Artistic31Mama

Summer HOLIDAY Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:42:00 +0000

Top 20 Best Summer Holiday Recipes & Activities:

Summer Holiday Pinterest Board:

Head over to the Summer Recipes Pinterest board now and check it out.

Summer RECIPE Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:21:00 +0000

Top 20 Best Summer Recipes :

Summer Recipes Pinterest Board:

Head over to the Summer Recipes Pinterest board now and check it out.

Great Summer Recipes Websites:

Kraft Kids Recipes

Kid Friendly Recipes at AllRecipes

Fun Creative Snacks for Kids at Little Nummies

Great Snack and Recipe Ideas at Snack Picks

Disney's Spoonful Kids' Recipes

Linking up with:

Summer CRAFTS Fun Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:00 +0000

Top 20 Best Summer Craft Activities:

Summer Craft Pinterest Board:

Head over to the Summer Science Pinterest board now and check it out.

Great Summer Craft Websites:

One Artsy Mama Holiday Crafts

DLTK's Crafts for Kids

Enchanted Learning Crafts

Crafts for Kids

Disney Crafts for Kids

Kids and Chores: Our Family Is A Team

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:30:00 +0000

Kids and Chores: Our Family Is A Team

"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2

I've seen a variety of posts about chores that different children do at designated ages in the home. I decided to give you all an inside look at how we share tasks and responsibilities in our home.

I stress to my children how important working together is. I explain that we need to all help one another and share responsibilities. This is true not only in our home but in Christ's church as well.

Right now my children are 2, 4, 5, and 7 years old. I have not implemented a chore chart.....yet. *gasp* I know, I know. Right now I have focused on training my children to do specific tasks around the house. Once my children have learned a task well enough to do it on their own it becomes a responsibility. They have a few minor responsibilities they are expected to do daily, but instead of having a daily or weekly chore chart we have cleaning days. These days are inserted into our schedule at random when we have a free day to clean the house together. Usually this is about once a week but due to an ever-changing schedule we haven't been able to select one specific day for this.

At their age, I've found it's more successful to go room by room and give each person a task to do so everyone works together as a team. If I have to leave to go to another room I give my older three specific tasks to do and when they're done with that task, assign another. For example, instead of saying "Cleaning the living room." I give a specific task to each person such as "Joshua: Put all the cushion and pillows on the couch." "Trinity: Gather up any shoes and put them on the shoe rack." etc.

Just the other day we worked in the kitchen together. It was still a big mess from when we were all sick. I instructed them on what dishes could go in the dishwasher (there are certain items that can't be washed). Not only did I instruct them on WHAT can go in the dishwasher, but WHERE they go and how to load it. As they brought me dirty dishes I quizzed them and asked them where certain items should go. They had fun with it. One more time of instructing them and they should be able to work on loading the dishwasher themselves.

In addition to loading the dishwasher, we set up a dishwashing assembly line. I washed the dishes and set them on a drying mat by the sink. Brenden and Trinity dried those dishes with towels and then handed them to Joshua who looked them over to make sure they were dry and laid them on the table to be put away.

Here are a list of jobs I ask my children to do on cleaning days. We usually pick one or two rooms to do on a cleaning day and do not do all these at once. Tasks that are BLUE are ones that they are expected to do daily.

LAUNDRY

Things they know how to do:

Bring Laundry downstairs and put the clothing in my laundry cart (hamper)
Bring Laundry to the washer for me to examine and wash.
Unload Dryer
Fold Laundry
Load dryer

Things they will be instructed to do in the near future:

Examine clothes for stains.
Use stain remover

KITCHEN

Things they know how to do:

Take dirty dishes to the sink.
Wipe down the kitchen table
Wipe down kitchen chairs
Help with loading the dishwasher
Help unload the dishwasher
Help dry handwashed dishes
Scrub floors with scrub brush

Things they will be instructed to do in the near future:

Load dishwasher independently (working on that now)
Unload dishwasher independently (working on that now)
Empty trash and reline garbage can with new bag (It's a pretty big bag which is why we haven't covered that).
Sweep (We've been working on this; it's a work in progress....they haven't mastered using the broom yet, but they're getting better)

ENTRYWAY

Things they know how to do:

Hang up bookbags
Hang up coats
Put shoes on shoe rack

KIDS BEDROOMS

Things they know how to do:

Put toys in bins
Clothes in their hamper
Garbage in trash
Make their beds
Empty trash
Vacuum

BATHROOM

Things they know how to do:

Wipe down sink
Wipe down toilet
Pick up garbage (toilet paper, etc)
Clothes in hamper
Empty trash

Things they will be instructed to do in the near future:

Scrub the tub

LIVING ROOM

Things they know how to do:

Vacuum
Straighten couch cushions
Take toys to their room
Put away misc items

On cleaning days I like to add some incentive for a job well done and usually give them a reward at the end of the day. Something simple like, extra TV time, extra long bubble bath, etc. Daily responsibilities are not something I reward, but will definitely make sure to praise a job well done.

One thing that was hard for me was letting go of control and accepting their help. God taught me that I needed to be including them more in helping out around the house. I needed to teach them responsibilities and stop having them rely solely on me. He taught me this when I injured my ankle and couldn't do a lot things on my own. It's soooo much easier to do everything myself and the job is usually done right and quickly. However, my children are going to have a difficult time learning to be responsible if they don't help out around the house now and grow used to having someone do everything for them. Now that we've been working on certain tasks for awhile and they've improved their skills it's actually less of a burden, and they are truly helping me. So take my advice:

"Give praise often, don't redo a job in front of them, don't expect perfection, have patience and remember they want to please you." <--- Tweet This

Over the summer I believe I will have tasks on our cleaning days that the kids can "sign up" for. We did this at church camp with our cabin "duties." We'll see how it goes and I'll be sure to share that.

A few things I really like about cleaning together as a family, instead of everyone working on their own, is that it keeps everyone motivated and on task. It also ensures that nobody is sneaking about getting into trouble while Mom's in another room cleaning. If we're all together, we're all working to accomplish one goal.

Once my children are old enough to stay motivated and focused on their tasks by themselves, I will give them more independence in completing their responsibilities and assigned tasks.

This doesn't mean there won't be frustrations. This doesn't mean there won't be bickering among siblings. But the more you try to handle those situations with patience and grace, the closer it will bring your family together.

**Want to see how other moms teach life skills and responsibilities to their little ones? (I think every family does it a little bit differently so it's nice to compare, take notes and apply what best fits your family's lifestyle). Here are some really great posts to check out:

Simple Chores For Toddlers

by Paula @ Beauty Through Imperfection

Cleaning House {with LOTS of help}

by Tonya @ 4 Little Fergusons

15 Chore Ideas For 4 Year Olds

by Crystal @ Money Saving Mom

I'm linking up with:

25 Kid Friendly Mother's Day Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sat, 11 May 2013 06:32:00 +0000

25 Top Mother's Day Crafts For Kids to Make

Through browsing Pinterest and the web I have gathered my top 25 favorite crafts that kids can make for their mom's for Mother's day. So Dads, if your kids haven't made anything for Mom yet, you still have time! These aren't in any particular order, just what order I found them in while browsing. I love them all!

Pinterest Etiquette: If you love this list then please pin the above collage image with this post. If you love a specific craft idea, please do not pin the individual craft images to this post. Please click on the links and pin them from the original posts (this will help you with referencing the post in the future). :-) Give credit where credit is due. Thanks!

1. Handprint & Fingerprint Flowerpot with Poem for Mother's Day by Handprint and Footprint Art

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This adorable craft creates a memorable keepsake of your child's handprint and finger prints along with a sweet poem. This bouquet is sure to last forever in any Mother's heart.

2. Family Handprint Tree by Naptime Decorator

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This is one of my favorites! I love this idea and the colors used for the handprints! This would be beautiful with any room decor and last for years to come. I will definitely have to make one for our family.

3. Photo Collage by The Inadvertent Farmer

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We did something very similar to this for Father's Day last year with my kids. We have four kids and had them hold signs that said We - Love - You - Dada. You could just add Mom at the end instead. :-)

4. Mother's Day Mason Jar Vase by Christina's Adventure's

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This is another great gift to make with kids. This is a flower vase Mom will be able to use for years to come. :-)

5. Hands Mothers Day Card by KroKotak

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This craft is super simple to make and would be a great last minute gift that the kids can make and still be really creative with.

6. "I Love You This Much" Card by A Day In My Life

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Such a sweet and creative card. I would love it if my kids made me this for Mother's Day. :-)

7. Kid Canvas by A Day In My Life

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Let your child paint on a canvas, write their age and name on the canvas or put their footprint on a canvas. Such a great gift that the kids will have a lot of fun with.

8. Handprint Trees by Come Together Kids

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I love this craft by Come Together Kids. A beautiful piece of artwork that Mom can cherish in her heart as well as on her wall.

9. Mother's Day Bouquet by The Trendy Treehouse

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Instead of buying Mom flowers, why not make her a handprint bouquet? I love this idea. You could make these for grandparents as well. :-)

10. Fun Photo Bookmarks by Come Together Kids

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If Mom loves to read this is an adorable, fun craft to make. Turn photos of the kids into bookmarks she can use in her favorite book!

11. Tea Wallet by Is It Naptime Yet?

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I love drinking tea. Sometimes tea isn't readily available everywhere you go. This is perfect for the mom who wants have her tea everywhere! This is definitely something for an older child to make Mom. :-)

12. Typography Garden by A Subtle Revelry

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I loved this idea! It's so unique and creative. The kids could help with planting the flowers in this garden. I know my kids LOVE to help me plant flowers and play in the dirt...mostly playing in the dirt...haha

13. Flowers on a String by Toddler Approved

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Brenden made me a bracelet in Kindergarten for Mother's Day last year. I still cherish it and it's very special to me. I think this would be a great craft for kids to make Mom.

14. Fingerprint Flower Bookmarks by Share & Remember

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This is a different bookmark the kids can make with their fingerprints. It also includes an adorable poem which makes it all the more special. :-)

15. Cardboard Locket by The Cardboard Collective

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This is a really neat and unique craft. The kids would definitely need some help with this one but I think they would enjoy color and decorating the cardboard.

16. Mother's Day Handprint Cards by Willowday

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This takes the traditional handprint art to another level. Making the handprint/cut out look like the child. Soooo cute! :-) I'm loving this one.

17. Flower of Love Craft by Macaroni Kid

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This incorporates all the great features of a wonderful Mother's Day craft....Handprints, photos, and loving words about Mom. :-) Such a cute idea!

18. Cupcake Flower Bouquet by Preschool Play

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What a fun idea! My kids would love to make this! They can be as creative as they want in designing the flowers. These turned out beautifully!

19. Painted Flower Pots by Sparkle Power

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I love the idea of using up old paint cans and letting the kids go to town with decorating them. How fun!!

20. Garden Stepping Stone by A Learning Experience

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This is absolutely beautiful. Such a treasure to be added to Mom's garden. :-) I would love to make a whole pathway out of these.

21. Children's Art Vase by Aunt Peaches

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This is a wonderful idea for displaying a child's artwork inside a flower vase for Mom.

22. Simple Beaded Necklace by Everything's Nice

Add caption

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Why not make Mom a necklace. This is simple and the kids could even decorate the wooden beads for an added personal touch.

23. Personalized Candles by I Can Teach My Child

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I love this idea as well as the technique that was use. What a great idea. I know a lot of moms who love candles and how much more precious is a candle with your child's artwork on it?

24. Easy Peasy Pipe Cleaner Flowers by The Craft Nest

Add caption

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This super simple craft uses basic materials and is something little hands will love to make for Mom.

25. Handprint Flower Tote Bag by Paint Cut Paste

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This is a great gift that Mom can carry around with her everywhere as she shuttles kids to and from school, sports, church, etc. Each child could make her a tote and decorate it or each child could put a handprint and they could work together to decorate one bag.

There are a lot of great craft projects here and I hope you found one of them helpful in figuring out what to make Mom for Mother's Day. To all the Mom's: Don't forget to relax this weekend, slow down, and enjoy Sunday with your family. Make memories, laugh, and cherish precious time with your loved ones. You are special and much adored.
"Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:"Proverbs 31:28

Tips For Surviving the Stomach Flu Naturally

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:05:00 +0000

Tips For Surviving the Stomach Flu Naturally

The last few days the kids and I have gotten the stomach "flu" (or stomach bug). This isn't actually the flu. Many confuse the influenza virus with the stomach virus/bug. I'm pretty sure we all had the actual flu in early January this year. I had an extremely high fever (as well as the kids) and laid on the couch for three days unable to do much more than drink water and stagger to the bathroom.

This most recent virus has our digestive tract going haywire. This virus has me run down, weak, achy, headaches, nauseous, severe bloating and gas pains, vomiting and diarrhea. Thankfully the latter two I haven't had much of, but the kids have had their fair share of both.

So how do we, as moms, survive these horrible viruses when we're down for the count with little ones to care for?

1. Stay Near the Bathroom. This might seem obvious and you're probably reading this thinking "duh," but sometimes we like to go where there's something to keep us entertained (a TV, computer, etc) which are not always located near the bathroom. Our ONE bathroom is located upstairs. I decided to keep us all upstairs (locking the baby gate on the stairs so no one snuck downstairs) where I could lay in bed and supervise the kids from there allowing them access to the bathroom as needed. (Thankfully I do have my phone and laptop upstairs).

2. Stay Hydrated: This is another one that we've all heard before. Drinking the RIGHT type of fluids is essential to healing and flushing out toxins helping our immune system fight off whatever bug we have. Water is always best (good filtered water), but if you think you might be getting dehydrated then be sure to drink something that will replenish your electrolytes and keep you hydrated. Try this recipe for Homemade "Gatorade"

3. Set a Drink Timer. Yes, a drink timer. This goes hand in hand with number two. Use a kitchen timer or your phone and try to have yourself and your children drink a few ounces of water every hour. It's easy to forget to drink water yourself when you're sick, especially to remember to check if your children are drinking when your sick as well. If your children are still young enough to use sippy cups this is a great way to avoid messes and keep water readily available. Make sure they take a few drinks every 30-60mins.

4. Rest. Rest. Rest. As a mom, one of the hardest things while being sick is the to NOT do anything. We see things that need picked up, floors that need mopped, dishes that need washed, laundry piling up and the list goes on. But we really just need to do as little as possible. Pay attention to your body signals. Do what you can but don't push yourself. Just making sure all the dirty dishes make it to the sink can make a world of difference and doesn't take too much effort. If you start a task and get halfway through and your body starts screaming at you to lie back down....listen. Leave the job unfinished, rest, and come back to it later.

5. Take a Time Out. Let's face it, when we're sick our kids can be really annoying. At least that's how it appears when you're not feeling well. Everything they do can grate on your nerves. If you feel yourself getting stressed and on the verge of losing your cool or overreacting; take a time out. Lock your bedroom door, send the kids to their rooms. And BREATHE. (With this particular bug for my kids it has come in waves. Once they rush to the bathroom and get "it" out of their system they're fine for awhile. I'm glad they're not sick the entire time but this leads to typical sibling rivalry and toddler defiance while they are feeling well that can drive a sick mama crazy!!)

6. Group Hugs to Ease Stress. Provided that everyone has been infected and you're not afraid of getting someone in the household sick...sit down on the couch or bed and just give your kids a hug. This could be right after your "Time Out." When everyone's not feeling well tensions can rise, kids can get the seemingly incurable "grouchies" and nobody wants to be around each other. Especially with younger children a hug can go a long way. It's soothing, comforting, and let's them know that just because Mommy needs some time to feel better doesn't mean your love for them is any less.

7. Accept Help. Don't refuse help from friends and family when it's offered. A dear friend of mine dropped off hot, fresh homemade chicken noodle soup for our dinner this evening. It was PERFECT. I didn't have to do anything. It was such a blessing to all of us. If you know of a mama who is sick with little ones a meal can bless them in a BIG way. Offer to bring them a meal.

8. Disinfect. Carry a natural disinfectant in a spray bottle and cloth around with you. When you get up to use the restroom. Spray it down. With natural disinfectants you don't even have to wipe it down. When you travel from room to room spray the door handles, stair railings, baby gates, and anything that is touched a lot as you walk by. It takes little effort and goes a long way to make sure germs don't linger and aren't passed around. Try this recipe for Homemade Natural Disinfectant Spray.

9. Vitamins. When I'm sick I especially make sure to take my vitamins. I usually take a good quality multi-vitamin, vitamin C and zinc. I'm also starting to incorporate vitamin D into my diet since I found out I was deficient. Now how much depends on you and your body. Do some research and ask your doctor for the correct amounts. When I'm sick ( for my body) I take my multi-vitamin and three-four times a day take 2,000mg of vitamin C (I wouldn't recommend take such high amounts if your dealing with diarrhea though) and 200mg of Zinc daily (while sick). Vitamin D levels can vary and it depends greatly on your body's requirement. You will mostly likely need to have bloodwork to see how much your body needs to take. On a scale of 0-100 with anything below 30 being considered deficient, I was 19 and had to take 55,000IU once a week for 8 weeks. Now I'm taking 2,000IU daily (14,000IU weekly) and will be going soon to have follow up bloodwork done.

10. Sick Stations. Have sick stations set up by the couch or bed where ever the sick person is. Whenever I was growing up, my mom would set up a little table beside where I was laying so everything was within easy reach. Make sure there is a tissue box, little garbage can (so tissues and germs don't end up laying around everywhere), a drink, bucket with a garbage bag laid out underneath (just in case someone doesn't make it to the bathroom).

Some Helpful Resources:
Try Young Living's Oil - Peppermint Oil for Upset Stomach
http://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/are-essential-oils-a-scam-peppermint-wintergreen-and-more/

A lot of great natural remedies for stomach bugs. http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2011/12/favorite-winter-herbal-remedies-colds-and-coughs-stomach-viruses-and-headaches.html

If you're reading this and are sick right now and are feeling discouraged let me pray for you:

Dear Jesus,
I ask that Your healing hand would reach out and touch this Mama and her family right now. I pray for complete and quick healing to come over them. Lord, give this daughter of Yours encouragement and strength to make it through these days of sickness. We know You are faithful and care for Your children's every need. Bring peace upon their household so they can praise You in this storm and glorify You through it. What Satan has intended to hurt and cause pain, turn around for good. Thank You always for Your love, mercy, protection and healing. We love you!
In Jesus Name,
Amen

Hope you feel better soon!

Homemade Disinfectant Spray

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:10:00 +0000

Homemade Disinfectant Spray

This is a great spray to use on EVERYTHING after your family has been sick. It will disinfect surfaces without introducing harmful chemicals into your house.

It's super quick and simple to make too.

There are a lot of homemade disinfectant recipes out there. I have another one on my site for a disinfectant CLEANER. This has a bit of soap in it and is meant for cleaning purposes. This recipe is nice to just spray on surfaces you want to disinfect.

Vinegar and water only together is an excellent combination to kill germs. Adding in the tea tree oil increases the germ killing power while adding a fresh scent. I love the smell of this spray because it give your house that "freshly cleaned" smell without all the chemical fumes.

Ingredients:

26 oz Spray Bottle

13oz Water

13 oz Vinegar

20 drops Tea Tree Oil

Combine all ingredients in spray bottle. Shake before each use and spray around household surfaces to disinfect. :-) Enjoy!

Homemade Gatorade

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:59:00 +0000

Homemade Gatorade

Recently when the kids and I had the stomach bug I made us all some homemade Gatorade to help replenish some of our fluids and ease our upset stomachs. Gatorade is great for replenishing fluids but I hate all the horrible ingredients that are in it and refuse to give it to my kids. Now that we can make it homemade that won't be an issue.

There are two versions...the quick version (let's face it....we don't want to be standing in the kitchen making recipes from scratch when we're sick...this is what I used). The Better Quality version....if someone else can make this for you then this is the recipe you want to use to get the most nutrients and benefits.

It probably a favorite tasting drink (it takes like a mix between Ginger Ale and Gatorade) but it's not horrible and goes down pretty easy. :-) (I never cared for the taste of Gatorade anyway)

Ingredients:

Quick Version:

1/8 c Aloe Vera Gel

1/2 C Unfiltered, Raw Honey

1/4 tsp Ground Ginger

1/4 C Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

6 Cups Filtered Water

Combine all ingredients in blender, mix well. Chill in refrigerator; serve cold.

Best Quality Version:

Fresh Aloe Vera Gel (Palm size piece of plant) 1/8 cup

1/2 C Unfiltered, Raw Honey

1/4 C Freshly grated Ginger

1/4 C Fresh Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp Sea Salt

6 Cups Filtered Water

Combine water and ginger in saucepan and heat water until almost boiling. Let steep for about 5 mins and then strain the ginger out. (You can use a mesh strainer or coffee filter.

Allow liquid to cool completely.

Add Ginger Tea and remaining ingredients to blender. Blend well.

Chill and serve.

Makes 12 - 1/2 C servings. Drink as needed.

When taking your aloe vera gel straight from the plant, cut a piece of the leaf about the size of the palm of your hand....

Cut off the thick green skin and scrape out the gel on the inside.

This should give you about 1/8 cup of gel.

Add this to your gatorade and enjoy the benefits! :-)

All God's Weather Is Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:39:00 +0000

All God's Weather Is Beautiful

All God's Weather Is Beautiful: Rainbow After the Storm

"Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth" Genesis 9:16

So this past weekend while I was out at my Grandma's I kept saying how PERFECT the weather was and how I LOVED days like these. It was in the 70s, there was a gentle breeze, white clouds, crystal blue sky, vibrant green grass, apple blossoms floating to the ground, bees buzzing, wind chimes...okay well I think you get the picture.

At one point my grandma said that all God's weather is perfect because He has a purpose for everything He does. It made me pause and think. How many times we complain about the hot summer weather, or the snow or rain that cancelled plans, yet they all play an intricate part of a plan God had laid out.

I think we need to praise Him for the "perfect" days as well as the rainy day because those are just as perfect and just as much beauty can be found in them as well.

A couple days after my Grandma spoke those words I found this quote on Twitter:

"Complaining about the weather indicates we miss the bigger picture of God's purposes in nature." ~ John Chisum ( @revchiz )

I shared this status on Facebook and right after doing so there was an AMAZING rainbow that appeared in the sky. The sunset was shining brilliantly through the parted clouds against a backdrop of dark gray storm clouds that already passed over. The rain was still falling through the golden sun rays and glistened like thousands of tiny gems cascading from the clouds. The colors of the rainbow vibrantly thrived overhead as if God read that status and was saying "I agree."

:-)

Strawberry Pound Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Strawberry Pound Cake

I was on a strawberry kick! A week or so ago as Spring weather finally crept into our area, the warm weather made me think strawberries! There is just something about Spring/Summer and Strawberries that I love. My late grandparents' church has a strawberry festival every year. Every once in awhile my aunt would take my brother and I to go along with my cousins who were already there. It was a wonderful time! Picture a small country church, warm spring/summer breeze rustling through the trees, birds chirping happily perched on the branches, sun rays dancing through each leaf, children laughing and giggling chasing each other through the church parking lot, and the clatter of dishes as volunteers in the kitchen serve hungry guests their favorite strawberry desserts. The best part was the smell. The invigorating mixture of sweet, pure country air and the aroma of baked goods topped with strawberries. It was a memory strong enough to embed itself into the "never forgotten" section of someone's mind. Ah, yes, now on to our recipe....

The Original Recipe can be found over at Happy Food Happy Life Blog (I altered it very slightly by substituting whole wheat flour and adding wheat gluten).

Ingredients

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs, separated

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup wheat gluten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh strawberries, chopped

for the Glaze:

4 Tablespoons butter, softened (next time I think I might just use the strawberry puree and sugar and leave out the butter)

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup strawberry puree

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Coat (flour and butter) an 8" loaf pan.

First I prepped my strawberries. Washed them, cut them and made my puree.

Then I simply followed the rest of the recipe directions:

I creamed the butter and sugar in my stand mixer until it was "fluffy" (although mine didn't fluff very well).

Then added each egg yolk one at a time and mix each one thoroughly.

Gradually add in flour and wheat gluten. Then add vanilla.

Place this mixture into a separate medium sized bowl.

Mix egg whites and salt in mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites then your strawberries into the mixture from the first bowl.

Spoon mixture into loaf pan.

Bake 45-50 mins until inserted knife comes out clean.

Make your glaze:
Put 7-8 strawberries in blender and puree.
In small bowl combine powdered sugar and butter with puree. (Butter can be optional).

Drizzle on top of completely cooled cake.

My Testimony: A Diamond In The Rough

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:54:00 +0000

My Testimony: A Diamond In The Rough

"Daddy will you pray with me? I want to ask Jesus to live in my heart?" Said a little girl, almost five years old, girl to her father. She went into her bedroom and, with her father's guidance, prayed for Jesus to come live in her heart.

That was it. She was a "Christian." She was saved. The end. Right?

That small girl was me. I can't remember too many details of that prayer, only what was told to me by my father. For years, I thought my testimony was boring and uneventful. Anytime I was asked to share my testimony I always felt as if there needed to be more... I would try to make it sound as interesting as I could but summed up it usually sounded like this: "I accepted Christ as my savior at the age of four, was raised in a loving Christian home, and have served in the church all my life." Not exactly the powerful "Saul to Paul" testimony of transformation that people are inspired by.

My spiritual transformation wouldn't take place overnight or a single moment going upfront during a church service. Little did I know at the time, my testimony would develop in layers, over the course of years, and will never stop being written until I'm home with Jesus.

When I was in my late teens my hormones took over and I fit the description of a "hopeless romantic" to a T. I ignored the truest relationship in my life (Jesus) for the pursuit of something more "real." Everything I did was saturated with seeking out acceptance and love that was more tangible.

After a few failed relationships and having my heart broken too many times, I was discouraged and looked for reasons as to why my love wasn't being accepted. I started to believe if I wasn't such a "good girl" I would have a more successful relationship with someone. I grew tired of being the "goody-too-shoes-Bible-girl", the "Jesus Freak", the boring "Church Girl." For years I took pride in those titles and was unashamed to carry them. However,I was tired of being hurt again and again because I followed the rules. According to the world, I wasn't wild enough, I was too sheltered, I was inexperienced. So, my flesh cried out in rebellion....and I gave in.

Following poor advice from my "friends" at the time, I experienced getting drunk for the first time, smoked cigarettes, and tried snuff (once). I sought out love from boyfriends by offering them physical intimacy hoping to form a deeper bond in our relationship. In my friends' terms I was breaking free of my sheltered life and finally "experiencing life." I thought the more I experienced life the more I would be able to handle a mature adult relationship that I longed for.

I searched for fulfillment in earthly pleasures and relationships instead of turning to Jesus. They only provided a temporary satisfaction but left an ever growing hole in my heart. My spirit felt as though I was swirling around being sucked further into a black hole with no way out. My brain told my heart, I wasn't rejecting Jesus....I was just bending the rules a bit.

I spiraled further down into a pit of despair as I started to focus more on my outward appearance, completely neglecting my inward beauty. I was obsessed with my weight and stopped eating. What I would eat, I forced myself to throw up until I lost weight at a drastic rate. No matter what I did to be accepted, the only feeling I was familiar with was rejection. Soon I was stuck in a vicious cycle of disappointment and let down. I began cutting my wrists, not with the intention of suicide but as a way to vent my anger, hurt, frustration, and disappointment in myself for who I'd become. I covered them with wrist bands and long sleeved shirts so they wouldn't be obvious to the world but secretly inside I wished someone would see them and reach out to me.

I assumed no one noticed or cared enough to say anything. Then I one day I was called into the guidance office at school. The counselor said that a friend of mine (who remains anonymous to this day) was concerned about me. The counselor talked with me for a few minutes and made me sign a paper before I left stating I promised not to hurt myself. No one had ever seen my wrists and the counselor didn't ask to look at them, but we both knew that's what the meeting was about. I acted tough and presented an attitude of irritation about the whole matter. Yet, when I left that office I felt comforted knowing someone cared enough to intervene.

Not long after my visit with the guidance counselor I knew I had to make an intervention on my own behalf. Sitting in my bedroom I stared at my walls for hours, huddled in the corner and numb to the world. How did I go from leading our middle school Bible club, being on the student leadership team for youth group, a star Bible quizzing champion, church youth delegate...to THIS?

Worship music was the last thing I wanted to listen to...at the time I thought it was boring, it was depressing, and I didn't WANT to listen to it. But I knew I NEEDED it. I put a worship CD on and grabbed my Bible, which had been collecting dust on my bookshelf. I opened the pages to Psalms and began reading the verses. Part of me expected to feel an overwhelming sense of joy rush over me and a peace to fulfill my aching heart instantly. That didn't happen. It didn't happen the next time, or the time after that. I prayed and felt those prayers bounce off the ceiling and right back in my face. It didn't feel like anyone could hear me. (so I thought)

^"20So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.²⁴For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15: 20-24

For the first time in a long time, I ran to Jesus. I kept reading, kept listening and kept forcing myself to open my heart back up to God and His healing. It wasn't a miraculous event that happened overnight. It occurred gradually. I had placed my heart in the wrong hands too many times where it had been used and abused. I had built up such a barrier that I had to work to tear it down and make myself vulnerable enough again to be healed. I had to take my broken, shattered heart and place it in God's hands. I had to trust Him.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Even though I strayed from my Savior, He never left me. He still has a mighty purpose for my life. God used my poor choices for good and created beauty from ashes. In His sight I am a diamond in the rough. The process in which a piece of black, filthy coal is formed into a beautiful and highly valued gem takes a great deal of pressure and time. In the end it emerges, stronger and more beautiful than ever could be imagined. I don't stand before you as a diamond, but as a piece of coal being transformed; knowing someday that transformation will finally be complete.

"In His sight I am a diamond in the rough. I don't stand before you as a diamond, but as a piece of coal being transformed" Tweet This

God's work in my life only continues as He teaches me through being a wife and mother. I still fail, still struggle, but now I know that He is the most tangible relationship I will ever experience. When I reach out for Him, He will embrace me with His love and grace. I can fully trust in Him.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

One thing I have come to realize is that my testimony is ever changing and transforming just as my relationship with Jesus is. He continues to mold me and shape me. Each day I am transformed in Him. Each day I choose to follow Him; it's not just a one time decision. Each day I need to make the choice to follow His way above my own selfish choices. Each day I fall more in love with Him...my one true love. Each day another page is written in my testimony....

Linking Up With:

Ham and Cheese Lasagna

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sun, 05 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Ham & Cheese Lasagna

The Original recipe can be found at The Kitchen Is My Playground blog.

Yet, another delicious recipe I found on the web and decided to try out on my family. This one received a big thumbs up. Even hubby liked it.

Around Easter when the Hams were all on sale we bought two instead of one. We used one Easter weekend and then had another to use in recipes.

Ingredients
12 Lasagna noodles (I used whole wheat)
1/2 C chopped onion
2 Tbsp Butter
3 Tbsp Cornstarch
2 C Skim Milk
3/4 C Low Fat Cottage Cheese
2 C Mozzarella Cheese
2 C Cubed Ham
1/2 C Baby Portabella mushrooms finely chopped
1 Tbsp Dried Parsley

**Note, I tripled my recipe in the pictures to make a couple extra batches to freeze. So if my measurements look bigger in the picture that is why.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

I began working on cutting and cubing my extra ham.

Next, I sauteed the onions with butter....

As well as the mushrooms...

Now there would be no way my kids would eat this with chunks of onions or mushrooms that were even remotely detectable. So.....in comes the blender. After the onions and mushrooms were sauteed I combined them with one cup of the milk and made a puree.

I poured the mixture into a big pot and added the remaining milk. I then added the cornstarch and mixed it thoroughly. Then I added the cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, ham and parsley.

I cooked this mixture until it began to bubble and thicken. Once it was a thick sauce texture I removed it from the heat. I layered the lasagna noodles and poured 1/4-1/3 of the mixture over each layer.

Then I put the baking dish in the oven for about 40 minutes. Let the lasagna stand about 15 minutes to cool before serving.

Voila! :-) Enjoy!

I'm linking up with:

Soft Whole Grain Bread Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sat, 04 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Soft Whole Grain Bread Recipe

After playing around with a few bread recipes and tweaking them, I came up with this recipe for a softer Whole Grain Bread that rises really well. It's super good for you too. My kids love it! It has a nice crisp crust and soft interior, Would be great for sandwiches, with honey, or used for garlic bread. :-) Yum!

Ingredients:

2 cups warm water (about 110 degrees F)

1/2 C Honey

1 1/2 Tbsp Active dry yeast

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup melted coconut oil or butter

5 1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour

1/3 C Vital Wheat Gluten (this helps the bread rise so it's not too dense)

2 Tbsp Wheat Germ

2 Tbsp Milled Flaxseed

4 Tbsp Old Fashioned Oats

1. Mix water, honey and yeast in a medium bowl until honey is dissolved. Let set 15mins to "proof" your yeast. If there is a foam or bubbles at the top of the liquid when it's done then your yeast is still active and you can proceed. If not, you may need to buy new yeast.

2. If you're using a stand mixer, combine all ingredients together in the bowl with the dough hook attachment and turn the mixer on setting 2 for about 10mins until everything is thoroughly mixed together and the mixture has formed a dough ball.

If you're using your hands, mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the liquids into this well and begin to mix in the dry ingredients. Knead until the dough holds together well (it will not be very smooth).

3. Put dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Set in a warm location until it is double in size.

4. Punch down the dough and separate into two half. Place in loaf pans.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

6. Let dough rise until it's about 1/2" above loaf pan.

7. Bake 30 mins. Remove from oven and place on cooling racks. Enjoy!

I'm linking up with:

Ham and Broccoli Ring

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 03 May 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Ham and Broccoli Ring

Here is another great recipe I discovered on Pinterest. I altered the recipe slightly, but loved this idea! :-)
Original Recipe from CrazyLou Blog

Ingredients:
8oz tube reduced fat croissant rolls (I need to learn how to make these homemade!)
1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
1 Cup cubed Ham
1/2 of a 14oz Frozen bag of Broccoli
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Preheat your oven to 350.

Open the croissant rolls and lay them out on your baking sheet like in the picture.

Take your ham and spread it around the ring....

Then add your mozzarella...

Then your broccoli...

In a stand mixer (or with a handheld mixer) whip heavy cream until it thickens up a bit. Add in the lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder and parsley. Drizzle the mixture over the other ingredients. Reserve the remaining mixture for topping on individual servings.

Fold over the croissant rolls toward the center of the ring to cover the ingredients.
Place in the oven and bake for about 25-30 mins.

Easy peasy! This turned out REALLY good. :-) My whole family liked it (Well Brenden didn't care for the broccoli...lol).

Linking Up With:

Summer Fun Activities at Artistic31Mama : Coming May 20th 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:24:00 +0000

Summer Fun Activities!

This is something I've had in the works for quite some time. I'll be surfing the web, coming up with my own unique ideas and sharing them all in one convenient location to keep you and your little ones entertained throughout the summer! :-)

May 20th 2013....be ready!

Memorial Day Weekend has always signified the beginning of summer for our family as we launch our fun off with a big family picnic. The release of this collection of activities is in enough time you can pick and choose something to use over Memorial Day. :-)

Games,

Scavenger Hunts,

Crafts,

Treasure Hunts,

Easy Summer Recipes Kids Can Make,

Picnic Ideas

Science Experiements

And SO MUCH MORE.....

Dressing Up For The Camera: Letting Kids Be Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Dressing Up For The Camera: Letting Kids Be Kids

As a professional photographer, I have had my share of challenges when it has come to photographing children and overcoming the "grouchies."

Sometimes when they are not in the mood for photos it can be difficult produce smiles that every parent desires to see captured. While smiles are the best, sometimes even other expressions are great because they embrace that child's personality.

I told my kids I wanted one "nice" picture then they could dress up in costumes and get superhero/princess pictures taken. They loved the idea!

They stood where I told them too, smiled, and were very compliant, eagerly awaiting me to say "Okay go put on your costumes." I didn't give them too much instruction on how to pose. I gave suggestions and then let the kids be kids.

Brenden absolutely loved being a "Cowboy Ninja" (he wore his cowboy boots with his outfit). He was ready to fight crime!

Joey wasn't exactly too excited WITH the costume at first but then he opened up and started playing and giggling. At one point he held his hands up to stop me from taking pictures. hehe

Joshua wanted to be Captain America! Bad guys beware!

Trinity was so excited to be a "real" princess for a day. She loved getting all dressed up and looking through Mommy's old fairytale book to find princesses just like her.

It was a photoshoot long overdue. :-) The kids and I all had a lot of fun with it. I loved that by letting them be themselves the photos were more natural and captured every essence of their personality. This is definitely one of the perks to being a pro.... I get free portraits of my children any time I want. :-)

Take My Dreams Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:24:00 +0000

Take My Dreams Lord

Sometimes we can be so caught up planning our futures that we forget to live in the present. I love dreaming about our future and what plans possibly lie ahead, but sometimes I can tend to get a bit carried away.

Today my husband and I were talking about the idea of having more children in the future. (Note that my monthly friend decided to join me this week and I'm a bit emotional...not the best timing to be talking about such things on my part). At times I am comfortable accepting that four children might be the perfect number for our family and I might be done having babies. It was bittersweet. However, then there are times I dream about expanding our family again one day. Those thoughts were flooding my mind as three friends of mine all gave birth to beautiful new babies within the same week. My Facebook newsfeed was flooded with images of these precious newborns. I rejoiced with them and for them and their families. There was a part of me that began to wonder if that would ever be our family again or if we were truly done for good and our baby days were behind us. I think embracing that thought is difficult to process for any mom no matter how many children you have.

My husband and I started to discuss our thoughts on the subject and shared our opinions. One discussion branched off into another and before you knew it we were talking about expanding our businesses, pros and cons of homeschooling, moving to a different location, etc. The dreams came bubbling forth from both of us. Like cool water rushing over rocks in a river bed these thoughts and ideas flowed smoothly over some areas of our hearts while others collided, creating a surge of rapids to contend with. Some dreams were exciting and hopeful while others brought forth fear, doubt and uncertainty in my heart.

My emotions took hold as I felt overwhelmed. How could we possibly choose what was the right path for us and our family. There were so many possibilities and so many directions we could go, changes we could make. Part of my heart felt as though these dreams were already destined to become reality. My husband spoke softly and provided reassurance that these were ideas to think about but our plans could always change.

Awhile later I was listening to "Set the World on Fire" by Britt Nicole. Some of the lyrics stood out to me...

"Take my dreams, Come and give them wings, Lord with You nothing I can not do."

It was a perfect reminder that my dreams ultimately rest in the One who has created me. He is my direction and I know with His guidance whatever path we head down it will be a hopeful one with more good than we could ever imagine.

So I'll stop busying myself spending the present trying to plan out my future and place it in my Lord's hands and trust Him to guide and direct us down the path that brings Him glory. That's the path that will lead me to my heart's desire and where all my dreams will be fulfilled.

Take my dreams Lord! You know the depths of my heart better than I fully understand. I trust You and know you want the best for me in everything. :-)

"You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you."

Isaiah 26:3

"Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

I'm linking up with:

Corn and Black Bean Salad + Mom's Monday Mingle Blog Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Corn and Black Bean Salad + Mom's Monday Mingle Blog Hop

Hello & Welcome to the blog hop! I'm so excited to meet new friends and discover all your wonderful blogs this week! The past couple weeks have been wonderful as I've surfed the web visiting some truly amazing new blogs.

Before we hop, I have a yummy recipe to share!

Corn and Black Bean Salad

1 can Rotel Tomatoes and Chiles (I use Original or Hot)

1 can of Corn

1 can of Black Beans

1/2 tsp Ground Cumin

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice (Lime would also work)

1 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro, chopped

Salt to taste

Toss everything together in a medium bowl. You can serve immediately or chill 30mins before serving if you like it cold. It's so quick, simple and delicious! Enjoy!

Now let's hop!

Would YOU like to "Co-host" with us?

Booking now for May!

Email Jessica@allshecooks.com

RULES:

1. Please follow each hostess (They are 1-6 in the link up)

Naptime Review-Hostess

*All She Cooks-**Hostess*

Artistic31Mama- Co-Host

Creative Geekery- Co-Host

Mama's Hight Strung- Co-Host

Life Revolves Around Them- Co-Host

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

DIY Simply Orange Watering Can

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 03:29:00 +0000

DIY Simply Orange Watering "Can"

I have seen people drilling holes in milk jug lids to water their plants and always thought it was a neat idea. Simply Orange is my favorite brand of orange juice to drink. I bought two jugs our last trip to the store and while I was pouring juice for my kids one night an idea popped into my head. I loved the design of these bottles, I needed to make something with them. They almost looked like a watering can and were a lot more durable then a gallon milk jug.

This is so SUPER simple (something you can do in 10 mins and your kids will love it!)

First rinse your bottles out and make sure they are clean. Just quickly shake some soapy water through them and rinse.

Then take the lid and mark where you want your holes. If you hold the cap towards a light source you can see where to put the holes. You can pre-drill marks or use a marker.

Once you've marked your lid, using a drill bit, drill through the cap.

One thing I noticed was that the flow of the water wasn't smooth because there was no vent hole. So I made one right at the top of the handle.

Perfect!! Now I just had to let my kids test it out!

They loved it! I'm going to get two more so each kid has one of their own. They can help me water my flower garden this summer. :-)

Even my little Joey helped. :-)

I'm linking up with:

Duck n A Row Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop

Top 5 Must Try Salads + Mom's Monday Mingle Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Top 5 Must Try Salads + Mom's Monday Mingle Blog Hop

Okay ladies! I love salads! They're one of my favorite foods. Honestly. I enjoy eating salads all year around, but especially when the weather starts to warm up. Here are some amazing salad recipes from my own blog as well as on the web. :-)

(Mind Your Pinterest Manners: If you would like to pin these please either pin the "Top 5 Must Try Salads" icon for this post or go to the original posts to pin the individual salads. Thanks!)

1. Candied Pecan, Craisin Feta Salad by Chef in Training

(Photo Credit: Chef In Training)

This is one of my favorite salads! I served this for a ladies get together I hosted and everyone LOVED it!

2. BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad by Iowa Girl Eats

(Photo Source: Iowa Girl Eats)

Now I have not tried this salad yet but doesn't it look divine! I LOVE quinoa and I love southwestern salads. This makes my mouth water. This is definitely on my recipe bucket list to make some time soon! She also has many more amazing salads on her site!!

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad by Rock Recipes

(Photo Credit: Rock Recipes)

This is something new that I've never tried. It sounds delicious. The salty bacon would really compliment the sweet strawberry taste! Yum! :-) It sounds like a great refreshing salad for summer!

Loaded Turkey Taco Salad by Bev Cooks

(Photo Credit: Bev Cooks)

What list of amazing salads would be complete without a taco salad!! I love this new twist on the taco salad. As soon as I saw it, I knew it must be added to my list. :-) Yum!

Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil Salad by MyRecipes

(Photo Credit: MyRecipes)

This fruit salad break away from the norm and incorporates basil as well as a orange vinaigrette. Sounds absolutely delicious. I think even my kids would like this. :-)

BONUS! Berry Chicken Salad by Artistic31Mama

(Photo Credit: Artistic31Mama)

This recipe was inspired by Wendy's Berry chicken salad. It's absolutely delicious! I love when berries start coming into season. They're perfect in Salads!

BONUS!! (Yes, another one...I couldn't resist! Saw this recipe tonight and had to include it. Looks delicicous!)

Southwest Chicken Chop Salad by The Better Baker

(Photo Credit: The Better Baker )

Did I already mention how much I love taco/southwest salads. Well reading this recipe just gave me a craving! :-) I might have to go shopping tomorrow after church and try this out for dinner. The dressing really sounds good!

And now; Let's Hop!! Round two of the Mom's Monday Mingle. :-) So excited to join in all the partying fun this week!! If you're new to Artistic31Mama and want to know more about me and why I blog check out this post. I found so many amazing blogs last week and am looking forward to discovering more.

I would love to return the follow, so leave a comment and let me know so I can follow you back. :-) Have a great week!

Would YOU like to "Co-host" with us?

There are a few opportunities left in April. Sign up now!

Email Jessica@allshecooks.com

RULES:

1. Please follow each hostess (They are 1-6 in the link up)

Naptime Review-Hostess

All She Cooks (former At Home Take 2)- Hostess

Artistic31Mama- Co-Host

Creative Geekery- Co-Host

The Gibmee- Co-Host

My Life As Robin's Wife- Co-Host

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

Discover More About Artistic31Mama

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:35:00 +0000

Discover More About Artistic31Mama

So in my profile description you already know I am a Christian, wife, mother of four and I'm...well ...artistic. Is that all there is to Artistic31Mama? ~~Yep we're all done here....move along.~~ Haha! Not in the slightest. There have been a lot of new visitors and followers stopping by this week so I thought it was a great time to answer some questions for you.

What is the purpose of this blog?

I have 3 main goals for my blog.

(Artistic) To inspire creativity in all blog visitors and followers, through various venues (DIY projects, craft projects, Photography or Photoshop tutorials, sewing tutorials, housekeeping, organization, gardening, cooking and more).
(Proverbs 31) To uplift, encourage and inspire women to follow the Proverbs 31 guidelines of becoming a woman worth more than rubies. (This includes marriage, parenting, daily walking with Jesus, and whatever God lays on my heart.).
(Mama) To provide a useful parenting resource for moms to introduce Jesus to their children in fun creative ways and share inspiring stories. (Kids Crafts, Bible Lessons for Children, Helping in the Kitchen, Kids Activities Setting Up Chore Charts and the list goes on)

Who Is My Audience?

Well, if I were to visualize reading one of my blog posts to a roomful full of people, I would imagine they would be women anywhere from 18 and older. Women who love Jesus and desire to grow closer to Him and serve Him through blessing their families through their skills and talents as homemakers. There are probably a few ladies in the crowd who don't know much about Jesus but are curious to learn more. As I look out across this audience created in my mind's eye, I also see women from all walks of life and ethnicity backgrounds. I see stay at home moms and working moms. Moms who have 1 child; moms who have 8 children. I see moms who love to create through cooking, organizing, crafting, gardening and more. There are moms who are struggling and need encouragement. There are moms who have overcome obstacles and are willing to offer encouragement. The audience created in my imagination is a beautiful collaboration of women working together to have fun, relax, encourage, strengthen, uplift, laugh, cry, and guide one another through life's journey of motherhood; my audience is a community.

Who is Artistic31Mama?

You want to know a bit about me? Sure, why not? For starters, my name is Faith. My greatest passion in life is Jesus. "He's my Savior, not my religion." I am married to a wonderful man God designed just for me. We drive each other crazy some times but complete each other perfectly. I am also a stay at home Mommy; which is my hardest and most rewarding job. Most of my time is spent chasing around my four beautiful, energy-filled kids. My days are chaotic, fun, adventurous, hard, tiring, joyful, blessed, frustrating and plenty more. Join me on this crazy journey through something we like to call LIFE...only God knows what's in store. Thanks for stopping by; enjoy!

Yeah, yeah, I know. You've read that before. So let's dig a little deeper and see what you're getting yourself into following my blog. :-D I'll introduce you to the basics and some more personal information about me.

I love Mexican cuisine....but not Taco Bell "Mexican" I mean authentic Mexican...yum! Once you taste the real thing you'll never look at Taco Bell again. lol
My favorite sport to play is - hands down - Racquetball!!
I love to sing! I sing all the time...in the kitchen, shower, car - yep....if you see some strange woman belting it out down the highway it's probably me. :-)
I'm not a perfect mom; no one is. I make mistakes daily, but from those mistakes, I learn, grow and apply that knowledge to future situations to be a better mother for my children. Being a mom is hard and everyone's path through it is different; stop comparing yourself to "Supermoms." Every mom is Super and every mom has their kryptonite.
I love superhero movies with lots of action. I'm a big Superman and Ironman fan. :-)
Summer thunderstorms are awesome. I love watching the lighting. It's kind of like God's fireworks display for us.
I'm on a weighloss journey. I have successes and struggles. It's not easy but something I keep pushing forward with.
I, like many people, hate spiders. But I have made a great deal of progress. I no longer shriek and run when I see one!
Jesus is the most important person in my life followed by my husband and children. It's hard not to put my children first in everything, but I've found that the more I set my priorities the way God intended them to be the closer I get to becoming the best wife and mom I can be.
I love flip-flops and walking barefoot in the summer. Once warm weather hits I'm in the flops. :-) However I do enjoy all the seasons and look forward to a good snowstorm in the winter. :-)
I always have about 15 tabs open on my browser at all times. haha! (Right now I'm doing good and only have 8 open).
I usually stay up way too late at night trying to get everything done and regret it each morning. I love waking up early; when I actually do it. :-)
My house is never perfect. Some days it feels like I can't keep up. Yet, I will always choose spending a sunny day at the park with my kids over doing laundry. If it means I have a couple more loads of laundry or more dishes the next day then so be it. They're only little once.
I am learning not to wish for more time to do the things I love or be with the people I love but instead to MAKE time for them.
I want everything in my life to glorify Jesus; including this blog!

Well now that you have some more insights as to who I am and why I blog here at Artistic31Mama I hope you will join me along the way. There probably won't be many dull moments....:-) Thanks for stopping by!!

I'm joining in the Ultimate Blog Party for 2013!!

Mom's Monday Mingle Blog Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Mondays can be discouraging as we plunge into yet another week of waking up early, deadlines, housework, toddler tantrums, schoolwork, right? Well, I have something to brighten our Monday here at Artistic31Mama! I'm co-hosting a blog hop with some really awesome blogs! I'm so excited to see your projects, discover new blogs, and make some new blogger friends! :-) Be sure to check out the wonderful hostesses and co-hostesses. If you are a new follower I would love to follow you back, just make sure to leave a comment letting me know you're a new follower and how you are following. :-) Ready? Set. Hop!

Would YOU like to "Co-host" with us?

There are a few opportunities left in April. Sign up now!

Email Jessica@allshecooks.com

Please help spread the news on this growing hop! Please tweet about this hop! Tweet

RULES:

1. Please follow each hostess (They are 1-6 in the link up)

Naptime Review-Hostess

All She Cooks (former At Home Take 2)- Hostess

Artistic31Mama- Co-host

Creative Geekery- Co-host

PonderWonders- Co-host

Cropped Stories- Co-Host

2. Leave a comment if you are new and want us to return the follow.

3. Grab the button and display it on your sidebar or link it to the post.

4. Have fun and meet new friends!

Baked Pancakes with Banana Chocolate Topping

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Baked Pancakes with Banana Chocolate Topping

Yes, you read that right. These are BAKED pancakes and super HEALTHY! My kids loved them and didn't even know they were eating something that was good for them. :-) (muahaha)

This recipe makes about 9 pancakes and each pancake is about 73 calories. The banana chocolate topping is about 43 calories for 1/3 of the mix (I stacked 3 pancakes on each plate and used about 1/3 of the chocolate banana mix). With the small amount of dried cranberries that's just about 275 calories and under 1g of fat!

Ingredients:

1 C Whole Wheat Flour

1 Tbsp Wheat Gluten (optional but makes them a little softer and hold together better)

1 Tbsp Stevia powder (or Honey, but will add some calories)

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Sea Salt

2 Egg Whites

1/2 C Unsweetened Applesauce

1 Tbsp Milled Flaxseed

1 Tbsp Water

2 Tbsp Wheat Gluten

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

1/8 Cardamom (optional)

1/8 tsp Allspice

For topping:

1 medium banana

Dark chocolate cocoa powder

Stevia or honey (optional)

Vanilla Extract

Gather up your ingredients.

If you have a stand mixer, you can just place all the ingredients in the bowl and mix it on medium for a couple minutes until everything is well blended.

First I added my flour....

Then the buttermilk and applesauce....

Egg whites only...

Enter the Cardamom. This is a new unfamiliar spice for me. I am experimenting with it more and am finding it compliments the usual "sweet" spices such as cinnamon and allspice quite well.

I used 1/4 c measurements for each pancake.

Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet (I used my round pizza stoneware) Bake at 350 for about 10-12 minutes.

While the pancakes are baking, make the topping.

Mash up a banana in a bowl with a fork or mixer until almost smooth (it will have a few lumps but that's okay).

Add 1 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder

1 tsp Vanilla

If you or your kids like a sweeter version you can add Stevia or Honey

You can top it off with dried cranberries. The result is fabulous!! Yum!!

Most whole wheat recipes are dry but these are surprisingly soft and moist. :-) A new low-cal favorite of mine to satisfy those chocolate cravings!

My younger two ate these for lunch today and loved them!

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Bible Lesson: His Eye Is On The Sparrow + Craft Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:57:00 +0000

Bible Lesson: His Eye Is On The Sparrow + Craft Tutorial

His Eye Is On The Sparrow: Bible Lesson & Craft

Do you know in the Bible Jesus tells us that God looks after the ravens (birds) and the flowers in the field?

Jesus also tells us that we are more valuable to God then many birds or flowers. If he dresses the flowers in beauty and feeds the birds then we can know God will always take care of us.

Jesus doesn't want us to worry about any of our needs (having a home, food, clothes, water, etc). He tells us to trust in God for everything we need.

Luke 12:6-7; 22-28

^"6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows....

²²Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[b]? ²⁶Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendorwas dressed like one of these. ²⁸If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!"

Do you have something that worries you? Pray to Jesus and tell Him about your worries. Then trust that God will take care of you and provide for your needs. God loves you so much and wants you to know that He will take care of you.

Memory Verse:

"²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! " Luke 12:24

Craft Tutorial: Sparrow Bird Feeder

Materials Needed:

Empty Cereal box or piece of cardboard

Scissors

Yarn

Peanut Butter

Paper Plate

Bird Feed

Hole Punch (optional)

Crayon or Marker

Butter Knife

Wax Paper

Cut out the side panels from the cereal box.

Trace the child's hands on the cardboard with the thumbs facing downward.

Draw a head on top of the hands.

Cut the bird out (if the kids want to or can do this let them try). Use the scissors or a hole punch to put a hole in the head for the yarn to run through.

Place a piece of wax paper down on the table. Tape it in place to keep it from moving if you need to (it's going to get messy!) Let the kids go to town spreading peanut butter all over the cardboard bird.

Cover the bird completely.

Pour the bird seeds on a paper plate and press the bird down in the seeds (peanut butter side down).

If needed, use a toothpick or fork to knock seeds away from the hole and run yarn through the top of the bird.

Tie the bird feeder around a hook on your porch or in your yard on a tree branch and enjoy watching all the birds!

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The Narrow Path Through Family Drama

noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lohr) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:36:00 +0000

The Narrow Path Through Family Drama

The Narrow Path Through Family Drama

Holidays can be stressful because it's... well... a holiday. Holidays have been so blown out of proportion to begin with, and many expectations are placed on the shoulders of individuals who already have a lot on their plate. Celebrating these holidays can sometimes become a burden instead of the enjoyment that it was meant to be.

That used to be me. I loved playing hostess. I loved having people in my home enjoying one another, laughing, creating memories, enjoying good homemade food, etc. However, the process of getting to that point took everything out of me. Finally I reached a point where I told myself, "Enough was enough." Was it worth me yelling at my kids the day before to "leave Mommy alone" so I could spend countless hours in the kitchen or around the house cleaning just so the status of our home could come closer to perfection?

No. It wasn't. Once I realized this everything changed. I haven't stopped hosting, but my perspective was refocused. That change in perspective relieved a lot of stress.

My family and friends were not coming into my home to examine my house, but to enjoy time with us, fellowship and treasure the bond we shared as loved ones.

I stopped worrying about removing every cobweb, every crumb on the floor, not letting my husband or children touch the cookies I so precisely laid out on a platter, etc.

My house wasn't perfect by any means. There were coats and shoes thrown in our bedroom to make room for guest's coats and shoes downstairs. I didn't vacuum my bedroom floor, but I did lock our bedroom door and no one saw that room. The kids toys weren't sorted into their bins, but you could see their carpet and by the end of the day after my children and their cousins played upstairs you couldn't see their carpet anyway.

The point is: I was stressing about things that didn't matter and made the choice to focus on what truly mattered.

Even after this change of heart I still did not have complete peace at family gatherings with my in-laws. There was a constant lingering of tension in the air, like a thick smog of pollution invading our lungs making it difficult to breathe. What were we breathing in? Family drama caused by feelings that had arisen from the ashes of divorce and betrayal.

This smog polluted the air at every family gathering my in-laws attended from the moment I stepped foot into the family. Civility was apparently not possible.

We had tried different approaches, separate gatherings, inviting one parent and not the other, but there was never resolution; only added conflict as someone was not happy with our approach to handling the situations.

Recently within the last couple years we have been inviting both parents to everything hoping that both parties would reach a mature decision to get along with one another and remember that the focus was no on themselves, but on the family as a whole.

Every gathering we would hope for peace, and every gathering those hopes would be shattered as an outbreak of yelling, crying, harsh words, and hurt feelings spread through the room like a wildfire.

This past Saturday we invited my husband's parents, his brother's family and my dad and brother to join us for Easter dinner. (It was also a mini birthday celebration for my littlest (29th) and my sister in law (31st)). Both of my husband's parents showed up. I was praying for things to go smoothly and trying to conceal my apprehension about their attendance. As the time went by peace seemed to prevail and my heart rejoiced as I FINALLY saw my in-laws being cordial toward one another and everyone was enjoying the day.

My husband's brother and his family left and my dad and brother soon afterwards.

I was fully ready to thank my in-laws for the blessing they had given us and then it happened....

One parent pursued the other and what started out as a somewhat simple conversation turned into one yelling at the other one in front of my two older boys who were in the same room. I hurriedly excused my boys to the other room and woke up my husband who was taking a nap on the couch.

The arguing continued. One parent left the house and went to their car temporarily leaving me in the same room with the parent who started the conflict.

The result was not a good combination.

I lost it. All the pent up hurt feelings, feelings of frustration, desperation, and anger came flooding forth. I couldn't understand why the day my son was born, the day of his dedication, Easter (and my son's birthday) all had to be turned into a battleground instead of a celebration. The response I received was that this parent had a horrible time and there was nothing there for them to celebrate. They had nothing good in their life to live for.

Smack in the face (figuratively) but it still hurt. I cried out asking "Don't we count?" We are being taken for granted, after trying so hard to show love. Everything was being made about this one person and how THEY felt no matter the casualties it resulted in within our family.

I was hurt, I was exhausted, I had been worn down. After eight years of marriage and fighting this battle to do God's will above my own I gave in to my feelings of never wanting to see this particular parent again.

My husband had entered the room. He was upset with this parent and came to my defense sternly requesting that this parent not speak to his wife in this manner. My husband remained calm and respectful throughout this whole situation which caused my admiration for him to grow even more.

He raised his hand to me and told me I was too emotional and I asked me to let him speak with this parent. In anger I left the room instructing my husband to make sure to stand up to this parent this time, and went upstairs where my children and the other parent were playing upstairs avoiding the situation. (I apologized to my husband for this shortly afterwards).

The conversation continued downstairs between my husband and this parent.

My heart was racing, my emotions were frazzled and bouncing in every direction. Trying to gather myself together seemed impossible. I was tired of fighting this impossible fight. Where was the solution? Where was the resolution? I was broken.

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."

Galatians 2:20

As always, my resolution, my solution, my victory is in Christ and the Bible clearly spells it out. As much as my heart is hurting, it's not about MY will but the will of my Father in heaven. My flesh might never want to see this parent again, knowing the drama would end, but it wouldn't bring the complete peace I seek. Excluding that parent would stop the conflict at family gatherings but would create a void in my heart that can only be filled by seeking and obeying the will of God.

In Galatians it is clear that our selfish desires have been crucified with Christ....I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

This pulled at my heart.

There are many who would tell me my actions are justified, but I should not be looking to have my actions justified by worldly standards.

¹³“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matthew 7:13-14

Excluding that parent would only provide a temporary solution and temporary peace. I have to maintain the course set before me by my Father in heaven and follow the narrow path.

During our Easter service at church, every song echoed words which told me to let go, focus on the Lord. In Him is healing and strength to continue on.

When our Pastor gave a call for those to go upfront for prayer I asked my husband to come upfront with me so we could present this situation with his parents before the Lord. I was praying and truly giving it over to the Lord. I felt all that brokenness, frustration, worry lift off my shoulders and my strength was renewed. I'm not one to cry very often and I almost never cry in a public setting.....I wept.

Tears streamed down my face and I quickly tried to conceal them with my soaked, crumpled tissue that was dissolving in my hand. With my husband's arm around my I felt him squeeze me tight as his way of assuring me it would be okay.

Healing was coming. I knew that healing would come not from running away from the problem but facing it with the strength and love of my savior behind me.

I started walking down that narrow path as we sat in the car ready to pull out of the church parking lot. I paused and looked in the rearview mirror at my children. I simply explained to them that one of daddy's parent's (we called them by their name) was hurting and alone. We needed to pray for them to be filled with Jesus' peace and joy and pray for comfort to come to them.

Praying for someone I clearly disagreed with was refreshing and I knew it was God's will. I was further encouraged as my oldest son prayed for his grandparent in the same way.

The narrow path is not the easiest choice, it's not the first choice that will always come to mind and sometimes the voices of this world will try their hardest to direct you away from it. But on the narrow path you will find healing, restoration, strength and peace that are not temporary but eternal.

If you are dealing with some type of family conflict or drama in your life right now, do not give up hope.

Know that you are being prayed for. I pray that those reading this post have been led here for a purpose and hope this post will help bring you encouragement to keep seeking His will in everything.

Artistic31Mama

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Baked Pancakes with Banana Chocolate Topping

Bible Lesson: His Eye Is On The Sparrow + Craft Tutorial

Bible Lesson: His Eye Is On The Sparrow + Craft Tutorial

Do you know in the Bible Jesus tells us that God looks after the ravens (birds) and the flowers in the field?

Luke 12:6-7; 22-28

The Narrow Path Through Family Drama

*All She Cooks-**Hostess*