Shovaling Snow and Grandma's Cookies- By Joani Parrish

Nobody likes shoveling, that is nobody except my small children. We have some smaller shovels that we usually keep in our cars for emergencies, my boys love using these and helping me shovel. Doing it together turns this mundane chore into something that is extremely fun and is good exercise. If you have any elderly neighbors we love to go around and bless them by shoveling their sidewalks and driveways. It's a fun time for kids and teaches them to help others, as well as kills a couple of hours we otherwise would have spent bored in the house.

                         Sour Cream Sugar Cookies (My Grandma's favorite cookie)

If you have never made sugar cookies using sour cream, you really should give these a try. It really cuts out the sweetness by adding that sour cream, plus it makes them soft and chewy, which is just how we like them! The boys will be helping me cut out and decorate these today and maybe we will bring some of our creations to share with our neighbors!                                         

Ingredients:

• FOR COOKIE DOUGH:
• 5-1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda(mix 1tsp baking soda with 2-3 tsp hot water makes the cookies crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream, room temperature
• 1 cup butter, softened (if you don't like to wait grate the butter with a cheese grater and it softens much faster)
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• FOR FROSTING (makes 1 cup of frosting):
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3-4 tablespoons canned evaporated milk
• food coloring (optional)

Directions:

In large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, & salt; set aside. In second large bowl, with an electric mixer, cream the sour cream and butter at low speed; add sugar, eggs, and vanilla & mix until combined. (It's okay if it's a little lumpy as long as no butter chunks are visible.) Gradually add the flour mixture to the sour cream mixture, mixing until well combined. Dough will be sticky. (If cookie dough is too thick for your mixture to handle, you can stir it by hand with a wooden spoon.) Divide dough onto two pieces of plastic wrap; flatten dough, wrap tightly, and refrigerate until chilled, 1-2 hours. (Make ahead tip: Dough may be made to this point and refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.)

ROLL, CUT, & BAKE COOKIES: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.  Generously flour your counter or work surface to prevent dough from sticking. Rub flour on the rolling pin. Put one of the chilled pieces of dough on top of the floured surface and sprinkle the top of the dough with more flour. Starting at the center, roll the dough out to one edge; return to the center and roll to the opposite edge. Continue rolling until dough is an even 1/4" thick all over, sprinkling with additional flour, if needed, to avoid sticking. Dip cookie cutter in flour and cut out dough shapes. Transfer dough shapes to baking sheets. Continue rolling dough, cutting shapes, and adding to baking sheets until they are filled.  Bake 2 sheets at a time for 8-10 minutes, rotating and switching pans half way through cooking time. Bake them just until they are baked all the way through but haven't started browning on the bottom. If a soft textured cookie is desired, it's very important not to over bake them.  Transfer hot cookies to a baking rack to cool completely. (Make-ahead tip: Cooled, unfrosted cookies may be stacked in a sealed container and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 weeks.)

MAKE FROSTING:

Combine powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla, and half of the evaporated milk in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to combine ingredients on a low speed until its' a thick paste consistency and all of the lumps are gone. Gradually add remaining milk and continue mixing on medium speed until frosting is a smooth, silky, spreadable consistency. If it's still too thick, add more milk 1/2 teaspoon at a time until it's desired consistency. Mix in food coloring, if desired.

FROST & STORE COOKIES:

Frost each cookie and decorate with sprinkles while frosting is still wet. Leave out to dry for several hours until dry to touch before storing in an airtight container. If stacking frosted cookies, put waxed or parchment paper between layers.

Recipe adapted from theyummylife.com

Snow Day Activities- By Courtney Kendall

Cold Water and food coloring. Kids can paint in the snow. Gotta love Pinterest!

Paint in a ziplock bag.  Tape it down and let kids push it around with fingers. NO MESS and super fun.  Another great Internet find :)

Orange Hot Chocolate- Courtney Kendall

Liv's Orange Hot Chocolate

1 Cup Milk
1 Packet Hot Chocolate Mix
3 drops of Orange Extract

Heat Milk, mix and enjoy!

Mom Minute- Lindsey Ray

1. Anger erupts when... Someone or something finds a personal right I have yet to yield to God.

Philippians 2:1-8- "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross!"

2.  Patience comes by... Accepting a difficult situation without giving God a deadline to remove it.

Romans 5: 3-5 "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

3.  Self-control is... Instant obedience to the initial promptings of God's spirit.  Escape doesn't mean peace, rather yielding, accepting, and obeying bring peace.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18- "Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Self-Control: Sara McConahy

Self-Control
-Defined: Making a choice to curb your desires.The self-restraint that produces Christlikeness.  Disciplined.
-Opposite of self-control = Dissipation (1 Peter 4:3-7): To scatter, waste, flail.
-For who? Every believer in increasing measure as we grow in Christ.
-Why? Enables the believer to be conformed into the mind of Christ.  Place of protection for us, a defense against sin.

*At your tables, share what areas you think we as women typically lack self-control?  What about you? What circumstances test your self-control the most?
BRAINSTORM: Emotions, spending money (to beautify ourselves, our homes, etc...), time management, food (over/under eating), speech.

How can I grown in the fruit of self-control? Titus 2:11-14
Indicatives (the truths):
-Past redemption: He bought us back.
-Present purity and possession: We recieved His righteousness, we belong to God.
-Future hope: Nothing can ever take me from Him!  Because of what we have, we need to be stewards, how are we striving to please Him?

Imperatives (what we should DO because of these truths):
-Say No!: For a greater yes!  We should be fueled by all He is and all He's done for us.
-Live self-controlled lives: To honor, reflect, and draw near to Him.
-Be eager to do good:  BECAUSE we love Him, not to earn right standing.

*Key: More Jesus, more Gospel in our lives produces more fruit (self-control).  It flows from our union with Him.

*At your table share some things you do, or have seen others do, to help in the area of self-control.

1 Peter 5- Be alert.
1 Peter 1- Prepare your minds for action.

*Who we are precedes what we do.  Bask in who He is and who you are in Him!

How can I teach my children self-control?
-Who's the boss?  When you teach your kids to submit to your authority, you are preparing them to come under God's authority.  Make a family rules list, consequences teach them to have self-control.  Always point them to the Gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
-Set up child for success and model it.  Motivated by Jesus!
IDEAS:
-makes sure everyone is getting enough rest (if possible) and healthy food.
-make a budget.
-pray before discipline
-address problems before they escalate
-pray for forgiveness together
-accountability (husband/friends)
-speak quietly to evoke calm speech
-hug before correction

My Stained Recliner

Whoever invented micro fiber furniture, boasting its stain resistance, obviously didn’t do any thorough research with a family of small children.  Let’s just say, our rocking recliner is now more of a magnet for messes than it is a repellent of them. But to be fair, we’ve probably allowed far too many snacks to be eaten in it, so I digress.  While I often cringe when I think of all I’ve cleaned off of this recliner, including multiple types of bodily excretions, this worn out, stain ridden chair has some lessons for me.

This past week, my youngest came down with a tummy bug.  She’s already a bit on the needy/snuggly side as it is, so when she’s sick, all she wants is to be in our arms.  And when she looks to me with the droopy eyes of fever, asking me to hold her, of course I swoop her up.  I’m happy to report that she’s feeling all better now, but my lower back is still feeling all the holding of the past few days.  And that’s where the stained recliner comes in.  As I was sitting there, rocking my sweet girl, trying to take the edge off her misery with my love, I couldn’t help but look around at all the messes that were not being tidied, going down the mental check list of all the tasks that needed doing that I just couldn’t do.  And then the whisper came, that this chair, this rocking, this girl is the  best task I can be accomplishing in any given day.  Certainly, there is a time and place for cleaning and creating a place of peace for our families, working together on those tasks.  But sometimes the greatest way we can create peace for the souls we love in our homes is to just sit still.  When Autumn was sick, when she needed me to just sit and comfort and stroke her forehead, something I do in snipets all the time, it made me think about how much my kids would love it if I did this more.  And this compulsion to keep working and doing and accomplishing, I’m learning something about my heart in it.  I think, if I’m really honest, I’m often doing those things to impress others, not with the simple motive of blessing my family.  Thoughts riddled with insecurity, equating my worth with the job I’m doing as the cleaner/organizer of our home, creep into my mind throughout the day.  But what if molding and filling hearts is more important than laundry and crumbs and papers in disarray?  What if cleanliness is really not next to Godliness as the saying goes?  I think my times of just sitting with my children, who long for those special times with me, reminds me that seasons are short, and children are little only for awhile.  But how do we really live for an audience of one?  How do we stop, in self-focus, always worrying about what others think of us?

I don’t doubt that we will always struggle with this in a world that likes to keep us busy, that tells us that moving and doing is the only work worth doing.  But we find some great encouragement straight from God in His Word that fights the world’s prescription.  Let us not forget that when we are still, to just be with and focus on the ones we love, we are following the example of our God, who longs for us to crawl up in His lap, to hear His Words, and to just be.  I’ll leave you with these verses that encourage my heart to enjoy moments of Sabbath in my days.

Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”   “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This passage always reminds me that none of the other work I have on my to do list is as important as sitting at Jesus’s feet.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

This verse reminds me that just as Jesus is my place of rest, I need to be a place of rest for my children, not the busy, frantic, “just a minute” mom that I can be.

Psalm 46:10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

This verse reminds me to rest in God’s sovereignty.  Could it be that my stillness bring Him more glory than my busyness?

Matthew 22:36-40  “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

And this passage, one we’ve all heard many times, is a good reminder of God’s priority for our time.  Giving Him the best of ourselves, and giving our best to others (children/family/friends).

None of these passages us tell us to be lazy, but rather to rest with purpose.  There are many scriptures that warn against laziness, working is good, don't get me wrong.  I think where we often get it wrong is when we see times of rest and being still as a hindrance to what we see as more important, the doing we have idolized.  Rest serves as a recharging for the work God has given us, it's needed fuel we often neglect.

Meditate with me on these verses today as we ask God how He might be leading us to slow down for the sake of what’s most important.

Pre-School Idea Sharing

1.  Although Genevieve is young for actual preschool (She will be two in March), this may be helpful for any moms of toddlers:  we have chosen to do our own little curriculum at home once a week.  It has been really fun because it takes what we are already doing (games/crafts/snacks/songs, etc.) and gives them some structure.  We will do one chapter at a time and pick and choose activities out of there...each activity revolves a certain concept or subject matter, and everything we do revolves around that one topic.  We have used the book "The Comprehensive Toddler Curriculum (for 18-36 months)" by Kay Albrecht and it has been awesome.  Barnes and Noble has it.  It has been fun and a great, beneficial activity for the long winter months.  It's nice, too, because it's free and on our own, so if we feel like taking a week off, we do. ;)
-Natalie

Another suggestion on where to buy The Comprehensive Toddler Curriculum (for 18-36 months)" by Kay Albrecht here. Free shipping.

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/9780876592144-id-9780876592144.aspx

2.  We have generally tried to do at least one craft and one game each day (like play-doh, stringing beads, perler beads, water color books where the ink is printed on, coloring, stamping, murals and shapes with foam paper, tan-grams, finger-painting with pudding, puzzle time, etc.) until our kids are three.  

Once our kids are three, we have found wonderful Christian preschool programs (2 mornings a week for threes, and three mornings for 4-5 year olds).  It's stretched our budget at times, but I have loved the opportunity for our kids to learn preschool stuff with a Christian focus and kids that aren't necessarily from church.  My goal is to permeate my children's world view with the idea that there are Christians everywhere, not just our friends, so they see it as normal to be Christian and talk about Jesus wherever we go.  It's also a way to be out in the world, but model not being caught up in it.  

Our kids were at a Baptist church program in Juneau, and are at Resurrection Fellowship here.  While I don't subscribe to some of the points of their worship or theology, I've found that their staff LOVE JESUS and are passionate about teaching them that Jesus loves them, and that's the environment I want my kids to see and have an opportunity in which to participate and learn.  Especially learning that God created the world, their little bodies, the rules for life, and is worthy of worship and reverence.  He IS the foundation of knowledge.  

This CAN be done at home, no questions.  I've specifically scheduled my time with kids in a preschool program to volunteer in my older children's classrooms, have one-on-one time with my younger ones, meet with other moms, or grocery shop so I'm available at home and not needing to tote kids around for as many errands.  

RCS (Resurrection Christian School) Preschool is in north Loveland, right off I-25.  It opens for public enrollment on February 12 at 8:00 a.m.  (I'd be there by 7:45 to get in line, it will fill up within minutes.)  Their program is gospel centered, includes chapel, dance or gymnastics monthly, a great art program, two performances a year, and is academically strong.  612-0632 for Cathi to schedule a tour.  Mornings are 8:30-11:30 (with drive-through pickup and 45 minutes of "lunch bunch" available for $2 more) or 12:15-3:15.

Other great Christian preschools I've looked into and liked are: Christian Core Academy!!! (Our schedule doesn't allow), Harmony School, and Redeemer Lutheran.

3.  We have used Sylvans preschool curriculum that can be found at Barnes and noble I usually buy the book that contains letters (upper and lower) colors and shapes, as well as numbers/ counting it costs about 25$ and takes anywhere from 10-20 min depending on how much time you want to invest. Also we recently picked up Hooked on Phonics level I at the library and I have absolutely loved it! Next year we will probably do CCA's (Christian Core Academy) preschool for James. I think it will be a great experience!

Ladies!

4.  Because my husband and I are both a part of CSU and graduating this spring, our son who was 3 wanted to do school.  Though a little pricey, we have started him with the preschool program from A Beka academy.  He loves it and my 2 year old is doing it along with him.  They learn how to write, sounds, numbers, colors, months, days, etc.  They have games and such.  Because it is more expensive for everything, it comes with a teachers manual so you make sure you are doing it rights, or it can be done via video, we laminated all the games and pieces so that we can reuse it all for my daughter or any future kids we have.  We don't push him to do a lot, usually he wants to do about an hour a day, his choice.  We went with A Beka because it is one my husband had when he was growing up with, it is very flexible even how you teach with it, computer, you, groups, video and such.  I hope you find this helpful.

As a side note, I have enjoyed being a part of REAL Moms this fall.  Unfortunately I have an internship this semester that requires me to be there during this time :(  If I canget out of it a couple of times I will try. I have been blessed by the program.

Thanks You,

Melissa

5.  If you would like a to try a fun, free option (albeit a bit more work); we could start up Kingdom Kids again.  

Kingdom Kids is a co-op preschool that meets a MVC and is run by mothers.  We did not have it this last semester, because there just wasn't enough interest.  But if we got a good group of ladies (and their preschoolers) together I would be more than happy to help start it up again.

How it works: There is a class and a nursery for younger siblings.  Each mother rotates through the various positions of Teacher, Teacher's Helper, Nursery worker 1, Nursery worker 2, and days off.  Last year we found having 7 mothers was about ideal.  This way you prepared and taught 2 lessons (3-4 days), helped 3-4 days, was in the nursery for about 6 days and had about 6-8 days off a semester.

When: Obviously, the when is completely at the discretion of those who are involved.  We typically met from 9-11:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, taking Real Moms Tuesdays off.  We also took a field trip each semester.

All the curriculum (Our Father's World) and teaching tools are already assembled and waiting to be used.  Occasionally, the mother's split the cost of a new box of crayons or construction paper.

If anyone is in need of more info about this or is interested in Kingdom Kids please shoot me a line.  i loved it.  Serving with friends, teaching the kids, it was a blast!

Colleen Reynolds
co@jonandco.com
970-412-3509

6.  Christian Core Academy Pre-K

CCA offers Pre-K for children ages 4/5 from 8am-noon on Tuesday/Thursdays. CCA has small class sizes

allowing 8 spots for Pre-K (and 10 spots for all other grades), however, if enough interest were to arise a

Monday/Wednesday class may become available. Cost is $180/month (with August being ½ price) and

a $180 registration free due upon completion of an enrolment packet. This will secure a spot for the

2013-14 school year and help purchase consumables throughout the year.

CCA Pre-K offers a Core Knowledge curriculum which incorporates What Your Preschooler Needs To

Know Core Knowledge material, My Fathers World Kindergarten material, Saxon Math Kindergarten

material and Spalding Phonograms (focusing on the first 26 phonograms).

Most importantly, Jesus is the foundation of all learning at CCA. In Pre-K this looks like daily devotions,

prayer time (based on specific prayer requests/praises), reading through The Jesus Storybook Bible and

memorizing Bible Sayings each week based on the My Father’s World weekly units. Besides gaining a

love for learning, much of Pre-K is learning how to co-exist with others and gain an understanding of

structure and basic social/behavior skills in a group/classroom setting. The small class size allows for

these important matters to be addressed through discussions of Jesus and His love for us, to practice

reconciling with our peers who have been offended, and reaching not only the mind but the heart of

each child.

If you or someone you know would like more information or an enrollment packet for CCA’s

Pre-K program, please contact Cherese Macy at (970)682-4750 or through CCA’s website at

christiancoreacademy.org.