April 2013 – Nurture Mama

Smoothie Recipe Round-Up

April 26, 2013April 28, 2013 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

We love to eat smoothies, and we eat them nearly everyday for our mid-morning snack. It’s a great way to get some healthy nutrients into my kiddos (and myself!)

I pull out the blender and toss in the following: 1-2 Tbsp of orange juice concentrate, banana, handful of baby spinach, frozen strawberries, yogurt, and milk. I’ve been adding spinach for the last month or so and it is great–the children don’t notice it. I usually make extra and freeze the leftovers in a popsicle mold. Then I only have to make smoothies every other day, with popsicles served on the in-between days.

But lately I’ve been thinking it’s time to mix things up and add some new flavors. I scoured my pinterest board and recapped the favorites I want to try here. Enjoy! Let me know if you try any and what your favorites are!

Smoothies 101 from Meet the Dubiens: great step-by-step instructions for making smoothies, includes 10 recipes, tips on freezing the leftovers.

Mix and Match Smoothies from Plan to Eat: great overview on the basics of making a smoothie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie from Make and Takes

Strawberry Peach Smoothie from Food for my Family

Avocado Banana Smoothie from Food Your Way

Fruit and Yogurt Smoothie from My Blessed Life

Orange Creamy from Family Heritage Recipes

Cran Raspberry Smoothie from Simple Bites

Pineapple Smoothie from Gimme Some Oven

Make your own yogurt drinks from Meet the Dubiens: not a smoothie, but a good alternative

Pumpkin Nutella Smoothie from Kitchen Treaty: yummy….nutella!

Green Smoothie from Pinterest (the recipe was included in the Pin, I can’t find the original source): 2 handfuls baby spinach, 1 cup of chunk pineapple, 2 bananas, 1 cup of yogurt, 1 cup water

And lastly…Frozen Spinach cubes: How to guide to saving and using your spinach before it goes bad, from All That is Sweet in Life

Happy smoothie making!

Books for Spring and Easter

April 25, 2013May 9, 2013 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

I know that this post is really overdue. I meant to post it back in March, but sometimes this is just how things roll. In any case, maybe it will help some of you for next year.

By now you have probably figured out that I like to read books to my children that tie in with a theme. Whenever we go to the library we always find some of the greats (Mo Willems, Amy Krause Rosenthal, Jan Thomas, Lauren Thompson, etc), and sometimes a few odd picks that my kids grab off the shelves. But if there is a holiday or special event on the calendar, you can bet that I am putting those books on hold to reserve for us.

Here are some of the books we enjoyed during the Easter and spring season. For me, spring is also a time for bunnies and ducklings, so a few of those titles are included.

Fancy Nancy’s Elegant Easter

Ollie’s Easter Eggs

Pooh’s Easter Egg Hunt

Duck & Goose: Here Comes the Easter Bunny

Bunny’s Easter Egg

My Garden

Chicken’s Aren’t the Only Ones: This is a really fun book about all of the different kinds of animals that come from eggs (dinosaurs and butterflies and spiders included). We had a really fun preschool day with this book, inspired by Preschool Alphabet.

Have You Seen My Duckling?

Peep and Ducky

Make Way for Ducklings: a favorite in our permanent collection!

Lucky Ducklings: a true story about baby ducklings who fall in a drain and their heroic rescue

Duck & Goose

Mouse’s First Spring: I love this Mouse’s First…series of books by Lauren Thompson

A Book of Seasons

Spring is Here

And then it’s Spring

Runaway Bunny

Rabbityness

Home for a Bunny

My Friend Rabbit

Bunny’s Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown

The ABC Bunny by Wanda Gag

It’s Spring by Samantha Berger

Frog and Toad all Year by Arnold Lobel: Frog and Toad stories are sweet tales of friendship and everyday adventure that we read often at our house!

Elder Maxwell on Consecration

April 24, 2013April 24, 2013 Nurture Mama 1 Comment

The Sunday School lesson this past week was on the Law of Consecration. We had a great discussion (I love our ward!), and our teacher recommended two General Conference talks for further reading. They were both given by Elder Maxwell and are excellent talks and made me really think about the level and quality of the offering that I personally am giving up unto the Lord. Below are some of the highlights that really struck me.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Settle This is Your Hearts.” October 1992 General Conference.

“These comments are for the essentially “honorable” members who are skimming over the surface instead of deepening their discipleship and who are casually engaged rather than “anxiously engaged.” (D&C 76:75;D&C 58:27.) Though nominal in their participation, their reservations and hesitations inevitably show through. They may even pass through our holy temples, but, alas, they do not let the holy temples pass through them.”

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!”

“Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory. It brings release from the raucous, overpopulated cell block of selfishness and emancipation from the dark prison of pride.”

“Brothers and sisters, whatever we embrace instead of Jesus and His work will keep us from qualifying to enter His kingdom and therefore from being embraced by Him.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father”. October 1995 General Conference.

“Once the telestial sins are left behind and henceforth avoided, the focus falls ever more on the sins of omission. These omissions signify a lack of qualifying fully for the celestial kingdom. Only greater consecration can correct these omissions, which have consequences just as real as do the sins of commission. Many of us thus have sufficient faith to avoid the major sins of commission, but not enough faith to sacrifice our distracting obsessions or to focus on our omissions.”

“Actually, everything depends—initially and finally—on our desires. These shape our thought patterns. Our desires thus precede our deeds and lie at the very cores of our souls, tilting us toward or away from God.”

“Each of us might well ask, “In what ways am I shrinking or holding back?” Meek introspection may yield some bold insights! For example, we can tell much by what we have already willingly discarded along the pathway of discipleship. It is the only pathway where littering is permissible, even encouraged. In the early stages, the debris left behind includes the grosser sins of commission. Later debris differs; things begin to be discarded which have caused the misuse or underuse of our time and talent.”

“Consecration is thus both a principle and a process, and it is not tied to a single moment. Instead, it is freely given, drop by drop, until the cup of consecration brims and finally runs over.”

“The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!

Consecration thus constitutes the only unconditional surrender which is also a total victory!”

The noisy eggs game

April 17, 2013April 17, 2013 Nurture Mama 1 Comment

We have been having lots of fun with plastic eggs this month–the fun didn’t end for us on Easter!

Today we played the noisy eggs game, inspired by Preschool Alphabet. First we sorted through our eggs and we each found six of one color (or at least a similar shade).

Then we searched around the house for items to hide inside that would make a variety of noises. We used a battery, cereal, glass gems, pennies, a chocolate egg, and another small candy (use your imagination here–there are lots of things around the house you could include). We made sure that we each had the same items in our eggs.

Then we took turns shaking the eggs and finding the matching noise. The kids thought this was great fun!

To finish it off, we read Bunny’s Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown.

The how vs. where we raise our children

April 14, 2013April 14, 2013 Nurture Mama 1 Comment

We have recently had to make a difficult decision regarding where we should accept a job after my husband completes a year-long internship. The following quote struck me and reinforced the idea that it doesn’t really matter where we live, as long as we are doing the important things to keep our family on the right track.

“One thing we have often been taught is to bloom where we are planted. Yet sometimes we are tempted to migrate to some new area, thinking our children will have more friends and therefore better youth programs.

Brothers and sisters, do we really think the critical factor in the salvation of our children is the neighborhood where we live? The apostles and prophets have often taught that what happens inside the home is far more important than what our children encounter outside. How we raise our children is more important than where we raise them.

Certainly there are other factors involved in deciding where to live, and thankfully, the Lord will guide us if we seek His confirmation.

Another question is “Where are we needed?” For 16 years I served in the presidency of the Houston Texas North Stake. Many moved to our area during those years. We would often receive a phone call announcing someone moving in and asking which was the best ward. Only once in 16 years did I receive a call asking, “Which ward needs a good family? Where can we help?”

In the early years of the Church, President Brigham Young and others would call members to go to a certain place to build up the Church there. The irony is that even now we have faithful Church members everywhere who would go anywhere the prophet asked them to go. Do we really expect President Monson to individually tell more than 14 million of us where our family is needed? The Lord’s way is that we hearken to our leaders’ teachings, understand correct principles, and govern ourselves.”

Elder Stanley G. Ellis, “The Lord’s Way”. April 2013 General Conference.

Vacation to D.C.

April 13, 2013April 13, 2013 Nurture Mama 1 Comment

Our family recently took a trip to Washington, D.C. Since we are currently spending a year living in North Carolina, we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see the capital of our country while we are just a short drive away.

Planning a trip to D.C. is a little overwhelming. There is just so much to see! The good news is that there are a ton of awesome free sites (hello Smithsonian!). The bad news is the traffic–parking is difficult, but we were super grateful for our GPS (seriously, how did anyone get anywhere before GPS??!!).

Before our trip we did a lot of research. I went to the library and browsed the Juvenile non-fiction section. I found a whole bunch of books on Washington, D.C., in the 975…section. I checked out 4-5, and spent a few weeks looking at the pictures with my youngest children. I tried to give them a preview of what we would see, so that the monuments would have a little more meaning. But honestly, I think the highlights of the trip for my three year old and five year old was riding the elevator and seeing ducks in the pond.

I gave my eight-year-old daughter this book to read: A Kid’s Guide to Washington, D.C.

The book was engaging, and she enjoyed it. The background information she read helped to make the sites that we saw more meaningful.

Being like Christ

April 4, 2013April 3, 2013 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“This is the call of Christ to every Christian today: “Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep”—share my gospel with young and old, lifting, blessing, comforting, encouraging, and building them, especially those who think and believe differently than we do. We feed His lambs in our homes by how we live the gospel: keeping the commandments, praying, studying the scriptures, and emulating His love. We feed His sheep in the Church as we serve in priesthood quorums and auxiliary organizations. And we feed His sheep throughout the world by being good Christian neighbors, practicing the pure religion of visiting and serving the widows, the fatherless, the poor, and all who are in need.

For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior has promised that He will make us equal to His work. “Follow me,” He said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”As we follow Him, He blesses us with gifts, talents, and the strength to do His will, allowing us to go beyond our comfort zones and do things we’ve never before thought possible. This may mean sharing the gospel with neighbors, rescuing those who are spiritually lost, serving a full-time mission, working in the temple, raising a child with special needs, loving the prodigal, serving an ailing companion, enduring misunderstandings, or suffering affliction. It means preparing ourselves to answer His call by saying, “I’ll go where you want me to go; I’ll say what you want me to say; I’ll do what you want me to do; I’ll be what you want me to be.”

Study his list of Christlike qualities. How am I developing the following: love, faith, sacrifice, caring, service, patience, peace, forgiveness, conversion, endurance to the end.

Elder Robert D. Hales, “Being a More Christian Christian”. October 2012 General Conference.

“Making the covenant to be a disciple of Christ is the beginning of a lifelong process, and the path is not always easy. As we repent of our sins and strive to do what He would have us do and serve our fellowmen as He would serve them, we will inevitably become more like Him. Becoming like Him and being one with Him is the ultimate goal and objective—and essentially the very definition of true discipleship.”

Elder Daniel L. Johnson, “Becoming a True Disciple”. October 2012 General Conference.

“The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.”

“Testimony is the beginning of and a prerequisite to continuing conversion. Testimony is a point of departure; it is not an ultimate destination. Strong testimony is the foundation upon which conversion is established.”

“A testimony is spiritual knowledge of truth obtained by the power of the Holy Ghost. Continuing conversion is constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received—with a heart that is willing and for righteous reasons. Knowing that the gospel is true is the essence of a testimony. Consistently being true to the gospel is the essence of conversion. We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel.”

Elder David A. Bednar, “Converted unto the Lord.” October 2012 General Conference.

“First observe, then Serve.”

April 2, 2013April 1, 2013 Nurture Mama Leave a comment

“For some, serving or ministering one by one, following the Savior’s example, doesn’t come easily. But with practice, each of us can become more like the Savior as we serve God’s children. To help us better love one another, I would like to suggest four words to remember: “First observe, then serve.”

Sister Linda K. Burton, “First Observe, Then Serve”. October 2012 General Conference.

“All of this symbolism attests to one fact: great things are brought about and burdens are lightened through the efforts of many hands “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (D&C 58:27). Imagine what the millions of Latter-day Saints could accomplish in the world if we functioned like a beehive in our focused, concentrated commitment to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help. Stay focused, just like the honeybees focus on the flowers from which to gather nectar and pollen. If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, “Be Anxiously Engaged”. October 2012 General Conference.

Spend your time meaningfully

April 1, 2013April 1, 2013 Nurture Mama 1 Comment

“Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life.

Is it?

I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem. I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.

I can’t see it.

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time.”

“Let us resolve to cherish those we love by spending meaningful time with them, doing things together, and cultivating treasured memories.”

“Declaring our testimony of the gospel is good, but being a living example of the restored gospel is better. Wishing to be more faithful to our covenants is good; actually being faithful to sacred covenants—including living a virtuous life, paying our tithes and offerings, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and serving those in need—is much better. Announcing that we will dedicate more time for family prayer, scripture study, and wholesome family activities is good; but actually doing all these things steadily will bring heavenly blessings to our lives.

Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness and happiness. It is the path to our best and happiest self.”

“To avoid some of the deepest regrets of life, it would be wise to make some resolutions today. Therefore, let us:

Resolve to spend more time with those we love.

Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be.

Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.”

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Of Regrets and Resolutions”. October 2012 General Conference.