Putting on yet another hat...Nutritionist!

I woke up this morning thinking about my husband and his job, time, schedules, responsibilities for this week, and prayer! Boy, with that list, you surely know I need it!  But I also woke up this morning really happy! So, it must have been a good nights sleep! ;) 

But in getting to what my title is all about, I also woke up thinking, what's for dinner? I don't have to tell you that as mom's, our family functions around food. My husband doesn't believe me until he's at home on a Saturday and exclaims, "why do these kids keep eating all day long?" Because..."f-o-o-d" is how you spell love. Kids are constantly growing. They're so energy bound all day that they need fuel at mealtimes and snacks in between. And kids feel cared for when Mommy makes them their special snack. It truly is how you spell love! And it doesn't change for boys as they become men, right? Isn't there a famous quote, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach"?

The Proverbs 31 woman, I believe is the ideal woman. That is also why I believe she never existed. Maybe she's God's picture of how he wants us women to behave. There is no way that a woman could be that perfect, but perfection is what we're supposed to strive for. So, one thing "she" has taught me is to make meal plans on Sunday so I can get to the store to  buy what we need for dinner for the following week. Planning lunches for Monday's and snacks throughout the week. And not just any snacks, but healthy snacks!

My kids are dippers. So, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, red peppers, and celery are all things I keep on hand with ranch or peanut butter for them to dip in. It's cheaper than any other snack you can buy and it's so much better for them! I started them out very early always eating this stuff so they never thought they didn't like it! 

Another thing is having fun with food. That's what we LOVE in this house. Well, I do anyway. And so do my kids and that is why I made a HUGE burger for dinner with huge fries and huge cookies. That's why we made pizza for dinner and Charlie got to do the toppings! That's why I cook with them. Kids love to cook!!! They love to stir and pour and mix and dump and splatter. They love watching it rise or bake in the oven. So let them! Cook with them! Make food fun and your kids will enjoying it! 

I challenge you to write down what you feed your kids for 7 days. See where you're succeeding and where you can improve. They need good nutrition for stable blood sugar levels, for growth and development and for energy and brain function!

Love them through the food you provide for them!

Little Choices that Reap Big Blessings

 Two of my goals for this year were to live a life of purpose and to have no regrets. I am living a life of purpose through training my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. So that I will have no regrets in the ways that I trained them. 

So far I've learned about nurturing my own heart to the things of God before I can nurture my boys' hearts. How fitting that Charlie's Cubbie's verse for this week is "Love the Lord thy God with all they heart". And how fitting that this month is focused on Valentine's Day and parties and fun things- but we are going to make a Valentine for Jesus! Because we love Him so and what an easy opportunity to once again share Jesus with my sons.

I'm thinking and trying to come up with a creative craft for me to do about the word of God and putting it somewhere special in our house. Part of writing it on the doorposts of our heart. We concentrate on the gospel, we sing about Him, we pray, and talk about God at every opportunity!

I have known for a long time that Charlie and Wesley are two very different boys! Charlie wells up with tears of remorse at any given stern look and Wesley requires more strict approaches to discipline, again and again and again... part of training your children is knowing what way they are growing and going...to praise them just as much as you correct them. That is difficult and key!

I'm learning that I can't give up even though the going gets tough. I have to hang in there! And pray! And keep teaching and instructing, even if I feel like a drill Sargent sometimes, God is with me all along the way! He will give me the strength, wisdom, help and encouragement that I need in exactly the time I need it! And I'll pray! And pray! And smile all the while I'm remembering God's promises and His love for me. He's entrusted me with a very special assignment. And I need ought never forget to be a Mom after God's own heart!

Bless you Moms!!!
Let's love our babies and lead them to the Master!