Reception/ Tasty Thursday

Tasty Thursday
Last Friday night was the graduation of my youngest daughter's boyfriend. So we attended a standing room only gymnasium event. After a 55 hour work week, my feet can't take that anymore so we took a seat elsewhere and waited until the commencement was over to attend the reception. No photos of that but I have to give kudos to this rural school that allows use of classrooms for receptions for individual families. Such a nice idea!  Our apologies to the family that we didn't eat their delicious-looking treats as we have to keep gluten cross-contamination forever in the back of our minds. It was an honor to be invited to attend both events and we want to say 'Thank you'.
In honor of the couple,
I'd like to share a little romantic music I'm particularly fond of lately.

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The Waiting Is The Hardest Part/ Tasty Thursday

Tasty Thursday

Yesterday, I jumped the gun and posted a preview on Facebook of our Cooking with Kids activity for the week. Couldn't help myself.

They have such a good time. Even if it were real mud, they'd have just as much fun. 

But it was not real mud.

We made a 'pie' together.

We even adapted the recipe to create our own Gluten Free version.

The recipe only calls for 1/3 cup of flour so it was pretty easy to use the g-free equivalent.

It's really a glorified brownie with fudge topping instead of an icing. We also chose to use non-dairy whipped topping from the freezer section due to the price of whipping cream. Have you seen the cost of a pint of that stuff lately?? Oh. My. Goodness!!

The freezer variety was on sale for 88 cents. 

No homemade whipped topping today little dearies. Sorry.

Honestly, the waiting is the hardest part.

Mind Your Own Biscuits/ Tasty Thursday

Tasty Thursday again. And this won't have a biscuit feature.
But.....we did have a good ol' hot turkey sandwich topped with Gravy! Gluten free variety.  Not on biscuits.

And guess who actually ate at a restaurant this weekend and didn't take a picture of their plate?? Yep.

That'd be me.

Better luck next time.

Til then, hope you enjoy this little song.

Listen to the lyrics you Presidential Candidates.

Each and every one. 

The Wi"Z"ard of O"Z" for Isaiah

Oz, as you all know is where the tornado blew Dorothy to in the classic movie Wizard of Oz. Dorothy encounters trials and tribulations and meets friends along the way to assist her (and themselves) along the path, The Yellow Brick Road. The moral of the story as they find the Wizard is that the things you seek are inside you all along. You just need to believe in yourself.

Easier said than done sometimes.

This last 2 years, we've been honored to meet a young lady and her son who has a terminal illness. It's called Vanishing White Matter Disease. You can learn more about this disease on the website, http://ulf.org/vanishing-white-matter-disease . Their yellow brick road has been bumpy to put it mildly.

For my final A to Z Challenge post for 2015, I am dedicating this one to Isaiah and his mom, Bethany. Their journey has been extremely difficult as Isaiah is only 4 years old and is a daily inspiration to us with his constant smiles.

I believe in the power of prayer and my request to my fellow bloggers, family and friends, from all over the world is to please say one for them. Pray for peace, strength, healing and a cure for future generations. May Isaiah's story teach us all the importance of love and holding fast to the small moments in life.

Thank you and thanks for reading my blog this 2015 Challenge.

More Isaiah below:
http://fox4kc.com/?s=kcmo+fire+grants+make+a+wish

Update on Isaiah 6/28/16

https://www.facebook.com/FightliketheChamp/posts/821670967934436
Please continue to keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

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You Are My Sunshine

 Dedicated to my family. I have been truly blessed! You all know who you are :)

And you don't know how blessed you are that I'm not long-winded.
I can honestly say I Know some writers :)

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Te"X"as Tea

The object of the song The Ballad of Jed Clampett, is the oil they find, the Texas Tea, that made them millionaires. And so the tv show went on for several seasons in their mansion in Beverly Hills.

But what is your Texas Tea? To children it's "sugar". Make no bones about it, sugar makes the world go round when you are a child. Think fairs and bazaars. Snow cones, cotton candy, ice cream, funnel cakes, taffy, and much more.

My Child Care Food Program is regulated by the USDA and they are updating their regs for meals and snacks. One of their biggies is "sugar". We will be limited, once approved, on the kinds of sweets available to children. There are many pros and cons about this and I am sure I could make a major debate on the topic. But I prefer to find solutions for myself and my little precious charges because the changes are most definitely coming. Here are some options I will be putting "On the Table" instead of "cake-type sweet items" as their laws will Xclaim.

Instead of Donuts, I will be topping off my biscuits with some fresh berries and a dab of Cool Whip.

No Poptarts anymore. Instead we'll be making some toast and strawberry preserve sammies in my Panini press. YUmmO!

Can't have Cookies? How about Graham Crackers topped with Pineapple Cream Cheese? We can use raisins, craisins, banana slices or grapes to decorate.

For partytime, I'm going to let them make their own Yogurt parfaits. Each layer will have different colored fruits and we'll use some of my Auction finds, ice cream glasses.

Brownies eliminated? No problem. We're serving up Muddy Buddies. Chocolate Chex mix has "Whole Grain Rice" as its first ingredient. So There!!

I need to make sure I note that the changes on sweet items is not yet in effect. But where the children are concerned, I will find ways to 'sweeten' their day:)

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What Child is This?

What child wants.......

• to Share---Set a timer so that when it beeps the toy can go to someone new for awhile and then back again.
• to Wash hands---I buy foamy soap to "smash" it.
• to Go Potty----especially in the middle of play. I am guilty. I bribe with stickers that have "special powers stuck to them". It keeps with the dramatic play they're involved in.
• to Eat their vegies---Puree them an add to the spaghetti sauce. It's ok to be sly.
• or tell them it makes their hair grow fast if they like getting hair cuts :)
• to Be Quiet just because the baby is asleep---Pretend to be quiet so the bear can't hear you in his cave
• to Take a Nap---Whe we wake up, it's time to do a "special" activity. And keep that promise.
• To Sit Still--- During storytime, involve them with asking them to find and touch an item on each page, like "I Spy".

Any helpful hints for children? I'm all ears!

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Vows

This is the one letter that gave me trouble. Everyone has theirs and this was mine (this year). So lets get on with it.

List of Kinds of Vows:

1.  Wedding vows
2. Divine vows
3. Monastic vows
4. Presidential vows  **I could have went on and on with this topic but I'm really not into disputes**
5. Congressional vows  **same as above**
6. Vows to pledge honor  to your country  #OOH RAH! to my Marine Vet husband#
7. Vows of revenge  **I do NoT Recommend**
8. Vows of declaration  (ex. "Well, I vow it is as fine a boy as ever was seen!" Henry Fielding)
9. Personal vows **to finish this blog challenge**

So just throwing out there that I am feeling "Venerated" (feeling of awe). Definitely Valuing each and every Visit and comment of you Virtuous people who I'm priviledged to meet on this Virtual space.

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Unchained Melody

Unchained may be the title of that song, but in my home, we definitely have chain reactions. No "Un" about it.
There's the time my daughter decided to adopt 2 puppies. Let me explain the problem with my chain reaction thought process.

We have #1. no fence as we've been "Under Construction" since last June.
#2. The back yard is still a mud pit.
#3. I am not going to be the one to go around the yard picking up land mines.
#4 Because, Mom's you know, it's always us in the end.
#5. I don't need a vet bill, much less a Double vet bill.

So, after a stressful year of construction, I honestly needed to take the time this year to bury myself in this song, "Unchained Melody" to bring myself some calm. This song was hard. It required intense concentration and time. But I'm pretty dog-gone (pardon the pun) proud I accomplished it.

To finish the story of the puppies, we were able to find a home for them and keep them together. A chain of hope ended this saga.

And Note to my daughter:  Once you have a home of your very own and decide to have pets, I will be more than happy to house sit your pets (just no snakes please).

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Tell It To Jesus

This is one of the hymns I remember best from my childhood years in attending a little country church "Antioch Baptist Church". It conjures up images of people who are long gone but were very influential. These people were far from the Time Magazine's "most influential people in the world" list. But their signicant impact on a life has been long-lasting.

So what would you say to someone in your past if you had the chance again? Maybe a 'thanks' for the pen and mini notebook they handed you during a particularly boring sermon. (Sorry, they exist.) Grandma, you saved my mother's sanity, and me a swat :)

Or what about the church deacon/sheriff deputy/neighbor, who didn't let you hang your sister when she had that party while mom was out of state? I'd definitely thank him for his wisdom in handling the situation. No punches were swung. And we are the closest of sisters today many, many years later.

Or the pastor's wife who I assisted one summer in the  2-year-old room at Vacation Bible School. Little did I know I was seeing my future career form. Her patience was golden and I'd thank her for the example she set.

I'm feeling pretty blessed for the life experiences that have led me down my life's path.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

 

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Silly Bill

My dad was Bill. Not silly by any means, but always welcomed wherever he went. Talk about big shoes to fill.
Simply put, I. Was. Shy.
And things kept me from growing out of that stage as time progressed.

One of the biggest was my constant knee injuries. Everyone had a cure for me other than actual surgery. The suggestion I got from all experts was doing those "fabulous" leg lift exercises. We used items from canned vegies to sand bag weights. Ug. Still hate them and still suggested by my doctors when the legs give me trouble. Finally had my first surgery at age 24. My first knee dislocation was at age 9. You do the math if ya want.

After the knee issue came the silver caps on my two top front teeth. Yep, right there front and center. I was playing tag in our school gym and met up with a brick wall, my teeth being the center point of gravity. They did not survive, naturally. So for a few years, I was blessed with those shiny, obnoxious, dreaded caps. I rarely smiled for photos and limited my talking to strangers. I wonder how many polaroids exist of m silver teeth? I bet not one.

So since becoming a childcare provider, the one thing I have always been partial to is the shy kids, the ones with delays, just waiting for the skies to open up.

To young mothers out there, I'd like to tell you to let your children be the wall flowers, but take them to the social events. Give them a hobby they can excel in. Never shame them. Be a role model.

Yes, my dad was awesome! Thanks Bill Randall!

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Railroading Across the Great Divide

How did you spend your New Year's Eve? Many were partying til the wee hours of midnight and beyond. But not this troupe. We chose to purchase 4 Amtrak tickets and take a little jaunt on the Missouri River Run. This is a daily route that travels from Kansas City to St. Louis. We boarded in Sedalia and rode to St. Louis in a little under 3 hours (one way). And another 3 hours back.

So what influenced us to partake is such an excursion? A few factors were involved. One of the biggest is that we'd never taken a train ride before; not counting the amusement park trains. Or in my husband's case, when he hitched a ride on a freight train at the age of 13 or so. He does not wish for me to romanticize this fact as there were still hobos at the time and he could have had a very bad result. And his mother doesn't even know about it. (So, yes, it still matters in your 40's if Mom finds out.)

So this legitimate train ride was very enlightening. The most disturbing part is the lack of baggage checking. Yes, my retired-narcotics-officer husband was the first to pick up on this. He noticed a couple of familiar faces getting off the train, backpacks in hand, eager to avoid him. Imagine that?! (his reputation still follows him) Just for the record, we would Not have tried to play the part of vigilante or sheriff's deputy........unless??? We're human of course.

Another enlightening part of the ride was the dining car. It's not like in the movies. A little counter on one end with a person taking your order, microwaving it if needed, and taking your money. The. End.
Finding Gluten-Free was pretty difficult. Lucky for us, we did our homework and took some picnic items along. But my youngest and I let curiosity get the better of us and so we ventured 3 cars ahead to "see what it looked like". In short, you'd get a better choice from Quik Trip or whatever your local convenience store is called. Not impressed.

The positives:
*You could barely hear the horn. Surprising as I remember the days when trains traveled behind my home and it was most definitely heard inside my house.(before the rail was abandoned and made into a bike trail)
*The conductors were super nice
*The view was very pretty, even in the dead of winter.
*I learned that along certain parts of the Mighty Mo, houses stand on stilts 15 feet off the ground. Quite a sight to see a mobile home on poles. To each his own I guess.
*I had nearly 6 whole hours of crochet time. Only yarn-aholics will relate.

So in short, if my daughters decide to move away and I don't want to drive, take a bus or plane, train travel is an option.
Just make sure to sit close to the exit and don't plan on a meal like momma's.

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Question: Shall We Gather at the River?

My favorite activity to do with my daycare children is "Conversation Starters". There are good reasons to try this activity, even at home with your own children. First of all they love to talk. Second, it's so good for their self confidence, language development, social skills, and so so much more. I ask them a question and they answer while I dictate their answers. They'll make sure I get it all written down too. I hear, "Did you get that part?" So adorable. Parents get to see the conversations too since I post them on a large sheet of paper beside the coats. Smiles abound! And who couldn't use a smile after a long day at work?!

Things happen when we engage children like this. Curiosity is unlocked and they take an active part and become more involved with others. In other words, the little shy kid gets to shine :)

If you have time, check out my daycare blog to see one of our conversation starters from November.

Special thanks to Osage Plains Images for permission to use photos in the slideshow. Please take time to see his Facebook page Here


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Power in the Blood

Power in physics equals the rate of doing work. So while I think I do pretty good "powerful" work in my day job, there are many areas I lack "power". Here's a couple for sure:

• After 3 knee surgeries including one broken knee cap in the mix,

 I. Can't. Run.                            No Power there

• Pulling an all-nighter these days would be a Big FAIL.

On the positive side:

• Having enough power to do this A to Z challenge has been time-consuming, but do-able. Feeling some power as I made it this far for a 2nd year. Yay to me :)

•  I probably appear powerful to a child  when I can reach up high (even though I'm pretty short)
• And when a child runs to me for a hug, they feel powerful hugging as tight as they can.      Love that!!!

Most of the time we don't strive for power. We just use powerful means to help each other out. Like the times a family member or friend suffers health issues. Seeing and experiencing these hold us powerless many times (we initially think.) But what we learn is that by encouraging them and doing our part, we give them comfort, hope and time to regain their own Power.

 

Yep, another Bible Verse:

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.     

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Only Trust Him

*Photos courtesy of Pinterest*

Have you ever Googled "Only" and looked at the images? I did and it's amazing how we use only as an exclusion.

 

"Only One"

"Only Today"

"For Teachers Only"

"Adults Only"

"Authorized Personnel Only"

"Ladies Only"

"For your eyes Only"

 

 

But to "Only Trust Him", it's more of a simple request. It's all you have to do and there are no exclusions. Everyone is included.

The song lyrics invites "every soul". By only trusting, He has rich blessings to bestow.

Trust is another word for Faith.

Explained in Hebrews 11:1 , "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

It's a hard concept for most of us these days. Too many have hurts and disappointments and hold back trying to Only Trust Him. The Bible never once says, "figure it out." But over and over it says "Trust God".

He's already got it all figured out.


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Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood is just a "nice" song. If you listen to the lyrics, the guy plays the gentleman and sleeps in the tub. What a concept in the present times.

But about being "Nice".....I have a list of niceness in a day in the life of children.

1. Let me get you a hat.
2. Hey, Steph! He gave me his flashlight!
3. Wanna go on a bear hunt?

4, Macoy: "Ben wants my lucky hat."   Me: "What can you do nice for him to make him feel better?"Hudson (16 months) "Let it go, ok?!" (he has watched the movie Frozen often)

How about trying a little nice, especially when you don't feel like it. Not just when you're dressed up for church.
When you're sitting on the sidelines of a ballgame listening to parents yelling, it can be particularly hard to "feel" it. You'd really like to blast them in the face with some special words. But that could end with very bad results. Trust me.
So I typically grab my crochet hook and start making a piece of mindless work like a shawl or a scarf. And with each stitch I'm praying. For me, for them, for anyone else who needs it. And in my mind I'm hearing Hudson say, "Let it go, ok?!"


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Music of the Night

In the words of Stevie Wonder, "Music is a world within itself with a Language we all Understand."

"Music can change the world because it can change people." --Bono

How many times do you remember a concert filled with lit candles, everyone swaying to a well-known song? The air is electric, the differences between people melt away. It's both a healing and a miracle.
I wonder what happens to the brain in these moments?
Is the section that gets angry shut down? Is it disabled?  I'd bet so.

When a baby cries around here and I'm elbow deep in a sink of dishes, I'll ask one of my older children to "go sing to the baby". I guarantee that 9 out of 10 times the crying stops and two things happen:
1st: the eldest child feels empowered and empathetic.
2nd: the baby finds peace.
It soon becomes a perfect celebration of joy and life.

Music matters to all ages and stages of life. Pete Seeger, a well-known banjo player/singer, was indeed a pioneer in using music for change. Words stamped on his personal banjo said:

"This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender"

I hope you'll play more music in whatever form you enjoy and help bring peace in the world.

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Loch Lomond

L is for Loved:
Honor Flight is making our Veterans feel "Loved" by escorting them via air on dedicated flights to visit memorials built to give tribute for the sacrifices they made.

One local photographer has documented in pictures his trip with one of these Honor Flights.
For a commentary of Kevin Walker's experience as well as more pictures, see Here

I wanted to present it to you in a slideshow with music. Hope you'll thank a Vet today.

   If you are a Veteran, 

God Bless You!

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Kangaroo Valley Ramble

I don't think I'll be writing anything about kangaroos for my Letter K post. 

You should be very thankful, believe me!

But I can tell you about some funny things Kids say. 

My most recent one I wrote down was when I asked my daycare kids (all boys except one of my babies. There are 2.) if "Girl" Scout cookies were ok with them for snack. I'm still chuckling at their response of "We can't have "Girl" cookies." So without further ado I pulled out the Oreos. I added that 'maybe Boy Scouts could start baking so I could buy some of their "Boy" cookies.'

If you get a second or two, check out my "Kids Say the Darndest Things" tab at the top. 

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Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring

J  = Joy
E  = Elation
S  = Salvation
U  = Use
S  =  Safe

Joy in your life is tenfold when you accept Jesus into it.

Elation  is the feeling of wanting to tell the world your discovery of His love.

Salvation Can only be found in Him.

Use He will use you to bring blessings to others

Safe
Psalm 91:11  For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways


Special thanks to Moonlight 10 Photography for permission to use his awesome photos in my slideshow! Check out his web pages Here:

http://moonlight10photography.com/

And Here:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Moonlight10Photography/photos_stream

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