This may be sacrilege, but I have never really liked pancakes. A piece of bread with an extreme amount of overly sweet syrup just makes me sick to my stomach. So, my poor kids only got them maybe twice a year. Until now! I named them camp pancakes because at first I was thinking of things that would be decently easy to make when camping, without too much mess. That and I wanted something that had some goodies beyond just empty carbohydrates.

So, first I thought of proteins, well I suppose you could add something like bacon, which believe me would be yummy, but it just adds another thing to make, so I figured the protein we put in our smoothies would work, right? It did, it did. We use hemp hearts for our smoothies, they are tiny shelled hemp seeds. These little gems provide not only protein, but a good amount of iron and some fiber. Hemp hearts have a slightly nutty flavor to them.

Next, I was thinking some fruit is always good for us, so we threw in some frozen blueberries (course you might used dried blueberries when camping, not frozen) and chopped bananas. YUM!

(You have to be careful though, who chooses the blueberries, because they may be all gone before hand)

Then, raw crushed almonds, I know it sounds weird, but I am a lover of crunchy food, plus I just like almonds.
(Sadly, I forgot to take the picture of Sugar Plum fairy using the mortar and pestle to crush the almonds, the kids love using it)

Last, but not even close to least, broken Hershey Bars. Or, if your a total health nut, we sometimes use raw organic cacao nibs.

As for the batter, you can use whatever you like. I don’t have a favorite, so perhaps you can recommend to us your favorite and I can try them out.

Oh, Oh! I almost forgot. We add our syrup to the batter, and in my opinion, maple syrup is the best. Plus, it doesn’t have that awful high fructose corn syrup in it.

So, after all that, you slap em on the griddle. (might be best to pour batter, not slap)

And, the let the most qualified flipper take over…

Then, you jump on the couch with your fresh camp cakes and ride with miss Sugar Plum fairy to the beach. (Well, that’s where she said we were headed anyway)

Or, you can just close your eyes and enjoy…

Linking up with Adventurez in Childrearing

I will make something handmade for the first five people who comment!

If you have a blog, facebook, or twitter account please post this in return and make something for your first five as well. Let’s make this a fun and exciting 2012.

The Rules: it must be handmade and completed by the end of 2012.

~It can be as simple as making a friend a cup of coffee if you wish

Calling All Polar Bears – Jan. 7
The ninth annual Polar Bear Plunge will be held Jan. 7 at the “Boro Beach” outdoor pool at Sports*Com. The big slides at the new outdoor pool will be turned on to take the plunge to a whole new level. Brave men, women and children from around the area will don costumes and swimwear and take “polar” dips into the pool. There’s a reason to be freezin’ . . . families to be benefited by the Murfreesboro City Schools Family Resource Centers!

The Polar Bear Plunge is open to anyone 5 years or older who is a fan of having a good time for a good cause. For plungers under 18 years, a waiver/release form must be signed by a parent/guardian.

Each Polar Bear is required to bring nonperishable food items for the Family Resource Centers. Last year’s event raised over 1,200 pounds of food with over 600 plungers.

The average water temperature hovers around 40 degrees, but for the not-so-brave souls, there is a Chicken Plunge into the heated indoor pool. Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. with plunges commencing at 10 a.m.

Sports*Com is located at 2310 Memorial Blvd. For more information, contact Niki Hensley at 895-5040

Scripture

Mark 6:51- 52 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Observation

Even after watching Jesus miraculously feed 5,000 people, the disciples still could not believe that He was God’s son. If they had, they would not have been amazed that Jesus could walk on water. The disciples did not transfer the truth they already knew to their own lives. I read that Jesus walked on water and yet I often marvel that he is able to work in my life.

Application

I must not only believe that these miracles really occurred; I must also transfer the truth to my own life situations. How many times have I doubted that God could truly change things in my life? How many times have I lost faith just like the disciples? I am not questioning my belief in God, just my ability to lay all of my problems at God’s feet and truly believe that he can handle all things. While I know that he can, how easy is it, to wait to pray or call on God in a situation, because I think I can handle it. How does one go about having the faith of a mustard seed? The only way I know to do this, is to stay in His word and to give each day to Him and to ask Him for the wisdom and faith that I so desire. Solomon asked God for wisdom and God obliged… A little girl (in a third world country) prayed to God for 7 years for a large following of Jesus Christ to come to her community, God answered. (7 years y’all, keep praying I say, he answers them all)

Prayer

Lord, I put my trust in you. For I know that when I falter, you will always be there to pick me up and carry me. Lord, help me to remember and be content in your answers to my prayers. For I know that as you do answer all prayers you answer them the way that is best for our lives. I love you Lord and I seek to understand your word and your will for my life. I seek to have the faith of a mustard seed. Please help me not to harden my heart to your ways. I love you Lord and I thank you.

Amen.

Caramel + Apples + Bar of Yummies = Happy Birthday Boy

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman that fears the Lord is to be praised” Proverbs 31:30

I am such a pitiful work in progress. So, when you read previously that I was doing a 30 day, “Path to Community” post, I am sure you were expecting it to be a consecutive 30 day post series, right? Well, me too, but between procrastination, cleaning vomit, migraines, and downright pushing my luck against God; I haven’t gotten it done.

Do you remember the last post? Day 1, was about listing my time priorities and God letting me know that I needed to be getting up early, say around 5ish. I totally balked. PLEASE, pray for me. Balking has not in anyway made things easier. So, here I am many days later working on Day 2.

Day 2, is pretty simple really. He said get up earlier (He = God), so that you and me can have some time together in peace and quiet. Time spent in learning, building, reading, praying, and giving my time to the Lord.

~I am putting my list up again to remind me for this season of my life what is important. Once again it may change as God works on my heart and mind.

My List

God Time
Husband Time
Family Time
Caring for House Time (cleaning, caretaking, cutting wood, etc.)
Caring for Family Time (cooking, bathing, teaching, etc.)
Community Time (outside of the home, with family & friends & strangers)
Reflection Time (To look back on my day and see what can be changed or done better)

Scripture

Mark 5:32-34 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Observation

Jesus was not angry with this woman for touching him. He knew she had touched him, but he stopped and asked who did it in order to teach her something about faith. Although the woman was healed when she touched him, Jesus said her faith caused the cure. Genuine faith involves action. Faith that isn’t put into action is not faith as all.

Application

Its hard to step out on faith sometimes. At least for me it has been. When I do though the rewards are many. I think sometimes people try and rely on faith alone to fix things. It reminds me of the story/joke about the man standing on the top of his house while flood waters surround him and he prays to God about sending help and God sends several options for him to be rescued, yet he denies each one, because he is expecting a miracle or perhaps God himself, who knows. We can pray and pray for help and God opens many doors, but we have to do our part and walk through, work through, and/or change things in our lives with our faith. God can do all (I mean ALL things), but just like the woman above, sometimes we need the lesson. Take action in your faith.

Pray

Lord I come to you rejoicing today, because of the times I have put my faith into action as you needed me to. It was a hard lesson that brought such rewards. At the time of the reward, I rejoiced for the ending, yet now I am able to look back at that time and see better the lesson not just the reward. Thank you Lord for your mercy and patience with me as I learn. Please help me to remember that I cannot live by faith alone, that I must take actions.

Amen~

Good Morning folks, I hope you are blessed this day and given the opportunity to bless someone else.

Scripture

Mark 4:24-25 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it we be measured to you – and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

Observation

As you read God’s word carefully read it and think and pray about it for understanding and that your heart and mind be opened to it. The more you read His word and apply it to your life the more you will understand. His truth’s are clear, but our ability to understand is imperfect. Yet, as we obey the more it will sharpen our understanding of His word. However, if you do not stay in God’s word daily the harder it is to understand and recall His word, which in turn makes it harder to live this life.

Application

I feel my life is a perfect observation of those verses. I can see the days that I don’t spend time in His word. They seem more chaotic when I play them back in my mind. I forget the many verses that I have read and instead try my own remedies for that days problem. Do you know the more I spend in His word, not only do I understand more but I relinquish my pride easier and pray first instead of after all things have fallen apart. From my human mind I tell myself some days that I do not have time today to spend in His word, but if I only had that day, then that day would have gone smoother. I need (NEED) to take time each day in God’s word and in prayer to not only understand God’s plan for my life more completely, but also to live life more abundantly. So, I guess the application is no matter what, take time each day to study God’s word and spend time with Him in prayer.

Prayer

Lord, I want to live each day for you. To do this I know that I need your hand in my life. I need you each and every day. Please give me that strength or give me what I need to do this with you Lord. To build our relationship as father and child. Thank you so much Lord for your word and for knowing what is best for me. If left up to me Lord, I would most likely destroy it. I love you Lord, thank you for sending your Son, I cannot imagine that sacrifice. The love for one’s own child leaves me without words and you gave yours to cleanse us and save us. Thank you for your sacrifice. All I can say is thank you thank you thank you, for all you have done for me.

Amen.

“My Precious Ones”

It doesn’t look good when I say I am doing a 30 day post series and miss already after two days. Sadly, the stomach flu has hit our house I and I haven’t been close to a computer in two days. Please forgive my absence and I will be back shortly.

Guess, step #2 in God’s Plan was to rest up a bit.