Treasuring & Pondering

Monday, February 1, 2016

Good Grief! A Charlie Brown Party!

I just wanted to write a quick post sharing some of the fun ideas I incorporated into our little one's birthday party!

It was a Peanuts/Charlie Brown theme. I couldn't find anything Peanuts at the party store! So, I went with yellow decor with black zigzags instead. Here are the favor bags and the decorate-your-own cups, for example:

The kids (and adults) had a blast with decorating their cups!

Decorations were kept simple, using red and yellow:

For the food, we had various Peanuts-named/themed dippers and dips, since most toddlers just love to DIP things!

Then, we had some fun Peanuts-themed desserts and drinks, too!

Thanks to the help of our family, it turned out great! And our little one had a blast!

Friday, November 20, 2015

Toddler Advent Reading & Activity Plan

I just wanted to share the Advent Reading & Activity Plan I made to do with my toddler this year (she'll be 22 months old when we do it). I've had several friends ask me for the plan when I told them about it, so I thought others might like to have it as a resource, as well. Feel free to use, not use, or modify whatever you want.

The Reading Plan:

Here's the reading calendar I made (based on the Jesus Storybook Bible). We'll read those, along with the Bible verses listed, at dinner with Daddy as our family devotional time.

I based this plan off of one I found online that had a different story each day, but I customized ours so there would be more repetition of the stories since she's still pretty young. The one with a different story each day would be great for older toddlers or preschoolers, so I'll be referencing it in the future, I'm sure!

I also customized my plan to start at the beginning of Advent (rather than on Dec 1), and I extended it to the 27th to wrap things up after the dust settles a bit.

The Activity Calendar:

These are the activities I made to coincide with the readings (or some don't too). I got a lot of my ideas from this lady who made activities to go with the original reading plan I found. I also got many of the ideas from my sister.

I changed a lot of them to fit with our schedule (such as just reading a book on days we're going to visit family, etc.) and to simplify them—for my sake and because my kiddo is still pretty young. One note: some of the activities require toys and books we have around our house already. You could probably pretty easily modify these to use books and supplies you have.

November 29
The word "ADVENT" means "Coming" (just like when we say daddy is COMING home). Jesus' birthday is coming soon, when we celebrate the day He was born as a baby. Each day for the next four weeks, we'll get ready to celebrate Jesus' Birthday on Christmas Day by opening an Advent surprise like this one!! I wonder what tomorrow's surprise will be!
[Tape A-D-V-E-N-T letters on wall]

November 30
Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus' birthday, the day he was born! The Bible tells us the story of his birth many years ago. Let's read the story together from a book now.
[Read “The Story of Christmas”]

December 1
Christmastime is a great time to give to those in need. We like to show Jesus’ love to others just like He showed His love to us by coming as a man to rescue us. Let’s give to children in need today by choosing one of these gifts for them.
[Choose gifts from Compassion catalog]

December 2
Let’s make a sweet Christmas treat today! Christmas cookies are a fun way to celebrate.
[Make sugar cookies and decorate them together]

December 3
God made everything! He made the trees. Sometimes we like to celebrate Christmas by decorating trees like this one in our house! Let’s read about the things He made and make a little tree now.
[Read “Poems and Prayers” poems about what God made, make a green paper Christmas tree with ornament stickers]

December 4
God made a perfect home for Adam and Eve, didn’t He? Let’s think about that while we make our own home more beautiful by hanging these pretty ornaments on the Christmas tree.
[Hang 5-10 ornaments together]

December 5
Let’s color a fun Christmas picture together today. This is a picture of the day Jesus was born. Jesus is a special baby. Can you find Jesus? What else do you see in the picture?
[Color Nativity picture]

December 6
One thing people like to do to celebrate Christmas is make gifts and greetings for each other. Let’s make some cards for our librarians to deliver when we see them.
[Make Christmas cards using paper, stickers, and markers]

December 7
While we wait for Jesus’ birthday, let’s go to the library to deliver our cards and get a Christmas book to read today!
[Bring cards to librarians and get a book to read that day]

December 8
Passover, which we are learning about in our Devotions, is also known as the feast of unleavened bread. God’s people left Egypt quickly and didn’t have time for their bread to rise (or leaven). So they eat this special bread when they celebrate Passover.
[Eat Matzo bread, listen to Passover song, and watch Passover video]

December 9
Moses and his sister and God’s people danced and sang and made music, praising God for His protection. You can make music to God, too. One great way to celebrate Christmas is with music!
[Make a jingle bell instrument (bells on pipe cleaner), gather other instruments, and listen to Christmas music and play along]

December 10
God provided for His people as they wandered in the desert by giving them manna to eat every day. He provides for us, too. Let’s pretend to eat some manna together while we watch a special Christmas movie.
[Eat “manna” (frosted flakes) and watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas”]

December 11
Candy Canes can remind us of Jesus at Christmastime. Let’s read a poem about candy canes and then make a candy cane!
[Read Candy Cane Poem and then make candy cane craft]

December 12
Candy Canes can remind us of Jesus at Christmas time since they look like a "J" upside-down and "J" is the first letter in Jesus' name! [Hold up like a “J”] They also remind us of a shepherd’s crook (read book and explain about how Jesus is our Shepherd and what a crook is), like King David talks about in Psalm 23.
[Read “The Lord is my Shepherd” book and then share candy cane treat]

December 13
Let’s write letters to your grandparents today, wishing them a Merry Christmas and telling them how much Jesus loves them.
[Write letters on Christmas paper and mail them]

December 14
There are lots of fun stories, pretend and real, about Christmas. The stories about Jesus from the Bible are true stories. Let’s read some make-believe, pretend stories now.
[Read “The Silver Christmas Tree” and “Clifford’s Christmas”]

December 15
Let’s celebrate Christmastime by making a pretty decoration for our Christmas tree today!
[Make paper chain and hang on tree]

December 16
God announced the news of Jesus’ birth by having a very bright star shine down on Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Let’s make a pretty sparkly star today!
[Make star of David out of popsicle sticks, glue, and glitter]

December 17
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Here is a picture of the star over Bethlehem, shining on the place where Jesus was born. Jesus is a very special baby! Let’s color this picture while we listen to a song about Bethlehem.
[Color Bethlehem picture and listen to “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and other Christmas music]

December 18
One way we can announce good news like Jesus’ birth is by blowing a trumpet loud for all to hear! Let’s read a story about trumpeting the Good News and then make a trumpet.
[Read Good News, page 66, in “Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing” and make a horn (cone) out of yellow construction paper.]

December 19
We like to celebrate Christmas by spending time with the people we love. Let’s read a book about that as we visit with our family this weekend!
[Read “Willow at Christmastime”]

December 20
Let’s read a Christmas story about one of your favorite friends, Charlie Brown!
[Read "Charlie Brown Christmas"]

December 21
Today we can read the Nativity Story in Mom's Bible. We can act it out with our little nativity people while I read.
[Read Luke 2 in Bible, use Little People nativity to reenact the story]

December 22
See how mom's tummy is betting bigger with the new baby growing inside? The same thing happened to Mary when she had baby Jesus! But even before Jesus started growing in her tummy, an angel named Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would have a very special baby! God made angels to help Him and help people. Today, we can make an angel decoration together!
[Make a Paper Plate Angel]

December 23
Jesus is the shining light. He shines in the darkest of night.
Later we'll have a special treat, you'll wear PJ's in your car seat!
We'll take a family drive tonight, to find the fanciest Christmas lights!
[Drive through Christmas Lane this evening]

December 24
Today is Christmas Eve, which means the day before Christmas!! Remember the word "Advent" that we talked about and taped on the wall? Do you remember what it means (“coming”)? We've been waiting for Christmas a long time now, but soon we won't have to wait anymore! Let’s make a Nativity Scene with your Nativity stickers today!
[Make a scene with construction paper and Nativity stickers]

December 25
Merry Christmas! Let’s go visit Grandma and Grandpa and celebrate!

December 26
Let’s read about what it might have been like in the stable where Jesus was born!
[Read “The Stable Where Jesus was Born”]

December 27
Did you have fun with these Christmastime activities? Let’s do one more as we end our Christmas celebrations. Here is a picture of Jesus, the special baby, for you to color. Let’s watch a Christmas movie while we draw!
[Color picture of baby Jesus in manger and watch Nativity video]

The Finished Product:

I then put the slips of paper with the daily activities in these little bags so she can open one each day to find out what the surprise is. If the materials for the activity were small enough, they went in these bags.

I also gathered a basket with the books and other too-big items for each daily activity. I knew I wouldn't be able to follow through as easily if everything wasn't in one place and ready to go!

Hope this helps and blesses you as you prepare for Advent with your kids!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Dairy-Free Chicken & Rice Casserole

Recently, I've needed to eat a dairy-free diet on and off. One thing I've been missing a lot are those tasty creamy casseroles that are so easy to make and so yummy! But, alas, they usually contain cream, cheese, milk, and/or other dairy products. I went on a hunt for a dairy-free casserole and found this gem. It seemed like it might be a bit bland, so I made a few modifications, including adding onions and french fried onions.

Ingredients

3 cups cooked rice
2 cups cooked shredded or cubed chicken
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
3-4 tablespoons flour
1/4 teaspoon thyme, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon onion powder, plus more to taste
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder
3 cups water
1-1/4 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup sliced frozen carrots
1/2 cup sliced onion
1/4-1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs (make sure they are dairy-free)
1/4-1/2 cup french fried onions (make sure they are dairy-free)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F
In large skillet bring 2 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp water to a light simmer.
Add flour slowly and blend until smooth.
Add 1/4 t. thyme, 1/8 t. onion powder, 1/8 t. garlic powder.
Slowly add 3 cups of water and bouillon then continue blend until its a smooth consistency.
Add cooked chicken and stir.
Lightly grease a casserole dish and layer rice in bottom.
Layer peas, carrots, and onion onto rice and sprinkle with salt and any additional spices you want.
Carefully pour chicken mixture over vegetables.
Sprinkle bread crumbs over the casserole.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Top with french fried onions and bake 5-10 minutes more.

This casserole turned out better than I'd expected a dairy-free casserole to be! For not having any cheese, it was very good! It hit the spot, and I hardly missed the cheese and milk (ok, I did kind of miss them).

Friday, February 13, 2015

50 Reasons Not to Watch "50 Shades of Grey"

It seems like 50 Shades of Grey has gotten a lot of attention—both positive and negative—lately. I haven't seen it and don't intend to, but for some reason I felt compelled to write this post. Here are 50 reasons, in no particular order, why you should NOT see the movie (or read the book, for that matter)—though not all will apply to everyone:

You value beauty.
You are married, and you value that marriage enough to protect it.
You are single, and you value your sexuality enough to protect it.
You appreciate good literature. These are real lines from the novel: “Finally, my medulla oblongata recalls its purpose, I breathe.” and “My inner goddess is beside herself, hopping from foot to foot.” Really? Need I go on? Could we be more ridiculous?
It's pornographic. Don't think so? Here's a definition of pornography from Merriam-Webster: "movies, pictures, magazines, etc., that show or describe naked people or sex in a very open
and direct way in order to cause sexual excitement"
You are a Christian.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Phil 4:8
You believe our culture needs more good men—not fewer of them.
"But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:28
Because there are better ways to spend that movie ticket money—like donating the money to a shelter for real-life abused women.
You could spend those two hours experiencing real, life-giving intimacy with your real, flesh-and-blood spouse.
You believe our culture needs more good women—not fewer of them.
You love your children and you want to set a good example for them.
You know you can't "un-see" things you've seen.
It blurs the lines about what real love is.
It blurs the lines on whether it's ok to have a "sex-without-love" mentality.
It glorifies and trivializes domestic abuse.
You are a feminist. Last time I checked, there's nothing empowering about a woman being abused.
Just because the story has been used for some good, this does not mean we should in any way endorse it. Just because God can take the broken (e.g. losing a home to a fire or a losing a loved one) and use it for good, doesn't mean we should try to make these things happen (e.g. arson or murder).
You are sexually hungry. Why try to satiate that desire with this disgusting film?
You are sexually satisfied. Why ruin that by watching this film?
You liked the Dove Men+Care Super Bowl commercial so much because you believe that what makes men, men: loving others, not abusing them.
"For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." 1 Cor. 7:4
Because you are a woman and can't endorse something that glorifies a woman being treated in such a way.
Because you are a man and you can't stand men being portrayed so poorly.
Because you are a woman who is sometimes tempted to find a man who is broken and needs to be "fixed."
Because you are a man who is tempted to be domineering or violent.
Because you could spend that money to watch a movie, such as Fireproof, that portrays real love and grace and victory over sexual sin, instead.
Because, since when did it become ok to watch people having sex on a movie screen? Is that something we would ever watch in real life?
"Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love." Proverbs 5:15-19
Because marriage is hard enough without confusing ourselves about what real love is.
You don't want to confuse yourself about what real, God-endorsed sex should be like.
You could spend those two hours on a night out with friends.
Single? You could spend those two hours filling out an eHarmony profile and find a real single man out there who is not a tyrant. (Not trying to sound flippant here. I know it's much easier said than done!)
Because you want to follow Jesus.
"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." 1 Cor. 6:18
You could spend those two hours and that money on a dinner date with your spouse/significant other, where you can get to know each other's heart & soul better with these 50 date night questions.
You believe that we need to be reminded what real love is.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16
Because you are lonely. Don't fill that hole here.
Because you wouldn't know what to tell your child when they ask what the movie was about that you went to go see.
Because you could go out dancing with your spouse instead.
Because you fear God and you believe He is in authority.
Because you could take that time to befriend and counsel a real-life abused woman by volunteering at a women's shelter.
"Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." Proverbs 5:20-23
Because you are young and impressionable.
Because you are old and don't think you're impressionable.
Because you care about yourself and want to protect yourself.
You could spend those two hours doing pretty much anything more useful. Here are some ideas: organize your basement, catch up on sleep, call an old friend, write a snail mail letter, write a list for your spouse of 50 reasons why you love them.
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." 1 Cor. 13:4-8

There you go. 50 reasons not to watch "50 Shades." I thought it would be hard to make a list that long. It wasn't. What is your reason for not watching?

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Our Ornament Tradition and our 2014 Ornament

Our Christmas Ornament Tradition

A few short months after our wedding, my husband and I celebrated our first Christmas together.

We decided to start something that has now become a special tradition for our family. We decided that, each year, we will find or make an ornament that especially represents that year and add it to our tree (we're both big on ornaments that have stories and are not just decorative).

In 2012, we put a picture from our honeymoon into this small frame. It represented a year of a new beginning—the year we got married!

In 2013, we made the tradition "official." We decided that, each year on our anniversary, we would take some time to write in our anniversary journal about what we decided to make for our ornament that year and why. Deciding our ornament on our anniversary has proven to be a good plan—that gives us time to find or create our ornament before Thanksgiving weekend, when we put up our tree each year.

For 2013, we got a small jar and put a poppyseed in it. We decided to make this our ornament last year because God had given us a baby—a baby who we called poppyseed up until she was born in early 2014.

Our 2014 Ornament

I'm really excited about our ornament this year—maybe because of the symbolism, or maybe because it took longest to make. This year, we decided to make a tree.

We decided on a tree partially because of the symbolism in this Andrew Peterson song and the story behind it.

2014, has, for us, been a year of growth, planting, putting down roots. There are three main reasons we decided a tree represents this year:

We have both been convicted this year about our need to pursue spiritual growth more fervently. This is something we are both, together, being more intentional about.
We had our baby girl this year! We "planted a new seed" and are cultivating her growth.
We've gotten more settled into our new home, our roles, and our routine. We are "putting down roots," so to speak.

The Making of the Tree

After we decided to make a tree, I set out looking for a tree ornament. But, the only ones I could find were Christmas trees. So, I decided to make a wire tree (which is significantly cheaper than buying one. About 10 times cheaper, in fact). I found this helpful (and silly) tutorial video about how to make gemstone trees.

I took some liberties and did my tree a bit differently... I added more "branches" (my tree has 11 of them). I also put crystal beads onto the loops so I didn't have to mess with gluing things. I also just curled the ends of my roots instead of gluing it to a rock since this tree will hang instead of standing. I added an extra little loop of wire and tied a green ribbon to it. With sale prices and a 40% off coupon, the materials for this project were only $2.50, and I still have at least half of the 26-gauge wire left over. I'm loving this tree and can't wait to hang it on our Christmas tree next week!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Easy Barley Soup

I invented a recipe today. We are always looking for affordable meal options, and barley is almost as cheap as it gets (this whole pot of soup was less than $3 to make)! We don't get fancy barley, just the simple kind, where you buy a bag of dry barley like you'd buy a bag of dried beans.

I got the inspiration for this recipe from the back of the Hurst's barley bag. I made quite a few modifications, though, so I think I can call it my own. It turned out so much better than I'd expected it would!

Ingredients:

1/2 c. barley
7 c. water
1-1/2 c. diced ham
1 medium onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1, 14.5-oz can diced tomatoes
1 bay leaf
1 t. salt
2 beef and 2 chicken bullion cubes
basil to taste

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a large pot.
Boil gently for about 2 hours, checking and stirring occasionally. Add water during cooking to reach desired consistency, if needed.
Remove bay leaf and serve. Makes about 4 bowl servings.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Essential Oils: Essential Information

I know this post is not my typical type of post... please disregard it if this is not a topic that interests you.

Since seemingly everyone is hosting essential oil parties these days, I've been doing some research on them to find out what all the hype is. My dad is a massage therapist, so the fact that essential oils exist and are useful is not news to me. I have recently learned more specifics about the benefits of essential oils, but have already for years been using lavender oil to relax, tea tree oil spray during cold season, and citronella for homemade bug spray.

Do I think that essential oils are totally useless? No. Do I think that essential oils can fix any ailment and eliminate our need for ever going to the doctor? No. Essential oils have their place, and modern medicine has its place. I believe essential oils are worth trying for improving various conditions such as migraines, insomnia, eczema, sinus congestion, ADHD, and digestive issues. I also believe we can't use them as our only solution for many medical issues.

Mainly, I want to share some information that I've found in my research. I hope this is useful for you as you consider whether to try essential oils and/or what brands to use. I am in no way an expert on the subject, so please do your own research and don't just take my word for it.

Phrases such as “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” mean nothing. There is no actual classification in the aromatherapy world for “therapeutic grade”. There is no governing body that certifies essential oils. Phrases such as “Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade” are trademarked phrases by their corresponding essential oil company. The reason each of these companies can claim that “no other company can say….” is because their company has trademarked the words. (I do not doubt the quality of the products from companies that use phrases like this. I am simply pointing out that these phrases are meaningless, so look at other factors to determine the quality of any oils you purchase.)
Enormous amounts of plants are needed to produce essential oil. It takes anywhere from 100 pounds to literally tons of plant material to produce a pound of essential oil. Consider, then, how concentrated essential oils must be in light of how many plants are used to produce them.
Most essential oils should never be used undiluted on the skin. Instead, they should be combined with carrier oils, waxes, butters, alcohols, or other diluting measures. Because they’re so concentrated, if you don’t dilute, you may end up with an unfortunate reaction (and unhappy skin). Besides, the oils will go a much longer way when diluted. There are a few essential oils that are generally recognized as safe to use undiluted (sparingly), such as lavender, German chamomile, tea tree, sandalwood, and rose geranium.
You should never use an undiluted essential oil on a baby or child. Children have much thinner, more delicate skin than adults have and tend to be very sensitive to the potency of essential oils. In fact, even if you do use essential oil in a recipe for children, only use half of the essential oil recommended in the recipe. That’s all they’ll need, anyway. Be sure to find a reliable list of essential oils that are safe for babies and children before using them.
You really shouldn't take essential oils internally, especially oils like wintergreen and eucalyptus. While some essential oils may be used well-diluted in something like toothpaste with safety, it’s generally recognized that there’s no need to take essential oils internally.
Certain essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding (and skip essential oils completely in your first trimester). These lists often include aniseed, cedarwood, chamomile, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, ginger, jasmine, lemon, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, wintergreen, vetiver, and more.
Essential oils cannot be patented, which means that you don't see essential oils in pharmaceutical drugs. You can expect that the vast majority of mainstream healthcare practitioners will not recommend essential oils as therapeutic alternatives to drugs. Because essential oils cannot be patented, drug companies will not waste money studying them. This limits our scientific knowledge of essential oils greatly.
Essential oils will last for at least 5 years (if not 10), so one bottle could literally last you a decade. Hopefully that thought will help mitigate the cost involved in purchasing some essential oils. Because they are so concentrated and only a tiny amount is needed in anything you do, they’ll last you a very, very long time. The only exception to this rule is citrus oils, which will see a reduction in potency after a year or two.
Most essential oils are high in antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. This makes them an excellent addition to your homemade cleaning preparations. Oils that work well for cleaning include lemon, grapefruit, eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, lavender, and rosemary.
Essential oils are miniscule in molecular size, which means they are absorbed well by the skin – making them perfect ingredients in personal care items intended to heal, soften, and nourish. However, they do not accumulate in the body over time – they simply offer up their healing properties and then pass on through.
Fragrance oils and essential oils are not the same thing. As a rule of thumb, if you see the word “fragrance” or “fragrance oil” or even “perfume” on anything, you can assume this is synthetic, not natural, even if it says natural fragrance. Look for oils that are labeled as 100% essential oil and do your research to make sure they are not diluted or mixed with synthetic substances.

I am not suggesting we should be afraid to use essential oils. They are very useful for health, cleaning, and aromatherapy. Just use them properly and it should be fine. I hope this post is helpful as you determine how and when and which essential oils to use.

NOTE: Many of the above bits of information were copied from here (but I've also seen them all elsewhere).

9/6 UPDATE: Here is a note my dad wrote about the second-to-last point:

“Minuscule” is a relative term and a poor one to use. Why not just say that they are absorbed well and leave it at that? I do see their implied point: the oils can be assimilated transdermally (through the skin just like a nicotine patch) for use in the body. Essential oils are NOT molecules; they are complex combinations of MANY molecules—sometimes hundreds of distinct molecules—many of which are terpenes. Terpenes, in turn are made of isoprene units, and can have anywhere from one to dozens of them (think of ladders with different numbers of rungs). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terpene for more info on this.