Why I’m a virgin at age 23- and I could scream it atop Pikes Peak(uncovered)

Thank you, Savannah, for a touching post that I hope the Lord will use to speak to some other young, single folks out there. Or maybe even older single people. God bless

The original blog this was from has been deleted. In searching, I found this post.  

https://beautybeyondbones.com/2016/06/13/v-card/

Obviously, I don't condone drinking or immodest dressing, and certainly not flirting, for a representative of Jesus Christ, but her point about marriage and why she is waiting are very nice. Terrific really. God is known to say that fornication is a mark of someone not saved, so there is that reason to do what He says, too. Obedience is the very best way to show that you love God. 

Sauteed Vegetables and Quinoa

If you have some leftovers as I did today, you can make a nice lunch that is packed with nutrition. Monday's dinner of mashed potatoes, garbanzo beans and swiss chard left just a little to use. Coupled with sauteed celery, onion, carrot, baby bella mushrooms, a few diced tomatoes and some water, this made a good broth. Season with salt, pepper, poultry seasoning and cook until carrots are soft. Add 1 cup quinoa and cook until done.

Parenting Resources

It is tough to fully trace out where our parenting philosophy came from, but we have a very definite philosophy. The Bible is first and foremost the source we trust, but here are some other places we either used or were influenced by. Of course, we didn't use websites tons at that time, it was primarily books. :)

It is important to use wisdom and prayer, realizing people are fallible. God is not.

http://www.doorposts.com/default.aspx

http://nogreaterjoy.org/

http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/  This website was called "A Trip to the Woodshed" when it was first started. It was the only website I went to for advice as far as I can recall. It was a nice group of parents with similar parenting ideals.

We also learned a lot from Preparation for Parenting, Preparation for the Toddler Years and Growing Kids God's Way. I am not as eager to promote that because I think the first in the series, Preparation for Parenting, needs to be used with a lot of temperance. It is easy to take it too far and be too rigid with your child. The wrong personality coupled with that resource, and you won't have the best mixture. IF you use that resource, or the non-Christian counterpart, On Becoming Babywise, please read this: http://www.raisinggodlytomatoes.com/reviews-babywise.php article. Not nursing enough can be a real problem and I agree with the Raising Godly Tomatoes article and did nurse my babies often when they were under 6 months. One did great on the 3 hr rotation, but it was different for each one.

The caution to be sensible goes for some of the No Greater Joy resources as well. That said, Growing Kids God's Way did give us some good insight and I believe doing the feed/wake/sleep cycle helped my kids get into a solid routine early on. Since I breastfed, it was helpful to have some guidelines. I really don't recall much of an impression from the Toddler resource; I think I was in the throes of parenting as that one was gone through after the other two in the series.

The biggest benefit to much of these resources was teaching us to be proactive and purposeful in our parenting rather than reactionary. Doing additional research on sleep, TV watching, and music and the brain,  these materials have given me the view I have of parenting. The result thus far has been obedient, happy, healthy children and a well-ordered home. My kids are 9, 11 and 13 and they get along with each other and us. It was not a scene of chaos when they were younger either. They've always been able to sit still and focus; I wasn't a mother who needed to chase my children around when they were toddlers.

People have told me for more than a year to just "wait", and that the enjoyable relationships we have will change. It is just expected to have attitude problems and angst apparently, but accepting that standard often brings it about I think.

See my other post on some more resources of 'must read' books for the Christian homemaker and mother.

White Bean Chicken Chili (good to follow Monday's dinner with)

Here it is, Wednesday. Monday's dinner left about 2 cups of chicken bone broth to use. If you like White Chicken Chili, Taste of Home has a good recipe where you can use up that broth.

Here it is: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/white-bean-chicken-chili

Oddly, the recipe I have from Taste of Home is slightly different. It takes 3 cans of white beans, and if you freeze beans ahead, it works great. You can mash the one can equivalent while in the bag, which thickens your soup. Also, my recipe only calls for 2 cups of broth. The rest is pretty similar.

Brown 1 lb of chicken with a medium onion in a dutch oven (use some olive oil in there). Take out chicken and cut it up when it's mostly cooked, return to pan.

Add 1 can diced green chilis, 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp oregano, 2 tsp garlic or 2 cloves diced, 1/5 tsp. cayenne pepper. I added some salt and regular pepper. Add the two cups of broth. Bring to a boil. Add in the one bag/can of mashed beans (if you use a can, mash in the pot before adding the last 2 cans). Add the 2 other bags of white beans. Cook for 20-30 mins, till chicken is no longer pink.

**For added nutrition, I added some quinoa to the chili to help thicken it up.

When serving, top with shredded Monterrey jack cheese and sour cream if desired.

Ham, Ricotta, Onion and Baby Bella Calzones

Calzones-4 servings

Dough-I mixed up in my Zojirushi on the dough setting. Just put in liquids first and do the yeast last.  If making dough by hand, proof the yeast by placing it into 2/3 cup of warm water with the sugar and letting it sit for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix flour with salt, make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture, oil, and the rest of the water. Mix well and knead for about 10 minutes. Shape in to a ball and let rise for 1 to 1.5 hours in a covered bowl in a warm location. This is a gorgeous dough which pretty much comes from Linda Fraser's book entitled Vegetarian the best-ever recipe collection. I've modified the procedure a bit since I doubled the recipe and used white whole wheat flour, plus she says to let it rise in a floured bowl. I never do that with dough so left that out, but feel free to do it if you don't use a bread maker. Also, I baked in a 400 oven for 25 minutes, but Linda Fraser's original recipe said 425 for 15-20 min, but she did very different fillings (sauteed veg). I felt the time mine cooked was good for the onions and mushrooms which went in raw.

Dough ingredients:

1 1/3 cup water

2 TBSP olive oil

big pinch of sugar

2 tsp salt

4 cups white whole wheat flour

Filling: when the dough has about 20 minutes left, start assembling all of the filling ingredients so you are ready to roll when the dough is finished.

In a medium sized bowl, mix 1 cup ricotta cheese well with 2 eggs. Add about 2/3 to 3/4th lb ham roughly chopped (I used ham off the bone lunchmeat), 1 lb fresh style mozzarella cut in to chunks, and several turns of the pepper mill. Add a few shakes of parsley as desired. Thinly slice about 1/2 of a large onion and do nothing to the Baby Bella's. Use about 1/4 cup for 2 calzones (eye ball it--grab a handful and place how many you want on your zoney's). Have these sitting aside ready to grab and pile in your dough after the next step. (I put 2 pepperonis in two of our calzones since that is what we had and the kids wanted it)

When the dough is ready, divide in to 4 equal sized portions. Roll each in to a round and place 1/4th of the cheese filling on each round. Top with ham, onion and mushrooms. Feel free to add other spices as you like. Fold over so you make a half circle, and use water on the inside edge of the bottom half as the glue to seal the edges. Crimp with your fingers. Brush the top of each calzone with beaten egg or just an egg white beaten. I sprinkled the top with a little sea salt next. Make a small vent in the top of each at the high point of each calzone.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes and when removed, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese or another Italian cheese that you like. Mine did stick a little to the baking stone, so next time I will probably sprinkle some corn meal on the stone first.

Dip in to any marinara sauce. I used Wegman's smooth marinara tonight and everyone LOVED these. They were real calzones, my husband said :).

Swiss Chard Debut

I have finally cooked Swiss chard and in case you haven't tackled the task, here is recipe worth trying!

This dish also represents my debut with fennel--thanks to a good friend who gave me all her spices this summer, I had it in the pantry.

The only changes I made to this recipe:  I used homemade bone broth (chicken) and we put extra on top of the mixture for extra sauciness. Also, I didn't have shallots so used onion. After reading the comments on the OP, I cut way back on the olive oil in the step for the chick peas. Finally, when taking out the vein of each chard leaf, I rinsed well and diced finely, adding them to the oil and garlic pan to saute until soft (prior to adding the chard). It would have been a lot of food to waste, and it turned out great.

Next time I'll be sure to make a crusty bread and I'll try to have fresh bay leaves on hand.

Roasted Garbanzo Beans and Garlic with Swiss Chard Bon Appétit | January 2008

by Michael Psilakis
3½ fork user rating

Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
Garbanzo Beans:
• 2 15.5-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained (about 3 cups)
• 10 garlic cloves, peeled (I only had minced in the fridge and was sure to use tons)
• 2 large shallots
• 3 small bay leaves, preferably fresh
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 1/4 cups extra-virgin olive oil

Chard:
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed (see above for what I had)
• 3 small bay leaves, preferably fresh
• 2 shallots, sliced (onion works fine)
• 2 bunches Swiss chard, center stems cut out, leaves coarsely torn (I just had one big bunch and used it all)
• 2 cups low-salt chicken broth (homemade bone broth is great here)
Preparation
Garbanzo beans:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine first 5 ingredients in 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour oil over; cover dish with foil. Roast until garlic is tender, about 45 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, cover, and chill. (I just poured around the dish 3 times)

Chard:
Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic, bay leaves, and shallots. Cover; cook until shallots are tender, about 2 minutes. Uncover; add half of chard. Toss until chard wilts and volume is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add remaining chard. Toss until chard wilts, about 2 minutes. Add broth. Cover and cook until chard is tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Season chard with salt and pepper. Transfer chard mixture to large sieve set over bowl and drain. DO AHEAD: Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
Drain garbanzos and reserve oil; discard bay leaves. Combine garbanzos and chard in large skillet. Add 2 tablespoons oil reserved from garbanzos. Toss over medium heat until warmed through, moistening with more oil by tablespoonfuls if needed, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Epicurious.com © Condé Nast Digital, Inc. All rights reserved.

Life Envelope Day

Life Envelope Day.

A way to speak up for the unborn. Technology has made it undeniable that when an abortion happens, a heartbeat is stopped, a body is destroyed, pain is felt and a life ends. Observation and healing programs have made it undeniable that a second life is damaged in the process. Many women have spoken out about how their decision to end their baby's life haunted them for years. No matter how many people say it is a viable choice to harm a helpless, unborn baby if that pregnancy isn't wanted, no voices can silence the bitter darkness tearing at a mother's heart. She knows she was 'with child'. Jesus Christ can heal a broken heart torn apart by aborting a life. He tells us, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Don't live in pain for the rest of your life. We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The road to true healing happens when we admit our sin and humbly ask for forgiveness.

Baby Survivor of Cafe Bombing Joins IDF - Israel Today | Israel News

Baby Survivor of Cafe Bombing Joins IDF - Israel Today | Israel News.

Updated link: https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/baby-survivor-of-cafe-bombing-joins-idf/

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Use of Leftover Green Bean Casserole

I know that pictures would make each blog post I write more enjoyable. It just comes down to time. So, here is an idea, sans pictures, even though I have this dish in my fridge right now. Sorry!

Leftover green bean casserole can easily be changed in to a chicken pot pie. After Thanksgiving, we had oodles of extra food, so I froze one uncooked green bean casserole. We ate it with dinner one night, but there was still a lot left and I didn't want to have it like that again anytime soon. Since it had been frozen uncooked, now that it was cooked I could refreeze it. I added cooked, seasoned chicken, carrots, some broth, and a buttery cracker topping (broken up Ritz with melted butter). The cream soup, green beans and french fried onions provided a solid base for the dish already. I actually had thawed leftover stuffing and some of that got put in to the 'pot pie' adding terrific flavor and texture.

I cooked the pot pie directly from frozen for 90 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Everyone loved it. One family member has eaten it for lunch and thinks it is terrific-- even better the second day.

A big time saver is if you have dehydrated carrots on hand. It was a fast dish to make ahead and nothing was wasted, plus I didn't have to use my fresh carrots and onions.

Adjusting Expectations

I wrote about expectation adjustments a few weeks ago after talking to a friend. You know, a friend...what is a friend?

A friend is someone who understands what we are all about and speaks our same inner language-they get how our minds work. No time in conversation has to be wasted explaining what is meant by what is said--they know what is meant without any problem--inherently. They've spent the time listening over years to get us.

Being a friend means to do the same thing--listen, listen hard, and work to get to know the nuances of your friend's language. Feel what they feel, care about what they care about. Applaud their accomplishments and grieve when they grieve.

In Christian relationships, iron sharpens iron, and true friends tell you the truth in love. They try sincerely to help, even when it may hurt a little. They love. Plain and simple, because that is love.

A true friend sticks closer than a brother, and when you think of family dynamics, that is a blessed reality.

Contrast and compare friendships with casual, or acquaintance-type, relationships.

Oftentimes we interact, perhaps often, with people who do not understand who we really are or what we are about. In vain we can try to be ourselves, but they may misread, misinterpret, or spend too much time thinking on rebuttals and who they perceive you to be so that they don't actually get to know you. You can also be transparent and reach out, only to be met with people who really aren't good at communicating or generally seem disinterested in being close.

My mother always said you are blessed if you can count the number of friends you have on one hand. As her birthday approaches, that wisdom has continued to hold true. She was someone I could really open up to and talk to, we spoke the same language. Even if we didn't agree, she would still be able to listen and respect who I was becoming. She died before I graduated college, when I was a babe in Christ. You know those years are formative. The cement is firming up on many fronts of who we will be throughout our life.


In Christ Alone, (but so thankful for a husband who is a true friend and several additions to that circle)

Teaching Children to Have Good Focus

(2/4/2024)

For My Children, 

This was originally published Jan 6, 2015 when you three were living here as kids, long before the college years began and homeschooling ended. At the end of this post it addresses those who aren't readers. I trust you all will still be readers in a few years should the Lord give you the need to read up on parenting. Start here if this blog is still going! ;)

I hope you glean some useful truths to help you enjoy happy days of parenting your own young children one day. Every day won't be your best or theirs, but loving them enough to gently do what is ideal for them will also be what is ideal for you. To God be the glory. Raising the next generation is an honor!

I love you,

Mom

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just as we are each born with different predispositions toward certain sin, children can be born with predispositions to develop difficulties. Can we always thwart those troubles completely? Of course not, but we can work to optimize the environment our children grow in to help them reach their fullest potential. Too often parents do what they feel most comfortable with in parenting, yet they fail to study, research, or listen to the advice of others who have taken the time to do those things and who have older children. We can learn a lot from the generations before us, if we'll only take time to listen. With so many children being labeled as 'attention deficit', let's take a few minutes to look at habits that help children focus their attention and those which do not. It stands to reason that a child can only be helped, regardless of their predisposition, by embracing structured, thought-out ways to help their world not be chaotic. Please bear in mind these ideas should be used thoughtfully and at the right time. I breastfed by babies, which meant feeding throughout the night so my supply stayed strong--every night, until they were at a minimum of 6 months old. The standard I was taught was that baby had to double their birth weight before they could be taught to sleep through the night. This coincided with when my supply could handle the dip in feedings. Having baby close by when they are very small saves mom some sanity, so again, do what you can but have a plan. With my oldest she slept in her crib right away and I went in to her room to nurse her. With my second child, she was in our bed then next to our bed for months-I'd guess it was at least 4. Sadly, by the time number 3 came my memory left. I didn't put him in our bed, but think I  kept him next to it for a while-surely several months.

-Playpen time: when a child is in a safe, contained environment, their world is smaller and it allows them to focus on what is right before them. Starting this habit before they can sit up gets them used to the space and helps them see the toy they are with. A little gym that is above a baby lying on its back is perfect for 10-15 minutes of playpen time, morning and afternoon. When a child can sit up, stacking cups or blocks are perfect for them to focus their full attention on. A child will often learn to love the playpen time--it is their space and they can play uninterrupted, which that alone is a skill and a desire we can foster in our children. The amount of time in the playpen should gradually be increased up to 30 minutes which allows Mom to get a shower while the baby is safely entertaining herself. It is nice to have a space other than the crib; don't we all like to mix it up a little?

-No TV before age 2: when my children were small it was rather common knowledge that TV watching was not a good idea on very small children, at least in the circle I ran in (was this a virtual circle or my MOPS group?! I can't remember! ha!). TV is passive and the brain is not engaged as it is with listening to a story read by Mom, flipping through a book, playing with toys, or even listening to a book on tape. It is completely possible to not use the TV as a babysitter if you understand that TV watching does not help children with focusing skills in the long run. The speed and instant gratification of the screen should be held off until the brain matures (this would obviously include other screen time in today's world of handheld computers).

-Teaching a young infant to self-soothe: new parents can fall in to the trap of running like they are on fire to rescue their fussing infant, but careful attention should reveal different cries, which should lead to a different sense of urgency in the parent. Children are more secure when they learn that they are OK waiting for Mom or Dad to arrive when they have a need. This is referring to normal times to be awake. When babies sleep, they often go through cycles of waking and going back to sleep. A good medical book on sleep and children will explain these natural patterns and help new parents curb doing things to actually hinder quality sleep, which video monitors coupled with ignorance, promote. Crying out midway through a nap or nighttime sleep is natural and baby should be left alone to settle himself back to sleep. Interrupting this cycle with externals is not helpful. A decent pediatrician or basic book on sleep should arm a parent with information about how much daytime sleep a child needs at each stage of life, as well as nighttime sleep. Parenting practices should work to achieve those goals.

-Sleeping alone in ones own bed: all of my children loved to wake up and play alone in their crib. It not only helped me to get things done before the busy day began, but it gave them their time to have fun. A solid routine of feeding a baby, keeping them awake, then laying them down for a nap while awake-- in their own space-- helps children continually go to bed alone and stay asleep. This is what is healthiest for growth and development. We want to raise our children to be independent and confident, and sleep habits help this from very early on. They should feel secure in their life's routine to lay down alone and relax.

-Regular mealtimes in a high chair: the expectation that 'we sit during meals' should be obvious, yet we have all sadly witnessed children who are allowed to get up and down repeatedly from the table as soon as they can walk. They fuss, and so they are let down. We've just taught them how to 'ask to be excused' and it is certainly not how I was taught as a 40 year old woman. Teaching sign language is a great idea for babies; they can 'ask' for more food, tell you when they are finished, and 'ask to be excused'. We aren't raising animals, we're raising people, and small people deserve the opportunity to learn to be civilized from early on. Praying before eating, giving children the freedom to feed themselves, and having to at least taste what is set before them is very important. When introducing solids, I forget if you are supposed to nurse first then feed. It's been a long time and that is something I simply can't recall. I would guess that I nursed and they were still hungry, hence why solids were introduced. This was around 6 months of age for all of my children.

In closing, there will always be children who have difficulty focusing, just as there will always be the poor among us. Too often parents do what feels natural to them rather than taking the time to learn themselves or listen to sound advice, and then when things go poorly they convince themselves it just couldn't have gone any other way. Don't be one of those parents. Read time-tested materials, not the myriad of terrible parenting books on shelves today that tell you not to make your child eat if they refuse. If you aren't a reader, learn to identify where others' strengths lie and utilize their knowledge. Some people have spent a great deal of time formulating their parenting philosophies and practices, and have successfully enjoyed parenting and have raised admirable children. Pray to meet one of those people if you are struggling.

Originally posted Jan 6, 2015

Communication Breakdowns

It is unwise to discount the damage a communication breakdown can bring to any relationship. Sometimes we realize this with friends, but fail to see it within the closest relationships around us. Most of us realize each relationship we have has a certain rhythm, and when that rhythm gets vastly altered, it is time to take inventory. Many relationships fail because we take people in our lives for granted. If this is a reality of marriage, surely we can see it is a reality in all other relationships.

Double-standards, silence, back biting, unreliability, or being untrustworthy are all problems we recognize in friendships, so doesn't it seem clear these issues would be a problem in all relationships?

It is a blessing that if we are in Christ, even when we are treated unjustly or are wrongly accused, we have an Advocate with the Father. We need not fear what man can do to us, whether emotionally, physically or mentally. With Christ and His truth we reign victorious. We can look ourselves in the mirror, having done all that is in our power to do, and not fret over how others see us. People often see what they want to see, or they justify their wrong actions because so few are good with properly resolving conflict (The Peacemaker is a good book to read if you need help in this area!).

Do not despair if you are the recipient of double-standards or false accusations. Do what you know to do that is right and leave the results to God. Trust Him for your daily manna, knowing He has laid out a clear plan on how to be reconciled to Him, how to be secure, and how to die to yourself when wrongly dealt with.

Sometimes it is helpful to view those difficult people in your life as strangers who need Christ. Separate yourself emotionally from the problem, accept that wrong treatment accompanies the Christian life, and continue giving.

Colossians 3:17

New American Standard Bible
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father

Second Semester Homeschooling Encouragement

Coming out of the holidays, which include more family time and rest than usual, allows for different thoughts and interactions than at other times. Now that the break is over, it is time to throw off the negative feelings from less-than ideal holiday situations as well as the old, bad, habits of last semester, and put on more effective ways! Look not to the past, press on toward better goals!

Some tips to help us all succeed~

1. Look forward to what you want to do the same as last semester, and what you want to adjust. Stay focused.


2. Increase the hugging and verbal praise; there is always room for more!


3. Pray daily for your students, aka children, to grow more in Christ and succeed according to God's plan.


4. Pray for your friends to succeed and grow in Christ-likeness.


5. Pray for you and your spouse to grow together in Christ and make the choices God wants you to make in your planning and educational choices now and in the year to come.


6. Remember that those who let you down or hurt you are the very people God may use to really bless someone else. Pray for your enemies, show mercy, and remember love covers a multitude of sins.


7. Don't be afraid to stand alone in how you raise your children. It is God whom we serve and His approval is worth it all.

It may seem obvious, but parent in a way that brings the greatest health to all of you--parents and children, physical and spiritual.

~Ann

How to Avoid Attitude Problems in Kids

We can't possibly know all the reasons God says what He says, but we can trust He has reasons worth heeding whether we know them or not.

Case in point....spanking young children for disobedient actions and for sinful attitudes. Only when this is done can we curb the innate rebellious attitude children generally are born with. I know other forms of discipline can work on the outside of the vessel, but nothing reaches the heart like properly spanking. Many secular forms of discipline foster an environment that help bad attitudes grow. Being sent to one's room is a great time for vengeful, hateful thoughts to fester. Long time-outs do the same thing. We need to remember it is the heart that needs reaching the most during the formative years, and the only way to do that is with God's method of chastening. Discipline should be quick, to the point, and bring immediate restoration to the relationship. Ideally this is how all problems will be dealt with throughout a child's life. If we only look at the outward action and getting things to flow how we want, we are likely missing the more important thing.

Working Ahead for Meal Prep

Today was a productive day of cooking 10 lbs of ground venison and beef, seasoning it for tacos, and freezing it in 1 lb bags. It actually made twelve 1 lb bags and one 8 oz bag, which will be fine for an extra big meal. Adding one can of refried beans to each pound will make for one dinner for the five of us. It's a great way to help get me through the end of the school year.

I also cooked up 10 cups of navy beans, which I've needed to do for years. Some went to a large batch of soup, allowing me to use my last bag of frozen ham, and the rest are frozen in 14 oz portions. It's such a good feeling to have 4 bags of beans and a little more than two quarts of soup in the freezer. The rest of the soup is tomorrow's dinner.

The other day I froze five pounds of cooked ground beef to simplify spaghetti sauce or lasagna preparations through the next couple of cold months, put two frozen lasagnas in the freezer, two pans of mini meatloaves (one is already gone!) and a large chicken pot pie away.

It seems like a lot of work at the time, and each endeavor did take the better part of the day, but it is well worth it. To get just one meal per week ready in advance cuts down on cooking when I'm super tired. Before Dave Ramsey it would have meant cutting down on one last-minute night of eating out!

Happy New Year!