a precious heart.

And he melts mine.

Happy Birthday, Isaac!!

A Sign Of Things To Come

2010-02-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

I got really excited (so excited that I actually stopped and took a picture :)) the other day when I saw this outside of my grandson's preschool:

The reason is that this is a sign of things to come. It's only February and already signs of Spring are popping up before my eyes. Before we know it, Spring will be here and we will be surrounded by the beautiful colors of God's amazing creativity. Once again, it reminds me that things that once appeared lifeless begin to show signs of a rebirth.

Have you ever found yourself in a season of winter? A season where you felt dormant, forgotten? A season in which you felt like you had no life left in you? If you haven't yet, I assure you that at some time during the course of your life you probably will. Some of us we will experience it more than once. Not very encouraging, I know. But, the good news is that God's plan is to be our constant source of life during these seasons. He wants to use these seasons to perfect His character in us. It's up to us to let Him. If you are finding yourself in one of these winter seasons of life, call on Jesus today to give you strength and show you what He wants to work in you and through you.

Be encouraged and remember that Spring ALWAYS comes after winter. And when it arrives it brings with it a renewed sense of hope. And Spring comes, we get beautiful flowers as proof of new life...

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17

World's Worst Blogger & A Few Other Things...

2010-02-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

I have come to the conclusion that I am quite possibly the world’s worst blogger. Sad, but true, I’m afraid. Here’s the deal - I really LOVE to blog, it’s just the actual sitting down and writing a post that keeps tripping me up. ;) I mean, some people just sit down at the computer and the words just flow off of their fingertips onto the keys and into a blog post in a matter of a few minutes. Like my husband, for example. (You can click here to read his blog.) But not me. Nope, not me. For me it goes like this...I have LOTS of great post ideas rattling around in my brain. No really, I do. Witty ones, serious ones, even some really funny ones. You name it they are rattling around inside of me. The problem is that when I finally get a chance to sit and work on it, I get writer’s block. Those witty words that had been in my head are suddenly no where to be found. They just up and leave. And when I do find those words, I usually over think them so much that it takes me forever to get the post done. So now you see what my problem is. *deep sigh*

Seriously, what’s that all about, anyway? I bet that never happens to my bff Beth Moore. Okay, so she doesn’t know she’s my bff, since we’ve never actually met or anything. I just imagine that if we ever did meet, she would like me as much as I like her and then of course we would end up being best friends. What? It could happen.

Anyway, speaking of Beth Moore, we will be starting her Bible Study on Esther next week. I’m really excited about this one because I have always loved the story of Esther and the difference she made for her people through her acts of courage. You can watch a video clip and get the details by clicking here.

And for those of you who have been missing our Mom2Mom Cafe play group at the church, we will start meeting again tomorrow morning @ 10 am on all campuses. If you need more information click here. If you have never come out for Mom2Mom Cafe, it’s never too late to start. We love seeing new faces. So gather up the little ones and come on out tomorrow morning to catch up with old friends or make some new ones! We’ll see you there.

And as for blogging, I really am going to try to be better about getting these posts out of my brain and on to the blog more often. :)

Until then, I pray that you are blessed and experiencing every good thing that the Lord has to offer.

~ Susan

Prayer And Support For Haiti

2010-01-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

I awoke again this morning with Haiti heavy on my heart and in my prayers. I cannot even fathom the devastation that has hit that country. I, like most of you, am praying for them but at the same time wishing there was something tangible I could do to help. What I can do is give of my finances. While I know that no matter how much I give it will barely make a dent in the needs, I also know that if each one of us gives even a few dollars, it will add up and it WILL help.

The president of MFI, Bob MacGregor and Pastor Henry Mears were in Haiti for a week long Pastors Conference and had just left the afternoon before the earthquake hit. Many of the pastors they had been meeting with are from those areas hit the hardest and they are in desperate need of our prayers and support during this time.

Pastors Marc and Lisa Honorat are great pastors that we are connected with in Haiti. Their organization, Haiti Arise has been key in response to the hurricanes that have ravaged Haiti in recent years. They are proven in addressing both the natural and spiritual needs of the people of Haiti. Haiti Arise has feet on the ground in Port au Prince. To make a disaster relief donation to this ministry go to: www.HaitiArise.org

Here is a list of Urgent Prayer Points from their website:

For lines of communication to open up- That is most important, as we can’t find out what the status of things are until then.
The young people we have in our community who are working or going to school in PAP, for their safety.
For us to assess and find out how we can strategically help in the Disaster Relief and rebuilding process. This will be our focus now for a few months.
The families in our community, for their homes and safety.
The team that is there now from Nelson, BC and the next team going from Red Deer, Alberta that together we will be able to meet the people's immediate needs.

Rejoice In ALL Things

2009-12-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

This month Pastor Frank has been doing a series at church titled "Rejoice-Life With Attitude". This past weekend he was speaking about rejoicing in ALL things, so he did things a little differently than the usual weekend services. He did a live interview during each of the services with Joy Ross, a very good friend of mine, who has had to make a choice to do just that. Joy grew up vision impaired, but a little over a year ago she lost what little sight she did have. She shares in this video what that journey has been like, and how she CHOSE to pull herself out of depression and despair and begin to live a life filled with joy.

This interview is both moving and inspiring. I encourage you to take a few minutes and watch it.

Dec 13 Message from City Bible Church on Vimeo.

Mary, A Woman of Courageous Faith

2009-12-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God."

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:26-38 (NIV )

Can you even imagine what that moment must have been like for Mary? Here she was, this young peasant woman, being approached by an angel. She must have been wondering what on earth was about to happen in her life that the Lord felt she needed an angel to walk her through it. The angel, sensing that, was quick to quiet those fears and reassure her that she had found favor with God.

And then he went on to tell her that although she was a virgin, was going to give birth to the Son of God. The SON OF GOD! Seriously, can you imagine???

The fact that God chose Mary tells us what a remarkable person she was. We can see by her response why God chose her. Even though she was stunned, and probably a little self-conscious to have such a conversation with an angel, when she asked the question, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?", it wasn't the message from God she was questioning. She was just wondering how on earth this was going to happen, since she was a virgin?

I am always impressed and challenged by Mary's response to this news. "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. She didn't try to convince the angel why this would be a bad idea. Rumors would be circulating once the news became public. Her reputation was going to be ruined. She would be ridiculed. She could even be stoned for getting pregnant while engaged to someone else. And yet, her response was one of total willingness to do whatever God called her to do.

She would tell about the visit from the angel, but who in their right mind would believe such a story? Her parents? Joseph? Her in-laws? The Rabbi? It wouldn't matter to Mary if no one believed her. That would not stop her from believing. She was willing to take whatever came her way as a result of believing God. Even if it cost her everything, including the man she loved, she would be obedient. What a courageous faith she had.

I wish I could say that I have always responded just like Mary did. But, the truth is, there have been times have tried to reason with God before I obeyed Him. But as I've gotten older, I realize that everything God does in my life is good. And I've learned that obeying Him immediately and completely is always the best choice to make. I pray to have a heart like Mary's. A heart that never questions God's plans for my life, a heart that immediately and completely obeys His every call.

Imperfect People ~ God's Perfect Plan

2009-12-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

Ah, December. What a wonderful time of year.

I’m one of those people that likes to celebrate Thanksgiving. And then move on to Christmas. I know a lot of people who put up their tree before Thanksgiving. But, just so you know, I am not one of them. You will never see my Christmas decorations up until the smell of that fabulous turkey no longer lingers in my home. Not that either is right or wrong, it’s just my tradition.

Once that turkey smell is gone, however, I kick into high gear for the next week. For me, the week following Thanksgiving is always busy with getting the church decorated, which is a great way to work off all of those yummy garlic mashed potatoes from the week before. Between all the moving of heavy buckets containing tree parts, moving huge wreaths out of storage and hoisting them to the top of a 12 foot ladder to hang them above doorways, not to mention all the walking involved, etc. etc., I feel that I have succeeded in working off the extra Thanksgiving calories I consumed.

Once all of that is done, I then move to decorating my home. Yesterday the tree went up and today I will hang garlands and put out all the other miscellaneous decor I have collected over 29 plus years of marriage.

But before I get back to the busyness, I pause. I just need to sit and spend a few moments with Jesus, reflecting on the amazing story of how and why he came to earth. Each December I am drawn to reread the gospels as they tell the story of the life of Jesus and the humbling story of His birth.

If you’ve read the gospels you know that Matthew’s account starts with the genealogy of Christ. I used to just skim over this part quickly without really absorbing the importance of it all. Now I realize that it is there as evidence for us to know that God uses imperfect people to produce even the most amazing of miracles. A few stood out to me this morning as I read.

First there was Abraham, who we know as a man of faith. But he also lied. He sent his wife into Pharoah’s arms, putting the promise of his future into jeopardy.

And then we have David, whom scripture tells us, was a man after God’s own heart. But he definitely got sidetracked when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. Not only that, he committed murder so he could take her as his own.

Rahab was a harlot.

Ruth was a foreigner who was grafted into the family tree, even though foreign marriages were forbidden by Jewish law.

Bathsheba, the adultress who married David, was Solomon’s mother.

Sometimes it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that God used so many imperfect people to bring forth His perfect plan ~ the birth of His own Son. But, this shows us that God’s purposes are not stopped by our humanity, no matter how weak and imperfect we are; no matter how far we have strayed. He is continually at work in us and through us, and a good deal of the time he works in spite of us. It is evidence of His Grace.

Thank you, God, for the grace you have poured down through the generations, reaching me. Your grace is so amazing that it leads me to turn from my own sinful, selfish ways and look to you and our will for my life. Help me go through this Christmas season with my heart focused on the true meaning of it all, Jesus.

My prayer is that each one of you would find the grace of God evident in your life as we spend this month celebrating the birth of His Son, Jesus.

Matthew 1:16 ~ Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah. (NLT)

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T09:54:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take a minute before my day gets all crazy and wish you all a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING from all of us at Mom2Mom Cafe. We are thankful for each one of you that God has brought into our lives. We pray that your day is blessed and you find yourselves with much to be thankful for.

My husband just posted a really great post titled 'What Are You Thankful For?' over on his personal blog. If you'd like to check it out just click here.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

The Miracle of You

2009-11-23T22:10:00.000-08:00

I am so proud that I just can’t keep it to myself...

Karen Wells, who is a dear friend as well as one of the contributors to this blog, recently had her book, The Miracle of You, published and has already sold out the first printing!! Congratulations, Karen.

If you are expecting a baby, this is the book to have. It also makes a lovely gift for newly expecting parents. It is a beautifully illustrated book that takes you on a journey from conception through the weeks of pregnancy. For each week of pregnancy, The Miracle of You gives the reader an inspirational promise. It is laced with scriptures that have been prayerfully selected to minister specifically to those expecting.

Words really can’t do justice to how beautiful this book is, so I suggest you get your hands on a copy to see for yourself. It is truly one of the most beautiful pregnancy books I have seen.

For more information, click here to go to The Miracle of You website.

More Thanksgiving Recipes ~ Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

2009-11-22T21:18:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving, my kitchen reminds me a little bit of one of those Italian kitchens where every person that walks by adds something to the sauce. In our case it's the garlic mashed potatoes. One daughter decides they need more pepper, while the next one comes by and thinks they need more butter.....you get the idea. One thing that doesn't get messed with though, is the consistency. How they turn out is every bit as important as how the turkey itself turns out. We like them 'mashed', with a potato masher, not mixed with a mixer as this makes them too creamy for our personal preference. We like there to be little chunks for texture. My daughters are what you might call 'mashed potato snobs'. They take their mashed potatoes very seriously and because of this they won't allow anyone else to volunteer to make them. I know, it really is kind of pathetic. But there you have it. It just is what it is. :)

Since we are a garlic loving family, we like our mashed potatoes loaded with garlic flavor. If you've never branched out and put garlic in yours, trust me - it brings them to a whole new level of yumminess!! Here's how I make mine, but remember how I said everyone adds as they go? Well keep that in mind. These are the amounts I start with...I don't think anyone really knows how much butter, garlic, salt & pepper or milk/half & half we really end up using:

GARLIC MASHED POTATOES

(serves 10)

5 lbs russet potatoes

1 head of peeled garlic cloves (I usually use more)

1 ½ to 1 ¾ cups milk (I like to substitute half of the milk with ½ & ½)

1 ½ sticks butter, cut into pieces (sometimes I add more)

Salt (I like to use the course kind)

Pepper to taste (we like lots of pepper on ours)

Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch chunks. Put potatoes and garlic cloves into a 5 quart pan and completely cover with water. A 1 tablespoon salt.

Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until potatoes pierce easily with a fork, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.

Drain; return potatoes and garlic to pan. Set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat milk; pour over potatoes. Add butter and salt and pepper to taste. Mash until desired consistency is reached.

Here’s a nifty little tip I learned from Martha Stewart: You can make mashed potatoes up to two hours ahead of time. Just make as directed and then top with a thin layer of milk. Cover; set aside in a warm place. When ready to serve, just stir the milk into the mashed potatoes.

Of course, we only serve these with homemade gravy (remember - 'mashed potato snobs' - what can I say?). Making gravy is one of those things that can seem intimidating, but it really isn't hard to make. I don't have a recipe for mine, because I usually just make it to taste and consistency as I go, but you can click here for a recipe on the allrecipes website that looks like what I do to make mine.

Okay, so am I the only one with such an opinionated family? Do any of your families have quirks like ours?

Thanksgiving Turkey

2009-11-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am very traditional when it comes to my Thanksgiving menu. Apparently I've trained my children to be also, because if I even mention the thought of changing up the menu, I get a reaction. So, we are all happy to have it stay very basic every year, with an extra side dish or dessert thrown in here and there. What is the menu? Well, since you asked...

DINNER:

Turkey (recipe follows)

Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Stuffing

Sweet Potatoes

Corn

Green Beans

Cranberry Sauce

Rolls & Butter

(I no longer bother making the Green Salad since nobody seems to want it on Thanksgiving)

DESSERT:

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

Homemade Fudge

Mmmmmm. That made my mouth water, just writing out the menu. This is definitely one of my favorite meals of the year. Comfort food at it's finest.

If you've never made a turkey before, here's how I do it. It's really easy and I always get rave reviews.

First I gather the following ingredients:

A bunch of celery
A whole yellow onion (I like the sweet ones)
A head of garlic
Several sprigs of rosemary
Several stems of thyme
Several stems of sage leaves
2 cubes of butter
Salt and Pepper (I use kosher salt)

Next, I chop up the celery and onion, peel the garlic cloves, cut 1 1/2 sticks of the butter into pieces, and break herbs into smaller pieces and toss it all into a mixing bowl with salt and pepper.

When that's all ready, I set it aside while I rinse the turkey in cold water and pat it dry. I put some of the mixture into the neck cavity of the turkey and secure the flap of neck skin with toothpicks.

I flip the bird over and use the rest of the mixture to stuff the inside. (Note: I usually roast a turkey that's somewhere around 25 pounds so it all fits. If you prepare a smaller turkey, just place any extra mixture around it in the pan.) Then I take the remaining 1/2 stick of butter, cut it into slices and tuck it under the skin. Next, I rub the turkey down with olive oil (you can also use vegetable oil), sprinkle with salt and pepper. This is what it looks like right before I put it into the oven:

I cover it with aluminum foil before putting in oven and remove the foil for about the last hour or so of cooking to brown the turkey.

Side Note: After preparing poultry, I spray down my counters, and sink with a bleach cleaner to make sure and kill any bacteria before I prepare any other food.

After roasting for about 5 1/4 hours at 325 degrees, and the turkey has reached 165 degrees internally, it comes out looking like this:

For more tips on thawing and roasting a turkey you can check out the USDA website by clicking here.

What are the traditions and recipes that are your family favorites? If you'd like to share, please leave us a comment.

Thankful Thursday

2009-11-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

As I was sitting here with my grandson this morning, listening to his endless chatter, I became completely overwhelmed with gratefulness once again. I was reminded of what a blessed woman I am to have these amazing children be a part of my day to day life.

Just some of the things I am thankful that I am able to experience with them around:

lots of snuggles
endless chatter
amazing company
loud squeals of laughter when they are chasing each other around the yard (or through the house)
wrestling matches
fun teaching moments (6 year old Devin - referring to sandwiches: "Two halves + one whole = 'a double whole'.")
lots of snuggles
lots and lots of artwork (Even the artwork on the coffee table done with a black sharpie pen reminds me of how blessed I am to have them around.)
the new things I learn every day (This week I learned that hand sanitizer will take a silver sharpie mural off of the lamp ;), but it won’t take black sharpie off of the coffee table.)
did I mention all the snuggles and love I am blessed with????

So anyway, as I was sitting there basking in the blessedness (is that even a word?) of my life and feeling so incredibly thankful for so many things, I realized it is only ONE WEEK until Thanksgiving!!!! Seriously, where has this year gone?!?

As we celebrate this season of giving thanks, what are you finding yourself thankful for?

Keeping Germs At Bay

2009-10-11T12:02:00.000-07:00

With flu season in full swing, I have found myself feeling a bit like the ‘germ police’. It seems like every other sentence out of my mouth the past couple of weeks has had something to do with washing hands or sanitizing. At moments I even catch myself about to frisk the kids to check for germs. Just kidding. I’m not quite that bad.

But, seriously, in spite of my best efforts of keeping sickness at bay, I am staying home from church today with my son, who has been ill all weekend with the flu. So, I figured I might as well make good use of my time and put up a blog post while I'm watching football.

While I don’t have any control over what my son's exposed to or how well he remembers to wash his hands when he goes to his Adult Transition Program during the day, I can still work to keep my home as germ free as possible.

In addition to the frequent hand washing and other recommended ways to prevent the spread of illnesses, here are a few tips I’ve learned over the years:

CLEANING TOYS IN THE DISHWASHER

My dishwasher is my friend!! Did you know that you can use the dishwasher to sanitize many household things, besides dishes? When I am in sanitizing mode, I go through the house and start gathering toys and other random items for the dishwasher. Here is a list of just a few of the items I’ve used the dishwasher for:

kids plastic toys, including bath toys
pet toys
toothbrush holders and soap dishes
toothbrushes
scrub brushes, kitchen sponges, vegetable brushes, baby bottle brushes
cup holders from car
makeup brushes
brushes & combs

It’s a good idea to use the top shelf for toys, brushes, or anything else that you aren’t sure of it’s durability. If you have toys with small parts you can get a dishwasher basket that will fit in the top rack.

I’ve even heard some people use the dishwasher to sanitize their trash cans and lids, though, personally I’ve never tried that.

CLEANING TOYS IN THE SINK

If you don’t have a dishwasher, or you prefer bleach as a method of sanitizing, you can use the following method.

wash in warm, soapy water
rinse in clean water
fill sink with one part bleach to 10 parts water and submerge items for 10 to 20 minutes.
rinse thoroughly
air dry

CLEANING/SANITIZING WITH BLEACH SPRAY

For an inexpensive and effective way to kill bacteria and viruses around the house mix 1 ounce of bleach with 20 ounces of water. This can be safely used around the house on all non-porous surfaces like counters, door handles, sinks, baby changing stations, plastic toys of any type, etc. etc.

I’ve read that you don’t have to worry about toxic residue because bleach breaks down very easily into its component parts within 24 hours. Just spritz the diluted bleach mixture on all the surfaces at night before bedtime and you will have a lot less on your mind the next day about keeping your family healthy.

If ‘Lysol’ is you cleaning agent of choice, be aware that it kills bacteria, NOT viruses. That means flu and cold viruses will still be present after using Lysol.

Diluted bleach, on the other hand, does kill the flu and cold viruses as well as bacteria.

CLEANING PLUSH TOYS

Occasionally I run plush toys through the gentle cycle in the washing machine and dryer to make sure they are clean.

If you have any additional tips that you use in your home, please feel free to share by leaving a comment.

Well I guess since I’m stuck at home I will just have to curl up and enjoy a football game or two. That is, after I gather a few random things and run them through the dishwasher. ;)

Happy Sunday!!

Simmering Stovetop Potpourri

2009-10-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about Fall is the yummy smell of potpourri permeating my home. What I don’t like is the price of those yummy smelling potpourri concoctions. So years ago I started making my own version, using ingredients already present in my pantry.

All you do is throw a few ingredients into a pan of water and simmer on the stove. Here’s how easy it is:

Fill a small saucepan with about 1 to 1½ cups of water. Then add the following ingredients:

1 cinnamon stick (or about a tsp. of ground cinnamon)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Heat on stove until it just begins to boil, then lower heat to a low simmer. Add water as needed.

For variation, sometimes I’ll throw in a few whole cloves or some ground allspice. If I’m in a fruity mood, I’ll even place a whole tangerine or lemon in, or cut an apple in half and put it in.

Really, it’s that simple. And before you know it your whole house smells like you’ve been hard at work, baking yummy treats.

The only problem is, now I'm craving a piece of apple pie. :)

Thankful Thursday

2009-09-24T10:00:00.002-07:00

I just can't help but be thankful this morning. Thankful for a God who looks beyond all outward appearances and talents and goes straight to the heart of His people.

Last weekend Pastor Frank continued his series entitled 'Psalms ~ Desiring God'. In order to better understand the author, David, he took us to the book of Samuel; all the way back to when David was still a boy, working in his father's field. The Lord had sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the future King of Israel. After Samuel assumed it would be Eliab, the obvious choice, comes this verse:

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a persons thoughts & intentions.” 1Samuel 16:7 New Living Translation

I don't know about you, but that is very encouraging to me.

God sees things inside of not only me, but each one of us that we can't even think or imagine. Take David for example. Of all the sons that Jesse had, David was the one least likely to be a candidate to be anointed as the future King of Israel. He was so unlikely a choice that Jesse didn't even call him out of the field when Samuel had him call his sons in. After all, he was the youngest. And it's not like he was already out leading people, showing his leadership skills at an early age. He worked out in the field, watching over sheep. And yet God saw in him a heart that would follow hard after God. He didn't see one who would be perfect or who wouldn't make mistakes. But, God saw something that no one else saw. He saw a future King.

The truth is, it's the outward appearance and abilities one has that impress people. But it's the thoughts and intentions within the heart that impress God. People have the ability to look ahead and see where someone's abilities may take them. But it's what is deep in a person's heart that can take one to places that only God can fathom.

I think this is a great lesson for all of us Moms. To not only be open to God using us in ways we can't imagine, but also being aware of this thought as we raise up our children. It's a great lesson as to how we should be as parents, not just noticing what is obvious in our children, but also seeing into their hearts and recognizing things within them that they don't see for themselves.

Let's let today be a day of believing God for things that seem unimaginable!!

Fruitful Fridays - Biscuits and Gravy

2009-09-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of "Breakfast for Dinner Nights". One of my favorite dishes to make is Biscuits and Gravy. This dish is so easy and quick, too!

For those of you that need an exact ingredient amount, you might want to skip reading how I make this. I never measure for this recipe, so I'll give you a link that sounds about right to me, though I've never tried it.

Gravy:
1 lb. Breakfast Sausage
Flour
Milk
Salt
Pepper

When I make Biscuits and Gravy I like to use 1 pound of breakfast sausage (did I mention this is not a low-fat dish???) and brown it in a large skillet. Then I stir in about 2-4 heaping tablespoons of flour. Once all of the flour is absorbed, I stir in about 2-4 more scoops of flour. I like to add a lot of flour because I like my gravy really thick. If you prefer a thinner gravy, go easy on the flour. Once all my flour is stirred in, I let it simmer on medium for about 3-4 minutes, lightly cooking the flour. Lowering heat, I begin adding milk slowly. I add just enough to stir in to and make a thick paste. I continue to add milk and then stop to stir. I do this until it is a little thinner than I want it to be. Allow it to simmer on low for a few minutes to and it will thicken.

For Biscuits, I use several options. The simplest version is a piece of toast. My mom would make this and call it S.O.S. ('stuff' on a shingle ;-). Next option is a tube of biscuits baked in the oven. If I want to make biscuits from scratch, they're not that difficult. Here's a recipe I use:

Biscuits:
2 cups flour
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
5 tbsp vegetable shorting
1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk if I'm in a pinch)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix dry ingredients and cut in the shortening. Add milk slowly forming a rough dough. Do not "over" kneed. Roll out and cut into biscuits or dollop mounds on to a baking sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

YES!! I’m NOT OLD!!

2009-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

As moms, we often wonder what goes through little children’s minds in different situations. Other times, we are fortunate enough to have them speak what’s on their minds. The other day was one of those times. I have to share this one with you because...well, just because it made my day...and it’s really cute.

The other day my 4 year old grandson had spent the afternoon with his little friend after preschool. The friend’s mom dropped him off at my house and had the following conversation afterward.

Friend: “It’s not fair that ‘T’ has two Mommies.”

Friend’s Mommy: “What do you mean?”

Friend: “It’s not fair that ‘T’ has two Mommies and I only have one Mommy.”

Friend’s Mommy: “‘E’, he only has one Mommy. Susan’s not his Mommy, she’s his Grandma.”

Friend: “She is NOT his Grandma.”

Friend’s Mommy: “‘E’, what makes you think she’s ‘T’s Mommy instead of his Grandma?

Friend: “She’s not his Grandma, ''cause she’s NOT OLD.”

Well there you have it. I’m not old, even in the eyes of a 5 year old child. Yep, MADE. MY. DAY. :)

Mom2Mom Cafe Resumes Next Tuesday

2009-09-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is over and the big kids are back in school, we will be resuming our weekly Mom2Mom Cafe get together. Next Tuesday, not only we will be back together on the Rocky Butte, 217 and Mill Plain campuses, but, we will also be meeting for the first time at our new Pearl Campus location. I'm so excited I just can't hardly stand it.

If you have never come out for the weekly gathering, now is a great time to start. This is a playgroup style get together where Moms are able to sit and have coffee, pastries and enjoy each other's company while the little ones are playing. We provide the brewed coffee and pastries, you provide the conversation. We also encourage you to bring a friend. (Click here for more information.)

Also, our Fall kick-off for Bible Studies is next Wednesday.

The Bible Studies will be happening on the Rocky Butte, 217 and Mill Plain campuses only. You can choose morning or evening, depending on your schedule. We will be doing a six week study called 'Discerning The Voice Of God' by Priscilla Shirer. You can click here to get more information.

Psalms ~ Desiring God

2009-09-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

Seven Weeks In The Book Of Psalms

As Karen mentioned yesterday, Pastor Frank started a seven week series this past Sunday on the Psalms. It doesn't matter how many times I've read through the Psalms, I still find something new each time I read them again. No matter what any of us are going through or dealing with in our personal lives today, there is a Psalm that can minister to us. This is because David spoke from the depths of his heart and soul out of what he was experiencing at the moment. His words prove to us that he was just as human as each one of us. He sinned. He felt lonely. He felt betrayed. He felt abandoned. He felt forgotten. He felt forgiveness. He felt relief. He felt overwhelming joy. You get the point. No matter what we feel, there is a Psalm we can relate to.

John Calvin said it like this:

Psalms are an anatomy of all the parts of the soul. For no one will find in himself a single feeling of which the image is not reflected in this mirror.

I encourage you to join with us in reading through the Psalms over the next 7 weeks by reading a Psalm or two each day. If you read three Psalms a day you will make it through the book of Psalms in just over seven weeks. The other option is to read through the same Psalm each day for the week prior to Pastor Frank preaching on it. I personally like this option. I am looking forward to meditating on one chapter all week to see what God speaks to me personally, and then hearing Pastor Frank preach about it the following Sunday. (You can click here to listen online and subscribe to these messages.)

Week One ~ Psalm 63

1 O God, you are my God;

I earnestly search for you.

My soul thirsts for you;

my whole body longs for you

in this parched and weary land

where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary

and gazed upon your power and glory.

3 Your unfailing love is better to me than life itself;

how I praise you!

4 I will honor you as long as I live,

lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

5 You satisfy me more than the richest of foods.

I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you,

meditating on you through the night.

7 I think how much you have helped me;

I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings.

8 I follow close behind you;

your strong right hand holds me securely.

9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.

They will go down into the depths of the earth.

10 They will die by the sword

and become the food of jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God.

All who trust in him will praise him,

while liars will be silenced.

(New Living Translation)

Prayer is the breath of my relationship with God. It is what brings life to that relationship. This morning the words from verse 1 jump off the page at me. "I earnestly search for you." Webster's Dictionary defines 'earnestly' as: "characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind." Today I am challenged to come to God, not just in casual prayer, but to come with an intensity; to come with a seriousness, calling on the name of the Lord. To come not just as one coming for a quick little drink at the brook, but to come as one who's very soul is thirsty. To come into His presence as one who is serious about meeting with my God. And to come as one who depends on God to sustain me.

Lord, today I search earnestly for you ~ I thirst for you ~ I long for you ~ I honor you ~ I think about you ~ I praise you ~ I follow close behind you.

We'd love to hear feedback from you. Leave us a comment and let us know what it is that God is speaking to you as we read through the Psalms together.

Parenthood Can Be Cruel

2009-09-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Dyane Davis for this post:

As we begin another school year, I wanted to take an opportunity to share some thoughts I wrote down last year, the first day of Kindergarten for my oldest child. Having been an elementary teacher for several years (including Kindergarten 1 year!) , I thought I was more prepared for this monumental event. But little did I know how incredibly difficult this step into a new season of life would be. So whether you have said goodbye to your firstborn, your youngest, or are still cuddling your sweet child and wondering how long these days will last…. I hope you will enjoy these personal thoughts.

Today I must humbly apologize for the times I wondered why in the world parents had such a hard time leaving their children the first day at school when I was teaching. I thought some Moms had a hard time letting go, didn’t trust me as a teacher, or were just too attached. Today I became THAT mom.

I managed to hold my tears until I left the class, but it ripped my heart out that I had to leave my boy in tears too. Where did all the years go? I vividly remember those two pink lines on November 12, 2002 that told me I was going to be a mommy. I remember the 6 incredibly long days I was overdue with him and begging him to come out. I recall the 3 intense hours of pushing I endured, which I would gladly do over again for that moment I heard his first cry and held him close to my heart.

I also remember the times I was too tired to read "just one more story" or build "just one more airport." If I had known how quickly time would go, I would gladly go back and read that story and build that airport with my little boy as he's safe at home with me. All the regrets come flooding back as I hand him off to his teacher....

Does she know how special he is? Does she know that he knows the names of most types of fighter jets and can hit a golf ball over 100 yards? Does she know that he likes silly voices when we read stories and that he can count to 1000? Does she know that he was in children's hospital when he was 15 months old and was so sick we didn't know if he would be okay? Does she know what a gift he is to me?

All of this leads me to the conclusion that PARENTHOOD CAN BE CRUEL. You lose your heart to your children and fall completely in love with them only to have to let them go little by little for the rest of their lives. This is one of the first stages of letting go... and it hurts. But I better learn how to do it well and embrace every new season in his life so that he can become the man I know God has intended him to be.

Psalm 1

2009-09-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

Not that we would post all 150 Psalms on the blog...I just woke up this morning excited about being in a church with a Pastor who seeks after the heart of God.

In case you were not able to attend City Bible Church the past weekend, over the next several weeks, Pastor Frank will be teaching out of the Psalms. (Click here to subscribe to these messages.) He is exhorting us to have a passionate desire for God, the way David did in the Psalms. He asked everyone to read at least one Psalm a day during this series.

Here is Psalm 1 from the New Living Translation:

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

The verse that stands out to me today is verse 3. I want to bear fruit in every season. Whether summer or winter...I want to bear fruit.

We are so fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest because the trees and shrubs do actually bear fruit year round. We have an abundance of rain and mild temperatures. Other areas of the world are not so fortunate. Climates can be very harsh and there are seasons NOTHING grows.

By purposefully planting myself in the House of the Lord, I can know that He will always supply an abundance of His Spirit. And where His Spirit is...there is freedom and peace. I can be in the darkest season of my life, yet He will come through for me.

Thank you Jesus that I can trust Your love for me will never run dry. When I plant myself near you, I will never have to fear a drought. I can count on the fact that You will provide for me, even in the darkest of times. Allow my life to soak up every word You have for me. Yes, let me bear fruit no matter the season. Let this be a witness to Your faithfulness and love.

Fruitful Fridays - Choice Bins

2009-09-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Hello Mommies!!! Hope you all had a great summer.

Fruitful Friday posts are all about food! Sometimes we have recipes, reviews of products, stores or restaurants, menu suggestions and overall goodies that can make life in the kitchen easier.

For today, I thought I would take a moment to honor all of those moms with children returning to school - GOOD job. Being a mother of three in elementary school, getting them out the door in the morning can be the hardest part of the day (with only bedtimes being the exception).

I want to share a tip I figured out this summer with you that might make life a bit easier...AND the good news is this tip will work for Moms of preschoolers, too!!

Get yourself two storage bins; bigger than a shoe box, but no bigger than your child could carry easily. Make one a DRINK CHOICE bin. Fill this bin with juice boxes, CapriSun packets, mini water bottles, etc. Go ahead, mix them together!

Make the other a SNACK CHOICE bin. Fill these with all those little snack items we buy the kids. Be liberated from storing all the granola bars in boxes - dump them in with the fruit snacks, the pretzel sticks, the applesauce containers, etc. Put all their choices in front of them and save you the time and hassle of giving them the rundown of options, only to find an empty box for the one they choose. :~)

Here's a picture of our bins:

I like to buy my prepackaged snacky stuff from Grocery Outlet, watch for the 10 for 10 sale at Albertsons and there's always Costco (but you have to have a membership or a friend grab some for you).

Otherwise, never underestimate the pure goodness of the snack-size ziplock baggie. You can save your self a ton of money and time by buying the big bag of pretzels or box of Kix cereal and take 5 minutes to package them up. When you're done, throw them in the snack bin. You're good to GO!

These bins have made my life easier because inevitably they all want something different anyway, and I love empowering them to make their choices. Summer or school-time, whenever I pack a lunch I send them to the bins to make 1 drink choice and 1-2 snack choices. It also works when they are feeling hungry. I tell them to go to the bin rather than rummaging around my pantry.

Hope this helps...do any of you have any tips for making brown bag lunches easier? Check back next week and I'll share some menu suggestions for packing lunches.

We're Baaaaack....And Thankful Thursday

2009-09-10T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, Hello Moms!!! I have to say that I have missed getting together with you all over the summer and I am so looking forward to mom2mom cafe starting back up in just 12 days. Yay!! September 22 to be exact. But, we'll be posting more information on that in the days to come.

Even though I really did want to keep the blog updated over the Summer, I have come to realize that I am just no good at posting in the summertime. I know, I know...acknowledging the problem is the first step to overcoming it. ;)

Well, Fall is here and with it are my very best intentions to do better. Our heart for this blog here at mom2mom cafe is that it would be a blessing to you. So...what I would like from you is to know what is on your heart? What are your biggest concerns as a mom that you would like us to address? Just leave us a comment or email us at mom2momcafe@citybiblechurch.org and let us know what topics you would like to see posts about.

Until then, I will leave you with a few of the things I am thankful for on this Thankful Thursday...

1. Jesus ~ And the grace of God that flows over my life.

2. My husband ~ He is the most amazing man I've ever known. And he really is my hero!!

3. Having my youngest grandson all snuggled up to me watching a movie as I type this. :)

4. My family ~ I have truly been blessed.

5. My prayer partners ~ Don't know what I'd do without them.

6. My Church.

And last, but really one of the things I am MOST grateful for today is:

7. Answered prayers ~ Jaycee Lee Dugard was found and returned to her family. (For 18 years I have prayed for this family.)

What is it you are thankful for today?

Girls Night Out - Julie and Julia

2009-08-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

I saw Julie and Julia last night with a group of girlfriends. And in honor of this movie - I needed to write a "blog post".

For those of you who don't know anything about the premise of this movie - click here for the official website, and watch the trailer.

This movie really touched a very personal note for me. I appreciated how this movie actually glorified marriage, rather than tearing it down (as so many movies do). I was inspired by the realness of pursuing a dream and its ups and downs - and how a loving marriage can actually be the strength through it all.

Yes, there were some swear words, but in my opinion, most of them were at least used in appropriate places verses thrown in randomly. And I will say there was a couple kissing scene - but truthfully - I loved this, again because it showed healthy passion between two people who love each other in the sanctity of marriage.

Finally, the story line of the movie touches the heart of a woman in her desire to make an impact on the world. So many times we have the capacity at our fingertips, yet intimidation and fear keep us from stepping out. This story honors two women who took chances, defeated opposition and saw their dreams realized.

There's my thoughts...what's yours? Leave a comment.

Christian Children's Book Reviews

2009-08-06T10:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Mom2Moms!

Hope you are all enjoying the summer. I have been "go-go-go"; so much so, I haven't been posting on this blog very much.

I did however come across a site I couldn't resist sharing with you. I'll spare you all of the descriptions and just tell you to check them out!

Christian Children's Book Reviews

My favorite part is that they are a group of moms with a passion and they acted on it!

What are you passionate about? Can you act on it?

Fruitful Friday - Caprese Salad

2009-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Fresh tomatoes and summer. They just go together. Earlier this week I made a Caprese Salad that was so delicious (if I do say so myself) that I made it again yesterday for lunch. :) It was so yummy that I just have to share the recipe with you all.

Here's what you'll need:

2 Large Tomatoes, sliced thick

4 oz. ball of fresh Mozzarella cheese (I use the soft kind in water)

Fresh Basil (I picked mine straight from my yard)

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

2 Cloves Garlic

Fresh Ground Pepper

Fresh Ground Sea Salt (regular salt will also do)

Here's what you do:

Slice each tomato into about 3 slices (depending on their size) and put on plate.

Slice mozzarella and place a slice on each of the tomato slices. Garnish with Basil.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients and drizzle over the top of the Salad.

Here's what mine looked like...

And a closeup...

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!!

Summertime Fun Deals

2009-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey Moms! It's the beginning of a new month and that means some good family deals are coming up this week.

The first Friday of every month means FREE admission to the Portland Children's Museum. That's right - you and your family can enjoy the museum free this Friday night from 5 - 8 p.m.

You can take the kids to OMSI on the first Sunday of the month for just $2 admission. Admission to the Planetarium or Omnimax is only $5 on the first Sunday.

These deals mean a great opportunity to enjoy some of the wonderful family experiences Portland has to offer, even in these tough financial times.

Memorizing Scripture

2009-07-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

Summertime is such a great time to spend time just enjoying our kids, without the pressures of school, homework, sports practice, etc.

In addition to all of the recreational time we get to spend with our children, summer is also a great opportunity to spend some extra time in prayer and memorizing scripture with them.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.
12 I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.
Psalm 119:11-16 (New Living Translation)

Here are a few steps to help make memorizing easier for children:

Read the verse out loud to them. (So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17). Say the book, chapter and verse before and after the scripture.

If they are able, have them read the verse from the bible.

Talk about the scripture. Discuss with them how each scripture applies to them personally.

Work on memorizing the verse.

Make flash cards with the Scripture on one side and the book, chapter and verse on the other. Teach them one phrase or word from the verse at a time.

Make up a song. Singing scripture helps children to memorize it.

Do an activity to make the verse fun and easy to remember. For example, if you are working on Matthew 10:30, "And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.", the child can attempt to count the hairs on their own head.

Here are a few scriptures to get you started:

Luke 6:31 ~ Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Ephesians 4:32 ~ Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Psalm 19:14 ~ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 118:24 ~ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 136:1 ~ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Matthew 22:37 ~ Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

Ephesians 6:1 ~ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Psalm 139:14 ~ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

John 14:1 ~ Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

1 John 1:9 ~ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:8 ~ The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Happy Memorizing!!

Thankful Thursday

2009-06-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

This morning our City Bible Church Kids Camp comes to an end. I am so thankful to have had the privilege to spend some time out at the camp each day. I am reminded again of what an amazing team of Children's Pastors and leaders we are blessed with. This is a group of people that does what they do because they truly and deeply care for the children and families they serve. If your child was one of the ones out there I can assure you, they have been well loved and cared for.

Thank you Children's Ministry team!!! Once again, you have done an amazing job!!

Another Summertime Activity...

2009-06-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hi there "mom2mom"ers!

Rather than doing a "food" related post today. I want to shamelessly plug another great summer activity our church is doing for kids!

2009 Summer Music Day Camp

Monday, July 13th - Friday, July 17th

For ages 3-17

My kids went to this last year and it was a great week! The team did such a wonderful job teaching the kids at their level. And the concert at the end of the week was so enjoyable. I was one proud mama!

For more information, or to register online click here.

I hope you have a great weekend!

SUMMERTIME!!

2009-06-11T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official...

As of last week I no longer have any school-age children. It's kind of hard to believe that for almost 29 years I have been parenting. No wonder I am so tired ;). My youngest son's graduation from High School last week marked the end of an era in our household. Since he has special needs he will be continuing his education by attending an adult transition program in the fall. But until then, it's SUMMERTIME!!

If I'm being honest, I have to admit that the start of summer is always one that comes with mixed emotions for me. As always, I am ready for there to be the 'lazy' days of summer, with no agendas. But, with that comes the reality of trying to keep kids from becoming lazy and bored. To try and help with that we will be posting activities that are available here at City Bible Church and as well as the Portland Metro area that you and your family may enjoy.

To start with, our church kids and youth camps are wonderful opportunities for your kids to participate in something that is both spiritual and filled with fun activities. Here are the dates:

Kids Overnight Camp (grades 4-6) June 21 - 25

Kids Day Camp (grades 1-3) June 22 - 24

Generation Unleashed Camp August 24 -28

For more information, contact one of the Children's or Youth Pastors or call the church office (see contact info in sidebar) and they will put you in contact with the leaders.

If you are interested in something educational for your children, the local libraries offer Summer Reading Programs. Just contact your local branch for times and ages, etc.

We'd love to hear from you. What are your favorite summertime activities?

Fruitful Fridays - Quick and Easy Marinade

2009-06-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

I am headed to the Ladies Cookout this evening and demonstrating some various BBQ dishes. I wanted to share a quick and very easy marinade recipe. This one works great with Pork and Chicken, and my favorite use ... Kabob Skewers!

Here you go:

1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Soy Sauce
2 TBSP Lemon Juice
1 TBSP Garlic Salt
2-3 shakes of your favorite Hot Sauce (optional)

You can marinate the meat and veggies in this for a couple hours or even overnight. The sugar is so great in here when you grill it, because it carmelizes so nicely! Happy Grilling!

P.S. If any of you are free tonight, and want to join us...give me a call and I'll give you directions!

Fruitful Fridays - Grilled Turkey & Basil Patties

2009-05-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

Okay ladies, I don't know about you, but once the nice weather hits my grill becomes my BFF. Seriously. I can't even imagine not having a grill in the summertime. There is just something about the sunshine and warm air that makes me actually 'desire' eating lean, healthy meals. And my grill helps me make that happen.

A week or so ago there was a great sale at Safeway on ground turkey breast was so my husband bought several packages to put in the freezer. I wasn't sure what exactly I was going to do with them, but it didn't take me long to figure something out. A few days ago I threw together some ground turkey patties that were so easy and yummy I just had to share the recipe with you all. The only thing is, I didn't measure anything, so I use the term 'recipe' loosely. I apologize ahead of time to those of you who like an exact measurement.

Grilled Turkey & Basil Patties

1.25 lb. pkg ground turkey breast
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
fresh basil leaves, cut in small pieces (I picked about 3 stems out of my herb garden)
2 - 3 Tbsp. olive oil (helps hold mixture together)
fresh ground pepper
fresh ground sea salt

Mix together all ingredients in bowl. Form into 4 equal sized patties. Grill for approximately 10 minutes on each side. Meat will be white the whole way through when done.

I served these with a green salad and a slice of watermelon, but I'm thinking they would also be great on a whole wheat bun with lettuce and tomato.

Okay, now that I have made my mouth water just thinking about the yumminess, I guess I had better start thinking about tonight's dinner since it's now 4:30 pm and I have no idea what I'll be making. :)

Have a great weekend!!

Mad Deal Monday - Flip Flops Anyone!?!?

2009-05-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 23rd

Old Navy will have their famous

flip flops on sale for $1

in their stores ... Don't miss out!

Fruitful Fridays - Mother's Bistro

2009-05-15T09:21:00.001-07:00

So, I would like to wish a "belated" mother's day to all of you wonderful moms out there. And in honor of you, I want to share my favorite Mom Restaurant...Can you guess the name?

Mother's Bistro

Catchy, huh? Actually this place is TOPS! I could go on and on about the decor and the great wait staff, etc., but it's the food that is what makes this place one of my favs! Located Downtown right off the Morrison Bridge on the corner of 2nd and Stark, you will not be disappointed.

First of all, you'll start with STUMPTOWN COFFEE. (for you coffee geeks out there, I don't need to go any further do I?) But wait, there's more...

They have a diverse menu, serving old classics with a refined style. The best part of the menu actually changes from month to month. They have what is called a "M.O.M. - Mother Of the Month". Patrons can write in to the Head Chef Lisa Schroeder and nominate their mom's recipes to be featured at the restaurant that month. I love reading the bios in the menu, as well as, seeing the different dishes they selected.

For a "nice" restaurant, they are kid friendly. My 6 year old specifically requests to go there for breakfast. They serve a huge pancake and use bananas and chocolate chips to make a smiley face. They also have a small, discrete busy station with some books and toys.

I will say, I choose to go on weekends for breakfast. Only on Saturday and Sunday, they serve Eggs Benedict. Truthfully, this meal served with Crab is at THE top of my all time favorite restaurant dishes. Go early and be prepared to wait. The line to get in at 9:00, tends to start at 8:30 on weekends. If you are going with a large party, you better call ahead to make reservations. Prices are on the higher than Denny's, but is not a "through the roof" place, and the quality of food makes it worth it in my book.

There you go...my unsolicited restaurant review. Do you have any other great "Mom" restaurants you would like to share?

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

All of us at Mom2Mom want to wish all of you moms a wonderful Mother's Day. Our prayer for you is that your day is blessed and full of joy. We all know that there is no harder job on earth than that of being a mother. We also know that there is no job that brings greater joy, satisfaction, fulfillment and sometimes heartache. God created moms with a special ability to love our children in a way that no one else is even capable of. In turn, we have a special place in our children's hearts that no one else can fill. Happy Mother's Day to each one of you!!!

I'll leave you with this poem that was emailed to me this week....

Somebody

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby...that somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, 'normal' is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first...that somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery....that somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten....or on a plane headed for Iraq or Afghanistan to fight for their Country.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...that somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...that somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her...that somebody isn't a mother.

Fruitful Friday - Leftover Bananas

2009-05-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

One of our moms, Rachel T. put this great comment on one of the Fruitful Friday posts. It was so great I wanted to share it with you:

I love allrecipes.com, too.

My latest favorite from their site is frosted banana bars with cream cheese frosting. Being a mom of a toddler I always have banana's on hand and usually don't eat them fast enough so I'm always looking for ways to use them up. Smoothies and muffins were getting old, so I found this - and it is yummy!

Frosted Banana Bars
Cream Cheese Frosting

Thanks Rachel!

If you have any recipes you would like to share...please send me an email, and I'll post it!

Thankful Thursday

2009-05-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful to be part of such an amazing church.

A church that is constantly looking for ways to reach out and share the love of Jesus and meet the spiritual and physical needs of our community.

A church that provides a safe environment for us to raise our children in the ways of the Lord; complete with a dynamic children's ministry that is staffed with great leaders who truly care about the children and families they serve.

A church that has dynamic worship and bible-based preaching.

A church that encourages each one of us to take personal responsibility for spiritual growth in our lives and not just rely on a Sunday sermon to make it happen.

A church that encourages community within the body of Christ by providing hundreds of small groups so that no one should ever feel they are going through life alone.

A church that hosts world-class conferences like the one being held this week. If you have never attended a CBC Conference I would encourage you to come out this week. The conferences really are life-changing events.

These are just a few of the reasons I am thankful for my church. What about you?
http://www.citybiblechurch.org/cbc-conference2

Mad Deal Monday - OMSI and Children's Museum

2009-05-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted you to know that the First Sunday of the month at OMSI is $2.

AND on Mother's Day the Children's Museum is FREE for mom's with their kid.

Prepare for a bit of a crowd, but these are great locations to enjoy with your children.

Thanks Joy!

Fruitful Friday - Root Beer Cookies

2009-05-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

During Grandma's visit last month, she made these cookies with the kids...and it was a HIT! So much so, the kids shared them with their friends and now the mommies have been asking for the recipe. Here you go, enjoy!!

Root Beer Cookies

1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Margarine
1/4 Cup Butter
2 tsp. Root Beer Extract (McCormick's has a concentrated version)
1 Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 3/4 Cup Flour
1/2 tsp. Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt

Cream Butter and Margarine, Sugar. Mix in Egg and Extract. Add dry ingredients. Mix well. Place dough in refrigerator and chill.

Frosting

4 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
4 TBSP. Butter
1 tsp. Watkins Root Beer Flavoring (this brand is clear in color, allowing the frosting to remain light in color)
1 lb. Powdered Sugar

Cream Butter and Cream Cheese together and add flavoring. Begin folding in Powdered Sugar. Continue to add until a nice soft spread. Store in an air-tight container.

Drop Cookie Dough in teaspoon-size balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375* for 8-10 minutes. Allow to cool and frost.

These cookies are amazing with a cup of coffee and taste best when fresh cooked. Store in an air-tight container to retain moisture.

Plans Derailed...And An Attitude Check

2009-04-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or do you ever have those times where you spend time making plans and getting all ready to have fun and those plans for fun get derailed because they are interrupted by real life?

Well,this past week was one of those times for me. My sister was coming from Colorado for a visit. She was bringing with her three of her children and two of her grandbabies. We had been busy for weeks making plans, and we were all set to have us some fun! Little did we know, our plans would have to be set aside since my niece’s baby ended up in the hospital, having surgery while she was here. (It ended well, but my niece had to delay their flight home and go back home this morning, two days after the rest of the group.)

Apparently when her doctor checked her last week before coming, her ear infection wasn’t showing yet or something. So we were quite shocked when the doctors at urgent care sent her across town to the children’s hospital because the infection had gotten into her bone and she was going to need surgery. Who even knew that an ear infection could get into the bone? It's so rare that even the doctors treating her had never seen it.

Anyway.....I have to admit, my first reaction to the news that she had to be admitted into the hospital was disappointment. Disappointment that she was so sick, but also that our plans for fun had been derailed. That sounds so selfish that I'm cringing even as I put it in writing. But don’t you worry, the Lord was quick to give me an attitude check and remind me that none of this was a surprise to Him. Jeremiah 29:11 came to my mind:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope.”

Is that as reassuring to you as it is to me? God knows the plans he has for each one of us. So, I redirected my thoughts to being thankful. Thankful that NOTHING is a surprise to God. Thankful that God’s plan for Tylee was that she was here in a city with a children’s hospital to have the best team of doctors to care for her. Thankful that I could be with my sister and niece during this crisis. And so incredibly thankful that the Lord is quick to remind me that He is in control.

Fruitful Friday - Nourishment

2009-04-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Today I am fasting...

When I sat down to write today's post, I was impressed with the word "Nourishment". Though I am not "nourishing" my body with food today, God is wanting me to ponder what it means to nourish myself. So I looked up the definition for this word:

Nourishment -

That which sustains
Something fit to be eaten
To promote or sustain growth
The source of the materials necessary to support life
To supply with matter that promotes health and increase

As a woman, mother, wife, daughter, etc. there are many ways in which I can choose to nourish myself; body, soul and spirit. I am so blessed to live in a place where I actually have a choice of what I can eat. But today, I made the choice to abstain.

Rather than just eating something for the sake of eating, I want to stop for a moment and thank God for all of the types of nourishment I receive. Just like the different types of food nourish the body in different ways, God nourishes our spirits in different ways.

Carbohydrates...these are meant for fast energy to perform the average daily tasks.
Vitamins and Minerals...meant to supply body systems and organs with necessary components for operating properly.
Proteins...for slower released amounts of energy meant to sustain longer periods of work.

For me, God's Carbohydrates tend to be people. I am energized quickly by people. I love my family, my friends and even people I don't know. If people are involved, I can be motivated to do just about anything.

God's Vitamins and Minerals in my life is my daily devotions. And honestly, this looks very different from day to day. For me it is the regular input of God's truth in my life. Most of my daily thought life is centered on the little areas God is pointing out to me that need more of Him. It can be from a scripture I've read, a speaker I love who challenges me or even from the lessons I pick up on from daily life.

God's Protein...this is the meat and sustaining power of my life. I have to put in some effort to get this in my diet. Carbs are easy...they are everywhere!!! Even vitamins and minerals can be taken fairly easily with daily discipline. But Protein takes preparation, thought and time. For me, to get God's "protein power", I set aside time for a more intimate encounter with His Presence. I gather my ingredients of worship and word and take my time to sit with Him. Those are the times that are the "Slow Releasing" kind of nourishment!!

In the natural we cannot thrive on one type of nourishment alone. You can't have a diet consisting of only carbohydrates or only protein. Our relationship with God is much the same. We need all types of spiritual nourishment.

Today, I am choosing to fast. If I am careful to look at my life right now, I can see I am in need of some serious direction and vision from God. I am so thankful that I do not have to "live on bread alone, but rather on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3) I want some of the "Meat of God's Word" today.

In what different ways does God nourish your spirit?

Thankful Thursday

2009-04-16T21:14:00.001-07:00

It must be Spring.

I know this because two things happen to me every Spring. First, I always feel the need to go get a fresh new haircut. Second, I start having the desire to fire up the grill and BBQ for dinner every night.

It must be Spring, because today both of those things happened. I went and got myself a shorter, springy haircut and then came home and barbecued dinner.

Springtime gives me so many reasons to be thankful. Here are just a few:

Warm, sunny days.

Streets lined with trees that are in full bloom.

Watching things that appear to be dead start coming back to life again.

Tulips.

Warm, sunny days.

The renewed energy I feel when it is warm and sunny.

The sound of my grandchildren laughing and playing outdoors.

Daffodils.

Waking in the morning to the sound of birds singing.

Working in the yard.

Firing up the barbecue.

Warm, sunny days.

Oh yeah, and I'm also extra-thankful that I get to go see Beth Moore at the Living Proof Live conference this weekend. :)

What is it you're thankful for?

Coupons Anyone?

2009-04-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Best magazine and blog for finding deals and extra coupons every month.

Here's a testimonial from one of our moms:

"I wasn't a big coupon clipper until Lois (Ross) got me hooked last month.
Before I would do it selectively and try my best to put items together with my coupons to save more $$$, but it never really seemed to work well as I was never as organized as I wanted to be. So, Lois taught me to organize (at the last Ladies cookout) and I will say that since I've started organizing my coupons, I"ve saved over $300 in less than three weeks...on things I would normally buy."

This magazine and blog is all about deals and the magazine has coupons for everyday items which you can use in the stores to save more $$$ on things you already buy.

Check it out here...

He Is Risen!!!!

2009-04-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Matthew 28:5-6

We here at Mom2Mom Cafe pray that you all have an amazing day, rejoicing in our Risen Savior!! We pray that your day is blessed beyond measure.

HAPPY EASTER!!

Fruitful Fridays - Clam Chowder and Roux

2009-04-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Well...I did it! For the first time in my life I made CLAM CHOWDER! And I was able to eat it too!

My youngest daughter's teacher's favorite meal is Clam Chowder. Her birthday was this week and my daughter wanted to make her lunch. I was excited that my little girl was wanting to bless her teacher and I really wanted to honor her generosity...even if it meant making something for the first time, then giving it away! I told her teacher I'd give it a go and that the good news was, if she didn't like it, she wasn't going to be able to say that to a Sweet Little Kindergartener! ;-) (Luckily, I have a great relationship with this teacher and she laughed.)

I found a good recipe on AllRecipes.com. If you have never been to this site...you have to go! This is my "Go To" site for any and all recipes. Readers can submit recipes and then they are rated and receive reviews. The best luck I have is to find recipes with 4 or 5 star ratings and then I read as many reviews as I can to make adjustments to the recipes.

Here is the one I found for the Clam Chowder. In reading the reviews, you can rank the reviews by "the most helpful". For this recipe, the most helpful review modified the recipe by making a Roux instead of just adding the flour. I figured...seeing this was a first, why not add another first...I made a Roux, too! (hey, that rhymes!)

If you've never heard of this...

Roux (pronounced "roo" is a thickening agent for soups and sauces with roots dating back more than 300 years in French cuisine. It is made by cooking a flour and oil paste until the raw flavor of the flour cooks out and the roux has achieved the desired color, a properly cooked roux imparts silky-smooth body and a nutty flavor while thickening soups and sauces.

The AllRecipes site also had step-by-step instructions for Making a Roux. I know this had to have made a difference in my chowder. It was so thick and creamy. I am so thankful for the internet. How cool for me to want to do something new and be able to find instructions right at my fingertips!

Thanks for letting me share a "first" with you. Have any of you tried a new recipe lately and want to share it with us?

Empty Tomb Biscuits

2009-04-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Today on the 217 campus, the moms and kids did a baking craft, making Empty Tomb Biscuits. Like the Resurrection Cookies in the Fruitful Friday post last week, these are a fun way to talk with children about the Resurrection of our Savior. Even the three year old that Robyn babysits had a great time with it. On the drive home she was explaining to Robyn all about the biscuit and the story of Jesus, although her Christmas and Easter stories must have been running together in her mind, because she was thinking that it was baby Jesus in the tomb. :)

Thank you to Aryn for doing the craft, and for sharing this fun recipe with the rest of us:

Empty Tomb Biscuits

These biscuits form a hollow center while baking, representing the empty tomb where Christ arose on Easter.

I can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (like Grands)
¼ cup melted butter
1 bag large marshmallows
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl.
Flatten each biscuit until it’s about 5 inches across.
Spread melted butter, cinnamon and sugar on the biscuit.
Place the marshmallow on the center of the biscuit, and then fold the sides around it, forming a “tomb”.
Place biscuit crease side down on a greased baking sheet.
Spread more butter, cinnamon and sugar on top of the biscuit.
Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Mad Deal Mondays - Free Slamwich at Denny's

2009-04-07T07:08:00.001-07:00

Denny’s is doing it again!

Purchase a Grand Slam Breakfast between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8th, and you’ll get a new Grand Slamwich FREE!

Fruitful Friday - Resurrection Cookies

2009-04-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Easter is around the corner, and I thought I'd share a great kid friendly EASTER RECIPE!

We did this last year with our 8, almost 7 and 5 year old and it went over really well. I was working with the ingredients and Dad read the scriptures. And the bonus was that they didn't taste half bad....

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300 BEFORE BEGINNING.

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.

Add 1 c. sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know this and how to belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt.27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.

Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty! Read Matt. 28:1-9

Thanks to Sunday School Network for the recipe I used.

If you try this recipe with your kids, or any others like this, let us know how it turned out!!!

Planting An Herb Pot

2009-03-31T16:10:00.000-07:00

At our Mom2Mom Cafe @ RB today we got a taste of Spring, even though the weather outside was anything but Spring-like. We broke out of the normal routine and did a demonstration on how to plant flower and herb pots. If you missed it, here are the how-to instructions to plant your own herb pot at home:

To get started, you’ll need the following:

Pot to plant herbs in
Rocks or gravel to fill bottom 1/4 of pot
Potting Soil
Herb plants (the number will vary depending on the size of your pot)

1. Pick your plants.

2. Prepare your pot.
Make sure that your pot has holes in the bottom for good drainage.

Put gravel or small rocks into the container to about a quarter of the pot's depth. This will help water drain out from the bottom of the soil.

3. Fill
Once the gravel is in place, start to fill the pot with a multi-purpose potting soil. This should fill approximately three quarters of the pot's remaining depth.

4. Start planting
Place the herb plants into the pot, with a few inches between each stem.

Squeeze each herb gently from its temporary pot, and tease the roots from the root ball; this will encourage them to spread out.

Place the taller plants in the center of the display, and the trailing ones near the edge. This will help to ensure the best growth. The display may look messy at first, but do not worry, as this will start to fill out and look lush within a few weeks.

Fill in around the planted herbs. Once you are happy with the positions, start to fill the gaps between the plants with potting soil. Firmly push the compost into the gaps by pushing your fingers deep into the soil that you have just added, being careful not to damage any roots.

Add more if necessary. Leave about an inch between the pot's rim and the soil, so that the pot does not overflow when watered.

5. Top the herbs
Cut the tops off the taller plants, roughly halving them in height. This will encourage each herb plant to bush out and provide more leaves to pick at harvest time.

6. Water
Water thoroughly, until the water starts to drain out of the bottom of the pot. The compost needs to absorb a lot on first watering, so expect to apply four litres or so. Continue to water over the coming months, at least every few days, or when the soil seems dry. Herbs like to dry out between waterings, and some herbs such as Rosemary can easily be over watered.

Tips

If you have a large window sill area in your kitchen that receives plenty of sunshine, this can be a great place to keep an herb pot, as it is always within reach while you are cooking.

Herbs prefer well drained soil. Let the soil dry out on top between waterings and don't leave the pot standing in a tray of water.

If you like scented gardens, make a version with only highly aromatic herbs, such as basil and lemon-scented herbs.

Herb pots make fantastic gifts for people who enjoy cooking, gardening and easy-to-care for plants. Add a large bow around the middle of the pot and present to your recipient with a card.

Mad Deal Mondays - Ever After Resale

2009-03-30T21:29:00.000-07:00

Introducing Mad Deal Mondays!!!

One of our great moms is helping us with some amazing deals and sales. Check back every week for a new way to save...we can all use that!

Here is this week's "Mad Deal" -

Portland's Premiere Baby Sale...

April 3rd and 4th
www.everafterresale.com

Only high end items at this re-sale...SALE!
Plus, if you consign and volunteer at the event for only one eight hour shift, you get 80% of your total sales... Not just 40% like everyone else. Enjoy!

Fruitful Friday - Baked Omelet

2009-03-29T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry Ladies for not getting my post up for you on Friday. I have company in town, coupled with Spring Break...Friday came and went.

In honor of having guests in the house, I want to share my favorite "Make the Night Before" breakfast dish:

Baked Omelet

Mix the following ingredients in a large bowl (this is the "base" mixture):

10 Eggs, beaten
1 small container Cottage Cheese
2 (or more) cups grated Cheddar Cheese
1 (or more) cups grated Monterey Jack Cheese

Add any of the following ingredients to Base mixture:

Sauted Mushrooms and/or Spinach
Green Onions
Bell Peppers
Green Chilis
Cubed Ham
Crumbled Bacon
Crumbled, Cooked Sausage
(or any leftovers you want to use up)

Place mixture in a 9x13 pan and bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Then turn oven down to 325 and bake for 25 minutes longer. Recipe can be cooked right away or refrigerated overnight.

Ladies, please remember though, when taking glass pans from the refrigerator, don't place them directly into a hot oven. Let them it sit on top of the oven while you are preheating it to warm it a little bit.

Hope you enjoy this one. Be sure to check back this Friday for the FUNNEST recipe for kids on Easter morning!!!!

Kids Learning Activities

2009-03-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry girls, I really did intend to post something every day this week, but, I have a really good excuse as to why I flaked out. My daughter gave birth to her daughter this week, so I have been a little distracted. :) One of the most amazing things about being a mother is watching your daughter become a mother. It truly is the most incredible miracle.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Spring Break here in Portland. I'd love to hear about all of your adventures.

And, here's something I wanted to pass on to you from Dyane:

If you are looking for creative, hands-on ways to teach your child about shapes, numbers, colors, etc. you should check out this website - no time for flashcards. She has a lot of great ideas to keep kids busy with learning activities.

Have a great weekend and we'll see you Tuesday, when mom2mom cafe resumes.

Pottery Barn Kids Book Club Event

2009-03-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a spring break activity on the west side of town, join Pottery Barn Kids for a story time featuring Beatrix Potter classics and celebrating the wonderful world of Peter Rabbit™.

This special Book Club event will be held at all Pottery Barn Kids stores on March 24 and March 31 from 10 a.m - 10:30 a.m.

You can also receive a free Peter Rabbit growth chart while supplies last.

Pottery Barn Kids, Washington Square
9345 SW Washington Square Road
Tigard, OR 97223
503-598-1858

Spring Break Fun For Kids

2009-03-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hey Moms, it's Spring Break in Portland. Woohoo!! I know a lot of families try to get away but even if you are sticking close to home, it's a great time to have a break from routines and spend time having fun with the kids. The Portland metro area offers many fun outings and activities that are great for family bonding.

This week we will be posting some of those ideas. Since the forecast has mostly rain for the week (no surprise there), we'll skip posting any of the great family hikes the Northwest has to offer ;).

Craft Warehouse in Gresham is having a craft time from 11 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday this week. Click here for more information about the crafts they will be doing.

East Portland Community Center - new pool is open - so fun!
Also East Portland Community Center - Indoor play park - M,W,F $1 (but only up through age 5)

Hope you all have a wonderful week enjoying your precious gifts from God. And, if you any fun ideas you'd like to pass on to the other moms, just leave them in the comments.

Fruitful Friday - Kids' Lunch Menus

2009-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

How about starting a conversation about:

Kids' Lunches

Below is a quick reference chart I keep handy. The top section is all the main dishes. The shaded area is a list of sides or snacks. I try to keep my fridge and pantry stocked with all these items, so that I can have lunches ready in a snap.

Sandwiches or Pitas:

- Lunchmeat

- Cheese

- Peanut Butter

- Tuna

- Avocado

- Egg

- Cucumber & Cheese

Hot Thermos Containers:

- Oatmeal

- Chicken Nuggets

- Hot Dog Slices

Tortilla Wraps:

- Cheese

- Lunchmeat

- PB & J

- Pickles & Cream Cheese

Antipasto:

- Lunchmeat

- Cheese

- Crackers

- Black Olives

Eggs:

- HardBoilded

- On English Muffins w/ Meat &/or Cheese

Bagels:

- Cream Cheese

- PB & J

- Lunchmeat

Ethnic:

- Noodles

- Steamed Rice w/ Hoisin Sauce

or Soy Sauce

- Taquitos

Kids’ Lunch has ONE main dish choice,

ONE juice, water or milk, napkin, spoon & TWO of the following:

yogurt

fruit slices

cheese stick or slices

chips or crackers

graham crackers

toss salad

applesauce

bag of granola

fruit snack/leather

pretzels

celery & peanut butter

carrots & dressing

(sugar treat on Fridays)

These meals are great for lunchboxes with school age children. And for preschoolers, my favorite thing to do is to get 4 or 5 items and put them in small bowls and set them out on the table. They love to "mix and match munch".

Here's a link with a ton of recipes for Quick and Easy Kids' Lunch Recipes at www.kaboose.com.

Will you take a second to make a comment and share some of your favorite lunch ideas for kids?

I'll compile them in a few weeks and create a link to a printable version of our list. Thanks for your input!

Embracing Motherhood

2009-03-18T17:49:00.000-07:00

Each mom reading this has a different story. Some of you are just beginning the journey, while others have been at it a while. Some are working moms, others are stay at home moms, and some of you serve in different areas of ministry. But no matter where we are at in our personal lives, we all have this in common: we share the gift of Motherhood.

Today I want to encourage each of you to embrace motherhood. It is the most amazing gift you will ever receive.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in believing the lie that our children are distracting us from more important things. When in fact, raising them is the most important thing we will ever do.

Maybe it's different for you, but when my children were young, I would occasionally get caught up in a pity party when I was stuck home changing diapers or folding what seemed like the millionth load of laundry, while my husband got to be out doing important ministry stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I have always loved being a mom. It’s what I always wanted to be when I grew up. And still, I would find myself wishing I had the freedom to be more involved in other things.

During one of those pity parties, while I was complaining to the Lord, He spoke the following truth to my heart:

He showed me that I had right there at my feet, my own little mission field, so to speak. These children were my harvest. I had these precious little lives to shape and mold. They were looking to me, not just for their physical needs to be met, but also to teach them how to love Jesus and grow up to be who they were created to be. It doesn’t mean all those other things aren’t important, it just means that being a mom is the most important calling we have.

God gave me this scripture to hang on to as a reminder through the years:

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might. 6 "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.

The Message Bible says it like this:

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.

What this tells us is that first a mother should fill her own heart with God’s word and then deliberately and diligently teach her children every minute of every day. How do we do this? We teach them through our words and our actions.

First and foremost, we should live our lives in such a way that we are a reflection of the love and character of Jesus. We should recognize and take advantage of every opportunity to teach our children what God’s word says.

I took this mandate from God seriously and looked for teaching opportunities. If one of my children had been unkind, I would teach them that the bible tells us in Ephesians 4:32 that we are to be kind to one another and that we are to forgive one another. When they disobeyed we would go to the bible and talk about Ephesians 6:1 that tells children to obey their parents…because it’s the right thing to do, etc. I also started looking for opportunities to pray with them all throughout the day, not just at bedtime. When someone got hurt we would stop and pray; every time we heard sirens, we took a minute to pray for the emergency workers and whomever it was they were going to help. I wanted them to learn that they could pray anytime. I spent time teaching them by my example to love the church and show respect to their leaders (church, school, sports, etc.). I taught them by my example that it was not okay to badmouth teachers, coaches, youth pastors or anyone else when something didn’t go their way.

Moms, the more time we spend talking with our children about the things of God, the more likely they are to get it into their hearts. After a while, it becomes a way of life.

I encourage you to make sure you are embracing this season and not wishing it to be past, because moms, you only have such a short time to parent these little ones and before you know it you’re 47 years old and you have 3 grandsons and a granddaughter on the way. Believe me, I know ;). Like the commercial says: “Life comes at you fast.” Make sure to embrace every moment.

There is no greater place of ministry, position, or power than that of a mother.

The Princess And The Principal

2009-03-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

I have always found it humorous how little ones, when they are learning words and conversation, can have words that come out wrong, but in their minds, they think they are saying it right.

The other day my grandson was in my daughter's bedroom with her. While looking at one of their wedding pictures on the nightstand, the following conversation took place:

Grandson: Mommy, this was when you were a princess and Daddy was a principal.

My Daughter: You mean a prince?

Grandson: Yeah. A principal.

Well, alrighty then. Now that we cleared that up.

Fruitful Friday - Pizza

2009-03-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

I am headed to a Ladies Cooking Night tonight!

This is a ladies cooking group, open to anyone who is interested in learning how to cook whether you're a beginner or pro. Come and join us for a fun girls' night out and learn how to prepare an authentic dish from a different country each month. For more information Email Lois.

Tonight I will be demonstrating Pizza.

I am using my Grandmother's Pizza Dough Recipe...sorry, family secret can't give it out. But here is a wonderful website with lots of really great recipes, ideas and information about homemade pizza.

For the blog though...I thought I'd share some of my favorite "cheater" pizza ways:

For the Crust - Boboli is always a good bet, but growing up we used Tortillas as crusts.
For the Sauce - Gotta admit - the jar Ragu isn't too shabby.
For the Toppings - Leftovers always work!

So the idea of a perfect after school snack growing up was a Tortilla with some pizza sauce out of the jar, some cubed chicken or ground hamburger topped with mozzarella cheese.

What are your "quick and easy" ways for a fast pizza?

Thankful Thursday

2009-03-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name”

~ Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

Today I am thankful for:

Another day of sunshine!
Having grown daughters who like to hang out with me.
Watching those daughters become the women God created them to be.
All of the wonderful and amazing friends God has blessed me with.
Finding old friends on facebook.
Only three more weeks until my new granddaughter's expected arrival.
Beth Moore bible studies.

What is it you are thankful for today?

Fruitful Friday - Penzeys Spices

2009-03-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

In keeping my posts real...I am trying to share what's on my plate this week, rather than stressing out to contrive something out of nothing for you. So this week's food highlight came in the mail for me:

Penzeys Spice - Spring 2009 Catalog

Please know I am not being paid for this unsolicited endorsement, but they are just too good to keep a lid on. I get such a kick looking through this spice catalog, truly a joy for me when it arrives. It comes with tons of great recipes and information on various herbs and spices.

I learn so much about cooking and possible flavor combinations just by looking at the catalog!

And if you get a chance to visit their store (11322 SE 82nd Avenue) ... call it a "Mommy Field Trip"!!! They have more varieties of pepper, cinnamon and salt, than you knew existed. They have individual containers of practically every herb and spice imaginable. And that's only half the store. The other half is devoted to various blends and mixes. You'll walk away enriched (a little less wealthy) but with some goodies none the less.

Because I am charged with providing recipes for the blog...I will pass along one of my favorites from the catalog. Click here for an amazing looking Apple Pancake Recipe.

...I'll give away a CBC Cafe Gift Card for the first lady to try it an give us a review.