Lent '11: Letting Go of Judgment, Challenge 6

Last week's challenge was very time consuming for me, but it was a great experience. More than anything, I love the idea of researching a different view and opening up a (friendly!) dialogue. I truly believe we can all learn something from each other.

There are only two challenges left. Can you believe it? Here's our Week 6 Challenge:

Try the other side, even if it's just once, and see how it goes. Obviously I would never suggest you do anything that goes against your faith or morality. But try something, from small to big, that's "different" for you. Be it drinking a soda, letting your kid try a Pop-Tart, or visiting a different denomination church, do something you wouldn't ordinarily do. Is it what you thought it would be?

Come on back and tell us about it.

I look forward to trying something new and I hope you do too!

Please come back to see me next Wednesday so we can talk about it and get our last challenge, okay?

Button design by the spectacular Sidnie

My Thoughts on Drinking Raw Milk

Lent '11: Letting Go of Judgment, Challenge 5 RESULTS

In case any of you have forgotten (or if you're new here- welcome!):

Week 5's Challenge was this:

Seek out information on an opposing viewpoint. Research a little. Find out what others think that makes them reach a different conclusion.

I read. A lot. I paid special attention to the links listed below. (Try not to be bothered by how, quite frankly, incredibly judgmental both of those posts are at some points. I think it comes from defensiveness since so many people attack the raw milk proponents. I'm not concerned about it.) Anyhow, rather than try to type it all out (I did try and it was LONG), I thought I'd just chat with you all for a moment and share some thoughts...




(p.s. Yes, I know my words do not match up with my lips in the video (it's not your computer, I promise)... and I can't figure out how to fix it! If it's really driving you batty, let me know in the comments, through email, or via twitter and I'll be happy to email you a link that DOES match up. My apologies for that!)

Links referenced:

Will the Real California Happy Cows Please Stand Up? from CheeseSlave
Why Skim Milk Will Make You Fat and Give You Heart Disease from The Healthy Home Economist

Did you participate this week? I'd love to read about what happened! Link up below or tell me about it in the comments:

The Secret to Crispy (not crunchy) Cookies

Don't judge my cookies by their cover, okay?

Rainy day + Webcam = Lousy Food Pics

You all get that, right?

Anyhow, this isn't so much a recipe post as it is a quick tip for adding new life to your own tried and true chocolate chip, oatmeal, or peanut butter cookie recipe:

After all other ingredients, stir in 1 to 2 cups of cereal. (My faves are Rice Krispies or Rice Chex, but don't feel limited!)

Why, you may wonder? It will transform the texture and add a layer of crispness without making your cookie hard or too crunchy.

Try it! And let me know what you think.

p.s. That green wall? My new kitchen color! I love green.

Linked to:
Tasty Tuesday
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Menu Plan: 4/10 - The "I'm Not Spontaneous" Plan

Ack. This kitchen renovation, while lovely, is seriously cramping my cooking style! Not only have I had days where I couldn't get at ANY of my major appliances, we've also been so busy on the weekends that we haven't made it to the store to do our major monthly trip.

Have I mentioned I am not the spontaneous sort???

Ah, well. 'Tis just a season. For this week, I'll be winging breakfasts and lunches a bit (I foresee oatmeal, muffins, eggs, quesadillas, and sandwiches on rotation!) and serving up the following "on hand" things for supper:


Sunday- Grilled Cheese, Applesauce

Monday- Fusilli w/ Red Sauce, Broccoli, Garlic Bread

Tuesday- Eggs in a Nest w/ Diced Honey Ham, Grapefruit

Wednesday- Chicken and Rice Enchiladas

Thursday- Souped Up Tomato Soup, Cheese Bread

Friday- Fire Roasted Tomato & Shrimp Pizza

Saturday- Macaroni Salad w/ Chicken, Carrots, etc.

Linked to Menu Plan Monday

What A Difference A Week Makes!

My poor youngest who looked like this last week...


... is back to her sunny self!


Kissing a 104 degree fever bye-bye? That's a finer thing, for sure!

(Are your babies sick? Lots of my Twitter friends seem to have illnesses moving through their families. Please let me know, if so, so I can keep you in my prayers!)

How Your Character Should Be Measured

If the apples you served your children with breakfast were not organic...

If you polished your mirrors with Windex instead of vinegar...

If you still use a beloved cake frosting recipe that includes Crisco...

If you wash your hair with Pantene and not baking soda...

If you don't make your own cookies...

If you let your children eat cotton candy at the fair...

If you haven't scrubbed your floors in two weeks...

If the chicken you bought this morning came from the supermarket and not the farm...



If you ever feel like you're not measuring up to a godly standard...

... this is for you.

You ARE a good mom.

You ARE a good wife.

You DO love your family.

There's not a thing wrong with making changes or letting your opinions grow and change.

But do not believe the lie that this is how your character should be measured.

When Your Child Isn't "Typical"

This little one- my C.- is kind of crazy. She's stubborn and silly and sometimes, quite honestly, maddening. There are times she acts helpless and whiny and that is like nails on a chalkboard to me. And, so, sometimes I forget...

She is tough.

She just doesn't have to prove it everyday like she did back in her NICU days. Thank God for that.

Today, I took her to see the ENT. The tubes she had placed in her ears in April of 2008 were still there. They weren't functioning, mind you, but they weren't making their way out of her ear canals either. Her canals are just so very narrow.

We've been going back every three months just to hear the same thing, "They're still in there. I don't think I can get them out. She won't like it. See you in three months."

Today I asked if he (the doctor) was willing to try. He agreed, making sure I didn't get my hopes up.

Two minutes later, the tubes were out. C. never flinched.

"I have to tell you, Mrs. S., this is highly unusual. To remove objects that far in the ear with children this age, we typically have to go to the OR.'

C's not typical.

Thank God for that, too.

(Thanks so much to my Twitter tribe who prayed this morning... we are so grateful to have avoided going into surgery! C's history with anesthesia isn't great...)