Prayer of the Week- Jesus's Blood

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the blooming flowers, sunny days and warmer temperatures.

Please bless all those who donate blood. They are giving their blood to save someone else's life as Jesus did for us.

In Your name, Amen.

Super Potato Salad

Super Potato Salad

12 medium potatoes cooked with skins on
6 hard-boiled eggs
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup plain yogurt or sour cream
1 medium onion chopped
1 ½ teaspoons mustard
2 tablespoons vinegar
½ teaspoon salt

Boil the potatoes. While they are cooking make the dressing. Peel the eggs, mash the yokes and dice the whites. Add the egg yokes to the wet ingredients, if the dressing is too thick milk can be added. Peel the potatoes and dice. Pour the dressing over the warm potatoes and add diced egg whites. Chill well. It does not taste good warm. Serves six.

This Super Potato Salad would be great to have if you have any leftover decorated Easter Eggs.

Reboot Your Brain

Reboot Your Brain
By
Tim Shoemaker
Illustrated By: Marty Baumann
Published By: Zonderkidz
Copyrighted: 2004
Number of Pages: 149 pages
Age Group: 8-12 years-old boys
Type of Book: Christan Devotional for Boys
Physical Description: Paperback, 6 x 8 inches
Extras: Information about the rest of the 2:52 Soul Gear

About the Book: As people, we are similar to computers and sometimes we need to reboot. In Reboot Your Brain, the reader learns about how four teenage boys deal every day problems. There are ten stories that involve: having a big mouth, pride, forgiveness, selfishness, being unkind, honest, anger, jealousy, wrong choices, and patience. Three of the boys: David, Troy and Howie are Christians. Eddie is not a Christian and those boys are his only friends. Two other characters are unseen by all of them. Gabe is an angel and Slick is a minion for Satan. Gabe and Slick can only be heard in peoples’ thoughts. These boys are trying to follow the teachings in Luke 2:52 and Proverbs 3: 3-4. “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men,” is from Luke 2:52 and those are the four areas that these boys are trying to grow in.
What I Thought: I enjoyed this book. I would have to say that my favorite part of the book is the individual chapter setup. In each chapter there is an e-mail from one of the characters about what happened, the comic about the boys, corresponding Bible story, quiz dealing with the story and frequently asked questions about the subject. Boys will enjoy the quick and easy to read set up and they will learn how what they become as men will be their choice. This book is perfect for boys 8-12. I will make sure that my son reads this book when he is old enough.
Would I Recommend: Yes, I would recommend Reboot Your Brain.

The Legend of the Easter Egg

The Legend of the Easter Egg
By
Lori Walburg
Illustrated By: James Bernardin
Published By: Zondervan Publishing House
Copyrighted: 1999
Number of Pages: 28 pages
Age Group: 4-8 years of age
Type of Book: Christian Easter (Holiday)
Physical Description: Hardback, 9 x11 inches
About the Book: This book does a wonderful job of showing symbolism for the traditions and symbols of Lent and Easter in this story about Thomas and his sister, Lucy. One night Lucy catches scarlet fever and Thomas is sent to live with John and Mary Sonneman in their small prairie town. The symbolism begins when Mary wipes the stove ash off Thomas's face and forehead as people have ash on their foreheads to remind them of their sins and the need to repent on Ash Wednesday, On Maundy Thursday sometimes people wash each other’s feet as Mary did for Thomas. Mary teaches Thomas that the egg symbolizes Jesus breaking free of the tomb of death. Thomas dyes the eggs and prays by himself for the first time. It is on Easter Sunday that he is able to reunite with Lucy again and share his new faith.
What my children thought: My five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter loved everything about this book and think kids their age would like it. My son liked it when Lucy got well, what the egg symbolized and all the candy. My daughter liked the egg hunting, washing of the feet, angel and when Lucy was well.
What I liked: I enjoyed the illustrations. They were done in acrylic and colored pencils on paper, the colors popped off the pages and the people are so well done. The message is so important too about faith in Jesus, the Easter egg and love.
What I disliked: Nothing.
Would I recommend: Yes.

Prayer of the Week- Life of Righteousness

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the wonderful warm and sunny weather we had today. Please keep away the snow and cold temperatures.

I need help Lord. Please help me to live a life of righteousness. Be with me every day while I continuously remember to live a life with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, humility, faithfullness, gentleness, self-control, compassion and selflessness. I knows these traits make you happy and will give me a happier and more meaningful life.

Every day when I forget, please give my heart a little nudge. I will send a prayer to you to help me control my vices.

Thank you. In your name I pray, Amen.

Potato and Corn Flake Casserole

Potato and Corn Flake Casserole

1 pound sliced or diced potatoes, cooked
1 pound medium or sharp shredded cheddar cheese
16 ounce container of sour cream
1 medium finely diced onion
2 cups slightly crushed corn flakes mixed with 3 tablespoons olive oil

Layer the potatoes, sour cream, onion, and cheese. Cover with the corn flake mixture. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes. Serves four.

The Chicken Pox Panic

The Chicken Pox Panic
By
Beverly Lewis
Illustrations By: Barbara Birch
Published By: Bethany House Publishers
Copyrighted: 1993
Series: Cul-de-sac Kids #2
Number of Pages: 60 pages
Age Group: 7-10 year-old
Type of Book: Christian Fiction
Physical Description: Paperback, 5x7 inches
About the Book: Abby Hunter (third grade) wants to make a special cake for her adopted brother, Shawn’s birthday. She keeps the plans for her cake a secret from everybody, even her best friend, Stacy Hunter. Stacy has a secret of her own. Her mother is not telling her where her birth certificate is, so Stacy thinks she is adopted. Abby helps Stacy look for her birth certificate or old pictures. They don’t have any luck. They just have problems when Stacy’s dog eats the roast and ice cream. Abby uses her own money to buy another roast and then has no money for the birthday surprise. Stacy asks the rest of the Cul-de-sac Kids to loan Abby money. Abby is able to get enough money for Shawn’s birthday surprise and she invites everybody to the party. Stacy calls her dad, who agrees to come see her and send her a copy of her birth certificate. Stacy helps Abby with Shawn’s cake and the birthday party is a success. Abby and Stacy learn it is good to not have secrets and it is good to help others.
Extras: Map of Blossom Hill Lane, synopsis of book #3, extra information from the author about when her children had the chicken pox.
About the Author and Illustrator: Beverly Lewis lives in Colorado with her family and has written many books and short stories. The Cul-de-sac Kids remind her of her friends when she was younger. Barbara Birch illustrated the book realistically, which goes well with the clear plot line and characters.
What I liked: I liked everything about this book. I thought it was important that Stacy and Abby learned that keeping secrets does not help anybody. It shows the readers they shouldn’t keep secrets either.
What I disliked: There was nothing I disliked.
Would I recommend: Yes.