September 2010 Issue! Online Magazine |
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 | Waiting for the Whistle |
| Butterfly Fly, Fly Away The bitterness of days drag into the night. The journey has been long and tomorrow is paved with sorrow. The butterfly waiting to spring into flight. |  |
 | "Mommy-I'm-Bored" Syndrome "Mommy, I'm bored!" Is this the universal summertime complaint? How can we keep children occupied during the summer? Let's start with a stroll down my personal memory lane. |
| Got Milk? Should You Drink It? Milk and dairy products make up a significant part of the typical American diet. Most people would be hard pressed not to include foods like cheese, ice cream, yogurt, butter and cream in their daily diets. In addition to these common foods, proteins, fats and sugars from cow's milk are extracted and used in various processed foods to add flavor or texture. |  |
 | Oh, the Comfort of Friendship Recently a friend (whom I now and will always consider a rare, true friend) confronted me about a particular sin in my life. "Confronted" seems too harsh of a word. She humbly, and in trepidation, dared to speak truth into my life, not knowing my ensuing reaction. She was willing to "lose" our relationship for what she felt was important. |
| Food Allergies - Could Dairy Be Your Problem An allergy or intolerance to milk and dairy products nears the top of the list of commonly experienced food allergies today. The majority of these reactions begin in infants and young children although they can be acquired later in life as well. |  |
 | "Oh, Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say!" I confess . . . I love to talk! I enjoy conversations of all sorts, including topics like motherhood, recipes, music, the arts, sound theology, etc. Talking has been somewhat of a "gift" for me since my earliest days. |
| In God We Trust I have been challenged in the past few months to take an honest look at myself and consider the real source of my trust. As a follower of Christ, I am quick to say that my trust is in God. |  |
 | Freedom A Cause Worth Fighting For America celebrates July 4th as Independence Day. Bloody battles were fought to bring freedom to the Colonies. "Taxation without Representation" was one of the primary grievances, and the central cause of the English Civil War. The people of this new land wanted the freedom to govern themselves, and the liberty to worship freely. |
| The Nation We Call Home The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, even though there are no presents involved. There is just something about a good barbeque, cokes in the ice chest, home-made ice cream, good friends and family, some swimming and a lot of blowing stuff up! |  |
 | Cooking with Kids Recipe: Red, White and Blue Salad This is a great basic idea that you can add to and be creative with. My kids love it and it is always a hit at church potlucks and summer picnics! You can increase or decrease the portion sizes in a snap for your kids at home or for a large group. |
| Fun in Fort Worth Next stop, the Fort Worth Stockyards, a former livestock market which began operation in 1866. The start of the railroads in 1876 made the area a very important livestock center and Fort Worth remained an important part of the cattle industry until the 1960s. |  |
 | Summertime Popsicles A great idea for an activity and snack for children in the summertime is Homemade Popsicles. They are easy to make and great for all ages. Here are some tips to help make such a fun treat. |
| The Art of Arranging Art Often when it comes to hanging art in a room, it receives the least attention. Mostly due to lack of knowledge and good instincts, the outcome is, well, predictable with a single piece over a sofa and, if you're really brave, a pair over a chest or table! |  |
 | The "Happy Wife, Happy Life" Syndrome Last night, my daughter saw a new toy at church and announced, "If I had that, it would make me so happy!" After a quick lecture on how our happiness shouldn't depend on material things and a simplified definition of being content, we changed the subject and headed home---and she was perfectly happy without that oh-so-necessary toy. |
| Dreams Speak The topic of dreams has always fascinated me. One of the first research papers I ever wrote in school and one of the first speeches I ever gave in high school speech class was on "dreams." I discovered it to be the "subconscious way of dealing with the conscious world." |  |
 | Why Can't Morning Prayer Time Be at Night? This might be the first time you will read this in regard to spending time with God, but here it goes. If you are a morning person and enjoy an early morning quiet time, good for you! |
| Common Courtesy: Saying "Please" and "Thank You" It has always been customary to show respect to other individuals. How we treat others shows what we think of ourselves and life in general. If we are kind and gracious to others, it reflects our core beliefs - that there's both space and time for kindness and grace. |  |
 | Ultimate Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Making gluten-free cookies that actually look and handle like real cookies requires some trial and error. The gluten in wheat flour is the "glue" that makes the cookies stick together. Without gluten, cookies often spread out on the pan, burning the edges and leaving the middle only partially cooked. |
| A Camping Checklist for Kids Recently I enjoyed a photo presentation given by a group of middle school students who journeyed to the Australian Outback for a science field trip. The pictures brought back my own memories of camping as a kid - jumping off rocks into freezing cold pools of water, eating dinner from a coal-singed aluminum foil packet, and singing songs around the campfire. |  |
 | Let's Take A Bike Ride As our family has grown, it has become a challenge to find activities that everyone can enjoy and that we all have time for. Bike riding around our neighborhood is one of those activities where everyone has something to do and has a good time. |
| Italian Pasta Salad This is a great hit for a church potluck or a summer picnic!! You can increase or decrease any of the ingredients based on your personal preferences. Have fun experimenting with other add-ins also! |  |
 | Health Gain - Weight Loss - Part 7: Watch What You Drink! Since everything that affects weight also affects health, everyone needs to be mindful of what they choose to drink in addition to watching what they eat. Eating the right kinds of proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the right proportions is indeed important, but if good beverage choices are not made, a person's best efforts to lose weight and be healthy may be sabotaged. |
| What Did You Say?! In the summer of 2006, over the course of three days, I mysteriously lost almost all of my hearing. The ENT initially diagnosed it as SSNHL... |  |
 | "Some Heroes Fly; Others Walk" Generally, I don't recommend movies to others; however, as I recently watched a DVD called "The Cross" The Arthur Blessitt Story, and I am led to give two thumbs up with confidence. "The Cross" does not boast some popular figure's name, at least not by Hollywood standards. |
| The Taming of the Tongue In my childhood and adolescent years, the thing that got me in trouble the most was my tongue. I always had to have the last word and I had to say what was on my mind even to adults. So, I came across as sassy and disrespectful. Through my mother’s consistent correction, I learned two important things. First that I could not always say what I was thinking especially to adults or those in authority. |  |
 | Windshield Wiper Lesson One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my son Matthew spoke up for his relaxed position in the front seat. |
| Master Multi-tasker I am the master muli-tasker in my family. I can juggle a phone call, dishes, homework, a load of laundry, checking the Facebook page for updates while starting dinner after eight hours of work as well as telling the other three family members what they should be doing and how to do it. |  |
 | Necklaces and Necklines Does anyone else wonder about which necklaces to wear with certain necklines, or is that just me? Here are some tips to help you match your top with the perfect necklace and make sure the top you choose flatters your figure. |
| Peanut Buttery Reece's Pieces Bars This candy recipe is Super Easy, Fun and Fast. Not only will the kids love it, you will too. |  |