Despite the hectic world we live in, as confessing Christians, our lives should look different in some ways. I have been very intentional about praying, particularly for others since I felt God calling me to intercessory prayer a few years ago. I let my Bible reading slide and wasn't reading God's Word daily for the last few months, but I realized that is a pitfall I don't want to find myself stuck in. My faith was greatly kindled at a Voice of the Martyr (VOM) Advance Conference. I picked up my Bible again and I asked God to forgive me for not setting time aside to commune with Him and read His Word. I asked my husband to pray for me to have wisdom. God does answer prayers! Here's one thing He's revealing to me:
I remember thinking summer would be a relaxing, unstructured time for the 3 boys and I during the day while my husband is at work. I didn't set myself lofty goals with homeschooling, just some little ends to tie up. No pressure. Today I brought one child to a Sports Camp, acted as referee for the other two, prepared lunch, defrosted meat for dinner, taught a math lesson, made calls about bills, picked up my son from Sports Camp, came home for a quick snack. Then, my husband came with and we set out to run to 2 places but it turned into 5... I believe I may be starting to look forward to the structured days our school year will bring! Despite the hectic world we live in, as confessing Christians, our lives should look different in some ways. I have been very intentional about praying, particularly for others since I felt God calling me to intercessory prayer a few years ago. I let my Bible reading slide and wasn't reading God's Word daily for the last few months, but I realized that is a pitfall I don't want to find myself stuck in. My faith was greatly kindled at a Voice of the Martyr (VOM) Advance Conference. I picked up my Bible again and I asked God to forgive me for not setting time aside to commune with Him and read His Word. I asked my husband to pray for me to have wisdom. God does answer prayers! Here's one thing He's revealing to me:
0 Comments
Helping a Struggling Learner Using RightStart Math Level A: Adaptations Gathered by a Homeschool Mom5/25/2016 Every child learns differently. This is okay. This is GOOD. The world needs variety in strengths, talents, methods and approaches. This can make a homeschooling mom feel like she's going nuts. "How do I teach you this?""How can I help this child better understand?""Do I need to change curriculums?""Do I keep going over this until it 'clicks' or do I move on and come back to it again later?"
Dana Yeakley has written a conversational, yet organized, book which leads us from considering whether we have grasped key truths about what it means to be a disciple to guided steps for organizing time and content of meetings discipling another woman. Just as the title implies, the author has a gentle, nurturing approach that encourages not only reflection on our own strengths and weaknesses, but also faithful obedience and action in taking the appropriate steps to fulfill the Lord's calling in our lives as women who serve Him. There is a balance and professionalism to the content in this book that I greatly appreciate. Sometimes I find "How To" books lean too heavily toward personal anecdotes or too strongly toward meticulous step-by-step procedures, making them appealing to narrower audiences. Dana, however, seems to have spoken to enough women to have rounded out her approach, creating an excellent resource that is as beneficial to someone curious about being discipled as it is to a woman seeking to begin, or gain greater insight and wisdom into, discipling. This book does focus on one-on-one discipleship, although it is suggested that if a small group will be involved (such as in studying this book together), that a group of about 8 women provides for variety of viewpoints while keeping a group quaint enough to allow meaningful connection and confidential sharing. There are just a few pages in the back which give helpful tips and information if you intend to lead others through this book as a study. The first section of this book focuses on 4 key foundational Scriptural realities that need to be in place prior to more in-depth study or beginning discipleship of another woman. If you find these overwhelming and think there is no point in reading the second half, I would encourage you to keep on, as the wisdom and encouragement in the following chapters is gentle, yet firm. If you find the first portion of the book to be a mere review of knowledge you've become long acquainted with over the years, carry on, as the latter portion of the book may challenge you to step out and grow, and much of her advice regarding relationships with women we may disciple would be excellent to apply in other relationship settings as well. Throughout the book are varying prompts to read specific passages of Scripture in your favorite translation and answer questions that follow to engage the reader in discovering a personal application. It's actually quite cleverly demonstrating for you how to discuss Scripture with another person, which she covers in greater detail in the latter portion of the book. I appreciate the author's willingness to share things she's learned through error, specifically citing what she did, learned, and chose to do differently thereafter. Since I can be weary of books which attempt to give structure to something which also is abstract, such as the concept of discipleship (it will look very different with different pairs of individuals, no doubt, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to guarantee success), I was pleased to read the comment she had regarding what to do if a meeting does get rather off-topic due to an unplanned interruption, need, or change in circumstance. In her case, the woman was distressed over a matter, which they discussed at length and considered Biblically and with prayer. The discipler simply wrote "next time" on her notes for what Scripture she'd planned to discuss that day. "If you face something like this in a discipling meeting, I encourage you to see the situation not as 'off topic,' but as 'real life' discipleship that trumps your plan." I would recommend this book to any woman interested in what discipleship could look like. I honestly think a great deal of women who are in leadership roles of the church could benefit from the grace and tact with which the author suggests viewing and addressing individuals when situations do not go as expected with those you are working with or overseeing. There is, indeed, a place for discipline within the church, but to remain true to the Bible's teaching, reprimands should be clearly called for, and administered with truth, love, and humility. ***In the interest of full disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to give a positive review; my opinions are my own. I did not intend to get "crafty" today. It was not on the agenda. However, reading our library books was. We came upon a book called "One Potato" by Diana Pomeroy, which I'd spotted casually when browsing the shelves at the library and selected because it dealt with counting- something our kindergartner is struggling a bit with. Beautiful illustrations in the book of fruits and vegetables kept his attention even though the text was simple. At the end of the book is a spread explaining that ALL of the pictures in the book were made by relief stamping potatoes. Yep. Potatoes. Someone carved them intricately, painted them expertly, and stamped them into professional, publishable grade art. Well, this just sounds a bit too tempting. With 3 boys under 10, we don't do glitter. Oh, they like it, but it's disastrous. I love art, but cringe at crafts that result in useless little do-dads laying around that have too much "sentimental value" to be tossed out and too little purpose or aesthetic appeal to keep around.
I had been trying to think of crafts they could make for Christmas that would "ooooh" and "ahhh" the grandparents they don't get to see as often as we'd like, but I desperately DIDN'T want to send Grandma and Grandpa more "cute junk." Hence, the gift that is homemade and personal, but completely reasonable to throw right in the trash.... hand-decorated wrapping paper. (Click "Read More" for directions!)
I never encountered asparagus as a child, and as an adult trying to expand the healthy veggies we consume (us midwesterners are great about getting potatoes, carrots, and corn into our diet... I needed a little coaxing with the "fancy" stuff as I thought of it), asparagus was a little intimidating. I only saw it on cooking shows or read of it in expensive restaurant menus the rare times I attended them. As an adult, I decided to tackle this veggie and was very thankful a wise friend warned me right off the bat, "You will probably think you don't like it if you try it frozen first, it's much better fresh." Okay then. I had learned that there is a HUGE difference between fresh and frozen/canned/cooked when I'd discovered that a little spinach in my salad wasn't even noticeable.
Moving on, here's what you need to know if you are going to try asparagus. 1. Try fresh (cooked, not raw) first. Then venture to different types like frozen, raw, pickled, etc. 2. To select fresh asparagus: Look at the ends (bottoms), you want ones that are as small as a pencil in diameter if possible. The bigger they are, the tougher, some of them downright woody. If more than half the package or bundle have a diameter bigger than a pencil, I don't buy it. 3. To store asparagus: When you get it home, remove it from the packaging and place it, right side up, in a container that keeps them from falling all over the place. A large glass, or an upright container like pictured in the center above photo, works well. Then put about 1 inch of water in the bottom and store in the fridge, but not too far to the back or by the blower so they freeze! (Been there, done that). Keeping them in water keeps them crisp. Dehydrated asparagus that is limp or rubbery feeling when it leaves the store has crisped right up being stored overnight this way for me. 4. To prepare asparagus for roasting, grilling, cooking, etc: Hold a single spear with two hands. Grasp the end/bottom with one hand, and the middle of the stalk with the other hand. Bend the asparagus until it snaps. I read that where it snaps (whether one inch breaks off the bottom or 2 inches) is where you should cut all the asparagus. Theoretically, you snapped off the tough part of that one, so chopping the rest of them in the same spot will do the trick. I just took it a step farther and I snap them all. It takes under a minute (doing 3-5 at a time) and that way each one snaps where it needs to and we very rarely get one with a tough bottom after cooking. Rinse thoroughly before cooking. 5. To roast: I spray a cooking sheet with olive oil, spread the rinsed asparagus spears on trying to keep them in a single layer, and not touching each other if I have the time to bother. I put them in my oven and broil on high until they have browned on the ends. Sometimes we let them burn a bit more to give us crisp "fries" of a sort. It is to taste, and you may discover you like them without brown, or charred black. I know people who prefer both ways. After removing from the oven, I spray lightly with olive oil again and salt them. Salting them before hand did me no good as it always fell off. 6. Try other ways of preparing them. I also like asparagus sauteed in olive oil with onion, garlic, salt, and Brussels sprouts. When doing this, I chop them into 2" pieces (after snapping and rinsing them) and do not aim to brown/char them but take it all out when the Brussels are done. The above picture isn't the most appetizing, but my goal has never been to get "pins" for my photography. A picture speaks a thousand words, so they say, and the one above is for demonstration purposes. On the left is the glass of ends that were snapped off, the center shows how I store them in the fridge, and the right is the pan I am going to broil them on. |
Want to pin a post? Click on the Post Title (in orange) to be taken to the post page. Then hover your mouse over an image and a "Pin it" button shall appear. I apologize for the inconvenience, but this ensures your pin will redirect to the proper URL.
Categories:
All
Archives
January 2022
Blog Hopping?I am not much of a blog reader. There's only a couple I check on occasion:
HisPoetry.blogspot.com Love this girl's writing... feels like she's a long distance friend. Well, her sister is my long-distance friend, so that probably helps. Either way, what an inspiration and encouragement- you just need to check out some of the places life has taken Leah and be strengthened and inspired by the love that oozes (yes, oooozes) from her heart for Jesus, His people and His creation! chocolatecoveredkatie.com If you like nummy recipes, or have special dietary needs (or both!) check it out. ALL of her recipes are Vegan, and many can be made gluten-free. I stumbled upon it when searching for dairy/egg free treats to make for my kiddo and have gotten hooked on several recipes. Okay, "hooked on" doesn't portray it well enough. How about "addicted to"? That's more fitting. Will definitely be going back for more! |