simple blog


A simple blog about seeking the Lord, savoring life and joyfully serving.


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Am I Busy Doing The Right Things?

We are in an insanely busy season right now (isn't everyone?). There is so much in this life to distract us. There are trips to take, home projects, schooling endeavors, church plays, gardens to tend, baby chicks that need attention, playdates, field trips, grandparents who need to hold our babies and graduations. 
 
When our schedules are so full we must ask ourselves, "Am I Busy Doing The Right Things?"





Evaluate the items in your day and determine their lasting value. What are the most important items that need attention in life? I ask myself if there is any eternal significance in what I am doing? Am I tending to relationships and cultivating friendships? Am I solidifying my children's self worth and deepening their knowledge of the Savior? As much as I love doing dishes, laundry, decluttering and cleaning the house (ha!), can I stop for a game of chess with my daughter or to put together a Lego man for my son? Am I doing the things that I will be be thankful I did when I look back at my life twenty years from now? Life is but a vapor and it is too short to live with a long list of regrets.


 
One of my personal prayers is that I will always remain teachable. I find the Lord uses unique teachable moments in my life.  I was not prepared for the sobering moment that struck me during Mr. Banks and Bert's song the first time I saw Mary Poppins as a parent.  It saddened me to think that it could ever being too late to give that spoonful of sugar to my little ones. Of course I will always be available for my children in whatever capacity I am able. I just don't want insignificant pursuits to interfere with what is most important in my life and that is my family.
 
A man does have dreams, as Mr. Banks so eloquently articulates (and mommas do as well) but at what cost? Perhaps we can build these dreams together. It may take a smidge longer but what is that in light of eternity? What do you want to be remembered for? How can you make each moment count?

Life will always be busy. Are we busy doing the right things?

 "So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
Psalm 90:12


Grace and peace,

Adoring Family


Friday, April 24, 2015

5 Friday Favorites

Time for another Friday Favorites! Are you sure it is Friday? Where did this week go? We have a lot of little and not so little plans brewing at our home. Soon you will hear of them but for now, my five favorites...
 
1.
This is one of my top three go-to breakfasts. It is quick, easy and unique. German Pancakes have a delightfully fluffy texture and melt-in-your mouth vanilla flavor.
Recipe found here.


 
2.
Our fruit trees are producing! We have 2 peaches, 2 plums, 2 pomegranates, 2 figs, 1 lemon and 7 loquat trees. That ought to make for an interesting fruit salad :D

3.
My dear, sweet SIL gave me this make up bag. She gets me. And my affinity for Kate Spade. I keep my make up in this bag so I am always prepared for my simplified make up routine that I talk about here. More details to come.

 
 
 
4.
Orange Leaf Dates!
 

 
5.
Kitten friends! Our close friends have 7 baby kitties looking for a home.
Know anyone that needs a new furry friend?
 
 
 
That is all for now everyone. Thank you so much for reading :)
Have a lovely weekend!
Grace and peace,
Adoring Family 


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Monday, April 20, 2015

Chia Seed Green Protein Shake

Chia Seed Green Protein Shake

Our current obsession is a peanut butter chia seed green smoothie. I like to call it a protein shake because of the different sources of plant protein that total 17 grams of protein. This is my son's all time favorite smoothie. Try it and you will be be a believer,  promise :) simple, healthy, delicious. My favorite combination!

1 cup almond milk
1 peeled banana
2 tbsp. peanut butter
1 tbsp. chia seeds
1 tbsp. raw honey
2 cups raw spinach
 
Blend until smooth
Enjoy. Seriously. You will :D
 

Why add chia seeds?
Chia seeds are an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid, Omega 3s, antioxidants and fiber. Chia seeds are rich vitamin B, D & E, calcium and iron. They are a complete protein. The gel formed when chia seeds absorb water slows down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar. This creates more endurance which makes chia seeds a perfect before workout snack. This gel also helps transport toxins out of your colon. Chia seeds absorb more than ten times their weight in water which aids your body's hydration.
 
We have recently fallen in love with chia seeds and have many fun recipes coming your way! For now we hope you give this one a try.
Have a wonderful week!
Grace and Peace,
Adoring Family
 

 

Friday, April 17, 2015

5 Friday Favorites


 Hi guys, I missed linking up last week because we were out of town. It is good to be back :) 

My five Friday faves this week are...

1. Baby Sonicare
We love our sonicare toothbrushes and now that my sweet little 5 month old is teething we thought we would try the baby version to massage her gums. She absolutely loves the soothing virbrataions on her her gums! I highly recommend this toothbrush to moms of teething babies. Another suggestion is a mesh baby feeder like one of these... 
Fill with frozen banana, frozen mangos or frozen peaches (not an affiliated link). Sometimes I will use plain ice. This makes baby very happy!

2. I have a deep love for this combo for my girls hair.

The Mason Pearson brush and Miracle 10 hair serum. It is a magic formula for no more tears. My girls used to cry and get tangles like you wouldn't believe. A  darling family friend spent the night with us and she had a Mason Pearson. It brushed through her hair like no other brush I had ever used. We purchased one and my girls ask for "the soft brush" every morning.
The Mason Pearson is worth every penny.
It's a 10 Miracle Leave In Product is wonderful as well. It is best used on wet hair. It detangles and gives a beautiful shine. 
 
 
3. Peanut Butter Chia Seed Green Smoothie.

My son and I are obsessed with these :D
Recipe coming soon! 


4. My favorite place! Here are some pics from our trip last week. We hung out with my dad for the weekend at my favorite place in the world. I love spending time with my family miles away from civilization! For more pix go here and here :)




5. Our memory verse in Latin.

 
 
 Our memory verse for the week is John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.


We hope you have had a wonderful week and wish you many blessing this weekend!
Grace and peace,
Adoring Family 



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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Where You Go I'll Go

 
Sometimes life is uncertain. One day you are moving in one direction and everything seems to be as it should be and the next you realize your life could be taking a different path.
 

"...for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." Ruth 1:16
 
Where you go I'll go...There is no place I would rather be than smack dab in the center of God's will. I know that whatever He has for us in this life will be best lived out following Him. Seeking joy in every season, opportunity and obstacle. Life is not always easy and during uncertain times I want to cling to Him. As Genesis 17:1 says, I want to serve the Lord faithfully and live a blameless life. Most important is what the Lord says in Genesis 17:7. "I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you." As long as He is the Lord of my life, I know I can trust that somehow things will work out for the good.
 

All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13

 
We have such finite vision. I do not want to be chasing after things that will pass away. I want the important things in my life to be those with eternal value. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35
 
For now, I am resting in the Israelites promise when they were in exile in Babylon, 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jerimiah 29:11
 
 
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.
Proverbs 14:26

 
When life is uncertain I take great comfort in God's Holy Word. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
Isaiah 51:6
 
And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure. Isaiah 33:6
 
The Lord Christ is the same, yesterday, today, tomorrow. Forever. He is unchanging and on That Solid Rock I'll stand.
 
Grace and Peace,
Adoring Family
 
 
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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Rustic Beauty



I hope you enjoy some of the photos from my favorite place on earth! I know it is probably not the most beautiful place to most people, but there is something about that place. It is so serene and I see the Lord's beauty when I am there. 
 The meadows are clothed with flocks And the valleys are covered with grain; They shout for joy, yes, they sing.
Psalm 65:13
  

"For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12






Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
Psalm 96:12






I know that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes it is the mere experience and the pleasure that that a place provides a family that makes it extraordinary to them. I know that God is magnificent and His glory can be seen all around us. I am thankful for our experiences in this wild, rustic place because they show me that we can be thankful and happy anywhere. We can find beauty anywhere. We can see God's hand anywhere.

Grace and peace,
Adoring Family
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Monday, April 13, 2015

Relaxing Weekend



Watch your head, Granny! (name that show)

 

Hello everyone, I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We spent the last few days with my dad on 3300 hundred acres of God's beautiful creation. Springtime visits are my favorite. There were blankets of gorgeous wildflowers at every turn. It never ceases to amaze me to see the hidden crevices of beauty God has in store for us every Spring. I often contemplate the wonders He has on hillsides and mountaintops where no human has set foot.

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these."

Luke 12:27

 


 
 

This is my favorite place in the world with most of my favorite people doing my favorite things. 

Jeep rides around the property, walking for miles, scouting out unique rocks, petrified wood and shed antlers. There are no T.V.s, no computers, no iPads and no phones. Admittedly we allow extremely limited cell phone use. There is nothing better than to get away from everything and hear only the sounds of your loved ones and God's wild creatures.

"The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

Psalm 24:1

 


 
 
I managed to sneak away for a walk one morning. The chorus of birds singing their song of praise enveloped me. The fresh morning air, pungent with sage and dew filled my lungs and I was able to reflect on our blessed life, worship the Lord and thank Him for all of these gifts.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150:6

 

 
 



"I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine."

Psalm 50:11
 
More to come but I have to go for now!
Grace and Peace,
Adoring Family
 
 
 
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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

7 Healing Home Remedies


When someone in our family comes down with an illness there are several home remedies I run to...

1. Healing Chicken Soup


2. Super hot, fresh salsa


3. Silverbiotics


4. Essential oils


5. Probiotics


6. Green smoothies


7. Hot Totties

First thing in the morning I make green smoothies for the sickies and I give them a dose of Silverbiotics. I concoct "hot totties" as mentioned in this post. I then load my diffuser with Thieves and Frankincense and put on a pot of Healing Chicken Soup. I make a big batch of homemade salsa with fresh peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro if I have it. I confine the sickies to a specific couch for two reasons, one is rest and the other is to seclude all those nasty germies. I make sure everyone is cozy with pillows, blankets, books, tissues, water and essential oils.

Here's the breakdown of why we do what we do...
 
1. Healing Chicken Soup
When we are sick, there is nothing more comforting than homemade chicken soup. I put on a pot of it this morning because we all have little funk going on at our house. I am hoping it is just allergies but our sweet baby has a fever :( her first illness.

Healing Chicken Soup
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
2 whole onions, chopped
6 cloves of minced garlic
1 whole, organic chicken
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Sea salt and pepper to taste
In a large stock pot, place all the veggies on the bottom and place the whole chicken on top of them. Fill the pot with water until it is covering the chicken with about two inches to spare. Sprinkle in sea salt and pepper and vinegar. Bring to a boil then turn down to a simmer for 6 hours. The longer the soup cooks, the more nutrients from the bones are incorporated into the broth. The vinegar is a vital ingredient as it helps draw the nutrients from the bones.
Chicken stock has anti inflammatory properties and contains calcium and magnesium. The stock produced is gut healing and contain amino acids that are similar to medicine found in over the counter cold and flu medicine. The soup is a natural decongestant. You will know you have concocted a good stock when the liquid gels after it is refrigerated.  We love the comforting smell of chicken stock on the stove.
2. Super hot, fresh salsa
Next, I make a big batch of homemade salsa with
fresh peppers, onions, garlic and sea salt.
The peppers are a natural decongestant so it will drain sinuses quickly preventing infection. Jalapeno peppers are full of vitamin c to help boost your immune system. Sea salt kills bacteria and clears the throat of germs.
Onions contain Quercitin which is a natural antibiotic with antiviral, antiseptic and anti-cancer properties. The onion is also anti-inflammatory.
Garlic is a natural antibiotic as well and contains allicin which is antifungal. To obtain these benefits it is best to consume raw, crushed or chopped garlic and wait at least 15 minutes to consume the garlic to utilize the maximum potency of the allicin. I have friends that take garlic like you would take a pill, swallowing it whole with a glass of water. Garlic contains vitamin C and zinc to help you battle your illness.


3. Silverbiotics
I am a firm believer in the power of Silverbiotics. It is a brand of colloidal silver, a natural antibiotic. Even hospitals put colloidal silver on bandages to help patients' wounds heal and fight infection. It is said to shorten the duration of a cold or flu. I have had success in using colloidal silver every time I had mastitis.  There are varying opinions on colloidal silver so I encourage you to do your research and draw your own conclusions but know that our family has enjoyed it's healing benefits for years.

4. Essential oils
We diffuse essential oils and apply them topically. Thieves of course, along with Frankincense. I rub both on the bottom of our feet (for the baby I use a carrier like coconut oil). I find the oils to be soothing healing. Frankincense is applied or diffused to relieve pain and congestion. Thieves contains clove, lemon, cinnamon,  rosemary and eucalyptus which cleanses the air and is antiviral and antibacterial. It also supports your lungs, sinuses and boosts immunity.

5. Probiotics
We  like to keep several sources of probiotics in our arsenal. I make homemade sauerkraut which provides gut friendly lactobacilli. The calcium, vitamin c and magnesium are increased during fermentation rendering it healthier than cabbage in its original state. I also brew water kefir which has a variety of probiotics by the trillion per serving.Water kefir  is an excellent source of B vitamins and minerals as well as natural antibiotic and anti-fungal qualities.  More information about both of those along with recipes coming in future posts :) Another probiotic source you may have heard of is Kombucha which is readily available at your local health food store or you can try brewing your own.
  
6. Green smoothies
We drink green smoothies for most of the day.
I believe it is extremely important to give your digestive system a rest when you are healing. This way your body is expending all of it's energy on healing itself and not wasting energy digesting your food. We avoid any dairy products. I am no expert but it has been my personal experience that dairy clogs our digestive systems and contributes to mucus production. Our favorite savory green smoothie recipe is found in this post.
We feel instant relief when sinus symptoms arrive because the acid in the vinegar hinders the survival of the germs that cause a nasty sore throat. Lemon juice aids recovery from the common cold. We drink this apple cider vinegar drink daily but increase the frequency of consumption when we feel the slightest tingle in our throat or stuffy nose.

Our family wishes you good health but if symptoms do sneak their way in your home we hope you find some or all of these home remedies helpful.
Grace and Peace,
Adoring Family

Please note that we are not offering medical advice and these remedies are not intended to take the place of a doctor. We hope you understand that the user assumes all risk and responsibility for the outcome of any and all side affects incurred from these remedies.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Good Friday Favorites


Good Friday Favorites
These are some of the things our family has enjoyed this week. We wish you many blessings this beautiful day and thank the Lord for His sacrifice. Our family is a product of His grace and kindness.


1. Hope's Song from The Easter Carol. I love the simplicity of the message in her song. This is what helped me firmly grasp the True meaning of Easter. Sometimes it takes the simple things to really solidify the Gospel.
 




2. Easter Pix.
I love reflecting on the cuteness from years past!
 
 

3.This man. He takes such tender care of all of us.
Life has gotten crazy as it always does with a baby. I don't know who the crazy woman is wrote this post, but I feel the need to revamp our schedule in order to get more accomplished. Our sweet baby girl is requiring more at this stage than just cuddles and feedings. I believe she is teething so there is a lot less sleep and a lot more crying! Thankfully, my husband is willing to step in and help where it is needed. I love that he seeks out what needs to be taken care of around the house and he just does it. That is a sign of true character. I think I'll keep him :)
 

4.Passover and Good Friday
are on the same day this year! Our family has been remembering our Lord on the Passover for three years now and it has become one of my favorite traditions.
Be sure to check out yesterday's post, Simple Messianic Seder (Passover) Meal For Kids .




5. New life. Glory to God, it is truly Spring! I am so thankful for the buds on the trees every Spring. The fresh beauty and warm temperatures, the long walks, the baby chicks, prospects of fresh veggies, family projects outside and longer days. We love Spring!

Our memory verse this week is 1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."



 Blessings and joy to you as we celebrate our risen Savior.
 
Thank you for reading.
Grace and peace,
Adoring Family
 
 
 
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