Patriot Moms

Raising children is one such season. I remember very well how the days can pass in a blur from one sunrise to the other and how truly exhausting the responsibilities can be when children are small.

In fact, it often feels that way still. Now that my kids are a little older, our days are incredibly busy, even though they are able to do many more things for themselves. I continue to realize how quickly time is passing with my kids, and there is urgency in my heart to train them in the things that matter.

I find myself begging God for more time, but what I really need to do is make sure I am using the time we are given wisely. I have to stop and ask God, "What time is it today?" This requires a conscious effort on my part to be proactive in "renewing my mind" (Romans 12:1-2).

I pray God will help me to understand "what time it is", to focus my heart on the moment at hand, and to accept (and even embrace) that time with gratitude, rather than longing for another.

"There is an appointed time for everything." Ecclesiastes 3:1

This is a great recipe to make and freeze for a second meal. I love this soup, especially on winter nights.

TACO SOUP

1 pound chicken breasts

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 cup onions, finely chopped

1 clove garlic minced

2 packages taco seasoning

1 can corn

2 cans petite diced tomatoes

1 cup water

4 ounces Salsa Verde

1 can black beans

1 can pinto beans

4 ounces chopped green chili's

Boil chicken. Shred with a fork. In a large pot, saute' onion and garlic in olive oil until done. Add shredded chicken and taco seasoning and mix well. Add all remaining ingredients to the mixture. DON NOT DRAIN canned ingredients. Heat through. This can be served immediately or simmmered for hours.

Top with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

Congratulations to the 2010 Providence Academy Spelling Bee winner

7th grader Mitch Guthrie, and runner up 6th grader Marjorie Jackson.

The winner will represent PCCA at the Benton County spelling bee next week.

If you would like to attend the bee to support the Patriots, it will be Saturday, January 23, at 9:00 A.M. (check-in for participants is 8:30) in White Auditorium at NWACC.

Good Luck representing PCCA Marjorie! Mitch will be attending the basketball tournament in Oklahoma City with the PCCA basketball team.

Providence won the Benton County spelling bee last year, so GO PATRIOTS!

Patriot fans,

Submitted By Jennifer Mitchael, Patriot Mom

It has been a bit crazy in the Mitchael household these past few weeks. A snow storm, back to school after the holidays. I am looking at the nativity set I have yet to put away from Christmas. I bought it for half price the day after Christmas, so I hate to put it away yet. It got me thinking, though.

Isn't that how I want Jesus sometimes? Half way? I want the easy version. The one that's comfortable. I want to sit in the same place each week at church, talk to the same people, eat lunch with the same couple... But this is NOT the Jesus I am coming to know.

Quite a few of the situations Jesus found himself in, or put himself in, were LESS than comfortable. He didn't hang out with the popular folks. He didn't dress the way others did, eat what they did, drink what they did. He was different, and He caused change.

I used to think I liked change, but a lot of the time, it's painful. People disappoint, friendships change, relationships falter, children leave. I don't like it.

Jesus however, His LOVE for me never changes! It is the steady in my life. He is changing me, I hope, hope, hope. But sometimes it hurts, hurts, hurts. I don't want to do this life half way.

Jesus, change me...

Psalm 51:10

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Submitted By Marissa Henley, Patriot Mom

I tried something new this year. In October, I read on a friend's blog about how she and her friends encouraged each other to finish their Christmas preparations (shopping, wrapping, cards, decorating) by December 1. When I read that, I knew immediately that it would be a great idea for me. Since having kids (maybe before, but I can’t remember life before kids), I find myself stressed out every December.

By Christmas day, I am exhausted and overwhelmed, I haven’t cracked a Bible open in weeks, and I know I’ve been too consumed by all the work to spend time talking to my children about Christ’s birth. Not exactly how I should be preparing my heart or my family to celebrate the birth of our Savior!

This December, I was going to visit my sister and newborn nephew for 5 days right before Christmas, so I had already gotten an early start.
When I read my friend’s December 1 goal, I kicked it into high gear and got it done. Here’s how it all went down:

Early October: Asked for wish lists from family members
Mid-October: Started shopping (was almost entirely done by mid-November), using Amazon.com and other sites with free shipping to save time Late October: Bought outfits for kids’ Christmas picture Early November: Took Christmas card picture, updated Christmas card address list
Mid-November: Started wrapping gifts; wrote Christmas letter, got cards printed, got return address labels, stamps, etc.
Thanksgiving week: Addressed Christmas cards, finished wrapping gifts Weekend after Thanksgiving: Decorated house, cards were ready to mail
December: Talked about Advent with the kids, Christmas crafts with kids, baking, holiday gatherings, school parties, cleaning, travelled to Utah

As you can see, December was still pretty full. It was a little more chaotic than I thought it would be, due in part to my pre-Christmas travels. But I knew it would have been so much worse if my shopping, wrapping and cards hadn’t been done! Next year, I'd like to simplify December even more by doing some baking and freezing in October. I hope to have one signature item that I pull out of my freezer and take to all the holiday parties. (Like fellow PCCA mom, Lynette Duncan, who spent December providing us all with the most scrumptious cinnamon rolls ever.)

If you found yourself overwhelmed and exhausted this Christmas, consider joining me for the December 1 Challenge 2010! Make a timeline now so you are ready in October or September or whenever you need to start to give yourself time to enjoy Advent and prepare your heart to celebrate Christ’s birth. I want that to be my purpose in doing this: not to impress others with my organizational skills or be the first Christmas card you receive, but to make time to mediate on the incarnation, the Word made flesh, God coming to earth to save His people from their sins.

By Megan Morgan, Patriot Mom

Read alouds are an excellent way to encourage your child's acquisition of the spoken word and learn proper intonation, but it can sometimes be hard to sit down to read. You may also like to enlighten your mind while your hands are active. The free downloadable books through the library are an excellent way to do this, both for yourself and for your children.

At the Rogers Library there are 2 free applications, Net Library and Library 2 Go (also available in Bentonville). For Net Library I had to go into the library and be set up with an account by the resource desk and then download the software on to my personal computer. You can search for these books using the library's online catalog or the Net Library database. For Library 2 Go you log in with your library card number and away you go. You need a computer with sound to play the books or even better an MP3 player or Ipod/phone. After downloading to your computer you can then transfer it to your portable device.

There are times that I hit a technical snag or two but the enjoyment of reading makes up for it. Plus you can never have an overdue or lost book to return! I'd love to hear back from you about great online books. I currently am listening to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes after seeing the recent flick and have The Jungle Book for the kids and I. Enjoy!

How to turn an extended break into a blessed family vacation.

You’ve had family, food, fun, gifts, and now kids are bored with the new gifts, and they are starting to fight with each other. Perhaps this is not the scenario in your house, but unfortunately, it is commonplace among kids with too much idle time.

A few extra chores in the morning will help that afternoon play time seem like a blessing. In our house, we have worked on the unpleasant task of wiping the dust off of the horizontal blinds. Even my 7 year old can take a rag and start wiping; many hands make light work. It’s amazing how eager they are to get alone and play after having an hour or two of housework. It takes the boredom blues right away, and it helps the family at the same time.

Some other thoughts to chase away the boredom: Family read aloud. We have been reading through Little Women (even Josiah likes to listen because Laurie is cool). With all the school reading, we hardly have time to read aloud. It has been fun to pop some corn, and all cuddle up around a good book.

Another great activity that has been lost in the world of Wii and DSI is family game time. We have enjoyed Bible Pictionary together as a family. It is hilarious to see the kids trying to draw Joseph’s coat of many colors. My seven year old’s drawings are so cute, I want to keep them for laughs later! Games like Scrabble, Boggle, and Yahtzee, can be educational and fun. It means so much to kids when Mom and Dad sit down and play with them.

If you don’t have the Global Puzzle, it is a must for every family. Puzzles can pass away the hours, and are a great way to get the whole family involved. Dad might not have time for a game of Pictionary, but put a puzzle on the table, and he will often stop by to put in a piece or two. The Global Puzzle ($12.00 on Amazon) is a puzzle of the world, but here’s the beauty of it: each piece of the puzzle is the actual shape of the country. So kids learn what each country in Africa looks like, and where it goes on the map. This one is a good tool for adults too!

For the girls, we have spa night. (Okay, so a certain boy might have participated too, but he wouldn’t want you to know it.) I get out the Satin Hands kit from Mary Kay, and we do the pre-moisturizing cream, the apricot scrub, the hot water soak, and the after lotion, on our hands and feet. What a treat! We have a good time splashing together.

We have enjoyed Sculpie, oven bake clay. We build things out of this clay, and then bake it to harden. My girls have made miniature furniture for their little toy creatures. Josiah has made swords and characters from the Redwall series.

I know you can think of many other things to pass the time away. I would encourage you to limit electronics. Television, Wii, DSI, video games, and computer games are great for every now and then, but 30 minutes a day is plenty. If a kid spends 5 hours a day staring at a screen with lights flashing and nonstop activity, he will have a difficult time focusing when he returns to the reality of classroom learning. Let’s not hinder our kids by using these electronic devices as babysitters. Kids need to use their hands, brains and imagination. Let them have to work to imagine the story taking place as you read it. For kids that can’t sit still, give them a lap desk and some coloring supplies to color a picture related to the story you are reading. Let’s use these extra days to bond together with our children. How often do we get unscheduled family days together? Cultivate joy in your home. Work together, clean together and then have a blast together!

Blessings in Christ,
Cindy Palen

Submitted By Kendall Evans, Patriot Mom

As we prepare for this next decade, consider for a moment the role of a teacher and that of a student. The hours of work and preparation that go into teaching, and the observation of your student to know how best to teach him. You know well the patience it takes when trying to get your student to really KNOW a concept that is vitally important to his future without your presence to guide and direct him. You also can relate to the stress and concern a teacher feels for students that struggle when learning vital concepts. How much easier it would be to have a “flip top opening” at the top of their heads so we could literally pour in the necessary knowledge (and remove the un-desired)!

Think for a bit about Christ’s relationship to his disciples (not too different from that of our own students right?). He knew how best to teach them. He taught them in parables and by demonstration. He made his concepts fit the current time and political climate. He knew each one’s weakness and strength and stretched each one according to his own ability. He did not give up in the midst of frustration, but patiently prodded. As demonstrated in the gospels Jesus would say “Do you not yet understand?” but he kept patiently teaching, knowing that the “light bulb” moment was coming! (I believe he knew about electricity LONG before it was discovered too! )

Read Matthew 14: 22-36.
In verses 22 and 23 it is being described that Jesus literally made everyone go away from him. Not rudely but insistently, in order to be alone and to pray. He knew he had a big lesson to teach that day! So he MADE time to fill himself up with the presence of His father!

In verse 24 notice that Jesus KNEW EXACTLY where the boat containing his students was! Maybe that is why “he went up on the mountain,” so he could keep watch and know where they were. (Just a personal observation....) Jesus also perceived the coming distress upon the boat and his students. Notice how he sent them out into the sea in a boat. It was an experience appropriate test… they were all familiar with a boat, and choppy waters! They were already experienced fishermen, but he was not protecting them from danger; he had a specific lesson to teach that could only be LEARNED in the midst of the storm… (allow that to wash over you for a bit). Notice that the emphasis is on the word learned? Jesus could teach the lesson many, many ways; however, he knew the short “time frame” he had to teach, and he also knew intimately how his students learned. It was time for them to “test their wings.”

Beginning with verse 25, Jesus knew his students so well that he was already calmly approaching them (in the midst of a brewing storm). In their confusion, the students did not recognize that Jesus was there to help them. In fact, they accused him of something terrible (like many students who lash out during a difficult lesson). They lashed out at the one who loved them the most and who was there to help them learn. Scriptures say that they “cried out in fear.” We all express outwardly our frustration and fear in the midst of unfamiliar situations, not recognizing the very calm presence of the ONE who is there to help us through our trial, don’t we?

Jesus’ response to them in verse 27 was not to chastise them, but was one of encouragement. I believe that because of the preparation, awareness, observation, and anticipation, Jesus spoke power into his students saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Paraphrase: “It’s ok, we’ve been preparing for this, and you know what to do. I know you can do it! Come on!” He enabled the “light bulb” to turn on for Peter in the midst of the storm.

It is in this moment that Peter is the first of the disciples who demonstrated understanding of exactly who Jesus was. He made a HUGE request of Jesus, knowing that ONLY the son of God could fulfill. “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” and Jesus said “Come!” and Peter did! WOW!! Think for a moment the excitement they BOTH felt! You know how much it means when your student, your beloved child finally gets a concept you have both been working on. He at long last understands a lesson that has been really tough to learn. There have been tears, and long days, blank stares and resistance. The bubbling joy you feel as a teacher and parent is almost indescribable isn’t it? How blessed we are to experience this feeling right?! Not to mention the joy and relief your student feels and finally pressing past the barriers that have enslaved them in a lack of understanding! That is pure misery!

Well, immediately Peter became self conscious (like we all do), and lost his focus on Jesus (like we all do). But for a moment, he had punched through the canopy of fleshly reality into the supernatural reality and experienced the very POWER Jesus came to impart to us all. (That whole concept is a complete new rabbit hole not to be pursued at this time…)
After Peter and Jesus got into the boat, everyone worshiped Jesus, and gave him glory. Do we remember to worship God and give him honor and glory when we or our students learn a lesson? Hmmm… I’ll sure start!

Things to ponder:

Even Jesus got frustrated when his students had difficulty learning what he was trying to teach. Patience and persistence was his response.
Jesus allowed others see that he MADE TIME for God. Sometimes he arose before everyone else, and sometimes he just asked for some solitude.
Jesus kept himself filled with God especially when he had an important lesson to teach that day.
Jesus was always aware of where his students were physically, experientially and emotionally. He made sure he had positioned himself to keep proper perspective of the whole situation.
Jesus demonstrated his faith in his students by allowing them to test their knowledge, because he knew they were ready for the ensuing situation.
Do we employ the tools of; preparation, awareness, observation and anticipation and like Jesus speak power into our students?
Do we teach our children to fear the storm or do we teach them in the midst of it?

Know this:
We are all going into, enduring, or coming out of a “storm”. He has prepared you, He is aware of you, He is observing you and He is anticipating your needs. You are empowered, what has He taught you? Step out of the boat knowing that He is who he says He is and you are prepared for this!

Patriot Moms,

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We hope your 2010 spring semester at PCCA is a blessed one.

Providence will be closed due to inclement weather on Monday, January 4th.

Enjoy an extra day of Christmas break!