Friday, April 21, 2017

New banana bread recipe

This recipe is from our church cookbook. My oldest daughter made it for us a few months ago, and it is a huge hit in our house. It is usually gone within 24 hours of making it! The recipe was submitted by four different people, and the note on the bottom says it must be good, and it is delicious!
 I've made it several times, and we had it for brunch on Easter with fried eggs, so yummy!

Here is the recipe:
Banana bread

5 medium, over-ripe bananas
3 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup hot water
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 sticks of butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup nuts, chopped (I've used walnuts)

Put bananas, soda and water in blender and run for 5 minutes or more until thickened. In large bowl, beat eggs; add sugar, butter and vanilla. Add flour alternately with banana mixture to egg mixture. Add nuts. Pour into well-greased large bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 to 70 minutes.

*I've also floured the pan and it turned out better.

The last time I made it, I noticed that there are no spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice. It is still delicious, and doesn't need anything else added!

I hope you enjoy this recipe, let me know your review!


Leviticus 24:5
“Take the finest flour and bake twelve loaves of bread, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf.

1 Kings 19:6
He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Homeschool organization

 Today, I am going to show you some of the ways that I organize our homeschool room. Ever since I was in junior high,  I have used 3-ring binders to organize papers. When we began homeschooling, I bought a large 3-inch 3-ring binder for each of my children. My oldest has a binder for every year of her homeschooling. When the year is over, I put the binders in a bank storage box and into storage. I have kept them just in case a lawyer or someone from Social Services comes to my house and says they need proof of our homeschooling. Now that my daughter is graduating, I can probably get rid of most of her binders!
I usually have the kids decorate a paper for the front of the clear binder cover. As they get older, I just print one from the computer for them. They can color on it or decorate it if they would like. I just like to have the binder labeled. 
 Inside the binder, I have each subject marked with a section and a divider. At the end of each week, I take all of their papers and divide them into the subjects and put them into their binders. When I have a meeting with an advisor, I can grab their binders and go to the meeting. I have all of their papers for the year in it, and it does get quite heavy by the time May rolls around!

In the binder, there are sections for spelling, grammar, handwriting, reading (younger kids), science, math and art. We have a separate small binder for history/ geography. A lot of moms leave the pages in the workbooks for different subjects. I have always torn the pages out, partly because they have answer keys in the back, and partly because I want them stored in the binder. It is easier for me to keep track of one book than several small workbooks. I like to reuse the workbooks from year to year, so I usually copy the pages out of the workbooks to use. Then I can use them with my other kids, and sell them again when we're done using it. After I make a copy of the page, I always punch holes in it, because then it is easier to slip it into the binder when it is completed and graded.
This is how I organize their papers after they are graded each day. I try to keep up on the grading as I can, in case they have learned something wrong, it can be corrected quickly and they won't continue on working in the wrong way. This is especially important for math papers.
 I have three crates to keep their binders and other papers/ projects in. It is handy to divide their things so I can easily grab something if I need to refer to it.

This is our bookshelf with curriculum, dictionaries, answer keys, games and math books. There are math manipulative on the bottom, as well as extra spelling cards and science kits. 

I know this is not the only way to organize, but this is what works for me right now. I like the binder system, and have told several friends about it. My advisor is always telling others about my binder organization. It is much nicer than throwing a bunch of papers in a box to show the advisor!

How do you organize your homeschool papers?


1 Corinthians 14:40
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Genesis 43:33
The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment.

Proverbs 24:27
Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Lent 2017

Some of my more diligent readers may remember some of my other posts about Lent. Last year, I made a daily sacrifice of some sort, which I enjoyed. This year, I pondered about things I needed to do, different positive things that I could add in to my routine. The first thing that popped into my head was exercise. I have never been a super fit person. I'm happy to nap, read a book on the couch or play a game with the kids in my spare time. I knew it was something I needed to change, so I committed to walking and exercising more.
I got new Asics shoes as an early birthday present!

I have been walking more in the last year anyway. In our homeschool co-op, there is a mom that offers a free exercise class on Tuesday afternoons. I've attended that the past few years and enjoy that, but I felt like I needed more. My walks were pretty sporadic before, if I felt like I needed sleep more, I would take a nap.

But during Lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter), I decided to walk or exercise every day. My goal per day is 5,000 steps. I just really never get over that, so I adjusted my goal to 5,000 instead of 10,000, because that is more achievable to me. According to my phone apps, I have met my goal way more often in the past 6 weeks than ever before. I have been using an app called "My Fitness Pal" that I can use to track steps, add in any exercise that I do each day, as well as track my diet, entering foods that I eat. My hubby encouraged me to use this app, and honestly I have enjoyed it.

So how did I do? How is this applicable to God?

Well, honestly, the results of this "exercise more" commitment have amazed me. I feel physically better ALL over. My back has hurt MUCH less. I've felt happier, and less achy overall. I've enjoyed getting out into God's creation, seeing the landscape change over the days and weeks, with Spring nearly happening before my eyes. I've enjoyed the fresh air, seeing neighbors and chatting, and getting out of the house.
I've prayed during my walks for anyone that pops into my brain. I've listened to Christian music on my headphones while I walked. I have really liked it. I've been encouraged and blessed through the exercise.

What did you do during Lent this year?

This has been a good, new habit for me to undertake. I think I will try to continue it this spring and early summer, maybe until it gets too hot...


Some verses about walking...

Genesis 13:17
Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.” (God spoke to Abram)

Deuteronomy 6:7
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

On the Road to Emmaus...
Luke 24:15
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

Luke 24:17
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Spring baseball mom checklist


I have been a baseball mom for many years. I have fine-tuned my bag of items that I bring to baseball games, to watch my son play ball. If you have any team gear or team colors, wear those of course. It is spring, and the weather can be unpredictable, so I like to be as prepared as possible.



Here is my unofficial list of what I pack for baseball games (may work for soccer or other sports too)

-Hoodie sweatshirt
-Light jacket or windbreaker
-Several fleece blankets
-Bleacher seat or crazy creek chair (an investment, but worth it!)
-Snacks for the kids (siblings) who may be with you
-Cell phone for texting and camera
-Socks if wearing sandals
-Water bottle (for each person)
-Cash for concession stand (I try to keep this to a minimum)
-Hat to keep out sun and tame hair in the wind
-Umbrella (keep out sun or rain)
-Tissues in pocket or purse
-Band-aids for trips and falls on concrete
-Sunglasses


Several of these items I store in my purse (tissues, band-aids, sunglasses, cell phone) and others I put into another bag, including hat, umbrella and blankets. Usually the weather changes throughout the season, beginning with cooler days in the start of the season, and ending with shorts and no blankets or jackets at the end of the season.

Four of us crowded under our old umbrella!
Depending on the time of the game (ours are usually at 5:15 or 7:30), I may or may not bring snacks. I try to make an easy dinner that we can eat before or after the game all together as a family. I like to make sandwiches, soup, spaghetti and salad, or wraps for dinner on those busy nights. I do as much prep work as I can before the 5:15 games, such as setting out the pans, making egg or tuna salad, making a green salad, setting the table, etc.,

Sometimes the chairs can double as an umbrella!
Of course, there are always times that things get forgotten. My girls will forget a water bottle, or the bleacher seats will get pulled out of the van. Sometimes we only have one or two blankets, sometimes the kids will sit on them. We have a picnic blanket that can be unzipped and helps keep out rain. But there are days that it really pours, and we just go back to the van.

Sometimes the kids will bring their own bags with toys, balls, coloring or activity books, a sweatshirt or jacket and notebook to write in. It helps the games go by faster when they get tired of sitting and cheering. The games can get long for little ones. I enjoy when grandparents come so that they can talk to and hold the kids.

I am ready for a great baseball season, I hope you are too! I may need my umbrella for games this week...

PLAY BALL!


 While it doesn't talk about baseball in the Bible, it does talk about running, which is part of baseball...

1 Corinthians 9:24
[ The Need for Self-Discipline ] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Galatians 2:2
I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...
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