Hiding Vegtables

We like to eat frozen pizza from time to time. I like the way it tastes and how easy it is to make when you don't feel like cooking. It's one of the few pre-made meals we eat but it is something we really like.

Not the healthiest choice though.

This week I had an idea to add some nutrition. I had a cheese pizza and I threw some fresh organic spinach and tomatoes on the top before I baked it. It turned out well and was a tasty way to get some veggies.

So although it still has things in it not good for us at least we were getting some good nutrients at the same time:)

I think I am going to learn many ways to hide vegetables now that I have a child. Buddy used to eat every vegetable but now he has gotten pickier. But I am determined not to give up. I have heard you need to introduce vegetables about 13 times before they decide they might like them but many parents just start in with the cheese sandwiches and chicken nuggets every night.

So I have started making quesadillas with whole grain tortillas and putting vegtables in the cheese.

I have put vegetables in spaghetti sauce to hide them.

I have put vegetables in omelets.

And of course I am still introducing them all by themselves as well hoping he will develop more and more of a taste for them.

What are you favorite hiding vegetable recipes?

Precious

Have you seen the trailer for this movie? I makes me cry every time I see it. (Warning: It is raw.) It is a peak into the life of a young woman living in the inner city of Harlem. It's based on the book "Push" by Sapphire. The reason it moves me so much is because so much of it is true to life. I worked for an inner city ministry in New York and have been to the ghettos of Detroit and there is so much pain there. It's not a race thing. It is a mindset of a people (from any race) who have had cycles upon cycle and generations of neglect, sin, oppression, broken families, poverty, hopelessness, and low education.



But it is not just in big cities. I just got this last week in a newsletter for the Frazee Dream Center located in downtown Greenville, SC:

Jenny took a 13 year old student to get glasses as she has for many of our kids. Lens Crafters gives free exams and glasses once a year to kids who qualify. This particular young man has a more complex issue and the optometrist said he would need to see a specialist. When Jenny tried to relay this information to the child's mom, the mom was sucking on her thumb and was more concerned about the shoes he had worn to school that day than about his serious vision problem. Her son's vision is not a problem to her.

She has a problem of knowing how to and properly care for her children. Jenny cares, Dr. Thompson cares, and this boy will see clearly again.

Brian Briley is our Frazee elementary director. He has close to 40 students that he checks in on at school twice a week. He is invited to and attends their programs, games, award presentations, etc. They want him there for two reasons. They know he loves them and they know he will show up. He is the most consistent person in their lives.

Each Wednesday afternoon Brian does a marriage class with our 3rd through 5th graders. Premarital counseling at its best. Why? With few exceptions, our children don't know any married couples outside of the Frazee Center. They are children that have no concept of permanence in relationships. They are raised by single moms, aunts, grandparents, girlfriends and foster parents. The ideas and definitions of family are murky at best. The cycle of fatherless children is destined to repeat itself. Or is it? What if Brian continues to daily bang that drum, continues to daily be a presence in their lives and continues to daily teach what true love and family look like?

Can these boys become men and lead a family?

Late one evening last week a mother needed help getting away from her boyfriend. The drama that she lives with had reached a water shed moment and she needed to make a choice. The screaming and arguing over drugs, money and bills along with his unhealthy presence in their lives was destroying her and her two precious children. She was locked in the bathroom. Who does she call? Family, friends or the police? No, she calls us. I go to pack them up and leave. We hug and cry. Life goes on. Another day of chaos for two Frazee students.

Where ever you live, consider volunteering and making a difference in the life of someone who may be like Precious. The movie is now playing in select theaters.

Playing in the leaves

Target's Black Friday Deals

Target has already listed what their "Black Friday" deals will be. Some of these prices are majorly slashed. You can check out the article here.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/11/news/companies/retail_holidayshopping_blackfriday_target/index.htm?cnn=yes

Full Weekend

We have had a good past few days.

Some of the highlights:

- Stephen having some good meetings last week for the church plant.

- Our friend Chris came up Thursday from Greenville and spent the night for a couple of nights.

- Going to a prayer and praise meeting for the lady I talked about here. They really wanted to stop and have an altar of Thanksgiving for the healing God gave. It was an awesome time of prayer and thankfulness.

- Going to the zoo with Buddy and my parents. He was so much more aware than he was just a few months ago when we went. Now he knows some of the names and sounds of animals so it was so fun to see those wheels turning in his head as he watched the animals.

I hope you guys had a good weekend. I just looked up the Clemson score on the Internet so I know my dad will be happy today!

My LIttle Fireman

Buddy looking at the Zebra

We went to the Fall Festival at Biltmore Baptist Church yesterday. Buddy got to see a real firetruck, some real cool animals, play a few games, and go with mommy and daddy to a party afterwards. We had a lot of fun! Thanks John and Nicole for having us over last night. Nicole - did you go see the Duggards?

My Toy Suggestion

If you have a 1-3 year old I have a toy suggestion for you. It is the Busy Ball Popper made by Playskool.

Buddy got this for his birthday from his grandparents and it is awesome. Has 5 colorful balls in it. They go through a tube and then a fan pushes pops them up into the air. Some of them land in the hole and go down the ramp but the others you have to grab and put back in. There is really fun music that plays while all of this happens. It encourages motor skills and hand eye coordination.

But it is really fun! I love to watch him play with this. I would highly recommend it.

Also if you are a couponer I have seen some coupons for this toy and several other Playskool toys recently.