A Memory that will be there forever...

There is a place in every mother's heart for each of her children.  A place all it's own.
This weekend, I cherish a special place in my soul, my heart, and my memory...


15 years ago, the Lord placed in my arms, TWO very special gifts.
The same in every way.  Two baby boys born the same day.
within the same hour, and with the same purpose.
To bring me closer to my Lord and Savior.
The Same God that gave me those beautiful, identical twin boys, is now holding them in Heaven,, Safe in His Care.


He took them home that day.  My heart was wrenched in two the moment I knew they were not mine to raise.
My trust in God's perfect plan was reminding me of the reason,
but my mother's heart ached an empty cavern for the little babies that we washed so tenderly, and had to say good-bye to.


There are many that have a deep crevice of loss on their heart. It may be the loss of a baby, or a spouse, a child or someone close.
The Lord Heals.
He promises us that He will never leave us not forsake us.
Cast your cares on Him.. for He cares for you... I know this.. He tells us in His Word, and He has.


It was a beautiful gift that the Lord in Heaven gave Dan and I when we held our dear and precious boys. 
 There hands so tiny.. their little faces resembling what we see each time we have had another baby.  Looking just like our other children.
The moments in time like these... are frozen for the memory becomes so strong in our hearts.
Purposely preserved for the comfort of our empty arms.


There is healing in  time... in the Lord.
I do not wallow in grief,, I do not drown in sadness.
Just the opposite.. now.. not then...
I praise the ONE who gave my boys their lives..
and gave them to me.


15 years of boyhood would be to their gain today...
but rather my loss is my Heavenly Father's great gain.
They can spend their time in worship to Him,
and I will praise Him for the time I had to carry them, hold them, and breathe sweet mothers words into their ears.
I love the Lord my God with all my heart, and all my soul, and with all my strength.


Remembering every tiny detail of my Luke and Aaron.
15 years this weekend.. I handed them back to the One who let me have a forever memory embedded in my mother's heart.

Where I share my heart...and more...

We are all on a Journey.. Every one has their own unique story for Christ..  A Journey that should be kept, preserved and passed on for those that come behind us.

Your Journey may include your Walk with Christ, a Life of Service for Him, an Illness, Loneliness, Sacrifice, and so many more things that cause us to be more like our Loving Lord and Savior!

Why is it important to Journal?
You don't like to write.. Don't have time?

Don't think of journaling as a chore,, another thing to fit into your day.

Break it down into small, simple steps.
Don't expect much, and don't make it bigger than it really is.

1.)Capture your moments on the Keyboard or Paper


Some find it easier to type their thoughts, save in a document and print later.
Perhaps you prefer pen and paper?
Just take one day a week, maybe 15 minutes, and type or write out a caption of what your week has brought, and what you have learned.
This is the most important part of journaling thru your Journey...
To share with those that come behind you what you are learning thru God's Grace and Sufficiency.


2.)Be Real

Whether you Journal for privacy or to share later... BE REAL.
WHO wants to read a fluffed-up version of someone's life.
No.. our Lives can be a challenge and edification for others.

3.)Share your heart
One of the biggest things we sometimes forget when we Journal our Journey,,, is to Share our Hearts...
When your children, or grandchildren find your hand scribbled notes, or printed off memories in your Hope Chest...
they are not going to gather the true heart if your Life by reading excerpts like..

"Today, I went to the store and bought milk, eggs, and bread, and it was pretty much a boring day."
Nope.
Share.. where is your heart?

"This Cancer has shaken me to the core,, I am broken in every sense.. only HE.. My Redeemer can fill those gaps."


Like this... Share your heart.

You say you are not a writer?
Maybe not..BUT,,
you are a thinker, and HE has given you a  Journey...,
Share it.. encourage your children in their own walk someday.

Hide it away in your Hope Chest, Bible Study Folders, Filing Cabinet or Special Book for the next generation.

Here are a few links that might help get you started and keep you motivated to share ..
even small excerpts are a gift.
Don't think of this as a task, but a GIFT!

My FAVORITE Journaling Books!   Click to try them.. I know you will love them like I do..  A perfect place to Share your heart!

The Hope Chest: A Legacy of Love  I have owned this book for many years, and would encourage you to add it to your bookshelf.  Save it for your daughters or grand-daughters... it is a great persepctive on a lost art  - just click the link or the picture.

Do you write down small snippets once in a while.
Save them for the future?
Remember..
Journaling is not only beneficial for someone else,,
but it can help YOU and I look back and see where and what the Lord has done for US!

Leave me a comment,,, I would love to hear from YOU!

Good for you.. Cool Summer Snacks!

Hot Hot Hot!!  It is HOT here... my grass is turning brown... my chickens are super thirsty.. my plants are pouting, and we are hibernating inside!

Keeping our foods to the closest raw state as possible,
and not cooking all of the nutrients out..
the kitchen too HOT for heating the oven...
and fresh raw veggies readily available..
WHO needs to COOK?

Here are a few SUMMER IDEAS that will keep you from heating up that you might enjoy as much as we do...

Raw Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

4 cups raw almond milk
2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice
2 medium frozen bananas
1 to 2 handfuls ice cubes


Mix in blender, and adjust ice as you wish.  This recipe hails from one of my all-time favorite whole food blogs...  http://www.nourishingmeals.com/

(Virgin) Piña Colada Smoothie

• 1 1/2 cups frozen pineapple chunks
• 1 1/3 cup coconut milk (or more depending on how creamy you like it)

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth. If you use fresh pineapple instead of frozen be sure to add some ice to the mixture. Enjoy!

Popcorn Au Natural! 

Ingredients

       ¼ cup popcorn kernels, preferably organic

• Brown paper lunch bag
• Optional: Melted butter, oil, and/or salt
• Directions

1.    Pour the kernels into the brown paper bag.

2.    Tightly fold over the top three or four times. No tape or staples are necessary.

3.    Put it in the microwave and start it on high for 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

4.    Listen for the popping to slow down to 3 or 4 seconds apart at which point you will ta ke it out of the microwave. This usually happens for me around the 3 minute and 15 second mark.

5.    Pour popcorn into a bowl and drizzle with melted butter or spritz with olive oil and then sprinkle with salt. If you don’t use oil or butter the salt won’t stick.

Yield: Approximately 3 – 4 servings

I cannot even remember where I found this popcorn in the bag idea...I had copied it to my recipe folder and found it again a while ago.  

Enjoy!


HUMMUS -OUR FAVORITE!
Hummus Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 4 garlic cloves, minced and then mashed
• 2 15-oz cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
• 2/3 cup of tahini (roasted, not raw)
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• Pine nuts (toasted) and parsley (chopped) for garnish

METHOD

1 In a food processor, combine the mashed garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add salt, starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste.

2 Spoon into serving dish and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley.

Serve with crackers, raw dip vegetables such as carrots or celery, or with pita bread. You can cut the pita bread into thin triangles, brush with olive oil and toast for 10 minutes in a 400°F oven to make pita chips with which to serve the hummus.

Makes about 3 cups.

So, What are YOUR favorite Summer Snacks - Healthy alternatives to the sugar packed snacks sold in stores?
Leave me a comment and share your ideas!

A Glimpse of Summer

What do you do for summer fun?

21 Days of Prayer for Sons

For a mom, dad, grandparent, or care-giver of boys... This Book Study is for you!

Are you a mother of boys who often finds   herself wanting to waive the white flag in defeat?

* Do they drain you, overwhelm you, steal your heart, break your heart      and cause you more anxiety than you ever dreamed possible?

* Maybe you only have one boy amongst a sea of estrogen and you just can’t figure out how to respond to him in a way that affirms all that is good about his masculinity.

You’re not alone!

There are so many books out there today on the topic of parenting boys that I can’t count them. Nor do I have time to read them all. But even if I did, reading these books and putting the solid tools in them to work still doesn’t come with guarantees.

Knowing this, it becomes quite clear that there is only one thing we can do…

Plead with God.

Pray.
“The fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:17.

It’s our hope.

*******************

Would you be interested in joining me for an on-line e-book study and prayer for our sons/grandsons?

Beginning on Monday, August 1st... 
I will "host" a 21 day Study on Warrior Prayers.. 21 Days of Prayer for our Sons.

Would you be interested in joining me for an on-line e-book study and prayer for our sons/grandsons?

  Warrior Prayers.. 21 Days of Prayer for our Sons is a wonderful tool for us to use to guide us in praying for our sons.. Making it a LIFE-HABIT!

Below you will find the links to "purchase" your e-book...

Click here to find your Download for the Download for your e-book:

My Warrior Prayers E-book Download

There is also a Kindle or Nook Download available here!

“I’m IN! How do I get started?”

1. Purchase your own copy of Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most (just $.99 on Amazon Kindle!)
2. Commit to praying for your son(s) or grandsons 10 times a day for 21 days straight. This is a huge commitment, so if you feel God leading you to participate, pray and ask Him to give you the strength and endurance you need.

SPREAD the WORD!  Gather your friends, from across the nation or your neighborhood... other moms of sons, or Grandparents..

Updates in preparation for this study will be as follows:

- Purchase your own copy of your Warrior Prayers..

-Encourage your friends and family to do the same

-Link back here .. leave a comment if you will be joining this 21 day study.

-There will be a Facebook page for comments, updates, and encouragement

-Every FRIDAY of the study, we will link up here to share what we are learning.

Remember.. Every study is a preparation for LIFE-HABITS!

What better habit than praying for our sons!

JOIN US - Transform your prayer life, and be prepared for some heart changes!

Interested?

Leave a comment,,

Invite your blogging friends..

See you soon!

( Click on any of the highlighted text above to be sent to the Pages for this great resource!)

For these sons I pray.

A KOMBUCHA Education- Healthy Living

Ever hear of Kombucha Tea?

Kombucha is a fermented tea made with a kombucha starter culture (aka mushroom, mother, scoby, etc.), tea prepared with sugar and some kombucha tea from a previous batch (aka starter tea).  The mixture is allowed to ferment at room temperature for 5-30+ days.  It can be consumed plain or with added flavoring such as fruit or juice.  Kombucha contains a number of vitamins (particularly b-vitamins) and may have a number of health benefits. 


( This blog is not a health-advisor, and does not claim to prescribe what is best for each individuals health.  Research this before deciding if it is best for you.)  

Follow the Journey here as we have Introduced new and healthy alternatives through the years.
A slow and systematic approach to any change is best, and I will Journal about the different changes we have made.

Here is our newest Tea.. perhaps you already drink this?
Perhaps you make your own?

Here is a great web site, packed full of information that will help answer your questions about Kombucha Tea.
Be sure to click on the link if you have any questions...
All Your Kombucha Tea Questions answered here... Click to read!

You can also purchase this in the store, but it is better and more economical to make your own.

And the adventure begins...
See below for a few resources on Starter Kits for your own Tea making pleasure!

Kombucha Tea Starter Kit Here...


How to Video On Making your Own Tea

Printable PDF. for Kombucha Tea Instructions

Join me in this New Adventure?
I will post and share some of the other beneficial changes we have made for our family over the years...
but this is the most current.

Just plain Encouraging

Below is a video I made for a Speaking Engagement... and thought I would share it here...

To help you keep your focus on where to turn this week when there are trying moments... little or big...

Please share this link by clicking the facebook icon after the post,,, if you know that it will encourage someone else.

Be sure to hit the PAUSE button on the RIGHT Sidebar where my Music Plays  BEFORE pushing play on the video.

Be Blessed.

A Penny for YOUR Thoughts..

If I had a penny for every time that I:

- Thought of someone else's needs

-Showed Contentment

- Acted upon a prompting

-Read my Bible

-Wrote a thank you note


-Gave someone a much needed hug

-Shared the Gospel

-Went out of the way to talk to another person

-Put on a smile to spread some cheer- even when I didn't feel like it

-Memorized more Scripture to lean on or to share

-Took a walk and held my spouse's hand

-Rocked and Sang to my children

-Sat down with a parent and just told them I love them

-Wrote a letter to a hurting person

-Rubbed my daughters back

-Put a grocery cart away for someone that needed help

-Prayed more fervently for wisdom, discretion and direction

-Was attentive to someone speaking to me,, and not distracted

-Used more Scripture in my discussions

-Prayed as a family as we never have before

-Thanked the Lord for every breath

-Fell to my knees in humble desperation and praise

......If I had a penny for every time this week that I did these things.. then I wouldn't need a thing...

HE ALONE WILL FILL MY CUP.

A Penny for YOUR thoughts this week....

Any one?