Soulful Sunday: Celebrating Your Family Identity

Author:
Jim Burns, Ph.D.

for the full article click here. below is a small portion

Talk about faith :
Spiritual topics don’t always come naturally for families. Discussions about God, however, can help build family identity. They also help kids have strong convictions as they get older.
Maybe you have some anxiety about starting a faith conversation with your children. Remember, your talk doesn’t have to be forced or lengthy; it can be simple, short and spontaneous. Let the discussion be as natural as possible. Getting preachy with your children can be just as unhelpful as avoiding the topic of faith.
One way to create opportunities to share your faith with your kids is to pray with them every day and do a weekly family devotional, even if only for five minutes. When your children are exposed to God’s truth in small amounts, it can, as a friend of mine says, “help them develop a sweet tooth for Jesus.”
Jesus said, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
This truth applies to families. At some point, storms will come to every family. But when you proactively build a strong family identity on the rock of Christ, your family can withstand whatever winds and rains come your way. A strong family identity will give your kids a solid foundation to cling to during those difficult times.

Lovely Green & White

Bow-Strap Dress: Gap, Puppy: CB2, Sunglass: Janie and Jack, Daisy One-Piece Swimsuit: Janie and Jack, Pressed Vinyl Dot Runners: CB2, Tiny Basket Bowl: Branch
Thermal Carafes: Bodum®, found at Sur la Table, I am not sure where I found this Moses Basket (sorry) here is a search link to Google for Moses Baskets, Little Harbor Large Tote: Halsea, Lady Martha Abernathy: Matte Stephens, Textured White Vessels: West Elm

My virtual lemonade stand

Join me and get cool for a cause with your very own virtual lemonade stand! This is supporting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF). For every virtual stand opened, Electrolux will donate $1 to OCRF. Click here to visit my stand, and here for more information and to open one of your own.

Keep your cool

The summer heat can put a damper on the great outdoors, especially in Texas! This umbrella may provide some relief from the heat. Coolibar Titanium Beach Umbrella ($70)

Mommy Monday: Belly Bandit

I did not know about this product when I had my baby, but if I had, it would have made the "to buy" list. Check out the Belly Bandit post pregnancy abdominal binder here.

How to Cut a Mango

Of all the fruit, the mango has to be one of the most difficult to cut, at least it is for me. For years I have settled with a mushy mess of mango, but no more. Thanks to the recent spring 2009 issue of Weight Watchers 20 minutes recipes, I now know how to cut a mango!

"Begin by holding the fruit, stem end up, on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, slice the fruit lengthwise down each side of the flat pit. Holding a mango half in the palm of your hand, score the pulp in square cross-sections. Be sure that you slice to, but not through, the skin. Finally turn the mango inside out, and cut the chunks from the skin."

Our little girl E will be so happy, because this seems to be her favorite fruit these days.

Breakfast on the Go!

Weekday mornings can be rough, especially when it comes to getting a healthy breakfast in, before running off to work. Quick and easy is a must! So, in the spirit of saving time and money, I found this Strawberry-Banana Smoothie to be a yummy solution.

(From the Spring 2009 Weight Watchers, 20 minute recipes magazine)

Prep time: 2 minutes

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup ice cubes

1 (6-ounce) carton strawberry fat-free yogurt

1 small banana

Place all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Serve immediately.

Yield: 2 servings (serving size: about one cup)

Per Serving: Cal 122 (3% from fat); Fat 0.4g (sat 0.1g); Pro 5.1g; Carb 26.9%; Fib 3g; Chol 3 mg; Iron 0.5g; Sod 56mg; Calc 141mg

(Above blender found at Williams Sonoma)