Slow Down and Cook Dinner

Cooking a homemade dinner doesn't have to be a huge heroic undertaking.  But it can be if you want.  

By now most families understand the HUGE POSITIVE impact that eating dinner together can have on kids and parents.  Eating dinner together as a family keeps communication stronger by giving everyone at the table a chance to express thoughts and feelings in a natural way.  It is a time to pray together before the meal.  It gives parents an opportunity listen to all the "little" stories that make up our kids' days and it gives the kids a chance to be heard. Eating meals together as a family is crucial for a strong family dynamic especially in today's world of over-scheduled calendars and technology that has replaced true social interactions.

I am also going to suggest one more piece to consider for family dinner...MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH. WHAT did I just say???  I know you are going to say you are too busy for that!!!  I am not saying to cook homemade lasagna on a Wednesday night between ballet and soccer practice. But you could make breakfast for dinner very quickly (eggs any way your family likes, fruit, yogurt, a quality bread for toast).  Instead of reaching for a frozen bag/ box of chicken nuggets and french fries to quickly make you could have a way more nutritious meal without the creepy ingredients lurking in prepared food. We do this for dinner at least once a week...I usually save it for the busiest weeknight!!

Have your kids be involved with cooking dinner.  If they are with you in the kitchen while you are preparing dinner that is another chance to catch up on important details of their life, you are modeling a healthier lifestyle by cooking homemade food, and you are teaching them how they will to do this for their own families later.  They will learn the value of homemade food and choosing nutrient dense food. Not to mention that when kids are involved in cooking food they are more likely to try new things and like the food more.

So you are saying..."OK, Well give me more ideas for quick homemade dinners", Here are some of my favorites (besides breakfast for dinner) homemade soups, lettuce tacos, salads, spaghetti squash spaghetti, homemade pizzas, and more to follow in future posts!!!  Send me a message for some recipes...I will be posting more recipes too!!!

Where families spend their time and money is what will flourish.
I would like everyone to consider this and think about how you are spending your most valuable resource...time!  It is time that we get our priorities straight!!

Think of the WHOLE picture for family dinner it is not just about one piece...Eating a HOMEMADE FAMILY DINNER TOGETHER has an impact on the WHOLE family's WHOLE life!!

With my WHOLE Heart~
Brooke

Don't just take it from me...

It sure feels great to have Michael Pollan state what I have always thought.  The best diet advice ever...you can eat anything you want-just make it yourself!!!  This has been my way of thinking for sometime now...and it helped me become more healthy.

Please Take 20 minutes and watch this video...
The Dirty Little Secrets Hiding Behind Our Pretty Little Processed Food

The Missing Piece...Essential Oils

I am so excited to announce that I am a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils!!  

My family has been using dōTERRA Essential Oils for almost 2 YEARS...we use them EVERYDAY!!! dōTERRA Essential Oils have made such a positive impact on my home, I couldn't imagine life without them!!!

I have been on a long road to have my family live a more natural lifestyle. We try to eliminate chemicals and pharmaceuticals whenever we can.  If I can accomplish the same goals (ie maitaining good health, cleaning my home, creating a calm and peaceful environment for my family) naturally instead of quickly turning to chemicals then I consider that a major WIN!!  I feel that I finally found the last missing piece to the puzzle...Essential Oils.  And I decided that for my family that would be dōTERRA's Essential Oils!!!  

When I first became interested in essential oils I was intimidated by the cost and exactly how to use the essential oils. Which is why I love dōTERRA's Introduction to Essential Oils Kit for $26.67. This kit includes a 5 ml bottle of dōTERRA's Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oils.

Visit my website www.mydoterra.com/brookesilver to check out the oils dōTERRA offers.  

Let me know how I can help you learn more dōTERRA Essential Oils by leaving a comment.

How are you using Essential Oils???

With my WHOLE Heart ~
Brooke

Finish Strong

I LOVE quotes and I am always trying to pen my own but I never seem to get my point across with the right flow of words.  That is until now!!

This is how it came about...

I set out for a 5 mile run (which I do often) and it just wasn't going well.  I felt weak and my body was not in the groove at all.  I was thinking should I just cut the run short?  Even though I wasn't enjoying the run as I normally do I thought this...

Just because you start weak ~ Doesn't mean you can't FINISH STRONG!

During my first few miles I was mentally struggling and I had this nagging thought to just QUIT because it just was too hard.  But then I came up with this quote and I decided to finish strong and I DID!  My last mile was awesome and I felt amazing to Finish Strong!!!

My quote made me think of this bible verse...
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

We are all weak to start but to know that God is continually working with us until we become what he intended us to be brings me so much confidence. I am grateful to my God who loves me and will stay with me while He helps me grow in grace.

On Sunday as I was sitting in church I noticed these verses that were hanging in the front of the sanctuary which I thought was so cool because they gave me even more motivation to press forward through life.  Knowing that I do not have to be perfect or strong to accomplish what God intends for me!!!  AWESOME!!!!

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.  They will fly high on the wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

And of course I naturally applied this to my WHOLE life...I started out struggling to finish my run but by the time I was done I gained more perspective on life.  Being weak is not a fault.  It is like being brave, being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared.  It means that you will not let the fear stop you from whatever needs to be done.  When we come to Christ we are weak but that should be the reason we seek Him not why we avoid Him.  It should motivate us to know we can always be better and that God will continue to work on us until we are complete.  Every new minute of the day is a chance to make better choices and to do things better.  Whether it is your physical health or your spiritual health.

With my WHOLE Heart~
Brooke