I am appearing on Good Morning Texas (WFAA-TV, Channel 8), December 15 at 9 a.m., doing a segment with Paige Smith.
Your prayers & viewing are appreciated. Then let me know what you think of the segment.
Appearing on Good Morning Texas
by Brenna
A Dad Who Leaves a Legacy
by Brenna
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A Christmas Surprise
by Brenna
The gifts covered in red and green paper and hiding in bell-shaped gift sacks no longer sat under the tree. Their contents had been opened and enjoyed with much elation days before. Little did I know I was about to witness my greatest surprise of the season.
You know the feeling…we had experienced the high of celebrating the miraculous birth…but then came the postpartum packing blues. I had dreaded taking down Christmas decorations from the minute the last of the family walked out the door on Christmas Day. Though I loved the carefree schedule of the holidays and the beauty of the glimmering lights, the black cloud of having to pack it all away loomed over me.
Noting that the clock was ticking — it was the final day of December — I realized I must stare my procrastination in the face and do something. The energy drained out of my body as I mulled it over. I felt overwhelmed as I considered all the lights, garland, seasonal plates and decorations to put away…not to mention the sheets and towels that needed washing, floors that needed vacuuming, and the leftovers in the refrigerator that were becoming science projects.
Wait a minute, what about teamwork? What about breaking things down into manageable parts to tackle a hard job? And what about taking an undesirable task and making it into a game? These were things I had written and spoken about…could I apply these principles at this critical moment?
My heart began to lift, then raced as I pondered the possibilities. I considered each of the children and the talents they possessed. Hope swept in like a cool breeze on a hot day.
Not wanting to lose the inspiration, I gathered everyone and gave a quick off-the-cuff pep talk. “Team, we have a mission today that will include everyone. We are going to put away the Christmas decorations in record time. Everyone who works with a good attitude will be rewarded with a treat every thirty minutes when the timer goes off. After we are done, everyone will receive payment based on effort and attitude. Bonuses will be given if we come in under a three hour time limit. Prizes will be awarded, and we will celebrate with kids meals at your favorite restaurant.”
Where should we start? Karis Joy (3) and Micah (5) could be gatherers. “Your mission is to seek out every Christmas-related item in the house that you can reach and carefully bring it to one of the two large tables I have covered with table cloths.” They scurried off like two busy bees.
I then turned my attention to Caleb (7). He had always been our outdoorsman and was a take-charge guy who enjoyed time with his dad. “Caleb, you and Dad will be packing all the outdoor decorations and lights.”
As I could see the tables filling up with Christmas items, I knew just who I needed at that point. My spatially-gifted left-brained son, Dillon (11). Chris passed down the thirteen red and green plastic bins from the attic, and his job was to pack all the items brought to the tables.
That left Derek (10), the perfect right-hand-man for me that day. His strengths are flexibility, a good attitude, and a willingness to do whatever is asked, one task at a time. He and I covered whatever else was needed. As we turned on some upbeat music, I announced, “Let the games begin!”
Every thirty minutes when the timer rang, I dispensed “energy pills” (small chocolate candies) to keep them going. “Yea! It’s time for injury pills!” my five-year-old would exclaim when he heard the ring.
My heart welled up with joy as I saw my home transform before my eyes, inside and out. If someone started to tire, I reminded him of the good things ahead for the diligent who held good attitudes. One and a half hours from our starting time, I was in awe as we passed up to Chris the last box to store in the attic until next year. Was I surprised? It was greater than I could have ever hoped or dreamed.
We gave a cheer and I told everyone to head to the car to depart for our celebration. I quickly cut “ribbons” out of red construction paper, and grabbed my Sharpie to label the awards. We had everything from “fastest three-year-old gatherer in the U.S.” to “shrewdest packer in history” (Dillon had two empty bins left over). And of course my husband received an award for being so great and going along with my plan.
My favorite gift that year didn’t have a ribbon around it and couldn’t be held in my hands. I received the joy of marking a big job off my to-do list. But even greater was the joy of watching my family work like an All-Star team. Post-season play had never looked or felt better.
Wheat Wheat Wheat Bread
by Brenna
Talk about healthy. Three types of pure wheat goodness for flavor and nutrition are yours with this great-tasting whole wheat bread.
1 pkg. yeast
1/8 tsp. ginger
2 ½ c. bread flour
1 ¼ c. whole wheat flour
½ c. wheat germ
1 tsp. salt
3 T. honey
1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
2 T. salad oil
½ c. cracked wheat
½ c. boiling water.
Cover the ½ c. cracked wheat with the boiling water in a small bowl. Stir and let cool. Put eh rest of the ingredients in the order recommended for your breadmaker, then cooled wheat. Select white bread and press “start”.
Raisin Cranberry Cinnamon Banana Bread
by Brenna
This is a great recipe to use that too-ripe banana in. Fast, easy, healthy, and yummy.
2 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
3 ¼ c. bread flour
2 T. nonfat dry milk powder
1 tsp. sugar
¼ c. applesauce
1 banana
1 ½ c. water
1/3 c. cranberries (or craisins)
1/3 c. raisins
Add ingredients in the order recommended by your breadmaker, select white bread, and press “start”.
And the trophy, of course!
by Brenna
Chris’ Award-Winning Sonoran Chili Recipe
by Brenna
For all the people beating down my door for my husband’s award-winning recipe since last week’s chili cook-off, this one’s for you.
I have to say it’s not an easy recipe (like the ones I prefer to make), but if you don’t mind spending a little more time in the kitchen, this one seems to be one that all people do prefer to eat (and will actually fight over for the last bowl)!
Since some of you might want to copy the recipe below and paste it into a document to print, I wanted to mention an easy way to organize recipes printed off the computer or pulled from magazines. Use a 1 1/2 inch notebook with dividers. Slip the recipe into a page protector and file behind the appropriate category. No more stacking recipes to wait for the day you have the time to copy it to a small recipe card — that day will never come.
Drum roll, please…
Chris’Award-Winning Sonoran Chili
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1 pkg. of Eckrich smoke sausage, sliced/diced
1 whole white onion, diced
1 pkg. frozen white corn
1 2-cup bag of boil-in-a-bag white rice
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 bulb fresh garlic, minced <or> 2 T. minced garlic
6 habanera peppers <or>
2 large pablano pepper + 1 jalapeno pepper + red/yellow bell peppers
½ cup cooking white wine <or> ½ c. ginger ale
1 can chicken broth <or> 2 c. broth from boiled chicken
2 tsp. cumin powder
½ bunch chopped fresh cilantro
3 T. olive oil
1 lime, squeezed for juice
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
1 cup water
Boil chicken until no longer pink in the middle. Heat olive oil in large sauté pan to medium-high heat, then saute’ garlic and onions.
In a large Dutch oven add chicken broth, cumin, cilantro, lime juice, peppers, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, cover with lid, and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Boil the boil-in-a-bag rice. Add the cubed chicken, garlic, and onion mixture, plus the corn, rice, celery, bell peppers, water, and cooking white wine.
Cover and let simmer for approximately 30-35 minutes. Salt to taste.
When finished, remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Serves 8-10. Garnish with the shredded pepper jack cheese, and serve with jalapeno cornbread or tortilla chips.
Ask Coach Mom: Organizing Meds
by Brenna
From the October issue of my Coach Mom eNewletter:
Dear Brenna,
I’m a new mom with a toddler and a newborn baby. I see all my friends’ children coming down with a variety of illnesses this year and I’m wondering what I need to do to combat the sicknesses that come our way.
Courtney
Dear Courtney,
You are wise to think about this now. I recommend putting together some basic healthcare items to save you time and lower your stress when you are dealing with sickness. I like to keep the items in a shower caddy up on a shelf in the bathroom, both first floor and second floor bathrooms for convenience. Stock it with some basic supplies. These are a few of the things you will find in my kid care caddy:
Bandaids (a variety of sizes)
Triple antibiotic ointment
Thermometer
Acetaminophen (for fever, pain, or swelling)
Ibuprofen (for ages 1+)
Decongestant
Dramamine – to stop nausea during flu (can also be used for morning sickness)
Sunblock
SinuCleanse Kids mist (for allergies and other sinus problems)
Chest Rub (i.e.Vicks VapoRub)
Insect repellent
Be sure to always read the labels and talk to your doctor before administering any medication to children. Two of my favorites in the caddy are the SinCleanse to clear out allergens from the sinuses and Vicks Vapo-Rub to stop a cough. Rub the Vicks on the pads of the child’s feet and cover with socks. It stops a cough almost every time! Also, mark your September calendar with a reminder to get flu shots.
Tip of the Month: Germ Busting
by Brenna
Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) is an inexpensive, non-toxic cleaner. Buy a small hydrogen peroxide spray bottle at WalMart, then refill it with larger bottles from Sam’s Club or Costco. If you using your own spray bottle, make sure it is opaque like the brown bottles it comes in, as it reacts to light.
Use hp to clean almost anything in the house, from walls to carpet, cutting boards to showers and toilets. It is said that following the hp cleaner with a spray bottle of vinegar and water cleans as good as bleach. Remember to disinfect whatever gets touched: doorknobs, keyboards, faucets and toilet flushing levers.
HOMEMADE OXYCLEAN
* 1 cup hot water
* 1/2 cup baking soda
* 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
Mix ingredients. To use on clothes, soak the clothing in it for 20
minutes to overnight; then wash as usual.
Warning: sugar inhibits the immune system!
Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, the equivalent of one 12-ounce can of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours.
Source: http://www.elc.org.uk/pages/healthimmunesystem.htm
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Helpful Tips for Preventing the Flu
1. Frequent hand-washing.
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you Don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents the virus from spreading.
4. Clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with Cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C. If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, multiply, or do any harm.
Don’t forget to say “thank you”
by Brenna
As moms, how many times in a day do we say, “Don’t forget to say ‘thank you'”? I was recently blessed to see a note my 9-year-old son Micah put under his pillow along with his tooth for the tooth fairy.
It really doesn’t take that much extra time or effort to say thanks. When was the last time you thanked your husband for doing something as important as providing for the family or as seemingly insignificant as taking out the trash? When was the last time you thanked a teacher for their investment in your child? When was the last time you thanked your parents for their involvement as grandparents?
Tooth fairies give quarters and maybe even dollars sometimes, but God’s bountiful blessings cannot be measured. Let’s remember to daily thank the Giver of all good gifts.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Ps. 118:1