Tuesday, March 31, 2009

CNN Features My Book "Prayer Starters for Busy Moms" !!

We're "Jumping and Screaming" over here because the "Word" is getting out about the power of prayer.

About two months ago, as I sat recovering from my appendectomy I received a call from a reporter from CNN who was doing an article on motherhood and spirituality and wanted to interview me. I hope you not only enjoy the article and remember that prayer is not only powerful it is possible (even when we have little ones, big ones and the life in between), but I hope God puts a person on your heart that you can forward this article to. Maybe she/he needs to be reminded that the love and power of Christ is just a prayer away!

Blessings to you and thanks for celebrating with us and for passing on the message of the power of prayer!

Love,
Tracy Klehn

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Pick a Card, Any Card...

Are you sick of trying to figure out what to make for dinner?

Do you get tired of thinking of yet another way to make chicken?

Do you want to make dinner a special time where your family leaves the table feeling blessed?

Well, I have an idea that might help you. A few years ago I incorporated an idea that I learned from author/speaker Lauren Littauer Briggs (Making the Blue Plate Special)and here's how it works.

The first thing you do is gather your family to brainstorm and come up with every possible dinner option you can think of. The sky is the limit here. You might end up with your kids favorites like chili dogs and tater tots (my son's favorite), tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, your husbands' favorite stroganoff, your favorite salad but don't forget that you can also include things like breakfast for dinner (i.e. pancakes, bacon and fresh fruit, omelettes and smoothies...), or new recipes you'd like to try...

Next, write each idea down on an index card or on scratch paper that's been cut into rectangular pieces (your family can help with this too...you could even start the brainstorming session by gathering around the dinner table and handing each member of the family a stack of index cards and a pen-or crayons for the little ones so they can draw pictures of the food they like and you can label the picture at the top).

Once this is done you now have a whole bunch of dinner options close at hand (I keep my stack of cards in the drawer next to my stove). The day you are making your grocery list (for me that's Sundays) pull out the stack of cards, put them on the table and have each member of the family pick one card (one dinner) that they'd like to have that week.

Not only does this system help you with your creativity, it can also help your household run a little more efficiently... you may be able to reduce the number of times you go to the market per week and you may also save some money by sticking to your list (not to mention the gas you'll save by not going back and forth to the market). The other nice thing about this system is that it gives you the opportunity to teach your kids that, while dinner might not necessarily be their favorite one night, it is someone else's favorite and they can be patient knowing their choice is just a few days away.


I hope you find this idea helpful. So far this week our family has enjoyed teriyaki chicken and rice and my mom's famous beef stew recipe (and when I went to get the chicken, it was on sale so I was inspired to make homemade chicken soup early on in the week and have left-overs for lunches).

Next time you're tired of all your dinner ideas tell your kids to "pick a card, any card!"

Bon Apetit!
Tracy Klehn

Friday, March 20, 2009

Revealing God

In one of my first blog entries ("The Deeper Meaning," September 1, 2008) I defined the Magnificent Life as "a life that sees and senses God at work and reflects God to those around us." This week as I've been doing the Beth Moore Bible Study Breaking Free (Lifeway) I was struck by something Beth wrote as we studied the topic of "God's Glory..."

"God desires that He be recognizable in us in all we do! Living a life that glorifies God is synonymous with living a life that reveals God."

Referring to Colossians 1:24-27 (v 27 "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.") Beth goes on to say "We have no hope whatsoever of God being recognizable in us if the Spirit of Christ does not dwell in us." Beth then says "We fulfill what we were 'meant to be' when God is 'recognizable' in our lifestyle." (page 36, Breaking Free, Lifeway Publishers)

Pretty powerful isn't it? When we have the Spirit of the Living God living in us we have the potential to live a life that "reveals God." Have you ever had someone "reveal God" to you? Who was it?

A Grand-ma that took care of you when nobody else would?
An aunt that prayed for you even when you were running in the opposite direction?
A child that pointed out the beauty of God's creation?
A friend that sat next to you when you were sick?
A husband that provided for you and promises to continue to?

Let's pray that our lives would "reveal God" and in doing so project to the world that He is AWESOME and He offers HOPE!

Lord God, you are indeed amazing. Your ways are above our ways and yet you allow us to catch glimpses of your ways through the pages of your Word and through the Holy Spirit working in our midst. Lord, we want to be women that "reveal" you, women that glorify you. Please show us any obstacle or sin that might be keeping us from being conduits for your grace here on Earth so that we might turn away from them and turn back to you. We don't want anything to get between our relationship with you nor our ability to reveal your love and hope to this broken world. In Jesus' name, AMEN!!!

Blessings,
Tracy Klehn

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Do You Want to Know What "Changed My Life?"

I thought I'd mix it up a little with the blog this week and go with a "video blog" (click on those words to view) that answers the question "What has changed your life for the better?" I hope you find it encouraging.

Have an awesome "life changing" week!
Love,
Tracy Klehn

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Finding the "Magnificent Life" Right Where You Serve

My older sister owns a restaurant in Reno, Nevada. It is a place where more than "comfort food" is served, it is a place where God's comfort is poured out as well. Last night she sent me this story of what happened to her that day and it reminded me once again that "The Magnificent Life" is happening in our midst.

So often as moms we can mistakenly think that what we are doing (like making breakfast for the kids or cleaning breakfast up off the floor, like getting the kids off to school so that we can get ourselves to our part time job to help pay the bills, like running errands and taxying tweens from event to event, like getting groceries so that dinner can get on the table...) is mundane and not of much value. Yet when we "do everything as unto the Lord" and trust that He is "guiding us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake" then we can trust that even the littlest thing is of great worth. I hope you are inspired by my sisters' story and if you're ever in Reno go check out her little comfort cafe for some SWEET treats!

Blessings,
Tracy Klehn

Tilly's Tattoo
A little four-year-old PRECIOUS blonde girl came in with her mom today....she had her hair in a bun, and was dressed in all pink and white. Winter coat, skirt, sweater, shoes, etc. She was crying and looked really, really sad. Her mom said she had just gotten all of her four-year-old shots, and said she had been very brave. I looked at the little girl and nodded, then her mom told me her name was Tilly. I told her I had a Tilly too....Matilde, our prep cook, and introduced them to each other. "Tilly this is Tilly," I said. She was not crying anymore but still looked sad. I asked her if she wanted a tattoo. I had a whole stack of Fizzy Lizzy tattoos from the Fancy Food Show, from the fizzy juice we sell.

She nodded, and I asked her where she wanted me to put it. On her arm, she said. She still had her winter coat on, but wanted the tattoo on her left arm. She held it out for me. I unzipped her coat, rolled up the sleeve of her pink sweater, and readied the wet paper and the tattoo. I stuck it to her arm, and looked at her while I rubbed the paper, making sure to get a perfect application. She smiled, and wiped her eyes. I lifted the paper backing carefully, and voila! A perfect tattoo! She grinned, and her mom asked her what she wanted to eat. Tilly said a fluffernutter, a chocolate milk and a chocolate cupcake. Her mom said she was so brave today she could have anything she wanted.

As she ate all of the above with a slice of watermelon, it made me think about how very, very personal God is. I mean, a Fizzy Lizzy tattoo, that fine princess lunch, and someone to tell you how brave you've been. All in one place. I have been asking God to show me what my destiny is this week, as homework for the bible study I am teaching, what my role is. He told me yesterday. "These are my people and I want you to serve them," He said. "Take care of them for me." God gave me the space for DISH CAFE more than six years ago, right next to the main trauma center and oncology offices in Reno. So if that means a tattoo for Tilly, a chocolate milkshake on a Sunday for mom's friend who has been in the hospital for 2 weeks, tapioca for the masses, soup for the sick, and quiche for my friend Natalie's cancer fighting mother (whose head she had to shave today) then I will.

As Tilly was leaving, I told her Tillly was short for Matilde. I asked her if that was her name too." Nope," she said, "Mine is really Danielle."
Thanks Fizzy Lizzy for your wonderful juice, and for those tattoos!

Nancy Horn, Chef Owner
DISH Cafe & Catering
855 Mill Street
Reno, NV 89502
Monday-Friday 7am-2:30pm
775-348-8264

dishcafecatering.com
Hey you! Check out the blog at dishingup.wordpress.com
COMFORT FOOD FROM A MODERN CAFE