Its beginning to look....

...a lot like Christmas!!



We apologize for the lateness in getting this out to you.



It is our desire for our own families, as well as yours, that we be devoting as much time to them and this joyous season as we can. Therefore, we here at MTM are taking a short break. We will post a new message when we have decided on a start up date.

Praising God this Christmas

For all that He has done

And for sending us the greatest Gift

His one and only Son!

May He bless you and your family

all season long!

From all the moms at MTM -

Merry Christmas!

Making Your Work Out Work

Are you like me? Does the thought of exercising make you tired? I’m one of those people who was never good at sports, was not very coordinated and could trip over my own feet if I wasn’t careful. But now, lazing around is not longer an option. My metabolism has gotten slower than my eating. So I try to get a little exercise in now and then.

When it comes to exercise, I’ve found there are two important things for me to keep it going: I have to like it and I need to be motivated.

I like walking. On a nice day I don’t mind going out and walking my trail. I find that I enjoy it and even look forward to my walking time. Sometimes I take along my ipod loaded with an audio book to keep me company. On a not so nice day, I use the Walk at Home DVD.

I’ve tried a few different things to keep me motivated. Sometimes I meet up with a friend and that is a great source of accountability and encouragement if you can work it out. Another thing I’ve done is track my progress on a calendar. Just knowing that I walked 2 miles, three days this week is enough motivation for me to keep going or try to beat it.

But the easiest thing for me is the pedometer. You can clip one on when you get up in the morning and write down your steps at the end of each day. It can quickly become a great motivator for you to try to beat your steps. 10,000 steps a day is recommended. If you’re not sure how many steps a day you’re walking, strap on a pedometer and see. Then try to do more.

You can keep up with your progress on your own just by writing down your steps each day. But I also found this site which will keep up with your progress for you and send you reports to keep you going.

Pedometers range in prices and bells and whistles. Some just count your steps, others track your progress over months and years, calculate calories burned. Here’s a site that compares some of the top sellers. I've seen them at Walmart for as little as $5.00.

Some days are busier than others. I may be running all over the house putting away laundry or picking up the house and then do a work-out walk on top of that. Then there are other days when I find myself sitting around more. Having my pedometer on will remind me when I need to step it up.

If your work-out needs a change of pace, try adding a pedometer. Find out how much you're really moving each day.

Advent Devotions

This Advent Season I am enjoying reading this advent calendar with my children.

This calendar is filled with things that you can do everyday.

Right now we are working on a Jesse Tree.

We are reading each days devotional which includes reading a bible passage.

Then either coloring or decorating an ornament.

Then haging that ornament on a tree.

This is making Advent memorable for the kids and us.

The second calendar I am working on daily myself.

The calendar is filled with lots of great things to do like:

Let your Bible fall open and

contemplate the reading the Holy Spirit has put before you,

Include in your Christmas cards blessings you have received,

Pick one habit that is keeping you from holiness and resolve and conquer it.

(you can click on he calendars to enlarge)

I am also reading a couple other daily Advent Devotional books.

I'd like to share today's devotion with you.

Thursday - First Week of Advent

Jesus said, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The reain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse. It had been set soldidly on rock.

(Matthew 7:21, 24-27)

Jesus says that if we take to heart his words and make them the basis of our actions, our lives are built on a rock-solid foundation.

This raises some questions. First ,have I built a set of convictions that I try to live by? (These would be comparable to the house in the parable above. ) Or, do I more or less operate on a vague deisre to do right?

If I do have convictions, then another question is this: What are they based on? The rock of God's word? Or the shifting sands of what seems generally acceptable in our society?

When the rain and floods and winds come into my life- and they do- I need solid footings. As a disciple of the Lord, I commit myself to more than following the Gospel whenever possible and or convenient.

Just for starters....Do I forgive when I feel like it, or do I have conviction based on the "solid rock" of what Jesus taught about forgiveness? Or prayer. Do I pray "when I get a chance," or do I have a rock-solid pattern of prayer ?

I need to spend some time taking stock of the foundations on which I have built my life.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Does anyone else have any other suggestions

or devotional readings that your do throughout December?

Please feel free to share what you do.

December Featured Multi-Tasking Mom

The Featured MTM column has been put on hold for this month - please stay tuned for further announcements regarding the prize featured on November 7's post.

Holiday Stress

I was going to write an entire post about dealing with stress during the holiday season, but then I saw exactly what I was going to say printed in my church bulletin.

Dealing With Holiday Stress

Levels of stress increase during the holiday season, as people tend to overextend themselves and commit to doing more than they possibly can in the limited time they have. This season is stressful even if what people commit themselves to are events that should be enjoyable, such as attending parties and visiting family.

The causes of stress are plentiful -- but with a little planning and some tips from the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service, the holidays can be much less stressful.

-- Don't commit to more than you can handle. If there is not enough time in which to do a project, decide not to do it. Make sure to balance your obligations with things that you want to do. Plan your time and stick to your plan.

-- Maintain your health. Monitor what you eat and drink, make sure you are getting enough sleep and stick to your exercise program.

-- When shopping, stay within your budget so that gift giving does not become another source of stress. Plan in advance when and how you will do your shopping. This way, you are less likely to be overwhelmed.

-- Acknowledge feelings of grief and loss if they exist. If you are separated from family or friends or have suffered a loss in your family, realize that the feeling of loss in normal. Allow yourself to express this grief and emotions.

-- Avoid unrealistic expectations. Don't be so critical of yourself or others if things fail to go as planned. Remember, too, the magic of the holidays will probably not solve your personal or family problems.

One more note from me. Remember to keep your focus on the real meaning of the season and you're bound to have a happier holiday.

Recipe Roundup: Dips

With the holiday season in full swing, we'll all be spending more time with friends and family. Dips are a great way to entertain a small group, or a large crowd without having to stretch the budget too far, or spending too much time in the kitchen.

Here is a great dip recipe that my family really enjoys. And, every time I serve this one to guests, I get asked for the recipe.

Artichoke and Spinach Dip
recipe slightly adapted from allrecipes.com...

4 cloves garlic
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (16 ounce) container Alfredo-style pasta sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Place garlic in a small baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 20 to 30 minutes, until soft. Remove from heat. When cool enough to touch, squeeze softened garlic from skins.

In a medium bowl, combine the roasted garlic, spinach, artichoke hearts, Alfredo-style pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and cream cheese. Spoon into 8 x 8 inch (or similar sized) baking dish.

Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes, or until bubbly. Serve with tortilla chips or cubed Italian bread.

Now it's your turn. Share a favorite dip recipe with us by linking below, or leave one in the comments section!