18 Friday Jan 2013
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We had a nice surprise in our planter this morning. The beautiful lavender and burgundy sweet potato flowers produced one lovely potato.
17 Thursday Jan 2013
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Parenting from the middle is no place to parent.
I notice runners stay in the middle of the road as they weave in and out of our neighborhood.
The middle is not exactly a safe place. Leaving your children to run down the center of the street is unsafe.
It is a perfect place for a flat surface for the runner, but not for a child.
Choosing to stand back when our children are young and let them figure it out on their own is a recipe for a child without self-control. They will run down the middle not knowing boundaries.
I love to walk on the sidewalk canopied by trees. Depending on what time I hit the pavement, I’m fully shaded as long as I take the protected side of the street under the lush boundary of the leafy trees keeping me cool as I stroll.
Walking my dog down the middle of the road would be a bad habit in the unfortunate instance she takes off and tours the neighborhood without me. Disciplining our pets to walk on the sidewalk shows them love even if they can’t understand it.
The middle leaves you open and when it comes to parenting it gives your children confusion.
Barbara Tompkins of the Moms Class in Tucson, Arizona teaches us to ITC.
Instruct, Train and Correct.
Barbara is a teacher, seminar leader, and inspirational speaker. She holds a B.A. in English and Elementary Education and an M.A. in Education. Barbara has taught the Moms Class every Tuesday morning during the school year for over thirty years.
Privileged to attend her class in Arizona, and I’m still studying under her leading the Moms Class in Texas with my friend Rebecca Price.
We are so grateful she is sharing her materials and her wisdom, experience and encouragement to our Texas Moms.
Barbara instructs us all tirelessly holding her Bible, encouraging us all with love.
Discipline to follow through even when exhausted shows our children love.
Instructions, guidance and training and correcting gives our children freedom in the boundaries we’ve set and coached them on.
Confident choices made with boundaries we’ve set.
Today we started another Mom’s Class at Hope Bible Fellowship and the Spring Semester will focus on giving our children love through setting boundaries, giving instruction and training.
Teaching our children, discipline is love.
Discipline is love.
The Lord bless you and protect you;
the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;
and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26
11 Friday Jan 2013
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This past week I’ve suffered from Cedar Fever.
Sleep is challenging, so I’m resting in God’s Word. 
Upon thy Word I rest,
so strong, so sure!
So full of comfort blest,
So sweet, so pure!
Francis Ridley Havergal
I’ve consumed a bit of chai tea to help decongest. Cardamom is a natural decongestant.
Chai is a tea made from sweet and fragrant cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon and black tea.
The following is my home-brew free of black tea.
All the medicinal benefits without the jitters.
Two cardamom pods split and ground in a mini processor.
One small ginger about the size of your thumb nail ground in the processor.
Place ground items in tea strainer and sprinkle liberally with cinnamon.
Conquer your Cedar Fever!
Pour hot water over mixture and enjoy!
P.S. Split pods gently with a sharp knife.
04 Friday Jan 2013
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Austin is a challenging place for Cedar Fever sufferers. Sunday night pollen erupts from our Cedar trees.
The Split pea soup I make requires just a few items and is a wonderful gift to drop off in a Ball jar for friends under the weather.
Begin by cubing a 1/2 onion, 3 carrots. Saute in evoo and toss in one cup of rice till it sizzles. Set aside. This is your thickening secret!
Wash the bag of split peas thoroughly and boil for 5 minutes and turn down the heat to a simmer for 45 minutes to an hour.
I had a Smithfield ham bone (thank you Pop!) with meat still on it from Christmas. Toss this in and add the above mixture simmering till all the meat falls off.
I have also used brisket for my split pea soup and it is equally robust for the job.
Dress up this split pea with a sweet aroma.
Add cardamom for a rich satisfying flavor.
Crush the pods by using a dedicated coffee grinder. I use my grinder to make almond flour and just wipe clean with a cloth.
Use 10 pods for the medicinal benefit.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit in 2013!
P.S. Cardamom is a natural expectorant.
01 Tuesday Jan 2013
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1 Gluten-free pie crust
4 eggs
2 c sugar
2 squares of chocolate ( use four for Ghiradelli)
2 sticks of unsalted butter
pinch of salt
2 tsp. vanilla
Mix eggs and sugar. Melt chocolate and butter over low heat, very slowly. combine egg mixture and chocolate mixture and add salt and vanilla. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
