As promised the other day, I am bringing you yet another yummy, scrumptious and filling smoothie recipe!
This is what we enjoyed for breakfast yesterday morning. It's soooo good. And fruity. And yummy. And did I mention good??
It's also super simple. I love how quick and easy it is to make on busy mornings, or mornings where you just want something light. Here's how to make the lovely concoction that is a Very Berry Smoothie. It makes a very large batch for us and our six kiddos. But if you have older kids or teens, you *might* want to make a second batch. Unless you have a super capacity blender (I don't).
Anywho...
Onto the smoothie. :)
Very Berry Smoothie
1 pint raw milk yogurt
2 cups frozen, mixed berries (any combo of mixed berries will do...strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or blueberries)
*Fresh could be used as well but I suggest adding extra ice for a thicker smoothie if using fresh fruits.
1/2 c frozen spinach
1/3 c oats
1/4-1/3c liquid whey (or milk is fine if you don't have whey on hand)
1/4 c honey or choice of sweetener (sucanant, etc)
1 Tbsp raw, unrefined coconut oil
2 tsp ground flax seed
1 tsp vanilla
2 drops lemon essential oil (use a good quality oil that is safe to consume)
Contents of wheatgrass capsule or 1/8 tsp wheatgrass powder
Dash of sea salt
Ice
Raw milk
Add all ingredients except ice and raw milk. When everything is added, then add enough ice to finish filling container 3/4 of the way full. Add milk until it just covers the top of the ice. Cap, then using the Drink function, blend into a beautiful shade of deliciousness! I suggest running the cycle twice to make sure all is blended smoothly.
If you do not have a Drink cycle, you can simply high pulse for 30-40 seconds, then repeat as necessary.
Pour then serve immediately. Yields approximately 48-54oz.
Enjoy!
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
The Importance of Quiet Solitude
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35 NIV)
Solitude. The word itself whispers peace.
According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, solitude is defined as:
The quality or state of being alone or remote from society.
Sometimes we have to break away...break away from the demands of everyday life; the stresses, burdens, busyness, the noise. We need to find that quiet place of solitude and in the stillness, seek God. Invite Him to come into our lives and quiet the hustle and bustle. Draw nearer to Him. And at times we need to sit in complete silence after prayer and listen.
Shhh.
Can you hear that?
Can you hear God speaking to you, telling you how much He cares for you, how much He loves you and how He has everything you're going through and all your worries and concerns in His hands?
Are you listening?
Sometimes we get so carried away with prayer that we tend to ramble on and on and never give God a chance to speak to us. Let's make it a point every day to break away to our solitary place with our Heavenly Father. He looks forward to one on one time together with His children, just as our children look forward to one on one time with us.
Find your solitary place and time, either early in the mornings, late in the evenings or in the middle of the day when your children are sleeping or all is quiet. Settle into your solitude and escape from the busyness for a few moments.
Those few moments of sweet, peaceful solitude alone with Jesus will be enough to power and energize you to make it through whatever you may face that day. Never stop praying, because the Bible says to "Pray continually," 1 Thessalonians 5:17 but do find some sweet time in silence alone with God.
Lay everything at His feet then worship, praise and thank Him for His goodness, mercy and blessings. He loves you!
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Solitude. The word itself whispers peace.
According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary, solitude is defined as:
The quality or state of being alone or remote from society.
Sometimes we have to break away...break away from the demands of everyday life; the stresses, burdens, busyness, the noise. We need to find that quiet place of solitude and in the stillness, seek God. Invite Him to come into our lives and quiet the hustle and bustle. Draw nearer to Him. And at times we need to sit in complete silence after prayer and listen.
Shhh.
Can you hear that?
Can you hear God speaking to you, telling you how much He cares for you, how much He loves you and how He has everything you're going through and all your worries and concerns in His hands?
Are you listening?
Sometimes we get so carried away with prayer that we tend to ramble on and on and never give God a chance to speak to us. Let's make it a point every day to break away to our solitary place with our Heavenly Father. He looks forward to one on one time together with His children, just as our children look forward to one on one time with us.
Find your solitary place and time, either early in the mornings, late in the evenings or in the middle of the day when your children are sleeping or all is quiet. Settle into your solitude and escape from the busyness for a few moments.
Those few moments of sweet, peaceful solitude alone with Jesus will be enough to power and energize you to make it through whatever you may face that day. Never stop praying, because the Bible says to "Pray continually," 1 Thessalonians 5:17 but do find some sweet time in silence alone with God.
Lay everything at His feet then worship, praise and thank Him for His goodness, mercy and blessings. He loves you!
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Our Real Food Journey Begins...
I'm back again, hopefully a little more frequently now since our sweet baby girl is now 14 months old! She is on the move constantly and loves exploring everything!
When I first started this blog I mentioned how my favorite thing to do was COOK. It seriously has become a passion but some of the ingredients I noticed on various items would always make me cringe a little, knowing full well they were not the best choices. There HAD to be something better...right?!?
Couple this, along with rapidly deteriorating health amongst myself and my husband (as well as super moody, whiny kids) and what I had was a recipe for disaster. You see, I have recently become acutely aware of just how BAD so many things are that we've been led to believe are good for us! We live in a society here in the US that is full of chemical laden, synthetic, wanna-be foods that it's no wonder cancer and obesity as well as a plethora of other diseases and disorders are running rampant! It's a very large and sad epidemic. :(
So I asked myself: what are we supposed to do? How can we eat well on a budget (for many, us included, a meager budget at that) and make the right healthful choices? It can be done, I have learned. I was skeptical at first, hearing claims from many blogs that you could eat wholesome REAL food on a very tight income. But now that we've dipped our toes into the world of real food, we are realizing it can be done...but it does take some effort, diligence and downright work.
I find that I am spending a lot more time in my kitchen. A whole lot more time. As a matter of fact a good chunk of my day is spent in my kitchen, making/doing/cleaning something. But I'm ok with that and you know why?
Because:
1) I'm doing what I was called to do which is be the keeper of my home. This includes so much but a lot of it is feeding our crew of eight...and that is no small task.
2) I feel confident knowing that what is going into their mouths will be used efficiently by their bodies and not be overloaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives and chemicals.
3) I just really love to cook!
Now, understand that I'm aware of the fact that not everyone likes to cook. But, it is a part of our calling to be wives, mothers and good keepers at home. This includes cooking. ;) The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31:13-18 "She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader’s ship, bringing food from far away. She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls. She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard. She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night. (Proverbs 31:13-18 NCV)
It's obvious that she takes pleasure in working with her hands! She finds it a joy to provide meals for her family and tend to her household. She rises early in the day "while it is still dark" and stays up late in the evening "Her lamp burns late into the night." One thing that struck my interest was the first part of vs. 18 which shows us that she is confident in her abilities! "She knows what she makes is good." Ladies, be confident in yourself and use the talents God has given you to the best of your ability!
Now, with that little bit of encouragement from God's Word under our apron belts, let's move on...
A little prep work goes a long way!! Don't wait until the "dinner rush" to get things going. Work on meal prep throughout the day when you have a few free moments. Chop up some veggies for the evenings meal. Even this simple step could save you time and frustration during dinner making.
Another thing that may help ease the transition, especially if the purse strings are really tight, is to quit eating out or eating fast food. Maybe save to go out once a month to a restaurant that serves wholesome food and offers a range of steamed veggies and other healthful side options. Not eating out or grabbing fast food allows you to add a little (or a lot) more money back into your grocery budget. This will help offset the sometimes higher cost of certain foods or simply to allow for more foods to be purchased and used for making meals at home.
Cooking from scratch is the healthiest option because you know exactly what's going into your food. And it doesn't always have to be time consuming. Space it out or do some the night before so you're not overwhelmed the next day with all that has to be done. Learn to make a blend of spices to use in various dishes instead of relying on boxed versions that include highly processed sauces or seasonings or that contain unwanted and unnecessary preservatives.
Making wiser food choices begins with small steps. Our journey began 5 weeks ago when we switched to raw milk! It has already made a big difference in our health and how we feel. The benefits of raw milk are astounding! It's definitely worth trying to locate if you can! Either cows or goats milk! I have made butter and, subsequently, buttermilk, which is fantastic in our waffle/pancake recipe! The flavor can't be beat!
We're also making our own yogurt now, which I still need another try on. :/ My first three batches tasted wonderful but isn't quite the consistency I was going for. Which still isn't a loss because I've strained it and made Greek yogurt and am saving the leftover whey (the liquid that's leftover after straining) for use in smoothies and bread making. Milk is so versatile. Little did I know that or how simple it was to make all this on my own! It's still a learning process, but a very fun one. It can also be a good science lesson for the kiddos!
We've also switched to farm fresh, free range eggs and have started incorporating lots of veggies into our meals. We cook with coconut oil now (I didn't realize how toxic so many oils are!) and we use REAL butter. Stay far, far away from the tubs of yellow stuff. You want real sweet cream butter. Margarine is a no-no!
Coconut oil is also used in a lot of our baking now and has replaced shortening completely. (I shudder at how much we've used over the years) Lard and tallow are also options for cooking and baking with. Just make sure they are non hydrogenated. You want 100%. You're best bet may be to locate some from a local butcher or even render it yourself!
Other small steps include switching to organic as much as possible. The biggest thing is making sure to read labels and get PURE ingredients. If you can't pronounce it, it doesn't need to go into your body (or on your skin for that matter...but that's another subject for another day).
Don't try to overwhelm yourself with switching everything all at once. Do it slowly, as you're able, and don't feel guilty.
Do what you can with what God has blessed you with. He has provided a world full of wonderful foods for us to consume, and we should consume it in the most natural way possible. He knew what our bodies needed for fuel because, after all, He created us!!
"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks." Philippians 4:6
Pray for guidance and diligence. At times, it can get tiring and you'll grow weary, but remember to keep pressing forward! With God's help, you can do anything! Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength."
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
When I first started this blog I mentioned how my favorite thing to do was COOK. It seriously has become a passion but some of the ingredients I noticed on various items would always make me cringe a little, knowing full well they were not the best choices. There HAD to be something better...right?!?
Couple this, along with rapidly deteriorating health amongst myself and my husband (as well as super moody, whiny kids) and what I had was a recipe for disaster. You see, I have recently become acutely aware of just how BAD so many things are that we've been led to believe are good for us! We live in a society here in the US that is full of chemical laden, synthetic, wanna-be foods that it's no wonder cancer and obesity as well as a plethora of other diseases and disorders are running rampant! It's a very large and sad epidemic. :(
So I asked myself: what are we supposed to do? How can we eat well on a budget (for many, us included, a meager budget at that) and make the right healthful choices? It can be done, I have learned. I was skeptical at first, hearing claims from many blogs that you could eat wholesome REAL food on a very tight income. But now that we've dipped our toes into the world of real food, we are realizing it can be done...but it does take some effort, diligence and downright work.
I find that I am spending a lot more time in my kitchen. A whole lot more time. As a matter of fact a good chunk of my day is spent in my kitchen, making/doing/cleaning something. But I'm ok with that and you know why?
Because:
1) I'm doing what I was called to do which is be the keeper of my home. This includes so much but a lot of it is feeding our crew of eight...and that is no small task.
2) I feel confident knowing that what is going into their mouths will be used efficiently by their bodies and not be overloaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives and chemicals.
3) I just really love to cook!
Now, understand that I'm aware of the fact that not everyone likes to cook. But, it is a part of our calling to be wives, mothers and good keepers at home. This includes cooking. ;) The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31:13-18 "She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader’s ship, bringing food from far away. She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls. She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard. She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night. (Proverbs 31:13-18 NCV)
It's obvious that she takes pleasure in working with her hands! She finds it a joy to provide meals for her family and tend to her household. She rises early in the day "while it is still dark" and stays up late in the evening "Her lamp burns late into the night." One thing that struck my interest was the first part of vs. 18 which shows us that she is confident in her abilities! "She knows what she makes is good." Ladies, be confident in yourself and use the talents God has given you to the best of your ability!
Now, with that little bit of encouragement from God's Word under our apron belts, let's move on...
A little prep work goes a long way!! Don't wait until the "dinner rush" to get things going. Work on meal prep throughout the day when you have a few free moments. Chop up some veggies for the evenings meal. Even this simple step could save you time and frustration during dinner making.
Another thing that may help ease the transition, especially if the purse strings are really tight, is to quit eating out or eating fast food. Maybe save to go out once a month to a restaurant that serves wholesome food and offers a range of steamed veggies and other healthful side options. Not eating out or grabbing fast food allows you to add a little (or a lot) more money back into your grocery budget. This will help offset the sometimes higher cost of certain foods or simply to allow for more foods to be purchased and used for making meals at home.
Cooking from scratch is the healthiest option because you know exactly what's going into your food. And it doesn't always have to be time consuming. Space it out or do some the night before so you're not overwhelmed the next day with all that has to be done. Learn to make a blend of spices to use in various dishes instead of relying on boxed versions that include highly processed sauces or seasonings or that contain unwanted and unnecessary preservatives.
Making wiser food choices begins with small steps. Our journey began 5 weeks ago when we switched to raw milk! It has already made a big difference in our health and how we feel. The benefits of raw milk are astounding! It's definitely worth trying to locate if you can! Either cows or goats milk! I have made butter and, subsequently, buttermilk, which is fantastic in our waffle/pancake recipe! The flavor can't be beat!
We're also making our own yogurt now, which I still need another try on. :/ My first three batches tasted wonderful but isn't quite the consistency I was going for. Which still isn't a loss because I've strained it and made Greek yogurt and am saving the leftover whey (the liquid that's leftover after straining) for use in smoothies and bread making. Milk is so versatile. Little did I know that or how simple it was to make all this on my own! It's still a learning process, but a very fun one. It can also be a good science lesson for the kiddos!
We've also switched to farm fresh, free range eggs and have started incorporating lots of veggies into our meals. We cook with coconut oil now (I didn't realize how toxic so many oils are!) and we use REAL butter. Stay far, far away from the tubs of yellow stuff. You want real sweet cream butter. Margarine is a no-no!
Coconut oil is also used in a lot of our baking now and has replaced shortening completely. (I shudder at how much we've used over the years) Lard and tallow are also options for cooking and baking with. Just make sure they are non hydrogenated. You want 100%. You're best bet may be to locate some from a local butcher or even render it yourself!
Other small steps include switching to organic as much as possible. The biggest thing is making sure to read labels and get PURE ingredients. If you can't pronounce it, it doesn't need to go into your body (or on your skin for that matter...but that's another subject for another day).
Don't try to overwhelm yourself with switching everything all at once. Do it slowly, as you're able, and don't feel guilty.
Do what you can with what God has blessed you with. He has provided a world full of wonderful foods for us to consume, and we should consume it in the most natural way possible. He knew what our bodies needed for fuel because, after all, He created us!!
"Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks." Philippians 4:6
Pray for guidance and diligence. At times, it can get tiring and you'll grow weary, but remember to keep pressing forward! With God's help, you can do anything! Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength."
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Monday, August 11, 2014
Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie!
Yep, it's been a while again. But I intend on blogging more here and there as I can. To say life has been busy is an incredible understatement. I will be sharing more in the coming weeks through various blog posts though. I'm excited to be writing and blogging again, as time allows. :)
Today I'm here to share about snippet of our newest journey...a Real Food journey. We started it 5 weeks ago and I am already seeing results from it! I've taken baby steps and allowed mistakes and slip ups. And that's ok because I'm keeping the bigger goal in mind. And for those who maybe don't know what a Real Food journey is (and believe me...I'm STILL learning), in a nutshell it's eating nutritionally dense foods that God placed on this earth for us to consume. No artificial anything, just good, wholesome nutritious food that God has given us to enjoy and fuel our bodies to their maximum potential.
As a homemaker, it is my duty to ensure my family is well taken care of nutrionally, emotionally and spiritually. Over time, I felt that tug that changes needed to be made. Our nutrition was lacking in many areas, therefore our health was too. There were not enough fruits and veggies being incorporated into meals and carbs were a big part of most meals. Our cooking oil which we thought was "healthy" was indeed the complete opposite.
Over the last several weeks, I have spent many hours researching and gleaning a whole new perspective in regards to the food we fuel our bodies with. I have learned SO much in such a short time frame that it's nearly overwhelming! It's definitely been a lot to take in but I'm geeky like that and love to read all I can on whatever subject matter I'm interested in at that time. :P For example, I spent an entire week researching how to make yogurt from raw milk! Yeah...I've just about got it nailed. ;)
Without this being an overly lengthy post and boring you to death with what I've discovered so far, I will save that for another day and another post. :) I am excited to share our journey and share the information I've gathered thus far. I'll be sharing links to numerous blogs and sites that have been extremely helpful in our journey. I know there's so many more out there but I've not had time to discover them yet! But to stay on track for today's post, I'm going to share our new favorite breakfast (sometimes lunch!) that my kids and I LOVE!!
The Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie!!! (Pics coming soon...had a total lapse and didn't snap pics this morning :/ )
And when I say "ultimate", I mean ULTIMATE!! Seriously, this is so incrediby delicious and tastes like a chocolate peanut butter milkshake...and the best part is it's healthy!! Win win!
I had heard of these types of smoothies but never actually used anyone's recipe because
1) I didn't have all the ingredients on hand
2) The ingredients listed were questionable as to their health benefit (powders, thickeners, etc.)
Here's the recipe I created in my kitchen. Using information from reading and researching and using good ol' common sense (which I don't have a whole lot of...but do have a little lol) I created this super yummy, super nutritious smoothie that is a perfect start to your day or even a wholesome lunch! It's very filling and a very good source of proteins.
Note: the ingredients I used were made from raw milk products which I have learned are so incrediby beneficial in so many ways. If you don't have raw milk products then use what you have. :) This makes a large batch for our family of 8. Approximately 48-54oz total.
Ingredients:
6 oz raw milk yogurt
2 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water (this helps keep the cocoa from clumping)
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 c oats
1/4 cup honey (more or less to sweeten to taste...we prefer ours a little sweeter)
1/4-1/3 cup liquid whey (from making raw milk yogurt or cheese)
1 Tbsp raw, unrefined coconut oil
2 tsp ground flax seed
1 tsp vanilla
contents of a wheatgrass capsule (or 1/8 tsp wheatgrass powder)
dash salt
Add all ingredients in a large blender. Once you add all ingredients, add enough ice to fill blender 3/4 of the way full. Top off with raw milk, enough to just cover the ice. Place the lid on your blender and use the Drink setting to blend your smoothie into creamy deliciousness! I run two cycles on mine to make sure everything is completely smooth and blended creamy.
If you do not have a Drink setting on yours, you can use your high pulse and hold for 30 seconds, release, then repeat again for an additional 30 seconds.
There's room for additional ingredients if you so choose, but made just this way is absolutely perfect!
I've also got a fruit smoothie recipe I will share another time. It's equally delicious and is chock full of nutrients and pure goodness!!
Enjoy!
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Today I'm here to share about snippet of our newest journey...a Real Food journey. We started it 5 weeks ago and I am already seeing results from it! I've taken baby steps and allowed mistakes and slip ups. And that's ok because I'm keeping the bigger goal in mind. And for those who maybe don't know what a Real Food journey is (and believe me...I'm STILL learning), in a nutshell it's eating nutritionally dense foods that God placed on this earth for us to consume. No artificial anything, just good, wholesome nutritious food that God has given us to enjoy and fuel our bodies to their maximum potential.
As a homemaker, it is my duty to ensure my family is well taken care of nutrionally, emotionally and spiritually. Over time, I felt that tug that changes needed to be made. Our nutrition was lacking in many areas, therefore our health was too. There were not enough fruits and veggies being incorporated into meals and carbs were a big part of most meals. Our cooking oil which we thought was "healthy" was indeed the complete opposite.
Over the last several weeks, I have spent many hours researching and gleaning a whole new perspective in regards to the food we fuel our bodies with. I have learned SO much in such a short time frame that it's nearly overwhelming! It's definitely been a lot to take in but I'm geeky like that and love to read all I can on whatever subject matter I'm interested in at that time. :P For example, I spent an entire week researching how to make yogurt from raw milk! Yeah...I've just about got it nailed. ;)
Without this being an overly lengthy post and boring you to death with what I've discovered so far, I will save that for another day and another post. :) I am excited to share our journey and share the information I've gathered thus far. I'll be sharing links to numerous blogs and sites that have been extremely helpful in our journey. I know there's so many more out there but I've not had time to discover them yet! But to stay on track for today's post, I'm going to share our new favorite breakfast (sometimes lunch!) that my kids and I LOVE!!
The Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie!!! (Pics coming soon...had a total lapse and didn't snap pics this morning :/ )
And when I say "ultimate", I mean ULTIMATE!! Seriously, this is so incrediby delicious and tastes like a chocolate peanut butter milkshake...and the best part is it's healthy!! Win win!
I had heard of these types of smoothies but never actually used anyone's recipe because
1) I didn't have all the ingredients on hand
2) The ingredients listed were questionable as to their health benefit (powders, thickeners, etc.)
Here's the recipe I created in my kitchen. Using information from reading and researching and using good ol' common sense (which I don't have a whole lot of...but do have a little lol) I created this super yummy, super nutritious smoothie that is a perfect start to your day or even a wholesome lunch! It's very filling and a very good source of proteins.
Note: the ingredients I used were made from raw milk products which I have learned are so incrediby beneficial in so many ways. If you don't have raw milk products then use what you have. :) This makes a large batch for our family of 8. Approximately 48-54oz total.
Ingredients:
6 oz raw milk yogurt
2 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water (this helps keep the cocoa from clumping)
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/3 c oats
1/4 cup honey (more or less to sweeten to taste...we prefer ours a little sweeter)
1/4-1/3 cup liquid whey (from making raw milk yogurt or cheese)
1 Tbsp raw, unrefined coconut oil
2 tsp ground flax seed
1 tsp vanilla
contents of a wheatgrass capsule (or 1/8 tsp wheatgrass powder)
dash salt
Add all ingredients in a large blender. Once you add all ingredients, add enough ice to fill blender 3/4 of the way full. Top off with raw milk, enough to just cover the ice. Place the lid on your blender and use the Drink setting to blend your smoothie into creamy deliciousness! I run two cycles on mine to make sure everything is completely smooth and blended creamy.
If you do not have a Drink setting on yours, you can use your high pulse and hold for 30 seconds, release, then repeat again for an additional 30 seconds.
There's room for additional ingredients if you so choose, but made just this way is absolutely perfect!
I've also got a fruit smoothie recipe I will share another time. It's equally delicious and is chock full of nutrients and pure goodness!!
Enjoy!
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Thursday, April 3, 2014
What If Jesus Appeared?
I'll admit I have been horribly lacking in keeping up with my blogging. I miss it. Life has been extremely crazy and busy the last several months (birthday's, holiday festivities, surgeries, not to mention every day school work, cleaning and now running a small hobby business (www.etsy.com/shop/ClaireGraceCreations for anyone that would like to see what I've been up to).
In the midst of it all, though, I have found that Jesus has been my strength, my guide and has blessed us immensely. As our youngest is now 10 months old (where has the time gone?!?) I find that the demands of the every day are keeping me full to the brim and you know what...I love every minute of it! Admittedly, by the time bed time rolls around, I am MORE than ready for my head to hit the pillow!
As difficult as it has been for this late riser, I have made it a point to start rising early in the mornings to gain some much needed quiet time before my crazy busy day begins. I adore fixing a fresh hot cup of coffee and curling up for Bible reading (which is usually on my phone or iPad because...well...I don't want to flip any lights on and wake anyone. ;) I look forward to this so much now! It's a blessed time of refreshment and I love being able to spend that time with our Creator and bask in the joy of His Word and apply it to my life. He never fails to speak to me through His word.
And just this morning, as I was doing some Bible study, I did get a wee bit sidetracked with my Notes app. I first went there to open a new note to jot down some Scripture passages which then led me to the thought "hmm, I need to delete some of these because it is starting to look like a jumbled mess". I chase rabbits. Lol I'll admit it...I get very sidetracked very easily. Anyone else with me on this?? I know I can't be alone. ;)
Anyway as I was flipping through and deleting notes I came across one that I've been meaning to blog about since last summer. It was a divine conversation between our oldest son and me (he was 9 at the time). I want to share this with you. A simple statement he made sparked a whirlwind of thoughts and stirred my heart. It burdened my heart as well. So now I will share with you the thoughts that were laid on my heart that day. All because it came "out of the mouth of babes".
What if Jesus Appeared?
Our oldest son got me to thinking about this as we sat in a parking lot one day a few months back (technically last summer). It was a normal day, we had made a trip about an hour away and we had stopped so his daddy could go in the store to pick up a few things. All was fairly quiet...well as quiet as can be in an SUV filled with six chuldren. Then I heard our son speak up after noticing he had been staring out the window.
He said, "mama, I think it would be neat if Jesus was here on the Earth like he used to be. But he's not."
This momma will admit that she was taken by complete surprise. He often amazes me with what his mind comes up with and how sporadic his thoughts are. He is one very smart and intelligent child and will be very successful in whatever he chooses to do one day.
After a brief moment of gathering my thoughts I then asked him, "what would you do if Jesus appeared to you?"
He answered with something that may or may not come to your mind...he said,
"I'd love on him."
Wow. What a powerful yet simplistically beautiful response from a 9 year old boy. (Yes it most definitely brought tears to my eyes)
Imagine. Imagine for a moment if Jesus showed himself to us in the flesh. What kind of reaction would we have? What would our first response be?
Would our reaction be one of shock, disbelief, terror or fear? Or would it be one of sheer joy, exhilaration, excitement and pure happiness?
Would we begin by asking a million questions about why this or why that happened? Would we ask Him to heal us or someone we love or start asking Him to bless us with this, that or the other?
Or...
Would we simply fall to our knees and bow before Him, worshipping our Savior...the ONE and only person who ever lived that can save us from our vile and filthy sins? The One who died a horrific death on a cross because He loved us so much?
The One who defeated death and the grave and rose again three days later? All because He loves us?
Would we lay at His feet and just...worship and thank Him?
I can see my son RUNNING to him and throwing his arms around Jesus and loving Him. I could see all of my children doing this. Children love to run to their father's and give them a big ol hug!
But, if we stop and think for a moment...what would our own personal response be?
Me? I do believe after worshipping at His feet, I would rise and throw my arms around Him for a hug too; and completely melt in the safety and security and eternal love of His embrace. With a tear-stained face I would whisper "thank you, Jesus!" and "I love you, Jesus!" a million times.
What about you? Can you pause for a moment and think about what you would do...if Jesus appeared?
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
In the midst of it all, though, I have found that Jesus has been my strength, my guide and has blessed us immensely. As our youngest is now 10 months old (where has the time gone?!?) I find that the demands of the every day are keeping me full to the brim and you know what...I love every minute of it! Admittedly, by the time bed time rolls around, I am MORE than ready for my head to hit the pillow!
As difficult as it has been for this late riser, I have made it a point to start rising early in the mornings to gain some much needed quiet time before my crazy busy day begins. I adore fixing a fresh hot cup of coffee and curling up for Bible reading (which is usually on my phone or iPad because...well...I don't want to flip any lights on and wake anyone. ;) I look forward to this so much now! It's a blessed time of refreshment and I love being able to spend that time with our Creator and bask in the joy of His Word and apply it to my life. He never fails to speak to me through His word.
And just this morning, as I was doing some Bible study, I did get a wee bit sidetracked with my Notes app. I first went there to open a new note to jot down some Scripture passages which then led me to the thought "hmm, I need to delete some of these because it is starting to look like a jumbled mess". I chase rabbits. Lol I'll admit it...I get very sidetracked very easily. Anyone else with me on this?? I know I can't be alone. ;)
Anyway as I was flipping through and deleting notes I came across one that I've been meaning to blog about since last summer. It was a divine conversation between our oldest son and me (he was 9 at the time). I want to share this with you. A simple statement he made sparked a whirlwind of thoughts and stirred my heart. It burdened my heart as well. So now I will share with you the thoughts that were laid on my heart that day. All because it came "out of the mouth of babes".
What if Jesus Appeared?
Our oldest son got me to thinking about this as we sat in a parking lot one day a few months back (technically last summer). It was a normal day, we had made a trip about an hour away and we had stopped so his daddy could go in the store to pick up a few things. All was fairly quiet...well as quiet as can be in an SUV filled with six chuldren. Then I heard our son speak up after noticing he had been staring out the window.
He said, "mama, I think it would be neat if Jesus was here on the Earth like he used to be. But he's not."
This momma will admit that she was taken by complete surprise. He often amazes me with what his mind comes up with and how sporadic his thoughts are. He is one very smart and intelligent child and will be very successful in whatever he chooses to do one day.
After a brief moment of gathering my thoughts I then asked him, "what would you do if Jesus appeared to you?"
He answered with something that may or may not come to your mind...he said,
"I'd love on him."
Wow. What a powerful yet simplistically beautiful response from a 9 year old boy. (Yes it most definitely brought tears to my eyes)
Imagine. Imagine for a moment if Jesus showed himself to us in the flesh. What kind of reaction would we have? What would our first response be?
Would our reaction be one of shock, disbelief, terror or fear? Or would it be one of sheer joy, exhilaration, excitement and pure happiness?
Would we begin by asking a million questions about why this or why that happened? Would we ask Him to heal us or someone we love or start asking Him to bless us with this, that or the other?
Or...
Would we simply fall to our knees and bow before Him, worshipping our Savior...the ONE and only person who ever lived that can save us from our vile and filthy sins? The One who died a horrific death on a cross because He loved us so much?
The One who defeated death and the grave and rose again three days later? All because He loves us?
Would we lay at His feet and just...worship and thank Him?
I can see my son RUNNING to him and throwing his arms around Jesus and loving Him. I could see all of my children doing this. Children love to run to their father's and give them a big ol hug!
But, if we stop and think for a moment...what would our own personal response be?
Me? I do believe after worshipping at His feet, I would rise and throw my arms around Him for a hug too; and completely melt in the safety and security and eternal love of His embrace. With a tear-stained face I would whisper "thank you, Jesus!" and "I love you, Jesus!" a million times.
What about you? Can you pause for a moment and think about what you would do...if Jesus appeared?
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
When There's Too Much To Do
Overwhelmed upon waking. That's how I enter my mornings on occasion. (Can you relate?)
Today was no exception. Immediately my mind is filled with my long list of to-do's. Yesterday was an "off" day as I spent most of my day at the hospital awaiting the arrival of our newest family member (another cousin!). It ended up being a bit stressful but in the end mom and baby are doing great, praise The Lord!!
So, as I'm trying to get dressed for the day, our 6 year old bursts in the room telling me his brother cut his foot and is bleeding.
*sigh*
Gee. Not exactly the morning I had hoped for. There's never a dull moment, that's for sure.
Alas, up the stairs I go.
I tend to the hurting child and kiss the booboo. We see Daddy off to work then it's game on. Toys are strewn across the house so orders go out to clean, followed by whining voices and complaints, of which I pay no attention and proceed to tell them to trod on.
Breakfast ensues (along with more whining and some screaming...gotta love 2 year olds) then I send the kiddos off to play a bit.
Meanwhile, I'm staring at the sink full of dishes and cluttered counters. (Wait...is that another toy? Ugh!) All the while the overflowing baskets of laundry are calling my name.
*heavy sigh*
And I've not even met with Mr. Coffee yet.
*Sound of hungry cry*
Ahh, yes, right on cue baby girl cries out to be nursed.
So off I go to the recliner with an armload of my routine morning essentials: my Bible, oversized coffee cup full to the brim, baby girl and the remote. Yes, I let our 2 year old watch Mickey so I can try to squeeze in a few uninterrupted minutes of Bible study and coffee drinking whilst nursing our 4 month old. There's no harm in that. ;-)
Keep in mind the dishes and laundry are still in the forefront of my mind, making me antsy. But I know I NEED to dive into God's Word...or at the very least take a quick splash into it.
All is well the first 5 minutes. Then the fights break out. Instead of my usual response though, this time I call them in and put to use our new Child Training Bible. (More about this in another post)
Situation is handled and things calm down a bit.
Hmm, maybe they really are listening.
Back to the seemingly never-ending to-do list. I just remembered I still have to finish painting our oldest son's room today so we can put it back together.
Let's add to this already busy list; school work, phone calls to be made, bills to be mailed, and the general day-to-day stuff (making meals, diaper changes, sweeping, mopping, and other mundane tasks) and it's no wonder I wake up overwhelmed.
Ever have days like these?
Maybe not exactly like these. Maybe you work outside the home and have to deal with getting kids ready for school or daycare, breakfast, overdue projects, co-workers, errands, after-school activities and then all the household chores once you're home.
I won't hesitate to admit the FIRST thing I should do before ever getting out of bed is to pray! Obviously, I failed at that this morning. I let the worries of the days surmounting tasks get in the way of a few quiet moments with Jesus.
"It is good to praise you, Lord, to sing praises to God Most High. It is good to tell of your love in the morning and of your loyalty at night. Lord, you have made me happy by what you have done; I will sing for joy about what your hands have done. Lord, you have done such great things! How deep are your thoughts!"(Psalms 92:1, 2, 4, 5 NCV)
Honestly, how long would it take to say a simple prayer of thanks first thing in the morning before rising from bed? Or going to bed in the evening? Not long.
"It is good to tell of your love in the morning and of your loyalty at night."(Psalms 92:2 NCV)
Then why is it so hard? Because we are sinful, stubborn and busy creatures.
If we would just commit to starting and ending our day in communicating with God, our "too much to do" days wouldn't seem quite so bad.
If your day has you feeling overwhelmed, cry out to Jesus!
"O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!"(Psalms 61:1-4 NLT)
We can apply some simple, practical applications on those super busy days to keep us from becoming overwhelmed and in turn, over-stressed.
1) Pray!
"Never stop praying."(1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT)
This means as you go throughout your day, pray. When you pass by something that belongs to your husband or child, pray for them. Pray for our country (2 Chronicles 7:14). Pray for your Pastor and your church family. Go to God with thanksgiving for His many blessings on your life. Pray pray, pray!
I promise you that prayer can change your outlook on your whole day!
2) Make A List
Choose the top 5 most important things that MUST be accomplished for that day. We must put our priorities in order. Once the major things are marked off, you can move on to the minor things. Remember, everything is important: some things are just more pressing than others some days.
3) Do What You Can...Tomorrow Is Another Day
Once you've accomplished your priority tasks, work on the others as diligently as you can. But don't be discouraged if it doesn't all get completed. If there's some laundry left over or you didn't get to dust, put it at the top of tomorrow's list. Focus on the day at hand and do what you can, working unto The Lord.
"So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "(Matthew 6:34 NCV)
"In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people." (Colossians 3:23 NCV)
Enjoy family time in the evenings.
Laugh.
Play.
Love on your husband.
Don't fret about what you have to do tomorrow. Once the day's work is complete, relish in the time God has given you with the family He has blessed you with.
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Can We Say...Distractions?
Ok, so...I have allowed myself to be VERY distracted since my last blog post...in MARCH. :/ Granted, I had a very valid reason: we delivered our beautiful baby girl on June 1st of this year!!! Needless to say with her birth and recovery, learning to adapt to life with six children and vacationing this summer, my blogging time (and much more importantly) my alone time with God have been to a minimum. I say that last part with a heavy heart. Life gets soooo busy, friends. And boy has God been pricking at my heart lately. He's calling me and beckoning me to come back to our quiet times together.
Finding time for this is definitely a challenge now. Our homeschool year is well underway and teaching 4 children is proving to be quite the balancing act. Add to that keeping our two year old occupied during class and some days end up like a circus!! Also, our sweet Adalynn just turned 4 months old yesterday so I'm getting a *few* more minutes in the day to get things accomplished. She's more willing to sit in her swing or high chair and chill a bit so mommy can get some work done. ;)
Well, most days.
I'm looking forward to resuming quiet times with my Lord and Savior. I need Him so desperately each and every day. I'm ashamed that I've let myself be so distracted by every day life that I can't even take a few minutes to study in His Word. His Word is like food for our souls and we can't nibble here and there a few days a week and be satisfied. No, we must dive into His Word deeply and fill our spirits with His life-giving "food".
Also I'm looking forward to sharing my thoughts and insights gained from Bible study, but mostly what God is speaking through His Word. I still pray that God would use me and this blog to help strengthen and encourage other fellow sisters in Christ.
We all deal with distractions. The fast paced society we live in now is full of them. Why won't you join me in regaining time alone with God (or deepening your walk with Him) and push aside those things that so easily distract us.
God has rich blessings in store for us and He wants to lavish us with His grace.
May God Richly Bless You!
Kayla
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