Spinach Breakfast Smoothies

OK I know it may sound yucky but thanks to my very good friend Patricia my family and I are trying to eat healthier.   You see Patricia is taking this nutrition class and I am reaping the benefits of getting all of this healthy insider information for free.   Recently, I discussed with her how it is almost impossible to get my middle daughter to eat vegetables.  It has really been a challenge up until recently.  Patricia simply said why don't you try putting it in a smoothie.  So lo and behold I introduce to you the perfect make-your-4-year-old-eat-veggies breakfast smoothie:

Half a blender full of spinach leaves
2 tablespoons of milled flax seed
1 banana
2 handfuls of blueberries
1/2 can of pineapples with juice or 1/2 pack of strawberries
Some crushed ice
Keifer yogurt (this is optional but I use it for protein)
Some Agave Nectar or Honey

The kids love it and ask for it every morning.  Thanks so much Patricia!

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November Menu Ideas

My Thoughts on Halloween

If you think this is going to be a blog posts about all of the horrible things about Halloween well it's not.  There is much debate amongst Christians about should you celebrate Halloween or not.  Personally, we have decided as a family not to participate in Halloween.  We have in the past allowed the children to go to Harvest Festivals at local churches.  What I want to offer today is just some scripture for you to think about.  Not just on Halloween but really for other topics that we (I mean the church) may disagree on (that are not foundational scripture - I do believe in many areas there is no black and white).  It comes from the book of Romans (as you read this please keep in mind if you do celebrate the holiday I am not assuming you are "weak"  I am always asking God what category of a Christian I fall into):

Romans 14:1-12 (CEV)
Welcome all the Lord's followers, even those whose faith is weak.  Don't criticize them for having beliefs that are different from yours.  Some think it is all right to eat anything, while those whose faith is weak will eat only vegetables.  But you should not criticize others for eating or for not eating.  After all, God welcomes everyone.  "What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants?  Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right.  

Some of the Lord's followers think one day is more important than another.  Others think all days are the same.  But each of you should make up your own mind.  Any followers who count one day more important than another day do it to honor their Lord.  And any followers who eat meat give thanks to God, just like the ones who don't eat meat.  

Whether we live or die, it must be for God, rather than for ourselves.  Whether we live or die, it must be for the Lord.  Alive or dead, we still belong to the Lord.  This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living.   Why do you criticize other followers of the Lord?  Why do you look down on them?  The day is coming when God will judge all of us.  In the Scriptures God says,

"I swear by my very life that everyone will kneel down and praise my name!"

And so, each of us must give an account to God for what we do.

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The Church at Laodicea

Has Homeschooling Taken Over Your Life

There are many reasons my husband and I decided to homeschool our oldest daughter.  In a later post I will list the whys.  However, recently I felt a tug in my spirit or rather a warning.  In life we hold so many titles.  During college it was "I am a college student, then I am an engineer, next came I am a wife, a mother, stay-at-home mom, now it is I am a homeschooler."  However, I have to be careful not to let any of those things give me my identity.  My identity alone must be in Christ.  It is so easy to let those roles overtake you.  I was spending hours and hours on homeschool blogs and websites.  It was really becoming sort of obsessive.  I even found myself wanting to get online for a quick peak before doing morning devotions.  I was starting to find my identity in being a "homeschooler."  However, God in his graciousness pulled me back to him and actually challenged me for a while to stop looking at the blogs altogether.  I went on sort of a blog fast because it was really becoming unbalanced.  I love homeschooling my daughter.  Now that I am doing it I would not have it any other way but I can't let it define me.  If God calls me to do something else in the future I can't have all of myself wrapped up in this that I don't know who I am if it goes away.  It's really not about me anyway.  On many levels it's not about my children either.  It's about being obedient to what God has for us so that his kingdom will be advanced on this earth.  It's really just simply about him.

Sometimes We Need to Be Reminded Who This Life Is Really About ...

My sister recently posted the following video on YouTube.  It is very inspirational.  If you have time check out her website http://www.lovedandforgiven.com/ . It is awesome. 

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The Church at Laodicea