How you interact with others in the morning has the ability to direct the rest of that persons day. I remember learning that lesson when I worked as a receptionist in my early 20’s. Thankfully I was a morning person and was always peppy and smiley. I remember trying to get a smile out of each employee that would come in carrying their mega mugs of coffee.

As a mother of five it’s not as easy anymore. Now I’m the one dragging in the mornings as my sweet daughters bound down the stairs asking what’s for breakfast.

“Cereal,” I manage to say…again.

And their sweet little faces drop. I know like children on Christmas their hearts are hoping for eggs or banana bread or cinnamon rolls. But cereal again? Thanks mom, but no thanks.

One morning I had grown tired of disappointing them. I woke early and made rainbow pancakes!

They were elated! I honestly believe that the girls thought the pancakes tasted better.

Such a small but memorable lesson in how to love and serve. My children still get cereal on most days, but occasionally I enjoy surprising them with a special treat.

Maybe you don’t have time to make pancakes. Kids are getting ready for school and you’re getting ready for work.Check with your local supermarket. I know that when it gets to supper time our grocer sells the donuts from that morning for $1.99 a dozen. Is it healthy? Absolutely not. But one treat every blue moon could give lasting memories.

Interested in making rainbow pancakes? They are incredibly easy to make. Take your favorite plain pancake recipe. My favorite happens to be Good Old Fashioned Pancakes. The important part is the coloring you use.

If you want really intense colors opt for the Americolor food colorings. Usually sold at cake supply stores. They are a gel and last a very long time. You’ll only need a few drops of each color for a double batch of pancakes.

No matter what you choose to make or how you choose to serve just know that you’re creating special memories for your children and/or spouse.

Rainbow pancakes are a great opportunity to tell the story of two great servants to the Lord, Noah and Joseph.

Blessings!

Twice in the past six years I’ve taken an entire day off and allowed my children to bake banana bread. That may sound slightly dramatic {and maybe it is} but a lot goes into overseeing little ones with eggs and such. I know how much they love it.

The way their eyes glitter with excitement as they dress themselves in aprons and chef hats.

They learn to share and help their sisters. And the sharing of banana bread around a table. Well, I never knew a loaf could go so quickly. We really should make this a quarterly event if not monthly. However, it’s so difficult for me to give over control.

The amount of restraint that it takes to not measure out the flour, or crack the eggs, or pour the milk is overwhelming. I do help clean up when the spills happen but otherwise I try {very hard} to stay behind the camera. Encouraging their little hearts that they can do this all on their own. After all, we’re raising them to be able to raise their own are we not?

Now you don’t have to make banana bread. You don’t even have to cook {though from my experience that is a strong love of children}. Maybe your ‘thing’ is to go fishing? Or it may be as simple as allowing them to take their time and read you a story instead of you rushing through a book to put them to bed. Folding clothes? Painting? Building? Playing a board game? Go a step farther and allow your kids to create their own board game! The board, pieces, rules and all!

Whatever you choose give up total control. Build up their confidence!

— As I was typing this up my oldest came and asked if she could bake muffins with the help of her sisters. I won’t lie, I hesitated but then gave her permission. I’ll be there to oversee but I can hear their busy little bodies in the kitchen now retrieving all the ingredients. Though she asked I refused to crack the egg. —

For fun I wanted to share with you the first Banana Bread Day.

Here is one of our favorite recipes. Enjoy!

They are to teach what is good,  and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,  to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Titus 2:3-5

Since we moved south we’ve discovered a hidden passion for gardening. Something I swore I would never enjoy. Yet here we are with four box gardens filled with life filling foods. Yet for some reason we can not get our tomatoes right. The first year was decent, a rather large harvest. Last year our crop was destroyed by an army of tomato worms. And this year our plants took off! Twice as big as the previous years! But they will. not. turn. red. I would verbally yell at them. TURN RED! Yet they stayed plump, firm and green. I finally broke down and put some in a paper grocery bag with a bunch of very ripe bananas. Voila! A couple cherry tomatoes turned red. Not even enough for a salad.

I knew there had to be something more we could do. And there it was. Why had I been so blind to such an easy solution? I was so incredibly focused on what I didn’t have that I missed what was right in front of me.

That’s right.

Fried Green Tomatoes.

And because I have five littles my mind raced to The Bearenstein Bears. Do you remember the episode where Papa was determined to dig up a stump from his yard? “This stump must go!” But by the end of the show he had turned his problem into a beautiful picnic table for his family.

When there’s a problem you can’t figure out try to find a good side to remove your doubt – Mama Bear

And it also reminds me of Balaam and the talking donkey. Balaam was so stressed and focused on seeing King Balak that he abused his donkey for going to slow and going off track. But what Balaam didn’t know was that his donkey had seen an angel with a sword and was protecting Balaam.

The next time you’re finding it hard to see the good in a situation, remember that the Lord sees all. He knows the past and He knows your future. Trust Him. And in the mean time look for the good, for the blessings, that are surrounding you.

Fried Green Tomatoes – the easy peasy recipe

Slice your green tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Dip into a bowl of two well beaten eggs. Then dip into a bowl of italian seasoned bread crumbs. Fry in a pan that is 1/4 inch deep in vegetable oil. Fry each side for two minutes and drain on paper towels.

Blessings!