Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me since my post yesterday.  I’ve been feeling a peace since yesterday around noon.  I’ve been able to keep busy today, which helps keep my mind off of things.  Tomorrow is an important day for me, so please keep me in your prayers.  I am sure I will be filled with anxiety until I have some answers.

O God, our help in time of need, Who are just and merciful, and Who inclines to the supplications of His people.
Look down upon me and have mercy on me and deliver me from the trouble that now besets me.
Deal with us not according to our iniquities, but according to Your manifold mercies,
for we are the works of Your hands, and You know our weaknesses.
I pray to you to grant me Your divine helping grace, and endow me with patience
and strength to endure my hardships with complete submission to Your Will.
Only You know our misery and sufferings, and to You our only hope and refuge,
I flee for relief and comfort, trusting in Your infinite love and compassion,
that in due time, when You know best, You will deliever me from this trouble,
and turn my distress into comfort. We then shall rejoice in Your mercy,
and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Super Easy Queso Dip

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Servings: 2 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 (12-ounce) tub Dean’s Cheddar Cheese Pretzel Dip
• 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained well
• Choice of pretzels, tortilla chips, vegetables, crackers, pita chips or bagel chips for dipping

Directions:

Transfer dip to microwave-safe bowl.  Stir in drained tomatoes until thoroughly combined.  Cover.  Microwave 30 seconds on high.  Stir.  Repeat at 15 second intervals, stirring at each interval, until desired temperature.  Serve warm with choice of dippers.

Best Ever Mexican Dip

• Prep Time: 15 minutes; 30 minutes chilling
• Servings: 12

Ingredients:

• 1 (9-ounce) can jalapeno bean dip
• 1 (12-ounce) container Dean’s Guacamole Flavored Dip
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
• 1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion, including some of the green part
• Choice of tortilla chips, snack crackers or fresh vegetables for dipping

Directions:

Spread bean dip in 9-inch pie plate or similar dish with sides.  Spread Dean’s Guacamole Flavored Dip on top of bean dip.  Mix sour cream and taco seasoning; spread over Guacamole Flavored Dip.  Top sour cream layer with ring of shredded cheese around the outer edge.  Add ring of olive slices inside the cheese.  Add ring of tomatoes inside the olive slices.  Fill center with green onion slices.  Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.  Serve with choice of dippers.

I received items from Dean’s to try. No monetary compensation was received.

Some days it is very difficult to be the mother and wife that I desire to be.  I want to be patient and loving, but when I am struggling with things privately, I tend to have very little patience with those I love.

I’ve had a difficult end to my summer and am once again dealing with uncertainty and worry.  I am having a hard time getting through the day without tears or raising my voice.  Being a mother is the greatest gift in the world.  I am so appreciative that God has blessed with the three wonderful children to spend my days with.  But even with all the incredible joy I am surrounded by each day, I am also dealing with some significant trails right now.

I’ve found great peace in prayer.  For weeks, I’ve been trying to pray as much as I can.  For myself, for those I love and even for those who I’ve never met.  Life can be very trying at times.  We are all given crosses to bear, whether they be for a long or short while.  But we are given strength from God if we just believe and turn to Him in prayer.

My friend, Trish, sent this prayer to me:

Almighty God, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
come to my help and deliver me from this difficulty that besets me.
I believe Lord, that all trials of life are under Your care
and that all things work for the good of those who love You.
Take away from me fear, anxiety and distress.
Help me to face and endure my difficulty with faith, courage and wisdom.
Grant that this trial may bring me closer to You
for You are my rock and refuge, my comfort and hope, my delight and joy.
I trust in Your love and compassion.
Blessed is Your name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Like the photo of Punky (above), right now, I am pushing on.  I am relying on the grace of God to pull me through, whatever that may mean.  I would appreciate your prayers right now.  I hope that in the future I may be able to share some of this with you, but that depends on so much.  Right now, I will be keeping things private and coveting your prayers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Punky needed a nap mat for pre-school at the Latin School. I searched etsy, and found this one. He loves it, and I love that it is gender-neutral, so all our kiddos will be able to use it when they go to the school.  It even has our last name embroidered on the corner.  It rolls up and has a strap to carry over your shoulder.

Less than a week…….

1. When blended well, most of the cell walls in the greens and fruits are ruptured, making the valuable nutrients easy for the body to assimilate.
2. They are full of fiber which is very important for good colon ecology and elimination of waste.
3. They are chlorophyll rich.  It purifies our blood. It fights bad breath and bad body odor. It is an immune enhancer. It can help to correct anemia. It will rejuvenate your body.
4. They give you much more than the minimal requirements of fruits and veggies recommended by the American Cancer Society.
5. They are high in antioxidants and phytochemicals.
6. They will help to bring down the acidity in your pH and make you more alkaline. Cancer does not grow in an alkaline body. In fact, most disease grows in an acid environment.

Read more here.

Michelle’s Berry “Green” Smoothie

Combine the following in a blender:

• 1/4 cup juice- I used Acai Pomegranate juice
• 1/2 banana
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/4 cup frozen berries
• Several handfuls raw kale
• A few Tbsp of Flax Seed
• 1/4-1/2 cup frozen berries
• 3 ice cubes

Here is my very first one…
besides the one that came out very poorly because I didn’t follow the directions- oops!

And here are all the ones I made today!
They are a bunch of different sizes and fabric types.
I love the jungle print, so I am going to make some sandwich-sized ones out of it soon.

This can only be used with dry foods,
so I am going to research what I can use to waterproof the insides
(something environmentally friendly or else it defeats the purpose).

Even if you don’t think you can sew, try this out!
It is very easy and will save you all of the money that you would have spent on plastic bags.
You just throw them in the wash (inside out) and dry.  Easy Peasy!

Rebecca is supporting the work of her friends Shelley and Corrigan Clay
and their non-profit organization, The Apparent Project.

They are working to provide employment for Haitians, as well as providing education, food, and housing as they’re able. Many of Haiti’s orphans still have parents, but their parents are unable to provide for them; they are poverty orphans. Shelley and Corrigan’s heart is to provide families with the tools they need to stay together. At last count they were employing around 70 people making jewelry and other products which are sold here in the United States

Please consider visiting Rebecca’s blog and making a donation.
Click on her name to be taken to her blog.

]]> http://www.ourlittlemonkeys.net/2010/08/help-for-haiti-via-carried-on-the-wind/feed/ 1 http://www.ourlittlemonkeys.net/2010/08/a-great-report-from-the-doctor/ http://www.ourlittlemonkeys.net/2010/08/a-great-report-from-the-doctor/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:27:49 +0000 michelle http://www.ourlittlemonkeys.net/?p=3521 Isn’t she just gorgeous?!

My mom recently had a bunch of tests done and
the results are that she is perfectly healthy!
No signs of cancer at all.

She will continue to have tests over the next few years,
but they will be spaced out from this point on.

Thanks for all your prayers!