Breakfast Recipes

Thank you to everyone that has been bringing breakfast.  It is so fun to have new things to try every meeting!  A few people have provided the recipe for the item they provided:

FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

1 Loaf French bread – cut in 1 or 1/2 inch    slices

1 1/2 c. milk

4 eggs

1/2 c. melted margarine or butter

3/4 c. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Spray 9 x 13 pan with Pam.  Mix the butter, sugar and cinnamon; pour into bottom of pan.  Beat together the milk with the eggs.  Dip bread in egg and milk mixture and lay over the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

SUNDAY BRUNCH CASSEROLE

 

1/2 pound sliced bacon

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

12 eggs

1 cup milk

1 package (16 oz.) frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon dill weed

1.    In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp.  Remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings.  Crumble bacon and set aside.  In same skillet, sauté onion and green pepper in drippings until tender; remove with a slotted spoon.

2.    In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and milk.  Stir in hash browns, cheese, salt, pepper, dill, onion mixture and reserved bacon.

3.    Transfer to a greased 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 35-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Yield:  8 servings

Glazed Donut Muffins

These are better in a mini-muffin pan.  Mini-muffins = 24, Regular muffins = 10

Muffins:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup veg. oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

2/ eggs

1 1/2 tsp. baking power

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 2/3 cups flour

1 cup milk

Glaze:

3 tbsp. butter, melted

1 cup powdered sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsp. hot water

(May need to add more powdered sugar if glaze is too runny.  If it gets too thick, just add more water.)

Muffins:

1.    Preheat oven to 425.  Spray pan.

2.    Beat butter, oil, and sugars until smooth.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and cinnamon, salt and vanilla until just combined.  Mix in the flour, alternating with milk; beginning and ending with flour.

3.    Spoon batter into cups until full.  Bake 15 -17 minutes or until tops are golden.  Cool before glazing.

Glaze:

1.    Mix together all ingredients until smooth – add more sugar if necessary.

2.    Dip muffin crown into the glaze and allow the glaze to harden.

3.    After the glaze hardens, dip again! J

4.    Let Harden and serve.

{In the Word Wednesday}

Last Friday at M-LIFE the subject of good inspirational verses was brought up.  There was a lot of silence, but I know that many of you have a go to verse or a favorite.  Would you mind sharing here in the comments for others to use as well?

I know many times I need refrshing on a verse, although I've heard it many times before sometimes it takes just one more time to make it have a different meaning for us!

I'll start:

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Your turn!

Coming Soon...

Pinners [and non-pinners] unite

Have you entertained the idea of attending the M-LIFE Crafters night/weekend?  Not quite sure what you would do?  Let me help...

There is always scrapbooking.  Digital, paper or hybrid (although internet access can not be guaranteed).

There is jewlery making.

(These are kinda pretty)

How about bringing your sewing machine and whipping up something pretty?

Do you crochet, or want to learn how?  Knit? 

Cross stitch?

  Embroidery?

Hairbows?

Headbands? (This one looks cute and easy)

A wreath?  This one is cute, or this one or this one.

A yarn letter?

How about Valentine Cards?  Do you have to make any of those?

Rolled Magazine crafts anyone?

How about Paper Mache?

Are you into Felting?

Are you cold?  How about a fleece blanket?

OK, I think I've given you enough ideas!  Now you have to come!

Follow this link for all the details and to sign up!

Still have questions?  Feel free to email us, just see the "Contact" button at the top right of the blog!

Hope to see you all there!

Oh yeah, one more thing!  Most of the links above bring you to a tutorial, although a few are ideas more than tutorials.  They are all from my pinterest page, which you can view, even if you don't have a pinterest account.  (But, why don't you have a pinterest account???)

Resources Mentioned at Todays Meeting

ABC Bible Verse List:  There are a LOT of different options out there here are links to a few of them
From Scrapbookin dot com
HubbardsCupboard dot org
Synod Resource Center
My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding Gods Word in Little Hearts this one is a book available from Amazon (and I'm sure other locations as well) by Susan Hunt.  It seems to have some good reviews, just thought I would throw it out there!

Seeds of Family Worship was another resource mentioned for singing verses with kids (isn't it amazing how the little ones can remember a song?).  I googled it to give you a link and I was surprised to find that there is a whole line of "Seeds".  This is a link to their store.  Most of (or maybe all) their cd's come with two copies, one for you and one to share, how fun is that?  There is a book called "The Well Versed Family" there as well. 

Here is a sample of one of the songs from YouTube for you to listen to. 

One other resource I remember being mentioned was "Don't Make Me Count to Three" by Ginger Plowman.  I linked you up to Amazon, but again, I would guess that you could get it locally as well.  I actually found it interesting to read some of the reviews on this one, and will definitely be looking into it a bit more. 

If you have any other ideas or links that I should include please please comment below!

ETA:
1/21/12
30 Easy Bible Verses for Children
10 Easy Bible Verses for Kids (some with coloring pages)
ABC's of God iPod App

Don't carpe diem??

Have you seen this blog post circulating on the internet (particularly facebook)?  Have you read it?  And, more importantly, what did you think about it?  Were you nodding your head in agreement at every word?  or were  you thinking, "How can anyone not enjoy every moment of this wonderful journey"? 

I have no problem admitting that I was very much in agreement.  I remember the week after my youngest was born.  I felt like all of the life had been sucked out of me.  She did not sleep... that is, unless she was being held very tightly.  I couldn't shower without listening to a screaming baby, and even if someone took her down to the deepest, darkest corner of the basement, a mother can still hear adn feel the screaming.  I vividly remember one day, when she was a month or two old (I think) that she actually fell asleep NOT in my arms.  Granted it was on the couch right next to me, but the fact that she wasn't being held meant that I might possibly have the opportunity to get up and do something, without the baby.  But, I didn't.  I didn't dare move away from her.  Because I knew she would wake up. I knew as soon as she sensed I was gone she would start wailing again. 

And, quite honestly, I couldn't bare to hold her anymore right then.  Out of my four kids, she was the hardest.  Although, if you ask my husband, both of my girls were pretty difficult.  But, you see, time has passed and I don't remember it as vividly with my older daughter as I do with my terror youngest.

Life is getting easier.  Every day.  There are still days that I look at my kids and want to scream, or when they are finally all in bed and I collapse in bed myself, not quite daring to go to sleep because I feel like I might be wasting their sleeping hours by sleeping myself, but knowing on the other hand that I needed to just rest.  There are days that the life is sucked out of me, that I just can't bare to hear another word about Dora or Star Wars or fashion, or some basketball play I know nothing about.

For the most part though, they make me laugh.  They make me smile.  I look at them with pride.  They bring me joy.  They always have.  Even on the most difficult of days.  Just because I can't enjoy them every minute of every day doesn't mean I love them any less.  **  I love them immensly.  With every ounce of my heart.  They are the reason I am who I am.  I just know all to well that not every moment can be enjoyed, even if time goes fast.    I'm not sure if anyone can.  But please, let me know if you are a mom that can enjoy even roughest of moments, and then let me know how!  :)

Here are a couple of other responses to read to this article:
But I want To Carpe Diem
Enjoy Every Moment

** This indicates a pause in my typing to yell to tell my kids to quit fighting. 

** These thoughts and ideas are the ideas of me and me alone, not necessarily of the M-LIFE group**

And, while your reading... check this post out from the same blog.  Refreshingly honest.  Do you ever think that someone has it all together?  That they are perfect?  That thier kids are perfect?  Humph.  No one does!

Winner {Zoye Giveaway}

Thank you to everyone for entering!  If you didn't win, make sure to pick some up at Meijer or participating Spartan Stores!

And, make sure to check out thier website as well!

Thank you to ZFS and Zoye for sponsoring this giveaway!

And, don't forget that everyone will receive a sample, measuring spoon and coupon tomorrow

at the M-LIFE meeting!

{En}courage not {Dis}courage {In the Word Wednesday}

This is one of my favorite parenting verses... it comes to my mind very often unfortunately.  I say unfortunately because it comes to my mind when I am exhasperating my children. Following the thoughts from Stephanie I've also included a few different versions of the verse, each gives a different description of "Provoking" and "Discouraged".

5 reasons women should take a self defense class

I found this article over at self-defense-mind-body-spirit and wanted to share:

The very fact that this article, 5 reasons for women to take a self-defense course, has to be written speaks volumes about the collective female psyche of today. As a group, we continue to deny the need for our own self-protection, relying instead on arguments that the law, our spouse, brother, father, etc, should be protecting us. The statistical reality is that the ones we expect to protect us are the majority of the ones committing the crimes. But the reality is, if we expect things to change, than we need to be the principal architects in effectuating that change.


So let's sum up the basic 5 reasons why EVERY female should be taking some type of women's self defense course to ensure her own safety.

1) Crime can happen to anyone at anytime. Whether you want to live in your fantasy world or not, that is the harsh reality. At some point in your life as a woman you will flash across a predator's (mainly male) radar as prey. You will be attacked. You will be alone and you will be vulnerable. And most likely, it will come from the one you least expected. The next question, what will you do?

2) Be the role model for the next generation. We tell our daughters they can be anything they want. How about safe? How do we show them how to protect themselves against rape, incest, assault, domestic violence, etc, if we don't set the example of being strong and standing up for ourselves by being able to defend ourselves - emotionally, verbally, physically and spiritually? If we continue to move in silence about the things that happen to us (rape, assault, emotional battering, domestic violence) how are we going to help our daughters become stronger and show our sons what is and is not acceptable behavior from a male?

3) Become Empowered. I have watched countless women come into my classes as sheep and walk out as determined, strong, empowered women ready to take control of their own lives. A self defense course can't empower you; but it can educate you in showing you the options who have to take control of your life and feel safer in your world.

4) This is true LIFE Insurance. We spend money to ensure our cars, our life, our jewelry, disability insurance, travel insurance, our rental property, etc., but yet we hesitate when spending money on a self defense class that can truly SAVE our lives. Women's self-defense classes have an incredible positive impact on their participants and greatly change lives for the better. Self defense classes provide you with real insurance to protect your life.

5) Do it for those who count on you. If you won't do it for yourself and the top 4 reasons, how about for those who count on you the most - your kids, spouse, parents, siblings, etc? What happens if you are now dead or incapacitated because of a crime? Who takes care of those that you took care of?
Take the time to take care of yourself and empower your life by taking a women's self defense class. You just might surprise yourself with what you are capable of doing. And I guarantee you that you will find a whole new strength and outlook that will improve your life.

---

Angie M. Tarighi has been teaching women’s self-defense for over 20+ years. She holds two black belts in Kempo & Combat Hapkido; is a certified Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) Instructor; is a certified International Police Defensive Tactics Instructor; is a certified Workplace Violence Prevention Specialist; is a certified Kid-Safe Network Agent; is a certified Women-Safe Network Agent; is a Professional Speaker; and a Reiki Master.


So... do you need some LIFE insurance?  M-LIFE is offering a self defense class coming up on Monday, not only is it a great way to defend yourself, it's also a great way to get out and socialize with other moms.  Best of all... it's FREE!

Self Defense Class at
 Chan’s Martial Arts
735 Paw Paw Dr.
Holland, MI 49423
616-796-3280

January 23, 2011

6:00pm to 6:45pm

FREE!!!

Dinner after Class at
7:00ish
Curragh Irish Pub

73 East 8th Street 
Holland, MI 49423-3503
(616) 393-6340

You may sign up for both or just one. 

Mandy's Wall Expressions

For our meeting on Friday, Mandy, from Mandy's Wall Expressions will be joining us to make signs!  This was such a huge hit last year that we couldn't wait to do it again!

There are some details you need to know ahead of time though!

The sign sizes are:
2"x12" for $2.00
4"x12" for $5.00
4"x24" for $8.00

But, we don't want cost to be a factor for anyone, so M-LIFE is donating $2.00 per person to the cost.  So... if you want to just do a 2"x12", it will be free for you.  You could also put the $2 toward one of the bigger signs if you wanted as well!

If you decide to make a second sign, the prices are as listed above. 

Instead of registering right when you come in on Friday, you will pick out your sign and "purchase" it/register all at the same time.  Even if you are just getting the 2x12" sign you will need to account for it at the registration table so that we know how much to pay Mandy at the end.  Mandy will be giving us instructions on how to make the sign, paint etc. 

She will also be bringing a variety of words and sayings to put on the signs, but if there is something in particular that you know you want, please message her on facebook asap.  You could also visit her website here.

ZOYE {Giveaway}

Todays giveaway is sponsored by ZOYE. 

Zoye Low-Sat 100 percent pure soybean oil contains no trans fat, no cholesterol, and no hydrogenation. It has only one gram of saturated fat per serving, which is half the saturated fat of regular soybean oil. And since the oil is processed with renewable energy, its not only good for you, its good for the environment. Grown by valued contract farmers, Zoye oils are made from ZFSelect non-GMO, identity preserved soybeans.

Help support a Michigan-grown product!

You can use Zoye for cooking, sauteeing, frying, baking, marinades, dressings, stir-frying and vinaigrettes.  (Pretty much covers it all, don't you agree?)

Zoye is available at Meijer stores and at participating Spartan stores.  (Other locations available, check their website)

Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. is a family-owned and operated business with 60 years of service to the agricultural and transportation industries.

It was founded in 1950 by Robert (Bob) G. Meeuwsen as Meeuwsen Produce and Grain. In 1977, it was reorganized as Zeeland Farm Services, Inc. to provide customers with a wider variety of agricultural services. Bob sold the company to his sons Cliff, Arlen, and Robb in 1992.

Over 200 employees, including 12 Meeuwsen family members, work at ZFS.

ZFS also has been a generous sponsor of many events/concerts at Community Reformed Church.

Make sure you checkout their website to learn more about Zoye.

Who wants to win some Zoye to try on thier own? 

Four lucky winners will each receive one bottle of Zoye Oil!

Just enter your name, email address (for notifying winner) and if you share about this post (see bottom of post for facebook button) you will get a second entry!  (Just fill out the form once and click the yes button if you shared)

Really, want to know a secret?  EVERYONE will be a winner!  Everyone at the M-LIFE meeting on Friday will receive the following:

a sample of Zoye, a measuring spoon and a coupon to get your own bottle!

Enter between now and Wednesday January 18, 2012 at midnight.  Winner will be announced Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Winner does not need to attend or be a member of M-LIFE or Community Reformed, but must be able to pick up prize in the Holland/Zeeland area.

CRAFTERS that DEFEND themselves while eating BREAKFAST

Silly title.  I'm so bad at coming up with great, catchy titles, and I feel like I'm SOOOO repetative...  You'll have to read on to see why those two things go together!

This was a great fundraiser for us last year and fun for everyone.  Come make jewlery, scrapbook, sew, digital scrapbook, paint, create, or just come and hang out... enjoy a night and/or day out!  There will be some great prizes that you can enter to win.  For each day that you register you will receive 2 tickets and you  can purchase more at the event!

Don't forget about the Mom's Night Out:

Self Defense Class at Chan’s Martial Arts

 http://www.hollandmartialarts.com/program2.htm

735 Paw Paw Dr.

Holland, MI 49423

616-796-3280

January 23, 2011

6:00pm to 6:45pm

FREE!!!

Dinner after Class (7:00ish) at

Curragh Irish Pub

73 East 8th Street

Holland, MI 49423-3503

(616) 393-6340

Come and join us to learn some simple self defense techniques that will help you become more confident right away.

You may sign up for both or just one.

If you can't make to the class, you are more then welcome to join us later for Dinner.

See You There!



And, last but certainly not least: the dreaded topic of Breakfast.  I've said it a few times, but we do still need some help with this:

If you have not yet brought a breakfast dish (hot dish, bread, fruit etc, it doesn't have to be anything difficult), please consider signing up.  We have been very blessed with some very generous people who have brought breakfast multiple times, but we do need additional help. 

Please know that if you sign up and something comes up that you will not be able to make the meeting you can always email us or contact us on facebook (see email address on the right of this page) and let us know, we can cover it if need be.  The sign up sheet is editable, you can sign up for one day and if you realize you won't be there, you can change it.  And, it doesn't need to be anything difficult, there are many options on the sign up sheet!

Guard for me... {In the Word Wednesday}

Guard for me my eyes, Jesus,... lest seeing another's wealth makes me covetous
Guard for me my ears, lest they hearken to slander, lest they listen constantly to folly in the sinful world.
Guard for me my heart, O Christ, in thy love, lest I ponder wretchedly the desire of any iniquity.
Guard for me my hands, that they be not stretched out for quarrelling, that they may not, after that, practice shameful supplication
Guard for me my feet upon the gentle earth... lest, bent on profitless errands they abandon rest.
~Traditional Irish Prayer
From Prayers for Today: A Yearlong Journey of Contemplative Prayer

If you have not yet brought a breakfast dish (hot dish, bread, fruit etc, it doesn't have to be anything difficult), please consider signing up.  We have been very blessed with some very generous people who have brought breakfast multiple times, but we do need additional help. 

Please know that if you sign up and something comes up that you will not be able to make the meeting you can always email us or contact us on facebook (see email address on the right of this page) and let us know, we can cover it if need be.  The sign up sheet is editable, you can sign up for one day and if you realize you won't be there, you can change it.  And, it doesn't need to be anything difficult, there are many options on the sign up sheet!

Groovin'

Did you have a good time Groovin' with Heather Winea on Friday?  I thought it was great, and I'm still super sore (my calves)!  If you were interested in attending the class that she leads, just a reminder that it is Wednesdays from 6:15-7:15 at the Excercise studio in Westshore Mall (located across from Bath & Body Works I believe).  It is $7 per class, or you can buy a punch card for $50 (I believe, although it may have been $55) which is good for 10 classes. 

How about breakfast?  Did you enjoy that?  I sure did (Selena, I need that scone recipe please). 

If you have not yet brought a breakfast dish (hot dish, bread, fruit etc, it doesn't have to be anything difficult), please consider signing up.  We have been very blessed with some very generous people who have brought breakfast multiple times, but we do need additional help. 

Please know that if you sign up and something comes up that you will not be able to make the meeting you can always email us or contact us on facebook (see email address on the right of this page) and let us know, we can cover it if need be.  And, it doesn't need to be anything difficult, there are many options on the sign up sheet!

M-LIFE 2012 ~ First meeting tomorrow

It's our first meeting of 2012 tomorrow!  Can't wait to see everyone again and get some great fitness time in as well!  Plan to wear your comfy clothes, as Heather Winea joins us and leads us in some fun fitness activities, both with and without our kids!

Meeting starts at 9:30 with K-LIFE drop off and breakfast, God Moment at 9:45 and Heather will begin at 10!

Don't forget to sign up for the Self-Defense Mom's night out! (click the button below, all of the details are included on the sign up sheet)

 

February 10-11 we will be having a crafters weekend at the church.  Mark it on your calendars.  You will have the option to come on Friday night, Saturday, or both.  What a great way to get out of the house and fellowship with other crafters.  There will also be a few of the crafts that we have done at our meetings available for purchase and a raffle drawing as well with lot's of great prizes to choose from!

More details to come, as well as a sign up sheet!

A Prayer for Renewal {In the Word Wednesday}

A few mornings a week I bring my son and neighbors to school, we typically leave here at 7ish am, I drop them off and then on the return trip, I turn on my 89.3 WGNB talk radio (yup, I love Christian talk radio).  Normally I get to turn it on right as they are about to do the giveaway.  I've tried calling a few times to win, but no luck.  Until one lucky morning.  I called and got through.  They were looking for caller four.  I was caller one.  We all know chances are slim that I would get through again, much less be the fourth caller.  So, the next time I called and the line rang and rang and rang, I almost hung up.  Almost.  Glad I didn't!  I was lucky number four.  God had this all worked out though, you see.  He knew. 

I have always struggled with prayer.  How to pray.  I have a prayer "journal" of sorts with lists of people to pray for, but beyond that list, I don't know what to say.  I get stuck. 

Well, what do you suppose I won?  Let me tell you.  It's a book called "Prayers for Today, a yearlong journey of contemplative prayer" by Kurt Bjorklund.  I've only glanced through it a little bit, but this morning I used it as a part of my devotions and let the prayers lead me in thought.  There are prayers of: thanksgiving, confession, affirmation, petition, renewal, praise/adoration, christlike charecter, wisdom/guidance, intercession and surrender.  And, not just "say these words", it starts with verses (scripture prayers), next there are written prayers from various sources, some very very old, some more recent, some songs, poems or prayers, and finally there is a section called "A Prayer for Today".  This section is a prompting to pray, giving you a place to reflect on where God is leading your thoughts.

So anyway... they gave me the book.  They did not ask me to promote it in any way.  i just think it's a good book, with a good purpose, and it is what I needed. 

I wanted to share one of the selections from Day 35 (no, I'm not on day 35 already, I'm jumping around, looking through it and though this was appropriate for a new year), Prayers for Renewal:

Lord, when I have nothing;
Help me to give even what I do not have.
Lord, when I feel nothing,
Help me not to be jealous, that You may use me to touch others' hearts.
Lord, when I am weary;
help me to remember that You have been weary, too.
Lord, when i need refreshing,
Help me to refresh others and to forget about my own needs.
Lord, when I can't see the way ahead,
Help me not to get in the way of those who can.
Lord, when I am disappointed,
Help me not to bring disappointment to others.
Lord, when I have no one to help me,
Help me to trust in You.
Lord, when I can't see You, yet You see me -
Help me to remember that.
Lord, though I am not worthy to receive You,
[Only] say the word and I shall be healed.
Hugh Barney, Celtic monk (unknown era)

Plan to wear your comfy clothes on Friday to our first meeting of the year!  Heather Winea will be joining us again and doing some fun fitness stuff with us.  The kids will be joining us for the last 10 minutes to do some fitness stuff with mom!  Meeting starts at 9:30 with K-LIFE drop off and breakfast, God Moment at 9:45 and Heather will begin at 10!