ABC verses

Some of you have asked about our ABC verses on the wall in the boys room.   It is definitely a work in progress…finally having half of them up now!  I am looking forward to the rest being painted soon.  =)

It is amazing how many of them (or at least pieces of them) that the boys know already.  A-E have been up for several years, so of course they are the most known.  Plus, I made up songs about those 5, so they know the songs as well.  And Ethan can even read the newest ones, which still surprises Mario and I.  It’s amazing to hear and be a witness to him reading. Each night before bed we review a Scripture verse or passage together.  Mario even has helped Ethan to memorize Psalm 23 in the NLT!  Ethan does such a great job, and it's wonderful to hear Marcelo chiming in the parts he knows.  =)

It is our prayer that these verses would be the beginning of a lifetime of hiding God’s Word in their hearts; that these simple truths would bring clarity and hope in hard moments.  That when they do something right they know who to give credit to, and that when they do something wrong they know why is was wrong and what to do differently in the future.   And I am amazed at how they speak truth to me as well…like when I’m frustrated about something and not using the kindest tones…verse B pops into my head! 

May the Lord continue to mold and shape us as parents so we can better guide our children towards Truth. 

A: Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.  Proverbs 4:23

B: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:32

C: Children obey your parents in the Lord.  Ephesians 6:1

D: Do to others what you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31

E: Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

F: For the Lord is the great God, the great king above all gods. Psalm 95:3

G: Give thanks in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians

H: He who began a good work it you will carry it on to completion. Philippians 1:6

I: I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. Psalm 139:14

J: Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6

K: Keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 1 Peter 3:10

L: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. Luke 10:27

M: My soul finds rest in God alone. Psalm 62:1

May these ABC verses be a blessing to you and your family, however you choose to use them.  Hide them in your heart.  You’ll be glad you did!

Carrot Juice Anyone?

Well, this year is full of new adventures for the White Household.  One of which is juicing! We have been enjoying a lot of carrot-apple juice. The boys love it…which is really great!  I’ve also been exploring with things to do with the pulp.  Today’s recipe is now creating Gena’s Juice Pulp Crackers in our dehydrator.  I’m really looking forward to trying them…they sure smell delicious!

Here’s the recipe:

2 ½ cups juice pulp
½ cup ground flaxseed
½ tsp coriander
½ tsp curry
1 tbsp nama shoyu
1 tbsp lemon juice

Here’s the link in case you want the directions:

http://www.choosingraw.com/got-juice-pulp-or-how-to-make-raw-crackers/

I’ve also altered a favorite recipe for muffins…now using the carrot apple pulp as well.  They are still delicious, and by using the pulp and switching the oil to apple sauce, they are now half the calories!  What a bonus!!

Here’s my recipe (based off of Joan Kelly’s “Company Muffins” in Favorite Recipes from Quilters):

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup rolled oats (or ½ cup, then ½ cup oat bran)

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup brown sugar

4 cups carrot/apple pulp

½ cup raisins

¾ cup apple sauce

½ cups milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1.      Combine flour, rolled oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.  (I like to keep this already prepped in a glass jar in my pantry).

2.      Add pulp to the dry ingredients. Then the raisins, and then the applesauce.

3.      Make a well in the center and add milk, eggs, and vanilla. Stir until just moistened.

4.      Use a tablespoon (T) to scoop batter into mini cupcake tins (greased, or use the mini cupcake holders).

5.      Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.  Makes approx. 72 mini cupcakes, 30 calories each.

 So here's to a new year of healthier eating!

A New Tradition

In celebration of my parent’s birthdays we pulled from ideas from last year’s birthday celebrations....and instead of letting Ethan body paint my dad…we face painted all of the kids!  Then we enjoyed a pizza dinner together, thanking the Lord for both Nana and Papa..  I think we may have started a new tradition!  Marcelo wanted to be Spider Man, Senna Spider Girl, and Ethan...a Native American!

Christmas GIVING

This year we have been attempting to help the boys learn that Christmas time is not just for getting, but for giving.  Now, when we pass by a Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell the boys get all excited, shouting “there is one of Santa’s helpers!” (or as Marcelo says, “There’s Santa!).  =)  They are eager to share some of their change into the red bucket, ring the bell, and share with those in need.

We also bought some ducks from the World Vision gift catalog…helping a family in somewhere like Bangladesh that has been flooding a lot.  This way…even if it rains, the ducks can still survive since they can swim!  Ethan has asked if duck eggs taste like chicken eggs…any answers anyone??  I told him I thought probably pretty close.  =)

The biggest “hands on” Christmas “giving” we did though was help put together the Christmas food baskets at our church.  What a delight!  16 kids and 8 adults worked hard on putting the 60 boxes together.  There are so many people going through hard times.  And I want to be a part of the solution and help.  And I want my kids to be as well.  I don’t want Christmas, or any other time of the year, to be an “all about me” time.  I want to teach my kids, and remind myself, that there are people in NEED; people who don’t have food, shelter, or warmth…living RIGHT HERE.  We can be a part of the solution and be a blessing.  AND by helping it brings perspective to our own lives. 

Thank you Lord for all the blessings you have given us.  Please help us to be mindful of them.  And please help us to be ready at any time to be a blessing to those around us going through hard times. 

Merry Christmas Eve to all of you!

Michelle

Marcelo praying in Sunday School

I just thought this was too funny and sweet not to share....below is an email from Marcelo's Sunday School teacher:

When I got all the kids seated at the table with their snacks-  I asked Marcelo if he would pray for snack.  He said he would.  What followed was about twenty seconds of the cutest thing I've ever witnessed.  I couldn't understand most of it, but I heard "thank you" at least twice.  I think he might have used the words "corndog," "percolator" and "Cincinnati."  Anyway, what an adorable "little fella"

-Erik (2 year old's teacher)

Hale Hokua

As I sit here on the North Shore, hearing the waves crashing methodically, I have this overwhelming sense that dad is missing.  Some moments I think I could walk around the corner and see him reading out on the back porch.  Or, perhaps come in the front door after being gone on an excursion. 

 

We are having a great time here, boogie boarding, building sand castles, and eating great food.  And by no means does the abscence of dad prohibit us from having a great time.  I'm just saying his abscence is noticable.  I am certain he is watching from above enjoying us all enjoying this wonderful place on earth. 

 

There are certain memories that seem so clear as I sit and close my eyes on the back porch. I recall reading and discussing many books together in this same spot.  I think the last book I read here was The Shack.  I think just like in that book when there is a moment where the main character gets to see and talk with his daughter who had passed away, I think being here provides almost a similar moment.  Even more similar is JP's dream about a week ago at home where he did get to talk with Papa Ray and dad.

 

I can almost hear dad laughing when JP or Mario plays with the kids....swinging them around, throwing them in the air, or helping them play at the beach.  I can almost hear dad comment on how incredible Fumi's Shrimp is, or Ted's Bakery's guava butter shrimp sandwich.  And I feel a little bit like driving to find the church he went to in high school, just because dad would do so, and he would want to say hi to whoever pastors there now.  =)

 

I am very glad we did not come here right away after dad passed away.  I know we all wished we could escape and flee to wonderful relaxation.  A place with no feeding tubes, no round the clock caregivers, etc. It would have been wonderful, but would have left us without something to look forward to in the near future.  I think each of us getting a chance to process, to heal, to figure out our new norm, has allowed us to come to the North Shore and more than relax...but have fun.  I think that may have been hard to do immediately after dad's homegoing.

 

I smile right now as I hear the kids singing outside.  They have definitely been our little entertainers.  I also chuckle thinking of dad doing the hula at the Polynesian Cultural Center, or the pig hunt there as well. Random thought, I know. I am also saddened to see his empty place on the bed he and mom shared here, but hope that the grandkids having cartoon time with Nana helps heal a little part of that place in mom's heart. 

 

God is good, and I wouldn't trade my life.  I wouldn't want my dad to return to that horrible disease just so I could have him around.  And I wouldn't trade my parent's for anyone else's parents.  God blessed me so much, and really I am grateful.  As I close this "letter" I think of the phrase, "Blessed to be a blessing", and I think that applies here too.  I have been blessed with my family.  Not just the one I was raised in, but the one I live life with now.  And really my whole family is blessed.  And so, we aren't supposed to keep it to ourselves...we are meant to bless others, in order to share God's love and goodness with others.  May we do it well

Insanity, Chaos, & a New Perspective

It's not easy raising little warriors.....can anyone else relate??  Ethan (almost 5) and Marcelo (2) are so FULL of energy it's CRAZY most of the time.  =)  And they currently seem to have a love/hate relationship.  Mostly they love each other...but they play games like "let's push each other and laugh and laugh until someone gets hurt." (Of course that's not what they call the game. I think they actually refer to it as BONK, and they, of course, never "mean" for anyone to get hurt).

They also really like the "let's sing, shout, stomp, and scream to make mom go crazy" game. I was thinking today it is REALLY good we don't live in an apartment.

But then in the midst of it all there are these WONDERFUL PRECIOUS moments that melt my heart.  Like Marcelo ALWAYS saying "thank you mom" whether I give him a cookie, a car to play with, or open a door for him. Or Ethan exclaiming, "Mom, this dinner is GREAT!!!"

Mario and I talk occasionally how when we take time to think about it, we are probably A LOT like our kids in how we act towards our Heavenly Father. I am SO GLAD He has soooooo much more patience that I do!!! I can't imagine how many "time out's" I'd be in.  (Or that maybe I've been in and thought it was all God's fault instead of my own).

Well, nothing like having kids to help us live with a mix of near insanity and gaining a new perspective on our personal relationship with the Lord.  Hmmmm...think that was on purpose??  I do.   =)

Enjoy the last bit of September!!

Michelle