Hydration - Got Water?

so dry

So, today I was out in the backyard picking up toys that were laying in the summer sun.  The plastic was bleached, and the cheapest toys from the dollar store...I don't have to tell you how brittle they were.  They broke in my hands as I picked up all the pieces.

It made me think of a video I saw just this week by Dr. Mommy. She talks about the importance of staying hydrated, including some new information I hadn't heard before about the internal systems of the body. I really liked it because most of the time we hear about the symptoms of dehydration (tired, grumpy, dizzy), not the internal long-term consequences (kidney function and brain support). Our focus is on how we feel, not the other more serious effects.

In some respect, it's like the way we live our lives.  We know we need daily refreshment from God to stay spiritually hydrated.  The symptoms of  spiritual disconnect (lack of peace, joy, kindness, etc.) remind us to do something about it.  We can't forget, however, the system-altering effects of  long-term disconnect (a brittle spirit, a broken faith).

There is great hope and life in Jesus's words:
“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 
John 7:37b - 38

Are you dry and brittle?  Do you break internally at a mere touch? Jesus offers daily living water.  All we have to do is drink.

Blessings for Balance,
Steph

P.S. Make sure to watch Dr. Mommy's video on hydration below. So important!



Health Tip: Water ~ It Does a Body Good from Daisy Sutherland aka Dr. Mommy on Vimeo.

Recipe: Frozen Energy Treats

A summer favorite with my family, these healthy frozen treats are one of the few snacks I'll freely give my kids when they come begging for "sweets"!

These are very easy to make.  Check back tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday to see pictures of little Christine making them.

Frozen Energy Treats

Combine all these ingredients in a bowl:

2 mashed, ripe bananas
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 pouches (or servings) of chocolate protein powder or meal replacement shake powder
1/2 cup Grape Nuts
1/2 cup peanuts, optional

Stir until all the ingredients have become thoroughly combined.  It will have a slimy texture for now. Line a muffin tin with paper muffin cups.  Ladle about 1/4 cup mixture into each cup. Depending on the size of the bananas, you'll end up with 8-12 treats.  They will have a hard, creamy, crunchy consistency when frozen.

Note:  This is a forgiving recipe.  It's easily doubled, halved and stretched with extra bananas. It's a great way to get rid of those pesky overripe bananas that seem to multiply in the summer time.

Enjoy!

Stephanie Ray
New Life Balance for Women

Find New Life Balance for Women on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Life-Balance-for-Women

Parenting with Balance, Retro-style!

Ok, so I learned a new term today from Dr. Daisy Sutherland, also known as DrMommy:  Retro Parenting.  It's "practical parenting with a twist...bringing back the good from the past and incorporating it into our families today." Intrigued, I started thinking about the way I parent naturally, and I think I've morphed into a Retro Parent without knowing it.

Let me explain. Much of parenting today revolves around entertaining, scheduling, and pacifying children, making sure they have plenty to keep them busy and developing properly. I have to admit, I once thought this was best.  I seriously tried to parent this way, but as our brood grew and our family continued in ministry, we found ourselves with less time and money to enroll our kids in ballet, soccer, art classes, etc. We said "no" to the latest video games. We felt bad for awhile, but you know what? They haven't missed a thing.

What do my children do? They look for bugs outside, build forts with the couch cushions, draw enthusiastically, and play Winnie the Pooh Candyland.  The older ones read to the "littles". They help each other clean their rooms and earn quarters by doing chores for mommy. Yesterday the 8 and 5 year-olds learned to sort, wash, dry, fold, and put away their own clothes; the 16 year-old has done this for a long time. Even the 2 year-old helps with laundry, and loves it. Perhaps my favorite bonding time with the children, aside from bedtime reading, is preparing for dinner.  Everyone helps as they can, even though I'm sure it takes longer than it should and often makes a real mess!

There was a time when I worried my kids wouldn't be adequately prepared for life because they aren't experiencing many of the "foundational" activities some suburban families embrace. In pondering what's truly important to adulthood and real life, my eyes are opening to a new truth - that they're getting just the foundation they need.

Here's to Retro Parenting!

Blessings,
Stephanie

For more information about Retro Parenting, visit DrMommyonline.com or find Retro Parenting on facebook.