9/21/05 SUNDAY PREPARATION, TEMPER TANTRUMS, PURPOSE, TRIPLETS
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for you with love by Lois Breneman
SUNDAY PREPARATION - HOW TO HAVE MORE PEACEFUL SUNDAY MORNINGS
A HELPFUL LIST TO PLAN AHEAD FOR SUNDAY MORNINGS
SUNDAY DINNERS - WONDERFUL AROMAS AS YOU COME HOME FROM CHURCH!
DINNERS TO BAKE AT 250 to 275 FOR 4 HOURS, MORE OR LESS
SUSAN'S TURKETTI, SUPREME BEEF CASSEROLE, EASY BARBECUED CHICKEN, EASY PORK CHOP DINNER,
COMPANY CHICKEN, FIVE HOUR STEW CROCK-POT TURKEY BREAST, CHICKEN OR ROAST BEEF
TAME TEMPER TANTRUMS
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE
TEN MOST POPULAR BABY BOY AND GIRL NAMES IN 2003
THE ANTICS OF MY GRANDSON, JUSTIN DANIEL
"HEART TO HEART" TRIPLETS FLOURISHING - SOON TO BE ONE YEAR OLD!
THE KINSHIP OF WOMEN
QUOTES
SUNDAY PREPARATION - HOW TO HAVE MORE PEACEFUL SUNDAY MORNINGS
By Lois Breneman, © 1999, Revised 2005, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
As many of you already know, Sunday mornings can be quite stressful, especially for families with small children, however, there is help through simply planning and delegating!
After our second child was born, I immediately noticed that it was a lot more hectic in our home as we prepared to go to Sunday school and church. I had to dress our two year old, nurse the baby, dress the baby, get dressed myself, feed us all breakfast, put dinner in the oven, get the diaper bag packed, and nurse the baby on the way to church (before seat belt restrictions like today). It can be overwhelming! You've been there, haven't you?
Something had to change, so in a calm and quiet moment, I let my husband know that it was just too much for me to handle on a Sunday morning. I let him know where I could use some help and asked him what he would like to do to help. He was very willing to help and offered to be in charge of getting our two year old daughter dressed, making the bed, as well as making a nice breakfast for the family. That helped immensely and hes been making breakfast on Sunday mornings for more than 31 years now, even for just the two of us, now that the children are all living on their own, and I let him know how much I still appreciate his help. When we have company, he's the Sunday morning chef! What a treat that is for me, and he seems to enjoy it as well!
A HELPFUL LIST TO PLAN AHEAD FOR SUNDAY MORNINGS
By Lois Breneman, © 1999, Revised 2005, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
In order to make Sunday mornings even more stress-free, I tried to think of additional short cuts to simplify our lives - anything that could be done ahead of time. Here is a list of things we did the day before that may help your family to have more harmonious Sunday mornings, if you're not already doing them.
*Pack diaper bag. (Keep a list of necessary items on an index card in the pocket of the bag. This makes packing the bag each time quick and easy).
*Help children memorize any scripture verses for Sunday school class during the week.
*Plan everybody's clothes for Sunday the day before. Have them clean, pressed and hanging out ready to put on, down to underwear, shoes, socks, jewelry, etc.
*Have older children help plan with you the day before.
*Polish shoes, if needed.
*Put items by the door as soon as possible that you need to take along, such as Bible, notebook, purse, diaper bag.
*Stick a Post-It note by the door, listing additional last minute reminders, such as "bottle of milk," and "Put dinner in oven."
*Plan a meal to bake in the oven while you are in church, adjusting the temperature to 3 - 4 hours. A 250-275 degree temperature works for most dishes. Try this out on weekdays first.
*Plan dishes you can prepare ahead of time and stick in the oven before you leave the house.
*Make a list of "Sunday Meals" that will work for you. Suggestions are below.
SUNDAY DINNERS - WONDERFUL AROMAS AS YOU COME HOME FROM CHURCH!
By Lois Breneman, © 1999, Revised 2005, Heart to Heart Newsletter, [email protected]
Today I am listing at least a dozen Sunday dinner ideas, that will hopefully make your Sundays less stressful. These meals can be prepared ahead of time and put into the oven to bake while you and your family are in Sunday school and church. For many that is about four hours, including travel time, and I have found that an oven temperature of 250 - 275 degrees works well for most meals during that span of time. You can adjust the temperature for recipes you already use to make them compatible for baking the appropriate amount of time for you. Of course, if you set your oven timer, that works as well. If you have a small oven or a toaster oven, either of those will use less electricity and will not heat up your kitchen as much, which is certainly something to consider during warm weather. Also if you want a free afternoon during the week to spend with your children or to work on a project, without an interruption to prepare dinner, put dinner in the oven 4 hours early! Make this tip work for you any day of the week!
DINNERS TO BAKE AT 250 to 275 DEGREES FOR 4 HOURS, MORE OR LESS
(I would advise that you test these times and temperatures during the week first, while at home.)
*BEEF Chuck (Choice) Western Style Boneless Ribs - Simply put meat in a baking dish with about 1/2 cup water. Add scrubbed baking potatoes and carrots for a complete meal. Sprinkle with salt and garlic pepper. The water will make a broth that you can thicken at the end of the four hours, if you'd like. Cover with a lid or foil. *For a change, using the meal idea above, reduce the water to 2 Tbsp., omit salt and garlic pepper, and simply add barbecue sauce on top of the meat.
*Place boneless, skinless CHICKEN thighs or breasts in a baking dish sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle Italian bread crumbs over chicken, dot with a few pats of butter and cover pan. You can bake potatoes in the same pan. Serve with a frozen green vegetable and ice cream.
*Place PORK CHOPS in a baking dish sprayed with Pam. Put an onion slice, 1 Tbsp. brown sugar and 2 Tbsp. barbecue sauce or catsup on each pork chop. Add 1/4 cup water to the dish to prevent drying out. Scrub baking potatoes, dry, rub with butter, place in baking dish and sprinkle with coarse salt. Bake covered. Cook a frozen vegetable such as corn, green beans or peas when you arrive home from church. Serve chilled applesauce or a canned fruit with the meal.
I have found that most thawed casseroles, meatloaves and meats will be done about right when baked in the oven for 4 hours at 275 degrees. You might want to experiment with the time and temperature during the week, using some of your favorite dishes. It's better to underbake than overbake. Here are more Sunday dinner ideas.
SUSAN'S TURKETTI
(This colorful and tasty recipe from my high school home economics class has been a favorite of our family's over the years. It has been made by the dishpan-full many times to freeze for future use.)
Cook 1/4 cup 2" spaghetti pieces until tender. Drain, rinse with water and drain again. Add the following to the cooked spaghetti:
1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked, cubed turkey 1/8 tsp. celery salt
1/4 cup minced pimiento 1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup minced green pepper 1/2 grated small onion
1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 cup grated natural cheddar cheese (4 oz.)
1/2 cup turkey broth
Toss ingredients lightly and pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle an additional 1/2 cup of grated cheese over the top. This is an excellent casserole to make in large quantity in a dishpan to freeze. Then on a Sunday morning take a casserole out of the freezer and bake it in a preheated 250 - 275 degree oven for about 4 hours, covered. (Cooked brown rice could be substituted for a change or in case of wheat allergies.)
SUPREME BEEF CASSEROLE
3 qt. casserole, lightly greased 2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 lb. ground chuck 1 (5 oz.) pkg. egg noodles
1 tsp. shortening 1 cup sour cream
1 can (16 oz.) tomatoes 1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce 6 green onions (chopped with tops)
2 tsp. salt 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
2 tsp. sugar
Melt shortening in skillet; brown beef, drain off fat. Stir meat into tomatoes, sauce, salt, sugar and garlic. Simmer 5 -10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the noodles, drain well and with a fork blend in the sour cream, cream cheese and onions. In the greased casserole pour a small amount of the meat mixture, cover with layer of noodles and grated cheese; repeat layers, ending with meat sauce. Normally you would bake at 350 degree for 33 minutes. But make lots ahead to freeze (I used to use a dishpan to mix it). Then on a Sunday morning take a casserole out of the freezer and bake in a preheated 250 - 275 degree oven for about 4 hours, covered. Or you could use the microwave when you get home from church.
EASY BARBECUED CHICKEN
(This recipe can be put together the day before, refrigerated and baked on Sunday.)
1 3 to 3 1/2-lb. ready-to-cook frying chicken (or boneless, skinless breasts)
1 medium. onion
1 cup catsup 1/2 cup chopped celery
3 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 Tbsp. vinegar
1/2 Tbsp prepared mustard 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 cup. water 1/4 cup lemon juice
Brown onion in 2 Tbsp. oil in saucepan; add remaining sauce ingredients (all but the chicken). Simmer 29 minutes. Pour sauce over chicken in small shallow roasting pan. Bake, covered, in a 275 degree oven 3-4 hours. Yield: 6 servings.
EASY PORK CHOP DINNER
(This is quick enough to assemble on Sunday morning. If you want to speed up the process for Sunday morning, peel the potatoes and store, covered with water in the refrigerator, because potatoes turn brown if peeled ahead of time.)
6 to 8 pork chops 1 onion, sliced
6 to 8 potatoes, sliced 1 can cream of chicken soup
6 to 8 carrots, sliced milk
Place browned pork chops in roaster or covered casserole dish. Spread potatoes, carrots and onion slices over pork chops. Mix soup with enough milk to thin just a bit; pour over chops. Cover and cook for 4 hours at 275 degrees. Yield: 6 servings.
Note: Chicken or cut up round steaks could be substituted for the pork chops.
COMPANY CHICKEN
8 chicken breasts, skinned 1/2 pt. sour cream
8 slices bacon, regular sliced 1 (4-oz.) pkg. chipped beef
1 can undiluted mushroom soup
Arrange chicken breasts in a large baking dish. Lay a strip of bacon on each piece with chipped beef arranged on top. Mix soup and sour cream and pour over all. That's it! Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. When ready to serve, bake 3 hours at 275 degrees - or lower the temperature and bake for 4 hours. Wrap scrubbed potatoes in foil a long strip of foil to bake at the same time. Cook a vegetable just before you are ready to serve dinner.
FIVE HOUR STEW
1 lge. can tomato juice 5 cups diced potatoes
2 cups tomato sauce 1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce
4 cups water 2 tsp. tapioca
4 lb. low fat meat (of your choice) 1 Tbs. sugar
2 medium onions chopped 1 Tbs. salt
1 cups celery chopped pepper to taste
3 cups diced carrots
Put meat, vegetables and seasonings in turkey roaster. Add tomato juice, tomato sauce and water. Stir well. Bake at 250° for 5 hours. (275 degrees for 4 hours will also work.)
CROCK-POT TURKEY BREAST, CHICKEN OR ROAST BEEF
(My favorite crock-pot recipes! Quick, easy, versatile and delicious!)
Put a whole chicken, turkey breast, beef or pork roast into a Crock-Pot. Mix one packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix with one 10 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup. Spread over the top of the meat. If the crock-pot is turned on just before you go to bed on Saturday night, you can let it cook on LOW until you get up on Sunday. Then so it doesnt cook too long, pull the plug while you get ready for church, and plug it in again before you leave. Just don't forget! Make a note for yourself.
Notes: A turkey breast is more economical and less work to bone later than a whole chicken, if you get the turkey breast for .89 -.99 / pound. Stock your freezer when you find turkey breasts for that price.
You can use a completely frozen turkey or beef roast in your Crock-Pot and cook it on High for the first two hours, and Low the remainder of the time. It will be ready for Sunday dinner if you start it before you go to bed on Saturday night. Sometimes I put quartered potatoes, carrots and celery on the bottom of the Crock-Pot, before adding the meat and soup mixture. Vegetables do need to be on the bottom to get done, however. Potatoes can be washed and prepared the day before and kept covered with water in the fridge to prevent browning. Celery and carrots keep fine refrigerated in a bag.
Put your Microwave to work for cooking frozen vegetables. Read the instructions on the bag. I use a glass cooking dish and cover it with a lid or salad plate.
Leftover beef or turkey is great for a delicious Homemade Vegetable Soup - another idea for Sunday dinner. Make muffins the day before.
Grilled cheese sandwiches and canned tomato soup work well for days when you weren't able to plan ahead. Be flexible!
What are your Sundays like? Let me know if these ideas are helpful.
TAME TEMPER TANTRUMS
by Brenda Nixon, M.A. - © 2002/2005 Brenda Nixon (http://www.brendanixon.com).
Reprinted with permission from the author - All rights reserved
Has your youngster ever thrown a temper tantrum? My child tried this on me in a busy Kansas City mall! Imagine my embarrassment and the challenge to discreetly handle this in public.
Every toddler, to whom independence is a passionate issue, will attempt a tantrum. Different temperaments are more passionate about it than others. Trouble is, if we dont handle this common inappropriate - behavior skillfully it will continue. Tantrums can become a childs habit or pattern for getting what they want. The future problem is: children whose tantrums are tolerated and reinforced are most at risk for emotional problems as adults.
All kids occasionally defy adults, test parents, say No! and try to get their own way. When your youngster yells at you or stomps his foot in anger, this is NOT a tantrum. This is a typical tot behavior. It cannot be tolerated but it also cannot be confused with a tantrum.
When he loses control of himself physically or verbally, that is a tantrum. Tantrums also look like this: throwing himself on the floor screaming and kicking or becoming red in the face and screaming defiantly at the top of his lungs. Some children are nearly irrational.
This explosive behavior usually begins between 12 and 24 months. The first and best medicine - ignore it! Do not give eye contact; talk to him; give in, or even try telling him to Stop. Amuse yourself with another activity and ignore his nasty behavior. At the moment he quiets or calms himself, make a comment on his improved behavior. Something like, Oh youve quit crying. Now lets read that book. is sufficient. Give attention only when he shows agreeable (calm) behavior. Then redirect his attention to something else. You do not need to nag about it, tell him that he embarrassed you, send him to time-out for it, or anything. Most children will see a parents disappointed look on their face and get the message.
What?! You mean I dont punish him for the tantrum? Nope. Research shows that punishing unwanted behavior is less effective than rewarding the positive behavior you want to see. Even though it sounds unusual it is skilled parenting to give attention when your tot becomes self-controlled.
But what do I do when my two or three year old still tantrums? parents often ask. This tells me that back at the beginning Mom or Dad in some way reinforced the tantrum. Perhaps they stood there looking at their child or interfered by trying to get him to calm down. Any any attention to the child during a tantrum is perceived by the child as attention.
Its never too late to correct your parenting response. If youve a child who is almost three years old and still throws fits, begin ignoring it. Change what youre now doing. If youre used to talking over the situation your child has learned that the way to get one-on-one attention from you is to throw a fit. If you cant stand it and cave in, your child has learned a productive way to manipulate you. Also, practice prevention. When you see a meltdown coming, prevent it by leaving the crowd or move to a calmer activity. Some children throw tantrums as a result of over stimulation.
While tantrums are a common problem with many youngsters there are times when the episode requires professional help. Watch for these three red flags: If your child throws tantrums several times every day; injures himself (or you) in the process; or destroys property then seek professional help. Ive seen a two-year-old boy wallop his mom in the face while throwing a fit. This cannot be ignored. Sometimes a childs continual fits come from medical or emotional problems and that requires a different response. Your pediatrician or family counselor can help you learn different come-backs to these tantrums. Then your child will feel understood while he learns healthier ways to let off steam.
Lets go back to my delightful daughter at the busy mall. I turned my back on her public exhibition. Soon she realized I wasnt going to care. So she calmed down. Then I turned and talked to her. She picked herself up off the dirty floor and hand in hand we strolled on down the mall. I handled this public mortification pretty well, I thought. And my parental pride swelled . . . until two elderly ladies scolded me for being a mean mother!
Reprinted with permission from Parenting Power in the Early Years: Raising Your Child Birth to Age Five by Brenda Nixon (2001, WinePress Publishing). This book gives insight and encouragement to moms on raising an infant, toddler, or preschooler. It's research-based information, written in a warm conversational style and very affirming. You may have heard it promoted on Focus on the Family's "Weekend Magazine" or "Focus on Your Child" radio ministries. Brenda Nixon http://www.brendanixon.com is a speaker/writer dedicated to building strong families through parent empowerment. She is a popular conference, retreat, and special events speaker to parents and childcare professionals and is available for interviews, speaking, freelance writing and booksignings. Brenda's book, Parenting Power in the Early Years, retails for $12.95, although Amazon.com sells it for a bit less. Churches, schools, moms groups can order the book from her at a discount: Up to 10 books = $7/each Over 10 books = $5/each (http://www.brendanixon.com)
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE
As a new bride, Aunt Edna moved into the small home on her husband's ranch. She put a shoe box on a shelf in her closet and asked her husband never to touch it.
Opening it, he found two doilies and $82,500 in cash. He took the box to her and asked about the contents.
Uncle Jack was very touched that in 50 years she'd only been mad at him twice. "What's the $82,500 for?" he asked.
"Oh, that's the money I made selling the doilies."
"A man thrives on appreciation because it directly nurtures his male side. A woman thrives on communication and love because it directly nurtures her female side."
Thanks so much for your terrific response in e-mailing me lots of interesting names for Grandma and Grandpa. I really enjoyed hearing from each one who wrote! Here are the names you sent me. My computer Spell Check went crazy here! J
Boys: Jacob, Michael, Joshua, Matthew, Andrew, Joseph, Ethan, Daniel, Christopher, Anthony
Girls: Emily, Emma, Madison, Hannah, Olivia, Abigail, Alexis, Ashley, Elizabeth, Samantha
"I Dressed Myself!" ~ One afternoon this month while 2 year old Justin was supposed to be taking his nap in the big bed he graduated to, his mother, Joy, heard him calling, "Mamma, help me! Help me, Mamma!!" Thinking it sounded urgent, she checked on him. She found him sitting on the floor, wearing 5 pairs of his new big boy underwear all at the same time, all lined up on his legs, helpless and unable to get up! That's why he needed her help! So what does a good mamma do? Grab the camera, of course, and ask him to smile, which he did!
"HEART TO HEART" TRIPLETS FLOURISHING - SOON TO BE ONE YEAR OLD!
THE KINSHIP OF WOMEN
"Any woman who sews or knits, or weaves,
blends colors in a tapestry or creates a patchwork quilt,
knows by the feel that a single thread is weak,
but the weaving, the blending,
the intertwining with many others makes it strong.
Any woman alone without friends to sustain her,
to nurture and support, to hold with loving arms,
like a single thread, is weak, but the weaving,
the loving, the nurturing of others,
the networks of friendship make her strong.
--"Barbara" 1994 "The Kinship of Women"
Contributed by Prudence Kinley Ruth in Pennsylvania
QUOTES
Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes
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