College Send-Offs and a Parent’s Heart

August 11, 2015August 7, 2015 RefreshHer13 Comments

The month of August brings the resuming of college classes. Anyone sending one of your children off to their first year of college? I remember facing that heart-wrenching time when both of our girls left home to further their education. It was tough, but the Lord ministered to my heart so wonderfully, and I blogged about it when it happened with Alli. I recently found that post, and wondered if it would be helpful to share again. Here it is:

This weekend found us moving our daughter to college. Whew! Thank the Lord for a mini van!

As she sat in the floor of her room packing the last of her belongings the night before leaving, she got a bit emotional about the transition that was in front of her. I understood – my emotions have been in my throat for a week. I’m so happy for her, yet it’s just unbelievable that this time has come so quickly. I’ve gone back and forth – happy, then melancholy; excited, then fearful.

God knows what we need before we do. Yesterday morning in the church service we attended, a song was sung by the choir with the pastor singing the verses as a solo. The song? Consider the Lilies. I love the song; our family has sung it in church with one daughter at the piano, the other on her violin accompanying my husband and me. Remembering us singing it recently made it special. But the words were a sweet reminder that I can trust my God for the care of my younger daughter at college. She’s young, she’s new at college life, but He is aware of where she is and what she needs and I can trust Him – especially when I consider the lilies… Matthew 6:27-29

God also gave me a wise husband who planned for us to get away to the beach after taking our daughter to college. He suggested that we take some vacation time, before going back home. How smart that was! We prayed and the Lord has provided a lovely condo at an extremely reasonable rate. Here’s the view out our patio window…

As I had my devotions recently I read Ecclesiastes 3:1 –

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

Immediately the Lord brought to my mind that there is also a purpose for every time. How I long to use this season of my life to honor the Lord. It would be very easy to live for myself now that I have more free time, but I want it to count for eternity. I’m asking the Lord for the purpose of this season, and I pray that this week while we’re away He’ll show me a bit of what that may be.

How wonderful it is to relax after a very busy summer. So for now I’ll rest…and consider the lilies.

Consider The Lilies
Written by: Joel Hemphill

Verse I
Consider the lilies they don’t toil nor spin
And there’s not a king with more splendor than them
Consider the sparrow they don’t plant or sow
But they’re fed by the Master who watches them grow

Chorus

We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy
And a heart full of love
He really cares when
Your head is bowed low
Consider the lilies and then you will know

Verse II

Now may I introduce you to this friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars and tells the sun when to shine
And kisses the flowers each morning with dew
But He’s not too busy to care about you

I pray that if you’re sending a child off to school, or one of your children has left to get married, or whatever the case may be, you’ll be encouraged that God is aware and He cares for them – and for you! If you need proof, just consider the lilies.

with love,

Grilled Sweet Potatoes Rescue Boring Sides!

August 10, 2015August 7, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Is it just me or do you get really, really tired of same side dishes for supper?

Beans, corn and potatoes.

Good in their own rights, but boring after a while. I even serve sweet potatoes, but even a plain ol’ baked sweet potato can get tiring.

Soooo, how about a Hassleback Sweet Potato covered with a Molasses/Butter? Yes, please!

I saw Bobby Flay make these on the Food Network a few weeks ago and knew then I had to make them! I made one potato and split it for my husband and me, therefore I also had to tweak the recipe, but it was fabulous!

Hassleback Sweet Potatoes with Molasses/Nutmeg Butter

I served the Sweet potatoes with grilled steak and fresh asparagus. I’ve shared my favorite steak marinade here. It was a perfect pair with the sweet potatoes!

Grilled Hassleback Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients
4 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed
Kosher salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 heaping tablespoons molasses
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper
Canola oil, for brushing

Put the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, add 1 tablespoon kosher salt, bring to a boil and cook until a paring knife inserted into the center of the potatoes meets with some resistance. (Do not cook through.) Drain and let cool slightly.

Mix together the butter, molasses, cilantro, orange zest and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use

Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium high for indirect grilling.

Cut off a thin slice of each potato lengthwise to create an even base for the potato to rest on. Slice off the ends of each potato. Rest each potato between two chopsticks or wooden spoons placed lengthwise along the potato (to act as a stop for the knife) and carefully cut vertical slits about every 1/8 inch.

Here’s my picture of how I did this. The spoons work better than the chopsticks. It keeps you from cutting down too far.

Brush the potatoes with the canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the potatoes on the cooler side of the grill, cover and cook until lightly golden and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.

Place the potatoes on a platter and immediately smear the tops with the butter mixture, making sure it melts into the cuts.

Here’s the finished meal:

I ask you, does that look boring?! I hope you’ll turn up the volume on supper and try this side dish!

With love from my country kitchen,

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Buying & Organizing Gifts Ahead of time

August 7, 2015August 6, 2015 RefreshHer10 Comments

We may hate it when Cracker Barrel starts putting their Christmas decor up in August, but you know, they might be doing you a favor! If you buy your gifts that early, you’ll be far less stressed when the holidays arrive!

I actually try to buy most every gift months ahead of time. I want great stuff marked down, so every time I’m out shopping, I have my eyes open for a bargain. I try to have all my Christmas shopping done by October or November.

I even purchase random baby shower and wedding shower gifts, as well as hostess gifts for that invitation that catches me off-guard.

The names and gifts are blurred to keep the receivers guessing!

Once the gifts have been purchased, I write down what I bought under the receiver’s name. I use the maker board pictured on this post, but you could also use a simple notebook. I keep the board hanging in the closet where I ~~hide~~ keep the gifts. That way I know exactly what I’ve already purchased and what gifts I still need to be shopping for.

If you haven’t started buying for the holidays, now is a good time to start! There can be some really great sales in August. Make your purchase, then write it down so you’ll know what you have stashed away!

Anyone else have tips for buying early and keeping it organized?

Stay refreshed!

children · Parenting

Is Your Child’s Education Your Idol?

August 6, 2015August 25, 2015 RefreshHer4 Comments

In my recent Bible club with my little students next door, I taught them the second commandment –

You shall not make unto thee any graven image.

In other words – Don’t worship idols! But I needed to establish in their hearts what an idol is. I used this definition that I heard on a radio message –

“An idol is anything I love, trust, serve or fear more than God.”

Now, if you’re a mom with children in school, will you look at the definition above and ask yourself if your child’s education has become an idol to you? We gasp and say, “But education IS important! If my child fails, he’ll never make anything of himself! How will he ever have a career? I HAVE to push him and make sure he gets good grades!” Please hear me – I’m not suggesting that you allow your child to be lazy or flunk out of fifth grade because he’d rather play baseball! But I’d like for us to consider five ways you make your child’s education more than just important, but an idol in your life:

It becomes the first priority in your home. In other words, your church attendance and participation, your schedule and extra-curricular activities all revolve around school. If there’s a test to study for, or homework to do, it comes first. You will skip church to make time for them to work on school. It’s an idol.
You talk to your child more about his grades, homework and lessons more than you talk to him about God and His Word. It’s an idol.
You fear what will happen if he fails or does poorly more than you fear him not doing the will of God for his life. It’s an idol.
You’re devoted to him getting good grades so he can make a good living, rather than him loving God and seeking His will – whatever that may be. It’s an idol.
You talk to others about your child’s achievements in their education more than you talk about their obedience to God’s Word and ways. It’s an idol.

So, how are you doing? Did these questions reveal any truth about an idol in your heart regarding education? You can trust God with your child’s education and with their future! Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you! Matthew 6:33

Lovingly,

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