Patriot Moms

Monday Meals For Moms 0 comments

Submitted by Joy Looney, Patriot Mom

Minestrone soup

Brown together:
1/2 lb. sausage (I often use Italian turkey sausage)
1/2 C celery, diced
1 C onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced

Add above to:
6 C. chicken broth (or even more if you like)
1 16 oz. can garbanzo beans (or navy beans)
1/2 C. diced carrots
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 C. chopped cabbage
1 diced zucchini
little bit of dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Right before you are ready to eat, add 1 to 1 1/2 C. macaroni or any kind of pasta like shells.
Simmer for 15 minutes longer until pasta is cooked.
Add grated parmesan cheese to individual bowls when serving.

Enjoy!

Moms Christmas Brunch 0 comments

We are so excited to host our 7th annual Mother’s of Providence Christmas Brunch on Thursday, December 2nd at 9:30 AM in the East Campus Youth Room. You should have an invitation in your blue folder. Be sure to return it on Tuesday, November 30th to take part. Take note that this is the Tuesday that we return from Thanksgiving break.

We need your RSVP and $5 as we are having a lovely catered brunch. You won’t want to miss out on the scrumptious crepes that will be made to order, as well as a variety of other yummy items.

Come enjoy some fellowship, food, and encouragement. We hope to see you there.

Happy Thanksgiving 0 comments

Spirit Day Thursday 0 comments

Thursday is Patriot Spirit Day. Students can wear their favorite PCCA t-shirt with blue jeans. Also, if your child ordered Chick Fil A, there is no need to pack a lunch.

More Than Enough 0 comments

Submitted By Lori Bova, Patriot Mom

Hello, My name is Lori and I am a recovering perfectionist.

Did you know that deep inside I am an uptight, stressed out, perfectionist? God started revealing this to me over the last couple of years. In 2008, I was diagnosed with another autoimmune disorder that is exacerbated by stress. Not only were my crazy, nit-picky ways making me sick, I am quite confident that they were making those around me “sick” as well. In 2009, I was able to go to the annual NAUMS conference in Dallas. The first session that I attended was titled “Perfectionism vs. Excellence.” Read more about the session HERE.

Needless to say, I cried the entire time because God was convicting me right there (in front of everyone!). God also began putting other mommas in my path that do things differently. While I know that I don’t need to “look” like them, I am always up for learning a new way to approach something. He showed me through all of these things that He was getting NO glory from my perfectionist ways. I wanted the credit for a job well done. I craved the recognition. I wanted to be the Super Mom.

I began asking myself, “What and who are your striving for?” I found that I was striving for something that was unattainable and self-gratifying. As I continually fell short of the “goal”, I felt like a failure and feared rejection. He began to show me that as long as I was striving for anything other than Him, it would never be enough. The house could never be clean enough. The kids could never be well-behaved enough. My husband would never be perfect enough. The finances would never be enough. (You fill in the blank with your “never enough” thoughts.) I now realize that I had little faith that God could use me. I certainly was not willing to let Him take the wheel and get my attitude on the right course.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am so thankful that He sometimes (“often” is probably more appropriate here) allows me to fall to my weakest point so that I can find Him there. He outweighs all of our earthly striving and accomplishments to a degree that we cannot fathom. HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!

Library Volunteers Needed 0 comments

We need parents to volunteer in the east campus library on Tuesdays from 11:15 until 12:30.

If you are available to help, please e-mail Mrs. Spreutels at PSpreutels@Providence-Academy.com

Monday Meals For Moms 0 comments

Submitted By Desiree Weber, Patriot Mom

This is a family favorite. It can be doubled and frozen as well.

Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

2-3 chicken breasts
1 whole onion-chopped
3 celery stalks-chopped
1 small jar of pimento
1 small can of green chilies
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 half package of Velveeta cheese-cubed
1-2 pounds of whole wheat spaghetti noodles (or other pasta)-cooked according the package.

Brown your chicken breasts and cut into small pieces. Carmelize onions and celery. Add pimento, green chilies and chicken to onion and celery mixture. Place cooked pasta in 9x13 dish. Add vegetables and chicken. Pour soup and cubed cheese over. Stir thoroughly. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. I usually stir the pasta 1 or 2 times while it is cooking.

I have also added a can of Rotel, mushrooms, various peppers, and jalapenos. This is a good recipe for those who want their little ones to try new vegetables, without them knowing!

Easy Rolls
1 package frozen bread dough rolls
1 stick of butter
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon basil, oregano, or other italian seasonings

Let rolls rise about 2-3 hours. Spray cake or bread pans with cooking spray. Melt butter in one dish and combine with garlic. In another dish, add your seasonings. After dough has risen, individually dip each roll in the butter and then the seasonings. Place in pan. The rolls should be crowded so that they overlap. Let them rise again about an hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until browned. My kids love to make these!

Enjoy!

Through The Fire 0 comments

Earthquakes, floods, hunger, car wrecks, cancer, terrorism, ecoli, Alzheimer’s, flu,…the list of calamities with which we are faced is innumerous. Tragedy lurks behind every turn, and manifests when we least expect it. There is never an end to prayer requests for safety, healing, and comfort to families who have lost one they love. The world spins and sometimes we feel out of control. We look to the politicians to protect us and bring peace and safety, but they continually fail us. Where does one find rest in this chaotic depraved world?

God reminds us,
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome that world.”
I John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

I John 5:4-5 "For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Sometimes God delivers us from the fire, but sometimes God delivers us through the fire. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, we often are thrown into the fiery furnace, but God will be there with us, taking us through the trial.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Let us not grow weary in well doing, and lose faith. As trials come, and they must, let us look to the author and finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not be like unto the world, but rather let us believe God and see what He will do when we have faith as a child!

Cindy Palen
Patriot Mom and 5th grade teacher

Code Red! 0 comments

Tuesday, November 9th is our first home basketball game of the season against the Ft. Smith Patriots at 6pm at the west campus.

Tuesday at school is our "Code Red" day. Wear your red uniform shirt to support our Patriots! At the game, either wear a red Providence T-shirt, or a red uniform shirt.

There will be a Pep Rally at each campus during the last 20 minutes of the school day. Go Patriots!!!

Monday Meals For Moms 0 comments

Submitted By Marni Wyand, Patriot Mom

Note: I found this recipe on Southern Living years ago. I like to use half beef/half sausage (see alteration at bottom). It makes a lot, and freezes well, so I typically fill two dishes and freeze one. It is my standard "deliver to friends" meal. The green chiles are what make this unique.

Cheesy Sausage-and-Tomato Manicotti

Yield: Makes 6 servings

1 (8-ounce) package uncooked manicotti noodles
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles with garlic, oregano, and basil
1 pound Italian pork sausage
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water. Drain.
Process tomato sauce and diced tomatoes in a blender 20 seconds or until smooth. Set aside.
Remove casings from sausage, and discard. Cook sausage in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Stir in cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Spoon into manicotti shells; arrange stuffed shells in lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Pour tomato mixture over shells; sprinkle with remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let casserole stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle top with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.

Note: Casserole may be assembled and frozen up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight; bake, covered, at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 more minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. If you prefer a smaller casserole, use 2 (11- x 7-inch) baking dishes. Proceed as directed.

Ground Beef and Tomato Manicotti: Substitute 1 pound lean ground beef for sausage. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon fennel seed. Proceed as directed.

Enjoy!

Teacher Appreciation Week 0 comments

Monday Meals For Moms 0 comments

Submitted By April Jackson, Patriot Mom

I tried this recipe sort of by accident tonight. I had too many cooked spaghetti noodles that needed something to go with them. I did an online search for an easy recipe that consisted of things I already had at home. I found this one and it was a HUGE hit! One of my PCCA kids took one bite and said, "Can I have this for lunch tomorrow?"

Spaghetti Pie
1 lb spaghetti
1 lb lean ground beef
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
garlic powder to taste
26oz jar pasta sauce
3/4 cup sour cream
1/2 pkg cream cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente: drain.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a skillet, brown the ground beef. Drain and crumble. Along with cooked beef, stir salt, pepper, garlic powder and pasta sauce into skillet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine sour cream and cream cheese. Set aside. Coat a 9X13 baking dish with cooking spray and add the cooked spaghetti. Spread the cream cheese mixture over it. Add the meat mixture on top and sprinkle with the Cheddar cheese.

Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 more minutes.

Enjoy!