Morning Smoothie Recipe

2 cups of orange juice
1 cup frozen fruit  (your choice)
1 heaping tbsp. protein powder (vanilla flavor)
1 tsp. vitamin powder

Put all ingredients in the blender.  Blend for 2 minutes.  Taste better than the smoothie at the local cafe'.
Enjoy.

Someday

Someday
You thief of golden moments
    stealing treasured memories
         of now...
j. jones 10/23/10

Ordinary Joys

Ordinary joy.
A sunbeam from God- at morning's first light,
A walk with my husband, in the amber moonlight,
A hug from my children and a sweet kiss goodnight.
A dear calm assurance, things will all work out right,
What more could I ask for, than ordinary joy?

Ordinary joy.
Breakfast cooking in a cast iron pan,
A bowl of tart apples and a recipe plan,
A mug full of coffee and a book in my hand,
A prayer for the journey, in this time weary land,
What more could I ask for, than ordinary joy?

Everyday joys,
Sometimes hidden from view,
You have to look closely, this you must do.
Realize they're beside you--they fade much too soon,
Reach out and savor the life given to you,
for what more could we desire than ordinary joy? 
----Jennifer Jones 2010

Wonderful Weds.

Christmastime is an enchanting time of year for my starry-eyed children. For me it has been visions of everything busy and materialistic, regardless of how hard I have tried to change it.  This year and this month, I came up with an idea.  I decided to start celebrating Christmas in October.  Every Wednesday, we have what I call "Wonderful Wednesday."  My daughters have co-op classes on Thursday and Girl Scouts on Friday, so Wednesday seemed like the perfect day to celebrate.  Each Wednesday I have a theme of something to do with Christmas.  We cook a special breakfast.  Some of the past breakfasts have been monkey bread, waffles, fruit, pancakes...and not all on the same day.  I usually have a Christmas craft for them to do and a small stocking stuffer type gift.  We read a Christmas story, discuss a holiday topic, or watch a classic Christmas movie to celebrate.  This has become a day that my girls look forward to each week.  My three year old wakes up each morning and says, "Mommy, what day is it?".  I tell her the day and she informs me that she wants it to be Wonderful Wednesday.  This opportunity has given us many happy memories and a chance to savor Christmas. This is a tradition I think we will treasure for years to come.