Carry-On: A Book Review

Excerpted from the back cover:

In one entertaining and enlightening book, Scotty Gibbons unpacks 15 years in student ministry at one of America's fastest growing churches. Scotty's proven principles will encourage and equip you (and the leaders around you) to go the distance.

I met Scotty Gibbons 15 years ago when I interviewed with him to become a volunteer leader in the youth ministry. I served under Scotty's leadership for seven amazing, challenging, and life-changing years. He poured into me as a leader and a friend. Many of the principles I learned from him have helped mold the person I am today--not only in leadership, but in personal discipline, interaction with others, and basic communication.

Although I am not currently involved in youth ministry, I wanted to read Scotty's book because he is an amazing communicator and a good friend. I wasn't disappointed. While Carry-On is a must-have resource for anyone involved in youth ministry, the leadership principles Scotty writes about are beneficial for life in general. As always, I found Scotty challenging me in my personal life as well. And I found many of the principles applicable to my role as a mother (if you simply substitute the word "ministry" for "motherhood" because after all, that's what motherhood is.)

If you're involved in youth ministry (or ministry of any sort, really) I highly recommend this resource. (You can order it here.) You can check out what Scotty and his staff are currently up to at their Realife web site, or visit Scotty's blog.

Know & Tell Friday

It's that time of the week again...YEAH!!! For more answers, head on over to Kickin' It In Crazyville. For now, here are my answers:

1. Why were you given your particular name? I was supposed to be Melissa Renee, but a friend of my parents' at their church had a girl a few days before I was born, and she named her Melissa Renee. So, I was named Nancy Renee.

2. What's your favorite song of the moment? This is a tough one since I rarely get the chance to listen to "grown-up" music these days. For that reason, anything that doesn't rhyme and isn't sung by a cartoon character would probably be at the top of the list.

3. What are you wearing today which is most reflective of who you are? Probably my bare feet (comfy), or my khaki capris.

4. Have you ever had a pet that was not a cat or dog? What was it? I had a couple of guppies in the 3rd grade, but they didn't last long. Other than that, it's always been dogs.

5. What type of exercise do you do to keep in shape? I do stretching and strength exercises almost every night (crunches, lunges, etc.) and I've just started lifting weights and walking the dog each morning.

6. What is your favorite movie of all time? I like so many different movies...lots of musicals, old movies, sappy romantic comedies, but probably my all-time favorite is Chocolat. (Johnny Depp and chocolate...what more could you want?)

7. Do you enjoy gardening, or working with flowers? No, not really, but I would like to have a garden b/c I LOVE fresh vegetables...maybe next year.

Quotes of the Week

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body"

--Joseph Addison

"If reading were to the body what exercise is to the body, I'd be one fit woman!"

--Nancy @ Chocolate Ink

The Great Conspirators, Episode 3

When we last saw Li'l Miss and Li'l Man, they had enlisted the assistance of the family pet, Chester in Operation Exhausted Mommy. It seemed that, at last, their plan of wearing Mother completely down would indeed become a reality. That was, until Father came to Mother's rescue. (To read previous episodes, click here.) Several days have passed as we check in on the relentless trio...


The pair of youngsters were obviously unprepared for the powerful match that Mother and Father proved to be, for it began to cause dissension among the ranks. Suddenly, Li'l Man enjoyed the idea of sleeping slightly later in the mornings (emphasis on slightly). This apparently did not sit well with Li'l Miss as she had counted on Li'l Man's early wakings, allowing her to sleep in and prepare for her late-night shift. So she devised a plan of her own.

Knowing that Li'l Man was having trouble napping, due to his incoming teeth, Li'l Miss usually allowed Mother to rock Li'l Man back to sleep when he woke early from a nap. However, now that Li'l Man was neglecting his morning duties, Li'l Miss thought it unfair to allow him an extended nap as well. So another ingenious plan evolved. Li'l Miss would allow Mother to go in and calm Li'l Man when he woke early from a nap. She would wait patiently until she knew Li'l Man was just about to sleep (how she knew, no one knows). Then Li'l Miss would burst into Li'l Man's room, snuggle up on the couch next to Mother (who was holding an almost-asleep Li'l Man), look up at Mother with her deep, brown eyes, and sweetly proclaim, "I just wanted to be with Mommy." The interruption obviously started Li'l Man completely awake, and Li'l Miss's adorable proclamation made Mother feel hugely guilty for any frustration or exasperation she felt toward Li'l Miss for the interruption.

Mother then had no option but to get Li'l Man up and continue through her day, battling her own fatigue while entertaining a cranky, teething, sleepy Li'l Man. As for Li'l Miss, she carried on as if nothing at all had happened...and she seemed to be the happiest of them all.

Stay tuned to see if the duo succeed in Operation Exhausted Mommy...or does Mommy find the strength to endure and prove to be more powerful than the pair ever suspected? Only time will tell...

Mondays in the Blogosphere

I've discovered there's a lot going on in the blogosphere on Mondays. While I'm doing well to get my brood up, dressed, and fed, some of my fellow bloggers are already getting a jump on things. In case you're new to the world of blogging (I still am), I thought I'd point you toward some bloggers who are "up and rarin' to go on this Monday morning":

Two of my favorite bloggers over at Kickin' It In Crazyville have started a new Friendship Hall of Fame every Monday. Each week they honor a friend of the many nominated by bloggers everywhere. So, if you have a special friend you'd like to nominate, head on over and submit his/her name. I'm sure your friend will greatly appreciate it!

Also, Org Junkie has Menu Plan Monday every week where you'll find lots (and I do mean LOTS) of great menu plans and recipes (my favorite part!). So, if you're menu-planning-challenged (as I am), head on over and glean from the creativity of others! And, if you're interested, here's my Menu Plan Monday:


Monday: Homemade pizzas (with my favorite pizza crust recipe listed below) and salad

Tuesday: Pork roast (in the slow cooker) with seasoned rice and steamed veggies

Wednesday: BBQ Pork sandwiches (made from the leftover pork roast), french fries, fresh corn on the cob

Thursday: Leftover night (any combination of leftovers from the fridge)

Friday: Family Night Out

Saturday: Breakfast for dinner (bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits, and fruit

Amish Pizza Crust

(My mom made this all the time when we were growing up...

she got the recipe from an old amish cookbook years ago).

Combine:

1 cup warm water

1 pkg yeast

When dissolved add:

1 large tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 1/4 cup flour

Beat until smooth and add:

2 cups flour, or enough to make stiff (I substitute up to have with whole wheat flour)

Knead until elastic (about 5 min). Place in greased bowl and let rise until it doubles in size (about 45 min). Form 2 balls, pat and stretch to fill 2 greased pizza pans. Let rise another 10 min. Add pizza sauce and your favorite toppings. Bake @ 450 degrees for 20-25 min until crust is golden.

If you do not need to make 2 pizzas, you can freeze one crust. After I spread it on the pizza pan and let it rise again. I move it to a sheet of cling wrap, place another on top, then roll the crust and place it in the freezer. Let thaw completely, then add toppings and bake.

Do you know any other secrets to freezing pizza dough (or any other kind of dough, for that matter)?

Family Fun

We live literally minutes from the headquarters of a nationally-known hunting and sporting goods mega store. Last Friday night we packed up the kiddos for our weekly "Family Night Out" and drove less than a mile to enjoy a delicious dinner at the in-store restaurant and let the kids see the wildlife sites around the store (both live and "formerly live").

Little Man LOVED the huge fish aquarium, and Little Miss was enraptured by the turtles warming under the sun lamp. I thought I'd share some pics of our fun, little outing:

(Not the best picture, but so cute with Little Man and the fish!)

Wow! My First Award!

I was so honored to receive the "Arte y Pico" Award by Lora from My Blessed Life. Lora is the one who inspired me to start blogging. I always enjoy her blog, not just because it's how I keep up with her life and family. But she also gives so many inspirational and creative ideas. Thanks so much, Lora!

_______________________

Here are the guidelines for this award~~

1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and contribution to the blogging community, no matter what language.

2) Each award should have the name of the author

and link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Each award winner should show the award and put the

name and link to the blog that presented her/him with the award.

4) The award winner and one who has given the prize should show the

link of "Arte y Pico"blog so everyone will know the origin to this award.

I've decided to award the "Arte y Pico" to the following bloggers who inspire me. Some are personal friends, some are simply blogs I enjoy reading for their information, advice, and/or inspiration. I hope you enjoy them, too:

I'm an Organizing Junkie

The Howe Family

Under the Bell Tower

Logorrhea

My 5th nominee would be Kickin' It In Crazyville, but since

Lora already awarded them, I'm going to go with I Take Joy.