A little Medieval Quest

This year we are studying the Middle Ages in history. I must admit, this is one of my favorite periods to study. Who doesn’t love knights in shining armor, epic battles, chivalry, and castles? This girl loves it, and my boys like it, too. 

Notice I said “like”. My 10 year-old prefers modern times, and my 16 year-old has always loved the WWI and WWII time periods. So, I’m really trying to drum up some extra excitement with special activities to bring the Middle Ages to life. After talking about the quest for the Holy grail, I decided a quest for MY young knights was a great idea. Actually, I decided my 10 year-old would go on an adventure, but my 16 year-old figured out some of the clue locations pre-quest and wanted to come along to see if he was right. (And help his brother, too, or course.) 

I searched everywhere on the internet for FREE Middle Ages treasure hunt, but came up with nothing that fit the bill. I wanted something Bible based that would have some spiritual insights included, since our greatest “quest” is running the race of life on this planet. So, here is what I came up with. I’m sharing it for free. Please share, share, share, and link back to this page. 

Instructions:

• Get a special treat to use as “treasure”. I got a sports drink, per their request, but you can make the treasure a surprise.
  
• Make a map of the quest space. This can be just indoors, or can lead outdoors as well. I wanted to get the boys outside for some fresh air, so we used our yard, too.
  
• Start with an introductory letter that includes the first clue.
  
• Write or type all the clues onto brightly colored paper. I wish I had used bright paper because it made the clues a little harder for the boys to find. 
  
• Make sure to write where the clues will be placed on the back of each clue. This will help make placing the clues so much easier. I have included the locations for my clues next to each clue in parentheses for your convenience.
  
• Cut out the clues and place them in their spots.
  

For my first clue I included an introductory letter: 

              “Good day, young Knight,

For those brave and daring heroes, as a means of finding adventure, fame, and fortune, I have written this map and clues that lead to a treasure. Once found this treasure will make you famous amongst all your household. I wish you Godspeed on your travels, and a married venture to you, good sir.

Signed,

Master Questmaker

1st clue- all good aventures know, you must begin your voyage with the necessary tools. Begin by making sure you have your armor- especially remember your sword! Ephesians 6:10-17”

• This letter I gave to the boys at lunch. The clue indicated getting their Bible, which is where the second clue is located. Then the hunt began!
  

2nd Clue- Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, mind, and soul, young knight. God gives us something very important when we believe in Him. Isaiah 61: 10 (Inside Bible)

• This clue indicates putting on a robe, which I meant to mean their coats.
  

3rd Clue- Romans 12:11 this is speaking of the fire of our faith, but where do we keep the fire going all the time? (Coat Pocket)

• This clue was to lead to our wood boiler, but it can be a clue to any furnace or fireplace. 
  

4th Clue- Very good, young knight! You are well on your way. As Christians we are supposed to feed our faith, and the Spirit gives us gifts and causes us to tell other people about Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:6-8 How do we feed the fire we keep going in this furnace? (Boiler)

• This clue led to the wood pile, but if you have a regular furnace that is run on electricity or gas, you could leave the clue near those things (Not on them. Safety first!)
  

5th Clue- John 7:38 What Wells up inside us when we have Jesus in our hearts? (Wood pile)

• This clue led to our stream, but you could have it lead to an outdoor hose, pool, or if indoors, to your sink. 
  

6th Clue- Matthew 5:15 You are a light, young Knight. Where are our lights that light up the darkness? (Stream)

• This clue led to some hanging lanterns we have hanging from our deck. You could also use some outdoor light, or perhaps a night light if you are doing an indoor quest.
  

7th Clue- Matthew 7:13, 14 Where’s our “narrow road”? (Lanterns)

• This clue led to a path we have through our woods. It could also be a garden path, or if indoors, the hallway.
  

8th Clue- Matthew 7:17 Where can we find an example of this? (Path)

• This clue led to our fruit trees. It could also lead to a garden, or if indoors, a fruit bowl or refrigerator.
  

9th Clue- Isaiah 40:3-5 When we tell people about Jesus, we help him prepare the way for Him to come into their hearts. What would be easier to walk if it was flat? (Apple Tree)

• This clue led to a steep hill we used to use for sledding. You can also use a retaining wall area, or if indoors you could always use the stairs.
  

10th Clue- Isaiah 62:6,7 You are a guard, too! It’s important to speak up when you see something happening that’s wrong- like bullying or stealing- so raise your voice and sound the alarm when you see that happening. Where is a good lookout for a guard? (Hill)

• This led to a climbing wall we set up for our obstacle course. You could always use a playground tower to place this clue, or if indoors you could use the window that looks out your front door.
  

11th Clue- Matthew 7:25 What is our family’s foundation? Find our real foundation. (Climbing wall)

• This clue led to our house where I had hidden their treasure and a not under the front porch stairs. The note said:
  

“Well done, good and faithful Knight! You have finished this brave quest, but this is not the end. There is an even greater reward waiting for you if you continue to follow the Lord and his quest all the days of your life.

Signed,

Master Questmaker”

That’s it! I hope your child enjoys the quest, at least as much as mine did. 

FabFitFuntastic!!!

In November I noticed a trend on my social media; subscription box reveal videos were every where. The products looked awesome, and who doesn’t like getting surprises in the mail? The answer is no one! So, I decided to put the FabFitFun subscription box on my Christmas wish list.
My dear husband, being the fantastic man he is, decided to give me a YEAR’s subscription to FabFitFun, thus checking off present buying for an entire year. Christmas, Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Anniversary presents all rolled into one! Talk about a man’s dream. 😝
I received some amazing products in my winter FFF box, and it wetted my appetite for the next box- Spring 2018! I checked the forums for sneak peaks. I waited with baited breath for spoilers. Finally, I got an email with some very important dates. 
I couldn’t wait! This made my birthday month even sweeter. I added some products to my box, went through the customization process, and waited (not so patiently) for my box to ship. And waited. And waited. Finally I got my shipment confirmation with a FedEx tracking number, which meant I would be literally watching my box travel across the country. Lucky box!
March 5th was supposed to be the day I got my box, but as I was checking my beautiful box’s status daily (okay sometimes hourly), I noticed that it was set to be delivered by my post office and scheduled to be at said post office three days before my scheduled delivery date. Yes!
I got in my car March 2nd, after seeing that my box had checked in at the post office, drove to my local post office, walked in and headed straight to the front desk. The postal worker that helped me knows me pretty well, and went to check for my box even though he was dubious about it being there. I noticed some searching in the back as he walked from one end of the warehouse to the other. Finally, he came into view carrying my big box! He joked with me about my mail carrier being thankful that I had come in to pick up this large parcel, we said our goodbyes in typical Minnesota fashion, and I proudly drove home with my box tucked safely in the passenger’s seat. We made it home safe and sound- my box was HOME! I couldn’t wait to open the box and see all my goodies. Here’s what I found inside:
If you’d like to get in on the FabFitFun here’s a link that will get FabFitFun $10 off! What a steal!

Teaching Textbooks

This time of year always gets me planning. Planning for our garden, planning for our summer camping, and planning for... next year’s homeschool curriculum. Now, after almost 18 years of “officially” homeschooling, (Really, homeschooling starts when your child is born 😉) we have a LOT of curriculum in our closet ready to pull out for the new school year. I do like to mix things up a bit, though, because what worked for one- or three- of my children, won’t necessarily work for them all. Hence, the planning. 

There is one curriculum, that we have FINALLY found, that I highly recommend to all my homeschooling friends because it works for almost anyone. I was told about this curriculum by several veteran homeschoolers, and I wish I would have heeded their sage advice earlier in my homeschooling journey. What is this amazing curriculum? Teaching Textbooks! 

For those of us who are not particularly math savvy, Teaching Textbooks is a life-saver. It not only teaches the lessons (it’s a cd-rom based curriculum, so your child does his math lessons on the computer.) it also automatically grades the work your child does. If your child gets a problem wrong the program stops them- no more full pages of incorrect answers because you didn’t catch mechanics errors soon enough-  and gives them the option of retrying the problem and even offers them a “hint”. All the grades are stored in the program’s grade book, so giving a math grade is super easy. 

Teaching Textbooks has taken so much stress off of me, as the teacher, and it’s also taken stress off of my children because of the fun and easily navigated format of their math curriculum. They also get instant feedback- no more vying for my help while I am trying to teach another child their science lesson- This curriculum is fantastic! 

40th Birthday Smash!

Turning 40 can either be an adventure or another excuse to hide out with Netflix. I decided, after reading some pretty great advice, that it’s important to see this transition as a good thing- make it fun- and showcase your own personality. Make the day special and you won’t dread it quite so much. After all, getting another year older is a good thing; it means you’re still alive and kicking. 

In light of this philosophy, a friend and I decided to bring in the big day with an adult smash cake session. Think 1st birthday. The result: a hilarious morning spent with my daughter and Mom laughing, snapping pics, and having fun together. 

My 40th birthday now includes my favorite birthday memories! If you love to be goofy and enjoy laughing at yourself, consider throwing your own smash cake session. #makegoodmemories!!

Breakfast Beans

Well, the weather outside is frightful...which means a hearty warm breakfast is a must! Beans are perfect as a cold weather breakfast food. These amazing legumes offer so many benefits when eaten first thing in the morning, but we rarely think of them for breakfast. Eating beans for breakfast helps to stabilize blood sugars all day because they are rich in protien and fiber, which limits sharp rises in glucose and insulin following a meal. This Hearty Bean Breakfast is one of my family's favorite breakfast entree.

Hearty Crockpot Bean Breakfast

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

10 cups water

2 Cups potatoes, peeled and cubed 

1 3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 tsp cumin

2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast Flakes

2 Cups Dried Navy Beans

Place all ingredients into crockpot and cook on high for 6-8 hours. Serve plain or over whole grain toast.

Curried tofu recipe

I have been trying to eat more bean products for breakfast. Beans are an amazing source of protien and are high in vitamins and minerals. Eating beans for breakfast also helps your body maintain a consistent blood sugar throughout the day. Here is my recipe for curried tofu, which makes a delicious, untraditional breakfast main dish.

Curried Tofu

1 tablespoons extra-virgin coconut oil

1 cup onion, chopped

1 tablespoon curry powder, or to taste

1 can unsweetened coconut milk

1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter

1 package Mori-nu tofu, cubed

1-2 tablespoons soy sauce, or to taste

2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast flakes

Salt to taste

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste.

1 cup cooked wild rice

1 cup cooked quinoa

1. Put oil in a medium sauce pan and turn heat to medium-high. Add onion and sauté until onion is clear. Mix curry powder into the onions and cook for a few seconds. 

2. Wisk together coconut milk and peanut butter. Add mixture to pan. Add tofu, soy sauce and nutritional yeast flakes. Simmer for 15 munites. Add wild rice and quinoa and return to boil. Enjoy!

Once A Month Cooking for March 2012

Several people have asked what my menu looks like using the Once A Month Cooking method. So, by popular demand, here is our March menu.

Menu Ideas for March
Supper
Tofu loaf,Mashed potatoes, Salad
Egg rolls, Broccoli Garlic Delight
Pozole, Indian Fry Bread Tacos
Pizza, Baby Green Salad with Olives 
Spaghetti, Breadsticks, Coleslaw
Cabbage, Potatoes, and Vegetarian Corned Beef
Borsht, Rye bread, Salad 


Lunch
Enchiladas, Taco Salad
Quinoa Salad, Humus and Avocado Sandwiches
Veggie Nuggets, Creamed Cucumber Salad
Buffalo Chick'n Salad, Corn Chowder
Hot Dogs, Coleslaw
Burgers, Cauliflower Poppers
Chicken Nuggets, Coleslaw

Once A Month Cooking: Steps to Success

Once A Month Cooking is a great way to organize your family's meals and it's a real time saver for busy moms, too. I have put together some steps that should help you successfully and easily implement the Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) method in your family.

Step 1: Plan

• Find a babysitter for the kids. If you have an older daughter who would be helpful in the kitchen, ask her to stay and help.
• Find recipes for you menu. Take an inventory of your freezer to see what you already have. Look through your recipe book for tried and true recipes. Ask your family for suggestions. Check out www.onceamonthmom.com for already prepared menu ideas.
• Write out your menu. The Freezer Cooking Manual by 30-day Gourmet has worksheets to make out your menu. http://lifeasmom.com/2010/04/freezer-cooking-planning-a-detailed-approach.html/freezer-cooking-master-plan has free printable worksheets to write out your menu.
• Prepare your grocery list. The Freezer Cooking Manual by 30-day Gourmet has a wonderful spreadsheet to assist in making out a grocery list.

Step 2: Prepare

• Shop. Make sure you purchase everything you will need. Enlist your children's help to grocery shop.
• Make sure you purchase all the freezer bags and freezer containers you will need.
• Prep your food. Get everything ready to throw together the day before you will be cooking.

Step 3: Cook

• Order your recipes to best utilize your space, equipment and time. Start with a recipe that will be using the stove top. While that is cooking start a recipe that will be using the oven. Follow that with a recipe that is ready to be assembled and put into freezer bags.

Step 4: Freeze

• Place food into freezer containers or bags.
• Express as much air as possible from the containers before sealing. Seal.
• Next label, date and include reheating instructions right on the container.
• Freeze as quickly as possible to prevent food borne illnesses.

Step 5: Enjoy!

• Each night check your menu to see what meals are scheduled for the next day.
• Take those meals out of the freezer and place in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
• Cook meals according to the cooking instructions.
• Place all leftovers in the refrigerator. If you have a lot of leftovers, have a leftover night when you use all the leftover food in your fridge.
• Do not refreeze leftovers!!!!
  

Resolute Resolutions

New Year's resolutions can be a blessing and a curse. Every year they are made and broken, but on very rare occasions they produce lifelong habits that enrich our lives. At the end of 2011, after a lot of prayer and heart searching, I decided to write out some resolutions, or goals I have for 2012.

My first goal for 2012 is to re-read and implement Managers of Their Homes (MOTH). A few years ago I read MOTH and what a blessing! It was full of practical scheduling ideas for families. Encouraging quotes from other moms are dispersed throughout the book along with many example schedules. What did that do for me? It fired me up about organizing my time! After all who hasn't wished they could look at another mom's schedule for inspiration. This book caused me to get so excited that I included it in my Homemaking Five Fat File (More about this in a future blog.) I have even started putting together a Home Management presentation incorporating things I have learned from MOTH.

Another goal is to make uplifting music a part of our everyday lives.  "Let there be singing in the home, of songs that are sweet and pure, and there will be fewer words of censure and more of cheerfulness and hope and joy." (Education, p. 167) I would love for my home to have more cheerfulness, hope and joy. In fact, I've made that a prayer for my home this year. I have started singing while working around the house and encouraging the children to join me. I really enjoy the Peasall Sisters' Home To You.  At first the kids complained, but soon they started asking me to play their favorite song from the album. The harmony is beautiful!

A few years ago I read a little book by Bill Gothard called The Power of Spoken Blessings.
I know our words, especially those spoken to our children, are so powerful. I also know that I don't always "open (my) mouth in wisdom and the teaching of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26) isn't always on my tongue. This year I am praying for divine help to change that. Therefore, my third goal this year is to think before I speak and ask myself, "Will this be a blessing to the hearer?" If the answer is no then those words will go unsaid.

The Bible tells us that "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad the spirit is broken." (Proverbs 15:13) Sometimes my three year old son looks at my face and asks, "Mama, are you mad?" Now, there are times when I'm just intent upon what I am doing, but other times my face is accuartely reflecting what is going on in my heart. Do my children think I am angry at them because the thoughts I'm dwelling upon translate to my expression, tone and body language? An honest answer to that would be, yes. That's why I have made it a goal to think positively this year. A few years ago my women's group read a book called Becoming the Woman I Want To Be. In her book, Donna Partow taught us to use Bible-based affirmations as a part of our daily mind renewal. (Romans 12:2) One of my favorite affirmations is based on Luke 1:37. "I know that nothing is impossible with God. He is able to transform my life from the inside out." Becoming the Woman I Want To Be, p.66. How can you not think positively when dwelling on thoughts like that?

At the end of 2011 I started reading a book that would seriously challenge some of my longheld beliefs. Passionate Housewives, Desperate For God sent my emotions spinning. Hope, discouragement, anger, resentment and liberation were all swirling through me. One night I was sitting on the couch reading and had an intense desire to throw the book across the room. Instead, I continued reading and had an epiphany. God wants me to serve my family and let Him worry about meeting my needs. I have caught myself getting upset as I gaze upon the dirty dishes, scattered toys, piles of laundry and messy counters. I feel taken advantage of and defeated. What God taught me was that I was being selfish. I was thinking about "me". That's why "Modeling servanthood while trusting God to supply my needs," became my next goal for 2012.

Several years ago a friend told me about the Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) method. Since then I have consistantly written out a monthly meal plan, but that's the only aspect of OAMC that I consistantly followed. The written meal plan curbed last minute stressing about what to make for dinner, but I was missing a huge blessing by not making those meals ahead and freezing them. This year I would like to cook once a month, for the whole month. In an effort to gear up for my marathon cooking, I recently checked out the book The Freezer Cooking Manual I found great tips, testimonials and recipes to get me started. I spent eight hours January 1st making  and freezing a month's worth of meals. Now that was time well spent!

January 30, 2011 I began a fitness journey. That's the day I began P90X. Since then I have shed 35 pounds and gained a life-changing exercise habit. Tony Horton, creator of P90X recently wrote, "For some reason, too many of us have forgotten (or have never been taught) that joy, happiness, health, fitness, loving relationships, and financial success all stem from hard work, persistence and the occasional bit of physical, mental or emotional discomfort." That is something I have learned to appreciate over the last year. This year I have resolved to advance my fitness journey by continuing to exercise six days a week.

Over the course of the next few weeks I am going to be blogging about what I have learned from my resolutions. They might not all turn out as I imagine, but I "Commit to the LORD whatever (I) do, and he will establish (my) plans." (Proverbs 16:3) Whatever may come this year I know God has amazing plans for me. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give (me) a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11). I can't wait to experience the blessings God has in store this year!

May Day Baskets

May Day is a fun way to reconnect with neighbors, loved ones and have fun with your family. For many, the May Day basket is a long forgotten tradition. Our family thought it would be exciting to revive that tradition! In my vlog, I demonstrate how to make a cute May Day basket using Stampin' Up!'s Fancy Favor die and the Big Shot. I hope you like it! Feel free to leave comments letting me know what you think.