Instilling Vision In Our Sons

He had that look in his eye.

You know the look. That way of silently expressing that this young man has got things to do and places to go. You could tell he felt a calling on his life – a sense of purpose and a hope for the future.

Yes, that young man had a vision.

There was a time when I thought a boy either had it…or simply didn’t. But I don’t believe that anymore. I believe parents can encourage vision in their sons. That it’s not merely a matter of chance, but an internal calling that can be brought out and molded into something solid and real. And I believe it’s never too late to appeal to that small flicker of fire deep inside his soul.

How Do You Instill Vision in Your Son? 

Encourage his unique strengths and gifting. Sometimes a son’s strengths can seem almost odd, even out-of-place when he is young. You worry about him and wonder. But don’t. Maybe he’s bright, overly-social, not-social-enough, a tinkerer, funny, or serious. Whatever he is – God made him that way and He has a plan for that boy of yours.

Don’t impose your dreams on him. This is probably the biggest mistake parents make. They want their sons to fulfill their own dreams. But, please, don’t do this to him. Let him live out his own God-given desires and goals for his life. Even if it looks a bit differently than the picture you would have painted for him.

Be bold and offer some direction. This might seem to contradict what’s above, but it doesn’t. I’ve heard more than one guy confide that he could use a little help – maybe even a little push – to get going in a direction. Often a young man feels the pressure of having to pursue something, but has no idea what that “something” is. So offer guidance as to his best options and then together set out specific steps toward the goal.

Read the Rest of Lisa Jacobson's blog here

Easy Chicken & Dumplings

I haven't been feeling well this week and dinner has quickly turned south. Hot dogs, corn dogs, pizza delivery..... Ugh. I am done. Its also finally starting to cool off down here in the Deep South, so what better idea than my Easy Chicken & Dumplings for dinner? I literally spent no time at the stove and we ended up with a delicious dinner.

Need: 2 stock pots (I know, I know! Two? Well.... it just goes faster that way!)



















In one pot, boil until cooked, then drain in a strainer:
2 lbs chicken breast tenderloins (frozen, straight from the bag is what I do)
2 cups seasoning blend (onion, bell pepper, celery that is pre-chopped)

While chicken is boiling, In the other pot:
2 - 32 oz. boxes Swanson Chicken Broth
2 - 12 oz. cans Evaporated Milk
3(approx) tablespoons Paul Prudhomme Poultry Magic (I get mine at Winn Dixie)

This is really to taste. I don't actually measure the seasoning and it will really depend on your own taste as to how much you will want to use.

Combine the above in the pot and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Don't forget to stir or you will end up with scorched milk. 

Once you have a rolling boil, you need:
4 rolls of CHEAP can buttermilk biscuits - I am talking the cheap small ones. Cheaper the better, honest!

Take each biscuit and break off into pieces. You will get 4-6 pinches off of each biscuit. Throw into the boiling broth/evap. milk mixture.

Finishing Up:
Really, after about 15 minutes of the biscuits boiling in the liquid you could be eating, but I like mine to thicken up and be more of a stew consistency than a soup consistency. Its really a matter of preference. 

Once you have added your pulled pieces of biscuit, you need to break the chicken into bit size pieces and add it to the pot.

From the time my biscuits go in, I am usually serving bowls of this up within 45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Product Review: Elite Pressure Cooker

Not your grandma's pressure cooker, folks! This thing is down right amazing!! No lie, I was a bit scared at first. I mean, we have all heard the stories of an exploding pressure cooker, right? Then my aunt told me about this particular pressure cooker and she just raved about it so, I decided to take the plunge and buy it. I knew she would never steer me wrong after all. 

Can we say:

ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS OF MY LIFE? Seriously! I used to be a crock-pot queen, but now I am just a pressure cooker queen and I only use my crock-pot for some of old favorites. Cooking time is just amazingly fast with a pressure cooker and I am in love! Its large 8 qt  capacity is perfect for our family of 6 (and whatever "extras" may be at our house on any given night.) 

It is user friendly and super easy to clean! My favorite part!! Forgot to defrost dinner? No big deal. I cook frozen chicken breast in it at least once a week.... at least! 

I will be posting some of my favorite electric pressure cooker recipes in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here's the 411 on the Elite 8qt Electric Pressure Cooker:

Large 8qt capacity

Suitable for preparing many family-size meals

High-pressure, high-temperature cooking

Cooks food rapidly and with less power Also allows for high-altitude cooking

Multiple cooking options

Includes functions for pressure cooking, stewing, braising, simmering and roasting Select the appropriate menu button on the cooker and cooking is done automatically Takes the guesswork out of cooking soups, stews, chili, rice, meat and vegetables

Touchpad digital control with LED display

For easily setting and monitoring cooking times

Choose from preset or user-programmable cooking times

User can set pressurized cooking time from 0-99 minutes for customized cooking

24-hour preset delay timer

Allows user to program cooking to begin in up to 24 hours Cooking starts automatically at end of countdown

More Features

Removable nonstick interior pan Indicator beep at end of cooking cycle Automatically switches to Keep Warm at end of cooking cycle Automatic resumption of cooking when power is restored after a power failure Various colors available: black, red, blue Retail Price: About $100.00 (depending on where you purchase)

For those who missed it....

For Those Who Missed It…

Posted on November 21, 2013 by Chautona

Just wanted to add a quick post in case anyone missed it a couple of weeks ago,Ready or Not is only .99 for a limited time right now.

You can get it on:

Amazon

Kobo

Nook

Also, don’t forget that Diary of a De-Cluttering Junkie Episode 2 is free through midnight tonight (Thursday)

And, Episode 3 is free Thursday and Friday!

The Important Thing About Yelling

I cherish the notes I receive from my children—whether they are scribbled with a Sharpie on a yellow sticky note or written in perfect penmanship on lined paper.

But the Mother’s Day poem I recently received from my 9-year-old daughter was especially meaningful. In fact, the first line of the poem caused my breath to catch as warm tears slid down my face.

“The important thing about my mom is … she’s always there for me, even when I get in trouble.”

You see, it hasn’t always been this way.
In the midst of my highly distracted life, I started a new practice that was quite different from the way I behaved up until that point. I became a yeller. It wasn’t often, but it was extreme—like an overloaded balloon that suddenly pops and makes everyone in earshot startle with fear.

So what was it about my then 3-year-old and 6-year-old children that caused me to lose it? Was it how she insisted on running off to get three more beaded necklaces and her favorite pink sunglasses when we were already late? Was it that she tried to pour her own cereal and dumped the entire box on the kitchen counter? Was it that she dropped and shattered my special glass angel on the hardwood floor after being told not to touch it? Was it that she fought sleep like a prizefighter when I needed peace and quiet the most? Was it that the two of them fought over ridiculous things like who would be first out of the car or who got the biggest dip of ice cream?

Yes, it was those things—normal mishaps and typical kid issues and attitudes that irritated me to the point of losing control.
That is not an easy sentence to write. Nor is this an easy time in my life to relive because truth be told, I hated myself in those moments. What had become of me that I needed to scream at two precious little people who I loved more than life?

Let me tell you what had become of me.

My distractions

Excessive phone use, commitment overload, multiple page to-do lists, and the pursuit of perfection consumed me. And yelling at the people I loved was a direct result of the loss of control I was feeling in my life.

Inevitably, I had to fall apart somewhere. So I fell apart behind closed doors in the company of the people who meant the most to me.

Until one fateful day.

My oldest daughter had gotten on a stool and was reaching for something in the pantry when she accidently dumped an entire bag of rice on the floor. As a million tiny grains pelleted the floor like rain, my child’s eyes welled up with tears. And that’s when I saw it—the fear in her eyes as she braced herself for her mother’s tirade.
She’s scared of me, I thought with the most painful realization imaginable. My six-year-old child is scared of my reaction to her innocent mistake.

With deep sorrow, I realized that was not the mother I wanted my children to grow up with, nor was it how I wanted to live the rest of my life.

Within a few weeks of that episode, I had my Breakdown-Breakthrough—my moment of painful awareness that propelled me on a Hands Free journey to let go of distraction and grasp what really mattered. That was two and a half years ago—two and half years of scaling back slowly on the excess and electronic distraction in my life … two and half years of releasing myself from the unachievable standard of perfection and societal pressure to “do it all.” As I let go of my internal and external distractions, the anger and stress pent up inside me slowly dissipated. With a lighten load, I was able to react to my children’s mistakes and wrongdoings in a more calm, compassionate, and reasonable manner.

I said things like, “It’s just chocolate syrup. You can wipe it up, and the counter will be as good as new.”

(Instead of expelling an exasperated sigh and an eye roll for good measure.)

I offered to hold the broom while she swept up a sea of Cheerios that covered the floor.

(Instead of standing over her with a look of disapproval and utter annoyance.)

I helped her think through where she might have set down her glasses.

(Instead of shaming her for being so irresponsible.)
And in the moments when sheer exhaustion and incessant whining were about to get the best of me, I walked into the bathroom, shut the door, and gave myself a moment to exhale and remind myself they are children, and children make mistakes. Just like me.

And over time, the fear that once flared in my children’s eyes when they were in trouble disappeared. And thank goodness, I became a haven in their times of trouble—instead of the enemy from which to run and hide.

Click on this blog HANDS FREE MAMA to finish the rest of the post

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What Happen To Thanksgiving?

Now that Halloween is over, I am sure by now you have seen your first Christmas commercial or been to a store that is already fully stocked with artificial trees, wrapping paper & silver bells ..... BUT I REFUSE TO SKIP THANKSGIVING! It's only two weeks away. Did you forget? I am sorry, but it is as if Thanksgiving has become the red-headed step child of the holidays.

 

I like Thanksgiving.... the whole being grateful for the things you have and the people in your life thing; yeah I kinda like that! Lets not forget the FOOD. I mean, helloooo, I am from the South; we like to eat down here and we like to eat good food.

So to get everyone in the mood and to start thinking Thanksgiving I am posting my favorite holiday recipe. The recipe goes back as far as my mind can remember and has always been one of my favorite family traditions. Nowadays my children enjoy it and my oldest son has become a real pro at making it as well. It has many names here in the deep South, but in our family, we call it:

 

Yum-Yum Cake

 

 

For the Crust:

1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup of all purpose flour
1/4 cup of finely minced pecans

First Layer:
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup of powdered sugar
1 cup of Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream)

Second Layer:
2 (3.9 ounce) packages of instant chocolate pudding
3 cups of whole milk

Topping:
1-2 cups of Cool Whip (or homemade whipped cream)
Additional chopped pecans, for garnish, optional
Grated chocolate or Heath bits, for garnish, optional

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a bowl, mix together the flour, pecans and butter until mixture resembles cookie dough. Spread into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch glass Pyrex baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely, about an hour.

Mix together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until well blended. Add 1 cup of the Cool Whip and mix together. Spread this layer over the cooled crust.

Mix together the two boxes of pudding with the 3 cups of milk until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Carefully spread over the cream cheese layer.

Spread the remaining cup of whipped topping on top. Cover and refrigerate - best if refrigerated 24 hours. Before serving, grate chocolate over the top and sprinkle with additional chopped nuts. Cut into squares.

 

 

 

Linked To:
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Part 1: Reading List

I don't know about you all, but I am an avid reader. I don't really shy away from reading any particular genres, but I do have my favorites and my favorite authors. So......., I have decided to start sharing some of those here - as a series. I will start this series with what I am currently reading. I will then go back over time and add in some of my other favorites (that I have already read) and give my thoughts on each.

 

Normally, I tend to read books that give me some  sort of "concrete" information:

• Self-Help
• Parenting
• Religious & Spiritual
• Cultural Books - Particularly the Amish & Mennonite Cultures
• Biographies & Memoirs
• Gardening
• Cooking
• How-To
• Business & Human Resource

 

But, there is nothing wrong with (in my opinion), a good fictional drama or love story. I can get into a good love story or a "period-set" book like most people can. Don't get me wrong though - I don't want the "details" of a trashy romance novel, but a nice modest love story can generally keep me engaged. Combine that with some mild "drama & suspense" and I am sold!

 

 



In comes my new favorite author Chautona Havig. On her website, Chautona writes of herself:

 

"From my earliest years, I spent most of my free time lost in a book, until one day I realized that I had stories in my mind that I wanted to tell. Time passed, life, family, and work got in the way, and my dream of being a writer seemed to vanish into the desert winds."

 

"Dreams are beautiful things, though; they never quite disappear. I began writing again, editing, writing, editing, and now I have over a hundred books in progress– some of them finished. I write the stories of fictional people who have real problems, weaknesses, and triumphs. Through their stories, I try to share the Hope that is within me."

 

 

***********************

 

Chautona has SEVERAL series that I am in love with, not wanting them to ever end, but my absolute favorite has got to be the Past Forward series. Ironically enough, the beginning of this series is FREE today on Amazon for Kindle - so if you want to try this series out, without coming out of pocket to do it, today is the day to try!

 

The synopsis reads:

"Alone without friends or family to comfort her after the death of her mother, Willow Finley’s idyllic life is over—and just beginning.

When Willow Finley awakes on a hot summer morning, she is unprepared for the grief that awaits her. Jerked from a life of isolation with her mother, Willow learns what alone really means when she finds her mother still in her bed, never to awaken again in this life.

From the moment Willow arrives in the police station with her startling announcement, Chad Tesdall fights the friendship he knows he can't avoid."

 

Now MY take on it:

This is a story of a young girl who was brought up on a farm where she lived a very sheltered life. She was taught by her mother to be completely self-sufficient. While the rest of society had moved on to modern amenities, Willow was growing her own food, making her own clothes, living without electricity and didn't own a car, TV, or cell phone.

When her mother died, a local police officer stepped in to help, not because he wanted to, but because there was no one else there to support her and it was the right thing to do.  Despite his reluctance, he always shows up when Willow needs help, and many times when she didn't need or want help.

This an amazing series which starts out with a mom raising her daughter (Willow), in a Amish kind of lifestyle and transitions through her becoming "indoctrinated" into modern society. This story is compelling, interesting, and keeps you wanting to continue reading, to find out how she handles the changes, and to see how her life turns out with adjusting to all the being around people. You want to find out "What next?"

I do hope that each of you will take a moment to visit Chautona's website and see all of the amazing work she has done!

 

 

*Credit for photos is that of Chautona Havig and they do not belong to me or my site. No copyright infringement is intended. FREE Kindle book was at the time of this posting and price is subject to change.

 

 

 

Do You Know The Signs?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. As many of you know, my daughter Alyssa was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) at the age of 7. To read about how we found out and to see some important information please visit my 2012 Blog Post about it.

Alyssa is 18 years old now, so she has lived more of her life with diabetes than without it.

I urge you all to visit JDRF to learn more about Type 1 Diabetes; its signs, its symptoms and what you can do to help us find a CURE!

Warning signs of T1D include:

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Drowsiness or lethargy
• Increased appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Sudden vision changes
• Sugar in the urine
• Fruity odor on the breath
• Heavy or labored breathing
• Stupor or unconsciousness



Alyssa age 18 - Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetic at the age of 7 yrs old.

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My Precious Daughters

As parents, we only want what is best for our children.

As parents of daughters, we strive to protect them like fragile pieces of china. We want them to feel loved and cherished. We want to bring them up properly and show them the best ways to live life. Here are two fabulous blogs by one of my favorite sites Club31Women that are written to parents and their daughters.

 

 

 

 

 

24 Ways to Become a Lovely Woman Printable

 

 

 

 

PLEASE JOIN ME & LINKING UP WITH OTHER BLOGGERS

BY CLICKING ON THE "TITUS2sDAYS" BUTTON ABOVE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memories to last a lifetime.....

So, I have really gotten away from blogging over the past year. Maybe it's because I am so busy "doing life" that I don't have time to write about it. Why is that though? Why am I so busy? What happen to the "simple life" I thought I wanted to live?.......

 

Oh, I still want it I think; there is just always something getting in the way of it. But, is it really "getting in the way" or are we busy making memories? :) There is life to be lived and memories to be made so I will continue on. There have been many things happening in my life since I did a "real" blog post and I think its silly to go back and "catch up", so I am just going to move forward. I will throw some things in along the way to catch things up though.

 

This past Friday night was the last game of our high school regular football season. We played our rival team (Hammond High Magnet) and beat the pants off of them. We expected to do it all along, but the fact that we are heading to the play-offs wasn't what made the night so special. No, it was Senior Night; that's what was special. Our "baby girl" Alyssa is a Senior and she, along with many of her friends, were honored on the field prior to the start of the game. Being the Colorguard Rifle Captain, it was also the last time she would perform for a regular season football game. Bittersweet night indeed. Earlier in the day there was a big pep-rally at the school; again, the last she will participate in. Here are a few pictures from the day.

Senior Colorguard Members

Evelyn, Alyssa & De'Ja

Performing her last HS pep rally

Senior Night Presentation

 

LAST HALF-TIME PERFORMANCE

(Regular Season Football - We Still Have Play-Offs) 

 

 

 

 

 

A Few Of My Favorite "Pins" For Fall Treats








Well.... Hello there

I'm sure a few have wondered if I have disappeared off the face of the Earth. It sure feels like it some days. I have been really busy, that's for sure. For the past year I have been trying to keep up with my 4 great kids and my blooming career. I run in a million different directions all at once it feels like.

But, I have started to learn the word NO! "No, you can not do that today." "No, I am not available to help." "No, I can not participate in that event." "No, I am going to stay home today." Its quite therapeutic actually...... I think everyone should try it.

So - A quick recap in photos of the past 9 months:



I went on my first ever cruise with three wonderful ladies
(my sister Melissia, me, my best friend Selena, and my cousin Roxanna)

Science Projects - Ryan made and automatic cereal dispenser

Science Projects - Maison created a functioning volcano with a complete scenery

 

 

Jada went on a Swamp Tour with her class

 

The PHS Winterguard Team took 3rd Place in their first ever
Regional Competition - Novice Division



Alyssa performed in her first college Halftime Show during Band Day at SLU
Hopefully there are many more college performances to come!

Spent a little time with my partner in crime
PHS Band Booster VP (me)  & President (Rachelle)

 

The boys playing a little football in the yard.

 

Ryan showing his speed.

 

Maison turns 12

Alyssa attends her first Mardi Gras Ball - Krewe of Ceasar

 

Class Ring - Senior 2014

My husband spent a few days in the hospital having a heart surgery

 

Alyssa is named 2013-2014 Rifle Guard Captain

Jada starts 4th Grade



Maison starts 6th Grade

Ryan starts 7th grade

Jada's First Game of the 2013 Year