Passion...an open secret

Written by Polly, contributing writer

I think of passion as boundless enthusiasm. Finding one’s passion is the subject of many articles and books. Open any Oprah magazine and we’re sure to find something written on the subject. With so much emphasis on finding our passion, we’ve become confused about it.

What is it?  How do we find it? We may even wonder if we have one. It’s as if finding our passion is a secret that only an expert can uncover.

Passion is simple but not easy to find. God gave you passion when He created you. Now that you belong to Jesus, it’s about what He wants to do with your passion. He’s the expert. If you don’t know your passion, He’ll gladly remind you.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with your whole heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

To Help Find Your Passion, Ask Yourself:

• What do you love to do?

• What did you love to do as a child?

• What makes your heart sing?

Babies have always been my passion. When I was 7 years old I subscribed to Parents magazine.  The magazine supplied endless photos of babies I’d cut and paste into a notebook. My favorites were photos of newborns. They offered to send free samples of pabulum, baby lotion and soap. I sent away for the gifts and delighted when at last they’d arrive in the mail.

My bedroom was a nursery, complete with changing table and baby pictures on the wall. My baby was a soft-bodied, bald newborn with a knob on her back to wind so she could move her head and body. My interests in childhood were telling of my passion in life today.

Uncovering Your Passion with Jesus

• To know your passion, spend time with Jesus.

• Journal with Him about how you spent time as a child when the pressures of family and society were not an issue. This will offer you clues.

• Ask Jesus about the plans He has for you.

• Ponder with Him what it is that stirs your heart, that gives you pleasure in your home and how you can enthusiastically be His hands in your community and church.

Passion is an open secret God has abundantly poured into every woman’s life. Put your life in His hands. Give yourself the time, freedom and permission to explore and indulge in your true passion and trust Him to lead.

Living your passions daily not only brings life to you, but it’s life-giving for others. What’s more, it also glorifies our living Lord, and that is truly the open secret we all want.

About Polly Wick

Polly Wick is a wife and mother of two grown children and grandmother to Madeline. She pieces together a handmade life with the passion God’s given her to teach, write, nurture, create beauty and serve.

Polly teaches Pray with Ink, a primer on journal writing as prayer and Writing a Handmade Life, a workshop designed for women who feel like strangers in their own life, offering writing exercises that focus on gentle healing, daily prioritizing and envisioning a future filled with passion and delight.

We are devoted pure maple syrup consumers. You may have noticed, we use it to sweeten our afternoon smoothies and love to drizzle it on our pancakes. But perhaps drizzle is an understatement. If I’m not pouring, my boys’ pancakes will be swimming in it!

Have you noticed the price of 100% pure Maple Syrup, grade B these days? I buy 32 ounces for $16.99 at Trader Joe’s. A good deal for such a nutrient packed treat. However, if you’re like our family and easily consume 3 of these bottles a month, your food budget starts to feel it!

Ingredients for Homemade Pancake Syrup: Fruity Syrup

However, to keep cost down and to help stretch our maple syrup supply, I make this Fruity Syrup recipe as our pancake topping. Make it as chunky or pureed as you like! We like it with bits of fruit but if you prefer, give it a whirl in the blender.

For an extra special touch, add a dollop of honey-sweetened whipped cream to these already decadent pancakes!

It's this simple!

• 1 cup fruit, frozen (strawberries, raspberries and/or blueberries)

• 1 T. 100% pure maple syrup, grade B

• Water

Put fruit in a saucepan. Just cover the bottom with water to prevent burning.

Begin cooking over high heat. Mash down fruit as it cooks.

Boil to reduce liquid. The more it boils, the thicker it becomes. I've unintentionally boiled it too long making a more jam-like consistency.

Remove from heat. Add maple syrup and stir.

I mixed this with my homemade creme fraiche! An irresistible dessert or breakfast.

• TIP: It’s Not Just for Pancakes!

We use our fruity syrup as an ice cream topping  too! Mix it into plain yogurt.  Sure beats the sugar-laden yogurt found in the stores.

You’ll find all kinds of new recipes this weekend at Heavenly Homemakers Recipe Parade. I’m also sharing this at Simple Lives Thursday and Real Food Wednesday!

Happy boys with their bead necklaces!

I believe in creating a rich home environment where learning takes place naturally, frequently and is lots of fun! Lately, I’ve been trying to incorporate some of Maria Montessori’s activities into our home.

“Above all it is to be noted that the child has a passionate love for order and work, and possesses intellectual qualities superior by far to what might have been expected”

(Montessori, Maria & Lane, Helen R. Peace and Education Parent Child Publisher, 1972. p. 38).

I see evidence of this especially in my son Stephen who enjoys seeing a project completed from start to finish. In fact, he’s the one who likes to put away all the groceries when I come home from the store and emphatically insists on doing it all by himself!

Simple activities can occupy a child. But their purpose is not just to keep little hands busy and industrious. But to occupy them intellectually and creatively as well. A simple activity is full of possibilities!

Find more early learning ideas here!

These two early learning activities can be an exercise for little ones in:

• fine motor skills (through coordinated motions of threading and pinching which leads to later mastery of drawing and writing)

• repetition (as they assemble or move bead after bead which is key to mastery and to the physical development of the child’s brain)

• order (as they create patterns and sort beads which lends itself to thinking mathmatically)

• sorting (by color or shape helps children categorize objects which is preliminary to other math skills) 

Our tin of plastic beads and laces

You Need:

• An assortment of colored beads (You can look for a variety of shapes too!)

• Lace or yarn (Narrow enough to fit through the hole of the bead)

• Tongs (We used tongs designed for an ice bucket)

• Tweezers

• A cup or muffin tin

Offer your child some guidance in true Montessori fashion by demonstrating the activity for the child with a minimum of words and movements.

“Don’t spoil the freshness of the subject matter by telling the child too much-let him discover for himself and tell you.”

(Hainstock, Elizabeth.Montessori in the Home. Plume, 1997. p.17).

Such good advice! I tend to say too much!

Then, give your child time and space to explore and create with the materials you’ve provided. Restrain yourself from interrupting with well-meaning correction if your child makes a mistake. Instead, allow him to discover his error himself and self-correct it.

#1 Early Learning Activity with Beads

Stephen stringing beads

String beads onto lace or yarn. Tie a knot at one end so the beads don’t fall off. Children love the challenge of putting the bead through the hole. They enjoy mastering the process with repeated motion.

• TIP: Challenge Advanced Learners with This Variation

Create a pattern of beads on a lace. Then, have your child continue the pattern after yours.

#2 Early Learning Activity with Beads

Joseph using tongs to pick-up beads

Pick-up beads with tongs or tweezers. A child who already has developed strong fine motor skills will be ready to use tweezers.

• TIP: Challenge Advanced Learners with This Variation

Sort beads by color or shape in a muffin tin or various cups. Mastering sorting builds strong pre-math skills!

Stephen using tweezers to pick-up beads

For more ideas of how to incorporate Montessori early learning activities in your home, check-out this book: Teaching Montessori in the Home: Pre-School Years:.

All my boys and my sweet husband! I'm a blessed Mama!

I love how each year, God gives us a time that celebrates newness! Spring is a season marked by new beginnings, new life, and new weather! Everywhere we look there are reminders of His new life blossoming on trees or wobbling on newly found legs.

It’s time to shake off the old, peel off the layers of life’s winter and run barefoot into the promises of new life ahead! It’s as if He doesn’t want us to forget that after a bleak, dormant season there is always a new, fresh start bursting with color and promise!

God bless the bees!

Cute little Chloe. One week old.

Me holding baby Clover!

There is newness in motion all around our little farm too. Chloe and Clover have now become members of our family. I never thought you could feel actual affection towards a goat.

But for Chloe, Clover and the rest of the family, it was love at first sight. They are beautiful, milky white Saans, fresh from their mamas. The morning after Chloe arrived, I heard a baby cry. I went back to check on Noah but he was fast asleep.

A few hours later, when I was out in the yard, I realized that baby I had heard was Chloe. My mama’s heart responds to anything small, helpless and in need of nurturing! Oh boy.

Samuel and Chloe. I'm amazed how much a baby goat acts like a puppy!

Chloe snuggled in Joseph's arms

Without their mamas, we’ve become their herd! They follow the boys everywhere just like a playful puppy. Several times, they’ve walked right into the house if the backdoor is left open. My heartstrings are tugged by these sweet little creature who long for family connections!

Feeding time and it's Caleb's turn!

Even I pitch in from time to time. But after nursing 6 babies of my own, I think I've already done my fair share!

It's a good thing we have so many pairs of hands around here!

We spend lots of time holding, petting, chasing and bottle feeding them. The two older boys feed each baby goat a bottle 4 times a day! This morning, Chloe pinned Joseph to the ground. He loved every minute of it! I didn’t know goats liked to wrestle!

In the fall, we’ll breed them. Next spring, they’ll become mamas themselves. Then, they’ll begin producing that creamy, delicious milk we love!

Childhood is but a breath for a goat. It’s onto motherhood in only 8 short months!

Tandem feeding. Reminds me of when I nursed twins. LOL

Our chickens are now laying around 4 dozens eggs daily. To market, to market jiggedy- jig!

Thank you for celebrating our growing farm with us!

]]> http://www.tips4mom.com/2012/04/spring-is-about-new-life/feed/ 5 http://www.tips4mom.com/2012/04/healthy-salad-dressing-recipe-making-a-vinaigrette/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=healthy-salad-dressing-recipe-making-a-vinaigrette http://www.tips4mom.com/2012/04/healthy-salad-dressing-recipe-making-a-vinaigrette/#comments Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:48:54 +0000 Ashley http://www.tips4mom.com/?p=8249 Take your salads and other side dishes to the next level in taste by dressing them up with a homemade vinaigrette!]]>

Fresh ingredients make for an incredible tasting salad!

Do salads at home not seem as appealing as those ordered from a restaurant? Take your salads to the next level in taste by dressing them up with a homemade vinaigrette.

Today, I’m contributing for my first time ever at Homemaker’s Challenge! Learn my favorite vinaigrette recipe along with ideas of how you can use this simple salad dressing to add pizzaz to other side dishes, not just salads!

Stop on over and check it out!

Oh, the wonderful world of blogging...

These are a few of my favorite things. We all have our favorite blog spots. Places we go when we need a laugh or even a good cry. Places where we find empathy and camaraderie on our journey. Places that inspire us in our homemaking and call us to new heights with Jesus.

I’m sharing a few of those spots for me with you today.

A Holy Experience: Ann Voskamp, the author of One Thousand Gifts, shares deeply the richness and struggles of her life. If you want your heart touched and are in need of a good cry and stirring, read her writing. Her background music sets you up to be moved!

BlogNotPerfect: (Now That We Got That Out of the Way)- Follow Nichole as she muses through topics with her disarming writing style. She is so down-to-earth. I often check her blog just to giggle and enjoy her perspective on things!

Chambersmade: 100% Chambersmade Recipes, Crafts, Projects, and Quirky Life Stuff- Kiera’s humor keeps you laughing at life and all the funny quirks of being a mom! She is devoted to her family and ministry as she and her husband serve as children’s pastors.

Expressionz of the Heart: A Place for Creative Expression and Community- Elizabeth’s journey is amazing. She and her family have been on the mission field in Scotland. She has an incredible heart for women and ministry. Currently, they are pioneering a prayer house in Salinas, CA. You’ll be inspired by her journey! She is very prophetic and this comes across in her writings. Get ready to have your heart tugged!

MudBoots & Pearls: Pursuing to Live Life with Excellence- Cherylyn is an excellent writer (living up to the purpose of her blog:-)) She gets to the heart of issues and takes you along with her to new depths.

Nurtured Child: Breastfeeding, Birth, Parenting- Fleur is an RN and mother of 2. I follow her on twitter. I trust her breastfeeding advice. Her parenting style is attachment parenting. She is passionate about empowering women to follow their hearts and instincts on their journeys as mothers.

Passionate Homemaking: Loving Simple, Natural, and Intentional Living- I’m so inspired by the information found on this blog. Great how-tos on everything from making your own deodorant to soaking your grains. Delicious recipes and uplifting ideas!

Positively Pleasant: Even When It’s Empty, It’s Have Full- Carli’s honesty coupled with humor makes her blog a joy to read. I’ve literally laughed out loud while reading it! You’ll appreciate her raw, transparent heart as she raises 4 beautiful girls!

Raw Life: A Blog About the Truth of My Life- Jessica candidly shares here about her life and her passionate pursuit of Jesus. She is a photographer, artist, writer and more.

Riddlelove: Celebrating Family, Food, and Farming- Katie is an inspiration for me. She gracefully lives out her homesteading lifestyle with her husband, Jeremy and 5 kids. I frequent her site often for recipes, many which are GAPS friendly. I love the way she captures meaningful moments with her family!

Strawberry Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

With the advent of the GAPS diet in our household, a smoothie soon became a staple afternoon snack.There are numerous combinations to taste and explore! It’s filling and satisfying to my sweet tooth cravings.

Ingredients for Healthy Fruit Smoothie: Strawberry Orange Creamsicle

This recipe was adapted from Nourishing Traditions cookbook.

Serves 4 (1 cup servings)

• 1/2 cup whole, plain yogurt (preferably homemade)

• 3/4 cup raw milk (we use goat)

• 1 cup strawberries, frozen (I recommend using organic since these are on the dirty dozen list!)

• 1 orange, peeled

• 2 T. extra virgin coconut oil

• 2 egg yolks (I recommend only using raw egg yolks from free-range organic hens-see below for more info)

• 3 T. maple syrup, grade B (can substitute with raw honey)

• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Directions

Pour yogurt and milk into a blender

Add frozen strawberries and peeled orange

Add extra-virgin coconut oil

Pour in maple syrup

Separate the eggs. Add the yolks

Add the remaining ingredient, vanilla extract, to the blender.

Process Until Well-Blended

Pop in a straw for extra fun et voila!

• TIP: Add the Day’s Supplements to Your Smoothie

I add a couple drops of liquid vitamin D and pop open a capsule of probiotics to sprinkle into each child’s cup.

The Health Benefits of Raw Egg Yolks

“Raw egg yolk has been compared with human breast milk because it can be absorbed almost 100% without needing digestion” (Gut and Psychology Syndrome, p.132).

Egg yolks are an ideal source of vitamin A which contributes to excellent bone structure and protection against stress of all types. Hey, I could use more of that!

Egg yolks from properly raised chickens are also rich in essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. Did you know they contain heaps of vitamin B12 which is critical for immunity and the normal development of the nervous system?

The Controversy of Raw Eggs

Most of us have been taught to fear raw eggs because they pose a threat of samonella. According to the National Egg Marketing Board, around 1 in 7000 eggs may have samonella. These statistics come from battery eggs laid by caged hens. Salmonella infected eggs come from an infected hen.

Using eggs from a farmer you trust who uses free-range organic practices will reduce this risk. Hens raised in that type of environment possess much healthier immune systems. But if you aren’t comfortable with using raw eggs, simply omit them!

Read more about our food convictions and the steps we’ve taken to revolutionize the way we eat!

Everyone loves freebies! As moms, we revel in sharing our personal victories of a good bargain at the store. There’s also fun in passing along a good deal for someone else’s benefit too!

There’s a gamut of homeschooling resources out there. They range from outrageously expensive to absolutely free! The resources below are great ways to stretch your homeschooling budget. Another benefit is they catapult your family into participating in your local community!

For free homeschooling ideas by subject, check-out my post: Teach Your Child Well by Using Free Local Homeschooling Resources

Where to Look for Free Homeschooling Resources

• Your Local Library

Books are incredible teachers. I build many subject’s curriculum around the books I check out or have bought used. Often the library also offers free educational events.

For example: one summer, my kids learned about salmon and their life cycles and got to make fish print t-shirts for free at the library. Get on their email list so you can get updates on local events or regularly visit their website! This year, my two oldest sons, with their younger brothers in tow, have joined in beginner book clubs with discussions and activities. This has been a good motivator for my new readers.

• TIP: Two Good Reading Guides

Before I even started homeschooling, I brought Honey for a Child’s Heart with me to the library. The pages got tattered as I familiarized myself with the best children’s books and authors. Honey for a Child’s Heart discusses how reading affects a child’s worldview and his imagination as well as  how to choose good books. You’ll love the indexed list of books by age group.

Books Children Love: A Guide to the Best Children’s Literature offers book selections by subjects. Over two dozen subject areas are covered with detailed descriptions of each book. This is a fantastic homeschooling literature guide for lesson planning and unit studies.

• Your Own Network of Relationships

Try your church, your neighborhood, your relatives! All around us are people who would love an opportunity to share their passions with kids! There are people with grown children eager to be a surrogate grandparent!

For example: a few years ago, once a month, we would visit a neighbor who was a talented carpenter. The kids loved pounding nails into their handmade projects. Our retired neighbor enjoyed teaching a subject I was not skilled enough in to teach adequately myself. We now have more bird houses than we know what to do with! 

• Garage Sales

I am constantly in awe of what God provides for our family through garage sale finds. Do you believe in divine “shopping” appointments? I do! (Okay, this one isn’t free. But the bargains are so cheap they’re almost as good as free!)

I’m always on the look-out for 25 cent Usborne books to enhance our science/history library. Quality, classic literature for read-alouds can be found by digging through someone’s discarded cardboard box full of books. Stock up on educational games and craft supplies that someone else is no longer using.

• Homeschool Groups

We have a great local yahoo group where I regularly get email updates of little to zero cost events and resources in our community. Sometimes moms sell their used books and curriculum online to the group. In addition, one church we attended began a homeschool group for field trips and social gatherings. Also, look into co-op opportunities in your area.

• Community Events

Check your local newspaper or parenting magazine for listing of these types of  free events. 

For example: Our parks and recreation partnered with local businesses this winter to provide a free Saturday performance of art and music. Our local fairgrounds hosted a Kids’ Conservation Energy day with booths full of experiments and activities.

• The Internet

Free downloads and printables galore! Unit study ideas, lap book templates, lesson plans, math games, worksheets and more. We’ve watched nature clips on You Tube, practiced our french by watching french cartoons, answered questions about dates, times and events all on the Internet.

• TIP: A Few of My Favorite Homeschooling Resource Websites

-Donnayoung.org: Printables and resources for staying organized during the homeschooling year. I don’t buy a lesson planner. I just print weekly sheets, book lists, attendance sheets etc.

-Simplycharlottemason.com: Informative blog articles and practical ideas for applying the Charlotte Mason philosophy in daily homeschooling.

-Amblesideonline.org: A free homeschool curriculum using the Charlotte Mason philosophy. I have used their book lists and educational goals to shape my own. However, I have never used it in its entirety.

Have fun discovering free homeschooling resources in your area! I believe God has affordable opportunities lined up for us. He cares about the education of our children. He paves the way!

Do you use any free homeschooling resources you can pass along?

A favorite photo of our son Joseph (age 2) learning to be a lover of books! LOL

Today, I have the privilege of guest posting at Intentional by Grace. I’m sharing some of the criteria I use to make sure my kids get a regular diet of the best children’s literature and why it’s worth the effort. Be sure to pop on over there!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the selection of books at the library or local bookstore? Not sure how to wade through the array of books? Maybe you didn’t read much as a child like me and have no idea where to start?

“Some say that mediocre reading material doesn’t hurt a child, but childhood is brief, and without some guidance a child may miss what is quality reading and never discover the pleasure of a well-writeen book. It seems wisest to pack all the goodness we can into the formative years” (Honey for a Child’s Heart, p.122)

With this statement I whole-heartedly agree! Let’s commit to not settling for anything less than the best for our children! When we offer them the best books, we help them fall in love with books!

A Favorite Dip for Bite-size Veggies

Are you looking for a healthy veggie dip? Maybe an alternative to store-bought Ranch dressing which seems to be as much of a staple in American households as ketchup?

While I love homemade ranch dressing, I like to mix up the dips offered to my family at lunch or for snack. This full-flavored dip is one of our favorites! I just got a thumbs-up “yum” from my five-year old the other day!

A Nutritional, Versatile Vegan Veggie Dip: Tahini Dill

This dip is so versatile! Great for every-day snacking or for parties. Surround it with fresh, chopped veggies and lightly-toasted, whole-grain pita bread. Add a bowl of mixed olives and you’ve got yourself a mediterranean spread.

With some added water, this dip transforms into a delicious, creamy dressing for salads.

Sesame seeds are rich in beneficial minerals. Tahini contains 20% protein, making it a satisfying staple for lunch or in-between meals. Incorporate more Tahini in your family’s diet with my recipe for Garbanzo Bean Hummus.

Ingredients

Fresh Ingredients for Tahini Dill Dip

• 6 T. sesame Tahini (sesame seed paste)

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1/2 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed

• 3 T. apple cider vinegar

• 2 T. extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 T. honey (raw, local honey is best)

• 4 tsp. dill, dried or use 4 T. fresh dill (the flavor of dried herbs is so much stronger than fresh)

• 1 tsp. sea salt

• fresh water as needed (drizzle in to achieve the consistency you want)

Directions

Juice Enough Fresh Lemons to Measure 1/2 Cup.

Combine All the Ingredients in a Blender.

Blend Until Smooth. Just a Touch of Water Did the Trick.