Last weekend we had an open house for JoHanna’s friends after graduation, and we used some of her favorite simple foods for easy appetizers enjoyed by all. These would be perfect for a Memorial Day cookout or picnic.

Tortellini, Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella Skewers

These need-no-silverware appetizers would also be so easy to take on a picnic.  We used a few for lunches the day after the grad celebration. It’s really all about assembly of fresh ingredients. Here’s what I did:

• Marinade the cheese for 2 days  I purchased fresh mozzarella balls from Trader Joe’s in a container that gives about 25 for $3.49. It was the most expensive item on my list. I drained the liquid and replaced it with about 1/2 cup of olive oil, 1 tsp. of dried oregano, and a sprinkling of sea salt.
• On the day before assembly: cook a 12 oz bag of frozen tortellini. Drain the hot liquid and replace with cold. When it’s fully cool, drain and chill the pasta overnight.
• Also purchase or grow:  a pint of grape tomatoes (Aldi sells them for about $1.49), a bunch of basil, and a package of bamboo skewers about 6 inches long.

Assemble skewers on party day:

Drain the cheese & do not rinse; save that awesome oil marinade to pour over any leftover pasta for an instant pasta salad. You could add some olives, cheese cubes, and cucumbers to make it special.

Onto each skewer, thread in this order:   1 tortellini, 1 basil leaf, 1 tomato, cheese ball, 1 tomato. Stand them up in a spoon high dish or lie them down on a platter. These made great party food, and when most of the guests are runners … they’re happy for the healthy fare. This makes about 25 skewers; I doubled it for a batch of 50.

Chill (the skewers AND yourself!) until you are ready to eat.

This is light and fresh and easy to eat. You’ll think it’s already summer too!

What are cooking on this Feed Me Friday?

Natural disasters shake more than buildings; they shake faith to the core.

In the aftermath of disaster, people need basic provisions like shelter, water, food, and medical care, but they also need hope.  When believers step in to provide relief, they can offer something unique to the people of God.  They are able to act out of faith on behalf of the all-powerful, loving God who knows, hears, and sees the needs of each hurting person. As they pass out water bottles and blankets, trays of food and medical supplies, they also have the capacity to be ambassadors of God’s peace. Fear and pain often inspire people to reach for the only One who is greater than creation itself and can calm the storms within our hearts and all around us.

Today I thought it might be helpful to share some of those who are faith-driven to provide help in Moore, Oklahoma. If you have one you would add to this list, please share in the comments for others to see.

How to pray for volunteers in Moore, OK

1. to have energy physically and emotionally for the work they are doing
2. to have wisdom in using the resources available to meet the great needs
3. to be healthy as they stretch themselves to extraordinary limits
4. to have wellness in their own families and freedom to serve as a result
5. to experience cooperation and unity with their co-workers
6. to communicate clearly and compassionately in a tense setting
7. to think clearly in the midst of mental and physical fatigue
8. to sleep well whenever they have the opportunity to rest
9. to find comfort in prayer during and around their shifts
10. to be insightful about when to speak to, pray for, and touch victims

Faith-based volunteers helping after Moore, OK tornadoes

1. Samaritan’s Purse (deployed to Moore and Shawnee, OK)
2. Convoy of Hope (disaster fleet began arriving Tuesday)
3. Mercy Chefs (deployed units to help feed those impacted)
4. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team (crisis trained chaplains)
5. BGCO OK Disaster Relief (Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma)

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Happy weekend? Oh, yes.  Sad weekend? Moments. I didn’t turn out to be a weepy mom, but maybe I’m saving up for when Jo packs the car and heads north to college! You’ll be one of the first to know.

The graduation of your child will turn your thoughts to your marriage, stirring up questions like: Did we spend enough time with our child? and  Did we model a godly marriage?   But graduation is an unarguable event that points to this fact:  We didn’t have children to keep them with us forever.

You know this verse like the spout of your water bottle:  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh,” (Genesis 2:24).  We raise our children to leave us; we marry to hold fast for life. 

In just a few short months, JoHanna will leave us.  Jeff and I will both cry our eyes out! And we will be full of joy. And then we will come home … together. (Jacob will be here , too, but not for long …) Maybe the best thing a mom can do isn’t be sure she has a great scrapbook to pass on, has the cutest grad party decorations, or cries on cue at the commencement.  Maybe the best thing a married mom can do today is to invest in her marriage.

10 Things you can do today to raise a strong graduate

1. When kids are little, find a babysitter and use them regularly.
2. In the moments when you have to “choose,” be loving, but choose your man.
3. Make your bed a place for the two of you, with few exceptions.
4. Stop making excuses for always including the kids.
5. Learn something about what your husband enjoys doing.
6. Out to eat? At church?  In the car? Sit by your man, without a little “wedge” between you.
7. Make your health and appearance a priority for HIM, not just for you or the kids.
8. Put some of that DIY energy into making your bedroom a special place.
9. Give your husband your attention (eye contact/touch/listen) after his/your work.
10. When you’re out walking, hold hands.

These are just a few practical steps you can take today. Your stronger marriage will help your kids grow into stronger adults who are ready to leave the nest when the day comes.

What would you add?

Herb butter isn’t just for graduation, but this time I’m making it especially for a celebration of JoHanna’s graduation. Did you read my post over at The MOM Initiative about how Moms are Meant to Graduate? I like food ideas that don’t require a lot of time, make a lot of mess, hurt my food budget … but make me look like I’ve been scouring Pinterest (I haven’t).

Since tomorrow is graduation (sigh, smile, wipe a tear, be stunned …) I did some of the most important things this morning:  Pray about our daughter’s future, confess some of my fears (ouch), change the sheets for relatives, make coffee, feed the birds, make a punch ring, and stand on the porch. I don’t think I’m procrastinating, but I admit it would be nice to have one.  more.  day.  to linger in this season.

So let me share simple herb butter steps, along with a few insights into my pre-grad thoughts.

Herb butter for graduation

• Soften 1 stick of unsalted butter (To shape a life, you need to introduce warmth.)
• 1/2 Tablespoon of any herb mix you like; I used a mix of chives and rosemary.  (Variety tastes better, and we have to nurture that appreciation in our kids.)
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt (More earthy than processed, it’s good to remember we are but dust.)
• 1/2 teaspoon olive oil (This helps to make it easily spreadable; no one appreciates a “hard” texture in butter or in us.)

I tripled this recipe, but these are the basics for a single batch. I have to say that herb butter really does beg to find a home on homemade bread, so just give in!

Rinse lightly and then dry your herbs, then chop them to a fine size, but not minced.

I suggest mixing your herbs in thoroughly before sprinkling the salt all around and mixing, so everything is fully combined. Finally, drizzle the olive oil over the butter and then stir in completely.

Let the butter chill until it’s about the consistency of mayonnaise. Prepare a piece of clear plastic wrap and scoop your mixture into the center. Pull the plastic wrap up and fold it over, gently shaping the butter into a log.  If you don’t want to go this route, you can also let it full chill in the bowl and then use a melon baller to make herb butter balls. It really depends on how you will serve it and how much time you have.

So for the rest of the weekend, I will be unplugged and focused on family and celebration. I promise I’ll share some grad day pictures over at the Come Have a Peace Facebook page.

I hope your weekend will include some warmth, variety, softness, and awe that you are created from the by God who breathed life into you and calls you to a life of bringing Him glory. That’s worth celebrating!

But then things like graduation happens, and along with that come things like relatives visiting and parties and gift choices and taking time to say important words. All of a sudden I start putting time and energy into “big” decisions like using the medium tortellini or the large tortellini, votive candles or pillar candles, hair up or hair down … You see where this is going.

Details have the potential to suck us down the road to drama and drama is a fast route to depression.

One of the best ways to assure that details don’t outgrow their real size and demand more energy or time or significance than they should is to widen our view.  Considering the needs of others is a great way to guard against depression. Look up and out to bigger things, more eternal things, more … yes, important things. Graduation is important, and for us it’s pretty big this weekend, but let’s not forget that 27 million people around the world are enslaved. While my 18 year old joy of a daughter has the privilege of walking across a stage to receive a diploma, millions will never even go to school or where a clean anything or want to be seen in public or grow up to 18. Who has a need in your piece of the world?

I’ll just get the tortellini I see first.  More importantly, I want to share this with you. This is how our city is responding, and I’m so excited to be there. If you’re local, JOIN ME! If you’re in a hometown of your own far away, join us in prayer, because this touches your neighborhood too.

Did my children see me?

1. … read my Bible enough?
2. … smile often?
3. … hug their daddy?
4. … ignore my phone while driving?
5. … make dinner?
6. … call my own mom?
7. … drink 8 glasses of water a day?
8. … be active instead of a couch potato?
9. … make the bed most days?
10. … read good books?

But it’s time for me to graduate too. I’m sharing over at The MOM Initiative today that Moms Are Meant to Graduate. But unlike my giddy senior who can’t wait to dance out of high school and into her dreams, my feet are dragging a little. Before I start to get teary and cry all over my laptop, I’m just going to invite you to come over The MOM Initiative and read the rest …

Thank you to these 3 moms and friends who are each hosting EXPECTANT at their blog homes today! Stop by their front porch on the blogosphere and enjoy their warm hospitality and wisdom. You’ll see why I love them all.

Lynn Mosher blogs at Heading Home, where she shares devotionals that encourage. Lynn lives with her hubby of 45 years in their Kentucky nest, emptied of three chicklets, and expanded by three giggly grand-chicklets, and an inherited dog. She is a woman of faith who shares the overflow with the blessed women around her.

Janet Thompson is the founder of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries. Her passion and life focus is one generation teaching and training life lessons from God to the next generation. It’s God’s plan for the continuation of the church. “One generation will commend your works to another.” (Psalm 145:4) Check out her full list of excellent resources for mentoring, parenting, marriage, surviving cancer, transitioning to life with your husband at home, and living out your faith at womantowomanmentoring.com.

Joanne Kraft is a busy mom and the author of Just Too Busy—Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical. Joanne has been a single mom, divorced mom, full time working mom and stay at home mom. She understands the heart of a mom. She and her husband now live in Tennessee where they’re raising their four children and have happily traded soy milk and arugula for sweet tea and biscuits. Joanne’s articles have been published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, Thriving Family, In Touch, ParentLife, Today’s Christian Woman, Kyria, P31 Woman and more. She’s appeared on CBN, Focus on the Family, Family Life Today and The Harvest Show. joannekraft.com

From “Baby Takes Two” of EXPECTANT

Dads feel blessed, and dads want to prepare, but when it comes to prepping a nursery and having a shower, dads get left out in the waiting room. This is not to say dads need to learn to love tiny pink and blue cupcakes and make diaper cakes. A wise expectant mom encourages her expectant daddy to share his thoughts and prepare in his own way, in his daddy way. Can he build something for baby’s room? Would he like to buy baby’s first sports jersey? Does he want to be the official belly photographer? Welcome his participation in his daddy ways.

How has God designed your expectant husband to anticipate and prepare for your coming baby? Your child is a gift from God, a blessing on your marriage, and an arrow in the hand of your warrior. You’re not so big that you need to take up the whole center of the stage yourself. After all, it took two to make your baby, so you should share the spotlight.

“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.” (Prov.  23:24)

How can a mom to be encourage a dad to be in his own special “dad” way?

10 Awesome Websites for Moms

1. The MOM Initiative
2. MomLife Today
3. 1 Corinthians 13 Parenting
4. The Better Mom
5. Mom Heart Online
6. I Can Teach My Child
7. Whatever Girls (For teen girls & moms)
8. Exemplify Online 2:21 (For teen girls 16+)
9. The Busy Mom Bulletin
10. Devos for Moms

Today the EXPECTANT blog tour is hosted by a friend who loves moms.

Stephanie Shott founded The Mom Initiative out of the overflow of her heart for God and for mamas. Steph is passionate about mentoring and taking the message of Titus 2 to the streets in order to impact the next generation. I’ve been writing and serving with Stephanie for the past 3 years, and I just love her humble heart for Jesus. Our hearts have been tied together, and I’m so glad. She is a mom and a grandma, but she is also the author of Understanding What Matters Most and a girl with a global heart. Visit Stephanie at her blog, where she leads women to live full, fearless, and faithful lives.

Moms need some “go-to” recipes for days when creativity is low, the budget is tight, or the rain is heavy. This is my favorite for Microwave Play Doh. With a few simple ingredients and a microwave, this is a fun craft for mom to make, for kids to help with, and for everyone to use for creativity. This easy, economical recipe makes an excellent party favor in individual baggies with curls of ribbon, too.

Microwave Play Doh

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
• 1 T. oil
• 1 cup water
• food coloring and optional flavoring (banana, cinnamon, almond, coconut, etc)

Microwave for about 2 minutes and then cool briefly before kneading gently. This keeps well in a plastic bag and has such a nice texture.

So does this “count” for Feed Me Friday? Well the good part is … this play doh doesn’t taste good, but if curious hands want to explore the taste, it won’t hurt, either. Every mom can use this easy, dependable play doh recipe!

Do you have a go-to craft recipe?

Today on the EXPECTANT tour, we’re visiting my friend Kathy Howard as she highlights the book. Kathy calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she has moved with her engineer husband around the U.S. and Canada. She says “pop” instead of “Coke” and “you guys” as often as “ya’ll.” But those things are just superficial – she’s still a southern girl at heart, and she now calls Texas home. Kathy and her husband have three children, a son-in-law, and one precious grandson. She writes to have something to do while she drinks coffee and eats chocolate. She is a Bible study gal who goes deep in her books, including her latest, Flat Faith. I’d love for you to go meet Kathy at www.kathyhoward.org.

With all the focus on moms when trying to conceive, being pregnant, or bonding with a child, new dads often feel left out.  As the world focuses on the glow of the mama and the hopes of her heart, daddies sometimes take a backseat they can’t climb out of. While we’re teaching first words and expressions, we’re also teaching an attitude towards baby’s father.  Let me share a segment from the devotion called “Baby Talk About Daddy” in EXPECTANT.

If we aren’t careful, the language lessons we continue to teach may include disrespect toward the very daddy who grew teary eyed at the first coos and calls of your once tiny child. How will you talk to baby about daddy?  Ephesians 5:33 gives us the bottom line, spelling out a gentle command for our good, like we will spell out gentle commands for the welfare of our babes; “. . .  let the wife see that she respects her husband.”  Whether the diaper is like we want it, the food is where we direct it, or the football game is the priority we hope for, we are called to respect the men who are our husbands and the fathers of our children. Little fuzzy ears will be listening to our every word, our every tone, our every intonation. They’ll know the message of our hearts, and they will take it into theirs as their baby talk grows up.

5 ways to talk to baby about daddy

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