Recipe: Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

So how many of you died a thousand deaths of amazingness over the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread that our hospitality coordinator, Elizabeth, provided for our spa day yesterday? Seriously, how can you squeeze more awesomeness into one baked good?!

Because we know a lot of you have been asking, here's the recipe for your own home enjoyment:

2 c flour
1 c sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c mashed bananas (about 2 medium ones)
1/3 c milk
1/3 c peanut butter
3 Tbsp veg oil
1 egg
3/4 c milk chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350. Spray bottom of loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then add bananas, milk, peanut butter, oil, and egg. Mix until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in chocolate morsels. Spoon batter into pan. Bake 60-70 minutes or until toothpick comes put clean. Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely on cooling rack.

A Moment for Your Monday: Patience

Have you ever caught yourself doing something for, saying something to, or teaching your own child something that you can just feel God giving right back to you? I think it's incredible the things we learn about God as our Father by being mothers ourselves.

I shared with you a couple weeks ago about my screaming match with God. Later, as I still struggled with my range of emotions and hurt, life was going on as usual. My husband was working late and I was trying to get dinner ready for my son and me. Little man starts to lose patience pretty quickly when daddy doesn't come home at a normal time, which means I often start to lose my own patience on such nights. Please tell me I'm not alone in this...

As I was trying to finish dinner, my son was pitching a pretty good fit over waiting. I tried to reassure him that I was working on it and food would arrive in front of him shortly. My reassurance didn't seem to be doing much. Finally, in an attempt to get his attention, I took his sweet little face in between my hands and put my face very close to his. Softly, I told him, "I see that your frustrated and I know you don't like to wait. But please try to be patient."

I suddenly realized that God could be doing the same thing for me. "I know you're frustrated. I know you don't understand. I know you don't see the big picture. Please try to be patient. I really do know what you need and what the deepest desires of your heart are. I'm working on the best possible thing for you. Just please be patient while I work."

Do you believe that God has the best possible plans for you? Do you believe that he knows what you need and what you want most deeply? Are you willing to trust him? Are you willing to try to be patient?

What is God asking you to wait patiently on?

Pssst!

(Hey, I know this is early, but you definitely want to be clearing your calendar for our next MOPS meeting on February 26th. In fact, clear all your mothers-of-preschoolers friends' calendars too. Because it's going to be SPA DAY! There's going to be some serious pampering going on up in here! So make sure you and all your worn-out momma friends are there.)

Spa Day

February 26

9:30-11:30 am

Two Rivers Church

Recipe: Taco Soup

Had anyone else noticed how many soups we like to feature around here? Maybe it's because it's so nice to just throw everything in one big pot, not have a lot of dishes to clean up, and not have a million different things to prepare. Balanced meal + no fuss = Mother of Preschoolers gold! Here's a favorite recipe from our hospitality coordinator, Elizabeth:

2 cans pinto beans (undrained)
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can whole kernel corn (drained)
2 cans rotel (if you don't want soup to be spicy you can used petite diced tomatoes instead)
1 1/2 lbs. Ground chuck
1 pkg dry ranch mix
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 1/2-2 cups water

Brown meat thoroughly in a skillet then drain and transfer to crock pot.
Add all other ingredients. Simmer for 2 hours on low.
Garnish with Tostidos, cheese, and sour cream.

Enjoy!

A Moment for Your Monday: Letting it all Out

I had a shouting match with God today. 

Ok, so I did most of the shouting. Or all of it. I got to a point where I just didn't feel like I could sit quietly and patiently any more. Just like our toddlers pitching fits when we most need them to sit still, I blew up.

I grew frustrated with myself, and then with God. "Why can't I just get it right? Why can't you, God, help me get it right? Why am I always messing something up? Why did you even make me this way? What was the point? Why do I want so badly what you have no intention of doing for me? Can't you just take it away? Can't you just shut down the longings in my heart? Couldn't you have just made me differently in the first place? Why?!?!?"

I screamed. I cried big tears for a long time. I pouted. Everything that exasperates us when our own kids do it - I did all of that. But here's what's different:

I am not God, and God is not me. 

I know most of you are thinking, "um, duh?" But let me explain. God is patient with me far beyond my own ability to be patient. God is gentle with me long after my own kindness for others wears off. God isn't threatened by my anger and frustration and doubts. He is bigger than all of that. He can handle it. And deep down inside - somewhere beyond all my anger, I still know and believe that he loves me and is holding me through it.

I wish I could tell you that I heard a clear answer to my shouting and have learned a great, succinct lesson today. But that's not the case. These things aren't always so quick to resolve - we've all experienced the waiting. But tonight I know that my God is big enough, strong enough, gentle enough, patient enough, good enough for me to vent to - and to know that he is still with me through it all.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. - 1 Peter 5:7