Benjamin asked for seconds

Benjamin is my pickiest eater. He nibbles at most meals.  If he had the choice to either fill up on liquid or eat food, he would choose to drink until his tummy were full. Benjamin is funny about textures and food touching or covered with sauces or food that is mixed. I have yet to actually get him to eat a casserole without a fight, and he is not too crazy about soups either. I've seen him down a few chowders though. My mentality on this is that, if he is hungry enough, he will eat it. The boy's growth charts at his annual checkups are still going well, so he is getting some nutrition in there some way or another. Osmosis maybe.

Tonight though, I tried something new. As I was considering this experiment, I was also thinking, "The kids might hate this. Nathan might hate this. But I really want to try it anyway."  I'm so glad we did! Everyone loved it! Benjamin asked for seconds and then thirds. Grace ate thirds as well.

The fun part about this recipe (that I made up and may be changing around) is that it can be served hot or cold.

Here's the base of the soup:

sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

butternut squash, peeled and chopped

carrots, peeled and chopped

peaches. peeled and chopped (I only added 1 peach for this experiment but may add more next time!)

cottage cheese, not peeled nor chopped

milk to desired consistency

I just put equal amounts on the sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots. I cooked everything (except for the cottage cheese and milk) in the crock pot with a few cups of water for about 3 hours on high. Once everything was very soft, I pureed it all in the blender. For a moment, I was reminiscing over my baby food making days and was just convinced that they would hate this, but I kept at it, blending the cottage cheese and then adding some milk as well for a less baby foodish consistency.  The most fun part about this soup was the topping. I added two toppings: a good covering of wheat germ and a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar.

I have yet to come up with a name for this delicious soup. It may already exist and thus already has its own name. If so, I'll just offer the excuse that I don't get out much! If you know the name or any other/better variations on this recipe, please do share!

I was just tickled pink that my kids were asking for seconds and thirds on butternut squash, carrots, and sweet potatoes. If we all turn orange in the next few months, you'll at least know that my babies are eating well.

When you're at the end of your rope

When you cannot escape the torments of daily living, when the toils of this place so envelop every aspect of your heart and you cannot see past them to the glorious graces that God gives us for today, even in a fallen world - just stop.
It's not your battle to win.
It was never your battle to win.
There is so much more for you here to learn and know about our Father and His riches (no, not the money kind. It's stuff that lasts). Give up on trying to fix yourself and give up on punishing yourself for not being able to fix yourself. You need Jesus. He's all you'll ever need, and, believe me, He is so good.
So if you find yourself at the end of your rope, run to Jesus. Tell Him. He said that whatever we ask for (according to His Father's good will), it will be given. Jesus wants you to run to Him.
Does this sound cryptic? "My world is crumbling beneath me, and you say I need Jesus?"
Yes. Jesus knew you would never be able to get life right, and so He lived the right life for you, and He died so that you could not only have a right life but an eternal life with His Father.
And once you get Jesus, you get the Holy Spirit too, the Great Comforter who will walk with you when hardship comes, who will speak truth to you and counsel you reasons for joy and hope as you toil under the sun.
A short word tonight. Jesus is your only hope for true joy in hardship. It doesn't come any other way. Chase after Jesus.