learning as I go along August 28, 2010

I have recently finished reading Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women by Susan Hunt. It has given me a renewed vision for seeing Titus 2 lived out in my own life & in the lives of my sisters in Christ. This book is not a long or difficult read, but most certainly challenging & one which I highly recommend regardless of your age or “stage” in life. The following are some of my favorite quotes:

“…my working definition for the spiritual mothering relationship is this: When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God’s glory.” [author's emphasis]

“‘In the beginning God created’ is both a fact of history and a principle for life. God is the source of life and the model for living life. A proper approach to any situation or topic begins with God.”

“But the problem is that women will never come together purely and simply for the benefit and good of others because of the self-centeredness of our sin nature. The what’s-in-it-for-me mentality forbids such selflessness. However, Christian women, because of the power of grace, can overcome their self-centeredness. Christian women can manifest the other-centered virtues that characterize spiritual mothering.” [emphasis mine]

“That love must be taught is foreign to much of what we hear and see of love today. …Biblical love does not come naturally. Biblical love is produced by the Holy Spirit. We must be taught what love is and how we are to manifest it in our relationships and conduct… A reverence for God (the first virtue Paul tells Titus to teach older women) which produces a Biblical view of life is an essential prerequisite for training in love. Love demands dying to self, and this makes no sense until one has come in reverent submission to the authority of God. Love means taking enormous risks, and this surely makes no sense unless one has yielded to the sovereignty of God.”

“We must instill in women a vision of enduring relationships and reflecting Christ in our relationships. …Older Christian women must communicate a vision of the beauty of a marriage that endures. We must tell younger women that the most powerful that they can do for their children is to love their daddy, for in this way they will show them day in and day out…in good times and bad…for better or worse…what commitment looks like. …Only a passion for God’s glory can overpower our self-interest. Submission is simply being empty of self, and this is the key to enduring relationships.”

“Focusing on God’s glory gives beauty and depth to the spiritual mother-daughter relationship. The mutual desire to live for God’s glory makes the relationship work. There are basically two approaches to life: self-centered or God-centered. Since both Mary and Elizabeth had embraced God’s glory as the intensity of their lives, they shared a common purpose. This freed them from the self-centered approach to life and relationships. It doesn’t mean they ceased to struggle with self-centeredness. Surely these women were not immune the the internal sin-struggles that plague us all. They were not oblivious to self-centeredness, but they were obedient to God’s Word.”

“Encouraging and eqipping are necessary for effectual spiritual mothering. The two go together; to separate them diffuses both. Encouragement is the context in which equipping can take place. To equip apart from an atmosphere of encouragement is rigid and formal, impersonal and cold. Entering into a ministry of encouragement is not just an exercise in fluff. The ministry of encouragement is hard work and can only be carried out properly if it is based upon sound doctrine. We must understand what Scripture says about encouragement in order to be encouragers.”

Again & again this book turned me back to Scripture, back to Christ, back to the power of the Gospel. But it is not simply a book of theory. The rubber meets the road in the examination of real life relationships both today and in the Bible.

I am so thankful for the spiritual mothers that the Lord has been so faithful to provide in my own life. I have by no means “arrived” and I am certainly learning as I go along, but I hope that He will give me the strength & the willingness to model for women younger than myself the things He teaches me.

Sweet Potato Soup with Parmesan & Basil August 25, 2010

1 1/4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed (2 in.)

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 1/2 Tablespoons dry minced onion [-OR- 1/4 cup onion, minced]

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon sugar

4 cups water retained from boiling sweet potatoes

1 teaspoon salt

1 – 12 ounce can evaporated milk

Parmesan & basil

1. boil potatoes until tender, reserve & salt 4 cups liquid.
2. saute in oil – onion, garlic & sugar until softened. [Note: if using dry minced onion & garlic, rehydrate with a tablespoon or so water beforehand]
3. add to potatoes & reserved liquid. Simmer 5 minutes.
4. puree until smooth.
5. add milk & simmer until heated through.
6. top with Parmesan & basil after serving.

30 – 45 minutes from start to finish. Serves 4.

Pairs perfectly with a fresh loaf of homemade bread. A new favorite at our house!

find the original source recipe by Robin Miller at the Nest.com.

making baby food August 17, 2010

I have nothing against Gerber or Beechnut, etc. In fact, I bought baby food on a regular basis when we traveled out of town. However, I found that there are many advantages to making your own baby food & it is a whole lot easier & much less time-consuming than you might think.

Some of the advantages that I found to making Nate’s baby food myself included the following:

• cost: buying fresh, frozen, or even canned fruits & vegetables costs less than all those jars. [click chart at right] And, at least for me, it takes a lot less extra time in the grocery to just add some extra of things that I already buy than it does to stand in front of all those little jars trying to read the tiny labels & find the ones that I’m looking for.
• variety: While store-bought baby food have a decent amount of variety, you’re still fairly limited based on what the manufacturer and your grocery store decide to offer. Making your own provides opportunity to expand your baby’s horizons by introducing different things. It also becomes very easy to give your baby meals that you prepared for your family already. In my opinion, this made it much easier when the time came to transition Nate to table food b/c he was used to a wide variety, to trying new things, and to eating the things that I cook.
• nutrition: As with any food preparation, the fresher, the better. Balancing your baby’s diet doesn’t have to take much effort. During the first stage of introducing solids & being on the look out for allergies or sensitivities, your baby is still getting the most nutrition from your milk or formula. By the time you are preparing full meals, it becomes quite simple to just feed baby what the rest of the family is eating [provided, of course, that you are feeding the rest of your family healthy things ;o)]
• texture control: Using your own blender means that you can make your baby’s food as soupy or as thick as needed & you can make a smooth transition from one stage to the next without suddenly jumping from smooth to chunky.

I’m not interested in reinventing the wheel, so in the interest of time & simplicity, here are a few websites that I have also found to be helpful.

• Wholesome Baby Food.com This site is a great resource complete with charts to let you know what foods to introduce when, plus easy recipes & nutrition information! Indispensable.
• Baby Center.com

Ready, Set, Grow Consignment Sale February 25, 2010

	Monday, March 17, 2010 thru Saturday, March 27, 2010 Open Weekdays from 10-6 Sat. March 20th from 9-4 Sat. March 27th from 8-4 [half-price day]
Location:	Old Family Dollar on Washington Ave. (Cookeville, Tn)

Southern Savers February 25, 2010

SouthernSavers.com is my new best friend. For anyone looking to save some big bucks on groceries and household goods, this is the place to go!!! After only a couple of weeks, I’ve already saved almost $30 [which is a lot since I only usually spend about $30 per week on groceries anyway]. In other words, I practically cut my grocery bill in half just by knowing what is on sale & having coupons to take off even more!

I’ve always been shy of “couponing” because it seemed to monumentally time-consuming and difficult. How in the world would I even know where to begin, or how to keep track of all that stuff? And who has time anyway? Well, it turns out that I do have time because this site makes it so easy!

Just watch the short tutorial videos, start buying a Sunday edition of the newspaper, and you’re off and running. Check the SouthernSavers site before you go to the grocery, print off your self-customized list (that also tells you which coupons you’ll need), then clip or print your coupons, and go. To make it even easier, I became their fan on Facebook. Now I don’t even have to remember to check the site periodically. The updates just appear in my news feed & I can look at the ones that interest or apply to me.

This is well worth a little time for all the money it can save you!

[Note: Please beware; You may just find yourself permanently addicted!]

Laundry Detergent February 25, 2010

Laundry Detergent

1 bar Ivory soap, finely grated

1 cup Borax

1 cup washing soda

Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load (depending on soil level of clothes).

I decided to try making my own laundry detergent because I was having difficulty finding a detergent that didn’t eventually irritate my son’s sensitive skin. This one has done the trick and is incredibly simple. Best of all, it works just as well [if not better than] any “regular” detergents & costs only a fraction of the price. Smells great too!

Each batch only looks tiny…this stuff goes a long way. I have liked it so much, in fact, that I am now using it on all our clothes, as well as on the cloth diapers.

Until I started looking into laundry detergent recipes, I’d never heard of washing soda. Turns out it’s a close cousin of baking soda, but is much stronger. I didn’t have any luck finding washing soda at my Wal-mart, though yours may possibly carry it. I found mine in the laundry isle at Kroger. It’s made by Arm & Hammer, and comes in a yellow box [looks almost exactly like their orange baking soda box]. Borax can generally be found on any laundry/cleaning isle.

Malt-O-Meal Muffins February 25, 2010

Malt-O-Meal “Magic” Muffins

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup original Malt-O-Meal, dry

1/2 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour into muffin pan, filling each cup 3/4 full. Bake 18-20 minutes or until center is firm to touch.

Yield: 12 muffins

[Note: This recipe taken from the side of a Malt-O-Meal box.]

These are so easy and turn out perfect every time. We love them as a snack or at breakfast. This is, in my opinion, the only way to eat Malt-O-Meal! The first time I made them I was afraid they might be bland, but they are just wonderful (and hearty to boot)!

eat-out smarts October 4, 2009

We are in the midst of a home renovation project: replacing the flooring in the kitchen/dining room area. That truly incredible mess, combined with my recent [minor] surgery and the demands of a 3 month old, makes for more restaurant going than usual for us.

Dining out can get super expensive in a hurry, so here are some simple ways I’ve learned to cut the check.

1. Have a plan.
   — Budget. Yes, I said the “B” word. Figure out how much you can afford to spend each week/month, and then see how far you can make it go! Make it a running challenge with your spouse…it can actually be fun. ;o)
   — We have normally budgeted for two dining-out occasions per week: Sunday night dinner with friends and a date night. Recently, our date nights have become every other week instead of every week, but it sure is better than none at all!
2. Order off the dollar menu.
   When eating fast food, you’ll be surprised at how filling some of the dollar menu items are. Places like Wendy’s even have healthier options included. Or, try getting just one meal, splitting the drink and fries, and then ordering additional sandwiches alone or from the dollar menu. Presto! Eating out is now affordable again. Make a habit of looking for the healthiest things on the menu, and it’s not the end of the world for your body either. Don’t forget that Sonic and Steak-n-Shake have Happy Hours!
3. Share a meal.
   — My husband and I usually have a lot of fun finding something to split and then deciding on the sides [we will sometimes add an extra]. Splitting meals allows us to enjoy a more expensive entree’ than we would be able to afford than if we were each ordering a meal.
   — Most restaurant portions are double the size that they should be! [Case in point: A healthy adult serving size of meat is approximately 4-5 ounces, while most steaks on a restaurant menu start at 9 ounces.] I don’t know about you, but even if I take half of my meal home with me, restaurant food never tastes right reheated or I end up forgetting about it. If we do happen to be at a restaurant that has healthy portion sizes, then the prices on the menu will usually reflect that, and we will order separately.
4. Skip the drinks.
   — Many restaurants don’t prominently display the prices of their drinks because they are expensive. Buying two glasses of sweet tea or coke can easily knock the price of the bill up by $5 or more.  With $5 you could buy enough tea bags and sugar to make it at home for a month or more. Or you could buy several 2-liters of coke, depending on your personal preference. We still occasionally order something other than water, but when we do it’s a treat instead of a habit.
   — Note: The same goes for appetizers and desserts.
5. Ask for more bread.
   — In order to cut operating costs and waste, many restaurants have cut back on their pre-meal snacks. You can still get them [or get refills on them] for free; you just have to ask. For instance, did you ever wonder where all those scrumptious Cracker Barrel biscuits and corn muffins had gone? Well, as you order, simply ask the waitress and she’ll bring a big plate of them out ahead of your meal [with jelly or applebutter on the side if you please] just like in the good ole’ days. Now the thought of splitting the entree doesn’t seems so scary, huh?
6. Join the club.
   Lots of restaurants are doing promotional deals right now such as e-mail or snail-mail clubs. My husband and I have taken advantage of the one through Ruby Tuesdays. O’Charley’s has some good online coupons, as well. Take the time to check out your favorite restaurant’s website to see what they have to offer!

I was amazed at how much money we were able to save by doing these things. I hope that you will be too! Of course, the best, cheapest, and healthiest thing to do is still to make it at home. But when you can’t, you can’t. And every mom needs a break every once in a while!

P.S. – Whatever you do, don’t forget to make Date Night a huge priority. It can go a long way in helping you keep your marriage and your family strong and united. More ideas for inexpensive date nights to come soon!

easy cleaning September 20, 2009

The other day I ran out of shower/tub cleaner. The tub was REALLY dirty. Nate was taking a nap and I had just gone shopping the day before, so running out to the store was not a viable option. Fiddlesticks! What else could I use? Then I remembered a recipe that I’d seen in a magazine for concocting a simple bathroom cleaner using baking soda, dishwashing soap, and lemon juice. Score! I have all that stuff! My best friend had also mentioned to me recently that she used straight dishwashing soap to clean her tub. What did I have to lose?

It worked great, and I haven’t bought anymore regular tub/shower cleaner since then! Why bother? It’s cheaper and just as easy to use the stuff I already always have around anyway. Not to mention, my hands didn’t feel slimy and as if something was eating at them by the time I was finished. Fewer harsh chemicals used; less money spent. Now that’s my kind of cleaning.

Needless to say, that experience has left me curious about other natural cleaning recipes. I’m not interested in “going green” just for the sake of doing it. But, you know, when it has other advantages too…I had to ask myself why not? I thought that some of you might be interested in some of the recipes that I’ve found. Happy Cleaning!!!

baking soda

tub/shower cleaner:

Pre-wet your tub. Form a little pile of paste in the bottom of your tub using the following approximations:

2 T. baking soda
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. dishwashing soap

[Make more as you go if you need it.] Scrub around with scrub brush or sponge with white scrub pad. Rinse clean.

cinnamon

ant deterrent:

Sprinkle some cinnamon along the edge to your counter top, window sill or wherever you suspect the ants are coming into the house. It won’t take very long for the ants to leave you alone, and then you can just wipe it up. It may look a bit messy while you’re waiting for the ants to take a hint and scram, but it will make your kitchen smell nice while you wait!

from the household of: Whitney Moody

vinegar

stainless steel cleaner:

Spray stainless steel surface with undilluted white vinegar. Wipe clean with soft, dry cloth.

all-purpose cleaner:

Mix equal amounts of white vinegar and water in spray bottle.

The acetic acid in vinegar kills viruses, germs, bacteria and mold. It also dissolves tough mineral deposits and stains like those found in sinks, toilets and tubs.

Benefits of Cleaning with Vinegar

• inexpensive
• no harsh chemicals
• effective sanitizer
• effective stain remover
• safe for most surfaces [exceptions: marble and some finished wood or tile surfaces]

For 1001 more ideas visit VinegarTips. com.

If you have tips for easy cleaning solutions, please do share! I’d love to find more ways to save time and money by using things that I already have sitting around the house.

Fresh Tomato Pie September 3, 2009

Tennessee tomatoes are in season and I can hardly resist the urge to eat as many as possible while they are still fresh and juicy. So, why not have them as the main course for dinner?
Serve this up with some fresh corn on the side, and enjoy!

Fresh Tomato Pie

9-inch pie crust
1 1/2 T. butter
1/2 c. onion, choppped
1/2 c. green pepper, diced
1/2 clove garlic, minced
2 eggs
3/4 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 t. salt
dash pepper
3 sm. tomatoes

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake crust in pie plates until golden. In medium skillet, melt butter and saute’ onion, green pepper, and garlic for 5 minutes. In medium bowl, lightly beat eggs. Stir in milk, cheese, salt, pepper and sauteed vegetables. Arrange tomato slices in the bottom of the pie crust, and pour egg mixture over top.

Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes. Let stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before cutting.

[Modified original recipe from The Cozy Home Cookbook.]