The Cross is More than Enough

I have tasted and I have seen.

*God is good*

But sometimes in the midst of it all, I just can't remember.

...But the Cross...

If all God had ever done for me was send His Son in my place--

If all Jesus had ever done for me was give His life in my place--

If all the Spirit had ever done for me was secure my place--

That is enough. More than enough. When I have trouble remembering anything else…

The Cross is more than enough.

Merry Christmas!

love, The Jacobs

Prayers for My Boys: His Marriage {+ Giveaway!}

A couple of years ago a friend posted on facebook about how she doesn't pray for an easy, happy life for her kids. Instead, she prays that they will be dangerous for the Lord, and that He would use them for amazing things for His glory. Even if it's hard.

I was immediately convicted because I was definitely the type to pray for a happy, blessed life for my kids. But I was missing the point. It's not about being "happy," but about finding true joy in following the true Lover of their souls. So I began praying slightly more boldly.

Just days before Amanda was murdered, Derek and I were discussing trials. The idea of them scares me literally more than anything else! At any moment tragedy can strike. I confessed to Derek that I had been praying that God would use the kids in mighty ways but protect them from horrible tragedies. Tragedies like the one that occurred a few days later.

In the last month something totally unnatural has happened.

While the idea of trials and tragedies still scares me just as much as before, I see them in a completely different light. I see a family, who's wife/mom/daughter/sister's life has been cruelly snuffed out from this earth, be a bright, shining beacon in the midst of the darkest time of their lives. I see God work miracles. I see beauty.

I would never ever ever ever wish such a horrifying experience on even my worst enemy, let alone my babies. But the beauty… I wish that so much for my babes.

My blogging plan for November changed in the middle of the month when pure evil attempted to wreak havoc on God's family. But through watching Davey (Amanda's husband) from afar, I was led to pray for Jack and his future spouse in a way I had never done before: with passion. with hope. with excitement. with determination. without fear.

His Marriage

Lord, I know You have a helper, support, perfect match for my Shnook. I pray that while he runs full speed toward You, Jack will find her running beside him. Protect his sensitive heart as he navigates this cruel, ugly, impure world. Give Jack the strength through Your Spirit to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). Give him eyes to see the way out that You always provide (1 Corinthians 10:13), and the power to take captive every thought and make it obedient to You (1 Corinthians 10:5). So when he meets his wife, he will be able to love her as you love us (Ephesians 5).May he be a good steward of his wife's love, and may he always show her honor and grace (1 Peter 3:7). Please, Lord, help them to love You even more than they love each other. May they change the world- together.

Most of this focused praying for my babes happens in my war room. If you have not seen the film War Room yet, it is a must-see! The movie will be available on December 22, but Family Christian not only has it on sale but is also doing an exclusive pre-buy where you get a free prayer journal along with it! And if you pre-buy it, you can pick it up in store in time for Christmas. So go order it HERE right now! Then come on back here to enter for a $25 gift card to Family Christian! Woot!

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Our 3 Gift Christmas

We don't have much money. We never have. And we likely never will. But that doesn't really matter when you're married to a man who gives any extra we might have away. In fact, I feel fairly confident that if we did make more money, I wouldn't even know it because Derek would give it all away before I ever saw it.

The man cannot hang on to a dollar. But most of the time it's because he's handing it over to someone in need. Or not in need. Either way.

And because of his incredible generosity, I have come a loooooooooong way in the last decade. Of course, I have just about that far still to go but I'm so grateful for how he has challenged me just by example.

All that to say, limiting our kids to 3 gifts for Christmas is a lot less about the money (although that is a key factor when there isn't much!) and a lot more about Christ. Because generosity is the leader-of-our-home's thing, we choose to give our kids gifts for Christmas. What is generosity if we can't be generous to those closest to us? But because Christmas is about Christ, we are very intentional about gift giving.

I originally came across this idea of 3 gifts from this blog post ((Make sure to visit!)). We loved it! It's a perfect fit for our family. So I'm going to share with you just in case it is a fit for yours, too!

When {the magi} saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11

GOLD

Gold represents something the kids want. Gold was, and continues to be, very desirable. We give one gift to each kid that they've either asked for or we feel confident they will enjoy. We don't always give them what they ask for because, well, mommy knows best! And I simply don't want any more tiny, worthless Shopkins in this house! The clutter, oh the clutter! So we are very careful about this gift, trying our best to avoid more clutter, encourage education, and make it something they love.

Ideas:
Games (Jack is getting this this year!)
Blocks or legos (easy-to-clean clutter that is educational!)
Accessories to something they already have (American Girl accessories, additions to their Imaginex city set)
Puzzles
Costumes
Books
Movies/video games
Activity gift (dance classes, ice skating date with dad, etc.)

FRANKINCENSE

Theologians say that the gift of frankincense was symbolic of Christ's priesthood. This gift for our kids is something spiritual. While this one can be challenging, I love it! It's so fun to listen to the Spirit on this one and see how He uses what we get them!

Ideas:
Jesus Storybook Bible (every single household containing children should own this book)
Bibles (Marie and Jack each got their own last year)
Devotionals (like Jesus Calling)
Play nativity set (Kempton got this last year)
What's in the Bible DVDs
Just about anything Veggie Tales
His Little Princess/His Mighty Warrior (God has put these books to good use around these parts!)

MYRRH

This spice symbolizes burial and death in Scripture buuut we focus on the use of it. It was used as incense or perfume. Something put on the body. The myrrh gift is something the kids can wear.

Ideas:
Clothes
Belt (Kempton is getting this this year)
Shoes
Boots
Hats
Ballet shoes
Hairbows
Towel
Chapstick
Etc. Etc.

Now I am super curious - How do you do gifts for Christmas in your home?

Can I point out one last thing? In the verses from Matthew we learn that the Magi "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." I don't know about you, but I can't help but think that some hooting and hollering and cheering and dancing was happening when they finally found Jesus. Let's enter this beautiful time of celebrating Jesus' birth with a little… no, how about a LOT of that rejoicing exceedingly with great joy!! There's no greater gift we could give our kids.

…Behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people!...

The Main Reason We Homeschool (with a Book Review + Giveaway!)

There are so many reasons why people homeschool. Derek and I have several reasons ourselves. But above all other reasons out there, our main reason for homeschooling is to take advantage of the opportunity to obey this Scripture:

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

I believe these verses can be followed homeschooling or not. But God has laid it on our hearts to keep our kids home.

Bible class generally happens over breakfast. Just keeping it real, my friends.

With this being the most important reason for homeschooling, that probably means I need to make sure I'm actually teaching God's Word day in and day out. While it is pretty easy for me to talk spiritual things throughout the day, it has not always been easy for me to find a good Bible curriculum. So I was excited to receive this book and be given the opportunity to give my honest review -

The Bible is My Best Friend Family Devotional

The great news is, it's not even meant for homeschooling families in particular. It is set up to do one lesson a week as a family. So simple and so very doable! And those are key ingredients to just about anything I'll allow in my life! Especially when it comes to cooking dinner...

Anyway

Each lesson has a memory verse with a devotional.

I love the discussion questions. Every question the kids are supposed to ask the parents are tough. The kind that make you be honest with your kids. The kind that make you be honest with yourself. If you know me at all, you know this is very important to me. The author (Sheila Walsh) nailed it on these for sure!

There's also fun activity suggestions and weekly challenges.

Two final thoughts on the book:
1. Marie, at 7 years old, seems to be just about the right age to begin this book. The boys are definitely gleaning from it, but Marie does most of the question answering.
2. It is only one lesson a week. This does not "fill your quota" as a Christian parent! The name of JESUS should be spoken within the walls of your home every single day, multiple times a day! But this book offers a simple way to get the whole family together for focused time in the Word. The rest of the week for "Bible class," we generally read a Psalm and practice some of our memory verses. Marie also does her own devotions.

We've been so pleased with this book which makes me super excited to offer it to one lucky winner! Yay, new book smell! And if you don't end up being that lucky winner, or simply don't want to wait, order one straight from Family Christian just in time for Christmas!

Follow the Rafflecopter below for your entries! Only one is required - share with me your ideas for making JESUS a part of your every single day.

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What was actually going on...

Our verse focus this morning in devotions was Romans 3:23-

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Well the kids got a good, old fashioned object lesson in how we ALL sin. Even mommy.

We were getting bundled up to take our very first Operation Christmas Child box to the drop-off. I wanted to gather together and pray over the box first. And, of course, get a picture.

We were supposed to all be grateful and excited. There was supposed to be all this joy and love surrounding the whole experience.

Not even sort of.

Tears. Tantrums. Spanks. Repeat.

...I need a minute to recover from just the memory...

The beauty in this mess is that God always forgives. We finally managed to snuggle up together, discuss our verse again, and thank God for sending His Son so we can be forgiven.

It was only then that we were able to gather around this little box and pray for the sweet boy that will get to meet Jesus through it.

Beauty from the ashes.



((I will be reviewing and giving away a copy of the book we are using for devotions right now in the very near future! Keep a look out!))

Sing Hallelujah Anyway

"You're a good, good Father. It's Who You are… And I'm loved by You…"

We were halfway through this song at Amanda's celebration service before I could actually sing along. I began singing because if I've learned anything from all of this, it's to lean on what I know. 

I know He's a good, good Father. Even when I don't feel like He is.

So I claimed that promise. Grabbed it up as mine. Through the strength of the Holy Spirit alone, I opened my mouth and sang that truth.

Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need. He gives me rest and peace. He guides me. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I have nothing to fear. He is right beside me. (Psalm 23)

So I continue to sing a very broken hallelujah.

And what I know goes beyond what I feel and opens my eyes to who I am:

Loved by You.

The Day I Stopped Praying

I got the news that morning. I said a quick prayer but didn't think a ton about it because really, "critical condition" can mean so many things. It didn't even occur to me that she might not make it. But when I realized that I was glued to that spot in the kitchen where I first read the text, and that a heaviness had glued me there, I started pleading. And I didn't stop for a solid 24 hours.

With nearly every breath I sent up a plea. Save her life, Lord! Be glorified through the miracle! Don't take that boy's momma away!

Hundreds, maybe thousands, were praying the very same thing! Maybe some of them ventured into the "give them peace" type of prayers, but I spent little time there. I learned from Amanda's dad to pray bold. And that I did. For 24 hours.

Then I received the text I was sure would never be real.

She's gone.

And I stopped praying.

I didn't have anything nice to say.

I wrestled. Struggled. Cried. Repeat. And on my face I asked God, What good are my prayers??

Of the thousands of people praying, there are people so godly they make me look like a heathen. Why do I bother? Better, why on earth do You want me to bother?

But throughout that horrifying first day, in the midst of being angry furious with God for allowing something so downright awful to happen to an amazing family, I kept finding myself on my war room floor. The tears that soaked the carpet far outnumbered my words. All I could do was lay on my face with my hands open and cry.

God laid one particular family member on my heart so I sobbed for her. I told God that I knew He wanted me to pray for her but I didn't know how. So here I am, trying to obey! I don't know what good these prayers will do, but I will obey! Then the Spirit gave me words. Or gave words to my groanings.

Then God laid another family member on my heart today. I still don't know what He wants me to say or why He wants me to pray. But I'm choosing to obey. And He's been giving words to my groanings.

I didn't really know Amanda. But through her death I have fought through the thing about God that I have never been able to grasp: why He allows things that He could change. And I've come to a place - not of understanding, but more of acceptance and trust - a place God and I have never been together.

And through this senseless act of evil, which was only made possible by the sin that has ruled this world since the Garden, I've learned about a girl I've been acquainted with for years. And I'm different because of her. Her story has grown me.

And as this "year of prayer," I've been calling it, comes to a close with the worst tragedy our church has ever seen, I think I get it. I think I'm finally really praying.

 Thank you, Amanda Grace.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:26-28.

Prayers for My Girl: Wisdom

Day 6 and final day of focused prayer for my Girl.

I had a couple ideas for what to pray for this day but they just didn't seem Spirit-led. What the Spirit did seem to be saying is that I should ask Derek. So that I did.

It only took a moment of thought before he said:

Wisdom

Lord, grow Marie in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). I pray that you will bless her with wisdom in all things as You did for Solomon (1 Kings 4:29) and Daniel (Daniel 1:7). Give her a love for learning, first about You, then about the world You created. 
Help her to not be bitter, jealous, or selfish, but instead clothe her with Your wisdom which is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, and sincere (James 3:16-18).
Most of all, I pray that she will never conform to the world. Transform her mind so she will never settle for less than Your perfect will (Romans 12:2).

…God is able to do whatever He promises. Romans 4:21

Prayers for My Girl: Honesty

Day 5 of prayers for my Girl.

Honesty and transparency are very important to me. The first time Marie lied, I felt like I was a complete failure as a parent and her life was headed straight down a nasty path. Not only do I hate lying, the ugliness it causes makes me irrational, obviously. So once I calmed down from that, I remembered that while Satan is the Father of Lies, Jesus is the Victor! So I started praying. And praying. And disciplining. And praying. And I will continue to do so.

Honesty

Father, help Marie to be honest; a woman of integrity whose yes is yes and whose no is no (Matthew 5:37). May she always be quick to confess so that she can experience Your grace and mercy (Proverbs 28:13). Remind her that the truth will always set her free, and that Truth is found in Your Word. Give her passion for Your Truth. Sanctify her in Your Truth because You are Truth (John 8).

Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

Day 4: Witness
Day 3: Purity
Day 2: Attitude
Day 1: Friendships

Prayers for My Girl: Witness

Day 4 of prayers for my girl.

There is only one good thing we can do on earth that we cannot do in heaven. Have you ever thought about that? It never occurred to me until my freshmen year of college when the author, Mark Cahill, came to IWU and talked about his book, One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven. 

The one thing we cannot do is witness. We cannot lead others to the Lord. Everyone in heaven will already be in heaven! So what greater purpose do we have on this earth than to be a light in this ever darkening world??

Let me be real with you here… I fail fail fail at this. FAIL. But that doesn't mean I get to quit. And it's most definitely not going to stop me from praying that Marie is a shining light for her Savior.

I promise Jack was having as much fun as his sister, ha!

Witness

Thank You, Jesus, for pulling my girl out of the darkness and being the light that leads to life! (John 8:14). Let Your light shine so brightly through Marie that people cannot help but see You (Matthew 5:16). Be so very real in her life that she needs to talk about You. May she never for even a moment be ashamed of the Good News. Help her to love others too much to keep from sharing with them the peace, the freedom, the joy that comes from knowing You! Lord, make her dangerous for Your purpose. So, when You usher her home, You can say to her, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23).

Rejoice in hope. Be patient in tribulation. Be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Day 3: Purity
Day 2: Attitude
Day 1: Friendships

Prayers for My Girl: Purity

Day 3 of Prayers for My Girl.

This subject of purity scares the living daylights out of me. We live out in the country without TV. We are very sheltered. So stepping out into the world is like a blow to the gut. It's ugly out there! That's expected, of course, as things will only get worse until Jesus comes in on His white horse. But the ugly doesn't stop at the church doors. We Believers have let impurity creep in and take over. Not only behind closed doors and in secret, but even outwardly choosing to join in with what the world has decided is acceptable. I feel so defeated sometimes because I can't imagine how my kids will survive this world and stay pure. On different levels, neither Derek nor I stayed pure.

But THANKS BE TO GOD! He gives us the victory over sin and death through Jesus! 1 Corinthians 15:57.

And I believe -with everything that I have- in miracles. Let's move mountains with our prayers!

Purity

Father, by Your mercy, give her the strength to offer her body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You (Romans 12:1). Guard her heart as it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). I pray that she will always remember that her body is a gift to her husband. Please make that truth real in her life so she clings to it- guarding her heart, her mind, her emotions until the time You have for her and her husband to become one. I pray the same for the man you have for her. May his love for You and for Marie, even before he knows her, compel him to flee temptation and live with integrity and purity. And Lord, if there is failure in their lives, give them great victory in You! (1 Corinthians 15:57). Please bless Marie with a marriage overflowing with passion, faithfulness, and unwavering love. But no matter what, may her happiness only ever be tied to You. (John 15:11)

Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him in prayer, pleading for your children. Lamentations 2:19

Day 2: Attitude
Day 1: Friendships

Prayers for My Girl: Attitude

Day 2 of my week of focused prayer for my Girl.

This is a prayer directly from a passage that I have circled for Marie. God laid this passage on my heart for her. The thing is, I desperately need this prayer, too. Create in us grateful hearts, Oh God!

Her Attitude

Oh Lord, fill her with joy. Help her to be considerate. Overcome her worry and lead her to pray. Create in her a grateful heart. I pray that she will experience Your peace as You guard her heart and mind. Focus her thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:4-8)

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2

Day 1: Friendships

Prayers for My Girl: Friendships

In light of the month of thanksgiving, I've decided to spend focused time praying circles around 4 of my greatest blessings: my babes.

I pray for them every single day and have all sorts of prayers for each of them written on my War Room wall, but deciding to really hone in on one kid has already pushed me to pray more often throughout the day.

This week I am focusing on my Goob. I want to share these prayers, and the verses God has used to bring them about, to encourage you in your prayers for any girls in your life.

Marie Love

Her Friendships

Lord, thank You for the gift of friendship. Thank You for blessing Marie with friends. You have gifted her with friends who love You and uplift her. Please bless these friendships and grow them (1 John 1:7). Make them as iron that sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). I pray that they will be unified by Your love, in Your Spirit, for Your purpose (Philippians 2:2). Thank You also for the friends who challenge her faith, who provide opportunity to deal with conflict. Help her to be cautious in choosing her friends (Proverbs 12:26) as "bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33). And, Lord, may You be her greatest Friend of all.

As Mark Batterson says in his book, The Circle Maker, "God honors bold prayers because bold prayers honor God."

So let us come boldly before the throne of our gracious God (Hebrews 4:16) and watch what He will do!

A Sign of a Stagnant Life

For years now I have felt the call from God to be an intercessor or prayer warrior. ((Beware: lots of posts on prayer in our future!)) I still don't know exactly what that means in my life in particular, but something I have learned through the process is one vital thing--

We are all called to pray.

Seems like a "duh" statement, but are you praying always?

Be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

There likely isn't a true believer out there who doesn't know we are to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) but it still is an area where we are greatly lacking.

Recently I read an excerpt from one of Andrew Murray's books, The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer:

Often we have resolved to pray more and better, and have utterly failed. Our prayers, rather than being full of joy and strength, are often a source of self-condemnation and doubt… Your lack of prayer is likely due to a stagnant state of life. 

I'll tell ya what, that was not a comfortable bit to read. When prayer isn't a constant wellspring in my life, my life is stagnant? We have all been there - I try to walk into my War Room and it's like the door is locked. Not from the inside where communion with my Savior is savory sweet. No, it's locked from the outside, where I could unlock it but something in my life (pride?) is stopping me.

Is there something (or a lack of something) in your life that is locking your war room door? Or even just making it hard to open?

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

We are all called to pray. What is in your way?

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2

My Happy Pills

I have a friend that God has clearly brought into my life on purpose. She has no idea how much she challenges me, encourages me, inspires me. I should probably tell her that, huh?

Yesterday she told me, while holding a fussy, clingy child, that her kids are her happy pills. It suddenly became clear to me how she can take all 4 kids to every field trip, travel to new places, invite people over regularly, and somehow keep her sanity.

It also became clear to me how far I've strayed from that perspective. While I absolutely adore my kids, I realized I've been seeing them as a burden lately. A part of my job.

Oh, I enjoy them immensely sometimes. 

I want to enjoy them all the time. Because they are a gift. They are a joy.

This doesn't mean I neglect my responsibilities. It doesn't mean I can't get frustrated or tired or need a break. It certainly doesn't mean they should be more of a joy to me than my husband or my Savior.

What it does mean is I have a fresh perspective: These babies are a way that God blesses me with temporary happiness AND deep, fulfilling joy.

I don't "have" to be a mommy, I "get" to be! How easy it is to forget that. I don't "have" to take out time for them, discipline them, enjoy them, love on them, show them grace, provide for them... I GET TO. And I am so grateful for this privilege.

Lord, thank You for the gifts of my children. Thank You for my friend and her reminder to view my babies as gifts. Thank You for equipping me for this incredible privilege of parenting!

Finding Rest

The Christian life is not a struggle to live rightly but rather resting in Christ and finding in Him our life and our righteousness. -Andrew Murray

The concept of finding rest keeps coming up in my life. So obviously that means God is trying to tell me something! I've been a believer long enough to at least have that figured out. Now to actually learn the lesson…

I've shared this verse at least a couple other times before on the blog, which is saying something since I don't blog very often! So God must be saying something to you, too, Reader!

I've had in my head that to find rest, even finding it in God, means that everything around me has to change. 

This is not true.

When I am in the midst of the chaos of 4 kids and Derek comes home from his 10 hour day and goes straight to bed, I can find rest.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power… Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:28-29, 31

(Marie completely randomly blurted out the reference "Isaiah 40:31" a couple days ago. From the mouth of babes…)

I think that I need…

a date night
a girls night
kid-free errand running
a workout
a clean house
Netflix
a silent morning
perfect obedience
an uninterrupted hot shower
sleep
food

...to find rest.

And these things are good gifts God gives me (on occasion ha!) to encourage rest. But when I depend on these things to find rest, at best these things will give temporary relief, at worst, added stress!

But when I am in constant communion with my God, when I give our relationship the effort and focus and love that it deserves, I can find rest anywhere, anytime. Because God is there, anywhere, anytime.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8

Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:10-11 

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Go to Him. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Anytime. Anywhere.

Find Rest.

This Week in [Home]School - Celebrating Dr. Seuss

We LOVE Dr. Seuss.

Maybe I should say I love Dr. Seuss and therefore force my children to love his books as well.

I'm just being a good mom honest!

Here's a little of what we did to celebrate his 111th birthday...

We made Cat in the Hat hats by coloring stripes on white paper bags. Then wadded up paper and had several contests to see who could get the most wads in the hats.

We wrote and colored birthday cards for Dr. Seuss while watching The Cat in the Hat on PBS kids.

I printed out a bunch of fun pages from seussville.com, and Marie spent some time playing games on the website.

We went to the library for a little Dr. Seuss birthday party where they had a snack of a jello and whip cream parfait to look like the Cat's Hat.

We actually have 3 Dr. Seuss games. "I Can Do That Game," "Green Eggs and Ham," and a Dr. Seuss matching game. I need to play matching games more often. I think it's probably good exercise for my mommy brain.

We did other miscellaneous coloring pages and word searches and math pages.

This is Jack's! He said he wants to ride a helicopter when he grows up so he drew one. Can you find it? I think he did amazing!

I saved all the Lorax stuff for tonight because I wanted to watch The Lorax for family night only to realize that we don't own it and it is no longer on Netflix :( But we still made mustaches and watched Horton Hears a Who instead.

And of course, there was lots of reading of the greatest children's books ever written!

This week we were insanely busy. We only did school at home on Monday and today. So I have more fun plans to celebrate Dr. Seuss for next week. And hopefully get back into regular routine.

Need a Roger pic!

By the way, the Jacobs School is accepting any and all donations of Dr. Seuss (Theo Geisel) books and related movies ;)

Did you do anything special this week in school?

Quick Twist Bread

It's hard to believe that only a few short years ago I was scared of yeast. Now I go through it so fast I have to buy it in bulk (actually I steal my mom's that she buys in bulk. Thanks Momma!)

I finally overcame my fear of yeast when we moved out to the country and the nearest grocery store is, well, not near. Since we'd lived in cities up until moving here, a quick run to the store for some bread was the norm. I had to learn to make my own and now we're all spoiled!

Derek loves coming home to his wife covered in flour.

So this is my go-to bread for all those times I don't think about dinner til dinner time. It's quick, easy, and so delicious.

I adapted it from this recipe and tweaked it some to be a tiny bit healthier.

Quick Twist Bread

Ingredients:

3tsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

3tsp honey

3C unbleached flour

1tsp himalayan salt

1T butter (or coconut oil*)

1 egg

Directions:

1. Stir together yeast, water, and honey in stand mixer bowl (this recipe can also be done by hand but who does that anymore? ;) ). Let sit until bubbly.

2. Slowly stir in flour and salt using the dough paddle.

3. When dough is mostly combined, cut the butter into small cubes and continue kneading until soft and only slightly sticky. Let sit on a floured surface for about 10 minutes.

4. Roll the dough with your hands (see pictures) until about 15inches in length. Cut in half, then roll the halves again until they fit in your hand and are the same length.

5. Press the ends together and twist.

6. Place in greased bread pan. Beat the egg in a small bowl then brush it over the bread (you will have left over egg!). Sprinkle the top with garlic salt or parmesan cheese or nothing at all. Whatever you want!

7. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes then enjoy with some homemade jam!

*Coconut oil works fine, but the bread does not turn out as moist. 

What do you think? Do you have a favorite bread recipe? Because I'm gonna want it.