A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.


I'm not sure what is going on lately but I have had a string of occasions where I could choose to be offended.  I know God wants me to overlook offenses, but how do I do this?


I think many times that there is an occasion to be offended, it's often a misunderstanding or miscommunication.  I also believe when someone says or does something "mean", it's more about them than it is about me.  Pastor David Hess, used to preach that "hurt people...hurt people". 


I find that I need to try to take "every thought captive" and try not to dwell on the situation.  Dwelling on it often makes me angry and preoccupied taking away time and energy from my family.  


When someone criticizes me, I try to pray, "God if there is some truth to what the person has said, please help me see it and help me change.  

Classical Conversations Orchestra Supplement

Here are some ideas to supplement our studies on Orchestra
Zin! Zin! Zin!  A Violin...by Lloyd Moss














Meet The Orchestra by Ann Hayes














 Finally, the New York Philharmonic Kidzone, this is a fun website for children to explore and learn from!
I got these ideas from http://kateortiz.wordpress.com/

I Am Loved--Guest Post

My name is Janet, I live in NY, USA. I am a wife & mother to 3 children (2 adult age & 1 Teen) I am also involved in ministry to hurt women recovering from addiction. I would consider myself to have been a woman of strong christian faith and I identify myself as being loved by God. Some months back I received one of the most disappointing news: Cancer. This was not the answer I expected after my prayers. Immediately my identity was attacked which could also effect my purpose. What happened, why didn't God give me what I asked for, does God really love me and how could I help women when I was now facing what seemed like defeat.

My oldest son Ricky felt compelled to stay home from work for no reason and was there when I received the bad news, he prayed for me, pointing me to Christ. The Dr.she said to me "I have to tell you something, God has his angels surrounding you". She didn't know that days before, when my husband Rich and the Church leaders prayed for me I felt a Godly presence surround me and cover me with peace. Tina, one of our first graduates from the Hannah House called me out of the blue to say "God has put you on my heart and I've been praying for you, is everything alright?" Ryan my daughters boyfriend came with a gift, a Teddy Bear with the words written on it "I Am Loved" and holding a bag of pins with the words written on them "I Am Loved". This spoke to me as God saying to me: I Love You, and not just one, but a bag full! I Love You, I Love You, I Love You! I've said all the above to say, we must keep watching and praying to hear and recognize God's voice to us. Grab onto every and any way God shows he's with you.

My Dr. repeatedly said to me, "Thank God, Thank God, Thank God". Sorry to say I was not thankful at that moment, because we were setting up surgery to remove my whole breast. God got my attention when I was reading Job's reaction to losing his kids & his wealth, Job said he would continue to bless God and would not judge God. His attitude was so reverent to God.. Disappointment should not cancel a whole history of knowing God's majesty and His Love for me and all the great and many answers to prayer. I would not try to explain what I don't understand, God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. Phillipians tells us: "In ALL things to give thanks". When I read that, my Dr's sweet face and words came back to me "Thank God". What I am thankful for is that as soon as the enemy cancer tried to enter my body, it was caught and since it was early and contained, I would only need surgery to remove it, no chemo and no radiation, Thank God!  God said no weapon formed against us would prosper. God said he would deliver us from every affliction. He said in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcomed the world. He said he would never leave us or forsake us. He said I am with you always. He said all that call upon him will be saved. He works all things for good.

God's word says "As a man (mankind) thinks so is he". I choose to think on what is good, true and lovely, I Am Loved! Faith we must fight for, Grace is a gift freely given from God. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. So pay attention to his voice keep your mind on the word of truth, illminate the doubt & unbelief. Grace enables us to overcome. Having my thoughts right, directs my heart and life right and keeps me strong. I almost feel funny to say this, but I feel as though I just glided smoothly through this sickness, knowing and identifying with the fact God Loves me.

What We Are Having for Dinner This Week

Sunday- Cheese Steaks with onions, peppers and cheese
Monday- Frozen Pizza and a side salad
Tuesday -Broiled Tilapia Parmesan with mashed potatoes and green beans.  (this is my first time using this recipe)
Wednesday- Cheese and Onion Omelets with toast
Thursday- Roasted Tomato Soup and fresh artisan bread. 
Friday- Salad topped with grilled chicken
Saturday-  Nachos topped with ground beef and fix-ins 

Publix weekly sales and coupon matchup

Savings this week at Publix
There are a lot of great items on sale this week at publix.  I'm looking forward to my shopping trip

American Presidents Song

We are leaning all the names of the US Presidents in our Classical Conversations group.  One of the mom's found a great link.  I am going to have my kids memorize this song!  What a great find!

American President Song

More Books....

My sister recently did a post on her family's favorite books right now.  So I figured I would share some of our current favorites ;)  My oldest son is 6 and my daughter is 4.

Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas- this is a cute story about a Witch and her cat Wilbur and their dilemma with the cat blending into the background.  














The Wild Girl by Chris Wormell- a story about a little girl and her dog who live in a cave and how they survive during a cold winter.














The Sea Monster-  A story about a little boy taking his toy boat to the ocean, when his boat floats away and he swims after it he finds himself in deep trouble.














Pinkalicous- is a great story about a little girl who eats too many pink cupcakes.  My son and my daughter LOVE this story!













There is a monster at the end of this book- We bought this book for our IPAD and my kids read it over and over again!













Hooray for Diffendoofer Day- is another cute story, it's Doctor Suess(ish)

Easy Tasty Broccolli

I was trying to come up with a simple way to make broccoli and think I came up with something great. You only need three ingredients.

1.  1 cup of broccoli

2.  1 Tbsp unsalted butter

3.  Parmesan cheese, enough to lightly cover all the broccoli

First, I steam the broccoli in the microwave.  To steam broccoli in the microwave, use a glass dish with a lid, only put about 1/4 cup of water in the dish with the broccoli.  Cook on high for 3 minutes.  Then strain the broccoli, add the butter and parmesan cheese and serve.  

If you have a family who is enthusiastic about broccoli you may need to double the recipe.  This is about 2 servings.

What We Are Having for Dinner This Week

1.  - Baked Teriyaki Chicken (this recipe is really easy and tastes amazing) with rice and steamed broccoli

2.  Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

3.  Tex-Mex black bean dip- we have this for dinner with tortillas chips, it's not technically a dinner but we like to eat it that way- we add corn(frozen or fresh) to the mix

4.  Spaghetti and Meatballs ( I often double the meatball recipe and freeze half of them for a later meal)

5.  Pink Bean Quinoa Spinach Soup With Home Made Artisan Bread 

6.  Grilled Fish with Lemon Sauce  (when grilling fish rub your fish basket with raw potatoes prior to putting the fish in.  It makes it really easy to clean and the fish won't stick and fall apart).  If you've never grilled fish I HIGHLY recommend it.  I really don't like fish any other way!

Books For Boys!

  I love books.  I love to find book lists.  I really love to buy used books cheaply.  I most love seeing my boys reading books. 

This winter we have had a lot of books go through our house.  We have been reading the Henry Huggins series to our 5 year old.  He loved an illustrated version of Doctor Dolittle.  Star Wars and Transformer books have also been popular, as is Mr. Popper's Penguins. 

For our 2nd grader- Here is his list:
   Diary of a Wimpy Kid
   The Chocolate Touch
   My Weird School
   How to Train Your Dragon
   The Count of Monte Cristo (Illustrated Classic)
   The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Illustrated Classic)
   Treasure Island (Illustrated Classic)
    20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Illustrated Classic)
    Holes
    How to Eat Fried Worms

For our 4th Grader-
 The Westing Game
Al Capone
Candy Shop War
Captain Nobody
Swindle
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Magic Thief
Masterpiece
Extra Credit
Fablehaven (Series)
Hoot

We are always looking for new titles so send us your favorites.
Jeanne

P.S. And, speaking of our 4th grader, he offered to write a review of 2 books he read.   
         
        If you have no books to read and nothing to do, go get a Gennifer Choldenko book.  The best ones to read are those in the Al Capone historical fiction series.

Al Capone Does My Shirts       

       The book takes place on Alcatraz Island in 1935. They are about a boy called Moose Flanagan who lives on Alcatraz Island because his dad is an electrician. He   meets criminals who are the best at their job - being a criminal. The plot is that his autistic sister needs to go to a special school  for autisism, but she is too old for the school. The Flanagans are very desperate, so Moose sends a letter to Al Capone. Well, Al Capone has a lot of resources, but why would he help some kid? The first, Al Capone Does My Shirts, has won the Newbery award and is simply a journal with entries.

      Al Capone Shines My Shoes

                           The second book is at the same time and place. It also is made of journal entries.    Moose is having more adventures, until, well, you probably predicted it. AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT!
   
    Neither book is better than the other, but there is an order. I have been told that a 3rd Al Capone book is coming.

  These are arguably the best Alcatraz kids fiction books.

My favorite homemade spaghetti sauce recipe

I've tried several different variations of spaghetti recipes and here is the combination I love best.  It's texture is fabulously smooth and the herbs are just right.

1 small chopped onion
6 garlic cloves minced
1 (28 ounce) can of diced tomatoes
2 (6 ounce) cans of tomato paste
2(15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1-2 cup of water ( more water if you want to cook it for a long time)
3 tsp of basil
2 tsp of dried parsley
1 tsp of brown sugar
1 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 black pepper

1 cup of merlot or cabernet (not necessary just fun)

Directions
Add a little olive oil to a pot and cook onion until it's  soft.  Add everything but the wine.  Cook until almost boiling, now add the wine.  Then simmer on low for at least and hour.
I often double this recipe and freeze it so I can use it with chicken or eggplant parmesan.

Best Baked Oatmeal---Really great recipe!

I was browsing MoneySaving Mom's weekly menu and saw that she had a recipe for Baked Oatmeal on her weekly breakfast schedule.  I've tried numerous concoctions with oatmeal but hands down I like this one the best!  I'm sitting here with my mouth watering for another bite.  So I figured I'd pass on the great recipe.
Baked Oatmeal