Today with it being so hot I knew the kids would appreciate something cold to sip on for snack time. Knowing that the veggies had been a little lacking for lunch (someone please figure out why they don't like baby carrots!), I decided to go all sneaky chef on them. A while back I had in my possession an email that told of a chocolate pea smoothie. I have been thinking about it ever since. Could the taste of peas really be covered up by bananas and cocoa?
Of course once I set out to find said recipe, it was no where in sight! After a few minutes searching, I opted to just wing it. When I sampled the smoothie it just tasted like soft serve chocolate ice cream, I knew it was a go. The mmm's that my ears heard had told me I was successful. This is a very loosely based recipe, so take it as it is!
2 handfuls frozen peas
1 frozen banana broke into segments
splash of vanilla
1 tbsp cocoa powder
milk to thin to desired consistency
(Upon tasting it seemed just a bit bitter from the cocoa, so then I drizzled the top with just a dab of maple flavored agave syrup.)
blend until smooth and somewhere in between milkshake tendency and soft serve ice cream. Serve and smile because you just got some greens in your kiddos :)
Note: I did tell the kids that they had a vegetable in their smoothie later after they had eaten it and declared it yummy. I told them they wouldn't believe what was in there even if I said so. They chose to know and were totally surprised, and then asked if we could try that with frozen corn sometime.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
The Power of Friendships
Today was the last day of MOPS for the 2011-2012 school year. We had a few of the ladies share their stories 'how I became the mother I am'. All of three of them were so very touching. One gal shared about how she woke up at 5wks pregnant with heavy spotting. My heart skipped a beat, and I'm sure my breath caught. And as she told the story of how not only was she afraid of losing her baby, her eldest had been 'misplaced' at church and she was frantically running around looking for her child asking God if she was supposed to lose both of her babies that day. Thankfully, her baby lived, and her child was found.
All of the sudden I was right back to my own story. Bleeding, but not knowing whether life remained. And also remembering how terrified I was that day of losing my oldest as well when she didn't come home from school and no one could find her. I can imagine there was a lot of raw emotion on my face as those memories came flooding back. Then my dear friend Rebecca caught my hand and just held it through the rest of the speaker's story. I didn't tell her how much I needed that. She won't have a clue (unless she reads this) that her holding my hand got me through the speaker, helped me keep my composure. What a testament to the power of a true friend. She knew my pain and reached out to me in such a simple, but powerfully needed way. Rebecca always says that women need each other, boy was that true for me today!
I have been reflecting on friendship this week. See, after the miscarriage I took a long break from Facebook. It was a time that I needed to crawl inside of myself to grieve. Sure I felt lonely and disconnected, but I have never felt closer to my Maker than I did in those months. I have 'reconnected' with Facebook in the last week. At first I told myself only at night. Then it was only during times when Wesley was nursing. Then all of the sudden I am finding myself checking Facebook every few hours, looking to see if anyone has posted. I am especially curious about posts in a few of the groups I am involved in. I wouldn't call myself obsessed with Facebook, but I can see that it has taken an unhealthy role in my daily life. I just want to know what other people are doing, and it just strikes me as odd that I am more interested about people from distant pasts, or strangers whom I've never met instead of my friends. I realized that I haven't reached out and met up or called many people this week, because I was finding friendship fulfillment through cyber relationships!
What a sad culture we live in that we are more connected with our devices than people. That we would rather read about or watch others lives on a screen than know our next door neighbors. I am guilty. In the almost three years we've been on our block I have only met people from four of the eight houses that are in the cul de sac.
I don't know how to change our society, but I can be the change I want to see right? I can choose to seek out people instead of screens. My computer will never give me a hug or a shoulder to cry on. Because when I see ((((hugs)))) on the screen, I sure don't feel comforted. It just makes me feel more alone and isolated.
I am not a rock, I am not an island. I am a woman who needs the power of her friends to carry her through this life, as only friends can do.
All of the sudden I was right back to my own story. Bleeding, but not knowing whether life remained. And also remembering how terrified I was that day of losing my oldest as well when she didn't come home from school and no one could find her. I can imagine there was a lot of raw emotion on my face as those memories came flooding back. Then my dear friend Rebecca caught my hand and just held it through the rest of the speaker's story. I didn't tell her how much I needed that. She won't have a clue (unless she reads this) that her holding my hand got me through the speaker, helped me keep my composure. What a testament to the power of a true friend. She knew my pain and reached out to me in such a simple, but powerfully needed way. Rebecca always says that women need each other, boy was that true for me today!
I have been reflecting on friendship this week. See, after the miscarriage I took a long break from Facebook. It was a time that I needed to crawl inside of myself to grieve. Sure I felt lonely and disconnected, but I have never felt closer to my Maker than I did in those months. I have 'reconnected' with Facebook in the last week. At first I told myself only at night. Then it was only during times when Wesley was nursing. Then all of the sudden I am finding myself checking Facebook every few hours, looking to see if anyone has posted. I am especially curious about posts in a few of the groups I am involved in. I wouldn't call myself obsessed with Facebook, but I can see that it has taken an unhealthy role in my daily life. I just want to know what other people are doing, and it just strikes me as odd that I am more interested about people from distant pasts, or strangers whom I've never met instead of my friends. I realized that I haven't reached out and met up or called many people this week, because I was finding friendship fulfillment through cyber relationships!
What a sad culture we live in that we are more connected with our devices than people. That we would rather read about or watch others lives on a screen than know our next door neighbors. I am guilty. In the almost three years we've been on our block I have only met people from four of the eight houses that are in the cul de sac.
I don't know how to change our society, but I can be the change I want to see right? I can choose to seek out people instead of screens. My computer will never give me a hug or a shoulder to cry on. Because when I see ((((hugs)))) on the screen, I sure don't feel comforted. It just makes me feel more alone and isolated.
I am not a rock, I am not an island. I am a woman who needs the power of her friends to carry her through this life, as only friends can do.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Hospitality Hostess
For the first time in a long while, I accepted a leadership position. It didn't come easy. You see, I consistently score so low on leadership for personality tests that it's not even worth the while to figure my total. The few times that I've tried to take up a leader role, it has miserably failed. Groups disbanding, not ever even starting outside of me and my ideas. So I did not go lightly into the venture of accepting a leading role for MOPS next year. I prayed and felt convicted that serving for hospitality would be something that I could do.
MOPS--mothers of preschoolers. It has been my link to nearly every person I know in Grand Island outside of family. I love going, it's a wonderful time to connect with other women, and the kids are in their own little rooms, much like Sunday school. Every year I have been asked if I'd be willing to help serve, and every year the response was 'no thanks I just want to come and enjoy, I'm not much of a leader anyways'.
What changed? Certainly not me. I'm still just as much as a follower as ever. Just my perspective on what leading can look like. Which is why hospitality is the perfect place for me to lead. Because it's not really leading, it's serving. I will be in charge of arranging who is bringing brunch, setting up the meeting room, and tearing it down each time. There isn't any public speaking. No one will be looking to me for answers or guidance. Our little branch of MOPS won't collapse (hopefully!) just because I'm 'leading'.
I will get to make the room be what everyone has always seen. Set up, organized, decorated, welcoming. All ready for them to come and enjoy. Do you see what I am getting at? It's behind the scenes work. A place to give back, but not in a very obvious way. It's a job that people don't think about, because it is done when they are away. And that's the way I like it. I love working in the background where no one notices. It's the perfect place for this follower, and I'm excited to give back to an organization that has brought so many positive people and experiences into my life.
MOPS--mothers of preschoolers. It has been my link to nearly every person I know in Grand Island outside of family. I love going, it's a wonderful time to connect with other women, and the kids are in their own little rooms, much like Sunday school. Every year I have been asked if I'd be willing to help serve, and every year the response was 'no thanks I just want to come and enjoy, I'm not much of a leader anyways'.
What changed? Certainly not me. I'm still just as much as a follower as ever. Just my perspective on what leading can look like. Which is why hospitality is the perfect place for me to lead. Because it's not really leading, it's serving. I will be in charge of arranging who is bringing brunch, setting up the meeting room, and tearing it down each time. There isn't any public speaking. No one will be looking to me for answers or guidance. Our little branch of MOPS won't collapse (hopefully!) just because I'm 'leading'.
I will get to make the room be what everyone has always seen. Set up, organized, decorated, welcoming. All ready for them to come and enjoy. Do you see what I am getting at? It's behind the scenes work. A place to give back, but not in a very obvious way. It's a job that people don't think about, because it is done when they are away. And that's the way I like it. I love working in the background where no one notices. It's the perfect place for this follower, and I'm excited to give back to an organization that has brought so many positive people and experiences into my life.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Lentil Sandwich Spread
I adore peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. They are super yummy, filling, cheap, and good for you. That being said, the humble sandwich leaves much to be desired in the warmer months, especially when it comes to picnic fare. We think that picnics are wonderful, but sometimes that sweet sandwich just doesn't fit the bill for me. I like more savory sandwiches for lunch, pb&j is more of a breakfast food for me personally.
Yesterday morning the phone rang, and Phil's mom decided that since it was so beautiful out we should picnic for lunch out at Hall County Park (which if you've never been there, it is such a wonderful hidden little slice of heaven for Grand Island!). I said we'd bring the sandwiches and fruit if she brought the chips. Then I realized once I hung up that I had neglected to remember that I didn't have anything to fill my sandwich with! As Phil was slapping together some meat and cheese sandwiches, I was huffing to myself about what to make. I didn't have any beans made, otherwise a chickpea salad sandwich would have been perfect. I almost threw in the towel to opt for pb&j but then decided it would be worth the effort to cook up some lentils. Let me tell you I am so glad that I did! The color and texture reminded me of tuna salad, but the flavor was all it's own. With some smoky chipotle chili's in the background, this sandwich filled my need for a savory sandwich.
My measurements are just approximate as I dumped and whizzed it up in the mini food processor until it seemed about right.
1 cup cooked lentils
2 tbsp ranch dressing
1/4 chipotle chili pepper (I just snipped a piece off a canned chili pepper)
1/4 roasted red bell pepper (I had the jarred variety sitting in my fridge)
I made it fairly thick so it was pretty 'pasty' and able to stay on the bread. I think it would also be an excellent dip if thinned out with some more ranch and/or mayonaise. The only thing that would have made it better was to have some banana pepper rings on top!
Yesterday morning the phone rang, and Phil's mom decided that since it was so beautiful out we should picnic for lunch out at Hall County Park (which if you've never been there, it is such a wonderful hidden little slice of heaven for Grand Island!). I said we'd bring the sandwiches and fruit if she brought the chips. Then I realized once I hung up that I had neglected to remember that I didn't have anything to fill my sandwich with! As Phil was slapping together some meat and cheese sandwiches, I was huffing to myself about what to make. I didn't have any beans made, otherwise a chickpea salad sandwich would have been perfect. I almost threw in the towel to opt for pb&j but then decided it would be worth the effort to cook up some lentils. Let me tell you I am so glad that I did! The color and texture reminded me of tuna salad, but the flavor was all it's own. With some smoky chipotle chili's in the background, this sandwich filled my need for a savory sandwich.
My measurements are just approximate as I dumped and whizzed it up in the mini food processor until it seemed about right.
1 cup cooked lentils
2 tbsp ranch dressing
1/4 chipotle chili pepper (I just snipped a piece off a canned chili pepper)
1/4 roasted red bell pepper (I had the jarred variety sitting in my fridge)
I made it fairly thick so it was pretty 'pasty' and able to stay on the bread. I think it would also be an excellent dip if thinned out with some more ranch and/or mayonaise. The only thing that would have made it better was to have some banana pepper rings on top!
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