I admit it! I'm more of a Martha personality who finds myself being a Mary wanna be in regards to spending time with Jesus. It's so easy to fall into the trap of being fully occupied and missing out on the greatest opportunity to mankind. Now at this time of year, the stress of cleaning, decorating, shopping, family photos, cooking, card giving, present wrapping can have us in a whirlwind of distraction.  Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42 (KJV)  Jesus knew spending time with the Father was the most important decision we could make and that is exactly what He did. While I've made a conscious effort to make listening to God a priority, I still find it a struggle to tune everything else out of my mind during my morning time. Spending quality time with my family and friends has been a real challenge as well.

"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10: 41-42 King James Version (KJV) 

Just recently, I attempted to watch my son's Pre K Thanksgiving program, without holding up my phone's camera screen between us, because I thought it would be nice to focus on him in the moment (ok, to be completely forthcoming, I only decided this minutes before he sang because the storage in my camera was full). However, the special moment lasted only seconds as his teacher looked at me and said aloud, "Come on, mom, aren't you going to record this?" during his first song. I couldn't exactly yell across the room and explain what I was trying to do, so I watched my son but was still distracted by how I must have looked like a terrible parent. I don't hold this against her or myself, but it made me aware of how hard it is to just sit still and really focus on God and the people in our lives without distractions and stress.

Aware of how hard it is to just sit still and really focus on God and the people in our lives without distractions and stress.

Some Thanksgiving gatherings are stressful for many reasons: the preparations, family discord, food allergies, unrealistic expectations, a recent death in the family, and the list continues.  One thing that has really hit home with me, after my cancer surgery, is that this life is short and the people we share Thanksgiving with will not always be around and neither will we. Our time here is limited. 

Our time here is limited. 

Looking at these pictures remind me of the song, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables from Les Miserables. I have lots of photos of family gathered around the table from years ago, but many of those loved ones are no longer coming to the table with us. Their laughter, voices and hugs are greatly missed. But there is One who holds eternity in His hands and has a place for those who put their trust in Him. Those who spend time with Him, and have a relationship with Him.

So how do we close the door on stress and distractions this Thanksgiving? Get alone with Jesus and focus on Who He is and what He has done. Come to Him with thanksgiving and praise and make time with Him a priority.

Looking for a fun way to teach children about Veteran's Day and celebrate those who have served our country? Try these Patriotic Gluten Free Cupcakes topped with an American soldier and the American flag! They're easy to decorate and my boys really enjoyed helping in the kitchen, since chocolate and toy soldiers were involved.

Since our family has gluten, yeast and dairy intolerances, we were happy to find Pamela's  Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix and Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Cake Mix. We followed the directions and substituted Silk Almond Milk for cow's milk and olive oil for butter, using the same amounts given in the directions. These two mixes yield eighteen delicious cupcakes.

Around the Fourth of July, I stock up on cupcake kits from The Dollar Tree. They are hard to find at other times of the year. The toy soldiers are usually available year round. Just wash them with soapy warm water. Very easy and fun for children to decorate for Veteran's Day programs and it's nice to have a gluten free option for other classmates.

Hope you enjoy making these as much as you do sharing them. No doubt you will greatly enjoy eating them!

 A big "Thank you!" to all the men and women who have faithfully served our country!. There is no cupcake that can ever come close to thanking you enough!

With Love,

Christina

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Have you ever used the words: please, thank you and you're welcome? Well, chances are you didn't come into this world with an innate sense of manners, but instead learned those words from your mother or someone who cared about your future and your social interactions. As the mother of a five year old, I'm constantly reminding my son of how to ask for something, how to let someone know you appreciate their efforts and how to graciously respond to thanks given. It is a daily repetitive process. Today would have been my mother's 71st birthday, and I just could not help but be thankful for her constant daily repetitive reminders, for they were instrumental in changing my behavior and later, my heart.

The other night, I was having a difficult time with my youngest and then came across this picture. Seeing this photo of my mother holding up my Raggy Ann birthday cake is of great comfort to me as a mother now. My mother was not feeling well the day of my third birthday party, and I was clearly pitching a fit over something that didn't go my way. Yet she pushed through with patience, dealing with my obstinate ways for many years. As I now struggle daily with what seems like an ongoing battle with raising my own children, I am reminded how important the job of motherhood truly is! It is by far, the greatest undertaking of my life. I've had to change my behavior and learn how to be the best for someone else's future.

Everyday, I strive to change my child's behavior (only when it is inappropriate) and direct his steps. To help him grow into a thoughtful and respectful adult, but I don't want his responses to be like that of a robot, with no genuineness behind them. I want his heart to be sincere and honest in using those words. So we have good talks about manners, their origins and why they are so important. That's what my mother did with me. She served as a Sunday School teacher and I still remember her sharing God's love with me and other children as she used a felt board to tell the marvelous story of Jesus. But she didn't leave it there at church, she talked with me at night and during the day of God's love. She continued to talk with me about God and reminded me of manners throughout the different stages of my development. It was her teaching me the two values intertwined that instilled a change my behavior and my heart. Just exactly as the verse goes, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he shall not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

A friend of mine at work told me a funny story about how she handled a certain situation with her children, in a way that demonstrates how God loves and disciplines us. Her children had some candy that she was holding onto for them. In order for them to have the candy, she told them to clean their room and they could have it. They delayed and came back to her asking for the candy and she again told them to clean their room. Well, can guess where my friend had hidden their candy? She hid it in their room, so that when they decided to obey her, they would find the candy. Pure genius! I can see how God does this with us. There is great rewards when we come to Him with a thankful and obedient heart. There is so much He wants to give us, but He is teaching and training us, changing our behavior and our hearts in order for us to receive all that He wants to do in and through us.

So if your a parent, don't be discouraged in all the repetitive reminders you give your children. Know that what you are doing is important, worthwhile and long lasting. Remember that God is training us daily, just as we are training the little ones He has given us. When we obey His voice, we will find way more than just candy and chocolate!

Happy Birthday, Mom and thank you! Thank you for your example, teachings, patience, love and most of all for pointing me to Him!  I'm beyond thankful to God, that He is all about relationship as He teaches us daily. 

Thank you for reading and I mean that truly from my heart!

With Love,

Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

​"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

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