be content.

are you satisfied with your life and role in life?  do you find yourself wanting more? 

remember a couple of posts ago we looked at being a "virtuous" wife according to proverbs 31:10.  virtuous, when looked at in the greek translation means "able and content."  we have already looked at being able, so this week it's all about being CONTENT!

This is a tough one because society has programmed us to always want MORE.  more money, more kids, more time, more help around the house, more peace, more free time.....I'm sure we all have our "more" needs.  But just for today, let's consider the possibility of being content with things just the way they are.    The dictionary definition of content is "a state of satisfaction."  It doesn't say that content means you have everything you've always wanted, that you're not doing without, that you're perfectly and blissfully happy....it just says SATISFIED. 

God has given you this life.  Enjoy what you have.  Find that peace through being SATISFIED with where you're at, who's with you, and what you're doing.  Yes, you can still want more....but be satisfied with things as they are at this moment. 

Here are some areas to think about.  See if you can find some satisfaction in any of these areas in YOUR life.

1) Your Kids.   Find a place of satisfaction with what God has given you.   If you don't have any kids, but want them....God has a plan.  If you have some kids, but want more....God has a plan.   If you have all the kids you can handle, and are just trying to keep your sanity....God has a plan.   It's hard to remember this, but HE truly does know what He's doing! God can bless you with more children if that is HIS will for your life.....and He doesn't need you worrying and reading fertility books and eating crazy foods and vitamins each day to GET pregnant.  HE can do it.   And if you already have all the kids you think you want, be satisified with your situation.  Raising kids is hard.  It's a ton of work that never ends.  And sometimes we grow weary and tired and exhausted, but GOD can give you the strength and perseverance to continue shaping them into the men and women they will become.  Just seek GOD and you will find the contentment and satisfaction with your current situation.

2) Your husband.    If you have a husband, thank God for him everyday.   Focus on his positive qualities.  Relish in the things he DOES do for you.  Don't allow negativity in when thinking of your husband.  It seems that so often in today's world, women are quick to judge and condemn their husbands for not being what the women "want" them to be.    That's not fair to your husband.  God made that man and GOD is the only one who can change him if some things need to be changed.  And it's not up to YOU to decide what your husband can/should/could be doing better or differently!  I feel so strongly about this one because I see so many men being emasculated by their wives.  We as wives are not MOTHERS to these men.  When you emasculate your husband, you are making him weaker, making him lose his vigor.  Give that man a PURPOSE!  Let him be himself and stop trying to control and change him.  Let GOD do the work while you love your husband and pray for him and show him a Christ-like example through your service to him.  {I better stop there because I feel an entire blog post coming up on this topic!}  Basically, find peace.  Find a place of satisfaction with your husband.  And this contentment usually starts with YOU -- when you stop trying to control or change him, but just decide to serve him with love each day, then you will feel more content in that relationship.  Try it.  Then let me know how it feels.  It's really quite liberating on your OWN life.

3) Your home.  Be satisfied with your home.  The narrow closets, dead tree out front, cramped living room, and stovetop with one burner out.  These things can cause us some frustration.  They can make us feel like moving or neglecting our household chores because we are so focused on the "problems" we see.  But listen, think about where you'd be if you didn't have that house.  There are millions of people who sleep WITHOUT a roof over their heads in this world.  And there are millions of people who have it much worse than you do.  I'm assuming if you're reading this that you have internet access, some sort of media device, and enough money to pay for those services/devices.  So you've got it pretty good, babe.    God can bring you a bigger house, a newer house, a house in a different location, or just a house with bigger closets.  But let GOD bring it to you.  For now, find the peace and be content with the house He has already blessed you with!   Take care of what you have, tend to it, make it WORK.  Then God will see that you are taking good care of what He's given you and He will open up doors for the things you wish for.

4) Your money.  God wants your prosperous.  Somebody's got to be rich in this world....it might as well be the children of GOD!  Claim it.  I'm claiming my share!   If money is an issue in your world and you are not content with your situation, take a look at where it's going.  Stop wasteful spending.  Lattes for $5 a day?  Purses that cost you $200-$500?  Shoes costing hundreds of dollars?  Clothes?  Eating out several times a week for hundreds of dollars a month?  These things are NOT necessary for a happy life.  What can YOU give up?  Pick one and do it!   What about subscriptions?  Cancel them!  Sirius radio, while nice, is not a necessity.  You have radio for FREE in your car already.  Magazines?  You can check those out at the public library for free a month after they come out!   Cable?  Do you REALLY need 300 plus channels?  Maybe you can just reduce your cable bill by reducing your subscription, or cancel it altogether.   And what about cell phones?  They are outrageously expensive.  I love having a cell phone....it gives me a sense of security when travelling and being able to reach my husband anytime if I need him.  But my kids don't have cell phones.  (okay, they are only 18 months, 5 years, and 7 years old...but I know 7 year olds with cell phones!)   If money is tight, cancel that phone that you bought your kids!   My husband and I believe that a cell phone isn't necessary for a kid until they are driving age.  And by that point, my boys can get their own jobs and make enough money to PAY for that phone themselves.   Now if your kids have their own phones, you are probably offended and mad at me right now.  Don't be mad.  This is how WE do things.  I'm not saying everyone has to be like us.  But I AM saying if money is tight, ditch the phones.  They are NOT a necessity...no matter what you've convinced yourself so far. 

Ultimately, the one way you can find peace, satisfaction, and contentment in all these areas is to bring it all to God.  Do you tithe?   God blesses the tither.   When you are not giving 10% of your income to your local church, then you are basically telling God that your car (how much is that payment per month again??),  your new purse, your new shoes, or your kids' cell phones are all more important than Him.  Ouch.  I know that hurts.  We were there once ourselves.  It seemed there was no "room" in our budget to "give to God."  But this isn't just about giving.  It's about sowing seed.  And through you sowing seed into God's kingdom, you will reap.  You WILL be blessed.  Trust me.  When we started out, we put $20 a week into the church's offering plate.   That's literally ALL we could afford.  And that wasn't anywhere NEAR 10% of our income.   But we were faithful.  And consistent.  And pretty soon we were blessed.....maybe a large amount of money came in and we were able to pay off a loan.  Or we got raises or bonuses.   All these little things started happening that HELPED us.  We were able to give more and more to our church.  And eventually we got to the point where we WERE giving 10%.  And now we are able to give even MORE than 10%.  And God has blessed us richly.   He continues to provide for us.  He continues to give us that peace, that satisfaction, that feeling of being CONTENT with where we're at, who we're with, and what we're doing.  And NOTHING can replace that feeling of peace.  Not a single $300 purse or $200 pair of shoes, not a meal at Wendy's or a meal at a fancy restaurant.  NOTHING can replace the CONTENTMENT we feel from God because we are faithful to His word. 

Talk to God today.  Find time when you're alone (in the car, in the shower, in bed at night) and just ask God what to do.  He will talk to you.  You will have ideas and thoughts put into your mind that you KNOW came from Him.  Listen to what He says and follow His directions.  And watch His immeasurable peace and satisfaction come over your thoughts and your life.   And remember.....just be content.  

be able.

i'm able. everyone at my house is fed, clothed, tended to daily. i cook. i clean. i organize. i help people prepare. i lead. i pray. what more is there to being "able"?

remember last week we talked about proverbs 31:10?  {Who can find a virtuous woman?  for her price is far above rubies.}   remember, the word "virtuous" here was translated from the greek meaning to be "able and content" as a mother/wife/woman.  so this week we are going to discuss being more "able" in our womanly roles.  and next week we will take a look at being more "content" with where we're at. 

i think we all have an area {or two} where we could use a little more motivation or assistance with our womanly/motherly duties. what is your area? take some time and do some reading in that area and let God give you the guidance you need to be MORE able. before starting your search for reading materials, take time to thank God for giving you the power to serve your family. ask Him to direct you to the right resources you need that can help you most in your weak areas.

the internet is a great tool to do some searching. your public library will also have a wide selection of books available in any area you need a little guidance in. and amazon. i <3 amazon. yes, i am an amazon prime member. and for a [well worth it] annual fee, i get free two-day shipping from amazon. my ups man knows all about my love for amazon. amazon is great for reading reviews of what other people thought of the book as well as sometimes getting to read several pages from the actual book right there on the website! and, all of you with your e-readers of course, you have books right at your fingertips! get busy reading; you have no excuse!

here are some books i have read in the past few years. i enjoyed them all, and while i'm sure there may be other books out there better suited to you and your needs, these were great for me. they are a great start if you're just not sure what you even want! click on the pictures to see the listings on amazon and read more about each book.

this is an easy read. lots of useful info.

{AND, I will be giving away my copy of this book to one random person who leaves a comment on this blog post before Saturday, March 24 @ 12:01 am.}

ever heard of dr. laura? she has a national talk radio show. and she gives it to ya straight! 

okay, i have to admit. i've never read this. but i want to. my MIL {mother in law} says this was the "it" book when she got married in the early 70s. and supposedly it's still a great asset to being a great wife. (ever hear of the saran wrap surprise? i guess it originated here!) i plan to check this one out at our library the next time i'm in there.

love this book. helps you see some things maybe you've forgotten because you're so busy living.  my favorite concept from this book at this moment is to "listen with your eyes" to your kids.  when my kids are telling me stories or just talking to me, i am often cleaning, cooking, on the computer....and while I'm listening, I'm not really SHOWING them that I'm listening.  because of this book, i am currently working on stopping what i'm doing and making eye contact with them while they talk to me.  it breaks my heart to think they are the most important people in my life and i don't give them the attention they need to know that i truly care about what they tell me.  how often do you "listen with your eyes" when your kids are talking to you? 

 

so now you have some starting points to becoming more ABLE. do some praying. do some research. God will give you the tools to help you. even if you don't think you need any help, if you will open your heart to hear from Him, you might find an easier way or faster way of doing what you already do!   what is your area that you'd like a little more guidance in?  i think for me, i'd like to be a little more "able" to play.  i'm so busy DOING things that i feel like i don't take enough time to truly play with my kids and let other things just wait.   i'm going to work on that.  even if i have to make a to-do list that says "stop working and play with kids for 30 minutes,"  at least it would be a set thing that i would feel "has" to get done. it would help me start with a NEW way of doing things, a better way of doing things. 

so tell me....do you have a favorite book or resource that helps you become a better or more able mom/wife/woman?  I'd love to know what it is!  

Please leave a comment on this post!  One random "commenter" will receive my copy of becoming the woman of his dreams!   I will announce the winner next Sunday on the blog post about being CONTENT.   I can't wait to hear from you! 

 "Who can find a virtuous woman?

for her price is far above rubies." (KJV)

~ proverbs 31:10

we've all read this passage or heard it before....but let's really LOOK at it.  the wonderful thing about God's word is that when you really search it, and study it, and explore it....it means so. much. more.   i think you will be surprised to examine this statement on a deeper level.  so let's go....

first, think about the word "virtuous."  what do you think it means to be a virtuous woman?  before studying this word, i would have told you that to be a virtuous woman meant that you were morally just, that you were faithful and true to your word.   thefreedictionary.com defines virtuous as "moral excellence; upright; chaste (morally pure)."  so, i guess my internal definition wasn't too far off, and more than likely you had a similar thought in your head when first reading that scripture.  but when we look at the hebrew root of the word virtuous, we see that it comes from the word chayil, which means "efficiency, strength, ability."   and when looking at the greek root of the word virtuous, we find it means, "able and content, through the idea of humbly seeking God through prayer."  (we are going to use the greek translation for our study because it's so simple.)

so when a man finds a virtuous woman, he has found a woman who has the strength and ability to BE A WOMAN!  yes, being a woman is complex and complicated, and being a wife or mommy is very time consuming and requires a great commitment and devotion....but we are all capable of being exactly what that man needs by seeking God first and therefore becoming content and able! 


before we look at ways to be "able and content" in our roles as women, let's finish looking at the rest of the scripture.  a woman is worth far more than rubies.  in today's times that might not sound like much. seriously, no one is wearing big bright rubies on their fingers....they're wearing DIAMONDS.  diamonds are a girl's best friend.  a diamond is forever.  it's the rock, the bling, the frosting.   we're probably all thinking, "what's the big deal about rubies?  DIAMONDS are where it's at!"  but think again ladies..... {you know, God's word never lies}

this photo shows an 8.62 carat ruby ring sold at Christie's auction in 2006 for over

$3.6 million dollars. (click the photos to see the detailed sale listings)

and this photo shows a 17.65 carat diamond ring sold in 2009 at Christie's auction house for only $967,167.  did you catch that?  this diamond is more than TWICE as large as the ruby and sold for less than ONE-THIRD the price!  do you see how valuable you are yet???  you're worth FAR MORE than rubies!  rubies were a symbol of royalty in biblical times; all the kings had rubies placed in their crowns.   true rubies are very rare.  that is why you don't see them on every gal's finger like you do diamonds.    and that is why God's word compares your worth to RUBIES, not diamonds.

 {man, that diamond is pretty}

okay, FOCUS ladies.....get your EYES off that diamond {i know it's hard to stop staring at that beauty} and let's get back to seeing YOUR worth!  which, if you remember, is SO MUCH MORE than that diamond anyway. 

if we are ABLE and CONTENT with being a woman, being a wife, being a mom...then we are valuable.  far more than rubies.  get it?   you don't have to be perfect.  you don't have to take your kids to every karate class, soccer, baseball, basketball, and tennis tryouts in town, piano lessons, voice lessons, and dance/gymnastics/whateverelseyouthinktheyneedbuttheyreallydontclass!  those things don't make you virtuous.  wearing that prada handbag isn't making you virtuous (and neither is your discount store bag btw).  piling your hair up high on your head or wearing that extra long streak of eyeliner isn't making you virtuous. {but i'm not dissing your style, sister.  wear it proud!  be who you are!}  just realize that all those things aren't making you YOU.  God already made you who you need to be....all this other stuff is just fluff.  {and we have a right to fluff.  we like fluff.  i'm not advocating getting rid of your fluff.}  just realize that all we do to SHOW our selves to the world is really not SHOWING our virtuousness at all.  to be virtuous, all we have to do is be ABLE to do our duties and to be CONTENT with them.


next week we will take a look at what it means to be able and to be content in our roles as wife and mommy.  but for now, just recognize your worth.  walk with your head held high this week as you perform your motherly and wifely duties, recognizing the esteem you hold in your womanly position.   because even though every ruby has a price on it, no matter how high...you, my sister, are truly priceless. 

for my second post, I feel like I need to take a step back.  I was so caught up with my VISION last week that I just had to get busy WRITING!  so now, let me explain what this blog is....

after attending a three-day women's conference last weekend, i awoke Sunday morning with a SUPER strong vision from God in my head.  He clearly told me to start my own "ministry" of sorts....using articles and postings to bless other Christian mommies.  It was one of those revelations where you wake up, grab the nearest paper and pen and just start writing....as quickly as possible and in the hopes that you won't forget anything God just revealed to you!  it was exciting, and i am super excited to begin this new direction in my life. {yes, i do realize i don't capitalize many of my words like i should....i just prefer it this way.  grammar-nazis, unite!}  what i write on this blog will be direct.  it will be based on the word of God.  it will be based on revelation that God has placed in my heart to share with you.  i speak (and write) with a focused intensity.  i don't believe in sugar-coating what i'm going to say.  and i'm not condemning you if you don't already do the things i write about here....that's why i'm here.  i am dealing with these issues myself....i'm not perfect and i'm not the ideal proverbs 31 momma, but i am striving toward that goal of tending my family in the way God directs me to in His word.  and i feel that God wants me to take you with me.  please enjoy the writings, please leave comments, and please have an open heart to receive from this what God intends for YOU to do in your life.  that is my goal.   

the reason this blog is called "mitera: ministry in motherhood" is because in my vision i kept CLEARLY seeing "M.I.M."  I told darrik (in case you don't know, that is my amazingly talented and handsome husband) all about my dream and the initials.  we brainstormed together that day and came up with "ministry in motherhood."  "mitera" means "mother" in greek, which was the original language that most of the new testament was written in.  most of my posts will be related to the proverbs 31 woman, and therefore, we thought a word derived from greek origin would be perfect!  although many wouldn't consider moms "ministers" we truly do have that calling on our lives.  we minister to our children and our husbands as we serve them and speak kindly to them.  as a mother, that is when we are at our most Christ-like in putting others before ourselves in so many ways.  so with that explanation given, let's take a look at another tip to help us become more like the proverbs 31 woman.

proverbs 31:27 says, "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." (NIV) or "She oversees the care of her house. She is never lazy." (easy to read version)

as a mom, it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day tasks of wiping noses, sweeping floors, cooking, organizing, cleaning, running errands, tying shoes, doing laundry, and just generally making sure everything in your home and your family is running as smoothly as possible.  there is really not a lot of "glory" in these tasks on a daily basis.  we don't get certificates of achievement, raises or bonuses, the proverbial pats on the back, or even a high five from a kiddo for doing our "jobs" well on most days.  and that's okay.  our payoff is in seeing our homes running smoothly, seeing happy and well-fed people in our homes, and being the "glue" that keeps the family tight. {and that occasional comment from a 4 year old, "you're the best mom I've ever had!"  well, thanks kiddo.  considering i'm the only one you've ever had....i will still take that one.}

as a proverbs 31 momma, this is a true reflection of our daily tasks.  in modern times we have many responsibilities as moms of the house.  we must encourage and tend to our husbands, our children, and sometimes our parents or grandparents as well.  one of our main responsibilities (for most women) is to do the majority of the cooking/meal planning/feeding of hungry mouths.

whether you currently cook most meals for your family or eat out most nights,  our children and husbands love being taken care of.  we are their servants (more on that next week!), and we should take pride in keeping a clean home and providing home-cooked meals for them as often as possible.  i know as a working mom this is sometimes difficult, but that is only because we are trained by our society to think this way.  when i was young, my mother worked 40 hours a week, helped coach my softball teams, assisted in various capacities in the community, and we STILL had a home-cooked meal each night.  it was not the "norm" for us to eat out, as it is in today's culture for so many of us.  we only ate at restaurants for special occasions, like birthdays and when family came to town. we have drifted away from the responsibility of truly PROVIDING for our families and fallen into the trap of fast food drive-thru lanes, delivery drivers, and call in orders for the sake of convenience.  these types of meals are not providing the nutrition our families need, and they are not providing YOU with any sense of accomplishment.   when we cook a meal that the entire family loves (and it doesn't have to be complex, but can be a simple meal), it truly gives us a sense of pride.   i love when i cook something and people are getting second helpings or clearing their plates completely.  i know then that i did a good job, that i provided.  {and on the inside of me, those clean plates are little symbols of achievement, imaginary high fives, and silent pats on the back} with our busy schedules, it seems so much easier to just do the drive thru when you're already away from home for sports practices, dance practice, a grocery store run, church, etc., and this is where advanced planning comes into the picture.  with a little advanced planning, you, too, can satisfy those hunger pains with some REAL home-cooked food!  {your husband will thank you later}

the proverbs 31 woman is an organized and prepared woman.  for example, in proverbs 31:21, "she doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear."  this one scripture shows that the proverbs 31 woman is looking to the future and preparing for what she KNOWS is coming.  and we all KNOW that dinner time is coming every night! 

we must be prepared.  our families need {and LOVE} home-cooked food.  there are ways to make this easier and to get us out of our drive-thru routines.   one thing we can do is make the time to create a weekly dinner list and keep it posted in plain sight in the kitchen.  or get those crock pots out and have dinner cooking all day while away at work (or while handling your household duties if you're a sahm).  at our house, i plan a "breakfast for dinner" night at least once a week.  scrambling eggs or cooking waffles takes less time than it would for me to drive to a restaurant and pick up food and return with it.  {and breakfast for dinner is actually a REALLY inexpensive meal....probably saving us $15 off a $20 drive thru meal for a family of 4!}

when i was younger, we ate dinner every night at the same time, in the same place:  5:00 pm at the kitchen table!   {and if you were late, you were in TROUBLE with momma!}  in today's world, it seems that many families are eating dinner at restaurants and in their living rooms, or maybe even each person getting a plate and eating ALONE in their bedrooms while tethered to a tv, or ipad, ipod, or laptop computer.  up until a few months ago, i was eating dinner on the couch every night with my family (with my kids, my precious gifts from God, sitting on the FLOOR to eat)!  no more!  when we moved into our current home last May, we made a decision that dinner was to be eaten at the DINING table, with no television, no phones, no game systems.  just our family....eating....talking.....enjoying each other.   this is a precious time when you can connect with your family, hear about their days' activities, and support and encourage each other.  your kids (and probably your husband) NEED this from you!

so let's take a stand.  let's see how many of you can make even ONE change for your dinnertime routine.  are you ready?  become that proverbs 31 momma that your kids need you to be, that your God called you to be.  you don't have to change everything you do.  start small.  if you eat out every night of the week, maybe start with 2-3 meals this week that you will cook.  see the difference it makes in your kids and your husband's hearts...FEEL the difference. {and just think, 3 nights of not eating fast food meals for a family of 4 will save you around $60-70 per week, or $240-280 a month!  hallelujah! ....new shoes anyone?}

here are some examples of things you might try to do at your house this week:

• turn off the television, phones, ipads, etc. while eating.  if your phone rings, don't answer it. 
• eat at the TABLE.  {yes this might require you to first CLEAR the table if you're anything like we used to be.....using it as a pile-on storage system for all our junk}
• cook at least 4 meals at home this week
• eat out fewer times this week than you normally do
• use your crock pot.  {this makes meal prep a cinch!}
• develop a meal planning list.  {you can simply write a list on notebook paper and slap it on the fridge, or buy a whiteboard to hang in the kitchen with the days of the week on it, or look online for a million other ideas for this one.} 

this is the custom-made whiteboard i use to keep my meals planned for the week.  i simply erase the meal after i've cooked it so i can see whether or not i am on-track with my plan at the end of the week (it should be empty by then).   i don't always cook what i had planned for that particular day, but i do choose something from the week's list and just pick a different meal when i get to the day i had already used.  i like having my plan on display in my kitchen because it keeps me accountable to ME.   it is proven that when you write something down you are more apt to stick to it.  so go now....write down what you want to cook for tomorrow night.  and the next night.  and if you're really industrious, knock out the whole week right now.  take action now while it's fresh in your mind.   if it seems overwhelming, just remember: start small.   hang that pretty little list on your kitchen fridge and feel God speaking to you about tending to that sweet family He's blessed you with.

to get you started this week, try something easy.  cook eggs and bacon with toast one night.  or make waffles.  or try this {easy, quick, yummy, man-pleasing} recipe which my entire family loves:

Hamburger Meat with Rice
1-1.5 lb ground beef
1 small onion
salt
pepper
garlic powder
1 can cream of mushroom soup
milk
3 c. instant rice
French's fried onions (optional)
A-1 Steak Sauce (optional)

Brown hamburger meat with onion and salt, pepper, and garlic powder (according to your taste preferences).  Drain fat from meat.  Add cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of milk.  Cook on low until bubbly and a little thicker.

In separate pot, cook instant rice according to package directions.  (or if you pre-plan this meal, you can cook rice in a rice steamer.  I do this because I like to use long grain brown rice.) 

Put rice in bowls and top with the hamburger mixture.  You can add French's fried onions on top if you like a little crunch (that's me), or add the A-1 sauce (all the males in my household prefer it this way!). 


i love hearing from you, so please share with me anything related to this post.  how often do you cook at home?  what prevents you from cooking at home more often?  which of these techniques listed above appeals to you most and why?  i can't wait to hear from you!

awww, look how happy they are when we feed them!  :)   even a PB&J will make this guy's day! 

be blessed!
molly

welcome to mitera!

let's look at the proverbs 31 woman and relate it to being a mom specifically. 

today, i want to focus on proverbs 31: 15 ~ (from the message bible) "She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day."

getting up before dawn is definitely not a strong point of mine, i will admit.  i can honestly say i've made an effort in the last few weeks, though, and have actually set an alarm to wake up before 7:00 am.  {when you're a mommy of little ones who do not wake up until late morning, you have a tendency to sleep in as well.}  of course, when they do wake up they are hungry and ready to be fed immediately.  i know it helps me immensely to be able to meet their needs if i have already prepared for my day and possibly even have made breakfast before their feet hit the kitchen.  thus, the alarm clock is my new friend {oh how i truly loathe an alarm clock.  i'm just coming to terms with the fact that i need it in my life.} 

what about you?  are you getting up before dawn?  do you spend time in the word before your children arise and before your motherly duties begin? 

preparing breakfast is the next major directive in this scripture.  american society has programmed us to think of a "good" breakfast as a bowl of {super sugary} cereal, a grain or granola bar{also full of sugar usually}, or {dear Lord help us} a sugary pastry filled with {surprise!} more sugary "fruit" filling.  i don't know about you other mommies out there, but i know my own boys are prone to sobbing breakdowns, super duper hyperactivity, and general disregard for my authority when i allow them to eat these things for breakfast.  yes these items are convenient, and yummy to the kiddos, and just so tempting, but we really ought to look at our directive from God.

as ministers to these little eyes, we should be preparing wholesome meals for our children.  we should spend the time in the morning {or the night before if you're not the morning type} to create a meal for them that will nourish their bodies, nourish their brains, and prevent those sobbing fests and jumping-off-the-walls outrages.  your children are depending on YOU to teach them how to eat....wholesome, good for you foods!   teach them now and as they grow older they will value those foods over the drive-thru lanes and junk food aisles in the stores.

so, to help you get started, and show you just how easy it can be, i am going to give you the recipe to a very simple breakfast that my children love.  it may not be the epitome of health, but it's much better than sugary, preservative-filled cereal bars that have a shelf life longer than the goldfish we just won at the county fair!  it's one recipe.  it's easy.  try it in the next week or two and see what your kids think.  then let me know.  i'm sure they will be asking for more {so make friends with your alarm clock}. 


Cheesy Bacon Biscuits
4 slices of bacon (or more or less to taste)
mozzarella cheese (1 round ball will make approximately 3 pans of biscuits)
cheddar cheese (approximately 3 oz...more or less to taste preferences)
monterrey jack cheese (approximately 3 oz...more or less to taste preferences)
1 can of biscuits (i use the cheapest ones i can find and they are still good in this recipe)

the night before:
i prepare part of this meal the night before i plan to offer it to my boys.  while cooking dinner in the evening, i will cook 4 pieces of bacon in the microwave, let them cool, then crumble them into a plastic baggie and place in the refrigerator. {do you cook bacon in your microwave?  if not, you should.  it saves a ton of time and energy and grease splattered messes in your kitchen.}  also, i go ahead and shred my cheddar and monterrey jack cheeses, placing them into a baggie as well and back into the refrigerator.  the mozzarella cheese i buy for this is in the "ball" form and i just slice it into 1/8 inch slices.  bag the mozzarella and refrigerate as well.  i place all these items as well as my can of biscuits together, front and center, in the fridge.  why?  well of course i do this because the good Lord knows i may very well wake up the next morning and forget what i had planned to feed the kids!  that instant reminder is always nice.  :)

in the morning:
preheat your oven according to the biscuit can directions.  place the biscuits in a round cake pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  place the mozzarella slices over the biscuits.  the slices probably will not completely cover the biscuits, but of course, you could if you really really love mozzarella.  next, sprinkle the bacon pieces over the biscuits, and follow with the other two cheeses.  when the oven is preheated, place the pan in the oven and walk away to do some other important task {like picking up the three pairs of underwear, 1 random sock, and sparkly tiara that were left in the kitchen floor last night by your little blessings.}  i tend to cook these a couple of minutes longer than the biscuit can directions say.  you want to cook them until the cheeses are all melted and bubbly and the small portions of biscuit that you can see under the cheesy mess are browning. 

remove from oven, place on plates, and wait to cool {the hardest part if you ask me}.   hopefully you have small children in your household because a can of 8-10 biscuits will be devoured pretty quickly when your family tastes how amazing these are!  i usually cook two cans if my husband is eating with us because my 7 year old eats like a grown man and can eat 4-5 of these babies all by himself!

now, i realize this is not exactly "healthy" or "wholesome," but it is better for them than the sugary stuff.  and if you really want to add some goodness to this meal, cut up a banana, an orange, or an apple/pear/strawberries.....whatever suits your family's tastes.....and serve it alongside the biscuits.  trust me, this meal is a no-brainer.  and it's good.  and it even satisfies your meat-eating men in the house.  just be prepared to have all these supplies on hand at all times because your family will start requesting this meal often.   God has given you a family to tend.  He wants you to prepare breakfast, and  contrary to what "america" thinks, plopping down a bowl of cereal or opening a wrapper to a breakfast bar just isn't what is going to keep them healthy and on-task and focused during their day.