The Next Adventure

Well, 6 months and 300-some posts after premiering Devouring His Word, a blog that has come to feel like a companion on the journey, it is time to phase out DHW.

For a short while, I have felt a pull away from "hobby" blogging, and have been putting some time in to discerning whether the call was to go "official", or to move on.  Both options hold great appeal, for very different reasons; in the end, I must acknowledge the call toward a new focus, and let Devouring His Word become an old friend, rather than remain an ongoing companion.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I've spent with this blog, and have greatly appreciated all the positive feedback from friends, family, and new blogger friends.  I am especially thrilled for the few times DHW was privileged to be a part of a major life change for a family.  How amazing that God can use a blog, of all things, to draw someone back to him!

As my time with DHW draws to an end, here's what I'm looking forward to in my new spare time:

• cleaning my cabinets (haha!)
• getting more proficient with seasonal produce, to make the most of our CSA share
• devoting more time to Maganda's French language acquisition
• working with a children's Sidewalk Sunday School ministry
• and of course, continuing to review Christian media, which I'll be doing at Retain What is Good, a blog devoted entirely to reviews

Thank you for having joined me on the journey of seeking spiritual growth between nap times, diaper changes, and soccer practices.  I hope you will always devour God's Word as the joy and happiness of your heart!

Julie

Getting Started with the Bible

I have a couple of friends who, despite being Christian, have not yet spent much time with the Bible.  Both seem to be interested in the concept, but are possibly a little overwhelmed at getting started, and even a bit worried by all the misinterpretations they've heard.

Because the Bible feels like a friend to me, as it does to many Christians, and has even been a virtual life line at times, I would love for everyone to know it, feel befriended by it, and especially to know Jesus better through it.

In Hungry for God, Margaret Feinberg (who reminds us that "spending time in the Scriptures expands the repertoire the Holy Spirit uses to speak to us") offers a simple suggestion for anyone wanting, but hesitant, to get started with their Bible:

Consider diving into one of the rich portraits of Jesus found within the Gospels.  For the creative, artsy personalities, I recommend the Gospel of John.  For those who prefer brevity, the gospel of Mark is a fine choice.  For those who are more scientific in their thinking, the gospel of Luke highlights the miracles of Jesus, and should be read with Acts, which is written by the same author and highlights the birth of the church.

Read through one of the Gospels and then begin to go through a second time at a slower pace.  Reflect on the words Jesus used and the messages delivered.  What did Jesus applaud?  What disappointed him?  How did he interact with people?  Look at Jesus' words and life and be open to what he speaks through the Scripture. (pg.84)

Then get ready for a life changing experience!

Pre2K: David & Goliath

We spent the whole day with David and Goliath, in a Pre2K event that just kept going.  Such an engaging story for kids.

Bible Reading

We read "David & Goliath" in our new Read 'n See DVD Bible... but that was just the beginning.  We ended up reading the story in all 3 of our other children's Bibles, too, at Maganda's request.  Then Maganda and Kakampi revisited the D&G library at the end of the day.  Wow, this girl loves the story of David!
Targets: Bible familiarity, literature/print awareness, bonding time

David & Goliath VeggieTales Craft & Story Re-enacting

We painted Archibald Asparagus, as part of our VeggieTales paper towel roll set (here, here).  How does he figure in to David & Goliath?  Well, in "Dave and the Giant Pickle," Archibald plays King Saul, and sings with Junior Asparagus, aka David, one of Maganda's favorite Veggie songs, "Big Things, Too."
Maganda replayed David's encounter with Saul with her two asparagus friends.
Targets: fine motor, story narratives

Giant or Boy? Height Comparison

After hearing about Goliath's height in 4 different versions of the story, Maganda was stuck on the 9-foot tall concept.  So we talked about measuring heights, then played with our ruler and measuring tape, "measuring" everything and anything.  We talked about what things are tall like a giant and what things are shorter, like the boy David.  Then we lined up our Veggie friends by height.
Targets: pre-math (measuring), pre-science (comparing)

Watching the Story

Besides watching the 3-minute "David & Goliath" story from the Read 'n See DVD Bible, we also watched Dave and the Giant Pickle, an anytime favorite at our house, and even better on a rainy afternoon!
Targets: Bible story familiarity, fun!

Next Up: Daniel and the Lions


Check out today's Christian media at Christian Books, here:

Read 'n' See DVD Bible--Book and DVD By Stephen Elkins

Dave and the Giant Pickle (reissue) VeggieTales DVD

Pre2K Inspiration

As I've gotten more and more nice comments on our Pre2K endeavors from moms who feel overwhelmed at teaching God's Word to their children, I thought I might share where it all began.

Way back when I was expecting Maganda, a dear friend of mine, herself a mother of two, loaned me a book to prepare me for motherhood.  No, it was not the infamous What to Expect When You're Expecting (am I the only one who hasn't read that?); rather Elizabeth George's A Mom After God's Own Heart. 

In chapter 2, entitled "Teach Your Children God's Word," Elizabeth George described singing and reading nursery rhymes to her children before she knew God, and her switch to singing and reading Bible songs and stories to them after she was converted.

For the next 9 chapters, George created for me a clear vision of the mother I would like to become.  And the result: Pre2K!  Maganda encounters Bible verses and stories almost every day, all in fun and/or educational play activities.  It has been one of the most heartwarming miracles of my life to see Maganda grow to love God, to seek out the Bible on her own, and even recite short verses spontaneously.  I am forever grateful for the blessing of my friend and her sharing of A Mom After God's Own Heart!

Excited about the commission of teaching your children God's Word, but a little overwhelmed, too? George reminds us that all we truly need is a heart eager to answer God's call.  And she expands upon the call of Deuteronomy 6:6-7.

Who is to teach?  Every believing parent
Who are you to teach?  Your children
What are you to teach?  God's Word
How are you to teach?  Diligently
When are you to teach?  All day long, every day
Where are you to teach?  At home and everywhere

I recently (finally!) got my own copy of this book that changed my life 4 years ago, and I'm looking forward to reliving its hearts-on-fire magic!  Oh, and I picked up the study guide, too, just for fun.  Looking forward to my next Monday self-retreat... unless I can't wait until then!


This might be a great gift idea for a new mom, and expecting mom, or a mom ready to get her kids' hearts on fire!  Check it out or purchase at Christian Books, here:

A Mom After God's Own Heart: 10 Ways to Love Your Children By Elizabeth George

Here it is with the study guide ($12 for the combo!):

A Mom After God's Own Heart, Book and Study Guide By Elizabeth George

God's Seasonal Blessings at their Freshest

I love the challenge of keeping my family healthy via our diet, so one of my favorite concepts from the book Money Secrets of the Amish was "farm to table" eating.  Author Lorilee Cracker shares this secret to cutting out the middle man and frugally eating fresh and organic food: Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA.  Local Harvest explains CSA:

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka "membership" or "subscription"), and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

Advantages for consumers:

• Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
• Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown 

Did everyone catch the part about kids liking vegetables because they're from "their" farm?  Yep!  We've already witnessed that in our house, with our first box of CSA veggies: Maganda will now eat salad!  Yipee!!!

Kakampi and I chose our farm by searching area CSAs on Local Harvest.  We narrowed it down from the 20-something listed, to 2 to check out in person.  But we didn't make it to the second farm, because we fell in love with the first one!  Actually, with the first farmer: a husband and wife who found the "rat race" was destroying their family, turned their lives over to God, took their kids and left the city, and became farmers.  Such an inspiring family testimony.  And the heart and grace to back it up.  (When I mentioned to Farmer Donna that Lorilee Cracker had said how nice it is to shake the hand that feeds you, Farmer Donna said, "Around here, you get a hug from the farmer who feeds you!")

Here's our first box of fresh, organic, CSA produce.  It includes:

spinach
assorted salad greens
kolhrabi
radishes
scallions
farm fresh eggs
local artisanal cheddar cheese
national award-winning, locally made apple-chive bratwurst

These will change with the season.  How fun!


Being a part of the "C" in CSA has already expanded my culinary horizons.  I have previously detested bitter greens, but when they appeared in the box, I found this recipe that won me over to them. 

Dressing for Bitter Greens (adapted from this recipe)
Heat on low, the following:
3 TBS olive oil
3 TBS vinegar
3 TBS apricot preserves or jam
1 TBS raspberry preserves or jam (or use raspberry vinegar instead of vinegar, and omit rasp jam)
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp thyme

Let cool for a few minutes before pouring over the greens.
Add strawberries and almonds, if available.
Yum!

Enjoying God's seasonal blessings at their freshest... I'm already excited to see what's in our next CSA box!!!

Healthier Cake Pops

You know how much I love cake pops!  But that obsession necessitated some health upgrades, because let's face it: eating cake, mixed with frosting, dipped in candy is pretty extreme!  I'd like to set a better example for my daughter, both in health habits and in self-discipline, not to mention taking better care of my own health.  (Dessert-induced diabetes, anyone?)  

So here it is, my solution to at least one part of the cake-frosting-candy triple threat: make the filling out of banana bread instead of cake.  And while we're at it, let's get crazy and use whole wheat flour and cut out all the sugar.  Not like the frosting and candy coating won't be sweet enough!

The recipe:

1-1/4 C whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 C mashed banana
1/3 C unsweetened applesauce
2 TBS milk
2 eggs

Mix wet ingredients.  Mix dry ingredients.  Combine.  Bake at 350, about 60 minutes.
Let cool.  Cut off and discard all crusts, leaving as much banana bread intact as possible.
From there, continue as with any cake pops.

I trialed 3 versions of these, mixing with different frostings:
chocolate frosting = pretty close to a regular cake pop taste, but slightly less chocolatey
vanilla frosting with orange extract added = resembled Trader Joe's chocolate orange candy (or Jaffas, if you've been to NZ or Oz - yum!)
vanilla frosting with banana extract added = Maganda and I loved this one; Kakampi was so-so.  Would be fun for a monkey themed party! 

Tip: let the bread-frosting mix sit overnight in the refrigerator before forming into balls.  Because of the whole wheat flour, the bread is a little more coarse than cake, but picks up some moisture from the frosting and has a much smoother consistency the next day... or you could use part white flour, part whole wheat, if the texture issue is a concern.

Nutritional Info for a serving of 2 cake pops:
Compare the nutrition of red-velvet-cake-filled cake pops and banana-bread-filled cake pops (based on a Duncan Hines low-fat red velvet cake making 48 cake pops, and a banana bread loaf making 30). 

This is the nutritional info for the filling ONLY, not including the frosting and candy coating.
RV=red velvet cake, BB=banana bread
Calories 
RV 25
BB 8
Total Fat (g)
RV 3.0
BB 0.8
Saturated Fat (g)
RV 1.0
BB 0.2
Cholesterol (mg)
RV 28.0
BB 23.4
Total Carbs (g)
RV 18.0
BB 10.8
Dietary Fiber (g)  (Remember, dietary fiber is a GOOD thing!)
RV 0.5
BB 1.4
Sugars (g)
RV 10.5
BB  2.2
Protein (g)
RV 2.0
BB 2.2

Don't you love seeing the calories, fat, carbs, and sugars just dropping off the list?!!
Can't wait for the next reason to make some healthy-ish cake pops!

Father's Day Gift Idea

You might remember how wordle.net made for a cute and inexpensive Mother's Day gift for Grandma, not to mention a fun "my husband rocks" t-shirt.

Score another one for wordle, with an inexpensive Father's Day gift for Grandpa: personalized coasters.

If you've already got Modge Podge and some self-stick felt on hand, all this gift will cost is 16¢ for a bath tile!!!  Of course, you might decide to pair the coaster with Grandpa's favorite coffee or a book to read, etc, but still a reasonable price for a meaningful gift.  Love it!!!

To get started, head to wordle.net.  (See some wordle tips here.)
When printing, set the options to print 6 per page to fit nicely on your tile.  Cut to size.
Cover the tile in a thin layer of Modge Podge, then place your wordle and any embellishments.
Let dry for a few hours, then seal with another layer of Modge Podge.
When dry, turn over and add some felt squares to the back.
And voilà... 16¢ later: done!


This gift was adapted from a project at Frugal Family Fun.  Thanks, Valerie!

Thursday VerseDay: James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, 

whenever you face trials of any kind, 

because you know that the testing of your faith 

produces perseverance.

Book Review: Money Secrets of the Amish

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publisher for the purpose of providing my honest review.

After spending time in Amish communities in Pennsylvania and Michigan, author Lorilee Cracker ends Money Secrets of the Amish by saying, "I've discovered how to cut back without feeling deprived; in fact, I feel just the opposite, as if now, on the other side of this quirky Amish trip, I have an abundance of creativity, resourcefulness, and peace I didn't have before."

Cracker's experience with the Amish mirrors my sentiments of her book.  While most "secrets" in this book were not new to our family's extreme budgeting repertoire (our household has been thrifty, borderline frugal, for years by necessity), the Amish perspective shared in this book has given me a sense of peace in our current financial situation.  In fact, Money Secrets has sparked an excitement to make budget-living a creative venture, and even shown it as a fulfilling lifestyle.  If it weren't for my current need for a/c, I might even be tempted to go "Plain."

The Amish stories in this book inspire.  And Cracker's style in the telling draws you in and lightens the heart.  More than a fun summer read, Money Secrets of the Amish might just change your life.

Summary: one of my favorite reads of the year, sparks a renewed fervor for frugality

Read more or purchase at Christian Books, here:

Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing and Saving By Lorilee Craker

Immersing Children in Excellence: Artist Studies

If you've been intrigued as I have with the concept of immersing our children in excellence as a means to protect them as they engage in the world around us (from Shelly Radic's Momology), you'll want to check this out.

Erica at Confessions of a Homeschooler has just posted The World's Greatest Artists Vol. 1, a fun curriculum you can download FREE!  Here's what Erica has to say:

In this series of artist studies, we will be learning about 8 of the world’s greatest artists. We will immerse ourselves in the work of each artist so we become well familiar with their style, methods, and images.

Each study includes Lap Book printables, an Artist Notebooking page, Art Puzzles, Artist Flashcards, with Lesson plans for each.

Upon completion of this curriculum you will be able to easily recognize the artwork from each artist studied, learn to look at art critically, as well as have gained an appreciation for art in general. You will also have explored some new techniques, and created several of your own unique masterpieces! And at the end you’ll have a wonderful Greatest Artists Lap Book to refer to!

Artists featured in Volume One are Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Jackson Pollock, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’keefe, Michelangelo, and Leonardo Da Vinci.

I just downloaded the unit.  Can't wait to print and get started!  Maganda is going to love this one!!!


Learn more or purchase Momology at Christian Books, here:

Momology: A Mom's Guide to Shaping Great Kids By Shelly Radic

Weekly Self-Retreat: A Christian Spirit in Frugality

Time again for a favorite event of the week, the weekly self-retreat.

Where I was: at home, during Maganda's nap time (Sure, I prefer the coffee shop, but even a less-than- ideal retreat is still a retreat.)

What I enjoyed: no treats today, keeping in theme with the focus

What I retreated on: cultivating a Christian spirit in our household's frugal endeavors

The challenge: "It is more difficult to fight poverty in a rich country than in a poor one." -Mother Teresa

The inspiration: Lorilee Cracker's Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing, and Saving (review coming soon)

Highlight: While our household is already pretty frugal by necessity, I am enjoying the challenge of developing a Christian spirit in that frugality.

My two favorite quotes from today's reading are "A dollar saved is better than a dollar earned," and "... a gift given too easily robs children of the joy of earning it themselves." (I know these lines aren't specifically Christian, but they do provide a good challenge to our secular, material focus, urging us toward a more Christian mentality.)

I look forward to frugality becoming more joy-filled as Christian principles and necessity begin to meld more fully.


Read more at Christian Books, here:

Money Secrets of the Amish: Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing and Saving By Lorilee Craker

Pre2K: Samson

Daddy-the-Strength-Coach took today's Pre2K event, since Samson was his favorite childhood Bible story, and it's right up his professional alley, too.

Bible Reading

They read "Mighty Samson" in our new Read 'n See DVD Bible.  (Book review coming soon.)
Targets: Bible familiarity, literature/print awareness, bonding time

Samson Doll

Having grown up in L.A., Kakampi is a big Dodgers fan, so of course we had some Manny Ramirez hair on hand from a past Halloween costume.  Perfect for recreating a baby Samson.
Target: story re-telling

Samson Workout

Kakampi and Maganda demonstrated their Samson-like strength with some of the workout equipment we have around.  Even without any props, the little ones love pretending to do push-ups and sit-ups, so Samson strength training is a pretty enticing activity.
Targets: story re-eneactment, strength training (sort of)

Dance Party

We danced to "God is our Refuge and Strength" from 100 Bible Stories, 100 Bible Songs.
Target: gross motor


Read more about today's media at Christian Books, here:

Read 'n' See DVD Bible--Book and DVD By Stephen Elkins

100 Bible Stories/100 Bible Songs--Book and CDs By Stephen Elkins