Margaret McSweeney's Blog, page 39

Brown Bag Love & Encouragement

Encouraging kids to eat healthy foods can sometime be a challenge. It’s even more difficult when they eat lunch at school. Keep your kids fuel up with a healthy midday meal. Whether purchased at school or prepared at home, help your children make healthy choices. The midday meal provides energy for the second half of the school day. It’s also a nice time for kids to remember they are loved!

If your children are regular hot lunch kids or occasionally eat school lunch, train them to make nutritious decisions. Post the school lunch menu in the kitchen. Allow kids to check it out to determine what they will choose. Talk about the lunch options. School lunches have gone through major updates with many healthier choices. Many schools have a standard lunch entree with a la carte items kids can add on if they choose. Discuss what additional items are okay and how much your child can spend on extra food and beverages. It’s amazing how quickly the lunch account can be depleted with extra items!

If your child is a brown bagger, here are a few tips to make lunch quick, easy, and nutritious. They can pack their own lunches or get a little help from Mom or Dad.

• Have items ready to go for lunch preparations. Keep brown bags and ZipLoc bags in a central location, both sandwich and snack-size. Or have an area for a lunchbox, thermos, containers, and an ice pack that fits into your child’s lunchbox.

• Good choices for lunches are lean meats and sliced cheeses for sandwiches. The old standby peanut butter and jelly is a great choice. (Because of the number of children with peanut allergies, check to see if it is allowed at your child’s school.) Whole grain breads, wraps, bagels, and crackers are healthy alternatives to white flour items.

• Add in fruits and veggies. Make vegetables more interesting by cutting carrots and celery into thin strips. Add spinach, spouts or a slice of onion to give a sandwich or wrap a crunch! Keep in mind, whole fruits are sometimes tough for kids to eat. Slice an apple, place it in a plastic bag or container, and sprinkle with orange or lemon juice to keep the fruit from turning brown. (OJ is sweeter and works just as well as lemon juice!) clementines, oranges, and grapes are great lunch fruits, not easily squished in a backpack. Applesauce and blended fruit sauces are healthy choices too.

• A frozen juice box, juice pouch or yogurt makes an instant ice pack. Keep them in the freezer, ready to go.

• Add a sweet ending. I realize dessert is not necessary after meals but a bite-size candy is a sweet way to end lunchtime now and again. And if the treat is small enough, it won’t ruin your child’s appetite if it’s eaten as an appetizer!

• Add a love note! Connect with your child during the day with a special message. It’s nice to know someone you love is thinking about you during the long school day. Stick a Post-It Note to a juice box or thermos with Bible verse or a message of encouragement. A quick, “I love you! Have a great day!” is sure to put a smile on your child’s face and encourage him!

Just Between Us

Fellow Moms, we all know our husbands need us to be their cheerleaders.  Sometimes we feel resentful of that need. We wonder, “Where is my pat on the back for the things I do?”

Let me attempt to put things into perspective.

Typically our kids are created to look to moms for encouragement. Those same children desire to impress mom with all the things they can do. “Mommy watch me!” is a common phrase from little ones. Bigger kids less overt, “Mom, are you coming to my game?”

We innately know we are to build up our children.

Now think of your son, needing your encouragement. Wanting to show you the best he’s got. The desire to impress Mom with his talents, smarts, and abilities is BIG. That little boy or teenage son will one day grow up to be a man. Maybe a man who marries.

A healthy man will transfer his need to be encouraged and to impress the woman in his life from his mama to his wife. 

Don’t we want to be that person that says, “Way to go”? God tells us in Proverbs 14:1, “The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

Here are a few simple ideas that your husband will think are awesome.  And… you will most likely see a change in his appreciation of you as well.

1. When you first see him after being apart (this honestly takes some effort if you happen to be highly task-oriented like me), stop what you’re doing, say hello, and give him a kiss. (Tom, my husband, has said this is a really big deal. I guess he looks forward to coming home and being with me and the gang. That’s a good thing!) Then… here’s the hard part. Allow him a few minutes to readjust. Don’t turn the kids over to him immediately. (I know what you’re thinking, “He’s been in the car alone, listening to whatever he chooses on the radio.” Well…somehow doesn’t count in the re-entry process. Sorry.) After he has been in his porcelain man cave for a reasonable amount of time then he will be all yours and ready to join the family.

2. Make a BIG deal about the work he does around the house for you. Show appreciation. A man loves to do things for his woman if the woman acts like he just hung the moon. (My sister-in-law is so good at that! My brother would do anything for her. He is her hero.

3. Give him a phone call during the day, a couple times a month, and tell him how much you appreciate him and all he does for the family. (I learned this from a mom in one of my parenting classes. When I have implemented this, my husband is pleasantly surprised and feels loved and valued.

So… be your husband biggest fan. You sure don’t want someone else to be.

Previously published post at The M.O.M. Initiative . 06/15/12

Catching 300 Foxes

The first seven miles of our 11-mile hike were amazing.  I was definitely tired.  My knees were hurting a little, but I was plugging along.  The scenery in Glacier Park was breathtaking.  We stopped to see mountain goats and big horn sheep.  The wildflowers were in full bloom.  The sun was shining with a slight breeze.  A perfect day.

Then we started the descent of the last four miles.  That’s when iliotibial band syndrome struck.  It’s inflammation of the band of tissue on the outside of the knees, and it causes excruciating pain with every step when going downhill.

Four miles left in our hike, and all of a sudden I was moving like a 90-year-old, gingerly making every step down with sharp pain.  At that rate I was thinking we would get down the mountain in approximately three years.

Matt came back to check on me, and I was in tears.  And panic.

I don’t know how I’m going to finish this hike.  There’s no way with this pain. 

He offered to carry me the last four miles (how romantic is that?)  But I knew I had to finish the hike.

That’s when I prayed.

This morning I was reading about Samson, who had the Spirit of the Lord on him to go against the Philistines.  “So he went out and caught three hundred foxes and tied them tail to tail in pairs.  He then fastened a torch to every pair of tails, lit the torches and let the foxes loose in the standing grain of the Philistines.”  (Judges 15:4-5  NIV)

How does a person catch 300 foxes?  And I’m thinking –once you catch a few foxes, what do you do with those two while you’re catching the other 298?  Ridiculously impossible, unless the Spirit of the Lord is on you.

That how I felt on the hiking trail -staring at four miles of impossible.  Lord, I cannot do this unless you help me. 

I figured out a way to spread out my gait (which I’m sure looked ridiculous) to shift the pressure off my knees, and I made it down the mountain in a few hours.  A miracle of God –I’m not kidding you.  I can’t believe I made it down.

The same God who gave Samson the strength and ability to round up 300 foxes and tie their tails together is standing at the ready to be our help.

All we have to do is have the faith to ask.

Winter Blessing

The afternoon of my tenth birthday my father came home early from work.  “Surprise,” he said as he stood outside my classroom door when the school bell rang.  “We’re going ice skating–just you and me–to celebrate your birthday.  It’s about time you and I used these beautiful skates Mom gave us for Christmas.”

My heart pounded!  Just the thought of having my father all to myself for half a day was more than I could take in. And to think we would go ice skating together!  I had dreamed of such a day for as long as I could remember.  My mother knew about it. That’s why she bought us matching skates.

I waved good-bye to my friends and piled into our old tan car.  Off we went to the nearby pond, now frozen hard after a week of sub-freezing temperatures. I wrapped a wool scarf around my neck, pulled my stocking cap over my long brown hair, and donned my mittens.  Then hand-in-hand, Dad and I skated across the pond all afternoon.  Whenever I hit a bump or felt scared, he was there, stretching out his hand to hold me up and to guide me through the maze of skaters whizzing by.

PASSING ON THE BLESSING

Over the years I’ve often thought about that day and how my father brought my dream to life!         I skated many times after that but none meant as much to me as that special day alone with Dad.  Then many years later, Sarah, one of my granddaughters, invited me to her 10th birthday party.  The afternoon would include lunch at a favorite restaurant and unexpectedly–ice skating at a local rink.

I said, ‘yes,’ to lunch, but ‘no’ to skating!  “I haven’t skated in nearly forty years,” I told Sarah.

For the rest of the week, however, I wrestled with my decision. I knew how much it would mean to her to have me on the ice–not on the sidelines!  I decided to surprise her just as my father had surprised me so long ago.

“Oh Lord,” I prayed, “help me recreate the blessing.  I want to pass on to Sarah the confidence, the fun, the closeness that my dad gave me.”  When it was time to skate, I stepped out on the ice, my heart pounding and my legs wobbly.  I took a deep breath, then reached for Sarah’s hand.  Off we went, and before I knew it I was skating, really skating.  My earthly father was no longer there to hold me up, but I was standing tall nonetheless, because I had my heavenly father right there with Sarah and me. Fear vanished as the truth of God’s promise in Isaiah skipped across my heart. “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’” (Is. 41:13 NRSV).

I smiled in relief. If the Lord would uphold and honor my simple dream–ice skating with my father and years later, with my granddaughter, surely he would be there, as well, for the big dreams and major challenges ahead. I knew then I had nothing to fear.

 

Follow Your Passion

As the author of 43 books, mostly novels on the history of British Christianity, I’m often asked to give advice to new writers. My answer is always the same: “Write from your passion.” And, of course, this is equally true for whatever you are called to do: teach from your passion, sing from your passion, cook from your passion. . .

I like to think that Psalm 37:4 “He shall give you the desires of your heart” can mean that he places your desires— your passions— in your heart, because we know that “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

In my case, the passion I have been given is to see spiritual renewal in Great Britain, and the vehicle God has given me is to recount the stories of holy men and women from ages past in my novels. My prayer is that this will inspire men and women of today to a new vitality of faith and to renewed efforts that our Christian heritage won’t be lost.

I am unspeakably grateful for this calling. I can’t imagine life without it. However, as with most things in life, my greatest joy is also my greatest burden because sometimes the weight is very heavy. I often feel the longing as a deep, deep sorrow. But that’s good, because it always moves me to pray.

This started thirty-some years ago when a friend gave me a picture of the royal family, sent to her by her family in England. I put it over my desk and every day before I began writing I would pray, “God save the Queen.” My life’s work has grown from that simple prayer. And I still pray it.

My passion has led me to write, among other things, Glastonbury, The Novel of Christian England, which recounts 1500 years of English Christian history from the birth of Christ through the reformation. And currently, to The Monastery Murders whose theme is the validity of traditional Christianity. I use a contemporary mystery to keep the pages turning while I recount the stories of ancient saints. An Unholy Communion, the story of a pilgrimage in Wales where my characters are confronted with satanic evil develops the theme of the reality of evil.

I would love to have any readers who feel a similar stirring to join me in prayer for revival in Great Britain. But whatever your passion is, Thank God for it and remember, “whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” Colossians 3:23.

Donna Fletcher Crow currently writes three mystery series, all presenting English Christian history in different ways. Her newest release is An Unholy Communion in The Monastery Murders and A Tincture of Murder in The Lord Danvers Victorian true-crime series. Her next release will be A Jane Austen Encounter in The Elizabeth & Richard literary suspense series. Donna and her husband live in Boise, Idaho. They have 4 adult children and 12 grandchildren. She is an enthusiastic gardener.

To read more about all of Donna’s books and see pictures from her garden and research trips go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/ You can follow her on Facebook at: http://ning.it/OHi0MY

{photo source}

Reclaiming my Health, or rather How a Frozen Deep Dish Pizza Changed the Way I Eat

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

A few days ago, I swung open the freezer door and reached for the lower bin. Suddenly, a two pound frozen deep dish pizza broke free from its precarious place on an overstuffed shelf and with missile precision landed on top of my head with a thud.

“Ouch!” I exclaimed.

“Are you okay?” my youngest daughter asked with concern.

A bit dazed and already in pain from a growing bump on my head, I nodded and joked, “I guess this is a sign that it’s time to get serious about my diet.”

Breast cancer should have been my wake-up call, but I self-medicated my way through radiation treatment with comfort food, i.e. chocolate, macaroni and cheese, and potato chips. I guess I needed a frozen pizza to drop on my head to for me to completely get the message. On my 51st birthday, I am now ready to reclaim my health and weight by making healthy choices. First, I thanked God that I wasn’t knocked unconscious by this frozen fiasco, and now I am taking the first steps on my long overdue journey toward good nutrition. As I begin exploring this path of unprocessed foods, I welcome you to join me as we discover new tastes and try new recipes. Hopefully, along the road I will lose some weight—which reminds me that I need to both figuratively and literally take steps on this journey to health. I guess it’s time to dust off the treadmill or grab my coat to walk outside in the Chicago cold.

With candor and a huge sense of vulnerability, I will post my progress, (possibly my weight) and will share recipes and whole food techniques that I learn along the way.

So far, one of my favorite new snacks is a spinach drink. Surprisingly, it is very tasty and even satisfying…and it provides a natural pick-me-up. Although it would be much easier to reach for a chocolate bar with caramel, I think about that frozen pizza and decide instead to reach for my blender. I put two heaping handfuls of fresh spinach, an apple, a banana, almonds, chia seeds, ice cubes and fresh coconut water (or you can also use tap water) into my blender/processor. And voila! A Pinch of Green for Spring! Savor the day!

What are your favorite nutritious snacks and recipes? Are there any special Bible verses or words of wisdom that help you with your journey towards good nutrition?

The Marathon We Call Life

I hate running. There, I said it. But I’m fairly certain I just voiced the opinion for 98% of Americans.

However, you’ve got to admit it: Marathon runners deserve much admiration.  After all, 26.2 miles is not a short distance. With shin splints, overwhelming thirst, exhausted muscles, and suffocating heat, it’s a miracle anyone finishes the race. Even more amazing is the winner’s attitude these runners have; it would be easy just to quit halfway through when the finish line seems a continent away. Experts says that half of the battle in running is mental.

Life is much like a marathon, a seemingly unending race. Sometimes the finish line is nowhere in sight. Exhaustion from mundane tasks like answering the phone, cleaning, or just cooking supper make a day drag on. Even more tiring are the times when emergencies happen, when all hope appears lost, and when we want to quit in hopes of escaping situations.

These are my favorite verses in the Bible. “I’m not saying tat I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” (The Message).

The key to perseverance, according to Paul in Philippians 3:12-14, is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus, who is waiting at the finish line. Will you join me in making that our life-goal: to keep our eyes focused on Jesus while we run toward him without ever turning back?

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of hin255 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hunt the Good Stuff

Pollyana is one of my favorite old movies. A young girl comes to a stuffy, crabby town and transforms it with her cheerful outlook and her ability to see good where no one else can see it. She talks about how her preacher father looked through the Bible and found enough “glad texts” for every day of the year.

And now the U.S. Army is using gladness as a preparation for soldiers before they go on tour of duty. The soldiers are taught to “hunt the good stuff”. Listen to this six-minute, intriguing interview on NPR.

Don’t you think being a teenage girl is kind of like going to war?  There’s so much stuff going on in your life –school, trying to figure out who you are, being interested in boys, complicated relationships with other girls.  It can feel like a battle sometimes.  Have you ever thought of “hunting the good stuff” while you’re a teenager?

Paul commands us to do two things.  In 2 Timothy 2:3 he says, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 he says, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Thanking God for the good in every circumstance equips a soldier to be able to endure hard times, and I think making a habit of being thankful also equips a young woman to get through hard times.

When I was young I read The Hiding Place, the story of Corrie Ten Boom, whose family helped hide Jews in World War II.  Her entire family went to a Nazi death camp because of it. She was annoyed when her sister thanked God for the lice in the camp. Betsy told her she was thankful because the lice kept the soldiers out of the barracks, which allowed the women to meet together to read the Bible and encourage one another.

What difficult circumstance are you facing?  Take a minute to hunt for what’s good in that situation.

Blessings of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

Love, joy, peace, patience… sounds like the attributes of the perfect mom, don’t you think? If any of my friends told me these characteristics were easy to display every single day I’d have to say, “NO WAY!” No one can be that loving, joy-filled, patient, or self-controlled all the time. Thank goodness I have the blessing of the Holy Spirit to at least attempt to persevere in these attributes.

Galatians 5:22-23  is displayed in my kitchen. While remodeling, a friend recommended an artist to create a design on tile with fruit and the verses from Galatians for the backsplash of the stove. Everyday I read through the list of characteristics I’m reminded that I need help, lots of help. I think that’s the point. The traits of of the Spirit are manifested in the believer through the power of the Holy Spirit. I cannot obtain them by myself. I must pray and rely on the Spirit to assist me to become the person God wants me to be, growing spiritually. “Character growth is really personality development due to spiritual growth.”1 I pray for fruit that is appealing to God and others. It’s all too easy to have wormy fruit! Thank goodness I have the power of the Holy Spirit to help me. What a tremendous blessing!

Which characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit is most difficult for you?

1. Wildenberg & Danielson EMPOWERED PARENTS: Putting Faith First (Gainsville: Synergy, 2003), 57.

My Six Month Old’s Sermon

When I look into that sweet face I melt on the inside. I can’t help but forget about what made me angry or why I was frustrated. His eyes seem to say, “It doesn’t matter…”

When I hear his little squeaks, grunts, and coos, excitement fills my heart. Every day he learns a new sound. Watching him discover the life inside of him reminds me that God has placed so much in me too! God is waiting for me to release my song and find my voice.

The world is one grand adventure for him; everything holds his interest. Yes, he’s a baby, but even more than that, he’s a discoverer. What amazes me most is that, after all the intrigue and novelty that fills his day, he is still satisfied with milk, mushy bananas, teething toys, and his parents’ faces. He is teaching me to relish in simplicity and find wonder in the mundane.

These past 6 months, my son and I have both grown up.

I may be showing him the world as he rests on my hip, but he is introducing me to a new way of life.

I may be nursing him day and night, but he nourishes all things eternal in my soul.

I may be encouraging him to sit up, roll over, and eat solids, but he is empowering me to live more courageously than I ever dreamed possible.

It’s a humbling journey to raise a child. From the day he was born, I began to learn about life and love right alongside of him.

God uses the weak ones to shame those who think they are wise. {1 Corinthians 1:27}

He speaks through the mouths of donkeys and babes. {Numbers 22:28, Joel 2:28}

He gives revelation to the children and to the humble. {Psalm 8:2, Matthew 5:5}

It’s not the somebodies of the world He chooses, but the nobodies.

So I think it’s safe to say God is speaking to me through my son David. The sermon I hear through his life keeps me on my knees, not scrubbing the floor, but in awe of the Lord’s presence as I embark into motherhood.

What have you learned through your children? What has God whispered to you through the dirty diapers, late nights, and early morning giggles?