WE'VE MOVED!

Hey guys! I will no longer be posting on this blog. You can access the blog directly from the website at http://livegreaterfoundation.org or click here and this link:http://livegreaterfoundation.org/?p=1278 will take you directly to the blog on the website!

Thanks for reading and joining me in this journey!

Restless heart

Summer is winding down and I get to go school supplies shopping for the first time ever for Gavin. I have no clue why I am so excited about this, but I just am. I guess being easily amused has its perks. I had some time yesterday to go over the small supplies list, after all he is just going to pre-school but it felt good to just sit down and only have that be on my mind. Our family has had a wonderful but very busy schedule these past two weeks. Within all the business I have found a lack of joy and desire to do some of the everyday things I normally do such as reading my daily devotional or praying. When I sink into these times of desolation it's most likely because A.) I have gotten so busy with life I have not made time for God or B.) I have made time for everything else and have not made God the priority.

When things get busy I usually unwind by going for a walk or just vegging out when the kids go to bed and putting on Netflix or even immersing myself in some kind of (small) DIY project. Even though these things can be good and everyone needs something that helps them unwind after a busy day our hearts will still be restless if we don't put God first. St. Augustine has a wonderful yet simple quote that says it all, “Thou hast made us for thyself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” -Augustine, Confessions. I love this quote and often go back to it when I find myself a little restless. When I've watched my movie, read my book, done a painting or went for a walk and I still feel "off", I look back to this quote as a reminder we will always feel restless until we rest in God first. You would think this would be easy to do but I must have short term memory because I often forget that keeping myself busy with things that I enjoy might make me feel better for a short while but that feeling wears off quickly and I just needed to spend some time with God in the first place.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church opens with the following: "The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for"(Number 27.) I feel like I need to spend some more time with the Catechism...good stuff! "The desire for God is written in the human heart", so beautiful. It's funny how we all have this natural desire for good things, we all want to feel happy and yet at times we constantly fill our time with things to keep ourselves busy to fill this sort of void we have been feeling when truly all along that desire we have is God's voice calling us to be with Him.

This is my favorite devotional to read!

So, for the rest of the week I know what I am going to be working on, filling that "void" with prayers and getting back on track with my daily devotional. My plan may not be earth shattering, but as I said before it's the small things and I'm easily amused.

Hope you all have a good week and find rest in the Lord!

Meal time

Confession, one of my least favorite times of the day is right around 5:00. Why? Because that's when I should be preparing a meal for my family. There really isn't any part of me that really, truly enjoys cooking. Don't get me wrong, I'm really into the actual eating part of the meal for sure! But when it comes to the grocery shopping, to preparing the meal, to making a mess, then cooking...forget about it.

I realize this is problematic for me because it is my job to prepare three meals a day. So, what to do? I've decided to no longer dread the 5 o'clock hour and make a goal of becoming more organized. That means I'm starting to plan out our meals on Saturdays then try and do most of the grocery shopping on Sundays. That way I have everything set up for a successful week of meals! (Or at least that's the goal.) I feel like meal planning will also help with the stress level as well. Normally,11 AM rolls around and I'm already worrying about what we are going to have for dinner, frantically looking through the cupboards for something to whip up.

Thanks to Pinterest,I found a meal that is right up my ally. You only have to get one dish dirty and it's Mexican food. Sounds good right? (Side note:I could eat Mexican food all day,every day.) Feast your eyes on the recipe below:

Southwest Chicken Skillet:
*You can find this recipe at: www.persnicketyplates.com*

Source: Adapted from 20 Paws 4 Feet
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (or tenders) cut into small pieces
salt, pepper, Montreal chicken seasoning, red pepper flakes - whatever you like to season your chicken with
1 Tablespoon (or so) olive oil
1 cup uncooked rice
10 oz can RoTel diced tomatoes & green chilies
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 cup water
handful of shredded Mexican cheese blend
sour cream, for topping

Directions
Cut your chicken into small (about 1" pieces) and season with salt, pepper, Montreal chicken seasoning, and red pepper flakes (or whichever seasoning you prefer).

Head a large skillet over medium high heat and coat with a turn of the pan of olive oil.

Once hot, add in the seasoned chicken and cook until no longer pink.

Stir in the uncooked rice, can of Rotel, can of tomato sauce, and water. Bring to a boil then cover.

Reduce heat to low and let cook for about 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Be sure to stir mixture to make sure rice isn't sticking to the bottom.

Once the rice is done, stir the mixture and top with a handful of shredded cheese. Turn off heat and cover for about 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.

Top with a dollop of sour cream and serve.

This meal only took me about 30-35 minutes to make and the kids really liked it as well. You could even put the mixture in a tortilla to make southwest chicken burritos.

I hope you guys have a great week and feel free to comment below with your quick go to meals!(I know I would love to get some meal ideas!)

Foundation Friday

Happy Friday and welcome to this weeks edition of Foundation Friday! We have been up to a lot this week so I'll get right to it. 

 

First there was the big trip to New York to rejoice with Br. Angelus who just took final vows this past weekend. Thank you for your prayers for him and the 7 others from the Friars of the Renewal who gave their lives to God in a special and profound way. Pictures can say 1000 words, so I'll let all the pictures do the talking this time. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Another program we are working on is “Potluck 4 the Poor” which provides fresh food for the St. Anthony's Shelter for Renewal (NYC) every month, allowing the guest an opportunity to share meals together in fellowship and fraternity. We believe that this experience is an "icon" of the Christian life, a moment to experience the blessings of life shared together as family, and to rejoice in the providence of God. 

We invite you to share in this initiative by partnering with us to give food to the poor. For more information on how to help please contact: info@livegreaterfoundation.org

 

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!!!

 

 

 

Packing my life away

Summer time is always a time I look forward too. We get to kiss the frigid weather that winter brings goodbye for a few months and welcome warm days and shorts to our lives. But with Summer comes Summer vacation, another bonus to the season however the packing is what I loathe. So to kick my packing blues I decided to get a head of the game and devise a plan to make sure we wouldn't leave anything behind that we would need.

Before I started to pack my life away for our summer getaway to the lake, I decided to make a vacation packing list. I figured if I wrote down everything that was on my mind to pack it would get it out of my mind and on to paper. Once I made lists, it was super easy to pack because I wasn't constantly second guessing myself and wondering if I had forgotten anything. Besides, does anyone else feel it to be super satisfying to put a little checkmark next to the completed task? It's the small things, people.

 

Once all of the essentials were packed, I knew the next challenge would be packing the diaper bag. Our road trip was going to be almost 6 hours long so I knew I needed to pack a bag better than Mary Poppins could. (Sorry, we've been watching a ton of Mary Poppins lately and the kids do think her bag is pretty awesome. Who doesn't?) My kids can easily entertain themselves at home but when it comes to being in the car...you better have some ear plugs. They get so, SO antsy if they are in their car seats for more than an hour and they are not the best sleepers while out on the road. Like I said above, I knew this was going to be a challenge but I think I found the perfect items for a successful road trip:

 

I know in this household Goldfish is the snack of choice and the Aquadoodle is amazing. With the Aquadoodle you fill up a pen with water and then the kids can draw all over the mat. As the mat gets wet, the color comes out. When mat starts to dry, the drawing disappears and the kids can use the mat over and over and over again. Since the pen is just water, there's never a mess! A major win in my book. I usually try to save fruit snacks for special occasions just because let's be real...fruit snacks are better than candy and kids know it. So, the fruit snacks are for when we get desperate and need some quiet out on the road. Books and DVDs are kind of a must have and last but not least, the classic Etch and Sketch. I got an Etch and Sketch for the same reason I got the Aquadoodle, no mess! That was key to this road trip, to find things for the kids to do that wouldn't cause a major mess.

 

Any tips you use while packing for a road trip? I'd love to hear what you all do when you are about to hit the road with your kids!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foundation Friday

Welcome to Foundation Fridays! Each Friday I will be posting a sort of update on what is going on with the foundation. This will be an intimate look into different projects the foundation is working on, information on fundraising events to fun trips the foundation is taking! Basically, each Friday will just be an overview of what the foundation is up to and gives you a better idea of the foundations goals. Hopefully one of these projects that the foundation is working on will speak directly to your heart and may even inspire you to help us out!

Currently, the foundation is focusing on three programs:

•  The first is Brother's Keeper Medical Missionaries, which is the premier program for the foundation. BKMM will provide health care services for people in poverty-stricken third world countries who would otherwise have no health care. We will be raising funds to gather a team which will consist of a doctor, nurse and a technician/driver. The team will be providing anything from x-rays to ultrasounds or other essential health care equipment and supplies needed directly to these severely ill patients in remote areas. Our first mobile medical team is working out of St. Benedict Joseph Medical Center in Comayagua, Honduras. This small, rural hospital, co-founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, serves over 3,000 poor patients every month. Our Brother’s Keeper team will make it possible to reach the thousands of others in the surrounding area who are unable to get to the medical center on their own.

• The next program is focusing on funding for St. Anthony's Homeless Shelter.
  The Live Greater Foundation is raising funds for St. Anthony's Homeless Shelter in New York City.  The Shelter is in great need of improvements for the shelter, along with food and daily necessities for the men that stay there.  The funds we raise will go directly to the shelter, to be used for whatever they are in need of most at this time. Currently, we are raising $2,500 to buy fans for the shelter. You can go to http://www.gofundme.com/bycaxo to help with the cause! Anything helps and is greatly appreciated.

 

• Exodus Experience is a program under our Live Greater Recovery initiative. This program is designed to respond to the needs of men who have experienced the hardships of homelessness and/or addiction in New York City by providing housing and work in rural America. These men will make a one year commitment to go to Buffalo,WY and work in the wool mill for the Mountain Meadow Wool Company. The men will live in community at a large home we have in the city. "The EXODUS Experience" will provide the men with fellowship, job skills, and spiritual formation that will renew their lives.

Some other exciting happenings, drum roll please...The Live Greater Foundation brochures are completed! I've seen them first hand and they look great. If you would like more information on how you can get ahold of a brochure please contact: info@livegreaterfoundation.org

 

The website will also be live very soon. We are so excited for everyone to see what the foundation has been working so hard on. When the website is ready, you can click on the 'LGF' tab at the top and it will take you directly to the website.
 

In other news, Brother Angules is making his final vows this Sunday in New York, please keep him in your prayers! We would also like to ask you for your continued prayers for the foundation as it is just getting started and as you can see...there's a lot going on,a lot to be praying about and a lot to be excited about.

 

That's about all for today, tune in for next Friday's update and a have a great weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Church Anxiety

So, have you ever heard of church anxiety? Because I just recently diagnosed myself with the condition. Church anxiety is when you have an irrational fear of going into church with your children and you spend most of the service trying to keep your 4 and 2 year old relatively quiet. Which at times could be considered an Olympic sport. Seriously. Feel free to watch my husband and I with our two children sometime at Mass. Olympic sport I tell ya.

A typical Sunday morning in our household usually looks a little something like this:

1. I try and get up before kids, grab my coffee and toast then head to the bathroom to get ready.
2. Kids wake up at the same time demanding milk. Getting ready will have to wait, so I grab them breakfast and their coveted milk then ask my husband to take over so I can get ready for church.
3. Gavin follows me to the bathroom and so does Sophia. Getting ready has also become an Olympic sport.
4. I am ready as I'll ever be and then proceed to wipe off leftover food from the babes mouths and get them dressed. Depending on their moods, this step is the easiest step of all or my worst nightmare.
5. Husband has been getting ready while I've been getting kids clean and clothes on.
6. Pack the diaper bag, take another sip of my coffee then tell the kids to get "their shoes for mommy" approximately 153 times. Once they get said shoes, we put them on and out the door we go!

Whoa, are you feeling anxious just reading this because I am! (Where's the vino?! Kidding.) I won't even get into the step by step process we go through every...single...Sunday to keep our kids in the pew to get them to behave like the little saints they are because I'm almost sure after reading that you will have a migraine.

So, why do we bring our kids to Mass? Why not just leave the kids at home and trade services with my husband? (Which we have done in the past if the kids are sick or if one of us isn't feeling too hot. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!) Why do my husband and I put ourselves through all of this? Good question! No, no, I'm kidding. I do it because when the mornings are good, they are really good. My heart fills with joy when I see my son looking at all the statues around us then looking up at me and asking me,"is that Jesus' mommy?" (Love.That.) We bring them because community is important and the families that belong to our church are solid people that will bring good influences into our lives and more importantly our childrens lives. We bring our kids to church because among all the ruckus that can and does ensue they do learn from the Mass.

 There are days where it is a struggle indeed and I feel my heart rate start to rise, my head starts to spin and I have to take a deep breath to get through Mass. But there are the mornings where the church anxiety slowly but surely disappears and I feel little hands placed in mine listening quietly to all that is going on. I look at my family sitting in the pew and I feel comforted. I feel comforted because all four of us are together and I feel grateful to be apart of such a welcoming community. So, while there is chaos there is also beauty and that is why we bring our kids to church.

To avoid getting the dreaded church anxiety, I have listed some practical ways to overcome this condition:

1.  You can get these really cool children's felt bibles at: www.busybibles.com These bibles have quiet activities and bible stories on each page that keep kids engaged. I know I have seen some ideas on Pinterest that give step by step instructions on how to make your own felt bible. So if you're feeling crafty, check that out!

2. I have heard of parents treating the cry room in church like a time out. If the child has to be taken to the cry room they do not get snacks, their sippy cup and they may not play in the cry room. The idea behind making this a sort of time out is that the child begins to realize being in church is way better than the cry room. At least in church they can still get their drink and snack when they behave! Some children cry just so they can be taken to the cry room which creates a problem for the parent. So if the kid wants to throw a tantrum in the middle of church...then they are taken to "time out".

3. Another tip I have been given from family members is to sit in the front. I remember when Gavin was a newborn I definitely slid into Mass in the back row. But as he got older, I realized I should maybe take their advice. As Gavin began to get older he was curious, he wanted to see what was going on in the front. When we sat in the very back row there were many distractions for myself and Gavin. So on to the front we went! I have found since we have made the executive decision to sit up front, the kids are much better during Mass.

Do you have any life saving tips to get you and your family through church? If so, I'd love to hear all about it!

A picture of the kids and their friends after church. Did you read that right? This was taken after church so that means we all survived! Yay!

 

Introductions...

Hello and welcome to the very first Live Greater Foundation blog post! Here I hope to share with you all my ideas, my struggles and my joys on life, on family and even on my relationship with Christ. I think I'll even throw a recipe or two in there as well because let's face it...I'm a big foodie. (No shame.) We will also have a 'Foundation Friday' post each week to let you know what's going on with the foundation.

Other than family advice and giving you your next go to meal my hope for this blog is that you will leave feeling refreshed and inspired. I know when I was asked to do this blog I had read over the Live Greater Family mission statement. In that statement I read this, "Live Greater Family is dedicated to bring parents and children closer to Christ and to each other through educational initiatives and family fellowship activities. It is designed as a one-stop resource to mothers, fathers and children to help them grow in faith and become better, stronger Christians." After reading that statement, I knew that is exactly what I wanted this blog to do. I want this blog to inspire others to become better, stronger Christians. With that said, let's get right into it...introductions!

As you have probably gathered, my name is Amanda. I'm from the Kansas City area and have been married for almost 5 years. I have two red headed babes named Gavin (almost 4) and Sophia (almost 2) and yes, I even have a red headed husband named Matt. I currently stay at home with my kiddos. Before I made the decision to stay-at-home with the babes I had experience working as a Volunteer Coordinator at a non-profit organization then shortly after I became a Family Shelter Supervisor/Caseworker for a homeless shelter. I really enjoyed my time in the non-profit world but as always, God had plans for my life that I could have never planned for myself. (I'll get back to that later!) Other than staying at home with the kids, I really like to paint, I'm a wannabe runner and thoroughly enjoy a good cup of coffee. Yes, I'm a coffee snob. Yes, I realize that is somewhat annoying to people. Let's see what else...oh...an interesting fact of mine is that I am convert to the Catholic faith. I came into the Church in 2009 and received a ton of sacraments all in the same year. We're talking baptism, confirmation, first communion, reconciliation, marriage...phew. 2009 was a good year people.

Oh, yes...the awkward "selfie". This is me on my way to a wedding. Otherwise, you can find this stay-at-home momma in yoga pants and t-shirts! (Which is completely fine.)

My husband Matt is a recently "retired" Varsity Catholic FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary. He currently works for an ag company where he is a district sales manager. Matt grew up on a farm so he's thrilled to be getting back to his agriculture roots. Matt is a runner (not a wannabe like myself, but an actual runner. They DO exist!), a hunter & a really good dad. Matt and I were in FOCUS for the past 5 years and have learned so much through the organization that it feels good to be apart of this foundation that ultimately has the same goals in mind...to reach out and help others become better versions of themselves.

Here's the husband, Matt. It was hard to find a normal picture of him. Most pictures just include him wrestling with the kids or giving me a look that says,"Are you really going to take my picture, Amanda?" (Raised eyebrows and all)

My son Gavin is a dinosaur loving, picky food eater, sweet 3 1/2 year old boy. Gavin being the first born is somewhat of our guinea pig for Matt and I. Being the first born has its perks for sure but for Matt and I every phase and stage Gavin goes through is so new...all we can do is pray that we're not messing up and do our best.

My daughter Sophia is a social butterfly and thrill seeker! I seriously understand why the backpack leash was now made. Sophia is the fastest toddler there is, I swear. I always have to keep my eye on her so closely. She is also such a joy and makes us laugh a lot. She is fearless and I almost envy her for it!

 

So there you have it, our introductions! Please feel free to comment anytime if you have blog post suggestions, prayer requests and encouraging words are always appreciated! I look forward to sharing with you my families life. Not to simply showcase our family and only show you the good moments. I feel like the internet has enough blogs that only shows you the good...where's the bad and the ugly? Life is messy. Yes, there are plenty of good moments that should be shared but I want to be as real as possible. If I am going to be real, then that means sharing the good, the bad and even the ugly with you all. Is that scary? Absolutely. No one likes to admit their struggles, their shortcomings. But I feel if we are honest with one another and share our joys as well as our struggles then that's when we can really help one another out. So sit back, relax and enjoy this crazy ride of the, "Live Greater Blog." It will surely be an adventure. God bless!