Helping Hands

My Mom visited recently and brought a bunch of foam shapes. One package was of hands, so I decided to make a wall called Helping Hands. The idea is to encourage my 4 yr old son, Robert, to think about ways to help people who need it. 

So I gave him some examples of how we have helped people recently by making meals, driving friend's kids to school, and bringing baskets of food to a friend who is on bed rest while pregnant with twins. On each hand, I write the person's initial of which family member did the helping, and then I write the names of who we helped. He got really excited when we taped some up for him and some up for me.

Kyran Wilson

Practical Skills Sharing Day

Everyone is in for an extra special treat today.  None of us are wonder women and can do it all, right?  Within Mothers Together we have a wealth of knowledge and experience and it's all about getting to know one another, accepting who we are - strengths and weaknesses and all - and allowing others' strengths to compliment our weaknesses.  We need each other!  Well we have four talented women coming to strut their stuff to help us gain more insights on economical Fall based ideas for hospitality, decorating, meal planning and photography.  These women are sharing not only their passions, but some practical tips and hands on demonstrations.  Rumor has it some of you may even "win" something . . . Should be a great day!

Click HERE for an overview presentation and read on for more information about each topic.

Practicing Hospitality by Lori R 

Romans 12:13 says “Practice hospitality.” There was a day and age when hospitality was a regular part of life. But, in our generation we’ve mastered the art of outsourcing hospitality. That’s what hotels and restaurants are for, right? In Biblical times, hospitality was motivated by the nature of God. As people traveled from place to place, they expected to find a home within the people of God.

Throughout the scriptures we see examples of people opening their homes, sharing meals together and welcoming fellow travelers with a place to stay.  They didn’t have the cultural expectations we have today of having to have a clean home, a gourmet meal prepared and well behaved kids before inviting others into our homes and lives.
 
The good news is that hospitality is NOT social entertaining.  Social entertaining is for the host and it’s stressful, expensive and exhausting. But when you’re practicing hospitality it is for the guest and it’s simple and rewarding.  Simple and gracious hospitality is creating an environment that’s warm and welcoming for the intent of connecting deeply with others.  You don’t have to have the spiritual gift of hospitality to practice hospitality.

Click HERE for complete write up . . . 

Fun Fall Table Decorating by Christine Y 

Decorating.  It's fun.  It's simple.  It doesn't cost much . . . well for some people maybe.  Christine is here to help cross our barriers and make a fall table setting something nearly anyone can accomplish with a little time, creativity (or good copy cat skills) and effort.  Determine your goal, pull together some inspiring ideas, figure out your budget, involve the family , pull it all together . . . voila!!  And then pray over your table and for your expected guests and last but not least . . . HAVE FUN!  

Click HERE for an outline of Christine's approach.

Meal Planning "Win back your dinner hour" by Kristin V

 Freedom and Joy – Learn to control your finances, so they don’t control you or your marriage!  And a great place to start is with meals and groceries.  Click on the links below to learn more about Kristin's experiences and tips and tricks to winning back her dinner hour!!!

1. Meal Planning Tips and Tricks Overview
2. Grocery List Template
3. Consumables List
4. Fix n' Freeze Cooking Group How To

Fix n' Freeze.  Invest in your 5 pm!

Capturing the Memories by Denise W

Join Denise as she shares with us practical tips for photography on the following topics:

• Photo tips - taking better photos, what to wear, getting the shot
• Storage and archiving
• Holiday card ideas
• Photo gift ideas

Pinterest - the place for nearly everything even includes suggestions for family pictures.  Imagine that!

Click here for a write-up of Denise's resources.

What is a Disciple?

What is a Disciple? First, we may want to ask ourselves why it is important to know what a disciple is.  In the Bible, it is recorded that Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV  

So, we have established the most important reason to find out more about what a disciple is - Jesus told us to make them!  I don’t know about you, but when I set out to make something, whether it be a meal for my family, a craft project with my kids, or homemade cleaning supplies to satisfy my inner “greenie,” I don’t jump in without first finding out a little about what it is I want to make.

Jesus says to make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (which Heartland does in spectacular fashion at our annual baptism service at Kill Creek Park - hope you were there to join us a few weeks ago) and teaching them to obey what he has taught us through the Bible.

My daddy taught me that the first place you should go when you don’t know what something means is the dictionary.  In my techie world that has translated into the nifty Merriam-Webster Dictionary app on my iPad (although I haven’t let my daughter in on the fact that it is available digitally - she still has to go to the beloved book with the red cover).  Merriam-Webster defines:

Disciple: (noun) 1. one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers according to the Gospel accounts. Merriam-Webster Dictionary

So, we are to accept the teachings of Christ and assist in spreading those teachings to others as his inner circle did.  Looks like what Jesus told us to do, doesn’t it.  But, what does this look like in us?

According to Greg Ogden in his book Discipleship Essentials: A Guide to Building Your Life in Christ, “a disciple is one who responds in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ.”  He goes on to say that, “being a disciple is a lifelong process of dying to self while allowing Jesus Christ to come alive in us.” 

There is a more local reason to figure out what this whole disciple thing is about.  At Heartland we have a strategic plan.  Part of that strategic plan involves one Big Hairy Audacious Goal (which we tend to just call the BHAG): “To Advance a Discipling Movement in Our City by Inviting Everyone Into a Life-Changing Relationship Over the Next Five Years.” 

Since our leadership has narrowed down what our focus as a community is to be over the next five years to one goal (not to mention calling it out as big and hairy) we should probably take notice and find out how we can get involved.

We have just completed a four week journey on Sundays called Life Changing exploring this further.  If you weren’t able to make it to the services or you want a refresher on what it is all about, check out the podcasts on Heartland’s website.

How would it look for you to “respond in faith and obedience to the gracious call to follow Jesus Christ?”

Morning and Bedtime Routines

Who wants to decrease frustration, chaos, and power struggles in the morning and at night? Yes, me too!  To do this for myself and for my kids, I’ve chosen to set specific routine lists for morning and bedtime (Which are taped to their walls). With routines, our kids know what to do and what is expected of them which decreases power struggles and frustration for all of us at the most chaotic times during our day by setting consistent expectations.

With morning and bedtime routine lists, there is an end in sight and the kids can visually see the end – which gives them motivation to finish the list, because at the end, there are rewards. For example, in the morning, the end may be computer time, TV, playing with their favorite toy, etc. (whatever you decide will work for your kids and your family). For bedtime, the reward may be a book, a song, a story.

Another great reason for routines is so the majority of morning conversations do not consist of “Did you brush your teeth? You need to put on socks. You still need to brush your hair” – and then repeating these phrases 3-4 times, at least. I can simply say, “Look at your list.”

Routines also allow for independence, which is our ultimate goal as parents and, of course, children demand a certain amount of independence anyway, so routines give them what they want.

Not only do our routines teach our children to be accountable, but they also keep my husband and I accountable to make sure we have done our part and didn’t send the kids off to school without breakfast, homework, and the medicines they take, or put them to bed, forgetting snack time, brushing teeth, and the medicines they take - which may have happened in the past…

For younger children, pictures are a great way to begin, and even though they still need help, they learn to start going by the morning and bedtime routines, and then when they are old enough to do the routine themselves, they are already in the habit of completing a list. For my daughter, the age was 7 when she could do her list herself – ages will vary depending on maturity. FYI, I also created a list for my husband, which he likes.

- Tara Godard

Bedtime Routine

Big Kid example: 

1) Pick out pajamas and underwear

2) Get towel and take a shower – don’t forget to put conditioner in your hair!

3) Get dressed for bed

4) Eat snack

5) Brush teeth

6) Go to the bathroom and wash hands

Little Kid example: (use a picture of them doing the tasks or clip-art to show them each step)

Time for Bed!

Go the bathroom 

Take a Bath

Put on pajamas

Knowledge Seekers

The Life of John

Today we will hear from our very own astute Senior Pastor, Dan Deeble, as he helps bring to life the purpose, tone, and relevance of the Gospel of John.  Click here for discussion questions and table exercises. 

In the meantime here is a taste of what we are about to learn as we embark upon this journey.

Source:  Life Lessons: Gospel of John by Max Lucado 

"He's an old man, this one who sits on the stool and leans against the wall.  Eyes closed and face soft, were it not for his hand stroking his beard, you'd think he was asleep.

Some in the room assume he is.  He does this often during worship.  As the people sing, his eyes will close and his chin will fall until it rests on his chest, and there he will remain motionless.  Silent.

Those who know him well know better.  They know he is not resting.  He is traveling.  Atop the music he journeys back, back, back until he is young again.  Strong again.  There again.  There on the seashore with James and the apostles.  There on the trail with the disciples and the women.  There in the temple with Caiaphas and the accusers.

It's been sixty years, but John sees him still.  The decades took John's strength, but they didn't take his memory.  The years dulled his sight, but they didn't dull his vision.  The seasons may have wrinkled his face, but they didn't soften his love.

He had been with God.  God had been with him.  How could he forget?

The wine that moments before had been water -- John could still taste it.

The mud placed on the eyes of the blind man in Jerusalem -- John could still remember it.

The aroma of Mary's perfume as it filled the room -- John could still smell it.

And the voice.  Oh, the voice.  His voice.  John could still hear it.

I am the light of the world . . . I am the door . . . I am the way, the truth, the life.

I will come back and take you to be with me.

Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. 

John could hear him.  John could see him.  Scenes branded on his heart.  Words seared into his soul.  John would never forget.  How could he?  He had been there.

He opens his eyes and blinks.  The singing has stopped.  The teaching has begun.  John looks at the listeners and listens to the teacher.

If only you could have been there, he thinks.

But most of the people here weren't even born then.  And most who were with Jesus are dead.  Peter is gone.  So is James.  Nathaniel, Martha, Bartholomew.  They are all gone.  Even Paul, the apostle who came late, is dead.

Only John remains.

He looks again at the church.  Small but earnest.  They lean forward to hear the teacher.  John listens to him.  What a task.  Speaking of one he never saw.  Explaining words he never heard.  John is there if the teacher needs him.

But what will happen when John is gone?  What will the teacher do then?  When John's voice is silent and his tongue stilled?  Who will tell them how Jesus silenced the waves?  Will they hear how he fed the thousands?  Will they remember how he prayed for unity?

How will they know?  If only they could have been there.

Suddenly, in his heart he knows what to do.

Later, under the light of a sunlit shaft, the old fisherman unfolds the scroll and begins to write the story of his life . . .

In the beginning was the Word . . ."

Source:  Life Lessons: Gospel of John, "Introduction to the Book of John," by Max Lucado

 

Communicating With Your Spouse

This summer a good friend suggested I read "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman.  This friend knows the story of my marriage.  How it was rescued from the brink of destruction and how the resurrection of my marriage led me to Jesus.  This video details that a bit more.

This part of our story is in the past, we're determined to leave it there, and intentionally take steps to keep our marriage thriving.  What I love about this book is that it taught us how to show one another our love in ways that would be best received.  

Since there is an app for everything these days, I searched "Five Love Languages" and I found an app that coincides with this book as well.  You input your spouse's love language and then you get a challenge every week and suggestions for conversation starters.  I would strongly suggest this also.  My husband and I had so much fun practicing these activities and now know new and better ways to share our love.

We are about to begin a journey along side many other couples through Couples Home Improvement working through "The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work" by John Gottman.  This will be our second time working through this book, as it was a tool our counselor suggested we utilize to help revive our marriage.  I am so excited to go through it again with my husband to refresh and remind us before we find our marriage in a crisis.  

More information and all of the dates for the Couples Ministry Home Improvement can be found on the Couple's Ministry page.   
- Nanette Haskins

Real Food

I have been inspired recently to take a closer look at the labels of some of my favorite foods in our refrigerator and pantry. Recently on Facebook, I came across a web-site that started this whole inspiration for me called “100 Days of Real Food”.  My eyes were opened and I was blown away by the ingredients that were in some of my favorite items AND by the ingredients that were not. 

The first thing that caught my attention was my coffee creamer label. I love my morning coffee!  It is often the lure of a cup of coffee that pulls me out of my comfy bed each morning.  Now that Fall is approaching, my favorite flavor of creamer is Pumpkin Spice. Every year I get waaaaay too excited over Pumpkin Spice flavored coffee creamer.  It is a seasonal item, so after the holidays it is nowhere to be found.  I must admit I usually stock my refrigerator with bottles of this creamer to last me well beyond the holiday season.   A couple weeks ago, I took a look at the ingredients in my beloved creamer—water, sugar, corn syrup solids, partially hydrogenated oil… “No milk or cream at all…wait, what did that say? No milk ingredients??? What am I drinking???” And so began the hunt to make my own Pumpkin Spice coffee creamer.  Whenever I don’t know the answer to something I turn to my dear friend Google. I found multiple websites and blogs with such recipes.  I combined a few recipes and here’s what I came up with…

Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

1- 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 Cups Half and Half or Heavy Cream

3 tablespoons pureed pumpkin

1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

4 tablespoons maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract  

In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients except vanilla extract. Set the pot over medium heat and slowly heat the mixture until it is hot and steaming, but not simmering. When mixture begins to steam, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Cover the pot and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain into a jar or another container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

 
Maybe you are not crazy about Pumpkin Spice creamer like I am. Maybe you are a fan of French Vanilla or Peppermint Mocha. A website called Deliciously Organic has super easy recipes with other coffee creamer flavors to love.
 
I made my first batch last week and it was simply perfect! I am one happy girl that delights in the little things in life like enjoying my favorite creamer year-round, with ingredients I know and can pronounce!

~Laura