Healthy Harvest Snack (Candy Corn)

     I am Children's Ministries Director at our church and I teach 4-K  children.  They like most of us like snacks sometimes.  Several of the Moma's have said they preferred more healthy snacks for the kids and less candy.  When I think of harvest time and the fall, I think of candy corn.  I have a lesson, complete with craft and coloring sheet that I have used with the kids that relates the trinity to the candy corn, (3 in 1).  Anyway as I was preparing it this year I was thinking I am sure they don't need lots of candy corn which would be the expected snack so I went looking for a healthier alernative and this is what I found.

It is pineapple on the bottom, orange slices(or peaches) in the middle with a little bit of whipped topping on top and then decorated with just a couple of candy corn.  I thought this was a cute, healthy snack.  We will see what the kids think of them in class.

If you make these let me know what your students, family or you think of them.

God bless and Happy Harvest Time,

Pat

Making Your Home A Haven-From My Heart!

(picture from google)

I have been taking a sabbatical at church-which basically for me means that for the month of October I am not teaching or working in classes.  I am going to Sunday school and church services in "big" church.  While I have been off this month I have had some time to search my life and heart.  One of the things that has been on my mind a lot is making my home more of a haven, a place my family wants to come home to, to be together, to enjoy.

As I started to think about what I could do to make it a haven, first I looked up the word to make sure it was what I was dreaming of. When I looked up the definition of haven, the one that caught my eye was this " a place of safety, refuge".   That is what I want, I want my home to be a place where anyone who comes there feels safe, calm, a place where they can relax and rest and feel joy.

Now, how do I do that?  I started with google, it is what I do and these are some ideas I found some ideas and I even found some challenges on some other blogs but this is what I have found so far that is working for us.  
1) I have been burning my Scentsy warmers and candles
2) I put out my crocheted and fleese lap blankets
3) I make sure I have tea made all the time
4) I try to make a pick up run right before I know hubby gets home
5) We have been reading the bible as a family and praying together
6) I made me a Quiet time area in my bedroom

As for us, it is helping, hubby has made comments on how nice the house smells and looks, (everything looks better in candle light).  Tea might not be a big deal in your house but my hubby LOVES a cold glass when he gets home summer or winter.  It is just so peaceful snuggling under a blanket and watching tv together and praying and reading the bible is a winner every time.  Making a space that I feel I can away to and read, listen to music or relax helps me too and this in turn helps the atmosphere of our home.

Now, I am not sure if any of these would interest you or even help making your home a haven, but they have helped mine.  You have to search for what makes yours a haven.  What makes your home a place that your family wants to come home to?  Think on that, and try some ideas and see what happens.

What are your thoughts or ideas about making our homes a haven?  I would love to hear what you think.

God bless,
Pat

Simple Woman's Daybook-September 2015

 

"Every day is a blank page, what will be written on yours?."

FOR TODAY, September 15, 2015

Outside my window . . . it is beginning to feel like fall in the mornings and evenings but summer says I am not quite gone throughout the day when temps are still rising close to 90

I am listening to . . . Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my little grand

I am thinking . . . I am excited about some new craft paint, paintbrushes and the crafts that are roaming around in my head, we shall see if they make it out of there

I am thankful . . .for my youngest son, he is taking his Dad on a daytrip just the two of them, he bougth the tickets, planned and paid for the trip just for the two of them, he is a sweet young man

In the kitchen . . .what shall I cook while I am home alone, I am sure that there will be plenty of hot tea

I am wearing . . . exercise pants, tshirt and tennis shoes, now will I do more exercise thn chasing Jet,that is still yet to be determined.

I am creating . . .  ideas for some crafts, possible some Christmas presents for my family

I am going . . . to just enjoy this wonderful day God has given us

I am wondering . . . about some prayer needs and praying God's will over them and trying hard not to worry

I am reading . . .

I am looking forward to . . .to the study I am doing online with some other sweet ladies to go with the above book

I am learning . . .about the importance of having girlfriends even as adult women

Around the house . . . I am slowly cleaning and decluttering and putting out fall stuff

I am pondering . . .why I keep trying to take back the problems I give to God over and over

A favorite quote for today . . .don't quit, just get up, move, try again and keep going

Some of my favorite things . . .family time, computer games, spending time with friends, redbirds, doing crafts though I am not too good, writing letters, poems, journals and reading

A few plans for the rest of the week . . .bless my house, church, preschool with Jet, my brothers wedding this weekend

A peek into my day . . .

God bless,

Pat 

The Simple Woman's Daybook is hosted by Peggy.  Click here for the link to join in.

Excited about Blogging again-----on my terms!

     I have tried to blog several times.  I always go good for awhile and then I fail and quit.  I fail, well I fail in doing what I think others expect of me.  I love when people read my blog and comment but really alot of this blog is for me.  So I am trying again and I will be taking a new journey with my blog and I will be grateful if you share the journey too but if no one does it still will be my journey.

The picture above is me-we are getting real here.  I am a wife of 29 years, a Moma 3 times over and a Mamaw 4 times over.  I am working on losing weight but loving who I am as I walk that journey too.  

So welcome, or welcome back and lets see what this blog becomes......

God bless,

Pat

Simple Woman's Daybook for June 22, 2015

Be sure to stop by and visit Peggy over at The Simple Woman's Daybook!

For Today Monday June 22nd, 2015.

The Clock Says....
10:13 PM

Outside My Window....

The sunny day has given way to a clear warm night with a few stars 

I Am Thinking....

About how I need to get serious on some physical and spiritual things in my life that need some attention

I Am Thankful....

for my sweet kids, hubby and friends who took time out of Father's day stuff to make sure I had a wonderful precious birthday

I Am Wearing....

jeans, red tshirt and razorback slides

I Am Creating....nothing, I really need to start taking time for this again

I Am Going....

to bed when my sons get home from the gym

I Am Wondering....

how my son will do in his new job, he will be swore in soon as an officer in our city

I Am Reading....
Proverbs

I Am Hoping....

I will get this house organized soon

I Am Learning....

That I matter and I need to make time for me.  Also I need to make sure I am where I need to be for my husband and family before I "complain" about how they are doing

Around The House....

so much clutter that needs to be downsized

In The Kitchen....

Nothing now but we had tilapia baked and salad for supper

I Am Pondering....
About my marriage and what God wants from me in this area

A Favorite Quote For The Day....

One Of My Favorite Things....

From The Board Room..

http://beautyandbedlam.com/sunshine-fruit-salad/

God bless,

Pat

Proverbs Summer Bible Study 2015

I will be joining a group of friends online doing a Summer Bible study.  It starts on Monday and I am so excited to get started.  The study is to read and study one chapter in Proverbs a day.  

At the end we will study a little more intently on Proverbs 31.  I may not become the perfect Proverbs 31 lady through this study but I am praying it will help me become more faithful in reading my bible daily.  Also I am praying it will help me become closer to being the lady God has planned for me to be.

Why don't you consider taking the challenge and join us in reading a chapter a day too.  I will periodically post about this study as we go through it and what I am learning.

Until next time,

Pat

Simple Woman's Daybook June 8th

For Today…

Monday June 8,2015

Outside my window… night is starting to fall as I am late today posting this but it is still very hot

I am thinking.....about Bible school which starts tomorrow night at our church

I am thankful….for air conditioning on hot days

I am wearing…blue exercise pants and a blue tshirt and walking shoes

I am creating…lessons, coloring pages and crafts plans for my Children's church class at church

I am going…

to be registering the kids for the summer program at our local library

I am wondering…when this sarcoidosis flare will go awaybut not going to let it defeat me or stop me from my goals

I am reading…my bible and will be starting a Proverbs study next week

I am hoping…that the grands will go to bed soon and sleep all night

I am learning…that I am my own worst critic and problem that keeps me from reaching my goals

In my garden…doesn't look like a garden is going to be happening this year

In my kitchen…chicken "burgers" and the grands were fighting over them, pretty good to me too

A favorite quote for today…You teach more by what you do than what you say

A peek into one of my days…

One of my favorite things…

I am going to link this post to the Simple Woman’s Blog, so please click the link to read daybook posts by other bloggers.

Until next time,

Pat