Summer 2013 Project

This summer the kids are going to study a different country every week.  I appreciated "Multicultural Games" by Lorraine Babarash to incorporate some games as well.  Below are a few ideas from a research standpoint for them to get started, although I'm limiting the research to "books" only.  Aren't I mean?

Compare and contrast your country to the US:

 
Where are areas of the US population similar?
 
What monuments or landforms could you visit?
 
What foods might be served at a meal?
 
Use the Greek alphabet to write a message to a friend.
 
Write a story with a landmark as part of the setting.
 
What is the unit of money?
 
What are the free time activities?
Triangle Game - From Russia, Draw a triangle and divide it into three sections.  Make the top one #3, middle 2, bottom 1.  Children get three colored stones and stand back 10 ft. and throw in their three.  They add the points.  When someone gets to 50, the game is over.  If stones are knocked out, they don't count.  Take turns going first, second, third.
 
Colombia - 2 people are it.  One of them leaves the room.  The rest of the kids figure out what colored ribbon they keep.  When they get it done, they say, "Angel, what colors do you wish?"  They respond, "I wish many colored ribbons."  They guess and go until they "miss."  They count the number they got right.  The other Angel comes in and does the same thing.  The Angel with the most stays, the lower number picks someone new to come in until all children have been the angel.
 
Nigeria - Pair individuals up and have them join at the shoulders.  The front person puts a cloth scrap or handkerchief in their pants or pocket.  At go, teams try to grab each others cloths.  If you get yours pulled, your team is out.  People should change front to back and get new partners.  You can do two colors for teams.
 
England - Round hopscotch.  Draw a shell like swirl and put "rest" in the middle of it.  One person hops on one foot to get to the center resting point.  If they do so, they pick a division and put their initials on it.  Then the next person goes.  If you step in a claimed box, you're out.  Go until there's a winner.
 
Russia - Use two ropes and duct tape them in the middle.  Tie knots at the ends.  They will form an X.  Divide people into 4 teams and have a cone about 2-3 yards from the bases of the rope ends.  Teams try to tug to grab the cone first.
 
 Crafts....

Batik with oil crayons-  Indonesia       Toothpick dolls – Brazil           Paper Sea horse – Greece           

Gift Rolls – Russia                             Cheez It Tic Tac Toe Board – Italy   Art Easel – France      

Foil Form – Spain (stars, fans)            Dancing Form – Zimbabwe

Observing National Day of Prayer in Sioux Falls

The upcoming 62nd annual National Day of Prayer, May 2, 2013, will have profound significance for our country.  We have an unprecedented opportunity to see the Lord’s healing and renewing power made manifest as we call on citizens to humbly come before His throne.  To echo the words of Mary Washington, mother of our nation’s first president, we believe it is time to “Remember that God is our only sure trust.”

The theme for 2013 is Pray for America, emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to place their faith in the unfailing character of their Creator, who is sovereign over all governments, authorities, and men.  To further highlight our theme,  Matthew 12:21 reads “In His name the nations will put their hope.”

Below is a list of Prayer Requests and Verses for our National Day of Prayer.

Praise our Father, our Foundation

Praise - draws us to the God who is enthroned. He is The Creator of the heavens and earth; The Sovereign King - Nothing is too difficult for Him.

"When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?" Psalm 11:3

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm." Psalm 20:7

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" Pro 18:10

Confession

We cannot stand firm in our own strength and power. But through the word of God and prayer we can. I know of no greater work, no greater joy, no greater investment in the lives of my children than to stand united in prayer, partnering with God in crying out for the children. For Him to rain down His righteousness, salvation and protection.

Thanksgiving

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecc. 4:10-13

We gather together united with the same passion - that our children love God and follow His ways. Desperate that God will protect them in the environments they face.

Intercession:

Against Persecution for Prayer: A year ago, a three-judge panel ruled the prayer observation (Nat'l Day of Prayer) caused no harm to the Freedom From Religion Foundation and that the Madison, Wisc.-based organization had no legal standing to sue.

Every year, children are orphaned or left with scarcely enough provision to survive when their fathers and mothers are imprisoned. Other children live in communities where they are forced to live as second and third class citizens because their families are Christian.

We are a nation divided, fragile and in dyer need of true hope.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

Pray for one another: The Lord is ______'s strength and shield. (Equip) ______ (to) trust You with all her heart. You help her and her heart is filled with joy. She burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Psalm 28:7).

Summer Request:

“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8

Looks Good!

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 4 large eggs
• 1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts, rinsed and coarsely chopped
• ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper and cook until tender, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate. Wipe out the pan.
2. Whisk eggs in a medium bowl. Stir in artichoke hearts, Parmesan, oregano, salt, pepper and the bell pepper mixture.
3. Set a rack about 4 inches from the heat source; preheat the broiler.
4. Brush the pan with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil; heat over medium heat. Pour in the egg mixture and tilt to distribute evenly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the bottom is light golden, lifting the edges to allow uncooked egg to flow underneath, 3 to 4 minutes. Place the pan under the broiler and cook until the top is set, 1½ to 2½ minutes. Slide the frittata onto a platter and cut into wedges.

Kombucha - Sioux Falls

I've very happy with my first batch of kombucha.  It's a lot easier than I thought it would be!  If you're interested in making it, and live in or around Sioux Falls...I can help answer questions.

New Fave Smoothie & Book

Look - the smoothie and the book cover are the same color!  This week I'm excited to share my new fave smoothie creation as well as "God Still Meets Needs" by Mark Littleton.  A story I wrote last year is included in the compilation.  I appreciate the practicality in answered prayers and think the stories would be appropriate for pastors in looking to share testimony to God's work in individual lives.

For the smoothie, blend ingredients as follows:
1 pear Greek yogurt
1/4 c. papaya
1/4 c. almonds
8 ice cubes
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. water

Personally, I think it's sweet enough, but you can always add what you want for add't sweetness

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=god+still+meets+needs

The Kids' World

Jumping into Dr. Seuss books, I found a recipe collection inspired by his stories.  I'll likely make this cheesy, spicy popcorn concoction for the fam.  Andrew has been laughing at home with his own silly behaviors (see below), and Sierra was wanting to show off her ice cream swirling talents.  She says she got them from me!  Oh for cute.

8-yr-old son is a fan!

"Little Dog Lost" is my 8-yr-old son's new favorite non-fiction title.  It's a rescue story - so it provides rising action, conflict and resolution all in real life events.  We love it at my house when that happens!

On a cold winter day, a curious dog wandered onto a frozen river, and before he knew it he was traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people tried to help, but the dog could not be reached. Finally, after two nights and seventy-five miles, the little dog was saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.

The gallant rescue of the little dog nicknamed Baltic made international news. Mônica Carnesi's simple text and charming watercolor illustrations convey all the drama of Baltic's journey. His story, with its happy ending, will warm readers' hearts. An author's note includes more of the actual account, including the sentence, "Using a grappling iron, he was able to get close enough to the ice floe to pull the dog to safety."  We didn't know what a grappling iron was, but thankfully, an internet search engine could pull it up for us in less than 5 seconds!

Whose Hands?

Today I revised this poem to convey the same message it reflected a few years ago when I first read it.  I'm unaware of the author.

Whose hands?

A baseball in my hands is worth about $5.

A baseball in Alex Rodriguez' is worth 30 million.

It depends on whose hands it's in...

A basketball in my hands is worth about $50.

A basketball in Kobe Bryant's is worth about 52 million.

It depends on whose hands it's in...

A rod in my hands could keep away a wild animal.

A rod in Moses' hands will part the sea. (see Exodus 14)

A sling shot in my hands is a toy.

A slingshot in David's hands is a mighty weapon. (see 1 Samuel 17)

It depends on whose hands it's in...

Two fish and five loaves in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and five loaves in Jesus' hands will feed thousands. (Luke 9)

Nails in my hands might produce a bird house.

Nails in Christ Jesus' hands will produce salvation for the entire world. (Mark 15)

It depends on whose hands they're in...

So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands, because it depends on whose hands they’re in.

New Products and Cooking Shows in South Dakota

Grand Prairie's "Start Healthy" Brand is now in Sioux Falls Hy-Vee Stores

• Start Healthy Turkey Bacon, Egg and Cheese Muffin
• Start Healthy Turkey Sausage, Egg  Cheese Muffin
• Start Healthy Canadian-Style Turkey Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffin

• Upcoming Taste of Home Cooking Shows:

Aberdeen  5/9

Dakota Event Center

720 Lamont Street  

Cedar Shore Resort  5/11

1500 Shoreline Drive

Oacoma SD 57365 

Watertown Event Center  5/14

1901 9th Avenue SW

Watertown SD 57201 

Four Sculptures at the Washington Pavilion to Feb. 23rd

Chicken Curry or Whatever?!

I love going to eat Indian food, and I have tried 3 times unsuccessfully to make my own Chicken Curry.  Finally, I experienced success!  I love simple...and this is how I suggest making it if you're all about simple too.
Prepare your chicken (one whole or 4 breasts) in the oven or crock pot.  Piece into chunks.
Pour your 13.5 ounce cans of coconut milk in a skillet.
Add 1/2 of a jar of Thai curry paste, 1 T. Sun-dried tomato pesto, 1 t. coriander, 1 t. turmeric, 1 t. Spanish paprika, 1/2 t. marjoram.  Add chicken and simmer for 15 minutes or until nicely coated.  I served mine with rice-crumbed fried eggplant.

What We've Been Up To...

I turned around to take a quick snapshot of Sierra while traveling to the last cheer competition in Minneapolis.  She was her normal self.  We enjoyed seeing Jim, Lisa & CJ as much as watching the girls cheer.

This is week 3 of Chad forgetting to take out the trash.  I'd done the previous two deliveries, so I had Olana run it out while I shot a photo to text to Chad.  I also added a Friday morning reminder on the ICloud so that he'll think of me (and the garbage!)

Our friend Joyce celebrated her 85th birthday.  She's changed her hairstyle since the last post about her lovely self! 

A Sioux Falls Service Project

We're building a Can Art sculpture to be displayed at the Washington Pavilion from February 16- Feb. 24th.  Food benefits Feeding South Dakota.  Theme:   “Each Piece Fights Hunger”

For Construction:186 Great Value vegetable cans (diced tomatoes, beets, corn, mixed vegetables, green beans – for the cake)

89 Great Value mandarin orange cans – available at Wal-mart (for the plate)

237 Wolf Chili cans - available at Wal-mart (for the frosting)

Watch for the countdown to begin!  If you can help dwindle these numbers, we'd appreciate any contributions this week!  For more info on the event... http://www.easyreadingpicks.blogspot.com/2013/01/fun-can-art-event-in-sioux-falls.html

"To Heaven and Back" Story

Dr. Mary Neal was a devoted wife and mother of four children, a talented and successful orthopedic surgeon, and an experienced outdoor enthusiast, when the unthinkable happened on a vacation in 1999. Mary and friends were kayaking on the Fuy River in Chile, when her kayak became trapped under a waterfall. Despite her and her companions efforts to dislodge the boat, Mary lost consciousness and drowned before they could pull her body to shore. 

This interview and video has a great depiction of the details she wrote about...
http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/RH64v3_WS

During the time she lost consciousness and died, Mary experienced a taste of heaven that few in this world have known. She was led by heavenly beings and saints who had gone before. She saw and felt beauty and peace like she had never known, and approached the entrance to eternity. However, it was not time for her to enter, and she was sent back to the world. 

To Heaven and Back is the story of Dr. Neal's spiritual journey, including the extraordinary account of that fateful day in Chile. She also chronicles her physical recovery, and the many miraculous events that accompanied her return to health. Her remarkable story is an inspiration and comfort to those needing reassurance of the presence and love of our incomparable God.

The takeaways from the video pretty much capture the essence of the book, with the exclusion of the details of her healing and connection to her son's death.  Here were a few highlights from my vantage point...

1.  I appreciated how she detached from her body and the pain as she was escorted into heaven.  

2.  It seems Mary C. Neal is growing in her knowledge of scripture and of the love of God.  The patchwork of her coming to accept Christ's love and live it out is an account like many of us have - scattered (a little faith here, a little faith there), but it is growing within the providence of God's hand.

3.  After losing their son Willie..."It then suddenly occurred to me that my sense of failure was self-inflicted and egocentric.  I had stopped looking to God for help, believing that I was expected to do it all on my own.  Believing that I could do it on my own.  In the process, I had let doubts, fear, and guilt silently creep in and take over my thoughts.  I was still in the valley of the shadow of death, and the door of my heart was propped wide open.  Right then and there, I asked God for help and immediately felt forgiven and free, knowing that God was in control."  Mary C. Neal, MD

Chicken Tortilla Soup (New recipe)

Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe - combine and heat through the following ingredients

New Campbells Chicken Tortilla Soup (lg. can, over 15 oz.)

New Campbells Tomato Basil (lg. can, over 15 oz.)

1 can chicken broth

1 can chili beans (in chili sauce)

1 can cream of chicken soup 

1 c. medium salsa

1 can enchilada sauce

1 c. diced chicken

4 slices of American Cheese

Basketball at Central Baptist

Sundays, Family Life Center Gym 1-3 p.m. - start with a stretch!

Play against the dads - nothing can be funner!  There's no cost.

Hear a devotional together.  Just come - parent & child practice time.

 

Cupcake Wars & Prayer Victories Highlights

All the wonderful gals who came!!!  (I WON'T say ladies!)

Wearing jewelry ;)

The Cupcake War was evenly matched.

Lisa Paulson & Jan Noble - both rock stars in my world.

Big smiles.  It's contagious.

These are the type of women you want to pray with (Moms in Prayer moms of course!)

We were posed.  I love that.

Blessings This Week

This is my friend Cheryl from taekwondo, she is losing her vision, but not her Inspiration!

We pray for Discovery, Cornerstone, Memorial, Edison & New Tech High!

Be warned:  This could happen when you turn 62!

Papaya Discoveries

Papaya instructions... Peel it.  Cut it in half and scoop out and discard the seeds in the center and cut the fruit in chunks.  Add to an assortment of fruit like strawberries, peaches, watermelon, blueberries, etc.  It doesn't have too much flavor as a stand-alone fruit.  However, it's been fun to learn of some of its health benefits.

Papaya enzymes have been used for tenderizing meats because they act to break down proteins, explains the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Papain also appears to have modulating effects on the immune system and possible antitumor or anticancer properties, says the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Normally, your pancreas produces sufficient enzymes such as those found in papayas to digest foods and stimulate cell reactions. Therefore, papaya enzymes may be especially helpful for people who don't produce enough pancreatic enzymes, which causes indigestion symptoms such as gas, bloating and flatulence.
In addition to treating gastrointestinal and pancreatic conditions, papaya enzymes could potentially help treat lower back pain, sprains, tendinitis and strains, as well as chronic yeast infections, acne rosacea and osteoarthritis. Papain might help reduce the side effects of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and prevent diabetes complications, and outbreaks of human papilloma virus -- HPV - and herpes and inflammation, Papain may help treat hepatitis C and rheumatoid arthritis as well. Talk with your doctor before taking papaya enzymes for any medical purpose. Papain can interfere with certain blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin and Coumadin, cautions the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 

Check the outside. The outside of a papaya tells you a lot about what is on the inside. Green papayas are not ripe and must be stored properly to allow further ripening. Yellow papayas are ready for eating.  

Good papayas are slightly firm to the touch. Bad papayas feel soft, look shriveled and do not have a healthy green or yellow color. Bruising on the outside of the papaya is a clear indicator that the meat of the fruit is not going to taste well. Softness at the stem of the fruit also indicates that the inside is bruised or rotten.

Smell the fruit. Uncut papayas do not have a scent. Before eating a papaya, cut it open and inhale. The inside of a good papaya smells sweet and musky. A bad papaya smells rotted or fermented. Ripe papaya is usually eaten raw. 

Papaya contains latex (the white sap that oozes out of an unripe papaya) which can cause an allergic reaction in people with a latex allergy. The greener (more unripe) the fruit is, the more latex it contains. When buying papayas, look for ones that are mostly or completely yellow and give slightly to pressure. Green, hard papayas are unripe.

Papaya aids in weight loss. This fruit is low in calories, high in vitamins and minerals, and a good source of fiber. The papain present in papaya increases metabolism, digests fats, and assimilates carbohydrates in your body.Papaya is great for improving skin health. Its rich vitamin E content delays aging by minimizing the formation of wrinkles and giving the skin a healthy glow. Lightening soaps made from papaya fruit has been patronized especially in Asian countries for its beauty results. Papaya's powerful enzyme, called papain, has the ability to remove dead skin off thus encouraging skin renewal resulting in younger looking skin.

Read more: How to Know the Health Benefits of Papaya | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4771450_health-benefits-of-papaya.html#ixzz2ITmbzFdc
Read more: How to Tell If a Papaya Is Bad | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_8303603_tell-papaya-bad.html#ixzz2ITkkM6IB 

Fun Can Art Event in Sioux Falls

AIGA South Dakota is accepting registrations for teams to participate in
our ‘artistic’ food drive, to benefit Feeding South Dakota. Teams will collect non-
perishable food items and use them to build a sculpture of their choice. The “Can
Art” will be on display at The Washington Pavilion February 16-24, 2013. All food
items will be donated to Feeding South Dakota at the end of the event.

Visit CanArtSD.com for more information and to register your team. www.CanArtSD.com

Art makes a BIG difference in fighting hunger. This is the second year we are
hosting the event. After the first “Can Art” event, we were able to donate 4,787
pounds of food to Feeding South Dakota – that's 2.4 TONS of food that
helped our community! Our goal for the second year is to top that number!  The cost is $25.00 per time, plus canned items.

Scripture reference for sharing with the hungry below...

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. Isaiah 58:6-9