Scripture of the Month: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.” Psalm 102:18 

Quote of the Month: “In a way, winter is the real spring, the time when the inner things happen, the resurgence of nature.” Edna O’Brien, Irish Novelist

Fast Facts: Only 40% of women consider themselves to be beautiful. –Dove Research

On average, there are 3 BILLION cups of TEA consumed every day, worldwide!

–Family Circle, 11,10/11

Harvard researchers pin-pointed some specific “bad foods” responsible for the average American’s 3.4 pounds gained over 4 years: potato chips, French fries, sugary drinks, red & processed meats. –Good Housekeeping, 53,10/11

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Monday, January 16 – Professional Development Day – Carl Junction Schools

Keynote: “Take Your M.E.D.S!”

Workshop: “Disappearing Childhood: Why Our Kids are Growing Up too Fast & What Parents & Teachers Can Do About It”

Monday, January 30 – “The Chocolate Side of Life” Women’s Event – Crossroads Christian Church, Baxter Springs, Kansas

February 3-4 – Marriage Retreat with Greg Dagnan, hosted by Countryside Christian Church, Pittsburg, Kansas at Maranatha Retreat Center

February 26-March 5 – travel to Taiwan & speaking at the Taiwan Missionary Women’s Conference – March 1-3. “The Showdown: How God Fights for Us in the Battles of Our Lives” – from the life of Elijah

From Our House to Yours

As always, it seems that the ethereally beautiful holiday season flew past. New Year’s Day, it was all packed away in boxes, awaiting next year. The family room and mantle seemed especially bare without garlands and light and the glow from the tree and candles. It always makes me a little melancholy.

But talking about it with one of my girls, I resolved to try a different attitude: what a clean slate to begin with! A chance to throw away, organize, rearrange and enjoy the simpler, cleaner rooms. I would be overjoyed (or at least try to be) with the prospect of fresh starts and shiny beginnings.

And it helped. Mostly. On the mantel sits a cheery red carved wooden word – “Happy”—flanked by snowman candle holders, made of baby food jars, decorated by Ellie and Elexa’s elementary school thumbprints and a small, silver tree, glittering with light.

Coincidentally, my book club/accountability group girls and I are reading Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project for January. I have thoroughly enjoyed the new things I’ve learned and laughed at the fact that I have always seemed to have had an ongoing, unstructured “happiness project” of  own; I just hadn’t know what to call it.

While there is certainly a wealth of ideas to mine in order to make us more deliberate and mindful of what makes us happy in order that we might bless others [happier people are more generous, patient, etc. with others & circumstances], I was saddened to discover that faith, although an element she explored, is not something that Gretchen embraces. I can’t fathom how to survive this live without personal knowledge of our great God. Perhaps if I’m ever in New York, I can treat her to a happy dessert and a Diet Coke with lime!

At any rate, we are wishing you an incredibly happy beginning & a whole box full of fresh slates, dreamy goals and fun starts!

 

Ideas for Flinging in the New Year

• Have a family cleaning party. When the decorations come down, have one person help you box things up, another one dust the now naked mantels and table tops, another vacuum and another begin placing sparser, clean-lined winter décor out.
• If your child received six gifts for Christmas between you, siblings & grandparents, have them choose six toys, etc. that can be donated to Good Will or the Salvation Army. Mom – you set a good example by getting rid of a sweater in your closet as you fold and put away the new you one that you got as a gift.
• Go through toys and clothing deciding what’s special, what no longer fits & what play things have outgrown her interests. Bag and box those up too. Clean thoroughly, choose outfits for the first few days back to school to make that transition easier. Brag on her, take a break to read a story and have some hot chocolate. Make a pact to remind each other how much easier it is to keep things clean when there are less things to clean!
• Use the fronts of Christmas cards for winter crafts on snowy afternoons. As you cut them apart, pray for each family before placing the rest of the card in the recycle bin.
• Set a timer, and together, go through each room in the entire house and choose one item to pass along to someone else. Our rule is if you haven’t used it, worn it, enjoyed it or seen it in a year – fling it out!
• This is a great opportunity to create a family tradition of character resolutions. Just as you’ve been tossing out things in your home, check with each other to see if there are some traits you don’t need to hang onto. Decide which new character trait you want to cultivate in its place.
• Remember to fill up the empty places from all the bad habits and belongings you’ve gotten rid of, with the solid goodness of God’s Word and some pro-active new activities!

 

 On Our Table

Little Doughnuts

3 tubes of Pillsbury country style biscuit dough. 1 ½ -2 cups sugar; 2-2 1/2 t. cinnamon. Canola oil for frying.

Cover larger frying pan with oil to about inch depth. Heat on medium heat until bubbly. Mix cinnamon & sugar in bowl. Set aside. Open tubes of biscuit dough and gently make a hole in each one, arranging on plate in preparation for frying.

When oil is hot, fry batches of  “doughnuts” as much as your pan allows without them touching. Working quickly, use tongs to turn doughnuts. When golden,  dredge in cinnamon-sugar mix. Place on paper towel lined plate and serve warm with milk!

*My daddy made these for us growing up as a special treat. I could easily eat 10 of them! They aren’t in the least bit healthy, so I usually only make them about 4 times a year for my girls. It’s the memory that makes them all the sweeter. Enjoy.

[No, the irony isn’t entirely lost on me that this appears just about the healthy tips; just grin along with me!]

New Year – New You: Healthy Tips for 2012

• Skin loses an average of 15 ounces every day. It can lose even more with the drying elements of harsh winds, cold air and dry indoor heat. Up your intake of water; take shorter, cooler showers; slather on lotion while your skin is still slightly damp; if your hands & feet are extra dry, put lotion on just before bedtime, sleeping in thick cotton socks & gloves
• You sleep much better in a cooler room. Lower your thermostat to 67 degrees (or slightly less) and pile on the blankets.
• Place an index card over the bright lights on your alarm clock & close your blinds for less distracted sleep.
• Go to bed 20 minutes before you need to have lights out. Use that time to unwind with reading [not TV; the light mimics day time and wakes up your brain].
• Light a lavender candle or spritz lavender pillow spray on your linens an hour before bedtime.
• Unplug! For every two hours you watch TV, your risk for diabetes increases by 20%; your risk of heart disease, 15%. (The Journal of the American Medical Association; All You, Nov. 2011)
• Exercise helps you sleep better, shed pounds and boosts your mood. Walk in place or around your room holding 2-5 pound free weights during your favorite show! Climb the stairs three times every time you use them to put away laundry.

“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.”

-Joey Adams