A Few Thoughts From The Trench Mommy

Hi ya’ll! 

It’s been sorta crazy here in the trenches the past few days.  First of all I got my makeover completed by the sweetest blog designer out there.  Her name is Jenny and she and her husband Greg are starting up their own blog design business.  I highly recommend them. Really I do!  They have been great to work with and extremely helpful and kind.  You can read this post to learn about a special offer they are hosting from now until the end of February.  All you have to do is tell them that Trench Mommy sent you!

If you want a flash header like I have (it flashes various frames of pictures) then Jenny is the person to see.

While trying to get my new look up and running to my perfection, I also was dealing with trying to get my Windows Live Writer running again because it kept crashing when I was trying to hyperlink and what is a blog post with out links?!! 

Thanks to @jcheng I got it up and running again.  So far.  This is the test post!

Elsewhere in the trenches please be sure to run over to my book review blog where there is a giveaway coming up soon.  Click on the button above that says “Book Reviews”.

Well, for now that is all…until later!

-Mandy the Trench Mommy

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Sunday Citer – 1/31/10

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” – Philippians 3:7

All the earthly gain I get is of no value when I look at all I have gained through knowing Christ as my personal Savior and Lord of my life.

The Style Of Sweatshirts

My very own mother has been getting after me lately about my lack of style.  She seems to think that sweatshirts have no value on the style meter.

Well, that, or they fall so slow on the meter you can’t even read their style.

However, she still humored me and got me this very cute hoodie for Christmas.

She thinks it’s redneck.  I happen to like it.

I think it’s funny though how there are some clothes you just don’t want to let go of.  Even though I have this nice pink NEW sweatshirt, I still can’t let go of an old sweatshirt of mine.

 
It just holds too many memories for me.

I bought this when I was 15-years-old.  I was with a bunch of my closets friends on a mission trip to do puppets and work in VBS for a small church in Augusta, Maine.  We all wanted to buy matching shirts but the store only had a handful of sweatshirts like this in various colors and sizes.  I ended up buying an XXL adult sweatshirt as a 115 pound teenage girl just so I could match my friends.

Now, almost 15 years later I still wear it.  It’s still big, but it’s been with me through 3 pregnancies like a good old friend.  I just can’t let go. 

From the trenches of motherhood…where I will always enjoy wearing my sweatshirts…

-Mandy the Trench Mommy

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From The Trenches Of Motherhood Makeover

From The Trenches Of Motherhood is getting a makeover soon. 

I do not have the official date yet, but it will be very soon.  And I am so excited!

Before you panic or decide not to come back, let me assure you that it will have the same general feel and colors...you will know you are here.  However, there will be a new and very cute flash header and a very cool navigation bar added.  But that is all I am going to say!  You will just have to keep coming back to see it for yourself!

In the meantime, I have something delightful to offer you for your own blog!


Jenny has given me permission to offer you $10 off your own flash header if you tell her that Trench Mommy sent you.  This offer is good from now until the end of February.  So click right on over to Jenny & Greg Designs to order your own flash header! 


Are you wondering what happens if you want to change a picture in a few weeks or months?  Well, Jenny will give you a one free change for each referral that you give.  Otherwise they are $5 per change.  Her site is new, but they are launching many things in the next few days and weeks so be patient.

E-mail Jenny with your idea and see what she says!  She has been absolutely wonderful to work with!  Ever so patient and kind...and I got exactly what I wanted!

So whatchya waiting for?!

Everything In 2010: Week 5

Welcome to my 2010 theme: Everything in 2010! 

If you are new to my blog, or to this weekly post series, please read this first post which explains what it’s all about.

This week is our last week of working in the “Schedule” goal unit.  How is your schedule going?

Don’t give up if you are still not exactly where you want to be.  I’m not either…but I am doing better than before I began!  Keep on keeping on my friends.

This week’s goal is:

Goal #5 – Have a consistent time alone with God.

I want to keep working on getting up and spending some time with God each morning before the rest of the family gets up.  For me, being consistent in my time alone with God only happens when I do it in the wee hours of the morning.  Once the family is up and going I have a terribly hard time shutting out the things that need to be done.  Donna Partow calls this time, “TAG Time” – Time Alone w/ God.

I would really enjoy hearing how you are doing with your own goals this year.  Please join me in this discussion in my community forum!

I just came across a really great post about organization that I thought would be a big help and encouragement to you after last week’s goal.  The title is 7 Organizational Myths Debunked and this is just a brief snap shot of the article…  Please go over to www.simplemom.net to enjoy many posts about organization and much more!

From the trenches of motherhood…where I am stepping out of the motions one step at a time…

-Mandy the Trench Mommy

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Tea Towel To The Rescue!

Image by bookgrl via Flickr

Around Christmas of ‘08 I noticed that my beloved Kitchen Aid mixer kept getting really hot and was smoking whenever I kneaded bread. 

For a few weeks I was afraid we were going to have to shop the holiday sales to replace what seemed to be my dying one.  But then just as sudden as it began, it stopped acting up.

I praised the Lord for allowing my mixer to hang in there just a little bit longer. 

Then I noticed that that lower two speeds seemed to not be working.  My first clue was whenever I would mix up up flour it flew everywhere.  That had never happened before in the life of my 7 year old mixer except for when the speed was too high.  I soon realized that, yes, my lower speeds were gone and I could not afford to buy another mixer.

Soooo…..this is when the tea towel came to the rescue.

Whenever I am mixing up some yummy goodies in my kitchen now, you will see my baking partner looking like this:

I drape a tea towel around it and then turn it on and let it do it’s job.  And if there is a day I think I don’t need to wrap it with a towel, I un-doubtedly find myself covered in flour.

This is what works for me here in the trenches of motherhood!  Why don’t you join me over at We Are That Family for more Works For Me Wednesday Posts!  We would enjoy hearing what works for YOU!

 

Wordless Wednesday – Micah’s Broken Lollipop

To understand the title of this post you can read my post about Micah’s broken lollipop.

To join in the Wordless Wednesday fun or just browse more Wordless Wednesday posts please join me and many others at 5 Minutes For Mom.

 

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A Broken Lollipop

Micah likes lollipops.

The very first time he had one he was unsure of what to do.  However, as it is with kids and all things sugar, he quickly figured out what to do with the sticky* treat.

*I say “sticky” because lollipops and 2-year-old’s drool make for very sticky situations!

So a few weeks ago I didn’t think anything about giving him a tootsie pop he so badly wanted.  But within just a minute, Micah was crying about his lollipop.

Now, I understand all about kids crying over lollipops.  But it is usually because they were told they couldn’t have one or because it fell in the dirt and the mean** mom won’t let them have it.

**I am totally kidding about the mean mom part.  Just having fun here, people!

What I don’t understand is crying over having a lollipop.  And due to all his tears and sobs it was even harder to understand what he was trying to tell me about his orange lollipop. 

Finally I figured it out.

“Mama…my lollipop broken!”

After several more minutes I was able to make sense of why his lollipop was broken.  He had never had one that big and did not understand why it wouldn’t crack open when he tried to bite it.  Hence it was “broken” in his little mind.  I finally convinced him, and taught him how, to lick the lollipop to get to the tootsie roll rather than break a tooth by trying to bite the drool covered candy.

Once he had reached the chocolaty treat on the inside his world once again returned to normal.

This made me think about all the times I try to do something and then get frustrated because it’s not working or happening the way I want it to. 

I think I am a lot like Micah with a broken lollipop.  Except that I go crying to my heavenly Father with something like this: “My child’s broken!  She won’t put her clothes in the hamper like I want her to do.”

I need to learn some patience and remember that it’s all a process. I need to take the time to teach my kids how to do things rather then just demand that they do things.

From the trenches of motherhood…where I am learning to enjoy the orange outside candy instead of being so intent on getting to the chocolaty middle…

-Mandy the TrenchMommy

Music Monday – You Found Me

I love this song!  And FFH is a wonderful group to see in person.  If you ever get the chance…see ‘em!  Be sure to click on the above button to join up for this Music Monday fest.

Simple Woman’s Day Book – January 25, 2010

FOR TODAY... Mandy’s Day Book

Outside my window...rain and flash flooding…same as the Simple Woman

I am thinking...that I wish the rain had been snow…it would have been a whole lot more enjoyable.  However, I am thankful for the sun that has shown up for a few moments before it grows dark.

I am thankful for...that my husband brought one of his meetings home and that way he was able to massage my neck while he talked – a huge blessing when I’m in pain.

I am wearing...my cleaning jeans and my WOL superbowl t-shirt from this past year.

I am remembering...what a wonderful time I had last year out at Lafayette, IN for the Biblical Counseling Training Conference.

I am going... to go to attend some sessions at a local Bible conference, go clothes shopping, and hopefully stay home a lot!

I am currently reading...Angels by David Jeremiah

I am hoping... to feel better tomorrow so that I can accomplish a whole lot more than I did today.

On my mind... all the things I need to get done before we go back to Lafayette IN for the 3 track of Counseling Training in 12 days.  But who’s counting?!

Noticing that...the BeautiControl products I tried work wonderfully.

Pondering these words... "Ancient Words…ever true…changing me, and changing you…”

From the kitchen... BBQ Beef sandwiches (homemade) and clean dishes.  I could barely get that done today.

Around the house... a clean bathroom, fresh sheets, cleaned girls room, loads of laundry, and a clean table.  The rest will wait for tomorrow.

One of my favorite things~ Sleep.  And more sleep.

From my picture journal...

Emmy eating waffles for Saturday morning breakfast. Yummy.

* * * * *

To join me and many others in this fun blog carnival, please click on the blog button below!

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Philadelphia Cream Cheese Attitude

I was recently part of a group of people selected to review a recipe for Philadelphia Cream Cheese.  As part of the process, I was sent 3 coupons for a free brick or container of cream cheese. 

My coupons arrived in the mail and the next day I went off to do my by-weekly shopping.  I had two stops to make on that busy Saturday – Walmart and Aldi – and I did not want to take up any more of my day by making any other stops.  So imagine with my frustration when I walked up to the cold food shelves in Walmart to find they were completely out of cream cheese bricks.  I do not know why, but I have always gotten bricks.  Never any of the containers of regular cream cheese.

As I stared at the empty shelves I began to start complaining in my own mind. 

Why are they always out of what I need?  Why now when I just wanted a quick shopping trip?  What a pain this is!  I have a deadline to meet and now cream cheese to hunt down!

Then, I pulled out my coupons and read all the fine print to see exactly what I could get with them.  One more time.  It was then that I realized it said “brick or container” and did not specify a size.  I looked up and right in front of my face were 16oz containers of soft cream cheese.

I looked it over.  It seemed to be the exact same…just in a container and a little be softer.

Immediately my heart felt the prick and I confessed my grumbling heart to God.  I was sinning over cream cheese!  And in an instant God used cream cheese to teach me a lesson that sometimes my way is really not the best way. *big gulp*  And that is a lesson that I have to learn over and over.

If there had been bricks – which I grumbled and complained about not being there – I would have just grabbed them up and walked away.  Completely oblivious to my other options.  Instead, because God was gracious – and wanted to teach me a lesson – I was able to get 48oz of cream cheese for free rather than just 24oz.

So in a quick shopping trip for groceries, God reminded me that what I want is not always what He wants for me.  I’m just glad the lesson was as simple as cream cheese. 

For now.

From the trenches of motherhood…where I am whipping up cream cheese goodies…

-Mandy the TrenchMommy

Teaching Memory Verses To A 2-Year-Old

This little cutie will be 3-years-old only one month from today.

But yesterday he brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes when he answered my question.

Let me explain…

Yesterday he was throwing a fit about getting dressed and I asked him, “What does Ephesians 6:1 say, Micah?”

He stuck out his poochy lip but then softly answered me, “Children obey you parents in the Lord for ‘dis right.”

My heart leapt within me! 

Teaching verses to my children at a young age has been a wonderful experience.  Both of the girls were able to say John 3:16 by the age of 18 months or earlier.  Micah has been a little late, only ever giving me the hand motions we made up - but now! -he knows it!  He can say it!

It’s a cool glass of water to the weary soul of a mother.

Do you teach your children memory verses?  How do you do it?  How old were they when you began?  How do you review them?  Please share your tips and your questions with me in my community forum.  You can also check out this post about memory verse reviewing.

From the trenches of motherhood….where I’m rejoicing about Ephesians 6:1….

-Mandy the TrenchMommy

Six Word Saturday – 1/23/10

Windows 7 is really great!  Really!

TSMSS: Ancient Words

I have always enjoyed music by Michael W. Smith but I have to say that this song may be my favorite one sung by him.

Maybe.

There are just so many good ones to choose from!

I hope you enjoy this today.

General Mills Cereal For Breakfast…And Cookies, Too!

Yes.  You’re eyes are alright.

My children are eating cookies for breakfast!

Let’s be honest here. 

All of us sweet Moms have every intention of giving our children a wonderfully yummy and balanced breakfast each morning.  But sometimes….well, sometimes life just is moving so fast it’s a miracle if we have a box of cereal to even pull out of the cupboard. 

I know!

If I didn’t know, my kids would not know what it is like to eat crumbled cookies in milk at 7:30am.

While my first choice of breakfast food for my children are nice fluffy omelets with cheese and sausage and a side of apple juice, it just doesn’t always happen that way.  So for those mornings when life is going a bit faster* than my whisk can keep up with I resort to a nice box of cereal.  Or crumbled cookies.  But cookies are the last choice.  Even though the kids think it’s the best breakfast ever!

*Or for the mornings when I’m running behind because I might have stayed up a little late the night before to blog or read.

Here is a link to help you out as you, too, keep your cupboard stocked for the cold-cereal-kind-of-mornings.  It’s a link to a coupon for a $1 off a box of General Mills cereal. 

General Mills recently sent me a VIP pack for 4 boxes of their cereal through MyBlogSpark and our family really enjoyed the easy mornings of no hassle eating.  And the best part about it was that we picked cereals that didn’t compromise on my healthy eating wishes and the kids not only ate them…but the LIKED them!

 
Oh!  And for those of you with family members who have Celiac disease…did you know that the new Honey Kix are gluten free?!  Yeah!  Talk about a BIG time saver and money saver!  All Glutenites** need something quick and easy at times.  Just like the rest of us!

**Glutenites is my pet name that I fondly call people with Celiac.  My Dad and one of my two brothers has it.  So far, my kids and I test negative – thank You, Lord!

However, around here, there are still mornings you will see crumbled cookies, or apple pie, or even some peach cobbler in bowls of milk at only 8 in the morning.

And I’m not talking about the kids, either!

From the trenches of motherhood…where we try to eat healthy, balanced breakfasts…

-Mandy the TrenchMommy

Lijit Search Widget Introduced

Today I would like to introduce you to a little gadget that has been on my sidebar for a little while now. 

{Insert drum roll please!}

It is the Lijit Search Widget!

Say that 5 times fast!

It is super easy to use and I would really appreciate you taking the time to try it out.  Enter a topic, name, item, idea into the little white search box and hit the search button.  Then have fun browsing the posts that it brings up!

Or if you are in the mood to explore my blog…but have no idea what to search for, just hit the “Surprise Me!” button and enjoy a post that is randomly selected.

Lijit is a great tool to add to your blog to help readers search your blog and connect you, and your readers, with other great blogs.  If you would like to learn all about the great features that Lijit provides to you, I highly recommend you hop or click on over to Barb’s blog – Elementary Spirits – to read this guest post all about Lijit’s great stats.

Let me tell you, too, that Lijit has some GREAT customer service going on!  I recently had a slight problem – which was due to my lack of tech ability! – and Tara was quick to respond with the help I needed.  You can find Lijit on Twitter at @Lijit to ask specific questions.

Alright it’s the end of my post and now I want to know what topic you want to search for here in The Trenches Of Motherhood!  Leave a comment or join me in my community forum…after you search, that is!

Everything In 2010: Week 4

 

Welcome to week 4 of Everything In 2010!

This week you get to learn about the 4th goal via video rather than just my written post.  I hope you enjoy the silly antics of my son and  my amateur video making!

As always, I would love to read your comments or have you join me in my community forum to talk about how you plan ahead.

* * * * *

Thanks to Jamie from Mommy’s Camera for making my theme button.  Stop by and tell her hi!

Workout For The Mind Answers

Yesterday I posted this fun puzzle:

Puzzle Mania
What do these series represent?
(Example: A. E. I. O. U. = Vowels)

M. V. E. M. J. S. U. N. P.

S. M. T. W. T. F. S.

S. O. N. D. J. F. M. A. M. J. J. A.

A. E. F. H. I. K. L. M. N. T. V. W. X. Y. Z.

R. O. Y. G. B. I. V.

A. S. D. F. G. H. J. K. L.

S. M. H. D. W. M. Y.

1. 5. 10. 25. 50. 100.

How did you do?  Did you figure them out?

Now it’s time to give you the answers! 

M. V. E. M. J. S. U. N. P.
Answer: Planets

S. M. T. W. T. F. S.
Answer: Days of the Week

S. O. N. D. J. F. M. A. M. J. J. A.
Answer: Months

A. E. F. H. I. K. L. M. N. T. V. W. X. Y. Z.
Answer: No Curves (in the alphabet)

R. O. Y. G. B. I. V.
Answer: Rainbow colors

A. S. D. F. G. H. J. K. L.
Answer: Home row on a keyboard

S. M. H. D. W. M. Y.
Answer: Segments of time

1. 5. 10. 25. 50. 100.
Answer: Value of coins

Wasn’t that fun?!  Now you can cross of your mind exercises for the day!

A Workout For The Mind

I was cleaning out some files when I came across this fun little game I had stashed away.  I thought maybe you would enjoy it, too!

Are you ready?

Okay!  Here we go…

Puzzle Mania
What do these series represent?
(Example: A. E. I. O. U. = Vowels)

M. V. E. M. J. S. U. N. P.

S. M. T. W. T. F. S.

S. O. N. D. J. F. M. A. M. J. J. A.

A. E. F. H. I. K. L. M. N. T. V. W. X. Y. Z.

R. O. Y. G. B. I. V.

A. S. D. F. G. H. J. K. L.

S. M. H. D. W. M. Y.

1. 5. 10. 25. 50. 100.

How did you do?  Did you figure them out?

Come back tomorrow for the answers!  Or hop on over to my community forum to talk about your answers with all my friends.

Where Is Your Cell Phone?

Do you ever misplace your cell phone?

Not that I would know anything about that. *ahem* But my husband certainly does.  In fact, I don’t think a day is complete until we have had to search for his phone.

Awhile back we were really searching and finally found it after thinking it was gone forever.  Whew!  That was a close call to spending money!

But what do you do when you don’t have a land line and no one else is around with a cell phone and you can’t find your phone?

You know….just incase this happens to you?

Okay, okay!  So I did have it happen to me!  But only once.  Just incase you’re keeping track.  *ahem*  Moving on….

Whether you happen to deal with a lost phone frequently or just once in a blue moon (which are not really blue) you can use this really cool website to help you find your phone.  That is if you have an internet connection available.

This handy website is called Wheresmycellphone.com and it is free to use.  All you have to do is enter your phone number and it will call your phone so that you can hear it and find it. 

How cool is that?!

Oh!  And one thing that I have thought of learned is that it’s best to loose your phone when it’s not set on vibrate only…

* * * * *

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Trench Mommy In Video!

Bed Wetting 101

(Picture courtesy of Annetta82)

Is there a class or course for bed wetting? 

There should be.

I have a six-year-old daughter who still wears pull-ups.  And I’m tired of it.

I am normally a pretty laid back Mommy in this department.  I let my kids potty train when they were ready.  Abby was three and a half, Emmy was three, and Micah….well, he isn’t yet!  And I’m okay with that.

It makes it easier on all of us when they are ready.  No stress on Mommy and a few less battles to fight.

But I am getting tired of all the money we are spending on pull-ups every two weeks for a six-year-old when my four-year-old does just fine at night.

We’ve tried homeopathic tablets for bed wetting for a month straight.  We have banned all liquids after supper.  We took her to the doctor to see if everything was okay.  (And everything was.)

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing has worked!

So….I’m waiting for a course on bed wetting helps.

I just may be waiting for a long time.

Got any helpful hints for me?!

It’s A Party With Trench Mommy!

Do you enjoy a good party?

You know, the kind where you get to see new things, try new food, and meet new people?

Okay!  Then join me for an online Pampered Chef party in honor of my soon-to-be-sister-in-law who you can read all about over at her blog.  She also writes for examiner.com…so check out her advice there, too!

*ahem*  Back to the party…

Join me at this site to browse all the very cool Pampered Chef products available.  To shop online enter my name – Mandy – into the box like this:

 

 

 

 

 

Then once you click on my full name you can browse all the products by category.  Be sure to check out the guest special of the month, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing to remember is that when you check-out, please check the option for DIRECT SHIPPING.  I love ya’ll, but I’m not going to ship the goods to you! =)  All the hostess credit from this party is going to Ashley so that she can set up a kitchen to cook for my brother who has some serious dietary needs.  I know many of you can relate: he’s got celiac.

Alright!  Love to have you join us, even though it’s not in person.  Just picture the gingerbread and the trifle that will be there and shout out via the comments!

Fan The Flame {Part Two"}

Welcome to week two of my marriage series based on the book Seven Reasons Why God Created Marriage.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will join us as we seek to grow our marriages.

This week’s verse is:

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” – Romans 15:7 (ESV)

This week’s theme is:

Accept One Another

I love my husband, but there are times he does something and it annoys me.  A lot. 

I know…you’re shocked that I get annoyed, right?!

What?  You’re not?!

Okay, okay…we all have our moments.  And this is what this post is all about.

The challenge for the week is finding a way to accept your husband in the little things.  Maybe it’s when he leaves the toothpaste cap off or his dirty socks by the bed.  Maybe it is something bigger than that. 

Whatever the case is, I want to challenge you to accept your husband unconditionally this week by picking one thing that he does – that annoys you – and ignoring it this week.  Perhaps it is the socks on the floor or the shoes left out. 

This week our job – yes, I’m included in on this! – is to simply accept them for who they are and not criticize or nag them.

For me, it’s going to be about the shoes, the toilet lid, and the shower curtain.  I am going to accept him for who he is by silently just taking care of the item or problem that gets to me.  If he leaves his shoes out, I will put them away.  If he leaves the toilet lid up, I’ll just put it down without saying a word.  And if it’s the shower curtain not pulled back after his shower, I will just close it without sighing in frustration.

Now it’s your turn to share what and how you are going to accept your husband.  Write your post and then link back up here so we can all be encouraged together.

And feel free to use the above picture/button.

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EVERYTHING: Week Three

Welcome to Week Three of:
What If I Had Given Everything In 2010?

If this is the first time you have joined me for my year-long-post-series, please click here to read the introduction.

Now, for those of you following or joining me – I hope you’re doing this with me! – read on for the 3rd goal for the year.

Remember that we are still in our first goal unit – SCHEDULE – and this is the 3rd week, so that means 2 left to go!  Speaking of which, I just finished my book for this unit, too.

Photo courtesy of H is for Home’s

 

Goal #3 Get Up On Time

I know….this is the hard one depending on what your life is like.  If you have any time in the morning that you can flex, like me, it may be a battle.  But that’s what this is all about: battling to give everything this year.

I will be vulnerable here and share that getting to bed on time this past week has been tough.  Really tough.  It seemed that things just came up to get me off track even with the best of intentions. 

At some moments I thought: “Well, maybe my life has just changed and I just can’t get up early any more….”  BUT then God would bring to mind that this wasn’t meant to be easy.  If it was, I would not be struggling with it and would be “perfect”!  However, HE has will supply me with what I need at the moment I need it.  And sometimes that means the strength to keep on keeping on even when I’ve just failed.

So when I have missed my bedtime for two nights in a row I don’t give up…I keep on.  As my body adjust it will be easier because my body will automatically draw me to bed without as much will power.

So how about you?  How are you goals going?  Join me in my community forum to start a discussion or join an existing one about your battle for this year.  Let’s encourage one another!

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The Daniel Fast: Who Will Join Me?

I am going to be reviewing the book The Daniel Fast and I not only want to read the book, but experience the fast as well.

While I will blog about it – of course! – I would also enjoy having company for the journey.  I know it’s rather spur-of-the-moment, but what do you say?  Are you up for an adventure?!

You can join me at To Read, Or Not To Read to follow or join me on this little journey.  I will be starting on Friday, January 15th.

I would encourage you to purchase the book – follow the link below.  I know that most likely you won’t have the book by Friday – unless you go buy it from your local bookstore – so until you have the book in hand you can begin by visiting the Daniel fast website and blog.

Please leave a comment or join me in my community forum to talk about and share info on this topic.

My Favorite Apples

I buy my apples from a local apple orchard.  They are pretty expensive, but I now how to get them cheap.

I buy the utility apples.

You know…the ones that don’t reflect your face when you look at them…the ones that may have a few funky looking spots, but are other wise a perfectly normal apple*.

*Well, as normal as any apple looks!

The other day I went in to buy my half bushel of apples and found that they had Crispin apples.  Not knowing anything about them, except that they looked so yummy being that they were big and green, I lugged them to the checkout to pay.

As I was waiting for help I looked up and noticed on their big “apple chart”** that Crispin were listed as being excellent in all three categories. 

Baking.  Eating.  And Pies.

**The apple chart it were they list all the kinds of apples and grade them from 1 to 3 (3 being the excellent) for what they are good for.  Some apples are better for eating than pie making, etc….

Wow!  Score for me and I didn’t even try. 

Sure enough when we got them home and I cut one up for lunch I tasted the proof.  They are delicious! 

And now they are my new favorite.  Just incase you were wondering!

Someone else in our family likes apples, too.

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So let’s talk apples today!  Join me in my community forum to share your favorite kind of apples, favorite things to do with them in the kitchen….and no!…I don’t mean an impromptu game of kitchen baseball!

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