8.30.2011

Green is Yummy!

We have been blending up green smoothies everyday
and we've finally hit upon some recipes
my kids actually LOVE!

I drink the big glass and David drinks the short glass for lunch!



Frozen peaches
Frozen mangos
a bannana
a handful of spinach
liquid of choice 
(we use green tea that I brew with fresh ginger)

IT IS DELICIOUS.....REALLY!


Another great green smoothie recipe we make is from this book
by Dr. Alejandro Junger recommended to me by my sister.
She is a cancer survivor raising two young children and committed to
eating and preparing a whole foods, clean diet for her family.
{love you, Sarah!!!}


 THE RECIPE:

1/2 Cup coconut water
(ZICO and O.N.E. brands are best)
1/2 Cup almond milk
2 large kale leaves
(Dr. Junger teaches kale is the king of clean)
1/4 avacado
1/2 cup mango slices
(fresh or I sometimes use frozen)

It, too, is scrumptious.

And to make it easier to whip these out a couple times a day, I prewash, spin and
package my spinach so all we have to do is dump a bag into the blender!
I also keep a gallon size bag of chopped, cleaned kale in the fridge.
No excuses!





Our family's philosophy: 
the more servings of vitamin and mineral and riber rich fruits and vegetables
every day the better

and on a hot day, there's nothing better than a frosty, fresh green smoothie.






Do you have a favorite green smoothie recipe you can share?

Click the comment tab at the bottom of this post and 
leave it for all to try!



8.26.2011

Warrior Victory

We have spirit, yes we do. . .
We have spirit - how about YOU???


And yes, Mrs. Silburn, showing school spirit does entail
learning how to adorn oneself with a coordinating,
perky, gross grain ribbon bow tied with precision atop a pony tail!



When in Texas, do as the Texans!
{just call us quick learners}


The Cypess Warrior Middle School Team
started off the season with a 13-0 victory Thursday evening!


It proved to be an evening of family fun.
We met lots of families and the girls found friends to play with during the game.
Here are Peter's buddies James and Justin - the three amigos!


I wrote earlier about Warrior Football -it is an amazing program
and we're so thankful Peter can participate!

He has always loved football.
But he is gonna love football at Cypress
{and truth be told we're still learning about football in Texas. . .its, ummmm...BIG!}


Team Prayer




Claire and her friend

Charlotte and her sweet friend

Coaching on the sidelines

Ian working the chains


Wide Receiver Lining Up


Head of School Mr. Navotney on the field (blue shirt) - love it!




The team's biblical theme this week was
LOVE

There is no fear in love.
But perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love becasue He first loved us.
1 John 4:18

A group of young men learning and practicing
what it means to be loved by God
and how to love one another more perfectly.

Warriors.
Warriors for Christ.


Have a great weekend everyone!







8.25.2011

My Happy Confession of Having No Merit


I stumbled upon this beautiful confession today
while meditating upon Christ's atonemnt in my devotions...
It is my heartfelt confession as well.

MY HAPPY CONFESSION OF HAVING NO MERIT
written by John Piper (August 2009)

This is my confession:
I was born into a believing family through no merit of my own at all.
I was given a mind to think and a heart to feel through no merit of my own at all.
I was brought into the hearing of the gospel through no merit of my own at all.
My rebellion was subdued, my hardness removed, my blindness overcome, and my deadness awakened through no merit of my own at all.
Thus I became a believer in Christ through no merit of my own at all.
And so I am an heir of God with Christ through no merit of my own at all.
Now when I put forward effort to please the Lord who bought me, this is to me no merit at all, because
...it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)
...God is working in me that which is pleasing in his sight. (Hebrews 13:21)
...he fulfills every resolve for good by his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
And therefore there is no ground for boasting in myself, but only in God’s mighty grace.
Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:31)


May you rest with great peace in God's soverign grace today!






8.23.2011

The Cutie Boo


Claire Hui Ping
a.k.a. the Cutie Boo...

That's what we call her.


She is our resident artist.
She has always had a passion for all things creative.

Coloring
Drawing
Painting
Beading

She will spontaneously gather random supplies and simply create . . .

a diorama
a gift
a collage
a poster
a book
a puppet

If Claire is missing from the mix
she can almost always be found being her cute, creative self
in a quiet corner of the house.

That is exactly what she was doing this evening while I was making dinner

I beckoned her to come to the table.
There was no response.
I called again.
No response.

So, as is often the case, I set out to find her.
And here is what I saw. . .



I was truly blown away.
She had a framed baby picture of herself and was freehand drawing the image
on a new little tabletop easel we have.



I know I am her mother,
but goodness sakes.
She is SEVEN!
{Aunt Annie - maybe she is Cranbrook bound!}

She was absolutely delighted in her work.

And truth be told, this exercise was more than creative.
She is wading through some complex self concept issues of late.
Being the new kid at school at this age has, it seems, opened the door to introspection.

Her new friends are curious about why she was born in China.
Why she looks different than her brother and sisters and parents.

She has never really been confronted with these questions before.

What a precious opportunity to affirm God's sovereign hand on her precious life.
To recount His faithfulness to her.
To count His blessings upon her.
The tremendous ways in which He has gifted her.
To retell the story of God kniting our hearts together.
To answer hard questions in light of our love for her
and God's love for her.

She seems vulnerable right now.  
Always her happy go lucky self, but a little tender.

Pray for her if you think of it.

Thank you sweet friends!








8.22.2011

A Recipe for Fun

Monday mornings are a glorious thing.
A fresh new week underway.

David and I got busy upon our return from school this Monday morning.
The bread is baking.
The laundry is tumbling.

And we stired up a recipe for fun!

I have a plethora of play doh recipes I used in the preschool classroom. . .

play doh made from sand
play doh made from dirt
play doh made from applesauce
play doh made from cinnamon
play doh made from oatmeal
the list goes on and on and on. . .

Today we made play doh from jello

I love this one for its smooth texture
bright colors
and yummy smells


Here is David playing with the berry blue!


Busy, Busy, Busy. . . 




Here's the recipe:

1 Cup flour
2 T salt
2 T cream of tartar
2 T cooking oil
1 cup warm water
1 3 oz. package of jello

Stir all the ingredients together in a saucepan.  Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly.  Eventually, the mixture will form a ball.  Dump out onto wax paper and allow to cool.  Kneed several minutes, adding additional white flour until the dough is no longer sticky.  Store in airtight containers or ziplock baggies.

David has fresh play doh cookies ready...got to go!


8.19.2011

Home 9 Months!


The kids are in school and I thought you'd like to see
a bit of what David has been up to this week.

He misses his brothers and sisters,
but we've crafted a sweet routine for our days and I can't tell you 
how much I enjoy the one on one time with this child!

This boy is joy!!!


He loves to make things together...this is an apple for the letter A


and he works in other mediums as well...
watercolors for example

This work had a five minute detailed explanation.
I wish I had witten it down for him!


It is plenty warm to be outside and play -
bubbles have always been a favorite!







He is such a sweet child.



He is always happy.
He is loving, kind, and patient.


He is obedient, thoughtful and gentle


He is curious, creative and funny. 


He is fearfully and wonderfully made!

And he has been home only nine months today!
It seems like he has always been with us.

Always in our heart!


He has grown up quite a bit in nine months.


David,
We continue to rejoice in God's providence.
He chose you for our family
You are our beloved son and brother.
And you are a beloved child of God.
May He continue to bless and keep you
and unfold his wonderful plan for your life.
How thankful we are that we get to be a part of it!

You are a joyful blessing!




8.16.2011

First Day of School

A new school year is underway.

It was a quiet morning around the breakfast table
and on the car ride to school.

Excited - yes.  A little bit nervous - I think so!
I know I will be praying for each one through the day.

Charlotte
5th grade



Claire
2nd Grade



Peter
8th Grade



Meredith
Junior




The kids meet in the gym before being dismissed to their classes for the day




There she goes!  Precious little school girl!



And this about summed up the mood when we returned home from drop off.
Just as I had anticipated.
"David can't smile.  I miss Peter!"


Cute boy wouldn't even smile for a piece of tong.


Time to pull out the watercolors and the playdoh!

If your kids are starting school this week 
we pray your childen will have a joyful transition!






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