fruit ta - toot.

yesterday, i made popsicle treats for my 'trio.

pure, non-concentrated, full-of-calcium orange juice mixed with mashed (by moi) strawberries.  

yum!

and so rewarding.  

i believe the statement by A2 (husband) went something like this: "these could definitely use a little sugar sprinkled in them or something" 

was directly followed by 'B saying something along the lines of: "these are the best popsicles EVER, mom!" and then agreed upon unanimously by the other 2. 

[to which i replied (to A2) immediately: "and that is why there was no sugar 'sprinkled in' "]

proud mama.  (=

today, though, my A felt that she needed to create in the kitchen.  

and create she did.  

the Fruit Ta-toot.  

awesome name, by the way, right?  (=

and far surpassing the name's awesomeness is the actual drink itself.  

seriously.  

while she was 'concocting' she commented, "mom, this is going to be almost as good as the drink you had yesterday!" {an iced cocoa cappuccino at starbucks that i had saved a little of overnight and was sipping while this was all occurring!  and yum.}

to which i bocked, "of course yours is going to be better!" 

well, we were sincerely correct.  

here is the recipe (as dictated by A):

Fruit Ta-toot

Mash up frozen strawberries:

Keep them in microwave for 3 minutes  [first]

Next, put frozen blueberries in microwave for 2 minutes

Mash them as well

Then add 1 1/2 small spoonfuls of ovaltine powder

and 3 tablespoons of orange juice.

Last, add a little bit of 1/2 and 1/2.  

You can add your own style!  

Have fun!  (=

how sweet is she?  

and SO so seriously--you have to try it.  

i mean, YUM!  

starbucks, eat your heart out.  (=

enjoy!

-c.  (=

tonight.....

i found myself wondering tonight:

how many times have i gone through my days, experiences, blessings, joys; with my whole heart thanking and praising our God, though all the while failing to realize that these things are actually answers to my prayers?

how many times have i felt His peace so strongly and warmly, so all-encompassing and fulfilling; and rejoicing, thanked Him over and over again, yet forgetting that prior to this feeling, i had cried out and cried out and called to Him repeatedly?
day in and day out, moment after moment, pleading for His peace.
for His comfort.  relief.

i wonder this because, after 2 things today, and countless others i am very sure.
but 2 things in particular i found myself contemplating while doing dishes [i find myself doing dishes quite often, and quite often my deepest thinking occurs while i am doing them].
i found myself contemplating the peace that accompanies me as i re-soap my washcloth,
the joy that is able to flow from within.
able to flow without and surround and fill me.  
washing bowls and plates and mugs of coffee that just a few hours before were shared with new friends, mentors, Spirit-filled Christ-followers.
recalling conversations and moments and smiles and laughter and much peace.

all the while i am thanking God for this gift of peace, and it struck me.
it stuck me quite speechless there in the late-night presence of our porcelain kitchen sink.

This was an answered prayer.
and answer to relentless prayers prayed over and over again over the past month [or more].
so often they have near-become my mind's mantra.

but these things,
these people,
these events of this blessed Monday,
have been answers to the desperate pleas sent to my Father, my Creator, my God.  my Lord.
my Jesus, Messiah, King.  Good Shepard.
Holy One.
Lamb.

He is so very Good.

i have been trying [not always successfully, for i am a mama who hasn't yet mastered the art of waking up earlier than everyone else]
to read psalms and proverbs to A, 'B, and L every morning during our breakfast time.

reading David's laments and praises.
his pleas and cries and heart pouring out to the same God, same Father, same Adonai.
Lord.
and He listens.
David knows He listens.

our Great God listens.
and He not only knows our hearts and our needs and wants to bless us with what He knows we need and has placed in us to desire,
but
He hears our cries as well.

and i feel there is something beautiful and powerful
and necessary
about recognizing when He not only blesses, but answers our pure, real and unabashed outpourings.

how beautiful.

how is our God answering the cries of your heart on this lovely rainy Monday?
{this post was written previously, in Feb. 2011}

a mantra.

we have all seen this image, heard this phrase, thought it a worthy enough statement to make into a 'blog button', hang it on our walls.
it could easily be called a 'mantra' [if repeated unnecessarily often and believed in as a source of wisdom] especially when referring to the era in which the poster first made it's debut;
which you can read about here.
but not for me.  there is not enough joy exuded in it's phrasing for me.
who wants to keep calm and carry on when you can smile and laugh and jump up and down and watch your babies sleep in your arms.
so much more than carrying on, right?

needless to say, up and down as i so often am, i have never been able to choose or stick to a mantra, per say.
however, i was completely blind-sided and slapped in the face with a line in a song [i had never heard before] this sunday in church.

Spare us any joy that’s not of You


do you hear this statement?  
spare us any joy that is not of You.  spare us any joy that is not of God.  


that is powerful.  
beautiful.  
strong and bold.  


wise.  

and of course.  

of course this is what we should long for.  

we sang these words 
and this line in the middle spoke right to me.  


the rest of the the lyrics were quite confirming, too. 


Save us from these comforts
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You

{see source, here}

wow.  

so now i have a mantra.  

Spare us any joy that’s not of You.

Spare us any joy that is not of You.  

Spare us any joy that is not of You.  

LOVE.

enjoy!

-c.  (=