Rice and Beans They'll Love to Eat!

You know me, no actual measurements, but here's the basic plan:

long grain brown rice

(assuming you know how to cook this)

black beans

soak and cook

OR

pressure can your own so they're ready to go anytime

add garlic, onion, cumin, cayenne, sea salt to taste

serve with taco toppings:

lettuce, salsa, sourcream, red onion

Seriously, it is THAT easy!

want a little something more?

How about this salad:

spinach leaves, mandarin oranges, sesame stix,

feta cheese w/ oil & balsamic vinegar dressing

Hint: make enough rice and beans for leftovers

DAY 2 (lunch)

you can make these the night before or easily whip it up at lunch time

Mix rice and beans together and spoon mixture into tortillas,

top with shredded mexican cheese blend.

roll up put on cookie sheet and bake at 350

till cheese melted and all is heated through.

Serve with salsa and sourcream and seasonal fruit

This is a REALLY cheap way to feed a crowd of hungry kiddos

TWO meals that they will love!

Don't forget to vote today at Circle of Moms

How Could You Be So Good To Me?

That God would allow me to share in the joys and sufferings of these children is truly a part of His Incredible Grace!

If you would like to help me tell more people how good He is and how He really can take children from hard places and heal their hearts, please consider taking a minute to "vote" for me at Circle of Moms. . . it really isn't about this blog, I just want others to know that God's Word and Truth can make a difference in healing the hearts of their adopted children!

you can vote once each day. Help me spread the Good News!

Thinking About A True Education?

It's that time again. That time of year when so many homeschooling moms are evaluating this past year and making plans for their child's education next year.

Although we tend to learn year round and not follow the school year calendar too closely, I do find myself reading, thinking, praying and planning.

I am loving the freedom and joy that our family is experiencing as we move toward a whole-hearted, love of learning, tidal, free-range, T.J., C.M. education.

No idea what I'm talking about? Try these resources just to get started:

These aren't just your typical "here's a great way to homeschool" resources. . .

these are PARADIGM SHIFTING,

"change the way you think about education" resources.

No matter if your children are 3, 9, or 15, homeschooled or public-schooled, these are worth your time.

I challenge you to read this book (available on Kindle) and watch this video to educate yourself on what education actually is!

What is TJEd? from Thomas Jefferson Education on Vimeo.

Thinking about (not) Homeschooling?

This is worth reading

"What's So Great About Public School?"

and what about "early learning opportunities?"

I wish I had time to write more, but for now ponder with me:

What do children REALLY need?

Lazy Mom's Lasagna

(sorry about the first post, the recipe is actually here in more than pictures this time!)

My kids LOVE lasagna.

Do you know how long it takes to make enough lasagna for my family of 12?

I guess it goes without saying that we don't have lasagna that often.

UNTIL NOW

because I have finally invented

The Lazy Mom's Lasagna!

As you know, I don't follow recipes and I don't measure anything (very few measuring cups would be big enough. LOL!)

So, once again I will give you my non-recipe-recipe and hope you can follow along. I promise, it will be worth it!

Little noodles (like rotini or gemelli), boil, pour into roasting pan

(yes, that is a TURKEY size roasting pan - adjust to the size of your family. . .

mine actually can eat all of this!)

ground beef - cook w/ a little salt, pepper, basil, garlic, onion (optional)

drain off grease, pour on top of pasta

(add olives in there too if you want)

Use your Bosch or kitchen aid to blend up the following:

1 lg. tub cottage cheese, 1/2 tub cream cheese,

Weird, I know, just trust me!

some creme fraiche (or not - I had some homemade so I used it),

chopped up spinach leaves, salt, and basil.

pour this cheesy mixture on top of meat

now get a big spoon and mix it all together (noodles, meat, cheese blend)

pour on top 1 lg. tub of speghetti sauce (costco or homemade)

top w/ mozzarella cheese

bake 350 till heated through and mozz. melted nicely on top

serve in a bowl w/ a slice of garlic bread and a salad.

YUM!

apparently my children ate it all before I took a picture of it cooked.

If you try this, please let me know what you think!

To Blog or to Tweet?

A big thanks to Jennifer at Conversion Diary for making me laugh today:

"I try not to use my blog as a platform

for ungrateful whining about the inconveniences

of my overall lovely life (that’s what Twitter‘s for)."

Adoption Lessons: Reconciled and Redeemed

KFHP = Kids from Hard Places.

Four Realities of adopting KFHP*

1. Your kids will not be grateful that you "saved" them.

2. They will not love you.

3. They will have no inclination to obey you.

4. They will exclusively want what they want.

JUST LIKE ME...

WHEN WHILE I WAS YET A SINNER, CHRIST DIED FOR ME.

Some of use are adopted by Christ as "infants."

We know his love as babies.

Because we grow up secure in His love toward us,

we have an easier time

believing,

loving,

trusting,

and submitting

to His authority in our lives

And many more of us are adopted from hard places..

where our sin has corrupted

and made our hearts hard,

fearful,

untrusting,

rebellious.

Adoption is a redemptive work.

It is a spiritual work.

If the family (Father over mother over children) is a reflection of the very triune nature of the Godhead, then orphaned children are the complete corruption of that order:

Fathers and mothers abandoning and abusing

rather than protecting and sanctifying their children.

Children rebelling and fearing

rather than submitting and trusting.

The work of reconciliation of the orphaned child is surely a spiritual work.

Just as marriage is a picture of Christ and the church,

Adoption is a reflection of the way God saves us,

while we were yet sinners,

laying his life down for us...

before we loved him,

before we were thankful,

before we EVER wanted His will over our own.

Thank God that He didn't make his grace for me

contingent upon me meeting His needs!

And yet,

God allows himself to "need" and desire our love...

just as parents need and desire their children's love.

It is painful when children withhold that love and rebel.

Wow.

What a picture of the God-to-man relationship!

*obviously, as redemption and reconciliation come, these realities change!